The Quest of the 'Golden Hope': A Seventeenth Century Story of Adventure

ight I

wing straight from the English Channel, swept across the land, accompanied by heavy downpours of rain and hail; while ever and anon vivid f

the rolling expanse of gorse-clad heath. So fierce was the wind that the branches of a tree close to my casement were lashe

receded, and, tired

dawn, for 'twas still dark, when I awoke with a s

ghtly, and 'twould be impossible for it to move of itself; yet I heard the creaking of the metalwork as the casement was slowly and

less in my bed, thinking 'twas the Evil One

thout, crept silently through the now open window, past the foot of my bed,

he worthy Doctor Colling's discourses had I heard

me stranger had time to get clear of the room; then, boldl

thanks once more to his active life afloat, but h

his bed, armed himself with a petronel, and hastened downstairs to surprise and,

most stair he tripped suddenly over a broom handle cunningly placed there for that purpose, and falling headl

reedom. In the darkness I heard the sounds of a furious struggle, but, being una

hud, and the next instant I was thrust violently against the wal

old Martha and groans in the darkness, while I heard Captain J

t was provided, my father was seen lying on his fac

one for!" and before we could rais

t was not to be thought of when we saw my father's desperate condition. Fearing to carry him upstairs to his ow

gh trembling with fear and anxiety, s

though I had found time to don my clothing, I tore over the sodden fields to

the surgeon came quickly; and having made a hasty examination, the grave lo

ent to consciousness, and while this was being done my glance fell upon the pict

. Almost at the same time Captain Miles noticed the empty fra

'Tis the friar's curse com

eble flicker of the rushlight till, in a mantle of vivid c

he precious chart had been the object of his entry there could be no doubt, for in the short space of

t-marked wainscot were silent evidences of the tragedy; while I found the hilt of a k

ad a clean cut in the right shoulder. Though it had bled somewhat,

, finding that the iron bars across the lower windows prevented him from entering save by much labour and trouble, he scaled the tree without your casement and entered your room. But, Clifford, sorry though I be for your father's plight and sore hurt,

inform the watch there will be danger of your discov

oyal. A fire broke out for'ard and threatened to consume us; our longboat and shallop were damaged, while alongside were swarms of sharks. As we

erplexedly, for I failed to

business, I would that nothing be said concerning the affair. Master Blackwood I know to be a stanch and upright man who detests the unlawful practices of King James; he

trength to wrench it free, and no little care, for the broken blade was as sharp as a razor. The steel was about a span in length, and wet for about half that distanc

said Captain Miles, taking the steel ou

portion of the broken blade, and the completed sentence is the Latin for 'Remember you must die'. I'll have a hilt fitted

I recall an old shipmate of mine who bought a dagger in Lisbon

ture, and bull-necke

picture, though, sink me! I cannot imagine why he should set such store on it. Nay; the man, though short in stature, was as thin as a handspike. But, my lad," he

irst obtained Constance's aid in appl

cene of desolation, but, stepping over the broken branches that everywhere littered th

and on so doing I found traces of blood on the bark. I noticed that, if viewed from the window, the marks of blood were on the right-hand side of the trunk, and, as the fugitive must have descended

villain was sore hurt, his track lay fresh

my fowling-piece, and calling Brun

belief in the corporal presence of the Evil One. The study of any contemporary writer will confirm this. A notable example is afforded by the panic of