The _Heron_ steamed at full speed from Southampton to Las Palmas, but
she did not travel fast enough for Lady Mildred, who made Captain
Samson’s life miserable by the way she worried him.
“Won’t she go any faster, captain?”
“No, my lady. She is doing over twenty-four knots,” he answered
reproachfully.
As soon as they arrived at Las Palmas, Lord Lynton hastened ashore and
it was not very long before he ascertained that a number of men had
left the island to join a cruiser. He returned with this information
and there could be no doubt that Gaunt had gone to the Congo.
Lady Mildred sent for the captain and announced their destination.
“It isn’t a fit place for your ladyship to visit. You will be sure to
get fever,” he protested nervously.
“We start at once, captain. Mr. Gaunt is there, and it is important
that we arrive at the earliest possible moment,” Lady Mildred answered,
and then proceeded to tell the story of Gaunt’s expedition.
The captain listened in open-eyed amazement, but he no longer
hesitated, and orders were given that the yacht should sail at once. To
Lady Mildred these few days seemed interminable, and as they drew near
her suspense increased. At last the mouth of the Congo came in sight
and with the aid of glasses they could see the many disabled steamers.
It was Captain Samson who first made out the _Esmeralda_ and he came
from the bridge to tell them.
Lady Mildred was putting on a pith helmet and her face had grown very
pale.
“I wonder what has happened?” she muttered to herself. “Captain, will
you get a launch ready? I want to go on board at once,” she said aloud.
“There is a pinnace putting off from the cruiser, my lady, and she is
traveling towards us at a good speed,” the captain answered.
Lady Mildred put the glasses to her eyes and gave a cry at what she saw.
“There is only one man astern. It is not John. I think it is Mr. Drake.”
“Let me see,” Lady Ethel cried eagerly, and she almost snatched the
glasses from her sister.
Lady Mildred turned away for she wished to hide her distress. It was
evident that they had recognized the _Heron_, and why had not her
husband come to meet her? Was it that he could not forgive her?
Sailors were busy lowering the companion way, and the launch drew
alongside. Edward Drake jumped lightly onto the platform and hastened
up to greet them.
“Where is Mr. Gaunt?” Lady Mildred cried, before he could utter a word.
“He is ill, and the doctor says that he is not fit to stand any
excitement. That is why I have hastened to meet you,” he answered
quickly.
“What has happened? Is he dangerously ill?” she asked, and her voice
shook with fear.
“No. He is out of danger. Shall we go to your cabin? I have a lot to
tell you,” he asked; and Lady Mildred led the way.
Edward Drake stood and faced them, and they could see the deep lines
brought to his face by grief and pain. But his voice was steady when he
began to tell them all that had happened. It was only when he spoke of
his brother’s death that he faltered, and dared not look at Lady Ethel.
“Mr. Gaunt is in no danger, but you must be very careful. Before you go
to the _Heron_ I should like to speak to you alone, Lady Mildred.”
Lord Lynton and Lady Ethel moved away, and for the first time Drake
glanced at the woman he loved. She was crying quietly, and tears were
streaming down her cheeks.
When they had gone, he turned to Lady Mildred, and his face was very
grave.
“I think I am justified in breaking a confidence. I have thought
deeply, and am sure it is my duty to tell you the reason why your
husband has acted as he has done. I am aware that you have felt bitter
towards him, but it was because you did not know.”
“Mr. Drake, you need not tell me. I am ashamed of my conduct, and I
have come to my husband to ask his forgiveness,” she answered in a low
voice.
“Still, I think you should know. Gaunt is a man in a thousand, and
I want you to understand his character. He has always loved you
passionately from the first time you met, but he was determined to
conceal his love until he had won you. He thought he was succeeding
until that terrible day when it seemed that in all human probability
you would die. Gaunt was in utter despair, and in his agony he turned
to God. You must remember that the specialist had told him that there
was no hope of your living. He prayed to God, and made a bargain with
Him. Gaunt told me the very words he used, and they are imprinted on my
memory. ‘Give me the life of my wife, and I swear that every action of
my life shall be deliberately thought out, and shall be in accordance
with the teaching of Christ.’”
