The Lady of the Barge and Others, Entire Collection

by W. W. Jacobs

  CAPTAIN ROGERS

  A man came slowly over the old stone bridge, and averting his gaze fromthe dark river with its silent craft, looked with some satisfactiontoward the feeble lights of the small town on the other side. He walkedwith the painful, forced step of one who has already trudged far. Hisworsted hose, where they were not darned, were in holes, and his coatand knee-breeches were rusty with much wear, but he straightened himselfas he reached the end of the bridge and stepped out bravely to thetaverns which stood in a row facing the quay.

  He passed the "Queen Anne"--a mere beershop--without pausing, and aftera glance apiece at the "Royal George" and the "Trusty Anchor," kept onhis way to where the "Golden Key" hung out a gilded emblem. It was thebest house in Riverstone, and patronized by the gentry, but he adjustedhis faded coat, and with a swaggering air entered and walked boldly intothe coffee-room.

  The room was empty, but a bright fire afforded a pleasant change to thechill October air outside. He drew up a chair, and placing his feet onthe fender, exposed his tattered soles to the blaze, as a waiter who hadjust seen him enter the room came and stood aggressively inside thedoor.

  "Brandy and water," said the stranger; "hot."

  "The coffee-room is for gentlemen staying in the house," said thewaiter.

  The stranger took his feet from the fender, and rising slowly, walkedtoward him. He was a short man and thin, but there was something somenacing in his attitude, and something so fearsome in his stony browneyes, that the other, despite his disgust for ill-dressed people, movedback uneasily.

  "Brandy and water, hot," repeated the stranger; "and plenty of it. D'yehear?"

  The man turned slowly to depart.

  "Stop!" said the other, imperiously. "What's the name of the landlordhere?"

  "Mullet," said the fellow, sulkily.

  "Send him to me," said the other, resuming his seat; "and hark you, myfriend, more civility, or 'twill be the worse for you."

  He stirred the log on the fire with his foot until a shower of sparkswhirled up the chimney. The door opened, and the landlord, with thewaiter behind him, entered the room, but he still gazed placidly at theglowing embers.

  "What do you want?" demanded the landlord, in a deep voice.

  The stranger turned a little weazened yellow face and grinned at himfamiliarly.

  "Send that fat rascal of yours away," he said, slowly.

  The landlord started at his voice and eyed him closely; then he signedto the man to withdraw, and closing the door behind him, stood silentlywatching his visitor.

  "You didn't expect to see me, Rogers," said the latter.

  "My name's Mullet," said the other, sternly. "What do you want?"

  "Oh, Mullet?" said the other, in surprise. "I'm afraid I've made amistake, then. I thought you were my old shipmate, Captain Rogers. It'sa foolish mistake of mine, as I've no doubt Rogers was hanged years ago.You never had a brother named Rogers, did you?"

  "I say again, what do you want?" demanded the other, advancing upon him.

  "Since you're so good," said the other. "I want new clothes, food, andlodging of the best, and my pockets filled with money."

  "You had better go and look for all those things, then," said Mullet."You won't find them here."

  "Ay!" said the other, rising. "Well, well--There was a hundred guineason the head of my old shipmate Rogers some fifteen years ago. I'll seewhether it has been earned yet."

  "If I gave you a hundred guineas," said the innkeeper, repressing hispassion by a mighty effort, "you would not be satisfied."

  "Reads like a book," said the stranger, in tones of pretended delight."What a man it is!"

  He fell back as he spoke, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, drewforth a long pistol as the innkeeper, a man of huge frame, edged towardhim.

  "Keep your distance," he said, in a sharp, quick voice.

  The innkeeper, in no wise disturbed at the pistol, turned away calmly,and ringing the bell, ordered some spirits. Then taking a chair, hemotioned to the other to do the same, and they sat in silence until thestaring waiter had left the room again. The stranger raised his glass.

  "My old friend Captain Rogers," he said, solemnly, "and may he never gethis deserts!"

  "From what jail have you come?" inquired Mullet, sternly.

