On that night, in the silence of the midwatch, I heard the ’cursed trombone again!
“The Week of Silence” had only added to the vigor and strength of lung that the player exhibited.
I hoped that Fidette was asleep and would not hear her lover’s signal.
I stole stealthily along the deck and looked over the ship’s side, only to discover, as I had feared, Fidette’s pretty head, with its loosened mass of dark hair falling in profusion about her bare shoulders, at her cabin window. I was glad that in the darkness I could not gaze upon her happy face and see again thereon that smile of ecstasy.
There was murder in my heart.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE KANTOON’S DISPLEASURE.
At an early hour the following morning the Happy Shark was put in shipshape for the reception of visitors. Several boats’ crews had been sent during the night to the cook-ship, and had returned laden with provisions that were temptingly placed upon a large table on the upper deck; but neither the guests nor ourselves were expected to touch the food. The Sargassons ring a new change on the Barmecide’s feast. Selfishness with them is a virtue. Charity begins at home.
Very soon strangers began to come on board. It was the one day in all the year when promiscuous visiting among the members of the communities was allowable. Of course, the Kantoon and the chief executive officers of the various ships visited and consulted with each other when occasion required; but each hulk was absolutely the castle of its commanding Kantoon, and he was at liberty to punish by death, if necessary, an intruder whose presence on board was personally distasteful to him.
My heart beat more easily as the long hours of the forenoon wore away without a visit from Fernandez. But, early in the afternoon, a small boat appeared on the Grand Canal, headed in our direction, and I instinctively felt that the oarsman in front was my hated rival. I was right. He came over the side of the ship in a jaunty manner, appearing quite indifferent about the character of his reception. He failed to send the customary bluefish scale to the Kantoon, required by the Sargasson social code. Whether this was a mere oversight or a bit of bravado on Fernandez’s part I never knew.