CHAPTER XLVIII.
Captain Tolley's Propositions.
That evening as Master Raymond was standing in the bar-room of the RedLion, Captain Tolley came in, and after tossing off a stout glass of rumand water, went out again, giving the young Englishman a nod and theagreed-upon-signal, a smoothing of his black beard with the left hand.After the lapse of a few minutes, Master Raymond followed, going towardsthe wharves, which in the evening were almost deserted. Arrived at theend of one of the wharves, he found the Captain of the Storm King.
"So you got out of the clutches of those Salem rascals safely?" said theCaptain. "I was afraid I should have to go all the way to Salem foryou."
"You would not have deserted me then, Captain?"
"That is not the kind of a marlinespike I am," replied the Captainquaintly. "I'd have got you out of Salem jail, unless it is a good dealstronger than the Boston one."
"Thank you, Captain, but I am glad there was no need of your trying."
"You heard of course that Captain Alden was off, and Master and MistressEnglish?"
"Yes--and very glad I was too."
"Why did not your sweetheart go with the Englishes?"
"There were several reasons--one, a rather foolish one, she would notleave me in prison."
"She would not?"
"No."
"D---- me! Why that girl is fit to be a sailor's wife! When we get heroff safely I intend to have her as the figure-head of the Storm King."
"I am afraid that would be a very unhealthy position--she might catch abad cold," replied Master Raymond.
"Oh, of course I mean in wood, painted white with red cheeks," saidCaptain Tolley. "It brings good luck to have a fine woman for afigure-head--pleases old Nep, you know."
"But we must get her off first," rejoined Master Raymond. "Now to keepout of that hateful jail, she has given her word to Keeper Arnold not toescape. You know she cannot break her word."
"Of course not," replied the Captain; "a lady is like a sailor, shecannot go back on her promise."
"And there is where the trouble comes in."
"Buy Keeper Arnold over."
"I am afraid I cannot--not for a good while at least. They are all downupon him for Captain Alden's escape. They might give him a terriblewhipping if another prisoner got off."
The Captain shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, I saw them whip some Quakersonce. It was not a good honest lash, but something the hangman had gotup on purpose, and which cut to the very bone. I have seen men and womenkilled, down on the Spanish main, but I never saw a sight like that!Good, harmless men and women too! A little touched here, you know," andthe Captain tapped his forehead lightly with his fore-finger.
"Yes--I should not like to hear that Master Arnold had been torturedlike that on our account."
"Suppose we carry her off some night by force, she having no hand in thearrangements? She can even refuse to go, you know, if she pleases--wewill handle her as gently as a little bird, and you can come up andrescue her, if you choose, and knock down two or three of us. How wouldthat do? Half-a-dozen of the Storm King's men could easily do that.Choose a night with a brisk nor'wester, and we would be past thecastle's guns before the sleepy land-lubbers had their eyes open."
Master Raymond shook his head dubiously. "I do not like it--and yet Isuppose it must do, if nothing better can be found. Of course if wecarry her off bodily, against her will, it would neither be a breakingof her pledge nor expose Keeper Arnold to any danger of afterpunishment, though he might perhaps get pretty seriously hurt inresisting us, and she would not like that much."
"I suppose then we must wait a while longer," said the Captain. "I amready any time you say the word--only be careful that a good west or anor'west wind is blowing. When once out on the high seas, we can takecare of ourselves."
"Many French privateers out there?"
"Thick as blackberries. But they are of no account. Those we cannotfight, we can easily run away from. There is no craft on these seas,that can overhaul the Storm King!"
With a hearty shake of the hand the two parted, the Captain for thevessel of which he was so proud; Master Raymond for his room in the RedLion.