第6章

VI

WithinaweekLeviWesthadprettywellestablishedhimselfamonghisoldfriendsandacquaintances，thoughuponadifferentfootingfromthatofnineyearsbefore，forthiswasaverydifferentLevifromthatother。Nevertheless，hewasnonethelesspopularinthebarroomofthetavernandatthecountrystore，wherehewasalwaysthecenterofagroupofloungers。Hisnineyearsseemedtohavebeencrowdedfullofthewildestofwildadventuresandhappenings，aswellbylandasbysea，and，givenanappreciativeaudience，hewouldreeloffhisyarnsbythehour，inareckless，devil-may-carefashionthatsetagapeevenoldseadogswhohadsailedthewesternoceansinceboyhood。Thenheseemedalwaystohaveplentyofmoney，andhelovedtospenditatthetaverntap-room，withalavishnessthatwasatoncethewonderandadmirationofgossips。

Atthattime，aswassaid，Blueskinwastheoneengrossingtopicoftalk，anditaddednotalittletoLevi’sprestigewhenitwasfoundthathehadactuallyoftenseenthatbloody，devilishpiratewithhisowneyes。Agreat，heavy，burlyfellow，Levisaidhewas，withabeardasblackasahat——adevilwithhisswordandpistolafloat，butnotsoblackashewaspaintedwhenashore。HetoldofmanyadventuresinwhichBlueskinfiguredandwasthenalwayslistenedtowithmorethanusualgapinginterest。

AsforBlueskin，thequietwayinwhichthepiratesconductedthemselvesatIndianRiveralmostmadetheLewesfolkforgetwhathecoulddowhentheoccasioncalled。Theyalmostceasedtorememberthatpoorshatteredschoonerthathadcrawledwithitsghastlydeadandgroaningwoundedintotheharboracoupleofweekssince。ButifforawhiletheyforgotwhoorwhatBlueskinwas，itwasnotforlong。

OnedayabarkfromBristol，boundforCubaandladenwithavaluablecargoofclothstuffsandsilks，putintoLewesharbortotakeinwater。Thecaptainhimselfcameashoreandwasatthetavernfortwoorthreehours。IthappenedthatLeviwasthereandthatthetalkwasofBlueskin。TheEnglishcaptain，agrizzledoldseadog，listenedtoLevi’syarnswithnotalittlecontempt。Hehad，hesaid，sailedintheChinaSeaandtheIndianOceantoolongtobeafraidofanyhog-eatingYankeepiratesuchasthisBlueskin。Ajunkfullofcooliesarmedwithstink-potswassomethingtospeakof，butwhoeverheardofthelikesofBlueskinfallingafoulofanythingmorethanaSpanishcanoeoraYankeecoaster？

Levigrinned。”Allthesame，myhearty，”saidhe，”ifIwasyouI’dgiveBlueskinawideberth。Ihearthathe’scleanedthevesselthatwascareenedawhileago，andmebbyhe’llgiveyoualittletroubleifyoucometoonighhim。”

TothistheEnglishmanonlyansweredthatBlueskinmightbe——，andthatthenextafternoon，windandweatherpermitting，heintendedtoheaveanchorandrunouttosea。

Levilaughedagain。”IwishImightbeheretoseewhat’llhappen，”saidhe，”butI’mgoinguptheriverto-nighttoseeagalandmebbywon’tbebackagainforthreeorfourdays。”

ThenextafternoontheEnglishbarksetsailasthecaptainpromised，andthatnightLewestownwasawakeuntilalmostmorning，gazingatabroadredglarethatlighteduptheskyawaytowardthesoutheast。TwodaysafterwardanegrooystermancameupfromIndianRiverwithnewsthatthepirateswerelyingofftheinlet，bringingashorebalesofgoodsfromtheirlargervesselandpilingthesameuponthebeachundertarpaulins。HesaidthatitwasknowndownatIndianRiverthatBlueskinhadfallenafoulofanEnglishbark，hadburnedherandhadmurderedthecaptainandallbutthreeofthecrew，whohadjoinedwiththepirates。

Theexcitementoverthisterriblehappeninghadonlybeguntosubsidewhenanotheroccurredtocapit。Oneafternoonaship’sboat，inwhichwerefivemenandtwowomen，camerowingintoLewesharbor。ItwasthelongboatoftheCharlestonpacket，boundforNewYork，andwascommandedbythefirstmate。ThepackethadbeenattackedandcapturedbythepiratesabouttenleaguessouthbyeastofCapeHenlopen。Thepirateshadcomeaboardofthematnightandnoresistancehadbeenoffered。

Perhapsitwasthatcircumstancethatsavedthelivesofall，fornomurderorviolencehadbeendone。Nevertheless，officers，passengersandcrewhadbeenstrippedofeverythingofvalueandsetadriftintheboatsandtheshipherselfhadbeenburned。ThelongboathadbecomeseparatedfromtheothersduringthenightandhadsightedHenlopenalittleaftersunrise。

ItmaybeheresaidthatSquireHallmadeoutareportofthesetwooccurrencesandsentituptoPhiladelphiabythemateofthepacket。ButforsomereasonitwasnearlyfourweeksbeforeasloopofwarwassentaroundfromNewYork。Inthemeanwhile，thepirateshaddisposedofthebootystoredunderthetarpaulinsonthebeachatIndianRiverinlet，shippingsomeofitawayintwosmallsloopsandsendingtherestbywagonssomewhereupthecountry。

VII

LevihadtoldtheEnglishcaptainthathewasgoingup-countrytovisitoneofhisladyfriends。Hewasgonenearlytwoweeks。

Thenoncemoreheappeared，assuddenly，asunexpectedly，ashehaddonewhenhefirstreturnedtoLewes。HiramwassittingatsupperwhenthedooropenedandLeviwalkedin，hanginguphishatbehindthedoorasunconcernedlyasthoughhehadonlybeengoneanhour。Hewasinanugly，loweringhumorandsathimselfdownatthetablewithoututteringaword，restinghischinuponhisclenchedfistandgloweringfixedlyatthecorncakewhileDinahfetchedhimaplateandknifeandfork。

HiscomingseemedtohavetakenawayallofHiram’sappetite。Hepushedawayhisplateandsatstaringathisstepbrother，whopresentlyfelltoatthebaconandeggslikeafamishedwolf。NotawordwassaiduntilLevihadendedhismealandfilledhispipe。”Look’ee，Hiram，”saidhe，ashestoopedoverthefireandrakedoutahotcoal。”Look’ee，Hiram！I’vebeentoPhiladelphia，d’yesee，a-settlin’upthattroubleItoldyouaboutwhenIfirstcomehome。D’yeunderstand？D’yeremember？

D’yegetitthroughyourskull？”Helookedaroundoverhisshoulder，waitingasthoughforananswer。Butgettingnone，hecontinued:”IexpecttwogentlemenherefromPhiladelphiato-night。They’refriendsofmineandarecomingtotalkoverthebusinessandyeneedn’tstayathome，Hi。Youcangooutsomewhere，d’yeunderstand？”Andthenheaddedwithagrin，”YecangotoseeSally。”

Hirampushedbackhischairandarose。Heleanedwithhisbackagainstthesideofthefireplace。”I’llstayathome，”saidhepresently。”ButIdon’twantyoutostayathome，Hi，”saidLevi。”We’llhavetotalkbusinessandIwantyoutogo！””I’llstayathome，”saidHiramagain。

Levi’sbrowgrewasblackasthunder。Hegroundhisteethtogetherandforamomentortwoitseemedasthoughanexplosionwascoming。Butheswallowedhispassionwithagulp。”You’rea——pig-headed，half-wittedfool，”saidhe。Hiramneversomuchasmovedhiseyes。”Asforyou，”saidLevi，whirlingrounduponDinah，whowasclearingthetable，andgloweringbalefullyupontheoldnegress，”youputthemthingsdownandgitoutofhere。

Don’tyoucomenighthiskitchenagaintillItellyeto。IfI

catchyoupryin’aroundmayIbe——，eyesandliver，ifIdon’tcutyourheartout。”

InabouthalfanhourLevi’sfriendscame；thefirstalittle，thin，wizenedmanwithaveryforeignlook。Hewasdressedinarustyblacksuitandworegrayyarnstockingsandshoeswithbrassbuckles。Theotherwasalsoplainlyaforeigner。Hewasdressedinsailorfashion，withpetticoatbreechesofduck，aheavypea-jacket，andthickboots，reachingtotheknees。Heworearedsashtiedaroundhiswaist，andonce，ashepushedbackhiscoat，Hiramsawtheglitterofapistolbutt。Hewasapowerful，thicksetman，low-browedandbull-necked，hischeek，andchin，andthroatcloselycoveredwithastubbleofblue-blackbeard。Heworearedkerchieftiedaroundhisheadandoveritacockedhat，edgedwithtarnishedgiltbraid。

Levihimselfopenedthedoortothem。Heexchangedafewwordsoutsidewithhisvisitors，inaforeignlanguageofwhichHiramunderstoodnothing。NeitherofthetwostrangersspokeawordtoHiram:thelittlemanshothimasharplookoutofthecornersofhiseyesandtheburlyruffianscowledblacklyathim，butbeyondthatneithervouchsafedhimanyregard。

Levidrewtotheshutters，shottheboltintheouterdoor，andtiltedachairagainstthelatchoftheonethatledfromthekitchenintotheadjoiningroom。ThenthethreeworthiesseatedthemselvesatthetablewhichDinahhadhalfclearedofthesupperchina，andwerepresentlydeeplyengrossedoverapacketofpaperswhichthebig，burlymanhadbroughtwithhiminthepocketofhispea-jacket。TheconfabulationwasconductedthroughoutinthesameforeignlanguagewhichLevihadusedwhenfirstspeakingtothem——alanguagequiteunintelligibletoHiram’sears。Nowandthenthemurmuroftalkwouldriseloudandharshoversomedisputedpoint；nowandthenitwouldsinkawaytowhispers。

Twicethetallclockinthecornerwhirredandsharplystruckthehour，butthroughoutthewholelongconsultationHiramstoodsilent，motionlessasastock，hiseyesfixedalmostunwinkinglyuponthethreeheadsgroupedclosetogetheraroundthedim，flickeringlightofthecandleandthepapersscattereduponthetable。

Suddenlythetalkcametoanend，thethreeheadsseparatedandthethreechairswerepushedback，gratingharshly。Levirose，wenttotheclosetandbroughtthenceabottleofHiram’sapplebrandy，ascoollyasthoughitbelongedtohimself。Hesetthreetumblersandacrockofwateruponthetableandeachhelpedhimselfliberally。

Asthetwovisitorsdeparteddowntheroad，Levistoodforawhileattheopendoor，lookingaftertheduskyfiguresuntiltheywereswallowedinthedarkness。Thenheturned，camein，shutthedoor，shuddered，tookafinaldoseoftheapplebrandyandwenttobed，without，sincehisfirstsuppressedexplosion，havingsaidasinglewordtoHiram。

Hiram，leftalone，stoodforawhile，silent，motionlessasever，thenhelookedslowlyabouthim，gaveashakeoftheshouldersasthoughtoarousehimself，andtakingthecandle，lefttheroom，shuttingthedoornoiselesslybehindhim。

VIII

ThistimeofLeviWest’sunwelcomevisitationwasindeedatimeofbittertroubleandtribulationtopoorHiramWhite。Moneywasofverydifferentvalueinthosedaysthanitisnow，andfivehundredpoundswasinitswayagoodroundlump——inSussexCountyitwasalmostafortune。ItwasadesperatestruggleforHiramtoraisetheamountofhisfather’sbequesttohisstepbrother。

