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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12127-0.txt b/12127-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f48536b --- /dev/null +++ b/12127-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,533 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12127 *** + +THE LADY OF THE BARGE + +AND OTHER STORIES + +By W. W. Jacobs + + + + +CAPTAIN ROGERS + + +A man came slowly over the old stone bridge, and averting his gaze from +the dark river with its silent craft, looked with some satisfaction +toward the feeble lights of the small town on the other side. He walked +with the painful, forced step of one who has already trudged far. His +worsted hose, where they were not darned, were in holes, and his coat and +knee-breeches were rusty with much wear, but he straightened himself as +he reached the end of the bridge and stepped out bravely to the taverns +which stood in a row facing the quay. + +He passed the "Queen Anne"--a mere beershop--without pausing, and after a +glance apiece at the "Royal George" and the "Trusty Anchor," kept on his +way to where the "Golden Key" hung out a gilded emblem. It was the best +house in Riverstone, and patronized by the gentry, but he adjusted his +faded coat, and with a swaggering air entered and walked boldly into the +coffee-room. + +The room was empty, but a bright fire afforded a pleasant change to the +chill October air outside. He drew up a chair, and placing his feet on +the fender, exposed his tattered soles to the blaze, as a waiter who had +just seen him enter the room came and stood aggressively inside the door. + +"Brandy and water," said the stranger; "hot." + +"The coffee-room is for gentlemen staying in the house," said the waiter. + +The stranger took his feet from the fender, and rising slowly, walked +toward him. He was a short man and thin, but there was something so +menacing in his attitude, and something so fearsome in his stony brown +eyes, that the other, despite his disgust for ill-dressed people, moved +back uneasily. + +"Brandy and water, hot," repeated the stranger; "and plenty of it. D'ye +hear?" + +The man turned slowly to depart. + +"Stop!" said the other, imperiously. "What's the name of the landlord +here?" + +"Mullet," said the fellow, sulkily. + +"Send him to me," said the other, resuming his seat; "and hark you, my +friend, more civility, or 'twill be the worse for you." + +He stirred the log on the fire with his foot until a shower of sparks +whirled up the chimney. The door opened, and the landlord, with the +waiter behind him, entered the room, but he still gazed placidly at the +glowing embers. + +"What do you want?" demanded the landlord, in a deep voice. + +The stranger turned a little weazened yellow face and grinned at him +familiarly. + +"Send that fat rascal of yours away," he said, slowly. + +The landlord started at his voice and eyed him closely; then he signed to +the man to withdraw, and closing the door behind him, stood silently +watching his visitor. + +"You didn't expect to see me, Rogers," said the latter. + +"My name's Mullet," said the other, sternly. "What do you want?" + +"Oh, Mullet?" said the other, in surprise. "I'm afraid I've made a +mistake, then. I thought you were my old shipmate, Captain Rogers. It's +a foolish mistake of mine, as I've no doubt Rogers was hanged years ago. +You never had a brother named Rogers, did you?" + +"I say again, what do you want?" demanded the other, advancing upon him. + +"Since you're so good," said the other. "I want new clothes, food, and +lodging of the best, and my pockets filled with money." + +"You had better go and look for all those things, then," said Mullet. +"You won't find them here." + +"Ay!" said the other, rising. "Well, well--There was a hundred guineas +on the head of my old shipmate Rogers some fifteen years ago. I'll see +whether it has been earned yet." + +"If I gave you a hundred guineas," said the innkeeper, repressing his +passion by a mighty effort, "you would not be satisfied." + +"Reads like a book," said the stranger, in tones of pretended delight. +"What a man it is!" + +He fell back as he spoke, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, drew +forth a long pistol as the innkeeper, a man of huge frame, edged toward +him. + +"Keep your distance," he said, in a sharp, quick voice. + +The innkeeper, in no wise disturbed at the pistol, turned away calmly, +and ringing the bell, ordered some spirits. Then taking a chair, he +motioned to the other to do the same, and they sat in silence until the +staring waiter had left the room again. The stranger raised his glass. + +"My old friend Captain Rogers," he said, solemnly, "and may he never get +his deserts!" + +"From what jail have you come?" inquired Mullet, sternly. + +"'Pon my soul," said the other, "I have been in so many--looking for +Captain Rogers--that I almost forget the last, but I have just tramped +from London, two hundred and eighty odd miles, for the pleasure of seeing +your damned ugly figure-head again; and now I've found it, I'm going to +stay. Give me some money." + +The innkeeper, without a word, drew a little gold and silver from his +pocket, and placing it on the table, pushed it toward him. + +"Enough to go on with," said the other, pocketing it; "in future it is +halves. D'ye hear me? Halves! And I'll stay here and see I get it." + +He sat back in his chair, and meeting the other's hatred with a gaze as +steady as his own, replaced his pistol. + +"A nice snug harbor after our many voyages," he continued. "Shipmates we +were, shipmates we'll be; while Nick Gunn is alive you shall never want +for company. Lord! Do you remember the Dutch brig, and the fat +frightened mate?" + +"I have forgotten it," said the other, still eyeing him steadfastly. +"I have forgotten many things. For fifteen years I have lived a decent, +honest life. Pray God for your own sinful soul, that the devil in me +does not wake again." + +"Fifteen years is a long nap," said Gunn, carelessly; "what a godsend it +'ll be for you to have me by you to remind you of old times! Why, you're +looking smug, man; the honest innkeeper to the life! Gad! who's the +girl?" + +[Illustration: GUNN PLACED A HAND, WHICH LACKED TWO FINGERS ON HIS BREAST +AND BOWED AGAIN.] + +He rose and made a clumsy bow as a girl of eighteen, after a moment's +hesitation at the door, crossed over to the innkeeper. + +"I'm busy, my dear," said the latter, somewhat sternly. + +"Our business," said Gunn, with another bow, "is finished. Is this your +daughter, Rog-- Mullet?" + +"My stepdaughter," was the reply. + +Gunn placed a hand, which lacked two fingers, on his breast, and bowed +again. + +"One of your father's oldest friends," he said smoothly; "and fallen on +evil days; I'm sure your gentle heart will be pleased to hear that your +good father has requested me--for a time--to make his house my home." + +"Any friend of my father's is welcome to me, sir," said the girl, coldly. +She looked from the innkeeper to his odd-looking guest, and conscious of +something strained in the air, gave him a little bow and quitted the +room. + +"You insist upon staying, then?" said Mullet, after a pause. + +"More than ever," replied Gunn, with a leer toward the door. "Why, you +don't think I'm _afraid,_ Captain? You should know me better than that." + +"Life is sweet," said the other. + +"Ay," assented Gunn, "so sweet that you will share things with me to keep +it." + +"No," said the other, with great calm. "I am man enough to have a better +reason." + +"No psalm singing," said Gunn, coarsely. "And look cheerful, you old +buccaneer. Look as a man should look who has just met an old friend +never to lose him again." + +He eyed his man expectantly and put his hand to his pocket again, but the +innkeeper's face was troubled, and he gazed stolidly at the fire. + +"See what fifteen years' honest, decent life does for us," grinned the +intruder. + +The other made no reply, but rising slowly, walked to the door without a +word. + +"Landlord," cried Gunn, bringing his maimed hand sharply down on the +table. + +The innkeeper turned and regarded him. + +"Send me in some supper," said Gunn; "the best you have, and plenty of +it, and have a room prepared. The best." + +The door closed silently, and was opened a little later by the dubious +George coming in to set a bountiful repast. Gunn, after cursing him for +his slowness and awkwardness, drew his chair to the table and made the +meal of one seldom able to satisfy his hunger. He finished at last, and +after sitting for some time smoking, with his legs sprawled on the +fender, rang for a candle and demanded to be shown to his room. + +His proceedings when he entered it were but a poor compliment to his +host. Not until he had poked and pried into every corner did he close +the door. Then, not content with locking it, he tilted a chair beneath +the handle, and placing his pistol beneath his pillow, fell fast asleep. + +Despite his fatigue he was early astir next morning. Breakfast was laid +for him in the coffee-room, and his brow darkened. He walked into the +hall, and after trying various doors entered a small sitting-room, where +his host and daughter sat at breakfast, and with an easy assurance drew a +chair to the table. The innkeeper helped him without a word, but the +girl's hand shook under his gaze as she passed him some coffee. + +"As soft a bed as ever I slept in," he remarked. + +"I hope that you slept well," said the girl, civilly. + +"Like a child," said Gunn, gravely; "an easy conscience. Eh, Mullet?" + +The innkeeper nodded and went on eating. The other, after another remark +or two, followed his example, glancing occasionally with warm approval at +the beauty of the girl who sat at the head of the table. + +"A sweet girl," he remarked, as she withdrew at the end of the meal; "and +no mother, I presume?" + +"No mother," repeated the other. + +Gunn sighed and shook his head. + +"A sad case, truly," he murmured. "No mother and such a guardian. Poor +soul, if she but knew! Well, we must find her a husband." + +He looked down as he spoke, and catching sight of his rusty clothes and +broken shoes, clapped his hand to his pocket; and with a glance at his +host, sallied out to renew his wardrobe. The innkeeper, with an +inscrutable face, watched him down the quay, then with bent head he +returned to the house and fell to work on his accounts. + +In this work Gunn, returning an hour later, clad from head to foot in new +apparel, offered to assist him. Mullett hesitated, but made no demur; +neither did he join in the ecstasies which his new partner displayed at +the sight of the profits. Gunn put some more gold into his new pockets, +and throwing himself back in a chair, called loudly to George to bring +him some drink. + +In less than a month the intruder was the virtual master of the "Golden +Key." Resistance on the part of the legitimate owner became more and +more feeble, the slightest objection on his part drawing from the +truculent Gunn dark allusions to his past and threats against his future, +which for the sake of his daughter he could not ignore. His health began +to fail, and Joan watched with perplexed terror the growth of a situation +which was in a fair way of becoming unbearable. + +The arrogance of Gunn knew no bounds. The maids learned to tremble at +his polite grin, or his worse freedom, and the men shrank appalled from +his profane wrath. George, after ten years' service, was brutally +dismissed, and refusing to accept dismissal from his hands, appealed to +his master. The innkeeper confirmed it, and with lack-lustre eyes fenced +feebly when his daughter, regardless of Gunn's presence, indignantly +appealed to him. + +"The man was rude to my friend, my dear," he said dispiritedly + +"If he was rude, it was because Mr. Gunn deserved it," said Joan, hotly. + +Gunn laughed uproariously. + +"Gad, my dear, I like you!" he cried, slapping his leg. "You're a girl +of spirit. Now I will make you a fair offer. If you ask for George to +stay, stay he shall, as a favour to your sweet self." + +The girl trembled. + +"Who is master here?" she demanded, turning a full eye on her father. + +Mullet laughed uneasily. + +"This is business," he said, trying to speak lightly, "and women can't +understand it. Gunn is--is valuable to me, and George must go." + +"Unless you plead for him, sweet one?" said Gunn. + +The girl looked at her father again, but he turned his head away and +tapped on the floor with his foot. Then in perplexity, akin to tears, +she walked from the room, carefully drawing her dress aside as Gunn held +the door for her. + +"A fine girl," said Gunn, his thin lips working; "a fine spirit. 'Twill +be pleasant to break it; but she does not know who is master here." + +"She is young yet," said the other, hurriedly. + +"I will soon age her if she looks like that at me again," said Gunn. "By +---, I'll turn out the whole crew into the street, and her with them, an' +I wish it. I'll lie in my bed warm o' nights and think of her huddled on +a doorstep." + +His voice rose and his fists clenched, but he kept his distance and +watched the other warily. The innkeeper's face was contorted and his +brow grew wet. For one moment something peeped out of his eyes; the next +he sat down in his chair again and nervously fingered his chin. + +"I have but to speak," said Gunn, regarding him with much satisfaction, +"and you will hang, and your money go to the Crown. What will become of +her then, think you?" + +The other laughed nervously. + +"'Twould be stopping the golden eggs," he ventured. + +"Don't think too much of that," said Gunn, in a hard voice. "I was never +one to be baulked, as you know." + +"Come, come. Let us be friends," said Mullet; "the girl is young, and +has had her way." + +He looked almost pleadingly at the other, and his voice trembled. Gunn +drew himself up, and regarding him with a satisfied sneer, quitted the +room without a word. + +Affairs at the "Golden Key" grew steadily worse and worse. Gunn +dominated the place, and his vile personality hung over it like a shadow. +Appeals to the innkeeper were in vain; his health was breaking fast, and +he moodily declined to interfere. Gunn appointed servants of his own +choosing-brazen maids and foul-mouthed men. The old patrons ceased to +frequent the "Golden Key," and its bedrooms stood empty. The maids +scarcely deigned to take an order from Joan, and the men spoke to her +familiarly. In the midst of all this the innkeeper, who had complained +once or twice of vertigo, was seized with a fit. + +Joan, flying to him for protection against the brutal advances of Gunn, +found him lying in a heap behind the door of his small office, and in her +fear called loudly for assistance. A little knot of servants collected, +and stood regarding him stupidly. One made a brutal jest. Gunn, +pressing through the throng, turned the senseless body over with his +foot, and cursing vilely, ordered them to carry it upstairs. + +Until the surgeon came, Joan, kneeling by the bed, held on to the +senseless hand as her only protection against the evil faces of Gunn and +his proteges. Gunn himself was taken aback, the innkeeper's death at +that time by no means suiting his aims. + +The surgeon was a man of few words and fewer