  "'Pon my soul," said the other, "I have been in so many--looking forCaptain Rogers--that I almost forget the last, but I have just trampedfrom London, two hundred and eighty odd miles, for the pleasure ofseeing your damned ugly figure-head again; and now I've found it, I'mgoing to stay. Give me some money."

  The innkeeper, without a word, drew a little gold and silver from hispocket, and placing it on the table, pushed it toward him.

  "Enough to go on with," said the other, pocketing it; "in future it ishalves. D'ye hear me? Halves! And I'll stay here and see I get it."

  He sat back in his chair, and meeting the other's hatred with a gaze assteady as his own, replaced his pistol.

  "A nice snug harbor after our many voyages," he continued. "Shipmates wewere, shipmates we'll be; while Nick Gunn is alive you shall never wantfor company. Lord! Do you remember the Dutch brig, and the fatfrightened mate?"

  "I have forgotten it," said the other, still eyeing him steadfastly. "Ihave forgotten many things. For fifteen years I have lived a decent,honest life. Pray God for your own sinful soul, that the devil in medoes not wake again."

  "Fifteen years is a long nap," said Gunn, carelessly; "what a godsendit'll be for you to have me by you to remind you of old times! Why,you're looking smug, man; the honest innkeeper to the life! Gad! who'sthe girl?"

  He rose and made a clumsy bow as a girl of eighteen, after a moment'shesitation at the door, crossed over to the innkeeper.

  "I'm busy, my dear," said the latter, somewhat sternly.

  "Our business," said Gunn, with another bow, "is finished. Is this yourdaughter, Rog-- Mullet?"

  "My stepdaughter," was the reply.

  Gunn placed a hand, which lacked two fingers, on hisbreast.]

  Gunn placed a hand, which lacked two fingers, on his breast, and bowedagain.

  "One of your father's oldest friends," he said smoothly; "and fallen onevil days; I'm sure your gentle heart will be pleased to hear that yourgood father has requested me--for a time--to make his house my home."

  "Any friend of my father's is welcome to me, sir," said the girl,coldly. She looked from the innkeeper to his odd-looking guest, andconscious of something strained in the air, gave him a little bow andquitted the room.

  "You insist upon staying, then?" said Mullet, after a pause.

  "More than ever," replied Gunn, with a leer toward the door. "Why, youdon't think I'm afraid, Captain? You should know me better than that."

  "Life is sweet," said the other.

  "Ay," assented Gunn, "so sweet that you will share things with me tokeep it."

  "No," said the other, with great calm. "I am man enough to have a betterreason."

  "No psalm singing," said Gunn, coarsely. "And look cheerful, you oldbuccaneer. Look as a man should look who has just met an old friendnever to lose him again."

  He eyed his man expectantly and put his hand to his pocket again, butthe innkeeper's face was troubled, and he gazed stolidly at the fire.

  "See what fifteen years' honest, decent life does for us," grinned theintruder.

  The other made no reply, but rising slowly, walked to the door without aword.

  "Landlord," cried Gunn, bringing his maimed hand sharply down on thetable.

  The innkeeper turned and regarded him.

  "Send me in some supper," said Gunn; "the best you have, and plenty ofit, and have a room prepared. The best."

  The door closed silently, and was opened a little later by the dubiousGeorge coming in to set a bountiful repast. Gunn, after cursing him forhis slowness and awkwardness, drew his chair to the table and made themeal of one seldom able to satisfy his hunger. He finished at last, andafter sitting for some time smoking, with his legs
sprawled on thefender, rang for a candle and demanded to be shown to his room.

  His proceedings when he entered it were but a poor compliment to hishost. Not until he had poked and pried into every corner did he closethe door. Then, not content with locking it, he tilted a chair beneaththe handle, and placing his pistol beneath his pillow, fell fast asleep.

  Despite his fatigue he was early astir next morning. Breakfast was laidfor him in the coffee-room, and his brow darkened. He walked into thehall, and after trying various doors entered a small sitting-room, wherehis host and daughter sat at breakfast, and with an easy assurance drewa chair to the table. The innkeeper helped him without a word, but thegirl's hand shook under his gaze as she passed him some coffee.

