Читать книгу Winds of Fortune - John Jeffery Farnol - Страница 10

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Back from a blessed unconsciousness came I, little by little, to see painted, carven beams above me with a great gilded lamp that swung gently to and fro; and I watched this dreamily awhile till I became more and more aware how my head throbbed and of a painful smarting in my leg; and then 'twixt me and the lamp came Deborah's down-bent, anxious face.

"Oh, my dearie lamb!" sighed she, cool hand upon my aching brow. "Thank Heaven you'm your own precious self again."

"Deborah," said I, glancing about, "are we ... where are we?"

"Safe in this gurt ship, ma'm."

"Safe?" cried I bitterly.

"Ay, dearie, though you was like poor dead thing and oh, a-bleeding right horrorsome, poor bird."

"Why, how was this; what happened?"

"You fell, dearie ma'm."

"No, Deborah, I jumped."

"Oh, lud 'a' mercy and all they rampageous horses! You might ha' been killed!"

"And why not?" sighed I wearily. "But why did I bleed and what aileth my leg?"

"Ah, your pretty leg, ma'm!" cried Deborah, hands clasped and eyes uprolling. "Your dear, beauteous leg all cut and gory! Your new petticoat with the point lace all blood! But your sweet, lovesome leg—look at it!" And lifting my garments, she showed me my leg all bare and a bandage swathed just above the knee.... Now, seeing how deftly this bandage was set, I sat upright very suddenly, staring down at it in an evergrowing perturbation.

"Deborah," said I at last, my wide gaze still on this, "was it you ... set this bandage?"

"Who else, ma'm?"

"Deborah," said I, looking at her now, "you could never have set bandage so! You are telling me wicked lie!"

"Ay, I am, dearie," sighed she, "though meaning no wickedness. And I vow, ma'm, he handled you as your pretty leg was made o' glass,—so gentle! Ay, so tender as you was a flower—"

"He?" I gasped. "He? You mean—"

"Ay, I do, Mis' Ursula dearie; him, the Captain—"

For a moment I could but stare at her and, becoming conscious of my naked leg, hid it passionately; then indeed I found words aplenty, nor paused for breath until she began to sob and splash great tears and I, 'twixt anger and shame, nigh sobbing too.

"Oh, Deborah," gasped I, "how could you suffer it ... how could you, how dared you suffer this vile man to ... such odious freedoms—"

"La, ma'm, I swear to holy heavens 'twas no such thing—"

"Yet let the monster touch me—"

"But oh, ma'm, you seemed so dead-like and me so distraught-like and him so quick-like that your petticoats was up and your stocking was down ere a body might wink. And then—Lord bless you, ma'm, your pretty leg might ha' been a man's leg or a horse's leg, for aught he seemed to mind, or leg o' chair or table. And oh, 'tis wrong, Mistress Ursula, ma'm, 'tis shameous cruel in you to think your Deborah would allow o' such except across my dying body ... me as hath loved and cared for ee all these years and now to be suspicioned! Oh, Mistress Ursula, that you could think such shame o' me!" So saying, this dear, devoted creature flung herself on her knees beside me in such passionate grief that I could but kiss and comfort her.

"But tell me, Deborah," said I, when she had suffered me to dry her tears, "who stabbed me? Was it—the Captain?"

"Lord, no, ma'm—no!" she exclaimed. "However could ee think it? 'Twas yourself, ma'm; leastways the knife as you took and hid in pocket o' your cloak cut you, it did, when you jumped—"

"Where is the knife?"

"On the table yonder, ma'm."

"Bring it to me." With this knife clutched in hand, I sat up, despite Deborah's protests, to see I had been lying on a broad-cushioned settee or locker that extended along two sides of a chamber or rather cabin, nobly furnished and panelled with strange, pretty woods, the great beams above my head brave with paint and gilding and with goodly carpets underfoot, all of the which finery of itself waked in me a new dread.

"Oh, 'tis fine grand ship, ma'm!" said Deborah.

