Jack Junk : or, The Tar for all weathers. A romance of the sea

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JACK JUNK ; OR, THE TAR FOR ALL WEATHERS. A ROMANCE OF THE SEA. BY THB AUTHOB OP " RICHARD PARKER ;" « GALLANT TOM ; OR, THE PERILS OF A SAILOR ASHORE AND AFLOAT," &c, &c. LONDON : PRINTED BY E. LLOYD, SALISBURY-SQUARE, FLEET-STREET. jack j u n k : OB, THE TAR FOR ALL WEATHERS. A ROMANCE OF THE DEEP BLUE SEA Bl THE AUTHOR OF " RICHARD PARKER ; OE, TIIE MUTINY AT THE NORE, all. The sly was brilliantly clear, the atmosphere was licht and refreshing, anei a delightful breeze snrincinf? up, couneeracted the scorching heatof the sun's rays. Nature's carpet d'splayed its riot est preen, and the trees were cloiheej in their most leexuriant foliage, while Bumercus birds carolled forth their most mellifluous notes from ev ry bough. Tbe scene at which our tale com mences was in the vicinity of a sea-port town, and alihoeegh it was vervearlv, everything gave token of some appioaching festivity: The church-bells iCHAPTER I. "The wind that blows, the shin that goes, And the la<s that loves a sailor. ' THE FIRSTWF MAY. — THE OLD TAR*S TALE.— THE SHIP ON FIRE THE LOVERS.— JACK AND HIS RIVAL.— THE FETE. — THE INTERRUPTION.

It was the f rst of May, and a more bright and lovely first of May never gladdened the children of the earth, imparting health and happiness to No. 1. 0R, THE 2 I were ringing forth their merriest peals, and from the mast-heads of the different vessel, lying at anchor, the gay streamers waved playfully in the wind. In the centre of a green Jawn, and immediately before a quaint old tavern, whose walls were thickly mantled with ivy, the Maypole reared its gay head, and gave cheerful omen of the happy sports to which the day was dedicated, and the landlord of the house, as quaint and venerable, and comfortable in appearance as the aspect of his bostelrie, might, as soon as it was daylight, have been seen with his servants bustling about, and making all the necessary preparations for the accommodation and eu Joy merit of the numerous guests whom he expected to do honour to him on that day with their company.

The whole of the establishment at ** The Ship** were pressed into active service, and Kit Breezely, the landlord, as he thus busied himself, and urged his servants on to increased industry, whistled, and sang, and laughed by turns, in a state of the highest glee and expectation. While Kit aud hts servants were sti'l thus occupied, they were interrupted by a loud shout of " Ship a-hoy I" uttered in the voice of a S tent or. "That's old Joe Trennant for a wager," said Kit, leaving off his wori for a moment, and looking around him. ** I could tell bis voice from a thousand. " bench outside the tavern, pledged each other in bumpers with hearty good will. " We shall have a merry day of it. Kit, I'll be bound," Baid Joe, " I long for the sports to begin. Pill your glass, my old buck, and here's to the health and happiness of our May-queen, the pretty Kate Markham 1" " Ay, I will drink that toast with all my heart," said Kit, " for England cannot boast ot a prettier or more virtuous girl than Kate Markham, the admiration of zll who know her, and the pride and comfort of her uncle, under whose protection she has been ever siDce she had the misfortune to be deprived of her parents."

Chapter II. Mark Stanford's Dwelling

— THE SECRET.*- THE MCftDER AT SEA. The farm which Mark Stanford, or ratber Hugh Granfield, occupied was a very respectable one, and he was looked upon as a prosperous man; though his reserved and repulsive manners gained him but few friends and acquaintances in the will never forget it as long as you live. Bah !" i neighbourhood, and, for his part, he did not appear Thus saying, our hero thrust him from him, ' at all anxious to cultivate that of any one except and Mark Stanford staggered and fell to the earth, but was quickly on his feet again, and foaming with rage, was about to spring upon his youthful rival, when Kate, with a loud cry, rushed into the arms of her lover, and thus prevented the consequences which in all probability would otherwise have taken place. " Oh, lorbear, forbear, I implore you," she said, addressing herself to our hero, " and suffer him to aepart." the uncle ef Kate Markham, and his motives for that need no explanation.

