Part 60 (1/2)
”We must just right-about face, and get back to New York,” said the captain, ominously. ”Not a soul can go ash.o.r.e.”
”What's up?” asked the gentlemen.
”Is it the _plague_?” whispered the ladies.
”Yellow fever,” said the captain; ”the whole city is raging, half the people are escaped to the main land, and the other half are dying.”
Madame Hesslein's small, eager face grew pale; the chevalier burst into a heartfelt imprecation, and Mr. Davenport clutched the white Margaret's hand with a shocked, ”Heaven preserve us!”
But she tore her hand away, and ran to the gaunt stranger, who had brought such dire news.
”I am going ash.o.r.e with you,” she said.
He looked at her wild face, and shrank from her touch; he hurried to the stern to gain the boat.
”Don't come nigh,” whispered he. ”I've had it.”
But she seized his arm and clung to him; she would not let him go.
Murmurs rose from her fellow-pa.s.sengers; Mr. Davenport's eyes threatened to start from their sockets; but the captain interfered.
”No soul can leave the steamer,” said he, resolutely.
”I must go!” returned Margaret, in a frantic voice.
”Miss Walsingham, you can't go,” said the captain, sternly. ”You would only fall a victim; and mind, I couldn't take you aboard again to carry the infection here.”
”I won't come back!” she cried; ”but I must go.”
”Miss Margaret, I beg of you not to throw your precious life away,”
entreated Mr. Davenport next. ”You can't find the colonel just now; most likely he's gone, poor fellow.”
”G.o.d forbid!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed she, raising her pa.s.sionate eyes to heaven.
”Surely I am not so wretched as that. Ah, sir, don't listen to them,”
she implored the man. ”I will give you any money to put me ash.o.r.e. There is a gentleman in Key West who may be dying for help, and he is a stranger there.”
”Did you ever hear of a fellow called Brand being here?” demanded the lawyer, suspiciously.
”Oh, yes,” smiled the man. ”I know him well.”
”Is he here?” whispered Margaret, looking piteously up at him.
”Yes, he is, at least he was three days ago, for he was nursing me, and left me last Tuesday. I am just getting about again, and haven't been in the town yet.”
”There, do you hear that?” cried Margaret, turning to the lawyer with a wild smile. ”Kind as ever, n.o.ble as ever. Surely you believe now that we have found him?”
”Yes,” groaned Mr. Davenport; ”but three days make a difference. He may be dead now.”
”I will find him, and see,” said Margaret.