Doctor Syn on the High Seas - Thorndike Russell - Страница 38
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hat and the dignity of his bow, confirmed the opinion, so that, without
waiting for the stranger to speak, the Governor said heartily:
“Welcome to Charleston, sir, and the Carolinas. I am the Governor of
the South State, and shall be honoured to know your name and business.”
“My name is Christopher Syn, sir,” he answered gravely, “and although
my sword and pistols seem to give the lie to it, I am yet a Doctor of
Divinity from our English Oxford.” And thereupon he recited the story he
had rehearsed so often to Mipps.
The Governor showed such commiseration over the fate of the illstarred Intention, and also at the hardships which the pirates had
inflicted upon the young parson and his faithful servant. But his pity
was outweighed by joy on learning that Black Satan and his Sulphur Pit
had gone to their last account, and he immediately invited Doctor Syn to
accompany him to his house so that they could crack a bottle in
celebration. Syn thanked him, but begged that he might first accompany
his servant to some inn, in order that they might stow away such
property as they had left them in the boat. The question of an inn
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the Governor swept aside, sending a serv ant to assist Mipps in disposing
of the boat and conveying its contents to his own residence, in which he
declared they should both stay till they had formed their further plans.
As far as Doctor Syn was concerned, things could not have fallen out
better, since the Governor, being the best-informed man in the Colony,
was the most likely to give him information concerning Nicholas. But he
was sorry for Mipps, and told him so at the first opportunity.
“To think, my good Mipps, that you have lorded it as a High Sea
Adventurer should now be called upon to play the humble valet to an
English parson.”
To which Mipps replied, “What does it matter, sir, what I does, as
long as I does my duty? And my bounded duty is to serve you in all
weathers and under all conditions. You bought me body and soul at my own
pricing, and all I hopes is that you have not made the worse bargain.”
During their stay at the Governor’s, Syn learned much about his
enemy. At first the fellow had been liked well enough. He had spent
money freely: perhaps too freely, for he was soon in money difficulties
all over the town. His trading up-river was disappointing, and his name
became connected with many scandals, both in trade and private life. The
Governor did what he could, for, as he said, he was more than sorry for
the beautiful young wife and son.
“For their sakes,” he explained, “I managed to get the rascal out of
the State with a whole skin.”
“And you have any notion where they have gone?” asked Syn.
“His wife told me tha t her husband was attracted by the reports of
good trading up the Hudson River, and there is certainly business to be
done not only with the Indians, but also with the French. In which case,
the place to make inquiry would be Albany. I take it that you know the
man, and perhaps wish to get in touch with him?”
“I was at Oxford with him,” replied Syn. “Even there he had a way of
getting into scrapes. But sometimes the cleverest rascal goes too far.
Since the lady with him is my legal wife, you will own that I have the
strongest motive for getting in touch with him. And he will find that my
touch will not be gentle.”
“Perhaps I can help you,” went on the Governor. “for my cousin,
Colonel Clinton, is in command of the military in Albany. Between you, I
think this scoundrel could be brought to book.”
Three days later, Doctor Syn took leave of the Governor, and armed
with a letter of introduction to the Colonel, set sail with Mipps for
New York, from whence they could proceed to Albany.
The captain of the vessel, who had been told by the Governor of the
blowing up of the dreaded Sulphur Pit, never tired of questioning Doctor
Syn and Mipps about Black Satan.
On reaching New York, the captain was commissioned to carry a cargo
to Albany, so Syn and Mipps remained aboard and traveled with him up the
broad Hudson.
On arrival Syn took lodgings at the best inn, and then deposited the
bulk of their treasure in the vaults of an English Banking House. He
then presented his letter of introduction to Colonel Clinton, from whom
he learned that Nicholas had set out by canoe to trade with the Indian
tribes. He had taken Imogene and the boy, as well as an Indian
interpreter and guide. The Colonel advised Syn to await them in Albany,
assuring him that, short of any disaster overtaking them, the party
would return to the town on completion of business.
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For weeks they waited patiently, during which time Doctor Syn, by
preaching from the principal pulpits of the town, gained respect and
popularity. At last a letter came from the Governor of South Carolina,
which determined their stay at Albany, for the news it brought was
disquieting. After the usual courtesies to himself and servant, and
inquiries and kind messages to the Colonel, the letter went on to st ate
that besides Syn and Mipps, who had so luckily escaped from the pirate
ship in time, there had been one other survivor from the explosion.
I should be glad, my good Doctor, for any information you have have
concerning him, for my task is difficult in knowing how to deal with
him. From my description, I think you will not fail to remember him. He
is a mulatto. As ugly as a looking devil as ever I clapped eyes upon.
Thin to emaciation, with skin like cracked parchment. High cheek -bones
and the most brilliant black eyes, which seem to shoot out the blackest
hatred. His hair is deathly white. He understands no English, but we
have been able to gather something of his story through the help of one
of my slaves, a West Indies boy, who talks to him in the Cuban dialect.
This has been the more difficult because our mulatto is dumb. He lost
the power of speech from the shock of the explosion. He arrived here in
the most deplorable condition, half-starved and with bleeding feet,
having walked along the coast. I have lodged him in the goal, where my
own surgeon is attending him, in the hope of recovering his speech. Then
I could be the better judge of his integrity, for since you and your
faithful servant have recounted so many details of the Sulphur Pit, I
shall see if he is lying, should his story not agree with yours. In
which case my judgment will be the harsher, whereas, I now feel inclined
to think that he has been punished enough for his piracy.
Both Syn and Mipps remembered the mulatto well, as a mutinous dog
who had on many occasions threatened the discipline which they had
imposed upon the pirates.
“But even if his tongue does wag again,” said Mipps, “by the old
man’s letter, he won’t be believed, sir.”
“We must take no chances of that,” return ed Syn. “For if this mulatto
becomes too convincing, he may well upset our story, and we must not
forget that he knows me as Syn the parson who turned pirate. I am
therefore determined that Syn shall disappear. We will let people think
that I have died. I shall tell my friends here that I have had a solemn
call to preach the Gospel to the Redskins. When I do not return, they
will no doubt give me a martyr’s crown. Meantime, we will go on
searching for my enemy, who I believe does not intend returning to
Albany. I rather think his instinct tell him that I am already on his
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