JACINTA CAPITULATES
The _Carsegarry_ was not a fast vessel. Like most of the ocean tramp
species, she had been built to carry the largest possible cargo on a
very moderate consumption of coal, and speed was a secondary
consideration. She had also been in the warmer seas for some time, with
the result that every plate beneath her water-line was foul, and as she
fell in with strong northwest breezes, she was an unusually long while
on the way to Liverpool. Austin was thus not astonished to find a letter
from Jefferson, written four or five days after he left Las Palmas,
waiting him at Farquhar's brokers, which made it evident that his
comrade had got to work again.
He smiled a trifle grimly as he read it, for he fancied that its
optimistic tone had cost Jefferson--who alluded to his apprehensions
about his arm very briefly--an effort, for the fact that he was asked to
cable as soon as he had seen a doctor appeared significant. The rest of
the letter concerned financial affairs.
"We have had a rough preliminary survey, and the result is distinctly
encouraging," he read. "After making a few temporary repairs I expect to
bring her on to Liverpool, and there is every reason to believe we can
dispose of her for a good round sum. I could have got AL10,000, ex-cargo,
as she lies here. Palm oil, it also appears, is scarce and dear, at up
to AL30 the ton, from which it seems to me that your share should
approximate AL7,000. I have to mention that Brown is on his way to
Liverpool and wants you to communicate with him at the address
enclosed."
This was satisfactory as far as it went. The only trouble was that
Austin was very uncertain whether he would live to spend what he had so
hardly earned. His arm had become exceedingly painful during the voyage,
and after a consultation with the ship broker he telephoned an eminent
specialist.
"I will expect you at two o'clock," the doctor said. "If it appears
advisable, we can, of course, avail ourselves, as you suggest, of any
views the Tropical Disease men may favour us with. In the meanwhile, I
will arrange for a gentleman who has made considerable progress in
similar researches to meet you."
Austin went out of the broker's office with three hours to spare, and
wandered aimlessly about the city in a state of tense suspense. He felt
that he could not sit still, and in any case he was dubious as to
whether he was warranted in going back to the hotel. Indeed, he wondered
whether he had any right to be at large at all, and after a while hung
about the wharves, where there was less chance of any one coming into
perilous contact with him. He had never spent such a morning in his
life, and decided that what he had done and borne in Africa was not
worth mention by comparison. Still, the hours dragged by, and at last he
set out for the specialists' surgery without daring to wonder what the
result would be, and found two gentlemen awaiting him there. One of
them, who had grey hair and very keen eyes, motioned him to a chair.
"Now," he said, "before we proceed to an examination it might be better
if you told us concisely what happened to you in Africa."
Austin, who sat down, did so, and wondered a little that he was able to
speak coherently and quietly, for every nerve in him seemed tingling
with tense anxiety. Then the man with the grey hair asked him a few
terse questions about the negro's appearance, and when he had described
it as well as he could remember, glanced at his companion.
"Do you recognise the symptoms?" he said.
"No," said the other man, who was younger. "There are one or two
complaints not unusual in that country which appear to somewhat resemble
it, but they are seldom so virulent. I would like to talk to Mr. Austin
about it later, but in the meanwhile----"
"Exactly," and the specialist made a little gesture. "Mr. Austin is, no
doubt, anxious to hear our opinion. If you will permit me----"
He drew the jacket gently over Austin's swollen arm, and the latter, who
held it out, bare to the shoulder, felt the perspiration start from him
as he watched the doctors bend over the limb. They said nothing for a
space of seconds, and Austin fancied he would remember that time while
he lived. Then, to his astonishment, the grey-haired man glanced at his
companion with a little smile.
"I fancy this case has lost its special interest to you?" he said.
The other man nodded. "It has," he said. "Our views evidently coincide."
"I would venture to point out that any decision you may have arrived at
is, naturally, of considerable importance to me," said Austin, a trifle
sharply.
