—or
on
such
occasions
as
to-morrow
will
be
,
for
instance
,
—
when
we
run
down
the
river
,
and
get
away
from
London
—
—
"
"
Yes
,
yes
,
"
interrupted
Tidkins
:
"
do
n't
think
that
I
shall
throw
away
a
chance
.
Those
lubbers
have
managed
to
make
their
lighter
fast
to
the
chalk
barge
now
:
just
step
across
and
try
and
find
out
what
you
can
about
them
.
"
The
Buffer
immediately
proceeded
to
obey
this
order
.
He
walked
across
the
barges
,
which
,
as
we
before
stated
,
were
so
closely
moored
together
that
they
formed
one
vast
floating
pier
;
and
approaching
as
close
as
possible
to
the
Blossom
,
without
setting
foot
upon
it
,
he
said
,
"
Holloa
,
friend
,
there
!
You
must
n't
think
that
we
meant
any
thing
by
telling
you
not
to
lay
alongside
of
us
:
'
twas
only
'
cause
we
expect
to
be
off
to-morrow
or
next
day
.
"
"
No
offence
is
taken
where
none
's
intended
,
"
answered
the
man
who
had
before
spoken
.
The
Buffer
now
perceived
that
the
other
individual
on
board
the
Blossom
,
and
who
had
charge
of
the
helm
,
was
a
Black
,
of
tall
form
,
and
dressed
in
the
rough
garb
of
a
sailor
.
"
You
seem
well
laden
,
"
said
the
Buffer
,
after
a
pause
.
"
Yes
—
pretty
deep
,
"
answered
the
first
speaker
.
"
Do
you
discharge
here
,
at
Mossop
's
?
"
"
Do
n't
know
yet
,
"
was
the
laconic
reply
.
"
And
what
may
be
your
freight
?
"
"
Bales
of
cotton
,
"
returned
the
man
.
"
Then
I
suppose
you
're
the
master
of
that
lighter
?
"
continued
the
Buffer
.
"
Yes
,
"
was
the
brief
answer
.
"
Well
,
it
's
a
pleasant
life
,
"
observed
Wicks
.
"
Have
you
been
at
it
long
?
"
"
I
've
only
just
begun
it
,
"
replied
the
master
.
"
And
that
sable
gentleman
there
,
"
said
the
Buffer
,
with
a
laugh
,
—
"
I
should
think
he
's
not
a
Johnny
Raw
on
the
water
?
"
"
Not
quite
,
"
returned
the
master
.
"
Poor
fellow
!
he
's
deaf
and
dumb
!
"
"
Deaf
and
dumb
,
eh
?
"
repeated
the
Buffer
.
"
Well
,
—
p'rhaps
that
's
convenient
in
more
ways
than
one
.
"
"
I
believe
you
,
"
said
the
master
,
significantly
.
"
Ah
!
I
thought
so
,
"
cried
Wicks
,
who
now
felt
convinced
that
the
Blossom
was
not
a
whit
better
than
the
Fairy
.
"
Ai
n't
there
no
one
on
board
but
you
and
Blackee
?
"
"
What
the
devil
should
we
want
any
more
hands
for
?
"
said
the
master
,
gruffly
.
"
Oh
!
I
understand
,
"
observed
the
Buffer
.
"
Capital
!
you
're
the
master
—
to
do
as
you
like
;
Blackee
's
deaf
and
dumb
,
and
ca
n't
blab
;
and
you
and
him
are
alone
on
board
.
I
've
hit
it
,
you
see
.
"
"
You
're
uncommon
sharp
,
my
fine
feller
,
"
said
the
master
.
"
Step
on
board
and
wash
your
mouth
out
.
"
The
Buffer
did
not
hesitate
to
accept
this
invitation
.
The
Black
had
lighted
his
pipe
,
and
was
lounging
on
the
deck
over
the
after
cabin
.
The
master
disappeared
down
the
hatchway
of
the
small
cabin
,
or
cuddy
,
forward
;
and
in
a
few
moments
he
returned
with
a
bottle
and
two
tin
pannikins
.
"
What
's
the
name
of
your
craft
?
"
he
said
,
as
he
poured
out
the
liquor
,
which
exhaled
the
strong
and
saccharine
flavour
of
rum
.
"
The
Fairy
,
"
replied
the
Buffer
.
"
Then
here
's
a
health
to
the
Fairy
.
"
"
And
here
's
to
the
Blossom
.
"
The
master
and
the
Buffer
each
took
draughts
of
the
raw
spirit
.
"
Now
let
us
drink
to
our
better
acquaintance
,
"
said
the
master
.
"
You
seem
an
honest
,
open-hearted
kind
of
a
feller
—
—
"
"
And
to
be
trusted
,
too
,
"
interrupted
Wicks
.
"
Well
—
I
'm
inclined
to
think
you
are
,
"
said
the
master
,
speaking
deliberately
,
as
if
he
were
meditating
upon
some
particular
idea
which
then
occupied
his
mind
;
"
and
it
's
very
probable
—
it
may
be
,
I
mean
—
that
I
shall
want
a
little
of
your
advice
;
for
which
,
remember
,
I
should
be
happy
to
pay
you
well
.
"
"
You
could
n't
apply
to
a
better
man
,
"
returned
the
Buffer
.
"
And
here
's
to
you
,
"
said
the
master
.
"
What
sort
of
a
fellow
is
Mossop
,
that
keeps
this
wharf
?
"
"
He
has
no
eyes
,
no
ears
,
and
no
tongue
for
things
that
do
n't
consarn
him
,
"
answered
Wicks
.
"
Just
the
kind
of
agent
I
want
,
"
returned
the
master
.
"
But
I
shall
also
require
two
or
three
good
fellers
in
a
few
days
,
—
chaps
that
ai
n't
over
partickler
,
you
understand
,
how
they
earn
a
ten-pound
note
,
so
long
as
it
's
sure
.
"
"
And
you
want
two
or
three
chaps
of
that
kind
?
"
asked
the
Buffer
.
"
Yes
.
I
've
a
good
thing
in
hand
,
"
returned
the
master
.
"
But
I
sha
n't
say
too
much
now
.
"
"
Well
,
you
may
reckon
on
me
at
any
moment
—
to-morrow
excepted
,
"
said
Wicks
;
"
and
my
pal
in
the
Fairy
will
also
be
glad
to
row
in
the
same
boat
.
"
"
What
sort
of
a
man
is
your
pal
?
"
demanded
the
master
:
"
one
of
the
right
kind
?
"
"
If
he
was
n't
,
him
and
I
should
n't
long
hold
together
,
"
answered
the
Buffer
.
"
But
when
do
you
think
you
'll
want
our
services
?
"
"
Very
soon
.
You
say
you
're
both
engaged
for
to-morrow
?
"
"
Yes
—
both
of
us
.
"
"
The
day
after
to-morrow
,
in
the
evening
,
you
and
your
friend
can
come
and
smoke
your
pipes
with
me
;
and
we
'll
talk
the
matter
over
,
"
said
the
master
.
"
And
if
any
thing
should
prevent
us
coming
the
day
after
to-morrow
,
the
evening
after
that
will
do
p'rhaps
?
"
remarked
the
Buffer
,
interrogatively
.
"
Well
—
we
must
make
that
do
,
then
,
"
answered
the
master
.
"
Good
night
.
"
"
Good
night
,
"
said
Wicks
;
and
he
then
returned
to
the
Fairy
.
"
What
can
you
make
of
them
,
Jack
?
"
demanded
the
Resurrection
Man
,
who
was
smoking
his
pipe
on
the
after
deck
.
"
They
're
of
the
right
sort
,
Tony
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
The
master
seems
a
good
kind
of
a
feller
:
the
only
other
man
on
board
with
him
is
a
Black
;
and
he
's
deaf
and
dumb
.
