University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.
THE PRIVATEER AND THE PRIZE.

`As soon as they had gone,' continued
Bonfield, resuming his narration after
thrusting into his cheek a quid of tobacco,
`Martin Oakford looked carefully
about him, and then buttoning the door
which led into the entry, in the outer door
of which my two men were left, he drew
near to me, and said in an under tone,

`Captain Bonfield, I see by the letter
of Lord Ross that you have faithfully executed
the mission which he entrusted to
you. From what he writes me you are
entitled to the reward for your services
of the large sum of four thousand pounds.
This you shall have to-morrow! Did his
lordship acquaint you with any of the
circumstances connected with this business?'
he added, keenly regarding my
countenance as he watched for my reply.

`I know only that I was to leave the
female and child in your charge, and receive
my money and depart,' I answered.

`He looked at me fixedly for a moment
and then said,

`Very well, you shall have your money
early in the morning. When do you
set sail again?'

`Tomorrow afternoon, or the next day,'
I answered, `I wish to look about the island
a little.

`He said nothing more to me for some
minutes, nor I to him. I was trying to
devise some way without being too blunt
to get at the truth of the mystery in which
I had blindly borne my share. It was
clear to me that the letters which Lord
Ross had written to him unfolded the
whole secret. This secret I was anxious
to come at.

`You have seen this dumb lady before?'
I asked abruptly, hoping to throw
him off his guard.

`No, never,' he answered firmly.

`Nor the child's relatives?'

`I do not know who they are, unless
you do,' he answered. `It was this I
wished to learn from you.'

`From me,' I repeated with surprise,
seeing by his face that he was sincere.
`I know no more about their parentage
or friends than the man in the moon. I

supposed it was all cut and dried between
Lord Ross and yourself.'

`By no means,' he replied, with some
hesitation, as if uncertain how far to go
with me; `I have orders only to receive
the woman and child and keep them
faithfully until I receive further orders.
I am to regard the young woman as my
sister, and the child as my niece and so
bring it up, giving it the name of Verginia.'

`And is this all?' I demanded.

`All, save that—Here he hesitated;
and then added quickly, `but I suppose
I may as well be free with you, Captain
Bonfield, as you are also in his lordship's
employ and confidence—save that he
pays me a certain sum yearly; but I
have no objections, Captain Bonfield, to
allow you to read the letter; but on
condition you never address me by the
name of Oakford; nor to speak of the
name again.'

`Then what shall I call you?' I asked.

`I am known here in the Bermudas by
the name of Blackburn only.'

`Then, Mr. Blackburn be it,' I answered.

He then took from his coat the pacquet
with the seal broken, and drawing
from it a letter addressed to `William
Oakford, Esq., handed it to me. By the
`Esq.' I knew that he was of good birth,
and had once been a gentleman as his
air bespoke him, though he was now in
an humble sphere.

`I read it, and if you would like to
hear the contents, my lord, they are in
my memory.'

`I have the greatest curiosity to know
them,' answered lord Percival with animation.

`The letter was dated at London, October
second, and ran as follows:

`This man Oakord,' said lord Percival,
`must have been I conceive a political
offender sent out of England instead of
suffering a worse punishment. It would
seem that he was in the power of lord
Ross in some manner. This is my
opinion because state's prisoners were
sent to the Bermudas and to Jamaica at
that period.'

`I supposed he was in some way in the
power of the Marquis, my lord,' resumed
Captain Bonfield, `and hinted as much to
him as I give him back the letter. He
did not deny it; but did not volunteer
any explanation's, nor did I ask him for
any. I saw by his letter that he was no
wiser than I was, and so rising and telling
him I would call in the morning I
bade him good night and left the house.
With my two men at my back I soon
reached my boat and pulled on board.
Early the next morning I was ashore
again, having promised Master Oakford
that I would take my breakfast with him.
When I came in sight of the cottage
Mary saw me, and flying to meet me, almost
threw her arms about my neck in
her joy at beholding me again; and with
her animated gestures she gave me to
understand that she feared I should not
return again; and I could see traces of
tears on her checks. I have often
thought, my lord, that the persons who
could send far away to sea, such a poor
helpless creature without friends, and
leave her among strangers must have
harder hearts than we smugglers if they
were lords of the realm, begging your
lordship's pardon.'

