Part 44 (2/2)
”Here is as much safety as a vessel of war affords in a moment like this,”
he said, when his companion was silently seated on a mess-chest. ”On no account quit the spot, till I--or some other, advise you it may be done without hazard.”
Alida had submitted to be led thither, without a question. Though her color went and came, she saw the little dispositions that were made for her comfort, and without which, even at that moment, the young sailor could not quit her, in the same silence. But when they were ended, and her conductor was about to retire, his name escaped her lips, by an exclamation that seemed hurried and involuntary.
”Can I do aught else to quiet your apprehensions?” the young man inquired, though he studiously avoided her eye, as he turned to put the question. ”I know your strength of mind, and that you have a resolution which exceeds the courage of your s.e.x; else I would not venture so freely to point out the danger which may beset one, even here, without a self-command and discretion that shall restrain all sudden impulses of fear.”
”Notwithstanding your generous interpretation of my character, Ludlow, I am but woman after all.”
”I did not mistake you for an amazon,” returned the young man smiling, perceiving that she checked her words by a sudden effort. ”All I expect from you is the triumph of reason over female terror. I shall not conceal that the odds--perhaps I may say that the chances, are against us; and yet the enemy must pay for my s.h.i.+p, ere he has her! She will be none the worse defended, Alida, from the consciousness that thy liberty and comfort depend in some measure on our exertions.--Would you say more?”
La belle Barberie struggled with herself, and she became calm, at least in exterior.
”There has been a singular misconception between us, and yet is this no moment for explanations! Ludlow, I would not have you part with me, at such a time as this, with that cold and reproachful eye!”
She paused When the young man ventured to raise his look, he saw the beautiful girl standing with a hand extended towards him, as if offering a pledge of amity; while the crimson on her cheek, and her yielding but half-averted eye, spoke with the eloquence of maiden modesty. Seizing the hand, he answered, hastily--
”Time was, when this action would have made me happy--”
The young man paused, for his gaze had unconsciously become riveted on the rings of the hand he held. Alida understood the look, and, drawing one of the jewels, she offered it with a smile that was as attractive as her beauty.
”One of these may be spared,” she said. ”Take it, Ludlow; and when thy present duty shall be performed, return it, as a gage that I have promised thee that no explanation which you may have a right to ask shall be withheld.”
The young man took the ring, and forced it on the smallest of his fingers, in a mechanical manner, and with a bewildered look, that seemed to inquire if some one of those which remained was not the token of a plighted faith.
It is probable that he might have continued the discourse, had not a gun been fired from the enemy. It recalled him to the more serious business of the hour. Already more than half disposed to believe all he could wish, he raised the fair hand, which had just bestowed the boon, to his lips, and rushed upon deck.
”The Monsieur is beginning to bl.u.s.ter;” said Trysail, who had witnessed the descent of his commander, at that moment and on such an errand, with great dissatisfaction. ”Although his shot fell short, it is too much to let a Frenchman have the credit of first word.”
”He has merely given the weather gun, the signal of defiance. Let him come down, and he will not find us in a hurry to leave him!”
”No, no: as for that, we are snug enough!” returned the master, chuckling as he surveyed the half-naked spars, and the light top-hamper, to which he had himself reduced the s.h.i.+p. ”If running is to be our play, we have made a false move at the beginning of the game. These top-sails, spanker, and jib, make a show that says more for bottom than for speed. Well, come what will of this affair, it will leave me a master, though it is beyond the power of the best duke in England to rob me of my share of the honor!”
With this consolation for his perfectly hopeless condition as respects promotion, the old seaman walked forward, examining critically into the state of the vessel; while his young commander, having cast a look about him, motioned to his prisoner and the Alderman to follow to the p.o.o.p.
”I do not pretend to inquire into the nature of the tie which unites you with some in this s.h.i.+p,” Ludlow commenced, addressing his words to Seadrift, though he kept his gaze on the recent gift of Alida; ”but, that it must be strong, is evident by the interest they have taken in your fate. One who is thus esteemed should set a value on himself. How far you have trifled with the laws, I do not wish to say; but here is an opportunity to redeem some of the public favor. You are a seaman, and need not be told that my s.h.i.+p is not as strongly manned as one could wish her at this moment, and that the services of every Englishman will be welcome.
Take charge of these six guns, and depend on my honor that your devotion to the flag shall not go unrequited.”
”You much mistake my vocation, n.o.ble captain;” returned the dealer in contraband, faintly laughing. ”Though one of the seas, I am one more used to the calm lat.i.tudes than to these whirlwinds of war. You have visited the brigantine of our mistress, and must have seen that her temple resembles that of Ja.n.u.s more than that of Mars. The deck of the Water-Witch has none of this frowning garniture of artillery.”
Ludlow listened in amazement. Surprise, incredulity, and scorn, were each, in turn, expressed in his frowning countenance.
”This is unbecoming language for one of your calling,” he said, scarce deeming it necessary to conceal the contempt he felt. ”Do you acknowledge fealty to this ensign--are you an Englishman?”
”I am such as Heaven was pleased to make me--fitter for the zephyr, than the gale--the jest, than the war-shout--the merry moment, than the angry mood.”
”Is this the man whose name for daring has pa.s.sed into a proverb?--the dauntless, reckless, skilful 'Skimmer of the Seas!'”
”North is not more removed from south, than I from him in the qualities you seek! It was not my duty to undeceive you as to the value of your captive, while he whose services are beyond price to our mistress was still on the coast. So far from being him you name, brave captain, I claim to be no more than one of his agents, who, having some experience in the caprices of woman, he trusts to recommend his wares to female fancies.
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