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

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into execution, for the Golden Hope was to sail at early morn on the following day, an

e to let Constance know of my depart

cheese, and a small flask of milk; and unobserved

e, as was his wont, and go to his room. Then, when all was quiet, I hurriedly dressed, packed my food in a wallet, and prepared to escape by the window. As 'twas a calm moo

out, and grasping both parts of the rope, I descended hand over hand. Then it was an easy matter to pull the rope down after me, so

with a rapid stride and beating he

the forest, where the tall branches, meeting overhead, shut out the moonlight. 'Twas a weird journey in the

he road continuing hilly yet fair-going; and havin

oads I heard the distant thud of a horse's

have been disc

my uncle's manservant on my track; but in a cloud of dust that rose slowly in the bright moonlight a horse

pursuit came four men, with set faces and loose rein. They, too, disappeared, but I could not summo

ble size, dominated by a lofty square tower

the recesses to rest awhile, making a meal of the f

tower of which I had seen a long way down the road. The moonbeams danced on the placid waters of an inland sea, while from f

ess was broken by the splash of a lordly salmon. "The stream and I have both the

stioned, I ran down the approach to the bridge and, vaulting over the low parapet,

eir midst, his legs bound beneath his horse's belly, rode the man they h

of the main street, where the moon threw deep shadows athwar

--though why thus armed I am at pains to suggest, for so tottering were his footsteps that I could have knocked him down with ease. Neither could

and a fine mornin

ectly the way was clear I set off at a steady trot, never stopping till I had gained a second bridge and had reac

le dawn began to glimmer in the east, I saw from the brow of a lofty hill the whole extent of Poole Harbour spread out li

down the narrow High Street, guided by the

bustling about--fishermen returning from their night's work, and men, heavy-eyed as the result of their previous night's carouse, stumbling back

was very doubtful whether he would take me aboard the Golden Hope. I m

a large, wall-sided brig, with tall masts, from which the sails hung loosely, awaiting b

a heavy footstep caused me to turn round, a

stant, and gripping me by

ter Hammond, what

Henry," I replied; "I want to go with Capta

an reprovingly. "Why, if so be you wants to go to sea,

eye to eye with me in that matter; th

r you were as true as steel to us when we were shut up in that

ng off the quay. Here he spoke a few words to a ferrety, blear-eyed man, handing tankard

his thumb in the direction of a ro

I DESCENDED H

lmost to my thighs. Next I donned a long oilskin coat, cracked all over by the heat of the sun and smelling m

his handiwork, he crossed over to the hearth, and covering his hand

arked approvingly; and sallying out

a heavy sack, and, hoisting it on to my shoulders, he a

ame task, some of them seamen belonging to the ship

oon-coloured coat, dark blue breeches, and long boots, while on his hea

disguise, but, to my great relief, he went by unsuspectingly, and the next moment

astonished me. She was about 200 tons burthen, and carried nine seve

pace amidships; and down the hatch descended the stream of laden men, jostling agai

ens, the sudden change to the gloom of the hold made it hard for me to dis

e stout curved frames, while overhead, save where the hatch gaped to the light of day, huge timbers crossed athwart ship barely five fee

eet in height, separated the cargo and stores from the cable tier. There two neatly coiled ropes, thicker than my leg above

feeble glimmer o

ikin of water and some hard tack as soon as I can. No one will see you here, but take care of yon

asked, bewilder

when we've got to let go, 'specially if sh

ing to look me up as soon as his duties would permit, the old seaman hastened away, and I was lef

e hatches were replaced, and the hold was in darkness, save for the dull ye

he old seaman reappeared, bringi

wind's dead in our teeth. 'Twill be a long job, I'll allow, afore we clear t

fterwards I heard the tramp of many feet on deck, mingl

Hope was