The
master
sounded
me
about
Mossop
;
and
that
shows
that
he
knows
what
's
what
.
Besides
,
he
hinted
that
he
'd
a
good
thing
in
view
,
but
wanted
more
hands
,
and
so
he
made
an
appointment
for
you
and
me
to
smoke
a
pipe
with
him
in
the
course
of
two
or
three
evenings
,
to
talk
over
the
matter
.
"
"
You
did
n't
say
much
about
me
?
"
exclaimed
the
Resurrection
Man
,
hastily
.
"
Not
more
than
was
proper
.
It
's
all
right
—
I
could
tell
that
with
half
an
eye
.
"
"
Well
,
business
seems
dropping
in
upon
us
,
"
observed
the
Resurrection
Man
;
"
but
we
must
be
very
cautious
what
we
do
.
And
now
let
's
turn
in
,
for
we
have
to
get
up
early
,
recollect
.
"
CHAPTER
CLXVIII
.
THE
PLAGUE
SHIP
.
It
wanted
half-an-hour
to
day-break
,
when
the
splash
of
oars
alongside
met
their
ears
;
and
in
a
few
moments
Swot
,
the
foreman
,
made
his
appearance
.
"
I
've
got
all
ready
for
you
,
my
boys
,
"
said
that
individual
;
"
a
good
boat
,
and
two
stout
chaps
to
help
.
"
"
Have
they
got
their
barkers
?
"
demanded
the
Resurrection
Man
,
thereby
meaning
pistols
.
"
A
brace
each
,
"
replied
the
foreman
.
"
But
they
must
only
be
used
in
case
of
desperation
.
There
's
a
false
bottom
to
the
boat
;
and
there
I
've
stowed
away
five
cutlasses
.
"
"
All
right
!
"
cried
the
Buffer
.
"
Now
,
Moll
,
you
make
yourself
comfortable
till
we
get
back
again
.
"
"
You
're
a
fool
,
Jack
,
not
to
let
me
go
along
with
you
,
"
observed
the
woman
.
"
Nonsense
,
"
answered
her
husband
.
"
Some
one
must
stay
on
board
to
take
care
of
the
lighter
.
"
"
Well
,
do
n't
say
that
I
'm
a
coward
—
that
's
all
,
"
exclaimed
Moll
.
"
We
wo
n't
accuse
you
of
that
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
But
now
let
's
be
off
.
Where
shall
we
meet
you
at
Gravesend
?
"
"
You
know
the
windmill
about
a
mile
below
the
town
,
"
returned
Swot
,
to
whom
this
question
was
addressed
.
"
Well
,
close
by
is
the
Lobster
Tavern
,
and
there
's
a
little
jetty
where
the
boat
can
be
fastened
.
Meet
me
at
that
tavern
at
ten
o'clock
this
evening
.
"
"
Agreed
,
"
answered
Tidkins
.
The
three
men
then
ascended
to
the
deck
.
The
dawn
was
at
that
moment
breaking
in
the
east
;
and
every
moment
mast
after
mast
on
the
stream
,
and
roof
after
roof
on
the
shore
,
appeared
more
palpably
in
the
increasing
light
of
the
young
day
.
On
board
of
the
Blossom
,
the
Black
was
busily
employed
in
washing
the
deck
,
and
seemed
to
take
no
notice
of
any
thing
that
was
passing
elsewhere
.
"
The
tide
will
be
with
us
for
nearly
three
hours
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
Come
—
we
wo
n't
lose
a
moment
.
"
The
foreman
retraced
his
steps
across
the
barges
to
the
wharf
;
while
the
Resurrection
Man
and
the
Buffer
,
each
armed
with
a
pair
of
pistols
,
leapt
into
the
boat
,
that
lay
alongside
the
lighter
.
Two
stout
fellows
,
dressed
like
watermen
,
and
who
were
already
seated
in
the
boat
,
instantly
plied
their
sculls
.
The
skiff
shot
rapidly
away
from
the
vicinity
of
the
barges
,
and
was
soon
running
down
the
middle
of
the
river
with
a
strong
tide
.
The
morning
was
beautiful
and
bright
:
a
gentle
breeze
swept
the
bosom
of
the
stream
:
—
and
when
the
sun
burst
forth
in
all
its
effulgent
glory
,
a
few
fleecy
clouds
alone
appeared
on
the
mighty
arch
of
blue
above
.
Here
and
there
the
mariners
on
board
the
outward-bound
vessels
were
busy
in
heaving
up
their
anchors
—
a
task
which
they
performed
with
the
usual
cheering
and
simultaneous
cry
,
—
or
in
loosening
the
canvass
that
immediately
became
swollen
with
the
breeze
.
At
distant
intervals
some
steamer
,
bound
to
a
native
or
foreign
port
,
walked
,
as
it
were
,
with
gigantic
strides
along
the
water
,
raising
with
its
mighty
Briarean
arms
,
a
swell
on
either
side
,
which
made
the
smaller
craft
toss
and
pitch
as
if
in
a
miniature
whirlpool
.
Alas
!
how
many
souls
have
found
a
resting-place
in
the
depths
of
those
waters
;
and
the
spray
of
the
billow
seems
the
tears
which
old
Father
Thames
sheds
as
a
tribute
to
their
graves
!
Then
,
at
dark
midnight
,
when
the
wind
moans
over
the
bosom
of
the
river
,
the
plaintive
murmurs
sound
as
a
lament
for
those
that
are
gone
!
Vain
are
thy
tears
,
O
River
!
But
if
they
must
be
shed
,
let
them
flow
for
the
living
,
whose
crimes
or
whose
miseries
may
,
with
Orphic
spell
,
awaken
the
sympathy
of
even
inanimate
things
.
The
boat
shot
rapidly
along
,
the
sun
gilding
its
broad
pathway
.
What
evidence
of
commercial
prosperity
appears
on
either
side
!
The
clang
of
mighty
hammers
denote
the
progress
of
new
vessels
in
the
various
building-yards
;
and
in
the
numerous
docks
the
shipwright
is
busy
in
repairing
the
effects
of
past
voyages
,
and
rendering
the
gallant
barks
fit
to
dare
the
perils
of
the
ocean
once
more
!
The
river-pirates
,
whose
course
we
are
following
,
pursued
their
way
:
the
old
Dreadnought
,
stripped
of
the
cannon
that
once
bristled
on
its
lofty
sides
,
and
now
resembling
the
worn-out
lion
that
has
lost
its
fangs
,
was
passed
;
—
the
domes
of
Greenwich
greeted
the
eye
;
—
and
now
the
boat
merged
upon
the
wide
expanse
which
seems
to
terminate
with
Blackwall
.
But
,
no
!
the
stream
sweeps
to
the
right
;
and
onward
floats
the
skiff
—
skirting
the
Kentish
shore
.
At
length
the
gloomy
and
sombre-looking
hulks
off
Woolwich
are
reached
:
the
boat
shoots
in
between
the
shipping
;
and
there
the
pirates
landed
.
At
Woolwich
they
repaired
to
a
low
public-house
with
which
they
were
acquainted
;
and
,
as
the
fresh
air
of
the
river
had
sharpened
their
appetites
,
they
called
into
request
every
article
of
food
which
was
to
be
found
in
the
larder
.
Liquors
in
due
proportion
were
ordered
;
the
Resurrection
Man
paid
the
score
for
all
;
and
in
this
manner
the
four
pirates
contrived
to
while
away
the
time
until
the
tide
turned
once
more
in
their
favour
in
the
afternoon
.
At
three
o'clock
they
retraced
their
steps
to
the
boat
;
and
in
a
few
minutes
were
again
gliding
rapidly
along
on
the
bosom
of
the
river
.
"
Now
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
"
as
we
have
drunk
a
glass
and
smoked
a
pipe
together
,
we
are
better
acquainted
with
each
other
.
