a woman of thirty-第30章

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〃By　Saint…James；　it　is　all　up　with　us！　Yonder　is　the　Parisian　captain！〃

At　that　terrible　name　dismay；　and　a　panic　impossible　to　describe；　spread　through　the　brig。　The　Spanish　captain's　orders　put　energy　into　the　crew　for　a　while；　and　in　his　resolute　determination　to　make　land　at　all　costs；　he　set　all　the　studding　sails；　and　crowded　on　every　stitch　of　canvas　on　board。　But　all　this　was　not　the　work　of　a　moment；　and　naturally　the　men　did　not　work　together　with　that　wonderful　unanimity　so　fascinating　to　watch　on　board　a　man…of…war。　The　/Othello/　meanwhile；　thanks　to　the　trimming　of　her　sails；　flew　over　the　water　like　a　swallow；　but　she　was　making；　to　all　appearance；　so　little　headway；　that　the　unlucky　Frenchmen　began　to　entertain　sweet　delusive　hopes。　At　last；　after　unheard…of　efforts；　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/　sprang　forward；　Gomez　himself　directing　the　shifting　of　the　sheets　with　voice　and　gesture；　when　all　at　once　the　man　at　the　tiller；　steering　at　random　（purposely；　no　doubt）；　swung　the　vessel　round。　The　wind　striking　athwart　the　beam；　the　sails　shivered　so　unexpectedly　that　the　brig　heeled　to　one　side；　the　booms　were　carried　away；　and　the　vessel　was　completely　out　of　hand。　The　captain's　face　grew　whiter　than　his　sails　with　unutterable　rage。　He　sprang　upon　the　man　at　the　tiller；　drove　his　dagger　at　him　in　such　blind　fury；　that　he　missed　him；　and　hurled　the　weapon　overboard。　Gomez　took　the　helm　himself；　and　strove　to　right　the　gallant　vessel。　Tears　of　despair　rose　to　his　eyes；　for　it　is　harder　to　lose　the　result　of　our　carefully…laid　plans　through　treachery　than　to　face　imminent　death。　But　the　more　the　captain　swore；　the　less　the　men　worked；　and　it　was　he　himself　who　fired　the　alarm…　gun；　hoping　to　be　heard　on　shore。　The　privateer；　now　gaining　hopelessly　upon　them；　replied　with　a　cannon…shot；　which　struck　the　water　ten　fathoms　away　from　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/。

〃Thunder　of　heaven！〃　cried　the　General；　〃that　was　a　close　shave！　They　must　have　guns　made　on　purpose。〃

〃Oh！　when　that　one　yonder　speaks；　look　you；　you　have　to　hold　your　tongue；〃　said　a　sailor。　〃The　Parisian　would　not　be　afraid　to　meet　an　English　man…of…war。〃

〃It　is　all　over　with　us；〃　the　captain　cried　in　desperation；　he　had　pointed　his　telescope　landwards；　and　saw　not　a　sign　from　the　shore。　〃We　are　further　from　the　coast　than　I　thought。〃

〃Why　do　you　despair？〃　asked　the　General。　〃All　your　passengers　are　Frenchmen；　they　have　chartered　your　vessel。　The　privateer　is　a　Parisian；　you　say？　Well　and　good；　run　up　the　white　flag；　and〃

〃And　he　would　run　us　down；〃　retorted　the　captain。　〃He　can　be　anything　he　likes　when　he　has　a　mind　to　seize　on　a　rich　booty！〃

〃Oh！　if　he　is　a　pirate〃

〃Pirate！〃　said　the　ferocious　looking　sailor。　〃Oh！　he　always　has　the　law　on　his　side；　or　he　knows　how　to　be　on　the　same　side　as　the　law。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　the　General；　raising　his　eyes；　〃let　us　make　up　our　minds　to　it；〃　and　his　remaining　fortitude　was　still　sufficient　to　keep　back　the　tears。

The　words　were　hardly　out　of　his　mouth　before　a　second　cannon…shot；　better　aimed；　came　crashing　through　the　hull　of　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/。

