Part 9 (1/2)

”No manner o' doubt about it,” said Bill gravely; ”but you know, Jem, they say the Dutchman's cruising ground is off the Cape, in a full-rigged s.h.i.+p, and I never heard on his coming into these parts.”

”True as gospel, old s.h.i.+pmate, but how should we know that he hasn't got tired of the Cape, and taken a trip up here?” argued Jem. ”And as to the matter of the rig, he may s.h.i.+ft his craft according to the sea he's in. Besides, you know as how if there's one _Flying Dutchman_, there may be two, and this fellow may have come to trouble us here, up the straits. Depend on't, Bill, the less company one keeps with them sort of gentry the better.”

”Very true, Jem, but suppose a chap out of that boat then does come on board, what's to happen think ye?” asked Bill, in a tone which showed that he in no way doubted his messmate's account.

”Why I can't say exactly, because as how I never seed what he does; but from what I've heard, I believe he tries to slip a letter like into the skipper's or some 'un's hand who's green enough to take it; and then the chap, who's no better nor Davy Jones himself, gives a loud laugh, and down goes the s.h.i.+p to the bottom, or else a hurricane is sure to get up and drive her ash.o.r.e. But here comes that cursed felucca's boat. I wish we might just let fly at her; it would save mischief, I'll be sworn.”

”Bear a hand there with a rope for the boat coming alongside,” sung out the captain in a loud voice, which sounded as ominous of evil to the ears of the superst.i.tious crew. ”Bring a lantern here to the gangway,”

he added. Bowse, with his first mate and Colonel Gauntlett, stood near the gangway, which was lighted up with a lantern to receive the strangers, as a small boat containing in all only four persons, came round under the brig's stern. They pulled only two oars, and two people were seated in the stern sheet. ”Keep an eye to windward there, Larkins, on that felucca,” said the first mate to the second, as he went to his captain's summons. ”I don't altogether think her cut honest.”

”A mighty fuss about a very small affair, I suspect,” muttered the colonel, as a figure was seen to ascend from the boat up the side of the brig.

The stranger was dressed in the Phrygian cap, and simple garb of a Sicilian mariner. His appearance, as far as it could be judged of by the dim light of the lantern, was anything but prepossessing. A profusion of long, straggling, grizzly locks, once probably of raven hue, which evidently had not felt the barber's scissors for many a year, concealed the greater part of his face which was still further hidden by a patch over one eye, and a handkerchief bound round his head, while his mouth was surrounded by an enormous pair of moustachios, and a beard of similar character, so that little more than the tip of a red nose, and a rolling fierce eye was visible. As he reached the deck, this handsome personage bowed to the group before him, without speaking, while he glanced his eye round at the crew, who still wore their cutla.s.ses, and at the other weapons which were placed ready for use.

Behind the group I have described, stood several of the crew, among whom were Jem Marline, and his chum Bill Bullock, and if the stranger had been able to read the expression of their countenances, he would certainly have been a bold man, had he not felt some apprehension; for they spoke almost as plainly as words could do, that had they the power, they would, without ceremony, heave him into the sea. There were fear, suspicion, and dislike, strangely blended with the usual bold recklessness which had given a character to their features a sudden emotion could not obliterate. Fortunately, however, the light of the lantern fell in such a way as to throw them, where they stood, into shade.

”What is it you want with us, signor?” said Bowse, in his usual blunt tone, seeing that the other did not speak.

”To carry us all to Davy Jones, if we don't look sharp,” muttered Jem Marline to his messmate. ”The beggar will be handing a letter directly, and then stand by for squall.”

The stranger shook his head, as if not comprehending what was said.

”That's it,” whispered Jem, in a tone of terror. ”He don't speak. He never does.”

Bowse repeated the question, in the _lingua Franca_ of those seas.

The stranger shook his head.

”He does not understand our lingo,” observed Bowse. ”Here, Timmins, you speak a little Italian--just ask this gentleman what he wants aboard here.”

”Ay, ay, sir,” said the mate coming forward, and asking the question in execrable Italian.

Again the stranger shook his head, as if not comprehending the question, and finding that not much progress was likely to be made at this rate, he turned round, and leaning through the gangway, beckoned his companion to come on deck. As he drew back, another person appeared, dressed precisely in the same manner; but evidently very much younger. A long moustache shaded his mouth, and wild elf-locks concealed the greater portion of his face, and from a patch down one side of his cheek, he looked as if, like his elder companion, he had been engaged in some severe fighting. The light of the lantern, as he reached the deck, seemed particularly to annoy him, and he stood with his eyes cast on the deck, shading them with one of his hands, nor could he meet the glance of any of those surrounding him.

”What do you wish to explain?” said the second stranger in Italian, bowing with a not ungraceful bend, and a touch of his hand to his cap.

”Oh! you can speak, can you? Well, that's all right,” said Timmins.

”And now, if you please, tell us why it is the felucca there was so anxious to speak to us?”

”_Si, signor_,” answered the younger stranger, very slowly; and in an Italian which was mostly understood, he then explained that the speronara, of which his father was master, had, that afternoon, fallen in with an Austrian man-of-war brig, which had brought her to, and sent a boat on board her. The officers, he said, informed them that the noted Greek pirate Zappa, in his famous brig the _Sea Hawk_, had lately been heard of not far from the mouth of the Adriatic, and that he had plundered and destroyed several vessels. The Austrian, he said, had given him despatches for the governor of Malta, relative to the subject, as also to the Neapolitan Government, with a reward for carrying them, and had charged them to inform all vessels they should fall in with of what had occurred.

”Then he did not tell you to speak us in particular,” said Timmins.

”_Si, signor_, he expressly--oh! no--not you in particular--oh, no,”

replied the young man.

”Have you nothing further to tell us?” said Timmins. ”Because you see, though we are much obliged to you for your information, we are in a hurry to be on our course again, and if you should happen to fall in with the Signor Zappa and his brig the _Sea Hawk_, just tell him that the _Zodiac_ will give him a warm reception if he attempts to play off any of his tricks upon her.”