RETRIBUTION.
After the exciting events in which I had been a participator that
evening, it may not be a matter for surprise that, on going to bed, my
night was a troubled one. Hour after hour I tumbled and tossed in my
bunk, and with the first sign of day, finding sleep still impossible,
dressed and went on deck. It was as lovely a morning as any man could
wish to see, with a pale turquoise sky overhead, across which clouds
of fleecy whiteness sped with extraordinary rapidity. A fine breeze
hummed in the shrouds, and the peculiar motion of the schooner,
combined with one glance over the side, was sufficient to convince me
that a brisk sea was running. I walked aft, said "Good-morning!" to
the officer of the watch, who was the same taciturn individual, with
the scar upon his face, I have described earlier in the story, and
then, partly from curiosity and partly from force of habit, took a
squint at the compass card. Our course was N. N. E. exactly, but as I
did not know whether or not this was a bluff of some kind, such a
circumstance told me but little. I therefore leaned against the
taffrail, looked up at the canvas, bellying out like great balloons
above my head, and resigned myself to my thoughts. It had an
exhilarating, yet for some reason bewildering, effect upon me, that
stretch of canvas standing out so white against the clear blue sky,
the chasing clouds, the bright sunshine, the dancing, rolling sea, and
the splashing of the water alongside. The schooner was evidently in a
playful mood, for one moment she would be aiming her jib-boom at the
sun and the next be dipping her nose down into the trough and sending
a shower of spray rattling on the fo'c's'le like hail. Not a sail was
in sight, though it was evident from the presence of a lookout in the
fore-top, and the constant scrutiny of the southwestern horizon
maintained by the officer of the watch, that one was momentarily
expected.
I had seen nothing of Alie since I had said good-night to her the
previous evening, nor did I receive an invitation to visit her until
breakfast had been over some time. Then Walworth entered my cabin.
"Her ladyship," he said, taking a seat on my locker, "has sent me to
say that she would be glad to see you aft, if you could spare a few
moments. Before you go, I want to explain the situation to you. The
matter on hand, as you may guess, is the case of that scoundrel
Ebbington, and, as he will be present, she thinks it best that a
little precaution should be observed."
"In what way do you mean?" I answered. "Of course I am ready to do
anything she may wish, but I'd like to have my instructions clearly
explained to me first."
"Well, I have been commissioned to inform you that she thinks it would
be better, in case of accident, that Ebbington should suppose she has
abducted you as well as himself. That is to say, instead of being her
guest on board the schooner, you are her prisoner. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly! She is afraid lest any harm should occur to me, when I
leave her yacht, by reason of my association with her! It is like her
thoughtfulness."
"Shall we go?"
I signified my assent, and we set off.
When we reached Alie's cabin, we found her reclining on a couch at the
further end, the bulldog, as usual, at her feet. She held a packet of
papers in her hand which, previous to our arrival, it was evident she
had been perusing. At the other end, near the companion-ladder, but on
the starboard side, between two sailors, stood the prisoner,
Ebbington. He looked, as well he might, hopelessly miserable. He
opened his eyes in astonishment when he saw me enter. I, however,
crossed the cabin with Walworth and stood on the port side without
letting him see that I recognised him. Then solemn silence fell upon
us all for nearly a minute. While it lasted Alie sat with her chin on
her hand staring steadfastly at Ebbington. Under her gaze, he lowered
his eyes, and when I noticed that his fingers twined convulsively over
and round each other, I could imagine the state of his mind. The
fellow was plainly as frightened as it was possible for him to be.
Then Alie lifted her head and spoke in a voice as soft as a kitten's
purr.
"Mr. Ebbington," she said, "do you know me?"
He did not answer, but I saw the first finger and thumb of his right
hand clutch at his trouser leg and hold it tight. That action was more
significant than any words. Again she spoke:
"Mr. Ebbington," she said, "my trusted servant, my faithful friend, my
honourable agent, I ask you again, do you know me?"
Once more he refused to answer.
"You seem undecided. Well, then, let me trespass upon your time and
tell you a little story, which will, perhaps, help you to remember.
