 | Henry Howard, or, Two noes make one yes |  |
2. PART II.
The Captain insisted that I should exchance Banjo's canoe for his
elegant, light boat, an invitation which I at once accepted, greatly to
the chagrin of Banjo, who saw that his sport was up for that day.
`Ah, master, de trout 'll kno' you jiss as well as they did master
Larry, you ony fish two, tree hour more.'
`I'll be out again on the lake to-morrow, Banjo, and engage you to
meet me here, for I dare say my friend, the Captain, will come out with
me here.'
`Yes, with great pleasure,' said he.
I saw by Banjo's eye that he was desirous of speaking to me out of
hearing of the Captain, so I stepped towards the end of the boat to give
him an opportunity.
`Master,' says he, touching his hat and looking over his shoulder at
my friend, `I'll forgib you dis time if you tell who am de Capting!
You kno'. But debble any oder soul kno' in all de place.'
`It's a secret,' says I looking very mysterious.
`Yes, sar, I 'speck it am,' answered Banjo, gravely.
`Can you keep a secret, Banjo.'
`Sart'n, master,' he replied, rolling his large round eyes, and anxiously
waiting for the announcement.
`Won't you mention it, Banjo?'
`Sart'n nebber to say a word, master, true as De Book!'
`It would injure him you know, Banjo?'
`Would it tho'?' he asked with a look of surprise and disquiet as
he glanced at the `Capting,' who was engaged looking at a contest between
a hawk and king-bird in the air over his head.
`Most certainly,' I rejoined.
`You can trust dis nigger, master.'
`Well, did you never hear of Lafitte—Captain Lafitte?' said I.
`The bloody pirate, master?' he cried, turning blue, which was his
nearest approach to pale.
I smiled, but made no reply, and the next moment the Captain by a
stroke of his oar had sent his boat far away from that of the negro,
whom I saw standing till we were out of sight looking after us, in the
very attitude in which I had left him—an attitude of mingled astonishment,
fear and horror. Little was I aware what my quizzing of poor
Banjo, touching the Captain's name, was about to bring upon my
friend.
We rowed out into the lake and rested on our oars. We then
lighted a Regalia each. He was disposed to converse and I to listen;
and he thus related to me his adventures since we had last met, after
`You will remember the day you left Monte Video to go to Colonia
by land, under the escort of the Banda Oriental Cavalry Llavalleja
politely offered you and your party, I took leave of you under the gate
of the Calle del Rey. Well I returned slowly back towards the posada,
after having seen your Cavalcade go out of sight, under full speed into
the defile just beyound the gates. Well it was a fortunate departure
for you, though I heard you had a severe time of it and more than one
pretty fight with the Guachos horse-men. The very next day old Admiral
Lobo enforced an embargo. There I was with my fine ship, locked
up as safe as you could wish. I had a very valuable cargo selected
expressly for the Buenos Ayrean market, where you know I was to
proceed with the vessel after getting through with my sales in Monte
Video. Well I won't talk of this till I speak of Dona Francesa Garcia.
You remember her,' said the Captain smiling and looking mysterious,
`the beautiful Spanish girl who was visting at Don Juan's opposite
our Posada.'
`I shall never forget her,' I answered. `She was exceedingly beautiful.
She was a Buenos Ayrean and on a visit to the Portuguese family
of Don Pedro with whom she was related. I believe her father had
been President of the Banda Oriental country, a man of great wealth
and influence!'
`Yes. Well as I was returning from seeing you depart I was about
to enter the posado when I saw Dona Francesa appear on her balcony
and look towards me most entreatingly. She did not speak, but
waved her hand. I would have replied by throwing her a kiss in return
but I saw her face expressed alarm and grief. I immediately
crossed over and passing under the heavy arched passage leading into
the patio, I ascended the steps to the inner corridor. She met me at
the head with her finger on her lip and an air of painful anxiety and
distress pervading her whole manner. I became deeply interested.
You know I had had so much dealings with Don Pedro that I visited
them very freely and had seen much of her.'
`I remember,' said I, laughing, `that you were over head and ears
in love with the beautiful Banda Oriental.
The Captain looked significant and smiled in the same manner he
had done before.
`Well, she led me into the little room that opens upon the veranda—
that room filled with flowers, where we used to eat fruit.'
`I remember it—a beautiful and cool retreat.'
`She closed the door! I was surprised! She then went to her
escritoire and took from it a note and in her sweet, flute-like sounding
Spanish, said to me while her hand as she gave it to me trembled.