There was one part of the farm, however, which none but those in the confidence of Stanford were ever allowed to enter, . and which had a secret entrance, known only to a select few. This was at the back of the house, and consisted of two or three spacious apartments of an ancient description, and which were furnished in a manner so as to afford accommodation to | several Individuals, They were all situated on the No. 2. " No doubt of It," returned Pierce. " Yes, I never forget my friends, observed Mark Stanford, with a sardonic smile. " At present let him flatter himself with the idea that Kate is securely his ; bis disappointment will be only greater when it comes. "When he goes again to sea, which no doubt will be before long, I shall then have an excellent opportunity to put my wishes into effect, and I am perfectly sanguine as to the result.

But I wish to speak to you alone, Pierce, od the subject we were talking about this day. Let us retire into another room." " With all my heart," said Pierce, and they left the room together. " I do not feel at all easy, ■ said Stanford when they were seated, "after the observations of that str*nge being whom we encountered to-day. He evidently knows all the particulars of my history, and might work me harm. I should like to secure him if there were a possibility." "And I should think there would be no great difficulty in doing that," returned Pierce. " But did he speak the truth f " " Oh, yes, I cannot deny that," replied Stan ford, " but listen to me. You heard him call me by the name of Hugh Granfield?" " I did ; and is that your correct name I" "Yes," returnedMark. "it is no use denying it to you, chough it would not be convenient to let everybody know it.

Yes, in me you behold Hugh Granfield, formerly captain of his majesty's brig Neptune, end looked upon on shore wirh tbe utmost respect, for I had all the outward polish which attracts regard from the thoughtless, the more numerous portion of mankind. Asnore [was meekness itself, but on the hieh seas, when loose from the immediate restrictions of the law, my ferocity was unbounded; but I suppose I have no •ccasion to give this description ofmy character to you, Pierce !" The latter returned no verbal answer, but a single look expressed much more than words could have done, and Stanford proceeded — ground floor, and it had often been whispered among the servants that they had frequently heard strange noises, mingled wi# the voices of men, proceed from those rooms, though who the men were, what they metfor in bo secret a manner, and where they came from, they could not form the slightest conjecture.

This circumstance caused no little surprise amongst the servants, but .they, fearful of offending their master, never on any occasion ventured to breathe a sentence of it abroad, 60 that no persons in the neighbourhood knew anything of it. On the night of the festival, after what bad taken place between him and Jack, as related in the previous chapter, Mark Stanford, muttering curses to himself, and vowing ven geaoce against his rival, quickly bent his steps towards home, and on arriving there he walked round to the back of the house, and passing through a low gate, he stopped at one corner of the building, which was thickly clothed in ivy, and where no person who was ignorant of the secret would have imagined for a moment that there were any means of ingress. Stanford, however, took a key from his pocket, and after raking for a second or two among the ivy, he applied it to the lock, and a door in the wall opened and revealed a dark, narrow passage.

He stooped and entered, and closing the door after him, he proceeded along the passage till he stopped at another door, which was not fastened, and opened into what was the first of the range of apartments we have just mentioned. After tra versing two or three apartments, all of which were 'furnished, and well supplied with fire-arms and swords, he came to the door of one, from the cre vices of which lights might be seen to issue, and the voices of men in earnest conversation might be heard This door was locked on the inside, but Stanford having knocked three times, the voices ceased, aad some one from within demanded who was there?" "Why, who should it be but me?" replied Stanford. The door was immediately opened by a rough looking man, and Stanford entered the room, which wa^ furnished in a similar manner to the rest, and contained about half a dozen men of the most repulsive asoects, and who arree from the table at which they had been seated on his entrance. and welcomed him.