"Indeed, my poor innocent, too grand!" said I, shivering. "'Tis my very belief this is no better than pirate ship."

"Oooh!" exclaimed Deborah, clasping her hands, tho' with such look as perfectly surprised me.

"How?" cried I. "D'ye not see what this means? This wicked ship and us on't, beset by desperate, lawless men, murdering villains ... sailing us away heaven knoweth where."

"'Tis turble, ma'm, for indeed the ship do shew full o' men, though to be sure there's none of 'em nowise harmed us yet, and there be one, a tall man wi' gold rings in's ears, as lifted me into the boat so kind and gentle he might ha' been a body's own mother—"

"Gracious heaven above!" said I. "Are ye so brazen bold to have no fear? My poor silly wretch, we may be beaten ... ravished and walking planks very soon—ay, and eaten by sharks ... and you can do no more than clasp your foolish hands and cry Ooh!"

"Nay, but Mis' Ursula, what should a poor body do?"

"Do?" quoth I, flashing scornful eyes at her. "You should be nigh dead with horror and shrinking shame."

"Deed, my dearie, ma'm, I do be trembling all over me now."

"Oh, be silent!" said I.

"Yes, m' lady—"

"Nay, tell me, is my leg much wounded?"

"No, ma'm, glory be! 'Tis scarce more than scratch, though you bled vastly—proud blood, he named it."

"Never mention the wretch!"

"Very well, ma'm. Shall I put you to bed?"

"No! Besides, I see no beds."

"There be a little room behind yon door wi' two, ma'm, though he named 'em bunks!"

"A detestable word! And I'll none of them, girl. I'll lie here on the settee and watch the night out."

"Nay, but my lady, at least you'll be undressed?"

"Horrors, no! I'd lie in full armour an' I might."

"Why then, let me loose and make you easy."

"Not a string, woman!"

"Well, oh, my dearie, won't you please to eat somewhat? Ah, prithee peck a bit if 'tis no more than wing o' chicken—"

"No, no!" cried I, shuddering. "The poor outraged soul of me mocks at such idea, for how should any woman of a delicate sensibility think of gross food ... besides, I see no chicken."

"Oh, but you ate naught at the inn and you must take somewhat, indeed."

"Ay, true," sighed I (for I must here confess, since 'tis writ in my diary, I was well-nigh famished), "being but human I must needs eat lest all strength and courage fail me.... Bring me your chicken wing." Thus presently, and despite our woeful plight, I supped very well, though I would touch no drop of wine, contenting myself with water.

"And now, ma'm, pray come thy ways to bed; there be clean sheets and—"

"No! First aid me into my stocking and shoe."

"Nay, they'm all gory, ma'm—"

"Then get me others."

No sooner was I reshod than:

"Deborah," says I, taking up the knife, "go you and bid Captain Bly to me."

"The Captain—oh, my loveliness, whyever for—?"

"To show the monster I nothing fear him—"

"Oh, ma'm, but you do; you'm all ashiver wi' fright."

"To be sure I am, fool wench, and so 'tis I'll speak the wretch and show myself bold and prepared for him."

"Wi' ... that knife, my dearie lamb?"

"Ay, indeed,—and a resolute spirit. Go you and bid him hither and instantly." So away went Deborah, mighty unwilling, and was presently back to say he was busied but would come anon. So I must needs wait the wretch and in no little trepidation.

But when at last he entered, he found me standing to receive him and sufficiently dignified I hope; though:

"Madam," says he with fulsome bow, "if you have sent for me to express your gratitude for the small service I was enabled—"

"Gratitude, sir!" I repeated bitterly. "Service indeed—"

"In the matter of your scratched limb, madam."

"Be dumb, sir! I have sent for you to demand that you turn back this ship and instantly restore me to ... to my friends."

"And your woman, gracious lady?"

"And my woman, of course."

"Alack now!" he sighed. "I fear this is out o' the question."

"Beware, Captain, I am no poor country lass to be thus brutally abducted with impunity."