The specialist smiled again. "I expect you will be pleased to hear that
it is not a peculiarly African disease you are suffering from. It is, in
fact, no more than a by no means infrequent form of blood poisoning."
Austin gasped, and felt his heart beat furiously from relief, and the
specialist waited a moment or two before he went on. "It is evident that
you had several lacerations on your lower arm--made by corroded iron, or
something of the kind."
"I tore the skin rather frequently working cargo, and when the scars had
partly healed opened up rather a nasty wound by falling on the steamer's
rail."
"Exactly. The result is not astonishing in the case of a man weakened by
fever who has attempted to work harder than is advisable in a country
like the one you mention. In the meanwhile, this arm is going to give
you trouble, and I should recommend you to go into the private ward of
the ---- hospital. I will telephone them if that would suit you?"
Austin said he placed himself in the doctor's hands, and half an hour
later was being driven to the hospital, where the other man, who was
apparently anxious to know more about the negro, asked permission to
visit him. He also came in due time, but, so far as Austin could
ascertain, never quite decided what the negro was suffering from, though
he admitted that there were African troubles of the kind which were
infectious.
In the meanwhile, Austin realised how much he needed rest, and how heavy
the strain he had borne had been. He did not even want to read, and was
languidly content to sit still and think of nothing, until one day, when
it was evident that his arm was healing, a nurse came in to announce a
visitor.
"If it's that doctor man, you can tell him I can't remember anything
more about the nigger, and don't mean to try," he said.
The nurse laughed. "It isn't," she said. "It's a little gentleman with
gold-rimmed spectacles."
Austin started. "Ah!" he said. "Will you please tell them to send him
in?"
In a few more minutes Brown came in, and, sitting down, shook his head
reproachfully.
"You have really given your friends a good deal of anxiety, and I was
almost afraid I would have to go back without learning what had become
of you," he said. "Still, though I know the thing isn't, fortunately,
what you thought it was, the first question is, how are you?"
"Recovering," said Austin, with a smile. "I understand that my arm will
be all right again very shortly. It was a very usual trouble. As you
seem to recognise, I let my imagination run away with me."
"I am very pleased to hear it. Why didn't you cable?"
"I understood that you had left Las Palmas, and Jefferson was on the
point of doing so. I could scarcely suppose there was any one else who
cared enough about what happened to me to make it necessary."
Brown looked at him with a curious little smile which Austin found
disconcerting. "There are Mrs. Hatherly and Muriel. I almost think
Jacinta would have liked to know that you and Jefferson were under a
misapprehension, too. Still, that is, perhaps, not very important, after
all. I suppose Jefferson told you that he expects to get a good deal for
the _Cumbria_ and her cargo?"
"I was pleased to hear that my share might amount to AL7,000."
Brown took off his glasses and held them in one hand, which, as Austin
knew, was a trick of his when he had anything on his mind.
"I am going to take a liberty," he said. "Have you decided yet what you
will do with it?"
"No. That was one of the points I meant to wait a little before
grappling with."
"Well," said Brown, reflectively, "there is something I could suggest,
but I would like to ask another question." He stopped a moment, and
tapped the palm of one hand with his glasses. "Why did you go out to
Africa?"
"Wouldn't the chance of winning AL5,000, which was what Jefferson
estimated my share would be, appear a sufficient reason?"
"No," said Brown drily. "Not to me. When he first made you the offer you
wouldn't go."
"I went, however, when I heard that he was sick. It was then a very
natural thing. That ought to satisfy you."
"I scarcely think it does."
"Then, if I had any other reasons, though I am not exactly admitting it,
they concern myself alone."
Brown made a little gesture. "Well," he said, "I don't suppose it
matters in the meanwhile. You have once or twice asked my advice, and
now you have some AL7,000, and, I understand, don't know how to lay it
out to the best advantage."
"Exactly. I don't feel the least desire to undertake the heaving off of
any more steamers."
