CHAPTER XI.
A TYPHOON.
At five o'clock next morning, being unable to bear the closeness of mycabin any longer, I dressed myself and went on deck. To my surprisethe schooner was stationary, and wrapped in as dense a fog as ever Iremember to have seen. So still was the air that every sail hung limpand motionless, and so thick the fog that, when I emerged from thecompanion hatch, I could hardly distinguish the bulwarks on eitherside. It was the intense quiet, however, that was at once the mostmysterious and the impressive part of the scene. The steady drip ofthe moisture on the deck, and now and again the faint lip-lap of awavelet against the side, the creaking of a block in the rigging abovemy head, or the subdued tones of a man's voice coming from the forrardof the foremast were all the sounds that I could hear. It was mostdepressing; so, for the sake of companionship, I fumbled my way overto the starboard bulwark, and, having found it, ran it along to thebridge, where I almost fell into some person's arms. The fog here wasso thick that I could not see his face, so I inquired his name.
"Walworth," was the reply, "and from your voice you should be Dr. DeNormanville."
"Quite right," I answered. "But what a fog this is, to be sure! Howlong have we been in it?"
"Very nearly three hours," he replied. "It's most unfortunate. By theway, I want to ask a favour of you on her ladyship's account. We aregoing to bury that poor beggar Ebbington in half an hour. Will youconduct the service?"
"Did her ladyship tell you to ask me?"
He answered in the affirmative.
"Then if it is her desire of course I will do so," I replied, "thoughI must own I do not very much look forward to the task."
He thanked me and went below to give the necessary instructions. Iwaited about, and in half an hour the body was brought on deck, neatlysewn up in a hammock, and covered with a plain white ensign by way ofa pall. Though we could hardly see each other, or the bier, we tookour place at the gangway, and I at once began to read the beautifulservice for the burial of the dead at sea. When I arrived at the placewhere it is instructed that the body shall be cast into the deep, Igave a signal, and the stretcher was tilted, so that the hammock andits grim contents slid off it and fell with a sullen splash into thewater alongside. Just as it disappeared a curious thing happened.
The body could hardly have touched the water before the fog waslifted, as though by some giant hand, and the sun shone brilliantlyforth. The transition from the obscurity of semi-darkness to brightsunshine was quite dazzling, and set us all blinking like so manyowls. Then I saw every face turn suddenly in one direction, and asthey did so every mouth went down. Next moment the officer of thewatch had bounded to the engine-room telegraph, there was a confusedringing of bells in the bowels of the ship, and before a minute couldhave elapsed we were under weigh once more.
And what do you think was the reason of all this commotion? Why,there, not half a mile distant from us, full steam up, and ensignstreaming in the breeze, lay an enormous English man-of-war. She wasevidently on our trail, and, by altering her course only half a point,might have run us down in the fog. It was very evident she had onlyjust become aware that she was so close to her prey, or she wouldsurely have sent a boat and attempted to take us prisoner. As it was,this sudden lifting of the fog must have caused them as much surpriseas it did us, for it was a good minute before we heard the shouting oforders and blowing of bo'sun's pipes aboard her. As soon as I hadrecovered from my astonishment, I fetched a glass from the rack andbrought it to bear on her, at the same time convincing myself that wewere in for a warm quarter of an hour.
True to our expectations, before we had been steaming a couple ofminutes there came a puff of smoke from her port bow, and an instantlater a shot flew in front of us and dropped into the water a mile orso on our left side. It was evidently a signal to us to heave towithout any nonsense or further waste of time. But as the boom of thegun died away, Alie made her appearance from the after-companion andcame over to where I stood.
"Good-morning, Dr. De Normanville!" she said, as calmly as if we weregreeting each other in Hyde Park. "You see how anxious your governmentis to have me in its keeping. Mr. Patterson, full steam ahead!"
The chief officer touched his cap, gave the order, and then resumedhis promenade, stopping now and again to examine the man-of-warthrough his glass.
"They're going to fire another gun, and then if we don't attend tothat they will chase us," said Alie, who was also closely scrutinisingher great opponent's movements.