"
These
words
were
especially
addressed
to
the
two
men
whom
the
foreman
at
Mossop
's
wharf
had
provided
.
"
Of
course
,
"
continued
the
Resurrection
Man
,
"
I
need
n't
ask
you
if
you
know
the
exact
nature
of
the
business
which
we
have
in
hand
.
I
did
n't
think
it
prudent
to
talk
about
it
when
we
were
at
the
crib
in
Woolwich
just
now
,
because
walls
have
ears
;
but
I
took
it
for
granted
,
from
certain
words
which
you
two
chaps
said
,
that
it
's
all
right
.
"
"
Yes
,
yes
,
master
,
"
returned
one
,
who
was
called
Long
Bob
,
in
consequence
of
his
height
:
"
Swot
put
us
up
to
the
whole
thing
.
"
"
We
know
the
risk
,
and
we
know
what
's
to
be
got
by
it
,
"
added
the
other
,
who
delighted
in
the
name
of
the
Lully
Prig
,
[
1
]
from
the
circumstance
of
his
having
formerly
exercised
the
calling
with
which
,
in
flash
language
,
the
name
is
associated
,
before
he
became
a
river-pirate
.
"
Then
we
understand
each
other
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
"
without
any
farther
wagging
of
the
tollibon
.
"
[
2
]
"
We
cut
the
same
lock
that
you
do
,
old
feller
,
"
answered
the
Lully
Prig
;
"
and
as
long
as
we
snack
the
bit
[
4
]
in
a
reg'lar
manner
,
we
're
stanch
to
the
back-bone
.
"
"
So
far
,
so
good
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
But
you
're
also
aware
that
the
swag
must
be
taken
up
the
river
and
put
on
board
the
Fairy
,
where
it
must
stay
some
time
till
Swot
can
find
a
safe
customer
for
it
,
because
it
's
sure
to
be
chanted
on
the
leer
.
"
[
5
]
"
We
're
fly
to
all
that
,
"
said
Long
Bob
.
"
But
Swot
promised
us
ten
neds
each
,
if
the
thing
succeeds
to-night
;
so
that
we
sha
n't
object
to
waiting
for
the
rest
of
our
reg'lars
till
the
swag
is
dinged
.
"
[
7
]
"
Who
knows
that
we
sha
n't
find
some
gobsticks
,
clinks
,
or
other
things
of
the
same
kind
?
"
exclaimed
the
Lully
Prig
;
"
and
,
if
so
,
they
can
soon
be
walked
off
to
the
melting-pot
fence
,
and
the
glanthem
will
be
dropped
[
11
]
in
no
time
.
"
"
That
's
understood
,
my
boys
,
"
exclaimed
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Now
,
give
way
with
a
will
,
and
do
n't
let
's
delay
.
"
On
went
the
boat
with
increased
rapidity
,
the
Lully
Prig
and
Long
Bob
plying
the
oars
with
strength
and
skill
.
Then
,
when
they
were
wearied
,
the
Resurrection
Man
and
the
Buffer
took
their
turns
.
Occasionally
Tidkins
handed
round
his
flask
,
which
he
had
taken
good
care
to
have
replenished
with
rum
at
Woolwich
;
and
at
intervals
the
Buffer
or
the
Lully
Prig
cheered
their
labours
with
a
song
.
In
this
manner
Erith
was
reached
and
passed
:
—
Greenhithe
and
Ingress
Abbey
,
the
front
of
which
splendid
mansion
is
built
with
the
stones
of
old
London
Bridge
,
were
in
due
course
left
behind
;
—
and
soon
the
antique
windmill
and
the
tall
tower
of
Gravesend
greeted
the
eyes
of
the
river-pirates
.
At
the
two
piers
of
the
town
were
numerous
steam-packets
;
—
there
were
large
merchant-vessels
riding
at
anchor
in
the
middle
of
the
river
;
—
and
,
on
the
opposite
side
,
Tilbury
Fort
commanded
the
expanse
of
water
with
its
cannon
.
"
Since
we
're
to
meet
Swot
at
the
Lobster
Tavern
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
"
we
may
as
well
run
down
to
that
place
at
once
.
"
"
So
we
will
,
"
returned
the
Buffer
.
The
boat
continued
its
course
;
and
in
a
short
time
it
was
made
fast
to
the
little
jetty
which
affords
a
convenient
means
of
landing
at
the
point
mentioned
.
The
Lobster
Tavern
is
a
small
isolated
place
of
entertainment
,
upon
the
bank
of
the
Thames
,
and
is
chiefly
frequented
by
those
good
folks
who
,
in
fine
weather
,
indulge
in
a
trip
on
Sundays
from
London
to
Gravesend
.
There
are
sheds
,
with
seats
,
built
in
front
of
the
tavern
;
and
on
a
calm
summer
's
evening
,
the
site
and
view
are
pleasant
enough
.
The
four
pirates
entered
the
establishment
,
and
called
for
refreshments
.
They
thus
passed
away
the
time
until
ten
o'clock
,
when
Mossop
's
foreman
joined
them
.
In
another
half-hour
they
were
all
five
seated
in
the
boat
;
and
,
in
the
darkness
of
the
night
,
they
bent
their
way
towards
the
plague-ship
.
They
kept
close
along
the
Kentish
shore
;
and
when
Swot
imagined
that
they
must
be
within
half-a-mile
of
the
place
where
the
Lady
Anne
was
stranded
,
the
oars
were
muffled
.
The
sky
was
covered
with
dense
black
clouds
:
no
moon
and
not
a
star
appeared
.
The
water
seemed
as
dark
as
ink
.
But
the
foreman
knew
every
inlet
and
every
jutting
point
which
marked
the
course
of
the
Thames
;
and
,
with
the
tiller
in
his
hand
,
he
navigated
the
boat
with
consummate
skill
.
Not
a
word
was
spoken
;
and
the
faint
murmurs
of
the
oars
were
drowned
in
the
whistling
of
the
breeze
which
now
swept
over
the
river
.
At
length
the
foreman
said
in
a
low
whisper
,
"
There
is
the
light
of
the
police-boat
.
"
At
a
distance
of
about
a
quarter
of
a
mile
that
light
appeared
,
like
a
solitary
star
upon
the
waters
.
Sometimes
it
moved
—
then
stopped
,
as
the
quarantine
officers
rowed
,
or
rested
on
their
oars
.
"
We
must
now
be
within
a
few
yards
of
the
Lady
Anne
,
"
whispered
Swot
,
after
another
long
pause
:
"
take
to
your
arms
.
"
The
Buffer
cautiously
raised
a
plank
at
the
bottom
of
the
boat
,
and
drew
forth
,
one
after
another
,
five
cutlasses
.
These
the
pirates
silently
fastened
to
their
waists
.
The
boat
moved
slowly
along
;
and
in
another
minute
it
was
by
the
side
of
the
plague
ship
.
The
Resurrection
Man
stretched
out
his
arm
,
and
his
hand
swept
its
slimy
hull
.
There
was
not
a
soul
upon
the
deck
of
the
Lady
Anne
;
and
,
as
if
to
serve
the
purposes
of
the
river-pirates
,
the
wind
blew
in
strong
gusts
,
and
the
waves
splashed
against
the
bank
and
the
vessel
itself
,
with
a
sound
sufficient
to
drown
the
noise
of
their
movements
.
The
bow
of
the
Lady
Anne
lay
high
upon
the
bank
:
the
stern
was
consequently
low
in
the
water
.
As
cautiously
as
possible
the
boat
was
made
fast
to
a
rope
which
hung
over
the
schooner
's
quarter
;
and
then
the
five
pirates
,
one
after
the
other
,
sprang
on
board
.
"
Holloa
!
