C O N TE NT S .

PA GE .

P e rr an c o v Towers
e

Una Cartaret
A S tr an ge P roposition
Betrothed
Rescued from a Wreck
United Han ds
The Treasure o f th e Witches H o l e
’

A Vi sitor
’
A Fisher s Bride
Husbands an d Wives
Incapacitated
Cuthbert s Awakening
’

Baulked o f thei r Prey

The Departure o f the Fly i n g G u ll .

An Unexpected A rrival
The Floating Spar
A Dark Time
A Plot
Dark Deed s
The New Rector
Martin s Con fessi on
’

Th e Return
’
Cuthbert s Story
 “ ‘

A DA U G H T E R O F T H E S E A

Dangerou s Work .

M i sunderstandings
A Nobl e Venture .

Una s A ppeal
’

The Fi shers Response

’
 PE R R A N CO V E TO W E R S

A n d s u dde n c l o s e b e fo r e th e m s h o w e d
H i s t o w e rs .

B ro a d , m a s s iv e , h i gh , an d s tre t c h i n g f a r ,

A n d h e l d i mp r e gn a b l e i n w a r .

O n a p ro je c ti n g r o c k t h e y ro s e ,

A n d r o un d th re e s i d e s , th e o c e an fl o w s .

a mn i o n .

K i n g s ta w to n
was at its very sl eepiest stage It was .

three o cl ock o n a blazing August a fternoon m an v

’

years ago .

Heat simmered in the ai r amongst the green mead

ow s Red Devonshire kine lay under the ol d elms
.
,

o r stood ankl e deep in th e stream flowing smoothly

-

”
by The road outside the Stag s Head was deserted
.
’

onl y a sandy mongrel l ay hal f asleep under the wooden

seat o f the o ld inn porch He looked with hi s tongue
.
,

hanging out as i f he were at th e last stage o f e x h a u s

,

tion but when th e horn o f the di stant coach sounded .

he bounded to hi s feet an d stood in an instant erect

and al ert A good shake o f h i s wiry b o d va deep
. ,

“ ’

bark an d l i fe began to dawn around the Stag s

,

”
Head An ostl er struggl ed into h i s coat and came
. ,

out rubbing h i s eyes a fter h i s a fternoon nap ; the l and

,

lord w ith an il l conceal ed y awn planted h imsel f with

,
-
,

0
2 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

some d ignity in hi s porch Two ol d rustics cam e .

hobbl ing out o f th e bar ; one to go on to the n ext vill age

w ith some dairy produce for a cu stomer th e other i n ,

h opes o f earning a few pence by carrying parcel s for

a possibl e passenger A few minutes l ater and th e
.

coach appeared Only two passengers al ighted but

.
,

these caused con siderabl e commotion by the amount o f

baggage that bel onged to them an d the l andlord ,

seemed perturbed an d uneasy at th e sight o f them .

Th e travel lers were both men ; one considerably

ol der than the other but both had that bronzed
,

weather — beaten appearance that carel essness i n d ress

, ,

that betokened foreign wanderings an d the i r baggage ,

was o f al l shapes an d sizes .

Th e landl ord stepped up to them respectful ly .

“
Glad to s e e you back s i r We heard you were , . -

coming but d id not think i t woul d be to day N o

,
-
.

carriage i s here Wil l you have ordered it s i r

.
,

The el der o f the two men whose hai r was pl e n ti ,

full y besprinkl ed w ith grey an d whose face was a ,

keen resol ute one w ith perhaps a l ittl e cynicism

,

discernibl e in the thin cl eanly shaven l ips turned -

,

round carel essl y .

“
—
Good ! lay Somers Hope you an d your family
, .

are well Carriage ? No I have ordered none I

.
, .

have come down sooner than I thought We must .

borrow a trap from you D o not tel l me you have .

none in for cu stom i s never bri sk i n these parts

,

And give u s a good horse for w e want a rest badl y , ,

and must be home be fore nightfal l D o n ot keep u s .

 PE R R A N C O V E TOWER S 3

waiting l onger than you can help there i s a good ,

fellow .

Th e l andlord d isappeared and th e ol d ru stic hobbl ed

,

a fter him muttering as he di d s o

,

“
A y M r Endicott d o wear well to be sure !
’
, . Ti s
ten year come Monda y me x that h e went o ff on h i s ’

travel to th em h a y th e n parts and h i s voice do seem ,

as hearty a s ever !
M r End i cott had by thi s time seated himsel f on
.

the shady wooden bench ; h i s companion a broad ,

shoul dered long l imbed man with cri sp brown hair

,
-
, ,

and thick mou stache w a s sti l l occupied in s up e r i n

,

tending the disbursement o f th e l uggage .

He came up i n a minute l ooking tired and heated , .

What a swel tering l ittl e place Endicott ! N o wonder ,

these poor beggars tak e thei r time over putting o u t

”
thei r hand to anything !
M r Endicott stretched out h is l egs and pul l ing
.
,

a pipe out o f hi s pocket commenced to fil l and

l ight it .

“
Thi s i s th e l an d o f l eisure h e said l ooking at the , ,

“
impatience o f hi s friend with an amused smil e If .

’
w e start on ou r way from h ere i n an hour s time we ,

”
ma y think ourselves fortunate .

“ ’
I t i s a com fort you r s i s a bachel or s establ i sh
’

ment , sai d Cuthbert Gregson fol lowing M r ,

.

’
Endicott s exampl e and smoking a s vigorously a s
,

hi s el der was l azil y .

There was sil ence f o r a minute M r En dicott . .

l ooked a w avover th e sunny meadows with a dreamy

a bse n t ga z e ; then h e sai d sud d en l y
4 A DA U G H T E R O F T H E S E A

Perhaps you w ill not find i t such ba c hel o r

“

quarters as y o u imagine Cuthbert My s i ster keeps , .

”
house for me .

“
Yo u have never mentioned her .

I am not o n e to tal k o f my belon g in g s She

No ; .

i s al l I have l eft and i s a good soul She has bee n

, .

taking charge o f a ch il d ward o f mine ; the daughter

o f a first cousin who used to be much to me when I

was young but s h e marr i ed a man I c oul d not stand

, ,

an d it w a s only at her dyin g re q uest I promi se d to

”
bring up her daughter a s my own .

“ ”
And what age i s th i s youn g l ady n o w ? asked
Cuthbert a bl ank l ook o f dismay cross i n g h i s face
, .

“
Oh ! j ust a chil d ; a w i l d l ittl e h arum s c a r um when -

I l e ft ; but I am experi mentin g on her She has bee n .

l eft to grow a s nature intends M y s i ster i s n o t one .

to form o r restrain ; I have forb i dden i t D o you .

”
bel ieve in the laws o f hered ity P
“
I haven t given the matter mu c h th o u g ht I-v
’
.

”
rather think I do .

“
Her father sa i d M r Endic o tt sl owly and
, .

“
thoughtful ly was a frank generou s h ot tempered
,
-

thorough going scamp Weak as to vi rtues strong as to

-
.
,

vice and yet kind hearted with i t al l Her mother had

,
-
.

an ice col d Puritan nature ; no heart and more brains

-
, ,

than a woman ought to have I am curiou s to s e e .

h ow the ch il d wil l d evelop an d that i s why I would ,

not make my w il l l ast week as y o u urged I doubt .

i f s h e i s o ld enough to be su ffi ciently formed ; and

my will must wa i t I inten d her to have my property
.
,
 P E R R A N CO V E TOWERS 5

i f s h e w il l be capabl e o f managing i t wisely i f not ,

”
I have other intentions .

“
An d your sister Cuthbert coul d not refrain from
asking .

He had known M r Endicott for the last fi v

. e years .

They had travel led together through mountains and

wilds At the peril o f h i s own l i fe th e el der man had
.

rescued the younger from a cruel death at the hands

o f a savage hil l — tribe amongst whom he had fall en
, .

Thei r friendship deepened as time went on Both .

were l onely men w ith no home ties ; both were fond

o f intel lectual research ; and were reserved and sil ent

by nature . Through the fi v e years o f thei r daily

intercourse M r End icott had never confided as much
,
.

o f h i s home l i fe as he w a s now doing on the wooden

“ ”
bench outsi de the Stag s H ead ’
Cuthbert l istened
.

and wondered an d yet understood how the ol d asso

, ,

c i ati o n s o f the pl ace coul d unl ock the most silent

tongue There were other reason s too that perhaps

.

h ad helpe d to rouse M r Endicott from h i s usual

.

taciturnity . He h ad com e home in ill health and ,

had been in the hands o f a London doctor Special ists .

a t thi s time were very rare but the doctor was a cl ever
,

one,
and h e had to break the ti dings to his patien t
that hi s case was incu rable and that in al l human
,

probabil ity he had onl y a few month s to l ive Such .

tidings mu st at al l times be a shock to the calmest

and most phl egmatic temperament M r Endicott . .

received them quietly an d sai d l ittle but he thought .

“
much He w a s now travell ing home to die a s he
‘

. ,
6 A DAU G H TE R O F TH E S EA

put it to hi s fri end an d th e onl y words th at C uth b e rt

,

sai d to him were

“
I w ill s tav w i th y o u as l ong a s y ou w ant me .
‘

M y s ister repea ted M r En di cott in repl y to

,
. .

Cuth be rt s que s ti on Oh s h e has mone y a n d a

' "

. .

h ouse o f her o w n in the North S h e woul d not th a n k .

me for bequeath ing her P e rr an c o y e These last .

ten y ears ha y e be en y ea rs o f sel f den i al to h er I fea r -

,
.

I ts w i l d nes s doe s not suit h er g e ntl e natur e .

Cu thbe rt sai d no more The y s a t on an d smoked .

,

an d at l en gth a hea v y l u mbe ring trap appeared thei r

. ,

l uggage w as sto w ed away i n t he back an d th e y s e t ,

'

0 5 for a good tw o hou rs d ri ve .

Through shad y D e y o n s hi r e l a nes wi th high fern y ,

bank s o n ei ther side up an d do w n h ill across a bit o f

, .

wi l d moorl a n d where th e sal t scent o f th e s ea for th e

first ti m e met them an d then th e coun try grew more

,

w il d a n d b are an d l ess woo ded .

“
Vi e are getti ng cl ose to th e Co rn i sh coast sai d ,

“
M r En dicott
. M y pl ace i s more than hal f on
.

Co r ni sh soil though w e cal l our sel ves D evon

, .
"

A fter a steep ascent w i th th e blue oc ea n o n th e

ri ght th e y at l en gth stoppe d be fore some h e a v
, y iron
gate s . A sh ort a y e n u e o f rath er stunted o a ks l ed
them up to an ol d gre y ston e hou se a bui l din g which ,

seemed to de fy th e ra ging elements th at s o often

threa tened to sw eep it into the oc ean be l ow O n one .

si de th e ro c k y cli ff o n whi ch it was built descend ed

preci pitousl y to th e sea some hun dreds o f feet
beneath whi l st an i yw covered tu rret stood up st ur
,
-
 P ERR A N CO V E TOWERS 7

dily l ike a w eather beaten sentinel and s eemed to -

,

shelter the rest o f the house from the w indy q ua rter .

Green turf and a few bright flower be ds be f ore th e

,
-

massive front d oo r some w ha t so ftened the sombre

ruggednes s o f P e r r a n c o v
e Towers In the golden .

a fternoon sun shine it l ooked a pl ea sant s po t ; b u t

Cuth be rt found him sel f won de ring i f its aspect woul d
be as cheer ful i n th e gre y dark da y s o f winter and ,

he shuddered at the thought .

A large rough hound sprang forward with a deep

bark as the trap cam e to a standstil l ; an d a ve ry ol d
man opening the doo r rather hastil y seemed qui te ,

overcome at the sight o f h i s master

“
Yo u d i dn t expect me s o soon sai d M r Endicott
’

,
. .

hol ding o u t hi s hand kindly to h i s o ld servant .

Bal dwin be a man ! Do y ou th ink y o u see a ghost

,

W hi st master I d o be brave glad to s e e e e back

' "

, ,

to the place agen ; but I v e had dreams th ree nights

’

”
a ru nmin that I shoul d n t l ike to utter
’ ’
-
.

M r Endicott passed him b y a l ittle impati entl y ;

.

and a shadow seemed to fal l on h i s face .

“ “
Come Cuthbert h e said ; I wi l l introd uce y o u
, ,
‘

”
to my si ster I know where to fin d her
. .

He l ed the way through a dark s quare hal l past a

stone staircase an d push ing aside a h e a yy cu rtain a t
,

the farther end o f i t opened a door an d Cuth b e rt , ,

found himsel f in a quaint oak roo m wi th sta ined

w indows A smal l frail l oo king l ittl e woman w ith
.
-
,

'

wh ite hair rose w ith tremul ou s di gn it y to receive

,

th em She was w orking at a round tabl e in a deep

.
 A D A UGHTER O F THE S EA

w indow recess and the s u n streaming through a

,

y ell ow pane o f gl as s above h e r ill uminated her w ith ,

a gol den radiance .

Very qui et was the greeting between h er an d her

’
brother Noth ing ever ru ffle d M is s End icott s ser ene
.

composure She l ived i n an atmosphere o f her o w n

.
,

an d i f di fficul ties barre d h er path s h e quietly gl i ded ,

round them l eaving others to settl e an d sol ve them

, .

“
Thi s i s a surprise George ! I di d not think you,

”
woul d be with u s til l next week How are you ? .

“
Rather tired with the heat o f the m i d day j ourney ,

“
sai d M r En dicott
. Now M atil da l et me i ntroduce
.
, ,

M r Gregson to you o f whom you have heard but

.
, ,

”
never seen .

“
I am very please d to mak e you r acquaintan ce ,

M i ss Endicott sai d with a grace ful l ittl e curtsey

, .

“ ”
An d where i s the chil d ? inquired M r En dicott .
,

after some further conversation .

“
Out o f doors She i s rarel y i n You w il l fin d .

her grown George , .

A short time a fterward s Cuthbert was takin g a ,

strol l through the groun ds A keen sea — breeze was .

bl owing inlan d ; he fel t the sal t spray o n hi s cheeks

as he walked an d th e break o f the waves again st the
,

r ocks below almost tired h im w ith its obtru s i ve

roar From the upper terrace o f tur f an d fl owers he
.

descended some ol d stone steps to a sheltered k i tchen

garden wh ere in spite o f sal t breezes the vegetabl es
, , ,

an d fru it seemed to thrive An ol d oak door stu d ded .

with i ron nail s an d ful l y two feet thick l ed through

. .
 P E R R A N C O VE TOWERS 9

the g rey stone wall surrounding it down a winding ,

path al ong the cl i ff and as h e sauntered leisurely ,

down voices from below arrested h i s attention

, .

“
Peter T r e v ann on you ought to be ashamed o f ,

”
yoursel f ! Give the poor thing to me thi s minute !
“ ’ ’
T w as n t I that caught u m M i ssy ; twas Davi d
’ ’

’
Shelly an he know s how to zet h i s l egs a r u n n i n
,
-
’

a fore y o u m i n z igh t Her l eg be right broken 20

’
.
,

’
it be Ti s a puzzl ement z u r e ly what I l l be doin
‘ ’ ’
.

’
with u n .

“ ’
Give her to me an d I l l mend her l eg an d s e e , ,

that s h e g oes back to her nest again ; and i f either o f

you boys dare to cl imb up thi s part o f the cl i ff again ,

I ll — I l l prosecute you !
’ ’

A minute after an d Cuthbert w as face to face ,

with a young girl who came hastily and breathl essly ,

up the path c arrying a struggl ing seagul l in her arms

,
.

H e knew in stinctively who i t was The cl ear fresh .

,

young voi c e th e upright carriage an d proud l ittle

, ,

poise o f the head proclaimed Una Carteret to be a ,

thorough l ittl e gentl ewoman She w a s i n the s h at? .

biest att i re The stained an d torn blue serge dress

.

reachin g only to her ankl es and the faded blue worsted ,

cap o n her head an d the stout nail boots on her feet

, ,

might have belonge d to the roughest fi s h e r g i r l Yet ~

.

Una s strong personal ity cl aimed attention be fore

’

her c l o thes Her sl en der l ittl e figure had a s tu r d i

.

ness and resol ute intrepid ity about it that was almost
boyish Her smal l ova l face w ith its cl ear rosy com
.
,

plexi on and so ft dark grey eyes fringed b y heav y

,
-
,
 '
1 0 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

black l ash es was an attra c t i ve o n e from the fran k

, , ,

g u il el es s look o f fresh innocence about it ; but even

i n the short moment o f time that Cuthbert l et h is
eyes rest on her he noted the strength o f wil l an d
,

purpose that characteri sed her l ittl e mouth and ch in .

Her bright brown hai r was fl owing in the w ind an d ,

h e note d w ith amusement that her first i nst i nct on

seeing h im was to rai se her han d to her head and ,

hastily try to confine it i n the coil s from wh ich i t had

escape d S he l ooked up at h im in pretty con fusion
. .

“ ”
Can you be my g uard ian M r Endicott ? , . sh e
“
asked Yo u must h ave come before your t i me
. .

Cuthbert sm i l ed an d shook h i s head .

“
He i s i n th e house . I am h is friend .

Oh , M r G re g son
. . I h ave heard about you . I
can t mak e my curtsey f o r thi s poor gul l I S s u ff ering
’

so. Th o s e wretche d boys have foun d h er nest and ,

stoned h er out o f i t an d l amed h er Are y o u goo d

, .

at doctor i ng ? W il l y o u h elp me ? I m a frai d h e r ’

l e g i s broken .

Cuthbert t o ok th e w o u nd e d b i r d i n h is ha nd a nd
looked at it g ravely .

“
Ye s ,
I th ink I c an se t it , he sa id .

Come thi s way q uickly for i f M r Endicott i s , .

h ere I ought to make mysel f ti dy f or him only I ,

cannot leave the poor thin g i n its m isery I wi ll take .

”
you to my room ; y o u mu st not mind i ts unti diness .

S he l ed th e way w ith rapi d steps through th e

k itchen garden an d then tak i n g a path almost over
,
 PER R A N C O V E TOWERS 1 I

g rown with shrubs an d rank grass came to a standstil l ,

be fore one o f th e o ld stone turrets o f the house .

She thrust open a door an d Cuthbert f o l l owing

, ,

her found h imsel f i n a strange room for a girl o f that

,

period There was a th ick matting over the floor ;

.

’
at one end was a carpenter s bench with its tool s .

On a sheepskin besi de i t l ay a sl eek greyhound who ,

rose to h i s feet and regarded the stranger with

suspicion in h i s soft eyes A bookcase stood against
.

o n e wal l, a l arge cage o f doves against the other .

Upon a square tabl e i n the center o f th e room was a

workbasket w ith needlework a pl ate o f fruit and , ,

a case o f trout an d sal mon fl ies Fi shin g rods a .

,

sh rimping net and a smal l rifle adorned o n e wal l

, ,

and o n the fl oor near th e carpenter s bench was the ’

framework o f a smal l boat With th e exception o f.

the basket o f needlework the room was hardly fitted

,

’
up as a young lady s sanctum I t was long be fore .

our present century girl s had procl aimed such bo y ish

-

procl ivities an d Cuthbert Gregs o n looked and

,

wondered .

Una was hastil y open i n g a smal l cupb o ard and ,

producing rag and ointment .

The ski n i s scratched an d broken she announced ,

.

Th i s i s my surgical cupboard I doctor al l the .

animal s here You wil l want some spl ints I w i l l

. .

get them ready .

For th e next ten minutes o r s o they were very

busy with th e wounded gu l l When th e broken l eg .

had been success full y set Una produced an ol d

,
1 2 A D A UG H TER OF THE S EA

wooden cage from a cor n er and popped th e b i rd

into it .

“
The last inmate was a wh ite owl with a broken
“
wing she sai d ,
I cal l th i s cage my h ospital N o w
. .

I wil l give her something to eat an d then she must ,

9)
s ta y there till to morrow
-

You are a young lady with varied pursu its sa i d

‘
,

Cuthbert looking roun d th e room .

“ “
Ye s sh e sai d carel essly
,
I al ways fin d pl enty .

”
to do .

Then a spark o f prid e k i ndl ing h er eyes s h e

, ,

pointed to the boat .

“
I h e e made every bit o f that m y sel f and I m ean
f
,

to fi n i s n it alone Tom Tanner helpe d me w ith .

one but I m determ ined to have n o hel p w ith

’

th is .
’

“
You re an uncommon good h and at it I shoul d
’

sa y ,
sai d Cuthbert regarding her hand i work w ith ,

interest .

“
We mu st go sh e sai d a l ittl e imperat i vely
, .

”
M i ss Endicott will be wanting m e .

She opened another door which l ed i nto the

e n trance hal l then sped away u p th e stone stairs
, ,

and Cuthbert d i d not see h er til l d inn er time Dinner .

was at six an d when Una came in s h y l van d quietly

,

beh ind M i ss End icott an d was introduced to her ,

g uardian Cuthbert l ooked at h er i n won der

, .

Sh e was dressed in th e fashion o f th e day w i th l ow ,

neck and short sl eeves H e r gown o f dark blue .

vel vet touche d the groun d ol d po i nt l ace adornin g ,

 PER R A N C O V E TOWER S 1 3

n e ck an d shoul ders Her brown hair was ca ught up .

with a string o f pearl s and the roughly clad fi s h e r ,

-

maiden was metamorphosed into a sweet and graciou s

l ittl e princess .

M r Endicott put o n hi s gol d r i mmed g l asses and

.
-
,

surveyed h er i n perpl exity .

“ ”
Thi s i s not Una ? h e questioned
”
Ye s M i ss End icott repl ied
, As y o u see she .
,

i s a chil d no longer Her birthday was last month . .

She came o f age then .

“ ”
Th e ch il d twenty one ! M r Endicott exclaimed -
.

“
in a dazed fash ion I have been dreaming indeed
. .

Una l ooked at her guardian w ith a sparkl e o f

mi schie f i n her eye then s h e dropped h im a demure
,

curtsey .

He took her by the han d and drew her gently to

h im Then w ith l owered eyebrows h e put o n e hand
.
, ,

under her ch in an d turned her face up to h im

,
.

. Una met hi s dark frownin g gaze w ith stead y

frankness .

“
A chil d n o lon g e r h e repeated in a murmur to ,

himsel f .

“
B ut i f I may speak sir I do not feel at al l grown , ,

up It i s onl y a question o f clothes ; and thi s atti re

.

al ways wearies me I f it i s not pl easing to you

.

I wil l gl adly change i t for short petticoats May .

I d o so
“ ”
Una be d i screet an d quiet ! sai d M iss End icott in
,

“
warning tones Dinner i s served Let us come into
. .

the din ing room -

.
 A DAU G H T ER O F TH E

M r Endicott o ffered h i s arm to hi s s ister Cuthbert

.
,

did the same to Una and conversation flowed o n

,

evenly at the dinner tabl e personal topics not bein g

-
,

touched upon again Yet every now an d then a l ow

.

murmu r woul d escape th e l ips o f Una s guardian

’
.

“ ”
A ch il d n o l onger ! I have been dreaming !
 C HA PTE R I I .

UN A CA RTERET
An o pen h e a rte d m a i den ,
-
tr ue an d p ur e .

Th e P r i n ces s .

The next morn i ng Una was summoned to her guard

ian s presence in the o l d l ibrary
’

As M r En dicott leant back in hi s black oak chai r

.
,

surrounde d by bo o ks the dusk iness and sombre ,

furn iture o f the room seem ed in fit keeping w ith hi s

mood .

Hi s face was l ined an d worn S u ffering and anxi .

ety had accentuated the s te r n e s s o f h i s rugged fea

tures but had n ot d immed the eagl e glance th e keen
, ,
‘

fl ash in hi s dark eyes .

When Una tripped in the person i fi cation o f youth ,

ful freshness an d beauty the contrast seemed to ,

strike him .

“
She i s o n the threshol d o f l i fe— j ust stepping over
i t— I am l eaving i t and am stepping over another
,

an d dark e r threshol d Woul d I change pl aces .

? I
thi nk o n th e whol e I woul d not
, ,
.

Then with a cynical smil e on his l ips h e proceeded

to put h i s ward through rather a stran g e c atechi sm .

“ ”
I k n o w nothing about you he commenced ,

“
abruptl y .Sit down an d l isten to m e I h a ve for .
,
1 6 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

reasons o f my own al lowed you to grow up ab s o,

l u te l y unch ecked an d un fettered in your young l i fe .

What pursuits you have chosen you have been al lowed

to fol low without any h indrance W e are natural ly .

i solated here for we have never entertained and there

, ,

i s no societ y w ith in reach o f us I concl ude you have .

no friends o f your own class You have had to form .

you r o w n i deas an d gai n your o w n experience M y .

sister has carried o u t my i nstructions and h as not ,

interfered w i th you She tel l s m e th e o l d vicar and

.

s h e have educated you between them That i s to say .

,

they have given you th e orthodox teach ing that girl s

are supposed to need to make them good an d capabl e
housewives B arrin g thi s you have been al lowed to
.
,

go your o wn way Am I corr e ct i n th ese state

.

ments
Una s at l ook i n g at h er gu ard i an w ith a l i ttl e wrinkl e
o f perpl exity and awe between her eyes Hi s con .

cl uding question was put s o sharply that s h e started ,

then repl ie d composedly

“ ”
Ye s , s ir .
“
Now g i ve me your und i v id ed attent io n I wi sh .

to know a few th ings about you an d my si ster s ug ,

gests that you can tel l me better than s h e can What .

are you r favorite pursuits ?

“
D o you mean what do I l i ke do i ng best ? I th i nk
,

”
rowing an d making boats .

M r Endicott el evated h is eyebrows th en too k a

.
,

note book o u t o f h i s p oc ket an d j otted do w n th i s

-

answer .
 UNA CARTERET 1 7

Have y o u any other l ikings ?

Oh yes a great many I th ink the girl went o n
, , .
, ,

l ook i ng up at her ga u r d i a n w ith a w inning smile

“
I l ik e everybod y an d everything except cruelt y and
”
l ies
.

“
An d what do you fear ? Youn g girl s are ful l o f
”
fears I bel ieve
, .

Una knitted her brows then again rai sed her eyes ,

an d there was a prou d l ight i n them as she repl ied

“
I am a frai d o f n o o n e —I fear n othing ”
.

M r Endicott gaze d at her contemplativel y

. .

“
W hat are your i deas o f l i fe—its pl easures —its
duties ? Do you ever think at al l ?
Una met the mocking gleam i n h er guardian s eye ’

w ith a twinkl e in h er o wn .

“
It wants thought to answer these questions Li fe .

to me i s del ightful S ummer brings pl easure winter

.
,

du ty At l east I think i t seems so to me In winter

.
,
.

I have to be indoors sewing with M i ss Endicott read ,

ing al oud an d l i stening to the storms s h e does n o t

,

l ike me to be out i n B ut summer brin g s me perfect

.

”
l iberty I l ove i t
. .

Li fe begins an d end s with sel f mu rmured M r ,

.

Endicott j otting that conclu sion down in hi s note

,

book .

Una caught the word s an d l ooked a l ittl e startl ed

,
.

“
And you r opinion of your fel l ow creatures —y ou r -

dependence o n them o r independence o f them ,

I think sai d Una sl owl y and thought full y ; that

,

I l ike m en better than w om en ; the y do things straight

 ]
A D A G HTER O F
"

I S TIE7 I SE A

w eanen d en t . M os t o f m y be s t fri en ds are men .

T1 21 5 ca l m s mn l ed \ r En di cott in
I
. hi s

te e za o f a Sh e I a r ow in g c da y
'

le d ha d
g a . an ra e on e .

I n m en I l k e i
i w e: en , an d
h
t en ch il dre n . Th e o ld
 Una smil ed then nod ded her l ittl e h ead my s te r i
,

o u s ly .
“
I h ave plans for i t all I have to begin s o many
.

th i ngs an d leave them unfini sh ed for want o f mone y .

I shoul d l ike to be abl e to give wherever I s a w it was

really needed but I woul d n ever g i ve i t unl ess it w as
,
.

A man an artist came here l ast summer and stayed

, ,

at Cl i ff Farm ; he u sed to throw pennies to the boys

for want o f something better to do an d he w a s ,

al ways giving money to the m en The i dl e worthles s .

ones go t most and there was more drunkenness while

,

h e w a s here than we h ave ever had be fore I spoke .

to hi m about i t but he onl y l aughed an d sai d he be

, ,

lie v e d in equal rights and w as try i ng to g et ri d o f

,

”
h i s surpl us .

“ ”
Do you bel ieve in equal rights ?

N o I bel ieve I coul d spen d money o n peopl e bet

”
ter than they coul d spend it themselves .

“ ”
B ut do they think s o ?
Una laughed a l ittl e .

“
I shoul d th ink n ot Geor g e T r e gga n n d i d three
.

days work for m e an d I bought h im a new pair o f

’

boots instead o f giving him the money He was quite .

—
put out sai d he h ad promised th ree other boys some
pipes an d tobacco an d a meal o f sausages and potatoes
‘
with beer at the Bl ue Lobster I tol d h i m I wasn t
.
’ ’

goin g t o pay h i s three friend s for what he had done ,

”
but he d i d not seem to s e e it .

M r End i cott shut up h is note book

.
-
.

“
Yo u are happy here ch i l d ? Can y o u be content
,
 UNA CARTER E T 2I

to l ive and di e here ?

Have you any thoughts about
”
you r future ?
“
O nly thoughts o f what I woul d d o here i f I c oul d ,

responded the girl .

“
I shoul d l ike to hear those thoughts .

B ut Una shook her h ead .

“
You woul d l augh at them Y o u woul d not under
.

stand I a m quite content to l ive an d die here I

. .

”
don t th i nk I coul d l ive anywhere el se
’
.

“ ”
Y ou can l eave me her guard ian sai d w i th a shade
, ,

o f sadness in hi s tone ; an d Una d isappeared at on c e .

She went straight to her sanctum pushed aside a ,

conceal ed door behind a curtain wh ich door s h e had ,

not shown Cuthbert and sped down some steep rough

,

steps which woun d down and down to the very bottom

o f the cl i ff on whi ch P e r r a n c o v
e Towers was buil t .

She w as breathl es s wh en s h e at l ast found hersel f o n

the beach i n a sand y cove which contained two smal l
boats . I n a very few minutes s h e had with the ,

stren gth o f a fi s h e r lad run th e smal l est o f these boats

-
,

down the shelving bank into the s e a Then j umpin g .

l ightl y in s h e took her oars an d was soon shooting

,

o ut upon the bl u e ocean rowing with long even

,

strokes an d rai sing her fai r flushed young face to the

,

open s ky with a l ittl e happy sigh o f del ight White .

gul l s flew round her an d skimm ed the waters w i th

carel ess freedom A s s h e l ooked up at the grey o l d
.

buil ding o n the top o f th e cl i ff her though ts shaped

,

themselves into words In common with many l onely

.

peopl e Una had acquired the bad habit o f uttering her

,
22 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

thoughts al oud H e i s as grey an d dark as hi s hom e

. .

B ut I l ike him ! He seemed to th ink my opinions _

might be heard and he l istened a s i f he were takin g

,

n ote o f them N o w, M i ss Endico tt l i ste n s but shakes

.
,

her head or si g hs o r W hat i s w orse still smil es at

, , ,

me ! What cur i ou s question s h e d i d a s k me ! An d how

fierce he w a s about rel igion I wonder what I do b e .

’
l ieve i n W hy ou g ht rel igion to be part o f one s
.

l i fe ?
Sh e pul le d i n her o ars an d l et h ersel f dr i ft The .

s e a was unusual ly cal m that morn i n g ; the s ky cloud

l ess U n a general ly di d a l ot o f th inkin g when o u t

.

al one ; but her thou g hts were t a k i n g a fresh d irection

now .

“
Wel l sh e co ntinued a fter some mome n ts hard
, ,
’

“
thinking ; the Creed will a fter al l answer that q ues , ,

tion best ‘
I bel ieve i n Go d the Father — o f course I
.
’

do— an d I bel ieve He i s g ood for i sn t the worl d ,

’

l ovely ? And I bel ieve i n H i s S on and in Hi s death ,

and resurrect i on an d ascension I shoul d never th ink

, .

o f questioning the truth o f it ; but i t has nothing to

do with my l i fe Rel igion does nothin g f o r me at all
. .

It makes m e a l i ttl e uncom fortabl e to have to s i t up

on Sunda y s when th e weather i s hot in my best ,

clothes and l isten to M r Preston for more th an an

, .

hour He never tel l s u s rel igion ought to be a per

.

sonal experi ence H e argued I remember l ast S un

.
, ,

day that the B ibl e was true but I never thought it ,

’
wasn t I th i nk as far as I am concerned I shoul d
.
, ,

l ive j ust as happily i f there were no rel i g ion o f any

”
s o rt i n the w o rl d .
 U NA C A RTERET 23

Ma r n i n M i ssy ’

,
!”

Una started an d sl ipped h er oars into the water

,

again Another boat was passing h er In i t was a

. .

grey bearded fisher an d Cuthbert

-
, .

“ ”
Where are yo u going ? she demanded bending to ,

her oars w ith such a wil l that the other boat though ,

abreast with her coul d not pas s her , .

“ ”
Anywhere sai d Cuthbert lazily ; I want to see
,

”
the coast a l ittl e .

“ ’
Take h im to Eagl e s Head Mart in , .

N ay M issy the t i de be turned an d the current too

, , ,

”
strong .

Una l aughed a l i ttl e mock i n g l y .

“
are too lazy M art i n
Yo u ,
. I am goi n g there . It
”
o nly wants an extra oar .

”
“
W il l you take m e w ith y o u ? asked Cuthbert ,

thinking that the girl s bright animated face woul d be ’

a pleasant exchange to th e rather surl y demeanor o f

h i s boatman .

“
Y e s i f you w i l l take an
,
o ar . I was go i ng to cal l
"
for Jim Tanner .

“
Jim be out in h i s smack sai d M artin l ooking , ,

rather rel ieved than otherwise when Cuthbert sl ipped

a silver coi n in hi s han d an d prepared to l eave him .

Th e boats were brought together an d in a few ,

minutes Cuthbert an d Una bending to their oars , ,

were making the smal l boat shoot al ong through the

blue water at a spee d which astoni shed o ld Martin .

He l ooked a fter them w ith a shake o f h is head .

24 A D A UG H TER O F THE SEA

A ll to no purpose ! \Vaste 0 w ind ! And no

’

’
profit in un '
They passed the fish ing village with the l ittl e white
houses u p the edge o f the cl i ff an d th e smal l bay that
,

was now bere ft o f its red brown sail ing smack s ; for
-

th e fishermen were not yet back from thei r n ightl y

toil ; and then rounding a h igh j utting crag they ,

came i n sight o f some rocky c oves an d pul l ing c ease d ,

to be an easy matter .

“
The current i s a l ittl e strong here sai d Una ; ,

but when we get round that j agged bit o f the cl i ff ,

we are al l right That i s the Eagl e s Head an d beyond

.
’

’ ’
are Co n dy s Cave and the Witch es Hol e None o f .

the fishers l iking passing them for they re supposed ,

’

’ ’
to be haunted Martin woul dn t row by the W itches
.

Hol e i f you gave hi m ten pounds ! Th e Tanners are

the onl y peopl e that have n o fear o f it They l ive right .

above Do you s e e that l ittl e hous e o n the top o f

.

”
Eagl e s Head ?
’

“
Rather far from the beach i s i t not i f they get , ,

”
their l iving by fish ing ?
“
They have a l ittl e boat house at th e bottom o f th e
-

cli ff an d get down to i t by steps They re d i fferent

, .
’

to th e rest To begin w ith they are not natives o f the

.
,

pl ace an d I don t think they are very popul ar They

,
’
.

have been here about twenty years Ol d El i Tanner .

marri ed Su san Crane the daughter o f the richest

,

farmer i n o u r neighborhood She met h im at Ply .

mouth when she was staying with an aunt ; an d per

s u a d e d him to come and l ive at P e r r a n c o v
e H e was .
 U NA CA R T E R E I
’ ‘

25

a boat -bu i l der by trade Her father was very angry .

,

for the Cranes had n ever married o u t o f the neighbor

hood an d he wi shed her to marry a farmer not a
, ,

fisherman They buil t them sel ves that l ittl e house

.
,

but s h e died when To m was born El i brought Tom .

up without a woman near the pl ace When Tom grew .

up he married a girl i n service She w a s kitchenmai d .

’
to M r Endicott s mother She only l ived a year a fter
. .

J im was born and n o w the three men l ive together

, ,

an d do for themsel ves entirely Peopl e s ay there s a .

’

curse o n those marrying o u t o f P e r r a n c o v

e You s e e .

Tom s w i fe d i dn t bel on g to these parts I tel l J im

’ ’
.

he m u sn t marry at all I don t s e e why h e shoul d

’
.
’
.

They are al l very com fortable and th e grand father i s ,

a hal e and hearty o l d man M arriage i s rather fool i sh .

,

don t you think s o ?

’

Cuthbert had not been fol lowing this family hi story

’
w ith much interest He n o w started at Una s con
.

“ ”
cludin g words Ye s o f course
. he said a l ittl e
, ,

“
absently ; marriage i s very fool ish Ah this i s .
,

grand ! I s th i s Con dy s Cave ? Can w e venture ’

nearer ?”

Great col umn s o f gran i te rock forme d an entrance

to a gigantic cavern the sides and roo f o f wh ich were
,

o f the richest colouring from sapphire bl ue and amber

,

green to deep bl oo d red ; and the waves dashed up

the dark narrow inlet w ith a dul l roar o f defiance
, .

“
No w e cannot l an d here we shoul d be dashed
, ,

’
against the rocks Th e Witches Hol e i s the sa fe
.
 A D AUGHTER O F THE S EA
'

26

landin g place ; but I—I don t think we wil l l an d there

’

to day
-
.

“
Why not ? You are not a fraid ?
The bright i ndignant gl ance that w a s fl ashed up at
,

him made Cuthbert smil e .

They had passed C o n dy s Cave now ; and a fter a ’

l ittl e more rowing past some very w il d bits o f cl i ff ,

they again came i n sigh t o f a smal l cove I t l ooked .

gl oomy and dark enough for its name The s un was .

enti rely hidden beh in d th e masses o f rock which s u r

rounded i t an d the very ai r as they passed seemed to
, ,

be damp and moul dy .

Cuthbert d rew in h i s oar and gazed contempl ativel y

i nto the dark recess under the cl i ff .

“
I shoul d l ike to l an d f or a few m inutes h e sa i d ; ,

”
it l ooks interesting .

We can t land thi s morning sa id Una a l i ttle

’

, ,

curtly .

“ ”
Why not ? persi sted Cuthbert .

Then with a swi ft ri sing blush Una turned upon

-
,

him angrily
“ ’
Because I don t choose to !
Cuthbert raised hi s eyebrows in amused aston i sh
ment at th i s outburst .

“
Then perhaps w e had better turn back h e s ug ,

’
gested very qu ietl y a fter a few mi nutes s il ence
,
.

Una turned th e boat w ithout a word Presentl y s h e

, .

l ooked up and l aughed .

“
I am sorry I was cross s h e sa i d D o y o u a l way s
, .

”
l ike you r o w n w a y ?
 UNA C A RTERET 2 7

I am not sure that I have o n e was th e slow ,

reply .

“
I have an d I l ike to get it I think—I nearly .

al ways do .

“
It i s very bad for you .

So M i ss Endicott al ways says I don t see why .

’

unl ess i t does harm to any o n e el se .

“
But i t o ften does It tr i es th ei r tempers i f they
.
,

”
want another way .

Una looked up into h i s f ac e meditatively .

“ ”
So it does m in e .

Cuthbert smil ed .

“
It i s too warm to a rgu e he sai d laz il y , .

When they reached the l ittl e fishing bay again Una ,

said
“
I am going to take th e boat i n h ere ; and i f you
l ike to walk up the vill age w ith me I wil l point y o u
out any places or peopl e o f interest .

Thank you sai d Cuthbert meekl y

,
May I ask .

i f al l th e coast i s as g ran d roun d here a s the bit we

”
have been along to day ? -

“
Yes quite as grand and it i s al l very dangerous
, , ,

unl ess you know the currents and rocks In storm )

’

weather ships sometimes get driven toward s us and

, ,

i f they do the y are wrecked at once !

,

“ ”
Is there no l ighthou se ?

Una caught h er breat h .

“ ”
Oh i f th ere were !
, Then sh e ad ded quietly I ,

’
don t know how on e coul d be buil t A nd we are very .

c onservative at P e r r a n co v W e don t l ike innova ’

e .
28 A DA UG HT E R O F TH E S EA

tions We are wonder ful ly qu iet an d unmol ested I

. .

think the coastguardsmen consi der u s lambs o f inno

cence and purity for they hardly ever show themselves
,

in these parts Smuggl ing has never thriven here

.
,

’
for the coast i s too dangerous An d a s w e don t .

smuggl e we are l e ft al one

,
.

Cuthbert l ooked at her There was hi dden meanin g .

under h er words w hich he failed to catch ,

S he .
.

seemed sometimes to be ol der than h er l ooks A .

coupl e o f men ran down to the beach di rectly they

saw her boat Evidentl y s h e w a s wel l known and
.

l iked by every fisher i n the vill age As they made .

thei r way up th e steep cobbl ed l ane s h e narrated in ,

easy assured tones th e h istory o f each famil y an d

individual who inhabited the di ff erent h ouses She .

l eft Cuthbert when they reached the top o f th e cl i ff ;

and he turning to a l ittl e knot o f men l ounging round
,

a tel escope which was mounted o n an o l d gun w as ,

soon engaged in conversation w ith them

“ ”
Come to stay at th e Towers ? asked a stal wart ,

weather beaten ol d man Ti s n t o ften u s have v i s

’ ’
-
.

”
i to r s here That s a fine l ass eh ?
.
’

“
Do you mean M is s Carteret ?
A y— M issy us cal l s un
’
Sh e be a brave o n e for .

”
b o a ti n an sich l ike
’ ’
.

“ ’
There be two on em comin in sai d an ol d man ’
, ,

“
peering th rough th e tel escope Ti s Tom Tanner .
’

first thi s time .

“ ”
Ugh ! grunted a man stand ing close to Cuthbert
Tanners be foremost anywhere—wors e luck to n u ! ’
 UNA C A RT E RET 29

”
Why ? asked Cuthbert curiously remembering the ,

“ ’
name Aren t those the three men who l ive o ut at
.

Eagl e s H ead ? ’

“
Iss M i ssy w il l have l et o n about em Jim Tan ’
. .

ner for al l hi s dumb doggedness find s h i s tongue to

, ,

sh e !
“
Ay, but h e have a cal l be civi l l ike sin Fri day ’
to

week ? ”

“ ”
W hat happene d th en ? asked Cuthbert again .

’ ” “
Twas l ike thi s sai d o n e eagerly Jim be a brave , .

’ ’ ’
u n to swim an h e were takin a header from hi s boat
,

’
o u t near Co n dy s Cave M issy her an M artin were ’
.
,

’
in her bit 0 s a i l i n boat ; an d su dden l ike Jim gives a ’

cal l Just on e cal l for help it were an Martin he

.
, ,
’

’
l aughed Ti s to track o u r notice M i ssy says he
.
’

, ,
’
.

‘ ’ ‘
J im woul dn t cal l for says sh e ; u s mu st go
‘
to h im W ind an d waves i s contrary says Martin
.
’
,
’
.

‘
Th i s ere c ockl e shel l d u r s n t go nigh Co n dy s Cave
’
-
’ ’
.
’

’
Jim s head had d isappeared M issy says no more ; her .

kicks o ff hern boots an d into the water her splashes , .

’
Twas a brave struggl e ; an M artin sai d h i s pr a yers ’

four times b a cke r d s an f o r r a r ds for h e never thought ’

her woul d weath er through it Her brought Jim to .

’
the boat Jim had th e cramp an were nigh gone wh en
.
,

her cl utched hol d on u m He were o n s e n s ib l e when ’

.

’
her got un in an d d i dn t come to til l the doctor ,
’

w o rked un l ike a windmil l ; an when h e opened hi s

’ ’

’
eyes h e h adn t a chance to thank M i ssy for h er were ,

’ ’
gone l ike a flash 0 li gh te n i n Jim h ave n o words .

’ ’
for an y fol ks ; u s never h a h eard n u speak hi s thanks ,
30 A D AUGHTER O F T HE S EA

but ti s a r a yth e r o n g r e e ab l e event to be behol den to a

’

”
mai d in s i ch a manner !
“
Ess fay ! The Tanners be sure to meet they fate .

’
Them that trifle w i bewitched corners an marry o u t ’

l a n d i s h mai ds must surel y su ffer

,
J im b e o nly save d .

fur worse to fol ler !

“ ”
?
But why asked Cuthbert pers i stentl y .

An ol d man grasped him by th e cu ff o f h i s sl eev e .

“
Do e e s e e th Eagl e s Head over y o nn e r
’ ’ ’

Yes I have j ust rowed past i t

,
.

”
’
Was e e nigh the Witches Hol e ? ’

”
Yes a g ruesome l ooking spot
,
-
.

There was an assenting g r o an th r o u g h th e l i ttl e

group .

“ ’
L a s summer sa i d th e o l d man i mpress i vel y
, ,

gazing up into Cuthbert s fa c e w ith bl ink i ng awe ’

“
struck eyes Las summer a boat 0 carel ess mocki n
.
’ ’ ’

’ ’
l ad s rowed in Us warned em u s tol d em to bid
.
,

they sweethearts goodbye a fore th ey were destru c ted

“
And what happened ? ”

’ ’ ’
Th o l d boat were wash ed in w i a black mark 0 ,

five fingers on the gunwal e

The ol d man l owered h i s voice to a wh i sper .

“
Were they al l d rowned ? W hat i s the story o f the
”
Witches Hol e ’
?

N o one answered .

’
Cuthbert s tone was to o fl i ppan t for such a sol emn
subj ect ; an d finding h i s question woul d remain un
an swered h e sauntered ba c k to the Towers
, .
 C HA P TER I I I .

A S T RAN G E P RO P O S I T I O N
S i n c e t h i s f o r tun e f a l l s to y o u ,

B e c o n t e n t an d s e e k n o n e w ,

I f y o u b e w e l l pl e a s e d w it h th i s ,

A n d h o l d y o u r f o rtun e f o r y o u r b l i s s ,

T u rn y o u w h e r e y o u r l a d y i s ,

A n d c l a i m h e r w ith a l o vi n g k i s s .

Me r ch an t of Ve n i c e .

It was a wet day M r Endicott s a t in h i s l ibrary

. .

at h i s writing tabl e surrounded by books an d papers

-
, .

Cuthbert w ith h i s pipe i n h i s mouth was l ounging

, ,

upon the w indow seat gazing into th e sodden wind

,

swept garden and l i stenin g abstractedly to th e s e a

,

’
gull s screams and th e dul l roar o f the waves below
,
.

Presently a knock at the door was h eard and Una , ,

bearing a message from M i ss Endicott appeared , .

She was still in her short shabby serge gown but a ,

voluminous white apron w ith big pockets and a bunch ,

o f keys dangl ing at her side proclaimed the fact that

,

s h e w a s in the m idst o f housewi fely duties .

Her fresh young face an d voice seemed l ike a ray

o f sunshine to the tw o men M r End icott raised hi s
. .

tired eyes and a gl eam o f amusement shot into them

,
.

Laying down a book over wh i ch h e had been poring

, ,

he said very dri l y

32 A DAUG H TER OF TH E S EA

Una my dear you seem for a woman to have

, , , ,

strong opinions o f your own Have you any o n matr i .

i n on y ?
‘

“
?”
May I s i t down and think be f ore I speak th e
girl asked a mischievous sm il e coming to her r os y
,

l ips .

Then a fter a pause s h e added

"

I think M i ss Endicott woul d s a y such a question

”
ought never to be discussed by me .

“
M i ss Endicott i s not here You may give me you r .

”
views on the subj ect .

“
I real ly do not know much about it responded ,

the girl meeting her guardian s keen gaze with calm

,
’

u n r u ffl e d eyes I suppose it i s most women s l ot I f

'

. .

I ever marry I hope that my husban d w ill be too busy

,

to be much w ith me ; an d then I can go my own way ;

an d I am sure w e shoul d get on very com fortably
together I th ink on th e w hol e I shoul d pre fer to be
.
, ,

w ithout hi m— but i f I wanted a home and some o n e ,

to talk to occasional ly I shoul d not mind having ,

”
h im .

“
You require very l ittl e observed Cuthbert gazing , ,

at the pretty l ittl e figu re w ith some interest .

I woul d never r e qu i r e a husband at all retorted ,

“

Una with a sl ight tos s o f her head

, .

“ ”
But you coul d tol erate one ? sai d M r Endicott .

“
with a smi le There run al ong an d do not troubl e
.
, ,

”
y o u r l ittl e head w i th such question s yet !

She l eftthe room and there was s ilence a g ain ,

between th e two men .

 A S TR A N GE PRO PO S ITI O N

Presently M r En dicott spoke

. .

“
Cuthbert do you ever inten d to settl e down an d
,

”
have a home o f your own ?
“
I have dreams o f it sometimes repl ied th e younge r ,

man l ooking across at h is friend wi th a faint surpri se

,

”
i n hi s gl ance .

M r Endicott got up from h i s chair an d began to

.
,

pace the room restl essly .

“ ”
It i s hard l ines he sai d w ith knitted brows that
, ,

a fter al l these years o f l abour and research when at ,

last I was congratul ating mysel f upon having material

and in formation that wil l make no smal l stir in the
l iterary worl d to be baul ked by il l heal th and
,
-
,

He faltered Cuthbert spoke hastil y

. .

“
Yo u
wil l l i ve to wr i te your book . T here i s no
reason why you shoul d not .

“
Twel ve months w il l scarcel y be lon g enough to
d o i t thoroughly an d my time i s l imite d to three
,
.

“ ”
Oh Endicott you don t mean it ?
, ,
’

’
Awe an d pity were i n the young man s to nes Hi s .

friend smil ed sadly .

“
I am going up to town again very shortl y I must .

be within reach o f medical ai d an d I shrink from thi s ,

country practitioner S til l the best o f them can only

.
,

relieve not cure My si ster wish es to come with me

, . .

”
I have broken i t to h er .

There was sil ence Then Cuthbert sa i d slowl y

.
,

Li fe i s an enigma We are but puppets utterly

.
,

”
unabl e to resist an unseen foe .
 A DAUGHTER OF TH E S EA

Rel igion— our creed— woul d give u s better com

fort than that And much as I l ove my books around
.

me th e one that wil l be my chie f gui de n o w wil l be

,

an ol der one than any o f them B ut do not l et u s .

touch o n seriou s topics I want to ask a favour o f yo u

. .

Wil l you un dertake the writing o f my book f o r me ?

We have travel l ed together I have your papers
.
,

wh ich are val uabl e i n themsel ves W il l yo u i f I

.
,

bequeath to you th e resul ts o f my ten years wander ’

ings put th em together and bring out someth ing for

,

the good o f mankin d ? I t w il l n eed persevering toil ,

”
but you are th e only man wh o can do it ?

Cuthbert was much moved A fter a l ittl e h e si ta.

tion he acceded to thi s request an d for some time they

,

were bu sily engaged i n d i scussing the material for

publ ication .

But M r Endic o tt ha d st i l l s o meth i n g we ig hing o n

.

h i s m in d .

“
I asked you i f you w ere l ikel y to settl e down j u st
“
now h e said
,
- I know y o u are not a marrying man
.
,

an d yet I wonder i f i t i s circumstances o r incl ination

”
that has made you such a wanderer a s mysel f ?
“ ”
Incl ination I th ink sai d Cuthbert w ith a sl ow
, , ,

“
smil e . I am not very young now I di d have a .

vision once but i t was d i spel l ed My ideal was sh at

, .

te r e d and I sickened o f civil ization

, Now my views .

are broader mel lower an d o n a l ower l evel I have

, , .

l earnt to expect l ess and be satisfied with l ess and

, ,

i f I ever come across one whom I feel woul d be suita

”
ble and- com fortabl e I may change my state
, .
 A S TRANGE PRO PO S ITI O N
'

35

M r Eii di c o tt stopped pacing the room and fixed

.
,

h i s gaze earnestly on hi s friend .

“
Yo u have seen my ward Una What do you , .

”
?
think o f her he sai d abruptly .

“
A nice l ittl e g i rl Cuthbert responded l ook ing at
, ,

M r End icott w ith some perpl exity

. .

“ ”
I want sai d th e l atter as he tr u n e d and paced
, ,

“
the room I want to fin d a husband for her be fore I
,

die I have reasons —strong reason s—for doing s o

. .

I have been won dering i f you coul d solve my d iffi

c u l ti e s and take her o ff my hands N o w don t speak
’

.
, ,

l isten I think s h e has the makings o f a good wi fe

.

i f manage d wi sely She i s a revelation to me I have

. .

onl y seen her for a short time but I have had o n e ,

satis factory interview with her i n wh ich I fancy I ,

have gauged her ch aracter pretty accu ratel y Let me .

”
give y o u the substance o f my notes o n that occasion .

Cuthbert ros e from h i s seat ; he watched h is frien d

produce a note book from h i s p ocket and squaring
-
, ,

h i s shoul ders against the wal l took a l ong wh i ff at ,

h i s pipe an d l i stened i n imperturbabl e sil ence

,
.

M r Endicott glanced at h im nervously then began

.
,

reading
Un A
’
s C H A RA CTE R I S T I CS .

B oyi sh procl ivit i es .

Chil di sh a ff ection an d ,
most
l o w creatures
-
.

“
D i sl ike o f mean vices .

Absol ute fearl essness .

36 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S E A

S trong fil ial feel ings .

Rel igion a mere form .

Her l i fe begin s an d end s w ith sel f .

Impatient wil ful passionate but open to reas o n

, , , .

”
Sel f c o n fide n t generous but al so cautious
-
, , .

He paused an d Cuthbert gave a short l augh

,
.

“
A man does not general ly choose a w i fe l ike a
servant Her character may be al l that c an be de
.

si red but
,

“
S tay ! Hear me to the end M y property here i s .

a large one I am l eaving it al l to her I have al ways

. .

intended to do s o B ut s h e i s an inexperienced
.

thoughtl es s girl M y s ister i s no advi ser for her

. .

A n d the real d i fficulty i s that though s h e i s i n per ,

feet ign orance o f it her father i s stil l al ive and i s as

, ,

”
great a scoundrel a s ever !
Cuthbert gave a l ow wh i stl e M r Endi c o tt c on . .

ti n u e d
“
I am morally certain that i n the event o f my death ,

an d o f her becoming my heiress her father w il l turn ,

up obtain compl ete influence over her an d spend my

, ,

money and waste my estate s h e being utterly power , .

l ess to prevent h i m I want to marry h er to a man

.

who wil l protect her an d my property ; on e whom I

can trust to help her to carry out my wishes And .

Cuthbert i f I knew that you woul d be that man I

,

”
think I coul d di e happy .

“
And i s your ward to have no voice in the matter ?
We are not in France Endi cott Engl ish girl s are, .

accustomed to l ook upon marriage in a d i fferent light

 A S T R A N GE PR O P O S ITI O N 37

to that de c o nv e na n ce I s the young lady to be mar

.

”
r ied whether s h e wil l s o r not ?
“
Yo u heard her vi ews o n matrimony thi s morning .

S he i s a happy carel ess chil d an d woul d be c ontent

, ,

”
w i th any o n e whom s h e trusted .

“
It i s because s h e i s such a chil d and has seen so ,

l i ttl e o f th e worl d that it woul d be un fai r i n the

,

extreme to tie her f o r l i fe to o n e whom s h e might

grow to di sl ike .

M r E nd icott move d h i s head impatiently

. .

“
I f I have been happy in your friend ship for th ese
”
years I th ink Una might an d woul d be
, .

“
Y ou have n o t exactly the same tastes sai d Cuth ,

bert wi h a grave smil e

, t .

“ ”
N o w look here M r Endicott sai d irr i tably
, . I .

have shown yo u the wi sh o f my heart I have ex .

pl ained th e reason f o r it O f course yo u and s h e are

.

per fectly free in the matter I f y o u can win her

.

a ffect i on and make her your wi fe y o u wil l have my ,

’
bl essing I f you don t care to try no harm i s done
.
, .

”
Let us change the subj ect .

Cuthbert gave an invol untary sigh o f rel i ef ; and

the bel l ringing for the mi dday meal had a wel come
sound in h i s ears Such a novel an d unexpected pro
.

posal from hi s ol d frien d perpl exed and staggered him .

Yet during th e next few days he found himsel f

watching Una furtively There w a s something very
.

W insome in her brigh t eager young voice an d manner .

She seemed al ways i nterested ; al ways occupied ; and

to the ti red an d j aded travel l er her ver y presence was
38 A DAUGHTER O F T H E S E A

i nvigorating and re fresh ing She treated h im ve ry .

much a s she d id her guardian ; talking perfectly freel y ,

an d naturally o f al l her home interests an d Cuthbert ,

soon discovered that though M i ss Endicott had been

’
nominal ly the m i stress in her brother s absence it ,

wa s Una who i n real ity ruled an d managed th e hou se

hol d .

O ne morning a s h e was tak i n g an early ramble

al ong the beach Una pul le d i n from the open s e a i n
,

her boat .

”
“
Where have you been s o early ? h e asked .

Settin g my l obster pots O ne h a s to watch th e

-
.

tide f o r them .

“
Yo u ought to have been a fi s h e r man s d au g hter
’
,

sai d Cuthbert as throwing o ff hi s coat he h elped her

, ,

to lan d her boat .

I l ive by the s e a I shoul d hate n o t knowing how

.

“ ’
to l i ve by i t and o n it s h e responded quickl y , Don t .

you th ink one i s suppose d to study one s S urroun d ’

i ngs ? I f I l i ved i n S cil ly I sl es I shoul d mak e flowers

th e busines s o f my l i fe Here i t i s not earth but .
'

”
water that interests every o n e
,
.

“
Then y o u are enti rely dependent o n your su rround
ings for i nterest ? I think I am per fectly in dependent
o f them I shoul d not al ter my l i fe for cl imate o r
.

'
’
atmosph ere A bl aze o f flowers a n ocean s roar a
.
, ,

’ ”
city s bu stl e are al l the same to m e
, .

“
Yes y ou and M r En dicott are qu ite engrossed
, .

and happy i n a l ibrary amongst pil es o f books I a m .

”
n o t a gr eat reader .
 r
A S T R A N GE PR O PO S ITIO N 39

Her vo i ce had a shade o f wi stfulness in it .

“ ”
What book s do you l ike ? asked Cuthbert w ith
interest .

“
Oh books o f travel an d biography
, B ut they .

’
al ways mak e m e s o s a d for they re general ly w ritten
,

about peopl e who are dead I al ways seem to know .

them so wel l be fore I finish the book that it i s j ust ,

‘
l ike l osing a dear friend I shut i t up and sa y That s
.
, ,
’

o n e more person I have known An d I won der some

.

times what i t woul d be to see them al ive and wel l

before me We s e e s o few peopl e here that most o f
.
,

”
the men an d women I have ever known are in books .

“ ”
Do y o u l ike seeing peopl e ?
Yes I l ike seeing you and M r Endicott h ere I
, . .

’
haven t seen any men be fore except the fish ermen to
tal k to I l ike watch ing y o u two together ; and I
.

wonder sometimes wh at you are going to say n ext .

Y ou r conversation i s so d i fferent to what I am

accu stomed Things that seem so important to me
.

are nothing to you Th ings that interest you are

.

”
utterly mean ingl ess to me .

“ ”
We are travel lers sai d Cuthbert with a smil e ;
, ,

”
that ought to interest you .

“
B ut you hardly ever talk about you r travel s I .

wi sh you woul d I shoul d l ike to h ear about them

. .

“
Take me out for a r o w th is a fternoon and I w il l ,

”
talk travel a s much a s you l ike .

Una promised th i s with much del igh t and both s h e ,

and Cuthbert spent a very enj oyabl e time on the

water in conse q uence .
40 A D AUGHTER O F TH E S EA

He was a good talker and s h e was a goo d l i stener

, .

A s they came home together s h e sai d naively

“
I don t know how i t i s but I enj oy talking to you
’
,

much better than to M i ss Endi c ott ; I o fte n wonder

i f sh e thinks o f things at all ! B ut I suppose s h e does
”
not consider her thoughts fit for me to hear .

”
“
Have I tol d you my thoughts ? asked Cuthbert .

I can imagine what some o f them are from what

”
you s a y .

“
You cannot imagine my thoughts now Guess ! .

”
You are wanting som e food .

”
Nothing s o commonplace .

I f they are very n ice thoughts y ou might tel l them

”
t o me .

“
They are about you .

Una s wonderin g gaze checked Cuthbert s l evity at

’ ’

”
once .

“ ”
Have I sai d o r don e anyth ing wrong ? she aske d
rather anxiousl y .

He shook h i s h ead .

“
I was onl y mi staken about you .

”
How ?
I coul d not tell y o u .

Una sai d no more S ilence lasted till th ey entere d

.

the house Then Cuthbert m u ttered under hi s breath

.

as he went upstai rs to h i s room

“
Whatever s h e i s sh e i s not a fool I wi sh there
, .

was no money i n th e question I woul d l ike her better .

”
w ithout it !
 C HA PT E R I V

B ET ROT H E D

I w o n d e r d i d y o u e ve r c o un t
l
T h e v a u e o f o n e h u m an f a t e ;
O r s u m th e i n fi n ite a mo un t
O f L i f e s o n e v e n t ur e
’
.

A n d i f y o u e ve r p a u s e d to t h i n k
T h a t a ll th i s i n y o ur h a n d s I l a i d
W ith o u t a f e ar —d i d y o u n o t s h ri n k
F ro m s u ch a b u rth e n ? h a l f a f ra i d ,

H a l f w i s h i n g th a t y o u c o u l d d ivi d e
Th e ri s k , o r c a s t i t a ll a s i de
”
.

A d e la id e P r oc te r

Within a month from th e travel lers first arr i val ’

Cuthbert tol d h i s frien d that he w a s will ing to carry

out hi s w ish o n condition that Una was equall y will
,

ing M iss Endicott spok e to her i n fear and trembl ing

.
,

and when th e girl had a l ittl e recovered from her

astoni shment her guardian cal l ed her into the l ibrary
and added h i s w ord to h i s s i ster s ’
.

I d o not wi sh to force you to accept him a s you r

husban d ; but I hope you will feel as I do what a good
husban d he w ill mak e y o u You w ill never get a
.

better o n e . I am morall y certain o f that I have .

known Cuthbert G regson pretty intimately ; he coul d

not do a mean o r unkin d act i on ; h e i s truth and
honour personified You have seen enough o f h im to
l ike him I am sure
. .
42 A D AU G HTER O F T HE S E A

I don t d i sl ike h i m
’
stammered Una, B ut I .

don t th i nk I want to be married yet

’
.

Then very qu ickly M r Endicott broke to h er h i s

.

fail ing health and th e reason for h i m going to Lon don

,

an d hi s sister accompanying h i m .

“
B ut I can manage h ere al one q uite well urged ,

Una . I l ike li v
i n g al one I woul d be most care ful
.

to keep everyth i n g as you w o ul d l ike ; and th en when

y o u com e back
“
I shal l n ever come b ac k, sa id her guardian
gravel y .

Una c oul d not take i t in .

Yo u tol d m
“
e a short wh il e ago sai d M r End i , .

“
cott that y ou woul d not at al l min d a h usband pro
, ,

v i de d he di d not inter fere too much with your pl an s

”
an d purposes .

Does M r Gre g son real ly want m e to marry him

.

Una asked with knitted brows a fter a short s il ence , .

“ ”
He says h e does .

He has never tol d me s o .

M r En dicott stepped to the door q uickly and cal le d

.

th e o l d butl er .

“
Tel l M r G regso n I shoul d l ike to s e e h im at
.

”
once .

Cuthbert appeared be fore Una had time to o ffer

any obj ection to thi s m od e o f proceeding .

N o w Cuthbert speak to th is young lady

, , I shal l .

leave you for y o u w ill un derstan d each other better

,

alone .

Una s at i n a n o l d oa k ch ai r b y the w indow Her .

 B ETR O THE D 43

han d s were l ightly clasped in her lap ; her l ittl e feet

planted firml y together She appeared i n deep .

thought but raised a frank and fearl ess face towards

,

Cuthbert Not a shadow o f a bl ush w a s o n her cheeks ;

.

no hesitation o r di scomposure i n h er manner .

An d f o r a moment Cuthbert fel t tongue tied He -

.

real ized that a good deal hung upon the next few
minutes between them He wondered i f h e were
.

doing both h im sel f and h er a w ron g by complying

with M r End icott s w ish An d then h e took coura g e
.
’
.
,

an d spoke ; but h i s voice was a l ittl e husky .

"‘
I think you have been prepared f o r what I want
to say to y ou M iss Carteret ,

“
M r Endicott says yo u want to marry me
. .

Y es W hat wil l your answer be

.

I suppos e i f M i ss Endicott and M r Endicott and , .

,

”
you al l wi sh i t I must no t s ay no sai d Una very
, ,

gravel y .

“
I h o pe sa i d Cuthbert feel in g th i s was a ver y
, ,

”
strange woo i ng that yo u do n o t d isl i ke the i dea ?
,

“ ”
I don t know that I l ike i t
’
.

Hi s face fel l .

“
I woul d try and make y o u happy he sa i d e arn ,

“
Yo u don t di sl ike me do you ?
”
ly
’
e st .
,

N o I— I l ike y o u ; but to tel l the truth I don t

“ ’
, ,

want to be married at al l I a m a fra i d I sh oul d not be

.
-

so free .

“
Yo u shall be as free a s ai r ! I d o n o t think o f
tak ing you away from here and from al l that yo u ,

”
love You r l i fe woul d be j u st the same
. .
44 A DAUGHTER OF THE S E A

There w a s a l ittl e sil ence ; the n Una asked stead ily ,

regarding h im w ith a ver y earnest gaze Why do ,

y ou wi sh to marry me ? ”

Th e simpl e question d isconcerted h im Wh y d id

.

he ? Coul d h e say he l oved her ? Hi s heart seemed

col d and dead t o al l such feel in g H e vaguely felt she
.

might amu se and i nterest him i n h i s dul l moments ;

might manage the hou sehol d an d do al l that a woman
,

shoul d to make her husban d com fortabl e The utter .

selfishness o f such views struck h im for the first time .

What was he going to give her i n exchange f o r this ?

The very house an d property was hers an d by the ,

marriage l aws then i n vogue woul d become h i s after

marriage It was true he had a good private income
.

o f hi s o w n He coul d be her pr otector against her

.

spen dthri ft father ; he coul d be her guid e an d adviser ,

a support i n time o f stres s o r d i fficul ty But woul d.

s h e consi der thi s su fficient to make her w ill ing to l ink

her l i fe to h i s ? A s he thought o f these things he

fel t ashamed to meet her gaze Hi s sense o f honour
.

prevented him at thi s crisi s o f h i s l i fe from p r e v a ri

e a ti n g or m isrepresenting the truth .

“ ”
Una h e sai d gentl y u sing her Chri stian name
, ,

“
for the first time there i s not much i n my favour I
, ,

own I am ol der than yo u an d n o t much more than

.
,

a stranger to yo u stil l B ut I do know and l ike your

.

guard ian an d he i s ver y anxiou s fo r o u r —o u r union

, .

For th e l ast eight years I h av e had l ittl e to do wi th

women I am not apt at pretty speech es ; but I h o n

.

e st l y think y o u an d I woul d be happy together Th e .

 B ETROT H ED 45

o nly question I woul d a s k you i s — Have yo u seen

any one whom you feel you woul d l ike better than
me ? I woul d not stan d in your way for worl ds .

“ ”
I have seen n o o n e the girl repl ied simply
, I .

have been too interested in everything h ere to th ink

o f marria g e at all It i s not a subj ect that M i ss Endi
.

cott has ever d iscu ssed with me I d i d once say to .

h e r when s h e tol d me I must l earn certain things i n

,

order to manage a house o f my own that perhaps I ,

shoul d never have o n e She sai d gi rl s were best with

.

husbands to l ook a fter them ; an d s h e hersel f was an

exception to th e rul e I suppose i f M r End icott
. .

wi shes th i s very much an d you wi sh i t too I must

, ,

‘ ’
s a y yes But I d o h ope it won t make any changes
.

”
in my l i fe I am s o very happy as I am
. .

There was some w istful ness i n h er eyes a s sh e gazed

up at him which made Cuthbert wince a l ittl e H e
, .

resolved then an d there that he woul d be good to her ,

and with an ol d fashioned courtesy h e rai sed her l ittl e

-

hand to hi s l ips .

“
W e will hope to be very happy h ere—both o f u s ,

h e sa i d .

A few m i nutes a fterwards M r Endicott was tol d that

.

his wish had been fulfill ed and cal l ing hi s si ster into
, ,

the l ibrary he gravely pl edged the young coupl e in a

,

glass o f o l d port .

Una was very qu iet Sh e sl ipped away as soon as

.

she coul d for the suddenness an d strangeness o f it

,

al l had been a shock to h e r She had been brough t up

.

so very d i fferentl y to m o st girl s that her i deas were

46 A DAUGHTER OF THE S EA

vague and crude concern ing marriage As s h e said .

,

h er l i fe had been too ful l o f other th ings to give it a

thought She had had no friends i n her own station
.

o f l i fe w ith whom to tal k about such a matter She .

had seen young coupl es wedded amongst th e fishers ;

but the l ove th ey talked about was a th ing she sup
posed only confined to thei r clas s And having heard .

o f marriages being arrange d amongst d i stant relations

o f M is s End icott s h e concl uded that she was now

,

onl y fol l owing the general exampl e Stil l as s h e .

,

walked down to th e shore an d pu shed o u t her beloved

boat for a row s h e had an uneasy feel ing that change
,

was coming into her l i fe ; and s h e won dered i f it woul d

bring her more happiness o r l ess .

Presently as she rounded a point sh e saw a smal l

, ,

fi sh i n g —
boat coming i n from th e open She hail ed i t .

with del ight .

“ ”
Kathi e i s that ?
, you
A bright faced han dsom e girl stood with o n e hand
-
,

o n the till er the other ready to pul l i n her sail Her .

dark hai r escaped i n l ong tresses fro m und er h er blue ’

wool len cap ; her face w ith its healthy sunburn an d

,

rosy cheek s was honest and open ; and when sh e

,

smiled two wh ite rows o f even teeth dazzl ed you w ith

,

thei r fairness .

“
Ju st co me i n from a h a rd of mackerel M i ssy !
,

Brin g up your boat to me ; I want to speak to yo u .

It was th e work o f a few moments to do th i s ; and

Una h avin g secured h er own boat with a rope to the
,
 B ET R OT H ED 47

fi sh ing -
smack now l eapt i nto i t and pushing aside
, , ,

the shining fi s h s a t down with a l ittl e sigh

, .

“
I was j ust wishing to talk to some one Kath ie ; ,

and I al ways think you are a sensibl e girl and kno w ,

’ ”
how to hold you r tongue s o I l l tel l you something , .

Kathie looked interested at once .

Una hel d her head up with great di g n i ty as s h e

announced
“
I am th inking o f being married .

Law M i ssy ! I never shou l d a thought i t

,
’ ’
.

Ye s i t h as aston ished me very much

,
'

I thought .

y o u woul d be surpri sed It w a s only the other day

.

I w a s remark ing what a fool i sh thing marriage w a s ;

an d now I come to think o f i t I sai d it to h i m and , ,

he qu i te agreed with me ! That i s very funny !

Una paused and seemed lost i n thought for a mo
ment then she went o n hurriedl y
“
It i s t o M r Gregson Kathie— the gentl eman who
.
,

i s stayin g w ith us n o w It seems a s i f it i s to be and

.
,

I haven t anything to s ay against h im I don t think

’ ’
.

i t wil l alter my l i fe much I hope not W e shall l ive

. .

on here M r En dicott says I think that i t wi ll give

, . .

me a l ittl e more power with th e l ads h ere you know ,

.

It i s a good thing to have a man at your back I shall .

‘
hol d him up to them as a k ind o f ogre I f m y hus .

‘
band hears o f it he wil l be very angry !
,
I f I am not ’

’
obeyed at once I shal l brin g my husband to you
,
It .

