OF THE GENTLEMAN ABOARD THE GOOD SHIP “PRIDE OF DEVON”
FOR exactly how long my swoon lasted, to this day I can but hazard a
vague conjecture. But with returning consciousness I found myself lying
upon a heap of straw in the stable I have before mentioned, with the
steward bending over me busily engaged in re-bandaging my wound. Beyond
him, near to the doorway, lounged Sampson Dare, and in the yard without
I caught a glimpse of three or four servants belonging to the manor,
all of them fully armed, and of the youth Martin holding the bridle of
my own impatient sorrel.
“So, so,” said the steward grimly, upon seeing me open my eyes. “King
William is spared the mourning for a valiant servant.”
“And the devil has lost his own--as yet,” added Sampson Dare with a
grin.
I closed my eyes for awhile and lay silent; for the sunlight without
dazzled me, and I was conscious, moreover, of a feeling of intense
weakness, by which I imagined that I must have lost a quantity of
blood--which was, indeed, the case.
When the man beside me had completed his task, even to replacing my arm
within its former sling, all of which, to his credit be it said, he
accomplished with no undue harshness, he thrust a flask of spirits in
my hand and bade me curtly, “Drink.”
In this, indeed, I was the more ready to obey him, since not only was I
afflicted with an intolerable thirst, but also the events of the past
few hours recurred swiftly to my memory, and I was minded to uphold my
dignity and conceal the weakness that I really felt in the presence of
the men before me. Deeply, therefore, I quaffed of the cognac which the
flask contained, drinking in with it an increased vitality and such
returning strength that presently I was enabled to stagger to my feet.
“That is better,” said the steward, nodding approvingly, as I was fain
to lean for a moment or two longer against the wall to recover from the
sudden faintness which the effort had entailed; “for the day wears on
apace, and ’tis time we should be moving.”
“Whither?” I gasped hoarsely, glancing from his face to that of Sampson
Dare.
“Ah, you will see time enough,” the latter made answer. “A pleasant
journey to you, with good company!” and he grinned broadly.
“Come, come, we waste time,” said the steward impatiently, at the same
time beckoning to Martin to bring my horse nearer. “Can you mount?” he
added, turning abruptly to me.
At that I rallied all my strength, and disregarding his proffered arm,
I stepped--somewhat unsteadily, I will admit--through the open doorway
to the sorrel’s side, who turned his head at my appearance and whinnied
softly in gentle recognition. But the sight of the animal was as if I
had found an old friend, and it was with a renewal of hope that with
Sampson Dare’s assistance I climbed heavily into the saddle. Yet if
some wild scheme of escaping had for a moment crossed my mind it was
speedily doomed to be disappointed; for, with the steward leading the
sorrel by the bridle and with the other men forming in a little cluster
around me, I was forced to admit to myself, however reluctantly,
that any idea of regaining my liberty was for the present at least
impracticable.
Nay, more, as my eyes, travelling from face to face of the group around
me, encountered those of Sampson Dare, as if reading my thoughts, he
significantly patted a long barrelled pistol in his hand. No, the odds
were too heavy against me in my wounded state, and so, with a slight
shrug, I resigned myself to waiting for what should follow.
In this order, then, we left the stables behind us and moved slowly
towards the entrance gates of the manor. Upon turning the corner of the
house, we came once more in full view of the terrace and of the crowd
that still gathered thickly upon the grass below. Eagerly I looked
towards the scene of my late humiliation.
The gentlemen still lingered upon the terrace and the two seafaring
men awaited our appearance at the foot of the steps and immediately
made their way towards us; but of my lady herself or of her sister I
could see nothing. And at this I was greatly relieved, for of a surety
I had not courage enough left to me to sustain with dignity another
interview such as that through which I had lately passed.
As for the waiting crowd, doubtless it would have gone hard with me
at their hands had I not had the escort of Sampson Dare and the other
stout rogues by my side for my protection; or it may be that my lady
had herself issued stringent orders as to my safe conduct; for though
upon catching sight of me they immediately thronged around us, yet they
contented themselves with calling down curses upon me, and beyond this,
offered no violent opposition to our progress. Indeed, they came no
farther with us than the gates of the manor, and upon turning into the
road, we were left to proceed on our way alone, save for the company
of the two seamen who followed close upon our heels, ever and anon
breaking out into a lusty chorus, which they sang at the full strength
of voices, rendered not too steady by the spirits they had been freely
imbibing. ’Twas a doggerel verse at best, nathless possessing a
jingle that even in the midst of the anxiety I felt as to my position
persistently forced itself upon my memory:
“Then a fig for a landsman’s life, my lads--
And a cheer for the Spanish Main!
