'I can quite see that “gentlemen” are not wanted here,' laughed the young man, 'but perhaps your little love affair has made you hungry. Supper will be ready in a few minutes. For the present, au revoir,' and he withdrew with a bow.
'Oh, Carrie, whatever will he drink?' said Hony, hysterically. 'We were caught right at it, weren't we?'
'Right at it, dearie,' acquiesced the dark girl, 'but it can't be helped. Besides, from what I can see, there are going to be some odd goings-on on this ship. As I was coming along to see you, one of those pirates-such a nice boy-collared me, and kissed and cuddled me till I thought I was smothered. Now, you hurry up and get dressed, and we'll hie to the feast.'
Lady Tittle, in the course of her wanderings on the promenade deck of the New Decameron, which was now rattling through the Atlantic billows, southwards, at an easy thirty knots, had drawn a sickening blank in her encounters the various pirates scattered about the wind-swept deck. No one took any notice of her at all.
She swirled her silk-skirted way through the breeze, coyly scanning any man she met-it was impossible to tell whether they were officers or crew-but met with no response till, right in the stern of the ship, she was stayed by a gruff voice asking 'what she wanted.'
Lady Tittle replied (in the well-known biblical manner of answering a question with a question) by demanding who he was.
It appeared he was the bosun, a burly, heavily-moustachioed man in oilskins, who lured Lady Tittle into the shadow of a whale boat when he gathered she was one of the captives. He explained that he was Major Brander, late of the Black Watch, and that a little difference with the War Office, and, incidentally, with the laws of the country, had led him to join this adventure.
'I am the oldest of the crew,' he said, rather sadly, 'so they made me the bosun. I know nothing about “bosuning", but still the ship goes on. I remember you' (Lady Tittle had introduced herself), 'dear lady, as the belle of the Binchester hunt ball; in the sixties, I fear it was.'
'Ah, me,' sighed Lady Tittle, 'we were children then, and love beat through our veins-eh, major?'
'And does now, damme,' cried the bosun-major, and he boldly put his arm round Lady Tittle and kissed her.
The powerful searchlights of the New Decameron, sweeping the sea on all quarters, made the deck of the boat seem very dark. The major, or bosun, as we will call him, made no bones about his job. Pulling aside, with a firm though gentle hand, Lady Tittle's opera cloak, he brushed her bare bosom with his moustache. There was a hen coop just behind the pair, and on to that, despite the shrill cacklings of its inmates, he guided the amorous old lady.
It was a hard couch, but it served-and it didn't have to serve for long. Both were very randy, and the simultaneous outpourings of their sexual organs came after the fowls beneath had been terrified for but a brief two minutes.
Lady Tittle got up with a girlish simper of glee.
'Oh, what must you think of me?' she murmured, 'and we've hardly even seen each other's faces yet.'
'If your face is as charming as the figure I have felt, madam, I am sure it is still that of the beautiful Felicia Tittle I met years ago; besides, this ship is Liberty Hall. I should advise you to look after your beautiful little daughter.'
'Oh, Hony can look after herself, but, tell me,' whispered Lady Tittle, trying surreptitiously to wipe up the streams of semen which ran down her legs with a gossamer handkerchief, 'who is this young man who seems to be captain. He says he was at Eton with my boy.'
'That, my dear Felicia, is a profound secret; most of us know, but not all.'
'Well, I have my suspicions,' said Lady Tittle.
At that moment a loud gong, like the war gong used to call the tribes in Burma, reverberated through the ship.
'Ah,' said the bosun, in a cheery voice, 'supper at last. I can promise you, Felicia, that you will at least find that the creature comforts are well attended to on this ship.'
CHAPTER THREE. Southward Bound on the New Decameron
The grand salon of the New Decameron was a spacious place, occupying the Ml breadth of the ship, and brilliantly lit by clusters of electric light.
The walls were adorned by pictures of great beauty and evident value, and one's feet sank noiselessly into the heavy carpet.
Covers were laid for about fifty, and the assembled pirates, each dressed in the evening dress uniform affected by the young man, were grouped expectantly round the walls.
The young man stood at the door to welcome his guests, who had been summoned by the steward pirates, and the elderly stewardess, who, with four pretty girls, obviously ladies, constituted all the female personnel of the pirate craft. Lady Tittle sighed when she thought of the hell of a time those four young women must have at the hands and-well, well-of these bonny young pirates.
She, followed by Mr. Silverwood and Miss Jepps, was the first to arrive.
Herr Kunst was flanked by the Sisters Lovett, very demure, if very decollete, in virgin white. They were very pretty girls, and there looked like being competition among the pirates.
Lord Reggie Cameron entered delicately, like Agag, closely followed by Mr. Moss Hell, who surveyed the luxurious entourage with oily satisfaction.
Mr. Hannibal McGregor had, for some inexplicable reason, arrayed himself in the full war paint of old Gaul, and swung his kilt just in front of Mr. Neale, the actor, who was flanked by the flappers, Hony and Carrie, whose admiration he was attempting to excite with, obviously, very little success.
The young man shook hands in a most gallant manner with each, and presented them, en masse, to his comrades. Others of the pirates conducted them to their places at the centre table, at the head of which the young man took his place.
The young man made a short speech. After welcoming them to the New Decameron, he expressed a wish that they would be comfortable. He briefly explained himself and his companions.
'Compelled to sever our connection with society, owing to some of its ridiculous laws, we have had to earn our living somehow, and we have done fairly well. True, we are pirates-thieves, if you like-but there are worse on the Stock Exchange.' Lord Reggie sighed, and Mr. Moss Hell and Herr Kunst looked uncomfortable. 'There are also thieves in society-since the introduction of bridge,' he continued-it was Lady Tittle's turn to look uncomfortable-'but while these thieves are unrecognised, we are open. We thieve in the broad light of day, and we are generally careful not to thieve from those who can't afford to lose.
'Your presence on this ship was an inspiration of one of my men. Frankly, we were getting bored. We want livening up. Liven us up, and you shall be repaid with a pleasant cruise; some possibly very exciting adventures; a sojourn in our little lotus land of an island in the Pacific; all creature comforts, and, in course of time, we hope you will leave perfectly satisfied.'
The captives' faces took on an interested expression. Though so far no viands had made their appearance, the appointments of the table held out great hopes. The snowy napery bore much valuable silver plate and the profusion of glasses suggested much liquor.
'And now,' said the young man, 'to supper.'
The menu cards were of ivory-coloured paper, surmounted with the traditional skull and crossbones.
The menu was as follows:
MENU
Cocktails
Madere solera, 1815
Hors d'oeuvres varies
Caviare
Tortue daire
Puree Decameron
Sole au vin blanc
Salmon sauce
Mouton Rothschild, 1875
Hollandaise
Riz de veau aux Epinards
Veuve clicquot, 1899
Poulet a l'Indien
Heidsieck, dry monopole, 1898
Selle d'agneau
Petits pois, pommes nouvelles
Asperges, beurre fondue