”
sounds s evere doesn t it ?
,
’

Kath i e stared at Un a as she ran on in thi s fashion .

“ ”
She w a s ver y hu mbl e whe n in M i ssy s presen c e
’
.
48 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

Abl e to stan d alone an d earn h er daily bread as regu

la r ly and success full y as any man s h e was yet a ,

strange compoun d o f chil dishnes s an d shrewdness .

“ ”
The ways an d manners o f the qual ity were i n co m
prehensibl e to her She adored Una and l ooked up to
.
,

h er with the greatest veneration ; but thi s talk from

h e r divinity perpl exed an d astonished her Was mar .

r i a ge such chil d s pl ay as thi s ?

’
Kath ie had a big
h eart o f her own and very earnest an d pas sionate
,

i deas o f what a true betrothal ought to be Una .

s p oke as i f i t were a kind o f game ! She sai d at l ast ,

very slowly a s s h e gazed w ith big eyes out at s e a

,

“
I f I were going to marry M i ssy it woul d be a , ,

very big thing to me a v e r y big th ing

”
-
.

Her eyes flashe d w i th a strange l ight a s s h e added

“
An d h i m that comes for m e must l ove me with
’ ’
hi s heart an d soul ; a y and think nothi n o f dy i n for
,

’ ”
me i f needs be for I d do that an d more for h im !
,

Una l aughed .

“ ’
That s how y o u al ways talk Kathi e ! B ut peopl e ,

can be married very happily wi thout that k ind o f

thin g I am going to be I certainly don t expect
. .
’

’
M r Gregson to di e for m e an d I m qu ite positive that
.
,

”
I shoul dn t di e for him
’
.

Kathi e was si lent The breeze warned her to pull

.

in some o f h er sail an d presently s h e l owered it al l an d

,

took o ut her oars .

Una i ns i ste d upon taking o n e too and the girl s ,

rowed o n for a short time w ithout speak ing .

At l ast Una broke the S i l ence .

 B ETROTHED 49

It makes one think—th i s kin d o f thing An d since .

M r Endicott came back h e has rather upset me He

. .

a sked me such strange question s when we had our

first tal k together Have you a personal experience .

in rel igion Kathie ? That was o n e o f hi s questions

,
.

I don t understand him But I can t get it o u t o f my

’
.
’

”
head W hat do I bel ieve in I wonder
.
?
,

“
G ranny woul d have a brave notion o f i t responde d ,

“ ”
Kathie Come and talk i t over with her
. .

“
Or with ol d El i Tanner He al ways talk s as i f .

God l ives w ith h im al l day A n d he talks to Him j ust .

as i f— as i f He were a real Person

”
.

“ ”
I reckon He be sa id Kath ie her eyes on th e blue , ,

ocean in front of her .

“
Ye s but yo u know what I mean As i f He were
,
.

quite q uite near T o me God i s mil l ions o f mil e s

, .

away I feel i f I think about i t at all a s i f He were

.
, ,

a kin d o f Judge weighing my actions and words every

,

”
day I woul d rather not think about Him
. .

”
And when be you g o i n to be ’
marrie d ?

Oh I don t know Noth ing i s settled yet When

,
’
. .

are y o u going to get married Kath ie ? Yo u are ol der ,

than I I know w h o your husband w ill be only he i s

.
,

”
a long time coming to the point .

’
Kathie s ch eek s an d ears got a burn ing red at once .

“
Hi st M i ssy ! I l l tel l you when th ere be anythin g
,
’

”
to tel l .

I w ish M r Gregson was as good at boat buil ding

.
-

”
as Jim Tanner i s ! sighed Una .
 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

Kathie s mil ed I t was n o secret in P e r r a n c o v

. e that

Jim Tanner worshi pped the ground on wh ich sh e

trod Yet hi s i m p e r tu r a b l e silence and reserve ba ffled
.

’
even those wh o knew h im best I f Kath ie s nets o r .

l ines wanted m end ing she woul d wake up one morn

,

ing an d fin d them done by some invi sibl e hand ; i f in

th e dusky l ight at n ight sh e was h aul ing up h er boat ,

and foun d the task h eavy for her weary hands the ,

rope woul d be taken from behind and the strong pul l

given w ith only j u st a qu i et nod an d smil e as the
, ,

’
young fisherman passed by Kathie s eyes woul d
.

brighten an d her heart th rob when h e di d by chance

speak to her There were pl enty o f other young men
.

wh o were not so di ffi de n t and were b y no mean s back

'

ward to appreciate her charm s ; but though th e girl

had a bright an d pl easant wa y with th em all not o n e ,

o f them came near the sil ent Jim in her estimati on .

She an d Una were sil ent now for a time ; each th ink
ing in her heart o f marriage and o f what i t woul d
,

mean to them S o much i t woul d mean to Kath ie s o

.
,

l ittl e to Una The o n e l ooking forward to such a

.

possibil it y with a thril l ing heart ; painting i t i n rosy

col ours ; th e other won dering how l ittl e necessary
change i t woul d mak e in h er l i fe an d sincerel y hoping
,

that sh e woul d stil l be l e ft to fol l ow h er o w n d esires .

The girl s parted from each other w ith the word s

“ ”
I m sure I h ope you ll be happy M i ssy
’ ’
.
,

I mean to be Kath i e and quite expect I shal l

, ,
.

Una was very quiet for the n ext few da y s and ,

el uded Cuthbert s society Then the weath er changed ;

’
.
 B ETROTHED 51

black storm cloud s roll ed i n from th e s e a ; rain and

-

win d s e t in ; and Un a found her thoughts ful l o f other

matters Fo r th e tim e s h e was obl ivious o f her engage
.

ment .

The storm rose to i ts height one day a fter dinner

was over ; the waves dashed an d roared at the foot
o f the Towers ; and the w ind swept al ong the coast ,

l ashing every obstacl e i n i ts way Una sl ipped o ut .

o f the drawing room where she and M iss Endicott

-
,

s a t i n state waiting for the gentl emen to j oin them

, ,

and dash ing up to h er room opened the window and ,

looked o ut Her bedroom chosen by hersel f was at

.
, ,

the top o f one o f the turret towers and from the win ,

dow s h e commanded an extensive view o f the coast .

I t was a dark night ; but as s h e gazed out o n s e a s h e ,

suddenl y sa w a rocket shoot up into the s ky an d by ,

i ts l ight s h e caught sight o f a l ar g e brig dri fting

helpl essly toward s the shore .

“ ”
Another wreck ! s h e gasped I t i s o n th e Perran .

Rocks s o there i s n o hope for i t

, .

Then tossing o ff her evening d ress with l ightning

, ,

rapidity s h e donned her o l d serge w rapped a plaid ,

round her shoul ders an d pul l ing h er worsted cap over

,

her brown curl y head s h e ran l ightly down the turret

,

stairs and reached her sanctum .

From thence s h e soon made her way down to the

beach heedl ess o f w i nd and rain and was soon in view
, ,

o f the fated vessel There w a s a l ittl e gathering o f

.

men and women on the shore Una stol e up amongst .

them very quietl y I t w a s di fficult to hear any one s ’

.
52 A D A UGHTER O F T H E S EA

voice i n the roar o f th e waves that dashed i n vol u mes

o f white spra y against the rocks An other rocket .

appeared an d for one secon d showed to the onlookers

,

’
the crew gathere d together in th e f o c a s tl e Then a .

great hoarse shout went up from the doomed men ,

w h o were gl i ding so swi ftly towards thei r death Una s

’

bl oo d ru sh ing to her cheek s S he cri ed out impul sive

.

ly
Oh l et u s try to s a v
, e them ! Are y o u go i ng to
”
watch them di e ? IVil l no on e put out a boat ?

A l ow murmur went through the waiting crowd .

One ol d fisherman turn ed angrily roun d

“
Coul d any boat get by them rocks M i ssy ? Y e ,

”
tal ks as fool i sh a s e e al lays doth ! ’

“
W e coul d fling them a rope ! We coul d do some
’

”
th ing .

Agai n a sul l en murm ur from those around her .

An d then a young fellow s ai d in a lo w voice in her

ear
“
I t i s to o l ate M i ssy ; n o ma n co ul d g et past th ose
,

rock s al ive !
“
O h J im why di dn t you try somethin g !
, ,
’

”
Hi st M i ssy !
,

Hi s ton e was a wa rn in g o n e He l eft the crow d .

an d fel l back behin d the hul k o f an o l d fish ing boat .

Una fol lowed h im th ere Her eves w ere flashing wi th

.

indi gn ant feel ing .

“ ?”
Jim d i d you tr y n othing
,
s h e demanded .

”
A y M i ssy
,
th e young man repl ied with deep
,

“ ’
b i tterness o f feel ing Fa y th e r an me went to get o u r
.
 B E TRO T HED 53

’ ’
ropes an foun d em cut to pieces Us had o u r rockets
,
.

’
ready an twoul d have saved some o n em
,

“ ” “
O h the fiends l gasped Una
,
Who di d i t ? .

”
Us have o u r suspicion s ! the young man answered
’
T i s o f no u s e ye bein
’

cautiousl y Then he added .

,

here M issy B est be out o f it !

, .

“ ”
I shal l be here i f I l ike and Una brought down ,

“
her smal l foot with a defiant stamp D o y o u think .

I c oul d l i e in my bed whil e murder an d theft are being

committed ? I have my eyes an d ears open ; an d i f
once I have positive proo f o f what I know goes o n I ,

wi l l expose it ! I am n o t a helpl ess woman any longer .

”
M r En dicott i s hom e an d another !
.
-

“ ”
H ist M issy ! sai d Jim Tanner again
,
.

At this moment there w as another fierce onslaugh t

o f w in d and waves ; an d then a heart rending cry from -

the brig rose to the heavens A sharp grinding con .

,

c u s s i o n th en with a sudden d ip the brig sank w ithin

, , ,

their sight ; the strong current roun d the rocks sucked

her greedily down ; an d her crew were engul fed in
the ragin g pitil es s deep w ithout a han d being out
stretched o n thei r behal f .

The crow d on the beach broke up ; two men passed

close by Una .

“
I f there was a chance 0 her bein Capti a D avey s ’ ’ ’

”
he were br i ng i n stores from f u r r i n parts ! ’

“ ’
A y ti s a chance
’
, Twi ll bring those that l ook s .

for u m s o me th i n good ! U S h e in l uck s way this

’ ’ ’

’ ”
year . Ti s wreck number three !
Una sh ivered S h e turned to J im but he h a d di s
.
,
54 A DAUG H TER O F TH E S EA

appeared Then w ith determ ination in her closely

.

shut l ips the girl quietly fol lowed a l ittl e knot o f men
, ,

who were making thei r way sl owl y an d cautiously

towards the treacherou s rocks They were s o busy i n
.

consultation that S h e sl ipped past them wi thout being

perceived and very sil entl y s h e crept up a narro w
,

gully in the cl i ff s that l ed to a smal l cave Here .

,

wrapping h er pl ai d more cl osel y round her s h e s a t

,

clown and waited She w as exactly opposite th e wre c k

.
,

and to her excited fancy i t seemed as i f far o u t i n the

water som e o f the crew were st i l l struggl i n g for thei
l ives
.

“
Oh s h e murmured between her clenched teeth
, ,

a l i feboat woul d weather th i s storm however strong

,

th e currents were W e watch them d ie and w e gloa t

.
,

”
over thei r de a d bo di es It i s aw ful !
.
 CHAPTER V .

R E S CU E D FR OM A W REC K
T h e b r e a k e r s w e re ri gh t b e n e a th h e r b o w s ,
S h e d ri f te d a d r e a ry w r e c k ,

A n d a w h o o p i n g b i l l o w s w e p t th e c re w
L i k e i c i c l e s f ro m h e r d e c k .

She tru c k w h e r e th e w h ite an d fl e e cy w ave s

s
Lo ok e d s o f t a s ca r de d w o o l ,

B ut th e c r u e l r o c k s th e y g o r e d h e r s i d e
,

L i k e th e h o rn s o f a n a n g ry b u l l .
”

L o n gfe ll o w.

It was a gruesome watch Here i n the sol itud e o f

.

her cave she saw the d im forms o f two or three men

waiting greedil y for spoil s to be washed ashore Two .

had torches ; and presently a huge wave bore in some

dark obj ects There was a rush ; o n e d ragged h i s
.

bu rden up to th e very entrance o f th e cave in wh ich

Una w a s . She crouch ed in her hiding — pl ace and ,

shuddered a s she behel d ol d M arti n turn over eagerl y

the l i fel ess body o f a man He ri fled h i s pockets ; sh e
.

saw the gl eam o f watch and chain being tran s ferred

’
into Martin s keeping ; she saw a bel t being un done .

and heard the ch ink o f money B ut sh e kept perfectl y

.

si lent an d as other spoil s were being washed ashore

, ,

Martin l e ft hi s prey an d j oined hi s compani on s Some .

i n stinct made Una creep down so ftl y toward s th e

’

d rown ed man Sh e st oo d l oo king at h i m with tears

.
56 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

of pity i n her eyes Only a short time ago h e sto o d

.

in heal th an d strength the blood rushing through h i s

,

veins hi s eyes bright and sparkl ing h i s voice strong

, ,

an d vigorou s Now h e l ay there face downward s on

.

’
the sand hu sh ed in death s grip a stil l and l i fel ess
, ,

corpse .

A S s h e gazed at h im s h e noted that hi s dress and

fi g ure was not that o f a common sail or ; he was a gen
tl e m a n ; h i s clothes h is hand s procl aimed the fact
,
.

And then in the s il ent darknes s s h e started viol entl y .

S h e coul d n o t be mi staken ; a l ow breathed si g h ,

almost a moan came from that stil l form

, .

Un a had truly sai d to her guard ian that sh e was

a frai d o f noth ing In an i nstant s h e was down o n her
.

knees chafing th e col d han ds an d trying to feel i f h i s

heart were stil l beating A n d i n a m inute a very feebl e
.

fluttering motion tol d her that l i fe was not yet extinct .

Then s h e sprang to her feet feel ing her helpl essness ; ,

and running swi ftly but noi sel essl y o ut o f her hi din g
pl ace s h e made her way round to the shore where
, ,

groups o f fi s h e r w o m e n and a few boys w ere still talk

ing Sh e passe d them an d then foun d the o n e for
.
,

whom sh e was looking Jim Tanner was l eaning .

against the wal l He was al one an d Una touched

.
,

h im gentl y on the arm .

“ ’
J im fol l ow me at once ; there s o n e o f the crew
,

’
al ive I daren t let any o n e know it for he has been
.
,

robbed Come as q ui c k as yo u can an d d o n t l et them ,

’

s e e you .

Without a word J i m obe y ed an d w as soon by th e ,

 RES CUED FRO M A WRECK 57

side o f the drowned man He took a flask from h i s

.

pocket an d poured a l ittl e brandy into hi s mouth and

, ,

then began working hi s arm s up and down in the

orthodox fashion Una standing breathlessl y by
, .

Presentl y he turned to h e r .

“ ’ ’
He s coming round M i ssy I l l hoist him o n my
, .

back an d carry him up to the cl i ff and get h im home ,

’ ’
where u s l l s e e to him Ti s gettin late Don t e e
.
’
.
’ ’

”
trouble to stay out any more .

Jim w as acting promptl y Una knew there was an

.

opening at the farther end o f the cave wh ich l ed up

to the top o f th e c l i ff an d w ith a s igh o f rel ief s h e
,

sped round to the beach again and home as fast as her

feet coul d carry her .

S he met Cuthbert a s s h e was pass i n g through the

garden .

“
I am on myway to br i n g y o u back h e said Do ,
.

y o u general ly wander o u t o n a stormy night in thi s

”
fashion ?
Una turned her big troubl ed eyes upon him .

“ ”
O h I d o n t know what I do s h e sai d in a di s
,
’
,

“
tressed tone . D o you know a vessel has been wrecked
”
w ithin S ight and soun d o f u s ?

Cuthbert looked startled .

“
M r Endicott and I have been deep i n a discussion
.

o n past h i story in the l ibrar y ; w e have e v e n been

obl ivious o f th e storm til l w e j oined M i ss Endicott

and found s h e was anxiou s for your r e — appearance .

“ ”
As i f i t matters about me !
Ther e was i mpatie nce and scorn in Una s tone ’
.
 ‘

58 A DAUGHTER O F T H E S EA

B ut have the crew not been saved ?

’
How coul d th ey be when every one s des ire i s that
,

”
they shoul d be drowned ?
Cuthbert l ooked at the girl s flashing eyes and qui v
’

ering l ip s w ith some wonder He thought her over .

w rough t and gave l ittl e heed to her word s .

“ ”
I t i s such a dangerous coast he sai d musingly , .

”
B ut why i s there n o l i feboat ?
“
A skM r Endicott Hi s fath er bu il t o ne an d i t
. .
,

was wil ful ly destroyed with in a month o f i ts presenta

tion N o one has attempted to h ave another
. .

She dash ed past him into the house an d Cuthbert ,

fol lowed her more sl owl y H e di d n o t s e e her again

.

that evening B oth M r Endicott an d hi s S i ster were

. .

s o abso rbed i n arrangements for thei r comin g j ourney

to Lo n don that the n ew s Cuthbert brough t them d i d

not interest them much .

“
I t i s an aw f ul coast sai d M r E n di cott
, I have . .

always fel t we ought to have a l i g hthouse to warn

passing vessel s o f ou r treacherous currents an d rocks .

B ut i t i s not o ften that vessel s come s o cl ose They .

are o u t o f their course i f th ey do s o We shal l h ear .

al l about i t to morrow Cuthbert have you any pl ans

-
.
,

for th e future ? I mean w ith regard to Una .

“
I am wil l ing f o r th e marr i a g e as s oo n as i t su i ts
yo u ,the younger man repl i ed .

“
I shal l be going to town the beginn i ng o f O ctober
—i n another month i n fact W il l that be t o o soo n ?
,
.
”

“
Not i f i t su i ts Un a .
 RES CUED FRO M A WREC K 59

Y ou w ill speak to her to morro w my dear said -

, ,

M r Endicott turning to h i s si ster

.
,
.

She assented qu ietly ; an d Una upstairs pacing her ,

room i n a tumul t o f passion pity an d interest in the , ,

sh ipwrecked crew l ittl e though t how q u ietly her ,

future was being discu ssed an d settl ed .

The next morning was a contrast to th e storm y

night B lue sky an d s u n ; only a rippl e on th e ocean
.
,

that had deal t s o cruel ly with human beings a short

time before .

Una was soon mak i n g h er way across to Eagl e s ’

Head in her o w n boat She was anxiou s to hear o f .

the rescu ed man an d was glad when she presently ,

met Tom Tanner He was a grave weather beaten .

-

man with S hort brown beard an d th e same honest

, ,

eyes that had been handed o n to Jim He pull ed in .

c l ose to Una an d an swered her breathl ess inquiries in

,

a l ow tone .

“
He be al l right M i ssy He be a young gent in ,
.

such haste to be home that b e sh ipped i n th i s Nor

w e gi a n barq ue He cal l eth h imsel f Duncan T h i s e l
'

thwaite an he l i veth at T h i s e l th w a i te Manor nigh on

,
’
,

fourteen mil e from thi s part I reckon H e be in ,

.

’
terribl e haste to push o n but f a y th e r an me have ,

te ll e d hi m h e be not fit to sit a stride a horse for

another four an d twenty hou rs ; an h e h ave promi sed

- -
’

’
to bid e w i we til l t o morrow .

“
I am s o glad sai d Una ; but h e r tone was stil l
,

“ ?”
anxiou s Has h e asked any question s Tom
.
,

“ ’ ’
Yes M i ssy d eed h e hath an it hath bin awk ard
, ,
’
,
60 A DAUGHTER OF THE S EA

for we O ur Jim h e b r o ugh te d h im o n h i s back

.
, ,

e g s a c kly as he were a l y i n
’ ’
an when he asketh for h i s -
,
’
bel t 0 money an h i s watch an hi s two rings an h i s
,
’

,
’

,
’

’
d i mon d breast pin i t looketh fool ish to kep on sayin
-
,
’

’
twas th e waves that dragged em o ff him An J im ’
.
’

he be terribl e down c on c a r n i n it ; an f e y th e r he sent ’ ’

I to th e spot to have a right down sarch an that be -

,
’

’
my erran d ; but u s an ye knoweth a l ittl e more than
’ ’
that M i ssy ; an ti s an outrageou s th ing to know on
,

” ’
these matters an be tongue tied ! -

’
T hen Un a s col ou r ros e and her eyes fl ash ed fire , .

“
B ut I shal l not be tongue tied Tom ; n o o n e shal l -
,

depr i ve me o f speech An d I S hal l go straight to .

the thi ef an d deman d h im to gi ve up the stolen prop

e rt y . I am n ot going to have Jim su spected o f steal in g
Mr —
.

T h e thie f i s boun d to be d i scovered Mr . . .

Th i s e l th w a i te w il l not take th e the ft cal mly ; he w i ll

i n s ist upon h i s property being found I know the .

th i e f I watched him strip h im ; an d I shal l go

.

stra i ght to h im at once .

To m hushed her thou g h th ere was n o other boat ,

or human creature in si g ht .

“ ’
M i ssy they were hard at the drink last night an
, ,

v e be boun d to be cautiou s Ti s right down desperate .

’

th ey getteth a fter a stroke 0 l u c k Ti s l ike robbin ’

.
’ ’

’
a l ion 0 i ts prey to speak up to em l ike ye doeth I
’
.

’
fear tw i l l set em terribl e agen we but ti s n ot th e fi rst
’ ’
,

time an r i ght be right an wrang be wrang

,
’ ’
.

“ ”
I shal l go straight to h im sai d Una de ftly turn , ,
 R E S CUED FRO M A WRECK 61

i n g her boat s head round

’
And I shall bring back
.

the things to Eagl e s Head in an hour

’

Tom began to expostulate but Una set her l ips ,

determinedl y together an d l eft h im cal l ing out ,

“
Your names shal l not be brought into it No one .

knows who rescued him .

She rowed back to the beach and with the h el p o f ,

a fisher lad landed her boat an d with sw i ft footsteps ,

made her way up the villa g e street til l she reached a

smal l cottage stan din g alone at the farther end o f it .

Sh e knoc k ed sharpl y at the closed door and l i fted ,

th e l atch to open it but found i t l ock ed

, .

A murmur o f voices that reached her ear tol d her

that Martin an d hi s w i fe were at home .

After waiting f o r some minutes th e o l d woman ,

O pened the door very cautiousl y and put her head out .

“
Eh M i ssy be it y o u ? My M artin were up so
, ,

late a tr y i n to save they poor critturs that he be

’

’ ’
s l e e p i n now hard an d fast o r I woul d ask e e to com e
,

”
in sid e
.

“
Then h e must wake up at once said Una in her ,

”
most regal tone f o r I want to speak to h im !
,

“
Eh dearie me ! But twil l be easy f o r I to give
,
’

”
u n the message
’
.

“
No it wil l not I mu st se e h im at once pl ease I t
, .
,
.

i s most important I have come to save h i m from

.

getting into trouble .

’
Martin s wi fe was a good bi t ol der than himsel f .

Her face was a mass o f puckers an d wrinkl es A .

frightened shi ft y look stol e into her smal l grey eyes ,

62 A D A U GHT E R O F THE S E A
'

an d s h e began to bl ink them furiou sly as was her ,

cu stom when nervou s .

“
Eh M issy ye be al lays g ood to we ! M aybe he l l
, ,
’

’
waken i f e e h ide a moment Wil l e e come in an .
’ ’

take a seat an I l l g o to u n ?
,
’ ’ ’

Una took a chair as desired i n th e smal l k itchen .

Martin ha d prudentl y w ithdrawn to the inner bed

room from whence he i ssued a few min utes l ater
, ,

l ook ing h eavy and surl y w ith drink .

“ ’
Y ou re m i ssing a fine shoal o f mackerel thi s
”
morn in g sai d Una severel y a s she eyed him u p
, ,

“
and d own Al l the others are o u t an hour ago
. .

’
Shoul dn t wonn er growle d M artin w ith a scowl ,

at h er .

T here was a pause The door was aj ar Una . .

tu rned an d sh ut it Then s h e came to her business.

promptl y .

“
M art i n that was a dread ful wreck l ast n ight
,

”
W recks be mostly that was th e d ry reply , .

And only o n e passenger saved Una went o n , .

Th e ol d man looked up qu ickl y aston i shment an d ,

fear dawning i n h i s eyes .

“
Yes aren t y o u glad to hear it ? O n e w h o w a s
,
’

l e ft f o r dead recovered c onsciou sness and i s now

inquiring f o r a bel t o f money a watch and chain , ,

”
tw o rings an d a breastpin .

Sh e spoke S l owl y and emphaticall y fixing her ,

gaze steadil y upon h im .

’
A n angry flu sh rose to the o l d man s cheeks .

’ ’ ’
An what do c c m ean by comin to I w i such
’
 RES C UED F RO M A WR ECK 63

tal es?” he demanded furiousl y Best go to the .

’
parson who he h u r r y i n dow n to shore to bury the
copses ! What be i t to I ? Ye be w u n n e r fu l fond o ’

m e dd l i n w i other folks c on c a r n s M is sy b ut ye w il l
’ ’ ’

, ,

d o it one time too o ften !

“
But th is i s my concern fo r I foun d h im al ive and
,

had hi m seen to and I al so happened to s e e you

,

”
taki n g h i s things when yo u thought he was dead !
A dread ful oath escaped M artin He strode .

forward with fury in h is eyes and looked as i f he

w a s going to strike the girl to th e ground Una di d .

not fl i n c h She only drew her l ittl e h e a d up very

.

proudly .

“
Tak e care Mart i n Yo u a re no t too drunk to
, .

know who i s speakin g t o you I a m not go i ng to .

get you into troubl e I know the manners and

c ust o ms o f Pe r r an co v
e better tha n y o u th i nk You .

are only o n e amongst many I am n ot sorry f o r .

your d i sappo i ntment for though I have never caught

,

you in the act be fore I know you have had many a

,

spo i l from poor drowned men Why I have come to .

’
you now i s to deman d M r T hi se l th w a i te s property .

at once He i s asking fo r it an d has been put o ff

.
,

the scent by excuses Unl ess I take these things

.

in stantly to him he will empl oy the coastguards from

Po ly ca r th e w and al l your houses wil l be searched
,
.

I fancy then they will discover more than they l ook

for. Now make haste and be an g ry with yoursel f
, ,

for c ommitting such a crime an d not with me for ,

s a v i n g you fr o m the conse q uences o f it .

64 A DAUGH TER O F T HE S EA

M arti n was awed by Una s i m p er i ous w o r ds ’

.

D ul l ed though h i s senses were he ha d commo n ,

sen se enough to s e e that he had n o cho i ce but to

obey .

He shu ffled o ff into the inner room mutter i n g .

angrily
“ ’
A unbeknownst copse be the property 0 th e
’
finder Ti s al lays my l uck to l ose my rightful
.

’
e a rn in s He were dead a s a door nail a fore I
.
-

’
touched n u ! Fol ks that dra g s dead copses to l i fe
’
won t be s o smart at rai sin theirselves when the i r ’

’
tim e cometh ! An that time will be q ui cker than
they th ink for i f they spend the i r l ives i n robbin ’

’ ’
h onest men 0 thei r right ful l ivin
He banged the door behin d h im and Una heard ,

him swearing an d cursin g at h i s w i fe f o r the next

five minutes He di d n ot appear again an d h i s wi fe
.
,

came o u t w i th the arti c l es in an o ld handkerch ie f ,

’
which s h e put i nto Una s hands wi th trembl i n g
fi n gers .

“ ’ ’
Ye w on t be too hard an ra i se a st i r on we M i ssy , .

’
I f so be the gent be s ta y i n at the Towers don t e e ,
’ ’

l et the s qu i re know twere my M artin h a d th e ’

acci dent to pick u p th e bits that were washed o ff the

” ’
poor gent s body .

“ ’
Yo u n eedn t be a fraid sa i d Una shortly , If .

y o u have returned e v e ryt h i n g i t w i l l be all right but ,

i f there i s a sh i ll in g short in the mone y I shal l brin g

M r T h i s e l th w a i te t o y o u r c o tta g e m y sel f a n d M r
.
, .

”
E ndic o tt shal l c o me too !
 RE S CUED FROM A WRECK 65

Every bl essed penny be i n your hands M issy , .

”
That s al l righ t Good morn ing
’
. .

Una le ft the hou se in rel ieved spi rits an d i t was ,

n o t very lon g be fore she was pull ing up to Eagl e s

’

Head with the recovered spoil She landed her boat .

,

bu t met o n the shore n o t any o f the Tanners but

, ,

Duncan Th i se l th w a i te h imsel f .

He w a s pa c ing up an d down the sh ingle—a tall ,

handsome young man but h is face had a worn white

,

look The e ffects o f the shock o f the preceding night

.

had n o t yet passed o ff He glanced at Una in some

.

wonder ; she went straight u p to h im .

“
Yo u are M r Th i s e l th w a i te are you n ot ?
.
,

He do ff ed hi s cap courteously .

“
I have brou g ht you your possess i on s I hope .

y o u w il l find they are al l r ig ht Wil l y o u l ook at .

”
th em now an d tell me ?
“
I am much more i ncl ined to look at y o u sai d ,

the young man w ith admi ration in h i s eyes as a

, ,

smil e l it up h i s face and made Una think he was the

handsomest man s h e had ever seen Are you a .

water —nymph o r fai ry that y o u appear with what I

,

”
thought was lost f o r ever ?
“
Please don t ask quest i on s but tel l me i f y ou r
,
’
,

money i s right .

“
It wil l take some t i me to count sai d D uncan , ,

noting the impatience i n the girl s tone an d not ’

unwill ing t o prolong the interview Shal l we retir e .

to the shelter o f th i s ol d boat ? I r e al l y am mos t

66 A D AUGHTER O F THE SEA

eternal ly grate ful to you but cannot c once i ve h o w ,

”
y ou obtain ed possession .

Una was sil ent Sh e watched h im un fol d the

.

han dkerchi e f an d co unt out h i s mon ey He ma d e .

short work o f it ‘
.

‘
Per fectl y correct I am ind e e d i n d ebt e d t o y o u
.

M i ss
“ ’
Una Carteret i s my name I don t w a n t any .

thanks I f you w i sh to obl ige me you w i l l ask no

.
,

question s ; an d do not sh ow yoursel f i n the v i llage

before y o u l eave Yo u l ost your money an d j ewel l ery
.

i n the sea Th e s e a has given them up And be

. .

quite sure that th e youn g man wh o saved your l i fe ,

and hi s relations are a s honest a s yoursel f Goo d

, .

”
morn ing .

She ran back to the water s ed g e pu shed o ff her ’

,

boat an d D uncan T h i s e l th w aite st o o d wat c h i n g her

,

as i f he were i n a dream .

He gave h imsel f a shake presently .

“
Whatever s h e i s she i s fl esh an d bl o od a n d
, ,

m uscl e ! I n ever s a w a g irl pul l as sh e does .

I t i s a mystery I am not to solve W ell i f I am not .

,

to investigate th i s neighborho o d the soo ner I am ,

gone th e better an d th e sooner these g ood fol ks get

,

the l oan o f a horse the better I shal l be pl eased

,
.

Poor l ittl e Cl ar ic e ! I l l news tr a vel s fast She wil l .

”
he a r o f m y d e a th b e fo r e I r e ac h h e r !
 C HA PT E R VI .

U N I T ED HA N D S

Ma rri a g e i s a ma tte r of mo r e w o rth

to b e d e a l t i n b y
”
Th a n a tto rn e y s h i p .
‘

S h a k e s p e a re , H e n ry VI .

’
I t was the day before Una s wed ding day O ut -
.

si de i t was grey and m i sty The gull s flew scream ~

, .

ing round th e w i ndows In th e o l d d raw ing room

.
-
,

a d isconsolate l ittl e figure s a t by the fire with a

prayer boo k in h er hand
-
The bustl e o f her
.

trousseau was over Al l a rrangements for the

.

comin g event were fin i shed M is s Endicott had.

worked and toil ed w ith a w il l and purpose ; and

fi nd i n g Una wandering aimlessl y over the house .
,

gettin g i nto every one s way an d d i stracting th e

’
,

mai d s by her advice an d d irecti ons had sent her into ,

the drawin g room and tol d her to stay there

-
.

“
S it down and meditate upon your approaching
marriage I t i s wel l f o r young girl s to have quiet
.

”
thoughts and earnest resol ves upon such an event .

S o U na had d isconsol atel y obeyed S i tting still and .

med i tating w a s not much to her taste ; but s h e bent

h e r min d to the task an d finally thought i t woul d be
,

a good idea to read th rough th e service in wh ich s h e

was about to take part s o soon She read with .
68 A D A UG H TER O F TH E S EA .

k ni tted brows an d s a t w i th her chin in her han d s

,

reflecting .

Then a s rapi d in her action as in her thoughts

, ,

s h e l e ft the room hastily i n s earch o f Cuthbert She .

foun d h im al one in th e l ibrary but he was n o t ,

studying He w a s reading a newspaper b y the fire

. .

“ ”
I h ave come to l ook for you Una sai d advancing , ,

s omewhat shyl y and hol d in g her prayer book open

,
-

between finger an d thumb .

“ ”
What can I do for y o u ? sai d Cuthbert d raw i n g ,

a chai r u p for h er opposite h im sel f As he l ooked at .

h e r fai r g i rl ish face an d met an almost ch il dish look

,

o f appeal in her e y e s he won dere d again i f he were

,

do i ng rightly by her .

“
M iss Endicott tol d me to s i t d O W n an d th ink
ov e r w hat I wa s goi ng to do to morrow Una said -
,

I v and —I m a l ittl e bit

“
simpl y ’
e been doing it
’ '

.
,

afrai d o f it to tel l the truth I thought you woul d

,
.

be the best person to consul t a s o f cou rse y ou w il l ,

h ave to go through th e same It seems to me such .

a much more sol emn th in g than I thought it

-

Cuthbert fel t i ncl ined to smil e but d id not Th ere ,

.

’
was a si de to Una s character that was a s yet
unknown to h im He only s a w her n a i y e c h i l di s h
'
'

nes s and simpl icity but it pl eased him

,
.

“ ” ’
I t i s a great step h e sai d gravel y ; but I don t
,

think y o u wil l have anything to fear What i s i t that .

”
perpl exes y ou ?
“ ’
I t i s the prom ise I h ave to make I d i d n t kn ow .
 U N ITED H A ND S 69

‘
love was mentioned at all It i s four times repeated
’
. .

”
We each have to promise it twice .

“ ”
Well ?
Cuthbert put down h i s paper There was an .

amu sed l igh t i n h i s eyes .

“ ” ’
I don t love you she said l ook ing at him , ,

doubt ful ly .

“
But y o u don t d i sl ike me ? ’

O h n o I rather l ike you At l east I l i k e o n e or

, . .
,

tw o thin g s about you

“
Let me hear them .

Wel l — I l ike the look o f you I l ike to s e e you .

striding along when you walk o u t o f doors Yo u .

’
don t sl ouch ; you r figure i s as good and as upright
a s J im Tanner s Kathi e sai d the other day i f a man
’
.
,

’
d idn t look a man h e needn t l ook at her ! Y ou are
’

manly and you are ti dy in your appearance and you

, ,

d ress wel l ; not l ike our vicar who i s al ways i n greasy ,

”
bl ack coats an d crumpl ed ties .

“
Thank y o u Anything el se ? .

Ye s
’ ’

I don t th ink y o u are stup i d D on t l augh !

. .

’
I can t bear stupid h eavy peopl e wh o can never s e e ,

a j oke Then I th i nk y o u know more than I do

. .

”
About s o me th ings n o t al l ,
.

“ ?
i
That s high prai se On th e whol e I satis fy you .

Un a l ooked down at her prayer — book which s h e ,

st i ll kept fingering .

I don t l ove you s h e repeated ; not as I l ove

’
,

‘
my d o g Victor .
’

I am thank ful f o r that mercy murmured Cuthbert ,

.
70 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

”
Then you think it w il l be al l right ? s h e asked
wistful ly .

“
I feel sure i t w i l l be sa i d Cuthbert with an
,

“
encouraging smil e D o not troubl e your h ead over
.

words I f y o u do n o t hate a person you are q uite safe

. .
"

S he brightened vi sibly .

“
There i s j ust o n e other thing I want to s ay I f .

we get tired o f each other I suppose we can go away

,

”
from each other ?
“
For good an d all do you mea n ? I t woul d be
,

”
awkward .

“
Only for a time O f c ourse I don t s e e why we
.
’

shoul d for i f you go your way an d I m ine we shal l

, ,

n o t be l ikely to inter fere w ith each other B ut I .

want to be prepared for th e future I th ink i t woul d .

be easy to part for about four o r fi v e months an d ,

”
th en it woul d prevent monotony .

“ ’
I don t think that i t wil l be necessary .

B ut I might want to do it I don t l i ke the.

’

‘ ’
sentence Til l death u s do part It makes me .

”
S hiver !
“
It i s not to o late now for you to a l ter your m ind ,

“
h e sai d l ooking at h er seriousl y
, Do not tel l me .

”
a fter that I forced you i nto it .

“
Yo u forget that I have promised to marry y o u .

’ ”
I don t want to alter my mind .

Her smal l head was hel d prou dl y .

“
I shoul d n ot l ook forward to the future he said , .

I promi se y o u I shal l n ot gi ve y o u mor e o f my

company than y o u d es i re .
 UN ITED H A ND S 7
1

Una put down her prayer book on the tabl e with -

,

a sigh o f rel ie f .

“
It i s sure to be al l right s h e sai d Uncl e said , .

I coul d trust you .

Cuthbert felt a sl ight compunct i on in h i s heart .

”
Come here Una he sai d gently
, , .

She came an d stood by hi s si de He put h i s arm .

round her th e nearest approach to a caress that he

,

had ever given her .

I have become rather a silent taciturn fel low he ,

“
sai d
. I have sometimes wondered whether I am
doing right i n tak ing away you r l iberty so soon ; but
I honestly think I can take care o f you and I hope ,

”
I shall make you happy .

“
Yo u are not takin g away my l iberty said Una ,

“
hastily . I woul d not marry you i f you were You .

promi sed me I shoul d boat an d fish an d do j u st as , ,

I always have .

“
So you shall but y o u mu st n o t forget that I shal l
,

prevent your marryin g any other man who may

turn up .

N O men do turn up here—n o gentl emen—a t l east

“
,

n o t o ften .

She stopped an d her thoughts flew to that hand

,

some young man who had come into her l i fe and

l e ft it again s o suddenl y She sometimes won dered .

i f she S houl d ever meet him again .

“
I saved h i s l i fe but he d idn t know it I f I had
,
’
.

not been there he woul d have di ed ; and he i s l iving

now becau se o f me .
72 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

Her cheeks flushed a s s h e thought o f h im Cuth .

bert d id not notice i t He was feel ing n o w what a .

chil d s h e was ; what a respon sibi l ity was h is i f he

spoil ed her l i fe .

Una he sai d tenderly gi ve me a k i ss and tel l

, ,

”
m e you w il l try to love m e .

’
Una s thoughts came back from Duncan T h i se l
thwaite an d s h e stared at him i n astoni shment
, .

“ ” “
I don t l ike ki ssing s h e sai d ; i t al ways seems
’

s o babyi sh I ki ss l ittl e ch il dren an d M iss End icott

.
,

ki sses me but I S houl d never think o f k i ssing any

,

”
one el se .

Cuthbert fel t deci dedly snubbed .

“
Yo u wil l have to ki ss me to morr o w he sa i d -
,

“ ”
nonchalantly o r l et m e k i ss y o u
,
.

“ ’
It w il l be very sil ly i f you do was Una s reply ,

I certainl y S hal l not ki ss y o u I wil l keep that f o r .

’
w hen you re very il l o r weak I might do it then i f .
,

”
y o u wanted me to .

Pity i s aki n to l ove murmured Cuthbert as h e , ,

rel ease d hi s a ffi an c e d bri de an d took up h i s paper ,

again . It i s a good thin g that I can l ive and be happy

”
without either .

Una l eft him but though hi s eye s were on hi s

,

paper hi s thoughts were stil l o n her

, .

Th e wedd ing day dawned bright an d fai r It was .

a very qui et l ittle ceremony an d when over Cuthbert , ,

too k h i s y o ung brid e away f o r a week to London .

That w a s a time o f m i xed happiness an d bewil der

ment to Una She l oved th e sight seeing the shops
.
-
, .
 UN ITED HAN D S 73

the crowd s o f peopl e ; but s h e w a s not in her el ement .

and the day be fore they return ed to P e r r a n c o v e s he

turned to her husband pathetical ly I am a stranger .

”
in a strange land S he sai d ; I am d i zzy and con
,

fused with i t all Peopl e thi nk me an ignorant rustic

.

when I make any remark I feel like a bird in a .

cage . Take me home I s hall never be happy

.

here .

“ ”
N o t with me ? q uesti o ned Cuthbert .

Yo u are the strangest part o f it all s ai d Una , ,

so ftening her word s by l aying her hand gently on h i s

“ ’
coat sleeve
-
. I can t get accustomed to you and we ,

are s o v e r y m uch together I have n ever had to talk

.

s o much i n m y l i fe be fore and it seem s , y e ar s since we

w ere married .

Cuthbert winced a li ttl e ; but he was not in l ove

w ith h i s w i fe He was k indly i ndulgent to her and
.
,

fel t in h is inmost soul that h e too woul d be gl ad when

thi s short honeymoon woul d be over .

M r and M iss Endicott had not l e ft the Towers

.

wh en they returned M r En dicott s d isease had

. .
’

tak en a seriou s turn and he had been confined to h is

,

bed for some days It proved only a temporary check

.
,

however and h e was abl e to receive them in the

,

library with great composure .

Whe n alone with Cuthbert h i s manner changed .

“
I am going up to town to morrow Cuthbert he -
, ,

“
sai d ; an d I am going up to d ie Soul and body .

shrink s from i t and yet it i s inevitabl e How woul d

,
.

”
o u feel i f y o u were in my pl ace ?
y
74 A DAUG H TER O F T H E S EA

Cuthbert S brow s knitted He wal ked the room

.

uneas ily H i s repl y soun ded a feebl e o n e

. .

“ ”
I sh oul d not l ike it .

M r Endicott gazed at him med itatively

. .

“
I w i sh you an d your l ittl e w i fe had a rel igion o f
your own h e sai d at l ength
, .

“ ”
I am not a heathen Cuthbert s ai d hastily
, .

Your cree d i s an empty o n e i s it n o t? Y our bel i ef

,

”
brings y ou n o com fort ; no power i n l i fe ?
“
I have not fel t weak M y w il l an d sel f control are
.
-

”
my good angel s Com fort I have n o t needed
. .

S i nce my ill ness I have l earnt that o u r Creator

meant H i s creatures to have a h igher destiny down
h ere than the ma j ority o f u s th ink My l i fe h a s been .

wasted i n raking straw s together ; the corn h a s been

”
untouched .

Cuthbert l ooked at hi s f r i en d rather sadly .

“ ”
You have gl eaned more than straw he protested , ,

waving hi s han d towards th e pil e o f manuscripts and

books on the tabl e near h i m .

M r En dicott shook h i s h ead

. .

“
I have brought some anci ent h i story to l i ght he ,

sai d ; but the dead past i s not s o important a s the

l ivin g future Fo r I am going to l i ve C uthbert
.
,

h o w an d where I know n o t; an d yet the ol dest

book in th e worl d tel l s me i t wil l be in parad i se w i th
”
the One whom I have onl y j ust be g un to know .

There was sil ence Then M r Endi c ott hel d out h i s

. .

han d.

“
Gi ve me your word that you w i l l meet m e again ,
 UN ITED HAN D S 75
‘
lad . I have foun d the Way the Truth and the , ,

Li fe Set you r heart to find Him too and l ead you r

.
’
,

wi fe .

“ ”
God helping m e I will sai d Cuthbert d eepl y , ,

moved .

Una had a l ast interview with her guardian .

“ ”
Are you happy child ? ,

I am del ighted to be home again Cuthbert i s .

very kind an d good He says he w il l be busy now .

w ith you r book s o we shal l not see much o f each

,

other .

Sh e S poke cheer ful ly M r End icott l ooked at h er

. .
'

then drew a l ong breath .

“
You have youth an d health an d strength Don t
’

.
, ,

waste them as I have wasted mi ne ; think o f others '

happiness bef o re your own an d be l oyal an d true to ,

you r husband He deserves your tru st Look a fter

. .

my tenants more than I have done .

He coul d say no more and Una as s h e l ooked , ,

at hi s wh ite su ff ering face felt her eves fill with ,

’
te a r s f
“
O h ! I hope th e doctors w il l make you better sh e ,

“
sai d passionately They m u s t We S hal l see you
. .

”
back here again I wil l d o al l you wi sh !
.

But S h e an d Cuthbert had l ooked for th e last time

on th e face o f the dying man as h e d rove awa y from
th e Towers with h i s si ster .

Onl y th ree week s a fterward s th ey heard o f hi s

death and they both fel t that they had l ost a friend
,

wh o coul d not be repl aced .

76 A DAUG H TER O F THE S E A

An d now I h av e no one but you to l ook a fter me ,

sai d Una going into her husban d s study a fter the sad
,
’

“
new s had been brought to her Mi ss En d icott tell s .

m e S he i s going back to her own home It seems so .

”
strange to be here without her .

Cuthbert di d not answer for a m inute Hi s thoughts .

were w ith hi s frien d ; then he turned to hi s young

w i fe very gently
“
We w il l try and fol low o u t h i s w i shes and meet
”
h im in th e Great B eyon d .

Una no dded with a l ittl e s ob

, .

“
He seemed s o very good di dn t h e ? I remember ,
’

he asked me what my rel igion di d for my l i f e and

S ou l ! He made me th ink I ought to bel ieve in
something more than I do I can t get h i s words .
’

o ut o f my head I wi sh I knew th e way to be real ly

.

good .

Cuthbert was sil ent Hi s heart was m oved and

.

so ftened but what coul d h e say ? At l ast with an

, ,

e ffort he S poke
,

“
I w il l go to church with you next S unday Una , .

I haven t been i nsi de a place o f worsh ip f o r years It

’
.

”
i s the correct th ing to do I bel ieve ,
.

’
Una s face ! li d not brigh ten Chu rch was not much .

enj oyment to her B ut Cuthbert fel t h e had made a

.

gran d step i n the right d irection : an d then h e asked

her to l eave h i m .

Hu sban d and w i fe s a w very l i ttl e o f each other ,

except at meal times Una was o ut o f doors the

-
.

greater part o f each day She d i d not negl ect her .

 U N ITE D HAND S 77

househol d M i ss Endicott had trained h er too c are

.

fully for that A fter break fast s h e spent a coupl e o f

.

h ours in th e kitchen and still room The rest o f th e -

.

d a y she had to hersel f Kathi e saw very l ittl e change

.

in the young bride She coul d get no sati s factory

.

in formation out o f her .

“
Aren t you a frai d o f l osing you r wedding ri ng ?
’

s h e asked her one day when they were both baiting ,

some lobster pots from the same boat and Una s

-
,
’

gol d encircl ed fin g er was fl ash ing in an d o u t o f the

-

water .

“ ’
No it woul dn t matter i f I d id C uthbert w o ul d
, .

”
get me another one .

Oh but th ink o f the aw ful il l l uck ! Why that

,
-
,

ring i s part o f himsel f I woul d feel my fi n g er th r i l lin ’

through i f I had o n e o n !
“
O h Kathie you are so s illy !
, ,

An d Una s laugh ran g o u tmerr i ly

’
.

Kath ie looked serious .

“
I don t understand y o u M i ssy ! Y ou are no
’
,

di ff erent to what you u sed to be and—and it seemeth ,

to me strange Don t yo u feel restl ess an d h eart wear y

.
’
-

to be with him ?
“
I shoul dn t think S o ! I tell you Kathi e that
’
, ,

London visit i s l ike a n ightmare to me now ! I was so

nervou s that I coul dn t walk a step anywhere without
’

him He never l e ft me al one I t wa s so tiring ! We

. .

were so glad to be back H e loves hi s book s I . . .

’
l ove my boat An d we re both as happy a s w e
.

can be !
78 A DA UGHTER OF TH E SEA

S he l ooked it as s h e flashed a merry g l ance acros s

,

at h er hum bl e fri end Kath ie sh ook her head sigh ed

.
, ,

and s a i d no more .

Husband and wi fe w alked to ch urch togeth er th e

first Sunda y a fter M r En dicott s d eath Cuthb ert
.
’
.

fel t he was doing a vi rtuou s action He d id n ot .

ex p ect to be hel p ed th ere and apparentl y h e w a s ,

n or .

v
M r Preston th e Ol d cl ergy man had an in distinct
.
, ,

and monotonou s de l i er y The service w a s dul l an d .

drea ry ; the se r mon l ength y an d d ry B ut so me .

’
’

word s i n th e s econ d l esson attracted an d hel d L n a s

attenti on .

The wa y y e know .

Thomas saith unto Him Lo rd we know n ot , ,

whi ther Thou goes t an d how can w e know the wa y ?

.

“ ”
Jes u s sai th unto h im I am the wa y ,
.

She be gan to th ink o v e r them .

M r Endicott had gon e into th e unseen w orl d : h e

.

seemed to have kno w n th e wa y It was not a th ing .

?
of dread to h im D id she know th e w a y
. No .

A n d thi s di scipl e d i d not W hat di d Ch ri st mean b y

.

sa y ing h e was the wa y ?

She puzzl ed o v e r it and

kept repeating over to h ersel f as she walked home by

h er hu sban d 5 si d e
Y e kn ow th e wa y I am the wa y
‘

. . .

I wil l ask o l d El i about i t she said at l ast aloud

"

. .

are y ou going to ask E l i about questioned

her husban d .
 UN ITED H A N D S 79

“
O h only som ethin g that i s pu zzl ing me I woul d
, .

rather a s k him things than a ny one I k no w He

.

”
an ol d dear !
Cuthbert smiled and said n o more .
 CHA PT E R VII .

TH E T R EA SURE O F THE W I T C H ES ’
H OL E

l ll
T i s s w e e t to b e h o d, w h e n th e b i o w s a r e s e e i n g, l p
—l k
S o m e g ay c o o ur e d b a r m o vi n g g r a c e’f u y b y ; ll
p
N o d a m o n h e r de c k
b u t th e e ve n -ti d e s w e e i n g
, p ,

l
N o b re a th i n h e r s a i s , b u t th e s u mm e r w i n d s s i g h ’
.

Ye t w h o w o u l d tu rn w ith a f o n de r e m o ti o n
n ot ,

T o g a z e o n th e l i f e b o a t th o u gh r ugg e d a n d w o rn
, ,

W h i c h o f te n h a th w a f te d o e r h i l l s o f th e o c e an
,
’

T h e l o s t l i g h t o f h o p e to th e s e a ma n f o r l o rn
Al o of e .

Cuthbert I want som e money

, .

It was Una who S poke She stood i n the o l d .

l ibrary o n e morning and made thi s request with a

,

m i xture o f shyness an d audacity i n her tone .

Her husban d l ooke d up from h is books a l ittl e

i rr i tably .

“
W h y d id you n o t a s k me at break fast ? Fo r
”
hou sekeeping I suppose ?
,

“
Oh n o indeed
, , I want a big s um I want a
. .

”
hun dred pound s .

“
What o n earth for ?
Wel l i t i s to get some th ings for my workshop
,

f o r boat bu il ding I have been wanting it fo r ever s o

.

l on g an d since y o u have tol d me that M r Endicott

,
.

has l e ft al l h i s propert y to m e i n h i s will I thought I ,

”
shoul d l i ke that s um at onc e .
 TREASURE OF W I TCHE S H O LE ’
8I

Cuthbert pushed asi de h i s writing an d looked at her

“
That i s a large sum to fritter away on your
”
a musements .

For th e first time s ince their marriage Una l ost her

temper .

Her eyes flashed indignantly .

“
I am the best j udge o f whether I fritter it away .

It is my money an d i f I had not marri ed you I

,

shoul d have spent it as I l iked I am not a chil d .

,

’
though I don t know much about business and I ,

think it i s very hard that I sh oul d not be abl e to have

”
money when I need it !
“
So ftly so ftly
, Cuthbert sa i d gently
, I am , .

quite w il l ing to give y o u some There i s a big balance .

at the bank only waiting to be d rawn upon I have .

not gone into the matter w ith you yet but have ,

intended doing s o I think the best pl an woul d be for

.

”
you to have a certain s u m each quarter .

Una s anger d ied away a s quickly as it came

’
.

“ ”
I don t mean to be cross she said in tones o f
’
, ,

“
contrition a s s h e drew near to th e tabl e ; but I
,

’
want thi s money very much an d you mustn t prevent ,

my having it I want it to d av How can I get it ?

.
-
.

”
Have you got it in the house ?
“
Tel l me exactly wh at yo u want to do w ith it ?
Una hesitated .

“ ’
No I can t do that for I don t quite know ; but
,
’
,

’
it will not be wasted D on t ask m e any more.

question s pl ease about i t ; but give it to m e

, ,
.

6
82 A D A UGHTER O F THE S EA

She spoke imperiously Cuthbert was beg i nn i n g .

to fin d that s h e coul d not al ways be managed l ike a

chil d .

He sh rug g ed hi s sh o ul ders .

“ ”
Y ou shal l have it h e sa id ; but I h op e tha t ,

sometimes you wil l be adv i sed by me as to th e

di sposal o f your in c ome Y ou do not yet know th e .

”
value o f money .

“ ’ ”
I daresay I don t sai d Una merrily her good , ,

h o m o u r havin g been quite restored ; but that I shal l

”
l earn by spendin g !
Cuthbert sai d n o m o re Though at tha t time a .

’
marri ed woman s property was entirely at her hus
band s d i sposal
’
h e was stri c tly conscientious
,

’
concerning hi s w i fe s i ncome He woul d n ot touch a .

penny o f it himsel f an d re g arded i t a s a sacred trust

,

from h i s dead fr i end He s at down an d w rote a

.

cheque for a hundred pound s which h e handed to ,

hi s w i fe i n sil en c e S he took i t w i th a rad i ant

.

smil e .

“
Thank you ,
Cuthbert ; I assure yo u I shal l n ot
”
waste i t .

“
That a fternoon sh e rowed over th e water to the
Witch es Hol e sin g in g gaily as her boat shot al on g
’
,
.

M artin and some o f h i s companion s watch ed her

from th e sh ore a s they l ounged outside the Bl u e
” ’
Lobster an d M artin s tone was surl y a s he sai d
,

“ ’
There h e M issy agen goin to th at th ere cursed
place ; twil l sarve her right i f s o me harm d o co me to
’
 OF
’
TREASU R E WI T CHE S HOLE 83

’
she . The mai d knoweth too much an feareth to o
”
l ittle !
Una certainly seemed to have no fear f o r the ill
o mened cove She drew up h er boat right under the
.

green sl imy cl i ff an d pushed her way up a long

,

n arrow gul ly At first i t appeared as i f S he were

.

penetrating into th ick darkness but s h e knew every ,

i nch o f the way and presently after creeping through

, ,

a lo w opening in the rock S h e stoo d upright in a ,

h i gh vaul ted ca y e Light streamed i n from above

.
,

and it seemed a s i f sh e had co me i nto a c arpenter s ’

workshop .

T here w as the framework o f a l arge boat i n th e

centre Ol d El i Tanner was hammeri ng away at it
.
,

h i s gran dson ai ding him ; an d they both l ooked up

with expectation i n thei r faces a s Una c ame in
si g ht .

“
I have go t it she cried g aily ; I have really go t
,

”
i t W here i s To m ?
’ ’
G one fi s h i n w i the rest M i ssy repl ied the ol d , ,

’
man ; twil l not do for al l we to be nowh eres when
a mackerel shoal be in sight !
“
Marti n and several o f the others are back I s a w .

them as I came along T o m can go straight o ff

.

to morrow and bring back al l y ou want We shal l

-
.

n o t be stopped any l onger for want o f money .

A gl eam o f l ight seemed to cross Jim s grave face ’

.

His grand father was m ore demonstrative “

Th e .

dear Lord be prai sed M issy ! Us have had o ur need ,

suppl ied at the righ t min it .

84 A DAUGHTER OF TH E S EA

Una was roll ing up he r ser g e sleeves i n a bus i ness

l ike wa y She went straigh t to the part o f the boat
.

th at had been apportioned to her and taking up her ,

hammer s e t to work with a wil l ; talkin g a s fast a s

h e r nimbl e l ittle han ds were mov i ng .

“
How soon do you th ink we S hal l finish h er El i ? ,

I am l ooking forward to her christenin g What .

shal l we cal l her ? I ve been trying to settl e upon a

’

‘
nice name Victory i s to o common What do yo u
.
’
.

think Jim ? I know the name you woul d l ike but I

, ,

th ink a l i feboat i s such a ver y sp ecial thin g that it

”
ou ght to have a special name .

“ ’
There be time for her name M i s sy ; h e r l l take a ,

brave bi t 0 days yet a fore her be ready f o r her

’

“
I l ie awake at night think i n g o f her pursu e d ,

“
Un a ; and l onging f o r the time when W e shal l
launch her An d then sometimes I get a fraid that
.

o u r secret wil l be discovered W hat woul d they s ay .

i f they knew what we are doin g ? H o w fur io us they

”
w o ul d be !
Ti s the pla c e w il l be her sa fety sa i d E l i shakin g
’
, ,

“
N o boy n o r man f o r m i l es roun
’
hi s h ead wi sely .

’
the coast wil l come nigh th e Witch es Hol e The .

curse wil l turn into a bl essin I be thinking J im ’

.

h e e r d tel l i n th e vil l age y e s te r e en that Jock P e n ga ff ,

had been cl ose by S andy s Cave an th e cu rrent had ’

,

dr i fted i m nearer thi s Hol e than he fancied an h e

’
,
’

’ ’ ‘
come back shakin as i f w i ague an d says h e : Twas ,

’
nigh on e leven o c l oc k at n ight an I h e e r d the
’
T A KI N G UP H E R HA MME R S H E S E T TO WOR K W lT H A WI LL .
 WI TCHES H OLE ’
TREA SURE OF 85

h a mme r i n
’ ’
o coffi ns come from the Witch es Hole ’

an the sweat ran o ff me a s I thought twas a warnin

’

,
’ '

’
to them that venture d n igh ! Tom an J im were ’

’
workin a bit late for they had bin out al l day ; an
,
’

u s sai d when u s h e e r d the story that Jock have ,

”
h elped u s w o n n e r f u l by hi s fright !
Una nodded with an amused Sparkle in h er eyes
, .

Jim presently l e ft them an d s h e worked on w ith El i

, ,

full o f hope and bright anticipation o f the day when

their work woul d be compl eted and a l i feboat woul d,

be launched to save a shipwrecked crew .

This work o f theirs had been l ong i n hand T o m .

Tanner had foll owed h i s father s trade and was a ’

boatbuil der : he had made several secret expeditions

to a firm o f shipbuil ders with whom he had worked
,

for some years He had helped to tu rn o ut many a

.

l i feboat f o r di fferent parts o f the coast and from th e ,

time he settled in P e r r a n co v e an d saw the n eed for

,

such a cra ft h i s one ambition w as to make o n e

, ,

Una and he concocted the scheme together El i an d .

Jim were pressed into their service and for months ,

past they had been steadil y an d silentl y at work .

They knew thei r onl y hope was to keep thei r plans

to themselves for i f an y o f the fish ers knew about i f
,

certai n destruction woul d fol low thei r e fforts And .

’
they had made use o f the Witches Hol e to th i s en d .

Superstition and fear woul d keep al l save them selves , ,

at a di stance Una spent al l her pocket money and

.
-
,

the greater part o f her time o n thi s obj ect She was .

cautiou s and wary i n the extreme an d d i d not o ften ,

86 A DAU G HTER O F THE S EA

venture across in her boat to the entrance o f the c av e .

Her usual way was al ong the top o f the cl i ffs Thick .

gors e bushes h i d the aperture above the cave from

v i ew ; but o n c e having pushed her w ay throu gh
them a rop e l adder l ed her down i n sa fety an d s h e
, ,

had des c ended s o o ften that s h e coul d fi n d her way

in the dark as easily as in the day .

Lately th e work had al most come t o a standstill .

M aterial s were W anting an d material s that were,

costly Una s heart sank unti l s h e remembered that

.
’

s h e was now a woman o f property an d hence her ,

i nterv i ew with her hu sband .

She worked on now a happy smil e on her l ips ;

,

and then suddenly s h e turn ed to El i

“
Let u s cal l h er the Tr i ump h El i ; don t you th i n k ,
’

”
it wil l suit her ?
“
A y M issy ; but l et her be buil t a fore u s nameth
,

”
her Pl ease G od h e r l l be a saviour to many
.
,
’
.

There was S ilence f o r a m inute then th e ol d m an ,

sa i d w i th a smil e
“
S eemeth to me M i ssy as I worketh at h er h er h e
, , ,

’ ’
a true p i ctu r o f ou r dear Lord an d the worl d s need , .

There be a many o u t 0 th ei r course an d dri fting

’
,

toward s destruct i on and there be no h el p for they save ,

’ ’
in th e gran d o l d L i feboat There be those l urin em
.

on l ike some th at u s knows o n a l urin the vessel s on

,
’

”
by fal se l ights !
“ ”
VVr e tch e s ! muttered Una .

’ ’
An there be few that are will in and none abl e ,

”
to save em co nt i nue d E l i h i s ru g ged an d expressive
’
, ,
 TREASURE OF WI TC H E S HOLE ’
87

o ld face l ighting up wit h enthusiasm as he spoke

“
But thank th e goo d God His Li feboat was fin i shed ,

l ong long a go an d It cru i ses near every sinkin soul

, ,
’

’
that l l l ay hol d o n It .

Una looked thoughtful .

“
What i s the way to be good El i ? I mean to be ,

sure o f heaven an d to be a true Chri stian and to , ,

”
bel ieve reall y what y o u s a y you bel i eve ?
“
Step into the Li feboat said El i turnin g h i s eyes , ,

ful l o n the young questioner w ith a glad ring in hi s ,

“ ’
voice Step right in M i ssy
. Ti s a grand rest and ,
.

” ’
sa fety to a storm tossed s ink in soul -
,
.

“ ’
But I m n o t sinking o r storm tossed sai d Una -
,

“ ” ’
perpl exedl y an d I don t want a rest , .

“
Which way be y o u sa il i n M i ssy ? N ot toward s ’
,

’
Heaven s port be e e ’

“ ’
I don t know I want to sail that way . .

Ye be o ut 0 your cou rse an d ye l l never stem th e

’ ’

’ ’
current an avoi d the rocks Ti s when u s sees oursel s .

to be sinki n that u s be gl ad o f the Li feboat ; ti s

’ ’

when u s knows u s be lost that u s be g lad to find the ,

”
w ay .

“ ’
Then I shal l have t o wa it til l I m S inking El i I , .

am n ot near that n o w
El i shook hi s head an d murmured
“
May the Lord O pen hern eyes to s e e where her be
”
d r i f ti n to !
’

Una only j ust reached home in ti me f o r dinner .

Cuthbert was graduall y getting more an d more ah

sorbed i n h i s book He was absent and d is tr ai t at .
88 A D A UG H TER O F THE S EA

meal s The writing fever had seized him Una s a t

. .

opposite to h im in a l ow necked S hort wai sted gown

,
-
,
-

o f white brocade looking in her fai r beauty l ike some

,

pretty chil d Her bright brown hai r roll ed o ff her

.

broad brow i n rebell iou s curl s an d waves that coul d ,

n ot be control led As she eyed h er hu sban d up and

.

down th rough h er l ong l ash es on thi s n ight s h e began ,

to long for a l ittl e more attention and soon s h e spoke

,

s o mewhat impatientl y
“
Cuthbert
”
Yes ?
Do speak to me I am s o dul l M iss End icott used
, .

to tal k to me much more than you do !

“
M y dear chil d I am not M i ss En d icott
,
You .

natural ly woul d have more things in common w ith

”
h e r than with me .

“ ”
W hy ?
Cuthbert move d hi s head impatientl y .

”
Becau se you were two women .

A nd can t h usban ds an d w ives ever interest each

’

”
oth er as wel l as two women ?
“
Wel l what am I to tal k to you about ? Your
,

doves or your dog ; your l obster pots o r you r sh rimp

,
-

ing nets ?
N o w y o u are scorn ful
Indeed I am not Yo u forget what a great work
.

o c cupies my time an d thoughts I h ave n o room for

.

”
the l ittl e things that make your l i fe .

He was n o t l ooking at her ; h e di d not see th e prou d

young head rai sed in pained protest ; the cu rl to th e
 TREASURE O F WITC H E S HOLE ’
89

sensitive l ips He only heard her voice which was

.

meekness personified .

“
My l ittl e l i fe i s s o interesting to me th a t I forget ,

”
i t cannot be interesting to you .

“
What have you been doing to day asked Cuth -

bert with an e ffort to make himsel f agreeabl e

,
.

“ ”
Oh the usual things
,
responded Una w ith a
, ,

sparkl e in h er e y es .

There was a sil ence Cuthbert gl ance d at h i s young

.

wi fe an d thought what an innocent chil d s h e was

,
.

“
You must not mind my absorption Una You , .

cannot enter into my work nor real iz e what a boon ,

s ome o f my dear frien d s discoveries w il l be to the

’

scientific worl d Th e work I am engaged upon i s no

.

selfish one ; it wil l throw l ight upon many a hidden

treasure and bring knowl edge o f the past to man y
,

earnest seekers M ore I cannot tel l y o u I bel ieve it

. .

wil l benefit the worl d at l arge and my toil an d l abour ,

w il l not be i n vain i f I shal l be abl e in th i s way to , ,

hel p my fellow beings Yo u are gl ad are you not that

.
, ,

”
y our husband i s n o i dler ?

Oh y e s very gl ad
, , sai d Una feel ing rebuked
, ,

’
and ashamed at h aving tried to lead h er husband s
thoughts away from such a work .

“ ”
What a cl ever scholar h e i s ! s h e though t to her
sel f
. And perhaps one day when thi s won der ful book
i s printed and everybody will be prai sing the author
, ,

and al l the worl d will be the better for it perhaps then , , ,

I shal l better un derstan d th e honour it i s to be h i s

”
w i fe !
90 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

A da y or two a fter thi s Una met Kathie in sore ,

troubl e Her gran dmother who had been o l d and

.
,

ail ing for som e time past h a d d ied suddenly in the ,

n ight .

I t had been a great shock to the young girl ; and

s h e broke down and wept when tel l in g Una about it .

‘ ’
Her be the last o f my peopl e M i ssy an d I m l eft , ,

l one and forl orn and wil l have nobody o f my o w n to

,

be with me And I m in d now how quick tempered I

.
-

h ave been to granny and how vexed at times when h er ,

spoke for my good I shal l n e v e r have s o g ood a

.

frien d age n a s her !

Una tri ed to com fort her .

“
Are yo u going to keep the cottage o n Kathie ? ,

Y o u can t l ive there al l al one

’
.

“
An d why not M i ssy ? There be only o n e mouth
,

to feed n o w Poor granny earned noth in and her

.
’

’
got but tw o s h i l lin a week from th e parson I shal l .

n o t mi ss th a t I be young and strong an can li v

. e by ,
’

what the s ea brings me a s wel l a s any l ad in Perran

cove .

B ut an o ther had a word to s ay to th i s arrangement .

Jim Tanner stepped up to Kath i e one evening as s h e

s a t o n the l o w stone wal l outsid e her cottage and
’
cl eaned o ut her net f o r to morrow s fish ing He looked -
.

at the young g i rl s grace ful figure her handsome s u n

’

burnt face an d noted the so ftened wistful expressi on

,

i n her u su al ly l augh ing eyes as sh e turned them full ,

u p o n h im .

“ ’
Good evenin Jim ,
.
 TREA SURE O F WITCHE S HOLE ’

91

’
Good evenin
Jim straightened himsel f ; h e took h i s pipe o u t o f
h i s mouth as i f about to speak ; then h e put it in again
and pu ff ed away in sil ence l eaning o n the wal l and ,

l ooking o u t over the s e a .

Kathie bent her head to h ide th e bl ushes that

mounted in h er so ft cheeks She was saying in her .

hear t
“ ’
He i s l e an i n o n my wal l to u c h i n I t as i f he l oved
,

’
it as i f twas home to him I d l ike thi s moment to
, .
’

’
keep right on without movin for a year ! Him
’ ’
standin there and l ookin s o bravely strong an beau ’

’ ’ ’
ti ful ! M e sittin within an arm s l ength o f him a n ,

’ ” ’
an al most hearin h im breathe !
Then a fter a silence Jim took h is pipe o u t an d
spoke .

’ ’
Ti s lonely for a mai d th i s en d 0 the villa g e Be .

”
c c meanin to l ive o n here ?
’ ’

“ ”
Ye s Kathie sai d nervously detach i ng a l ong
, ,

stran d o f green seaweed from the m eshes o f her net .

“ ’ ’ ”
I m goin to l ive o n j ust the same Jim ,
.

Another silence then

“
I be th i n ki n o settin up home for mysel f an Jock
’ ’ ’
,

Pe n ga ff be givin up h i s pl ace for ti s too smal l for

’ ’
,

h i s famil y .

’
Kathie s breath cam e short and quick ; then she
rai sed her h ead and tri ed to speak indi fferently
“
That be news indeed Jim My good wi shes for , .
92 A D A UG H TE R O F T H E S EA

Jim turned and looked at her w ithout speaking ; a

l ong searching look that drew Kath i e s eyes to h is an d ’

kept them fastened there .

”
Shal l u s keep hou se togeth er Kath ie ?
,

’
The word s were o u t an d the young fi s h e r s tone w a s
,

husky with emot i on .

Kathi e droppe d her net an d then hi d h er fa c e i n

,

her arms Jim dropped h i s pipe trampled on it broke

.
, ,

it but pai d no heed ; hi s arms were hol ding tight th e

,

lov e o f h i s heart ; h i s brown tanned cheek touch i n g

hers an d h i s l ips pl eading h i s cause with s il ent el o

,

qu e n c e .

’
Kath ie s eyes were ful l o f tears h er heart th robb i ng
,

v i ol ently .

”
O h Jim ! she whi spered every bit o f me be yours
,

”
f o rever !
An d Jim repl ied as he clasped h er cl oser
,

“ ’
A n d n on e but God shal l ever take e e from me !
 CHA P T E R VII I .

A V I SIT O R

Favo u r s to n on e to a ll s h e s m i l e s e xte n ds ;
,

O f t s h e r e j e c t s b u t n e ve r o n c e o ff en d s ;
,

B r i g h t a s th e s u n h e r e y e s th e g a z e r s s tri e , k
lk
A n d i e th e s u n , t h e y s h i n e o n a l l a i e
, lk '

l
If to h e r s h a r e s o m e f e m a e e r r o r s f a , ll
k ll
L o o o n h e r f a c e , a n d y o u f o r ge t t h e m a l l
’
.

P ope .

Husban d and wi fe s at at break fast at th e Towers .

Letters had been brought in and Cuthbert was perus ,

ing a smal l packet with a perpl exed and frowning

brow Una never received l etters O cc asi onal ly M iss
. .

Endicott had encl osed a note for her i n business cor

respon dence with her husband ; but Una wa s not a
writer an d she had n o other friends Her gaze wa s
,
.

n o w o u t o f th e window watch ing th e gul l s fl ying

roun d o n e o f the turrets Her thoughts were with her
.

’
treasu re i n the Witches Hol e .

Sh e started wh en her hu sban d a ddressed her .

“
Una I have ha d some startl ing news A si ster o f
,
.

min e i s without a home and wants to come here for a

,

time.

Una s eyes were big w ith astoni shment

’
.

“ ”
I n ever knew yo u had a si ster she said ,
.

N o I h ave n ot tol d yo u o f my famil y I have only

,
.
94 A D A UG HT E R O F TH E S EA

th i s one s i ster W e w ere separated from each oth e r

.

as chil dren Sh e went to America w ith a cous in w h o

.

adopted her W e were both l e ft orphans at an earl y

.

age I spent my boyhood at school and my maste r

.
,

and h i s w i fe were my only frien ds til l I l e ft them .

