Fair Margaret

by H. Rider Haggard

  CHAPTER XII

  FATHER HENRIQUES

  The night came down swiftly, for a great stormcloud, in which jaggedlightning played, blotted out the last rays of the sunk sun. Then, withrolling thunder and torrents of rain, the tempest burst over the sinkingship. The mariners could no longer see to steer, they knew not whitherthey were going, only the lessened seas told them that they had enteredthe harbour mouth. Presently the _San Antonio_ struck upon a rock, andthe shock of it threw Castell, who was bending over the senseless shapeof Margaret, against the bulwarks and dazed him.

  There arose a great cry of "The vessel founders!" and water seemed to bepouring on the deck, though whether this were from the sea or from thedeluge of the falling rain he did not know. Then came another cry of"Get out the boat, or we perish!" and a sound of men working in thedarkness. The ship swung round and round and settled down. There was aflash of lightning, and by it Castell saw Betty holding the unconsciousMargaret in her strong arms. She saw him also, and screamed to him tocome to the boat. He started to obey, then remembered Peter. Peter mightnot be dead; what should he say to Margaret if he left him there todrown? He crept to where he lay upon the deck, and called to a sailorwho rushed by to help him. The man answered with a curse, and vanishedinto the deep gloom. So, unaided, Castell essayed the task of liftingthis heavy body, but his right arm being almost useless, could do nomore than drag it into a sitting posture, and thus, by slow degrees,across the deck to where he imagined the boat to be.

  But here there was no boat, and now the sound of voices came from theother side of the ship, so he must drag it back again. By the time hereached the starboard bulwarks all was silent, and another flash oflightning showed him the boat, crowded with people, upon the crest of awave, fifty yards or more from him, whilst others, who had not been ableto enter, clung to its stern and gunwale. He shouted aloud, but noanswer came, either because none were left living on the ship, orbecause in all that turmoil they could not hear him.

  Then Castell, knowing that he had done everything that he could, draggedPeter under the overhanging deck of the forward tower, which gave somelittle shelter from the rain, and, laying his bleeding head upon hisknees so that it might be lifted above the wash of the waters, sathimself down and began to say prayers after the Jewish fashion whilstawaiting his end.

  That he was about to die he had no doubt, for the waist of the ship, ashe could perceive by the lightning, was almost level with the sea,which, however, here in the harbour was now much calmer than it hadbeen. This he knew, for although the rain still fell steadily and thewind howled above, no spray broke over them. Deeper and deeper sank thecaravel as she drifted onwards, till at length the water washed over herdeck from side to side, so that Castell was obliged to seat himself onthe second step of the ladder down which Peter had charged up on theSpaniards. A while passed, and he became aware that the _San Antonio_had ceased to move, and wondered what this might mean. The storm hadrolled away now, and he could see the stars; also with it went the wind.The night grew warmer, too, which was well for him, for otherwise, wetas he was, he must have perished. Still it was a long night, the longestthat ever he had spent, nor did any sleep come to relieve his misery ormake his end easier, for the pain from the arrow wound in his arm kepthim awake.

  So there he sat, wondering if Margaret was dead, as Peter seemed to bedead, and if so, whether their spirits were watching him now, watchingand waiting till he joined them. He thought, too, of the days of hisprosperity until he had seen the accursed face of d'Aguilar, and of allthe worthless wealth that was his, and what would become of it. He hopedeven that Margaret was gone; better that she should be dead than live onin shame and misery. If there were a God, how came it that He couldallow such things to happen in the world? Then he remembered how, whenJob sat in just such an evil case, his wife had invited him to curse Godand die, and how the patriarch had answered to her, "What! shall wereceive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"Remembered, too, after all his troubles, what had been the end of thatjust man, and therefrom took some little comfort. After this a stuporcrept over him, and his last thought was that the vessel had sunk andhe was departing into the deeps of death.

  * * * * *

  Listen! A voice called, and Castell awoke to see that it was growinglight, and that before him supporting himself on the rail of the ladder,stood the tall form of Peter--Peter with a ghastly, blood-stainedcountenance, chattering teeth, and glazed, unnatural eyes.

