“I gently took the girl’s outstretched hands and led her back to the cushioned transom. Then I told her, as kindly as I could, that I did all in my power to save her good mother, but that the crew had mutinied––they had taken possession of the unfortunate ship––great confusion existed––and as I feared, you know, that my own boat would be swamped by remaining longer alongside, I was compelled to leave her to her fate.
“‘But my mother, señor!’ exclaimed the girl, with anguish; ‘she was saved?’
“‘No, señorita,’ I said, ‘she went down with the ship; but the last words she uttered––that is to me––were to invoke a blessing on my head, and to consign all she possessed to my care.’ The poor thing 99 swooned away as I uttered these words, and it was a long time before she came to again. When she did, however, regain consciousness, tears came to her relief, and I did all I could to soothe her distress by telling her that, if the wind came fair, she would in the course of a few days be restored to her father.”
“But the wind didn’t come fair, eh?” broke in Don Ignaçio, “and she didn’t see––”
“No, amigo, the wind held steady from the opposite quarter, and I thought it better not to beat up with a fished fore-mast, and all that––and a––she did not see her father.”
Captain Brand here wet his thin lips with a few sips of wine, said, “Babette, bring coffee!” and resumed his story.
“When the girl became a little more calm I induced her to retire to my stateroom, where I left her to sob herself to sleep. Don’t spill that coffee, Babette, and put the liqueurs on the table. There, that will do, old lady.
“Well, señores, the next morning my pretty prize was too ill to leave her room; but, as I handed her a cup of chocolate through the door curtains, she thanked me with much gratitude for what I had done, and knew that her dear father, the judge, would bless me.”
“So he will,” snarled the one-eyed old rascal, “if he ever catches you, when he draws the black cap over your head.”
“Possibly he may, though perhaps it will be some considerable time before he has that pleasure.”