"And what about our good ship, the _Sea Rover_, that we have left behind?"
"By Jove! Jean Lafitte," I exclaimed, "that is, indeed, a true word.
What, indeed? We left her riding at anchor just off the channel edge, and so far as I recall, she had not her lights up, in accordance with the law."
"Shall we put about and take her in tow, Black Bart?"
"By no means. That is the very last of my intentions."
"What'll become of her, then?"
"That is no concern of mine."
"But nobody'll know whose she is, and nobody can tell what may happen to her----"
"Quite true. She may be stolen, or sunk. Why not?"
"But she cost a lot of money."
"On the contrary, she cost only twelve hundred dollars."
"Twelve hundred dollars!" Jean drew a long deep breath. "I didn't know anybody had that much money in the world. Besides, look what you spent for them pearls. Ain't you poor, then, Black Bart?"
"On the contrary, I have that much more money left, very likely. And I do not, to say truth, care a jot, a rap or a stiver, what becomes of the derelict _Sea Rover_ now. Have we not taken a better ship for our own?"
"Yes, but suppose yon varlet boards the _Sea Rover_, an' chases us the way we done him?"
"Again, by Jove! Jean Lafitte; an idea. But suppose he does? Much good it will do him. For, look you, good leftenant, the _Belle Helene_ will not stop to send any man ashore for baseball scores. Such was not the practise of the old buccaneers, nor shall it be ours; whereas, no matter what the haste, yon varlet could in nowise refrain from that same folly which hath lost him his ship to us. Each hour will only widen the gap between us. Let him take our tub if he likes, and do as he likes, for 'twill be a long day before he picks up our masts over his horizon, Jean Lafitte."
"Aye, aye, Sir!" rejoined my lieutenant, and withdrew. I could see he was not overjoyed at the abandonment of our earlier ship that had brought us so far in safety. All this luxury of the _Belle Helene_ had the effect of oppressing a pirate who so short a time ago had started out on the high seas in a sixteen foot yawl, and who had seen that yawl, in a manner of speaking, grown into a schooner, the schooner comparatively grown into a full-fledged four-decker, richly fitted as any ship of the royal navy.
But these, all, were lesser things to me, for on my soul was a more insistent concern. I turned now, seeing that Peterson, wholly reconciled to the new order of affairs, was speeding the boat onward as though I never had left her; so that I knew she was safe in his hands, although I set Lafitte to watch him. Followed by my faithful friend Partial, who expressed every evidence of having enjoyed a most interesting evening, I presently made my way aft.
As I approached the door of the after-cabin suite, occupied by the ladies, I made my presence known at first discreetly, then more pointedly, and, at length, by a knocking on the door.
"Below, there!" I called, boldly as I could; for eager as I was to see Helena Emory, there were certain things about the interview which might be difficult. Lovers who have parted, finally, approach each other, even by accident, thereafter, with a certain reluctance.
(Lovers, did I say? Nay, never had she said she loved me. She had only said she wished she did, wished she could.)
No answer came at first. Then, "Who is it?" in the voice of Aunt Lucinda.
"It is I, Mr. Henry--" but I paused: "--It is I, Black Bart the Avenger," I concluded. "May I come in?"
Silently the door opened, and I entered the little reception-room which lay between the two staterooms of this cabin. Before me stood Helena! And now I was close to her, I could see the little curls at her temples, could see the double curves of her lips, the color in her cheek. Ah! she was the same, the same! I loved her--I loved her not the same, but more and more, more!
She held her peace; and all I could do was to stand and stare and then hold out my hand. She took it formally, though her color heightened. I saluted Aunt Lucinda also, who glared at me. "How do you do?" I said to them both, with much originality and daring.
"Black Bart!" snorted Aunt Lucinda. "Black Bart! It might be, from these goings on. What does it all mean?"
"It means, my dear Mrs. Daniver," said I, "that I have taken charge of the boat myself."
"But how?" demanded Helena. "We did not hear you were coming. And I don't understand. Why, that rascally little nephew of mine, in the mask, frightened auntie nearly to death. And he said the most extraordinary _things_!
"Where is Mr. Davidson?" she added. "He didn't tell us a word of this."
"He didn't know a word of it himself," I answered. "Let me tell you, no self-respecting pirate--and as you see, I am a pirate--is in the habit of telling his plans in advance."
"A pirate!"
I bowed politely. "At your service. Black Bart--my visiting cards are mislaid, but I intend ordering some new ones. The ship's cook, John, will soon be here with tea. These events may have been wearying.
Meantime, allow me to present my friend Partial."
Partial certainly understood human speech. He now approached Helena slowly and stood looking up into her face in adoration. Then, without any command, he lay down deliberately and rolled over; sat up, barked; and so, having done all his repertory for her whom he now--as had his master before him--loved at first sight, he stood again and worshiped.
"Nice doggie!" said Helena courteously.
"Have a care, Helena!" said I. "Love my dog, love me! And all the world loves Partial."
The color heightened in her cheeks. I had never spoken so boldly to her before, but had rather dealt in argument than in assertion; which I, later, was to learn is no way to make love to any woman.
"When do we get back to Natchez?" she demanded.
"We do not get back to Natchez."
"Oh? Then I suppose Mr. Davidson picks us up at Baton Rouge?"
"Yon varlet," said I, "does not pick us up at Baton Rouge."
"New Orleans?"
"Or at New Orleans--unless he is luckier than I ever knew even Cal to be."
"Whatever do you mean?" inquired Aunt Lucinda in tones ominously deep.
"That the _Belle Helene_ is much faster than the tug we left behind at Natchez, even did he find it. He will have hard work to catch us."
"To _catch us_?"
"Yes, Helena, to catch us. Of course he'll follow in some way. I have, all the way from above Dubuque. Why should not he?"
The ladies looked from me to each other, doubting my sanity, perhaps.
"I don't just understand all this," began Helena. "But since we travel only as we like, and only with guests whom we invite or who are invited by the boat's owner, I shall ask you to put us ashore."
"On a sand-bar, Helena? Among the alligators?"
"Of course I mean at the nearest town."
"There is none where we are going, my dear Miss Emory. Little do you know what lies before you! Black Bart heads for the open sea. Let yon varlet follow at his peril. Believe me, 'twill cost him a very considerable amount of gasoline."