Lady Anne Granard/Chapter 60
CHAPTER LX.
The intense anxiety manifested by Lord Meersbrook, when he first went down to Plymouth, did not, in the least, relax when the case became hopeless in the eyes of others, but rather increase, until it became a perfect fever of solicitude, admitting of no relief but that of perpetual action. It was soon partaken by numbers of fishermen, principally, of course, for the hope of reward, on the announcement of intelligence, but, in many cases, from that sincere sympathy man feels for man, when smitten by sorrow, and that peculiar fellowship with each other, experienced by all who gain subsistence on the waters. Perhaps, however, the wives and daughters, to whom he often spoke when rambling on the coast, peering from the headlands and inquiring the route of the fishing-boats, were become more interested in his search than the men: and many a pair of kind, bright eyes, at early dawn and late evening, looked out on the rolling waste of waters for him, when he was no longer there to watch for himself.
As his aged relatives travelled slowly, he was enabled to reach Exeter before them, and arrange every thing for their comfort in such a manner, that he hoped the climate would be as much for their advantage as their long journey might be to the contrary; and even before their arrival he placed them under the care of Mr. Kingden, as a medical adviser, on whose skill and kindness they might rely. He had great satisfaction in receiving them comparatively well, but they saw in him a change that was positively distressing; he was grown old with sorrow and ceaseless anxiety; and the rapidity with which he paced the rooms, the hurried way in which he swallowed his victuals, and his wandering gaze—all told them that till the worst was ascertained for him, there could be no peace; therefore they entreated him to resume those inquiries likely to be best prosecuted in Cornwall, about the Land's End and the Needles.
When he was gone, often would they consult on the propriety of releasing him from his promise, and forwarding him in a voyage to the Spanish coast; but the weather, which had been favourable, was again tempestuous, and they durst not commit their last treasure to the stormy deep, which they fully believed had engulphed his beloved brother. Their sorrow was beginning to take great effect on both, for their hearts were far younger than could have been supposed. Although they could not feel like Frederic, they felt more than they could sustain; and when the medical man's visit had been paid, they sat in silence, brooding on their troubles, and feeling that their "sun must set in clouds and thick darkness."
Under these circumstances, the arrival of Lord and Lady Rotheles, for the express purpose of cheering and comforting them, was like "a beam from heaven;" it compelled them to find new subjects for thought and conversation; and as the hotel could accommodate all with comfort, and they had the pleasure of visiters without the trouble, nothing could be better calculated for their revival and comfort. So much was Sir Edward delighted that he sent an express to inform Lord Meersbrook of this great act of friendship, in order that he might be the more easy on their account; but so much was his heart touched by this proof of what he deemed a tribute of friendship to his father's memory, that he could not forbear again going to Exeter to welcome and thank them; and this journey did him good—the only one of all his wanderings that did, for it included the only good night he had experienced in the last twenty.
After a short visit to his grandfather's room, and an affectionate farewell to Mrs. Margaret, Lord Meersbrook set out for Dartmouth, thinking that he had been wrong in going to Cornwall, since it stood to reason that Plymouth, far more than any other, would be the haven at which the Thetis would aim, because she would be so much more likely to fall in with other vessels from whom she might gain the help she could not fail to require if she yet survived. It was his intention to proceed in any little vessel he might be able to hire on the dart, but the weather was stormy; so he proceeded to Plymouth, and the following morning found him as it had often done before, wandering about Ramehead, asking questions of the pilchard curers, walking or riding, as he supposed was most conducive to extending his vision over the plain of rolling billows before him.
"Zur, zur," cried a pretty young woman, with whose husband he had held many consultations, "doan't ee mount ageen, doan't ee, till I've show'd ee the very thing ye want. I seed un in the trough not bye a minute agon, and ye'll now see him yerself; there he be, a hull and no better wi' neer a stick about un, but a mighty grand un for all that."
"Where is James's Sally? where is the boat? I think you're right—yes, yes! there is a ship dismasted, helpless, very large."
"Zure, zur, my eyes bean't use to deceave nobody. James is down there, if yer zarvant gallops quick, he may easily stop him; he's a putten up the zail, as you may see; but he can't go far, for he be alone to-day."
But Lord Meersbrook had mounted his own horse and flown to the spot, followed by the man, and Sally, putting her child into a neighbour's arms, followed also, determined, as she said, "to see what would come on it."
Although the trepidation and anxiety under which Lord Meersbrook now suffered prevented him from giving the shout he meditated being seen, he was attended to, and the fishermen soon put about and neared the shore sufficiently to learn his desire to be taken to a vessel about two miles distant, which he believed to be the Thetis.
"I am sorry to zay, zur, I fear ye be mistaken. I ha zeen nothin' o' the zort."
