The commander sent for the chaplain of the black galley to descend
into his chamber. While Pierre des Anbiez confessed his sins,--with the
exception of the murder reserved for the great act of penitence of the
order,--and received absolution, the Bohemian went up on deck. The first
person whom he met there was the captain of the _Holy Terror to the
Moors, by the Grace of God_.
Hadji, affecting an easy and impertinent familiarity, approached Luquin
Trinquetaille and said to him: “Who would have believed, my boy, that
we would see each other again here, when that pretty girl enraged you so
much by giving me flame-coloured ribbons at Maison-Forte?”
This excess of impudence rendered the worthy captain speechless a
moment, then, putting his hand on his sword, he was about to attack
Hadji, when the overseer reminded him that the Bohemian was under his
protection by order of the commander.
“There is another place where we will meet, you villain,” said
Luquin, “and that will be under the gallows where you will be hanged;
for, zounds! although the office of executioner is repugnant to me, I
would sell my polacre even to have the right to put the rope around your
neck.”
“Ingrate, you do not think of the grief you would bring upon
Stephanette; the poor girl loves me so much that she would die of sorrow
to see me hanged, and especially by you.”
“You lie, you lie like a dog. Oh, that I could tear your cursed tongue
out by the roots!”
“You would be right, my boy, to tear out my tongue, for it was my
honeyed words which opened the way to this pretty girl’s heart A
little while ago, on board my chebec where she was with me, she said, as
she leaned her head on my shoulder--”
“You lie, you blaspheme!” cried Luquin, in fury.
“She said, as she leaned her head on my shoulder,” continued the
Bohemian, with imperturbable coolness, “‘What a difference, my
handsome captain, between your gallant and charming language, and the
tiresome twittering of that long-legged heron that flutters around me so
clumsily.’ That is the way she spoke of you, my poor boy.”
“Here, overseer,” exclaimed Luquin, pale with rage, “permit me to
cut this villain’s face with a few blows of my sabre scabbard.”
“If his words wound you, do not listen to them,” answered the
overseer. “The commander entrusted this pagan to me, and I cannot
permit any one to do him harm.”
Luquin uttered a groan of concentrated wrath.
“After all,” continued the Bohemian, with a disdain-ful
self-conceit, “that girl is rather good-looking, but you have made
her so silly, my boy, that the conversation I had with her yesterday was
enough to take away any desire to continue the interview. You can marry
her when you please, my boy, only when you see her look sad, you need
only mention my name to make her smile tenderly, since the memory of me
will live in her heart eternally. Poor girl, she told me so yesterday as
she kissed my hand as if I had been a lord.”
The indignant Luquin could hear no more. Shaking his fists at the
Bohemian, he turned away abruptly, followed by the derisive laugh of the
vagabond.
As we have said, the sun was just sinking and the sea was calm. In the
distance, between two points of the rocks at the depth of the bay, could
be seen the _Red Galleon_ and the galley of Trimalcyon anchored near
each other, while not far from them lay the chebec of Hadji.
The boat which had brought Hadji balanced on the waves, fastened to the
stem of the black galley. The sky was clear, with the exception of a
belt of reddish gray clouds around the setting sun.
Captain Hugues, the artilleryman, approached the overseer who guarded
the Bohemian, and said to him, as he shook his head and pointed to the
west:
“Brother, I do not like those clouds which are gathering down there,
they are threatening, we are in a dead calm. If the sun, as it sets,
scatters these clouds, the night will be beautiful; if, on the contrary,
the cloud covers the sun before it sets--”
“I understand you, Brother Hugues, we will have a shift of the wind,
a hurricane, and the night will be bad,” replied the overseer.
“Fortunately, we have time yet.” And, turning to Hadji, he said,
“Little it matters to you or to yours to be hanged in a storm or a
calm.”
“I prefer to be hanged in a storm, overseer; the wind rocks you like a
cradle, and you fall asleep sooner in eternity,” replied Hadji, with a
disdainful indifference.
