Kidnapped—Chapter 9: The Man With The Belt Of Gold

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Kidnapped—Chapter 9: The Man With The Belt Of Gold

May 20, 2020

For the Easter season, I am posting some rather different things on this channel, in addition to my regular output, as a little gift to my followers and supporters. This is the fourth book I am reading through: 'Kidnapped', by Robert Louis Stevenson. I hope that you all enjoy!

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You can also listen to the audio of these episodes on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/alastairs-adversaria/id1416351035?mt=2.

Transcript

Chapter 9 The Man With The Belt Of Gold More than a week went by in which the ill luck that had hitherto pursued the covenant upon this voyage grew yet more strongly marked. Some days she made a little way, others she was driven actually back. At last we were beaten so far to the south that we tossed and tacked to and fro the whole of the ninth day, within sight of Cape Wrath and the wild rocky coast on either hand of it.

There followed on that a council of the officers, and some decision which I did not rightly understand, seeing only the result, that we had made a fair wind of a foul one, and were running south. The tenth afternoon there was a falling swell and a thick, wet, white fog that hid one end of the brig from the other. All afternoon when I went on deck I saw men and officers listening hard over the bulwarks, for breakers, they said, and though I did not so much as understand the word I felt danger in the air and was excited.

Maybe about ten at night I was serving Mr. Reack and the captain at their supper, when the ship struck something with a great sound, and we heard voices singing out. My two masters leaped to their feet. "'She's struck!' said Mr. Reack.

"'No, sir,' said the captain. "'We've only run a boat down,' and they hurried out. The captain was in the right of it.

We had run down a boat in the fog, and she had parted in the midst and gone to the bottom with all her crew but one. This man, as I heard afterwards, had been sitting in the stern as a passenger, while the rest were on the benches rowing. At the moment of the blow the stern had been thrown into the air, and the man having his hands free, and for all he was encumbered with a freeze overcoat that came below his knees, had leaped up and caught hold of the brig's bowsprit.

It showed he had luck, and much agility and unusual strength, that he should have thus saved himself from such a pass, and yet when the captain brought him into the round-house, and I set eyes on him for the first time, he looked as cool as I did. He was smallish in stature, but well-set and as nimble as a goat. His face was of a good open expression, but sunburnt very dark, and heavily freckled and pitted with the smallpox.

His eyes were unusually light, and had a kind of dancing madness in them that was both engaging and alarming. And when he took off his greatcoat he laid a pair of fine silver-mounted pistols on the table, and I saw that he was belted with a great sword. His manners, besides, were elegant, and he pledged the captain handsomely.

Altogether I thought of him at the first sight, that here was a man I would rather call my friend than my enemy. The captain, too, was taking his observations, but rather of the man's clothes than his person, and to be sure as soon as he had taken off the greatcoat he showed forth mighty fine for the round-house of a merchant-brig, having a hat with feathers, a red waistcoat, breeches of black plush, and a blue coat with silver buttons and handsome silver lace—costly clothes, though somewhat spoiled with the fog and being slept in. "'I'm vexed, sir, about the boat,' says the captain.

"'There are some pretty men gone to the bottom,' said the stranger, 'that I would rather see on the dry land again than half a score of boats.' "'Friends of yours,' said Hoseason. "'You have none such friends in your country,' was the reply. 'They would have died for me like dogs.' "'Well, sir,' said the captain, still watching him, 'there are more men in the world than boats to put them in.' "'And that's true too,' cried the other.

'And ye seem to be a gentleman of great penetration.' "'I have been in France, sir,' said the captain, so that it was plain he meant more by his words than showed upon the face of them. "'Well, sir,' said the other, "'and so has many a pretty man for the matter of that.' "'No doubt, sir,' said the captain, "'and fine coats.' "'Aho!' said the stranger, "'is that how the wind sets?' And he laid his hand quickly on his pistols. "'Don't be hasty,' said the captain.

