"He revives!" exclaimed my lady.
"'T was best to dress the wound before applying restoratives," chirruped Dr. Cuthbert.
But now I was fairly on my side, and could see the dear form of my lady.
"Alisanda!" I murmured.
"Juan!" she responded, kneeling and pressing her lips to mine regardless of the doctor's presence. "My Juan! I am here, my beloved. I am with you!"
"That!" I muttered—"that mark upon your forehead! They struck you?"
"No, no!" she soothed7. "Lie still, beloved. It was only an accident. It does not hurt me—nothing can hurt me, Juan, now that we have found each other!"
"Dearest one!" I whispered.
She bent9 close above me, with her soft round arm about my neck,—and quickly all my pain and rage died away and were forgotten under the glory of the golden love-light in her tender eyes.
Dr. Cuthbert coughed, then took snuff. At that moment we would not have heeded10 a cannon11 roaring in our ears.
At last, however, Father Rocus entered, followed closely by Captain Powers. Alisanda quietly rose to face them, but held to my hand as a mother would clasp the hand of the child she sought to defend. The captain stared at her between anger and admiration12.
"Mademoiselle Vallois!" he rumbled13. "What does all this mean? How dare you interfere14 with the discipline of my ship?"
"How dare you, who call yourself an officer and a Christian15, torture so hideously16 this gentleman?" she returned.
"Gentleman?—Torture?" he echoed, taken aback.
"Marry!—Him?"
"Santisima Virgen! yes!" she cried. "And you!—you have lashed18 him like a slave!—the truest, most gallant19 gentleman in Christendom!"
He muttered something about the mad third mate of a sloop20. To this Dr. Cuthbert made hasty reply: "All a mistake, sir,—a most egregious21 error. Mr. Robinson is, I am certain, precisely22 what he claimed."
"Nevertheless," broke in the captain, his voice as hard as iron, "the man has been tried, found guilty, and sentenced to one hundred lashes23. He has received ninety-seven. There are still three strokes."
"I will bear them for him!" said Alisanda.
"Mademoiselle, do not make yourself ridiculous," he reproved.
"Better that than your cowardly cruelty in seeking to lash to death a citizen of the Republic which revolted from your brutal24 rule!" she thrust back at him.
He stood for some moments gazing into her scornful eyes. Despite all his harshness and arrogance25, I believe he was alike pleased with her spirit and softened26 by her beauty.
"This man is entered in my crew as a subject of His Majesty," he at last stated, in a tone which invited argument.
"He is not a Briton," she replied. "I know he is an American. I met and travelled with him in his own land. I saw, on the bank of the Ohio, the tomb of his mother, who was slain27 by the red savages28 in the pay of your Government. He was a volunteer with an expedition under Lieutenant29 Pike of the Army of the United States. They crossed the western deserts of Louisiana and the lofty sierras of the West, and came far south into New Spain."
"Hold!" exclaimed the captain. "That is incredible."
"It is the truth," confirmed Father Rocus.
"You support her statement, sir?" demanded Powers.
"I am ready to swear to it, on my sacred word," replied the padre. "This gentleman upon the couch is Dr. John H. Robinson, a physician of the Louisiana Territory, who was the compagnon du voyage of Lieutenant Pike in the amazing journey of which Señorita Vallois has spoken. It is as I told you before we entered."
"It begins to look as though a mistake had been made," admitted the captain with obstinate32 reluctance33.
"A mistake, sir, which has come near to costing Dr. Robinson his life," ventured Dr. Cuthbert, snuff-box in hand.
"A mistake which can never be rectified," added Father Rocus.
The stubborn Briton was at last convinced. "I will make such reparation as lies within my power. Dr. Robinson, I offer you my apology for this unfortunate mistake."
I closed my eyes and clung tightly to Alisanda's hand, that I might not fling his apology back in his teeth. I heard the murmur4 of the padre's voice, followed by the tread of feet and the opening and closing of the door. Then once more Alisanda's arm was about my neck and her fragrant34 lips were pressed upon my mouth.
