A Bid for Fortune/Chapter 1
PART I.
CHAPTER I.
I DETERMINE TO TAKE A HOLIDAY.—SYDNEY, AND WHAT BEFELL ME THERE.
First and foremost, my name, age, description, and occupation, as they say in the Police Gazette. Richard Hatteras, at your service, commonly called Dick, of Thursday Island, North Queensland, pearler, copra merchant, bêche-de-mer and tortoise-shell dealer, and South Sea trader generally. Eight-and-twenty years of age, neither particularly good-looking, nor, if some people are to be believed, particularly amiable, six feet two in my stockings, and forty-six inches round the chest; strong as a Hakodate wrestler, and perfectly willing at any moment to pay ten pounds sterling to the man who can put me on my back. And big shame to me if I were not strong, considering the free, open-air, devil-may-care life I've led.
Why, I was doing man's work at an age when most boys are wondering when they're going to be taken out of knickerbockers. I'd been half round the world before I was fifteen, and had been wrecked twice and marooned once before my beard showed signs of sprouting. My father was an Englishman, not very much profit to himself, so he used to say, but of a kindly disposition, and the best husband to my mother during their short married life that any woman could possibly have desired. She, poor soul, died of fever in the Philippines, and he went to the bottom in the schooner "Helen of Troy," a degree west of the Line Islands, that same year; struck the tail end of a cyclone, it was thought, and went down, lock, stock, and barrel, leaving only one man to tell the tale. So I lost father and mother in the same twelve months, and that being so, when I put my cabbage-tree on my head it covered, as far as I knew, all my family in the world.
Any way you look at it it's calculated to give you a turn, at fifteen years of age, to know that there's not a living soul on the face of God's globe that you can take by the hand, and call relation. That old saying about "blood being thicker than water," is a pretty true one, I reckon: friends may be kind—they were so to me—but after all they're not the same thing, nor can they be as your own kith and kin.
However, I had to look my trouble in the face and stand up to it as a man should, and I suppose this kept me from brooding as much over my loss as I should otherwise have done. Anyway, ten days after the news reached me, I had shipped aboard the "Little Emily," trading schooner, for Papeete, booked for five years among the islands, where I was to learn to water copra and lay the foundation of the strange career that I am going to tell you about in this book.
After my time expired and I had served my Trading Company on half the mudbanks of the Pacific, I returned to Australia and went up inside the Great Barrier Reef to Somerset—the pearling station that had just come into existence on Cape York. They were good days there then, before all the new-fangled laws that now regulate the pearling trade had come into force, and days when a man could do almost as he liked among the islands in those seas. I don't know how other folk liked it, but it just suited me—so much so that when Somerset proved inconvenient and the settlement shifted across to Thursday, I went with it, and, what was more to the point, with money enough at my back to fit my self out with a brand new lugger and full crew, and go pearling on my own account.
For many years I went at it head down, and this brings me up to four years ago, to 1888, we'll say, when I was a grown man, the owner of a house, two luggers, and as good a diving plant as any man could wish to possess. What was more, just before this, I had put some money into a mining concern which had, contrary to most ventures of the sort, turned up trumps, giving me as my share the nice round sum of £5,000. With all this wealth at my back, and having been in harness for a good number of years on end, I made up my mind to take a holiday and go home to England to see the place where my father was born, and had lived his early life (I found the name of it written in the fly leaf of an old Latin book he left me), and to have a look at a country I'd heard so much about but never thought to have the good fortune to set my foot upon.
Accordingly I packed my traps, let my house, sold my luggers and gear, intending to buy new ones when I returned; said good-bye to my friends and shipmates, and set off to join an Orient liner in Sydney. You will see from this that I intended to do the thing in style! And why not? I'd got more money to my hand than most of the swells who patronise the first saloon, had earned it honestly, and was resolved to enjoy myself with it to the top of my bent and hang the consequences.
