by Guy Boothby
CHAPTER IV.
RAMSAY BECOMES A SHIP-OWNER.
When I entered the Albino's abode and confronted him, he gave a strangesort of laugh.
"Why, John Ramsay," he cried, "what on earth's the matter with you? Youlook as doleful as the man whose wife ran away with a tinker, and tookhis last five pounds to pay their travelling expenses. What's wrong?"
Thereupon I sat myself down, and told him as much of the story as Ithought would enable him to advise me. He curled himself up on his bedopposite me, swinging his legs and cracking his fingers till I hadfinished. Then he whistled in a strange, uncanny fashion.
"You say your sweetheart, what's her name--Juanita--buried her husbandon one of the islands out yonder?" he began, jerking his thumb over hisshoulder in the direction of the Pacific Ocean generally.
I nodded.
"She never before told you she was a widow I believe?"
"Well, all things considered, it was hardly likely she would. What'smore, I never asked her."
"How do you know she's not leading you on? How d'you know she doesn'twant to get you out to sea, and then collar the whole caboose? It's apity you're so simple with women, isn't it?"
Thinking this question hardly required an answer, I lit my pipe forsomething to do, and waited for him to continue. All this time he hadnever taken his eyes off me, but looked me through and through as ifendeavouring to read my very soul. He was evidently revolving someproblem in his mind, and it must have been a puzzler, if the expressionon his face could be taken as evidence. When he spoke, it was with apurpose.
"Look here, John Ramsay, I like the cut of your jib, or you wouldn't besitting there opposite me. I'm generally considered an 'old Bob Ridley'to cross, but any man'll tell you I make an up and down good friend. AsI say, I've taken a fancy to you, and what's more, I've scraped togethera bit of money here and there. Tell me one thing,--are you sure this,what's her outlandish name again--Juanita--is really fond of you?"
"How can I tell? She says she is."
"And you're fool enough to think you can't be happy without her?"
"If it is foolish to think so, I am. What are you driving at?"
He scratched his head musingly. Presently he asked--
"How much d'you think it would cost to hire a schooner for the tripdown to this island she talks about?"
"I don't know, because she hasn't told me where the island is."
"Well, now, that's what I call a pity, but at any rate"--here he leanttowards me and dropped his voice almost to a whisper--"if you think yourchance with her hangs on your finding money enough for that cruise dashmy wig if I won't lend it to you."
If he had offered to produce the moon from his waistcoat pocket, andgive me a bite of it, I could not have been more surprised. He was thelast man in the world I should have expected to receive assistance from.So, for a second or two, I hardly knew what to say, then I managed tostammer out--
"That's awfully generous of you seeing you know nothing about me; but doyou mean it? Honest Injun?"
"Real downright honest Injun!"
In his excitement he had struggled down from his bed, and now stoodbefore me as weird a picture in the half light as any man could wish tosee.
"Well, there you are," he said; "there's my offer--take it or leave it,just as you please. Up to three hundred pounds the money's yours; comefor it when you will."
"But I may never be able to repay you. Remember, bar what I've told you,you don't know anything of me."
"Never mind that; I like the cut of your jib, that's enough for me. Ifyou can't repay me inside of a year you may before I die. At any rate,there it is, and good luck go with you. Only, remember your promise--nota word to Juanita of me; you'll find it safest in the long run to lether suppose you're doing it all yourself."
Had I only known then the reasons which actuated this surprising offer,I doubt if I should have been so quick to accept it; but not being ableto see into the future, of course it was impossible for me to avert thetrouble that was threatening my devoted head.
As soon as I could decently escape him, I made my excuses, and set offfor the township to tell the good news to Juanita.
So high were my hopes, and such was my exultation at having brought thematter to such a highly successful issue, that I can recall nothing ofmy walk until I found myself entering the verandah of the Orient Hotel.For a moment I lingered on the threshold, listening to the music ofJuanita's voice within. When I entered, it was to find her leaningacross the counter, in earnest conversation with a tall Pearler, whom Ihad seen hovering about her before. Now, it was a curious thing, thatthough I had hurried with all the speed I could command to tell her thenews, and had been picturing to myself the rapturous way in which shewould receive it, on seeing her thus engaged I almost regretted havingsuch good tidings to impart.
