The Madman and the Pirate | Page 7

the suggestion being acted on.
It is possible that the two tremendous blows which Zeppa had received during the mutiny may have had something to do with his madness; but there can be no doubt that the intense mutual affection which had subsisted between him and his only child, and the sudden and awful manner of that child's end, were of themselves sufficient to account for it.
For Orlando had been all that a father could wish; loving, gentle, tender, yet lion-like and courageous in action, with a powerful frame like that of his father, and a modest, cheerful spirit like that of his mother. No wonder that both parents doted on him as their noblest terrestrial gift from God.
"And now," thought the crushed man, as he crouched on his mattress in the hold, "he is gone,--snatched away before my eyes, suddenly and for ever!"
It was when this thought recurred, again and again, that the cry of agony burst from him, but it was invariably succeeded by the thought, "No, not for ever. Orlando is with the Lord. We shall see him again, Marie and I, when we reach the better land."
And then Zeppa would laugh lightly, but the laugh would merge again into the bitter cry, as the thought would recur persistently--"gone--gone--for ever!"
Oh! it was pitiful to see the strong man thus reduced, and reason dethroned; and terrible were the pangs endured by the pirate chief as he heard and saw; but he had now schooled himself to accept what he called his "fate," and was able to maintain a calm, indifferent demeanour before his men. Of course he never for a moment, during all that time, thought of crying to God for mercy, for as long as a man continues to ascribe his sins and their consequences to "fate," he is a rampant and wilful, besides being an unphilosophical, rebel against his Maker.
At last, one afternoon, the peak of Sugar-loaf Island was descried on the horizon, close to where the sun was descending amid a world of golden clouds.
"Which side is the best for landing on!" asked the captain of his mate.
"The southern end, sir, which is steep and uninhabited," said Redford.
In half an hour they were under the shelter of the cliffs close to a creek, at the inner end of which there was a morsel of flat beach. Beyond this lay a richly wooded piece of land, which seemed to be connected with a gorge among the hills.
"Lower the boat" said Rosco. "Have three men ready, and, when I call, send them to the hold."
He descended as he spoke, and approached Zeppa, who looked at him with unmistakable ferocity.
"You are going on shore," he said to the poor madman, who seemed neither to comprehend nor to care for what he said.
"Once again," continued Rosco, after a pause, "I tell you that I had no hand in the death of your son. My men, if they had their way, would soon treat you as they treated him. They want to get rid of you, so, to save your life, I must send you on shore. It is an island--inhabited. I hope the natives will prove friendly to you. I hope you will get well--in time. Do you understand what I say?"
Zeppa neither spoke nor moved, but continued to glare at the man whom he evidently regarded as his deadliest foe.
A touch of pity seemed to influence the pirate captain, for he added in a softer tone, "I would have taken you with me, if it had been possible, and landed you on Ratinga. Perhaps that may yet be done. At any rate I will return to this island--we shall meet again."
At last the madman spoke, in a harsh, grating tone,--"If we meet again, you shall die!"
"I will do my best to avoid that fate," returned Rosco, with a touch of sarcasm. "Ho! lads! come down."
Three powerful seamen, who had stood at the hatchway awaiting the summons, descended, and at once laid hold of Zeppa. To their surprise, he made no resistance. To every one but the captain he behaved liked a lamb. Having been placed in the bottom of the boat alongside, with his hands still bound, they shoved off, and Rosco, taking the tiller, steered for the little creek.
The instant the keel touched the land two of the men jumped out and hauled the boat ashore. The others assisted Zeppa to land. They led him to a grassy bank, and bade him sit down. He obeyed meekly, and sat there gazing at the ground as if unable to comprehend what was being done. Rosco remained in the boat while a small box of biscuit was conveyed to the spot and left at the side of Zeppa.
Then, removing his bonds, the men re-embarked and returned to the schooner, which