`No doubt you will find many men
with unfeeling hearts among the nobility
as well as otherwheres, Captain Bonfield,'
responded the Earl, slightly smiling. `It
was, indeed a cruel act from beginning
to end as you will believe when you
shall know all; for I have resolved
when I have heard what more you have
to tell, to make you a full confident of
the great and iniquitous scheme to which
you were at the time innocently made a
party. My knowledge of your true charecter
betrayed in your recital has won
my confidence; and especially are you
entitled to a full revelation of all the circumstances
to which you are yet in the
dark, by your generous manifestation of
sympathy for the young woman and the
child and your kindness. But proceed,
for I wish to know the exact situation of
these parties when you left them and
know when you last saw the child.'

`Well, you shall learn, my lord, for I
take a pleasure in unfolding all these
matters to you, because I see you are a
friend to the two helpless things that
were sent so cruelly over the sea. I
took breakfast with them, with the little
Flora on my knee. I could not help envying
the persons with whom I was to
leave them, as I knew what a treasure of
affection and love they were. I watched
Master Oakford and his sister narrowly
and it seemed to me that they would be
kind. The brother had an air of quiet
respectability about him and a very fine
smile which looked as if it came from a
heart in the right place I did not fear
for him so much as I did for the sister.
She looked very austere, and I thought
would not love my two proteges, for such
I look upon them, as they ought to be
loved; but I resolved to visit them often
and see how they flourished. From the
letter of lord Ross I saw that they were
cast out upon the world and would, perhaps,
never be heard of in England or
inquired for again. So I felt that I was,
as it were, their only friend. They
seemed to look upon me with the earnest
eyes of dependence and trust. I
swore, in my heart, that I would look
after them both as if I were their father;
for both seemed infants to me, for both
seemed equally helpless and blameless.'

`Captain,' said Earl Percival, `you
have a good heart.'

`My lord to be a smuggler is not to be
a devil!' answered Bonfield, with a slight
flush upon his fourrowed brow.

`I shall think better of smugglers all
my life for your sake, Captain.'

`And I of lords for your lordship's
sake,' responded the smuggler. `After

breakfast I went down the hill into the
tour with Oakford. He went to a house
with me where my money was to be got
and there it was paid me in gold. I ordered
it to be put into a keg and sent on
board the Dart, which was done. I then
strolled down by the quay and here met
an officer who introducing himself to me
as Captain of the fort, inquired the news
from England and then complimented
me on the manner in which I had come
in with every thing set, and dropped anchor,
furled my courses and had all snug
in less than two minutes by watch.'

`Who was the person who paid the
order, Captain?' asked the Earl.

`It was the crown's treasurer, a certain
George Raithe, Esq. I believe.'

`I know him,' remarked the Earl.—
`He is still living in Sussex, he is now
Sir George! All your accounts confirm
facts. In relating these events to me,
Captain Bonfield, you not only do me a
service but many others. And in the
end you may do a great service to the
object of your deep interest if she be still
living, which I have reason to hope.'

`And I to know, my lord. If I can do
anything to serve her, I am heart and
hand yours.'

`You can, Captain Bonfield. When
did you see her last? Is she still in Ber
muda?'

`You shall hear my lord. After I got
my money, I went and took leave of
them. Mary understood plainly that it
was a parting, and she clung to me as if
she had been my sister or daughter,—
She wept and I almost thought she
would cry out and speak, she felt so at
heart. But the poor creature's tongue
had no power to articulate. I never pitied
any body so in my life, nor suffered
so badly myself. The child too—little
Flora! It understood all about it, that I
was going away and when I took it up
in my arms it clung so about my neck
that I was more than half a mind to take
them both back aboard my vessel, marry
the pretty Mary if she would have me,
and go and settle down in some far off
land, and then live and be happy with
them. I knew I could soon learn to talk
with her, and the child she had already
begun to teach a language of signs, so
that it understood her perfectly.

