CHAPTER XII
A CHOICE LOT
At the moment of Leonard's and Otter's introduction to his society, theYellow Devil was about to make a speech, and all eyes were fixed on himso intently that none saw or heard the pair approach.
"Now, my friends, make a path, if you please," said Leonard in a loudvoice and speaking in Portuguese. "I wish to pay my respects to yourchief."
A dozen men wheeled round at once.
"Who are you?" they cried, seeing a stranger.
"If you will be so kind as to let me pass, I shall be most happy toexplain," Leonard answered, pushing his way through the throng.
"Who is that?" cried Pereira in coarse, thick tones. "Bring him here."
"There, you hear him--let us through, friends," said Leonard, "let usthrough!"
Thus adjured the throng opened a path, and Leonard and Otter passed downit, many suspicious eyes scanning them as they went.
"A greeting to you, senor," said Leonard when they had emerged in frontof the verandah.
"Curse your greeting! Who in Satan's name are you?"
"A humble member of your honourable profession," said Leonard coolly,"come to pay his respects and do a little business."
"Are you? You don't look it. You look like an Englishman. And who isthat abortion, pray?" and he pointed to Otter. "I believe that you arespies, and, by the Saints, if you are, I am the man to deal with you!"
"This is a likely story," said Leonard laughing, "that one man and ablack dog should venture into the headquarters of gentlemen like you,not being of the cloth. But I think there is a noble gentleman amongyou--I mean the Senor Xavier--who can vouch for me. Did he not send anote to Captain Pierre, whose dhow lies in the harbour yonder, hailingfrom Madagascar? Well, Captain Pierre has the honour of accepting hisinvitation and arrives here, not without difficulty. Now he begins tothink that he would have done better to stick to his ship."
"That is all right, Pereira," said Xavier, a huge Portuguese with a dashof negro blood and a villainous countenance, the same man whom they hadfollowed through the gate. "I sent a note to the Senor. I told you ofit."
"Then I wish you had left it alone," snarled Pereira for an answer. "Idon't like your friend's looks. He might be the captain of an Englishman-of-war rigged up in our dress."
At the words "English man-of-war" a murmur of fear and anger wentthrough the assembly. Some of those present had experience of thesehated vessels and their bigoted crews, who loved not this honestcommerce, and to all they were names of ill-omen. Things looked serious,and Leonard saw that he must do something, and quickly. So he lost histemper, or pretended to do so.
"Curse you all for a pack of suspicious curs!" he said; "I tell you thatmy dhow lies yonder. I am half an Englishman and half a Creole, and asgood a man as any of you. Now look here, Dom Pereira, if you, or anyof your crew, dare to doubt my word, just step out, and I will ram thisdown your lying throat;" and placing his hand on the hilt of his sabre,he took a pace forward and scowled.
The effect was instantaneous. Pereira turned a little pale beneath hisyellow skin, for like most cruel men he was a great coward.
"Put up your pig-sticker," he said; "I see you are one of the rightsort. I only wanted to try you. As you know, we must be careful in ourbusiness. Come and shake hands, brother, and be welcome. I trust younow, and old Antonio never does things by halves."
"Perhaps you had better try him a little further," said a young man whowas standing near Pereira, as Leonard prepared to accept the invitation;"send for a slave and let us have the old test--there is none better."
Pereira hesitated and Leonard's blood turned cold.
"Look here, young man," he said more furiously than before, "I have cutthe throats of more men than you have whipped, but if you want a test,I will give you one. Come down, my young cockerel, come down; there isplenty of light for comb-snipping."
The man turned white with rage, but stood a moment contemplatingLeonard's athletic form and keen eyes. Apparently he found that in themwhich gave him pause, for instead of springing at him, he burst into avolume of threats and filthy abuse.
How the matter would have ended it is difficult to say, but at thisjuncture Pereira thought it well to interfere, and vigorously.
"Peace!" he thundered in his great voice, his white hair bristling withrage. "I have welcomed this man, and he is welcome. Is my word to be setaside by a drunken young brawler like you? Shut your ugly mouth or, bythe Saints, I will have you clapped in irons."
The slave-driver obeyed; perhaps he was not sorry for an excuse toescape the quarrel. At any rate with a scowl at Leonard he dropped backand was silent.
