The Two Buccaneers. A tale of the sea

Chapter I

In the early part of the reign of the First George, within a mile of the small and insig nificant harbour of St. Agnes, in the county of Cornwall, lived an old couple who kept a road-side inn, or rather ale-house. Its situation was exceedingly lonely, for the whole district surrounding it was wild and uncul tivated. Those great sources of wealth to Cornwall, the rich mines, were not then worked to the extent that they are at the VOL. i. b. TWO BUCCANEEES. present time; and though this part of the county contains several very picturesque, wild and beautiful spots, yet the general aspect is dreary in the extreme. The house inhabited by the old couple first mentioned consisted altogether of four rooms, its out-offices, a dilapidated cowshed and a stable, half in ruins. It certainly did not promise, from its outward appearance, what it held forth on a cracked board over the door, which in rather doubtful characters declared that good entertainment for man and beast could be obtained within, and good ale likewise; however, this mattered little, for except a stray pedler or packman, trading to the town of Red worth, or an odd sailor now and then passing from the almost deserted little harbour of Tre vanance,north of St. Agnes, in search of tobacco or a mug of ale, not a soul scarcely ever entered this solitary road-side alehouse.

The household consisted of an old man and his wife and a very young girl, their grand-child, all of whom contrived to drag on an existence chiefly derived from the produce of three cows and two goats, who managed to pick up a rather doubtful supply of food from the common surrounding the house. One bitter cold evening, towards the latter end of the month of December, to the great amazement of the inmates, who, with the girl's assistance, had just tied up the cows, leaving the goats to shift for themselves, five well-mounted individuals rode up to the ale-house, as Dame Margaret was about to close the door to keep out, not wayfarers, but the exceedingly bitter blast that found its way in at the door. The sight of the riders at first startled the old woman, for the times were unsettled, and people who had escaped from the king's troops after the surrender of Preston, which had taken Fplace some months before our tale commences, were said to be hiding amongst the mines and lonely parts of the county of Cornwall ; but she had little b. 2. time for amazement at the unexpected inroad on her premises ; for one of the mounted indi viduals threw himself from his horse, and ap proached her, and the young girl, who had been attracted to the entrance by the unusual trampling of horses' feet.

He was a tall, hand some man, between forty and fifty, attired in the dress of a country gentleman, and wearing a large horseman's mantle over his attire. The other persons on horseback were also preparing to dismount, " I say, my good dame," said the stranger, who had first alighted, " Have you a shed under which we can tie the horses for a few hours, and, at the same time, can you let us have a room, no matter of what kind, to sit in, we neither expect nor require beds." " Lord a mercy, your worship," exclaimed Dame Margaret, "you had a deal better mount your horse again and ride on to St. Agnes, it is but a short mile across the moor, and there you will get better entertainment for the likes of you than in this poor place. I see you have a lady amongst you, and she would be frightened at our tumble-down old place."

" She is only a young girl of twelve years old, and not at all apt to be frightened, my good dame," interrupted the traveller ; " and, as I told you this moment, we do not require any thing further than a shelter from this bitter wind, and to rest the poor child for a few hours. She is very weary. However, it is no use wasting words ; stay here we must. Without further parley, make up your mind to receive us ; you will be all the better for your hospitality. Light a fire in the best room you have, and depend upon it you will not hear any grumbling, and shall be well paid." The landlady was astounded, as well she might, and perhaps a little frightened also, for the last sentence spoken by the stranger was uttered in a very peremptory tone. Turning to the girl she said, " Run Jane, and call Thomas from the cow-shed, and then bring a bundle of sticks.

Lord a mercy 1 What can these folks want here ?" So saying, she entered the house, and opened a door leading into the only reception room the little inn furnished, occupying a space about fourteen feet by nine, containing exactly five rickety chairs, a table, and a long oak bench, the latter placed against the wall. There was nothing inviting in the aspect of the room, far from it, the walls were damp, and the floor was of hard plaster. Never theless, Dame Margaret, making a virtue of necessity, began, to use her own expression, to settle the room, that is, she was propping the rickety chairs against the wall, when the stranger entered, leading a young girl wrapped in a mantle, and followed by a lad of about fifteen years of age. " This will do very well," said the elder stranger, " when you have lighted a fire for these young things," and then he unclasped the mantle from the child, and kissing her affec tionately, placed her on a chair, saying, "Do you feel tired love ?"

