So far as they had been able to make out, there was no trace of
inhabitants near the place where the schooner was moored; but the
adventure was of so important a nature that Captain Studwick felt it his
duty to keep the most careful watch; and he was not sorry that afternoon
to yield to the pressing request of Mr Wilson and the doctor to go on
shore with their guns for a couple of hours' shooting.
"I consent," he said, "on condition that you are back here by nightfall,
and that you take a couple of the men well-armed with you."
This was agreed to, and the party of four was rowed ashore, Dutch and
Mr Parkley both declining to accompany them, on the score of fatigue;
while, though John Studwick longed to be of the party, he felt that he
was too weak, and watched them from the side, as the boat rowed through
the sparkling water, landing the party on the golden sands.
As the boat was returning to the side, the longing to go on shore proved
too strong for John Studwick, and he beckoned his sister to his side.
"Bessy," he said, "I must go and have an hour's walk under those shady
trees, where the sand seems to be so smooth and soft."
Bessy started, partly at his saddened way of speaking, and partly that
he, who seemed to hate the very idea of her being anywhere near Mr
Meldon, should propose to go ashore after him.
"You mean alone?" she said, quickly.
"Alone? No," he cried, petulantly. "I mean with you. Mrs Pugh would
like to go too, perhaps."
"I will speak to father," she said, eager to please him in every way;
and she went forward to where Captain Studwick was chatting with Mr
Parkley and Dutch about the morrow's arrangements.
"John wishes to go ashore, father," she said, "to sit under the trees."
The captain stood thinking for a moment or two, and then, after a little
hesitation--
"Well," he said, "I see no harm. The men shall row you ashore, and stop
there. Don't go out of sight, nor far from the boat. I don't think
there can be any danger, and, poor fellow, he will soon want to be
back."
By the time Bessy returned to her brother, the keen desire was growing
blunted, and he felt almost ready to resent what he looked upon as his
sister's eagerness to get ashore, where the young doctor had gone.
"The boat is waiting, John dear," she said, holding out her hand. "You
will go, too, Hester?"
Hester glanced towards Dutch, but he made no sign, and, yielding to
Bessy's implied wish, she followed them to the boat, Oakum helping them
down, and receiving his instructions from the captain as to keeping a
sharp watch.
As the boat pushed off, the men just dipping their oars, and Oakum
standing up and steering, for the distance was only about fifty yards,
the captain turned quietly to the mate.
"Lower down the other boat quietly," he said, "and have the rest of the
men ready to jump in and row ashore at a moment's notice. Parkley, Mr
Pugh, I think it is better to be too particular than not particular
enough, so we will get our revolvers and a rifle or two ready. Where's
Mr Pugh?"
"He went to the cabin directly," said Mr Parkley; and on their
following him they found him loading his rifle, and saw the butt of his
revolver sticking out of his breast.
"Actuated by the same thought," said the captain.
"Well, yes," said Dutch, "there may be no danger either from beast or
Indian, but it is as well to be on the safe side."
Taking rifles on deck, they went and leaned over the bulwarks, talking,
to see the little party land, and Oakum help out the ladies, who walked
slowly up with John Studwick towards the trees, while the sailors sat
about close to the boat, or threw themselves down upon the sands.
"We seem to have been suspicious enough over this affair," said the
captain, taking off his cap, so as to let the soft breeze that was now
beginning to blow after the heat of the day, fan his brown forehead. "I
wonder what has become of the Cuban."
"Home by this time, I should say," replied Mr Parkley, while Dutch,
with an uneasy feeling creeping over him, leaned there, rifle in hand,
watching the shore.
"I had my suspicions at first," continued the captain, "and really
hardly expected to get out here without some hindrance."
"What did you suspect?" said Mr Parkley, lighting a cigar, and handing
one to the captain, who lit up in turn.
"Anything--nothing. I had got it into my head that this fellow wanted
to stop us, and I was prepared to be overhauled by a swift steamer; for
a mutiny on board; to find him here first--there, it is always the way;
once give your imagination its head, and away it goes."
"Well, nothing could have gone better than the trip has since we
started, and if it should prove that there is treasure below us here,
all we have to do is to dive and get it all."
"If the sharks will let you," said the captain.
