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The Lady and the Pirate, a novel by Emerson Hough |
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Chapter 13. In Which We Board The Enemy |
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_ CHAPTER XIII. IN WHICH WE BOARD THE ENEMY Slowly the vast painting of the sky softened and faded until, at length, its edges blended with the shadows of the forest. There came into relief against the sky-line the etched outlines of the trees crowning the bluff on the eastern side of the great river. The oncoming darkness promised safety for a craft unimportant as ours as we now lay in the shadows of the western shore. Meantime, as well as the failing light allowed, we let nothing on board the Belle Helene go unobserved. The yacht lay--with an audacity of carelessness which I did not like to note--hardly inside the edge of the regular shipping channel, but swung securely and gracefully at her cable, held by an anchor which I had devised myself, heavy enough for twice her tonnage. On the deck I could see an occasional figure, but though I plied my binoculars carefully, not the figure which I sought. A man leaned against the rail, idly, smoking, but this I made out to be the engineer, Williams, come up to get the evening air. Billy, the deck-hand, John, my Chinese cook, and Peterson, the boat-master, were at the time out of sight, as well as Cal Davidson, who had her under charter. We lay thus, separated by some distance of the river's flood, each craft at anchor, only one observed by the other. But to my impatient gaze matters seemed strangely slow on board the Belle Helene. I was relieved when at last the rather portly but well groomed figure of my friend Davidson appeared on deck. He made his way aft along the rail, and I could see him bend over and call down the companionway of the after staterooms. Then, an instant later, he was joined on the after deck by two ladies. The sight of one of these caused my heart to bound. They stood for a moment, no more than dimly outlined, but I could see them well enough. The older lady, with the scarf about her head, was Aunt Lucinda. The slighter figure in white and wearing no head covering, was she, Helena Emory! It was Helena! It was Helena! She turned toward Davidson. I could hear across the water the sound of laughter. A sudden feeling of anger came into my soul. I shifted my position in the Sea Rover, and stepped on Partial's tail, causing him to give a sharp bark and to come and lick my hand in swift repentance. I feared for the time that his sound might attract attention to our boat, which, if examined closely, might seem a trifle suspicious. True pirates, and oblivious of all law, we had not yet hoisted our riding lights, though for all I know our black flag still was flying. The three figures passed forward along the deck slowly and disappeared down the front companion-stair which led to the cozy dining-room. I could see them all sitting there, about my own table, using the very silver and linen which I had had made for the Belle Helene, attended by John, my Chinese cook and factotum, whom I had especially imported, selected from among a thousand other Chinese by myself at Hankow. I knew that Davidson would have champagne and a dozen other wines in abundance, everything the market offered. A pleasant party, this of three, which was seating itself at my table over yonder, while I, in a grimy, dingy, little tub lay looking at them, helpless in the gloom! Ah, villain, shrewd enough you were when you planned this trip for Aunt Lucinda's health! Well enough you knew that of all places in the world none equals a well equipped private yacht for the courting of a maid. Why, if it be propinquity that does it, what chance had any man on earth against this man, enjoying the privilege of propinquity of propinquities, and adding thereto the weapons of every courtesy, every little pleasure a man may show a maid? Trust Cal Davidson for all that! I well-nigh gnashed my teeth in anger. I scarce know how the time passed, until at last I saw them, in the illumination of the deck lights, at length come on deck again. They stood looking out over the river, or toward the lights of Natchez-under-the-Hill, and at length idly walked aft once more. The two ladies seated themselves on deck chairs under the awning of the rear deck. I could not see them now, but heard the tinkle and throb of a guitar come across the water, touched lightly with long pauses, as under some suspended melody not yet offered in fulness. Now and again I could hear a word or so, the rather deep voice of Aunt Lucinda, the bass tones of Davidson, but strain my ears as I might, I could not hear the sound of that other voice, low and sweet, an excellent thing in woman. At length the little party seemed to be breaking up. I saw Davidson, half in shadow, outlined by the deck lights