diff options
Diffstat (limited to '24335.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 24335.txt | 4411 |
1 files changed, 4411 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/24335.txt b/24335.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0816f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/24335.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4411 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Margaret Tudor, by Annie T. Colcock + +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: Margaret Tudor + A Romance of Old St. Augustine + +Author: Annie T. Colcock + +Illustrator: W. B. Gilbert + +Release Date: January 17, 2008 [EBook #24335] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARGARET TUDOR *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +THE STORY OF MARGARET TUDOR + + + + +[Illustration: MARGARET TUDOR.] + + + + + MARGARET TUDOR + + _A Romance of Old St. Augustine_ + + By ANNIE T. COLCOCK + + + _Illustrated by_ + W. B. GILBERT + + + [Illustration] + + + NEW YORK . FREDERICK A. + STOKES COMPANY . PUBLISHERS + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1901, + BY FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY + + _All rights reserved_ + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. The oe + ligature is shown as [oe]. + + + + + "That thee is sent receive in buxomnesse, + The wrastling of this world asketh a fall, + Here is no home, here is but wildernesse, + . . . . . + Looke up on high, and thanke God of all!" + CHAUCER. + + + + +NOTE. + + +The names of Mr. John Rivers,--kinsman and agent of Lord Ashley,--Dr. +Wm. Scrivener and Margaret Tudor appear in the passenger list of the +_Carolina_, as given in the Shaftesbury Papers (Collections of the South +Carolina Historical Society, Vol. V, page 135). In the same (page 169) +may be found a brief account of the capture, at Santa Catalina, of Mr. +Rivers, Capt. Baulk, some seamen, _a woman, and a girl_; also (page 175) +mention of the unsuccessful embassy of Mr. Collins; and (page 204) the +Memorial to the Spanish Ambassador touching the delivery of the +prisoners, one of whom is alluded to as _Margaret_, presumably Margaret +Tudor. + +The names of the two Spaniards, Senor de Colis and Don Pedro Melinza, +each appear once in the Shaftesbury Papers (pages 25 and 443): the +latter individual was evidently a person of some consequence in San +Augustin; the former, in the year 1663, was "Governour and +Captain-General, Cavallier, and Knight of the Order of St. James." + + ANNIE T. COLCOCK. + + + + +THE STORY OF MARGARET TUDOR + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +San Augustin, this 29th of June, Anno Domini 1670. + +It is now more than a month since our captivity began, and there seems +scant likelihood that it will come to a speedy close,--altho', being in +good health myself, and of an age when hope dies slowly, I despair not +of recovering both liberty and friends. Yet, in the event of our further +detention, of sickness or any other evil that may befall me--and there +is one threatening--I write these pages of true history, praying that +they may some time reach the hand of my guardian and uncle, Dr. William +Scrivener, if he be still alive and dwelling in these parts. Should they +chance, instead, to meet the eyes of some friendly-disposed person of +English blood and Protestant faith, to whom the name of William +Scrivener is unknown, I beseech him to deliver them to any person +sailing with the sloop _Three Brothers_, which did set out from the +Island of Barbadoes on the 2nd of November last,--being in the hire of +Sir Thomas Colleton, and bearing freight and passengers for these +shores. + +If the sloop has suffered some misadventure (as I fear is not +unlikely,--either at the hands of the Spaniards, or else of the Indians +of these parts, who do show themselves most unfriendly to all +Englishmen, being set on to mischief by the Spanish friars), then I pray +that word may be forwarded to his Lordship, the Duke of Albemarle, and +others of the Lords Proprietors who did commission and furnish a fleet +of three vessels, to wit: the _Carolina_, the _Port Royal_, and the +_Albemarle_, which did weigh anchor at the Downs in August of last year, +and set forth to plant an English colony at Port Royal. + +In particular would I implore that word might reach Lord Ashley, seeing +that his kinsman, Mr. John Rivers, is here detained a prisoner in sorry +state, laden with chains in the dungeon of the Castle--for which may God +forgive me, I being in some degree to blame; and yet, since it hath +pleased Heaven to grant me the fair face that wrought the mischief, I +hold myself the less guilty and grieve the more bitterly, inasmuch as I +love him with a maid's true love and would willingly give my life to +spare him hurt. + +If it were so that I might give the true narrative of our present +plight, and how it fell about, without cumbering the tale with mention +of my own name, it would please me best; but as those who read it may be +strangers, I would better tell my story from the start. + +Of myself it is enough to say that my name is Margaret Tudor, and saving +my uncle, Dr. Scrivener, I am alone in the world and well-nigh +portionless--my father having spent his all, and life and liberty to +boot, in the service of King Charles, being one of those unfortunate +royalists who plotted for His Majesty's return in the year '55. For, as +Cromwell did discover their designs ere they were fully ripe, many were +taken prisoners, of whom some suffered death and others banishment. Of +these last was my father, who was torn from the arms of his young wife +and babe and sent in slavery to Barbadoes. We could learn nothing of his +after fate, though many inquiries were made in his behalf. + +And so it fell about that,--my mother having gone to her rest,--I did +take passage with my uncle, Dr. William Scrivener, on board the +_Carolina_, with intent to stop at Barbadoes and make some search for my +poor father in the hope that he yet lived. + +Among the passengers of the _Carolina_ was Lord Ashley's kinsman and +agent, Mr. John Rivers, of whom I can find naught to say that seems +fitting; for although it may hap that in this great world there are +other men of a countenance as fine, a mien as noble, and a heart as +brave and tender, it has not been my lot as yet to encounter them. + +Together we did sail for three months on the great deep, in danger of +pirates, in peril of tempests, and in long hours of golden calm when the +waters burned blue around us and the wide heaven shone pale and clear +over our heads. And in all that time we came to know one another passing +well; and Mr. Rivers heard my father's story and promised to aid us in +our search. + +It was October when we reached Barbadoes and landed. Of the news that we +obtained, and the strange chance that brought it to our ears, it is +needless here to speak. Let it suffice that my dear father did not +suffer long, as death soon freed him from his bondage. + +We had no further cause to detain us in Barbadoes, so we yielded to the +persuasions of Mr. Rivers that we should continue with the expedition to +Port Royal; and, in November, we set sail once more in the _Three +Brothers_, a sloop hired to replace the _Albemarle_, which, in +consequence of a broken cable, had been driven ashore in a gale and lost +upon the rocks. + +From now on, for the truth's sake, I must needs tell somewhat of my +intercourse with Mr. Rivers. It may seem I am lacking in a proper +modesty if I declare that, even then, there was more than friendship +betwixt us. But surely there were reasons enough and to spare. That I +should love him was no mystery--he being the gallant gentleman he is; +and, since there chanced to be no other maid upon the vessel of proper +age and gentle condition, I suppose it was in nature that he should make +the best of the little society he had. But nay, I would be false to my +own faith if I doubted that it was foreordained of Heaven that we should +come together and love one another. + +It is true that I did not make confession of this belief until I had +tormented my would-be lord with every teasing device that entered into +my brain. But though he was often cast down for hours together, he gave +me to understand that he could read my heart in my blue eyes. + +"An you were to swear upon your soul you hated me, dear lady, I'd not +believe it," he once said. "Mistress Margaret is too unversed in city +ways and shallow coquetries to play a part--and 'tis for that I love her +so." And though it angered me to have him praise my innocence and +country airs, I knew he spoke the truth, and that a time would come when +I would own my love for him. And so it did. + +A terrible storm had raged for eight-and-forty hours. There had been +wild, black, awful nights, and sullen days when the gray curtains of the +sky were torn asunder and whirled over us in inky folds, their tattered +fringes lashing up the seas, and whipping our frail bark till it skulked +and cowered, like a beaten cur that looks in vain for mercy. We had +drifted northward far from our course, our two consorts had disappeared, +and we had well-nigh given up hope, when with the dawning of the third +day the wind lulled, and through the ragged clouds we saw the blue arch +of heaven high above us. + +I had climbed out upon the deck alone; and from a sheltered corner I saw +the sun rise and gild a far-off strip of shore that lay to west of us. +It seemed a vision of a new heaven and a new earth, and I gave God +thanks. Then a hand touched mine, and a voice whispered my name--and +other words that need not be recorded here; and I could answer nothing +in denial, for the reason that my heart was too full. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +The land to west of us was Virginia, and we sought harbour at Nancemund, +and lay there some weeks for needful repairs on the sloop, which was +also provisioned afresh for her further voyage. + +It was then the month of February; we had been six months a-journeying, +and still the promised land was far away. + +This tale of mine, however, bids fair to spin itself at too great +length, so I must hasten on to the story of our captivity. + +In spite of fairly good weather on our way southward we somehow over +passed the latitude of Port Royal harbour; and of a Saturday in May--the +fifteenth day of the month--we did cast anchor at a little isle upon the +coast, in order to obtain wood and water for the sloop's needs. + +This island is within the territory of the Spaniards, who have named it +Santa Catalina. It lies some days' journey north of San Augustin,--the +exact latitude I know not, although I have heard it more times than +one; but there are some things that abide never in a woman's brain. + +Here appeared many Indians, who seemed at first not unfriendly, and +spoke words of welcome to us in the Spanish tongue. + +Much trading was done aboard the sloop, and the barbarians appeared +strangely content with strings of paltry beads and the cast-off garments +of the crew, giving in their stead good provender, and skins of the wild +deer dressed soft and fine. + +The second day of our stay, Mr. Rivers, with the ship's master and three +seamen, went ashore with such stuff as the Indians desire, to trade for +pork and other provisions; and it being a Monday morn, Dame Barbara did +crave leave to take her washing and go with them, in the hope of finding +a softer water to cleanse the linen. + +It was early morning; the breeze from the land blew sweet and fragrant, +and the woods beyond the sandy beach bourgeoned in new leafage, green +and tender. I longed for the scent of the warm earth, and the tuneful +courting of bird-lovers in the thicket; so I prayed my uncle to let me +go ashore with the dame. He acceded willingly enough; but Mr. Rivers, +who is always over-anxious where my safety is concerned, counselled me +earnestly not to leave the ship. + +I was ever a headstrong maid, and the sunshine and the scent of far-off +flowers had set me nearly wild with longing; so I chid him roundly for +his caution and merrily warned him to beware how he sought to clip the +wings of a free bird. Go I did, therefore, though he smiled and shook +his head at me; and when we all parted company at the watering-place he +seemed uneasy still, and, looking backward over his shoulder as I waved +farewell, entreated me to wander no farther from the shore. + +The little spring where they had left us welled up, cold and clear, at +the foot of a tall cypress-tree, and trickled thence in a tiny stream, a +mere thread of crystal, that tangled itself in the low bush and wound +its way helplessly through the level wooded country, as though seeking +for some gentle slope that would lead it to the sea. + +The dame rinsed her linen till it fairly shone, and spread it out to dry +in a sunny nook; while I lay prone on the warm earth and stirred up the +damp brown leaves that had drifted into a tiny hollow, and found beneath +them a wee green vine with little white star-flowers that blinked up at +the sun and me. And I dreamed of the new home we would make for +ourselves in this far country, and of the very good and docile wife I +would be to my dear love. Then at last,--because I grew aweary at the +prospect of my very great obedience in the future, and because, too, I +thought it was high time my gallant gentleman came back to ask me how I +did,--up from the ground I started, rousing the dame from a sweet nap. + +"Look, Barbara! the linen is dry; the sun is on its westering way, and +the shadows grow longer and longer.--'Tis very strange that Mr. Rivers +and the master have not returned!" + +"Mayhap they have clean forgot us and gone back to the ship alone," +moaned the old woman, rubbing her sleepy eyes and beginning at once to +croak misfortune, after the manner of her class. + +Such an idea was past belief and set me smiling. I laid my hollowed +palms behind my ears and listened. + +Master Wind, passing through the tree-tops, had set every leaf +a-whispering and nid-nodding to its gossips,--just as the peddler on his +way through the village at home stirs all the women-folk to chattering +about the latest news from the whole countryside. In the thicket beside +us a chorus of feathered singers were all a-twitter, each trying to +outdo his neighbour; but one saucy fellow piped the merriest tune of +all, mingling in a delicious medley the sweetest notes of all the rest. +Of a sudden, as I listened, there was a soft rustle in the undergrowth, +and out from a clump of myrtles bounced a little brown rabbit, who +cocked an astonished eye at me and disappeared again with a series of +soundless leaps and a terrified whisk of his little white tail. Upon +that the laugh in my throat bubbled over; I dropped my hands and turned +to the dame. + +"Gather up your linen, good Barbara, and let us explore the trail +ourselves. They are doubtless picnicking somewhere in the woods beyond, +and 'tis very discourteous not to bid us to the entertainment." + +She would have demurred at first: the linen was not to be left, and yet +was too weighty to carry; her back was aweary and she was fain to rest +in peace. But Mistress Margaret was minded to have her own way, and, +dividing the bundle in two, started on ahead with the larger share of +it; so that, will she, nill she, the dame must follow. + +I knew, of course, that I was disobeying Mr. Rivers's last injunction, +and 'twas that thought quite as much as the sweet woodland airs that +lured me on: I desired, above all things, to behold the countenance of +my gallant gentleman when he discovered my wilfulness. So I hastened +forward, pausing now and again to encourage the good dame and entice her +still farther with glowing descriptions of new beauties just coming into +view. + +It fell about, therefore, that I was some forty paces in advance of her +when I suddenly came upon the Indian settlement and saw there a sight +that made my heart stand still. + +I drew back hastily behind the trunk of a wide-branched oak, whence I +could look--unseen, I thought--upon the town. + +A great concourse of barbarians was assembled in the open space before +the chief building, which was of considerable size, built round after +the manner of a dove-house, and completely thatched with palmetto +leaves. Many smaller buildings surrounded it: one, in especial, I would +have done well to take note of; for it was doubtless a kind of sentinel +or watch-tower, being set on tall, upright timbers which gave it an +elevation much greater than any part of the surrounding country. + +I had eyes for naught, however, but one figure, that stood, with hands +and feet bound, at the foot of a great wooden cross planted opposite the +entrance of the chief building. It was my dear love--I knew him on the +instant by the proud poise of his head and shoulders. He was speaking in +his usual calm and courtly tones to the circle of half-naked savages, +who seemed to hear him with respectful consideration, though they made +no motion to loose his bonds. + +On the ground beside him lay the ship's master, old Captain Baulk, and +the three seamen, their arms securely pinioned. Near them was the bale +of goods which had been brought from the ship: it lay wide open, and was +being most unscrupulously rifled of its contents. + +For the moment I thought it was the sight of the gewgaws this bale +contained that had roused the cupidity of the barbarians; but now I +believe otherwise. The savages would have paid for them willingly, in +skins and such like, and then suffered our men to depart in peace, had +not that smooth-tongued hypocrite, Ignacio, been behind. But this, of +course, was unknown to me at the time. + +The idea came over me, like a flash, that we should go for help to the +ship; and I turned quickly and signalled the dame to be silent. It was +too late, however, for she had caught sight of the savages and of our +men bound in the midst of them; and turning to the right about with a +shrill scream, she cast away the bundle of linen and started back the +way we had come at a speed which 'tis likely she had never equalled in +her life before. After her I hastened, and implored her to be still, +lest the barbarians should hear and overtake us. My one thought was to +summon aid; for, though there seemed to be over two hundred of the +Indians, I believed that our handful of men, armed with muskets, swords, +and pikes, would be sufficient to strike terror into them at once. + +We had scarce run an hundred yards down the trail when four savages +stepped from a thicket and laid hands upon us. They had lain in wait, +there is no doubt, so 'twas evident we had been seen some while before. + +Barbara resisted them with much wild shrieking, but I submitted in +silence. 'Twas not that I was any braver than she, but simply that I +could not believe that they meant to do us any real harm; and all the +while I was possessed with the thought that there was some one stationed +in the thicket who was directing the actions of the savages. It appeared +to me that, as they fastened our arms behind us, their eyeballs rolled +ever toward a certain myrtle-bush, as if they were waiting for a cue. + +We were led back at once to the town, and I shall never forget the look +upon my dear love's face as he caught sight of me. + +"Margaret--you also! I had hoped you and the dame were safe!" he cried +out, as our captors led us to his side. + +"'Twas all my wilfulness--I came hither seeking you," I answered, and +hung my head. + +He looked at me dumbly, and then turned his face away; and I saw his +arms writhing in their bonds. A strange feeling came upon me, part shame +and sorrow that I should have grieved him so, and part exultation +that--whatever our fate--at least we would meet it side by side. Fear +had the least place in my thoughts as I waited, breathless, for the +outcome of this strange situation. My eyes wandered round the circle of +barbarians, and I noted with some wonderment that numbers of the men +wore their crowns shaven, after the manner of a priest's tonsure. + +One among them, who seemed of greater consequence than the rest, began +to speak; but I could make nothing of his discourse, although he used +many words that I thought had somewhat of a Spanish ring. + +Yet his meaning was fathomed by Mr. Rivers, who gave him the reply on +the instant, couched in the Spanish, and delivered with some heat and +indignation. + +There was a stir among the barbarians, and presently there appeared a +new figure on the scene. The shaven crown, the bare feet, the coarse +woollen robe fastened by a knotted cord about the waist, all denoted a +friar of the Franciscan order. + +"So," muttered Mr. Rivers, under his breath, "now we have the real chief +to deal with." + +Scarcely less swarthy than the Indians themselves was the dark face of +the Spanish friar. As he came forward into the open space, he raised his +eyes to the great cross at the foot of which we were standing, and +straightway bent the knee and crossed himself. Some few of the Indians +likewise made the sign upon their breasts, though the greater part +contained themselves with the same stolidity that had marked them from +the first. + +Mr. Rivers gave a low laugh, and turned to me with a curling lip. "These +be Christians," he said. + +The Spaniard caught the sneer, and a scowl gathered on his coarse face; +but he checked it suddenly and began in smooth tones to address us. + +Old Captain Baulk had raised himself to a sitting posture, and the +seamen all held themselves in attitudes of strained attention. + +"What says he?" I asked, in a whisper, of my dear love, when the friar +had ceased and turned away from us. + +"Naught but a tissue of lies," exclaimed Mr. Rivers, through his +clenched teeth. "He would have us believe that he is wholly +irresponsible for the doings of these 'banditos'; but he will exert what +influence he has among the believers of his flock to procure our +release,--I would we had fallen among infidels! These can have learned +naught of their teacher but deceit. They tricked us, on the plea of our +most mutual confidence, to lay aside our arms, and then fell instantly +upon us and made us captive." + +"I would to Heaven I could have gone back to the ship and given +warning," I sighed dolefully. "Yet perhaps some of them may come out to +search for us." + +"Now God forbid!" exclaimed Mr. Rivers, "for they would walk into a +trap. Some of these Indians have muskets and ammunition, and are +therefore as well armed as our men. If many more of us were taken there +would not be left able-bodied men enough to sail the sloop. 'Twould be +better if they held off and waited for the Indians to take the +initiative. My hope is that we will be able to treat with the savages +for ransom,--that is, if the friar bears us no real ill will. See, here +he comes again, with his oily tongue." + +The shifty eyes and full-lipped mouth of the man filled me with a +sudden loathing. Fear began to take hold of me at last, and a little sob +broke in my throat. + +My dear love turned to me with a quick, warm glance. + +"Cheer up, sweetheart," he whispered. "It is too soon to lose courage. +Come, where is my brave Margaret?" + +"Here!" I answered, and forced a smile on my quivering lips. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The rest of the day passed by like a long nightmare. The friar had us +removed to a small but strongly built hut, containing two rooms, +separated by a thin partition of hides nailed to a row of upright studs. +These were of squared timber, as was the floor also, and the outer frame +and wall-plate. The roof and sides were overlaid with thatch; and there +was no window, only a square opening in the roof which admitted the +light, and also let out the smoke when a fire was built upon the floor. + +As dark came on, two young Indian girls entered the hut, where we sat, +bound, with our backs against the wall. + +They seemed kindly disposed and gentle-mannered, for all their +outlandish garb, which consisted of a petticoat of long gray moss, and +strings of little shells and beads of divers colours festooned about the +neck. + +They loosed Barbara and me, for which we were mightily grateful, as our +arms had grown numb and sore. We made signs that they should cut the +bonds of the men also, which they declined to do. Yet they touched us +with gentle hands, and stroked our shoulders in token of their good +will. + +After this they brought wet clay and spread it upon the floor, and on +this laid a fire and kindled it; going forth again, they returned with +food and set it before us, making signs that we who were free should +feed the rest. + +While I was serving my dear love--who made pitiable pretence of enjoying +my ministrations--the friar entered the hut, accompanied by two others +who were doubtless of mixed Spanish and Indian blood. + +They bore with them heavy manacles and chains, which they fastened upon +our men, cutting the leathern thongs which had held them until now. + +Mr. Rivers demanded to know by whose orders this was done. + +"For it would seem our true jailers are not the Indians. These fetters +are of Spanish forging. Is it to your nation, padre, we are indebted for +this urgent hospitality?" + +To this the friar made answer at great length, and what he said appeared +to enrage our men, who broke forth in a round volley of oaths as soon as +our jailers had left the hut. I turned to Mr. Rivers for explanation. + +"'Tis as I supposed," he said, "and the friar is at the bottom of it +all. He maintains now that in landing here and attempting to trade with +the Indians we have committed an offence against the sovereignty of +Santo Domingo, which claims all this coast as Spanish territory. These +Indians, he declares, are under the protection of his government, and +therefore are not free to dispose of any goods to us English, or to +receive any favours at our hands; as such dealings would be to the +prejudice of the Spanish rights and influence over this country. +Therefore he has claimed us from the Indians and proposes himself to +hold us prisoners, awaiting the decision of the Governor at San +Augustin." + +As I look back now, it seems to me that in those first hours of our +captivity I grew older by many years. That gladsome morning, with its +wilful moods and joyous daring, fell away back into the past, and seemed +as unreal as the day-dreams of my childhood. + +We slept that night, Dame Barbara and I, upon a soft and springy couch +of moss piled in the little inner room. That is to say, we lay there +silently; but I think I scarce closed my eyes. + +The wind, drifting through the gaping thatch, caught the loose corner of +a shrivelled strip of hide dangling on the rude partition wall, and +kept it swinging back and forth, with a faint tap-tap, tap-tap, the +whole night long. As it swung outward I could catch fleeting glimpses of +the little group huddled about the dying fire; and for hours I lay and +listened to the low murmur of their voices and the heavy clank and +rattle of their chains. + +Old Captain Baulk was in a garrulous mood, and he poured into the +sailors' ears a horrid tale of how the Spaniards had massacred the first +French settlers on this coast. + +"'Twas just about one hundred years ago," he droned in a gruesome +whisper. "Ribault's settlement was on the River May, somewhere in these +latitudes. There were about nine hundred of them in all, 'tis said, +counting the women and children; and not one of them escaped. The bodies +of dead and wounded were alike hung upon a tree for the crows----" + +"In God's name, hold your croaking tongue!" Mr. Rivers broke in angrily. +"'Tis bad enough for the women as things are, and if they overhear these +old wives' tales, think you it will make them rest easier?" + +"Not old wives' tales, Mr. Rivers, but the fact, sir,--the bloody fact." + +"Silence!" whispered my betrothed, in a voice that made me tremble,--for +he hath a hot temper when it is roused. "Unless thou canst hold that +ill-omened tongue of thine, there presently will be another bloody fact +between thy teeth!" + +A sudden silence fell. 'Twas broken finally by my dear love, whose +generous nature soon repented of a harshly spoken word. + +"I was over-hasty, my good Baulk; but I would not for the world have +Mistress Tudor hear aught of those horrors. And times have changed +greatly in an hundred years. But this inaction, this inaction! 'Tis +terrible upon a man!" + +A suppressed groan accompanied the exclamation, and my heart ached for +him. It must indeed be hard for men--who are used to carving their own +fates and wresting from fortune their desires--suddenly to be forced to +play the woman's part of patient waiting. + +The next day brought no relief. + +From the windowless hut we could see naught of what passed without; but +about an hour before noon we heard a drum beat in the village. The sound +grew ever fainter, as though receding; then came the distant report of +musketry, and we grew anxious for our people on the sloop. Hours passed +by, and again came the sound of heavy firing, which gradually died away +as before. + +Late in the afternoon we were joined by another prisoner, whom--from his +dress of skins--we mistook at first sight for a young Indian; but 'twas +no other than the lad Poole, who was in Mr. Rivers's service and most +loyally attached to his master. + +From him we learned that the Indians and some Spaniards had been +parleying with our men all day. He had swum ashore with a letter to the +friar, and had been received with kindness by the savages, who clad him +after their own fashion. The friar, however, vouchsafed him no reply; +and after a time gave a signal to his men to fire on the sloop. The +arrows of the Indians and the muskets of the Spaniards had finally +compelled the _Three Brothers_ to weigh anchor and put out to sea. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Day after day dragged by. We grew aweary of discussing the possibilities +of our escape and fell gradually into silence. + +It was on the first day of June that Don Pedro de Melinza arrived in the +galley from San Augustin, and our captivity took on a new phase. + +He is a handsome man, this Spanish Don, and he bears himself with the +airs of a courtier--when it so pleases him. As he stood that day at the +open door of our hut prison, in the full glow of the summer morning, he +was a goodly sight. His thick black hair was worn in a fringe of wavy +locks that rested lightly on his flaring collar. His leathern doublet +fitted close to his slight, strong figure, and through its slashed +sleeves there was a shimmer of fine silk. In his right hand he held his +plumed sombrero against his breast; his left rested carelessly on the +hilt of his sword. + +I could find no flaw in his courteous greetings; but I looked into his +countenance and liked it not. + +The nose was straight and high, the keen dark eyes set deep in the olive +face; but beneath the short, curled moustache projected a full, red +under lip. + +Show me, in a man, an open brow, a clear eye, a firm-set mouth, and a +chin that neither aims to meet the nose nor lags back upon the breast; +and I will dub him honest, and brave, and clean-minded. But if his +forehead skulks backward, his chin recedes, and his nether lip curls +over redly--though the other traits be handsome, and the figure full of +grace and strength controlled--trust that man I never could! Such an one +I saw once in my early childhood. My mother pointed him out to me and +bade me note him well. + +"That man," she said, "was once your father's friend and close comrade; +yet now he walks free and lives in ease, while my poor husband is in +slavery. Why is it thus? Because he over yonder was false to his oath, +to his friends, and to his king. He sold them all, like Esau, for a mess +of pottage. Mark him well, my child, and beware of his like; for in +these days they are not a few, and woe to any who trust in them!" + +I remembered those words of my mother when the Senor Don Pedro de +Melinza y de Colis made his bow to us that summer's day. The meaning of +his courtly phrases was lost upon me; but I gathered from his manner +that he had come in the guise of a friend,--and I trembled at the +prospect of such friendship. + +Nevertheless I was right glad when the fetters were struck from my dear +love and his companions, and we were taken upon the Spanish galley and +served like Christians. + +At the earliest opportunity Mr. Rivers hastened to make things clear to +me. "Our deliverer"--so he termed him, whereat I marvelled +somewhat,--"our deliverer assures me that Padre Ignacio's action is +condemned greatly by his uncle, Senor de Colis, the Governor and +Captain-General at San Augustin. Don Pedro has been sent to transport us +thither, where we will be entertained with some fitness until we can +communicate with our friends." + +"Says he so? 'Twill be well if he keeps his word; but to my thinking he +has not the face of an honest man." + +Mr. Rivers looked at me gravely. "That is a hard speech from such gentle +lips," he said. "Don Pedro is a Spanish gentleman of high lineage. His +uncle, Senor de Colis, is a knight of the Order of St. James. Such hold +their honour dear. Until he gives us cause to distrust him, let us have +the grace to believe that he _is_ an honest man." + +I looked back into the frank gray eyes of my true and gallant love, and +I felt rebuked. 'Twas a woman's instinct, only, that made me doubt the +Spaniard; and this simple trust of a noble nature in the integrity of +his fellow man seemed a vastly finer instinct than my own. + +From that moment I laid by my suspicions, and met the courteous advances +of Senor de Melinza with as much of graciousness as I knew how. But, as +we spoke for the most part in different tongues, little conversation was +possible to us. + +I marvelled at the ease with which Mr. Rivers conversed in both Spanish +and French. Of the latter I was not wholly ignorant myself,--although in +my quiet country life I had had little opportunity of putting my +knowledge to the test, seldom attempting to do more than "prick in some +flowers" of foreign speech upon the fabric of my mother tongue; so it +was with great timidity that I essayed at first to thread the mazes of +an unfamiliar language. + +The Spaniard, however, greeted my attempts with courteous comprehension, +and after a time I was emboldened to ask some questions concerning the +town of San Augustin, and to comment upon the vivid beauty of the skies +and the blue waves around us. Upon that he broke into rapturous praises +of his own land of Spain--"the fairest spot upon the earth!" As I +listened, smilingly, it seemed to me that I perceived a shadow gathering +upon the brow of my dear love. + +So far the galley had depended solely upon her oars--of which there were +six banks, of two oars each, on either side,--but now, the wind having +freshened, Don Pedro ordered her two small lateen sails to be hoisted. +While he was giving these directions and superintending their +fulfilment, Mr. Rivers drew closer to my side, saying, in a rapid +whisper: + +"You have somewhat misread me, sweetheart, in regard to your demeanour +toward our host. 'Tis surely needless for you to put yourself to the +pain of conversing with him at such length." + +Now it must be remembered that in the last few hours our situation had +greatly changed. I had left a dark and dirty hovel for a cushioned couch +upon a breezy deck. In the tiny cabin which had been placed at my +disposal, I had, with Barbara's aid, rearranged my tangled locks and my +disordered clothing; so that I was no longer ashamed of my untidy +appearance. With my outward transformation there had come a reaction in +my spirits, which bounded upward to their accustomed level. + +The salt air was fresh upon my cheek; the motion of our vessel, +careening gaily on the dancing waves, was joyous and inspiring. I forgot +that we were sailing southward, and that, if our English friends had +survived to begin their intended settlement, we were leaving them +farther and farther behind. My thoughts went back to the earlier days of +our journey over seas; and a flash of the wilful mischief, which I +thought had all died from my heart, rose suddenly within me. + +I leaned back upon my cushioned seat and looked with half-veiled eyes at +my gallant gentleman. + +"These nice distinctions, Mr. Rivers, are too difficult for me," I said. +"If this Spanish cavalier of high lineage and honest intentions is +worthy of any gratitude, methinks a few civil words can scarcely overpay +him." + +A heightened colour in the cheek of my betrothed testified to the warmth +of his feelings in the matter, as he replied: + +"You are wholly in the right, my dearest lady! If civil words can cancel +aught of our indebtedness I shall not be sparing of them. Nevertheless, +permit me, I entreat you, to assume the entire burden of our gratitude +and the whole payment thereof." + +"Not so," I rejoined, with some spirit. "Despite our beggared fortunes, +I trust no one has ever found a Tudor bankrupt in either courtesy or +gratitude; and--by your leave, sir--I will be no exception!" + +This I said, not because I was so mightily beholden to the Spaniard; +but--shame upon me!--because Mr. Rivers had chosen to reprove me, a +while since, for my uncharity. + +'Tis passing strange how we women can find pleasure in giving pain to +the man we love; while if he suffered from any other cause we would +gladly die to relieve him! 'Twould seem a cruel trait in a woman's +character--and I do trust that I am not cruel! But I must admit that +when I greeted Don Pedro, on his return, with added cordiality, it was +nothing in his dark, eager countenance that set my heart beating--but +rather the glimpse I had caught of a bitten lip, a knotted brow, and a +pair of woeful gray eyes gazing out to sea. + +Repentance came speedily, however. There was that in the Spaniard's +manner that aroused my sleeping doubts of him; and I soon fell silent +and sought to be alone. + +My gallant gentleman had withdrawn himself in a pique, and, in the +company of old Captain Baulk and the lad Poole, seemed to have wholly +forgotten my existence. + +I made Dame Barbara sit beside me, and, feigning headache, leaned my +head upon her shoulder and closed my eyes. The dame rocked herself +gently to and fro, and from time to time gave vent to smothered prayers +and doleful ejaculations that set my thoughts working upon my own +misdoings. + +Through my half-shut eyes I saw the sun go down behind the strip of +shore, and watched the blue skies pale to faintest green and richest +amber. A little flock of white cloudlets, swimming in the transparent +depths, caught fire suddenly and changed to pink flames, then glowed +darkly red like burning coals, and faded, finally to gray ashes in the +purpling west. + +"Lord, have mercy on our sinful hearts!" groaned Dame Barbara softly. + +"Amen!" I sighed, and wondered what ailed mine, that it could be so very +wicked as to add to the burden of anxiety that my dear love had to bear! +A few tears stole from under my half-closed lids, and I was very +miserable and forlorn, when suddenly I felt a hand laid upon mine. + +I looked up hastily, and saw the face of my gallant gentleman, very +grave and penitent, in the fast-deepening twilight. My heart gave a glad +leap within my bosom; but I puckered my lips woefully and heaved a +mighty sigh. + +"Thank you, dear Dame, for your kind nursing," I said to Barbara. +"Truly, I know not what I should do without your motherly comforting at +times." + +Mr. Rivers took my hand, and drew me gently away, saying: + +"See what a bright star hangs yonder, above the sombre shores!" + +I glanced at the glittering point of light, and then, over my shoulder, +at the shadowy decks. The Spaniard was not in sight, and only the bent +figure of the dame was very near. + +My dear love raised my fingers to his lips. "Forgive me, sweetheart, for +being so churlish--but you cannot know the fears that fill me when I see +that man's dark face gazing into yours, and realize that we are utterly +in his power." + +"Surely he would not harm me!" I said, hastily. + +"'Tis that he may learn to love you," said Mr. Rivers gravely. + +"He may spare himself the pain of it!" I cried. "Have you not told him +that we are betrothed?" + +"Aye, love--but he may lose his heart in spite of that. What wonder if +he does? The miracle would be if he could look upon your face unmoved." + +"Am I so wondrous pretty, then?" + +"Fairer than any woman living!" he declared. I knew well enough it was a +tender falsehood, but since he seemed to believe it himself it was every +whit as satisfactory as if it had been truth! + +"Be comforted," I whispered, reassuringly. "I know very well how to make +myself quite homely. I have only to pull all my curls back from my brow +and club them behind: straightway I will become so old and ugly that no +man would care to look me twice in the face. Wait till to-morrow, and +you will see!" + +A laugh broke from Mr. Rivers's lips, and then he sighed heavily. + +"Nay, sweetheart, if it be the head-dress you assumed one day some +months ago for my peculiar punishment, I pray you will not try its +efficacy on the Spaniard; for it serves but to make you the more +irresistible." + +But already I have dwelt longer upon myself and my own feelings than is +needful for the telling of my tale. I must hasten on to those +happenings that more nearly concerned Mr. Rivers. Yet, in looking +backward, I find it hard to tear my thoughts from the memory of that +last hour of quiet converse with my dear love, under the starlit +southern skies. How seldom we realize our moments of great happiness +until after they have slipped away! It seemed to me then that we were in +the shadow of a dark-winged host of fears; but now I know that it served +only to make our mutual faith burn the more brightly. + +I did not, thereafter, neglect Mr. Rivers's warning, and avoided the +Spaniard as much as possible. My dear love lingered always at my elbow, +and replied for me, in easy Spanish, to all the courteous speeches of +Don Pedro. + +Sometimes I think it would have been far better had he left me to follow +my own course. There are some men who need only a hint of rivalry to +spur them on where of their own choice they had never thought to +adventure. Melinza's attentions did not diminish, while his manner +toward Mr. Rivers lost in cordiality as time went on. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Among the Spaniard's followers was a young mulatto whom he called +"Tomas." Very tall and slight of figure was he, yet sinewy and strong, +with corded muscles twining under the brown skin of his lean young +limbs. He wore a loose shirt, open at the throat, with sleeves uprolled +to the shoulder; and his short, full trousers reached barely to the +knee. + +I was admiring the agile grace of the lad as he bestirred himself upon +the deck the last morning of our voyage. With him young Poole (clothed +once more like a Christian, in borrowed garments) was engaged in the +task of shifting a great coil of rope; and the sturdy, fair-skinned +English youth was a pretty contrast to the other. + +Don Pedro was standing near to Mr. Rivers and myself, and his eyes took +the same direction as our own. + +"They are well matched in size," said he, pointing to the lads. "Let us +see which can bear off the palm for strength." He called out a few words +in Spanish to the young mulatto, who raised his dark head--curled over +with shiny rings of coal-black hair--and showed a gleaming row of white +teeth as he turned his smiling face toward his master. + +Mr. Rivers spoke a word to Poole, and the boy blushed from brow to neck, +and his blue eyes fell sheepishly; but he stood up against the other +with a right good will, and there was not a hair's difference in their +height. + +At a signal from Don Pedro the lads grappled with each other; the brown +and ruddy limbs were close entwined, and with bare feet gripping the +decks they swayed back and forth like twin saplings caught in a gale. + +In the first onset the mulatto had the best of it; his lithe dark limbs +coiled about his adversary with paralyzing force: but soon the greater +weight of the English youth began to tell; his young, well-knit figure +straightened and grew tense. + +I saw a sudden snarl upon the other's upturned face. His short, thick +upper lip curled back upon his teeth as a dog's will when in anger. He +rolled his eyes in the direction of his master, who threw him a +contemptuous curse. Stung into sudden rage, the mulatto thrust forth his +head and sank his sharp white teeth in the shoulder of young Poole. + +There was a startled cry, and the English youth loosened his grasp. In +another moment the two figures rolled upon the deck, and the flaxen head +was undermost. + +"Foul play!" cried Mr. Rivers, springing forward to tear the lads apart; +for now the mulatto's fingers were at his opponent's throat. + +Melinza's hand flew to his sword; with a volley of oaths he interposed +the shining blade between Mr. Rivers and the writhing figures on the +floor. Quick as thought another blade flashed from its sheath, and the +angerful gray eyes of my betrothed burned in indignant challenge. + +I had looked on in dumb amaze; but at the sight of the naked weapons I +screamed aloud. + +Instantly the two men seemed to recollect themselves. They drew back and +eyed each other coldly. + +"_Hasta conveniente ocasion, caballero!_" said the Spaniard, returning +his sword to its scabbard, and bowing low. + +"_A la disposicion de vuestra senoria, Don Pedro_," replied my +betrothed, following his example. + +And I, listening, but knowing no word of the language, believed that an +apology had passed between them! + +The scuffle on the deck had ceased when the swords clashed forth, and +the lads had risen to their feet. Melinza turned now to young Tomas and +struck him a sharp blow on the cheek. + +"Away with you both!" said the gesture of his impatient arm; but I +believe his tongue uttered naught but curses. + +All of our English had appeared upon the deck, and when Melinza strode +past them with a scowl still upon his brow they exchanged meaning +glances. Captain Baulk shook his grizzled head as he approached us. + +"What have I always said, Mr. Rivers"----he began; but my betrothed +looked toward me and laid a finger on his lip. Afterward they drew apart +and conversed in whispers. What they said, I never knew; for when Mr. +Rivers returned to my side he spoke of naught but the dolphins sporting +in the blue waters, and the chances of our reaching San Augustin ere +nightfall. + +"So," I thought, "I am no longer to be a sharer in their discussions, in +their hopes or fears. I am but a very child, to be watched over and +amused, to be wiled away from danger with a sweetmeat or a toy! And +truly, I have deserved to be treated thus. But now 'tis time for me to +put away childish things and prove myself a woman." + +I had the wit, however, not to make known my resolutions, nor to insist +on sharing his confidence. I leaned over the vessel's side and watched +the silver flashing of the two long lines of oars as they cut the waves, +and I held my peace. But in my heart there was tumult. I had seen the +glitter of a sword held in my dear love's face!