Stanford took a seat, and hastily swallowed a glass of wine. " You are late, master," said Pierce, for he was one of the party : " and do not seem to be over well pleased." " It was in such moments as these that the smothered flame of demoniac pasrion burst forth, and my tury resembled that of raving maniacs in the height of delirium. Offences of the most trivial kind I punished with the preatest severity, and if those opportunities failed, I would sup ply them with construed ctimes or imaginary s ights." '* Well, you certainly do not give yourself one of the most amiable of characters, captain." said his companion, with asmile. " I am not fond of flattery," replied the villain Stanford, "so it is not likely that I am going to flatter myself. Horace Markham was one of my crew, and for a long time I had borne him the most inveterate hatred, and took every opportu nity to revenge myself aga nst him, though be had never given me the least cause for offence either by word or deed.** "And was he the father of Kate?" ashed " No, confoundit," replied Stanford ; "but it is no more than I expected, as I told you to-day.

The girl is as cold as ice and as proud as an em press; and as for Jack Junk, he holds complete dominion over her, and sets every one at defianc3. Perhaps he would alter his tale if he only knew who I really am, and that 'farmer Stanford as, he is supposed to be, has i s gallant a vessel at his command, and as daring a crew to serve under him, as ever braved the perils of the deep." '* True, captain," said Pierce; " the Raven is do cock e-shell, and has weathered many a storm, and triumphed in many hundreds of engagements. But how did you succeed ?" " Why, I contrived to foree my conversation upon Kate during the temporary absence of Jack," answered Stanford: but listen." He then recapitulated *hat with which the reader is already made acquainted in the last chapter. " It was a bold venture on your part," remarked Pierce, when be had concluded; " as for the scorn with which the damsel treated you, it was nomore than you had a right to expect; but the conduct of the suitor was enough to excite your resent me"t." Pierce.

Stanford replied in the affirmative, and pra ceeded— 1 ' My brutal conduct, of course, could not fail to engender an almost universal seeling of detestation towards me. Horace Markham, with more zval than prudence, ventured to remonstrate v, ith me, and that sealed his fate. The reply he imrae dute-ly received, was an arrest on the charge of mutiny; all hands were called upiu deck, and Markham was ordered to meet instant death by walking the plank." "Aod did you carry the sentence into effect?" asked Fierce. " Did I?" repealed the murderer, " to b» sure I did ; you ought to know me too well by this time, Pu rce. to t nink that 1 would fail to keep my word. The sentence was no sooner pronounced than it " It was," said Stanford, " but fear not, I will have ample vengeance.** TAR FOE ALL WEATHERS. 11 was executed.

A board was poised over the snip's side, and Horace Markham prepared to meet his site with the most manly firmness, and scorning to ask for mercy, though he wellknew that would hive been completely use'ess. S:epping bo dly forward, a deep plunge announced the completion ofhis Barbarous sentence." " Did you not put him upon his trial !" inquired Pierce. my pat-siou the more; and alter *r_.at na» taken place to-day, and the conduct of the sailor, Jack Junk, I am more determined than ever in the de signs I have formed for the gratification of my desires. May I perish— may I die the death ofa dog, if Kate Markham shall ever be his." " Well," remarked Pierce, "I must say that I commend your resolution, and I only hope that you may succeed in your design*." " Psha ! the only one that is known of at sea— the captain's will.

Therein, I suppose, I need not tell you, lie evidence, judge, andjury ; sometimes executioner even. But hearmeout. On hearing the splash by the fall of Markham, Instinctively the eyes of some of the crew wandered over the 6Mp's side, and there they behe'd him BtruggliDg with the waves, bearing tuwan-B the vessel with desperate strength. He implored ens of the sailors to throw him a rope; he did so; he seized it; climbed nimbly up, and catching hold of the scant ling with one hand, was about to spring on board, when I, snatching up au axe, with my own hand cut ofi that of Horace Markham. He shrieked — plungel again into the deep, and sunk to rise no more." 11 Succeed !" repeated Stanford, *' I cannot— will not fail, however hazardous and doubtful it may appear at present. Did ever you know the daring captain of the Raven of the Sea to fall in anything he has yet undertaken 1" " Never 1" answered his companion; "for the last few yearSi the daring rover of the oeean has excited universal terror and dismay, and many are the wild and romant<c tales that are told of the wonderful exploits of him and his bold and desperate crew; little do the lubbers suspect that in Farmer Stanford they behold the man who has caused so much consternation, aud whom they are so anxious to get in their clutches."

