Anthony sat regarding the other with steadfast eyes; and in his mind
he saw the ship's boats slipping away over the quiet sea, and the ship
herself, left alone and silent, to any fate that might overtake her.
The rats! The detestable, boring rats! This then, was how they had gone
about their work! Upon a pretext, they would abandon ship,--no doubt in
a given place,--and no sooner were they out of sight than the vessel
and her cargo would be taken possession of by some waiting accomplices
who came up, ready and eager. Then, away with the rascals to some safe
place; both ship and cargo would be sold, and the booty divided between
them. But what he would have said upon this point to Mr. Sparhawk
remained wordless in Anthony's mind, for just then a man came up to
them, a portly man who had the purple tinge of inconsiderate living
about his nose.
"I caught sight of you more by chance than anything else," he said to
Sparhawk. "I have been poking around after you all morning."
Mr. Sparhawk arose and shook the man's hand.
"There's a deal that hurries me in and out," said he. "I can never be
taken for granted at this season of the year." To Anthony he said, "You
have met Mr. Stroude, I suppose?"
"Oh, yes," said Anthony, as he, too, shook hands with the merchant. "I
hope I see you well, Mr. Stroude."
"You see," grumbled the merchant, "a man badgered quite beyond his
patience, sir. What between getting a ship, and checking up her cargo,
and arranging for the continuance of certain moneys, I've had enough to
fret any reasonable person; and now there must come something else."
"Oh, tut, tut!" said Mr. Sparhawk regretfully.
"It's been my experience," said the merchant, "that no matter how much
bother fills a man's day there's still some further devilment in store
for him somewhere before he reaches his bed at night." He looked at Mr.
Sparhawk. "I am given to understand," said he, "you have found some
fault with the _Eclipse_."
"None!" denied Mr. Sparhawk at once. "None. The _Eclipse_ is a fine
ship, and rates first class."
"Then why has her insurance gone up since I spoke to you last?"
Mr. Sparhawk was more regretful than ever.
"That was a most unexpected thing," he said. "I am very sorry for it.
The explanation is this: Mr. Baily holds a large part of your risk, and
unfortunately Mr. Baily is not a bold man. All this talk we hear of the
French privateers is hard on the courage of persons like him."
Mr. Stroude stared.
"What have French privateers to do with me?" he asked.
"There is one at anchor in the stream just opposite the wharf where
your ship is taking in her merchandise. She was fitted out in the early
winter, I believe, but received her letter-of-marque from Citizen Genêt
only a few days ago. She was once of Lewes, in Delaware, and was called
the _Horatio Gates_. Now she is known as _Le Mousquet_."
Anthony stirred at this, but he said nothing.
"Well?" demanded Mr. Stroude.
"I'm told she is mostly manned by Americans of whom we have no reason
to be proud. It came to Mr. Baily's ears to-day that the ship was
taking a great interest in yours, and so he became alarmed. He could
not forget, you see, that you are British-born and are still a subject
of the king; and while the _Eclipse_ is an American ship her cargo is
British owned."
Mr. Stroude snorted,
"Rubbish!" said he. "Utter rubbish! Mr. Baily sees an opportunity to
get a higher rate from me; and I'll warrant that occupies him more than
the chance of a parcel of pirates seizing my goods. But I shall see him
before the day is done, and when I do, sir, let him expect some very
plain speech from me." Then Mr. Stroude went grumpily toward the door.
"British subject! Did I ever try to hide it? For what does the man take
me? And pirates! Good God, one would think we were carrying on business
on some spot of an island in the Carribbees."
This conversation stirred Anthony's interest sharply; he meant to go
into the matter with Mr. Sparhawk, and also into the older and even
more engaging affair of the _Sea Mew_; but before he could do so the
attention of Mr. Sparhawk was claimed elsewhere, and so he was forced
to await a further occasion.
Upon reaching the counting-room on Water Street, Anthony saw Tom Horn
re-nibbing a pen by a window; the spring sunshine flooded him, but,
for all that, the impression Anthony got of him was of a wan coldness,
a luminous, spectral quality such as can be seen in the breaking sea
of a summer night. The man paused in his cutting of the pen as Anthony
approached; and he said:
"Have I ever told you how I was wrecked when I sailed in the _William
and Mary_?"
"I knew you _were_ wrecked," said Anthony. "But I've never had any of
the details."
"She was an India-built ship," said Tom Horn. "The firm had her of an
Englishman. She was of teak, with ribs and beams of English oak. A
stout, beautiful ship, and carrying a great weight of silks and other
costly things. When you walked her deck she seemed as safe and solid as
a continent; her walls were like the walls of a great building. I've
watched the sea churn and leap and break under the wind; but it never
seemed as if it could harm the _William and Mary_."
"But you found it could, in the end?" said Anthony. "Let the wind blow
hard enough and long enough from the right direction, and anything of
man's building seems fragile enough."
"The wind moves in a circle around the world," said Tom Horn. "And the
sea does, too. And, as they go, they catch up other winds and other
seas; and so they band together and gain force, and crush and rend. The
_William and Mary_ was within the circle; nothing under God's heaven
could save her; she was tossed as a chip is tossed by the wind; she
slid down the sides of the great waves as a stone goes down hill. The
masts were out of her; and she was low by the head, on the third day,"
said Tom Horn. "And then we drifted out of the winds' circle. The
sea flattened out and the sun shone; and then the officers and crew
abandoned her."
"And you remained aboard?" asked Anthony.
"I was supercargo," said Tom Horn. "And all the rich goods in the hold
were in my care. Captain Hollister urged me to go, but I would not."
"Captain Hollister," said Anthony. "Was he not once master of the _Sea
Mew_?"
"Yes," said Tom Horn. "Another good ship lost at sea." He looked at
Anthony, silent for a moment, and Anthony looked at him. And the
silence was filled with things that were not said. And then the man
went on: "I saw them sail away in their little boats, and I sat on the
deck and wondered what was in store for me. I was a full year in that
hulk," said Tom Horn, "drinking the stinking water in the casks, and
eating the wretched salt food; and in that time I drifted into still
seas and saw strange sights. Once in the quiet of the night, with the
sea having no motion, and a full moon hanging above, I saw a great
reptile-like thing clamber up over the bow and slip along the deck;
amidships it went over the side, and I heard it splash as it went into
the water. It left a slimy track, as a monstrous snail might do," said
Tom Horn; "and from that time I was afraid. I wanted the sight of land;
I wanted the sight of people; I did not want to feel that on all the
still seas, under that wide, white moon, I was the only creature with a
soul given by God."
"Yes," said Anthony, "I understand."
Just then the door of Charles's room opened, and a long gangling man
came out. He nodded and smiled at sight of Anthony. His teeth were
large, with wide spaces between them; and from these, the outstanding
ears and the pale watchful eyes, Anthony knew he had to do with
Rehoboam Bulfinch.
"Good day," said Rehoboam, to Anthony, eagerly. "Good day, sir. It is
excellent spring weather, is it not?" He nodded and smiled again, and
moved toward the street door. "I have just been having a few words with
your uncle. A splendid man. A really wonderful person. It's a pleasure
to talk with him."
When the man had gone, Anthony stood for a moment, quite still; then he
opened the door of his uncle's room and looked in. Charles sat in the
corner of his sofa. He did not turn as the door opened; his eyes were
fixed and full of fright; his face was white; his whole body seemed
shrunken. Startled, Anthony halted, retreated, closed the door.
"It came unexpectedly," said Tom Horn. "It came out of the quiet sea,
and left a trail of slime across the deck. And after that I was afraid."
"I don't wonder," said Anthony. "I don't wonder, indeed."