| Show Porto Bello Gold 1 SYNOPSIS I The Tho story opens In New York About the middle of oC the Eighteenth Eight century Robert Ormerod who tolls tells the tale talc Is talking to Peter chief of at fur Cur traders trad ers erSt and man of ot enormous strength when Darby McG McGraw aw Irish bonded boy brings news that a pirate ship Is off orr the Hook An old sea captain announces announces an- an he has been chased by bythe bythe the notorious pirate Captain Rip Rap The Tho older Ormerod tells Robert the pirate Is Js Andrew Murray his Roberts Robert's gr at- at commanding the pirate ship the Royal ROa James Murray Is an ardent Jacobite CHAPTER II 2 2 The The One Legged Man and the Irish Maid The next morning I was occupied for several hours In checking over the needs of our trading stations with Peter Peter Pe Pe- ter so that It was the middle of the forenoon before I was able to leave the counting room to go aboard Captain Farraday's s ship and concert with her people the of or that portion of or the cargo which was vas destined des des- tined for our warehouse Darby McGraw eyed me so wistfully fully when I took m my hat that I sent him to the kitchen to secure a n bag of killed fresh chickens and winter Inter wintergreens greens knowing such food would be bewelcome bewelcome welcome to sailors after after- a I long voyage voy oy age and bade him carry It to the dock i t We walked down down Pearl street st et to Broad street where the landing basin Indents the laud land i and I was passing on with Intent to secure a n wherry from the foot of Whitehall street to row me out to the Bristol packet et when Darby Darby drew my attention to the soarIng soar soar- Ing masts and tangled cordage of ot a great ship lying at anchor In the East river anchorage a frigate Masier Master Robert I he exclaimed There was no mistaking the rows of ot painted ports gun and the solid bulwarks bul bul- warl s i and for a moment I fancied Commodore Burrage had anticipated our needs Then the flag at her mizzen zen truck rippled out and 1 I beheld the red gold banner of or Spain Dye De suppose he hath come after the pirate whispered Darby all agog Not ot he I answered laughing a Spaniard and he and his kidney kid kid- ne ney are not hungry for pirate gore nut look Darb Theres another strange vessel beyond vessel beyond the frigate I pointed to a battered little brig with patched and dirt dirty sails and a spatter of wh white e showing shoWing-In In her black black- j painted hull where here a round shot had sent the splinters flying flIng And he hath seen the pirates or orI orI I am amiss I adde added Ills His escape must have been exceeding c narrow Darby's ey eyes S waxed as ns large as a cats cat's In the dark do but look atthe at atthe the shot hole in the side of him TIShe Tishe he will have made a noble prayer And now will ye mock me for tor Saying Ing there are pirates broad abroad Master Robert Roberl Rob Rob- ert erl Not I Darby Yon fellow has lias been closer to de death th than than I like to think of of I I answered Now ow there was as true a word DS as ever was heard spoke proclaimed a pleasant v voice ice behind me And Am shows most unaccountable understanding understanding under under- standing and hu so It do do see see- I. I n n. n ing WI as us mere s precious few lew landsmen as stop to fig er out the tle chances ha ces a poor sailor must take and and never a n from his owners owners n nor r aught but curses from foni his skipper like as not True Irue as ns true gentleman I I makes you m duty and says sas as ashow how how seeing I 1 was one of ot them vouchsafed vouch vouch- HI fed a a miraculous ous salvation n. n I I. I hopes you'll permit me me to o offer r my most humble thanks I swung o ni around nd to scrutinize the owner of or the the voice ol e and sa saw saV V a handsome hand some open faced c man In the of ot life big hig and strong of his his' bod body but with only leg The other the left had been lopped oft off high up near the hip and he supported l himself upon a long Jong crutch of ot ver very fine carved hardwood mahogany Y I afterward discovered This crutch he employed all the dexterity of or his missing limb While I looked at him and he was first speaking he hopped up beside me with a confidential air that was that was very ery flattering to a young m man n and and Impressed Im Jm pressed Darby even ven more more Are you from from the brig yonder r 1 l' l I asked curiously Aye aye young gentleman I am m and of Ith the one miserable sinners as was saved sa by an Providence Providence Provi Provi- dence as tal takes no account o 0 mens men's deserts Just or unjust as the preachers preachers preachers' preach ers ers' Is Out of Iam I Iam am in the brig Constant Name o 0 Silver sir sir John John sa sas s my sponsors In baptism nut But m my mates most generally ei calls me Barbecue count o 0 my being held helda a n monstrous fine cook And there's theres theresa a tale ale to that young oung sir Ah AIt yes I I THIS JIlIS weren't the first time I Buffered l at nt the hands o them pirates that scourge and ravage the seas to th the despite of poor honest 1 ift I Sandy O hook they attacked at at- tacked you 01 I v Oft Of Sandy 1 o El r I p t 4 Ma Maybe BO 80 n i iye ye took small Tec reckoning o 0 where y w were Our one one thought w was