THE ESCAPE
The shock of the tragedy which had taken place in so brief a space and
so unexpectedly threw me into confusion. I knew I was gazing at the
Princess, who was bent over her brother, and I heard the weeping of
Mademoiselle Trebizond punctuating the deep silence which had fallen
after those two reports. There was some movement among the mutineers
which I did not understand, and presently I found that Legrand and I
were being marched to one of the cabins.
"Doctor, do you know anything of this?" sounded a voice in my ear, and
I was aware that Holgate was speaking. "The treasure, man, the
treasure!" he added, seeing, I suppose, some bewilderment in my face.
"No," said I shortly; "the only man who did is dead."
"Very well," said he sharply, "I'll deal with you when I have time,"
and he hurried off.
Our captors shoved Legrand and myself into what had been the Prince's
smoking-room, and gave us to understand that we were to be shot down if
we made any attempt to escape. The rest of these pirates, I conceived,
must be in full cry after the spoils, for I heard the sound of the
doors being opened and the noise of voices exchanging calls and sour
oaths. Presently the door was thrust aside, and the Princess and
Mademoiselle were ushered in unceremoniously by the foul-faced Pierce.
They were resolved to box us up in our prison until they had settled on
a fate for us.
The Princess was pale, but quiet, in contrast with her companion, who
was still in a storm of sobs. She declared that she was doomed, that
she was betrayed, and in a breath vowed that her Frederic would have
saved her had he been alive. She appealed to us in turn for aid, and
called God to witness that we were cowards and would desert her and
hand her over to death. In a word, she behaved with that hysterical
exhibition of nerves which I had noted in her at the outset of our
hapless voyage. Princess Alix, on the other hand, was still and silent.
She made no attempt to calm her companion, and it was as if she heard
not those weak and selfish wailings. Once her blank gaze fell upon me
as it wandered, and I was alarmed, so tragic were the eyes. I got up,
and put my hand impulsively on her arm.
"Princess," I said in a low voice.
Her lip quivered. She hid her face. I went back to my seat. Who was I
that I should intervene upon that infinite private sorrow? No, the past
was not for me; the future faced me, pressed upon me, staring bleakly
and cruelly upon our condition. Was all over? Had we to remain there,
merely at Holgate's pleasure helpless victims to his will, sheep ready
for the slaughter that he destined for us? I swore in my heart in that
hour that it should not be--not without a struggle. I took God to
witness in my inmost soul that I would die before harm should touch the
Princess. No, all was not lost yet--not so long as we were free to move
and breathe and think intelligently.
But, if anything were to be done, it must be attempted ere Holgate
remembered us again. He had placed the guard upon us, and he would not
turn his thoughts our way again until he had either found what he was
looking for or despaired of finding it. How long would the search go
on? As I resolved the situation in my head, ideas began to assume form
in my quickening brain. In the cabin, under watch and ward, were the
two ladies, Legrand, and myself. Lane and Ellison were elsewhere, if
they had not been killed by the mutineers, as I almost feared. Also,
there was Juliette, Mademoiselle's maid. What had become of her? It was
not death I feared for her. But the mutineers, it was quite certain,
would think of nothing but running to earth the treasure for the
present. The Prince had successfully concealed it, but, of course, the
space on a yacht is limited, and it seemed as if in time the discovery
must be made. How long would it be? But then came in a flash a
disturbing thought. They would abandon their hunt when the light failed
until the following morning, and the interlude would direct their
attention to their unfortunate prisoners. If they found the treasure by
that time, it might be too late for us, but if they went on till
dark--I thought I saw light at last in these reflections. We must wait,
and act as soon as darkness fell.
