Jane hurried off, but returned immediately with a face as pale as death. "They are taken down, mother; I think Will took them with him when he left us before sunset." "Mercy on us," said Alice, "keep close, child, and trust to Providence." Every blow which the ruffian dealt on the door became more effectual, until no longer able to resist them, it violently flew open. Jane screamed aloud as the ruffian rushed in; while old Alice, completely unnerved by terror, sank down in her chair. The looks of the savage intruder bore an aspect conformably fierce with his nature. "How now, old hag," said he, with a fiendish grin, "I'll take vengeance on thee for thine obstinacy. Hand me the iron coffer, I know its contents-hand it over-what, do you hesitate?-then take this," muttered the villain, drawing a knife from his bosom, which, in another moment, would have drank the blood of its victim, had not the report of a pistol been heard close by the doorway. The knife dropped, and the ruffian staggering a few paces, fell motionless to the ground. "What means this outrage ?" cried the well-known voice of Will, rushing in, and throwing the pistol he had just discharged on the table. "Mother, Jane, ye arn't hurt, are ye?" Old Alice raised her head, and exclaimed, "God be praised for this deliverance !" Jane spoke not, terror had so overpowered her, that she sank to the floor. Will gently raised and placed her in a chair; then stooped to examine the face of the ruffian. "A grim fellow !" said he, "methinks I've seen his ugly mug before; he's got it though, whoever he is." Old Alice and Jane gradually recovered their alarm." "Twas the mercy of Providence," said the former," that you came so opportunely, Will; but where tarried you so long.' "" "Oh, at a friend's, mother, some way up the coast; 'tis a dark night, which much impeded my progress homewards; but good luck for us, it made no odds to me in taking aim. What meant this fool in breaking into this wretched hovel ?" "He sought money of us," answered Jane. "He spoke of your iron coffer, mother, I did not understand him." "Nor I, child, unless he meant that old iron chest which poor Jonathan used to keep his writings and papers in; but how he should have known ought concerning it confounds my powers of conception." "But where shall I stow the rogue's carcase?" asked Will, "it strikes me I'd better drop it over the cliffs." "Put it where you will," said Alice, "it matters not, so as we get rid of it." Will proceeded to execute his purpose, when a deep groan issuing from the ruffian's lips, proved that life was not yet extinct. By heavens," said Will," the wretch breathes. No good can come of him, so I'll finish him." "Nay, brother," said Jane, catching his arm," he must not die, if we can save him. He is a fellow creature, and, though a villain, must not be butchered like a dog. 'Tis folly to fear him now. Consider, brother, I entreat you, should he recover, he may live to repent his past crimes." Her entreaties were not fruitless.Will, after a little demur, scratched his head, and at length ejaculated," You're right, Jane, it shall be as you desire." So saying, he raised the wounded man's head. "Now, Jane, bring the brandy flask, and fetch a little water to staunch this ugly wound." Jane speedily produced both, and applied the brandy to the man's mouth, which did not lack its noted efficacy.The ball had pierced the lungs, leaving the heart untouched; but from the extreme difficulty of respiration, it was evident that the sufferer would not live long. He half opened his eyes, and with a faint voice begged a chair. Will raised him, and placed him in the one which old Jonathan occupied when living. "Th-anks, th-anks," said the man, "for this unmerited kindness." But his tones amply testified the agony he was enduring. "Compose yourself," said Will, we'll treat you better than you seemed "Rebuke me not," said the wretch, my time is short; the pain I suffer tells me so; let me make best use of it.Dame Alice, you know me not." Alice looked gravely on his haggard features, and shook her hoary head. "Then, answer this question, was the name of Martyn Gaunton ever mentioned in thine hearing?" "What!" said Alice, starting, and eyeing him with the deepest scrutiny ;-"What of him?-he perished long since at sea." "Report said so," replied the man, "but spoke falsely. No, 'twere better for him if he had perished than lived to perpetrate a catalogue of crimes, the recollection of which now stings and racks his conscience. Woman! I am Martyn Gaunton; I-the once bold buccaneer. I tell thee, though you knew it not, I have cruised many a time with old Jonathan thy late husband. Nay, stare not, my words are sooth; would not add falsehood in my last moments to my former crimes." A fresh flow of blood followed the exertion required in speaking. Will stood stanching the wound.Jane sat silent and motionless; while old Alice listened to the dying man's account with increasing curiosity. After a short pause, he again spoke. "Woman," said he, "I once claimed thy husband's friendship and confidence; some twenty years back we belonged to the same ship, and fought our country's battles side by side. I can