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diff --git a/37948.txt b/37948.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..90e106e --- /dev/null +++ b/37948.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9928 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Beautiful White Devil, by Guy Boothby + +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: The Beautiful White Devil + +Author: Guy Boothby + +Release Date: November 9, 2011 [EBook #37948] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Melissa McDaniel and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have + been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal + signs=. + + + + + Appletons' + Town and Country + Library + + No. 215 + + THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL + + + + + _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ + +DR. NIKOLA. + +12mo. Paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.00. + + "Crowded to the covers with the mysterious, the startling, + and the supernatural."--_New York Mail and Express._ + + "A novel containing a more ingenious, exciting, and + absorbing romance has not appeared upon our book table this + season."--_Boston Courier._ + +A BID FOR FORTUNE. + +12mo. Paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.00. + + "Mr. Boothby never allows the interest of their doings to + drop from first page to last: and he tells his tale in a + pleasant, brisk fashion that carries the reader along, and + is as convincing a vehicle as could be chosen for the + relation of strange adventures such as befell the hero and + his friends."--_London Times._ + +THE MARRIAGE OF ESTHER. + +12mo. Paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.00. + + "Abounds in dramatic situations, and is bright in dialogue, + graphic in description, and subtle in character + analysis."--_Boston Advertiser._ + + "Crowded with incident yet perfectly natural throughout, the + story is one of the most charming that its author has yet + written."--_New York World._ + +New York: D. APPLETON & CO., 72 Fifth Avenue. + + + + + THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL + + BY + + GUY BOOTHBY + + AUTHOR OF A BID FOR FORTUNE, DR. NIKOLA, + THE MARRIAGE OF ESTHER, ETC. + + + NEW YORK + D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + 1897 + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1896, + BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. HOW I COME TO HEAR OF THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL 1 + + II. AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE 16 + + III. THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL 34 + + IV. THE HOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL 60 + + V. HOW WE FOUGHT THE PLAGUE 79 + + VI. A TRIP INTO THE COUNTRY 100 + + VII. AN EXCITING DAY 117 + + VIII. A QUEER SURPRISE 135 + + IX. HOW WE SUCCEEDED IN OUR ENTERPRISE 149 + + X. RETRIBUTION 167 + + XI. A TYPHOON 186 + + XII. THE FIRST OF MAY 208 + + XIII. REMANDED 226 + + XIV. PLOTTING AND PLANNING 239 + + XV. HOW WE SUCCEEDED 256 + + XVI. OUR MARRIAGE, AND THE SETTLEMENT AGAIN 270 + + + + +THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HOW I COME TO HEAR OF THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL. + + +The night was sweltering hot, even for Hong Kong. The town clock had +just chimed a quarter-past ten, and though the actual sound of the +striking had died away, the vibration of the bells lingered for nearly +half a minute on the murky stillness of the air. In spite of the +exertions of the punkah coolie, the billiard-room of the Occidental +Hotel was like the furnace-doors of Sheol. Benwell, of the Chinese +Revenue cutter _Y-Chang_, and Peckle, of the English cruiser +_Tartaric_, stripped nearly to the buff, were laboriously engaged upon +a hundred up; while Maloney, of the San Francisco mail-boat, and I, +George De Normanville, looked on, and encouraged them with sarcasms +and utterly irrational advice. Between times the subdued jabbering of +a group of rickshaw coolies, across the pavement, percolated in to us, +and mingled with the click of the billiard balls and the monotonous +whining of the punkah rope; then the voice of a man in the verandah +upstairs, singing to the accompaniment of a banjo, drifted down, and +set us beating time with our heels upon the wooden floor. + +The words of the song seemed strangely out of place in that heathen +land, so many thousand miles removed from Costerdom. But the wail of +the music had quite a different effect. The singer's voice was +distinctly a good one, and he used it with considerable ability: + + "She wears an artful bonnet, feathers stuck all on it, + Covering a fringe all curled; + She's just about the neatest, prettiest, and sweetest + Donna in the wide, wide world. + And she'll be Mrs. 'Awkins, Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins, + Got her for to name the day. + We settled it last Monday, so to church on Sunday, + Off we trots the donkey shay. + + "Oh, Eliza! Dear Eliza! If you die an old maid + You'll only have yourself to blame. + D'ye hear Eliza--dear Eliza! + Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins is a fust-class name." + +Half a dozen other voices took up the chorus, and sent it rolling away +over the litter of sampans alongside the wharf, out to where the red +and blue funnel boats lay at anchor half a mile distant. The two +players chalked their cues and stopped to participate. + + "Oh, Eliza! Dear Eliza! If you die an old maid + You'll only have yourself to blame. + Oh, Eliza! Dear Eliza! + Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins is a fust-class name." + +The music ceased amid a burst of applause. + +"Sixee, sixee--sevenee-three," repeated the marker mechanically. + +"Give me the rest, you almond-eyed lubber," cried Peckle with sudden +energy; "we'll return to business, for I'll be hanged if I'm going to +let myself be beaten by the bo'sun tight and the midshipmite of a +bottle-nosed, unseaworthy Chinese contraband." + +Maloney knocked the ash off his cigar on his chair-arm and said, by +way of explanation, "Our friend Peckle, gentlemen, chowed last night +at Government House. He hasn't sloughed his company manners yet." + +Benwell sent the red whizzing up the table into the top pocket, potted +his opponent into the right-hand middle, by way of revenge, and then +gave the customary miss in baulk. + +"A Whitechapel game and be hanged to you," said Peckle contemptuously. +"I'll bet you a dollar I----Hullo! who's this? Poddy, by all that's +human! Watchman, what of the night? Why this indecent haste?" + +The newcomer was a short podgy man, with a clean-shaven red face, +white teeth, very prominent eyes, large ears, and almost +marmalade-coloured hair. He was in a profuse perspiration, and so much +out of breath that for quite two minutes he was unable to answer their +salutations. + +"Poddy is suffering from a bad attack of suppressed information," said +Benwell, who had been examining him critically. "Better prescribe for +him, De Normanville. Ah, I forgot, you don't know one another. Let me +introduce you--Mr. Horace Venderbrun, Dr. De Normanville. Now you're +acquent, as they say in the farces." + +"Out with it, Poddy," continued Peckle, digging him in the ribs with +the butt of his cue. "If you don't tell us soon, we shall be +sorrowfully compelled to postpone our engagements to-morrow in order +to witness your interment in the Happy Valley." + +"Well, in the first place," began Mr. Venderbrun, "you must know----" + +"Hear, hear, Poddy. A dashed good beginning!" + +"Shut up, Peckle, and give the minstrel a chance. Now, my Blondel, +pipe your tuneful lay." + +"You must know that the _Oodnadatta_----" + +"Well--well, Skipper--Perkins, martinet and teetotaller; chief +officer, Bradburn, otherwise the China Sea Liar! What about her? She +sailed this evening for Shanghai?" + +"With a million and a half of specie aboard. Don't forget that! Went +ashore in the Ly-ee-moon Pass at seven o'clock. Surrounded by junks +instantly. Skipper despatched third officer in launch full steam for +assistance. Gunboat went down post haste, and, like most gunboats, +arrived too late to be of any use. Apologies, Peckle, old man! Skipper +and ten men shot, chief officer dirked, first saloon passengers of +importance cleaned of their valuables and locked up in their own +berths. The bullion room was then rifled, and every red cent of the +money is gone--goodness knows where. Now, what d'you think of that for +news?" + +"My gracious!" + +"What junks were they?" + +"Nobody knows." + +"The Ly-ee-moon Pass, too! Right under our very noses. Criminy! Won't +there be a row!" + +"The Beautiful White Devil again, I suppose?" + +"Looks like it, don't it? Peckle, my boy, from this hour forward the +papers will take it up, and--well, if I know anything of newspapers, +they'll drop it on to you gunboat fellows pretty hot." + +"If I were the British Navy I'd be dashed if I'd be beaten by a +woman." + +"Hear, hear, to that. Now for your defence, Peckle." + +"Go ahead; let me have it. I'm down and I've got no friends; but it's +all very well for you gentlemen of England, who sit at home in ease, +to sneer. If you only knew as much as we do of the lady you wouldn't +criticise so freely. Personally, I believe she's a myth." + +"Don't try it, old man. We all know the Lords Commissioners will stand +a good deal, but, believe me, they'll never swallow that. They've had +too many proofs to the contrary lately." + +I thought it was time to interfere. + +"Will somebody take pity on a poor barbarian and condescend to +explain," I said. "Since I've been in the East I've heard nothing but +Beautiful White Devil--Beautiful White Devil--Beautiful White Devil. +Tiffin at Government House, Colombo--Beautiful White Devil; club chow, +Yokohama--Beautiful White Devil; flagship, _Nagasaki_--Beautiful White +Devil; and now here. All Beautiful White Devil, and every yarn +differing from its predecessor by miles. I can tell you, I'm beginning +to feel very much out of it." + +Each of the four men started in to explain. I held up my hand in +entreaty. + +"As you are strong, be merciful," I cried. "Not all at once." + +One of the silent-footed China-boys brought me a match for my cigar, +and held it until I had obtained a light. Then, throwing myself back +in the long cane chair, I bade them work their wicked wills. + +"Let Poddy tell," said Peckle. "He boasts the most prolific +imagination. Go on, old man, and don't spare him." + +Venderbrun pulled himself together, signed for silence, and, having +done so, began theatrically: "Who is the Beautiful Devil? Mystery. +Where did she first hail from? Mystery. What is her name, I mean her +real name, not the picturesque Chinese cognomen? Mystery. As far as +can be ascertained she made her first appearance in Eastern waters in +Rangoon, July 24, 18--. Got hold of some native prince blowing the +family treasure and blackmailed him out of half a million of dollars. +A man would never have come out of the business alive, but she did, +and what is more, with the money to boot. Three months later the +_Vectis Queen_ went ashore, when forty-eight hours out of Singapore, +junks sprang up out of nowhere, boarded her in spite of stubborn +resistance on the part of the ship's company, looted her bullion room +of fifty thousand pounds and her passengers of three thousand more." + +"But what reason have you for connecting the Beautiful White Devil +with that affair?" + +"White yacht hanging about all the time. Known to be hers. Signals +passed between them, and when the money was secured it was straightway +carried on board her." + +"All right. Go on." + +"Quite quiet for three months. Then the Sultan of Surabaya chanced to +make the acquaintance in Batavia of an extraordinarily beautiful +woman. They went about a good deal together, after which she lured him +on board a steam yacht in Tanjong Priok, presumably to say good-bye. +Having done so, she coaxed him below, sailed off with him there and +then, kept him under lock and key until he had paid a ransom of over +four hundred thousand guilders, when he was put ashore again. Two +months later, Vesey--you know Vesey--of Johore Street, probably the +richest man in Hong Kong, met a woman staying at this very hotel. She +pretended to be just out from home, and no end innocent. Well, Vesey +was so awfully smitten that he wanted to marry her--bad as all that. +She took him in hand, and one day got him to take her for a cruise in +his yacht. Of course he jumped at the chance, and off they sailed. Out +at sea they were met by a white schooner. I believe Vesey was in the +middle of protesting his undying love, and all that sort of thing, you +know, when my lady clapped a revolver to his head, and bade him +heave-to. A boat put off from the stranger, and both lady and friend +boarded her. The long and the short of it was, when Vesey was released +he had signed a cheque for fifty thousand pounds, and, by Jove, the +money was paid on the nail. Chinese Government have a score against +her for abducting a Mandarin of the Gold Button. They tried to catch +her but failed. English cruiser went after her for two days and lost +her near Formosa. Silence again for three months, then new Governor +and wife, Sir Prendergast Prendergast, were coming out here on the +_Ooloomoo_. Her ladyship, whom you know was mixed up in that +Belleville business, had her famous diamonds with her--said to be +worth thirty thousand pounds. There was also eighty thousand in gold +going up to Shanghai. It is supposed that the purser must have been +bribed and in the business; at any rate when they arrived at Hong Kong +both bullion, diamonds, and purser were mysteriously missing. Couldn't +find a trace of 'em high or low. Whether they went overboard in a fog, +whether they were still stowed away on board, nobody ever knew. They +were gone, that was enough. The Governor was furious, and worried the +Admiralty so with despatches that two cruisers were sent off with +instructions to look for her. They pottered about, and at last sighted +and chased her to the Philippines, where they lost her in a fog. Those +are the principal counts against her, I believe. Rum story, ain't it?" + +"Extraordinary. Has anybody ever seen her?" + +"I should just think so. Sultan of Surabaya, Vesey, Native Prince, and +all the people staying at this house when she was here." + +"What description do they give of her?" + +"Quite a young woman--eight-and-twenty at most. Tall and willowy. +Beautiful features, clear cut as a cameo--exquisite complexion and +rippling golden hair--a voice like a flute, figure like Venus, and +eyes that look through yours into the uttermost depths of your soul." + +"Bravo, Poddy! The little man's getting quite enthusiastic." + +"And isn't she worth being enthusiastic about? By Jove! I'd like to +know her history." + +"And do you mean to tell me that with the English, American, French, +German, Chinese, and Japanese fleets patrolling these waters, it's +impossible to catch her?" + +"Quite--up to the present. Look at the facts of the case. She's here +to-day, and gone to-morrow. White yacht seen near Singapore +to-day--copper-coloured off Macassar on Thursday--black with white +ports near Shanghai the week following. The police and the poor old +Admiral are turning gray under the strain." + +"By Jove! I'd like to see her." + +"Don't say that or you will. Nobody ever knows where she'll turn up +next. It is certain that she has agents everywhere, and that she's in +league with half the junk pirates along the coast. Glad I'm not a man +worth abducting." + +"But in spite of what you say, I can hardly believe that it's possible +for a woman to carry on such a trade. It's like a romance." + +"It's not _like_ it, it _is_ a romance, and a pretty unpleasant one +too. Sultan of Surabaya and poor old Vesey were glad enough to see the +final chapter of it, I can assure you. You should just hear the +latter's description of the yacht and its appointments. He used to +make us creep when he told us how this woman would sit on deck, +looking him through and through out of her half closed eyes till he +began to feel as if he'd have to get up and scream, or sit where he +was and go mad. He saw two or three things on board that boat that he +says he'll never forget, and I gathered that he doesn't want any more +excursions in the lady's company." + +"He must be a man without imagination." + +"He's a man blessed with good sound common sense. That's what he is." + +"All the same, as I said before, I'd like to see her." + +"Well, I shouldn't be surprised if your wish is gratified before long. +They're simply bound to catch her; the wonder to me is that they +haven't done so months ago." + +"It seems incredible that she should have escaped so long." + +Peckle took up his cue again. + +"Hear, hear, to that. And now, Benwell, my boy, if you don't want to +go to sleep in that chair, turn out and finish the drubbing you've +begun. I must be getting aboard directly." + +Benwell rose, and went round the table to where his ball lay under the +cushion. The imperturbable marker called the score as if there had +been no pause in the game, and the match was once more getting under +way, when the swing doors opened and an elderly man entered the room. +He was dressed in white from top to toe, carried a big umbrella, and +wore a broad-brimmed solar topee upon his head. Once inside, he paused +as if irresolute, and then, looking round on its occupants, said +politely: + +"Forgive my intrusion; but can you tell me where I can find a +gentleman named De Normanville?" + +"I am that person!" I said, rising from my chair. + +"I hope you will not think me rude," he continued, "but if you could +allow me the honour of five minutes' conversation with you I should be +obliged." + +"With pleasure." + +I crossed the room to where he stood, and signed him to a seat near +the door. + +"Pardon me," he said, "but the business about which I desire to +consult you is of a highly important and confidential nature. Is +there any room in the hotel where we can be alone?" + +"Only my bedroom, I'm afraid," I answered. "We shall be quite free +from interruption there." + +"That will do excellently. Let us go to it." + +With that we went upstairs. All the way I was puzzling my brains to +think what he could want with me. The man was so mysterious, and yet +so palpably desirous of pleasing, that I was becoming quite +interested. One thing was certain--I had never seen him before in my +life. + +Arriving at my room, I lit a candle and pushed a chair forward for +him; having done so I took up my position beside the open window. Down +in the street below I could hear the subdued voices of the passers-by, +the rattle of rickshaws, and the chafing of sampans alongside the +wharf. I remember, too, that the moon was just rising over the +mainland, and to show how unimportant things become engraved upon the +memory, I recollect that it struck me as being more like the yolk of a +hard-boiled egg than ever I remember to have thought it before. +Suddenly I remembered the laws of hospitality. + +"Before we begin business, may I offer you some refreshment?" I +asked--"B. and S.? Whisky?" + +"I am obliged to you," he answered. "I think I will take a little +whisky, thank you." + +I put my head out of the door. A servant was passing. + +"Boy, bring two whisky pegs." + +Then returning to my guest, I said: "Do you smoke? I think I can give +you a good cigar." + +He took one from the box and lit it, puffing the smoke luxuriously +through his nose. Presently the pegs were forthcoming, and when I had +signed the _chit_ I asked his business. + +"You are a stranger in Hong Kong, I believe, Dr. De Normanville?" he +began. + +"Not only in Hong Kong, but you might say in the East generally," I +answered. "I am out on a tour to study Asiatic diseases for a book I +am writing." + +"You have achieved considerable success in your profession, I believe. +We have even heard of you out here." + +I modestly held my tongue. But so pitiful is the vanity of man that +from this time forward I began to look upon my companion with a more +friendly air than I had hitherto shown him. + +"Now, forgive my impertinence," he continued, "but how long do you +contemplate remaining in the East?" + +"It is very uncertain," I replied; "but I almost fancy another six +weeks will find me upon a P. and O. boat homeward bound." + +"And in that six weeks will your time be very importantly occupied?" + +"I cannot say, but I should rather think not. So far as I can tell at +present my work is accomplished." + +"And now will you let me come to business. To put it bluntly, have you +any objection to earning a thousand pounds?" + +"Not the very least!" I answered with a laugh. "What man would have? +Provided, of course, I can earn it in a legitimate manner." + +"You have bestowed considerable attention upon the treatment of +small-pox, I believe?" + +"I have had sole charge of two small-pox hospitals, if that's what you +mean." + +"Ah! Then our informant was right. Well, this business, in which a +thousand pounds is to be earned, has to do with an outbreak of that +disease." + +"And you wish me to take charge of it?" + +"That is exactly what I am commissioned to negotiate." + +"Where is the place?" + +"I cannot tell you!" + +"Not tell me? That's rather strange, is it not?" + +"It is all very strange. But with your permission I will explain +myself more clearly." + +I nodded. + +"It is altogether an extraordinary business. But, on the other hand, +the pay is equally extraordinary. I am commissioned to find a doctor +who will undertake the combating of an outbreak of small-pox on the +following terms and conditions: The remuneration shall be one thousand +pounds; the doctor shall give his word of honour not to divulge the +business to any living soul; he shall set off at once to the affected +spot, and he shall still further pledge himself to reveal nothing of +what he may have heard or seen when he returns here again. Is that +clear to you?" + +"Perfectly. But it's a most extraordinary proposition." + +"I grant you it is. But it is a chance that few men would care to let +slip." + +"How is the person undertaking it to find the place?" + +"I will arrange that myself." + +"And how is he to return from it again?" + +"He will be sent back in the same way that he goes." + +"And when must he start?" + +"At once, without delay. Say twelve o'clock to-night." + +"It is nearly eleven now." + +"That will leave an hour. Come, Dr. De Normanville, are you prepared +to undertake it?" + +"I don't really know what to say. There is so much mystery about it." + +"Unfortunately, that is necessary." + +I paced the room in anxious thought, hardly knowing what answer to +give. Should I accept or should I decline the offer? The thousand +pounds was a temptation, and yet, supposing there were some treachery +lurking behind it, that, in my innocence of the East, I could not +fathom--what then? Moreover, the adventurous side of the affair, I +must own, appealed to me strongly. I was young, and there was +something supremely fascinating about the compliment and the mystery +that enshrouded it. + +"Look here," I said at length. "Pay me half the money down before I +start, as a guarantee of good faith, and I'm your man!" + +"Very good. I will even meet you there!" + +He put his hand inside his coat and drew out a pocket-book. From this +he took five one hundred pound Bank of England notes, and gave them to +me. + +"There, you have half the money." + +"Thank you. Really, I must beg your pardon for almost doubting you, +but----" + +"Pray say no more. You understand the conditions thoroughly. You are +not to divulge a detail of the errand to any living soul now or when +you return." + +"I will give you my word I will not." + +"Then that is settled. I am much obliged to you. Can you arrange to +meet me on the wharf exactly at midnight?" + +"Certainly. I will be there without fail. And now tell me something of +the outbreak itself. Is it very severe?" + +"Very. There have already been nearly a hundred cases, out of which +quite fifty have proved fatal. Your position will be no sinecure. You +will have your work cut out for you." + +"So it would appear. Now, if you will excuse me, I will go out and +endeavour to obtain some lymph. We shall need all we can get." + +"You need not put yourself to so much trouble. That has been attended +to. To prevent any suspicion arising from your asking for such a +thing, we have laid in a stock of everything you can possibly need." + +"Very well, then. I will meet you on the wharf." + +"On the wharf at twelve o'clock precisely. For the present, adieu!" + +He shook me by the hand, picked up his hat and umbrella, and +disappeared down the staircase, while I returned to my room to pack. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE. + + +The last stroke of twelve was just booming out on the muggy night when +I stepped on to the landing-stage to await my mysterious employer. The +hotel servant who had carried my bag put it down, and having received +his gratuity left me. The soft moonlight flooded everything, threw +quaint shadows upon the wharf planks, shone upon the sleeping sampans +beside it, and gurgled in oily wreaths on the placid water in the +depths between them. Very few people were abroad, and those who were +had no attention to spare for me. The Sikh policeman, who passed and +repassed, alone seemed to wonder what a white lord could be doing in +such a place at such a time. But doubtless he had had experience of +the curious ways of Sahibdom, and, being a wise man, if he possessed +any curiosity, he refrained from giving me evidence of the fact. + +Suddenly the patter of naked feet behind me caught my ear. A Chinese +chair, borne by two stalwart bearers, was approaching. Very naturally +I settled it in my own mind that it contained the man whom I was to +meet, and turned to receive him. But when the conveyance was set down, +it was not the respectable Englishman I had seen before who stepped +out of it, but a portly Chinaman of considerable rank and dignity. He +was gorgeously clad in figured silk; his pigtail reached halfway to +his heels and was adorned with much ornamentation; and I noticed that +he wore large tortoiseshell spectacles which, while they completely +hid his eyes, gave a curious effect to his otherwise not unhandsome +countenance. Having descended from his equipage, he dismissed his +bearers, and began to stump solemnly up and down the landing-stage, +drawing closer and closer to me at every turn. Presently he summoned +up courage enough to accost me. To my surprise he said: + +"What for you come here one piecee look see?" + +Not being an adept at pigeon English, I simply answered-- + +"I'm afraid I don't understand you." + +"What for you come here look see?" + +"I'm waiting for a friend." + +"Your friend allee same Engleesman?" + +"Yes, I believe he's an Englishman." + +"You go 'way look see chop-chop?" + +"You'll excuse me, but that's my own affair, I think." + +"Allee same smallee pox, I think!" + +"You may think what you please." + +"S'posing you say, smallee poxee, allee same one piecee thousan' +pound?" + +"I'm afraid I can't continue this conversation. Good evening." + +I turned on my heel, and was about to leave him, when he stopped me by +saying in excellent English: + +"Thank you, Dr. De Normanville. I'm quite satisfied." + +"Good gracious, what's all this?" + +"Why, it means that I have been trying you, that's all. Forgive the +deception, but the importance of our mission must be my excuse. Now we +must be going. Here is the boat." + +As he spoke, a large sampan shot out from among its companions and +came swiftly towards the wharf. + +"Two cautions before we embark. The first--remember that I am a +Chinaman, and speak only pigeon English. The second--if you are armed, +be careful of your revolver. The men who work the junk we are going +down to meet are not to be trusted; hence my disguise." + +He left me and descended the steps. The sampan by this time had come +alongside; a woman was rowing and a vigorous conversation in Chinese +ensued. When it was finished my companion beckoned to me, and picking +up my bag I went down to him. Next moment I was aboard and stuffed +away in the little pokey rat-hole of a cabin amidships. My friend took +his place beside me, a small boy took the helm, and we pushed off. Not +a word was spoken, and in this fashion for nearly an hour we pursued +our way down the harbour, passed a flotilla of junks, threaded a +course between the blue and red funnel boats, and finally swept out +into the clear space that stretches away from Port Victoria as far as +Green Island. + +For hours we seemed to be imprisoned in that stuffy little cabin. Like +most sampans, the boat smelt abominably, and as we could only see the +mechanical rowing of the women in the well forrard, and hear the +occasional commands of the tiny boy steering aft, our enjoyment may be +placed on the debit side of the account without any fear of +miscalculation. + +At length my companion, who had not uttered a word since he stepped +aboard, began to show signs of impatience. He rose from his seat and +peered out into the night. Presently he appeared to be a little +relieved in his mind, for he reseated himself with a muttered "Thank +goodness," and gave himself up to a careful consideration of our +position. Through a slit in the tarpaulin I could just see that we +were approaching a big junk, whose ample girth almost blocked the +fairway. Her great, square cut stern loomed above us, and round it our +coxswain steered us with a deftness extraordinary. + +As we came alongside one of the women rowing drew in her oar and said +a few words to my companion. In answer he stepped out of the shelter +and called something in Chinese. A voice from the junk replied, and +the answer being evidently satisfactory we hitched on and prepared to +change vessels. A rope was thrown to us, and when it had been made +fast my guide signed to me to clamber aboard. I did so, and the next +moment was on the junk's deck assisting him to a place beside me. + +Two or three men were grouped about amidships watching us, and one, +the owner, or skipper of the boat I presumed, entered upon a +longwinded conversation with my conductor. As they talked I heard the +sampan push off and disappear astern. Then our crew fell to work--the +great sails were hoisted, a hand went aft to the tiller, and within +five minutes we were waddling down the straits at a pace that might +possibly have been four knots an hour. All this time my companion had +not addressed me once. His whole attention seemed to be concentrated +upon the work going on around him. He treated me with the +contemptuous indifference generally shown by Chinamen towards +barbarian Englishmen, and this I was wise enough not to resent. + +I will not deny, however, that I was nervous. The mysterious errand on +which I was bound, the emphatic, but not reassuring, warning of my +astute companion, and the company in which I now found myself, were +calculated to have this effect. But as we left the land behind us and +waddled out to sea, my fears began in a measure to subside, and I +found myself gazing about me with more interest than I should at any +other time have thought possible. + +The junk was one of the largest I had ever seen, and, like most of her +class, appeared to be all masts, sails, and stern. The crew were as +usual very numerous, and a more evil-looking lot no one could possibly +wish to set eyes on; the face of one little pock-marked fellow being +particularly distasteful to me. That this individual, for some reason, +bore me no good will I was pretty positive, and on one occasion, in +passing where I stood, he jolted against me in such a fashion and with +such violence that he nearly capsized me. At any other time I should +have resented his behaviour, but, bearing in mind my companion's +advice, I held my peace. + +By this time it was nearly two o'clock. The wind was every moment +freshening and a brisk sea rising. The old tub began to pitch +unpleasantly, and I found repeated occasion to thank my stars that I +was a good sailor. Sharp dashes of spray broke over her decks at every +plunge, soaking us to the skin, and adding considerably to the +unpleasantness of our position. Still, however, my companion did not +speak, but I noticed that he watched the men about him with what +struck me as increased attention. + +Seeing that I had had no sleep at all that night it may not be a +matter of much surprise that I presently began to nod. Stowing myself +away in a sheltered corner, I was in the act of indulging in a nap +when I felt a body fall heavily against me. It was my companion who +had dropped asleep sitting up, and had been dislodged by a sudden roll +of the ship. He fell clean across me, his face against my ear. Next +moment I knew that the catastrophe was intentional. + +"Keep your eyes open," he whispered as he lay; "there is treachery +aboard. We shall have trouble before long." + +After that you may be sure I thought no more of sleep. Pulling myself +together I slipped my hand into the pocket that had contained my +revolver, only to find, to my horror and astonishment, that it was +gone. My pocket had been picked since I had come aboard the junk. + +My consternation may be better imagined than described, and as soon as +I could find occasion I let my companion know of my misfortune. + +"I gave you fair warning," he replied calmly, "now we shall probably +both lose our lives. However, what can't be cured must be endured, so +pretend to be asleep and don't move, whatever happens, until you hear +from me. That little pock-marked devil haranguing the others forrard +is Kwong Fung, the most notorious pirate along the whole length of the +coast, and if we fall into his hands, well, there will not be two +doubts as to what our fate will be." + +He tumbled over on to his side with a grunt, while I shut my eyes and +pretended to be asleep. It was growing cold; the wind was rising and +with it the sea. Already the stars in the East were paling +perceptibly, and in another hour, at most, day would be born. + +It's all very well for people to talk about coolness and presence of +mind in moments of extreme danger. Since the events I'm now narrating +took place, I've been in queerer quarters than most men, and though +I've met with dozens who could be brave enough when the actual moment +for fighting arrived, I've never yet encountered one who could lie +still, doing nothing, for three-quarters of an hour, watching his +death preparing for him, and not show some sign of nervousness. +Frankly, I will admit that I was afraid. To have to lie on that +uncomfortable heaving deck, a big sea running, and more than a capful +of wind blowing, watching, in the half dark, a gang of murderous +ruffians plotting one's destruction, would try the nerves of the +boldest of men. Small wonder then that my lower limbs soon became like +blocks of ice, that my teeth chattered in my head, and that an +indescribable sinking sensation assumed possession of my internal +regions. I could not take my eyes off the group seated frog fashion on +the deck forrard. Their very backs held an awful fascination for me. + +But, as it soon turned out, my interest in them was almost my undoing. +For had I not been so intent upon watching what was before me I should +perhaps have heard the rustling of a human body outside the bulwarks +against which I had seated myself. In that case I should have detected +the figure that had crawled quietly over and was now stealing along +the deck towards where I lay. In his hand he carried a thin cord at +the end of which was a noose just capable of encircling my head. + +Suddenly I felt something touch my throat. I lifted my head, and at +the same instant the truth dawned upon me. _I was being strangled._ +How long a time elapsed between the cord's touching my neck and my +losing consciousness I could not say, but brief as was the interval, I +can recollect seeing my companion half raise himself. Then came a +flash, a loud report, a sudden singing in my ears, and I remember no +more. + +When I recovered my wits again my companion was bending over me. + +"Thank God," he said piously, "I began to think the brute had done for +you. Now pull yourself together as fast as you can, for there's going +to be serious trouble." + +I looked round me as well as I could. By my side lay the body of the +man, with the cord still in his hand, and from the way in which one +arm was stretched out and the other doubled under him, I gathered that +he was dead. Amidships the crew of the junk were assembled, listening +to the excited oratory of the little pock-marked devil against whom my +companion had warned me. He held in his hand a revolver--mine, I had +no difficulty in guessing--and, from the way in which he turned and +pointed in our direction, I understood that he was explaining to the +others the necessity which existed for exterminating us without delay. +I turned to my companion and warmly thanked him for the shot that had +saved my life. + +"Don't mention it," he answered coolly. "It was fortunate I saw him +coming. You must remember that besides saving you it has put one of +our adversaries out of the way, and every one against odds like this +counts. By the way, you'd better find something to lay about you +with--for from all appearance we're in for a big thing." + +Under the bulwarks, and a little to the left of where I sat, was a +stout iron bar some two feet six in length. I managed to secure it, +and having done so, felt a little easier in my mind. + +As I crawled back to my station another report greeted my ears, and at +the same instant a bullet bedded itself in the woodwork, within an +inch of my left temple. + +"That's the introduction," said my imperturbable friend with a grim +smile. "Are you ready? He's got the only weapon among them and five +more cartridges left in it. Keep by me and give no quarter--for +remember if they win they'll show you none." + +Bang! Another bullet whizzed past my ear. + +Bang! My companion gave a low whistle and then turned to me. + +"Grazed my forearm," he said calmly, and then raising his pistol shot +the nearest of our assailants dead. The man gave a little cry, more +like a sob, and with outspread arms fell on his face upon the deck. +The next roll of the vessel carried him into the lee scuppers, where +for some time he washed idly to and fro. Never in my life before had I +seen anything so coolly deliberate as the way in which he was picked +off. It was more like rabbit shooting than anything else. + +"Two cartridges gone!" said my comrade. + +As he spoke a bullet tore up the deck at my feet, while another grazed +my right shoulder. + +"Four. Keep steady; he's only two left. Look out _then_, for they'll +rush us to a certainty! I wish I could get another shot at them +first." + +But this wish was not destined to be gratified. The scoundrels had had +sufficient evidence of his skill as a marksman, and being prudent, +though precious, villains they had no desire to receive further proof +of it. They therefore kept in shelter. + +Minute after minute went slowly by, and everyone found the night +drawing further off the sky, and the light widening more perceptibly. +But still no sign came from those in hiding forrard. To my mind this +watching and waiting was the worst part of the whole business. All +sorts of fresh horrors seemed to cluster round our position as we +crouched together in the shelter aft. + +Suddenly, without any warning, and with greater majesty than I ever +remember to have observed in him before or since, the sun rose in the +cloudless sky. Instantly with his coming, light and colour shot across +the waters, the waves from being of a dull leaden hue became green and +foam-crested, and the great fibre sails of the junk from figuring as +blears of double darkness, reaching up to the very clouds, took to +themselves again their ordinary commonplace and forlorn appearance. + +Our course lay due east, and for this reason the sun shone directly in +our faces, dazzling us, and for the moment preventing our seeing +anything that might be occurring forrard. I could tell that this was a +matter of some concern to my companion, and certainly it was not to +remain very long a matter of indifference to me. + +The sun had been above the sky line scarcely a matter of two minutes +when another shot was fired from forward, and I fell with a cry to the +deck. Next moment I had picked myself up again, and, feeling very sick +and giddy, scrambled to my companion's side. He was as cool and +apparently as unconcerned as ever. + +"The other was the prologue--this is going to be the play itself. Keep +as close to me as you can, and above all things fight to the +death--accept no quarter, and give none." + +The words were hardly out of his mouth before we heard a scampering of +bare feet upon the deck, and a succession of shrill yells, and then +the vessel paying off a little on her course showed us the ruffians +climbing on to the raised poop upon which we stood. To my horror--for, +strangely enough, in that moment of intense excitement, I was capable +of a second emotion--I saw that they were six in number, while a +reinforcement, numbering three more, waited upon the fo'c's'le head to +watch the turn of events. + +As the head of the first man appeared my companion raised his pistol +and pulled the trigger. The bullet struck the poor wretch exactly on +the bridge of the nose, making a clear round hole from which, an +instant later, a jet of blood spurted forth. A second bullet carried +another man to his account, and by this time the remaining four were +upon us. + +Of what followed in that turmoil I have but a very imperfect +recollection. I remember seeing three men rush towards me, one of whom +I knew for Kwong Fung, the little pock-marked rascal before mentioned, +and I recollect that, with the instinct of despair, I clutched my bar +of iron in both hands and brought it down on the head of the nearest +of the trio with all my force. It caught him on the right temple, and +crushed the skull in like a broken egg-shell. But the piratical +scoundrels had forgotten the man lying on the deck. In their haste to +advance they omitted to step over his body, caught their feet and fell +to the ground. At least, I am wrong in saying they fell to the ground, +for only the pock-marked rascal fell; the other tripped, and would +have recovered himself and been upon me had I not sprung upon him, +thrown away my bar, caught up his companion's knife, which had fallen +from his hand, and tried my level best to drive it in above his +shoulder-blade. But it was easier said than done. He clutched me +fiercely and, locked hard and fast, we swayed this way and that, +fighting like wild-cats for our lives. He was a smaller man than I, +but active as an acrobat, and in the most perfect training. Up and +down, round and round we went, eyes glaring, breath coming in great +gasps, our hands upon each other's throats, and every moment drawing +closer and closer to the vessel's side. + +Though the whole fight could not have lasted a minute it seemed an +eternity. I was beginning to weaken, and I saw by the look in his +hateful almond eyes that my antagonist knew it. But he had bargained +without his host. A heavy roll sent the little vessel heeling over to +the port side, and an instant later we were both prone upon the deck +rolling, tumbling, fighting again to be uppermost. From the manner in +which I had fallen, however, the advantage now lay with me, and you +may be sure I was not slow to make the most of it. Throwing myself +over and seating myself astride of him, I clutched my adversary by +the throat, and, drawing back my arm, struck him with my clenched fist +between his eyes. The blow was given with all my strength, and it +certainly told. He lay beneath me a bleeding and insensible mass. Then +staggering to my feet I looked about me. On the deck were four dead +bodies; two on the break of the poop lying faces down, just where they +had fallen, one at my feet, his skull dashed in and his brains +protruding, a horrible sight,--another under the bulwarks, his limbs +twitching in his death agony, and his mouth vomiting blood with +automatic regularity. My companion I discovered seated astride of +another individual, admonishing him with what I knew was an empty +revolver to abstain from any further attempt to escape. + +"I think we have got the upper hand of them now," he said as calmly as +if he were accustomed to going through this sort of thing every day of +his life. "Would you be so good as to hand me that piece of rope? I +must make this slippery gentleman fast while I have him." + +"Surely it's the leader of the gang," I cried, at the same time doing +as he had asked me. "The man you pointed out to me, Kwong Fung?" + +"You're quite right. It is." + +"And now that you have him, what will his fate be?" + +"A short shrift and a long rope, if I have anything to do with the +matter. There! That's right, I don't think you'll get into much +mischief now, my friend." + +So saying he rose to his feet, rolled the man over on to his back, and +turned to me. + +"My goodness, man, you're wounded," he cried, spinning me round to +find out whence the blood was dripping. + +And so I was, though in my excitement I had quite forgotten the fact. +A ball had passed clean through the fleshy part of my left arm, and +the blood flowing from it had stiffened all my sleeve. + +With a gentleness one would hardly have expected to find in him, my +friend drew off my coat and cut open my shirt sleeve. Then bidding me +stay where I was while he procured some water with which to bathe the +wound, he left me and went forrard. I did not, however, see him +return, for now that the excitement had departed, a great faintness +was stealing over me. The sea seemed to be turning black, and the deck +of the junk to be slipping away from under me. Finally, my legs +tottered, my senses left me, and I fell heavily to the ground. + +When I came to myself again I was lying on a pile of fibre sails under +the shelter of an improvised awning. My companion, whose name I +discovered later was Walworth, was kneeling beside me with a +preternaturally grave expression upon his usually stolid face. + +"How do you feel now?" he inquired, holding a cup of water to my lips. + +I drank eagerly, and then replied that I felt better, but terribly +weak. + +"Oh, that's only to be expected," he answered reassuringly. "We ought +to be glad, considering the amount of blood you must have lost, that +it's no worse. Keep up your heart. You'll soon be all right now." + +"Has anything happened?" + +"Nothing at all! We're the victors without doubt. As soon as you can +spare me I'm going forrard to rouse out the rest of the gang, and get +the junk on her course again. We've no time to waste pottering about +here." + +"I'm well enough now. Only give me something to protect myself with in +case of accident." + +"Here's your own revolver, of which I relieved our pock-marked friend +yonder. I've refilled it, so, if you want to, you can do damage to the +extent of six shots--two for each of the three remaining men!" + +After glancing at his own weapon to see that it was fully charged, he +picked his way forrard and called in Chinese to those in hiding to +come forth, if they wished to save their lives. In response to his +summons three men crawled out and stood in a row. After he had +harangued them, I noticed that he questioned them eagerly in turn, and +was evidently much perturbed at the answers he received. When he had +said all that he had to say he searched for something, and, not +finding it, left them and came back to me. Before making any remark he +turned over the bodies on the deck, and, when he had done so, seemed +still more put out. + +"What's the matter?" I inquired. "Are we in for any more trouble?" + +"I'm afraid so. That rascally captain, seeing how the fighting was +going, and dreading my vengeance, must have jumped overboard, leaving +no man save myself capable of navigating the junk. Added to which the +food and water supply--which, had this trouble not occurred, and we +had got further upon our way, would have been ample for our +requirements--will only last us, at most, two more meals. However, +it's no good crying over spilt milk; we must do our best with what +we've got, and having done that we can't do more. Let us hope we'll +soon pick up the boat of which we're in search." + +"And what boat may that be?" + +"Why, the vessel that is to take us to the island, to be sure. What +other could it be?" + +"I had no idea that we were in search of one." + +"Well, we are; and it looks as if we shall be in search of her for +some time to come. Confound those treacherous beggars!" + +As he said this he assumed possession of the tiller, the vessel's head +was brought round to her course, and presently we were wobbling along +in a new and more westerly direction. + +Hour after hour passed in tedious monotony, and still we sailed on. +The heat was intense--the wind dropped toward noon, and the face of +the deep then became like burnished silver--almost impossible to look +upon. But no sign of the craft we were in search of greeted our eyes; +only a native boat or two far away to the eastward and a big steamer +hull down upon the northern horizon. + +It was not a cheerful outlook by any manner of means, and for the +hundredth time or so I reproached myself for my folly in ever having +undertaken the voyage. To add to my regret my arm was still very +painful, and though, to a certain extent, I was protected from the sun +by the awning my friend had constructed for me, yet I began to suffer +agonies of thirst. The afternoon wore on--the sun declined upon the +western horizon, and still no wind came. It looked as if we were +destined to spend yet another night upon this horrible junk, the very +sight of which had become beyond measure loathsome to me. As darkness +fell, it seemed peopled with ghosts, for though the bodies of those +killed in the late affray no longer defaced the deck with their +ghastly presence, I could not drive the picture they had presented +from my brain. + +When the sun disappeared below the horizon, a great peace fell upon +the deep, broken only by the groaning of our timbers and the +ill-stepped masts. Little by little darkness stole down upon us, a few +stars came into the sky, followed soon after by multitudes of others. +But there was no wind at all, and by this time my thirst was +excruciating. About seven o'clock my companion brought me a small cup +of water, hardly sufficient to wet my lips, but more precious than any +diamonds, and held it while I drank. + +"I'm sorry to say that's all we have," he said solemnly when I had +finished it. "Henceforward we must go without." + +His words seemed to toll in my ears like a death knell, and I became +thirsty again immediately. I suppose I must have been in a high state +of fever; at any rate I know that I have never spent such another +night of pure physical agony in my life. + +I was asleep next morning when the sun rose, but his heat soon woke me +to the grim reality of our position. My companion was still at the +tiller, and from where I lay I could see that we were still sailing in +the same direction. He called to me to know how I felt, and to show +him that I was better, I endeavoured to rise, only to fall back again +in what must have been a dead faint. + +I have no recollection of what followed immediately upon my recovering +myself, except a confused remembrance of craving for water--water! +water! water! But there was none to be had even if I had offered a +hundred pounds for a drop. + +Towards evening our plight was indeed pitiable. We were all too weak +to work the boat. Friends and foes mingled together unmolested. Unable +to bear his agony one of the men jumped overboard, and so ended his +sufferings. Others would have followed his example, but my companion +promised that he would shoot the next man who attempted it, and so +make his end still more certain. + +About half-past seven the sun sank beneath the horizon, and with his +departure a welcome breeze came down to us. Within an hour this had +freshened into a moderate gale. Then, just before darkness obscured +everything, a cry from one of the Chinamen forrard brought my +companion to his feet. Rushing to the side he stared towards the west. + +"Yes! Yes it is! We're saved, De Normanville--we're saved. As he says, +it is the schooner!" + +Then for the fourth time during that eventful voyage my senses +deserted me! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL. + + +When I opened my eyes again I found myself, to my intense +astonishment, lying, fully dressed, in a comfortable hammock beneath a +well-constructed awning. The canvas walls of my resting-place +prevented me from seeing anything more of my surroundings than my +toes, but when I lifted myself up and peered over the side, it was not +the junk's evil planks that I saw before me, but the deck of a +handsome, well-appointed yacht. My hammock was seemingly swung +amidships, and judging from the side upon which I looked--save the man +at the wheel and a couple of hands polishing brasswork forrard--I +appeared to have the entire deck to myself. Whose boat was she? How +had I come to be aboard her? And how long had I been there? But though +I puzzled my brains for an answer to these questions I could find +none. My memory refused to serve me, and so, feeling tired, I laid +myself back again upon my pillow and once more closed my eyes. + +I had scarcely done so before I heard a noise on the other side which +caused me to look over again. How shall I describe what I saw there? +Three years have passed since then, but I have the recollection of +even the minutest detail connected with the picture that was before me +at that moment just as plainly engraved upon my memory as if it had +occurred but yesterday. + +Seated in a long cane chair, one elbow balanced on the arm-rest and +one tiny hand supporting her dimpled chin, was the most beautiful +woman--and I say it advisedly, knowing it to be true--that I had ever +or have ever beheld, or shall ever behold, in my life. Though she was +seated, and for that reason I could not determine her exact height, I +was convinced it was considerably above the average; her figure, as +much as I could see of it, was beautifully moulded; her face was +exquisitely shaped; her eyes were large, and of a deep sea-blue; while +the wealth of rippling hair that crowned her head was of a natural +golden hue, and enhanced rather than detracted from the softness of +her delicate complexion. As if still further to add to her general +fairness, she was dressed entirely in white, even to her deck shoes +and the broad Panama hat upon her head. Only one thing marred the +picture. By her side, presenting a fitting contrast to so much +loveliness, crouched, his head resting between his forepaws, a +ferocious white bulldog, who ever and anon looked up with big +bloodshot eyes into her face as if to make quite sure that there was +no one within reach whom she might wish him to destroy. + +She was evidently absorbed in her own thoughts, and presently the hand +that was hanging down beside the chair found the dog's head, and began +softly to stroke his tulip ears. Then her eyes looked up, caught mine, +and seeing that I was no longer asleep she rose and came towards me. + +"So you are awake at last, Dr. De Normanville?" she said with a smile. +And as I heard her it struck me that her voice was even more beautiful +than all her other attributes put together. "You have had a long +sleep. Twelve hours!" + +"Twelve hours?" I cried in amazement, at the same time gazing at her +with admiration only too plainly written on my face. "You don't mean +to say that I've been twelve hours asleep? I can hardly believe it. +Why it seems only a few minutes since we were aboard that rascally +junk. And what has happened since then? Is this the vessel we left +Hong Kong to meet?" + +"Yes. This is the boat. We were just beginning to grow anxious about +you when the junk was sighted. I am afraid, from your companion's +account, you must have had a desperate time on board her." + +"I should not care to go through it again, certainly," I answered +truthfully. "One such experience is enough to last a man a lifetime. +By the way, how is my companion? I hope he is none the worse for his +adventures." + +"You need have no fear on that score; he is accustomed to that sort of +thing and thrives on it, as you may have noticed. He is below at +present, but as soon as he comes on deck I will send him to you. Now +you had better lie down again and try to get some more sleep. You must +remember that your strength is of the utmost value to us." + +"I don't think I quite understand. But before we go any further will +you tell me what yacht this is and to whom I am indebted for my +rescue?" + +"This yacht is called the _Lone Star_," she answered, "and I am the +owner." As she said this she looked at me in rather a queer sort of a +way, I thought. But I let it pass and asked another question. + +"I am very much afraid you will think me pertinacious, but is it +permissible for me to know your name?" + +"You may certainly know it if you wish to!" she answered with a short +and, I could not help thinking, rather bitter laugh; "But I don't +think you will be any too pleased when you hear it. My real name is +Alie, but by the benighted inhabitants of this part of the globe I am +called by another and more picturesque cognomen." + +She stopped, and I almost caught my breath with excitement. A light +was breaking upon me. + +"And that is----" I said, trying in vain to keep my voice down to a +steady level. + +"The Beautiful White Devil," she answered, with another of her +peculiar smiles, and then, calling her bulldog to her, she bowed to +me, turned on her heel, and went slowly aft along the deck. + +I laid myself back in my hammock, my heart--why, I could not +say--beating like a piston-rod, and tried to think the situation out. +So my thoughtless wish was gratified after all: I had now seen the +Beautiful White Devil face to face, and, what was more to the point, I +was likely to be compelled to see more of her than I should consider +necessary for my own amusement. Like the Sultan of Surabaya and Vesey +of Hong Kong, I was now her prisoner. And by what a simple ruse I had +been caught! By all that was reasonable in woman, however, what +possible advantage could she hope to gain by abducting me? At the very +most, I could not lay my hands on more than three thousand pounds, and +what earthly use could that be to a woman who was known to deal in +millions? But perhaps, I reflected, it was not money she was after; +perhaps she had some other desperate game to play--some other move in +that wonderful life of hers in which my science could be of use to her +and the nature of which I could not be expected to fathom. Situated as +I was, she could compel me to do her bidding if she pleased, or make +it extremely awkward for me if I felt it my duty to refuse. + +You will doubtless have noticed that I had quite abandoned the idea of +the small-pox epidemic. The notion of that island with the raging +pestilence probably only existed in the fertile brain of the man who +had been sent to induce me to leave Hong Kong. But in that case--and +here the original argument wheeled back upon me--what possible +advantage could accrue to her through abducting me? There were +hundreds of richer men in Hong Kong. Why had not one of them been +chosen? But as the more I thought it out, the farther I seemed to be +from getting at the truth of it, I gave the problem up and turned my +thoughts in another direction. + +As I did so I heard somebody coming along the deck. This time it was a +man's footstep, so I looked out to see who it might be. It was +Walworth, the individual who had visited me in Hong Kong and enticed +me away. He was dressed in European habiliments now, and carried a +cigarette in his hand. Seeing that I was aware of his presence he came +across to the hammock and held out his hand. + +"Good morning, doctor!" he said cheerily enough. "I'm glad to see +you're better. All things considered you've had a nasty time of it +since you said good-bye to the Victoria Hotel--haven't you?" + +"A pretty cheeky way of putting it, considering he was the cause of it +all," I thought to myself. "However, I'll give him a Roland for his +Oliver! He shall not think I'm wanting in pluck." + +"You have certainly contrived a good many stirring adventures for my +entertainment, I must say," I answered aloud. "But will you tell me +one thing? Why did you not let me know in Hong Kong who my hostess +would turn out to be?" + +"Because in that case you would probably have informed the police, and +we should not then have been able to give ourselves the pleasure of +your company and assistance." + +"Well, all I can say is, I am sorry you didn't try for higher game +while you were about it. For even with that five hundred you gave me, +your leader will only get a sop for her pains. You can't force blood +out of a stone, can you?" + +He seated himself in the chair she had occupied, and lit a fresh +cigarette. Having done so, he continued: + +"I don't know that I quite follow you!" + +"Well, I don't think I could make it much plainer without being +absolutely rude. The long and the short of it is, Mr. Walworth, if +it's money you're after--why not have gone in for a pigeon better +worth plucking?" + +"But then we're not after the money, you see. Why should I have paid +you that five hundred else? No! Dr. De Normanville, you need have no +fear on that score--our motive was perfectly honest. We are on our way +to the island now where the small-pox exists, and believe me, when +your work is accomplished, you will be conveyed safely back to your +hotel. I can't say more than that. Play fair by us and we'll play +fair by you. In the meantime we shall hope to make your stay with us +as pleasant as possible." + +I breathed freely again. I was not abducted. I was only wanted in my +professional capacity after all. Well, that was a relief. I was in a +unique position, for it was evident I was not only to be permitted the +opportunity of making the Beautiful White Devil's acquaintance, but I +was to be well paid for doing so. In the first freedom from anxiety I +began to look forward with almost pleasure to what lay before me. + +"Don't you think you could get up for a little while?" Walworth said, +when he had finished his smoke; "it would do you good. Let me help +you." + +With his assistance I scrambled out of the hammock into a cane chair +alongside the companion hatch. I was still very weak, and incapable of +much exertion. There could be no doubt that I had lost a good deal +more blood than I had at first imagined. + +Once seated in the chair I looked about me. I was now permitted a full +and uninterrupted view of the vessel, and was able to make good use of +my eyes. Roughly speaking, that is to say as far as I could tell, not +being a nautical man, she must have been a topsail schooner of about +three hundred tons burden, with auxiliary steaming power, for I could +see the funnel, which was not in use just then, lying along the deck. +In what part of the world she had been built I could not tell; but +wherever it was, she did credit to her designer, for her lines were +perfection, and nothing short of it. If ever a boat were built for +speed she was that one, and I said as much to my companion, who +laughed. + +"There can be no doubt about that," he answered. "But then, you see, +no other boat but the fastest built would suit her ladyship. Believe +me, there are times when even the _Lone Star_ is pretty well put to it +to throw dust in her enemies' eyes. If you feel strong enough, shall +we take a walk round and examine her?" + +There was nothing I should have liked more, so, taking the arm he +offered me, we set off. The first thing that attracted my attention +was the spotless neatness and cleanliness prevailing. The decks, which +were flush fore and aft, were as white as curds; the brasses on the +wheel, capstans, masts, skylights, belaying pins, shone till you could +see your face in them. Not a detail seemed to have been overlooked. +Even the great sheets of canvas, bellying into balloons above our +heads, appeared at first sight to have been lately washed, while the +very ropes were white and, when not in actual use, flemish-coiled upon +the decks. She carried six boats, an unusually large number for a +craft of her size; two were surf-boats, I found on inspection; two +were uncollapsible lifeboats; one was an ordinary ship's gig, while +the other was a small steam launch of excellent build and workmanship. +For a craft of three hundred tons her spars were enormous: her topmast +head must have been a hundred and fifty feet from her deck, if an +inch, while from her rig forrard I could guess the amount of extra +canvas she was capable of carrying. Walking to the side, I discovered +that she was painted white, with a broad gold stripe a little above +the water-line; below this she was sheathed with copper, which shone +like gold whenever the water left it. + +Inside the bulwarks, and reaching to within an inch of the scuppers, +were some contrivances that caused me a considerable amount of +curiosity. At first glance they looked like reversible shop shutters +more than anything else, being about six feet long by three wide, and +were attached to the rail of the bulwarks by enormous hinges. On my +asking for what purpose they were intended, my guide again laughed, +and said: + +"You must not ask too many questions, my friend, for obvious reasons. +In this case, however, and since you have given your word not to tell +what you may see, I will explain." + +Detaching the catch of one, he lifted it from the deck and threw it +over the side, where it hung, just reaching to the top of the copper +below water. + +"Do you grasp the idea?" he continued. "The next one fits into that, +and the next one into that again, and so on all round the boat. You +see, they can be attached in no time, and when they are once fixed, +the shape of the masts altered, the funnel differently cased or done +away with altogether, the character of her bows and stern changed +beyond recognition by another appliance, she can be three different +crafts inside of twenty-four hours." + +This then accounted for the number of different vessels the Beautiful +White Devil was supposed to possess. I began to understand the +marvellous escapes more clearly now. + +"And whose idea was this ingenious invention?" I ventured to ask. + +"Like most of our things, her ladyship's own," he replied. "And +wonderfully successful it has proved." + +"And shall I be presuming too much on your good nature if I seek to +learn something of the lady herself?" + +"Ah! I'm afraid there I cannot satisfy your curiosity," he answered, +shaking his head. "We have strict instructions on that point, and +there's not a man aboard this ship who values his life so little as to +dream of disobeying. One piece of advice I will give you, however, for +the sake of what we went through together yesterday. Take care how you +behave towards her. In spite of her quiet demeanour and frank, artless +manner, she sees, takes in, and realises the motive and importance of +everything you say or do. If you act fairly towards her, she will act +fairly by you; but if you play her false you're a dead man. Remember +that. Now you must excuse me if I go to my duties. My absence in Hong +Kong has delayed my work sadly. And there goes eight bells." + +As the silvery voice of a bell chimed out from the fo'c's'le, he left +me and went below. Hardly knowing what to do with myself, I went back +to my chair. A tall man with a gray beard close-cropped, sharp +glittering eyes, and a not unhandsome face, marred, however, by what +looked like a sabre cut extending from the left temple to his chin, +resigned the deck to another officer and went below. + +While the watch was being changed I had an opportunity of examining +the crew; they were nearly all natives, smart, intelligent-looking +fellows, and excellently disciplined. Whether they were Dyaks or +Malays, however, I had not sufficient experience to determine, and, +for more than one reason, I did not like to ask. + +It was a lovely morning; the sea was as blue as the sky, a fresh wind +was driving the schooner along at an exhilarating pace, and, looking +over the side at the line of foam extending from either bow, I was +afforded a very good idea of what an exceptional sailor the _Lone +Star_ really was. + +Being a little tired after my perambulations, I lay back in my chair, +and shutting my eyes, fell to ruminating on the queer trick Fate had +played me. So far I could hardly accept my position as real. It was +difficult to believe that I, George De Normanville, unromantic, +plodding student of Guy's,--now M.D., of Cavendish Square, London, +whose sole aim in life, a year ago, had been to put a brass plate upon +his front door, and collect wealthy hypochondriacal lady +patients,--was now medical adviser to a mysterious female, who +perambulated Eastern waters in a chameleon craft, blackmailing rajahs, +abducting merchants, levying toll on mail boats, and bringing down on +her devoted head the wrath of all sorts of nations, principalities, +and powers. And then another point struck me. While outwardly so fair, +what sort of a woman was she at heart? From Walworth's warning I had +gathered that I must be careful in my dealings with her. + +But at that moment my reverie was interrupted by the appearance of a +neatly-clad steward, who in broken English presented me with an +invitation from her ladyship to tiffin in the saloon in half an hour. +This was an unexpected honour, and one which, you may be sure, I did +not hesitate to accept. I wanted, however, to make a suitable toilet +first, but where to do it puzzled me, for so far as I knew no cabin +had yet been apportioned to me. I placed my difficulty before an +officer who was standing near me. He said something in native dialect +to the steward, who replied, and then turned again to me. + +"Your traps have been placed in a cabin next to Mr. Walworth's, he +says, and if you will follow him he will conduct you to it." + +I followed the steward down the main companion (I afterward discovered +that the one aft was sacred to her ladyship) as requested, and found +myself in a large mess-room, in which three officers were seated at +lunch. On either side a number of fair-sized berths were situated. The +one set apart for me was nearest the companion, and contained a bunk, +a small settee and locker combined, a wash-hand basin, and a place for +hanging clothes. The first operation was to shave, a bath followed, to +which another steward conducted me, after which I returned to my +berth, dressed my wound, and, having selected a clean suit of white +ducks, attired myself and repaired on deck. + +Punctual to the stroke of two bells (one o'clock) I was summoned to +the after-saloon by my first messenger. I followed him, and descending +the companion, the scantling of which was prettily picked out in white +and gold, found myself in her ladyship's own quarters. There was no +one present, and I must own I was glad of that, for I wanted an +opportunity to look about me. In the small space I can allot to it, it +would be difficult to do adequate justice to the cabin in which I +found myself, but for the better understanding of my story I must +endeavour to give you some description of it. In the first place, you +must understand that the companion-ladder opened directly into the +saloon itself. This otherwise commonplace effect, was, however, +rendered most artistic by a heavy pile of carpet which covered the +steps, and by the curtains which draped the entrance and the +portholes. More of the same noiseless carpet covered the floor, while +light was supplied from ports on either side, and from a richly +decorated skylight in the deck above. The effect of the thick butt of +the mainmast was entirely taken away by a number of artfully contrived +and moulded Japanese mirrors, which, besides fulfilling their original +purpose, gave an additional air of light and elegance to the room. The +walls, which were exquisitely panelled and moulded in ivory and gold, +were loaded with bric-a-brac of every description, including much +china and many pictures of rare value, while deep chairs and couches, +Turkish and Indian divans, piles of soft cushions and furs were +scattered about here and there, as if inviting the cabin's occupants +to an existence of continual repose. A grand piano stood in one +corner, firmly cleated to the deck; on the bulkhead above it was an +exquisitely inlaid Spanish guitar, and a Hungarian zither, while above +them again were several fine specimens of the old Venetian lute. +Altogether a more luxurious and beautifully furnished apartment it has +never been my good fortune to behold, and I settled myself down in a +comfortable chair prepared to spend a really critical and enjoyable +time. Then a daintily-bound volume, open on a cushion near where I +sat, attracted my attention. I took it up to find that it was a volume +of Heine's poems in the original. + +"So my lady understands German, and reads Heine too, does she?" I said +to myself. "I must----" + +But I was prevented saying what I would do by the drawing aside of a +curtain that covered a door at the further end of the saloon, and the +entrance of my hostess herself. If she were capable of such a +weakness, my astonishment must have flattered her, for, prepared as I +was to see a beautiful woman, I had no idea she would prove as lovely +as she looked then. She had discarded the close-fitting white dress +she had worn earlier in the day, and was now attired in some soft +clinging fabric of a dark colour, which not only brought out all the +lines of her superb figure, but rendered her even more attractive than +before. There must have been a quantity of jet scattered about the +costume, for I was conscious of a shimmering sensation which +accompanied her every movement. She carried herself with a truly regal +air, and I had a better opportunity permitted me now of seeing what a +beautiful face it really was, and how exquisitely her head was set +upon her shoulders. Her hands and feet were very small, so was her +mouth, while her ears were like shells tucked into fragrant nests +against her head. But the glory that eclipsed all others was the +wealth of golden hair that crowned her. Such hair I have never seen +before or since. It seemed to have caught all the sunshine of the +world and to be jealous of dispersing it again. + +Once more, as if to afford as great a contrast as possible to so much +loveliness, the same ferocious bulldog followed at her heels, and, +when she approached me, stood regarding me with calmly scrutinising +eyes. + +"Welcome to my cabin, Dr. De Normanville," she said, coming over to me +and holding out her tiny hand with a frank gesture. "I am delighted to +see that you are looking so much better." + +"I'm feeling quite strong again, thank you," I answered, completely +carried away by the charm of her manner. "I cannot think what made me +break down in that undignified fashion. I'm afraid you will despise +me for giving such an exhibition of weakness." + +She seated herself in a deep chair beside me and slowly fanned herself +with a black ostrich plume, at the same time stroking the dog's ugly +head with her little foot. + +"I don't really see why I should," she said seriously, after a +moment's pause. "You must have had a terrible time on that horrible +junk. I feel as if I was personally to blame for it. However, I shall +have more to say on that subject later; in the meantime let us be +thankful that you came out of it as safely as you did. I do not like +the Chinese!" + +I saw a little shudder sweep over her as she said this, so to turn the +conversation into a pleasanter channel, I commented on the sailing +qualities of her schooner. The subject evidently pleased her, for her +eyes sparkled with a new light. + +"There is no boat like her in the wide, wide world," she cried +enthusiastically. "I had her built for me on my own lines, and I have +tried her on every wind, and in every sea, till I have come to know +her better than a rider knows his horse. She is the most beautiful and +the swiftest craft in the world. And there are times, Dr. De +Normanville,"--here she sank her voice a little, and it seemed to me +it trembled,--"when it is of the utmost importance to me that I should +move quickly. She has saved my life not once, but a hundred times. Can +you wonder, therefore, that I love her? But I'm afraid you are too +prejudiced against me to have much sympathy in my escapes." + +"I hope you will not think so. I----" + +"Forgive my interrupting you. But don't you think it would be better +if we sat down to table instead of discussing my unfortunate self?" + +She pressed an electric bell in the woodwork by her side and ordered +tiffin. When it was served we went over to the table and the meal +commenced. + +I am not going to tell you what we ate, for, to confess the honest +truth, within half an hour I had forgotten what it was myself. I only +know that it was admirably cooked and served. As it proceeded we +chatted on various minor matters, literature of all nations, music and +painting, and it was not until we had finished, and the cloth had been +removed and we were alone together, that my hostess touched upon the +reason of my presence on board. + +"You know, of course, Dr. De Normanville," she said, ensconcing +herself in a big chair when we had left the table, "why I sent for +you?" + +"It was explained to me by your messenger. But I must confess I do not +quite understand it yet. He said something about an island." + +"And he was quite right. An outbreak of small-pox has occurred on the +island which I make my depot. Where that island is, I cannot of course +tell you. But you will see it for yourself soon enough. In the +meantime I may inform you that the havoc wrought by the disease has +been terrible, and it was only when I found that I could make no +headway against it myself that I determined to send to Hong Kong for +assistance. To get hold of you was a piece of good fortune I did not +expect." + +I bowed my acknowledgment of the compliment she paid me, and asked if +she herself had been much among the cases. + +"Why, of course!" she answered. "My poor people call me their mother, +and naturally turn to me for assistance in their trouble. It went to +my very heart not to be able to help them." + +"But were you quite wise, do you think, to run so much risk?" + +"I did not think of myself at all. How could I? Do you think of the +risk you run when you are called in to an infectious case?" + +"I take all proper precaution, at least. When were you vaccinated +last, may I ask?" + +"In Rome, in June, 1883." + +"Then, with your permission, I'll do it again, and at once. You cannot +be too careful." + +Receiving her assent I went off to my cabin, where I had noticed that +a large portion of my medical outfit had been stored, and having +obtained what I sought, returned with it to the saloon. Alie, for by +that name I must henceforward call her, was waiting for me, her arm +bared to the shoulder. Never, if I live to be a hundred, shall I +forget the impression that snow-white arm made upon me. It seemed like +an act of basest sacrilege to perform even such a simple operation +upon it. Beelzebub, the bulldog, evidently thought so too, for he +watched me attentively enough during the whole of the time it took me. +However, it had to be done, and done it accordingly was. Then, when I +had put my paraphernalia back into its case, I bade her good-bye, and +turned to go. She stopped me, however, and held out her hand. + +"Do you know, Dr. De Normanville, I want to make you like me. I want +you to forget, if you can,--while you are with us, at any rate,--the +stories you have heard about me. Some day, perhaps, I will attempt to +show you that I am not altogether as bad as people have painted me." + +For the moment I was so completely carried away by her outburst of +girlish frankness that I hardly knew what to say. + +"'Pon my soul, I really don't believe you are!" I blurted out, like a +schoolboy. + +"Thank you for that, at least," she said, smiling at my earnestness; +and then, making me a little curtsey, she turned and disappeared +through the door by which she had first entered the saloon. + +Putting my case into my pocket, I looked round the room once more, and +then went up on deck, not knowing what to think. It seemed impossible +to believe that this frank, beautiful girl, whose eyes were so steady +and true, whose voice had such a genuine, hearty ring in it, could be +the notorious criminal of whom all the East was talking. And yet +without a shadow of a doubt it was so. And if it came to that, what +was I, staid, respectable George De Normanville, doing, but aiding and +abetting her in her nefarious career? True, I might salve my +conscience with the knowledge that I had been drawn into it +unconsciously, and was only acting in the interests of humanity, but +it was nevertheless a fact, and one that I could not have disputed if +I had wanted to, that I was the paid servant of the Beautiful White +Devil. + +It was just two bells in the first dog watch when I came on deck, and +hard upon sundown. The great round sun, which had been so busy all day +long, now rested in a bed of opal cloud scarcely a hand's breadth +above the edge of the horizon. The breeze had moderated, since midday, +and now the water around us was almost without a ripple, but glorified +with flakes and blotches of almost every colour known to man. Near at +hand it was a mixture of lemon and silver, a little further almost a +lilac-purple, further still a touch of pale heliotrope meeting +salmon-pink and old gold, while under the sun itself a blotch of red, +fierce as a clot of blood, worked through the cloud till it got back +to gold, then to salmon-pink, then through purple up again to the +lemon and silver sky. It was a wonderful sunset, and a fitting +termination to an extraordinary day. + +After dinner, of which I partook in the officer's mess-room, I +returned to the deck. It was nearly eight o'clock, and as fine a night +as I had seen since I came into the East. Lighting a cigar I walked +aft, and, leaning upon the taffrail, scanned the quiet sea. Situated +as I was, it is not to be wondered at that a variety of thoughts +thronged my brain. I tried to think what my dear old mother would have +said could she have seen the position my over-rash acceptance of a +tempting offer had placed me in. From my mother, who, with my father, +had been dead nearly five years, my thoughts passed on to other +relatives--to a girl whom I had once thought I loved, but who had +jilted me in favour of a brother student. The old heartache was almost +gone now, but it had been a most unfortunate affair; since then, +however, I flattered myself, I had been heart-whole, and I deluded +myself with the notion that I was likely to remain so. + +Since dinner the breeze had freshened, and the schooner, with all sail +set, was now slipping swiftly through the water. I turned, and, +leaning against the rail, looked aloft at the stretch of canvas which +seemed to reach up almost to the stars, then back again at the wake +and the wonderful exhibition of phosphorised water below the counter. + +Suddenly I became aware of someone standing by my side, and turning my +head, I discovered it was none other than the Beautiful White Devil +herself. She was still dressed in black, with a sort of mantilla of +soft lace draped about her head. + +"What a supreme fascination there is about the sea at night, isn't +there?" she said softly, looking down at the sparkling water. I +noticed the beauty of the little white hand upon the rail as I replied +in appropriate terms. + +"I never can look at it enough," she continued almost unconsciously. +"Oh, you black, mysterious, unfathomable depths, what future do you +hold for me? My fate is wrapped up in you. I was born on you; I was +brought up on you; and if my fate holds good, I shall die and be +buried in you." + +"At any rate, you need give no thought to that contingency for very +many years to come," I answered bluntly. "Besides, what possible +reason can you have for thinking you will end your days at sea?" + +"I don't know, Dr. De Normanville. It would puzzle me to tell you. But +I feel as certain of finding my grave in the waves as I am that I +shall be alive to-morrow! You don't know what the sea has been to me. +She has been my good and my evil genius. I love her in every mood, +and I don't think I could hope for a better end than to be buried in +her breast. Oh, you beautiful, beautiful water, how I love you--how I +love you!" + +As she spoke she stretched her arms out to where the stars were paling +in anticipation of the rising moon. In any other woman such a gesture +would have been theatrical and unreal in the extreme. But in her case +it seemed only what one might expect from such a glorious creature. + +"There is somebody," she continued, "who says that 'the sea belongs to +Eternity, and not Time, and of that it sings its monotonous song for +ever and ever.'" + +"That is a very beautiful idea," I answered, "but don't you think +there are others that fully equal it? What do you say to 'The sea +complains upon a thousand shores'?" + +"Or your English poet Wordsworth, 'The sea that bares her bosom to the +wind'?" + +"Let me meet you with an American: 'The sea tosses and foams to find +its way up to the cloud and wind.' Could anything be finer than that? +There you have the true picture--the utter restlessness and the +striving of the untamed sea." + + "'Would'st thou,' so that helmsman answered, + 'Learn the secret of the sea? + Only those who brave its dangers + Comprehend its mystery!'" + +"Bravo! That caps all." + +For some seconds my companion stood silent, gazing across the deep. +Then she said, very softly: + +"And who is better able to speak about its dangers than I, whose home +it is? Dr. De Normanville, I think if I were to tell you some of the +dangers through which I have passed you would hardly believe me." + +"I think I could believe anything you told me." + +"I rather doubt it. You see, you have no idea what an extraordinary +existence mine is. Why! my life is one long battle with despair. I am +like a hunted animal flying before that hell-hound, man. Do you know +how near I was to being caught once? Let me tell you about it, and see +if it will convey any idea to you. It was in Singapore, and I was +dining at the house of a prominent police official, as the friend of +his wife. I had met her some months before under peculiar +circumstances, and we had become intimate. During the meal my host +spoke of the Beautiful White Devil, and commented on her audacity. +'However, we have at last received a clue concerning her,' he said. +'She is not far away from Singapore at the present moment, and I have +every reason to believe that in forty-eight hours she will be in our +hands.' I had a full glass of champagne in my hand at the moment, and +it is a compliment to the strength of my nerves to say that I raised +it to my lips, before answering him, without spilling one drop." + +"And did he never suspect?" + +"No, indeed. To tell the truth, I doubt if he knows to this day how +close the Beautiful White Devil really was to him. Yet one moment's +hesitation might have cost me my life. Another time I attended a +Viceregal ball in Colombo in the capacity of an heiress from England. +In the middle of the evening the partner with whom I was dancing, a +young inspector of police, apologised for having to leave me. He said +he had received information concerning the Beautiful White Devil, who +was known to be in the town. During supper he had been telling me +about his prospects, and the girl who was coming out from England to +marry him when he got his step. 'It will be a good thing for you if +you catch this woman, won't it?' I inquired. 'It will get me +promotion, and that will mean the greatest happiness of my life--my +marriage!' he answered. 'Won't you wish me luck?' I did wish him luck, +and then went off to dance the lancers with His Excellency the +Governor." + +"Do you think it wise to run such awful risks?" I asked, amazed at her +audacity. + +"Perhaps not; but in that particular case I could not help myself. I +stood in need of some important information, and could trust nobody to +obtain it but myself." + +"It must have been a terrible five minutes for you." + +"Yes; I almost fainted after the dance. His Excellency apologised +profusely for the heat of the room." + +As she finished speaking, the moon lifted her head above the horizon, +and little by little rose into the cloudless sky. Under her glamour +the sea became a floor of frosted silver, till even the spangled glory +of the phosphorus was taken from the curdling wake. + +"I expect you have been told some very curious stories about me, Dr. +De Normanville?" my companion said, after a little while. "I wish I +could induce you to tell me what you have heard. Believe me, I have a +very good reason for wanting you to know the truth about me." + +"That is easily told," I answered. "I have heard a great many +variations of the same story, but knowing how news travels out here, I +have placed very little credence in any of them." + +"You have heard, perhaps, about the Sultan of Surabaya?" + +I intimated that I had. + +"At first you must have thought that rather a cruel action on my part. +And yet, if you knew all, your blame would probably turn to +admiration. You do not know, perhaps, what a character that man bore +in his own state, the life he led, his excesses, his constant crimes, +his tyranny over his unfortunate subjects. I tell you, sir, that that +man was, and is, one of the greatest scoundrels upon the face of this +earth. I had heard over and over again of him, and when I discovered +that his people could obtain no redress for their grievances, I +determined to meet him on his own ground. I arranged my plans +accordingly, abducted him, made him disgorge a large sum of money, +half of which I caused to be anonymously distributed amongst the poor +wretches he had robbed, and at the same time told him his character +for the first and only time in his heathen existence, promising him as +I did so that if he did not mend his ways, I'd catch him again and +silence him for ever. Punishment was surely never more fitly earned. +Then there was a merchant in Hong Kong, by name Vesey. I expect you +have heard of him and the trick I played him? Well, that man made an +assertion about me in a public place to the effect that I was---- But +never mind what it was. It was so vile that I cannot repeat it to you, +but I made a vow I would be revenged on him for it, sooner or later. I +_was_ revenged, and in the only way he could be made to feel--that +is, through his banker. He will never forgive me, of course. Now, what +else have you heard?" + +"Pardon my alluding to it," I said, "but--the _Vectis Queen_--the +_Oodnadatta_." + +"So you have heard of those affairs? Well, I do not deny them. I must +have money. Look at the expenses I have to meet. Look at this +boat--think of the settlement I maintain, of the hundreds of +pensioners I have all through the East, of the number of people whose +services it is necessary for me to retain. And, pray do not +misunderstand me. To you it may seem that such transactions make me +neither more nor less than a thief--a common cheat and swindler. In +your eyes I may be that, but I must own I do not look upon it in the +same light myself. I am, and have been all my life, at war with what +you call Society--the reason I may perhaps explain to you some day. I +know the risk I run. If Society catches me, in all probability my life +will pay the forfeit. I know that, and I am naturally resolved not to +be caught. One thing is certain, I prey only on those who can afford +to lose, and, like the freebooters of romance, I make it my boast that +I have never knowingly robbed a poor man, while, on the other hand, I +have materially assisted many. There are those, of course, who judge +me harshly. Heaven forbid that they ever find themselves in the +position in which I am placed! Think of it! I am hunted by all +men--every man's hand is against me; I am cut off from country and +friends; a price is put upon my head, and for that reason I am obliged +to distrust everyone on principle. Think of having the knowledge +continually before you that if you are not constantly on the watch +you may be caught. And then----" + +"And then?" + +I heard her grind her little white teeth viciously. + +"There will be no _then_, Dr. De Normanville, so we need not talk of +it; while I live they will never catch me, and when I am dead it +cannot matter who has possession of my body. Good-night!" + +Before I could answer she had left me and vanished down the companion +ladder. I turned to the sea and my own thoughts. The ship's bell +struck four (ten o'clock), the lookout at the fo'c's'le-head cried, +"All's well!" silence reigned, a wonderful quiet broken only by the +humming of the breeze in the shrouds, and the tinkling of the water +alongside. I leant against the rail and considered the life of the +Beautiful White Devil as I had heard it from her own lips. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL. + + +The sun next morning had scarcely made his appearance when I awoke to +a knowledge of the fact that the yacht was stationary. Such a +circumstance could have but one meaning: we had arrived at our +destination. As soon, therefore, as this idea became properly +impressed upon my mind, I sprang from my bunk, made for the port-hole, +and, drawing back the little curtain that covered it, gazed out upon +the world. And what a picture met my eager eyes! What a scene to paint +in words or pigments! But oh, how difficult! If I were a literary +craftsman of more than ordinary ability, I might possibly be able to +give you some dim impression of what I saw. But being only an amateur +word-painter of the sorriest sort, I very much fear it is a task +beyond my capabilities. However, for the sake of my story, I suppose I +must try. + +To begin with, you must endeavour to imagine a small harbour, at most +half a mile long by three-quarters wide, having upon the side towards +which I looked a wide plateau extending almost to the sands that +fringe the water's edge. Picture this tableland, or plateau, as I have +called it, backed by a tall, forest-crowned hill, almost a mountain, +which soars up and up a couple of thousand feet or more into the azure +sky; while peering out of the jungle that ornaments its base may be +seen the white roofs of houses, with, here and there, the thatch of a +native hut of the kind usually met with on the west coast of Borneo +and the islands thereabout. + +So strikingly beautiful was the view, and so great was my curiosity to +examine for myself this home of the Beautiful White Devil, for such I +could not help feeling convinced it was, that I dressed with all +possible speed and repaired on deck. + +From this point of vantage the prospect was even more pleasingly +picturesque than it had been from the port-hole of my cabin. + +All round us the water was smooth as green glass, and so wonderfully +transparent that, on leaning over the starboard bulwark, I could +plainly discern the flaking of the sand at the bottom and the +brilliant colours of the snout-nosed fishes as they swam past, at +least a dozen fathoms below the surface. + +To my surprise the harbour was entirely landlocked, and, though I +searched for some time, I could discern no opening in the amphitheatre +of hills through which a vessel of even the smallest size could pass +in from the sea. But being more taken up with the beautiful scenery of +the bay than its harbour facilities, I did not puzzle over this for +very long. + +So still was the morning that the smoke of the huts ashore went up +straight and true into the air, the pale blue contrasting admirably +with the varied greens of the foliage out of which it rose. Overhead, +and around us, flocks of gulls, of kinds hitherto unknown to me, +wheeled and screamed, while at intervals gorgeously-plumed parrots +flew across our bows from shore to shore. Once a small green bird, +apparently of the finch tribe, settled on the foreyard foot-rope, and +a little later a tiny sand-piper came aboard, and hopped about the +fo'c's'le as calmly as if he had been doing nothing else all his life. + +When first I came on deck, with the exception of the cook in his +galley, not a soul was to be seen. But presently, while I was watching +the antics of the bird I have just described, my old acquaintance +Walworth joined me at the rail, and laid himself out for conversation. + +"Doctor," he said, "I want you to tell me candidly, if, in all your +experience of the world, you have ever looked upon a fairer scene than +that you have before you now?" + +"No; I don't think I have," I answered. "It is marvellously beautiful, +but all the same, I must own one or two things about it rather puzzle +me." + +"And what are they?" + +"Well! in the first place, since I can see no opening in the hills, +how did we get in here?" + +"Ah! you have been thinking about that, have you? Well, to save you +any further trouble on that score, let me tell you that if you were to +look for a hundred years from where you stand now you would not be +able to discover it. And, unless her ladyship gives permission, it +would be as much as my life is worth for me to tell you. Now for your +second question?" + +"Well, I can see, say, a dozen huts, all told, over yonder," I +answered. "Surely they don't constitute the settlement of which you +spoke to me?" + +"No; they do not. Those you see over there are only the outlying +portions of the village, meant to deceive the crew of any vessel who +might land and find their way in here; the real place itself lies five +miles inland, round that hill, through the gap you can just make out +alongside that bit of terra-cotta coloured cliff yonder." + +"I see! And now, to change the subject. With regard to that lymph you +procured for me in Hong Kong, where is it?" + +"It has already been sent to your bungalow with the rest of the +medical paraphernalia we brought with us." + +"And her ladyship?" + +"Went ashore as soon as we came to anchor. If I mistake not that's her +boat coming off to us now." + +As he spoke, a large white surf-boat put off from the beach, and, +under the sturdy arms of her crew, came swiftly across the stretch of +blue towards us. As she ranged alongside, I carefully examined the men +rowing. They were of medium size, and evidently of the Dyak race, +being taller than the average Malay, and inclining more to the build +of the Solomon Islander than to any other class I could think of. They +were bright, intelligent-looking fellows, and evidently well cared +for. As soon as they had hitched on to the gangway, the coxswain came +aboard, and said something in native to my companion, who, in reply, +pointed to me. + +Thereupon the man drew a note from his turban, and handed it to me +with the confidence and easy bearing of one gentleman rendering a +service to another. It was addressed in Alie's handwriting. + +Though a considerable time has elapsed since my receipt of that little +note, I can plainly recall the thrill that went through me as I +opened it. It ran as follows: + + DEAR DR. DE NORMANVILLE: + + I beg you will forgive my not remaining on board to welcome + you to my home, but as you will readily imagine I was most + anxious to see for myself, at once, how things were + progressing ashore. Unfortunately, however, I have nothing + favourable to report. Will you come and breakfast with me + immediately on receipt of this? My coxswain will show you + the way. Then, afterward, I could take you, myself, round + the settlement. + + With very kind regards, + Believe me, truly your friend, + ALIE. + +I thrust the note into my pocket, and having told Walworth what I was +about to do, went below to my cabin to prepare for my excursion. Then +returning to the deck I descended into the boat alongside, and we set +off for the shore. As we rowed I was able to look back and observe, +for the first time, the proportions and symmetry of the beautiful +craft I had just left. + +Indeed, a prettier picture than the _Lone Star_ presented at +that moment could not possibly be imagined. Her tall masts and +rigging showed out clear-cut against the blue sky, while her +exquisitely-modelled hull was reflected, with mirror-like +distinctness, in the placid water around her; the brasswork upon her +binnacle and wheel shone like burnished gold, and so clear was the +water, that the whole of her bright copper sheathing, and even the +outline of her keel, could plainly be distinguished. + +Within five minutes of leaving her, our coxswain had deftly brought us +alongside a small, but neatly-constructed, wooden jetty. Here I +disembarked, and, escorted by that amiable individual, set off at once +on our journey to the dwelling of my mysterious hostess. + +Leaving the white, sandy foreshore of the bay, we passed by a well +made track through the forest in a due northerly direction. And such a +forest as it was! Such wealth of timber, such varieties of woods, +shrubs, creepers, orchids, and flowers. On one hand, perhaps, an iron +tree of imperial growth would tower above us; on another an enormous +teak, with here and there the curious leaves and twisted outline of a +gutta-percha--all mixed up with pipa palms, camphor trees, canes and +bamboos of every possible hue and description. From tree to tree, +across our path, birds of all kinds, including paddi birds, green +pigeons, flycatchers, barbets, and sunbirds flew with discordant +cries, while not once, but more often than I could count, hordes of +monkeys swung themselves wildly from branch to branch overhead, +chattering and calling to each other as if the whole wide world were +there to applaud their antics. Our path was indeed a varied one; one +moment we were surrounded on all sides by the forest, the next we were +out on the bare face of the hill looking down upon the tops of trees. +The bright sunshine flooded everything; while the fresh breeze from +the sea was just cool enough to make the exertion of walking pleasant. +Indeed, so enjoyable was it, that I was almost sorry when we left the +forest for the last time and emerged on to a small plain, bounded by +the scrub on one side and by the mountain on the other. On this I +could discern a collection of huts and houses to the number of perhaps +three hundred. But what struck me as most remarkable about them was +the fact that they were arranged in streets, and that the majority of +them were built on European lines; also in almost every case--and I +was able to verify this later on--each one possessed a well-kept and +apparently productive garden, varying in extent from a quarter up to +as much in some cases as an acre. On the other side of the village +furthest from where I stood, the forest began again, and ran in an +unbroken mass up to the high mountain land before referred to. On the +right side of this mountain, and distinctly visible from every part of +the village, was a fine waterfall, perhaps a couple of hundred feet +high, from which rose continually a heavy mist, catching in the +sunlight every known colour of the rainbow. Altogether, a more +picturesque little place could not have been discovered. It was quite +in keeping with the woman, the yacht, the forest, and the harbour. And +to think that this was the home of the Beautiful White Devil, the home +of that mysterious woman whose so-called crimes and acts of daring +were common gossip from Colombo to the farthest Saghalien coast. + +Leaving the village on our left, we ascended the mountain side for a +short distance by a well-worn track, then turning sharply to our left +hand, wound round it to where another large plateau began. Reaching +this, midway between the village and the waterfall, we saw before us a +high and well-made picket fence in which was a gate. Through this gate +we passed, and after carefully closing it behind us, followed a short +track along a lovely avenue of Areca palms and india rubber trees +towards a house we could just discern through the foliage; then, +having ascended a flight of broad stone steps, flanked with quaint +stone gods and images, we stood before the dwelling of the Beautiful +White Devil. + +I fear, deeply as the memory of it is impressed upon my mind, it +is hardly in my power to convey to you any real impression of the +building I had come so far to see, and in which I was destined +to spend so many hours. Suffice it that it was an _adobe_ +construction--one story high, and designed on somewhat the same plan +as an Indian bungalow; the walls were of great thickness, the better +to withstand the heat, I suppose; the rooms presented the appearance +of being lofty and imposing, while one and all opened by means of +French windows on to the broad verandah which ran round the house upon +every side. This verandah, and indeed the whole house, was embowered +in dense masses of different-coloured creepers, which in the brilliant +sunshine presented a most charming and novel effect. From the verandah +on the left, or south, side, another broad flight of stone steps, +similarly adorned with stone carvings, conducted one to the garden, +while to the right, and scarcely more than a couple of hundred yards +distant, crashed the waterfall I had seen from the hill, with a roar +that could have been heard many miles away, down into the black pool +two hundred feet below. + +At the foot of the first steps my guide left me and returned to the +harbour by the road along which he had come. I paused to recover my +breath and watched him out of sight, then turning to the house +ascended the flight of steps. Just as I reached the top, and was +wondering how I might best make my presence known to those inside, I +heard the rustling of a dress in the verandah; next moment Alie +herself, clad in white from top to toe, as was her custom, came round +the corner, followed by her enormous bulldog, and confronted me. I can +see her now, and even after this lapse of time can feel the influence +of her wonderful personality upon me just as plainly as if it were but +yesterday I stood before her. Seeing me she said something to the +dog,--who had uttered a low growl,--and stretched out her hand. + +"Good-morning, Dr. De Normanville," she said, smiling as no other +woman could ever do; "you received my note, then? I am glad to see +you, and I make you welcome to my home." + +"A Garden of Eden I should be inclined to call it," I answered, +looking about me. "How many of us would be glad to dwell in it!" + +She looked at me for a moment, and then asked somewhat bitterly: + +"Pray is that pretty speech meant for Alie or the Beautiful White +Devil? There is a difference, you know." + +Then, not permitting me time to answer, she changed the subject by +saying: + +"Breakfast is on the table, I believe. Let us go in to it. Will you +give me your arm?" + +I did so, and together we passed from the creeper-covered verandah +into a room straight before us. + +In the previous chapter I have described to you Alie's cabin on board +the _Lone Star_, and, in doing it, almost beggared myself of language; +now I can only ask you to believe that rich as that cabin was in its +appointments, in its arrangements, its curios and articles of _vertu_, +the room which we entered now eclipsed it in every particular. Indeed, +such another I never remember to have seen. From floor to ceiling it +was filled with curiosities and articles of the greatest beauty and +value. Rich Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese hangings covered +the walls, interspersed with such articles of pottery, silver, and +china, as made me break the Tenth Commandment every time I looked at +them. Native weapons of all kinds and of every nationality, some with +plain, others with superbly jewelled, hilts; Indian, Cinghalese, +Burmese, Siamese, Japanese, and Chinese bric-a-brac; two large cases +of mineral specimens, comprising many precious stones; quite a dozen +pictures of rare value, one looking suspiciously like a Titian; while +fully a couple of hundred books, a grand piano, and at least +half-a-dozen other musical instruments, including a harp and a guitar, +helped to complete the furniture. + +In the centre of the room stood the breakfast table, covered with an +exquisitely embroidered white linen cloth, on which was displayed such +a collection of beautiful gold and silver ware as I had never seen on +a table before. Three heaps of fruit, consisting of durians, pisangs, +bananas, mangoes, mangosteens, and custard apples were piled upon +three lovely Sevres dishes in the centre, flanked by two +quaintly-shaped decanters filled with wine. + +We seated ourselves at either end of the table, and my hostess struck +a tiny silver gong by her side. Breakfast was instantly served by the +same impassive servant who had waited upon us on board the yacht. If +he felt any surprise at my presence on this occasion, he did not show +it; indeed, it would almost have seemed as if he were not aware that I +was the same person. + +And now a word as to the _dejeuner_ itself. It has been my good +fortune to have breakfasted at most of the famous restaurants in +Europe, that is to say, in London, Paris, Rome, and Vienna, but I am +prepared to state, and I put it forward believing it to be true, that +the meal of which I partook that morning in the Beautiful White +Devil's bungalow excelled any I had ever partaken of before. From +beginning to end it was perfect in every way. The fish, evidently but +lately caught, could only have been called a poem of culinary art, the +omelets were Parisian in their daintiness and serving, the cutlets +were of the right size and done to a turn, the wine (for the meal was +served after the French fashion) was worthy of imperial cellars, and +the fruit had evidently been in the garden less than half an hour +before. My hostess noticed the surprise with which I regarded these +things; for extraordinary it certainly was to sit down to such a +breakfast on an island in the North Pacific. + +"You are evidently wondering at the civilisation of my surroundings," +she said, as the man servant poured her out a glass of Tokay. + +"Indeed, yes!" I answered. "I must own I had no notion I should find +anything in any way approaching it in these seas. Your cook must be a +wonder." + +"Well, perhaps he _is_ rather extraordinary!" she continued. "But I +doubt if you will deem it so wonderful when I tell you that he is a +Frenchman of the French, who was once in the service of Victor +Emanuel. How I came to obtain the benefit of his skill is, of course, +another matter." + +"And will he stay with you, do you think? Are you not sometimes +afraid that your servants will want to leave you, and return to +civilisation again?" + +"My servants never leave me," she answered, with an emphasis there was +no mistaking. "And for the best of reasons. No! I certainly have no +fear on that score." + +"You are able to place implicit trust in them, then?" I asked, amazed +at the confidence with which she spoke. + +"The most implicit trust," she said. "My servants are carefully +chosen. They give their services cheerfully, and, like my dog there, +they would obey me at any cost, however great, to themselves. Would +you like an example?" + +"Very much, if you will favour me," I answered. + +"Then watch me closely. In the first place you must understand that, +next to myself, my bulldog's greatest friend and companion is my +butler--the man who has just left the room. Well, I will ring for +him." + +She did so, and, as soon as the bell had stopped ringing, called the +dog to her side and said something to him in the same curious language +she had employed before. Thereupon he went over to the door, and, +laying himself down about a yard from it, watched it intently. He had +not been there a half minute before the door opened, and the servant +stood upon the threshold. + +Immediately the dog saw him he rose to his feet, every bristle erect, +showing all his teeth, and growling savagely. At first the man did not +know what to make of this behaviour. Then he spoke to the animal, and +at the same time attempted to pass him. But this the beast would not +permit. His upper lip drew further back, and he showed unmistakably +that if the man advanced another step he would bite, and bite +severely. All this time his mistress lay back in her chair, toying +with a spoon upon the table, and watching the pair out of half-closed +eyes, according to her peculiar habit. Then she spoke to the man. + +"I have told the dog," she said in English, for my benefit, I suppose, +"to seize you by the throat if you attempt to enter the room. You know +that he will do what I tell him. Very well then, come in!" + +Dangerous as was his position, so great was the influence the +Beautiful White Devil exercised over her dependents that the man did +not hesitate or wait to be bidden twice, but at once complied with her +order. He had not advanced two steps, however, before the dog had +sprung into the air, and had his mistress not called to him in time, +would have taken the unfortunate domestic by the throat. As it was he +stopped midway in his spring, and a moment later was back again +crouching at her side. Then having addressed some words of explanation +to the frightened man, she turned to me and said: + +"Are you satisfied with that practical proof, Dr. De Normanville, or +do you want another? You are satisfied? I am glad of that, for I tell +you just as that man obeyed my orders, regardless of the consequences, +so would every other man in my employ, from my chief officer down to +the little native lad who pulls the punkah." + +"It is very wonderful!" + +"On the contrary, it is very simple." + +"I'm afraid I do not quite understand?" + +"Then I'm sorry to say I must for the present leave you in your +ignorance. Some day I may afford you another example which will +perhaps enlighten you more fully." + +For a few moments she sat wrapped in thought, looking at a flower she +had taken from a vase; then she lifted her eyes again and addressed me +with an air of authority that sat well upon her. + +"We have finished our breakfast, I think," she said. "Now I imagine +you will be anxious to inspect your patients. Well, if you will wait +ten minutes while I transact a little legal business, I will accompany +you." + +So saying she led me out into the verandah, where we seated ourselves +in long cane chairs. A tall native was in waiting, and when she had +said something to him he withdrew. + +"Now you will have an opportunity of witnessing a little piece of +retributive justice," she observed; "and also of observing how I treat +those who misconduct themselves in my domains." + +She had hardly spoken before the tramp of feet sounded from round the +corner, and next moment two stalwart natives appeared escorting a +young man, also an islander, whose bright attractive countenance won +my regard from the first. Behind this party came the complainant, an +elderly native, whose puckered and wrinkled face was about as +unprepossessing as the other's was pleasing. Seeing their ruler before +them they prostrated themselves with one accord, and remained in that +position until they were told to rise. When they had done so, Alie +narrated the features of the case to me in English. The old man, it +appeared, had a young wife; the prisoner was her cousin, and, if the +complainant could be believed, had shown himself fonder of her than +was comfortable for the husband's peace of mind. Age proving jealous, +and at the same time suspicious of the motive of Youth's cousinly +affection, had trumped up a charge of stealing gardening implements +against him, and had brought sworn testimony to prove that the stolen +articles had been found in his possession. But it so happened that +Alie had been aware for some time past that the real object of the +youth's affection was one of her own domestics, a comely enough +damsel, employed in the house. The upshot of it all was that the +charge was dismissed; the old man had to listen to a short homily on +jealousy; the young couple were married there and then, and given a +hut in the township for their own use, while the old man was ordered, +by way of compensation for the false accusation he had brought, to +provide them, that self-same day, with certain goods and chattels +necessary to their housekeeping. As for the three false witnesses, who +had placed so small a value upon their reputations for veracity as to +allow themselves to be suborned against an innocent man, their case +was somewhat harder; they were taken to the rear of the house, where +they received ten strokes of the rod apiece, well laid on, as a +warning to them against future dealings in unsound evidence. + +This case finished, Alie made another sign to one of her men, who +instantly disappeared. Then she settled herself in her chair, and I +noticed that a harder look came into her face. + +"You have witnessed how I conduct one side of my court," she said. +"Now you shall see the other." + +Again the tramp of feet was heard, and once more guards and prisoner +made their appearance round the corner. To my surprise, the latter was +none other than my old acquaintance Kwong Fung, the notorious Chinese +pirate. But though he must have remembered me, his sullen, evil face +betrayed no sign of surprise. He only stood between his guards +watching my hostess and waiting for her to speak. Presently she did +so, in Chinese, and once, only once, did he answer her. During the +harangue I glanced at her face, and was amazed at the change in it. +The old soft expression was completely gone, and in its place had come +one that, to tell the honest truth, even frightened _me_. Never before +or since have I seen such a perfect exhibition of self-contained, but +all-consuming, rage. Once more she spoke to the prisoner, who refused +to answer. She instantly addressed herself to the escort. The man in +command was in the act of replying when the prisoner, by some means +which I shall never be able to explain, raised his right arm before +his guards could stop him. In the palm of his hand lay a knife, +somewhat resembling a Malay krise, but with a shorter and straighter +blade. With the swiftness of thought the hand seemed to drop back and +instantly resume its upright position. The impetus thus given sent the +weapon flying along the verandah toward us, and if I had not thrown my +left arm before her, there could be no doubt that it would have found +a scabbard in Alie's breast. As it was it stuck in the sleeve of my +white jacket, passing through the fabric without even scratching the +flesh. Unnerving as the incident was, the Beautiful White Devil did +not show the slightest sign of fear, but simply said "Thank you!" to +me, and then resumed her instructions to the guard. Kwong Fung was +immediately led away. + +For some seconds after his departure neither of us spoke, then, +noticing that her face was regaining its old expression, I took +courage enough to inquire my enemy's fate. + +"Death," she answered. "I have forgiven that man times out of number; +I have helped him when he was in distress, and once I rescued him when +he was within an ace of being executed. But since he has murdered one +of my bravest subjects in cold blood, and cannot respect the orders I +have given, but must needs attempt the lives of those I have sworn to +protect, he must be prevented from doing any more harm by the safest +means we can employ." + +She was silent again for a few moments, then picking up the dagger, +which had fallen on the floor, she looked me steadily in the face, and +said: + +"Dr. De Normanville, I owe you my life. If ever the opportunity +arrives you will not find me ungrateful. It was a near escape, was it +not? I shall have to change my servants if they cannot see that their +prisoners are unarmed." + +I was about to reply, but was interrupted by the arrival of a second +batch of litigants, who were followed by a third. They were all +natives, for, as I discovered later, there was not one single instance +on record, in the history of the island, of the white population +having found it necessary to resort to law to settle their +differences. A more peaceable, happy, and law-abiding community could +not be found. One thing was very noticeable in each of these cases, +and that was the pacific reception of, and the resignation with +which, the decisions of their ruler were received. She spoke to them, +chided them, sympathised with them, and smoothed down their ruffled +feathers just as if they had in reality been what she had called +them--her children. And as a result, in each case plaintiff and +defendant went off together, their differences settled and their +former animosity quite forgotten. When the last case was concluded, +Alie put on her large white hat, which throughout the legal business +had been lying beside her, and we were in the act of setting out for +the village, accompanied by the dog, when an incident occurred which +was fraught with as much interest to me, in my study of her +extraordinary position and character, as anything else I had so far +met with during my stay in the island. + +We were descending the long stone steps before described, when a young +and attractive native woman hove in sight, carrying in her arms a +bundle, which on her nearer approach proved to be a baby. Arriving at +the steps she halted and knelt at Alie's feet, kissing the hem of her +dress, and at the same time saying something to her in the soft native +tongue I have so repeatedly admired. + +When she had finished Alie turned to me and said: + +"Doctor, this is your first case; and a sad one. Will you tell me if +you can do anything for this poor creature's child?" + +Turning to the woman I signed to her to let me look at the infant. The +poor little thing was in the last stage of confluent small-pox, and +presented a sickening appearance. + +"Is it a hopeless case?" Alie asked, with almost an entreat in her +voice, a note that had certainly not been there a quarter of an hour +before, when she had sent Kwong Fung to his doom. + +"Quite hopeless," I answered; "but I will endeavour to make death as +painless as possible. Will you tell the poor soul to bring the child +to me in half an hour in the village?" + +Alie translated my speech and must have given the mother some +encouragement, for she fell at my feet, and in the deepest reverence +kissed my boots. Then with an obeisance to my companion she passed +down a side path and disappeared among the trees. + +Alie turned to me and said, with a deep sigh: + +"Now, Dr. De Normanville, if you are ready we will set off on our tour +of inspection." + +I agreed, and accordingly we passed through the gate and went down the +path towards the settlement. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HOW WE FOUGHT THE PLAGUE. + + +Leaving the house behind us we made our way by means of a circuitous +path, round the base of the majestic waterfall before described, down +towards the buildings on the plain. The route chosen was a perfect one +in every way, not only for observing the excellent placing of the +township on the plateau, but for noting the beauties of nature along +the path. As in the jungle through which I had passed to approach the +house, lovely creepers twined from tree to tree, orchids gaped from +every crevice, some of them almost human in their quaintness; while +mixed up with them in marvellous profusion were palms, ferns, shrubs, +and bamboos of every known hue and description. Butterflies and +beetles, of colourings so glorious that my fingers positively itched +for my collecting box, fluttered from flower to flower, while parrots +(_Palaedinis longianda_), Nikobar pigeons, and the darter, or snake +bird, were so frequently met with as to lose all their charm of +novelty. Sometimes we would be in places where the wealth of greenery +shut out all view of the sky; a moment later we could look through the +leaves at the great mountain pushing its head up into what seemed the +azure vault of heaven itself. But beautiful as all this was, not the +least lovely part of it was the mysterious woman walking by my side. + +As we made our way down the path we talked on many subjects, European +politics, of which her knowledge was extensive, the beauties of the +East, literature and art; but, somehow or another, however far we +might wander from it, the conversation invariably came back to the +epidemic that was the occasion of my presence in the settlement. + +At last we left the jungle and prepared to descend the precipitous +hillside by means of a long flight of wooden steps, which ended at the +commencement of the main street. In the brilliant sunlight the +township looked a pretty enough little place, with its well laid-out +and nicely planted thoroughfares, neatly built European houses, and +picturesque native huts. It was hard to believe that, clean and +healthy as it all looked, it had lost more than a quarter of its +population by the ravages of one of the most awful pestilences human +flesh is heir to. Indeed, so much impressed was I with its beauty that +for a moment or two I stood watching it, unable to say a word. Then I +looked at my companion. She, like myself, had been very silent for the +last hundred yards, and now, as she looked down at her kingdom, I saw +her beautiful eyes fill with tears. + +"Dr. De Normanville," she said, as we arrived at the bottom of the +steps, "if you will allow me, some day, when we are a little better +acquainted, I will tell you the story of this place and the influence +it has had upon my life. Then you will be able to understand how it is +that I am so much affected by my people's sufferings." + +I murmured an appropriate reply and we entered the village. Our +arrival had been anxiously expected, and at the gate of the first +house we were met by an old man, who was evidently a person of +considerable importance in the place. He had a white skin and a +slightly Scandinavian cast of countenance, and, though he spoke +Chinese and the native tongue with unusual fluency, was evidently more +than half an Englishman. On seeing my companion he raised his hat +politely and waited for her to speak. + +"Mr. Christianson," she said, holding out her hand, "this is Dr. De +Normanville, who has been kind enough to come to our assistance from +Hong Kong. I don't think it is necessary for me to assure him that you +will give him your entire assistance in this terrible crisis, in the +same manner as you have hitherto given it to me." + +The old man bowed to me, and then addressed my companion. + +"We have done our best in your absence," he said sorrowfully; "but it +seems as if Fate were against us. There are at the present moment one +hundred and thirty cases all told, of which eighty-four are men, +twenty-three women, and the remainder children. Yesterday there were +eighteen deaths--among them your old coxswain, Kusae, who died at +seven in the morning, and Ellai, the wife of Attack, who followed him +within an hour. The Englishman, Brandon, died at midday, his wife +during the afternoon, and their only child this morning, scarcely an +hour ago. Doctor, is there any hope at all of our being able to stop +this awful plague?" + +I assured him we would do our best, and he agreed that no man could +ask or expect us to do more. By the time our conversation was finished +I had taken a decided fancy to the old fellow, and with Alie's +permission enrolled him there and then as my second in command. + +"Now," I said, turning to her, "before we commence our work let me +exactly understand my position. With what powers am I invested?" + +"With full and complete authority," she answered promptly. "Whatever +you may deem best for my unfortunate people, please do without +consulting anyone. Believe me, no one will attempt to dispute your +right." + +"That is as it should be, and I thank you," I said. "Now, will you +tell me where my own abode is to be? It should be as far removed from +the centre of the infected district as possible, yet, at the same +time, central enough to be convenient for all the inhabitants." + +"I thought that house on the mound at the foot of the hill," she +answered, pointing with her beautiful hand to a neat weather-board +structure about a couple of hundred yards from the place where we were +then standing; "in fact, I have even gone so far as to give orders +that it should be prepared for you. Shall we go and examine it?" + +Accordingly, accompanied by the old man, we set out for it, eagerly +watched by a crowd of natives, who, from the expressions on their +faces, had come quite to look upon me as their deliverer. + +The house proved to be a most commodious little place of four rooms, +and, from the luxury with which the two living apartments were +furnished, it was evident that considerable trouble and care had been +bestowed upon them. When we entered, an intelligent native lad was +called from an inner room and informed in English that I was his new +master, and that he was to see that I wanted for nothing. It is only +fair to add that during my stay in the island no man could have +desired a better and more trustworthy servant. + +From the bedroom and sitting-room we passed on to the room at the end +of the verandah, which I found had been set apart for, and equipped +as, a surgery. Neatly arranged around the walls, on shelves, were +enough drugs of all sorts and descriptions to stock half a dozen +chemist's shops, while my instruments, cases, and other paraphernalia +were spread out upon the table in the centre. Altogether the +arrangements were most satisfactory and complete, and I intimated as +much to Alie, who stood watching me from the window. + +"It is all Mr. Christianson's doing," she said. "You must thank him." + +I did so, and then proposed that we should set about our work at once. + +"In the first place, Mr. Christianson," I began, "have you had any +symptoms of the disease yourself?" + +"Not one! Since it started I have been as well as I remember ever to +have been in my life." + +"When were you vaccinated last?" + +I put the question with some little timidity, for I feared lest by so +doing I might wake some unpleasant memory in the old man's mind. But, +whatever his past may have been,--and there were few men in the +settlement, I afterwards found, who had not more or less of a romantic +history,--he answered without hesitation: + +"I was vaccinated in Liverpool, twelve years ago next March." + +"Then, with your permission, I'll do it for you again. After that +we'll call up the heads of the village and I'll operate on them." + +So saying, I unpacked my things, and, having done so, vaccinated my +second in command. When this was accomplished, he gave me a list he +had prepared of the half-dozen principal inhabitants. They were +immediately sent for, and as soon as they arrived my position was +explained to them in a short speech by Alie. + +"Now, gentlemen," I said, when her address was finished, "in view of +the serious nature of our position and the necessity for a +well-organized attack upon the disease which has so decimated your +population, I propose to enrol you as my staff. You will each of you +have special duties assigned to you, and I need not say that I feel +sure you will fulfil them to the very best of your ability. Before we +go any further, as I hear none of you have taken the disease, I +propose vaccinating you all, as I have just done Mr. Christianson. +When that has been accomplished we will get properly to work." + +In half an hour or so this was done, and I was free to enter upon my +next course of action. + +"We will now," I said, after a little consultation with Alie, +"assemble the healthy folk of the village on the green yonder." + +This was soon done, and, at the word of command, the entire population +able to get about assembled themselves on the open space before my +verandah--blacks and whites, yellow and copper colour, all mixed up, +higgledy-piggledy, in glorious confusion. From a cursory glance at +them they appeared to come from all countries and from all parts of +the globe. I could distinguish Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, +Swedes, Italians, Portuguese, Spaniards, Russians, Hindoos, Malays, +Dyaks, and even Chinamen. The dusky population, however, predominated. + +The first business to be performed, when they were all before me, was +to separate the men from the women, and, as soon as this was +accomplished, to carefully examine each in turn; after that I singled +out those who were skilled in carpentering and hut-building, and kept +them on one side. Fortunately, I was able to procure nearly thirty who +were in some degree efficient. All of these--I mean of course those +who had not had the disease--were forthwith vaccinated and despatched, +under the leadership of one of my six lieutenants, to a site I had +chosen on the hillside for the hospital. There they were employed +erecting huts with all possible despatch. + +When the remainder had undergone the necessary operation, volunteers +were requested to enrol themselves for the work of nursing the sick, +and for this duty no less than twenty held up their hands, eight of +whom had themselves been victims of the pestilence. + +Long before I had completed my work of vaccination, the sun had +disappeared behind the hill, and it was time for the evening meal. But +tired as we all were, it was useless to think of stopping, so after we +had broken our fast, the work of hut-building and vaccination +proceeded again by torch and lamp light, until long after midnight. By +the time my last patient was dismissed I was utterly worn out. But +this was not the case with Alie, who throughout the day, and up to the +very last moment at night, had never abated one jot of her energy. +Encouraging the women, cheering the men, weighing out stores, and +measuring cloth, she had been occupied without ceasing. Her enthusiasm +was like a stimulant, and it had the effect of one upon all concerned. +When my arms ached and my brain seemed fagged out beyond all recouping +with plotting, planning, and giving advice, it was like a breath of +new life to see her moving about among her people, taking no thought +of herself, or of the danger she was running, thinking only of the +terror-stricken wretches who turned to her in their hour of trouble +for sympathy and help. And certainly as she passed about among them, +Beelzebub, the bulldog, slouching along at her heels, it was wonderful +to see how their faces would brighten, and the light of fear for the +moment die out of their eyes. Nothing in my science had the power to +do as much for them. + +As I put down my implements and received Christianson's report that +the fourth hut was ready for occupation, the clock on the mantelpiece +of my sitting room struck a quarter to one. Bidding him good-night, +and warning him to be early astir on the morrow, I took my hat, and +prepared to accompany Alie on her homeward journey. + +Following the path behind my house, we ran it round the foot of the +falls, and up through the jungle to her gate. By the time we reached +the spot where I had first looked down at the settlement that morning +the moon was sailing high in a cloudless sky, and the whole of our +world was bathed in its pale, mysterious light. The scene was +indescribably beautiful, and perhaps the exquisite softness of the +night, and the thought of the sickness raging in the valley below us, +may have had something to do with the silence that followed our +arrival at the top. We were standing at the gate, looking down upon +the white roofs, showing like flakes of silver through the sea of dark +jungle. For some time neither of us spoke. Then it was Alie who began +the conversation. + +"Dr. De Normanville," she said,--and it must not be thought conceited +on my part to repeat it,--"I want to thank you from the bottom of my +heart for the way in which you have taken up your work of mercy. I +cannot say what I would like to do, because my heart is too full for +utterance; but if you could only realise what a relief it is to me to +know that you are here to conduct matters, you would understand +something of the gratitude I feel." + +I uttered some commonplace reply, all the time watching the wistful +look upon her face. Then she said suddenly: + +"We have scarcely known each other three days yet, but somehow I feel +as if, despite all you have heard of me, you are my friend." + +"And you are quite right in so feeling," I said. "Believe me, I have +forgotten all the foolish stories I have heard about you." + +"No, no! I don't know that you ought to do that," she continued, +"because, you see, a great number of them are true." + +"You wish me to remember them, then?" I cried, in some surprise. + +"Yes!" she answered. "I think you ought to get a clue for your own +guidance out of them. But in saying that, I wish you to understand why +I do so. To do that involves my telling you my history. Are you too +tired to listen to it to-night?" + +"Of course I am not," I answered quickly, only too glad of the +opportunity of hearing a story that others would have given anything +to have had related to them. "But if it means recalling unhappy +memories, why tell it me? I shall serve you just as faithfully without +knowing it." + +"I do not doubt that for an instant," she said. "But you must surely +see, Dr. De Normanville, that being brought into contact with you as +much as I am, I want to set myself right with you. I want you to know +all about me. Hitherto you have only thought of me, remember, +as--well, as a beautiful woman, whose pleasure in life it is to rob +and blackmail innocent and unsuspecting folk in this distant portion +of the globe. Having seen your kindness and gentleness to my +unfortunate people to-day, and honouring you for it as I do, is it to +be wondered at that I want you to understand my work in life properly? +May I tell you my story?" + +"Please do! It will interest me deeply." + +She moved over from the gate to the broad wooden rail that ran along +the path side, and which had evidently been placed there to protect +foot passengers from the abyss. Leaning on it, she scanned the moonlit +valley for some moments without speaking. Then turning her face toward +me, she began: + +"My father, you must know, Dr. De Normanville, was a typical +Englishman; he came of a good old Yorkshire family, and was an officer +in Her Majesty's navy; he was also remarkable for his great height, +strength, and wonderful personal beauty. He was very popular with his +fellow-officers and men, and in the early part of his career saw a +good deal of active service in various parts of the globe. It was +during the time that he was stationed in the West Indies, and soon +after he was made commander of his ship, that he met my mother, a +beautiful Creole, and married her. From the moment of his marriage the +good luck which had hitherto attended his career seemed to desert him; +he lost his ship on an uncharted rock, and, when he was appointed to +another, was ordered to a bad station, where he nearly lost his wife +and his own life of fever. With his recovery came the most unfortunate +part of his career. For just as he was about to be relieved, a charge +was preferred against him by the admiral of the station, of so base +and wicked a description that all those who heard it refused at first +to entertain the notion. He was court-martialled and expelled the +service. Since then the charge has been proved to have been entirely +without foundation, but by the time that was known my poor father had +died in exile. He appealed, but what was the use of that? To a proud, +headstrong man, conscious of his innocence, such disgrace was +unbearable, and he at length fled from England, resolved to shake its +dust for ever off his feet. He went to India, but the result of the +trial was known there, and every post was barred to him. He passed on +to Singapore, and finally to Hong Kong, but always with the same +result. By this time everything that was obstinate and worst in him +was roused; and when the admiral, the same who had brought the charge +against him, was transferred to the China station, my father sought +him out in Shanghai, decoyed him outside the city, requested him to +publicly admit that the charges he had brought against him were false, +and on his refusing, produced pistols, invited him to a duel, and shot +him dead. Then, while the police were hunting for him, he fitted out +a boat, with a large sum of money that had some time before been left +him, collected a dozen other men as desperate as himself, tested them +thoroughly before he trusted them, and, having bound them to secrecy, +set off to find an island where they could lead their own lives +unhindered by the outside world. This was the place they came to, and +those old houses near the harbour were their first dwellings. Once in +every six months my father went off to Hong Kong for supplies, and it +was during one of these excursions that he met the man whose destiny +it was to recognise him, and so hasten the trouble that lay before +him. High words passed between them, and the result was a betrayal, +and a fight with the police, in which two men were left dead upon the +beach. That was the beginning of the end. The same night a boatload of +marines put off to arrest my father, who was in the act of getting his +schooner under weigh. When they came within hailing distance they were +challenged and asked their business. The officer in charge replied +that he held a warrant for my father's arrest. But the latter had no +desire to fall into the authorities' hands again, so he bade them +stand off. The officer, however, ordered his men to board. Again they +were warned not to approach, but they paid no heed; the result may be +imagined: a volley was fired from the schooner, and four men out of +the six constituting the boat's crew, including the officer in charge, +fell dead. Without more ado my father got under weigh, and raced for +his life out of the harbour, pursued by three shots from the cruiser +in the bay. From that day forward he was a proscribed man. Rewards +were offered for his capture in all the principal ports of the East, +not only by the English Government, but by the rich residents of +Singapore, Hong Kong, and the treaty ports. Considering that it was +not their affair, this action on the part of his former friends so +enraged my father, that he swore that if ever one of the signatories +fell into his hands, he would make him pay dearly for his action. It +may interest you to know that Mr. Vesey, the man whom you perhaps +remember I abducted, was the chairman of the meeting that offered the +first reward for my father, and years afterwards for me. + +"Well, months went by, and once more the stores on the island began to +run short. It became imperatively necessary that a fresh supply should +be obtained. To do this my father repainted and rerigged his boat, +disguised himself and his men, and sailed off for Shanghai. Reaching +that port, he sent his mate ashore to make the purchases. But +suspicion seems to have been aroused, the man was arrested, and had +not my father been warned in time and put to sea, he would have shared +the same fate. But he was resolved not to be beaten, and at the risk +of his life he went back and ashore. By means of a subterfuge, which +it would take me too long to explain, he succeeded in rescuing his +companion. In the course of the rescue, however, a man was killed, and +this closed the treaty ports even more firmly to him than before. + +"The matter had become terribly serious now. He could not go into any +port for fear of being arrested, and yet stores had to be obtained for +the starving island. To a headstrong man like my father, rendered +desperate by deliberate injustice, there was only one natural way out +of it. He made for Hong Kong, chose a dark night, went down the +harbour in a junk, boarded a trading boat, confined the skipper in his +cabin, and took possession of his cargo, for which, it is only fair to +say, he paid the full market price. The skipper, however, for some +purpose of his own, forgot the incident of payment, went ashore in the +early morning and proclaimed the fact to the police that he had been +robbed of his cargo under the very noses of the cruisers. The +description of the robber tallied with that of my father, and the hue +and cry began again. Thenceforward he declared himself openly in +opposition to society, collected round him all the men who were worth +anything, and whose lives were as desperate as his own, and levied +toll on the ships of all nations whenever occasion offered. He ran +many risks, for often he was sighted and chased by cruisers. It was on +one of these occasions that my poor mother died, killed by an English +bullet. Three months later my father caught the fever in the Manillas +and followed her to the grave, bidding me, a girl of eighteen, keep up +this settlement and carry on the war he had begun. Ever since then the +island has been my tenderest care. I have watched over it and guarded +it as a mother guards her child. But at the same time, as you know, I +have not spared my enemies. My first adventure proved successful, my +second well-nigh ruined me. My father's death had become known by some +mysterious means, and, when it was discovered that I was carrying on +his trade, a supreme effort was made by the authorities to capture me. +But they have not succeeded yet. The same year I had the _Lone Star_, +the boat you found me on, built in Scotland, and began my work in +earnest. Ever since then I have had a price upon my head; but, as I +told you on board the _Lone Star_, I can truthfully say that I have +never knowingly robbed a poor man, and as you have seen for yourself, +I have materially helped a good many. In some cases, too,--the Sultan +of Surabaya, for instance,--I have gone out of my way to assist the +oppressed, and have taught wholesome lessons to their rulers and +oppressors. Now you know my story. It may be that you take a different +view of my life and would call it by a harsh name. I should be sorry +to think that. I simply remember how my father's life was ruined by +his enemies, and that I have never been given a chance, even if I +would have taken it. The English, French, and Chinese governments are +my natural enemies, as they were my father's before me. If the +innocent suffer by what I do, I am deeply sorry for them. But do your +nations in their wars heed the peasantry of either side, even as much +as I do? I think not. Dr. De Normanville, most of those white people +you saw to-day have curious histories. Do not suppose for an instant +that I receive anyone here without strict inquiry into his temperament +and antecedents. But, on the other hand, when I do take him in, I +never swerve from my duty towards him. Now, what have you to say?" + +"I can only answer that I think your character has been grossly +maligned." + +"No, don't say that, for you are only speaking on the impulse of the +moment; and, besides, you must remember that those who speak against +me in that fashion look upon my actions from their own point of view. +However, you will not think so badly of me for the future, will you?" + +As she said this she came a little closer to me and looked me in the +face. Never before had I seen her look so beautiful. + +"No, I can safely promise you I won't," I answered stoutly. "I am your +champion for the future, come what may." + +"You are very good to me. Now, as we are both tired, had we not better +say good-night?" + +She held out her little hand, and for some reason, goodness only knows +what, I took it and raised it to my lips. Then with another +"good-night," she turned away from me and, with the dog at her heels, +disappeared through the gate and up the path, among the bushes, that +led to her abode. + +When she had gone I stood for a few moments looking down upon the +lovely panorama spread out before me, then I turned myself about and +went down the hill to my residence at the foot. But though I went to +bed it was not to sleep. The extraordinary story I had just been told, +and the exciting events of the day, were not of a nature calculated to +induce repose, and so I tossed and tumbled upon my couch hour after +hour, till the first faint signs of dawn made their appearance. Then I +had a bath in cool spring water, and, having dressed, went out and +began to prepare my work for the day. + +As the sun made his appearance above the tree-tops, Christianson and +his colleagues, my trusty lieutenants, came up the path towards the +house, and five minutes later Alie herself appeared upon the scene, +eager to be employed. As she entered the verandah and greeted me I +glanced at her face. But there was no trace there of the sadness of +the previous night. Indeed, if the truth must be told, there was even +a sort of distant haughtiness about her manner towards me, that was +as unexpected as it was difficult to account for. + +"Good-morning, Dr. De Normanville!" she said, as she put down on the +table the parcel she had brought with her. "It is nearly five o'clock; +are you ready to commence work?" + +"Quite ready," I answered, turning to a man named Andrews. "To begin, +sir, will you and your deputies hunt up the builders and continue the +work at the huts till breakfast time?" Then turning to another, "Mr. +Williams, you might take three men and erect four bed places in each +hut. Mr. Christianson, and the remainder of you gentlemen, if you will +accompany me, we will make a careful house-to-house inspection of the +village." + +Having despatched the others to their various employments, I set off, +accompanied by Alie, to begin the ghastly work of inspection. It must +not be supposed that I in any way induced her to run the risk; to tell +the truth, I protested vigorously against it, but without result; her +heart was set upon it, and she would not be deterred. + +The first house we visited was a small one, built of _adobe_ mixture +and inhabited by three people, two of whom were down with the disease. +There had originally been six in the family, but three had perished. I +made my examination, noted their cases in my pocket-book, spoke some +cheering words to them, and passed on to the next house. This was of +wood, neatly built, and contained one patient who was quite alone, his +wife and daughter having both succumbed to the plague. In the next +there was no case, nor the next; but in the three following there +were eight. Hardly a house was free from it, and in many cases, all +the inhabitants being dead, the buildings were quite tenantless. By +the time I had finished my inspection it was eight o'clock, and I was +quite ready for breakfast. This disposed of, work was at once resumed. + +Everyone toiled with a will, and the hut-builders to such good +purpose, that by midday twelve fine huts were standing ready for +occupation on the slope of the western hill. The real work was now +about to commence. Summoning to my assistance those men and women who +had volunteered to act as nurses, I had a number of stretchers made, +and on these conveyed the sufferers to the hospitals. Four patients +went to each hut. The men I sent to those on the right hand of the +street, the women to those on the left. By this means forty-eight +persons were disposed of, and by five o'clock sufficient huts were at +my disposal to contain as many more. By sundown every sufferer in the +place had been removed, the nurses were duly instructed in their +duties and installed, and the real combating of the disease had +commenced. But at this juncture a serious problem was presented for +our consideration. Having removed the owners to places of safety, what +were we to do with the old houses and their contents? Taking Alie into +my confidence, I explained the situation to her, told her how loth I +was to destroy so many good buildings, but at the same time pointed +out to her how imperatively necessary it was that every dwelling and +any article likely to harbour infection should be got rid of. To my +satisfaction she met it in the proper spirit. + +"If it is necessary for the safety of those who remain, there can be +no doubt at all as to what course we should pursue," she answered. +"The houses must go. And that being so, I must endeavour to make it up +to the owners when they shall require them again. Will you give the +necessary instructions?" + +I did so forthwith, and in less than half an hour no less than eighty +houses, with their contents, were blazing on the plain. + +And so the week went on, and the next after that, with hardly a break +in the routine of work. Out of one hundred cases treated, thirty +succumbed in the first eight days, twelve in the remaining six, while +fifteen more were added from the township during the same period. + +And now I must say something about the care and attention bestowed on +these patients by those who had volunteered for the arduous task of +nursing. Indeed, I feel justified in saying that no better service +could have been obtained in any London hospital. Fortunately, a +sincere bond of affection seemed to bind all these people together, +and this, taken with the influence exercised by the wonderful woman at +their head, made its power thoroughly felt in everything they did. And +here I should also like to put on record Alie's wonderful devotion to +her people, during that time of awful anxiety. Day in, day out, night +and morning alike, accompanied by her dog, she was occupied about the +different huts, helping and reproving, chiding and encouraging. Her +presence was like a ray of sunlight which seemed to light the place +long after she had left it. The convalescent derived new vigour from +her touch, the dying were soothed by her voice. Never once throughout +the whole of the time did she think of herself; the path of what she +considered to be her duty lay before her, and the Beautiful White +Devil, the notorious adventuress, the abductor of rich merchants, the +terror of the China seas, trod it without murmur or complaint. It was +a wonderful exhibition of womanly gentleness, forbearance, and +endurance. And when I saw her, tired and almost dispirited by the +results of the struggle, and noted how she put all this aside, assumed +a smiling face to speak words of comfort to some sufferer, and then +remembered the accusations and stories to which I had listened in the +Victoria Hotel that first evening, I felt almost as mean and +contemptible as it was possible for a man to be. + +And here, gentle reader, let me make a confession, though I doubt if +it will come upon you as a surprise. Already, I expect, you have +accused me of being in love with the Beautiful White Devil. I do not +deny that I was. Where so many better men had succumbed, who was I +that I should go free? And surely if so many others had fallen captive +to her mere beauty, knowing next to nothing of her real merit, I, who +had exceptional opportunities of studying her character under every +aspect, who saw her grave and gay, passionate and self-sacrificing, +imperious and the most humble of any, might claim for my affection +that it was based on something more tangible than any mere personal +beauty. + +Yes! I _was_ in love with Alie, and, what is more, I am in love with +her now, as I shall be in love with her on my dying day, and +afterwards if that be possible. And this I can say truthfully, that +throughout my love for her, my heart has known no unworthy thought. I +have loved her for her beautiful, noble, impulsive, generous self, +and, if that be an offence, I can only say that I am proud to +acknowledge it. + +But though I was over head and ears in love with her, seeing no sun in +heaven when she was not with me, no stars at night when I was not by +her side, never once did I allow her to suspect my passion. I did my +work as I had contracted to do it--that is, to the best of my ability. +But hard as I worked, she worked harder. Day in, day out, she was +never idle; she took her share of nursing, superintended the erection +of huts and houses for those who had been deprived of them, and +cheered and encouraged everyone with whom she came in contact. +Beautiful White Devil, the Chinese called her. Beautiful White Angel +would surely have been a better and more appropriate name. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A TRIP INTO THE COUNTRY. + + +Sixty-four days exactly after my taking charge of the health of the +settlement, the last patient was discharged from the hospital, cured. +Out of one hundred and ninety-five cases treated, one hundred and +thirty-three had recovered; the rest lay in the little graveyard on +the hillside to the eastward of the town. It had been a weary, +harassing time from beginning to end, and the strain and +responsibility had had a more severe effect upon me than I should have +anticipated. Alie alone, of all the workers, seemed untouched. Her +indomitable will would not permit her body to know such a thing as +fatigue, and for this reason the last day of our work found her powers +as keen and her energy as unabated as they had been on the first. + +On the afternoon of the day following the discharge of my last +patient, she came into the surgery, and, seating herself in my +armchair, looked about her with that interest my medical affairs +always seemed to inspire in her. + +"Dr. De Normanville," she began, clasping her little white hands +together on the arm of the chair; "I have been watching you lately, +and I have come to the conclusion that you are thoroughly tired out. +There is but one cure for that--rest and complete change of air and +scene." + +"And pray what makes you suppose I am worn out?" I asked, wiping a +pair of forceps that I had been using on a native boy five minutes +before, and putting them back into their case. + +"The colour of your face for one thing," she answered, "and the way +you move about for another. Your appetite, I have also noticed, has +been gradually falling off of late. No, it won't do! My friend, you +have been so good to us that we should be worse than ungrateful if we +allowed you to get ill. So, without consulting you, I have arranged a +little holiday for you!" + +"That is very kind of you," I said; "and pray what is it to be?" + +"I will tell you. You are an enthusiastic botanist and entomologist, +are you not? Very well, then. This island abounds with unclassified +flora and fauna. I will have an expedition fitted out to-day, and +to-morrow morning we will leave the settlement and plunge into the +interior. I expect a week's absence from worry will work a wonderful +change in you. At any rate, we'll try it. What have you to say to my +proposition?" + +"I should like it above all things," I answered eagerly. And, indeed, +apart from the scientific chances it would afford me, a trip anywhere +in her company could not be anything else than delightful. + +Having gained her point, she rose to go. + +"I may consider it settled, I suppose?" she said. "At daybreak +to-morrow morning we are to mount our ponies in the square down +yonder, and set off. You need not bother about rifles or any +impedimenta of that kind. I will see that you are well provided." + +So saying she withdrew, and I saw no more of her that day. The rest +of the afternoon I spent in preparing my specimen boxes for the trip, +and when I sought my couch at night it was to dream of birds and +beetles of the most glorious colouring, size, and variety. + +True to our arrangement, daybreak next morning found me, booted and +spurred, striding towards the village square. Early as I was at the +rendezvous, Alie was there before me, mounted on a neat bay pony, and +evidently awaiting my coming. She wished me "good morning," and then +pointed to the group of pack-horses standing at a little distance in +charge of half a dozen men. + +"We shall not want for provisions during our travels," she said, with +a happy laugh; and as she did so she signed to one of her attendants +to lead up a pony she had reserved for my use. "The cook and his +staff," she continued, "have gone on ahead of us to prepare our +breakfast, so now if you are ready we'll start." + +The order to march was thereupon given, and we immediately set off up +the mountain track. Within five minutes of starting the settlement lay +hidden behind the hill, with all its painful memories and anxieties, +and we found ourselves surrounded by the primeval forest. The +mysterious silence of the dawn still held the landscape, and all +nature seemed waiting for the sun to make his appearance before +beginning the business of the day. Here and there in the dips, and +upon the pools, heavy mists wreathed and curled themselves, suggestive +of malaria and a hundred other unpleasantnesses. Before we have been +riding an hour, however, the sun rose in all his majesty; in a trice +the forest woke to life and activity; hordes of monkeys leaped from +branch to branch above our heads, in many cases racing us nearly a +hundred yards before they left us; gigantic swine crashed through the +undergrowth, almost under our ponies' noses; while birds of every +plumage flew, from tree to tree, across our path. A moment before the +world had seemed dead, now it was full and brimming over with +vitality. + +When the first half-dozen miles were overcome the aspect of the +country began to change; it became more open, and we continually +emerged from timber on to highly-grassed plains, where pig and deer of +many kinds were to be seen feeding placidly. Towards eight o'clock the +trend of the country lay upward, and continued so until we had mounted +to a considerable elevation, when an extensive panorama was unfolded +before us. The island must indeed have been a large one if it could be +judged by the extensive views we had presented to us of it; only on +the settlement side could I see the sea, while on the other the forest +rolled away as far as the eye could reach. + +At half-past eight, or between that and nine o'clock, we commenced to +descend again, following the course of a pretty stream, until our +guides came back to tell us that we were approaching the spot where it +had been arranged we should partake of breakfast. + +And surely enough, as we reached the bottom of the valley, the smoke +of a fire rose above the palms before us, and, a few seconds later, we +were permitted a view of an impromptu camp, with a blazing fire, and a +white man actively engaged beside it, frying-pan in hand. As I looked +at the little scene I could not help thinking of the many picnics I +had assisted at in dear old England, and I naturally fell to +comparing them with this one, at which I was the guest of so +extraordinary a woman, under such novel and exciting circumstances. + +Had I been told only half a year before that I should be picnicking on +an island in the North Pacific, of which I knew neither the location +nor the name, with a woman who had a reputation such as Alie +unfortunately possessed, I should certainly have refused to believe +it. Yet it was so, and, what was more to the point, I was not only +picnicking, but was head over ears in love with that self-same woman, +and, what was perhaps still more extraordinary, gloried in the fact. + +As soon as breakfast was over we remounted our ponies and pushed on in +the same fashion, through the same sort of country, with a brief halt +at midday, until nightfall. Towards the middle of the afternoon the +view once more began to change; craggy uplands rose on our right, +while the same wonderful forest still continued on our left. What +struck me as remarkable was the fact that so far we had seen no +villages and encountered no natives. Could the island--if island it +really were, and of that I was beginning to have my doubts--be +inhabited only by the people of our settlement? It seemed scarcely +probable, but if not, where were the rest of its aboriginal +population? + +A little before sundown, Alie informed me that we were close upon our +destination. And surely enough, just as the orb of day disappeared +behind the tree tops, we saw before us, on a small plateau, four or +five large and exceedingly comfortable huts, which the men who had +preceded us that morning had erected for our accommodation. They faced +towards the east, and the view from the little terrace on which they +stood was beautiful in the extreme. Across it, and for a short +distance below, the land was open, then the undergrowth began again, +gradually rising from small bushes to great trees, and afterwards +continuing in one unbroken sea of green, away to where the faint +outline of a mountain range peered up, upon the southeastern horizon. +It was a picture to see and remember for ever. + +Having dismounted from our ponies, we prepared to make ourselves +comfortable. The distribution of huts was as follows: Alie took that +to the right, I had a large one on the left, while that in the centre +was set apart for our dining-room and sitting-room (if we wanted to be +indoors, which was unlikely); the fourth was destined for the +accommodation of the cook, and from it already resounded the clatter +of pots and pans. + +Full of curiosity to see in what sort of comfort Alie travelled, I +entered my own hut, and was amazed at the completeness of the +arrangements. A comfortable bed-place, with mosquito curtains, +occupied one side; a square of matting covered the floor, a portable +wash-hand stand stood near the bed; while against the opposite wall, +neatly arranged in a rack, were my guns and specimen cases. By the +time I had washed off the stains of travel, and exchanged my riding +costume for a lounge suit, the native gong had summoned us to dinner, +and Alie and I, meeting on the terrace, entered the centre hut +together. + +If I had been surprised at the completeness of the arrangements of my +own hut, how much more astonished was I now. Indeed, had it not been +for the walls, which were covered, with some peculiar sort of +tapestry, and the different ceiling, I should hardly have known that +we were not in the bungalow at the settlement. The white cloth, the +glittering glass and silver, the costly ornaments and the profusion of +dishes, were the same; and when the same impassive servant entered to +wait upon us, clad in his usual white livery, my astonishment was +complete. Alie was in exceptionally good spirits and for this reason +the meal proceeded in a most delightful fashion. + +When it was over we drew our chairs outside into the gathering gloom, +and sat watching the fire-flies dashing in and out amid the tangle of +dark forest across the plateau. It was indeed a night to be +remembered. Overhead the tropic stars shone in all their beauty; +around us were the unfathomable depths of the forest; from the right +sounded the tinkling music of a stream; while now and again out of the +darkness would come the deep note of some forest animal, or the +melancholy hoot of an owl or other night bird. + +Later on, by Alie's orders, enormous fires were lit at intervals all +round the circle of the camp, and these not only failed to detract +from, but succeeded in adding to, the weird picturesqueness of the +scene. From the darkness behind us we could catch the subdued voices +of our followers, varied now and again by the occasional snorting and +stamping of the picketed ponies. + +"How beautiful it all is!" said Alie, looking up at the winking stars. +Then, as if to herself, "If only we could always be as peaceable as +this, how much happier we should be!" + +"Do you really think we should?" I answered. "Don't you think it is +the wild unrest and turmoil of the world, to say nothing of that +constant struggling, which makes existence so sweet to us?" + +"Ah! You speak of your own world," she said sadly. "Think what _my_ +world is? Continual plotting, endless striving, with always the one +great dread of capture hanging over me. Oh! Dr. De Normanville, you +little know the sort of life I lead!" + +"Then why do you go on with it? If only I might----" + +I checked myself suddenly. Another moment and the fatal words would +have passed my lips. But to see her thus and not to tell her of my +love was almost more than I could bear. I kept a tight rein upon +myself, however, and crammed the words back into my heart. She had +paused, and was looking away towards the dark forest. + +"Why do I go on with it?" she answered, a few moments later. "Because +I must! Because there is no one else to guide and care for them but +me." + +"But supposing you were caught? They would have to shift for +themselves then." + +"I shall never be taken alive. That is, except by treachery. No, Dr. +De Normanville, come what may, I can never forsake them. My duty lies +before me, and as I have endeavoured to do it in the past, so I must +strive to do it in the future. But it is getting late, and we have +travelled a long distance to-day. Don't you think we had better bid +each other good-night?" + +As she spoke she rose, and I followed her example. Then she shook +hands, wished me good-night, and disappeared into her own hut, her dog +at her heels. When she had gone I reseated myself, lit another cigar, +and fell to work upon my thoughts. Away in the darkness beyond the +leaping fires, a Sambhur deer, probably disturbed by our lights, was +barking to his mate, and in a tree near at hand a night bird hooted +dolefully. The first sweetness of the evening had passed, and now an +unutterable melancholy seemed to have laid its hand upon it. When my +cigar was finished I passed into my hut, glanced at my rifles to see +that they were ready to my hand in case of need, and, having disrobed +myself, went to bed. Tired as I was, my slumbers were almost +dreamless, and it seemed but a few minutes from the time I laid my +head upon my pillow before my servant was waking me to the new-born +day. + +Immediately breakfast was over I took my specimen cases and a light +rifle, and, accompanied by Alie and two of our native servants, dived +into the forest on collecting thoughts intent. But the profusion of +subjects was so vast that it was difficult to know quite where to +begin. At every turn some peculiar grass, some plant, some shrub would +arrest my attention, while in the air butterflies, beetles, and birds +innumerable seemed to call upon me to catch and catalogue them without +delay. Alie had quite recovered her good spirits by this time, and +having once grasped the general idea, followed her new hobby with the +same impassioned ardour that was noticeable in everything she +undertook. By midday our cases were full to bursting, so we returned +to the camp to lunch. In the afternoon we continued our work, but this +time without our native followers, who, when all was said and done, +preferred chattering to working, and in more ways than one were in the +way. + +Leaving the camp, we struck into the forest in a southeasterly +direction, following the course of a tiny stream that evidently had +its origin in the mountain range elsewhere described. Game of all +sorts abounded; twice I saw herds of small deer alongside the river +bank; wild swine we continually met with, and once I felt certain the +spoor we saw round a big pool was that of an elephant. Indeed, Alie +informed me that the natives had often informed her that in their +hunting expeditions they had met with these gigantic beasts. This +circumstance, perhaps more than anything else, set me wondering where +Alie's marvellous island could be located. + +By the time the sun declined upon the mountain our boxes were once +more full, and we turned our heads campwards, following on our +homeward route the course of the same stream we had pursued on our +outward journey. It was warm work, and when about half our walk was +done we stopped on a little rise to look about us. + +Alie seated herself on a fallen tree, and I put down my boxes and took +my place beside her. Throughout the afternoon she had been a little +quiet, and I must own that my own spirits were none too lively. +Enjoyable as our excursion had proved, it was nevertheless a fact that +every day was bringing my stay in the island nearer to its close, and, +under the circumstances, I could not help feeling that, my duty done, +it behoved me to be moving on as soon as possible. And yet the thought +of leaving this woman, into whose life I had flashed like a meteor, +and whom I had come so desperately to love, was agonising to me. + +Alie rolled a small stone into the foaming torrent below us and then +turned to me. + +"Dr. De Normanville," she began,--and it struck me that she hesitated +a good deal over what she had to say,--"when my agent visited you in +Hong Kong and induced you to come to our assistance, he promised that, +as soon as your work was completed, you should be returned safe and +sound to the place whence you started. Your work is completed, and now +it only remains for you to say--well, to say when you wish to leave +us." + +This speech, following on top of what I had been thinking myself, put +me in a strange position, and for a minute I did not know how to +answer. Then a torrent of words and protestations rose upon my lips, +but I pressed them back, and to gain time for reflection asked a +question. + +"I hope that I have done my work to your satisfaction?" + +"How can you ask such a thing?" she answered promptly. "You have +worked for us as few other men would ever have done. I cannot,"--here +her voice trembled a little, and her beautiful eyes filled with +tears,--"I cannot ever thank you as I would wish to do." + +Either her tear-laden eyes or this expression of her gratitude must +have deprived me of my self-control, for when she had finished +speaking, my presence of mind completely deserted me, and without more +ado I drew closer to her on the tree, and, taking her hand in mine, +said, almost without thinking of my words: + +"Alie, cannot you see that there can be no question of thanks between +_us_? Cannot you see why I have worked so hard for you? Cannot you see +that I would give my own existence to save for you even the life of +the dog you loved? Have my actions not spoken for themselves?" + +She rose to her feet, but I noticed that she turned her face away and +would not look at me. I could feel that she was trembling violently. +In spite of this I continued: + +"Alie! You must see that I love you with my whole heart and soul. From +the moment I first saw you on your yacht's deck I have been your +slave. I know it is madness for a man like me to hope to win such a +queen among women as yourself; but I cannot help it. Send me away from +you if you will, but there is one thing beyond your power to do, and +that is to take away from me my love." + +"Hush, hush! for pity's sake!" + +"No, Alie; I cannot stop. I have gone too far now to draw back. Day by +day I have hidden away in my heart--I have tried to crush down and +stifle, this love of mine; but it will not be hidden, it will not be +crushed, it will not be stifled. Now the flood has risen, it has burst +its bonds and washed away all thought of prudence. You have learned my +secret. Alie, is there no hope at all for me? I know I am not worthy +of you, but I am an honest man, and I love you with my whole heart and +soul." + +"Dr. De Normanville," she said slowly, turning her tear-stained face +towards me, "I am sorry, more sorry than you will ever guess, that you +should have told me this. Many men have let me know their love before +now, and I was able to tell them without pain to myself that it could +not be. Now, you love me, you who have been so true and so brave, and +I have to make you see that what you wish can never be possible. Do +not think I am insensible of the honour you have done me, for it would +honour any woman to be asked to be your wife. Do not think that it +does not pain me to hurt you so. But, oh, Dr. De Normanville, cannot +you see that I can be no man's wife, much less yours?" + +"And why, in Heaven's name, not?" + +All this time she had not attempted to withdraw her hand from mine. + +"Because, according to your lights, I am not worthy. You have this +moment called yourself an honest man. Well, then, judged by your ideas +of honesty, I am not an honest woman. Look at your own career; look at +the name you have already created for yourself; think of your future; +then how can I--a woman, hunted by every nation, a woman on whose head +a price is set, who dares not show her face in a civilised +country--allow herself to share that name and that future with you. +Ask yourself that question, and answer it before you think of making +me your wife." + +"I can have no future without you!" + +"That is no answer to my question. No, Dr. De Normanville, I am sorry, +more sorry than you will ever know, that this trouble should have come +upon you. But when you have time to reflect, you will see, as clearly +as I do, that what you ask is impossible. It can never be!" + +"One question before you say it cannot be!" I cried. "I will not +insult you by imploring you to tell me the truth. You will do that +without my asking. But we will suppose for the moment that you were +not the outlaw you declare yourself to be, and I asked you the same +question, will you tell me if you would give me the same answer, +then?" + +"It is unfair of you to put it in that way," she said, toying with a +leaf. "But since you _do_ ask, I will tell you truthfully. If I were +in the position you describe, and you asked me to share your life with +you, I would give you this answer, that I would be your wife or the +wife of no other man." + +"You love me then, Alie?" + +My heart seemed to stop beating while I waited for her answer. When it +did pass her lips, it was so soft that I could hardly hear it. + +"Yes, I do love you." + +Before she could prevent me I had taken her in my arms, and rained +kisses upon her beautiful face. For a moment she did not resist. Then +she withdrew herself, panting, from my arms. + +"Let me go," she gasped; "you must not do this. No, no, no! What am I +telling you. Oh, why cannot you see that what you wish is impossible?" + +"As I live," I cried in return, "it is not impossible, and it never +shall be! Since you own yourself that you love me, I will not live +without you. I love you as I verily believe man never loved woman +before. If I were a poet instead of a prosaic doctor, I should tell +you, Alie, that to me your smile is like God's sunshine; I would tell +you that the wind only blows to carry to the world the story of my +love for you; I would tell you all this and more--yes, a thousand +times more. But I am no poet, I am only a man who loves you for your +own beautiful self, for your sweetness, your loneliness, your +tenderness to those about you. What does fame mean for me! I want +only you. Let me have you for my companion through life, and I will go +with you where you wish, stay here with you, if you please, or go +away, just as you may decide; I have but one ambition, and that is to +be worthy of you, to help you to do good. All I ask is to be allowed +to live the life you live yourself!" + +"And you think that I would let you make this sacrifice for me? No! +no! Oh, why cannot you see that it is impossible?" + +Again I attempted to take her in my arms. But this time she eluded me, +and with a choking sob fled through the scrub towards the camp. Seeing +that it was useless to attempt to reason with her in her present +state, I followed more leisurely, reaching the huts just as the gong +was sounding for dinner. As soon as my ablutions were performed, I +sought the dining hut, but my hostess was not there. I waited, and +presently the servant arrived to inform me that she was not well, and +would dine in her own apartment. + +I was not prepared for this, and my thoughts during my solitary meal, +and when I was smoking on the plateau before the huts afterwards, were +by no means pleasant. Glad though I was that I had made her aware of +my sentiments towards her, I almost began to wish, if she were going +to avoid me, that I had deferred my explanation until we had reached +the settlement again. But I was destined to see her that night after +all. + +About ten o'clock, just as I was thinking of retiring to my own hut, I +heard a footstep behind my chair, and a moment later Alie, accompanied +by her dog, stood before me. + +"Dr. De Normanville," she said softly, "I cannot imagine what you must +think of me? I have come to tell you that I felt I could not sleep +until I had apologised to you." + +Her penitence sat so prettily upon her that it was as much as I could +do to prevent myself taking her in my arms and telling her so. But I +managed somehow to keep myself within bounds, and only said in reply: + +"You must not say a word about it. I was equally to blame. Great as is +my love for you, I should not have forced it upon you in that unseemly +fashion." + +"No! No! Don't say that. I want you really to understand my gratitude. +That I love you, I have said. Perhaps I ought not to have confessed +it. But seeing that I have done so, and have told you exactly what my +position in the world is, you must see that it is that very love which +keeps me from giving myself to you as I should like to do. I don't +make my meaning very clear, but can you understand that?" + +"I think I do," I said. "But it does not alter my position. I love you +as I shall never love any other woman. As I told you this afternoon, +my whole life is bound up in you. It remains for you to say whether I +shall be the happiest or the most miserable of men. Remember, save for +my sister, I am alone in the world. Therefore, as she is amply +provided for, I have only myself to think of. If you will have me, I +will give my life to you to do as you please with." + +"This generosity is like yourself. Will you let me make a bargain with +you?" + +"What is it?" + +"It is this. First, you shall promise not to speak of this to me again +until I give you permission." + +"I will promise that. And on your part?" + +"I will promise to give you my answer at the end of twelve months. In +the meantime, you will go back to England, live your own life, and on +the first day of May next year, if you still love me, and are as +anxious then to make your sacrifice as you are now, I will meet you +again and be your wife as soon as you please. What do you say?" + +For a few moments I could answer nothing; then, though I am not +theatrically inclined as a general rule, I fell on my knee, and taking +her hand kissed it, saying in a voice I hardly recognised as my own: + +"My queen and my wife!" + +"You are content to abide by that?" + +"Since you wish it, I am _more_ than content," I answered, my heart +overflowing with happiness. + +"Then let us say no more on the subject. Good-night! and may God bless +you!" + +She turned and left me without another word, and when I had seen her +disappear into her hut, I too sought my couch, to dream, as I hoped, +of the happiness that the future had in store for me. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AN EXCITING DAY. + + +But though I went to bed to sleep, and was sufficiently romantic to +hope that I should dream of the future I was to spend with Alie, I was +destined to be disappointed. My mind was in such a state of excitement +that no sort of rest was possible to me. Hour after hour I tossed and +tumbled upon my couch, now hovering on the borderland of sleep, now +wide awake, listening to the murmur of the stream beyond the camp, and +the thousand and one noises of the night. When at last I did doze off, +my dreams were not pleasant, and I awoke from them quite unrefreshed. +Springing out of bed I went to the door to look out. It was broad +daylight, and the sun was in the act of rising. To go back to bed was +impossible, so, as breakfast was still some hours ahead, I dressed +myself, took a rifle from the stand, and slipping a dozen or so +cartridges into the pocket of my shooting coat, procured a few +biscuits from the dining-hut, and strolled across the open space into +the forest beyond. It was a glorious morning for a hunting excursion, +and before I had gone half a mile I had secured a fine deer for the +camp's commissariat. Fixing the spot where I had left it, and feeling +certain some of the natives would soon be on my trail after hearing +the report, I plunged further into the jungle, capturing here and +there a beetle, a butterfly, or a bird, as they chanced to fall in my +way. + +While I walked my brain was busily occupied, but dominating all was +the remembrance that Alie--the wonderful, the beautiful, the +mysterious Alie--loved me. What cared I for the sort of life she led? +What did it matter to me, since I had seen and grasped her real +character for myself, what other people might say of her? Had I not +observed her courage in moments of extreme peril? had I not witnessed +her tenderness by the bedside of dying men and women? had I not noted +her devotion to what she considered her duty? Yes, and better than all +was the knowledge that she had promised to be my wife if I would wait +a year for her. Would I wait? Why, of course I would--ten years, +twenty, nay a lifetime, if only I could secure her at the end. + +With these thoughts in my mind, I trudged briskly on, keeping both +eyes open for any specimens, botanical or otherwise, that might come +in my way. Then leaving the little stream, whose course we had +followed on the previous day, behind me, I struck out towards the +west, and presently forsook the forest, to emerge on to an open plain +about a mile long by half that distance wide. To the northward lay a +high cane brake, to the south a deep ravine, and on the open between +them a large herd of deer was feeding quietly. Remembering that I had +been told on the previous day that the cook was short of fresh meat, I +resolved to see how many I could bring to book. The only way to stalk +them was, of course, to approach them upwind, and in order to do this +it was necessary that I should cross a stony ridge which ran parallel +with the edge of the ravine mentioned above. As there would not be a +vestige of cover between us the chances were a hundred to one that I +should reveal my presence to them while passing over the open space +and then the herd would give one look and be off like the wind. +However, I was going to chance that, so throwing myself down flat upon +my stomach, I wriggled myself up the side of the little eminence, +pausing now and again to take breath, until I reached the summit, +thence made my way out on to the bare face of the hill until, at the +end of twenty minutes, I was within a thousand paces of them. + +The herd still fed on, though once I saw an old buck raise his head +and look round as if he scented danger. But as I remained quiet for a +few moments he resumed his feeding, and when he had done so I +continued my painful crawl. But the worst part of the business was +still to come, for having got up to them against the wind I had now, +unless I was content to chance a long shot, to descend the hillock +again on to the plain. This was a piece of work which would +necessitate wriggling myself down a steep incline, head first, and +promised to be a most unpleasant experience. + +Once on the flat I lay still to recover my wind, and then taking +advantage of every tuft and stone, began to approach my quarry. At the +end of three-quarters of an hour's hard work, counting from the time I +had first seen them, I was near enough to get a shot, and accordingly +I took a cartridge from my pocket and slipped it into the breech of +the rifle. As I did so my elbow overturned a large stone, which rolled +down into the ravine; instantly half a dozen of the herd lifted their +heads, including my old friend the big buck, who on nearer approach, +turned out to be a really magnificent animal. + +Knowing that if their suspicions were once thoroughly aroused they +would not stop until they had put miles between us, I sighted for five +hundred yards and fired. The buck leaped into the air and fell on his +knees. I thought I had got him, and was going to jump up and run +towards him, when I saw that I was counting my chickens before they +were hatched. He had certainly fallen, but a second later he was on +his feet again and off after the others. I was certain, however, that +I had wounded him, and pretty severely, too. + +My belief proved to be a correct one, for about a hundred yards +further on he fell again, and seeing this I picked up my rifle and ran +after him. But even now he was not done for, for after laying still a +moment he rose to his feet again and hobbled into the jungle on the +other side of the plain, at the same spot where the rest of the herd +had disappeared. I followed as swiftly as I could, and, when I had +gained the cover, descried him lying upon the ground near the edge of +a deep but dry water-course. Needless to say I did not lose very much +time in coming up with him, taking the precaution to load my rifle as +I went. When I did I was able to appreciate the majesty of my kill. + +He must have been about three years old, and when I saw that he was +not quite dead, I drew my hunting-knife and knelt down beside him to +bestow the _coup de grace_. This done, I wiped my knife on the grass, +and was preparing to rise again when I felt a heavy hand laid upon my +shoulder. Knowing that there was not a soul within five miles of me, +my surprise may be better imagined than described. But it was nothing +to the terror that seized me when I looked round to discover who my +friend really was. + +Standing behind me, and seeming to fill the whole universe, was an +enormous orang-outang--the largest I have ever seen or heard of. His +wicked eyes gleamed down at me, his teeth protruded ferociously from +beneath his bluey gums, while his great hairy arms, more powerful than +any coal-heaver's, were opened as if to embrace me. I looked once, and +then--how I managed it I shall never be able to tell--wriggled myself +out of his clutches like an eel, and, leaving my gun behind me, took +to my heels. But before I had proceeded ten yards the great beast was +after me, rolling from side to side in his stride like a drunken +sailor on a pavement. So close was he behind me that it seemed as if I +could almost feel his breath upon the short hair of my poll. One thing +is very certain--I ran then as I had never run in my life before, and +as I shall probably never run again. Hardly conscious where I was +going, knowing only that I must get out of his reach, I fled across +the open space with the intention of making for the plain where I had +stalked my deer; but the ape headed me off, and would have caught me +had I not stopped at a tree and dodged quickly round it. Then back I +went in the direction I had just come, making this time for the +opposite jungle. But once more he headed me off and drove me back on +my tracks. My agony was intolerable, my breath was almost spent, and I +had begun to give myself up for lost, when I espied a tree on the +further side, with a branch close to the ground. Putting forth a new +effort I made for this, dodged round it, and, once on the other side, +swung myself into it with, I flatter myself, as much dexterity as the +most accomplished gymnast could have shown. In that instant I seemed +to live my whole life over again. All the events of my career, even +those connected with my earliest childhood, flashed through my brain. +But the activity of my thoughts did not detract from the quickness of +my legs, and I mounted the tree as fast as I could go. No sailor could +have climbed a mast in better style. Then down I crouched amid the +branches. Through the leaves I could see my tormentor standing looking +stupidly about him, puzzled to know what had become of me. Presently a +trembling of the leafy canopy above him must have attracted his +attention, for he clutched the lowest bough and began to mount the +tree in search of me. Seeing this, I was at a loss to know what to do. +To climb higher would only be to cut off all chance of retreat, and +would inevitably mean capture or a leap which would, in all human +probability, break my neck. In the space of a second I reasoned it all +out, and as he approached on one side I descended on the other. Seeing +this he descended too, and with such amazing rapidity that, although I +had a considerable start, we both landed on the ground at the same +instant. Then the old game of catch-who-catch-can commenced. First I +dodged this way, then I dodged that, but my dexterity was as useless +as it was desperate. He was evidently well accustomed to the sport, +and I felt, with despair, that another five minutes would certainly +see the end of my career unless something unexpected intervened to +prevent it. + +Having tried the north, south, and east sides of the plain I now went +for the west; that is to say, towards the dry river bed I have already +mentioned. By the time I reached it I was completely done for, and the +shock of discovering at least a sixty-foot jump on to the big stones +at the bottom did not give me any additional strength. To jump would +mean almost certain mutilation, and possibly, if not probably, a long +lingering death; while to remain where I was, and be caught by my +horrible pursuer, who had now hemmed me in and had got me at his +mercy, meant _certain_ death. There was one consolation, however; in +those great arms--death, if it would be nothing else, would be swift. +I stood on the very edge of the precipice, revolving these two fates +in my mind, and every moment my assailant was coming nearer. There was +no hope for it now, so I closed my eyes and waited. As I did so, I +could hear the thud-thud of his steps drawing closer. I almost felt +the arms entwine me. Then a voice I should have recognized in the roar +of battle or in the silence of the grave called to me frantically, +"Spring to your right!" As if by instinct I sprang, and, at the very +second that I did so, I heard the great loathsome beast go by me. Even +at that moment, when life and death trembled in the balance, my +curiosity got the upper hand and I opened my eyes and looked. + +A wonderful sight it was that I beheld. On the edge of the ravine, +swaying to and fro to recover his balance, stood the orang-outang, and +at his feet, crouched ready for a spring, was the bulldog Beelzebub, +his teeth bared, and his whole body quivering with rage. A second +later he leapt into the air, and then a desperate battle ensued. The +terrified monkey fought with all the courage he possessed, but the dog +had got him firmly by the throat and was holding on with all the dread +tenacity of his breed. Added to this, it must be remembered that the +orang-outang had to preserve his balance on the edge. Without thinking +of my own peril I stood and watched the fight. + +Then I heard the same voice, this time steady as of old, order the dog +to let go. With his usual obedience he did as he was commanded, and +crawled out of reach. The great mass above him stood for a moment +bewildered, blood spurting from either side of his throat. Then a +rifle cracked, and, with a cry like a soul in torment, the beast fell +forward on to the ground, shot through the heart. + +I waited for a moment, and then, seeing that he was dead, looked +towards the spot by the tree where, a moment before, Alie had stood. +She was not there. Then a bit of white skirt caught my eye among the +bracken, and, running across, I found her stretched out upon the +ground, unconscious. + +To fly to a pool close by, to dip my cap into the water, and return +with it to her side was only the work of an instant. In three or four +minutes I had brought her back to consciousness, and she was able to +sit up. + +"You are safe?" she gasped, as soon as she could speak. "You are quite +sure you are not hurt? I thought that dreadful beast had caught you." + +A shudder passed over her as she spoke, and she threw her little hands +up and covered her face with them. I assured her as emphatically as I +was able that, so far as I knew, I was without even as much as a +scratch, and then we went across the little plain to where the ugly +brute lay dead. + +It was with a curious feeling that I stood and looked down upon that +great mass of inanimate flesh and reflected how near he had been to +terminating my own existence. From a contemplation of his ugliness I +turned to the dog, who, at his mistress' command, had saved my life. +Two ugly red gashes seamed his sides, and these I could only suppose +had been made by the talons of the ape. + +"Old man," I said to him, as I stooped and patted his ugly head, "you +and I will have to be better friends than ever after this. You have +saved my life to-day and I am grateful to you." Then turning to his +mistress I continued, "Alie, how on earth did you manage to come up +just in the nick of time, like that?" + +"I heard your first shot," she answered, "and thought I would follow +you. Thank Heaven I did, for if I had been five minutes longer on the +road I should have been too late. Now we must be getting back to the +camp as fast as we can go. Breakfast will be ready, I expect, and at +twelve I want to send a messenger back to the settlement with +letters." + +Accordingly we set off at a good pace on our return, reaching the huts +in something under three-quarters of an hour. + +As we approached the plateau we saw a man on horseback enter it from +the jungle on the other side. He pulled up before the dining-hut, and +then I saw that it was my old friend Walworth, covered with dust and +showing all the signs of having ridden in great haste. On seeing Alie +he dismounted and removed his helmet, waiting respectfully for her to +speak. + +"Have you bad news, Mr. Walworth," she said, "that you come in such +haste?" + +"I have a letter for your consideration that is of the utmost +importance," he answered; "the junk arrived with it this morning." + +I must here explain that communications from the outside world were +conveyed by well-chosen messengers once every month to a certain spot +in the group of islands, about two degrees west of the settlement. +Thence they were brought on to their destination by a swift-sailing +junk, the property of the Beautiful White Devil, which had already +conveyed and handed over the outward mail in exchange. Thus a regular +service was kept up, to the advantage of both parties. + +Taking the letter from Walworth's hand she gave him an invitation to +breakfast, and then passed with it into her own hut. I took him to +mine, and when the gong sounded for the meal we sought the dining +saloon together. A moment later Alie joined us, and I gathered from +her face that there was something serious toward. Until the meal was +finished, however, she said nothing. Then, suggesting that we should +bring our cigars outside, so as to be away from any possible +eavesdroppers, she intimated that she had something important to tell +us. We accordingly rose and followed her into the open air, across the +plateau to the glade in the jungle where I had told her of my love the +previous day. Throughout the walk she did not speak, and when she +turned and bade us be seated, her face was as hard set as when she had +sentenced Kwong Fung to death in her verandah more than two months +before. + +"Gentlemen," she said, "I have brought you out here in order that I +may consult you on a most important matter. Dr. De Normanville, before +I begin I may say that I have had an excellent opportunity of studying +your character, while you have had an equal chance of studying mine. +You know now exactly what my life is, but at the same time I cannot +keep from myself a remembrance of the fact that you are only here as a +visitor; if you wish therefore to withdraw before you hear any more I +will give you free permission to do so. On the other hand, if you will +give me your advice, I assure you I shall be most grateful for it. +You, Mr. Walworth, have been my trusted and faithful servant for many +years past, and I could not have a better. Doctor, I await your +decision." + +She looked fixedly at me, and I began to see the reason of her speech. + +"I beg that you will let me advise you," I answered promptly. "I think +you know that you can place implicit trust in me?" + +"I am quite sure of that," she answered solemnly, and, as she said it, +she took from her pocket the letter she had that morning received. + +"This communication," she began, "is from a person in Singapore, whose +word I have the very best of all possible reasons for being able to +trust. He tells me that my own confidential agent in that place, a man +in whom I have hitherto placed the most implicit confidence, whom I +have saved from ruin, and worse, who owes his very life to my +generosity, contemplates selling me to the English authorities. My +correspondent, who holds a high position in the Straits Settlements, +informs me that this dastardly traitor has already hinted to the +authorities that it is in his power to disclose my long-sought +rendezvous. He only stipulates that, seeing the nature of his +communication, and the dangerous position in which he stands regarding +me, the reward offered shall be doubled. The authorities, of whom my +informant is one, have asked him to wait until the arrival of the new +English admiral, who is expected in Singapore, _en route_ for Hong +Kong, early next month. As soon as he arrives this man's evidence will +be taken and decisive measures adopted to rid the world of the +notorious White Devil." + +"The traitor--the scoundrel--he shall pay for this!" came from between +Walworth's clenched teeth. I said nothing. But perhaps I was like the +owl, and thought the more. At any rate I told myself under my breath +that it would be an exceedingly bad day for the man if he ever fell +into my hands, and, after a glance at Alie's face, I thought it would +be a worse one for him should he fall into hers. She resumed the +conversation. + +"There is one point I may count in my favour, however," she said; "and +that is, he will be hardly likely to reveal the fact that for the last +five years he has acted as my agent, and for that reason it will be +only possible for him to give his evidence on hearsay." + +"He must be prevented from giving it at all," cried Walworth, looking +swiftly up at her. + +"But how?" she answered. + +"A warning would be of no avail, I presume?" I said. + +"Not the least," she answered; "even if he took it I should always be +in danger of him. In that case I should have to discharge him, and his +very life would be a continual menace to me!" + +"Is he a married man?" + +"No; he is not." + +"Has he an extensive business? I mean by that, would his death or +departure be the means of bringing misery upon other people?" + +"He has no occupation at all, save what I have given him. No. He has +idled away his life on the bounty I have paid him for keeping me +informed of all that goes on." + +"And now he is going to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs? The +man must be mad to contemplate such an act of folly." + +"There is a method in his madness, though," she answered. "He +evidently believes I am on the eve of being captured, and as the +reward is a large one, he wishes to secure it before it is snapped up +by anybody else." + +I thought for a little while and then spoke again. + +"You say he is unmarried; in that case he has no wife or children to +consider. He has no business--then he cannot bring ruin upon a +trusting public. I should say abduct him before he can do any harm. +Surely it could be managed with a little ingenuity?" + +Alie was silent for a few moments. Then she looked up and her face +brightened. + +"I believe you have hit on the very idea," she said. "I will think it +over, and, if possible, it shall be carried into effect. Yes, I will +abduct him, and bring him here. But we must remember that he has +always been most suspicious, and he will be doubly so now. For every +reason it is impossible for me to go into Singapore and abduct him in +my own proper person, so I must do it in disguise." + +"No!" I answered promptly; "you must not run such a risk. Supposing he +should recognise you?" + +"He has never seen me in his life," she replied; then, smiling, she +continued, "And you have evidently not yet grasped my talent for +disguising myself." + +"But somebody must accompany you," said Walworth, who all this time +had been turning my scheme over and over in his mind; "and the worst +part of it is, he knows me so well that I dare not go." + +Long before this I had made up my mind. + +"I think, since you have honoured me with your confidence," I said, +turning to Alie, "I have a right to ask a favour at your hands." + +She looked at me with a little surprise. + +"And what is that favour, Dr. De Normanville?" she asked. + +"That in whatever you are going to do you will let me help you. No; I +am not making this offer without thought, I assure you. It is my +greatest wish to be of any service I can to you." + +I saw Walworth look at me in rather a peculiar fashion, but whatever +he may have thought he kept to himself. Alie paused before replying, +then she stretched out her little hand to me. + +"I accept your offer in the spirit in which it is made," she said. "I +_will_ ask you to help me to get this traitor out of the way. Now we +must consider the _modus operandi_." + +Many and various were the schemes proposed, discussed, and eventually +thrown aside. Indeed, it was not until nearly midday that we had +decided on one to our liking. Once this was settled, however, we +returned to the camp. Orders for starting were immediately given, and, +by the time lunch was over, the packs were made up, the loads +distributed, the ponies saddled, and we were ready to start upon our +return journey to the settlement. + +It was a long and tedious ride, and it was far into the night before +we arrived at our destination. But late though it was, no one thought +of bed. Too much important business had to be transacted before +daylight. + +On arrival, we repaired instantly to the bungalow on the hill, where a +hasty supper was eaten, and an adjournment made from the dining-room +to the large chart-room at the rear of the house. In this apartment +were stored the latest Admiralty charts of all the seas and harbours +in the world, and it was here, as I gathered later, that the Beautiful +White Devil concocted the most cunning and audacious of her plans. +Arriving in it, she bade us seat ourselves while she gave us the +details of the plan she had prepared. + +"I have come to the conclusion," she said, "that your scheme is an +excellent one, Dr. De Normanville, and I have arranged it all as +follows: We will proceed in the yacht to-morrow morning (I have +already sent the necessary instructions down to the harbour) to Java. +In Batavia we shall meet a young English doctor named De Normanville, +who will accompany me to Singapore. I shall remain with a companion in +that place for a short time while I do the sights, stopping at the +Mandalay Hotel, where the man resides whom we want to catch. You will +gradually make his acquaintance, and, having done so, introduce him to +me. All the rest will be plain sailing. Do you think my scheme will +do?" + +"Admirably, I should say." + +"It will be necessary, however, Dr. De Normanville, that you should +remember one thing: you must not, for your own sake, be seen about too +much with me. You are just to be a casual acquaintance whom I have +picked up while travelling between Singapore and Batavia. Do you +understand? After your great kindness, I cannot allow you to be +implicated in any trouble that may arise from what I may be compelled +to do." + +"Pray do not fear for my safety," I answered. "I am content to chance +that. In for a penny, in for a pound. Believe me, I am throwing my lot +in with you with my eyes open. I hope you understand that very +thoroughly?" + +"I am perfectly sensible, you may be sure, of the debt we are under to +you," she answered. "Now we must get to business, for there is much to +be done before daylight." + +Accordingly we set to work perfecting all the ins and outs of our +plan, and when it was completed, and my bags were packed and +despatched to the harbour, the stars were paling in the eastern +heavens preparatory to dawn. + +Walworth had preceded us to the yacht some time before, and nothing +remained now but for me to follow with Alie and the bulldog. + +A boat was waiting for us at the same jetty on which I had landed on +my arrival nearly three months before, and in it we were rowed out to +the _Lone Star_, whose outline we could just discern. It was an +uncanny hour to embark, and my feelings were quite in keeping with the +situation. I was saying good-bye to a place for which I had developed +a sincere affection, and I was going out into the world again to do a +deed which might end in cutting me off from my profession, my former +associates, and even my one remaining relation. These thoughts sat +heavily upon me as I mounted the ladder, but when, on reaching the +deck, Alie turned and took my hand and gave me a welcome back to the +yacht, they were dispelled for good and all. + +Side by side we went aft. Steam was up, the anchor was off the ground, +and five minutes later, in the fast increasing light, we were moving +slowly across the harbour towards what looked to me like impenetrable +cliffs. When we got closer to them, however, I saw that one projected +further than the other, and that between the two was a long opening, +the cliffs on either side being nearly a hundred and fifty feet high. +This opening was just wide enough to let a vessel pass through with +the exercise of extreme caution. + +At the further end of this precipitous canal the width was barely +sufficient to let our vessel out, though at that particular point the +cliffs on either side were scarcely more than eighty feet high. Here, +lying flat against the walls of stone, were two enormous, and very +curious, gates, the use of which I could not at all determine. + +We passed through and out into the sea. By the time we reached open +water daylight had increased to such an extent that, when we were a +mile out, objects ashore could be quite plainly distinguished. + +"Look astern," said Alie, who stood by my side upon the bridge, "and +tell me if you can discover the entrance to the harbour." + +I did so, but though I looked, and looked, and even brought a glass to +bear upon the cliffs, I could see no break in the line through which a +vessel of any size might pass. + +"No!" I said at last, "I must confess I cannot see it." + +"Now you will understand," she said, smiling at my bewilderment, "the +meaning of those great doors. On the seaward side they are painted to +resemble the cliffs. Could anyone wish for a better disguise?" + +I agreed that no one could. And, indeed, it was most wonderful. A +man-of-war might have patrolled that seemingly barren coast for weeks +on end and still have been unaware of the harbour that lay concealed +behind. + +"Now you will want to rest, I know," she said. "I think you will find +your old cabin prepared for you." + +"And you?" + +"I am going below too. Look, the coast is fast disappearing from our +sight. There it goes beneath the horizon. Now will you wish our +enterprise good luck?" + +"Good luck," I said, with a little squeeze of her hand. + +"Thank you, and may God bless you," she answered softly, and +immediately vanished down the companion-ladder. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A QUEER SURPRISE. + + +Within a week of our leaving the island behind us, as narrated in the +previous chapter, we had brought the Madura coast well abeam, and were +dodging along it waiting for darkness to fall in order to get into +Probolingo Harbour. Here it was arranged I should leave the yacht and +travel by the Nederlands-India line of steamers to Batavia. A vessel +of this line, so we had discovered, called at Probolingo about the end +of each month, and for this reason our arrival was timed for the +afternoon of the day of her departure. + +Shortly before three o'clock we brought up at the anchorage, about a +mile from the shore. It was a lovely afternoon, and I could see that +the steamer, which was to carry me on, was already preparing for her +departure. The boat was alongside, my traps were safely stowed in her, +and nothing remained but to bid Alie good-bye. As soon as this was +accomplished I went down the gangway, took my seat in the stern, and +we pushed off. Ten minutes later I was on board the steamer _Van +Tromp_, had paid my passage-money, secured my berth, and was waiting +to see what the next item of the programme would be. + +From the deck of the Dutch vessel, as she swept by us under full sail, +her course set for Batavia, the _Lone Star_ looked as pretty a craft +as any man could wish to see. I noticed, however, that during the +three months she had been in her own harbour her colour, and indeed +her whole appearance, had been entirely changed. When first I had made +her acquaintance she was white as the driven snow; now she was a +peculiar shade of red. Her bows seemed bluffer than when I had seen +her last, indeed from the present shape and construction of her masts +and gear it would have been extremely difficult to tell her for the +same vessel. + +At six o'clock, and in the eye of a glorious sunset, we got up our +pressure and steamed out to sea. Of that voyage there is little to +tell. The _Van Tromp_ was a clumsy old tub of an almost obsolete +pattern, and by the time we reached Tanjong Priok, as the seaport of +Batavia is called, I had had about enough of her. + +Once there, I repacked my bag and stepped on to the wharf, resolved to +take the first train to the city. Arriving there I drove direct to the +hotel whose name Alie had given me and booked my room. + +Batavia is a pretty place, and at the time of our visit was looking +its best. So far I had seen nothing of Alie, and I did not like to +make inquiries concerning her lest by so doing I might excite +suspicion. To while away the time till dinner I lit a cigar, and +seating myself in the long verandah that surrounded the house, read my +book, keeping a watchful eye on the folk about me all the time. + +Shortly before five o'clock, I noticed that the Dutch ladies in my +neighbourhood ordered afternoon tea, and partook of it in the +verandah. Not to be outdone, I followed their example. But just as I +was about to pour myself out a cup an interruption occurred which +presently assumed annoying proportions. + +The table, on which my Malay boy had placed the tray, stood in the +full glare of the afternoon sun, and this being hotter than I liked, I +bade him move it nearer to the wall, and to facilitate matters, myself +took up the tray on which my cup stood, brimming full. Just as he was +putting the table down, however, two strange ladies turned the corner +of the verandah and came towards us. The taller, and younger of the +two, was a fine dark woman, with a wealth of beautiful brown hair +rolled tightly behind her head. She was dressed in a well-fitting +travelling dress, wore, what I believe is called, a sailor hat, and +walked with a carriage that would have even attracted attention in the +most crowded street in the world. Her companion was an older woman, +and, if one might judge by appearances, nearer sixty than fifty, with +a fine, aristocratic face, and a considerable quantity of grey hair +heaped in little corkscrew curls all over her head. + +When they came level with where I stood, I stepped back to let them +pass, but in doing so came into collision with the younger lady. How +it happened I cannot say, but the result was in every way disastrous; +the tray slipped, and would have fallen had I not caught it in time, +but the cup of tea was too quick for me, and fell to the ground, +splashing the young lady's pretty grey dress beyond hope of remedy in +its descent. The cup and saucer were broken into a hundred pieces. For +a moment the fair sufferer stood silent, hardly, I suppose, knowing +what to say; but when I commenced my apologies and wanted to run to +my room for a cloth with which to wipe her dress, she found her voice, +and said with a strong American accent-- + +"You must do nothing of the kind. It was all my fault. I declare I'm +downright sorry." + +It would have been one of the prettiest voices I had ever heard but +for the Yankee twang that spoiled it. I hastened to assure her that I +could not let her take the blame upon herself, and once more begged to +be allowed to sponge the tea off her dress. This, however, she would +not permit me to do. + +"It won't hurt," she assured me for the twentieth time, "and if it +did, it's an old dress, so don't bother yourself. But now, look here, +you've been deprived of your tea, and that's not fair at all. Say, +won't you come right along to our verandah and take a cup with us? +You're English, I know, and it's real nice to have somebody who speaks +our own tongue to talk to. Promise 'Yes' right away and we'll be off." + +There was something so frank about her that, though I didn't at all +want to go, I could not resist her. So putting the remnants of the cup +and saucer back upon the tray I accepted the invitation and +accompanied them round the hotel garden to their own verandah on the +other side. As I went I kept my eyes open for any sign of Alie, but +though I thought I saw her once I presently found I was mistaken. I +could not help wondering what she would think if she met me in this +girl's company. However, as I had let myself in for it I had nobody to +thank but myself. + +When we reached the ladies' quarters we found tea prepared. Before we +sat down, however, the younger lady said, without a shadow of +embarrassment-- + +"I reckon, before we begin, we'd better do a little introducing, don't +you? This lady (she pointed to her companion) is my very kind friend +Mrs. Beecher, of Boston, with whom I am travelling; you've probably +heard of Beecher's patent double-action sofa springs, I reckon? I am +Kate Sanderson, of New York, only daughter of millionaire Sanderson, +of Wall Street, whom I guess you've heard all about too. So you see +we're both of the United States of America, and very much at your +service." + +"I am very glad to have met you," I answered. "My name is De +Normanville, and I hail from London." + +"Not Dr. De Normanville, of Cavendish Square, surely?" + +"Yes, the same. Cavendish Square was my London address two years ago. +But how do you come to know it?" + +"Well, now, if that isn't real extraordinary! I thought I recognised +you directly I set eyes on you. But it's mighty plain you don't +remember me! That's not much of a compliment any way you look at it. +Is it, Mrs. Beecher?" + +The elder declined to commit herself, so Miss Sanderson once more +turned to me. + +"Just think now, Dr. De Normanville," she said. "Look at me well, and +try to remember where we have met before." + +I looked and looked, but for the life of me I could not recall her +face, and yet somehow it seemed strangely familiar to me. All the time +I was watching her she sat gazing at me with an amused smile upon her +face, and when she saw that it was useless my cudgelling my brains +any more, gave another little silvery laugh, and said-- + +"Do you remember, just three years ago, being called in to the Langham +Hotel to attend a young American lady who had a fish-bone stuck in her +throat?" + +"I remember the circumstance perfectly," I answered, "but that young +lady was only one or two and twenty." + +"You think then I look older than that? Well! I reckon you are really +not very complimentary. But you must remember that that was three +years ago, and I was only a girl then. When once we get grown up, and +past a certain point, over on our side, we age pretty fast. That's so, +I reckon. Well now you know me, don't you? What a day that was, to be +sure, wasn't it? Lor! how pap and mammie did go on! Anybody'd have +thought I was going to Kingdom Come right away to have heard them. +D'you know, I reckon I must have got the marks of that bone in my +throat to this day." + +"It was a very nasty scratch, if I remember rightly," I answered, glad +to have at last discovered who this talkative creature was, and where +I had seen her face before. + +"Are you remaining very long in Java, Mrs. Beecher?" I asked the elder +lady, feeling that so far she had been rather neglected. + +"No, I think not," she answered thoughtfully; "we are trying to make +up our minds whether to take a British India steamer home from here, +or to go up to Singapore and intercept a Peninsular and Oriental +there. Miss Sanderson has taken a great fancy to the East, and I must +confess I am very loth to leave it." + +"You are quite right," I said. "I can fully sympathise with your +feelings. I am sadly reluctant to go back to foggy old England myself, +after my trip out here." + +"And do you intend going back very soon?" asked Miss Sanderson, who +had been smoothing out her gloves upon her knee. + +"Within the next month or so," I answered, with a sigh. "My business +in the East is at an end, and I have no excuse for staying longer." + +From this point the talk drifted on to general topics, and when tea +was finished I seized the first opportunity that presented itself, +and, making an excuse, withdrew. Just as I stepped from the verandah, +one of the small native _dos-a-dos_ carts entered the grounds and drew +up near the end of my corridor. Two ladies descended from it, and, +having paid the driver, entered their rooms. One was tall, and the +other rather shorter. At last I felt convinced Alie had arrived. + +As they disappeared the gong warned us to prepare for dinner; but, +heedless of my costume, I seated myself outside my door and waited. +Though I remained there for some time, however, they did not emerge +again, and at last I was compelled to go in and make myself +presentable without having seen them. + +At dinner, which was served in the palatial marble dining saloon +standing in the centre of the gardens, I discovered to my annoyance +that my place was laid at a long table at the further end, exactly +opposite those occupied by the American ladies with whom I had taken +tea. + +From where I sat it was quite impossible for me to see all over the +room, and, in consequence, I could not tell whether Alie was present +or not. As soon, however, as the meal was over I rose, and, before +walking out, looked about me. Some of the residents were still dining, +and at the end of the middle table, farthest from me, were, without +doubt, the two ladies whom I had seen arrive. At the distance I was +from them it was quite impossible to tell who they were, but from the +poise of her head and the shape of her beautiful arms and shoulders, I +felt convinced that the taller of the two was the woman I loved, and +whom I had all the afternoon been so anxiously expecting. + +Seeing, however, that it was just possible I might be mistaken, and +remembering the instruction Alie had given me to let our meeting +appear accidental, I could not walk down the length of the room and +accost her, so I betook myself into the marble portico and waited for +them to come out. But, as it happened, Miss Sanderson and her friend +were the first to emerge, and the voluble young American took me by +storm at once. From what she told me I gathered two things, first, +that hitherto she had found her evenings dull, and, second, that on +this particular occasion there was to be an open-air concert on the +King's Plain, distant about a mile from the hotel. She and her friend +had intended going, if they could find an escort, and there and then +she asked me if I would officiate in that capacity. I did not know +what to say. They were women, and I could not be rude; and, moreover +as they had evidently set their hearts upon going, and I was not +positively certain that Alie had arrived, I felt I had no right to +decline the honour of escorting them. Accordingly I assented, and went +across the garden to get my hat. Five minutes later they met me at the +gates, and we strolled down the road together towards the plain. + +There are few prettier places in the world than Batavia, and I have +met with few handsomer girls than the distinguished-looking American +by my side; but for all that I was not contented with my lot. I wanted +to be back in the verandah at the hotel watching for Alie. + +Leaving a handsome street behind us we passed on to the plain, where a +large crowd of people were promenading to the strains of a military +band. At any other time the music would have been inspiriting, but, in +the humour I was in, the gayest marches sounded like funeral dirges. +For over an hour we continued to promenade, until I began really to +think that I should have to ask my friends to accompany me home or +remain where they were without me. But at last the concert came to an +end, and we once more turned our faces in the direction of our hotel. + +"You have been very quiet this evening," said Miss Sanderson to me as +we left the turf and stepped on to the road again. + +"I hope my being so has not spoilt your enjoyment," I said, trying to +beg the question. + +"Oh; dear no!" Then, as if something had suddenly struck her, "Do you +expect to see anyone in Batavia? I have noticed that you scan every +lady we pass as if you were on the look-out for an acquaintance." + +"I _did_ expect to see someone, I must confess," I answered. "You have +sharp eyes, Miss Sanderson." + +"They have been trained in a sharp school," was her brief reply. + +By this time we were within five minutes walk of home, and in the act +of crossing one of the numerous bridges that, in Dutch fashion, grace +Batavia's streets. We paused for a few moments and leaned over the +parapet to look down at the star-spangled water oozing its silent way +towards the sea. It was all very quiet, and as far as we could see we +had the street to ourselves. Suddenly Miss Sanderson dropped her +American accent, and said in quite a different voice-- + +"Dr. De Normanville, this has gone far enough. Do you know me now?" + +_It was Alie!_ + +To say that I was taken by surprise would not be to express my +condition at all. I was simply overwhelmed with astonishment, and for +some seconds could only stand and stare at her in complete amazement. +Her disguise was so perfect, her American accent was so real, her +acting had been so wonderfully maintained, that I never for an instant +suspected the trick she had been playing upon me. + +"You! Alie," I cried when at last I found my voice. "Is it possible +that Miss Sanderson has been a myth all the time?" + +"Not only quite possible, but a fact," she answered, with a laugh. +"Yes! I am Alie, and no more Miss Sanderson, of New York, than you +are. Do me the justice to remember I warned you I was good at +disguising myself. My reason for not revealing my identity to you +before was that I wanted thoroughly to test the value of the part I +was playing, and since you, who know me so well, did not recognise me, +I am inclined to believe nobody else will." + +"It is simply marvellous. If you had not declared yourself I should +never have known you. And your companion is therefore not Mrs. +Beecher, whose husband's patent double-action sofa springs are so +justly famous, any more than you are Miss Sanderson?" + +"No, both the husband and the sofa springs are creations of my own +imagination." + +"But the incident you recalled to my memory. The bone in your throat +that I extracted at the Langham, how do you account for that?" + +"Easily! One day in your surgery at the settlement you casually +mentioned having extracted a fish bone from a young American lady's +throat at that hotel. I thought it unlikely, as it was the only time +you ever saw her, that you would remember her name or face, so I +assumed that character in order to try the effect of my disguise upon +you." + +"You are a wonderful actress; you would make your fortune on the +stage." + +"Do you think so? What a sensation it would cause in the East. Under +the patronage of His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong, the Admiral +and Commander-in-Chief, the Beautiful White Devil as Ophelia, or +Desdemona shall we say, why, what houses I should draw. But now to +business. As we may not have another opportunity, let us see that our +plans coincide. By the way, the French boat leaves to-morrow afternoon +for Singapore. You have booked your passage, of course?" + +I nodded assent, and she continued-- + +"You must board her alone. We shall join just before she sails. When +we get to Singapore we must drive separately to the Mandalay Hotel, +and figure there in the light of casual travelling acquaintances. +Before you have been in the place half a day you will probably have +been introduced to Mr. Ebbington, the man we want. He will see you +talking to me, and by hook or crook you must introduce him to me. +Whatever you do, don't forget, however, that my name is Sanderson. +Having done this, leave the rest to me. Do you think you thoroughly +understand?" + +"Thoroughly." + +"That's right. Now let us be getting home. To-morrow we must be early +astir." + +We continued our walk, and in five minutes had bade each other +good-night in the hotel gardens, and separated. + +By sundown next day we were on board the Messageries Maritimes +Company's boat, steaming out of Tanjong Priok Harbour, bound for +Singapore. I joined the steamer some time before her advertised +sailing hour, but it was close upon the time of her departure when +Alie and her companion made their appearance. + +In my capacity of casual acquaintance I raised my hat to them as they +came up the gangway, but did not do more. They went below, while I +stayed on deck, watching the business of getting under way. + +Just as the last sign of the coast line disappeared beneath the waves +someone came up and stood beside me. On looking round I discovered +that it was Alie! + +"So you managed to get on board safely," she said, after the usual +polite preliminaries had been gone through. "Our enterprise has now +fairly started, and if we have ordinary luck we ought to be able to +carry it through successfully." + +"Let us hope we _shall_ have that luck then," I answered. "But I +confess I tremble when I think of the risk you are running in +appearing in a place like Singapore, where you have so many enemies." + +"Even disguised as Miss Sanderson, the American heiress? No, you +cannot mean it. If you think that, what will you say to another plot I +am hatching?" + +"Another? Good gracious! and what is this one to be?" + +"Listen, and you shall learn. Three years ago, in a certain island of +the South Pacific, there was a man--an official holding a high office +under Government--who very nearly got into serious trouble. The charge +against him was that by his orders two native women had been flogged +to death. By some means he managed to disprove it and to escape +punishment, but the feeling against him was so bitter that it was +thought advisable to transfer him elsewhere. You would have imagined +that that lesson would have been enough for him. Not a bit. On the new +island he began his reign of tyranny again, and once more a death +occurred; this time, however, the victim was a man. The authorities at +home were immediately appealed to, with the result that an inquiry was +held and his retention on that island was also considered injudicious. +He was removed from his high estate. That was all; he had murdered, I +repeat it, deliberately murdered three people; in fact, flogged the +lives out of two women and one man, and the only sentence passed upon +him was that he should be transferred elsewhere. It makes my blood +boil to think of it." + +"I can quite understand it." + +"Yes. That was all, nothing more was done. The man went free. The poor +wretches were only natives, you must understand. And who cares about a +few natives? No one. You may think I'm exaggerating, but I am not. Now +it so happens that I have an agent living on that very island whom I +can perfectly trust. He was a witness on the inquiry commission, he +saw the flogging in question, and in due course he reported the facts +to me. I must also tell you that that man boasted publicly that if he +caught me he would--but there, I dare not tell you what he said he +would do. Now his friends have used their influence and he has been +appointed to a post in one of the treaty ports of China. I hear he is +a passenger on the mail boat touching at Singapore next week." + +"And what do you intend to do?" + +"It is my intention, if possible, to catch him, to punish him as he +deserves, and, by so doing, to teach him a lesson he will remember all +his life." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HOW WE SUCCEEDED IN OUR ENTERPRISE. + + +On arrival at Singapore we took rickshaws and drove direct from the +wharf to the Mandalay Hotel, a palatial white building of two stories, +boasting vivid green shutters on every window, and broad luxurious +verandahs on every floor. I was the first to reach it, and, +remembering my position of casual acquaintance, I booked a room for +myself, leaving Miss Sanderson and her companion to follow my example +when they should arrive. + +It was then late in the afternoon, and by the time we had thoroughly +settled in night had fallen, and the preliminary dressing gong had +sounded for dinner. So far, I had seen nothing of the person of whom +we were in search, but I did not doubt that at the evening meal I +should become acquainted with his whereabouts, even if I did not +actually meet the man himself. + +The dining-room at the Mandalay is at the rear of the hotel, and looks +out upon a charmingly arranged garden. Immediately upon my entering it +a waiter came forward and conducted me to my place at a table near the +window. On my left was seated a portly, red-faced gentleman, whom, I +discovered later, was an English merchant of considerable standing in +the place. The chair on my right was vacant, but before we had +dismissed the first course it was taken by a man whom my instinct told +me was none other than Mr. Ebbington himself. Why I should have come +to this conclusion I cannot explain, but that I did think so, and that +I was right in so thinking, I discovered a minute or two later, when a +question was addressed to him by an acquaintance on the other side of +the table. I continued the course without betraying my excitement, and +when my plate was removed, sat back and casually took stock of him. + +From Alie's account, and some kind of preconceived notion as to what +sort of appearance such a dastardly traitor should present, I had +expected to see a small, shifty-eyed, villainous type of man, wearing +on his face some token of his guilt. But in place of that I discovered +a stout, well set-up, not unhandsome man of about forty years of age. +His complexion was somewhat florid; his eyes were of an uncertain hue, +between gray and steely blue; he had a pronounced nose, and a heavy, +almost double, chin. Indeed, had it not been for his hesitating mode +of speech, I should have been inclined to put him down for a military +man. + +During the progress of the meal I found an opportunity of doing him +some small service, and on this meagre introduction we fell into a +desultory conversation, which embraced Singapore, the latest news from +England, and the prospects of a war between China and Japan. When +dinner was over I rose and followed him into the verandah, offered him +a cheroot, which he accepted, and seated myself in a lounge chair +beside him. We had not been smoking five minutes before my sweetheart +and her companion passed close to where we sat, _en route_ to their +rooms. As she came opposite to me, Alie stopped. + +"Good-evening, Dr. De Normanville!" she said; "isn't this hotel +delightful?" + +I rose and uttered an appropriate reply, at the same time noticing +that Ebbington was taking thorough stock of her. Then, after another +commonplace or two, she bowed and passed on her way. I resumed my +seat, and for nearly a minute we smoked in silence. Then my companion, +who had evidently been carefully thinking his speech out, said, with +that peculiarly diffident utterance which, as I have said, was +habitual to him: + +"You'll excuse what I am going to say, I hope, but a friend and I were +having a little discussion before dinner. The proprietor tells me Miss +Sanderson, the American heiress, is staying in the house. I do not +wish to be impertinent, but might I ask if the lady to whom you have +just been speaking is Miss Sanderson?" + +"Yes, she is Miss Sanderson," I replied. "You do not know her, then?" + +"Never saw her before in my life," was his reply. "Pieces of good +fortune like that don't often occur in Singapore. If they did, few of +us would be here very long, I can assure you. But perhaps I am talking +in too familiar a strain about your friend? If so, you must forgive +me." + +"Indeed no!" I answered. "Don't trouble yourself on that score. I +travelled up with them from Batavia in the French boat that arrived +this afternoon. From what little I have seen of her she seems very +pleasant, and, as you may have observed, is evidently inclined to be +friendly." + +"There is no doubt about the money, I suppose?" he continued. "Since +Vesey, of Hong Kong, was so completely taken in by the Beautiful +White Devil, we have been a little sceptical on the subject of +heiresses down this way." + +"On that point, I'm afraid I cannot inform you," I said laughingly. +"She seems, however, to travel in very good style, and evidently +denies herself nothing. But you spoke of the Beautiful White Devil. I +am most interested in what I have heard of that personage. Are you +well up in the subject?" + +"How should I be?" he answered, as I thought, a little quickly. "Of +course I know what every other man in the East knows, but no more. +Thank goodness she has never done me the honour of abducting me as she +did the Sultan of Surabaya and those other Johnnies. But with regard +to Miss Sanderson, I wonder if I should be considered impertinent if I +asked you to give me the pleasure of an introduction." + +Of course I did not tell him that it was the very thing of all others +that I desired to do, but at the same time I could hardly conceal my +exultation. I had, however, to keep my delight to myself for fear lest +he should suspect; so I relit my cigar, which had gone out, and then +said, with as much carelessness as I could assume: + +"I don't know altogether whether I'm sufficiently intimate with her to +take the liberty of introducing you; but, as I said just now, she +seems a jolly sort of girl, and not inclined to be stand-offish, so if +ever I get an opportunity I don't mind risking it. Now, I think, if +you'll excuse me, I'll say good-night. That wretched old bucket of a +steamer rolled so all the way up from Tanjong Priok that I have hardly +had a wink of sleep these three nights past." + +"Good-night, and thank you very much for your company. Glad to have +met you, I'm sure." + +I reciprocated, and, having done so, left him and went to my room, +where I turned into bed to dream that I had abducted Alie, and could +never remember in what part of the world I had hidden her. + +Next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, I went down into the +town, shopping. When I returned about eleven o'clock I discovered Alie +and her chaperone sitting in the verandah, waiting for a double +rickshaw which one of the hotel boys had gone out to procure. +Ebbington was seated in a chair near by, and evidently seemed to +consider this a good opportunity for effecting the introduction he had +proposed the night before. I entered into conversation with him for a +few moments, and then, crossing the verandah, asked the ladies in +which direction they contemplated going. + +"Where do you think?" said Alie, with her best New York accent. "Well, +first I guess we're going to look for a dry goods store, and then I +reckon we'll just take a _pasear_ round the town." + +"You should go and see Whampoa's Garden," I said, hoping she would +understand what I was driving at. "They tell me it's one of the sights +of the place." + +"But how do you get there?" asked Alie, her quick perception telling +her my object. "We must know the way, I reckon, before we start, or +we'll just get lost, and then you'll have to call out all the town to +find us." + +"One moment and I'll inquire." + +Ebbington, having overheard what had passed between us, as I intended +he should do, had risen, and now approached us. I turned to him and +said: + +"My friends want to find the way to Whampoa's Garden, Mr. Ebbington. +Could you direct them? But first, perhaps, I ought to introduce you. +Mr. Ebbington--Mrs. Beecher--Miss Sanderson." + +They bowed politely to each other, and then Ebbington, having begged +the ladies' permission, gave instructions in Malay to the rickshaw +coolie, who by this time had drawn up at the steps. Tendering their +thanks to him they stepped into their conveyance and were drawn away. + +When they had disappeared round the corner, Ebbington crossed the +verandah, and sitting down beside me favoured me with his opinions. +Even in this short space of time the charm of the heiress seemed to +have impressed itself upon him. Though inwardly writhing at the tone +he adopted, I had to pretend to be interested. It was a difficult +matter, however, and I was more relieved than I can say, when he +remembered business elsewhere, and betook himself off to attend to it. +So far all had gone well. The bait was fixed, and it would be +surprising now if the victim did not walk into the trap so artfully +contrived for him. + +That evening after dinner I fell into casual conversation with the +proprietor of the hotel, and it was not until nearly half an hour +later that I managed to escape from him and get into the verandah. +When I did, to my surprise, I found the ladies reclining in their +chairs listening to the conversation of Mr. Ebbington. He was regaling +them with a highly-coloured account of his experiences in the East, +and from the attention his remarks were receiving it was evident he +was doing ample justice to his subject. I pulled a chair up beside +Alie and listened. Within five minutes, however, of my arrival he +introduced Mr. Vesey's name, and instantly she stopped him by saying: + +"Now, where have I heard that name before? It seems, somehow, to be +very familiar to me." + +"Perhaps you've heard the story of his abduction by the Beautiful +White Devil," said Ebbington, who saw that I was about to speak and +was anxious to forestall me. + +"No, I guess not," answered Alie. "I reckon I was thinking of Klener +W. Vesey, of Wall Street, who operates considerable in pork. But tell +me, who is this Beautiful White Devil one hears so much about, +anyway?" + +There was a pause, but I held my peace and let Ebbington's tongue run +riot with him. + +"Ah! there you have me at a disadvantage," he began, pluming himself +for the big speech I could see was imminent. "Some say she's a +European lady of title gone mad on Captain Marryat and Clarke Russell. +Others aver that she's not a woman at all, but a man disguised in +woman's clothes. But the real truth, I'm inclined to fancy, is that +she's the daughter of a drunken old desperado, once an English naval +man, who for years made himself a terror in these seas." + +When I heard him thus commit himself, I looked across at Alie, half +expecting that she would lose control of herself and annihilate him +upon the spot. But save a little twitching round the corners of her +mouth, she allowed no sign of the wrath that I knew was raging within +her breast to escape her. In a voice as steady as when she had +inquired the way to Whampoa's Garden that morning, she continued her +questions. + +"I'm really quite interested. And pray what has this, what do you call +her, Beautiful White Devil, done to carry on the family reputation?" + +Again Ebbington saw his chance, and, like the born yarn-spinner he +was, took immediate advantage of it. + +"What has she not done would be the best thing to ask. She has +abducted the Sultan of Surabaya, the Rajah of Tavoy, Vesey of Hong +Kong, and half a dozen Chinese mandarins at least. She has robbed the +_Vectis Queen_, the _Ooloomoo_--and that with the Governor of Hong +Kong on board; stopped the _Oodnadatta_ only three months ago in the +Ly-ee-moon Pass, when she went through the bullion-room to the extent +of over a million and a half, almost under the cruisers' noses." + +"But what mission does she accomplish with this vast wealth when she +has accumulated it, do you think, Mr. Ebbington?" said the quiet voice +of Mrs. Beecher from the depths of her chair. "Does she do no good +with it at all?" + +"Good!" that wretched being replied, quite unconscious of the trouble +he was heaping up for himself. "Why, she never did a ha'porth of good +in her life. No, I'll tell you what she _does_ do with it. It is well +known that she has a rendezvous somewhere in the Pacific, a tropical +island, they say, where scenes are enacted between her cruises that +would raise blushes on the cheeks of an Egyptian mummy." + +"You are evidently very much prejudiced against her," I answered +hotly. "Now _I_ have heard some very different stories. And with all +due respect to you, Mr. Ebbington----" + +But fortunately at this juncture my presence of mind returned to me, +and, a servant approaching to take our empty coffee cups, I was able +to seize the opportunity and bring my riotous tongue to a halt. When +the boy had gone, Alie turned the conversation into another channel, +and after that all was plain sailing once more. To add to our +enjoyment, about ten o'clock another servant came to inform Mr. +Ebbington that a gentleman desired to see him in the smoking-room, and +accordingly, bidding us good-night, he went off to interview him. Mrs. +Beecher then made an excuse and retired to her room, leaving us alone +together. + +"Alie," I said reproachfully, "if anything had happened just now you +would have had only yourself to blame for it. That man's insolent +lying was more than I could stand. In another moment, if that servant +had not come in, I believe I should have lost all control of myself, +and, ten chances to one, have ruined everything. Why did you do it?" + +"Because I wanted to find out how he was in the habit of talking about +me. That was why." + +"But do you think he was really in earnest? May it not have been only +a mask to prevent anyone from suspecting that he is your agent in this +place?" + +"No. He meant it. Of that there can be no doubt. The man, I can see, +for some inscrutable reason hates the real _me_ with his whole heart +and soul, and the treachery he is preparing now is to be his revenge. +Couldn't you hear the change, the grating, in his voice when my name +occurred? Ah, Mr. Ebbington, my clever man, you will find that it is a +very foolish policy on your part to quarrel with me." + +"When do you mean to make the attempt to capture him?" + +"On Friday evening; that is the day after to-morrow. The new admiral +will be here on Saturday morning at latest, and I must anticipate him, +for I have learned that Ebbington received a note from the authorities +this morning, definitely fixing the hour for the interview at eleven +o'clock. He need make no arrangements, however, for he won't be +there!" + +"It will be an awful moment for him when he realises who you are. I +would not be in his shoes for all the gold of India." + +"You would never have acted as he has done," she answered softly, +turning her head away. + +This was the opportunity for finding out what she intended concerning +myself, so I drew a little closer to her. + +"Alie," I said, "the time has now come for me to ask you when you wish +to say 'good-bye' to me. I have done my professional work for you, and +on Friday I shall have assisted you to the very best of my ability in +the matter of this wretched fellow. What am I to do then? Am I to say +farewell to you here, or what?" + +Her voice had almost a falter in it as she replied: + +"Oh, no! we will not say 'good-bye' here. Cannot you return with me? I +have been counting so much on that." Here she paused for a moment. +"But no! Perhaps I ought not to ask you--you have your work in life, +and, seeing what you have already done for us, I should be the last to +keep you from the path of duty." + +"If you wish me to come back with you, Alie," I answered quickly, "I +will come with a glad heart. I have no duty to consider, and as I +have given up my practice, I have no patients to give me any concern. +But how shall I get back to England later on?" + +"I will arrange that you shall be sent down to Torres Straits, and you +can go home via Australia, if that will suit you. Never fear, I will +attend to that part of it when it becomes necessary." + +"Then I will go with you." + +"I thank you. Good-night!" + +I bade her good-night, and she left me to go to her room. As, however, +I was in no humour for sleeping myself, I stayed in the verandah, +looking down the quaint lamp-lit street, along which only an +occasional belated foot passenger, a Sikh policeman or two, and a few +tired rickshaw coolies wended their way. I was thinking of the +strangeness of my position. When I came to work it out, and to review +the whole chain of events dispassionately, it seemed almost +incredible. I could hardly believe that George De Normanville the +staid medical man, and George De Normanville the lover of the +Beautiful White Devil, and assistant in a scheme for abducting one of +Singapore's most prominent citizens, were one and the same person. +However, I was thoroughly content; Alie loved me, and I wanted nothing +more. + +Next morning, after breakfast, I discovered that Miss Sanderson and +her companion were setting off for a day's pleasuring, and that Mr. +Ebbington was to be their sole conductor and escort. It was noticeable +that he had donned a new suit of clothes in honour of the occasion, +and I saw that he wore a sprig of japonica in his buttonhole. From his +expression I concluded that he was very well satisfied with himself, +but whether he would have been quite so confident had he known who his +fair friends really were was quite another matter, and one upon which +I could only conjecture. + +They returned in time for tiffin, and during the meal Ebbington +confided to me the fact that the heiress had been most gracious to +him. From what he said I gathered that, unless somebody else +interfered and spoiled sport, he felt pretty confident of ultimately +securing her. + +"Take care your friend the Beautiful White Devil, or whatever you call +her, doesn't get jealous," I said with a laugh, wishing to get him on +to delicate ground in order to see how quickly he would wriggle off it +again. + +"Don't mention them in the same breath, for goodness' sake," he +answered. "Miss Sanderson and that woman----Why, man alive, they're +not to be compared!" + +"Ah!" I thought to myself, "if you only knew, my friend, if you only +knew!" + +"Don't you wish you were in my place?" he said with a smile, as he +rose to go. + +"No; if you wish me to be candid," I answered, "I cannot say that I +do." + +He thereupon left me and went out into the verandah. We spent the +afternoon with the ladies in the garden, and at their request remained +to take tea with them. During this _al fresco_ meal, which was +presided over by Miss Sanderson herself, my companion stated that it +was his desire to arrange something a little out of the common for the +ladies' amusement. + +"What shall it be?" he asked, with the magnificence of an Oriental +potentate to whom all things are possible. "A picnic? But that is not +much fun here. A dance? But it's too hot for that. What would you +like?" + +Alie seemed to reflect for a few moments, and then she said, with an +appearance of animation: + +"Do you really want to give us a treat, Mr. Ebbington? Then I reckon +the nicest thing you can possibly do, on these hot nights, would be to +take us for a trip on the water. I know Mrs. Beecher thinks so too. +Now, you just get us a launch and trot us round. I guess that'll be +real delightful." + +She clapped her hands and appeared to be so pleased with the idea +that, whatever he may himself have thought of it, there was nothing +for Ebbington to do but to assent. + +"We'll take some supper," she continued, as if a new idea had struck +her, "and you gentlemen shall bring your cigars, and we'll spend a +delightful evening. I'm fonder of the sea than you can think. But I do +just wish you could see New York Harbour. You should see Newport, too, +where my papa's got a cottage. It's real fine." + +After dinner that evening Ebbington reported that he had engaged a +steam launch, and also that he had ordered the supper. Thereupon, to +encourage him, Miss Sanderson professed herself to be looking forward +to the trip more than she had ever done to anything else in her life. + +Accordingly next evening, immediately after dinner, we saw that our +charges were carefully wrapped up, chartered rickshaws, and set off +for the harbour. It was a lovely night, with a young moon just +showing like a silver sickle above the roofs. We were all in the +highest spirits, although, I must confess, my own were not unmixed +with a slight dash of nervousness as to what the upshot of our +excursion would be. + +Arriving at the harbour side, we found the launch in waiting. She was +a smart, serviceable little craft, manned by two native sailors and an +engineer. We descended the wharf steps in single file, and, as I was +nearest to her, I stepped on board and gave Alie my hand to assist her +to embark. She squeezed it gently, by way of wishing me good luck of +our enterprise, sprang aboard, and when we had taken our places aft +the order was given and we pushed off. + +The harbour was densely crowded with craft of all nationalities and +descriptions, and in and out among them we threaded our way, now +dodging under the bows of a Messageries Maritime mail boat, now under +the stern of a P. and O. steamer, or a Norwegian timber boat, between +native praus and dingy ocean tramps, steam launches, and small fry +generally, and finally out into the open sea. + +Inside the water was as smooth as a mill pond, but when we left the +shelter of the high land and passed outside, the complexion of affairs +was somewhat altered. But as our party were all good sailors, the +tumbling and tossing we endured hardly mattered. For over an hour we +steamed up and down, and then, pausing in the shelter of the harbour +again, cast about us for a suitable spot to have our supper. + +I had noticed all through the evening, and, for the matter of that, +throughout the day, that Ebbington's manner towards Alie was every +moment growing more unpleasantly familiar. By the time he had +completed his first bottle of champagne at supper, it was about as +much as I could stand; indeed, twice he called her by her assumed +Christian name, and once he tried to take her hand. Remembering, +however, what would follow later, I kept a tight rein upon myself, and +did not allow any expression of my feelings to escape me. + +"After all, give me American girls," our hero was saying, with an +insolent freedom for which I could have kicked him, as he lit his +cigar. "There's none of that stand-offishness about them that there is +with our English women. You can say more to them without their being +offended and wanting to call their fathers in to you." + +"You mean, perhaps, that we are more good-natured," said Alie. "I'm +afraid, however, we're sometimes unwise enough to permit people to +become familiar on a three days' acquaintance, and that's a very +foolish thing." + +"Oh, come now, Miss Sanderson," said our host, uncorking another +bottle of champagne, filling up Alie's glass, and then helping himself +liberally. "I think that's a little severe, isn't it? One thing I +know, though, you don't mean it, do you?" + +"I am not so certain of that," she replied. "It's just possible that I +may be compelled to do so. But let us talk of something else. What a +lovely night it is, isn't it? I think this harbour's just delightful +by moonlight. Say, Mr. Ebbington, couldn't we come on to-morrow +morning for a while, about eleven o'clock. Just to oblige me, don't +you think you could manage it?" + +Knowing that eleven was the hour at which he was to see the admiral, I +waited to hear what answer he would make. It was easy to see that he +was a little nonplussed, for he expressed his sorrow that, through an +important business engagement, he would be quite unable to comply with +her request, and for some time sat in sulky silence. Just as he was +going to speak again, however, we descried a boat pulling across +towards us from the wharves on the other side. As it approached the +shore Alie signed to me, and, divining her intention, I went down to +inquire its errand. The boat having grounded, a native waded ashore, +and handed me a large packet and a letter, which I immediately +conveyed to Alie. She took it, and then turning to Ebbington, who had +been surveying the scene with no small astonishment, said: + +"I'm afraid, Mr. Ebbington, this means some business which will +necessitate our going back to the hotel at once. Do you mind so very +much?" + +"Not at all," he answered promptly; then, as if he thought he might +turn it to account, continued, "You know that my only ambition is to +serve you." + +Disregarding this polite speech, which was uttered with a leer that +made my fingers itch to be alongside his head, Alie led the way up the +plank and on board the launch again. We pushed off from the shore and +began to steam ahead. Then Alie nodded to me, and I tapped the +engineer on the shoulder and signified that he should stop. He looked +surprised, but obeyed. Ebbington, however, did not like this +interference on my part, and sprang to his feet. + +"Why did you tell that man to stop?" he cried, angrily. "I'll trouble +you to remember that I'm----" + +"And I'll just trouble you to sit down where you are and hold your +tongue, Mr. Ebbington," said Alie, dropping her American accent +altogether, and drawing a revolver from beneath her cloak. "The game +is over as far as you are concerned, so you may as well submit with as +good a grace as possible." + +"What does this mean, Miss Sanderson?" he cried excitedly. + +"Sit down there, as I tell you," she answered, "and don't make any +noise, or you'll get into trouble. I shall answer no questions, but if +you attempt to move I promise you I'll shoot you there and then." + +He said no more, but sat between us trembling like the arrant coward +he was. Alie went forward to the engineer and said something in Malay; +then, after a moment's conversation with one of the crew, she returned +aft, took the tiller, and steered for the open sea. The little craft +fumed and fussed on her way for an hour or so, tossing the foam off +either bow, and covering the distance in first-rate style. + +Suddenly the look-out, posted forrard, uttered a cry, and next moment +we saw ahead of us a green light. It was obscured and revealed three +times. This, I knew, was the yacht's signal, and in less than a +quarter of an hour we were alongside, had hitched on, and were safely +aboard. The launch's crew were then suitably rewarded and sent back to +Singapore. + +As we reached the deck Ebbington must have read the yacht's name on a +life-buoy, and realised into whose hands he had fallen. For a moment +he stood rooted to the spot, then he staggered a pace forward, +clutched at a stay, and, missing it, fell upon the deck in a dead +faint. As I stooped to see what was the matter with him I felt the +tremor of the screw. Our errand was accomplished. Singapore was a +thing of the past. We were on our way back to the island once more. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +RETRIBUTION. + + +After the exciting events in which I had been a participator that +evening, it may not be a matter for surprise that, on going to bed, my +night was a troubled one. Hour after hour I tumbled and tossed in my +bunk, and with the first sign of day, finding sleep still impossible, +dressed and went on deck. It was as lovely a morning as any man could +wish to see, with a pale turquoise sky overhead, across which clouds +of fleecy whiteness sped with extraordinary rapidity. A fine breeze +hummed in the shrouds, and the peculiar motion of the schooner, +combined with one glance over the side, was sufficient to convince me +that a brisk sea was running. I walked aft, said "Good-morning!" to +the officer of the watch, who was the same taciturn individual, with +the scar upon his face, I have described earlier in the story, and +then, partly from curiosity and partly from force of habit, took a +squint at the compass card. Our course was N. N. E. exactly, but as I +did not know whether or not this was a bluff of some kind, such a +circumstance told me but little. I therefore leaned against the +taffrail, looked up at the canvas, bellying out like great balloons +above my head, and resigned myself to my thoughts. It had an +exhilarating, yet for some reason bewildering, effect upon me, that +stretch of canvas standing out so white against the clear blue sky, +the chasing clouds, the bright sunshine, the dancing, rolling sea, and +the splashing of the water alongside. The schooner was evidently in a +playful mood, for one moment she would be aiming her jib-boom at the +sun and the next be dipping her nose down into the trough and sending +a shower of spray rattling on the fo'c's'le like hail. Not a sail was +in sight, though it was evident from the presence of a lookout in the +fore-top, and the constant scrutiny of the southwestern horizon +maintained by the officer of the watch, that one was momentarily +expected. + +I had seen nothing of Alie since I had said good-night to her the +previous evening, nor did I receive an invitation to visit her until +breakfast had been over some time. Then Walworth entered my cabin. + +"Her ladyship," he said, taking a seat on my locker, "has sent me to +say that she would be glad to see you aft, if you could spare a few +moments. Before you go, I want to explain the situation to you. The +matter on hand, as you may guess, is the case of that scoundrel +Ebbington, and, as he will be present, she thinks it best that a +little precaution should be observed." + +"In what way do you mean?" I answered. "Of course I am ready to do +anything she may wish, but I'd like to have my instructions clearly +explained to me first." + +"Well, I have been commissioned to inform you that she thinks it would +be better, in case of accident, that Ebbington should suppose she has +abducted you as well as himself. That is to say, instead of being her +guest on board the schooner, you are her prisoner. Do you understand?" + +"Perfectly! She is afraid lest any harm should occur to me, when I +leave her yacht, by reason of my association with her! It is like her +thoughtfulness." + +"Shall we go?" + +I signified my assent, and we set off. + +When we reached Alie's cabin, we found her reclining on a couch at the +further end, the bulldog, as usual, at her feet. She held a packet of +papers in her hand which, previous to our arrival, it was evident she +had been perusing. At the other end, near the companion-ladder, but on +the starboard side, between two sailors, stood the prisoner, +Ebbington. He looked, as well he might, hopelessly miserable. He +opened his eyes in astonishment when he saw me enter. I, however, +crossed the cabin with Walworth and stood on the port side without +letting him see that I recognised him. Then solemn silence fell upon +us all for nearly a minute. While it lasted Alie sat with her chin on +her hand staring steadfastly at Ebbington. Under her gaze, he lowered +his eyes, and when I noticed that his fingers twined convulsively over +and round each other, I could imagine the state of his mind. The +fellow was plainly as frightened as it was possible for him to be. +Then Alie lifted her head and spoke in a voice as soft as a kitten's +purr. + +"Mr. Ebbington," she said, "do you know me?" + +He did not answer, but I saw the first finger and thumb of his right +hand clutch at his trouser leg and hold it tight. That action was more +significant than any words. Again she spoke: + +"Mr. Ebbington," she said, "my trusted servant, my faithful friend, my +honourable agent, I ask you again, do you know me?" + +Once more he refused to answer. + +"You seem undecided. Well, then, let me trespass upon your time and +tell you a little story, which will, perhaps, help you to remember. +You may listen, Dr. De Normanville, if you please. You must know, Mr. +Ebbington, that once upon a time there was a woman, who, for no fault +of her own, found herself at enmity with the world. She had +necessarily to be continually moving from place to place, and to be +always on her guard against betrayal. The better, therefore, to +conduct her business, she engaged a man to reside in a certain place +and to supply her, from time to time, with certain important +information. The man was poor, she made him rich; he had nothing, she +gave him everything; he was despised, she made him honoured; he was in +trouble, she saved him, not once, but twice, and made him happy. You, +Mr. Ebbington, who are such an honourable man, would think that that +man would have been grateful, wouldn't you? Well, he pretended to be, +and perhaps for a little time he really was. But his feelings soon +underwent a change towards his benefactress. When he had money he +wanted more; he knew his employer's secret, and at last, as a +brilliant finale, he resolved to trade upon it. Then what idea do you +think came into that faithful servant's mind? You will never guess. +Why! neither more nor less than the betrayal of his benefactress to +her enemies. And for what reward, think you? Millions? A million? For +half a million? A quarter? No! no! For the miserable sum of five +thousand pounds. It seems incredible that a man could be so foolish +and so base, doesn't it? But, nevertheless, it is true. Perhaps he +thought the woman, having escaped so often, must inevitably be caught +before long, and, being a business man, he remembered the old adage +that 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' At any rate, he +went to the authorities,--this noble, trustworthy, grateful man,--and +like Judas, proffered his perfidy for a price. But he was bargaining +without his host--or hostess. For if he could be so clever, the woman +could be cleverer still. She was warned in time, and thereupon hatched +a counterplot for his destruction. How well that plot has succeeded, I +don't think I need tell you, Mr. Ebbington. Dr. De Normanville, I am +exceedingly sorry that you should have been drawn into it too. But, +under the circumstances, you will see that it was quite impossible for +me to leave you behind to give evidence against me. You need have no +fear, however. If you will pass your solemn word to me that you will +reveal nothing concerning me or my actions when you go back to +civilisation, I will trust you so far as to give you your freedom +again, and on the first possible opportunity. Do you think you can let +me have that promise?" + +I saw the part I was expected to play, and at once fell in with it. +Affecting to take time to consider, I presently said: + +"What can I do? I am in your hands entirely, and it would be worse +than useless for me to resist. I will give you that promise, of +course." + +"Very good. Then I will let you go." + +She turned from me to Ebbington. + +"As for you, sir, I hardly know what punishment is severe enough for +you. Even death seems too good for such a contemptible creature. Let +me tell you that only three months ago I hanged a man for murder--a +far less serious offence in my eyes than yours. Why should I spare +you? If I were vindictively disposed, I should recollect how you spoke +of me the other evening. Do you remember?" + +"I did not know to whom I was speaking," the wretched man answered +hoarsely. + +"That is a very poor excuse," Alie replied, with withering scorn. +"Think of the baseness of what you said! However, it shall be counted +as an extenuating circumstance that you did not know me. Now----" + +But whatever she was about to say was stopped by a hail from the deck. +On hearing it Alie immediately rose. + +To the men guarding Ebbington she gave an order in their own tongue, +and they at once removed their prisoner. Then turning to Walworth, she +said: + +"The mail boat is evidently in sight. Were your instructions explicit +to the men on board her? Do you think they thoroughly understand what +work they have to do?" + +"Thoroughly," he answered, "I schooled them myself! There will be no +bungling, you may rest assured. Matheson is in command, and he has +never failed us yet." + +"In what capacities did they ship?" + +"Matheson as a missionary bound for Shanghai, Calderman as a tourist +for Nagasaki, Burns as a tea merchant for Fu-Chow, Alderney as a +newspaper correspondent to the East generally, Braham as an American +mill owner travelling home via Yokohama and San Francisco, Balder as +an Indian civilian on furlough visiting Japan." + +"Very good. And your instructions to them?" + +"Will be rigidly carried out. As they come up with the yacht, after +seeing our signal of distress, Matheson and Balder will make an excuse +and get upon the bridge; once there they will cover the officer of the +watch with their revolvers, and do the same for the skipper if he is +there, or directly he comes on deck. They will then compel him to +heave to. Burns by this time will have taken his station at the first +saloon companion ladder, Alderney doing the same at the second; +Calderman will be at the engine-room door, and Braham at the +fo'c's'le; then we shall send a boat and take off our man." + +"That will do, Mr. Walworth. You have arranged it admirably, and I am +sincerely obliged to you." + +A flush of pleasure rose on the man's usually sallow cheek. He did not +answer, however, only bowed and went on deck. Then Alie turned to me. + +"Dr. De Normanville," she said, "I have not yet thanked you for your +help in this last adventure; without your assistance I don't know +whether I could possibly have brought it to such a successful issue." + +"You must not thank me," I answered. "Is it possible that you can +imagine I would have let that scoundrel betray you? Alie, you know how +much I----But there, I have given you my promise, so I must not say +what I want to do." + +She took my hand and looked into my face with a sweet smile that was +very different to the one she had worn when she talked to Ebbington. + +"Not yet," she said very softly. "Some day you shall say it as often +as you please. In the meantime we must get to business. Will you come +on deck and see this comedy played out, or would you rather remain +down here?" + +"I should like to go on deck with you," I answered, and we accordingly +went up the companion ladder together. When we emerged from the hatch, +what a change was there! I looked, and could hardly believe my eyes. +Aloft, where only an hour before the two well-stayed masts had reared +their graceful heads, now hung a raffle of broken timber and +disordered cordage. Forrard of the foremast the port bulwark was +completely broken down, or appeared to be, while over the side from it +hung another display of broken gear. In spite of the gay awning aft, +and the R.C.Y.S. burgee at the gaff end, the _Lone Star_ presented the +appearance of a complete wreck. But the meaning of it all was what +puzzled me. However, I had not very long to wait before I received +enlightenment. + +Alie had gone aft, and was now leaning against the port bulwark +watching, with a glass, the movements of a large steamer fast rising +on the horizon. I strolled up just in time to hear her say to Walworth +and the officer of the watch, who were both watching it: + +"She is steering directly for us. Run up the English ensign to +half-mast, Mr. Patterson, and, when you think she's near enough, throw +out more urgent signals for assistance." + +Her orders were carefully obeyed, and before very long the vessel was +near enough for us to distinguish her answering pennant. The wind had +completely dropped by this time, and the sea was as smooth as glass. + +When the vessel was scarcely more than two miles distant, Alie turned +to her chief officer, and said: + +"I think she's close enough now. Tell her that we're going to send a +boat." + +While she was speaking a string of flags had broken out upon the mail +boat. + +Walworth read them through the glass he held in his hand. + +"She wants to know our name." + +"Reply, 'Yacht _Sagittarius_, owner Lord Melkard, from Rangoon to +Nagasaki.' He is one of the directors of the company, and that will +induce them to give us their immediate attention, or I shall be very +much surprised." + +She was quite right, for no sooner had the message been deciphered +than another went up. + +Again Walworth reported. This time it ran: + +"Send your boat." + +"Despatch the boat," said Alie. + +Instantly Walworth and the tall man with the scar on his face, whose +name I have said was Patterson, went forrard, and within three minutes +Alie's own gig was manned and overboard. Walworth, I noticed, was in +command of her, so I took up the glass he had left upon the skylight, +and brought it to bear upon the mail boat, now less than a mile +distant. She presented a handsome picture as she lay there, her great +bulk riding upon the smooth water as securely as if it would be +possible for her to defy the elements, whatever storm might rage. + +With the aid of the strong glass I was using I could plainly +distinguish her, and from the scarcity of passengers on her decks it +was evident that something unusual was occurring on board. Presently +our boat got alongside and the gangway was lowered. A consultation +seemed to be going on upon the bridge, and after a few moments a man +was seen to ascend and descend the steps leading to it. Five minutes +later two men passed down the gangway, and once more our boat put off +to us. + +When she had overcome about half the distance I chanced to look +forrard. To my surprise the raffle, which a few moments before had +been disfiguring the side, was gone, and even the bulwark itself had +recovered its proper shape and comeliness. Moreover, the tarpaulin +which had hitherto covered the centre of the deck was being removed, +and by the time the boat had completed three parts of the distance +that separated us from the steamer, a funnel had been uncovered and +erected. The chief officer came aft. + +"Is everything prepared, Mr. Patterson?" inquired Alie. + +"Everything, madam," replied the officer, looking at the boat. + +"Steam up?" + +"It has been for the last five minutes." + +"Very well then, pipe all hands to quarters, and stand by to receive +the boat when she comes alongside." + +As she finished speaking the officer blew a whistle, and immediately +the crew, who had hitherto been ordered to remain below, appeared on +deck and placed themselves at their respective posts. Against the +foremast I noticed a curious mechanical contrivance, the use of which +at any other time I should have inquired. Now, however, there was a +look upon Alie's face that warned me not to be too inquisitive. + +At last the boat came alongside, the gangway was lowered, and a moment +later Walworth, accompanied by a big, clumsily built man with a heavy +sensual face, small ferretty eyes, a curled moustache, and dark hair, +appeared up the side. He seemed to wonder what was required of him, +and it was evident that so far he had no idea into whose hands he had +fallen. I glanced at Alie, as he appeared on deck, to discover that +she was regarding him out of half-closed eyes, just as she had looked +at Kwong Fung before she had ordered him off to execution, and at +Ebbington in the cabin half an hour before. + +"Will you let me say that I am more than pleased to see you, Mr. +Barkmansworth?" she said in her silkiest tone as he gained the deck. +"It was only last month I heard that you were coming to China to take +up your residence among us. It is my desire to offer you a warm +welcome to the East, hence this reception in mid-ocean. Mr. Walworth, +will you be good enough to bring Mr. Ebbington to me?" + +Walworth went below, and presently returned with the prisoner. + +"Mr. Ebbington," said Alie, as the man she addressed took his place +beside the newly erected funnel, "I have sent for you in order that +you may see for yourself how I show my appreciation of those whom the +world, to my thinking, does not properly reward. Mr. Barkmansworth, in +case you may not know in whose presence you now stand, let me inform +you that I am the woman you have so often expressed a desire to meet. +I am she whom you boasted in Sydney, a year ago, you would flog when +she fell into your hands, as you flogged those unfortunate South Sea +Islanders. In other words, Mr. Barkmansworth, I am the Beautiful White +Devil." + +Though he must have realised his position long before she had finished +speaking, the unfortunate man now, for the first time, showed signs of +fear. Indeed, it is my opinion he would have fallen to the ground had +not Walworth upheld him on one side, the coxswain of the boat which +had brought him doing the same upon the other. Alie continued in the +same quiet voice: + +"Tell me, you sir, have you anything to say why I should not treat you +as you deserve? So far you have craftily managed to escape punishment +from your own authorities, but you must see that cunning will not +avail you here. If you have anything to say, say it quickly, for I +cannot keep your boat waiting." + +The wretched man took a step forward, and, the eyes of all on board +being upon him, tried to carry the matter off with a high hand. + +"What business is it of yours what I do?" he asked. + +"It is my business," Alie replied, "because you have threatened what +you would do to me when you caught me, and also because no one else +will see justice done to you." + +"You dare not punish me," he cried. "You shall not! I warn you I am in +high authority, and I'll exterminate you as I would a rat, if you dare +to lay a hand upon me." + +"So you try to bluster, do you?" said Alie quietly. "Very good. In +that case I need have no scruples at all in carrying out my plan. You +flogged those poor women in Yakilavi, and that man at Tuarani, to +death. I will be more merciful. But flogged you shall be. Men, do +your duty!" + +The words were hardly out of her mouth before four of her crew, who +had evidently been instructed in the parts they were to play, sprang +forward, seized him by his arms and legs, and bore him swiftly from +the gangway to the object whose use I had been wondering. Once there +his feet were firmly secured, the upper part of his body was stripped +to the skin, while, at a signal, a powerful native stepped forward +from the crowd, carrying a cat-o'-nine-tails in his hand. + +"Lay on twelve lashes," said Alie sternly. + +The man had a broad white back, and the first cut raised its mark, the +second put another alongside it, and by the time the twelve strokes +had been administered the blood had begun to flow. After the first cut +the wretched culprit no longer attempted to comport himself like a +man; he struggled, whined, and finally bellowed outright. When the +number was completed, the native paused and looked at Alie. Her face +was turned away, but it was as hard as iron. + +"You have so far had six lashes for each of the women you killed," she +said; "now you will have six more for the man you butchered, and six +more on top of them to teach you to respect myself and the name of +Woman. Go on!" + +By this time the wretched man's pluck was entirely gone. He entreated +to be let off, offering large sums of money, to be faithfully paid +directly he got ashore, if she would only abate one lash. He might, +however, as well have appealed to a stone: the second twelve were duly +administered, and he was then cast loose. He fell in a heap on the +deck, and for some time refused to budge; but, on being promised an +additional half-dozen if he did not do as he was ordered, he soon +found his feet, and bolted down the gangway into the gig alongside, +which immediately set off for the mail steamer. + +Half an hour later the boat returned, bringing with her the men whose +part it had been to ensure the stoppage of the vessel and the capture +of the passenger. Steam was up by this time, and within five minutes +of raising the boat to the davits we were under weigh. In an hour we +had lost sight of the mail boat, and were making as straight a course +as possible back to the settlement. + +That evening I received an invitation from Alie to dine with her in +her cabin, and, as may be supposed, I accepted it. But as the lady +whom I had only known as Mrs. Beecher, and who had been confined to +her cabin by ill-health ever since our leaving Singapore, was present, +we only conversed on general topics during the progress of the meal. +When, however, we sought the deck afterwards alone, and came to our +favourite spot at the taffrail, Alie said: + +"Up to the present you have seen a good many sides of my character, +have you not? I hope, among them, they will not make you think too +badly of me." + +"Make me think badly of you, Alie?" I cried. "That would be +impossible. What _have_ I seen? Let me think. First, I have seen you +collecting about you and befriending many of the world's unfortunates; +second, I have seen you toiling day and night, without thought of +yourself, for the welfare of the lives you loved; and, last, I have +seen you always just and forbearing, a good ruler and a firm friend. +Is there anything in any of those circumstances to make me think badly +of you? No, no!" + +"You are too generous to me, I fear. However, to-day you have seen me +in the character of Retribution; you have seen that I can bite as well +as bark. I should be sorry if I lost your good esteem. Now, with +regard to Mr. Ebbington, I want to consult with you as to the course I +should pursue with him." + +"I hardly know," I answered. "I have been thinking it over this +afternoon. The man is already nearly mad with fear; that flogging this +morning was an awful lesson to him." + +"I hope it was; but cannot you see the position I am placed in? After +all that has passed between us, I cannot let him go out into the world +again, and yet I do not want to keep him a perpetual prisoner at the +settlement. A man of that kind might do serious mischief even there." + +I did not know what to advise, so saying I would think about it, we +dismissed the subject for the present. Alie was looking across the sea +astern. + +"We're in for a spell of bad weather, I fear," she said. "Do you see +that bank of cloud away to the northeast? I hope it won't delay our +getting back to the settlement. I have been watching it coming up, and +I don't like the look of it at all." + +We walked along together to the bridge, where she gave the officer of +the watch some instructions. This done she turned to me and held out +her hand. + +"Good-night!" she said; "I am going below now to try and get some +sleep in case we are to have trouble later. I have left orders that I +am to be called if anything unusual transpires." + +"Good-night!" I answered, when I had walked to the companion-ladder +with her. + +As soon as she had left me I lit another cigar, and, seating myself on +the rail, fell to smoking and dreaming of the future. Every hour was +bringing the time closer for me to bid the woman I loved good-bye, and +to go back to England. After that, for a year, I told myself, I would +work hard at my profession, and at the end of the time stipulated, she +would arrive to be my wife. What my life was to be after that I could +not of course determine, but however it should turn out, I would be +prepared for it, and with Alie for my wife how could I fail to be +happy? As soon as my cigar was finished, I tossed the stump overboard +and retired to my cabin. + +On entering it I thought I heard a noise, and as it turned out I was +not mistaken. To my surprise the occupant was none other than the +prisoner, Ebbington. He seemed a trifle disconcerted at my catching +him, and began to apologise profusely for his presence there. + +"I came in here to consult you professionally, Dr. De Normanville," he +managed to get out at last. "But you were not in, so I thought I'd +wait. Can you do anything for me? I am not at all well." + +"Sit down," I said, pointing to the locker, "and tell me how you +feel." + +There was something in the poor wretch's face that, much as I detested +him, touched a chord of pity in my heart. Thus encouraged, he +delivered himself of his symptoms, and asked to be treated. Long +before he had finished his tale, however, I had convinced myself that +there was nothing, save fright, the matter with him. But I heard him +out, and then said: + +"Now own up, Ebbington. What was the real reason of this visit? For +you know very well you're no more ill than I am." + +He stared for a moment, and then seeing it would be useless arguing +with me, said: + +"No, I'm not ill, but I want to ask you a question. What does this +woman intend doing with me? It's all very well for her to pretend she +abducted you; I know better. You were in her confidence at Singapore +and you're in it now. For Heaven's sake don't play with me--tell me +the truth. Is she going to flog me as she flogged that poor devil this +morning, or is she going to hang me, as I hear she did Kwong Fung the +pirate?" + +"I know no more about what she intends doing with you than you do," I +answered; "and if I did, I'm certain I shouldn't tell you. Look here, +Mr. Ebbington, I don't want to hit a man when he's down, but I must +own, I think, whatever you do get won't be too much for you. You would +have betrayed her, if you could have managed it, without a second +thought. Now, if I had been in her place--well, I don't somehow think +I should have been as merciful as she has been." + +His face instantly became black with fury. + +"Wouldn't you! wouldn't you?" he hissed; "spy, traitor, coward! +wouldn't you? A fig for you and your thoughts." + +I laughed; thereupon he walked up to me, and, with his features +convulsed with rage, deliberately spat in my face. I knocked him down, +and, having done so, picked him up and threw him outside into the +saloon. I then locked my cabin door and went to bed. + +I don't suppose, however, I had been asleep more than an hour before I +was awakened by a loud hammering at my door. Thinking that the ship +must be in danger, I sprang from my bunk and unlocked it as quickly as +possible. On looking out I discovered Walworth and the officers' +steward standing before me. + +"What on earth is the matter?" I asked, I'm afraid a trifle irritably. +"What on earth are you making all this row about?" + +"Something's very much the matter," Walworth answered, taking my arm +and drawing me along the saloon. "Ebbington's taken poison." + +"The deuce he has!" I cried. "Let me see him at once." + +I was thereupon conducted to his cabin, which was on the port side of +the vessel, at the further end of the saloon. I found the patient +stretched on his back in his bunk, holding an empty laudanum bottle in +his hand. + +One moment's examination showed me that life was extinct; he had been +dead nearly an hour. In this fashion had Alie's difficulty been solved +for her, and, perhaps, all things considered, though it seems rather a +cruel thing to say, in the best possible manner for all parties. + +"Is there no chance at all of saving him?" asked Walworth, who had +been watching me intently during my examination. + +"Not one!" I answered. "Ebbington's gone where even the Beautiful +White Devil's vengeance won't reach him. Poor devil! Fancy coming +into the world for such a fate as this!" + +"Humph! Frightened out of his senses, I expect. Well, now, I suppose I +must go and tell her ladyship. I'm sorry, doctor, to have troubled you +in vain." + +"Don't mention it. I'm only sorry nothing could be done. Good-night!" + +"Good-night!" + +I drew the blanket over the face, and then locking the door behind me, +went back to my own cabin to think it all out. One thing became +perfectly plain to me when I examined my medical chest--and that was, +Ebbington's reason for being in my berth. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A TYPHOON. + + +At five o'clock next morning, being unable to bear the closeness of my +cabin any longer, I dressed myself and went on deck. To my surprise +the schooner was stationary, and wrapped in as dense a fog as ever I +remember to have seen. So still was the air that every sail hung limp +and motionless, and so thick the fog that, when I emerged from the +companion hatch, I could hardly distinguish the bulwarks on either +side. It was the intense quiet, however, that was at once the most +mysterious and the impressive part of the scene. The steady drip of +the moisture on the deck, and now and again the faint lip-lap of a +wavelet against the side, the creaking of a block in the rigging above +my head, or the subdued tones of a man's voice coming from the forrard +of the foremast were all the sounds that I could hear. It was most +depressing; so, for the sake of companionship, I fumbled my way over +to the starboard bulwark, and, having found it, ran it along to the +bridge, where I almost fell into some person's arms. The fog here was +so thick that I could not see his face, so I inquired his name. + +"Walworth," was the reply, "and from your voice you should be Dr. De +Normanville." + +"Quite right," I answered. "But what a fog this is, to be sure! How +long have we been in it?" + +"Very nearly three hours," he replied. "It's most unfortunate. By the +way, I want to ask a favour of you on her ladyship's account. We are +going to bury that poor beggar Ebbington in half an hour. Will you +conduct the service?" + +"Did her ladyship tell you to ask me?" + +He answered in the affirmative. + +"Then if it is her desire of course I will do so," I replied, "though +I must own I do not very much look forward to the task." + +He thanked me and went below to give the necessary instructions. I +waited about, and in half an hour the body was brought on deck, neatly +sewn up in a hammock, and covered with a plain white ensign by way of +a pall. Though we could hardly see each other, or the bier, we took +our place at the gangway, and I at once began to read the beautiful +service for the burial of the dead at sea. When I arrived at the place +where it is instructed that the body shall be cast into the deep, I +gave a signal, and the stretcher was tilted, so that the hammock and +its grim contents slid off it and fell with a sullen splash into the +water alongside. Just as it disappeared a curious thing happened. + +The body could hardly have touched the water before the fog was +lifted, as though by some giant hand, and the sun shone brilliantly +forth. The transition from the obscurity of semi-darkness to bright +sunshine was quite dazzling, and set us all blinking like so many +owls. Then I saw every face turn suddenly in one direction, and as +they did so every mouth went down. Next moment the officer of the +watch had bounded to the engine-room telegraph, there was a confused +ringing of bells in the bowels of the ship, and before a minute could +have elapsed we were under weigh once more. + +And what do you think was the reason of all this commotion? Why, +there, not half a mile distant from us, full steam up, and ensign +streaming in the breeze, lay an enormous English man-of-war. She was +evidently on our trail, and, by altering her course only half a point, +might have run us down in the fog. It was very evident she had only +just become aware that she was so close to her prey, or she would +surely have sent a boat and attempted to take us prisoner. As it was, +this sudden lifting of the fog must have caused them as much surprise +as it did us, for it was a good minute before we heard the shouting of +orders and blowing of bo'sun's pipes aboard her. As soon as I had +recovered from my astonishment, I fetched a glass from the rack and +brought it to bear on her, at the same time convincing myself that we +were in for a warm quarter of an hour. + +True to our expectations, before we had been steaming a couple of +minutes there came a puff of smoke from her port bow, and an instant +later a shot flew in front of us and dropped into the water a mile or +so on our left side. It was evidently a signal to us to heave to +without any nonsense or further waste of time. But as the boom of the +gun died away, Alie made her appearance from the after-companion and +came over to where I stood. + +"Good-morning, Dr. De Normanville!" she said, as calmly as if we were +greeting each other in Hyde Park. "You see how anxious your government +is to have me in its keeping. Mr. Patterson, full steam ahead!" + +The chief officer touched his cap, gave the order, and then resumed +his promenade, stopping now and again to examine the man-of-war +through his glass. + +"They're going to fire another gun, and then if we don't attend to +that they will chase us," said Alie, who was also closely scrutinising +her great opponent's movements. + +She was correct in her prophecy, for as she finished speaking another +jet of flame issued from the cruiser's side, followed by a sullen +roar. This time the shot passed through our rigging, fortunately, +however, without doing any damage, and next moment we could see that +she was under weigh. It was going to be a stern chase and, if they +didn't hull us before we got out of range, we knew it would be a long +one. + +Seeing that we did not intend to heave to, as she ordered, our +antagonist sent another shot after us, but this time it fell +altogether wide of the mark. Alie called the third officer to her +side. + +"Inquire from the engine room what we're doing, Mr. Gammel!" she said. + +The officer asked the necessary question, and the answer came back, +"Eighteen." + +"Tell them to give her every ounce of steam she is capable of +carrying. We must not allow our friend yonder to get us within range +again, or one of those chance shots may hull us." + +Then turning to me she continued, as if in explanation, "You see, Dr. +De Normanville, I have no desire to fall into their hands yet awhile." + +I felt as though I would have given anything to have been allowed to +say something at this juncture, but I remembered my compact with her +and wisely held my tongue. If, however, the masculine reader wishes to +realise my feelings at all, let him imagine the woman of his heart in +such imminent danger as mine was then; let it be properly brought home +to him that the only thing he can do to save her is to look on and +speculate as to what the result may be, and I fancy he will not enjoy +it any more than I did. All my life long shall I retain the memory of +the quarter of an hour I spent by Alie's side, watching that sinister +vessel lumbering after us like a giant in chase of a dwarf. But +fortunately for his safety, our dwarf could run, and to such good +purpose that by breakfast time we had drawn completely out of range. + +During our meal, of which I partook in the officer's mess, for I did +not breakfast with Alie every morning, I noticed a nervous, and, as I +thought, a hopelessly sad look upon the chief officer's face. Could it +be the presence of the man-of-war that occasioned it? I did not +question him, of course; but when he halted at the foot of the ladder, +glanced anxiously at the barometer, and returned to the deck, I asked +Walworth if anything were the matter. + +"Look at the glass for yourself," he said. "Don't you see that it is +dropping in a most alarming fashion? And if you listen for a moment +you will hear how the wind and sea are rising." + +And so they were! There could be no mistake about that. I picked up my +cap, and followed the chief's example. + +What a different scene presented itself when I gained the deck! When I +had left it to go below to breakfast, the water had been as smooth as +a millpond; now it ran a comparatively high sea, and its anger was +momentarily increasing. The _Lone Star_ was still steaming through it +like a witch, though her pursuer could only just be discerned on the +southern horizon. From the heavy and confused water all round me I +turned my eyes aloft and examined the sky, across which a quantity of +curious-shaped clouds were flying, resembling well-combed horses' +manes more than anything else to which I could liken them. Even to my +inexperienced eyes they did not present a reassuring appearance, and +it was evident that the officer of the watch shared my anxiety, for he +was having everything made snug as swiftly as possible. + +By ten o'clock the wind had risen to the strength of a more than +moderate gale, and the sea in proportion. It was most alarming, and I +must confess that, seeing the strength of the wind, I was a little +surprised when, about the middle of the morning, Alie appeared on +deck. She came aft to where I was standing, and, having looked at the +compass card, gazed round her. + +"If I'm not mistaken we're in for a typhoon," she shouted, her +glorious hair blowing in tangled profusion across her eyes and about +her face. "Our friend, the cruiser, you see, is out of sight. I expect +she thinks it's useless endeavouring to chase us across such a sea." +Then, turning to Walworth, who was standing near, she cried: "Send Mr. +Patterson to me." + +Though it was not Patterson's watch on deck he was too anxious about +the weather and his ship to go below. Immediately on receiving Alie's +message he came aft, and, having touched his sou'wester, waited for +her to speak. + +"Mr. Patterson, what is your opinion of the weather?" she shouted in +his ear, for it was impossible to make yourself heard by any ordinary +means. "Don't you think we had better heave to and endeavour to find +out how the centre of the storm bears from us?" + +"I was just going to do so," Patterson bellowed, in reply. Then, +turning to his subordinate, he gave the necessary instructions in a +yell that sounded like a fog horn. The yacht's nose was immediately +pointed dead to the wind, which at that moment was due N. E., the +requisite number of points to the right of it were then taken, and the +centre of the approaching hurricane found to be exactly S. S. E. of +our position. At this juncture Walworth, who had been acting under +instructions, returned from the cuddy and reported the barometer had +fallen to 27.45. It might, therefore, be inferred that we were within +the storm circle, and, for the same reason, it was apparent that our +safety entirely depended upon our being able to avoid the centre of +the field. Having decided the direction of the storm, and discovered +that we lay in the due line of its advance,--the most dangerous of +all,--there was nothing for it but to run with the wind on our +starboard quarter. + +Never shall I forget the scene presented as our course was changed. +Even now, when I shut my eyes, I can see it as clearly before me as if +I were standing in the very thick of it again. I can see the heavens, +black with angry clouds, frowning down on a confused and angry sea +that dashed against our hull with terrific and repeated violence. I +can see the waters one moment raising us on high, the next hurling us +deep down into some black and horrible abyss. And all the time I can +hear the wind shrieking and yelling through the cordage like the +chorus of a million devils. + +It was impossible to hear oneself speak, and on the bridge almost +impossible to retain one's balance against the wind's pressure. And, +what was worse, the anger of the storm was increasing every moment. + +I looked from Alie, who, enveloped in oilskins, was clinging to the +starboard railing, then to the chief officer gazing anxiously aloft, +and from both to the men struggling and straining at the wheel. Now, +when a great wave, seemingly mountains high, dark as green jade, and +topped with hissing foam, would come tearing towards us, obscuring +half the horizon, I would shut my eyes and wait for it to engulf us. +Then I would feel the noble little vessel meet it, rise on to its +crest, and next moment be sinking again, down, down, down into the +trough. Then once more I would draw breath and open my eyes, just in +time to see another rise and meet her forrard, to break with a roar +upon the fo'c's'le head, carrying away a dozen feet of bulwark and one +of the boats as if both were built of so much paper. + +For nearly five hours the hurricane continued with the same awful +violence, and all that time I remained on the bridge with Alie, afraid +to go below, lest, when the vessel went to pieces, as I infallibly +believed she must, I should be separated from the woman I loved. It +may be said that I proved myself a coward. I do not deny it. I will +confess that I was more frightened then than, with the exception of +one occasion to be hereafter narrated, I have ever been in my life. +And yet, somehow, I am not without a feeling that, after all, mine +should have been classed as of the magnificent order of courage; for, +though my heart had absolutely lost all hope, I spared my companions +any exhibition of my terror, and nerving myself for the occasion, +looked Death in the face with an equable countenance, believing every +moment he would snatch me into the hollow of his hand. + +Towards the middle of the afternoon the strength of the gale began +somewhat to abate, the sea lost its greater fury, and the barometer in +a measure recovered its stability. It seemed incredible that the _Lone +Star_ could have come through it so safely, for, with the exception of +one man washed overboard, another who had three of his ribs smashed in +by a marauding sea, a portion of the port bulwark and a boat carried +away, as above described, and another crashed to atoms on the davits, +we had experienced no casualties worth mentioning. + +By the time darkness fell, the sea was almost its old calm, placid +self again, so quickly do these terrible typhoons spring up and die +away. As soon as we were certain all danger was past, the yacht was +returned to her course, and we once more proceeded on our way. What +had become of our pursuer, or how she had weathered the storm, we +could not tell. Up to the time daylight left us nothing was to be seen +of her, and we began devoutly to hope we had given her the slip for +good and all. + +How wonderful and inscrutable is the mighty deep! Next day the weather +was as peaceful as ever I had seen it--bright sunshine, gentle +breezes, and a sea as smooth as polished silver. After breakfast, the +awning, which on account of the storm had been unshipped the day +before, was rigged again, and, drawing a deck chair aft, I settled +myself down to read beneath its shade. A few minutes later Alie and +her companion joined me. I brought them seats, and then, for the first +time, I saw the Beautiful White Devil--for I must sometimes call her +by her picturesque Chinese cognomen--engaged in needlework. Why I +should have found anything extraordinary in such a circumstance I +cannot say. Possibly it may have been because I had never imagined +that there could be sufficient leisure in her life for such a homely +occupation. At any rate, I know that to watch her bent head, with its +glorious wealth of hair; to see those beautiful white fingers, +unadorned by jewellry of any sort, twisting and twining among her +silks, and to make out one little foot peeping beneath her snow-white +dress, sent a thrill through me that made me tingle from top to toe. + +Suddenly one of the hands engaged upon some work in the fore-rigging +uttered a cry in the native. Alie and her companion sprang to their +feet; and, though I did not understand what had happened I followed +their example. We ran to the starboard bulwark, but nothing was to be +seen there. Not being able to make it out, I asked what had occasioned +the alarm. + +"One of the hands reports a boat away to starboard," said Alie. + +She turned to one of the younger officers, who was standing near, and +ordered him aloft to take the boat's bearing. As soon as this was +discovered the yacht was put over on a tack that would bring us close +up with it, and after that there was nothing for it but to wait +patiently for the result. + +For some time we could not see anything; then a small black speck made +its appearance about two points off our starboard bow and gradually +grew plainer. + +"Keep her as she goes," said Alie to the man at the wheel, while we +strained our eyes towards the tiny dot. + +Little by little it became more distinct until we were sufficiently +near to make out with a glass that it was a man-of-war's gig pulled by +two men and containing three others. Ten minutes later the yacht was +hove to, and Patterson clambered on to the rail of the bulwarks. + +"Are you strong enough to bring her alongside, do you think?" he +bellowed, "or shall we send a boat to tow you?" + +The man steering, who was evidently an officer, funnelled his mouth +with his hands and shouted back that they thought they could manage +it. Then, as if to prove his words, the men who had been rowing, but +had now stopped, resumed their monotonous labour. Bit by bit the tiny +craft crept over the oily surface towards us until she was close +enough for us to see with our naked eyes all that she contained. + +As she came alongside, our gangway was lowered, and within an hour +from the time of our first sighting her the boat's crew stood upon our +deck. In spite of their man-of-war dress, a more miserable, woe-begone +appearance could not have been imagined than the party presented. It +consisted of one lieutenant, a midshipman, and three able seamen, and +out of curiosity I glanced at the cap of the man standing nearest me. +It bore the name H. M. S. _Asiatic_. Then I looked round for Alie, +only to discover that she had mysteriously disappeared. It was left +for Patterson to welcome the poor fellows to the yacht, and this he +accordingly did, with a hearty kindness that I should hardly have +expected from him. + +"Before you tell me anything about yourselves," he said, "let me +arrange for the comfort of your men." Then calling a hand to him, he +continued, pointing to the three Jacks who stood sheepishly by, "Take +these men forrard and tell the cook to give them all they want. You +can supply them with hammocks among you and find room somewhere for +them to sling them." Then, turning to the officers again, he said, +"Will you be so good as to follow me, gentlemen?" and led the way down +the companion to the cuddy. Thinking my professional services might +possibly be required I followed with Walworth. + +On reaching the cabin they were conducted to seats, and food was +immediately set before them. They fell upon it like starving men, and +for some time only the sound of steady munching and the clatter of +knives and forks was to be heard. When they had finished, the +midshipman, without warning, burst into a flood of tears, and was led +by Walworth to a cabin near by, where, when his torrent had worn +itself out, the poor little chap fell fast asleep. + +"Now," said Patterson, as soon as the lieutenant had finished his +meal, "perhaps you will tell me your story?" + +"It won't take long to do that," the officer began. "I am the first +lieutenant of Her Majesty's cruiser _Asiatic_. We were sent out from +Singapore last Saturday in pursuit of this very yacht, if I mistake +not. As you know, we almost picked you up in the fog, but when it +lifted, your superior steaming power enabled you to escape us. Then +the typhoon caught us, and in looking after ourselves, we lost sight +of you altogether. We rode out the storm safely enough, but, just at +sun-time yesterday, she struck an uncharted rock and went down within +five minutes." + +He stopped for a moment and covered his face with his hands. + +"This is terrible news!" cried Patterson, while we all gave utterance +to expressions of horrified astonishment. "And was yours the only boat +that got away?" + +"I'm very much afraid so," he replied. "At least I saw no other. Yes, +you are right, it is terrible, and Her Majesty has lost a fine vessel +and a splendid ship's company in the _Asiatic_." + +When the poor fellow had finished his story he was silent for some +minutes. Indeed, so were we all. It seemed almost incredible that the +great vessel we had admired, and feared, only the day before, should +now be lying, with the majority of her crew, deep down at the bottom +of the ocean. + +"We are fortunate in having been able to pick you up," said Patterson, +after a while. "An hour later and we should have changed our course, +and have been many miles away." + +"In that case we should have been dead men by nightfall," was the +reply. "As it was, we lost one man." + +"How did it happen?" + +"The poor devil went mad, and jumped overboard. Remember, we had no +water and nothing to eat, and so you may imagine it was heartbreaking +work pulling in that baking sun. The miracle to me is that the boy +stood it as well as he did." + +"Poor little chap! It must have been a terrible experience for him." + +"And what do you intend doing with us?" asked the officer, after a +little pause. "For, of course, we're your prisoners." + +"That I cannot say," Patterson answered. "It does not lie within my +province. However, you'll hear soon enough--never fear. By the way, I +suppose you will give me your word that you will not attempt to play +us any tricks. You must remember, please, that to all intents and +purposes we are at war!" + +"I will give you my word. Is that enough?" + +"Quite enough. And now that you have done so I make you free of our +ward-room and its contents." + +All the time Patterson had been speaking I had noticed that the +lieutenant, whose name, it transpired later, was Thorden, had been +staring at his face as if trying to recall some countenance it +reminded him of. Just as we were preparing to go on deck again his +memory seemed to come back to him. + +"I hope you will excuse what I am going to say, and stop me if I am +recalling any unpleasant memories," he blurted out; "but ever since I +came aboard I've been wondering where we have met before. Aren't you +Gregory, who was commander of the gunboat _Parcifal_ in the Egyptian +business of 1879?" + +Patterson fell back against the wall as if he had been shot. For a +moment his face was as white as the paper I am now writing upon, then, +with a great effort, he pulled himself together, and answered: + +"I have quite forgotten that I had any existence at all in 1879. May I +beg that you will not recall the fact to my memory?" Then, as if to +change the subject, he continued, "I expect you would like to rest +after all your troubles; pray let me conduct you to a cabin." + +"Many thanks," said Thorden; and with that they went along the +alleyway together, and I returned to the deck to think out what I had +heard. It was, of course, no business of mine; but I was interested in +Patterson, and could not help speculating as to what the reason could +have been that had induced him to abandon a career in which, even so +many years ago, he seemed to have attained such exalted rank. + +During the afternoon I received an invitation from Alie to dine with +her that evening. She stated in the little note she sent me that she +had also asked the rescued lieutenant and his midshipman, and I +gathered from this that something out of the common was toward. + +About an hour before dusk, as I was reading in the officers' +mess-room, the lieutenant came out of his cabin and sat down at the +table beside me. He looked round to see that we were alone, and then +said in a confidential whisper: + +"Your position on board this boat, Dr. De Normanville, has already +been explained to me. I'm sure I sympathise with you; but, for rather +selfish motives, I am glad you are not in league with this +extraordinary woman. I have received an invitation to dine in her +cabin this evening, and I want you, if you will, to tell me something +about her. Do you know enough to satisfy my curiosity?" + +"I'll tell you all I can," I answered frankly. "What is it you want to +know?" + +"Well, first and foremost," he continued, with a laugh, "since I've +received this invitation, what sort of meal is she likely to give us?" + +"A very fair one, I should fancy," I replied. "At least, I hope so, as +I am invited to be one of the party." + +"You are? Well, I am glad of that. And now another question. What is +she like? Of course, one has heard all sorts of reports about her +beauty and accomplishments, but when one has travelled about the world +one soon learns to believe rather less than half of what one hears." + +"Ah, yes; it's as well not to be too sanguine, isn't it?" I answered, +resolved, if possible, to mislead him, "especially with regard to +women. Now, I've no doubt you expect the Beautiful White Devil to be +really young and beautiful?" + +"And is she not? Well, well! There goes another illusion. Before I +came out here I had my own idea of the East--it was to be all state +elephants and diamond-studded howdahs, jewelled Rajahs, mysterious +pagodas with tingling golden bells and rustling palm trees, lovely +houris and Arabian Nights' adventures. But it isn't like that by a +long chalk. And so the Beautiful White Devil goes with the rest, does +she? But don't tell me that she's old, and, above all, don't tell me +she's fat." + +"I won't tell you anything about her," I answered, with a laugh; "you +must wait and judge for yourself. One caution, however, before you see +her: beware how you behave towards her, and if I might venture a hint, +make a good toilet. She's very particular, and it's well to humour +her. My things are at your disposal, of course." + +He thanked me, and I saw no more of him or the midshipman until a few +minutes before dinner time, when I met them on deck and accompanied +them to Alie's saloon. Having descended the companion-ladder I drew +back the curtain for them to enter. Prepared as I was to see him show +astonishment, I had no idea the lieutenant would be filled with such +amazement as he betrayed when we entered the beautiful cabin I have +before described. As good luck had it Alie was not present, and so we +were able to look about us undisturbed. + +"Why didn't you prepare me for this?" whispered my companion, after he +had glanced round the cabin. "I never saw anything like it before, and +I've been aboard scores of yachts in my time." + +"There is but one Beautiful White Devil," I said, with serio-comic +earnestness. + +"Curios, china, skins, divans, musical instruments, a grand piano +even, and, by Jove, inlaid with tortoiseshell and lapis lazuli! It's +wonderful, it's superb! And now I want to see the woman who owns it +all." + +"Steady," I whispered; "if I mistake not, here she comes." + +As I spoke, the curtains at the other end of the cabin were parted by +a tiny hand, and Alie, dressed entirely in black, stood before us. The +colour of her costume showed off the superb beauty of her complexion +and hair, while its making exhibited her matchless figure to +perfection. She stood for a moment in the doorway, and then advanced +towards us with that wonderful floating grace which always +characterized her, giving me her little hand first, and then turning +towards her other guests. + +To the lieutenant she bowed and said with a smile: + +"Sir, you must forgive my not having personally welcomed you to my +boat. But, for reasons which would not interest you, I am not always +able to do as much as I could wish. However, I hope my officers have +taken every care of you." + +She shook hands with the handsome little midshipman as she spoke, and +while she was doing so I had time to steal a look at the first +lieutenant's face. The astonishment I saw depicted there almost caused +me to laugh. He had been amazed at the beauty of the cabin; but that +was nothing compared with the admiration he betrayed for the Beautiful +White Devil herself. He murmured a confused, but not altogether +inappropriate reply to her last speech, and then we sat down to +dinner. Her companion, I learnt on inquiry, was suffering from a +severe headache, and had elected to dine in her own cabin. + +The dinner was in the chef's best style, and its cooking, serving, and +variety, combined with the beauty and value of the table decorations, +evidently completed the effect upon the officer that the cabin had +begun. Alie herself was in excellent spirits, and talked with the wit +and cleverness of a woman who has perfected an originally liberal +education by continual and varied study of the world and its +inhabitants. By the time the meal was ended and we had bade her +good-night, the lieutenant was in a maze of enchantment. + +We went on deck together, and once there, out of earshot of the +cabin, his enthusiasm broke loose. I will spare you, however, a +recital of all the extravagant things he said. Let it suffice that I +gathered enough to feel sure that when he got back to Hong Kong he +would add to, rather than detract from, the number of stories already +in circulation about the too famous Beautiful White Devil. One +promise, however, I took care to extract from both officers, and that +was, not to mention my name in connection with the yacht on their +return to civilisation. I made the excuse that if such a thing got +known it might do me serious harm in the practice of my profession, +and both men readily gave me their words that they would not breathe a +syllable on the subject. + +Their stay with us, however, was not to be of as long duration as we +had expected, for early next morning we sighted a small brigantine, +who, on being hailed, stated that she was bound for Hong Kong. +Passages for the officers and their men were soon arranged, and, +within an hour of picking her up she had sent a boat, we had bade our +naval visitors good-bye, and were standing on our fictitious course +again. As soon, however, as they were out of sight the helm was put up +and we were making a bee line back to the settlement. + +That evening as I was pacing the deck, smoking my cigar and wondering +when the time would come for me to say farewell, I heard a light +footstep behind me, and next moment Alie came to my side. We paced the +deck for a little while, talking commonplaces about the beauty of the +night, the speed of her vessel, and the visit of the man-of-war's men; +then she drew me to the stern, and said: + +"Do you remember your first night on board this boat, when we +discussed the sea and the poets who have written of her?" + +"It was the night of the first day I ever saw you," I answered. "Is it +likely I should have forgotten it?" + +"Some men forget very easily," she answered, looking down at the +sparkling water. "But I'll do you the justice to say I don't think you +are one of that kind." + +"And you are right; I am sure I am not. I think if I were lying dead +in my grave, my brain would still remember you." + +She looked roguishly up into my face, and said: + +"That is rather a big assertion for a medical man to make, is it not?" + +"Bother medicine," I cried impatiently. "It reminds me of the outer +world. And by the same token, Alie, I want to ask you something +unpleasant again." + +"And that is?" + +"When I am to say good-bye to you?" + +"To-morrow," she answered. "To-morrow night, all being well, we shall +pick up a trading schooner off a certain island. Her owner is under an +obligation to me, and will take you on board and convey you to +Thursday Island. Thence you can travel home via Australia and the +Canal or Honolulu and America, as you please." + +I had expected that the parting was not far distant, but I did not +think it would prove as close as this. I told Alie as much. + +"It is the only opportunity that may serve," she answered. "And I must +not keep you with me too long for your own sake." + +Under cover of the darkness I managed to find and take her hand. + +"It is only for a year, Alie. You understand that, don't you? At the +end of a year you are to be my wife?" + +"If you still wish it, yes," she answered, but so softly that I had to +strain my ears to catch it. Then with a whispered good-night she +slipped from me and went below. + +At sundown next evening, surely enough, a small topsail schooner hove +in sight from behind an island, and, seeing us, ran up a signal. It +was returned from our gaff, and as soon as I read it I knew that my +fate was sealed. Leaving Walworth to see my luggage brought up on deck +I went down Alie's companion ladder to bid her farewell. She was +seated on the couch at the further end, reading. + +"The schooner has just put in an appearance and answered our signals," +I began, hardly able to trust my voice to speak. "I have come to say +good-bye. For both our sakes we must not let this interview be a long +one. Alie, will you tell me for the last time exactly when I am to see +you again, and where?" + +"On the first day of May next year, all being well, I will be at an +address in London, of which I will take care to acquaint you +beforehand." + +"But since you last spoke of that I have been thinking it over. Alie, +you must not come to England, the risk would be too great." + +"There will be no risk at all, and I shall take every precaution to +ensure my own safety. You may rest assured of that," she answered. +"But before you go I have a little keepsake for you, something that +may serve to remind you of the Beautiful White Devil and the days you +have spent with her, when you are far away." + +As she spoke she took from the table, beside which she was now +standing, a large gold locket. Opening it she let me see that it +contained an excellent portrait of herself. + +"Oh, Alie," I cried, "how can I thank you? You have given me the one +thing of all others that I desired. Now, in my turn, I have a present +for you. This ring" (here I drew a ring from my finger) "was my poor +dead mother's last gift to me, and I want you to wear it." + +I placed it on her finger, and having done so, took her in my arms and +kissed her on the lips. This time she offered no resistance. + +Then we said good-bye, and I went up on deck. An hour later the _Lone +Star_ had faded away into the night, and I was aboard the _Pearl +Queen_ bound for Thursday Island and the Port of London. + +When I came to think of it I could hardly believe that it was nearly +four months since Walworth had found me out in the Occidental Hotel, +Hong Kong, and induced me to become the servant and at the same time +the lover of the Beautiful White Devil. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE FIRST OF MAY. + + +Arriving in Thursday Island, one of the hottest and quaintest little +spots on earth, I was fortunate enough to catch a British India mail +boat in the act of starting for Brisbane. I accordingly had my luggage +conveyed to her and was soon comfortably installed aboard her. The +voyage from Torres Straits, along the Queensland coast, inside the +Great Barrier Reef, though it boasts on one hand a rugged and almost +continuous line of cliffs marked with such names as Cape Despair and +Tribulation, and upon the other twelve hundred miles of treacherous +reef, is quite worth undertaking. I explored the different ports of +call, and, on reaching Brisbane, caught the train for Adelaide, +embarked on board a P. and O. mail boat there, and in less than six +weeks from the time of booking my passage was standing in the porch of +my own house in Cavendish Square, had rung the bell, and was waiting +for the front door to be opened to me. + +It was a cold winter's afternoon; an icy blast tore through the Square +and howled round the various corners, so that all the folk whose +inclement destinies compelled them to be abroad were hurrying along as +if their one desire were to be indoors and by their fires again +without loss of time. + +Presently my old housekeeper opened the door, and, though I had +telegraphed to her from Naples to expect me, pretended to be so +overwhelmed with surprise at seeing me as to be incapable of speech +for nearly a minute. I managed to get past her at last, however, and +went into what, in the days of my practice, had been my consulting +room. The fire was burning brightly, my slippers were toasting before +it, my writing table was loaded with books and papers as usual, and a +comfortable easy chair was drawn up beside it. Everything was exactly +as I had left it fourteen months before, even to the paper knife still +resting in a half cut book, and a hastily scrawled memo upon the +blotting pad. There was something almost ironical about this state of +stagnation when I thought of the changes that had occurred in my own +life since last I had used that knife and written that memorandum. I +told the old housekeeper to let me have my dinner at the usual hour, +and having done so, asked her the news of the Square. Her reply was +not important. + +"James [her husband] an' me, sir," she said, "'ad the rheumatiz at the +beginning of the winter, the young postman with the red whiskers 'ave +got married to the parlour maid as burnt herself so bad three years +back, at number 99, and the little gal with the golden curls across +the way fell down the airey and broke her leg two months ago come next +Friday." + +Such was the chronicle of the most important occurrences in that quiet +London Square during my absence. + +After dinner I returned to my study, wrote two or three letters, and +then drawing my chair up to the fire, sat down to think. Outside the +wind howled and the rain dashed against my windows, but my thoughts +were very far away from Cavendish Square; they were flying across the +seas to an island, where lived a woman whom I had come to love better +than all the world. Closing my eyes, I seemed to see the yacht lying +in the little harbour under the palm clad hills; I went ashore, +threaded my way through the tangled mass of jungle, and passed up the +path to the bungalow on the hillside. There I found Alie moving about +her rooms with all her old queenly grace; then like a flash the scene +changed, and we were back on the yacht's deck in the typhoon. I saw +the roaring seas racing down upon us, heard the wind whistling and +shrieking through the straining cordage, noticed the broken bulwarks, +and by my side, Alie in her oilskins, with her sou-wester drawn tight +about her head, clinging to the rail with every atom of her strength. +But all that was past and over, and now for twelve months--nay, to be +exact, eleven,--I was to be the staid, respectable London householder +I had been before I visited the East. After that--but there, what was +to happen after that, who could tell? + +After a while the termination of my pipe brought my reverie to an end, +so I took up a file of papers from the table and fell to scanning the +last few numbers. Suddenly a headline caught my eye and rivetted my +attention. It was a clipping from a Hong Kong paper, and read as +follows: + + "THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL AGAIN." + + "After a silence of something like four months the Beautiful + White Devil has again done us the honour of appearing in + Eastern waters. On this occasion, however, her polite + attentions have been bestowed upon Singapore, from which + place she has abducted, with singular cleverness, a young + English doctor, whose acquaintance she had made in Batavia, + and with him a certain well-known resident by name + Ebbington. These two affairs were managed with that + dexterity which the Beautiful White Devil has taught us to + expect from her, the sequel, however, we have yet to learn. + Surely, and we say it for the fiftieth occasion, it is time + some definite steps were taken by Government to bring about + the capture of a woman who, while being a picturesque and + daring enough subject for a novel, has been a continual + menace and danger to the commerce of the East for a greater + number of years than the editorial chair cares to reckon." + +I cut the paragraph out and, having placed it in my pocket-book, +turned to the next issue published a week later. Here I found another +quarter column devoted to her exploits. This one was also from the +Hong Kong paper and ran as follows: + + "THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL'S LATEST AND GREATEST EXPLOIT." + + "Last week we described what may be considered two of the + cleverest and most daring exploits in the whole of the + Beautiful White Devil's extraordinary career. We refer to + the abduction of an English doctor, travelling in the East + in order to study Asiatic diseases, and a well-known figure + in Singapore society, Mr. Arthur James Ebbington, whose bay + pony, Cupid, it will be remembered, won the Straits + Settlement's Cup last year. The whereabouts of these two + gentlemen have not yet, so we learn, been discovered, but to + compensate for that we have to chronicle another, and + perhaps more serious, act of violence on the part of this + notorious character. The facts of the case are as follows: + + "On Saturday morning last the mail steamer _Bramah_ left + Singapore for Hong Kong, having on board a number of + distinguished passengers, including the new admiral of the + China Station, Sir Dominic Denby, his flag lieutenant, Mr. + Hoskin, and a prominent new government official for Hong + Kong, Mr. Barkmansworth. There were also among the + passengers six gentlemen of unassuming appearance, who, as + far as could be judged, seemed to be total strangers to each + other. The names they booked under were, as we find by a + perusal of the shipping company's books, Matherson, + Calderman, Burns, Alderney, Braham, and Balder. + + "The first described himself as a missionary, the second was + presumably a tourist, the third a tea merchant, the fourth + an English newspaper correspondent, the fifth an American + mill owner, and the sixth an Indian civilian on furlough. On + Sunday morning early, the officer of the watch sighted a + sail some few points off the starboard bow. From all + appearances it was a large schooner yacht, flying a distress + signal. On nearer approach it was seen that she had suffered + considerable damage, her topmasts appearing to have been + carried completely away. + + "On inquiring her name it was elicited that she was the + schooner yacht _Sagittarius_, belonging to the Royal Cowes + Yacht Squadron, and owned by Lord Melkard, the well-known + Home Rule Peer, who was supposed, at the time, to be + cruising in these waters. Suspicion being thus entirely + diverted, Captain Barryman brought his steamer as close as + was prudent and signalled to the yacht to send a boat, which + request was immediately complied with. Meanwhile, however, + the attention of the officers on the bridge being rivetted + on the yacht, two of the men before enumerated, Matherson + the missionary, and Balder the Indian civilian, contrary to + rules, made their way on to the bridge and implored the + captain and chief officer to stand by the smaller vessel, + which they declared to be sinking. Then without warning, on + receiving a signal from below, these two, to all appearances + eminently peaceable gentlemen, drew revolvers from their + pockets and covered the astonished officers. The remaining + members of the gang by this time had posted themselves at + the entrances to the first and second saloons, the + engine-room, and the fo'c's'le, and refused to allow anyone + to come on to or to leave the deck. + + "When the boat came alongside Mr. Barkmansworth, the + official before described, who had just had his bath and was + completing his toilet in his cabin, was called up from below + and ordered to descend into her. After some argument, and a + considerable amount of threatening, he complied with the + request and was pulled over to the yacht. Once there, he was + seized, stripped to the skin, dragged up to a triangle, and + remorselessly flogged. He was then sent bleeding and almost + unconscious back to the steamer, where he was immediately + placed under the doctor's care. On the return of the boat + alongside, the six desperadoes, who had all the time been + mounting guard, as before described, entered it and were + conveyed to the yacht, which immediately steamed off in a + southwesterly direction. + + "That this last insult to the Powers-that-Be will have the + result of inducing them to take more effective action + against this notorious woman is too much to expect. But with + a reckless confidence somewhat unusual to us, we are now + pinning our faith on the newly arrived naval authority, the + more so as he was himself a witness of the whole disgraceful + affair. We can only point out one fact, and that is, that + unless this woman be soon brought to justice, travelling by + mail boat in Eastern waters will be a thing of the past. + When steamers are stopped, and well known and respected + government officials publicly flogged in mid-ocean, it is + evident that affairs are coming to too atrocious a pass + altogether." + +Putting this criticism into my pocket-book with the other, I took a +glimpse at my locket and went to bed. + +Next morning, immediately after breakfast, I donned the orthodox top +hat and frock coat and set off to walk to South Kensington to call +upon my sister Janet--who, by the way, was a widow, her husband having +died of malarial fever when with his regiment on the west coast of +Africa. + +I found her in the morning-room in the act of writing a note of +welcome to me. She greeted me with all her old sisterly affection, and +when she had done so, made me sit down before the fire and tell her +all my adventures. + +"We have heard the most wonderful tales about you," she said, with a +smile. "How you were captured by a sort of female Captain Kidd of +fabulous beauty, who carried you off to an island in the Pacific, +where you were made to dig sufficient gold to pay your ransom." + +"Indeed?" + +"It has been recopied into all sorts of papers," she continued. "But +I've no doubt it was a mass of mere fabrication. Own the truth now, +wasn't it?" + +"Every bit," I answered candidly. "I have been very much annoyed by +those stupid newspaper paragraphs. It is just like the rabid craving +of the age for sensationalism. But before I go any further, Janet, I +want to tell you something. I am going to be married." + +"You! George! Why, you always used to say you had made up your mind +never to do anything so foolish." + +"So I did; but you see I have changed my mind." + +"So it would appear. And now, who is she? Tell me where you met her +and all about her." + +This was what I dreaded, but it had to be met and faced. + +"Well, in the first place, her name is Alie. She is twenty-seven years +of age and an orphan. Her father was a captain in the English navy, +but is now dead. She is very sweet, very accomplished, and very +beautiful; and I feel sure, Janet, if only for my sake, you will offer +her a hearty welcome when she comes home." + +"You know me well enough to be sure of that, don't you, dear old +George? And is anything settled yet? How soon does she come home? and +when are you going to be married?" + +"To your first question I can only answer, as soon after the first of +May as possible. On the first Alie will arrive in England. Now will +you wish me happiness, Janet?" + +"With all my heart and soul. But I am dying to know more; tell me +where you met her, and indeed all about your adventures; remember, you +have been away a whole year." + +I told her as much as I thought prudent without revealing Alie's +identity, and when my story was ended, we sat chatting on till lunch +time. + +When I left the house in the afternoon, I knew I had insured a kind +reception for Alie when she should arrive in England. + +Now I must skip the greater part of a year and come to the middle of +the last week in April, just three days, in fact, before I knew I +might expect my darling. It would be impossible for me to tell you how +I spent the time. I don't think I know myself. I was in such a fever +of impatience that each minute seemed an hour, each hour a day, and +each day a year. And the nearer the time came the greater became my +impatience. I even scanned the shipping lists with feverish +earnestness, though I knew they could not possibly tell me anything I +wanted to know. + +At last the evening of the 30th of April arrived, a warm spring night +with the promise of a lovely morrow. I kept myself busily occupied +after dinner, and went to bed counting the hours till morning should +appear. But try how I would I could not sleep--the memory of the joy +that awaited me on the morrow kept me wide awake, devising plans for +Alie's happiness. Slowly the hours went by. I heard one, two, three, +four, and five o'clock strike, and still sleep would not come to me. +At last I could stand it no longer, so I rose, dressed myself, and +went out into the silent Square. Then I set myself for a walk, taking +care, however, to return home in time to receive my letters from the +postman. They were three in number, two from friends, the third a +circular, but not one from Alie. The disappointment was almost more +than I could bear. But I put it behind me, and resolved to wait for +the next delivery, which would take place about an hour after +breakfast. Again the postman came round the Square--but this time he +had nothing at all to deliver when he reached my door. Once more I was +disappointed. + +The morning rolled slowly on and lunch time came and went without any +communication. The early afternoon delivery brought me no news, and by +tea time I had almost lost hope. Could Alie have forgotten her promise +or had she met with an accident which prevented her from coming? The +latter thought redoubled my anxiety. + +But I had her own assertion that she would be in England on the first +of May and I had never known her fail to keep her word. Just as that +thought passed through my brain there was a ring at the bell, and a +few seconds later my man brought up a telegram on a salver. With +fingers trembling with eagerness I tore the envelope open and read the +following message: + + Arrived this morning. Bundaberg House, Surbiton. Come + quickly. + + ALIE. + +That little slip of paper transformed my dismal world into a second +heaven. There and then I ran out of the room, gave the telegraph boy +in the porch half a crown for his trouble, seized my hat and stick, +hailed a hansom, and bade the cabman drive me with all possible speed +to Waterloo. The man was a smart whip, and as he possessed a good +horse we covered the ground in grand style. When we reached the +station I paid him off, purchased my ticket, and ran on to the +platform just in time to catch the 6.15 express. Punctually at five +and twenty minutes to seven I left the train again at Surbiton, and +proceeding into the station yard called another cab. + +"Do you know Bundaberg House?" I asked the man, as I took my place in +the vehicle. + +He shook his head and called to one of his mates. + +"Where's Bundaberg House, Bill?" + +"Out on the Portsmouth Road nearly to Thames Ditton," was the reply. +"That big house with the long brick wall next to Tiller's." + +"I know now, sir!" said the man, climbing on to his box. + +"Very well, then! An extra shilling if you hurry up," I cried, and +away he went. + +At the end of a short drive we pulled up before a pair of massive iron +gates. A passer by threw them open for us and we drove in, passed +round a shrubbery, and pulled up at the front door. I paid the cabman +off and then, having watched him drive down and through the gates +again, rang the bell. Next moment the door opened and a trim maid +servant, without inquiring my name, invited me to enter. The front +door opened on to a nicely built and furnished hall and from it I +passed into a handsome drawing-room. It was empty but, before I had +time to look round, the folding doors on the other side were thrown +back and Alie entered the room. + +I must leave you to imagine our greeting. I can only say that it sends +a tremor through me to this day to remember it. I know that while I +held Alie, who seemed more beautiful than ever, in my arms she +whispered: + +"You are still of the same mind, George?" + +"Doesn't this look as if I am, darling?" I whispered. "Yes, I love you +more fondly than ever, and I have come to-night to claim the +fulfilment of your promise." + +"You have been very patient, George!" + +"It was because I loved and believed in you, Alie!" I replied. "But +come, darling, I want my answer." + +"And you shall have it," she said softly. "There it is!" + +As she spoke she raised her beautiful white hand and pointed to the +ring I had given her, saying as she did so, "It has never left my +finger since you placed it there!" + +"My best of girls," I cried, raising the little hand to my lips and +kissing it fondly, "I am the very happiest man in the world. And now I +must hear all your doings; tell me how you got home!" + +"There is little to tell," she answered. "I followed your route via +Thursday Island, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. I stayed in the +latter place for nearly a month, and while there advertised for a +companion. The result was Mrs. Barker, a nice, amiable little person, +whom you will shortly see. When we reached Naples I happened to see an +advertisement concerning this furnished house in an English paper, +telegraphed about it, received an answer in Paris, engaged it, and +arrived here this morning." + +"And how did you leave the settlement? And, by the way, where is Mr. +'Beelzebub'?" + +"The settlement was very well when I came away. They were busy +building the new Communal Hall I used to talk to you about. And poor +old Bel is left at the bungalow. I was afraid he might excite remark +and possibly draw suspicion upon me." + +"Alie, do you think you are safe in London?" I cried in alarm, all my +old fears rushing back upon me at the mention of that one word +_suspicion_. "What ever should I do if any one suspected you?" + +"You need have no fear on that score, dear," my intrepid sweetheart +answered, "there is no one in England who could possibly recognize me, +and the only people in the whole world who could do so are Vesey of +Hong Kong, the Sultan of Surabaya, the Rajah of Tavoy, Barkmansworth, +and that lieutenant and midshipman. The first is dead; the second +never leaves his own territory, the third is in bad odour with the +English Government just at present and little likely to come home. +Barkmansworth is, I presume, still in Hong Kong, and the lieutenant +and his junior are with their ship in the China Sea." + +"All the same, I shall not be satisfied until we are safely out of +Europe again, Alie." + +"You say _we_, then you mean to come away with me, George?" + +"Of course, with whom else should I go? Hark! somebody is coming!" + +"It is Mrs. Barker, my duenna. Now we must be matter of fact folk once +more." + +As she spoke, Mrs. Barker, a dapper little lady with silver gray hair +and a very pleasant expression, entered the room. + +"Let me introduce Dr. De Normanville to you," said Alie, rising from +her chair and going forward to meet her. "Dr. De Normanville, Mrs. +Barker." + +I bowed and Mrs. Barker did the same, then we went in to dinner. What +happened during that very pleasant meal, how Mrs. Barker found +occasion to require something from her bedroom afterwards, and so left +us alone in the drawing-room together, I need not relate; suffice it +that when I got home about twelve o'clock I was the happiest, and, at +the same time, the most nervous, man in England. + +Next morning I called for Janet and, willy nilly, carried her off +there and then to call on Alie. We found her walking in her garden, +which led down to the river, and I must be excused if I say that, +proud as I was of my darling, I was infinitely prouder as I noticed +the look of astonishment and admiration that came into Janet's face +when she was introduced to her. Alie's radiant beauty and charming +manners were irresistible, and before they had been together half an +hour the two women were on the best of terms. It was Alie's earnest +desire that we should remain to luncheon, and she herself walked to +the railway station with us when we at last took our departure. + +"Now, what do you think of my sweetheart?" I asked, as we steamed out +of the station. + +"I think that she is a very beautiful and charming girl," was my +sister's immediate reply, "and, if I know anything of my sex, she is +as good as she's beautiful." + +This pleased me, as you may be sure, and when Janet went on to tell me +that she had invited Alie and Mrs. Barker to spend a few days with +her, and that the visit would commence the following afternoon, my +opinion of my sister's kindness became even more exaggerated than +before. + +And so that week went by, and another after it, till Alie had +thoroughly settled down among us and nearly all the preparations for +our wedding were complete. By that time, you may be sure, she had won +golden opinions on every side. On each occasion that I saw Janet she +was more and more profuse in her praises of her, until I had really to +tell her that unless she moderated them a little I should soon become +insufferably conceited about my good fortune. + +One morning, when I was beginning to think of getting up, the +following note was brought to me with my shaving water. It was from my +sister, and had evidently been written the previous evening: + + SOUTH KENSINGTON, MONDAY EVENING. + + DEAR OLD GEORGE: + + I have succeeded in inducing Alie and Mrs. Barker to prolong + their visit to me until Saturday. On Wednesday evening we + hope to witness the new play at Drury Lane. Alie, you know, + has never seen a spectacular melodrama. We shall of course + want a gentleman to escort us. Would you care for the + position, or must we look elsewhere? On that occasion we + dine at 6.30, and, unless I hear from you to the contrary, I + shall lay a place for you. + + In haste. + Your affectionate sister, + JANET. + +Need it be said that I accepted? or that on Wednesday evening I was +proud of my charges as they took their seats in the box Janet had been +at some pains to secure? + +The house was packed from pit to gallery, and I noticed that more than +one glass was levelled at the beautiful girl who took her place at +Janet's side in the front of the box. Alie herself, however, seemed +quite unconscious of the admiration she excited, and throughout the +piece kept her eyes fixed upon the stage with never failing +earnestness. What the play was I have not the very vaguest +recollection. + +In the middle of the first act I noticed that three gentlemen entered +the box opposite us, and from the vociferous nature of their applause, +gathered that they had evidently been dining, not wisely, but too +well. After a while their glasses were so continually brought to bear +on our box that I began to feel myself, foolishly enough, becoming +excessively annoyed. The face of one of them struck me as familiar, +and during the next interval, seeing that they had left their box, I +made an excuse and went out to endeavour to discover who he was and +where I had seen his face before. For a little while I was +unsuccessful in my search, then, just as the next act was commencing, +I turned a corner and almost ran into their arms. The man whose face I +had been puzzling about was furthest from me, but I knew him +instantly. _It was Barkmansworth!_ My heart seemed to stand still with +terror, and when I recovered my wits he was gone. + +What was I to do? I dared not tell Alie before my sister and Mrs. +Barker, and yet I knew, if Barkmansworth had recognised her, not an +instant must be lost in getting her out of harm's way. For a moment I +stood in the vestibule feeling more sick and giddy than I have ever +felt before or since, and all the time trying vainly to think how to +act. Then, when I took my seat again and saw that the occupants of the +box opposite had left, I resolved to put off all consideration of the +matter for that evening and to call and tell Alie first thing in the +morning. Oh, that little bit of indecision! How fatal were its +consequences! + +When I had conveyed my fair charges home I made a severe headache an +excuse, and bidding them good-night, set off on foot for my own abode. +But my brain was too full of anxiety to entertain any idea of bed, so, +turning off from the direct route, I wandered down to the Green Park +and on to the Embankment, thence through Lincoln's Inn Fields to +Oxford Street, and so round to Cavendish Square. By the time I let +myself into my house it was nearly three o'clock and a beautiful +morning. Passing along the hall, I went into my consulting room and +lit the gas. A letter lay upon the table, addressed in my sister's +handwriting, and marked "Immediate." With a sickening fear in my +heart, I tore it open and read: + + DEAR GEORGE: + + Come to me at once, without an instant's delay. Alie has + been arrested. + + Your frantic sister, + JANET. + +The blow had fallen! My little shirking of an unpleasant duty had +ruined the woman I loved. Oh, how bitterly I reproached myself for my +delay in reporting my discovery. But if I had hesitated then, I did +not do so now. A second or two later I had let myself out again and +was off, as fast as I could go, on my way back to South Kensington. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +REMANDED. + + +Never shall I forget the misery of that walk back from Cavendish +Square to South Kensington; I seemed to be tramping for ever, and all +the time the words "Alie has been arrested!" "Alie has been arrested!" +were singing and drumming in my ears with relentless reiteration. When +I reached the house the sun was above the roof tops and I was wearied +almost to the point of dropping. I rang the bell, and the peal had not +died away before poor, heavy-eyed Janet had opened the door to me. +Without a word she led me into her morning-room, the room where I had +first told her of my love for Alie, and, having made me sit down, +would not let me speak until I had partaken of some refreshment. I +filled my glass, but pushed my plate away from me; I could drink, but +I was far too miserable to eat. + +"Janet," I cried, "for Heaven's sake tell me, as quickly as you can, +all that has happened!" + +"My poor George," she said; "as I told you in my note, Alie has been +arrested. You had not left the house more than a quarter of an hour +before two men called and asked to be allowed to see me on most +important business. They were shown in here and, when we were alone, +requested permission to see Alie. I went to fetch her and brought her +down with me. Then one of the men advanced towards her with a paper in +his hand and said 'Alie Dunbar, in the Queen's name I arrest you on a +charge of piracy upon the High Seas.' Oh! it was horrible, and I can +see it all now!" + +"And what did my poor girl say?" + +"Nothing! She was just as calm and collected as she always is. She +simply took the paper from the man's hand and looked at it, after +which she said: 'There must be some mistake; however, you are only +doing your duty, I suppose. Where do you wish to take me?' 