One thing that gave me hope was that our guards showed no special
vigilance. I suppose this was partly because we were considered to be
safely disposed of, and partly because they were interested in the
progress of the search. Now and then one of them opened the door and
glanced in, shutting it again abruptly, to resume conversation with his
companion. We had been deprived of our weapons, and the outward windows
towards the deck were so small as to forbid the possibility of escape
that way, even had the intermittent visitations of our sentries been
wanting. Another thing encouraged me, which was, that we were free to
talk unheeded. What could the communion of helpless, unarmed prisoners
matter? I glanced at Legrand, who sat back, his eyes staring at the
ceiling, his arms folded, a deep frown bitten in his forehead.
"Legrand," I whispered. His eyes dropped to my level. "They will be
busy till dark. What about dusk?"
He stirred, and shifted towards me. "Odd. I've been thinking the same,"
he answered in a low tone. "We may have one more chance if we make it."
"We must make it," said I.
"I'll tell you what it is, Phillimore," said he. "There's something we
can't do without, in our circumstances, and I think I know where to
find it." He rose, and opened a cupboard in the wall, from which he
brought out a bottle of brandy, some glasses and some tinned foods.
"There's always been some kept here," he added. "And, as I live, a
knife, if only a jack-knife. Well, she'll do, man--first to open the
tins, and then----" He left his meaning in the air.
When the tins were opened, I endeavoured to persuade the Princess to
eat. She refused at first from lips of marble, but I used my authority
as a doctor.
"Come," I said with asperity, "you're under orders here, Princess. You
must do as you're told."
Her lips quivered. "I will try," she said in a strangled voice.
Mademoiselle had sat up some time ago and dried her tears. I think she
had worn herself out with that passion of weeping, and her nimble wits
began to flow again.
"You are right, doctor," she said. "It is well to eat, otherwise we
become weak. I will eat and then see what may be done."
"Bravo, Mademoiselle!" said I. "That is spoken like a sensible woman."
"Yes," she went on, "I will try my eloquence upon them--those beasts.
They will not harm me, if I speak to them. It was Sir John before, and
he was only a man, and clumsy. I will sing to them, if necessary. I
will charm them. Have I not done it before?"
I wondered if the poor lady had any guess in her mind, had any
realisation at all, of what human passions, let loose as upon that
ship, amounted to. She spoke as a child, as a vain and hopeful child,
boasting of her influence. But it was the mood I wanted rather than the
hysterical state of tears. We ate, and drank a little brandy and water,
without interruption from without, and turned once more to the thought
of escape. The search was still going on, as sounds that came to our
ears indicated, and slowly the room darkened with the enveloping night.
I could just see the Princess across the cabin. Legrand whispered to
me:
"They're still hard at work. We shall have our chance soon."
Our plan was simple, if we could once get quit of our guards. One of
the smaller boats lay on the starboard side, and, hanging outwards from
the davits, could, from the slant of the _Sea Queen_ as she lay on the
rocks, be easily dropped and floated. If we could lower her into the
water and get the ladies into her, it would be possible, under cover of
the darkness and the preoccupation of the mutineers, to reach the
island. Once there, we must, of course, trust to our luck for food and
shelter.
Legrand got to his feet and moved noiselessly towards the door. The
yacht was comparatively still, and we could hear the lapping of the
quiet sea beyond the broken windows. I followed him.
"We have one jack-knife," I whispered in his ear. He nodded.
"And there are two men," he whispered back.
"Is the door locked?" He fumbled softly.
"I don't think so. They did not turn the key last time. But it's a
question of who's outside. If the body of the mutineers are still
there, we're done. If the two are alone----"
"They are alone," I whispered. "I can hear no noise. They're hunting
elsewhere."
"The darkness about suits us now. Explain to the ladies," he said under
his breath. "Let them be ready directly we are."
I went back to the couch and poured out my story through the darkness.
I spoke to two shadows, and as I did so a hand moved in the air and
touched mine. I took it, and it was cold like the snows in January. I
pressed it softly.
"Be of good heart. I will come back. And do not cry out."
Even as I stole back in that critical moment, my heart bounded, for I
knew to whom the hand belonged. Body of Love! should not I know it in
the grave? I reached Legrand.
