Jan Vedder's Wife - Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr (historical books to read txt) 📗

"lovely, and grand, and melancholy, as some forsaken goddess in her desolated shrine."

They were sitting at the time among the ruins of a temple to Pallas. The sun was setting over Lydian waters, and Jan seemed to see in the amber rays a vision of the tall, fair woman of his love and dreams. She ruled him yet. From the lonely islands of that forlorn sea she called him. Not continents nor oceans could sever the mystical tie between them. On the sands close by, some young Greek girls were dancing to a pipe. They were beautiful, and the dance was picturesque, but Jan hardly noticed them. The home-love was busy in his heart. "Until death us part." Nothing is more certain, in a life of such uncertainty.

Amid the loveliest scenes of earth they passed the winter months. It was far on in May when they touched Gibraltar on their return. Letters for both were waiting there. For Jan a short one from Dr. Balloch, and a long one from Michael Snorro. He was sitting with Snorro's in his hand when Lord Lynne, bright and cheerful, came out of his cabin. "I have very fair news, Jan; what has the mail brought you?" he asked.

"Seldom it comes for nothing. I have heard that my mother-in-law is dead. She was ever my friend, and I am so much the poorer. Peter Fae too is in trouble; he is in trouble about me. Wilt thou believe that the people of Lerwick think he may have----"

"Murdered you?"

"Yes, just that."

"I have often thought that the suspicion would be a natural one. Has he been arrested?"

"No, no; but he is in bad esteem. Some speak not to him. The minister, though, he stands by him."

"That is enough. If Dr. Balloch thought it necessary, he would say sufficient to keep Peter Fae out of danger. A little popular disapproval will do him good. He will understand then how you felt when wife and friends looked coldly on you, and suspicion whispered things to injure you that no one dared to say openly. Let Peter suffer a little. I am not sorry for him."

"Once he liked me, and was kind to me."

"Jan!"

"Yes, my friend."

"We are now going straight to Margate. I am promised office, and shall probably be a busy public man soon. It is time also that you buckled down to your work. We have had our holiday and grown strong in it--every way strong. What next?"

"Thou speak first."

"Well, you see, Jan, men must work if they would be rich, or even respectable. What work have you thought of?"

"Only of the sea. She is my father and my mother and my inheritance. Working on land, I am as much out of place as a fish out of water."

"I think you are right. Will you join the Merchant Service, or do you think better of the Royal Navy? I have a great deal of influence with the Admiralty Lords, and I have often wished I could be a 'blue jacket' myself."

"Above all things, I would like the Royal Navy."

"Then you shall be a 'blue jacket;' that is quite settled and well settled, I am sure. But every moment will take time, and it will probably be winter before I can get you a post on any squadron likely to see active service. During the interval I will leave 'The Lapwing' in your care, and you must employ the time in studying the technical part of your profession. I know an old captain in Margate who will teach you all he knows, and that is all that any of them know."

Jan was very grateful. The prospect was a pleasant one and the actual experience of it more than fulfilled all his expectations. "The Lapwing" was his home and his study. For he soon discovered how ignorant he was. Instruction in naval warfare was not all he needed. Very soon the old captain was supplemented by the schoolmaster. The days were too short for all Jan wished to learn. He grudged the hours that were spent in sleep. So busy was he that he never noticed the lapse of time, or, if he did, it was only that he might urge himself to greater efforts.

It did not trouble him that Lord Lynne seldom wrote, and never came. His salary was promptly paid, and Jan was one of the kind of men whom good fortune loves. He did not worry over events. He did not keep wondering what she was going to do for him, or wish night and day that she would make haste with the next step in his behalf. He took gratefully and happily the good he had, and enjoyed it to the utmost.

When a change came it was the first week in November. A lovely afternoon had not tempted Jan from his books. Suddenly the cabin door was darkened; he lifted his head, and saw Lord Lynne regarding him with a face full of pleasure. He came rapidly forward and turned over the volumes on the table with great interest. "I am glad to see these books, Jan," he said, "Arithmetic, Geography, History, French--very good, indeed! And your last letter delighted me. The writing was excellent. Her Majesty's officers ought to be educated gentlemen; and you are now one of them."

Jan looked up, with eager, inquiring face.

"Yes, sir; you are now Lieutenant Jan Vedder, of Her Majesty's Schooner Retribution. You are to sail for the African coast within a week. Jan, I congratulate you!"

