IN WHICH IS DISCUSSION OF TWO AUNTIES
L'Olonnois was still all for training the stern-chaser Long Tom (the
_Belle Helene's_ brass yacht cannon) on the enemy, and came to me
presently breathing defiance. "'F I only had any chain shot in the
locker," said he, "beshrew me, but I would pay him well for this! He's
got my Auntie Helen's auntie scared silly."
"And how about your Auntie Helena herself?" I asked of him. Thus far,
he had been guilty of no nepotism whatever, and had treated his auntie
as any other captive maiden, perchance fallen into his ruthless hands.
"Well, she ain't so scared as she is mad, near's I can see," was his
reply. "She sat there when I first drove 'em down-stairs, lookin' at
me, an' she says, 'Jimmy,' says she, 'what's all this foolishness?'
An' she reaches out her hand, an' she offers me candy--she makes awful
nice fudges, too. She knew that wasn't fair! But I says to her.
'Woman, cease all blandishments, for now you are in our power!' An' I
liked that, fer I been in her power long enough. Then she set down,
an' near's I can tell, she got to thinking things over. I know
her--she'll try to get away."
"She has tried to do so, my good leftenant, is trying now. She and
her Auntie Lucinda have thrown over I know not how many bottles
carrying messages. It were only by mere chance yon varlet could escape
coming over some of them. Add this to the fact that yon varlet has got
the king's navy after us, and marry! methinks we have full work cut
out for us. Not that stout heart should falter, good leftenant, eh?"
"We follow Black Bart the Avenger," said L'Olonnois, folding his arms
and frowning heavily. "But say," he added, "what seems funny to me is,
you and my Auntie Helen must of known each other before now."
"Not at all, not at all--that is, but casually, and long years since.
It had long since escaped my mind." I felt myself flushing sadly.
"I'll tell her that--I knew she was mistaken. I was sure she was."
"No! No! Jimmy, you'll tell her nothing of the kind. I only meant----"
"Well, she remembers you, I'm almost sure, an' so does Aunt Lucinda.
Aunt Lucinda, why I've heard her back home tell Auntie Helena about as
good fish in the sea, an' she mustn't bother over a man that's poor.
Was it you, Black Bart? And are you poor?"
"As I stand before you now, Jimmy L'Olonnois, I'm the poorest beggar
in the world," said I. "I have risked my all on one hazard. If I win,
I shall be rich beyond compare. If I fail, I shall be poor indeed."
"She knows that. She knows you're poor, all right. I heard Aunt
Lucinda tell her often. She said you was rich once, an' lost it all,
speculatin' in a mine or something; an' what was the use marryin' a
man who hadn't anything? I don't know, but I think that was why Aunt
Lucinda worked up this trip with Mr. Davidson. He's got money to
burn--look at this yacht, an' everything--an' I know him and Auntie
Lucinda, anyhow, have got it doped out that him an' Auntie Helen's
goin' to get married--even if they ain't now, so far's I know. Anyhow,
our takin' the ship has broke up something. But say, now, Black
Bart----"
"Well, my good leftenant----"
"_I_ got a idea!"
"Indeed?"
"Yep. Looka here, now--why don't _you_ just do like the pirate book
says?"
"How is that?"
"Marry the captive maid your own self?"
I felt my color rise yet more.
"Why, now, that happened right along in them days--pirate chief, he
takes a beautiful maiden captive, an' after makin' all his prisoners
walk the plank but just her, he offers his hand an' fortune. An' lots
of times, somehow, the beautiful maiden she married the ruthless
pirate chief, an' they lived happy ever after. Why don't you?"
"I hadn't thought of that, Jimmy," I said, most mendaciously; "but the
idea has some merit. In fact, we've already started in by taking the
beautiful maiden captive, and, mayhap, yon varlet yet shall walk the
plank, or swear a solemn oath never to wear such waistcoats as these
again. But one thing lacks."
"What?"
"The maiden's consent!"