" Not very, papa," replied a sweet young voice "do you, Ralph," she added, turning to the remarkably handsome boy, who coming up, felt her little hands, and answered, " No, not I, Bella, but you are very cold. We shall soon have a fire to warm you. Here comes the girl with a huge bundle of sticks." In the meantime another of the strangers, evidently a domestic, had entered. He was a man of middle height, but stout and large limbed, with a good open countenance, and about forty-seven or forty-eight years of age. He carried two boxes, one of which seemed, by the manner in which he put it down, to be extremely heavy. " See, James," said the father of the little girl, addressing the man as he placed his burden on the floor, " see if there is any one in the house to help you to put up the horses ; and tell William to be very cautious how he makes his enquiries at St. Agnes, and not to delay a moment longer than is needful, for you know we must leave this place a couple of hours before daylight."

" Yes sir, three hours if we can, for it will take one to get on board, and two to clear the harbour and bay." Thus saying the man left the room. The fire of dry wood blazed brightly, and gave a cheerful appearance to the miserable chamber, and casting a warm glow over the ricketty chairs and table, the boy Ralph, with a merry laugh, pushed the young girl's seat nearer to the fire saying, " Come, Bella, you see it's not so bad after all. I will engage to find you a supper, even if I have to rob the old woman's hens' nests. Your father has thrown aside his hat and thick gloves, placed his heavy sabre on the table, and is making himself comfortable, let us do the same." The stranger, though his hair was grizzled and scanty on the crown, and his countenance bore a serious, troubled expression, was yet a very handsome man, with a mild and bene volent cast of countenance; and when the girl had blown the sticks into a blaze, and left the room, and Ralph had placed his little companion in a comfortable nook, he also took a chair, and sat down beside the fire, taking one of the little girl's hands in his, saying, " My poor child, you have had a long and a cold ride.

Poor thing," he continued, speaking to himself, " you are young, very young, to begin to feel the troubles of the world, and one brought on by your father's weakness, to call it by no other name." The little girl looked up, as her father sighed deeply, with her bright eyes and sweet inno cent face into his countenance, saying, " Indeed, papa, you are thinking too much of me, and not heeding yourself. I am nice and warm now; but you have been many hours on horseback, and I heard you say you had not tasted food for hours ; but Ralph has run off, I dare say he is gone out to hunt for the old dame's nests for eggs. I hope for your sake he will find some." " Ralph is a noble boy, and will make, please God, a valiant and good man," replied the little girl's father, thoughtfully. As he spoke, the object of his praise en tered the room, and laughing, exclaimed, " You will see, uncle, and you, my little pet, what a good caterer I am.

I have coaxed the old woman out of a dozen fresh eggs, a good bowl of milk, and some slices of fried ham ; and she says we shall have a jug of good ale, though its not exactly, Uncle, a very inviting place to look for it in." " Ah ! I am so glad," said Bella, clapping her hands. " Papa will get a meal before we go on board." " Does it blow hard, Ralph ? " inquired the child's father. " Oh, indeed it does; but only what sailors would call a stiff breeze — much better than a calm for us to get clear of this wild coast." " Ah, Ralph, your three or four years of a midshipman's life has made you think lightly of strong breezes ; but little Bella here will, I fear, be frightened at such a gale." " I am never frightened, papa, when Ralph is near me," observed the little girl cheerfully. Her father sighed, and then said with a faint smile, " Would to God he could always be near to protect and shield you.

Should it please Providence to take me from you, but—" " But why do you say that, dear papa," in terrupted the child anxiously, and throwing her little arms round the neck of her father, and kissing him fondly, " you are going with us ; why talk so sadly ?" " We will be merry, Bella, when we get upon old ocean,'' said Ralph gaily, setting, as he spoke, the old table near the fire, and throwing on a cloth for the landlady's grandchild, who just then entered the room with a dish of smoking eggs and ham, which she placed on the table, adding, with a cheerful smile, as he placed before her a knife and fork, " Besides being a good caterer, Bella, you see I should make a first-rate butler. You can't think what a useful animal a " Mid " is. He can do anything but fast and belay his jaw tackle, as the old salts say.

Wait a little and you shall hear what famous yarns I will spin you when we get afloat." " Spin yarns," said the little girl, laughing gaily, " Why Ralph, that is a new accom plishment. I never heard of your spinning yarns the whole time you were at Trelesvoe." The youth heartily echoed the laugh as he helped his little companion to some eggs and oaten bread, and then turning to the thoughtful father he said, " Do take some supper, dear uncle, and taste this ale. Indeed, you must be very tired, having been so many more hours on horseback than we have." While the party were employed partaking of the simple refreshment before them, we will inform our readers of their names, and enough of their previous history to account for their presence at the little road-side inn on such a rough morning. Should any of our fair friends be tempted to visit one of the prettiest towns in Cornwall, called Truro, we beg them to take a stroll through the Church of St. Mary, in that town, in which they will see on the north side an old monument, and on this monu ment they will read the following strange in scription : * To the pious and well-deserved memory of Owen Penais Phippen, who travelled over many parts of the world, and on the 24th of March, 1620, was taken by the Turks, and made a captive in Algiers.

