"Not as a compliment--as the simple truth," he answered, very
seriously,--too seriously, indeed, for it did not ring quite true, and
she detected it.
"I fear that you equivocate," she cried. "You mean something which you
do not say."
"I protest----"
"Be careful, lest you protest too much, Sir Edward."
"You are unjust," he declared--"what other meaning could I have?"
Again the shoulders did duty. "I am a poor guesser of
motives--particularly, when they do not concern me," she answered.
"Unkind, unkind!" he cried--then they both laughed.
"Let us go in to breakfast," she said.
They were turning away, when the clatter of a galloping horse,
attracted them, and up the avenue, at full speed, came Henry Marbury.
"Why, it is father!" she exclaimed--"what can be the matter? he is
waving to us--what does he mean?"
"Stay here, I will meet him," said Parkington, and hurried down the
steps.
At the same time, a negro groom ran out from the stables, and stood
ready to take the horse.
"Go in! Go in! Close the house!" Marbury cried--"close the house,
quick!--quick!"
"What?" shouted Parkington, the pounding of the hoofs drowning the
words. "What do you say?"
"Close the house! quick!--quick!"
"Close the house! quick!" Parkington repeated to Judith.
A moment later, Marbury dashed up, flung the reins from him, and leaped
down.
"Pirates!" he shouted. "Pirates!--they are coming!" pointing behind
him--where, five hundred yards away, and barely distinguishable among
the trees, a crowd of men were approaching on the run.
"Pirates!" said Parkington, incredulously. "Surely not!"
"Then, stay and welcome them, if you think so," called Marbury, rushing
up the steps.
Parkington stayed long enough to get another view of the nearing men,
then followed him.
Within, he found both order and confusion. The guests were just about
to assemble for breakfast--some were down stairs, some about to come
down, others just finishing their toilet. Marbury was standing in
the hall giving orders to the blacks, who were frightened but still
retained sufficient sense to do as they were told. Mr. Paca, Captain
Herford, and the other men were closing the shutters on the lower
floor, the women those on the floor above. Already the pirates had
sent a detachment around to the rear of the house, keeping under cover
of the stables, and escape for the women, by horseback, was cut off.
George Marbury had managed to send a servant off, an instant before,
however, to apprise the nearest plantations of their plight--and
begging that they muster all the assistance in their power and hasten
to the rescue.
Parkington looked on, for an instant, then, seeing Constable come from
the library with a gun, he hastened in, took one from the rack, and
returned to the front of the house. Old Marbury was standing in the
doorway. The main body of the freebooters had halted a hundred yards
away, while the leaders were taking council and observing the place.
There could be no doubt, even at that distance, what they were--their
variegated costumes and strange headgear proclaimed the riffraff
of all lands. Cutlasses, daggers, swords, and pistols, were their
weapons--none of them appeared to have a gun; they were wont to come
quickly to close quarters, and, then, to show no mercy.
"Are pirates plentiful along this coast, Mr. Marbury?" inquired Sir
Edward.
"Plentiful! I've never heard of a pirate on the inner Chesapeake."
"Well, they appear to be there, now!" Parkington laughed.
Marbury stared at him, "Man alive!" he said. "You don't seem to
appreciate your danger."
"My danger is nothing," remarked Parkington, measuring the powder and
ramming home the charge. "We men can only die; but the women!--God! I
have seen one pirate crew at work, I want never to see another."
"They may not know the peril," said Marbury. "Promise me, Sir Edward,
that, if the worst come, you will not let my daughter fall alive into
their hands."
"I promise," Parkington answered. "Neither her nor any other, so long
as I can wield a dagger."
The old man nodded. "Thank you," he said. Then:--"We have an abundance
of rifles and ammunition, the house cannot be set on fire, save at the
doors--and they can be defended--and the roof. We should hold out until
help arrives." He turned and raised his voice: "Let every man to a
window, and defend it with his life. We can expect no mercy, therefore
show none."
Parkington took a window on the front, Constable the one beside him,
Plater and Snowden similar ones across the hall, George and the others,
were at the rear. The women were gathered in the drawing-room. They
were very quiet--though, occasionally, a sob, half suppressed, gave
evidence of the strain. Five minutes before they had only the breakfast
in mind--now, death had replaced breakfast.
Marbury stood at the open door, waiting. There was a chance, the
demands would be such that he could grant. All the cash and silver, in
the house, he would gladly give them, if they would take it and go.