She was correct in her prophecy, for as she finished speaking anotherjet of flame issued from the cruiser's side, followed by a sullenroar. This time the shot passed through our rigging, fortunately,however, without doing any damage, and next moment we could see thatshe was under weigh. It was going to be a stern chase and, if theydidn't hull us before we got out of range, we knew it would be a longone.
Seeing that we did not intend to heave to, as she ordered, ourantagonist sent another shot after us, but this time it fellaltogether wide of the mark. Alie called the third officer to herside.
"Inquire from the engine room what we're doing, Mr. Gammel!" she said.
The officer asked the necessary question, and the answer came back,"Eighteen."
"Tell them to give her every ounce of steam she is capable ofcarrying. We must not allow our friend yonder to get us within rangeagain, or one of those chance shots may hull us."
Then turning to me she continued, as if in explanation, "You see, Dr.De Normanville, I have no desire to fall into their hands yet awhile."
I felt as though I would have given anything to have been allowed tosay something at this juncture, but I remembered my compact with herand wisely held my tongue. If, however, the masculine reader wishes torealise my feelings at all, let him imagine the woman of his heart insuch imminent danger as mine was then; let it be properly brought hometo him that the only thing he can do to save her is to look on andspeculate as to what the result may be, and I fancy he will not enjoyit any more than I did. All my life long shall I retain the memory ofthe quarter of an hour I spent by Alie's side, watching that sinistervessel lumbering after us like a giant in chase of a dwarf. Butfortunately for his safety, our dwarf could run, and to such goodpurpose that by breakfast time we had drawn completely out of range.
During our meal, of which I partook in the officer's mess, for I didnot breakfast with Alie every morning, I noticed a nervous, and, as Ithought, a hopelessly sad look upon the chief officer's face. Could itbe the presence of the man-of-war that occasioned it? I did notquestion him, of course; but when he halted at the foot of the ladder,glanced anxiously at the barometer, and returned to the deck, I askedWalworth if anything were the matter.
"Look at the glass for yourself," he said. "Don't you see that it isdropping in a most alarming fashion? And if you listen for a momentyou will hear how the wind and sea are rising."
And so they were! There could be no mistake about that. I picked up mycap, and followed the chief's example.
What a different scene presented itself when I gained the deck! When Ihad left it to go below to breakfast, the water had been as smooth asa millpond; now it ran a comparatively high sea, and its anger wasmomentarily increasing. The _Lone Star_ was still steaming through itlike a witch, though her pursuer could only just be discerned on thesouthern horizon. From the heavy and confused water all round me Iturned my eyes aloft and examined the sky, across which a quantity ofcurious-shaped clouds were flying, resembling well-combed horses'manes more than anything else to which I could liken them. Even to myinexperienced eyes they did not present a reassuring appearance, andit was evident that the officer of the watch shared my anxiety, for hewas having everything made snug as swiftly as possible.
By ten o'clock the wind had risen to the strength of a more thanmoderate gale, and the sea in proportion. It was most alarming, and Imust confess that, seeing the strength of the wind, I was a littlesurprised when, about the middle of the morning, Alie appeared ondeck. She came aft to wher
e I was standing, and, having looked at thecompass card, gazed round her.
"If I'm not mistaken we're in for a typhoon," she shouted, herglorious hair blowing in tangled profusion across her eyes and abouther face. "Our friend, the cruiser, you see, is out of sight. I expectshe thinks it's useless endeavouring to chase us across such a sea."Then, turning to Walworth, who was standing near, she cried: "Send Mr.Patterson to me."
Though it was not Patterson's watch on deck he was too anxious aboutthe weather and his ship to go below. Immediately on receiving Alie'smessage he came aft, and, having touched his sou'wester, waited forher to speak.
"Mr. Patterson, what is your opinion of the weather?" she shouted inhis ear, for it was impossible to make yourself heard by any ordinarymeans. "Don't you think we had better heave to and endeavour to findout how the centre of the storm bears from us?"
