An awful silence fell on every English soul. They heard not the roaring of wind and surge; they saw not the blinding flashes of the lightning; but they heard one long. ear-piercing wail from five hundred human throats. They saw the mighty ship heel over from the wind and sweep headlong down the cataract of the race. plunging her yards into the foam, andshowing her whole side. even to her keel, till she rolled clean over. and vanished for ever.
"Shame!" cried Amyas, hurling his sword far into the sea, "to lose my right, my right, when it was in my very grasp ! Unmerciful !"A crack which rent the sky, and made the granite ring and quiver; a bright world of flame: and then a blank of utter darkness, against which stood out, glowing red-hot, every mast and sail and rock, and Salvation Yeo as he stood just in front of Amyas, the tiller in his hand. All red-hot, transfigured into fire; and, behind, the black, black night!
******
A whisper, a rustling close behind him, and John Brimblecombe"s voice said softly," Give him more wine, Will; his eyes are opening."" Hey-day!" said Amyas, faintly, " not past the Shutter yet? How long she hangs in the wind !""We are long past the Shutter, Sir Amyas," said Brim- blecombe.
"Are you mad? Cannot I trust my own eyes?" There was no answer for a while.
"We are past the Shutter, indeed," said Cary, very gently, " and lying in the cove at Lundy.""Oh, Sir Amyas Leigh, dear Sir Amyas Leigh," blubbered poor Jack, "put out your hand and feel where you are and pray the Lord to forgive you for your wilfulness!"A great trembling fell upon Amyas Leigh. Half fearfully, he put out his hand; he felt that he was in his hammock, with the deck beams close above his head. The vision which had been left upon his eyeballs vanished like a dream.
"What is this? I must be asleep. What has happened? Where am I?""In your cabin, Amyas," said Cary. "What? And where is Yeo?""Yeo is gone where he longed to go, and as he longed togo. The same flash which struck you down struck him dead.""Dead? Lightning? Any more hurt? I must go and see. Why, what is this?" and Amyas passed his hand across his eyes. "It is all dark-dark, as I live!" And he passed his hand over his eyes again.
There was another dead silence. Amyas broke it.
"O God !" shrieked the great, proud sea-captain-"O God, I am blind! blind ! blind!" By and by, when his fit of frenzy had passed off, they lifted him into the boat. rowed him ashore, and carried him painfully up the hill to the old castle. Three miserable days were passed within that lonely tower. On the fourth day, his raving ceased; but he was still too weak to be moved. Toward noon, however, he ate a little, and seemed revived. "Will," he said, after a while, "this room is as stifling asit is dark. I feel as if I should be a sound man once more if I could but get one snuff of the sea breeze. Lead me out, and over the down to the south end. To the paint at the south endI must go; there is no other place will suit.""Let him have his humour," whispered Cart; "it may be the working off of his madness."It was a glorious sight upon a glorious day. Amyas stood breasting the genial stream of airy wine with swelling nostrils and fast-heaving chest, and seemed to drink in life from every gust. "I know it is all here- the dear old sea, where I would live and die. And my eyes feel for it-feel for lit-and cannot find it; never, never will find it again for ever ! God"s will be done !" said Amyas. "Now set me where I can rest among the rocks without fear of falling-for life is sweet still, even without eyes, friends-and leave me to myself awhile."They retired a little space, and watched him. He leaned his elbow on his knee, and his head upon his hand. He remained so long thus that the pair became anxious and went towards him. He was asleep, and breathing quickly and heavily. Cary moved forward to him, As he did so, Amyas lifted his head.
"You have been asleep, Amyas."
"Have I? I have not slept back my eyes, then. Take up this great, useless carcase of mine, and lead me home. I shall buy me a dog, I think, and make him tow me with a string, eh? So! Give me your hand. Now, march !"His guides heard, with surprise, this new cheerfulness. "Thank God, sir, that your heart is so light already," said good Jack.
"I have reason to be cheerful, Sir John; I have left heavyload behind me. I have been wilful and proud, and God has brought me low for it, and cut me off from my evil delight. No more Spaniard-hunting for me now, my masters."" You do not repent of fighting the Spaniards?""Not I; but of hating even the worst of them. Listen to me, Will and Jack. If that man wronged me, I wronged him likewise. But God has shown me my sin, and we have made up our quarrel for ever.""Made it up?"