"
cried
a
boy
,
suddenly
thrusting
his
head
above
the
hatchway
of
the
after
cabin
.
Long
Bob
's
right
hand
instantly
grasped
the
boy
's
collar
,
while
his
left
was
pressed
forcibly
upon
his
mouth
;
and
in
another
moment
the
lad
was
dragged
on
the
deck
,
where
he
was
immediately
gagged
and
bound
hand
and
foot
.
But
this
process
had
not
been
effected
without
some
struggling
on
the
part
of
the
boy
,
and
trampling
of
feet
on
that
of
the
pirates
.
Some
one
below
was
evidently
alarmed
,
for
a
voice
called
the
boy
from
the
cabin
.
Long
Bob
led
the
way
;
and
the
pirates
rushed
down
into
the
cabin
,
with
their
drawn
cutlasses
in
their
hands
.
There
was
a
light
below
;
and
a
man
,
pale
and
fearfully
emaciated
,
started
from
his
bed
,
and
advanced
to
meet
the
intruders
.
"
Not
a
word
—
or
you
're
a
dead
man
,
"
cried
Long
Bob
,
drawing
forth
a
pistol
.
"
Rascal
!
what
do
you
mean
?
"
ejaculated
the
other
;
"
I
am
the
surgeon
,
and
in
command
of
this
vessel
.
Who
are
you
?
what
do
you
require
?
Do
you
know
that
the
pestilence
is
here
?
"
"
We
know
all
about
it
,
sir
,
"
answered
Long
Bob
.
Then
,
dropping
his
weapons
,
he
sprang
upon
the
surgeon
,
whom
he
threw
upon
the
floor
,
and
whose
mouth
he
instantly
closed
with
his
iron
hand
.
The
pirates
then
secured
the
surgeon
in
the
same
way
as
they
had
the
boy
above
.
"
Let
's
go
forward
now
,
"
cried
Swot
.
"
So
far
,
all
's
well
.
One
of
you
must
stay
down
here
to
mind
this
chap
.
"
The
Lully
Prig
volunteered
this
service
;
and
the
other
pirates
repaired
to
the
cabin
forward
.
They
well
knew
that
the
plague-stricken
invalids
must
be
there
;
and
when
they
reached
the
hatchway
,
there
was
a
sudden
hesitation
—
a
simultaneous
pause
.
The
idea
of
the
pestilence
was
horrible
.
"
Well
,
"
said
the
foreman
,
"
are
we
afraid
?
"
"
No
—
not
I
,
by
God
!
"
ejaculated
the
Resurrection
Man
;
and
he
sprang
down
the
ladder
.
The
others
immediately
followed
him
.
But
there
was
no
need
of
cutlass
,
pistol
,
or
violence
there
.
By
the
light
of
the
lamp
suspended
to
a
beam
,
the
pirates
perceived
two
wretched
creatures
,
each
in
his
hammock
,
—
their
cadaverous
countenances
covered
with
large
sores
,
their
hair
matted
,
their
eyes
open
but
glazed
and
dim
,
and
their
wasted
hands
lying
like
those
of
the
dead
outside
the
coverlids
,
as
if
all
the
nervous
energy
were
defunct
.
Still
they
were
alive
;
but
they
were
too
weak
and
wretched
to
experience
any
emotion
at
the
appearance
of
armed
men
in
their
cabin
.
The
atmosphere
which
they
breathed
was
heated
and
nauseous
with
the
pestilential
vapours
of
their
breath
and
their
perspiration
.
"
These
poor
devils
can
do
no
harm
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
with
a
visible
shudder
.
The
pirates
were
only
too
glad
to
emerge
from
that
narrow
abode
of
the
plague
;
and
never
did
air
seem
more
pure
than
that
which
they
breathed
when
they
had
gained
the
deck
.
"
Now
then
to
work
,
"
cried
Swot
.
"
Wait
till
we
raise
this
hatch
,
"
he
continued
,
stopping
at
that
which
covered
the
compartment
of
the
ship
where
the
freight
was
stowed
away
;
"
and
we
'll
light
the
darkey
when
we
get
down
below
.
You
see
,
that
as
they
had
n't
a
light
hung
out
before
,
it
would
be
dangerous
to
have
one
above
:
we
might
alarm
the
police-boat
or
the
guard
ashore
.
"
The
hatch
was
raised
without
much
difficulty
:
a
rope
was
then
made
fast
to
a
spar
and
lowered
into
the
waist
of
the
schooner
;
and
Long
Bob
slid
down
.
In
a
few
moments
he
lighted
his
dark
lantern
;
and
the
other
three
descended
one
after
the
other
,
the
Lully
Prig
,
be
it
remembered
,
having
remained
in
the
after
cabin
.
And
now
to
work
they
went
.
The
goods
,
with
which
the
schooner
was
laden
,
were
removed
,
unpacked
,
and
ransacked
.
There
were
gums
,
and
hides
,
and
various
other
articles
which
the
western
coast
of
Africa
produces
;
but
the
object
of
the
pirates
'
enterprise
and
avarice
was
the
gold-dust
,
which
was
contained
in
two
heavy
cases
.
These
were
,
however
,
at
the
bottom
of
all
the
other
goods
;
and
nearly
an
hour
passed
before
they
were
reached
.
"
Here
is
the
treasure
—
at
last
!
"
cried
Swot
,
when
every
thing
was
cleared
away
from
above
the
cases
of
precious
metal
.
"
Come
,
Tony
—
do
n't
waste
time
with
the
brandy
flask
now
.
"
"
I
've
such
a
precious
nasty
taste
in
my
mouth
,
"
answered
the
Resurrection
Man
,
as
he
took
a
long
sup
of
the
spirit
.
"
I
suppose
it
was
the
horrid
air
in
the
fore-cabin
.
"
"
Most
likely
,
"
said
the
foreman
:
"
come
—
bear
a
hand
,
and
let
's
get
these
cases
ready
to
raise
.
Then
Long
Bob
and
me
will
go
above
and
reeve
a
rope
and
a
pulley
to
haul
'
em
up
.
"
The
four
men
bent
forward
to
the
task
;
and
as
they
worked
by
the
dim
light
of
the
lantern
,
in
the
depths
of
the
vessel
,
they
seemed
to
be
four
demons
in
the
profundities
of
their
own
infernal
abode
.
Suddenly
the
Resurrection
Man
staggered
,
and
,
supporting
himself
against
the
side
of
the
vessel
,
said
in
a
thick
tone
,
"
My
God
!
what
a
sudden
headache
I
've
got
come
on
!
"
"
Oh
!
it
's
nothing
,
my
dear
feller
,
"
cried
Swot
.
"
And
now
I
'm
all
cold
and
shivering
,
"
said
Tidkins
,
seating
himself
on
a
bale
of
goods
;
"
and
my
legs
seem
as
if
they
'd
break
under
me
.
"
The
Buffer
,
the
foreman
,
and
Long
Bob
were
suddenly
and
simultaneously
inspired
with
the
same
idea
;
and
they
cast
on
their
companion
looks
of
mingled
apprehension
and
horror
.
"
No
—
it
ca
n't
be
!
"
ejaculated
Swot
.
"
And
yet
—
how
odd
that
he
should
turn
so
,
"
said
Bob
,
with
a
shudder
.
"
The
plague
!
"
returned
the
Buffer
,
in
a
tone
of
indescribable
terror
.
"
You
're
a
fool
,
Jack
!
"
exclaimed
the
Resurrection
Man
,
glaring
wildly
upon
his
comrades
,
and
endeavouring
to
rise
from
his
seat
.
But
he
fell
back
,
exhausted
and
powerless
.
"
Damnation
!
"
he
muttered
in
a
low
but
ferocious
tone
;
and
he
gnashed
his
teeth
with
rage
.
"
The
plague
!
"
repeated
the
Buffer
,
now
unable
to
contain
his
fears
.
