The Beautiful White Devil

by Guy Boothby

  CHAPTER X.

  RETRIBUTION.

  After the exciting events in which I had been a participator thatevening, it may not be a matter for surprise that, on going to bed, mynight was a troubled one. Hour after hour I tumbled and tossed in mybunk, 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 couldwish to see, with a pale turquoise sky overhead, across which cloudsof fleecy whiteness sped with extraordinary rapidity. A fine breezehummed in the shrouds, and the peculiar motion of the schooner,combined with one glance over the side, was sufficient to convince methat a brisk sea was running. I walked aft, said "Good-morning!" tothe officer of the watch, who was the same taciturn individual, withthe scar upon his face, I have described earlier in the story, andthen, partly from curiosity and partly from force of habit, took asquint at the compass card. Our course was N. N. E. exactly, but as Idid not know whether or not this was a bluff of some kind, such acircumstance told me but little. I therefore leaned against thetaffrail, looked up at the canvas, bellying out like great balloonsabove my head, and resigned myself to my thoughts. It had anexhilarating, yet for some reason bewildering, effect upon me, thatstretch of canvas standing out so white against the clear blue sky,the chasing clouds, the bright sunshine, the dancing, rolling sea, andthe splashing of the water alongside. The schooner was evidently in aplayful mood, for one moment she would be aiming her jib-boom at thesun and the next be dipping her nose down into the trough and sendinga shower of spray rattling on the fo'c's'le like hail. Not a sail wasin sight, though it was evident from the presence of a lookout in thefore-top, and the constant scrutiny of the southwestern horizonmaintained by the officer of the watch, that one was momentarilyexpected.

  I had seen nothing of Alie since I had said good-night to her theprevious evening, nor did I receive an invitation to visit her untilbreakfast had been over some time. Then Walworth entered my cabin.

  "Her ladyship," he said, taking a seat on my locker, "has sent me tosay that she would be glad to see you aft, if you could spare a fewmoments. Before you go, I want to explain the situation to you. Thematter on hand, as you may guess, is the case of that scoundrelEbbington, and, as he will be present, she thinks it best that alittle precaution should be observed."

  "In what way do you mean?" I answered. "Of course I am ready to doanything she may wish, but I'd like to have my instructions clearlyexplained to me first."

  "Well, I have been commissioned to inform you that she thinks it wouldbe better, in case of accident, that Ebbington should suppose she hasabducted you as well as himself. That is to say, instead of being herguest on board the schooner, you are her prisoner. Do you understand?"

  "Perfectly! She is afraid lest any harm should occur to me, when Ileave her yacht, by reason of my association with her! It is like herthoughtfulness."

  "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 thefurther end, the bulldog, as usual, at her feet. She held a packet ofpapers in her hand which, previous to our arrival, it was evident shehad been perusing. At the other end, near the companion-ladder, but onthe starboard side, between two sailors, stood the prisoner,Ebbington. He looked, as well he might, hopelessly miserable. Heopened his eyes in astonishment when he saw me enter. I, however,crossed the cabin with Walworth and stood on the port side withoutletting him see that I recognised him. Then solemn silence fell uponus all for nearly a minute. While it lasted Alie sat with her chin onher hand staring steadfastly at Ebbington. Under her gaze, he loweredhis eyes, and when I noticed that his fingers twined convulsively overand round each other, I could imagine the state of his mind. Thefellow 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'spurr.

  "Mr. Ebbington," she said, "do you know me?"