You may listen, Dr. De Normanville, if you please. You must know, Mr.
Ebbington, that once upon a time there was a woman, who, for no fault
of her own, found herself at enmity with the world. She had
necessarily to be continually moving from place to place, and to be
always on her guard against betrayal. The better, therefore, to
conduct her business, she engaged a man to reside in a certain place
and to supply her, from time to time, with certain important
information. The man was poor, she made him rich; he had nothing, she
gave him everything; he was despised, she made him honoured; he was in
trouble, she saved him, not once, but twice, and made him happy. You,
Mr. Ebbington, who are such an honourable man, would think that that
man would have been grateful, wouldn't you? Well, he pretended to be,
and perhaps for a little time he really was. But his feelings soon
underwent a change towards his benefactress. When he had money he
wanted more; he knew his employer's secret, and at last, as a
brilliant finale, he resolved to trade upon it. Then what idea do you
think came into that faithful servant's mind? You will never guess.
Why! neither more nor less than the betrayal of his benefactress to
her enemies. And for what reward, think you? Millions? A million? For
half a million? A quarter? No! no! For the miserable sum of five
thousand pounds. It seems incredible that a man could be so foolish
and so base, doesn't it? But, nevertheless, it is true. Perhaps he
thought the woman, having escaped so often, must inevitably be caught
before long, and, being a business man, he remembered the old adage
that 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' At any rate, he
went to the authorities,--this noble, trustworthy, grateful man,--and
like Judas, proffered his perfidy for a price. But he was bargaining
without his host--or hostess. For if he could be so clever, the woman
could be cleverer still. She was warned in time, and thereupon hatched
a counterplot for his destruction. How well that plot has succeeded, I
don't think I need tell you, Mr. Ebbington. Dr. De Normanville, I am
exceedingly sorry that you should have been drawn into it too. But,
under the circumstances, you will see that it was quite impossible for
me to leave you behind to give evidence against me. You need have no
fear, however. If you will pass your solemn word to me that you will
reveal nothing concerning me or my actions when you go back to
civilisation, I will trust you so far as to give you your freedom
again, and on the first possible opportunity. Do you think you can let
me have that promise?"
I saw the part I was expected to play, and at once fell in with it.
Affecting to take time to consider, I presently said:
"What can I do? I am in your hands entirely, and it would be worse
than useless for me to resist. I will give you that promise, of
course."
"Very good. Then I will let you go."
She turned from me to Ebbington.
"As for you, sir, I hardly know what punishment is severe enough for
you. Even death seems too good for such a contemptible creature. Let
me tell you that only three months ago I hanged a man for murder--a
far less serious offence in my eyes than yours. Why should I spare
you? If I were vindictively disposed, I should recollect how you spoke
of me the other evening. Do you remember?"
"I did not know to whom I was speaking," the wretched man answered
hoarsely.
"That is a very poor excuse," Alie replied, with withering scorn.
"Think of the baseness of what you said! However, it shall be counted
as an extenuating circumstance that you did not know me. Now----"
But whatever she was about to say was stopped by a hail from the deck.
On hearing it Alie immediately rose.
To the men guarding Ebbington she gave an order in their own tongue,
and they at once removed their prisoner. Then turning to Walworth, she
said:
"The mail boat is evidently in sight. Were your instructions explicit
to the men on board her? Do you think they thoroughly understand what
work they have to do?"
"Thoroughly," he answered, "I schooled them myself! There will be no
bungling, you may rest assured. Matheson is in command, and he has
never failed us yet."
"In what capacities did they ship?"
"Matheson as a missionary bound for Shanghai, Calderman as a tourist
for Nagasaki, Burns as a tea merchant for Fu-Chow, Alderney as a
newspaper correspondent to the East generally, Braham as an American
mill owner travelling home via Yokohama and San Francisco, Balder as
an Indian civilian on furlough visiting Japan."
"Very good. And your instructions to them?"