s to n make port ort orth h whole le and safe by Arthur D. D Howden Smith C Copyright ht by bT Arthur D. D Howden Smith Service But ut I see they hulled you I pressed him That Thal he answered Oh yes but but but- May I make bold to ask sir ha hn other vessels been cha chased d off oct New NewYork NewYork York port do you know I pointed to where Captain Farraday's Farra days day's craft swung at her anchor a scant quarter mile above the brig That Bristol packet ran the notorious notorious noto noto- rious Captain Rip Rap down but ester yester morning I told him His brows knit t together In a frown apparently of Captain Rap Rip you s says s 's It was I Blister me young gentleman but that's dreadful news Well well well A fortunate escape as ever was And good hearing that others was lucky But Dut I dare say the kings king's ships will be after him by now No theres there's rione none nearer than Doston Boston Dos Bos ton I answered Twill be a n week at the least before we can hunt the scoundrels hence He lIe wagged his his head dolefully DUster Blister me but that's news Fortunate indeed I was to draw dear Clear One of the was sculling toward us along the shore and I waved to him to pull under the piling on which we stood I must be off I 1 said I congratulate late you Master Sliver Silver on your escape He lIe bobbed his head and pulled at athis athis his forelock kindly young gentleman Here sir let me catch the painter Right night Will ye ha the basket on the thwart b by ye e And this nice lad here doesn't he go too o j Maybe then add a mite to I your r. r and let me borry his time for a half glass or so for Cor to show me a couple o o landmarks I must makein make in the town I wouldn't ask it of ye esir e sir only as s ye e see Im I'm half crippled in a manner manner o 0 and this Is a strange port to me as plies usual to the West Use UEe the lad by all means menns I an an- Darb Darby take Master Silver wherever he wishes to go Darby's freckled face gleamed at atthe atthe the prospect of or more of or the company of this one legged 1 who talked so easily of pirate fights and flights Oh aye ae Master Robert says heIll heIll he Ill help him all I know My was on the point of laying layng to oars vh when Ii a 1 sudden thought caused me to check him By y the the way Master SlIver Silver I called It occurs to me that perhaps Darb Darby may be be unable to serve you In all th that t you wish Do you seek anyone anyone any any- In one especial He Ile d for Just the fraction of ot ota ofa a minute Wh Why not especially In sir he answered at lost last I am for forthe forthe the Whales Whale's Head tavern If ye e happen happen hap hap- pen to know o 0 such a place I nodded In the East ward close e b by Darby can show you He shouted renewed thanks and stumped off agilely agnel on his crutch Darby strutting beside him with a comical pride Aboard the Anne I found all ll In con fusion fusio C Captain Farraday had not returned re re- turned since he landed the preceding afternoon and undoubtedly was sleepIng sleepIng sleep sleep- Ing off an accumulation of or divers liquors In the George tavern The I r Sent Him to the Kitchen to Secure a B Bag g of of- Killed Fresh Chickens mate had gone gone ashore that morning to search for him and would probably take advantage ot of the opportunity to emulate his skippers skipper's example Master Master Mas Mas- ter Jenkins who had missed drowning at the red hands of the redoubtable Rip Rap and Flint was In charge of the ship lie was was a melancholy sour sour- East countryman who moved I with a deliberation as pronounced as Peter Jeter and Inspecting the manifests with him was a tedious tellious busi busi- ness The afternoon was gone when we concluded our work agreed upon ulon the time of arrival of the lighters on the morrow and returned to the deck My wherry had been dismissed long nio ago n and he bade the muster a v lo to row me ashore As 1 away from the Bristol i packets packet's side n barge a-barge shot around the hull of ot the Spaniard and pulled after us a n dozen brawn brawny fellows fel lows tugging at the oars A single cloaked figure sat In the stern sheets beside the officer in command The two boats made the street Broad street slip almost together and I leaped ashore tossed several se coins to the sailors who had rowed me and started to walk ort off bent hent upon reporting to my father r who I knew would be provoked b by the length of time m my errand had consumed con con- But Dut I 1 had not walked far i when hen a man called after me from the thc wharf head Senor I rr rah II I II I turned to face the coxswain of the frigates frigate's barge and a farrago of SpanIsh Spanish Span Span- ish gibberish of ot which I understood n not t a word And upon my saying saing as ns much a second person Ierson stepped forward forward for for- ward into the yellow glow of an nn oil lanthorn which hung from a bracket et upon a warehouse wall hard by the cloaked figure of or the barge and Instead of or a midshipman or under under- the thc scanty light revealed a ayoung young woman whose lissome grace race was vibrant through the cumbersome folds of her wrap A single ejaculation ejaculation tion of oC sibilant Spanish and the coxswain coxswain cox cox- swain was hushed Sir said she in English as good goodas as m my own