With the still lagoons and the bright doubloons--
And the black-eyed maids of Spain, my lads!
Oho, for the maids of Spain!”
To this accompaniment we arrived in no long time at the village, and
passing slowly down the deserted street, wended our way to the little
stone jetty that lay behind the court-house; that is, all save the
two worthies who had followed us, who stopped to further refresh
themselves at the inn.
Swiftly I glanced seawards. Less than a mile off shore lay the
mysterious vessel I had seen from the cliffs; and the sight confirmed
the suspicions I already had in my mind as to my further destination.
Moreover, as, obedient to a curt command from Sampson Dare, I slowly
dismounted on the pier, I took occasion of the steward to inquire
whither we were bound.
For a moment he hesitated, as if debating with himself whether he
should satisfy my curiosity; but apparently concluding it could do not
harm, his face relaxed into a grim smile.
“To France,” he replied briefly.
“France?” I cried, unable under the sudden surprise to conceal the
dismay his words caused me.
“Aye,” he answered sourly, enjoying my too evident confusion. “The
prospect does not please you? Well, I think that the galleys will more
than counterbalance this.” And he lightly touched his neck.
I would have questioned him still further but that the captain and the
mate arrived at this moment upon the jetty just as a boat put off from
the vessel’s side and made rapidly for the spot where we were standing.
But at sight of the boat, or rather I supposed, finding no boat ready
waiting for us, the captain, who I saw at a glance was decidedly the
worse for liquor, broke out into a string of horrid curses, which
ceased only for lack of breath. With face inflamed and gait unsteady he
advanced to the end of the jetty and awaited its nearer approach.
“You rogues!” he roared, as the object of his rage came alongside and
the two evil-looking faces of the seamen who manned it were raised to
his. “You scum! You devil-spawn! You must return to the ship without
orders, must ye! And keep your betters waiting, must ye!--Burn my body!
but I’ll teach ye discipline when I get aboard!”
Then in a fresh access of drunken fury he turned suddenly upon me, and
drawing a pistol from his belt waved it towards the waiting boat below.
“Get in, you dog!” he shouted brutally. I glanced at the faces of the
men around me. In no one of them did I see aught but satisfaction at
my departure. So, with the prospect of escape at present receding, I
shrugged my shoulders lightly, and disdaining further speech of them, I
seated myself in the bow of the boat.
Scarcely had I ensconced myself ere the captain and the mate took their
places in the stern, the captain still with the pistol upon his knees.
“Shove off and be damned to ye!” he roared. “And put your backs to it
if you would not wish a bullet in ye!”
Obedient to his command, the men bent to their oars in sullen
silence--a silence all too plainly born of fear--and we headed for the
distant vessel--and a prison.
As the distance between the boat and the shore behind us gradually
increased I took my last look of Cleeve. The evening was fast drawing
on and already the cloud shadows lay in darkened patches upon the
green slopes of Cleevesborough, though all around us the sea shimmered
golden in the glory of the sinking sun. Behind us, the little group of
figures upon the jetty still lingered, staring after us--the sorrel
in their midst. And so still was the evening air that even at that
distance their voices came plainly to my ears across the widening
water. Away to the right, above the dark woods that crowned the rugged
cliffs, I caught sight of the tall chimneys of the manor that had
proved so sorry a grave to my ambitions. Bitter were my thoughts as I
gazed upon it. A week ago had seen me in the plenitude of power--master
of the manor and of all beneath its roof. Now I sat in the gathering
night shadows--a helpless, dishonoured prisoner, every stroke of the
oars speeding me nearer to France and to the galleys. And the cause of
it all--a woman!
All this time the captain in the stern had not been silent--now cursing
at the seamen for their tardiness, anon breaking out into snatches of
the song I had before heard:
“And the black-eyed maids of Spain, my lads!
Oho! for the maids of Spain!”
Presently I turned my attention to the vessel we were rapidly
approaching. Certainly the appearance of the captain and the crew were
not prepossessing, and confirmed me in the opinion that she was a
privateer,--most likely hailing from Bristol--one of those free lances
of the ocean fitted out by wealthy Jacobites to assist the cause of
James; but which--such was the unsettled state of the times--preyed
upon all merchant shipping alike with strict impartiality.
