human
How is he? Where have they taken him?
gpt
What! is't Mistress Tudor? Have they turned you adrift, then? Lor', 'tis a frail craft to be out o' harbour such foul weather!
human
How is he?
gpt
Dead as a pickled herring, poor lad!
human
Sink me! but the poor lassie thought I meant Mr. Rivers!
gpt
Whom did you mean?
human
Young Poole has been done to death, Mistress Margaret. As honest a lad as ever lived, too,--more's the pity!
gpt
What do you tell me? Have they killed the lad in pure spite against his master? And where is Mr. Rivers?
human
He is dead, then! I knew it, my heart told me so!
gpt
Eh! poor lass! 'Tis not so bad as that--yet bad enough. They've hung chains enough upon him to anchor a man-o'-war, and moored him fast in the dungeon of the fort. D--n 'em for a crew o' dastard furriners!--an' he own cousin to an English earl!
human
Can you not tell me a straight tale? I cried.
gpt
What has he done to be so ill served? And whose the enmity behind it all,--Melinza's, or the Governor's?
human
Lor'! exclaimed one of the sailors,
gpt
Here, now, let me tell the tale, lad, the old captain interposed.
human
Mr. Rivers and Don Pedro?
gpt
Aye, mistress. The Governor was not by,--'tis likely he knew naught of it.
human
Not so! I cried,
gpt
Mayhap, said Captain Baulk,
human
I'd not gainsay it--for I trust no one o' them; but he chose to go with his weather eye shut rather than take precaution 'gainst the squall. So they had it out all by their selves,--and none of us a whit the wiser, saving young Poole, who had guessed somewhat was amiss and followed his master.
gpt
What then? Speak quickly! Was Mr. Rivers wounded?
human
Not he! That's to say, not by any thrust of the Don's. Lor', but it must ha' been a pretty fight! Pity no man saw it that lives to tell!
gpt
In the name of mercy, sir, speak plainly!
human
Aye, my young mistress, but give me time an' I will. Mr. Rivers ere long did get in such a thrust that the Don went down before it as suddenly as a ship with all her hull stove in. He lay stranded, with the blood flowing away in a dark stream over the white sands. Our young gentleman, gallant heart, did throw away his sword and fall down beside the Spaniard and strive to staunch his wounds, crying aloud most lustily for aid. Who should hear him but young Poole and that yellow devil of a Tomas! They came from opposite quarters, and Poole was in the shadow, so the other saw him not. The mulatto ran up alongside, and, seeing 'twas the Don who had fallen, he whipped out a knife from his belt and struck at our young master as he knelt there on the ground. Nay, now, do not take on so! Did I not say he was but little hurt? Had the blow struck him fairly in the back, as it was meant to do, doubtless it would have put an end to him; but Poole was to the rescue, poor lad! He threw himself on the mulatto in the nick o' time. The knife had barely grazed Mr. Rivers on the shoulder; but young Tomas never let go his hold of it. He and the faithful lad rolled together on the ground--and Poole never rose again. His body was stabbed through in a dozen places. Mr. Rivers had no time to interfere; ere he could rise from his knees, or even put out a hand to take his sword, a dozen soldiers had laid hands on him. That devil of a Tomas finished his evil work, and then picked himself up and walked away; never a one laid a finger on him or cried shame on the foul deed!
gpt
They have taken Mr. Rivers to the dungeon of the fort?
human
Aye, so they tell us. None of us were there, which is perhaps for the good of our necks,--yet I would we had had a chance to strike a blow in defence of the poor lad.
gpt
And the Spaniard--Don Pedro?
human
They carried him into the Governor's own house a while since. I think his wound is mortal.
gpt
Then he has brought his death upon himself, for he forced Mr. Rivers into the quarrel,
human
admitted Captain Baulk,
gpt
Nay, I exclaimed,
human
I heard a great disturbance and hastened out to seek the cause. The outer door was left unbarred.
gpt
Why then, mistress, we would best make for it again before 'tis shut! This is no hour and no place for a young maid to be out alone.
human
Now, what's to do?