--and I grew cold at the +memory. I had coquetted with the man whose sword it was!--and that +thought sent hot surges over my whole body. I shut my eyes and wished +God had made them less blue; I bit my lip because it was so red. I had +not thought, till now, that my fair face might bring danger on my +beloved. + +He stood at my side, so handsome and so debonair; a goodly man to look +upon and a loyal heart to trust; not over-fervent in matters of +religion, yet never soiling his lips with a coarse oath, or his honour +with a lie! As I glanced up at him, and he bent down toward me, I +suddenly recalled the disloyal caution of our father Abraham when he +journeyed in the land of strangers; and I thought: "Surely must God +honour a man who is true to his love at any cost of danger!" + +So passed the day. + +It was evening when we crossed the bar and entered Matanzas Bay. The +setting sun cast a crimson glow over the waters; I thought of the blood +of the French martyrs that once stained these waves, and I shuddered. + +Outlined against the western sky was the town of San Augustin,--square +walls and low, flat roofs built along a low, green shore. The +watch-tower of the castle fort rose up in menace as we came nearer. + +Upon the deck of the Spanish galley, hand in hand, stood my love and I. + +"Yonder is----our destination," said Mr. Rivers. + +"Our prison, you would say," I answered him, "and so I think also. +Nevertheless, I would rather stand here, at your side, than anywhere +else in this wide world--_alone_!" + +He smiled and raised my fingers to his lips. "Verily, dear lady, so +would I also." + +There was a rattle of heavy chains, and a loud plash as the anchor +slipped down in the darkening waters. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +We were received by the Spanish Governor immediately after our landing. + +I had already pictured him, in my thoughts, as a man of commanding +presence, with keen, dark eyes set in a stern countenance; crisp, +curling locks--such as Melinza's--but silvered lightly on the temples; +an air of potency, of fire, as though his bold spirit defied the heavy +hand of time. + +'Twas therefore a matter of great surprise to me--and some relief--when, +instead, I beheld advancing toward us a spare little figure with +snow-white hair and a pallid face. His small blue eyes blinked upon us +with a watery stare; his flabby cheeks were seamed with wrinkles, and +his tremulous lips twitched and writhed in the shadowy semblance of a +smile: there was naught about him to suggest either the soldier or the +man of parts. + +He was attired with some pretension, in a doublet of purple velvet with +sleeves of a lighter color. His short, full trousers were garnished at +the knee with immense roses; his shrunken nether limbs were cased in +silken hose of a pale lavender hue, and silver buckles fastened the +tufted purple ribbons on his shoes. On his breast was the red cross of +St. James--patent of nobility; had it not been for that and his fine +attire he might have passed for a blear-eyed and decrepit tailor from +Haberdashery Lane. + +I plucked up heart at the sight of this little manikin. + +"Can this be the Governor and Captain-General of San Augustin?" I +whispered in the ear of my betrothed. + +"'Tis not at the court of _our_ Charles only that kissing, or promotion, +goes by favour!" was his answer, in a quick aside. Then he met the +advancing dignitary and responded with grave punctilio to the suave +welcome that was accorded us. + +Melinza's part was that of master of ceremonies on this occasion. He +appeared to have laid aside his rancour, and his handsome olive +countenance was lightened with an expression of great benignance when he +presented me to the Governor as--"_the honourable and distinguished +senorita Dona Margarita de Tudor_." + +I looked up at Mr. Rivers with an involuntary smile. + +"My betrothed, your Excellency," he said simply, taking me by the hand. + +The blear-eyed Governor made me a compliment, with a wrinkled hand upon +his heart. I understood no word of it, and he spoke no French, so Mr. +Rivers relieved the situation with his usual ease. + +This audience had been held in the courtyard of the castle, which is a +place of great strength,--being, in effect, a square fort built of +stone, covering about an acre of ground, and garrisoned by more than +three hundred men. + +We stood in a little group beneath a dim lamp that hung in a carved +portico which appeared to be the entrance to a chapel. Captain Baulk and +the rest were a little aloof from us; and all around, at the open doors +of the casemates, lurked many of the swarthy soldiery. + +Suddenly light footsteps sounded on the flagged pavement of the chapel +in our rear, and a tall, graceful woman stepped forth and laid her hand +upon my shoulder. Through the delicate folds of black, filmy lace +veiling her head and shoulders gleamed a pair of luminous eyes that +burned me with their gaze. + +She waved aside the salutations of the two Spaniards and spoke directly +to me in a rich, low voice. The sight of a woman was so welcome to me +that I held out both hands in eager response; but she made no move to +take them: her bright eyes scanned the faces of our party, lingering on +that of my betrothed, to whom she next addressed herself, with a little +careless gesture of her white hand in my direction. + +Mr. Rivers bowed low, and said, in French: "Madame, I commend her to +your good care." Then to me: "Margaret, the Governor's lady offers you +the protection of her roof." + +His eyes bade me accept it, and I turned slowly to the imperious +stranger and murmured: "Madame, I thank you." + +"So!" she exclaimed, "you can speak, then? You are not dumb? I had +thought it was a pretty waxen effigy of Our Lady, for the padre here," +and she laughed mockingly, with a glance over her shoulder. + +Another had joined our group, but his bare feet had sounded no warning +tread. The sight of the coarse habit and the tonsured head struck a +chill through me. Two sombre eyes held mine for a moment, then their +owner turned silently away and re-entered the chapel door. + +Melinza was standing by, with a gathering frown on his forehead. + +"Such condescension on your part, Dona Orosia, is needless. We can +provide accommodations for all our English guests here in the castle." + +"What! Would Don Pedro stoop to trick out a lady's boudoir?--Nay, she +would die of the horrors within these gloomy walls. Come with me, child, +I can furnish better entertainment." + +I turned hastily toward my dear love. + +"Go!" said his eyes to me. + +Then I thought of Barbara, and very timidly I asked leave to keep her by +me. + +"She may follow us," said the Governor's lady carelessly, and sharply +clapped her hands. Two runners appeared, bearing a closed chair, and set +it down before us. + +"Enter," said my self-elected guardian. "You are so slight there is room +for us both." + +In dazed fashion I obeyed her, and then she followed me. + +I thought I should be crushed in the narrow space, and the idea of being +thus suddenly torn away from my betrothed filled me with terror. I made +a desperate effort to spring out again; but a soft, strong hand gripped +my arm and held me still, and in a moment we were borne swiftly away +from the courtyard into the dark without. + +I wrung my hands bitterly, and burst into tears. + +"_O cielos!_ what have we here?" cried the rich voice, petulantly. "'Tis +not a waxen saint, after all, but a living fountain! Do not drown me, I +pray you. What is there to weep for? Art afraid, little fool? See, I am +but a woman, not an ogress." + +But 'twas not alone for myself that I feared: the thought of my dear +love in Melinza's power terrified me more than aught else,--yet I dared +not put my suspicions into words. I tried hard to control my voice as I +implored that I might be taken back to the fort and to Mr. Rivers. + +"Is it for the Englishman, or Melinza, that you are weeping?" demanded +my companion sharply. + +"Madame!" I retorted, with indignation, "Mr. Rivers is my betrothed +husband." + +"Good cause for affliction, doubtless," she replied, "but spare me your +lamentations. Nay, you may _not_ return to the fort. 'Tis no fit place +for an honest woman,--and you seem too much a fool to be aught else. +Here, we have arrived----" + +She pushed me out upon the unpaved street, then dragged me through an +open doorway, across a narrow court filled with blooming plants, and +into a lighted room furnished with rich hangings, and chairs, tables, +and cabinets of fine workmanship. + +I gazed around me in wonder and confusion of mind. + +"How does it please your pretty saintship? 'Tis something better than +either Padre Ignacio's hut or Melinza's galley, is it not? Are you +content to remain?" + +"Madame," I said desperately, "do with me what you will; only see, I +pray you, that my betrothed comes to no harm." + +"What should harm him?" she demanded. "Is he not the guest of my +husband?" + +"His guest, madame, or his prisoner?" + +She gave me a keen glance. "Whichever role he may have the wit--or the +folly--to play." + +I wrung my hands again. "Madame, madame, do not trifle with me!" + +"Child, what should make thee so afraid?" + +I hesitated, then exclaimed: "Senor de Melinza bears him no good +will--he may strive to prejudice your husband!" + +The Governor's wife looked intently at me. "Why should Melinza have +aught against your Englishman?" + +I could not answer,--perhaps I had been a fool to speak. I dropped my +face in my hands, silently. + +Dona Orosia leaned forward and took me by the wrists. "Look at me!" she +said. + +Timidly I raised my eyes, and she studied my countenance for a long +minute. + +"'Tis absurd," she said then, and pushed me aside. "'Tis impossible! And +yet----a new face, a new face and passably pretty. Oh, my God, these +men! are they worth one real heart pang? Tell me," she cried, fiercely, +and shook me roughly by the shoulder, "has Melinza made love to you +already?" + +"Never, madame, never!" I answered quickly, frightened by her vehemence. +"Indeed, their quarrel did not concern me. 'Twas about two lads that had +a wrestling-match upon the galley. And although they were both angered +at the time, there may be no ill feeling between them now. I was foolish +to speak of it. Forget my imprudence, I pray you!" + +But her face remained thoughtful. "Tell me the whole story," she said; +and when I had done so she was silent. + +I sat and watched her anxiously. She was a beautiful woman, with a +wealth of dark hair, a richly tinted cheek, glorious eyes, and a small, +soft, red-lipped, passionate mouth--folded close, at that moment, in a +scornful curve. + +Suddenly she rose and touched a bell. A young negress answered the +summons. Dona Orosia spoke a few rapid words to her in Spanish, then +turned coldly to me. + +"Go with her; she will show you to your apartment, and your woman will +attend you there later on. You must be too weary to-night to join us at +a formal meal, and your wardrobe must be somewhat in need of +replenishing. To-morrow you shall have whatever you require. I bid you +goodnight!"--and she dismissed me with a haughty gesture of her white +hand. + +The chamber that had been assigned to me--which I was glad to share with +the good Dame Barbara--was long and narrow. There was a window at one +end that gave upon the sea; and through the heavy barred grating, set +strongly in the thick casement, I could look out upon the low sea-wall, +and, beyond that, at the smooth bosom of the dreaming ocean, heaving +softly in the quiet starlight, as though such a sorrow lay hidden in its +deep heart as troubled even its sleep with sighs. + +If I pressed my face close against the bars I could see, to the left of +me, the ramparts of the castle, where my dear love was. The slow tears +rose in my eyes as I thought that this night the same roof would not +shelter us, nor would there be the same swaying deck beneath our feet. + +While we had been together no very real sense of danger had oppressed +me; but from the first hour of our parting my heart grew heavier with +forebodings of the evil and sorrow which were yet to come. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +At first all seemed to go well enough. The Governor's lady was fairly +gracious to me; old Senor de Colis was profuse in his leering smiles and +wordy compliments, none of which I could understand; I saw Mr. Rivers +and Melinza from time to time, and they seemed upon good terms with each +other: but I did not believe this state of affairs could last,--and I +was right in my fears. + +One night ('twas the twenty-second of June, and the weather was sultry +and oppressive; the sea held its breath, and the round moon burned hot +in the hazy sky) the evening meal was served in the little courtyard of +the Governor's house, and both Mr. Rivers and Melinza were our guests. + +This was not the first occasion on which we had all broken bread at the +same board; but there was now an air of mockery in the civilities of +Melinza,--he passed the salt to my betrothed with a glance of veiled +hostility, and pledged him in a glass of wine with a smile that ill +concealed the angry curl of his sullen red lip. + +'Twas a strange meal; the memory of it is like a picture stamped upon my +brain. + +From the tall brass candlesticks upon the table, the unflickering tapers +shone down upon gleaming damask and glistening silver, and kindled +sparks amid the diamonds that caught up the folds of lace on the dark +head of Dona Orosia, and that gemmed the white fingers clasping her +slow-moving fan. Hers was a beauty that boldly challenged men's +admiration and exacted tribute of their eyes. The white-haired Governor +paid it in full measure, with a fixed and watery gaze from beneath his +half-closed lids, and a senile smile lurking under his waxed moustache. +But whenever I glanced upward I met the eyes of Mr. Rivers and Don Pedro +turned upon me; and I felt a strange thrill made up, in part, of triumph +that my dear love was not to be won from his allegiance, and in part of +terror because there was that in the Spaniard's gaze that betokened a +nature ruled wholly by its hot passions and a will to win what it craved +by fair means or by foul. + +I could eat little for the heat and the pungent flavour of strange +sauces, so I dallied with my plate only as an excuse for lowered +eyes; and, although I listened all the while with strained attention, +the talk ran by too swiftly for me to grasp any of its meaning. + +[Illustration: "TO THE BRIGHTEST EYES AND THE LIPS MOST WORTHY OF +KISSES!"--_Page 55._] + +But Dona Orosia was neither deaf nor blind; her keen black eyes had +noted every glance that passed her by. With a deeper flush on her olive +cheek, and a prouder poise of her haughty head, she made to me at last +the signal for withdrawal. + +The three gentlemen, glasses in hand, rose from their seats; and, as we +passed beneath the arched trellis that led away from the paved court +into the fragrant garden, Don Pedro lifted his glass to his lips with a +gesture in our direction, and exclaimed in French: + +"To the fairest face in San Augustin! To the brightest eyes and the lips +most worthy of kisses! May the light of those eyes never be withdrawn +from these old walls, nor the lips lack a Spanish blade to guard them +from all trespassers!" + +The Governor, who understood not the French words, lifted his glass in +courteous imitation of his nephew's gesture; but Mr. Rivers coloured +hotly and set down his upon the table. + +"I like not your toast, Senor Melinza, whichever way I construe it. The +face I hold fairest here shall leave San Augustin the day that I +depart; and, since it is the face of my promised wife, it needs no other +sword than mine to fend off trespassers!" + +He, too, spoke in French; and as the words passed his lips I felt the +soft, strong hand of Dona Orosia grasp my arm and drag me backward among +the screening vines, beyond the red light of the tapers, where we could +listen unseen. + +Melinza was laughing softly. "Senor Rivers says he cannot construe my +toast to his liking; but perhaps if I give it him in the Spanish tongue +he may find the interpretation more to his taste!" Then he lifted his +glass again and slowly repeated the words in his own language, with a +meaning glance toward the Governor. + +The old man drained his goblet to the dregs, and then turned a flushed +face upon the Englishman and laid his hand upon his sword. + +My dear love had no thoughts of prudence left,--for Melinza's words had +been a direct charge of cowardice,--so for all answer he took the frail +goblet from the table and threw it in the younger Spaniard's face. + +There was a tinkle of broken glass upon the stone pavement, and Melinza +wiped the red wine from his cheek. Then he held up the stained kerchief +before the eyes of my dear love and spoke a few words in his softest +voice. + +An angry smile flickered over the countenance of my betrothed; he bowed +stiffly in response. + +The blear-eyed Governor broke in hotly, with his hand still upon his +sword; his dull eyes narrowed, and the blood mounted higher in his +wrinkled cheek: but his nephew laid a restraining hand upon his arm, +and, with another laughing speech and a profound bow to Mr. Rivers, +pointed toward the door. + +I saw the three of them depart through the passageway that led to the +street entrance. I heard the creak of the hinges, and the clang of the +bars as they fell back into place. Then a strong, sweet odour of crushed +blossoms turned me faint. I loosed my hold of the screening vines and +stepped backward with a sudden struggle for breath. + +The woman beside me caught my arm a second time and drew me still +farther away down the moonlit path. + +"Is he aught of a swordsman, this fine cavalier of thine?" she demanded, +grasping my shoulder tightly and scanning my face with her scornful +eyes. + +Then my senses came to me: I knew what had happened--what was bound to +follow; and I began to speak wildly and to pray her to prevent bloodshed +between them. + +I scarce know what I said; but the words poured from my lips, and for +very despair I checked them not. I told her of my orphan state--of that +lone grave in Barbadoes, and the sad young mother who had died of a +broken heart; I spoke of the long, long journey over seas, the love that +had come into my life, and the dreams and the hopes that had filled our +thoughts when we reached the fair, strange shores of this new country; +and I prayed her, as she was a woman and a wife, to let no harm come to +my dear love. + +"Ah! madame," I cried, "a face so fair as yours needs not the +championship of one English stranger, who holds already a preference for +blue eyes and yellow hair. I grant you that he has a sorry taste; but +oh! I pray you, stop this duel!" + +She loosed her hand from the clasp of mine, and looked at me a moment in +silence; then she laughed bitterly. + +"Thou little fool! Thou little blue-eyed fool! What do men see in that +face of thine to move them so? A painter might love thee for the gold of +thy hair, thy white brow, and thy blue eyes,--they would grace a +pictured saint above a shrine,--but for a man's kisses, and such love +as might tempt him to risk his very life for thee,--_cielos_! it is more +than passing strange." Then, as I stood dumb before her, she tapped me +lightly on the cheek. "Go to! Art such a fool as to think that _either_ +sword will be drawn for _my_ beauty's sake?" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +That night I had but little sleep. + +About an hour after midnight there was a great stir in the house and the +sound of opening doors and hurrying footsteps. The unwonted noises +terrified me. I leaned against the door, with a heart beating thickly, +and I listened. What evil tidings did those sounds portend? There was a +loud outcry in a woman's voice,--the voice of Dona Orosia. + +I felt that I must know what havoc Fate had wrought in the last hours. I +looked at Barbara--she slumbered peacefully on her hard pallet; the +moonlight, streaming through the barred window, showed me her withered +face relaxed in almost childlike peacefulness. I would not rouse +her,--'twas a blessed thing to sleep and forget; but _I_ dared not +sleep, for I knew not what would be the horror of my waking. With my +cheek pressed close against the door I waited a moment longer. Perhaps +only those planks intervened 'twixt me and my life's tragedy! + +I laid my hand upon the latch. I feared to know the truth,--and yet, if +I did not hear it, I must die of dread. Slowly I turned the key and +raised the bars: the door swung open. + +I stepped out upon the balcony that overhung the court and I looked +over. There was no one in sight; the white moonlight lay over +everything, and a strong perfume floated up from the flowers in the +garden beyond. + +I crept down the stair and stood still in the centre of the empty court. +Voices sounded near me, but I knew not whence they came. Trembling +still, I moved toward the passage that led to the outer door, and I saw +that it was bright as day. The door stood ajar. Those who had last gone +out had been strangely forgetful--or greatly agitated. + +Scarce knowing what I did, I crossed the threshold and hurried down the +street in the direction of the fort. + +A group of three men stood upon the corner. At the sight of them I +paused and hid in the shadow of the wall; but, one of them turning his +face toward me, I recognized Captain Baulk, and, going quickly forward, +I laid my hand upon his arm. + +"How is he? Where have they taken him?" I whispered. + +"What! is't Mistress Tudor? Have they turned you adrift, then? Lor', +'tis a frail craft to be out o' harbour such foul weather!" + +"How is he?" I repeated, tightening my grasp upon his sleeve. + +"Dead as a pickled herring, poor lad!" + +My head struck heavily against the wall as I fell, but I made no outcry. + +"Sink me! but the poor lassie thought I meant Mr. Rivers!" I heard the +old sailor exclaim as he dropped on his knees beside me,--and the words +stayed my failing senses. + +"Whom did you mean?" I gasped. + +"Young Poole has been done to death, Mistress Margaret. As honest a lad +as ever lived, too,--more's the pity!" + +I struggled to raise myself, crying: "What do you tell me? Have they +killed the lad in pure spite against his master? And where is Mr. +Rivers?" + +They made me no answer. + +"He is dead, then! I knew it, my heart told me so!" + +"Eh! poor lass! 'Tis not so bad as that--yet bad enough. They've hung +chains enough upon him to anchor a man-o'-war, and moored him fast in +the dungeon of the fort. D--n 'em for a crew o' dastard furriners!--an' +he own cousin to an English earl!" + +"Can you not tell me a straight tale?" I cried. "What has he done to be +so ill served? And whose the enmity behind it all,--Melinza's, or the +Governor's?" + +"Lor'!" exclaimed one of the sailors, "the young Don is past revenge, +mistress. If he lives out the night 'tis more than I look to see." + +"Here, now, let me tell the tale, lad," the old captain interposed. +"'Twas a duel began it, Mistress Tudor. The young bloods were so keen +after fighting they could not wait for sunrise, but must needs have it +out by moonlight on the beach. 