Then
he
hastily
clambered
from
the
hold
of
the
schooner
.
"
The
coward
!
"
cried
Swot
:
"
such
a
prize
as
this
is
worth
any
risk
.
"
But
as
he
yet
spoke
,
Long
Bob
,
influenced
by
panic
fear
,
sprang
after
the
Buffer
,
as
if
Death
itself
were
at
his
heels
,
clad
in
all
the
horrors
of
the
plague
.
"
My
God
!
do
n't
leave
me
here
,
"
cried
the
Resurrection
Man
,
his
voice
losing
its
thickness
and
assuming
the
piercing
tone
of
despair
.
"
Every
man
for
himself
,
it
seems
,
"
returned
Swot
,
whom
the
panic
had
now
robbed
of
all
his
courage
;
and
in
another
moment
he
also
had
disappeared
.
"
The
cowards
—
the
villains
!
"
said
Tidkins
,
clenching
his
fists
with
rage
.
Then
,
by
an
extraordinary
and
almost
superhuman
effort
,
he
raised
himself
upon
his
legs
:
but
they
seemed
to
bend
under
him
.
He
,
however
managed
to
climb
upon
the
packages
of
goods
;
and
,
aided
by
the
rope
,
lifted
himself
up
to
the
hatchway
.
But
the
effort
was
too
great
for
his
failing
strength
:
his
hands
could
not
retain
a
firm
grasp
of
the
cord
;
and
he
fell
violently
to
the
bottom
of
the
hold
,
rolling
over
the
bales
of
merchandize
in
his
descent
.
"
It
's
all
over
!
"
he
mattered
to
himself
;
and
then
he
became
rapidly
insensible
.
Meantime
the
Lully
Prig
,
who
was
mounting
sentry
upon
the
surgeon
in
the
after
cabin
,
was
suddenly
alarmed
by
hearing
the
trampling
of
hasty
steps
over
head
.
He
rushed
on
deck
,
and
demanded
the
cause
of
this
abrupt
movement
.
"
The
plague
!
"
cried
the
Buffer
,
as
he
leapt
over
the
ship
's
quarter
into
the
boat
.
The
Lully
Prig
precipitated
himself
after
his
comrade
;
and
the
other
two
pirates
immediately
followed
.
"
But
we
are
only
four
!
"
said
the
Lully
Prig
,
as
the
boat
was
pushed
away
from
the
vessel
.
"
Tidkins
has
got
the
plague
,
"
answered
the
Buffer
,
his
teeth
chattering
with
horror
and
affright
.
Fortunately
the
police-boat
was
at
a
distance
;
and
the
pirates
succeeded
in
getting
safely
away
from
that
dangerous
vicinity
.
But
the
Resurrection
Man
remained
behind
in
the
plague-ship
!
CHAPTER
CLXIX
.
THE
PURSUIT
.
We
must
now
return
to
the
Blossom
—
the
lighter
which
had
only
arrived
at
Mossop
's
wharf
the
night
before
the
incidents
of
the
last
chapter
occurred
.
When
the
boat
which
conveyed
the
pirates
to
Gravesend
had
pushed
away
from
the
Fairy
at
day-break
,
as
already
described
,
the
Black
,
who
was
cleaning
the
deck
of
the
Blossom
,
cast
from
beneath
his
brows
a
rapid
and
scrutinising
glance
at
the
countenances
of
the
four
men
who
were
seated
in
that
skiff
.
As
soon
as
the
boat
was
out
of
sight
,
the
Black
hastened
down
into
the
after-cabin
of
the
Blossom
,
where
a
person
was
lying
fast
asleep
in
bed
.
The
Black
shook
this
person
violently
by
the
shoulder
,
and
awoke
him
.
"
I
have
found
him
,
sir
,
—
I
have
found
him
!
"
cried
the
Black
.
"
Indeed
!
"
cried
Markham
,
starting
up
,
and
rubbing
his
eyes
.
"
Where
?
where
?
"
"
He
has
just
gone
with
three
other
men
in
a
boat
,
down
the
river
,
"
answered
Morcar
;
"
and
one
of
these
men
is
him
that
spoke
to
Benstead
last
night
.
"
"
Then
they
both
belong
to
the
Fairy
?
"
exclaimed
Richard
.
"
Both
,
"
replied
Morcar
;
"
at
least
they
both
came
from
it
just
now
.
"
"
Go
and
rouse
Benstead
,
"
said
Markham
;
"
and
in
the
meantime
I
will
get
up
.
"
The
gipsy
,
who
had
so
well
disguised
himself
as
a
man
of
colour
,
hastened
to
the
cuddy
where
Benstead
was
wrapped
in
the
arms
of
Morpheus
.
The
police-officer
was
delighted
,
when
awakened
and
made
acquainted
with
Morcar
's
discovery
,
to
find
that
the
Resurrection
Man
had
been
thus
recognised
;
and
he
lost
no
time
in
dressing
himself
.
The
gipsy
and
Benstead
afterwards
proceeded
to
Richard
's
cabin
,
where
they
found
our
hero
just
completing
his
hasty
toilet
.
"
Thus
far
our
aims
are
accomplished
,
"
said
Markham
,
when
they
were
all
three
assembled
.
"
It
has
turned
out
exactly
as
I
anticipated
.
Morcar
,
by
aid
of
his
disguised
appearance
,
was
enabled
to
keep
a
sharp
look
out
on
all
the
vessels
;
while
the
report
which
you
circulated
that
he
was
deaf
and
dumb
prevented
him
from
being
questioned
.
Had
Tidkins
himself
seen
Morcar
as
closely
as
we
are
to
him
now
,
he
would
not
have
known
him
.
"
"
My
suspicions
,
too
,
are
fully
confirmed
,
"
observed
Benstead
.
"
The
moment
I
saw
that
feller
hanging
about
us
last
night
,
I
suspected
he
was
up
to
no
good
.
But
how
I
managed
to
pump
him
,
when
he
doubtless
thought
that
I
was
the
soft-pated
one
!
By
my
short
,
evasive
,
or
mysterious
answers
,
I
allowed
him
to
think
that
the
Blossom
was
no
better
than
she
should
be
;
and
then
I
saw
by
his
manners
and
language
at
once
,
that
he
was
a
pirate
.
But
when
I
dropped
a
hint
about
wanting
two
or
three
hands
for
a
good
thing
which
I
had
in
view
,
how
eager
the
chap
was
to
enlist
himself
and
his
pal
in
the
business
!
"
"
And
to-morrow
night
they
are
coming
to
talk
over
the
matter
with
you
?
"
said
Richard
,
half
interrogatively
.
"
To-morrow
night
,
or
the
night
after
,
"
returned
Benstead
.
"
The
pal
that
the
man
spoke
of
is
sure
to
be
Tidkins
,
since
our
friend
Morcar
saw
the
villains
leave
the
Fairy
together
.
"
"
But
there
were
two
other
men
in
the
boat
,
"
observed
the
gipsy
.
"
You
say
that
they
sculled
the
boat
round
to
the
Fairy
,
from
some
place
higher
up
the
river
?
"
said
Richard
.
"
Yes
.
But
I
could
not
see
where
they
came
from
,
as
it
was
nearly
dark
when
they
got
alongside
the
Fairy
.
"
"
Well
,
"
exclaimed
Benstead
,
"
it
is
very
clear
that
those
two
men
who
came
in
the
boat
,
do
n't
belong
to
the
Fairy
;
but
that
Tidkins
and
the
person
who
spoke
to
me
last
night
do
.
I
should
think
there
's
no
doubt
about
Tidkins
being
the
pal
that
the
man
alluded
to
.
"
"
Not
the
slightest
,
"
said
Markham
.