SquireHall，asmayhavebeengathered，hadaverywarmandfriendlyfeelingforHiram，believinginhimwhenallothersdisbelieved；nevertheless，inthematterofmoneytheoldmanwasashardandascoldasadamant。Hewould，hesaid，doallhecouldtohelpHiram，butthatfivehundredpoundsmustandshouldberaised——Hirammustreleasehissecuritybond。Hewouldloanhim，hesaid，threehundredpounds，takingamortgageuponthemill。Hewouldhavelenthimfourhundredbutthattherewasalreadyafirstmortgageofonehundredpoundsuponit，andhewouldnotdaretoputmorethanthreehundredmoreatopofthat。

HiramhadaconsiderablequantityofwheatwhichhehadboughtuponspeculationandwhichwasthenlyingidleinaPhiladelphiastorehouse。Thishehadsoldatpublicsaleandataverygreatsacrifice；herealizedbarelyonehundredpoundsuponit。Thefinancialhorizonlookedveryblacktohim；nevertheless，Levi’sfivehundredpoundswasraised，andpaidintoSquireHall’shands，andSquireHallreleasedHiram’sbond。

Thebusinesswasfinallyclosedononecold，grayafternoonintheearlypartofDecember。AsHiramtorehisbondacrossandthentoreitacrossagainandagain，SquireHallpushedbackthepapersuponhisdeskandcockedhisfeetuponitsslantingtop。”Hiram，”saidhe，abruptly，”Hiram，doyouknowthatLeviWestisforeverhangingaroundBillyMartin’shouse，afterthatprettydaughterofhis？”

SolongaspaceofsilencefollowedthespeechthattheSquirebegantothinkthatHirammightnothaveheardhim。ButHiramhadheard。”No，”saidhe，”Ididn’tknowit。””Well，heis，”saidSquireHall。”It’sthetalkofthewholeneighborhood。Thetalk’sprettybad，too。D’yeknowthattheysaythatshewasawayfromhomethreedayslastweek，nobodyknewwhere？Thefellow’sturnedherheadwithhissailor’syarnsandhistraveler’slies。”

Hiramsaidnotaword，buthesatlookingattheotherinstolidsilence。”Thatstepbrotherofyours，”continuedtheoldSquirepresently，”isarascal——heisarascal，Hiram，andImis-doubthe’ssomethingworse。Ihearhe’sbeenseeninsomequeerplacesandwithqueercompanyoflate。”

Hestoppedagain，andstillHiramsaidnothing。”Andlook’ee，Hiram，”theoldmanresumed，suddenly，”Idohearthatyoubecourtin’thegirl，too；isthatso？””Yes，”saidHiram，”I’mcourtin’her，too。””Tut！tut！”saidtheSquire，”that’sapity，Hiram。I’mafraidyourcakesaredough。”

AfterhehadlefttheSquire’soffice，Hiramstoodforawhileinthestreet，bareheaded，hishatinhishand，staringunwinkinglydownatthegroundathisfeet，withstupidlydroopinglipsandlacklustereyes。Presentlyheraisedhishandandbeganslowlysmoothingdownthesandyshockofhairuponhisforehead。Atlasthearousedhimselfwithashake，lookeddullyupanddownthestreet，andthen，puttingonhishat，turnedandwalkedslowlyandheavilyaway。

Theearlyduskofthecloudywintereveningwassettlingfast，fortheskywasleadenandthreatening。AttheoutskirtsofthetownHiramstoppedagainandagainstoodforawhileinbroodingthought。Then，finally，heturnedslowly，notthewaythatledhomeward，buttakingtheroadthatledbetweenthebareandwitheredfieldsandcrookedfencestowardBillyMartin’s。

ItwouldbehardtosayjustwhatitwasthatledHiramtoseekBillyMartin’shouseatthattimeofday——whetheritwasfateorillfortune。Hecouldnothavechosenamoreopportunetimetoconfirmhisownundoing。Whathesawwastheveryworstthathisheartfeared。

Alongtheroad，atalittledistancefromthehouse，wasamock-orangehedge，nowbare，naked，leafless。AsHiramdrewnearheheardfootstepsapproachingandlowvoices。Hedrewbackintothefencecornerandtherestood，halfshelteredbythestarknetworkoftwigs。Twofigurespassedslowlyalongthegrayoftheroadwayinthegloaming。Onewashisstepbrother，theotherwasSallyMartin。Levi’sarmwasaroundher，hewaswhisperingintoherear，andherheadresteduponhisshoulder。

Hiramstoodasstill，asbreathless，ascoldasice。Theystoppeduponthesideoftheroadjustbeyondwherehestood。Hiram’seyesneverleftthem。Thereforsometimetheytalkedtogetherinlowvoices，theirwordsnowandthenreachingtheearsofthatsilent，breathlesslistener。

Suddenlytherecametheclatteringofanopeningdoor，andthenBettyMartin’svoicebrokethesilence，harshly，shrilly:”Sal！——Sal！——SallyMartin！You，SallyMartin！Comeinyere。

Wherebeye？”

ThegirlflungherarmsaroundLevi’sneckandtheirlipsmetinonequickkiss。Thenextmomentshewasgone，flyingswiftly，silently，downtheroadpastwhereHiramstood，stoopingassheran。Levistoodlookingafterheruntilshewasgone；thenheturnedandwalkedawaywhistling。

Hiswhistlingdiedshrillyintosilenceinthewintrydistance，andthenatlastHiramcamestumblingoutfromthehedge。Hisfacehadneverlookedbeforeasitlookedthen。

IX

Hiramwasstandinginfrontofthefirewithhishandsclaspedbehindhisback。Hehadnottouchedthesupperonthetable。

Leviwaseatingwithanappetite。Suddenlyhelookedoverhisplateathisstepbrother。”Howaboutthatfivehundredpounds，Hiram？”saidhe。”Igaveyeamonthtoraiseitandthemonthain’tquiteupyet，butI’mgoin’toleavethishereplacedayafterto-morrow——bynextdayatthefurd’st——andIwantthemoneythat’smine。””IpaidittoSquireHallto-dayandhehasitferye，”saidHiram，dully。

Levilaiddownhisknifeandforkwithaclatter。”SquireHall！”

saidhe，”what’sSquireHallgottodowithit？SquireHalldidn’thavetheuseofthatmoney。Itwasyouhaditandyouhavegottopayitbacktome，andifyoudon’tdoit，byG——，I’llhavethelawonyou，sureasyou’reborn。””SquireHall’strustee——Iain’tyourtrustee，”saidHiram，inthesamedullvoice。”Idon’tknownothingabouttrustees，”saidLevi，”oranythingaboutlawyerbusiness，either。WhatIwanttoknowis，areyougoingtopaymemymoneyorno？””No，”saidHiram，”Iain’t——SquireHall’llpayye；yougotohim。”

LeviWest’sfacegrewpurplered。Hepushedback，hischairgratingharshly。”You——bloodylandpirate！”hesaid，grindinghisteethtogether。”Iseethroughyourtricks。You’reuptocheatingmeoutofmymoney。YouknowverywellthatSquireHallisdownonme，hardandbitter——writin’his——reportstoPhiladelphiaanddoingallhecantostirupeverybodyaginmeandtobringthebluejacketsdownonme。Iseethroughyourtricksasclearasglass，butyeshatn’ttrickme。I’llhavemymoneyifthere’slawintheland——yebloody，unnaturalthiefye，who’dgoaginourdeadfather’swill！”

Then——iftheroofhadfalleninuponhim，LeviWestcouldnothavebeenmoreamazed——Hiramsuddenlystrodeforward，and，leaninghalfacrossthetablewithhisfistsclenched，fairlyglaredintoLevi’seyes。Hisface，dull，stupid，wooden，wasnowfairlyconvulsedwithpassion。Thegreatveinsstoodoutuponhistempleslikeknottedwhipcords，andwhenhespokehisvoicewasmoreabreathlesssnarlthanthevoiceofaChristianman。”Ye’llhavethelaw，willye？”saidhe。”Ye’ll——havethelaw，willye？You’reafearedtogotolaw——LeviWest——youtryth’

law——andseehowyelikeit。Who’reyoutocallmethief——yebloody，murderin’villainye！You’rethethief——LeviWest——youcomehereandstolemydaddyfrommeyedid。Youmakemeruin——myselftopaywhatoughtertobeenminethen——yeyestealthegalIwascourtin’，toboot。”Hestoppedandhislipsrithedforwordstosay。”Iknowye，”saidhe，grindinghisteeth。”I

knowye！AndonlyforwhatmydaddymademepromiseI’da-hadyouuptothemagistrate’sbeforethis。”

Then，pointingwithquiveringfinger:”There’sthedoor——youseeit！Gooutthattheredooranddon’tnevercomeintoitagain——ifyedo——orifyeevercomewhereIcanlayeyesonyeagain——byth’HolyHolyI’llhaleyeuptotheSquire’sofficeandtellallIknowandallI’veseen。Oh，I’llgiveyeyourbelly-filloflawif——yewantth’law！Gitoutofthehouse，Isay！”

AsHiramspokeLeviseemedtoshrinktogether。Hisfacechangedfromitscoppercolortoadull，waxyyellow。Whentheotherendedheansweredneveraword。Buthepushedbackhischair，rose，putonhishatand，withafurtive，sidelonglook，leftthehouse，withoutstoppingtofinishthesupperwhichhehadbegun。

HeneverenteredHiramWhite’sdooragain。

X

Hiramhaddrivenouttheevilspiritfromhishome，butthemischiefthatithadbrewedwasdoneandcouldnotbeundone。ThenextdayitwasknownthatSallyMartinhadrunawayfromhome，andthatshehadrunawaywithLeviWest。OldBillyMartinhadbeenintowninthemorningwithhisrifle，huntingforLeviandthreateningifhecaughthimtohavehislifeforleadinghisdaughterastray。

And，astheevilspirithadleftHiram’shouse，sohadanotherandagreaterevilspiritquitteditsharborage。ItwasheardfromIndianRiverinafewdaysmorethatBlueskinhadquittedtheinletandhadsailedawaytothesoutheast；anditwasreported，bythosewhoseemedtoknow，thathehadfinallyquittedthoseparts。

ItwaswellforhimselfthatBlueskinleftwhenhedid，fornotthreedaysafterhesailedawaytheScorpionsloop-of-wardroppedanchorinLewesharbor。TheNewYorkagentoftheunfortunatepacketandagovernmentcommissionerhadalsocomeaboardtheScorpion。

Withoutlossoftime，theofficerincommandinstitutedakeenandsearchingexaminationthatbroughttolightsomesingularlycuriousfacts。ItwasfoundthataveryfriendlyunderstandingmusthaveexistedforsometimebetweenthepiratesandthepeopleofIndianRiver，for，inthehousesthroughoutthatsection，manythings——someofconsiderablevalue——thathadbeentakenbythepiratesfromthepacket，werediscoveredandseizedbythecommissioner。ValuablesofasuspiciousnaturehadfoundtheirwayevenintothehousesofLewesitself。

Thewholeneighborhoodseemedtohavebecomemoreorlesstaintedbythepresenceofthepirates。

EvenpoorHiramWhitedidnotescapethesuspicionsofhavinghaddealingswiththem。OfcoursetheexaminerswerenotslowindiscoveringthatLeviWesthadbeendeeplyconcernedwithBlueskin’sdoings。