'Twas over yonder, in the lee of the +castle walls." + +"Mr. Rivers and Don Pedro?" + +"Aye, mistress. The Governor was not by,--'tis likely he knew naught of +it." + +"Not so!" I cried, "he had his share in the quarrel, and they left the +house in company." + +"Mayhap," said Captain Baulk, "I'd not gainsay it--for I trust no one o' +them; but he chose to go with his weather eye shut rather than take +precaution 'gainst the squall. So they had it out all by their +selves,--and none of us a whit the wiser, saving young Poole, who had +guessed somewhat was amiss and followed his master." + +"What then? Speak quickly! Was Mr. Rivers wounded?" + +"Not he! That's to say, not by any thrust of the Don's. Lor', but it +must ha' been a pretty fight! Pity no man saw it that lives to tell!" + +"In the name of mercy, sir, speak plainly!" + +"Aye, my young mistress, but give me time an' I will. Mr. Rivers ere +long did get in such a thrust that the Don went down before it as +suddenly as a ship with all her hull stove in. He lay stranded, with the +blood flowing away in a dark stream over the white sands. Our young +gentleman, gallant heart, did throw away his sword and fall down beside +the Spaniard and strive to staunch his wounds, crying aloud most lustily +for aid. Who should hear him but young Poole and that yellow devil of a +Tomas! They came from opposite quarters, and Poole was in the shadow, so +the other saw him not. The mulatto ran up alongside, and, seeing 'twas +the Don who had fallen, he whipped out a knife from his belt and struck +at our young master as he knelt there on the ground. Nay, now, do not +take on so! Did I not say he was but little hurt? Had the blow struck +him fairly in the back, as it was meant to do, doubtless it would have +put an end to him; but Poole was to the rescue, poor lad! He threw +himself on the mulatto in the nick o' time. The knife had barely grazed +Mr. Rivers on the shoulder; but young Tomas never let go his hold of it. +He and the faithful lad rolled together on the ground--and Poole never +rose again. His body was stabbed through in a dozen places. Mr. Rivers +had no time to interfere; ere he could rise from his knees, or even put +out a hand to take his sword, a dozen soldiers had laid hands on him. +That devil of a Tomas finished his evil work, and then picked himself up +and walked away; never a one laid a finger on him or cried shame on the +foul deed!" + +The old sailor paused, and each man of the group breathed a curse +through his clinched teeth. + +"They have taken Mr. Rivers to the dungeon of the fort?" I whispered. + +"Aye, so they tell us. None of us were there, which is perhaps for the +good of our necks,--yet I would we had had a chance to strike a blow in +defence of the poor lad." + +"And the Spaniard--Don Pedro?" + +"They carried him into the Governor's own house a while since. I think +his wound is mortal." + +"Then he has brought his death upon himself, for he forced Mr. Rivers +into the quarrel," I declared hastily. + +"'Twas bound to come," admitted Captain Baulk, "there has been bad +blood between them from the very first. But what are we to do with you, +mistress? Did they put you out in anger?" + +"Nay," I exclaimed, "I heard a great disturbance and hastened out to +seek the cause. The outer door was left unbarred." + +"Why then, mistress, we would best make for it again before 'tis shut! +This is no hour and no place for a young maid to be out alone." Taking +me by the hand he led me back the way I had come; but we were too late. +The entrance was closed and barred against us. + +"Now, what's to do?" exclaimed the old sailor in dismay. + +I had been too crushed and dazed by the ill news to think before of my +imprudence; but now I realized how very unwisely I had acted. I turned +hastily to the old captain. + +"Go and leave me, my good friend," I said. "Already there has been +enough trouble of my making. Do not let me have to answer for more. I +will wait here and call for some one to open for me. 'Tis better for me +to say what is the truth--that I wandered out in my anxiety. Go, I pray +you, and be discrete in your conduct, that they may have no just cause +to imprison you also." + +He saw the wisdom of it and went away out of sight, while I beat with +all my might upon the door. + +In a moment steps sounded within, the bars fell, and the door was drawn +back. It was the Governor himself who stood there. He looked at me in +astonishment as he drew aside for me to pass. + +I attempted no explanation; for I knew he could not understand me. +Doubtless he would tell his lady and she would hold me to account. +Slowly I mounted to the balcony above and pushed open the door of my +chamber. + +The dame still slept peacefully. I went softly to the window and knelt +down. My heart was sick for the faithful lad who had died in defending +Mr. Rivers. Poor boy! He had no mother--I wonder if there was a little +lass anywhere whom he loved? But no, he was young for that. I think his +love was all his master's. And to die for those whom we love best is not +so sad a fate as to live for their undoing! + +The hot tears ran down my face. I leaned my cheek against the bars and +set free my thoughts, which flew, as swift as homing pigeons, to my dear +love in his dungeon cell. + +Oh! I would that all the prayers I pray, and all the tender thoughts I +think of him, had wings in very truth; and that after they had flown +heavenward they might bear thence some balm, some essence of divinest +pity, to cheer him in his loneliness! If it were so, then there would be +in never-ending flight, up from the barred window where I kneel, and +downward to the narrow slit in his prison wall, two shining lines of +fluttering white wings coming and going all these long nights through! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Many days have passed since I began to write these pages. + +All the morning after that terrible night, with Barbara I waited +fearfully for some manifestation of Dona Orosia's anger. But there was +none, nor were we summoned out that day. Food was brought to us, and we +remained like prisoners in our chamber. Don Pedro was very low, the +servant told us, and the Governor's lady was nursing him. + +A week went by,--the longest week I had ever known,--and then we heard +that Melinza would recover. However, it was not until he had lain ill a +fortnight that Dona Orosia came to visit me. + +I was sitting by the window with my head upon my hand, and Barbara was +putting some stitches in the worn places in her gown, when the door +opened to admit my hostess. + +She came straight toward me with a glint of anger in her dark eyes. The +long nights of anxious watching had driven back the blood from her +smooth olive cheek, and the red lips showed the redder for her +unaccustomed pallor. She laid one hand on my head, tilting it backward. + +"You little white-faced fool! I would you had never set foot in this +town," she cried bitterly. + +"Ah! madame, I came not of my own free will," I answered her. "I and my +dear love would willingly go hence, an you gave us the means to do so!" + +"'Tis likely that we shall, truly," she replied. "'Tis likely that the +Governor of San Augustin will keep a galley to ply up and down the coast +for the convenience of you English intruders! There came two more of you +this morning, from the friar at Santa Catalina." + +"Two more English prisoners!" I exclaimed. "Who are they, madame?" + +"I know not, and I care not," she said. "I meddle not with things that +do not concern me. I come here now but to hear how you came to be on the +streets at midnight. Had I been in the Governor's place then, I would +have shut the door in your face." + +I told her the truth, as it had happened to me; and when she had heard +it her brow lightened somewhat. + +"Are you deceiving me? You did not leave here till _after_ the duel had +taken place?" + +"Madame," I said, "I have never yet told a lie, and I would not now were +it to save my life." + +Her lip curled slightly as she turned to go. "Stir not from this room, +then, until Don Pedro is well enough to leave the house," she said. "If +I could prevent it he should never look upon your face again." She +paused an instant, then added: "I _will_ prevent it!" + +"Amen to that!" I said, and I felt the blood burn warmly in my cheek. + +She turned and looked at me, and I met her gaze with defiant eyes. + +"Amen to that, madame!--for truly I hate him with all my heart!" + +She stood still, a slow crimson rising in her pale face, and I trembled +a little at my own daring. Then, to my surprise, she laughed at me. + +"You think that you hate him desperately?" she exclaimed. "Silly child, +it is not in thy power to hate that man as I do, as I have done for +years!" and with that she went away and left me wondering. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +July, the 16th day. + +Two things have happened recently to break the sad monotony of my life +within these walls. + +Dona Orosia and Melinza have had a disagreement, which has resulted in +his removal hence--at his own demand. Although I know nothing of the +cause of their quarrel, Dona Orosia's last words to me, the other day, +make it possible to understand the man's reluctance to remain here in +her care,--and yet they say it was her nursing that saved his life! I +would that I could understand it all! + +Since his departure I have had the freedom of the courtyard and garden; +and yesterday, by good chance, I had speech with one of the newly +arrived English prisoners. + +It had been a day of terrible heat, and just at nightfall I wandered out +into the garden all alone. There is a high wall to it, which so joins +the dwelling that together they form a hollow square. This wall is of +soft gray stone; it is of a good thickness, and about a man's height. +Along the top of it sharp spikes are set; and near one corner is a +wrought-iron gate of great strength, which is kept securely locked. + +It is not often that I venture near this gate, for it looks out upon the +street, and I care not to be seen by any Indian or half-breed Spaniard +who might go loitering by; but as I stood in the vine-covered arbour in +the centre of the garden I heard a man's voice from the direction of the +gate, humming a stave of a maritime air that I had heard sung oft and +again by the sailors on the sloop, in which some unknown fair one is +ardently invited to-- + + "--be the Captain's lady!" + +and I knew it must be a friend. So I made haste thither and peered out +into the street. + +Sure enough it was old Captain Baulk, and with him a gentleman whose +face, even in the twilight, was well known to me,--he being none other +than Mr. John Collins of Barbadoes (the same who had given us news of my +poor father's end, and one of our fellow passengers on the _Three +Brothers_). + +They both greeted me most kindly and inquired earnestly how I did and if +I was well treated. It seems that for days they had been trying to get +speech with me, but could find none to deliver a message; so for two +nights past they had hung about the gate, hoping that by chance I might +come out to them. + +Mr. Collins related to me how the sloop had been sent back to Santa +Catalina with letters to the friar and the Governor of San Augustin, +demanding our release on the ground that as peace was now subsisting +between the crowns of England and of Spain, and no act of hostility had +been committed by us, our capture was unwarrantable. But Padre Ignacio, +with his plausible tongue, had beguiled them ashore into his power. + +"The man is a very devil for fair words and smooth deceits," declared +Mr. Collins. "In spite of all the warnings we had received, some of us +landed without first demanding hostages of the Indians; and when we +would have departed two of us were forcibly detained on pretence of our +lacking proper credentials to prove our honesty. In sooth he charged us +with piratical intentions, though we had not so much as cracked a pistol +or inveigled one barbarian aboard. The sloop lingered for three days, +but finally made off, leaving us in the hands of the padre. He +despatched us here in canoes, under a guard of some twenty half-naked +savages, with shaven crowns, who are no more converted Christians than +the fiends in hell!" + +I asked, then, for news of my uncle, Dr. Scrivener, and Mr. Collins +assured me that he was most anxious for my safety, and would have come +back with them to demand us of the friar, but he had received a hurt in +the neck during the attack at Santa Catalina and was in no state to +travel, although the wound was healing well--for which God be thanked! + +So far, all the prisoners, except Mr. Rivers, have the freedom of the +town; but Captain Baulk declared he would as lief be confined within the +fort. + +"There be scarce two honest men--saving ourselves--in all San Augustin," +he said. "The lodging-house where we sleep is crowded with dirty, +thieving half-breeds, who would as willingly slit a man's throat as a +pig's. Though they hold us as guests against our will, we must e'en pay +our own score; and some fine night--you mark me!--we shall find +ourselves lacking our purses." + +"Then the Governor will be at the cost of our entertainment," said Mr. +Collins. + +"'Twill be prison fare, sir," grunted the old sailor, "and we'll be +lucky if he doesn't find it cheaper to heave us overboard and be done +with it!" + +"Tut! man,--hold your croaking tongue in the poor young lady's +presence," whispered Mr. Collins; but I heard what he said, and bade +him tell us our true case and what real hope there was of our +liberation. + +"There is every certainty," he said. "When word reaches their Lordships +in England, they will not fail to make complaint to the Spanish +Council,--and they have no just cause for refusing to set us free. But I +trust we shall not have to wait for that. If we had a Governor of +spirit, instead of a timorous old man like Sayle, he would have already +sent the frigate down here to demand us of the Spaniards. There are not +lacking men to carry out the enterprise: Captain Brayne could scarce be +restrained from swooping down on the whole garrison--as Rob Searle did, +not long ago, when he rescued Dr. Woodward out of their clutches." + +"Captain Brayne!--the frigate! Do you mean that the _Carolina_ has +arrived?" + +"Two months ahead of our sloop," declared Mr. Collins; "but Governor +Sayle has despatched her to Virginia for provisions, of which we were +beginning to run short. The _Port Royal_ has not been heard of, so 'tis +feared she went down in the storm." + +He went on to tell me of the new settlement which had been already laid +out at a place called Kiawah,--a very fair and fruitful country, which +Heaven grant I may one day see! + +In my turn I related all that had befallen me since we reached this +place. They heard me out very gravely, and promised to contrive some +means of communicating with me in case of need. + +Then, as it grew very late, we parted, promising to meet the following +night; and I crept softly back to the house and my little room, greatly +comforted that I now had a worthy gentleman like Mr. Collins with whom I +could advise; for with his knowledge of the Spanish tongue and his sound +judgment I hope he may influence the Governor in our favour. + + * * * * * + +The sun is setting now, I think, although I cannot see it from my +window; for all the sky without is faintly pink, and every ripple on the +bay turns a blushing cheek toward the west. I must lay by my pen and +watch for an opportunity to keep tryst at the gateway with my two good +friends.... + +Nine of the clock. + +God help me! I waited in the garden till I heard a whistle, and stole +down to the gate as before. + +A man put out his hand and caught at mine through the bars. It was that +vile Tomas--the wretch who would have murdered my dear love! I screamed +and fled, but he called after me in Spanish. The words were strange to +me--but the tones of his voice and the coarse laughter needed no +interpreter! + +As I flew across the garden, too frightened to attempt concealment, Dona +Orosia stepped out into the courtyard and demanded an explanation. I +knew not what to say, for I could not divulge the motive that had sent +me out; but I told her that a man had called me from the gate, and when +I went near to see who it might be I recognized the servant of Melinza. + +She seemed to doubt me at first, till I described him closely; then she +was greatly angered and forbade me the garden altogether. + +"If I find you here alone again," she hissed, seizing my shoulder with +no gentle grasp, "if I find you here again, I will turn the key upon you +and keep you prisoner in your chamber." + +So now I dare not venture beyond the court and the balconies; and there +will be no chance of speaking with Mr. Collins unless he dares to come +under my window, and there is little hope of his doing that unseen, for +'tis in full view from the ramparts of the fort, where a sentry paces +day and night. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +August, the 7th day. + +When I began this tale of our captivity it was with the hope that I +might find some means of sending it to friends, in this country or in +England, who would interest themselves in obtaining our release. +However, from what Mr. Collins told me, I feel assured that news of Mr. +Rivers's capture has already been sent to their Lordships the +proprietors, and this record of mine seems now but wasted labour. Yet +from time to time, for my own solace, I shall add to it; and perchance, +some day in safety and freedom, I and----another----may together read +its tear-stained pages. + +This day I have completed the seventeenth year of my age. It is a double +anniversary, for one year ago this night--it being the eve of our +departure from England--I first set eyes upon my dear love. + +Can it be possible that he, in his dolorous prison, has taken account of +the passing days and remembers that night--a year ago? 'Twould be liker +a man if he took no thought of the date till it was past,--yet I do +greatly wonder if he has forgotten. + +As for me, the memory has lived with me all these hours since I unclosed +my eyes at dawn. + +I can see now the brightly lighted cabin of the _Carolina_, where the +long supper-table was laid for the many passengers who were to set out +on the morrow for a new world. I had been somehow parted from my uncle, +Dr. Scrivener, and I stood in the cabin doorway half afraid to venture +in and meet the eyes of all the strangers present. I felt the colour +mounting warmly in my cheek, and my feet were very fain to run away, +when Captain Henry Brayne, the brave and cheery commander of the +frigate, caught sight of me, and, rising hastily, led me to a seat at +his own right hand. + +(I do recollect that I wore a new gown of fine blue cloth--a soft and +tender colour, that became me well.) + +As I took my place I glanced shyly round, and saw, at the farther end of +the long table, the gallantest gentleman I had ever set eyes upon in all +my sixteen years of life. He was looking directly at me, and presently +he lifted his glass and said: + +"Captain Brayne, I give you _the Carolina and every treasure she +contains_!" + +There was some laughter as the toast was drunk, and my uncle--who had +only that moment entered and taken his seat beside me--asked of me an +explanation. + +"Nay, Dr. Scrivener," said the jovial captain, "'tis not likely the +little lady was attending. But now I give you--_the health of Mistress +Tudor!_ (and it will not be the first time it has been proposed +to-night!)" + +And that was but a year ago. I would never have guessed that at +seventeen I could feel so very old. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +San Augustin's Day--August, the 28th. + +Oh! but I have been angered this day! + +What? when my betrothed lies in prison, ill, perhaps, or fretting his +brave heart away, am I to be dragged forth to make part of a pageant for +the entertainment of his jailers? I would sooner have the lowest cell in +the dungeon--aye! and starve and stifle for lack of food and air, than +be forced to deck myself out in borrowed bravery, and sit mowing and +smiling in a gay pavilion, and clap hands in transport over the fine +cavalier airs of the man I hold most in abhorrence! + +Do they take me for so vapid a little fool that I may be compelled to +any course they choose? Nay, then, they have learned a lesson. Oh, but +it is good to be in a fair rage for once! + +I had grown so weary and sick at heart that the blood crawled sluggishly +in my veins; my eyes were dull and heavy; I had sat listlessly, with +idle hands, day after day, waiting--waiting for I knew not what! +Therefore it was that I had no will or courage to oppose the Governor's +wife when she came to me this morning and bade me wear the gown she +brought, and pin a flower in my hair, and sit with her in the Governor's +pavilion to see the fine parade go by. + +"This is a great day in San Augustin," she said, "being the +one-hundred-and-fifth anniversary of its founding by the Spanish." + +As the captives of olden times made part of the triumph of their +conquerors, 'twas very fit that I, forsooth, should lend what little I +possessed of youth and fairness to the making of a Spanish holiday! + +But I was too spiritless, then, to dare a refusal. I bowed my head +meekly enough while Chepa--the smiling, good-natured negress--gathered +up the rustling folds of the green silk petticoat and slipped it over my +shoulders. I made no demur while she looped and twisted the long tresses +of my yellow hair, fastening it high with a tall comb, and tying a knot +of black velvet riband upon each of the wilful little bunches of curls +that ever come tumbling about my ears. + +When all was finished, and the lace mantilla fastened to my comb and +draped about my shoulders, I was moved by Barbara's cries of admiration +to cast one glance upon the mirror. 'Twas an unfamiliar picture that I +saw there, and my pale face blushed with some mortification that it +should have lent itself so kindly to a foreign fashion. + +I would have thrown off all the braveries that minute; but just then +came a message from Dona Orosia, bidding me hasten. + +"What matters anything to me now?" I thought wearily; and, slowly +descending to the courtyard, I took my place in the closed chair that +waited, and was borne after the Governor's lady to the Plaza, where, at +the western end facing upon the little open square, was the gay +pavilion. + +Its red and yellow banners shone gaudily in the hot sunlight of the +summer afternoon, and the fresh sea breeze kept the tassels and +streamers all a-flutter, like butterflies hovering over a bed of +flowers. + +Three sides of the Plaza were lined with spectators, but the eastern +end--which opened out toward the bay--was kept clear for the troops to +enter. + +Against the slight railing of the little pavilion leaned Dona Orosia, +strangely fair in a gown of black lace and primrose yellow, that +transformed the soft contours of her throat and cheek from pale olive to +the purest pearl. She deigned to bestow but a single cold, unfriendly +glance upon me; then she bent forward as before, her lifted fan +shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun-kissed sea. + +Presently, with the blare of trumpets and the deep rolling of the drums, +the King's troops came in sight, three hundred strong. + +At the head of the little band, which marched afoot, rode Melinza and +the Governor. 