Harmony being thus restored, Pereira proceeded with the business ofthe evening. First, however, he called Leonard to him, shook him bythe hand, and bade a slave-girl bring him drink. Then he addressed thecompany thus:
"My lambs, my dear companions, my true and trusted friends, this isa sad moment for me, your old leader, for I stand here to bid yougood-bye. To-morrow the Nest will know the Yellow Devil no more, and youmust find another captain. Alas! I grow old, I am no longer up to thework, and trade is not what it was, thanks to those infernal Englishmenand their cruisers, which prowl up and down our waters, seeking to robhonest men of the fruits of their enterprise. For nearly fifty years Ihave been connected with the business, and I think that the natives ofthese parts will remember me--not angrily, oh! no, but as a benefactor.For have not some twenty thousand of their young people passed throughmy hands, rescued by me from the curse of barbarism and sent to learnthe blessings of civilisation and the arts of peace in the homes of kindand indulgent masters?
"Sometimes, not often, but now and again, there has been bloodshed inthe course of our little expeditions. I regret it. But what will you?These people are so obstinate that they cannot see how well it is forthem to come under my wing. And if they try to injure us in our goodwork, why, we must fight. We all know the bitterness of ingratitude,but we have to put up with it. It is a trial sent to us from Heaven,my lambs, always remember that. So I retire with such modest gains asI have won by a life of labour--indeed, they have gone before me, lestsome of you might be put in the way of temptation--to spend the eveningof my day in peace and prayer.
"And now there is one more little thing. As it chanced during our lastjourney, the daughter of an accursed Englishman fell into our hands. Itook her and brought her here, and as her guardian I have asked you tomeet me to-night, that I may choose her a husband, as it is my dutyto do. I cannot keep her myself, for among the settled people nearMozambique, where I am going to live, her presence might lead to awkwardquestions. So I will be generous and pass her on to another.
"But to whom shall I give this prize, this pearl, this sweet and lovelymaid? Among so many worthy gentlemen how can I set one above the othersand declare him most deserving of the girl? I cannot, so I must leave itto chance, for I know that Heaven will choose better than I. Thereforeto him who is ready to make the largest present to me I will give thismaid, to comfort him with her love; to make a present, mind you, notto pay a price. Still, perhaps, it will be best that the amount of thedonation should be ascertained in the usual way, by bidding--in ouncesof gold, if you please!
"One condition more, there shall be nothing irregular in this matter, myfriends. The Church shall have its say in it, and he whom I select mustwed the maid, here, before us all. Have we not a priest at hand, andshall we find no work for him? Now, my children, time draws on. Ho! you,bring out the English girl."
This speech was not delivered quite so continuously as it is printedhere. On the contrary, it was subject to many interruptions, mostly ofan ironical nature, the allusions to "a present" to be given for thegirl and to the proposed marriage ceremony being received with screamsof ribald laughter.
Now the noise died away, for every eye watched for the appearance ofJuanna.
In a few moments a figure clad in white and guarded by several men wasseen advancing from the direction of the arms-house. T
his figure cameon through the moonlight with a swift agile step, looking neither tothe right nor to the left, till it arrived in front of the verandah andhalted. Then it was that Leonard first saw Juanna Rodd. She was verytall and slight, her dark hair was twisted into a single knot at theback of her shapely head, her features were small, her face fair incolouring and somewhat rounded in form. So much he saw at a glance, butit was not until she looked up and round her that Leonard discovered thegirl's peculiar glory, the glory of her eyes. Then and in that light hewas unable to distinguish their colour, a difficult task at any time,for they varied from grey to blue according to the shadows which fellupon them, but he could see that they were wide and splendid, fearlessand yet soft. For the rest she was clad in an Arab robe richly worked,and wore sandals upon her feet.
Juanna stopped in front of the verandah and searched it with her eyes.Presently they ceased their searching and she spoke in a clear, sweetvoice.
"What do you want with me now, Dom Antonio Pereira?" she said.
"My dove," he answered in his coarse, mocking tones, "do not be angrywith your slave. I promised you, my dove, that I would find a husbandfor you, and now all these gallant gentlemen are gathered for thechoice. It is your marriage-hour, my dove."
"Dom Antonio Pereira," the girl answered, "for the last time I plead toyou. I am helpless here among you, and I have done you no injury: let mego unharmed, I pray of you."
"Let you go unharmed? Why, who would hurt you, my dove?" answered thesatyr. "Yes, that is what I mean to do. I will let you go to a husband."