"No, it don't! They never ast 'em--they just married 'em, that was
all. An' every time, they lived happy ever after. An' they founded
families that----"
"Jimmy!" I raised a hand. "That will do."
"Well, anyhow, I wouldn't pay any attention to Aunt Lucinda about it.
She's strong for yon varlet, for he's got the dough."
"And isn't your Auntie Helena also--but no, on second thought, I will
not ask you that----"
"Why no, sure not--it's better to demand it of her own fair lips, an'
not take no for a answer. They always live happy ever after."
--"Of course, Jimmy."
--"And so would you."
"I know it! I know it!"
"Well, then, why just don't you?"
"Good leftenant, Black Bart will take your counsel into full
advisement. Later, we shall see. Meantime, we must have a care for our
good ship's safety, for none may tell what plans yon varlet may be
laying to circumvent us."
So saying, I sought out Peterson and asked him for his maps and
charts.
There was, as I found by consulting these, a deep bayou, an old river
bed, that ran inland some thirty miles, apparently tapping a rich
plantation country which was not served by the regular river boats.
"Do you know anything about this old channel, Peterson?" I inquired.
"Nothing at all except from hearsay and what you see here," he
replied. "I don't know whether or not it has a bar at either end, but
likely enough it has at both, though we might crowd through."
"And how about the gasoline supply?"
"Enough to get us in, at least. And, I say, here's a sort of
plantation post-office marked. There's just a bare chance we could get
a drum or so in there. I don't think we can, though."
"What's she drawing now as she runs, Peterson?"
"Four feet two inches. She's a shade low by the stern. We've quite a
lot of supplies aboard, this early in the cruise. But I don't suppose
we've got enough."
"Well, Peterson," said I, "water leaves no trail. If there's no one
watching when we open up this next bend, run for the bayou, and we'll
see if we can get under cover. Of course, it's all a mistake about Mr.
Davidson's wiring on to have us stopped--though we can't blame him,
since he hasn't any idea who it is that has run away with the boat.
But now, it suits me better to double in here, and let the chase try
to find us on the main river; if there is any chase. You see, I don't
want to disturb the ladies unduly, and they might not understand it
all if we were overhauled and asked to explain our change in the
ownership."
"Quite right, sir, and very good. I catch the idea. But, sir----"
He hesitated.
"Yes?"
"Well, sir, if I might be so bold, what are your plans about the two
ladies?"
"I have none which will effect your navigation of the boat, Peterson."
The old man flushed a shade. "Excuse me, Mr. Harry. I know you'll do
nothing out of the way. But the old hen--I beg pardon----"
"You mean the revered aunt, Peterson."
"Yes, sir, the revered aunt. Well, sir, the revered aunt, dash
her!----"
"Yes, dash her starry toplights, Peterson; and even if need be, shiver
her timbers! Go on----"
"Why, she's been tryin' to pull off a weddin' on this boat ever since
we left Mackinaw."
"Why not? You mean that Mr. Davidson and the revered aunt were getting
on well?"
"Oh, no, bless your heart, no! It was the young lady, Miss Emory. And
she----"
I raised my hand. "Never mind, Peterson. We can't discuss that at all.
But now, I'm minded to give my friend Mr. Davidson a little game of
follow-my-leader. And just to show how we'll do that, we'll begin with
a preliminary go at hide-and-seek. Take the chance, Peterson, and run
into the bayou. I'll put off the small boat for soundings. If we can
get gas, and can get in, and can get out unnoticed, maybe we can run
by New Orleans in the night, and none the wiser."
"And where then, Mr. Harry?"
"Peterson, the high seas have no bridges, and if they had, I should
not cross them yet. Perhaps if I did, I then should burn them behind
me."
"She's a mortal fine young woman, Mr. Harry, a mortal fine one. I'll
be sworn he makes a hard run for her. But so can we--eh, Mr. Harry?
He'll like enough pocket us in here, though."
I made no answer to this. The old man left me to take the wheel, and
I noted his head wag from side to side.