OldDinahandblackBobwereexamined，andnotonlydidthestoryofLevi’stwovisitorscometolight，butalsothefactthatHiramwaspresentandwiththemwhiletheywereinthehousedisposingofthecapturedgoodstotheiragent。

Ofallthathehadendured，nothingseemedtocutpoorHiramsodeeplyandkeenlyastheseunjustsuspicions。Theyseemedtobringthelastbitterpang，hardestofalltobear。

Levihadtakenfromhimhisfather’slove；hehaddrivenhim，ifnottoruin，atleastperilouslyclosetoit。Hehadrunawaywiththegirlheloved，andnow，throughhim，evenHiram’sgoodnamewasgone。

Neitherdidthesuspicionsagainsthimremainpassive；theybecameactive。

Goldsmiths’bills，totheamountofseveralthousandpounds，hadbeentakeninthepacketandHiramwasexaminedwithanalmostinquisitorialclosenessandstrictnessastowhetherhehadorhadnotknowledgeoftheirwhereabouts。

Underhisaccumulatedmisfortunes，hegrewnotonlymoredull，moretaciturn，thanever，butgloomy，moody，broodingaswell。

Forhourshewouldsitstaringstraightbeforehimintothefire，withoutmovingsomuchasahair。

Onenight——itwasabitterlycoldnightinFebruary，withthreeinchesofdryandgrittysnowupontheground——whileHiramsatthusbrooding，therecame，ofasudden，asofttapuponthedoor。

Lowandhesitatingasitwas，Hiramstartedviolentlyatthesound。Hesatforawhile，lookingfromrighttoleft。Thensuddenlypushingbackhischair，hearose，strodetothedoor，andflungitwideopen，ItwasSallyMartin。

Hiramstoodforawhilestaringblanklyather。Itwasshewhofirstspoke。”Won’tyouletmecomein，Hi？”saidshe。”I’mnighstarvedwiththecoldandI’mfittodie，I’msohungry。ForGod’ssake，letmecomein。””Yes，”saidHiram，”I’llletyoucomein，butwhydon’tyougohome？”

Thepoorgirlwasshiveringandchatteringwiththecold；nowshebegancrying，wipinghereyeswiththecornerofablanketinwhichherheadandshoulderswerewrapped。”Ihavebeenhome，Hiram，”shesaid，”butdad，heshutthedoorinmyface。Hecursedmejustawful，Hi——IwishIwasdead！””Youbettercomein，”saidHiram。”It’snogoodstandingoutthereinthecold。”Hestoodasideandthegirlentered，swiftly，gratefully。

AtHiram’sbiddingblackDinahpresentlysetsomefoodbeforeSallyandshefelltoeatingravenously，almostferociously。

Meantime，whilesheate，Hiramstoodwithhisbacktothefire，lookingatherfacethatfaceoncesoroundandrosy，nowthin，pinched，haggard。”Areyousick，Sally？”saidhepresently。”No，”saidshe，”butI’vehadprettyhardtimessinceIlefthome，Hi。”Thetearssprangtohereyesattherecollectionofhertroubles，butsheonlywipedthemhastilyawaywiththebackofherhand，withoutstoppinginhereating。

Alongpauseofdeadsilencefollowed。Dinahsatcrouchedtogetheronacricketattheothersideofthehearth，listeningwithinterest。Hiramdidnotseemtoseeher。”DidyougooffwithLevi？”saidheatlast，speakingabruptly。Thegirllookedupfurtivelyunderherbrows。”Youneedn’tbeafearedtotell，”

headded。”Yes，”saidsheatlast，”Ididgooffwithhim，Hi。””Where’veyoubeen？”

Atthequestion，shesuddenlylaiddownherknifeandfork。”Don’tyouaskmethat，Hi，”saidshe，agitatedly，”Ican’ttellyouthat。Youdon’tknowLevi，Hiram；Idarsn’ttellyouanythinghedon’twantmeto。IfItoldyouwhereIbeenhe’dhuntmeout，nomatterwhereIwas，andkillme。IfyouonlyknewwhatIknowabouthim，Hiram，youwouldn’taskanythingabouthim。”

Hiramstoodlookingbroodinglyatherforalongtime；thenatlastheagainspoke。”Ithoughtasightofyouonc’t，Sally，”

saidhe。

Sallydidnotanswerimmediately，but，afterawhile，shesuddenlylookedup。”Hiram，”saidshe，”ifItellyesomethingwillyoupromiseonyouroathnottobreatheawordtoanylivingsoul？”Hiramnodded。”ThenI’lltellyou，butifLevifindsI’vetoldhe’llmurdermeassureasyou’restandin’there。Comenigher——I’vegottowhisperit。”Heleanedforwardclosetoherwhereshesat。Shelookedswiftlyfromrighttoleft；thenraisingherlipsshebreathedintohisear:”I’manhonestwoman，Hi。IwasmarriedtoLeviWestbeforeIrunaway。”

XI

Thewinterhadpassed，springhadpassed，andsummerhadcome。

WhateverHiramhadfelt，hehadmadenosignofsuffering。

Nevertheless，hislumpyfacehadbeguntolookflabby，hischeekshollow，andhisloose-jointedbodyshrunkmoreawkwardlytogetherintoitsclothes。Hewasoftenawakeatnight，sometimeswalkingupanddownhisroomuntilfarintothesmallhours。

Itwasthroughsuchawakefulspellasthisthatheenteredintothegreatest，themostterrible，happeningofhislife。

ItwasasulphurouslyhotnightinJuly。Theairwaslikethebreathofafurnace，anditwasahardmattertosleepwitheventheeasiestmindandunderthemostfavorablecircumstances。Thefullmoonshoneinthroughtheopenwindow，layingawhitesquareoflightuponthefloor，andHiram，ashepacedupanddown，upanddown，walkeddirectlythroughit，hisgauntfigurestartingoutateveryturnintosuddenbrightnessasheenteredthestraightlineofmistylight。

Theclockinthekitchenwhirredandrangoutthehouroftwelve，andHiramstoppedinhiswalktocountthestrokes。

Thelastvibrationdiedawayintosilence，andstillhestoodmotionless，nowlisteningwithanewandsuddenintentness，for，evenastheclockrangthelaststroke，heheardsoft，heavyfootsteps，movingslowlyandcautiouslyalongthepathwaybeforethehouseanddirectlybelowtheopenwindow。Afewsecondsmoreandheheardthecreakingofrustyhinges。Themysteriousvisitorhadenteredthemill。Hiramcreptsoftlytothewindowandlookedout。Themoonshonefullonthedusty，shingledfaceoftheoldmill，notthirtystepsaway，andhesawthatthedoorwasstandingwideopen。Asecondortwoofstillnessfollowed，andthen，ashestillstoodlookingintently，hesawthefigureofamansuddenlyappear，sharpandvivid，fromthegapingblacknessoftheopendoorway。Hiramcouldseehisfaceasclearasday。ItwasLeviWest，andhecarriedanemptymealbagoverhisarm。

LeviWeststoodlookingfromrighttoleftforasecondortwo，andthenhetookoffhishatandwipedhisbrowwiththebackofhishand。Thenhesoftlyclosedthedoorbehindhimandleftthemillashehadcome，andwiththesamecautiousstep。Hiramlookeddownuponhimashepassedclosetothehouseandalmostdirectlybeneath。Hecouldhavetouchedhimwithhishand。

FiftyorsixtyyardsfromthehouseLevistoppedandasecondfigurearosefromtheblackshadowintheangleofthewormfenceandjoinedhim。Theystoodforawhiletalkingtogether，Levipointingnowandthentowardthemill。Thenthetwoturned，and，climbingoverthefence，cutacrossanopenfieldandthroughthetall，shaggygrasstowardthesoutheast。

Hiramstraightenedhimselfanddrewadeepbreath，andthemoon，shiningfulluponhisface，snowedittwisted，convulsed，asithadbeenwhenhehadfrontedhisstepbrothersevenmonthsbeforeinthekitchen。Greatbeadsofsweatstoodonhisbrowandhewipedthemawaywithhissleeve。Then，coatless，hatlessashewas，heswunghimselfoutofthewindow，droppeduponthegrass，and，withoutaninstantofhesitation，strodeoffdowntheroadinthedirectionthatLeviWesthadtaken。

Asheclimbedthefencewherethetwomenhadclimbedithecouldseetheminthepallidlight，farawayacrossthelevel，scrubbymeadowland，walkingtowardanarrowstripofpinewoods。

Alittlelatertheyenteredthesharp-cutshadowsbeneaththetreesandwereswallowedinthedarkness。

Withfixedeyesandclose-shutlips，asdoggedly，asinexorablyasthoughhewereaNemesishuntinghisenemydown，Hiramfollowedtheirfootstepsacrossthestretchofmoonlitopen。

Then，byandby，healsowasintheshadowofthepines。Here，notasoundbrokethemidnighthush。Hisfeetmadenonoiseupontheresinoussoftnessofthegroundbelow。Inthatdead，pulselesssilencehecoulddistinctlyhearthedistantvoicesofLeviandhiscompanion，soundingloudandresonantinthehollowofthewoods。Beyondthewoodswasacornfield，andpresentlyheheardtherattlingoftheharshleavesasthetwoplungedintothetasseledjungle。Here，asinthewoods，hefollowedthem，stepbystep，guidedbythenoiseoftheirprogressthroughthecanes。

Beyondthecornfieldranaroadthat，skirtingtothesouthofLewes，ledacrossawoodenbridgetothewidesaltmarshesthatstretchedbetweenthetownandthedistantsandhills。ComingoutuponthisroadHiramfoundthathehadgaineduponthosehefollowed，andthattheynowwerenotfiftypacesaway，andhecouldseethatLevi’scompanioncarriedoverhisshoulderwhatlookedlikeabundleoftools。

Hewaitedforalittlewhiletoletthemgaintheirdistanceandforthesecondtimewipedhisforeheadwithhisshirtsleeve；

then，withouteveroncelettinghiseyesleavethem，heclimbedthefencetotheroadway。

Foracoupleofmilesormorehefollowedthetwoalongthewhite，levelhighway，pastsilent，sleepinghouses，pastbarns，sheds，andhaystacks，loomingbiginthemoonlight，pastfields，andwoods，andclearings，pastthedarkandsilentskirtsofthetown，andso，atlast，outuponthewide，mistysaltmarshes，whichseemedtostretchawayinterminablythroughthepallidlight，yetwereboundedinthefardistancebythelong，whitelineofsandhills。

Acrossthelevelsaltmarsheshefollowedthem，throughtheranksedgeandpasttheglassypoolsinwhichhisowninvertedimagestalkedbeneathashestalkedabove；onandon，untilatlasttheyhadreachedabeltofscrubpines，gnarledandgray，thatfringedthefootofthewhitesandhills。

HereHiramkeptwithintheblacknetworkofshadow。Thetwowhomhefollowedwalkedmoreintheopen，withtheirshadows，asblackasink，walkingalonginthesandbesidethem，andnow，inthedead，breathlessstillness，mightbeheard，dullandheavy，thedistantthumping，poundingroaroftheAtlanticsurf，beatingonthebeachattheothersideofthesandhills，halfamileaway。

Atlastthetworoundedthesouthernendofthewhitebluff，andwhenHiram，following，roundeditalso，theywerenolongertobeseen。

Beforehimthesandhillrose，smoothandsteep，cuttinginasharpridgeagainstthesky。Upthissteephilltrailedthefootstepsofthosehefollowed，disappearingoverthecrest。