  He did not answer, but I saw the first finger and thumb of his righthand clutch at his trouser leg and hold it tight. That action was moresignificant than any words. Again she spoke:

  "Mr. Ebbington," she said, "my trusted servant, my faithful friend, myhonourable 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 andtell 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 faultof her own, found herself at enmity with the world. She hadnecessarily to be continually moving from place to place, and to bealways on her guard against betrayal. The better, therefore, toconduct her business, she engaged a man to reside in a certain placeand to supply her, from time to time, with certain importantinformation. The man was poor, she made him rich; he had nothing, shegave him everything; he was despised, she made him honoured; he was introuble, she saved him, not once, but twice, and made him happy. You,Mr. Ebbington, who are such an honourable man, would think that thatman would have been grateful, wouldn't you? Well, he pretended to be,and perhaps for a little time he really was. But his feelings soonunderwent a change towards his benefactress. When he had money hewanted more; he knew his employer's secret, and at last, as abrilliant finale, he resolved to trade upon it. Then what idea do youthink came into that faithful servant's mind? You will never guess.Why! neither more nor less than the betrayal of his benefactress toher enemies. And for what reward, think you? Millions? A million? Forhalf a million? A quarter? No! no! For the miserable sum of fivethousand pounds. It seems incredible that a man could be so foolishand so base, doesn't it? But, nevertheless, it is true. Perhaps hethought the woman, having escaped so often, must inevitably be caughtbefore long, and, being a business man, he remembered the old adagethat 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' At any rate, hewent to the authorities,--this noble, trustworthy, grateful man,--andlike Judas, proffered his perfidy for a price. But he was bargainingwithout his host--or hostess. For if he could be so clever, the womancould be cleverer still. She was warned in time, and thereupon hatcheda counterplot for his destruction. How well that plot has succeeded, Idon't think I need tell you, Mr. Ebbington. Dr. De Normanville, I amexceedingly sorry that you should have been drawn into it too. But,under the circumstances, you will see that it was quite impossible forme to leave you behind to give evidence against me. You need have nofear, however. If you will pass your solemn word to me that you willreveal nothing concerning me or my actions when you go back tocivilisation, I will trust you so far as to give you your freedomagain, and on the first possible opportunity. Do you think you can letme 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 worsethan useless for me to resist. I will give you that promise, ofcourse."

  "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 foryou. Even death seems too good for such a contemptible creature. Letme tell you that only three months ago I hanged a man for murder--afar less serious offence in my eyes than yours. Why should I spareyou? If I were vindictively disposed, I should recollect how you spokeof me the other evening. Do you remember?"

  "I did not know to whom I was speaking," the wretched man answeredhoarsely.

  "That is a very poor excuse," Alie replied, with withering scorn."Think of the baseness of what you said! However, it shall be countedas 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, shesaid:

  "The mail boat is evidently in sight. Were your i
nstructions explicitto the men on board her? Do you think they thoroughly understand whatwork they have to do?"

  "Thoroughly," he answered, "I schooled them myself! There will be nobungling, you may rest assured. Matheson is in command, and he hasnever failed us yet."

  "In what capacities did they ship?"

  "Matheson as a missionary bound for Shanghai, Calderman as a touristfor Nagasaki, Burns as a tea merchant for Fu-Chow, Alderney as anewspaper correspondent to the East generally, Braham as an Americanmill owner travelling home via Yokohama and San Francisco, Balder asan 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, afterseeing our signal of distress, Matheson and Balder will make an excuseand get upon the bridge; once there they will cover the officer of thewatch with their revolvers, and do the same for the skipper if he isthere, or directly he comes on deck. They will then compel him toheave to. Burns by this time will have taken his station at the firstsaloon companion ladder, Alderney doing the same at the second;Calderman will be at the engine-room door, and Braham at thefo'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 amsincerely obliged to you."

  A flush of pleasure rose on the man's usually sallow cheek. He did notanswer, however, only bowed and went on deck. Then Alie turned to me.

  "Dr. De Normanville," she said, "I have not yet thanked you for yourhelp in this last adventure; without your assistance I don't knowwhether I could possibly have brought it to such a successful issue."

  "You must not thank me," I answered. "Is it possible that you canimagine I would have let that scoundrel betray you? Alie, you know howmuch I----But there, I have given you my promise, so I must not saywhat I want to do."

