The Renegade. A novel

Front matter

THE RENEGADE I trust my apologies are accepted,' he said." 5. THE RENEGADE. A NOVEL. BY JAMES CHALMERS. LONDON: A. D. INNES & CO., BEDFORD STREET. 1895. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. The "Custom-House" ... ... ... i II. Annan's Isle ... ... ... ... 14 III. The Intruders ... ... ... ... 23 IV. The Countess's Charge ... ... ... 36 V. The First Step ... ... ... ... 4.8 VI. Dark Places ... ... ... 58 VII. The Victim ... ... ... ... ... 7; VIII. The "Devil's Grid" ... ... ... 90 IX. The Rescue ... ... ... ... ... 106 X. The Captain of the Ranger ... ... 117 XI. The Drake ... ... ... ... ... 134 XII. The Silver Casket ... ... ... 142 XIII. The SHADoyv of the Past ... ... ... 153 XIV. Lothian Originals ... ... ... 170 XV. The Traitors... ... ... ... ... 192 XVI. Mamie o' Lorn's ... ... ... ... 208 XVII.

The Tolbooth of Leith ... ... . ... VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE 241 XVIII. The Minister's Household XIX. FLAMBOROUGH HEAD 254 XX. Nemesis 279 XXI. Night and Battle 290 3°6 XXII. The Deck of the Serapis XXIII. The Renegade's Revenge

Chapter I. The

"CUSTOM-HOUSE." The pale illumination of sunset was lighting up the ebbing waters of the Solway Firth on an April day during that memorable epoch when Britain was waging disastrous war in every quarter of the globe, and seemed on the point of losing, by the folly and incapacity of the existing generation of rulers, all she had acquired by the valour and genius of the preceding one. We mean the period when the Ameri can colonies revolted against the misrule of the mother country, an event we particularize amongst the many des perate conflicts in which our forefathers were then engaged, as being the only one amongst them all with any particular bearing on our story. On a small headland on the Scotch shore of the estuary as it begins to widen into the sea, two men were standing talking earnestly together.

One, a tall, florid, well-built man, seemed to be a military officer of inferior grade ; the other, on the contrary, had every sign of the seafarer in his appearance. He was about the middle age and height, of complexion dark and sunburnt, with narrow, restless eyes, and a curiously shifty and stealthy expression, of which not /,t P only his countenance but his whole manner and gait par took. The country around these solitary individuals was wild, bleak, and irregular, with little trace of dwelling or cultivation. The subject of their conversation appeared to be a large vessel lying at anchor about a league from the shore. Beyond the influence of the treacherous tides, she rode calmly on the swell, her towering spars gracefully de fined against the pale gold of the spring sunset. "There she lies, sergeant," said the sailor-like man, pointing to the ship.

" There lies the Ranger, and there is that aboard of her which will well repay our trouble." "Yes," assented the other. "Ten thousand golden guineas for the capture of Paul Jones, as being in arms against his native land and lawful sovereign. You will be a lucky man, Master Lewthwaite." " That is as it turns out," said Lewthwaite. " Luck in perspective is a slippery thing, sergeant. But, should I once have it in hand, it may serve the turn of more than one of us. How say you, my brave friend ? A hundred or two of the yellow boys would never come amiss — ha ? " " If you mean to me," responded the non-commissioned officer, " well, my pouch is never too full, and could con veniently hold all you had a mind to put into it ; though I will say this, Mister Lewthwaite, that men are a d — d deal more generous with their money when it's coming to them than when they have it in pocket.

I suppose you have told Captain Emrys all he needs to know, but, for my own in formation, may I make bold to ask how it comes about that Paul Jones has the honour of your acquaintance ? " " He is welcome to the honour, and you to the information, sergeant, if it is of any interest to you," said Lewth waite. " Captain Jones and I have known each other for many years, having first met in the matter of transactions THE "CUSTOM-HOUSE." 3 not entirely unconnected with a business which the natives of these localities carry on on the blind side of the revenue." " Smuggling, eh ? " queried the soldier. " I've heard it said of Jones before, along with worse things." "No doubt, no doubt," coolly responded Lewthwaite. " Every man has his detractors. Well, as I was saying, I went abroad, and in foreign parts, after many years, again encountered my old friend with a new face.

