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The Lady and the Pirate, a novel by Emerson Hough |
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Chapter 15. In Which Is Conversation With The Captive Maiden |
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_ CHAPTER XV. IN WHICH IS CONVERSATION WITH THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN Jean Lafitte, who had so well executed the work assigned him in the boarding party's plans, proved himself neither inefficient nor unobservant. He approached me now, with a salute, which probably he copied from Peterson. "How now, good leftenant?" said I. "If you please, Black Bart," he began, "how are we headed, and what are our plans?" "Our course on this river, Jean Lafitte, will box the compass, indeed box an entire box of compasses, for no river is more winding. Yet in time we shall reach its end, no doubt, since others have." "And what about our good ship, the Sea Rover, that we have left behind?" "By Jove! Jean Lafitte," I exclaimed, "that is, indeed, a true word. What, indeed? We left her riding at anchor just off the channel edge, and so far as I recall, she had not her lights up, in accordance with the law." "Shall we put about and take her in tow, Black Bart?" "By no means. That is the very last of my intentions." "What'll become of her, then?" "That is no concern of mine." "But nobody'll know whose she is, and nobody can tell what may happen to her----" "Quite true. She may be stolen, or sunk. Why not?" "But she cost a lot of money." "On the contrary, she cost only twelve hundred dollars." "Twelve hundred dollars!" Jean drew a long deep breath. "I didn't know anybody had that much money in the world. Besides, look what you spent for them pearls. Ain't you poor, then, Black Bart?" "On the contrary, I have that much more money left, very likely. And I do not, to say truth, care a jot, a rap or a stiver, what becomes of the derelict Sea Rover now. Have we not taken a better ship for our own?" "Yes, but suppose yon varlet boards the Sea Rover, an' chases us the way we done him?" "Again, by Jove! Jean Lafitte; an idea. But suppose he does? Much good it will do him. For, look you, good leftenant, the Belle Helene will not stop to send any man ashore for baseball scores. Such was not the practise of the old buccaneers, nor shall it be ours; whereas, no matter what the haste, yon varlet could in nowise refrain from that same folly which hath lost him his ship to us. Each hour will only widen the gap between us. Let him take our tub if he likes, and do as he likes, for 'twill be a long day before he picks up our masts over his horizon, Jean Lafitte." "Aye, aye, Sir!" rejoined my lieutenant, and withdrew. I could see he was not overjoyed at the abandonment of our earlier ship that had brought us so far in safety. All this luxury of the Belle Helene had the effect of oppressing a pirate who so short a time ago had started out on the high seas in a sixteen foot yawl, and who had seen that yawl, in a manner of speaking, grown into a schooner, the schooner comparatively grown into a full-fledged four-decker, richly fitted as any ship of the royal navy. But these, all, were lesser things to me, for on my soul was a more insistent concern. I turned now, seeing that Peterson, wholly reconciled to the new order of affairs, was speeding the boat onward as though I never had left her; so that I knew she was safe in his hands, although I set Lafitte to watch him. Followed by my faithful friend Partial, who expressed every evidence of having enjoyed a most interesting evening, I presently made my way aft. As I approached the door of the after-cabin suite, occupied by the ladies, I made my presence known at first discreetly, then more pointedly, and, at length, by a knocking on the door. "Below, there!" I called, boldly as I could; for eager as I was to see Helena Emory, there were certain things about the interview which might be difficult. Lovers who have parted, finally, approach each other, even by accident, thereafter, with a certain reluctance. (Lovers, did I say? Nay, never had she said she loved me. She had only said she wished she did, wished she could.) No answer came at first. Then, "Who is it?" in the voice of Aunt Lucinda. "It is I, Mr. Henry--" but I paused: "--It is I, Black Bart the Avenger," I concluded. "May I come in?" Silently the door opened, and I entered the little reception-room which lay between the two staterooms of this cabin. Before me stood Helena! And now I was close to her, I could see the little curls at her temples, could see the double curves of her lips, the color in her cheek. Ah! she was the same, the same! I loved her--I loved her