Margaret Tudor: A Romance of Old St. Augustine
Page 10
CHAPTER X.
July, the 16th day.
Two things have happened recently to break the sad monotony of my lifewithin these walls.
Dona Orosia and Melinza have had a disagreement, which has resulted inhis removal hence--at his own demand. Although I know nothing of thecause of their quarrel, Dona Orosia's last words to me, the other day,make it possible to understand the man's reluctance to remain here inher care,--and yet they say it was her nursing that saved his life! Iwould that I could understand it all!
Since his departure I have had the freedom of the courtyard and garden;and yesterday, by good chance, I had speech with one of the newlyarrived English prisoners.
It had been a day of terrible heat, and just at nightfall I wandered outinto the garden all alone. There is a high wall to it, which so joinsthe dwelling that together they form a hollow square. This wall is ofsoft gray stone; it is of a good thickness, and about a man's height.Along the top of it sharp spikes are set; and near one corner is awrought-iron gate of great strength, which is kept securely locked.
It is not often that I venture near this gate, for it looks out upon thestreet, and I care not to be seen by any Indian or half-breed Spaniardwho might go loitering by; but as I stood in the vine-covered arbour inthe centre of the garden I heard a man's voice from the direction of thegate, humming a stave of a maritime air that I had heard sung oft andagain by the sailors on the sloop, in which some unknown fair one isardently invited to--
"--be the Captain's lady!"
and I knew it must be a friend. So I made haste thither and peered outinto the street.
Sure enough it was old Captain Baulk, and with him a gentleman whoseface, even in the twilight, was well known to me,--he being none otherthan Mr. John Collins of Barbadoes (the same who had given us news of mypoor father's end, and one of our fellow passengers on the _ThreeBrothers_).
They both greeted me most kindly and inquired earnestly how I did and ifI was well treated. It seems that for days they had been trying to getspeech with me, but could find none to deliver a message; so for twonights past they had hung about the gate, hoping that by chance I mightcome out to them.
Mr. Collins related to me how the sloop had been sent back to SantaCatalina with letters to the friar and the Governor of San Augustin,demanding our release on the ground that as peace was now subsistingbetween the crowns of England and of Spain, and no act of hostility hadbeen committed by us, our capture was unwarrantable. But Padre Ignacio,with his plausible tongue, had beguiled them ashore into his power.
"The man is a very devil for fair words and smooth deceits," declaredMr. Collins. "In spite of all the warnings we had received, some of uslanded without first demanding hostages of the Indians; and when wewould have departed two of us were forcibly detained on pretence of ourlacking proper credentials to prove our honesty. In sooth he charged uswith piratical intentions, though we had not so much as cracked a pistolor inveigled one barbarian aboard. The sloop lingered for three days,but finally made off, leaving us in the hands of the padre. Hedespatched us here in canoes, under a guard of some twenty half-nakedsavages, with shaven crowns, who are no more converted Christians thanthe fiends in hell!"
I asked, then, for news of my uncle, Dr. Scrivener, and Mr. Collinsassured me that he was most anxious for my safety, and would have comeback with them to demand us of the friar, but he had received a hurt inthe neck during the attack at Santa Catalina and was in no state totravel, although the wound was healing well--for which God be thanked!
So far, all the prisoners, except Mr. Rivers, have the freedom of thetown; but Captain Baulk declared he would as lief be confined within thefort.
"There be scarce two honest men--saving ourselves--in all San Augustin,"he said. "The lodging-house where we sleep is crowded with dirty,thieving half-breeds, who would as willingly slit a man's throat as apig's. Though they hold us as guests against our will, we must e'en payour own score; and some fine night--you mark me!--we shall findourselves lacking our purses."
"Then the Governor will be at the cost of our entertainment," said Mr.Collins.
"'Twill be prison fare, sir," grunted the old sailor, "and we'll belucky if he doesn't find it cheaper to heave us overboard and be donewith it!"
"Tut! man,--hold your croaking tongue in the poor young lady'spresence," whispered Mr. Collins; but I heard what he said, and badehim tell us our true case and what real hope there was of ourliberation.
"There is every certainty," he said. "When word reaches their Lordshipsin England, they will not fail to make complaint to the SpanishCouncil,--and they have no just cause for refusing to set us free. But Itrust we shall not have to wait for that. If we had a Governor ofspirit, instead of a timorous old man like Sayle, he would have alreadysent the frigate down here to demand us of the Spaniards. There are notlacking men to carry out the enterprise: Captain Brayne could scarce berestrained from swooping down on the whole garrison--as Rob Searle did,not long ago, when he rescued Dr. Woodward out of their clutches."
"Captain Brayne!--the frigate! Do you mean that the _Carolina_ hasarrived?"
"Two months ahead of our sloop," declared Mr. Collins; "but GovernorSayle has despatched her to Virginia for provisions, of which we werebeginning to run short. The _Port Royal_ has not been heard of, so 'tisfeared she went down in the storm."
He went on to tell me of the new settlement which had been already laidout at a place called Kiawah,--a very fair and fruitful country, whichHeaven grant I may one day see!
In my turn I related all that had befallen me since we reached thisplace. They heard me out very gravely, and promised to contrive somemeans of communicating with me in case of need.
Then, as it grew very late, we parted, promising to meet the followingnight; and I crept softly back to the house and my little room, greatlycomforted that I now had a worthy gentleman like Mr. Collins with whom Icould advise; for with his knowledge of the Spanish tongue and his soundjudgment I hope he may influence the Governor in our favour.
* * * * *
The sun is setting now, I think, although I cannot see it from mywindow; for all the sky without is faintly pink, and every ripple on thebay turns a blushing cheek toward the west. I must lay by my pen andwatch for an opportunity to keep tryst at the gateway with my two goodfriends....
Nine of the clock.
God help me! I waited in the garden till I heard a whistle, and stoledown to the gate as before.
A man put out his hand and caught at mine through the bars. It was thatvile Tomas--the wretch who would have murdered my dear love! I screamedand fled, but he called after me in Spanish. The words were strange tome--but the tones of his voice and the coarse laughter needed nointerpreter!
As I flew across the garden, too frightened to attempt concealment, DonaOrosia stepped out into the courtyard and demanded an explanation. Iknew not what to say, for I could not divulge the motive that had sentme out; but I told her that a man had called me from the gate, and whenI went near to see who it might be I recognized the servant of Melinza.
She seemed to doubt me at first, till I described him closely; then shewas greatly angered and forbade me the garden altogether.
"If I find you here alone again," she hissed, seizing my shoulder withno gentle grasp, "if I find you here again, I will turn the key upon youand keep you prisoner in your chamber."
So now I dare not venture beyond the court and the balconies; and therewill be no chance of speaking with Mr. Collins unless he dares to comeunder my window, and there is little hope of his doing that unseen, for'tis in full view from the ramparts of the fort, where a sentry pacesday and night.