Whether she was out of patience with me for something I had done, orwhether she purposely wished to make me jealous, I do not know; at anyrate, save for a little nod, she took no notice of my entrance, butreturned to her conversation with the stranger, leaving me to cool myheels and scowl till she should deign to speak to me. After a while thePearler seemed to recollect business elsewhere; he drank up his liquor,and went out, leaving us together. She put his glass under the counterto be washed, and then came along the bar to where I stood.
"Well," she said.
"Well," I replied, now thoroughly angered.
"If you've nothing more to say than that," she continued spitefully,"you'd better go home and sleep. You've been drinking!"
"It's a lie," I said roughly, "and you know it, but if you think you'regoing to stir me into quarrelling with you, you're very much mistaken. Iwouldn't quarrel with you to-night for a thousand pounds. But I'll tellyou what I will do; I'll break the head of that jackanapes you weretalking to just now, if he comes fooling round here again while I'm onhand."
"You're very rude," she said, tossing her head, "and you're also verycruel. I must refuse to talk to you any more. Leave me, and come backwhen you're sober."
"Very well," I said, "I _will_ leave you, and what's more to the point,I'll make you a bet you'll be sorry for this. I came to tell you somenews about your schooner that would have pleased you, but I'll see youdead before you shall hear it now."
So saying, I swung on my heel and left the house.
It would have been a bad business for any man who might have crossed methat night, for I was in about as vile a temper as it would be possibleto be. So, unable to trust myself among men, I made for the hill-side,and started walking about the back of the island.
I must have wandered all night, for breakfast-time discovered me notmore than a hundred yards from the Albino's door. With a yearning forsome one to impart my sorrows to, I made towards it, and entered in timeto catch my friend at his meal. His keen eyes saw in an instant thatsomething was wrong.
"You've been quarrelling with Juanita," he began. "Don't deny it; I cansee it in your face. Well, you're a bigger fool than I figured you. Whatwas it about?"
When I told him, he gave me a glance full of such withering contemptthat I almost quailed before it.
"I thought it was a man I was helping; as I live, it's only aschool-girl! Did she forget to say he was a pretty boy, and to kiss him,and to chuck him under the chin then?"
His raillery was more than I could stand, so being unwilling to quarrelwith him too, I got up to go. But this by no means suited him.
"Sit down," he snapped, pointing with a long fore-finger to the kerosenecase which did duty for a chair; "sit down and tell me what you proposeto do now; or, what's more to the point, I'll tell you what you shalldo."
"What?"
"Why, you shall just eat your breakfast here, my boy, and then go backto the 'Orient' and eat humble pie."
"Never!" I cried. "I'll see you damned first!"
"Silence, fool!" he almost shrieked. "You shall eat just as much dirt asshe chooses to give you. Do you think I'm going to let you spoil thiscontract for a ha'porth
of humility? That's not my way. And when you'vetalked her round----"
"Supposing she won't be talked round?"
"Suppose your grandmother! She's a woman, and if you go the right way towork, you ought to be able to do what you like with her. Then you'll lether understand that you have money to invest, and after that you'll findall go smooth as buttermilk."
"I don't like making myself cheap."
"Child, you've got to; you've fairly got to grovel, or quarrel with me.Now just pack your traps, and clear out of this; I want to wash up."
In obedience to his command I returned to the township, and once moreentered the "Orient." Juanita was not in. She had gone for a walk alongthe beach. Inquiring the direction, I followed it, and soon discoveredher seated on the side of Fortification Hill, gazing across the bluestrip of sea to where the mainland of Australia pushes its head up abovethe horizon. Numbers of white-sailed pearling craft dotted the bay; amissionary schooner was going about on her second board towards hermoorings; and so still was the air, that the sound of hammering camequite distinctly from a lugger at anchor under the shadow of the Princeof Wales' Island, nearly a mile away. As I approached her, Juanitalooked up and saw me.
The scene which the Albino had arranged for me was not destined to beput into practice, for she took the matter into her own hands, and whenI had seated myself beside her, fell to crying, and bitterly reproachingherself for what she termed her "wickedness" on the preceding night. Iendeavoured to soothe her, but it was only when she had convincedherself of my forgiveness that she deigned to be comforted.
"Oh, my Jack," she said, brushing away her tears, "you don't know howangry I've been with myself for treating you so! Let me hear again thatyou forgive me."
For the sixth time I reiterated the fact, and only then would she let mesay anything further. The breach was completely healed. When I told herthe good news her rapture knew no bounds; she lavished kisses upon me,calling me by all sorts of pet names, both Spanish and English, andcontinually urged me to make haste, as if it could be possible for us toset sail that very evening.