  She took my hand and looked into my face with a sweet smile that wasvery 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 oftenas you please. In the meantime we must get to business. Will you comeon deck and see this comedy played out, or would you rather remaindown here?"

  "I should like to go on deck with you," I answered, and we accordinglywent 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 rearedtheir graceful heads, now hung a raffle of broken timber anddisordered cordage. Forrard of the foremast the port bulwark wascompletely broken down, or appeared to be, while over the side from ithung 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 theappearance of a complete wreck. But the meaning of it all was whatpuzzled me. However, I had not very long to wait before I receivedenlightenment.

  Alie had gone aft, and was now leaning against the port bulwarkwatching, with a glass, the movements of a large steamer fast risingon the horizon. I strolled up just in time to hear her say to Walworthand the officer of the watch, who were both watching it:

  "She is steering directly for us. Run up the English ensign tohalf-mast, Mr. Patterson, and, when you think she's near enough, throwout more urgent signals for assistance."

  Her orders were carefully obeyed, and before very long the vessel wasnear enough for us to distinguish her answering pennant. The wind hadcompletely dropped by this time, and the sea was as smooth as glass.

  When the vessel was scarcely more than two miles distant, Alie turnedto her chief officer, and said:

  "I think she's close enough now. Tell her that we're going to send aboat."

  While she was speaking a string of flags had broken out upon the mailboat.

  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 toNagasaki.' He is one of the directors of the company, and that willinduce them to give us their immediate attention, or I shall be verymuch surprised."

  She was quite right, for no sooner had the message been decipheredthan 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, whosename I have said was Patterson, went forrard, and within three minutesAlie's own gig was manned and overboard. Walworth, I noticed, was incommand 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 miledistant. She presented a handsome picture as she lay there, her greatbulk riding upon the smooth water as securely as if it would bepossible for her to defy the elements, whatever storm might rage.

  With the aid of the strong glass I was using I could plainlydistinguish her, and from the scarcity of passengers on her decks itwas evident that something unusual was occurring on board. Presentlyour boat got alongside and the gangway was lowered. A consultationseemed to be going on upon the bridge, and after a few moments a manwas seen to ascend and descend the steps leading to it. Five minuteslater two men passed down the gangway, and once more our boat put offto us.

  When she had overcome about half the distance I chanced to lookforrard. To my surprise the raffle, which a few moments before hadbeen disfiguring the side, was gone, and even the bulwark itself hadrecovered its proper shape and comeliness. Moreover, the tarpaulinwhich had hitherto covered the centre of the deck was being removed,and by the time the boat had completed three parts of the distancethat separated us from the steamer, a funnel had been uncovered anderected. 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 receivethe boat when she comes alongside."

  As she finished speaking the officer blew a whistle, and immediatelythe crew, who had hitherto been ordered to remain below, appeared ondeck and placed themselves at their respective posts. Against theforemast I noticed a curious mechanical contrivance, the use of whichat any other time I should have inquired. Now, however, there was alook upon Alie's face that warned me not to be too inquisitive.

  At last the boat came alongside, the gangway was lowered, and a momentlater Walworth, accompanied by a big, clumsily built man with a heavysensual 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 hadfallen. I glanced at Alie, as he appeared on deck, to discover thatshe was regarding him out of half-closed eyes, just as she had lookedat Kwong Fung before she had ordered him off to execution, and atEbbington 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 takeup your residence among us. It is my desire to offer you a warmwelcome 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 placebeside the newly erected funnel, "I have sent for you in order thatyou may see for yourself how I show my appreciation of those whom theworld, to my thinking, does not properly reward. Mr. Barkmansworth, incase you may not know in whose presence you now stand, let me informyou 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 whenshe fell into your hands, as you flogged those unfortunate South SeaIslanders. In other words, Mr. Barkmansworth, I am the Beautiful WhiteDevil."

