In Strange Company: A Story of Chili and the Southern Seas

by Guy Boothby

  CHAPTER VI.

  AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.

  In a second the little man had taken everything in. He glanced atJuanita, lying unconscious in my arms, at the open grave, and last atthe untenanted coffin. This latter seemed to occasion him someamazement, but only for an instant. Then, turning to me, he said withauthority--

  "Carry her down to the boat, and get her aboard the schooner. Can't yousee there's not a moment to be lost, man?"

  My astonishment at his appearance had made me almost forget the woman inmy embrace, but before the words were well out of his mouth, I hadpicked her up, and was carrying her towards the beach.

  When we had pushed off, and were pulling towards the schooner, I wassurprised to see the Albino seated in the bows of the boat. He venturedno remark to justify his presence until after we were aboard, and he hadhelped me to carry my burden to her bunk. Then he said--

  "Remember my medical knowledge. I'm going to help you with her. Get somebrandy."

  Hastening to my own berth, I rummaged among the things in my locker,found what I wanted, and returned with all possible speed to the cabin.

  As I approached it, I could have sworn that I heard the dwarf say,"Remember, whatever happens, you've never set eyes on me before!" But Imust have been mistaken, for though I found him bathing her forehead,she appeared to be still unconscious. As soon as she revived, we lefther, and returned to the deck.

  "What's the meaning of this mysterious business?" I asked my companionwhen we reached it. "How on earth did you get here, and what are yougoing to do now?"

  "Fair and softly, my dear fellow," he said quietly, a curious smileplaying round his lips, "all in good time. If you want to know, I wascalled down here on most important business. It's lucky I saw yourschooner, otherwise I should have had to wait a month for a chance ofgetting back to civilization."

  "And how _are_ you going to get back?" I asked.

  "Why, on board this boat," he answered. "Surely you won't be ungratefulenough to refuse me a passage after all I've done for you?"

  Not being in a position to gainsay the justice of his argument, I heldmy tongue. My situation was a very delicate one. I had possession of theboat, it was true; but, on the other hand, it was only given to me for acertain purpose. That purpose having failed, what was my position? CouldI make over the schooner to the Albino for my debt? And if I continuedto keep her, was I free to act as I pleased with regard to Juanita?

  I have said nothing so far about my own disappointment. Nevertheless Ihad devoted a considerable amount of anxious thought to it. If thefuneral of Juanita's husband had been a hoax, his death must have beenone too. Then, for all we knew to the contrary, he was still living! Andin that case my marriage with her was impossible. I was as hopelesslycut off from her as if we had never met.

  When I judged she would be able to see me, I went down and knocked ather cabin-door. She came out immediately and seated herself at thetable.

  "Juanita," I began, taking my place beside her, and holding her hand,"what can I say to comfort you after your disappointment?"

  "Why do you speak of it--why do you say any more about it?" she criedfretfully. "My worst anticipations have been realized--that's all! Imight have known he would have fooled me. Yes, I repeat it, fooled me."

  "But you were so certain he was dead!"

  "I was certain I saw him lying dead in his bunk, if that's what youmean." Then with a sudden outburst of fury, "Marcos Veneda, as God isabove me, if I can find you, I'll punish you for this!"

  "Marcos Veneda! I thought you said he was an Englishman?"

  "So he was. Veneda was only an assumed name."

  Seeing her state, I decided not to say anything about our positiontowards each other until she was calmer.

  "And what do you wish me to do now?" I asked, to turn the conversationinto another channel. "Shall I make a course back to Thursday Island?"

  "No, no, anywhere but there."

  "Then where would you like to go? Say the word, and I swear I'll do mybest to oblige you."

  "Oh, anywhere, anywhere. Why do you bother me with your stupidquestions?--what does it matter now where I go?"

  "Very well," I said, considerably piqued by her behaviour, though Itried hard not to show it; "I'll leave you alone for a bit, you maypossibly think of some place before nightfall. In the meantime we'llmake a course for Cape York."

  When I reached the deck to give orders for getting under way, I foundthe Albino pacing up and down, his long arms behind his back, and hislittle pink face puckered into a hundred wrinkles with thought. He cameacross and led me out of hearing of the mate.

  "What's your course going to be?"

  "That's just what I'm waiting to know," I answered. "Juanita can't makeup her mind."