Beyondtheridgelayaround，bowl-likehollow，perhapsfiftyfeetacrossandeighteenortwentyfeetdeep，scoopedoutbytheeddyingofthewindsintoanalmostperfectcircle。Hiram，slowly，cautiously，stealthily，followingtheirtrailinglineoffootmarks，mountedtothetopofthehillockandpeereddownintothebowlbeneath。Thetwomenweresittinguponthesand，notfarfromthetall，skeleton-likeshaftofadeadpinetreethatrose，starkandgray，fromthesandinwhichitmayoncehavebeenburied，centuriesago。

XII

Levihadtakenoffhiscoatandwaistcoatandwasfanninghimselfwithhishat。Hewassittinguponthebaghehadbroughtfromthemillandwhichhehadspreadoutuponthesand。Hiscompanionsatfacinghim。ThemoonshonefulluponhimandHiramknewhiminstantly——hewasthesameburly，foreign-lookingruffianwhohadcomewiththelittlemantothemillthatnighttoseeLevi。Healsohadhishatoffandwaswipinghisforeheadandfacewitharedhandkerchief。Besidehimlaythebundleoftoolshehadbrought——acoupleofshovels，apieceofrope，andalong，sharpironrod。

Thetwomenweretalkingtogether，butHiramcouldnotunderstandwhattheysaid，fortheyspokeinthesameforeignlanguagethattheyhadbeforeused。Buthecouldseehisstepbrotherpointwithhisfinger，nowtothedeadtreeandnowtothesteep，whitefaceoftheoppositesideofthebowl-likehollow。

Atlast，havingapparentlyrestedthemselves，theconference，ifconferenceitwas，cametoanend，andLeviledtheway，theotherfollowing，tothedeadpinetree。Herehestoppedandbegansearching，asthoughforsomemark；then，havingfoundthatwhichhelookedfor，hedrewatapelineandalargebrasspocketcompassfromhispocket。Hegaveoneendofthetapelinetohiscompanion，holdingtheotherwithhisthumbpresseduponaparticularpartofthetree。Takinghisbearingsbythecompass，hegavenowandthensomeorderstotheother，whomovedalittletotheleftortherightashebade。Atlasthegaveawordofcommand，and，thereupon，hiscompaniondrewawoodenpegfromhispocketandthrustitintothesand。Fromthispegasabasetheyagainmeasured，takingbearingsbythecompass，andagaindroveapeg。Forathirdtimetheyrepeatedtheirmeasurementsandthen，atlast，seemedtohavereachedthepointwhichtheyaimedfor。

HereLevimarkedacrosswithhisheeluponthesand。

Hiscompanionbroughthimthepointedironrodwhichlaybesidetheshovels，andthenstoodwatchingasLevithrustitdeepintothesand，againandagain，asthoughsoundingforsomeobjectbelow。Itwassomewhilebeforehefoundthatforwhichhewasseeking，butatlasttherodstruckwithajaruponsomehardobjectbelow。Aftermakingsureofsuccessbyoneortwoadditionaltapswiththerod，Levileftitremainingwhereitstood，brushingthesandfromhishands。”Nowfetchtheshovels，Pedro，”saidhe，speakingforthefirsttimeinEnglish。

Thetwomenwerebusyforalongwhile，shovelingawaythesand。

Theobjectforwhichtheywereseekinglayburiedsomesixfeetdeep，andtheworkwasheavyandlaborious，theshiftingsandslidingback，againandagain，intothehole。ButatlastthebladeofoneoftheshovelsstruckuponsomehardsubstanceandLevistoopedandbrushedawaythesandwiththepalmofhishand。

Levi’scompanionclimbedoutoftheholewhichtheyhaddugandtossedtheropewhichhehadbroughtwiththeshovelsdowntotheother。Levimadeitfasttosomeobjectbelowandthenhimselfmountedtothelevelofthesandabove。Pullingtogether，thetwodrewupfromtheholeaheavyiron-boundbox，nearlythreefeetlongandafootwideanddeep。

Levi’scompanionstoopedandbeganuntyingtheropewhichhadbeenlashedtoaringinthelid。

Whatnexthappenedhappenedsuddenly，swiftly，terribly。Levidrewbackasinglestep，andshotonequick，keenlooktorightandtoleft。Hepassedhishandrapidlybehindhisback，andthenextmomentHiramsawthemoonlightgleamuponthelong，sharp，keenbladeofaknife。Leviraisedhisarm。Then，justastheotherarosefrombendingoverthechest，hestruck，andstruckagain，twoswift，powerfulblows。Hiramsawthebladedrive，cleanandsharp，intotheback，andheardthehiltstrikewithadullthudagainsttheribs——once，twice。Theburly，black-

beardedwretchgaveashrill，terriblecryandfellstaggeringback。Then，inaninstant，withanothercry，hewasupandclutchedLeviwithaclutchofdespairbythethroatandbythearm。Thenfollowedastruggle，short，terrible，silent。Notasoundwasheardbutthedeep，pantingbreathandthescufflingoffeetinthesand，uponwhichtherenowpouredanddabbledadark-purplestream。Butitwasaone-sidedstruggleandlastedonlyforasecondortwo。Leviwrenchedhisarmloosefromthewoundedman’sgrasp，tearinghisshirtsleevefromthewristtotheshoulderashedidso。Againandagainthecruelknifewaslifted，andagainandagainitfell，nownolongerbright，butstainedwithred。

Then，suddenly，allwasover。Levi’scompaniondroppedtothesandwithoutasound，likeabundleofrags。Foramomenthelaylimpandinert；thenoneshudderingspasmpassedoverhimandhelaysilentandstill，withhisfacehalfburiedinthesand。

Levi，withtheknifestillgrippedtightinhishand，stoodleaningoverhisvictim，lookingdownuponhisbody。Hisshirtandhand，andevenhisnakedarm，werestainedandblotchedwithblood。Themoonlituphisfaceanditwasthefaceofadevilfromhell。

Atlasthegavehimselfashake，stoopedandwipedhisknifeandhandandarmupontheloosepetticoatbreechesofthedeadman。

Hethrusthisknifebackintoitssheath，drewakeyfromhispocketandunlockedthechest。InthemoonlightHiramcouldseethatitwasfilledmostlywithpaperandleatherbags，full，apparentlyofmoney。

AllthroughthisawfulstruggleanditsawfulendingHiramlay，dumbandmotionless，uponthecrestofthesandhill，lookingwithahorridfascinationuponthedeathstruggleinthepitbelow。NowHiramarose。Thesandslidwhisperingdownfromthecrestashedidso，butLeviwastoointentinturningoverthecontentsofthechesttonoticetheslightsound。

Hiram’sfacewasghastlypaleanddrawn。Foronemomentheopenedhislipsasthoughtospeak，butnowordcame。So，white，silent，hestoodforafewseconds，ratherlikeastatuethanalivingman，then，suddenly，hiseyesfelluponthebag，whichLevihadbroughtwithhim，nodoubt，tocarrybackthetreasureforwhichheandhiscompanionwereinsearch，andwhichstilllayspreadoutonthesandwhereithadbeenflung。Then，asthoughathoughthadsuddenlyflasheduponhim，hiswholeexpressionchanged，hislipsclosedtightlytogetherasthoughfearinganinvoluntarysoundmightescape，andthehaggardlookdissolvedfromhisface。

Cautiously，slowly，hesteppedovertheedgeofthesandhillanddowntheslantingface。Hiscomingwasassilentasdeath，forhisfeetmadenonoiseashesankankle-deepintheyieldingsurface。So，stealthily，stepbystep，hedescended，reachedthebag，lifteditsilently。Levi，stillbendingoverthechestandsearchingthroughthepaperswithin，wasnotfourfeetaway。

Hiramraisedthebaginhishands。Hemusthavemadesomeslightrustleashedidso，forsuddenlyLevihalfturnedhishead。Buthewasoneinstanttoolate。Inaflashthebagwasoverhishead——shoulders——arms——body。

Thencameanotherstruggle，asfierce，assilent，asdesperateasthatother——andasshort。Wiry，tough，andstrongashewas，withalean，sinewy，nervousvigor，fightingdesperatelyforhislifeashewas，Levihadnochanceagainsttheponderousstrengthofhisstepbrother。Inanycase，thestrugglecouldnothavelastedlong；asitwas，Levistumbledbackwardoverthebodyofhisdeadmateandfell，withHiramuponhim。Maybehewasstunnedbythefall；maybehefeltthehopelessnessofresistance，forhelayquitestillwhileHiram，kneelinguponhim，drewtheropefromtheringofthechestand，withoututteringaword，boundittightlyaroundboththebagandthecaptivewithin，knottingitagainandagainanddrawingittight。Onlyoncewasawordspoken。”Ifyou’lllemmego，”saidamuffledvoicefromthebag，”I’llgiveyoufivethousandpounds——it’sinthattherebox。”

Hiramansweredneveraword，butcontinuedknottingtheropeanddrawingittight。

XIII

TheScorpionsloop-of-warlayinLewesharborallthatwinterandspring，probablyupontheslimchanceofareturnofthepirates。

Itwasabouteighto’clockinthemorningandLieutenantMaynardwassittinginSquireHall’soffice，fanninghimselfwithhishatandtalkinginadesultoryfashion。Suddenlythedimanddistantnoiseofagreatcrowdwasheardfromwithout，comingnearerandnearer。TheSquireandhisvisitorhurriedtothedoor。Thecrowdwascomingdownthestreetshouting，jostling，struggling，someonthefootway，someintheroadway。Headswereatthedoorsandwindows，lookingdownuponthem。Nearertheycame，andnearer；thenatlasttheycouldseethatthepresssurroundedandaccompaniedoneman。ItwasHiramWhite，hatless，coatless，thesweatrunningdownhisfaceinstreams，butstolidandsilentasever。Overhisshoulderhecarriedabag，tiedroundandroundwitharope。ItwasnotuntilthecrowdandthemanitsurroundedhadcomequitenearthattheSquireandthelieutenantsawthatapairoflegsingray-yarnstockingshungfromthebag。Itwasamanhewascarrying。

Hiramhadluggedhisburdenfivemilesthatmorningwithouthelpandwithscarcelyarestontheway。

HecamedirectlytowardtheSquire’sofficeand，stillsunroundedandhustledbythecrowd，upthesteepstepstotheofficewithin。Heflunghisburdenheavilyuponthefloorwithoutawordandwipedhisstreamingforehead。

TheSquirestoodwithhisknucklesonhisdesk，staringfirstatHiramandthenatthestrangeburdenhehadbrought。Asuddenhushfelluponall，thoughthevoicesofthosewithoutsoundedasloudandturbulentasever。”Whatisit，Hiram？”saidSquireHallatlast。

ThenforthefirsttimeHiramspoke，pantingthickly。”It’sabloodymurderer，”saidhe，pointingaquiveringfingeratthemotionlessfigure。”Here，someofyou！”calledouttheSquire。”Come！Untiethisman！Whoishe？”Adozenwillingfingersquicklyunknottedtheropeandthebagwasslippedfromtheheadandbody。

Hairandfaceandeyebrowsandclotheswerepowderedwithmeal，but，inspiteofallandthroughalltheinnocentwhiteness，darkspotsandblotchesandsmearsofbloodshoweduponheadandarmandshirt。Leviraisedhimselfuponhiselbowandlookedscowlinglyaroundattheamazed，wonderstruckfacessurroundinghim。”Why，it’sLeviWest！”croakedtheSquire，atlastfindinghisvoice。

