All Aboard: A Story for Girls Page 8

  CHAPTER VIII.

  NIGHTMARE AND GOSSIP.

  I think it must have been half nightmare, or perhaps too much frozenpudding at dinner, after the long warm tramp up Gibraltar's steepsides; at any rate it all happened just as I tell you. Hope retiredsomewhat earlier than the rest, leaving Faith in the saloon, where thepassengers were enjoying an impromptu concert given by a Romany man andhis two daughters, who had come on board at Gibraltar to exhibit theirskill with mandolin, tambourine, voice, and guitar.

  It grew a bit monotonous and shrill, after the novelty wore off, and asHope had become interested in a book some one had lent her, which toldabout the old pirates of Algiers and their traffic in Christian slaves,she stole away to her stateroom, slipped into a loose gown, and turningon the electric light at her bedhead, settled down for an enjoyableevening.

  It proved to be a blood-curdling narrative, filled with the accounts ofhelpless crews butchered by pirates and their passengers, men, women,and children carried off in chains, to be sold as slaves in the wickedold Algerian city. Yet, though so thrilling, she was very tired, andin time it was difficult to keep her place and realize just what it wasall about. Half mechanically, at last, she turned off the light andlay back on her pillow where, in less time than it takes to tell it,she was sound asleep. Still, however, the pirates of her book mingledwith her dreams, which were so horrible she struggled intowakefulness--to find herself drenched with perspiration while shiveringwith horror. Anxious for companionship to counteract the effect ofthese evil visions, she reached out an arm to the other little bed andwhispered, "Faith!"

  With a shock she discovered that the bed was smooth and empty; it hadnot been occupied. At the same instant she became aware of whisperingvoices just without the porthole above her bed, and a sentence or twoproved they were not English-speaking voices, either, but those oforientals, of whom, as you know, there were many on shipboard. Atfirst she could not understand a word, they spoke so low and rapidly,but presently she heard with clearness the sentence,

  "But ee mus' be kill eef she do care! It can no be help, now."

  Then more whispers, and then again, distinctly, one urging the other toattend to the matter at once, the quicker the better, "foh eet gottabe," and a word or two about the "Capitan Sahib," which she could notcatch.

  But, in her abnormal, excited state, she had heard enough. Tremblingfrom the tragedies of sleep, she thought she had fallen into thegreater ones of reality. These men were going to kill somebody--and"she" was to feel dreadfully about it. It must be that the "CapitanSahib" was to fall a victim to their mutinous designs!

  Almost paralyzed with horror she lay still an instant, incapable ofmovement, then there was a rushing back of suspended animation as shefelt that Faith might already have suffered, that her father's life wasnow in danger and there was not an instant to lose. Upon her promptaction might depend his life, and the safety of all on board.

  Casting off her own terror with the resolve of desperation, she sprangup and sped into the cabin. It was dark and empty. She passed throughit into the little stateroom, and with a whispered, "Papa! Papa!" feltalong the bunk. It too was empty and untumbled.

  Oh, was she too late?

  Still under the mental influence that made her believe hours must havepassed during her dreamings, she felt it must be nearing morningnow--that it was the depth of the night, in those darkest watches whenall evil deeds are done, and she was stiff and cold with terror. Sheslipped out upon the deck, lying still and shadowy under its awnings,sped across it like a shadow herself, and so on and up to the bridge.

  Her father, calmly talking with one of his officers, saw the swift,silent rush, and the next instant heard an agonized, "O father!father!" as the poor child threw herself into his arms, Then, clingingtightly, she broke out again before he could speak.

  "Oh, save sister! Be quick and save her!"

  "Save her? What--where--what ails you, child? What has happened?"

  "And save yourself! Get the men together--the white men--"

  "My child, are you asleep? What is the matter--where have you been?Why, you are shaking like a leaf!"

  He drew her to one side, and the officer discreetly vanished. Hopebegged again, "Save her, oh, save Faith!"

  "Faith? Aren't you Faith? I thought you were. Is this my dauntlessHope, then? Why, how strange! Tell me everything."

  "It's those awful Lascars, papa. I've always been afraid of them, theylook so big and black. They're planning to kill somebody--to killyou--and Faith is gone already."

  "Gone? What nonsense is this? She's in the cabin, likely. You musthave a nightmare, Hope!"

  "But isn't it most morning, papa?"

  "Not anywhere near it--nor midnight either. Faith is somewhere about,and as for killing--absurd! This isn't one bit like you, child.Haven't you been dreaming?"

  She told him then of her horrible awakening, and repeated the talk shehad heard below the porthole.