'Twas the first time I had seen a horse in the town. + +Old Senor de Colis was mounted on a handsome bay that pranced and +curvetted beneath him, to his most evident discomfort; but Melinza's +seat was superb. It was a dappled gray he rode, with flowing mane and +tail of silvery white; a crimson rosette was fastened to its crimped +forelock, and the long saddle-cloth was richly embroidered. + +As the little company swept round the square, the two horsemen saluted +our pavilion. Don Pedro lifted his plumed hat high, and I saw that his +face was pale from his recent wound, but the bold black eyes were as +bright as ever they had been before. + +I drew back hastily from the front of the pavilion and made no pretence +of returning his salute. Then, for the first time since I had taken my +seat beside her, Dona Orosia spoke to me. + +"Why such scant courtesy?" she asked, with lifted brows. + +"Madame," I answered, "had my betrothed been here at my side, an +honoured guest, I would have had more graciousness at my command." + +"What!" she exclaimed, "have you not yet had time to forget your +quarrelsome cavalier?" + +"I will forget him, madame, when I cease to remember the treachery of +those who called themselves his entertainers." + +She flushed angrily. "Your tongue has more of spirit than your face. I +wonder that you have the courage to say this to me." + +"I dare, because I have nothing more to lose, madame!" + +"Say you so? Would you rather I gave you into Melinza's keeping?" + +"Nay!" I cried, "you could not--such unfaith would surpass the limits of +even Spanish treachery! And you would not--it would please you better +_if he never set eyes upon my face again_! I only wonder that you should +have brought me here to-day!" + +She opened her lips to speak; but the blare of the trumpets drowned the +words, and she turned away from me. + +The troops were drawn in line across the square: on the right, the +Spanish regulars of the garrison; on the left, the militia companies, +which had come up while we were speaking. These last were made up, for +the most part, of mulattoes and half-breed Indians,--a swarthy-faced, +ill-looking band that appeared fitter for savage warfare of stealth and +ambuscade and poisoned arrows than for valorous exploits and honest +sword-play. + +The various man[oe]uvres of the troops, under the skilled leadership of +Don Pedro, occupied our attention for upward of an hour, during all +which time my companion appeared quite unconscious of my presence. She +sat motionless save for the swaying of her fan. Only once did her face +express aught but fixed attention--and that was when a sudden fanfare of +the trumpets caused the Governor's horse to plunge, and the old man +lurched forward on the pommel of his saddle, his plumed hat slipping +down over his eyes. + +For an instant the swaying fan was still; a low laugh sounded in my ear, +and, turning, I saw the red lips of the Governor's lady take on a very +scornful curve. + +She received him graciously enough, however, when--the review being +over--he dismounted and joined us in the pavilion. + +Melinza had retired with the troops; but just as the last rank +disappeared from view he came galloping back at full speed, flung +himself from the saddle, and, throwing the reins to an attendant, +mounted the pavilion stair. + +I felt that Dona Orosia's eyes were upon me, and I believed that she +liked me none the less for my hostility to the man. It may have been +this that gave me courage--I do not know--I think I would not have +touched his hand in any case. + +He flushed deeply when I put both of mine behind my back; then, with the +utmost effrontery, he leaned forward and plucked away one little black +rosette that had fallen loose from my curls and was slipping down upon +my shoulder. This he raised to his lips with a laugh, and then fastened +upon his breast. + +I was deeply angered, and I cast about for some means of retaliation +that would show him the scorn I held him in. + +At the foot of the pavilion stood the youth who was holding Melinza's +horse. + +I leaned over the railing, and, loosing quickly from my hair the fellow +to the rosette Don Pedro wore, I tossed it to the lad below, saying, in +almost the only Spanish words I knew,-- + +"It is a gift!" + +Melinza's face grew white with anger; he tore off the bit of riband and +ground it under his heel; then he strode down the stair, mounted his +horse, and rode away. + +The Governor's lady watched him till he was out of sight; then, with a +strange smile, she said to me,-- + +"I never knew before that blue eyes had so much of fire in them. I +think, my little saint, 'tis time I sent you back to your old duenna." + +"I would thank you for so much grace!" was my reply. And back to Barbara +I was despatched forthwith. + +But though I have been some hours in my chamber, my indignation has not +cooled. The very sight of that man's countenance is more than I can +endure! + +I am resolved that I will never set foot outside my door when there is +any chance of my encountering him, and so I shall inform the Governor's +wife when she returns.... + +She laughs at me! She declares I shall do whatever is her pleasure! And +what is my puny strength to hers? With all the will in the world to +resist her, I am as wax in her hands! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The first day of March. + +For six months I have added nothing to this record; though time and +again I have taken up my pen to write, and then laid it by, with no mark +upon the fresh page. Can heartache be written down in words? Can +loneliness and longing,--the desolation of one who has no human creature +on whom to lavish love and care,--the dull misery that is known only to +those whose best beloved are suffering the worst woes of this woeful +life,--can all these be told? Ah, no! one can only feel them--bear +them--and be crushed by them. + +If it had not been for the good old dame, I know not what would have +become of me. Many a day and many a night I have clung to her for hours, +weeping--crying aloud, "I cannot bear it! I cannot!" What choice had I +but to bear it? And tears cannot flow forever; the calm of utter +weariness succeeds. + +'Tis not that I have been ill treated. I am well housed, and daintily +clothed and fed. Unless Melinza--or some other guest--is present, I sit +at the Governor's own table. His wife makes of me something between a +companion and a plaything: one moment I have to bear with her capricious +kindness; the next, I am teased or driven away from her with as little +courtesy as she shows to the noble hound that follows her like her own +shadow. + +Until lately I have seen little of Melinza. Early in the winter he went +away to the Habana and remained absent two months, during which time I +had more peace of mind than I have known since first we came here. But +since his return he has tried in various ways to force himself into my +presence; and Dona Orosia,--who could so easily shield me if she +chose,--before she comes to my relief, permits him to annoy me until I +am roused to the point of passionate repulse. One could almost think she +loves to see me suffer--unless it is the sight of his discomfiture that +affords her such satisfaction. + +But all of this I could endure if only my dear love were free! I have +heard that he is ill. It may not be true,--God grant that it is not! +Still, though the rumour came to me by devious ways, and through old +Barbara's lips at last (and she is ever prone to think the worst), it is +more than possible! I, myself, have suffered somewhat from this long +confinement; and in how much worse case is he! + +I have tried to occupy myself, that I may keep my thoughts from dwelling +forever on our unhappy state. In the past six months I have so far +mastered the Spanish tongue that now I can converse in it with more ease +than in the French. The Governor declares that I have the true +intonation; and even Dona Orosia admits that I have shown some aptitude. +I care nothing for it as a mere accomplishment; but I hope that the +knowledge may be of use if ever we attempt escape. (Though what chance +of escape is there when Mr. Rivers is within stone walls and I have no +means of even holding converse with Mr. Collins?) + +I have one other accomplishment that has won me more favour with the +Governor's wife than aught else. She discovered, one day, that I have +some skill with the lute, and a voice not lacking in sweetness; and now +she will have me sing to her by the hour until my throat is weary and I +have to plead for rest. + +I had, recently, a conversation with her that has haunted me every hour +since; for it showed me a side of her nature that I had not seen before, +and that leads me to think that under her caprice and petulance there is +a deep purpose hidden. + +I had exhausted my list of songs, and as she still demanded more I +bethought me of a curious old ballad I had heard many years ago. The air +eluded me for some while; but my fingers, straying over the strings, +fell suddenly into the plaintive melody; with it, the words too came +back to me. + + I bade my love fareweel, wi' tears; + He bade fareweel to me. + "How sall I pass the lang, lang years?" + "I maun be gane," quo' he. + + The tear-draps frae mine een did rin + Like water frae a spring; + But while I grat, my love gaed in + To feast and reveling! + + The tear-draps frae mine een did start + Salt as the briny tide: + Sae sair my grief, sae fu' my heart, + I wept a river wide. + + Adoon that stream my man did rove, + And crossed the tearfu' sea. + O whaur'll I get a leal true love + To bide at hame wi' me? + + The lang, lang years they winna pass; + My lord is still awa'. + Mayhap he loves a fairer lass-- + O wae the warst ava! + + How sall I wile my lover hame? + I'll drink the tearfu' seas! + My red mou' to their briny faem, + I'll drain them to the lees! + + Then gin he comes na hameward soon + His ain true love to wed, + I'll kilt my claes and don my shoon + And cross the sea's dry bed. + + "Oh in thine heart, my love, my lord, + Mak' room, mak' room for me; + Or at thy feet, by my true word, + Thy lady's grave sall be!" + +"A melancholy air, yet with somewhat of a pleasing sadness in its minor +cadences," commented Dona Orosia when I had ceased. "Translate me the +words, an your Spanish is sufficient." + +"That it is not, I fear," was my reply, "and the task is beyond me for +the further reason that the song is not even English, but in a dialect +of the Scots. 'Tis only the plaint of a poor lady whose mind seems to +have gone astray in her long waiting for a faithless lover"--and I gave +her the sense of the verses as best I could. + +"Nay," said the Spanish woman, with a singular smile. "She hath more wit +than you credit her with. You mark me, the flood of a woman's tears will +bear a man further than a mighty river, and her sighs waft him away more +speedily than the strongest gale. And once he has gone, taking with him +such a memory of her, 'twould be far easier for her to drink the ocean +dry than to wile him home. For let a man but suspect that a woman +_could_ break her heart for him, and he----is more than content to let +her do it!" + +She paused; but I made no answer, having none upon my tongue. Presently +she added: "When once a woman has the folly to plead for herself, in +that moment she murders Love; and every tear she sheds thereafter +becomes another clod upon his grave. There remains but one thing for her +to do----" + +"Herself to die!" I murmured. + +"Nay, child! To live and be revenged!" She turned a flushed face toward +me; and, though the water stood in her eyes, they were hard and angry. +"To be revenged! To plot and to scheme; to bide her time patiently; to +study his heart's desire, and to foster it; and then----" + +"And then?" I questioned softly, with little shivers of repulsion +chilling me from head to foot. + +"_To rob him of it._" + +The words were spoken deliberately, in a voice that was resonant and +slow. 'Twas not like the outburst of a moment's impulse--the sudden +jangling of a harpstring rudely touched; it was rather with the fateful +emphasis of a clock striking the hour, heralded by a premonitory +quiver--a gathering together of inward forces that had waited through +long moments for this final utterance. + +What manner of woman was this? I caught my breath with a little +shuddering cry. + +Dona Orosia turned quickly. + +"Go! Leave me!" she cried. "Do you linger? Can I never be rid of you? +Out of my sight! I would have a moment's respite from your great eyes +and your white face. Go!" + +And I obeyed her. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +March, the 9th day. + +Dona Orosia sent for me at noon to-day. There was news to tell, and she +chose to be the one to tell it. + +I found her in her favourite seat,--a great soft couch, covered with +rich Moorish stuffs, and placed under the shadow of the balcony that +overlooks the sunny garden. Up each of the light pillars from which +spring the graceful arches that support this balcony climbs a mass of +blooming vines that weave their delicate tendrils round the railing +above and then trail downward again in festoons of swaying colour. +Behind, in the luminous shadow, she lay coiled and half asleep; with a +large fan of bronze turkey-feathers in one lazy hand, the other teasing +the tawny hound which was stretched out at her feet. + +She opened her great eyes as I came near. + +"Ah! the little blue-eyed Margarita, the little saint who frowns when +men worship at her shrine," she said slowly. "There is news for you. The +_Virgen de la Mar_ arrived last night from Habana, bringing the +commands of the Council of Spain that the English prisoners here +detained be liberated forthwith. For it seems that there has been +presented to the Council, through our ambassador to the English Court, a +memorial, which clearly proves that these persons have given no +provocation to any subject of his Catholic Majesty, Charles the Second +of Spain, and are therefore unlawfully imprisoned. How like you that?" +The waving fan was suddenly stilled, and the brilliant eyes half veiled. + +"Is this true?" I asked, for my heart misgave me. + +She laughed. "It is true that the _Virgen de la Mar_ has brought those +orders to the Governor of San Augustin--and that my husband has received +them." + +"Will he obey them, senora?" + +"Will who obey them?" she asked; and there was a gleam of white teeth +under the red, curling lip. "My husband, or the Governor of San +Augustin?" + +"Are they not the same?" + +"If you think so, little fool," she cried, half rising from her couch; +"if you think so still, you would better go back to your chamber and +pray yourself and your lover out of prison!" + +I made no answer; I waited, without much hope, for what she would say +next. My heart was very full, but I would not pleasure her by weeping. + +"Child," she continued, sinking back among the cushions and speaking in +a slow, impressive manner, "there are _two_ Governors in San +Augustin--and they take their commands neither from the child-King, the +Queen-mother, nor any of the Spanish Council. My husband is not one; he +obeys them both by turns. His Excellency Don Pedro Melinza decrees that +these orders from Spain shall be carried out except in the case of one +Senor Rivers, who will be held here to answer for an unprovoked assault +on one of his Majesty's subjects, whom he severely wounded; also for +inciting others of his fellow prisoners to break their parole, and for +various other offences against the peace of this garrison,--all of which +charges Melinza will swear to be true." + +"Is he so lost to honour? And will your husband uphold him in the lie?" + +"Hear me out," she continued in the same tone. "Melinza also decides +that these orders do not include the English senorita, Dona Margaret, +whom he intends to detain here for----for reasons best known to himself; +although the other Governor of San Augustin decrees"----she started up +from her nest of pillows and continued in a wholly different tone: "_I_ +say--_I_ say--that you shall quit this place with the other prisoners, +and my husband dares not oppose me! I am sick of your white face and +your saintly blue eyes; I am wearied to death of your company; but I +swear Melinza shall not have you! Therefore go you must, and speedily." + +"And leave my betrothed at Don Pedro's mercy?" + +"What is that to me? Let him rot in his dungeon. I care not--so I am rid +of your white face." + +She shut her eyes angrily and thrust out her slippered foot at the +sleeping hound. He lifted his great head and yawned; then, gathering up +his huge bulk from the ground, he drew closer to his mistress's side and +sniffed the air with solicitude, as though seeking a cause for her +displeasure. There was a dish of cakes beside her, and she took one in +her white fingers and threw it to the dog. He let it fall to the ground, +and nosed it doubtfully, putting forth an experimental tongue,--till, +finding it to his taste, he swallowed it at a gulp. His mistress +laughed, and tossed him another, which disappeared in his great jaws. A +third met the same fate; but the fourth she extended to him in her pink +palm, and, as he would have taken it she snatched the hand away. Again +and again the poor brute strove to seize the proffered morsel, but each +time it was lifted out of his reach; till finally his lithe body was +launched upward, and he snapped both the cake and the hand that teased +him. + +'Twas the merest scratch, and truly the dog meant it not in anger; but +on the instant Dona Orosia flushed crimson to her very brow, and, +drawing up her silken skirt, she snatched a jewelled dagger from her +garter and plunged it to the hilt in the poor beast's throat. The red +blood spouted, and the huge body dropped in a tawny heap. + +I rushed forward and lifted the great head; but the eyes were glazed. + +"Senora!" I cried, "senora! the poor brute loved you!" + +She spurned the limp body with a careless foot, saying,-- + +"So did--once--the man who gave it me." + +Then she clapped her hands, and the negro servant came and at her +command dragged away the carcass, wiped the bloody floor, and brought a +basin of clear water and a linen cloth to bathe the scratch on her hand. +When he had gone she made me bind it up with her broidered kerchief and +stamped her foot because I drew the knot over-tight. + +"Dona Orosia," I said, when I had done it to her liking. "If all you +care for, in this other matter, is to get rid of my white face, I pray +you kill me with your dagger and ask your lord to let my love go free." + +She looked up curiously. "Would you die for him?" she asked. + +"Most willingly, an it please you to make my death his ransom." + +Still she gazed at me and seemed strangely stirred. "Once I loved like +that," she said in musing tones. "I will tell thee a tale, child, for I +like not the reproach in those blue eyes. Five years ago, when I was as +young as thou art now, I lived with my parents in Valencia, where the +flowers are even sweeter and the skies bluer than here in sunny Florida. +I had a lover in those days, who followed me like my shadow, and, in +spite of my old duenna, found many a moment to pour his passion in my +ears. He was a brave man and a handsome, and he won my heart from me. +Though he had no great fortune I would have wed him willingly and +followed him over land and sea. I never doubted him for a day; and when +he came to my father's house with an old nobleman, his uncle and the +head of his family, I was well content; for my mother told me they had +asked for my hand and it had been promised. But when my father called me +in at last to see my future husband, it was the old man who met me with +a simper on his wrinkled face. I turned to the nephew; but he was gazing +out of the window----" + +She broke off with a fierce laugh and then added bitterly,--"And so I +came to marry my husband, the Governor of San Augustin!" + +"The other was Don Pedro?" + +"Has thy baby wit compassed that much? Yes, the other was Melinza." + +"But if you once loved him why should there be hate between you now?" + +"Why? thou little fool! Why?"--she put out one hand and drew me closer, +so that she could look deep into my eyes. "Why does a woman ever hate a +man? Canst tell me that?" + +We gazed at each other so until I saw--I scarce know what I saw! My head +swam, and of a sudden it came over me that when the angels fell from +heaven there must have been an awful beauty in their eyes! + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +I awoke this morning with a sense of horror haunting me,--and then I +recalled the scene of yesterday and the dumb appeal in the eyes of the +dying hound. The story the Spanish woman had told me of her own past +pleaded nothing in excuse. Hatred and cruelty seemed strange fruit for +love to bear. + +I thought of my own ill fortunes, and I said within me: True Love sits +at the door of the heart to guard it from all evil passions. Loss and +Pain may enter in, and Sorrow bear them company; but Revenge and +Cruelty, Untruth, and all their evil kin, must hide their shamed faces +and pass by! + +Secure in the thought of the pure affection that reigned in my own +bosom, I went forth and met Temptation, and straightway fell from the +high path in which I believed my feet to be so surely fixed! + +Dona Orosia seemed to be in a strangely gentle mood. + +"Child, how pale thy face is! Didst thou not lie awake all night? Deny +it not, 'tis writ most plainly in the dark shadows round those great +blue eyes. Come, rest here beside me"--and she drew me down upon the +couch and slipped a soft pillow under my head. + +I was fairly dumfounded at this unwonted courtesy, and could find no +words to meet it with. But she appeared unconscious of my silence and +continued speaking. + +"'Tis the thought of the English lover that robs thee of sleep, +Margarita mia! Thou wouldst give thy very life to procure his freedom; +is it not so? Would any task be too hard for thee with this end in +view?" + +I could not answer; I clasped my hands and looked at her in silence. + +"I thought as much," she said, smiling, and laid a gentle finger on my +cheek. + +"Oh, senora, you will aid me to save him! You will plead with the +Governor--you will set him free?" + +She drew back coldly. "You ask too much. I have told you that there are +two Governors in San Augustin--I divide the honours with Melinza; but I +plead with him for naught." + +I turned away to hide the quivering of my lip. + +"Listen to me," she added more kindly. "Between Pedro Melinza and Orosia +de Colis there is at present an armed peace; since each holds a +hostage. Not that I care anything for the Englishman, but my husband is +undesirous of defying the commands of the Council. Although he bears no +love to your nation, he maintains that it is not the policy of our +government, at present, to ignore openly the friendly relations that are +supposed to exist between the Crowns of England and of Spain. It seems +that the duplicate of the Council's orders has been sent to the Governor +of your new settlement on this coast; and if he sends hither to demand +the delivery of the prisoners, Senor de Colis would rather choose to +yield up all, than to risk a reprimand from the authorities at home. + +"Dost thou understand all this? Well, let us now see the reverse of the +picture. + +"Melinza sets his own desires in the scale, and they outweigh all +politic scruples. He has sworn that so long as I stand between him and +you, so long will Senor Rivers remain in the castle dungeon,--unless +Death steps kindly in to set your lover free." + +A little sob broke in my throat at these cruel words. Dona Orosia laid +her hand on mine. + +"Poor little one!" she said. + +"You pity me, senora! What is your pity worth?" I demanded, forcing back +the tears. + +"I have a way of escape to offer," she answered softly. + +"Escape for him? Or for me?" + +"For both. Now listen! There is but one way to relax Melinza's hold on +Senor Rivers. He would exchange him willingly for you." + +"Better for us both to die!" I exclaimed indignantly. + +"I would sooner kill you with my own hands than give you up to him," +said Dona Orosia, with a cold smile. + +"Then what do you mean, senora?" + +"I mean, Margarita mia, that you should feign a tenderness for him and +let him think that it is I who would keep two loving souls apart." + +"What! when I have shown him naught but dislike in all these months? He +could never be so witless as to believe in such a sudden +transformation." + +"Such is the vanity of man," said Dona Orosia, "that he would find it +easier to believe that you had feigned hatred all this while from fear +of me, than to doubt that you had eventually fallen a victim to his +fascinations." + +"What would it advantage me if I did deceive him?" + +"He would then cease to oppose the liberation of all the other +prisoners." + +"But what of my fate, senora?" + +"Leave that in my hands, little one,--I am not powerless. I give thee my +word he shall never have thee. At the last moment we shall undeceive +him"--and she laughed a low laugh of triumph. + +I glanced up quickly. + +"So!" I exclaimed. "This will be your revenge! And you would bribe me, +with my dear love's freedom, to act a part in it! To lie for you; to +play at love where I feel only loathing; to sully my lips with feigned +caresses; and to make a mockery of the holiest thing in life!" + +"Is your Englishman not worth some sacrifice?" she asked, with lifted +brows. + +What could I say? I left her. I hastened to my little room, shut fast +the door, and bolted it on the inner side. Then I knelt at the barred +window and looked out at the sunlight and the sea. + +The blue waves danced happily, and the fresh wind kissed the sparkling +ripples till the foam curled over them--as white lids droop coyly over +laughing eyes. Two snowy gulls dipped and soared, flashing now against +the blue sky--now into the blue sea. I gazed at their white wings--and +thought of all the vain prayers I had sent up to Heaven. + +And then the dark hour of my life closed down on me. + +I bethought me of my father, that loyal gentleman whose only fault was +that he served his Prince too well,--a Prince whose gratitude had never +prompted him to inquire concerning that servant's fate, or to offer a +word of consolation to the wife who had lost her all. I bethought me of +my young mother, of her white, tear-stained face, of the long hours she +had spent upon her knees, and how at last she prayed: "Lord! only to +know that he is dead!"