Then，suddenly，LieutenantMaynardpushedforward，beforetheotherscrowdedaroundthefigureonthefloor，and，clutchingLevibythehair，draggedhisheadbackwardsoastobetterseehisface。”LeviWest！”saidheinaloudvoice。”IsthistheLeviWestyou’vebeentellingmeof？Lookatthatscarandthemarkonhischeek！THISISBLUESKINHIMSELF。”

XIV

InthechestwhichBlueskinhaddugupoutofthesandwerefoundnotonlythegoldsmiths’billstakenfromthepacket，butalsomanyothervaluablesbelongingtotheofficersandthepassengersoftheunfortunateship。

TheNewYorkagentsofferedHiramahandsomerewardforhiseffortsinrecoveringthelostbills，butHiramdeclinedit，positivelyandfinally。”AllIwant，”saidhe，inhisusualdull，stolidfashion，”istohavefolksknowI’mhonest。”

Nevertheless，thoughhedidnotacceptwhattheagentsofthepacketoffered，fatetookthematterintoitsownhandsandrewardedhimnotunsubstantially。BlueskinwastakentoEnglandintheScorpion。Buthenevercametotrial。WhileinNewgatehehangedhimselftothecellwindowwithhisownstockings。ThenewsofhisendwasbroughttoLewesintheearlyautumnandSquireHalltookimmediatemeasurestohavethefivehundredpoundsofhisfather’slegacydulytransferredtoHiram。

InNovemberHirammarriedthepirate’swidow。

CAPTAINSCARFIELD

PREFACE

Theauthorofthisnarrativecannotrecallthat，inanyhistoryofthefamouspirates，hehaseverreadadetailedandsufficientaccountofthelifeanddeathofCapt。JohnScarfield。DoubtlesssomedataconcerninghisdeathandthedestructionofhisschoonermightbegatheredfromthereportofLieutenantMainwaring，nowfiledinthearchivesoftheNavyDepartment，outbeyondsuchbaldandbloodlessnarrativetheauthorknowsofnothing，unlessitbethelittlechap-bookhistorypublishedbyIsaiahThomasinNewburyportabouttheyear1821-22，entitled，”A

TrueHistoryoftheLifeandDeathofCaptainJackScarfield。”

Thislackofparticularityinthehistoryofonesonotableinhisprofessionitisthedesignofthepresentnarrativeinameasuretosupply，and，iftheauthorhasseenfittocastitintheformofafictionalstory，itisonlythatitmaymakemoreeasyreadingforthosewhoseefittofollowthetalefromthistoitsconclusion。

VII

CAPTAINSCARFIELD

I

ELEAZERCOOPER，orCaptainCooper，aswashisbetter-knowntitleinPhiladelphia，wasaprominentmemberoftheSocietyofFriends。Hewasanoverseerofthemeetingandanoccasionalspeakeruponparticularoccasions。WhenathomefromoneofhismanyvoyagesheneverfailedtooccupyhisseatinthemeetingbothonFirstDayandFifthDay，andhewasregardedbyhisfellowtownsmenasamodelofbusinessintegrityandofdomesticresponsibility。

Moreincidentaltothishistory，however，itistobenarratedthatCaptainCooperwasoneofthosetradingskipperswhocarriedtheirownmerchandiseintheirownvesselswhichtheysailedthemselves，andonwhosedeckstheydidtheirownbartering。Hisvesselwasaswift，largeschooner，theElizaCooper，ofPhiladelphia，namedforhiswife。HiscruisinggroundsweretheWestIndiaIslands，andhismerchandisewasflourandcornmealgroundattheBrandywineMillsatWilmington，Delaware。

DuringtheWarof1812hehadearned，aswasverywellknown，anextraordinaryfortuneinthistrading；forflourandcornmealsoldatfabulouspricesintheFrench，Spanish，Dutch，andDanishislands，cutoff，astheywere，fromtherestoftheworldbytheBritishblockade。

Therunningofthisblockadewasoneofthemosthazardousmaritimeventurespossible，butCaptainCooperhadmetwithsuchunvariedsuccess，andhadsoldhismerchandiseatsuchincredibleprofitthat，attheendofthewar，hefoundhimselftohavebecomeoneofthewealthiestmerchantsofhisnativecity。

ItwasknownatonetimethathisbalanceintheMechanics’Bankwasgreaterthanthatofanyotherindividualdepositoruponthebooks，anditwastoldofhimthathehadoncedepositedinthebankachestofforeignsilvercoin，theexchangedvalueofwhich，whentranslatedintoAmericancurrency，wasupwardofforty-twothousanddollars——aprodigioussumofmoneyinthosedays。

Inperson，CaptainCooperwastallandangularofframe。Hisfacewasthinandsevere，wearingcontinuallyanunsmiling，mask-likeexpressionofcontinentandunruffledsobriety。Hismannerwasdryandtaciturn，andhisconductandlifeweremeasuredtothemostabsoluteaccordwiththeteachingsofhisreligiousbelief。

Helivedinanold-fashionedhouseonFrontStreetbelowSpruce——aspleasant，cheerfulahouseaseveratradingcaptaincouldreturnto。Atthebackofthehousealawnslopedsteeplydowntowardtheriver。Tothesouthstoodthewharfandstorehouses；tothenorthanorchardandkitchengardenbloomedwithabundantverdure。Twolargechestnuttreesshelteredtheporchandthelittlespaceoflawn，andwhenyousatunderthemintheshadeyoulookeddowntheslopebetweentworowsofboxbushesdirectlyacrosstheshiningrivertotheJerseyshore。

Atthetimeofourstory——thatis，abouttheyear1820——thispropertyhadincreasedverygreatlyinvalue，butitwastheoldhomeoftheCoopers，asEleazerCooperwasentirelyrichenoughtoindulgehisfancyinsuchmatters。Accordingly，ashechosetoliveinthesamehousewherehisfatherandhisgrandfatherhaddweltbeforehim，heperemptorily，ifquietly，refusedallofferslookingtowardthepurchaseofthelotofground——thoughitwasnowworthfiveorsixtimesitsformervalue。

Aswassaid，itwasacheerful，pleasanthome，impressingyouwhenyouentereditwiththefeelingofspotlessandall-pervadingcleanliness——acleanlinessthatgreetedyouintheshiningbrassdoor-knocker；thatentertainedyouinthesittingroomwithitsstiff，leather-coveredfurniture，thebrass-headedtackswhereofsparkledlikesomanystars——acleanlinessthatbadeyoufarewellinthespotlessstretchofsand-sprinkledhallway，thewoodenfloorofwhichwaswornintoknobsaroundthenailheadsbythecountlessscouringsandscrubbingstowhichithadbeensubjectedandwhichleftbehindthemanall-pervadingfaint，fragrantodorofsoapandwarmwater。

EleazerCooperandhiswifewerechildless，butoneinmatemadethegreat，silent，shadyhousebrightwithlife。LucindaFairbanks，anieceofCaptainCooper’sbyhisonlysister，wasahandsome，sprightlygirlofeighteenortwenty，andagreatfavoriteintheQuakersocietyofthecity。

Itremainsonlytointroducethefinaland，perhaps，themostimportantactorofthenarrativeLieut。JamesMainwaring。DuringthepasttwelvemonthsorsohehadbeenafrequentvisitorattheCooperhouse。Atthistimehewasabroad-shouldered，red-cheeked，stalwartfellowoftwenty-sixortwenty-eight。Hewasagreatsocialfavorite，andpossessedtheaddedromanticinterestofhavingbeenaboardtheConstitutionwhenshefoughttheGuerriere，andofhaving，withhisownhands，touchedthematchthatfiredthefirstgunofthatgreatbattle。

Mainwaring’smotherandElizaCooperhadalwaysbeenintimatefriends，andthecomingandgoingoftheyoungmanduringhisleaveofabsencewerelookeduponinthehouseasquiteamatterofcourse。Halfadozentimesaweekhewoulddropintoexecutesomelittlecommissionfortheladies，or，ifCaptainCooperwasathome，tosmokeapipeoftobaccowithhim，tosipadramofhisfamousoldJamaicarum，ortoplayarubberofcheckersofanevening。Itisnotlikelythateitheroftheolderpeoplewastheleastawareoftherealcauseofhisvisits；stilllessdidtheysuspectthatanypassagesofsentimenthadpassedbetweentheyoungpeople。

ThetruthwasthatMainwaringandtheyoungladywereverydeeplyinlove。Itwasalovethattheywereobligedtokeepaprofoundsecret，fornotonlyhadEleazerCooperheldthestrictestsortoftestimonyagainstthelatewar——atestimonysorigorousastorenderitaltogetherunlikelythatoneofsomilitaryaprofessionasMainwaringpracticedcouldhopeforhisconsenttoasuitformarriage，butLucindacouldnothavemarriedonenotamemberoftheSocietyofFriendswithoutlosingherownbirthrightmembershiptherein。SheherselfmightnotattachmuchweighttosuchalossofmembershipintheSociety，butherfearof，andherrespectfor，heruncleledhertowalkverycloselyinherpathofdutyinthisrespect。AccordinglysheandMainwaringmetastheycould——clandestinely——andthestolenmomentswereverysweet。WithequalsecrecyLucindahad，attherequestofherlover，satforaminiatureportraittoMrs。

Gregory，whichminiature，setinagoldmedallion，Mainwaring，withamild，sentimentalpleasure，worehungaroundhisneckandbeneathhisshirtfrillnexthisheart。

InthemonthofApriloftheyear1820MainwaringreceivedorderstoreportatWashington。DuringtheprecedingautumntheWestIndiapirates，andnotablyCapt。JackScarfield，hadbeenmorethanusuallyactive，andthelossofthepacketMarblehead(which，sailingfromCharleston，SouthCarolina，wasneverheardofmore)wasattributedtothem。TwoothercoastingvesselsoffthecoastofGeorgiahadbeenlootedandburnedbyScarfield，andthegovernmenthadatlastarouseditselftothenecessityofactivemeasuresforrepressingthesepestsoftheWestIndiawaters。

MainwaringreceivedorderstotakecommandoftheYankee，aswift，light-draught，heavilyarmedbrigofwar，andtocruiseabouttheBahamaIslandsandtocaptureanddestroyallthepirates’vesselshecouldtherediscover。

OnhiswayfromWashingtontoNewYork，wheretheYankeewasthenwaitingorders，MainwaringstoppedinPhiladelphiatobidgood-bytohismanyfriendsinthatcity。HecalledattheoldCooperhouse。ItwasonaSundayafternoon。Thespringwasearlyandtheweatherextremelypleasantthatday，beingfilledwithawarmthalmostasofsummer。Theappletreeswerealreadyinfullbloomandfilledalltheairwiththeirfragrance。Everywherethereseemedtobethepervadinghumofbees，andthedrowsy，tepidsunshinewasverydelightful。

AtthattimeEleazerwasjusthomefromanunusuallysuccessfulvoyagetoAntigua。Mainwaringfoundthefamilysittingunderoneofthestillleaflesschestnuttrees，CaptainCoopersmokinghislongclaypipeandlazilyperusingacopyoftheNationalGazette。EleazerlistenedwithagreatdealofinteresttowhatMainwaringhadtosayofhisproposedcruise。Hehimselfknewagreatdealaboutthepirates，and，singularlyunbendingfromhisnormal，stifftaciturnity，hebegantellingofwhatheknew，particularlyofCaptainScarfield——inwhomheappearedtotakeanextraordinaryinterest。

