It was in less than two days that the last keg and case was received on
board and the last carpenter packed his kit and left the schooner; in
the meantime Anthony made calculations as to the hands needed to man
her and set about procuring them. Almost the first person he met, at a
tavern frequented by sailors in Front Street, was Corkery, who had been
mate in Rufus Stevens' Sons' ship _General Stark_. And in an instant
Anthony had him at the far end of the bar, a mug of beer before each of
them, and was explaining his errand--or as much of it as the occasion
seemed to need.
"A crew?" said Corkery; "four men, a cook, a mate? A short voyage and
good pay? What ship?"
"The schooner _Roebuck_," said Anthony.
Corkery nodded.
"I know her," he said. "Owned by Crousillat, and lately engaged in the
trade with Havana." He took a draft of the beer. "About the mate, now:
I'm looking for a ship myself, and this voyage might fit me well if
you'd be inclined to have me."
"The papers are waiting for your name," said Anthony, his eyes
snapping, for he felt the value of the man. "And, now, the others."
"A quiet crew, you say," said Corkery thoughtfully; "one that goes
about its affairs, gives its time to handling the ship, and leaves all
other matters to its officers. Such should be found readily enough.
When do you sail?"
"To-morrow," replied Anthony.
"Where bound?" asked the mate.
"That," said Anthony, "I do not yet know."
Corkery looked surprised; but he took another draft of the good beer
and said:
"Put it in my hands, and I'll have your men on board by night."
Willingly Anthony did so and gave himself to other matters. Late in
the day he had his effects carried to the wharf in Pegg Run and placed
on board. At almost the same time Tom Horn arrived with his bedding
in a roll, and his other belongings in a stout chest. He looked into
Anthony's cabin, after stowing these, and nodded approval of the little
array of muskets and pistols and stout hangers which he saw on the wall.
"The forehanded man is the least likely to meet danger," he said. "Your
grandfather never allowed a ship to sail without plenty of powder and
ball, and a musket to a man; his seamen always knew how to load and
fire them; and that is an example many a ship-owner could follow with
profit."
Corkery reached the vessel by nightfall as he had said he would, and
with him were the hands. By the light of a lantern swinging amidships,
Anthony watched the men bear their dunnage aboard, inspect their new
ship, and then disappear into the forecastle.
"Two of them are off a Dutch ship just in from the East," said Corkery.
"I don't know them, but they have the name of good seamen; the other
two sailed under me in one of your uncle's brigs a few years ago. The
cook is a mulatto, as you've seen, a clever man, and not above lending
a hand when required in other matters."
"We should have a carpenter," said Anthony, "but I suppose, if the need
of one is pressing, we can make shift between us."
Corkery, as an active mate should, soon had his company divided into
watches and employed about the schooner. And, having seen things all
right and prospering, Anthony went ashore. At Christopher Dent's he
bade the little apothecary good-by.
"Good fortune!" said Christopher. "And a swift return. I have, with
discretion, mind you, spoken with several people about the _Roebuck_.
She has the name of a lucky ship. So you have that much in your favor,
at least. I wish I were going with you; but," wistfully, "I wouldn't be
of much use in such an enterprise." He shook Anthony's hand again. "I
feel," he said, "that you are to return with great credit. Every night
I shall mark the stars that must hang above your ship; and I'll try to
read from them what is before you."
When Anthony was shown into the sitting-room of Monsieur Lafargue,
mademoiselle was there with her father, and Mr. Sparhawk sat
comfortably in a big chair. Some trunks, corded and ready, rested near
the head of the stairs.
"Well," said Mr. Sparhawk, after the visitor had been greeted and had
taken a chair. "You are busy making ready, I suppose?"
"The company is aboard," said Anthony. "And we'll drop down the river
with the next tide."
Mr. Sparhawk applauded this news with soft pattering hands.
"Brisk work!" praised he. "Oh, excellent!"
"When does the tide turn?" asked Mademoiselle Lafargue.
"At three in the morning," said Anthony.
"You will have time for a few hours' sleep," said Monsieur Lafargue to
mademoiselle. "But your baggage had better be sent aboard at once."
