The Phantom Ship

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

  As every one descants upon the want of comfort in a prison, it is to bepresumed that there are no very comfortable ones. Certainly that towhich Philip and Krantz were ushered, had anything rather than the airof an agreeable residence. It was under the fort, with a very smallaperture looking towards the sea, for light and air. It was very hotand moreover destitute of all those little conveniences which add somuch to one's happiness in modern houses and hotels. In fact, itconsisted of four bare walls, and a stone floor, and that was all.

  Philip, who wished to make some inquiries relative to Amine, addressed,in Portuguese, the soldier who brought them down.

  "My good friend, I beg your pardon--"

  "I beg yours," replied the soldier, going out of the door, and lockingthem in.

  Philip leant gloomily against the wall; Krantz, more mercurial, walkedup and down three steps each way and turn.

  "Do you know what I am thinking of?" observed Krantz, after a pause inhis walk. "It is very fortunate that (lowering his voice) we have allour doubloons about us; if they don't search us, we may yet get away bybribing."

  "And I was thinking," rejoined Philip, "that I would sooner be here thanin company with that wretch Schriften, whose sight is poison to me."

  "I did not much admire the appearance of the Commandant; but I supposewe shall know more to-morrow."

  Here they were interrupted by the turning of the key, and the entranceof a soldier with a chatty of water, and a large dish of boiled rice.He was not the man who had brought them to the dungeon, and Philipaccosted him.

  "You have had hard work within these last two days?"

  "Yes, indeed! signor."

  "The natives forced us to join the expedition, and we escaped."

  "So I heard you say, signor."

  "They lost nearly a thousand men," said Krantz.

  "Holy St. Francis! I am glad of it."

  "They will be careful how they attack Portuguese in a hurry, I expect,"rejoined Krantz.

  "I think so," replied the soldier.

  "Did you lose many men?" ventured Philip, perceiving that the man wasloquacious.

  "Not ten of our own people. In the factory there were about a hundredof the natives, with some women and children; but that is of noconsequence."

  "You had a young European woman here, I understand," said Philip withanxiety; "one who was wrecked in a vessel--was she among those who werelost?"

  "Young woman!--Holy St. Francis. Yes, now I recollect. Why the factis--"

  "Pedro!" called a voice from above; the man stopped, put his fingers tohis lips, went out, and locked the door.

  "God of Heaven! give me patience," cried Philip; "but this is tootrying."

  "He will be down here again to-morrow morning," observed Krantz.

  "Yes! to-morrow morning but what an endless time will suspense make ofthe intervening hours."

  "I feel for you," replied Krantz; "but what can be done? The hours mustpass, though suspense draws them out into interminable years; but I hearfootsteps."

  Again the door was unlocked, and the first soldier made his appearance."Follow me--the Commandant would speak with you."

  This unexpected summons was cheerfully complied with by Philip and hiscompanion. They walked up the narrow stone steps, and at last foundthemselves in a small room in presence of the Commandant, with whom ourreaders have been already made acquainted. He was lolling on a smallsofa, his long sword lay on the table before him, and two young nativewomen were fanning him, one at his head, and the other at his feet.

  "Where did you get those dresses?" was the first interrogatory.

  "The natives, when they brought us prisoners from the island on which wehad saved ourselves, took away our clothes, and gave us these as apresent from their king."

  "And engaged you to serve in their fleet, in the attack of this fort?"

  "They forced us," replied Krantz; "for, as there was no war between ournations, we objected to this service: notwithstanding which, they put uson board, to make the common people believe that they were assisted byEuropeans."

  "How am I to know the truth of this?"

  "You have our word in the first place, and our escape from them in thesecond."

  "You belonged to a Dutch East-Indiaman. Are you officers or commonseamen?"

  Krantz, who considered that they were less likely to be detained if theyconcealed their rank on board, gave Philip a slight touch with hisfinger as he replied, "We are inferior officers. I was third mate, andthis man was pilot."

  "And your captain, where is he?"

  "I--I cannot say whether he is alive or dead."

  "Had you no woman on board?"

  "Yes! the captain had his wife."

  "What has become of her?"

  "She is supposed to have perished on a portion of the raft which broke adrift."

  "Ha!" replied the Commandant, who remained silent for some time.

  Philip looked at Krantz, as much as to say, "Why all this subterfuge;"but Krantz gave him a sign to leave him to speak.

  "You say you don't know whether your captain is alive or dead?"

  "I do."

  "Now, suppose I was to give you your liberty, would you have anyobjection to sign a paper, stating his death, and swearing to the truthof it?"

  Philip stared at the Commandant, and then at Krantz.

  "I see no objection, exactly; except that if it were sent home toHolland we might get into trouble. May I ask, Signor Commandant, whyyou wish for such a paper?"

  "No!" roared the little man, in a voice like thunder. "I will give noreason, but that I wish it; that is enough; take your choice--thedungeon, or liberty and a passage by the first vessel which calls."

  "I don't doubt--in fact--I'm sure, he must be dead by this time,"replied Krantz, drawling out the words in a musing manner. "Commandant,will you give us till to-morrow morning to make our calculations?"

  "Yes, you may go."

  "But not to the dungeon, Commandant," replied Krantz; "we are notprisoners certainly; and, if you wish us to do you a favour, surely youwill not ill-treat us?"