The leaders of the pirates still held council together. They could rate
the possible strength of a ship, whether it was a likely prey, and
what, if any, was its armament, and the number of its crew, but here
was a new proposition: A house, with every window closed, and a man in
the open doorway--a rifle in his hand.
"What do you make of it, Captain," said his second in command, a tall,
red-bearded, heavy featured man, in a red silk shirt and breeches, and
tall jackboots. He wore no head dress, other than his flaming hair. "It
may be easy, and then again it may not."
"Ah! damn! You're a white-livered rogue!" exclaimed the one on the
Captain's left, a very stout fellow, with a patch over one eye, and
a bright red scar from chin to temple. "You're always for being
careful--no wonder you've got the name of Coward--you----"
"Shut up!"--said the other--"We won't quarrel before strangers, but I
tell you that you're a dirty dog, One Eye.--Put back your sword, or
I'll break every bone in your damn body!"
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! I beg of you restrain yourselves!" said the
Captain. "Remember, there is work before us. Afterward, we shall be
glad to see you fight it out--though I question, not at all, that One
Eye will lose as usual."
He drew out his snuff-box and, with all the air of a Court dandy, took
a pinch of its contents, dusted the traces from his shoulder, with a
fine white handkerchief, and replaced the box. He was a small man, his
dress was black velvet, and there was nothing about him to distinguish
him from a peaceful gentleman, save that his rapier was of somewhat
unusual length, and hung a little forward, and ready to his hand.
"I am a bit perturbed, over what course to pursue," he continued.
"We can board a ship, easy enough, but it is not quite the same with
a house. The general aspect of the surrounding premises suggests
that there is a goodly company concealed within, and, we can assume,
prepared to defend to the uttermost." He paused, took a fresh pinch of
snuff, the handkerchief was flourished again, and the box replaced.
"I like to know something of the milk that is in the cocoanut before
I crack it, but, I reckon, I shall have to take this one wholly on
faith. I thought to surprise them, but that fellow on horseback upset
my plans--for which he shall be turned over to your tender mercies, One
Eye, if we take him alive."
"I'd sooner have my pick of the women, if there be any," was the surly
answer.
"If any woman wants you, she may take you," said the Captain, gently.
"Otherwise, you know the rules."
Whereat, the Coward laughed mockingly and twirled his moustache, while
One Eye cursed him under his breath.
"Well, are we going to rest here all day?" he exclaimed. "If we are not
to attack, let us back to the brig. We would be in nice case if some
one captured her, while we're nosing around ashore--this is a crazy
expedition, anyway, so far from the ship."
"The only thing you are fit for," said the Captain, "is to stir up
trouble. We've never overhauled a prize, but it ought to have had more
treasure or more girls aboard. It is an awful affliction, One Eye, to
have it so in the blood. But there is some truth in what you say--we
are a half mile from the brig and it is dangerous. Suppose you bear our
terms to the man at the door, yonder."
"Not I, Captain! I'm ready to take my chances with the rest, but excuse
me from walking up, alone, to be shot."
The other surveyed him with an amiable smile. "Afraid, are you----"
"No, I'm not afraid," said One Eye, laying hand on his sword. "But
I----"
"Then you will go?"
"No--I won't go."
"And you?" to the Coward.
"Sure, Captain, I'll go.--What are the terms?" was the prompt response.
"_I'm not afraid._"
"Tut! tut!" said the Captain, stepping between them. "What did I tell
you about squabbling. I only wanted to try the temper of you both. I
will go myself. Await me here," and he walked briskly toward the house.
Marbury saw him coming, and went down to meet him.
"Monsieur!" greeted the pirate, and bowed, his hat across his heart.
Marbury's only response was a curt inclination of the head.
"We have called, this morning, monsieur," the pirate remarked, "to
collect his Majesty's taxes, if it will occasion you no particular
inconvenience."
"By 'his Majesty,' I presume you mean the Devil," said Marbury.
"Precisely, monsieur. Your mind is very quick--it is a great pleasure
to deal with one so exceedingly discerning."
Marbury gave a shrug of deprecation.
"What is the amount of the taxes?" he asked.
"It rests with you, monsieur--how much can you pay for his Majesty's
favor?"
"How am I to know that it will buy his favor?" said Marbury.
"You will have to take my word for it, monsieur."
Marbury smiled. "The word of a pirate?"