  "As soft a bed as ever I slept in," he remarked.

  "I hope that you slept well," said the girl, civilly.

  "Like a child," said Gunn, gravely; "an easy conscience. Eh, Mullet?"

  The innkeeper nodded and went on eating. The other, after another remarkor two, followed his example, glancing occasionally with warm approvalat the beauty of the girl who sat at the head of the table.

  "A sweet girl," he remarked, as she withdrew at the end of the meal;"and no mother, I presume?"

  "No mother," repeated the other.

  Gunn sighed and shook his head.

  "A sad case, truly," he murmured. "No mother and such a guardian. Poorsoul, if she but knew! Well, we must find her a husband."

  He looked down as he spoke, and catching sight of his rusty clothes andbroken shoes, clapped his hand to his pocket; and with a glance at hishost, sallied out to renew his wardrobe. The innkeeper, with aninscrutable face, watched him down the quay, then with bent head hereturned to the house and fell to work on his accounts.

  In this work Gunn, returning an hour later, clad from head to foot innew apparel, offered to assist him. Mullett hesitated, but made nodemur; neither did he join in the ecstasies which his new partnerdisplayed at the sight of the profits. Gunn put some more gold into hisnew pockets, and throwing himself back in a chair, called loudly toGeorge to bring him some drink.

  In less than a month the intruder was the virtual master of the "GoldenKey." Resistance on the part of the legitimate owner became more andmore feeble, the slightest objection on his part drawing from thetruculent Gunn dark allusions to his past and threats against hisfuture, which for the sake of his daughter he could not ignore. Hishealth began to fail, and Joan watched with perplexed terror the growthof a situation which was in a fair way of becoming unbearable.

  The arrogance of Gunn knew no bounds. The maids learned to tremble athis polite grin, or his worse freedom, and the men shrank appalled fromhis profane wrath. George, after ten years' service, was brutallydismissed, and refusing to accept dismissal from his hands, appealed tohis master. The innkeeper confirmed it, and with lack-lustre eyes fencedfeebly when his daughter, regardless of Gunn's presence, indignantlyappealed to him.

  "The man was rude to my friend, my dear," he said dispiritedly

  "If he was rude, it was because Mr. Gunn deserved it," said Joan, hotly.

  Gunn laughed uproariously.

  "Gad, my dear, I like you!" he cried, slapping his leg. "You're a girlof spirit. Now I will make you a fair offer. If you ask for George tostay, stay he shall, as a favour to your sweet self."

  The girl trembled.

  "Who is master here?" she demanded, turning a full eye on her father.

  Mullet laughed uneasily.

  "This is business," he said, trying to speak lightly, "and women can'tunderstand it. Gunn is--is valuable to me, and George must go."

  "Unless you plead for him, sweet one?" said Gunn.

  The girl looked at her father again, but he turned his head away andtapped on the floor with his foot. Then in perplexity, akin to tears,she walked from the room, carefully drawing her dress aside as Gunn heldthe door for her.

  "A fine girl," said Gunn, his thin lips working; "a fine spirit. 'Twillbe pleasant to break it; but she does not know who is master here."

  "She is young yet," said the other, hurriedly.

  "I will soon age her if she looks like that at me again," said Gunn. "By--, I'll turn out the whole crew into the street, and her with them, an'I wish it. I'll lie in my bed warm o' nights and think of her huddled ona doorstep."

  His voice rose and his fists clenched, but he kept his distance andwatched the other warily. The innkeeper's face was contorted and hisbrow grew wet. For one moment something peeped out of his eyes; the nexthe sat down in his chair again and nervously fingered his chin.

  "I have but to speak," said Gunn, regarding him with much satisfaction,"and you will hang, and your money go to the Crown. What will become ofher then, think you?"

  The other laughed nervously.

  "'Twould be stopping the golden eggs," he ventured.

  "Don't think too much of that," said Gunn, in a hard voice. "I was neverone to be baulked, as you know."

  "Come, come. Let us be friends," said Mullet; "the girl is young, andhas had her way."

  He looked almost pleadingly at the other, and his voice trembled. Gunndrew himself up, and regarding him with a satisfied sneer, quitted theroom without a word.