--yet she died ignorant. + +Then did the devil come to me and whisper: "Of what use is it to have +patience and faith? Does thy God bear thee in mind--or is his memory +like that of the Prince thy father served? Dost thou still believe that +He doeth all things well, and is there still trust in thy heart? Come, +make friends of those who would aid thee--never mind a little lie! +Wouldst be happy? Wouldst save thy dear love? Then cease thy vain +prayers and take thy fate in thine own hands." + +I rose up from my knees and looked out again upon the laughing +waters,--I would do this evil thing that good might come. I would act a +lying part, and soil my soul, so that I and my dear love might win +freedom and happiness. But I would pray no more--for I could not ask +God's blessing on a lie. + +Then I went slowly back to where my temptress waited. + +"Dona Orosia," I said, "I take your offer. I am young--I would be happy; +and you--you would be revenged! I am not the little fool you think me: I +know you too well to believe that you would aid me out of love; I laugh +at your pity; but I trust your hate!" + +"_Bueno_," she said. "It is enough. We understand one another,--but I +must teach thee the part, or thou wilt fail." + +"I am not so simple, senora, I can feign love--for love's sake." + +"Yet I would have thee set round with thorns, my sweet. The rose that is +too easy plucked is not worth wearing. And do thou give only promises +and never fulfil them,--I'd baulk him of every kiss he thinks to win!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +A day went by, and though I had become even letter-perfect in my new +role I had not the chance to play it to my audience; but it came at +last. + +It was in the long, dreamy hour of the early afternoon, when sleep comes +easiest. Dona Orosia had ordered her couch to be placed in the shadiest +part of the breezy garden, close against the gray stone wall. Designedly +she chose the corner nearest the iron gate, through which we could +command a portion of the sunny street; and here she lay and made me sing +to her all the songs I knew, the while she dozed and waked again, and +whiles teased her parrot into uttering discordant cries until for very +anger I would sing no more. + +Suddenly she laid aside her petulance, and with a quick, imperious +gesture bade me take up the lute again; then, falling back among her +pillows, she closed her eyes and let her bosom rise and fall with the +gentle breathings of a sleeping child. + +I hesitated in some astonishment; but again the sharp command hissed +from her softly parted lips,-- + +"Sing, little fool!--Melinza passes!" + +I touched the lute with shaking fingers and lifted my trembling voice. +The notes stuck in my throat and came forth huskily at first; but then I +thought on my dear love in his hateful prison, and I sung as I had never +sung before. + +Above the gray wall I saw Don Pedro's plumed hat passing by. He reached +the gate and halted, gazing in with eager eyes. His quick glance +compassed the green nook, passed over the sleeping figure, and fixed +itself upon my face. + +The song died away; I leaned forward, smiling, and laid a warning finger +on my lip. + +He made me a bow so courtly that the feather in his laced hat swept the +ground. + +"So, senorita, the caged bird can sing?" + +"When her jailer wills it so, Don Pedro," I said softly, and smiled--and +sighed--and gave a half-fearful glance over my shoulder; then added, in +a lower whisper: "And when she wills otherwise, I must be silent." + +"How, would she even keep a lock upon your lips?" + +"Upon my lips--and my eyes also. Indeed, my very brows are under her +jurisdiction, and are oft constrained to frown, against their will!" + +"So!" he exclaimed; and I saw a sweet doubt creep over his face. "Must I +place to her account the many frowns you have bestowed on me?" + +"_Si, senor_--and add to those some others that would not be coerced." + +The fire in his black eyes frightened me not a little as he whispered: + +"If that be true, then grant me the rose in your bosom, lady!" + +I lifted a trembling hand to the flower, and shot a frightened glance at +the senora's quivering lashes. + +"Oh! I dare not!" I murmured, and let my hand fall against the lute upon +my knee. The jangling strings roused the pretended sleeper from her +dreams. + +She half rose, and, seizing a pillow from her couch, hurled it at me, +saying angrily: "Here is for such awkwardness!" + +The soft missile failed of its proper mark; but found another in the +green parrot, who was dangling, head downward, from his perch; and there +was an angry squawk from the insulted bird. + +I threw a timorous glance toward the gateway, motioning the intruder +away. He would have lingered, being to all appearances greatly angered +at the discourteous treatment of my lady warder; but prudence prevailed, +and he fell back out of sight, with a hand upon his heart, protesting +dumbly. + + * * * * * + +The comedy had just begun. Now it must be played through to the end. + +It is a strange thing to see the zest with which my gentle jailer +prepares, each day, an ambush for the unwary foe, and how he always +falls into the trap--to be assailed by me with smiles, and soft +complaints, piteous appeals for sympathy, and shy admissions of my +tender friendship; which are always cut short by some well-contrived +interruption or the sudden appearance of Dona Orosia on the scene. +Though only a week has passed, already Don Pedro would take oath that I +love him well. + +Early this morning I heard him underneath my window; and I was right +glad of the chance to smile on him from behind the protecting bars. This +meeting had not been of Dona Orosia's contriving, so I thought I would +use it for my own ends. + +I vowed to him that I was unhappy--which was true. I protested that I +was sick with longing for freedom--and that, too, was no lie. But to +that I added a whole tissue of falsehood, declaring that I had never +drawn a free breath since I came into the world; that my uncle had been +a tyrant, and the man to whom he had betrothed me was jealous and +exacting; that I had been brought across the seas against my will; and +that I dreaded the hardships of life in this new country. I said I had +no wish to rejoin the English settlers, and I denied, with tears, any +partiality for my dear love. Heaven forgive me! but I professed I loved +Don Pedro better than any man I had ever seen, and I entreated him to +take me away from these barbarous shores. + +I had not thought that I could move him, yet, strange to say, the man +seemed touched. I wondered as I listened to him, for I had thought him +all bad, and deemed his passion but a passing fancy. He was speaking now +of Habana, a city of some refinement, where, as his wife, I would enjoy +the companionship of other ladies of my own station. + +"I'd never suffer thee to live here, my fairest lady, where yon dark +devil of a woman could vent her spite on thee!" he whispered softly; and +my conscience smote me, for I was playing with a man's heart, of flesh +and blood. + +But I bethought me, if there was in truth any good in that heart, I +would dare appeal to it; for I mistrusted that at any time Dona Orosia +would break her promised word. + +"Truly, Don Pedro, I would go gladly, for I hate the very sight of these +walls; but--if you love me--I would crave of your graciousness another +boon. Set free the English gentleman who was my promised husband, and +send him, with the other prisoners, back to his friends." + +There was no answer, and I feared I had overstepped the mark; but I +dared further. + +"Senor de Melinza," I said, "it is true that I come of a race for which +you have no love, and that I hold a creed which you condemn; +nevertheless it must be remembered that we have our own code of +chivalry, and there have lived and died in England as brave knights and +true as even your valiant Cid. I would not have the man I am to wed +guilty of an unknightly act. Therefore be generous. You have been +mutually wounded; but it was in fair duello,"--this I said feigning +ignorance of the coward blow that so nearly reached my dear love's +heart,--"and now, Don Pedro, it would be the more honourable to set free +the countryman of your promised bride and send him in safety to his +friends." + +"Senorita," said the Spaniard,--and there was a cloud upon his brow,--"I +would you had asked me any boon but this. Nevertheless I give you my +knightly word that the man shall go, and go unharmed." + +"I thank you, Don Pedro," I said, and fought down the cry of joy that +struggled to my lips. Then, because I could find no other words, and +feared to fail in the part I had to play, I took Dame Barbara's scissors +and cut off a long lock of my yellow hair, bound it with riband, and +threw it down to him as guerdon for the favour he had granted me. + +This noon, when I joined the Governor's wife as usual under the +vine-hung balcony, I boasted cheerfully of the promise I had wrung from +Melinza; and she demanded at once to hear all that had passed between +us,--then called me a fool for my pains! + +"Little marplot! Had you shown less concern for the fate of your +Englishman, it would have been vastly better. You do but cast obstacles +in my way. There is nothing for me to do now but hotly to oppose his +leaving! If needs must I will pretend a liking for the man myself, and +vow to hold him as my guest yet a while longer, for the sake of his +pretty wit and his gallant bearing,--any device to throw dust in their +eyes, so that we seem not to be of the same minds and putting up the +selfsame plea. Oh! little saint with the blue eyes, your _metier_ is not +diplomacy!" + +"In sooth, senora, till you first taught me to dissemble I was +unlessoned in the art." + +She laughed then, and said that when I had less faith in others I could +more easily deceive. + +"If the little Margarita believed Melinza's pretty fable about Habana, +and the excellent company there which his _wife_ would enjoy, 'tis no +wonder that she made a tangle of her own little web." + +"But Dona Orosia, think you he would deal unfairly with me? His words +rang so true--even a bad man may love honestly! And if I trifle with the +one saving virtue in his heart, will it not be a grievous sin?" + +The mocking smile died out of the Spaniard's eyes and left them +fathomless and sombre. + +I felt as one who--looking into an open window, and seeing the light of +a taper glancing and flickering within--draws back abashed, when +suddenly the flame is quenched, and only the hollow dark stares back at +his blinded gaze. + +"If he loves you," she said slowly, "it is but as he has loved before, +more times than one. He would skim the cream of passion, brush the dew +from the flower, crush the first sweetness from the myrtle-blooms,--and +leave the rest. You child, what do you know of men? It is only the +unattainable that is worth striving for. There is much of the brute +beast in their passions. Did you mark, the other day, how the dead hound +turned a scornful nozzle to the first sweet morsel that I pressed on his +acceptance? But afterward, the fear of losing it made him eager to the +leaping-point. Just so I shall trick his master--shall let him see thee, +_almost_ grasp and taste; then, when the moment of mad longing comes, +I'll stab him with the final loss of thee! Only so can I arouse a desire +that will outlive a day; for I know men's hearts to the core, thou +blue-eyed babe!" + +"Senora," I cried, stung by her scornful words, "I cannot say I know +men's hearts; but I do know the heart of one true gentleman; and I +believe, when he had won from me the betrothal kiss, I was not less +desirable in his eyes!" + +"So you believe," she said, and shook her head. "_Bueno_, go on +believing--while you can. Woman's faith in man's fealty lives just so +long----" and she bent forward from her couch, plucked a fragile blossom +from the swaying vines, and cast it under foot. + +I would have spoken again of my trust in the leal true heart that +trusted me; but I saw the trembling of the laces on her bosom, I saw the +dark eyes growing more angerful, and a slow crimson rising in the rich +cheek. She was always "studying her revenge,"--this beautiful, unhappy +woman, "keeping her wounds green which otherwise might heal and do +well." + +As I watched her a great pity overcame me, so that I held my peace. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +The 20th of March--a day never to be forgot! + +I have seen Mr. Rivers. It is the first time since that night--nine +months ago. I have seen him and spoken with him in the presence of +Melinza, Dona Orosia, and the Governor. + +Whatever may befall us now, nothing can take away the memory of this +last hour. If ever we leave these walls together and taste freedom +again, it will have been dearly bought. A maid's truth tarnished, and +the brave heart of a most loyal gentleman robbed of its faith! Dear God, +what a price to pay! + +'Twas noon when Dona Orosia came herself to fetch me. + +"There is some deviltry afoot," she said. "I cannot fathom it as yet; +but, as you hope for freedom for yourself and your Englishman, don't +fail to play your part to the end. Come quickly! Melinza demands to see +you, and the Governor permits it. Don't blame me, child--I can do +nothing to prevent it. But, I warn you, act the part, whatever it may +cost you." + +I followed her, as in a dream, along the corridor, into the room where +the old Governor sat in his arm-chair beside a carved table, whereon +were a decanter of wine, glasses half drained, and a litter of +playing-cards. He drummed upon the table with his withered fingers, and +looked uneasily, first at his wife's flushed face as she entered the +door, and then at the determined countenance of Melinza, who was +standing before the heavy arras which divided that room from another in +the rear. + +"Dona Margarita," said the Governor, clearing his throat nervously, "is +it so that you are detained within my house against your will?" + +"Your Excellency," I began, and was thankful I could speak truth, "I, +and all the other English, have been held here in San Augustin for many +a long month against our will." + +"Without the orders of the Spanish Council I could not liberate you, +senorita; though now we purpose to do so, having authority. But +concerning yourself--Melinza assures me that you do not desire to be +sent with your countrymen." + +I felt my heart grow cold. Must I still cling to the lie? I looked at +Dona Orosia, whose black eyes flashed a warning. + +"That is true, Senor de Colis," I said, and my voice sounded far off and +strange. + +"You would wish to remain here as my guest and companion, Margarita," +said the Governor's wife in vehement tones. + +I looked at her in wonder. What did they desire between them? My head +swam, and I would have said Yes to her also; but her black eyes menaced +me again. I drew a deep breath and shook my head. "No, please your +Excellency." + +Melinza smiled a slow triumphant smile. "Dona Orosia is unfortunate. I +trust I shall be more successful. You would rather go to Habana as _my_ +companion,--is it not so, Margarita mia?"--and he stepped forward and +held forth his hand to me. + +One day in the early spring Dona Orosia had called me to see a new pet +which had been brought to her, a young crocodile, loathsome and hideous; +and she had forced me to touch the tethered monster as it crawled, the +length of its chain, over the floor. I do remember the cold disgust I +felt at the horrid contact; but it was as naught to the feeling that +passed over me when I let the Spaniard take my hand. + +He drew me toward him, laughing softly. "Who doubts that the lady goes +willingly?" and lifted his voice with a defiant question in its ringing +tones. + +"I do, senor!"--and it was my dear love who pushed aside the arras and +came forward into the room,--my dear love, wasted by fever and long +imprisonment, white and gaunt and spectral, yet bearing himself with all +his olden dignity. + +The Spaniard turned to meet him, holding me still within the circle of +his arm. I gave one final glance at the Governor's wife and read my cue. +After that I could see nothing but my love's white face. + +"Have I lied to you, Senor Englishman? Do you believe, now, that I hold +that golden tress as a pledge of future favours? The lady on whose faith +you were ready to stake your soul is here to answer for herself, and she +has thrown in her lot with me--with me, senor." + +"Margaret--Margaret!" cried my dear love, "tell him he lies, +sweetheart!" + +I opened my lips, but the words died on my tongue. Again my poor love +cried to me, holding out his arms. I saw his white face grow paler +still, and he swayed uncertainly where he stood. Then, gathering all his +strength, he threw himself upon the Spaniard and would have torn us +apart, had not his weak limbs given way, so that he fell prone upon the +floor. + +Melinza's hand went to his sword; he drew the blade and held it to my +dear love's throat. + +[Illustration: "SPARE THE MAN, DON PEDRO! I LIKE NOT THE SIGHT OF +BLOOD."--_Page 125._] + +At last my voice came back to me; I laid my hand upon the Spaniard's +arm. "Spare the man, Don Pedro! I like not the sight of blood!" + +Then I saw mortal agony in a brave man's eyes. He made no move to rise, +but lay there at my feet and looked at me. + +"Margaret Tudor," he said, "do you love me still?" + +I looked down at him. If I spoke truth, Melinza's blade would soon cut +short his hearing of it. A wild laugh rose in my throat; I could not +hold it back, and it rang out, merrily mad, in the silent room. + +"Senores," I said, "Senores, I love a brave man, not a coward!" and that +was truth, though none in that room read me aright, save Dona Orosia. + +The man at my side laughed with me, and he at my feet gave me one look +and swooned away. + +Melinza sheathed his sword, saying, "Your Excellency, the prisoner +appears convinced; so you can scarce doubt the evidence yourself." + +The Governor cleared his throat again, and glanced helplessly toward his +wife. She stepped forward with scornful composure and took my arm. + +"Things are come to a pretty pass, Senor de Colis, when Don Pedro brings +his prisoners under this roof and your wife is made a witness to a +brawl. I crave your leave to withdraw; and I take this girl with me till +the question of her guardianship is settled." Then, still holding me by +the arm, she left the room; and neither of the two men ventured to stop +our progress. + +Arrived at my chamber Dona Orosia opened the door and thrust me in, +bidding me draw the bolt securely. + +I was left alone with my thoughts. Such thoughts as they are! I cannot +weep; my eyes are hot and dry. There is no grief like unto this. Oh, my +mother! when your beloved clasped you to his heart in that last +farewell, there were between you thoughts of parting, of bodily pains to +be borne, of scourgings and fetters,--aye, and of death. But what were +those compared with what I have to bear, who am humbled in the sight of +my dear love? + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +After writing these words I cast aside my pen, and, throwing myself upon +the bed, buried my face in the pillow. I could feel the drumming pulses +in my ears, and my heart swelled till it was like to burst within my +bosom. Though I pressed my hot fingers against my close-shut eyes, I +still could see my poor love's white, set face, the great hollows in his +bearded cheeks, the blue veins on his thin temples, and the large eyes, +one moment all love-lighted, the next, stricken with horror at the sight +of my unfaith. + +How long I lay there I can scarcely tell. It was many hours after noon +when I heard heavy steps without my door, which suddenly began to shake +as though one beat upon it with frantic hands. + +"Who is there?" I cried, lifting my head. + +"Oh! Mistress Margaret! a God's mercy--undo the door!" + +I drew the bolt in haste, and Dame Barbara burst in and dropped down, +weeping, at my feet. + +"Lord love ye, Mistress Margaret! Lord help us both this day! They have +sent off all our men to meet the blessed English ship--and we two poor +women left behind!" + +I could not think it true. I seized the weeping dame by her heaving +shoulders and fairly dragged her to her feet, demanding what proof she +had that this was so. She pointed dumbly to the window, and fell +a-sobbing louder than before. + +Then I looked out. + +The _Carolina_ frigate stood off the bar of Matanzas Bay, and over the +waves, in the direction of the frigate, went a small boat impelled by +the brawny arms of six swarthy Spaniards. With them were the English +prisoners: I saw the honest face of Captain Baulk, and next him worthy +Master Collins; also the three seamen of the Barbadian sloop; and +another, whom I did not know, but guessed to be the second of the two +unlucky messengers; and--in the midst of all--my dear love. + +He lay full length, his white face resting against the good captain's +knees; and my first thought was one of terror lest he was dead: but I +saw him lift himself, and give one long look at the castle walls, then +fall back as before--and I knew, in that moment, he put me from his +heart for ever. + +They were gone, all gone. Dona Orosia had played me false--God had +turned His face from me--and the man I loved would never love me more. + +I turned away from the window to the weeping dame, and I laughed, +laughed again as I had done in the face of my dear love that very morn. + +"The piece is near ended, dame," I said. "'Tis almost time to pray _God +save His Majesty_ and draw the curtain. But what strange tricks does +Fate play sometimes with her helpless puppets! She did cast us, long +ago, for a lightsome comedy, and lo! 