〃Heave　to！〃　cried　the　captain　gloomily。

The　sailor　who　had　commended　the　Parisian's　law…abiding　proclivities　showed　himself　a　clever　hand　at　working　a　ship　after　this　desperate　order　was　given。　The　crew　waited　for　half　an　hour　in　an　agony　of　suspense　and　the　deepest　dismay。　The　/Saint…Ferdinand/　had　four　millions　of　piastres　on　board；　the　whole　fortunes　of　the　five　passengers；　and　the　General's　eleven　hundred　thousand　francs。　At　length　the　/Othello/　lay　not　ten　gunshots　away；　so　that　those　on　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/　could　look　into　the　muzzles　of　her　loaded　guns。　The　vessel　seemed　to　be　borne　along　by　a　breeze　sent　by　the　Devil　himself；　but　the　eyes　of　an　expert　would　have　discovered　the　secret　of　her　speed　at　once。　You　had　but　to　look　for　a　moment　at　the　rake　of　her　stern；　her　long；　narrow　keel；　her　tall　masts；　to　see　the　cut　of　her　sails；　the　wonderful　lightness　of　her　rigging；　and　the　ease　and　perfect　seamanship　with　which　her　crew　trimmed　her　sails　to　the　wind。　Everything　about　her　gave　the　impression　of　the　security　of　power　in　this　delicately　curved　inanimate　creature；　swift　and　intelligent　as　a　greyhound　or　some　bird　of　prey。　The　privateer　crew　stood　silent；　ready　in　case　of　resistance　to　shatter　the　wretched　merchantman；　which；　luckily　for　her；　remained　motionless；　like　a　schoolboy　caught　in　flagrant　delict　by　a　master。

〃We　have　guns　on　board！〃　cried　the　General；　clutching　the　Spanish　captain's　hand。　But　the　courage　in　Gomez's　eyes　was　the　courage　of　despair。

〃Have　we　men？〃　he　said。

The　Marquis　looked　round　at　the　crew　of　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/；　and　a　cold　chill　ran　through　him。　There　stood　the　four　merchants；　pale　and　quaking　for　fear；　while　the　crew　gathered　about　some　of　their　own　number　who　appeared　to　be　arranging　to　go　over　in　a　body　to　the　enemy。　They　watched　the　/Othello/　with　greed　and　curiosity　in　their　faces。　The　captain；　the　Marquis；　and　the　mate　exchanged　glances；　they　were　the　only　three　who　had　a　thought　for　any　but　themselves。

〃Ah！　Captain　Gomez；　when　I　left　my　home　and　country；　my　heart　was　half　dead　with　the　bitterness　of　parting；　and　now　must　I　bid　it　good…bye　once　more　when　I　am　bringing　back　happiness　and　ease　for　my　children？〃

The　General　turned　his　head　away　towards　the　sea；　with　tears　of　rage　in　his　eyesand　saw　the　steersman　swimming　out　to　the　privateer。

〃This　time　it　will　be　good…bye　for　good；〃　said　the　captain　by　way　of　answer；　and　the　dazed　look　in　the　Frenchman's　eyes　startled　the　Spaniard。

By　this　time　the　two　vessels　were　almost　alongside；　and　at　the　first　sight　of　the　enemy's　crew　the　General　saw　that　Gomez's　gloomy　prophecy　was　only　too　true。　The　three　men　at　each　gun　might　have　been　bronze　statues；　standing　like　athletes；　with　their　rugged　features；　their　bare　sinewy　arms；　men　whom　Death　himself　had　scarcely　thrown　off　their　feet。

The　rest　of　the　crew；　well　armed；　active；　light；　and　vigorous；　also　stood　motionless。　Toil　had　hardened；　and　the　sun　had　deeply　tanned；　those　energetic　faces；　their　eyes　glittered　like　sparks　of　fire　with　infernal　glee　and　clear…sighted　courage。　Perfect　silence　on　the　upper　deck；　now　black　with　men；　bore　abundant　testimony　to　the　rigorous　discipline　and　strong　will　which　held　these　fiends　incarnate　in　check。

The　captain　of　the　/Othello/　stood　with　folded　arms　at　the　foot　of　the　main　mast；　he　carried　no　weapons；　but　an　axe　lay　on　the　deck　beside　him。　His　face　was　hidden　by　the　shadow　of　a　broad　felt　hat。　The　men　looked　like　dogs　crouching　before　their　master。　Gunners；　soldiers；　and　ship's　crew　turned　their　eyes　first　on　his　face；　and　then　on　the　merchant　vessel。

The　two　brigs　came　up　alongside；　and　the　shock　of　contact　roused　the　privateer　captain　from　his　musings；　he　spoke　a　word　in　the　ear　of　the　lieutenant　who　stood　beside　him。

〃Grappling…irons！〃　shouted　the　latter；　and　the　/Othello/　grappled　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/　with　miraculous　quickness。　The　captain　of　the　privateer　gave　his　orders　in　a　low　voice　to　the　lieutenant；　who　repeated　them；　the　men；　told　off　in　succession　for　each　duty；　went　on　the　upper　deck　of　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/；　like　seminarists　going　to　mass。　They　bound　crew　and　passengers　hand　and　foot　and　seized　the　booty。　In　the　twinkling　of　an　eye；　provisions　and　barrels　full　of　piastres　were　transferred　to　the　/Othello/；　the　General　thought　that　he　must　be　dreaming　when　he　himself；　likewise　bound；　was　flung　down　on　a　bale　of　goods　as　if　he　had　been　part　of　the　cargo。