"Ready," I said.
"You take the nearest," said he. "A jack-knife carries farther."
"I shall want it," I said. "I have only my fingers."
"You shall have it," he said grimly. "One at a time. Fingers or throat,
mind you, and no noise. Have you got your muscles back? You're a strong
man, Phillimore, but, by heaven! all rests on your fingers. And you
have been wounded?"
"I could tear down the pillars of Gaza at this moment," I replied. "My
blood's afire."
"God be with us!" he muttered, and slowly turned the handle.
The door opened inwards, and in the darkness loomed a single figure.
Legrand sprang, and the two disappeared in a heap upon the floor. I had
leapt to one side and was feeling in the air for my enemy, but my hands
took nothing, nor could my eyes make out any other figure in the gloom.
Presently something rose from the floor, and I heard Legrand's voice.
"He's alone. There was only the one."
"Yes," I whispered back. "And the mutineers are gone from here."
Faint noises issued from below, acquainting us in what direction the
search had flowed.
"All the better," said Legrand. "The way's clear for us. Where are the
women?"
I found my way into the cabin again and called them in a low voice.
"Give me your hand," said I to the first that reached me. I recognised
the tall figure. Mademoiselle was _petite_. I conducted both through
the doorway, and the Princess stumbled and gave vent to a little moan.
It was the dead man. I pulled her to me.
"Legrand," said I, "you must take Mademoiselle; she will not find her
way alone, and I must have an arm free."
"I want two," he growled.
At that moment a beam of light flashed from the cabins across the way.
Legrand gave vent to a hiss of warning and moved off. I could see his
shadow for a moment, and then it was swallowed in the blackness. He was
waiting and watching outside the cabin. The light streamed out in a fan
towards us, and revealed, in the opening of a door, a man's form, and
even as it did, Legrand struck. The man went down in silence, and
Legrand bent over and picked up the lantern which had clashed to the
floor. He stooped and examined the face of his victim. Then he crossed
to us, and on my arm a hand was trembling like a leaf in the wind.
"Courage," I whispered, and I groped for Mademoiselle on the other
side.
"It was the other man," said Legrand calmly. "I don't know what he did
there, but we've got a bull's-eye, which is so much to the good. Come,
let's get on."
We passed down the corridor and through the bare doorway to the deck.
Here the breath of the night blew softly on our faces. Legrand moved
along the bulwarks till he reached the davits from which the boat
depended. Standing into the opaque blackness, he cut at the ropes
above. Presently I heard a splash. I did not offer to assist, for he
had the knife and the knowledge; the two women were my charge. It must
have been twenty minutes that we waited there silently, deep in the
security of the darkness.
"She's down," said Legrand in my ear. "It's not a long drop, but it's a
job for women. Do you think you can manage it?"
"I'm going to try," I said, and I whispered to the Princess, "Will you
trust yourself to me? I must lower you into the boat?"
"Yes--yes," she answered in a low voice.
"Legrand," said I, "you go first. I'll lower them, and then I'll
follow."
He made no answer, but slipped over the railing, and presently his
voice sounded softly from below: "Now."
I took the Princess's hand from my arm. "You must go," said I; "Legrand
is awaiting you. If I put you over, can you hang by the rope and lower
yourself? He will catch you."
"Yes," she said in the same voice.
I lifted her gently to the top of the bulwarks and put the rope in her
hands, and I felt her go down slowly. I had faith in her, yet I waited
anxiously until I heard the voice below: "Safe."
I turned to where I had left Mademoiselle, but my hands moving in the
darkness encountered nothing. She was gone.
What had become of her? I moved a little way, and almost fell on my
face over some obstacle, which was soft and moved. I stooped, and felt
there on the deck with a sudden misgiving. It was Mademoiselle
Trebizond, who had gone off in a swoon! What was to be done? I racked
my brains, and could not see any means by which she could be lowered in
that unconscious state to the boat. I called out to Legrand softly,
informing him of the situation, and I heard an oath float on the air.