as he rose, and passed forward. Then I heard the falls run, and a soft splash as the dingey was launched overside. Cal Davidson was going ashore. He could no longer resist his anxiety over the baseball score! A moment later I heard the dip of the oars. Some one turned on the search-light, so that a wide shaft of light swung along the foot of Natchez Hill, toward which the dingey was headed. The shadows on the deck of the Belle Helene seemed darker now, by contrast, but I believed that Williams, the engineer, now had left the rail on which he was leaning over his folded arms. I turned now to my wondering companions, who, seeing me so much interested, had remained for a long time practically silent. Fall now, curtain of romance, for we be but three pirates here! Up anchor, then, and back across the stream toward our quarry quickly, my bold mates, for now there lies at hand a dangerous work of the boarding party! Thus I might have spoken aloud; for, at least, I hardly needed to do more than motion to Jean Lafitte, and as we resumed our softly chugging progress, having broken out our shallow anchorage, he steered the boat to the motion of my hand. We passed close alongside the Belle Helene and I examined her keenly as we did so. Then, apparently unnoticed, we dropped down-stream a bit, and found another anchorage. "Clear away the long boat for the boarding party," I now whispered hoarsely. I spoke to companions now in full character. Belted and armed, Lafitte and L'Olonnois rose ready for any bold emprise, each with red kerchief pulled about his brow. And now, to my interest, I observed that each had resumed the black mask which they had worn earlier in our long voyage, sign of the desperate character of each wearer. "Whither away, Black Bart?" demanded L'Olonnois fiercely. "Lead, and we follow." "You had better put on a mask, Black Bart," added Jean Lafitte, and handed me a spare one of his own manufacture. I hesitated, but then, seeing that part of my success lay in our all remaining somewhat piratical of character, I hastily slipped it above my eyes, and pulled down my hat brim. "She will not know me now," said I to myself. And truly enough we seemed desperate folk, fierce as any who ever lay in keel boat off the foot of Natchez bluff, even in the bloodiest times of Mike Fink the Keel-boatman or of Murrell the southern bandit king. Partial, without invitation, climbed into the skiff with us. "Cast off," I ordered. "Oars!" And my young men--whom by this time I had trained in many ways nautical--obeyed in good seaman fashion. A moment later we lay almost under the rail of the Belle Helene. No one hailed us. We seemed taken only for some passing skiff. "Listen!" I whispered, "there is risk in what we are going to do." I looked at my blue-eyed pirate, L'Olonnois, who sat closer to me. On his face was simple and complete happiness. At last, his adventure had come to him and he was meeting it like a man. "What is it, Black Bart?" I heard Jean Lafitte whisper hoarsely. "We are to board and take yonder ship," I replied softly. "If we are to succeed, you must do precisely as I tell you. Leave the main risk to me, that of the law. I'll take possession on the ground that she is my boat, that her charter money is not paid, and that yonder varlet is making away with her out of the country. She holds much treasure, let me assure you of that, my men--the greatest treasure that ever came down this river. "Now, listen. You, Lafitte, as soon as we get aboard, are to run and close the hatch of the engine-room. That will pen Williams, the engineer, below, where he can make no resistance. As soon as that is done, run to those doors forward which lead down to the dining-room companionway and shut those doors and latch them. That will take care of John, the cook. The deck-hand is away with the varlet. That leaves only the shipmaster and the women captives. "While you are busy in this way, Lafitte, I will hunt for Peterson, the master, who very likely is sitting quiet on the forward deck somewhere. The main danger lies with him. While I attend to him, you, L'Olonnois, run aft. You will find there two ladies, one very old and ugly, the other very young and very beautiful. See that they do not escape, and hold them there until I come aft to meet you. "All this must go through as we have planned. Once the maiden is in our power, and the ship our own, we will head down-stream for the open sea. Are you with me, my bold mates?" "Lead on, Black Bart!" I heard L'Olonnois hiss; and I saw Jean Lafitte tighten his belt. "All ready, then," said I. "I'll go forward and make fast the painter when we reach the landing stair. Follow me quickly. Leave Partial in the boat. Gently now." Swiftly but silently, we swept in under the lee of the Belle Helene. The landing ladder had not been drawn up after Davidson's departure, so that the boarding party had easy work