Drake paused, and he could see that Lady Mildred was listening with
breathless attention.
“And since that night, when God gave him your life, he has struggled
nobly to keep that vow. That is the reason why——”
“Stop!” she cried harshly.
Her face worked painfully as everything became clear to her mind. She
knew her husband’s pride that he always kept his word, and she could
understand how fiercely he must have been tempted to abandon the
fulfilment of his vow, and it was she herself who had made his task a
thousand times more difficult.
“What a man!” she muttered feverishly.
And pride and love overwhelmed her so that she grew afraid.
“You are sure that his life is not in danger?” she said tremulously.
“Quite. So long as you do not excite him.”
“You may trust me, Mr. Drake. His life is too precious to me.”
Suddenly she seized his hand and pressed it to her lips.
“And I am proud of your friendship for my husband. But I have been
selfish. I have forgotten your terrible loss. What can I say to comfort
you?”
“And your sister, for I believe she loved Lindsay.”
She gave him a quick look, but remained silent.
“May I go to John at once? I promise that I will be quite calm,” she
said at last.
In a few minutes the launch was rapidly taking them to the cruiser.
Drake refused to allow either Lord Lynton or Lady Ethel to accompany
them, and he would give no reason for his refusal.
As soon as they reached the deck of the cruiser, Drake hastened to the
sick bay.
“Gaunt, your wife is here,” he said quietly.
“Bring her to me, and you will leave us alone.”
And Lady Mildred stood in the doorway, hesitated for a moment, then ran
to the bunk where her husband lay.
“John.”
She knelt by his side and pressed her lips to his.
“Forgive me, dear. I was cruel, but I did not understand,” she
whispered.
Their eyes met and there was no need for words. Understanding came to
them and the past seemed as though it had not been. And she sat by his
side, her hand resting on his, but she did not speak.
“You should not have come,” he said reproachfully.
But she leant over and kissed him on the lips.
“I care for nothing so long as I am with you,” she whispered tenderly.
The doctor came in, glanced keenly at his patient, and relief came to
his face when he had felt Gaunt’s pulse.
“May I stay? I will be very quiet,” Lady Mildred said appealingly.
“Yes, I think that he is already better, but don’t talk too much,” the
doctor said warningly.
Soon Lady Mildred began to think of the future. In her anxiety for her
husband’s health, she had forgotten that they were in a war-ship, that
had been guilty of acts that might be regarded as piratical.
What would happen? Would John be punished for what he had done? She
dared not question him, but she felt that she must know. His eyes
were closed and she tried to remove her hand from his, but he stirred
restlessly. At last his grip relaxed, and she went on deck where she
found Edward Drake who was talking to Captain Armstrong.
“What is going to be the end of this?” she asked, and waved her hands
towards the disabled steamers.
“We shall know in an hour’s time,” the captain answered.
“What do you mean?”
“There are war-ships on the horizon and they are coming here.”
“Then why don’t you escape while there is time?” she cried excitedly.
“Ask Mr. Drake,” the captain said drily.
Lady Mildred looked inquiringly at him.
“We have acted as our consciences directed, and we are prepared to face
the responsibility for what we have done,” Drake said quietly.
“But you may be severely punished. You, and my husband. Mr. Gaunt is
ill. Escape while there is time,” she cried excitedly.
Drake shook his head decidedly, and she appealed to Captain Armstrong.
“Don’t you think it would be better to go?”
“It is not a matter of opinion. Before we came here we laid down a
line of action which we shall faithfully carry out. It might be worse,
for we are not responsible for any loss of life, save on our own side.”
“Poor Captain Drake,” she said sadly, and tears came to her eyes.
There was a cry from the bridge.
“The first flies the White Ensign.”
“I am glad it is our own people, and no beastly foreigners,” the
captain said grimly.