VastlytoMainwaring’ssurprise，theoldQuakerassumedthepositionofadefendantofthepirates，protestingthatthewickednessoftheaccusedwasenormouslyexaggerated。Hedeclaredthatheknewsomeofthefreebootersverywellandthatatthemosttheywerepoor，misdirectedwretcheswhohad，byeasygradation，slidintotheirpresentevilways，fromhavingbeentemptedbythegovernmentauthoritiestoenterintoprivateeringinthedaysofthelatewar。HeconcededthatCaptainScarfieldhaddonemanycruelandwickeddeeds，butheaverredthathehadalsoperformedmanykindandbenevolentactions。Theworldmadenonoteoftheselatter，buttookcareonlytocondemntheevilthathadbeendone。HeacknowledgedthatitwastruethatthepiratehadallowedhiscrewtocastlotsforthewifeandthedaughteroftheskipperoftheNorthernRose，buttherewerenoneofhisaccuserswhotoldhow，attheriskofhisownlifeandthelivesofallhiscrew，hehadgivensuccortotheschoonerHalifax，foundadriftwithallhandsdownwithyellowfever。

Therewasnodefenderofhisactionstotellhowheandhiscrewofpirateshadsailedthepest-strickenvesselalmostintotherescuingwatersofKingstonharbor。EleazerconfessedthathecouldnotdenythatwhenScarfieldhadtiedtheskipperoftheBaltimoreBellenakedtotheforemastofhisownbrighehadpermittedhiscrewofcutthroats(whoweredrunkatthetime)tothrowbottlesatthehelplesscaptive，whodiedthatnightofthewoundshehadreceived。Forthishewasdoubtlessveryjustlycondemned，butwhowastheretopraisehimwhenhehad，attheriskofhislifeandinthefaceoftheauthorities，carriedacargoofprovisionswhichhehimselfhadpurchasedatTampaBaytotheIslandofBellaVistaafterthegreathurricaneof1818？

Inthisnotableadventurehehadbarelyescaped，afteratwodays’chase，theBritishfrigateCeres，whosecaptain，hadacapturebeeneffected，wouldinstantlyhavehungtheunfortunatemantotheyardarminspiteofthebeneficentmissionhewasintheactofconducting。

InallthisEleazerhadtheairofconductingthecaseforthedefendant。Ashetalkedhebecamemoreandmoreanimatedandvoluble。Thelightwentoutinhistobaccopipe，andahecticspotappearedineitherthinandsallowcheek。MainwaringsatwonderingtoheartheseverelypeacefulQuakerpreacherdefendingsonotoriouslybloodyandcruelacutthroatpirateasCapt。JackScarfield。Thewarmandinnocentsurroundings，theoldbrickhouselookingdownuponthem，theodorofappleblossomsandthehumofbeesseemedtomakeitallthemoreincongruous。AndstilltheelderlyQuakerskippertalkedonandonwithhardlyaninterruption，tillthewarmsunslantedtothewestandthedaybegantodecline。

ThateveningMainwaringstayedtoteaandwhenhepartedfromLucindaFairbanksitwasafternightfall，withaclear，roundmoonshininginthemilkyskyandaradiancepallidandunrealenvelopingtheoldhouse，thebloomingappletrees，theslopinglawnandtheshiningriverbeyond。Heimploredhissweethearttolethimtellheruncleandauntoftheiracknowledgedloveandtoasktheoldman’sconsenttoit，butshewouldnotpermithimtodoso。Theyweresohappyastheywere。Whoknewbutwhatherunclemightforbidtheirfondness？Wouldhenotwaitalittlelonger？Maybeitwouldallcomerightafterawhile。Shewassofond，sotender，sotearfulatthenearnessoftheirpartingthathehadnotthehearttoinsist。Atthesametimeitwaswithafeelingalmostofdespairthatherealizedthathemustnowbegone——maybeforthespaceoftwoyears——withoutinallthattimepossessingtherighttocallherhisbeforetheworld。

Whenhebadefarewelltotheolderpeopleitwaswithachokingfeelingofbitterdisappointment。Heyetfeltthepressureofhercheekagainsthisshoulder，thetouchofsoftandvelvetlipstohisown。Butwhatweresuchclandestineendearmentscomparedtowhatmight，perchance，behis——therightofcallingherhisownwhenhewasfarawayanduponthedistantsea？And，besides，hefeltlikeacowardwhohadshirkedhisduty。

Buthewasverymuchinlove。Thenextmorningappearedinadrizzleofrainthatfollowedthebeautifulwarmthofthedaybefore。Hehadthecoachalltohimself，andinthedampandleatherysolitudehedrewoutthelittleovalpicturefrombeneathhisshirtfrillandlookedlongandfixedlywithafondandfoolishjoyattheinnocentface，theblueeyes，thered，smilinglipsdepicteduponthesatinlike，ivorysurface。

II

ForthebetterpartoffivemonthsMainwaringcruisedaboutinthewaterssurroundingtheBahamaIslands。Inthattimeherantoearthanddispersedadozennestsofpirates。Hedestroyednolessthanfifteenpiraticalcraftsofallsizes，fromalargehalf-deckedwhaleboattoathree-hundred-tonbarkentine。ThenameoftheYankeebecameaterrortoeveryseawolfinthewesterntropics，andthewatersoftheBahamaIslandsbecamesweptalmostcleanofthebloodywretcheswhohadsolatelyinfestedit。

Buttheonefreebooterofallotherswhomhesought——Capt。JackScarfield——seemedtoevadehimlikeashadow，toslipthroughhisfingerslikemagic。Twicehecamealmostwithintouchofthefamousmarauder，bothtimesintheominouswrecksthatthepiratecaptainhadleftbehindhim。Thefirstofthesewasthewater-loggedremainsofaburnedandstillsmokingwreckthathefoundadriftinthegreatBahamachannel。ItwastheWaterWitch，ofSalem，buthedidnotlearnhertragicstoryuntil，twoweekslater，hediscoveredapartofhercrewatPortMaria，onthenorthcoastofJamaica。Itwas，indeed，adreadfulstorytowhichhelistened。Thecastawayssaidthattheyofallthevessel’screwhadbeensparedsothattheymighttellthecommanderoftheYankee，shouldtheymeethim，thathemightkeepwhathefound，withCaptainScarfield’scompliments，whoservedituptohimhotcooked。

Threeweekslaterherescuedwhatremainedofthecrewoftheshattered，bloodyhulkoftheBaltimoreBelle，eightofwhosecrew，headedbythecaptain，hadbeentiedhandandfootandheavedoverboard。Again，therewasamessagefromCaptainScarfieldtothecommanderoftheYankeethathemightseasonwhathefoundtosuithisowntaste。

Mainwaringwasofasanguinedisposition，withfierytemper。Heswore，withtheutmostvehemence，thateitherheorJohnScarfieldwouldhavetoleavetheearth。

Hehadlittlesuspicionofhowsoonwastobefalltheominousrealizationofhisangryprophecy。

AtthattimeoneofthechiefrendezvousofthepirateswasthelittleislandofSanJose，oneofthesouthernmostoftheBahamagroup。Here，inthedaysbeforethecomingoftheYankee，theywerewonttoputintocareenandcleantheirvesselsandtotakeinafreshsupplyofprovisions，gunpowder，andrum，preparatorytorenewingtheirattacksuponthepeacefulcommercecirculatingupanddownoutsidetheislands，orthroughthewidestretchesoftheBahamachannel。

Mainwaringhadmadeseveraldescentsuponthisnestoffreebooters。Hehadalreadymadetwonotablecaptures，anditwasherehehopedeventuallytocaptureCaptainScarfieldhimself。

Abriefdescriptionofthisone-timenotoriousrendezvousoffreebootersmightnotbeoutofplace。Itconsistedofalittlesettlementofthosewattledandmud-smearedhousessuchasyoufindthroughtheWestIndies。Therewereonlythreehousesofamorepretentioussort，builtofwood。Oneofthesewasastorehouse，anotherwasarumshop，andathirdahouseinwhichdweltamulattowoman，whowasreputedtobeasortofleft-handedwifeofCaptainScarfield’s。Thepopulationwasalmostentirelyblackandbrown。OneortwoJewsandahalfdozenYankeetraders，ofhardlydubioushonesty，comprisedtheentirewhitepopulation。Therestconsistedofamongrelaccumulationofnegroesandmulattoesandhalf-casteSpaniards，andofamultitudeofblackoryellowwomenandchildren。Thesettlementstoodinabightofthebeachformingasmallharborandaffordingafairanchorageforsmallvessels，exceptingitwereagainstthebeatingofasoutheasterlygale。Thehouses，orcabins，weresurroundedbyclustersofcocopalmsandgrowthsofbananas，andalongcurveofwhitebeach，shelteredfromthelargeAtlanticbreakersthatburstandexplodeduponanouterbar，wasdrawnlikeanecklacearoundthesemi-circleofemerald-greenwater。

Suchwasthefamouspirates’settlementofSanJose——aparadiseofnatureandahellofhumandepravityandwickedness——anditwastothisspotthatMainwaringpaidanothervisitafewdaysafterrescuingthecrewoftheBaltimoreBellefromhershatteredandsinkingwreck。

Asthelittlebaywithitsfringeofpalmsanditsclusterofwattlehutsopeneduptoview，Mainwaringdiscoveredavessellyingatanchorinthelittleharbor。Itwasalargeandwell-riggedschooneroftwohundredandfiftyorthreehundredtonsburden。AstheYankeeroundedtounderthesternofthestrangeranddroppedanchorinsuchapositionastobringherbroadsidebatterytobearshouldtheoccasionrequire，Mainwaringsethisglasstohiseyetoreadthenamehecoulddistinguishbeneaththeoverhangofherstern。Itisimpossibletodescribehisinfinitesurprisewhen，thewhiteletteringstartingoutinthecircleoftheglass，heread，TheElizaCooper，ofPhiladelphia。

Hecouldnotbelievetheevidenceofhissenses。CertainlythissinkofiniquitywasthelastplaceintheworldhewouldhaveexpectedtohavefalleninwithEleazerCooper。

Heorderedoutthegigandhadhimselfimmediatelyrowedovertotheschooner。WhateverlingeringdoubtshemighthaveentertainedastotheidentityofthevesselwerequicklydispelledwhenhebeheldCaptainCooperhimselfstandingatthegangwaytomeethim。Theimpassivefaceofthefriendshowedneithersurprisenorconfusionatwhatmusthavebeentohimamostunexpectedencounter。

ButwhenhesteppeduponthedeckoftheElizaCooperandlookedabouthim，Mainwaringcouldhardlybelievetheevidenceofhissensesatthetransformationthathebeheld。Uponthemaindeckwereeighttwelve-poundcarronadeneatlycoveredwithtarpaulin；

inthebowaLongTom，alsosnuglystowedawayandcovered，directedaveiledandmuzzledsnoutoutoverthebowsprit。

ItwasentirelyimpossibleforMainwaringtoconcealhisastonishmentatsounexpectedasight，andwhetherornothisownthoughtslentcolortohisimagination，itseemedtohimthatEleazerCooperconcealedundertheimmobilityofhiscountenancenosmalldegreeofconfusion。

AfterCaptainCooperhadledthewayintothecabinandheandtheyoungermanwereseatedoverapipeoftobaccoandtheinvariablebottleoffineoldJamaicarum，Mainwaringmadenoattempttorefrainfromquestioninghimastothereasonforthissingularandominoustransformation。”Iamamanofpeace，JamesMainwaring，”Eleazerreplied，”buttherearemenofbloodinthesewaters，andanappearanceofgreatstrengthisofusetoprotecttheinnocentfromthewicked。

IfIremainedinappearancethepeacefultraderIreallyam，howlongdoestheesupposeIcouldremainunassailedinthisplace？”