attainments, but under his +ministrations the innkeeper, after a long interval, rallied. The half- +closed eyes opened, and he looked in a dazed fashion at his surroundings. +Gunn drove the servants away and questioned the man of medicine. The +answers were vague and interspersed with Latin. Freedom from noise and +troubles of all kinds was insisted upon and Joan was installed as nurse, +with a promise of speedy assistance. + +The assistance arrived late in the day in the shape of an elderly woman, +whose Spartan treatment of her patients had helped many along the silent +road. She commenced her reign by punching the sick man's pillows, and +having shaken him into consciousness by this means, gave him a dose of +physic, after first tasting it herself from the bottle. + +After the first rally the innkeeper began to fail slowly. It was seldom +that he understood what was said to him, and pitiful to the beholder to +see in his intervals of consciousness his timid anxiety to earn the good- +will of the all-powerful Gunn. His strength declined until assistance +was needed to turn him in the bed, and his great sinewy hands were +forever trembling and fidgeting on the coverlet. + +Joan, pale with grief and fear, tended him assiduously. Her stepfather's +strength had been a proverb in the town, and many a hasty citizen had +felt the strength of his arm. The increasing lawlessness of the house +filled her with dismay, and the coarse attentions of Gunn became more +persistent than ever. She took her meals in the sick-room, and divided +her time between that and her own. + +Gunn himself was in a dilemma. With Mullet dead, his power was at an end +and his visions of wealth dissipated. He resolved to feather his nest +immediately, and interviewed the surgeon. The surgeon was ominously +reticent, the nurse cheerfully ghoulish. + +"Four days I give him," she said, calmly; "four blessed days, not but +what he might slip away at any moment." + +Gunn let one day of the four pass, and then, choosing a time when Joan +was from the room, entered it for a little quiet conversation. The +innkeeper's eyes were open, and, what was more to the purpose, +intelligent. + +"You're cheating the hangman, after all," snarled Gunn. "I'm off to +swear an information." + +The other, by a great effort, turned his heavy head and fixed his wistful +eyes on him. + +"Mercy!" he whispered. "For her sake--give me--a little time!" + +"To slip your cable, I suppose," quoth Gunn. "Where's your money? +Where's your hoard, you miser?" + +Mullet closed his eyes. He opened them again slowly and strove to think, +while Gunn watched him narrowly. When he spoke, his utterance was thick +and labored. + +"Come to-night," he muttered, slowly. "Give me--time--I will make your +--your fortune. But the nurse-watches." + +"I'll see to her," said Gunn, with a grin. "But tell me now, lest you +die first." + +"You will--let Joan--have a share?" panted the innkeeper. + +"Yes, yes," said Gunn, hastily. + +The innkeeper strove to raise himself in the bed, and then fell back +again exhausted as Joan's step was heard on the stairs. Gunn gave +a savage glance of warning at him, and barring the progress of the girl +at the door, attempted to salute her. Joan came in pale and trembling, +and falling on her knees by the bedside, took her father's hand in hers +and wept over it. The innkeeper gave a faint groan and a shiver ran +through his body. + +It was nearly an hour after midnight that Nick Gunn, kicking off his +shoes, went stealthily out onto the landing. A little light came from +the partly open door of the sick-room, but all else was in blackness. He +moved along and peered in. + +The nurse was siting in a high-backed oak chair by the fire. She had +slipped down in the seat, and her untidy head hung on her bosom. A glass +stood on the small oak table by her side, and a solitary candle on the +high mantel-piece diffused a sickly light. Gunn entered the room, and +finding that the sick man was dozing, shook him roughly. + +The innkeeper opened his eyes and gazed at him blankly. + +"Wake, you fool," said Gunn, shaking him again. + +The other roused and muttered something incoherently. Then he stirred +slightly. + +"The nurse," he whispered. + +"She's safe enow," said Gunn. "I've seen to that." + +He crossed the room lightly, and standing before the unconscious woman, +inspected her closely and raised her in the chair. Her head fell limply +over the arm. + +"Dead?" inquired Mullet, in a fearful whisper. + +"Drugged," said Gunn, shortly. "Now speak up, and be lively." + +The innkeeper's eyes again travelled in the direction of the nurse. + +"The men," he whispered; "the servants." + +"Dead drunk and asleep," said Gunn, biting the words. "The last day +would hardly rouse them. Now will you speak, damn you!" + +"I must--take care--of Joan," said the father. + +Gunn shook his clenched hand at him. + +"My money--is--is--" said the other. "Promise me on--your oath--Joan." + +"Ay, ay," growled Gunn; "how many more times? I'll marry her, and she +shall have what I choose to give her. Speak up, you fool! It's not for +you to make terms. Where is it?" + +He bent over, but Mullet, exhausted with his efforts, had closed his eyes +again, and half turned his head. + +"Where is it, damn you?" said Gunn, from between his teeth. + +Mullet opened his eyes again, glanced fearfully round the room, and +whispered. Gunn, with a stifled oath, bent his ear almost to his mouth, +and the next moment his neck was in the grip of the strongest man in +Riverstone, and an arm like a bar of iron over his back pinned him down +across the bed. + +"You dog!" hissed a fierce voice in his ear. "I've got you--Captain +Rogers at your service, and now you may tell his name to all you can. +Shout it, you spawn of hell. Shout it!" + +He rose in bed, and with a sudden movement flung the other over on his +back. Gunn's eyes were starting from his head, and he writhed +convulsively. + +"I thought you were a sharper man, Gunn," said Rogers, still in the same +hot whisper, as he relaxed his grip a little; "you are too simple, you +hound! When you first threatened me I resolved to kill you. Then you +threatened my daughter. I wish that you had nine lives, that I might +take them all. Keep still!" + +He gave a half-glance over his shoulder at the silent figure of the +nurse, and put his weight on the twisting figure on the bed. + +"You drugged the hag, good Gunn," he continued. "To-morrow morning, +Gunn, they will find you in your room dead, and if one of the scum you +brought into my house be charged with the murder, so much the better. +When I am well they will go. I am already feeling a little bit stronger, +Gunn, as you see, and in a month I hope to be about again." + +He averted his face, and for a time gazed sternly and watchfully at the +door. Then he rose slowly to his feet, and taking the dead man in his +arms, bore him slowly and carefully to his room, and laid him a huddled +heap on the floor. Swiftly and noiselessly he put the dead man's shoes +on and turned his pockets inside out, kicked a rug out of place, and put +a guinea on the floor. Then he stole cautiously down stairs and set a +small door at the back open. A dog barked frantically, and he hurried +back to his room. The nurse still slumbered by the fire. + +She awoke in the morning shivering with the cold, and being jealous of +her reputation, rekindled the fire, and measuring out the dose which the +invalid should have taken, threw it away. On these unconscious +preparations for an alibi Captain Rogers gazed through half-closed lids, +and then turning his grim face to the wall, waited for the inevitable +alarm. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Rogers, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12127 *** diff --git a/12127-h.zip b/12127-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..63adaf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/12127-h.zip diff --git a/12127-h/005.jpg b/12127-h/005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e50c08d --- /dev/null +++ b/12127-h/005.jpg diff --git a/12127-h/12127-h.htm b/12127-h/12127-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5473e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/12127-h/12127-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1039 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE LADY OF THE BARGE AND OTHERS, Book 7</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +img {border: 0;} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Rogers, by W.W. Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Captain Rogers + The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 7. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 22, 2004 [EBook #12127] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN ROGERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover.jpg (102K)" src="cover.jpg" height="923" width="738"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title.jpg (40K)" src="title.jpg" height="602" width="442"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<center> +<h1>THE LADY OF THE BARGE<br><br> +AND OTHER STORIES</h1> +<br><br> +<h2>By W. W. Jacobs</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>BOOK 7</h3> +<br><br> +</center> + +<a name="frontis"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontis.jpg (80K)" src="frontis.jpg" height="742" width="503"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<br><br><hr><br><br> + + +<a name="c7"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +CAPTAIN ROGERS +</h2> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>A man came slowly over the old stone bridge, and averting his gaze from +the dark river with its silent craft, looked with some satisfaction +toward the feeble lights of the small town on the other side. He walked +with the painful, forced step of one who has already trudged far. His +worsted hose, where they were not darned, were in holes, and his coat and +knee-breeches were rusty with much wear, but he straightened himself as +he reached the end of the bridge and stepped out bravely to the taverns +which stood in a row facing the quay.</p> + +<p>He passed the "Queen Anne"—a mere beershop—without pausing, and after a +glance apiece at the "Royal George" and the "Trusty Anchor," kept on his +way to where the "Golden Key" hung out a gilded emblem. It was the best +house in Riverstone, and patronized by the gentry, but he adjusted his +faded coat, and with a swaggering air entered and walked boldly into the +coffee-room.</p> + +<p>The room was empty, but a bright fire afforded a pleasant change to the +chill October air outside. He drew up a chair, and placing his feet on +the fender, exposed his tattered soles to the blaze, as a waiter who had +just seen him enter the room came and stood aggressively inside the door.</p> + +<p>"Brandy and water," said the stranger; "hot."</p> + +<p>"The coffee-room is for gentlemen staying in the house," said the waiter.</p> + +<p>The stranger took his feet from the fender, and rising slowly, walked +toward him. He was a short man and thin, but there was something so +menacing in his attitude, and something so fearsome in his stony brown +eyes, that the other, despite his disgust for ill-dressed people, moved +back uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Brandy and water, hot," repeated the stranger; "and plenty of it. D'ye +hear?"</p> + +<p>The man turned slowly to depart.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" said the other, imperiously. "What's the name of the landlord +here?"</p> + +<p>"Mullet," said the fellow, sulkily.</p> + +<p>"Send him to me," said the other, resuming his seat; "and hark you, my +friend, more civility, or 'twill be the worse for you."</p> + +<p>He stirred the log on the fire with his foot until a shower of sparks +whirled up the chimney. The door opened, and the landlord, with the +waiter behind him, entered the room, but he still gazed placidly at the +glowing embers.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" demanded the landlord, in a deep voice.</p> + +<p>The stranger turned a little weazened yellow face and grinned at him +familiarly.</p> + +<p>"Send that fat rascal of yours away," he said, slowly.</p> + +<p>The landlord started at his voice and eyed him closely; then he signed to +the man to withdraw, and closing the door behind him, stood silently +watching his visitor.</p> + +<p>"You didn't expect to see me, Rogers," said the latter.</p> + +<p>"My name's Mullet," said the other, sternly. "What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mullet?" said the other, in surprise. "I'm afraid I've made a +mistake, then. I thought you were my old shipmate, Captain Rogers. It's +a foolish mistake of mine, as I've no doubt Rogers was hanged years ago. +You never had a brother named Rogers, did you?"</p> + +<p>"I say again, what do you want?" demanded the other, advancing upon him.</p> + +<p>"Since you're so good," said the other. "I want new clothes, food, and +lodging of the best, and my pockets filled with money."</p> + +<p>"You had better go and look for all those things, then," said Mullet. +"You won't find them here."</p> + +<p>"Ay!" said the other, rising. "Well, well—There was a hundred guineas +on the head of my old shipmate Rogers some fifteen years ago. I'll see +whether it has been earned yet."</p> + +<p>"If I gave you a hundred guineas," said the innkeeper, repressing his +passion by a mighty effort, "you would not be satisfied."</p> + +<p>"Reads like a book," said the stranger, in tones of pretended delight. +"What a man it is!"</p> + +<p>He fell back as he spoke, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, drew +forth a long pistol as the innkeeper, a man of huge frame, edged toward +him.</p> + +<p>"Keep your distance," he said, in a sharp, quick voice.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper, in no wise disturbed at the pistol, turned away calmly, +and ringing the bell, ordered some spirits. Then taking a chair, he +motioned to the other to do the same, and they sat in silence until the +staring waiter had left the room again. The stranger raised his glass.</p> + +<p>"My old friend Captain Rogers," he said, solemnly, "and may he never get +his deserts!"</p> + +<p>"From what jail have you come?" inquired Mullet, sternly.</p> + +<p>"'Pon my soul," said the other, "I have been in so many—looking for +Captain Rogers—that I almost forget the last, but I have just tramped +from London, two hundred and eighty odd miles, for the pleasure of seeing +your damned ugly figure-head again; and now I've found it, I'm going to +stay. Give me some money."</p> + +<p>The innkeeper, without a word, drew a little gold and silver from his +pocket, and placing it on the table, pushed it toward him.</p> + +<p>"Enough to go on with," said the other, pocketing it; "in future it is +halves. D'ye hear me? Halves! And I'll stay here and see I get it."</p> + +<p>He sat back in his chair, and meeting the other's hatred with a gaze as +steady as his own, replaced his pistol.</p> + +<p>"A nice snug harbor after our many voyages," he continued. "Shipmates we +were, shipmates we'll be; while Nick Gunn is alive you shall never want +for company. Lord! Do you remember the Dutch brig, and the fat +frightened mate?"