I reached Sydney a week before the boat was advertised to sail, but I didn't fret much about that. There's plenty to see and do in such a big place, and when a man's been shut away from theatres and amusements for years at a stretch, he can put in his time pretty well looking about him. All the same, not knowing a soul in the place, I must confess there were moments when I did think regretfully of the tight little island hidden away up north under the wing of New Guinea, of the luggers dancing to the breeze in the harbour, and the warm welcome that always awaited me among my friends in the saloons. Take my word for it there's even something in being a leader on a small island. Anyway it's better than being a deadbeat in a big city like Sydney, where nobody knows you, and your next-door neighbour wouldn't miss you if he never saw or heard of you again.
I used to think of these things as I marched about the streets looking in at shop windows, or took excursions up and down the Harbour. There's no place like Sydney Harbour in the wide, wide world for prettiness, and before I'd been there a week I was familiar with every part of it. Still, it would have been more enjoyable, as I hinted just now, if I had had a friend to tour about with me; and by the same token I'm doing one man an injustice.
There was one fellow, I remember, who did offer to show me round: I think I fell across him in a saloon in George Street. He was tall and handsome, and as spic and span as a new pin till you came to look under the surface. He winked at the girl who was serving us, and when I'd finished my drink asked me to take another with him. Seeing what his little game was, and wanting to teach him a lesson, I lured him on by consenting. I drank with him, and then he drank with me. Oh, a perfect gentleman he was, as far as manners went, I can assure you!
"Been long in Sydney?" he enquired casually, looking at me, and, at the same time, stroking his fair moustache.
"Just come in," was my reply.
"Don't you find it dull work?" he continued. "I shall never forget my first week in it."
"You're about right. It is dull! I don't know a soul bar my banker and lawyer in the town."
"Dear me!" (more curling of the moustache). "If I can be of any service to you while you're here, I hope you'll command me. For the sake of 'Auld Lang Syne,' don't you know. I believe we're both Englishmen, eh?"
"It's very good of you," I replied modestly, affecting to be overcome by his condescension. "I'm just off to lunch. I am staying at the 'Quebec.' Is it far enough for a hansom?" As he was about to answer, a lawyer, with whom I had done a little business the day before, walked into the room. I turned to my patronising friend and said, "Will you excuse me for just one moment, I want to speak to this gentleman on business; I'll join you outside."
He was still all graciousness.
"I'll call a hansom and wait for you in it."
When he had left the saloon I spoke to the new arrival. He had noticed the man I was talking to and was kind enough to warn me against him.
"That man," he said, "bears a very bad reputation. He makes it his trade to meet new arrivals from England—weak-brained young pigeons with money. He shows them round Sydney and plucks them so clean that when they leave his hands, in nine cases out of ten, they haven't a feather left to fly with. You ought not, with your experience of rough customers, to be taken in by him."
"Nor am I," I replied. "I am going to teach him a lesson. Would you like to see it? Then come with me."
Arm in arm we walked into the street, watched by Mr. Hawk from his seat in the cab. When we got there we stood for a moment chatting, and then strolled together down the pavement. Next moment I heard the cab coming along after us—my friend hailed me in his silkiest tones—but though I looked him full in the face I pretended not to know him. Seeing this he drove past us—pulled up a little further down and sprang out to wait for me.
"I was almost afraid I had missed you," he began, as we came up with him. "Perhaps as it is such a fine day you would rather walk than ride?"
"I beg your pardon," I answered, "I'm really afraid you have the advantage of me."
"But you have asked me to lunch with you. You asked me to call a hansom."
"Pardon me again! there you are really mistaken. I said I was going to lunch at the 'Quebec' and asked you if it was far enough to be worth taking a hansom. That is your hansom, not mine. If you don't require it any longer I should advise you to pay the man and let him go."
"You are a swindler, sir. I refuse to pay the cabman. It is your hansom."
I took a step closer to my fine gentleman and looking him full in the face said as quietly as possible, for I didn't want all the street to hear:
"Mr. Dorunda Dodson, let this be a lesson to you. Perhaps you'll think twice next time before you try your little games on me!"
He stepped back as if he had been shot, hesitated a moment, and then jumped into his cab and drove off in the opposite direction. When he had gone I looked at my astonished companion.
"Well, now," he ejaculated at last, "how on earth did you manage that?"
"Very easily," I replied. "I happen to remember having met that gentleman up in our part of the world when he was in a very awkward position—very awkward. By his action just now I should say he has not forgotten the circumstances any more than I have."
