Part 51 (2/2)
”Surely I don't, Inez.”
”That's strange--a mystery. Might it be regret at leaving behind your _preux chevaliers_ of California--that grand, gallant De Lara, whom, at our last interview, we saw sprawling in the road dust? You ought to feel relieved at getting rid of him, as I of my importunate suitor, the Senor Calderon. By the way, I wonder whatever became of them! Only to think of their never coming near us to say good-bye! And that nothing was seen or heard of them afterwards! Something must have happened.
What could it have been! I've tried to think, but without succeeding.”
”So I the same. It is indeed very strange; though I fancy father heard something about them, which he does not wish to make known to us. You remember what happened after we'd left the house--those men coming to it in the night. Father has an idea they intended taking his gold, believing it still there. What's more, I think he half suspects that of the four men--for there appears to have been four of them--two were no other than our old suitors, Francisco de Lara and Faustino Calderon.”
She had almost said _sweethearts_, but the word has a suggestion of pain.
”_Maria de Merced_!” exclaims Inez. ”It's frightful to think of such a thing. We ought to be thankful to that good saint for saving us from such villains, and glad to get away from a country where their like are allowed to live.”
”_Sobrina_, you've touched the point. The very thought that's been distressing me is the remembrance of those men. Even since leaving San Francisco, as before we left, I've had a strange heaviness on my heart-- a sort of boding fear--that we haven't yet seen the last of them. It haunts me like a spectre. I can't tell why, unless it be from what I know of De Lara. He's not the man to submit to that ignominious defeat of which we were witnesses. Be a.s.sured he will seek to avenge it. We expected a duel, and feared it. Likely there would have been one, but for the sailing of the English s.h.i.+p. Still that won't hinder such a desperate man as De Lara from going after Edward, and trying to kill him any way he can. I have a fear he'll follow him--is after him now.”
”What if he be? Your _fiance_ can take care of himself. And so can mine, if Calderon should get into his silly head to go after _him_. Let them go, so long as they don't come after us; which they're not likely-- all the way to Spain.”
”I'm not so sure of that. Such as they may make their way anywhere.
Professional gamblers--as we know them to be--travel to all parts of the world. All cities give them the same opportunity to pursue their calling--why not Cadiz? But, Inez, there's something I haven't told you, thinking you might make mock of it. I've had a fright more than once--several times, since we came aboard.”
”A fright! what sort of a fright?”
”If you promise not to laugh at me, I'll tell you.”
”I promise. I won't.”
”'Twould be no laughing matter were it true. But, of course, it could only be fancy.”
”Fancy about what? Go on, _tia_: I'm all impatience.”
”About the sailors on board. All have bad faces; some of them seem very _demonios_. But there's one has particularly impressed me. Would you believe it, Inez, he has eyes exactly like De Lara's! His features too resemble those of Don Francisco; only that the sailor has a beard and whiskers, while he had none. Of course the resemblance can be but accidental. Still, it caused me a start, when I first observed it, and has several times since. Never more than this very morning, when I was up here, and saw that man. He was at the wheel, all by himself, steering. Several times, on turning suddenly round, I caught him looking straight at me, staring in the most insolent manner. I had half a mind to complain to Captain Lantanas; but reflecting that we were so near the end of our voyage--”
She is not permitted to say more. For at the moment, a man appearing on the p.o.o.p-deck, as if he had risen out of it, stands before her--the sailor who resembles De Lara!
Making a low bow, he says:
”Not _near_ the end of your voyage, _senorita_; but _at_ it,” adding with an ironical smile: ”Now, ladies! you're going ash.o.r.e. The boat is down; and, combining business with pleasure, it's my duty to hand you into it.”
While he is speaking, another of the sailors approaches Inez; Hernandez, who offers his services in a similar style and strain.
For a moment, the girls are speechless, through sheer stark astonishment. Horror succeeds, as the truth flashes upon them. And then, instead of coherent speech, they make answer by a simultaneous shriek; at the same time making an attempt to retreat towards the cabin-stair.
Not a step is permitted them. They are seized in strong arms; and half-dragged, half-lifted off their feet, hurried away from the taffrail.
Their cries are stifled by huge woollen caps drawn over their heads, and down to their chins, almost choking them. But though no longer seeing, and only indistinctly hearing, they can tell where they are being taken.
They feel themselves lifted over the vessel's side, and lowered down man-ropes into a boat; along the bottom of which they are finally laid, and held fast--as if they had fallen into the jaws of those terrible _tintoreras_, they so lately looked at keeping company with the s.h.i.+p!
CHAPTER SIXTY.
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