"Thank you, sir," Barney said.
De Grasse shrugged his shoulders. "Someone, much more famous than we shall ever be, had a word for it: 'The die is cast.' "
On deck de Bouille said, "Even you are a bit dazed."
"Granted," said Barney. Then he smiled.
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"We shall have Cornwallis bottled up; we'll have him tucked away by October."
Barney grinned. "You've got it settled, haven't you?"
"We have a commander now, Barney."
He had accompanied Barney to the ladder. They shook hands. "Bon voyage," de Bouille said. Barney repeated it. He went down to the waiting boat.
The bowmen pushed off. De Bouille leaned over. "Tell Joshua I see him on Lucie's birthday."
Barney echoed this. "Lucie's birthday?"
"Oui," called de Bouille. He was laughing. "Christmas!"
Chapter 39
I THINK YOU D BETTER CALL HIM, SCULL SAID. SHE S ACTING damned queerly." He transferred his gaze from the ship he could see across the water to Jerrell, who was watching the strange ship too. "Well, then, sir," snapped Scull. "Move!"
Jerrell ran. Scull once more lifted the glass to his eye, listening for Barney's step. When Barney stood beside him he talked fast.
"She's changed course three times in the past half hour, as though no one knew whose orders were being obeyed, sir. And now she's trying to get to windward, and put that prize of hers, whatever it is, between her and us. Damn it, sir, I could understand her wanting to run, but why didn't she do that first?"
Barney had been in the act of dressing for supper. When Jerrell had knocked on his cabin door, he had yanked on a pair of canvas trousers. They had sighted the two ships an hour ago—they had looked like a privateer and her prize, making for the port Barney had left two days ago.
Scull repeated, "I just didn't like the way she was acting, sir."
Barney frowned. There was little likehhood of English ships being in these waters. The big convoy had passed a week ago. "I expect my original surmise to be correct—that she is French." He paused, and Scull waited. He was not surprised at the next order. "Beat to quarters, Mr. Scull. We'll see what's happening aboard her."
During the next ten minutes the ship was cleared for action; Bar-
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ney had strapped on his heavy belt and thrust two pistols through it. and they had sailed near enough to see that indeed the one ship was a prize; she bore the marks of battle plainly.
The colors had been hoisted. On the privateer the French flag fluttered.
No sooner had the flag gone up to the masthead, than Mr. Scull tried a hail.
There was no answer. "She's trying to avoid us. sir!"
She had changed course again. Bamey said. "Try her again, Mr. Scull."
Once more she refused to answer the hail. The '"Athena" was bearing down on her fast. Barney took the glass. In the deepening dusk the glass was almost useless. "Ready me a boarding party, Mr. Scull."
The two ships were very close. Rapidly the water narrowed between them. But even when the irons were thrown, and the two ships jarred together, there was no sound from the Frenchman.
Barney and fifty men landed on the privateer deck almost at the same time. No hand was raised against them. Two officers came forward toward Barney; they were both very young and uncertain. Barney said:
"Why didn't you answer our hails?" He looked around at the almost deserted deck. Fifteen of his own men stood behind him. The others had already overrun the forecastle and were in possession of it.
"We didn't think you were English, sir! The captain gave orders to keep on our course toward Cap Haitien. Then he sent up a command to try to avoid passing near you, and—"'
"Captain who?" asked Barney grimly.
"Captain Landais, sir."
Barney said nothing for a moment. Then, "W hat prize is that?"
"An English merchantman, sir. A straggler from the big convoy from Stasia."
"Where is Captain Landais?"
"Having supper, sir. We are not to disturb him."
Barney said, "Show me to him."
The young Frenchman hesitated. Then he said, "Follow me, sir."
Barney motioned to his men to stay w-here they were.
The Frenchman knocked on a dirty door. A voice answered.
"I gave orders I was not to be disturbed!"
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The Frenchman licked his Hps. "Sir, we have been boarded. The American captain wishes to speak to you."
"Open the door," growled Barney.
There was the sound within of a chair scraping back. In a moment the door was flung open. Landais, resplendent in blue satin, peered out into the passageway. His face changed. He cut off an oath; almost furtively he backed into the cabin again. Barney stepped in and kicked the door shut.
Landais and he were only about seven feet apart. The lamp swung overhead, lighting the table and the remains of a meal. And across the table Douglass sat, as though carved in ivory. The wine glass she had been holding spilled and ran across the bare table. Landais followed Barney's look at her, and Landais laughed.
"You interrupt," he said, bowing.
Douglass' eyes had not wavered from Barney's face; now they went slowly and carefully over him. All the remembering was hardly a patch on his actual presence; the towering vitality of him, as she saw him now, dominating the small cabin. The scene was almost incredible.
It was Landais who spoke first. His voice was soft and sibilant.
"Captain Barney, I submit you have no business aboard my ship."
Without taking his eyes from Landais, Barney reached behind him and unlatched the door. He spoke to the officer. "Have the lady's effects put aboard my ship." He closed the door again. "Landais, I take the woman."
Douglass felt her heart pound. The hot blood stained her face. "No, Barney, I will stay here," she cried, taking a step around the table, toward him.
"Be quiet," he commanded. He repeated his statement to Landais, as though she had not spoken at all. "I take the woman."
Landais wiped his blue satin sleeve across his face. It was very hot in the tiny cabin and sweat was pouring off him, running down into his collar. "How high will you pay?" he asked, his voice sneering. "You pay high?"
Douglass took another step toward Barney. He saw her from the corner of his eye. He reached out and took her by the arm and almost swung her back toward her chair. "Stay there!" He himself stepped nearer the door. Then he resumed his calm. "I pay nothing, Landais."
Landais looked at Douglass. "She does not want to go?"
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As Landais regarded her, Barney did too. She was sitting on the edge of the big armchair, leaning forward, Ups parted. Barney could see well enough her perturbation; the grey eyes on him were full of questions. On her white arm were the marks of his fingers as he had pushed her back from him.
"Douglass," he said. Then he tore his eyes from her and a flame of anger came into her grey eyes.
"I do not go with you !"
Landais laughed almost silently. "She wants to stay with me," he jeered. He was edging backwards, and Douglass suddenly saw that whatever had been said or gone before between these two men was just a prelude, and that both men were waiting for an act, a move, on the part of the other.
Barney's eyes were glittering as they watched Landais. Now, in a flashing second Douglass understood why he had pushed her away from him. The danger in the little cabin, the tension of it, the violence of it, stood her on her feet. The two men didn't move, but she did. She moved back, against the paneling. Her knees trembled, her face was dead white. If she could have got to the door— Then she suppressed a cry as Landais' arm moved in a lightning gesture. A thin knife whirred through the air toward Barney.
At almost the same moment Barney had drawn the pistol from his belt. He dropped down to one knee, twisting his body sideways, and from that position Barney fired.