The ship proved to be a larger craft upon nearer approach than I had
first imagined. She lay motionless upon the water, stern on towards us,
and her tapering spars and tracery of ropes stood darkly out against
the evening sky. As we swept round to larboard, above the cabin window
in her stern I saw her name, _The Scourge_. At the same time I caught
sight of a score or more of villainous faces gazing at us from above
the bulwarks of her low, black hull, from which, here and there, the
frowning muzzles of her guns protruded. But small time had I for
speculation upon her character, for no sooner were we alongside--and it
was not without considerable difficulty that I gained the deck--than
the captain turned fiercely upon the first of the two sailors who had
followed us aboard.
“That for disobeying orders, you dog!” he cried, snatching a pistol
from his belt and striking the fellow so shrewd a blow with the heavy
butt that the rogue fell to the deck half stunned.
“Up with ye!” he added, bestowing a brutal kick upon the man’s
prostrate body. “No skulking here while Barclay’s in command. Though,
curse me! a more humane man than I never left Bristol port!”
More I was not permitted to see or hear, for at a word from the mate,
a couple of the ruffians seized me, and forcing me down a narrow
companion ladder aft, flung open a door at its foot and thrust me
inside with unnecessary violence; and I heard the shooting of the
heavy bolts behind them. At first, I could distinguish nothing of
my surroundings, but after a few moments, when my eyes had grown
accustomed to the gloom, I made out that I was in a small cabin some
seven feet square, destitute of all furniture, but with a narrow wooden
locker at one end. Such light and air as there was--if light it could
be called, which was at best but semi-darkness--came from a narrow
slit, six inches high--not more, above the door. As for the heat of the
place, ’twas stifling, for be it remembered it was now the very height
of summer, and the little air there was below deck stole through the
open companion way down which we had come. I raised my hand above me
and found that I could touch with ease the massive timbers overhead.
Being a tall man, as I have previously stated, I also found that with
comparatively little difficulty I could raise my face to the level of
the slit above the door. But there was little to reward my curiosity.
I could see, indeed, the companion ladder without and a narrow passage
to my left running into the gloom, which I conjectured to lead to the
cabins astern, but that was all.
I next turned my attention to the door itself. It was of stout timber,
far too strong to be broken open by anything short of an axe and
fastened, moreover, by the bolts that I had heard drawn. Presently,
therefore, I desisted from my inspection, and seating myself upon the
locker, I gave myself up to my reflections. The light grew feebler and
feebler in the cabin, until at length it died out altogether, and I
was left in the darkness to speculate upon the strange adversities
of fortune. As for the steward’s threat of the galleys, I swore
desperately to myself that such a fate should not be mine, though as
yet I could see no glimmer of light as to how I was to accomplish my
escape. One thing I had in my favour. The vessel was yet at anchor and
remembering the fact of the stillness of the evening air, I thought it
unlikely that a breeze would spring up for many hours, so that there
was time before me wherein to formulate a plan.
It was not until some two hours later that I saw a light glimmer upon
the ceiling of the cabin and heard a heavy step descending the ladder.
A moment later the bolts were withdrawn and the mate himself appeared
in the doorway. In one hand he carried a lantern, which he held up the
better to view me. He was followed by a boy bearing a coarse brown
loaf and a pitcher of water. These the latter set upon the boards
and withdrew. Yet the mate lingered for a moment, making pretence of
waiting to see if I should speak.
“There is your supper,” he said at length, finding that I kept silent.
“’Tis coarse enough fare,” I said abruptly, “and quite in keeping with
your lodging.”
“Yet be content,” he answered, “’tis better than that of your men.”
“Ah, they are aboard, then?” I said quickly; for up till now I had been
so taken up with considering my own position that I had scarcely given
a thought to them.
“In irons,” he answered, grinning. “And you, too, had we another set
aboard.”
“Bah!” I replied nonchalantly, concealing the trepidation his words
caused me. “There are worse things, my friend, and it is not far to
France.”
“Ho, ho, ho!” he chuckled. “To France--no! It is not far to France, as
you say.”
Something in the man’s words--in his face--caused me a vague uneasiness.
“Hark you, master mate,” I said sharply. “I am your prisoner; why not
be frank with me?--You have been paid to carry us to France, is it not
so?”
“What, then?” he replied slowly. “A poor sailorman must live. There’s a
market for such stout knaves as you any day--in Algiers!”