Thi s cousi n o f ours i s dead M y si ster has come ove r .

to Englan d to seek m e out She was in Lon don l ast .

’
week at o u r l awyer s an d S h e i s travell ing down h er e
,

n ow S he may be here any day Yo u mu st make her

. .

”
welc o me .

“
O f c o urse I wil l I shal l be del ighted It i s qu it e
. .

”
ex c iting I s s h e about my age ? What i s her name ?
.

“ ”
There i s h er l etter sai d Cuthbert hand i ng i t a s
, ,

“
h e spoke . You w ill do al l that i s necessary for her
a c commodation and l et me know when s h e arrives I
, .

have a great deal to g et throu g h to day s o I d o n ot -

,

”
w i sh to be disturbed .

H e l e ft the room an d U na to o k the l etter to the

,

w i ndow The writing was fine an d del i cate ; the paper

.

sweetly scented S he w ith di fficul ty coul d read th e

.

c ontents . I t was written i n the convent i onal and

st il ted fash ion o f the day an d con c lu ded : ,

“
Yo ur a ff ect io nate unknown si ster ,

“
M A RJ O R I E .

”
M a r j o r i e ! U na repeated t o h ersel f A soft .

s o un ding pretty name H o w nice it i s to have a rela

,
.

tion ! How strange that she shoul d n ot know h er own

”
brother !
Sh e o cc up i ed hersel f that day by gett in g everyth i n g
 A VI S ITOR 95

rea d y for the com fort o f the coming gu es t ; but the

day cam e an d went w ithout any S ign o f her .

Una and her husband were j ust ri sing from the

dinner tabl e that evenin g when the great door bel l
,

ran g o ut .

“ ”
It i s your Si ster ! exclaimed Una an d , sh e ran o ut

i nt o the hall .

It w a s Marj ori e at l ast She had ri dden over with

.

an ol d serving man from K i n g s ta w to n where s h e had ,

arrived some hours previousl y by coach S he was .

envel oped i n furs and wraps ; but s h e threw them o ff

with a silvery laugh o n an o l d o a k s ettl e in the hal l .

“
I am not v e r y presentabl e
”
sh e said advancing , ,

“
towards her brother for I am bl ue an d sti ff with
,

col d I am mightily pl eased to fin d mysel f at l ast

.

under your roo f .

“
are most wel come s i ster
Yo u w a s Cuthbert s , ,
’

“
grave reply Let me i ntroduce you to my wi fe
. .

’
The girl s touched each other s hands and scruti ,

n i z e d one another as onl y women can Una s a w be fore .

her a S l ight smal l fairy l ike figure wi th a quantity

-
,

o f fair hai r that looked l ike spun flax and a com ,

pl exi on that reminded one o f milk and roses S he was .

dressed in a travell ing costume o f green cl oth and

s i lver brocade a velvet h a t w ith l ong ostrich plumes
,

d rooped on her shoul ders Her face pu zzl ed Una ;

.

at first sight S he seemed al most a chil d but when stand ,

ing under th e large lamp i n the hal l h er features , ,

though del icate were stron g ly m a r k ed an d there were

, ,
96 A D AUGHTER O F TH E S EA

ti red l ines about mouth an d eyes that showe d S he was

n o t i n the fi rst bloom o f youth .

’
M arj orie i n her turn w a s surpri sed at Una s fresh
innoc ent face and sparkl ing vivacity Sh e sai d l ittl e
, .

til l s h e had re freshed h ersel f with a meal an d had ,

thoroughly warmed h ersel f at the great l o g fi re i n the

dining room ; then s h e turned to her brother who had ,

been re g ardin g her with some perpl exity .

“
W ell C uthbert are y ou pl eased w i th me ? W hat
, ,

strangers we are ! I do not e v e n know whether you

are g rave o r gay cl ever o r fool i sh ; l oving o r eschew

,

i n g women s society ! S hal l I turn to y ou r l ittl e w i fe

’

for your character o r wil l y o u give it to me yoursel f ?

,

“ ” “
O h I w il l give i t to you sai d Una read i ly for I
, , , ,

feel I have known h im years You s e e w e have been .

marri ed nearl y two months He i s c l ever an d I th i nk .

,

graver than when I first knew h i m but then he i s ,

q u i te absorbed i n h i s books He l oves book s better .

”
than women an d you w il l only s e e h im at meal times
,
.

’
Cuthbert l aughed at h i s w i fe s q uai nt , but true
d es c ripti o n o f h i m .

I a m busy writing a b o o k he sa i d s o h av
“ ’

e not , ,

much tim e to gi ve to other pursu its Una wi ll mak e .

o u com fortabl e M arj orie ; an d y o u an d s h e will be

y ,

co mpany for each other I never have been a s q u i re to

.

”
d a mes .

M arj or i e l oo ked her brother u p and down then ,

s h oo k h e r p r e tty h ead at him .

“
I di s a p prove of re c lus e s . I sh a l l r o ut y o u o ut of
 A VI S ITOR 97

that study o f yours and make you attend m e riding .

Does your w i fe n ever require your services ? ”

“ ” “
No never, sai d Una cheer fully
, We ag reed
,

when we marri ed that we woul d not i nter fere w ith ea ch

other and I have al ways been accustomed to g o about
,

”
alone I l i ke i t best
. .

“
But that makes a man very selfish an d g ives n o ,

scope for hi s chival ry I think my dear l ittl e s i ster

.
,

i n l aw you an d I mu st make war upon h i s stu dy ; but

-
,

”
more o f thi s an o n .

She nodde d laughingly to her brother who was ,

w i sely retreatin g ; th en sh e fol lowed Una i nto the

draw in g room and s ink i ng i nto an easy cha i r b y the
-
, ,

fire for a time seemed lost i n though t

,
.

Un a t o ok a seat opp o s ite her and be g an ca ressin g

,

her g reyhoun d Victor who as u sual l ay outstretch e d

,

’
at h i s mistress s feet .

'

A t l a st Mar j o r i e l o o k e d up w i th a sm i l e .

“
No w , pretty ch i l d
tel l me o f y o ur n e i ghb o urs
,
.

W ho vi sits y o u ? Are any o f them amusing o r enter

”
ta i nin g ?
“
They are all very i nteresting to me s ai d U na , ,

“
regarding h er guest perpl exedly ; but I hardly th ink
y o u woul d consi der them eith er amusing o r entertai n
ing W e know n o gran d peopl e ; o u r n eighbou rs are
.

”
the fish ers and thei r wives .

M arj ori e o pened her blu e eyes in lan gui d a stoni sh

ment .

“
But does n o o n e o f g o od birth o r bree di n g l i ve n ea r
98 A D AUGHTER O F TH E S EA

? S urely Englan d does n o t possess such vas t

yo u
tracts o f desol ate country that you can l ive without
”
sound or sigh t o f any human being save yoursel ves ?
“ ”
I know no o n e Una repl ied s imply , .

But I travell ed in the coach to day with a gentl e -

man who i nterested me m ightil y Such a patheti c

.

story he tol d me ! and hi s dark eyes were moi st with

feel ing as h e cal l ed h im sel f a broken —
hearted wi dower !
He l ives but fourteen m il es from th is place f o r he ,

knows it wel l He sai d h e h ad the fortune o r mi s f o r

.
,

tune to be picked up hal f d rowned o n the shore He

, .

was wrecked in a Norwegian bar q ue and was th e ,

”
only o n e le ft al ive .

’
Una s col ou r came and went .

“ ” “
Hi s name ! sh e sai d breathl essl y W as i t D uncan .

Th i s e l th w a i te
Marj or i e l ooked at her an d l aughed .

“
Ah now I know who was th e pretty curl y hai red
,
-

n ymph that came over the water ! Yo u see h er k ind

’
deed has not been forgotten ! Yes the gentl eman s ,

name was th e one you mention I travel led in the .

coach as far a s K i n g s ta w to n w ith a London ac qu a in

tance a M rs S t Ju stice She introduced him to me
, . . . .

There wa s del ay over some broken traces an d we put ,

up at a c o u n h wr i n n for y mn e hour s II e b e gu fl e d
those dul l h o u rs very pl easantly though hi s heart was
,

h eavy an d hi s l i fe at present so dark

,
.

M arj or i e pau sed cl asped h er han ds roun d o n e small

,

knee and gazed d reamily into the gl owing embers

,

be fore her .
 A VI S I TOR 99

Ah s he continued w ith a s igh woman s ’

, ,

sympathy unlocks the most s il ent tongue H e tol d me .

o f h i s speedy j ourney hom e a fter h i s recovery from a

watery grave He was hasting to a young wi fe a fter

.

’
two month s absence but the n ews o f hi s death had
,

reached her be fore h e d i d h imsel f The shock was .

to o much for one in her condition He arrived home

.

to find that he ha d a s on and hei r but h i s gentl e young

,

wi fe w a s gone One l i fe given at the expense o f th e

.

other and the father l e ft al most w ish in g that the s e a

, ,

”
had been al lowed to swal low h im up i n its depth s .

’
Una s eyes were ful l o f tears .

“
Ho w strange h ow sad ! He l ooke d s o young I
, ,

thought at first he was but a b o y

“ ”
He is but a boy in years .

There w as a sil ence for a few moments ; then Mar

j orie stretched her feet out to th e bl aze w i th an il l
conceal ed yawn
“
I shal l n ot wonder to see h im ri din g over o n e day .

Hi s mother h a s gone to keep hou se for him ; s h e has

been to Court I hear an d i s n ot by any means a rustic
, ,

”
dame !
Conversat i on l anguish ed a fter th is M arj ori e reti red .

early to rest ; an d Una fel l asl eep to dream o f Duncan

Th i s e l th w a i te l aunching the Tr i u mp h to rescue pretty
Marj ori e from the raging waves .

For the next few days Una found her time much
engrossed by h er vi sitor M arj orie insisted upon s e e
.

ing everything She expl ored ever y room an d every

.

corner in the ol d house and out She got Una to take .

1 00 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

her out in her boat for a row an d to introduce her ,

to som e o f th e fi shers ; and it w a s w ith the greatest

d i fficulty that Un a kept h er from visit i n g th e Wi tches ’

Hol e .

“
I adore anyth i n g myster i ou s an d supernatural ! I
s houl d l ike to vi sit i t by moonl i g ht Let u s try to per .

suade Cuthbert to ac c ompany u s .

B ut Una shook her head an d changed the subj ect

,

abruptly She w a s very ret i cent about h er v i sits to

.

that haunted spot ; n o t even her husban d knew where

s h e spent s o many hours o f the day an d s h e d id n o t ,

feel sure enough o f M arj ori e to entru st her with such

an important secret N othin g w oul d in duce her to
.

row her i n that directi on ; an d M arj orie having a ,

strong w il l o f her o w n determined that sooner or

,

later s h e woul d grati fy her desi re an d i f s he coul d ,

not persuade her youn g hostes s to take her s h e woul d ,

persuad e some one el se She astoni shed and be

.

wi l dered Un a b y her tal k and by her alternate fi ts o f

,

ga i ety an d depress io n .

“ ”
O h I shal l d i e i f I do n o t s e e some o n e soon !
,

s h e exclaimed be fore s h e had been at the Towers a

“
week . I f n o vi s i tor appears be fore the n ext twenty
four hours are o ver I shal l throw mysel f over the cl i ff
,

into th e s e a
“
But why asked Una perpl exe d by h er e x tr a v
?”
,
a
”
gant language “
Why woul d a vi sitor pl ease you ?
.

“
O h y ou piece o f innocence I want some o n e be fore
, ,

wh o m I ca n ai r al l my pretty blan d i shments and

 A VI S ITOR IOI

g rac e s o n e w h o woul d adm i r e my frocks and

”
my furbelow s !
I adm ire you very much sai d Una warmly ; a n d
,

”
Cuthbert thinks y o u wonderful ! He tol d me s o .

Marj orie dropped her a l ittl e curtsey .

“
Thank y o u k indly but my soul demands a di fferent
,

sort o f a dmiration Cuthbert ! H e i s an absent book

.

worm ! He sees noth ing but ink and paper ; h e l ives

in a worl d o f black and white l etters and i n h i s o w n ,

’
and h i s manuscripts recol l ect i ons o f a dead bur i ed
”
past .

But M arj o r i e s depression was not o f lon g duration

’
,

for s h e spied a sol itary rider c oming up th e dr i ve an d ,

s h e w a s n o t wrong i n her conj ecture a s t o h i s i dentity

It was Duncan T h i s e l th w a i te .

Una was out when h e arrived but s h e c ame in be fore

,

h e l eft .

He seemed al ready on very intimate terms with M ar

j orie an d apol ogize d f o r h i s m o ther not h avin g cal l ed
,

with h im .

“ ”
Truth to te ll h e sai d t o U na w ith o n e o f hi s
, ,

“
courteou s l ittl e bows we were not aware that the
,

Towers was n o w the property o f a bri de and bride

groom My mother u sed to vi sit the late M r End i
. .

’
cott s mother wh en s h e l ived here but that i s many ,

years ago She i s most anxious to make your acqua in

.

tance especial l y since s h e has heard o f the kin d part

,

you pl ayed i n the rescue o f h er son .

“
W ho tol d yo u I to o k any part in it asked Una
rather bluntl y .
1 02 54 DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

The good fol k that housed and fed me I have n o t .

the honour to be the only o n e you have rescued from

a watery g rave for o n e o f them al so owes h i s l i fe to
,

you .

“
Why my dear chil d th i s i s most romantic ! H o w
, ,

”
many rescu es have you accompl ished ? exclaimed M ar
j orie .

“
It i s noth ing Una said with a l ittle sh rug o f her
, ,

“
shoul ders I only call ed some one to M r Th i s e l
. .

thwaite s ai d It w a s J im that brought h i m back to

’
.

”
l i fe
.

D uncan sm ile d rather sadly .

“ ”
I w ished he sai d a s he turned h i s dark eyes upon
, ,

“
M arj o r ie that Jim had not been s o energetic on my
,

— —
behal f M y arrival home ah I cannot speak o f i t !
.
”

There was a silence Marj orie looked her s ym .

pathy Una fel t uncom fortable ; then m ind ful o f her

.
,

duties as hostess summoned the o l d butler to b ring ,

re freshment to the vi sitor .

Conversation seemed to fl a g until D uncan took h i s

l eave Un a coul d tal k very happi ly to strangers as a
.

rul e ; but there was an artificial atmosphere about M ar

j orie that quenched her brigh t humour .

Th e subtl e fl attery an d flowered l anguage o f the

woman o f th e worl d puzzl ed her simpl e mind .

As Duncan rode away s h e l ooked a fter h im thou g ht

ful ly
He i s a han dsome man Marj orie ! ,

Yes o f h i s sort ; but I have seen many w ith a finer

,

”
presence .
 A VI S I TOR 1 03

Marj ori e spoke indi ff erently She was arrangin g .

some violets in a knot o f lace o n her breast .

Una glanced at her dainty figu re in her silk br ocade ,

and then down at her much worn serge -

.

“ ” “
I wonder s h e sai d h al f aloud i f h e thou g ht I
’
, , ,

stol e h i s th i n gs ?
“
Goodness graciou s chil d what th i ngs y o u s a y ! He
,

tol d m e that he found h imsel f stripped when he r e c ov ,

ered consciou sness What w a s the mystery ?

.
”

Una sho ok her head an d l aughed

'

.
,

“
I am n ot going to tel l yo u That i s my se c ret sh e .
,

sai d and s h e ran o ut o f the room

, .

I t was n o t l on g be fore M rs T h i s e l th w a i te c alled .

upon Una an d her visitor M arj orie became very

.

frien dly with her an d was soon constantly ri ding over

,

to T h i s e lth w a i te Manor Una avoi ded th ese visits

.

wh enever she coul d an d Marj ori e find ing sh e did not

, ,

mind being l aughed at for h er unsociabi l ity brought ,

Cuthbert to her aid .

“
W hy do you n ot want to a cc ompany M arj or i e o n
”
the v i sits s h e wi shes to make ? he asked hi s young
w i fe o n e a fternoon when Marj orie had dri ven o ff in
,

’
M rs Th i se l th w a i te s carriage an d le ft her at home
. .

Una an swered very simply .

“
B e c ause i t i s such waste o f time sitting up to talk
an d pay each other compl iments I have other th ing s .

”
to do .

Cuthbert l ooke d at h e r ch il d ish figure a s she stood

be fore h i m with a n e t across her arm an d her ol d ,

wo o ll en cap pu sh ed to th e back o f her cu rl y head ; and

he shook h i s head with a smil e .
1 04 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

Y ou are getting too o l d to be s o absorbed i n y o u r

beach amu sements M arj ori e think s the m istres s o f
.

the Towers shoul d show more dignity an d prec i s i on .

”
N o w what i s you r business thi s a fternoon may I ask ? ,

He spoke in dulgently as i f to a ch i l d ; an d the col our

,

’
rose at once to Una s cheek s .

“
Every day thi s week I have been o ut w i th M arj or i e .

She takes up al l my time Th i s a fternoon I am go i n g

.

to h ave to mysel f . I f s h e think s m e ch i ld i sh I do not

care a b i t An d yo u knew what I was when y o u mar
.

ried me an d we have got o n very well in dee d up to the

,

present tim e Y o u prom i sed not to inter fere w i th m e

. .

Cuthbert l ooked surprise d at her ind ignant tone .

“
My dear chil d I am n ot going to interfere w ith
,

y ou . P erhap s when thi s book that i s tak in g up so,

mu c h o f m y time and thought i s fini shed I may h ave ,

l ei sure to go about with y o u a l ittl e I have been .

th i n king what a n ice companion Marj ori e i s f o r y o u .

”
She wi l l prevent y ou from feel ing l onel y an d dul l .

“ ”
I don t know what dull nes s mean s !
’

Una dashed out o f the room and runn i n g sw i ftl y ,

al ong the top o f the cl i ffs sh e made her way toward s

,

’
th e e ntrance o f th e Witch es Hol e .

“ ”
Cu thbert i s so stupi d ! was her impatient thou ght .

Here i s s o meth ing that need s my hel p somethin g ,

that I ought to work at w ith n o h i n drance o r interrup

tion for it i s to save human beings ! Y et he talks a s
,

i f I am spendin g my t i me in m a k ing s an d ca stl es o n th e

”
beach !
 C H AP TER I X .

A FI S H ER S ’
B RID E

A ma i d e n m o d e s t
, an d y et se lf po sse s s d,
-
’

Yo uth f u l , an d b e a uti f u l , an d s i mpl y d re s s e d .

L o n gfe l l o w .

’
I t was Kathie s wed din g day Her courtsh ip had -
.

been bri e f There w a s nothing to wait for and Jim s

’

.
,

choice had been much approved o f by the vil lage It .

had almost reins tated th e Tanners i n the favour o f al l .

But thei r unpopul arity w as n o t due onl y to thei r keep

ing aloo f from their neighbors It was wel l known .

that neith er o f the three m en took pleasure in wrecks

and their sal vage Th ey were n ever seen d ividing
.

the spoil s that were washed ashore They were under .

suspicion o f trying to warn and prevent vessel s gl i ding

o n to thei r doom An d it was this that caused them to
.

be eyed with such dis favour .

Kathi e w a s a general favourite She had been born .

’
and bred i n the vill age ; an d Jim s choice o f a house in
th e centre o f the vil lage street w a s the cause o f much
satis faction .

“
The lass wi ll the mak i n o f h i m w a s the op i nion
’

o f the marri ed women .

Una was up earl y She had insisted u pon g i ving

.

Kathie h e r wedding dress wh i ch w a s a so ft wh i te

-
,
1 06 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

merino ; and s h e w a s th e first at Kathie s cottage to ’

help her array hersel f i n her bridal garments .

Kath i e met her with flushed ch eeks and l ustrous

eyes .

“ ”
It feel s such an awesome thing ! s h e whispered .

Oh tel l me how y o u fel t M i ssy when you went

, , ,

”
through it ?
“
Just nothing at all responded Una cheerful ly
, .

Kathie shook her pretty head doubtfully .

“ ” ’
B ut then your man wasn t Jim !
’ ’

N 0 h e wasn t N ow stan d stil l Kath ie and don t

,
.
, ,

’
be excited B ri des n ever are They re supposed to
. .

be a s wh i te an d col d a s their d ress !

F rom whence Una got her experience o f bri des
she di d n o t s ay She was engrossed i n fasten ing
.

’
s ome flowering myrtl e an d w i nter j asmine to Kathie s

d ress an d even ventured to put some i n her hair

,
.

Kath i e w a s entirel y ob li v i ou s o f what was being done

to her Su ddenly S he turne d round upon Una w i th
.

fervou r .

“
Oh M is sy it has come to me s o o ften l ately and
, , ,

I never coul d s a y a word be fore me and J im were

courtin ! But i f ever I can do a th ing to S how my
’

grate fulness to y o u I will i f it cost me my l i fe ! You

,

saved my Jim from d r o w n i n ! Ti s you that have ’ ’

’ ’
brought about thi s day f o r i f h e d a peri shed I d,
-
,

’
never h ave mated with any other man an d I d have ,

’
gone l one an d s o r r o w i n al l my da y s M ay you be .

bl essed a s you have bl ess ed others

Una laughed l ightly th e n be n t forward an d k i sse d
,

’
Kath i e s hot c h e eks .
 ’
A F I S HER S B RID E 1 9 7
’
D on t be a goose Kathi e ! You deserve to be
,

happy and I know y o u w il l be Now here i s you r

,
.

cousin M r s P o l p e r r an I must l eave you in her hand s

, . .

a n d run home You wil l see me in church ; an d M is s

.

”
Gregson i s coming too She l oves wed dings ! .

A l ittl e later an d P e r r a n co v
,
e Church was crowded

with the who l e popul ation o f the vil lage Una and .

Marj orie s a t i n th e front seats and the scene was ,

intensely amu sing to M arj ori e Th e wedding cl othes .

o f the guests brought del ighted curves to her l ips and

eyes ; but even s h e was impressed w ith the simpl e

beauty o f th e bride an d the quiet manly bearing o f th e ,

bridegroom .

A S they passed down th e churchyard one l ittl e scene ,

seemed to cast the only shadow across thei r path A .

poor hal f crazed woman who made i t her busines s to

,
-
,

wander about the country and atten d any village fes

ti vi ty spran g up o n the l ow stone wal l an d a ddressed
,

th em .

Shaking her w ithered fi st in Ka th i e s face she ’

,

cried
“
Christene d in white ! M arri ed i n wh ite ! B uried
’ ’
in wh ite Time be goin to hurry thee o n ! An mated
to a man that the s e a be w an ti n ! Poor mai d ! Lau g h ’

’
to day for the sea be s le e p i n
-
B ut ti s wakin shortly ’
.
’

”
and call in for thy mate !
’

Then breaking into a shril l l augh she sang

, ,

W a ve s b e w a k in b e ca l l in ve s
’ ’
wa
v
, ,

W a e s b e w a tc h i n f o r th y m ate
’
l
.
.

K e e p h i m h o l d h i m ti me b e co m in
’
, ,
”
W h en h e l l h ave to me e t h i s f ate
’
.
1 08 A DAUGHTER OF THE S EA

Kathi e trembl ed as S h e l i stened ; but J im str ode on ,

and onl y pressed the hand that l a y insid e h i s arm the

tighter .

“
She be onl y a poor craze d c r e e tu r he wh i spered ,

con sol ingly .

Kath i e rai sed her dark eyes to h i s somewhat wi st

ful ly
Oh Jim i f my l ove can hol d thee it w ill !
, , ,

”
A y sweetheart !
,

They had reached th e n ew house where a well ,

spread tabl e was awaiting th e wedd ing guests beh ind

them .

Fo ra moment o r two they stood al one in the oom r °

then Ji m stooped an d took Kath ie s burning ch eeks ’

between h i s two han ds .

“ ”
Lassie h e sai d brokenly
, God Almighty h a s,

j oined u s together M ay He give u s H i s bl essin n ow ’ "

. .

Kath i e gave a l ittl e sob an d as her hu sband s k isses

’

fel l quick an d fast she put her arm s roun d h i s neck

, .

’
O h Jim I l l be a good w i fe h e lpin
’

, ,
. God me I
”
w il l .

Th e v o w s i n chu rch ha d n ot been mad e w i th a full er

heart It was a moment o f deep and sweet sol emnity
.

to them both .

“
These ru sti c w eddings are s o charming sai d M ar ,

j orie to Una that same a fternoon I am n o t sure that .

they do not enj oy themselves much more than we do

”
under similar ci rcum stances .

“
Y o u speak as i f the y are quite a d i fferent order o f
 A FI S H ER S B RID E
'

1 09

“
b e ings sa i d Una ,
Kathie i s a dear friend o f m ine
. .

I l ike her better than an y body I know .

’

“
She i s a han dsome girl I allow Who wa s the o l d
, .

crone that tried to cast a spel l over the happ y coupl e

”
as they went o ti t to the church gate ?
“
That i s ol d Patty Jessop She is a h arml ess crea .

’
tu r e f
“ ’

I shoul dn t feel very com fortabl e under her p r o p h e

” “
c ies sai d M arj orie w ith a l ittl e shiver
,
I thought .

’
s h e m ight be the occupant o f th e Witches Hol e I am .

”
l ong i ng to investigate that mysterious spot .

“
Yo u wil l never g et any one to row yo u there .

D o not be too sure A few gol den pieces wil l be

too great a temptation .

Una shook her h ead but s h e l ooked a l ittl e troubl ed

, .

She began to w ish her S i ster i n law woul d l eave them - -

,

for she foun d it more an d more di fficul t to escape her

vigil ance and visit the Witches Hol e in th e day time ’
-
.

Marj ori e seemed too wel l sati sfied w i th her s u r

roundings to take her departure Her ri des w ith .

Duncan Th i s e lth w a i te becam e o f al most dai l y occur

rence She woul d come in from th em in radiant
.

spirits .

“
Where h a v e I been ?
”
sh e woul d s ay i n repl y to
Una s inqui ries
’
How can I tel l ? Throu g h the airy
.

cl ou ds o f fancy and d reams I can tel l you what I .

have been d oing—bringing solace and com fort to th e

”
heart o f a d iscon solate widower .

And th en on e da y Una wit n es se d a l ittl e scene

1 1 0 A D A UGHTER O F THE S EA

through h er turret w in dow that ma d e her s e e and

understand .

Duncan was stand ing near an o ld o a k i n the garden ,

one arm through the bri dl e o f hi s horse the other ,

roun d Marj orie Her head was reposing o n h i s shoul

.

der ; s h e put up one o f her l ittl e hand s and l ightly

caressed h i s cheek H e bent h i s head until h i s face
.

touched hers and Una turned away from the w indow

, ,

saying to hersel f
“
H e h a s soon forgotten h i s young w i fe I t mi ght .

”
be Kath i e an d Jim to l ook at them .

Marj ori e soon announced her engagement Cuth .

bert was astoni shed an d at first not wel l pl eased

, .

“
The fellow has onl y j ust l ost h i s wi fe an d now h e ,

”
i s taking another al ready l
“
But we d o not intend to make o ur engagement
” “ ’
publ ic at present ar g ued M arj orie
, And D uncan s .

first marriage was pl anned an d arranged by h i s

mother H e tol d me s o
. She was a s weet gentl e
.
,

”
girl but there was no a ffin ity o f soul between them
,
.

Cuthbert shook hi s h ead .

“ ’
I don t understan d such l anguage M any l oves .

are l ightly l oved I have al ways h eard

,
.

Then Marj orie flashed roun d upon h im .

“
Duncan adores my l ittl e finger more than you do
Un a s soul a n d body ! Don t talk to m e o f being
’ ’

l ightl y l oved ! How much d o you l ove your wi fe ?

W hat i s th e depth o f you r affection for her ? I never
came across a more indi ff erent col d bl ooded hu sband ,
-

than you rsel f ! Sh e i s no more than a hou sekeeper ,

 ’
A FI S HER S BRI DE I I I

an d yo u do n ot deserve such a pretty W insome morsel ,

”
o f humanity l
S he l e ft the room an d her brother l i fted h i s head
with a dazed bewil dered l ook
, .

He fel t a s i f he had received a blow H e had been .

ta lking to hi s s ister i n h i s study and h e was i n the ,

m idst o f h is writing Yet now h e sat gazing before

.

him obl iviou s o f hi s book What di d Marj ori e mean ?

.

W hy d i d S he upbrai d h im ? He supposed h e had made

“ ”
a mi stake i n mentioning th e word l ove It was
not an experience he ha d passed through At l east .
,

not since he had attained m iddl e l i fe Yet h i s wi fe .

was entitled to respect What right had Marj orie to

.

cal l her h i s housekeeper ? He was fon d o f her ; o f

course h e was I f anything took her away from him
.
,

he woul d not dream o f proposing to another woman

within s ix month s o f her death It woul d be most un .

su itabl e outrageou s !
,

Wh i l st he was pondering these things i n h i s mind ,

M arj orie was hol ding an animated conversation with

h i s w i fe .

“
It was love at first s ight w ith both o f us Una , ,

s h e w a s saying as s h e l eaned back in a com fortabl e

chair and regarded h er young si ster i a law with

,
- -

laughing eyes .

“
I am no countr y mis s to be taken with the first
handsome man I meet I have met with too many o f
.

them for that an d I may s ay without conceit that I

,

have re fused more than o n e highl y advantageous o ff er .

Good l ook s goo d b i rth a n d weal th al l i ncluded ! But

, ,
1 1 2 A D AUGHTER O F TH E S E A

from the first moment I s a w Duncan s eyes and he a r d ’

”
h i s voice I knew that I had met my fate .

“
How very curious sai d Una wonderingly
, I .

cannot understan d why h e shoul d appear di ff erent to

any other An d yet S h e adde d with a rising bl ush
.
, ,

“
I thought h i s voice an d l ook very pl easant w hen I
first sa w him He mad e m e think i n that one moment
.
, ,

”
that h e l iked an d understood me .

A l ittl e pucker came i n M a r j o r i e s wh i te br o w Then

’
.

S he laugh ed .

“
Sometimes I think you are a woman s h e said , ,

somet i mes a baby I d o n ot know why I am descant

.

ing to yo u l ike thi s D uncan an d I were drawn

.

together i n true l o v e r fashion He coul d not get my

.

image o u t o f hi s thoughts ; he i s madly mightily in ,

l ove w ith me H e tell s m e poor fel l ow th at he only

.
, ,

”
l ives when i n my presenc e .

Un a was s ilent S he f o und hersel f o ften now

.

mental ly compar i ng h er experi ence w ith others and ,

s h e diml y began to won der whether her courtsh ip an d

marriage had not been an exception to the rul e S he .

l e ft M arj orie and wan dered about the house a l ittle

,

restl essl y It w a s a pour i ng wet day Sh e had a

. ,
.

col d a rather unu sual event for h er a nd M ar j or i e had

, ,

persuaded her to stay i ndoors B ut now s h e fel t sh e .

mu st escape o ut o f th e h ouse Snatch i ng up h e r ol d .

worsted cap an d shawl she was mak ing h er w a y to

,

the front door when her hu sban d cal l ed h er

,
.

Sh e put her h ea d i n at the stud y d oo r a l i ttl e i m

patiently .
 ’
A FI S HER S B RID E 1 1 3

W hat i s it ? I am go i n g o ut .

”
N o t this weather surely ? ,

Now Cuthbert do I ever mind th e weather ?

, , ,

But you are not wel l ; Marj orie tol d me sh e heard

”
y o u cough ing all nigh t !
Th i s sudden interest i n h er h ealth surpri sed U na .

“ ”
A cough i s noth ing sh e sai d ind i fferentl y Then
, .

a catch in her breath made h er stop speaking an d the ,

cough came on .

Cuthbert quietl y drew her in an d sh ut th e door , .

“
I am not going to l et you go out to day ; sit down -

”
h ere and tal k to me .

’
Una s soul at once rose in hot rebel l ion .

“ ” “
I am going out she repeated , You promised .

when y ou married m e that you woul d not inter fere

”
w ith me .

“
Y ou prom ised when yo u marr i ed me that you
”
woul d obey me .

Una opened her eyes an d l ooked at h im l ike an ,

a ston ished ch il d .

“ ”
?
Have you fin i sh ed your book s h e a sked .

”
No.

Then I think y o u had better retur n t o your work ,

”
an d l eave me to go on with mine .

She spoke with q ui et dign ity but Cuthbert woul d

'

n o t be sil enced . He seemed a d i fferent man With .

o ut a word h e gently went toward s h er and removed

the shawl from her shoul ders .

“ ’
I am going to exerci se a hu sba n d s privil ege he ,

“
said with a l ittl e smil e and take care o f my wi fe
, ,
.

8
1 1 4 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

No I cannot permi t you to go o u t again to day I

,
-
.

am consi dering your health I have been too negl e c t .

ful o f you hitherto M arj ori e has opened my eyes . .

I f Marj orie i s the cau se o f thi s I shal l a s k h e r to ,

”
l eave the hou se .

’
Al l Una s hot bloo d was roused She spoke with .

flashing eyes an d qu ivering l ips ; then be fore h er ,

h usban d c oul d stop h e r s h e h ad dashed past h im and ,

o u t o f the room It was but th e work o f a moment to

.

get another cl oak an d then o ut into th e bl inding rain ,

S h e ran stumbl ing over th e short thick grass o n the

,

edge o f the cl i ff an d final ly makin g a hasty an d pre

,

c i p i to u s descent to th e Witches Hol e

’
.

El i an d J im Tanner w ere bu sy hammer i ng away at

th e preciou s cra ft an d they l ooked up w i th consterna,

’
tion at Una s appearance .

“
I thou g ht I shoul d never get h ere s h e sai d by ,

w ay of explanation I w a s del ayed an d I have run

.
,

”
a ll the way .

’
Ti s a bad day f o r ye to be out sa i d El i , .

I n ever stay i n f o r weath er ; are you go i n g Jim ? ,

I promised the wi fe to be back soon sai d Jim a , ,

“ ’
l ittl e bash ful ly Her doesn t know wh ere I be or
.
,

’ ’
what u s be doi n here I m w on de r i n i f I might tel l
’
.

’” ’
her Her b ain t a talker
. .

“
O h Jim y o u m u sn t! I have your promi se that
, ,
’

”
yo u keep ou r secret .

Ji m rubbed th e back o f h i s head .

’
Ti s o r k a r d twixt man an d w i fe Her be brave
’ ’
.

’ ’ ’
an sharp Kath ie be an her d u s sn t rightly l ike what
, ,

’ ”
her can t come at !
 A FI S H ER S BRIDE ’
1 1 5

Nonse n se ! She mu st trust you I have never tol d .

my husband about it He n ever asks questions Tel l . .

Kath ie you are doing some busines s for me i f she ,

”
wants to know where you h ave been .

J im went o ff down to the beach pul l ed hi s boat to ,

’
the water s edge and rowed o ff but there was a d e, ,

pressed air about h i m that e v e n ol d El i noticed .

“
He sai d to Una w ith a l ittl e smil e J im be d is , ,

c ov
’
e r in that hi s action s be n o t s o free as they was
”
back along .

“ ’
Marriage hasn t made any di fference to me s o I ,

”
do n o t s e e why i t shoul d to h im was Una s qu i ck ,
’

reply ; an d then the scene with her husban d that a fter

noon made her stop i n her work and ponder .

P resentl y s h e sai d w ith a l ittle l augh to El i It , , ,

i s a good thing to know you r o w n m in d and to stic k ,

to it i sn t it ? I f the way i s a right way one ought to

,
’

”
take it however much others ma y try to prevent yo u
, .

“
A y M iss y i f it be the right way
, ,
.

I ran away from my husban d thi s afternoon Una ,

said looking at th e ol d man w i th a merry twinkl e in

,

“
her eyes He wanted m e to stay in and I wanted to
.
,

come o ut .

El i shook h i s h ead .

“
I m doub ti n i f your way w a s a right one
’ ’
.

O f c ourse i t was Every stroke o f work we do to .

thi s dear boat means that s h e wil l be laun c he d the

’
s oo n e r f
“
M i ssy your wil l be a strong one but it need s
Ay , , ,

”
to be broken said El i with a sorrow ful l ook i n h i s
, ,
1 1 6 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA
’

honest eyes Ti s not the sp i rit o f the Good Master

.
,

who was meek and l owly i n spi rit S eemeth to me .

,

a young wi fe mu st obey her husband Ti s in the .

’

”
marriage vows .

“
O h but my husband an d I arran g ed we shoul dn t
,
’

” “
keep to those Una repl ied hast i ly , We each go our
o w n way an d do wh at we l ike It i s much the best
, .

’
way I don t know what made h im speak to m e s o
.

th i s a fternoon H i s sister M is s G regson has been

.
, ,

talking to him I t woul d be qui te dread ful i f C uth

.

bert began orderin g m e about .

There w a s S il en c e then El i sa i d sl owly ,

“
When I were a young l ad I went across the chan ,

’
n e l i n a timber barque The c ap ti n h e be an ol d .
,

’ ’ ‘
s a i l or an a cock sure uh ! We used to s ay No one -
,

n eed teach D an D enton how to pil ot hi s cra ft insi de

any harbour ! U s g ot i nt o a nasty s q ual l outsi de th e
’

’ ’ ’
coast 0 Hol l an d an th ere were sandbanks , Twas a .

’ ’ ’
dark nigh t when we ran o n em an th e l ights 0 th e ,

’
D utch harb ou r w ere close i n si g ht By an by o ff .
,

’
c ome a l i feboat to u s w i a D utch c rew but capti n h e , , ,

‘ ’
shook h i s head No l ad s no ; I l l wait h ere til l
.
, ,

’
m o rn i n an then I l l get h er o ff sure enough S ays he
’ ’ ’
.
,

’
Th e D utchman warned h im an begged o f him to ,

l eave h i s bar q u e an sav e h i s l i fe B ut th e c apti n had

’
.

a w il l 0 hi s o w n an h i s way w ere the right way h e

’
,
’

’
sai d Th e l i feboat were sent back an two hours after
.
,

the sand s be gun to suck u s down I pitched mysel f .

o u t an by th e Lord s g oodness were washed ashore

’ ’

, ,

’ ’
but I were th e o nl y one saved Ca ptin an crew an .
 A
’
FI S HER S BRIDE 1 1 7

barque were nowheres i n th e mor n i n l ight W ere ’ '

.
.

”
that the l i feboat s faul t M i ssy’
?
,

“
No sai d Una gravely
, What an obstinate .

”
man !
“
He knowed h i s o w n mi nd an he s tuck to u n ! ,
’ ’

’
El i s l ook was a know ing one Una l aughed aloud . .

“
Ah you th ink you have tur ned the tables on me ; I
,

”
knew the moral be fore y Ou fini shed your tal e !
“ ”
Seemeth to me o l d El i continued a fter a pause
, ,

thi s ere l i feboat u s be s o at pain s to make w il l be a

’

’
th ing 0 nought unl ess men h e w il l i n to leave their
, ,

sink i n cra ft an trust e ms e l v

’ ’
e s to i t !
” ’

“
O f course i t w i l l .

’
An th e dear L o rd wh o he the W orl d s Li feboat ,

be not abl e to save a Si ngl e on e o f u s that sticks to

’ ’ ’ ’ ’
o u r own ways an pl ans an won t j ust giv em all ,

’
over and let Him plan an c arry u s i nto harbour sa fe
, .
"

Una looked serious .

“
Yo u al ways make me unhappy E l i Y ou make , .

”
the way to be good s o d i ffi c ul t .

“
Nay M i ssy ti s so easy l ike — ti s the simpl enes s
, ,
’ ’

’ ”
a n surenes s o f it that makes u s al l s o gl ad .

But yo u make out that we have to do noth i ng and ,

I am quite sure that i s wrong .

“
Us h as to take a big step Our Li feboat have been .

made a t the cost 0 the dear Lord s precious l i fe but

’ ’

’ ’
t i s u s that has to step inside an trust ourselves e n
” ’
ti r e l y to u n .

“ ”
And i s that al l ?
1 1 8 A DAUGHTER OF THE S EA

Why that be but step number one ! We bends

,

’ ’
o u r back s to the M aster s w ill ; He h e the Pil ot a n

the Ca pti n an u s S its u s down an begins to pul l j ust

’ ’
,

’ ’ ’ ’
h ere an there where He be gu i d i n an tel l in o f u s
, .

Us have to pul l al l o u r l ives an pul l against the ti de

’

, ,

’
an w i nd an storm but u s does i t an pull s to save
,
’

, ,
’

others an al l the time o u r Ca p ti n be c o mf o r tin an

,
’ ’ ’

’
l ead i n u s sa fe through the currents away from the ,

”
rock s unt i l He l ands u s sa fe in port
,
.

Un a di d not reply These conversations were s in k

.

i ng deep into her heart and m i nd ; an d El i s a w i t ,

an d praye d f o r h e r th e mo re .
 C HA P TER ! .

H U S BA ND S AN D W I V E S
He is a l k
f o o , w h o t h i n s b y f o rc e or s kil l
To t u rn th e c u rr e n t o f a w o m a n s W
’
ill .

Ta ke .

Una was wet through before sh e reached home and ,

her col d was none the better for it Cuthbert di d not .

s e e her til l dinner time He seemed to have forgotten

-
.

her wi l fulness an d talked to hi s si ster with more

,

interest and warmth than u sual Later in the evening .

wh en they were standing roun d the drawing room -

fire preparatory to retiring to thei r rooms for the

,

’
n ight Una s cough became troubl esome again
, .

M arj ori e l ooked at her an d shook her head .

“
You w il l find your body wil l assert itsel f o n e o f
” “ ”
these days s h e sai d
, Yo u are treating it badly
. .

”
“
You di d not go o ut th i s a ftern oon ? C uthbert
a sked .

Una nodded .

“
Against my wi sh W here di d yo u g o ? .

Una flashed a prou d l ittl e glance at him .

“ ”
Give h er a scol ding l aughed M arj orie I wil l
, ,

l eave you for I am l onging for bed These dark

, . ,

rainy days are very wearying .

She d isappeared : and Cuthbert s eyes rested o n h i s ’

young wi fe in a med i tative fashion .

1 20 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

Where di d y o u go ?”
he repeated gravely .

To my u sual haunts Una repl i ed l i g htly ; they

,

”
d o not interest you .

I cannot have you set my w ish es asi de i n th i s

fashion You are such a ch il d that you seem to th ink
.

l i fe i s merel y a ga me a hu sban d a nonentity

— ”
.

Una was startled b y the stern ring i n Cuthbert s ’

ton e .

But sh e w a s not submi ss i ve She fl un g her head .

back impatiently .

“
Why are you mak i ng thi s d isturbance ? Y o u are
general ly too engrossed i n you r book s to care what I
d o o r where I go I cannot understan d your sud den
.

i nterest in m e .

Then a h id den fire l eaped into Cuthbert s eyes ; he ’

turned an d put h i s han d on her shoul der an d Una s ,

’

h ead droope d beneath th e i ntensity o f h i s gaze .

“
Chi l d I woul d not have o u r marriage a failure I
, .

am responsibl e for your w el fare I promi sed your .

g uardian I woul d protect and care fo r yo u I o w n I .

have been absorbed in my work but i t will n o t last ,

for ever ; an d when it i s done and I w i sh to h ave more ,

’
o f my w i fe s society I S hal l not expect h e r interests
,

and pursu its to be entirely apart from mine We a r e .

man an d w i fe Una ; remember it ; an d wh en I w i sh

,

for your confidence do n ot withhol d it

,
.

Th e mastery o f the man was making itsel f felt .

For th e first time Una began to real i se that h er

hu sban d was not a nonentity .

Sh e h i t h er l ips to prevent the tears starting to h er

 HUS BAN D S AN D WI VE S 1 21

eyes S he had never experience d a harsh word o r

.

harsh deal ing i n her l i fe .

’
M iss Endicott s rul e had been a lax an d a l oving
one .

An d Cuthbert looking down at h e r face real ized

, ,

afresh her chil dishness a n d inexperience .

S ome instinct— h e kne w not what— prompted him

to stoop an d give her a ki ss .

“ ”
We wil l not quarrel h e s ai d trying to speak
, ,

“
l ightly ; but when I a s k you to do or not to do a , ,

”
thing think twice before you ignore my w ishes
, .

Una bravely battl ed with her feel ings H i s kiss .

had touched an d so ftened he r .

Sh e clasped her hands round h i s a rm and looking ,

up at him with laughter a n d tears i n c l ose proximity ,

sa i d winsomely
“ ”
Have you any l ikin g I n your heart for me ?

Cuthbert w as speechl ess Una continued

.

“
I have been think ing l ately that we are a strange
coupl e Marj ori e seems to think so and I know
.
,

Kath ie does Perhaps a fter al l the P rayer book w a s

.
, ,
-

”
right an d we are wrong .

In what way
In not l oving o n e another .

She rel eased h i s arm and sl ipped out o f the room

,
.

Another married coupl e had been hav i n g words

together that same eveni n g .

Kathi e wel comed J im back to tea with a bl ushing

smil e Her cotta ge k itch en wa s a pictu re o f neatness
.
1 22 A D AUGHTER O F TH E S EA

an d order She h ersel f cl ad i n a scarl et fl annel

.
,

bod ice dark serge skirt an d snow wh ite apron w ith

, ,
-
,

j ust a knot o f scarl et ribbon in her hair l ooked the ,

picture o f health and beauty .

“ ’ ’
Oh Jim I ve b i n w e a r y i n for the sight o f
, ,

ye !
J im s q uare d h i s sh o ul ders then s at d own i n h i s ,

chai r by th e hea rth .

“
I m i n for the n i gh t s weetheart W hat have ye
’

, .

”
bin at ?
“
I took o ut my boat but brou g ht i t back The .

l ad s were ask i n where my man was U s must row

’
.

i n the same boat n o w Jim ; ti s n o goo d for m e to ,

’

’ ”
pl ay at bein a singl e woman agen .

“ ”
Aye sai d Jim si lently
, .

“
Marth a Craik were i n a wh i le a go H er sai d her .

’ ’ ’
s ee d you row in past Co n dy s Cave W hy c oul dn t .

”
ye have h ad me w i ye J i m ? ’
,

J im di d not answer .

Then impul s i ve Kath i e c ame an d threw h ersel f on

her knees by h i s si de Laying h er dark curly h ead .

against h i s shoul der s h e turned her glorious eyes up ,

to h i s .

“
Jim lad tel l me where ye have bi n ?
, ,

Jim pu t hi s arm roun d her with a t i ght nervou s

clasp H e bent h i s h ead till h i s l ips were t o uching
.

her h ai r but n o t a word di d he s a y

,
.

Kathi e waited She was determined to know her

.

’
hu sban d s secret .

At l ast J im gav e a heav y s ig h .

 HUS BAN D S A ND WIVES 1 23

’
Sweetheart my l i fe i sn t much without thee b u t
, ,

I have bu siness that mu st be done away Tis for .

’

M i ssy at th e Towers .

“
Then tel l me what i t be .

Nay that I cannot ,

.

”
A husban d s secrets must be h i s wi fe s
’ ’
.

Jim coul d only shake h is head .

“
Jim do ye l ove me ?
,

Jim pressed h er cl oser to him w ith a convul sive

grip .

Then Kath i e sprang up and pl anted hersel f on h i s

knees ; she took hi s face between her two h and s and
showered ki sses upon it ; she woun d her arms round
h is neck and whi spered coaxingly in h i s ear
“
Oh Jim we re part o f each other ; your secret
, ,
’

’
must be mine an d I l l n e er let o n to a soul Trust
,
’
.

me lad and tell me

, , .

Poor Jim groaned i n an g uish o f spirit .

“
I v Kathie Ye woul dn t h a v
’ ’
e passed my word e , .

’
me break it ! But i f ye go to M i ssy an tel l her ye
’
must know it her w ill tel l c c ,

Kath ie sprang up an d away from h im w i th a scorn

fu l laugh
A m I the one to go w h i n i n an c r y i n to an out ’ ’ ’

si der to tel l me what my husband be doin when h e ’

w il l not open h i s mouth ? I f ye be workin in secret ’

,

’
an treats you r w i fe l ike a stranger y e had best have ,

”
remained unmated l
With wh ich passionate words Kath ie l e ft hi m for
the rest o f th e evening al one an d fled u p to her bed ,
1 24 A D A UGHT E R O F TH E S E A

room wh ere final ly she sobbed hersel f to sl eep feel i n g

, ,

marriage w a s a failure and her hu sband a bi tter and

heartbreaking d i sappointment .

B ut the bui l ding o f the Tr i u mp h went rapi dly on .

It was a comparatively smal l boat ; for as Una ,

represented to El i the crew woul d be so few i n ,

number .

“
Mysel f an d y o u three men We d a re not tru st .

”
any on e el se .

I t w a s on e fine sunny a fternoon that a s Una and ,

the Tanners were hard at work they were sud denl y ,

surpri sed by the splash ing o f oars outsi de I t was .

high ti de but it was sel dom any boats passed so cl ose

,

to the il l fated spot

-
Una ran d own to th e entrance
.

an d cautiou sl y pu t her head outsi de To h er c o n .

st e r n a ti o n sh e saw M ar j ori e an d Duncan Thi s e l

thwaite They w ere in the act o f l andin g thei r boa t
.

w ith in a few feet o f th e cavern .

“ ”
We shal l be d i scovered sh e sai d breathl essly a s , ,

“
sh e returne d to her c o mpanion s W hat shall we .

”
do ?
St o p work i n El i sa i d quickly ; now back all
,

i nto thi s dark corner I f s o be that they have no

.

’ ’ ’
l antern they l l fin d nothin an Tom can skeer em
,
’
,

away Jim run up the l adder an d shut o u t th e l igh t

.
,

”
w ith the tarpaul in .

Th i s wa s d one a n d al mo st immed ia tely vo i ces

,

were heard .

“
Oh Duncan i s it not a gru esome pl ace ! N o w
, , ,

what do you th ink we sh a l l fin d here ? three O l d

 HUS BAND S A ND WIV E S 1 25

w i tches dancing round a caul dron o f bones o r a ,

sexton hammering co ffins and d igging graves ? We

were tol d o n ou r way you know that we shoul d hear , ,

o u r co ffins being made And real ly I began to think

.

’
when we were passing Co n dy s Cave that the stron g
current there woul d draw u s on to the rock s How .

superstitiou s every o n e i s ! Even my l ittl e sister i n -

”
l a w s e e m s a frai d o f coming here
'

“
I do not think there i s much to see dearest DO , .

”
you want to go right i n ?
“
O f course I do B ut I d i d not th ink i t woul d be
.

so dark Where are you ? Let me hol d your arm

.

and strike a l ight How stupid o f u s ! We have

brought no candl es .

Duncan took matches o u t o f hi s pocket but the ,

damp atmosphere prevented them from burning .

There was deathl y stillness Cautiously the y .

advanced and then Tom with h i s mouth cl ose to

, ,

the groun d gave vent to a most blood curdling wail :

,
-

i t roll ed round th e cavern and echoed b a ck f rom

its wal l s w ith such gh ostly e ffect that Marj orie s ’

nerves were shaken an d w ith a scream she beat a ,

hasty retreat .

When outsid e sh e sank to the ground wh ite and

, ,

trembl ing Duncan tried to soot h e h er

. .

“
It i s onl y owl s There are al wa y s echoe s in those
.

’ ”
great cavern s Don t be frightened dearest
.
,
.

“ ”
Oh l et u s come away gasped Marj orie
, It i s
,
.

”
a h orribl e pl ace I wi sh we had not come
. .

A very short time a fter thei r boat was retreating ,

1 26 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

over the waves ; an d Una l eft her h i ding — pl ace w i th

m ingl ed feel ings o f rel ie f an d amusement .

“
I woul d not l et them di scover u s for worl ds she ,

“
sai d . Now we have s o nearly fini shed o u r work we
”
mu st be doubl y care ful .

“ ”
M i ssy sai d Jim shortl y a fter as Una w a s j ust
, ,

“
taking h er departure woul d you mi ss my serv i ce
,

”
n o w that th e boat be so far o n ?
“
I shoul d th ink w e woul d J im S urel y you are , .

”
n o t tired o f it ?

No I be not that was th e grave repl y but th e

, , ,

”
w i fe wants me an I c a nnot hol d out no longer
,
’
.

“ ”
Kathi e must not be selfish sai d Una in her ,

“
most royal tone Sh e mu st spare you to u s as l on g
.

as we want you I think Jim it i s best for husband

.
, ,

an d wi fe not to be too much togeth er then there ,

i s n o inter ference with each other o r quarrel ing .

Jim coul d only stare uncomprehend ingl y at her .

After a pau se h e said

’
’
Ti s com in betw ixt u s M i ssy ; an d I ve promised
’
,

th e wi fe that i f I can t l et o n to her where I be that

’
,

”
I ll be away n o more
’
.

Una was unused to opposition She stamped her .

foot angri ly .

“
Kath ie wants a g ood tal king to ! She i s not
going to spoil o u r pl an s w ith her selfishness You .

ought not to give in to her J im ; the husban d ought ,

to be master .

As s h e sai d th ese word s it flash ed acros s her that

ci r c umstances al ter c ases She had a keen sen se o f
.
 HUS BAND S A ND WI VE S 1 2 7

j ustice and some l ittl e humou r ; and as s h e remembered

that her own husband dared not thwart her i n any
of her plans her impat i ence vanished and s h e
, ,

laughed al oud .

’
J im s face was cl ouded .

“
I m l e a r n i n that I don t und erstan d women h e
’ ’
’

sai d humbly B ut I give ye my word that Kathi e

.

”
woul d hol d her tongu e i f ye l et me tel l her all .

Una l ooked at him meditativel y .

“
I suppose s h e must be tol d i f i t i s a question o f
losing you Jim B ut bind her to secrecy and I wil l
, .
,

come and see her to morrow morning an d show her-

,

what a fail ure al l o u r work wi ll be i f any on e gets to

”
know o f it .

Jim strode o ff hom e that a fternoon w ith a sense o f

freedom an d rel ief in h i s soul that h e had not known
for some time past An d Una went home pon dering
.

many things unmanageabl e wi ves amongst them

,
.

’
Marj orie was ful l o f tal k about the Witches Hol e
that evening .

“
I tol d you I woul d go she sai d in triumph to ,

“
Una and I accompl i shed it B ut what an uncanny
,
.

spot it i s I am more than hal f incl ined to bel ieve

.
-

the stories I hear about it Can you not give me the .

ful l an d true h i story o f it ?

Una shook her head .

“
I don t know the origin o f all the stories They
’
.

s ay there i s a bottoml ess hol e i n it D o you .

remember o l d Patty who warn ed Kathie on her

weddin g day ? Th e st o ry g oe s that s o on a fter sh e
1 28 A DAUGHTER OF T HE SEA

was l e ft a w idow man y years ago s h e was o u t

, ,

catch ing l obsters i n her boat ; and o n h er return h ome

S h e mi ssed h er way owing to a sea fog and rowed , ,

’
into the Witch es Hole She d i d not come home til l .

morn ing when s h e was h al f del i rious from fright an d

,
-

exposure S he had som e kind o f fever and when

.
,

s h e recovered her reason was gone Th e fi shers say

, .

‘ ’
s h e was bewitched .

“
It i s an a g e o f superstition remarked Cuthbert ,

“
gravely . The l ower cl ass are s o ignorant and s o
”
uneducated that they bel ieve anything .

“
Well there i s someth ing o r s omebody i n the
,

“ ”
cavern persi sted M arj orie fo r I heard th em
, ,
.

“ ”
O wl s o r seagul l s her brother s ai d shortl y ,

N o I am sure it was not

,
B ut do not l et u s talk .

o f it . I never want to go there again I am sure .

”
I shal l dream o f it all night .

Una w as inten sel y rel ieve d to feel that M arj orie

was n ever l ikel y to troubl e th e Witches Hol e again ; ’

but s h e wa s uneasy about Kathi e and hu rried dow n ,

to h er cottage th e first thing th e next morning .

She found h er in singing about her work and ,

l ooking s o bright an d bonny that Una fel t s h e coul d

n o t scol d h er .

Come in M issy and wel come sai d Kathie a

, , ,

l ittl e shyl y Jim tol d me last n ight I might have a

.

”
vi sit from y o u .

“
Yes sai d Una w ith a grandmoth erl y ai r ; I am
”
, ,

a frai d y o u have been g i ving your husband a goo d

”
deal o f troubl e .
 H US B A ND S A N D WIVE S 1 29

’
The colou r dyed Kathie s cheeks a deep crimson .

Then s h e l ooked up an d sai d simply

“
It were hard o n me M issy Twas a tug when , .
’

’ ’
I parted w i m y o w n boat and giv up goin out ,
’

w i the smacks l ike I always d i d

’
B ut I says to Jim .
,

‘ ’ ’
The w i fe must be w i her husband an not have ,

’
a l i fe to hersel f n o more ! S o I hasted through my
work o f a m o r n i n to be ready to go w i Jim later
’ ’

’
an then he tell s m e curt l ike I was not wanted an
’
-
,

’
he l iked best to go alone A n that was n ot enough ; h e .

’
stayed out hours an hou rs when other boats were in
’ ’
and the l asses h ad thei r men home an I were kep i n ,

”
the dark .

You shoul d h ave trusted h im Kathie You , .

know how steady he i s ; you knew he coul d not be

doing any harm .

“
It has cost me the tw o m i s e r ab l e s t month s i n my
l i fe , sai d Kathi e w ith a quick caught s o b i n h er
,
-

“ ’
breath . I ve sai d words to Jim that have cut h im
’
to the heart ; an words cannot be unsaid I ve been .
’

mad w i anger an sulks ; an Jim h e — wel l he have

’ ’ ’
, ,

”
bin an angel !
’

She pau sed then wen t o n hurriedly

,

“
M issy, my J im s rel igion be worth ha y in for h e
’ ’
,

l ives it out I tempted h im l ike the devil but never

.
,

a sou r look o r cross word d i d I get ; an I tol d h im ’

on my knees thi s m o r n i n that I wasn t fit to be ’ ’

hi s wi fe I praye d h im to make m e l ike h imsel f an

.
,
’

’
h e be go i n t o l earn m e o f an evenin He says ti s ’
.
’

9
1 30 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA
’
God s B ook wi l l l earn me an I be goin to be a ,
’ ’

”
right good woman from th i s day forth .

“
Y o u have never been a wicked o n e Kath i e sa id , ,

Una interested i n th e girl s earnestness

,
’
.

“ ’ ’
I ve bi n l ivin l ike a h ay th e n M issy ! I ve never ,
’

had o n e thought o f God al l the day an never thanke d ,

’

H im for H i s l ove .

U na w as sil ent for a minute then s h e sa id ,

“ ’ ”
I don t think I h ave either .

My Ji m has been taught proper by h i s g ran d

f e yth e r but h e tol d me f o r years h e u sed to th ink i t
,

fool i sh to be s o o n at rel igion l ike h i s gr a n d fe yth e r .

B ut then he sai d th e time come when he s e e h e wer e ,

’
a rebel a fi gh ti n against h i s rightful Kin g H e wer e
-
.

’ ’ ’
tu r n i n th e Captai n out 0 o n e 0 H i s o w n boats ,

’
instead o f servin un der H im An now h e says qu i te
’
.
,

sol emn l ike he have signed f o r l i fe s ervice under a

,

’
Capta i n who wil l be a Pi lot too an will bring pea c e ,

’
in an y storm Jim says ti s wh at our Lord d ied for to
.
,

’ ’
bring u s to Himsel f an to God Al mighty ; but I d on t
” ’
rightly understand M i ssy ; onl y I be goin to l earn
,
.

Una sat sil ent f o r some minutes Her o w n se c ret .

was forgotten un der the pressure o f these more serious

thoughts .

Then Kath i e be g an w i th k i n d l i n g eves to speak o f

, ,

the l i feboat .

“ ’
W il d horses won t tear i t from me M i ssy I ll
’
,
.

give Ji m up w illin ly to work at s o great a job O h !

’
.

it wi l l be gran d to save th e po o r w re c ke d sa i lors !

 HUS BAND S AND WI V E S 1 31

I don t rightly s e e how it wil l be done ; but when the

’

boat be ready things wil l fit in I reckon !

, ,

“
B ut Kathie do you understand th e importance
, ,

o f keeping the secret ? I f Martin Enoch an d others ,

once heard about it they woul d com e an d smash the

,

”
boat to p i eces !
“
Ay
’
said Kathie gravely ; an the l ads woul d
, ,

be knocked to pieces too There woul d be murder

, .
,

’ ’ ’
sure enough i f w r e cki n an robbin were to be put a
,

stop to ! M issy my Jim s l i fe be i n i t an d mine

,
’

”
too Rest easy about my ton gu e !
.
 C HA PTE R ! I .

I N CA PA CI TAT ED

How p oor a re th e y th a t h ave n o t p a ti e n ce ?

What w o un d d i d e ve r h e a l b u t by d e g re e s
,

S h a ke s pe a r e .

The Tr i u mp h w a s fini shed One fine a fternoon the

.

ceremon y o f her chri stening took pl ace and Una w as ,

besi de hersel f with excitement and del ight Ol d El i .

took the matter seriously Standin g o n the beach by

.
,

the S i de o f th e l i feboat w ith the sunsh ine resting on

,

h i s white hai r he looked l ike some ol d patriarch when

,

h e raised hi s hand s an d sai d

“ ’
Let u s beseech the Almighty s bl essing on her .

T o m and J im uncovered thei r heads Una and ,

Kath i e dropped upon the i r knees and r a i s mg h is , ,

eyes w ith humbl e reverence to the bl ue s ky above ,

th e o ld man prayed
“
O graciou s God w e commend o u r work to Thy
,

care. Thou knowest why w e have toil ed s o h ard .

U s e her to save Thy creatures and l et u s h ave the ,

M aster Himsel f with u s wh en w e venture o u t o n the

’
ra gi n bill ows Let th e soul s that we hope to save
.

from a wate r y death be gathered into the E ternal

Li feboat Let u s th e crew o f th i s smal l boat be al s o
.
, ,

th e crew o f that w o rl d w id e one an d d o Thou br ing

-
,
 I N CAPACI TATED 1 33

us through the storm o f l i fe w i them that we ve ’ ’

” ’
rescued safe into Heaven s port at last
, .

W he n Una rose from h er knees her face was wet ,

w ith tears Impul sivel y s h e l ai d her hand o n the O l d

.

’
man s arm .

“
Oh I w i l l be o n e o f that crew God helping me
, , ,

I will !
She awaited with feveri sh impatience the result o f
a trial trip which w as taken i n th e darkness o f a
,

s qual ly night and i n which to h er bitter disappoint

, ,

ment s h e w a s unabl e to participate B ut s h e heard

, .

that the smal l crew were wel l sati sfied w ith th e

Tr i u mp h s capabil ity f o r ri ding over the waves
’
Her .

l ightness and buoyancy were beyond dispute ; an d Una

began to l ong f o r th e time to come to test h er powers .

M arj ori e was stil l whol ly engrossed w ith her l over .

After that o n e brie f awakening wh en Cuthbert tried ,

to assert h i s authority over h i s bri de an d fail ed he ,

had sunk again into h i s usual absorption o f min d

and rema i ned i n h i s stu dy amongst h i s books B ut .

’
h i s work l ike Una s w a s draw ing to an end ; and the
, ,

day came when h e packe d o ff h i s precious manuscript

to the publ i shers and eagerly awaited th e first proo f
,

sheets .

In th e waiting time h e tu rned h is attention again

upon hi s wi fe .

“ ?”
Una what are yo u g o i n g to d o thi s a fternoon
,

he asked o n e morning a fter break fast .

“ ”
Yo u must n o t ask her sai d M arj orie laughing , , .
1 34 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

She has her pl ans and carr i es them o ut i n ~

,

”
dependently o f any o n e el se .

I want you to ri de o u t with me Cuthbert sa id , ,

l ook ing straight at h i s young w i fe as h e spoke .

Una el evated her eyebrows .

“ ”
I hardly ever ri de s h e sai d ; and I h ave n o t
,

s een you o n horseback for months W hy do you want .

me to accompany y o u ?
“
I need not g ive a reason f o r al l my w ishes was ,

“
th e grave reply W hat hou r w i ll su i t you ? Wil l
.

’
tw o o clock
“
I supp o se s o U na repl ied unw ill ingly : then
,

’
m ee tin g M arj ori e s m irth ful eyes s h e said ,

“
I daresay M arj orie woul d gl adly take my pl ace .

”
No s h e woul d n ot that l ittl e lady repl ied ;
,

I am goin g for a ri de with Duncan The adorin g .

l overs an d the d evoted husban d and wi fe may pas s

, ,

each other o n th e road ; but the i r ways w il l n o t l ie

together I can sa fel y assure y o u that !
.

’
When two o cl ock came Una stoo d o n the stone ,

steps i n her l ong green hab i t w i th a perpl exed ,

ai r .

S he had by th i s time become s o accustomed to be

away from her husband that s h e fel t strange in h i s
,

presence .

He l i fted her i nto her saddl e an d away they went ; ,

across th e short spongy tur f on the top o f th e cl i ff s ,

meeting th e keen sal t breeze o f the sea and then ,

down i nto l ea fl ess l anes with stunted hedgerows

,
.
 I N CA PACIT A TED I35

Una was a goo d horsewoman and the rarity o f her ,

rides enhanced the pleasure o f the present one .

“
I do not know why I do not ri de oftener she ,

sai d turning her glowing happy face towards her

, ,

“
husband B ut I have been so busy that I have had
.

l ittl e time for i t .

He laughed .

“
Al ways you r i mportant business ! And such
mysteriou s business that no one i s tol d about it !
’
Why don t you in itiate M arj ori e into the del ights
”
o f your lobster pots an d net fishing ? ,

“
Marj orie wants no one but D uncan now sai d ,

“
Una l ightly
, Sh e i s never happy unl ess S h e i s with
.

”
him How tired th ey wil l get o f each o ther ?
.

Cuthbert looked at her sharply .

“ ”
Have you got tired o f me yet ? h e asked hal f ,

l a ughingly .

“ ”
No , was the sedate reply ; but i f I s a w a s
much o f you a s M arj ori e does o f D uncan I shoul d , ,

I know .

“
That i s not very fl attering to me sai d Cuthbert , ,

h al f amu sed hal f vexed at the extreme frankness o f

,

h i s wi fe I mean that you shal l see much more o f

.

me soon When my book i s out I shal l be an i dl e

.
,

”
man .

“ ’
I h o pe i t won t be o u t j ust yet sai d Una with a ,

“
smil e Marj orie vexes me by th e fuss s h e makes
‘
over Duncan Everybody does not th ink h i m so
.

wonder ful ; why sh oul d she ?

“ ”
It i s a mystery was her husband s short re pl y
,
’
.
1 36 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

Th ey had reached the en d o f the l anes and were

comin g out o n th e cl i ffs again when Una s horse that ,
’

was rather fresh sud denly took fright at s omething

, ,

an d bol ted She s a t firmly o n her sad dl e and gripped

.

her rein s a s tightly as S he dared but Cuthbert in hot , ,

pursuit o f h er saw to hi s terror that the frightened

, , ,

horse was making straight for the edge o f the cl i ff .

He hel d h i s breath then cal l ed o u t ,

“
Take your foot from the stirrup an d j ump .

An d as in agony h e watched her sl ight young figure

nearing certain destruction h e knew that her l i fe ,

was very preci ou s to him .

Una gathered her l ong habit together and obeyed ,

h im Sh e flung h ersel f o n the groun d only j ust i n

.

tim e Her horse when at the very edge with a

.
, ,

violent start stopped short ; but the cl i ff was

crumbl i n g under h i s feet ; a crash o f fal l en earth an d
stones a dying shri ek an d the poor creature was
, ,

hurl ed hundred s o f feet bel ow to be foun d some ,

hours l ater a shapel ess mas s o n the j a gged rocks

,
.

W ith that shriek i n her ears Una lost consc iou s ,

nes s When s h e recovered her senses she was in h er

.
,

hu sban d s arms an d s h e l ay with her h ead o n hi s

’

shoul der wondering in a dazed fash ion i f s h e was in

,

bed and what was the matter w ith her

,
.

In a moment o r two sh e remembered ; and ra i se d

h e r head w ith an eff ort .

“
Am I broken to p i eces ?” sh e asked h er husban d ,

with an un steady smil e .

 I N CAP A CI TATED 1 37

’
Cuthbe rt s face was as white as h er o w n ; he could
not smil e in return .

’
I don t think you have any broken bones he ,

“
said Can you ris e with my help ?
.

Una struggl ed to her feet .

“
I am sure I must be a mass o f bruises s h e said ; ,

and my right arm feel s quite sti ff Oh ! don t touch .

’

”
i t ! I t must be broken ! Just above the wrist ! S he
almost screamed w ith pai n as her husband took o ut
hi s handkerchie f an d made an impromptu S l ing f o r it .

Then very tenderl y h e l i fted her upon h i s horse ,

swung himsel f up behin d her and s upporting her in ,

h i s arms every step o f the w a y they rode slowly ,

home Arrived there Una col lapse d ; an d the doctor

.
,

was sent for i n haste He found her severely bruised

.

and shaken and her right arm fractured and h e

, ,

ordered her to bed forthwith .

Una had never been il l i n her l i fe Fo r th e first .

day o r two her h ead w a s aching s o badly that s h e

was content to l i e stil l Then s h e grew restive
. .

“ ”
I shal l get up an d go out I must ! . sh e asserted
o n e mornin g when her h usband came to
, see how s h e
w as .

“
N 0 h e sai d gravely ; y o u cannot do that yet
,
.

”
Oh why d i d we go for that ri de ! S he moaned .

It i s my right arm It may never heal and I

.
,

shal l never be abl e to r o w ! I wi sh I had broken both

”
legs rather than my arm !
“
B e thank ful you esca ped death Cuthbert sai d ,
1 38 A DAU G HTER OF THE S EA

as h e t o ok a seat by her si de . You were very near

it
I think I woul d as soon be d ead a s maimed for ,

“
l i fe ,Una cried Oh Cuthbert i s thi s doctor a
.
, ,

cl ever one ? I f you only knew how much depended

on my arm ! I must get back the u s e o f i t as qu ick
as possibl e I f a real storm comes what shal l I
.
,

”
do ?

Cuthbert thought h er mind w a s wander i n g .

“
My dear Una Doctor Cl i fford i s a cl ever sur g eon
, .

H e h a s set your arm an d says it i s going o n qui te

sati s factoril y You may not be abl e to have the free
.

u s e o f i t f o r another month o r s o yet ; but have

patienc e ! I am very thank ful your h urts are n o

worse .

“ ’
It doesn t make any di fference to y ou sai d Una ,

“
Y o u don t know what my arm s are to
’
ungraciously
”
me !
Th en s h e began to l augh at her words ; an d h er il l
humou r vani she d Stretchi n g o u t her l eft han d s h e
.

’
put i t into h er husban d s .

“
Yo u have been very goo d to me Cuthbert Almost , .

”
a Duncan !
M irth w a s i n her eyes Cuthbert surpri sed her by
.

rai sing her han d to h i s l ips .

“
I am thank ful my l ittl e wi fe has been preserved
” “
from su d den death h e sa i d earnestl y
,
I coul d n o t .

”
have spared h er .

Una l ay lookin g at h im w ith puzzl ed eyes W hat .

 I N CAPACITATED 1 39

had come over her absent minded husban d s h e

-
,

wondered ?
Then s h e gave a l ittl e shiver .

“ ”
Su dden death ! s h e repeated Where shoul d I
.

be now i f you h ad not tol d m e to j ump ? My o n e

’
idea was to stick o n poor Pol ly ! I can t bear to
think o f her end an d yet as you s a y it might have
, , ,

been mine ; an d my poor mangl ed body might be

lying in a co ffin in th i s very room or I suppose I ,

”
S houl d have been buried by thi s time !
Sh e shuddered again .

“
We wil l not th ink o f it her husban d sai d gravely
, .

There was a s ilence ; then Una said som ewhat

sadly
“
I f I had died it woul d have been l ike a drowning
,

person within reach O f the l i feboat onl y they h ad pu t

,

”
o ff getting into i t till too late !
”
What do you mean ?

And went o n Una dreamil y I t woul d not have

, ,

been the l i feboat s faul t i f I had met my fate ; it woul d

’

h ave been mine— El i sai d s o ”

.

Cuthbert l ooked puzzl ed and asked for an explana

,

tion.

Una gave i t to him straightly an d simply as was

,

h er fashion.

