"No!" she cried. "No ... I will not tell thee! I ... I meant not to speak of it, but you drove me to it with your 'magnify'!"
Now at this, Adam sank back on his pillow and smiled up at her very tenderly.
"Antonia," he murmured, "when was this? I pray you tell me or I must needs seek answer of him."
"Two nights since ... you were asleep ... I went out on deck for breath of air ... and the stars very wonderful bright.... He stole upon me ere I knew, but I broke from him and came to my cabin and locked myself in and ... and that is all, Adam."
"And—since then?"
"I have kept out of his sight."
"Ah well, well," sighed Adam sleepily and nestling deeper into his pillow, "here was none so great a matter," and having said this, he yawned.
"Are you then so—suddenly sleepy ... at last?" she murmured, though looking down on him with such eyes that he closed his own against their level, shrewdly questioning gaze.
"Indeed!" he answered, and yawned again.
"Why then, sleep well, and—pleasant dreams." And so, with scarcely a sound, she was gone.
For perhaps five minutes Adam lay perfectly still, his ears on the stretch; then, and suddenly, he was out of bed, had bolted the door and was hunting feverishly for his vanished garments. He found them at last neatly folded away in one of the many drawers and got himself into them with the same feverish haste. Then he combed back his white hair, covered it with his close-fitting bonnet and taking his sheathed rapier beneath his arm, began very cautiously to unbolt the door.
CHAPTER XI
HOW ADAM DARED THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS, AND WHY
Slight as was the sound he made yet quick ears heard, it seemed, for in this moment came a gentle tapping and therewith the soft murmur of Antonia's hushed voice:
"Oh, Adam, pray let me in ... but a moment."
Sighing, he made haste to set back the sword, and it was towards this she looked as the door opened.
"Whither go you, Adam?"
"To take the air."
Now at this she clenched her fists as any furious, young man might have done, then stamped her foot as only an angry girl might,—a troubled girl also, for instead of the furious outburst he expected, she began to plead in almost weeping tones:
"Oh, Adam, Adam, how could you try to so deceive me? And why think me such dolt or so foolish blind to be put off by your silly make-believe? To yawn and feign sleep and the glare of battle in your eyes? I know whither you would go ... and why."
"Then," said he, making to pass her, "pray suffer me——"
"No,—no! You must not, you shall not. Oh, I was mad to tell you ... for there was no harm done ... indeed he was very gentle ... he scarce touched me."
"Anthony, let me pass."
"No, Adam! Oh, for mercy's sake do not go."
"I must."
"But I vow to God there was no evil done and none meant.... Oh, Adam, you that spoke of love for your fellows, you must not shed blood ... you cannot!"
"I vowed to protect you!" murmured Adam. "I took oath upon my father his memory! And such oath must be kept."
"Ay, but not now, Adam, so late from bed o' fever, not now. Wait ... do but wait until you be stronger and more able,—wait, I do beseech you!"
"Indeed," he nodded, "there's reason in this,—to wait until I am more able. And to gain strength I must have air and movement. Come then, Anthony, let us out and walk."
Scarcely had they reached the deck, to find a cloudless sky above and placid ocean around, than was patter of small, bare feet and Smidge came running.
"Oh ... sir," he panted, "I be that glad as youm well again, as I'me come to tell ee as they'm a-goin' for to flog Martin Frant 'crost his own gun, as be my gun too—number four, forrard, sir. So will ee go 'long o' me, if ye please, and stop 'em, 'cause you ain't afeard o' nuffink nor nobody, will ee, please?"
"But what's the man done to deserve flogging?"
"Nuffink, sir—leastways only cracking the Smiler wiv a belaying pin for going for to burn Johnny and me wiv a hot iron. So will ee come and save Martin as saved Johnny and me—please?"
Adam nodded, and following Smidge to the gun deck beheld a half-naked sailor in the act of being tied face down across one of the ordnance and beside him a bearded man in breast-plate and morion who seemed in authority.
"Who is yon gentleman, Smidge?"
"Master Danvers, sir, officer o' the deck."
"Bo'sun!" cried this officer, so soon as the victim had been secured. "Bo'sun!"
"Sir?" answered a squat, powerful fellow, stepping forward.
"The order is—twenty-five with the cat."
"Ax pardon, sir, but might I suggest the cane or rope's-end?"
"You may not."
"Ax pardon again, sir, but offence committed was doo to greatest provocation and therefore I humbly——"
"Silence and be damned t'ye! Where's the rascal Perez?"
"Yere I is, sah!" cried a jubilant voice, and from the silent ranks stepped that same mulatto fondling this time, instead of axe, the whip of many-thonged torment.
"Well, twenty-five is the order,—lay on!"
But as Perez stepped forward, eager to obey, forward also stepped Adam.
"Mr. Danvers," said he, bowing, "I crave a word."
"Oh, sir? And who may you be?"
"Adam Penfeather, at your service."
"Aha, Captain Troy's friend. I am James Danvers, sir, Master's mate. You come to see punishment properly done, sir?"
"No, Mr. Danvers, mere justice."
"Justice, sir? What talk is this? The rule o' the sea is—for strife aboardship, flogging, and aboard this ship, twenty-five lashes, and by Captain Troy's order."
"However, sir, I desire you shall hear a word on this man's behalf."
"Eh—what's this?" exclaimed Danvers, with look of indignant amazement. "You desire—you?"
"No, I demand this in the name of Justice."
"Well now rot me if I ever heard the like o' this! Who the devil are you dare so demand, sir—eh, sir?"
"A mere Englishman and therefore a lover o' justice for every man. Bo'sun, pray what is in evidence 'gainst your prisoner?"
"Sir," quoth the Bo'sun hasting to answer before his superior might frame adequate retort, "Smiling Sam were for branding a brace o' the boys with hot iron, joking like, Martin here interposes and gets hisself burned instead wherefore Sam gets hisself beat and choked somewhat by Martin, wherefore Martin is doo for twenty-five, as your honour sees."
"So," said Adam, turning to Mr. Danvers, "there's your evidence, sir. How say you now?"
"I say twenty-five lashes for the offence and five more for your cursed interference and——"
"Bo'sun," said Adam, "pray carry my respects to Captain Troy and say that here is urgent need of his presence."
"Bo'sun," roared Danvers, "bide where you are. Now, forrard, you, Perez, and——"
"Bo'sun," murmured Adam, coming swiftly beside this harassed officer, "suffer me!" And speaking, he whipped the astonished Bo'sun's sword from its scabbard. "Now," cried he, with threatening sweep of broad blade, "strike one blow, Perez, and I'll cut ye down. Master Danvers, I suggest you send for Captain Troy, forthwith, sir."
For a moment the Master's mate glared speechless, then, in voice thick with fury, gave the order.
And thus they stood waiting silent all, the men staring and gaping in their ranks, the Bo'sun goggling and fumbling at his empty scabbard, Mr. Danvers pulling at his beard, while Antonia leaned slender back against the ship's side,—every eye gazing at Adam, this small yet resolute person, who stood sword in hand looking on vacancy.
At last, and at his leisure, came Absalom smiling and debonair in new splendour of garments from belaced falling-band to resetted shoes, a very gracious gentleman though masterful, supremely assured and slightly grim.