"She knows that. She knows you're poor, all right. I heard Aunt

Lucinda tell her often. She said you was rich once, an' lost it all,

speculatin' in a mine or something; an' what was the use marryin' a

man who hadn't anything? I don't know, but I think that was why Aunt

Lucinda worked up this trip with Mr. Davidson. He's got money to

burn--look at this yacht, an' everything--an' I know him and Auntie

Lucinda, anyhow, have got it doped out that him an' Auntie Helen's

goin' to get married--even if they ain't now, so far's I know. Anyhow,

our takin' the ship has broke up something. But say, now, Black

Bart----"

"Well, my good leftenant----"

"I got a idea!"

"Indeed?"

"Yep. Looka here, now--why don't you just do like the pirate book

says?"

"How is that?"

"Marry the captive maid your own self?"

I felt my color rise yet more.

"Why, now, that happened right along in them days--pirate chief, he

takes a beautiful maiden captive, an' after makin' all his prisoners

walk the plank but just her, he offers his hand an' fortune. An' lots

of times, somehow, the beautiful maiden she married the ruthless

pirate chief, an' they lived happy ever after. Why don't you?"

"I hadn't thought of that, Jimmy," I said, most mendaciously; "but the

idea has some merit. In fact, we've already started in by taking the

beautiful maiden captive, and, mayhap, yon varlet yet shall walk the

plank, or swear a solemn oath never to wear such waistcoats as these

again. But one thing lacks."

"What?"

"The maiden's consent!"

"No, it don't! They never ast 'em--they just married 'em, that was

all. An' every time, they lived happy ever after. An' they founded

families that----"

"Jimmy!" I raised a hand. "That will do."

"Well, anyhow, I wouldn't pay any attention to Aunt Lucinda about it.

She's strong for yon varlet, for he's got the dough."

"And isn't your Auntie Helena also--but no, on second thought, I will

not ask you that----"

"Why no, sure not--it's better to demand it of her own fair lips, an'

not take no for a answer. They always live happy ever after."

--"Of course, Jimmy."

--"And so would you."

"I know it! I know it!"

"Well, then, why just don't you?"

"Good leftenant, Black Bart will take your counsel into full

advisement. Later, we shall see. Meantime, we must have a care for our

good ship's safety, for none may tell what plans yon varlet may be

laying to circumvent us."

So saying, I sought out Peterson and asked him for his maps and

charts.

There was, as I found by consulting these, a deep bayou, an old river

bed, that ran inland some thirty miles, apparently tapping a rich

plantation country which was not served by the regular river boats.




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