Part 14 (1/2)

Evil-doers, though often faithful to each other while success attends them, are frequently, for the sake of saving their own lives, ready to betray each other.

One of the men had offered to turn king's evidence. Hugh brought him forward as a witness.

The trial went on. The evidence contributed to fix the guilt on all the prisoners. That, however, of their traitorous companion was crus.h.i.+ng.

The jury were convinced that Marwood was guilty, as well as the three others. The blood on his coat, and his having been found in the neighbourhood, left no doubt on their minds, notwithstanding all the counsel of the accused could say in their favour. The jury brought in a verdict of ”guilty.” The judge was about to p.r.o.nounce sentence, when one of the condemned men claimed to be heard. He acknowledged that he and his three companions were the murderers of Mr Maitland, and that though he had not struck the fatal blow, he had been a.s.sisting; but that Marwood, though he had arrived at the moment, had no notion of their intention, but, on the contrary, had interfered and endeavoured to stop them. This evidence was considered of so much value, that though the judge condemned the whole to death, he recommended Marwood to mercy.

In those days a brief time only was allowed between sentence and execution. The three other prisoners knew that they had no hope of escaping, and Arthur felt it his duty to warn Marwood that the Government were so determined to put an end to the smuggler's traffic, and to punish all who fell into their hands, that he must not entertain much expectation of being reprieved.

”I care not for my life; but of this crime, as I have always said, I am innocent, and would die a thousand deaths rather than suffer for it,” he answered. ”And tell me, sir, who was that lawyer that appeared against me. I heard his name; it is one I once well knew.”

”He is a barrister of high talent, the eldest son of the murdered man.”

The prisoner, who was now in the condemned cell, lifted his manacled hands, exclaiming, involuntarily it seemed--

”My brother appear against me! G.o.d have mercy on him, for through him I have been unjustly condemned. As there is a G.o.d in heaven, whom I have so often blasphemed, I tell you again that I am guiltless of the crime for which I am condemned!”

Arthur was too much agitated to speak for a moment.

”You the brother of Hugh Maitland?” he exclaimed, ”I am his brother. We had but one other brother, Gilbert, who lost his life when a mere lad; so we believed, and long mourned him as dead.”

”Arthur! Arthur!” exclaimed Gilbert, for he was indeed the prisoner.

”I recognise your features, although I had not till now done so. Can you believe me guilty of our father's death? I confess to countless crimes, but of that I am innocent.”

Arthur at length recovered himself. From several circ.u.mstances which Gilbert brought to his memory, he was thoroughly convinced that he was indeed his brother.

”I before hoped that you might escape death, and now that I am convinced that you are innocent, I must use every exertion to prevent the risk of the reprieve not reaching Winchester in time to stay your execution.”

Arthur hastened away in search of Hugh, who was on the point of starting for London. The calm, self-confident barrister sunk almost fainting into a chair when he heard Arthur's account. He, however, soon recovered his self-possession.

”If Gilbert is innocent, I am guilty of fratricide, and shall have contributed to bring disgrace on our family!” he exclaimed.

Together they set out for London. A reprieve, which had hitherto been refused, was granted.

It was on the very morning that the execution of the prisoners was to take place. An accident might delay them. It was daylight before they reached the gaol. They found the Governor in a state of agitation, for one of the prisoners had escaped. He was greatly relieved on finding that it was the man for whom they had brought a reprieve.

”One difficulty is got over,” he observed; ”but I should have had to keep him here, for he and another were accused, by that fellow who turned king's evidence, and who hopes to get the promised reward, of being implicated in Bursey's murder.”

The two brothers looked at each other. Hugh could scarcely restrain his feelings; a sense of bitter shame predominated, however, for the disgrace he had hoped to escape might still fall on his family. Arthur earnestly prayed that the information might be false, and that his unhappy brother was innocent. The prisoner was supposed to have made his way to Southampton, and to have escaped on board a foreign-bound s.h.i.+p.

Several months pa.s.sed away; it was the autumn. Arthur had gone to spend some days with Mary and her husband. He had ridden over to call on some friends at Christchurch. A heavy equinoctial gale was blowing from the south-west. As he was returning along the coast, wis.h.i.+ng to obtain a view of the stormy sea, now covered with foaming waves, he observed a large lugger, under a press of sail, standing towards the sh.o.r.e. A number of people were collected on the beach, and he guessed, from the light waggons and horses of which he had caught sight, that preparations were being made for running a cargo of smuggled goods, then often done in open day, the Revenue officers being either enticed away or bribed not to interfere.

The danger a vessel must encounter venturing in at that time appeared fearfully great. He could not bring himself to leave the spot. The reason of the lugger's attempting the hazardous experiment, however, was evident. In the offing appeared a sloop-of-war, and one, he knew, had been sent to cruise after smugglers. From remarks he overheard, he discovered that the lugger was the _Saucy Sally_, commanded by Slippery Rogers. Every moment the gale was increasing, and the surf came rolling with greater and greater force upon the beach. Those on sh.o.r.e threw up a signal to show that landing was impossible, but the fearless crew of the lugger pushed madly on. One instant she appeared with her broad spread of canvas swelling to the gale; the next, surrounded by the fierce waves das.h.i.+ng up madly around her, she lay shattered to fragments on the s.h.i.+ngly beach, her crew struggling vainly in the surf. Some few amid the wreck, and casks and bales, which formed her cargo, were washed on sh.o.r.e, but the greater number were carried out far beyond human reach by the receding waves. Of those who were saved, several were fearfully injured, some breathed their last as they were dragged out of the water.

Arthur offered that a.s.sistance which the rough men were little able to afford. He had sent off for a surgeon, and having attended to two of the sufferers, hastened to the side of a third, who seemed to have received some severe injuries. As he knelt down he recognised the countenance of his unhappy brother Gilbert, who, opening his eyes, fixed them on his face.

”We obtained a reprieve,” said Arthur. ”Why did you escape? you knew I had gone to obtain it.”

”I did not trust to the king's mercy; and as I had the opportunity, I determined to avail myself of it,” answered Gilbert in a feeble voice.

”Our king is a merciful sovereign; he has ever shown a readiness to forgive when his sense of justice will allow him,” answered Arthur.