The Lady and the Pirate

L'Olonnois was still all for training the stern-chaser Long Tom (the

Belle Helène's brass yacht cannon) on the enemy, and came to me

presently breathing defiance. "'F I only had any chain shot in the

locker," said he, "beshrew me, but I would pay him well for this! He's

got my Auntie Helen's auntie scared silly."

"And how about your Auntie Helena herself?" I asked of him. Thus far,

he had been guilty of no nepotism whatever, and had treated his auntie

as any other captive maiden, perchance fallen into his ruthless hands.

"Well, she ain't so scared as she is mad, near's I can see," was his

reply. "She sat there when I first drove 'em down-stairs, lookin' at

me, an' she says, 'Jimmy,' says she, 'what's all this foolishness?'

An' she reaches out her hand, an' she offers me candy--she makes awful

nice fudges, too. She knew that wasn't fair! But I says to her.

'Woman, cease all blandishments, for now you are in our power!' An' I

liked that, fer I been in her power long enough. Then she set down,

an' near's I can tell, she got to thinking things over. I know

her--she'll try to get away."

"She has tried to do so, my good leftenant, is trying now. She and

her Auntie Lucinda have thrown over I know not how many bottles

carrying messages. It were only by mere chance yon varlet could escape

coming over some of them. Add this to the fact that yon varlet has got

the king's navy after us, and marry! methinks we have full work cut

out for us. Not that stout heart should falter, good leftenant, eh?"

"We follow Black Bart the Avenger," said L'Olonnois, folding his arms

and frowning heavily. "But say," he added, "what seems funny to me is,

you and my Auntie Helen must of known each other before now."

"Not at all, not at all--that is, but casually, and long years since.

It had long since escaped my mind." I felt myself flushing sadly.

"I'll tell her that--I knew she was mistaken. I was sure she was."

"No! No! Jimmy, you'll tell her nothing of the kind. I only meant----"

"Well, she remembers you, I'm almost sure, an' so does Aunt Lucinda.

Aunt Lucinda, why I've heard her back home tell Auntie Helena about as

good fish in the sea, an' she mustn't bother over a man that's poor.

Was it you, Black Bart? And are you poor?"

"As I stand before you now, Jimmy L'Olonnois, I'm the poorest beggar

in the world," said I. "I have risked my all on one hazard. If I win,

I shall be rich beyond compare. If I fail, I shall be poor indeed."