"I should rather think not. Good day!"
We shook hands and parted, he going on down the street, while I branched off to my hotel.
That was the first of the only two adventures of any importance that I met with during my stay in New South Wales. And there's not much in that, I fancy I can hear you saying. Well, that may be so, I don't deny it, but it was nevertheless through that that I became mixed up with the folk who figure in this book, and indeed it was to that very circumstance, and that alone, I owe my connection with the queer story I have set myself to tell. And this is how it came about.
Three days before the steamer sailed and about four o'clock in the afternoon, I chanced to be walking down Castlereagh Street, wondering what on earth I should do with myself until dinner-time, when I saw approaching me the very man whose discomfiture I have just described. Being probably occupied planning the plucking of some unfortunate new chum, he did not see me coming towards him. And as I had no desire to meet him again after what had passed between us, I crossed the road and meandered off in a different direction, eventually finding myself located on a seat in the Domain, lighting a cigarette and looking down over a broad expanse of harbour.
One thought led to another, and so I sat on and on, long after dusk had fallen, never stirring until a circumstance occurred on a neighbouring path that attracted my attention. A young and well-dressed lady was pursuing her way in my direction, evidently intending to leave the park by the entrance I had used to come into it. But unfortunately for her, at the junction of two paths to my right, three of Sydney's typical larrikins were engaged in earnest conversation. They had observed the girl coming towards them and were evidently preparing some plan for accosting her. When she was only about fifty yards away, two of them walked to a distance, leaving the third and biggest ruffian to waylay her. He did so, but without success; she passed him and continued her walk at increased speed.
The man thereupon quickened his pace and, secure in the fact that he was unobserved, again accosted her. Again she tried to escape him, but this time he would not leave her. What was worse, his two friends were now blocking the path in front. She looked to right and left and was evidently uncertain what to do. Then seeing escape was hopeless, she stopped, took out her purse, and gave it to the man who had first spoken to her. Thinking this was going too far, I jumped up and went quickly across the turf towards them. My foot steps made no sound on the soft grass, and they were too much occupied in examining what she had given them to notice my approach.
"You scoundrels!" I said, when I had come up with them. "What do you mean by stopping this lady? Let her go instantly, and you my friend, just hand over that purse."
The man addressed looked at me as if he were taking my measure, and were wondering what sort of chance he'd have against me in a fight. But I suppose my height must have rather scared him, for he changed his tone and began to whine.
"I haven't got the lady's purse, s'help me, I ain't! I was only asking of 'er the time, I'll take me davy I was!"
"Hand over that purse," I said sternly, approaching a step nearer to him.
One of the others here intervened.—
"Let's stowch 'im, Dog! There ain't a copper in sight!"
With that they began to close upon me. But, as the saying goes, "I'd been there before." I'd not been knocking about the rough side of the world for nearly fifteen years without learning how to take care of myself. When they had had about enough of it, which was most likely more than they had bargained for, I took the purse and went down the path to where the innocent cause of it all was standing. She was looking very white and scared, but she plucked up courage enough to thank me prettily.
Bless you! I can see her now, standing there looking into my face with big tears in her pretty blue eyes. She was a girl of about twenty-one or two, I should think—tall but slenderly built, with a pretty oval face, bright brown hair, and the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my life. She was dressed in some dark green material, wore a fawn jacket, and because the afternoon was cold, had a boa of marten fur round her neck. I can remember perfectly that her hat was of some flimsy make, with lace and glittering spear points in it; the whole surmounted with two bows, one of black ribbon the other of salmon pink.
"Oh, how can I thank you?" she began when I came up to her. "But for your appearance I don't know what those men might not have done to me."
"I am very glad that I was there to help you," I replied, looking into her face with more admiration for its warm young beauty than perhaps I ought to have shown. "Here is your purse. I hope you will find its contents safe. At the same time will you let me give you a little piece of advice. From what I have seen this afternoon this is evidently not the sort of place for a young lady to be walking in alone and after dark. I don't think I would risk it again if I were you."
She looked at me for a moment and then said:
"You are quite right. I have only myself to thank for it. I met a friend and walked across the green with her—I was on my way back to my carriage—which is waiting for me outside, when I met those men. However I think I can promise you that it will not happen again, as we are leaving Sydney in a day or two."
