“Still, all is well that ends well!” exclaimed Jack, after he had one day been talking on the subject. “I now feel sure that what I have gone through was for my ultimate benefit, and I can thank God for the merciful way in which He has dealt with me.”
The Good Hope touched at several islands, the entire population of which had become Christians not only in name but in deed, as they evinced by their lives and their totally changed characters. She got a thorough refit at Valparaiso, on the coast of Chili, to prepare her for her voyage round Cape Horn, and five months after Jack got on board she sighted the shores of Old England. Captain Blount felt sure that he could pilot her safely into Stormount Bay, but the wind fell somewhat, and the shades of evening came on before the schooner could beat up to it. Just then a fishing-boat was sighted, and a signal was made to her that a pilot was wanted. She was soon alongside, and a stout, middle-aged man stepped on board.
“Can you pilot us into Stormount Bay, friend?” asked the captain.
“I should think I could, since I’ve sailed in and out of it, man and boy, for pretty nigh forty years,” answered the man. “It makes no matter night or day to us now either. You see that bright light just now, beaming out from the top of the cliff it seems? That’s the light the lady who lives in the tower burns every night, that (as they say) her lost son who went away to sea and has never since been heard of, may see it when he comes up Channel, and find his way into the bay. Poor lad, I’d give pretty nigh all I’m worth to see him come back, for I was the main cause, I fear, why he was sent away; and bless his honest old father, he has never owed me a grudge for it, but on the contrary, has done me all the kindness in his power,—he has taught me to be an honest man.”
The fisherman might have run on much longer had not Jack, who overheard him, exclaimed, “Nor do I owe you a grudge, Dick Herring; but tell me, old friend, how are my father and mother, and sister Margery, and old Tom, good old Tom?”
“Why, bless my heart! Master Jack, is it you? Well, it’s hard to believe my senses,—and you to be alive all this time!” exclaimed Dick Herring, seizing Jack’s hand and wringing it nearly off. “They’re all well, every one on ’em, and they will be glad to see you, that they will.”
Dick now recognised Charley, and right proud he was to pilot the Good Hope into Stormount Bay, nor would he receive a shilling reward, not even a glass of grog to drink Jack’s health, for since he had given up smuggling and all its accompanying sins, he had become a strict temperance-league man.
“No, Master Jack, I won’t drink your health, but I’ll pray for it, and that’ll do us both more good,” he observed.
Little did Mrs Askew suppose whose vessel her lantern was guiding into Stormount Bay that night. The schooner’s anchor was dropped and her sails furled before nine o’clock. The voyagers had purposed waiting till the morning before going on shore, but Jack’s impatience would brook no delay. Charley went first and announced himself to Becky, who immediately exclaimed under her breath, “Is he come, Master Charles?”
“Never mind,” answered Charley, “Do you go in and say Charley Blount has come.”