University of Virginia Library

13. CHAPTER XIII.
SHOWING PROGRESS BUT NO ACTION.

“Well, my dear fellow, you hear what the cassique of Kiawah
has to say in regard to your case. You see that, but for the Spanish
influence at court, we should have no trouble at the hands of
public opinion, either here or at home. You have the popular
sympathies. Here, were the citizens alone concerned, you might
walk the streets in broad daylight. As the matter stands, you
must needs be cautious. Our honor, my dear captain, requires
that we should hang you up, without benefit of the clergy, should
you force upon us the knowledge of your presence! And there
is no need that you should do this. You are not one of those
macaronies who insist upon their proportions being seen — who
are never satisfied unless they can spread broad tails, peacock-fashion,
and scream aloud, in advance of their approach, the claims
that they possess upon public admiration. In short, my dear captain,
the business is a good one — to be continued — with only that
degree of modesty which forbears to trumpet to the world the
extent of our profits.”

“I see — I see!” was all the answer Calvert made to this speech.
He proceeded abruptly:—

“I should like to have seen this cassique of Kiawah. There
was something in his voice that persuades me that I have seen
him before. What 's his age — appearance — seeming?”

“Some thirty-five — a fine-looking fellow; not unlike yourself
in build, though not quite so tall — say five feet ten; and, by-the-way,
it struck me, when we spoke of him before, that there was a

something of likeness between you — a something, I know not exactly
what, in the cut of the jib — pardon me the nautical comparison
— a something in nose, and eyes, and mouth, very like between
you. No disparagement in the comparison, let me tell you, for
our cassique has quite a nobleman look and bearing.”

“His voice is peculiar.”

“Deep, sonorous, something sad. The fact is, his voice makes
me think that he has a thorn somewhere in his side that pricks
keenly. He 's one of those restless men, for ever engaging in
something new, whom I always suspect of some secret grief. He
is feverishly active; works at all sorts of schemes — never stops
work — and is somewhat wild in his choice of labor. Why the
devil should he work, and so restlessly, if there be not some irking
barb in his vitals? He is rich, does not seem to value money —
certainly does not work with regard to the money profits; could
live at ease, enjoy himself, and let us enjoy ourselves, if he pleased.
Why should he bother himself with the reform of Indians, new
experiments in culture, introduction of large stocks into the country,
and fine varieties, which these very savages will be sure to
slaughter nightly in his ranges?”

“Nay, I see not why he should not be moved by philanthropy.”

The governor lifted his eyebrows with a ludicrous stare.

“Do you believe in that sort of stuff as a motive?”

“Yes, with insane people.”

“But he 's none of your insane ones, I tell you. He 's devilish
shrewd, methodical, calculating, in spite of all his nonsense of
philanthropy.”

“He has a wife, you say?”

“Yes, and child.”

“You have seen her?”

“Yes — but once, on her first arrival: a pale, sad, silent looking
woman.”

“But that might have been the effects of the sea-voyage.”

“Hardly. No! her looks are habitually sad, they tell me, who
have seen more of her than I have. Middleton, who has lands
near them, and sees them often, made the same remark to me.
My own notion is, that our cassique is something of a domestic
tyrant. He is certainly the man to make himself the law to his
own household. There is a mother along with them — mother of

the lady — who looks as if she had a tongue in her head; carries
an eye as sharp as a fiery arrow; and wears just the look of one
to whom rule comes naturally, and who would bear no tongue-music
not of her own making. Between the two, the wife seems
destined to the fate of the tender grain between the upper and
nether millstone.”

“Does she ever come to the town?”

“Rarely.”

“Yet lives at so small a distance — not twenty miles, I think
you said?”

“Not fifteen! Oh, be sure, Major Berkeley is lord as well as
cassique. He keeps the rein tightly within his own hands, and,
so far as his wife is concerned, needs no effort to do so. It is
otherwise, I fancy, with the old lady, who, I suspect, frequently
catches up the ribands, and puts a barb into the leader. But we
need waste no more words upon our cassique. He 's shrewd, and
sensible, and authoritative, but I can manage him. You heard
how cleverly I threw him off, when he would have had me make
proclamation of the reward for your capture?”

“Yes! — you were prompt, and the reason given was a good
one.”

“Hushed him directly! But I must leave you now. I have
to see some of our Indian traders, who are about setting out for
the Cherokees. You will lie perdu for awhile.”

“Till night, when I must go forth to receive a cargo. You
shall have a supply of fruits to-night for the table of your lady.”

“And she will have the honor of receiving you at supper.
Unfortunately, with this vigilant committee on the watch, she will
not be able to find you better company. You must be as little
seen as possible.”

“There could be no company more grateful than herself.”

“Ah! you might have been a courtier, captain.”

“Impossible!”

“Not a whit of it! But I do not say you have mistaken your
vocation. I only wish we were able to put you in a position to
combine the two — yours and mine! But we are in alliance, and
that is next to it, Now, take care of yourself. There's your
retreat, should any one call. And you will find good liquors in
yonder recess — Jamaica for your fiery moments, Madeira for

your courtly moods, and good sedative brown stout if you hap
to be contemplative. As our Saxons were wont to say, `Drink
wael, drink hael,' which I take to mean, `Drink well, and long
life to you,' or something like it. Au revoir!”

It was a long morning to Calvert, unemployed and almost uncompanioned,
in the solitude of the governor's private chamber.
But he had his excellency to himself over a bottle of Madeira
after dinner — the latter being served to him secretly by miladi
herself, who, however, could give the rover but few moments of
her presence. We need not report the further dialogues that day
with his excellency. Soon as night set in fairly, our cruiser sallied
forth, found his way to Franks' quarters, had a long business
talk with that burly personage, and the two went forth together in
the direction of the well-shadowed lagune where the boat was
expected. But as our captain did not linger here very long, and
as he is expected elsewhere, let us turn our steps in a new quarter,
where we shall see that due preparation has been made for
his reception.