</p> + +<p>"I have forgotten it," said the other, still eyeing him steadfastly. +"I have forgotten many things. For fifteen years I have lived a decent, +honest life. Pray God for your own sinful soul, that the devil in me +does not wake again."</p> + +<p>"Fifteen years is a long nap," said Gunn, carelessly; "what a godsend it +'ll be for you to have me by you to remind you of old times! Why, you're +looking smug, man; the honest innkeeper to the life! Gad! who's the +girl?"</p> + +<p>He rose and made a clumsy bow as a girl of eighteen, after a moment's +hesitation at the door, crossed over to the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>"I'm busy, my dear," said the latter, somewhat sternly.</p> + +<p>"Our business," said Gunn, with another bow, "is finished. Is this your +daughter, Rog— Mullet?"</p> + +<p>"My stepdaughter," was the reply.</p> + +<a name="005"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="005.jpg (87K)" src="005.jpg" height="751" width="505"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Gunn placed a hand, which lacked two fingers, on his breast, and bowed +again.</p> + +<p>"One of your father's oldest friends," he said smoothly; "and fallen on +evil days; I'm sure your gentle heart will be pleased to hear that your +good father has requested me—for a time—to make his house my home."</p> + +<p>"Any friend of my father's is welcome to me, sir," said the girl, coldly. +She looked from the innkeeper to his odd-looking guest, and conscious of +something strained in the air, gave him a little bow and quitted the +room.</p> + +<p>"You insist upon staying, then?" said Mullet, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"More than ever," replied Gunn, with a leer toward the door. "Why, you +don't think I'm <i>afraid,</i> Captain? You should know me better than that."</p> + +<p>"Life is sweet," said the other.</p> + +<p>"Ay," assented Gunn, "so sweet that you will share things with me to keep +it."</p> + +<p>"No," said the other, with great calm. "I am man enough to have a better +reason."</p> + +<p>"No psalm singing," said Gunn, coarsely. "And look cheerful, you old +buccaneer. Look as a man should look who has just met an old friend +never to lose him again."</p> + +<p>He eyed his man expectantly and put his hand to his pocket again, but the +innkeeper's face was troubled, and he gazed stolidly at the fire.</p> + +<p>"See what fifteen years' honest, decent life does for us," grinned the +intruder.</p> + +<p>The other made no reply, but rising slowly, walked to the door without a +word.</p> + +<p>"Landlord," cried Gunn, bringing his maimed hand sharply down on the +table.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper turned and regarded him.</p> + +<p>"Send me in some supper," said Gunn; "the best you have, and plenty of +it, and have a room prepared. The best."</p> + +<p>The door closed silently, and was opened a little later by the dubious +George coming in to set a bountiful repast. Gunn, after cursing him for +his slowness and awkwardness, drew his chair to the table and made the +meal of one seldom able to satisfy his hunger. He finished at last, and +after sitting for some time smoking, with his legs sprawled on the +fender, rang for a candle and demanded to be shown to his room.</p> + +<p>His proceedings when he entered it were but a poor compliment to his +host. Not until he had poked and pried into every corner did he close +the door. Then, not content with locking it, he tilted a chair beneath +the handle, and placing his pistol beneath his pillow, fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Despite his fatigue he was early astir next morning. Breakfast was laid +for him in the coffee-room, and his brow darkened. He walked into the +hall, and after trying various doors entered a small sitting-room, where +his host and daughter sat at breakfast, and with an easy assurance drew a +chair to the table. The innkeeper helped him without a word, but the +girl's hand shook under his gaze as she passed him some coffee.</p> + +<p>"As soft a bed as ever I slept in," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"I hope that you slept well," said the girl, civilly.</p> + +<p>"Like a child," said Gunn, gravely; "an easy conscience. Eh, Mullet?"</p> + +<p>The innkeeper nodded and went on eating. The other, after another remark +or two, followed his example, glancing occasionally with warm approval at +the beauty of the girl who sat at the head of the table.</p> + +<p>"A sweet girl," he remarked, as she withdrew at the end of the meal; "and +no mother, I presume?"</p> + +<p>"No mother," repeated the other.</p> + +<p>Gunn sighed and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"A sad case, truly," he murmured. "No mother and such a guardian. Poor +soul, if she but knew! Well, we must find her a husband."</p> + +<p>He looked down as he spoke, and catching sight of his rusty clothes and +broken shoes, clapped his hand to his pocket; and with a glance at his +host, sallied out to renew his wardrobe. The innkeeper, with an +inscrutable face, watched him down the quay, then with bent head he +returned to the house and fell to work on his accounts.</p> + +<p>In this work Gunn, returning an hour later, clad from head to foot in new +apparel, offered to assist him. Mullett hesitated, but made no demur; +neither did he join in the ecstasies which his new partner displayed at +the sight of the profits. Gunn put some more gold into his new pockets, +and throwing himself back in a chair, called loudly to George to bring +him some drink.</p> + +<p>In less than a month the intruder was the virtual master of the "Golden +Key." Resistance on the part of the legitimate owner became more and +more feeble, the slightest objection on his part drawing from the +truculent Gunn dark allusions to his past and threats against his future, +which for the sake of his daughter he could not ignore. His health began +to fail, and Joan watched with perplexed terror the growth of a situation +which was in a fair way of becoming unbearable.</p> + +<p>The arrogance of Gunn knew no bounds. The maids learned to tremble at +his polite grin, or his worse freedom, and the men shrank appalled from +his profane wrath. George, after ten years' service, was brutally +dismissed, and refusing to accept dismissal from his hands, appealed to +his master. The innkeeper confirmed it, and with lack-lustre eyes fenced +feebly when his daughter, regardless of Gunn's presence, indignantly +appealed to him.</p> + +<p>"The man was rude to my friend, my dear," he said dispiritedly</p> + +<p>"If he was rude, it was because Mr. Gunn deserved it," said Joan, hotly.</p> + +<p>Gunn laughed uproariously.</p> + +<p>"Gad, my dear, I like you!" he cried, slapping his leg. "You're a girl +of spirit. Now I will make you a fair offer. If you ask for George to +stay, stay he shall, as a favour to your sweet self."</p> + +<p>The girl trembled.</p> + +<p>"Who is master here?" she demanded, turning a full eye on her father.</p> + +<p>Mullet laughed uneasily.</p> + +<p>"This is business," he said, trying to speak lightly, "and women can't +understand it. Gunn is—is valuable to me, and George must go."</p> + +<p>"Unless you plead for him, sweet one?" said Gunn.</p> + +<p>The girl looked at her father again, but he turned his head away and +tapped on the floor with his foot. Then in perplexity, akin to tears, +she walked from the room, carefully drawing her dress aside as Gunn held +the door for her.</p> + +<p>"A fine girl," said Gunn, his thin lips working; "a fine spirit. 'Twill +be pleasant to break it; but she does not know who is master here."</p> + +<p>"She is young yet," said the other, hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"I will soon age her if she looks like that at me again," said Gunn. "By +—, I'll turn out the whole crew into the street, and her with them, an' +I wish it. I'll lie in my bed warm o' nights and think of her huddled on +a doorstep."</p> + +<p>His voice rose and his fists clenched, but he kept his distance and +watched the other warily. The innkeeper's face was contorted and his +brow grew wet. For one moment something peeped out of his eyes; the next +he sat down in his chair again and nervously fingered his chin.</p> + +<p>"I have but to speak," said Gunn, regarding him with much satisfaction, +"and you will hang, and your money go to the Crown. What will become of +her then, think you?"</p> + +<p>The other laughed nervously.</p> + +<p>"'Twould be stopping the golden eggs," he ventured.</p> + +<p>"Don't think too much of that," said Gunn, in a hard voice. "I was never +one to be baulked, as you know."</p> + +<p>"Come, come. Let us be friends," said Mullet; "the girl is young, and +has had her way."</p> + +<p>He looked almost pleadingly at the other, and his voice trembled. Gunn +drew himself up, and regarding him with a satisfied sneer, quitted the +room without a word.</p> + +<p>Affairs at the "Golden Key" grew steadily worse and worse. Gunn +dominated the place, and his vile personality hung over it like a shadow. +Appeals to the innkeeper were in vain; his health was breaking fast, and +he moodily declined to interfere. Gunn appointed servants of his own +choosing-brazen maids and foul-mouthed men. The old patrons ceased to +frequent the "Golden Key," and its bedrooms stood empty. The maids +scarcely deigned to take an order from Joan, and the men spoke to her +familiarly. In the midst of all this the innkeeper, who had complained +once or twice of vertigo, was seized with a fit.</p> + +<p>Joan, flying to him for protection against the brutal advances of Gunn, +found him lying in a heap behind the door of his small office, and in her +fear called loudly for assistance. A little knot of servants collected, +and stood regarding him stupidly. One made a brutal jest. Gunn, +pressing through the throng, turned the senseless body over with his +foot, and cursing vilely, ordered them to carry it upstairs.</p> + +<p>Until the surgeon came, Joan, kneeling by the bed, held on to the +senseless hand as her only protection against the evil faces of Gunn and +his proteges. Gunn himself was taken aback, the innkeeper's death at +that time by no means suiting his aims.</p> + +<p>The surgeon was a man of few words and fewer attainments, but under his +ministrations the innkeeper, after a long interval, rallied. The half- +closed eyes opened, and he looked in a dazed fashion at his surroundings. +Gunn drove the servants away and questioned the man of medicine. The +answers were vague and interspersed with Latin. Freedom from noise and +troubles of all kinds was insisted upon and Joan was installed as nurse, +with a promise of speedy assistance.</p> + +<p>The assistance arrived late in the day in the shape of an elderly woman, +whose Spartan treatment of her patients had helped many along the silent +road. She commenced her reign by punching the sick man's pillows, and +having shaken him into consciousness by this means, gave him a dose of +physic, after first tasting it herself from the bottle.</p> + +<p>After the first rally the innkeeper began to fail slowly. It was seldom +that he understood what was said to him, and pitiful to the beholder to +see in his intervals of consciousness his timid anxiety to earn the good- +will of the all-powerful Gunn. His strength declined until assistance +was needed to turn him in the bed, and his great sinewy hands were +forever trembling and fidgeting on the coverlet.</p> + +<p>Joan, pale with grief and fear, tended him assiduously. Her stepfather's +strength had been a proverb in the town, and many a hasty citizen had +felt the strength of his arm. The increasing lawlessness of the house +filled her with dismay, and the coarse attentions of Gunn became more +persistent than ever. She took her meals in the sick-room, and divided +her time between that and her own.</p> + +<p>Gunn himself was in a dilemma. With Mullet dead, his power was at an end +and his visions of wealth dissipated. He resolved to feather his nest +immediately, and interviewed the surgeon. The surgeon was ominously +reticent, the nurse cheerfully ghoulish.</p> + +<p>"Four days I give him," she said, calmly; "four blessed days, not but +what he might slip away at any moment."</p> + +<p>Gunn let one day of the four pass, and then, choosing a time when Joan +was from the room, entered it for a little quiet conversation. The +innkeeper's eyes were open, and, what was more to the purpose, +intelligent.</p> + +<p>"You're cheating the hangman, after all," snarled Gunn. "I'm off to +swear an information."</p> + +<p>The other, by a great effort, turned his heavy head and fixed his wistful +eyes on him.</p> + +<p>"Mercy!" he whispered. "For her sake—give me—a little time!"</p> + +<p>"To slip your cable, I suppose," quoth Gunn. "Where's your money? +Where's your hoard, you miser?"</p> + +<p>Mullet closed his eyes. He opened them again slowly and strove to think, +while Gunn watched him narrowly. When he spoke, his utterance was thick +and labored.</p> + +<p>"Come to-night," he muttered, slowly. "Give me—time—I will make your +—your fortune. But the nurse-watches."</p> + +<p>"I'll see to her," said Gunn, with a grin. "But tell me now, lest you +die first."</p> + +<p>"You will—let Joan—have a share?" panted the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Gunn, hastily.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper strove to raise himself in the bed, and then fell back +again exhausted as Joan's step was heard on the stairs. Gunn gave +a savage glance of warning at him, and barring the progress of the girl +at the door, attempted to salute her. Joan came in pale and trembling, +and falling on her knees by the bedside, took her father's hand in hers +and wept over it. The innkeeper gave a faint groan and a shiver ran +through his body.</p> + +<p>It was nearly an hour after midnight that Nick Gunn, kicking off his +shoes, went stealthily out onto the landing. A little light came from +the partly open door of the sick-room, but all else was in blackness. He +moved along and peered in.</p> + +<p>The nurse was siting in a high-backed oak chair by the fire. She had +slipped down in the seat, and her untidy head hung on her bosom. A glass +stood on the small oak table by her side, and a solitary candle on the +high mantel-piece diffused a sickly light. Gunn entered the room, and +finding that the sick man was dozing, shook him roughly.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper opened his eyes and gazed at him blankly.</p> + +<p>"Wake, you fool," said Gunn, shaking him again.</p> + +<p>The other roused and muttered something incoherently. Then he stirred +slightly.</p> + +<p>"The nurse," he whispered.</p> + +<p>"She's safe enow," said Gunn. "I've seen to that."</p> + +<p>He crossed the room lightly, and standing before the unconscious woman, +inspected her closely and raised her in the chair. Her head fell limply +over the arm.</p> + +<p>"Dead?" inquired Mullet, in a fearful whisper.</p> + +<p>"Drugged," said Gunn, shortly. "Now speak up, and be lively."</p> + +<p>The innkeeper's eyes again travelled in the direction of the nurse.</p> + +<p>"The men," he whispered; "the servants."</p> + +<p>"Dead drunk and asleep," said Gunn, biting the words. "The last day +would hardly rouse them. Now will you speak, damn you!"