And without further word he closed and bolted the door behind him,
and I heard his heavy footsteps ascend the ladder, and left me in the
darkness. But if I had been anxious to escape before, his last words
made me doubly so. All too clearly I understood his meaning. The
villains had not scrupled to accept the money paid by my lady or her
Jacobite friends for our removal, but were now meditating selling us
into a slavery a hundred times worse than death itself, thus making for
themselves a double profit. For how long I sat there in the darkness,
revolving this and all that had led up to it I do not know. At length,
worn out by the excitement and events of the day through which I had
passed, I stretched myself upon the hard boards, and with my coat for a
pillow fell into a heavy slumber.
For many hours I must have slept the sleep of exhaustion, for the
light was glimmering faintly upon the beams overhead when I awoke to a
full consciousness of my surroundings. Also I discovered at once that
we were at sea, for the vessel was rolling heavily. Overhead I could
hear the trampling of feet and the captain’s voice roaring out hoarse
commands. But no one came near me, and for hours I waited in solitude
revolving a scheme in my brain which every moment took shape more
clearly. True it was a chance only, and a forlorn one, yet I could see
no other way, and desperate men do not stick at trifles.
The idea then came to me fully at noon, when again the door was
unbolted to admit the boy and the tall mate with a repetition of the
coarse fare of the preceding night. But it was necessary for the
execution of my plan that I should wait for the friendly covering
of darkness, so I huddled myself upon the locker and feigned to be
overcome by the rolling of the ship. The mate looked at me carelessly.
“Ho, ho, ho!” he cried with a grin. “Hast lost thy sea legs, man? Why,
my bully, ’tis a capful of wind this--scarce fit to call a breeze.”
To this I replied with a groan by way of answer, sinking my head more
forward that he might not see my face; and with a few ribald jests at
my expense he presently left me in solitude.
When the door had again closed I fell to upon the food that they had
brought me. Coarse though it was, I had need of all my strength for
the task before me. For as it was, in the first place, essential for
me to escape from the cabin, I had resolved to attempt a sudden rush
when next they should bring me my supper, trusting to luck to find
some means of leaving the vessel in the darkness and confusion. ’Twas
a madman’s scheme at best, but I dared delay no longer, for every hour
carried me farther from the shores of England. Weapon I had none, but
I had caught a glimpse of a long knife in the mate’s belt, and could
I but get possession of this, I vowed I would not be retaken without
a struggle. Also I was handicapped heavily by the wound in my breast,
that had stiffened the muscles of my shoulder, leaving me with but
the partial use of my left arm. And, again, there was the boy to be
reckoned with. But anything was better than to tamely submit to be
sold into slavery, and hope of liberty is a great factor in renewing
strength and courage.
Moreover, I reflected, if what my lady had said was true, the safety of
England might lie in my hands.
How long the hours seemed to me until the light began to fade in the
cabin can well be imagined; but gradually it grew less and less, and
was I deceived, or was it really a thin mist that came floating down
the hatchway and penetrated to my prison cell? My heart gave a great
leap--’twas sure a heaven sent boon to cloak my escape. And ere the
light had quite faded a new inspiration came to me. I was still wearing
my heavy military boots that reached above my knee, although my spurs
had been removed, belike by one of the servants at the manor. I now
drew these off that I might be the lighter upon my feet and also the
more silent, and the thought came to me that one of them would form no
bad missile with which to preface my attack. Nay, I trusted that the
first surprise would be so great that I should secure the knife with
but little difficulty and then--well, liberty is dear to the heart of
every man. So I waited alone in the darkness with every nerve strung
for the coming encounter, listening to the creaking of the ship’s
timbers and the faint shouts of command from the deck overhead. And at
last there came a gleam of light above the doorway, and I heard the
mate’s step upon the ladder. Once he slipped ere he reached the bottom
and I heard him curse loudly.
I rose at that, and with the boot in my hand awaited the opening of the
door. But Fortune, that had of late played me so many scurvy tricks,
was surely anxious to make amends to me that night, for upon the bolts
being withdrawn, the door swung slowly open and disclosed the figure of
the mate only. He had set the lantern upon the floor at his feet and in
his left hand carried my coarse night fare. Without troubling to raise
the light so as to satisfy himself as to my condition, he took two
steps into the cabin and stooped to place the food upon the floor. But
that was his undoing; for hastily changing my original intention, as
the rogue bent down I swung the boot aloft, and with all the strength
of arm and body brought down the heavy heel upon his head. Without cry
or groan he flung his arms wide and fell an inert heap at my feet. In
a moment I had thrown myself upon him--my hands upon his throat. But
there was little need for me to exert any pressure there, the fellow
lay as motionless as a log. And when, a moment later, I released my
grip and slightly raised his head, it fell again with a dull thud
upon the boards. Not till then did I rise to my feet, my first care
being to secure the lantern, and with this in my hand I re-entered the
cabin and carefully closed the door behind me. Then I again bent over
my prisoner. A very brief examination sufficed to assure me that the
fellow was but stunned; and securing his knife, I bound his arms firmly
behind his back with his own belt; and with a strip torn from the
sleeve of his shirt and his red cap I made an effectual gag. This done,
I propped him against the locker. Then blowing out the lantern, I crept
from the cabin. Once outside in the passage, I shot the heavy bolts
behind me and stood still for a moment listening.