"True. Pierce," said Stanford; " and it affords me food for exultation when 1 think of it. But they shall yet have still greater cause to shudder at my name. But there is one circumstance which mikes me look upon this youth whom they call Jack Junk, but whose real name is notknown, with feelings of still greater detestation, and even with a sensation of dread." " Ic was a desperate deed," remarked Pierce. " Yes, it was/' coincided the assassin; " but I hated him, and was determined, on that opportu nty presenting itself, to gratify my vengeance to the fullest extent. But I must coufess that it his often haunted my conscience since; ana I have seen the ghastly and supplicating ooks of the murdered man, and heard his shriek of agony as he -.'mk into the deep; but, pshal I am getting weak. Fearing that an investigation would take place as to the cause of the d»a-hof my unfortu na'e victim, and knowing that I had no friends among my own crew, I seized an opportunity, on the vessel's arriving in Eng'and, to escape."

"But was there no inquiry male?' asked Pierce. "Of dread, captain ?" said Pierce, with a look of surprise. "Ay," answered the farmer; "the extreme likeness he bears to o-oe whom I deeply injured, and— but I will not repeat that story at present; circumstances may sometime or another render it neces-ary for me to explain the particulars, till which period I will keep the secret confined to my own breast." " Very well, captain," observed Pierce; "I have no particular wish to pry into it, though I must confess that your observations have greatly excited my curiosity. Jack is a caring fellow; they call him the tar for all weathers ; and if all be true that is told of him, he is well worthy ofthe title. No danger comes amiss to him ; aud they say he n as trim and taut a sailor as ever went up aloft."

"That may be," returned Stanford, "I dare say the fellow is well enough for an ordinary seaman; but I am much mistaken if I do not have the opportunity of putting his courage to the test one of these days, and then he will find that the supposed farmer Stanford is not the insignificant swab he at present takes him for. Kate Markham too, the scornful beauty, shall yet be compelled to I ackuowledge his power, and to submit to his will, however revolting it may be to her feelings; who can resist the terrible power of the Rover of the Seas? — who can thwart his deep-laid schemes?" "True," coincided Pierce, "but I would that we were on our native element again, braving all its perils with hearts of iron, and seeking foi tresh \ booty to add to our already well-filled coff rs; : this rural life of indolence but ill accords with my disposition; the battle's heat, and no quarter or surrender, agrees with me much better."

" Well, Pierce, fear not but that your taste shall soon have free indulgence." "I hope so, captMn," said the fellow. "Ah! | many a bloody si ay have we been in together, in i which the Raven has ever come off victorious, j thoueh we have had many narrow escapes." " Yes, but ths day is far distant when we shall fall totrium di," remarked Stanford. " Little do ; they suspect the real character of our ve sei which j ia now lying at anchor in this port, and which is | registerea as the Enterprise, a fair trader." " No," replied Pierce : ■ but still I cannot help thinking that it w<ls rather a bold venture ou your part, to put in here, where she might bt no g- " There was not," answered Stanford. " That is strange." "lt is, and I cannot account for it," returned Stanford. "And the brother of Horace Markham, and Ka*e, did none ofthe sailors ever make them ac quainted with the dreadful and untimely fate that had befallen him?"

"Tuey did not." " Most extraordinary," "True, observed Stanford, " but very fortunate for me. It was then I changed my mrae, and so disguised myself that it would have been next te an impossibility for even my most intonate ac quaintances to know me. The manner in which I came on board the Raven and ultimately your captain, you already know. After an absence of some years, I determined to visit the neighbourhood where I knew the relations of Markham resided, and it was then that I first beheld Kate, and became enamoured of her charms. I made a vow to possess her at all hazards, and I will not break my oath. This farm was to let. and the better to drown suspicion and te effe-t my pHns, I took it, and as for the rest you kuow. My story is done." " And a wonderful story it is, captain," remarked Pierce.