"Well, at first I thought we were completely checkmated, but you saw
what Pugh did to-day," he continued, in a low tone. "It's my belief
that if obstacles ten times as difficult offer themselves, he would
surmount them."
They both glanced at Dutch, and then followed his eyes to see that the
ladies were gathering flowers, the men fruit and shellfish, and that all
on shore looked so peaceful and lovely that the longing came upon them
to join the little party.
"It is so easy to imagine danger," said the captain; and then, lulled by
the peaceful aspect of matters into security, they went on talking in a
low tone about the various incidents of the day, while Dutch kept stern
watch alone.
Meanwhile, John Studwick's jealous fancies passed away as his feet
touched the sand, and it was with a thrill of delight that he pointed
towards the lovely tropic scene before him.
"Flowers, fruit, mossy carpet," he said fervently. "Why, it is really
Eden--a paradise. I could live here, I think."
There was an inexpressible sadness in his words, and Bessy's eyes filled
with tears as she glanced at Hester, for she knew but too well that her
brother's days were numbered.
Hester's heart was full to overflowing, and these words and her friend's
sad look had touched the spring ready to gush forth. It was only by a
great effort that she could keep from a hysterical fit of crying, and
she was obliged to turn away.
John Studwick smiled lovingly upon his sister, though, directly after,
for his heart smote him for many little harsh words directed at her in
regard to Mr Meldon; and he began to chat earnestly to her about the
flowers, calling one of the men to get down a cocoanut or two for them,
and sitting down to watch the man make a gasket or band of twisted cane
with almost boyish pleasure, Bessy's eyes brightening as she saw his
eagerness, and remembering the bright happiness of that scene for years
to come.
For the spot was lovely, and in the shade of the densely foliaged trees
the wondrous blossoms of gaily tinted bellflowers hung in wreaths and
garlands as they festooned the undergrowth and offered their nectary
cups to the humming birds that flashed in and out of the sunshine to
poise themselves on invisible wings, while each moment some new object
struck the eye.
It was, indeed, a scene of loveliness to the sick man and his sister as
they rose and wandered here and there, now gazing into beautiful green
glades, now looking up at the delicate lacework of some wonderful
tree-fern against the sky, or toward the deep blue sea, with the
schooner doubled before them as it lay mirrored in its breast. But
bright as it was to them, the beauteous scene was, as it were, covered
with ashes to Hester Pugh. The sky might have been dark, and the sun's
light quenched even as was the light of hope in her breast. She had
thought that Dutch would have listened to her before now, and that this
dreadful cloud of suspicion would have been swept away; but no, he had
let her come ashore without a word, as if careless of her fate, and at
last, blind with the gathering tears, she had wandered slowly away
unnoticed amongst the trees, as she thought, to find some place where
she could relieve her bursting heart and throbbing brain of the tears
that she had kept back so long.
She sank down at last upon the trunk of a fallen tree, sobbing as if her
heart would break, and, as her head sank down upon her hands, she moaned
in the bitterness of her spirit.
All was silent for a time, and in her grief she did not hear the
rustling amongst the trees, and it was not until her hands were taken
and drawn gently from before her face that she looked up, to see, with
the blood chilling in her veins, the mulatto upon his knees before her,
gazing with glittering eyes, full in hers.
She was too much surprised and frightened to cry out, but she tried to
start up and flee. The effort was vain, though, for, tightening his
hold of her hands, the man rested his arms upon her knees and kept her a
prisoner.
"Hush!" he said; "for your own sake be silent."
"Let me go," she panted, hoarsely.
"No, no, beautiful Hester," he whispered, his voice low with passion.
"Why do you pretend that you do not recognise me, when you know me so
well?"
"How dare you!" she began, in a loud voice, when the glittering eyes
fixed upon hers seemed to fascinate her, and her tongue refused its
office.
"How dare I?" he laughed; "because I love you more than even I loved you
the first day I saw you in that dark office in miserable, cold England;
I loved you when, in those dear ecstatic days, I hung over you in your
little home, when that jealous fool, your husband, interrupted our
_tete-a-tetes_ with his hateful presence; and now, in this nature's
paradise, I love you more--more dearly than ever, even though I have
lived these many weeks only to hear your sweet voice."
"Laure!" she panted, with dilating eyes.
