One Maid's Mischief Part 72

"Listen to me," cried the Princess, "while I remind you that I am a poor oppressed woman. I have been trampled upon by my enemies, because I am a woman. I am constantly plundered; my people are cruelly treated; and soon I shall be a princess no longer, for my people will say that I am no mother and protector to them, and they will leave me."

"And pray, madam, what is this to me?" said Hilton, coldly. "Do you forget that I have heard all this before?"

"What is it to you?" said the Inche Maida, drawing herself up, and speaking fiercely now. "Did I not tell you that I loved you? From the first day I saw you I loved you, and said you should be my lord."

"'Pon my honour, Chumbley," cried Hilton, "this is too ridiculous!" and he looked his indignation. "Why, what a handsome fellow I must be. Are we going back into the regions of romance?"

"Mind what you are saying," said Chumbley, quietly, as he saw a fierce look of anger in the Inche Maida's eyes, lit by the mocking, contemptuous manner in which Hilton listened to her words.

"Mind what I am saying? I have no patience," he cried. "Pray," he continued, turning to the Princess with a sneering laugh, "does your ladyship intend to marry me now you have carried me off?" The Princess did not speak. "By Jupiter! Chumbley," cried Hilton, bursting into a forced laugh, "it must be leap-year. I had forgotten it, and the ladies are having it all their own way. May I ask again," he cried, "does your ladyship intend to marry me?"

"Yes," she replied, quietly, and in a slow decided way, "I do. Why do you mock at me? Is it such a hard fate to be my husband--my prince-- when I say to you--see how I and my people suffer? You are a warrior--a captain--who can fight, and lead, and train men to defend themselves, a few against crowds. Here is my home--here are my lands; take all--take me and my people. Be rajah, and rule over us all. You shall have my wealth, and the rich things my people will bring you; but train them to fight so that they can protect our lands and make our enemies hold us in respect and fear. They will shrink away then like the cowards they are, as soon as they know that it is a prince who rules, and no longer a weak woman."

"Why don't you join me in laughing at all this, Chum, old fellow?" cried Hilton, who seemed bitter and soured by the treatment he had received from Helen.

"I don't see anything to laugh at," said Chumbley, st.u.r.dily, as he watched his companions intently.

"No; why does he laugh?" cried the Inche Maida, whose fierce dark eyes now grew soft with tears.

"I laugh," cried Hilton, angrily, "because your proposals are absurd.

There must be an end to all this. Let me and my friend go away at once."

"And my people--what of them--what of mine enemies?" said the Inche Maida, almost imploringly.

"You appealed to our Government, madam, and they regretted that they could not interfere," said Hilton. "I am honoured by your proposals, but I must say the same."

"I do not understand quite everything you say," she replied; "but do not mock me. I can bear everything but that. Think of what I have said, and forgive me if I have been too rough with you, for remember, if I had said 'come to me,'--you would not have come."

"No," said Hilton, smiling, "I should not."

"You see you drove me to do this thing," said the Princess, eagerly, "and it has made your wrath hot against me; but I ask you to pardon me, my lord. See, I kneel to you for forgiveness. Can I be more humble?"

"Will you be good enough to rise, madam," said Hilton, who was beginning to regret his former mocking way, now he saw the Inche Maida's earnestness and trust in him; and he raised her by her hands, which clung to his entreatingly.

"Shall I retire somewhere else?" said Chumbley, in a manner that might have been taken for either serious or mocking.

"For Heaven's sake, no, man!" cried Hilton; "stay where you are. Madam, will you be good enough to take a seat! There, that is better," he said, seating himself near her, as, in obedience to his request, she sank upon the cushions.

"I will do whatever you wish," she said, humbly.

"Then please remember, madam," continued Hilton, "that you are almost an English lady, and surely you know enough of our ways to realise that you have been guilty of a most foolish act."

"I was driven to act as I did," she said, softly. "You know how I implored for help."

"Yes, I know that," said Hilton, speaking now in a tone of gentlemanly consideration for one whom he looked upon as weak and ignorant. "I am sorry you were not a.s.sisted; but now that you have had time to realise our positions, I must tell you that what you propose is impossible."

The Princess, who had been seated in a humble, supplicating att.i.tude, no sooner heard this last word than she sprang to her feet.

"It is not impossible!" she cried fiercely; and her eyes flashed with anger as she drew herself up to her full height.

"I am compelled to contradict you, madam," said Hilton, also rising; "and to tell you that, even were I disposed to accept your strange offer, I could not, for I am an officer in the service of her Majesty the Queen, and I could not leave my duties, even at your command."

"But you would have more and greater duties here," cried the Princess.

"Your people wish to improve ours. Come, then, and be chief and rajah over my children."

"I tell you, madam, it is impossible," said Hilton, coldly.

"I say it is not impossible," she retorted, proudly. "Did not a brave Englishman become a rajah in Borneo, where they are people similar to ours? and is not the name of Rajah Brooke, of Sarawak, held in veneration to this day?"

Hilton uttered an impatient e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, and glanced at Chumbley for help; but that gentleman was balancing himself upon his toes and gazing at the Princess.

"I was angry a minute since," she said, smiling a very sweet smile, and she looked a very Cleopatra of the jungle. "You will not say no," she continued, appealing to her prisoner. "I am a Princess, and once more I say boldly, what none of my people dare confess for very shame, I love you, Captain Hilton, and once again I ask you to make me your wife.

Listen; you do not know how great and happy your life shall be, for your wishes shall be all obeyed, and--"

"Pray listen to me, madam!" cried Hilton, sternly, "you must know that this cannot be. But let us part friends, and no punishment shall follow this foolish escapade. So at once pray order your people to prepare a boat, that I and my friend may go."

He turned now to Chumbley, who had thrust his hands down as far as possible into his pockets, and stood looking very stern and cold, but evidently pondering deeply upon all that had been said.

The Princess clenched her hands, and stood there with flashing eyes, gazing from one to the other, and for some moments it seemed as if she could not speak.

"No," she cried at last, in a short, angry voice, "no boat shall take you back!"

"Then we must go back without," said Hilton, firmly. "Now, Chumbley, this folly has gone too far. Come quickly, and use force if we are driven to it by this foolish woman's acts!"

As he spoke he moved towards the door, and laying his hand upon the latch, he threw it open so that it struck loudly against the bamboo wall.

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

"OUR POSITION IS ABSURD."

As the door flew open, Hilton found himself confronted by a dozen spearmen; and he would have still advanced had not Chumbley held him back.

"You forgot that you were a prisoner," said the Princess, quietly, but with a triumphant look in her eyes. "There are fifty more brave men beyond those, and they would kill you at a word from me."

"And that word you would not speak," said Hilton, smiling in her face.

"Why not?" she cried defiantly.

"For several reasons," he said, quietly. "First, because I am an officer of the Queen of England, madam."

"I am queen here," she retorted. "What is your queen to me?"

"Another reason is--that you would not have me killed," he said, lightly; and he evaded Chumbley's touch and stepped through the door; but six razor-keen spear-points were presented so suddenly at his breast, that, brave as he was, Hilton involuntarily started back, and to his great annoyance the Princess smiled mockingly in turn.

Captain Hilton was a soldier, and ready to risk his life when need should be; but he felt that there were limits even to the valour a man should show, and this was evidently a time to make a movement towards the rear.