  Affairs at the "Golden Key" grew steadily worse and worse. Gunndominated the place, and his vile personality hung over it like ashadow. Appeals to the innkeeper were in vain; his health was breakingfast, and he moodily declined to interfere. Gunn appointed servants ofhis own choosing-brazen maids and foul-mouthed men. The old patronsceased to frequent the "Golden Key," and its bedrooms stood empty. Themaids scarcely deigned to take an order from Joan, and the men spoke toher familiarly. In the midst of all this the innkeeper, who hadcomplained once or twice of vertigo, was seized with a fit.

  Joan, flying to him for protection against the brutal advances of Gunn,found him lying in a heap behind the door of his small office, and inher fear called loudly for assistance. A little knot of servantscollected, and stood regarding him stupidly. One made a brutal jest.Gunn, pressing through the throng, turned the senseless body over withhis foot, and cursing vilely, ordered them to carry it upstairs.

  Until the surgeon came, Joan, kneeling by the bed, held on to thesenseless hand as her only protection against the evil faces of Gunn andhis proteges. Gunn himself was taken aback, the innkeeper's death atthat time by no means suiting his aims.

  The surgeon was a man of few words and fewer attainments, but under hisministrations the innkeeper, after a long interval, rallied. Thehalf-closed eyes opened, and he looked in a dazed fashion at hissurroundings. Gunn drove the servants away and questioned the man ofmedicine. The answers were vague and interspersed with Latin. Freedomfrom noise and troubles of all kinds was insisted upon and Joan wasinstalled as nurse, with a promise of speedy assistance.

  The assistance arrived late in the day in the shape of an elderly woman,whose Spartan treatment of her patients had helped many along the silentroad. She commenced her reign by punching the sick man's pillows, andhaving shaken him into consciousness by this means, gave him a dose ofphysic, after first tasting it herself from the bottle.

  After the first rally the innkeeper began to fail slowly. It was seldomthat he understood what was said to him, and pitiful to the beholder tosee in his intervals of consciousness his timid anxiety to earn thegood-will of the all-powerful Gunn. His strength declined untilassistance was needed to turn him in the bed, and his great sinewy handswere forever trembling and fidgeting on the coverlet.

  Joan, pale with grief and fear, tended him assiduously. Her stepfather'sstrength had been a proverb in the town, and many a hasty citizen hadfelt the strength of his arm. The increasing lawlessness of the housefilled her with dismay, and the coarse attentions of Gunn became morepersistent than ever. She took her meals in the sick-room, and dividedher time between that and her own.

  Gunn himself was in a dilemma. With Mullet dead, his power was at an endand his visions of wealth dissipated. He resolved to feather his nestimmediately, and intervi
ewed the surgeon. The surgeon was ominouslyreticent, the nurse cheerfully ghoulish.

  "Four days I give him," she said, calmly; "four blessed days, not butwhat he might slip away at any moment."

  Gunn let one day of the four pass, and then, choosing a time when Joanwas from the room, entered it for a little quiet conversation. Theinnkeeper's eyes were open, and, what was more to the purpose,intelligent.

  "You're cheating the hangman, after all," snarled Gunn. "I'm off toswear an information."

  The other, by a great effort, turned his heavy head and fixed hiswistful eyes on him.

  "Mercy!" he whispered. "For her sake--give me--a little time!"

  "To slip your cable, I suppose," quoth Gunn. "Where's your money?Where's your hoard, you miser?"

  Mullet closed his eyes. He opened them again slowly and strove to think,while Gunn watched him narrowly. When he spoke, his utterance was thickand labored.

  "Come to-night," he muttered, slowly. "Give me--time--I will make your--your fortune. But the nurse-watches."

  "I'll see to her," said Gunn, with a grin. "But tell me now, lest youdie first."

  "You will--let Joan--have a share?" panted the innkeeper.

  "Yes, yes," said Gunn, hastily.

