Moonfleet quotes

Now, there were not two hundred souls in Moonfleet, and yet the houses that held them straggled sadly over half a mile, lying at intervals along either side of the road.

Nothing was ever made new in the village; if a house wanted repair badly, it was pulled down, and so there were toothless gaps in the street, and overrun gardens with broken-down walls, and many of the houses that yet stood looked as though they could stand but little longer.

The sun had set; indeed, it was already so dusk that the lower or sea-end of the street was lost from sight.

I was but a lad, and thought it a vast honour to be asked to the Why Not?—for did not such an invitation raise me at once to the dignity of manhood?

Ah, sweet boyhood, how eager are we as boys to be quit of thee, with what regret do we look back on thee before our man’s race is halfway run!

Yet was not my pleasure without alloy, for I feared even to think of what Aunt Jane would say if she knew that I had been at the Why Not?—and beside that, I stood in awe of grim old Elzevir Block, grimmer and sadder a …

I had cause to remember it afterwards, so I shall set it down here in Latin for those who know that tongue, ita in vita ut in lusu alae pessima jactura arte corrigenda est, and in English as Mr. Glennie translated it,

“As in life, so in a game of hazard, skill will make something of the worst of throws.”

At last Elzevir looked up and spoke to me, not unkindly, “Lad, it is time for you to go home; men say that Blackbeard walks on the first nights of winter, and some have met him face to face betwixt this house and yours.”

Then if poor fellows try to save themselves, there is a deadly undertow or rush back of the water, which sucks them off their legs, and carries them again under the thundering waves.

It is that back-suck of the pebbles that you may hear for miles inland, even at Dorchester, on still nights long after the winds that caused it have sunk, and which makes people turn in their beds, and thank God they are not fighting with the sea on Moonfleet beach.

But on this third of November there was no wreck, only such a wind as I have never known before, and only once since. All night long the tempest grew fiercer, and I think no one in Moonfleet went to bed;

Now this hole reached under the big stone that formed one side of the tomb, and falling on my hands and knees and looking down it, I perceived that there was under the monument a larger cavity, into which the hole opened.

I believe there never was boy yet who saw a hole in the ground, or a cave in a hill, or much more an underground passage, but longed incontinently to be into it and discover whither it led.

So it was with me;

and to search it I had well made up my mind, no matter how much I was scared for this moment. My aunt gave me but a sorry greeting when I came into the kitchen, for I was late and hot.

She never said much when displeased, but had a way of saying nothing, which was much worse; and would only reply yes or no, and that after an interval, to anything that was asked of her.

So the meal was silent enough, for she had finished before I arrived, and I ate but little myself, being too much occupied with the thought of my strange discovery, and finding, besides, the tea lukewarm and the victuals not enticing.

What a minute was that to me! Even now, so many years after, I can recall the anguish of it, and how I stood with ears pricked up, eyes starting, and a clammy sweat upon my face, waiting for those speakers to come.

It was the anguish of the rabbit at the end of his burrow, with the ferret’s eyes gleaming in the dark, and gun and lurcher waiting at the mouth of the hole.

I was caught in a trap, and knew beside that contraband-men had a way of sealing prying eyes and stilling babbling tongues; and I remembered poor Cracky Jones found dead in the churchyard, and how men said he had met Blackbeard in the night.

His stature was but medium, not exceeding five feet four inches, I think; and to make the most of it, he flung his head far back, and gave himself a little strut in walking.

He had a thin face with a sharp nose that looked as if it would peck you, and grey eyes that could pierce a millstone if there was a guinea on the far side of it.

His hair, for he wore his own, had been red, though it was now grizzled; and the colour of it was set down in Moonfleet to his being a Scotchman, for we thought all Scotchmen were redheaded.

and now that it was difficult to see her, I took the more pains to accomplish it, and met her sometimes in Manor Woods, and more than once, when Maskew was away, had walked with her on Weatherbeech Hill.

So we bred up a boy-and-girl affection, and must needs pledge ourselves to be true to one another, not knowing what such silly words might mean.

And I told Grace all my secrets, not even excepting the doings of the contraband, and the Mohune vault and Blackbeard’s locket, for I knew all was as safe with her as with me, and that her father could never rack aught from her.

A hummocky up-and-down line of cliffs, all projections, dents, bays, and hollows, trended southward till it ended in the great bluff of St. Alban’s Head, ten miles away.

The cliff-face was gleaming white, the sea tawny inshore, but purest blue outside, with the straight sunpath across it, spangled and gleaming like a mackerel’s back.

The relief of being once more on firm ground, and the exultation of an escape from immediate danger, removed my pain and made me forget that my leg was broken. So I lay for a moment basking in the sun;

So we gained a sorry matchlock, slugs, and powder, and the boy walked off over the furrow, whistling with his hand in his pocket, and a guinea and a crown-piece in his hand.

