The Buccaneer - A Tale

"Go to sleep, Solomon, and you, youngster, give us a song yourself,"

growled Grimstone, who had all the outward bearing of a savage; "the

evening is nigh closing, and the birds are gone to their nests.

Nevertheless, the song must be right proper: so tune up, tune up, my

boy!"

Springall, with due modesty, replied, "I could sing you sea songs, and

land songs, but these I leave to Robin Hays, who beats me hollow. The

clerk of our ship has translated one of Jeromio's lilts, so I'll tip you

a bit of sentiment.

"O'er the clear quiet waters

My gondola glides,

And gently it wakens

The slumbering tides.

All nature is smiling,

Beneath and above;

While earth and while heaven

Are breathing of love!

"In vain are they breathing

Earth, heaven--to me,

Though their beauty and calmness

Are whispers of thee:

For the bright sky must darken,

The earth must be grey,

Ere the deep gloom that saddens

My soul, pass away.

"But see, the last day-beam

Grows pale, ere it die;

And the dark clouds are passing

All over the sky.

I hear thy light footstep,

Thy fair form I see;

Ah! the twilight has told thee

Who watches for thee."

Towards the latter part of the ditty, which was but little relished by

the company, it was evident that Solomon had followed Grimstone's

advice, for his snoring formed a loud and most inharmonious bass to the

sweet boy-like melody of Springall's ballad.

Robin had rejoined the party, but his face and lips were of a livid

paleness, and he seemed labouring under evident distress.

"Art hurt, Robin?" inquired the stranger, who is known to us by the name

of Walter, now speaking for the first time. Robin shook his matted head

in reply.

"Something ails thee, man; something must ail thee--speak, good Robin."

"I'm neither sick, sad, nor sorry," he answered, affecting his usual

easy manner; "so here's a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull

altogether at the black jack, to the health--But pardon, I had forgotten

the wickedness of such profane customs." Yet Robin evidently did not

hold it profane to "swill the brown bowl" so eagerly, that but the lees

remained at the bottom, as he laid it down, refreshed and strengthened.

"So you won't give us a toast, Master Robin," said Springall; "well,

I'll not only give ye a toast, but I'll stand the price of a fresh jack

of double-dub for you all to drink it in; and I'll fight any man that

says it nay, besides."