The Knight of Malta Part 65

CHAPTER XL. THE CHALLENGE

The commander sent for the chaplain of the black galley to descend into his chamber. While Pierre des Anbiez confessed his sins,--with the exception of the murder reserved for the great act of penitence of the order,--and received absolution, the Bohemian went up on deck. The first person whom he met there was the captain of the _Holy Terror to the Moors, by the Grace of G.o.d_.

Hadji, affecting an easy and impertinent familiarity, approached Luquin Trinquetaille and said to him: "Who would have believed, my boy, that we would see each other again here, when that pretty girl enraged you so much by giving me flame-coloured ribbons at Maison-Forte?"

This excess of impudence rendered the worthy captain speechless a moment, then, putting his hand on his sword, he was about to attack Hadji, when the overseer reminded him that the Bohemian was under his protection by order of the commander.

"There is another place where we will meet, you villain," said Luquin, "and that will be under the gallows where you will be hanged; for, zounds! although the office of executioner is repugnant to me, I would sell my polacre even to have the right to put the rope around your neck."

"Ingrate, you do not think of the grief you would bring upon Stephanette; the poor girl loves me so much that she would die of sorrow to see me hanged, and especially by you."

"You lie, you lie like a dog. Oh, that I could tear your cursed tongue out by the roots!"

"You would be right, my boy, to tear out my tongue, for it was my honeyed words which opened the way to this pretty girl's heart A little while ago, on board my chebec where she was with me, she said, as she leaned her head on my shoulder--"

"You lie, you blaspheme!" cried Luquin, in fury.

"She said, as she leaned her head on my shoulder," continued the Bohemian, with imperturbable coolness, "'What a difference, my handsome captain, between your gallant and charming language, and the tiresome twittering of that long-legged heron that flutters around me so clumsily.' That is the way she spoke of you, my poor boy."

"Here, overseer," exclaimed Luquin, pale with rage, "permit me to cut this villain's face with a few blows of my sabre scabbard."

"If his words wound you, do not listen to them," answered the overseer. "The commander entrusted this pagan to me, and I cannot permit any one to do him harm."

Luquin uttered a groan of concentrated wrath.

"After all," continued the Bohemian, with a disdain-ful self-conceit, "that girl is rather good-looking, but you have made her so silly, my boy, that the conversation I had with her yesterday was enough to take away any desire to continue the interview. You can marry her when you please, my boy, only when you see her look sad, you need only mention my name to make her smile tenderly, since the memory of me will live in her heart eternally. Poor girl, she told me so yesterday as she kissed my hand as if I had been a lord."

The indignant Luquin could hear no more. Shaking his fists at the Bohemian, he turned away abruptly, followed by the derisive laugh of the vagabond.

As we have said, the sun was just sinking and the sea was calm. In the distance, between two points of the rocks at the depth of the bay, could be seen the _Red Galleon_ and the galley of Trimalcyon anch.o.r.ed near each other, while not far from them lay the chebec of Hadji.

The boat which had brought Hadji balanced on the waves, fastened to the stem of the black galley. The sky was clear, with the exception of a belt of reddish gray clouds around the setting sun.

Captain Hugues, the artilleryman, approached the overseer who guarded the Bohemian, and said to him, as he shook his head and pointed to the west:

"Brother, I do not like those clouds which are gathering down there, they are threatening, we are in a dead calm. If the sun, as it sets, scatters these clouds, the night will be beautiful; if, on the contrary, the cloud covers the sun before it sets--"

"I understand you, Brother Hugues, we will have a shift of the wind, a hurricane, and the night will be bad," replied the overseer.

"Fortunately, we have time yet." And, turning to Hadji, he said, "Little it matters to you or to yours to be hanged in a storm or a calm."

"I prefer to be hanged in a storm, overseer; the wind rocks you like a cradle, and you fall asleep sooner in eternity," replied Hadji, with a disdainful indifference.

