The king's pardon : a story of land and sea

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Head first, the long blade held straight before him, he hurled himself upon the hideous anioials. — Page 122.

H Stor? of Xanb anb Sea

By ROBERT OVERTON

ILLUSTRATED

A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS,

62-58 BuAifE Street, ]S"ew York.

Chapter I. At Snaeesbrook College — "called Home."

PAQB

An Interrupted Fight — Between the Rounds — Farewell to

School .

CHAPTER 11.

THE SECRET IIST BART ARBER'S LIFE.

To Gorleston — Mother and Son— Mrs. Arber's Strange Story. 8

Chapter III

bart's resolve.

Questions Darken the Mystery — A Wild Night — " I am Going to Save my Father ! " 16

CHAPTER lY.

THE FIRST CLUE.

A Wreck — Brave Hearts to the Rescue — Wrecker Mike — The Man on the Drifting Spar — Mike Black at his Work — " Hands off I " — Bob Simmons — An Unexpected Letter. . 19

CHAPTER V. OFF OlS A FAR SEARCH

Mrs. Arber Consents to Bart's Plan — A Consultation with Bob Simmons — '* Good-by to Mother" — A Sailor and a Gentleman 33

Chapter VI. Bob Simmons' S Love-story

How he fell in Love and couldn't get out — Faggles — ^The Rivals' Serenade — His Declaration and Refusal — How he found his Love's " true Love " 41

IV CONTENTS.

CHAPTER YII.

**SPAKKOWS" FOR THE " HAWK."

PAOS

Arrival in London — Looking for a Ship — A Visit to Doctor Barfield — The Blue-bell — At the Crimp's — Bart Decoyed on Board the Haiok — Bob Simmons joins him — A Dash for Liberty — Under Way — An Interview with Captain John Agars — Hobson's Choice — Mike Black on Board. . . 55

CHAPTER YIIL

HIS BBITANNIC MAJESTY'S SL,OOP-OF-WAR.

The Hawk — Her Captain — His Career and Character — Her Officers and Crew 76

CHAPTER IX.

THE FIGHT WITH THE " VENGEUR."

Bart Arber at Sea — Chased by a French Frigate — Hope of a Fight— The Sea Serpent— Feter Rudge— "Sail ho!"— "Facing Fearful Odds" — The Coward who cut down the Colors — The Brave Boy who Saved them 80

CHAPTER X.

AFTER THE FIGHT.

Mike Black in Irons — Repairing Damages — Leaving the Sinking Sloop — The Funeral Service — On the Sloop's Boats — "Heave him Overboard"— "Ship Ahoy!" 96

CHAPTER XL

NIGHT CAPTURE OF THE PIRATE.

The Xeo— Captain Caines — Katie — An Important Interview — A Suspicious Sail — A Trap — The Night Attack — Boarding the Pirate — Death of Peter Rudge — Surrender of the Vengeur 101

CHAPTER XIL

AT PORT ROYAL, JAMAICA.

The Court-martial on Captain Agars — ^Doom of the Captured Pirates — Fate of Mike Black — A Chat with Katie Caines — The Nigger and the Shark : a Black Man's Pluck — Promotion of Captain Agars 115

CONTENTS. V

CHAPTER XHL

hike's STAETLINa CONFESSION.

PAGK

Captain Caine's Communication — " Thank God for this Fresh Light " — Bart and Bob free to Leave the King's Service. 126

CHAPTER XIY.

HOMEWARD BOUND.

A Consultation — The Ajax Ordered to Bermuda — Waiting for a Convoy — Homeward Bound Without One — Bart's Birthday— Chased by a Privateer — Escape — Surrender to a Spanish Line-of-battle Ship — Startling News — Arrival in Bristol Roads 132

CHAPTER XY.

HOME !

Mrs. Arber at Cliff House — Loss of the Blue-bell — Music and

Sunshine 148

CHAPTER XVL

** Botany Bay " at last — Bob's Reflections — " Faggles Ahoy!" Mrs. Faggles — A Colonial Welcome — Road-gang of Convicts— Interview with the Governor and his Subordinate — ^News of William Arber at last — Preparations for a Journey — Faggles Determined to join the Expedition and cannot get out of it 150

CHAPTER xyn.

IN THE BUSH.

Off for Digg's Gulley, Woonga Station — First Experiences in the Bush — A Creeping Figure and a Night Alarm — The Trail of Blood — Bobo — At a Squatter's Settlement — Bobo turns up again — Mysterious Disappearance of Septimus Faggles 166

CHAPTER XVin.

BLACK WHITES AND BLACK BLACKS.

Bobo Suspected — The Search for Faggles — Bobo Captured — The Black Fellow brings News of the Lost White Fellow —At Cameron's — The Blackbird Gang and its Leader — A Council of War— A Division of Forces 178

VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIX.

BETWEEN TWO FIRES.

PAGB

The Blackbirds Tracked and Followed — Faggles with the Bushrangers — The Gang between two Fires — Escape of Blackbird Bill — Bart Arber Missing 191

CHAPTER XX.

