CHAPTER XXXII
Constance's Story
The surprise and recognition were mutual. Only the untoward state of my sister's garments prevented her from throwing herself into my arms. As it was, she could only grasp my hand and exclaim:
"Oh, Clifford, you here! I thought you were dead long ago."
"Far from it," I replied, leading her to the shelter of the weather bulwarks, for the wind was now howling fiercely. "But tell me, how came you here?"
"'Tis a long story," she said, striving to keep back the tears of joy that welled to her eyes. "But why--oh, there's Captain Jeremy!"
And at that moment our Captain came down the poop ladder, to find, to his unbounded astonishment, that Constance was one of the rescued passengers.
It was some time ere we dispensed with small talk and entered into the more important details of our respective adventures, when Captain Jeremy listened with rapt attention to my sister's narrative, occasionally giving vent to a hearty exclamation of approval as she told her story.
"You would hardly realize the consternation that your disappearance caused. At first our uncle thought you had left the house by stealth in order to go fishing, and promised you a warm reception on your return. But when evening came and you did not return, we began to grow anxious----"
"There you are," exclaimed Captain Jeremy. "Did I not say you were a young rascal, when you were found in the hold? Didst give a single thought to your worthy relative's distress?"
"There was a hue and cry raised, but though the countryside was searched most diligently, not a trace of you was found. A month or so later a lad's body was found in the Lym stream, and though 'twas well-nigh unrecognizable, our uncle was convinced 'twas yours. At any rate, he came to the conclusion that you had been drowned while swimming in the river, and the body was buried as that of Clifford Hammond."
"Then another misfortune came. Uncle John was thrown from his horse near Buckland Rings, and received such severe injuries to his head that in less than a week he died. Thus I was left without a relative in England. In my distress I thought of our mother's brother's wife, whom I knew to be living somewhere in Virginia; and being, as I thought, without a single tie at home, I resolved to adventure myself in the New World. With this object in view I went to see Lawyer Thompson of Lymington, who had, as you know, the ordering of our affairs. He approved of my resolve, but urged me to wait until definite news could be obtained of our relative's whereabouts. Accordingly a letter was sent by the hand of one Captain Joseph Bennett, whose ship Prudence was about to sail for the port of Richmond."
"Four months later I had a reply, brought by the same Captain Bennett, to the effect that Mistress Green, our maternal aunt, would be glad to receive me."
"The Prudence was timed to sail again from Gravesend on the following Thursday week, and having made arrangements for my passage, I prepared for the hazardous journey."
"At length I bade farewell to the home of my childhood. Lawyer Thompson accompanied me as far as Southampton, whence the coach was to carry me to London. It was a tedious two days' journey, with the best part of another day's ride to Gravesend."
"On arriving at the latter place I found, to my consternation, that the Prudence had sailed on a special voyage to Hull, and would not be back for another fortnight."
"There was nothing to do but wait, and by good fortune I found a comfortable lodging at the house of one Mistress Thetwell. But once again I was doomed to disappointment. The Prudence never returned to the Thames--she was lost, with all her crew, off Yarmouth--so I was obliged to wait at Gravesend until such time as I could find a ship that was sailing for Virginia."
"While awaiting this opportunity I chanced one day to be taking the air along the Rochester road, when I heard the sound of a horse galloping behind me. I turned, and saw a mettlesome nag bolting down the highway, while, clinging desperately to the animal's mane, was a girl of about my own age."
"As you know, Clifford, I was always used to horses, so as the brute rushed by I caught at the dangling bridle. The nag carried me some distance, and just as I had mastered him he trod on my foot. The pain was intense, and I was barely conscious of seeing the girl slip from the saddle ere I swooned."
"When I recovered my senses I found myself in a strange bed, with a motherly lady watching me."
"She was Mistress Farndale, wife of a wealthy landowner, and it was her daughter Winifred whose horse I had helped to stop. All the members of the family were kind to me beyond measure, and, hearing my story, proposed that I should stay as a companion to Winifred till an opportunity occurred for me to take ship. And, strange to say, I felt perfectly contented and happy, actually hoping that that opportunity was yet a long way off."
"At length Master Farndale, for having spoken too openly in favour of Archbishop Sancroft, was threatened with arrest; so, having disposed of most of his property, he took ship for Virginia, having previously made arrangements for his family to follow directly he had prepared a suitable home for them."
"Thus I was able to carry out my original intentions, without having to undergo the grief of parting from my newly found friends, when we took passage on the Phoenix. There were Mistress Farndale, Rupert and Gerald, her sons; and Winifred and myself, together with a maid."
"I need not relate what happened on our unfortunate voyage, for you already know of it; but when we were being taken on board this ship from the boat Winifred fell into the sea, and someone rescued her----"
"Lucky lad! Lucky lad!" exclaimed Captain Jeremy, bringing his open hand down heavily on my back, to my great confusion. Then, as Constance was at a loss to understand this sudden outburst, he explained: "You see, Mistress Constance, 'twas your brother who jumped after her. Sink me! 'twas a plucky action, for he was like to have had his head crushed like an eggshell by the ship's side. But I must away, for 'tis about time we made a landfall." So saying, he hurried on to the poop, leaving us to continue our conversation.
"I, too, have news for you," said I. "Constance, we are now rich, for the Madre treasure has been found. It is on board this very ship."
"How much is it worth?" she asked, with true feminine curiosity.
"Nay, I cannot say to a certainty, yet 'tis enough for us to be for ever free from monetary difficulties."
Then I related all the principal incidents of our voyage, not omitting the terrible fate of my father's murderer, till our conversation was interrupted by the welcome cry of "Land--ho!"
From the poop I gazed once more upon the shores of Old England, after an absence of three years, for on our larboard bow I could discern the dark, lofty outlines of the Lizard, the southernmost headland of our isle.
The Golden Hope was now bowling along under easy canvas at a good six knots, and ere night the dreaded Eddystone, rearing its ugly reef above the breakers, was well abeam, and the rugged Devon coast away on our larboard bow. Should this breeze continue, to-morrow's eve would find us safe in Poole Harbour.
Just before sunset most of the rescued passengers, having recovered from their harrowing experience, came on deck, and Constance immediately gave me an introduction to Mistress Farndale and her daughter.
Presently we were joined by Rupert and Gerald Farndale, whose acquaintance I had made earlier in the day; and together we formed quite a happy party, talking under the break of the poop deck until it was quite dark.
Then the ladies retired, while I, lying in a hammock slung under the crowded fo'c'sle, dreamed of Constance and Winifred, till I was awakened by the violent ringing of the ship's bell and the hoarse order, "Put your helm up, or we'll be run down!"