The Black Buccaneer

  CHAPTER XII

  Meanwhile the _Royal James_ was far up inside the Capes, sailingdemurely along, the ports of her gun deck closed and the British colorsfluttering from her top. Jeremy watched the shores they passed with deepinterest. He wondered if there would be a chance for him to get awaywhen they came to anchor. There was nothing but hardship in his lotaboard the sloop, now that Job was gone. He was unnoticed for the mostpart by the men of the crew, and when any of them spoke to him it waswith a cuff or a curse. As for Captain Bonnet, he had relapsed into oneof his black moods. Nothing brought him on deck or made him speak exceptto give Herriot monosyllabic commands.

  Late the following day, after a slow progress along the Delaware shore,the sloop hove to in a wide roadstead and the anchor was run out. Thesteeples and shipping of a little town were visible by the water side,but no one put off to meet them. To the surprise of all, Bonnet himselfcame on deck, wearing a good coat and fresh ruffles and with his hairpowdered. He ordered the gig lowered, then looked about the assembledcrew and addressed them good-humoredly enough. "Now, my lads," said he,"I'm going ashore with a picked boat's crew to get what news there isabout. You that go with me remember that you are of the _Royal James_,honest merchant coaster, and that I am Captain Thomas, likewise honestnavigator. We'll separate into every tavern and ship-chandler's placealong the wharves, pick up the names of all ships that are soon to sail,and their cargoes, and meet at the gig at eight bells. Herriot and youmen aboard here, keep a strict watch. Daggs, I leave the boy in yourcharge. Don't let him out of your sight."

  At the last words Jeremy's heart sank to his boots. He knew how futilewould be any attempt to escape under the cold hawk-eyes of the man withthe broken nose. As the gig put off from the sloop's side, the boyleaned dejectedly against the rail. Pharaoh Daggs slouched up to him."Ah there, young 'un," said he with cynical jocularity, "just thinkin'o' leavin' us, were ye, when the old man took the gimp out o' ye?" Thebantering note vanished from the man's voice. "I'ld like to break yerneck, ye young whelp, but I won't--not just yet!" He seemed to belicking his ugly chops at the thought of a future occasion when he mightallow himself this luxury. Then he went on, half to himself it seemed."Hm, Bonnet's a queer 'un! Never _can_ tell what he'll do. Them eightmen aboard that brig, now--never was a rougher piece o' piracy sinceMorgan's day than his makin' those beggars walk the plank. Stood therean' roared an' laughed, he did, an' pricked 'em behind till they tippedthe board. An' then to stop us from drownin' a blasted little rat that'dtried to kill us all! Oh, he's bad, is Stede--bad!" Jeremy gave a startas this soliloquy progressed. He had wondered once or twice what hadbecome of the prisoners taken aboard the brig. That attempted escape ofJob's had cost dear in human life it seemed. And his own deliverance hadbeen the mere whim of a mad-man! He shuddered and thanked God ferventlyfor the fortune that had so far attended him.

  There was a pause while the buccaneer seemed to regard him with a sortof crafty hesitancy. At length he spoke.

  "See here, boy," he said, his voice sinking to a hoarse whisper, "howlong had you been livin' on that there island?"

  Jeremy looked up wonderingly. "Not long," he answered, "only a day ortwo, really."

  "And you--nor none of yer folks--never went nosin' 'round there to findnothin', did yer? Tell me the truth, now!" Daggs leaned closer, amurderous intensity in his face.

  "No," said Jeremy, squirming as the man's fingers gripped his shoulder.

  The pirate gave him another long, piercing look from his terrible eyes,then released him and went forward, where he stood staring off towardthe shore.

  In his wretched loneliness the boy sank down by the rail, his heartheavier than it had ever been in his whole life. It might have been arelief to him to cry. A great lump was in his throat indeed and his eyessmarted, but he had considered himself too old for tears almost since hecould walk, and now with the realization that he was near shedding them,he forced his shoulders back, shut his square jaw and resolved that hewould be a man, come what might. Darkness settled over the river mouth.The form of Pharaoh Daggs in black silhouette against the gray of thesky sent a shudder through Jeremy. He recalled with startlingdistinctness the solitary man he had seen on the island the night of hiscapture. The two figures were identical. Pondering, the boy fell asleep.

  It was some four hours later that he woke to the sound of hurrying oarsclose aboard. A subdued shout came across the water. The voice was StedeBonnet's. "Stand by to take us on!" he cried. A moment later the gigshot into sight, her crew rowing like mad. They pulled in their oars,swept up alongside the black sloop, and were caught and pulled aboard byready hands. "Cut the cable!" cried the Captain as soon as he reachedthe deck. The gig was swung up, the cable chopped in two and themainsail spread, and in an incredibly short time the _Royal James_ wasbowling along down the roadstead. Hardly had she gotten under way whentwo long-boats appeared astern and amid shouts and orders to surrenderfrom their crews, a scattered fusillade of bullets came aboard. No oneon the sloop was hit, and as the sails began to draw properly the piratecraft soon left her pursuers far to the rear.

  Jeremy, never one to watch others work, had lent a hand wherever he wasbest able, during the rush of the escape. When the sloop was well out ofrange and the excitement had subsided, he turned for the first time tolook at a small group that had been talking amidships. Two of thefigures were very well known to him--Bonnet and Herriot. The light of alantern, which the latter held, fell upon the face of a boy no olderthan Jeremy, dressed in the finest clothes the young New Englander hadever seen.

  The lad's face was dark and resolute, his hair black, smoothly brushedback and tied behind with a small ribbon. His blue coat was of velvet,neatly cut. Below his long flowered waistcoat were displayed buff velvetbreeches and silk stockings of the same color. His shoes were of fineleather and buckled with silver.

  In response to the oaths and rough questions of the two pirates, the ladseemed to have little to say. When he spoke it was with a scornful ringin his voice. The first words Jeremy heard him say were: "You'llunderstand it soon, I fancy. We are well enough known along the bay andmy father, as I have said, is a friend of the Governor's. There'll beten ships after you before morning." Herriot put back his head androared with laughter. "Hear the young braggart!" he shouted. "Ten shipsfor such a milk-fed baby as he is!"

  "Well, my lad," said the Captain, "you'll be treated well enough whilewe wait for the money to be paid. Here, Jeremy!" As the youngbackwoodsman came up, Bonnet continued, "Two boys aboard is badbusiness, for you're sure to be scheming to get away. However, it can'tbe helped, just yet, and mind what I say,--there'll be a bullet readyfor the first one that tries it. Now get below, the pair of you."

  Glad as he was to have a companion of his own age aboard, Jeremy,boylike, was too shy to say anything to the new arrival that night, andindeed the other boy seemed to class him with the rest of the piratesand to feel some repugnance at his company. So the two unfortunateyoungsters slept fitfully, side by side, until broad daylight nextmorning.