His whistle sounded innocent enough, yet I mistrusted him, having caught his eye when he was looking at my bloody foot; and so I said as much to Elzevir, who only laughed, saying the boy was simple and harmless.

But from where I sat I could peep out through the brambles in the open gap, and see without being seen—and there was my young gentleman walking carelessly enough, and whistling like any bird so long as Elzevir’s head was above the wall;

It was some time before we got a fire alight, and even after the flame had caught well hold, the rush of the wind would every now and again blow the smoke into our eyes, or send a shower of sparks dancing through the cave.

But by degrees the logs began to glow clear white, and such a cheerful warmth came out, as was in itself a solace and remedy for man’s afflictions.

“Ah!” said Ratsey, “I was shrammed with wet and cold, and half-dead with this baffling wind. It is a blessed thing a fire,” and he unbuttoned his pilot-coat, “and needful now, if ever.

And as for thee, she knew thee for a trusty lad, who would not do such things himself, nor yet stand by whilst others did them.”

Now what Ratsey said was sweeter than any music in my ears, and I felt myself a better man, as anyone must of whom a true woman speaks well, and that I must live uprightly to deserve such praise.

Then I resolved that come what might I would make my way once more to Moonfleet, before we fled from England, and see Grace;

Parson Glennie was waiting in the church, and there he waited, for the cart could not pass the gate, and we had no bearers to lift the coffin.

Then I looked round to see if there was any that would help to lift, but when I tried to meet a man’s eye he looked away, and all I could see was the bitter scowling faces of the women.

And all the while the girl stood by the trolley looking on the ground. She had a little kerchief over her head that let the hair fall about her shoulders, and her face was very white, with eyes red and swollen through weeping.

But when she knew that all that crowd was there to mock her father, and that there was not a man would raise hand to lift him, she laid her head upon the coffin, hiding her face in her hands, and sobbed bitterly.”

Ratsey stopped for a moment and drank again deep at the flask; and as for me, I still said nothing, feeling a great lump in my throat; and reflecting how hatred and passion have power to turn men to brutes.

“I am a rough man,” Ratsey resumed, “but tender-like withal, and when I saw her weep, I ran off to the church to tell the parson how it was, and beg him to come out and try if we two could lift the coffin.

There was not one sound heard inside the church or out, except Mr. Glennie’s reading and my amens, and now and then a sob from the poor child.

But when ’twas all over, and the coffin safe lowered, up she walks to Tom Tewkesbury saying, through her tears, ‘I thank you, sir, for your kindness,’ and holds out her hand.

So he took it, looking askew, and afterwards the five other bearers; and then she walked away by herself, and no one moved till she had left the churchyard gate, letting her pass out like a queen.”

And was not the spring with us, and the whole land preaching of resurrection, the birds singing, trees and flowers waking from their winter sleep, and cowslips yellow on the very graves?

Then surely ’tis a fond thing to push our enmities beyond the grave, and perhaps even he was not so bad as we held him, but might have tricked himself into thinking he did right to hunt down the contraband.

I know not how it was, but something like this came into my mind, and did perhaps to others, for we got him under without a sign or word from any that stood there.

Ratsey spoke first. “John, pass me the flask; I can hear voices mounting the cliff of those poor souls of the Florida.”

With that he took another heavy pull, and flung a log on the fire, till sparks flew about as in a smithy, and the flame that had slumbered woke again and leapt out white, blue, and green from the salt wood.

Now, as the light danced and flickered I saw a piece of parchment lying at Ratsey’s feet:

This was just what I wanted, and so we settled there and then that we would get the Bonaventure to land us in the Isle of Wight instead of at St. Malo.

Since man first walked upon this earth, a tale of buried treasure must have had a master-power to stir his blood, and mine was hotly stirred.

Even Elzevir, though he did not show it, was moved, I thought, at heart; and we chafed in our cave prison, and those eight days went wearily enough. Yet ’twas not time lost, for every day my leg grew stronger;

“

Lad, I have known men risk their lives for many things: for gold, and love, and hate; but never one would play with death that he might see a tree or stream or stones.

And when men say they love a place or town, thou mayst be sure ’tis not the place they love but some that live there; or that they loved some in the past, and so would see the spot again to kindle memory withal.

“Lad, I have known men risk their lives for many things: for gold, and love, and hate; but never one would play with death that he might see a tree or stream or stones.

And when men say they love a place or town, thou mayst be sure ’tis not the place they love but some that live there; or that they loved some in the past, and so would see the spot again to kindle memory withal.

Thus when thou speakest of Moonfleet, I may guess that thou hast someone there to see—or hope to see. It cannot be thine aunt, for there is no love lost between ye;

I took his hand, and thanked him with what words I could that he had let me go, and then got on the smock, putting some bread and meat in my pockets, as I was likely to find little to eat on my journey.