"
And
yet
,
to
make
assurance
doubly
sure
,
we
will
not
alter
the
plan
which
we
laid
down
yesterday
afternoon
when
we
first
came
on
board
the
lighter
.
You
,
Benstead
,
must
remain
spokesman
—
the
master
,
in
fact
,
of
the
Blossom
;
you
,
Morcar
,
will
continue
a
deaf
and
dumb
Black
,
"
continued
Richard
,
with
a
smile
;
"
and
I
must
keep
close
in
this
cabin
until
the
moment
of
action
arrives
.
If
,
to-morrow
night
or
the
night
after
,
that
man
should
bring
Tidkins
with
him
,
our
object
is
accomplished
at
once
:
if
he
bring
a
stranger
,
our
precautions
must
be
strictly
preserved
,
and
we
must
devise
a
means
of
seizing
the
miscreant
on
board
the
Fairy
or
any
other
lighter
to
which
we
can
trace
him
.
"
This
advice
was
agreed
to
by
Benstead
and
Morcar
;
and
while
Richard
remained
below
,
the
others
took
their
turns
in
watching
upon
the
deck
.
But
all
that
day
passed
;
and
the
pirates
did
not
come
back
to
the
Fairy
—
they
being
occupied
in
the
manner
related
in
the
last
chapter
.
Morcar
undertook
to
keep
watch
during
the
night
;
but
hour
after
hour
stole
away
,
—
another
day
dawned
,
and
still
the
Fairy
was
occupied
only
by
the
woman
whom
the
pirates
had
left
behind
.
That
day
also
passed
;
and
it
was
not
until
midnight
that
Morcar
's
attention
was
attracted
towards
the
Fairy
.
Then
a
boat
rowed
alongside
of
the
pirate-barge
.
The
night
was
pitch
dark
—
so
dark
that
Morcar
could
not
see
what
was
going
on
in
the
direction
of
the
Fairy
:
but
his
ears
were
all
attention
.
He
was
enabled
to
discover
,
by
means
of
those
organs
,
that
the
boat
transferred
one
or
more
of
its
living
freight
(
but
he
could
not
tell
how
many
)
to
the
Fairy
:
then
a
brief
conversation
was
carried
on
in
low
whispers
,
but
not
a
distinct
word
of
which
reached
the
gipsy
.
At
length
the
boat
pushed
off
,
and
rowed
away
up
the
river
.
Morcar
stood
upon
the
deck
of
the
Blossom
for
a
few
minutes
,
attentively
listening
to
catch
a
sound
of
any
thing
that
might
be
passing
on
board
the
pirate
lighter
:
but
all
continued
silent
in
that
quarter
.
Then
Morcar
descended
to
the
cabin
,
where
Richard
and
the
policeman
were
waiting
.
To
them
he
communicated
the
few
particulars
just
narrated
.
"
It
is
clear
that
the
pirates
have
returned
from
their
expedition
,
whatever
it
might
be
,
"
said
our
hero
;
"
and
most
probably
Tidkins
and
his
friend
have
just
been
put
on
board
their
lighter
.
We
must
contrive
to
watch
their
motions
;
and
should
they
keep
their
appointment
with
you
,
Benstead
,
to-morrow
night
,
our
enterprise
will
speedily
be
brought
to
a
conclusion
.
"
"
I
will
keep
my
watch
now
on
deck
till
three
o'clock
,
"
said
the
policeman
;
"
and
Morcar
may
turn
in
.
"
This
was
done
;
Richard
also
retired
to
rest
;
and
the
night
passed
away
without
any
further
adventure
.
But
at
day-break
Morcar
,
who
had
again
resumed
the
watch
,
observed
some
activity
on
board
the
Fairy
.
The
Buffer
and
his
wife
were
in
fact
making
evident
preparations
for
departure
.
They
raised
the
mast
by
means
of
the
windlass
;
they
shook
out
the
sail
;
fixed
the
tiller
in
the
rudder
,
and
performed
the
various
preliminaries
in
a
most
business-like
manner
.
Morcar
speedily
communicated
these
circumstances
to
Benstead
and
Markham
;
and
these
three
held
a
rapid
consultation
in
the
after-cabin
of
the
Blossom
.
"
You
are
certain
you
saw
no
one
but
that
man
who
first
spoke
to
Benstead
,
and
the
woman
?
"
asked
Markham
.
"
Not
a
soul
,
"
answered
Morcar
.
"
But
that
is
no
reason
why
Tidkins
should
not
be
below
.
"
"
Certainly
not
.
He
has
numerous
reasons
to
conceal
himself
.
"
"
But
what
is
to
be
done
?
"
said
Morcar
.
"
Benstead
must
go
and
speak
to
the
man
,
"
observed
Richard
,
after
a
pause
.
The
policeman
immediately
left
the
cabin
.
He
crossed
the
barges
and
approached
the
Fairy
,
which
was
just
ready
to
put
off
.
"
Holloa
!
my
friend
,
"
cried
Benstead
:
"
you
seem
busy
this
morning
?
"
"
Yes
—
we
're
going
up
above
bridge
a
short
way
,
"
answered
the
Buffer
:
"
the
tide
is
just
turning
in
our
favour
now
,
and
we
have
n't
a
moment
to
spare
.
"
"
And
the
appointment
with
me
?
"
"
Oh
!
that
must
stand
over
for
a
day
or
two
.
How
long
do
you
mean
to
remain
here
?
"
"
Till
I
get
a
couple
of
good
hands
to
help
me
in
the
matter
I
alluded
to
the
night
before
last
,
"
answered
Benstead
.
"
Well
,
I
do
n't
like
to
disappoint
a
good
feller
—
and
that
you
seem
to
be
,
"
said
the
Buffer
,
"
but
I
really
ca
n't
say
whether
I
shall
be
able
to
do
any
thing
with
you
,
or
not
.
I
've
something
else
on
hand
now
—
and
I
think
I
shall
leave
the
river
altogether
.
"
"
You
speak
openly
at
all
events
,
"
said
Benstead
.
"
It
's
very
annoying
,
though
;
for
I
relied
upon
you
.
Ca
n't
your
pal
—
the
man
that
you
spoke
of
,
you
know
—
have
a
hand
in
this
matter
with
me
?
"
"
No
,
"
answered
the
Buffer
shortly
.
"
But
I
'll
tell
you
who
'll
put
you
up
to
getting
the
assistance
you
want
:
—
and
that
's
Mossop
's
foreman
.
He
's
a
cautious
man
,
and
wo
n't
meet
you
half
way
in
your
conversation
;
but
you
can
make
a
confidant
of
him
,
and
if
he
ca
n't
help
you
,
he
's
sure
not
to
sell
you
.
So
now
good
bye
,
old
feller
;
and
good
luck
to
you
.
"
With
these
words
the
Buffer
loosened
the
rope
that
held
the
Fairy
alongside
the
barge
next
to
it
;
and
then
by
means
of
a
boat-hook
he
pushed
the
lighter
off
.
"
Good
bye
,
"
exclaimed
Benstead
;
and
he
hastened
back
to
the
Blossom
.
"
Now
what
must
be
done
?
"
asked
Morcar
,
when
these
particulars
were
communicated
to
him
and
Richard
.
"
It
seems
clear
to
me
that
these
men
have
endangered
themselves
by
something
they
have
just
been
doing
,
"
observed
Benstead
;
"
and
so
they
're
sheering
off
as
fast
as
they
can
.
"
"
And
most
likely
the
Resurrection
Man
is
concealed
on
board
the
Fairy
,
"
added
Markham
.
"
We
must
follow
them
—
we
must
follow
them
,
at
any
rate
!
"
"
If
we
take
our
skiff
and
pursue
them
,
they
will
immediately
entertain
some
suspicion
,
"
said
Benstead
;
"
and
if
you
go
,
sir
,
the
Resurrection
Man
will
recognise
you
the
moment
he
catches
a
glimpse
of
you
.