  Though
he must have realised his position long before she had finishedspeaking, the unfortunate man now, for the first time, showed signs offear. Indeed, it is my opinion he would have fallen to the ground hadnot Walworth upheld him on one side, the coxswain of the boat whichhad brought him doing the same upon the other. Alie continued in thesame quiet voice:

  "Tell me, you sir, have you anything to say why I should not treat youas you deserve? So far you have craftily managed to escape punishmentfrom your own authorities, but you must see that cunning will notavail you here. If you have anything to say, say it quickly, for Icannot keep your boat waiting."

  The wretched man took a step forward, and, the eyes of all on boardbeing 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 whatyou would do to me when you caught me, and also because no one elsewill see justice done to you."

  "You dare not punish me," he cried. "You shall not! I warn you I am inhigh authority, and I'll exterminate you as I would a rat, if you dareto lay a hand upon me."

  "So you try to bluster, do you?" said Alie quietly. "Very good. Inthat case I need have no scruples at all in carrying out my plan. Youflogged those poor women in Yakilavi, and that man at Tuarani, todeath. I will be more merciful. But flogged you shall be. Men, doyour duty!"

  The words were hardly out of her mouth before four of her crew, whohad evidently been instructed in the parts they were to play, sprangforward, seized him by his arms and legs, and bore him swiftly fromthe gangway to the object whose use I had been wondering. Once therehis feet were firmly secured, the upper part of his body was strippedto the skin, while, at a signal, a powerful native stepped forwardfrom 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, thesecond put another alongside it, and by the time the twelve strokeshad been administered the blood had begun to flow. After the first cutthe wretched culprit no longer attempted to comport himself like aman; he struggled, whined, and finally bellowed outright. When thenumber was completed, the native paused and looked at Alie. Her facewas turned away, but it was as hard as iron.

  "You have so far had six lashes for each of the women you killed," shesaid; "now you will have six more for the man you butchered, and sixmore on top of them to teach you to respect myself and the name ofWoman. Go on!"

  By this time the wretched man's pluck was entirely gone. He entreatedto be let off, offering large sums of money, to be faithfully paiddirectly he got ashore, if she would only abate one lash. He might,however, as well have appealed to a stone: the second twelve were dulyadministered, and he was then cast loose. He fell in a heap on thedeck, and for some time refused to budge; but, on being promised anadditional half-dozen if he did not do as he was ordered, he soonfound 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 whosepart it had been to ensure the stoppage of the vessel and the captureof the passenger. Steam was up by this time, and within five minutesof raising the boat to the davits we were under weigh. In an hour wehad lost sight of the mail boat, and were making as straight a courseas possible back to the settlement.

  That evening I received an invitation from Alie to dine with her inher cabin, and, as may be supposed, I accepted it. But as the ladywhom I had only known as Mrs. Beecher, and who had been confined toher 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 ourfavourite 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 toobadly of me."

  "Make me think badly of you, Alie?" I cried. "That would beimpossible. What _have_ I seen? Let me think. First, I have seen youcollecting about you and befriending many of the world's unfortunates;second, I have seen you toiling day and night, without thought ofyourself, for the welfare of the lives you loved; and, last, I haveseen you always just and forbearing, a good ruler and a firm friend.Is there anything in any of those circumstances to make me think badlyof you? No, no!"

  "You are too generous to me, I fear. However, to-day you have seen mein the character of Retribution; you have seen that I can bite as wellas bark. I should be sorry if I lost your good esteem. Now, withregard to Mr. Ebbington, I want to consult with you as to the course Ishould pursue with him."

  "I hardly know," I answered. "I have been thinking it over thisafternoon. The man is already nearly mad with fear; that flogging thismorning was an awful lesson to him."

  "I hope it was; but cannot you see the position I am placed in? Afterall that has passed between us, I cannot let him go out into the worldagain, and yet I do not want to keep him a perpetual prisoner at thesettlement. 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, wedismissed the subject for the present. Alie was looking across the seaastern.