A TERKIBLE MEETING.

Lost! — Bart Robbed and " Stuck up" — Friends to the Rescue —Alone with Blackbird Bill 200

CHAPTER XXI.

THE MOUNTAIN CAVE.

A Wild Ride — In the Lair of the Robber-chief — All Hope Abandoned 207

CHAPTER XXIL

BACK TO SYDNEY.

Bart to be Shot — Chivalry of Bob Simmons — Two Brave Friends — Bobo a Brick — Striking the Track for the Mountain Cave — The Fugitives' Plans — Shot by an Unseen Hand — Back to Sydney — Safe on Board the Eva Bryant 216

CHAPTER XXIIL

JACOB HELLING.

Mr. Augustus Stencil — A Happy Sufferer — A Stailling Identification 232

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE COMPLETE.

In Irons — ^Driven and Drifting — Isles of the Sunny South — A Ducking — Jacob Melling Speaks at Last 2S6

CHAPTER XXV.

THE ISLAND GRAVE.

Searching the Islands — A Lonely Grave — Survivors from the Transport—" For Mother "—The End of Jacob Melling. 251

CONTENTS. VU

CHAPTER XXVI.

"eisen from the dead!"

PAGE

Voyage of the Eva Bryant — In Portsmouth Harbor — Again on Board the Leo — The New Admiral — Prisoners from France — "William Aebeb : Risen from the Dead I" . . . 255

CHAPTER XXVIL

STRANGER TRUTH THAN FICTION.

In the Leo's Cabin — Bart's Father Relates the Stirring Story of his Adventures and Escapes 262

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE BREAKING OF THE DAWN.

Home Once More — Katie Caines at Cliff House — A Long Recital — The Breaking Dawn 278

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE king's pardon.

The King's Pardon — What Preceded and Followed it — A Walk and a Talk — Bob Simmons and Captain Caines — The Exile's Welcome — An important Visitor — " An Angel in the House " 281

CHAPTER XXX.

LATER DAYS.

A Birthday Party — Honored Guests — Letter from an Old Friend — Grandfather's prayer 293

TEE KING'S PAEBON.

part f ,

Chapter I. At Snaresbrook College — '' Called Home."

I SAY again, Bart Arber, that you're the son of a convict, and have no right at school here with the sons of gentlemen."

*' Peter Rudge, ever since I came here you've tried to make things hot for me. I interfered to stop your bullying and sneaking, and you've never forgiven me. I've forgiven you a lot, but now that you've insulted the memory of my father you've got to fight. If ever a fellow deserved a thrashing, you deserve what I'm going to give you. As I don't believe that anything under a blow would make you face a fair fight, put up your fists and — take that."

The first speaker took it — without saying ^' thank you."

"It" was a blow straight from the strong shoulder of the sturdy boy who had challenged him ; a blow that sent him staggering backwards. With an effort he saved himself from falling,

THE king's pardon.

and cast a rapid glance round, as if to ascertain whether a way of escape were open for him. But already the cry of ^^ a fight " had been raised ; already the little group arouad the quarreling couple had swelled in numbers, and from all parts of the playground, the enclosed field that skirted it, and from the college buildings, other boys were rushing to the spot — and he realized that he must fight, or stand a self-confessed coward in the face of all the school.

When it was seen that the combatants were to be Bartholomew Arber and Peter Eudge — a nicelymatched pair of old enemies — the excitement visibly increased, and a shout went up.

^^ It'll be the best fight this year," declared several boys gleefully.

The preliminaries were few and quickly arranged. Stripped to their shirts, the two lads faced each other.

While they are fighting, let me give you a few general details of time, place, and circumstance.

First, as to the time of our story. ^ ^ Go forward " is the best motto that can actuate the conduct of boys as well as of men, and "go forward " is the advice that I always like to give to all the boys I have anything to do with — forward in your studies, forward in your sports, forward in everything that will make you better and bigger and wiser and stronger. But in introducing you to Snaresbrook College at the period of the

AT SNARESBROOK COLLEGE. 3

fight with which our first chapter has opened, I must bid you ^^ come back " — back as far as those stirring times when your grandfathers had living fathers — back to the time when England, at war on land and sea, was struggling all over the world against the giant power of Napoleon and his allies. Our armies were on the Continent, our fleets arrayed to guard our shores from invasion— our battle ships roamed every sea to protect our commerce and our colonies.

Snaresbrook College is at the present day what it was then — one of the largest private schools in England, about eight miles from the metropolis, and just inside Epping Forest. Houses, and colonies of houses, have sprung up in its neighborhood since the days of which I write, when it stood alone, save for a few scattered mansions where wealthy City merchants lived. Gipsy encampments were pitched then where ' ^ desirable suburban residences " are ^' to be let or sold " to-day. The forest glades were undisturbed by the hoot of the railway engine, and knew not the tinkle of the 'cyclist's bell. Nearer and nearer has crept the great city from which it seemed then so far away.

