CHAPTER XV
THE WATERS OF CHESAPEAKE
Patricia was ennuyee to the last degree. That morning Sir Charles hadridden to Green Spring with her father; Mistress Lettice was in thestill room decocting a face wash from rose leaves, dew and honey; youngShaw on his knees in the master's room, disconsolately poring over pilesof musty papers in search of a misplaced deed which the colonel hadordered him to find against his return. It was a hot and listlessafternoon. Patricia read a page of "The Rival Ladies," tried her spinet,had a languid romp with her spaniels, and finally sauntered into theporch, and leaning her white arms upon the railing, looked towards thedazzling blue waters of the Chesapeake. Presently an idea came to her.She went swiftly into the hall, and called for Darkeih. When thathandmaiden appeared:--
"Darkeih, go down to the quarters, and tell the first man you meet tofind Woodson, and send him to me."
Darkeih departed, and in half an hour's time the overseer appeared atthe foot of the porch steps, red and heated from his rapid walk from theThree-Mile field.
"What's wrong, Mistress Patricia?" he asked quickly.
Patricia opened her lovely eyes. "Nothing is wrong, Woodson. Whatshould be? I sent for you, because I want to go to Rosemead."
"To Rosemead!" exclaimed the overseer.
"Yes, to Rosemead, and I want a couple of men to take me."
The overseer gave a short, vexed laugh. "I can't spare the men, MistressPatricia. You ought to have known that every man jack on the plantationis busy cutting. If I had a known this was all that was wanted! Fegs! Ithought something dreadful was the matter."
"Something dreadful is the matter," said the young lady calmly. "I ambored to death."
"Sorry for ye, missy, but I can't spare the men."
"Oh, yes, you can!" said Patricia with unruffled composure.
The overseer, knowing his lady, began to weaken.
"Anyhow, you wouldn't want two men. You might go on a pillion behind oldAbraham. I could spare _him_."
"I shall not go a-horseback. 'Tis too hot and dusty. I shall go in oneof the sail-boats--the Bluebird, I think."
"Now, in the name of all that's contrary, what do you want to do thatfor, Mistress Patricia?" cried the harassed overseer. "It's twice as farby water."
"I'll reach Rosemead before dark. The men can bring the boat backto-night, and Major Carrington will send me home on a pillionto-morrow."
"Have you forgotten that to-morrow is Sunday?" said the overseerseverely, and with a new-born anxiety for the proper observance of theholy day. "Will you have the Colonel pay a fine for you?"
"I will go to service with the Carringtons then, and come home onMonday," said the lady serenely.
"There's a squall coming up this afternoon."
"There isn't a cloud in the sky," said his mistress with calmconviction, looking straight before her at a low, tumbled line of creamypeaks along the horizon.
"If the Colonel were here--"
"He would say, 'Woodson, do exactly as Mistress Patricia tells you.'"This with great sweetness.
The overseer gave it up. "I reckon he would, missy," he said with agrin. "You wind him and all of us around your finger."
"'Tis all for your good, Woodson," with a soft, bright laugh. Then,coaxingly, "Am I to have the Bluebird?"
"I reckon so, Mistress Patricia, seeing that you have set your heartupon it," said the still reluctant overseer.
"That's a good Woodson. I want Regulus to be one of the boatmen. You cansend any other you choose. I shall take Darkeih with me."
"You can't have Regulus, Mistress Patricia," answered the overseerpositively. "He's worth any two men in the field. I can't let him go."
"Let him be at the wharf in half an hour. I will be ready by then."
"You can't have him, Missy."
Patricia stamped her pretty foot. "Am I mistress of this plantation, oram I not, Woodson?"
"Lord knows you are!" groaned the overseer.
"Then when I say I want Regulus, I will have Regulus and no other."
The overseer sighed resignedly. "Very well, Mistress Patricia, I'll sendfor him."