He projected sundry plots for his liberty, and on the 17th of June, 1627, with the other Christian cap tives, Dutch and French (persuaded by his counsel and courage), he began a cruel fight with the 65 Turks, in their own ship, which lasted 3 hours, in which five of his compa nions were slain. Yet God made him con quer; and so he brought the ship into Car thegena, being of 400 tons, and 22 ordnance. The king sent for him to Madrid to see him. He was offered a captain's place, and the king's favour, if he would turn Papist, which he refused. He sold all for £6,000, returned into England, and died at Lanerom, 17th of March, 1636. " Melcombest, in Dorset, was his place of birth. Aged 54. And here lies earth on earth, George Fitz Penais Phippen. Ipsius Frater et hugus Ecclesia Eectri." Such, kind reader, is the inscription on the monument.

It will now be our task to lay before you the strange history and adventures of this valiant man's descendants. When Owen Penais Phippen landed in Cornwall, after his escape from Algiers, he resolved to expend his £6,000 in purchasing an estate in that county, and after some treaty, became the owner of Trelesvoe. Adjoining this estate were several mineral districts, which he also purchased; and, shortly after, he married a rich Cornish heiress of the name of Trevanon. This lady brought him a most valuable property, in mines, &c, which he was not destined long to enjoy, for he died at the early age of fifty four, leaving an only son, Owen, who also died young, leaving Walter Fitz Phippen, and an only daughter to inherit the fortune which, in his hands, had become double the original sum. This lady, the possessor of large estates, inherited from both parents, married a Cornish gentleman of high family, named Godolphin.

This Mr. Godolphin, being the gentleman we have introduced to the notice of our readers in our previous pages. There was one peculiarity about the Fitz Phippen estates — they were so willed by Owen Penais Phippen the First, that should there be at any time no heir from him in a direct line, that the property should then be equally divided between any members of the Fitz- Phippen family living at the period. The first Penais Phippen, as we still call the great captain who defeated the sixty-five Turks, had an elder brother, George Fitzpenais Phippen, who had inherited a tolerable property in Dorsetshire. This George Fitzpenais Phippen had married, and, dying, left a son and daughter ; the son married, and also left two children — a son and daughter — who, with Mr. Godolphin, were the descendants of the two brothers at the period of our story, namely, the year 1715.

Our task is with the history of Mr. Godol phin, who at an early age was left an orphan and alone, with his only sister Frances. On attaining his majority he was put in possession of the family estates, then worth about £8,000 a-year, but marrying the wealthy heiress of Owen Walter Fitzphippen, he inherited Tre lesvoe and many rich mines, but still subject to the will of his wife's grandfather. Mr. Godolphin's sister Frances, a very beautiful and accomplished girl, married Lord Fitzmaurice, a nobleman who possessed large estates in Lancashire and in Scotland. Lord Fitzmaurice was connected by blood, and a strong friendship besides, with the Earl of Nithsdale, and hke his relative and friend, looked upon the cause of the Pretender with a favourable eye. Before this tale commenced Lord Fitzmaurice had two sons, the eldest would of course succeed to the title and estates, the second son, Ralph (the young boy intro duced in our first pages with Mr. Godolphin and his only daughter, the young girl named Bella) when only eleven years old had gone to sea, as a midshipman, with the gallant Captain Courtland, a cousin of his father's. Twelve months after the young midshipman's depar* ture in the Ajax frigate, his mother, Lady Fitzmaurice, to the intense grief of her husband, was carried off by a fever.

It is not necessary to weary our readers with details of that most fatal and weak attempt to restore the Stuarts to the throne they had forfeited ; all know it signally failed, and then followed the impeachment of many of our highest nobility, and their execution. The Earls of Derwentwater, Nithsdale, and Lords Widdington, Kenmare, Fitzmaurice and others were all impeached. Nithsdale escaped, as did also Lord Fitzmaurice and his eldest son, as far as the coast, but, melancholy to relate, both father and son perished in a storm at sea off the coast of Flanders. Mr. Godolphin, though possessed of a kind and noble heart, was rather wavering and unsteady in disposition and conduct. He took no part openly in the rebellion, endeavouring to give his actions the appearance of perfect neutrality, still he kept up a constant correspondence with both the Earl of Nithsdale and Lord Fitzmaurice, and in his letters he expressed sympathy in their cause, and de scribed his attempts to rouse the noblemen and gentlemen in the neighbourhood to take part in the struggle ; but whatever were the secret wishes of these gentlemen, they did not consider the time favourable for raising the standard of revolt in favour of the Pre tender.