“
It i s the way to be truly rel igiou s ; the way to
God an d th e way to h eaven D o you remember a
, .

text we heard the first Sun day we went to church

togeth er ? I am th e Way
‘
. I coul dn t understand
’ ’

and I have o ften thought o f it since Ol d El i says .

,
1 49 A D AUGHTER O F T HE S E A

Jesus Chri st i s the way to G od W e must give o u r .

selves up to H i m an d put our trust in H im exactly

l ike wrecked sailors woul d trust themselves to a l i fe
”
boat It sound s simpl e doesn t i t ?
.
,
’

“ ”
V ery simpl e responded Cuthbert gravely He
,
.
.

had not entirely sti fled h i s desi res a fter better things ,

an d o ften mused upon h i s friend s l ast word s and h is ’

o w n promi se to h im .

“ ”
But said Una with a l ittl e smil e and a shake
, ,

o f her head the fact i s I m rather l ike the captai n ’

, ,

El i tol d me about I m trusting in my own seaman .

’

sh ip to se e me through I feel I want to have my .

way an d my w il l and so I m l etting the l i feboat pas s

, ,
’

m e by I wonder i f my acci dent is a warning to me ?

.

B ut I don t feel I can give u p manag i ng for mysel f

’

yet .

Cuthbert l ooked at h i s young wi fe in sil ence He .

took a few steps up an d down th e room .

M r Endicott s word s were sound ing in h i s ear

.
’

“ ‘ ’
I have foun d th e Way the Truth an d the Li fe , , .

”
Set you r heart to fin d H i m too and l ead you r wi fe , .

Then h e stoo d in front o f h er .

“
Una i t i s a warning ; find th e way that El i h as
spoken to y o u about and th en teach me ; for I—I
,

cannot l ead you to i t mysel f .

He turned an d le ft th e room Una remained deep .

in thought Inaction was al ways d i staste ful to her

. .

Usual ly when her thoughts becam e troubl esome she

, ,

w oul d go out o f doors an d shake th em o ff by outsi de

interests but n o w sh e coul d n o t S h e t o ok up a
,
.
 I N CA PACI TAT E D 1 41

book by her side but s h e coul d not fix her attention

,

upon i t She finally threw it dow n in disgust and

.
,

l et her thoughts have full play .

When Marj ori e came into her room an hour later ,

“
she was greeted w ith the word s : I h a Ve come to the
concl usion that sel f wil l i s my curse
-
.

Marj orie l aughed gaily .

“
It becomes you As l on g i t does n ot clash
.

w ith my wi ll I am content to have i t s o Only do

, .

n o t let your broken arm l ead to morbi d fits o f sel f

e xamination and depression Has Cuthbert been

.

scol ding yo u and a sserting h i s authority ? I fancy

h e is wak ing up at l ast Oh you are a ridiculou s
.
,

coupl e ! You m ight have been marr i ed for fi fty years

”
to l ook at you !
Una frowned a l ittl e .

“
You are al ways trying to make me d is co ntented ,

M arj ori e .Cuthbert and I understand ea c h other

”
perfectly ; and we are very happy .

“
May I be prevented from experienc i n g such
”
h appiness ! sai d M arj orie w i th a l i ttl e shrug o f
,

her shoul ders .

Then changing th e subj e c t she sa i d I have been ,

o u t f o r a walk and have been talking to your fr i en d

,

Kathie . What a handsome young woman s h e i s !

As ful l o f fire as you are o f ice ; and a strange m ix
ture o f innocence an d sh rewdness Sh e had j ust .

been seeing her husband o ff on a fishing exped ition ,

an d was nearly in tears at not accompanying him .

di rt y weather —
“ ” ’
I t i s going to be i sn t that the
1 42 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

correct expression — and Kathi e i s too pre ci ous i n

’
her husband s eyes to run any ri sks D o you hear .

th e w in d ri sing Una ? Oh I do hope we are not in

, ,

for a storm ; I cannot h e a r them s o cl os e at hand .

”
We seem to l ive I n th e very centre o f them .

Una l istened to the portentou s sound s an d signs

o f a gal e with a sinking heart B y th e time nigh t .

came o n waves an d win d were l ashing the coast in

,

fury B efore s h e reti red to bed s h e was s o excited

.

an d restl es s th at s h e sent a message to Kathie to

come an d s e e her an d Kathi e appeared w ith wonder
,

ful prompti tude though drenched an d beaten w ith

,

rai n an d S pray .

Un a received h er by h er bedroom fi re .

Cuthbert was i n h i s stu dy ; M arj orie had gone to

bed ; s o the two gi rl s woul d b e un di sturbed .

Kath ie i f a vessel S houl d d ri ft th i s wa y to nigh t !

,
-

Una s ch eek s were crimson w ith e xcitement as sh e

’

spok e .

“
Th e Tr i u mp h i s ready M i ssy an d Jim hath com e , ,

’
back He i s dog tired but h e l l be o ut in l ess than
.
,

n o time i f h e h e wanted
“
Yes groaned Una but what about me ? How
”
, ,

can I take an o a r ? an d I must be there Kathi e I , ,

”
m u s t!
“ “ ’
I l l take your pl ace sai d Kathi e firmly
’
Tis ,
.

’
best for you not to ri sk mak in your arm worse ,

’
M i ssy ! M aybe we shal l not be wanted Ti s not .

’
every storm that brings wrecks .
 I N CAPACI T A TED 1 43

Oh but I am hoping i t wil l Yes I real ly am ;

,
.
,

s o that we shal l be abl e to save them an d feel that ,

al l our labour has not been i n vain An d I S hal l be .

there Kathi e I m determined that I shall

, .
’
.

“ ”
I had best run up again and tel l you i f a n y th i n
happens sai d Kath ie meditativel y
,
.

N O n o ; every moment i s o f consequence

,
I can .

s e e you r house from my window ; an d o f course I

m ay s e e danger signal s from any passing vessel but ,

i n case I don t and the Tr i u mp h i s wanted w ave a

’

, ,

”
lantern twice out o f yo u r w indow and I shal l know ,
.

Kathi e promised and slippe d away as quietl y as

s h e came Una paced up and down her room for
.

the next hour in great suspense The storm increased .

i n viol ence the w in d tore away huge branches o f the

,

oaks i n the drive an d dashed them to the groun d,

with triumphant gl ee B ut the noi se o f the breakers .

made itsel f heard above th e w ind The s e a was .

l ashed into billows o f foam th e very rain was swept ,

away by the showers o f spray that hurled themsel ves

i nland to the great di s c o m fi tu r e o f the fishers who in ,

thei r oil skins were keeping as sharp a l ookout as

,

wind and waves an d black darkness permitted

, ,

them .

Then a s for the twentieth time Una was peering

,
'

through h er casement wi ndow s h e s a w th e s ign a l s h e ,

was expecting and in the di stance s h e heard the dul l

,

booming o f a gun .

! uivering w ith excitement and not daring to cal l ,

an y on e to her assistance s h e w ith di fficulty arra y ed ,

 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

hersel f i n her oil sk i ns and sou wester

’
. M ore than
once s h e s e t her teeth a s a sharp pa i n through her
“

arm rem i nded h er o f her hurt ; but s h e muttered w ith

a fi xed resol ve in h er determined l ittl e face :
“
I s hal l take my pl a c e at th e helm i f nowhere
,

”
e ls e
.
 C HA P T E R XII .

CU T HB ERT S AW A K E NI N G
’

Tho u co me s t b e t w e e n m e an d th o s e b o o k s too o f en t !
I see th y f ace i n e v e r y th i n g I se e !
”

L o ng f e l l o w .

Very softly sh e made her way to h er sanctum Sh e .

had to cros s the l ower hall and it was w ith the g reat
,

e s t caution that s h e stepped past the l ibrary door .

From the l ight stil l burn ing there s h e knew her hu s

band was i n it but as she reach ed the door o f her room
,

a han d was laid on h er sh oul der She turned in .

consternation an d faced her husband .

“ ”
What i s the meaning o f thi s ? he inqu ired ; an d
h i s voice had a stern ring in i t as h i s keen eyes took in
every detai l o f her dress .

Fo r an instant Una fal tered ; then she threw back her

head defiantly
“
I am going o ut Let me pass Why d i d you fol
. .

l ow me ?
“
I heard footsteps so natural ly came o ut I have
,
.

been watching the storm It i s an aw ful night and I

.
,

fancied I heard a signal o f d i stres s M y dear c hil d do .

,

y o u think for an in stant that I am going to l et y o u

venture o ut o n such a night a s thi s ?

1 46 A DAU G HT E R O F T H E S EA

I al ways sl ip o u t on stormy nights Una sai d with ,

“
vehemence I have done s o ever since I can remem
.

ber Every o n e i n the vil lage i s up and o ut Pleas e

. .

don t stop m e— I must go

’
.

B ut Cuthbert stood before her barring the narro w ,

doorway with h i s tal l strong figure , .

“
It i s madness to th ink o f such a thing ! You have
never been o u t on such a n ight be fore with my knowl ,

edge I wi l l not all ow my w i fe to forget h er positi on

.
,

”
an d her duty to me i n such an outrageou s freak
,
.

Hi s eyes met hers in a gl ance that had mastery an d

determination in it .

Una fel t angry an d h elpl ess .

“
You have no business to interfere w i th me s h e ,

“ ”
sai d You promi sed y o u woul d not
. .

“
I n ever promi sed to stand asi de an d see my l ittl e
wi fe go out in th e mid dl e o f th e night al one an d u n
protected and s h e with a broken arm Why chil d
,
.
, ,

th e win d woul d dash you to the groun d be fore you go t

to the bottom o f the steps Come back with me
. .

He drew her arm into h i s w ith a firm though gentl e

pressure and Un a fel t that resistance was usel es s
,
.

Tears o f m o r ti fi c a ti o n an d bitter di sappointment

rose to her eyes .

S h e su ff ered hersel f to be l ed back to her bedroom .

T hen s h e turned upon her hu sban d pas sionatel y

“
You are making me hate you ! You may cal l i t a
freak ! I f l ives su ff er and are lost through your tyr
anny I shal l never forgive yo u !
 CUT H B ERT S AWAKEN I N G ’
1 47

Cuthbert looked down upon her w ith an indulgent

smil e.

“
You are very angry naturall y h e sai d ; but Una , ,

I am beginning to think that I have l eft you too muc h

to yoursel f and you have had your o w n way too l ong
, .

He left her an d went i nto ,

h is room .

Una l ay awake al l that night in wide eyed mi sery -

.

M ore than once s h e stol e to h er w indow in the vain

hope O f seeing or hearing someth ing She heard no .

more guns booming and the beach was h i dden from ,

her V iew B ut when the morning came a strange

.
,

story was going the roun d o f P e r r a n c o ve ; it was

brought up to the Towers by an ol d fi s h woman Sal -

,

T r e p a n n who hawked fi s h about the country s ide

,
-
.

A smal l sail ing vessel had been driven to th e coast ,

and was al most on the rocks when s h e sent up a signal

o f d istress There was to al l appearance no hope o f
.

saving h er ; the usual watchers were g reedily awaiting

her destruction S uddenl y a smal l black boat was seen
.

approaching her Th e raging storm seemed to have

.

l ittl e e ff ect on it Ol d Marti n declared that in one

.

gl eam o f moonlight be fore th e black clouds swal l owed

i t up he s a w in the ste m th e Evil One himsel f A n .

other gl impse w a s got o f the crew l owering them

sel ves into it and three men on th e top o f the cl i ff
,

swore they s a w th e boat with h er l oad dashing into the

’
Witch es Hol e Horror and con sternation was among
.

the fishers an d great was th e tal k about it When

, .

morning dawned the yacht had enti rel y di sappeared

, .
1 48 A D A UG HTER O F TH E S E A

There was no trace o f wreckage nor was anythin g ,

washed ashore
The popul ation o f P e r r a n co v e fel t they ha d been

de frauded o f thei r rights ; yet o n e an d al l put i t down

to a supernatural power .

At the break fast tabl e Cuthbert d i scu ssed it with h i s

wi fe an d s ister .

It i s continuall y s urpri sin g me a fresh said Cuth ,

“
bert th at thi s vil lage i s s o g i ven over to superst i t i on
,

”
and ignorance .

“ ”
Wel l sai d M arj orie w i th a l ittle sh iver you
, , ,

’ ’
shoul dn t have such places a s the Witches Hol e There .

i s someth in g uncanny about it Ho w dread ful for .

the poor sh ipwrecked sail ors i f they go t sucked into

that aw ful pl ace .

“
The story i s that they were taken there in a boat ,

“
sai d Cuthbert B ut o f cou rse the whol e th ing i s i n
.

the imag i nat i on o f the narrators It i s easy to fancy .

things o n a pitch black night w it h interval s o f moon ,

shine They had better have be en in the i r beds I t i s

. .

an absurd custom to spend such n ights i n paradin g up

and down the shore O nly harm and n o good can .

”
come from i t .

“
That i s a hit at me o f c ourse sai d Una l ooking
, , ,

“
a c ros s the tabl e at her husband i mperturbably We .

had some word s last n ight M arj ori e an d he interfered , ,

w i th me I tol d h im I hated him and — and i n the

.
,

”
morning l ight he st i l l seems ob j e c t i onabl e !
Cuthbert sm i l ed .

“ ”
Yo u ar e s u ch a chil d ! he sa i d .
 ’
CUTHB ERT S AWAKEN I N G 1 49

O n e day you w il l find the ch il d astoni shing you ,

retorted Una quickl y .

A fter break fast s h e got through her housekeeping

,

duties with amazing cel erity and then sl ipped out o f ,

’
the house to Kathie s cottage She found that J im .

h a d j ust gone out ; but Kathie wel comed her eagerly ,

though with a certain amount o f caution .

“ ”
We must be very careful M i ssy she sai d closing , , ,

“
her door and speaking almost under her breath
,
Jim .

’ ’
says ti s tickl ish work keepin i t quiet for us were ,

’ ’
seen by many an ti s the wonder o f the vil lage
,

“
Oh do tell me al l about it from the begi nning I .

” ’
s a w you r l ight but coul dn t come .

“ ’
El i sa i d he knowed you coul d not Twas a fearful .

n i ght I don t know that ever I was out in such a

’
.

storm B ut the Tr i u mp h behaved beauti ful her j ust

.
,

’
rose over it al l an even when u s were l oaded Jim only
,

had to bal e o u t when us were a hundred

’ ’ ’
y ard s from landi n Twas a foreign gent s private
.

boat—a yacht they cal l i t— and u s saved crew an d al l

,

in tw o j ourneys The yacht w a s towed into the

.

Witches Hol e at four th i s mo r n i n an her were not

’ ’

,
’

much th e worse for they l e ft her anchored The ma s

,
.

’
ter an d crew boarded her and went o ff at five an us ,

fancies that no one saw her go for the outl et from the ,

Witches Hole cannot be seen from Pe r r anco v

’
e
”
.

“ ’
I can t imagine how we shal l keep it secret sa i d ,

Una flush ing with excitement

, Oh i t i s spl endi d .
, ,

’
Kathie ! I f you hadn t gone I suppose they woul d ,

have dr i fted as usual on to the r oc ks and not one o f ,

 1 59 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S E A

them been al ive thi s morning Wasn t Jim del ighted ? .

’

“
He be fair worn out M i ssy th is mor a in but he , ,
’

dare not stay indoors for they be all o ff fi s h i n an hi s ,

’

’
f e y th e r be gone too B ut twas terribl e l ast n ight ! I t
.

’ ’
made me think 0 God an heaven M i ssy ! For u s knew ,

’
u s might be goi n to o u r death G r a n d f e y th e r were .

‘ ’
gran d ! He prayed al l th e way an d u s sai d Amen ,

’ ’
over an d over for twas terribl e hard rowin
, I t made .

’ ’
me gl ad I ve given mysel f into the Lord s strong
Han ds f o r I w a sn t feared but g r a n d f e yth e r sai d h e
,
’

’ ” ’
were gl ad y o u wasn t there Twoul d be to o risky ! .

“ ”
It i s n o more ri sky f o r me than yo u sai d Una a ,

l ittl e ind ignantly .

Kathi e d i d n o t reply S he l ooked s o mewhat w i st .

ful ly i nto her face .

Now tel l me wh at you are think i n g o f Una cr i e d ,

impul s i vel y .

The rich colour mounted to Kath i e s cheeks ’

.

“ ’
G r a n d f e y th e r d i dn t s a y i t she faltered ; but I ,
!

was w on de r i n M i ssy i f death woul d be risky f o r you

’

, , .

”
’
Ti s onl y what you have tol d me yoursel f .

Una w a s struck dumb .

D eath ri sky f o r h er ! Th e thou gh t appal l ed her .

’
Then a fter a few moments sil ence s h e gave a l ittl e
laugh .

“ ’
The l i feboat woul dn t be worth much i f we got
’
drowned Kathi e ! I ts ri diculous ! O f course there i s
,

a certain ri sk but i t i s a very smal l o n e Tel l m e more

, .

”
about it .

“
The gentl eman o ff ered a l ot o f g ol d pieces to u s
 C UTHB ERT S A WAKE N I N G ’
1 5I

all but g r a n d f e y th e r sai d no H e were wonderful

,
.

”
j oy ful over bein saved ’
.

The conversation was interrupted here by a shril l

scream o f terror outside .

Una opened the door and dash ed out i nto the street
, ,

directly s h e s a w th e cause o f it It was poor ol d .

Patty Jessop who was being chased al ong by a band

o f boys u sing sticks an d stones a s m issil es against
,

her .

They stopped when they s a w Una having a whol e ,

some fear o f her tongue .

“
Yo u cruel wicked boys how dare you treat her
, ,

so ! Leave her al one at once !

H e r have sucked a b oat an crew into the W itches
’

” “
Hol e muttered th e biggest o f th em sull enly
,
Her .

’
be fit to be burnt an her laugh s at u s ! Us wil l l arn
,

”
her better !
Ol d Patty wh o was crouch ing against the wall now
, ,

straightened hersel f seeing h er protector,

.

Swinging hersel f up on the top o f an ol d stone gate

post she stretched o ut her hands and pointed to the
,

sea .

“
Bodies snatched from body snatchers ! sh e
shrieked ; ships an cargo an gol d will n ever come to
’ ’

’
th i s kind port no more ! Watch an wait curse an ,
’
, ,

”
weep fi s h wil l be al l that the sea mean s to give ye !
,

A brick in the hand s o f o n e o f her persecutors was

flung at her but Una intercepted i t an d turned with
, ,

flashing eyes upon the boys .

“
Go back you coward s an d l eave th e poor o l d
, ,
1 52 A DAUGHTER O F T HE S E A

creature al one ! I f you don t obey me I w ill take yo ur ’

names an d summon you for assaul t Do you hear

, .

”
what I s ay ?
“
Her be a witch th e bol dest o f the l ads asserted ;
,

her knoweth where that black boat d i d come from ,

an her h e mo c ki n u s !
’ ’

The lads pressed forward for once heedl ess o f ,

’
Una s words Worse than m i schie f w a s in thei r faces
.
,

and Una began to fear for th e ol d woman s sa fety ’

.

T o her inexpress ibl e relie f she s a w her husband a p ,

p r oa c hi n g It wanted only a word o f expl anation to

.

h im an d in a moment h e had dispersed the boys

, .

Cuthbert w a s hel d i n great awe and respect by th e

fishers ; they saw l ittl e and hear d l ittl e of h im but he ,

had been el ected o n e o f the county magi strates ; and

was in their e y es a great d ig nitary .

Ol d Patty l e ft h er h igh perch and c ame up to Unm/ ,

d rop ping a curtsey .

“
A brave hu sband m e dear o n e that needeth to
, ,

’
be master in hi s o w n house an to be taken into secret ,

counsel s ! B est not l eave him at home o n a stormy

’
n ight f o r it takes many to fight the cruel sea an
, ,

’ ’
them that be in l eague w i u n
Una looked startl ed an d then sai d soothingly ,

N o w go away Patty and to morrow the boys w i l l

, ,
-

have for g otten al l about it .

She tu rned w ith h er hu sband .

“
The first t i me you have come to my rescu e sh e ,

“ ’
sai d laugh i ng
,
I f my right arm hadn t been so u se
l ess I shoul dn t have cared but I fel t i t impossibl e to
,
’
,
 CUTH B ERT S AWAKE N I N G
’
1 53

protect her H o w cowardly boys are !

. What has
”
brought you out at thi s time o f the morning ?
“
To l ook for you Cuthbert repl ied promptly
, .

You are not going to turn yoursel f into a kind o f

pri son warder Una said turning mischievous eyes
,

upon h im .

“
I have l e ft the society o f my books for that o f my
”
wi fe s I s that strange
’
.
?

Again that master f ul ring in h i s voice Una was .

perplexed .

“
It i s s o s il ly to be walking about together l ike thi s ,

s h e said .
“
I real ly woul d r ather be alone i f yo u do ,

not mind .

Then Cuthbert turned and faced her .

“
Una wi l l yo u be content to wal k al one for th e rest
,

o f your l i fe ? We have been mi staken You are such .

a chil d that you d o not real ize the m istake But I am .

finding o u t that I want my l ittl e wi fe more with me .

It i s not right for u s to l ive o u r l ives apart We .

”
ought to be o n e in purpose in w ill in heart
, , , .

Una was S il ent They were n earing the cl i ff at the

.

extremity o f th e vil lage street be fore s h e spoke .

“ ’ ”
I don t understand you .

Her voice was sl ow and even .

“
Then yo u mu st learn to understand me .

Cuthbert s tone was passionate H e stopped when

’
.

the y were alone on the short tu fted grass near the -

’
cl i ff s edge and taking both h er hands in h i s made her
, ,

face him .

“
Una we have been a stran g e k i nd o f married couple
,
 A D A UG H TER O F TH E S EA

up to n ow I was content a s l ong as I was engrossed

.

in my book but now I want s ometh ing more Thi s

, .

sounds s elfish in fact I have been tel l ing mysel f that

,

I have been a selfish brute throughout The other day .

when I s o nearl y l ost you I w a s enl ightene d D O y o u

, .

not th ink we coul d bri dge over a l ittl e o f th e di stance

between u s an d draw nearer together ? Wil l y o u
,

”
try ?
Una gazed at h im with steady troubl e d eyes .

“
I am sorry Cuthbert but I do not s e e what it i s
, ,

that you want We are good friends are w e not ? I

.
,

think w e are quite n ear enough to each other Our .

interests wi ll never be the same I do not care for .

book s and y o u do not care for boats We are happy

,
.

apart Why d o y o u want to stir up everything and

.
,

”
make changes ?
Cuthbert dropped her han ds in despai r .

“ ”
Y o u are a l ittl e iceberg h e sai d moodily ; n o feel
,

in g no heart ! We have made a mistake I w il l not

,
.

”
worry you l on ger with my presence .

H e stro de away from her angry ba ffled an d per , , ,

l e x e d f o r love w a s dawning i n h i s h eart for h i s young

p ,

w i fe an d it seemed hard to meet with no response

,
.

Una shook her h ead with a l ittl e sigh a s she gazed ,

a fter him .

“
He i s a handsomer man than Duncan but h e i s ,

beginning to make me a l ittl e s h y with h im He talks .

so strangel y an d h i s eyes are s o pi ercing I wish h e

,
.

woul d write another book then he woul d forget me ,

again Wh a t d oes he mean by br i d gi n g ov er th e di s

.
 ’
CUTHB ERT S AWAKEN I N G 1 55

tance between u s I wonder ? With what co ul d we

,

bri dge it over ? I wil l ask Kathie B ut I am perfectly .

certain that I do not want to draw n earer to h im I .

will go back to Kathie now I l eft her s o su ddenly . .

Following her impul se s h e retraced her steps She , .

foun d Kathi e peel ing some potatoes for dinner and ,

S inging as s h e di d s o .

Una l ooked at h er thoughtfull y

“
D on t you wi sh sometimes yo u were a g i rl again
’

Kathi e with no hu sband or house to l o ok a fter

, .

Kathie laugh ed merrily .

“
I have al ways had a house to l oo k af ter since I
” “
remember she sai d , I woul d di e i f I had no hu s
.

”
ban d I think !
,

“
How very strange ! M y husban d has j ust been
talking to me so queerly H e says h e wants the d i s .

tance bri dged over between u s W hat does he mean ? ”

.

’ ”
Tis
the bridge o f l ove w il l do that sai d Kathie , ,

“
nodding her h ead w isely A n i f you ll excuse pl ain .
’ ’

’ ’ ’
s pe a ki n M issy ti s what has been w an ti n w i you I
, ,
’
,

”
fancy !
“
Oh Kathie ! that i s al l nonsense ! I have much too
,

important interests in han d to spend my time as my

cousin an d M r T h i s e l th w a i te do My husband woul d
. .

n o t w ish it It woul d tire me to death i f I were to

.

”
try.

But ti s a wi fe s duty to l ove her husband sai d

’ ’
,

“ ’
Kathie with sparkl ing eyes
,
A n i t seemeth to me .

that the Lord do mean husban d and w i fe to be j ust

 1 56 A DAUGHTER O F T H E S EA

one e n t i rel y to fit i n w i each other an be qu ite n u ’ ’

, ,

happy away from themsel ves Lik e .

Kathi e stopped for want o f a s imil e then added ,

“
qu ickl y Like a cup and saucer al ways u sed together
, , ,

’ ’ ”
an lookin o dd apart .

’
It was Una s turn to l augh now .

Y o u do say such th ings ! When w ill J i m be home ?

I want t o hear every detail about thi s strange yacht .

I do hope none o f the boys wil l go near the Witches ’

Hol e an d d i scover ou r secret I l ive i n constant fear .

o f that I wonder i f o ld Patty knows about it She

. .

seem s to fi nd o ut everyth in g .

She repeated Patty s words to Kath i e and both g i rl s

’
,

agree d that i t sounded very d i s q uiet i ng .

Kathie pr o mi sed to tel l her h usban d to keep a watch

over the ol d woman a s much for th e sa fety o f their
,

secret as her o w n .

’
An d then Una l e ft h er an d made her wa y to Eagl e s ,

Head wh ere S h e heard a ful l account o f the storm

,

and res c u e .

“ ”
But sa i d El i at th e end o f h i s re c ital it seemeth
, , ,

’
to me twil l be rare di ffi cul t to keep o u r rescue qu iet .

’ ’ ’
Tom be for the lot 0 u s to be masked an lettin th e ,

saved ones find th ei r way to the vil l age to be hou sed .

!
” ’
Ti s a dangerou s trick an u s had best trust to th e ,

Lord at the tim e f or ti s n ot to be reckoned that a n

,
’

other crew wil l take th e y s e l v

’
e s o ff so q u iet an easy ,

”
l ike .

“
It d oes seem d i ffic ul t sai d Un a thought ful l y , I .
‘

am sure we shal l n o t h i d e i t from th e v i llage f o r l ong ,

 ’
CUTHB ERT S AWAKEN I N G 1 57

El i .It i s impossibl e ! W e must hope when they do

discover it that they w il l take it kindly
, .

El i shook his head doubtfully .

“
I m i n de th o n e boat smash ed to pieces an when ,
’

’
th e lads get th eir blood up they won t mind breakin ’

”
bones neither !
“
We l l wait til l another wreck comes
’
Una r e ,

s po n de d l ightly Sh e was n o t o n e who anticipated

.

evi l Her outl ook on the worl d in general was a very

.

sunny o n e El i glanced at her bright gl owing face

.
,

with a wi se smil e then he sai d with a shake o f hi s grey

,

“
lock s We l l trust and not be a frai d M i ssy f o r in th e
,
’

, ,

Lord i s o u r hel p !
 CHA PT E R X II I .

BA UL K E D OF T H EI R P RE Y

Th e s a i l o r s e y e d th e b a g s a n d t h o u gh t
T h e g o l d i s g o o d th e m an i s n o u gh t
‘
,

A n d w h o s h a l l tr a c k th e w a v e
T h a t o p e n s f o r h i s g r a ve ? ’

G e o rg e E l i o t , A r i on .

That g al e w a s not the l ast o n e The ocean seemed .

still ed f o r a day o r tw o then a fresh disturbance came

,

across th e Atl antic an d again i t was l ashed into fury

, .

D ay by day the storm seemed to increase in viol ence ,

an d al l th e popul ation o f Pe r r a n c o v
e were keeping an

eager watch f o r un fortunate vessel s passing by .

The Tanners were as eager as any an d by n ight an d ,

day anxiously scanned the turbul ent s e a i n front o f

them Una to o was restless an d ill at ease Her
.
, ,
.

arm was heal ing rapidly I f th ere was cal l f o r h er

.

services woul d her hu sban d again prevent her going

,

o u t she wondered
, .

O ne a fternoon when D uncan T h i s e l th w a i te wa s

spend ing th e day at th e Towers Una put o n her o il ,

skin s an d wandered down to th e beach She coul d .

hardly keep her feet such was the viol ence o f th e win d
, ,

and w i th the greatest d i fficul ty made h er way to th e

stron g granite wal l that acted as a breakwater an d ,
 BAULKED O F THEI R PRE Y 1 59

’
sheltered some o f the nearest fishers cottages from ,

the ragin g elements .

Leaning on this wal l were a dozen o r s o o f the

fishers and presently a sti r went through them
,
.

”
?
See y o u vessel Her be o u t0 her course ! ’

”
A y an h er mizzen mast be snapped
’
-
.
,

’
Her be d r i f tin this way
A y l en d u s the glass
, Doomed s h e be sure
.
,

enough .

“ ,
They be anchorin P
A y her c a p ti n knoweth thes e rocks but b e r l l
’ ’
, ,

”
break up where her be anchored .

“
There goeth hi s gun Now may the Lord save .

u n for u s can do nought !

’

One gl ance showed Una the vessel standing wel l at

’
s e a by the farther s ide o f the Witche s
, Hol e but s h e ,

a n d the other onl ookers knew that the force o f the

'

current there woul d soon break her from h e r a n c h o r a ge

an d drive h e r on to the fatal rocks S wi ftly and sil ently .

Una sped up th e vil lage street an d up to the top o f ,

th e cl i ffs above I t di d not take her l ong to make her

.

way to the abode o f the Tr i u mp h She heaved a .

breath o f rel ie f when she arrived undisturbed an d ,

found th e three Tanners in thei r oil skins preparing to

launch the boat Kathie w a s there too and greeted
.
, ,

h er with a radiant smil e .

“
Ah M i ssy g r a n f e y th e r were j ust say i n he woul d
, ,
’ ’

”
l ike anoth er to take th e h el m .

“ ”
Cannot I take an o a r ?
El i l ooked at her an d shook hi s head .
 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

“
Not w ith a maimed arm M i ssy T i s a wil d tem
, .
’

’
pest an need s the strongest muscles u s have got
, .

“
It i s not dark ; the village will s e e u s sai d
Una .

Th e others m ade no reply She fel t a thrill o f ex.

c ite m e n t run through her veins when th rough bl inding

spray an d howl ing gusts o f w ind s h e s crambl ed into

the boat .

Th e ru dder w a s i n her hand th e four others oars i n

,

ha n d when through the rush o f waves an d wind came

,

El i s voice
’

“
Now Al mighty G o d g iv
, e u s strength to rescue
, ,

an d hearts ready to meet Thee shoul dest Thou s e e fit ,

”
to cal l us !
Th e word s fel l upon Una s ears w i th a shock an d
’

“
s h e d i d n o t j oin in the hearty A men that foll owed .

Fixin g her eyes on the d istant vessel s h e tried to ,

give her thou ghts l ikewi se to it but al l in vain She , .

truly had tol d M r En dicott that s h e feared nothing ;

.

and now with the waves ri sing up with an aw ful h iss

,

and roar around h er until i t seem ed a perfect miracl e

,

that the boat coul d ris e above them she only felt her ,

bl ood tingl ing with excitement It w a s not the waves .

o r win d that appal l ed her ; i t was the though t o f in a

moment finding h ersel f cal l ed to meet G o d Sh e .

real ized as s h e never had before her i nfin ite i n s i gn i fi

’
cance an d her Creator s infinite hol iness an d power .

Al most unconsciousl y she found hersel f repeatin g

'

”
P repa re tO m e e t Thee
'
'

.
 BAULK E D O F THEIR PRE Y “
1 61

It eemed a very l ong time to her before they

s

reached the disabled vessel In the distance to the .

right o f them lay the vi ll age o f Pe r r an co v

e Lights .

were al ready beg i nn i ng to twinkl e i n many w indows "

the granite wall seemed th ick w ith moving figures and ,

Una wondered whether they were takin g note o f the

Tr i u mp h s crew throu g h their telescopes
’
.

Eli Tom and Jim were drawing l ong deep breath s

,

o f labour Kathie w ith the perspiration running from

.
,

her brow an d l ips closed in firm determination to

,

su ffer an d be s il ent was pul l ing a s wel l as any o f

,

them Not a word was uttered until a l ou d cheer from

.

th e ship s crew now close at hand brought a gleam

’

, ,

o f brightness to the rugged faces o f th e Tanners Then .

El i spoke .

“ ’
P lease G o d w e l l s a v e em !
’

Then ensued ten m inutes o f intense anx i ety as the ,

boil ing s e a seemed in Una s sight to be some fierce ’

monster using al l i ts powers o f strength and fury to

fru strate th e Tr i u mp h s progress Twice they had to
’
.

back and once the contents o f a huge wave al most

,

swamped them out o f thei r seats A t last a rope was .

flung over the side o f the distressed vessel wh ich El i ,

made secure an d th en o n e a fter another o f the crew

,

lowered themsel ves .

“
Any women or ch il dren Tom call ed o u t hoarsel y ?” .

”
Only my boy was the respon se from th e captain
, ,

and through the gl oom an d bl inding spray Una caught

sight o f a white baby face with terror stricken eyes -
1 62 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA
’
pressed cl osely again st the captain s si de He was .

lowered and Una instinctively hel d o ut her arms for

,

him .

He nestl ed against her .

“ ”
I s my fath er sa fe ? he whi spere d .

”
He w il l be sai d Una cheer ful ly
, .

Bu t th e Tr i u mp h was n o w l oaded and the c apta i n ,

and others were stil l l eft behin d .

“ ”
Us wil l return El i shouted cheerily an d some o f
, ,

th e rescued crew took th e oars o u t o f the h an ds o f the i r

rescuers and rowe d away w ith a w ill through the
ru sh ing breakers I t w as har d work for the boat was
.
,

heavily l aden ; but steadily and w arily they approached

the shore an d landed w ithout any m ish ap
, Then .

there was a hasty consul tation amongst the Tanners .

Una an d Kathie were tol d to stay beh i n d ; tw o o f the

rescued crew took th ei r pl ace and a fter passing , ,

roun d a flask o f spirits the exhausted rowers agai n

,

took thei r places an d th e Tr i u mp h was launch ed f o r a

,

secon d time In sil ence the l ittl e party stood in the

.

shel ter o f the W itches Hol e gazing with strained

’

eyes at the brave l i ttl e l i feboat It seemed hours to .

Una before th ey s a w h er making her way back but s h e ,

arrived at l ast an d w ith a gl ad cry the l ittl e l ad

,

sprang into h i s father s arms ’

.

Una an d Kathi e had i nstinctively shrunk away from

observation i nto th e darkest reces s o f th e cave but ,

’
Una n o w gl i ded so ftl y to El i s si de .

“ ”
?
W hat are we to do H o w hou se th em al l ?

The o l d man was prepare d with hi s an swer .

U N A H E LD O UT H E R A R MS FO R HIM
.
 BAULKED O F T H EIR P RE Y 1 63

Run ye home M issy as fast as ye can ; get your

, ,

’ ’
cl othes changed quickl y an I l l send the c a pti n and ,

h i s ch ief mates to the Towers to be l odged The others .

must make thei r way to the vi lla g e U s be goin to .

’

’
bl ind fol d em s o as n ot to tel l on our outl et from th is
,

’
harbour I be goin to g ive the c apti n a hint o f how
.

’ ’
matters be an bin d u n to secrecy ! Take Kathie w i
,
’

ye Missy
, T i s best for em n o t to kn o w tw o w i m e n
.
’ ’

”
be in it !
Una an d Kath i e sl ipped away w ithout another word ;
and once up o n th e to p o f the cl i ff Una sped home
, ,

l ike a young greyhound S he sl ipped in at her turret .

door disposed o f her oil skins and a very few minutes

, ,

a fter came to th e drawing room rosy and breathl ess -

,

but with a sedate demeanour .

She found Duncan an d Mar j or i e by the fire M ar .

j ori e looked up with the pretty so ft flush o n her

cheek that was al ways there when her l over w a s by her
S ide .

“
Here comes the truant ! Where h as your hi ghness
been ? Down to the beach I warrant You bring i n ,
.

”
w ith you an atmosphere o f sal t spray and fi s h !
“ ”
Nothing s o unromantic as fi s h I expostulated D un
“
can gal lantly A fresh breezy el ement al ways s u r
rounds M rs Gre g son It i s exhilaratin g an d re fresh
. .

ing
I have come acros s th e cl i ff s sa i d Una abruptly ,
.

A vessel has been in distress an d her crew are com ,

ing ashore Where i s Cuthbert

.

He was here but a f e w m i nutes a g o Bal dw i n .

1 64 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

came i n excitedly with somewhat of th e same tal e He .

went o u t to s e e i f he coul d help i n any way

“
An d here I s i t sai d Duncan a fter a quick gl anc e
, ,

“
at Una deserving the contempt that meets me in the
,

eyes o f M r s Gregson ! I h ave many excuses rea d y to

.

expl ain away such conduct But th e l ove l ight that .

sh in es forth from the face o f my qu een i s a stronger

magnet than the howl ing win d and waves ; and I know
that my hand s and feet are hel pl ess where my heart
”
cannot accompany them .

“
Oh I am gl ad cried Un a impetuously that my
, , ,

h eart contains more than o n e i n its interests an d a ff e c

tions
Then turning her back upon the fires i de coupl e sh e
, ,

stoo d at the e a s e me n t window trying in vain to pene

trate the darkness that was now settl ing down w ithout .

a bustl e w a s heard in the hal l —

P resentl y stran g e
voices—an d then Cuthbert flung open the drawing
room door su ddenly .

“
Una ? Oh there you are ! Come an d o ffer your
,

hospital ity to some who need i t .

Una stepped o u t into the hal l with a l ittl e catch in

her breath Truly s h e had a di fficul t part to pl ay
. .

The captain an d h i s l ittl e s o n were there an d hal f ,

a dozen more S he was thank ful that in giving d i r e c

.

tion s to h er servants to prepare room s for th em an d in ,

seeing that food and change o f cl oth ing were provi ded ,

th e topic o f thei r rescue was not touch ed upon B ut .

when l ater o n they W ere rested and refreshed and

, , ,
 BAUL K ED OF THEIR PREY 1 65

the captai n was sitting talking with her husband Una ,

felt embarrassed and uncom fortable .

I cannot understand how you were rescued Cuth ,

“
bert sai d . O ur fishers s ay it i s an impos sibil ity o n
th is coast D i d yo u lower o n e o f your own boats an d
.

? ”
get to shore
The captain shook hi s h ead .

“
O ur boats woul d not have weathered such breakers .

O ur rescuers came to o u r ai d with brave hearts and

strong arms I do n o t know your coast nor its capa
.

b i l i ti e s f o r harbourage And o u r rescue seems wrapped

.

i n mystery I am not over curious to unravel it for

.
-
,

our sa fety has been accompl i shed and that i s my chie f ,

cause f o r thank fulness B ut I am anxiou s to save

.

some o f my salvage that w il l doubtl ess be washed

ashore I fear my vessel i s fast breaking up With
. .

you r l eave I w il l make my way to th e beach and with ,

th e hel p of my crew endeavour to secure a s much o f i t

as I can I am o n my way from Pl ymouth to Cork
. .

I t i s long since we have encountered such a gal e on

”
thi s coast !
“
I doubt i f you wil l see much o f your sal vage sai d ,

“
D uncan with a l ight l augh
,
There are a great man y
.

”
others interested in that besi des yoursel f .

The captain l ooked at him sternl y

“
I know the tricks o f the coast h e s aid and marvel
, ,

that gentlemen l iving on it su ffer such deed s to be

done .

“
Th ey a r e m o s tl y i n ignorance o f it sai d Cuthbert
’

“
warml y . But it shal l never be sai d that I harboured
1 66 A DAUGHTER O F T H E S EA

th e owners and l eft thei r property to be th e prey o f

i dl ers Come i f y o u are ready I am ; an d Th i s e l th
.
, ,

waite yo u w il l accompany us I am a magi strate and

, .
,

I wil l sen d for the coastguards o f the nearest stat i on

”
to u s i f there i s any d isturbance .

’
Una s eyes sparkl ed at her husband s determined ’

tone S he sprang up eager to go with them when the

.
, ,

l ittl e boy moved towards h er an d i n a shril l voice ex ,

cl aimed
“
Father this l ady has the eyes o f the sailor who
,

nursed me in the boat !

The captain laughed but M arj orie shot a keen ,

gl ance at Una who fel t the scarl et col ou r mounting

,

to her cheek s .

“
Th ere are many grey eyes i n the worl d my b o y , ,

“
h e sai d q uietly Wil l you not go to bed now ? Y ou
.

must be sl eepy
“
Come to me sai d M arj orie sud denl y hol din g o ut
, ,

“
her arm s to him I wil l take care o f you t i ll your
.

father returns Tell me al l about you r sh ipwre c k

.
,

”
an d the boat that came to your ai d .

Th e l ittl e fel low went shyl y towards h er U na l e ft .

the tw o w ith much m i sgivings How much or h o w .

,

l ittl e d i d M arj orie su spect s h e won dered ! What ,

woul d be th e end o f i t al l ?
“
I th ink Una i t i s too rough a n ight f o r you sai d
, , ,

Cuthbert a few minutes l ater as h i s w i fe c rept up to ,

h i s si de coaxingl y Sh e was n o t cl a d i n her o i l skins

.
,

but in a thick shawl an d wool en cap .

O h no I w i l l keep close to you

,
.
 BAULKED O F THEIR PREY 1 67

She c o ul d have chosen no better pl ea To have his .

l ittl e w i fe in hi s close presence was Cuthbert s i n c r e a s ’

in g des ire .

The party mad e their way down to the beach There .

were torches o n the rocks an d cl usters o f fishers as

,

’
n ear the ocean s edge a s they dared to venture .

“
He broke up nigh an hou r ago wa s the reply o f
,

a fisher l ad to th e inqui ry made o f him .

The smal l inn on the quay was discarding some o f

its guests ; amongst them a good few o f the saved
crew They recognize d th eir captain and j oined him
.
,

a s h e approached the shore .

“ ” “
Lads he sai d I want to save my cargo Those
, , .

that give a han d shal l be rewarded Foll ow me

. .

Th e fishers l ooked o n in sull en wonder As Una .

s a w thei r bl ack scowl s and bitter glances s h e felt for ,

the first time in her l i fe that it was good to have a hus

band by her side .

Cuthbert seemed to have cast o ff al l hi s l ethargy and

dreaminess . Hi s step was brisk hi s eye keen and
,

penetrating in its gl ance ; an d when h e presently s a w

i n the dark shadow o f some rocks some two o r three
men bringing w ith caution several cask s to shore h e ,

strode up to them with great del iberation .

“ ”
That i s right my lad s he sang out in a hearty
, ,

voice that rang through win d an d storm an d made ,

“
itsel f heard to those around . I have come down to
ask you to l en d a hand i n rescuing th e property o f
Captain Berry I tol d h im he woul d find scores o f
.

u s P e r r an c o ve fol k onl y too w ill ing to ai d h im Heave .

1 68 A DAUG H TER OF TH E S EA

al l that comes ashore u p th e beach o u t o f high water ,

an d we wil l ship i t o ff to morrow One o f you wil l -

.

”
l end your fish ing smack for the purpose .

I f a bomb had expl oded in their m i d st the fi shers

coul d not have shown more consternation an d di smay .

Muttered oaths an d curses foll owed and then al l were ,

’
startl ed by o l d Patty s shril l cracked v o i c e s i n g in g i n a
h igh pitched key
-

W a sh it as h o re ,

O ur tr e a s ure n o m o re !
O ut o f o u r g r a s p th e c r e w a n t h e ir go l d
’
, ,

S tru gg l e a n fi gh t
’

W i a ll y o u r m i g h t
’
,

G on e i s o u r s h a r e a s i n th e d ay s 0 o l d
’
,

Her rhyme seemed to intensi fy the bitternes s o f

S pi rit in which man y o f the fishers watched the active
crew seiz e hol d o f the various bits o f sal vage from
thei r wreck now coming in with the roll ing tide N o t .

a han d di d they outstretch to help them but some more

daring spirits at the extremity o f th e beach broke i n
o n e en d o f a cask o f rum and began imbibing very

freel y Cuthbert soon grasped th e S ituation Duncan

. .

vol unteered to ride o ff to th e coastguard station for

hel p an d Una wa s t o l d to return home as qu ickl y a s
,

possibl e .

It was in vain s h e protested ; o n e O f the hous e se r

vants was sent back with her and sh e spent the rest ,

o f the evening in d ire ful su rmi ses M arj ori e had re ‘

ti red to bed For that Una was th ank ful but there w a s
.
,

’
no rest f o r h er ; an d wh en a fter a coupl e o f hou rs wa i t
 BAULKED OF T H EI R PREY

i ng s h e heard her h usban d s voice in the hal l s h e

’

sprang into h i s arms w ith a l ittl e s ob i n her voice .

“
What have you been doing ? I know th ere has
been fighting ! I heard some shots !
Cuthbert put h i s arm tenderly aroun d her .

“
Frightened poor chil d ! Yes we have had a bi t
, ,

of a scrimmage D rink mad dened som e o f them

. .

Captain Berry h a s been stunned by a bl ow and some ,

o f h i s crew badly han dl ed Upon my word Una ou r

.
, ,

fish ers have shown up i n a new l ight ! Robbery and

viol ence are no crimes in th eir eyes ! We h ad to give
them a taste o f ou r powder before they woul d quiet
down And even now I fear the preventive o fficers
.

w il l find it a tough j ob to wrench some o f the sal vage

from them B ut there thes e th ings are not for l adies
’

.
,

cars . Yo u had better go to bed I must s e e to the

.

”
Captain H i s men are bringing h im in
. .

B ut Un a woul d n o t be s o di smissed ; s h e waited til l

Captain Berry appeared w ith a bandaged head an d ,

with only partial ly recovered consciousness And then .

after seeing to hi s need s sh e foll owed her hu sban d into

h i s stu dy where S he insi sted upon h im taking some
,

refreshment .

‘
Yo u are new to thi s s h e sai d gravely ; an d Cuth
,

bert tired and exhausted as he was l aughed at th e

, ,

maternal anxiety in h er tone .

“ ” “
An d you ? h e sai d T o hear y o u o n e woul d ,

think you were wel l accu stomed to such carousal s

“ ”
I know o u r peopl e better than y o u d o s h e r e ,

“
s p o n de d earnestl y They h ave regarded wrecke d
.
 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

vessel s as thei r rightful prey for s o l ong that y o u can

not expect th e m to look upon your actions to — night
with ind i fference You have roused al l the fighting
.

blood that i s in them ; an d thi s i s only the beginnin g

”
o f worse to fol l ow .

“
Oh tut tut ! You l isten to o l d Patty s croaks !
, ,
’

How does s h e al ways contrive to come upon the scene

when o n e l east wants her ? N ow my work i s done
for the night at l east D i d I tel l y o u o l d M artin Tre
.

garth h as been taken into custody ? He i s to be

brought before m e to morrow He h a s n early k illed
-
.

’ ”
o n e o f B erry s men .

Una s heart sank w ithin her A s s h e l ay her head

’
.

o n th e pil l ow that night s h e sai d under her breath

“
Perhaps th e Tr i u mp h i s b r i n gi n g troubl e a s wel l
”

”
a s bl es s i n g to us al l !
 CHAPTER X IV

THE D EPA RTU RE O F T H E F L YI N G G UL L

'

C o m fo r t h e r c o m fo rt h e r al l th i n gs goo d !
, ,

W h i l e I a m o ve r th e s e a ,

L e t m e an d m y p a s s i o n a t e l o ve g o b y ;
B u t S p e a k to h e r a l l t h i n g s h o l y a n d h i g h ,

W h ate ve r h a pp en to m e ! ”

Te n n y s o n
“
Ma ud .

There was i ndeed troubl e in Pe r r an c ov e The .

fi shers as a body were ful l o f wrath They had been .

s o long uninterrupted i n their cours e o f taking pos

session o f all that was washed ashore that they con ,

s id e r e d themselves an aggrieved and inj ured com

munity An d the mystery o f the rescue perpl exed and
.

enraged them They plied some o f the rescued crew

.

with drink and questioned them eagerl y and per

,

s i s te n tl y B u t thei r in formation was vague and u n s a t

.

i s f ac to r y .

“
When a chap be hurl ed through the darkness into
a boat and the waves be mountain s h igh and the S pray
, ,

b l i n di n an d c h o ki n o f h im h e doth not l ook at th e

’ ’

make 0 the cra ft he be in nor yet at the crew They

’
,
.

be ordinary flesh an d bl ood that I ll stake my l i fe o n,

’

an powerful good rowers A n when u s l anded

’ ’ ’

’
t were on a pitch dark beach but there were one queer
-

’ ’
fac c o n s a r n i n it Us were bl ind fol ded and hauled up
.
1 72 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

to a height an d tol d to make our way to the fi s h i n

,
’

’
vil lage an when u s tore o ff the bandages u s found
, ,

’
oursel s on the cl i ff top an d the l ights 0 th i s port in ’

’
the di stance an n o sign 0 th e crew nor the boat nor ’

, ,

’
yet the way we d com e by .

Thi s was the l ongest statement by the most cl ear ,

h eaded seaman ; an d no one was much th e wi ser for it .

Th ere were som e broken heads and brui sed l imbs

amon g st th e fishers M artin was l eni ently dealt with .
,

but severel y cautione d by Cu thbert i n hi s attitude as

j u stice o f th e peace .

“ ”
Remember he sai d sternly as h e was di smi ssing
, ,

“
h im I am determined that thi s system o f robbing
,

an d o f wrecking— for I h ave heard m ore than y o u

think—shal l be stopped in these parts It i s o u r duty .

to save an d rel ieve our fel l ow creatures ; not su ffer -

th em to drown w ithin our reach so that we may profit

by thei r death s I f th e man you attacked s o savagely
.

l ast night had died I shoul d have committed y o u ,

for mu rder As i t i s it i s a serious case o f assault

.
, ,

and i f you were not such an o ld man an d h e had n ot ,

d rawn h i s cutlass your sentence w oul d be a heavy,

”
one .

M artin l istened and went hi s way in sul len sil en c e

,
.

“
I I e w ith several oth er l ike spirits met at the B l ue
-

, ,

Lobster and night by n ight di scusse d thei r wrongs

,

an d imbibed very freely o f the bad beer sol d there .

Al l o f th em were ful l y determined to stand by each

other and to d i scover the whereabouts o f the c rew
,

and b o at that had br o u g ht su c h m i s c h i e f am o ngst

 D E PA R T URE OF TH E F L Y I N G G U LL 1 73

them The Ta n ners were brou g ht un d er d iscuss i on

.
,

but thei r boat was l ike most o f those in the village ,

and i t was the buil d o f th e unknown c raft that s o

puzzl ed the fishers .

At the Towers there was mu c h tal k al so ; even a fter

Capta in B erry and hi s men had taken thei r departure .

“ ’
There s a deep mystery somewhere sai d M arj orie ,

one morn ing when the top i c was touched upon at

,

break fast .

“ ’
An d the Witches Hol e i s n o t responsibl e for that
res c u e boat Who own s a l i feboat n ear Cuthbert
.
,

“
There i s none nearer than Port C r a n s to n e he r e ,

pl ied promptly .

“
Una do you know noth ing about it ?
,

’
Marj orie s point blank question fil l ed Una wi th
-

d i smay .

“
W hat makes yo u turn to me P she said trying to
”
,

laugh . Do you think me more cl ever at di scovering

”
mysteries than my hu sband ?
“
I think yo u know every i nch o f the coast an d every ,

” “
person along it retorted Marj ori e sharply ; and
,

your amu sements and interests are quite apart from

”
you r home .

Una went o n eating her break fast apparently with ,

th e greatest unconcern In real ity her heart was

.

throbbing pain ful ly .

Cuthbert looked across at her with a smil e .

“
Un a know s a good deal about shrimping and
” “
l obst e r pots
- he sa i d ga i l y to h i s sister ; she i s famil iar
,
1 74 A DAUGHTER O F T HE S E A

with crabs and seaweed and l impets I shoul d s ay , .

that i s where her maritime knowledge begins an d

ends Except i ndeed how to row a boat She has
.
, , .

”
muscl es that woul d do a man credit .

“
Exactly sai d M arj orie i n a mean ing tone Then
, , .

s h e began to l augh .

“
Oh y o u are a funny couple ! S o utterly ignorant
,

o f each other s capabil ities

’
I smil e and look on but .
,

o n e day Cuthbert your l ittl e thoughtl ess chil di sh wi fe

, , ,

w il l surprise you an d y o u in your turn w il l surpri se

,

her Yo u are not made onl y for your books and s h e

.
,

i s not only made for pl ay I woul d that I coul d en .

l ighten y o u both a l ittle ; but I bide my time I am .

piecing together a puzzl e an d the bits are j oining ,

”
sl owl y .

Una instinctivel y l ooked up and met h er gaze .

M arj orie l aughed an d no dded at her .

“
Yes you may well l ook frightened I am not so
,
.

whol ly absorbed in mysel f an d my happiness to be

obl ivious o f much that i s going o n B ut I w il l say no .

”
more .

Cuthbert call ed hi s young wi fe to him in h i s stu dy

a fter break fast .

“ ”
Una he sai d gravel y i s th ere any truth in Mar
, ,

j orie s hints an d i n u e n d o e s ? Do you know anyth ing

’

about thi s unknown l i feboat that has appeared so s u d

”
d e n l y when needed P
U n a cl aspe d her hands round h i s arm w ith a pretty ,

ch i l dl ike gesture .

”
“
Shal l I tel l yo u what I have heard ? s h e sai d a ,
 D E PA R T UR E O F T H E FL Y I N G GULL 1 75

l ittl e saucily Ol d Enoch firmly bel ieves that i t i s al l

.

witchcraft Patty call s up from the Witches Hol e a

.
’

crew and boat by incantation I am a frai d sometimes .

for that poor o l d soul s l i fe I f you have raised the

’
.

wrath o f the fi s h e r f o lk they wil l most l ikely visit it

,

upon her l uckl es s head .

Cuthbert smiled then f owned He took hol d o f on e

,
r .

o f th e l ittl e hands that imprisoned h i s arm and spoke ,

very gravel y .

“
Una d ear l i sten ; I have someth ing to tel l you I
, ,
.

shal l have to go away and l eave you for a l ittl e I .

have been talking over matters with one o f the pre

ve n ti v
e o fficers and also w ith D uncan who i s going
, ,

to do h i s utmost to help u s An d I mean to go down .

to Plymouth to try an d persuade thos e in authority

,

”
to establ i sh a coastguard station here .

“
Oh Cuthbert th e fishers wil l never for g ive you '
, ,

They hate the coastguards An d it wil l look as i f .

smuggl ing i s carri ed o n We have al ways pri ded o u r

.

s elves o n hol ding aloo f from that I shoul d hate the

coastguard station s o cl ose to u s .

“
B ut Una do you not th ink th i s gl oating over
, ,

wrecks an d robbing the dead as bad a crime as smug

gl ing ? I do an d I mean to do al l in my power to
,

prevent it I d o not wi sh you to let any o n e know

.

wh at takes me to Plymouth ; but go I shal l and that ,

as soon as possibl e .

“
And how l ong shal l you be away ?
I do not know I have a fancy to g o by se a i f I c an
.
1 76 A D AU G HTER O F TH E S EA

g et any o n e to take me For I want to know the c oas t

.

”
and i ts d i ff erent harbours .

“
I f one o f th e fishers took y o u and d i scovered your ,

”
errand he woul d drown you o n th e w ay I excla i me d
,

U na i mpetuously .

“
I s there no honest or h umane o n e amongst them ?
Well —there are a few Jim Tanner h a s a spl e n .

d i d sm a c k . S he i s th e fastest sa i l er I kn o w H e .

might take you He tol d Kath i e he wanted to g o to

.

P lymouth one d ay Ye s you coul d trust h i m w i th

.
,

”
you r errand He woul d be a s silent a s death !
.

“
I w i l l have a tal k w ith him Wil l you be l on e l y .

here without m e ?
There w a s w i stful ness in Cuthbert s eyes but h i s ’

’
w i fe s were merry w ith l aughter .

“
I have tol d yo u be fore that I d o not know the
mean i ng o f lonel ines s
“
I want to go now Cuthbert continued sti fli n g a
, ,

“
si g h ; for M ar j ori e w il l be w ith y o u and Dun c an i s ,

ba c kwards an d forwards and h as promised to g ive yo u

,

h i s hel p and protection shoul d you n e e d i t When I n

return he wi shes to be marr i ed an d M ar j o r i e i s w i ll ,

i ng
I shal l n o t nee d any o ne s prote c t i on s aid Una ’

“
a l i ttl e proudly .I l i ke to be independent .

“
I know you do repl i ed her husband ; a n d th e r e
,

w a s a s ad ring in h i s tone As he l ooked a t th e g l ow

.

i n g happy girl he had not the heart to w i sh her sel f

,

rel iance to be shaken An d yet there were t i mes whe n

.

he almost longe d fo r s o m e c r i s i s to co me i n her l i fe ,

 DE PA R TU R E O F T H E FL Y I N G GU LL 1 77

when the helpl essnes s o f her s e x woul d o vertake her ,

and s h e woul d creep up to h im f o r shel ter and c om fort

and lay her curly head against h is shoul der feel ing ,

it was good to bel ong to him ; good to real ize her weak
ness better to real ize h i s strength .

As he thought o f these things a look crept into hi s

eyes that even Una noticed .

“ ”
Y ou do not l i ke goin g to Plymouth ? s h e said
i nquirin gl y .

“
I do not l ik e leaving you was th e quick reply ; ,

and then a fra i d o f tru sting h im sel f further he left the

, ,

r o om an d went in q uest o f J im Tanner

,
.

H i s arrangements were soon made Jim was not .

lon g i n mak i n g up h i s mind though he to o d readed ,

the parting w i th h i s young wi fe .

When the last day came Cuthbert cal led h i s w i fe,

again to him and gave her many parting dire c tions

,
.

He showed her h o w s h e coul d obtain more money

shoul d she require it and gave her the address o f h i s
,

banker and l awyer and when s h e laugh i ngl y remon

,

“
s tr a te d saying
, One woul d think yo u were go i ng to
,

”
be a way a year instead o f a month h e repl ied gravel y , ,

I woul d leave al l things in order as i f I were n ever ,

c om i ng back at all .

“ ’
Are you a frai d Jim s smack i s not seaworthy P ”

I fear noth in g ; but the future i s never enti rel y

”
c ertain .

’
A so ftened l ook crossed Una s face .

“
I suppose not but I h Ope you wil l come back
,

”
again Cuthbert I sh o ul d n o t l i ke t o be a wi d ow
, . .

1 2
1 78 A DA U G H T E R O F T H E S E A

Cuthbert smil ed at her chil di sh tone .

“
An d why not ? You woul d be entirely your own
mi stress th en Independence i s what you l ove
.
"
.

“
Ye -
es .

She was standing by h i s s i de w ith her han d on the ,

back o f hi s chai r watch ing him arranging hi s papers

,

an d accounts .

For an instant s h e rested h er han d on hi s shoul der ,

an d th e touch o f i t thrill ed h im th rough and

through .

“
I l ike to feel I have a husband s h e sai d w ith a , ,

“
l ittl e l augh It makes me o f m o re importance i n the
.

sight o f others An d I l ik e to feel I have some one

.

at my back who woul d— wel l help me wh en I wanted ,

help .

Cuthbert rose hastily from h i s chai r On the i m .

pul se o f the moment h e drew h er to him and putting ,

h i s arm roun d her h el d her fast , .

“
My chil d he sai d it w il l be a happy day for me
, ,

wh en you do l ean upon me for help and gui dance .

Your sel f s uffi c i e n cy i s a real h indrance to o u r mutual

-

lo vf
e
’

“ ’
I don t un derstan d you .

Sh e d i d not break away from h im f o r she remem ,

bered thi s was thei r l ast day together S he w i sh ed i t .

to be a pl easant o n e .

Her hu sband continued i n a passionate tone

“
I woul d that I coul d wake up th at sl eeping heart
o f yours dear ; that my touch woul d make itsel f felt ;
,

that you woul d real ize as I have real i zed latel y that , ,
 DEPART URE O F T H E FL Y I N G G U L L 1 79

we ought to be al l the worl d to each other— that God

above meant u s to be s o when we were made man and
wi fe It i s not too late ; you are still young e n th u s i
.
,

a s ti c and warm hearted You have no real di sl ike to

-
.
,

m e I bel ieve Love true love may yet dawn i n your

,
.
, ,

breast Am I absolutely nothing to you ? Only a

.

mere being whose exi stence gives you a sense o f i m

portance in your deal ing w ith others ? Have you no
real ization o f my love for yo u which i s deepening ,

daily and which i s making even thi s short parting an

,

”
agony to m e ?
Then straining her l ight form i n a cl ose embrace ,

h i s sel f —
control gave way and h e showered passionate
,

kisses on her l ips eyes and brow til l white and

, , ,

breathl ess Una wrenched hersel f away from h im an d

, ,

stood facing him frightened an d perpl exed .

“ ”
Cuthbert ! s h e gasped with heaving breast You
, .

mu st not treat me s o Why are you acting s o strange

.

ly
’
There was a glow an d passion i n Cuthbert s eyes
that di d not d ie away as h e repl ied a l ittle v
ehe

m e n tl y
“
I have a right to treat you s o You bel ong to me .

every fibre o f your being— an d I to you I am l eaving .

y o u and I cannot part with you stoical ly

,
S weetheart .
,

we may be parting for l onger than we fancy Come .

to me once more put your sweet arm s round my neck ;

,

g ive me a parting ki ss an d tel l me you wil l try to

,

love me .

For an instant Una wavered Her heart was beat i n g .

1 80 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

rapi dly S he w as shaken at l ast but how much an d

.
, ,

h o w deeply s h e then d i d not real i ze

, S ome i nst i nct .

made her take th e step forward al most aga i nst her

wi ll and so ftly s h e ra i sed h er l ittl e arm s and pla c ed
,

them round h i s neck Cuthbert fel t as i f an an g el s .

’

touch w a s o n him ; he hel d h i s breath l est h e shoul d

s c are it away Trembl ingl y her l ips touched h i s
.

cheek and then s h e buried h er b urn ing face i n h i s

,

sh o ul der .

“
I wil l try to l ove you s h e murmured i f y ou , ,

”
really want me to
He pressed her cl osely to him and a hot tear—
.

man ,

th o ugh he w a s fel l on her brown curly head -

,

“
Now may G o d hel p an d bl ess u s both he e x ,

c la i med ; and then with o n e more lon g embrace h e , ,

rel eased h i s hol d an d Una fled to h er room wonder in g

, ,

a n d trembl ing at thi s new experi ence and feel in g ,

rather ashame d o f i t al l .

She d i d not s e e her husband a g ain till he w as mak ing

h i s last farewel l s i n the hal l I t w a s a lovely a fter .

noon a n d when s h e expressed her i ntention o f go i ng

,

do wn to the beach M ar j or i e insi sted upon accom ,

pany i n g her S o the two went an d met Kathi e on the

.
,

s a m e e rra n d too Her eyes were re d with crying ;

, .

but her pretty br ig ht smil e appeared at once

,
.

W el l Kath i e we are both going to lose o u r h us

, ,

”
b a n ds sa i d Un a c heer ful ly
,
.

“ ’
Ah M i ssy t i s a s ad t i e th a t w i ll be betw i xt us
, ,
.

I t i s only f o r a l i ttl e t i me Oh how lovely the s e a .

,

i s ! How I w i sh I w ere g o ing t oo !

 DE PA R TURE OF TH E FLYI N G GULL 1 81

Th e r e w as the usual knot o f i dlers o n th e l o w stone

“ ”
wa l l outside the Blue Lobster Al l the Tanners .

w e r e ther e ; and J im in h i s dark bl ue j ersey h i s cri sp

, ,

’
brown curl s peeping from under hi s fi s h e r s cap ,

l oo ked th e picture o f s tal wart stren gth and beauty .

B obby Peel ing a l ittl e orphan lad w a s going to o

, , , ,

an d w i th hands i n h i s wi de trousers pockets he was ,

t a lkin g importantl y to a few envious c ompanions .

The s e a was al most without a rippl e Th e steady .

lap o f th e bl ue waves aga i nst the sh i ngl e w a s the only

sound to be heard The ai r was cr i sp an d cool with
.
,

’
a taste o f sal t in it J i m s smack w a s ready ; and n o w
.

her red brown sa i l s were be i n g hoisted and al l w as

-
,

bu stl e and con fu sion F or one moment J im sprang o u t

.

an d took hi s wi fe into h i s arms She cl ung to him .

w i th a deep s ob .

“ ’
My Jim my heart s l i fe c o me back to me o r I
, , ,

”
s hal l die .

“
A y l ass God w il l in ! O ur soul s w ill meet at H i s
’
, ,

me r c y seat n i ght an d m o rn ; an prayers an thoughts

’ ’
-

”
wull keep u s close together .

Sh e st ifl ed her tears an d stood up bravely as he

broke away from her Ty i ng her scarlet handkerchie f
.

round her head and shadin g her eyes with her hand
, ,

s h e watched the smack til l i t was lost to sight round

th e corner o f Eagl e s Head

’
.

’
Cuthbert s goodbye was not s o demonstrative He .

’
touched h i s w i fe s hand then rai sed it to h i s l ips In
, .

th e s i ght o f the l i ttl e c row d around them h e felt h e

co ul d d o no more .
1 82 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

Goodbye l ittl e wi fe h e whi spered to her

, , P ray .

that w e have a goo d j ourney and a speedy return .

"

She nodded but di d not speak A l ump seemed

, .

t o ri se i n her throat an d prevent al l utterance As .

s h e gazed a fter h im an d measured hi s figure w i th

’
J im s s h e fel t g lad an d prou d that h e di d not su ff er
in comparison An d then s h e murmured to h ersel f
.

“
I f he l eft h i s books an d l ive d o n th e s e a how ,

I coul d en j oy being with h im !

Th e smack pushed o ff M arj orie was g a i l y chatter
.

i ng to every one Onl y the tw o young wives stood

.

s i l ent an d motionl ess watch ing the l ittl e cra ft that

,

was bearing away thei r husban d s .

’
Then suddenl y they were startle d by ol d P atty s
vo i ce .S h e had crept up u nseen and now was ,

standing in her favorite position o n the top o f an

ol d stone pil lar Kathie sh rank cl ose to Una in
.

fright as her voi ce ran g o ut

,

W ave s b e w a k in w ave s b e ca l l i n
’
,
’
,

W ave s b e w a tc h in f o r th y m ate ’
,

B o n y w ive s ! B u t w a i l i n w i d d e rs
’
n ,

W h e n y o u r h u sb an d s m e e t th e ir f ate .
"

Una shook o ff the feel ing o f fear that crept into her
heart an d stepped up bol dl y to the o ld woman
, .

“ ’
Now Patty don t try to frighten u s by your
, ,

songs Yo u shoul d com fort peopl e when they are s a d ;

.

”
d o you not know that ?
“ ”
Ay sai d th e o l d woman g etting down from her
, ,

perch an d dropp i n g Una a succession o f q u i ck

“
cu rt seys o ne a fter the o ther but the e a rt in n o ,
TH E TW O YO U N G W I V ES S TOO D SI L E N T A N D I N L ESS
MO T O .
 D E P A RTURE O F THE FLYI N G GULL 1 83

need 0 com fort my pretty !

’
Sadness hath not
,

touched thee yet but ti s on the way,

’

T i s fly i n fast f re e
’
an d

O ve r d e e p b l ue
‘ ’
th e sea .

’
An then wil l Patty com fort the w e e p i n eyes th at be
’

now only fill ed w i laughter ’

“
Oh come along Una
, sai d Marj ori e a l ittl e
, , ,

impatiently She will be turning to me and saying

.

something gruesome next I hate her sharp l ittl e.

twinkl ing eyes I bel ieve s h e i s a s they s a y a witch

.
, ,
.

“
—
I wil l come an d s e e you Kathi e to morrow ”
, , .

Una l ai d her han d o n Kath ie s as she spoke an d ’

tw o tear dimmed eyes were qu ickly rai sed to hers

-
.

“ ’
B less you M i ssy ! I wil l l ove to have you
, Ti s .

”
a lonel y hou se I go back to .

The girl s separated ; but after th ey had gone the

fishers drew nearer together and black l ooks an d ,

muttered curses were ri fe as th ey specul ated o n the

’
possibl e erran d o f the F ly i n g G u ll Jim s fast sail ing ,

boat .
 C HA PTE R X V .

AN U N E ! P E C TED A R RI VAL
Yo u m ay kn o w h im by h i s co mp a n y .

W y ch e r l ey .

’
When Una went to Kath ie s cottage th e n ext m o r n
i ng s h e foun d her at her usual hou sehol d tasks .

“ ’
I must keep busy M i ssy ; an I thought I d go
,
’

bu t fi s h i n w ith f e y th e r thi s a fternoon

’
.

“ ”
She al w ays called Tom f e yth e r an d sh e w a s ,

i ndeed a good daughter to h im .

“ ”
That w il l be l ovel y excl aimed Una ; and I w i ll
,

bring my boat an d come to o We shall thor o u g hly .

enj oy it .

Kathi e shook her h e a d doubtfully .

“
I w il l try an make out as I do s h e retur n e d
’
, .

B ut my body be l acki n a heart ; f o r ti s J i m has

’ ’

”
tha t bit o f me an he be far enough o ff by thi s ti m e
,
’
.

“
O h Kathi e how you tal k ! I wonder i f y o u fe el
, , ,

as y o u say that y o u can go o n l iving so cheer ful ly

, .

I am qu ite sure it i s a bad plan to g et so fo n d o f an y

”
o n e that
y o u feel mi serabl e without them .

“
Not mi serabl e M i ssy , Thank God n o t th at
.
, .

’
N o t whil e I have a F ath er an a S a v io u r ab o v e w h o
l ove m e an care for me
’
Ti s onl y J im an me h a ve
.
’ ’

been tied up t og ether i n the s a me bu nd l e 0 l i fe by ’

 AN UN E X PECTED ARRI V AL 1 85

G od H imsel f U s never s hal l be complete now w i o ut

.
’

”
each other o n earth n o r in heaven
, .

Una w a s silent She gazed at the rapt l ook whi c h

.

’
crept into Kathie s eyes and wondered , .

“ ”
I wish I w a s good l ike you s h e said med i tatively
, , .

”
Oh Mi ssy hush !
, ,

Y ou needn t hush me Y ou know vou are good

’
. .

Y ou love God and Go d l oves y o u ; and i f you d ied

,

you tel l me y o u are sure y o u woul d go straight to

h eaven . How can you be sure ? Tell me that .

Una s at down on the window l edge and fingering -

,

a fl owering myrtle there l ooked up a l ittl e anxiously

,

’
to r Kath i e s reply .

Kath i e stopped wash ing up her cro c kery She .

t oo k a seat by the tabl e an d puttin g her elbows o n ,

i t leant her c h i n i n her hands and returned Una s

, ,
’

l oo k w i th a very earnest one .

“ ’
M i ssy I always l i ke gr a n fe y th e r s talk He be
,
’
.

Ti s because I go t i nto the l i feboat that I

’
so simpl e .

” ’
k n ow I m sa fe for heaven s port
’
.

“ ”
Ye s
, sai d Una thou ght ful ly ; I suppose that i s
i t And the Li feboat is o u r Lord Jesus Chri st
. I .

have always o n e verse ringing in my head Kathie , ,

‘
a n d I cannot get rid of it : I am the Way th e Truth , ,

an d the Li fe No man cometh unto th e Father except

.

