Part 29 (1/2)
”Meaning Miss Yorke?” asked the other, who did not require to look twice at this stern-visaged man to grasp the futility of any words but the plainest.
”Yes.”
”She will be safer at Maceio than at Pernambuco. Our only danger at either place will be encountered at the actual moment of landing. At Maceio there is practically no risk of finding a wars.h.i.+p in the harbor.
That is why we are going there.”
”And not because you are more likely to find adherents there?”
”It is a much smaller town than Pernambuco, and my strength lies outside the large cities, I admit. But there can be no question as to our wisdom in preferring Maceio, even where the young lady's well-being is concerned.”
”I think differently. At Maceio there are few, if any, Europeans. At Pernambuco the large English-speaking community will protect her, no matter what President is in power. I must ask you to reconsider your plan. Land Miss Yorke and me at Pernambuco, and then betake yourself and those who follow you where you will.”
c.o.ke jerked himself into the dispute.
”'Ere, wot's wrong now?” he demanded angrily. ”Since w'en 'as a second officer begun to fix the s.h.i.+p's course?”
”I am not your second officer, nor are you my commander,” said Philip.
”At present we are fellow-pirates, or, at best, running the gravest risk of being regarded as pirates by any court of law. I don't care a cent personally what port we make, but I do care most emphatically for Miss Yorke's safety.”
”We've argied the pros an' cons, an' it's to be Maceio,” growled c.o.ke.
Dom Corria's precise tones broke in on what threatened to develop into a serious dispute.
”You would have been asked to join in the discussion, if, apparently, you were not better engaged at the moment, Mr. Hozier,” he said. ”I a.s.sure you, on my honor, that there are many reasons in favor of Maceio even from the exclusive point of view of Miss Yorke's immediate future.
She will be well cared for. I promise to make that my first consideration. The army is mainly for me, and Senhor San Benavides's regiment is stationed at Maceio. The navy, on the other hand, supports Dom Miguel Barraca, who supplanted me, and we shall surely meet a cruiser or gunboat at Pernambuco. You see, therefore, that common prudence----”
”I see that, whether willing or not, we are to be made the tools of your ambition,” interrupted Hozier curtly. ”It is also fairly evident that I am the only man of the _Andromeda's_ company whom you have not bribed to obey you. Well, be warned now by me. If circ.u.mstances fail to justify your change of route, I shall make it my business to settle at least one revolution in Brazil by cracking your skull.”
San Benavides, hearing the names of the two ports, understood exactly why the young Englishman was making such a strenuous protest. He moved nearer, laying an ostentatious hand on the sword that clanked everlastingly at his heels. He had never been taught, it seemed, that a man who can use his fists commands a readier weapon than a sword in its scabbard. Hozier eyed him. There was no love lost between them.
For a fraction of a second San Benavides was in a position of real peril.
Then Dom Corria said coldly:
”No interference, I pray you, Senhor Adjudante. Kindly withdraw.”
His tone was eminently official. San Benavides saluted and stepped back. The dark scar on De Sylva's forehead had grown a shade lighter, but there was no other visible sign of anger in his face, and his luminous eyes peered steadily into Hozier's.
”Let me understand!” he said. ”You hold my life as forfeit if any mischance befalls Miss Yorke?”
”Yes.”
”I accept that. Of course, you no longer challenge my direction of affairs?”
”I am no match for you in argument, senhor, but I do want you to believe that I shall keep my part of the compact.”
c.o.ke, familiar with De Sylva's resources as a debater, and by no means unwilling to see Hozier ”taken down a peg,” as he phrased it; eager, too, to witness the Brazilian officer's discomfiture if the second mate ”handed it to him,” thought it was time to a.s.sert himself.
”I'm goin' to 'ave a nap,” he announced. ”Either you or Watts must take 'old. W'ich is it to be?”
”No need to ask Mr. Hozier any such question,” said the suave Dom Corria. ”You can trust him implicitly. He is with us now--to the death. Captain San Benavides, a word with you.”