ItoccurredtoMainwaringthatthepowerfularmamenthehadbeheldwasratherextremetobeusedmerelyasapreventive。Hesmokedforawhileinsilenceandthenhesuddenlyaskedtheotherpoint-blankwhether，ifitcametoblowswithsuchaoneasCaptainScarfield，wouldhemakeafightofit？

TheQuakertradingcaptainregardedhimforawhileinsilence。

Hislook，itseemedtoMainwaring，appearedtobedubitativeastohowfarhedaredtobefrank。”FriendJames，”hesaidatlast，”Imayaswellacknowledgethatmyofficersandcrewaresomewhatworldly。OfatruththeydonotholdthesametestimonyasI。Iaminclinedtothinkthatifitcametothepointofabroilwiththosemenofiniquity，myindividualvoicecastforpeacewouldnotbesufficienttokeepmycrewfrommeetingviolencewithviolence。Asformyself，theeknowswhoIamandwhatismytestimonyinthesematters。”

MainwaringmadenocommentastotheextremelyquestionablemannerinwhichtheQuakerproposedtobeatthedevilaboutthestump。Presentlyheaskedhissecondquestion:”AndmightIinquire，”hesaid，”whatyouaredoinghereandwhyyoufinditnecessarytocomeatallintosuchawicked，dangerousplaceasthis？””Indeed，Iknewtheewouldaskthatquestionofme，”saidtheFriend，”andIwillbeentirelyfrankwiththee。Thesemenofbloodare，afterall，buthumanbeings，andashumanbeingstheyneedfood。IhaveatpresentuponthisvesselupwardoftwohundredandfiftybarrelsofflourwhichwillbringahigherpriceherethananywhereelseintheWestIndies。Tobeentirelyfrankwiththee，IwilltelltheethatIwasengagedinmakingabargainforthesaleofthegreaterpartofmymerchandisewhenthenewsofthyapproachdroveawaymybestcustomer。”

Mainwaringsatforawhileinsmokingsilence。Whattheotherhadtoldhimexplainedmanythingshehadnotbeforeunderstood。

ItexplainedwhyCaptainCoopergotalmostasmuchforhisflourandcornmealnowthatpeacehadbeendeclaredashehadobtainedwhenthewarandtheblockadewereinfullswing。ItexplainedwhyhehadbeensostrongadefenderofCaptainScarfieldandthepiratesthatafternooninthegarden。Meantime，whatwastobedone？Eleazerconfessedopenlythathedealtwiththepirates。

Whatnowwashis——Mainwaring’s——dutyinthecase？WasthecargooftheElizaCoopercontrabandandsubjecttoconfiscation？Andthenanotherquestionframeditselfinhismind:Whowasthiscustomerwhomhisapproachhaddrivenaway？

Asthoughhehadformulatedtheinquiryintospeechtheotherbegandirectlytospeakofit。”Iknow，”hesaid，”thatinamomenttheewillaskmewhowasthiscustomerofwhomIhavejustnowspoken。Ihavenodesiretoconcealhisnamefromthee。ItwasthemanwhoisknownasCaptainJackorCaptainJohnScarfield。”

Mainwaringfairlystartedfromhisseat。”Thedevilyousay！”hecried。”Andhowlonghasitbeen，”heasked，”sinceheleftyou？”

TheQuakerskippercarefullyrefilledhispipe，whichbehadbynowsmokedout。”Iwouldjudge，”hesaid，”thatitisamatteroffourorfivehourssincenewswasbroughtoverlandbymeansofswiftrunnersofthyapproach。Immediatelythemanofwickednessdisappeared。”HereEleazersetthebowlofhispipetothecandleflameandbeganpuffingoutvoluminouscloudsofsmoke。”Iwouldhavetheeunderstand，JamesMainwaring，”heresumed，”thatIamnofriendofthiswickedandsinfulman。Hissafetyisnothingtome。Itisonlyaquestionofbuyinguponhispartandofsellinguponmine。IfitisanysatisfactiontotheeI

willheartilypromisetobringtheenewsifIhearanythingofthemanofBelial。ImayfurthermoresaythatIthinkitislikelytheewillhavenewsmoreorlessdirectlyofhimwithinthespaceofaday。Ifthisshouldhappen，however，theewillhavetodothyownfightingwithouthelpfromme，forIamnomanofcombatnorofbloodandwilltakenohandiniteitherway。”

ItstruckMainwaringthatthewordscontainedsomemeaningthatdidnotappearuponthesurface。ThissignificancestruckhimassoambiguousthatwhenhewentaboardtheYankeeheconfidedasmuchofhissuspicionsashesawfittohissecondincommand，LieutenantUnderwood。Asnightdescendedhehadadoublewatchsetandhadeverythingpreparedtorepelanyattackorsurprisethatmightbeattempted。

III

Nighttimeinthetropicsdescendswithasurprisingrapidity。Atonemomenttheearthisshiningwiththebrightnessofthetwilight；thenext，asitwere，allthingsaresuddenlyswallowedintoagulfofdarkness。Theparticularnightofwhichthisstorytreatswasnotentirelyclear；thetimeofyearwasabouttheapproachoftherainyseason，andthetepid，tropicalcloudsaddedobscuritytothedarknessofthesky，sothatthenightfellwithevenmorestartlingquicknessthanusual。Theblacknesswasverydense。Nowandthenagroupofdriftingstarsswamoutofariftinthevapors，butthenightwascuriouslysilentandofavelvetydarkness。

Astheobscurityhaddeepened，Mainwaringhadorderedlanthornstobelightedandslungtotheshroudsandtothestays，andthefaintyellowoftheirilluminationlightedthelevelwhiteofthesnuglittlewarvessel，gleaminghereandthereinastarlikesparkuponthebrasstrimmingsandcausingtherowsofcannonstoassumecuriouslygiganticproportions。

ForsomereasonMainwaringwaspossessedbyastrange，uneasyfeeling。Hewalkedrestlesslyupanddownthedeckforatime，andthen，stillfullofanxietiesforheknewnotwhat，wentintohiscabintofinishwritinguphislogfortheday。Heunstrappedhiscutlassandlaidituponthetable，lightedhispipeatthelanthornandwasaboutpreparingtolayasidehiscoatwhenwordwasbroughttohimthatthecaptainofthetradingschoonerwascomealongsideandhadsomeprivateinformationtocommunicatetohim。

Mainwaringsurmisedinaninstantthatthetrader’svisitrelatedsomehowtonewsofCaptainScarfield，andasimmediately，inthereliefofsomethingpositivetoface，allofhisfeelingofrestlessnessvanishedlikeashadowofmist。HegaveordersthatCaptainCoopershouldbeimmediatelyshownintothecabin，andinafewmomentsthetall，angularformoftheQuakerskipperappearedinthenarrow，lanthorn-lightedspace。

Mainwaringatoncesawthathisvisitorwasstrangelyagitatedanddisturbed。Hehadtakenoffhishat，andshiningbeadsofperspirationhadgatheredandstoodclustereduponhisforehead。

HedidnotreplytoMainwaring’sgreeting；hedidnot，indeed，seemtohearit；buthecamedirectlyforwardtothetableandstoodleaningwithonehandupontheopenlogbookinwhichthelieutenanthadjustbeenwriting。Mainwaringhadreseatedhimselfattheheadofthetable，andthetallfigureoftheskipperstoodlookingdownathimasfromaconsiderableheight。”JamesMainwaring，”hesaid，”IpromisedtheetoreportifIhadnewsofthepirate。Istheereadynowtohearmynews？”

TherewassomethingsostrangeinhisagitationthatitbegantoinfectMainwaringwithafeelingsomewhatakintothatwhichappearedtodisturbhisvisitor。”Iknownotwhatyoumean，sir！”hecried，”byaskingifIcaretohearyournews。AtthismomentIwouldratherhavenewsofthatscoundrelthantohaveanythingIknowofintheworld。””Thouwould？Thouwould？”criedtheother，withmountingagitation。”Istheeinsuchhastetomeethimasallthat？Verywell；verywell，then。SupposeIcouldbringtheefacetofacewithhim——whatthen？Hey？Hey？Facetofacewithhim，JamesMainwaring！”

ThethoughtinstantlyflashedintoMainwaring’smindthatthepiratehadreturnedtotheisland；thatperhapsatthatmomenthewassomewherenearathand。”Idonotunderstandyou，sir，”hecried。”Doyoumeantotellmethatyouknowwherethevillainis？Ifso，losenotimeininformingme，foreveryinstantofdelaymaymeanhischanceofagainescaping。””Nodangerofthat！”theotherdeclared，vehemently。”Nodangerofthat！I’lltelltheewhereheisandI’llbringtheetohimquickenough！”Andashespokehethumpedhisfistagainsttheopenlogbook。Inthevehemenceofhisgrowingexcitementhiseyesappearedtoshinegreeninthelanthornlight，andthesweatthathadstoodinbeadsuponhisforeheadwasnowrunninginstreamsdownhisface。Onedrophunglikeajeweltothetipofhisbeaklikenose。HecameastepnearertoMainwaringandbentforwardtowardhim，andtherewassomethingsostrangeandominousinhisbearingthatthelieutenantinstinctivelydrewbackalittlewherehesat。”CaptainScarfieldsentsomethingtoyou，”saidEleazer，almostinaraucousvoice，”somethingthatyouwillbesurprisedtosee。”AndthelapseinhisspeechfromtheQuaker”thee”totheplural”you”struckMainwaringassingularlystrange。

AshewasspeakingEleazerwasfumblinginapocketofhislong-taileddrabcoat，andpresentlyhebroughtsomethingforththatgleamedinthelanthornlight。

ThenextmomentMainwaringsawleveleddirectlyinhisfacetheroundandhollownozzleofapistol。

Therewasaninstantofdeadsilenceandthen，”Iamthemanyouseek！”saidEleazerCooper，inatenseandbreathlessvoice。

ThewholethinghadhappenedsoinstantaneouslyandunexpectedlythatforthemomentMainwaringsatlikeonepetrified。Hadathunderboltfallenfromthesilentskyandburstathisfeethecouldnothavebeenmorestunned。Hewaslikeoneheldinthemeshesofahorridnightmare，andhegazedasthroughamistofimpossibilityintothelineamentsofthewell-known，soberfacenowtransformedasfromwithinintotheaspectofadevil。Thatface，nowashywhite，wasdistortedintoadiabolicalgrin。Theteethglistenedinthelamplight。Thebrows，twistedintoatenseandconvulsedfrown，weredrawndownintoblackshadows，throughwhichtheeyesburnedabalefulgreenliketheeyesofawildanimaldriventobay。Againhespokeinthesamebreathlessvoice。”IamJohnScarfield！Lookatme，then，ifyouwanttoseeapirate！”Againtherewasalittletimeofsilence，throughwhichMainwaringheardhiswatchtickingloudlyfromwhereithungagainstthebulkhead。Thenoncemoretheotherbeganspeaking。”YouwouldchasemeoutoftheWestIndies，wouldyou？

G——you！Whatareyoucometonow？Youarecaughtinyourowntrap，andyou’llsquealloudenoughbeforeyougetoutofit。

SpeakawordormakeamovementandI’llblowyourbrainsoutagainstthepartitionbehindyou！ListentowhatIsayoryouareadeadman。Singoutanorderinstantlyformymateandmybos’ntocomeheretothecabin，andbequickaboutit，formyfinger’sonthetrigger，andit’sonlyapulltoshutyourmouthforever。”