</p> + +<p>"I must—take care—of Joan," said the father.</p> + +<p>Gunn shook his clenched hand at him.</p> + +<p>"My money—is—is—" said the other. "Promise me on—your oath—Joan."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," growled Gunn; "how many more times? I'll marry her, and she +shall have what I choose to give her. Speak up, you fool! It's not for +you to make terms. Where is it?"</p> + +<p>He bent over, but Mullet, exhausted with his efforts, had closed his eyes +again, and half turned his head.</p> + +<p>"Where is it, damn you?" said Gunn, from between his teeth.</p> + +<p>Mullet opened his eyes again, glanced fearfully round the room, and +whispered. Gunn, with a stifled oath, bent his ear almost to his mouth, +and the next moment his neck was in the grip of the strongest man in +Riverstone, and an arm like a bar of iron over his back pinned him down +across the bed.</p> + +<p>"You dog!" hissed a fierce voice in his ear. "I've got you—Captain +Rogers at your service, and now you may tell his name to all you can. +Shout it, you spawn of hell. Shout it!"</p> + +<p>He rose in bed, and with a sudden movement flung the other over on his +back. Gunn's eyes were starting from his head, and he writhed +convulsively.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were a sharper man, Gunn," said Rogers, still in the same +hot whisper, as he relaxed his grip a little; "you are too simple, you +hound! When you first threatened me I resolved to kill you. Then you +threatened my daughter. I wish that you had nine lives, that I might +take them all. Keep still!"</p> + +<p>He gave a half-glance over his shoulder at the silent figure of the +nurse, and put his weight on the twisting figure on the bed.</p> + +<p>"You drugged the hag, good Gunn," he continued. "To-morrow morning, +Gunn, they will find you in your room dead, and if one of the scum you +brought into my house be charged with the murder, so much the better. +When I am well they will go. I am already feeling a little bit stronger, +Gunn, as you see, and in a month I hope to be about again."</p> + +<p>He averted his face, and for a time gazed sternly and watchfully at the +door. Then he rose slowly to his feet, and taking the dead man in his +arms, bore him slowly and carefully to his room, and laid him a huddled +heap on the floor. Swiftly and noiselessly he put the dead man's shoes +on and turned his pockets inside out, kicked a rug out of place, and put +a guinea on the floor. Then he stole cautiously down stairs and set a +small door at the back open. A dog barked frantically, and he hurried +back to his room. The nurse still slumbered by the fire.</p> + +<p>She awoke in the morning shivering with the cold, and being jealous of +her reputation, rekindled the fire, and measuring out the dose which the +invalid should have taken, threw it away. On these unconscious +preparations for an alibi Captain Rogers gazed through half-closed lids, +and then turning his grim face to the wall, waited for the inevitable +alarm.</p> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Rogers, by W.W. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/12127-h/cover.jpg b/12127-h/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2276c69 --- /dev/null +++ b/12127-h/cover.jpg diff --git a/12127-h/frontis.jpg b/12127-h/frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed2eb44 --- /dev/null +++ b/12127-h/frontis.jpg diff --git a/12127-h/title.jpg b/12127-h/title.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3eb7cc3 --- /dev/null +++ b/12127-h/title.jpg diff --git a/12127.txt b/12127.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6fe88f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/12127.txt @@ -0,0 +1,952 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Rogers, by W.W. Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Captain Rogers + The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 7. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 22, 2004 [EBook #12127] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN ROGERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +THE LADY OF THE BARGE + +AND OTHER STORIES + +By W. W. Jacobs + + + + +CAPTAIN ROGERS + + +A man came slowly over the old stone bridge, and averting his gaze from +the dark river with its silent craft, looked with some satisfaction +toward the feeble lights of the small town on the other side. He walked +with the painful, forced step of one who has already trudged far. His +worsted hose, where they were not darned, were in holes, and his coat and +knee-breeches were rusty with much wear, but he straightened himself as +he reached the end of the bridge and stepped out bravely to the taverns +which stood in a row facing the quay. + +He passed the "Queen Anne"--a mere beershop--without pausing, and after a +glance apiece at the "Royal George" and the "Trusty Anchor," kept on his +way to where the "Golden Key" hung out a gilded emblem. It was the best +house in Riverstone, and patronized by the gentry, but he adjusted his +faded coat, and with a swaggering air entered and walked boldly into the +coffee-room. + +The room was empty, but a bright fire afforded a pleasant change to the +chill October air outside. He drew up a chair, and placing his feet on +the fender, exposed his tattered soles to the blaze, as a waiter who had +just seen him enter the room came and stood aggressively inside the door. + +"Brandy and water," said the stranger; "hot." + +"The coffee-room is for gentlemen staying in the house," said the waiter. + +The stranger took his feet from the fender, and rising slowly, walked +toward him. He was a short man and thin, but there was something so +menacing in his attitude, and something so fearsome in his stony brown +eyes, that the other, despite his disgust for ill-dressed people, moved +back uneasily. + +"Brandy and water, hot," repeated the stranger; "and plenty of it. D'ye +hear?" + +The man turned slowly to depart. + +"Stop!" said the other, imperiously. "What's the name of the landlord +here?" + +"Mullet," said the fellow, sulkily. + +"Send him to me," said the other, resuming his seat; "and hark you, my +friend, more civility, or 'twill be the worse for you." + +He stirred the log on the fire with his foot until a shower of sparks +whirled up the chimney. The door opened, and the landlord, with the +waiter behind him, entered the room, but he still gazed placidly at the +glowing embers. + +"What do you want?" demanded the landlord, in a deep voice. + +The stranger turned a little weazened yellow face and grinned at him +familiarly. + +"Send that fat rascal of yours away," he said, slowly. + +The landlord started at his voice and eyed him closely; then he signed to +the man to withdraw, and closing the door behind him, stood silently +watching his visitor. + +"You didn't expect to see me, Rogers," said the latter. + +"My name's Mullet," said the other, sternly. "What do you want?" + +"Oh, Mullet?" said the other, in surprise. "I'm afraid I've made a +mistake, then. I thought you were my old shipmate, Captain Rogers. It's +a foolish mistake of mine, as I've no doubt Rogers was hanged years ago. +You never had a brother named Rogers, did you?" + +"I say again, what do you want?" demanded the other, advancing upon him. + +"Since you're so good," said the other. "I want new clothes, food, and +lodging of the best, and my pockets filled with money." + +"You had better go and look for all those things, then," said Mullet. +"You won't find them here." + +"Ay!" said the other, rising. "Well, well--There was a hundred guineas +on the head of my old shipmate Rogers some fifteen years ago. I'll see +whether it has been earned yet." + +"If I gave you a hundred guineas," said the innkeeper, repressing his +passion by a mighty effort, "you would not be satisfied." + +"Reads like a book," said the stranger, in tones of pretended delight. +"What a man it is!" + +He fell back as he spoke, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, drew +forth a long pistol as the innkeeper, a man of huge frame, edged toward +him. + +"Keep your distance," he said, in a sharp, quick voice. + +The innkeeper, in no wise disturbed at the pistol, turned away calmly, +and ringing the bell, ordered some spirits. Then taking a chair, he +motioned to the other to do the same, and they sat in silence until the +staring waiter had left the room again. The stranger raised his glass. + +"My old friend Captain Rogers," he said, solemnly, "and may he never get +his deserts!" + +"From what jail have you come?" inquired Mullet, sternly. + +"'Pon my soul," said the other, "I have been in so many--looking for +Captain Rogers--that I almost forget the last, but I have just tramped +from London, two hundred and eighty odd miles, for the pleasure of seeing +your damned ugly figure-head again; and now I've found it, I'm going to +stay. Give me some money." + +The innkeeper, without a word, drew a little gold and silver from his +pocket, and placing it on the table, pushed it toward him. + +"Enough to go on with," said the other, pocketing it; "in future it is +halves. D'ye hear me? Halves! And I'll stay here and see I get it." + +He sat back in his chair, and meeting the other's hatred with a gaze as +steady as his own, replaced his pistol. + +"A nice snug harbor after our many voyages," he continued. "Shipmates we +were, shipmates we'll be; while Nick Gunn is alive you shall never want +for company. Lord! Do you remember the Dutch brig, and the fat +frightened mate?" + +"I have forgotten it," said the other, still eyeing him steadfastly. +"I have forgotten many things. For fifteen years I have lived a decent, +honest life. Pray God for your own sinful soul, that the devil in me +does not wake again." + +"Fifteen years is a long nap," said Gunn, carelessly; "what a godsend it +'ll be for you to have me by you to remind you of old times! Why, you're +looking smug, man; the honest innkeeper to the life! Gad! who's the +girl?" + +[Illustration: GUNN PLACED A HAND, WHICH LACKED TWO FINGERS ON HIS BREAST +AND BOWED AGAIN.] + +He rose and made a clumsy bow as a girl of eighteen, after a moment's +hesitation at the door, crossed over to the innkeeper. + +"I'm busy, my dear," said the latter, somewhat sternly. + +"Our business," said Gunn, with another bow, "is finished. Is this your +daughter, Rog-- Mullet?" + +"My stepdaughter," was the reply. + +Gunn placed a hand, which lacked two fingers, on his breast, and bowed +again. + +"One of your father's oldest friends," he said smoothly; "and fallen on +evil days; I'm sure your gentle heart will be pleased to hear that your +good father has requested me--for a time--to make his house my home." + +"Any friend of my father's is welcome to me, sir," said the girl, coldly. +She looked from the innkeeper to his odd-looking guest, and conscious of +something strained in the air, gave him a little bow and quitted the +room. + +"You insist upon staying, then?" said Mullet, after a pause. + +"More than ever," replied Gunn, with a leer toward the door. "Why, you +don't think I'm _afraid,_ Captain? You should know me better than that." + +"Life is sweet," said the other. + +"Ay," assented Gunn, "so sweet that you will share things with me to keep +it." + +"No," said the other, with great calm. "I am man enough to have a better +reason." + +"No psalm singing," said Gunn, coarsely. "And look cheerful, you old +buccaneer. Look as a man should look who has just met an old friend +never to lose him again." + +He eyed his man expectantly and put his hand to his pocket again, but the +innkeeper's face was troubled, and he gazed stolidly at the fire. + +"See what fifteen years' honest, decent life does for us," grinned the +intruder. + +The other made no reply, but rising slowly, walked to the door without a +word. + +"Landlord," cried Gunn, bringing his maimed hand sharply down on the +table. + +The innkeeper turned and regarded him. + +"Send me in some supper," said Gunn; "the best you have, and plenty of +it, and have a room prepared. The best." + +The door closed silently, and was opened a little later by the dubious +George coming in to set a bountiful repast. Gunn, after cursing him for +his slowness and awkwardness, drew his chair to the table and made the +meal of one seldom able to satisfy his hunger. He finished at last, and +after sitting for some time smoking, with his legs sprawled on the +fender, rang for a candle and demanded to be shown to his room. + +His proceedings when he entered it were but a poor compliment to his +host. Not until he had poked and pried into every corner did he close +the door. Then, not content with locking it, he tilted a chair beneath +the handle, and placing his pistol beneath his pillow, fell fast asleep. + +Despite his fatigue he was early astir next morning. Breakfast was laid +for him in the coffee-room, and his brow darkened. He walked into the +hall, and after trying various doors entered a small sitting-room, where +his host and daughter sat at breakfast, and with an easy assurance drew a +chair to the table. The innkeeper helped him without a word, but the +girl's hand shook under his gaze as she passed him some coffee. + +"As soft a bed as ever I slept in," he remarked. + +"I hope that you slept well," said the girl, civilly. + +"Like a child," said Gunn, gravely; "an easy conscience. Eh, Mullet?" + +The innkeeper nodded and went on eating. The other, after another remark +or two, followed his example, glancing occasionally with warm approval at +the beauty of the girl who sat at the head of the table. + +"A sweet girl," he remarked, as she withdrew at the end of the meal; "and +no mother, I presume?" + +"No mother," repeated the other. + +Gunn sighed and shook his head. + +"A sad case, truly," he murmured. "No mother and such a guardian. Poor +soul, if she but knew! Well, we must find her a husband." + +He looked down as he spoke, and catching sight of his rusty clothes and +broken shoes, clapped his hand to his pocket; and with a glance at his +host, sallied out to renew his wardrobe. The innkeeper, with an +inscrutable face, watched him down the quay, then with bent head he +returned to the house and fell to work on his accounts. + +In this work Gunn, returning an hour later, clad from head to foot in new +apparel, offered to assist him. Mullett hesitated, but made no demur; +neither did he join in the ecstasies which his new partner displayed at +the sight of the profits. Gunn put some more gold into his new pockets, +and throwing himself back in a chair, called loudly to George to bring +him some drink. + +In less than a month the intruder was the virtual master of the "Golden +Key." Resistance on the part of the legitimate owner became more and +more feeble, the slightest objection on his part drawing from the +truculent Gunn dark allusions to his past and threats against his future, +which for the sake of his daughter he could not ignore. His health began +to fail, and Joan watched with perplexed terror the growth of a situation +which was in a fair way of becoming unbearable. + +The arrogance of Gunn knew no bounds. The maids learned to tremble at +his polite grin, or his worse freedom, and the men shrank appalled from +his profane wrath. George, after ten years' service, was brutally +dismissed, and refusing to accept dismissal from his hands, appealed to +his master. The innkeeper confirmed it, and with lack-lustre eyes fenced +feebly when his daughter, regardless of Gunn's presence, indignantly +appealed to him. + +"The man was rude to my friend, my dear," he said dispiritedly + +"If he was rude, it was because Mr. Gunn deserved it," said Joan, hotly. + +Gunn laughed uproariously. + +"Gad, my dear, I like you!" he cried, slapping his leg. "You're a girl +of spirit. Now I will make you a fair offer. If you ask for George to +stay, stay he shall, as a favour to your sweet self." + +The girl trembled. + +"Who is master here?" she demanded, turning a full eye on her father. + +Mullet laughed uneasily. + +"This is business," he said, trying to speak lightly, "and women can't +understand it. Gunn is--is valuable to me, and George must go." + +"Unless you plead for him, sweet one?" said Gunn. + +The girl looked at her father again, but he turned his head away and +tapped on the floor with his foot. Then in perplexity, akin to tears, +she walked from the room, carefully drawing her dress aside as Gunn held +the door for her. + +"A fine girl," said Gunn, his thin lips working; "a fine spirit. 