"
"
We
have
no
alternative
,
my
good
friends
,
"
observed
Richard
.
"
Let
us
all
three
follow
them
in
our
skiff
:
we
will
dog
them
—
we
will
watch
them
;
and
if
they
attempt
to
land
,
we
will
board
them
.
"
"
Be
it
so
,
"
said
Benstead
.
This
plan
was
immediately
put
into
operation
.
The
skiff
was
lowered
:
Markham
,
the
policeman
,
and
the
gipsy
leapt
into
it
;
the
two
latter
pulled
the
oars
;
and
our
hero
,
muffled
in
a
pilot
coat
,
with
the
collar
of
which
he
concealed
his
countenance
as
much
as
possible
,
sate
in
the
stern
.
"
Just
keep
the
lighter
in
view
—
and
that
's
all
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
So
long
as
it
does
not
show
signs
of
touching
at
any
place
on
shore
,
we
had
better
content
ourselves
with
following
it
,
till
we
are
assured
that
Tidkins
is
actually
on
board
.
"
"
Certainly
,
sir
,
"
answered
Benstead
.
"
We
might
only
get
ourselves
into
trouble
by
forcibly
entering
the
Fairy
,
unless
we
knew
that
we
should
catch
the
game
we
're
in
search
of
.
"
The
rowers
had
therefore
little
more
to
do
than
just
play
with
their
oars
,
as
the
tide
bore
the
skiff
along
with
even
a
greater
rapidity
than
the
lighter
,
although
the
latter
proceeded
with
tolerable
speed
,
in
consequence
of
being
empty
,
and
having
a
fair
breeze
with
it
.
Thus
,
when
the
boat
drew
too
near
the
barge
,
the
rowers
backed
their
oars
;
and
by
this
manœuvring
they
maintained
a
convenient
distance
.
On
board
the
lighter
,
the
Buffer
and
his
wife
were
too
busy
with
the
management
of
their
vessel
—
a
task
to
which
they
were
not
altogether
equal
—
to
notice
the
watch
and
pursuit
instituted
by
the
little
boat
.
In
the
manner
described
,
the
two
parties
pursued
their
way
up
the
narrow
space
left
by
the
crowds
of
shipping
for
the
passage
of
vessels
.
The
Tower
was
passed
—
that
gloomy
fortalice
which
has
known
sighs
as
full
of
anguish
and
hearts
as
oppressed
with
bitter
woe
as
ever
did
the
prisons
of
the
Inquisition
,
or
the
dungeons
of
the
Bastille
.
Then
the
Custom
House
was
slowly
left
behind
;
and
Billingsgate
,
world-renowned
for
its
slang
,
was
passed
by
the
pursued
and
the
pursuer
.
To
avoid
the
arch
of
London
Bridge
the
Buffer
lowered
his
mast
;
and
then
midway
between
that
and
Southwark
Bridge
,
his
intentions
became
apparent
.
He
was
about
to
put
in
at
a
wharf
on
the
Surrey
side
,
where
a
large
board
on
the
building
announced
that
lighters
were
bought
or
sold
.
"
Pull
alongside
the
Fairy
,
"
cried
Markham
:
"
we
must
board
her
before
she
touches
the
wharf
,
or
our
prey
may
escape
.
"
Benstead
and
Morcar
plied
the
oars
with
a
vigour
which
soon
brought
the
boat
within
a
few
yards
of
the
Fairy
.
The
Buffer
's
attention
was
now
attracted
to
it
for
the
first
time
;
but
he
did
not
immediately
recognise
the
two
rowers
,
because
they
had
their
backs
turned
towards
the
lighter
.
"
I
should
know
that
man
!
"
suddenly
exclaimed
Richard
,
as
he
contemplated
the
Buffer
,
who
was
standing
at
the
tiller
,
and
who
had
his
eyes
fixed
with
some
anxiety
upon
the
boat
,
which
was
evidently
pulling
towards
him
.
"
Who
?
"
asked
Benstead
.
"
That
man
on
board
the
lighter
,
"
was
the
reply
.
Benstead
cast
a
glance
behind
him
,
and
said
,
"
He
's
the
man
that
spoke
to
me
.
"
"
I
remember
him
—
the
villain
!
—
I
recollect
him
now
!
"
cried
Richard
.
"
Yes
—
he
is
a
companion
in
iniquity
of
Anthony
Tidkins
:
it
was
he
who
brought
me
that
false
message
concerning
my
brother
,
which
nearly
cost
me
my
life
at
Twig
Folly
!
"
These
words
Richard
spoke
aloud
;
but
they
were
unintelligible
to
his
two
companions
,
who
were
unacquainted
with
the
incident
referred
to
.
They
had
no
time
to
question
him
,
nor
had
he
leisure
to
explain
his
meaning
to
them
;
for
at
that
moment
the
boat
shot
alongside
of
the
lighter
.
"
Markham
!
"
cried
the
Buffer
,
in
alarm
,
as
he
recognised
our
hero
who
immediately
sprang
upon
the
deck
.
"
You
know
me
?
"
said
Richard
:
"
and
I
have
ample
reason
to
remember
you
.
But
my
present
business
regards
another
;
and
if
you
offer
no
resistance
,
I
will
not
harm
you
.
"
"
Who
do
you
want
?
"
asked
the
Buffer
,
somewhat
reassured
by
these
words
.
"
Your
companion
,
"
replied
Richard
.
"
What
!
my
wife
?
"
ejaculated
the
Buffer
,
with
a
hoarse
laugh
.
"
Do
you
know
this
gen'leman
,
Moll
?
"
"
Cease
this
jesting
,
"
cried
Richard
sternly
;
"
and
remain
where
you
are
.
Benstead
,
take
care
that
he
does
not
move
from
the
deck
:
Morcar
,
come
you
with
me
.
"
The
Buffer
cast
looks
of
surprise
and
curiosity
upon
Richard
's
companions
,
who
,
having
made
the
boat
fast
to
the
lighter
,
had
leapt
upon
the
deck
.
"
What
!
you
,
my
fine
feller
?
"
cried
Wicks
,
addressing
himself
to
Benstead
.
"
I
suppose
,
then
,
this
is
all
a
reg'lar
plant
;
—
and
you
're
—
—
"
"
I
am
a
police
officer
,
"
answered
Benstead
coolly
.
"
But
,
as
far
as
I
know
,
we
have
no
business
with
either
you
or
your
wife
—
since
you
say
that
this
woman
is
your
wife
.
"
"
Well
—
so
much
the
better
,
"
remarked
the
Buffer
.
"
And
I
also
suppose
your
negro
is
about
as
deaf
and
dumb
as
I
am
?
"
"
About
,
"
replied
Benstead
,
unable
to
suppress
a
smile
.
"
Keep
quiet
,
and
no
harm
will
happen
to
you
.
"
"
But
who
is
it
that
you
do
want
?
"
asked
the
Buffer
.
"
Your
friend
Tidkins
—
better
known
as
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
"
Then
you
wo
n't
find
him
here
.
"
In
the
meantime
,
Richard
and
the
gipsy
had
descended
into
the
after-cabin
;
and
they
now
re-appeared
upon
the
deck
,
their
search
having
been
fruitless
.
"
He
is
not
there
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
Let
us
look
forward
.
"
He
and
Morcar
visited
the
cuddy
;
but
the
Resurrection
Man
was
evidently
not
in
the
lighter
.
They
returned
to
the
after
deck
;
and
questioned
the
Buffer
.
"
I
do
n't
know
where
Tidkins
is
,
"
was
the
reply
of
that
individual
,
who
did
not
dare
reveal
the
truth
relative
to
the
expedition
to
the
plague
ship
,
and
its
result
;
"
and
even
if
I
did
,
it
is
not
likely
that
I
should
blab
any
thing
that
would
get
us
both
into
a
scrape
,
since
I
see
that
the
whole
thing
with
you
is
a
trap
,
and
that
man
there
,
"
he
added
,
pointing
to
Benstead
,
"
is
a
policeman
.