  "Humph!" he said. "You're mistaken in their designs, but theycertainly had no business in that part of the ship. I must see aboutthat. Come; I'll take you in and hunt up sister." This was said in arather loud voice, made stern by his surprise and annoyance. In amoment it softened. "There, there, don't tremble so, my child; it'sall right, and everybody is safe enough."

  He led her into the cabin, quickly flooded it with electric light, and,summoning a boy, sent him for Mrs. Jordan, who soon appeared. Brieflymentioning that his daughter had a slight chill and he would leave herto look after the child, he started off. Hope was scarcely tucked upagain when her sister came in, looking rather conscious, and blushing alittle.

  "Are you ill, dear?" she cried. "Papa said you had a nightmare and achill. He is quite upset, and a little cross."

  "Oh, where have you been?" returned Hope reproachfully. "I was sofrightened when I found you gone."

  "Gone? Why, I haven't been in, yet. You went to bed so early, Hope!It's only about half-past ten. I've been walking the deck--it's alovely night, as soft and warm as can be."

  "With Dwight?" asked Hope languidly, for in Martha Jordan's practisedhands she was growing warm and drowsy again.

  "N-no, not Dwight," answered Faith hesitantly. "I'll tell you about itsoon. Here comes papa."

  She opened the door into his cabin, and gave a cry of horrifiedsurprise. "Oh, oh! how did it happen?"

  "What?" shrieked Hope, all nerves again.

  "There! Be quiet now," said her father, and entered quickly, carryinga limp little bundle of fawn and white.

  "Hafiz! It's Hafiz! What has happened? Is he dead?"

  "I'm afraid he is. Your Lascars turned out to be our Mohammedans, Huriand his brother, two as faithful creatures as I have on board. Itseems Hafiz, for some reason, found himself weary of first-cabinpassage, so made his way into the fo'castle, where a dog belonging toone of the men took after him, and hurt him badly. Huri found him andsaw he must be finished, but hated to do it, and, with his brother, wasdiscussing the matter while looking for you girls. Faith, where haveyou been this last hour or so?"

  The girl's eyes were flooded with tears for her lost pet, andinvoluntarily his face softened as he turned to her. She flushed alittle, but answered at once, "On the upper deck, sir."

  "Ah! that was you then? I saw the couple promenading there. Well,well, you'd better keep with your sister after this, and look afteryour own passengers," with a glance at the dead cat, "instead of mine,eh? Now, now, Hope, don't cry so!" for, quite worn out by all thisexcitement, the girl was sobbing in a somewhat hysterical manner.

  "Yes, that's enough!" cried Martha in her hearty way. "No use cryingover spilled milk, nor dead pets--even when they're Persian cats.You'll find there are one or two more in the world, I guess. Now justcuddle down there and keep still, or we'll have to give you a dose ofsomething to quiet you, and it's bitter stuff to take, I can tell you.Perhaps, if you'll just curl in beside her, Miss Faith, she'll easedown sooner."

&nbs
p; The stewardess was right, for when Hope felt her twin's tender armsabout her she soon grew quiet, and as soon as they were alone whisperedwith much interest, "But who was with you on deck, Faith?"

  "Well I'll tell you, and it's nothing to make such a fuss over, either.Do you remember that young officer we saw bidding his mother and sistergood-by at Portsmouth--the ones that were so quiet about it?"

  "Oh, yes; and his sweetheart too."

  "No, that was his cousin, who lives with them. I got acquainted withhim to-night, and he is a real gentleman. We were walking up and down,and he was telling me about his people, and his service in India. Heis to be a sort of traveling officer to take out recruits, you see.He's delighted with the appointment, but his father was lost in amonsoon on the Indian Ocean, a few years ago, and it nearly killed hismother to let him go--she is sort of superstitious about it. Don't youremember how she fainted?"

  "Yes, indeed. Poor lady! And he is nice, is he?"

  "Yes and intelligent, but bashful. He said he had often watched us,and can never tell us apart, but he thinks he'll be able to, afterthis."

  "Oh, he does?" giggled Hope. "I'll wager I could fool him any day, ifI tried. Well, you gave me a nice fright while you were having such agood time," and thereupon she told her tale as you have just heard it,and so short a step is it from tragedy to comedy, especially in youth,that they both laughed over it until they fell asleep.

