To the surprise of many, Will Laud remained on board, and preferred taking a cruise, and coming in again the following night for the ship’s company. The fact, however, was, that he was afraid of the land. The consciousness of his guilt, and the fear of the revenge of Barry, should the coast-guard hear of his attack upon young Barry, the brother, acted upon his nerves, and made him think himself safe only on the broad sea.
A certain number of men always remained on board to take the vessel out of sight of the land until the night, and then only were these free-traders able to near the shore. The lives of these men were always in jeopardy, and none of them ever turned out good husbands or friends. When they were compelled to leave off the contraband traffic, they generally took to poaching, and led fearful and miserable lives; which, if traced to the close, would generally be found to end in sorrow, if not in the extremity of horror.
John Luff had an interview with Captain Bargood, and then told him of Will Laud’s awkward situation upon the banks of the Orwell.
“A lucky fellow to escape as he did!" exclaimed Bargood. “He might have been at this moment in Ipswich gaol, and from thence he would only have escaped through the hangman’s hands.”
“We must keep him out of the way, sir. We must again report him killed, and change his name from Hudson. He is already known as Will Laud, and his fame will spread along the shore.”
“Well, he is a lucky fellow. He should go round the world. I’ll send him, ship and crew, a good long voyage. Something may be done in the fur-trade this winter. I have received a notice that I might send a ship, and cheat the Hudson’s Bay Company of a good cargo of skins. What shall we dub the captain?”
“Let’s call him Captain Cook; I’ll tell the crew it’s your desire to have the captain honoured for his success by giving him the title of the great navigator.”
“That will do, John—that will do. Take these orders to Captain Cook. Give these presents to the men. Tell them to disperse themselves upon a visit to their friends, and meet again at the Cliff on the 12th of next month, for the purpose of making a long voyage. In the meantime do you and the captain contrive to get the ship into friendly quarters abroad, and if you like to run ashore yourselves, there is my cottage at Butley Moor, and you can take possession of it. But keep yourselves quiet. Five of the crew belong to Butley, and I know what they will be up to. Do not let Captain Cook go up the Orwell again, if you can help it, and steer clear of the coastguard.”
“Aye, aye, master, I’ll manage"; and, leaving the old commodore, he returned to the cave, and reached it at the precise moment when the hardy fellows were drinking “Long life to Jack Luff!”