"I was just going to do so," Patterson bellowed, in reply. Then,turning to his subordinate, he gave the necessary instructions in ayell that sounded like a fog horn. The yacht's nose was immediatelypointed dead to the wind, which at that moment was due N. E., therequisite number of points to the right of it were then taken, and thecentre of the approaching hurricane found to be exactly S. S. E. ofour position. At this juncture Walworth, who had been acting underinstructions, returned from the cuddy and reported the barometer hadfallen to 27.45. It might, therefore, be inferred that we were withinthe storm circle, and, for the same reason, it was apparent that oursafety entirely depended upon our being able to avoid the centre ofthe field. Having decided the direction of the storm, and discoveredthat we lay in the due line of its advance,--the most dangerous ofall,--there was nothing for it but to run with the wind on ourstarboard quarter.
Never shall I forget the scene presented as our course was changed.Even now, when I shut my eyes, I can see it as clearly before me as ifI were standing in the very thick of it again. I can see the heavens,black with angry clouds, frowning down on a confused and angry seathat dashed against our hull with terrific and repeated violence. Ican see the waters one moment raising us on high, the next hurling usdeep down into some black and horrible abyss. And all the time I canhear the wind shrieking and yelling through the cordage like thechorus of a million devils.
It was impossible to hear oneself speak, and on the bridge almostimpossible to retain one's balance against the wind's pressure. And,what was worse, the anger of the storm was increasing every moment.
I looked from Alie, who, enveloped in oilskins, was clinging to thestarboard railing, then to the chief officer gazing anxiously aloft,and from both to the men struggling and straining at the wheel. Now,when a great wave, seemingly mountains high, dark as green jade, andtopped with hissing foam, would come tearing towards us, obscuringhalf the horizon, I would shut my eyes and wait for it to engulf us.Then I would feel the noble little vessel meet it, rise on to itscrest, and next moment be sinking again, down, down, down into thetrough. Then once more I would draw breath and open my eyes, just intime to see another rise and meet her forrard, to break with a roarupon the fo'c's'le head, carrying away a dozen feet of bulwark and oneof the boats as if both were built of so much paper.
For nearly five hours the hurricane continued with the same awfulviolence, and all that time I remained on the bridge with Alie, afraidto go below, lest, when the vessel went to pieces, as I infalliblybelieved she must, I should be separated from the woman I loved. Itmay be said that I proved myself a coward. I do not deny it. I willconfess that I was more frightened then than, with the exception ofone occasion to be hereafter narrated, I have ever been in my life.And yet, somehow, I am not without a feeling that, after all, mineshould have been classed as of the magnificent order of courage; for,though my heart had absolutely lost all hope, I spared my companionsany exhibition of my terror, and nerving myself for the occasion,looked Death in the face with an equable countenance, believing everymoment he would snatch me into the hollow of his hand.
Towards the middle of the afternoon the strength of the gale begansomewhat to abate, the sea lost its greater fury, and the barometer ina measure recovered its stability. It seemed incredible that the _LoneStar_ could have come through it so safely, for, with the exception ofone man washed overboard, another who had three of his ribs smashed inby a marauding sea, a portion of the port bulwark and a boat carriedaway, as above described, and another crashed to atoms on the davits,we had experienced no casualties worth mentioning.
By the time darkness fell, the sea was almost its old calm, placidself again, so quickly do these terrible typhoons spring up and dieaway. As soon as we were certain all danger was past, the yacht wasreturned to her course, and we once more proceeded on our way. Whathad become of our pursuer, or how she had weathered the storm, wecould not tell. Up to the time daylight left us nothing was to be seenof her, and we began devoutly to hope we had given her the slip forgood and all.