`But I felt that it would be doing injustice
to the marquis who had ordered
me to leave them there, and so tearing
myself away from them, I hastened almost
blinded with the tears which somehow
had got into my eye, to my vessel.
I was soon under weigh and steered to
the northword the wind blowing off the
shore. As long as I could distinguish
objects on the land, I kept my glass at
eye watching the cottage. I seemed to
leave my heart and all that was good
for anything about me there. As it faded
away in the dim haze of the distance
I put up my glass with the internal reso
lution that before three months I would
be there again.

`I was bound to no particular place
I had a fine crew and was well armed,
and having heard on the island of the
war between Mexico and Spain, I now
resolved that I would run for the Gulf of
Mexico, get a letter of marque commission
at Vera Cruz and capture, for pastime,
two or three of the richly laden
Spanish ships. Upon proposing this to
my crew, they assented to it without a
dissenting voice, and so tacking ship, I
laid my course southwardly.

`But I am not to give your lordship a
history of my cruize. I wish however
to state what would show you that I have
never been a pirate, though I have been
outlawed as such and am now under arrest
and capture with my vessel as such.
I cruized for three years under the Mexican
flag with success, and became rich.
Three times a year I touched at Bermuda,

to visit my proteges whom I found
happy, the babe growing finely. It always
recollected me, and called me uncle,
which I had taught it to do. One
third of my money I regularly invested
for the child, another third for Mary;—
whose countenance always shone like
the sun when she saw me return. I will
now tell your lordship how I first got
the name of a buccanier. There was a
French vessel brought into the island a
prize. It was at the beginning of the
war with France. It lay close along
side of me, I being under the revenue
flag as usual. I went on board and discovered
that the captain and one of his
officers were former friends of mine, who
had been my assistants in smuggling
goods to the English coast. I liked the
captain much—he had done me many
favors, and now when I saw him about
to be taken ashore a prisoner, I resolved
to try and effect his escape He had recognized
me at once and flown into my
arms, calling me `Vance.' The recognition
was observed and the name heard
by the English prize lieutenant, who
wondered much to see me, an English
revenue officer as I was supposed to be,
in his majesty's service, on such intimate
terms with a French officer. The name
of Vance also sounded rather lawless to
his nice ear. But he said nothing then
nor did I. I conversed awhile with the
Gascon Captain, told him that I intended
to cut out his vessel that night at all
risks. He grasped my hand with grateful
emotion, for he had a wife and three
lovely children awaiting him in France.

`I effected my object by getting under
weigh, laying the Dart along side the
French brig, and throwing my men on
her decks. The Englishman was driven
below and the prisoners released, and
sail at once made upon the prize. The
English prize officer and his crew of
fourteen men were put into a boat and
permitted to pull to the shore—and in
ten minutes both vessels were standing
seaward with a fresh breeze and beyond
reach of the guns.'

`This was an imprudent act, captain,'
said the earl.

`It was one of friendship, my lord.—
The news was soon told me in the town
by the officer, and two vessels of war
slipped their cables and pursued us. But
we saw nothing of them. My name soon
became associated with that of a buccanier
at Bermudas. It was ascertained at
home that there was no such person as
Captain Bonfield in the revenue service,
and I was pronounced to be a pirate. At
Bermuda I was outlawed, and large rewards
were offered for my capture. Not
long after this certain piracies occurred
in the seas between Bermuda and Nova
Scotia, and the credit of them was publicly
given to me, while I was quietly
cruising under the Mexican flag in the
Gulf of Mexico.

