Roger now became worried that finding all the women captives in the saloon Bloggs would assume that his overture had met with rejection; but there seemed no way of hastening Lucette's departure and, short of inviting her dangerous anger, the others could not all walk out as long as she continued her lazy questioning of them.
By the time Bloggs had demolished a great plateful of meat and pickles Roger feared that the chance of talking to him alone that evening was as good as lost, and worse, that he might not risk a further rebuff by making another opportunity. But Georgina had sized up the situation and saved it by saying to Lucette:
"I am accounted something of an artist, Madame; and during our voyage from Madeira I amused myself for a part of the time by designing some clothes that I planned to have made. As they conform to the latest modes, and you are interested in such things, perchance you would care to accompany me to the spare cabin where I keep my trunks. I forget now in which I put them, but between us we should soon rout them out."
Lucette at once accepted the invitation, and, as she stood up, Georgina said to Jenny: "You had best come with us, to help us m our search." That left only Amanda and Clarissa, and no sooner had the others disappeared than they made an excuse to go to their cabins.
After a moment Roger said in a low voice to Bloggs: "I am well aware how desperate is the situation of the ladies and myself, and Jenny has told me that you may be able to help us. I can only say that should you be able to do so, we shall owe you more than we can ever repay."
Bloggs favoured him with a by no means friendly stare, and replied:
"Foine words, my foine gentleman; but 'tis not fer the likes o* you that I be concerned. Tis fer Jenny, who did nurse me when I were near a corpse from the floggin' Cap'n Cummins ordered me; an' fer her ladyship, who showed a poor mariner kindly charity on that same occasion. Tis no wish of mine that they other ladies should suffer what's in store for 'em, either". Yet they'll all get a taste o' hell afore their time unless summat can be done within the next day or so."
"I know it," Roger agreed, "and I ask no mercy for myself. If by giving my life I can aid them, count it as already given. Now, what have you in mind?"
"I've a notion that maybe I could talk round Pedro the Carib. 'E's a queer cuss, that one. 'E don't speak much, but 'e onarstans a bit o' English, an' Jake an' me got quite friendly with 'e up on the poop this forenoon. Seems like 'e got a 'ate agin this Frenchy skipper under who 'e's bin sailin'. I've a mind to put to 'e that now 'e's cap'n o' the Circe, 'e should fly 'is own flag in she, an' make off on 'is own."
"That would certainly create a new situation, but I don't quite see how it would save the ladies from the sort of thing we fear for them."
"Ah, but it could; should you be willin' ter let bygones be bygones, an' gi' me an' my mates a clean ticket."
"You mean forget that the mutiny ever occurred, and the fact that you killed Captain Cummins?"
Bloggs nodded his dark curly head. "For the death o' that tyrant I'll answer to Almighty God; but meantime, should I be caught I've no wish to swing in chains fer it from a gallows in Kingston or On Execution Dock. I were figurin' that you bein' the new Governor of Martinique, you'd maybe 'ave the power to give I a pardon."
As Roger had always placed the welfare of those he loved before any canon of morality, he replied without hesitation. "I have, and I will. I take it,, too, that as your companions are also liable to a hanging for mutiny you want pardons for them as well?"
"That's so, Mister Brook; an* there's yet another thing. Piracy be the resort only o' the most desperate characters, seein' that pirate ships be liable to attack by any naval vessel that may happen along, whatsoever be her nation. But privateerin's a very different kettle o' fish. Tis respectable as well as profitable; an' you bein' Governor of an island could, I make no doubt, give we a privateer's commission."
"Yes, I could do that," Roger agreed, much impressed with the good sense that Bloggs was showing. "And I take it that in return you would arrange for us to be given our freedom?"
"Twas on them lines that I were thinkin'. O' course Pedro an' 'is mates would 'ave to be given a clean bill, clearing they from all counts likely ter arise out o' they's past. They'd not row in wi' we otherwise. But do 'e pledge me yer word about a privateer's commission an' free pardons for all, an' I've a good 'ope 'twill serve as a strong enough inducement fer Pedro an' the rest to agree that you an' the ladies should be put ashore."
"What of Madame Lucette?" Roger asked a shade anxiously. "Think you she can be persuaded to become a party to this deal— or at least prevented from wrecking it?"
Bloggs hesitated a moment, then he grinned. "She be that unpredictable'tis more 'an I would say as yet. But so happen she've taken a bit o' a fancy to me; an' me ter her fer that matter.
"Then if Pedro definitely agrees to your proposals, there should be a good chance of winning her over?"
'That's the rig o' it, Mister Brook. Jake an' me will make a cast at 'e durin' second dog watch, an' if all's well I'll broach it to Lucette arter I've boarded she agin this comin' night. Have I yer solemn promise as a gentleman ter abide by our onerstandin'?"
Roger smiled, partly at the thought that despite Bloggs's enthusiasm for the doctrine of Equality' he should still place more faith in the word of a gentleman man in that of one of his own kind; but much more with relief, that above the black pit of tenor in which the Circe's passengers had been plunged these past twenty-four hours there should now have appeared a ray of light. Wisely, he decided that since then-new hope was entirely dependent on Bloggs's goodwill there must be no half measures about burying the past; so standing up he held out his hand and said:
"You have more than my word, for we shall still remain your prisoners until you choose to release us; but I give it you willingly and here is my hand upon it."
Bloggs crushed the extended fingers for a moment in an iron grip, grinned again, and left the cabin.
When he had gone Roger sat down quickly. For the past hour his head had been paining him severely, and after the effort needed for the interview reaction swiftly set in. The stalwart Bloggs had radiated confidence, but now he had gone Roger began to reckon up the odds against his being able to carry his scheme through successfully.
First, he might have read more than was intended into a few surly remarks about the Vicomte by the taciturn Pedro. Secondly, even if Pedro was game to double-cross his master, would his men agree to follow his lead? He was far from having the forceful personality of a Joao de Mondego and, Roger had gathered, owed his position as an officer only to the fact that having known the reefs and shoals of these coasts since boyhood he was an expert at piloting a ship through them. It seemed much more likely that the other pirates would follow whatever lead was given them by Lucette. And on the previous night she had braved Joao's wrath out of loyalty to the Vicomte.
From what Bloggs had said it was clear that she had become his mistress, so he was in a stronger position than anyone else to influence her; but Roger did not feel that any great weight could be attached to that. One look at the big healthy body of such a tawny tigress was enough to tell any man that she revelled in every form of sensuality. Seeing the life she was leading, it could hardly be doubted that in the past dozen years she had willingly allowed herself to be caressed by scores, if not hundreds, of men; That she should have taken the repulsive Joao for a lover showed that her appetite was now jaded to a point where it required constant new stimulants; so it was as good as certain that she looked on Bloggs as no more than just another dish to be tasted. In a week or two she would probably cast him off anyway, and a month later have forgotten his existence; so if his project did not appeal to her it was more than likely that she would rid herself of him overnight—quite possibly by sticking a knife between his ribs.