"Yes," replied Jack; and his warders, who were two foretop men,
allowed him to speak with her through the keyhole.
"I've brought your release," said Jean. "Put your hand under the
door and I'll give it to you."
Jack put his right hand through under the door, and felt something
cold placed across his forefinger. Then there was a knock as of a
mallet upon a chisel, and with a cry of anguish he drew in his hand
streaming with blood. Jean had cut off his finger. Now, a man with
a lame hand is of small account in the service, and so when the
lieutenant came and saw Jack's condition he released him, with a
round curse at having lost so fine a man, and the frigate sailed
away.
Jean got her punishment, however, and so did Paterson. Soon after
their marriage, and when Jack's hand was healed, he one day met a
man-o'-war's man who belonged to Stromness, and had been among the
pressed men. Jack heard from him of the cruise of the frigate, and
of a fight with the enemy, and a great store of prize money that
every man had shared. That prize money was a sore lump in Jack's
throat ever afterwards.
While I was talking with Paterson in his cottage, my dog sat
comfortably before the warm fire, the steam rising from her wet
hair. She did not appear to like leaving the cosy place; but when
we had finished the meal, and I was once more dry and warm, I
started off again in the pouring rain and the rising wind.
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121