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they〃 （suddenly recognizing the silence）： 〃Oh； beg pardon； old man；
didn't know I'd chipped into your yarnheave ahead； don't mind me。〃
〃What I am trying to tell you is this： One night； in the Caribbean Sea；
we ran into one of the Leeward Islands； that had been in olden time a
rendezvous for our ship。 We were piloted to our anchorage outside by
my Portuguese friend； who knew the locality thoroughly； and on whose
dexterity and skill we placed the greatest reliance。 If anything more had
been necessary to fix this circumstance in my mind； it would have been
the fact that two or three days before he had assured me that I should
presently have the means of honorable discharge from the pirate's crew；
and a return to my native land。 A launch was sent from the ship to
communicate with our friends on the island； who supplied us with stores；
provisions； and general information。 The launch was manned by eight
men； and officered by the first mate；a grim； Puritanical； practical New
Englander； if I may use such a term to describe a pirate； of great courage；
experience； and physical strength。 My Portuguese friend； acting as pilot；
prevailed upon them to allow me to accompany the party as coxswain。 I
was naturally anxious； you can readily comprehend； to see〃
〃Certainly；〃 〃Of course；〃 〃Why shouldn't you？〃 went round the table。
〃Two trustworthy men were sent ashore with instructions。 We；
meanwhile； lay off the low； palm…fringed beach； our crew lying on their
oars； or giving way just enough to keep the boat's head to the breakers。
The mate and myself sat in the stern sheets； looking shoreward for the
signal。 The night was intensely black。 Perhaps for this reason never
before had I seen the phosphorescence of a tropical sea so strongly marked。
From the great open beyond； luminous crests and plumes of pale fire lifted
themselves； ghost… like； at our bows； sank； swept by us with long；
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shimmering； undulating trails； broke on the beach in silvery crescents； or
shattered their brightness on the black rocks of the promontory。 The whole
vast sea shone and twinkled like another firmament； against which the
figures of our men； sitting with their faces toward us； were outlined darkly。
The grim； set features of our first mate； sitting beside me； were faintly
illuminated。 There was no sound but the whisper of passing waves
against our lap…streak； and the low； murmuring conversation of the men。
I had my face toward the shore。 As I looked over the glimmering
expanse； I suddenly heard the whispered name of our first mate。 As
suddenly； by the phosphorescent light that surrounded it； I saw the long
trailing hair and gleaming shoulders of a woman floating beside us。
Legrande； you are positively drinking nothing。 Lightbody； you are
shirking the Burgundyyou used to like it！〃
He paused； but no one spoke。
〃Ilet me see！ where was I？ Oh； yes！ Well； I saw the woman； and
when I turned to call the attention of the first mate to this fact； I knew
instantly； by some strange instinct； that he had seen and heard her； too。
So； from that moment to the conclusion of our little drama； we were silent；
but enforced spectators。
〃She swam gracefullysilently！ I remember noticing through that
odd； half…weird； phosphorescent light which broke over her shoulders as
she rose and fell with each quiet stroke of her splendidly rounded arms；
that she was a mature； perfectly…formed woman。 I remember； also； that
when she reached the boat； and； supporting herself with one small hand on
the gunwale； she softly called the mate in a whisper by his Christian name；
I had a boyish idea that she wastheererfemale of his specieshis
er natural wife！ I'm boring youam I not？〃
Two or three heads shook violently and negatively。 The youngest；
and； I regret to say； the OLDEST； Miss Jones uttered together
sympathetically； 〃Go onplease； do！〃
〃Thewoman told him in a few rapid words that he had been betrayed；
that the two men sent ashore were now in the hands of the authorities； that
a force was being organized to capture the vessel； that instant flight was
necessary； and that the betrayer and traitor wasmy friend； the Portuguese；
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Fernandez！
〃The mate raised the dripping； little brown hand to his lips； and
whispered some undistinguishable words in her ear。 I remember seeing
her turn a look of ineffable love and happiness upon his grim； set face； and
then she was gone。 She dove as a duck dives； and I saw her shapely head；
after a moment's suspense； reappear a cable's length away toward the
shore。
〃I ventured to raise my eyes to the mate's face； it was cold and
impassive。 I turned my face toward the crew； they were conversing in
whispers with each other； with their faces toward us； yet apparently utterly
oblivious of the scene that had just taken place in the stern。 There was a
moment of silence； and then the mate's voice came out quite impassively；
but distinctly：
〃'Fernandez！'
〃'Aye； aye； sir！'
〃'Come aft andbring your oar with you。'
〃He did so； stumbling over the men； who； engaged in their whispered
yarns； didn't seem to notice him。
〃'See if you can find soundings here。'
〃Fernandez leaned over the stern and dropped his oar to its shaft in the
phosphorescent water。 But he touched no bottom； the current brought the
oar at right angles presently to the surface。
〃'Send it down； man；' said the mate； imperatively； 'down； down。 Reach
over there。 What are you afraid of？ So； steady there； I'll hold you。'
〃Fernandez leaned over the stern and sent the oar and half of his bared
brown arm into the water。 In an instant the mate caught him with one
tremendous potential grip at his elbows； and forced him and his oar head