  "By your own acknowledgment you have taken up arms against the mostChristian King; however, you may remain at liberty for the night--to-morrow morning will decide whether or no you are prisoners."

  Philip and Krantz thanked the little Commandant for his kindness, andthen hastened away to the ramparts. It was now dark, and the moon hadnot yet made her appearance. They sat there on the parapet enjoying thebreeze, and feeling the delight of liberty even after their shortincarceration; but, near to them, soldiers were either standing orlying, and they spoke but in whispers.

  "What could he mean by requiring us to give a certificate of thecaptain's death; and why did you answer as you did?"

  "Philip Vanderdecken, that I have often thought of the fate of yourbeautiful wife, you may imagine; and when I heard that she was broughthere, I then trembled for her. What must she appear, lovely as she is,when placed in comparison with the women of this country? And thatlittle Commandant--is he not the very person who would be taken with hercharms? I denied our condition, because I thought he would be morelikely to allow us our liberty as humble individuals, than as captainand first-mate; particularly as he suspects that we led on the Ternatepeople to the attack; and when he asked for a certificate of your death,I immediately imagined that he wanted it in order to induce Amine tomarry him. But where is she? is the question. If we could only findout that soldier, we might gain some information."

  "Depend upon it, she is here," replied Philip, clenching his hands.

  "I am inclined to think so," said Krantz; "that she is alive, I feelassured."

  The conversation was continued until the moon rose, and threw her beamsover the tumbling waters. Philip and Krantz turned their faces towardthe sea, and leant over the battlements in silence; after some timetheir reveries were disturbed by a person coming up to them with a"_Buenos noctes, signor_."

  Kran
tz immediately recognised the Portuguese soldier, whose conversationwith him had been interrupted.

  "Good night, my friend! We thank Heaven that you have no longer to turnthe key upon us."

  "Yes, I'm surprised!" replied the soldier, in a low tone.--"OurCommandant is fond of exercising his power; he rules here withoutappeal, that I can tell you."

  "He is not within hearing of us now," replied Krantz. "It is a lovelyspot this to live in! How long have you been in this country?"

  "Now thirteen years, signor, and I'm tired of it. I have a wife andchildren in Oporto--that is, I _had_--but whether they are alive or not,who can tell?"

  "Do you not expect to return and see them?"

  "Return--signor! no Portuguese soldier like me ever returns. We areenlisted for five years, and we lay our bones here."

  "That is hard indeed."

  "Hard, signor," replied the soldier in a low whisper; "it is cruel andtreacherous. I have often thought of putting the muzzle of my arquebuseto my head; but while there's life there's hope."

  "I pity you, my good fellow," rejoined Krantz; "look you, I have twogold pieces left--take one; you may be able to send it home to your poorwife."

  "And here is one of mine, too, my good fellow," added Philip, puttinganother in his hand.

  "Now may all the saints preserve you, signors," replied the soldier,"for it is the first act of kindness shown to me for many years--notthat my wife and children have much chance of ever receiving it."

  "You were speaking about a young European woman when we were in thedungeon," observed Krantz, after a pause.

  "Yes, signor, she was a very beautiful creature. Our commandant wasvery much in love with her."

  "Where is she now?"

  "She went away to Goa, in company with a priest who knew her, FatherMathias, a good old man; he gave me absolution when he was here."

  "Father Mathias!" exclaimed Philip; but a touch from Krantz checked him.

  "You say the commandant loved her?"

  "Oh yes: the little man was quite mad about her; and had it not been forthe arrival of Father Mathias, he would never have let her go, that I'msure of, although she was another man's wife."

  "Sailed for Goa, you said?"

  "Yes, in a ship which called here. She must have been very glad to havegot away, for our little commandant persecuted her all day long, and sheevidently was grieving for her husband. Do you know, signors, if herhusband is alive?"

  "No, we do not; we have heard nothing of him."

  "Well, if he is, I hope he will not come here; for should the commandanthave him in his power, it would go hard with him. He is a man whosticks at nothing. He is a brave little fellow, _that_ cannot bedenied; but to get possession of that lady, he would remove allobstacles at any risk--and a husband is a very serious one, signors.Well, signors," continued the soldier, after a pause, "I had better notbe seen here too long--you may command me if you want anything;recollect, my name is Pedro--good night to you, and a thousand thanks,"and the soldier walked away.

  "We have made one friend, at all events," said Krantz, "and we havegained information of no little importance."

  "Most important," replied Philip. "Amine then has sailed for Goa withFather Mathias! I feel that she is safe, and in good hands. He is anexcellent man, that Father Mathias--my mind is relieved."

  "Yes; but recollect you are in the power of your enemy. We must leavethis place as quick as we can--to-morrow we must sign the paper. It isof little consequence, as we shall probably be at Goa before it arrives;and even if we are not, the news of your death would not occasion Amineto marry this withered piece of mortality."

  "That I feel assured of; but it may cause her great suffering."

  "Not worse than her present suspense, believe me, Philip; but it isuseless canvassing the past--it must be done. I shall sign as CorneliusRichter, our third mate; you, as Jacob Vantreat--recollect that."

  "Agreed," replied Philip, who then turned away, as if willing to be leftto his own thoughts. Krantz perceived it, and lay down under theembrasure, and was soon fast asleep.