"Dearest," she whispered, "they have gone. I alone am here now, to comfort you."
"You are here!" I repeated. "Tell me. How did you come? I sailed for Vera Cruz, but they took me by force from the sloop."
I paused, as suddenly my two memories brought together the sloop Siren and the sloop which had sunk my lady's ship.
"Lafitte!" I exclaimed.
"Lafitte?" she asked, bewildered.
"All's well that ends well!" I cried. "After all, he brought us together."
"Who, Juan?"
"Jean Lafitte, the man who was to have landed me in Vera Cruz."
"Ah, Vera Cruz—Santa Maria! that terrible city! People were dying by scores of the yellow fever. We lingered as long as we dared. But you did not come. The padre said you could not have read my message aright. We at last took ship for Western Florida. There was none sailing for New Orleans."
"You were coming to me! But the veil—the nun's veil?"
"It is gone—see!" She put her free hand to the silky mass of her dusky hair. "God forgive me, Juan! It was for your sake, and with the assent35 of the padre, that I took the novitiate vows37."
"For my sake, Alisanda?"
"That I might come to you, my knight38! When you left me, my uncle became all the more insistent39 that I should marry the Governor-General. The padre had already planned for me this way of escape. I took the vows of a novice40. After that neither my uncle nor Doña Marguerite dared oppose the counsel of the padre when he told them I must go to the Convent of my Order in Vera Cruz. You see how selfish a love is mine. I could not give you up, Juan. I was not a heroine, to give myself for the saving of an oppressed people."
"No!" I rejoined. "You could not have helped the people of New Spain. They must fight their own battles. No people are worthy41 of freedom who are not ready to give their lives for the ending of tyranny. Had you sacrificed yourself to Salcedo, he would either have betrayed the revolution, or he would have made himself a dictator, more tyrannous than before."
"You told me that in Chihuahua, dear. I repeated your words to the padre, and he confirmed the statement. It was well, for had he shared my uncle's faith in Don Nimesio, he also might have sought to persuade me to give myself to the cause of liberty."
"As it was," I murmured, "you attempted to come to me—alone!"
"Not alone, Juan. There were the padre and my faithful Chita."
"Ah, Chita—I did not see her in the boat."
My lady began to weep. "Poor Chita! She was killed by a cannon-ball, when standing42 beside me, during that fearful destruction of our ship by the pirate sloop."
"Pirate!" I repeated. "They flew the black flag?"
"No; but it was a flag unknown to our captain, and he said they must be pirates. They attacked us without warning and signalled that they would give us no quarter—and they killed my poor Chita!"
I remembered the dreadful vow36 of Captain Lafitte, but forgot it again in my efforts to comfort my darling. I drew her lovely head down upon my shoulder and stroked her silky hair.
In the midst Father Rocus entered and came over to us, rubbing his plump, white hands together with satisfaction.
"My dear children," he said, "after all your trials, you have at last won the happiness you deserve. Though you, my son, remain a heretic, I believe that such love as yours is sacred in the sight of God. My daughter, come now, that I may prepare you for the sacrament of holy wedlock44."
"Now?—so soon?" she cried, drawing free from me, and standing, scarlet-cheeked, her eyes fixed45 upon the deck, and her sweet bosom46 rising and falling tremulously.
She cast at me a glance of unutterable tenderness, and withdrew into the adjoining stateroom. Father Rocus paused for a last word to me: "My son, this moment should be as solemn to you as it is joyful48. Consider the great goodness of God in giving to you a wife more precious than rubies49. In that thought, remember the words of our Blessed Lord Christ, 'Forgive your enemies.'"
With that he left me, and I lay alone in my burning pain, wondering if it were possible for any man to forgive so bitter a shame and wrong as had been done to me. But quickly a sort of ecstatic awe50 crept over me as the consciousness of my marvellous—my splendid good fortune took possession of my mind. It seemed unbelievable, and yet he had said it. My dear lady was about to become my bride! She had crossed the gulf51 to me!
