按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
functions；〃 said Miss Jones； over the table； with a significant look in the
direction of Lightbody。 But her anxiety was instantly misinterpreted by
the polite and fair…play loving Englishman： 〃I say； now； don't you know
that the fact is these Portuguese fellahs are always ahead of us in the
discovery business？ Why； you know〃
〃I shipped with him on a brig； ostensibly bound to St。 Kitts and a
market。 We had scarcely left port before I discovered the true character
of the vessel。 I will not terrify you with useless details。 Enough that all
that tradition and romance has given you of the pirate's life was ours。
Happily； through the kindness of my Portuguese friend； I was kept from
being an active participant in scenes of which I was an unwilling witness。
But I must always bear my testimony to one fact。 Our discipline； our
esprit de corps； if I may so term it； was perfect。 No benevolent society；
no moral organization； was ever so personally self…sacrificing； so honestly
loyal to one virtuous purpose； as we were to our one vice。 The individual
was always merged in the purpose。 When our captain blew out the brains
of our quartermaster； one day〃
〃That reminds meDID you read of that Georgia murder？〃 began
Lightbody； 〃it was in all the papers I think。 Oh； I beg pardon〃 〃For
simply interrupting him in a conversation with our second officer；〃
continued our host； quietly。 〃The act； although harsh and perhaps
unnecessarily final； was； I think； indorsed by the crew。 James； pass the
champagne to Mr。 Lightbody。〃
He paused a moment for the usual casual interruption； but even the
active Legrande was silent。
Alas！ from the other end of the table came the voice of the Bonanza
man：
〃The rope was around her neck。 Well； gentlemen； that Mexican
woman standing there； with that crowd around her； eager for her blood；
154
… Page 155…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
dern my skin！ if she didn't call out to the sheriff to hold on a minit。 And
what fer？ Ye can't guess！ Why； one of them long braids she wore was
under the noose； and kinder in the way。 I remember her raising her hand
to her neck and givin' a spiteful sort of jerk to the braid that fetched it
outside the slip…knot； and then saying to the sheriff： 'There； dn ye； go on。'
There was a sort o' thoughtfulness in the act； a kind o' keerless； easy way；
that jist fetched the boyseven them thet hed the rope in their hands； and
they〃 （suddenly recognizing the silence）： 〃Oh； beg pardon； old man；
didn't know I'd chipped into your yarnheave ahead； don't mind me。〃
〃What I am trying to tell you is this： One night； in the Caribbean Sea；
we ran into one of the Leeward Islands； that had been in olden time a
rendezvous for our ship。 We were piloted to our anchorage outside by
my Portuguese friend； who knew the locality thoroughly； and on whose
dexterity and skill we placed the greatest reliance。 If anything more had
been necessary to fix this circumstance in my mind； it would have been
the fact that two or three days before he had assured me that I should
presently have the means of honorable discharge from the pirate's crew；
and a return to my native land。 A launch was sent from the ship to
communicate with our friends on the island； who supplied us with stores；
provisions； and general information。 The launch was manned by eight
men； and officered by the first mate；a grim； Puritanical； practical New
Englander； if I may use such a term to describe a pirate； of great courage；
experience； and physical strength。 My Portuguese friend； acting as pilot；
prevailed upon them to allow me to accompany the party as coxswain。 I
was naturally anxious； you can readily comprehend； to see〃
〃Certainly；〃 〃Of course；〃 〃Why shouldn't you？〃 went round the table。
〃Two trustworthy men were sent ashore with instructions。 We；
meanwhile； lay off the low； palm…fringed beach； our crew lying on their
oars； or giving way just enough to keep the boat's head to the breakers。
The mate and myself sat in the stern sheets； looking shoreward for the
signal。 The night was intensely black。 Perhaps for this reason never
before had I seen the phosphorescence of a tropical sea so strongly marked。
From the great open beyond； luminous crests and plumes of pale fire lifted
themselves； ghost… like； at our bows； sank； swept by us with long；
155
… Page 156…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
shimmering； undulating trails； broke on the beach in silvery crescents； or
shattered their brightness on the black rocks of the promontory。 The whole
vast sea shone and twinkled like another firmament； against which the
figures of our men； sitting with their faces toward us； were outlined darkly。
The grim； set features of our first mate； sitting beside me； were faintly
illuminated。 There was no sound but the whisper of passing waves
against our lap…streak； and the low； murmuring conversation of the men。
I had my face toward the shore。 As I looked over the glimmering
expanse； I suddenly heard the whispered name of our first mate。 As
suddenly； by the phosphorescent light that surrounded it； I saw the long
trailing hair and gleaming shoulders of a woman floating beside us。
Legrande； you are positively drinking nothing。 Lightbody； you are
shirking the Burgundyyou used to like it！〃
He paused； but no one spoke。
〃Ilet me see！ where was I？ Oh； yes！ Well； I saw the woman； and
when I turned to call the attention of the first mate to this fact； I knew
instantly； by some strange instinct； that he had seen and heard her； too。
So； from that moment to the conclusion of our little drama； we were silent；
but enforced spectators。
〃She swam gracefullysilently！ I remember noticing through that
odd； half…weird； phosphorescent light which broke over her shoulders as
she rose and fell with each quiet stroke of her splendidly rounded arms；
that she was a mature； perfectly…formed woman。 I remember； also； that
when she reached the boat； and； supporting herself with one small hand on
the gunwale； she softly called the mate in a whisper by his Christian name；
I had a boyish idea that she wastheererfemale of his specieshis
er natural wife！ I'm boring youam I not？〃
Two or three heads shook violently and negatively。 The youngest；
and； I regret to say； the OLDEST； Miss Jones uttered together
sympathetically； 〃Go onplease； do！〃
〃Thewoman told him in a few rapid words that he had been betrayed；
that the two men sent ashore were now in the hands of the authorities； that
a force was being organized to capture the vessel； that instant flight was
necessary； and that the betrayer and traitor wasmy friend； the Portuguese；
156
… Page 157…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
Fernandez！
〃The mate raised the dripping； little brown hand to his lips； and
whispered some undistinguishable words in her ear。 I remember seeing
her turn a look of ineffable love and happiness upon his grim； set face； and
then she was gone。 She dove as a duck dives； and I saw her shapely head；
after a moment's suspense； reappear a cable's length away toward the
shore。
〃I ventured to raise my eyes to the mate's face； it was cold and
impassive。 I turned my face toward the crew； they were conversing in
whispers with each other； with their faces toward us； yet apparently utterly
oblivious of the scene that had just t