'Twill +be pleasant to break it; but she does not know who is master here." + +"She is young yet," said the other, hurriedly. + +"I will soon age her if she looks like that at me again," said Gunn. "By +---, I'll turn out the whole crew into the street, and her with them, an' +I wish it. I'll lie in my bed warm o' nights and think of her huddled on +a doorstep." + +His voice rose and his fists clenched, but he kept his distance and +watched the other warily. The innkeeper's face was contorted and his +brow grew wet. For one moment something peeped out of his eyes; the next +he sat down in his chair again and nervously fingered his chin. + +"I have but to speak," said Gunn, regarding him with much satisfaction, +"and you will hang, and your money go to the Crown. What will become of +her then, think you?" + +The other laughed nervously. + +"'Twould be stopping the golden eggs," he ventured. + +"Don't think too much of that," said Gunn, in a hard voice. "I was never +one to be baulked, as you know." + +"Come, come. Let us be friends," said Mullet; "the girl is young, and +has had her way." + +He looked almost pleadingly at the other, and his voice trembled. Gunn +drew himself up, and regarding him with a satisfied sneer, quitted the +room without a word. + +Affairs at the "Golden Key" grew steadily worse and worse. Gunn +dominated the place, and his vile personality hung over it like a shadow. +Appeals to the innkeeper were in vain; his health was breaking fast, and +he moodily declined to interfere. Gunn appointed servants of his own +choosing-brazen maids and foul-mouthed men. The old patrons ceased to +frequent the "Golden Key," and its bedrooms stood empty. The maids +scarcely deigned to take an order from Joan, and the men spoke to her +familiarly. In the midst of all this the innkeeper, who had complained +once or twice of vertigo, was seized with a fit. + +Joan, flying to him for protection against the brutal advances of Gunn, +found him lying in a heap behind the door of his small office, and in her +fear called loudly for assistance. A little knot of servants collected, +and stood regarding him stupidly. One made a brutal jest. Gunn, +pressing through the throng, turned the senseless body over with his +foot, and cursing vilely, ordered them to carry it upstairs. + +Until the surgeon came, Joan, kneeling by the bed, held on to the +senseless hand as her only protection against the evil faces of Gunn and +his proteges. Gunn himself was taken aback, the innkeeper's death at +that time by no means suiting his aims. + +The surgeon was a man of few words and fewer attainments, but under his +ministrations the innkeeper, after a long interval, rallied. The half- +closed eyes opened, and he looked in a dazed fashion at his surroundings. +Gunn drove the servants away and questioned the man of medicine. The +answers were vague and interspersed with Latin. Freedom from noise and +troubles of all kinds was insisted upon and Joan was installed as nurse, +with a promise of speedy assistance. + +The assistance arrived late in the day in the shape of an elderly woman, +whose Spartan treatment of her patients had helped many along the silent +road. She commenced her reign by punching the sick man's pillows, and +having shaken him into consciousness by this means, gave him a dose of +physic, after first tasting it herself from the bottle. + +After the first rally the innkeeper began to fail slowly. It was seldom +that he understood what was said to him, and pitiful to the beholder to +see in his intervals of consciousness his timid anxiety to earn the good- +will of the all-powerful Gunn. His strength declined until assistance +was needed to turn him in the bed, and his great sinewy hands were +forever trembling and fidgeting on the coverlet. + +Joan, pale with grief and fear, tended him assiduously. Her stepfather's +strength had been a proverb in the town, and many a hasty citizen had +felt the strength of his arm. The increasing lawlessness of the house +filled her with dismay, and the coarse attentions of Gunn became more +persistent than ever. She took her meals in the sick-room, and divided +her time between that and her own. + +Gunn himself was in a dilemma. With Mullet dead, his power was at an end +and his visions of wealth dissipated. He resolved to feather his nest +immediately, and interviewed the surgeon. The surgeon was ominously +reticent, the nurse cheerfully ghoulish. + +"Four days I give him," she said, calmly; "four blessed days, not but +what he might slip away at any moment." + +Gunn let one day of the four pass, and then, choosing a time when Joan +was from the room, entered it for a little quiet conversation. The +innkeeper's eyes were open, and, what was more to the purpose, +intelligent. + +"You're cheating the hangman, after all," snarled Gunn. "I'm off to +swear an information." + +The other, by a great effort, turned his heavy head and fixed his wistful +eyes on him. + +"Mercy!" he whispered. "For her sake--give me--a little time!" + +"To slip your cable, I suppose," quoth Gunn. "Where's your money? +Where's your hoard, you miser?" + +Mullet closed his eyes. He opened them again slowly and strove to think, +while Gunn watched him narrowly. When he spoke, his utterance was thick +and labored. + +"Come to-night," he muttered, slowly. "Give me--time--I will make your +--your fortune. But the nurse-watches." + +"I'll see to her," said Gunn, with a grin. "But tell me now, lest you +die first." + +"You will--let Joan--have a share?" panted the innkeeper. + +"Yes, yes," said Gunn, hastily. + +The innkeeper strove to raise himself in the bed, and then fell back +again exhausted as Joan's step was heard on the stairs. Gunn gave +a savage glance of warning at him, and barring the progress of the girl +at the door, attempted to salute her. Joan came in pale and trembling, +and falling on her knees by the bedside, took her father's hand in hers +and wept over it. The innkeeper gave a faint groan and a shiver ran +through his body. + +It was nearly an hour after midnight that Nick Gunn, kicking off his +shoes, went stealthily out onto the landing. A little light came from +the partly open door of the sick-room, but all else was in blackness. He +moved along and peered in. + +The nurse was siting in a high-backed oak chair by the fire. She had +slipped down in the seat, and her untidy head hung on her bosom. A glass +stood on the small oak table by her side, and a solitary candle on the +high mantel-piece diffused a sickly light. Gunn entered the room, and +finding that the sick man was dozing, shook him roughly. + +The innkeeper opened his eyes and gazed at him blankly. + +"Wake, you fool," said Gunn, shaking him again. + +The other roused and muttered something incoherently. Then he stirred +slightly. + +"The nurse," he whispered. + +"She's safe enow," said Gunn. "I've seen to that." + +He crossed the room lightly, and standing before the unconscious woman, +inspected her closely and raised her in the chair. Her head fell limply +over the arm. + +"Dead?" inquired Mullet, in a fearful whisper. + +"Drugged," said Gunn, shortly. "Now speak up, and be lively." + +The innkeeper's eyes again travelled in the direction of the nurse. + +"The men," he whispered; "the servants." + +"Dead drunk and asleep," said Gunn, biting the words. "The last day +would hardly rouse them. Now will you speak, damn you!" + +"I must--take care--of Joan," said the father. + +Gunn shook his clenched hand at him. + +"My money--is--is--" said the other. "Promise me on--your oath--Joan." + +"Ay, ay," growled Gunn; "how many more times? I'll marry her, and she +shall have what I choose to give her. Speak up, you fool! It's not for +you to make terms. Where is it?" + +He bent over, but Mullet, exhausted with his efforts, had closed his eyes +again, and half turned his head. + +"Where is it, damn you?" said Gunn, from between his teeth. + +Mullet opened his eyes again, glanced fearfully round the room, and +whispered. Gunn, with a stifled oath, bent his ear almost to his mouth, +and the next moment his neck was in the grip of the strongest man in +Riverstone, and an arm like a bar of iron over his back pinned him down +across the bed. + +"You dog!" hissed a fierce voice in his ear. "I've got you--Captain +Rogers at your service, and now you may tell his name to all you can. +Shout it, you spawn of hell. Shout it!" + +He rose in bed, and with a sudden movement flung the other over on his +back. Gunn's eyes were starting from his head, and he writhed +convulsively. + +"I thought you were a sharper man, Gunn," said Rogers, still in the same +hot whisper, as he relaxed his grip a little; "you are too simple, you +hound! When you first threatened me I resolved to kill you. Then you +threatened my daughter. I wish that you had nine lives, that I might +take them all. Keep still!" + +He gave a half-glance over his shoulder at the silent figure of the +nurse, and put his weight on the twisting figure on the bed. + +"You drugged the hag, good Gunn," he continued. "To-morrow morning, +Gunn, they will find you in your room dead, and if one of the scum you +brought into my house be charged with the murder, so much the better. +When I am well they will go. I am already feeling a little bit stronger, +Gunn, as you see, and in a month I hope to be about again." + +He averted his face, and for a time gazed sternly and watchfully at the +door. Then he rose slowly to his feet, and taking the dead man in his +arms, bore him slowly and carefully to his room, and laid him a huddled +heap on the floor. Swiftly and noiselessly he put the dead man's shoes +on and turned his pockets inside out, kicked a rug out of place, and put +a guinea on the floor. Then he stole cautiously down stairs and set a +small door at the back open. A dog barked frantically, and he hurried +back to his room. The nurse still slumbered by the fire. + +She awoke in the morning shivering with the cold, and being jealous of +her reputation, rekindled the fire, and measuring out the dose which the +invalid should have taken, threw it away. On these unconscious +preparations for an alibi Captain Rogers gazed through half-closed lids, +and then turning his grim face to the wall, waited for the inevitable +alarm. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Rogers, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN ROGERS *** + +***** This file should be named 12127.txt or 12127.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/2/12127/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe3a73e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12127 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12127) diff --git a/old/12127-h.zip b/old/12127-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..63adaf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12127-h.zip diff --git a/old/12127-h/005.jpg b/old/12127-h/005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e50c08d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12127-h/005.jpg diff --git a/old/12127-h/12127-h.htm b/old/12127-h/12127-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5473e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12127-h/12127-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1039 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE LADY OF THE BARGE AND OTHERS, Book 7</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +img {border: 0;} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Rogers, by W.W. Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Captain Rogers + The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 7. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 22, 2004 [EBook #12127] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN ROGERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover.jpg (102K)" src="cover.jpg" height="923" width="738"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title.jpg (40K)" src="title.jpg" height="602" width="442"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<center> +<h1>THE LADY OF THE BARGE<br><br> +AND OTHER STORIES</h1> +<br><br> +<h2>By W. W. Jacobs</h2> +<br><br> +<h3>BOOK 7</h3> +<br><br> +</center> + +<a name="frontis"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontis.jpg (80K)" src="frontis.jpg" height="742" width="503"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<br><br><hr><br><br> + + +<a name="c7"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +CAPTAIN ROGERS +</h2> +</center> +<br> + + +<p>A man came slowly over the old stone bridge, and averting his gaze from +the dark river with its silent craft, looked with some satisfaction +toward the feeble lights of the small town on the other side. He walked +with the painful, forced step of one who has already trudged far. His +worsted hose, where they were not darned, were in holes, and his coat and +knee-breeches were rusty with much wear, but he straightened himself as +he reached the end of the bridge and stepped out bravely to the taverns +which stood in a row facing the quay.</p> + +<p>He passed the "Queen Anne"—a mere beershop—without pausing, and after a +glance apiece at the "Royal George" and the "Trusty Anchor," kept on his +way to where the "Golden Key" hung out a gilded emblem. It was the best +house in Riverstone, and patronized by the gentry, but he adjusted his +faded coat, and with a swaggering air entered and walked boldly into the +coffee-room.</p> + +<p>The room was empty, but a bright fire afforded a pleasant change to the +chill October air outside. He drew up a chair, and placing his feet on +the fender, exposed his tattered soles to the blaze, as a waiter who had +just seen him enter the room came and stood aggressively inside the door.</p> + +<p>"Brandy and water," said the stranger; "hot."</p> + +<p>"The coffee-room is for gentlemen staying in the house," said the waiter.</p> + +<p>The stranger took his feet from the fender, and rising slowly, walked +toward him. He was a short man and thin, but there was something so +menacing in his attitude, and something so fearsome in his stony brown +eyes, that the other, despite his disgust for ill-dressed people, moved +back uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Brandy and water, hot," repeated the stranger; "and plenty of it. D'ye +hear?"