OF MY BOUT WITH DE BAÇAN.
I met her coming out of the passageway which led to the after-cabin.
Holding out her hand to me, she said frankly, “I came to seek you,
Master Killigrew.” Her manner was one of friendliness and trust, and so
filled my heart with gratitude that at first I did not note the anxiety
which showed in her eyes. We moved to an embrasure by one of the
casements. There she seated herself upon a gun-carriage and motioned me
to a place at her side.
“God knows, Master Killigrew, that we are deep in your debt,” she
began. “You are the only one my father has trusted since we fled from
Villeneuve. But there is much that you should know.”
“Mademoiselle,” I replied, “my devotion to your interests or cause----”
There may have been more of ardor in my tones than I meant to show, for
I fancied a pink, rosy color came to her neck and cheeks.
“We have good reason to believe in your honesty of purpose, Master
Killigrew,” she said hastily, “and my present talk is further proof of
confidence. The matter concerns Don Diego de Baçan and ourselves. This
Spaniard has no good will for my father.”
“But, Mademoiselle, has he--?”
“You and your captain thought that the reason for the attack lay in
his hope to conceal the money in the cabin. That was not all. When
we were first taken aboard the _Cristobal_ he gave me the honor of
his admiration. The following day he sought me on many pretexts.
I,--believing that the comfort and peace of Madame, my mother, depended
upon diplomacy,--allowed him to sit and talk with me. At last, his
speech becoming little to my liking, I refused him further admittance
and told the Sieur de la Notte of my annoyance.”
I rose from the seat.
“No, listen! Listen to me,” she continued. “Then--’twas only three
days before the encounter with the _Great Griffin_--my father sought
Don Alvarez and told him the facts as I relate them, demanding the
courtesies due to honorable prisoners of war. This request was
disregarded and Don Diego came at all hours to our cabin, into which,
the door lock having been removed, he entered at whatever hour he
pleased.”
She may have marked my manner, which as the narrative proceeded, grew
from joy at her confidence to surprise, anger and then rage at the
Spaniard, which as I sat there seemed like to overmaster me. I could
say no word, but for better control kept my eyes fixed upon the deck.
There was much, I knew, beneath that story which she had sweetly robbed
of its harshness to guard me from rash impulse. And so I sat there,
transfixed.
“I have told this because I think it best to guard against him when we
reach the coast. De Baçan has sworn that he will possess me. I know
there is naught he will not attempt to keep his word. There is no evil
he would not work upon us or upon you to gain his ends. For myself I
fear nothing, but he hates my father with a deadly hatred and Madame
must be saved from further suffering if the means lie in our power. Oh!
what would I not give for the bones and sinews of a man like you who
has but to order and the thing is done!”
She stopped abruptly and cast down her eyes as though the manner of her
speech had been too strong and unwomanly. And I, who sat there, turned
from cold with hatred of the Spaniard, to warm with love of her. For in
spite of the distance between us, the speech came impulsively from the
heart and made me more than ever desire to justify her confidence.
“I cannot say, Mademoiselle,” I replied gravely, “that there will not
be danger, for there is treachery in Dieppe. But many strong hearts
stand between you and this De Baçan.”
Her hand lay upon the breeching of the gun beside us; small and
very white it was, ornamented with a ring of ancient setting and
workmanship. Without meditation and eased of my boorishness by some
subtle influence that drew me to her, I took it in my fingers and
raised it to my lips. Then, astonished at my audacity--for I had never
done so strange a thing, I drew back, hot and awkward. But at once she
set me at my ease and would not have it so.
“Nay, sir,” she said warmly, “if you are to serve us truly I would not
have a better seal for the contract.”
Upon which, still in great ferment of mind, I straightway made the
compact doubly sure.
She then left me, seeking the cabin, while I went upon the deck, intent
upon settling the business in hand.
The wind now blew freshly from the north and the spray came over the
waist, cutting sharply against my face as I went forward. Job Goddard
lay upon his back upon the tarpaulin of the forward hatchway, while
Salvation Smith read aloud portions of a book of tales relating to
the lives of the Christian martyrs. At times, in impressive pauses in
the reading by the pious one, Goddard would raise himself upon one
elbow and curse lustily--his usual mode of expressing admiration for
the martyrs and their sponsor; for in Salvation lay the makings of a
most bigoted and godly reformer. Job Goddard swore by all things under
heaven and upon all occasions--when that mode of speech seemed least
fitting or appropriate; and the book of the martyrs was but a part of
Salvation’s instruction in simple and pious thought. Yet they were
both goodly fighters--in a place of great difficulty being worth at
the least four Englishmen, six Spaniards or eight Frenchmen. The very
sound of the clashing of steel pike-heads or the report of an arquebuse
set them upon the very edge of their mettle, and so the prospect of a
fair engagement caused them so great a joy that even devotion to their
principles came to be forgotten. I therefore knew that the business I
had in hand would meet with ready response.