Jan rose and put out both hands. The action was full of feeling. No words could have been so eloquent. It was worth an hour of words, and Lord Lynne so understood it.

"I called at the mail as I came through the town, here is a letter for you. While you read it I will go through the yacht."

When he returned Jan was walking anxiously about with the letter in his hand. "Has bad news come with the good, Jan?"

"I know not if it be bad or if it be good. Peter Fae hath married again."

"Do you know the new wife?"

"Well I know her. She was ever a good friend to me, but my wife liked her not."

"Is she young or old, pretty or otherwise?"

"Few women are so handsome, and she has not yet thirty years."

"Then it is likely Peter Fae has found a master?"

"That, too, is likely. Snorro says that he hath settled on her the house in which he lives, with much money beside. Perhaps now my Margaret will be poor. I can not think that she will live with Suneva. What then will she do? I wish to see her very much."

"That you can not possibly do, Lieutenant Vedder. You will be under orders in the morning. To leave your post now, would be desertion. I do not fear for your wife. She knows very well how to look after her own interests. The two women in Peter's house will be Greek against Greek, and your wife will certainly win some victories."

"I would not have her suffer, my friend."

"She will not suffer. It is likely I may be in Lerwick next summer; I will see to that. Have you saved any thing of your salary?"

"I have spent very little of it. I have now over L300."

"Then I advise you to send L200 to Dr. Balloch for her. Tell him if help is needed to give it. He will understand the wisest way in which it can be offered. If it is not needed, he can save it toward that L600."

"I can send L300."

"No, you can not. Uniforms must be bought, and fees must be paid, and there are numerous other expenses to meet. Now you must pack your clothes and books. To-morrow you must be in Portsmouth; there 'The Retribution' is waiting for you and for orders. The orders may arrive at any hour, and it is possible you may have to sail at once."

The next afternoon Jan was in Portsmouth. It was a wonderful thing for him to tread the deck of his own ship; a handsome, fast-sailing schooner, specially built for the African blockade. She carried a heavy pivot gun and a carronade, and had a crew of fifty officers and men. He could scarcely believe that he was to command her, even when his officers saluted him. In three days he was to sail, and there was much to be done in the interval. But the hurry and bustle was an advantage; he had no time to feel the strangeness of his position; and men soon get accustomed to honor. On the third day he filled his place with the easy nonchalance of long authority.

It was fortunate for Jan that the mission on which he was sent was one that stirred him to the very depths of his nature. In the seclusion and ignorance of his life in Shetland, he had heard nothing of the wrongs and horrors of slavery. It is doubtful if there had ever come into his mind, as a distant idea, the thought of a race of men who were as black as he was white. Therefore when Lord Lynne explained to him the cruelty and wickedness of the slave traffic, Jan heard him at first with amazement, then with indignation. That passionate love of freedom and that hatred of injustice, which are at the foundation of the Norse character, were touched at every point. The tears of pity, the fire of vengeance, were in his eyes. To chase a slaver, to punish her villainous owners, to liberate her captives! Jan took in the whole grand duty at once.

"I see you are pleased with your prospects, Jan. Many would not be. The duty of the African blockading squadron is very hard; it is not a favorite station. That fact made your appointment so easy."

"Only one thing could make my prospects brighter."

"What is that thing?"

"If Snorro could go with me! How he would rejoice in such work! He is so strong; when he is angry, he is as strong as six men, I think. Once I saw him put a sick fisherman behind his back, and compel the boat crew to give him his share. Yes, indeed! They looked in Snorro's face, and did what he said without a word. He would fly on these men-catchers like a lion. He would stamp them under his feet. It is a war that would make Snorro's heart glad. He would slay the foe as he would pour out water, and for the weak and suffering he would lay down his life. He would, indeed!"

Jan spoke rapidly, and with enthusiasm. Lord Lynne looked at him with admiration, as he said: "It is too late now to send for Snorro. How you do love that man, Jan!"

"Well, then, he deserves it. I would be a cur if I loved him not. I love thee, too. Thou saved me from myself; thou hast given to me like a prince; but as for Snorro! He gave me all he had! Thou art not grieved? Thou wilt not think me ungrateful for thy goodness?"

"If you had forgotten Snorro, Jan, I would not have trusted you for myself. You do right to love him. When the squadron is recalled he must be sent for. It is not right to part you two."

"I will tell him what thou says. It will make him