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Updated: July 17, 2025
Then her face went white, she seemed to lose all her splendid vitality; for her astounded eyes fastened upon Pearse's rapier-point, protruding a foot from Tomlin's back, and slowly the stricken man sagged away and fell at her feet, clutching at the steel at his breast and snarling like a beast. A hush fell over the great chamber.
Never say you "nay," never lose an opportunity, never own he doesn't know, or can't do anything independence, amiability, and an eye to the main chance. We mentioned Pearse's name. "Capt'n Zach'ry Pearse!" They exchanged a look half-amused, half-admiring. "The Zunflaower, yu mane. That's her. Zunflaower, ahoy!" As we mounted the steamer's black side I heard one say: "Pied Witch!
Though it failed to win an equal success, it was a hardly less brilliant performance, and forms another engrossing page in Mr. Pearse's story. Writing on 11th December, he thus describes the enterprise from its inception:
"Milo, burst me one of these kegs," she ordered, and her voice forced Pearse's attention; it was so cold, passionless, utterly controlled. The keg was burst, and a trickle of coarse cannon powder ran on the floor. "Lay a damp train out to the ledge over the grove, Milo!" Milo disappeared through the gallery, trickling moistened powder from his fingers as he went.
Presently he asked: "You saw him, you say? He admitted this marriage? Did he give an explanation?" I tried to make Pearse's point of view clear. Before this old man, with his inflexible will and sense of duty, I felt as if I held a brief for Zachary, and must try to do him justice. "Let me understand," he said at last. "He stole her, you say, to make sure; and deserts her within a fortnight."
Dan stammered: "Thank you, Mr. Pearse; I'm a better man on a horse than in a boat, but thank you." Cornered in this way, he's a shy, soft-hearted being. Pearse smiled his thanks. "Wednesday, then, at ten o'clock; you shan't regret it." "Pertinacious beggar!" I heard Dan mutter in his beard; and found myself marching down the lane again by Pearse's side.
With the bestial cunning that had overwhelmed him, he circled away from the trappings and draperies of the chair that had brought him down, and responded to Pearse's chivalrous waiting with a sneer. "You had better have made sure while you had the chance, Pearse," he grinned, showing his teeth wolfishly. "Venner can wait. There is no treasure for three; Dolores is mine! Guard!"
Milo touched Pearse's arm, said briefly, "Come!" and that reluctant visitor stepped ashore; while Venner, after a little twinge of misgiving, succumbed to his curiosity regarding the hidden glories of this strange realm, and followed the great black readily enough.
We shall see that they were preparing for a climax, which, however, by the splendid bravery and determination of the garrison, was to be turned into one of disaster for the enemy rather than for the defenders. We are now within three days of the hottest ordeal Sir George White and his gallant army had to pass through. Happenings in the short interval are thus described in Mr. Pearse's notes:
The dear old lady's hair, drawn so nicely down her forehead on each side from the centre of her cap, has a few thin silver lines; and her face is a thought more wrinkled. The tears still come into her eyes when she talks of her "lamb." Of Zachary I heard nothing, but she told me of old Pearse's death.
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