"Is doubtful security, you mean? I grant it, monsieur, but it is the
best I can give you--you may take it or not, as you see fit. However,
let me point out, that, by taking it, you stand to lose certain
possessions but save your lives and the house; by not taking it, you
will lose your lives and property as well. _Voilà!_"
"Not exactly," said Marbury. "I may be willing to pay a reasonable
amount to avoid a nasty fight, but, that is all. If we fight, we are
reasonably sure of saving our lives and the cash, and of sending a
goodly number of your pirate crew to hell--yourself among them."
"There may be some casualties," was the answer, "but they will not be
confined to one side, monsieur."
"Possibly not, sir, but we fight under cover of the house, you in
the open. You have doubtless observed that there are holes in the
shutters--air holes, they are, but quite as serviceable for guns. But,
what you do not know is, that behind every window, both front and rear,
stands a man, with rifles and ammunition--and a slave to serve him--you
can judge, better than I, what will be the result to an attacking
party."
"You have a large household, monsieur!" said the Captain, laughing
incredulously.
"At present, yes, to my good fortune. A party of gentlemen, engaged
in hunting the fox, arrived late last evening and remained the night.
With us, sir, you must know, a fox chase may last a week, the horsemen
putting up wherever night overtakes them."--("That keeps the women out,
thank God!" he thought.)
The Captain played with his rapier hilt, and considered. What bothered
him was the celerity with which the shutters had been closed--he had
seen them swing shut almost simultaneously, as they approached. If
this man spoke truthfully, then there was grave doubt of success--and,
even if successful, a sorry depletion of his men, before he attained
it. He had slipped into the Chesapeake to raid among the plantations
close to the water, with the chance of picking up a fat merchantman or
two, going to convoy off the Capes. This was the first attempt--brought
about by information, from one of the men who knew something of the
country, that Hedgely Hall was particularly good picking. He had not
anticipated more than a momentary resistance--now, he was not so sure;
it might take hours, and, in the meantime, his ship was lying in the
river, with but two hands aboard. And a pirate without a ship is not
long a pirate!
"Monsieur, it is this way," said he. "I must weigh anchor and away--we
have spent overlong here, as it is. I will trust you----"
Marbury bowed in affected gratitude.
"If you will trust me," the Captain went on, and bowed back at him.
"How much specie have you in the house?"
"Twelve hundred pounds," Marbury answered promptly.
"It is not enough--I must have two thousand."
"You ask what is physically impossible--I have no more."
"You have your ancestral silver, and the women's jewels."
"The ladies are in Annapolis," said Marbury, readily, "and I possess
no ancestral silver; I am a new man in Maryland. What little of my own
there is shall be included."
The pirate regarded him in stern silence for a moment--then he suddenly
swung forward his sword hilt.
"Will you swear, on the Cross, to the truth of what you have said?" he
inquired.
"Certainly, sir, I will swear, if you wish it," said Marbury, raising
his hand. "But I warn you, that the Cross is no more sacred to me than,
I fancy, it is to you."
The sword sank back into its place, and the pirate chief laughed softly.
"And I would have known you lied, had you sworn," he said. "So be it.
Pay over the twelve hundred pounds and the silver, and I, on my part,
promise to depart straightway, and to leave you in peace, hereafter."
"You, and all your crew?" questioned Marbury.
"Oh, certainly--I and all my crew."
"But what assurance have I, that, when the money is paid over to you,
you will withdraw?" said Marbury cautiously.
"My friend, as I have already said, you will have to trust my faith.
If I capture the house, I should take the gold, anyway, so you lose
nothing, in the end, and may gain much. Come, monsieur, to business,
either of gold or blood--which shall it be? Long-Sword makes few
compacts--those compacts he keeps."
"Long-Sword!" exclaimed Marbury, in amazement.
"The same, monsieur, perchance you have heard of me."
"Who has not heard of you----"
"As a bloody and cruel scoundrel," Long-Sword completed. "Such is not
always true, as you now can evidence. But, we dally, monsieur--are we
to have the gold or are we not?"
"Yes," said Marbury; "I will have it brought here with the silver, at
once."
X
THE DEFEAT
Within the house, while the negotiations were in progress, there had
been the trembling fear of the women, and the grave concern of the
men. Marbury had told no one what he proposed to do, but, as the one
controlling consideration was for the women, none cared so long as they
were saved.