Upon the downfall of the Stuarts, Mr. Godolphin, besides his regret at the de struction of his hopes, felt considerable un easiness lest the part he had played in the conspiracy should be discovered. The deaths of his brother-in-law and elder nephew, for a time, made him forget his own fears, in grief at their loss, and in his endeavours to comfort the young Ralph, who returned to England only to find he was an orphan; but who received a warm welcome from his affectionate uncle and young cousin. Upon the bounty of the former the boy was now entirely dependent, for there was no doubt his father's estates would be confiscated. The ministers of that day, who were determined to put the law in force in all its terrors, were not likely to feel compassion for a mere boy, who had no protector but an uncle, who was more than suspected of disaffection towards his sovereign.

Ralph was too young to regard his loss of wealth, and in the affection he experienced at Trelesvoe was consoled for his losses, and easily yielded to the desire of those who now were his sole support not to return to sea. In the following April, Mr. Foster, Mr. Mackintosh, and twenty of their confederates were put to trial. Foster and Mackintosh escaped from Newgate ; but two and twenty others were executed. Some few months after this event Mr. Godolphin received secret intelligence that his letters had fallen into the hands of the Government, and that if he did not fly to the Continent until the storm should blow over, he would be arrested and tried for treason. Though the letters he received had no name attached to them, Mr. Godolphin resolved to follow the advice the writer gave, by instantly packing up some jewels and valuables, and about £14,000 collected and drawn from a banker's hands with whom Mr. Godolphin had lodged that sum, should an emergency occur.

This money, partly in gold and bank notes, and in letters of credit upon an Italian bank, were put into a portmanteau. A trusty messenger was sent to hire a brig that was lying at St Ives, be longing to Genoa, that had put in there for repairs. The captain of this brig agreed to lie off the little port of St. Agnes, and to take Mr. Godolphin on board on a certain night named, and sail at once for Genoa. Mr. Godolphin had received instructions in the last letter he had from his unknown friend to be most secret in his preparations for quitting the country. To let no one be aware of his in tention except the most trustworthy, and not to attempt to sail from any much-frequented port, and also to be most expeditious in his movements. Such were the reasons that induced Mr. Godolphin to become a fugitive, wilh his only daughter and nephew ; his intention being to reside on the Continent for a few years, till the animosity of the Government against all those concerned, even in the most trivial way with the attempt of the Pretender, had ceased to be remembered with severity.

Mr. Godolphin intended taking only one favourite attendant with him, who had, for many years, been about his person, a man every way to be trusted. The other attendant that accompanied them to the little road-side inn, was to remain behind. He was the gamekeeper of Trelesvoe, a married man with a large family. Such was the posture of affairs at the opening of our story.

Chapter II

In the year 1715 St. Ives, in Cornwall, was not only a very insignificant, mean, dirty looking little town, but the harbour, by reason of the sands washed in by westerly and north westerly winds, extremely shallow and unsafe, as the present pier, that now renders this port a safe anchorage, was not then built. Though on entering St. Ives from Redruth, the tra veller would be inclined to think the town had a very pleasant and picturesque appearance, he would nevertheless find, on descending into it, that the streets were not only miserably narrow, but wretchedly dirty and irre gular. The bay is delightful, and the views about it picturesque, nay almost grand ; but though at present the town can boast of a busy population of above four thousand per sons, and enjoys, a considerable share of trade, it was at the period of our story thinly inhabited.

It was in the month of December, and two or three days previous to the arrival of Mr. Godolphin at the road-side inn, near the vil lage of St. Agnes, that a traveller closely muffled in an ample mantle rode down the steep hill into the town. He was mounted on a strong handsome horse, and his saddle, pistol hol sters, &c, proclaimed him a person of some consequence. After descending the hill (it was nearly dusk at the time) he checked his horse, and accosted a lad carrying a basket of fish up the hill, saying, " Which of these streets, my lad, leads to the Three Mariners ? " The boy pointed to the left, and on went the traveller through as crooked and dirty a street as any in Great Britain at that clay, and that is saying a good deal. By dint of two more enquiries, and three or four doublings and turnings, the traveller at length pulled up his horse, before the door of the " Three Mariners."