  "We're in for a spell of bad weather, I fear," she said. "Do you seethat bank of cloud away to the northeast? I hope it won't delay ourgetting back to the settlement. I have been watching it coming up, andI don't like the look of it at all."

  We walked along together to the bridge, where she gave the officer ofthe watch some instructions. This done she turned to me and held outher hand.

  "Good-night!" she said; "I am going below now to try and get somesleep in case we are to have trouble later. I have left orders that Iam to be called if anything unusual transpires."

  "Good-night!" I answered, when I had walked to the companion-ladderwith her.

  As soon as she had left me I lit another cigar, and, seating myself onthe rail, fell to smoking and dreaming of the future. Every hour wasbringing the time closer for me to bid the woman I loved good-bye, andto go back to England. After that, for a year, I told myself, I wouldwork hard at my profession, and at the end of the time stipulated, shewould arrive to be my wife. What my life was to be after that I couldnot of course determine, but however it should turn out, I would beprepared for it, and with Alie for my wife how could I fail to behappy? As soon as my cigar was finished, I tossed the stump overboardand retired to my cabin.

  On entering it I thought I heard a noise, and as it turned out I wasnot mistaken. To my surprise the occupant was none other than theprisoner, Ebbington. He seemed a trifle disconcerted at my catchinghim, and began to apologise profusely for his presence there.

  "I came in here to consult you professionally, Dr. De Normanville," hemanaged to get out at last. "But you were not in, so I thought I'dwait. Can you do anything for me? I am not at all well."

  "Sit down," I said, pointing to the locker, "and tell me how youfeel."

  There was something in the poor wretch's face that, much as I detestedhim, touched a chord of pity in my heart. Thus encouraged, hedelivered himself of his symptoms, and asked to be treated. Longbefore he had finished his tale, however, I had convinced myself thatthere was nothing, save fright, the matter with him. But I heard himout, and then said:

  "Now own up, Ebbington. What was the real reason of this visit? Foryou know very well you're no more ill than I am."

  He stared for a moment, and then seeing it would be useless arguingwith me, said:

  "No, I'm not ill, but I want to ask you a question. What does thiswoman intend doing with me? It's all very well for her to pretend sheabducted you; I know better. You were in her confidence at Singaporeand you're in it now. For Heaven's sake don't play with me--tell methe truth. Is she going to flog me as she flogged that poor devil thismorning, or is she going to hang me, as I hear she did Kwong Fung thepirate?"

  "I know no more about what she intends doing with
you than you do," Ianswered; "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 mustown, I think, whatever you do get won't be too much for you. You wouldhave betrayed her, if you could have managed it, without a secondthought. Now, if I had been in her place--well, I don't somehow thinkI 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 featuresconvulsed with rage, deliberately spat in my face. I knocked him down,and, having done so, picked him up and threw him outside into thesaloon. I then locked my cabin door and went to bed.

  I don't suppose, however, I had been asleep more than an hour before Iwas awakened by a loud hammering at my door. Thinking that the shipmust be in danger, I sprang from my bunk and unlocked it as quickly aspossible. 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 armand 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 ofthe vessel, at the further end of the saloon. I found the patientstretched on his back in his bunk, holding an empty laudanum bottle inhis hand.

  One moment's examination showed me that life was extinct; he had beendead nearly an hour. In this fashion had Alie's difficulty been solvedfor her, and, perhaps, all things considered, though it seems rather acruel thing to say, in the best possible manner for all parties.

  "Is there no chance at all of saving him?" asked Walworth, who hadbeen watching me intently during my examination.

  "Not one!" I answered. "Ebbington's gone where even the BeautifulWhite Devil's vengeance won't reach him. Poor devil! Fancy cominginto the world for such a fate as this!"

  "Humph! Frightened out of his senses, I expect. Well, now, I suppose Imust go and tell her ladyship. I'm sorry, doctor, to have troubled youin 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 becameperfectly plain to me when I examined my medical chest--and that was,Ebbington's reason for being in my berth.