  "Do you live, John Castell?" said that hollow voice, "or are we bothdead and in hell?"

  "Nay," he answered, "I live yet; we are still this side of doom."

  "What has chanced?" asked Peter. "I have been lost in a greatblackness."

  Castell told him briefly.

  Peter listened till he had done, then staggered to the bulwark rail andlooked about him, making no comment.

  "I can see nothing," he said presently--"the mist is too deep; but Ithink we must lie near the shore. Come, help me. Let us try to findvictuals; I am faint."

  Castell rose, stretched his cramped limbs, and going to him, placed hisuninjured arm round Peter's middle, and thus supported him towards thestern of the ship, where he guessed that the main cabin would be. Theyfound and entered it, a small place, but richly furnished, with a carvedcrucifix screwed to its sternmost wall. A piece of pickled meat and someof the hard wheaten cakes such as sailors use, lay upon the floor wherethey had been cast from the table, while in a swinging rack above stoodflagons of wine and of water. Castell found a horn mug, and filling itwith wine gave it to Peter, who drank greedily, then handed it back tohim, who also drank. Afterwards they cut off portions of the meat withtheir knives, and swallowed them, though Peter did this with greatdifficulty because of the hurt to his head and neck. Then they drankmore wine, and, somewhat refreshed, left the place.

  The mist was still so thick that they could see nothing, and thereforethey went into the wreck of that cabin which had been occupied byMargaret and Betty, sat themselves down upon the bed wherein they hadslept, and waited. Resting thus, Peter noted that this cabin had beenfitted sumptuously as though for the occupation of a great lady, foreven the vessels were of silver, and in a wardrobe, whereof the doorswere open, hung beautiful gowns. Also, there were a few written books,on the outer leaves of one of which Margaret had set down some notes anda prayer of her own making, petitioning that Heaven would protect her;that Peter and her father might be living and learn the truth of whathad befallen, and that it would please the saints to deliver her, and tobring them together again. This book Peter thrust away within his jerkinto study at his leisure.

  Now the sun rose suddenly above the eastern range of the mountainswherewith they were surrounded. Leaving the cabin, they climbed to theforecastle tower and gazed about them, to find that they were in aland-locked harbour, and stranded not more than a hundred yards fromthe shore. By tying a piece of iron to a rope and letting it down intothe sea, they discovered that they lay upon a ridge, and that therewere but four feet of water beneath their bow, and, having learnedthis, determined to wade to the beach. First, however, they went back tothe cabin and filled a leather bag they found with food and wine. Then,by an afterthought, they searched for the place where d'Aguilar slept,and discovered it between decks; also a strong-box which they made shiftto break open with an iron bar.

  In it was a great store of gold, placed there, no doubt, for the paymentof the crew, and with it some jewels. The jewels they left, but themoney they divided and stowed it about them to serve their needs shouldthey come safe ashore. Then they washed each other's wounds and boundthem up, and descending the ladder which had been thrown over the ship'sside when the Spaniards escaped in the boat, let themselves down intothe sea and bade farewell to the _San Antonio_.

  By now the wind had fallen and the sun shone brightly, warming theirchilled blood; also the water, which was quite calm, did not rise muchabove their middles, so that they were able--the bottom being smooth
andsandy--to wade without trouble to the shore. As they drew near to itthey saw people gathering there, and guessed that they came from thelittle town of Motril, which lay up the river that here ran into thebay. Also they saw other things--namely, the boat of the _San Antonio_upon the shore, and rejoiced to know that it had come safe to land, forit rested upon its keel with but little water in its bottom. Lying hereand there also were the corpses of drowned men, five or six of them: nodoubt those sailors who had swum after the boat or clung to itsgunwale, but among these bodies none were those of women.

  When at length they reached the shore, very few people were left there,for of the rest some had begun to wade out towards the ship to plunderher, whilst others had gone to fetch boats for the same purpose.Therefore, the company who awaited them consisted only of women,children, three old men, and a priest. The last, a hungry-eyed,smooth-faced, sly-looking man, advanced to greet them courteously,bidding them thank God for their escape.

