University of Virginia Library

9. CHAPTER IX.
The Nautical Lover.

`The Marquis La Fontleroy shall never have occasion to regret
falling into my hands,' said Marshall, with earnestness, nor, Monsieur
Deland, shall you. It is not the fortune of war that has given you into
my power, so much as the act of Providence. I cannot, therefore, look
upon you in the light of prisoners of war, as I should have done
under other circumstances. Men who have fled to my brig, from a foe
more dreadful, shall be received as friends. I have not released you
from the buccaneer to make you prisoners a second time, enemies as you
are to the flag under which I sail. I will also let your men have the
same privileges that I extend to you and General Fontleroy, presuming
you will readily give me your honor as a Frenchman, that no attempt
will be made by you, or your people, against the brig, while you are at
liberty on board of her.'

`Monsieur, how shall I express my obligations to you!' cried the
astonished French Captain. `The pledge you require I give with
pleasure.'

`Then you are at liberty from this moment. Go forward and tell
your men the same, and those who choose, may assist the brig's
company in their duties.'

`They will all be glad to do so, noble Captain,' responded Deland,
with animation. `You are too good, too generous, Captain!'

`I cannot do otherwise. I would as soon keep prisoners, ship-wrecked
men, as yourselves. You have suffered enough by losing your
ship. The pirates I think will long remember the visit of the Lady of
the Gulf to this coast. I have pretty well broken them up. At least
forty of the fellows were killed outright or drowned, besides the loss of
their proa. Captain Deland, after you and your mate have made
known to your crew my decision respecting them, you are welcome to
the hospitalities of my cabin.'

The joy of the poor French crew, on being told by their Captain

that they were not to be held as prisoners of war, was visible in their
changing features. Gloom and doubts and heavy despondency, gave
way to smiles and cheerfulness. They at once expressed their willingness
to aid in the brig's duty, and even said they would help fight the
guns against everything but a ship of their own nation.

After Hastings had left the cabin, the daughter of the Marquis, no
longer restrained by his presence, gave free expression to her joy at
once more seeing her father in safety, by throwing herself upon his
neck and covering his cheeks with kisses of overflowing gladness.

`Never again did I expect to behold you, my dear child,' said the
Marquis, folding her to his heart. How much do I owe to our enemies
for preserving you from the fate that threatened you! When I was
struck down to the deck the second time, in trying to rescue you, I saw
you, as my senses were leaving me, borne by him into the boat. Did
the Captain slay him and rescue you?'

`No, but his officer, the tall, handsome young man, with dark eyes,'
responded Josephine with warmth, her check glowing with gratitude as
she spoke of him; `he saw me, and at the risk of my life, shot the
pirate who held me in his grasp. He fell overboard, dragging me
beneath the sea with him in his descent. Oh, horrible recollection!
What terrific sensations passed through my soul in that fearful flight
towards the shades of death! I could see around me distinctly, as I
went down. I seemed falling through a sea of bluish light. Suddenly
a dark object descended rapidly towards us. I lost all consciousness,
and the next I recollect, I was here and you were bending over me. I
was saved by the young officer, who plunged in after me. To him I
owe my life and infinite gratitude.'

`He who could show such courage and humanity must be an
honorable man. I feel that though our lot is so unhappy as to have
cast us into the power of our enemies, they will treat us with courtesy.'

At this moment, Hastings entered the cabin. At seeing him, the
face of the maiden deepened with the glow of beauty, and her eyes
brightened with the animation of a warm and grateful heart.

`I trust that you have by this time recovered your composure,
Mademoiselle,' said Hastings, with admiration of her beautiful features.

`Indeed, sir, I cannot feel apprehension with one who has so
gallantly risked his life to save mine.'

`Monsieur,' said the General, grasping his hand, `how shall I find

words to express to you my feelings. If you could see my heart, you
would see your image impressed there imperishably.'

`Your safety, and that of your lovely daughter, is sufficient reward,
General Fontleroy,' answered Hastings.

`You are not a Mexican, sir? Your French, though very pure, has
not the Spanish accent; and your appearance is that of one born in a
more northern clime.'

Hastings did not reply for a moment, and then answered, with
embarrassment.

`I am an officer in the Mexican service, sir; but it is true, I am not
a Mexican by birth. I have come down into the cabin, sir, to say that
you and your daughter are to be considered as guests, with the Captain
of your ship also. The crew are likewise at liberty on board. If you
and Captain Deland will decide together, what port you wish to be left
at, it will afford us pleasure to land you at the place you select, if it is
not far out of our cruising ground.'

`Sir, you are overwhelming us with favors we can never repay,' said
General Fontleroy, with emotion. `Where is Captain Deland?'

`He is now coming down with Captain Marshall.'

The French Captain, on entering the cabin and seeing his two
passengers appearing so well, though the maiden with her wet locks
looked like a sea-nymph, rushed towards them, and with tears of joy
congratulated them on their safety. After a few moments given to
mutual congratulations and expressions of thanks to their preservers,
the Marquis mentioned to Captain Deland what Hastings had proposed
to him.