We sailed in company once more for some time, when I again lost him, until his sudden reappearance as the champion of his Majesty's subjects in America, when they took it into their heads to manage their own affairs. Mine not having pros pered altogether so well as they should have done by deserts, I accepted the post of purser on Captain Jones's ship there when he set sail for European waters. Such, Sergeant Westley, is the train of events which has brought me in contact with a worthy and gallant soldier like yourself, in our present loyal and patriotic mission." " Loyal and patriotic ! " said Westley, eyeing his com panion with a gaze of undisguised contempt. " So that is your idea of betraying your shipmate ? " " Betray ? " answered Lewthwaite, in the tone of sneering irony with which he seemed habitually to speak.

" Say deliver, sergeant — conduct — introduce — much better words all. ' Betray ' is a word which, like ' honour,' ' conscience,' ' obligation,' and so forth, is much best left out of a wise man's dictionary. Ten thousand pounds is not to be thrown away, even if to get it one must draw a draft on the devil." "Mr. Purser Lewthwaite," said the soldier, bluntly. "I begin to have an idea that you are a d — d scoundrel." " Very good, sergeant," responded the seaman, laughing. " I quarrel with no man's opinion, and even if I felt inclined to dispute yours, I should wait until I had obtained from you all the profit I could in this affair." "And I can assure you in return," said Westley, " that I cannot at the moment think of any living man besides your self with whom I would less willingly have anything to do in this affair or any other."

"Well, I suppose Captain Emrys' orders are stronger than your inclination," sneered Lewthwaite. " You have it," said the soldier. " / break no trust, and if you have satisfied my superior officer, you have satisfied me; so I am ready to take from you any directions you may have to give me to suit your arrangements with Captain Emrys, who sent me here to note the ship and the locality." The manner in which the non-commissioned officer said these words was short and sharp, as of a man obliged in the course of duty to hold communication with one whose com pany is not otherwise desirable. Lewthwaite responded : " I have no definite instructions to give you to-night, sergeant — my own plans are not mature. At nightfall — that is, within half an hour — I shall meet Jones on this spot, to which he will come off from the vessel accord ing to appointment ; and together we go to a place hard by, for what purpose I am myself a little in doubt, as I am not wholly in his confidence respecting the project he entertains.

I shall no doubt be able to make sure of his movements before we part, and that done I will at once again communicate with your captain." "But why not take him then and there to-night?" demanded Westley. " There are reasons against," was the reply. " I am not sure you could bring your men up in time, and I don't know what guard he might have at hand. Then, again, it might THE " CUSTOM-HOUSE." 5 not be altogether for my own comfort to be in the way at the time, as I should have to be if the seizure were attempted to-night." " Humph ! I see — your precious skin," contemptuously replied the soldier. "May I make bold to ask the place to which your expedition with Jones to-night is directed?" " No, sergeant ; I must decline to disclose it. For the ultimate advantage of our plans, I must keep the knowledge to myself."

"But suppose I insisted upon knowing?" said Westley. " You are a shy customer, Mr. Lewthwaite, and for my part I should not care to follow you without seeing every step you take." " Nevertheless I mean to follow my own course to-night," said Lewthwaite, with undisturbed coolness ; " and the best advice I can give you at the present moment, sergeant, is to turn your own steps hence as speedily as possible, for, if I mistake not, there is the captain's boat coming towards us." Westley looked across the water, and perceived that his companion was right. A boat had put off from the vessel, and was heading towards the shore. " Paul Jones is in that boat, sergeant," pursued Lewth waite, "and unless you desire to take him single-handed against the half-dozen stout fellows he has with him, you had better leave the affair to my guidance.