ItwasastonishingtoMainwaring，inafterwardthinkingaboutitall，howquicklyhismindbegantorecoveritssteadinessafterthatfirstastonishingshock。Evenastheotherwasspeakinghediscoveredthathisbrainwasbecomingclarifiedtoawonderfullucidity；histhoughtswerebecomingrearranged，andwithamarvelousactivityandanalertnesshehadneverbeforeexperienced。Heknewthatifhemovedtoescapeorutteredanyoutcryhewouldbeinstantlyadeadman，forthecircleofthepistolbarrelwasdirectedfullagainsthisforeheadandwiththesteadinessofarock。Ifhecouldbutforaninstantdivertthatfixedanddeadlyattentionhemightstillhaveachanceforlife。Withthethoughtaninspirationburstintohismindandheinstantlyputitintoexecution；thought，inspiration，andaction，asinaflash，wereone。Hemustmaketheotherturnasidehisdeadlygaze，andinstantlyheroaredoutinavoicethatstunnedhisownears:”Strike，bos’n！Strike，quick！”

Takenbysurprise，andthinking，doubtless，thatanotherenemystoodbehindhim，thepirateswungaroundlikeaflashwithhispistolleveledagainsttheblankboarding。Equallyupontheinstanthesawthetrickthathadbeenplayeduponhimandinasecondflashhadturnedagain。Theturnandreturnhadoccupiedbutamomentoftime，butthatmoment，thankstothereadinessofhisowninvention，hadundoubtedlysavedMainwaring’slife。AstheotherturnedawayhisgazeforthatbriefinstantMainwaringleapedforwardanduponhim。Therewasaflashingflameoffireasthepistolwasdischargedandadeafeningdetonationthatseemedtosplithisbrain。Foramoment，withreelingsenses，hesupposedhimselftohavebeenshot，thenextheknewhehadescaped。Withtheenergyofdespairheswunghisenemyaroundanddrovehimwithprodigiousviolenceagainstthecornerofthetable。Thepirateemittedagruntingcryandthentheyfelltogether，Mainwaringuponthetop，andthepistolclatteredwiththemtothefloorintheirfall。Evenashefell，Mainwaringroaredinavoiceofthunder，”Allhandsrepelboarders！”Andthenagain，”Allhandsrepelboarders！”

Whetherhurtbythetableedgeornot，thefallenpiratestruggledasthoughpossessedoffortydevils，andinamomentortwoMainwaringsawtheshineofalong，keenknifethathehaddrawnfromsomewhereabouthisperson。Thelieutenantcaughthimbythewrist，buttheother’smuscleswereasthoughmadeofsteel。Theybothfoughtindespairingsilence，theonetocarryouthisfrustratedpurposestokill，theothertosavehislife。

AgainandagainMainwaringfeltthattheknifehadbeenthrustagainsthim，piercingoncehisarm，oncehisshoulder，andagainhisneck。Hefeltthewarmbloodstreamingdownhisarmandbodyandlookedabouthimindespair。Thepistollaynearuponthedeckofthecabin。Stillholdingtheotherbythewristashecould，Mainwaringsnatcheduptheemptyweaponandstruckonceandagainatthebald，narrowforeheadbeneathhim。Athirdblowhedeliveredwithalltheforcehecouldcommand，andthenwithaviolentandconvulsivethroethestrainingmusclesbeneathhimrelaxedandgrewlimpandthefightwaswon。

Throughallthestrugglehehadbeenawareoftheshoutsofvoices，oftramplingoffeetanddischargeoffirearms，andthethoughtcametohim，eventhroughhisowndanger，thattheYankeewasbeingassaultedbythepirates。Ashefeltthestrugglingformbeneathhimloosenanddissolveintoquietude，heleapedup，andsnatchinghiscutlass，whichstilllayuponthetable，rushedoutuponthedeck，leavingthestrickenformlyingtwitchinguponthefloorbehindhim。

Itwasafortunatethingthathehadsetdoublewatchesandpreparedhimselfforsomeattackfromthepirates，otherwisetheYankeewouldcertainlyhavebeenlost。Asitwas，thesurprisewassooverwhelmingthatthepirates，whohadbeenconcealedinthelargewhaleboatthathadcomealongside，werenotonlyabletogainafootholduponthedeck，butforatimeitseemedasthoughtheywoulddrivethecrewofthebrigbelowthehatches。

ButasMainwaring，streamingwithblood，rushedoutuponthedeck，thepiratesbecameimmediatelyawarethattheirowncaptainmusthavebeenoverpowered，andinaninstanttheirdesperateenergybegantoevaporate。Oneortwojumpedoverboard；one，whoseemedtobethemate，felldeadfromapistolshot，andthen，intheturnofahand，therewasarushofaretreatandavisionofleapingformsintheduskylightofthelanthornsandasoundofsplashinginthewaterbelow。

ThecrewoftheYankeecontinuedfiringatthephosphorescentwakesoftheswimmingbodies，butwhetherwitheffectitwasimpossibleatthetimetotell。

IV

Thepiratecaptaindidnotdieimmediately。Helingeredforthreeorfourdays，nowandthenunconscious，nowandthensemi-conscious，butalwaysdeliriouslywandering。Allthewhilehethuslaydying，themulattowoman，withwhomhelivedinthispartofhisextraordinarydualexistence，nursedandcaredforhimwithsuchrudeattentionsasthesurroundingsafforded。Inthewanderingsofhismindthesamedualityoflifefollowedhim。

Nowandthenhewouldappearthecalm，sober，self-contained，well-orderedmemberofapeacefulsocietythathisfriendsinhisfarawayhomeknewhimtobe；atothertimesthenetherpartofhisnaturewouldleapupintolifelikeawildbeast，furiousandgnashing。Attheonetimehetalkedevenlyandclearlyofpeacefulthings；attheothertimeheblasphemedandhootedwithfury。

SeveraltimesMainwaring，thoughrackedbyhisownwounds，satbesidethedyingmanthroughthesilentwatchesofthetropicalnights。Oftentimesupontheseoccasionsashelookedatthethin，leanfacebabblingandtalkingsoaimlessly，hewonderedwhatitallmeant。Couldithavebeenmadness——madnessinwhichtheseparateentitiesofgoodandbadeachhad，initsturn，aperfectanddistinctexistence？Hechosetothinkthatthiswasthecase。Who，withinhisinnerconsciousness，doesnotfeelthatsameferine，savagemanstrugglingagainstthestern，adamantinebondsofmoralityanddecorum？Werethosebondsburstasunder，asitwaswiththisman，mightnotthewildbeastrushforth，asithadrushedforthinhim，torendandtotear？SuchwerethequestionsthatMainwaringaskedhimself。Andhowhaditallcomeabout？BywhateasygradationshadtherespectableQuakerskipperdescendedfromthedecorumofhishomelife，stepbystep，intosuchagulfofiniquity？ManysuchthoughtspassedthroughMainwaring’smind，andheponderedthemthroughthestillreachesofthetropicalnightswhilehesatwatchingthepiratecaptainstruggleoutoftheworldhehadsolongburdened。Atlastthepoorwretchdied，andtheearthwaswellquitofoneofitstorments。

Asystematicsearchwasmadethroughtheislandforthescatteredcrew，butnonewascaptured。Eitherthereweresomesecrethidingplacesupontheisland(whichwasnotverylikely)orelsetheyhadescapedinboatshiddensomewhereamongthetropicalfoliage。Atanyratetheyweregone。

Nor，searchashewould，couldMainwaringfindatraceofanyofthepiratetreasure。Afterthepirate’sdeathandunderclosequestioning，theweepingmulattowomansofarbrokedownastoconfessinbrokenEnglishthatCaptainScarfieldhadtakenaquantityofsilvermoneyaboardhisvessel，buteithershewasmistakenorelsethepirateshadtakenitthenceagainandhadhiddenitsomewhereelse。

Norwouldthetreasureeverhavebeenfoundbutforamostfortuitousaccident。MainwaringhadgivenordersthattheElizaCooperwastobeburned，andapartywasdetailedtocarrytheorderintoexecution。AtthisthecookoftheYankeecamepetitioningforsomeoftheWilmingtonandBrandywineflourtomakesomeplumduffuponthemorrow，andMainwaringgrantedhisrequestinsofarthatheorderedoneofthementoknockopenoneofthebarrelsofflourandtosupplythecook’sdemands。

Thecrewdetailedtoexecutethismodestorderinconnectionwiththedestructionofthepiratevesselhadnotbeengoneaquarterofanhourwhenwordcamebackthatthehiddentreasurehadbeenfound。

MainwaringhurriedaboardtheElizaCooper，andthereinthemidstoftheopenflourbarrelhebeheldagreatquantityofsilvercoinburiedinandpartlycoveredbythewhitemeal。A

systematicsearchwasnowmade。Onebyonetheflourbarrelswereheavedupfrombelowandburstopenonthedeckandtheircontentssearched，andifnothingbutthemealwasfounditwassweptoverboard。Thebreezewaswhitenedwithcloudsofflour，andthewhitemealcoveredthesurfaceoftheoceanforyardsaround。

Inall，upwardofonehundredandfiftythousanddollarswasfoundconcealedbeneaththeinnocentflourandmeal。Itwasnowonderthepiratecaptainwassosuccessful，whenhecoulduponaninstant’snoticetransformhimselffromawolfoftheoceantoapeacefulQuakertradersellingflourtothehungrytownsandsettlementsamongthescatteredislandsoftheWestIndies，andsocarryinghisbloodytreasuresafelyintohisquietNorthernhome。

InconcludingthispartofthenarrativeitmaybeaddedthatawidestripofcanvaspaintedblackwasdiscoveredintheholdoftheElizaCooper。Uponit，ingreatwhiteletters，waspaintedthename，”TheBloodhound。”Undoubtedlythiswasuseduponoccasionstocovertherealandpeacefultitleofthetradingschooner，justasitscaptainhad，inreverse，coveredhissanguineandcruellifebyathinsheetofmoralityandrespectability。

ThisisthetruestoryofthedeathofCapt。JackScarfield。

TheNewburyportchap-book，ofwhichIhavealreadyspoken，speaksonlyofhowthepiratedisguisedhimselfupontheoceanasaQuakertrader。

NorisitlikelythatanyoneeveridentifiedEleazerCooperwiththepirate，foronlyMainwaringofallthecrewoftheYankeewasexactlyawareofthetrueidentityofCaptainScarfield。AllthatwaseverknowntotheworldwasthatEleazerCooperhadbeenkilledinafightwiththepirates。

InalittlelessthanayearMainwaringwasmarriedtoLucindaFairbanks。AstoEleazerCooper’sfortune，whicheventuallycameintothepossessionofMainwaringthroughhiswife，itwasmanytimesasubjectofspeculationtothelieutenanthowithadbeenearned。Thereweretimeswhenhefeltwellassuredthatapartofitatleastwasthefruitofpiracy，butitwasentirelyimpossibletoguesshowmuchmorewastheresultoflegitimatetrading。

ForalittletimeitseemedtoMainwaringthatheshouldgiveitallup，butthiswasatoncesoimpracticableandsoquixoticthathepresentlyabandonedit，andintimehisqualmsandmisdoubtsfadedawayandhesettledhimselfdowntoenjoythatwhichhadcometohimthroughhismarriage。

IntimetheMainwaringsremovedtoNewYork，andultimatelythefortunethatthepirateScarfieldhadleftbehindhimwasusedinparttofoundthegreatshippinghouseofMainwaring&Bigot，whosefamoustransatlanticpacketshipswereintheirtimetheadmirationofthewholeworld。

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