CHAPTER XXIII
DIVERS PERILS AND DANGERS AT SEA
Towards dawn the wind abated more and more and, glancing into thelightening East, I saw the black storm-clouds pierced, as it were, by asword of glory, a single vivid ray that smote across the angry waters,waxing ever more glorious until up flamed the sun before whose joyousbeams the sullen clouds scattered, little by little, and melted away.
And now I (that was doomed to be my own undoing) instead of thankingthat merciful God who had delivered us from such dire peril, must needsscowl upon this kindly sun and fall again to my black humours. For,the immediate dangers past, I began to ponder the future and inwardlyto rage against that perverse fate the which was driving me whither itwould. So, crouched chin on fist, scowling across these tempestuouswaters (for though the wind was fallen the seas ran very high) withinmyself I cursed Adam Penfeather and all his works.
"You are hungry, Martin!" Turning about I beheld my companion sittingup regarding me with eyes that belied her solemn mouth.
"How should you know this?"
"You frown, Martin! Though the storm is done and we alive, yet youfrown! Have patience and you shall eat and sleep."
"I want neither one nor other!" I began.
"And you are wet, Martin!"
"'Tis no matter!"
"And cold!"
"The sun shall warm me."
"So you shall eat, and lie here i' the sunshine, and sleep!" And awayshe goes to vanish under the dripping pent-house forward (the which hadserved its purpose admirably well) whiles I, perceiving the wavessubsiding and the wind blowing steady and fair, laid our course duesouth-westerly again, and lashing the helm, went forward to shake outthe reefs, finding it no easy task what with the stiffness of mycramped limbs and the pitching of the boat; howbeit, 'twas done at lastbut, coming back, I tripped across a thwart and fell, cursing.
"Are you hurt?" she questioned, stooping over me; whereupon (for veryshame) I turned my back answering short and ungraciously, and satfrowning like the sullen rogue I was whiles she busily set forth thewherewithal to break our fast, and singing softly to herself.
"I told you I was an ill rogue and rough!" says I, bitterly.
"Why so you did," says she, meeting my scowl with her wide, calm gaze."Also you are hungry, and the food is unspoiled despite the storm--comeand eat!"
So I ate (though with mighty ill grace) and found little savour in thefood for all my hunger; but she waited on my wants with heedful care,my surliness notwithstanding.
"Whose was the hand set this boat adrift, think you?" says I suddenly.
"Nay, 'twas too dark to see!"
"'Twas Penfeather!" says I, clenching my fist. "Aye it was Adam, I'llstake my life on't!"
"Then Poor Master Adam!" she sighed.
"How? Will you pity a rogue?"
"I speak of Master Penfeather," says she. "If he indeed cut the boatadrift it was doubtless because the battle was going against him and hedid this to save me!" Hereupon I laughed and she, flushing angrily,turns her back on me.
"Pray you," she questioned, "when may we hope to reach the island andbe free of each other?"
"To-night or to-morrow, unless the storm hath driven us further than Ijudge." And now, our meal done, she sets away everything in itsappointed place and thereafter sat watching the sea all foam andsparkle beneath the young sun. And presently a sigh brake from her andshe turned, her anger forgotten quite.
"O!" cries she, "'Tis joy to be alive, to breathe such air, and beholdsuch a glory of sea and sky! Look around us, Martin, and give thanks!"And truly the sea was smooth enough save for a long, rolling swell outof the East, and with a soft and gentle wind to abate the sun'sgenerous heat. "Are you not glad to be alive, Martin?" says she.
"To what end?" I answered. "Of what avail is life to me cast away on adesolate island."
"Desolate?" says she, starting. "Do you mean we shall be alone?"
"Aye, I do."
"But surely," says she with troubled look, "surely Master Adam willfetch us away?"
"There is a chance!"
"And--if not?"
"God knoweth!" says I gloomily, "'Tis a small island as I learn, littleknown and out of the track of vessels."
"Yet a ship may come thither to our relief?"
"And if one doth not?"
"Then must we tempt the sea again in our boat."
"I am no navigator, and these seas are strange to me."
"Howbeit," says she, bravely, "we have good store of provisions."
"And when they are gone--how then, think you?"
"I think you do lack for sleep. Go, take your rest, mayhap you shallwaken a little bolder and less despairing."
"And you," says I, "you that so look on all this as a joyousadventure--"
"Joyous? Ah God!" she cried, "Do you think because I do not weep thatmy heart is not full of misery and grief to lose thus home and friendsand country and live 'prisoned and solitary with such as you, thatthink but on your own selfish woes and in your big body bear the soulof a fretful babe? I hate you, Martin Conisby, scorn and despise you!And now give me the tiller and begone to your sleep!" Saying which shepointed where she had spread the cloaks hard by the midship thwart andI, amazed by her fierce outburst, suffered her to take the tiller frommy hold, and coming amidships laid myself down even as she hadcommanded.
But no thought of sleep had I, rather I lay that I might watch her(furtively, beneath my arm) where she sat head aloft, cheeks flushedand bosom tempestuous. And (despite her beauty) a very termagant shrewI thought her. Then, all at once, I saw a tear fall and another; andshe that had sung undaunted to the tempest and outfaced its fury, satbitterly weeping like any heart-broke maid, yet giving due heed to ourcourse none the less. Presently, chancing to look my way, she catchesme watching her and knits her slender brows at me:
"Get you to sleep!" says she. "O get you to sleep nor trouble mygrief!"
Hereupon (and feeling mighty guilty) I pillowed my head and, closing myeyes, presently fell to sweet and dreamless slumber.