It was dark before we left the cave, for there is little dusk with us, and the division between day and night sharper than in more northern parts.

Elzevir took me by the hand and led me through the darkness of the workings, telling me where I should stoop, and when the way was uneven.

There was a heavy dew which got through my boots before we had gone half a mile, and though there was no moon, the sky was very clear, and I could see the veil of gossamers spread silvery white over the grass.

Neither of us spoke, partly because it was safer not to speak, for the voice carries far in a still night on the Downs; and partly, I think, because the beauty of the starry heaven had taken hold upon us both, ruling our hearts with thoughts too big for words.

We soon reached that ruined cottage of which Elzevir had spoken, and in what had once been an oven, found the compass safe enough as Ratsey had promised.

There at my feet lay the Manor Woods and the old house, and lower down the white road and the straggling cottages, and farther still the Why Not? and the glassy Fleet, and beyond that the open sea.

I cannot say how sad, yet sweet, the sight was: it seemed like the mirage of the desert, of which I had been told⁠—so beautiful, but never to be reached again by me.

The air was still, and the blue smoke of the morning wood-fires rose straight up, but none from the Why Not? or Manor House.

I gave a jump to hear that voice, knowing it well for Grace’s, and had a mind to shout out my name. But then I remembered there might be some in the house with her besides, and that I must remain disguised.

Moreover, laughing is so mixed with crying in our world, and trifling things with serious, that even in this pass I believe I was secretly pleased to have to play a trick on her, and test whether she would find me out in this dress or not.

So I spoke out in our round Dorset speech, such as they talk it out in the vale, saying, “A poor boy who is out of his way.”

… a shawl to make me a pillow, and bade me lie down on the seat that ran round the summerhouse and get to sleep, for I had told her that I had walked all night, and must be back again at the cave come midnight.

She went back to the house, and that was the most sweet and peaceful sleep that ever I knew, for I was very tired, and had this thought to soothe me as I fell asleep⁠—that I had seen Grace, and that she was so kind to me.

She was sitting beside me when I awoke and knitting a piece of work. The heat of the day was somewhat less, and she told me that it was past five o’clock by the sundial; so I knew that I must go.

We stood hand in hand again, as we had done in the morning, and she said: “John, you will wander on the sea, and may perhaps put into Moonfleet.

Though you have not been here of late, I have kept a candle burning at the window every night, as in the past.

So, if you come to beach on any night you will see that light, and know Grace remembers you.

“John, you will wander on the sea, and may perhaps put into Moonfleet. Though you have not been here of late, I have kept a candle burning at the window every night, as in the past.

So, if you come to beach on any night you will see that light, and know Grace remembers you.

And if you see it not, then know that I am dead or gone, for I will think of you every night till you come back again.”

Though you have not been here of late, I have kept a candle burning at the window every night, as in the past. So, if you come to beach on any night you will see that light, and know Grace remembers you.

And if you see it not, then know that I am dead or gone, for I will think of you every night till you come back again.

” I had nothing to say, for my heart was too full with her sweet words and with the sorrow of parting, but only drew her close to me and kissed her; and this time she did not step back, but kissed me again.

At the side of the wheel was the well-mouth, a dark, round opening with a low parapet round it, rising two feet from the floor.

We were so near our goal. Yet, were we near it at all?

How did we know Mohune had meant to tell the place of hiding for the diamond in those words? They might have meant a dozen things beside.

The turnkey stood at the break-wheel, and Elzevir leant over the parapet to steady the rope. “Art sure that thou canst do it, lad?” he said, speaking low, and put his hand kindly on my shoulder. “

Are head and heart sure? Thou art my diamond, and I would rather lose all other diamonds in the world than aught should come to thee.

So, if thou doubtest, let me go, or let not any go at all.”

and then I thought of Mr. Glennie’s story, that the Colonel’s conscience was always unquiet, because of a servant whom he had put away, and now I seemed to understand something more of it.

My heart throbbed fiercely, as many another’s heart has throbbed when he has come near the fulfilment of a great desire, whether lawful or guilty, and I tried to get at the brick.

But though by holding on to the rope with my left hand, I could reach over far enough to touch the brick with my right, ’twas as much as I could do, and so I shouted up the well that they must bring me nearer …

… could not choose but look at it, and was sorry indeed for Cain, for all he was so wicked, because it seemed so hard to have to wander up and down the world all his life long, and never be able to come to moorings.

And yet this very thing had come upon me now, for here we were, with the blood of two men on our hands, wanderers on the face of the earth, who durst never go home; and if the mark of Cain was not on my forehead already, I felt it might come out there at any minute.