Bart Arber had been at the college about twelve months, Peter Rudge about two years. Each was about sixteen, each had come from the same county — the former from Yarmouth and the latter from Norwich. Bart's passionate statement that the other had been his enemj^ since he entered the school, that he bore him a bitter grudge for having interfered to prevent his bullying of small boys on one hand, and his '* sneaking" to the masters on the other, was a true one.

The adventures through which we are going to follow our boy hero are to commence so soon, and are to take us so far from the little life of Snaresbrook College into the great life of the world outside its walls, that I need not linger to tell you more about the place and its inmates now.

Four rounds had been fought ; in three Bart had proved victor. He bore marks of some hard hitting, but came well up to time for the fifth round, facing his antagonist with steady eyes and a bold front. Not so with Peter Eudge — it was evident that he had had about enough. Just as Arber closed with him to throw him for the fourth time, a boy on the fringe of the crowd gave a loud and peculiar whistle. A general stampede was the instant effect, for the soLind was a warning that the whistler had sighted the head-master. To right and left scattered the alarmed spectators of the fight, the supporters of the almost fainting Peter carrying him off with them. In the center of about half-a-dozen of his firmest frends Bart stood his ground. In fact, there was now no time to escape, for Doctor Barfield had already reached the quadrangle, and was only a few score yards off. There was nothing for the boys to do but to '' face it out " as best they could. Nearer and nearer the stern- faced

AT SNARESBROOK COLLEGE. 5

old Doctor approached. Bart and his companions held their breath. Well they knew the law that prohibited fighting — well they knew the punishment that awaited the breakers of that law. Doctor Barfield neither quickened his pace nor made it less slow. He walked calmly on until he reached the little group, then he halted and fixed his eyes upon the central figure.

'^Arber?"

^^Yes, sir."

^' Put on your coat."

Bart obeyed him instantly.

*^ Precede me into my study."

*'Yes, sir."

The lad walked on towards the schoolhouse Without even looking at the other boys, who expected that at the least they would be questioned as witnesses, the head-master followed close at his heels. Across the playground into the school - house, up the first flight of stairs, till he stood outside the dreaded study — here Bart paused. The Doctor stepped to the door, opened it and entered, Bart entering behind him and quietly closing the door.

Then his master turned to him. Those kind eyes in that stern old face gazed steadily at him. The boy endeavored to meet unflinchingly the eyes fixed upon him, but his gaze fell before Doctor Barfield's keen scrutiny. He knew that his shirt was torn and his face bleeding a little — he was uncertain as to the color of his left eye, and was not sure that his nose was on quite straight.

''My boy," said Doctor Barfield — and Bart could not help thinking that his voice was strangely kind in the circumstances — ''go to your room ; wash yourself, change your clothes, pack up your box. You are to return to your mother at Yarmouth to-night."

" Eeturn home, sir ! " cried the startled lad. "Oh, don't punish me by dismissal. Doctor. It would break my mother's heart if I were to return to her disgraced. I know I did wrong, sir — I own I was fighting. But don't expel me, sir — give me any other punishment you like — but don't send me away, sir — don't expel me ! "

"I saw no fight — I ask nothing about it," returned Doctor Barfield quickly. "You are not expelled, Arber — on the contrary, I hope you will soon be with us again. But your mother has written to me to send you home at once."

"Is she ill, sir?"

" I fear so ; but her letter is short and gives few particulars. Go and get ready, my boy. After you have had a good meal, John shall drive you to catch the night coach."

Bart slowly left the room. In less than an hour he was ready. The news that he had been sent for from home had traveled quickly amongst his comrades, and he had a host of hands to shake in farewell. Many of the boys loudly congratulated him on winning his fight with Peter Eudge,

AT SNARESBROOK COLLEGE. ^

who watched the hand-shaking and heard these congratulations with evident chagrin.

'^ The fight was neither lost nor won," he said ; ^' it hasn't heen fought out yet.-'

Bart hesitated a moment, and then walked straight up to his recent antagonist and held out his hand. ''Peter," he said frankly, ''we can finish the fight when I come back if you like. But suppose we call it a drawn battle and shake hands % "

" Bravo, Bart Arber ? " cried a number of voices ; but Rudge turned sullenly aside, and thrust his hands deeper into his pockets.

" You want to shirk out of it," he sneered ; "but you struck the first blow, and our fight will never be finished till I've paid you out."

As he walked off, John the coachman was seen driving round to the front of the house with the Doctor's gig.

Bart uttered a few more last good-byes, and hurried to Doctor Barfield's room.

The head- master shook him almost tenderly by the hand. " Good -by, my boy," he said; "and God bless you."

"Good-by, sir — and thank you for all your kindness to me," replied Bart in a voice that wasn't so steady as usual.

"Arber," said Doctor Barfield earnestly, still holding his hand, "there is a secret in your life. You are about to hear it from your mother's own lips."