Not a sound came to show that the mate’s fall had been heard from the
deck, though I could hear voices raised as though in altercation, and I
knew that it would not be long before his absence was discovered. ’Twas
almost dark where I stood, at the foot of the ladder, clutching the
knife in my hand, every nerve in my body braced to meet whatever should
befall. Overhead, a lighter patch in the gloom indicated the hatchway.
As my eyes grew more accustomed to my surroundings, I made out that the
only other exit was by way of the narrow passage on my left, that led,
I felt assured, to the cabin astern. Yet I was reluctant to abandon
my men without making some effort to liberate them, even though, from
what the mate had said, I knew them to be in irons somewhere in
the forepart of the ship. I should, indeed, have ventured upon some
desperate scheme for their release--which would assuredly have led to
my own undoing--nay, I had already ascended the ladder, and my head was
all but on a level with the deck--enough so, indeed, to show me that a
thin damp mist wrapped the ship in its embrace, so that of the masts
and spars above little was discernible--when on a sudden from the deck
above came the hoarse voice of Captain Barclay.
“Forward there!” he roared. “Where is the mate? Send him aft, one o’
ye!”
’Twas a question of minutes only ere his plight was discovered. I
turned on the instant, and darting down the ladder, sped swiftly along
the narrow passage opposite, to where a faint light shone from beneath
a door at the farther end. I did not stop to consider what might lie
behind it, but taking a firmer grip of the knife, I flung open the
door. A single glance showed me the cabin was empty. Swiftly I closed
the door and shot the heavy bolt that fastened it, then glanced quickly
around me.
[Illustration: “A very brief examination sufficed to assure me that the
fellow was but stunned”]
A single oil lamp swung from a beam in the centre, faintly illuminating
the interior. It shone upon the small square table immediately below
it, littered with the remains of a meal, and upon a few articles of
clothing, tossed carelessly upon the sleeping bunk, as well as upon a
few old-fashioned pistols and hangers. But ’twas to the window that I
turned my attention, flinging it open and gazing out into the night.
One quick glance I gave, then an exclamation of thankfulness rose to
my lips. It was, indeed, the stern cabin of the ship, and the light
shone out upon a white wall of vapour; for the sea fog was thickening
fast. But it was not that only that had fired me with hope; ’twas the
sight of a rope cleaving the mist; and peering down, I made out the dim
outline of a boat towing astern.
On a sudden, as I leaned far out of the window and grasped the rope
with both hands, the deep voice of the man at the helm above me broke
out into the song I knew so well:
“With the still lagoons and the bright doubloons--
And the black-eyed maids of Spain, my lads!
Oho! for the maids of Spain!”
Then after a pause: “Curse this mist!” I heard him mutter. And
precisely at this moment came a thundering knock upon the cabin door
behind me and a gruff voice calling upon the mate to open.
’Twas no time to hesitate; at the risk of being seen by the helmsman
above me--at the risk of my wound reopening--I launched myself out upon
my frail support and let myself down into the darkness.
It seemed an eternity ere my feet touched the bow of the boat below,
but once I had clambered aboard a few strokes of my knife served to
sever the rope, and a moment later the light in the cabin of the
_Scourge_ disappeared into the fog, leaving me alone upon the waste of
waters. Not till then did I seize the oars, and pulling the boat’s head
round commence to row gently in the opposite direction to that which
the vessel had taken.
Blacker and blacker closed the night around me, until I could scarcely
see the full length of the boat. Presently the mist changed into rain,
that grew ever in volume until I was soon drenched to the skin. In
this condition, worn out and shivering in my wet clothes, I continued
for many hours, until gradually a numbness began to steal over me. In
vain I struggled against it. Slowly it grew upon me despite my efforts,
until at length, careless of what fate might befall me, I stretched
myself in the bottom of the boat and lapsed into unconsciousness.