"True!" he nodded. "You are lady of vasty possessions; also you have red hair. But then, I am a man of scant possessions and very desperate fortune—"

"And shall answer for this outrage, sir, so sure as there is law in England."

"But then, England is fading on our lee, ma'm,—the broad seas lie before us."

"And what of myself?" cried I. "What is your purpose with me? What shame, what misery, doth your brutality purpose for me?"

"And your woman, madam?"

"What vileness do you intend us?" I demanded.

"Am I permitted to be seated, madam?"

"You may sit—over there, sir."

"Gladly, madam," he answered, taking the distant chair I indicated and crossing his legs, "for I can show you how to put the best face upon the matter and find in apparent misfortune a blessing—"

"You have abducted me by base, impudent slight—"

"Will you snuff, madam? No? Very well, it is agreed you are certainly abducted. But I have carried you away from the following evils, greater or less, to wit—a bibulous uncle, a shallow-pated aunt, divers sighful swains, a rascal that would ha' wed you for your aforesaid possessions and a life of useless, pampered ease; from all this I ha' brought you to something better—"

"Better?" cried I, bitterly scornful.

"Infinitely better!" he nodded. "I have placed you in situation shall evoke in you all that is worst or best."

"So, sir," quoth I, supremely disdainful, "you will dare to play Providence to me ... you!"

"Ma'm, indeed I am your Providence—"

"You!" I cried again, hot with such passionate scorn that I leapt afoot, unmindful of my hurt, "you that should hang for curst rogue—ay, and shall yet—"

"Out with it, ma'm!" quoth he. "Mindful of your limber-tongued uncle, curse and damn me till you're breathless! How, are ye dumb? Then hearkee! I ha' brought you to sea, my fine lady, for divers reasons, and one of 'em this; to show you that you, in your proud selfishness, know so little o' life, how desperate real life is. You shall learn, perchance, to outface horror of wind and raging seas; you shall behold how poor sailormen live, ay and die too, mayhap! 'Tis like you shall grow acquaint with dangers and, seeing pain o' wounds, you shall forget this mighty universe circles but about your puny self and come to know there be something better things than pretty-turned speech, gallantry o' bows and such fripperies. Thus and so experience shall learn you to be a woman or, 'pon my soul, ma'm Ursula, though you be my wife I'll none o' you."

"Abhorred wretch—vile man!" cried I, almost beside myself with fury. "I'll die first! So do as you will but I fear neither you nor any of your villainous company, these base rogues that do your bidding—"

"Hold there!" he exclaimed, angry in his turn at last. "You ha' seen but six of us and these friends and comrades endeared to me by bitter adversity, and some of them, moreover, of prouder birth than your prideful self, madam—"

"Rogues and villains all!" cried I. "Ay, and villainous as their looks!"

"Their looks?" he repeated bitterly. "Ay, and small wonder, for, most dainty ma'm, these be men, like those you may read of in the Scriptures, that have come out of great tribulation; they have endured sickness, hunger and the agony of thirst. They have known torment and shame o' the lash. They have slaved 'neath pitiless sun till they swooned in their fetters. Yet the blood and sweat of their agony knit them in a comradeship greater than love of brother or woman, with a faith in each other that made them able to endure; thus, though their bodies languished, their spirit never quailed. So they endured, cheering each other with unuttered word or stolen look, biding their time patiently until one day,—" here he laughed grimly and tossed wide his arms in strange wild gesture,—"they smote their smiters and won free ... aha, to freedom, some few of them, and of these are the six you saw. And as to their looks, ma'm, and most gracious lady,—well, a man may not come forth of hell and naught to show for it. So, an' my comrades' grim aspects displease your finical taste, 'tis no matter, for in this world of action and vital reality you, and your like, count less than nothing. And now, ma'm, be so good to get you to bed."

I merely looked at him; whereupon he continued:

"Your berths are aft, yonder; they were Barnaby's and mine."

At this, very naturally, I shuddered violently.

"How, ma'm," he questioned, eyeing me askance, "won't you to bed, then?"