“To-night,” said I, without further ado, “there is to be a bout.” Smith
closed the “Martyrs” with celerity and Goddard began to swear.
“Glory be, Job! Who, Master Killigrew?”
“Odds ’oonds, Jem! What is it, sir?”
“There is to be a test between the Spaniard, De Baçan and myself.”
In a moment they were all excitement, slapping each other upon the back
and making a great commotion. When they were quiet again I gave them
their instructions. There were to be no arms. For could I not crush
him into submission with my own will and sinews, then--well--I had met
my match or better. But I did not think of that. We would fight at
twelve o’clock upon the fore-castle, for there we would be undisturbed.
Two Spanish prisoners of De Baçan’s choice were to stand by him, and
Goddard and Salvation Smith were to stand by me to see justice done.
The details being agreed upon I despatched a message by Goddard to the
Spaniard acquainting him with the plans; to which there being no reply,
I deemed them satisfactory.
The night came up dark and windy. But toward six bells the fresh breeze
piled the clouds away to the west and the moon came out, lighting up
the deck and glimmering upon the bright work of the lanterns. Prompt
upon the stroke of eight bells I caused word to be sent to De Baçan.
When he appeared, his cloak was thrown about his shoulders but I
could see he wore no doublet, having only his shirt, hose, and a pair
of short boots. It pleased me to know he had thought proper to make
some preparation for the work, for I now felt that the matter was not
altogether indifferent to him, and that, in the quieter moments of his
cabin, he had given me credit for some hardihood.
Now as I measured him by my own stature it seemed indeed as though he
had the advantage in height, though I much doubt if he had really
my breadth of shoulder or my length of arm, which were second to no
man I had met. But the symmetry and grace of his figure were perfect.
The light shone through the thin shirt and I marked the great muscles
behind the shoulders as they played when he moved his arms. The collar
was open and I could note the swell of the breast muscles as they lay
in layers like rows of cordage from breastbone to arm-pit. The thighs
were smaller than mine, but there was more of grace and more of sinew
both there and at the calf, the ball of which played just at the boot
top. His eye was bold and clear and he looked at me steadily from the
moment he came upon the deck, seeking, in a way I had seen practised,
to create a feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty. This look of his
eyes I took to be but a part of the method of intimidation he had
worked upon others, and it only served to make me more wary of the
tricks I knew he would play should sheer strength not suffice.
He at once made several tries upon my arm which I held forward to ward
a sudden rush below the guard. Knowing that my youth and clean living
might give me advantage in a long struggle, I was content for the
moment to stand upon guard and suffered him to play around me, my eyes
fixed upon his, every look of which I followed and read. For so heavy
a man, he stepped with wonderful alacrity and sprang from this side to
that with such speed that he puzzled me. Finding, however, by reason of
my length of reach that he could get no hold, he began trying different
methods. The extension guard has been thought of some advantage and the
German, Brandt, has practised it with success, yet I counted not upon
the wonderful quickness of the man. By feinting for finding a catch
upon my shoulder, he sprang in, catching me handily with a gripe of his
left arm upon my neck and back. So fiercely he came that my right arm
was pinioned; yet my left elbow met him in the middle of the breast
below the bone, and I stood firm upon my legs, which were more stocky
of build than his, and met the assault strongly.
As he closed in, the arm upon my back and neck took a firmer hold and
the hand came over my right shoulder from the back, seeking a purchase
at the neck. The strain he put upon my body was terrible, so terrible
that for the moment all the breath seemed like to be squeezed from
out my lungs. Backward we strained a foot or so, when, as he eased
his gripe to get a better purchase upon the back, my right arm came a
trifle freer and I found a use for my hand which now got a hold upon
his shoulder muscles. My nails bit deep into the flesh and I plucked
between my palm and fingers a great muscle out of tension, and felt
for the moment I could hold my own. He still had an advantage of me
in the gripe; and though the pressure upon my body was not so great
as at the beginning, my breath came with difficulty. He seemed in
little better condition, for he breathed hard, and I knew the chance
blow of the elbow in the breast had robbed him of some of his staying
power. Try as he might, his arms about me, his head bent forward upon
my chest, he could not at first bend my neck. Backward and forward we
moved, each of us bringing forth all the strength we could, neither of
us able to gain. Then, the strain put upon me being more than mortal
flesh could stand, little by little I went back until I came down upon
one knee.