"But your wife has, and she showed it to me."
"That's enough; Sally's eyes are always right, but I ain't got my pardner, and I fear your man bean't worth a farden; bezides, he got the beasts to zee to."
"I am an old sailor myself; we shall manage very well."
"Just as if I couldn't help him," said his wife; "as if I hadn't helped him scores o' times!"
"Well, but thee knowz I promised, when the led were born, I'd never ask thee agin; but come along, the'll be precious useful, I know."
And thus, indeed, she proved; for so accurately had she marked the situation of the slowly-rolling, weltering hulk, as to its bearings from where she stood, as to give her husband the best possible directions, though view he had none, for there was a lull on the water; and the little skiff now rose, now fell, in a way that would have been alarming to unpractised persons, and at length appeared to be, all at once, precipitated on the huge vessel she sought, and which, despite of all its injuries and sufferings, was the Thetis.
Lord Meersbrook sank down breathless from extreme agitation, utterly unable to ask a single question; the young couple comprehended his situation, and, not doubting that his brother was the captain, seeing they were attended to, bawled out, hastily, "How's your captain?"
"Dead, and buried in Corunna long since," was the sorrowful reply.
Lord Meersbrook started to his feet, and screamed rather than shouted, "Where is Lieutenant Hales?"
"Here, and alive; no one is well; we are starving!"
"Alas! alas! and we have nothing to give them."
"Lord, zur, never trouble yourself for that'n; here comes the tackle, and if you'll please go up, Sally an' me 'll be back in a crack, and send your man to the government house at Plymouth, in a twinkling, and there's a loaf an' a bottle o' beer in the locker, at all events."
"An' a bit o' mutton, too, for his honour's brother, which I call great luck, great luck."
"Luck!" exclaimed Lord Meersbrook, recalling his senses. "Sally, here is a lucky purse for you; you must keep it and a bit of the gold in it for your boy, and then he'll never want, you know."
"Well, zur. Oh! dear, I'm raally ashamed; doan't ee go up without the loaf an' bottle, doant ee; hunger's a sad thing. What a heap o' golden pieces, all spick an' span! Jim shall have a hat an' feather all round."
The murmurings of Sally's voice ceased, and many hands, for all were weak ones, assisted in receiving the stranger, and he looked round from one pale and sallow face to another, for the one he sought. "Go to the cabin, sir," was said by someone near him, and soon afterwards a hand took hold of his and led him to the captain's cabin. "Alas! " thought he, "Arthur keeps his bed; I have arrived to see him die." The person who led him in, closed the door—then fell on his neck, exclaiming, "Frederic, you do not know me!"
And was this lank, shadowy, parchment-skinned creature, Arthur?—the handsome, animated, loveable Arthur? Where was the fire of his eye? the charm of his smile? the youth and vigour breathing through his frame, and almost inspiring the feelings it expressed? The long-trembling brother felt as if his worst fears were realized, his most distressing imaginings fulfilled, and he wept in very anguish of soul, from pity of the past, and fear for the future.
"Please, captain, the gentleman have brought these here wittles," said a voice.
"My good fellow, ask the doctor to divide the loaf amongst you; give me a morsel of the mutton, and give the two sick the remainder. Tell the crew I thank them for this act of good conduct more than all the rest; to-morrow, I trust."
"To-night, to-night, " exclaimed Frederic, starting up, "you will all be relieved; food will be brought, the vessel towed into harbour, and." But the poor fellow had vanished. However inadequate Sally Bragley's brown loaf might be to giving the men a mouthful a-piece, it was no fool of a loaf, being meant for a week's provision for two men, and the sight of it was cheering and promising. Lord Meersbrook felt himself to blame in giving way to his feelings rather than thanking God for the good he had obtained, and which had so long eluded him. "Had I sought you sooner," said he, "perhaps I might have helped you, but my grandfather made me promise not to tempt such terrible seas."
"He was perfectly right. We have been driven to and fro, in the most extraordinary manner, if any thing that happens in a tempest can be called so, and no power on earth could possibly help us. We had such bad weather in the Mediterranean, it fairly wore out my good captain, and scarcely had we left Corunna, when it re-commenced; our excellent Lieutenant Maxwell, and many a brave fellow besides, have been its victims."
"A drop of water, your honour; the doctor says it's your share."
"This is a comfort; Frederic, you brought it, of course; 'tis a strange colour, but very welcome."
"No, your honour; it was the fisherman's wife handed up her husband's water-cask and a bottle o' beer, so we puts 'em together."
"If I live to land, I'll give that woman a kiss, if she's as ugly as Hecate," said Arthur, setting down the glass with the air of one exceedingly refreshed; it was the first moment in which he had appeared to resemble himself at all, and Lord Meersbrook seized it to say, "You have never inquired after Georgiana?"