How wonderful and inscrutable is the mighty deep! Next day the weatherwas as peaceful as ever I had seen it--bright sunshine, gentlebreezes, and a sea as smooth as polished silver. After breakfast, theawning, which on account of the storm had been unshipped the daybefore, was rigged again, and, drawing a deck chair aft, I settledmyself down to read beneath its shade. A few minutes later Alie andher companion joined me. I brought them seats, and then, for the firsttime, I saw the Beautiful White Devil--for I must sometimes call herby her picturesque Chinese cognomen--engaged in needlework. Why Ishould have found anything extraordinary in such a circumstance Icannot say. Possibly it may have been because I had never imaginedthat there could be sufficient leisure in her life for such a homelyoccupation. At any rate, I know that to watch her bent head, with itsglorious wealth of hair; to see those beautiful white fingers,unadorned by jewellry of any sort, twisting and twining among hersilks, and to make out one little foot peeping beneath her snow-whitedress, sent a thrill through me that made me tingle from top to toe.
Suddenly one of the hands engaged upon some work in the fore-rigginguttered a cry in the native. Alie and her companion sprang to theirfeet; and, though I did not understand what had happened I followedtheir example. We ran to the starboard bulwark, but nothing was to beseen there. Not being able to make it out, I asked what had occasionedthe alarm.
"One of the hands reports a boat away to starboard," said Alie.
She turned to one of the younger officers, who was standing near, andordered him aloft to take the boat's bearing. As soon as this wasdiscovered the yacht was put over on a tack that would bring us closeup with it, and after that there was nothing for it but to waitpatiently for the result.
For some time we could not see anything; then a small black speck madeits appearance about two points off our starboard bow and graduallygrew plainer.
"Keep her as she goes," said Alie to the man at the wheel, while westrained our eyes towards the tiny dot.
Little by little it became more distinct until we were sufficientlynear to make out with a glass that it was a man-of-war's gig pulled bytwo men and containing three others. Ten minutes later the yacht washove to, and Patterson clambered on to the rail of the bulwarks.
"Are you strong enough to bring her alongside, do you think?" hebellowed, "or shall we send a boat to tow you?"
The man steering, who was evidently an officer, funnelled his mouthwith his hands and shouted back that they thought they could manageit. Then, as if to prove his words, the men who had been rowing, buthad now stopped, resumed their monotonous labour. Bit by bit the tinycraft crept over the oily surface towards us until she was closeenough for us to see with our naked eyes all that she contained.
As she came alongside, our gangway was lowered, and within an hourfrom the time of our first sighting her the boat's crew stood upon ourdeck. In spite of their man-of-war dress, a more miserable, woe-begoneappearance could not have been imagined than the party presented. Itconsisted of one lieutenant, a midshipman, and three able seamen, andout of curiosity I glanced at the cap of the man standing nearest me.It bore the name H. M. S. _Asia
tic_. Then I looked round for Alie,only to discover that she had mysteriously disappeared. It was leftfor Patterson to welcome the poor fellows to the yacht, and this heaccordingly did, with a hearty kindness that I should hardly haveexpected from him.
"Before you tell me anything about yourselves," he said, "let mearrange for the comfort of your men." Then calling a hand to him, hecontinued, pointing to the three Jacks who stood sheepishly by, "Takethese men forrard and tell the cook to give them all they want. Youcan supply them with hammocks among you and find room somewhere forthem to sling them." Then, turning to the officers again, he said,"Will you be so good as to follow me, gentlemen?" and led the way downthe companion to the cuddy. Thinking my professional services mightpossibly be required I followed with Walworth.
On reaching the cabin they were conducted to seats, and food wasimmediately set before them. They fell upon it like starving men, andfor some time only the sound of steady munching and the clatter ofknives and forks was to be heard. When they had finished, themidshipman, without warning, burst into a flood of tears, and was ledby Walworth to a cabin near by, where, when his torrent had wornitself out, the poor little chap fell fast asleep.
"Now," said Patterson, as soon as the lieutenant had finished hismeal, "perhaps you will tell me your story?"
"It won't take long to do that," the officer began. "I am the firstlieutenant of Her Majesty's cruiser _Asiatic_. We were sent out fromSingapore last Saturday in pursuit of this very yacht, if I mistakenot. As you know, we almost picked you up in the fog, but when itlifted, your superior steaming power enabled you to escape us. Thenthe typhoon caught us, and in looking after ourselves, we lost sightof you altogether. We rode out the storm safely enough, but, just atsun-time yesterday, she struck an uncharted rock and went down withinfive minutes."