Patricia danced away, and the overseer strode down the path, viciouslycrunching the pebbles and bits of shell beneath his feet. At the wharfhe found a detachment of the infant population of the quarters busilycrabbing; all of whom, save two little Indians who fished stoically on,scrambled to their feet, and pulled a forelock. The overseer touched oneurchin upon the shoulder with the butt end of his whip.
"You, Piccaninny, run as fast as your legs will carry you to the fieldby the swamp, and tell Regulus to leave his work, and come to the bigwharf. Mistress Patricia wants to go a pleasuring."
Piccaninny's black shanks and pink heels flew up and out, and he wasaway like a flash. The overseer kept on to the end of the wharf, wherewere clustered the boats, some tied to the piles, some anchored a littleway out. "Haines was to send a man to caulk a seam in the Nancy," hemuttered. "Whoever he is, he'll have to go in the Bluebird. I'm notgoing to take another man from the tobacco. What fools women are! Butthey get their way,--the pretty ones at least." He leaned over therailing, and called,--
"You there, in the Nancy!"
Godfrey Landless looked up from his work. "What is it?"
The overseer chuckled grimly. "It's that fellow Landless who angered heronce before," he said to himself with a malicious grin. "Well, 't isn'tmy business to know which of all the servants on this plantation shemost dislikes to come near her. She'll have to put up with him to-day.There isn't a better boatman on the place anyhow."
To Landless he said, "Bring the Bluebird up to the wharf, and see thatshe is sweet and clean inside. Mistress Patricia starts for Rosemead inhalf an hour, and you and Regulus are to take her. You'll bring theboat back to-night. Step lively now!"
Landless brought the Bluebird, a sixteen-foot open boat, up to thewharf, made the inside, and especially the seat in the stern, spotlesslyclean, put up the sail, and sat down to wait. Presently Regulus appearedabove him, and swung himself down into the boat with a grin of delight,for he much preferred sailing with "'lil missy" to cutting tobacco. Hehad a great burly form and a broad, ebony face, and he was the devotedslave of Patricia, and of Patricia's maid, Darkeih. Moreover, he enjoyedthe distinction of being the first negro born in the Colony, his parentshaving been landed from the Dutch privateer which in 1619 introduced theslave into Virginia. Viewed through a vista of nigh three hundred years,he appears a portent, a tremendous omen, a sign from the Eumenides. Uponthat tranquil summer afternoon in the Virginia of long ago he was simplya good-humored, docile, happy-go-lucky, harmless animal.
"'Lil Missy's comin'," he remarked, with bonhommie, to his fellowboatman.
Darkeih, laden with cushions, appeared at the edge of the wharf.Landless, standing in the bow below her, relieved her of her burdens,and taking her by the hands, swung her down into the boat. She thankedhim with a smile that showed every tooth in her comely browncountenance, and tripped aft, where, with the assistance of Regulus, sheproceeded to arrange a cushioned seat for her mistress.
Landless waited for the lady of the manor to come forward. In the act ofextending her hands to the boatman, she glanced at him, crimsoned, anddrew back. Landless, interpreting color and action aright, buckled hisarmor of studied quiet more closely over a hurt and angry heart.
"I was ordered to attend you, madam," he said proudly. "But if you sodesire, I will find the overseer and tell him that you wish for some oneelse in my place."
"There is not time," was the cold reply. "And as well you as any other.Let us be going."
Landless held out his arms again. She measured with her eyes thedistance between her and the boat. "I do not need any help," she said."If you will stand aside, I can spring from here to the prow."
"And strike the water instead, madam," said Landless, grimly, "when Iwould have to touch more than your hand in order to pull you out."
She colored angrily, but held out her hands. Landless lifte
d her downand steadied her to her seat in the stern. She thanked him coldly, andbegan at once to talk to Regulus with the playful familiarity of achild. Regulus grinned delight; he had been "'lil Missy's" slave fromher childhood. Landless untied the boat from the piles and pushed heroff; Regulus, who was to steer, pulled the tiller towards him, and thelittle Bluebird glided from the wharf, made a wide and graceful sweep,and proceeded leisurely down the inlet towards the waters of the greatbay.