Anthony looked from one to the other; then he turned his gaze upon Mr.
Sparhawk. The little gentleman spoke in his most persuasive voice.
"I trust," said he, "that the _Roebuck_ is as roomy as she looks, and
that you have managed to set apart quarters that will be reasonably
comfortable for mademoiselle."
"For mademoiselle!" said Anthony, astonished.
"Now, God bless my soul!" said Mr. Sparhawk regretfully. "How could I
have been so neglectful? I have not told him," to Monsieur Lafargue.
"How can you forgive me?" to mademoiselle.
"Not told him!" said mademoiselle, her face crimson.
"I ask your pardon," said Mr. Sparhawk. He waved a hand helplessly.
"There is no possible excuse that I can offer." For all he seemed so
distressed, there was, so Anthony thought, a gleam at the back of his
eye that was self-possessed enough. "We had arranged it all between
us," said Mr. Sparhawk to Anthony, "that Mademoiselle Lafargue was to
sail with you; and it was further arranged that I make you acquainted
with our purpose, which, stupidly enough, I have not done."
"There is no place for a woman in such an expedition," said Anthony. He
looked at the girl, who had now arisen and was standing by her father's
chair, tall, straight, wonderful. It rose in his heart to say that he
was a fool; that there was a place for her anywhere; that, if it were
given him to do, he'd make a place for her--and a safe place--at the
very feet of peril itself. But he did not say it. He only looked at her
stubbornly, and denied her permission to put foot on the _Roebuck_. But
she said nothing; it was Mr. Sparhawk who spoke.
"It would be as well," said the little gentleman, "to hear our reasons
for this." He crossed his legs and dandled one foot, while he looked
at Anthony mildly. "It is customary," he proceeded, "when a ship puts
to sea to have on board of her a person who represents the owners
of the cargo. The presence of this person also serves the owners and
officers of the ship; because, in case of unavoidable mischance, he
is present as a witness and can absolve them from blame. Of course,"
and Mr. Sparhawk gestured lightly, "the _Roebuck_ carries no cargo
out; but it is the hope of those who send her, the creditors of Rufus
Stevens' Sons, that she will return with a most valuable one. It
would be a useful thing if there were some one on board to receive
this merchandise and set down, as far as might be, a report of its
conditions."
"And it is your thought to send a girl to fill that office?" said
Anthony, frowning. "A ship like this, and bound upon the errand this
one's to set out on, stands to meet peril of more than the usual kind.
If a supercargo must be sent, let it be a man, and one used to the sea
and its mishaps."
"Do not forget," said Mr. Sparhawk, "that we who engage in this
enterprise must keep it secret. If the news of the _Roebuck's_ purpose
got out, the sea would be covered with sail, and each ship would be
seeking to salvage the _Rufus Stevens_. So we must guard our intention;
we must trust no one. I would go with you, but matters of business
press; monsieur is not in good health; the only person available in
whom the creditors have complete confidence is mademoiselle; so," and
Mr. Sparhawk pursed his lips and raised his brows, "what are we to do?"
The stubborn answer was in Anthony's mouth; but before it was spoken he
chanced to look at the girl. She was so still; there was such spirited
beauty in her fine eyes; her color was wonderful; her attitude was of
eager desire; and yet she held herself proudly. A rush of feeling came
smothering into the young man's mind; he tried to fight it back, but
could not. Then he felt very quiet; peace followed where resentment had
been; there was a warm joy; he admired the cleverness of Mr. Sparhawk
in making it so impossible to refuse. His eyes drank her in; there was
a surprise, an incredulous amazement, that he should have ever held her
off, that he had been resolved to leave her behind, when everything
favored her going with him.
"I shall have your trunks taken on board," said he to the girl. "And
you must follow well before the tide swings."
"Yes, Captain Stevens," she said.
He caught the smile hidden behind the words and smiled himself. And for
the first time since the night at the Crooked Billet the bitter wind
that blew between them died completely down; he placed her chair for
her, and drew his own toward it; and he talked to her in a new tone,
with confidence and spirit; she sat and listened, and the hands which
were folded in her lap trembled ever so little, and her eyes were even
brighter than before.