He stopped for a moment and covered his face with his hands.
"This is terrible news!" cried Patterson, while we all gave utteranceto expressions of horrified astonishment. "And was yours the only boatthat got away?"
"I'm very much afraid so," he replied. "At least I saw no other. Yes,you are right, it is terrible, and Her Majesty has lost a fine vesseland a splendid ship's company in the _Asiatic_."
When the poor fellow had finished his story he was silent for someminutes. Indeed, so were we all. It seemed almost incredible that thegreat vessel we had admired, and feared, only the day before, shouldnow be lying, with the majority of her crew, deep down at the bottomof the ocean.
"We are fortunate in having been able to pick you up," said Patterson,after a while. "An hour later and we should have changed our course,and have been many miles away."
"In that case we should have been dead men by nightfall," was thereply. "As it was, we lost one man."
"How did it happen?"
"The poor devil went mad, and jumped overboard. Remember, we had nowater and nothing to eat, and so you may imagine it was heartbreakingwork pulling in that baking sun. The miracle to me is that the boystood it as well as he did."
"Poor little chap! It must have been a terrible experience for him."
"And what do you intend doing with us?" asked the officer, after alittle pause. "For, of course, we're your prisoners."
"That I cannot say," Patterson answered. "It does not lie within myprovince. However, you'll hear soon enough--never fear. By the way, Isuppose you will give me your word that you will not attempt to playus any tricks. You must remember, please, that to all intents andpurposes we are at war!"
"I will give you my word. Is that enough?"
"Quite enough. And now that you have done so I make you free of ourward-room and its contents."
All the time Patterson had been speaking I had noticed that thelieutenant, whose name, it transpired later, was Thorden, had beenstaring at his face as if trying to recall some countenance itreminded him of. Just as we were preparing to go on deck again hismemory seemed to come back to him.
"I hope you will excuse what I am going to say, and stop me if I amrecalling any unpleasant memories," he blurted out; "but ever since Icame aboard I've been wondering where we have met before. Aren't youGregory, who was commander of the gunboat _Parcifal_ in the Egyptianbusiness of 1879?"
Patterson fell back against the wall as if he had been shot. For amoment his face was as white as the paper I am now writing upon, then,with a great effort, he pulled himself together, and answered:
"I have quite forgotten that I had any existence at all in 1879. May Ibeg that you will not recall the fact to my memory?" Then, as if tochange the subject, he continued, "I expect you would like to restafter all your troubles; pray let me conduct you to a cabin."
"Many thanks," said Thorden; and with that they went along thealleyway together, and I returned to the deck to think out what I hadheard. It was, of course, no business of mine; but I was interested inPatterson, and could not help speculating as to what the reason couldhave been that had induced him to abandon a career in which, even somany years ago, he seemed to have attained such exalted rank.
During the afternoon I received an invitation from Alie to dine withher that evening. She stated in the little note she sent me that shehad also asked the rescued lieutenant and his midshipman, and Igathered from this that something out of the common was toward.
About an hour before dusk, as I was reading in the officers'mess-room, the lieutenant came out of his cabin and sat down at thetable beside me. He looked round to see that we were alone, and thensaid in a confidential whisper:
"Your position on board this boat, Dr. De Normanville, has alreadybeen explained to me. I'm sure I sympathise with you; but, for ratherselfish motives, I am glad you are not in league with thisextraordinary woman. I have received an invitation to dine in hercabin this evening, and I want you, if you will, to tell me somethingabout her. Do you know enough to satisfy my curiosity?"
"I'll tell you all I can," I answered frankly. "What is it you want toknow?"
"Well, first and foremost," he continued, with a laugh, "since I'vereceived this invitation, what sort of meal is she likely to give us?"
"A very fair one, I should fancy," I replied. "At least, I hope so, asI am invited to be one of the party."
"You are? Well, I am glad of that. And now another question. What isshe like? Of course, one has heard all sorts of reports about herbeauty and accomplishments, but when one has travelled about the worldone soon learns to believe rather less than half of what one hears."
