was going to carry all this clutter without a horse and trap.”
The sail up and cat ching the wind, Mipps shipped his oars and the boat
spanked along magnificently. When they were safely round the head of the
river-bank, and headed north, Mipps signed with relief.
“No danger now, sir,” he said. “I was very anxious to get the head
between us and the ship. You never know with all them drunken dogs
about, and the magazine so full of powder.”
“Tut, man, the magazine is locked and the key in our cabin,” said
Syn. “They’re not likely to want powder with so much rum in ‘em.”
“Well, I was only wishful of warning you, sir, that should the
magazine blow up, don’t get jumping and upsetting the trim. Queer things
happens even on pirate ships. And the very name of Sulphur Pit puts one
thinking of explosions.”
These words were hardly out of hi s mouth when the sky was reddened
with flame, and a mighty roar rolled over the sea.
“Good God, man, that’s the ship!” cried Syn.
“Must be,” agreed Mipps. “It ain’t the fifth of November, certainly.
Good thing I warned you about trimming boat.”
Suddenly Syn suspected the truth. “Mipps,” he said, “was that what
you were doing when I was waiting in the boat? Did you go into the
magazine?”
“Yes, sir, and I must have left a lighted candle there,” he said
shamefacedly. “Very careless.”
“And a train of powder, too, no doubt,” added Syn grimly.
“Dead men tells no tales, sir,” said the little man. “And you and I
ain’t going to hang for scum like that. I didn’t want it on your
conscience, sir, you being a parson and all, but when you think it over,
you must own I took a good opportunity. We’re clear now of the Sulphur
Pit. Not a man could live through a bang like that, and I’ve done
nothing but what a man-o’-war wouldn’t have been proud to do. We’ve rid
the seas of a very dirty mob. Confess, sir. Am I right? I’ll be glad to
know what you think.”
“I think you’re more of a little devil than I suspected. But if your
case was put to a vote, I believe the rights would be more than the
wrongs.”
“Thankee, sir,” groaned Mipps. “You’ve took it handsome. And how
about a nice little nip of rum to keep out the cold?”
“Aye, pass the bottle,” answered Syn.
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Chapter 13
Redskins
The two hundred miles from St. John’s River to Charleston were
navigated in less days than they had hoped to be possible. The breeze
held steadily behind them and the weather fine, so that on the whole,
the way was pleasant. Clear of the pirates, they could now talk freely,
and the liking which had always existed between the companions ripened
into a real friendship. But no familiarity in Syn’s conversation could
break down the respectful attitude of Mipps, and the parson thanked God
for his ally. By the time they sighted Charleston, they understood each
other well, and each knew that he could depend upon the other in any
circumstances. They concocted a ringing-true story which Syn was to
carry to the Governor, and during sailing hours he had rehearsed this
over and over again, till both were satisfied. Each time some little
detail was added, till on one occasion at the end of his recital Syn saw
that the little pirate’s eyes were filled with tears, and asked him what
was wrong.
“It’s so pathetic,” blubbered Mipps. “I ain’t had a cry for years.
No, not since a friend of mine had an aunt, that died, who was very fond
of him. And if our story you keep telling me was true, I think I should
never stop crying. It’s a most wonderful yarn, I considers, and if the
Governor don’t cry hisself silly over our misfortunes, he’s a cold
pebble.”
But the Governor was no pebble. I ndeed, he proved himself a very
sympathetic friend. As luck would have it, he was walking with a wealth
merchant on the quay, when the wayfarers put in, and being curious as to
what they, were he sent a servant to inquire.
Now, although Mipps had considered it advisable to arrive in port
disheveled, dirty and unshaven, in order to heighten the effect of the
imagined hardships they had undergone, Syn had insisted upon making a
careful toilet before appearing.
“Elegance and cleanliness will gain more sympathy,” he had argued.
“In all tribulations a gentleman possessing fresh linen and a razor
should take the pains to use them.”
It was obvious, therefore, to the Governor, as he watched Syn’s
striking figure coming towards him on the quay, that there was a man of
parts, a gentleman. The manner in which he swept off his threecornered
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.”