The Buccaneer - A Tale

"Some ten of you look out for the murderer," commanded the stern voice

of Colonel Jones, who had by this time received the whole account from

the Lady Frances.

"You will not be able to find her," exclaimed the alarmed Burrell,

dreading that, if she were secured, she might communicate the secret she

still retained. "You will not, I assure you, be able to find her," he

repeated, as the sturdy soldiers prepared to obey their officer's

command.

"You know the person, then, Sir Willmott," said Colonel Jones, coldly.

Burrell looked abashed. "Mistress Constantia will, I hope, forgive me,"

added the rough soldier, walking towards the steps of the altar, where

the lady of Cecil Place still supported the fading form of the poor

faithful maiden she had so truly loved--"Mistress Constantia will

forgive one of her father's oldest friends for thus breaking in upon and

disturbing a most solemn ceremony. His Highness has commanded her

bridegroom to be brought before him, and the marriage to be stayed,

inasmuch as he charges Sir Willmott Burrell with being already wedded!"

The maiden to whom he spoke looked up, and gazed into the countenance of

the speaker; but it would have been difficult to determine the nature of

her feelings, save by the cold shudder that seemed to pass over her

whole frame.

On Sir Robert Cecil the information made no impression, for he

understood it not, though he smiled and bowed several times to his old

companion in arms. But the Buccaneer started, roused for a moment from

the one absorbing sorrow of his whole soul, but still heedless of the

danger he encountered in thus standing face to face with a troop of the

hardiest soldiers of the Commonwealth. Turning eagerly towards their

officer, he exclaimed,-"Ha! it is known!--then the papers were received."

"Traitor! double traitor! I have ye now!" shouted Burrell, presenting

his pistol at the head of the Buccaneer. Instantly Barbara, as with a

last effort, sprang from the arms of the Lady Cecil, and threw herself

on her father's bosom. The effort was not needed, for the weapon was

snatched from the villain's hand. He had now to encounter the reproof of

Colonel Jones.

"Sir Willmott, I thought I could have taken your word, that you had no

arms except your sword. I was mistaken."

"That fellow is the famous Buccaneer, Hugh Dalton, upon whose head a

price is set. Arrest him, Colonel Jones!" exclaimed Burrell, skilfully

turning the attention from himself to the Skipper, who stood embracing

the lifeless form of his daughter--gazing upon eyes that were now

closed, and upon lips parted no longer by the soft breath of as sweet a

maiden as ever was born of woman.