Somehow I began to feel glad I was booked to leave the place too when I heard that. But of course I didn't tell her so.
"May I see you safely to your carriage? Those fellows may still be hanging about on the chance of overtaking you."
Her courage must have come back to her, for she looked up into my face with a smile.
"I don't think they will be rude to me again after the lesson you have given them. But if you will walk with me I shall be very grateful."
Side by side we proceeded down the path, through the gates and out into the street. A neat brougham was drawn up alongside the kerb and towards this she made her way. I opened the door and held it for her to get in. But before she did so she turned to me and stretched out her little hand.
"Will you tell me your name that I may know to whom I am indebted?"
"My name is Hatteras. Richard Hatteras, of Thursday Island, Torres Straits. I am staying at the 'Quebec.'"
"Thank you, Mr. Hatteras, again and again. I shall always be grateful to you for your gallantry!"
This was attaching too much importance to such a simple action, and I was about to tell her so, when she spoke again.
"I think I ought to let you know who I am. My name is Wetherell, and my father is the Colonial Secretary. I'm sure he will be quite as grateful to you as I am. Good-bye!"
She seemed to forget that we had already shaken hands, for she extended her own a second time. I took it and tried to say something polite, but she stepped into her carriage and shut the door before I could think of anything, and next moment she was being whirled away up the street.
Now old fogies and disappointed spinsters can say what they please about love at first sight. I'm not a romantic sort of person—far from it—the sort of life I had hitherto led was not of a nature calculated to foster that sort of thing. But if I wasn't over head and ears in love when I resumed my walk that evening, well, I've never known what the sensation is.
A daintier, prettier, sweeter little angel surely never walked the earth than the girl I had just been permitted the opportunity of rescuing; and from that moment forward my time slipped by in a rosy mist of enchantment. I seemed to retain the soft pressure of her fingers in mine for hours afterwards, and as a proof of the perturbed state of my feelings I may add that I congratulated myself warmly on having worn that day my new and fashionable Sydney suit instead of the garments in which I had travelled down from Torres Straits, and which I had considered quite good enough for even high days and holidays. That she herself would remember me for more than an hour never struck me as being likely. So it was purely a one-sided matter, as you will conjecture.
Next morning I donned my best suit again, gave myself an extra brush up, and sauntered down town to see if I could run across her in the streets. What reason I had for thinking I should, is more than I can tell you, but at any rate I was not destined to be disappointed. Crossing George Street a carriage passed me and in it sat the girl whose fair image had exercised such an effect upon my mind. That she saw and recognised me was evident by the gracious bow and smile with which she favoured me. Then she passed out of sight and it was a wonder that that minute didn't see the end of my career, for I stood like one in a dream looking in the direction in which she had gone, and it was not until two hansoms and a brewer's wagon had nearly run me down that I realised that it would be safer for me to pursue my meditations on the side walk.
I got back to my hotel at lunch time, and during the progress of that meal a brilliant idea struck me. Supposing I plucked up courage and went to call! Why not? It would be only a polite action to enquire if she were any the worse for her fright. The thought was no sooner born in my brain than I was eager to be off. But it was too early for such a formal business, so I had to cool my heels in the hall for an hour or so. Then, hailing a hansom and enquiring the direction of their house, I drove off to Potts Point. The house was the last in the street—an imposing mansion standing in well-laid-out grounds. The butler answered my ring, and in response to my enquiry dashed my hopes to the ground by informing me that Miss Wetherell was out.
"She's very busy, you see, at present, sir. She and the master leave for England on Friday in the 'Orizaba.'"
"What!" I cried, almost forgetting myself in my astonishment. "You don't mean to say Miss Wetherell goes to England in the 'Orizaba'?"
"I do, sir. And I do hear she's goin' 'ome to be presented at Court, sir!"
"Ah! Thank you. Will you give her my card, and say I hope she is none the worse for her fright last evening?"
He took the card and a substantial tip with it, and I went back to my cab in the seventh heaven of delight. I was to be shipmates with this lovely creature! For six weeks or more I should be able to see her every day! It seemed almost too good to be true. Instinctively I began to make all sorts of plans and arrangements. Who knew but what—but stay, we must bring ourselves up here with a round turn or we shall be anticipating what's to come.
