THE REVELATION
This cry always throws crew and passengers into wild excitement, all of whom now appeared as if by magic on deck. The fog was beginning to break but the water still dashed madly against the sides of the vessel. In the general confusion no one asked how the accident had occurred, but the mate beckoned the captain aside and whispered:
"'Tis the prisoner who is overboard and that passenger," pointing toward Naundorff, "unloosed him. I did not interfere because I did not realize what he was about."
Muttering a curse, Soliviac approached Naundorff.
"What do you mean, Monsieur? In the devil's name, how have you dared to set the prisoner free? Pernies, are you sure that this gentleman—Well, however that be, bind him securely. Now, cock your guns, and if that scoundrel swims near us, send him to the bottom with a bullet through his head."
The sailors leaned over the edge, seeking to distinguish the floating body among the waves which rose more and more furiously. The wind, increasing with the fury of the waves, swept away the clouds and the surface of the sea gleamed almost white. One of the Breton sailors, a kind of wild-cat fellow, with green eyes which saw by night, cried out that a man was floating near the vessel, whereupon four bullets were sent in that direction. Two youths, by name Yvon and Hoel, lowered a canoe and were after the fugitive within ten minutes.
Naundorff, guarded, almost a prisoner, calmly awaited results. René and Amélie stood near him for the purpose of defending him, were it necessary, but they could not conceal their terror and anger at the spy's escape.
"You have undone us, father," said Amélie.
"We struggle vainly," said René. "If that man saves his life, may the sea swallow the rest of us, for we should have a fate more terrible than death. No country of earth could afford a refuge. To what end have I recovered the documents? I, a de Brezé, a Giac, performing the office of a common murderer!"
Naundorff remained silent. Just then there rang out from the watchman a cry: "Ship to the larboard."
The encounter with another vessel is always an important occurrence at sea. At that period the memory was fresh of combats with corsairs, English, French, and Spanish. But the proximity of this ship was a consideration of greater than ordinary gravity, for it signified the probable salvation of the fugitive, whose body now gleamed on the surface.
Soliviac growled:
"I wager that the rascal will be picked up."
Then the ship hove in sight like a black bird, now skimming, now flying, now keeling. She was a schooner somewhat larger than the Polipheme. She could be perfectly discerned, for the night had become clear. The floating man cried out and she slackened speed and flung out a cable. The sailors were about to fire. Soliviac restrained them saying, that they would surely miss their aim and alarm the other vessel. Impotent and raging, the Knights of Liberty beheld the spy's salvation as his nude body gleamed against the schooner's dark side.
"He is saved!" they almost wailed.
"He is receiving a welcome!" growled the sailors as they turned menacingly upon Naundorff, Soliviac the most infuriated of the group. Clutching the watch-maker by the collar, he roared:
"Who are you to liberate prisoners aboard my vessel? Are you that villain's accomplice? Well, by God, you shall suffer the fate reserved for him."
"He deserves it," cried Giacinto. "This man, a stranger to us has been entrusted with our secret. This serves us right for letting others meddle in our business."
Amélie flung herself before her father and de Brezé stood beside her. Soliviac motioned to certain sailors and they immediately overpowered René, tho he struggled hard to free himself.
Up to this time Naundorff had remained silent, but, fearing the consequences to his friend, he advanced, saying:
"Captain, release the Marquis. I shall explain my action. I beg to be heard in the cabin, with only these gentlemen as witnesses," motioning towards the Carbonari. The captain ordered René's release and the party descended the stairway, Soliviac following Naundorff. On reaching the cabin, Louis Pierre and Giacinto stood on each side of the captain, as tho forming a court.
"You are," said Soliviac, addressing Naundorff, "a culprit. On my vessel, I administer justice and hold myself accountable only to God. You have constituted yourself the accomplice of a man condemned to death. As you have set him free, 'tis only justice that you should take his place, for his freedom means the death of the rest of us. But before passing sentence, I shall listen to your defence."
"Permit me to say—" interposed René, but Soliviac interrupted with firmness:
"It is the prisoner who must answer."
Naundorff raised his head and replied: "I neither explain my conduct nor excuse myself, I liberated Volpetti because I had the right to do so."
"The right!" exclaimed the astounded Carbonari, thinking they heard a lunatic.
"Yes, the right," insisted Naundorff. "The right to forgive belongs to the most grievously offended and to none of you has that man brought such evil as to me. Were I to describe what he has made me suffer, you would comprehend the extent of human baseness. But there are no words in which to describe that suffering. He buried me in a dungeon during the best years of my youth; he took my name from me and almost my life; only a few days since he directed the arms of assassins upon me. 'Tis I have the right to forgive him,—I and none other. Be it known to you, Captain Soliviac, that were forgiveness banished from the earth, it should find asylum in my breast. My mission is to forgive; my duty, to prevent, even at the loss of my life, the spilling of a drop of blood. I have finished. Do with me as you will."
The Carbonari exchanged looks; in spite of their resentment, Naundorff awed them. At last, Soliviac, somewhat nonplussed exclaimed:
"The devil, Monsieur! That speech is very fine, but there are times when forgiveness of one man is condemnation to many others. That man's life costs our death."
"And mine also," said Naundorff, tears trickling down his face, "and that of my children."
"He raves!" exclaimed Giacinto. "Have we not listened sufficiently long to the drivelings of a madman? I am sorry for this fine young lady, but our business must be dispatched."
Soliviac assented and then addressed Naundorff:
"We shall believe your story, Monsieur, through an excess of credulity, tho who will assure us that you are not a spy yourself, ingeniously disguised? The case is this: that scoundrel owes you his liberty. How are you to explain that?"
Naundorff moved back, and, with deliberate, majestic dignity, removed his hat, cast off his cloak and stepped into the full light of the cabin's lamp. The three Carbonari, completely taken back, uttered a cry of amazement and uncovered in deference to royalty.