"No!" I answered, mighty resolute. "I will not!"

"Why then," said he, yawning behind long finger, "I will!" And to my no small dismay, the man, heeding me no whit, pulled off his coat, unbelted his sword and removed his wig, which last he tied tenderly on the table; and now, knowing not where to look, I glanced at Deborah, to see her all eyes and her rosy lips gaping to pink and silent O. And then, before I could find word,

"Mrs. Deborah," says he, unbuttoning his waistcoat, "since your lady is minded to watch over my balmy slumber, bide you too, lest she be tempted to tickle my defenceless ribs with her knife."

"Nay, sir," says she to him, choking back a giggle, "Oh, ma'm," quoth she, sighing gustily at me.

"Deborah, you may go to bed," said I, seating myself, serenely resolute, "I shall watch out this hateful night."

"Nay, my dearie," she wailed but, meeting my look, moaned and departed.

"Madam," said he, taking off the buckled shoes he now wore, "pray do not trouble to douse the light, I've learned the trick o' sleeping at any time." Having said which, he yawned, stretched himself on the cushioned settee opposite, buried his grizzled head in the pillow and seemed almost instantly to fall asleep.

Now sitting thus miserably wakeful and naught to hear save the never-ending rhythmic creak of the great ship's timbers, the bubbling hiss of the seas and the faint drone of the wind, and naught to look at save this sleeping wretch that was the wicked cause of my present woeful plight, I suffered myself to glance at him and thus looking, clenched my hands passionately on the knife in my lap, bethinking me how many a woman bolder than I might indeed have used it, maugre the consequence. And gazing on him thus (tingling with abhorrence from the very roots of my hair to the tips of my toes) I began to notice that despite silvered hair his lean face, serene in slumber, showed younger than I'd deemed; and that amid his short, thick hair (that methought might have curled) ran a great scar that must once have been such dreadful hurt I marvelled it had not killed him; also above his slim, sinewy hand that drooped, just now, so weak, and helpless, showed yet another scar, a livid mark that ran all jagged about his tanned wrist. This, together with his grizzled hair and his grim haggardness of look, put me in mind how he had spoken of coming out of great tribulation, so that for a moment I could have almost pitied him, till came the thought that these sufferings he had endured were (almost certainly) the just recompense for his own evil doing. And now, scorning to pity such base fellow, I began to cast about in my mind how I might make him suffer and bitterly rue his outrageous dealing with my poor self. Here once again I came very near despair, since every creak of this great hateful vessel was bearing me farther from my loved England and the more surely into his power. I bethought me also how he had threatened me with the terrors of storm, with sight of blood and death ... I recalled, moreover, how he had vaunted himself my Providence.... Here, glancing at the gleaming knife in my lap and from this to my bosom, I yearned to put his cruel steel to dreadful use but, knowing I could not, began to weep instead, giving full vent to my grief though very silently; and yet he heard for, sighing peevishly and without so much as troubling to open his hateful eyes:

"Ma'm," quoth he, mumbling, "your selfish grief disturbs my repose, so an' you must sob, sob you some other where."

How whiles I crouched thus, shamed by my tears (or rather that this odious man should be 'ware of them), bitterly humiliated and angered beyond all speech, came Deborah, peeping in at me like the faithful soul she is, and now, quick to read my mute appeal, ran to clasp me in comforting arms, would have led me out of his sight; but for very pride's sake, I stayed her.

"At least, sir," said I, with as much dignity as I might, "at the least, tell me whither you carry me?"

"Not I, ma'm," he answered ungraciously and mumbling in his pillow; "suffice it that yourself and myself upon wide ocean are being wafted by winds o' fortune to such fortune, good or ill, as Fortune shall decree. Now peace, ma'm, away nor cheat a weary mariner of his sleep."

So with Deborah's arms about me, I went forth of this so detested presence into a little dim place where were two beds, upon the nearest of which I sank forthwith and, refusing to be undressed, after some while wept myself miserably to sleep.