In the bliss52 of that thought, all my pain and anguish53 of body and mind vanished, and the bitterness of shame, the fury of hate dissolved away. I could not forgive my enemies, but the memory of their deeds was blunted and smoothed over by the magic of love.
When at last Captain Powers came in with a few others to witness the ceremony, I was able to bring myself to the point of accepting the apology he had tendered. This was well, for otherwise it would have been difficult to endure the service which, as captain of the ship, it was necessary for him to render us to assure the legality of our marriage.
Soon Father Rocus led in my dear lady. She was no longer blushing, but calm and pale. In the presence of the men who had condemned54 me to death and to a disgrace worse than death, she raised her head and passed by them with the hauteur55 of a queen. Yet once at my side, she knelt and clasped my hand with a tender devotion that fetched more than one envious56 sigh from the breasts of the younger officers. Never had she seemed more lovely, more adorable, than as she waited beside me, her dark eyes upraised and glowing with solemn ecstasy57.
The sonorous58 voice of Father Rocus rang in my ears like the sweet harmonies of some heavenly choir59. I had insisted upon lifting myself upon my elbow, and when the padre handed me the ring, I made shift to slip it upon the finger of my bride. A little more, and the good padre raised his hands above us and blessed us as man and wife.
With that the officers came forward and expressed their congratulations, forgetting their British stiffness and reserve in their heartiness60. At such a moment I could have thanked Satan himself for a word of good-will. Yet I was not ill-pleased when, having received my responses, they bowed themselves out. As the last of their number closed the door behind him, Father Rocus drew from his robe a rounded pouch61 of worn leather, and held it out to me.
"What is this, padre?" I asked, taking the heavy little bag.
He nodded gayly to Alisanda. "According to the Spanish, and, I believe, the American law, you are entitled to the charge of this property. When we left Chihuahua, Señorita Vallois intrusted her jewels to my care. I now deliver them into the hands of her husband."
He smiled at my bewildered look, blessed us the second time, and left us alone.
"Sweetheart," I muttered, "I did not know—"
She smiled in tender mischief62. "Was it not a happy surprise? Before my father died, there in the fogs of England, he sold all his Spanish estates and bought jewels, that I might keep possession of my property. Such being his will, not even his brother, my uncle, would take the jewels from me."
"Nor will I, Alisanda," I said.
"You will share them equally with me, dear husband; for we are now one. If it is your desire, we will purchase an estate at New Orleans. I dread43 your cold, wet North."
"Whatever your heart desires, dearest one, it shall ever be the object of my life to obtain it for you. Your wish shall ever be my law, my bride!"
"Juan, my husband!" she murmured, and our lips met in that first rapturous kiss of man and wife.
Two days later, having in the meantime stood off toward the Spanish port of Mobile, the Belligerent63 fell in with a Philadelphia brig, bound for New Orleans. The master of the Quaker vessel64 readily bargained to take us as passengers, and we were accordingly put aboard the Mary Penn by Captain Powers, after we had taken a most affectionate farewell of Father Rocus. He was going on to Mobile to care for the rescued Spaniards, of whom, all being persons of no political or military consequence, the British were eager to rid themselves.
Except between ourselves and the padre, the parting afforded a welcome relief to all. There had not alone been the matter of personal shame. In these years of national humiliation65, it would be difficult for any true American to act the part of a gracious guest aboard a British man-of-war.
But once aboard the Mary Penn, there was nothing to mar6 the perfect joy of our love. After a short and smooth voyage, the brig put into one of the many mouths of the Mississippi, and, ascending66 in charge of a pilot, landed us at New Orleans, the happiest couple in all the wide world.
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1
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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18
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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egregious
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| adj.非常的，过分的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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23
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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24
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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31
suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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38
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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40
novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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41
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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42
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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wedlock
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| n.婚姻，已婚状态 | |
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45
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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46
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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47
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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48
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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49
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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50
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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51
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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52
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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53
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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54
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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55
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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56
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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57
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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58
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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59
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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60
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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61
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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62
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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63
belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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64
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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65
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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66
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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