"How could I even dare to think of her, with death staring me in the face, as he has long done, knowing, too, as I must, that although I have the good wishes of the rest of the family, the mother will compel her to marry whom she will. I must not talk of her; hunger has come into my door quite sufficiently to send love out of the window."
"It is hard on Georgiana, whose mother has given a formal consent, and who is at this very moment breaking her little heart for you. However, I do not wonder at your hunger having a considerable effect, for I could do very well with my own tiffin, as we have often seen it in days past."
"I must see how the water in the hold is getting on. The poor fellows are getting so weak, though there are still many, the work can scarcely be per formed."
"I will go with you, I am a fresh hand; I will do my best."
Lord Meersbrook did enough to convince himself that he had overtaxed his strength of late, and to prove to the crew that he was own brother to him they called their "noble captain," and whom they devoutly believed to be the best and cleverest man beneath the sky. Every one felt that he owed his life to his captain's knowledge and ceaseless exertion, and valueless as that life might seem to be under their privations and labours, all were grateful for its preservation and the necessity of perpetually labouring to that end undoubtedly prevented them from yielding to that despondency natural to their awful state. So slow had been their progress for the last six or eight days, and so regularly had the water gained upon them, that it had been almost matter of certainty with the officers and the more experienced of the men, that they must sink even in view of their haven. Signals of distress seemed to offer their only chance for relief, and these, as the day declined, they began to make. Nothing could exceed the agonising expectations, the racking fears of Lord Meersbrook at this period; he could rely on the intentions of his messengers, but not on their intelligence. Happily, there was no fog; they could look round, and could see more easily than they could be seen; it was, therefore, right to continue their lights, right too, that the harassed hands should still labour, that the spark of hope should be kept alive in the more noble spirit, and the less gifted be compelled to perform its share, that even pity should sleep at the command of pity, and every man be induced to do his duty with all possible kindliness, but yet with all necessary authority. What a task for one so young, so gentle, but happily so wise and firm as Arthur!
The moon was in her first quarter, and she shone sweetly on the world of waters, here and there glistening on a white sail in the distance, but leaving a large portion of the scene she illuminated in shadow. "Oh! when would she shine on those vessels sent for their relief?" Whilst these words were for the thousandth time passing Lord Meersbrook's mind, he heard a voice near him say, "She settles fast," to which the reply was, "I know it—it is over." The speakers passed on, but in about another minute, Arthur came to him and said, "I have ordered out the long-boat; it is not in very good condition, but may serve; you must be the first to descend, be in readiness, for although my men are and have been wonderfully good, it is a moment of great trial, but of course I shall guard you to the utmost."
"Arthur, you will not leave the ship, and I shall not leave you."
"Then, my lord, I command you to quit the ship; and, if you do not obey instantly, I will put you in irons and have you carried down."
"Don't talk nonsense, Arthur; this is not a moment to"
"Take care of Georgiana—tell her my last thought was for her. Give my love to the dear old people, andGo my lord, I command you, this instant."
"Avast, there! ho ship! Thetis ahoy!"
"All right!" was exclaimed by many a tongue, and, lo! two mighty ships hove near and offered themselves as asylums to the mariners about to perish; and, as the Thetis lightened to a certain degree, she recovered her buoyancy, and the fresh strong men placed at her pumps soon succeeded in so far relieving her as to insure her safe conduct into port, whither Arthur, his brother, and two others, in the course of the next few hours, found her safely conducted.
That his warfare with the elements was ended, his crew saved, and his ship in port, could not fail to be satisfactory to him whose steady courage and untiring efforts, under an all-seeing eye, had been blessed to this end, we cannot doubt, but the joy, the rapture of the hour, were all for his brother. Exhausted nature demanded rest and food ere she admitted those warm emotions of pleasure and gratitude, which, we trust, may be oft renewed and enjoyed to the latest moment of existence.
It will be evident that much care was still required for a crew so situated; and the surgeon and his mate, who had been invaluable to their young commander, might have been compelled to extend the help so greatly needed, if the whole place had not been moved, as the heart of one man, to succour and assist the sufferers; so that, with the responsibility, the care and watchfulness of Arthur's situation was removed; and Lord Meersbrook, knowing that the arrival of the long missing ship, under the care of Lieutenant Hales, was telegraphed early in the morning, applied himself to writing various notes, the first being sent by express to Lord Rotheles, in order that he might have the pleasure of imparting the joyful news; the second was to Mr. Palmer, for Georgiana's especial comfort; but neither the servants at Meersbrook nor the old tenant in Worcestershire were forgotten, the only trouble of the writer being the impossibility of seeing every one himself, and sharing with them the sweet emotions and the profound thankfulness of his heart.