The commander appeared on deck. The assembled chevaliers separated and
respectfully made way for him. Pierre des Anbiez was dressed entirely
in black. His face seemed paler and more sad than usual. At his side he
wore a heavy iron sword, and a long dagger in its bronze scabbard; on
his right hand he wore a glove of black buffalo skin, his left hand was
naked. He made a sign to the Bohemian and threw down before him his left
gauntlet. Hadji picked it up and was about to speak, when the commander,
with an imperious gesture, showed him the boat which had brought him to
the galley. Hadji descended and embarked, and was soon on his way to the
vessels of the pirates.
Astonished at the commander’s action, the chevaliers and Honorât
de Berrol, who was among them, looked at each other in surprise. The
commander followed the Bohemian’s departing boat with his eyes, then,
turning to the group around him, said, in a loud voice:
“Brothers, in a little while we will attack the galleys of these
miscreants; they are anchored near each other. The long-boat will be
put to sea, half the soldiers will descend into it, and, while the black
galley attacks the _Red Galleon_, the long-boat will attack the other
pirate vessel.” Then addressing the king of the chevaliers, he
continued: “You will command the black galley, brother, and the
Brother de Blinville, the oldest lieutenant of the galley, will command
the long-boat. Now, overseer, strokesman, all, ply your oars! the sun
is setting and only an hour of daylight is left us to chastise these
miscreants.”
Although the chevaliers had not understood why Pierre des Anbiez
abandoned the command of the black galley and the long-boat, they
hastened to execute his orders.
A part of the crew, well armed, embarked in the longboat of the galley,
which was put to sea under the orders of the Chevalier de Blinville, and
the two vessels, with full force of oars, directed their course toward
the entrance of the bay.
The commander having ordered Captain Trinquetaille to remain on board
the galley, the polacre was directed by the second in command, and
followed the black galley’s movements.
Honorât approached the commander, and said: “I wish to fight at your
side, M. Commander. Reine des Anbiez was my betrothed. Raimond V.
has been a second father to me, and my place should be the post of
danger.”
Pierre des Anbiez looked steadily at Honorât, and answered: “It
is true, chevalier, you have a double vengeance to wreak upon these
robbers. To assure the freedom of Reine, I have consented to fight in
single combat with one of the pirate captains. I need a second. Will you
accept that duty?”
“You, monsieur, you accede to such a proposition!” cried Honorât,
“do such honour to these miscreants!”
“Will you or will you not draw the sword and the dagger when I draw
them, young man?” rudely interrupted Pierre des Anbiez.
“I can only be proud to do what you do, M. Commander; my sword is at
your orders.”
“Go, then, and arm yourself, and hold yourself in readiness to follow
me when I descend.”
After a moment’s silence, he added: “You see that long-boat doubling
the point; she will bring on board my galley Reine des Anbiez and the
captives from La Ciotat.”
“Reine!” cried Honorât.
“There she is,” said the commander.
In fact, the long-boat of Hadji was rapidly approaching; the Chevalier
de Berrol soon recognised Reine, Stephanette, and two other young girls,
besides twenty inhabitants of La Ciotat, captured when the pirates made
their descent upon the city.
The chevaliers were ignorant of the agreement made between the commander
and the Bohemian. They could not understand why the pirates returned
their prisoners in this manner.
When the long-boat was within range of the voice, the commander ordered
the overseer to lift the galley’s oars and wait for this craft, which
soon reached them.
Pierre des Anbiez advanced to the height of the first rower’s seat,
and there received his niece, who threw herself in his arms with all the
effusion oi affectionate gratitude.
“And my father?” cried the young girl.
“Your return will relieve his anxiety, my child,” replied the
commander, who did not wish to inform Reine of her father’s condition.
“Honorât, is it you?” said Reine, extending her hand to the
chevalier, whom she did not see at first “Alas! my friend, under what
sad circumstances I see you. But who is with my father, pray? Why did
you leave him alone?”
“Reine, our aim was to rescue you, and I followed the commander.
Father Elzear is at Maison-Forte with Raimond V.”
“But now I am free, will you not return with me to my father?”
“Return with you? No, Reine, I must remain with the commander.
To-morrow, no doubt, I will see you. I bid you a tender farewell, Reine.
Farewell, farewell.”