"Will be rigidly carried out. As they come up with the yacht, after
seeing our signal of distress, Matheson and Balder will make an excuse
and get upon the bridge; once there they will cover the officer of the
watch with their revolvers, and do the same for the skipper if he is
there, or directly he comes on deck. They will then compel him to
heave to. Burns by this time will have taken his station at the first
saloon companion ladder, Alderney doing the same at the second;
Calderman will be at the engine-room door, and Braham at the
fo'c's'le; then we shall send a boat and take off our man."
"That will do, Mr. Walworth. You have arranged it admirably, and I am
sincerely obliged to you."
A flush of pleasure rose on the man's usually sallow cheek. He did not
answer, however, only bowed and went on deck. Then Alie turned to me.
"Dr. De Normanville," she said, "I have not yet thanked you for your
help in this last adventure; without your assistance I don't know
whether I could possibly have brought it to such a successful issue."
"You must not thank me," I answered. "Is it possible that you can
imagine I would have let that scoundrel betray you? Alie, you know how
much I----But there, I have given you my promise, so I must not say
what I want to do."
She took my hand and looked into my face with a sweet smile that was
very different to the one she had worn when she talked to Ebbington.
"Not yet," she said very softly. "Some day you shall say it as often
as you please. In the meantime we must get to business. Will you come
on deck and see this comedy played out, or would you rather remain
down here?"
"I should like to go on deck with you," I answered, and we accordingly
went up the companion ladder together. When we emerged from the hatch,
what a change was there! I looked, and could hardly believe my eyes.
Aloft, where only an hour before the two well-stayed masts had reared
their graceful heads, now hung a raffle of broken timber and
disordered cordage. Forrard of the foremast the port bulwark was
completely broken down, or appeared to be, while over the side from it
hung another display of broken gear. In spite of the gay awning aft,
and the R.C.Y.S. burgee at the gaff end, the _Lone Star_ presented the
appearance of a complete wreck. But the meaning of it all was what
puzzled me. However, I had not very long to wait before I received
enlightenment.
Alie had gone aft, and was now leaning against the port bulwark
watching, with a glass, the movements of a large steamer fast rising
on the horizon. I strolled up just in time to hear her say to Walworth
and the officer of the watch, who were both watching it:
"She is steering directly for us. Run up the English ensign to
half-mast, Mr. Patterson, and, when you think she's near enough, throw
out more urgent signals for assistance."
Her orders were carefully obeyed, and before very long the vessel was
near enough for us to distinguish her answering pennant. The wind had
completely dropped by this time, and the sea was as smooth as glass.
When the vessel was scarcely more than two miles distant, Alie turned
to her chief officer, and said:
"I think she's close enough now. Tell her that we're going to send a
boat."
While she was speaking a string of flags had broken out upon the mail
boat.
Walworth read them through the glass he held in his hand.
"She wants to know our name."
"Reply, 'Yacht _Sagittarius_, owner Lord Melkard, from Rangoon to
Nagasaki.' He is one of the directors of the company, and that will
induce them to give us their immediate attention, or I shall be very
much surprised."
She was quite right, for no sooner had the message been deciphered
than another went up.
Again Walworth reported. This time it ran:
"Send your boat."
"Despatch the boat," said Alie.
Instantly Walworth and the tall man with the scar on his face, whose
name I have said was Patterson, went forrard, and within three minutes
Alie's own gig was manned and overboard. Walworth, I noticed, was in
command of her, so I took up the glass he had left upon the skylight,
and brought it to bear upon the mail boat, now less than a mile
distant. She presented a handsome picture as she lay there, her great
bulk riding upon the smooth water as securely as if it would be
possible for her to defy the elements, whatever storm might rage.
With the aid of the strong glass I was using I could plainly
distinguish her, and from the scarcity of passengers on her decks it
was evident that something unusual was occurring on board. Presently
our boat got alongside and the gangway was lowered. A consultation
seemed to be going on upon the bridge, and after a few moments a man
was seen to ascend and descend the steps leading to it. Five minutes
later two men passed down the gangway, and once more our boat put off
to us.