Quick march back to quarters, and bid Captain Emrys await further instructions from me. Fear not — ten thousand guineas of gold will keep me true as the needle to the pole." "It's the only thing on earth that could then," said Westley. " Well, of all the d— d scoundrels," — muttered he to himself as he moved away. " Well, of all the d — d fools," — was Lewthwaite's sotto voce comment, as he watched the retreating figure of the soldier. Darkness had now almost fallen, but through the grey shade that spread over land and water, Lewthwaite could perceive the dark outline of the boat and its occupants advancing steadily towards the headland on which he stood. Soon the measured stroke of the oars came to his ears, and a minute or two later the boat's keel grated on the sand, as it ran into a little creek beside the jutting rock.

Lewthwaite descended from his position, and greeted a man who sprang upon the strand. " True to time, captain," said he, familiarly. " All is well, and we may get forward as fast as we can." " Need we take any one with us ? " whispered the other, who was enveloped in a long, loose overcoat, which with the darkness rendered his dress and features indistinguish able. " No — the coast is clear," responded Lewthwaite ; and leaving the boat's crew resting on their oars beneath the screen of the overhanging rock, they set out into the open country, as if by previous agreement. Both seemed well acquainted with the road they traversed, and went on rapidly without pause, and in silence for the most of the way, except for a few indifferent questions asked by the new comer. At the end of an hour's quick walking they found themselves in the midst of some low hills, in a country which seemed even more bare and desolate than the shore they had quitted.

Suddenly, at a turn of the road, the dark mass of a low-built house appeared on the right, and towards it they directed their steps. It had the outward appearance of a tavern, although the doors were closed, and but a faint light glimmered here and there through the windows. This lonely building was, in fact, an inn, and one which was more than suspected to be an habitual resort of the smuggling fraternity of the Solway, for whose purposes the "custom-house." 7 its situation was very well adapted. The " custom-house," an appellation ironically bestowed on it, had for long been the only name by which it was known. The two solitary wayfarers crossed a small empty space separating it from the path, and approached its closed door, on which Lewthwaite knocked in a peculiar manner. It was opened with caution ; a face appeared in the aperture, and a voice whispered — " After dark ?"

" Moonlight," muttered Lewthwaite, in a tone equally low, whereupon the custodian of this strange hostelry admitted them into a gloomy and narrow passage, lighted by one or two guttering lamps, and terminating in a small bar, with the usual garniture of bottles, glasses, and spirit kegs. " Who are in the parlour?" asked Lewthwaite. " Himself and the skipper only," was the reply. " They wait for you, if this is the cove you were to bring." " It is," said Lewthwaite. " He knows the game." Traversing the passage, he entered the bar, and, opening a door behind it, admitted himself and his companion into a small room, of very cosy aspect, warmed by a huge fire, and reeking with the powerful fragrance of rum and tobacco of exceptionally good quality. Two men were seated before the fireplace, smoking and drinking.

One was the landlord of the place — a stout, hearty, loud-voiced person, whose real name was Cretney, but who was commonly known as the " Gauger," on the same principle which had given his hostelry the denomination of the " custom-house." He rose to his feet as the door opened, and greeted the newcomers with a boisterous warmth of demeanour, which could not, however, conceal the eager closeness of the glance he sur veyed them with. "At last," he cried, "the wandering birds return to their old nest— and heartily welcome, too, for all they have neglected it. Lenny Lewthwaite, give me your hand, my boy ;— and my old friend Jack Paul— how goes it with him ? —returned from his travels with name and fame to visit once again the old Solway and its merry men ! And who could better be the first to welcome him than his old-time comrades, Gauger Cretney and Jasper Stam, who sits here —stout Jasper of the bonnie Maid of Moonlight, the boldest skipper and the tightest sloop that ever sailed out of Ramsey."