Brown leaned forward, and tapped his hand with the glasses. "An
enterprising man could do a good deal with AL7,000. It would, for
example, buy him, we'll call it, a third share in a certain rather
profitable fruit and wine business in Las Palmas. That is, of course, on
the understanding that he devoted his whole time and energy to it."
Austin gazed at him in blank astonishment for a moment or two, and then
a red flush crept into his face.
"I fancy a third share in the business you are evidently alluding to
would be worth a good deal more than that," he said.
"Probably," said Brown, with a trace of dryness. "That is, I might get
more for it, but I have no intention of offering it to everybody. I
would like to ask your careful attention for a minute or two, Mr.
Austin."
He stopped a moment, and his tone had changed when he proceeded. "There
is nothing to be gained by hiding the fact that I am getting old, and I
begin to feel that I would like to take my life a little more easily,"
he said. "Indeed, I want somebody I could have confidence in to do the
hardest work for me. I made the business--and I am a little proud of it.
It would not please me to let go of it altogether--and, as a matter of
fact, I have been warned that if I retired to England, the climate would
probably shorten my life for me. You are, perhaps, aware that I came out
to the Canaries originally because my constitution is not an excellent
one."
He stopped again, and added, with a certain significance: "I have,
however, been told that my ailments are not likely to prove hereditary.
Well, as I mentioned, I do not want to give the business up entirely,
and it would be a matter of grief to me to see it go to pieces in the
hands of an incompetent manager. That is why I have made you the offer."
Austin met his gaze steadily, though the flush was still in his face. "I
scarcely think anybody would call me an enterprising business man, that
is, at least, from the conventional English point of view."
Brown chuckled softly. "I believe you know as well as I do that a man of
that kind would not be of the least use in Spain. They would drive him
crazy, and he would probably have insulted half his clients past
forgiveness before he had been a month among them. Now, you understand
the Spaniards, and, what is as much to the purpose, they seem to like
you."
Austin sat still, looking at him, and at last he saw that Brown's
reserve was breaking down. His hands seemed to be trembling a little,
and there were other signs of anxiety about him.
"I don't know why you have made me that offer, sir," he said. "There
must be plenty of men more fitted to be the recipient of it."
"It is, at least, wholly unconditional," and Brown made a little gesture
that curiously became him. "I may say that I had already satisfied
myself about you, or I should never have made it."
"Then," said Austin, a trifle hoarsely, "I can only thank you--and
endeavour to give you no cause for being sorry afterwards that you fixed
on me."
They had a little more to say, but the nurse appeared during the course
of it and informed Brown that the surgeon was coming to dress Austin's
arm.
"Just a minute," said the latter. "Will you be kind enough to pass me
that pad and pencil?"
She gave it to him, and he scribbled hastily, and then tore off the
sheet and handed it to Brown.
"I wonder if that message meets with your approval, sir?" he said.
Brown put on his glasses, and smiled as he read: "Miss Brown,
Casa-Brown, Las Palmas. Ran away without a cause. Almost well. May I
come back as your father's partner?"
Brown chuckled softly, though there was a curious and somewhat unusual
gentleness in his eyes.
"It has my full approbation, though, considering the cable company's
charges, isn't it a trifle loquacious?"
"Does that matter?" asked Austin.
Brown laughed, and grasped the hand he held out. "No," he said, "I don't
suppose it does. After all, these things only happen once in the average
lifetime. Well, I must evidently go now, but I will come back to see
what Jacinta says to-morrow."
He went out, and that night Austin got Jacinta's answer.
"Come!" was all it said, but Austin was well content, and, though he was
not a very sentimental man, went to sleep with the message beneath his
pillow.
It was, however, rather more than three weeks later when, as a
yellow-funnelled mailboat slid into Las Palmas harbour, Austin, leaning
down from her rail, saw Jacinta and Mrs. Hatherly in one of the crowding
boats below. The little lady discreetly remained where she was, and when
Jacinta came up the ladder Austin met her at the head of it. She flashed
a swift glance into his face, and then for a moment turned hers aside.
"Ah!" she said, "you have forgotten what I said to you, and you are
really well again?"
