CHAPTER XXVII.
As they approached the Buccaneer swept the shores with his glass, "Sheseems to be going in for repairs, Master Dogvane." Dogvane remainedsilent, as his eyes rested upon the land in front. He knew more aboutthings than he wished to say. "I told you, sir," he said, "that we hadknocked down a few forts."
As they approached nearer they saw the Egyptian Queen sitting upon aheap of ruins; her right elbow on her knee, her head resting upon herhand. Her flashing eyes showed there was anger in her heart; thatsomething was wrong. Dogvane evidently did not like the look of things,for when his master landed he hung back; but the Buccaneer, not knowingthe cause of Egypt's sorrow, went boldly forward. When he spoke Egyptturned so fiercely upon him, that he was taken completely aback. "Hencefiend!" she cried, as she pointed to the sea. The Buccaneer looked forhis captain, but that worthy was keeping out of the way and waspretending to look for shell fish. His master hailed him and he arrivedjust in time to hear Egypt say, "The Ten Plagues with which God smote mein days of old were as blessings compared with thy accursed friendship."
"Dogvane!" exclaimed the Buccaneer, "how's this?"
"'Tis passing strange, sir! all official information is dumb upon thesubject." Then turning aside he said: "How the hag raves."
Egypt rose up from her throne of crumbled stones and stood majestic.Extending her right arm towards her afflicted country and looking at theBuccaneer, with eyes filled with hatred, she exclaimed, "You have slainmy children and their blood has flowed out like water upon the sands ofthe desert. Their bones lie bleaching in the sun; a witness to thybarbarity and cruelty You have burnt my children's homes; driven offtheir flocks, laid waste their lands and destroyed their wells; but withparched throats and blistered tongues they curse you."
"Dear me!" was all the Buccaneer could say. Egypt continued: "You haveset my children at each other's throats, and yet you dare stand beforeme." The Buccaneer turned to go away and Dogvane prepared to follow andshowed considerable alacrity in getting to the boat. The parting wordsof Egypt fell upon the ears of the old Sea King and dwelt long in hismemory; being very unwelcome guests there; making their voices heardwhen all else was wrapped in slumber. "Hence thou blighting plague!" shecried, or rather hissed. "Begone thou hypocrite! thou Christianmasquerader! for in thy footsteps follow poverty, ruin, and misery. Maythe curses of the widow and the fatherless attend thee!"
"Tut, tut!" ejaculated Dogvane, "how the hussy raves!"
"God bless me!" exclaimed the Buccaneer, when they were well away. "Whatsay you to that, Master Dogvane?"
"As a curse, sir, it is undoubtedly good, and as a specimen of femaleanger it is by no means bad. The baggage! Here is ingratitude for you.But I told you how it would be, sir. I had a kind of a presentiment thatthe other watch had been at their handiwork even here."
"If you, Master Dogvane, were as ready to keep out of difficulties asyou are to saddle them upon other people's backs it would be the betterfor you."
"It is enough to make a saint swear," replied the captain. "I feelinclined to register a vow to heaven never again to do a good turn to aliving soul. What language the vixen used!"
"She called me a hypocrite! a Christian masquerader! I, who pride myselfupon my righteousness. I, who have held my head so high, to be called aChristian masquerader!"
"Sir," said Dogvane with extreme respect, "if one so humble, may dareoffer an opinion, I should say that pride is not a Christian virtue, andsooner or later it must have its fall."
"Yes, fellow! but I do not want the fall to come from thy hands. Isthis what you call being respected abroad? Is this your pinnacle ofgreatness?"
"I am not to blame, my master. It is the other watch. What though theEgyptian gipsy raves; what though our cousin Germany and fickle Francebe cold, and Austria and Turkey aggrieved by some idle words, say if youlike, of mine, you have with you, my master, the whole Calf of Man."
"Out upon thee for a blatant wind-bag!" cried the Buccaneer, now out ofall patience with Dogvane. "Out of my sight," he exclaimed, "keep clearof me, or, by Heaven, you will have with you the whole toe of my broadboot." They took to their boat, and the Buccaneer ordered his men tobend their backs to their oars. Dogvane, who knew his master too well totrifle with him in his present mood, doubled himself up in the bows, andtaking out of his pocket his Bible, he was soon lost in the MosaicCosmogony.
The Life of a Celebrated Buccaneer Page 27