’
by M e . I heard it in a sermon here once ; and I
’
c an t s ay I do not know the way ; but what I feel i s
t h a t I do n o t know h o w to get int o i t and to kn o w .

th a t I am r e all v there .
"

“
Th e re w as not mu c h t i me l o st the t o ther n igh t
’

,
1 86 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA
’ ’
M issy when u s came al ongsi de 0 that sinkin crew
, .

The y d idn t ask no questi ons they j ust tumbl ed in

’

’
an they d i dn t want to know i f they were real ly in or
’

”
n ot They tru sted an they asked no questions ’
.

Th e vreall y fel t they were sink ing ; but my boat

i s sail ing al ong fairl y wel l It i s only when a squal l .

comes that I want the l i feboat an d when it goes an d , ,

”
there i s fine weather again I forget all about it ,
.

’
Una s brow s were kn itted as s h e spoke
“
Th e d evi l fil l s our minds w i excuses sai d Kathi e ’

“ ’ ’
sadly . First it i s we don t know h ow to step in an ,

then we ll wait till th e weather be rougher I think

’
.
,

’
M issy ti s best to step in when the waves be not
,

over — ’
h igh ti s a pity to wait til l we be hangin twixt ’ ’

’ ’
l i fe an death An as for the s te p p i n in why the
.
’

dear Lord be so near at al l times that i f w e cannot

s e e our way to step we can j ust drop o u r awn oars ,

’ ‘
an l i ft up o u r arms crying L o r tl Lord l i ft m e in , , , ,

’ ’ ’
Thysel f That l ittl e lad o th e captain s the t other
.
’

’ ’
n ight ,
he w ere j ust taken clean into gr a n f e y th e r s
arm s an put down in sa fety H e had to be wil l in
’ ’
.

to be taken that was al l ,

.

“ ”
Yes sai d Una deepl y moved by th e earnest
, ,

l onging i n Kathie s voice an d hastil y bru shing away

’
,

“
th e tears that ha d started to h er eyes I know it .

’ ’
i s a question o f one s will But I can t drop my o w n .

oars yet Kathi e ; and th at i s the fact Oh I w i sh

,
.
,

there w as another way It woul d be easier i f we had .

to work hard ourselves inste a d o f j ust d o nothing ,

but tru s t .
 A N UN E! PE CTED A R RIV AL

Another way M i ssy ! ,

Kathie s tone had a hurt indignant ring in it

’

,
.

’
Ti s ungrate ful to wi sh that when the dear Lord ,

opened thi s way at such a cost As Jim tol d me .

‘

’ ’
when I was l e a r n i n about it twas th e Lord s own ’

gl ory an happiness an l i fe He gave up s o as not to

’ ’

l et one o f u s miss it Findin faul t becau se the way .

’

i s free M i ssy ! Oh thank God ! it i s that o r where

, , ,

shoul d us be poor helpl ess dy i n sinners ? An ti s

, , ,
’ ’ ’

not an idle l i f e us be cal l ed to Once i n the Li feboat .

,

there be pull in al l the way But step in an pul l !

’
.
’

’ ’
That be the way T i s n o t pull in that w il l help you
.

”
to step in !
’
Una le ft her soon a fter but Kath i e s words retu rned ,

to her again and again an d s h e thought much o f ,

them .

Kathie watched her go an d murmured to hersel f , ,

Missv
’
s craft have al ways been in stil l waters I .

cannot bring mysel f to wi sh her a storm but I do ,

’
pray w i all my heart that her may step into the Li fe
boat soon !
Time seemed to pass but sl owly to Una now Sh e .

mi ssed her husban d in a thousan d l ittl e wavs Inde .

p e n d e n ce seemed to have lost its charm and s h e ,

almost began to envy Maj orie whose pl an s an d ,

purposes were w h o ll vregul ated b y h er l over .

One a fternoon Un a came up from th e beach after

a l ong row roun d the coast She was ti red ; the day .

was warm and sh e fel t a strange kind o f depressi on

,
1 88 A DA UG HTER O F THE S E A

come over her as s h e entered the hou se—a depres s i on

for which s h e coul d not account .

Bal dwi n met her looking a gi tated an d perpl exe d .

“
A gentleman hath r i dden over from K i n gs ta w ton ,

m istress He sa i th he be goin to have h i s l ugga ge

.
’

’
fol ler him An he waiteth i n the master s study to
.
’

”
se e you .

W hat n ame d i d he g i ve asked Una with w ide ?”

,

O pen eyes .

“
Carteret h e sa i th , .

Una stayed to hear no m ore She i m pe tuousl y .

threw open th e study d oo r an d then stopped a l i ttl e ,

d isconcerted at the si g ht o f the stranger within .

He was an o l d man with white hai r and beard ; h e

was rai sing a glass o f wh i sky an d water to hi s l ips ; - -

and h is hand shook visibly as h e di d so H i s face in .

,

spite o f hi s venerabl e appearance was n o t a ple a s a nt ,

o n e ; h i s eye s were sh i fty and restl ess ; d issipatio n wa s

stamped on every featu re Y et when he rose to h i s .

feet and mad e a courteou s bow n o one woul d hav e

, ,

su spected h im to be other than a true gentl eman .

“
Have I the pl easure o f speak ing to M rs .

Gregson ?
“ ”
Yo u have sir Una sai d a l ittle shyl y a s she
, , , ,

d ropped her orthodox curtesy .

“
A n d was M r s G regson once Una Carteret .

”
Yes that was my name
,
.

T hen Una my c hil d look at m e and b e h ol d in

, , ,

”
me you r fath er .

“
My fath er ?
 AN U NEX PE CTED ARRIVAL 1 89

Una repeated the words mechanical ly She was .

dazed by such a statement .

“ ”
My father i s d ead s h e went o n , How can you .

”
be my father ?
“ ”
H ave you ever seen your father s grave ?
’

N 0 but I thought— I have al ways been tol d I was

,

an orphan .

M r Carteret cast up h i s eyes in pious horror

. .

“
In such a way do they seek to compl ete the
al ienation o f parent an d daughter ! No my chil d , ,

your father i s al ive ; an d he pl aced hi s chil d in sa fe

custody many years ago be fore he began to wander
,

over the face o f the earth He has at l ength returned

.

to th e place of hi s fore fath ers and seeks out at once ,

h i s only chil d !
There was a theatrical pose in h i s manner wh ich
puzzl ed Un a And a fter a sha r p gl ance at hi s
.

daughter M r Car teret adopted a di fferent tone

, . .

“
Una my dear I may seem a stranger to you but
, , ,

you have been in my thoughts many years an d when ,

’
I heard o f M r Endicott s s a d death I resol ved to
.
,

come home to o ffer you my protection It w a s o n l v .

o n my j ourney here that I heard you were al ready

married ; and it was a shock a di stinct shock to my ,

feel ings I fin d your husband i s a w a v

. f rom home I .

”
h ope he i s a worthy and e stimabl e man ?
”
He i s al l that you coul d wish sai d Una f eel ing , ,

a s i f she were in a dream Sh e stood grasping the

.

’
back o f her husban d s ch ai r an d wi shing h e were at ,

home .
1 90 A DAUGHT ER O F T HE S EA

And then mak i n g an e ff ort to be at ease sh e sprang

, ,

forward .

“
I f y o u are in d eed my father sh e said I wel come , ,

y o u with al l mv heart I wil l try to make you happy

.

”
h ere .

An d l i ftin g up her glow ing face sh e ki ssed h im , .

“ ” “
I am so g lad she went o n gai ly that I hav e
, ,

some o n e who real l y an d truly bel ongs to me I .

have al l my l i fe l onged for a rel ation I cannot .

understan d why M r En dicott n ever talked to me .

”
about you .

“
He was a pe c ul iar man M r Carteret sai d as h e , .
,

patted her shoul der then turned to the whi sky a n d

,

”
helped h imsel f to a n other glass o f that beverage .

“
He al ways gave me to u n d e r s tan d that he intended .

y o u to be hi s heiress and wi shed to superintend your

,

education an d training himsel f I woul d not stand .

i n you r way though it cut me to the heart to l eave

,

vou I knew y o u woul d be w el l cared for an d I have

.
,

h eard o f y o u from time to time I concl ude th is prop .

”
e rt i s yours i s it n o t?
y ,

“ — —
I I suppose it i s stammered Una I h ave
, .

n ever thought much about it becau se I h ave al ways ,

l ived here an d i t seemed q uite natu ral to go on do i n g

,

s o a fter I married Cuthbert mana g es al l the bus i ness

.

”
part o f it .

A l ittl e frown came over M r C a r te r e t s smil ing face .

’
.

“
Does you r hu sband travel ? I s h e away much
from yo u ? ”

“
O h n o h e has n ever l e ft me be fore ex c ept when
, , ,
 A N UN EX PECTED ARRI VAL 1 9 1

he went up to London about hi s book which i s com ,

i ng out very soon And he i s only away for a short

.

”
time now !
M r Carteret gave a l ittl e sigh
. .

“
I am glad I came to my l ittl e girl in her l onel iness .

You wil l be thank ful to have my help and counsel in

m an v matters .

“ ”
Ye -e s .

’
B ut Una s tone w a s hesitating
“
We l ive a very quiet l i fe here s h e sai d ; I have
,

only my housekeeping to think o f An d that remin ds.

me I must leave you to make a few arrangements I

wil l come back soon an d take you to you r room
, .

She le ft the study feeling stil l as i f s h e were in a

,

dream ; but when s h e found M arj ori e an d tol d her ,

the news that l ittl e l ady was del ighted

, .

“
How romantic ! An unknown father coming upon
the scene ! Why it i s trul y del icious ! I cannot bear
a house without a man in it and D uncan i s absorbed
,

thi s week in home matters that need his presence I .

am positively dying to s e e h im ! M ay I go an d enter

tain him now P ”

\Vhen Una returned a l ittl e time l ater she found

Marj orie bewitch ing the ol d man with her airs and
graces .

“ ”
Ah ! s h e sai d to Una when M r Carteret had gone
, .

upstairs to h is room an d the girl s were alone together ,

“
your father has seen the worl d ; he knows ; he has
mi xed with al l sorts and condit i on s ! And oh how ,

m ightily am usi n he i s ! Some o f h i s st o r i e s woul d

g
1 9 2 A DAUGHTER OF THE S EA

shock y o u ! B ut I coul d not keep my l aughter back .

H e wil l enl iven our dul l hours Indeed he i s a pl eas

.
,

ant a ddition to our househol d l

B ut before many days el apsed Una began to be a
l ittl e perpl exed an d anxiou s H e r father was intro
.

d u c i n g a fresh element into the house He kept late .

h ours he smoked an d drank and swore freely i f he

, ,

di d not obtain the most servil e attentions from the

servants o f the househol d H e borrowed money from
.

h i s daughter and confided to her that l ately he had

,

fou n d it a struggl e to l i ve .

A fter the first feel ings o f del ight at ownin g a parent ,

Una began to feel a sensation o f shame that M r .

Carteret shoul d have such tastes as h e possessed .

W hen Duncan came over the gentl emen adj ourned

,

to the bill iard room or spent thei r time over card s

-

an d wine an d money was freely exchanged between

,

them .

Duncan excu sed h imsel f to h i s fi an cée .

“
He i s an amu sing ol d fel low and I feel s o rry f o r
,

h im H e says h e i s moped to death h ere an d i s g rate

.
,

ful to any o n e who w ill k ill time w ith him He an d .

h i s daughter are as u nl ike as two peas ! I cannot help

watching her when s h e i s wi th h im S he has s uch a .

high idea o f fil ial d evotion an d yet every word he

,

”
utters i s bewil derment an d pain to her !
“ ”
Una i s a baby ; an innocent chil d sai d M arj orie ; ,

“
an d my brother i s dul l an d commonplace though ,

good I con fess to have a l iking for a man n o t quite

.

so per fect ; but Mr C art e ret i s t oo f ond o f h i s d r in k

.
 A N UN EX PECTED ARRI VAL 1 93

even for me He stays on at the d inner tabl e long

.

a f ter we l eave an d comes into the drawing room a fter

,
-

wards too j ovially Una reminds me o f a tiny chil d

.

trying to manage an d restrain the gambol s o f a huge

masti ff ! B ut s h e i s a prou d l ittl e damsel and wil l ,

n o t brook a word o f inter ference from me '

B ut Una d i d n ot feel a real anxiety til l som e friend s

’
o f her father s came to see him .

M r Carteret had invi ted them be fore h e mentioned

.

them to h i s daughter ; an d s h e felt helpl ess to pre

vent it .

Even M ar j orie raised her pretty eyebrows when s h e

s aw them They were gentlemen by birth but i n
.
,

’
nothing el se One o f them a Captain O Flan de r s
.
, ,

was a l ittl e known to her .

“
He bears a very fast reputation an d has l eft the
”
service ; i n truth h e w a s cashiered s h e tol d Una I , .

hear he i s a pro fessional gambler now It i s a pity tha t .

”
your father has invited hi m here .

“ ’
He i s not g o ing to stay l ong was Una s q uie t ,

repl y.

B ut Capta i n O Fl an de r s knew wh en he was c o m

’

f o r tab l e and s o d i d hi s companions two gentl emen

, ,

who had been obl iged to l ive in seclusion o n forei gn

shores for many years They l ed a merry l i fe at the .

Towers and b y degrees l ost al l sen se o f restraint i n

,

’
the l adi es presence M ore than once Una an d Mar.

j ori e got u p an d l e ft th e room and i t became the i r ,

endeavor to see as l ittl e a s possibl e o f them .

 1 94 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

O ne a fternoon Una l e ft the house an d went out

for a r o w She was daily n ow expecting her hu s
.

ban d s return ; an d i t w as th e o n e abs o rbin g th o u ght

’

i n her h eart .

“ ”
O h Cuthbert I want you ! I want you ! was h er
, ,

inmost cry As s h e sh ot o u t her smal l boat upon the

.

rippl i n g ocean sh e rai sed her face w ith a deep drawn

,
-

breath o f rel ie f up to the fathoml ess bl ue above her .

“
I a m so gl ad to be away from i t al l The hous e .

seem s pol luted with thei r presence How can father .

stan d thei r coarse j o kes the i r i nsol ent bear i n g the i r

, ,

foul language P ”

An d then her prou d l ittl e h ea d d ropped i n sh ame ,

at the remembrance o f some o f h er father s o w n ’

words Far better s h e thought to h ave a father ly i n g

.
, ,

i n a qu iet churchyard than on e wh o dail y tortured

her by h i s w il d an d di ssipated ways Why ha d s h e .

never been tol d o f h i s ex i sten c e be fore ? Di d Cuth

bert know o f it s h e wondered ? D i d he know whose
,

bloo d was i n her veins ? An d then fil ial l oyal ity

upbrai ded h e r for such thoughts about h er father ;
an d di stressed an d bewil dered sh e sud denl y pul led
,

i n h er oars an d g ave way to a passionate fit o f weep

,

in g .

I am frightened o f wh at may happen I do not .

know wh at they wil l do ! Oh ! i f I had onl y som e

o n e to turn to ! some o n e to adv i se me I feel unabl e
.

”
to do o r say what I ought !

Fo r th e fi rst time i n h er l i fe Una was feel i n g h e r

o w n i n su ffi c i ency f o r ex i st i ng ci r c umstan c e s .
 A N U N EX PECTED ARRIVAL 1 95

The sensation was not a pleasant one .

Two hours a fter s h e returned to fin d Marj orie i n

,

tears o n the doorstep in her lover s arm s His horses ’

.

with groom were pacing the drive bel ow .

They l ooked up a s s h e approached and D unca n ,

strode toward s her with a fl ushed and angry face .

“ ” “
M rs Gregson he said w ith a sti ff bow I am
.
, , ,

taking M arj ori e to my mother s house f o r shel ter ’

.

She has been subj ected to gros s insul t under thi s roo f ,

and it can no longer a ff ord her the protection s h e

needs !
’
Una s face pal ed She went towards Marj ori e w ith
.

both hands outstretched .

“
Oh Marj orie dea r what has happened ? You are
, ,

”
never going to l eave me alone P
M arj ori e l ooked up sobbin g .

I cannot help i t Una You must come wi th us

, . .

It i s not fitting that you shoul d stay That odious Cap .

tain O Flan de r s has been fol lowing me about from

’

room to room and he tried to— tried to kis s me ! And

”
h e w a s a s drunk as h e coul d be !
D runk or not he has got the soundest horsewhip
,

”
ping that I have ever g i ven any on e in my l i fe ex ,

claimed Duncan hotly I f you give m e permission he

.
,

sai d turn i ng to Una I w ill cl ear the hou se for you ! I

, ,

w il l fl ing them out neck an d crop ; but a s to l eaving

.

a de fencel ess girl in their mi dst that I will not ! An d ,

the sooner vou cl ear the house o f such characters the

”
better .

“ ”
It i s my father ! faltered Una .
 O

1 96 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

D uncan shrugged h i s shoul ders .

“
It was an e Vil day that brought him to your doors .

I have sai d my s a y to h i m ; for I went straight to h im

an d spoke my mind An d I have sworn that neither
.

Marj ori e n o r mysel f shal l s e t o u r feet i nsi de th is house

til l h e i s o u t o f i t !
Fo r an instant Una seeme d about to pl ead with h im ;
then her pride came to her rescue S he fl ung up her .

head .

“
I f that b e your determ ination I can but bi d you
,

farewell An d you too M arj orie The sooner the

.
,
.

better for your sake I will sen d on e o f th e men w ith

, .

your ba gg age l ater ; for I conclu de you have not had

time to atten d to it Sorry am I to l ose you An d
. .

I hope my hu sban d w ill understan d how i t was that

those he thou g ht woul d help an d com fort me in h i s
absence fail ed me when I needed them most .

She swept past them l ike a l ittl e queen ; then dashed

up to h er o w n room an d gave way once more that
a fternoon to a passionate fit o f tears .

Duncan fol l owed her Th e ch ival ry in hi s nature

.

w a s rou sed by h er tone B ut s h e woul d not open her

.

door o r l isten to h i s protestati on s An d a fter a wh i l e

.

sh e heard them r i de away ; an d in her misery s h e again

cried o u t
“ ”
O h C uthbert ! C uthbert ! W hy d i d yo u l eave me P
,
 CHAPTER XV I .

THE FLO AT I N G S PA R
W h en jo y l o n g e r s o o th e s o r c h e e r s
no ,

A n d e ve n th e h o p e t h a t t h r e w
A m o m e n t s s p a r kl e o e r o u r t e a r s
’ ’

I s d i mm e d a n d v an i s h e d too !

Oh ! W ho w o ul d bear l i f e s s t o r my d o o m
’

Di d n o t T hy w in g o f l o ve
Co m e b r i g h t l y w a f ti n g th ro u g h th e g l o o m
, ,

Our p e a c e b ran c h f ro m a b ove ?

-

T he n rro w to u ch e d by T h e e g ro w s
so , , b ri g h t
W ith m o r e th an ra p t u re s r ay ; ’

A s d a rk n e s s s h o w s u s w or l d s o f l i gh t
”
W e n e ve r s a w b y d ay !
M o or e .

’
And n o w ensued a very dark time in Una s l i fe .

Her father m istaking h er w ill ing submi ssion to hi s

,

authority for want o f character grew more and more ,

a ggressive in tone an d manner The amount o f money

.

h e requ ired seemed to her to be quite i n c o m p r e h e n

sibl e ; but s h e dare d not re fuse hi m anything H onour .

and obedience to a parent were deepl y implanted in her

breast. She sometimes thought o f th e w ords she
had uttered to her guardian l ong ago and which s h e ,

l ittl e thought woul d ever touch her l i fe

Even i f they drink th emsel ves to death it i s th e ,

”
duty o f thei r ch il dren to l oo k a fter them .

She tri ed gentl e expostulat i ons and entreaties with

1 98 A DAUGHTER O F THE S E A

h er father ; but they were o f no av i l And s h e bega n .

to real i se that her hou sehol d wa s su ff ering from hi s

i nfluence One or tw o o f the younger servants were
.

drinkin g heavily The ol d cook an d housekeeper M r s

.
, .

Craven c ame in great di stress one day to s ay that th e

,

maid s were gettin g the i r head s turned by the fl atte r i e s

an d attent i ons they received from the gentl emen .

“
An d mistress m y dear the faith ful o l d creature
, ,

’
ad ded . Ti s you yoursel f I be in fears o f Yo u be .

s o young an d pretty ; so unprotected s o alone that I , ,

s i ts me down and haves a hearty cry a g a i n an d again .

”
O h wh en w i l l th e master be back !
,

D uncan Th i s e l th w a i te rode over f o r the first few

d ays to ask i f he coul d be o f a n v help ; but when Una
di smissed h i m curtl y an d col dly an d tol d him s h e was ,

i n her o w n woul d n ot dream o f l eav i n g it ,

as h e sug g ested he l e ft o ff coming feel ing he had don e

, ,

h i s utmost on h er behal f .

It seeme d o f l i ttl e u se remonstratin g with her fath e r ,

but s h e attempted i t more than once .

I do not l ike your frien ds father How l ong are ,

.

they g o i n g t o stay ? C an you not tel l them to g o ? I

’
w i l l make y ou com fortabl e an d happy w ithout th em .

“ ” “
My d ear he sa id uneasily ; I owe them money
,
.

I— I— am awkwardl y s ituated .

How much do yo u o w e them ? Tel l me and I

'

wil l g i ve i t to y o u They are mak i ng me m i serabl e

.
,

and every o n e el se I woul d gi ve anyth i ng t o g et r id

.

”
o f them l

I w i l l tr y t o fi n d o ut .
 TH E FLOAT IN G S PAR 1 99

B ut he put o ff doing it from day to day and U n a ,

l ived for the first time i n her l i fe in an atmosphere o f

fear She shunned the house an d was only happy
.
,

when s h e was in her boat or with Kathie , .

And a s days went by an d there w a s no ti dings o f the

,

F ly i n g G u ll th e two young wives looked into each

,

other s faces with anxiou s eyes

’
.

“
My husband said h e woul d be back in a month ,

“
Una sai d It i s six weeks to day and we have had
.
-
,

”
n o l etter o r message .

“
It seem s s i x years to me sai d Kathie w ith gl ow ,

“
in g eyes .
’
But we ll hope on M issy Any day n o w ,
.

”
w e may s e e them s a i l i n i n ’
.

“
I seem to have no hope le ft Una exclaimed i m ,

“ ”
p e tu o u s ly everything i s black an d dread ful l ,

Kath ie looked at her in astoni shment She noted .

ti red l ines an d shadow s about her eyes that never u sed

to be there ; there was a downward droop to her l ips ,

an d a l ack o f that buoyancy an d breezines s that was

her great characteri stic .

“
You are ill M issy ,
P ”

No I am not ; I do not sl eep at night and i t makes

, ,

m e feel dul l in the daytime That i s all that i s the .

matter with me .

Kathie shook h er h ead at her .

“
You are f r e tti n too much M i ssy What i s it ?
’

,
.

An d then Una sat down an d burst into tears .

“
Oh Kath ie I must speak to some one ! I do fee l
, ,

s o l onely without my hu sban d I want h im back ; I .

feel I shal l never be happy a ga in w i th o ut h i m I f I -

.
z oo A D A UGHTER O F TH E S EA

coul d see h im now an d hear h im speak ; i f I could

,

j u st l ay my h ead on hi s coat sl eeve and know i t was ,

real ly and tr u l vh im I think I shoul d go w il d with

,

j oy.

Kathi e smil ed an d nodded Thi s was a fter her o w n

.

h eart S he had long been perpl exed an d distressed b v

.

’
Una s apparent indi fference to h er hu sban d It needed .

only hi s absence she thought to show her d ear young

, ,

l ady how big a part o f her a ffection h e occupied .

“ ” “
Yes s h e sai d ; u s woul d both be crazy w i j oy
,
’

i f we had them by u s B ut M issy ti s onl y w a i ti n

.
, ,
’ ’

’ ’
the good Lord hath em in Hi s keepin He doth .

’
watch over th em an u s together and it seemeth to m e ,

every n ight when I l ay my head on my pil l ow an d

saith Is h e sa fe an well Lord to night ? that the
,
‘ ’
, ,
-
’

‘
an swer cometh Th e angel o f the Lord encampeth
,

’
roun d about them that fear Him an d del i vereth them .

Th e Lord wil l tel l me when He taketh Jim to Himsel f ;

”
but I be sure that that time has not come .

Una l e ft Kath i e cheered an d com forted ; but it

neede d al l her spi ri t an d courage to keep ch eerful at
hom e Sh e tol d Kath i e o f on e troubl e that was w eigh
.

in g o n her h eart ; s h e coul d not tel l h er o f the others .

Her l i fe at th e Towers seemed to h er l ik e o n e l on g

nightmare An d things grew worse instead o f better
. .

The ol d servants be c ame anx i ous ; an d then i n dignant .

On e o r two o f them sai d that i f th e master w a s n ot

soon return i ng they must l eave B al dwin sai d that .

th e h o u se woul d soon get a bad name in the neighbour

hoo d ; an d tha t h e woul d no t st a y t o se e d i s g ra c e c om e
 THE FLO A TI N G S PAR 20 1

upon the ol d place And Una was powerl ess to stem .

the tide that was sweeping everything pure and whol e

some away Her father rul ed the house and treated
.
,

her as many women were treated in those days

, ,

as i f she had no ind ivi dual ity or w ill o f her own One .

afternoon about fi v e o clock she was sitting w ith

,
’

Kathi e when there was a hasty knock at the door ,

and a n ear n eighbour M r s Catwick put in h er head , .

,

e x c i te d l v .

“
M issi s Tann er th ere be a smack j ust l anded from
,

Plymouth Ye m a v get news o f your man

.
”
.

In one secon d both Una and Kathi e were running

down to the whar f They s a w a l ittl e cl uster o f fishers
.

roun d th e boat an d there were low murmurs as they

,

approached .

Ah poor critter
, said one woman as Kathi e
’
passe d her Her be al lays too much taken up w i
.

”
him .

“ ”
Who be to tel l e m P ’
was a whi s per that caught
’
Una s ear .

In an instant she was making her way through the

l ittl e group toward s the sea faring stranger .

”
Sir she sai d ; and though she tried to speak
,

“
stead ily her voice trembl ed vi sibly have you seen
, ,

”
anythin g o f the Fly i n g S e ag u ll ?
Th e captain l ooked at h er then rubbed h i s hand ,

through hi s grizzl ed hai r .

“
Have e e fri en ds o n that cra ft mistress
’
P ”
,

”
My hu sban d .

Then may th e Lord h el p e e ' ’

202 A DAUG H TER O F TH E S EA

An d stoopin g down in a shame faced sort o f way ,

he l i fted up an obj ect that w a s i n th e centre o f the

l ittl e group aroun d him an d h el d i t o u t to Una s won,
’

derin g eyes .

I t w a s a long piece o f wood dark an d stil l damp , ,

from the sal t waves that had tossed i t to an d fro B ut .

there w a s no m istakin g it for the wh ite painted l etters ,

’
that had been J im s pride now stared h i s w i fe ful l in
the face—F ly i n g S e ag u l l .

F or a moment Una tu rned an d grasped Kath i e s ’

arm .

“
What does i t mean P s h e gasped an d the col our
”
,

ebbed from cheeks an d l ips til l i t l eft her wan and

pal e .

Th e captain cl eared h i s throat .

“
A had a word w i them 0 th i s cra ft he s ai d an
’ ’

, ,
’

’ ’
A knowed twas for here they w a s bound Twas n igh .

’
o n th ree w eeks a go they l e ft o u r port An A te l l e d .

’ ’
em A were f o ll e r i n thei r track for A hath cargo ,

to take beyon thi s ’

Twas not the g ent A had speech
.
’

‘
wi
’
. Al l A h e e r d u m say were Tanner s e z un
’
, ,
’ ’

‘
l et your boat fly m an A m w e a r y i n to be home !
, ,
’ ’

‘ ’
The young chap laughed an d sez he A y s i r u s be 0 , , ,

’ ’ ’
o n e min d c o n c a r n i n that ! An that w ere th e l ast A
s a w o f em B ut o ff C r a c ki n gto n Haven u s picked up
’
.

’
bits 0 planks that had not bin long under water an
’

’ ’
thi s bit were on e on em An A fel t there woul d be .

’ ’ ’ ’ ’
som e a w atc h i n for em an A brought u n l ong w i
-
,

us .

Kath ie an d U na l i stened breathl essly ; the c rowd

H E H ELD IT O UT TO U N A S W O N D E R I N G EYE S
’
.
 THE FLOATI N G S PAR
1 2 03

fel l back ; a few women began to sob an d l i ft their ,

apr ons to their eyes but the two who were most con
,

cerned stood l ike stones Then Kathie hel d out her .

arms .

“
Give it to me !
S he received the bit o f spar as s h e might a chil d .

Sh e hugged it to h er bosom an d with rapi d deter , ,

mined steps sped towards her cottage .

Una looked a fter her wonderingly Then s h e a d .

dressed the burl y captain passionately

“
That cannot be their boat There has been no .

storm ; Jim i s one of the best sail ors in P e r r a n c ov e !

How coul d they drown an d no one see o r hear them ?

,

Do you th ink we shoul d not have known ? Do you

th ink I coul d have been eating and drinking an d
l i ving al l these days i f he was dead an d gone ? Tel l
,

the truth ; where are they ? Don t bring u s i dl e tal es ’

to send us mad
The captain shook hi s head helpl essl y
“ ” ’
The Lord help e e ! he groaned A can s ay n o .

more than A hath said for the reason that A knoweth

,

”
no more .

An d then Una turned an d made her way breath ,

lessly into Kathie s cottage She found her o n her

’
.

knees stil l clasping that piece o f inanimate wood in

,

her arms B ut s h e was speak ing w ith dry hot eye s

.
,

to an unseen Presence in her l ittl e room Una locked .

the door an d fel l on her knees beside her .

“ ’

Father good Lord speak for my heart be s tr a i n i n

, , ,

’ ’ ’
wi l ongin an e x pe c ti n ! Hast Thou got him w r
 A D A U GHTER O F THE S EA
‘

2 04

Thee ?
Oh Lord I du r s n t pray him back I cannot ’
, , ,

turn Thee from Thy purposes 0 l ove ! I du r s n t i f I ’ ’

c oul d Where be he Lord ? M y bonny J im w i hi s

.
, ,
’

’
c url s an hi s deep true eyes an d h i s smil e that warmed
’
my soul through an th rough ! B e that part o f h im
under the cruel l ashing waves ? Oh Lord Thou , ,

knowest th e cruel power 0 the sea but Thou coul dest ’

’
raise a s inki n d iscipl e o u t o f i ts grip an Thou hadst ,
’

my Jim in th e clasp o f Thy strong han d ; Thou di dst

cradl e h im in Thy arms Where hast Thou taken .

h im Lord ? For Thou knowest we are on e fl esh ;

,

Thou woul dest not l et me l ive on w ithout h im ! Lord

sp eak ! oh speak to my soul for I be i n agony an
, , ,

onl y Thou canst give m e peace !

Una l istene d dimly but she was conscious that s h e
,

had not a place in that prayer ; an d thi s consciousness

brought impati ence into h er tone .

“ ’
Kathie I cam e to you for com fort I don t know
, .

’
how to pray Don t forget my husban d Oh do pray
. .
,

”
for him .

B ut for once Kathie wa s sel fish in her agony o f

soul S he waved her away
. .

“
Leave me M issy ; I mu st be al one You never
, .

l oved th e master a s I l ove Jim !

Una crept out o f th e cottage feel ing as s h e d i d so , ,

that the l ast ray o f l ight had departed from her Sh e .

was al one in th e worl d she thought N o one cared , .

f o r her no one belonged to her

,
Even Kathi e had .

turn ed h er away from her door ! Her fath er ? W as

'

h e one to whom sh e coul d go f o r com fort ? She felt

 T HE FLOATI N G S PAR 29 5

the very house woul d be unbearabl e ; i t was no longer

a home to h er ; i t w a s a pl ace o f un rest an d o f u n c o n
genial ity S he made her way up th e vil lage street to
.

the l onely stretch o f tur f on the top o f the cl i ffs Her .

thoughts flew back to the rid e sh e had taken there

by her h usban d s side ; an d coming to the spot where
’

her un fortunate horse had fal l en over the edge s h e ,

s a t down o n the grass an d cl asping her han ds round

,

her knees l ooked o u t upon the stil l ocean w ith dazed ,

tearless eyes .

I t was a cri si s i n her l i fe .

Sunshine aroun d her and easy happy circum ,

stances had wrapped her soul i n a serene slumber

, .

Her craft had sail ed through l i fe i n fai r win d an d

weather an d th e few breezes s h e had met only seemed
, ,

to carry her along the better The sk ies had darkened .

latel y ; but S he w a s l ike some bewil dered chil d who

felt the discom fort o f it but expected every dark mo
,

m ent to be the l ast Through al l her troubl e an d per

.

p l e x i ty at home the thought o f her hu sban d s return

’

’
had stood out be fore her mind s eye l ike some bright
star at night It was only a short time l onger an d
.
,

then h er di fficulti es woul d be over h e woul d come to ,

her an d set things straight An d Una s heart had .

’

tol d her latel y that Cuthbert was now al l in al l to her .

She thought over thei r parting She fel t hersel f in .

h i s arm s an d h eard h im say with that quick d rawn

,
-

breath o f hi s Tel l m e you w ill try an d l ove me

,
.

Was i t possibl e that sh e woul d n ever see h im never ,

hear hi s voice again ? Wa s thi s aw ful separation

going to l ast f o r ever ?
2 06 A D A UG H T ER O F THE S EA

Every on e has l eft me s h e cried o u t i n the aban

,

d o n m e n t of despair— M iss End icott M r En dicott

“
.
, ,

Marj ori e Kath i e— how can I bear thi s al one ? How

,

can I l ive o n alone ? I f Cuthbert i s dead I have no o n e ,

l eft ! N o one but God .

”
No on e bu t G o d !
Her own s entence startl ed h er Sh e looked up into .

the S ky The s u n was setting ; the whol e hori zon w a s

.

il l u minated with a rosy hue The rippl ing waves were .

edged with crimson ; a gol den path through the wat e rs

l ed to the dazzl ing bed into which th e gl orious king o f
day was sl owly s inking .

Sh e was always susceptibl e to th e beauties o f Na

ture S h e watched feel ing a s sh e di d s o that s h e was
, , ,

watching th e sun set o f her own l i fe an d as the l ight ,

faded in the s ky s h e again repeated to hers el f

“
I ha v
e n o on e l eft bu t G o d .
”

In bitter l onel iness o f spirit as dusk crept sl owl y ,

o n an d the l ast gol den rays s ank sl owl y into the sea
, ,

S he cried al oud
“
The s e a which has been my love an d l i fe i s s w a l ,

l owing al l I have ! It has taken the l ight o f thi s day ,

it has taken the l ight o f my heart ! It has l e ft me no

on e— N o on e bu t G o d ! ”

S he sat th ere stil l as death ; sh e d i d not heed th e

gathering dews o f n ight an d then at l ast S h e stretched
,

out her hand s with a heart broken cry -

Oh God Thou hast done it

, ,
W h vhast Thou .

taken everyth ing from m e P ”

It seem ed to h er as i f a voice from Heaven w hi s

pered
 THE FLO A TI N G S PAR 20 7

I know the thoughts that I th ink toward you saith ,

the Lord thoughts o f peace an d not o f evi l !

,

She gazed out into th e darkness an d again as wh en , ,

s h e w a s breasting the storm in th e l i f eboat a sense ,

o f her utter i n s i gn i fi ca n c e and the infin ite greatness

o f God came over her .

“
I have only l ived for mysel f she though t ; I ,

have only til l latel y l oved mysel f God has shown .

m e now how empty such a l i fe can be I have not the .

real ization o f H i s love to c o m f o r t a n d help m e as

Kathi e has B ut I have l ived l ike a heathen an d
.
,

re fused to l isten when H e cal l ed me I tol d Kath ie .

I w a s not in need o f a l i feboat for my boat was ,

sail ing along s o wel l I coul d not s a y s o now I s e e

. .

nothing but storm an d blackness ; and I am al one in

”
it al l But there i s G o d
. .

A deep sil ence seemed to fal l o n her spi rit '

And then a short heartfelt prayer rose to Heaven ,

Take me I have come to an en d o f everything an d

.
,

am hel pl ess ; oh take me God and save an d forgive

, , ,

an d com fort me For Chri st s sake Amen

.
’
. .

Was it a mere coincidence that over th e darkness in

front of her stol e a radiant si lver l ight ? An d in a
few minutes th e moon was sh edding its beams over
the same waters that had swallowed up the gol den
l ight o f da y .

It seemed to Una s imagination that the same so ft

’

l ight was entering her soul She rose at l ast from

.

th e groun d with sti ff an d ach ing l imbs ; and with

fal tering tread made her way h ome She m et a l ittl e .

group o f servants at the door who were sal lying o u t ,

2 08 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

in quest o f her B al dw in gazed at her won deringl y .

“
Her came i n he confided to M r s Craven later
, .
,

l ooking l ike some stil l white angel Her eyes seeme d .

hardly to be a s eeing o f us Her passed u s w ithout a

-
.

word an d went to her room U s knowed h er had .

a— h e e r d the news but her l ooke d as i f ‘her had bin

,

’
talki n to departed soul s an d h o l d i n communication s
,
’

”
with Heaven itsel f !
M r Carteret coul d not gain access to h is daughter s
.
’

pres ence ; but early the next morning a note w as

brought to h im from h er .

“
MY D E A R F A T H E R— Wil l y o u tel l your friend s o f
th e troubl e that h as be fal l en m e I am sure thei r .

good taste w il l take them away from a house o f

mourn ing M ak e my excuses to them for I cannot
.
,

bi d them farewel l in person .

“
Y our duti ful daughter ,

“
UN A .

B e fore n ight fal l came aga i n the Towers were freed

from th e presence o f M r Ca r te r e ts fri ends ; but Una
.
’

stil l remained in h er room .

S he had taken a severe chi ll an d was f o r some time

confined to h er bed It w a s weeks be fore her father
.

saw h er ; and then h e w a s puzzl ed at th e sweet g ravit y

o f her dem eanour .

“
I have fel t for y o u my dear he sai d a l ittl e awk
, ,

“
w a r dl y ; but yo u di d not seem to need any com fort
from me .

“ ”
No sh e sa i d l ooking at him dreamily I hav e
, , ,

di s covered that the O ne w h o fill s th e un i verse i s s uffi

ci ent to fi l l o ne po o r empt y
 CHAPTER XVI I .

A DA R K T I M E

B ut l o ve c an h op e , w he r e r e a s on l
w ou d de s p a ir .

L y tte l to n .

An d al l thi s tim e Kath ie an d Una had not met .

Kathi e had more than once been up to the Towers to

“ ”
inquire a fter M i ssy B ut M rs Craven guarded her
. .

young mi stress j ealously an d refused to l et any one

,

s e e h er . She feared at one tim e S h e was going to

h a ve rheumatic fever ; th e docto r sai d s h e had onl y
j u st escaped i t S o i t was not until Una was abl e to
.

walk out again that s h e foun d her way down to

Kath ie s cottage
’
.

Kathi e met h er w ith outstretched hands ; an d then

Una impul sively d rew her to her an d ki ssed her ,
.

“ ”
I have wanted you s o .

A y M i ssy ; an I have mi ssed you sorely

’
.
,

There was a li ttl e silence Kathi e drew a chai r .

forward an d Una sat down She l ooked roun d the .

cottage an d saw across the mantl eshel f the spar that

,

h a d brought them such d ire n ews A bove i t on a .

pi ece o f paper was printed in rather uneven l etters

”
With God al l th ings are possibl e .

’
A strange l igh t cam e into Una s eyes She turned .

toward s Kath i e i m pul sivel y

I 41
21 0 A D A UG H TER O F TH E SEA

You don t bel ieve them dead then ?

'

Kathi e stood with fol ded a r m s gaz ing at her treas ,

u r e d rel i c w ith a dreamy smi le .

“
M i ssy I w ere near overwhel med when I see you
,

last I j u st fel t the bil l ow s cl osing overhead ; but n o w

.

’
I be w ai ti n pati ently for the good Lord has not l et ,

m e kn ow that Jim be gon e ; an my heart f e e l e th a s ’

i f h e be stil l o n earth !
A thri l l ran through Una s vein s Sh e spoke ex
’

c i te dl v
“
Oh Kathie i f they shoul d come back ! I h ave fel t
, ,

s o uncertain how to act but I c annot put o n my ,

’
w idow s w eeds You w ear no black I wondered . .

when I s a w v o u but I un derstan d now I have put , .

back such thoughts but th e vwil l come ; an d perhaps ,

God send s them an d m en have been picked up by ,

passing vess el s be fore an d God m a vyet gi ve them ,

back to u s Oh I shal l begin to hope n o w ! It i s so

.
,

”
del iciou s to l et onesel f hope .

’
Kath i e s cheeks flu sh ed .

“
The neighbours have been ratin me but I do n ot ’

care I pray night an morn that tidi n s may be sent

.
’ ’

an d I bel ieve the an swer will come .

There was another S il ence then Una sai d softly , ,

Kath ie I th ink I have stepped into th e Li feboat ; at

,

l east I have been l i fted in an d wh en I feel incl ined to

, ,

doubt I s a y to m y sel f I have o n l vto t r ust an d a sk

, ,
‘

no question s D o you remember s aying that to me P

.
’ ”

’
Kathi e s bi g eves fill ed with tears .

“
I knew you woul d soon come to it I n ever have .
 A DARK TI M E 21 1

forgot to pray you might Except she added truth .

,

“
ful ly that first dread ful n ight when u s were tol d
,

the news An now M issy u s can have a doubl e

.
’
, ,

’ ’
strong prayer for ti di n s ; an u s w il l be kept at peace
”
the whil e .

The l ittl e community at P e r r an c ov

e were scan da

l i ze d at th e young w i dows re fusing to wear mourn ing .

B ut they were fi rm in thei r re fusal ; and the l ight o f

patient persi stent hope shone in thei r eyes
,
.

’
Marj orie took the gloomi est vi ew o f her brother s
di sappearance She d raped hersel f in the deepest
.

’
bl ack and expresse d strong di sapproval at Una s a c
,

tion She woul d not return to the Towers ; but sai d

.

that in three months she hoped to become D uncan s ’

wi fe There was nothing now to wait f o r ; and til l

.

then hi s mother had o ffered her a home

, .

Una managed her househol d with a l ittl e extra

sweetness and dignity S ince that terribl e day her
.
,

chil dishness seemed to have l eft her ; but s h e had

gained in womanly feel ing and tenderness Even .

h er father was diml y aware that there was a quiet

strength in her character that he had not thought ,

’
possibl e Hi s daughter s troubl e had subdued him
.

for th e time ; but h e was feveri shly anxious to have

’
th e control o f all her money matters an d Una s di s ,

incl ination to al low him and her e ff orts to keep much

,

o f it in her own hands annoyed h im extremel y

,

“
Women kno w noth ing o f bu siness matters he ,

“
sai d i rritably to her one day In place o f your hu s .

”
band who coul d advise you better than your father ?
,
 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

I want to manage everything mysel f I f I do not .

”
understan d I can learn
,
.

Th en h e begged her to go abroad with him .

“
The change wil l do you good my dear You are
. , .

young to be buried i n th is desol ate place w ith none ,

o f you r own age o r station near you I w il l take you .

to Paris an d try to teach you how to take l i fe easily

”
an d gaily .

B ut Una shook her head .

“
Noth ing wil l induce me to l eave th i s spot M y .

husban d may return I h ave n o proo fs o f hi s d eath

. .

H e r father laughed harshly .

“
Do y o u need the s e a to dry up or throw up al l its ,

dead ? Una I fear thi s morbi d i magination o f yours

,

w il l become a craze I remember an o l d crone o f

.

n inety I met l ong a go w h o every day walked to a

,

certai n spot to meet a l over who had b een d rowned

s eventy years before D o you mean to spen d the r e
.

main ing years o f your l i fe in such h opel ess waiting P ”

’
Una sh ivered as sh e l istened to her father s words .

S he fel t s o young s o strong so ful l o f l i fe that ol d

, , ,

age seemed generations o ff An d then S h e threw up

.

h er prou d youn g h ead an d repl i ed

“
Kath ie an d I mean to wait five years an d i f we ,

’
h ear nothing by that time we wil l w ear w i dow s
,

weeds an d g i ve up al l hope B ut til l those five years

,
.

have passed w e shal l hope o n an d no on e can q uench

, ,

”
that hope by any words o r persuasion !
“ ”
’
Ti s crazy fol ly ! muttered her fath er ; but he
gave up remon strance i n th e matter .
 A DAR K TI M E 21 3

’
The first visit that Una pai d to Eagl e s Head was
a s a d one Ol d El i s e emed al most stunned by the los s
.

o f h i s grandson Tom startl ed her by decl aring there

.

mu st have been foul play .

“ ”
Y e s M i ssy h e sai d excitedly
,
The Fly i n g G u l l
,
.

were too good a cra ft to go to pi eces i n fine weather .

There may be man y that wi sh us ill an d that erran d ,

’
o f the master s were a nasty o n e in the fish ers
’
eyes .

Ol d Martin Enoch an d N at Patton have l eagued

, ,

theirselves agen u s Th ere be nothin they won t do .

’ ’

’
to spite u s The t other n ight Patty Je ssop met m e
.

‘ ’ ’ ’
comin over the cl i ff Eh man hu r s e z Ti s pl o tti n
’
.
, , ,

’
an w r e c ki n now right fast an furious ! An i f folks
’ ’

,
’

’
ul l strive to put an end to what pl a ze s most on u s ,

’ ’
they be sure an certain to meet w i destruction I f .

’
masters be doomed ti s a pity youn g l ikel y l ads do ,

’ ’
cast in they lots w i u n ! Them be her very words ,

M i ssy an I cannot get em from me !

,
’ ’

“ ”
But you don t bel ieve al l o l d P att y says ? ’
sai d
Una . She i s hal f crazed .

“
A y M i ssy s o u s saith
,
But I know h er be s o
,
.

’
sharp an needl e l ike that her seeth doubl e as far as ,

us do An her be s p y i n an d i s c o v
.
’
e r in al l that goes ’ ’ ’

on I knoweth her be acquainted w i o u r Tmnn ph

.
’

”
an he r do have sen se in all her saith
’
.

An d do you th ink they woul d be s o cruel an d

wicked as to tamper w ith J im s boat ? O h T o m I ’

, ,

”
cannot bel ieve it l
“ ’
When the dr i nk g etteth i n s i de o f em they w i l l ,

”
do most an y th i n responded T om gl oom i ly 3
.
21 4 A DAUGHTER O F T HE S EA

I w il l go straight to ol d Martin an d con front him

“
with it sai d Una excitedly
, H e i s a frai d o f me .

”
when I talk to him .

“
N ay M issy that be the worst ye coul d do Us
, , .

’ ’
have n o proo fs Twoul d enrage em more an do no
.
,
’

”
good .

“
B ut Tom surely i f the boat was made u n s ea
, ,

worthy th ey woul d never have got to Plymouth We

, .

know they arrived there sa fely for they were seen ,

an d spoken to before they started back .

“
A y truly ! B ut there be ways 0 de s tr o y i n sl owl y
’ ’
,

that be known to som e evil doers An maybe the .

’

F ly i n g G u ll were a better boat than they took her for .

’
Wel l arter al l sai d an done ti s i n the Almighty s
,
’

,
’

hands an u s S hal l fin d out the reason o f u n some day

,
’ ’
.

Una retraced her steps homeward s that day w ith

p a in ful thoughts but s h e thought o f Kathie s t ext
,
’

above her rel ic an d took fresh com fort an d courage

,

from it .

The spr i ng p assed an d i t was a lovely day in June

,

when M arj ori e was marri ed It was a quiet wedding .

,

an d both Una an d her father were present at it The .

’
n ight be fore her bri dal day M arj ori e cam e into Una s
‘ I

room .

“
I want a g ood tal k with you s h e sa i d f or we , ,

are going to Pari s for our honeymoon an d I may not

s e e you for a l ong long wh il e Oh Una do you think
,
.
, ,

I shal l be a s happy as I expect to be P ”

“ ”
I hope y o u wil l be sai d Una soberly I know
,
.

”
K athi e has been .
 A DARK TIM E 21 5

O h do not quote your fisher mai d to me !

,

’
Marj orie s tone was pettish She was sittin g at .

Una s feet with her rippl ing gol den hai r fal l ing in
’

thick tresses over her S houl ders S he continued .

“
When I first knew you Una you were a simpl e , ,

i gnorant chil d I w a s years ol der in age an d

.

experience Y ou r marri ed l i fe had not developed

.

your character in the l east I always fel t that you .

and Cuthbert were a per fect eni g ma to me an d I ,

u sed to feel cross— you mus t forgi ve me— that you

appreciated my brother s o littl e I used to fear that .

w hen once th e marriage knot was tied wedded l i fe ,

becam e prosaic You seemed to have s o l ittl e in

.

common But when I heard your vi ews on l ove I

.
,

understood for your heart had never been wakened

,

to love s touch A h bel ieve m e Una ti s a touch

’ ’
.
, , ,

y o u cannot m istake an d I desire y o u S houl d e x p e r i

,

ence it Poor Cuthbert woul d not have you always

.

remain singl e an d forlorn I want you to come out .

into the worl d an d give yoursel f a chance o f meeting

the one in l i fe who wil l make you happy Duncan .

admi res you much ; h e says it i s a sin ful shame to

shut yoursel f up for l i fe in the Towers You h ave .

money ; you are independent Go up to London an d .

s e e the city s fash ions and ways Shut up you r gloomy

’
.

h ouse for a time You seem to be getting o l d so fast

. .

Not in looks my dear chil d for you seem to grow

, ,

in grace and beauty ; but th i s sorrow i s not one that

wi l l l ast vo u for l i fe Cuthbert an d you were u h .

fortunately yoked together You may be staunch and .

loyal to hi s memory and yet 3!

21 6 A DA UG HTER O F TH E S EA

Una had been unabl e to stay her flowin g tongue .

Now S he sprang up from her seat an d w ith burnin g ,

cheeks an d glowing eyes confronted her .

N o t a word more M arj orie ! I woul d not be angr y

,

w ith you on your wedding eve ; but you have been

stabbing an d cutting at my heart —strin g s till I can
stand it no longer I may have been a chil d when you
.

first cam e to us ; I am not a chil d now I may n o t .

have known my o w n heart but I l earnt to know it ,

before thi s sorrow came upon m e You s a y wel l that .

I di d not appreciate your brother I t tortures me to .

hear i t but it was a fact I w a s to o young too u n

, .
,

formed when I marrie d to real i ze hi s worth You .

can rate me for the past ; I acknowl edge w ith shame

that y o u have goo d reason to do s o ; but you shal l not
’
a ddress me now a s i f my hu sban d s heart were n o t
m i ne Your l ove towards D uncan may be strong ; I
.

s a y that m i ne i s stronger My absent hu sban d i s ever

.

present in my thoughts I w ill not tak e h i s death for

.

g ranted Do y ou think that s eparation break s the tie

.

between u s ? D eath cannot touch true l ove He i s .

nearer an d dearer to me every d ay that I l ive Absence .

makes no di ff erence My heart may ach e with l onging

.

to hear h i s vo i ce to feel h i s touch to meet h i s stead

, ,

fast gaze but my soul i s wed to hi s throughout

,

eternity an d it i s sacri lege to tal k to me o f others

,

”
fill ing hi s pl ace .

Marj orie gazed at her young si ster i n l aw i n amaze - -

m ent .

“
You are the most wonder ful and contrary o f human
”
creatures s h e sai d breathl essly
,
.
 A DARK TI M E 21 7

My husband an d I continued Una w i th heavin g

, ,

“
breast parted a s lovers We shal l meet a s lovers
, .

when we are brought together once more And i f .

we do not meet thi s s i de o f the grave h i s memor y ,

w il l be the sweetest thing in l i fe I t wil l c a r r vme .

through al l sorrows and di fficul ties ; i t w il l su stain

me in the bitterest moments o f pain o r a ffliction ; an d
i t w il l sati s fy that part o f my soul that c raves for

human l ove !
“ ”
Thi s i s a soul s awakening in truth ! exclaimed
’

“
M arj ori e Yo u were over col d be fore my c hil d ; y o u
.
-
,

"
are over warm at present I protest !
-
,

Una shook her head Sh e had a s sh e fel t del ivered

.
, ,

her soul and now sank back in her seat in S il ence

, .

M arj orie looked her up and down a s sh e mi g ht som e

rare curiosity ; then s h e sai d
“
W e wil l not talk about my poor brother any m o re .

I — I want to make a con fession to y o u Una ; an d I ,

”
feel i f I do not d o it to n i ght I never sh a l l
-
, .

“ ”
What i s it P
’
Una s tone lacked interest .

“
I have been curious about thi s unknown l i feboat
for a l ong whil e I coul d not bel ieve with the fishers
.

that it was o f the devil s contrivance Your long u n

’
.

explained absence puzzled me ; your anxiety to b e

out on a stormy night ; your apparent ind i fference to
what was causing such an excitement around u s— al l
thi s made me ponder An d then I looked back t o
.

’
my visit to th e Witches Hol e and I am convinced ,

that we were frightened away from there f o r som e

21 8 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

purpose I am good at piecing a puzzl e to g ether as

.
,

I tol d you l ong ago Those Tanners and y o u know

.

”
the secret do you not ? Now can you deny it P
, ,

’
Una s colou r pal ed an d flushed alternately Sh e sai d .

nothing .

M arj or i e c o ntin ued

“
Captain B erry s l ittl e b oy enl ightened me whe n
'

’
he tol d u s your eyes were l ike the sail or s who hel d
h im in the l i feboat I questioned h im cl osely after
.

wards an d— you must forgive me for it i s a woman s

’

, ,

privil ege to be curious — I w ent an d exam ined your ,

oil skins I foun d them soaking with salt spray an d

.
,

in o n e pocket was a l ittl e bl ue silk h andkerchie f .

Th e boy cl aimed i t a s h i s ; he dropp ed it in the boat .

h e sai d .

There was another pause Una s at shading her

.

eyes with her hand N ot a w ord d i d S h e s ay

. .

“
I know y o u are vexed my dear You think I have
, .

behaved dishonourabl y ; but you might h ave c o n

fi d e d i n me It angered me to s e e you fol lowing
.

your own plans and purposes w ith such in dependence

an d s ecrecy ; an d I was s o angry that I di d a thing
that h a s made me sorry ever s ince I w a s chattering .

to o n e o f the ol d men o n the beach and I tol d h im ,

what I thought .

“
What di d you tell h im ?
’
Un a s eyes were raised now an d th e i r steady pene ,

tr a ti n g gaze disconcerted M arj orie .

I tol d y o u I w a s going to make a c o n fess io n s o ,

you mu st be g entl e with me I di d not say mu c h .

,
 A DARK TI M E 21 9

for I was frightened to s e e how h e took it up It .

was that man you cal l Martin H e was dilating o n .

th e mystery an d I sai d I think M r s Gregson can

,
“
, .

enl ighten you Why do you not ask h er P H e turned

.
’

upon me fi e r c e l y
‘
Then by — well I cannot repeat hi s ex ,

‘
pression them cursed Tanners be in it too ! U s
have had o u r doubts but u s will stop thei r games
,

be fore long i f us swing for it ! He quite frightened

,
’

”
m e an d I have felt unhappy ever since
, .

“ ”
When was thi s ? asked Una trying to speak ,

cal ml y .

“
Oh i t w as about a week be f ore Cuthbert l eft u s
, .

“
Then cried Una fiercely you are the cause o f
, ,

al l our troubl e There has been foul play ; an d Tom

.

i s right an d Patty too

, , .

“
Oh Una forgive me ! I di d not mean any harm
, , .

What do you mean by foul pl ay ? The F ly i n g G u ll

”
was wrecked .

“
It was tampered w i th before it l eft us Oh .
,

M arj orie why were you not O pen w ith me ? Why

'

di d you not tell your suspicions instead o f taking

”
them to the fishers P
“
Why di d y o u not confide in me ? Now tel l me
al l about it I am going away from these parts I
. .

shal l be a vi sitor at the Towers no longer I f you .

had taken me into your confidence I shoul d not have ,

betrayed you I can keep a secret

. .

“ “
No sai d Una resol utely ; I wil l tel l you nothing
, .

Y our conj ectures have worked u s enough harm

 '

A D AU G HT E R O F TH E S E A
'

220

already I l ittl e thought you coul d do u s such a m i s

.

chief You mu st think what you l ike ; I shal l not en

.

l ighten you O nly i f y ou have sti rred up the pass ion s

.

an d rage o f our Pe r r a n c ov e fishers there i s worse ,

”
to com e .

M ar j or i e d issolved into tears .

“
Yo u are cruel to me on my bri dal eve You have .

no heart n o feel ing I need n o t have tol d you any

, .

’
thing O h Una for Cuthbert s sake do not be s o
.
, ,

”
angry with me !
B ut Una pa c ed the room an d h er pas sionate ,

thoughts were hard to control S he coul d forgive .

Marj ori e her curiosity but n o t her c o n fi de n c e s to the ,

fishers Sh e real i zed now thei r desire to wreak their

.

vengeance o n Jim an d her husban d .

“
Leave me s h e sai d w ith flashin g eyes ; I am
,

”
angry w ith y o u an d I have a right to b e s o ,
.

M arj ori e crept away frightened at the tempest o f ,

wrath S he had awakened i n her sunny — tempere d l ittl e

s i ster i n —l aw B ut hal f an hour l ater Una came to her
-
.

with tears in h er eyes .

“
I forgive y o u M arj or i e I must for I am trying
,
.

to be good God has forgiven me for worse s ins than

.

yours B ut o h you l ittl e know the mischie f you have

.
,

done ! An d I have h e a vy forebodings o f evil still to

come .
 CHAPTER XVI I I .

A PLOT

They r e ek no l a w s th a t
, m e dit a t e re ven g e —T . . Ky d .

Marj orie s wedding was over Una went back to

’
.

the Towers feel ing very lonely Her father was no .

companion to her ; and now he began ri ding to the

nearest town an d sometimes staying away for days at
,

a time .

Then suddenl y a terrific gal e swept the coast ; the

fishing boats came into the harbour hurriedly ; and
the fi shers l ounging about the whar f and drinking
,

heavily h el d consultation together with sinister l ooks

,

and word s .

Una and Kathie sped o ff to Eagl e s Head one a fter ’

noon They foun d El i an d Tom l ooking to the gear

.

o f the Tr i u mp h but To m s face was grave and anxious

’
.
,

“
I f th is be wanted u s ll be an oar short h e sa i d ,
’

s a dl v
.

Kathi e gave a l ittl e sh iver .

“
A n I coul d pull w i d oubl e the wil l when I saw
’ ’

my Jim s broad shoul ders in front o f me I m i n d

’
. .

th e l ook s 0 h i s back curl s and th e tan brown 0 h i s

’ ’

dear neck that I d id at times bend f o r r d an touch

,
’ ’

”
so ft w i my l ips as I pull ed
’
.
222 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S E A

El i looked up an d a fi re s eemed to k in dl e i n h i s
,

honest eyes .

“
I f s o be l ad that u s were four oars short o u t th e
, , ,

Tr i u mp h shoul d go an tw o strong ol d arms w i th e

’ ’

help o f God shoul d take her .

“
A y g r a n f e y th e r u s wil l do o u r do o ty sh o r t
’
, , ,

though u s be .

“
O f course we w i ll put i n Un a h eart i ly ; but ,

w e w il l hope that the Tr i u mp h w il l not be wanted .

’ ”
I t i sn t ever y storm that wrecks vessel s passing by .

El i shook hi s h ead .

’
Ti s these cruel roc k s an the strong cu rrent that ,
’
,

’ ’ ’ ’
dr ives em on to em Ti s a miracl e any cra ft keepin
.

”
cl ose to the coast escapes .

They were talking o n wh en su ddenly a shril l voice ,

close to them startl ed them .

“
Ay masters l ook ye wel l to your treasure !
, ,

There b e many l ea gued now on the si de agen s h e ,

an i f s o be ye c an master th e waves ye w il l na be
’

” ’
masters 0 they .

I t w a s Patty stan d i n g o n the sh ingl e an d peering

i nto th e cave w ith her l ittl e S harp cunning eyes Fo r ,
.

a moment the owners o f the Tr iu mp h l ooked at each

o ther i n consternation .

Who coul d s il ence P a tty P

Then Tom strode forward l a i d h i s h an d gentl y but ,

fi rml y o n her arm an d drew her in .

Una an d Kath i e i nstinctivel y sh rank o u t o f s i ght

but Patty l au g h ed shril ly a s s h e h el d up h er skinny
fingers .
 A PLOT 223

Ay ,M i ssy ye be reckoned o n my r ig ht h an
,

’
along w i the l ad s w i dder ; twas j ust five o n ye an
’ ’

,
’

’
th e thumb be taken an now the fingers be goin to ,
’

be crippl ed ; an the han which g r ipp e th the Tr i u mp h

’ ’

’
wull be hangin helpl ess an the ocean w il l laugh an ,
’

sing

Oh , h o ! I w i l l d a s h a n d rive !
’

N o u s e f o r th e c ra f t to s t r ive !
Fo r h a r d w o r ki n fi s h e r s y o u n g a n o l d
’ ’
, ,

B e w a iti n g f o r b o d i e s c a r g o a n g o l d
’ ’
.
, ,

A n e vi l w i l l c o me o n t h e m t h a t tr y
’

T o sav e th e s o u l s a pp i n te d to d i e !
’

”
Hist ! sai d T o m sternl y putting hi s han d ,

“
over her mouth You wil l not make u s a fe e r e d
.
,

Patty ; an i f s o be that ye h indereth our pl ans or

’

bringeth evil on u s by yer tongue ye l l rue th e day ,

’

ye d i d it for M is sy be yer o nly friend an ye know it ,

’

too wel l .

Patty di d know i t Many a time had Una rescued .

her from teasing mi sch ievous boys ; many a meal

,

had s h e given to the poor homel ess creature ; and th e

ol d woman h ad s ense enough to real ise th e truth o f
Tom s words
’
.

She changed her tone an d began to wh i ne .

“
A y M i ssy dear the o l d w i tch w oul d n t harm ye
’
.
, ,

H e r be but a hal f crazed cr i ttur but her do be -

,

’
terribl e fond o f r i gh te n i n folks an h er do know a ’

,
’

”
w o n n e r f u l l ot 0 what be goin on
’ ’
.

U na came forward .

“
Well Patty y ou must be g ood to u s and keep
, , ,

o ur secret .
 TH E
'

224 A DAUGHTER O F S EA

Ay , sai d the o l d woman chuckl ing an d

ay , ,

n oddin g her head “

S ilence be my mi stres s— her
.

al lays h a s bin .
“

“
How di d ye come here P asked Tom
”
.

B ut Patty woul d make no reply ; not a word

more woul d s h e utter Coaxing threatening— al l
.
,

proved usel es s ; s h e shook her head with h er finger

on her l ips Una suggested that s h e must have
.

scrambl ed down the cl i ff for there was no S ign o f a ,

boat outside an d in such a storm s h e coul d not have

,

rowed hersel f over .

Th ey were pu zzled to know what to d o with her

f o r they were anxiou s to guard their way o f exit ;
Una an d Kath i e were obl iged to return home ; it
w a s becoming late At l ast Tom sol ved the di fficulty
.

by taking her into a dark corner at the furthest end

o f the cave an d there keeping watch over her til l
,

Una an d Kathie ha d cl imbed up th e r o pe l adder and

were sa fe on the cl i ffs overh ead .

El i an d Tom inten ded to remain i n the c ave al l

night They woul d s ignal to Kath ie as usual i f they
.

needed h er help ; an d s h e i n her turn woul d s ignal to

Una .

“ ”
I wonder what they will do w ith P atty ? sai d
Una as the girl s sped sw i ftly al ong the cl i ffs together
, .

“
I al ways fel t sh e knew about u s— an d what d read ful
things s h e says ! I wonder i f s h e real ly can forsee
events ? She i s al ways prophesyin g evil and S ome ,

”
times i t comes true .

K ath i e was si len t Her thou g hts we n t ba c k to her

.
 A PL OT 22 5

wedd ing day and again to th e time when the F ly i n g

,
.

G u l l started for Plymouth Patty s words had not ’

.

been favourabl e either time S he shivered as s h e .

thought o f them ; an d then bravel y S he tried to put

them from her .

“
Fe y th e r will manage somehow M i ssy ! I hope ,

’ ’
he an gr a n f e y th e r wil l go home to their tea for the y ,

’ ”
have nothin down there .

“
I heard them say that they woul d do that Now we .

part company Good n ight Kathie but perhaps we

.
, ,

shal l meet again .

As they parted a dark shadow th at had been ,

haunting their step s crept asi de to some bushes an d

d i sappeared .

The l a st two sentences woul d have remained

unuttered had the gi rl s known a l i stener w a s greedily
takin g them in an d storing them up for future u se .

’
It was about eight o cl ock that evening when Una
s a w the si gnal light from Kathie s cottage
’
Sh e had .

come up to her room some time previou sly but her ,

father was stil l l ingering over h i s wine in the din ing

room It di d not take her l ong to get ready but s h e
.
,

was delayed on th e doorstep by B al dwin .

“
There be terribl e troubl e in th e vil lage mistress , ,

“ ’
the ol d man sai d M rs Jonas P e n ga ff came up an
.

’ ’
be c ar r y i n on s h o c ki n w i the mai ds Her man an ’ ’
.

two others be stil l out to sea Her be nearl y daft w i .

’

fear
“
I wil l s e e her Un a sai d impul si vely throwin g o ff
, ,

her oil skins Tel l her to come to me here

. .

1 5
226 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

She knew that troubl e al ways d rew the fishers to

the Towers They had an i dea that i f any help was
.
!

to be had that was the only pl ace from whence it

,

c oul d be obtained .

B al dwin went in sear c h o f the poor woman but ,

came back w ith the new s that s h e had l eft He helped .

h i s young mistress into her oil sk in coat i n sil ence ,

then as s h e was dashing o u t stopped h er

, ,
.

“ ’ ’
Pardon me m istress for s p e aki n ,
B e ye goin ,
.

”
d own to the beach ? Ti s too rough for ye l
’

“
B al dwin y o u know I al ways go o u t i f there i s a
,

storm .

’
Una s tone was impat i ent S he fel t s h e had been .

a l ready delaye d unnecessaril y Every moment was .

p recious B ut B al dwin
. stepped in front o f h er .

“
Pardon me he repeated i n a quavering voice ;
,

‘
but a body have hinted twas best for your sa fety ye
”
d i d not venture o ut to n ight -
.

What d o y ou m e a n P Who h inted su c h a

”
thing ?
Una spoke sharpl y B al dwin l ooke d m y te r i o us . .

A y mi stress there be ways an talks in P e r r a n c o v

“ ’

, ,
e
’
now a days which a never used to be ! An the
- -

’
drink an that there scrimmage u s had a smal l time
,

’
b ac k e r d s have much to an swer for Wil l y e take an .

o l d man s coun sel an keep indoors to — night ?

’ ’

Una tossed h er h ead in dignantl y .

“
I am not l ikel y to be kept in by fear Bal dwin or , ,

by sill y i dl e tal es you get from gos siping w ith th e

vill agers Who woul d dare to l ay the i r fi ngers on
.

me I S houl d l ike to know

,
P ”
 A PLOT 22 7

She stepped out haughtily and B al dwin l ooked ,

a fter her with sore mi sgivings H e cl osed the heavy .

o a k door and sank on a wooden chair in the square

hal l covering h i s face with hi s hands

,
.

“
Her be such a s p e r r ite d young c reature Not al l .

th e troubl e her h ave passed through have taken that

’
from her An there be none l eft to guard an gui de
.
’

her steps I be but a u sel ess bit 0 l umber her

.
’

f e y th e r be d r i n ki n h imsel f sil ly an the lads they be

’
,

’
o ff down th e beach w i al l the others Now may God .

Almighty p r ote c h er for there be nought el se to

’

”
look to I
M rs Craven found h im there some minutes a fter
. .

Her good — tempered homely face looked anxious and

,

i l l at ease .

“
B e the young mistress gone ou t B al dw i n P ,

“
Ay groaned the ol d man ; her be an nought ’

, ,

that I coul d s a y woul d prevent her

“ ”
Sh e be s o determined M rs Craven sai d dej ectedly ;
, .

’
that I fel t twoul d be o f l ittl e u s to stay her I be .

very anxiou s about these tal es Sal T r e p an n have

.

tol d me in an awed whisper that s h e h e e r d tel l that

M i stress Marj ori e h ersel f had te ll e d ol d M artin as our
young mi stress knoweth al l about that strange rescue
boat A n M artin an Nat an d hal f a dozen others
.
’

,
’
,

have s w o r n e d that th e bewitched boat shal l not go

out agen The master d i d en rage em terribl e when
.
’

that smart Captain B erry were here An Sal l y di d .

’

say sh e h e e r d s o me th i n to our y o u n g mi stres s s di s

’ ’

’ ’
a dvantage Twas as i f they were goin to do some
.

’ ”
t h in to her hurt !
22 8 A DAUGHTER OF TH E S EA

Bal dwin tottere d to h i s feet .

“
I wil l into my coat an track her step s I f evil d i d
’
.

befall her I S houl d never forgive mysel f Ti s true .

’

u s have h er strictest orders ne er to fol low her but

’

’
her be i n danger to n ight an that wil l pardon my
-
,

”
i nter ference .

“
A y ! woul d that I coul d c o m e w i ye
’
Haste ye .
,

’
man an i f s o be as h er be not on th e beach why
, , ,

’ ’
step up an across th e cl i ffs for her be fon d o wan
, ,

’ ”
derin in that d irection .

“
I f my l egs be c a r r y i n me s o far B ut I m i s
’
.

”
doubt it .

When Bal dwin staggered out into th e w il d storm ,

the violence o f th e win d nearl y carried him o ff hi s

feet He made but sl ow progress ; an d when he came
.

to the steep incl ine down to the beach he paused to ,

consi der .

“
I f s o be I go down I shal l n o t have the strength
,

to c o m e up a g en on such a n ight a s thi s I had best .

go al ong the cl i ffs The w in d be terribl e h igh there

.

but her may be o v e r l o o ki n th e coast an I can but’

,
’

”
venture .

The night was n ot a very dark o n e for the wi nd ,

w a s hurl ing the bl ack cl ou ds al ong with such rapi dity

th at every few minutes the s il ver moon woul d show
her placi d face She seemed the onl y th ing in n ature
.

that kept her serenity an d smil ed cal ml y down o n

,

the roarin g waves and sh rieking w i n d as they ravaged

al l that l ay i n thei r path .

B al dwin stumbled bl i n d ly o n ; h i s faith ful ol d

 A PLOT 2 29

heart was w ith hi s youn g mistress and he determined , ,

i f poss ibl e to fin d her

,
.

O nce he fancied he s aw a figure moving i n the

d i stance H e cal l ed but there was no -a nswer He
.
,
.

was at last compell ed to stop B reathless and .

exhausted h i s feet re fu sed to carry him further an d

, ,

h e w a s about to retrace hi s steps when he d istinctl y

heard a mu ffled cal l for help I t incited h im to fresh .

e ff ort ; he pul led h im sel f together an d made hi s ,

way to som e furz e bushes from whence he fancied i t,

c ame .

And there a moment a fter l ying face downward s

, ,

w i th a th i ck c l o th tied aroun d her throat an d mouth ,

an d arms pinione d across her breast was h i s young ,

mi stress !
Bal dwi n shook with fright when h e d iscovered
her.

Who had dare d to o ffer th is insult to the lady o f

the Towers ? W hat fiend had planned an d carried
into execution s uc h an audacious outrage ?
With trembl ing fingers he rel eased her and was ,

rel ieved beyond measure when s h e s at up and

spoke .

“
Bal dwin i s it yo u ? O h thank God ! H o w I
, ,

have prayed that some o n e shoul d c ome to my ai d !

Hel p me up Why poor o l d man you a re q u i te
.
, ,

”
worn o ut!
He was indeed ; and hal f an hour l ater M rs
, .

Craven opened the door to a strange sight Her .

y oun g mi stress wi th dishevel l ed hai r an d s c ratche d

,
23 0 A D A UG HTER O F THE S EA

and bl ee d i ng face almost supporting in her arm s her

,

faith ful ol d servant who seemed to be i n the worse

‘

pl ight o f the two .