Austin laughed, a quiet, exultant laugh. "I was never particularly ill,
but you know all that, and we have ever so much more pleasant things to
talk about," he said. "In the meanwhile, I fancy we are blocking up the
gangway."
Holding the hand she had given him, he drew her behind the deck-house
masterfully, and looked down on her with a little smile.
"I almost think you are pleased to see me back," he said.
"Ah!" said Jacinta, "if you only knew what the past few weeks have cost
me."
Austin, laying both hands on her shoulders, stooped and kissed her
twice. "That was worth going to Africa for, and if Jefferson had only
bought the _Cumbria_ sooner I would have ventured to do as much ever so
long ago."
There was apparently nobody else on that side of the deck-house, and
Jacinta, who did not shake his grasp off, looked up at him with shining
eyes.
"You are quite sure of that?" she said.
"The wish to do so was almost irresistible the first time I saw you. It
has been growing stronger ever since."
Jacinta laughed softly, though the crimson was in her cheeks. "Still,
you would have mastered it. You were always discreet, you know, and that
was why at last I--who have hitherto told all my friends what they ought
to do--had to let some one else make it clear how much I wanted you.
Now, you are going to think very little of me after that?"
"My dear," said Austin, "you know there was only one thing which could
have kept me away from you."
"As if that mattered," and Jacinta laughed scornfully. "Now, stoop a
little, though, perhaps, I shouldn't tell you, and if you hadn't gone to
Africa, of course, I shouldn't have done it. I knew when you went away
how badly I wanted you--and I would have done anything to bring you
back, however much it cost me."
A couple of seamen carrying baggage appeared from behind the deck-house
just then, which naturally cut short their confidences, and Austin made
his way with Jacinta's hand upon his arm towards the boat. He was a
trifle bewildered, as well as exultant, for this was quite a new
Jacinta, one, in fact, he had never encountered before. She gave him
another proof of it when he made an observation that afforded her the
opening as they were rowed across the harbour.
"No," she said, quite disregarding Mrs. Hatherly, "I am not going to
give you any advice or instructions now you belong to me. After managing
everybody else's affairs successfully for ever so long I made a
deplorable mess of my own, you see."
"Then what am I to do when we have difficulties to contend with?" said
Austin. "We may have a few now and then."
"You," said Jacinta sweetly, "will have to get over them. I know you can
do that now, and I am just going to watch you and be pleased with
everything. Isn't that the correct attitude, Mrs. Hatherly?"
The little lady beamed upon them both. "It is rather an old-fashioned
one, my dear," she said. "Still, I am far from sure that it doesn't work
out as well as the one occasionally adopted by young women now."
THE END.
Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the
original edition have been corrected.
In Chapter II, ="Don Erminio," said Jacinto, "evidently doesn't approve
of his dinner."= was changed to ="Don Erminio," said Jacinta, "evidently
doesn't approve of his dinner."=, =A bit doosoor on the coal trade is one
thing, but you was--insultin'= was changed to =A bit doosoor on the coal
trade is one thing, but yon was--insultin'=, =as he steamer rolled= was
changed to =as the steamer rolled=, and =our launcha ready= was changed to
=our lancha ready=.
In Chapter III, =Erminio Oliviera, the _Estremeduro's_ captain= was
changed to =Erminio Oliviera, the _Estremedura's_ captain=, and =if Jacinto
ever does= was changed to =if Jacinta ever does=.
In Chapter IV, =it also occured to him= was changed to =it also occurred to
him=.
In Chapter V, =a schoner load of onions= was changed to =a schooner load of
onions=, and a missing quotation mark was added after =painting little
pictures on board the _Estremedura_.=
In Chapter VI, =as he drew in under the Estremedura's side= was changed to
=as he drew in under the _Estremedura's_ side=, and =Isn't that sufficient.=
was changed to =Isn't that sufficient?=
In Chapter VII, =his silk-covered beast= was changed to =his silk-covered
breast=, =escaped anihilation= was changed to =escaped annihilation=, and
=didn't apear to have any legitimate connection= was changed to =didn't
appear to have any legitimate connection=.