  Meanwhile, on deck, a watchful father saw a young man standing near thegunwale in idle contemplation of the horizon, and accosted him with apleasant word to which the other responded with readiness, though hismanner was somewhat diffident. The two talked some time, the older manbecoming more and more interested in a youth who, with a real manlinessof character, was yet as bashful as a schoolboy. Before theconversation ended Captain Hosmer was convinced there was not only "noharm in the fellow," but that he was a young man worth cultivating,and, as he finally left him, chuckled to himself.

  "Ah! these girls. They require an awful sight of looking after, butsometimes their instincts are as good as our judgments. Faith is alittle woman with her mother's own purity. How she used to worry forfear I should grow hard and wicked in my rough life. Ah! my Helen,wherever you are, to-night, know that I am trying to keep myselfsteering straight for the Port that you have reached--and, God helpingme, I will bring the babies safe along, too!"

  He bowed his head on his hands a minute, and the old steersman,watching him, thought, with affectionate sympathy.

  "The capt'n's tired to-night, and no wonder. Wish he'd turn in and geta good rest for once, Never saw a man so faithful, bless him! Gladhe's got them nice little girls to make him brace up thesedays--sometimes I think as he's getting old too fast."

  The next morning the twins were late in rising only to find it asummer's day, apparently, so balmy indeed that the deck seemed to beblossoming out into a flower-bed, as group after group of ladiesappeared in gay lawns and organdies, while all the Mohammedan helperswere busy stretching double awnings where there had been single ones,or none at all, and rigging up the punkahs in the saloons. These oddfans, which England has borrowed, name and all, from her East Indiancolonies, were, on the "International," tricolored (red, white, andblue) strips of cloth, stretched over light wire frames of arectangular shape, which were attached to the ceiling and also, bymeans of a long rope, to a black-eyed Bengali boy who sat just outsidethe door, on deck, and kept them waving by a slow, constant jerk andpull, which was so regular that Faith declared the boy slept half thetime, and possibly she was right. The ocean lay peacefully about them,its color almost an indigo, so deeply blue was it in the shadow of thevessel, but out a little way silvered by the vertical sun, which shonewith a blinding splendor that made colored eye-glasses a relief to thedazzled vision.

  It is in such weather that mischief breeds on shipboard, and gossip isrife. The idle passengers, by this time mostly on speaking terms,begin to let the common metal of their real make-up show through thenickel-plating of the first interchange of courtesies.

  There was a group whom our special friends had not yet mingled withquite freely, though always meeting them in pleasant fashion, but aseverybody clustered sociably on the forward deck, this morning, anxiousto catch the ship's own breeze, if no other, they might naturallybecome better acquainted. Of these only a few affect our littlehistory, therefore need description; first, a mother and two daughtersgoing out to the husband and father in India. Mrs. Windemere was alittle woman with an habitually scared expression and retiring manner,but her daughters, both well towards thirty, must have taken after thefather, for they were domineering with her and self-assertiveeverywhere. They claimed relationship with some person who bore atitle, and were given to talking a good deal about their aristocraticrelatives, and they dressed conspicuously, demanded constant attentionfrom any gentlemen present, and were full of news and rumors.

  With them was a young woman of like age, whom they familiarly calledZaidee, who had spent much time in India, and had caught its languor,possibly. She was more agreeable in manner and pretended indifferenceto all that the "girls," as she called them, were interested in;dressed quietly, but in excellent taste, and talked in her dreamy,drawling voice in a way that seemed to interest all who listened,especially the gentlemen, who were usually grouped around her chairwhenever she appeared on deck. There were plenty of these, from Indianofficials of rank to subalterns and young gentlemen of fortune, eitherwith or without tutors, but who seemed much more interested inflirtations than scenery.

  English girls do not, as a rule, assume the airs of womanhood so earlyas do many American maidens--to their credit be it said--and neitherHope nor Faith had ever thought of considering themselves young ladies.Though nearing eighteen their gowns were still of ankle length andtheir hair in simple braids, while, as we have seen, they enjoyedfrolicking with Dwight as if not a day older. Elizabeth Vanderhoff,too, though two years older, was still a girl at heart, and had not yetdiscovered that no company was complete without its young men.

  The officer who had been walking with Faith, last night, was also aboyish fellow, fair and fresh of face and had been more attracted toour girls and their frolics than to the older young ladies, with moresocial airs and graces. Though Faith had felt somewhat confused, lastnight, at her father's raillery, her meeting and talk with the modestyoung fellow was innocent enough, in intention, had there been no oneto misconstrue it, but in a carping world we must learn to avoid eventhe appearance of evil.

  It happened that the little disturbance caused by Hope's bad dreams hadnot been quite unnoted, and was to bring rather disagreeableconsequences, as we shall see. But, this morning, there was no hint oftrouble in the air and, gathered under the deck awnings, the passengerspresented a scene pretty and peaceful enough.