* * * * *
“Boat ahoy!”
The cry came pealing across the water and was still ringing in my ears
when my scattered senses returned to me. I raised my head above the
thwart and gazed about me, as yet but half awakened. Darkness had given
place to a grey and misty dawn and the rain had ceased to fall. But
almost immediately my eyes fell upon that which effectually aroused me.
At a short distance away a small brig lay to upon the water, a dozen
curious faces looking down upon me from the low bulwarks. Upon the
raised poop astern two men were standing, gazing earnestly in my
direction. One was short and thick set, with sailor written plainly
upon his weather-beaten countenance. The other was to all appearance a
gentleman, though his tall figure was concealed by a long riding coat;
and I could see little of his face beneath his richly laced hat. ’Twas
the shorter of the two who had hailed me.
“Ahoy!” he cried again in stentorian tones. “Can ye row aboard?”
At that I shouted back an assent; though exhaustion had so wrought
upon me that my voice was strangely weak; and again betaking myself to
the oars, I gained at length the vessel’s side, where a dozen friendly
hands assisted me aboard. The tall gentleman had disappeared from the
poop, but his companion, whom I took to be the master of the ship,
came forward to receive me. He quickly cut short my few stammered
expressions of gratitude. “Presently, presently!” he said, eyeing me
closely. “Why, y’are wet to the skin, man, and fit subject for an
ague. Here,” he cried, beckoning to two of the seamen standing near,
“take him below and rig him out amongst ye! No, no,” he continued not
unkindly, seeing that I was about to speak, “y’are on my ship, man,
and needs must obey orders! Afterwards you may tell your tale.” And he
turned upon his heel.
I said no more, but followed the seamen down into the forecastle,
where, after receiving a somewhat motley change of garments, together
with a stiff pannikin of cognac, I felt little the worse for my
night’s adventure. From the seamen themselves I could gain but little
information, save that the brig was the _Pride of Devon_, three days
out from Kinsale, and bound for Southampton, and that she had been
considerably delayed by the thick fog prevailing the previous day. Upon
all other subjects they were strangely reticent, so that I presently
gave up questioning them and signified my readiness to accompany them
on deck.
On arriving there I saw the figure of the master awaiting me at the
foot of the poop ladder; but to my astonishment, upon my approaching
he laid a finger upon his lips, and advancing to the door of a cabin,
which I had not noticed beneath the poop, he threw it open and signed
to me to enter.
I did so, wondering.
’Twas a small room, yet somewhat larger than the size of the brig
itself promised. In the centre was a table, upon which a repast was
already spread; and at this table was seated the gentleman I had
previously seen.
He rose at my entrance and made me a courtly bow; then for a moment we
gazed at each other in silence. He was, I think, the handsomest man I
have ever seen--with regular features and fair moustache matching in
colour with his court peruke. He had laid aside his hat, though I noted
with surprise that he still wore his plain dark riding coat tightly
buttoned, concealing all of his dress beneath save a pair of spurred
riding boots. Of fully my own height, he may have been somewhat older
in years; but it was rather the lofty look of mingled pride and command
upon his face that caught and rivetted the eye. Here was a born leader
of men I told myself, one accustomed to exact obedience, and possessing
a fiery and indomitable will. No poverty of dress could conceal the
latent power suppressed within, or the grace of movement that spoke
equally of noble birth.
“Do I address the owner of this vessel?” I said bluntly. For a moment
I thought that a faint smile flickered upon his face.
“For the present at least, sir,” he answered quietly, “I think that I
may safely claim that title.”
“Then permit me to tender you my sincere thanks for your timely
assistance, sir,” I replied.
He raised his hand deprecatingly.
“Nay, ’tis unnecessary,” he replied. “Important as time is to me at
present, humanity would forbid me deserting a fellow-being in such
distress, and,” he added, with a piercing glance, “if I mistake not, a
fellow-soldier.”
“Of some little experience,” I answered proudly.
“Why, then,” he replied, smiling, “I was about to break my fast, sir,
when your boat was sighted. Permit me to play the part of host, and
we will fight the battles of the world together.” And he waived me
courteously to a seat.
I bowed in acceptance, and sat down to the table with mingled feelings,
foremost among which was one of puzzled bewilderment. For minute by
minute it was borne in on me that I had met this gentleman before,
though I could not place him in my memory. Yet something in his
features, in his grace of manner, seemed strangely familiar, reminding
me of some one I had lately met. But of whom? And where?