The Admirable Lady Biddy Fane

by Frank Barrett

  CHAPTER XXV.

  LADY BIDDY IS SET ASHORE, BUT LITTLE MERCY THEREIN.

  Hearing these words, Lady Biddy was thrown into such disorder that evenhad Rodrigues been of dull perception he might have read in herdistracted countenance justification of his suspicions. Stepping aside,he fetches a seat placed there for his convenience, and sets it downbeside Lady Biddy, who, for want of strength to stand up, sank into it.Then going to the rail, he calls to his boatswain, bidding him to letdown Tonga, as he had discovered who it was that stabbed him.

  "But," adds he, "no man is to stir from his post till he has my furthercommand."

  Whereupon the black was lowered down and hauled upon deck, where he layfor some time helpless and supine.

  While this was doing, Rodrigues turns again to Lady Biddy, who was nowcome to herself again somewhat, and says he:

  "You have shown a tender heart for the boy who betrayed you, and thenegro who would have shown you no pity. What will you do for the man whosaved you?"

  Lady Biddy dropped her chin upon her bosom, and clasped her hands insilence, feeling how helpless she was, and how incapable of coping withthe difficulty which now beset her.

  "That he is courageous and strong he has given us ample proof,"continues Rodrigues; "but the strength and vigor of a lion can not savehim from the wrath of my company. I have but to tell them an enemy lieshid in the cabin below, and they will seize him and put him to greatertorture than the black has endured. They will tear him limb from limbbefore your eyes, and even I could not save him from that horrid death."

  "But I could," cries Lady Biddy, starting up. "Ay, and I will. Lift yourvoice to those heartless tigers below, and I will lift mine to him. Erethey can move a pace he will be beyond their violence, and I yours."

  Rodrigues looked at her steadfastly through his half-closed eyelids, asif to make sure this threat was not idle; nay, by a contemptuous smilehe provoked her to give him a further assurance. And this she did, beinggreatly wrought.

  "We are prepared for the worst. I have but to cry to him for help, andhe will fire the gunpowder below. Our fate will be no worse than yours,so take heed."

  Saying this she stepped quickly back, placing the chair between herselfand Rodrigues, that no treacherous blow from him might deprive her ofthe power to save me from the fate he threatened.

  For an instant Rodrigues seemed taken aback by this revelation, butrecovering his self-command, he says, with his usual smoothness andsubtlety:

  "Madam, I am greatly obliged for this warning, though it was quiteunnecessary, as you will see for yourself if you consider the mattercalmly. In the first place, I am not likely to do anything which maycause you to cry for help; and, in the second, I mean no mischief toyour friend. Had that been my purpose, I could have secretly instructedmy company to search the cabin and secure our dangerous foe the moment Idiscovered he was there. By sparing him, I designed to strengthen myclaim upon your consideration--I hope still to merit your gratitude. Tothat end, as you perceive, I have ordered my company to stand to theirposts."

  In this there was an appearance of truth which Lady Biddy could not seethrough; so that it had the effect of calming her spirit somewhat, whichwas what Rodrigues did, doubtless, aim at.

  "You must by this time know," he continued, "that I am a man who, havingset his mind upon the achievement of an object, braves all things tothat end. I never yet abandoned my purpose while there remained a singlemeans of attaining to it. I have set my mind on abandoning thisdesperate career and marrying you, and to accomplish this design I amprepared to sacrifice everything; nay, I will go so far as to enrich theman who saved you from the negro. Listen!"

  He made a step forward, but Lady Biddy, still doubtful of his intent(for none could look upon his face without seeing "villain" writ there),also drew back a step. Rodrigues, taking no notice of this act ofprudence (save by a smile), set his hands on the back of the seat, as ifthat had been his sole purpose, and leaning forward in an easy, carelessmanner, continues:

  "The boats lie alongside ready to carry my men ashore for theirrefreshment. I will send every one of my company away, leaving none onboard save you and myself and _our_ friend below. When the coast isclear, you and I will embark in my own boat, and we will abandon theship to him" (pointing below). "As you see, there is not a ripple on thewater; with a couple of hours' exertion I shall bring you to a villagewhence we may be transported by land to the town where I shall give youa home worthy of any princess. Will you accept my offer?"

  "No," cries Lady Biddy, without taking an instant to consider.

  "I will give you an hour to reflect," says Rodrigues.