There was just light enough to perceive that it was a tolerably good-sized house, and that it faced the harbour, in which he could see half a dozen small vessels lying on the mud, for the tide was out; and he also caught an indistinct glance of a brig lying at anchor, some short distance from the old pier, and where there was just water sufficient to keep her afloat. An ostler made his appearance to take the stranger's horse, who, having dismounted, unstrapped his pistol holsters, and, carrying them on his arm, he followed a young woman, who came out of the inn to shew him the Vol. i. c. way into a small, but comfortable parlour, in which blazed a good sea-coal fire, which was certainly bestowing an appearance of comfort much wanting, for a keen, bitter north-east wind was blowing. The girl gave a poke to the fire, moved all the chairs in the room for no earthly reason that any one looking on could perceive, and then requested to know if the traveller wished for supper.

" Yes, you may get me some supper, pro vided it is not composed of pilchards or pasties ; and tell the landlord, if there be one, that I wish to speak a few words to him by and by, and let me have a httle of your best wine with my meal." Greatly impressed with the traveller's im portance, the girl retired. The stranger then laid his pistol holsters on a chair, and threw off his wide mantle and h&t. He possessed a tall, robust, handsome frame, and looked about six or seven and thirty years of age, was well-dressed, and wore moustachios, which, with his whiskers and hair, were jet black ; but though decidedly a handsome man, so far as features were concerned, his coun tenance was far from pleasing. His dark brows were finely arched, but appeared, at times, as some passing thought flitted through his brain, to contract into a most unpleasing frown.

Just as he was seating himself by the fire the door opened, and the host of the " Three Mariners " entered the room. He requires no description — having nothing remarkable about his person or manner. He com menced the conversation by asking if the stranger intended to pass the night there, and whether he could be of any service to him. " 0 yes, I shall sleep here," replied the person questioned ; " but I also wish to ask you a question or two." " Certainly, Sir, certainly," returned the c. 2. landlord, " anything I can answer or do for you, you are perfectly welcome to." " Is there not a foreign vessel in your harbour ?" demanded the traveller, abruptly. " Yes, Sir," replied the landlord ; " there is a fine brig. She put in here on her way from Liverpool to Genoa, having sprung one of her yards, and had her jib-boom carried away in a gale ; but she is ready for sea, and to-morrow, or the next day, at furthest will sail."

" Humph ! so soon," remarked the traveller, " would it be possible, Mr. Polwhele, to see the captain of that brig this evening, or any time to-night." " Oh, yes Sir, — nothing easier sure, than to see him and his mate. Ee comes every night about eight, and stays till ten, smokes his pipe, and drinks his grog ; though, for the matter of that, they are poor customers, these foreigners, for grog drinking." " Ah, they prefer wine," observed the stranger; "but our wine is too dear for them ; however, I shall be obliged to you, Mr. Polwhele, when this captain does come, to say there is a person wishes to speak to him, and who would be glad to drink a bottle of your best wine with him. Does he speak English ? " " Very little, Sir, but his mate speaks our language well. He will be very glad to drink a bottle of wine at your expense, Sir, I know, for these French and Italians that come on our coast are poor livers, and it is very hard to get them to spend any of their cash.

Lord bless me, they'd pass four hours in gathering snails and perriwinkles to make broth, sooner than pay a shilling for a couple of pounds of good beef." " Very true, Mr. Polwhele, very true; they work their crafts on very small profits ; but a whole crew of them would live where an Englishman would starve." " Ah, so I am told, Sir. I hope that our ports will never be open to foreign vessels, to compete with our jolly tars in carrying cargoes. " Well, I trust not," said the traveller, care lessly, as if the subject was one quite indif ferent to him. The host of the " Three Mariners" then, with a bow, retired, and, shortly after, the traveller sat down to an excellent supper, and his bottle of wine, which really proved to be a good one. Having finished his supper, and ordered the things to be removed, and pipes and tobacco, and more wine to be placed on the table, the traveller sat sipping his wine in deep meditation, waiting patiently for the arrival of the captain of the brig.

Between eight and nine Mr. Polwhele came into the room, saying " Captain Lotero is in the house, Sir. Shall I " " Captain Lotero !" exclaimed the stranger, starting to his feet with a look of intense surprize — " Lotero, did you say ? " " Yes, Sir," replied the landlord; " Perhaps you know him." " Ah! " muttered the stranger. " This is curious ;" — and then added, aloud — " Perhaps I do. Pray shew him in." In a few minutes the Italian entered the room. Captain Jean Baptiste Lotero was a man of the middle height, apparently thin, but in reality of great muscle and sinew, and no doubt capable of great exertion and activity. He was about the same age as the person into whose presence he was introduced; — had a long, sharp nose, exceedingly yellow skin, and a pair of eyes, with an expression such as the serpent might be supposed to have had when he tempted Eve.