"This pirate appears to be a well-mannered rogue," Constable remarked,
peering through the hole in his shutter, "with all the airs of a
gentleman, even to taking snuff in the most approved fashion. I cannot,
however, say as much for his two followers--they are the scum of the
docks."
"You put it mildly," said Parkington; "I should have said the scum of
hell, even at long distance."
"I accept your modification, and may we never see them any closer."
"Amen, with all my heart!"
There was silence for a while, then Constable spoke again.
"They seem to be having a most amiable conversation," he observed.
"Marbury will be bringing him in to breakfast, presently!... Look at
the pirate, Parkington, he acts like a gentleman, he dresses like a
gentleman, damn it! He must have been a gentleman, once!"
No answer from Sir Edward.
"Such a bowing, back and forth.--Lord! you would think they were
dancing the minuet!"
No answer.
"And such a sword! It sticks out a foot farther behind his coat than is
the fashion."
No answer.
"I say, Parkington, are you deaf or asleep?"
"I beg your pardon--what did you say--am I deaf or asleep? Neither, I
trust."
"I have made three separate remarks to you, hence my inquiry."
"Repeat," said Parkington, over his shoulder, his eyes on the scene
outside; "I am all attention."
"The last was as to the extraordinary length of the pirate's sword."
"Yes--I think this must be he," replied Parkington.
"What?" said Constable. "Must be he--what the devil do you mean?"
"I heard tales, in London, recently, of a famous buccaneer of these
seas named Long-Sword," explained Parkington. "I think----"
"Great God! it is he, or I'm a sailor!" exclaimed Constable. "Do not
let the women know."
Sir Edward smiled. "No! no!--As to that, however, a pirate is a pirate,
the world over--there is little to choose between them."
"But Long-Sword has nothing in his favor--he is the cruelest, most
rapacious pirate afloat."
"Or ashore," Parkington amended. "Ah! the council has ended--the pirate
waits. Marbury has been successful."
When Marbury entered, the women crowded around him, but the men
remained at their post, taking no chances.
"There will be no fight.--Silence! would you spoil everything?" he
demanded. "They must not know there are women here." Instantly the glad
cries were hushed. "My womenfolk are in Annapolis," he went on. "The
pirate chief has consented to retire. Judith, will you gather together
all our silver--not the Hedgely silver, just our own--and tie it up in
a sheet, or two sheets, if necessary."
"Surely, Mr. Marbury, this is not the entire ransom?" said Mrs. Plater.
"A little matter of a few gold pieces--no, not a pistole from my
guests, madame--I have the necessary cash."
"We will reimburse you----"
He shook his head.
"Why should you pay for us?" she demanded, as Marbury detached himself
from the group and made for the stairs.
"Because it is my pleasure," he said, and hurried away to his room.
When he returned, with two bags in which were the twelve hundred
sovereigns, the silver was in a pile on the floor of the dining-room.
Platters and candelabra, spoons and trays had been thrown into an
indiscriminate heap, and bound up in a great table-cloth.
"Sam--here!" he said to a negro servant, and pointed to the silver.
"Carry it behind me."
Sam's teeth were chattering, and his face took on the peculiar shade
which goes with the negro's fear, but discipline prevailed, and he took
up the bundle and followed his master, though quaking in every muscle.
Long-Sword was pacing slowly back and forth, his hands behind his back,
his head upon his breast. As Marbury approached, he looked up and
smiled pleasantly.
"It is a queer trade, monsieur, this of a pirate," he said. "Always
over a volcano--never knowing peace and quiet--every man's hand against
you, and yours against every man. You may not believe me, but I like it
not."
[Illustration: "IT IS A QUEER TRADE, MONSIEUR, THIS OF A PIRATE," HE
SAID.]
"Then why do you follow it?" asked Marbury, handing over the gold, and
motioning for the slave to put down the silver.
"Force of circumstances, drove me to it," counting the sovereigns.
"Which is the same thing as natural inclination," Marbury replied.
"You mean, that circumstances force one only where one wants to go?"
"Exactly!"
"And therefore that I am a pirate from choice?"
"Certainly!"
"Are you paying me this gold from choice, or from force of
circumstances?"
"I, most assuredly, am _not_ paying from choice."
"Neither am I a pirate from choice, monsieur. But, being one, I believe
in being a good one."
"Which means, that you are a particularly bad one."