`At length, after an absence of nearly
a year, I resolved to visit Bermuda and
see what had become of my proteges. I
altered my schooner into an hermaphrodite
brig, stepped her masts a little more
perpendicularly, and disguised her with
paint like an ordinary West Indian trader.
I bent old sails, stowed my guns in the
hold, and showed but eight hands on
deck. I entered the port unsuspected,
and anchored near the town, telling the
Custom-house officer that I had touched
at the island for water and fresh provisions,
and showing him forged papers,
on which I called myself Kelly and the
brig `The Frances.' I was unsuspected,
and when night came I privately landed
and hastened to the cottage. I was received
with joy. I found them both
well, and Flora now in her sixth year,
looking like an angel. She could talk,
I found, much better with Mary than with
me. Indeed with her fingers she was as

fluent as speech could be to her; while
she could scarcely talk at all with her
tongue. I did not then understand this.
With them I was perfectly happy. They
oved me dearly.'

`And had no suspicion attached to
Oakford, on your account?'

`No, my lord. He had never been
seen with me but once; and my visits to
the cottage had always been in the night
and secret, after the first time. I asked
Oakford if he had heard from lord Ross.
He said he had not, but his pay had been
regularly received. He seemed to be
greatly attached to the child and also to
Mary. He told me, confidently, that he
was convinced and had been from the
first, that the child was of very high birth.
This I assented to as my own belief; but
we could neither of us enlighten the other
upon the subject. At this time I tried to
earn from him why he had left England
and why he kept so quiet there; for he
told me he knew scarcely any one, and
that his house was seldom visited by the
islanders, save those of the humblest degree,
who like him, were tillers of the
soil. But I could never draw anything
from him relating to himself, further than
that he was under the greatest obligatiens
to the Marquis of Ross, and could
refuse nothing to his request or demand.

`After leaving some Mexican presents
with my two friends, and satisfying myself
that they were happy I was about to
go, when it occurred to me that I had
some books of colored prints on board
which might please Flora; so I told
Oakford if he would go with me, it being
only a little past nine, to the shore, I
would send them to him after I went on
board; for I intended to sail before day
for fear of accidents. To my surprise
he told me that she was forbidden books.

`Forbidden to have books!' I repeated.

`Yes; I should have told you, but forgot
it, that two years ago I received a
brief note from Lord Ross, though it bore
no signature, in which I was forbidden to
teach the child its letters, or learn it to
read or place books within its reach!'

`And have you obeyed the order?' I
asked.

`Yes. I am in their power in England
and can do no otherwise!' was his answer
in a tone of bitterness.

`And Flora is ignorant of her letters
even?' said I.

`Yes, totally so!'

`They would have forbidden her to
learn to speak, if it could have been possible,'
I cried indignantly.

`The note stated,' said Oakford, `that
all the teaching or instruction whatsoever
the child got should be from the nurse;
for the woman is not the child's mother.
The marquis also desired us to speak as
seldom to the child as was possible.'

`This, then, accounts for her embarrassed
speech with me. I wonder at it
no longer. This is barbarous,' I cried
indignantly. `I hope,' I added, `I hope
you will disobey this order, Mr. Oakford.'

`I dare not; but do not call me Oakford
again!' he added, earnestly.

`Well, perhaps you dare not,' said I.
`It is a strange affair all round.'

`It is indeed,' he answered. `I have
no alternative but to obey. I live upon
the bounty of the man who sent them to
my charge.'

`We then parted; but I resolved that
I would circumvent this nobleman in his
inhuman scheme, to prevent the development
of this beautiful child's faculties.—
As I sat in the stern of my boat I tried to
imagine what object could be attained by
Ross in placing this innocent little girl
first in the charge of a mute, then exiling
both among strangers, then forbidding
knowledge and speech to the child, as if
he would make it dumb also, and ignorant
as a brute animal. But I could arrive at
no clue in my own mind; but as I ascended
the deck of my vessel and gave
orders to get underweigh, I resolved that
it should not be long before Flora should
not only see pictures but read books.'