remember as well as if it were but yesterday, how cordially we shook hands when we beheld each other alive, after the bloody but glorions first of June.' Many a time I have reflected on that day, and sighed to view the contrast it formed with my subsequent life. Madman that I was, when might have risen to an honourable post in my king and country's service! Through some whim or caprice, I deserted, joined a numerous gang of smugglers, and soon, from my experience at sea, became their captain. In that accursed hour I forfeited honour, and all that made my former life happy; among other things, I lost the friendship of good Jonathan. He had but one fault, and that I abhorred-he was a miser." Alice. "I do so in service to you," said the man, "'tis the only compensation for thy wrongs I can offer. Had I not known that my booty was rich, I had not thus visited thy wretched abode. And now, woman, to prove my words, fetch me the iron coffer I demanded; fetch it, I implore you!" Old Alice, more to gratify her own curiority than from any other motive, bade Will produce it. It resembled in shape an old clumsy writing desk, and the rust which had partially corroded the exterior, amply proved its antiquity. When it was placed on the table, old Alice produced the key from a drawer in the room. "Now, open it," cried the man, impatiently. The bolt, after a short tug with the brawny hand of Will, at length receded. The lid was raised, and dusty papers first presented themselves. These were carefully removed, under an idea that some inexhaustible treasure was conceal ed beneath. But no such thing appeared. After routing out every parcel of paper, Will found a massy key at the bottom of the coffer. All gazed on Martin Gaunton for an explanation-but it was too late; in the eager scrutiny his last convulsive gasps had been unheard. In death his stern eyes were fixed on the iron coffer. What was to be done?What clew could be gained to the mysterious assertions of Martyn Gaunton? "The papers, Will, the papers, peruse them," said old Alice. Will and Jane took the papers and examined them separately. They contained mostly letters dated some time back; but the hand-writing bore no similarity with that of old Jonathan. ""Tis all a cheat," cried Will, somewhat chagrined at the event of his search; "the man either lied or was a fool." So saying he sulkily threw himself on a chair. Jane was soon tired of her job also. The iron coffer was replaced in its former situation, but the key which had been found in it was kept in the safe custody of old Alice. No further step was taken to realise the words of Martyn Gaunton. About a year after the eventful night, old Alice died; Jane shortly after was espoused to a sturdy member of the preventive service; and Will became the solitary inhabitant of the sea-side hut. Wind and weather had united their efforts against its mouldering walls, and gained an easy admittance through the chasms which appeared in every direction. Will often thought of changing his wretched abode, but he remembered that it had been the shelter of his father for many a year, and could make no determination of leaving it. One night whilst sitting in a somewhat meditative mood, beside the expiring embers of his grate, the wind whistling in his ears, and the dash of the wave on the shore distinctly audible, Will's thoughts wandered back to the night of Martyn Gaunton's death. He ruminated on the villain's dying words. "What motive," said he to himself, "could have induced the rogue to speak false? His looks were impressive, and mayhap there is some foundation for his assertions. But the more I try to solve it, the more inexplicable the riddle seems. The key, too, for what could that be concealed under a parcel of papers? I'll e'en take another peep at the interior of this iron coffer, as it's termed. I may as well employ my mind in reading the letters, as sit moping over this miserable fire." With this determination he arose from his seat, placed the coffer on the table, and was soon busied in the perusal of his father's papers. The writing was not very legible, and somewhat puzzled Will, who was anything but an apt scholar for such a task. Will persevered in his researches for two hours, but, unable to derive the least information from the papers, he gave over the task as hopeless, and again despaired of a clew wherewith he might unravel the tale of Martyn Gaunton, which now impressed itself more deeply than ever upon his mind. "If," thought he, " my father was in truth a miser, would he not have trusted my old mother with the secret? Could he possibly have concealed it from her?