When we reached the Bugle I went upstairs and flung myself upon the bed to try to rest a little and think, but Elzevir shut himself in with the landlord, and I could hear them talking earnestly in the room under me.

Only, I was sure that it must be worth thousands of pounds, and so sat and rubbed my hands, saying that though life was like a game of hazard, and our throws had hitherto been bad enough, yet we had made something of this last.

But all the while a strange change was coming over us both, and our parts seemed turned about.

For whereas a few days before it was I who wished to fling the diamond away, feeling overwrought and heavyhearted in that awful well-house, and Elzevir who held me from it;

“

Set not thy heart too much upon this stone.

It is thine, and thine to deal with. Never a penny will I touch that we may get for it.

I watched him meddling till I could bear to watch no longer, feeling a fierce feverish suspense as to what he might say, and my pulse beating so quick that I could scarce stand still.

For was not the decisive moment very nigh when we should know, from these parched-up lips, the value of the jewel, and whether it was worth risking life for, whether the fabric of our hopes was built on sure foundation or on slippery sand?

So I turned my back on the diamond merchant, and looked out of the window, waiting all the while to catch the slightest word that might come from his lips.

I cannot say, for I am not a Parson Glennie in these things; but Blackbeard in an evil mood may have tied the treasure up to be a curse to any that use it for themselves.

What do we want with this thing at all? I have got money to be touched at need; we may lie quiet this side the Channel, where thou shalt learn an honest trade, and when the mischief has blown over we will go back to Moonfleet.

So let the jewel be, John; shall we not let the jewel be?”

… was but a dint or impress on the soft brown loam, and yet, before my eyes were well upon it, I knew it for the print of a sharp heel—a sharp deep heel, having just in front of it the outline of a little foot.

There is a story every boy was given to read when I was young, of Crusoe wrecked upon a desert isle, who, walking one day on the shore, was staggered by a single footprint in the sand, because he learnt thus that there were savages in that sad place, where he thought he stood alone.

Yet I believe even that footprint in the sand was never greater blow to him than was this impress in the garden mould to me, for I remembered well the little shoes of polished leather, with their silver buckles and high-tilted heels.

The outer shutters were still flung back, as they had been in the afternoon, and there was no difficulty in looking in, for I found an opening in the lattice-blind just level with my eyes, and could see all the room inside.

It was well lit, as for a marriage feast, and I think there were a score of candles or more burning in holders on the table, or in sconces on the wall.

At the table, on the farther side of it from me, and facing the window, sat Aldobrand, just as he sat when he told us the stone was a sham.

The merchant sat still for a minute as though thinking, and then he took one of the diamonds that lay on the table, and then another, and set them close beside the great stone, pitting them, as it were, with it.

Yet how could any match with that?⁠—for it outshone them all as the sun outshines the stars in heaven.

Then the old man took the stone and weighed it in the scales which stood on the table before him, balancing it carefully, and a dozen times, against some little weights of brass;

Afterwards the heavy fetters that were put about our ankles set up sores and galled us so that we scarce could move for pain.

And if the iron galled my flesh, my spirit chafed ten times more within those damp and dismal walls; yet all that time Elzevir never breathed a word of reproach, though it was my wilfulness had led us into so terrible a strait.

At last came our jailer, one morning, and said that we must be brought up that day before the Geregt, which is their Court of Assize, to be tried for our crime.

Thus life became a weary round, in which month followed month, season followed season, year followed year, and brought always the same eternal profitless-work.

And yet the work was merciful, for it dulled the biting edge of thought, and the unchanging evenness of life gave wings to time.

In all the years the locusts ate for me at Ymeguen, there is but one thing I need speak of here.

“Take it,” he shouted in Dutch, “and make the most of it.

God helps the brave, and the devil takes the hindmost.

”

and then I looked to starboard, and there was the same white fringe, and then to larboard, and the white fringe was there too. Only those who know the sea know how terrible were Elzevir’s words uttered in such a place.

A moment before I was exalted with the keen salt wind, and with a hope and freedom that had been strangers for long; but now ’twas all dashed, and death, that is so far off to the young, had moved nearer by fifty years⁠—was moving a year nearer every minute.

“We are on a lee shore,” Elzevir shouted; and I looked and knew what the white fringe was, and that we should be in the breakers in half an hour.

Yet we will play the man, and make a fight for life.” And then, as if gathering together all his force: “

We have weathered bad times together, and who knows but we shall weather this?

”

It was a deep and dreamless sleep for hours, and when it left me, gently and as it were inch by inch, I found I was still lying wrapped in blankets by the fire.

Oh, what a vast and infinite peace was that, to lie there half-asleep, yet wake enough to know that I had slipped my prison and the pains of death, and was a free man here in my native place!

At last I shifted myself a little, growing more awake; and opening my eyes saw I was not alone, for two men sat at a table by me with glasses and a bottle before them.