  "Damn Juanita!" he jerked out. "Why do you want to be always consideringher? Let me advise you. Batavia, Java--that's the place; and when we getthere, I've a little treat in store for you that'll pay you better thanall this shilly-shallying here."

  "What do you mean?" I asked, naturally a little astonished at hisremark.

  "Just this," he replied. "One place is as good as another to you, isn'tit? Then, I say, don't ask any questions; steer for Batavia. You'vetrusted me before, trust me again. Leave Juanita to me. Womanlike, shedoesn't know her own mind, and wants somebody to help her make it up."

  Bidding the mate go forrard and superintend the raising of the anchor, Igave the necessary orders for getting sail on her. Just at eight bellshis cry of "All clear, sir," sounded, and the _Mother of Pearl_ resumedher journey.

  It was either a case of sulkiness, or she felt too overcome by herdisappointment to mix with us, but Juanita did not show her face againthat day, and it was not until nearly sun-time on the following morningthat we caught a glimpse of her. She came on deck during my watch. TheAlbino was standing beside me. She looked ill and haggard, and as theschooner was pitching unpleasantly, I hastened to offer her my arm. Shetook it with a kind of shrinking, at the same time glancing timidly atmy companion. He held his hat in his hand, and was looking at her withwhat I thought a nervous expression on his face.

  As they did not know one another, nothing remained for me but tointroduce them. Then, and for the first time, a strange circumstancestruck me. I did not know the Albino's name. Somehow I had never hadoccasion to speak of him to any one, nor had I ever heard him mentioned.I looked at her and said feebly--

  "Juanita, let me introduce my friend, Mr.----" (here I turned towardshim a look of appeal).

  "Macklin," he said.

  "My friend, Mr. Macklin."

  She bowed gravely; he followed suit like a court chamberlain. Then theybegan to pace the deck together, while I returned to the duties of mywatch.

  Being anxious to reach Batavia as soon as possible, I cracked oneverything the schooner could carry, and before many days were over wehad passed and left Thursday Island behind us, and were entering theArafura Sea. Fair weather accompanied us all the way, and I found theschooner's sailing capabilities improve as I became better acquaintedwith her.

  One thing was plainly evident. Since the arrival of the Albino on boardI was thrown quite into the shade. Juanita seemed to prefer his companyto that of any one else. He was never absent from her side; they sattogether at meals, paraded the deck together, and in fact wereinseparable companions. So conspicuous did her partiality at lengthbecome, that I felt compelled to remonstrate with her about it. Her lookof pained surprise went to my heart.

  "Jack, how can you be so unkind to me?" she said, with tears in hereyes. "Though it is all over between us, you know, or you ought to know,how much I love you. Do you think that poor little creature could makeme forget you? I am sorry for him--very sorry--that is all."

  Of course I forgave her immediately, and equally of course she promisedamendment in the future. But though her liking for his company was notso openly shown as before, I could not see that it had undergone anyradical change.

  But I had other and more important things than
Juanita's behaviourtowards myself to think about. I discovered that trouble had cropped upamongst the crew forward, and that on two occasions knives had beendrawn. What it had originated in I could not find out, but that a bigKanaka boy, called Rhotoma Jimmy, was at the bottom of it all I had goodreason to be certain. He had come aboard in Thursday as a stowaway, andwas, I found out, a vindictive, ill-tempered fellow, who never lost achance of making himself objectionable. When I saw that my rowingsproved useless, I ironed him for a couple of days. This seemed to soberhim; he became deeply penitent, and thinking I had punished him enough,I let him go back to his duties.

  The night following his release, he was at the wheel during my watch. Iwas not satisfied with his steering, and had occasion to reprimand himtwice. A short while afterwards I noticed the same irregularity, andwent over to the binnacle, determining this time to give him a goodrating. As soon as he saw me coming, he left the wheel, and made for thebelaying-pins. Seizing one he rushed at me, and endeavoured to hit meover the head with it. But before he could effect his purpose, I hadclosed with him, and wrenched it from his grasp, striking him as I didso a blow upon the head. He fell like a log, and as he struck the deckI heard footsteps on the ladder, and the Albino stood beside me.

  Calling another man aft to the wheel, I took the binnacle-lamp and kneltbeside the prostrate man. To my dismay I found I had bit him harder thanI intended. _He was dead!_