— And yet," continued he, "misers have been known to contrive secrecy so artfully, that no earthly wisdom could detect it, and chance alone has revealed their hidden treasures. Be that as it may, I am resolved to satisfy my mind on this subject, and an inward foreboding tells me that my labour will not be lost. I'll search in every crack and corner of this hut, and, though house and home, I'll pull it down and lay bare the very foundations.” That very night Will set about executing his purpose, and ere an hour from the commencement of his operations had elapsed, the mystery explained itself. It may readily be supposed that the upper room, which old Jonathan had always set apart for himself, was deemed by Will to be the more worthy of scrutiny. His father had used to take his nightly repose on a wooden couch of his own construction, which stood in a recess of the room. Will removed it, and on applying his axe to the flooring, discovered from the sound there was a hollow beneath. The boards, which were of much harder substance in that spot than in other parts of the room, offered a stubborn resistance to Will's repeated blows. Will at length laid down the axe, and began to reconnoitre with the aid of a lantern. In a corner he found a large key hole bored in a plank. "This looks well," he exclaimed, on descrying it. "I'll wager the key in the iron coffer fits it." So saying he fetched it, and on applying it found he was not wrong in his calculation. The lock yielded, the broad plank was raised, and a neat vault developed itself beneath. In it two kegs, neatly encircled by iron hoops, were carefully deposited. On raising them, Will's hopes were strongly excited on account of their immense weight. On breaking them open those hopes were realised. Each keg contained a vast quantity of gold and silver coins; most of them bore the stamp of Queen Anne's time, some were of a later period. Will was quite at a loss to find a reason why his father had never, not even on his death-bed, disclosed the secret to his kindred, but he thanked his kind stars which had thrown their light upon the subject. It was ever a mystery to him by what means his father had amassed so much wealth. No living soul could give evidence concerning it. Martyn Gaunton had been the only being whom old Jonathan had trusted. The sequel is obvious: Will was in possession of more wealth than from his humble station in life he knew how to enjoy. When the circumstance became known, the antiquaries were all on the alert, and the ancient was soon exchanged for double and tremble its worth in the then current coin. The contents of the two kegs disappeared entirely, save a Queen Anne's guinea, which Will determined to keep in commemoration of the fortunate discovery. Will inherited not the miserly propensities of his father. He shared his profits with his sister, and in his own affluence. did not neglect the wants of others. On the site of the old hut he built a snug house, and when sitting alone before his cheerful fire, often reflected on the night in which the statement of Martyn Gaunton was verified. H.C.B. TOM CRINGLE'S DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPTURE OF A MERCHANTMAN BY A PRIVATEER. On this evening, (we had by this time progressed into the trades, and were within three hundred miles of Barbadoes) the sun had set bright and clear, after a most beautiful day, and we were bowling along right before it, rolling like the very devil; but there was no moon, and although the stars sparkled brilliantly, yet it was dark, and we were the sternmost of the men-of-war, we had the task of whipping in the sluggards. It was my watch on deck. A gun from the Commodore, who shewed a number of lights. Who is that, Mr. Kennedy?' said the Captain to the old gunner.-'The Commodore has made the night signal for the stern-most ships to make more sail and close, sir.' We repeated the signaland stood on hailing the dullest of the merchantmen in our neighbourhood to make more sail, and firing a musket-shot now and then over the more distant of them. By and by we saw a large West Indiaman suddenly haul her wind, and stand across our bows. "Forward there,' sung out Mr. Splinter, stand by to fire a shot at that fellow from the boat gun if he does not bear up. What can he be after ?-Sergeant Armstrong,' to a marine, who was standing close by him, in the waist;-' get a musket, and fire over him.' It was done, and the ship immediately bore up on her course again; we now ranged alongside of him on his larboard quarter. 666 'Ho, the ship, a hoy!'-Hillo !' was the reply. Make more sail, sir, and run into the body of the fleet, or I shall fire into you; why don't you, sir, keep in the wake of the Commodore ?" No answer. "What meant you by hauling your wind just now, sir?' 66 6 Yesh, yesh,' at length responded a voice from the merchantman. "Something wrong here,' said Mr. Splinter. Back your maintopsail, sir, and hoist a light at the peak; I shall send a boat on board of you. Boatswain's mate, pipe away the crew of the jolly boat. We also backed our maintopsail, and were in the act of lowering down the boat, when the officer rattled out, Keep all fast, with the boat; I can't comprehend the chap's manoeuvres for the soul of me. He has not hove-to.' Once more we were within pistol-shot of him. Why don't you heave-to, sir?' All silent. 