`Senor Captain, I know that you are a brave man—a generous
friend! You are an American—a native of the land of freedom—of
that liberty for which my own unhappy country is now struggling. I
have, therefore, sent for you! I can confide in no one else. My father's
couzin, Don Pedro, is a Brazilian and — but read Senor!' I
opened it and read:
This is hastily sent to you to warn you that I have received certain
intelligence that there will be at sunrise to-morrow an embargo
enforced upon the port and that the river will be occupied for the purpose
now in command here, whose overtures you have repeatedly rejected,
I am assured from a certain source, will avail himself of this embargo
to detain you in the city that he may, by having you in his power, compel
you to accept his hand. You know his character and that no
principle would deter him from his will. Your father being so high in
position among the enemy will be an excuse for keeping you under
close surveillance, under the pretence that you may correspond with
him in the character of a spy. Therefore, fly! dearest Francesca!
Ask not for a passport, for General D— will throw detentions in
the way till the embargo is enforced, and then you are his prisoner!'
`This is surprising,' said I; but I thought less of my ship and cargo
at that moment than of the peril and distress of the lovely Buenos
Ayrean. `This kind note then is written by the Governor General's
niece?'
`Yes—we are friends! She had risked her own personal liberty to
aid me.'
`And I,' I responded warmly, `will sink my life to serve you further.'
I thought she would have cast herself at my feet when I said this.
`Oh Senor, God bless you! Save me from a fate to me worse than
death. To be a prisoner—nay to be bound in chains would not make
me fear! but I can never be in the power of the hateful General D—.
I can now see why he had thrown obstacles in the way of my return to
Buenos Ayres, for the last six weeks.'
I reflected a moment. All my chivalry was awakened and all my
heart was enlisted in her cause. My position was this: In the port
lay my vessel with only about two thirds of her freight for Monte
Video discharged, and about sixty thousand dollars of freight destined
for the Buenos Ayreau Market. There was no time to discharge the
freight that belonged there, and I did not like to weigh anchor and
carry it away! for I had instantly resolved to start that night in advance
of the embargo—and to take with me the lovely Spanish maiden.
My plan was soon formed. I noticed that my silence and thoughtfulness
was watched by her with intense anxiety.
`I have a plan to rescue you, Senorita Francesa,' said I, `from the
fate which alarms you. Will you trust yourself confidingly to me?'
`I have no one else! I dare not trust Don Pedro! Yes, oh yes!'
she said with a sincerity and fervor that made me feel very happy about
the heart, and more than ever confirmed me in my purpose to devote
myself unreserved, and at whatever sacrifice, to her safety. You smile.'
`Go on, my dear Captain, I was only wondering if you had ever
told this animated story to your wife—for I understand you are married!'
`Ask her, when we get home,' he said quietly. He then resumed.
`I said, Dona Francisca,
`My ship is in port, but not ready for sea! But I shall get under
weight to-night. I shall at once proceed to make arrangements
privately for departing. In the meanwhile you do the same. But
you will need a disguise. General D— will possibly have an eye
on you, and it would be impossible to get you on board in the attire of
a female without suspicion!'
She colored—looked embarrassed and then said, `I will be guided
`Then I will send you, nay,' I said, fearing to trust any one, `I will
bring you a suit of seamen's clothes. I have a lad on board who has a
suit he has never worn that will fit you. Your hair, if possible, should
be gathered up under the hat!
`I will cut it off, she said.
`Not for the world,' I cried. `You remember, what beautiful hair
she had, half the length of a ship's holiday pennon! She promised to
put on the clothes and conceal her rich cloud of hair, and I told her I
would be ready for her at eight o'clock when it was dark. I was to
call for her and she was to meet me in the patio with a bundle, and
follow me as one of my own men to the quay.
`This was a rare plan, if there had not been so many of these guard
houses to pass, at every one of which we were challenged. `Quien va
la?' must have met you at every corner!'
`I had got everything arranged, but did not tell any one of my intended
departure but our Consul, who said he would acquit me to the
owners; for he supposed I had only one project in view that of saving
my vessel. I did not make him a confidant touching the new hand I
was to ship. Well, at eight o'clock precisely I made my appearance
at porte cochere of Don Pedro's house. It was lighted only by the
faint glimmer of a lamp hung over the inner arch. The sound of the
falling waters of the fountain in the pateo covered my footsteps as I
walked carefully in. I glanced up at the corridor and saw a figure
moving in the shadow of the gorgeous tropical plants that adorned it
The next moment the fluttering hand of the charming Banda Orientalist
was in mine! The family of Don Pedro consisted only of himself,
who was all the time in his counting room at one corner of his casa,
his wife and two daughters of eighteen and twenty. Neither of them
had she made her confidant, because the eldest had lately become her
rival touching General D— which the latter was too volatile, and
would, doubtless, have insisied on running away too!'