To make a long story short—for it must be remembered that what I am telling you is only to lead up to all the extraordinary things that will have to be told later on—the day of sailing came. I went down to the boat on the morning of her departure, and got my baggage safely stowed away in my cabin before the rush set in. My cabin mate was to join me in Adelaide, so for the first few days of the voyage I should be alone.
About three o'clock we hove our anchor and steamed slowly down the Bay. It was a perfect afternoon, and the Harbour, with its myriad craft of all nationalities and sizes, the blue water backed by stately hills, presented a scene the beauty of which would have appealed to the mind of the most prosaic. I had been below when the Wetherells arrived on board, so the young lady had not yet become aware of my presence. Whether she would betray any astonishment when she did find out was beyond my power to tell; at any rate I know that I was by a long way the happiest man aboard the boat that day. However, I was not to be kept long in suspense. Before we had reached the Heads it was all settled, and satisfactorily so. I was standing on the promenade deck, just abaft the main saloon entrance, watching the moving panorama stretched before me, when I heard a voice I recognised only too well saying behind me:
"And so good-bye to you, dear old Sydney. Great things will have happened when I set eyes on you again."
Little did she know how prophetic her words were. As she spoke I confronted her. For a moment she turned, overwhelmed with surprise, then, stretching out her hand, said:
"Really, Mr. Hatteras, this is most wonderful. You are the last person I expected to meet on board the 'Orizaba.'"
"And perhaps," I replied, "I might with justice say the same of you. It looks as if we are going to be fellow travellers."
She turned to a tall white-bearded man beside her.
"Papa, I must introduce you to Mr. Hatteras. You will remember that I told you how kind Mr. Hatteras was to me when those larrikins were rude to me in the Domain."
"I am sincerely obliged to you, Mr. Hatteras," he said, holding out his hand and shaking mine heartily. "My daughter did tell me, and I called yesterday at your hotel to thank you personally, but you were unfortunately not at home. Are you visiting Europe?"
"Yes, I'm going home to sell some pearls and to see the place where my father was born."
"Are you then, like myself, an Australian native? I mean, of course, as you know, Colonial born?" asked Miss Wetherell with a little laugh. The idea of her calling herself an Australian native. The very notion seemed preposterous.
"I was born at sea, a degree and a half south of Mauritius, so I don't exactly know what you would call me. I hope you have comfortable cabins?"
"Very. We have made two or three voyages in this boat before, and we always take the same places. And now, papa, we must really go and see where poor Miss Thompson is. We are beginning to feel the swell and she'll be wanting to go below. Good-bye for the present, Mr. Hatteras."
I raised my cap and watched her walk away down the deck, balancing herself as if she had been accustomed to a heaving plank all her life. Then I turned to watch the fast receding shore, and to my own thoughts, which were none of the saddest, I can confidently assure you. For it must be confessed, and why should I deny it? that I was in love from the soles of my deck shoes to the cap upon my head. But as to the chance that I, a humble pearler, would stand with one of Sydney's wealthiest and most beautiful daughters why that's another matter, and one that, for the present, I was anxious to keep behind me.
Within the week we had left Adelaide behind us, and four days later Albany was also a thing of the past. By the time we had cleared the Lewin we had all settled down to our life aboard ship, the bad sailors were beginning to appear on deck again, and the medium voyagers to make various excuses for their absences from meals. It was plainly evident that Miss Wetherell was the belle of the ship. Everybody paid her attention from the skipper downwards. And this being so, I prudently kept out of the way myself, for I had no desire to be thought to presume on our previous acquaintance. Whether she noticed this I cannot say, but at any rate her manner to me when we did speak was more cordial than I had any right or reason to expect. Seeing this, there were not wanting people on board who scoffed and sneered at the idea of the Colonial Secretary's daughter noticing so humble a person as myself, and when it became known what my exact social position was, I promise you these malicious whisperings did not cease.
One evening, two or three days after we had left Colombo behind us, I was standing at the rails on the promenade deck a little abaft the smoking-room entrance, when Miss Wetherell came up and took her place beside me. She looked very dainty and sweet in her evening dress, and I felt, if I had known her better, I should have liked to have told her so.