Suddenly a thought came to me and I leaned over. "Wait," I said, "I
have an idea. I will be back shortly."
I had the bull's-eye, and now I turned it on and lighted myself back
into the corridor. In a flash I had had a thought as to what the second
guard had wanted in the cabin, and I retraced my way to it along the
deserted corridor, and found the door open and the man's body blocking
it. I stepped over this and threw the light about. I had guessed it was
the _boudoir_. I pushed into the farther room, which had been
Mademoiselle's, and a cry greeted me. I had conjectured rightly. The
second man had been set as guard on other prisoners. Juliette ran to me
quickly.
"Mademoiselle?" said she.
"Is safe," I answered, "but wants your help. Come." I cast the light on
Lane. "Can you walk, Lane?"
"Yes," he said; "I'm fit for anything."
"Ellison?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, follow me. If you'd known it, your prison was open for you. Be
as silent as you can. There's no time to lose."
As I issued from the doorway, I stopped and took the revolver and
cartridge-belt from the dead man, and Ellison followed my example in
respect of the other sentry. We reached the deck without a word, and I
shut off the lantern. I called to Legrand, and he answered.
"Hush!" he said. "There's been some one along here just now. Be
careful."
I told him what had happened, and, as there was no time for more words,
stooped to find Mademoiselle's unconscious form. It was not there!
Perplexed, I communicated my discovery to my companions, and we
searched in the dark for some minutes. But it then became apparent that
she had vanished utterly. I heard Legrand's voice in warning below.
"There's a light coming aft. Quick. We can't wait."
I was fairly distracted, and knew not what to do. It was plain that, if
we lingered there, we should be detected, and it seemed equally plain
that there was no chance of discovering Mademoiselle. Some one who had
passed that way had lighted upon her unconscious body.
"Quick, man," said Legrand. "All will be lost."
I ordered Juliette down the rope, and as she protested, talking of her
mistress, I told her all would be well if she would only descend. Thus
reassured--for she had understood but imperfectly what had happened
through her ignorance of English--she jumped on the rail alertly and
disappeared. Lane followed, and Ellison, despite his wound, was lithe
as a cat. Then I mounted.
Heaven was a vault of darkness, and the sea poured multitudinous small
noises in my ears as it rippled against the side of the _Sea Queen_.
There was visible but the loom of the funnel and the stack of the
state-rooms turning night into deeper night. Noises now arose from the
saloon and streamed up to me. I put my hands on the rope, and then a
voice wheezed almost in my ear.
"I'll lay it's the doctor."
It was Holgate, as civil and indifferent as if he were greeting a
friend on the quarterdeck. I started and gripped my revolver tightly.
"It couldn't be any one else," pursued Holgate; and now his bulk was a
blacker shadow than the empty blackness around. "Got a little party
down there, I dare say? Well, now, I never thought of that, doctor. For
one thing, I hadn't an idea that you would have left a lady all alone
in a faint. It wasn't like your gallantry, doctor. So I didn't tumble
to it. But it's no odds. You're welcome. I make you a present of your
party. Good-night, doctor."
I slipped down the rope and reached the boat ere this astounding speech
was ended. He was a fiend. Why did he torture us thus?
"Let her go, man," said I fiercely to Legrand. "He's the Devil in the
flesh."
The rope was overboard, and the oars dipped. A lantern flashed from the
side of the yacht, and a trail of light spread faint over the quiet
water.
"Shall I give him a barrel, sir?" asked Ellison respectfully.
"No," said I shortly; "we shall have enough to do with our barrels
presently. Besides, you wouldn't hit him."
The boat sped out beyond the channel of light.
"Good-night, doctor," called out Holgate. "We've got a little business
on, but when that's over I hope to drop in to tea. You're not going
far."
No one answered, and the wash of the water foamed about the nose of the
boat as she turned seaward.