"'Don't do a mischief before you see the need of it. "'You've a French soldier's coat upon your back "'and a Scotch tongue in your head, to be sure. "'But so has many an honest fellow in these days, "'and I dare say none the worse of it.' "'So,' said the gentleman in the fine coat, "'are ye of the honest party?' "'Meaning, was he a Jacobite? "'For each side in these sort of civil broils "'takes the name of honesty for its own.' "'Why, sir,' replied the captain, "'I am a true blue Protestant, and I thank God for it.

"'It was the first word of any religion "'I had ever heard from him, "'but I learnt afterwards he was a great churchgoer "'while on shore. "'But for all that,' says he, "'I can be sorry to see another man "'with his back to the wall.' "'Can you so indeed?' asked the Jacobite. "'Well, sir, to be quite plain with ye, "'I am one of those honest gentlemen "'who were in trouble about the years 45 and 6, "'and to be still quite plain with ye, "'if I got into the hands of any of the red-coated gentry, "'it's like it would go hard with me.

"'Now, sir, I was in France, "'and there was a French ship cruising here to pick me up, "'but she gave us the go-by and the fog, "'as I wish from the heart that ye had done yourself. "'And the best that I can say is this, "'if ye can set me ashore where I was going, "'I have that upon me will reward you highly "'for your trouble.' "'In France,' says the captain. "'No, sir, that I cannot do, "'but where ye come from, "'we might talk of that.' "'And then, unhappily, "'he observed me standing in my corner "'and packed me off to the galley "'to get supper for the gentleman.

"'I lost no time, I promise you, "'and when I came back into the roundhouse, "'I found the gentleman had taken a money-belt "'from about his waist "'and poured out a guinea or two upon the table. "'The captain was looking at the guineas, "'and then at the belt, "'and then at the gentleman's face, "'and I thought he seemed excited. "'Half of it,' he cried, "'and I'm your man.' "'The other swept back the guineas into the belt "'and put it on again under his waistcoat.

"'I have told you, sir,' said he, "'that not one doit of it belongs to me. "'It belongs to my chieftain.' "'And here he touched his hat. "'And while I would be but a silly messenger "'to grudge some of it that the rest might come safe, "'I should show myself a hound indeed "'if I bought my own carcass any too dear.

"'Thirty guineas on the seaside, "'or sixty if you set me on the linny-lock. "'Take it if you will. "'If not, you can do your worst.

"'Ay,' says Hoseason, "'and if I give ye over to the soldiers?' "'Ye would make a fool's bargain,' said the other. "'My chief, let me tell you, sir, is forfeited, "'like every honest man in Scotland. "'His estate is in the hands of the man they call King George, "'and it is his officers that collect the rents, "'or try to collect them.

"'But for the honour of Scotland, "'the poor tenant bodies take a thought "'upon their chief lying in exile, "'and this money is a part of that very rent "'for which King George is looking. "'Now, sir, ye seem to me to be a man that understands things. "'Bring this money within the reach of Government, "'and how much of it'll come to you?' "'Little enough to be sure,' said Hoseason, "'and then, if they knew,' he said dryly, "'but I think if I was to try, "'that I could hold my tongue about it.' "'Ah, but I'll begouke you there,' cried the gentleman.

"'Play me false, and I'll play you cunning. "'If a hand is laid upon me, "'they shall ken what money it is.' "'Well,' returned the captain, "'what must be must, sixty guineas, and I'm done. "'Here's my hand upon it.' "'And here's mine,' said the other.

"'And thereupon the captain went out, "'rather hurriedly, I thought, "'and left me alone in the roundhouse with the stranger.' "'At that period, so soon after the forty-five, "'there were many exiled gentlemen "'coming back at the peril of their lives, "'either to see their friends or to collect a little money, "'and as for the Highland chiefs that had been forfeited, "'it was a common matter of talk "'how their tenants would stint themselves to send them money, "'and their clansmen out-faced the soldiery to get it in, "'and run the gauntlet of our great navy to carry it across. "'All this I had, of course, heard tell of, "'and now I had a man under my eyes "'whose life was forfeit on all these counts, "'and upon one more, "'for he was not only a rebel and a smuggler of rents, "'but had taken service with King Louis of France, "'and as if all this were not enough, "'he had a belt full of golden guineas around his loins. "'Whatever my opinions, I could not look on such a man "'without a lively interest.' "'And so you're a Jacobite,' said I, "'as I set meat before him.