ahead. I sprang upon the deck, my footfalls deadened by the rubber matting which lay along all the decks. I turned. Above the rail behind me rose the face of Lafitte, masked. The long blade of a Malay kris was in his teeth. In one hand he held a pistol, using the other as he climbed. He scraped out of his belt as he came aboard I know not how many pistols which fell into the water, but still, God wot! had abundant remaining. Nor did L'Olonnois, close behind him, his Samurai sword between his teeth, present a spectacle less awesome. I breathed a sudden prayer that these might meet with no resistance, else I could only fear the direst consequences! I made a quick motion with my hand, even as I sprang forward in search of Peterson. The dull thud of the engine-room hatch, an instant later, assured me that Lafitte had performed the most important part of the work assigned to him. Forsooth, ere long, he had done all his work as laid out for him. It chanced that, as he sprang to the doors of the forward saloon, he met John, the Chinaman. Reaching for him with one hand, he closed the doors with the other, with such promptness and precision that the cue of John was caught in the door and he was imprisoned below, where he howled in much grief and perturbation, unable to escape without the sacrifice of his cue. Meantime, I found Peterson, my old skipper, much as I had expected. He was a middle-aged, placid, well-poised man, a pessimist in speech, but a bold man in soul. He was fond of an evening pipe, and he sat now smoking and looking down the illuminated lane made by our search-light. He turned toward me, a sudden curiosity upon his face as he saw that I was a stranger on the boat, though not a stranger to himself. "Sir--Mr. Harry--" he began, half rising. I reached out my left hand and caught him by the shoulder. In my right hand I held a pistol, and this, somewhat gaily, I waved before Peterson's face. "Halt," said I, "or I will blow you out of the water"--a phrase which I had found sufficient in earlier circumstances. The old man smiled pleasantly and in mock fashion put up both his hands. Had it been anyone else, he probably would have knocked me down. "All right, Mr. Harry," said he, "you will have your joke. But tell me, what's up? We weren't expecting you here. Mr. Davidson's gone ashore." "Just a lark, Peterson," said I. I had slipped down the mask so that he could see me plainly. "By George, sir!" said he, "I am glad to see you, back on the old boat again. Where have you been?" "Just come on board, Peterson," said I. "I am going to run her now myself. "Money not paid over, Peterson," said I. It stretched my conscience a bit, although the truth was I had Davidson's uncashed check in my pocket at the time. "We've all had our pay regular," he rejoined. "Why, what's wrong?" "But I haven't had mine, Peterson," said I. "When the charter money isn't paid and an owner has reason to suppose that his boat is going to be run out of the country, he has to act promptly, you understand. So I have taken my own way. The Belle Helene is in my charge now, and you will report to me for orders." "What's that squalling?" demanded Peterson, who was a trifle hard of hearing. "Something seems wrong with John, the cook," I answered. "I only hope he has not made any resistance to my men, who, I promise you, are the most desperate lot that ever cut a throat. For instance, they have locked Williams down in the engine-room. Go over there, Peterson, and quiet him. But tell him that, if he shows a head above the hatch, he is apt to have his brains blown out. Keep quiet now, all of you, until I get this thing in hand." "But the boat's under charter to Mr. Davidson," demurred Peterson. "Charter or no charter, Peterson," said I, "I'm in command here, and it's no time to argue." At this time we heard cries of a feminine sort from the after deck, so I knew that L'Olonnois, as well, had performed the duty assigned to him. "Stay here, Peterson," said I. "It's all right, and I'll take care of you in every regard. Wait a moment." I hurried aft. L'Olonnois stood in the shadow, his back against the saloon door, facing his two prisoners. I also faced them now. The deck lights gave ample illumination, so that I could see her--Helena--face to face and fairly. She turned to me; but now I had pulled up my mask again, and she could have no more than a suspicion as to my identity. "Who are you?" she demanded. "What right have you here?" For half a moment I paused. Then I felt a sense of relief as I heard at my elbow the piping voice of L'Olonnois in reply. "Lady," said he, standing with folded arms, his bared blade gripped in his good right hand and showing at a short up-cast angle, "it ill beseems a gentleman to give pain to one so fair, but prithee have a care, for, by heavens! resistance is useless here." _ |
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