Blow The Man Down Part 59

"You needn't worry, young man. That n.i.g.g.e.r isn't here."

"But he said he was a white man. And how does he come to be interested?"

"It's a n.i.g.g.e.r gone crazy about that case--he has probably been reading fake stories in the papers, too," stated Captain Downs, grimly. "I must remind you again, Bradish, that you were talking to me in pretty lively style."

"Oh, a man lets out a lot of guesswork when he is nervous about his own business."

"Well, I might fix it so that you'd be a little less nervous, providing you'll show a more willing disposition when I ask you a few questions,"

probed the skipper. But this insistence alarmed Bradish and his blinking eyes revealed his fears and suspicions.

"I don't know anything about the _Montana_ case. I don't intend to do any talking about it."

Captain Downs tapped harder on the table, scowled, and was silent.

"Anything else, sir?" inquired Bradish, after a pause.

"Guess not, if that's the way you feel about it!" snapped Captain Downs.

Bradish went back into the main saloon, and the eavesdropper ventured forth.

"I don't know just what the d.i.c.kens to do about you, now that I know who you are," confessed the master, looking Mayo up and down.

"There isn't anything to do except let me go back to my work, sir."

"I'm in a devil of a position. You're a captain."

"I shipped on board here before the mast, Captain Downs, and knew exactly what I was doing. I'll take my medicine."

"I don't like to have you go for'ard there among those cattle, Mayo."

"Captain Downs, it was wrong for me to make the break I did on your quarter-deck. I ought to have kept still; but the thing came to me so sudden that I went all to pieces. I'd like to step back into the crew and have you forget that I'm Boyd Mayo. I'll sneak ash.o.r.e in Boston and lose myself."

The captain tipped up his cap and scratched the side of his head. "Seems as if I remember you being at the wheel, Mayo, when that fellow was unloading some pretty important information on to me."

"I couldn't help hearing, sir."

"So you know he's eloping with a girl?" The old skipper lowered his voice.

"Yes, sir."

"Did you ever hear of such a cussed, infernal performance? And I have talked with the girl, and she really doesn't seem to be that sort at all. She's flighty, you can see that. She has been left to run loose too much, like a lot of girls in society are running loose nowadays. They think of a thing that's different, and, biff! they go do it. She is wishing she hadn't done this. That shows some sense." He studied the young man. "Do you know anything about this right a captain has to perform marriage ceremonies?"

"Nothing special."

"It will probably be a good thing for that girl to be married and settled down. She seems to have picked out Bradish. Mayo, you're one of my kind, and I want to help you. I'll take a chance on my right to perform the ceremony. What say if we get Bradish back in here and swap a marriage for what he can tell us about the _Montana_ business?"

"Captain Downs, a fellow who will put up a job of this kind on a girl, no matter if she has encouraged him, is a cheap pup," declared Mayo, promptly and firmly. "I don't want to buy back my papers in any such fashion."

"Then you don't approve of my marrying them?"

"I haven't any right to tell you what you shall do, sir. I'm talking merely for myself."

Captain Downs pondered. "If he's her father's right-hand man, he's probably just as good as most of the land pirates who have been courting her. If she goes home married, even if it is only marriage on the high seas, contract between willing persons with witnesses and the master of the vessel officiating, as I believe it's allowed, she'll have her good name protected, and that means a lot. I don't know as I have any right to stand out and block their way, seeing how far it has gone. What do you think, Mayo?"

"I don't believe I want to make any suggestions, sir."

At that moment the door aft opened. Mayo was near the door of the mate's stateroom in the shadows, and he dodged back into his retreat. He heard Bradish's voice.

"Captain Downs, this young lady has something to say to you and I hope you'll listen!"

Then the girl's voice! It was impetuous outburst. She hurried her words as if she feared to wait for second and saner reflection.

"Captain Downs, I cannot wait any longer. You must act. I beg of you. I have made up my mind. I am ready!"

"Ready to get married, you mean?"

"Yes! Now that my mind is made up, please hurry!"

Her tone was high-pitched, tears were close behind her desperation, her words rushed almost incoherently. But Mayo, staring sightlessly in the black darkness of the little stateroom, his hearing keen, knew that voice. He could not restrain himself. He pulled the door wide open.

The girl was Alma Marston.

Her eyes were bright, her cheeks were flushed, and it was plain that her impulsive nature was flaming with determination. The shadows were deep in the corners of the saloon, and the man in the stateroom door was not noticed by the three who stood there in the patch of light cast by the swinging lamp.

"I ask you--I beg you--I have made up my mind! I must have it over with."

"Don't have hysterics! This is no thing to be rushed."

"You must."

"You're talking to a captain aboard his own vessel, ma'am!"

From Mayo's choking throat came some sort of sound and the girl glanced in his direction, but it was a hasty and indifferent gaze. Her own affairs were engrossing her. He reeled back into the little room, and the swing of the schooner shut the door.

"You are captain! You have the power! That's why I am talking to you, sir!"

"But when you talked with me a little while ago you were crawfishing!"

was Captain Downs's blunt objection.

"I am sorry I have been so imprudent. I ought not to be here. I have said so. I do too many things on impulse. Now I want to be married!"

"More impulse, eh?"

"I must be able to face my father."

There was silence in the saloon.

Mayo shoved trembling fingers into his mouth and bit upon them to keep back what his horrified reason warned him would be a scream of protest.