" Yes, I thought I should surprise you," siid Stanford; "can you any longer wonder that Kate should view me with insti ictive feelings o honor V "No," replied P erce, "indeed I do not; but I marvel muen, captain, that you should have the boldness to raiseyour tnoughts towards the eam*el after what ywu have told me just now." "And think you, Pierce," retumtd Stanford, " that I cau resist such tramcendant charms as those which Kate Markham possesses notwith 8tamnhh£ the scorn and repugnance which she eviuCes towards me; No, that does but iuslame and the sight was animated in the extreme; the bright sun glittered on the white spray aa it dashed against the shore, and its golden beams danced npon the gently undulating billows, and the breeze that was wafted from the expansive bosom of the deep, came cool and refreshing to the senses.

The marine view that was commanded from this spot was of the most expansive and beautiful descrip tion and here the lover of the wonderful works of nature might have stood for hours, and gazed with feelings of transport and admiration upon all that met his eye. Our hero's arm eDcircled tho slender waist of Kate; her delicate baad was locked in his, and whilst she gazed with a melancholy expression of the raost devoted affection into his fine handsome and manly countenance, tears, which she could not restrain, dimmed the lustre of her sparkling eyes, and sighs frequently agitated her gentle bosom. The countenance of Jack, too, although he evidently exerted himself to the ut most lo stifle his feelings, was sad, and it needed no keen penetration that something had occurred to interrupt their happiness, and to fill their minds, which lately had been so cheerful, with dis mal forebodings.

There had been a slight pause in their conversation ; but our hero, after a mo mentary struggle with his feelings, now spoke. ■ Kate, my dear girl," he said, " this sudden order for the sailing of the Beet is rather unexpected ; but a true British seaman is ready at any time when he is called upon by his couutry, aad never flinches from his duty, however painful it may be for him to leave those be loves so deaily behind him. It is only the lubber who never smelt salt water, or heard the roar of the cannon, that knows either fear or danger; the tar for all weathers is one who is as happy in the storm as in the calm, and who is ready at all times to encounter any peril for the sake of his king and country, and those he so fondly loves. Kate, my lovely Kate, dry your tears, and once more wear those smil esof cheerfulness with which you are are wont to gladden all those who know you, and I trust, with the blessing of the Great Commancer above, our separation will not be for long."

"Alas!" sighed Kate, and her tears flowed faster than before, " it may be for ever." *' Oh, say not so, my sweet Kate," returned her lover, imprinting an affectionate kiss upon her fair cheek; I have hitherto escaped unharmed from many a danger, and why should you now de spair i '' " Ob, why should the wide and perilous ocean separate two hearts that are so fondly devoted to each other V said Kate. "To render their happiness at being united again the more pure and exquisite, my love," replied Jack. " Now, .Kate, I tell you what it is, if you continue to give way to this violent grief, you wi:l reduce me to the weakness of a powder monkey, and 1 know my Kate possesses too much the spirit of an Englishwoman to wish to do tbat. Come, come — no more crying, lass, but let us be merry, for nised by some of those who have tasted our quality to their cost." .'____..'_■_. «•»,• "Pshal Pierce," returned Stanford, "the more bold tbe venture, the less fear of detection, I say.

Think. you as I am now disguised, that any one conld possibly recognise me as Captain Sin clair!" " Not very easily. I believe" "No." continued Stanford, " methinks I have played my cards well, and have completely satis fied the authorities; so what have we to appre hend! But c.me, let us rejoin our eompanioos, and drink success to our future undertakings, and destruction to our enemies." « With all my heart," answered Pierce, and they then returned to the room whore they had left the other men, where they continued to carouse and te talk over the daring and inhuman exploits in which they had been engaged till a The°real character of the pretended Mark Stan ford, the farmer, we imagine has been sufficiently explained to the reader. He it was the atrocious and dauntless captain of the pirate vessel the Raven, who for so many years had been, with his ferocious crew, who never was known to show the least mercy to those whom they overpowered, the terror of the ocean, and who seemed to set detec tion and defeat at defiance, notwithstanding all the efforts that had been made, and the stratagems that were formed, to overpower them.