  Faith, industriously inclined, was at work on a piece of embroidery,Hope had the piratical book in her hand, but was leaning idly back,watching Mrs. Vanderhoff, who was playing with one of the little tots,and visiting in desultory fashion with Bess, who was trying a newstitch in crochet and interposed a count, or two, between syllables.The Windemere family, all with their work, except Mrs. Campbell, whonever seemed to have anything to do, were at a little distance--the twoyoung ladies talking to the distinguished traveler previouslymentioned, who seemed a trifle bored, and Mrs. Campbell being talked toby a couple of government attaches, whose boyish laughter rang outfrequently.

  Presently, the officer of Faith's acquaintance, whose name wasCarnegie, came towards the former group and bashfully bade her agood-morning which she brightly returned, hastening to present him toher sister and friends. Soon they were all in animated chat, and theyoung attaches in Mrs. Campbell's vicinity began to look that way withsomewhat longing glances.

  At length one of them, with some light excuse, sauntered away from herside, made a slow tour of the deck, and finally drew near our threegirls; saying in passing.

  "I've been looking for you, Carnegie."

  The other, no
t having noticed the by-play, turned with a smile, andreplied,

  "Have you? I've been down among my men most of the morning. One ofthe poor fellows is ill. Not seasick, you understand, but a fever, I'mafraid." Then as the schemer came to a stop he said bashfully, "May Ipresent Mr. Donelson, ladies?" and introductions followed.

  Naturally Mr. Donelson was pleased at his success, and flung a laughingglance of triumph back at his comrade, who still sat at the lady'sfeet, though he, too, was beginning to fidget and look about for a wayof escape. Mrs. Campbell had seen all with eyes that seemed to noticenothing, and was indignant enough, for she was inordinately vain, anddesired attention even from boys, if no other was forthcoming. To haveany one preferred before her was gall to her foolish pride. Besidesthe traveler, whom she was inclined to make a hero of, had seen, too,and though pretending still to talk to the Misses Laura and JanetWindemere, his eyes were twinkling with appreciation.

  Mrs. Campbell was not a malicious woman, unless thwarted in her ownplans; then she could be absolutely pitiless, and cared for neithertruth nor justice in carrying out her spiteful revenges. Ridicule wassomething she could not endure, and to feel herself slighted made afury of her. Yet her outward self-control was perfect. Now, with adreamy look in her large blue-gray orbs, she gazed out to seaward, andremarked as if in a ruminant mood,

  "I think, take them all together, we have a rather stupid set ofpassengers, this trip, don't you, Mr. Allyne?"

  "I don't know," returned the attache, "are they? Fact is, I haven'tmade much headway with the ladies yet, but the men are jolly enough inthe smoking-room--without being too jolly, you understand."

  "Oh, of course; they are mostly gentlemen, I presume. Indeed I'vescarcely noticed them, myself"--"Ah! Mrs. Campbell!"--"with a fewexceptions of course," giving him an effective glance. "But the girlsare not much to boast of. That Miss Vanderhoff is positively homely."

  "Do you think so? I know she has no special beauty to attract one, butshe looks bright and good-tempered, I'm sure, and I like her voice,don't you?"

  "Not too well. Those American voices are not to my taste. Theythreaten my ear-drums."

  "Do you call hers sharp, though, Mrs. Campbell? It's clear, I know,and decided, but----"

  She waved the subject aside, as if it were not worth discussing longer,and asked,

  "What do you think of the twinnies?"

  Her tone, though laughingly contemptuous, was gentleness itself, andyoung Allyne looked up, rather puzzled.

  "Why, they seem nice, sweet girls; don't you think so?"

  "One can't always tell by looks," was the ambiguous reply, and then shebegan to laugh, as if in great amusement over some recollection.

  Meanwhile the Windemere girls and the traveler had turned and werelistening, as Mrs. Campbell meant they should.

  "What pleases you, Zaidee?" asked Laura, the older, settling hereyeglasses anew, the better to gaze at her friend.

  "Oh, an amusing incident that occurred last night. I happened to see apart, and easily drew the rest out of Mr. Frazer by adroit questioning,for, I assure you, it made me curious."

  Mr. Frazer was the purser, and the one who had stood talking withCaptain Hosmer when Hope ran out to him, the night before.

  "What is it?" asked both girls in a breath, and the traveler added,with a laugh,

  "Yes, indeed, if any one knows anything funny on shipboard it is abounden duty to tell it."