After some debate, it was finally agreed that it would be convenient
to all parties, including Captain Marshall, to put into New Orleans.
For this port therefore the brig's head was laid, and when the sun rose
the next morning, she was twenty leagues to the westward of Cuba,
bowling along before a fine southeast wind that marked on the reel-line
seven knots to the hour.

`There were two motives which governed the officers of the Lady of
the Gulf in acquiescing in the desire of the Marquis and Captain
Deland to put into New Orleans. Marshall thought that by running
for the Balize, he would then be sure of falling in with the Loraine as
she entered the river, when he resolved to attempt her capture though
in the United States' waters. He had been disappointed in not

meeting her south of Cuba, and in losing also the Louis XIV.; and his
crew were becoming openly dissatisfied at their failure in making
captures. To run for New Orleans, therefore, send the Marquis and
his daughter up to the city in some merchant vessel to be fallen in with
at the mouth, and then lay by for the French ship, was his plan.

The next motive affected Hastings only. He wished to go to New
Orleans that he might have an opportunity of seeing, once more,
Auguste Livaudais. Thus the wishes of all parties were embraced in
this movement.

On the evening of the fourth day after leaving the shores of Cuba,
Hastings had been walking the deck, arm in arm, with Mademoiselle
Fontleroy. It was a sweet night. The stars and moon shed their
combined radiance upon the sparkling sea. The breeze was gentle and
scarcely ruffled the surface of the gulf, while at the same time it sent
the graceful vessel along with swift motion. He had walked with her
half an hour in earnest conversation. Marshall, the while, stood near,
leaning over the quarter-rail, and watching them with an earnest
manner. At length, Hastings escorted her below, and returning to the
deck, laid his hand upon Marshall's shoulder.

`Courage, my dear Jack,' said he.

`What, Harry, have I any hopes?'

`Yes. Do not despair.'

`Despair! If she thought but a tithe of me as she does of you!
Here you are met half way and loved in spite of yourself, while I, who
am ready to blow out my brains for her, can scarcely get a look.
What did you say to her, and what did she say to you? I hope you
managed the affair delicately, for I would n't have her suspect I
could n't do my own courting.'

`It is n't every man who fights well courts well,' answered Hastings,
laughing. `But I will tell you what I said. I began first, by giving
her a brief history of my life and — '

`Did you tell her of Auguste Livaudais?' demanded the Captain,
eagerly.

`Yes.'

`Then you have no hope. Once tell a woman, who is inclined to fall
in love with you, that you love another, and she puts off on the other
tack quick. In nine cases out of ten she will hate. Well, let me
hear.'

`I informed her of my attachment, and my hopes yet of being so
happy as again to meet the maiden who had won my heart.'

`I can tell when you made that known to her. It was when you
were passing the binnacle and she stopped and seemed disturbed. I
could not hear, but I saw.'

`Yes, it was then. She received the intelligence with surprise and
seeming pain. But I felt that when I saw her gratitude to me, as the
preserver of her life, assuming the form of a strong passion, it became
my duty as an honorable man to let her know, by artfully intruding it
in conversation, that my affections were not free.'

`You are a fine fellow, Hastings! and you have acted right. You
owed this to me also, though, when you saw how much I was in love
with her, and when you perceived that you stood in the way.'

`Yes, and I did my best to remove the obstacle. I made out myself
to her as quite a sad reprobate, who had not a grain of love for anybody
but Auguste Livaudais, which is true, while I took the opportunity to
bring you in and laud you to the skies.'

`You did?'

`Yes, I did! I spoke of all your estimable qualities, and you know
you have a few, dear Jack.'

`I wish she could think so.'

`She does. I discoursed of you in such eloquent guise that I almost
fell in love myself with the picture I drew, and yet it was a truthful
one. I did my best to make her forget that there was such a person as
myself in existence, and to see nobody else in the world but you.'

`You have won my heart forever.'

`No, no! I know you have none for me to win. Josephine
Fontleroy has had it these three days. It is amusing how all at once
you fell in love with her. You did not seem to notice her, or make a
remark about her, the first twenty-four hours.'

`Because I was confounded with her charms. I was afraid of her.
I was afraid to speak a word. My heart was all in a flutter. Bless
you, I fell dead in love with her while I was bleeding her.'

`As you were bleeding her!'

`Yes. As my lancet pierced her beautiful arm, her beauty pierced
my heart. I thought I should never get through. Well, what more
did she say?'

`I have n't told you yet that she said anything.'

`Do n't say so. She did speak; did n't she?'

`Yes. She said that she admired you greatly, and thought you
possessed noble qualities. She was grateful to you for your attentions
to her father and herself, and a great many other kind things. I then
told her that I saw with pleasure that you were deeply interested in
her, — nay, that you had in confidence told me how she had inspired
you with the strongest passion. At this she sighed.'

`Sighed, did she!' repeated the Captain, sighing.

`Yes, sighed, and then immediately complained of the chilly air and
desired to go below. And I went with her, as you saw.'

`The deuce she did! Then it is all up with me!'