Landless seated himself in the bow, and turned his face away from thegroup in the stern. Patricia leaned back amidst her cushions, and openeda book; Darkeih, upon the other side of the rudder, held a whisperedflirtation with Regulus, squatting at her feet, the tiller in his hand.There was but little wind, but what there was came from the land, andthe Bluebird moved steadily though listlessly down the inlet, betweenthe velvet marshes. The water broke against the sides of the boat with alanguid murmur. It was very hot, and the sky above was of a steely,unclouded blue that hurt the eyes. Only in the southwest the line ofcloud hills was erecting itself into an Alpine range. The glare of thesun upon the white pages of her book dazzled Patricia's eyes; the heatand the lazy swaying motion made her drowsy. With a sigh of oppressionshe closed her book, and taking her fan from Darkeih, laid it across herface, and curled herself among her cushions.
"I will sleep awhile," she said to her handmaiden, and serenely glidedinto slumberland.
She was in a balcony with Sir Charles Carew, looking down upon afantastic procession that wound endlessly on, with flaunting banners,and to the sound of kettle-drums and trumpets, when she was aroused byLandless' voice. She opened her eyes and looked up from her nest ofcushions to see him standing above her.
"What is it?" she asked frigidly.
"I grieve to waken you, madam, but there is a heavy squall coming up."
She sat up and looked about her. The Bluebird had left the inlet and wasrising and falling with the long oily swell of the vast sheet of waterthat stretched before them to a horizon of vivid blue. North and eastthe water met the sky; a mile to the westward was the low wooded shorewhich they were skirting.
"The sun is shining," said Patricia, bewildered. "The sky is blue."
"Look behind you."
She turned and uttered an exclamation. The Alpine range had vanished,and a monstrous pall of gray-black cloud was being slowly drawn upwardand across the smiling heaven. Even as she looked, it blotted out thesun.
"We had better make for the shore at once," said Landless. "We can reachit before the storm breaks and can find shelter for you until it isover."
Patricia exclaimed: "Why, we cannot be more than three miles fromRosemead! Surely we can reach it before that cloud overtakes us!"
"I think not, madam."
"Regulus!" cried his mistress imperiously. "We can reach Rosemead beforethat storm breaks, can we not?"
Among other amiable qualities, Regulus numbered a happy willingness toplease, even at the expense of truth.
"Sho-ly, 'lil Missy," he said with emphasis.
"And it will not be much of a squall, besides, will it, Regulus?"
"No, 'lil Missy, not much ob squall," answered the obliging Regulus.
"There is much wind in it," said Landless. "Look at those white cloudsscudding across the black; and these squalls strike with suddenness andfury. I may put the boat about, madam?"
"Certainly not. Regulus, who must know the Chesapeake and its squallsmuch better than you possibly can, says there is no danger. I have nomind to be set ashore in these woods with night coming on and Indians orwolves prowling around."
"I beg that you will be advised by me, madam."
She looked at him as she had done that day in the master's room. "Is itthat you are _afraid_ of a Virginia squall? If so, you will have toconquer your tremor. Regulus, keep the boat as it is."
Landless went back to his seat in the bow, with tightened lips. The windfreshened, coming in hot little puffs, and the Bluebird slid moreswiftly over the low hills. The water turned to a livid green and theair slowly darkened. Across the black pall, looming higher and higher,shot a jagged streak of fierce gold, followed by a low rumble ofthunder. A mass of gray-white, fantastically piled clouds whirled upfrom the eastern horizon to meet the vast blank sullen sheet overhead.There came a more vivid flash and a louder roll of thunder.
Landless walked aft and took the tiller from Regulus' hand, motioninghim forward to the place he had himself occupied. The negro stared, butwent with his accustomed docility. Patricia sat upright in indignantsurprise.