not the same, but more and more, more! She held her peace; and all I could do was to stand and stare and then hold out my hand. She took it formally, though her color heightened. I saluted Aunt Lucinda also, who glared at me. "How do you do?" I said to them both, with much originality and daring. "Black Bart!" snorted Aunt Lucinda. "Black Bart! It might be, from these goings on. What does it all mean?" "It means, my dear Mrs. Daniver," said I, "that I have taken charge of the boat myself." "But how?" demanded Helena. "We did not hear you were coming. And I don't understand. Why, that rascally little nephew of mine, in the mask, frightened auntie nearly to death. And he said the most extraordinary things! "Where is Mr. Davidson?" she added. "He didn't tell us a word of this." "He didn't know a word of it himself," I answered. "Let me tell you, no self-respecting pirate--and as you see, I am a pirate--is in the habit of telling his plans in advance." "A pirate!" I bowed politely. "At your service. Black Bart--my visiting cards are mislaid, but I intend ordering some new ones. The ship's cook, John, will soon be here with tea. These events may have been wearying. Meantime, allow me to present my friend Partial." Partial certainly understood human speech. He now approached Helena slowly and stood looking up into her face in adoration. Then, without any command, he lay down deliberately and rolled over; sat up, barked; and so, having done all his repertory for her whom he now--as had his master before him--loved at first sight, he stood again and worshiped. "Nice doggie!" said Helena courteously. "Have a care, Helena!" said I. "Love my dog, love me! And all the world loves Partial." The color heightened in her cheeks. I had never spoken so boldly to her before, but had rather dealt in argument than in assertion; which I, later, was to learn is no way to make love to any woman. "When do we get back to Natchez?" she demanded. "We do not get back to Natchez." "Oh? Then I suppose Mr. Davidson picks us up at Baton Rouge?" "Yon varlet," said I, "does not pick us up at Baton Rouge." "New Orleans?" "Or at New Orleans--unless he is luckier than I ever knew even Cal to be." "Whatever do you mean?" inquired Aunt Lucinda in tones ominously deep. "That the Belle Helene is much faster than the tug we left behind at Natchez, even did he find it. He will have hard work to catch us." "To catch us?" "Yes, Helena, to catch us. Of course he'll follow in some way. I have, all the way from above Dubuque. Why should not he?" The ladies looked from me to each other, doubting my sanity, perhaps. "I don't just understand all this," began Helena. "But since we travel only as we like, and only with guests whom we invite or who are invited by the boat's owner, I shall ask you to put us ashore." "On a sand-bar, Helena? Among the alligators?" "Of course I mean at the nearest town." "There is none where we are going, my dear Miss Emory. Little do you know what lies before you! Black Bart heads for the open sea. Let yon varlet follow at his peril. Believe me, 'twill cost him a very considerable amount of gasoline." "What right have you on this boat?" she demanded fiercely. "The right of any pirate." "Why do you intrude--how dare you--at least, I don't understand----" "I have taken this ship, Helena," said I, "because it carries treasure--more than you know of, more than I dreamed. My father was a pirate, I am well assured by the public prints. So am I. 'Tis in the blood. But do not anger me. Rather, have a cup of tea." John, my cook, was now at the door with the tray. "Thank you," rejoined Helena icily. "It would hardly be courteous to Mr. Davidson--to use his servants and his table in this way in his absence. Besides----" "Besides, I recalled that your Aunt Lucinda's neuralgia is always benefited by a glass or so of ninety-three at about ten thirty of the evening. John!" "Lessah!" "Go to the left-hand locker in B; and bring me a bottle of the ninety-three. I think you will find that better than this absurd German champagne which I see yon varlet has been offering you, my dear Mrs. Daniver. But--excuse me----" Helena looked up, innocently. "--A moment before there were six empty bottles on the table there. And I saw you writing. How many have you thrown overboard through the port-hole?" "I didn't know you were so observant," replied Helena demurely. "But only three." "It is not enough," said I. "Go on, and write your other messages for succor. Use each bottle, and we shall have more emptied for you, if you like. You shall have oil bottles, vinegar bottles, water bottles, wine bottles, all you like. Yon varlet might run across one, floating, it is true. I hope he