</p> + +<p>The man turned slowly to depart.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" said the other, imperiously. "What's the name of the landlord +here?"</p> + +<p>"Mullet," said the fellow, sulkily.</p> + +<p>"Send him to me," said the other, resuming his seat; "and hark you, my +friend, more civility, or 'twill be the worse for you."</p> + +<p>He stirred the log on the fire with his foot until a shower of sparks +whirled up the chimney. The door opened, and the landlord, with the +waiter behind him, entered the room, but he still gazed placidly at the +glowing embers.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" demanded the landlord, in a deep voice.</p> + +<p>The stranger turned a little weazened yellow face and grinned at him +familiarly.</p> + +<p>"Send that fat rascal of yours away," he said, slowly.</p> + +<p>The landlord started at his voice and eyed him closely; then he signed to +the man to withdraw, and closing the door behind him, stood silently +watching his visitor.</p> + +<p>"You didn't expect to see me, Rogers," said the latter.</p> + +<p>"My name's Mullet," said the other, sternly. "What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mullet?" said the other, in surprise. "I'm afraid I've made a +mistake, then. I thought you were my old shipmate, Captain Rogers. It's +a foolish mistake of mine, as I've no doubt Rogers was hanged years ago. +You never had a brother named Rogers, did you?"</p> + +<p>"I say again, what do you want?" demanded the other, advancing upon him.</p> + +<p>"Since you're so good," said the other. "I want new clothes, food, and +lodging of the best, and my pockets filled with money."</p> + +<p>"You had better go and look for all those things, then," said Mullet. +"You won't find them here."</p> + +<p>"Ay!" said the other, rising. "Well, well—There was a hundred guineas +on the head of my old shipmate Rogers some fifteen years ago. I'll see +whether it has been earned yet."</p> + +<p>"If I gave you a hundred guineas," said the innkeeper, repressing his +passion by a mighty effort, "you would not be satisfied."</p> + +<p>"Reads like a book," said the stranger, in tones of pretended delight. +"What a man it is!"</p> + +<p>He fell back as he spoke, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, drew +forth a long pistol as the innkeeper, a man of huge frame, edged toward +him.</p> + +<p>"Keep your distance," he said, in a sharp, quick voice.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper, in no wise disturbed at the pistol, turned away calmly, +and ringing the bell, ordered some spirits. Then taking a chair, he +motioned to the other to do the same, and they sat in silence until the +staring waiter had left the room again. The stranger raised his glass.</p> + +<p>"My old friend Captain Rogers," he said, solemnly, "and may he never get +his deserts!"</p> + +<p>"From what jail have you come?" inquired Mullet, sternly.</p> + +<p>"'Pon my soul," said the other, "I have been in so many—looking for +Captain Rogers—that I almost forget the last, but I have just tramped +from London, two hundred and eighty odd miles, for the pleasure of seeing +your damned ugly figure-head again; and now I've found it, I'm going to +stay. Give me some money."</p> + +<p>The innkeeper, without a word, drew a little gold and silver from his +pocket, and placing it on the table, pushed it toward him.</p> + +<p>"Enough to go on with," said the other, pocketing it; "in future it is +halves. D'ye hear me? Halves! And I'll stay here and see I get it."</p> + +<p>He sat back in his chair, and meeting the other's hatred with a gaze as +steady as his own, replaced his pistol.</p> + +<p>"A nice snug harbor after our many voyages," he continued. "Shipmates we +were, shipmates we'll be; while Nick Gunn is alive you shall never want +for company. Lord! Do you remember the Dutch brig, and the fat +frightened mate?"</p> + +<p>"I have forgotten it," said the other, still eyeing him steadfastly. +"I have forgotten many things. For fifteen years I have lived a decent, +honest life. Pray God for your own sinful soul, that the devil in me +does not wake again."</p> + +<p>"Fifteen years is a long nap," said Gunn, carelessly; "what a godsend it +'ll be for you to have me by you to remind you of old times! Why, you're +looking smug, man; the honest innkeeper to the life! Gad! who's the +girl?"</p> + +<p>He rose and made a clumsy bow as a girl of eighteen, after a moment's +hesitation at the door, crossed over to the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>"I'm busy, my dear," said the latter, somewhat sternly.</p> + +<p>"Our business," said Gunn, with another bow, "is finished. Is this your +daughter, Rog— Mullet?"</p> + +<p>"My stepdaughter," was the reply.</p> + +<a name="005"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="005.jpg (87K)" src="005.jpg" height="751" width="505"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Gunn placed a hand, which lacked two fingers, on his breast, and bowed +again.</p> + +<p>"One of your father's oldest friends," he said smoothly; "and fallen on +evil days; I'm sure your gentle heart will be pleased to hear that your +good father has requested me—for a time—to make his house my home."</p> + +<p>"Any friend of my father's is welcome to me, sir," said the girl, coldly. +She looked from the innkeeper to his odd-looking guest, and conscious of +something strained in the air, gave him a little bow and quitted the +room.</p> + +<p>"You insist upon staying, then?" said Mullet, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"More than ever," replied Gunn, with a leer toward the door. "Why, you +don't think I'm <i>afraid,</i> Captain? You should know me better than that."</p> + +<p>"Life is sweet," said the other.</p> + +<p>"Ay," assented Gunn, "so sweet that you will share things with me to keep +it."</p> + +<p>"No," said the other, with great calm. "I am man enough to have a better +reason."</p> + +<p>"No psalm singing," said Gunn, coarsely. "And look cheerful, you old +buccaneer. Look as a man should look who has just met an old friend +never to lose him again."</p> + +<p>He eyed his man expectantly and put his hand to his pocket again, but the +innkeeper's face was troubled, and he gazed stolidly at the fire.</p> + +<p>"See what fifteen years' honest, decent life does for us," grinned the +intruder.</p> + +<p>The other made no reply, but rising slowly, walked to the door without a +word.</p> + +<p>"Landlord," cried Gunn, bringing his maimed hand sharply down on the +table.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper turned and regarded him.</p> + +<p>"Send me in some supper," said Gunn; "the best you have, and plenty of +it, and have a room prepared. The best."</p> + +<p>The door closed silently, and was opened a little later by the dubious +George coming in to set a bountiful repast. Gunn, after cursing him for +his slowness and awkwardness, drew his chair to the table and made the +meal of one seldom able to satisfy his hunger. He finished at last, and +after sitting for some time smoking, with his legs sprawled on the +fender, rang for a candle and demanded to be shown to his room.</p> + +<p>His proceedings when he entered it were but a poor compliment to his +host. Not until he had poked and pried into every corner did he close +the door. Then, not content with locking it, he tilted a chair beneath +the handle, and placing his pistol beneath his pillow, fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Despite his fatigue he was early astir next morning. Breakfast was laid +for him in the coffee-room, and his brow darkened. He walked into the +hall, and after trying various doors entered a small sitting-room, where +his host and daughter sat at breakfast, and with an easy assurance drew a +chair to the table. The innkeeper helped him without a word, but the +girl's hand shook under his gaze as she passed him some coffee.</p> + +<p>"As soft a bed as ever I slept in," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"I hope that you slept well," said the girl, civilly.</p> + +<p>"Like a child," said Gunn, gravely; "an easy conscience. Eh, Mullet?"</p> + +<p>The innkeeper nodded and went on eating. The other, after another remark +or two, followed his example, glancing occasionally with warm approval at +the beauty of the girl who sat at the head of the table.</p> + +<p>"A sweet girl," he remarked, as she withdrew at the end of the meal; "and +no mother, I presume?"</p> + +<p>"No mother," repeated the other.</p> + +<p>Gunn sighed and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"A sad case, truly," he murmured. "No mother and such a guardian. Poor +soul, if she but knew! Well, we must find her a husband."</p> + +<p>He looked down as he spoke, and catching sight of his rusty clothes and +broken shoes, clapped his hand to his pocket; and with a glance at his +host, sallied out to renew his wardrobe. The innkeeper, with an +inscrutable face, watched him down the quay, then with bent head he +returned to the house and fell to work on his accounts.</p> + +<p>In this work Gunn, returning an hour later, clad from head to foot in new +apparel, offered to assist him. Mullett hesitated, but made no demur; +neither did he join in the ecstasies which his new partner displayed at +the sight of the profits. Gunn put some more gold into his new pockets, +and throwing himself back in a chair, called loudly to George to bring +him some drink.</p> + +<p>In less than a month the intruder was the virtual master of the "Golden +Key." Resistance on the part of the legitimate owner became more and +more feeble, the slightest objection on his part drawing from the +truculent Gunn dark allusions to his past and threats against his future, +which for the sake of his daughter he could not ignore. His health began +to fail, and Joan watched with perplexed terror the growth of a situation +which was in a fair way of becoming unbearable.</p> + +<p>The arrogance of Gunn knew no bounds. The maids learned to tremble at +his polite grin, or his worse freedom, and the men shrank appalled from +his profane wrath. George, after ten years' service, was brutally +dismissed, and refusing to accept dismissal from his hands, appealed to +his master. The innkeeper confirmed it, and with lack-lustre eyes fenced +feebly when his daughter, regardless of Gunn's presence, indignantly +appealed to him.</p> + +<p>"The man was rude to my friend, my dear," he said dispiritedly</p> + +<p>"If he was rude, it was because Mr. Gunn deserved it," said Joan, hotly.</p> + +<p>Gunn laughed uproariously.</p> + +<p>"Gad, my dear, I like you!" he cried, slapping his leg. "You're a girl +of spirit. Now I will make you a fair offer. If you ask for George to +stay, stay he shall, as a favour to your sweet self."</p> + +<p>The girl trembled.</p> + +<p>"Who is master here?" she demanded, turning a full eye on her father.</p> + +<p>Mullet laughed uneasily.</p> + +<p>"This is business," he said, trying to speak lightly, "and women can't +understand it. Gunn is—is valuable to me, and George must go."</p> + +<p>"Unless you plead for him, sweet one?" said Gunn.</p> + +<p>The girl looked at her father again, but he turned his head away and +tapped on the floor with his foot. Then in perplexity, akin to tears, +she walked from the room, carefully drawing her dress aside as Gunn held +the door for her.</p> + +<p>"A fine girl," said Gunn, his thin lips working; "a fine spirit. 'Twill +be pleasant to break it; but she does not know who is master here."</p> + +<p>"She is young yet," said the other, hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"I will soon age her if she looks like that at me again," said Gunn. "By +—, I'll turn out the whole crew into the street, and her with them, an' +I wish it. I'll lie in my bed warm o' nights and think of her huddled on +a doorstep."</p> + +<p>His voice rose and his fists clenched, but he kept his distance and +watched the other warily. The innkeeper's face was contorted and his +brow grew wet. For one moment something peeped out of his eyes; the next +he sat down in his chair again and nervously fingered his chin.</p> + +<p>"I have but to speak," said Gunn, regarding him with much satisfaction, +"and you will hang, and your money go to the Crown. What will become of +her then, think you?"</p> + +<p>The other laughed nervously.</p> + +<p>"'Twould be stopping the golden eggs," he ventured.</p> + +<p>"Don't think too much of that," said Gunn, in a hard voice. "I was never +one to be baulked, as you know."</p> + +<p>"Come, come. Let us be friends," said Mullet; "the girl is young, and +has had her way."</p> + +<p>He looked almost pleadingly at the other, and his voice trembled. Gunn +drew himself up, and regarding him with a satisfied sneer, quitted the +room without a word.</p> + +<p>Affairs at the "Golden Key" grew steadily worse and worse. Gunn +dominated the place, and his vile personality hung over it like a shadow. +Appeals to the innkeeper were in vain; his health was breaking fast, and +he moodily declined to interfere. Gunn appointed servants of his own +choosing-brazen maids and foul-mouthed men. The old patrons ceased to +frequent the "Golden Key," and its bedrooms stood empty. The maids +scarcely deigned to take an order from Joan, and the men spoke to her +familiarly. In the midst of all this the innkeeper, who had complained +once or twice of vertigo, was seized with a fit.</p> + +<p>Joan, flying to him for protection against the brutal advances of Gunn, +found him lying in a heap behind the door of his small office, and in her +fear called loudly for assistance. A little knot of servants collected, +and stood regarding him stupidly. One made a brutal jest. Gunn, +pressing through the throng, turned the senseless body over with his +foot, and cursing vilely, ordered them to carry it upstairs.</p> + +<p>Until the surgeon came, Joan, kneeling by the bed, held on to the +senseless hand as her only protection against the evil faces of Gunn and +his proteges. Gunn himself was taken aback, the innkeeper's death at +that time by no means suiting his aims.</p> + +<p>The surgeon was a man of few words and fewer attainments, but under his +ministrations the innkeeper, after a long interval, rallied. The half- +closed eyes opened, and he looked in a dazed fashion at his surroundings. +Gunn drove the servants away and questioned the man of medicine. The +answers were vague and interspersed with Latin. Freedom from noise and +troubles of all kinds was insisted upon and Joan was installed as nurse, +with a promise of speedy assistance.</p> + +<p>The assistance arrived late in the day in the shape of an elderly woman, +whose Spartan treatment of her patients had helped many along the silent +road. She commenced her reign by punching the sick man's pillows, and +having shaken him into consciousness by this means, gave him a dose of +physic, after first tasting it herself from the bottle.</p> + +<p>After the first rally the innkeeper began to fail slowly. It was seldom +that he understood what was said to him, and pitiful to the beholder to +see in his intervals of consciousness his timid anxiety to earn the good- +will of the all-powerful Gunn. His strength declined until assistance +was needed to turn him in the bed, and his great sinewy hands were +forever trembling and fidgeting on the coverlet.