Commodore Junk Part 67

"Well, he's shut up."

"He escaped the same time that you did."

"Eshcaped! Holy Moses!"

"That wretch free!" cried Humphrey.

"Yes, sir."

"Where is he?"

"No one knows, sir; but they have parties out searching for him and for you."

"Oh! murther! murther!" groaned Dinny. "My heart's bruk entirely.

What'll I do at all? Shtop, darlin'; ye must come here."

"Stop here, Dinny! Oh, no, I couldn't!" said the woman, piteously.

"Sure no, and ye couldn't," said Dinny. "It wouldn't be dacent, darlin', for ye've got a characther to lose. Captain, dear, what'll I do?"

"We must wait, Dinny, and try to-night if we cannot find a boat."

"And lave that poor darlin' to be freckened to death by that great black baste? Oh, captain, dear, I'll have to go wid her and purtect her; and if I'm hung for it, why, I can't help it. I should have behaved like a man."

"Wait, Dinny," said the woman, cheerily. "You keep in hiding for a day or two, dear. If Black Mazzard does come and try to get me away, I can but die."

"Sure, an' what good'll that do me?" cried Dinny. "D'ye want to make me a widow, too!"

"Hush! You're talking too loudly," whispered the woman. "Good-bye!

Next time I come I'll bring food. Perhaps good news."

"No, no; don't go yet, darlin'," cried Dinny. "She's gone. Oh, murther, sor! What'll I do! Can't ye put me out of me misery at wanst?"

Dinny calmed down at last, and Humphrey resumed his place upon the couch, which was arranged so that at any moment they might secure their retreat. But the night had not pa.s.sed before the faithful little woman was back again with such provisions as she could bring and lower down to them, for she would not hear of Dinny coming out, threatening to keep away if he ran any risk.

This went on for two nights, during which time they had no alarm. Not a soul beside approached the place; and the same report was brought them that their hiding-place baffled all, but the captain was fiercely determined that the prisoners should be found.

"Then why not try to escape inland, Dinny!" said Humphrey, at last.

"Surely, it cannot be impossible."

"Haven't we all thried it again and again wid the captain, sor!" said Dinny, in remonstrance. "He sot us all to work, so as to make sure that we couldn't be attacked from the land; and ye can't get in a mile annywhere, for thick forest worked together like a powerful big hurdle that's all solid, and beyant that's mountains--and burning mountains-- and the divil knows what! Sure, and ye can't get that way at all widout an army of wood-cutters, and a life a hundred years long!"

A week went by, food was wanting, the prisoners were in despair, and they had both crept out again and again to the end of the corridor and listened to try and make out something; but all outside was solemnly still, and the place might have been once more the abode of death, had not a couple of sentries always been visible keeping watch, so that it was impossible to stir.

"I can't shtand this anny longer, sor," said Dinny one evening. "I'm going to see if I can't find her, sor. I must have news of the darlin', or I shall die!"

"It's madness, Dinny!" said Humphrey, excitedly.

"Sure, and I know it is, sor. I am mad."

"But you will injure her and yourself too."

"I can't help it, sor. I've a faling upon me that Black Mazzard has got her again, and I'm going to fetch her away."

"You are going to your death; and it will be through me, man!"

"Make your moind aisy, sor, about that. It would be all the same if ye were not here. Sure, and I'd be a poor sort of a boy if I towld a woman I loved her, and thin, when the darlin' was in difficulties, jist sat down quietly here, and left her in the lurch."

"She would not have you stir, Dinny, if she knew."

"What of that, sor! Let 'em hang me if they catch me; and if they do, sor, Oi'll doie like a Kelly. And not a word will I shpake of where ye are; and I wish ye safe away to your swateheart--for ye've got wan, I'm thinking, or ye wouldn't be so aiger to get away."

"Well, promise me this, Dinny--you'll wait a few hours and see if we have news."

"Faix, and for your sake, sor, I'll do that same," said Dinny.

He went to the window-opening and leaned there, listening; while Humphrey seated himself upon the edge of the couch to watch the opening above his head, in the expectancy that Mistress Greenheys might arrive and put an end to the terrible suspense as to her silence.

The still, sultry heat was terrible, not a leaf moved outside, and the darkness came on more obscure than usual; for as Humphrey looked out of the window from time to time, to gaze along the forest arcade, there was not a firefly visible, and the heavy, oppressive state of the air seamed to announce a coming storm.

Dinny's figure had long been invisible, but he made his presence known by crooning over s.n.a.t.c.hes of the most depressing minor-keyed Irish melody he could recall; but after a time that ceased, and the silence grew heavy as the heat.

"How long have I been asleep?" he muttered, starting up and listening.

"Dinny!"

No answer.

"Dinny! Hist! Are you asleep?"

He dare call no louder, but rose from the couch.

"Dennis Kelly, the traitor, has gone, Humphrey Armstrong!" cried a hoa.r.s.e voice, and he felt himself driven back into the great tomb-like place.

"Commodore Junk!" cried Humphrey in his surprise.

"Yes, Commodore Junk. Hah! I have you. My prisoner once again."

"Your prisoner! No, not if I die for it!" cried Humphrey, pa.s.sionately; and he struggled to free himself from the tightening grasp.

"I tell you it is madness. You have proved it yourself, and, weary with your folly, you have returned."

"Returned!" cried Humphrey, fiercely; "yes, but only to be free."

The captain tried to utter some angry appeal, but a fierce struggle had commenced, and the great stony place seemed to be full of whispers, of hoa.r.s.e sighs, the catching of breath, harsh expirations as the contending pair swayed here and there--the captain, lithe and active as a panther, baffling again and again Humphrey's superior weight and strength. Twice over the latter tripped and nearly fell, but he recovered himself and struggled on, seeking to wind his arms round the buccaneer and lift and throw him with a west country wrestling trick.

But try how he would, his adversary seemed to twist like an eel and recover himself, till suddenly, as they swayed here and there, with the thick rugs kicked on one side, there was a low, jangling noise as a sword escaped from its scabbard and fell upon the stony floor.

It was a trifling incident, but it attracted the buccaneer's attention for a moment--just long enough to put him off his guard--the result being that he was thrown heavily, Humphrey planting his knee upon his breast, and as he thrust out a hand it encountered the fallen sword, which he s.n.a.t.c.hed up with a shout of triumph, shortened in his hand, and held to the buccaneer's throat.