"'I,' said he, beginning to eat, "'and you by your long face should be a wig.' "'Betwixt and between,' said I, not to annoy him, "'for indeed I was as good a wig as Mr. Campbell could make me.' "'And that's nathing,' said he, "'but I'm saying, Mr. Betwixt and between,' he added, "'this bottle of yours is dry, "'and it's hard if I'm to pay sixty guineas "'and be grudged to dram upon the back of it.' "'I'll go and ask for the key,' said I, and stepped on deck. "'The fog was as close as ever, but the swell almost down. "'They had laid the brig too, "'not knowing precisely where they were, "'and the wind, what little there was of it, "'not serving well for their true course.

"'Some of the hands were still hearkening for breakers, "'but the captain and the two officers "'were in the waste with their heads together. "'It struck me, I don't know why, "'that they were after no good, "'and the first word I heard as I drew softly near "'more than confirmed me. "'It was Mr. Reack crying out as if upon some sudden thought, "'Couldn't we wile him out of the roundhouse?' "'He's better where he is,' returned Hoseason.

"'He hasn't room to use his sword.' "'Well, that's true,' said Reack. "'But he's hard to come at.' "'Hut,' said Hoseason. "'We can get the man in talk, one upon each side, "'and pin him by the two arms, "'or if that'll not hold, sir, "'we can make a run by both the doors "'and get him under hand before he has the time to draw.' "'At this hearing I was seized with both fear and anger "'at these treacherous, greedy, bloody men that I sailed with.

"'My first mind was to run away. "'My second was bolder. "'Captain,' said I, "'the gentleman is seeking a dram, and the bottle's out.

"'Will you give me the key?' "'They all started and turned about. "'Why, here's our chance to get the firearms!' "'Reack cried, and then to me, "'Hark ye, David,' he said. "'Do you ken where the pistols are?' "'Aye, aye,' put in Hoseason.

"'David kens. David's a good lad. "'Ye see, David, my man, "'yon wild highlandman is a danger to the ship, "'besides being a rank foet, King George.

"'God bless him. "'I had never been so bedavided since I came on board, "'but I said yes, as if all I heard were quite natural. "'The trouble is,' resumed the captain, "'that all our firelocks, great and little, "'are in the round house under this man's nose, "'likewise the powder.

"'Now, if I or one of the officers were to go in and take them, "'you would falter thinking. "'But a lad like you, David, "'might snap up a horn and a pistol or two without remark. "'And if ye can do it cleverly, "'I'll bear it in mind when it'll be good for you to have friends, "'and that's when we come to Carolina.' "'Here Mr. Reack whispered him a little.

"'Very right, sir,' said the captain, and then to myself, "'and see here, David, young man has a belt full of gold, "'and I give you my word that you shall have your fingers in it.' "'I told him I would do as he wished, "'though indeed I had scarce breath to speak with, "'and upon that he gave me the key of the spirit locker, "'and I began to go slowly back to the round house. "'What was I to do? "'They were dogs and thieves. "'They had stolen me from my own country.

"'They had killed poor Ransom. "'And was I to hold the candle to another murder? "'But then, upon the other hand, "'there was the fear of death very plain before me, "'for what could a boy and a man, "'if they were as brave as lions against a whole ship's company? "'I was still arguing it back and forth "'and getting no great clearness, "'when I came into the round house "'and saw the Jacobite eating his supper under the lamp, "'and at that my mind was made up all in a moment. "'I have no credit by it.

"'It was by no choice of mine, "'but as if by compulsion, "'that I walked right up to the table "'and put my hand on his shoulder. "'Do you want to be killed?' said I. "'He sprang to his feet "'and looked a question at me as clear as if he had spoken. "'Oh!' cried I. "'They're all murderers here.

"'It's a ship full of them. "'They've murdered a boy already. "'Now it's you.

"'Aye, aye,' said he. "'But they haven't got me yet. "'And they're looking at me curiously.