"Yes, Laure, your Manuel, who loves you," he whispered, his face now
transformed, and the dull, drooping look of the mulatto gone, to give
place to the flashing eyes of the Cuban. "Pish! you have known me all
along. You are the only one that my disguise could not deceive. I
might have known that no darkened skin, no false scar, no assumed limp
or cunning disguise could deceive the woman I love and who loves me."
Hester struggled once more to rise, but she was powerless in his grasp,
and in the horror she felt at the discovery of this man's presence she
could not cry for help. It was to her like some terrible nightmare;
there were the voices on the sands, help was so near, and yet she could
not claim it.
"I was afraid that you would betray me at first, dearest," he whispered,
with his face close to hers, and his hot breath fanning her cheeks; "but
I need not have feared, and I waited and suffered. There, do not
struggle, little one, you are so safe with me. Have I not watched him
and his cold, brutal cruelty to you--the way he has neglected, scorned
one who is to me all that is bright and beautiful, and for whose sake I
have hacked and disguised myself, working with a set of coarse sailors,
eating their wretched fare, sleeping in their miserable den. Hester,
beautiful Hester, but you will reward me for all this. You will live
with me here in one of these beauteous sunny lands, where all is bright,
and where the very air breathes love."
"Let me go," she panted.
"No, no," he whispered, "you cannot be so cruel. Only a short time now
and the object of my mission is over, and then--then--Oh, my darling, I
love you--I love you."
He clasped her in his arms, and, in spite of her struggles, his lips
sought hers, when the sound of approaching voices made him start up.
Hester's lips moved to shriek for help, but he laid his hand quickly
upon her mouth, and held her tightly to him, as he whispered:
"One word--say a word of what has passed, and Pugh, perhaps all your
friends will die."
She glanced at him and shuddered, as she saw his hand go into his
breast, and read in his eyes too plainly so fell a purpose, that she
knew she dared not speak.
"Sit down," he whispered. "I shall be watching you from close at hand.
If you betray me, it is some one's death signal. You are mine, Hester;
you know I love you; but I would not force that love when I know that
soon it must be mine."
He pressed her back into her seat, and glided into the low bushes, her
eyes following till she saw him crouch, and knew that he had his gaze
fixed upon her face, and read it, so that if she attempted to betray him
he might keep his word.
The horror was more than she could bear, for this discovery taught her
of the danger to Dutch, perhaps to all on board. Partly from his
passion for her, then, partly to watch the proceedings of the
adventurers, he had contrived to get on board, and was undiscovered.
Here, then, was the secret of what she had looked upon as an insult from
a half-savage sailor.
She let her pale face fall again into her hands, and sat there
shivering, not daring even to answer, though she heard Bessy's voice
close at hand.
What should she do? What should she do? She dared not speak now, but
as soon as they were safe on board she would warn Dutch of his danger,
and if the Cuban slew her, what then? She would have saved her
husband's dear life.
But if he killed Dutch instead!
The thought paralysed her, and a death-like perspiration broke out on
her forehead as she felt that she dared not speak lest ill should happen
to him she loved. She essayed to rise, but sank back trembling, with
her eyes fixed upon the spot where she knew the Cuban was hidden, when
Bessy came in sight.
"Why, you've been crying, dear," she said, gaily, as she sat down beside
her on the tree trunk. "Come, come, dear, be a woman. All will come
right if we wait."
"All will come right if we wait," muttered Hester to herself. Would it?
Ought she to wait and trust, or should she warn Dutch?
"Yes, she would," she said to herself, as soon as they were on board;
and, rising, she accompanied Bessy on to the beach, where the first
person on whom her eyes lit was the Cuban, with drooping eyelids,
limping slowly along with some shellfish in his hand, so changed once
more that Hester asked herself whether this scene had indeed been the
nightmare of some dream.
A shout came now from the schooner, and they moved towards the boat, for
the sun was beginning to dip, when another shout from behind made them
turn, to see Mr Wilson, Mr Meldon, and the two sailors coming from
their expedition, laden with beautifully-plumaged birds.