“
G et h i m to bed M r s Craven an d give h im some
.
,
.
,

thing h ot to d rink Are there any men in the house ? .

I must go o u t again and I need their help There ,

.

h as been wicked work thi s evening an d there i s not ,

”
a moment to lose .

At th i s M rs Craven began to s ob al ou d
. .

“
O h m istres s dear you must not ; nay I cannot
, , ,

l et y o u go ! Oh i f only th e master were here ! I f

,

only th ere were a man who knew how to act ! Come

to bed you rsel f m istress dear I f there be evil
,
.

”
going o n are ye the o n e to be i n the mi dst o f i t ?
,

B al dw i n struggl ed to recover himsel f .

“
Her be wel l nigh murdered when I found her h e
-
,

sai d w ith a wail ing cry .

Mr s Craven wrung h er hands together in anguish

.

o f sp i r i t S he an d B al dw i n l ooked s uch frail

.

o ld creatures that U na so fte n ed h er vo i ce i n

pity .

“
Never m i n d m e ; I am quite sa fe ; i t i s oth ers
whose l ives are in danger I am going to my room f o r .

a few minutes Fin d o u t who i s i n the house an d

.
,

sen d them to me M r s Craven Take com fort ; I shal l . .

do noth ing rash .

S he stepped up th e stairs with s u ch d etermination

in look an d tone that M r s Craven knew further .

resistance was usel ess She gathered together th e .

gr o om stabl e b o y an d un d er g ardener a n d then w ent

,
-
,
-
,
 A PLOT 23 1

’
up to Una s room She foun d her bathing her face
.

i n warm water an d tying a handkerchie f round an

,

u gl y c u t in her forehead .

“
Have you got any one P ”
s h e sai d q uickly That .

i s right Give me that wooll en hood o f mine ; thank

.

you I wil l tel l you about i t by and b y but there s

.
,
’

not much to tel l I was s e t upon by some o n e as I

.

crossed the cl i ff s ; he was not a highwayman though ,

h e posed as such an d work a mask ; but he smel t o f

’
fish . Don t l ook s o frightened ! I am quite sa fe
’
now but I am going to Eagl e s Head
. Has my .

father gone to bed ? Do not di sturb h im I hope .

”
w e shal l not be away lon g .

Poor M r s Craven w a s beyon d speech Una gave

. .

her a l ittl e reassuring n od then ran down the stairs ,

an d met the th ree men on the doorstep D ick .

R obson th e un der —gardener was a sturdy Co rn i sh

, ,

man with broad shoul ders and much l ength o f l imb

, .

He was proud to serve h i s young mi stress an d ,

brandished h i s cudgel as i f h e were l onging to test

its strength John Snell ing the groom though smal l
.
, ,

in stature was by nature well fitted for a contest

,
.

The muscl es o f hi s arms stood out l ike wh ipcord ;

h e was a renowned boxer an d had nearl y l ost hi s ,

pl ace by continual boxing fights in the stabl e yard .

An d l astl y Ned Craven a neph ew o f the goo d o ld

, ,

h ousekeeper was a daring mi sch ievous spirit wh o

, , ,

del ighted in anything an d everyth ing except hi s

work .

Un a l ooked at them w ith sati s facti on .

23 2 A D A UGHTER O F THE S EA

I hope we shal l n o t want blows s h e sai d I ,

.

fear we shal l be too l ate to prevent what I dread .

Now step qu i c kl y an d quietly a fter me an d ask no ,

”
question s only do as y o u are tol d
, .

’
Sh e l ed them acros s the cl i ffs toward s th e Tanner s
cottage— i t was o n the edge o f a sharp cutting in
th e cl i ff The door was open but there was darkness
.
,

within Una had a lantern wh ich s h e had not l ighted

.
,

but which now with the appl ication o f a mat ch

showed th e interio r o f a smal l k itchen Not a thing .

w a s d isturbed o r o u t o f pl ace A meal was l ai d o n a .

roun d deal tabl e but Una notice d that the food was
,

onl y hal f eaten an d a wooll en com forter that El i

-
,

al ways wore was on the tabl e by hi s c u p an d pl ate .

“
The y were interrupted s h e sai d hal f alou d Then ,
-
.

turn ing to N ed sh e ad ded ,

“
N ow Ned stay here W e shal l not be far o ff and
, , .
,

i f you want o u r help u se thi s wh i stle D o not l et any

o n e enter the cottage until we return .

Sh e gave th e boy a whi stl e which s h e d etached

from a chai n s h e al ways wore then s igned to th e ,

two oth er men to follow her .

N ed looked a fter the i r retreating figures with great

d i scontent .

’
T i s plai n I be not meant to j oin in the fray to
”
ni ght he grumbl ed
, .

Then takin g a chair h e drew it up to th e smoul der ,

i ng wood fire an d w i th the bel l ows c o mmenced to

,

expend hi s energy i n v ig orou s blowing W h en .

the fl ames were danc i n g up merrily h e turne d h i s

 A PLO T 23 3

a ttention to the tabl e and cutting h imsel f a good

hunk o f bread an d cheese seated h imsel f again i n hi s
,

ch ai r
.

“
I were brought o ut w i o ut my supper s o w ill take
’

”
it here h e reflected
,

A hearty meal an d the warm fire combined soon

h a d the e ffect o f making h im drowsy . In a l ittl e
whil e he S lept heavily .
 CHAPTER X IX .

DA R K DEED S

M an s i n h um an ity to m an
’

M a k e s c o un t l e s s th o u s an d s m o u rn .

B ur n s .

Una l ed her two men down the steps that l ed to

the Tann er s l an ding —
’
pl ace Hal f —way down s h e
.

stopped D ick looked up question ingly

. .

“
What be u s to fin d here P ”
he sai d .

”
I hop e you wil l fin d nothing s h e sai d w ith a , ,

— “
quick drawn breath ; but I know an hour o r two
ago y o u woul d have foun d some one S earch wel l ; .

i f Ne d whi stl es to y o u g o to hi s aid I shal l be back

, .

”
S hortly .

It was only a hun dre d yard s away to the gorse

bushes that covered the secret descent to the Witches ’

Hol e Una pause d for one moment at the to p an d

.
,

l i stened Not a soun d w a s to be h eard S wi ftly an d

. .

qui etl y S h e descen ded an d paused when s h e reached

,

the bottom be fore S h e dared l ight her l antern Only .

the l ashin g waves an d w in d outsi de m et her anxiou s

ear Very cautiously S he struck a match an d heaved
.
,

a s igh o f rel i ef when s h e saw the Tr i u mp h stan ding

untouched ; but the next moment she started back in
horror for stan ding as i f in guard over th e boat was
, ,

an aw ful l oo kin g c re a tur e

-
T w o eyes o f bl ue fire
.
TW O EY E S OF B L U E FI R E S T A R ED S T E A D I L Y A T H E R .
 DAR K DEED S 23 5

stared steadily at her ; sh e swung her lantern roun d

until the ful l blaze o f its l ight fel l upon the obj ect .

An d then with another long drawn breath o f rel ie f s h e -

’
saw it was one o f Tom s ingeniou s ru ses for keeping
awa y the superstitiou s fishers from the Tr i u mp h It .

was a stu ffed figure nearl y seven foot h igh w ith a

, ,

ghastly white face an d a broad painted grin ; phos

,
-

p h o r u s had been appl i ed to its eyes an d di fferent parts

o f its body . One arm was raised in threatenin g
attitude with a ru st pitch fork i n its grip ; the other
was l ai d on the Tr i u mp h s rudder As she looked sh e
’
.

felt that it woul d need a very daring spirit to enter

’
into the Witches Hol e w ith such an obj ect as that in
front o f them She ma de a hasty search through the
.

cavern . Th e Tr i u mp h was untouched but where ,

were her crew ? S he retraced her steps up the r o pe

ladder with a s inking heart .

When she had l e ft the Towers two or three hours

previously s h e had run across the cl i ffs w ithout a fear
,

in her heart Sh e had n early reached her goal when

.
,

suddenly some dark cl oak was flung over her h ead

from beh ind an d s h e was tripped u p S h e fel l
,
.

heavily against a sh arp rock an d was for th e time ,

stunned by the fal l When s h e was re c overing

.

con sciou sness she h eard voices but coul d s e e no o n e

, ,
.

“ ’
Leave her be Us doth n o t w a nt her hurt
. Ti s .

only to keep her di sabl ed .

“
Her han ds be fast tied ; us had best put her ou t
o the path i n among th e bu shes for folks might pass
’
,

’ ”’
an u s have a good hour s work a fore u s .
23 6 A DAUGHTER O F T HE S EA

’
Them S kulki n varmints ! A wi l l tackl e T o m f or ,

’
the ol d un be eas ily done for Ti s the l ast time .
’

they do keep ou r r i g h tfu spoil from us ! ’

“
A y but them do be i n the l eague w i the dev i l
’
,

himsel f the fol ks s ay

, .

“
U s wi l l s e e i f s o be that s tran g e craft do g o o ut
’ ’
to night when u s have got em in o u r hands ; an i f
-

S he be n ot seen u s w il l know they have rai sed h er by

,

”
thei r w ick ed spel l s !
“
A y an i f ti s s o us w il l burn em out o f
’ ’ ’
, ,

P e r r an c o v e
“
Com e o n man M i ssy be s afe enough
, If us
,
.

’ ’
cannot catch em at thei r hou se they ll be in Eagl e ,

”
Head Cove A ll go there mysel f !
.
’

Una was dragged along the tur f pushed amongst ,

the gorse ; an d sh e heard h er assailants move o ff ,

muttering threats o f vengeance on th e poor Tann ers

as they went S he struggl ed to rel ease h er han ds in
.

vain . Her o w n wool en scar f was tied across her

mouth an d al l s h e coul d do was to rol l hersel f
,

over an d over o n the groun d towards th e beaten

path in th e hope o f receiving h elp from some
,

passer b y -
.

It w as not l ong be fore B al dwi n foun d her and ,

she had been prompt an d quick in action yet here , ,

on the scene o f the plotted outrage there was no ,

sight o r S ign o f the Tanners or their persecutors .

Had they been murdered ? s h e won dered Had .

they been dash ed over the cl i ff —S i de ? Sh e fel t con

vi n ce d th at Tom woul d not be secured without a
 D ARK DEED S 23 7

desperate struggl e And then where was Kathie ?

.
,

Sh e reached the top o f the cl i ff an d went back to the

’
cottage at Eagl e s Head fearing to hear what her
,

me n might have foun d As s h e reached th e door

.

Ne d rushed o u t excitedly .

“ ’
Oh m istress
, , ti s bew i tched ! Th i s place be
bewitched
“
Do not be s o fool i sh Una sai d sharpl y
, H ave .

you seen or h eard anything ? ”

’
Oh there be frightful groan s al l roun d me an
, ,

’ ”
n e er a l iving soul to be seen !
Ned had onl y j ust awoke from h i s slumber an d hi s ,

sen ses were not very bright Una went in at once .

an d heard the groan s that had frightened him but ,

they seemed to come from under the floor She .

remembered there was a trap door and soon found ,

th e ring o f it Getting Ned to help her they l i fted

.
,

i t up There was a small cel lar underneath an d at

.
,

the foot o f th e short l adder descend ing was what ,

’
appeared to Un a a bundl e o f cl othes Ned s courage .

was return ing ; he volunteered to go down ; but tel l ing

h im to hol d the l antern Un a went down hersel f
,
.

It was poor ol d El i He had been served more

.

roughl y than h a d Una an d was now quite u n c o n

,

sciou s With great d i fficulty Una an d N ed carri ed

.

’
h im u p an d l ai d h i m on h i s bed Una s bl ood boil ed
.

with ind ignation as sh e saw h i s brui ses an d woun ds ,

an d real i sed the cowardly attack mad e u pon s uch a

h el p l ess ol d man .

Sh e set to work at once w ith th e de ftn ess an d skill

,
23 8 A DAU G HTER OF T HE S EA

o f a born n urse Sh e had al ways been accustomed

.

to doctor wounded an imal s an d th at experience ,

now helped her She had thoroughl y provided her

.

sel f with so ft rag an d ointment for S h e knew i f s h e ,

foun d her friend s al i ve they woul d be sorely hurt , .

She bathed an d boun d up h i s cuts and bru ises go t ,

h im to swall ow som e bran dy an d soon had th e ,

pl easure o f seeing h i m open hi s eyes an d recogni ze

h er
.

“
Ah M i ss y h e murmu red I be most done for I
, , , ,

”
fears !
“
N O indeed you are not El i
, ,
Y o u are goin g to , .

”
get quite wel l s h e sai d brightly trying to h i de th e
, ,

“
tears that sprang to h er eyes An d you have no .

”
bones broken .

“
I feel broken enti rel y .

You mustn t tal k I am goi n g to l eave N ed w i th

’
.

you til l I fetch Kathi e .

“
Where be Tom P th e ol d man groaned
”
They .

’
set on u s M i ssy outsid e th e door here
, ,
Twas inky .

—
black ; I I l ost Tom I remembereth no more ! .
”

“ ’
We are going to fin d Tom Don t tal k but try .
,

”
to sl eep .

Una tol d Ned to watch by him an d moved towards ,

the door ; but as she di d s o i t opened an d D ick an d ,

John came in carrying a sad burden .

”
He be dead m i stres s sai d Di ck with a l u g u
, , ,

“ ’ ’
b r i o u s shake o f hi s h ead He mu st a bin flung .

down th e face 0 th e cl i ff for u s foun d i m at the

’ ’
,

—
bottom Nobody co ul d a l i ve a fter that n o ways !
.
”
-
 D ARK DEED S 23 9

’
Un a s co u ra g e nearly fail ed her S he had to mak e .

a supre me e ff ort to prevent the feminine weakness o f

tears from overcoming h er .

B ut s h e conquered it an d desired her men to l ay ,

p oor Tom on hi s l ittl e wooden bed She bent over .

him and though hi s h eart seemed to have stopped

,

beating s h e d i d not fan c y that h i s fa c e bore the

,

impress o f death upon it .

“ ”
D ick s h e sai d promptly run for th e doctor
, ,

run f o r you r l i fe an d perhaps we shal l save h im

,

yet !
Dick di sappeared an d Una tried h er utmost to
,

restore l i fe to th e i nanimate form She s a w at a .

glance that o n e o f h i s legs was broken an d that h i s ,

head had received severe inj ury S he bathed that .

as wel l as s h e coul d put hot bottles to h is col d feet

, ,

an d got a l ittl e drop o f brandy down h i s throat .

Then she s a t an d waited It s eemed hours before .

the doctor arr i ved but he c ame at last

,
.

’
He asked n o questions to Una s great rel ie f but , ,

set to work at once an d at l ast a l ow moan rewarded

,

h is e ff orts .

’
I shal l bring h im roun d but h e l l want goo d ,

”
nurs i ng Is there n o woman bel ong i ng to h i m ?
.

“ ” “
I wil l go an d fetch her sa id Una i f y o u can , ,

”
do w i thout me .

The doctor n odded He was a bri sk l ittl e man o f .

'

mi ddl e age an d l ived about four mil es away He

,
.

was not very co gn i zant o f al l th at went on at Perran ‘

cove f o r h e had a large practice over a ver y s c at

,

te r e d popul ation an d was al ways very bu sy

, .
240 A DAUGHTER O F T H E S EA

Your place seems in a tumul t to n ight he -

,

“
remarked I fear a l argish vessel h a s been wrecked
.

”
o n those Perran Rock s .

“ ”
Ye s sai d Una qu i etly th ough her heart w a s
, ,

“
ful l o f b i ttern ess ; I am a frai d l iv es have su ff ere d
to night Wil l you l ook at the o l d man to o an d do
-
.
,

”
what you can for h i m P
“
Another— h a s i t been a bit o f a spree or a fi gh t , ,

o r what P ”

Una c o ul d not repl y S he l e ft the h ou se w ith a

.

choking s ob The n ight ai r fanne d her heated

.

templ es an d s h e l i fte d her face to th e s ky above

, .

“ ” “
O G o d she cried have mercy o n th em and save
, , ,

them from such a cruel death ? An d l et m e find

Kathi e al ive an d w el l O h watch over an d keep
.
,

”
us !
Th e storm was abat i ng sl ightly A faint streak o f .

l ight o n the horizon show ed that the n ight w a s over

an d that d awn was al ready breaking As Una went .

down th e vil lage street there were l ights an d voices

i n more than on e hou se an d men were still hovering
,

about th e beach B efore s h e turned the corner to

.

Kathi e s cottage sh e came face to face w ith a l ittl e

’

group Two women crying piti ful ly walked by the

.

S i de o f a hurdl e It was th e drowned body o f Jonas

.

P e n ga ff H i s mother an d w i fe had been on th e

.

’
beach wh en th e body was wash ed ashore Even Una s .

present troubl e coul d n o t deaden h er to the grie f o f

oth ers .

She stopped an d add ressed th e w i fe

 D ARK D EED S 24 1

Oh M ary i s there no hope ! Yo u poor dear

, ,

creature ! I was o u t when yo u came up Oh I am .

,

”
sorry for you !
O ne o f the l ads be a r ing the s a d b ur d en l ooked up .

“
A y M issy it have bin a terribl e night
, , Jonas .

b ai n t the only on e There be T o m M c Cake m issi m

’ ’
.
’

’
an Jake West s corpse have j ust bi n washed up ’
.

They must a fall en in W I thi s brig that be wrecked

an boarded her for they com e in al ongsi de o t other
’
,
’ ’

’ ’
corpses an pieces 0 thei r smack be fl oa ti n cl o se t o
,
’

’ ”
t other A y it have bin a dread ful storm
.
, .

’
Una continued her way When s h e got to Kathie s .

cottage sh e s a w a l ight in th e w indow A man .

leanin g again st the wal l slouched o ff a s sh e stepped

up to th e do o r S he foun d i t locked an d knocked
.
,

loudly .

“
Are y ou there Kath ie P ”
,

It was an i ntense rel ie f when Kath i e repl i ed from

within
“
I s i t y o u M i ssy ? Thank God Any o n e besi de
,
.

v o u ? Wh isper th rough the keyhol e .

Una obeyed
“ ’
I am al one she wh i spered Why don t yo u
,
.

”
unlock the door ?
“ ’
I can t Some u h have l ocked me in an I cannot
’
.
,

”
break the l ock .

“
Cannot you get th rough th e window ?
Have tried M i ssy They re too small Tel l m e
,
.
’
.
,

”
di d th e Tr i u mp h go out P
”
N o Who l ocked you in Kath ie P ,
24 2 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

I cannot tel l I was p u tti n my things together

.
’

when I heard a sound A hand j ust opened my d o or .

an snatched at the key l ike l i gh te n i n ! A fore I co ul d

’ ’

”
get to it I foun d mysel f a pri soner !
,

Then I shal l rouse up every house i n th e v i lla g e

til l they give me the key sai d Una h er spiri t rising , ,

“
i n in di gn ant p r otest at thi s treatment I f they think .

’
they are going to have it all thei r o w n way they re ,

mi staken the cowardly brutes !

,

S he was so angry that s h e rai sed her vo i ce .

Turning back s h e was going to mak e good her

,

word s when there was a rattl e on th e stones b y h er

,

feet Stooping down she picked up th e key ; it had

.
,

evidently been flung to her by some one w ithin

hearing For an in stant she med itated pursuing a
.

moving shadow a short way o ff ; th en s h e thought

better o f it an d takin g the key sh e soon had the door
, ,

O pened an d i n another moment s h e an d Kathi e w ere

,

c ry i n g i n each o ther s arms ’

.

I t onl y needed a few words o f expl anat i on an d ,

Kathi e was hastily packing a basket w ith requisite

articl es for nurs ing bravel y ch ecking her sobs and
, ,

only too anxiou s to be up an d doing a fter her l ong

time o f en force d i dl eness .

“
I coul dn t go to bed M i ssy ; I fel t that evi l were
’

’ ’
b re w in I kn ew i f they kep m e a pri soner they
.

’
woul d serve f e y th e r worse ; an I trembl ed for y o u
crossin the cl i ffs al on e ! I ve heard wh i spers o f th i s
’ ’

They d u r s n t go to Wi tches H ol e but they ’

plot
’

.
,

have had suspicion s o f th e Tr i u mp h s c rew an were

’ ’

determ i n ed t o stop u s .
 DARK DEED S 243

They were walking up th e vil lage street n o w .

Kathie had locked the cottage door an d put the key

in her pocket S il ently they made thei r way along
.
,

but when once on top o f the cl i ffs Una spoke , .

“
They have been success ful Kathi e Even now , .

they ar e getting spoi l from the wretched vessel Isn t .

’

i t aw ful to think o f al l those soul s d rowned when we

were ready to save them ? Oh it i s inhuman ! B ut ,

some o f them have been puni shed for it We shoul d .

have saved Jonas P e n ga ff Tom M c Cab e an d Jak e

, ,

W est Al l three l eave wi dows an d famil ies They

. .

have brought i t o n their own h ead s I shal l tel l .

them s o
“
Poor poor th i ngs sa i d tender h earted Kathie
, ,
-
.

“
I feel to night Una went o n hotly
-
,
as i f I ,

woul d l ike to make a clean sweep o f the whol e

population o f Pe r r an co v e ! They are robbers and
murderers an d they h ave tried to murder to night
,
-

two innocent men — the only ones who are nobl e an d

honest and true ! I— I—want revenge Kathie an d , ,

s o wil l you w hen y o u s e e dear o l d El i and poor ,

”
poor Tom I
“
A y n o M i ssy ,
sa i d Kath ie with a q u i ck caught
,
-

“
breath . Us be not h a yth e n s What woul d our .

Master s ay P ”

“ —
I I feel wicked to — ni ght sai d Una w i th a l ittl e
, ,

“
sob. Why does God try us so ? He has taken o u r
husban d s H e has almost taken Tom an d El i What
. .

can we two l on e women do P ”

“
He h a s l eft the Li feboat sai d Kathi e so ftly
, .
 244 A D AUGHTER O F TH E S EA

Ye s , the Tr i u mp h i s safe but we shall hardly be ,

abl e to mana g e her .

“
I d i d not mean the Tr i u mp h M i ssy O ur o w n , .

L i feboat—the dear Lor d Himsel f .

Una was sil ent then S he l ai d her han d s o ftly on

Kath i e s arm
’
i
.

“
Thank y o u fo r remin din g me Y es we have H im .
, ,

or rather He h as u s We cannot be wrecked Kathie

, .
, ,

nor more can any o f o u r dear ones Oh ! do l et .

u s pray that th ey may be al l given back to u s .

W hen th e y re ached Eagl e s Head they foun d that ’

the doctor had fini shed hi s w ork Tom s broken le g .

’

was s e t h i s head ban da g ed an d he was lying

, ,

com fortabl y i n h i s bed Th e doctor c ame forward

.

gravel y as Una entered .

“
He i s not out o f dan g er for I fear i t i s concuss i on
,

o f th e bra i n ; but I hope h e w il l pul l through It i s .

a m i racl e h e h as survived Who are the perpetrators.

o f such an o utrage ? It ough t to be put into the han ds

”
o f th e coastguard s o r pol ice .

“
We d o not know who they are sai d Una qui etly , .

Thi s i s h i s dau g hter i n l aw ; s h e w il l be abl e to stay

- -

an d nurse him i f y o u w i l l gi ve h er your d irections .

”
H o w i s the ol d man P
“
Very exhausted an d shaken but h e i s asl eep an d , ,

that wi l l do h im more good than anyth ing I w il l .

l ook in to morrow I am hopin g to save the l e g but

-
,

I fear amputat i on .

Kath i e l ooked up i n h o rr o r .
 DARK D EED S 24 5

”
Oh doctor ! s h e cried
, do do save h i m from , ,

’
that Fe y th e r be s o strong an active that hi s heart
.

wi l l be broken i f he be a crippl e for l i fe .

“
Well l ass we wil l hope for the best
, , .

Una stayed till he w ent and then l eaving Ned , ,

behin d to help Kath i e to nurse s h e s e t o ff home ,

wards i n company w ith her two men .

Now that s h e had nothing more to do her weariness ,

made itsel f fel t The s un was sl owly rising from

.

behind the Towers ; a fa i r s weet summer day was

dawning ; an d the se a alone w ith its l ong l ine o f ,

breakers bore witnes s to the ragin g storm that h ad

,

s o l atel y ru ffled its sur face .

It w a s only her strong wi l l that enabl ed Una to

reach her home unai ded When s h e met M r s Craven . .
,

who had been up al l night anxiously expecting her

return s h e tottered into her arms
,
.

Take me to bed I feel done f o r ! .

An d al l that bright summer day s h e l ay in

exhauste d slumber i n her bed Towards evening .

s h e revived an d ins isted upon walking out to Eagl e s ’

Head . M r s Craven begged her to l et the groom

.

accompany her Sh e w a s terrified poor soul for h er

.
, ,

mi stress s sa fety an d was intensely rel ieved w hen

’

Una agreed to do as sh e w i sh ed .

Tom was still unconscious an d very i l l El i was .

much better bu t content to l ie in bed an d rest Una

,
.

sat with them wh ilst Kathi e went home for a l ittl e .

El i was abl e to give h er a more coherent account

246 A D AU G HTER O F THE S EA

o f what had happened an d s h e l istened w i th the ,

greatest i nterest .

Twere l ike th i s M i ssy After you be g one To m

’
, .
,

’ ’
an I were tal k i n seriou s as to what to d o w i P atty ’

’
an f o r a m i nute u s took o u r eyes o ff her Al l o f .

a su d den h er sprang l ike a cat to o u r l adder that her ,

’ ’
must have k nowed about be fore an l ike a li gh ten i n ,

streak her were up an away T o m h e runneth a fter ’

.

her but not a sign di d he s e e o f her wh en he gotten

,

’
up. Then he cometh back an u s talketh over ,

’
matters seriou s l i ke A n he r igge th up a terribl e
.

fi gure ; for h e saith t i s onl y fear wil l keep the fishers

’

away now They do be terribl e co n ca rn e d to fin d

.

out about we ! An i f they once di d see the Tr i u mp h

’

her woul d be ha c ked to p i e c es in no time ! S o as

tim e were g ettin on us l eft an w ent h ome to tea
’
,
’
.

Us had n o t satten l ong a fore T o m wh o was in an , ,

’

‘
out a w atch i n the coast cried o ut F e y th e r there
,
-
’

, , ,

be a bri g a — dr iv
i n r i ght on the Perran Rock s ! A ll
’ ’

’
hoi st the signal to Kathi e an u s must be o ff to ,

’
w a n ce "
’
He runneth o ut an were j ust a comin in , ,

w hen h i s l antern be dashed to g roun d an s i x o r

’
,

eight men be o n him T o m he struck out right an .

,
’

l e ft bravel y ; but there were to o many I be an o l d .

man M i ssy but my bl ood were up ; an I asketh my

, ,
’

F ather to l en d m e strength an I s e i ze th my stick an ,

’ ’

’
I rusheth o u t i nto the m i ddl e o f um ! Twere s o u n ’

’ ’
common dark that I coul dn t s e e the faces on em
, ,

but I go tte d a crack o n my head an I kn o wet h ,

’
 DARK D EED S 24 ,

no more til l I foun d you an your lad a bendin

’ '

”
over me !
“
I can guess th e rest sai d Una an d s h e woul d n o t
, ,

let him tal k any more for he was be co min g restl ess
,

an d exc i ted
.
 C HA P TER XX .

THE N Ew REC T O R

N o b l e h e w a s c o n te mn i n g a ll th i n g s m ean ,
,

H i s t r uth u n qu e s ti o n e d a n d h i s s o u l s e r e n e ;
,

S h a me k n e w h i m n o t h e d re a d e d n o d i s grac
, e ;
T r uth , s i mpl e truth , w a s w ritte n i n h i s f a c e ”
.

C r a b be .

I t was many days be fore P e r r a n c o v

e quieted do wn .

The loss o f three o f their number sobered som e ,

but others were drink ing h eavily The wrecked vessel .

’
proved to be a m erch ant s an d as far a s th ey coul d
, ,

j u dge n o t a soul had been saved B al es an d casks .

continued to be washe d ash ore ami dst much secret ,

rej oicing The assaul t o n the Tanners was h ush ed

.

up. None o f thei r assailants coul d be i dentified and ,

th e bul k o f P e r r a n c o v
e were in sympathy w ith them .

As Una sai d h ope l e s s l vwhen talk in g i t o ver w ith

,

her hou sekeeper

“
Kath i e an d I are tw o helpl ess women M rs Craven ,
. .

O ur husband s are supposed to be dead ; an d though

w e do not bel ieve they are others do ; an d we have ,

n o men to de fen d u s I know you s ay that I can

.

rel y upon my househol d ; but I am not s o sure that

I can . W here d o th e mai d s get th ei r bright silks
from ? I h ave been tal kin g to o n e o f them th i s
morning . She h el d a most exqu i site gol d wrou g ht -
 THE N E W RECTOR . 249

cha i n in her hands With sobs s h e con fessed that

.

D ick had given it to her l ast night Now where d i d .

”
D ick get it P
M r s Craven looke d uncom fortabl e
. .

“
They be but l ads mi stress ; they s e e no harm in
,

picki n up what be cast at their feet— s o to speak

’
.

They were out on the beach last n ight M aybe the .

’ ’ ”
ch ain were to s s i n in an o u t with the seaweed .

Una shook her head Sh e doubted wh ether M r s . .

Craven woul d resist a piece o f rare lace for her caps ,

i f o ffered to her S he went away an d c ried in the

.

privac y o f her room .

“
Oh Cuthbert why d i d y ou l eave me ? I am too
, ,

helpl ess too inexperienced to guide o ur househol d

, .

’ ’
I want a man s h ead a man s stern j udgment I
, .

”
cannot rul e them a s I ought !
Sh e was real i sing now as S h e ha d n ever real i sed
be fore h er own weakness an d incompetence
, It .

brought a so ftness into her tone a wi stfulness into ,

h er eyes that added to her ch arms had s h e only

, ,

known it B ut i f s h e had she woul d have care d l ittl e

.
,
.

Vanity was n o t h er besetting s i n an d her heart and ,

thoughts were al wa y s with her absent husband The .

summer passed qui etly T o m recovered though it

.
,

was a S l ow and tedious recovery and h e knew h e ,

woul d never be so active on h i s feet as formerly .

El i was up an d about l ong be fore h e l e ft h i s bed .

Th e d o ctor sa i d t h ei r stron g an d v i gorou s consti

tuti on s were much in thei r favou r Tom wanted .

Kath i e t o let h er co t tag e an d come a nd l i ve w i th

,
 ‘

25 9 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

th e m ; but thou gh she spent most o f her d ays at

’
Eagl e s Head s h e stead fastly refused to move
, .

“
M y Jim may come back any day s h e woul d s ay ,

an d n o t al l the pitying l ook s an d doubtful h ead

shak ings o f those S h e tal ked w ith coul d d im the l ight
o f hope that shone in her l arge expressive eyes O ne .

day a change came upon the l ittl e fish ing vil lage .

The ol d rector who had been for y ears past h i s work

, ,

died an d a tal l young athl etic fel low took h is pl ace

, .

Una was rowing round the coast i n her boat when

s h e first met him She heard a c al l for help an d
.
,

behel d on some rocks in a smal l bay a man bran

d ish in g a wh ite handkerch ie f o n a stick .

She rowed up to him an d foun d he had l ost a n o ar

, ,

and got into such a strong current th at h e had very

nearly been dashed to pieces o n the rock s .

“ ” “
Come into my boat s h e sai d a n d w e w i ll t o w
, ,

”
yours al on g .

He spran g l ightl y i n an d Una l o o ked at him

,

wonderingl y He was l ike a S axon giant s h e th o ught ;

.
,

but a very handsom e one H i s curly head looked as

.

i f the s un were always touching it s o bri ght an d sun ,

shiny was it in hue ; h is bl ue eyes frin ged with dark ,

l ashes sparkl ed with an imation ; every gestu re o f h i s

,

long l imbed broad —

-
shoul dered figure bespoke h eal thy
e n e r gvand act i v i ty He met Una s eyes as s h e qui etl y
’
.
,

took note o f him w ith a radiant smil e— a smil e that

was i n fectiou s in i ts frank j oyou sness .

“
I am a stranger to v ou
”
h e sai d in a cl ear ringi n g
,

“
v oi ce But I hope I shal l not r ema i n so l on g Ma y .
 THE N EW RECTOR 25 I

I take an o a r ? Thank you A re you not M rs G reg . .

”
s o n ? I have seen you in the distance .

“
Yes at church
,
You are our n ew cl er gyman
. .

How do you l ike your pari sh P ”

Una spoke demurel y .

“
I think I shal l del ight in it The fi shers are .

after my own heart ; and the s e a has a fascination

that I cannot resist You woul d not think it a fter
.

my mi shap th i s morning but I am a born sailor I t

, .

was a terribl e grie f to me when my mother tol d me

sh e wi sh ed me to go into the Church ; for a s a
y oungster I set my heart on being in the Navy
,

When I rowed o u t this mornin g I fel t l i fe wa s

almost intoxicating ; an d th en i n my rashness I came
too near the rocks .

“
It was wel l they were not the Perran rocks .

Where are they ? I have heard dread ful tal es o f

”
the havoc they cause to vessel s out o f thei r course .

“
They run in a ree f right across our bay ; the cu r
’
rent i s very strong near C o n dy s Cave and vessel s are ,

”
driven on to them continual ly .

“
So I hear I asked an ol d man to day i f there
.
-

was no lighthouse to warn passing ships He scowled .

at me terribl y
“
Yes h e woul d
, .

’
Una s tone was absent Then sh e roused h ersel f
. .

“
You will be making acquaintance with them all ;
but very few o f them come to church Some go over .

”
to a chapel at P o ll yc a r th e w th e rest go nowhere
,
.

B ut i f they wil l n ot co m e to me I shal l go to them ,

25 2 A DAUGHT E R O F THE S E A

sai d Donal d Mc Fa r l an e I shall h ol d a service o n

.

th e beach o r in a boat— a n y w h e r e s o l ong as I am

,
u

amongst them ! I have n ot come h ere to be i dle I .

l ong for work ; I l ong to tel l them the good news I

have for them They seem dark w ith superstition an d
.

i g norance .

Una l ooked at h i s glow in g face an d her pul ses ,

quickened .

“
—
Y ou y o u bel ieve i n rel igion ! ”
sh e asked
h esitatingl y .

“
B el ieve in my vocation ? I shoul d think I do P
I c oul d not be a messenger i f I di d n o t bel ieve
”
i n my M aster o r i n H i s message that I am to bring !
“
Ah , sai d Una impul sively you are the man
,

we h ave been wanting Kath ie an d I o ften s a y that

.

i f w e were not women w e shoul d try and speak to

them . W e are a wicked lot M r M c Fa r l an e ; we
, .

d on t l ike to be i nter fered with an d th e l ess we know

’
, ,

th e l ess we want to know There have been o n e o r

.

two saints amongst u s Kathi e an d I h ave been

.

taught al l w e know from them an d we struggl e o n ,

together W e sadly want a messenger a true real

.
,

m inister one wh o wi l l move in and o ut amon g st u s

, ,

an d be a frien d to all .

D onal d Mc Fa r l an e l ooked up into the blue sky

ferventl y ; then strai gh t into Una s wi stful eyes’
.

“
God help i n g m e I w i ll be that to y o u an d others , ,

he sai d .

A l ittl e sil ence fel l on them both Then he began .

ask i ng question s about th e neighbourh ood and ,

 THE N EW RECTOR 25 3

Una found hersel f tel l ing h im full y the h i story o f

Pe r r an co v
e and o f its inhabitants S he was sil ent
.

regarding her own loss an d the exi ste n ce o f the

Tr i u mp h A s they rowed along in th e sunshine h e
. 1

heart warmed towards thi s new comer He l ooked so

-
.

good s o strong so true She fel t a s i f some o n e had

,
.

been sent to her in her hour o f need—o n e in whom

sh e coul d confide ; who woul d stand by an d help her ;
who woul d be a tower o f strength to the weak and
h elpless.

Hi s sunshiny brightness in fected her She threw .

o ff her cares an d her ringing l augh j oined h is hearty

,

one a s their oars flashed in an d out an d they chatted

on together .

They parted the best o f frien ds D onal d had heard.

about the young m istress o f the towers He had .

fel t a great pity for the young girl in such an i solated

position an d now h e had made her acquaintance that
,

pity turned into a deep interest H e r gi rl ish vivacity

.
,

her keen sense o f the l u dicrous her warmth o f feel

,

ing— al l found response in hi s own heart .

A wi dow w ithout bel ieving in her w i dowhood

, ,

h e sol iloqui sed as h e wal ked back to the rectory that

“
morning . What a ch il d s h e i s ! H o w apparently .

untouched by h er bereavement ! I won der i f she

really cared for him ? There i s a sad l ittl e l ook in
her eyes when she i s grave but h ow her face l ights
,

u p as she talks ! How impul sive how pretty h ow , ,

bewitch ing she i s ! A n d h ow earnest in the real deep

things o f l i fe ! Oh I am gl ad I am thank ful I came
, , ,
25 4 A D AUG H TER O F THE SEA

to this part o f the worl d I may be abl e to be a help

.

and a com fort to h er .

Poor Donal d ! H onest an d open as the day itsel f ,

he l ittl e knew the strong current that was al ready

lapping round hi s barque— the current that w ith such
a sunshiny sur face w a s going to carry h im sl owly and
surel y into dangerous waters that woul d wel l nigh —
overwhelm h i s soul .

Una never forgot hi s first sermon del ivered the ,

fol l owin g Sunday H e had taken th e service the

.

week previou sl y but had n ot preached

, N o w hi s .

voice ran g out th rough the buil ding with no uncertain

’
b ou n d f
“
The Lord hath a n n o i n te d me to preach good
ti din g s unto th e meek : H e hath sent me to bind up

the broken — hearted to proclaim l iberty to th e cap

,

ti y es an d the O pening o f the pri son to them that are

,

’
b oun d f
A good man y fishers attended o ut o f curiosity to
”
hear th e new parson but the y di d not expect to be
,

so riveted and hel d by h i s words .

Donal d had a ver y simpl e an d cl ear mode o f

del iver y He w ent straight to hi s point and kept
.

to it h itting hard an d trul y but w ith such l ove and

, ,

yearning in h i s tone that it was impossibl e for h i s

h earers to take o ff ence He divi ded h i s text into
.

th ree parts deal i n g with the three di ff erent cl asses

,

m enti oned Very tender an d d eep l y sympathetic

.

w a s h e in h i s word s to th e broken hearted Una -

.

an d Kathi e w ere in tears as were man y others with,

 THE N EW RECTOR 25 5

aching hearts and desolate l ives H i s picture o f .

pri son bound captives— prisoners bound w ith cords

-

o f sel f seeking d r i nk and s i n —w a s gr aph i c i n its

-
,

power and intensity .

“
Even in th i s sweet fishing vil lage he sai d w i th , ,

God s fatherly love showing itsel f in the gol den s un

’

shine and bl ue rippl ing waves w ith Hi s power in the

,

huge Atlantic billows when the wind rises and the ,

storms come upon u s—e ven here there are soul s that ,

are hugging thei r chains that are shutting the i r eyes

,

to what i s righ t an d pure and good They are .

plotti ng evil and cl ogging their brains w ith drink

,
.

They are boun d by the devil h imsel f and can only ,

th i nk and a c t i n hi s service Slaves o f s i n ! sl aves

.

o f drink ! slaves o f greed ! You wh o revel in you r

’
fel low man s destruction ! you who w ith th e treacher
,

o u s rock s a c ross your bay al lure passing vessel s to

,

thei r destruction ! are you happy in your bon dage ?

Are yo u free ? I bring you good t i d i ngs to day o f One -

”
who shal l make you free !
The fishers were spell bound Who was thi s fai r
-
.

faced ; y e ll o w e d h a i r e d boy who stood up in their midst

~

an d dared to speak to them s o ?

They came awa y dumb founded .

“
H e knoweth too much 0 these parts that new
’

’
chap do muttered one to the other
, .

“ ’ ”
B ut he be a p o w e r f u p r a y c h e r .

And when he came amongst them with h is o ut

.

s
tretched h and an d heart y laugh they coul d not resi st
th e radiant y o un
g parso n He wound h imsel f roun d
.
25 6 A DAUG H TER O F T H E S EA

thei r hearts an d gained their confidence in a mos t

,

marvel lous an d inexpl icabl e manner .

Even the surl iest woul d touch their hats and r e ,

s p o n d to h i s greeting a s he passed

One a fternoon h e met Una outside her own gates .

“
I w a s coming to cal l upon you about a certain
” “
matter h e said ; but i f you are walking anywhere
,

may I accompan y y ou P ”

“ ’
I was going over to Eagl e s Head Una sa i d ,

“
brightly . D o come w ith me El i w il l be del ighted
.

to s e e you .

H e strode al ong by h er si de an d a sh adow seemed ,

to cross h is face as he sai d gravely

“
Do y o u know al l the superstition s o f th i s part ,

M rs Gregson ? I suppose you do I was amused at

. .

first but i t pains o n e a fter a bit I rescued an o l d

, .

woman who I hear l ives i n terror o f her l i fe She i s a

, , .

poor crazed thing an d th e l ads who were bul lying her

,

in formed me s h e was a w itch One went so far a s to.

tel l m e that s h e woul d have been kill ed l ong ago i f

”
S he had not had nine l ives l ike a cat .

“
That i s poor o l d Patty I o ften l ong to give her
.

a cottage an d put some one in to l ook after her but

, ,

S h e woul d never stay in it She l oves roaming about

.

at her o w n free wil l an d coming upon you when you

,

l east expect h e r The boys are very cruel to her I

. .

”
am al ways speaking to them about it .

“
Then what i s th i s about the Witches H ol e ? I ’

am tol d that a certain black boat comes out o f it

wh enev e r a wr ec k i s at han d an d th at a c erta in ,
 TH E NEw RECTOR 25 7

family l iving on that headland over there are in

league with thi s evil one I have heard confli ctin g .

testimonies about it ; some s a y that they save l ives ,

others that they destroy them My in formants wax .

so hot o v e r their iniquities that they become quite

incoherent Th e one cl ear fact I have gathered i s

.

that the W i tches Hole i s haunted and that no one

’

dare venture in on peril o f their l ives I mean to .

row mysel f over thi s a fternoon and penetrate the

mystery surrounding it .

“ ”
Oh ! sai d Una l ooking startled I shoul d not
, ,

”
do that i f I were you .

Why not ? S urel y M rs Gregson you do not ,

.
,

share i n thi s superstition P ”

“
No but— but it is dangerou s roun d th e Witches
’

Hole Co n dy s Cave i s close to it and the currents

.
’

are v ery strong there ; you might get drawn into

”
them .

“ ”
Do y o u ever go there y oursel f ?
”
Sometimes .

’
Una s tone was hesitating She ad ded earnestly .

“
i s not reall y haunte d There i s n o obj ect in
It .

your going You have been l i stening to i dl e tal es ”

. .

“
Bu t I cannot convince the fishers that it i s not
haunted unl ess I visit it mysel f Wil l you come with .

me M rs Gregson and show me the way ? You have

, .
,

come to my rescue once an d as you know the currents ,

so wel l there woul d be no danger with you as a

,

”
pil ot.
25 8 A D AUGHTER OF THE S EA
‘
Oh no ; I c annot real l y do that I besee c h you
,
.

to give it up I—I ask you as a personal favour not

.
, ,

”
to go .

The c olour was coming an d going in h er cheeks as

s h e spok e Donal d M c Fa r l an e noted her agitation
.
,

an d w a s fil led w ith wonder .

H e met her appeal ing eyes w ith a grave intent ,

l o ok ; then he sai d gently

“
W i l l you not confide in me M r s Gregson ? I , .

assure y o u that I am to be trusted ; an d i f sil enc e i s

necessary that sil ence w il l not be broken by me ex
, ,

cept by your permi ssion I wil l be quite frank with

.

you Y our name h as been mentioned i n connection

.

with thi s mystery and i n a way that I do not l ike to

hear W ho are the Tanners and why are th ey such
.
,

fr i ends o f yours ? What have they done to make

”
themsel ves s uc h obj ects o f hate i n th e vil l age P
“ ”
I am going to thei r house n o w sai d Una evasivel y , .

Wait unti l you have seen them and then form you r ,

”
o w n j u dgment about them .

Donal d w a s sil ent They soon reached the cottage

.
,

and foun d El i men din g a fi s h i n g net in the woode n -

porch . He l ooked up br ig htly when he s aw hi s

visitors .

“ ’
A y M issy ti s good to s e e ye and I be honoure d
, , ,

by a cal l from o u r passon S it ye d own si r ti s a .

, ,
’

” ’
right proper marn i u to be o u t .

Donal d took a seat as desi red a fter g i v i ng th e ol d ,

m an o n e o f h i s hearty han d grips -

.

Una settl ed hersel f o n th e sl oping grass bank i n

 THE N EW RECTOR 25 9

front o f the cottage and insisted upon helping El i in ,

h i s work .

“
You know how I love netting so l et me do some , ,

whil st you talk to M r M c F a r l a n e T

Where i s o m.
P .
”

“ ”
He be out fi s h i n but I looketh for him soon I ’

I want to know al l my pari sh ioners sai d Donal d ,

“ P”
pleasantly Were you at church l ast S un day
.

“
A y u s were that
,
Them were good words ye .

’
spake to u s s i r ; I cometh back an put up a song o f
th a n ks g i v i n that the dear Lord have s ent a trumpet
’
to us w i no o n c e r ti n g sound Let Him blow through .

v ,e sir ! the toon wil l reach o u r hearts an break ,

’

through many a dea f ear i f it be the Lord Hi ssel f ,

that bloweth !
Donal d s fai r young face fl ush ed an d l ightened
’

with pleasure He an d El i plunged into an an imated

.

conversation at once wh ich l asted til l Tom returned , .

Una sat by saying l ittl e She w as wond ering i f s h e

, .

coul d trust the young cl ergyman with their s ecret ;

s h e w a s convinced that no amount o f persuasion or

entreat y woul d dete r him from h i s purpose i f he s a w

i t to be a right one ; and s h e fel t it might be w iser to
tel l h im about th e Tr i u mp h be fore he di scovered i ts
exi stence himsel f .

With Tom came Kathi e bearing a covered basket

, ,

in her hand She dropped a curtesy to h er rector

.
,

and seemed to him to be the person ificat i on o f an

i deal fi s h e r s wi fe ’
.

’ ’
Ti s j ust a pie g r an f e y th e r that I have bin bakin
, ,
’ ’
.

’
an d s o I thought I d bring i t al ong I meeteth w i .
’

f e y th e r on the way .
2 60 A D A UGHTER O F TH E S EA

I wi sh I coul d stay to hel p you eat it Ka t hie , ,

“
sai d Una rising from her seat w ith a l ittl e sigh ; but
,

I mu st be going I brought El i some good strong

.

soup i n that j u g Make him drink i t be fore you leave

.
,

’ ’
Kathi e ; h e doesn t hal f take care o f h imsel f Don t .

l et me hurr y you M r M c Fa r l an e ; f o r yo u will be

,
.

”
abl e to find your way back alone .

B ut Donal d rose and bade th e Tanners farewell

,
.

He had been having a few words with Tom ; an d

turned to Una radiantl y as they walked al ong to
gether
“
You have given m e much enj oyment M rs G reg ,
.

s on. I do not wonder at your frien d ship with them .

The o l d man reminds me o f the ol d B ibl e sa i nt from

”
wh om h e gets h i s name .

“
You woul d not won der i f you knew al l th e ties
” “
between u s , sai d Una gravel y El i an d Kath ie .

h ave hel ped to make rel igion real to me They are .

”
all as good a s they can be .

“
Then what may I ask causes thei r names to be
, ,

”
l inked w ith evil doing an d w itchcra ft an d such l ike P ,

Una was s il ent .

He gave a qu ick glance at her troubl ed face .

“
I wil l n ot vex y ou with my inqui sitiveness I .

dare s ay when I l an d at th e Witches Hol e th i s after ’

”
noon I may fin d a clue to what i s puzzl ing m e there
, .

“ ” “
But sai d Una stan d ing st i l l an d facing h im I
, , ,

”
h a ve asked y o u n ot to go there .

A l i ttl e o f h er ol d hau ghti n es s was i n her tone .

 TH E N EW RECTOR 26 1

A s hadow came across h i s face He was beginning .

al ready to fear causing her vexation or di stress .

“ ”
I wil l postpone my vi sit i f you l ike he said very ,

gentl y ; but before next S unday comes an d I occupy

my pulpit again I mean to have thi s superstition and
,

mystery thoroughly investigated an d put upon a right ,

”
footing .

’
A flash o f anger shot into Una s expressi ve eyes ;
then i t died away .

“
I suppose you wil l do what you think right s h e ,

“
sai d a l ittl e sti ffly
,
I s e e it i s o f no u se to a s k you
.

any favour I have m y reasons for not wi sh ing you

.

to go to the Witches H ol e to day I f you wil l come

’
-
.

”
u p to th e Towers to morrow I wil l give you them
-
.

” “
Thank you Donal d sai d quietl y ; I w il l come
, ,

and postpone my vi sit til l our interview i s over Good .

”
morn ing .

H e l i fted hi s hat an d was gone , .

Una walked sl owly home w ith knitted brows and ,

anx i ou s face .
 CHA P TER XX I .

MA RTI N S C O N F E S SI O N
’

F o r g ive ! Fo r ti s s w e e t to s t a mme r o n e l e tte r

’

O f th e E t e rn a l s l an g ua g e ; o n e a rth i t i s c a l l e d F o rg ive n e s s
’
.
”

L o n gf e l l o w
.

At three o cl ock the next a fternoon Donal d made

’

hi s appearance at the Towers Una had that morning .

hel d a long con sultation w ith the Tanners ; they wer e

l oth to entru st th ei r secret to any o n e ; but they kne w
that it woul d be qu ite impossibl e to keep a man o f
’
D onal d s cal ibre an d d isposition in i gnorance o f i t
’
very l ong He woul d not be frightened by Tom s
.

simpl e ru ses f o r keeping the superstitious fishers at a

distance S o w ith much mi sgiving an d some l ittl e
.
,

annoyance Una s at down in the draw ing room i n the

,
-

corner o f her favourite w indow an d s i gned to h i m ,

to take a seat opposite h er .

I am going to entrust yo u w ith a s ecret M r , .

Mc Far l a n e Y o u may from your want o f knowl edge

.
,

o f these parts s e e n o need for the mystery we h ave

,

made ; but the experience an d knowl edge o f others ,

who know better than I do the fatal resul t o f making

such a secret publ ic w il l perhaps have some weight
,

”
w ith you .

“
It w ill assented Donal d
, .
 MARTI N S C O N FE S S I O N
’
2 63

S he looked such a chil d a s s h e s a t there that the ,

dignified tone and word s almost made him smil e .

What was this secret he wondered that s eemed o f

, ,

such great importance i n her eyes ? Hi s glance took

i n every detai l o f her l ittl e fi gu r e— her sunny brown
hair ; her smal l determine d oval face with its cl ear
,

rich col ouring ; her glowing flashing eyes now down ,

cast with the long curl ing l ashes sweeping her cheeks
, .

There was youth and beauty i n every outl ine ; there

was resolute in depen dence and wi stful sadness there
too.

“
What a young c reature h e thou ght to be in
, ,

such an i solated position a s s h e i s an d the mi stress

,

’
o f this place ! How much s h e mu st need a hu sband s
l ove and care !
B ut Una was speak i ng Sh e l ost her l ittl e touch
.

o f hauteur w hen s h e was once i n the mi dst o f her

’
story ; and as h e l istened the young cl ergyman s feel
,

ing changed from amusement an d pity to o ne o f i n

tense interest an d admi ration .

Una tol d him al l — the months o f secret to i l at the i r

beloved boat ; the dread ful scenes on the beach when
wrecks were washed ashore ; the l ives they h a d saved ;
the stri fe between the neighbouring coastguardsmen
and the fishers when her husband had intervened ;
and the threats o f vengeance wh ich en sued She tol d .

o f the departure o f th e F ly i n g G u l l w ith quivering

l ip ; the fear they had o f treach ery ; an d l astl y o f the

murderou s attack o n the Tanners an d the assaul t
u pon hersel f.
 A DA UGHTER O F TH E SEA

Donal d s young bl ood boil ed within him

’
.

“
H o w can s u c h things be al l owed P ”
he excl aimed .

I thought I had come into a pari sh o f peace and

beauty ; it i s onl y a S lumbering volcano ! I marvel
that you go about amongst them w ith such k ind good
w il l an d c h e e r i n e s s i To hear you chatting with them
all o n e woul d never think they ha d been such villains
”
N o sai d Una w ith a smil e ; an d I try to forget
,

it until they rou se my ire an d then I speak o u t!

, ,

You s e e I have been brought up in the m i ds t o f them .

I count mysel f one o f them I have fished an d boated .

w ith them all I have cl imbed the cl i ffs to get the

.

seagul l s eggs i n company with th e lad s ; I have taken

’

a han d in dragging thei r nets ashore ; I have note d

the weather s ign s w ith th e ol dest o f them I l ove .

the s e a an d th ey l ove it I know every trick o f the

,
.

tide every ben d in the coast ; an d th e onl y matter on

,

which w e di ffer i s thi s dread ful pl undering o f wrecks .

B ut lately I acknowl edge s ince— since Kathi e an d I ,

have lost our husbands an d s ince w e nearl y l ost El i

,

an d Tom as wel l it has been hard work to be friendly

,

w ith those who have been the cau se o f it I have .

prayed hard an d so has Kathie that we m ight have ,

forgiving sp i rits We do not actual ly know who were

.

the culprits but we can guess An d now you have

. .

heard al l about it M r Mc Fa r lan e an d what are yo u

, .
,

going to do P ”

“ ”
What do you wi sh me to do ? Donal d asked .

He di d n o t feel so sure o f hi s j udgment a fter thi s

recital as he di d be fore it .
 M A RTI N S CO N FE S S I O N 2 65
’

We shoul d l ike you to keep our secret still a n d ,

take the place o f J im in our boat I know sooner or

.

l ater her existence must be made known but I am ,

al ways hoping that time may so ften thei r hearts At .

present I know the Tr i u mp h woul d be hacked to

p ieces however care full y we guarded her i f they were
, ,

tol d the truth The autumn i s setting in ; an d our

.

stormy season wil l soon commence Let u s try an d .

save more l ives be fore we put our boat at th e mercy

,

o f the P e r r a n c o v
e fishers
”
.

“
It wil l be di fficul t for me to do what you wi sh
”
w ithout arousing suspicion sai d Donal d thoughtful ly
,

“
H o w am I to get away on a stormy n ight without ,

”
my absence being n oted P
’
Oh they won t expect you to make your appear
,

ance amongst them Our former rector d i d not You

. .

may be sure they w il l not look for you Al l thei r .

energi es and thoughts are with possibl e vessel s bearing

round the coast bringing possibl e wrecks an d pl under
, .

“ ” “
It i s terribl e sai d Donal d sternly
,
I w il l not .

rest until we have a proper coastguard station h ere ,

”
an d an organi zed crew an d l i feboat .

“
That is what took my husband to Plymouth sai d ,

Una sadly And they knew i t! I want you to promise

.

me you wil l not do anyth ing rashl y I expect it wil l be

.

a temptation to you to do something ; but w il l you

wait until you s e e for yoursel f how matters are ?
Donal d gave h i s promi se ; an d Una drew a sigh o f
r elie f when s h e s a w him walk away an d knew for the
,

present that h er secret woul d be ke n t .

2 66 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

H er next meeting w ith h im was not a pl easant one .

She w a s at present having great troubl e with her

father A fter a period o f comparative harml essnes s
.

an d quiet he had broken o u t into drunken frenzies

, .

Una had stead fastl y refused to wel come any more o f

h i s friends to the house ; and when he s a w h e coul d
not move her from th i s determination h e flung him ,

s el f into paroxysms o f rage an d took to drinking fast,

and furiously .

One even ing he went down to the B lue Lobster ,

an d a fter waiting some hours for him Una becam e ,

anxious She dreade d h i s associating with the fishers

. .

Not onl y d i d her pri de resent it but s h e knew that he ,

w a s too prone to treat those h e was w ith ; and th e

fishers were fond enough o f thei r beer w ithout an y
extra inducement to partake of it .

She was ashamed to s en d out any o f her men a fte r

him s o determ ined to g o hers el f
,
.

S l ipping o n a th ick cloak an d hood s h e made h er ,

way q uietly toward s the village It w a s past te n .

o cl ock an d was a stil l cl ear starl ight night Onl y

’
, ,
.

the rippl ing and swi sh o f the waves o n the beach

made themsel ves h eard B ut a s sh e stepped so ftl y
.

past the fishers cottages voices an d l aughter were

’
,

“ ”
wa fted upwards to her from the B lu e Lobster .

And presentl y a stumbl ing muttering figure ap

,

p r o a c h e d her .

“ ”
Father s h e sai d gently going forward l ean on
, , ,

”
me I have com e to m eet you
. .

H e cl utch ed at h e r arm desperatel y ; th en be gan

 MARTI N S CO N FES S I O N 26
’

talking i n thick and maudl ing tones She foun d it .

needed al l her strength an d care to guide hi s steps ;

an d as they le ft the outski rts o f the village h e
_

stumbl ed against a bit o f fencing an d fel l heavily to

th e ground H i s fal l instead o f stupe fying h im seemed
.
,

to have th e contrary effect an d when s h e stooped to,

hel p him up h e struck her a heavy bl ow i n the face

, ,

pouring upon her such torrents o f abuse for having

knocked him down as h e expressed i t th at for a
, ,

moment Una fel t quite dazed Sh e dared not l eave .

him there ; s h e dared not touch him She coul d onl y .

l ook up an d pray that h el p shoul d be sent them .

The answer soon came but Una shivered when she

“

h eard Donal d M c Fa r l an e s cheer y wh istl e .

He almost passed them for they were in a dark ,

corner be fore sh e had the courage to speak

, .

“ ”
Mrs Gregson ! h e excl aimed in astoni shment ;
.

you out at thi s time o f night ? Who h ave you here ?

‘
One o f those drunken fel low s from the Bl ue Lobster ,
’

I fear The noi se an d d in has been dread ful there

.

to night You are in deed their mini stering angel

-
. .

”
L eave h im to m e ; I w il l take h im home .

’
Una s cheeks burnt with S hame i n the darkness as
s h e sai d
“
I t i s my father M r M c Fa r l a n e
, . .

’
Donal d s feel ing cannot be described .

For a moment h e was dumb founded M r Ca r te r e ts . .

’

exi stence had never been mentioned to h im but h e ,

wi sel y h el d h i s tongue In the most matter o f fact

.
- -

tone he said
268 A DAUGH TER O F THE S E A

I f you wil l k indly take my lantern an d l ea d th e

way M r s Gregson w e wi ll fol l ow I t i s a dark night
, .
, .

”
though w e have the stars I w ish the moon were up . .

Una obeyed h im in sil ence .

M r Carteret a fter a feebl e resi stance resigned h im

.
, ,

sel f i nto the hands o f th is young giant an d they ,

reached the Towers w ith no further d i fficul ty .

At the doorway Una pau sed an d han ded D onal d h i s ,

l a n te r n t
B y the l i g ht o f i t h e s a w h er wh ite an d weary face
w ith the m ark s o f a cruel blow acros s it ; but her
l ittl e head was h el d prou dly a s i f sh e resented and
d efied h i s pity
Good night M r M c Fa r l an e I wil l not a sk you
-
, . .

”
to come in I am very grate ful fo r you r help
. .

He waited till h e s a w the door O pen an d Bal dwin

come to thei r ai d ; th en he strode home saying b e ,

tween h is teeth
“
Oh may Go d h elp her an d me ! How I l ove h er !
,

’
That was Donal d s first acquaintance with M r .

Carteret It was not h i s last H e met h im pacing

. .

th e avenue o n e day when sober ; and M r Carteret .

took a strange l iking to the bright face an d w inning

tones o f the young rector H e w a s entirely obl ivious .

o f that first encounter with h im an d begged h im to ,

come up and talk over the news o f the day with h im .

Donal d hoping to influence h im for good accepted

, ,

h is invitation H e surpri sed the O l d man by re fu sing

.

to drink wi th h im but woul d gul l out hi s pipe and

,

begu il e th e time by many an anec dote an d sometim e s

by a song .
 2 69
’
M ARTI N S CO N FE S S IO N

M r Carteret in h i s turn woul d fretful ly confide in

.
, ,

h im .

“
This i s such an o u t o f — the way hol e for a man o f
- -

the worl d to fin d himsel f in I want my daughter to .

sel l the whol e concern and come abroad with me .

She h as some crazy notion that h er hu sband i s still

al ive and wil l insist upon waiting on here She i s an
,
.

obstinate l ittl e cat and tel l s me sh e wil l con si der her

,

sel f no w i dow til l fi ve years have elapsed Five years .

o f thi s i solation w ill carry me to my grave Can t .

’

you tal k her into reason P ”

“
I s there any chance o f M r Gregson returning I .
,

wonder P sai d D onal d

”
.

“
None whatever Their boat was found smashed
.

”
to pieces It i s j ust a woman s hysterical fancy
'

. .

Una di d not o ften come in an d S it with them Sh e .

was thank ful that h er father shou l d l ike Donal d s ’

society but fel t ashamed that the young man shoul d

,

hear an d s e e him when un der the influence o f drink .

M r Carteret was rarely sober for l ong ; but Donal d

.

h a d a restrain ing power over h im an d hi s paroxysms ,

o f rage an d drunkenness were l ess frequent than they

had been .

Outsi de her home an d especial ly on the sea Una

, ,

seemed abl e to throw aside her cares and anxieties .

H e r animated interest i n n ature itsel f her sparkl ing ,

vivacity and l ight — , heartedness al l made h er a fas

c i n a ti n g companion an d Donal d l oved to meet her so
, .

A t the Towers h em v o i ce was i n a l ower key ; a

S hadow seemed to rest on her brow an d sh e was rest ,

2 76 A DAUG H TER O F THE S EA

l es s an d d is tr a i t in conversation starting at every ,

foot f all that passe d by an d apparently al ways fearing

,

an unwelcome interruption from her un fortunate

father D onal d never stayed w ith her very long
. .

He was making great progress i n h i s friendsh ip

w ith the fish ers Th ey admi red h i s strength an d
.
,

when they d iscovered that h e was as good at sail ing

a s h e was i n taking an oar that he was wel l versed i n ,

al l k ind s o f baits an d nets an d love d nothing better ,

than being out a whol e n igh t fish ing thei r hearts ,

warmed to h im an d they responded to h i s hearty

,

hand — grips and cheery greeting w ith smil ing n ods o f

a pproval They were rather taken aback when one
.

Sunday evening h e j oined the idl e assembly lounging

on th e low ston e wal l an d springing upon it gave
, , ,

them a S hort stirring gospel address

“
A y men ,
he sai d in conclus ion you may think
, ,

I m forcing rel igion down your throats but it i s

’

putting water to the l ips o f those wh o are dying for

th e want o f i t ; it i s bringing a sure cure to those
stricken by the pl ague ; it i s pressing gol d into the
hands o f th e penni l ess ; and bringing l ight and sun .

shine to the bl ind eyes I cannot help being earnest .

over it I woul d not i f I coul d for it i s good n ew s

. ,

I bring not bad an d I long that you shoul d share in

, ,

”
the best gi ft o f al l .

“ ”
He do make a pr a pe r p r a y e h e r l sai d o n e ol d
man to another ; h e have the way 0 c u r dli n yer ’ ’

’
bl ood an d then s m ili n l ik e an angel o n ye as h e
, ,

”
patches up what h e have torn to bits !
 ’
MARTI N S CO N FE S S I O N 2 71

A vu s be
forced to l isten to u n for h e have such
,
’

a foine face ! H e do seem an uncommon gay parson !

But though apparent l ittl e resul t was fol lowing Don
a ld s earnest preaching hard bits o f uncul tivate d
’

groun d were being broken up an d prepared to receive

the seed o f l i fe .

One day Una w a s walking down the vil lage street ,

when she met Kathie running along breathl essly , .

“
Oh M i ssy I be off to th e doctor s A l l the men
, ,
’
.

’
be out on a mackerel haul an ol d M artin have met ,

H i s w i fe be near o ff h er head w i
’
w i an acci dent
’
.

fright He got catched i n betw ixt h i s boat an the

.
’

’ ”
whar f an he be terrible crushed
,
.

“ ”
I w il l go to him at once sai d Una She knew , .

how helpl ess h i s wi fe woul d be i n an emergency ; an d

when s h e reached h i s house s h e foun d M artin lying
o n th e stone floor o f hi s kitchen whil st five o r s i x ,

women were makin g l amentation over h im an d hi s ,

wi fe with her apron over her head was sobbing

, ,

hysterical ly .

“
Ay
”
sai d o n e do c c s e e the death — ’
l ines a c r e e pi n
’
-
, ,

roun h i s mouth an nose ? H i m be tu r n i n black

’ ’ ’

’
a ready Eh dearie me ! Who d a thought u s woul d
.
’

have another w idder in thi s ere village s o soon agen ! ’

“ ’
A seed h im a goin down town thi s very mor n ,

’ ‘
an I sez to my man Why M artin have a downcast , ,

l ook to day have he not P Them were my very words

-
,
’
,

’ ”
an i n course he were a s e e i n death in the ai r !
,
-
’

Eh wel l a day ! an whose turn wil l it be n e x P ’ ’

In co urse M art i n were wel l on i n l i fe but t were so ,

’
2 72 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

sudden to be struck o ff M y Tom were a say i n .

-
’

” ’
Now l ook here struck in Una s qui ck deci sive
, ,

tones you are al l doing M r s Tregarth more harm

“
, .

than good Go home every one o f you and when we

.
, ,

want you w e shal l sen d for you Why have you not .

put him to bed ? You have done nothing ! Go ,

”
every one of you I
They sl unk o ff awed by her tones Sh e kept one
,
.

o f them back to hel p her raise poor M artin from the

floor A s they moved him he groaned al ou d but th e

.
,

’
soun d was music to h i s poor wi fe s ear ; and s h e
d ropped her apron an d came trembl ing forward Very .

gently they l i fted h im on to h i s l ow bed Una di d .

al l s h e coul d to make h im com fortabl e but was r e ,

liev e d when the doctor arrived for s h e w a s convinced ,

h e had received internal inj uries .

“ ”
Ribs badly fractured w a s the verdict ; but h e ,

”
may pul l through I
Una stayed with him al l night ; and for the next
ten days s h e was unremittent in h er care an d watch
fulness The h elpl essness o f th e o l d coupl e touched
.

her heart When M artin recovered con sciousness he

.
,

seemed il l at ease One morning a fter a restless night

.
,

h e cal led Una to hi s si de .

“
B e I goin to die P ” ’
he asked in quavering tones .

”
We hope y o u are going to recover sai d Una ; ,

”
Yo u are i n God s hands M artin !
’

The o l d man groaned .

“ ’ ’
I f I be g o in to d ie I d l i ke to tel l e e summat !
,
’
 ’
MARTI N S CON FES S I O N 273

W oul d you l ike to s e e M r M c Fa r l a n e ? He was .

h ere a sh ort time ago but you were asleep , .

“
No I f e e l e th a bit more S pry ; I will say nought
'

, ,

”
i f I be not near death !
“
I f it i s anything on your conscience M artin you , ,

can tel l it to God H e wil l l i sten an d f orgive i f you .

,

con fess it .

M artin looked at her with terrified eyes .

“ ’
I d u r s n t speak to th Almighty He h ave struck
’
.

”
me terribl e hard an H i s wrath be on me ! ,
’

Un a to soothe him but h e turned wearily

. tr i e d ,

from her an d woul d say no more Late that same

, .

da y he sent an u rgent message to her to come to h im .

She came an d foun d hi s wi fe vainl y trying to

,

paci fy him He sat up in bed with f everi sh cheek s

.
,

and beckoned excitedly to h er directl y h e caught s ight

o f her .

“ ’
The devil keepeth a c l utc h i n o f me M i ssy an he , ,
’

meaneth to drag me down ! Oh tak e hol d an keep , ,

’

me from un l for I hath not had a peaceabl e moment

’

’
since I done it I hath do ne many sins an M artha .
,

there wi l l S how e e a box ful l 0 satins an rings an ’ ’

,
’

,
’

gol d an I hath stifled man y a cry in m y day so eager

,
’

were I to get the garments from th ey ; but I s take th my

sou l
“ ”
H u sh Martin n o oaths !, ,

”
I tel l e e h e went on excitedly ; I never d i d a
.
’

d ay s work I were more ashamed 0 than when two

’ ’

o n u s put our hand s to th e F l y i n G u ll ' Twa s ’ ’

1 8
2 74 A DAU G HTER O F T H E S EA

revenge M issy ; the master were a goin to spo i l ou r

,
’

’
gains an u s s wore to prevent i m a bringin c o ast
,
’ ’

’
guards an s i ch like varmints h ere ! Us meant to
keep i m from ever getting to Plymouth H o w the
’
.

boat d i d it was a m iracl e ! Her were ri ddl ed w i ’

’
holes though u s pl ugged em up a bit An now I m
,
’
.
’

’
a dy i n man Oh M i ssy perchance i f e e tell s me ye l l
.
, ,
’ ’

pass it by perchance th Al mighty wil l l ikewise an

,
’

,
’

lan d me out o the devil s cl utches ! He hath gotten

’ ’

”
me hard an d fast !
Fo r a moment Una gazed at him w ith horror ; her
heart was too full to speak to him What s h e had .

feared was now tol d to her as an actual fact ! It

seemed to pl ace the chance o f her husband s safety ’

farther o ff than ever In the agony o f the moment .

s h e impul sivel y dashed out o f th e room w ith a bitter

cry S he met Donal d com ing up the garden path

. .

He l ooked at h er anxiou sly .

“ ”
I s he gone P he sai d
”
Gone ' s h e cried N o h e w il l l ive o n He i s , .

’
my husband s murderer ! Don t ask me to go near
’

h im again H e wil l n e v e r get my forgiveness !

.

Sh e passed h im w ith flash ing eyes and a face that

wa s quivering with emotion .

Donal d gazed a fter her sadly For one moment .

he looked as i f he must fol lo w h er then he remembered ,

hi s duty an d went in to the sick man He had a

,
.

trying time w ith him for he became almost del i rious ,

with fear an d weakness .

“
M i ssy have l e ft me to the d evi l Her be gone to .
 MARTI N S CO N FE S S I O N
’
2 75

get me hung ! H e r be turne d agen me ! Her an th ’ ’

’
Almighty wil l have nought to do w i I ! They be ter
ribl e hard in j udgm ent Oh passon pray pray for
.
, , ,

’
a lost soul ! I cannot be tooken for death w i the ,

”
d evil at my elbow !
Donal d s prayers an d words seemed unavail i ng
’
.

The next morning Una received a note

I beseech you to forgive an d come to ease a dying

s ou L
D O N A L D M c FA R L A N E .

She had passed a S l eepl ess night The past had .

been w ith her vividly She pictured her husband an d

.

J m d r i fting helpless i n the mi dst o f the ocean whil s t

i ,

their boat slowl y sank with them into a watery grave .

There seemed no hope now of thei r escape from it .

“ ”
Ri ddled with h ol es was what Martin sai d Was .

th ere ever such a fiendish col d bl ooded treacherou s

,
-
,

piece o f work ?
She coul d not pray ; S h e thought o f M artin with a
shudder . She had been nursing and soothing her
’
hu sband s murderer ! He had pl anned it and carried
it out with signal success and no one had suspected
,

h im o f such a crime He had brought darkness an d

.

despair into her l i fe ; he had taken away from her the

l ast vestige o f hope that had su stained her thought s o
many dark h ours .

Forgive him ! G o to h im an d nurse him back to

health and stren gth whil st her own hu sband had
,
2 76 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

perished almost within s ight o f l and without a

han d outstretched to help or save him ! N ever !
N ever !
S uch were her musings through the l ong dark ,

night and then the note arrived

, .

She took it up wearily but when s h e s a w i ts con

,

tents S he d ashed i t to the ground .

“
I won t go near h im ! 0 God have pity on m e !
’

I am heart broken -

I t was a despairing cry but i t reache d Heaven ; an d

,

then ensu ed a struggl e wh ich continued for a good

hour or more .