can you direct me to the Whales Whale's Head tavern I could bring forth no better than a stammer in answer She was vas the second sec second ond stranger that day to ask for the Whales Whale's Head which my father had remarked the previous evening for a toted noted resort of bad characters and certes she appeared to be the last sort of woman who might be expected to have anything to do with the kind kindor of or roistering Wickedness which went wenton on there Also I could not forbear asking myself how came so tall fair a maid aboard a Spanish frigate In the soft lanthorn light she was an anything but Spanish In her looks Dark Darl yes CS with with hair that shone a misty black hut but he her eyes es were as ns blue as fiS Darby McGraws McGraw's and her nose had the least suspicion of a tilt to It Her lIeI mouth was wide with a kind of twist at the ends that quirked ed up oddly when she laughed and drooped with a sorrow fit to crack open your our heart If she wept And she was little more than a child In years with a manifest Innocence which went oddly with the question she had asked me A slim foot tapped Impatiently upon the cobbles as I stared I Well sir she said coldly does It happen you do not know English better bet bet- ter tN than Spanish 7 no N I I managed to get out But Dut the truth Is the Whales Whale's Read Head Is no place for such as you OU mistress lIer ees narrowed I do not catch your meaning perhaps perhaps per per- haps she answered red It is my my father I go to meet there But he would never favor your our co coming there at this hour I protested pro pro- tested Indeed you should never never think of It I 1 will be the Judge of or that she sIle retorted Instantly haughty And If my father is there I can come to tb no harm If he lie Is I 1 said I doubt you nave have mistaken his ordinary No no no she said decidedly I heard him speaking with them of ot it But It may be you are right sir and andI I will not be so ungrateful as ns to flout a kindly strangers stranger's well meant advice Juan can go Into the tavern when we come to It and I will bi bide e outside I But Dut somewhere I must walk for m my feet are me all dancey with the wa way of the sea and we shall be away again with the tide In the morning This Is the last dr dry land I shall tread in many manya a week If It you ou will allow me Ill I'll put you OU on your way for the Whales Whale's Head I offered I must walk In that tI tion on Sure sir It Is a great favor you ou offer olTer she answered J I cannot but thank you And she gave ga an or order ler In- In Spanish which fetched the she called Juan and one of or his men out from the shadows They fell In behind behind be be- hind us as we walked walle off along the Ule theline line Une of the warehouses You are upon a long voyage oage I ventured You may well say so she cried From here to the and after that on to Havana and the cities of ot the Main I But Dut you are never Spanish I saidI said I ask not In idle curiosity though though- Her IIer laughter was like a chime of or bells Sure they say I am am Irish as the pigs In the WIcklow hills where here I was born And all of or a sudden she was grave again Im not knowing your politics sir but theres there's ma maybe be no harm In just tellIng telling tell tell- ing you my father was of those who opposed the Hanoverian and fought for King James and Bonnie Charlie And because his own king employ employ em em- ploy him he serves senes Spain It Is not pleasant for Cor an Englishman English English- man to think of nil all the brave gentlemen gentlemen gentle gentle- men who must serve foreign monarchs mon mon- archs I acknowledged But Dut I hope you will be happy In the Indies mis mIs- tress Oh we shall not be staying there long she answered blithely My father father fa fa- ther Is an al engl engineer eer officer and he be must Inspect the fortifications on the Main and elsewhere We shall return to Spain within the year But look i sir Is not that sign Intended to be ben bea a n whales whale's head 1 Yes I said This is the tavern One look at Its flaring windows and the cutthroat gentry who swag swaggered eed In and out of ot the low door convinced m my companion that I Iliad had not misrepresented misrepresented resented the character of or the place She drew back to the curb and the corners of her mouth drooped sadly Glory what an III hole she mur mur- Now for wh why would the padre come corne hither Business says he but but but- And she shook her head with a vague ue and doubting emphasis I would not seem to be thrusting myself upon you ou mistress I said yet I am fearful your Spaniards cannot cannot can can- not make themselves understood Will WillIt WillIt It please you that I Inquire within for your father She considered catching a corner of or her lip betwixt white teeth Troth sir she answered finally I see not how I can avoid going the deeper in debt to you There was a moments moment's pause And how shall I I- I Ay de ml she exclaimed with a bubble of laughter How Ilow stupid of me to be forgetting I am Just a maidoff maid maidoff off the sea to you ou Ask for Colonel ODonnell O'Donnell sir and tell him his daughter daugh daugh- ter waits without I shouldered a drunken sailor from my path lowered my head to pass under the lintel of ot the taverns tavern's entrance |