</p> + +<p>Joan, pale with grief and fear, tended him assiduously. Her stepfather's +strength had been a proverb in the town, and many a hasty citizen had +felt the strength of his arm. The increasing lawlessness of the house +filled her with dismay, and the coarse attentions of Gunn became more +persistent than ever. She took her meals in the sick-room, and divided +her time between that and her own.</p> + +<p>Gunn himself was in a dilemma. With Mullet dead, his power was at an end +and his visions of wealth dissipated. He resolved to feather his nest +immediately, and interviewed the surgeon. The surgeon was ominously +reticent, the nurse cheerfully ghoulish.</p> + +<p>"Four days I give him," she said, calmly; "four blessed days, not but +what he might slip away at any moment."</p> + +<p>Gunn let one day of the four pass, and then, choosing a time when Joan +was from the room, entered it for a little quiet conversation. The +innkeeper's eyes were open, and, what was more to the purpose, +intelligent.</p> + +<p>"You're cheating the hangman, after all," snarled Gunn. "I'm off to +swear an information."</p> + +<p>The other, by a great effort, turned his heavy head and fixed his wistful +eyes on him.</p> + +<p>"Mercy!" he whispered. "For her sake—give me—a little time!"</p> + +<p>"To slip your cable, I suppose," quoth Gunn. "Where's your money? +Where's your hoard, you miser?"</p> + +<p>Mullet closed his eyes. He opened them again slowly and strove to think, +while Gunn watched him narrowly. When he spoke, his utterance was thick +and labored.</p> + +<p>"Come to-night," he muttered, slowly. "Give me—time—I will make your +—your fortune. But the nurse-watches."</p> + +<p>"I'll see to her," said Gunn, with a grin. "But tell me now, lest you +die first."</p> + +<p>"You will—let Joan—have a share?" panted the innkeeper.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Gunn, hastily.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper strove to raise himself in the bed, and then fell back +again exhausted as Joan's step was heard on the stairs. Gunn gave +a savage glance of warning at him, and barring the progress of the girl +at the door, attempted to salute her. Joan came in pale and trembling, +and falling on her knees by the bedside, took her father's hand in hers +and wept over it. The innkeeper gave a faint groan and a shiver ran +through his body.</p> + +<p>It was nearly an hour after midnight that Nick Gunn, kicking off his +shoes, went stealthily out onto the landing. A little light came from +the partly open door of the sick-room, but all else was in blackness. He +moved along and peered in.</p> + +<p>The nurse was siting in a high-backed oak chair by the fire. She had +slipped down in the seat, and her untidy head hung on her bosom. A glass +stood on the small oak table by her side, and a solitary candle on the +high mantel-piece diffused a sickly light. Gunn entered the room, and +finding that the sick man was dozing, shook him roughly.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper opened his eyes and gazed at him blankly.</p> + +<p>"Wake, you fool," said Gunn, shaking him again.</p> + +<p>The other roused and muttered something incoherently. Then he stirred +slightly.</p> + +<p>"The nurse," he whispered.</p> + +<p>"She's safe enow," said Gunn. "I've seen to that."</p> + +<p>He crossed the room lightly, and standing before the unconscious woman, +inspected her closely and raised her in the chair. Her head fell limply +over the arm.</p> + +<p>"Dead?" inquired Mullet, in a fearful whisper.</p> + +<p>"Drugged," said Gunn, shortly. "Now speak up, and be lively."</p> + +<p>The innkeeper's eyes again travelled in the direction of the nurse.</p> + +<p>"The men," he whispered; "the servants."</p> + +<p>"Dead drunk and asleep," said Gunn, biting the words. "The last day +would hardly rouse them. Now will you speak, damn you!"</p> + +<p>"I must—take care—of Joan," said the father.</p> + +<p>Gunn shook his clenched hand at him.</p> + +<p>"My money—is—is—" said the other. "Promise me on—your oath—Joan."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," growled Gunn; "how many more times? I'll marry her, and she +shall have what I choose to give her. Speak up, you fool! It's not for +you to make terms. Where is it?"</p> + +<p>He bent over, but Mullet, exhausted with his efforts, had closed his eyes +again, and half turned his head.</p> + +<p>"Where is it, damn you?" said Gunn, from between his teeth.</p> + +<p>Mullet opened his eyes again, glanced fearfully round the room, and +whispered. Gunn, with a stifled oath, bent his ear almost to his mouth, +and the next moment his neck was in the grip of the strongest man in +Riverstone, and an arm like a bar of iron over his back pinned him down +across the bed.</p> + +<p>"You dog!" hissed a fierce voice in his ear. "I've got you—Captain +Rogers at your service, and now you may tell his name to all you can. +Shout it, you spawn of hell. Shout it!"</p> + +<p>He rose in bed, and with a sudden movement flung the other over on his +back. Gunn's eyes were starting from his head, and he writhed +convulsively.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were a sharper man, Gunn," said Rogers, still in the same +hot whisper, as he relaxed his grip a little; "you are too simple, you +hound! When you first threatened me I resolved to kill you. Then you +threatened my daughter. I wish that you had nine lives, that I might +take them all. Keep still!"</p> + +<p>He gave a half-glance over his shoulder at the silent figure of the +nurse, and put his weight on the twisting figure on the bed.</p> + +<p>"You drugged the hag, good Gunn," he continued. "To-morrow morning, +Gunn, they will find you in your room dead, and if one of the scum you +brought into my house be charged with the murder, so much the better. +When I am well they will go. I am already feeling a little bit stronger, +Gunn, as you see, and in a month I hope to be about again."</p> + +<p>He averted his face, and for a time gazed sternly and watchfully at the +door. Then he rose slowly to his feet, and taking the dead man in his +arms, bore him slowly and carefully to his room, and laid him a huddled +heap on the floor. Swiftly and noiselessly he put the dead man's shoes +on and turned his pockets inside out, kicked a rug out of place, and put +a guinea on the floor. Then he stole cautiously down stairs and set a +small door at the back open. A dog barked frantically, and he hurried +back to his room. The nurse still slumbered by the fire.</p> + +<p>She awoke in the morning shivering with the cold, and being jealous of +her reputation, rekindled the fire, and measuring out the dose which the +invalid should have taken, threw it away. On these unconscious +preparations for an alibi Captain Rogers gazed through half-closed lids, +and then turning his grim face to the wall, waited for the inevitable +alarm.</p> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Rogers, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN ROGERS *** + +***** This file should be named 12127-h.htm or 12127-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/2/12127/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Captain Rogers + The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 7. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 22, 2004 [EBook #12127] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN ROGERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +THE LADY OF THE BARGE + +AND OTHER STORIES + +By W. W. Jacobs + + + + +CAPTAIN ROGERS + + +A man came slowly over the old stone bridge, and averting his gaze from +the dark river with its silent craft, looked with some satisfaction +toward the feeble lights of the small town on the other side. He walked +with the painful, forced step of one who has already trudged far. His +worsted hose, where they were not darned, were in holes, and his coat and +knee-breeches were rusty with much wear, but he straightened himself as +he reached the end of the bridge and stepped out bravely to the taverns +which stood in a row facing the quay. + +He passed the "Queen Anne"--a mere beershop--without pausing, and after a +glance apiece at the "Royal George" and the "Trusty Anchor," kept on his +way to where the "Golden Key" hung out a gilded emblem. It was the best +house in Riverstone, and patronized by the gentry, but he adjusted his +faded coat, and with a swaggering air entered and walked boldly into the +coffee-room. + +The room was empty, but a bright fire afforded a pleasant change to the +chill October air outside. He drew up a chair, and placing his feet on +the fender, exposed his tattered soles to the blaze, as a waiter who had +just seen him enter the room came and stood aggressively inside the door. + +"Brandy and water," said the stranger; "hot." + +"The coffee-room is for gentlemen staying in the house," said the waiter. + +The stranger took his feet from the fender, and rising slowly, walked +toward him. He was a short man and thin, but there was something so +menacing in his attitude, and something so fearsome in his stony brown +eyes, that the other, despite his disgust for ill-dressed people, moved +back uneasily. + +"Brandy and water, hot," repeated the stranger; "and plenty of it. D'ye +hear?" + +The man turned slowly to depart. + +"Stop!" said the other, imperiously. "What's the name of the landlord +here?" + +"Mullet," said the fellow, sulkily. + +"Send him to me," said the other, resuming his seat; "and hark you, my +friend, more civility, or 'twill be the worse for you." + +He stirred the log on the fire with his foot until a shower of sparks +whirled up the chimney. The door opened, and the landlord, with the +waiter behind him, entered the room, but he still gazed placidly at the +glowing embers. + +"What do you want?" demanded the landlord, in a deep voice. + +The stranger turned a little weazened yellow face and grinned at him +familiarly. + +"Send that fat rascal of yours away," he said, slowly. + +The landlord started at his voice and eyed him closely; then he signed to +the man to withdraw, and closing the door behind him, stood silently +watching his visitor. + +"You didn't expect to see me, Rogers," said the latter. + +"My name's Mullet," said the other, sternly. "What do you want?" + +"Oh, Mullet?" said the other, in surprise. "I'm afraid I've made a +mistake, then. I thought you were my old shipmate, Captain Rogers. It's +a foolish mistake of mine, as I've no doubt Rogers was hanged years ago. +You never had a brother named Rogers, did you?" + +"I say again, what do you want?" demanded the other, advancing upon him. + +"Since you're so good," said the other. "I want new clothes, food, and +lodging of the best, and my pockets filled with money." + +"You had better go and look for all those things, then," said Mullet. +"You won't find them here." + +"Ay!" said the other, rising. "Well, well--There was a hundred guineas +on the head of my old shipmate Rogers some fifteen years ago. I'll see +whether it has been earned yet." + +"If I gave you a hundred guineas," said the innkeeper, repressing his +passion by a mighty effort, "you would not be satisfied." + +"Reads like a book," said the stranger, in tones of pretended delight. +"What a man it is!" + +He fell back as he spoke, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, drew +forth a long pistol as the innkeeper, a man of huge frame, edged toward +him. + +"Keep your distance," he said, in a sharp, quick voice. + +The innkeeper, in no wise disturbed at the pistol, turned away calmly, +and ringing the bell, ordered some spirits. Then taking a chair, he +motioned to the other to do the same, and they sat in silence until the +staring waiter had left the room again. The stranger raised his glass. + +"My old friend Captain Rogers," he said, solemnly, "and may he never get +his deserts!" + +"From what jail have you come?" inquired Mullet, sternly. + +"'Pon my soul," said the other, "I have been in so many--looking for +Captain Rogers--that I almost forget the last, but I have just tramped +from London, two hundred and eighty odd miles, for the pleasure of seeing +your damned ugly figure-head again; and now I've found it, I'm going to +stay. Give me some money." + +The innkeeper, without a word, drew a little gold and silver from his +pocket, and placing it on the table, pushed it toward him. + +"Enough to go on with," said the other, pocketing it; "in future it is +halves. D'ye hear me? Halves! And I'll stay here and see I get it." + +He sat back in his chair, and meeting the other's hatred with a gaze as +steady as his own, replaced his pistol. + +"A nice snug harbor after our many voyages," he continued. "Shipmates we +were, shipmates we'll be; while Nick Gunn is alive you shall never want +for company. Lord! Do you remember the Dutch brig, and the fat +frightened mate?" + +"I have forgotten it," said the other, still eyeing him steadfastly. +"I have forgotten many things. For fifteen years I have lived a decent, +honest life. Pray God for your own sinful soul, that the devil in me +does not wake again." + +"Fifteen years is a long nap," said Gunn, carelessly; "what a godsend it +'ll be for you to have me by you to remind you of old times! Why, you're +looking smug, man; the honest innkeeper to the life! Gad! who's the +girl?" + +[Illustration: GUNN PLACED A HAND, WHICH LACKED TWO FINGERS ON HIS BREAST +AND BOWED AGAIN.] + +He rose and made a clumsy bow as a girl of eighteen, after a moment's +hesitation at the door, crossed over to the innkeeper. + +"I'm busy, my dear," said the latter, somewhat sternly. + +"Our business," said Gunn, with another bow, "is finished. Is this your +daughter, Rog-- Mullet?" + +"My stepdaughter," was the reply. + +Gunn placed a hand, which lacked two fingers, on his breast, and bowed +again. + +"One of your father's oldest friends," he said smoothly; "and fallen on +evil days; I'm sure your gentle heart will be pleased to hear that your +good father has requested me--for a time--to make his house my home." + +"Any friend of my father's is welcome to me, sir," said the girl, coldly. +She looked from the innkeeper to his odd-looking guest, and conscious of +something strained in the air, gave him a little bow and quitted the +room. + +"You insist upon staying, then?" said Mullet, after a pause. + +"More than ever," replied Gunn, with a leer toward the door. "Why, you +don't think I'm _afraid,_ Captain? You should know me better than that." + +"Life is sweet," said the other. + +"Ay," assented Gunn, "so sweet that you will share things with me to keep +it." + +"No," said the other, with great calm. "I am man enough to have a better +reason." + +"No psalm singing," said Gunn, coarsely. "And look cheerful, you old +buccaneer. Look as a man should look who has just met an old friend +never to lose him again." + +He eyed his man expectantly and put his hand to his pocket again, but the +innkeeper's face was troubled, and he gazed stolidly at the fire. + +"See what fifteen years' honest, decent life does for us," grinned the +intruder. + +The other made no reply, but rising slowly, walked