  "That we do indeed," said Castell; "but tell us, Father, where are ourcompanions?"

  "There are some of them," answered the priest, pointing to the deadbodies; "the rest, with the two senoras, started two hours ago forGranada. The Marquis of Morella, from whom I hold this cure, told usthat his ship had sunk, and that no one else was left alive, and, as themist hid everything, we believed him. That is why we were not herebefore, for," he added significantly, "we are poor folk, to whom thesaints send few wrecks."

  "How did they go to Granada, Father?" asked Castell. "On foot?"

  "Nay, Senor, they took all the horses and mules in the village by force,though the marquis promised that he would return them and pay for theirhire later, and we trusted him because we must. The ladies wept much,and prayed us to take them in and keep them; but this the marquis wouldnot allow, although they seemed so sad and weary. God send that we seeour good beasts back again," he added piously.

  "Have you any left for us? We have a little money, and can pay for themif they be not too dear."

  "Not one, Senor--not one; the place has been cleared even down to themares in foal. But, indeed you seem scarcely fit to ride at present, whohave undergone so much," and he pointed to Peter's wounded head andCastell's bandaged arm. "Why do you not stay and rest awhile?"

  "Because I am the father of one of the senoras, and doubtless she thinksme drowned, and this senor is her affianced husband," answeredCastell briefly.

  "Ah!" said the priest, looking at them with interest, "then whatrelation to her is the marquis? Well, perhaps I had better not ask, forthis is no confessional, is it? I understand that you are anxious, forthat great grandee has the reputation of being gay--an excellent son ofthe Church, but without doubt very gay," and he shook his shaven headand smiled. "But come up to the village, Senors, where you can rest andhave your hurts attended to; afterwards we will talk."

  "We had best go," said Castell in English to Peter. "There are no horseson this beach, and we cannot walk to Granada in our state."

  Peter nodded, and, led by the priest, whose name they discovered to beHenriques, they started.

  On the crest of the hill a few hundred paces away they turned and lookedback, to see that every able-bodied inhabitant of the village seemed bynow to be engaged in plundering the stranded vessel.

  "They are paying themselves for the mules and horses," said FrayHenriques with a shrug. "So I see," answered Castell, "but you----"and he stopped.

  "Oh, do not be afraid for me," replied the priest with a cunning littlesmile. "The Church does not loot; but in the end the Church gets hershare. These are a pious folk. Only when he learns that the caravel didnot sink after all, I fear the marquis will demand an account of us."

  Then they limped on over the hill, and presently saw the white-walledand red-roofed village beneath them on the banks of the river.

  Five minutes later their guide stopped at a door in a roughly pavedstreet, which he opened with a key.

  "My humble dwelling, when I am in residence here, and not at Granada,"he said, "in which I shall be honoured to receive you. Look, near by isthe church."

  Then they entered a patio, or courtyard, where some orange-trees grewround a fountain of water, and a life-sized crucifix stood against thewall. As he passed this sacred emblem Peter bowed and crossed himself,an example that Castell did not follow. The priest looked athim sharply.

  "Surely, Senor," he said, "you should do reverence to the symbol of ourSaviour, who, by His mercy, have just been saved from the death whichthe marquis told me had overtaken both of you."

  "My right arm is hurt," answered Castell readily, "so I must do thatreverence in my heart."

  "I understand, Senor; but if you are a stranger to this country, whichyou do not seem to be, who speak its tongue so well, with yourpermission I will warn you that here it is wise not to confine yourreverences to the heart. Of late the directors of the Inquisition havebecome somewhat strict, and expect that the outward forms should beobserved as well. Indeed, when I was a familiar of the Holy Office atSeville, I have seen men burned for the neglect of them. You have twoarms and a head, Senor, also a knee that can be bent."

  "Pardon me," answered Castell to this lecture. "I was thinking of othermatters. The carrying off of my daughter at the hands of your patron,the Marquis of Morella, for instance."