"Ah, yes; it's as well not to be too sanguine, isn't it?" I answered,resolved, if possible, to mislead him, "especially with regard towomen. Now, I've no doubt you expect the Beautiful White Devil to bereally young and beautiful?"
"And is she not? Well, well! There goes another illusion. Before Icame out here I had my own idea of the East--it was to be all stateelephants and diamond-studded howdahs, jewelled Rajahs, mysteriouspagodas with tingling golden bells and rustling palm trees, lovelyhouris and Arabian Nights' adventures. But it isn't like that by along chalk. And so the Beautiful White Devil goes with the rest, doesshe? But don't tell me that she's old, and, above all, don't tell meshe's fat."
"I won't tell you anything about her," I answered, with a laugh; "youmust wait and judge for yourself. One caution, however, before you seeher: beware how you behave towards her, and if I might venture a hint,make a good toilet. She's very particular, and it's well to humourher. My things are at your disposal, of course."
He thanked me, and I saw no more of him or the midshipman until a fewminutes before dinner time, when I met them on deck and accompaniedthem to Alie's saloon. Having descended the companion-ladder I drewback the curtain for them to enter. Prepared as I was to see him showastonishment, I had no idea the lieutenant would be filled with suchamazement as he betrayed when we entered the beautiful cabin I havebefore described. As good luck had it Alie was not present, and so wewere able to look about us undisturbed.
"Why didn't you prepare me for this?" whispered my companion, after hehad glanced round the cabin. "I never
saw anything like it before, andI've been aboard scores of yachts in my time."
"There is but one Beautiful White Devil," I said, with serio-comicearnestness.
"Curios, china, skins, divans, musical instruments, a grand pianoeven, and, by Jove, inlaid with tortoiseshell and lapis lazuli! It'swonderful, it's superb! And now I want to see the woman who owns itall."
"Steady," I whispered; "if I mistake not, here she comes."
As I spoke, the curtains at the other end of the cabin were parted bya tiny hand, and Alie, dressed entirely in black, stood before us. Thecolour of her costume showed off the superb beauty of her complexionand hair, while its making exhibited her matchless figure toperfection. She stood for a moment in the doorway, and then advancedtowards us with that wonderful floating grace which alwayscharacterized her, giving me her little hand first, and then turningtowards her other guests.
To the lieutenant she bowed and said with a smile:
"Sir, you must forgive my not having personally welcomed you to myboat. But, for reasons which would not interest you, I am not alwaysable to do as much as I could wish. However, I hope my officers havetaken every care of you."
She shook hands with the handsome little midshipman as she spoke, andwhile she was doing so I had time to steal a look at the firstlieutenant's face. The astonishment I saw depicted there almost causedme to laugh. He had been amazed at the beauty of the cabin; but thatwas nothing compared with the admiration he betrayed for the BeautifulWhite Devil herself. He murmured a confused, but not altogetherinappropriate reply to her last speech, and then we sat down todinner. Her companion, I learnt on inquiry, was suffering from asevere headache, and had elected to dine in her own cabin.
The dinner was in the chef's best style, and its cooking, serving, andvariety, combined with the beauty and value of the table decorations,evidently completed the effect upon the officer that the cabin hadbegun. Alie herself was in excellent spirits, and talked with the witand cleverness of a woman who has perfected an originally liberaleducation by continual and varied study of the world and itsinhabitants. By the time the meal was ended and we had bade hergood-night, the lieutenant was in a maze of enchantment.
We went on deck together, and once there, out of earshot of thecabin, his enthusiasm broke loose. I will spare you, however, arecital of all the extravagant things he said. Let it suffice that Igathered enough to feel sure that when he got back to Hong Kong hewould add to, rather than detract from, the number of stories alreadyin circulation about the too famous Beautiful White Devil. Onepromise, however, I took care to extract from both officers, and thatwas, not to mention my name in connection with the yacht on theirreturn to civilisation. I made the excuse that if such a thing gotknown it might do me serious harm in the practice of my profession,and both men readily gave me their words that they would not breathe asyllable on the subject.
