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with your ladyship's permission； I shall immediately make all
sail。 The cabins are prepared。 Steward； take Lady Greville
below。'
Under this new name； then； and so captivated by surprise that
I could neither think nor speak； I was ushered into a
spacious and airy cabin； hung about with weapons and
surrounded by divans。 The steward asked for my commands； but
I was by this time so wearied； bewildered； and disturbed；
that I could only wave him to leave me to myself； and sink
upon a pile of cushions。 Presently； by the changed motion of
the ship； I knew her to be under way； my thoughts； so far
from clarifying； grew the more distracted and confused；
dreams began to mingle and confound them； and at length； by
insensible transition； I sank into a dreamless slumber。
When I awoke； the day and night had passed； and it was once
more morning。 The world on which I reopened my eyes swam
strangely up and down； the jewels in the bag that lay beside
me chinked together ceaselessly； the clock and the barometer
wagged to and fro like pendulums； and overhead； seamen were
singing out at their work； and coils of rope clattering and
thumping on the deck。 Yet it was long before I had divined
that I was at sea； long before I had recalled； one after
another； the tragical； mysterious； and inexplicable events
that had brought me where was。
When I had done so； I thrust the jewels； which I was
surprised to find had been respected； into the bosom of my
dress； and seeing a silver bell hard by upon a table； rang it
loudly。 The steward instantly appeared； I asked for food；
and he proceeded to lay the table； regarding me the while
with a disquieting and pertinacious scrutiny。 To relieve
myself of my embarrassment； I asked him； with as fair a show
of ease as I could muster； if it were usual for yachts to
carry so numerous a crew？
'Madam；' said he； 'I know not who you are； nor what mad fancy
has induced you to usurp a name and an appalling destiny that
are not yours。 I warn you from the soul。 No sooner arrived
at the island … '
At this moment he was interrupted by the whiskered officer；
who had entered unperceived behind him； and now laid a hand
upon his shoulder。 The sudden pallor； the deadly and sick
fear； that was imprinted on the steward's face； formed a
startling addition to his words。
'Parker！' said the officer； and pointed towards the door。
'Yes； Mr。 Kentish；' said the steward。 'For God's sake； Mr。
Kentish！' And vanished； with a white face； from the cabin。
Thereupon the officer bade me sit down； and began to help me；
and join in the meal。 'I fill your ladyship's glass；' said
he； and handed me a tumbler of neat rum。
'Sir；' cried I； 'do you expect me to drink this？'
He laughed heartily。 'Your ladyship is so much changed；'
said he； 'that I no longer expect any one thing more than any
other。'
Immediately after； a white seaman entered the cabin； saluted
both Mr。 Kentish and myself； and informed the officer there
was a sail in sight； which was bound to pass us very close；
and that Mr。 Harland was in doubt about the colours。
'Being so near the island？' asked Mr。 Kentish。
'That was what Mr。 Harland said； sir；' returned the sailor；
with a scrape。
'Better not； I think；' said Mr。 Kentish。 'My compliments to
Mr。 Harland； and if she seem a lively boat； give her the
stars and stripes； but if she be dull； and we can easily
outsail her； show John Dutchman。 That is always another word
for incivility at sea； so we can disregard a hail or a flag
of distress； without attracting notice。'
As soon as the sailor had gone on deck； I turned to the
officer in wonder。 'Mr。 Kentish； if that be your name；'
said I； 'are you ashamed of your own colours？'
'Your ladyship refers to the JOLLY ROGER？' he inquired； with
perfect gravity； and immediately after； went into peals of
laughter。 'Pardon me；' said he； 'but here for the first time
I recognise your ladyship's impetuosity。' Nor； try as I
pleased； could I extract from him any explanation of this
mystery； but only oily and commonplace evasion。
While we were thus occupied； the movement of the NEMOROSA
gradually became less violent； its speed at the same time
diminished； and presently after； with a sullen plunge； the
anchor was discharged into the sea。 Kentish immediately
rose； offered his arm； and conducted me on deck； where I
found we were lying in a roadstead among many low and rocky
islets； hovered about by an innumerable cloud of sea…fowl。
Immediately under our board； a somewhat larger isle was green
with trees； set with a few low buildings and approached by a
pier of very crazy workmanship； and a little inshore of us； a
smaller vessel lay at anchor。
I had scarce time to glance to the four quarters； ere a boat
was lowered。 I was handed in； Kentish took place beside me；
and we pulled briskly to the pier。 A crowd of villainous；
armed loiterers； both black and white； looked on upon our
landing； and again the word passed about among the negroes；
and again I was received with prostrations and the same
gesture of the flung…up hand。 By this； what with the
appearance of these men； and the lawless； sea…girt spot in
which I found myself； my courage began a little to decline；
and clinging to the arm of Mr。 Kentish； I begged him to tell
me what it meant？
'Nay； madam；' he returned； 'YOU know。' And leading me
smartly through the crowd； which continued to follow at a
considerable distance； and at which he still kept looking
back； I thought； with apprehension； he brought me to a low
house that stood alone in an encumbered yard； opened the
door； and begged me to enter。
'But why？' said I。 'I demand to see Sir George。'
'Madam；' returned Mr。 Kentish； looking suddenly as black as
thunder； 'to drop all fence； I know neither who nor what you
are； beyond the fact that you are not the person whose name
you have assumed。 But be what you please； spy； ghost； devil；
or most ill…judging jester； if you do not immediately enter
that house； I will cut you to the earth。' And even as he
spoke； he threw an uneasy glance behind him at the following
crowd of blacks。
I did not wait to be twice threatened； I obeyed at once； and
with a palpitating heart； and the next moment； the door was
locked from the outside and the key withdrawn。 The interior
was long； low； and quite unfurnished； but filled； almost from
end to end； with sugar…cane； tar…barrels； old tarry rope； and
other incongruous and highly inflammable material； and not
only was the door locked； but the solitary window barred with
iron。
I was by this time so exceedingly bewildered and afraid； that
I would have given years of my life to be once more the slave
of Mr。 Caulder。 I still stood； with my hands clasped； the
image of despair； looking about me on the lumber of the room
or raising my eyes to heaven； when there appeared outside the
window bars； the face of a very black negro； who signed to me
imperiously to draw near。 I did so； and he instantly； and
with every mark of fervour； addressed me a long speech in
some unknown