Long-Sword laughed. "You have no evidence of it, monsieur. Surely, I
was not rapacious in my terms to you!--There are four sovereigns too
many----"
"I know," said Marbury. "I gave you all the gold I had."
The pirate gravely returned them.
"It was to be twelve hundred, no more. This is the silver?" pointing to
the bundle in white. "Very good--my men shall be immediately withdrawn.
Monsieur, I have the honor to salute you, and to bid you farewell," and
he bared his head and bowed low.
Then he put his fingers to his lips and whistled shrilly. Instantly,
those of his crew in the rear of the house, marched down and joined the
main body. A motion brought his two lieutenants forward--he gave one
the gold, the other the silver, and they started toward their ship.
He, himself, paused a moment to pluck a rose and admire it, before
fastening it in his coat; then he turned, and, again gravely saluting
Marbury, who had retired to the doorway, followed after his men.
"May the devil take you!" Marbury muttered.
"And may he take him soon!" said Constable from his window. "Shall we
call off the defenders?"
"Yes--I think so; but, to make sure, I will slip down and see them sail
away. Keep a sharp lookout until I return. In the meantime, let all the
horses be saddled and brought around--the women can escape, then, if
necessary."
"Let me go with you," said Parkington.
They had gone but a short distance, when there came, from the direction
of the river, a faint yell, followed by another and another, and yet
another.
"Now, what is the matter?" said Parkington pausing. "Are they coming
back?"
"God knows!" exclaimed Marbury, pausing also.
"And as He will not tell," remarked Parkington, after a wait, during
which no further sounds came, "we shall have to find out for ourselves."
Under cover of the trees and bushes, which lined the driveway, they
gained, at length, sight of the landing. Then, the reason for the cries
was evident:--the pirates had lost their ship.
It was anchored farther down stream than they had left it, and beside
it lay another vessel, which Marbury recognized as one of his own
ships, _The Whip_, overdue from London. Not a man was visible on
either, and, except for the _Royal George_ idly flapping in the
morning breeze, there appeared to be absolute quiet aboard--save only
that the two rogues, who had been left in charge, were swinging by
their necks from the yard-arm.
The pirates were gathered in animated discussion--their first rage
had quieted into sullenness. Their four boats still lay at the
landing--quite sufficient to get them back to the ship in detachments,
but scarcely enough for an attacking party. Long-Sword was standing
apart from the others, trying to make out what force was against them.
Manifestly, if he wanted to regain his ship, the thing was to go and
take it--and, at length, he gave the order to attack. How admirable his
discipline, was shown by their waiting for the word.
One by one, he designated the men who should go, calling them by name,
until the boats could hold no more. Then he stepped aboard the nearest,
and took the tiller.
"Give way!" he ordered--"and keep well apart."
It was the signal to the ships, also. Instantly, they came to life--and
the two Long-Toms of the pirate, and the one on _The Whip_, were
trained on the boats. The buccaneers set up a shout, and bent to their
oars. The more uncertain the target, the more chance there was for a
miss. A quarter the distance was covered ... half the distance....
"Please God, they do not fail!" said Marbury, breathlessly.
"Why don't they shoot!" cried Parkington. "Why don't----"
Crash! the one Long-Tom spoke.
"Hit!" shouted Marbury. "Hit!"
Crash! went the other Long-Tom.
"Two!" cried Parkington, as the boat disappeared in a cloud of water.
Crash, went _The Whip's_ gun.
"Three!" cried both together.
The river was filled with the debris--with dead and dying pirates. Of
the three boat loads, not half a dozen were sufficiently uninjured to
be dangerous--and they were in deep water, with all they could do to
care for themselves.
One boat remained--Long-Sword's boat. The ships could not reload the
guns in time to reach it--they must sink it when it swung alongside, or
meet the crew as they came up the ropes.
It was close distance, now. Long-Sword, transferring the tiller to his
left hand, drew his pistol and fired quickly. A sailor threw up his
arms and fell. He seized a fresh pistol, from the man nearest, and
fired a second time, knocking the cutlass from another's hand. Again,
he cut the bulwark at another's head. Then the rail hid them. The next
moment, they shot in alongside.
Before they could seize the ropes, however, a man reared himself
upright, just above them, bearing in his arms a huge water cask, and
flung it down into the boat.--And the boat disappeared, as if by magic,
leaving its cargo of wounded and uninjured struggling in the water.