In strong contrast to the commonplace exterior of the host was the appearance of the individual to whom he pointed. This was a man whose stature was only a few inches above five feet, but in whom the deficiency of height was compensated by the Herculean model of his build. He stood like a little tower ; his chest was of vast girth and depth ; his neck and shoulders were those of a bull, whilst his arms and legs, with their immense bones and knotted masses of muscle, more resembled young oak trees than the usual appendages of the human body. His physi ognomy was of the most repellent type. He had a coarse, flat, shapeless face, with a huge sensual jaw, which made yet more apparent the remarkable deficiency in the intellectual regions of the head, for he had absolutely no forehead ; his wiry black hair grew down upon his scowling brows, which beetled over small and deep-set eyes, whose fierce yet furtive glance added to the general expression of animal ferocity.

His dress chiefly consisted of a thick woollen jersey, stained and faded by long exposure to the weather, and a pair of loose, wide trousers, thrust into immense leather jack boots. In his girdle were stuck a formidable sheath-knife, and three large pistols. His age at the first glance appeared to be about forty, but THE "CUSTOM-HOUSE." 9 a closer observation showed lines in the face and a sprinkling of grey on the head which warranted the addition of another ten years. " Stow your d— d blarney," said this desperado to Cretney, in a voice whose deep, hoarse, inarticulate tones, rumbling up from his immense chest, resembled the growling of a wild beast. " Get the shot out of your locker, and don't waste blank cartridge on Captain Paul, or Jones, or what ever the d — d name is he's brought back from foreign parts."

" Rough gold as ever, the skipper," sneered Lewthwaite to Jones ; " the diamond still uncut." " I would not have it different," answered Jones, the soft and quiet modulation of his voice singularly contrasting with the accents of his rough companions. "I would wish to see as little change as possible in those I left behind on my native shores, even if, perhaps, all of us might easily change for the better." As he spoke he took off his hat and long overcoat, and advanced towards the fire. The strong light which filled the room showed him to be a man of perhaps a year or two over thirty. A complexion naturally dark had been deepened to an even swarthier hue by a fiercer sun than that of the northern latitudes, but the sombre cast which this might otherwise have imparted to his face was dispelled by its bold and keen expression, and by the fire and intelligence of his brilliant black eyes.

His strong, well knit frame was set off to advantage by a uniform of dark blue cloth, the coat lappelled with red and slashed at the cuffs, with a red waistcoat adorned by narrow lace. This costume was that of a captain in the navy which the infant republic of America was endeavouring to form. "Speak for yourself, captain," said the smuggling skipper, surlily, in response to Jones's remark. "You seem to have got up a bit in the world since we last saw you, with your laced coat and cocked hat ; but for all that, d— n my eyes and limbs if we want you back amongst us to tell us we're no better than we should be." "I had no such idea, Jasper," said Jones, mildly, as if he were well accustomed to the other's rough humour. " I spoke chiefly of myself, and if I am obliged to quarrel with you it will be over another matter."

He spoke these words in a tone audible only to Stam, to whose seat he had approached closely. " What the do you mean ? " growled the smuggler, who rarely opened his mouth without an imprecation. " No more of your infernal mysteries, I hope. You might have left 'em behind where you've come from." " What if I should instead have found there a key, and return to try if it will fit the lock ? " "Nay, keep it to yourself, then," answered Stam, with a sort of fierce uneasiness of manner which he could not conceal. " I've told you I'll have no more of your mystery." "Nevertheless, there is one thing I must ask you," calmly responded Jones. " Stam," he continued, bending forward, and looking full and fixedly in the lowering face of the smuggler, " where is Mamie o' Lorn's ?" " In hell, I reckon, by this time," answered Stam, bluster ingly, though he started perceptibly at the name.