  "Nothing can change my decision, do what you will."

  "You are prepared to destroy every soul in this ship--even the friend towhom you owe your life--rather than accept the terms I offer? Yourealize what you threaten?"

  "Yes," says she; "not I, but you, must answer to God for the destructionof our lives."

  He smiled scornfully, as if that consideration were the least of histroubles; then he bent his head, and, knitting his brows, remained inthought for a while. Suddenly raising his head, as if his final decisionwas made, he says:

  "You compel me to abandon the fondest hope I have cherished? Be it so.Now to undo this business, and forget my folly."

  Turning about, he calls to the boatswain to have his barge manned andbrought to the ship's landing-steps.

  "I must ask you, madam," says he, again addressing my lady, "to leavethis ship. I must think now only of my own safety and the welfare of mycompany."

  Not foreseeing her danger, but only transported with joy to think shewas to be delivered from her captivity, Lady Biddy replied that shedemanded nothing better.

  "Your effects will be landed afterwards. I doubt if you would care forme to send my men into your cabin for them at the present moment."

  "But," says Lady Biddy, thinking of me, and then she stopped.

  "I understand what is in your thoughts. You are concerned for yourfriend; so am I. I cannot answer for his life if my men find him. Theywould insist upon his death in return for the injury inflicted uponTonga. Therefore must he wait until the company is landed and gone insearch of water."

  At this moment the boatswain came to say that the boat was prepared.

  "You will take this lady to the shore, and see that no injury is offeredher--not a word uttered that may offend her," says Rodrigues; and thenstepping back, that she might have freedom to pass, he takes off his hatand makes her a prodigious fine bow. Yet Lady Biddy hesitated, fearingtreachery to me; and still more might she have feared it if her spiritshad been quite composed, and her judgment in a condition to weigh allthat Rodrigues had said.

  "What have you to fear?" says he, speaking low. "What harm could themost treacherous wretch inflict with impunity? If you have told thetruth--which I do not doubt--a cry from you will insure the destructionof all you leave in this ship. Your cry from the shore would sound asclearly in this still air as from here. Think what you will of me, butbelieve that I am not a fool. Farewell!"

  Hoping for the best, seeing no better course open to her, and yettroubled with misgivings, Lady Biddy descended the side and took herplace in the barge. Then in silence the men pulled her ashore. Yet didthey look keenly one at the other, as if expecting some merry turn ofthis business--one thrusting his tongue in his cheek, a second winkinghis eye, and a third hawking as if he had a rheum.

  However, they said not one word, and having set Lady Biddy on shore verytenderly, they shoved off and returned to the ship.

  Now, not knowing which way to turn nor what to do, for her positionbeing so unexpected, and feeling like one set alone in another world,Lady Biddy rested her hand on the tree by which she stood, and in a kindof maze watched the boat returning to the ship.

  Then she began to wonder how long it would be ere the men would bedispersed and I should come to her, and what means we should find ofgetting to that town Rodrigues had spoken of.

  The men
left the boat and went up on board, and still Lady Biddywatched, as if she had but just woke from her sleep, and was dazed (asshe told me); but of a sudden a great shout burst upon her ear, and asquickly it flashed upon her intelligence that a false trick had been putupon her, which she might have foreseen had she been as subtle asRodrigues, which (thanks be to God) she was not. Then for the first timeit occurred to her that while she was being carried to the shoreRodrigues might send part of his company below to take the powder fromthe armory, or to be prepared with muskets to shoot me dead the moment Ilifted the trap.

  And now hearing this shout she was convinced that precautions had beentaken to prevent the blowing up of the ship, and the men were rushinginto the cabin to take me.

  But this was not the worst. As she strained her eyes, as if to piercethe side of the ship and know my fate, she perceived a boat shoot fromthe further side of the ship and turn towards her. For a moment shebelieved that I had contrived to escape, for there was but one man inthe boat; but looking more narrowly she perceived, to her horror, thatthe man was Tonga the negro; and coming towards her he raised a terribleyell of savage joy and triumph.

  Rodrigues, true to his word, had offered the black a reward for the painhe had been put to; and now, as he came on exulting to satiate his lustand vengeance, my poor Lady Biddy screamed aloud to me.

  But it was too late; and Lady Biddy, feeling she was now most surelyundone, could not even cry again for help.