They were soon on board once more, Hester sick at heart, for the Cuban
had contrived to whisper to her that one word, "Remember!" and she had
shrunk away shivering, feeling that she dared not speak. So great was
this man's influence over her that she spent the evening in torture,
feeling that his eyes were following her everywhere, that his face was
at her cabin window, at the skylight; and she was in both instances
right, for Laure felt that she might betray him at any moment, and his
plans were not yet ripe.
He watched, then, without intermission, with the intent of forcing her
to swear some terrible oath that she would be silent, and this he felt
that he could exact from her could he get the chance.
"I shall begin to think that you are going to have some relapse,
Hester," said Bessy at last, as they sat alone, trying to read by the
light in their little cabin, for John Studwick had gone to rest, and
Bessy was sitting with Hester alone.
"Oh, no," she exclaimed, with a smile, "I am quite well."
"But you have been acting so strangely, and starting as you looked up at
the skylight. Surely you have not caught some terrible fever through
sitting in that bit of jungle."
"Oh, no; I am quite well," said Hester, making an effort to control her
feelings. "The heat, perhaps, makes me nervous."
"I know," said Bessy, "you are nervous about your husband going down
to-morrow."
"Yes, yes, I am," cried Hester. "I always fear when I know of his
taking the work in hand himself. He is so venturesome."
"I wish he would be a little more kind. There, I'll say no more.
Good-night. He has the watch to-night on deck--the first watch."
"Has he?"
"Yes; and if he were my husband I should go to him and ask him if this
wicked estrangement was to last, because, if so, it should last for
ever, for I would never make another advance to him."
"Are you sure he has the watch to-night?"
"Yes," said Bessy, kissing her; "and it's as dark as pitch on deck.
Shall I go with you, dear?"
"No, no," whispered Hester, eagerly, as her heart began to throb.
"Good-night, good-night."
"But where are you going?" said Bessy, playfully.
"I am going to speak to my husband," said Hester, whose face was as
white as ashes, but her voice very firm, for the strength that she had
prayed for seemed to have come at last, and she felt that at any hazard
she must go and tell Dutch of the impending danger to them both. For it
was evident from the Cuban's words, as much as from his presence, that
he held some deep design on hand, and perhaps she might be saving others
as well as her husband by the step she was about to take.
But he had said that he would kill Dutch if she betrayed him, and her
heart seemed to stand still at the horrible thought. But no--Dutch was
so strong and brave, and he would seize this villain, and, by taking
rapid action, secure safety to himself, perhaps to the ship as well.
"You had better let me go too," said Bessy, smiling.
"No, no," said Hester, shaking her head; "stop here. I shall be back
almost directly."
"I am not so sure," said Bessy, laughing. "There, dear, all happiness
come of your meeting. You will find him right forward, I think."
Hester took a step towards the door, and then realised how weak she was,
for she trembled and felt as if she should drop. But this was no time
for hesitation, and she came back to say farewell.
"Put out the light or turn it down. I do not want any one to see me go
on deck."
Bessy smiled, and turned down the lamp until it was almost out; and
then, opening the door gently, Hester stepped to the foot of the cabin
stairs, where, as she laid her hand upon the cold brass rail, the
trembling fit again seized her, for her heart whispered that Laure
should be watching her.
She recovered herself directly and ascended the cabin stairs, leaving
the deep voices of the captain and the others talking behind her; and as
she went on her courage seemed to increase, and whispering to herself
that it was to save him she loved, she stepped cautiously upon the deck.
All was perfectly silent, and the darkness was intense, save ashore,
where the fireflies glanced and played in scintillations amongst the
trees. She turned from them with a shudder, for it reminded her of the
evening's encounter, and, trying to make out where her husband was
watching, she went cautiously on, for there was not a sound to be heard.
The distance was very short, but she had to go to the side so as to
avoid the masts and deckhouse, beyond which she felt that Dutch would be
standing, and she had already reached the mainmast, when she heard a
slight cough, which she knew to have been uttered by Dutch.
"He will believe me and love me again," she said to herself, with her
heart beginning to throb with joy, "and I shall save him from some
dreadful death--save myself too, from that wretch."
As these words were pronounced silently by her lips a chill of horror
and a curse made her cower shivering back as something dark rose before
her, an arm was passed tightly round her quivering form, and a damp,
cold hand laid upon her mouth checked the shriek with which she was
about to pierce the darkness of the night.