The agony of that moment! He put forth all his power and tried to break
my back with a terrific wrench which must have ended me had not my new
position given a side purchase upon him. Seeing that so long as my
right hand shoulder gripe remained he could not get the full play of
strength in his left arm, he bore down with his entire weight. In this
I humored him till he got me high enough when, though still suffering
grievously, I shifted my gripe and took him with both arms, one up one
down, just below his ribs. Swinging half to the right and using all
the power left me, I half arose and buttocked him fairly, sending him
in a great half circle and loosing his gripe upon my chest. Yet the
strain he had put upon me had weakened me so sorely that, ere I could
come upon him to follow up my sudden advantage, he had broken loose and
gained his feet for a further trial.
“Body o’ me, lad, ’twas handily done,” came from Goddard in an awed
whisper; I marked a reverential “Heart o’ grace,” from Smith at my
back, “now look out for him, sir!”
Indeed the face of the Spaniard was dreadful to see. He stood for the
moment, his legs apart, staggering from the shock of the fall. His
breath came hard and his eyes gleamed wickedly. At me he came and with
a desperateness I might not mistake. As we sprang into each other’s
grasp, there followed a test of endurance such as I had never before
been put to--nor will again. In turn he tried the cross buttock, the
back hank and back heel, but I managed to meet him at all points,
though in sore straits for lack of wind. I had ten years advantage in
the matter of age, and the life he had led had doubtless sapped his
vigor. For as we struggled back and forth I noticed that his gripe had
lost a part of its power and his offensive play was weaker. It seemed
as though he lay upon his oars awaiting the chance for a trick. By and
by he used it.
His left hand became disengaged and the great wiry fingers fastened a
fierce clutch upon my throat, which I could not free. He had me from
the left side and I could not well return his dastardly compliment.
But as I felt my power a-going, by loosing the clasp of my left arm,
I seized him from behind, my right hand going around his neck and my
fingers getting a fair good hold in his beard just below the turn of
the chin. Here I had the advantage. For he had taken me low down on
the neck where the stronger muscles are and feared to loose his gripe;
while my clasp tightened till I felt my thumb and fingers meet on
the nether side of the windpipe. So great a rage I had at his taking
me foully that I knew not what I did and as we fell I brought all my
strength into play. Though he fell on top of me and my breath was gone,
I knew that not death itself could have loosed the clutch I put upon
him. I saw as through a mist the mouth open and shut hideously, the
eyes, wide with terror, come from their sockets and the skin turn black
almost as the beard that half hid it. The hand upon my neck lost its
sinew, the muscles of the arm relaxed and the Spaniard dropped over
to one side nerveless and powerless though still struggling against
me. The fury did not die out of me at once and it seemed as though my
fingers only gripped him the harder. Then, I know not what,--perhaps
some weak and womanish pity at his strait,--caused me to loose my hold
upon the throat, which I might have torn out from his body as one would
unstrand a hempen cable.
God knows why I did this thing! Perhaps it was destiny that I should
have spared him. In the light of after events, it seems as though some
stronger hand than mine had set for us the life that followed. Had I
killed him this account would never have been written, nor would I have
gained the further friendship of Mademoiselle.
But I would set all sail ere my anchor is well clear. By all the rules
of the game the Spaniard had given me the right to his life. Would to
God I had taken it, even as he lay there prone and helpless. As it was
I stumbled to my feet and with Goddard and Smith, stood waiting for
De Baçan to rise. At first I had not noted the disappearance of his
seconds, for the terrible earnestness of the bout had blinded me to all
but the matter in hand.
In answer to my question Job Goddard said,
“Odds me! It was about the buttock, sir, which he said was done
different in Spain. Mebbe I was over-rapid in demonstratin’ my meanin’
an’ view of the question. But I did him no hurt, sir,--curse me if I
did!”
The other man sat terrified in the shadow of the foremast, but upon my
suggestion he went to De Baçan, aiding him to arise and go to the cabin
below.