'tis to be a tragedy instead! Think +you, dear Barbara, that death would come easier by means of yonder +bed-cord, or of those great scissors dangling at thy waist? Or, perhaps, +if thou couldst play Othello to my Desdemona, it might seem a gentler +prelude to the grave. How heavy is a lie, good dame? Think you it would +drag a soul to hell? If so, I need not to go alone; for if I lied to +Melinza, he also lied to me--and Dona Orosia also"--then a strong +shudder shook my frame. "Barbara, Barbara, must I e'en have their +company for all eternity?" + +She ran to me, good soul, and hushed me like a child to her ample bosom. + +"Lord help ye, dear lamb! And He will--He will!" I heard her say over +and over; then everything turned dark before my eyes, and I thought +death had come to me indeed. + +When consciousness returned I lay upon my bed in a gray twilight, and +beside me were Dame Barbara and the Governor's wife. + +As my eyes fell upon Dona Orosia, I cried out bitterly that I had been a +fool to trust even to her hate; for now she had grown weary of her +revenge, and would discard her tool without paying the price for it. + +She covered my mouth with her hand, laughing shortly. + +"Melinza thinks he has been too sharp for me. He despatched the +prisoners in great haste to the English ship without my knowledge. I +went to him just now and demanded to know if he dared to send away Senor +Rivers without leave from me. + +"'Aye,' he said, and bowed to me. 'Since Dona Orosia desired for some +reason to detain him here, I thought it best to be rid of him at once; +but the girl remains.' + +"'The girl remains in my guardianship,' said I. + +"'Until to-morrow,' Melinza answered. 'To-morrow the _Virgen de la Mar_ +returns to Habana, and with her go the English girl and your humble +servant.' + +"'The Governor,' I cried, 'will not permit it!' + +"'Will he not? Ask him,' said Melinza, 'ask his Excellency the Governor +of San Augustin!' Then he laughed at me--_Dios!_ he laughed at me!" + +She bit her red lip at the remembrance, and clenched her white hands. + +"And did you ask the Governor, senora?" + +She nodded fiercely. "The old dotard! He did but shrug his shoulders and +offer me a diamond necklace in exchange for my pretty puppet of a +plaything. It is plain Melinza has some hold upon him, what it is I +cannot guess; but it is stronger than my wishes. He would sooner brave +my anger than oppose his nephew's schemes." + +I watched the dark shadow settling on her brow, and I thought all hope +was over. + +"Dona Orosia," I said at last, "will you lend me your dagger?" + +"Not yet, child--not unless there is no other way to thwart them both. +Look--" she said, and threw a purse of gold pieces on the bed beside me. +"This is your purchase money, and 'twill serve to buy assistance. When I +could make no better terms, I was forced to take this and a kiss to +boot--Pah!" and she rubbed her cheek. "To-morrow, when the tide is +full, the _Virgen de la Mar_ will leave the harbour. Before then I must +contrive your escape." + +"And Barbara's," I added, for I could see the poor dame was in deep +anxiety. + +Dona Orosia stared. "Upon my soul, we had all forgotten the old woman. +She might have gone well enough with the other prisoners; but how am I +to smuggle _two_ women from the town?" + +Then I besought her not to separate me from the dame, to whom I clung as +my last friend; and after a time she yielded me a grudging promise and +left me, bidding me make ready for the evening meal, at which I must +appear in order not to arouse the Governor's suspicions. + +My hands were cold and trembling; but with Barbara's aid I decked me out +in one of the gay gowns which had been given me by my protectress, and, +taking up a fan--with which I had learned the Spanish trick of screening +my face upon occasion--I joined the Governor and his beautiful spouse in +the brightly lighted _comedor_, where covers at table were laid for +three. I was thankful for Melinza's absence, for to play at love-making +that night would have been beyond my powers. + +At first I could eat nothing; but an urgent glance from Dona Orosia, +and the thought of what need there would be for all my strength prompted +me to force some morsels, in spite of the convulsive swelling of my +throat. I made shift, also, to answer when addressed by either host or +hostess; but the Governor was in no great spirits himself and seemed to +stand in some awe of his lady's frown. + +Suddenly, without the door, sounded voices in altercation, and a servant +entered, protesting with many apologies that there was a reverend father +without who demanded to see his Excellency at once on a matter that +would brook no delay. + +The Governor leaned back in his chair with an air of great annoyance; +but Dona Orosia said quickly, "Bid the father enter." + +A tall form in a friar's dark habit appeared on the threshold. I +recognized, under the cowl, the thin, sallow face and the sombre eyes. I +had seen them at the door of the chapel in the castle courtyard on the +night of our arrival, and many times since. They belonged to Padre +Felipe, the confessor of the Governor's wife, and her adviser, I +believed, in affairs temporal as well as spiritual. Something told me he +had come hither at her bidding, and I glanced at her for confirmation; +but Dona Orosia leaned with one elbow on the table, her chin upon her +white hand, the other rounded arm outstretched with an almond in the +slim fingers for the delectation of the green parrot on his perch beside +her. Not a flicker of interest was visible on her beautiful, sullen +face; so I turned away with some disappointment to hear what the padre +was saying. + +His voice was low-pitched and husky, and I could scarce distinguish what +he said, save that it concerned someone who was ill--nay, _dead_, it +seemed, and needing instant burial. + +The Governor listened with a gathering scowl upon his face, till +suddenly he started up with such haste that his chair fell backward with +a noisy clatter. + +"_Santa Maria!_ Dead of the black vomit? And you come hither with the +vile contagion clinging to your very garments!" + +"Nay," said the friar's deep, hollow voice, as he lifted a reassuring +hand. "I have changed my robes. You and yours are in no danger, my son." + +"In no danger!" repeated the Governor, his face becoming purple and his +voice choked; "no danger, when the foul carcass lies unburied, tainting +the very air with death! Throw it over in the sea--nay, set fire to the +miserable hut in which it lies, and let all be consumed together!" + +"Who is it that is dead?" asked Dona Orosia. She had risen, and stood +with one hand holding back her skirts, her full, red upper lip slightly +drawn, and her delicate nostrils dilated, as though the very mention of +the loathed disease filled her with disgust. + +"A wretched half-breed boy, some thieving member of the padre's flock," +exclaimed the Governor impatiently. "Set fire to the hut, I say!" + +But Dona Orosia interrupted once again. "Padre, what is it that you +desire?" + +The sombre eyes were turned on her for the first time. "The boy was a +Christian, my daughter, and I would give him Christian burial." + +"Surely," said Dona Orosia. "What is to prevent?" + +"Would you spread the infection through the town?" exclaimed the +Governor, white with fear. + +"Nay," said the friar, "I ask but a permit to take the body without the +gates. None but I and a few of my followers need be exposed to danger. +Let a bell be rung before us, to warn all in the streets to stand away; +and we will carry a vessel of strong incense before the bier. Those who +go out with me, I pledge you my word, shall not return for some days +till they are free of all taint themselves." + +"My plan is better,--to burn hut, corpse, and all," replied the +Governor. But Padre Felipe turned on him fiercely. + +"How shall I keep my hold upon my people, and they retain their faith in +consecrated things, if you treat a Christian's body as you would the +carcass of a dog?" + +"As you will," the Governor exclaimed; and, throwing himself into a +chair, he called for pen and paper. "Here," he added presently, "deliver +this to Don Pedro de Melinza, and bid him warn the sentries at the gate. +Say, furthermore, that if any one in the town comes within twenty paces +of the bier, out of the gate he shall go also." + +The friar received the permit silently, lifted his hand in benediction, +and left the apartment. + +As my glance returned from the doorway it met that of Dona Orosia, and +in hers there was a passing flash of triumph. Soon after, she rose, and +together we withdrew. I felt her hand upon my arm tighten convulsively; +but I walked on with the same sense of unreality that had oppressed me +all the day. + +When we reached my chamber she bade me change my dress again for +something dark and warm; for the night air was damp and chill. As I did +so I slipped within my bosom the roll of closely written pages +containing these annals of my prisonment. Then I asked for Barbara, and +Dona Orosia quietly replied,-- + +"She has gone upon an errand and will join us in due time." Then she +threw a mantle over my head, wrapped herself in another, and led me out +into the garden. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +It was a moonless night, and a haze of cloud obscured the stars. We +passed silently under the vine-covered arbour, across the garden, to the +gateway. Into the heavy lock Dona Orosia slipped a great key; it turned +easily, the door swung open, and we stepped out. Locking it once more, +my companion took my arm and hurried me along the dark, deserted street. +We turned a corner, came upon an open square, and paused beside a huge +palmetto that grew near the centre. I heard the crisp rustle of its +leaves in the night wind, and I shivered with a nameless dread. + +Then, through the darkness, two dim forms approached us. My heart beat +quickly, and I drew the mantle closer round my face; but one of them +proved to be the friar, the other, my dear, dear Barbara. I sprang to +meet her with a quick cry; but Dona Orosia laid a hand upon my lips and +hurried me on. Padre Felipe now led the way, and we followed him for +some moments more until he paused before a low doorway and motioned us +to enter. + +"Senora," I whispered, "why do you come? I have no fear of the disease, +but why should you needlessly expose yourself?" + +"Little fool," she answered, pushing me gently on, "there is no fever, +no contagion here." + +Wondering still, I entered the narrow passage, and beyond it a dimly +lighted room. + +On the floor lay a long wooden stretcher covered with hide; at its foot +and head, fixed each in a rude socket, were two candles, still +unlighted. A brass pot with long chains, and a heap of dark cloth, lay +upon the floor; there was also a rough table on which stood a bottle of +water and a loaf of bread; otherwise, except for a dim lamp upon the +wall, the room was empty. Dona Orosia looked around, with quick eyes +taking in every detail; then she turned to Padre Felipe. + +"Can you trust the bearers?" + +He bowed his head. + +"Then the only difficulty is this old woman. Better to leave her +behind." + +But again I pleaded most earnestly; and presently the friar left the +room and returned soon after with a dingy cloak, with which he enveloped +the poor dame from head to foot. + +"Let her follow behind," he said, "and if there is no trouble she may +pass out with us." He charged her, then, to keep her face hidden and to +stand well away from the light of the candles. + +After that there was a pause, and the Spanish woman and the friar looked +at each other. + +"See you do not fail!" she said. + +"And remember your word," he replied. + +"A solid silver service for the new mission chapel at San Juan,--I swear +it," was the quick response; "that is, if you succeed." + +The friar folded his arms silently. + +"Nay, then, in any case! only do your utmost," whispered Dona Orosia +hurriedly. + +"The result is as God wills it," said Padre Felipe calmly, and, pointing +to the stretcher, he bade me lie down upon it. I did so, trembling in +every limb, and he would have covered me over with the wrappings when +the Governor's wife pushed him aside, knelt down herself, and slipped +into my hand a little dagger, whispering: + +"In case you are discovered." + +I hid it in my bosom, thanking her. "Farewell, senora," I said, with +tears, "you have been kind to me and I am very grateful. Whether or not +I win freedom and friends, I believe you have done your utmost for me. I +cannot think"--and I lifted my head close to hers and whispered--"I +cannot think it is for revenge alone. There must be some pity prompting +it." + +"Thou little foolish one," she said, and laughed, pushing me back upon +the bier. Then suddenly I felt a hot tear drop upon my forehead. She +stooped lower and kissed me on the cheek. + +I gave a little cry and would have risen again; but she drew the dark +coverings over me and I could see no longer. As I felt her soft hands +tucking me in, as a mother would her babe, I could only weep silently +and pray God bless her. + +A pungent smoke of something burning filled the room and reached me even +through the coverings. I heard the padre lighting the tapers at my head +and feet. After a time the stretcher on which I lay was lifted up and +carried, foot foremost, from the room--out of the passage and into the +street. I heard the feet of my bearers pattering on the ground as we +moved onward at a swinging pace; I was conscious of the heavy smoke of +burning incense that enveloped us; I heard the sound of a bell going +before me, and a voice raised in a steady cry of warning; but I could +see nothing save a faint radiance through the wrappings, where the +candles burned. + +After a time there was a halt and I heard voices in dispute. My fingers +closed around the hilt of the senora's dagger. If death must come, so +be it! I thought, and felt no fear, only regret that my dear love could +never understand, unless the spirit that quivered so wildly within my +still and shrouded form could speed to him in the first moment of its +freedom and whisper the truth to his heart! + +Another voice joined in. It was Melinza's own. + +"Stand back!" he called loudly. "Out of the way, slaves! Who dares +dispute the orders of his Excellency? If a man goes within twenty paces +of that leprous crew he may follow them to perdition; but there'll be no +longer any room for him within these walls!" + +A murmur rose, and died away in the distance. We moved on once more. +Then sounded the rattling clang of iron bars--but it came from behind +us. The bell had ceased to ring; but as we moved slowly on I heard the +voice of the padre chanting in a low and solemn key. Then utter silence +fell, except the unshod footfall of my bearers and a murmur as of +night-winds in the trees. Suddenly an owl hooted overhead, and then----I +must have fainted. + +I thought I was again in the Barbadian sloop, during the storm. Bound in +my narrow berth I rocked and swayed, while overhead the boisterous wind +howled in the rigging. The strained timbers creaked and groaned, and now +and then sounded the sharp snapping of some frail spar. A woman's +sobbing reached me through it all,--the low, gasping sobs of one whose +breath is spent. I pushed back the covers and looked around me. + +It was gray dawn in the forest. Through the tossing branches overhead I +saw the pale clouds scudding beneath an angry heaven. I looked toward my +feet and perceived the back of a strange man with dark head, bent +shoulders, and bare brown arms grasping the sides of my litter. Some one +was at my head also; turning quickly, I met his eyes looking into mine: +it was Padre Felipe. I sat up, with a sudden gasp. + +"Barbara!" I cried, "where are you, Barbara?" + +When only the weak sobs answered me I threw myself from the litter to +the ground, falling in an impotent heap with my feet entangled in the +wrappings. But I caught sight of my good dame staggering on behind, half +dragged, half carried by two Indian youths. Her clothing was torn and +draggled, her face pitiably scratched, while great tears chased each +other down her wrinkled cheeks. + +The litter had stopped. Padre Felipe helped me to my feet; but I turned +from him and threw my arms around Barbara's neck. She clung to me +desperately, her breath catching and her voice broken as she tried to +speak. + +The friar took her by the shoulder roughly. + +"She is worn out with tramping through the woods all night. It is no +wonder! But 'twas her own doing, for she would come; now she must keep +up or be left behind. We must reach shelter before the storm breaks in +earnest, for it will be no light one." + +A heavier gust passed while he was speaking; there was a louder moan in +the tree-tops, and a broken branch crashed down at our very feet. + +"Have we much farther to go?" I asked. He shook his head. + +"About a league, perhaps?" + +"Not more," was his reply. + +"Then put the poor dame in the litter, and I will walk." + +He looked intently at me. "Can you do it?" + +"Better than she. I feel faint here," I added, laying my hand upon my +bosom, "but my limbs are young and strong and unwearied." + +"You want food," was his brief comment; and, turning to the litter, he +drew out from a concealed pouch that was slung beneath it, a bottle of +water, and a loaf of bread, and gave me to drink and to eat. I took it +gladly, and Barbara did likewise. I thought, then, he would have taken +some himself; but he put by the remainder, saying he had no need of it, +and signed to the old woman to take her place in the litter, which was +then raised by two of his followers. The third went in advance to clear +away obstacles from the path, and we followed behind, I clinging to the +padre's arm. + +He said no more to me, but the touch of his hand was not ungentle. I +marked how he led me over the smoothest ground, choosing the briars +himself, though his feet were bare, and shielding me with his arm from +the sharp blades of the dwarf palmettos that hedged the way. + +As I walked beside him I could but marvel at the strange turns of Fate; +for now it seemed that I would owe my deliverance, in part, to one of +the very class I most hated as being the first cause of our captivity. +From time to time I glanced up at his dark, stern face, and wondered +whether, if I had not chanced to be his charge and under his sworn +protection, he could have found it in his heart to burn me for a +heretic! + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The light grew ever stronger behind the hurrying clouds, but the deep +places in the forest held their shadows still. Tall cypress-trees reared +their heads amid the hollows and spread their branches like a wide +canopy over our heads; huge live-oaks crowned the hummocks; and here and +there great laurels lifted their pyramids of glossy, dark-green foliage. +Our passage was frequently obstructed by fallen logs, mossed over with +the growth of years; and tangles of vine, tough-stemmed and supple, +flung themselves from tree to tree across our path, resisting our +advance. All through the forest's higher corridors howled the riotous +wind; but along the tunneled ways we traveled it was scarce perceptible +at times. + +In spite of my fatigue I felt a greater strength rising within me. We +had come so far without pursuit! I began to hope as I had never done +before; for was not my dear love free, and my face also set toward +friends? + +As I mused thus we reached a higher level, and, through a rent in the +stormy sky a shaft of morning sunlight glanced across my shoulder and +plunged forward into the woods beyond. I looked back, startled, and for +a brief moment saw the sun's golden disc; then a black cloud effaced it +from the sky. + +"Padre!" I cried, "we are travelling westward!" + +"Yes," he said calmly. + +"Westward!" I exclaimed again. "Westward--and inland! when the English +settlement lies to the north of us, upon the coast!" + +He bowed again in silent acquiescence. Then my indignation broke forth, +and without stopping for further question I accused him bitterly of +breach of trust. + +"Did you not promise Dona Orosia to deliver me to my friends?" I cried. + +"What cause have you to doubt my good faith?" he asked, turning his +sombre eyes toward me, but still speaking in the same calm tones. "Had I +a ship at San Augustin in which we could set sail? Or could such a ship +have left the harbour unperceived? Not even a canoe could have been +obtained there without danger of discovery. We have a long journey +before us,--could we set out upon it unprovisioned?" + +I hung my head, ashamed, of my doubts. Once it was not my nature to be +suspicious; but so much of trouble had come to me of late that I began +to fear I would never again feel the same confidence in my fellow +creatures, the same implicit trust in Heaven that I had held two years +ago. I had never been a stranger to trouble; but, as a child, I knew it +only as a formless cloud that cast its shadow sometimes on my path, +dimming the sunlight for a moment and hushing the song upon my lips. +Even when my mother died I was too young for more than a child's +grief--an April shower of tears; and although my earliest maidenhood was +often lonely, I had made me my own happiness with bright imaginings, and +prayed God to bring them to pass. So I awaited my future always with a +smile and never doubted that it would be fair. All that had gone by. +Trouble had shown its face to me, and I knew it for something terrible +and strong, ready to leap at my throat and crush life out of me. What +wonder, then, that I walked fearfully from hour to hour? + +Padre Felipe spoke again after a time. "The woods are thinning," he +said. "A few more steps and we shall come out on the shores of the San +Juan, near to a small village of the Yemassees, in which there are many +whose eyes have been opened to the truth. There we shall find shelter +from the storm, and means to pursue our journey when the clouds are +past. Let us hasten; the bearers with the litter are far ahead." + +He gave me his arm once more, and ere many minutes were past, we came in +sight of the bold stream of the San Juan and the crowded huts of an +Indian village. + +The settlement did not appear to be near so large as that at Santa +Catalina, nor did the buildings seem of as great size and +commodiousness. The most imposing edifice I took to be the mission +chapel, for before it was the great cross mounted aloft. It was circular +in shape, with mud walls, and a thatched roof rising to an apex. There +was a door in the side, of heavy planks battened strongly together; but +I could perceive no windows, only a few very small square apertures, +close under the eaves, for light and air. + +The clouds were beginning to spill great drops upon our heads, so we +quickened our steps into a run. The litter and its bearers had paused +beside the door of the chapel, and from the neighbouring