to the door without a +word. + +"Landlord," cried Gunn, bringing his maimed hand sharply down on the +table. + +The innkeeper turned and regarded him. + +"Send me in some supper," said Gunn; "the best you have, and plenty of +it, and have a room prepared. The best." + +The door closed silently, and was opened a little later by the dubious +George coming in to set a bountiful repast. Gunn, after cursing him for +his slowness and awkwardness, drew his chair to the table and made the +meal of one seldom able to satisfy his hunger. He finished at last, and +after sitting for some time smoking, with his legs sprawled on the +fender, rang for a candle and demanded to be shown to his room. + +His proceedings when he entered it were but a poor compliment to his +host. Not until he had poked and pried into every corner did he close +the door. Then, not content with locking it, he tilted a chair beneath +the handle, and placing his pistol beneath his pillow, fell fast asleep. + +Despite his fatigue he was early astir next morning. Breakfast was laid +for him in the coffee-room, and his brow darkened. He walked into the +hall, and after trying various doors entered a small sitting-room, where +his host and daughter sat at breakfast, and with an easy assurance drew a +chair to the table. The innkeeper helped him without a word, but the +girl's hand shook under his gaze as she passed him some coffee. + +"As soft a bed as ever I slept in," he remarked. + +"I hope that you slept well," said the girl, civilly. + +"Like a child," said Gunn, gravely; "an easy conscience. Eh, Mullet?" + +The innkeeper nodded and went on eating. The other, after another remark +or two, followed his example, glancing occasionally with warm approval at +the beauty of the girl who sat at the head of the table. + +"A sweet girl," he remarked, as she withdrew at the end of the meal; "and +no mother, I presume?" + +"No mother," repeated the other. + +Gunn sighed and shook his head. + +"A sad case, truly," he murmured. "No mother and such a guardian. Poor +soul, if she but knew! Well, we must find her a husband." + +He looked down as he spoke, and catching sight of his rusty clothes and +broken shoes, clapped his hand to his pocket; and with a glance at his +host, sallied out to renew his wardrobe. The innkeeper, with an +inscrutable face, watched him down the quay, then with bent head he +returned to the house and fell to work on his accounts. + +In this work Gunn, returning an hour later, clad from head to foot in new +apparel, offered to assist him. Mullett hesitated, but made no demur; +neither did he join in the ecstasies which his new partner displayed at +the sight of the profits. Gunn put some more gold into his new pockets, +and throwing himself back in a chair, called loudly to George to bring +him some drink. + +In less than a month the intruder was the virtual master of the "Golden +Key." Resistance on the part of the legitimate owner became more and +more feeble, the slightest objection on his part drawing from the +truculent Gunn dark allusions to his past and threats against his future, +which for the sake of his daughter he could not ignore. His health began +to fail, and Joan watched with perplexed terror the growth of a situation +which was in a fair way of becoming unbearable. + +The arrogance of Gunn knew no bounds. The maids learned to tremble at +his polite grin, or his worse freedom, and the men shrank appalled from +his profane wrath. George, after ten years' service, was brutally +dismissed, and refusing to accept dismissal from his hands, appealed to +his master. The innkeeper confirmed it, and with lack-lustre eyes fenced +feebly when his daughter, regardless of Gunn's presence, indignantly +appealed to him. + +"The man was rude to my friend, my dear," he said dispiritedly + +"If he was rude, it was because Mr. Gunn deserved it," said Joan, hotly. + +Gunn laughed uproariously. + +"Gad, my dear, I like you!" he cried, slapping his leg. "You're a girl +of spirit. Now I will make you a fair offer. If you ask for George to +stay, stay he shall, as a favour to your sweet self." + +The girl trembled. + +"Who is master here?" she demanded, turning a full eye on her father. + +Mullet laughed uneasily. + +"This is business," he said, trying to speak lightly, "and women can't +understand it. Gunn is--is valuable to me, and George must go." + +"Unless you plead for him, sweet one?" said Gunn. + +The girl looked at her father again, but he turned his head away and +tapped on the floor with his foot. Then in perplexity, akin to tears, +she walked from the room, carefully drawing her dress aside as Gunn held +the door for her. + +"A fine girl," said Gunn, his thin lips working; "a fine spirit. 'Twill +be pleasant to break it; but she does not know who is master here." + +"She is young yet," said the other, hurriedly. + +"I will soon age her if she looks like that at me again," said Gunn. "By +---, I'll turn out the whole crew into the street, and her with them, an' +I wish it. I'll lie in my bed warm o' nights and think of her huddled on +a doorstep." + +His voice rose and his fists clenched, but he kept his distance and +watched the other warily. The innkeeper's face was contorted and his +brow grew wet. For one moment something peeped out of his eyes; the next +he sat down in his chair again and nervously fingered his chin. + +"I have but to speak," said Gunn, regarding him with much satisfaction, +"and you will hang, and your money go to the Crown. What will become of +her then, think you?" + +The other laughed nervously. + +"'Twould be stopping the golden eggs," he ventured. + +"Don't think too much of that," said Gunn, in a hard voice. "I was never +one to be baulked, as you know." + +"Come, come. Let us be friends," said Mullet; "the girl is young, and +has had her way." + +He looked almost pleadingly at the other, and his voice trembled. Gunn +drew himself up, and regarding him with a satisfied sneer, quitted the +room without a word. + +Affairs at the "Golden Key" grew steadily worse and worse. Gunn +dominated the place, and his vile personality hung over it like a shadow. +Appeals to the innkeeper were in vain; his health was breaking fast, and +he moodily declined to interfere. Gunn appointed servants of his own +choosing-brazen maids and foul-mouthed men. The old patrons ceased to +frequent the "Golden Key," and its bedrooms stood empty. The maids +scarcely deigned to take an order from Joan, and the men spoke to her +familiarly. In the midst of all this the innkeeper, who had complained +once or twice of vertigo, was seized with a fit. + +Joan, flying to him for protection against the brutal advances of Gunn, +found him lying in a heap behind the door of his small office, and in her +fear called loudly for assistance. A little knot of servants collected, +and stood regarding him stupidly. One made a brutal jest. Gunn, +pressing through the throng, turned the senseless body over with his +foot, and cursing vilely, ordered them to carry it upstairs. + +Until the surgeon came, Joan, kneeling by the bed, held on to the +senseless hand as her only protection against the evil faces of Gunn and +his proteges. Gunn himself was taken aback, the innkeeper's death at +that time by no means suiting his aims. + +The surgeon was a man of few words and fewer attainments, but under his +ministrations the innkeeper, after a long interval, rallied. The half- +closed eyes opened, and he looked in a dazed fashion at his surroundings. +Gunn drove the servants away and questioned the man of medicine. The +answers were vague and interspersed with Latin. Freedom from noise and +troubles of all kinds was insisted upon and Joan was installed as nurse, +with a promise of speedy assistance. + +The assistance arrived late in the day in the shape of an elderly woman, +whose Spartan treatment of her patients had helped many along the silent +road. She commenced her reign by punching the sick man's pillows, and +having shaken him into consciousness by this means, gave him a dose of +physic, after first tasting it herself from the bottle. + +After the first rally the innkeeper began to fail slowly. It was seldom +that he understood what was said to him, and pitiful to the beholder to +see in his intervals of consciousness his timid anxiety to earn the good- +will of the all-powerful Gunn. His strength declined until assistance +was needed to turn him in the bed, and his great sinewy hands were +forever trembling and fidgeting on the coverlet. + +Joan, pale with grief and fear, tended him assiduously. Her stepfather's +strength had been a proverb in the town, and many a hasty citizen had +felt the strength of his arm. The increasing lawlessness of the house +filled her with dismay, and the coarse attentions of Gunn became more +persistent than ever. She took her meals in the sick-room, and divided +her time between that and her own. + +Gunn himself was in a dilemma. With Mullet dead, his power was at an end +and his visions of wealth dissipated. He resolved to feather his nest +immediately, and interviewed the surgeon. The surgeon was ominously +reticent, the nurse cheerfully ghoulish. + +"Four days I give him," she said, calmly; "four blessed days, not but +what he might slip away at any moment." + +Gunn let one day of the four pass, and then, choosing a time when Joan +was from the room, entered it for a little quiet conversation. The +innkeeper's eyes were open, and, what was more to the purpose, +intelligent. + +"You're cheating the hangman, after all," snarled Gunn. "I'm off to +swear an information." + +The other, by a great effort, turned his heavy head and fixed his wistful +eyes on him. + +"Mercy!" he whispered. "For her sake--give me--a little time!" + +"To slip your cable, I suppose," quoth Gunn. "Where's your money? +Where's your hoard, you miser?" + +Mullet closed his eyes. He opened them again slowly and strove to think, +while Gunn watched him narrowly. When he spoke, his utterance was thick +and labored. + +"Come to-night," he muttered, slowly. "Give me--time--I will make your +--your fortune. But the nurse-watches." + +"I'll see to her," said Gunn, with a grin. "But tell me now, lest you +die first." + +"You will--let Joan--have a share?" panted the innkeeper. + +"Yes, yes," said Gunn, hastily. + +The innkeeper strove to raise himself in the bed, and then fell back +again exhausted as Joan's step was heard on the stairs. Gunn gave +a savage glance of warning at him, and barring the progress of the girl +at the door, attempted to salute her. Joan came in pale and trembling, +and falling on her knees by the bedside, took her father's hand in hers +and wept over it. The innkeeper gave a faint groan and a shiver ran +through his body. + +It was nearly an hour after midnight that Nick Gunn, kicking off his +shoes, went stealthily out onto the landing. A little light came from +the partly open door of the sick-room, but all else was in blackness. He +moved along and peered in. + +The nurse was siting in a high-backed oak chair by the fire. She had +slipped down in the seat, and her untidy head hung on her bosom. A glass +stood on the small oak table by her side, and a solitary candle on the +high mantel-piece diffused a sickly light. Gunn entered the room, and +finding that the sick man was dozing, shook him roughly. + +The innkeeper opened his eyes and gazed at him blankly. + +"Wake, you fool," said Gunn, shaking him again. + +The other roused and muttered something incoherently. Then he stirred +slightly. + +"The nurse," he whispered. + +"She's safe enow," said Gunn. "I've seen to that." + +He crossed the room lightly, and standing before the unconscious woman, +inspected her closely and raised her in the chair. Her head fell limply +over the arm. + +"Dead?" inquired Mullet, in a fearful whisper. + +"Drugged," said Gunn, shortly. "Now speak up, and be lively." + +The innkeeper's eyes again travelled in the direction of the nurse. + +"The men," he whispered; "the servants." + +"Dead drunk and asleep," said Gunn, biting the words. "The last day +would hardly rouse them. Now will you speak, damn you!" + +"I must--take care--of Joan," said the father. + +Gunn shook his clenched hand at him. + +"My money--is--is--" said the other. "Promise me on--your oath--Joan." + +"Ay, ay," growled Gunn; "how many more times? I'll marry her, and she +shall have what I choose to give her. Speak up, you fool! It's not for +you to make terms. Where is it?" + +He bent over, but Mullet, exhausted with his efforts, had closed his eyes +again, and half turned his head. + +"Where is it, damn you?" said Gunn, from between his teeth. + +Mullet opened his eyes again, glanced fearfully round the room, and +whispered. Gunn, with a stifled oath, bent his ear almost to his mouth, +and the next moment his neck was in the grip of the strongest man in +Riverstone, and an arm like a bar of iron over his back pinned him down +across the bed. + +"You dog!" hissed a fierce voice in his ear. "I've got you--Captain +Rogers at your service, and now you may tell his name to all you can. +Shout it, you spawn of hell. Shout it!" + +He rose in bed, and with a sudden movement flung the other over on his +back. Gunn's eyes were starting from his head, and he writhed +convulsively. + +"I thought you were a sharper man, Gunn," said Rogers, still in the same +hot whisper, as he relaxed his grip a little; "you are too simple, you +hound! When you first threatened me I resolved to kill you. Then you +threatened my daughter. I wish that you had nine lives, that I might +take them all. Keep still!" + +He gave a half-glance over his shoulder at the silent figure of the +nurse, and put his weight on the twisting figure on the bed. + +"You drugged the hag, good Gunn," he continued. "To-morrow morning, +Gunn, they will find you in your room dead, and if one of the scum you +brought into my house be charged with the murder, so much the better. +When I am well they will go. I am already feeling a little bit stronger, +Gunn, as you see, and in a month I hope to be about again." + +He averted his face, and for a time gazed sternly and watchfully at the +door. Then he rose slowly to his feet, and taking the dead man in his +arms, bore him slowly and carefully to his room, and laid him a huddled +heap on the floor. Swiftly and noiselessly he put the dead man's shoes +on and turned his pockets inside out, kicked a rug out of place, and put +a guinea on the floor. Then he stole cautiously down stairs and set a +small door at the back open. A dog barked frantically, and he hurried +back to his room. The nurse still slumbered by the fire. + +She awoke in the morning shivering with the cold, and being jealous of +her reputation, rekindled the fire, and measuring out the dose which the +invalid should have taken, threw it away. On these unconscious +preparations for an alibi Captain Rogers gazed through half-closed lids, +and then turning his grim face to the wall, waited for the inevitable +alarm. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Rogers, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN ROGERS *** + +***** This file should be named 12127.txt or 12127.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/2/12127/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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