"Mr. Hatteras," said she, when we had discussed the weather and the sunset, "I have been thinking lately that you desire to avoid me."
"Heaven forbid! Miss Wetherell," I hastened to reply. "I don't know what can have put such a notion into your head?"
"All the same, I believe it to be true. Now, why do you do it?"
"I have not admitted that I do do it. But, perhaps, if I seem to deny myself the pleasure of being with you as much as some other people I could mention, it is only because I fail to see what pleasure you can derive from my society."
"That is a very pretty speech," she answered smiling, "but it does not tell me what I want to know."
"And what is it you want to know, my dear young lady?"
"I want to know why it is you are so much changed towards me. At first we got on splendidly—you used to tell me of your life in Torres Straits, of your trading ventures in the Southern Seas, and even of your hopes for the future—now all that is changed. It is 'Good morning, Miss Wetherell,' 'Good evening, Miss Wetherell,' and that is all. I must own I don't like such treatment."
"I must crave your pardon—but—"
"No, we won't have any 'buts.' If you want to be forgiven, you must come and talk to me more. You will like the rest of the people I'm sure when you get to know them. They are very kind to me."
"And you think I shall like them for that reason?"
"No, no. How silly you are. But I do want you to be friendly."
After that there was nothing for it but for me to push myself into a circle where I had the best reasons for knowing that half its members did not want me. However, it had its good side. I saw more of Miss Wetherell; so much more that I began to see her father did not quite approve of it. But, whatever he may have thought, he said nothing to me on the subject.
A fortnight or so later we were at Aden, leaving that barren rock about four o'clock, and entering the Red Sea the same evening. The Suez Canal passed through, and Port Said behind us, we were in the Mediterranean, and for the first time in my life I stood in Europe.
At Naples the Wetherells were to say good-bye to the boat, and continue the rest of their journey across the Continent. As the hour of separation came closer I must own I began to dread it more and more. And somehow, I fancy, she was not quite as happy as she used to be. You will ask what grounds I had for believing that a girl like Miss Wetherell would feel any interest in me—and it is a question I can no more answer than I can fly. And yet, when I came to think it all out, I was not without my hopes.
We were to reach port the following morning. The night was very still, the water almost unruffled. Somehow it came about that Miss Wetherell and I found ourselves together in the same sheltered spot where she had spoken to me before. The stars in the east were just paling preparatory to the rising of the moon. I glanced at my companion as she leant against the rails scanning the quiet sea, and noticed the sweet wistfulness of her expression. Then, suddenly, a great desire came over me to tell her of my love. Surely, even if she could not return it, there would be no harm in letting her know how I felt towards her. For this reason I drew a little closer to her side.
"And so, Miss Wetherell, to-morrow we are to bid each other good-bye, never, perhaps, to meet again."
"Oh, no, Mr. Hatteras, we won't say that. Surely we shall see something of each other somewhere. The world is very tiny after all."
"To those who desire to avoid each other, perhaps, but for those who wish to find it is still too large."
"Well, then, we must hope for the best. Who knows but that we may run across each other in London. I think it is very probable."
"And will that meeting be distasteful to you?" I asked, quite expecting that she would answer with her usual frankness. But to my surprise she did not speak, only turned half away from me. Had I offended her?
"Miss Wetherell, pray forgive my rudeness. I ought to have known I had no right to ask you such a question."
"And why shouldn't you?" she replied, this time turning her sweet face towards me. "No, Mr. Hatteras, I will tell you frankly, I should very much like to see you again."
With that all the blood in my body seemed to rush to my head. Could I be dreaming? Or had she really said she would like to see me again? I would try my luck now whatever came of it.
"You cannot think how pleasant our intercourse has been to me," I said. "And now I have to go back to my loneliness again."
"But you should not say that, you have your work in life!"
"Yes, but what is that to me when I have no one to work for? Can you conceive anything more awful than my loneliness? Remember I am absolutely without kith and kin as far as I know. There is not a single soul to care for me in the whole world—not one to whom my death would be a matter of the least concern."
"Oh, don't—don't say that!"
Her voice faltered so that I turned from the sea and contemplated her.