"It's long enough since I saw her." " Stam," resumed the American captain, after a brief pause, " you were ever too bold a fellow not to disdain the lies and shifts which suit some of our friends " — throwing a meaning glance towards Lewthwaite. " Do you tell me the truth if I understand you to say you know nothing THE " CUSTOM-HOUSE." 11 of the whereabouts of that wretched woman whom once you knew so well ? " Stam answered in a tone of dogged deliberation : " I tell you, captain, it is years since I met her, and I don't know to-night whether she's alive or dead." Their conversation was at this point interrupted by the landlord, who had been busied with one of the servants of the place in preparing the materials of a very savoury smelling supper with which the table was now spread. He cried out — "What the devil are those two grumbling and grunting about over there, glued together like a couple of limpets on a rock ?

Fine manners you've learnt abroad, Captain Jones, to keep half the company out of your conversation when we're on tiptoe to hear all about you and your braw doings." " I ask your pardon, good host," responded Jones. "Jasper and I had a little matter between us that would not keep, and now it's disposed of you are welcome to my news in exchange for your good cheer, though the bargain is a better one for me than for you." Stam was in no way indisposed to break off the tete-a-tete, and together the four sat down to table. Their conversation during the progress of the meal was, as if by tacit consent, confined to indifferent matters, and it was not until they were again gathered round the fire at its conclusion that they approached the special subject which had brought them together. "Now, then, captain, to business," said the landlord, after he had again produced and passed round those super excellent spirits and tobacco before mentioned, the intro duction of which into the country had not, as he hinted, in any way augmented the revenues of King George the Third.

"Yes— there is no time to be lost," answered Jones, "and I especially must waste none when all I have is subject to the risks and chances of war." "Bl — t your war on both sides," put in Stam, with a more than usually surly growl. " A pretty pass it's bringing the business to, with the seas so alive with cruisers that a peaceable trader can't cross without having a broadside of round and grape sent flying about his ears. Only last Monday, outside Glenbue, the devil brought us across one of them ; she hailed and ordered us to heave-to, and all because we preferred to keep our course, sent such a hell of a broadside whizzing over us that if we didn't lie so low in the water, it would have been the Maid's last voyage, and you might have asked the fishes for Jasper Stam." " That would have been paying the devil his due sooner than you bargained for, skipper," said Lewthwaite.

" But, as the Gauger says, to business. We understand, Captain Jones, from what you have been good enough already to intimate, that there is a certain noble earl on whom you desire to confer the privilege of a cruise in the Ranger, for the benefit of his health and in some degree of the cause of the American Republic ? " " Such is my design," replied Jones. " The British Government refuse to make an exchange of prisoners with rebels, as they are pleased to call us ; and it has occurred to me that the capture and detention of a man of rank and station amongst them might lead them to reconsider their decision." " A bold and ingenious idea, worthy of America's brightest hope, and typical of his disinterested zeal for her cause." " I will not conceal from you," continued Jones, in reply to this rejoinder of Lewthwaite's, " that I have another and a personal motive for desiring to bring the earl on board THE " CUSTOM-HOUSE." 13 of my ship.

What that motive is it is unnecessary for me to explain — it will not interfere with our bargain." " And what bargain d'ye propose in this pretty scheme ? " queried Stam, regarding the naval captain with a glance of scowling intentness through the fumes of a huge pipe he was smoking. " The use of your sloop for a night, and of the Devil's Grid afterwards, if need be, is what I require," responded Jones. "Your recompense you can have in one of two ways, as you choose — either out of my prizes, as I should prefer, or on the spot." Stam nodded assent, and, after smoking for a minute in silence, said — " Well, you're a man of your word, Captain Jones, or else you've changed your natur' in America, as well as your name ; so if you can make it worth my while I'm at your service for the job." " Good," said Jones, with an air of satisfaction.

" The thing can be done easily and quietly, with little risk to any one, provided the earl is at home." " He is that, I can answer for it," said Cretney. "He scarce ever leaves the Isle nowadays." Thus darkly muttering together, they proceeded to concoct the details of their plot.