The commander appeared on deck. The a.s.sembled chevaliers separated and respectfully made way for him. Pierre des Anbiez was dressed entirely in black. His face seemed paler and more sad than usual. At his side he wore a heavy iron sword, and a long dagger in its bronze scabbard; on his right hand he wore a glove of black buffalo skin, his left hand was naked. He made a sign to the Bohemian and threw down before him his left gauntlet. Hadji picked it up and was about to speak, when the commander, with an imperious gesture, showed him the boat which had brought him to the galley. Hadji descended and embarked, and was soon on his way to the vessels of the pirates.

Astonished at the commander's action, the chevaliers and Honorat de Berrol, who was among them, looked at each other in surprise. The commander followed the Bohemian's departing boat with his eyes, then, turning to the group around him, said, in a loud voice:

"Brothers, in a little while we will attack the galleys of these miscreants; they are anch.o.r.ed near each other. The long-boat will be put to sea, half the soldiers will descend into it, and, while the black galley attacks the _Red Galleon_, the long-boat will attack the other pirate vessel." Then addressing the king of the chevaliers, he continued: "You will command the black galley, brother, and the Brother de Blinville, the oldest lieutenant of the galley, will command the long-boat. Now, overseer, strokesman, all, ply your oars! the sun is setting and only an hour of daylight is left us to chastise these miscreants."

Although the chevaliers had not understood why Pierre des Anbiez abandoned the command of the black galley and the long-boat, they hastened to execute his orders.

A part of the crew, well armed, embarked in the longboat of the galley, which was put to sea under the orders of the Chevalier de Blinville, and the two vessels, with full force of oars, directed their course toward the entrance of the bay.

The commander having ordered Captain Trinquetaille to remain on board the galley, the polacre was directed by the second in command, and followed the black galley's movements.

Honorat approached the commander, and said: "I wish to fight at your side, M. Commander. Reine des Anbiez was my betrothed. Raimond V.

has been a second father to me, and my place should be the post of danger."

Pierre des Anbiez looked steadily at Honorat, and answered: "It is true, chevalier, you have a double vengeance to wreak upon these robbers. To a.s.sure the freedom of Reine, I have consented to fight in single combat with one of the pirate captains. I need a second. Will you accept that duty?"

"You, monsieur, you accede to such a proposition!" cried Honorat, "do such honour to these miscreants!"

"Will you or will you not draw the sword and the dagger when I draw them, young man?" rudely interrupted Pierre des Anbiez.

"I can only be proud to do what you do, M. Commander; my sword is at your orders."

"Go, then, and arm yourself, and hold yourself in readiness to follow me when I descend."

After a moment's silence, he added: "You see that long-boat doubling the point; she will bring on board my galley Reine des Anbiez and the captives from La Ciotat."

"Reine!" cried Honorat.

"There she is," said the commander.

In fact, the long-boat of Hadji was rapidly approaching; the Chevalier de Berrol soon recognised Reine, Stephanette, and two other young girls, besides twenty inhabitants of La Ciotat, captured when the pirates made their descent upon the city.

The chevaliers were ignorant of the agreement made between the commander and the Bohemian. They could not understand why the pirates returned their prisoners in this manner.

When the long-boat was within range of the voice, the commander ordered the overseer to lift the galley's oars and wait for this craft, which soon reached them.

Pierre des Anbiez advanced to the height of the first rower's seat, and there received his niece, who threw herself in his arms with all the effusion oi affectionate grat.i.tude.

"And my father?" cried the young girl.

"Your return will relieve his anxiety, my child," replied the commander, who did not wish to inform Reine of her father's condition.

"Honorat, is it you?" said Reine, extending her hand to the chevalier, whom she did not see at first "Alas! my friend, under what sad circ.u.mstances I see you. But who is with my father, pray? Why did you leave him alone?"

"Reine, our aim was to rescue you, and I followed the commander.

Father Elzear is at Maison-Forte with Raimond V."

"But now I am free, will you not return with me to my father?"

"Return with you? No, Reine, I must remain with the commander.

To-morrow, no doubt, I will see you. I bid you a tender farewell, Reine.

Farewell, farewell."