"
"
Now
,
listen
,
"
exclaimed
Richard
.
"
It
is
in
my
power
to
have
you
arrested
this
moment
for
being
concerned
in
a
plot
against
my
life
—
you
know
how
and
when
;
but
I
pledge
you
my
honour
that
if
you
will
satisfy
me
relative
to
Anthony
Tidkins
,
we
will
depart
,
and
leave
you
unmolested
.
I
scorn
treachery
,
even
among
men
of
your
description
;
and
I
will
not
offer
you
a
bribe
.
But
I
require
to
know
how
he
came
to
separate
from
you
—
for
I
am
convinced
that
he
was
with
you
a
day
or
two
ago
.
"
"
Well
,
sir
,
"
said
the
Buffer
,
who
had
found
time
,
while
Richard
thus
spoke
,
to
collect
his
ideas
and
invent
a
tale
,
"
Tidkins
,
me
,
and
some
other
pals
went
on
a
little
excursion
the
night
afore
last
—
you
do
n't
want
me
to
get
myself
into
a
scrape
by
saying
what
the
business
was
;
but
we
fell
in
with
a
Thames
police
boat
some
way
down
the
river
;
and
Tidkins
had
a
swim
for
it
.
"
"
Did
he
escape
?
"
demanded
Richard
.
"
Yes
,
"
answered
the
Buffer
,
boldly
.
"
I
saw
him
get
safe
on
land
;
and
then
of
course
he
took
to
his
heels
.
"
"
This
looks
like
the
truth
,
sir
,
"
said
Benstead
aside
to
our
hero
.
"
These
fellows
have
been
baulked
in
some
scheme
—
the
river-police
have
got
scent
of
'
em
—
and
that
's
the
reason
why
this
man
gets
off
so
quick
with
his
lighter
.
"
"
And
as
I
do
not
wish
to
punish
this
man
for
the
injury
he
has
done
me
,
"
said
Richard
,
glancing
towards
the
Buffer
,
—
"
as
I
can
afford
to
forgive
him
,
—
our
expedition
seems
to
have
arrived
at
its
close
.
"
"
Without
success
,
too
,
sir
,
"
added
Morcar
.
"
We
shall
now
leave
you
,
"
continued
Richard
,
turning
towards
the
Buffer
;
"
but
rest
well
assured
that
,
though
we
forbear
from
molesting
you
,
justice
will
some
day
overtake
you
in
your
evil
and
wayward
courses
.
"
"
That
's
my
look
out
,
"
cried
the
Buffer
,
brutally
.
Markham
turned
away
in
disgust
,
and
descended
to
the
boat
,
followed
by
Morcar
and
Benstead
.
"
We
will
now
proceed
to
the
wharf
where
I
hired
the
Blossom
,
"
said
Richard
,
when
they
had
pushed
off
from
the
Fairy
;
"
and
,
my
good
friends
,
there
I
shall
dispense
with
your
further
services
.
The
owner
of
the
lighter
can
send
his
men
to
Rotherhithe
to
bring
it
up
,
and
thus
save
us
a
task
which
is
somewhat
beyond
our
skill
.
"
"
It
is
a
great
pity
we
have
failed
to
capture
the
miscreant
,
"
observed
Morcar
.
"
But
your
reward
has
not
been
the
less
fairly
and
honestly
earned
,
"
replied
Richard
;
"
as
I
will
prove
to
you
when
we
land
.
"
CHAPTER
CLXX
.
THE
BLACK
VEIL
.
Return
we
now
to
one
whom
we
have
long
left
,
but
whom
the
reader
cannot
have
forgotten
.
In
a
sumptuously
furnished
room
at
the
house
of
Mr.
Wentworth
,
the
surgeon
of
Lower
Holloway
,
Diana
Arlington
was
reclining
upon
a
sofa
.
She
was
dressed
in
an
elegant
manner
;
but
a
large
black
lace
veil
,
doubled
so
as
to
render
it
more
impervious
to
the
eye
of
a
beholder
,
was
thrown
over
her
head
.
The
folds
were
also
so
arranged
that
the
elaborately
worked
border
completely
concealed
her
countenance
.
She
was
alone
.
An
open
piano
,
a
harp
,
and
piles
of
music
,
together
with
a
choice
selection
of
volumes
on
the
shelves
of
a
book-case
,
denoted
the
nature
of
her
amusements
during
her
residence
of
several
weeks
at
the
surgeon
's
abode
.
It
was
mid-day
.
The
damask
curtains
at
the
windows
were
drawn
in
such
a
manner
as
to
reduce
the
light
of
the
effulgent
sun
to
a
mellow
and
soft
lustre
within
that
apartment
.
Beautiful
nosegays
of
flowers
imparted
a
delicious
fragrance
to
the
atmosphere
.
The
bounty
of
the
Earl
of
Warrington
had
furnished
the
room
in
a
style
of
luxury
which
could
scarcely
be
surpassed
.
But
was
Diana
happy
?
Were
those
sighs
which
agitated
her
heaving
bosom
,
—
was
that
restlessness
which
she
now
manifested
,
—
was
that
frequent
listening
as
the
sounds
of
wheels
passed
along
the
road
,
—
were
all
these
signs
of
sorrow
or
of
suspense
?
Patience
,
gentle
reader
.
The
time-piece
on
the
mantel
had
chimed
mid-day
.
"
He
is
not
punctual
,
"
murmured
Diana
.
Ten
minutes
elapsed
.
"
He
does
not
come
!
"
she
said
aloud
.
And
her
restlessness
redoubled
.
At
length
a
carriage
drove
rapidly
up
to
the
door
;
and
a
long
double
knock
reverberated
through
the
house
.
"
'
Tis
he
!
"
cried
Diana
.
In
a
few
moments
the
Earl
of
Warrington
entered
the
room
.
"
Diana
—
dearest
Diana
!
"
exclaimed
the
nobleman
,
starting
back
when
he
beheld
her
countenance
covered
with
that
ominous
dark
veil
:
"
is
it
indeed
thus
—
—
"
"
Thus
that
we
meet
after
so
long
an
absence
?
"
added
the
Enchantress
.
"
Yes
,
my
lord
:
Mr.
Wentworth
must
have
told
you
as
much
.
"
"
No
,
Diana
,
"
answered
the
Earl
,
seating
himself
upon
the
sofa
by
her
side
,
and
taking
her
hand
:
"
you
know
not
by
what
a
strange
idiosyncrasy
my
conduct
has
been
influenced
.
I
entrusted
you
to
Mr.
Wentworth
's
care
:
I
enjoined
him
to
spare
no
money
that
might
procure
the
best
advice
—
the
most
efficient
means
of
cure
.
Then
I
resigned
myself
to
a
suspense
from
which
I
might
at
any
moment
have
relieved
my
mind
by
an
inquiry
;
—
but
at
the
bottom
of
that
suspense
was
a
fond
,
a
burning
hope
which
made
the
feeling
tolerable
—
nay
,
even
vested
the
excitement
with
a
peculiar
charm
of
its
own
.
I
took
it
for
granted
that
you
would
be
cured
—
that
your
countenance
would
be
restored
to
that
beauty
which
had
originally
attracted
me
towards
you
;
—
and
now
,
may
I
not
say
—
without
detriment
to
my
own
firm
character
as
a
man
,
and
without
indelicacy
towards
your
feelings
,
—
may
I
not
say
that
I
am
disappointed
?
"
"
And
is
this
my
fault
?
"
asked
Diana
,
in
a
soft
plaintive
tone
.
"
Does
your
lordship
suppose
that
I
