The Lady And The Pirate - The Lady and the Pirate Part 22
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The Lady and the Pirate Part 22

"Nor I. For once, the vigilance of Black Bart faltered, L'Olonnois, and he must yet, mayhap, make better amends for his fault. Full speed ahead, now, Peterson," I added later as I went forward. "Run for New Orleans and with all you can get out of her."

"Very good, Mr. Harry," said the old man; and I could feel the throb of her whole superstructure, from stack to keelson, when he called on the double-sixties of the _Belle Helene_ for all their power. Nor did any seek to stay us in our swift rush down the river.

CHAPTER XXII

IN WHICH I WALK AND TALK WITH HELENA

It was nine of as fine a winter morning as the South ever saw when at last, having passed without pause all intervening ports, we found ourselves at the city of New Orleans. Rather, in the vicinity of that city; for when we reached the railway ferry above the town, I ran alongshore and we made fast the _Belle Helene_ at a somewhat precarious landing place. I now called Peterson to me.

"It's a fine morning, Peterson," said I.

"Yes, sir, but I think 'tis going to rain." (Peterson was always gloomy.)

"You must go down-town, Peterson," said I. "The through train from the West is late and just now is coming into the ferry. You can take it easily. We have got to have still more gasoline, for there is a long trip ahead of us, and I am not sure what may be the chance for supplies below the city."

"Are you going into the Gulf, Mr. Harry?"

"Yes, Peterson. You will continue to navigate the boat; and, meantime, you may be quartermaster also. I shall be obliged to remain here until you return."

The old man touched his cap. "Very good, sir, but I'm almost sure not to return."

"Listen, Peterson," I went on, well used to his customary depression of soul, "go to the ship's furnisher, Lavallier and Thibodeau, toward the Old Market. Tell them to have all our supplies at slip K, below the railway warehouses, not later than nine this evening. We want four drums of gasoline. Also, get two thousand rounds of ammunition for the twelve gages, ducking loads, for we may want to do some shooting. We also want two or three cases of grapefruit and oranges, and any good fresh vegetables in market. All these things must be ready on the levee at nine, without fail. Here is my letter of credit, and a bank draft, signed against it--I think you will find they know me still."

The old man touched his cap again but hesitated. "I'm sure to be asked something," he said somewhat nervously.

"Say nothing about any change of ownership of this boat, Peterson, and don't even give the boat's name, unless you must. Just say we will meet their shipping clerk at slip K, this evening, at nine. Hurry back, Peterson. And bring a newspaper, please."

"Is any one else going down-town?" asked Peterson. "I may run into trouble."

"No, we shall all remain aboard."

He departed mournfully enough, seeing that the ferry boat now was coming across with the railway train. I continued my own moody pacing up and down the deck. Truth was, I had not seen Helena for more than twenty-four hours, nor had any word come from the ladies' cabin to give me hope I ever would see her again of her own will. My surprise, therefore, was great enough when I heard the after cabin door close gently as she came out upon the deck.

When last I saw her she had been in tears. Now she was all smiles and radiant as the dawn! Her gown, moreover, was one I had never seen before, and she, herself, seemed monstrous pleased with it, for, by some miracle, fresh as though from the hands of her maid at home, she knew herself fair and fit enough to make more trouble for mankind.

"Good morning," said she, casually, as though we had parted but lately and that conventionally. "Isn't it fine?"

"It is a beautiful picture," said I, "and you fit into it. I am glad to see you looking so well."

"I wish I could say as much for you," said she. "You look like a forlorn hope."

"I am nothing better."

"And as though you had not slept."

"I have not, Helena."

"Why not?" her eyes wide open in surprise.

"Because I knew I had either hurt or offended you; and I would do neither."

"You have done both so often that it should not cost you your sleep,"

said she slowly. "But if you really want to be kind, why can you not have mercy on a girl who has been packed in a hat box for a month? Let me go ashore."

"Can you not breathe quite as well where you are, Helena?"

"But I can't walk."

"Oh, yes, you can; and I will walk beside you here on deck."

"But I would like to pick flowers, over there by the embankment."

"The train is too close," said I, smiling grimly.

Her color heightened just a little, but she did not answer my suspicions. "Please let me walk with you over there," she said. "I used not to need ask twice."

"Our situation is now reversed, Helena."

"Please, let me walk with you, Sir!"

"I dare not. We might both forget ourselves and go off to New Orleans for a lark without Aunt Lucinda."

"Oh, I am going to call Aunt Lucinda, too."

"Pardon, but you are going to do nothing of the kind. Even with her as chaperon, did we get down there in the old city once more, like the children we once were, Helena, we would forget our duty, would, perhaps, forget our purpose here. Mademoiselle, I dare not take that risk."

"Please, Sir, may I walk with you over yonder for just a little time?"

she said, as though it were her first request. She was tying her quaint little white bonnet strings under her chin now. I raised a hand.

"You ask a man to put himself into the power of the woman he loves most in all the world. When a man needs resolution, dare he look into the eyes of that woman, feel her hand on his arm, have her walk close to him as they promenade?"

"Dear me! Is it so bad as that?"

"Worse, Helena."

"Then I am to continue a prisoner in that hat box?"

"Until you love me, Helena, as I do you."

"As I told you, that would be a long time."

"Yes! For never in the world can you love me as I do you. I had forgotten that."

"If only you could forget everything and just be a nice young man,"