'To +Scotland Yard first, madam,' the man said, 'then on to Bow Street.' +Hearing that, Alie turned to me, and putting her arms round my neck, +said: 'You will soften this blow as much as you can for George, won't +you, Janet?' and then announced that as soon as she had changed her +dress, and procured her hat and cloak, she would be ready to accompany +them. These changes in her costume she was permitted to make, and, +when they were accomplished, we set off, but not before I had written +that note to you. We expected you would follow us at once, and be able +to arrange the matter of bail." + +"I did not get your letter until after three o'clock. I was in such a +strange state of mind last night that I went for a long walk after +leaving you. Janet, it is all my fault. Did you notice those men in +the box opposite us at Drury Lane? If so, you may have observed that +they continually stared at Alie through their glasses?" + +"I _did_ notice them, and very ill-bred fellows I thought them. I +think Alie must have thought so too! But what have they to do with +this matter?" + +"Why, the man at the back of the box was none other than the person +mentioned in that last newspaper paragraph about the Beautiful White +Devil. He was the man, Barkmansworth, in fact, whom the Beautiful +White Devil took from the mail boat and flogged in mid-ocean." + +"But what has this to do with Alie?" + +"Why, simply that,--no there can be no shirking it now, it must come +out, and I know it is perfectly safe for me to tell you,--simply, +Janet, because Alie _is_ the Beautiful White Devil." + +"Oh, George, my dear old brother; is this terrible thing true?" + +"Perfectly true, Janet!" + +"And you, of all men, were going to marry the Beautiful White Devil?" + +"Don't say 'were,' say 'are'! Janet, it is only half-past five now. An +hour and a half must elapse before I can do any good at the police +station. If you will listen I will tell you the story of Alie's +singular life, and how I became mixed up with her. Then, remembering +what you have seen of her yourself, you will be able to judge what +sort of woman the Beautiful White Devil really is!" + +Thereupon I set to work and told her all my adventures. I described +Alie's father's treatment by his government; his setting up a kingdom +for himself in the Pacific; the events which followed his death and +Alie's accession to the throne; the feud between herself and the +Eastern Governments; her acts of justice and retribution; the outbreak +of small-pox in her settlement, and her sending for me; what I saw on +the island, and how I first came to love her. It was a long story, and +by the time I had finished it was nearly seven o'clock. Then I looked +at Janet, and found big tears standing in her eyes. + +"What do you think of the Beautiful White Devil now?" I asked. + +"I think that, come what may, George, we must save her." + +"Of course we must, and now I'm going off to see her. May I give her +any message from you?" + +"Give her my fondest love, and tell her that, come what may, she shall +be saved." + +"It will cheer her to know that, in spite of what has happened, you +believe in her. Good-bye!" + +"Good-bye, my poor George." + +I left the house, and hurrying down to Gloucester Road, took the +underground train for the Temple, walking thence to Bow Street. On +entering the police station I asked to see the officer in charge. To +this grim official I stated the nature of my business, and begged to +be permitted an interview with his prisoner. This he granted with a +very civil grace; the jailer was accordingly called and I was led down +a long corridor. + +"Seeing that she is a lady," that official said, as he unlocked a door +on the right, "we have given her a somewhat better room than we +usually allow our prisoners. I have orders to permit you a quarter of +an hour together." + +He opened the door and I went in. With a little cry of joy, Alie, who +had been sitting on a sofa at the further end, sprang to her feet and +ran towards me, crying as she did so: + +"Oh, George, dear, I knew you would come to me as soon as you could." + +I took her in my arms and kissed her again and again; her dear eyes +were flooded with tears when I released her, but she brushed them away +and tried to look brave for my sake. Then I led her back to the sofa +and sat down beside her. + +"Alie," I said softly, "this is all my fault. I saw Barkmansworth at +Drury Lane last night and ought to have warned you. I intended to have +done so this morning, but it was too late." + +"Hush!" she answered, "you must not blame yourself. I, too, recognised +him last night and should have spoken to you about it to-day. It is +too late _now_, as you say." + +"Can nothing be done, Alie?" + +"I cannot say yet. I have been too much upset since my arrival here to +think. But you must find me a lawyer at once, George, who will defend +me at the preliminary examination, and if it looks as if the case will +go against me you must find some means by which I can escape." + +"Escape? Alie, you do not realise how impossible that is." + +"Nothing is impossible when one has brains enough to devise a plot and +sufficient money to work it out." + +"If I could only feel as you do about it. But have you any scheme to +suggest?" + +"Not yet, but I shall devote my whole attention to it and it will go +hard with me if I cannot hit on something. Would you have the courage +to dare very much for my sake, George?" + +"I would dare anything under the sun for you, Alie, and though you +asked me such a question, I do not think you feel any doubt as to +what answer I would give." + +"I had no doubt. Do not think that. And now, George, tell me what your +sister says, now that she knows who I am?" + +"Janet is more your friend than ever. I told her your story this +morning, and she bade me give you her love and tell you we would save +you yet." + +Again the tears rose in Alie's eyes. + +"What will the East say when it hears that the Beautiful White Devil +is caught at last?" + +"I don't know, and I don't care. One thing I'm certain of, however, +and that is that I should like to have five minutes with Mr. +Barkmansworth alone. I think then he'd know that----" + +But what I was going to say was interrupted by the entrance of the +officer who had brought me to the room. + +"Time's up, I'm sorry to say, sir." + +I rose immediately and turned to say good-bye! Being a good-hearted +fellow, the man left us alone together for another moment, and during +that time I was able to whisper an assurance to my sweetheart that no +stone should be left unturned to secure her release. Then bidding her +be of good cheer, I passed out, feeling as if the bolts clanging +behind me were closing on my heart. + +It was well after eight o'clock before I left Bow Street and turned +homewards; the shops, in most cases, had their shutters down, but +though I looked for a newspaper board, it was some time before I +sighted one. Then for the first time I saw the headline I had been +dreading: + + _"Sensational Arrest of the Notorious Beautiful White Devil."_ + +I stopped and bought a paper and then continued my journey, pausing at +a telegraph office to send a wire to my old chum, Brandwon, in which I +asked him, as he valued our friendship, to come to me without a +moment's delay. When I got home I changed my clothes--had a cold bath, +which restored me somewhat, and then ordered breakfast, which I felt I +could not touch, and while it was preparing, sat down to read the +account of the arrest. It was but a short report and published the +barest details. + +Nine o'clock had just struck when a cab drew up at the door and +Brandwon jumped out. I opened the front door to him myself, and, as I +did so, felt as if we were one step at least on the road to Alie's +release. + +"Look here, my friend," he said, as I led him across the hall to my +dining-room. "This is all very well, you know, but what in the name of +fortune makes you send for me at this unearthly hour. Have you +poisoned a patient and find yourself in need of me to square matters, +or have you been jilted and hope to bring an action for the damage +done to your broken heart? Out with it. But forgive my chaff if it's +anything more serious." + +He must have seen by my face that something was very wrong, for his +jocular manner suddenly left him and he sat down all seriousness. + +"There is something very much the matter, Brandwon," I said; "read +that!" + +I handed him the morning paper and pointed to the paragraph detailing +the arrest. He read it through and then, seating himself at the +breakfast table, poured himself out a cup of coffee and buttered a +piece of toast, before he spoke. When he did so, he said solemnly, "I +think I understand. You are interested in this lady and want me to +undertake her defence--is that so?" + +"That is exactly what I want. I was at my wit's end to know what to +do, when suddenly it flashed through my brain, 'Send for Edward +Brandwon.' I sent that wire accordingly, and here you are. If there is +any man living who can save the woman I love, you are he." + +"I'll do my best, you may be sure, for your sake, old boy. Now, where +is she?" + +"At Bow Street. She is to be brought before the court this morning at +twelve o'clock." + +He took out his watch and looked at it. + +"Well, I've none too much time. I'll go down and have an interview +with her at once. Keep up your heart, old chap, we'll do our best and +nobody can do more!" + +I wrung his hand, and then, hailing a cab, he jumped into it and set +off for the police station. + +Long before twelve o'clock I was in the court, waiting for the +examination to come on. The news of the case must have gone abroad, +for the hall was densely packed with people anxious to catch a glimpse +of the famous Beautiful White Devil, whose exploits were almost as +well known in England as in the East. Every rank of life seemed to be +represented and, when the magistrate took his seat on the bench, I +noticed that the chairs on either side of him were occupied by two +illustrious personages whose dignity should have prevented them from +giving such an exhibition of idle curiosity. Seeing the rush there was +to stare at my poor unfortunate sweetheart, I could have found it in +my heart to hit out like a madman at those round me. + +Precisely at twelve o'clock the door on the right hand side of the +court opened, and Alie stepped into the hall and ascended the iron +dock. She walked with her usual queenly step, held her head high, and +when she reached her place, looked proudly round the dingy hall. Such +was the effect of her wonderful beauty upon those present, that, +despite the efforts of the officers of the court to prevent it, a loud +buzz of admiration came from the spectators. She was dressed entirely +in black, a colour which, as I have said before, displayed her white +skin and beautiful hair to the very best advantage. Having taken her +place, she bowed politely to the presiding magistrate, who returned +her salute, and then the examination commenced. The first proceeding +was for the police to make a statement of their case to the court. It +was then shown that, although a warrant had long been out for her +arrest, the Beautiful White Devil had evaded justice for many years. +Indeed, it was only for the reason that information had been supplied +to the London police within the last few days, that they had become +aware that the Beautiful White Devil had left the East and arrived in +England. Inquiries were instantly made, and on the strength of them +the prisoner now in the dock had been arrested. They, the police, did +not propose to call witnesses at this preliminary hearing, but would +merely ask that the information should be read over, the evidence of +arrest given, and then a remand granted in order that the arrival of +an officer from Singapore might be awaited and further inquiries made. + +At this point Brandwon rose to his feet, and, adopting a quiet, sober +attitude of respectful remonstrance, begged to be allowed to place +before the court what he considered and would unhesitatingly call a +deliberate and cruel injustice. He pointed out the small likelihood +there was of the charge being true, he dilated upon the facts of +Alie's arrival from Australia, of her quiet, lady-like demeanour, +spoke of her impending marriage with a gentleman, a personal friend of +his own, well known and universally respected in London, and brought +his remarks to a close by declaring it a monstrous thing that, in this +nineteenth century and in this land of which we pretend to be so +proud, it should be within the power of a public body like the police, +without a tittle of evidence at their back to bear their case out, to +bring so shameful a charge against an innocent girl, who might +possibly have to suffer from the effects of it all her life. He would +not ask the court to consent to a remand; on the contrary, he would +ask His Worship to dismiss the case altogether, and, at the same time, +to issue a stinging and well-merited rebuke to the police for their +officiousness and quite uncalled-for action in the matter. + +Clever and impressive as his harangue was, it, however, failed utterly +in its purpose. The magistrate had evidently carefully considered the +case beforehand and determined upon his course of action. The decision +given, therefore, was "remanded for a week. Bail refused." + +I saw Alie bow gravely to the court, the policeman open the door of +the dock, and a moment later, feeling quite sick and giddy, I was in +the throng leaving the court. By the time I reached the street my +darling was on her way to Holloway. + +That afternoon, at three o'clock, Janet and I drove out to the prison, +and, having shown our authorities, were instantly conducted to the +room in which prisoners are permitted to interview their friends. + +What the two women I loved best in the world said to each other during +that interview I cannot remember. I only know that Janet kissed Alie +and cried over her, and that Alie received it all with that gentle +graciousness which was so wonderfully becoming to her. When we had +discussed the events which had led up to the arrest, I asked Alie if +she were quite comfortable. + +"Perfectly," she answered. "My cell is by no means an unpleasant one. +I have some books and writing materials, and I have arranged to have +my meals brought in to me from a restaurant outside." + +"What did you think of Brandwon's speech this morning?" I then asked +her. + +"I thought it very clever and impressive," she answered, "but I was +not surprised when it proved of no avail. No! There is very little +chance as far as I can see. In a month the officer from Singapore will +be in London, and, unless something happens to prevent it, I shall be +sent out East to stand my trial." + +"Something must prevent it," whispered Janet. + +"But what? You cannot escape so easily in England, I find," she +answered. "These stone walls are very strong and the discipline is so +perfect." + +"But tell me, Alie," I broke in, "what Brandwon thinks of your +chance. You have of course told him everything?" + +"He says my only hope is their not being able to prove identity. +Barkmansworth's evidence unsupported will not go for very much, he +thinks, and, Ebbington and Vesey being dead, there only remain the two +native princes, and the man-of-war's men who by chance may not be +called. I fear it is a hopeless business, however." + +"No! No! You must not think that. Be sure we will find a way to get +you off. Trust us." Then dropping my voice, "And if we can't do it +legally we'll do it illegally." + +"You must run no risk for my sake, George; I could not allow that." + +"If only Walworth were here. His wit would hit on something." + +"Walworth unfortunately is ten thousand miles away. So it is no use +thinking of him. But see, here is the warder--your time is up. +Good-bye, dear Janet. I pray that you may find it in your heart to +forgive me for having brought this trouble upon you." + +But Janet, who by this time had learned to love this fascinating girl +with all her heart, would listen to no such talk. When the door +opened, like the kind sister she was, she went out first, thus +permitting us an opportunity of saying farewell alone. When I joined +her again I had a little note in my waistcoat pocket that seemed +somehow to make me a happier man than I had been for hours past. + +From the prison I drove Janet to her own house and then went back to +Cavendish Square. + +When I had dismissed the cabman I let myself in and proceeded to my +consulting room. Opening the door, I walked in, only to come to a +sudden halt before a man sitting in my own armchair. He was small and +queerly built, wore a long coat that reached nearly to his heels, had +gray hair, a ferociously curled moustache, and a short, closely +cropped white beard. The effect, when he looked at me over the edge of +the paper he was perusing, was most comical. For a moment I stood +bewildered, but I was destined to be even more so when he rose and +came toward me, holding out his hand, and saying: + +"Bon jour, Monsieur!" Then in broken English, "Pray, do you not +remember your very old friend?" + +I thought and thought, but for the life of me could not recollect ever +having seen his face before. I was about to speak when he stopped me, +and changing his voice said in excellent English: + +"No! I can see you don't." Then pulling off his wig: "Well! Do you +now?" + +_It was Walworth!_ + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +PLOTTING AND PLANNING. + + +Directly I realised who my guest was, I rushed forward and seized his +hand with a show of delight greater than, I believe, I have ever felt +at meeting a man before or since. If I had been given the pick of all +men in the world at that particular juncture in my life's history, I +believe I should have declared for _him_. + +"We had no idea that you were in England," I said when the first +excitement had somewhat subsided. "Both Alie and I thought you were +ten thousand miles away. You have heard the awful news, I suppose." + +"How could I help it when every board in the streets sets it forth, +and all the paper boys are bellowing the latest news of the capture of +the Beautiful White Devil. But I want to know the real facts." + +"You shall know everything directly. But first tell me what has +brought you home in this providential manner?" + +"I came because I heard that Barkmansworth was coming. I received a +warning from Hong Kong that he had applied for leave, and I knew that +if he found out her ladyship was in England he would lose no +opportunity of revenging himself for that affair outside Singapore. +But he got away before me, and my welcome to London yesterday was the +news of her ladyship's arrest. You did not see me at the preliminary +examination this morning, I suppose?" + +"No! I certainly did not. And I thought I scanned every face." + +"And yet I was standing beside you all the time!" + +"Good gracious, how do you mean?" + +"Pray tell me who stood next to you? Wasn't it a medium sized +military-looking man in a much worn frock coat with a velvet collar?" + +"Now I come to think of it, it was!" + +"Well, I was that man. I'm beginning to think my disguises are +artistic after all." + +"But _why_ all this disguise? What are you afraid of in London?" + +"I am afraid of our friend Barkmansworth, if you want to know. I was +the man who took him off the mail boat, remember, and my face must be +unpleasantly familiar to him. If he saw me, I should be arrested +within an hour, and whatever happens, seeing the work that lies before +us, that must not!" + +"Do you think you can be of use to her ladyship in her defence then?" + +"It must never come to a defence. It would be fatal to allow her to be +sent to Hong Kong. They would convict her at once. No! There is +nothing for it but for us to plan some means of escape for her, and +yet, when one thinks how perfect English police arrangements are, that +seems wellnigh impossible. However, done it must be, by hook or crook, +and we must set about it at once." + +"But how? Have you any idea in your head?" + +"Not at present, but it will be strange if I don't hit upon one before +very long. If only her ladyship could help us!" + +"Wait one moment. Perhaps she can. When I left her this afternoon she +gave me a note, which I was not to open until I got home. Let us see +what it says." + +I took it out of my waistcoat pocket, opened it, and read it aloud. It +certainly contained the germs of an idea and ran as follows: + + "I have been thinking over what we spoke of this morning and + it seems to me that, if I am to escape at all, the attempt + must be made during the time I am being conveyed from Bow + Street to Holloway in the prison van. The question is + whether sufficient temptation could be put before the driver + and the guard to induce them to assist me. Will you think + this out?" + +When I had finished reading, I asked Walworth for his opinion. But for +nearly five minutes he allowed no sign to escape him to show that he +had heard my question, only laid himself back in his chair, looked up +at the ceiling, and meanwhile slowly tore my newspaper into rags. When +he had finished his work of destruction, he sat up straight and +slapped his hand on his knee. + +"Her ladyship is always right. I believe I _do_ see a way now!" + +"What is it?" I asked, in almost breathless excitement. + +"You must not ask me just yet. I'll go away and make a few inquiries +first. To-night at nine o'clock I'll come back here, and we'll go into +the matter thoroughly. For the present then, good-bye, and keep up +your heart. Have no fear, we'll rescue her yet." + +There was something so strong and confident about the man that this +assurance roused and braced me like a tonic. I stopped him, however, +before he could reach the door. + +"One word first, Walworth. Do you know the position in which I stand +towards Alie?" + +"I know that you were to have been married within the next three +weeks, if that's what you mean?" he answered. "And so you shall be yet +if I can bring it about. Dr. De Normanville, you have got a woman for +whom we all would die. This is your chance to show yourself worthy of +her, and, if you will allow me to say so, I think you will. I am your +faithful servant as well as hers, remember that. Now I must go!" + +"Good luck go with you!" + +I let him out by the front door, and then went back to my room to try +and discover what the idea could be that he had got into his fertile +brain. I felt I would have given anything to have known something a +little more definite. However, as I _didn't_ know, there was nothing +for it but to exercise my patience until nine o'clock should arrive. + +It may be guessed how anxiously I watched the hands of the clock upon +my mantelpiece. At last, however, they drew round to the appointed +hour and I prepared myself for Walworth's arrival. But, though I saw +no sign of him, I had not very long to wait for a visitor. The last +stroke of nine had hardly died away before my ear caught a ring at the +bell and a moment later a "Mr. Samuel Baker" was ushered into the +room. As he entered, I took stock of him, half fearing he might be +some sort of police officer in disguise. He was a stout, rather +pompous man of middle height, with fluffy whiskers, clean shaven chin +and upper lip, and from his dress might have been a linen draper or +small tradesman from some cathedral town. Having warmly shaken hands +with me he put his top hat down on a chair, seated himself on another, +mopped his forehead with a red bandanna handkerchief, took off and +carefully wiped his spectacles, returned them to his nose, and then +said quietly, "What do you think of this for a make-up, Dr. De +Normanville?" + +"Walworth," I cried, in utter amazement. "You don't really mean to say +it's you. I was just beginning to wonder how I should manage to rid +myself of Mr. Samuel Baker before you should arrive. You are certainly +a genius at concealing your identity, if ever there was one." + +"I have had to do it so often," he replied, "that I have reduced it to +a science." + +"Have you anything to report?" + +"A good deal," he answered. "But before I begin, may I light a +cheroot? I see from the ash trays you smoke in here!" + +"Smoke as much as you please," I replied. "May I also offer you some +refreshment. Perhaps you haven't dined? If so, I can tell them to +bring you up something!" + +"No, thank you," he answered; "I have dined, and excellently. Now let +us get to business without any further waste of time." + +"With all the good will in the world," I said, seating myself again. +"Go on. Tell me all." + +"Well! in the first place, you must understand that when I left here +this afternoon I went for a walk to think out my plan. To begin with, +I saw quite clearly that any attempt to rescue her ladyship from +either Bow Street police station itself or Holloway Gaol would only be +a farce, and by proving a failure would end by completely spoiling the +whole thing. I settled it, therefore, that the only time when it could +be done, with any hope of success, would be on the journey _from_ the +court _to_ the prison. In other words, during the time she is in the +van. But how that is to be managed is more difficult to see. To bribe +the officials, as her ladyship suggests, would be altogether too +hazardous a proceeding, even if it were possible, nor is it to be +imagined that we could secure the van for ourselves." + +"It seems a very difficult matter." + +"Difficult, certainly, but by no means as hopeless as you would be +inclined to suppose. No! I have an idea in my head that looks +promising, and you must assist me in carrying it out." + +"You have every reason to know that you may count upon my doing that," +I answered. "Who would so gladly assist as I?" + +"Of course I understand that, but I have to warn you that this will +mean, either way you look at it, social extinction for you. If it +fails and we are caught, you are done for as far as your reputation +here is concerned. If we are not caught, well, I suppose you will fly +with her, and in that case you will certainly never see England +again." + +"Do you suppose I shall allow my own social position to weigh with me, +if by risking it I can save her?" + +"No, I don't think you will. But now let me detail my scheme as I have +thought it out. In the first place I have ascertained that the van +leaves the prison at a definite hour every day. It drives down, takes +the prisoners up, and drives back again. This being so, it is certain, +as I have said before, that it must be stopped on its way _from_ the +prison _to_ the court, and in such a way that it cannot go on again +for at least half an hour. In the meantime another van must drive down +equipped in every way like the real one. This one will take up the +prisoner and drive off. Once out of sight of the station it will drive +into the yard of an empty house, a conveyance will then be in waiting +in the other street, her ladyship passes through the house, gets into +that and drives off to a railway station; there a Pullman must be in +readiness to take her to the seaside, whence a yacht will convey her +to some place where we can have the _Lone Star_ to meet her. I shall +cable to Patterson to set off and be in readiness to pick us up +directly we have decided where that place shall be." + +"But how will you cable to him without exciting suspicion?" + +"You need have no fear on that score; we have a means of communicating +of our own, which I would explain now only it would be waste of time. +What do you think of my scheme?" + +"It sounds all right, but is it workable?" + +"I really think so! However, we will discuss it, item by item, and try +and arrive at a conclusion that way. To begin with, money must be +considered no object. If even L10,000 is necessary to its success, +L10,000 will be spent. In the first place, we must find a competent +coachbuilder at once. If he has a van on hand, which is hardly likely, +we'll purchase it! If not, well, then he must put on all his hands and +make one, even if he has to work day and night to do it." + +"But how will you explain the purpose for which we want it?" + +"I have thought of that, and, when I left you, I sent the following +telegram:" + +Here he produced a duplicate form from his pocket and read it aloud: + + "TO THE LESSEE OLYMPIC THEATRE, MANCHESTER: + + "What dates this month? Reply terms, Stragaus, West Strand + Telegraph Office. + + "MAXIMILLIEN STRAGAUS." + +"But who on earth is Maximillien Stragaus, and what has the Royal +Olympic Theatre, Manchester, to do with our scheme?" + +"Everything. In the first place you must realise the fact that I am +Maximillien Stragaus, the world-renowned theatrical _entrepreneur_, +and that you are his secretary, Fairlight Longsman. Having received a +reply from Manchester, I decide to open there with my wonderful and +intensely exciting prison drama, 'Saved by a Woman's Pluck,' on the +third Saturday in June. Here is the preliminary announcement. I had it +struck off this afternoon." + +He took from the small bag he had brought into the room with him a +large theatrical poster, covered with printing of all colours of the +rainbow. It read as follows: + + ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE, + MANCHESTER. + + Lessee, MR. WILLIAM CARRICKFORD. + + FOR TEN NIGHTS ONLY, + + Commencing Saturday, June 20th. + + Mr. Maximillien Stragaus' World-renowned Standard Company, + in the intensely exciting Prison Drama, + + "SAVED BY A WOMAN'S PLUCK." + + Detectives--Police--Bloodhounds--Real Horses and Real + Prison Vans. + + Sole Manager and Proprietor, MR. MAXIMILLIEN STRAGAUS. + Secretary, MR. FAIRLIGHT LONGSMAN. + +"There! what do you think of that for a poster?" + +"Very startling," I answered. "But I must reiterate my former remark, +that I do not understand in the very least degree what it has to do +with us." + +"Why, look here, it means that to-morrow morning we go to that +coachbuilder I was speaking of and give him an order for a prison van. +Incidentally we will show him this poster, and state that, owing to +change of dates, we must have the van delivered this day week. Don't +you see? If we hadn't something to show, he might suspect; this +poster, however, will set his mind completely at rest, and, at the +same time, be an excuse for haste. Now, do you understand?" + +"I do, and I must say I admire your wonderful resource. What next?" + +"Well, the next thing will be to obtain two police uniforms and two +trustworthy men, one to drive the van the other to act as guard. That, +however, will be easily managed. The next item will be rather more +difficult!" + +"What is that?" + +"Why, to find a sure and certain means of stopping the real van on its +way down to the court." + +"We couldn't waylay the driver and keep him talking, I suppose?" + +"We could try it, of course; but it wouldn't be sure enough. He might +be a conscientious man, you see, and not like to stop, or he might +stop and afterwards whip up to make up lost time. No! we must hit on +something that will absolutely prevent him from going on for at least +half an hour, and yet something that will not excite suspicion. I +think I see a way to do it, but it will require the most minute and +careful working out to insure its success. To begin with, I shall have +to find a first-class man for the job, and possibly I shall have to +cable to America for him." + +"What is your idea?" + +"To arrange a collision. To have a runaway, and crash into the +horses." + +"Would that do, do you think?" + +"If I can find the right man and the right sort of horses." + +"I don't like it. To quote your own words, it doesn't sound sure +enough." + +"We shall have to do it if we can't hit out a better way. Then we must +discover a house somewhere in a handy neighbourhood; it must have a +yard at the back, opening into an obscure street. The yard must have +high gates and be in such a position that it cannot be overlooked by +the neighbours. Then the day before the business comes off we must +find an invalid carriage, engage a Pullman car for Portsmouth, and +hire a yacht for a voyage to the Cape." + +"It will mean simply superhuman labour, if it is all to be +accomplished in a fortnight." + +"It will, but I don't think either of us is afraid of work. Aren't we +fighting for what is more precious to her than her life? Yes! We'll do +it between us. Don't you doubt that. Now I must be off again; I've a +lot to do before I can get to bed to-night. By the way, will it be +convenient for you if I call here at half-past five to-morrow morning? +We must be at the coachbuilder's by seven o'clock." + +"Come at three if you like, you will find me quite ready." + +"Then good-night." + +He went away and I to bed. At five o'clock I woke, had a bath, +dressed, and went down stairs. Punctually, almost to the minute, a +slightly Jewish, black-ringletted man, wearing a profusion of +diamonds, put in an appearance, bag in hand. Though I should never +have recognised him as Walworth I felt certain it was he, so I let him +in and we went into my study together. + +"Now," said my friend, for it was Walworth, as I suspected, "I don't +know what you'll say to it, but it's absolutely necessary for the +success of our scheme that you should assume some disguise. As you are +known to be the affianced husband of her ladyship, the police will be +certain to have their eyes on you." + +"Do with me as you like," I replied; "I am in your hands entirely." + +"Then, with your permission, we will set to work at once. I have taken +the liberty of bringing a few things with me. You have an +old-fashioned frock coat, I presume." + +"A very old-fashioned one," I answered, with a laugh. + +"Then put it on, also a pair of light check trousers, if you have +them." + +I went to my room and did as he desired. When I returned to the study +he had arranged a number of articles upon the table--crepe hair, +spectacles, a curiously low cut collar, and a soft felt hat with a +dented crown. He gazed at me with approval, and then said: + +"The effect will be excellent, I feel sure. Sit down here." + +I did as commanded and he immediately set to work. As he was occupied +behind me I could not of course see what he was doing, but after a +while he took off my own collar, put on the low one he had brought +with him, cut up some crepe hair and gummed it to my face, with what I +believe is technically termed "spirit gum," trimmed its exuberances +with a pair of scissors, and finally combed my moustache over it. This +accomplished, he placed the spectacles upon my nose and the soft felt +hat rather rakishly upon my head, patted me on the shoulder, and said: + +"Look at yourself in the glass." + +I rose and went over to the fire-place. But, though I looked in the +mirror above the chimney piece, I did not recognise myself. My +moustache was waxed to a point and stood out above a close-cropped +chestnut beard, while over my coat collar hung a profusion of curls of +a corresponding colour. Indeed, my whole appearance suggested a man +whose aim in life it was to copy, as nearly as possible, the accepted +portrait of the Bard of Avon. + +"It is wonderful," I said. "Nobody would ever recognise me. I feel a +theatrical agent all over." + +"Remember you are Fairlight Longsman, the author of several farces, +and my secretary. Whatever you do, don't forget that. Now we must be +going. Come along." + +We left the house unnoticed, and, having hailed a hansom, were driven +to the carriage builder's yard at Vauxhall. Walworth had evidently +written preparing him for our visit, for, early as it was, we found +him waiting to receive us. + +"Zir," began Mr. Maximillien Stragaus, in broken English, as soon as +he had descended from the cab. "Is it you dot are Mr. Ebridge?" + +"That is my name, sir," said the coachbuilder. "And you are Mr. +Stragaus, I presume." + +"Dot is my name. Dis shentleman is my secretary, Mr. Fairlide +Longsman. Now, you know, an' so we can our business begin to dalk!" + +"Perhaps you will be good enough, gentlemen, to step into my office +first. We shall be more private there." + +We followed him into the room he mentioned, and took possession of the +chairs he offered us. + +"Now, Mr. Stragaus, in what way can I be of service to you?" he asked, +seating himself as he spoke at his desk. + +"Zir! My segratary sprechens the Anglaish better nor me, he vill dell +you." + +I felt that it behoved me to do my best, so leaning forward in a +confidential manner, I said: + +"My employer, as doubtless you are very well aware, Mr. Ebridge, is +one of the largest theatrical _entrepreneurs_ in England. His dealings +are gigantic. And it is the business connected with one of those +enormous productions that brings us here. In the first place, you must +know that, on the third Saturday in this present month, he has +arranged to produce the entirely new and original drama, "Saved by a +Woman's Pluck," at the Royal Olympic Theatre, Manchester. By the way, +have you the preliminary poster with you, Mr. Stragaus?" + +In answer Mr. Stragaus produced from his bag the placard before +described and spread it upon the table, at the same time looking at +the coachbuilder as if to demand his opinion on such a fine display of +colour. + +"You will observe, Mr. Ebridge," I continued, when the other had read +it, "that the whole production will be on a scale of unparalleled +splendour,--police, bloodhounds, live horses, and one large prison +van, all on the stage,--it will be one of the greatest successes of +the century. But we want your assistance." + +"You mean, of course, that you want me to make you a van!" + +"Exactly!" + +"Just a makeshift affair for the stage, I presume?" + +"Oh, dear, no! That is not Mr. Stragaus' way of doing business at all. +If he has a fire engine on the stage, as he had in his last +production, it must be a real engine, with every detail complete and +in proper working order. In the same way then, when he orders a police +van, he wants it made in every particular just as you would make it +for Her Majesty's Government. There must be no difference at all in +any one respect, neither the painting, lettering, nor the internal +fittings." + +"It will cost you a lot of money, Mr. Stragaus," said the builder. + +"Dot is no madder at all to me," replied Mr. Stragaus pompously; "I +vill 'ave de ding berfect or nod at all. Vot is more, I must 'ave it +at once." + +"Mr. Stragaus, I may point out to you, Mr. Ebridge," I continued, "is +in a very great hurry. There has been a slight pushing forward of +dates, and in order to insure a success he is willing to pay you +handsomely if you will complete the work in a short space of time." + +"How long can you give me, sir?" + +"A week exactly. Not a day longer!" + +"Impossible. It cannot be done!" + +"Den ve must go elsewhere, mine vriend," said Mr. Stragaus. "Dot is +all. If you will underdake to do de vork and to 'and me over de van +gomplete on next Duesday evening at twelve o'glock, I vill pay you +dwice de sum you ask me now." + +The man looked up in surprise at this extraordinary offer, and asked +to be excused for a moment while he consulted with his foreman. While +he was absent, Walworth whispered: + +"I think he'll do it. And if we can arrange it that way we shall be +able to get it safely up to the yard of the house unobserved." + +Here the coachbuilder returned. + +"My foreman tells me he thinks it can be done, sir. But you must see +that it will mean night and day work for us all. And the charge will +have to be on a corresponding scale." + +"Dot is nodings to me. You do de work, and I vill pay der money. You +agree? Den it is arranged I shall send my men for der van 'ere on +Duesday night at twelve o'glock, and you will 'ave it gomplete! Den we +can zend it on by rail vorst ding in der mornin'. But, mind you dis, +if it is not done den, I vill not pay you von farding, you agree?" + +"I agree. I have given you my promise, Mr. Stragaus, and whatever +happens, it shall be completed by that time!" + +"Dot is goot. You might, too, 'ave a tarbaulin to cover it mit, so +that de publick shall not see it ven ve take it away. Now, zir, I vish +you goot morning. You vill be paid for de van ven my men dake +delivery." + +"Thank you, sir! Good-morning, gentlemen." + +When we were once more in the cab, and on our way back to town, +Walworth discarded his German accent and resumed his natural tongue. + +"So far so good. That bit of business is satisfactorily accomplished." + +"You did not say anything to him about observing secrecy." + +"It wasn't necessary. That poster, which you will notice I have left +upon his table, will account for everything." + +"But supposing the police get to hear of it, and it rouses their +suspicions?" + +"Well, let them get to hear of it. If they suspect, they will call on +Ebridge and make inquiries. He will then describe us and show the +poster. They may then possibly telegraph to the Olympic, Manchester, +and learn that Mr. Stragaus _has_ booked a season there for his new +play. That will put them off the scent completely." + +"And what are we to do now?" + +"Well, now, you had better come to breakfast with me, I think, at my +lodgings. You can there resume your own everyday appearance. During +the morning I am going to meet two men I have in my mind for the +policemen; after that I shall visit a tailor's shop and order the +uniforms as arranged. In the afternoon I'm going to hunt for a house." + +"Can I do anything else to help you?" + +"Not just at present. Unless you can find me a trustworthy lady who +will consent to masquerade for a little while as a hospital nurse?" + +"There I think I _can_ help you. My sister Janet, I'm sure, would +gladly do so. I'll call upon her this afternoon and see." + +I did so, and of course secured Janet's immediate promise of +co-operation. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +HOW WE SUCCEEDED. + + +On looking back upon that dreadful fortnight, I almost wonder how I +managed to live through it. Indeed, had it not been for Walworth's +indomitable energy and the corresponding spirit it provoked in me, I +sometimes doubt if I should have come through it in possession of my +senses. The anxiety and the constant dread of failure were the worst +parts of it, and the last haunted me, day and night, without +cessation. + +Every day popular excitement, fanned by the newspapers, was growing +greater in London. As more became known of the Beautiful White Devil's +extraordinary career, the interest taken by the public in the case +increased, until it was generally admitted that at the final +examination it would be wellnigh impossible to gain admittance to the +court. As, however, my duty on that occasion would lie elsewhere, I +did not trouble myself very much about that. + +At last the Wednesday preceding the fatal Thursday dawned. This was +the last day permitted us in which to perfect our arrangements. I had +been warned by Walworth that he would call upon me late in the evening +to make his final report, and at his particular request I arranged +that my sister Janet should be present. I wrote her a note to that +effect, and at eight o'clock precisely she drove up to the door. When +we were alone in my room together, I said: + +"Janet, it is Walworth's wish that you should be present at our +interview. Have you made up your mind definitely? Remember, there is +yet time for you to draw back if you wish to do so." + +She drew herself up proudly and looked me in the face. + +"There will be no drawing back as far as I am concerned," she said. +"No! if you and Alie leave England and will take me, I will go with +you gladly. Why should I not? I have no one left now to consider, and +without you both my life would be too lonely." + +"Janet, dear; what can I say to you?" I answered. "But there, you know +how I feel about your generosity, don't you?" + +"I do! So let's say no more about it." + +Just then there was a ring at the bell, and a few moments later my man +ushered in a decrepid old gentleman of about seventy years of age, +who, immediately the door had closed behind him, straightened his +back, allowed his cheeks to fill again, and declared himself to be the +ever-cautious Walworth. He bowed to Janet, shook hands with me, and +then said: + +"I couldn't call in the capacity of either Mr. Maximillien Stragaus or +my old friend Samuel Baker again, you see! So I adopted this disguise. +By the way, it may surprise you to learn that every one who enters or +leaves this house is watched and followed. If you go to the window you +will see a man leaning against the lamp post on the other side of the +street. He is a police agent. But let us proceed to business." + +"With all my heart," I said. "I'm sick with longing to know how our +preparations are proceeding!" + +"Nothing could be more satisfactory," he answered. "The case, as you +well know, will not be called on till the afternoon. The instant it +_is_ over the man I cabled to America for, and in whom I have the most +perfect trust, will drive a pair of vicious horses, purchased +yesterday, out of a livery stable yard in the direction in which the +van will travel. When he sees it ahead of him he will act in such a +manner as to lead people to suppose him to be drunk; he will also +begin to lash his animals, who will certainly run away. He is one of +the finest whips living, and will drive those horses crash into the +team of the van, and by so doing will, we sincerely trust, cause such +damage as will delay their arrival for at least half an hour. In the +meantime our own van will be in readiness, and the instant the case is +over will drive into the yard, and after the necessary preliminaries, +all of which I have personally worked out and arranged, the prisoner +will be put into it, the door locked, and the van will then drive off +to us. We shall be awaiting its arrival; you, madam, in your nurse's +dress, and you, Dr. De Normanville, as I shall prepare you to act the +part of a middle-aged naval man whose one hobby in life is yachting. +Arriving at the house we shall carry the patient, wrapped up to the +eyes, to an invalid carriage in the front street, and drive off to the +station, there to catch the afternoon express for Portsmouth. I have +secured a Pullman car; the house is also engaged, and has been partly +furnished in order to deceive the neighbours: I have settled that the +invalid carriage shall be at the door earlier than it will be wanted, +and the yacht, which I have chartered for six months, will be in +readiness to get under weigh the instant we're aboard!" + +"And what will become of the van and horses?" + +"The horses will be taken away from the yard within an hour of our +departure. The van can remain there as long as it pleases. We will +hope by the time they find it we shall be far away from England." + +"And does Alie understand your arrangements?" asked Janet. + +"Perfectly. I called at the gaol this morning, disguised as a +solicitor's clerk, saw her, and told her all. You need have no fear +for her, she will play her part to perfection." + +"Then everything is settled, I suppose, and there is nothing for us to +do but to wait patiently for to-morrow?" + +"Nothing but that! Now, with your permission, I will be going. I don't +suppose I shall see you again till we meet at the house." + +"Good-bye, and God bless you, Walworth, for all you have done." + +After he had left us Janet and I sat talking late into the night, and +when we separated at her bedroom door, it was with a heartfelt wish +that "good luck" might attend us on the morrow. + +Next morning the long hours seemed as if they would never pass. All my +personal arrangements had been made some days before, and my luggage +sent off to the yacht at Portsmouth, labelled "Captain R. Wakeman," so +there was absolutely nothing at all for me to do to kill the time till +we were due at the house. At twelve o'clock, sharp to the minute, +Janet and I had lunch, and at half-past, set off in different +directions, taking particular care to see that we were not followed. + +We reached the house almost simultaneously and were received at the +door by an irreproachable maid-servant, who did not seem in the least +surprised to see us. Walworth we found in a room at the back, this +time irreproachably got up as an old family butler. My sister was +already dressed in her nurse's apparel, and very sweet and womanly she +looked in it. In the passage, outside the one room which had been made +habitable, was a curious sort of stretcher, the use of which I could +not determine. + +"That is the bed place upon which we shall carry your poor invalid +wife out to the carriage," said Walworth. "You see it is quite ready +for use." + +"I see. And when am I to make my toilette? I have brought the clothes +you mentioned with me, in this parcel." + +"That's right. I was half afraid you might bring a hand-bag, which +would have had to be left behind and would very possibly have been +recognised. Now I think you had better come into the other room and +let me make you up at once." + +I followed him, and when I emerged again a quarter of an hour later, I +might very well have stood for a portrait of a representative +middle-aged English naval man on the retired list. My hair was iron +gray, as also were my close cropped beard and moustache; the very cut +of my clothes and the fashion of my neck cloth seemed to set forth my +calling as plain as any words could speak. In this get-up I had not +the least fear that any one would recognise me. By this time it was +nearly two o'clock, and the case was to commence at half-past. + +"Is everything prepared?" I asked Walworth, for about the hundredth +time, as we adjourned to the sitting-room. + +"Everything," he answered, with the same patient equanimity. "Come +into the yard and see them harness the horses." + +I followed him out into the back regions, where we found two stalwart +policemen busily occupied attaching a couple of horses to an enormous +Black Maria. They touched their hats to me with as little concern as +if the business they were engaged to carry out was one of the very +smallest importance. Somehow their stolidity did not seem reassuring +to me, and I accordingly called Walworth on one side. + +"Are you perfectly sure you can trust these men?" I asked anxiously. + +"Absolutely," he answered. "I know them of old, and I can tell you we +are extremely lucky to get them. Besides, they know that if they get +the prisoner safely away they will each receive a thousand pounds. If +they don't they get nothing. Don't be afraid. You may depend +implicitly on them. Now come inside. I have had the telephone put in +the house on purpose for this moment, and we must watch it." + +We returned to the sitting-room and waited. The minutes seemed long as +hours, and so horrible was the suspense that I began to conjure up all +sorts of calamities. Perhaps I may be laughed at for owning myself +such a coward, but let the pluckiest man living try the ordeal I was +then passing through, and see if he would be braver. No! I was in a +condition of complete terror, and I'll own it! + +Suddenly, with a noise that echoed down the empty corridor and braced +us to action like a trumpet call, the telephone bell rang out. Both +Walworth and I jumped to our feet at the same instant and appropriated +the ear trumpets. Then a tiny voice inside the instrument said +mysteriously: + +"The case is adjourned and the crowd is dispersing." + +With a step as steady and a voice as firm as if he were ordering his +carriage for an airing in the Park, Walworth went to the back door, I +following close at his heels. He gave a signal and then crossed the +yard to the gates, which he began to open. + +"Are you ready?" he cried to the men. + +"Quite ready," the taller of the pair answered, climbing on the box. + +"Papers and everything handy?" + +"Aye, aye, sir," said the guard on the seat at the back. + +"Very well then, go ahead, and good luck go with you!" + +The gates were thrown open and the van rolled out into the +half-deserted street. + +"Now come with me," cried Walworth, "and see if the carriage is at the +other door." + +We went inside, passed through the house, and out to the front. Yes! +The peculiar-shaped hospital car, with the door opening at the end to +admit the stretcher, was already pacing up and down. By this time I +could do nothing, my teeth were chattering in my head with simple +terror. + +"Come, come," said Walworth, observing my condition, "you mustn't let +yourself go like this. Let me give you a drop of spirit." + +He took a flask from his pocket and poured me out half a tumbler of +whiskey. I drank it off neat and, I am prepared to assert, did not +taste it any more than if it had been so much water. He offered a +little to Janet, who sat in the corner in a listening attitude, and +when she refused it, screwed on the top again and replaced it in his +pocket. + +Again we sat in dumb, almost terrified expectancy. Times out of number +I thought I heard the van roll into the yard, and sprang to my feet, +only to find that it was some cart passing in the street. Its +non-arrival in the time we had given it found me almost too frightened +to think coherently. I conjured up all sorts of catastrophes in my +mind. I saw the horses fall, the driver tumble from his box, I saw our +policemen suspected and the plot found out. Then suddenly in the +middle of it all I heard the roll of wheels, they came closer and +closer, then they stopped, the gates were thrown open, and a second or +two later the van rolled into the yard. Before I could have counted +ten the guard was down from his perch, the gates were closed again, +the door of the van was opened, and Alie ran down the steps. Then, +forgetting those about us, I rushed out and took her in my arms. But +Walworth would have no delay. + +"Come inside quickly," he said. "There is not a second to lose! They +may be after us already!" + +We followed him into the house, and then for the first time I saw that +Alie had dressed herself in the van for the part she had to play. +Throwing herself down upon the stretcher, she pulled the coverlet +across her, donned a wig with corkscrew curls, drew a veil over her +face, and announced herself ready. Janet picked up her reticule, +smelling salts, shawls, fans, etc.; the maid brought an armful of +rugs; I took one end of the stretcher, Walworth the other, and so we +went down the steps to the carriage. Then the invalid was hoisted in, +Janet and I stepped in and seated ourselves beside her, Walworth +sprang onto the box beside the coachman, and away we went for Waterloo +as fast as our spirited horse could trot. + +Not a word was spoken all the way, and in less than ten minutes we had +rattled up the causeway and were disembarking our precious load upon +the platform. As the porters came crowding around us, I thought this a +fitting opportunity for assuming the role I had elected to play. So +calling upon two of them to take up "Mrs. Wakeman" and be very careful +not to shake her, I led the way toward the Pullman which had been +specially reserved for us. Walworth, in his capacity of family +servant, had mounted guard at the door, and, when we were inside, went +off to his own carriage. A minute later the guard waved his flag, the +whistle sounded, and the train steamed slowly out of the station. So +far we were safe. But oh! what an awful risk we had run. + +Fortunately the train by which we were travelling was an express, and +did not stop anywhere until it reached Eastleigh; so that as soon as +we were under weigh Alie could remove her wig and bedclothes, and sit +upright. + +"Alie," I whispered, taking her hand and looking into her beautiful +eyes, "can you believe that, so far, you are safe?" + +"Hardly," she said. "But we must not relax any of our precautions. By +this time the police will have learned the truth, and I shouldn't be +at all surprised if the train is searched at Eastleigh. They're +certain to telegraph in every direction to stop us." + +"But surely they won't suspect _us_?" + +"I hope not, but we must not make too sure." Here she crossed the +carriage and took my sister's hand. "Janet, what could George have been +thinking of to allow you to run this risk? Why did you do it?" + +In reply Janet patted her hand, and looked affectionately into her +face. + +"If you really want to know the reason, it was because we both love +you." + +"You are too good to me," Alie answered, her dear eyes swimming with +tears, "far too good." + +"Hush, you must not say that. Let us be thankful that our venture has +prospered as it has done." + +Mile after mile sped by, and soon we had passed Winchester and were +drawing close to Eastleigh. Then Alie resumed her wig and veil, and, +having done so, laid herself down once more upon her couch. Closer and +closer we came, till presently we entered the station itself, and, +with a great rattle and roar of brakes, drew up at the platform. Then +ensued the usual scurrying of passengers, the "by your leave" of +porters with trucks of luggage, after that the gradual subsidence of +bustle, and in three minutes all was ready for proceeding upon our way +once more. But just as the guard was about to give his signal the +station master stayed his hand. Next moment an inspector of police, +accompanied by a sergeant and two or three constables appeared upon +the scene and began slowly to inspect the various carriages. I leaned +out of the window and watched them, outwardly calm, but inwardly +trembling. Every moment they were drawing nearer to our carriage. I +looked behind me. Janet was seated by Alie's side slowly fanning her. +From them I turned and glanced down the platform again. The police +were already at the next carriage and in a minute would be at my door. +What should I do? What should I say? But I dared not think. I felt I +must leave it all to chance. A moment later the inspector arrived, and +was about to turn the handle. + +"Excuse me," I said, pretending to mistake his meaning, "but this +carriage is engaged! I think you will find room in the next +compartment." + +"I'm not looking for a seat," the officer replied, civilly enough, +"I'm looking for an escaped criminal." + +"Hush! Hush! My good sir, not so loud for mercy's sake," I whispered, +as if in an ecstacy of fear. "I have my wife inside dangerously ill. +She must not be frightened." + +"I beg your pardon, sir," he answered. "I'm sorry I spoke so loud!" +Then, as I moved aside to admit him: "Don't trouble, sir, I don't +think I need come in, thank you!" + +"I'm glad of that," I replied. "And pray who is this escapee you are +looking for?" + +"The woman there has been such a talk about lately, 'The Beautiful +White Devil.' She managed to effect an escape on the way to Holloway +Gaol this afternoon. But I am keeping the train. I must get on! Good +afternoon and thank you, sir!" + +"Good afternoon." + +I sat down with an inarticulate expression of my gratitude to Heaven, +and, a minute or so later, the train continued its journey, not to +stop again until we were in Portsmouth town. + +When we arrived at the docks, Walworth and I carried Alie down the +steps to the wharf, and as soon as this was accomplished my faithful +friend went off in search of the launch which, it had been arranged, +should meet and take us out to the yacht, then lying in the harbour. +When he had discovered it, we lifted our precious burden on board, and +steamed out to where our craft lay. Ten minutes later we had Alie +aboard and safely in her own cabin, and were proceeding down the +Solent under a full head of steam. _Our rescue was accomplished._ + +The yacht was a large one, of perhaps three hundred tons; she was also +a good sea boat, and, what was better still, a fast one. By nightfall +we had left the Isle of Wight behind us, and brought Swanage almost +abeam. Then we stood further out into the Channel and in the gathering +darkness lost sight of land altogether. At seven o'clock we dined +together in the saloon--the skipper, an old shellback whom Walworth +had picked up, sitting down with us. At first he seemed a little +surprised at Alie's sudden convalescence, but when I informed him that +it was nothing but nerves, he accepted the explanation and said no +more. + +After the meal was over we left the rather stuffy cabin and went on +deck. It was a glorious night. In the west a young moon was dropping +on to the horizon, the sea was as smooth as a mill pond, and the air +just cool enough to make exercise pleasant. Leaving Walworth and Janet +to fight the battle of our escape over and over again on the port side +of the deck, we paced the starboard, only to find ourselves aft at our +favourite spot, the taffrail. + +"George, dear," said Alie softly, when we had been standing there a +few moments. "What a lot has happened since we last stood like this, +looking out across the sea." + +"Yes, darling; a great deal has indeed occurred to us both," I +answered. Then, after a little pause, "Alie, do you know if you had +not escaped to-day I should never have been able to forgive myself, +for remember it was I who was the means of bringing you home." + +"You must not say that!" + +"But I must say it; it is true." + +"Then I will forgive you on one condition! Will you make a bargain +with me?" + +"What is it?" + +"That--that----" Here a little fit of modesty overcame her. "That we +put into Madeira and you marry me there." + +"Alie, darling, do you mean it?" I cried, delighted beyond all measure +at the proposal. + +"Of course I mean it." + +"But would it be safe, think you?" + +"Perfectly! They will never dream of looking for us there. You must +allow the skipper to understand that it is a runaway match. That will +remove his scruples, and make it all plain sailing." + +"And you will really be my wife then, Alie?" + +"Have I not already been bold enough to ask you to marry me?" + +"Then, please God, we will put into Madeira and do as you suggest!" + +And that's how it was settled! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +OUR MARRIAGE, AND THE SETTLEMENT AGAIN. + + +I am drawing near the end of my long story now, and, when two more +circumstances connected with our flight have been reported, I shall be +able to lay down my pen and feel that the story of the one and only +romance of my life has been written. + +The first of the two circumstances to be recorded is my marriage. On +July 18th, seven days exactly after saying good-bye to England, we +reached Madeira. Previously to sighting the island, Walworth, in a +conversation with the captain, had allowed him to suppose that Alie +was a great heiress, and that ours was a runaway match. His nautical +spirit of romance was stirred, and he found early occasion to inform +me that he would do everything in his power to further the ends we had +in view. + +As soon, therefore, as we were at anchor in harbour, and the necessary +formalities had been complied with, I went ashore, hunted up the +proper authorities, and obtained a special license. A parson was the +next person required, and when I had discovered him in the little +vicarage next door to his church, on the outskirts of the town, our +wedding was arranged for the following day at ten o'clock. + +Accordingly next morning after breakfast a boat was manned, and Alie, +Janet, Walworth, the captain, and myself went ashore. To avert +suspicion we separated on landing, but met again at the church door +half an hour later. It was a lovely morning, a heavy dew lay upon the +grass, and when the sun came out and smiled upon us, the world looked +as if it were decked with diamonds in honour of our wedding. + +While we were waiting in the little porch and the clerk was opening +the doors, Walworth went off and hunted up the parson. Five minutes +afterwards they returned together, and then, before the bare little +altar, with the sun streaming in through the open door, George De +Normanville and Alie Dunbar were made man and wife. The register was +then signed and witnessed, and having feed the clergyman and tipped +the clerk, we all went back to the town again. It had all been most +satisfactorily managed, and I had not the slightest doubt but that the +half-imbecile old clergyman had forgotten our names almost before he +had discarded his surplice in the vestry. + +An hour later we were back on board the yacht, which had by this time +replenished her supply of coal; steam was immediately got up, and by +three o'clock we were safely out of sight of land once more. Now we +had nothing to be afraid of save being stopped and overhauled by a +man-of-war. But that was most unlikely, and even in the event of one +heaving in sight and desiring to stop us, I had no doubt in my own +mind that we possessed sufficiently quick heels to enable us to escape +it. + +But I am reminded that I have said nothing yet as to the joy and +happiness which was mine in at last having Alie for my wife. I have +also omitted, most criminally, to give you a full account of the +wedding breakfast, which was held with becoming ceremony in the saloon +of the yacht, as soon as we had got safely on our way once more. The +captain's attempt at speech-making has not been reported, nor have I +told you what a singular ass I made of myself, and how I nearly broke +down when I rose to reply to the toast of our healths. No! an account +of those things, however interesting to those who actually took part +in them, could be of little or no concern to anyone else. So for that +reason, if for no other, I will be prudent and hold my tongue. + +Of the rest of the voyage to the Mascarenhas, there is little to +chronicle, save, perhaps, that we sighted Table Mountain in due +course, rounded the Cape of Good Hope safely--though we had some +choppy, nasty weather in doing so,--and passing into the Indian Ocean, +eventually arrived off the island of Reunion an hour before daybreak. + +I was on deck before it was light, waiting eagerly for the first signs +of day. Not a breath of wind was stirring and as we were only under +the scantiest sail our progress was hardly discernible. Then little by +little dawn broke upon us, a clear, pearl-gray light, in which the +world appeared so silent and mysterious a place that one almost feared +to breathe in it. While I was watching, I heard someone come across +the deck behind me, and next moment a little hand stole into mine. It +was Alie, my wife. + +"Can you discern any sign of the schooner?" she asked. + +Before answering I looked round the horizon, but there was not a sign +of any sail at all. To port showed up the dim outline of the island, +with a few small fishing boats coming out to meet the rising sun, but +in every other direction, there was nothing but grey sea softly +heaving. + +"No, darling," I answered, "I can see nothing of her. But we must not +be too impatient. There is plenty of time for her to put in an +appearance yet." + +Five minutes later Walworth came up the companion ladder and joined +us. Alie turned to him. + +"I hope Captain Patterson thoroughly understood your instructions, Mr. +Walworth?" she said. + +"I wired to him to be here a week ago," Walworth answered; "he was to +expect us to-day, but, in case of our non-arrival, to continue +cruising about in these waters until the end of the month." + +"Then we need have no fear," she replied confidently; "we shall sight +him before very long, I feel sure." + +We then fell to pacing the deck together, talking of the future and +all it promised for us. + +Half an hour later the lookout whom the captain had sent into the fore +crosstrees to report anything he might see, sang out, "Sail ho!" + +"How does she bear?" cried the skipper from the deck. + +"Dead ahead, sir!" was the man's reply. + +"What does she look like?" + +"A big topsail schooner, painted white." + +"The _Lone Star_ for certain, then," said Alie, taking my hand again. + +As she spoke, the breakfast bell sounded and we went below to our +meal. When we returned to the deck the distance between the two boats +had diminished considerably, and we could make out the schooner quite +distinctly. She was little more than five miles away now, and there +could be no possible doubt about her identity. Then, as we watched, +she went slowly about and next moment we saw a string of signals break +out at her masthead. + +Walworth took up a glass from the deck chair and reported that she +was anxious to know our name and where we hailed from. + +"Shall I answer?" he inquired. + +"By all means," Alie replied; "did you bring the signals with you?" + +"I have them in my berth," he answered, and dived below, to reappear a +moment later with a bundle of bunting under his arms. + +Having asked the skipper's permission, he bent them on to the +halliards and ran them up to the gaff end. They streamed out upon the +breeze, and as he watched them Walworth cried to Alie, with the first +and only sign of excitement I have ever known him show: + +"That will let them know that you are safe aboard!" + +"Do you wish me to bring the yacht as close alongside as I can?" asked +our skipper, who had been made aware of our intention to say good-bye +to him immediately we sighted the _Lone Star_. + +"If you will be so kind," I answered. + +The necessary manoeuvre was thereupon executed, and presently the +two yachts lay less than half a mile apart. + +"What a lovely craft that is," said Janet, who had just come on deck +and was watching her with increasing admiration. + +"That is the _Lone Star_," said Alie, putting her arm round Janet's +waist in her usual affectionate manner. "The boat which is to carry us +to our home, dear Janet! May you be as happy on board as I have been." + +"I think," I said, taking the opportunity of a pause in their +conversation to make a practical suggestion, "if you ladies will allow +me to say such a thing, it would be as well if we facilitated our +transhipping by getting our luggage ready. If I mistake not, +Patterson is piping a couple of boats away even now!" + +I was right, for as we looked the boats were descending from the port +davits. + +"George is ever practical, is he not, Alie?" said Janet in a teasing +tone. "I fear there is not much romance in his constitution!" + +"I am not quite so sure of that," said Alie, with a roguish glance at +me, "and, all things considered, I think I may claim to be a very good +judge." + +"If I am to get the worst of it in this fashion," retorted Janet, with +a great pretence of anger, "I shall go below and look after my +luggage." + +"Let us all go," said Alie, and down we accordingly went. + +By the time the necessary work was accomplished and the crew had +conveyed our luggage to the deck, the boats from the _Lone Star_ were +alongside. They were in charge of Gammel, the third officer, who, when +he came aboard, raised his hat respectfully to Alie; in return she +shook him warmly by the hand and expressed the joy it was to her to +see the _Lone Star_ again. The luggage was then conveyed down the +gangway and put aboard one boat, which immediately set off for the +schooner. At Alie's desire I then called the captain aft. + +"Captain Brown," I said, "before we leave the yacht I should very much +like with your permission to say a few words to your crew." + +My request was granted, and the hands were immediately summoned aft. +Then, having descended to the cabin for something I wanted, I prepared +to make a little speech. + +"Captain Brown," I said, "officers and crew of this yacht, before we +leave you to join yonder craft I wish, in my wife's name and my own, +to thank you for the manner in which you have performed your +respective duties. A pleasanter time than we have had aboard this +yacht during the past six weeks no one could desire, and now that we +are leaving you I desire to hand you some little souvenirs of our +acquaintance. Accordingly I am presenting to your captain a sum of +money which will allow each man of you five pounds when he arrives in +England, and to the captain and his chief officer these two gold +chronometers, which I hope will remind them of our short but intimate +acquaintance." + +When I had finished and had made the presentations, the captain, on +behalf of the ship's company, replied, and then, amid hearty cheers, +we descended the gangway, took our places in the boat, and set off for +the _Lone Star_. + +When we came alongside we discovered the whole ship's company drawn up +to receive us. Patterson was at the gangway, and, to my surprise, +welcomed us with more emotion than I had previously thought his +character capable of exhibiting. I did not know until afterwards that +he had become aware by cable of the dangerous situation from which we +had rescued his leader. + +As soon as we were safely on board, the boats were hoisted to the +davits, sail was made, and after an exchange of salutations between +the two yachts we separated, each proceeding on our different ways. + +Of the voyage across the Indian Ocean there is little or nothing to be +told; for the greater part of the distance fine weather accompanied +us. We sat on deck or in the saloon, read, related our experiences, +"fought our battles o'er again," and watched the ever-changing ocean. + +It was our intention not to risk the China Sea, but to pass up through +the Straits of Lombok and Macassar to the settlement. + +Just before sunset one evening, the dim outlines of the coast of Bali, +with Agung Peak towering aloft, was sighted ahead, then Lombok Peak, +on the island of the same name, came into view, and before darkness +fell we were in the Straits themselves, choosing the eastern channel +between Penida Island and the Cape of Banko as the safer of the two. +Hereabouts the tides run very strong, and between us and the land +there was such a show of phosphorescent water that night as I never +remember to have seen elsewhere. We entered the straits at eight +o'clock and were clear of them again by eleven. + +All next day we were occupied crossing the Java Sea, the water still +as smooth as glass, and the sun glaring down fiercely upon us. +Naturally we were all most keen to arrive at the settlement and truly +rejoiced next day when Patterson informed us that by the evening of +the day following we should be within easy reach of it. + +The next night passed, and sun-time (mid-day) once more came round. +The heat was still intense, the brass work was too hot to touch, and +the pitch fairly bubbled in the seams. All the morning we panted in +our deck chairs, and only left them to go below to lunch. One thing +was remarkable; now that we were almost within touch of safety, Alie +had grown strangely nervous, so much so that I felt compelled to +remonstrate with her. + +"I cannot tell you why I am so frightened," she answered, "but do you +remember that night on which we first met when we watched the moon +rise and talked of the sea?" + +"Of course, I remember it perfectly," I replied, "but why do you +allude to it now?" + +"Because I have that same feeling to-night about my fate being mixed +up with the sea. I told you I should die at sea, and I have a strange +foreboding that, successful as this escape has proved so far, it will +yet end in disaster." + +"My darling," I cried. "You must not talk like that. What on earth has +put such a notion into your head. No, no, my wife; having brought us +safely through so much, our luck will not desert us now." + +But she was still unconvinced, and no argument on the part of Janet or +myself could raise her spirits. Wonderful is the instinct of danger in +the human mind; for in a measure what Alie prophesied actually did +come true, as will be seen. + +Next morning, just after daylight, I was awakened by a loud thumping +at my cabin door. + +"Who is there?" I cried. + +"Walworth! We want you on deck at once." + +Pyjama clad though I was, I thrust my feet into slippers and ran up +the companion ladder. I found Patterson there anxiously awaiting me. + +"What is the matter?" I asked breathlessly. "Why did you send for me?" + +"If you want my reason," he said, pointing over our starboard side, +"look there." + +I looked, and to my horror saw ahead of us, commanding the whole +strait, two enormous men-of-war. They were within six miles of us, and +were evidently making preparations for stopping us. + +"What's to be done?" I cried. "Another quarter of an hour and they'll +blow us into atoms if we don't heave-to." + +"Will you inform your wife, and then, perhaps, we had better hold a +council of war," answered Patterson. + +Without another word I went below and told Alie. In the presence of +this definite danger she was a new woman. + +"I will dress and come on deck at once," she said. + +I went off to my own cabin and, hastily clothed myself; having done so +I returned to the deck to find Patterson looking through his glass at +something astern. + +"We're nicely caught," he said on becoming aware of my presence. +"There's another of them behind us." + +I took the glass and looked for myself; what he reported was quite +correct. We were caught like rats in a trap. Just as I returned the +glass to him Alie appeared and joined our group. + +"This is bad news, gentlemen," she said quite calmly. "I suppose there +can be no doubt they _are_ after us. What have you to suggest?" + +"It is difficult to say," answered Patterson. "Two things, however, +are quite certain." + +"What are they?" + +"The first is that unless we are prepared to run the schooner ashore, +we must go backwards or forwards. There is no middle course. In either +case the result will be the same." + +"Have you sent word to the engine-room to get up steam?" + +"We have had a full pressure this hour past." + +Alie turned to me. + +"What do you advise, my husband?" + +"There is nothing else for it," I answered, "but to run the gauntlet +of them. We must try and get through." + +"Very good, then--run it shall be! Are you satisfied, Mr. Patterson?" + +"Quite. I agree with Dr. De Normanville it is our only chance." + +"Then let us get as close to them as we can, and directly their +signals go up, race for it! We shall probably be hit, but we mustn't +mind that." + +The wind was blowing from the most favourable quarter, and every +moment was bringing us nearer to our enemies. So far they had made no +sign, but it was evident now that they were drawing closer to each +other. + +When we were within easy range the second officer reported that the +larger of the two cruisers was signalling. + +"What does she say?" asked Patterson. + +The officer put up his glass again and, having looked, studied the +Admiralty book lying upon the hatchway. + +"Heave-to and let me examine you." + +"Very kind, indeed," said Alie. "But we're not to be caught in that +way. No, no! my friend, if you want us you will have to use sterner +measures than that." + +Patterson gave an order and presently a stream of bunting was flying +from our own gaff end. + +"What are you saying?" I asked when the signals had unrolled and +caught the wind. + +"I'm asking him why he wants to stop us?" answered Patterson. + +All this time we were creeping up between them. Once more a signal +broke out, and again the officer reported. This time it ran, "Heave-to +and I'll send a boat." But this was equally unregarded. + +For ten minutes there was no change save that we had now come up level +with them. Then down fluttered the string of flags, and at the same +instant a flash of fire came from the nearest vessel followed by a +cloud of white smoke. Almost at the same instant a sharp report +reached our ears. + +"A blank cartridge to show that they mean business," I answered. + +"Hadn't we better go ahead?" Alie remarked. + +"I think so," said Patterson, and rang the telegraph. The needle flew +round to "Full steam ahead," and off we went. + +"Give her every ounce she can carry," shouted Patterson down the +speaking tube, and the engineers proved fully equal to the occasion. +Before very long the whole fabric of the vessel trembled under the +pressure. She quivered like a frightened stag, and cut through the +green water at a furious pace. Then, seeing our ruse, the cruiser +fired. But, either intentionally or because they had not accurately +gauged our distance, the ball went wide. + +"We're in for it now," said Alie; "this looks as if it will be the +most exciting flight in the _Lone Star's_ history." + +"If only we could give them one in return," I said longingly. +"However, we can't stop for that. So go on, little barkie!" I cried +enthusiastically, patting the bulwark with my hand, as if to encourage +her, "you know how much depends upon you." + +As if she were really aware of it, the gallant little craft dashed +on--throwing off the foam in two great waves from her cutwater, and +sending the spray in clouds above her bows. The pace was terrific, and +it seemed already to have dawned upon the cruisers that if they wanted +to catch us they must be quick about it. By this time we had run +between them, and therefore they had to turn round before they could +pursue us, which meant a start for us that was of the utmost +importance in our race for freedom. + +Before they attempted to turn, however, both decided on letting us +know their tempers, and two guns crashed out almost simultaneously. +Again the ball from the bigger of the two fell wide, but that from her +consort was more scientifically aimed, and our foretop mast came down +with a crash. + +"That's the first blood drawn," I said to Alie, as the crew sprang +aloft to clear away the raffle. "I wonder what the next will be." + +"If we can continue this pace we shall soon be out of range," she +answered. + +"But can we continue it?" I asked. "The strain must be enormous. Do +you feel how every timber is quivering under it?" + +As I spoke Alie turned and I saw that Janet had come on deck. With a +white face she looked at the two vessels behind us and asked what +their presence meant. + +"It means," said Alie, going to her and assuming possession of her +hand, "that England is determined to try and have the Beautiful White +Devil after all." + +"But she shan't," said Janet loyally, "not if I have to keep her off +with my own hands." + +"Bravo, my sister," I cried enthusiastically, "that's the sort of +spirit we boast aboard this boat. Never fear, we'll slip them yet; +won't we, Alie?" + +The girl answered me with a smile that went to my heart, so brave and +yet so sad was it. + +By this time the men-of-war had turned and were in full pursuit of us; +but we had the advantage of a start and were momentarily increasing +our lead. Again one ship fired, but as we were all steaming too fast +for correct aiming, the ball did no damage. After that they saved +their powder, and concentrated all their energies on the task of +catching us. All the morning we steamed on, and by three o'clock were +a good ten miles ahead. + +"If we can only keep this pace up till dusk I think we may manage to +give them the slip after all," said Alie, going to the taffrail and +looking behind her at the pursuing ships. + +Their commanders seemed to realise this too, for they once more began +to try long shots at us. But though two fell very close, no harm was +done. + +About half-past three Patterson left the bridge and came down to where +we were sitting aft. He held a chart in his hand, and when he came up +with us he knelt down and pinned it to the deck. + +"May I draw your attention to this chart?" he said, as soon as his +preparations were complete. "You will remember that the first time we +were ever chased, it was in this very place! Well, on that occasion we +managed to escape by taking this channel between these two reefs. Our +pursuer, as doubtless you have not forgotten, drew too much water and +could not follow us. Now, if you are willing to chance it, we might +try the same plan again." + +"What do you think?" asked Alie, turning to me. "It is a desperate +risk to run, but then we must remember that we are in a desperate +position." + +I knelt down upon the deck and carefully examined the chart. It showed +a long, straggling reef shaped something like a wriggling snake with +an opening in the middle, just wide enough, if the measurements were +to be depended upon, to permit our vessel to pass through. One fact +was self-evident, and that was that if we did get through we should be +saved. + +"I am for chancing it," I said, after I had given the matter proper +consideration. + +"Then we will follow your advice," said Alie. "We will try the +passage." + +"Very good," Patterson answered quietly, and, having rolled up the +chart, returned to the bridge. + +After that for nearly half-an-hour we raced on at full speed, the +warships coming after us as fast as their steaming capabilities would +permit. + +Then our pace began somewhat to abate, and looking ahead I could +distinguish in the gathering dusk what looked like an unbroken line of +breakers stretching away for miles to port and starboard, from far out +in the open sea almost to the ragged coast line on our left. Our +course had long since been altered and now we were steering directly +for the troubled water. The pace was still terrific, but we were +slowing down perceptibly. + +"We are close to the opening now," said Alie, leading the way up onto +the bridge. "If we make a mistake and touch, we shall go to pieces in +five minutes. Let us therefore keep together, husband mine." + +We stood to windward of the binnacle and watched what was about to +happen. The breakers were scarcely half a mile ahead, the warships +perhaps six miles astern. + +Then two men crawled into the chains and set the leads going--the +second officer was sent forrard to reconnoitre and Patterson, +dismissing the steersman, took the wheel himself. The third officer +was stationed at the telegraph. + +Suddenly Patterson drew himself up, spun the spokes with a +preliminary twist to see that all was in working order, and then +turned to his subordinate at the telegraph. + +"Stop her!" he cried. + +The bell tinkled in the engine-room and answered on the bridge. The +throbbing of the propeller ceased as if by magic, and next moment we +were only moving forward by our own impetus. Almost before one could +think, we were among the breakers, but still going forward. I glanced +at Patterson out of the corner of my eye. He was standing as erect and +passionless as a marble statue, looking straight before him. On both +sides the breakers dashed and roared--the spray rising into our faces +and falling upon the decks like rain. There was a slight grinding +noise for a second or two, and then Patterson gave a shout: + +"Full steam ahead!" + +The bell answered like magic and instantly the schooner shot forward. +_Next moment we were through the reef in smooth water, and safe._ + +Looking behind us we could see that the cruisers had stopped and +turned, they knew too well what the result would be if they attempted +to follow us. + +An hour later a large island hid us from sight of the reef and our +pursuers. But still, in the gathering gloom, we steamed ahead as fast +as our propellers could drive us. + +At seven o'clock the gong sounded for dinner, and after a last look +round we went below to it. When we remembered how hopeless it had +appeared at the beginning, it was difficult to believe that we had +emerged so safely from our awkward scrape. + +During the meal I could hardly eat for looking at Alie and thinking of +all the events which had occurred since first I sat at that table with +her. She must have been thinking something of the same kind, for at +the end of dinner, just as we were about to go on deck, she bade the +steward charge our glasses and proposed this toast: + +"I drink to the _Lone Star_ and those who have saved us to-day." + +We drank the toast with enthusiasm and set our glasses down again. But +just as we did so, there was a loud crash, a trembling of the entire +vessel, a curious pause, and then another awful crash. + +"We have struck something!" I cried, springing to my feet. Then, as if +by instinct, I said, "Run to your cabins and get your shawls!" + +They did so, and, by the time they emerged again, the hubbub was +deafening; the sound of rending and tearing could only be described as +awful. Then there was sudden and complete silence which was almost +worse than the noise. We ran on desk and made our way as fast as we +could to the bridge. + +"What has happened?" I cried to Patterson, who was issuing orders as +fast as his tongue could utter them. + +"We have struck a rock that is not on my chart," he said. "And I have +reversed the engines to pull her off." + +I could see that we were going astern--but even a child could have +told by the way the schooner moved that it was a hopeless case with +her. + +Even while he was speaking she was sinking perceptibly. + +"There is no hope," he said at last, "we must leave her." + +All the hands by this time were at their stations, and the boats were +lowered with exquisite care and precision. Fortunately they had been +that very day uncovered and equipped, in case of accident, so that +there was no possible cause for delay. + +Keeping Alie and Janet by my side I descended to the boat allotted to +us and we took our seats in the stern. By the time we had pulled to a +distance of about a hundred yards, the deck of the yacht was level +with the water. Five minutes later the gallant but ill-fated _Lone +Star_ tipped up on end, gave a sullen plunge, and disappeared beneath +the waves to be no more seen by mortal man. I slipped my arm round +Alie's waist and drew her closer to my side. She was trembling +violently. + +"Be brave, dear love," I whispered. "For all our sakes, be brave." + +She turned her head in the direction where the poor yacht had +disappeared and said, almost under her breath: + +"Good-bye, _Lone Star_, good-bye." + +Then she stooped forward and buried her face in her hands. + +To divert her thoughts, I turned to the boat nearest us, which was +commanded by Patterson, and asked what he thought we had better do. + +"Sail up the coast as fast as we can," he answered. "My boat will take +the lead, the rest had better follow in single file. If this wind +holds we shall fetch the settlement, or be somewhere thereabouts, by +daybreak." + +The wind _did_ hold and we _did_ make the settlement by the time he +specified. Then passing behind the great doors which, as I have said +before, concealed the entrance to the canal so cleverly that even from +the close distance of a mile I had not been able to detect where the +imitation began and the real cliff ended, we pulled inside. Then, to +cheer us, standing before them all, I unbared my head, and cried, +perhaps a trifle theatrically: + +"Gentlemen! the queen has come back to her own again!" + +As the cheers that greeted my announcement died away we left the canal +and entered the little landlocked harbour. + + + + +L'ENVOI. + + +Three years have passed since the wreck of the schooner _Lone Star_, +and to-day is the third anniversary of our return to the settlement. +It is a lovely morning, and I am sitting in the verandah of our +bungalow on the hillside, pen in hand, waiting for a step whose music +grows every day more welcome to my ears. My patience is rewarded when +a woman, to whose beauty Time has but added, turns the corner, closely +followed by an enormous white bull-dog, and comes towards me. When she +reaches me she sets down the rosy toddling infant she carries in her +arms, and, taking a seat beside me, says: + +"What news had you by the mail this morning, my husband?" + +"Nothing of very much moment, Alie," I answer. "The negotiations in +England are still proceeding, and Brandwon confidently hopes, in view +of certain considerations, that he will be able to carry out his plans +and win a free pardon for a certain beautiful lady of my +acquaintance." + +"Then it is all as satisfactory as we could wish?" she says. "I am +thankful for that! And now I have some news for you!" + +"Are you going to tell me that I am the happiest husband in the world? +or that that boy, playing with old Bel yonder, whom we both worship a +good deal more than is good for him, is being spoiled by the entire +population of the settlement?" + +"Neither of those things! No, it has to do with your sister Janet." + +"Ah! then I can guess. She is so enraptured with the settlement that +she is willing to prolong her stay indefinitely." + +"How did you guess?" + +"Have I not eyes, my wife? You don't mean to tell me that you think +you alone have seen the outrageous court Walworth has been paying her +these six months past?" + +"You have no objection, I hope?" + +"Not the very slightest. She is a good woman, if ever there was one, +and he is certainly a man after my own heart. If they marry and are +destined to be as happy as we are, then they'll be lucky people; +that's all I can say, my wife." + +"Can you truthfully affirm that you have never regretted giving up so +much for me?" + +"Regretted! How can you ask me such a question? No, my darling; rest +assured, if there is one thing for which I am grateful to Providence +it is----" + +Here I placed my arm round her neck and drew her lovely head down to +me. + +"What is it?" she whispered. + +"That I was permitted to be the husband of the Beautiful White Devil." + + +THE END. + + + + +APPLETONS' TOWN AND COUNTRY LIBRARY. + +PUBLISHED SEMIMONTHLY. + + + 1. _The Steel Hammer._ By LOUIS ULBACH. + 2. _Eve._ A Novel. By S. BARING-GOULD. + 3. _For Fifteen Years._ A Sequel to The Steel Hammer. By LOUIS + ULBACH. + 4. _A Counsel of Perfection._ A Novel. By LUCAS MALET. + 5. _The Deemster._ A Romance. By HALL CAINE. + 51/2. _The Bondman._ (New edition.) By HALL CAINE. + 6. _A Virginia Inheritance._ By EDMUND PENDLETON. + 7. _Ninette_: An Idyll of Provence. By the author of Vera. + 8. "_The Right Honourable."_ By JUSTIN MCCARTHY and Mrs. + CAMPBELL-PRAED. + 9. _The Silence of Dean Maitland._ By MAXWELL GRAY. + 10. _Mrs. Lorimer_: A Study in Black and White. By LUCAS MALET. + 11. _The Elect Lady._ By GEORGE MACDONALD. + 12. _The Mystery of the "Ocean Star."_ By W. CLARK RUSSELL. + 13. _Aristocracy._ A Novel. + 14. _A Recoiling Vengeance._ By FRANK BARRETT. With + Illustrations. + 15. _The Secret of Fontaine-la-Croix._ By MARGARET FIELD. + 16. _The Master of Rathkelly._ By HAWLEY SMART. + 17. _Donovan_: A Modern Englishman. By EDNA LYALL. + 18. _This Mortal Coil._ By GRANT ALLEN. + 19. _A Fair Emigrant._ By ROSA MULHOLLAND. + 20. _The Apostate._ By ERNEST DAUDET. + 21. _Raleigh Westgate_; or, Epimenides in Maine. By HELEN + KENDRICK JOHNSON. + 22. _Arius the Libyan._ A Romance of the Primitive Church. + 23. _Constance_, and _Calbot's Rival_. By JULIAN HAWTHORNE. + 24. _We Two._ By EDNA LYALL. + 25. _A Dreamer of Dreams._ By the author of Thoth. + 26. _The Ladies' Gallery._ By JUSTIN MCCARTHY and Mrs. + CAMPBELL-PRAED. + 27. _The Reproach of Annesley._ By MAXWELL GRAY. + 28. _Near to Happiness._ + 29. _In the Wire Grass._ By LOUIS PENDLETON. + 30. _Lace._ A Berlin Romance. By PAUL LINDAU. + 301/2. _The Black Poodle._ By F. ANSTEY. + 31. _American Coin._ A Novel. By the author of Aristocracy. + 32. _Won by Waiting._ By EDNA LYALL. + 33. _The Story of Helen Davenant._ By VIOLET FANE. + 34. _The Light of Her Countenance._ By H. H. BOYESEN. + 35. _Mistress Beatrice Cope._ By M. E. LE CLERC. + 36. _The Knight-Errant._ By EDNA LYALL. + 37. _In the Golden Days._ By EDNA LYALL. + 38. _Giraldi_; or, The Curse of Love. By ROSS GEORGE DERING. + 39. _A Hardy Norseman._ By EDNA LYALL. + 40. _The Romance of Jenny Harlowe_, and _Sketches of Maritime + Life_. By W. CLARK RUSSELL. + 41. _Passion's Slave._ By RICHARD ASHE-KING. + 42. _The Awakening of Mary Fenwick._ By BEATRICE WHITBY. + 43. _Countess Loreley._ Translated from the German of RUDOLF + MENGER. + 44. _Blind Love._ By WILKIE COLLINS. + 45. _The Dean's Daughter._ By SOPHIE F. F. VEITCH. + 46. _Countess Irene._ A Romance of Austrian Life. By J. FOGERTY. + 47. _Robert Browning's Principal Shorter Poems._ + 48. _Frozen Hearts._ By G. WEBB APPLETON. + 49. _Djambek the Georgian._ By A. G. VON SUTTNER. + 50. _The Craze of Christian Engelhart._ By HENRY FAULKNER + DARNELL. + 51. _Lal._ By WILLIAM A. HAMMOND, M. D. + 52. _Aline._ A Novel. By HENRY GREVILLE. + 53. _Joost Avelingh._ A Dutch Story. By MAARTEN MAARTENS. + 54. _Katy of Catoctin._ By GEORGE ALFRED TOWNSEND. + 55. _Throckmorton._ A Novel. By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. + 56. _Expatriation._ By the author of Aristocracy. + 57. _Geoffrey Hampstead._ By T. S. JARVIS. + 58. _Dmitri._ A Romance of Old Russia. By F. W. Bain, M. A. + 59. _Part of the Property._ By BEATRICE WHITBY. + 60. _Bismarck in Private Life._ By a Fellow-Student. + 61. _In Low Relief._ By MORLEY ROBERTS. + 62. _The Canadians of Old._ A Historical Romance. By PHILIPPE + GASPE. + 63. _A Squire of Low Degree._ By LILY A. LONG. + 64. _A Fluttered Dovecote._ By GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + 65. _The Nugents of Carriconna._ An Irish Story. By TIGHE + HOPKINS. + 66. _A Sensitive Plant._ By E. and D. GERARD. + 67. _Dona Luz._ By JUAN VALERA. Translated by Mrs. MARY J. + SERRANO. + 68. _Pepita Ximenez._ By JUAN VALERA. Translated by Mrs. MARY + J. SERRANO. + 69. _The Primes and their Neighbors._ By RICHARD MALCOLM + JOHNSTON. + 70. _The Iron Game._ By HENRY F. KEENAN. + 71. _Stories of Old New Spain._ By THOMAS A. JANVIER. + 72. _The Maid of Honor._ By Hon. LEWIS WINGFIELD. + 73. _In the Heart of the Storm._ By MAXWELL GRAY. + 74. _Consequences._ By EGERTON CASTLE. + 75. _The Three Miss Kings._ By Ada Cambridge_. + 76. _A Matter of Skill._ By BEATRICE WHITBY. + 77. _Maid Marian, and Other Stories._ By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. + 78. _One Woman's Way._ By EDMUND PENDLETON. + 79. _A Merciful Divorce._ By F. W. MAUDE. + 80. _Stephen Ellicott's Daughter._ By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. + 81. _One Reason Why._ By BEATRICE WHITBY. + 82. _The Tragedy of Ida Noble._ By W. CLARK RUSSELL. + 83. _The Johnstown Stage, and other Stories._ By ROBERT H. + FLETCHER. + 84. _A Widower Indeed._ By RHODA BROUGHTON and ELIZABETH BISLAND. + 85. _The Flight of a Shadow._ By GEORGE MACDONALD. + 86. _Love or Money._ By KATHARINE LEE. + 87. _Not All in Vain._ By ADA CAMBRIDGE. + 88. _It Happened Yesterday._ By FREDERICK MARSHALL. + 89. _My Guardian._ By ADA CAMBRIDGE. + 90. _The Story of Philip Methuen._ By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. + 91. _Amethyst_: The Story of a Beauty. By CHRISTABEL R. + COLERIDGE. + 92. _Don Braulio._ By JUAN VALERA. Translated by CLARA BELL. + 93. _The Chronicles of Mr. Bill Williams._ By RICHARD MALCOLM + JOHNSTON. + 94. _A Queen of Curds and Cream._ By DOROTHEA GERARD. + 95. _"La Bella" and Others._ By EGERTON CASTLE. + 96. "_December Roses._" By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. + 97. _Jean de Kerdren._ By JEANNE SCHULTZ. + 98. _Etelka's Vow._ By DOROTHEA GERARD. + 99. _Cross Currents._ By MARY A. DICKENS. + 100. _His Life's Magnet._ By THEODORA ELMSLIE. + 101. _Passing the Love of Women._ By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. + 102. _In Old St. Stephen's._ By JEANIE DRAKE. + 103. _The Berkeleys and their Neighbors._ By MOLLY ELLIOT + SEAWELL. + 104. _Mona Maclean, Medical Student._ By GRAHAM TRAVERS. + 105. _Mrs. Bligh._ By RHODA BROUGHTON. + 106. _A Stumble on the Threshold._ By JAMES PAYN. + 107. _Hanging Moss._ By PAUL LINDAU. + 108. _A Comedy of Elopement._ By CHRISTIAN REID. + 109. _In the Suntime of her Youth._ By BEATRICE WHITBY. + 110. _Stories in Black and White._ By THOMAS HARDY and Others. + 1101/2. _An Englishman in Paris._ Notes and Recollections. + 111. _Commander Mendoza._ By JUAN VALERA. + 112. _Dr. Paull's Theory._ By Mrs. A. M. DIEHL. + 113. _Children of Destiny._ By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. + 114. _A Little Minx._ By ADA CAMBRIDGE. + 115. _Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon._ By HALL CAINE. + 116. _The Voice of a Flower._ By E. GERARD. + 117. _Singularly Deluded._ By SARAH GRAND. + 118. _Suspected._ By LOUISA STRATENUS. + 119. _Lucia, Hugh, and Another._ By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. + 120. _The Tutor's Secret._ By VICTOR CHERBULIEZ. + 121. _From the Five Rivers._ By Mrs. F. A. STEEL. + 122. _An Innocent Impostor, and Other Stories._ By MAXWELL GRAY. + 123. _Ideala._ By SARAH GRAND. + 124. _A Comedy of Masks._ By ERNEST DOWSON and ARTHUR MOORE. + 125. _Relics._ By FRANCES MACNAB. + 126. _Dodo: A Detail of the Day._ By E. F. BENSON. + 127. _A Woman of Forty._ By ESME STUART. + 128. _Diana Tempest._ By MARY CHOLMONDELEY. + 129. _The Recipe for Diamonds._ By C. J. CUTCLIFFE HYNE. + 130. _Christina Chard._ By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. + 131. _A Gray Eye or So._ By FRANK FRANKFORT MOORE. + 132. _Earlscourt._ By ALEXANDER ALLARDYCE. + 133. _A Marriage Ceremony._ By ADA CAMBRIDGE. + 134. _A Ward in Chancery._ By Mrs. ALEXANDER. + 135. _Lot 13._ By DOROTHEA GERARD. + 136. _Our Manifold Nature._ By SARAH GRAND. + 137. _A Costly Freak._ By MAXWELL GRAY. + 138. _A Beginner._ By RHODA BROUGHTON. + 139. _A Yellow Aster._ By Mrs. MANNINGTON CAFFYN ("IOTA"). + 140. _The Rubicon._ By E. F. BENSON. + 141. _The Trespasser._ By GILBERT PARKER. + 142. _The Rich Miss Riddell._ By DOROTHEA GERARD. + 143. _Mary Fenwick's Daughter._ By BEATRICE WHITBY. + 144. _Red Diamonds._ By JUSTIN MCCARTHY. + 145. _A Daughter of Music._ By G. COLMORE. + 146. _Outlaw and Lawmaker._ By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. + 147. _Dr. Janet of Harley Street._ By ARABELLA KENEALY. + 148. _George Mandeville's Husband._ By C. E. RAIMOND. + 149. _Vashti and Esther._ + 150. _Timar's Two Worlds._ By M. JOKAI. + 151. _A Victim of Good Luck._ By W. E. NORRIS. + 152. _The Trail of the Sword._ By GILBERT PARKER. + 153. _A Mild Barbarian._ By EDGAR FAWCETT. + 154. _The God in the Car._ By ANTHONY HOPE. + 155. _Children of Circumstance._ By Mrs. M. CAFFYN. + 156. _At the Gate of Samaria._ By WILLIAM J. LOCKE. + 157. _The Justification of Andrew Lebrun._ By FRANK BARRETT. + 158. _Dust and Laurels._ By MARY L. PENDERED. + 159. _The Good Ship Mohock._ By W. CLARK RUSSELL. + 160. _Noemi._ By S. BARING-GOULD. + 161. _The Honour of Savelli._ By S. LEVETT YEATS. + 162. _Kitty's Engagement._ By FLORENCE WARDEN. + 163. _The Mermaid._ By L. DOUGALL. + 164. _An Arranged Marriage._ By DOROTHEA GERARD. + 165. _Eve's Ransom._ By GEORGE GISSING. + 166. _The Marriage of Esther._ By GUY BOOTHBY. + 167. _Fidelis._ By ADA CAMBRIDGE. + 168. _Into the Highways and Hedges._ By F. F. MONTRESOR. + 169. _The Vengeance of James Vansittart._ By Mrs. J. H. NEEDELL. + 170. _A Study in Prejudices._ By GEORGE PASTON. + 171. _The Mistress of Quest._ By ADELINE SERGEANT. + 172. _In the Year of Jubilee._ By GEORGE GISSING. + 173. _In Old New England._ By HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH. + 174. _Mrs. Musgrave--and Her Husband._ By R. MARSH. + 175. _Not Counting the Cost._ By TASMA. + 176. _Out of Due Season._ By ADELINE SERGEANT. + 177. _Scylla or Charybdis?_ By RHODA BROUGHTON. + 178. _In Defiance of the King._ By C. C. HOTCHKISS. + 179. _A Bid for Fortune._ By GUY BOOTHBY. + 180. _The King of Andaman._ By J. MACLAREN COBBAN. + 181. _Mrs. Tregaskiss._ By Mrs. CAMPBELL-PRAED. + 182. _The Desire of the Moth._ By CAPEL VANE. + 183. _A Self-Denying Ordinance._ By M. HAMILTON. + 184. _Successors to the Title._ By Mrs. L. B. WALFORD. + 185. _The Lost Stradivarius._ By J. MEADE FALKNER. + 186. _The Wrong Man._ By DOROTHEA GERARD. + 187. _In the Day of Adversity._ By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. + 188. _Mistress Dorothy Marvin._ By J. C. SNAITH. + 189. _A Flash of Summer._ By Mrs. W. K. CLIFFORD. + 190. _The Dancer in Yellow._ By W. E. NORRIS. + 191. _The Chronicles of Martin Hewitt._ By ARTHUR MORRISON. + 192. _A Winning Hazard._ By Mrs. ALEXANDER. + 193. _The Picture of Las Cruces._ By CHRISTIAN REID. + 194. _The Madonna of a Day._ By L. DOUGALL. + 195. _The Riddle Ring._ By JUSTIN MCCARTHY. + 196. _A Humble Enterprise._ By ADA CAMBRIDGE. + 197. _Dr. Nikola._ By GUY BOOTHBY. + 198. _An Outcast of the Islands._ By JOSEPH CONRAD. + 199. _The King's Revenge._ By CLAUDE BRAY. + 200. _Denounced._ By J. BLOUNDELLE-BURTON. + 201. _A Court Intrigue._ By BASIL THOMPSON. + 202. _The Idol-Maker._ By ADELINE SERGEANT. + 203. _The Intriguers._ By JOHN D. BARRY. + 204. _Master Ardick, Buccaneer._ By F. H. COSTELLO. + 205. _With Fortune Made._ By VICTOR CHERBULIEZ. + 206. _Fellow Travellers._ By GRAHAM TRAVERS. + 207. _McLeod of the Camerons._ By M. HAMILTON. + 208. _The Career of Candida._ By GEORGE PASTON. + 209. _Arrested._ By ESME STUART. + 210. _Tatterley._ By T. GALLON. + 211. _A Pinchbeck Goddess._ By Mrs. J. M. FLEMING (Alice M. + Kipling). + 212. _Perfection City._ By Mrs. ORPEN. + 213. _A Spotless Reputation._ By DOROTHEA GERARD. + 214. _A Galahad of the Creeks._ By S. LEVETT YEATS. + 215. _Marietta's Marriage._ By W. E. NORRIS. + + Each, 12mo, paper cover, 50 cents; cloth, $1.00. + + + + +GEORG EBERS'S ROMANCES. + + _Each, 16mo, paper, 40 cents per volume; cloth, 75 cents. + Sets of 24 volumes, cloth, in box, $18.00._ + + =In the Blue Pike.= A Romance of German Life in the early + Sixteenth Century. Translated by MARY J. SAFFORD. 1 volume. + =In the Fire of the Forge.= A Romance of Old Nuremberg. + Translated by MARY J. SAFFORD. 2 volumes. + =Cleopatra.= Translated by MARY J. SAFFORD. 2 volumes. + =A Thorny Path.= (PER ASPERA.) Translated by CLARA BELL. 2 + volumes. + =An Egyptian Princess.= Translated by ELEANOR GROVE. 2 volumes. + =Uarda.= Translated by CLARA BELL. 2 volumes. + =Homo Sum.= Translated by CLARA BELL. 1 volume. + =The Sisters.= Translated by CLARA BELL. 1 volume. + =A Question.= Translated by MARY J. SAFFORD. 1 volume. + =The Emperor.= Translated by CLARA BELL. 2 volumes. + =The Burgomaster's Wife.= Translated by MARY J. SAFFORD. 1 + volume. + =A Word, only a Word.= Translated by MARY J. SAFFORD. 1 volume. + =Serapis.= Translated by CLARA BELL. 1 volume. + =The Bride of the Nile.= Translated by CLARA BELL. 2 volumes. + =Margery.= (GRED.) Translated by CLARA BELL. 2 volumes. + =Joshua.= Translated by MARY J. SAFFORD. 1 volume. + =The Elixir, and Other Tales.= Translated by Mrs. EDWARD H. BELL. + With Portrait of the Author. 1 volume. + +_For sale by all booksellers; or sent by mail on receipt of price by +the publishers_, + +D. APPLETON & CO., 72 Fifth Avenue, New York. + + + + +D. APPLETON & CO.'S PUBLICATIONS. + + +_THE STATEMENT OF STELLA MABERLY._ By F. ANSTEY, author of "Vice +Versa," "The Giant's Robe," etc. 16mo. Cloth, special binding, $1.25. + + "Most admirably done.... We read fascinated, and fully + believing every word we read.... The book has deeply + interested us, and even thrilled us more than + once."--_London Daily Chronicle._ + + "A wildly fantastic story, thrilling and impressive.... Has + an air of vivid reality, ... of bold conception and vigorous + treatment.... A very noteworthy novelette."--_London Times._ + +_MARCH HARES._ By HAROLD FREDERIC, author of "The Damnation of Theron +Ware," "In the Valley," etc. 16mo. Cloth, special binding, $1.25. + + "One of the most cheerful novels we have chanced upon for + many a day. It has much of the rapidity and vigor of a + smartly written farce, with a pervading freshness a smartly + written farce rarely possesses.... A book decidedly worth + reading."--_London Saturday Review._ + + "A striking and original story, ... effective, pleasing, and + very capable."--_London Literary World._ + +_GREEN GATES. An Analysis of Foolishness._ By Mrs. K. M. C. MEREDITH +(Johanna Staats), author of "Drumsticks," etc. 16mo. Cloth, $1.25. + + "Crisp and delightful.... Fascinating, not so much for what + it suggests as for its manner, and the cleverly outlined + people who walk through its pages."--_Chicago Times-Herald._ + + "An original strain, bright and vivacious, and strong enough + in its foolishness and its unexpected tragedy to prove its + sterling worth."--_Boston Herald._ + +_AN IMAGINATIVE MAN._ By ROBERT S. HICHENS, author of "The Folly of +Eustace," "The Green Carnation," etc. 12mo. Cloth, $1.25. + + "A study in character.... Just as entertaining as though it + were the conventional story of love and marriage. The clever + hand of the author of 'The Green Carnation' is easily + detected in the caustic wit and pointed + epigram."--_Jeannette L. Gilder, in the New York World._ + +_CORRUPTION._ By PERCY WHITE, author of "Mr. Bailey-Martin," etc. +12mo. Cloth, $1.25. + + "A drama of biting intensity. A tragedy of inflexible + purpose and relentless result."--_Pall Mall Gazette._ + +_A HARD WOMAN. A Story in Scenes._ By VIOLET HUNT. 12mo. Cloth, $1.25. + + "A good story, bright, keen, and dramatic.... It is out of + the ordinary, and will give you a new sensation."--_New York + Herald._ + + +GILBERT PARKER'S BEST BOOKS. + +_THE SEATS OF THE MIGHTY._ Being the Memoirs of Captain ROBERT MORAY, +sometime an Officer in the Virginia Regiment, and afterwards of +Amherst's Regiment. 12mo. Cloth, illustrated, $1.50. + + "Another historical romance of the vividness and intensity + of 'The Seats of the Mighty' has never come from the pen of + an American. Mr. Parker's latest work may, without + hesitation, be set down as the best he has done. From the + first chapter to the last word interest in the book never + wanes; one finds it difficult to interrupt the narrative + with breathing space. It whirls with excitement and strange + adventure.... All of the scenes do homage to the genius of + Mr. Parker, and make 'The Seats of the Mighty' one of the + books of the year."--_Chicago Record._ + + "Mr. Gilbert Parker is to be congratulated on the excellence + of his latest story, 'The Seats of the Mighty,' and his + readers are to be congratulated on the direction which his + talents have taken therein.... It is so good that we do not + stop to think of its literature, and the personality of + Doltaire is a masterpiece of creative art."--_New York Mail + and Express._ + +_THE TRAIL OF THE SWORD._ A Novel. 12mo. Paper, 50 cents; cloth, +$1.00. + + "Mr. Parker here adds to a reputation already wide, and anew + demonstrates his power of pictorial portrayal and of strong + dramatic situation and climax."--_Philadelphia Bulletin._ + + "The tale holds the reader's interest from first to last, + for it is full of fire and spirit, abounding in incident, + and marked by good character drawing."--_Pittsburg Times._ + +_THE TRESPASSER._ 12mo. Paper, 50 cents; cloth, $1.00. + + "Interest, pith, force, and charm--Mr. Parker's new story + possesses all these qualities.... Almost bare of synthetical + decoration, his paragraphs are stirring because they are + real. We read at times--as we have read the great masters of + romance--breathlessly."--_The Critic._ + + "Gilbert Parker writes a strong novel, but thus far this is + his masterpiece.... It is one of the great novels of the + year."--_Boston Advertiser._ + +_THE TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE._ 16mo. Flexible cloth, 75 cents. + + "A book which no one will be satisfied to put down until the + end has been matter of certainty and assurance."--_The + Nation._ + + "A story of remarkable interest, originality, and ingenuity + of construction."--_Boston Home Journal._ + + "The perusal of this romance will repay those who care for + new and original types of character, and who are susceptible + to the fascination of a fresh and vigorous style."--_London + Daily News._ + + +BY S. R. CROCKETT. + +Uniform edition. Each, 12mo, cloth, $1.50. + +_LADS' LOVE._ Illustrated. + + In this fresh and charming story, which in some respects + recalls "The Lilac Sunbonnet," Mr. Crockett returns to + Galloway and pictures the humor and pathos of the life which + he knows so well. + +_CLEG KELLY, ARAB OF THE CITY. His Progress and Adventures._ +Illustrated. + + "A masterpiece which Mark Twain himself has never + rivaled.... If there ever was an ideal character in fiction + it is this heroic ragamuffin."--_London Daily Chronicle._ + + "In no one of his books does Mr. Crockett give us a brighter + or more graphic picture of contemporary Scotch life than in + 'Cleg Kelly.'... It is one of the great books."--_Boston + Daily Advertiser._ + + "One of the most successful of Mr. Crockett's + works."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ + +_BOG-MYRTLE AND PEAT._ Third edition. + + "Here are idyls, epics, dramas of human life, written in + words that thrill and burn.... Each is a poem that has an + immortal flavor. They are fragments of the author's early + dreams, too bright, too gorgeous, too full of the blood of + rubies and the life of diamonds to be caught and held + palpitating in expression's grasp."--_Boston Courier._ + + "Hardly a sketch among them all that will not afford + pleasure to the reader for its genial humor, artistic local + coloring, and admirable portrayal of character."--_Boston + Home Journal._ + + "One dips into the book anywhere and reads on and on, + fascinated by the writer's charm of manner."--_Minneapolis + Tribune._ + +_THE LILAC SUNBONNET._ Eighth edition. + + "A love story pure and simple, one of the old-fashioned, + wholesome, sunshiny kind, with a pure-minded, sound-hearted + hero, and a heroine who is merely a good and beautiful + woman; and if any other love story half so sweet has been + written this year, it has escaped our notice."--_New York + Times._ + + "The general conception of the story, the motive of which is + the growth of love between the young chief and heroine, is + delineated with a sweetness and a freshness, a naturalness + and a certainty, which places 'The Lilac Sunbonnet' among + the best stories of the time."--_New York Mail and Express._ + + "In its own line this little love story can hardly be + excelled. It is a pastoral, an idyl--the story of love and + courtship and marriage of a fine young man and a lovely + girl--no more. But it is told in so thoroughly delightful a + manner, with such playful humor, such delicate fancy, such + true and sympathetic feeling, that nothing more could be + desired."--_Boston Traveller._ + + +STEPHEN CRANE'S BOOKS. + +_THE THIRD VIOLET._ 12mo. Cloth, $1.00. + + Mr. Crane's new novel is a fresh and delightful study of + artist life in the city and the country. The theme is worked + out with the author's characteristic originality and force, + and with much natural humor. In subject the book is + altogether different from any of its predecessors, and the + author's marked success proves his breadth and the + versatility of his great talent. + +_THE LITTLE REGIMENT, and Other Episodes +of the American Civil War._ 12mo. Cloth, $1.00. + + "In 'The Little Regiment' we have again studies of the + volunteers waiting impatiently to fight and fighting, and + the impression of the contest as a private soldier hears, + sees, and feels it, is really wonderful. The reader has no + privileges. He must, it seems, take his place in the ranks, + and stand in the mud, wade in the river, fight, yell, swear, + and sweat with the men. He has some sort of feeling, when it + is all over, that he has been doing just these things. This + sort of writing needs no praise. It will make its way to the + hearts of men without praise."--_New York Times._ + + "Told with a _verve_ that brings a whiff of burning powder + to one's nostrils.... In some way he blazons the scene + before our eyes, and makes us feel the very impetus of + bloody war."--_Chicago Evening Post._ + +_MAGGIE: A GIRL OF THE STREETS._ +12mo. Cloth, 75 cents. + + "By writing 'Maggie' Mr. Crane has made for himself a + permanent place in literature.... Zola himself scarcely has + surpassed its tremendous portrayal of throbbing, breathing, + moving life."--_New York Mail and Express._ + + "Mr. Crane's story should be read for the fidelity with + which it portrays a life that is potent on this island, + along with the best of us. It is a powerful portrayal, and, + if somber and repellent, none the less true, none the less + freighted with appeal to those who are able to assist in + righting wrongs."--_New York Times._ + +_THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE. An Episode +of the American Civil War._ 12mo. Cloth, $1.00. + + "Never before have we had the seamy side of glorious war so + well depicted.... The action of the story throughout is + splendid, and all aglow with color, movement, and vim. The + style is as keen and bright as a sword-blade, and a Kipling + has done nothing better in this line."--_Chicago Evening + Post._ + + "There is nothing in American fiction to compare with it.... + Mr. Crane has added to American literature something that + has never been done before, and that is, in its own peculiar + way, inimitable."--_Boston Beacon._ + + "A truer and completer picture of war than either Tolstoy or + Zola."--_London New Review._ + + +NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Beautiful White Devil, by Guy Boothby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL *** + +***** This file should be named 37948.txt or 37948.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/4/37948/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Melissa McDaniel and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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