"I shall never go to any husband of your choosing, Dom Antonio," Juannasaid again in a low and steady voice. "Be assured of that, all of you. Ihave no fear of you, for God will help me in my need. And now, as I havepleaded to you for the last time, so for the last time I warn you, DomAntonio, and your wicked companions also. Go on with this iniquity ifyou will, but a judgment awaits you. Death from Heaven above is near toyou, you murderer, and after death, vengeance."
Thus she spoke, not loud indeed, but with conviction, a power, and adignity of mien that carried terror to the hearts of the most hardenedvillains there. It was at the conclusion of her speech that her eyesfirst met those of Leonard Outram. He was bending forward to listen,and in his grief and anger he had forgotten to preserve the truculentexpression which it was his part to wear. Once more Leonard's face wasthe face of an English gentleman, noble and open, if somewhat stern.
Their eyes met, and there was that in his which caused Juanna to pause.She looked at him swiftly as though she would read his very soul, andin answer he put all his will and heart's desire into his gaze, the willand the desire that she should know him to be her friend. They hadnever met before, she did not even dream of his existence, and therewas little in Leonard's outward appearance to distinguish him from theruffians by whom he was surrounded. Yet her quick sense, sharpened bydespair, read what was written in his eyes, and read it aright. Fromthat moment Juanna felt that she was not alone among these wolves, thatthere was one person at least who would save her if he could.
In an instant she had searched his face and dropped her eyes again,fearing lest she should awake suspicion. Then came a pause, for theminds of men were disturbed; she had aroused some remnant of consciencein them, she had called to life a lively terror of vengeance to come, ofvengeance very near at hand. All were affected more or less, but chieflywas he affected to whom she had addressed her words. The Yellow Devilsank back into the chair from which he had risen to speak, a wonderfulchair made of ebony inlaid with ivory, and string-seated, with afootstool attached to it. Superstitious dread took hold of him, and heshivered visibly.
The scene was one which Leonard never forgot. Above the bright moonshone in the heavens, before him were rank upon rank of evil faces, eachmarked with some new emotion, and standing alone in their midst was thebeautiful girl, proud in the depth of her shame, defiant even in thepower of foes gathered to destroy her.
For a while the wind had dropped and the silence was deep, so deep wasit that Leonard could hear the mew of a kitten which had crept from theverandah, and was rubbing itself against Juanna's feet. She heard italso, and, stooping, lifted the little creature and held it to herbreast.
"Let her go!" said a voice from the crowd. "She is a witch and willbring ill-luck upon us."
At the sound Pereira seemed to awake. With a hideous oath he flunghimself from the chair and waddled down the steps towards his victim.
"Curse you, you slut!" he said, "do you think to frighten men with yourthreats? Let God help you if He can. The Yellow Devil is god here. Youare as much in my power as this brute," and he snatched the kitten fromher arms and dashed it to the ground. "You see, God does not help thekitten, and He will not help you. Here, let men see what they are goingto buy," and gripping the breast of her white robe he rent it open.
With one hand Juanna gathered up the torn dress, and with the othershe began to do something to her hair. An agony of fear took hold ofLeonard. He knew the story of the poison which she carried: was sheabout to use it?
Once again their eyes met, and there was warning in his glance. Juannaloosed her hair indeed, and let it fall about her shoulders, coveringher rent robe to the waist, but she did no more. Only after this Leonardsaw that she kept her right hand closed, and knew that her death washidden within it. Then she spoke once more to Pereira.
"In your last hour may you remember these two deeds!" she said, pointingto the writhing kitten and to her torn dress.
Now slaves drew near to do their master's bidding, but that audiencewould not suffer this.
"Leave her alone," they said; "we can see that the girl is fair andperfect."
Then the slaves hung back, nor did Pereira repeat his commands.
Returning to the verandah, he stood by the chair, and, taking an emptyglass in his hand by way of an auctioneer's hammer, he began:
"Gentlemen, I am going to offer you a very choice lot, so choice thatit makes up all the sale. The lot is a white girl, half English and halfPortuguese by blood. She is well educated and devout; as to her docilityI can say nothing, that will be for her husband to attend to. Of herbeauty I need not speak; you can all see it yourselves. Look at thatfigure, that hair, those eyes; have any of you known their equal?