When she had overcome about half the distance I chanced to look
forrard. To my surprise the raffle, which a few moments before had
been disfiguring the side, was gone, and even the bulwark itself had
recovered its proper shape and comeliness. Moreover, the tarpaulin
which had hitherto covered the centre of the deck was being removed,
and by the time the boat had completed three parts of the distance
that separated us from the steamer, a funnel had been uncovered and
erected. The chief officer came aft.
"Is everything prepared, Mr. Patterson?" inquired Alie.
"Everything, madam," replied the officer, looking at the boat.
"Steam up?"
"It has been for the last five minutes."
"Very well then, pipe all hands to quarters, and stand by to receive
the boat when she comes alongside."
As she finished speaking the officer blew a whistle, and immediately
the crew, who had hitherto been ordered to remain below, appeared on
deck and placed themselves at their respective posts. Against the
foremast I noticed a curious mechanical contrivance, the use of which
at any other time I should have inquired. Now, however, there was a
look upon Alie's face that warned me not to be too inquisitive.
At last the boat came alongside, the gangway was lowered, and a moment
later Walworth, accompanied by a big, clumsily built man with a heavy
sensual face, small ferretty eyes, a curled moustache, and dark hair,
appeared up the side. He seemed to wonder what was required of him,
and it was evident that so far he had no idea into whose hands he had
fallen. I glanced at Alie, as he appeared on deck, to discover that
she was regarding him out of half-closed eyes, just as she had looked
at Kwong Fung before she had ordered him off to execution, and at
Ebbington in the cabin half an hour before.
"Will you let me say that I am more than pleased to see you, Mr.
Barkmansworth?" she said in her silkiest tone as he gained the deck.
"It was only last month I heard that you were coming to China to take
up your residence among us. It is my desire to offer you a warm
welcome to the East, hence this reception in mid-ocean. Mr. Walworth,
will you be good enough to bring Mr. Ebbington to me?"
Walworth went below, and presently returned with the prisoner.
"Mr. Ebbington," said Alie, as the man she addressed took his place
beside the newly erected funnel, "I have sent for you in order that
you may see for yourself how I show my appreciation of those whom the
world, to my thinking, does not properly reward. Mr. Barkmansworth, in
case you may not know in whose presence you now stand, let me inform
you that I am the woman you have so often expressed a desire to meet.
I am she whom you boasted in Sydney, a year ago, you would flog when
she fell into your hands, as you flogged those unfortunate South Sea
Islanders. In other words, Mr. Barkmansworth, I am the Beautiful White
Devil."
Though he must have realised his position long before she had finished
speaking, the unfortunate man now, for the first time, showed signs of
fear. Indeed, it is my opinion he would have fallen to the ground had
not Walworth upheld him on one side, the coxswain of the boat which
had brought him doing the same upon the other. Alie continued in the
same quiet voice:
"Tell me, you sir, have you anything to say why I should not treat you
as you deserve? So far you have craftily managed to escape punishment
from your own authorities, but you must see that cunning will not
avail you here. If you have anything to say, say it quickly, for I
cannot keep your boat waiting."
The wretched man took a step forward, and, the eyes of all on board
being upon him, tried to carry the matter off with a high hand.
"What business is it of yours what I do?" he asked.
"It is my business," Alie replied, "because you have threatened what
you would do to me when you caught me, and also because no one else
will see justice done to you."
"You dare not punish me," he cried. "You shall not! I warn you I am in
high authority, and I'll exterminate you as I would a rat, if you dare
to lay a hand upon me."
"So you try to bluster, do you?" said Alie quietly. "Very good. In
that case I need have no scruples at all in carrying out my plan. You
flogged those poor women in Yakilavi, and that man at Tuarani, to
death. I will be more merciful. But flogged you shall be. Men, do
your duty!"
The words were hardly out of her mouth before four of her crew, who
had evidently been instructed in the parts they were to play, sprang
forward, seized him by his arms and legs, and bore him swiftly from
the gangway to the object whose use I had been wondering. Once there
his feet were firmly secured, the upper part of his body was stripped
to the skin, while, at a signal, a powerful native stepped forward
from the crowd, carrying a cat-o'-nine-tails in his hand.