"It is true, Miss Wetherell, bitterly true."
"It is not true. It cannot be true!"
"If only I could think it would be some little matter of concern to you I should go back to my work with a happier heart."
Again she turned her face from me. My arm lay beside hers upon the bulwarks, and I could feel that she was trembling. Brutal though it may seem to say so, this gave me fresh courage. I said slowly, bending my face a little towards her:
"Would it affect you, Phyllis?"
One little hand fell from the bulwarks to her side, and as I spoke I took possession of it. She did not appear to have heard my question, so I repeated it. Then her head went down upon the bulwarks, but not before I had caught the whispered "yes" that escaped her lips.
Before she could guess what was going to happen, I had taken her in my arms and smothered her face with kisses. Nor did she offer me any resistance. I knew the whole truth now. She was mine, she loved me—me—me—me! The whole world seemed to re-echo the news, the very sea appeared to ring with it, and just as I learned from her own dear lips the story of her love, the great moon rose as if to listen. Can you imagine my happiness, my delight? She was mine, my very own! Bound to me by all the bonds of love. Oh, happy hour! Oh, sweet delight!
I pressed her to my heart again and again. She looked into my face and then away from me, her sweet eyes suffused with tears, then suddenly her expression changed. I turned to see what ailed her, and to my discomfiture discovered her father stalking along the silent deck towards us.
Whispering to her to leave us, she sped away, and I was left alone with her angry parent. That he was angry I judged from his face; nor was I wrong.
"Mr. Hatteras," he said severely, "pray what does this mean? How is it I find you in this undignified position with my daughter?"
"Mr. Wetherell, I can see that an explanation is due to you. Just before you came up I was courageous enough to tell your daughter that I loved her. She has been generous enough to inform me that she returns my affection. And now the best course for me to pursue is to ask your permission to make her my wife."
"You presume, sir, upon the service you rendered my daughter in Sydney. I did not think you would follow it up in this fashion."
"Your daughter is free to love whom she pleases, I take it," I said, my temper, fanned by the tone he adopted, getting a little the better of my judgment. "She has been good enough to promise to marry me—if I can obtain your permission. Have you any objection to raise?"
"Only one, and that is insuperable! Understand me, I forbid it once and for all! In every particular without hope of change—I forbid it!"
"As you must see it is a matter which affects the happiness of my whole life, I feel sure you will be good enough to tell me why?"
"I must decline any discussion on the matter at all. You have my answer, I forbid it!"
"This is to be final, then. I am to understand that you are not to be brought to change your mind by any actions of mine?"
"No, sir, I am not! What I have said is irrevocable. The idea is not to be thought of for a moment. Your conduct towards my daughter on board this ship has been very distasteful to me. I have the honour to wish you a very good evening."
"Stay, Mr. Wetherell," I said as he turned to go. "You have been kind enough to favour me with your views. Now I will give you mine. Your daughter loves me. I am an honest and an industrious man, and I love her with my whole heart and soul. I tell you now, and though you decline to treat me with proper fairness, I give you warning, I intend to marry her if she will still have me—with your consent or without it!"
"You are insolent, sir."
"I assure you I have no desire to be. I endeavour to remember that you are her father, though I must own you lack her sense of what is fair and right."
"I will not discuss the question any further with you. You know my absolute decision. Good-night!"
"Good-night!"
With anger and happiness struggling in my breast for the mastery, I paced that deck for hours. My heart swelled with joy at the knowledge that my darling loved me, but it sank like lead when I considered the difficulties that threatened us if her father persisted in his present determination. At last, just as eight bells was striking (twelve o'clock), I went below to my cabin. My fellow-passenger was fast asleep—a fact that I was grateful for when I discovered propped against my bottle-rack a tiny envelope with my name inscribed upon it. Tearing it open I read the following:—
"My own Dearest,
"My father has just informed me of his interview with you. I cannot understand it or ascribe a reason for it. But whatever happens, remember that I will be your wife, and the wife of no other.
"May God bless and keep you always.
"P. S.—You must let me know your address in London."
With such a letter under my pillow, can it be doubted that my dreams were good? How little I guessed the troubles to which this introduction was destined to be the prelude!