  The innkeeper strove to raise himself in the bed, and then fell backagain exhausted as Joan's step was heard on the stairs. Gunn gave asavage glance of warning at him, and barring the progress of the girl atthe door, attempted to salute her. Joan came in pale and trembling, andfalling on her knees by the bedside, took her father's hand in hers andwept over it. The innkeeper gave a faint groan and a shiver ran throughhis body.

  It was nearly an hour after midnight that Nick Gunn, kicking off hisshoes, went stealthily out onto the landing. A little light came fromthe partly open door of the sick-room, but all else was in blackness. Hemoved along and peered in.

  The nurse was siting in a high-backed oak chair by the fire. She hadslipped down in the seat, and her untidy head hung on her bosom. A glassstood on the small oak table by her side, and a solitary candle on thehigh mantel-piece diffused a sickly light. Gunn entered the room, andfinding that the sick man was dozing, shook him roughly.

  The innkeeper opened his eyes and gazed at him blankly.

  "Wake, you fool," said Gunn, shaking him again.

  The other roused and muttered something incoherently. Then he stirredslightly.

  "The nurse," he whispered.

  "She's safe enow," said Gunn. "I've seen to that."

  He crossed the room lightly, and standing before the unconscious woman,inspected her closely and raised her in the chair. Her head fell limplyover the arm.

  "Dead?" inquired Mullet, in a fearful whisper.

  "Drugged," said Gunn, shortly. "Now speak up, and be lively."

  The innkeeper's eyes again travelled in the direction of the nurse.

  "The men," he whispered; "the servants."

  "Dead drunk and asleep," said Gunn, biting the words. "The last daywould hardly rouse them. Now will you speak, damn you!"

  "I must--take care--of Joan," said the father.

  Gunn shook his clenched hand at him.

  "My money--is--is--" said the other. "Promise me on--your oath--Joan."

  "Ay, ay," growled Gunn; "how many more times? I'll marry her, and sheshall have what I choose to give her. Speak up, you fool! It's not foryou to make terms. Where is it?"

  He bent over, but Mullet, exhausted with his efforts, had closed hiseyes again, and half turned his head.

  "Where is it, damn you?" said Gunn, from between his teeth.

  Mullet opened his eyes again, glanced fearfully round the room, andwhispered. Gunn, with a stifled oath, bent his ear almost to his mouth,and the next moment his neck was in the grip of the strongest man inRiverstone, and an arm like a bar of iron over his back pinned him downacross the bed.

  "You dog!" hissed a fierce voice in his ear. "I've got you--CaptainRogers at your service, and now you may tell his name to all you can.Shout it, you spawn of hell. Shout it!"

  He rose in bed, and with a sudden movement flung the other over on hisback. Gunn's eyes were starting from his head, and he writhedconvulsively.

  "I thought you were a sharper man, Gunn," said Rogers, still in the samehot whisper, as he relaxed his grip a little; "you are too simple, youhound! When you first threatened me I resolved to kill you. Then youthreatened my daughter. I wish that you had nine lives, that I mighttake them all. Keep still!"

  He gave a half-glance over his shoulder at the silent figure of thenurse, and put his weight on the twisting figure on the bed.

  "You drugged the hag, good Gunn," he continued. "To-morrow morning,Gunn, they will find you in your room dead, and if one of the scum youbrought into my house be charged with the murder, so much the better.When I am well they will go. I am already feeling a little bit stronger,Gunn, as you see, and in a month I hope to be about again."

  He averted his face, and for a time gazed sternly and watchfully at thedoor. Then he rose slowly to his feet, and taking the dead man in hisarms, bore him slowly and carefully to his room, and laid him a huddledheap on the floor. Swiftly and noiselessly he put the dead man's shoeson and turned his pockets inside out, kicked a rug out of place, and puta guinea on the floor. Then he stole cautiously down stairs and set asmall door at the back open. A dog barked frantically, and he hurriedback to his room. The nurse still slumbered by the fire.

  She awoke in the morning shivering with the cold, and being jealous ofher reputation, rekindled the fire, and measuring out the dose which theinvalid should have taken, threw it away. On these unconsciouspreparations for an alibi Captain Rogers gazed through half-closed lids,and then turning his grim face to the wall, waited for the inevitablealarm.