  "Well, I hardly know whether you could call this funny, ortragic--perhaps serio-comic is the word," returned Mrs. Campbell in hersmooth little drawl, with its expression of amused indifference, whichalways stimulated the interest of the listener. "It was exciting,anyhow. Somewhere well along towards midnight, last evening, a certainyoung lady--a mere girl indeed--was promenading the deck with a strangeyoung man, when her sister, probably knowing the girl's propensities,rose from her bed, rushed out to her father, who was at his post,"--shecast an eye upward towards the bridge--"and begged of him to 'savesister,' upon which, rather sternly, he marched her back to her cabinand, hunting up the other one, took her from her escort and led herinside also, where I imagine there was a scene. At any rate thestewardess was busy in there for some time, and when I asked what hadhappened, she said, 'Only hysterics, ma'am; they're common enough.'But as I happened to know where she was, and what had just happened, Idid not treat the matter so lightly. Of course it was an exaggerationof the other girl, but it showed that some people who seem veryinnocent will bear looking after. Too bad that pretty girls must spoileverything by being vain and--well, careless! But the two I mentionare very unconventional."

  The Windemeres, mother and daughters, listened with groans of horror,the attache with a troubled look, and the traveler with a gravity thatwas almost stern. Quite unnoted by the absorbed group, another alsoheard, for Lady Moreham, seemingly absorbed in a book and hidden bysome projection of the deck, had dropped the volume and was scowlingsavagely. She was not taken with these young women, for at first theyhad distinctly snubbed her, and later, having learned her title, had sosuddenly changed to fawning and flattery that she was thoroughlydisgusted.

  After an instant the traveler spoke abruptly,

  "Do you say you heard and saw this _yourself_, Mrs. Campbell?"

  "A part of it--yes, sir." How small a part she did not mention. "Therest was made comprehensible by Mr. Frazer's explanation."

  "I cannot believe that one of the ship's officers would speak ill ofthe captain's daughters, madam--and that you refer to them we allunderstand."

  "Speak ill? Oh, he did not--and who has, indeed? Ill? What can youmean? I merely mentioned it as a funny, melodramatic sort ofperformance, just like a foolish little girl. Of course there wasnothing really out of the way, only a bit of imprudence--and without amother, or chaperone, what can one expect?"

  "You speak of what I was about to mention; they have no mother. Thatis enough to make any older woman feel it her motherly duty to guardand counsel them, I'm sure," was the calm reply. "We all must agree onthat."

  "Yes, indeed!" ventured Mrs. Windemere in her small voice. "Poor youngthings."

  "I don't think they seem to need your pity, mother!" cried Janetsharply, looking across at the merry group, in which were the Hosmersisters. "Not in that way, at any rate."

  "And," added Mrs. Campbell with an exaggerated drawl, "we who are notof an age to look upon them in a motherly light may not appreciate allthose feelings. They amuse me, to be sure, but I had scarcely thoughtof adopting them."

  "Nor their father, either?" put in the attache clumsily, hoping toraise a laugh and dispel the thunder in the air. But he only drew thelightning upon himself. She gave him one look that silenced him, and,lifting the fan in her lap, said languidly,

  "How very warm it is! Strange how little the most of us understand thenecessity of fitting our conversation to the weather, if we would beagreeable. Discussions and personalities, if ever allowable, are onlysuited to a zero temperature. Have you noticed the flying-fish, thismorning? How delightful it must be to plunge into that cool waterto-day! I wonder if they fly out into the heat just for the fun ofcooling off afterwards?"

  "Quite a suggestion, Mrs. Campbell!" laughed the traveler. "I believeI'll try it," and, bowing lightly, with a flash of the eyes that mether own in quick defiance, he turned away.

  As he passed around the bulkhead screening Lady Moreham, she rose andsaid in a low voice,

  "I want to thank you! Many a life has been ruined by baseinsinuations. A vain woman's tongue is a merciless weapon. I like thelittle sisters, and believe them pure-hearted children. It was wicked!"

  He bowed.

  "I agree with you, my lady. But you see they are monopolizing theattention to-day, which is a social crime!" and, with a sarcasticsmile, he passed on.

  Meanwhile, undreaming of this "capful of wind" that might become atornado, our girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves in a lively, whollyunsentimental way, pleased with the company and their
own happy youth;and not suspecting that in this same soft, silky atmosphere whichbreeds both the exquisite Paradise-bird and the deadly cobra, might befound, not only friendliness, but also that "envy, malice, anduncharitableness" which the honest-hearted are least able to guardagainst, in their utter lack of comprehension.