Go d above d i d pity an d He stooped to help ; but

,

it was not in the way s h e woul d have chosen .

She w a s brought to her knees at l ast by words that

“
seemed to ring through her h eart an d brain : I f ye
do not forgive neither w il l you r Father which i s in
,

”
h eaven forgive you r trespasses .

An d then worn an d weary with the inward conflict ,

’
s h e made her way to M artin s cottage .

S he fou nd h im i n very much the same state as that

in which s h e had l eft h im H i s wi fe w a s sobbing by
.

h i s bedsi de .

He have bin terribl e bad M i ssy al l n ight , The ,

.

passon h e have hel d i m down by force to keep i m

,
’ ’

i n hi s bed Th e pas son he have bin w i I al l the time

.
’

but he be o ff n o w to h i s break fast M artin be gripped .

’
w i fever an he doth not know what h e saith !
’
,

B ut Martin d i d know Una He put o ut h i s hands .

beseech ingl y .
 MARTI N S CONFES S I O N
’
2 77

Ye have not come to curse me M issy ! A y be , ,

merci f ul f o r the devil he hath got me tight

, , .

Then Una knelt by hi s bedsi de an d bowing her ,

head till it touched h i s feverish ol d hands s h e began ,

to s o b
.

“
Oh Martin I forgive you an d God wi l l forgive
, , ,

you i f w e a sk H i m I am only a s inner l ike yoursel f

.

I am not fit to be a fol lower o f our dear M aster M y .

heart i s ful l o f rage an d rebel l ion Let us a sk to be

.

”
forgiven .

H e r tears seemed to touch M artin at once He .

sank back amongst h i s pillows w ith a weary S igh .

“ ”
I be forgiven ! Wi fe let me sl eep
,
.

’
He hardl y seemed to hear Una s prayer When the .

doctor came i n an hour l ater h e foun d him s l eeping

,

quietly and from that time h i s recovery was rapi d

, .
 CHAPTER X X I I .

THE RETURN

S he is co m in g w h e re w e , p a rte d , whe re she w an d e r s e ve ry

d ay ;
Th ere s’
a gay su rp r i s e b e fore h e r w h o th in k s m e far aw a y! ”

S h e f e l t h i s f oo t s t e p n i gh
l i f t e d g l an c e —b ut o n e
,

On e s u dd e n .

A tr e m o r a n d a s tart ,

So g e n t l y w a s th e ir gr e e ti n g d o n e
T h a t w h o w o u l d g u e s s t h e ir h e a r t P”

E x tr a c ts fr o m I r i s h B a lla ds .

An d n o w Kathi e I have no h o pe l e ft ! He i s dead

, , ,

an d Jim i s dead an d I cannot ke e p u p any more H o w

,
'

‘
coul d they b e saved when their boat was ri d dl ed w ith,

’ ”
hole s P
Una was s ittin g oppos ite Kathi e with a wh ite , ,

despairin g face S he had been giving her an account

.

o f M artin s con fession an d Kath i e had l i stened

’
,

breathl essl y She covered her face with h er hands

.

a fter Un a s l ast despairing words

’
.

Una thought sh e w a s li ke hersel f overcome w ith , ,

despai r She gazed at her in S il ent pity

. .

Presently Kath i e raised h er head an d her eyes ,

travell ed at once to that pi ece o f paper above the

mantel shel f
“
With Go d al l things are possibl e
’

.
 TH E RETURN 2 79

She pointed to it in s ilence but with a gathering ,

l ight in her tearful eyes .

Ti s possibl e still M i ssy God hath not taken

’
.
,

”
my hope from me .

Una l ooked at her in wonder then shook her head ,

.

“
God has taken my hope from me K athie I am ,
.

a w idow and I shal l never s e e him again al ive

,
.

Stil l Kathie pointed resol utel y to h er verse .

‘
Al l things are possibl e I be not goin to mi s .
’ ’

’
trust our Father s power M issy He be keepin u s
’

,
.

H e hath not
’
w a i ti n ; but I be goin to wait on
’
.

’
te ll e d me to give up hope ; an I feel oh M i ssy I , , ,

cannot rightly tel l the f e e l i n but Jim be not passed ’

to the other s ide yet I be positive certain 0 that !

.
’

’
What do it matter to th Al mighty i f the boat be
‘
riddled w i holes ? D i d not th e dear M aster keep
’ ’

Peter up sa fe an d sound w i o u t a boat at al l ! Hope ,

’

on M i ssy as I be goin to an thank the Lord that u s

, ,
’

,
’

haven t had to s e e thei r dear dead bodies l ai d out

’

sti ff be fore u s to quench the hope and l ight from our

”
hearts .

It was impossibl e to resist Kathie s hope ful per ’

suasion .

The colour crept b a c k into Una s cheeks th e l ight ’

into her eyes .

“
Oh I wil l hope still God helping me I w il l !
, .
,

Sh e was making her wa y home when sh e met D onal d

Mc Fa r l a n e for the second time that morning Sh e .

had passed h i m on h er wa y to Kathi e s cottage an d ’

he had gri eved to see her lagging steps and her s a d ,

28 0 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

despairing face He had wi shed her goo d morn i ng

.

brightly an d s h e had respon ded mourn ful ly

,

“ ‘
I feel there w il l be n o more good morn ings for me ’

M r M c Fa r l a n e ; for l i fe w il l be onl y time to be dragged

.

through I can hope no longer Everything seems

. .

”
taken from me .

H e h ad taken himsel f to task a fte r l eaving her for ,

the secret j oy that crept into hi s h eart as h e thought ,

that i f once convince d o f th e real ity o f her l oss sh e ,

might at some di stant date be induced to turn to him

for com fort .

Now as he met h er an d noted her swi ft eager foot

,
~

steps the col our an d brightness in h er face and th e

, ,

happy sparkl e in her eye he wondered w ith a sharp

,

pang at h i s heart whether s h e might actual ly have

heard ti dings o f her hu sband .

She nodded to h im w ith a smil e .

“
I have been getting com fort an d hope from
Kath ie S h e sai d and — an d I think from Go d
”
,
“
,
.

“
I am s o gl ad he sai d h eartil y ; an d h e honestl y
,

trie d to bel ieve that he was .

Yet when S h e had passed on the young man ,

wrestl ed i n hi s soul w ith conflicting passions ; and at

l ast he sped away to a place on the top o f the cl i ffs
wh ere h e got down on hi s knees an d spread it al l o u t
be fore hi s God .

He fel t that a l ove that coul d rej oice in a l oved

’
one s sadness was w rong an d worth l ess i n itsel f .

“
I f I real l y l ove h er as she deserves to be l oved ,

“
h e cried to h imsel f I shoul d l ong to hear that sh e
,
 THE RETUR N 28 1

had obtained the desire o f her heart ; that her hu sban d

had been brought back to her from the grave M ay .

I be kept from showing her by word o r look that I

have other thoughts i n my heart I f S he be happy
.
,

cannot I be happy in her happin ess ? What evil

spirit has taken me to wish to s e e her in d espai r ; to
,

l ong for a proo f o f her husban d s death wh en hope i s

’

making l i fe stil l bright to her P ”

Long h e knel t there but when he returned to h i s

rectory hi s face was cal m an d seren e— a picture o f
,

h i s soul within . Hi s conflict had robbed h im o f hi s

light —hearted gaiety ; it coul d not rob him o f h i s peace .

A n d Una went her way utterly unconscious o f the

part she was playing in her rector s l i fe Even her
’
.

’
father d i scovered Donal d s secret soon an d woul d ,

sometimes ma k e the young man wince by s ly a l

l u s i o n s to it
.

“
Sh e w il l have to acknowledge hersel f a w i dow
”
be fore s h e welcomes any suitor he sai d o n e day ;
,

and that sh e wil l not do for a good four years yet ,

and then there wil l be a term o f widowhood Any .

man who seeks to woo her must have the patience o f

,

”
Job !
Sometimes Donal d wondered i f twenty years woul d
e ff ace the memory o f that l ost husband su ffi cientl y
to al l ow her to l isten to any words o f love from
another .

One day he was invited over to dine at Th i s e l “

thwaite Manor for Duncan and h i s bri de had r e

,
28 2 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

turned from their honeymoon an d were begin n ing to

entertain the county .

M arj ori e took a l ik ing at once to th e bright young

'

r ector an d made many i nquiries about P e r r a n c ov

,
e

an d its inhabitants .

“
I never w a s in such a dul l place i n al l my l i fe ,

s h e said shak ing h er pretty head in remembrance o f

,

“
it
. I f D uncan had not come over to rel ieve my
monotony I think I shoul d have gone mad Do you
,
.

— —
know my young si ster i n l aw M r s Gregson P ”
,
.

Donal d signified that he di d adding ,

“ ”
She seem s to feel her husband s l oss very deeply ! ’

” “
F i ddl e s ti e ks I exclai m ed M arj ori e ; she may
think S he does ; but though he was my brother I tel l '

you that a more dul l matter o f fact coupl e I never ,

- -

w i sh to s e e ! They were utterl y unsuited to each

other . M y s i ster i n l aw was j ust a heal thy happy
- -

ch ild devoted to outdoor pursuits an d wrapped up in

, ,

h er boating fis hing an d such l ike ; my brother w a s a

, ,

cl ever bookworm whol ly engrossed in hi s writin g and

,

books They married why an d how I never coul d

.
,

understan d ; I bel ieve ch iefly becau se my brother s ’

’
frien d and Una s guardian wi shed it an d they l ived ,

together because custom made them They had n o .

a ff ection for each other no sympath i es in common ; ,

an d the worst o f it was they were per fectly content ,

w ith their l ot an d I coul d not make them s e e they

,

’
ought to be di fferent Una s h eart w a s a s col d and .

hard as stone Sh e d i d not know th e meaning o f l ove

. .

I fancied my brother w a s waking up a l ittl e a sh ort

 THE RETURN 28 3

’
time be fore h i s death but I don t know S ince hi s
,
.

death Una has worked hersel f i n to a remorseful fram e .

o f min d an d talks a good deal o f her love for h im

, ,

but i t i s not genuine I f you th ink that she i s dying

.

o f gri e f at hi s l oss you are vastly mistaken She .

cannot deceive hersel f i f s h e deceives others The .

”
marri age was a fail ure an d that i s a fact
, .

D onal d came away from h i s vi sit to T h i s l e th w a i te

Manor feel ing strangel y l ight at heart H e woul d .

not recognize to h imsel f that i t was M arj orie s words

.
’

that had made him s o ; but the future s eemed bright

w ith hope ; an d he school ed h imsel f to wait w ith
patience til l time had wrought in h is favour and he ,

coul d venture to pl ead h i s cause .

I t was very pl easant to meet Una a s often as h e

d id and to feel that sh e l iked h is society an d con
, ,

fi de d s o frankly an d ful ly i n h im She was much .

about the vil lage an d w a s nursing o l d M artin back

,

to health an d strength with a pati ence an d assi duity

that astonished him He was very so ftened by h i s
.

a cci dent an d D onal d h ad many a heart searchin g tal k

,
-

with him .

One autumn a fternoon when the sunsh ine l ay o n

,

the water i n gol den rippl es Una and Kathi e went ,

o ut for a row Thei r tal k was ch i efly o f their absent

.

husband s ; i t was th e one topic which n ever tired

them ; an d then look ing at the beauty o f sea an d sky
,

be fore them their thoughts rose upward s to th e Gol den

,

City .

You h a v
“
e o n e certain com fort Kathie that I h ave
, ,
2 84 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

not sai d Una sadly

,
I f anyth ing -real ly has hap
.

pened to J im you know where h e has gone He knows

,
.

the wa y i n at those gates bu t Cuthbert— m y hu sban d ,

I p ray n ight an d morning that he may have foun d i t

but I am doubtful — I am not sure ”
.

”
A fore m y Jim l e ft me sai d Kathie gravel y he , ,

‘
sai th to me S weetheart maybe the Lord wants me
-
,

’
to give a message to th e master on board the F lyi n
‘
G u ll . Any ways says he I l l have a try that w ay
’

,
’
.
’

’
An d M i ssy be assured he di d an i f s o be that h e
, , ,

coul d bring an ignorant l ass l ike m e s e l f to know th e

”
way mi ghtn t our Father u s e h im to S how the master P
,
’

“
Yes yes Kath ie ; for haven t you taught me ? O h
, ,
’

I love to think o f them together ! J im s o strong an d ,

brave an d true I w ill pray an d bel i eve that Cuth

,
.

bert l i stened to him an d was l ed to s e e the right way

,
.

He u sed to talk about it an d h e tol d me to ,

fin d it that I m ight l ead h im I w ish I h ad before he .

”
l e ft me ! oh I wi sh I had !
,

They returned wh en the sun h ad set an d as they ,

made for thei r lan ding pl ace they saw con si derabl e -
,

excitement on the beach .

“
An extra good shoal o f fish suggested Una , .

“ ”
N ow Kathie pul l !
, ,

Having their back s to the shore they di d n ot see ,

on e tall upright figure standing on the shingl e with

, ,

h i s eyes watching intently thei r approach The fishers .

w ere th ronging ro u n d him but he seemed obl iviou s ,

o f their presence As Kath i e w ith a l ong an d vigorou s

.

pul l landed th e boat h igh up on the shingl e an d ,

 THE RETURN 28 5

s prang l ightly o u t s h e fel t two arms roun d her waist

, ,

nd with a cry o f alarm s h e turned to face — h er

husban d !
Ye s it was Jim looking brown and well though
, ,

ver y th i n Kath ie 3 heart almost stopp e d beating as

.

s h e felt hersel f in his tight embrace The two d i d .

not heed the onl ookers The women w ere pressing

.

forward with their aprons to their eyes ready an d ,

eager for a scene . They were di sappointed that

Kathie neither screamed nor went into hysterics ; the
men pipes in their mouths looked the picture o f
, ,

stol i d indi fference but in real ity were en j oyin g it as

,

much as their women .

“ ”
A y lassi e ! came i n a deep s ob from Jim as h e
, ,
,

lai d hi s cheek against the flushed tear —stained one o f ,

“
h i s wi fe s
’

,
they te ll e d m e thee hath not given over
”
expecting me I
”
No lad
, ,wh ispered Kathi e breathl essly ; God
” ’
hath bi d me hope on He hath bin my stay !
,

W hen Una s a w the meeting her heart sank ,

.

Where w a s her husband ? Jim h ad returned al one .

She stood with wh ite face and quivering l ip unabl e ,

to frame the question that she l onged to ask .

It seemed to her hours before Kathie raised her

head an d encountered her anxious gaze B ut J im .

l eft her n o longer i n suspense .

The master is at the Towers sa fe an d wel l M i ssy , ,

h e sai d ; an d th en without a word Una turned and ran ,

swi ftl y up the village street .

“
Safe an d wel l ! Sa fe and well P she kept repeatin g )
28 6 A D AUGHTER O F T HE S EA

an d a s she ran S he raised her face upwards

,
.

“
Thank God ! Thank God ! Oh how good o f ,

”
Him !
Her heart was w ell nigh bursting w ith gratitude -

an d j oy .

She met B al dwin running down the drive bare

headed and breathless .

“ ’
Oh m i stress h e gasped ; u s have been s e e ki n for
, ,

you everywhere The master .

“ ”
I know Bal dwin Where i s he P
, .

’ ’
S e e ki n for you mistress He be j ust goin down
,
.

”
to shore .

Una gave a l ittl e c r y as s h e caught S ight o f her ,

hu sban d s figure descen ding the stone steps l eading

’

from her own turret tower .

An d at her cry Cuthbert turned In an other .

’
moment Una s head was pil lowed o n h i s shoul der and
her arm s roun d hi s n e ck .

“ ”
M y l ittl e w i fe !
O h Cuthbert I h ave wanted y o u
, ,

The words were not much but th e h earts of both ,

were too ful l for utterance Presentl y Una began to .

s ob, an d Cuthbert clasping her to him and soothing

, ,

an d com forting her foun d thi s moment ful ly com ,

p e n sa te d f o r all th e su fferings o f absence He was .

doubtful whether h e woul d receive a warm wel come ;

an d h e fel t a thril l run through h im when her arms
were clasped round hi s neck ; when h er so ft l ips were
pressed aga i nst h i s an d s h e resigned hersel f w ith a
,

l ittl e happy S igh into hi s arms .

 C U T H BE R T A E W A NT E D ! ”
O H, ,
I H V YO U
 T HE RETUR N 28 7

When s h e grew cal mer S h e drew hersel f away with

,

blushing cheeks then began to th ink o f h i s comfort

,
.

“ ?
When and h o w d i d you come A re you hungry
or tired ? Oh I want to know s o much
,
I must .

pinch mysel f to s e e that I am al ive ! Come back to

the house Oh why was I not here to wel come
.
,

”
you !
Cuthbert drew her arm into h i s .

“
\Ve di d not return by s e a ; w e came by coach to
K i n g s ta w to n an d have driven over I found every .

one staring at me as i f I were a ghost It had such .

a depressing e ffect that when I reached the Towers

,

an d met the frightened faces o f B al dwin and M r .

Craven I fel t incl ined to turn tail and run I began

,
.

to think that my w i fe woul d not want me ! Tel l me

”
once m ore that you do .

B ut Una coul d not answer ; s h e only presse d hi s

arm .

Her husban d continued

“
I shall be glad o f something to eat and then I ,

wil l tel l you all We have come straight fr o m

.

London .

“
Why di d you not write ?
We travell ed as fast as any l etter M ay I ask .

who you have staying in the hou se ? A poor ol d

broken down man put hi s head out o f my stu dy and
-
,

when h e s a w me bolted in again a s i f he were scared ,

out o f h i s senses !
He i s m y fath er .

’
Una s tone w a s a l ittl e sti ff Her husband q uite.

started .
2 88 A DAUG H TER O F TH E S EA

M y dear forgive me ! I beg you r pardon but I

, ,

d i d not know he was in England You m ust tel l me .

al l about i t l ater Tell me di d you th ink I was

.
,

”
dead ?
“
O h I tr i ed not to but it was s o hard ! Cuthbert
, , ,

coul d y o u not have written ? Y ou do not know what

”
I have gone through !
I d i d wr i te about a month ago—my first oppo r
tu n i ty
. Have y ou not received it P ”

“
No .

It may come to y ou yet Here we are ! I w il l

.

tel l y o u o u r story soon and y o u w il l see how i mp o s

,

”
sibl e it was for m e to break the sil ence .

They entered the Towers together and Una ,

’
at once set to work to supply her husband s needs .

He was weary and worn w ith travel ; yet as she

fl i tte d to an d f r o with a l ight in her eyes an d a flu sh
o n her cheek h i s gaze never le ft h er
,
H o w was it he .
,

asked himsel f that he had never appreciated h er

,

beauty an d grace when first they were marr i ed ?

“ ”
It was that wretched book he sai d to himsel f ,

i t sapped the ver y l i fe o u t o f me and absorbed al l ,

”
my thoughts and ti me .

Una stol e a s h y gl ance at h im n o w an d then .

How strong and manl y an d h an dsome h e was !

Wh at a tower o f stren gth he woul d be to h er in al l
h er di fficul ties .

“ ”
An d h e belon g s to me ! sh e thought exultantly ;
and I b elong to h im ! W hy di d I not care about
being w ith him before ? W h a t a w o n d er ful th i n g
 THE RETURN 2 89

love i s an d how strong an d deep and true i t i s ! I

,

am beginning to understand Marj orie an d Kathie ,

”
only I coul d not talk about it as th ey do .

While Kathie an d Una were filled w ith thanks

’
giving a t their l oved ones return there was one in ,

Pe r r an c o v e who w a s going through a very dark hour

o f h i s l i fe .

Sitting that a fternoon in h i s study which overl ooked

the blue ocean i n front o f him Donal d M c Fa r l a n e
,

was wrapt in rosy day dreams -

.

Hi s B ibl e lay cl ose to h im an d h i s notes for n ext

Sunday s sermon
’
He had taken for h i s subj ect
.
,

“
Happy i s he that hath the God o f Jacob for h i s help ,

”
whose hope i s in th e Lord hi s God .

He had been dwel l ing on the happiness o f a

Chri stian s l i fe o f th e freedom o f s ervice and o f th e
’

, ,

glorious hope in the future .

From such thoughts he had come d own from

h eaven to earth and with hi s elbows on hi s w indow
,

S il l had been th inking o f h is own l i fe at the present

time.

He rai sed h i s head with del ight as th e sal t spray

o f the ocean was wa fted in at h i s window The same .

gol den sun shine that had so pl eased Una and Kath ie
on the water was l y ing be fore h im now White .

screaming gul l s skimmed th e waves ; a reddi sh

brown sail came gl i ding i nto the bay ; an d beyon d
on th e horizon were mi s ty outl ines o f l arge vessel s
sail ing slowly by .

1 9
29 6 A DAUGHTER O F T H E S EA

It w a s a del icious worl d to be in he thought ; an d ,

a quiet dreamy happiness took possession o f hi s soul .

One face an d figure was steal ing i nto h i s thoughts ;

a face that perhaps by the goodness o f Go d m ight
on e day be seated by thi s very w in dow in cl ose
proximity to h imsel f He shu t h i s eyes an d gave
.

himsel f up to h is imaginations He went over hi s .

la st intervi ew with her ; th e tones o f her cl ear ringing

voice ; the quick turn o f her l ittl e head ; the so ft ,

expressive eyes— eyes which sparkl ed wi th h i dden

laughter at o n e mom ent and were fil l ed with so f t ,

w i st ful ness th e n ext ; he s a w her ben ding over o l d

Martin in hi s bed soothing hi m when he was r e f r a c
,

tory scol ding h is w i fe in her pretty ch il dish way for

not nursing h im better He pictured h e r pres iding .

over hi s tabl e when h e came in from a long afternoon s ’

vi siting ; nursing h im i f he were il l com forting him i n ,

sorrow ; a tru e hel pmate in S hade an d sun shine .

An d then su ddenl y a voice broke in upon h i s

musings .

“
I f you pl ease sir have ye h eard the news ?
, ,

It was Sarah o f course h i s gossiping cook and

, ,

housekeeper S orr a quarrel in th e vill age perhaps ; a

.
’

birth a marriage o r even a death

, , .

H e turned a l ittl e impatientl y in h i s chair .

“
W ell what i s it S arah
'

,
P ”

M r Gregson an Jim Tanner have come back al ive

.

”
a fter a ll !
He started up as i f he h ad been shot .

“
What P h e al most shouted
”
.
 TH E RETUR N 29 1

Sarah repeated her news w ith increased importance

o f manner adding ,

“
Tommy Fiel ding what brings the fi s h have seed
’
em both ; h e saith the y do be w un n e r f ul gl ad to be
home agen Tis a ressurection compl ete for none
.
’
,

’ ’
o n u s had a thought 0 they comin back to their
’
wives . Ti s not for noth in the young l eddy at the
’

” ’
Towers have re fused to wear her w i dder s weeds !
Donal d ordered her sharpl y o u t o f th e room .

The blow had fal l en an d it was a heavy one At

,
.

first he seemed al most stunned .

He l ooke d away over the s e a that was stil l covered

with dancing sunbeams b ttt a black pal l seemed
,

to have fall en over everyth ing H i s bright hopes for .

the future were crushed ; hi s dreams had vanished ;

l i fe that ha d assumed such a roseate hu e a few moments
before now was a weary monotonous round , .

“ ” “
Oh my God ! he cried
,
help me stren gthen
, ,

”
me S how me I have stil l someth ing to l ive for !
,

H i s head drooped til l i t l ay on h is fol ded arms .

The setting sun sent one o f i ts so ft gol den rays across

to com fort him It ki ssed hi s hai r but never reached
.
,

his heart and it faded away convinced o f i ts fail ure

, .

Twil ight crept in ; the s e a an d horizon grew misty

and ind i stinct : th e gul l s flew o ff to thei r nests ; and
’
the fishers voices on the shore were still ed Lights .

twinkl ed out o f the cottage windows ; the sky became

stud ded with stars ; and th e night ai r grew keen an d
frosty .

Stil l that bowed fi g ure by the win d o w The soul .

29 2 A DAUGHTER O F T H E S EA

of a sorrow ful man beaten about i n a tempest ; but i t

found i ts anchorage at l ength and as the last stroke
,

o f midnight d ied away D onal d rose an d s traightene d

,

h i s tal l figu re
.

“
I have noth ing to regret I t was no s i n to love
.

her un der th e circumstances I h ave put i t from me

.

n ow . M y M aster s m essages w il l occupy my t i me

’

and tho u ghts ! God hel p ing m e I wil l not l et th i s

“

troubl e spoil my l i fe !
 CHAPTER X XI I I .

CUT H B ERT S STO R Y ’

W h e r e e r I r o a m w h a t e ve r r e a l m s
’
to se e,

My h e a rt u tr a v
,

e l l d f o n d l y t u rn s th e e
’

,
n , to .

G o l ds mi th .

And n o w Cuthbert begin from the very begin

, ,

”
n i ng an d tel l me al l about it .

Una was sittin g close to her husband that first

e vening .They were by themsel ves in the d rawing
room M r Carteret had retired earl y to bed ; he was
. .

n ot s o s tu pe fi e d with drink as to be unaware that hi s

presence woul d not be desi rabl e o n the present
occasion A bright wood fire was burning on the
.

hearth and two com fortabl e ch ai rs were drawn up to

,

i t Cuthbert was rested an d re freshed ; but a s h i s

.

w i fe let her eyes dwel l o n h i s face with deep content ,

s h e noted some worn an d weary l ines that u sed not

t o be there .

He be gan h i s story at once .

“
We had good weather down to Plymouth I got .

my business done quickl y an d sati s factori ly as far as

I coul d s e e O f cou rse I knew well the time i t takes
.
,

to mak e any i mprovements roun d th e coast ; but I

fancy I convinced them o f o u r n eed o f a stronger
for c e o f coast gu a r d s i n thes e parts W e got away i n .
29 4 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

due time I thought I shoul d be home so soon that

.

there w a s n o n eed t o write The posts are s o ted i ous

. .

It was towards the en d o f the first day that we noticed

that we had sprung a l eak I t is a mystery to u s now
.

h ow i t happened ; J im fancied h e coul d soon remedy

it but when h e gave it hi s attention h e foun d w e
,

were l iteral ly perforated w ith hol es and almost ,

be fore h e coul d tel l me we were fill ing rapidly a n d

, ,

th e boat began to S ink It w a s dusk ; we were

.

w ith in sight o f the shore but i t al l happened s o

,

suddenly that we had no time to s ignal f o r help .

J im gave me a l i febelt an d took o n e h imsel f I n a .

‘
moment w e were engul fed in th e waves We .

’
shal l n ever reach the shore I sai d to Jim He j ust
, .

”
shook hi s head .

“ ”
Oh how aw ful ! sai d Una w ith a shu dder
, How .

”
helpl ess you mu st have felt !
“
We gave oursel ves up for lost I go t hol d o f a .

bit o f the F ly i n g G u ll wh ich w a s fast going to pieces ,

and i n doing s o the m izzen mast fel l wit h a crash

-
,

catching me across the head I remember no

.

more ; I have only a very hazy recol l ecti on o f noi se ,

voices an d a n ever —
, ceasing grin ding in my head .

When I recovered full con sciou sness I found mysel f ,

in a Norwegian hut with Jim an d I coul d not ,

imagin e wh at had happened H e tol d me bit by bit

. .

W e had been picked up by a Norwegian barque .

Ji m had got hol d o f me di rectl y I was struck ,

but he sai d we were very n early both going un der ,

when through th e d usk h e cau g ht si g ht o f a

IN A EN T W E W E R E E N G U L FED I N
MO M THE W A VES .
 CUTHB ERT S S TOR Y
’
29 5

passing vessel Hi s cries were heard ; but we were

.

both unconsciou s when they hauled us in and I had ,

‘
a week or two o f what Jim cal l s stupor an d
ravin s ! It was concussion o f th e brain ; but I was
’ ’

so bad t h at the captain landed u s at a l ittl e fish ing

vil lage a s soon as we reached the Norwegian coast ,

fearing to have the respon sibil ity o f me any l onger .

There some peasants took us in ; but there was no

doctor and very l ittl e food that either o f u s coul d
,

eat We l ived enti rely on fi s h and a kin d o f rye

.

cake When I was better we began to wonder how

.

we cou l d get away Vessel s hardly ever touched

.

where we were an d I di d not know how to send you

,

a message I was makin g arrangements for one o f

.

the fishers to take me to Stockholm i n h i s smack ,

when one day a native o f the place cam e in hi s smal l

trading barque to see some o f hi s friends He was .

much in want o f another han d on board for he had ,

lost one o f h i s men on the way H e vol unteered to .

take u s back to England i f Jim woul d fil l up th e ,

vacancy on board ; an d we read ily assented to thi s .

I was s til l weak an d stupi d a fter my i l lness and di d ,

not notice as time went on that we were not nearing

Engl an d ; but at l ast Jim came to me with an
‘
excited face Us be bound for South A merica h e
.
,
’

‘ ’
said an th e c a pti n have took u s in completely
,

I found out to my cost th at it was true ; the captain

was a thorough blackguard an d h e not Only pres sed ,

Jim into the service but as soon as I was strong ,

eno u gh I was forced to w ork too I di d not m in d

, .
29 6 A DAUGHTER O F T HE S EA

work . I have rou g he d i t before in my time ; but I

w a s w il d to get home ; an d there seemed no chan c e
o f send ing any message to yo u When we final l y
.

reached B uenos Ayres he cast u s adri ft w i thout a

,

penny i n o u r pockets an d I coul d get redres s

,

from n o o n e I can hardl y give yo u a ful l account

.

o f what we di d We tried ou r hand s at everything ;

.

an d w e final ly worked o u r passage home a fter

month s o f privation an d sicknes s I w rote to you .

three times ; but am not surpri sed that y o u never

received my l etters I was tol d o ut there that robbery
.

”
o f the mail s was o f the most fre q uent occurrence .

“
O h Cuthbert ! N o won der you l ook wor n an d
,

”
i l l H o w dread ful i t has been !
!

B ut the past i s past sai d Cuthbert takin g her

, ,

“
han d in hi s ; an d i f du ring my absence my l ittl e
”
wi fe h as learnt to l ove me I am wel l content , .

Una smil ed up at h im w ith a heart to o ful l for

word s .

’
A fter a paus e she tol d h im o f o l d M artin s c o n f e s
,

sion ; an d th ere was so much to rel ate and expl ain that
i t was midn i ght be fore they retired to rest .

Just as th ey were l eaving th e firesi de Cuthbert , ,

’
tak ing both hi s wi fe s han d s in h i s stood l ooking down
,

at her v e r y earn estl y .

“
I have som eth ing el se to tell you Una he sai d , , ,

an d h i s tone was hu sh ed ; someth ing that I hope you

”
w i l l be glad to h ear .

U na l i fted her eyes to h i s expectantl y .

“
I thi n k I h av e h i nte d to you bef o re th a t I h a v e
 CUTHB ERT S S TORY ’
29 7

b een seek ing th e Truth ever s ince your guard i an d ied .

”
I have found it at l ast .

’
A rad iant look crept into Una s eyes .

“ ” “
An d s o have I s h e said , I have foun d the W ay ;
.

”
El i and Kathi e have l ed me into it .

“
Jim w as th e means o f showing it to me sa i d ,

“
Cuthbert . I l ittl e thought that a simpl e fish er lad
had found what al l my l earn ing had failed to show
me . Rather remarkabl e that w e shoul d both have
”
been dealt w i th at the same time .

U na softly repeated under her breath

‘
I am the Way th e Truth an d the Li fe n o man
, , ,

cometh unto the Father but by M e The Truth a t

tracted you the Way attracted me ; i t i s Li fe to u s
,

”
both .

“ ”
May G o d h elp u s to l ive i t o ut!
An d that was al l that Cuthbert sa i d He w a s a man .

o f few w ords ; an d never l et hi s wi fe know the dark

time in hi s soul be fore the l igh t shone in Doubts

,
.

an d fears a s to the true creed had beset him ; he had

turned from the Koran to the say i ngs o f Budha
and Con fucius and had dipped into the many
,

Eastern an d Western bel ie fs an d superstitions Yet .

he had been forced to come back to the B ibl e an d

acknowl edge its superiority over al l He h ad read i t .

through an d through an d weighe d i t intell ectual ly an d

,

theoretical ly ; but i t had failed to reach h i s heart u n ,

til the simpl e faith o f h i s humbl e friend i n adversity

h a d shown him the gol den key to th e whol e .

’ ”
My gr a n f e yth e r says sai d Jim o n e nigh t as they
,
29 8 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

were talk ing together that one name only do ru n

,

through th e whole blessed B ook an d that be th e One ,

‘ ’
who call ed H imsel f the Truth the bl essed Lord , ,

Jesus Chr ist Take that name out ; an d the gate to

.

heaven be fast barred an d locked agen u s ; there be no

forgivenes s o f s i n n o resurrection o f th e dead nough t ,

to l ive or die for !

An d ben ding again to th e story o f the l i fe death , ,

an d resurrecti on o f our Lord Cuthbert s a w bel ieved

, , ,

and worshipped .

The next morning h e made acquaintance with M

Carteret who was suavity itsel f an d r ather rel i eved ,

hi s host s anxiou s fears by h i s apparent s tr a i gh tf o r

ward sincerity an d courteou snes s o f manner Cuth .

’
bert coul d not forget M r End icott s description o f him ;
.

an d h e was agreeably surpri sed when h e came to talk

to h im to fin d h im a wel l read cul tured man
-
He .

acknowl edged to h imsel f that at first sigh t h i s appear

, ,

ance had prej udic ed him aga i nst h i m b u t he fel t that in ,

hi s absence he must have been a com fort an d help to

hi s wi fe
.

Una coul d not bear to un deceive him S he s a w .

what a restraint her father was putting upon h imsel f ,

and hoped that Cuthbert s presence woul d be bene

’

fi c i a l in every way to him She was hersel f so happy

.

an d li ght at heart that the past with al l its di fficulties

,

seemed to have rol l ed away l ike a morning m i st Sh e .

put it from h er an d dwel t onl y in th e present Sh e .

met D onal d in th e vil lage th e day a fter h er husban d s ’

r e turn an d went up to h im wi th ch i l dl ike j oy

,
.
 ’
CUTHB ERT S S T O R Y 2 99

O h M r M c Fa r l a n e hasn t God been good to me ?

,
.
,
’

My cup seems overflowing Isn t i t spl endi d having .

’

h im returned in heal th an d strength a fter al l he has

undergone ? I forget— you haven t heard hi s story ’
.

You must come up an d d ine with u s and hear al l

about it H o w thank ful I am that I never gave up
.

’
hope an d wore those dread ful wi dow s weeds ! I am
s o glad I have met you You have been such a good
.

frien d to me al l thi s d read ful time I don t know .

’

”
what I shoul d have don e without you !
She placed her han d in hi s an d looked up w ith s u ch ,

grateful l iking in her eyes that Donal d w inced a s i f,

he had been struck .

I am s o glad to have been o f any service to you ,

”
M rs Gregson h e sai d very qu ickly ; but h i s grave
.
,

tone startl ed h e r .

“
Yo u are not w el l sh e sai d hastily ; you are look
,

ing ti red an d worn I hope you are not in troubl e o f

.

”
any sort .

Then D onal d smil ed an d h i s smil e though l ess

, ,

radiant was as sweet as ever

,
.

“
I am quite wel l thank you he sa i d ; but I passed
, ,

a sleepl es s night ; I am so unaccustomed to such an

occurrence that I feel a l ittl e drowsy th is morning ;
’
but I shal l work it o ff I am j ust going over to Eagl e s
.

”
Head .

“
Oh what rej oicing there wil l be there ! It seem s
,

too good to be true to have both my husban d and Jim

back together !
3 00 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

S he nodde d brightly to h im an d passed o n ; but

,

thought to hersel f
I n ever s a w M r Mc Fa r l a n e look s o g rave It i s
“
. .

l ike a winter day a fter a summer o n e Al l the s u n

.

”
sh in e seems to have le ft h i s face !
She thou g ht s o stil l on th e foll owing S unday whe n ,

D onal d walked i nto the pulpit an d gave o u t hi s text :

“
Althou g h th e fi g tree shal l not bl ossom n e i th e
-
,

shal l frui t be i n the vines ; the l abour o f the ol ive shal l

fail an d the fiel d s shal l yiel d no meat ; the flock shal l
,

be cut o ff from the fol d an d there shal l be no herd

,

in the stal l s ; yet I w il l rej o i ce i n the Lord I w i l l j oy

,

”
i n the G o d o f my sal vation .

He had had a sore time o f i t o n the S atur d ay when ,

he had looked over h i s notes for the first t i m e since

hi s troubl e Th e ring o f joy and o f hope through
.

them struck him a s forced an d unreal .

“
What i s th e matter w ith me P ”
h e mu sed I s God
.

not the same to me H i s service h ere an d hereafter

, ,

’
an d al l the freedom an d j oy ful hope o f a Chri stian s
l i fe ? Cann o t I tun e my feel ings to the glad notes o f
the gospel ? I s my troubl e to rob my pe o pl e o f the
j oy ful mes sa g e I have to give them P ”

Th e weight d i d n o t seem to l i ft from h i s soul Do n .

al d coul d not be artificial ; h e preached from hi s o w n

experience h e fel t it impossibl e to stan d up an d take
“ “ ”
happin es s a n d hope for h i s them e .

He sat f o r a l ong wh i l e deep in thought as h e turned

over th e l eaves o f hi s B ibl e ; then very del iberatel y h e
tore up h i s n otes an d set to work a fresh .
 CUTHB ERT S S TORY ’

3 0 1

He wrote rapidly for some t i me an d seemed to take ,

a morbi d del ight i n dwel l ing on th e fi rst part of thi s

“
fresh text When h e came to the word y e t he
.
,

paused Here was the pith o f the whol e th e d iamon d

.
,

in the dark mine ; and for the time it staggered h im .

It needed another l ong wrestl e on hi s knees be fore

the ful l glory and beauty o f it stol e in upon hi s soul .

And then the l ight shone in ; an d i f it was not such

a mi d day radiance i t was the so ft a ftergl ow o f the
-
,

setting s u n that b e a u ti fi e s and tra ns forms the bleakest

and barest heights I t was a power ful sermon an d
.
,

o n e that l ingered i n the memories o f al l .

A poor man an d a rich God ; utter fail ure o f ci r

c um s tan c e s ; complete sati s faction i n soul .

“ ” ’
Eh dear said Jonas P e n g a ff s wi dow walk ing
, ,

“
back to her l onel y cottage h e do know what ti s to ,
’

be lonely an have noth in l eft He d i d make my eyes

’ ’
.

weep bravely B ut how mighty sure he be o f the

.

Lord s h elp an d com fort ! I be o f a mind to try for

’

”
un l

And Cuthbert remarked to h is wi fe as they wal ked

home togeth er
“
VVh a t an eloquent parson w e have ! H e seemed to
take us into the biggest and blackest cl oud one coul d
ever imagine an d bring us th rough it into heaven
,

”
itsel f I
’
Wh ich was a very fa i r ep i tome o f D onal d s ex
pe r i e n e e .

“
We wil l ask him up to d inner Una sai d i m ,

pu l s i v
e ly He has been such a com fort to me since he
.
3 02 A DAUGHTER O F T H E S EA

came I don t know what I shoul d have done w ithout

him .

“
I s he married ?
No — oh no He i s such a boy B ut the fishers
, . .

are beginning to l ove hi m ; an d you know how d i fficul t

they are in their l ikes an d di sl ikes .
’

Donal d was asked to d ine but he pol itel y decl ined

, .

B usiness took him away for a few days h e sai d ; an d ,

Cuthbert was not sorry He wanted hi s young wi fe to

.

himsel f Even M r C a r te r e ts presence was a trial

. .
’

though h e seemed very harml ess .

Cuthbert had a great deal to do a fter hi s return .

He was di smayed an d di stressed when he l ooked into

hi s business matters an d real ized how much money
had been spent i n hi s absence M r Carteret who stil l . .
,

haunted th e study watched h im i n uneasy s il ence as h e

,

s a t at h i s w riting — tabl e surroun ded by pape rs .

” “
I dare s a y h e sai d d i ffi d e n tly on e day you find
, ,

that i t requires a man to be at th e h ead o f an estab

li s h m e n t l ik e thi s I am a frai d my daughter has l ittl e
.

i dea o f the val ue o f money Sh e i s a generous l i ttl e

.

soul but I have had to remon strate w i th her more

,

than once over h er l avi sh expen di ture M oney h a s .

seemed to run through h er fingers ; an d you must

make all owances for her first taste o f freedom in
spending a s an d h ow she l iked From what s h e tol d .

m e I gathered that you had seen fit to keep a tight

han d over her expenditure when you were at home .

She seem s a veritabl e ch il d in business matters .

Th i s speech grated a l ittl e on Cuthbert s ears He ’

.
 CUT H BERT S STORY ’

3 03

coul d not but remember the l arge sums o f money that

Una had begged from him soon a fter their marriage
sums for which S he had never accounted and o f which
s h e re fused to talk But h e resented M r Ca r te r e ts ’
. .

tone .

“
S he i s such a chi l d he sai d to himsel f as he tried
, ,

“
to exonerate her from extravagance It i s true that .

s h e does not know the val ue o f money ; but I cannot

understan d how s h e c a n poss ibly have had the o p p o r

”
tun i ti e s here o f getting ri d o f such l arge sums !

He asked her about i t o n e morning when M r Car .

te r e t was walking in the garden smoking h is pipe .

Una bl ushed hes itated an d final ly took the worst

, ,

course possibl e— that o f conceal ing her father s c on ’

‘

duct and re fusing to account to her husband for h er

expenditure .

I drew cheques as I wanted them and I never put ,

” “
them down s h e sai d
,
.Y o u taught me how to do
that be fore you went away I have never counted up
.

how many cheques I d rew I daresay there were a .

good many ; but you have been away for a l o ng time ,

”
an d I have had to s e e to everything !
Cuthbert di d not l ook satisfied .

“
Can you give me no account o f thes e c on stant
ch eques for £ 1 00 —and
Una l ooked con fused Her husban d put hi s arm
.

round her and spoke very gently .

“
Una dear wil l you not confide i n me ?
, ,

’
Una s eyes fill ed with tears Why shoul d sh e w ith .

h ol d her confidence from h er husban d ? How easy i t

3 04 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

woul d be to tel l him o f al l her father s fa i l ings ! ’

An d yet s h e fel t s h e coul d not do it Her father w a s

.

deporting h imsel f s o a greeabl y ; hi s o l d habit o f drink

ing seemed for the time to have l e ft h im She coul d .

not tel l her husband how h e had begged from her ,

’
how many debts o f h i s s h e had pai d Ah d s o s h e .

withdrew hersel f from h i s arm w ith a l ittl e sigh .

“
I real ly cannot account to y o u Cuthbert for every
, ,

penny I have spent The greater part i s my own

.

”
money i s i t not
,
P

S he regretted her words th e instant a fter when s h e ,

s a w how they had hurt her husban d .

He bent over h is papers in sil ence .

“
I wil l not keep you any l on g er h e s aid very ,

qui etl y .

Una l e ft the room and ran o u t o f doors where s h e ,

wept her heart out i n a qui et nook o f her own on the

’
beach .She fel t that her hu sband s return di d not
d i spers e al l th e cl ouds that had gathere d over her
head an d s h e won dered i f s h e woul d ever be w ithout
,

a care again .

M r Carteret certa i nl y had l ightened her burden in

.

some respects S he no longer feare d to go near h im ;

.

but h i s conversation s with her husband di d not tend

to bring husban d an d wi fe cl oser togeth er .

D onal d M c Fa r l an e s name was mentioned on c e

’

when Cuthbert was w i th M r Carteret a fter d inner

. .

“ ”
Yes M r Carteret sai d thoughtful l y as he sipped
, ,

h i s wine taking al l things into con s i deration you

, ,

t i med your return very O pportunel y The young par .

 CUTHB ERT S STOR Y ’

3 05

s on firmly bel i eved in your death and looked upon ,

your w i fe a s a wi dow H e had not actually spoken to

.

her ; but when two young peopl e o f thei r ages are

m uch about together you can general l y guess the
,

resul t Indeed h e made n o secret o f h i s love for her

.
, ,

a n d talked to me about it I do not know how far s h e

.

reciprocated i t Your return mu st have been a terribl e

.

”
bl ow to him .

“
He i s a nice young fell ow Cuthbert sai d gravely , ,

meeting M r Ca r te r e ts rather quizzical gaze with

.
’

per fect equanimity I shoul d say hi s advent here

.

w ill be a great bl essing to the fishers .

“
Eh ? Ah yes perhaps B ut I con fes s I do n ot
, ,
.

care for such a youn g pastor ! He i s as youth ful a s

my daughter i n behaviour I have heard their laugh .

’
ter an d gaiety ring over the water l ike two ch il dre n s
”
when they have been boatin g together .

Cuthbert d id n ot respon d but he pondered over M r ,

.

Ca r te r e ts word s an d si g hed in h i s heart as he o ften

’

, ,

had be fore
I f sh e were only not such a chil d ! I am a frai d I
”
am too sta i d a n d s ober a hu sb and f o r her !
20
 C HA P T E R XX I V .

DA N G EROU S W O R K
B u t a h ! h e r s t r o n g e s t e ff o rt f a i l s ;
W ith n a k e d m a s t s o r s h ive re d s a i l s
,

S h e c a n n o t b r e a s t th e w ave s !
Y o n ro c k w h i ch b a r e s i ts f r o w n i n g h e a d,
,

Mu s t b e th e s e a m e n s d y i n g b e d ; ’

Th e b o i l i n g s u r g e t h e ir g ra ve s , .

But see —l i k e a k i m m i n g o ve r th e d e e p
1 rd s
l i f e b o a t—th e l i f e b o a t i s w i n g i g h e r fl i gh t
,

The n

O n w a r d s h e r u s h e s w ith m e rc i f u l s w e e p
, ,

A n d c l i m b s o e r th e w a v e s l i k e a n a n g e l o f l i gh t
’

S h e i s th e r e—s h e i s t h e r e
.

A n d th e m o a n s o f d e s p a ir
A r e h e a r d i n th e t em p e s t n o m o re !
L e t th e b i l l o w s r a g e o n ,

Fo r th e h ave n i s w o n ,

A n d th e s a i l o r s a r e s a f e o n th e s h o r e .

W Mar k T h e L i fe b oa t . . .

Autumn came on an d w ith it very stormy weather

, .

A terrific gal e s e t i n one Thursday n ight and seemed ,

to increase in violence every day Un a l ooked for .

ward to l aunch ing the l i feboat again It had a great .

fascination for her In spite o f al l the trouble it had

.

brought them her ardour an d determination were u m

,

quenchabl e She l onged to do an d dare on behal f o f

.

wrecked mariners an d fel t n o fear o f being mol ested

,

again by the fishers With her hu sban d at home to .

protect her sh e knew they woul d not dare to touch

,

her A s she watched fr o m her turret w in dow s h e

.
,
 D A N GEROUS WORK 3 07

wondered i f it woul d be best to entrust him wi th the

secret An d then s h e decided not for s h e wel l knew
.
,

he woul d not allow her to be a member o f its crew ,

and to be deprived o f that pleasure woul d be more

than s h e coul d endure H e r blood al ways stirred
.

within her in scenes o f excitement and danger ; the

greater the diffi culties the keener grew her longing to
,

overcome them ; and the roar o f win d an d waves ex

h i l e r a te d an d inspire d her with fresh courage and
strength .

’
She w a s not surpri sed when s h e s a w Kathie s signal
l ight and the dul l booming o f a di stant gun expl ained
,

its appearance S he was very quiet and cautious in

.

her movements an d fel t gl ad that her hu sband was

,

not at home this night He had ri d den over to T h i s e l

.

thwaite Manor to dine with hi s S i ster and sleep

there an d it was only the stormy weather that had
,

prevented Una from accompanying him .

She sl ipped out o f the house as s h e thought u n p e r

c e iv e d ; but M r Carteret had seen an d marked her
.

departure . It was hard work keeping her footing

across the top o f the cl i ffs ; s h e s a w through the mi sty
darkness the shadow o f a large vessel bearing down
upon the Perran Rocks ; and when s h e reached the
Witches H ol e th e Tr i u m p h was j ust in the act o f
’

being l aunched Jim was there and Donal d ; Kathi e

.
,

was at home She was not wel l and h er hu sband had

.
,

re fused to l et her accompany h im .

“
Why El i you are n ever going without me
, ,
P ”
sai d
Una breathl essl y as she j umped l ightl y into the boat
,
.
 A DAUG H TER OF TH E S EA

Us were that M i ssy responded the o l d man

, ,

’
gravely T i s th e worst night us has had yet an I
’
.
,

’
was hopin that l ikely the master woul d not have c c ’

’
come .

“
I f it i s fit f o r y o u to go o u t it i s fit f o r me sai d
, ,

Una shortly .

S he nodded to D onal d but there was no t i me for

,
'

words ; wind an d waves were d ead against th e m a n d ,

row as they d id they made but sl ow progres s Tw i ce

, .

the Tr i ump h w a s nearly swampe d w ith th e h i ssing

boil in g waves ; but s h e rose l ike a cork an d w i th set ,

teeth an d strain ed muscl es her crew rowed o n El i .

was s teering ; s ince th e assaul t made upon h im hi s

strength w a s n o t w hat i t had been an d i t needed an ,

experienced han d o n th e rudd er As th ey neared the .

fatal rock s they s a w the sh ip pl ainl y She rose h igh

,
.

above the water an d h er c r e w an d passen g ers were

,

crowded o n the decks .

El i shook h i s hea d d oubt ful ly .

“ ’
Us be in th e very teeth 0 the gal e ; I doubt i f u s
’ ”
w i l l reach em .

I t di d i ndeed seem doubtful The force o f th e cur .

rent at o n e moment spun th e Tr i u mp h roun d til l her

broads i de was abreast ; a huge wave rol l ed up and i n ,

another m oment the crew o f the Tr i ump h were washed

overboar d El i was the only o n e who kept h i s s eat
. ,

an d s wung the Tr i u mp h roun d i n an in stant J i m and .

Tom recovered th emselves an d cl ambered in Una .

w a s washed farther out She co ul d sw i m an d her

.
,
 DAN GEROUS WORK 3 09

l i febel t kept her up ; but th e current was carry i ng her

away . She turned her head despairingly an d s a w
Donal d close to her .

“
Leave yoursel f in my hands he sai d ; and w ith ,

one arm partly roun d her he got her back to the

boat She w a s l i fted i n an d h e w ith di fficulty fol
.
,

l owed I t al l happened s o quickly that they hardly

.

real ized the i r danger till i t was past Una w a s almost .

’
i nsensibl e She lay w ith her head against El i s knee
.
,

wh il st the three men took to thei r oars and rowed for

their l ives But s h e w a s c onscious when first s h e was
.

l i fted in o f an arm press i n g her c l osely an d words ,

being breathed into her c ar

“
My darl ing my l i fe ! G od save her !
,

She wondered i n a dazed kind o f way who had .

uttered them .

They soon foun d that i t was i mpossibl e to reach

the vessel and a fter several fruitl es s e fforts returned
,

to shore .

“
Our first fai lure sai d El i sorrow fully,

Let u s thank God for o u r o w n sa fety said Don ,

al d ; an d as they do ff ed thei r hats with the w in d ,

s hrieking and howl ing aroun d them the young rector ,

gave thanks in a few s impl e words .

’ ”
Ti s my bel i ef sai d Tom l ooking o ut seawards
, , ,

that the wind may drop in another hour or s o Us .

”
ma y have another try i f u s waiteth .

Una l ooked up brightly She was fast recovering .

hersel f but D onal d s gaze w a s a l ittl e disconcerting

,
’
.
3 1 0 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

O f course we wil l wait s h e said Think o f the

, .

poor creatures expecting u s an d seeing u s l eave them

”
to thei r fate .

You will n o t venture o ut again M r s G regson ? , .

“
sai d Donal d S urely you woul d be w i s e to go home
.

”
and change your wet clothes .

“
Oh I shal l change th o se very soon
, she sai d ,

bri skly I keep a smal l outfi t down here I have not

. .

thanked y o u yet M r M c Fa r l an e for coming to my

, .
,

rescue . I do not th i nk I c o ul d have g ot back by

mysel f .

S he was wr i ng i n g o ut her wet ha i r as S h e spoke .

I t was not an opportun i ty for any senti ment an d ,

D onal d w i sel y control l ed his tongue .

“ ’
I don t think y o u coul d hav e The current was .

”
s o stron g I was only too gl ad to be o f u se
. .

“ ”
M i ssy had better go home sai d El i q ui c kly , .

No El i I shal l not
, ,
.

Further entreaty an d remonstrance was u sel ess .

T o m was on h i s knees l ighting a fire an d runnin g ,

i nto an i nner recess o f th e cavern Una soon returned ,

in dry garments an d j oined the l ittl e group who were

drying them sel ves in the bright bl aze They waited .

an d watched anxiou sl y an d at l ength once more,

l aunched th e Tr i u mp h D onal d tu rn ed to Una w ith

.

agony i n hi s ton e .

“
M rs Gre g son wil l y ou to obl ige me stay behind
.
, , ,

— o r — o r rather for your hu sban d s sake ? D oes he ’

know how you r i sk your l i fe P ”

 DAN GEROUS W ORK 31 1

M r M c Fa r la n e I belong to the Tr i u m p h \Vh e r e

.
, .

s h e goes I go ; her rudder itsel f i s not more part o f

,

her than I !
Donal d marvel led at her courage and enthusiasm .

He sai d no more an d once again the brave l ittl e Tr i

,

umph ploughed through the raging bill ows El i .

steered her an d kept cl ear o f the course they had taken

,

be fore. With the g reatest toil and di fficulty the y

brought her to w ithin a hundred yards o f the wreck .

A las ! they found thei r e ff orts u sel ess ; the s e a raged

so f uriousl y round th e vessel that no boat coul d
weather through it B ut the Tanners w ere ful l o f
.

resources ; they threw out a rope The first fel l short .

,

the secon d was caught and soon in the darkness the y

,

saw a figure coming towards them He was almost .

l i fel ess when they drew him in but D onal d admin ,

i s te r e d brandy to h im an d he partiall y revived

, He .

was a sl im young fell ow o f sl ight buil d an d foreign

tongue and proved to be a young Frenchman Another
, .

l i fe was saved then another an d then a mi shap

, ,

occurred The rope broke an d the Tr i u mp h was

.
,

obl iged to return w ith onl y three passengers .

It was as much a s they coul d do to l and h er Una .

was terribl y exhausted I f it had not been for the

‘

vigorou s pul l ing o f th e younger men they woul d ,

hardly have reached the shore i n sa fety .

“ ”
Us cannot do more sai d El i with a l ong d rawn,
-

“ ’
breath . Ti s j ust possibl e y o u cra ft may l ast til l
m o rn i n
’
Her d id not seem to be
.
31 2 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S EA

He and Tom sai d they woul d house th e strangers

’
at Eagl e s Head .

“
I f th e gal e bl oweth over u s may have another try ,

toward s said Tom gazing at th e wrecked ,

vessel .

D onal d Jim an d Una walked across th e cl iff s to

,

gether a short time later It was almost dawn but .

,

the storm raged on When J im turned down th e vil .

l age street Donal d sai d h e woul d s e e Una home S he

, .

was very tired an d had relapsed i nto s il ence for th e

,

greater part o f the way .

Now he spoke to her .

“
M r s Gregson have you o ften spent y o ur n i ghts
.
,

l ike th i s P ”

“ ”
No repl i ed Una we have n ever had two j our
, ,

neys I wi sh o h how I wi sh that I were a man !

.
, ,

It i s too much for you I w il l never rest content .

til l I have made o u r brave fishers take part in thi s

rescu e work It i s not r i ght to keep th em i n i gnorance
.

o f it T h e y a r e human beings ; the y cannot wish to

'

see thei r brothers peri sh .

“
Their o n e i dea i s to g et the sal vage sai d Una ,
.

The more l ives that are rescued th e l es s they a r e ,

abl e to appropriate o f what comes ashore I f you .

were n o t s o tired y o u ought to go down to the bea c h

,

”
an d s e e f o r yoursel f what i s g o i n g on .

“ ”
I inten d doing s o .

He parted w ith her at the door o f the Towers Sh e .

sh o wed h im h er pr i vate path down to the beach As .

 D AN G EROUS WO RK 31 3

h e sh o ok hands with h er he sa i d try i n g to speak, ,

l ightly but fail ing to steady hi s voice

,

“
I f you were a si ster a belonging o f mine I woul d
, ,

s ooner cut o ff my right hand than al low you to do

”
such work as you have done to night ! -

U na laughed in spite o f her weariness .

“
I love it No on e w il l keep me from it I only
. .

’
wish I had a man s strength to go o n at it for l onger
—
w ithout getting s o tired Good night M r Mc Fa r l a n e
.
”
, . .

He wrung her hand an d dashed away Una l ooked .

a fter him with a l ittl e smil e then a shadow crossed ,

her brow .

Who had whispered th o se words i nto her ear ?

Coul d it have been a dream ? A s s h e came i n at the
door her father came forward He shook h i s h ead
, .

at her .

“
O ut al l n i gh t an d your hu sban d away What does
, . .

this mean my dear P ,

”

“
It means there i s a wreck father s h e repl i ed , ,

“
quickly An d there are now numbers o f l ives g oing
.

to be sacrificed because w e cannot reach them I .

”
al ways go out o n nigh ts l ik e these .

She passed him an d went to her room where s h e ,

threw hersel f down on her bed an d sl ept from sheer

exhaustion til l a l ate hour .

Cuthbert returned home in the m i ddl e o f th e day ,

and in qu i red for h i s w i fe M r Carteret shrugged h i s

. .

s houl ders .

“
Y ou sh o ul d stay at home a n d l oo k a fter h er he ,
 ’
1
3 4 A DAUG H TER O F THE S E A

sai d . She has been o u t al l n ight an d came b a ck at ,

” ’
four in the morn ing in the young parson s company !
Cuthbert l ooked at h i s father i n l aw sternl y - -
.

“
I think h er f ather mi gh t take my pl a c e in my ,

absence Una i s accu stomed to go down to th e shore

.

i f there i s a w reck I suppose M r Mc Fa r l an e kindly

. .

walke d home with her It has been a terrible storm .

,

an d there are stil l some poor creatures cl ing i ng to the

wreck I have j ust come up from the beach and a m
.
,

returning there almost immediately .

He went upstai rs an d found Una j ust l eavin g her

,

room H e l ooked at her rath er gravely

. .

“
Woul d you l ike to come down to the beach ? I
am trying to induce the fishers to go to the rescue o f a
shipwrecked crew o n the Perran Rocks .

“ ”
I w il l come at once sai d Una brightly , I am s o .

”
g l ad you are home We have had a terrible n ight
. .

“
Where d i d y o u spen d i t ? he asked as they de
”

scen ded the stone steps to the beach together .

Una s c heeks flushed

’
.

“
N o t i n my bed ; y o u know I cannot d o that .

Not o n the shore for I asked for you an d no o n e

, ,

”
had seen you .

I general ly go to th e cl i ff top .

An d were you wandering about there al l n i ght

”
al one P
’
Cuthbert s tone was almost stern .

“ “
No fal tered Una not all the time I was w i th
—w ith the Tanners an d M r Mc Far lan e
, ,

. .

C uthbert drew h e r h a n d i nt o h i s arm .

 D AN GEROUS W ORK 31 5

D i d you g ive a thought to your absent husban d ?

D i d you think whether he woul d l ike you o u t al l n ight
wi thout h i s protection ?
“
There was a wreck Una pl eaded , .

IVh a t good di d you do by l ooking at i t ?

S il ence Then Cuthbert spoke warmly
. .

“
Una you are such a ch il d that you do not real i ze
, ,

the harm you may do yoursel f by these n i g ht excu r

sions It i s not the first time I have remonstrated
.

with you about it I f y o u really love me you w il l do

.
,

what I wish in the matter I am vexed beyon d words . .

You are my wi fe an d i f you d o not care about appear

,

a u ces I do I will not have y o u out at night watch

, .

ing wrecks o r anything el s e w ith that young Mc

”
Farlane !
Una di d not speak S he was struggl ing to control
.

h er hot temper but it was hard work S he withdrew

, .

’
her han d from her husban d s arm and came to a
standstill .

“
I am going home she said I f I d o not I shall
, .
,

say S omething that I shal l be sorry f o r .

For a minute husband and wi fe looked into each

’
other s eyes Then Una turned roun d an d darted
.

back to the hous e without a word or another gl ance

’
in her hu sban d s di rection She was very mi serabl e .
,

an d s a t by her turret window look ing over the coast ,

w ith tears gathering slowl y i n her eyes .

“
Oh h o w dread ful it i s i f we quarrel ! A n d we
,

shal l for I cannot g i ve up the Tr i ump h and Cuthbert

, ,

will make the sam e fu ss each time and I c annot tel l ,

3 6
1 A DAU GHTER O F T H E S EA

him W hat shal l I do ? I thought when h e was awa y

.

that i f ever h e w as g iven back to me a g ain I woul d

never s ay a cros s word o r give hi m an anxious ,

thought An d I nearly fl ew into a passion j ust now

. .

He i s angry w ith me an d I cannot expl a i n Oh wha t

, .
,

shal l I do ? I want to g o down to the shore but I m ,

’

a frai d o f meet i ng h i m I think h e i s very unreason

.

abl e and unj ust .

S he s at w ith su c h thoughts as thes e cross i ng her

m ind an d when a few hours later her husban d cam e
,

into the house sh e d i d not go to meet him

, .

He came t o her j u st be fore dinn er time .

“
Una dear are you comin g down ? W hy what a
, , ,

”
tear stained l i ttl e face !
-

He stooped an d ki ssed her an d Una fl un g her arms ,

aroun d h i s n eck .

“ ’
F org i ve m e C uthbert ; don t be s o an g ry I
, .

”
I real ly coul dn t hel p i t ’
.

“
W e wil l not tal k any m ore about it I d are s ay I .

spoke too warml y I t w i l l not occur again I hope

.
, .

N o w come al ong f o r I have been workin g hard an d

,

”
I am very hungry .

He tol d her as they di ne d what had taken pla c e .

“
The wrecked vessel was dr i ven so h i gh on th e
rock s that al l n i ght long sailors an d passengers were
cl inging to h er I tr i ed to get hol d o f M c Fa r l an e
.
,

but coul d s e e h im nowhere I was d etermined to save .

th em an d at la st I persuaded fou r o f th e fish ers to

,

come with m e There was a stron g sea o n but we

. ,

managed to reach th e vessel a n d brought o ff a boat ,

 DAN GEROUS W ORK 31 7

l oad A S we were rowing back I s a w thi s mysterious

.
,

unknown rescue — boat that i s so much talked about .

It was coming straight out o f the Witches H ol e an d ’

making for th e wreck We were s o occupied when .

we cam e ashore in attend ing to th e wants o f the res

cued who had nearl y succumbed to thei r exposure and
privati on that I l ost s ight o f it ; but when I looked
,

a g a i ri I saw it was taking a boat l oad o f passengers -

back to its starting pl ace There has been a good b i t

-
.

o f tal k about it but some o f the salvage w a s coming

,

ashore w ith the tide ; an d P e r r a n co v

e i s in such a fer

men t over it that I l e f t an d came home j u st as th e

, ,

preventive men appeared on the scene I th ink nearly .

al l th e crew are saved except that boat load that was -

taken into the Witches H ol e I have an i dea that ’

.

there may be a band o f smuggl ers secreted there That .

i s why I want a coastguard station here I am only .

waiting for a stron ge r force to penetrate thoroughly

into every ca v e o f the coast an d we shal l begin with ,

th e VVIIC II C S H ol e
'
,
.

“
I a m sure you wil l fin d n o smuggl ers there said ,

Una trying to speak l ightly

, .

“
A h wel l we w il l see
, , .

It woul d not be l ikel y argued Una in desperation, ,

that smuggl ers woul d ri sk thei r l ives to rescue

”
drowning men .

“
Yes I th ink they m ight ; for the y woul d look fo r
,

possibl e remuneration I sai d something o f th e sort

.

to on e o f th e o ld fi shers but o f course they bel ieve in

,
31 8 A DAU G HTER O F THE S EA

the supernatural It i s imposs i bl e to expect sense from

.

”
them .

The conversation dri fted into other ch annel s to

’
Una s inten se rel ie f Sh e sometimes took h ersel f to
.

task for n ot c o n fi d i n g her secret to her husban d I f .

he knew o f a l i feboat s exi stence woul d he n ot by h i s

’

power an d in fluence be abl e to establ ish i t o n a sure

footing i n P e r r a n c o v e s h e wondered ? He was not
,

sin g l e h an ded now D onal d M c Fa r l a n e was on e who

-
.

woul d do h is utmost to further th e cause and he was ,

daily ac q uir i ng m o re an d more i n fl uence over the

fish ers .

Then came the thou g ht that had most wei g ht w i th

her.

“
The Tr i u mp h w il l be taken from me and I shal l ,

have noth ing more to do w ith her Oth ers wil l row in .

her I shal l n ever be abl e to have a share and part i n

.

her any more Oh I cannot give h er up

.
,

S o she seal ed her l ips and l ooked forward w i th

more dread than pl easure to the next time that sh e
’
woul d have to defy h er hu sban d s authority M ean .

whil e P e r r a n c o v e was again in a great state o f excite

ment over thi s wreck an d the rescued ones As Cuth .

bert had s een th e Tr i u mp h had had o n e more s uc

,

c e s s f u l trip ; but th e fishers were s o occupi ed in watch

’
ing for spoil an d s o taken aback by Cuthbert s deter
,

m ination to rescu e those h e coul d that they pai d l ittl e ,

“ ”
attention at th e time to the bewitched cra ft as they ,

cal l ed it Wh en the members o f th e crew who owed

.

thei r l ives to her ma d e th ei r appearance in th e vil lage ,

 D AN GERO US WORK 31 9

the fishers were not much the wi ser for they were a l l ,

French by n ational ity an d coul d n o t make themsel ves

understood Donal d foun d it hard work to conceal
.

h i s part in it He had to bear w ith several reproach

.

ful word s and glances even from those who were ,

'

thank ful f o r h i s absence .

“
Passon s be allays j ust too l ate for action sai d ,

’
Jack Pe n ga ff on e o f M arti n s special croni es ; an d
,

there w a s an u g ly sneer o n hi s face a s he spoke .

“
Vt M c Fa r l a n e
,
”
sai d Cuthbert when he met
, ,

“
h i m th e next m orning I made certain o f your assist ,

ance in l aunch in g a boat to rescue those drown ing

men . Y ou made yoursel f scarce when y ou were
needed most !
’
The bl ood rushed to D onal d s c hee k s .

“
I arr i ved o n the beach a fter y o u l e ft I had been .

” “
cal led away he sai d trying to speak c al mly
, , And .

now I am making arrangements for the burial o f those

poor fel lows who have been wash ed ashore .

’
Una went over to Eagl e s Head as soon as sh e coul d
to h ear about th e trip i n wh ich sh e had not taken part .

Sh e tol d El i o f her husban d s words about it adding ’

“
H e forbi d s me to go o u t at n ight El i w i th o u , ,

”
h im What can I do
.
?
“ ’
Eh M issy ! bu t i f the master be agen yer comin
. ,

v e mu st not come !
’
Tis a wi fe s do o ty to honour an d ’

’
ob ey f
“
But El i y o u want every pa i r o f arms y ou can
, ,

g e t We are such a ti n y crew so much fewer than we

.
,

ou gh t to b e If there shoul d b e an o ther wre c k next

.
 A DAUG H TER O F TH E
'

3 20 S EA

week why o f course I S houl d have to help I coul d

, , , .

”
not stop away .

’ ’
Ye coul d i f twas the Lord s will sai d El i Ther e, .

be th e passon now He do be worth two o n most !

.

H i s muscl es be bigger nor Jim s U s coul d do w i o o t

’ ’
.

”
’
ee ,
M issy P
Una almost cri ed .

“
I help ed to make th e boat El i I got the money
, .

for h er Sh e i s th e ch ie f interest i n my l i fe I f you

. .

prevent me from helping when there i s a wreck I ,

th ink I shal l break my heart .

El i s aid n o more .
 CHAPTER X XV .

M I SUND ER STA ND I N G S

T h e r e i s n o th i n g m a k e s a m an s us p e ct m u ch m o r e th an to
kn o w l itt l e —B a c on
.
”
.

Seeds o f mistrust are easil y sown M r Carteret . .

di d not real ly wish to harm h i s daughter ; but he was

vexed that s h e had tried to keep him i n check when
her husband was away an d wi shing to retain the ,

friendship o f Cuthbert imagined that by agreeing w ith

,

h im in every matter an d assuming th e r o l e o f a vir

,

tu o u s and careful parent he woul d further th i s obj ect

,
.

Cuthbert coul d never forget that Donal d M c Fa r l an e

“
had had the audacity as h e termed i t to love h i s
, ,

wi fe H e coul d not bear to s e e them together ; he

.

grudged every bright look an d word that Una gave

him He tri ed to control hi s feel ings He fel t quite
. .

assured o f hi s wi fe s l oyal ty an d l ove ; an d yet when

’

on e morning h e met them coming up the village street

i n close an d earnest con fabul ation h i s blood ru shed ,

hotly through h i s veins and h e spoke abruptly and

,

sternly
“
Una I want you
, .

Una rai sed h er eyes in astoni shment at h i s ton e .

Donal d rai sed h i s hat .

3 22 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

Good morn in g M r Gregson

, . .

Cuthbert responded curtly an d th e youn g rector l e ft

,

them with a clou d upon hi s brow .

“
What i s th e matter Cuthbert ? Ha s anythin g
,

happened ? ”

Un a spoke a l ittl e timi dl y Her l ove for her hu s

.

b a n d n o w wa s s o strong that sh e feared to vex o r di s

pl ease h im ; she coul d not bear th e sl ightest col dnes s i n
h i s ton e towards h er .

“
Nothing i s the matter he repl ied gravely ; but
, ,

I do not think you n eed spen d al l your time out o f

d oors w ith M r Mc Fa r l an e
. What have you been .

tal k ing about s o earnestly P ”

Una hesitated f o r a moment .

“
I have been tel l ing him o f a d i ffi culty o f m i n e
an d asking h i s advi ce an d I do n ot quite see with him
,

about it I al ways think h e l ives so near to God that

.

I ought to do what h e advi ses but I cann o t bring

”
mysel f to do i t .

“
An d may I not ask about thi s d i fficul ty ?
Husban d an d W i fe were cross ing th e cl i ff to p an d ,

coming to a pil e o f g ranite rocks he sat down an d

made room f o r her besi d e h im .

Una shook h er head .

He l eant forward earn estly an d took her han d i n

hi s
.

“
Una dear we are man an d w i fe
, , W e dr i fted .

apart f o r a time ; but I tru sted that Go d had draw n

u s together w ith a cl oser an d su rer t i e than ever w e

had before W e both bel ong to H i m ; w e b o th ar e

.
 M I S UNDER STAN D I N G S 3 23

trying to serve him I f we are one i n heart do you

.
,

”
not th ink you might confide your d i ffi culty to me P

“
Oh I suppose I ought but I cannot sai d Una
, , ,

desperately You do not know you cannot under

.
,

stand and —, and M r M c Fa r l an e does It is a great

. .

inte rest in my l i fe ; something I cannot give up H e .

says I ought to an d I kno w you woul d s a y the same

, .

Oh I am a frai d I am not serving God at all for i f i t i s

, ,

Hi s w il l that I shoul d give i t up I cannot do i t M y , .

wil l i s against H i s I feel i t i s I w ish you had not

, .

interrupted us I think perhaps M r M c Fa r l a n e

.
, , .

woul d have helped me I cannot tel l you Cuthbe t .

,
r

i t i s the only secret I have from you an d it i s no thing ,

”
wrong in itsel f .

Cuthbert was n ot appeased by thi s speech .

“
I f you can share any se c ret with a stranger
instead o f w ith your husban d i t cannot b e a right ,

”
on e , he sai d col dly .