"What are you doing?"
"I am about to head the boat for the shore," suiting the action to theword.
Her eyes blazed. "Did you not hear me say that I wished to proceed toRosemead?"
"Yes, madam, I did."
"I order you, sir--"
"And I choose to disobey."
"I shall report you to Colonel Verney."
"As you please, madam."
From the prow, where he had been taking observations, Regulus cried in astartled voice: "De win 's comin'! De win 's comin' mighty quick!"
Landless thrust the tiller into Patricia's hands. "Keep it there, justwhere it is, for your life!" he cried authoritatively, and boundedforward to where Regulus was already struggling with the sail. They gotit in and lashed to the mast just in time, for, with the shriek of athousand demons, the squall whirled itself upon them. In an instant theywere enveloped in a blinding horror of furious wind and rain, glare oflightning and incessant, ear-splitting thunder. A leaden darkness,illuminated only by the lightning, settled around them, and the air grewsuddenly cold. Beneath the whip of the wind the Chesapeake woke fromslumber, stirred, and rose in fury. The Bluebird danced dizzily uponwhite crests or swooped into black and yawning chasms. Steadying himselfby the thwarts, Landless went back to Patricia, sitting pale and withclasped hands, but making no sound. Darkeih, with a moan of fear, hadthrown herself down at her mistress' feet, and was hiding her face inher skirts. Landless took a scarf from among the pile of cushions, andwrapped it around Patricia. "'Tis a poor protection against wet andcold," he said, "but it is better than nothing."
"Thank you," she said then, with an effort. "Do you think this squallwill last long?"
"I cannot tell, madam. It is rather a hurricane than a squall. But wemust do the best we can."
As he spoke there came a fresh access of wind with a glare ofintolerable light. The mast bent like a reed, snapped off clear to thefoot and fell inward, the loosened beam striking Regulus upon the head,and bearing him down with it. The boat careened violently, and halffilled with water. Darkeih screamed, and Patricia sprang to her feet,but sat down again at Landless' stern command, "Sit still! She willright in a moment."
He lifted and flung overboard the mass of splintered wood and flappingcloth, then fell to bailing with all his might, for the danger ofswamping was imminent. Presently Patricia touched him upon the arm. "Iwill bail if you will see to Regulus," she said, in a low, strainedvoice. "I think he is dead."
Landless resigned the pail into her hands and lifted the negro's headand shoulders from the water in which he was lying, pillowing them uponthe stern seat. He was unconscious, and bleeding from a cut on theforehead.
"He is not dead nor like to die," Landless said. "He will revive beforelong."
The girl gave a long, quivering sigh of relief. Landless finished thebailing and sat down at her feet.
Some time later she asked faintly: "Do you not think the worst is overnow?"
"I am afraid not," he answered gently. "There is a lull now, but I amafraid the storm is but gathering its forces. But we will hope for thebest--"
Another flash and crash cut him short. It was followed by rain thatfell, not in drops, but in sheets. The wind, which had been blowing aheavy gale, rose suddenly into a tornado. With it rose the sea. Themasses of water, hissing and smoking under the furious pelting of therain, flung themselves upon the hapless Bluebird, laboring heavily inthe trough of the waves, or staggering over t
heir summits. A constantglare lit the heaving, tossing world of waters, and the air became oneroar of wind, rain, and thunder.
Darkeih crouched moaning at her mistress' feet. Regulus lay unconscious,breathing heavily. Suddenly, with a quick intake of his breath,Landless seized Patricia, pulled her down into the bottom of the boat,and held her there.
"I see," she said in a low, awed voice. "It is Death!"
Through the glare a long green wall bore down upon them. The Bluebirdleaped to meet it. It lifted her up, up to meet the lightning, thenhurled her into black depths, and passed on, leaving her staggering inthe trough, water-logged and helpless.
Prisoners of Hope: A Tale of Colonial Virginia Page 15