"Lay on twelve lashes," said Alie sternly.
The man had a broad white back, and the first cut raised its mark, the
second put another alongside it, and by the time the twelve strokes
had been administered the blood had begun to flow. After the first cut
the wretched culprit no longer attempted to comport himself like a
man; he struggled, whined, and finally bellowed outright. When the
number was completed, the native paused and looked at Alie. Her face
was turned away, but it was as hard as iron.
"You have so far had six lashes for each of the women you killed," she
said; "now you will have six more for the man you butchered, and six
more on top of them to teach you to respect myself and the name of
Woman. Go on!"
By this time the wretched man's pluck was entirely gone. He entreated
to be let off, offering large sums of money, to be faithfully paid
directly he got ashore, if she would only abate one lash. He might,
however, as well have appealed to a stone: the second twelve were duly
administered, and he was then cast loose. He fell in a heap on the
deck, and for some time refused to budge; but, on being promised an
additional half-dozen if he did not do as he was ordered, he soon
found his feet, and bolted down the gangway into the gig alongside,
which immediately set off for the mail steamer.
Half an hour later the boat returned, bringing with her the men whose
part it had been to ensure the stoppage of the vessel and the capture
of the passenger. Steam was up by this time, and within five minutes
of raising the boat to the davits we were under weigh. In an hour we
had lost sight of the mail boat, and were making as straight a course
as possible back to the settlement.
That evening I received an invitation from Alie to dine with her in
her cabin, and, as may be supposed, I accepted it. But as the lady
whom I had only known as Mrs. Beecher, and who had been confined to
her cabin by ill-health ever since our leaving Singapore, was present,
we only conversed on general topics during the progress of the meal.
When, however, we sought the deck afterwards alone, and came to our
favourite spot at the taffrail, Alie said:
"Up to the present you have seen a good many sides of my character,
have you not? I hope, among them, they will not make you think too
badly of me."
"Make me think badly of you, Alie?" I cried. "That would be
impossible. What _have_ I seen? Let me think. First, I have seen you
collecting about you and befriending many of the world's unfortunates;
second, I have seen you toiling day and night, without thought of
yourself, for the welfare of the lives you loved; and, last, I have
seen you always just and forbearing, a good ruler and a firm friend.
Is there anything in any of those circumstances to make me think badly
of you? No, no!"
"You are too generous to me, I fear. However, to-day you have seen me
in the character of Retribution; you have seen that I can bite as well
as bark. I should be sorry if I lost your good esteem. Now, with
regard to Mr. Ebbington, I want to consult with you as to the course I
should pursue with him."
"I hardly know," I answered. "I have been thinking it over this
afternoon. The man is already nearly mad with fear; that flogging this
morning was an awful lesson to him."
"I hope it was; but cannot you see the position I am placed in? After
all that has passed between us, I cannot let him go out into the world
again, and yet I do not want to keep him a perpetual prisoner at the
settlement. A man of that kind might do serious mischief even there."
I did not know what to advise, so saying I would think about it, we
dismissed the subject for the present. Alie was looking across the sea
astern.
"We're in for a spell of bad weather, I fear," she said. "Do you see
that bank of cloud away to the northeast? I hope it won't delay our
getting back to the settlement. I have been watching it coming up, and
I don't like the look of it at all."
We walked along together to the bridge, where she gave the officer of
the watch some instructions. This done she turned to me and held out
her hand.
"Good-night!" she said; "I am going below now to try and get some
sleep in case we are to have trouble later. I have left orders that I
am to be called if anything unusual transpires."
"Good-night!" I answered, when I had walked to the companion-ladder
with her.
As soon as she had left me I lit another cigar, and, seating myself on
the rail, fell to smoking and dreaming of the future. Every hour was
bringing the time closer for me to bid the woman I loved good-bye, and
to go back to England. After that, for a year, I told myself, I would
work hard at my profession, and at the end of the time stipulated, she
would arrive to be my wife. What my life was to be after that I could
not of course determine, but however it should turn out, I would be
prepared for it, and with Alie for my wife how could I fail to be
happy? As soon as my cigar was finished, I tossed the stump overboard
and retired to my cabin.