will. Methinks 'twould bid him speed. But all in vain would be your appeal, for swift must be the craft that can come up with Black Bart now. And desperate, indeed, must be the man would dispute his right to tread these decks." "I hope you are enjoying yourself," said Helena scornfully. "Don't be silly." "Will you have tea, Helena?" I asked. "Poor, dear Mr. Davidson!" sniffed Aunt Lucinda, taking a glance out the port into the black night. "I wonder where he is, and what he will say." "I can tell you what he will say, my dear Mrs. Daniver," said I; "but I would rather not." "Well, I'll tell you what I say," snorted Aunt Lucinda. "I think this joke has gone far enough." "It is no joke, madam. I was never so desperately in earnest in all my life." "Then put us ashore at Baton Rouge." "I can not. I shall not." "What do you mean? Do you know what this looks like, the way you are acting, running off with Mr. Davidson's yacht, and this----" "Yes, madam?" "Why, it's robbery, and it's, it's, why it's abduction, too. You ought to know the law." "I do know the law. It is piracy. Have we not told you that resistance would be worse than useless? Haven't I told you I've captured this ship? Little do you know the fate that lies before you, madam, at the hands of my ruthless men if I should prove unable to restrain them! And have a care not to offend Black Bart the Avenger, himself! If you do, Aunt Lucinda, he may cut off your evening champagne." I heard a sudden suppressed sound, wondrous like a giggle; but when I turned, Helena was sitting there as sober as Portia, albeit I thought her eyes suspiciously bright. "Well," said she, at length, "we can't sit here all night and talk about it, and I've used up all my note-paper and bottles. I'll tell you what I suggest, since you have seen fit to intrude on two women in this way. We will hold a parley." "When?" "To-morrow." "At what hour?" "After breakfast." "Why not at breakfast?" "Because we shall eat alone, here,--auntie and I--in our cabin." "Very well then, if it seems you are so bitter against the new commander of the ship that you will not sit at the captain's table--as we did the second time we went to Europe together, we three--don't you remember, Helena?" "Never--at your table, sir!" said Helena Emory, her voice like a stab. And when I bethought me what that had meant before now, what it would mean all my life, if this woman might never sit at board of mine, never eat the fruit of my bow and spear, never share with me the bread of life, for one instant I felt the cold thrust of fate's steel once more in my bowels. But the next instant a new manner of feeling took its place, an emotion I never had felt toward her before--anger, rage! "It is well," said I, pulling together the best I could. "And now, by my halidom! or by George! or by anything! you shall be taken at your word. You breakfast here. Be glad if it is more than bread and water--until you learn a better way of speech with me." Again I saw that same sudden change on her face, surprise, almost fright; and I swear she shrank from me as though in terror, her hand plucking at Aunt Lucinda's sleeve; whereas, all Aunt Lucinda could do was to pluck at her niece's sleeve in turn. "As to the parley, then," said I, pulling, by mistake, my mask from my pocket instead of my kerchief, "we shall hold it, to-morrow, at what time and in what place I please. It ill beseems a gentleman to pain one so fair, as we may again remark; but by heaven! Helena, no resistance!" "Wait! What do you really mean?" She raised a hand. "I've told you I just can't understand all this. I always thought you were a--a--gentleman." "A much misused word," was my answer. "You never understood me at all. I am not a gentleman. I'm a poor, miserable, unhappy, drifting, aimless and useless failure--at least, I was, until I resolved upon this way to recoup my fortunes, and went in for pirating. What chance has a man who has lost his fortune in the game to-day--what chance with a woman? You ask me, who am I? I am a pirate. You ask what I intend to do? What pirate can answer that? It all depends." "On what?" "On you!" I answered furiously. "What right had you to ruin me, to throw me over----" She turned a frightened glance to Aunt Lucinda, whom I had entirely forgotten. It was my turn to blush. To hide my confusion I drew on my mask as I bowed. I met John coming down with the ninety-three. As he returned on deck a moment later, I pushed shut the doors and sprung the outside latches; so that those within now were prisoners, indeed. And then I stood looking up at the stars, slowly beginning to see why God made the world. _ |
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