“With what a serious air you bid me farewell, Honorât,” cried the
young girl, struck with the chevalier’s solemn expression. “But
there is no danger, they will not attack the pirates; what good can be
done by remaining here?”
“No, doubtless they will not fight,” said Honorât, with
embarrassment “The commander only wishes to assure the departure of
these wretches.”
Pierre des Anbiez, having given his orders, approached Reine and took
her by the hand, as he said: “Come, hasten, my child; embark at once,
the sun is sinking. Luquin Trinquetaille will take you on board his
polacre, and before to-morrow morning you will be in the arms of your
father.”
Then addressing the captain of the _Holy Terror to the Moors_, who was
darting furious glances at the Bohemian because this vagabond never took
his eyes from Stephanette, and affected to speak to her in a low voice,
the commander said: “With your life you will answer for Mlle, des
Anbiez. Depart this instant. Conduct her to Maison-Forte with the other
young girls and her attendant. The men will remain and reinforce the
crew of my galley. Come, farewell, Reine, embrace me, my child; say to
my brothers that I hope to take them by the hand to-morrow.”
“You hope, uncle,--pray, what danger is there?”
“The sun is setting, embark at once,” said the commander, without
replying to the question of his niece, as he led her to the boat which
was to conduct her to the polacre.
While Reine exchanged a last look with Honorât, the Bohemian, still
insolent and satirical, approached Luquin, holding Stephanette’s hand
in spite of her resistance, and said to him: “I give you this pretty
girl, my boy; marry her in all confidence. Alas! my poor little thing, I
must resign you. I will remember all your tenderness.”
“What! my tenderness!” cried Stephanette, indignant.
“It is true we agreed to say nothing about it before this cormorant.”
“Luquin, to your boat!” cried the commander, in an imperious voice.
The worthy captain was compelled to swallow this new insult, and to
descend in haste to his boat in order to receive there Mlle. des Anbiez.
Five minutes after the polacre, commanded by Luquin, set sail for
Maison-Forte, bearing Reine, Stephanette, and two other young girls so
miraculously saved from the fate which threatened them.
When the polacre had departed, the Bohemian approached the commander
respectfully, and said:
“Pog-Reis has kept his word, monseigneur.”
“I will keep mine. Go, wait for me in your longboat.”
The Bohemian bowed and left the galley.
Pierre des Anbiez said to the Chevalier de Blinville, who was to command
the galley in his absence:
“The hour-glass is full; in a half-hour, if I do not return on board,
you are to enter the bay and attack the pirates according to the
orders which I have given to you; the black galley will fight the _Red
Galleon_, and the boat will fight the other vessel.”
“Shall we begin the attack without waiting for you, M. Commander?”
repeated the lieutenant, thinking he had not understood the
instructions.
“You will begin the attack without waiting for me, if I do not return
in a half-hour,” replied the commander, in a firm voice. One of
his men brought to him his hat and large black mantle, on which was
quartered the white cross of his order. He then left the galley,
followed by Honorât, to the great astonishment of the chevaliers and
the crew.
Hadji stood at the helm of the little boat; four Moorish slaves took the
oars, and soon the light craft bounded over the swelling waves in the
direction of the western point of the bay.
Pierre des Anbiez, wrapped in his mantle, turned his head and threw
a last lingering look upon his galley, as if to assure himself of the
reality of the events which were taking place. He felt himself dragged,
so to speak, by an irresistible force to which he submitted in blind
obedience.
After some moments of silence, he said to Hadji: “Where does that man
expect me?”
“On the beach, near the ruins of the Abbey of St. Victor,
monseigneur.”
“Make your crew row faster, they do not advance,” said Pierre des
Anbiez, with feverish impatience.
“The waves are high, the cloud is gathering, and the wind is going to
blow; the night will be bad,” said Hadji, in a low voice.
The commander, absorbed in his own thoughts, did not reply to him. The
sun’s last rays were soon obscured by a large belt of black clouds,
which, at first heavy and motionless upon the horizon, began to
move with frightful rapidity. Deep and distant bursts of thunder, a
phenomenon quite common during the winter season of Provence, announced
one of those sudden hurricanes so frequent in the Mediterranean.