In Chapter VIII, =the negroes who crosesd it= was changed to =the negroes
who crossed it=, and =somebody seized his soulders= was changed to =somebody
seized his shoulders=.
In Chapter IX, =drifted etherially athwart= was changed to =drifted
ethereally athwart=.
In Chapter X, =acompanied the rhythmic splash of oars= was changed to
=accompanied the rhythmic splash of oars=.
In Chapter XI, =the blurr of steamy mangroves= was changed to =the blur of
steamy mangroves=, =swoopd down beneath= was changed to =swooped down
beneath=, and ="Who the devil are you poisoning?"= was changed to ='Who the
devil are you poisoning?'=.
In Chapter XIII, a missing period was added after =winch commenced to
fire his blood=.
In Chapter XV, a quotation mark was deleted before =Those salvage men are
specialists=.
In Chapter XVI, a quotation mark was added after =Last night the water
was on the thumb.=
In Chapter XVII, a missing quotation mark was added after ="Well,= and
before =he said, "it isn't the usual view=, and a missing quotation mark
was added after =The trouble is, I don't quite know where I'm going to
get it.=.
In Chapter XIX, =admissable now and then= was changed to =admissible now
and then=, =he recognised thath she must be forced= was changed to =he
recognised that she must be forced=, =the girls' big blue eyes= was changed
to =the girl's big blue eyes=, and a missing quotation mark was added
before =Couldn't you get there in the _Estremedura_=.
In Chapter XX, a missing quotation mark was added after ="Well,= and
before =said Muriel, "it is really your own fault=, a quotation mark was
deleted before =Eight guineas for the two=, and a period was changed to a
question mark after =the Delgado Island lies=.
In Chapter XXI, =That, I think, is, to be acurate= was changed to =That, I
think, is, to be accurate=.
In Chapter XXII, =one of the Canorios raised himself a trifle= was changed
to =one of the Canorios raised himself a trifle=, and a quotation mark was
deleted after =not afraid of Funnel-paint=.
In Chapter XXIII, a quotation mark was added after =makes any exertion
out of the question=, a quotation mark was deleted before =Offer any of
the rest of them=, and =clenched a hard, scared fist= was changed to
=clenched a hard, scarred fist=.
In Chapter XXIV, =even Jefferson deferrd to him= was changed to =even
Jefferson deferrd to him=, =as the Cumbria rose upright= was changed to =as
the _Cumbria_ rose upright=, =In a month her deck was almost leved= was
changed to =In a month her deck was almost leveled=, =You will remember the
encouraging words that fellow left--"My arm's almost rotten now."= was
changed to =You will remember the encouraging words that fellow left--'My
arm's almost rotten now.'"=, and =slowly clenched one scared hand= was
changed to =slowly clenched one scarred hand=.
In Chapter XXV, =he keeps in the litle case= was changed to =he keeps in
the little case=, =beam and angle comenced to tremble= was changed to =beam
and angle commenced to tremble=, and =Wire and hemp and studded chain
rosed= was changed to =Wire and hemp and studded chain rose=.
In Chapter XXVI, a missing question mark was added after =Put that lamp
out.=, =keep outside the straking radius= was changed to =keep outside the
striking radius=, =Austim became sensible of a change in his mood= was
changed to =Austin became sensible of a change in his mood=, and =a faint
rythmic throbbing= was changed to =a faint rhythmic throbbing=.
In Chapter XXVII, quotation marks were added after =keep your skin
unbroken.= and =You may as well open the rest of them.=
In Chapter XXVIII, =the _Cumbria_ steerd handily= was changed to =the
_Cumbria_ steered handily=, and =the distance run appeared to be working
acurately= was changed to =the distance run appeared to be working
accurately=.
In Chapter XXX, =an dinformed Brown that the surgeon= was changed to =and
informed Brown that the surgeon=.