"Oh, how good you are to me!" she repeated. "And what boat do you thinkyou can get? There's Phelp's _Ocean Queen_, but she's too large; there'sthe _Alberta_, but she's not large enough. Oh, what boat can we find?"
"I was thinking of the _Mother of Pearl_," I answered. "She's quite bigenough; and I know Jameson would let us buy her outright for a small sumcash. He's in low water, and wants a smaller boat."
"Yes; she would do beautifully," she continued, clapping her hands. "Youmust go and see about her this very hour, and then we may get awayto-morrow, perhaps."
As she said this she looked up into my face with such an air of entreatythat I convinced myself that I was more in love with her than ever.
"Well, hardly to-morrow, I fancy," I replied. "You see there's so muchto be seen to; a crew to be hunted up, stores, and a thousand and onethings to be attended to, that all take time. What's more, I expectshe'll want overhauling; she's been lying out there these six monthspast, just going to rack and ruin."
"Then when, my Jack, may we sail?"
"Perhaps the day after to-morrow--hardly before."
This at first caused her to look disappointed, for she seemed impatientof even an hour's delay; but she soon regained her spirits, and we setoff back to the township on the best of terms.
Leaving her at her door, I passed on along the Sea-Front, to a spotwhere I knew I should find the owner of the _Mother of Pearl_. Just as Iexpected, he was seated on a bench, sunning himself between drinks; andas it was about time to hunt up another, I invited him to step insidethe shanty and lubricate at my expense. This he willingly consented todo; and when the operation had been safely accomplished, and not tillthen, I began to lead up to the subject of the schooner.
As my reputation in the island was not exactly that of a monied man, hewas thrown completely off his guard, and forthwith entered upon astring of abuse regarding the unfortunate vessel. She was too big fordiving purposes; she cost twice as much to keep up as he could afford;she took a young man-o'-war's crew to work her; and altogether he wishedhe'd never set eyes on her. I waited my opportunity, and then said--
"Don't you wish you could sell her?"
"Sell her! You'd just better believe I do!" he replied with considerableenergy. "I'm dead sick of her,--there never was a rottener bargaingoing."
He looked across the smooth stretch of the bay to where the object ofhis animadversions lay swinging to the tide. Then smothering a curse, heturned to me--
"Look here, Jack," he said, never of course dreaming I meant seriousbusiness, "I'm not what you'd call a big bug for style; but I'll tellyou what I _will_ do. I'll make you a present of that craft for twofifty, cash on the nail, and lose a hundred pounds by it. Now then,there you are; I couldn't say fairer than that if you was my missus'sfirst husband's uncle, could I?"
He had made me the offer so often "just for style," that such a thing asmy accepting it never for an instant crossed his mind. Therefore when Isaid quietly--
"Make it two hundred, Jim, and I'm your man, cash on the capstan whenyou please," there never was a man more overcome with astonishment.
"You don't mean it," he gasped; "you don't mean to go and say you've gottwo hundred pounds, Jack?"
His surprise was almost pathetic.
"I do," I answered, smiling at his earnestness; "and what's more,remember you've offered me the _Mother of Pearl_ for two hundred andfifty pounds. I offer two hundred, cash, if she suits me, and we'll gooff and look at her this very minute."
Taking him by the arm, I led the way to the beach, and pushed a boatinto the water.
"You can pull," I said, seating myself comfortably in the stern-sheets.
"Who? Me? Not much," he replied; "there's no beastly pride about me.Here you, Tommy," turning to a Solomon boy who stood watching us, "justyou jump in and put us aboard the _Mother of Pearl_ yonder, and I won'tsay but what there mayn't be a plug of tobacco at the end of it."
Five minutes later we were aboard the schooner, and I was closelyinspecting her, satisfying myself as to her good and bad qualities. WhenI had made up my mind, I turned to look for the owner. He was in theboat alongside, refreshing himself from a black bottle he had broughtwith him. As we pulled ashore, I said--
"Well, Jim, is it to be business?"
"Two fifty, not a red cent under."
"All right," I answered carelessly, "you're the best judge of that.She's not worth two hundred, but I'll give you that cash, otherwise notrade!"
He hung in the wind. Two hundred pounds, he reflected, would not onlybuy the new boat he wanted, but would enable him to extend his presentdrinking bout another week. An inspiration struck him--
"Two hundred cash," he said, "and I keep the pumps in her."
"There I'll meet you, though it's giving you the whole business. Is it abargain?"
"My Colonial!" he replied, and the next moment we stepped ashore.
"Now," I said, "you just toddle away and fix up the papers. I'll bealong with the money before you can turn round."
With that we separated, he returning to the hotel where we had met,while I made across the island to the Albino's abode. I found the dwarfat the wash-tub.
"What news?" he shouted, as soon as I approached; "have you talked herover? But there, of course you have, I can see it in your face! Well,what's the result?"
"That I've bought the schooner _Mother of Pearl_ for two hundredpounds."
He eyed me suspiciously for a second, then flicking his fingers to clearthem of soap-suds, led the way into the house. Seating himself on thebed, he dried his hands and spoke--
"Bought the _Mother of Pearl_, have you, and for two hundred pounds?Very good. You'll want another hundred to see you on your way."
Here he took from his drawer a leather bag which he tossed towards me.
"There you are, you'll find it correct, I think. Count it."
Doing as he bade me, I counted the sum out on th
e rickety little table;three hundred sovereigns in bright gold coin. When I had returned themto their bag, he continued--
"You find it as I say? Well, so much for that. Now, listen to me; haveyou breathed a word of my existence to your sweetheart? Think carefullybefore you speak, for I shall be sure to find out if you have."
"I gave you my word I would not," I replied, "and I have kept it; if youdoubt me, take your money back."
"No, no," he hastened to say; "bless you, I don't doubt you, not a bitof it; I only wanted to be sure. Now just run along back and completeyour bargain."
Before I went, I endeavoured to thank him again for his generosity, buthe would not let me. One thing was certain; the more I thought about hisaction the further I was from understanding it.
Reaching the township I rejoined Jameson, and counted out to him theprice of the schooner, which he repeatedly informed me was "dirt cheapat the money." Then leaving him to drink himself into _deliriumtremens_, I pushed on to the "Orient," that I might inform Juanita of mysuccess. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and urged on by it, beforebed-time I had not only secured my crew, but had arranged my stores, andaccepted the services of a mate.
Next morning I crossed the island to bid the Albino farewell. Mysurprise may be imagined when I found him gone. Not a trace of hiswhereabouts could be discovered, and, considerably exercised in my mindregarding him, I returned to make my final preparations. Shortly aftermidday I escorted Juanita (who had said farewell to the "Orient," amidmuch lamentation) aboard, and at three o'clock the _Mother of Pearl_stood out of the bay, bound on the most curious errand she had everweighed anchor to accomplish. Only then did I learn our destination.
Though she certainly did not realize all the good qualities her lateowner had (since the sale) led me to suppose she possessed, the schoonerwas a handy enough craft, and likely to serve the purpose for which werequired her, every bit as well as one costing ten thousand pounds couldhave done. The best description of her would be to say that she was justa steady-going, serviceable old tub; and as I was not likely, withJuanita on board, to be in too much of a hurry to complete the voyage,that was all we wanted.
The mate proved a decent sort of young fellow. The crew were Kanakas,with a Chinaman cook, who also officiated as steward.
And now comes a portion of my yarn that I am tempted to dwell upon. Howcan I describe the beauties of that summer voyage? How resist thetemptation it offers of indulging in extravagant waste of language? As Isit here recalling it, a strange longing rises in my heart that will notbe suppressed; a longing that is not without a touch of sadness andregret. It is impossible, I have to tell myself, that I can expect tocross an old trail without some mixture of pain. Can I, in thisfog-ridden England, hope to be allowed to stir up recollections ofenchanting islands lifting their green heads from bright blue seas, ofumber cliffs peering out of clustering foliage, of azure skies, andtrade winds redolent of sweet perfumes, and yet expect to escape scotfree?
The only thing regrettable about the voyage was its brevity. Is ittherefore to be wondered at that, madly infatuated as I was with thewoman who accompanied me, I viewed the prospect of calms withequanimity, and was loth to employ any exertions that would help tohurry it or get it over?
But every moment was bringing us nearer our destination; and at last,one sunset, I was able to tell Juanita, that in all probability anothertwenty-four hours would find us abreast of the island which containedher husband's grave.
As it turned out, my prophecy proved a correct one, for towards fiveo'clock on the following afternoon, the high peaks of Vanua Lavaappeared above the horizon. By tea-time the schooner had brought theisland abeam, and before darkness fell we were anchored off athickly-wooded promontory, to the right of which Juanita declared herformer lord and master lay buried.