  Then, making no reply, the priest led them through his sitting-room to abed-chamber with high barred windows, that, although it was large andlofty, reminded them somehow of a prison cell. Here he left them, sayingthat he would go to find the local surgeon, who, it seemed, was a barberalso, if, indeed, he were not engaged in "lightening the ship,"recommending them meanwhile to take off their wet clothes and liedown to rest.

  A woman having brought hot water and some loose garments in which towrap themselves while their own were drying, they undressed and washedand afterwards, utterly worn out, threw themselves down and fell asleepupon the beds, having first hidden away their gold in the food bag,which Peter placed beneath his pillow. Two hours later or more they wereawakened by the arrival of Father Henriques and the barber-surgeon,accompanied by the woman-servant, and who brought them back theirclothes cleaned and dried.

  When the surgeon saw Peter's hurt to the left side of his neck andshoulder, which now were black, swollen, and very stiff, he shook hishead, and said that time and rest alone could cure it, and that he musthave been born under a fortunate star to have escaped with his life,which, save for his steel cap and leather jerkin, he would never havedone. As no bones were broken, however, all that he could do was todress the parts with some soothing ointment and cover them with cleancloths. This finished, he turned to Castell's wound, that was throughthe fleshy part of the right forearm, and, having syringed it out withwarm water and oil, bound it up, saying that he would be well in a week.He added drily that the gale must have been fiercer even than hethought, since it could blow an arrow through a man's arm--a saying atwhich the priest pricked up his ears.

  To this Castell made no answer, but producing a piece of Morella's gold,offered it to him for his services, asking him at the same time toprocure them mules or horses, if he could. The barber promised to try todo so, and being well pleased with his fee, which was a great one forMotril, said that he would see them again in the evening, and if hecould hear of any beasts would tell them of it then. Also he promised tobring them some clothes and cloaks of Spanish make, since those they hadwere not fit to travel in through that country, being soiled andblood-stained.

  After he had gone, and the priest with him, who was busy seeing to thedivision of the spoils from the ship and making sure of his own share,the servant, a good soul, brought them soup, which they drank. Then theylay down again upon the beds and talked together as to what theyshould do.

  Castell was downhearted, pointing out that they were still as far fromMargaret as ever, who was now once more lost to them, and in the hand ofMorella, whence they could scarcely hope to snatch her. It would seemalso that she was being taken to the Moorish city of Granada, if shewere not
already there, where Christian law and justice had no power.

  When he had heard him out, Peter, whose heart was always stout,answered:

  "God has as much power in Granada as in London, or on the seas whence Hehas saved us. I think, Sir, that we have great reason to be thankful toGod, seeing that we are both alive to-day, who might so well have beendead, and that Margaret is alive also, and, as we believe, unharmed.Further, this Spanish thief of women is, it would seem, a strange man,that is, if there be any truth in his words, for although he could stealher, it appears that he cannot find it in his heart to do her violence,but is determined to win her only with her own consent, which I thinkwill not be had readily. Also, he shrinks from murder, who, when hecould have butchered us, did not do so."

  "I have known such men before," said Castell, "who hold some sinsvenial, but others deadly to their souls. It is a fruit ofsuperstition."

  "Then, Sir, let us pray that Morella's superstitions may remain strong,and get us to Granada as quickly as we can, for there, remember, youhave friends, both among the Jews and Moors, who have traded with theplace for many years, and these may give us shelter. Therefore, thoughthings are bad, still they might be worse."

  "That is so," answered Castell more cheerfully, "if, indeed, she hasbeen taken to Granada; and as to this, we will try to learn somethingfrom the barber or the Father Henriques."

  "I put no faith in that priest, a sly fellow who is in the pay ofMorella," answered Peter.

  Then they were silent, being still very weary, and having nothing moreto say, but much to think about.

  About sundown the doctor came back and dressed their wounds. He broughtwith him a stock of clothes of Spanish make, hats and two heavy cloaksfit to travel in, which they bought from him at a good price. Also, hesaid that he had two fine mules in the courtyard, and Castell went outto look at them. They were sorry beasts enough, being poor and wayworn,but as no others were to be had they returned to the room to talk as tothe price of them and their saddles. The chaffering was long, for heasked twice their value, which Castell said poor shipwrecked men couldnot pay; but in the end they struck a bargain, under which the barberwas to keep and feed the mules for the night, and bring them round nextmorning with a guide who would show them the road to Granada. Meanwhile,they paid him for the clothes, but not for the beasts.

