Part 25 (1/2)

”I'm a British subject,” Wenlock shouted. ”I've a Foreign Office pa.s.sport in my pocket. I'll appeal to my Government over this.”

”My lad,” said Kettle, ”you won't have time to appeal. The lady isn't being funny. She means square biz. If you don't be sensible, and see things in the same way she does, it'll be one _che-opp_, and what happens afterward won't interest you.”

”Those spikes,” said Wenlock faintly.

”Above the water-gate?” said Kettle. ”Queer, but the same thing occurred to me, too. You'd feel a bit lonely stuck up there getting sun-dried.”

”I'll marry her.”

”You'd better spread a bit more politeness about,” Kettle advised. ”It will be all the more comfortable for you afterward if you do.” And so Wenlock, with desperation nerving him, poured out all the pretty speeches which he had in store, and which he had looked to use to this very woman under such very different circ.u.mstances. But he did not even suggest taking his future spouse back to England.

She, too, when she graciously pardoned his previous outburst, mentioned her decision on this matter also.

”I am Emir here,” she said, ”and I could not be Emir in your England without many fights. So here I shall stay, and you with me. When there is war, you shall ride at my side; in peace I will give you a governors.h.i.+p over a ward of this town, from which you can get your taxes. And if there are children, you shall bring them up.”

The mullah, who knew better than to keep his ruler waiting, had come in, and they were forthwith married, solemnly and irrevocably, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Mohammedan Church, as practised in the kingdom of Dunkhot. And in witness thereof, Captain Kettle wrote his name from left to right, in contradistinction to all the other signatories, who wrote from right to left, except the bridegroom.

”And now, Mr. Wenlock, if you please,” said Kettle, ”as you're comfortably tied to the lady of your choice, I'll trouble you for that fee you promised.”

”I'll see you in somewhere hotter than Arabia,” said the bridegroom, mopping his pale face.

”Now look,” said Kettle, ”I'm not going to sc.r.a.p with you here, and I don't want to break up this happy home with domestic unpleasantness; but if you don't hand me over that 50, I shall ask your good lady to get it for me.”

Wenlock sullenly handed out a note.

”Thank you. I know you feel injured, but I'm earning this money exactly according to promise, and of you don't quite like what's been done, you must remember that it's your own fault for not wording the agreement a bit more carefully. And now, as I seem to have got through my business here, if it's agreeable to all parties, I'll be going. Good-by, Mrs.

Wenlock, madam. Let me call you by your name for the first time.”

The Lady Emir set back her great shoulders. ”That is not my name,” she said. ”I am Emir. My name does not change.”

”Beg pardon,” said Kettle, ”he takes yours, does he? Didn't know that was the custom of this country. Well, good-afternoon.”

”But do you want,” said the lady, ”no present?”

”Thank you,” said Kettle, with a c.o.c.k of the head, ”but I take presents from no one. What bit of a living I get, your ladys.h.i.+p, I earn.”

”I do not onderstand. But you are sailor. You have s.h.i.+p. You wish cargo?”

Captain Kettle snapped his fingers ecstatically. ”Now, ma'am, there you've hit it. Cargo's what I do want. I'll have to tell you that freights are up a good deal just now, and you'll have to pay for accommodation, but my s.h.i.+p's a good one, and my firm's reliable, and will see that you are dealt by honest at the other end.”

”I do not onderstand.”

”Of course you don't, your Majesty; of course you don't. Ladies like you don't have to bother with the s.h.i.+pping trade. But just you give me a line to the princ.i.p.al merchants in the town saying that you'd like me to have a few tons of their stuff, and that'll do. I guess that what your ladys.h.i.+p likes round here is usually done.”

”You wish me write. I will write. Now we will wash hands, and there is banquet.”

And so it came to pa.s.s that, some twenty-four hours later, Captain Kettle returned to the _Parakeet_ sun-scorched, and flushed with success, and relieved the anxious Murray from his watch. The mate was naturally curious to know what happened ash.o.r.e.