'Presently we could perceive a confusion and noise of struggling on board, and angry voices, as if people were trying to force their way up the hatchways from below; and a heavy thumping on the deck, and a creaking of the blocks, and rattling of the cordage, while the mainyard was first braced one way, and then another, as if two parties were striving for the mastery. At length a voice hailed distinctly. We are cap. tured by a A sudden sharp cry, and a splash overboard, told of some fearful deed. "We are taken by a privateer, or pirate,' sung out another voice. This was followed by a heavy crunching blow, as when the spike of a butcher's axe is driven through a bullock's forehead deep into the brain. "By this the captain was on deck, all hands had been called, and the word had been passed to clear away two of the foremost carronades on the starboard side, and to load them with grape. "On board there-get below, all you of the English crew, as 1 shall fire with grape.' "The hint was now taken. The ship at length came to the wind-we rounded to, under her lee-and an armed boat, with Mr. Treenail, and myself, and sixteen men, with cutlasses, were sent on board. "We jumped on deck, and at the gangway, Mr. Treenail stumbled, and fell over the dead body of a man, no doubt the one who had hailed last, with his scull cloven to the eyes, and a broken cutlass blade sticking in the gash. We were immediately accosted by the mate, who was lashed down to a ringbolt close by the bits, with his hands tied at the wrists by sharp cords, so tightly, that the blood was spouting from beneath his nails. "We have been surprised by a privateer schooner, sir; the lieutenant of her, and twelve men, are now in the cabin.' "Where are the rest of the crew? "All secured in the forecastle, except the second mate and boatswain, the men who hailed you just now; the last was knocked on the head, and the former was stabbed and thrown overboard.' "We immediately released the men, eighteen in number, and armed them with boarding pikes. What vessel is that astern of us?' said Treenail to the mate. Before he could answer, a shot from the brig fired at the privateer, shewed she was broad awake. Next moment Captain Deadeye hailed. "Have you mastered the prize crew, Mr. Treenail? "Aye, aye, sir.'' Then keep your course and keep two lights hoisted at your mizen peak during the night, and blue Peter at the maintopsail yardarm; when the day breaks, I shall haul my wind after the suspicious sail in your wake.' "Another shot, and another, from the brig. By this time the lieutenant had descended to the cabin followed by his people, while the merchant crew once more took charge of the ship, crowding sail into the body of the fleet. "I followed him close, pistol and cutlass in hand, and I shall never forget the scene that presented itself when 1 entered. The cabin was that of a vessel of five hundred tons, elegantly fitted up; the panels were filled with crimson cloth and gold mouldings, with superb damask hangings before the stern windows and the side berths, and brilliantly lighted up by two large swinging lamps hung from the deck above, which were reflect ed from, and multiplied in, several plate glass mirrors in the panels. In the recess, which in cold weather had been occupied by a stove, now stood a splendid cabinet piano, the silk corresponding with the crimson cloth of the panels; it was open, a Leghorn bonnet with a green veil, a parasol, and two long white gloves, as if recently pulled off, lay on it, with the very mould of the hands in them. "The rudder case was particularly beautiful: it was a richly carved and gilded palm-tree, the stem painted white, and interlaced with golden fretwork, like the lozenges of a pine-apple, while the leaves spread up and abroad on the roof. "The table was laid for supper, with cold meat, and wine, and a profusion of silver things, all sparkling brightly; but it was in great disorder, wine spilt, and glasses broken, and dishes with meat upset, and knives, and forks, and spoons, scattered all about. She was evidently one of those London West Indiamen, on board of which I knew there was much splendour and great comfort. But, alas! the hand of lawless violence had been there. The captain lay across the table, with his head hanging over the side of it next to us, and unable to help himself, with his hands tied behind his back, and a gag in his mouth; his face purple from the blood running to his head, and the white of his eyes turned up, while his loud stentorous breathing but too clearly, indicated the rapture of a vessel on the brain. "He was a stout portly man, and although we released him on the instant, and had him bled, and threw water on his face, and did all we could for him, he never spoke afterwards, and died in half an hour. "Four gentlemanly-looking men were sitting at table, lashed to their chairs, pale and trembling, while six of the most ruffian-looking scoundrels I ever beheld, stood on the opposite side of the table in a row fronting us, with the light from the lamps shining full on them. Three of them were small, but very square mulattoes; one was a South American Indian, with the square high-boned visage, and long, lank, black glossy hair of his cast. These four had no clothing besides their trowsers, and stood with their arms folded, in all the calmness of desperate men, caught in the very fact of some horrible atrocity, which they knew shut out all hope of mercy. The two others were white Frenchmen, tall, bushy whiskered, sallow desperadoes, but still, wonderful to relate with, if I may so speak, |