`But how did you converse the first time so long with Dona Francisca
undiscovered?'
`The young ladies were walking on the alameda with some young
Brazilian officers, and Don Pedro was casting accounts as usual in
his casa de comercio.'
`As we passed beneath the light of the lamp I was surprised as
well as pleased and greatly relieved to see how like a young sailor
she looked. She had suffered one or two short ringlets to fall on
each cheek, and the suit fitted her as if it had been made for her.
I saw she blushed deeply as she caught my eye and strove to conceal
her face by dropping her countenance towards the ground. Well,
she followed me, after I had encouraged her confidence in herself,
and I answered all the challenges with the usual `Camarada,' but
was not stopped. I reached the quay and got into my boat. To
avoid suspicion, for the guard had lights looking at us pull off, I
gave Francisca the helm, as if she were my coxswain, and we then
pulled for the ship. We got on board in safety, and I immediately
escorted her to a state room which I had fitted up for her reception,
whence soon afterwards she re-appeared in the cabin in her graceful
Castillian costume. Her first act was to kneel and kiss my hand,
which her tears of gratitude also bedewed. I assured her of my protection,
while in my heart I felt I would give world's to be under hers!
The two mates, fine fellows both as you remember, had got every
thing ready. There was a light wind blowing right out of the harbor.
You remember it was full of vessels. Above me lay at least
forty merchantmen, to the captains of seven of which, all my acquaintances,
I had communicated the information of the coming
blockade. They were also doing their best quietly. Out side of me
were anchored at least twenty vessels of war, besides the guard ship
seventy four anchored in the mouth of the harbor and the two fort s!'
`I remember them all! What a risk to run!'
`At eleven o'clock the tide set out. Every man went about our
decks in bare feet noiseless as kittens. It was a cloudy star light
night, with the wind blowing about five knots from the North. At
a few minutes after eleven our topsails and top gallant sails were loosed.
Every block that creeked was greased. The sheets were hauled
home without noise, and the jib and spanker set. This precaution
was necessary, as on our starboard quarter not two cables length lay
a Brazillian corvette, and on the other beam a sloop of war was anchored.
We held on to our ancher until the wind began to help us
and then we slipped cable and let her fall off. I had marked my course
out by day light and now took the helm myself. Donna Francisca
I had prevailed upon to retire, assuring her of her safety now that
she was on board. It was a pretty ticklish affair steering in a
dark night through a dense armed fleet. But it was to their being
so thick that we owned our escape. We passed the corvette and
then a brig of war, hailed first by one and then by the other. I
gave in reply the name of the Brazillian corvette, `Alceste,' which
you remember was anchored far up the harbor. So I passed on,
followed as I saw by two or three of the merchantmen. As it so
happened they gave suspicious answers, one of them actually giving
`The Alceste.' Instantly an alarm gun was fired. It was answered
from the guard ship, for which I was very much obliged to
them, as but for its flash I should have steered right into a Portugese
frigate. It also showed me the true position of the guard ship.
The frigate taking the alarm hailed me, and I replied as before answering
back in Portugese that I was in pursuit of a vessel running
out. My ship you know was of large size with painted ports and
black sides, and altogether having a very warlike look. If they
suspected me they feared to fire, for many vessels and the town lay
in range. I soon saw them signalizing with colored lights from the
sloop of war I had passed. Answering lights appeared in the guard
ship, and I knew I should get it as I went by her without a ruse.
Firing of musketry now began to take place astern and I saw that
some of the merchantmen were getting it roughly. Making
my men lie down, I kept on and when I came near I ranged up
close under the stern of the guard ship, and with my trumpet first
hailed her!'
`A bold step!'
`It proved a successful one! I denominated my vessel the `Alceste,'
and said that I was in pursuit of a boat that had passed out of
the harbor. I was suffered to pass on, when if they had burned a
blue light they would see what I was at a glance. In ten minutes
more I was beyond range of her guns and stretching away under all
sail I could carry for Buenos Ayres.
| Henry Howard, or, Two noes make one yes | |