A　brief　conference　took　place　between　the　captain　of　the　privateer　and　his　lieutenant　and　a　sailor；　who　seemed　to　be　the　mate　of　the　vessel；　then　the　mate　gave　a　whistle；　and　the　men　jumped　on　board　the　/Saint…　Ferdinand/；　and　completely　dismantled　her　with　the　nimble　dexterity　of　a　soldier　who　strips　a　dead　comrade　of　a　coveted　overcoat　and　shoes。

〃It　is　all　over　with　us；〃　said　the　Spanish　captain　coolly。　He　had　eyed　the　three　chiefs　during　their　confabulation；　and　saw　that　the　sailors　were　proceeding　to　pull　his　vessel　to　pieces。

〃Why　so？〃　asked　the　General。

〃What　would　you　have　them　do　with　us？〃　returned　the　Spaniard。　〃They　have　just　come　to　the　conclusion　that　they　will　scarcely　sell　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/　in　any　French　or　Spanish　port；　so　they　are　going　to　sink　her　to　be　rid　of　her。　As　for　us；　do　you　suppose　that　they　will　put　themselves　to　the　expense　of　feeding　us；　when　they　don't　know　what　port　they　are　to　put　into？〃

The　words　were　scarcely　out　of　the　captain's　mouth　before　a　hideous　outcry　went　up；　followed　by　a　dull　splashing　sound；　as　several　bodies　were　thrown　overboard。　He　turned；　the　four　merchants　were　no　longer　to　be　seen；　but　eight　ferocious…looking　gunners　were　still　standing　with　their　arms　raised　above　their　heads。　He　shuddered。

〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　the　Spanish　captain　asked　coolly。

The　Marquis　rose　to　his　feet　with　a　spring。　The　surface　of　the　sea　was　quite　smooth　again；　he　could　not　so　much　as　see　the　place　where　his　unhappy　fellow…passengers　had　disappeared。　By　this　time　they　were　sinking　down；　bound　hand　and　foot；　below　the　waves；　if；　indeed；　the　fish　had　not　devoured　them　already。

Only　a　few　paces　away；　the　treacherous　steersman　and　the　sailor　who　had　boasted　of　the　Parisian's　power　were　fraternizing　with　the　crew　of　the　/Othello/；　and　pointing　out　those　among　their　own　number；　who；　in　their　opinion；　were　worthy　to　join　the　crew　of　the　privateer。　Then　the　boys　tied　the　rest　together　by　the　feet　in　spite　of　frightful　oaths。　It　was　soon　over；　the　eight　gunners　seized　the　doomed　men　and　flung　them　overboard　without　more　ado；　watching　the　different　ways　in　which　the　drowning　victims　met　their　death；　their　contortions；　their　last　agony；　with　a　sort　of　malignant　curiosity；　but　with　no　sign　of　amusement；　surprise；　or　pity。　For　them　it　was　an　ordinary　event　to　which　seemingly　they　were　quite　accustomed。　The　older　men　looked　instead　with　grim；　set　smiles　at　the　casks　of　piastres　about　the　main　mast。

The　General　and　Captain　Gomez；　left　seated　on　a　bale　of　goods；　consulted　each　other　with　well…nigh　hopeless　looks；　they　were；　in　a　sense；　the　sole　survivors　of　the　/Saint…Ferdinand/；　for　the　seven　men　pointed　out　by　the　spies　were　transformed　amid　rejoicings　into　Peruvians。

〃What　atrocious　villains！〃　the　General　cried。　Loyal　and　generous　indignation　silenced　prudence　and　pain　on　his　own　account。

〃They　do　it　because　they　must；〃　Gomez　answered　coolly。　〃If　you　came　across　one　of　those　fellows；　you　would　run　him　through　the　body；　would　you　not？〃

The　lieutenant　now　came　up　to　the　Spaniard。

〃Captain；〃　said　he；　〃the　Parisian　has　heard　of　you。　He　says　that　you　are　the　only　man　who　really　knows　the　passages　of　the　Antilles　and　the　Brazilian　coast。　Will　you〃

The　captain　cut　him　short　with　a　scornful　exclamation。

〃I　shall　die　like　a　sailor；〃　he　said；　〃and　a　loyal　Spaniard　and　a　Christian。　Do　you　hear？〃

〃Heave　him　overboard！〃　shouted　the　lieutenant；　and　a　couple　of　gunners　seized　on　Gomez。

〃You　cowards！〃　roared　the　General；　seizing　hold　of　the　men。

〃Don't　get　too　excited；　old　boy；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　〃If　your　red　ribbon　has　made　some　impression　upon　our　captain；　I　myself　do　not　care　a　rap　for　it。You　and　I　will　have　our　little　bit　of　talk　togeth