  Also they tried to learn something from him about the Marquis ofMorella, but, like the Fray Henriques, the man was cunning, and kept hismouth shut, saying that it was ill for poor men like himself to chatterof the great, and that at Granada they could hear everything. So he wentaway, leaving some medicine for them to drink, and shortly afterwardsthe priest appeared.

  He was in high good-humour, having secured those jewels which they hadleft behind in the iron coffer as his share of the spoil of the ship.Taking note of him as he showed and fondled them, Castell added up theman, and concluded that he was very avaricious; one who hated thepoverty in which he had been reared, and would do much for money.Indeed, when he spoke bitterly of the thieves who had been at the ship'sstrong-box and taken nearly all the gold, Castell determined that hemust never know who those thieves were, lest they should meet with someaccident on their journey.

  At length the trinkets were put away, and the priest said that they mustsup with him, but lamented that he had no wine to give them, who wasforced to drink water; whereon Castell prayed him to procure a fewflasks of the best at their charges, which, nothing loth, he sent hisservant out to do.

  So, dressed in their new Spanish clothes, and having all the gold hiddenabout them in two money-belts that they had bought from the barber atthe same time, they went in to supper, which consisted of a Spanish dishcalled _olla podrida_--a kind of rich stew--bread, cheese, and fruit.Also the wine that they had bought was there, very good and strong, and,whilst taking but little of it themselves for fear they should fevertheir wounds, they persuaded Father Henriques to drink heartily, so thatin the end he forgot his cunning, and spoke with freedom. Then, seeingthat he was in a ripe humour, Castell asked him about the Marquis ofMorella, and how it happened that he had a house in the Moorish capitalof Granada.

  "Because he is half a Moor," answered the priest. "His father, it issaid, was the Prince of Viana, and his mother a lady of royal Moorishblood, from whom he inherited great wealth, and his lands and palace inGranada. There, too, he loves to dwell, who, although he is so good aChristian by faith, has many heathen tastes, and, like the Moors,surrounds himself with a seraglio of beautiful women, as I know, foroften I act as his chaplain, as in Granada there are no priests.Moreover, there is a purpose in all this, for, being partly of theirblood, he is accredited to the court of their sultan, Boabdil, byFerdinand and Isabella in whose interests he works in secret. For,strangers, you should know, if you do not know it already, that theirMajesties have for long been at war against the Moor, and purpose totake what remains of his kingdom from him, and make it Christian, asthey have already taken Malaga, and purified it by blood and fire fromthe accursed stain of infidelity."

  "Yes," said Castell, "we heard that in England, for I am a merchant whohave dealings with Granada, whither I am going on my affairs."

  "On what affairs then goes the senora, who you say is your daughter, andwhat is that story that the sailors told of, about a fight between the_San Antonio_ and an English ship, which indeed we saw in the offingyesterday? And why did the wind blow an arrow through your arm, friendMerchant? And how came it that you two were left aboard the caravel whenthe marquis and his people escaped?"

  "You ask many questions, holy Father. Peter, fill the glass of hisreverence; he drinks nothing who thinks that it is always Lent. Yourhealth, Father. Ah! well emptied. Fill it again, Peter, and pass me theflask. Now I will begin to answer you with the story of the shipwreck."And he commenced an endless tale of the winds and sails and rocks andmasts carried away, and of the English ship that tried to help theSpanish ship, and so forth, till at length the priest, whose glass Peterfilled whenever his head was turned, fell back in his chair asleep.

  "Now," whispered Peter in English across the table to Castell--"now Ithink that we had best go to bed, for we have learned much from thisholy spy--as I take him to be--and told little."

  So they crept away quietly to their chamber, and, having swallowed thedraught that the doctor had given them, said their prayers each in hisown fashion, locked the door, and lay down to rest as well as theirwounds and sore anxieties would allow them.