His crew, which was numerous, consisted of ruffians of the most savage and desperate character, of several nations, English, Spanish, and Portugese, wretches who were ready for the perpetration of any crime, and who dared not to murmur at his command, whatever they might be. So extraordinary and unaccountable were the proceedings of these pirates, and they appeared bo suddenly and in different places far apart from each other, when least expected, that many were half inclined to believe their captain to possess some supernatural power which rendered him unconquerable, and they could no1, in 6pite of themselves, belp look ing upon him with feelings amounting to awe and dread. Such were the schemes he had to meta morphose the appearance of his vessel and his own person, when he chose to put into any port or harbour, that not the slightest suspicion could he excited, and thus he escapes', with impunnity As Captain Sinclair of the Enterprise, be was looked upon with the utmost respect when on shore, ahd received into the most fashionable society, and when alone, and e had re-assumed his disguise as the farmer, Mark Stanford, he would laugh in exultation at the manner in wbich he was enabled to deceive 60 many, and the sur prise and terror which his numerous deeds had excited.

Another advantage he gained by those disguises, was to become acquainted with the numerous plans that were formed to detect him and to crush his power, so that he was ever enabled t o frustrate them, and to laugh his enemies to scorn; and thus it was that there seemed not to be the least chance of the daring career of the wild Rover of the Seas would be speedily brought ts a close. ' The tar's a jolly tar that can hand, reef, and steer, Cast off, and nimbly belay f Now then for one of your sweetest smiles, and the rememberance of it in the tempest's wrath, or the battle's heat, will act to me as a beacon to glory." "But when you are gone, dear Jack," again sighed the damsel, M to what insults may I net be exposed to, from the boldness of that man whom I so much abhor, Farmer Stanford V "He dare not insult you," said Jack, "the ugly looking shark; if I thought he would, I would eettle his business in less time thin I c^uli crack abiicuit.

But do not let such thoughts disturb yourmiud, Kate; he will not he "bold enough to venture anything of the kind; and will you not be under the protection of your uucle, aud your

Chapter III. Jack And His Lover

— MELANCHOLY INTELLI- GENCE. — A SAILOX'S HEART, AND A SAILOa's COURAGE.— TBE HlSIEHKjUS INTERVIEW IK THE OLD HOVEL. It was about a week after the events which we have related in the previous chapters, that our hero and Kate were seated on a bench beneath the boneysuckled casement of her uncle's dwelling, and from whence was commanded an uninter rupted view ot the ocean, and the various stately vessels in the harbour. It was a lovely day, TAE FOR ALL WEATHERS. IS other friends, Joe Trennant, Kit Breezely, and* many more of them ! Cheer up, my lass, for you have nothing to fear from him. See how gallantly my noble vessel, the Defiance, lies at anchor, with the colours of old England fiyingat hermaio, and seeming to ride like a proud monarch of the ocean, mocking the idle threats and boastings of the enemies of our native land.

Is not that a sight to invigorate the saddest heart, and make it beat with rapture and enthusiasm ? But, Kate, now that the day when we must once more part is fast approaching, there is one question that I would ask you, and I feel convinced that you will return me a candid and satisfactory answer." "What is it, dear Jack!" inquired the lovely Kate Markham, eagerly. 11 Will neither absence, time, nor circumstances, dear Kate," replied her lover, "change the sentiments you now so fondly — so fervently avow ! towards me ? May I, in my moments of reflection, cheer myself with the blissful assurance that your heart still beats responsively with my own— that yeur thoughts are constantly fixed on me, and that | when I once more return to my native land, I shall again be welcomed by those radiant Bmiles which have ever illumined my soul with hone and happiness ?"