that they are. My immediate demand is that you show me the best set of
apartments, after which I shall sample your wines.”
“I will certainly show you my best rooms,” returned Pedro. “They are
very fine. Indeed, so fine that I have to make a small charge of one
gold piece to show them.”
“Travelers must pay, and landlord must live,” said Syn pleasantly.
“Here are two gold pieces. I am a generous man, but like my own way in
things, though I am willing to pay for it in reason. Lead the way.”
Taking care to hide his face from the newcomers, Pedro bestowed a sly
wink towards his friends nearest, and led the way to the outside
staircase.
- 96 -
Unlocking a door that opened upon a balcony, he led the strangers into a
set of three well-furnished rooms.
“These are my best rooms,” he said. “Since you have paid for the
privilege, you are welcome to look at them.”
“I have looked at them, and think they are magnificent,” replied Syn
casually. “I desire no better. I take them. Now bring us wine, and I
will see that our trappings are brought from the ship.”
“That is not possible,” said the landlord suavely. “These rooms are
taken by a rich customer of mine. You paid to see. You have seen.”
“Faith, sir, if this is a jest,” retorted Syn sharply, “you will find
the laugh against you. Why should I waste my time viewing rooms if not
to take them. Indeed I have taken them.”
“But you see those two chests, Senor,” went on the landlord, “they
belong to the occupier, who has gone with his wife and son to view the
ship he has had built for him. Look, here are the wife’s garments
hanging in this cupboard. The press there is also full of their finery.
He is an ugly man to cross, this great captain.”
Mipps looked at Syn, and saw a grim smile on his lips as he said, “An
ugly man to cross, eh? Well, so am I, and should this rascal captain
with his wife and boy be tattooed from head to foot, he’ll fine me yet
the uglier.”
“He has many, very many tattoo marks,” said Pedro; “but if you take a
word of caution, Senor, from one who knows him well—”
Syn interrupted with, “Take out his things, sir. I take these rooms.”
“But, Senor—” he began again.
“There are no ‘buts’ about it, my good man,” interrupted Syn again.
“Mipps, put the chests in the passage there and heap the clothes upon
them. They must find rooms elsewhere. As for you, Master Pedro, there
will be no trouble unless I make it for you. I am accustomed to be
obeyed. Is this man called Nicholas Tappitt, Nikolina Tappittero or
what? He has a habit of changing his name, I hear.”
“The captain is known here as ‘Black Nick’, returned the landlord.
Syn laughed. “Then tell Black Nick when he returns that others have
the habit of taking what does not belong to them as well as he. You’ll
find he’ll understand. If he starts trouble, send him up.”
“May I tell him your name, Senor?” asked the landlord.
“Captain Clegg,” replied Syn. “We will now drink wine together, so
make haste and bring the best. Red wine for blood, and see that it is
good. Bring rum, too, to wash it down with. But first help my man there
with that chest. It looks heavy.”
Pedro looked at Mipps as he took one end of the great chest and said,
“You have been here before—yes?”
“Been to most places, I have,” returned Mipps in bad Spanish.
When everything had been cleared and placed in the passage, the
landlord brought the drinks.
“Mind, Senor,” he said, “I take no responsibility for what Black Nick
will do to you.”
“But I take full responsibili ty for what I shall do to him,” replied
Syn. “And now give me your key of this main door. I have no mind to have
any enter when we are out. We are going now to get our baggage. Here is
gold in earnest of our good faith with you. That should carry our credit
for some days,” and
he threw down, on the table, a handful of gold pieces.
- 97 -
Then, locking the door, and closely followed by Mipps, Syn swaggered out
upon the quay.
Even amongst that crown of gorgeously dressed adventurers who
thronged the harbour, Syn stood out by reason of his magnificent
elegance and striking appearance. He wore a scarlet velvet suit trimmed
with silver braid, and round the waist of the full-skirted coat, a
silver sash that held his pistols. His high threecornered hat boasted a
fine ostrich feather, while his long legs were encased in perfectly
fitting thigh-boots, and as he strode along, the slender fingers of his
left hand rested easily upon the large, chased, silver hilt of this long
sword.
When Mipps went to en gage porters to carry their chests from the
ship, which had brought them there, and which was now busily unloading,
Syn approached a group of richly dressed adventurers who were seated at
a pavement table beneath the awning of a wine-shop. Swinging his ha t
off and bowing royally, he asked them in Spanish to do him the honour of
drinking with him. Nothing lost, for they already curious to know who he
might be, they accepted with politeness, and Syn called for the best
wine and sat down.
He told them he w as Captain Clegg, and had arrived in Santiago, but
an hour. He was here on business, he said, and did any of them know a
Captain Nicholas Tappitt, who went by the name of Black Nick?”
They smiled, and one of them answered that “Black Nick” had been the
last name in their mouths.
“Perhaps, Captain Clegg, I can explain the better,” replied the
youngest of the party, a good-looking Spaniard, who, through dressed
very foppishly, had a manly bearing which Syn admired. “I am under a
commission for this Capt ain Nicholas,” he went on. “I know the man
personally, whereas these friends of mine only know of him by
reputation, which I agree is not of the best. They have been advising me
to have nothing to do with him, but I am one capable of looking after
myself a nd for the best advantage. I will take a chance hand with fate
always, Senor, and so long as this or that employer serves my turn, I
serve him. You see that vessel anchored there beyond the harbour mouth?
He had her built. Yesterday she did her trail sailing trip. She is
superb. I am in love with that ship, though not so partial to her
captain, this Black Nick. But he has something of a genius for ships,
though, as I tell to his face, not so good a genius for dealing with
men. I find myself in position of first mate. I have a full crew aboard,
and not one of them who is not discontented or ever we put for sea.
Black Nick wants all for nothing. He has got the crew aboard under false
pretense. Their share of profit accruing from adventures is reduced to
the were minimum. They risk their necks at the yard -arm of any
Government ship for a mere pittance. I see trouble. But the ship if
sweet. Her guns are good. Her speed amazing. She has it in her to escape
or to attack, according to the captain’s mood. She is all ready for sea,
and has been so these last four days. We only wait for Black Nick
himself. He is transacting business with a gentleman from Havana, a
rich-planter and ship-owner, who is staying with the Governor of this
Town. We are to be sailing consort with two ships of his from Havana.”
Syn nodded. “And your crew are no doubt the more discontented at
being kept aboard when they might be drinking ashore?”