"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.