CHAPTER IV.
"THE GIRL WHO PLAYS AT FLIRTATION MAY FIND SHE HAS GRASPED A TWO-EDGEDSWORD," SAID THE HANDSOME YOUNG CAPTAIN, LOOKING FULL IN GERELDA'SBEWITCHING, HAUGHTY FACE.
The captain who was passing, stopped short and looked at Hubert Varrickin amazement as he cried out, wildly:
"Get me a life-boat, somebody--anybody! Half my fortune for alife-boat!"
"What is the matter?" asked the captain, sharply. "Has some one fallenoverboard?"
When Varrick answered in the affirmative, the captain gave orders that alife-boat be at once lowered by the crew, calling upon Varrick to pointout, as near as he could, where the drowning man was.
"I will go, too," Varrick answered, springing into the boat; and aninstant later the boat was flying over the waves in the direction whichVarrick indicated.
"Which way, sir?" asked the man at the oars.
"Straight toward that little island yonder," was the hoarse reply. "Makefor it quickly! Here, take this bank-note, and, in Heaven's name, rowsharp! No one is drowning, but there is a young and lovely girl at themercy of some fiend on that island yonder!"
The man dropped his oars.
"If you had told our captain that, he would never have sent out alife-boat," declared the man. "He thought it was some one drowning nearat hand, for the story of Wau-Winet Island is no news to the peoplehereabouts."
"What do you mean?" cried Varrick.
"I can tell you the story in a very few words, sir," returned the man;"and surely there's no one more competent to relate it than myself. Ican relate it while we are rowing over to Wau-Winet Island:
"Some six months ago a stranger suddenly appeared in our midst. Hepurchased Wau-Winet Island, and a few days later a score or more ofworkmen appeared one night at Alexandria Bay, and boarded a tug that wasto take them out to the island.
"These workmen were all strangers to the inhabitants around AlexandriaBay, and they spoke in a different language.
"They lived upon the island for a month or more, never once coming incontact with the people hereabouts.
"All their food was brought to them. Soon their mysterious mannersbecame the talk of all the country round.
"In a month's time they had erected a grand stone house--almost acastle--hidden from any one who might chance to pass the island, by anet-work of trees.
"At length the gray-stone house was completed, and the strange, uncannyworkmen took their departure as silently as they had come.
"The people were warned to keep away from the place, for the workmen hadleft behind them a large, ferocious dog who menaced the life of any onewho attempted to land on Wau-Winet Island.
"Only last night an event happened which I shall never forget if I liveto be the age of Methuselah. I was standing near the dock, when suddenlysome one laid a heavy hand on my shoulder.
"Glancing up with a little start, I saw the man who had so lately boughtWau-Winet Island standing before me. By his side, leaning heavily uponhis arm, yet swaying strangely to and fro, as though she were scarcelyable to keep her feet, was a woman in a long black cloak, and her facecovered by a thick veil.
"Before I had a chance to speak, the gentleman bent down and whisperedhoarsely in my ear:
"I want you to row us as quickly as possible, to Wau-Winet Island. Youcan name your own price.'
"I wish to God I had refused him. I started to help the lady into theboat, but he thrust me aside and helped her in himself, lifting her bymain strength.
"For an instant she swayed to and fro, like a leaf in a strong wind; buthe steadied her by holding her down on her seat, both of her handscaught in his.
"I had scarcely pushed out into midstream ere I fancied I heard a low,choking cry. The woman had wrenched one of her hands free, and like aflash she had torn off her thick veil, and then I saw a sight that madethe blood run cold in my veins, for over her mouth a thick scarf waswound, which she was trying to tear off with her disengaged hand.
"Her companion caught her hand with a fierce imprecation on his lips,and the struggle that ensued between them made the boat rock like acradle. In an instant he had forced her back into her seat, and drawnthe veil down over her face again.
"But in that brief instant, by the bright light of the moon, I hadcaught a glimpse of a face so wondrous in its loveliness and itshaughtiness that I was fairly dazed. I did not know what to do or say, Iwas so bewildered.
"'You must make quicker time!' cried the gentleman, turning to me.
"At last we reached the island, and despite her struggles, he lifted herout of the boat. Then he thrust a bill into my hand, saying grimly, 'Youcan return now.'
"But while he was speaking, never for an instant did his hold relax uponthe girl's arm, though she writhed under his grasp.
"I hesitated a moment, and he turned to me with the look of a fiend onhis dark, handsome face.
"'I said you might _go_,' he repeated.
"'I will double that sum if you know how to keep your tongue still,' theman said, thrusting another bill into my hand.
"As I pushed out into midstream the girl grew frantic. With an almostsuperhuman effort she succeeded in removing the woolen scarf which hadbeen wound so tightly about her mouth, then with a cry which I shallnever forget while life lasts, she shrieked out piteously, as she threwout her white arms wildly toward me:
"'Help! help! Oh! help, for the love of Heaven! Don't desert me! Comeback! oh, come back and save me!'
"The blood fairly stood still in my veins. Her companion hurled her backso quickly that she completely lost her balance, and fell fainting inhis arms.
"'Go!' he cried, angrily, 'and not one word of what you have seen orheard!'
"I can not desert a lady in distress, sir,' I answered.
"With a fury such as I have never seen equaled, he turned and faced mein the moonlight.
"'I will give you just one moment to go!' he cried, his right handcreeping toward his hip-pocket--'another moment to get out of sight!'
"I knew that it was as much as my life was worth to remain where I was;so, despite the girl's pitiful entreaties, I rowed back slowly intomidstream and down the river.
"I fairly made my boat fly over the water. I headed straight forClayton--the nearest village--and there I told my startling story to thepeople. In less time than it takes to tell it, a half dozen of usstarted back for Wau-Winet Island. Arriving, we crept silently up thesteep path that led to the house. My loud ringing brought the gentlemanhimself to the door. I shall never forget the fire that leaped into hiseyes as he saw me; but nothing daunted, I said to him determinedly:
"I have come here with these men to aid the young girl who appealed tome for help a little while ago.'
"My companions pressed close behind me, until they filled the wideentrance hall and closed in around him.
"'You are certainly mad!' he cried. 'There is no young lady on Wau-WinetIsland, nor has any woman ever put foot upon it at least since it hasbeen my property,' he added.
"'Do you mean to say that I did not row you and a young lady over tothis island within this hour, and that she did not appeal to me forhelp?' I asked.
"'Certainly not!' he declared promptly.
"'You must be either mad or dreaming to even think of such a thing,' hecontinued, haughtily. 'However,' turning to my companions, 'seeing thatyou have had the trouble of coming here--brought by this lunatic--youare welcome to look through the house and satisfy yourselves. In fact, Ibeg that you will do so.'
"Much to his surprise, we took him at his word."