On entering it I thought I heard a noise, and as it turned out I was
not mistaken. To my surprise the occupant was none other than the
prisoner, Ebbington. He seemed a trifle disconcerted at my catching
him, and began to apologise profusely for his presence there.
"I came in here to consult you professionally, Dr. De Normanville," he
managed to get out at last. "But you were not in, so I thought I'd
wait. Can you do anything for me? I am not at all well."
"Sit down," I said, pointing to the locker, "and tell me how you
feel."
There was something in the poor wretch's face that, much as I detested
him, touched a chord of pity in my heart. Thus encouraged, he
delivered himself of his symptoms, and asked to be treated. Long
before he had finished his tale, however, I had convinced myself that
there was nothing, save fright, the matter with him. But I heard him
out, and then said:
"Now own up, Ebbington. What was the real reason of this visit? For
you know very well you're no more ill than I am."
He stared for a moment, and then seeing it would be useless arguing
with me, said:
"No, I'm not ill, but I want to ask you a question. What does this
woman intend doing with me? It's all very well for her to pretend she
abducted you; I know better. You were in her confidence at Singapore
and you're in it now. For Heaven's sake don't play with me--tell me
the truth. Is she going to flog me as she flogged that poor devil this
morning, or is she going to hang me, as I hear she did Kwong Fung the
pirate?"
"I know no more about what she intends doing with you than you do," I
answered; "and if I did, I'm certain I shouldn't tell you. Look here,
Mr. Ebbington, I don't want to hit a man when he's down, but I must
own, I think, whatever you do get won't be too much for you. You would
have betrayed her, if you could have managed it, without a second
thought. Now, if I had been in her place--well, I don't somehow think
I should have been as merciful as she has been."
His face instantly became black with fury.
"Wouldn't you! wouldn't you?" he hissed; "spy, traitor, coward!
wouldn't you? A fig for you and your thoughts."
I laughed; thereupon he walked up to me, and, with his features
convulsed with rage, deliberately spat in my face. I knocked him down,
and, having done so, picked him up and threw him outside into the
saloon. I then locked my cabin door and went to bed.
I don't suppose, however, I had been asleep more than an hour before I
was awakened by a loud hammering at my door. Thinking that the ship
must be in danger, I sprang from my bunk and unlocked it as quickly as
possible. On looking out I discovered Walworth and the officers'
steward standing before me.
"What on earth is the matter?" I asked, I'm afraid a trifle irritably.
"What on earth are you making all this row about?"
"Something's very much the matter," Walworth answered, taking my arm
and drawing me along the saloon. "Ebbington's taken poison."
"The deuce he has!" I cried. "Let me see him at once."
I was thereupon conducted to his cabin, which was on the port side of
the vessel, at the further end of the saloon. I found the patient
stretched on his back in his bunk, holding an empty laudanum bottle in
his hand.
One moment's examination showed me that life was extinct; he had been
dead nearly an hour. In this fashion had Alie's difficulty been solved
for her, and, perhaps, all things considered, though it seems rather a
cruel thing to say, in the best possible manner for all parties.
"Is there no chance at all of saving him?" asked Walworth, who had
been watching me intently during my examination.
"Not one!" I answered. "Ebbington's gone where even the Beautiful
White Devil's vengeance won't reach him. Poor devil! Fancy coming
into the world for such a fate as this!"
"Humph! Frightened out of his senses, I expect. Well, now, I suppose I
must go and tell her ladyship. I'm sorry, doctor, to have troubled you
in vain."
"Don't mention it. I'm only sorry nothing could be done. Good-night!"
"Good-night!"
I drew the blanket over the face, and then locking the door behind me,
went back to my own cabin to think it all out. One thing became
perfectly plain to me when I examined my medical chest--and that was,
Ebbington's reason for being in my berth.