huts several +Indians emerged and advanced to meet us. A young woman with a little +copper-coloured babe strapped to her back, its tiny head just visible +over her shoulder, peered at us from the low doorway of her mud-walled +dwelling, but meeting my eyes, drew back hastily out of sight. + +I was very weary, and Barbara, who had dismounted from the litter, +seemed unable to stand. The padre was holding converse with those of his +dark-skinned flock who had approached; so we two women crouched down +under the chapel eaves and gazed around us at the wind-tossed, +rain-blurred scene. + +Before us was a thick grove of trees; to the left we could catch +glimpses of the river, gray and angry like the sky, and all along its +banks the huddled dwellings of the poor barbarians, whose ideals of +architecture were no whit better than those of the wasp,--not near so +complex as those of the ant and the bee. + +Suddenly, while we waited there forlorn, my thoughts flew back to an +English home, with its ivied walls, its turreted roof, its long facade +of warm red brick. I saw green slopes, broad terraces, a generous +portal, and a spacious hall; I thought of a room with an ample chimney +set round with painted tiles, and I pictured myself kneeling upon the +bearskin rug before a blazing fire, with my head upon my mother's knee +and her fingers toying with my hair. For that moment I forgot even my +dear love, and I would have given all the world just to be a little +child at home. + +The padre turned to us at last and motioned us to follow him. He led us +to the rear of the chapel, where, plastered against the wall, was a +semicircular excrescence,--a tiny cell, with a narrow door hewn from a +single plank and fastened with a heavy padlock. Drawing forth a key from +his belt he unlocked this and bade us enter. We did so, and he closed +the door behind us. + +Within, the hard earth floor was slightly raised and covered with mats +of woven palmetto-leaves. A narrow chink in the wall admitted a faint +ray of light, enabling us to perceive dimly the few objects which the +room contained. Apparently it was Padre Felipe's sleeping apartment and +the chapel vestry combined in one. There was a curtained doorway that +gave access to the chapel itself; pushing aside the hangings, we could +see the dim interior, empty except for the high altar set with tall +candles, and a carven crucifix upon the wall. + +As I caught sight of these emblems of a Christian faith I bethought me +of the bloody sacrifices that had been offered to a pitiful God in the +name of orthodoxy, and I wondered whether heretics like us would not be +safer out in the wild woods and the driving storm--aye, even at the +mercy of infidel barbarians; but suddenly I remembered the solid silver +service which was to be the gift of Dona Orosia to this little new +mission, and I took courage. + +The rain was now pouring in torrents from the thatched roof, and the +wind, which blew from the northeast, dashed it back against the mud +walls of our refuge. I turned to Barbara and gave voice to an anxiety +that for some time, had been growing within me. + +"Dear dame," I said, "think you this storm is worse at sea?" + +"Aye, my lamb,'tis from an ugly quarter; but the _Carolina_ has +weathered harder blows, and haply she has found good anchorage in some +safe harbour." + +I tried to think the same; nevertheless, in the long hours that we sat +there, listening to the heavy gusts and beating rain, my heart went +faint at the possibility of this new danger to my beloved. + +It must have been past noon when the padre came to us again. He brought +food with him freshly cooked,--meat and fish, and broth of parched +corn-flour, not unpleasant to the taste. + +"The wind is abating," he declared, "and the clouds are breaking away. +When the rain ceases we may venture to pursue our journey." + +I begged to know how he purposed to convey us, for neither Barbara nor +I could go afoot much longer. + +Then he laid his plans before us. This wide river, the San Juan, flowing +by the settlement, continues northward for many miles and then curves +eastward and empties itself into the sea. We were to start in two swift +canoes--piraguas, he styled them--and, keeping at first under the lee of +the shore, follow the river to its mouth, then proceed up the coast +along the safe passage afforded by an outlying chain of islands. It +would be a journey of about ten days to the Indian settlement at Santa +Helena; the Indians there, he explained, were allies of our English +friends and would doubtless aid us to rejoin them. + +I asked if we must pass by Santa Catalina; and he said 'twas on our way, +but no one there would hinder us while we were under his protection. + +"Unless," he added, "the Governor of San Augustin sends out a ship to +intercept us there, or anywhere upon the way; in which case there will +be naught for me to do but give you up to him." + +Upon that I was in a fever to be gone; for I felt that the day could not +pass by without Melinza's discovering my flight, and I would endure any +hardship rather than risk his intercepting us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +It was not until the rain-clouds had all passed by that the padre chose +to embark. The wind was still high, and our frail canoes were roughly +cradled on the river's turbulent bosom. + +Padre Felipe, Barbara, and I, with two Indians, filled the smaller of +the two piraguas; the other held five Indians and a store of provisions +for the journey. + +The afternoon sky was naught but windy gloom; white clouds rolled over +us in billowy folds, and tattered scarves of mist trailed lower still +and seemed almost to snare their fringes on the topmost branches of the +forest. Close under the protecting river-bank sped our light canoes, +cutting their way through the gray waters. The dark-skinned crews bent +to the paddle silently, with corded muscles tightening in their lean +brown arms, and still, impassive faces fixed upon the seething current +or the swiftly flying shores. + +The gloom deepened slowly with the coming of the night. The waters +darkened, the dun forest became black and vague. At last, to my eyes, +it seemed that the sailing shadows in the sky, the inky, swirling +stream, and the mysterious shores blended in one all-pervading +impenetrable midnight. I could not realize that we were moving; it +seemed, rather, that we alone were still, while over us and around us +the spirits of the night flew past. I felt the wind of unseen wings +lifting my hair; I heard the splash and gurgle of strange creatures +swimming by. With my hands close locked on Barbara's arm, and wide eyes +staring into nothingness, I waited for some human sound to break the +palpitating silence. + +Finally the padre spoke. He asked some question in the Indian tongue. +One of the rowers grunted in reply, and there was a sudden cessation of +the rapid paddle-strokes. Then a signal was given to the other canoe, +and after some further discussion I felt that we approached the shore. +There was a scraping, jarring sound, followed by the soft trampling of +feet upon a marshy bank; and then a hand drew me up and guided me to +land. + +"The tide is running too strongly against us," explained the voice of +Padre Felipe. "We will rest an hour or two and wait for it to turn." + +They kindled a fire somehow and spread a blanket upon the damp ground. +I remember that Barbara and I stretched ourselves upon it and I laid my +head against the dame's shoulder,--then weariness overcame me. + +It seemed the very next moment that I was roused; but the fire was out, +and in the sky glimmered a few dim stars. There was a strange calm +reigning as we re-embarked; for the wind had died and the whole aspect +of the night had changed. All around us a faintly luminous sky lifted +itself above the dense horizon line, and the broad bosom of the river +paled to the hue of molten lead. Still brighter grew the heavens; the +thin clouds drew aside, and the crescent of a waning moon spilled glory +over us. And now our dark piraguas sped over the surface of a silver +stream, and every paddle-blade dripped diamonds. + +It is a noble river, this San Juan, with its broad sweeps and curves. At +times it widens to a lake, and again thrusts itself into the shores as +though its waters filled the print of some giant hand that in ages past +had rested heavily with outspread fingers on the yielding soil. Aided by +the strong current we glided on as swiftly as the passing hours. Our +faces were set eastward now, and I waited, breathless, for the day to +wake. + +There was a slow parting of the filmy skies, as though Dawn's rosy +fingers brushed aside the curtains of her couch; then came a gleam of +golden hair that slid across her downy pillows. A long-drawn sigh +shivered across the silent world, and with a sudden dazzlement we saw-- + + --"the opening eyelids of the Morn." + +From the southwest a fresh wind arose and swept clean the blue heavens; +and, with the early sunbeams sparkling on the ripples of the tide, the +canoes darted on toward the river's mouth. A heron flew up from the +marshes suddenly, and sailed over our heads on its strong white wings. +As I watched it dip out of sight in the river far beyond us I caught +sight of another gleaming wing that slowly unfurled itself toward the +sky. + +Touching the padre's arm, I pointed to it. + +"A sail!" he said. + +Our canoes quickly sought the curve of the shore and crept with caution +toward the unknown vessel. + +"It can scarcely be the Habana ship," murmured the padre, "for the +_Virgen de la Mar_ was at anchor in the harbour when we left San +Augustin, and ere morning the storm had risen, so she would hardly have +ventured forth to sea." + +"There are other vessels carrying sail that ply between the fort and +these coast islands. We came from Santa Catalina aboard one of them," I +whispered. + +"Yes," said the padre, "but this is too large." He paused for some +moments, and then added: "Do you see the long, straight lines of her +hull, and the square stern? This is no Spanish galley, but a frigate of +English build." + +"'Tis the _Carolina_!" I exclaimed, "'tis the _Carolina_!" + +"Oh! the blessed, blessed English ship!" sobbed the good dame. + +Then all energies were bent to reach her, for it was plain that she was +making ready to leave her anchorage. + +"If we could only signal to those on board!" I cried. "Loose your +neck-kerchief, Barbara, and wave it--wave it in the sunlight!" + +"We are too close to the shore," the padre said. "She can scarce +distinguish us until we strike out into the open." + +"But how plainly we can perceive her crew! And see the stir upon the +decks--are they not drawing up the anchor? Oh, Padre Felipe!" I cried +piteously, "wave to them! signal them! or they will leave us after all!" + +The friar rose carefully to his feet; he, too, was heartily glad of this +chance to be rid of his charges, and in no mind to let it slip by. With +Barbara's white kerchief in his hand he was about to make another effort +to attract the notice of the _Carolina_, when suddenly he glanced over +his shoulder toward the land, his hand fell quickly to his side, and he +dropped back into his seat with an exclamation of dismay. + +One of the Indians rose immediately, and with shaded eyes gazed along +the beach as it stretched away southward to San Augustin. He gave a +grunt of acquiescence and sat down, and the motion of the paddles +ceased. + +"What have you seen?" I cried in agony, struggling also to my feet. + +We were so near the river's mouth--almost upon the blue waves of the +ocean rolling out to the shining east! Under the lee of the northern +shore lay the English ship; and south of us the coast spun out its +gleaming line of sandy beach away, away back to the prison we had left. +But what were those dark forms that swarmed the sands? + +"We are too late!" muttered the Spanish friar. "Discovering your flight, +they have not waited for calm weather to follow in a swift +sailing-vessel, as I had thought they would, but have sent out a +search-party afoot to overtake you at the outset." + +"But we must reach the _Carolina_ before they arrive, Padre!" + +"It can be done, easy enough," he answered, "but what shall I and my +followers do if we are seen? Girl, I have too much at stake! I choose +not to incur the Governor's anger. 'Tis not likely that they connect us +with your disappearance, for Dona Orosia swore to shield me in the +matter. I have done all I could. It is thus far and no farther. But you +may yet escape; 'tis only a little distance to the ship; take up the +paddles and make your way thither." + +As he spoke he stepped from our canoe to the larger one which had closed +up with us, and the two Indians followed him. + +"Padre! oh, Padre! Do not leave me, do not desert me!" + +They paid no heed to my appeal save to give a mighty shove to our canoe +that sent it out toward midstream; then, seizing their paddles, with +swift strokes they sent their own piragua speeding up the river. + +It had all passed so quickly--so suddenly our hopes had been destroyed! +Barbara and I had been thrown forward by the impetus given to our frail +boat, and we cowered down in silence for a moment. The current was still +bearing us outward; but every second our motion slackened: we would +never reach the ship without some effort on our part. + +I seized a paddle and worked vigorously; but the light boat only swung +round and round. + +"Barbara!" I cried, "take the other paddle and work with me. I can do +nothing all alone!" + +The dame obeyed me, sobbing and praying under her breath; but we made +sorry work of it. + +I looked shoreward and could see our pursuers drawing closer and closer; +they had not yet perceived us, but in a moment more they could not fail +to do so. As they drew still nearer, riding on his dappled gray in the +midst of them, I recognized Melinza! With him were a troop of Spanish +soldiers--I saw the sunlight flashing on their arms--and some twenty +half-naked Indians, who might so easily swim out and drag us back to +land! + +"They see us! Mistress Margaret, they see us!" shouted Barbara. + +"Oh! not yet, dame, not yet!" I groaned, plying the paddle wildly. + +"The English, my lamb--the English see us! Look you, they are putting +put a boat from the ship!" + +It was true; but ere I could utter a "Thank God!" a yell from the shore +told us that those fiends had seen us also. Barbara would have dropped +her paddle in despair, but I ordered her sternly to make what play she +could. As for me, I dipped my blade now on one side, now on the other; +the trick of it had come to me like an inspiration; my fingers tightened +their hold, and my arms worked with the strength born of a great terror. + +Our pursuers had reached the river-shore, and a swarm of dark forms now +threw themselves into the stream. But the long-boat from the frigate +came toward us rapidly; I saw white English faces and heard shouts of +encouragement in my mother tongue. + +Then a volley of musketry rang out from the land. Instantly, the frigate +made response; her heavy guns thundered forth, and the white smoke +wreathed her like a cloud. But all the shots were falling short. + +[Illustration: "NEARER CAME THE LONG BOAT, YET NEARER WAS THE FOREMOST +SWIMMER."--_Page 162._] + +Nearer came the long-boat, yet nearer was the foremost swimmer. I saw +his brown arms cleaving the clear tide, I saw the white eyeballs +gleaming in his dark face. Friends and foes were now so close together +that from the shore it was impossible to distinguish them; so the shots +had ceased, and in their place rang out wild curses and savage yells. A +sinewy brown hand rose from the water and seized the edge of our +frail canoe, tilting it far over. The sudden jerk destroyed my balance, +and in a moment I felt the waters close over my head. + +Strong hands grasped me as I rose again and I battled fiercely; for I +thought the Indian had me in his hold, and I chose rather, to die. But +my weak strength was overcome, and I was lifted--aye, thank God!--lifted +into the English boat, and Master Collins wiped the water from my face. + +I saw them drag the dame in also, and then I closed my eyes. I did not +faint,--never in all my life had I been so very much alive; but the +sunlight and the blue sky were too bright for me. + +I cannot tell much of what followed. There were a few more shots, and +one of the English sailors dropped his oar and held up a bleeding hand. +I sought my kerchief to bind it up for him, but I could not find it. And +then, I looked up and saw the _Carolina_ close beside us. A ringing +cheer went up to heaven, and kind hands raised me to the deck. The +sunburnt face of Captain Brayne bent over me, and there were tears in +his honest eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +There were other women on the ship, and one of them came forward and led +me away to her cabin and aided me to rid myself of my drenched garments, +lending me others in their stead. I learned from her that the _Carolina_ +had come direct from Barbadoes, bearing freight and some very few +passengers,--the noise of our treatment at the Spaniards' hands +deterring many who would else have ventured to throw in their lot with +the young colony. Captain Brayne bore also the duplicate of the orders +of the Spanish Council--which had been forwarded from England to +Barbadoes; and he had been instructed by their Lordships the +Proprietors, to stop at San Augustin and demand the prisoners. + +All this my new friend told me during her kindly ministrations. She +asked, also, many questions concerning my escape and the treatment I had +received during our long captivity; but I was too exhausted to answer +these at length, and begged that I might be left awhile to rest. She +went away then, to get me a soothing potion from the ship's surgeon; +and I made haste to unwrap the little packet that had lain hidden in my +bosom, in which was the written story of my prison life. As I smoothed +out the damp pages I thought of how I would place it in my dear love's +hand and leave him to read all that my tongue could never say to him! + +I slept for some hours and woke refreshed. Then came a message from the +captain, asking if I would see him. I was eager to be out, for many +reasons, the chief being my desire to see him from whom I had been so +long parted; it was his face I sought first among the many familiar ones +that crowded round me. Besides Captain Brayne I recognized other +officers of the _Carolina_ as the same with whom I had sailed from the +Downs nearly two years ago. All my fellow prisoners--save one--greeted +me joyfully and kindly. But that one missing face--where was it? + +It was on my tongue to ask for Mr. Rivers; then, of a sudden, it came +over me _how_ we had parted. So! and he still believed me--that thing +which I had shown myself. He had nursed his doubts for two whole days +and nights, and now he would not even come forward to touch my hand and +wish me joy of my escape. It seemed to me I caught glances of pity +passing between one and another of the lookers-on. Did they wait to see +how Margaret Tudor would bear her lover's apathy? A jilted maid! + +There was a mist before my eyes; but I smiled and said little gracious +words of thanks to each and all of them, and wished in my heart that I +was dead. Oh, my love! whatever doubts you may have had of me were paid +back that cruel moment in full measure. I recalled some of the hard +speeches I had heard from the embittered Spanish woman, and I thought +within myself, All men are made after the same pattern! + +Captain Brayne and Master Collins and good old Captain Baulk of the +_Three Brothers_ had been in earnest conversation for some moments; and +now the _Carolina's_ commander came to me and took me gently by the +hand, leading me aside. + +"Mistress Margaret," he said, "there is one aboard this ship to whom +your coming may mean life instead of death. He is very ill,--so ill that +we despaired of him till now,--and one name is ever on his lips. Are you +too weak and unstrung, my dear young lady, to go with me to his sick +bed?" + +That was how the truth came to me. I cannot write of what I felt. + +"Take me to him," I said. + +He lay in his berth; his large eyes were alight with fever, and he was +talking ceaselessly, now in broken whispers, now with a proud defiance +in his husky tones. + +"God knows what the devils did to him," murmured Henry Brayne. "He was +once a proper figure of a man; but starvation and ill usage have worn +him to a shadow!" + +Aye, but a shadow with a gnawing sorrow at its heart. + +"You may taunt me, Senor de Melinza," whispered the broken voice, "you +may taunt me with my helplessness. I may not break these bonds, it is +true; but neither can you sever those that bind to me the love of a +true-hearted English maid.... That is a foul lie, Don Pedro, and I cast +it back into your teeth!... Strike a helpless prisoner? Do so, and you +add but another black deed to the long score that stands against the +name of Spaniard. Some day the reckoning will come, senor--I dare stake +my soul on that!... I'll not believe it; no! not upon your oath, Don +Pedro!... Margaret, Margaret! Tell him he lies, dear lady!... In God's +name, speak, sweetheart!" And though I knelt beside him, and called his +name again and again, he was deaf to my voice and put me by with feeble +hands, crying ever: "Margaret! Margaret!" till I thought my heart would +break. + +Oh! the terror of this new jailer--dread Disease--that held him in its +grip while Death lurked grimly in the background! For no wiles or +blandishments of mine could move them or loose their hold upon the life +most dear to me. When there was but man to deal with, my faith failed me +and I ceased praying; now it was my punishment that only God's mercy +could set my dear love free,--and it might be his pleasure to loose him +in another world and leave me still on earth to mourn his loss. + +As, hour after hour, I listened to his ravings, a deeper understanding +of the horrors of his long captivity began to grow upon me. I could +scarce forbear crying out when I thought how I had touched the hand of +that vile Spaniard, and listened, smiling, when he spoke of love to me. + +How terrible a thing is hatred! Heaven pardon me, but I think there is +somewhat of it in my heart. Yet, now that the fever is abating, and my +beloved is coming back to me from the very brink of the grave, I do pray +that I may forgive mine enemy, even as God in His clemency has pardoned +me! + + * * * * * + +He knows me at last. It was some hours ago. I was bending over him, and +a light of recognition dawned in his eyes. + +"Margaret! _Margaret!_ is it _you_? I dreamed just now----that----that +you were untrue to me!" + +"Did you so, dear love?" I answered. "Forget it then, and rest; for now +the fever and the dreams are past." + +He smiled at me and fell asleep like a little child. + + * * * * * + +In the long hours that I have watched beside him I have written these +last pages of my story; and some time, when he is awake and strong +enough to bear the truth, I will put them all into his hand and leave +him here alone. And I think, when he has read them through to the end, +he will discern--between the lines--more of my heart than I have words +to tell. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Margaret Tudor, by Annie T. Colcock + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARGARET TUDOR *** + +***** This file should be named 24335.txt or 24335.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/3/3/24335/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |