HATCHING A PLOT.
The next morning the rain stopped, and the sun shone out brightly and
powerfully over the beautiful wood which clothed the steep sides of
Santa Teresa. The cocoa-nut trees and the various kinds of palms softly
waved their beautiful heads in the morning breeze; the sulphur and black
butterflies flew hither and thither about the crimson, yellow, and green
pods of the cocoa, and on the orchids that hung from the giant stems.
All this and much more beauty was unheeded by the people in Santa
Teresa, for before the council of war could meet Andreas came running
into the courtyard, where Carlo had just come down to hear what news he
could, too angry to seek out his father after his disappointment of the
previous night.
'Young master, where is the noble Marquis? Has he sent no one? No? Ah,
Senorito, now it is too late, for a canoe is coming up the river, and it
is not a mile distant. The pirates have sent a messenger, and the young
English boy I told you of is with him. They are flying a white flag;
that means, the pirate captain has sent them to parley. They have
recovered their courage this morning, or they would not have come to
treat. It will be too late to attack them now, and you see the rain has
stopped.'
Andreas wrung his hands in a manner peculiar to the gentle Indian race
to which he belonged; whilst Carlo, much excited by the news,
impatiently drew him forward towards the Marquis's room.
'Come and tell my father, Andreas. I cannot persuade him you really saw
the men. He says that you were mistaken last night, and that the
pirates are armed to the teeth.'
'The great Governor will not believe! And yet I could have even brought
something away from the vultures' tent,' added Andreas with a smile.
Alas! it was only too true. Instead of being surprised at the arrival
of a pirate messenger, Don Estevan del Campo seemed greatly relieved.
He had up to this hour decided on nothing, and was more excited and more
unfit to issue commands than he had been even the day before. Carlo
appealed to Don Francisco; but this officer was powerless without the
sanction of the Governor, and the more the latter was urged to fight the
less he seemed inclined to do so.
The Marquis listened to the news the Indian brought, and then ordered
some soldiers to go down to the river and conduct the messengers into
the castle. They were to be well guarded, and to have their eyes
bandaged for fear of discovering any secrets, such as taking notes of
the path up the steep hill of Santa Terea.
Great was the excitement in the castle when it was known that the
pirates had been bold enough to send an envoy. Some suggested that
these heralds of robbers should not be received; others, that they
should be sent back with threats; others, that hanging was too good for
them; whilst Don Francisco declared plainly that a garrison of His
Catholic Majesty of Spain had no business to parley with English
rascals; but Don Estevan, going from one to the other, listened to all
the contradictory advice, merely saying at the end:
'No, no, good sirs, but we must hear what they say. Most likely this
herald brings us an unconditional surrender, in which case we shall have
trapped the rats without wasting our powder.' But Don Francisco
answered:
'That is not very likely, noble Marquis; there seems no doubt it is
Henry Morgan who himself leads the band, and he was never known to
surrender. Andreas swears there are a great number of them. If so,
they will surely attack us.'
The surmises were at length set at rest by the entrance of the soldiers,
who brought with them a short, thick-set man, whose determined face
spoke of dauntless courage and daring. With him was a tall fair youth,
with a noble but sad and care-worn expression of face.
From the windows of their dwelling-room Felipa and Etta had watched the
entrance of the new arrivals; and Carlo, who had rushed in to do the
same, could not help an exclamation of surprise at the sight of the lad,
who was about his own age and size. As for Etta, her admiration found
vent in words.
'Look, Felipa, that is an English boy! How handsome he is! He does not
look wicked, does he? Perhaps he is Henry Morgan's son. How I wish
these were not wicked pirates! I would talk to them of England, and
perhaps they might know my relations and would some day take me back.
But the man looks every inch of him like an evil buccaneer.'
'Etta, what nonsense you are talking!' said Carlo; 'the youth is most
likely as wicked as the rest. Andreas saw him last night. Yes, he must
be the Captain's son. Now I shall go and hear their propositions. If I
had had my way there would have been no messengers alive by this hour to
suggest any terms. One should give no quarter to such foes.'
After Carlo had gone, the two girls, who were busy over some beautiful
Spanish embroidery, still sat by the window hoping to see the pirates go
back blindfolded. Such excitement had not before fallen to the lot of
Felipa; for during the five years she had been in this beautiful and
peaceful island home, nothing more exciting had occurred than a few
expeditions to the other island, or a row on the lagoon. The Marquis,
her father, had been much blamed by his Spanish kindred for having sent
for his daughter from Spain; but his reasons had been, besides his
natural affection for her, a fear that after her mother's death her
uncles might marry the young girl to one of their own friends and pass
it off as an order of the King. Till now Del Campo had certainly not
regretted the step, for he wished to keep Felipa with him till she
should marry a man of his own choosing. In those days young girls were
promised in marriage to men whom they had never seen, and very often
their lovers were old and unattractive, though they were of course
wealthy or had some other recommendation in the eyes of the parents of
the high-born Spanish maidens.
Felipa quite believed Carlo when he assured her and Etta that Santa
Teresa was much too strong and well-fortified to be taken by even such a
large number of pirates as had now landed; so the fears of the maidens
were, in consequence, much diminished, and a good deal of curiosity
mingled with their sympathy at Carlo's disappointment.
'After all,' said Felipa, who was not naturally brave, 'if Carlo had
gone out to fight the pirates he might have been killed, so it is just
as well our father waited for daylight, and to hear what Captain Morgan
had to say. Don't you think so, Etta?'
'Brave soldiers never think whether they shall be killed or not,' said
Etta. 'I am sure the Captain's son is brave; he walked in with his head
thrown back, and looked so handsome.'
'Oh, Etta, if any one is an Englishman you think he must be perfect,'
said Felipa, crossly. 'I tell you these pirates are all wicked, and
make war on defenceless women and children. That is unworthy of any
great nation.' But Etta retorted:
'Nay, but the Spaniards are more cruel than the English.' They might
have gone on disputing over their nationalities had not Carlo
reappeared, carrying with him a document which he was trying to
decipher.
'Etta, here, quick. This is crabbed English writing, and the Marquis
said that you were to help me to read it, and to write it out in fair
Spanish, so that the council may deliberate on it. The boy who has
accompanied the messenger cannot speak many words of Spanish, and will
do nothing but shake his head. If I had my wish I would have both man
and boy hung up on the tallest prickly palm of the estate.'
Etta in the meanwhile was deciphering the words, which had been written
on the rind of the fruit of the cabbage-palm, which rind looked very
much like a piece of parchment, and was indeed often used instead of it
in the West Indies.
The writing ran thus, though it took all the three some time to make it
out--
'To the Spanish Governor of the Island of St. Catherine.
'Hereby I, the world-wide famous Captain Henry Morgan, make known that
if within a few hours you deliver not yourself and all your men into my
hands, I do by my messenger swear unto you and all those that are in
your company that I shall most certainly put you and them all to the
sword, without granting quarter to any.'
Carlo flushed red with indignation when at last these words were made
out and translated, then hurried away to his father and the officers, to
give the writing into their hands.
'These words are an insult to our great country, my father. I hope you
will give them a fitting answer. Such vile caitiffs deserve no pity.'
'We must have two hours to deliberate on this paper, gentlemen,' said
the Governor, uneasily; 'for I hear there is great panic on the island,
and that the people are leaving their homes and flocking to the
fortresses. If so, a worse enemy than the pirates may trouble us, and
that will be famine. Go, Carlo, and tell the messengers to return to
him who sent them, and say that my answer shall be taken to Henry Morgan
by my own trustworthy messengers, but that they must be promised a
safe-conduct.'
Carlo had nothing to do but to obey. He found the man and the boy in
the courtyard surrounded by a strong guard of Spaniards. He proudly
gave his father's message, but, thinking of Etta's words, he could not
help being struck with the noble bearing of the fair-haired youth, who
appeared to be much disturbed by the rude looks and taunts of the
soldiers about him, for he scarcely lifted his head till Carlo had done
speaking, when he suddenly looked up at him, as if he were going to say
something; but, evidently thinking better of it, he remained silent.
'Marry, then, in two hours our Captain will expect your answer,' said
the pirate, 'and it were best not to trifle with him, as he is sure to
keep his word. 'Tis no time to dally.'
'_Perros! nos veremos,_' exclaimed a soldier after Carlo had turned away
in silence--which words mean in English, 'Dogs, we shall meet you,' and
were accompanied by some insulting dumb show at the departing
messengers.
After this the boy went back to the council-room; but what was his
surprise at finding it barred and bolted, whilst a soldier, who was
guarding it, said respectfully that the Governor's orders were that no
one might enter.
'That does not include me,' said Carlo, angrily.
'Pardon, noble Senor Carlo; the Marquis said, "Not even my son."'
[Illustration: _CARLO REFUSED ADMISSION_ (missing from book)]
Carlo turned away, too indignant to say anything in answer; and then he
went sorrowfully upstairs to get some comfort where he knew he should
always find it. He told the girls what had just happened, adding:
'It is very unjust of my father.' Then, as Felipa blushed with sorrow,
he added: 'No, I ought not to say that, for I fancy he did not mean to
exclude me, only that stupid Luis wished to show his importance and
invented the order.'
'Tell me, dear Carlo,' put in Etta, eagerly, 'did you speak to the
English boy? I saw the soldier escort him and his fellow down the hill;
and how I wished I could have had a few words with him!'
'What! with a pirate, Etta? But would that I could go into the
council-room! If my father decides to despatch several hundred men, he
must give me the command of at least a little band. You should see how
well I could command.'
'Your noble father only meant, Senorito, that you must not disturb the
meeting,' said Catalina, joining in; 'and I know there is a door at the
other end, which is made but of light bamboos, and you can hear well
enough there all that goes on.' Catalina spoke with so much certainty
that it seemed as if she had herself been eavesdropping.
Carlo was delighted with the idea. 'Is that so, Catalina? The saints
reward you, you dear old woman! I will give you a silk kerchief worked
in gold thread the next time a merchant ship comes here from Panama.
Ah, Etta, I am afraid you will never see your fair English boy again, so
do not expect it, unless we take him prisoner; then I will spare him for
your sake. That is a bargain. Now, Catalina, come and show me your
secret way.' And delighted that he should not be quite excluded from
hearing the plans of defence, the eager Carlo followed Catalina, quite
believing that after all it was not his father but the stupid guard Luis
who had prevented him from joining in the council of war. He was,
however, soon to be undeceived.