"'Will you stand with me?' "'That will I,' said I. "'I'm no thief, nor yet murderer. "'I'll stand by you.' "'Why then?' said he. "'What's your name?' "'David Balfour,' said I. "'And then, thinking that a man with so fine a coat "'must like fine people, "'I added for the first time, "'Off Shores.' "'It never occurred to him to doubt me, "'for a Highlander is used to see "'great gentlefolk and great poverty.

"'But as he had no estate of his own, "'my words nettled a very childish vanity he had. "'My name is Stuart,' he said, "'drawing himself up. "'Alan Breck they call me.

"'A king's name is good enough for me, "'though I bear it plain "'and have the name of no farm midden "'to clap to the hind end of it.' "'And having administered this rebuke, "'as though it was something of a chief importance, "'he turned to examine our defences. "'The roundhouse was built very strong "'to support the breaching of the seas. "'Of its five apertures, "'only the skylight and the two doors "'were large enough for the passage of a man.

"'The doors, besides, could be drawn close. "'They were of stout oak, "'and ran in grooves, "'and were fitted with hooks "'to keep them either shut or open "'as the need arose. "'The one that was already shut "'I secured in this fashion.

"'But when I was proceeding to slide to the other, "'Alan stopped me. "'David,' said he, "'for I cannae bring to mind "'the name of your landed estate, "'and so will make bold as to call you David. "'That door being open "'is the best part of my defences.

"'It would be yet better shut,' says I. "'Not so, David,' says he. "'You see, I have but one face. "'But so long as that door is open "'and my face to it, "'the best part of my enemies "'will be in front of me, "'where I would a wish to find them.' "'Then he gave me from the rack a cutlass, "'of which there were a few besides the firearms, "'choosing it with great care, "'shaking his head and saying "'he had never in all his life "'seen poorer weapons.

"'And next he set me down to the table "'with a powder-horn, "'a bag of bullets, "'and all the pistols, "'which he bade me charge. "'And that will be better work, "'let me tell you,' said he, "'for a gentleman of decent birth "'than scraping plates and raxing drams "'to a weaned tarry sailors. "'Thereupon he stood up in the midst "'with his face to the door, "'and drawing his great sword, "'made trial of the room "'he had to wield it in.

"'I must stick to the point,' he said, "'shaking his head. "'And that's a pity too. "'It doesn't set my genius, "'which is all for the upper guard.

"'And now,' said he, "'do you keep on charging the pistols "'and give heed to me? "'I told him I would listen closely. "'My chest was tight, "'my mouth dry, "'the light dark to my eyes. "'The thought of the numbers "'that were soon to leap in upon us "'kept my heart in a flutter, "'and the sea which I heard "'washing round the brig, "'and where I thought my dead body "'would be cast ere morning, "'ran in my mind strangely.

"'First of all,' said he, "'how many are against us?' "'I reckoned them up, "'and such was the hurry of my mind "'I had to cast the numbers twice. "'Fifteen,' said I. "'Allan whistled. "'Well,' said he, "'that can't be cured.

"'And now follow me. "'It's my part to keep this door, "'where I look for the main battle. "'In that you have no hand, "'and mind and dinner fire to this side, "'lest they get me down, "'for I would rather have ten foes in front of me "'than one friend like you "'cracking pistols at my back.

"'I told him indeed I was no great shot. "'And that's very bravely said,' "'he cried, "'in a great admiration of my candour. "'There's many a pretty gentleman "'that wouldn't dare to say it.

"'But then, sir,' said I, "'there is the door behind you, "'which they may perhaps break in. "'Ay,' said he, "'and that is a part of your work. "'No sooner the pistol's charged "'than you must climb into yon bed "'where you're handy at the window, "'and if they lift hand against the door "'you're to shoot.

"'But that's not all. "'Let's make a bit of a soldier of ye, David. "'What else have ye to guard?' "'There's the skylight,' said I. "'But indeed, Mr. Stewart, "'I would need to have eyes upon both sides "'to keep the two of them, "'for when my face is at the one, "'my back is to the other.' "'And that's very true,' said Alan.

"'But have ye no ears to your head?' "'To be sure,' cried I. "'I must hear the bursting of the glass.' "'Ye have some rudiments of sense,' "'said Alan grimly.''