“ ”
Oh sai d Una impul s ively throw i ng up her arms
, , ,

sometimes I wi sh I were free and un fettered I .

gave up my l iberty when I married you I d id not .

think I shoul d but I di d Your very l ove for me

, .

makes you watch and weigh al l my words an d

actions I have al ways done as I l ike It i s s o hard
. .

”
to be checked and thwarted .

“
You have had a great deal o f l iberty in your l i fe ,

“
said Cuthbert bitterl y I qu ite agree w ith you
. .

An d I suppose being m istress here in my absence ha s

made my return seem very unpl easant I do not .

think I am a taskmaster God knows your happiness .

3 24 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

i s my first concern I have only been back a few

.

weeks an d yet you are al ready pining for your

,

freedom ag ain I s thi s your d iffi cul ty ? I s this the

.

subj ect upon wh i ch you have been c onsul ting

Mc Fa r l a n e P ”

Una looked at her husban d w ith sparklin g eyes .

“
Cuthbert how can you ! How dare you think such
,

a th ing ! When y o u know w h e n I tol d you o f my

’

wretched mi sery during you r absence ! Oh why do ,

w e al wa y s now seem on the verge o f a quarrel ! I l ove

’
you I love you ! An d you know I do Don t look
, .

at me s o col dl y What have I sai d o r don e to mak e

.

you speak s o cruel ly P ”

She cl asped h er hands around hi s arm s an d looked

up i nto hi s face entreatingly
He stil l preserved h i s stern gravity ; but h e spoke
more gentl y .

“
I do not want to be u nkind Y ou are such a chil d
.

that you cannot s e e the cause o f my anxi ety When .

I was away you naturally turned to M r M c Fa r l a n e .

for advice though I must con fess I had rather i t had

,

been you r father ; now I am home again I consider it

show s a want o f trust an d confiden ce in me to take
your d i fficul ties to any o n e el se An d I must request
.

y o u i n future to hol d as l ittl e intercours e w ith M r .

Mc Fa r la n e as poss ibl e He i s a singl e man

.

“ ”
An d I am a marrie d woman excl aimed Una
,

hotl y ; an d h e i s th e rector o f thi s pari sh He w a s .

tal king to me as a cl ergyman thi s morn ing He was .

tel l in g m e o f al l th e work I coul d do i n the v i lla g e ;

 M I SUNDERS TAN D I N GS 3 25

‘
that I had been saved to serve He w a s reminding .
’

me that every Chri stian ought to l ike a running

stream con stantly receiving from its source con
, ,

st a n tl y passing on An d I was resolving in my own

.

mind what I shoul d do Now you are angry because .

he has b een tr y ing to help me on i n the right way .

You want me to promise I wil l not speak to him

again and th en you wonder that I resent you r
,

authority ; you are astonished I shoul d gasp for

”
freedom .

Cuthbert rose from hi s seat .

“ ”
I wi l l s a y no more now he sai d a l ittl e wearily, , .

I f you mi sunderstand me I cannot help i t Let u s , .

”
go home .

“
May I go to Kathie ? I want to s e e her M ust .

I ask your permis sion be fore I speak to h er ?

He turned on hi s heel an d l eft h er Una dashed .

back to the village and almost flung hersel f into,

Kathie s kitchen s o great w a s her anger an d p e r tu r

’

b a ti o n o f mind .

Kathi e looked up from h er needlework by the fire

with startl ed wonder .

“
Oh M issy what has happened ?
, ,

Iv
“’
e quarrel l ed w ith m y hu sband ; and I m a ’

”
wicked creature and I m perfectly mi serabl e !
,
’

Una gasped these assertion s out breathl essly then ,

S itt ing down s h e rested h er arms on the tabl e and

, ,

l aying her head down on them began to cry ,

.

“
Oh Kath ie it i s al l about the Tr i u mp h
, , Mr . .

Mc Fa r la n e says I ought to tel l my husban d about i t ;

3 26 A DAUG H T E R OF THE S EA

he says I ought to gi v e up rowin g i n i t for I do i t ,

w ithout h i s knowledge I cannot give up my part i n

.

i t I cannot tel l my hu sban d Do tel l me that i t i s

. .

n o t wron g I f i t had not been for me th e Tr i ump h

.
,

woul d n ever have been built I thought and helpe d .

,

to make an d ch ri stened an d l aunched h e r ! S he i s

, ,

my greatest interest in l i fe M r Mc Fa r l an e says I

. .

coul d have other interests and he wants me to start

,

a l i ttl e cl ub or meeting for women in your kitchen ;

he woul d come an d speak to them ; h e says I ought
to be thei r friend an d get to know thei r sorrows and
,

diffi cul ties that sending them soup an d blankets i s

,

not enough I was enj oying thi s tal k so and thinking

.
,

what great things I woul d do and feel ing s o very ,

good when—when my husban d cam e up and spoil t

i t al l
She poured thi s al l o ut very incoh erently then s h e ,

began to s ob a fresh .

Kathie sai d nothing f or a few m i nutes ; then s h e

sai d r e fl e cti v
e ly
“
I think i f Jim had n ot tol d m e about the Tr i u mp h ,

’
I shoul d have broken my heart Twas the only .

cl ou d that came to me a fter u s were marri ed I te l l e d .

Jim that there coul d be n o se c rets betw ixt them that

”
loved each oth er !
“ ”
O h I know sa i d Una w i p i ng her eyes an d s itt i n g
, , ,

“
up straight in her chai r I remember th e state Jim
.

was i n when I tol d h i m h e was not to tel l you about

it I was very angry w i th y o u for mak i ng S uch a
.

fuss ! An d I am an gry w i th my hu sban d now .

 M I SUNDERS TAND I N GS 3 27

The Tr iu mp h must not bring a curse i nstead o f a

” “
blessin upon you said Kathi e sol emnly
’
, Ti s a , .
’

’
terribl e bad bu sines s when a n y th i n gets betwixt
husban d an wi fe I woul d rather c u t a hol e i n her
’
.

bottom and sink her out to s e a than l et her be a bon e

’ ”
0 contention in a hou sehol d !
“
I see you w il l not take my part .

I think now that the parson knoweth about h er ,

”
th e master ought to do so too I

Una began to reflect .

“ ”
Perhaps s h e sai d after a pause th e n ext storm
, ,

may be in th e daytime M y husban d coul d not

.

obj ect to my going o u t w ith her in broad dayl ight .

It i s onl y my being out at n ight w ithout him that he

o bj ects to I need not tel l him about i t i f I do
.

n othing that h e woul d di sl ike my doin g I t i s onl y .

going o u t when h e does not know that seem s to be

w rong Perhaps I shall tel l h im about i t soon Kath ie
.
, .

”
Only i f I do i t wil l be a secret n o l onger
, .

“
That wil l make no odds i f it be th e r i ght thing
,

to do ; God Almighty w ill l ook a fter her sa fety I .

sometimes th ink we take a won der ful care an d pride

in keepin it secret ; but perhaps a fter al l her woul d
’

d o more good i f everybody knew about h er

“
I f they di d they woul d hack her to pi eces repl ied
, ,

Una emphatical ly .

She l eft Kath ie a fter further talk an d went to her

’
husban d s study .

She foun d him at h i s writing tabl e .

3 28 A D A UGHTER O F THE S EA

Cuthbert I am sorry I spok e s o to you Forgive

, .

”
m e I d i d not mean hal f I sai d
. .

Cuthbert l ooked up with a smi l e an d put h i s arm ,

round her .

“
I know you d i d not l ittl e woman , .

’
And went o n Una a s s h e gaze d up at him
, ,

“
thoughtful ly ; I have mad e up my min d that I wil l
tel l you my secret some day ; but not j ust now An d .

when you hear it you w il l not th ink m e w icked at ,

al l ; you may be sorry for what you think about me .

”
I think you w ill .

“
What d o I think about y o u ?
Oh that I am j ust a ch il d an d sel f—
, w ill ed an d , ,

want my o w n way in stead o f yours

Cuthbert s smil e broaden ed ’
.

“
I do n ot think that i s putting the case fai rl y .

Una dear l et u s not seek o u r own w ay at al l either

, , ,

’
o f u s but God s way
, Then w e shall make no .

”
mi stakes .

“
An d you d o not mean what yo u sa i d about M r .

Mc Fa r l a n e ? I may speak to h im wh en I m eet h im P ”

Cuthbert was sil ent He hated h im sel f f o r bein g .

su spici ou s ; an d yet a fter what he had heard about

Donal d he coul d not bear that h i s w i fe sh oul d be
,

continual ly i n h i s soci ety S uddenly on the i mpul se .

o f the moment h e turned to her ,

“
Una l ook m e straight in the face an d a n swer m e
,
.

Is M r Mc Fa r l a n e much to you P
.
”

“ ?
What do you m ean I l ike him very much He .

i s so happy so tru e so good ‘ , ,

3’
 M I SUN DERS TAN DI N GS 3 29

I f I had real ly been drowned ; i f you had seen my

dead body ; i f you had been l eft a wi dow— woul d
M r Mc Fa r l an e have ever been to y o u other than h e
.

i s now ?
Una understood at last an d the blood rushed to her ,

face dyeing i t a deep crimson

, She h i d i t on her .

’
husban d s shoul der .

“
How can you Cuthbert ? How can y o u P
,
”

Do not think me cruel I bel ieve hi m to be th e .

soul o f honour but when I w a s away d id anyth ing

, ,

occur between you ? D i d h e ever s a y a word to S ho w

y o u that he thought your husband was dead
P ”

“ ”
Nothing nothing ! s h e whi spered Then suddenl y
,
.

i n a flash the words that s h e had heard when being ,

“
rescued by him came back to her , My darl ing ! My
”
l i fe
! God save her !
Cuthbert pull ed her roun d i n fr o nt o f h im an d co n
fronted her steadily .

“ ”
Look up Una and be truth ful I
, ,

I— I—o h Cuthbert you are cruel ! He never

—
, ,

—
spoke to me except e xcept o h how can I tel l you ?
,

Do yo u real l y think I woul d be so d i sloyal so u n l o v ,

ing so a w fu l as to l i sten to anyth ing that you might

,

not l ike to hear ? I f y ou doubt me I think my heart ,

will break !
Cuthbert sighed then he k issed her ,
.

“
I do not doubt you Una only— you are su c h a , ,

chil d !
“ ”
Such a ch il d I That phrase was becoming hateful
’
in Una s cars She dr ew hersel f up proudly
. .
330 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

No Cuthbert you shal l not treat me s o I am

, , .

you r wi fe i f I am a chil d You shal l honour an d

, .

respect m e Yo u have brought a big blot into my

.

sunsh ine by your words j u st now An d it i s fal se ; .

al l your suspicions are entirel y fal se W h o h a s been .

poi soning your min d against me ? I s that why you

were s o angry at my walking with M r M c Fa r l an e ? .

”
I cannot bear to th ink y o u had such thoughts o f u s !
“
My darl ing forgive me I have caus e to speak
,
.
,

but I cannot explain I am certain you have been

.

innocent an d ignorant o f what other peopl e say I .

only want you to give no further cau se for suc h

sayings .

They parted good frien ds ; but each had a sore

feel ing in thei r hearts an d Una w a s more to be pitied
,

’
o f the two She kept out o f Donal d s way a s much
.

a s poss ibl e an d when s h e met him s h e was restrained

,

an d awkward in hi s presence .

Donal d himsel f was going th rough deep waters He .

school ed himsel f to meet an d tal k w ith her with

the greatest equanimity but the effort it cost h im
,

was onl y known to h imsel f He l onged to get away .

,

an d yet hi s duties woul d not al low him to forsak e

them He w a s rel ieved when Un a no l on g er sought
.

hi s soci ety ; an d yet w ith th e i ncon si stency o f a man

, ,

fel t hurt that s h e wished to avoi d him .

He was coming through the vil l age l ate o n e night ,

“
when h e s a w M r Carteret stumbl e out o f the Blu e
.

Lobster ”
.H e ha d been s o g lad o f h i s re c ent re forma
 M I S U N DER STA ND I N G S 3 3 1

tion that the sight was a disappointing one and he soon ,

s a w that he woul d need hi s help .

M r Carteret had given way to hi s temptation at

.

l ast and had been drinking l ong and heavily that

,

’
evening He grasped Donal d s arm with muttered
.

thanks but was i n an argumenta tive frame o f mind

, ,

and hi s progress was n eces sarily a slow o n e It was .

past el even o clock when they reached the Towers

’

an d Cuthbert h imsel f opened the door to them M r . .

Carteret had j ust sense enough to try to pul l h imsel f

together but i t was a vain e ff ort ; and when Donal d
,

rel eased h i s hol d o f h im h e sank down into an abj ect

helpl ess heap o n the ground Cuthbe r t was d isgusted .

an d shocked He looked at D onal d f o r an expl anation

.
,

and he gave it adding ,

May I help you to get him upstai rs ?

Yes ; but w e must do it quietly I woul d not let .

my wi fe know it for worl ds !

She woul d n ot be surpri sed sai d Donal d q uietly , .

She had a terribl e time with the poor ol d man when

you were away I used to marvel how S he coul d
.

”
go through it !
“
—
Does every one know know o f hi s fail ing P ”

Cuthbert asked .

“
I am a frai d they d o He has been a d i ff erent
.

man since your return but I feared the improvement

,

’
woul d not l ast .

Cuthbert sai d no more H e got h i s father — .i n law -

to bed an d thanked Donal d for hi s services

, B ut .

he felt hurt again that Un a had kept h i m i n ignorance

3 32 A DAUGHTER O F TH E S E A

of what every one el se knew but himsel f I t was .

the beginning o f an outbreak o f drinking ; an d M r .

Carteret d i d not seem abl e to control himsel f any

longer .

”
“
Why di d y ou not tel l me about i t ? Cuthbert
asked h i s w i fe o n e evening when M r Carteret was .

unabl e to appear at d inner and was still drinking ,

S pi ri ts in hi s room .

“
I was ashamed to Cuthbert He i s my father
,
. .

Oh i t i s terribl e ; there seem s no cu re for h im ! You

,

’ ”
don t know what I have been through .

“
Can you not tel l m e about it ? Why am I never
to have you r confidence P ”

“
You shal l have it D o not speak so reproach fully ;
.

onl y i t i s not easy to tel l you things against— against

”
my father !
Sh e gave h im the ful l account an d a s Cuthbert ,

l istened h e coul d hardly curb hi s indignation She .

’
tol d him o f M r C a r te r e ts frien ds o f h er repeated
.
,

attempts to re form h im an d her hopel ess failures

,
.

“
I heard something o f you r father s friends from ’

M arj orie when I dined with h er th e other day ; but

I un derstan d now th e h ints th at she l et d rop Sh e .

sai d I must com e to you for th e in formation S h e

woul d n ot give me An d S h e tol d me sh e had been
.

i ndi screet about y o u r a ff airs once a n d coul d with ,

d i fficulty gain your forgivenes s ! What di d s h e mean P ”

“ ” “
Oh that w as a di fferent matter sai d Una
, It ,
.

was good o f M arj ori e not to tel l you for o f course ,

s h e knew —everyone d i d And—an d I shoul d l ike to

.
 M I SU N DE R S TA N DI N G S 333

tel l something el se I think perhaps I ought to do

yo u .

”
so , for you have mi sj u dged m e .

“ ”
Am I to hear thi s won der ful secret at l ast P
”
No no an d the col our mounted to Una s cheeks
,
’
.

It i s not that It i s only about the money I have

.

spent I tried to pay my father s debts

. He was ’
.

al ways in such di ffi culty and when he came to me

,

I coul d not bear to re fuse him S urely I was not .

Cuthbert took her face between hi s hand s and

k i ssed It Thi s expl anation l i fted a heavy l oad o f
.

doubt and anxi ety from his heart ; an d a l ight came

into h i s eyes that had been absent from them for
many a day .

“
Oh my l ittl e w i fe he sai d w ith deep feel ing
, , ,

why d i d y o u not tel l me th i s be fore ? Why d i d

you make a mystery over such a very natural pro
?
c e e din g Forgive me for doubting you Thank God .
,

”
I bel ieve I am gaining your confidence l ittl e by li ttl e !
’
Una l ai d her head on her husban d s shoul der N ever .

h a d s h e felt such a strong impul se to tel l h im abou t

the Tr i u m p h a s now S urel y her opportunity had
.

come ! Sh e was about to open h er l ips when there ,

was a knock at the door B al dwin entered with a

.

message that Cuthbert s l awyer wi shed to see him and

’

the opportunity was gone .

Later on Una persuaded hersel f that sh e h ad better

keep h er secret a l ittl e l onger .
 CHAPTER X XVI .

A N O BL E V ENTURE

A b r o th e r s
’
s u ff e rin g s c a l im a b ro th e r
’
s p ity .

A d di s o n .

Cuthbert had a very seriou s tal k with M r Carteret .

when he was in a fit state to be reasoned with He .

tol d h im he coul d not continue to remain as h is guest

unless he promised him he woul d abstain from drink .

Th e poor ol d man broke down and sobbed l ike a ch il d .

“ ”
I am drink ing mysel f to death he sai d trying to , ,

“
control h i s emotion The young parson has been
.

talking to me He wants to din rel igion into me

. .

I tell h im no power in heaven o r earth can take

away the l ove o f drink from me ! I know it i s kill in g
me but I cannot keep away from it I had better
, .

take mysel f o ff from you r respectabl e hou sehol d It .

was an attraction I coul d not resi st—coming to s e e

o n e o f my own kith and kin I w a s poor ; S h e was
.

rich . I fel t I shoul d l ike to give her a chance o f

doing her duty by me She has not di sappointed me
.

in that respect ; but i t i s duty and not l ove that has , ,

regul ated her action towards me I suppose I was a .

fool to expect anything el se I s a w a fter I had been.

in th e hou s e a week that she had neithe r respect n o r

aff ection for m e It i s a c ruel th i ng to separate a
.
 A N O B LE VENTURE 335

daughter from her only survi ving parent I have to .

thank Endicott for that ! I f I had had her to l ive

for to work for I might have turned o ut a di fferent
, ,

man Circumstances have been against me Give a

. .

—
dog a bad name you know th e rest ! ”

M r Carteret stopped and i n spite o f h i s a r tifi c i a li ty

.
,

an d mi srepresentations o f the truth Cuthbert pitied ,

hi m from th e bottom o f h i s heart .

“
You coul d have l ived and worked for your w i fe ,

h e said trying to speak sternly

,
You broke her .

heart and you woul d have dragged up your daughter

,

in mi sery and shame B e thank ful that h er youth

.

has been a bright and happy an d wholesome o n e

an d do not rail against th e one who made i t s o
An d now my daughter casts her father out o f her
house to want an d ruin ! I sai d to Mc Fa r l a n e j u st
‘
now wh en I met h im out o f doors Keep your
, ,

rel igion for those that l ike it ! It has never brought

me any good an d never w ill It i s only words words
, ,

’ ’
empty word s ! Word s won t save a man when h e
i s in the gutter You can preach at h im you can
.
,

pray with h im you can weep for him and you may
, ,

work upon hi s feel ings til l h e i s ready to hand h i s

soul over to y o u B ut as for doing him any practical
.

good your rel igion i s an utter failure ! You go your

,

way an d he goes hi s He sinks deeper than ever i n

, .

what you cal l sin an d you sh rug your shoul ders and
,

‘
say Poor d evil ! I tri ed to hel p h im but h e i s too ,

far gone to be reformed ! That i s the e xtent of

’

”
your rel ig i on !
336 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

M r Carteret spoke excitedly

. Cuthbert l istene d .

to h im i n uneasy won der .

“ ”
What woul d you suggest ? h e asked looking at ,

h i s father i n l aw thoughtful ly
- -
.

“
Can a pl ague stricken victim sug g est a cure to
-

a doctor who i s longing to get ri d o f h i s presence ?

B ah ! W e w il l talk no more When are you wanting
'

me to cl ear out ? Fo r as to depriving mysel f o f my

only com fort in l i fe — y o u know that i s a moral
impossibil ity ! I dare s ay it i s a s wel l I coul d .

not go through many such days a s I have pas sed

i n this dul l hol e trying to be sober an d respectabl e !
”
It saps the spirit o u t o f m e in more ways than o n e .

’
Cuthbert pondered much over h i s father i n l aw s - -

wor d s .

A few days later h e was ri ding o ut by him

sel f when he w a s overtaken b y Donal d al so o n horse
,

back who was going to v

,
IS It o n e o f h i s outlying
pari shioners .

Cuthbert w a s at fi r s t rather d istant i n h i s manner

‘

toward s th e young cl ergyman H e admired him as .

a preacher and respected hi s goodnes s ; h e even fel t

the fascination o f hi s attracti ve personal ity an d ,

perhaps this last fact had most to do w ith hi s de te r m i

nation to s e e as l ittl e o f him as possibl e .

B ut Donal d was too much i n earnest o n thi s day

to not i ce Cuthbert s manner He pl unged at once
’
.

into th e sub j ect that was uppermost i n h i s heart an d

thoughts .

“ ”
Ho w i s M r C arter e t th i s mo rn i n g P
.
 A NOBLE V E N L UK E

I cannot say there i s any improvement in h im .

What do you feel about it Gregson ? H a s he ,

opened o ut at al l to you ? I tel l you he wrung my ,

heart the l ast time I sa w hi m It i s a case o f a soul

.

struggl ing to free itsel f from an inevitabl e bondage .

I be l ieve in the power o f Chri st I have wrestled on

.

my knees for him ; but I cannot instil l a gl eam o f

hope i nto h i s mind He wil l not pray for himsel f ;
.

h e h as n o faith that prayer w il l save h im ; and I am

”
almost incl ined to be desponden t about h im mysel f .

“
H e seems to think o u r rel igion i s a mere matter
”
of words ! sai d Cuthbert slowly .

“
An d s o i t i s sai d Donal d w ith a sudden fire in
,

hi s eye . I asked h im what I coul d do to show

h im that i t w a s not and d o you know what h e sai d
,

”
to me P
“
No It was yesterday you cal l ed o n h im was it
.
,

not ? I spoke to h im in much the same strain a few

”
days ago but h e scorn ed my words
, .

“ ‘
Well h e sai d thi s to me : I f you real ly want to
,

help me come an d l ive with me ; be with me night

,

a n d d a v B e my keeper
. guard me from what has
,

h itherto been my only companion I f I were a rich .

man I woul d hire you as my body guard for a good

,
-

twel vemonth o r s o I woul d travel w ith you ; I

.

woul d get away from a place that from its dulnes s

”
an d isolation is d riving me mad I
Cuthbert l istened thought ful ly Donal d continued
.

“
I have been thinking o f hi s words ever since I .

fa n c y our Master woul d have u s weigh them in o u r

22
338 A DAU G HTER O F THE S EA

minds an d act upon them The poor w o unde d

.

traveller o n the way to Jericho was not j ust clothed ,

‘
an d sent o n hi s way H e w a s nurse d an d take n
.

”
care o f f o r many a l on g day a fter
’
.

“
Are you th inking o f becoming h i s keeper ?
Cuthbert asked wheel ing roun d hi s horse in
,

astonishment an d l ooking straight i nto the fai r

,

“
glowing face o f the young cl ergyman Do you .

real ise what it woul d be to tie yoursel f to a man o f

h i s di ssipated tastes ? I know hi s h istory better
than y ou do M y fri end Endicott hoped that h e
.

an d h i s daughter woul d never meet ; an d it h as been

”
an evi l day for th em both that they have d o ne s o .

“
It i s my pari sh that i s my di fficulty sai d D onal d ,

gravely It i s weigh ing a hun dred soul s or s o

.

against on e that makes me hesitate Yet o u r .

M aster thought much o f in divi dual cases ; an d only

”
o n e soul i s worth the work o f a l i fetime .

They rode on i n sil ence Cuthbert was thinking

.

hard At l ast h e sai d

.

“
Look here M c Fa r l an e I honestly want to h elp
, ,

the ol d m an in the best way p o ssibl e ; not onl y

’
because he i s my wi fe s father but because as a man ,

a n d a Chri stian I cannot ignore hi s claim upon me .

I f you wil l take h im abroad for a year I w il l give ,

y o u the mean s to do it I wi l l arrange f o r a parson

.

to take your pl ace Y o u w i l l save h im i f any one

.

can .

“
No s ai d D onal d gravely ; but my M aster w i ll
, .

M ay I think over the matter and let y ou know I .

 A N OB LE VE NTURE 3 39

own I have stron g reasons for w i shin g to leave

Pe r r a n co v
e for a time I f I coul d s e e a go o d s ub
.

s ti tu te install ed in my place I woul d go cheer fully

,

a n d wil l ingly .But it i s hard to l eave my peopl e

”
j ust when I am becoming really intimate w ith them .

“
Th ink it over You w il l be a brave man i f you
.

attempt hi s re formation ; but I bel i eve you wil l

succeed Cheery bright companionship w il l do much
.
,

towards helping him and God w il l do the rest

,

They parted but a s Cuthbert rode away he sai d

, ,

to himsel f
“
That i s a splend i d fel low with real grit i n h im .

I woul d that I coul d catch some o f h i s zeal and love

’
for others wel fare .

An d the more h e thought o f th e plan the better he

l iked it ; the more he e steemed the young fel low ,

who was read y to sacrifice s o much f o r the sake o f a

confirmed an d m iserabl e drunkard .

He fel t rather ashamed o f a thought that kept

steal ing in above al l others .

“ ”
He wil l be removed from my wi fe !
And he wondered i f D onal d himsel f ha d her in h i s
min d when he sai d h e had strong reasons for wishing
to l eave Pe r r an c ove .

I f he had been al lowed to peep into Donal d s room ’

that evening h e woul d have seen that hi s surmise in

,

thi s respect was a right o n e .

Donal d was pacing hi s room restl essly and from ,

quick disj ointed sentences h e was uttering one coul d

, ,

tel l that he wa s prayin g .

3 40 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

It i s an answer an opening !, O God my ,

F ather I thank Thee — Care for the soul s o f my

,

peopl e ! — I t i s a cross but I gl adl y take it — B etter

,

b e out o f sight o f her sweet face o u t o f s o und o f her

,

cl ear voice than giving way to s in ful thoughts

, .

I— a chosen messenger a s I humbl y bel ieve to be

m
,

continually breaking the Tenth Comman d ent !

O h Father have pity ! Forgive ! Purge me a fr esh
, ,

from al l that i s d i spl easing to Thee !

Donal d was not one to rush into d i fficulties without
fo eseeing them He knew the w eary d isheartenin g
r .
,

charge it woul d be He knew the deadening e ff ect

.

it might have upon h i s o w n soul to be ti ed daily and

,

hourl y to on e who not only was earth bound in al l -

hi s des ires an d interests bu t who took h i s pl easures

,

“
m s i n an d degradation ; who loved darkness rather
”
than l ight !
“
Shal l I be strong enough to resi st th e downward
”
i n fl u ence ? h e thou ght ; and then with a gl ad
rebound he added — “
I can do al l th i ngs through
”
Chr i st !
He went up to the Towers the next morning and ,

met Una and her hu sban d wal king in th e garden

togeth er .

They turned to him expectantl y and a s Una ,

shook hand s w ith h im s h e sai d a l ittl e shyly

,

“
My husband h as been tel l ing me about your pl an
Mr M c Fa r l an e
. I can hardly h Op e that y o u will
.

”
do i t .
 A N OB LE VE N TURE 34 1

I w il l —G o d h el p ing me —
gl adly
h e responded .
H

gravely .

Cuthbert gripped him by the hand .

“
I fel t you woul d Come into my study an d talk
.

it over .

For a moment Donal d l ooked at Una Tears were .

in her eyes .

“
We shal l never be abl e to repay you s h e sai d ; ,

an d tu rning away quickly s h e ran in the hous e

, ,

The two men were stil l deep in con fabulation about

h al f an hour a fterward s when M r Carteret shu ffled
, .

into th e room He looked h i s very worst H i s eyes

. .

were bl oodshot ; his hai r almost on en d ; h is steps

were trembl ing an d uncertain Cuthbert rose and .

d rew forward a chair for him .

“
We were j u st wanting to s e e you he sai d gently , .

M c Fa r l a n e has been talking to me about a pl an o f

h i s I will l et h im S peak for himsel f
. .

Then wisely h e l eft the room an d Donal d tak ing , ,

the ol d man s han d in hi s sai d brightly

’

“
Wil l you be my patient i f I turn from a parson
into a doctor for a short time ? Wil l you com e a
s e a trip with me and l eave P e r r a n c o v
”
, e for a whil e P
“ ”
Eh lad God knows I woul d ! ej acul ated M r
, , .

Carteret with real feel ing .

“
There i s nothing to h i n der u s from s etting o ut very
”
soon then .

“ ”
B ut wh o i s going to pay ? demanded M r Carteret .

“
querulou sl y I am a poor man I can hardly a ff ord
. .

”
to keep mysel f much l ess another !
,
3 42 A DAUG H TER O F THE S EA

That w il l be arranged easily M r Gregs o n w i l l

. .

explain th ings to you An d now l ook here l et u s go

.
,

over o u r crui se together an d discover how much we

,

”
can s e e o f foreign countri es in a twel vemonth .

H e talked away bri ghtly ; but as he was tak i ng h i s

l eave M r Carteret g ripped him by the coat sl eeve
, . .

“
What are you doing th is for ? N ot for m y sake ?
Fo r yours for m ine an d first an d foremost f o r the
, ,

”
sake o f my Master !
“
‘
Eh yes You expect to re form a d runkard an d
,
.

turn h im from hi s evil ways ! I f I thought y o u were

goin g to cram rel igion down my throat every hour I
woul d not sti r a step w ith you You parsons c a n
.

”
never control your tongues !
“
I am goin g to forsake my r ol e a s a parson an d
”
s ubst i tute that o f a private physician an d friend .

M r Carteret shook h i s head feebly then r o use d

.
,

h i msel f an d spok e a l ittl e excitedly

,

“
Yo u mean wel l ; Gregson may mean w ell In .

any case h e an d my daughter have done themsel ves

a good turn by th i s bit o f business They w il l be r i d .

o f an inmate who shock s thei r del icate feel ings a n d

brings di sgrace on thei r househol d I am to go to sea

.
,

am 1 ? Wel l a j ump overboard may soo n r i d the

,

worl d o f o n e w h o i s not wanted There ! Do not .

min d an ol d man s b i tterness ! Yo u are stron g an d

’

well an d happy ; y o u h ave n ot come to the l e ngth o f

you r tether ! I f you bel ieve in a future r e war d you ,

w il l get i t ! M eanwhil e I g i ve y ou thank s I am

, .

not entirel y dest i tute o f g rat i tu d e My s el f respect

.
-
 A N O BLE VEN TURE 3 43

and pri de have died a viol ent death long ago ; but a
gentleman requ ires much grace to own hi s fall en
p osition and ki ss the han d which has pointed i t o u t
,

to him I cannot yet knuckl e down to my son i n l a w

.
- -
,

s o tel l him to keep o u t o f my way for the present !

”
G ood day .

When once the matter was settled i t d i d not take

,

l ong to arrange all necessary d etai l s A curate was

.

found who was w ill ing for a smal l stipen d to take

charge o f the parish He was a del icate man who
.
,

hoped to derive much benefit from the salt s e a breezes ,

an d earnestly di d hi s best for the fi s h e r f o lk .

There was grievou s l amentations in the vil lage when

’
Donal d s departure became known Two o f the
.

heaviest d rinkers in P e r r a n c o v
e arr i ved up at the
parsonage one night decl aring they woul d sign the
,

pl edge an d never touch a d rop o f beer again i f thei r

’ ’ ’
parson u d keep to home an not leave em
The young rector needed al l hi s courage al l hi s ,

strength to keep a brigh t face an d demeanour Yet

, .

when Una stepped up to h im to w i sh him goodbye ,

w ith her grey eyes ful l o f gratitude h e felt su fficiently

,

rewarded al ready .

“
You w il l save h im she said ,
Cuthbert an d I
w ill pray for y o u n ight an d day You wil l bring
.

him back to u s a changed man ; it i s what ou r Lord

”
woul d have done Himsel f !
And thos e were the word s that ran g i n h i s ears
across wave an d storm through weary month s o f
,

watch ing and toil : word s that brought a smil e to hi s

3 44 A DAUG H TER O F THE S EA

l ip an d a l ight i n h i s eye when h i s task seeme d almost

overwhelming .

Hi s absence i n P e r r a n c o v
e brought Cuthbert an d

Una in cl ose contact with al l the fi shers H usban d .

and wi fe were determined to support their present

parson an d where h e was unabl e to work th ey gladly
,

o ff ered them selves as substitutes .

“
You wil l soon begin to l ove the sea an d the fish ers
as much as I do sai d Una on e day when h er hus
, ,

ban d returned from a l ong vi sit to ol d M artin .

“
I am a frai d you w il l not l ike the new s I have to
”
tel l you he said smil ing
, ,
I must l eave you for a
.

”
S hort time an d go up to Lon don .

Una l ooked at h im with startl ed eyes

“
I cannot be l e ft I must go w ith you sh e sa i d
.
,
.

I think not dear One o f u s i s wante d here wh il e

, .

M c Fa r l a n e i s away I wish Lester were not s o

.

d iffid e n t with the fishers They think he I S frightened

.

o f them and are incl ined to bul ly a l ittle

, It i s abou t .

my book that I wrote It has sol d s o w el l that a

.

fresh edition i s to be brought out I must s e e my .

”
publ i sh e r s about it It may n eed some revi sion
. .

Does that mean that you are going to shut y our

sel f u p into th e study again an d l i ve your l i fe ,

alone ?
“
No ; I may safel y promise you that those o l d days
w il l n ot come back B ut my book has been a h elp
.

to many Una ; i t woul d be wron g for me to withhol d

,

my hand from i mproving i t in an y way I have ha d .

many testimonies as to its useful ness .

 A NO B LE VEN TURE 3 45

Oh I kn ow I know ; but i t nearly cost you your

, ,

wi f e !
Cuthbert l ooked at her tenderly .

“
I think my l ittl e w i fe i s waking up to s e e that
there are great real ities in l i fe ; a work for each to do ,

an d strength an d gui dance given as w e need i t You .

are n Ot content now to spend your days in shrimping

an d boating as i n O l d times are you
,
P ”
,

I n ever was content w ith those occupations only ,

“
sai d Una looking at him thoughtfully
,
Some times .

I wonder Cuthbert i f you w i l l stil l think me a

, , ,

th oughtl ess chil d when I am fi fty years ol d \Vil l .

you never give me credit for any earn estnes s o f

purpose any obj ect in l i fe save that o f shrimping
, ,

an d fishing ? Do you think I have no mind no will o f ,

my own ?
I thin k you have a very deci ded wil l o f your
own ,
responded Cuthbert w ith a mixture o f fun and
,

“
o f gravity in h i s tone I was j ust congratul ating you
.

on your growth I th ink you are taking a real and

.

d eep interest in those who are i n need ; and I can

quite trust my w i fe to manage the househol d and al l
Pe r r an c o ve too i f necessary in my absence
, ,
.

Una sighed .

“ ”
How lon g wil l y o u be away ?

Not m ore than a fortnight or three w eek s I hope ,

.

”
I S hal l be miserabl e the whol e time ! sai d Una ;
and her husband coul d not com fort h er .
 CHAPTER X XVI I .

U N A S A P P EAL
’

T h e re i s n o true p o t en cy r e me mb e r b ut th at of h e lp ; nor
tr u e a mb iti o n b u t a m b it i o n to s ave —R us le i n
, ,
”
. .
,

Cuthbert went an d h i s wi fe bravely s e t to work to

,

fil l up her time with variou s occupations hoping vainly ,

that by s o doing her thoughts mi g ht be taken from her

absent husban d .

“ ’
I don t know how i t i s s h e said to Kath i e ; I ,

have a presentiment that someth in g i s go i ng to

happen before my husban d returns I am quite .

rel ieved when each day i s over an d no evil has ,

be fallen me Do y ou beli eve in present i ments

.
,

Kathie ?
“
Ay , sa i d Kathie you cal l em by a bi g name
,
’

M issy ; but my f e e li n s tol d m e J i m was n o t d ead

’
.

Be that a presentiment P ”

“
O f course it was an d a very pl easant o n e
, I .

think I am getting nervous I met o l d P atty o ut .

thi s morning D o you notice that s h e al ways di s

.

appears when things go o n a s usual but directl y ,

anything happen s amongst u s sh e i s back again l ike

a bad penny ? She sai d to me in her shril l s i n g son g ,
-

voice
 U N A S AP PEAL ’

3 47

‘
Ma s t e r aw a y o n c e an d tw i ce !
Evi l b e b r e w in on ce , ,
’

, t w i c e th ri c e !
F i s h e rs an d S e a
ll
T e s u mm a t ’to m e ,
A n th e
’
itch e s H o e d’ o h i d e ’
W l
W h a t th e h o n e s t f o c an t b i d e ! lk
I was quite afrai d she woul d be heard an d understood .

And i t i s no good trying to stop her for s h e only

‘

runs away an d gets more excited Have you seen .

”
her P
“
Y e s ; I gave her some hot broth poor c r e a tu r !
’
,

I o ften wonder h ow her do l ive but her s eemed very ,

”
q uiet l ike when her w a s here !
Una s a w Patty again several days l ater an d thi s ,

time the lads were chasing her through the vi llage .

Sh e was screaming hal f in mischi ef hal f i n terror

, , ,

the doggerel ryme wh ich s h e had sung to Una ; and

i t had an exasperating e ff ect o n her tormentors They .

repeated i t to the ol der m en an d the subj ect that ,

had f o r a time l ai n dormant in their minds now came

to th é surface again an d was d iscu ssed w ith much
’

animation an d interest Al l were o f the opinion that

.

Patty witchcra ft an d the d evil h imsel f had helped

, ,

to create that unknown boat wh i c h a ppeared an d

di sappeared s o mysteriously .

“ ”
Her be a right down witch ! wa s the O pinion o f
al l ; an d the ol dest am o ngst them began relating tal es
that had been handed down to him o f the burning o f
witches an d such l ike .

“
I f u s coul d once catch th e varmint on e man sai d ,

“
doggedl y u s coul d take th e l aw into ou r o w n hands
, ,

an cl ear Pe r r an co v
’
e o f such a pest ; but ti s dan ger
’
3 48 A DAUGHTER O F T HE S EA

’
some work to meddl e w i a wi tch for i f her sl ip s o ut ,

o owr hands her w il l for sure i l l wi sh u s o r cast a

’
,
-

”
evil eye on u s !
“ ’
A y but i f u s c o tc h e d h er u s woul d n t be the fo o l s
, ,

”
to l et her sl ip l
“ ’ ’
There be M issy sai d another an them s n e aki n
, ,

” ’
Tanners ; they do be al l on th e w itch s s i de l
“ ’
In course they be fur tis my bel ie f that Patty d i d
,

giv em th e cra ft ! T i s a bewitched cra ft that it be !

’ ’ ’

The resul t o f al l thi s was that on e a fternoon

toward s dusk Patty w as chase d once again but thi s ,

time i t was not by th e lads but by strong abl e , ,

bodied men an d they m eant more than pl ay ; they

,

were determined to catch her an d mak e her su ff er for

all her mi sdeeds .

Un fortunately Una was not at han d t o be frien d

h er ; the Tanners were away fi sh ing ; an d the poor
o l d creature fled through th e vill age an d up to the

cl i ff top feel ing that her l ast hour had come ! She
-
,

w as wonderful ly fleet o f foot but h er pursuers saw to ,

thei r del ight that at l ength her steps were flagging .

Gradual ly they l essened th e di stance between them ,

and then suddenl y as on e man was w ithin almost

,

’
an arm s l ength o f h er sh e pl unged into some gors e ,

bushes an d van i shed from thei r sight Her pursuers .

paused an d looke d at each other in bl ank a ston ish

ment ; then on e sai d as h e S l apped h i s han d on hi s
,

thigh
“ ’
Look c c o u t f o r a hare l ads ! A hare ! Her be ,
 ’
U NA S AP PEAL 3 49

’
a real p r ape r witch an her be in the bushes still
, .

” ’
B eat the bushes lads an u s wi l l catch her yet !
, ,

I t was du sk As thei r stout cudgel s w ere brought

.

into requi sition a frightened rabbit made its e scape

,

across the short springy turf , .

“
Away lads ! Her be away !
,

W ith shouts an d yell s the fishers t o re a fter th e

littl e creature an d when ti red out with thei r hopel es s
,

chase they returned to the vil lage more than ever

,

“
convinced that poor Patty was a p r ape r witch an d ,

as such they ought to burn her .

Thei r amazement an d consternation was great

when shortly a fter coming across thei r bay from the
,

Witch es H ol e and heading for the Towers Creek

’

,
’

Una s private landin g pl ace— was Patty in th e m y s te r

’
-

ious boat .

Thei r wonder a s to how sh e had got there was

ecl ipsed by their furious l onging to get hol d o f her .

At l ast i t seemed to them th e chance had come .

Th e boat an d Patty had fal l en into thei r cl utches .

The beach was crowded in no time ; women and

chil dren poured out o f their cottages ; lads began
making a pil e o f bru shwood an d bits o f ol d timber .

Some o f the men crept cautiousl y al ong the shingl e to

th e creek ; but they su ddenl y stopped an d retraced
thei r steps It was h igh ti de and th e current was ver y
.
,

stron g T o their del ight they saw that ol d P atty w a s

.

becom ing exhau sted with her e fforts an d the ti de was ,

bringin g h e r swi ftl y an d su rel y into P e r r an co v e It .

was the same current that s o o ften brought in sal vage

3 56 A DAUG H TER O F T H E S EA

from wrecks ; the fishers l ooked at each other in

dumb amazement .

Ti s a sign from above s aid o ne

’
Heaven b e, .

’ ” ’
ai din us to ri d the coast 0 such a curse !
“
H e r be d r i f ti n i n sure enough an u s will have
’ ’

’ ”
a gran bonfire thi s night !
S ome o f the boys put a l ight to the heap o f wood
they had col l ected a woman added a l ittle lamp oil
, ,

and soon the beach was enveloped i n a ru ddy gl are .

It shone on the excited fishers an d on the terror ,

stricken ol d woman i n the boat In vain s h e tri ed to .

turn the Tr i u mp h round ; sh e seemed paralysed w ith

fear an d at last S h e crouched down on the seat
, ,

clutching her oars desperatel y though s h e n e v

fi

e r pul led ,

a stroke S he saw th e bonfire ; S he s a w the cruel

.
,

angry faces roun d her ; an d she knew there was n o

escape Her will had n o l onger power over h er
.

l imbs ; th e sea w a s gently an d surely takin g her to a

cruel death .

The poor ol d woman was now past real i z i ng wh at

sh e w a s doing W hen pursued on the cl i ff top s h e
.
-
,

had made for the secret entrance to the Witches ’

H ol e Th e i nnocent rabbit had perhaps saved that

.

entrance from being d iscovered ; but Patty had n o t

the sense to act coolly S he gain ed th e bottom o f th e
.

cave but sh e fanci ed h er pursu ers were following

,

her still an d with almost a superhuman stren gth s h e

, ,

d ragged th e Tr i u mp h down to th e beach an d l aunched

her She thought sh e woul d be foun d i n th e cave an d
.

murdered there and the terror o f that thought l ent

,
 ’
U NA S A PPEAL 351

strength to her aged wrists The Tr i ump h danced .

over the water merrily Not since her first launch ing
.

had s h e been o u t in such weather as th i s ; she seemed

’
to respon d to P atty s feebl e strokes with j oy and
del ight The strong tide carried her rapidly alon g
.

the coast ; and then Patty concei ved the bol d i dea
of rowing to the Towers That woul d be a sure .

re fuge sh e knew ; s h e fancied her pursuers woul d be

,

searching the cavern an d so woul d not notice h er

,

passin g Pe r r an c o v
. e When she s aw the l ights i n the
cottages an d on the shore s h e was a l ittl e al armed ;
for a moment s h e paused Where shoul d s h e go ?
.

Not o u t to s e a ; that woul d be certain death Not .

’
back to th e Witches Hol e for there were her pursuers
,

waitin g to seize h er ! Th e onl y thing to d o was to

’
make for the Towers Creek And then came th e.

struggl e with current an d ti de th e slow conviction ,

that s h e w a s not going the way sh e meant to but ,

every moment was dri fting n earer P e r r an c o v e beach .

S he saw the crowds assembl e ; s h e watched th e

kindl ing o f the bonfire ; and soon s h e was near enough
to recognize th e faces o f h er pursuers That was .

the crowning moment o f her despair An icy col d .

-

shiver ran through her l imbs ; her arm s dropped

hel pless b y her si des ; and onl y her skinny fingers stil l
gripped the oars tenaciou sl y .

The ti de wash ed the Tr i u mp h in ; th ree or four

men dashed forward to haul her up when suddenl y ,

a sl ight figure spran g in front o f them and j umpe d

in to the b oa t w ith Patt y .
3 52 A DAUGHTER O F T HE S EA

It was Una In a moment S he had seized the oars

.

from Patty s grasp the boat shot out agai n into th e

’

water but not be fore a hoarse angry shout rose

, ,

from the shore When s h e was about a boat s l ength ’

.

out s h e paused She cau gh t sight o f boats being

.

’
hurri edl y d ragged down to the water s edge She .

knew that matters were serious and stan ding up , , ,

s h e con fronted the angry crowd .

“ ”
B e quiet I want to speak to you ! s h e sai d
. .

Something in h er quiet authoritative tone had the ,

instant e ff ect she desired There w a s sil ence : the.

women elbowed their way down to the edge ; the men

l oo k ed up sull enl y It was a scene any arti st woul d
.

have wi shed to paint ; for weirdness and b eauty it

coul d have no equal It was a sti l l night ; only
.

the rippl e an d swish o f th e waves against the l ow

stone breakwater was to be heard The ocean lay .

dark and S il ent i n the background ; th e centre picture

was the T r i u mp h Una stoo d up the rud dy l ight from
.
,

the bonfire sh ining ful l on her sl ight young suppl e

figure H e r face was gl owing and sparkl ing w ith eager
.

earnestness an d enthusiasm ; her curly hai r escaping ,

from under the wooll en cap sh e wore cl ustered round ,

her brow in S o ft wavy tendril s ; one han d was l i fted to

demand attention th e oth er was backin g w ith a n oar
,

to keep the boat from dri fting forward .

Crouched down by her s ide was P atty Her grey .

hai r was hanging l oose and unti dy roun d h er withered

face A scarl et han dkerch ief knotted round h er throat
.

an d a ragg ed bl ue apron gave a touch o f col o ur t o

 UNA S AP PE A L
’

35d
3

her figure Her restl ess bl ack eyes were peering into
.

th e crowd in front o f her The fi r e l igh t o f the bon .

fire destined for h er destruction played across her

terror stricken face A black backgroun d ; a ruddy
~
.

foreground ; youth an d age ; beaut y an d decay in close

proximity It was a scene long remembered b y o n e
.

wh o was even now hurry i ng to w ard s it .

“ ”
Li sten to me !
’
Una s voice ran g out as cl ear an d sweet as a bel l .

“
Yo u have thoughts o f murder i n your hearts to
night . I come to save you from such a crime I .

have grown up amongst you I love you al l I woul d . .

save y o u i f I coul d from th e consequences o f such a

, ,

crime I know what has angered you I t i s not onl y

. .

poor o l d Patty here who i f her s o n had l ived woul d

, , ,

have been l ovingly housed and cared for in stead o f ,

being hooted from pl ace to place by men and boys who ,

ought to know better A poor ol d de fencel ess grey

.
,

h aired woman daily grow ing feebl er i n mind an d body

, ,

has become you r obj ect o f hate an d spite A n d why ? .

Because y o u i gnorantl y think that the boat I stan d in ,

bel ongs to h e r ! Take a good look at u s tell me i f you ,

have seen such a cra ft be fore ? Does sh e l ook the work

o f witchcra ft ? Woul d you l ike to know her owner ? I
am she ! Yes you are aston i sh ed ! I wil l take you
,

into my confidence ; I wil l ta l k to you l ike reasonabl e

men an d women Long l on g ago when I wa s quite
.
, .

a l ittl e girl I used to sob m y sel f to sl eep when th e

,

wind howl ed roun d the Towers th inking o f th e poor ,

23
3 54 A DAUGHTER O F THE S EA

wrecked sailors I o ften u sed to tal k to some o f

.

y o u about them an d you u sed to l augh an d turn the

,

subj ect a s i f the deaths o f so many human beings

,

mattered nothing to you I l i stened o n e day to the

.

talk o f some vi sitors at the Towers I h eard the .

h i story o f the destru ction o f a val uabl e l i feboat ; an d

I made a vow to mysel f then an d th ere that w h e ii I
, ,

grew big I woul d bu il d a l i feboat mysel f— a boat

that woul d never be destroyed That wa s when I .

was about ten years o l d Ten years later I remem

.

bered m y vow and I s e t to work I saved al l the

,
.

money I coul d and invested i n mate r i al s an d then I

, ,

won dered where I coul d secrete them I thought o f .

’
the Witches Hol e an d I had th em taken there
, .

Littl e by l ittl e thi s boat that y o u s ee began to gro w .

It was slow work It was only a fter I marri ed that

.

it proceeded more quickl y I was abl e to spen d more.

o n it and I tel l y o u men that it was my greatest j oy

, , ,

i n l i fe when sh e was chri stened an d l au nch ed There .

’
i sn t a foot in her that I have n ot hel ped to mak e .

Every screw an d bolt i s known to me Sh e i s dearer .

to me than anyth ing el se in the worl d An d thi s i s

what y o u cal l witchcra ft !
Una paused with a l i ttl e catch in her breath .

The fi shermen an d women w ere gaz ing at her with

open eyes an d mouth s Thei r anger was dying away
.

“ ”
i n the keen interest they fel t in M i ssy s revel ation s ’
.

”
Now went on Una with a l ittl e enthu si asm i n
, ,

her tone m y boat was made but sh e wanted a cre w

, ,
.

Who woul d come forward ? I thought o f y o u all on e

 UNA S APPE A L ’

3 55

b y one . Martin who gave me m y first l esson i n

,

rowing ; Luke who h elped me to catch my first fish ;

,

others who had del ighted me when a chil d by their

s e a yarn s — perhaps you wonder I did not come to

you ! Wel l — what repl y woul d you have made me ?

Do v o u think my proposal woul d have been welcomed

by you ? Woul d y o u have al l come forward bravel y

a s a vol unteer crew an d breasted th e waves an d, ,

fought the storms i n order to save poor drowning

,

men P ”

A dead S i l ence .

“
I tel l you— al l o f you — that I was ashamed to
feel that I coul d not rel y on your h elp I was not .

sure o f v ou and s o I fel l back on the three that I

,

”
kn ew I coul d trust .

There was a l ow sul len murmur through th e crowd .

“
Yes I know you hate them ; you tried to drown
,

o n e and murder two ; you al so tried to drown my

husban d but God above has saved you from such

,

crimes I know al l I have seen ghastly sights on

. .

thi s shore — sights that have made my bl ood boil —o nl y

I was a helpl ess woman and coul d s e e no way to
-
,

remedy matters A hal f drowned man i s better l e ft

.
-

to die i f the spoil s from o ff h im enrich your pockets !

Oh men an d l ads ! d o you ever th ink o f your hi dden
,

stores o f ri ch es your secret pil es o f i ll gotten wealth

,
-
,

and trembl e when you remember that a day o f j ud g

ment i s coming ? D o you think that God l ooks do w n
upon you an d know s all an d yet wil l pass i t b y ?
, ,

H a s th e l ove o f m o n e vs o taken possession o f your

 A D A UG H TER OF TH E S EA

sou l s that you are utterly dead ened to al l thoughts

,

o f the l i f e beyond an d to where you w il l spen d eternity ?

B ut I am not h ere to preach I am tell ing you the
.

history o f my l i feb o at You have seen h er g o out

.

from the Witches Hol e an d save li ves ; I have been

’

prou d an d glad to be one o f her crew o n those

occasions I f you h ad n o t wil ful ly maimed al l her
.

crew on one s a d night th ree o f your o w n n eighbors

,

and kinsmen woul d be standing al i ve an d strong w i th

you to night We shoul d have saved them as wel l as
-
.
,

the crew that picked them up It i s y o u Pe rr a n co v

. e
”
fishers who made three desolate wi dows then !
The women all uded to gave a wail ing kind o f c ry .

Una continued
“
Ye s that seem s terribl e to you I d o bel ieve ! I
, ,

have seen y o u ri sk your o w n l ives f o r each oth er ; I

bel ieve you woul d be honestly gl ad to s e e those poor
men back amongst u s again ; but h ave you eve r
thought o f the w ives an d sweethearts l eft sorrowing
for those y o u have helped to kill ? Have you ever
thought o f the broken h earts o f the mothers wh ose
onl y sons have been drowned for the want o f a
?
fri endl y h an d Ju st th ink for a moment ! Take the
l ast ten years onl y ten years — I dare not th ink o f a
-

l onger time Imagine ever y d rowned soul wrecked

.

on these rocks close to u s ri sing up from thei r watery

grave and con fronting you now Can you fancy you .

s e e them ? I can Tal l bonny l ads sons o f l oving

.
,

mothers and prou d fathers weather beaten sailors

,
-

l ike yourselves h ead s o f famil ies l eav i ng poverty

, ,
 UN A S APPE A L ’

3 57

stricken wives an d ch il dren wi thout a protector ;

del icate women ; helpless baby ch il dren Oh ! ca n .

‘
you s e e them ris ing now and saying Why di d you ,

?
l et u s d rown Why di d you not l i ft a hand to help
us P
’
Can you s e e them by ten s an d twenties an d
hund reds ri sing up to condemn you ? Do you kno w
the name o u r bay deserves ? Sl aughter B ay
‘
Think .
’

it over for it has been downright slaughter for the

,

l ast hundred years or more You know h ow many .

you coul d have saved i f you had w ished to do s o !

,

You know how many you have seen d rown You .

have watched thei r death struggl es with del ight ; you

have stripped thei r poor bodies o f everyth ing that
you think wil l bring you money ? An d what are you
the better for it ? Tel l me do you enj oy you r riches ?
,

I s you r secret hoard a del ight to you ? O r i s it an

anxious care ? Now what I have to ask you to nigh t
,
-

i s thi s Wil l you alter the h i story o f S laughter Bay ?

.

Shal l i t be Rescue B ay in the future ? You h ave hearts !

You l ove you r w ives an d l ittl e ones Wil l you begin
.

to think o f the w ives an d l ittl e ones o f others hence

forth ? Will you start a fresh and try to blot out ,

the black past o f Pe r r a n c o ve Ba y ? An d oh dear ,

men an d women too for you know how you can h el p

,
-
,

your husbands in th is matter— i f i t mean s a ribbon o r

a trinket l ess i t wil l mean a l i fe more— wil l you al l
,

remember that we are brothers an d sisters th at we ,

have a Father above— a Father w h o has made the sea

and rules the waves and l oves ever y creatu re on and
,

in it ? We have a S avior who l i v ed amo n gst fishers ,

 DAUG H TER O F THE
‘

S EA
'

3 58 A

who chose them as Hi s dearest friends wh o wants to ,

b e thei r Friend stil l day by day hour by hour

,
I wi sh
, .

I coul d talk to you as M r Mc Fa r l a n e does I know

. .

what the Lord J esu s Chri st has done for me Thi s .

l ittl e boat I am standing in i s a very poor type o f

what He i s abl e to do for you You are making .

shipwrecks o f your soul s and He i s th e Li feboat o f

,

the worl d I foun d no real j oy or peace til l I stepped

.

in How many o f you wil l step i n to o P

.
”

Another s il ence broken by the sobbing o f some

,

women Una h a d reached the hearts o f her au dience

.
,

an d s h e knew i t .

Then sh e changed her tone .

“
I wil l s a y no more I have tol d you h o w thi s l ittl e
.

boat has been buil t w ith much har d work w ith much
, ,

prayer I am going to l eave h er fate i n your hands

. .

I have shown you that poor ol d Patty has ha d nothin g

to do with h er She discovered what w e w ere doing
.

’
in the Witches Hol e ; s h e knew an entrance to it from
the cl i ff s above ; an d I suppose mu st have got down
there wh en you were pursuing her an d rowed o ut to ,

escape from y o u I feel sure n ow you know th e facts

.

you w il l l eave the poor o l d woman alone ; but what

are you go i ng to do with my l i feboat ? I am not
going to hi de her exi stence any longer Shal l s h e .

belong to every one o f us ? Shal l sh e try to w i pe o ut

the stain upon u s as a fishin g popul at i on an d seek to ,

rescue a s man y as have al ready per i she d throu g h th e

l ack o f her ? I f y ou are w il l ing I wil l bu il d a house ,

f o r her on the beach here M y hu sban d w i l l h el p m e

. .
 UN A S AP PEAL
’

3 59

W e wil l ask f o r a volunteer crew Wil l you take the

.

same pri de in h er that w e do ? I f you stil l wish her

to be destroyed ; i f y o u want to see drownin g men and
women di e be fore your eyes an d have n o t the
,

humanity or pl uck to rescue them then say the ,

word . I will cast her adri ft n ow and l et the sea

,

take her where s h e w il l ; o r I wil l bring her in an d

l et you burn her in your bonfire Wh ich i s i t to be ?
.

”
D ec i de her fate W h a t i s t o be co me o f the Tr i u mp h ?
.
 CHAPTER X X V I I I .

THE FI S H E R S RE S PO N S E
’

By w i n n i n g w o r d s to co n que r w i l l i n g h e a rt s
A n d m a k e p e r s u a s i o n d o th e w o r k o f f e a r

The fishers were not l ong in making the i r deci sion .

Ol d Martin had the honour o f being first spokesman .

He rai sed hi s cap an d waved i t wil dly i n the ai r .

“ ’
Three cheers for th e M i ssy s boat ! Th ree cheers
”
f o r the Tr i u mp h !
The cheers w ere gi ven with right good w il l The .

P e r r an c o v
e fishers were al ways m oved by eloquence ;
’
they were carrie d away i n thi s instance beyon d Una s
wi l dest hopes . There was n ot a di ssentient voice
amongst them ; th e boat that had been the cause o f
so much anger an d stri fe was n ow an obj ect of
reverence in th eir eyes As with a few quick strokes
.

Una came to shore a crow d o f th en hauled the

,

Tr i u m p h up o n the beach an d s h e was bes i eged by

,

the curious and interested onlookers .

B ut as Una stepped o ut a han d was l a id on her

shoul der an d she turned to see her husban d
, .

“
O h Cuthbert you are back
, , Thank God . If .

”
o nl y you had been h ere sooner !
 THE F I S H ER S RES PO N S E
’

3 61

He was si l ent and stepped back a s o n e b y one

, ,

some o f th e elder fishers came up to h i s wi fe .

She took each by the hand .

“
You wil l stand b y the Tr i u mp h ? You w il l be h er
friends ? God bl ess you ! M artin I l eave her in your ,

charge to n ight -
Fasten her to the breakwater
. I .

”
trust her to you al l .

She passed through them rapi dly hol ding poor ol d ,

Patty by the hand Th e men were some o f them

.

wipin g thei r eyes w ith thei r c o a tc u ff s ; the women

sobbing audibl y They were an impressionabl e lot
.
,

but never i n the memory o f the ol dest inhabitant

there had there been such a scene Kath ie came .

forward with her eyes ful l o f fervour Sh e vol unteered .

to house ol d Patty for the n ight for the poor ol d ,

woman seemed to be fast coll apsing .

“
Oh M iss y to th ink my J im has not heard you !
, ,

s h e exclaimed .

Una smil ed but coul d s ay nothing S he took her

, .

’
husban d s arm an d he fel t h er l ean heavily o n h im
, ,

but not a word d i d either o f them s a y til l th ey had

reached the Towers .

'

Cuthbert w a s d umb founded b y i t al l H e had . .

arrived home to be tol d by B al dwin hurri edl y

“
Oh master there be terribl e do i n s on the beach !
, ,
’

J im Tanner s w i fe have been up to fetch th e m istres s

’

down They m goin to burn ol d Patt y J essop for a

.
’ ’

Thei r bl oods be u p an d th ey m terribl e ’

witch .
,

”
savage !
H e had dashed down in time for the opening of
 A DAUGHTER OF TH E S EA

Una s speech an d had l i stened to every word o f i t ;

’

bewil derment astoni shment an d admiration succeed

, ,

ing rapid ly in his mind Was th i s h i s thoughtl ess

.

chil d wi fe ? He stoo d in the backgroun d l i sten ing

-

spel lboun d An d as he now walked home w ith h e r

.

he dared not tru st h imsel f to speak .

He took her into the d ining room where there was -

,

a blazing fire an d then h e faced h e r

,
.

“ ”
Una !
S he l ooked up Al ready s h e was feel ing the react i on
.

from the inten se strain s h e had pas sed through Th e .

colour w a s ebbing from her cheeks an d l ips but s h e ,

’
l ai d her hands on her husban d s arm i mplor i ngly .

“
Do not be angry with me Cuthbert I wanted to , .

”
tel l you I meant to do s o
. .

”
Angry ! repeated Cuthbert mechanical ly .

She mi sunderstood h i s sil ence an d burs t into a , .

passion o f tears He took her i nto h i s arms at once

. .

There was no smal l —min dedness in Cuthbert s ’

’
nature I f for an instant he regretted h i s w i fe s want
.

o f confidence in him th e real facts fill ed him with

,

gladness an d d el ight .

“
Angry with you h e exclaimed passionately My .

darl ing I feel it i s an honour to bel ong to y o u to

, ,

be your husban d ! I woul d n o t have m issed what I

—
have seen an d heard to n ight for worl d s ! ”

Then i n quieter tones he tried to soothe her He .

ordered a cup o f co ffee to be brou g ht to her which h e ,

insi sted that S h e sh o ul d take .

 T HE FI S HER S RE S P ON S E ’

You m ust not tal k The best thing for you i s .

”
sl eep Yo u w il l feel better to morrow
.
-
.

Una struggl ed for sel f control ; but s h e fel t unstrun g

-

an d exhausted and wi sely took h is advice Just as

, .

sh e was dropping o ff to sl eep S he turned to Mr s .

Craven who had been waiting upon her

, .

“
Just ask your master to come to me .
’

Cuthbert obeyed the summons at once .

“
Tel l me Cuthbert will the temptation be too much
, ,

for them ? I have l e ft the Tr i ump h in their hands

”
entirely .

“
Yo u coul d not have ensured her safety better .

S he smil ed an d was asl eep al most d irectly

, .

Pe r r an co v e meanwhil e was al most besi de itsel f w ith

excitement Perhaps Una s succes s would not have

.
’

been so complete had not Donal d M c Fa r l an e s teach ’

ing found i ts way into many a h eart F or some time .

past many o f the fishers had been uncom fortabl e an d

il l at ease ; but the habits o f a l i fetime are not easily
broken an d wrecks with thei r salvage were the i r
,

del ight an d j oy M artin w a s th e one that was con

.

'

quered first and now he was l ou d i n Una s prai se

,
.

“
I never seed a maid nor a w i fe her e ka l yet ! A y
’
boys ! Were h er not gran w i such a tongue stand in ’

”
th ere l ike a beast at bay !
“
N ay there were not much o f the beast i n sh e !
,

’
l augh ed a younger man ; tis an angel c c be meanin ! ’ ’

’ ’ ’
Her be a wiman w i a w u n n e r f u head an d han an
u n de s ta n d i n ! To think that her d i d buil d y o u l i fe
’

”
boat be remarkabl e !
3 64 A D A UGHTER O F T HE S EA
‘
’
Ay ti s such a ti dy l ittl e cra ft ! B ut they Tanners
,

be clever w i they han s though I n ever giveth u n

’ ’ ’
,

”
credit for a work l ike to s h e !
“ ’
Wel l a day ! Th e times be goin to change surely !
- -
,

’
Ti s th e l asses n ow be heads wel l over the men ! .

’
S uch a feat I hath never heard tel l o n ! An her
have gone out an weathered the storm s whil st u s ’

hath stayed to home I al lu s d i d s a y M i ssy were

.

a rare u n ’
.

S ome o f the ol d ones went into th e B l ue Lobster

to drink the health o f the Tr i u mp h and there was ,

a l ittl e bemoanin g over the good ol d times that were

gon e .

“ ”
But th ere ! excl aimed on e I di d see they ,

d r o w n i n s p e r r i ts from th e d eep as M issy d i d tal k !

’

An I be fai r scared an d w i sh t ! H e r d i d speak right

’

at we an there be no w i s tan d i n she ! I m in d her

’ ’ ’

as a tiny mai d her w ere allays that way ! An I ,

’

stan deth by sh e now an w il l take an oar s o soon as ’

her asketh o f me for I knoweth a wel l buil t cra ft -

when I se eth one !

Early the next morn ing Una wa s summoned to
’
Kathi e s cottage Poor ol d Patty l ay o n the bed
.

breathing her l ast Th e fright had been too much .

for her ; s h e rai sed her eyes feebly when Una bent
over her .

“
I be a carried in to shore w u n n e r f u l easy she °

murmured ; and a s she cl osed her eves for th e l ast

time Una prayed th at the poor cl ouded soul might
truly be l anded sa f e ly on the S hore t h at know s n o ,
 TH E FI S H ER S RE S PO N S E ’

3 65

storm s where the understanding i s n ever darkened

, ,

an d the fool s are w i se indeed .

She returned to the Towers saddened yet com forted

by such thoughts .

“
An d now my l ittl e w i fe sai d Cuthbert to her
, ,

“
that morning may I a s k why I was kept in th e
,

”
dark about th i s work o f yours P
Un a l ooked into hi s eyes frankly .

“
I w il l tel l you al l A t first you were not interested
.

in the S ea an d in the fishers You were too busy .

with your book and then I got accustomed to keep

,

ing it from you Afterwards— e speci al ly since your

.

return to me— I longed to tel l you I nearly d id so .

o ften ; but I was a frai d you woul d not l et me go out

o n stormy nights I l oved that too much to give i t
.

up s o I put o ff con fes sion This i s my secret Cuth

, .
,

bert I tol d yo u I had on e .

“
I am dimly beginning to un derstan d s o much ,

“
sai d Cuthbert Tel l me more ; tel l me every detail
. .

A n d so sitting down by her husband s s ide Un a

,
’

tol d hi m al l with no reservations He heard o f that

,
.

dread ful night when h e was absent and wh en hi s wi fe

h ersel f had not been l e ft unmolested ; he l istened to
the account o f the di fferent rescues the Tr i u mp h had
e ffected to Donal d Mc Fa r l an e s determination to
'

d i scover th e mystery su rrounding th e W itch es H ol e ’

,

an d o f hi s consequent enl ightenment ; an d h i s h eart

swell ed with love an d pride as h e thought o f h i s
w i fe .

“
I thought you were playing with l i fe he ac kn o w l ,
3 66 A DAU G HTER O F T HE S E A

edged ; I imagined mysel f the b e n e fi te r o f mankind

when I u shere d my anci ent discoveries into the l iterary
worl d I w a s work ing to supply the need s o f a few
.

’
savants brain s ; you were work ing to save perish in g
”
soul s .

Una g rew u n easy un der such pra i se .

“
Do you know I cannot bear th e thought that I
,

am to be one o f the Tr i u mp h s crew no l onger ? M ust

’

”
I give up al l part an d lot in h er P
Th en Cuthbert said the best th in g he c oul d h ave
S ai d .

“
Let u s come d o wn to th e shore an d organize her
captai n and crew We mu st strike whil e the i ron i s
.

hot W e can settl e the spot where the Tr i u mp h i s to

.

be kept an d s e t the men to work at once to bu i l d a

”
house f o r her .

They went down an d spent two o r three hours i n

plans and di scussi ons about the Pe r r a n co v
e l i feboat ,

plans which were formulated an d carr i ed o ut w i th

won derful pr o mptness an d success .

It i s a year l ater T w o youn g mothers are l ook i n g

.

down w ith j o y an d pri de upon two bonny boys pl aying

together They are Una an d Kathi e As girl s th ey
. .

’
sh ared each other s j oys and s orrows ; a s w ives an d
mothers th ey do s o still
 TH E
’
FI S HER S RES PON S E 3 67

Una i s developing into a sweet and gracious woman .

Her ol d impetuosity breaks out occasionally but i t ,

i s tempered with a thoughtful gentl eness that th e

birth o f her boy has created A shadow rests on.

her face now as s h e draws o u t a letter from her pocket .

“
You knew him an d loved him Kathie I wil l , .

read it to you It i s from the captain o f the ship

.

they were returning in My father i s too unnerved

.

by the shock to tel l u s th e detail s s o I am thank ful ,

to have the l etter It i s to my husband . .

D E A R S I R —I regret extremely to have to tel l

,

you o f the s a d event that has j ust occurred o n my

ship vi z the sudden death o f the Rev Donal d
,
.
, .

M c Fa r l a n e M r Carteret does not seem to know

. .

about h i s friends s o I am writing to ask i f you will

,

kindly break the ti dings to them We encountered .

a sti ff gal e l ast Thursday n ight an d i t took some o f,

o u r passen g ers by surpri se M r Carteret was sitting

. .

o n deck ,
and endeavoured to make hi s way back to
h i s cabin In doing s o i n some way that we cannot
.
,

account for he missed hi s foot i ng an d a su dden l urch

,

of the vessel sent him overboard M c Fa r l a n e .

instantly pl unge d over a fter him I l owered a boat .

,

an d M r Carteret was han ded in but owin g to th e

.
,

heavy swel l M c Fa r l a n e was carried out beyond ou r

reach Hi s body was finall y recovered but l i fe was
. ,

extinct when h e was rescued We al l mou rn o u r

.

l oss i n h i m H e w as th e l i fe o f the ship an d brou ght

. ,
3 68 A DAUG H TER O F TH E S E A

sun sh ine wherever he went— a true nobl e Chri stian ,

man an d one whose exampl e w e may wel l seek to

,

fol low .

I remain ,

“
Yours faith fully
“
JO H N WEL L S ,

“
Capt S S M aje s ti c . . .

There was silence a fter s h e had read it A fter a .

few moments s h e sai d

“
He l ived f o r others a n d h e d i ed for them I .

cannot tel l you what I f eel about him Kath ie I can , .

n ever thank him enough through al l eternity for

the change in my father He i s a d i fferen t man I
. .

have no fears for h im now M r M c Fa r l a n e stuck to

. .

him till h e s a w h im safely l anded i n the Li feboat .

He wil l be taken gently home in it for hi s h ealth i s ,

fast breaking up I have wondered why God took

.

the young strong l i fe an d l e ft the ol d d ecrepit one ,

but I fancy i t was to show u s that when h i s earthly

keeper was taken from h im my father woul d stil l be
hel d up by h i s heavenly o n e H e has l earnt that h e
.

has a Savi or that keeps a s wel l as saves That i s .

the greatest truth o f al l Kathie i s i t not ? An d M r

, , .

Mc Fa r l a n e h a s not stopped h i s work ; he i s doing

th e wil l o f God above in His presence i n stead o f down
”
here bel ow that i s al l
,

“
I do n ot wonder ,
sai d Kath ie thought ful ly as ,

she looked a t the bonny boy clutch ing hol d o f h i s

 T HE
’
FI S HER S RES PON S E 3 69

’
mother s dres s , that you have cal led your baby
‘
Donal d M c Fa r l an e .
’

Una had tears i n her eyes a s she l i fted h er l ittl e

o n e into her arms .

“
I meant him to be a sailor she said pressing h er , ,

l ips against the gol den curl s but my husban d chose,

h i s name an d being the namesake o f such a man I

, ,

shal l pray that he may fol low i n h i s steps and be on e

’ ”
o f Go d s chosen messengers .

’
The boy grew up to fulfil hi s mother s desire but ,

from h i s in fancy the s e a an d i ts surroun dings fil l ed

h i s heart an d soul an d there was o n e story that he
,

’
never tired o f hearing from hi s father s l ips .

“ ’
Tel l me about mother s l i feboat D ad an d that , ,

”
n i ght when the ol d woman w a s nearly burnt to death .

So Cuthbert woul d tel l the tal e an d woul d picture ,

the scene on th at stil l n ight in O ctober wh en a young

girl fearl e ssl y stood up to quel l th e rage an d wrath o f
the whol e populati on o f Pe r r an co ve an d with straight ,

and simple el oquence turned the min ds an d purpos es

o f th e superstitiou s fishers from viol ence and robbery

to the nobl e work o f rescu ing thei r fel lo w c reatures -

from the peril s o f the coast .

FI N I S