"Well, this lot will be sold to him among you who is inclined to makeme the largest present in compensation; yes, he may take her this veryhour, and my blessing with her. But there are conditions: he whom Iapprove must be lawfully married to the girl by the priest Franciscohere," and turning he pointed to a small melancholy-looking man, with awomanish face and dark blue eyes, who stood in the background, clothedin a somewhat tattered priest's robe. "Then I shall have done my duty byher. One more thing, gentlemen: we are not going to waste time in littlebids; the upset price will be thirty ounces."
"Silver?" said a voice.
"Silver? No, of course not. Do you think you are bidding for a niggergirl, fool? Gold, man, gold! Thirty ounces of gold, and payment to bemade on the nail."
There was a groan of disappointment, and one ruffian cried out:
"What are we poor fellows to do? Thirty ounces for a beginning! Where isour chance?"
"What are you to do? Why, work hard at your profession, and grow rich,of course! Do you suppose that these prizes are for the poor? Now then,the fair is open. Who bids for the white girl Juanna? Thirty ounces isoffered. What advance, what advance?"
"Thirty-five," said a wizened little man with a hectic cough, who lookedfitter for a burial than a bridal.
"Forty!" cried another, a pure-bred Arab of stately appearance andsaturnine expression, who wished to add to his harem.
"Forty-five," answered the wizened man.
Then the Arab bid fifty, and for a while it seemed that these two alonewere competitors. When the bids had reached seventy ounces the Arabmuttered "Allah!" and gave up. He preferred to wait for the houris.
"Knock her down," said the wizened man, "she is mine."
"Hold on a b
it, my little friend," said the great Portugee, Xavier, whohad passed the water-gate before Leonard and his companions. "I am goingto begin now. Seventy-five."
"Eighty," said the little man.
"Eighty-five," answered Xavier.
"Ninety," screamed the other.
"Ninety-five," said Xavier.
"A hundred," yelled the small man, snapping his fingers.
"A hundred and five," replied Xavier, triumphantly capping his bid.
Then with a curse his antagonist gave up also, and the mob shouted,thinking that Xavier had won.
"Knock her down, Pereira," said Xavier in his turn, as he surveyed hisprize with affected nonchalance.
"Wait a moment," put in Leonard, speaking for the first time. "I amgoing to begin now. A hundred and ten."
The multitude shouted again, the contest was growing exciting. Xavierglared at Leonard and bit his fingers with rage. He was very near hislimit of possible expenditure.
"Now then," cried Pereira, licking his lips for joy, since the pricehad already run twenty ounces higher than he expected, "Now then, friendXavier, am I to knock down this beauty to the stranger captain Pierre?It sounds a lot, but she is cheap at the price, dirt cheap. Look at herand bid up. But mind, it is cash down--no credit, no, not for an ounce."
"A hundred and fifteen," said Xavier, with the air of a man making hislast throw for fortune.
"A hundred and twenty," replied Leonard quietly.
He had bid to the last ounce in his possession, and if Xavier wentfurther he must give in, unless, indeed, he chose to offer Soa's ruby inpayment. This, needless to say, he was not anxious to do; moreover,no one would believe a stone of that size to be genuine. Of all this,however, Leonard showed nothing in his face, but turning coolly hecalled to a slave-girl to bring him spirits and busied himself withfilling his glass. His hand never trembled, for he knew well that hisantagonist was watching for a cue, and if he showed uncertainty allmight be lost. But in his heart, Leonard wondered what he should do ifanother ounce was bid.
Meanwhile the spectators were shouting encouragement, and Pereira wasurging Xavier to increase his offer. For a while the Portugee hesitated,surveying Juanna, who stood pale and silent, her head bowed upon herbreast. At this juncture Leonard turned, the glass still in his hand.
"Did you make any advance, senor?" he asked.
"No, curse you! Take her. I will not put down another ounce for her orany woman on the earth."
Leonard only smiled and looked at Pereira.
"Going!" said that worthy; "the white girl, Juanna, is going to thestranger Pierre for one hundred and twenty ounces of gold. Going! Come,Xavier, don't lose her. If you do you will only be sorry once, and thatwill be always. Now, for the last time," and he lifted his glass in hishand and paused.
Xavier made a step forward and opened his lips to speak.
Leonard's heart stood still, but presently the Portugee changed his mindand turned away.
"_Gone!_" screamed Pereira, bringing the glass down so heavily on thearm of his chair that it flew into fragments.