Their stay with us, however, was not to be of as long duration as wehad expected, for early next morning we sighted a small brigantine,who, on being hailed, stated that she was bound for Hong Kong.Passages for the officers and their men were soon arranged, and,within an hour of picking her up she had sent a boat, we had bade ournaval visitors good-bye, and were standing on our fictitious courseagain. As soon, however, as they were out of sight the helm was put upand we were making a bee line back to the settlement.
That evening as I was pacing the deck, smoking my cigar and wonderingwhen the time would come for me to say farewell, I heard a lightfootstep behind me, and next moment Alie came to my side. We paced thedeck for a little while, talking commonplaces about the beauty of thenight, the speed of her vessel, and the visit of the man-of-war's men;then she drew me to the stern, and said:
"Do you remember your first night on board this boat, when wediscussed the sea and the poets who have written of her?"
"It was the night of the first day I ever saw you," I answered. "Is itlikely I should have forgotten it?"
"Some men forget very easily," she answered, looking down at thesparkling water. "But I'll do you the justice to say I don't think youare one of that kind."
"And you are right; I am sure I am not. I think if I were lying deadin my grave, my brain would still remember you."
She looked roguishly up into my face, and said:
"That is rather a big assertion for a medical man to make, is it not?"
"Bother medicine," I cried impatiently. "It reminds me of the outerworld. And by the same token, Alie, I want to ask you somethingunpleasant again."
"And that is?"
"When I am to say good-bye to you?"
"To-morrow," she answered. "To-morrow night, all being well, we shallpick up a trading schooner off a certain island. Her owner is under anobligation to me, and will take you on board and convey you toThursday Island. Thence you can travel home via Australia and theCanal or Honolulu and America, as you please."
I had expected that the parting was not far distant, but I did notthink it would prove as close as this. I told Alie as much.
"It is the only opportunity that may serve," she answered. "And I mustnot keep you with me too long for your own sake."
Under cover of the darkness I managed to find and take her hand.
"It is only for a year, Alie. You understand that, don't you? At theend of a year you are to be my wife?"
"If you still wish it, yes," she answered, but so softly that I had tostrain my ears to catch it. Then with a whispered good-night sheslipped from me and went below.
At sundown next evening, surely enough, a small topsail schooner hovein sight from behind an island, and, seeing us, ran up a signal. Itwas returned from our gaff, and as soon as I read it I knew that myfate was sealed. Leaving Walworth to see my luggage brought up on deckI went down Alie's companion ladder to bid her farewell. She wasseated on the couch at the further end, reading.
"The schooner has just put in an appearance and answered our signals,"I began, hardly able to trust my voice to speak. "I have come to saygood-bye. For both our sakes we must not let this interview be a longone. Alie, will you tell me for the last time exactly when I am to seeyou again, and where?"
"On the first day of May next year, all being well, I will be at anaddress in London, of which I will take care to acquaint youbeforehand."
"But since you last spoke of that I have been thinking it over. Alie,you must not come to England, the risk would be too great."
"There will be no risk at all, and I shall take every precaution toensure my own safety. You may rest assured of that," she answered."But before you go I have a little keepsake for you, something thatmay serve to remind you of the Beautiful White Devil and the days youhave spent with her, when you are far away."
As she spoke she took from the table, beside which she was nowstanding, a large gold locket. Opening it she let me see that itcontained an excellent portrait of herself.
"Oh, Alie," I cried, "how can I thank you? You have given me the onething of all others that I desired. Now, in my turn, I have a presentfor you. This ring" (here I drew a ring from my finger) "was my poordead mother's last gift to me, and I want you to wear it."
I placed it on her finger, and having done so, took her in my arms andkissed her on the lips. This time she offered no resistance.
Then we said good-bye, and I went up on deck. An hour later the _LoneStar_ had faded away into the night, and I was aboard the _PearlQueen_ bound for Thursday Island and the Port of London.
When I came to think of it I could hardly believe that it was nearlyfour months since Walworth had found me out in the Occidental Hotel,Hong Kong, and induced me to become the servant and at the same timethe lover of the Beautiful White Devil.