Chapter II

annan's isle. Within the embrace of a large and beautiful bay which indents the north shore of the Solway lies Annan's Isle. Charmingly wooded, it contains many a dell and glade whose quiet is undisturbed by the hum of the busy world beyond ; and in the midst of its green seclusion stands an old manor-house, named Prior's Knoll. The Earl of Annan, the inhabitant of this picturesque retreat at the period of our story, was a man whose age approached sixty years, and who had long withdrawn himself from the active pursuits of life. A certain singularity of temperament, combined with the loss in early manhood of his first wife and infant son, had laid the foundation of this peculiar reserve; and although he had remarried, his dis taste for general society grew more and more marked, until at length his retirement became almost complete.

Two children had been born of his second marriage, a son and a daughter. The former, a lieutenant in the navy, was at that troubled epoch almost always absent on active service ; his sister, Millicent, shared with her parents the solitude of Prior's Knoll. About noon of the second day succeeding the evening on which occurred the events narrated in the preceding chapter the daughter of this lonely house was seated in a small arbour in the midst of its garden. She was not, however, alone ; near her sat a young lady of about her own age, Miss Juliet Ferrand, a former school companion, and for the time a visitor to Prior's Knoll. The appearance of the two friends presented some striking points of contrast. Millicent, a slight and beautiful girl of eighteen, had derived from the seclusion of her life an air of quiet pensiveness which was almost melancholy, and which appeared in her features, speech, and manner, with all the open simplicity of one unused to the world.

Her companion, on the con trary, was in countenance and demeanour full of vivacity and spirit, and it was with a very perceptible ennui that she lounged in the rustic arbour, and, a half-sarcastic expression on her handsome features and in her sparkling hazel eyes, watched Lady Millicent, who, unconscious of observation, was tranquilly reading. "What an intensely interesting book that must be, Minnie," she at length observed, " to hold you so absorbed. I wish I could as easily abstract myself amidst the dullness of this funereal retreat." Minnie looked up and smiled as she closed her book. " You would find it easy enough, Juliet," she answered, " if you had lived at Prior's Knoll as long as I have." " Heaven forbid ! " said Miss Ferrand, shrugging her shoulders with a look of mock horror. " It would not require so long a residence here to make me as melancholy as yourself and your favourite Mr. Cowper."

"Nay, I won't hear you say another word against Mr. Cowper," answered Minnie, hugging her book affectionately. " Abuse my poor Knoll and myself as much as you like, but spare my best-loved rhymes, which seem to have been inspired by a solitude as dreamy and pensive as my own." "Dearest Minnie," responded the other, drawing her friend's slight form fondly to her side, " I would not for the world dethrone your literary gods, and know that you will pardon the rudeness of my animadversions against your sylvan prison on consideration of my disinterested desire to see you out of it." Minnie laughed. " In that case, Juliet," she made answer, " you had better first leave it yourself, because your presence tends the more to reconcile me to it, as it supplies the element of excitement of which even so retiring a being as myself feels occasionally in need."

" Am I, then, so useful to you ? " rejoined Juliet. " Then will I think of the Knoll more kindly ; though where am I to look in turn for that exciting element — necessarily a stronger one than my gentle Minnie requires — which will do me the service my restless presence renders to her ? You must in charity give a ball for me, Minnie. The officers at Woodbright would eagerly second you — at least Captain Emrys would be too glad." These last words, and the arch look they were accompanied by, called a blush to Minnie's cheek. "A ball at the Knoll would be indeed a novelty," she answered evasively, " but I fear it would defy even your ingenuity, Juliet, to promote. You must think of something else." "Well, then," cried Juliet, vivaciously, " I must pray for a visit from Captain Paul Jones ! " " Good heavens, my dear Juliet," said her companion, starting apprehensively, " how can you speak of that dreadful man ?