Randall Parrish - Prisoners of Chance

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"The devil came likewise," he murmured lightly, sinking back upon his
stool. "Begin your paternosters, friend Benteen, or he will fly away
with both of us."

Fortunately these mocking words brought me to my senses quickly enough
to permit dropping upon my knees with back to the door before it swung
wide open. Nor did I trust myself to do aught save mumble inarticulate
and mongrel Latin, until it had been safely closed again. Had I sought
to exercise my wits on this occasion, my companion permitted small
opportunity for words.

"Ah! so it is you, you black-faced Arab?" he exclaimed sneeringly, as
the Commandant of the guard peered curiously in. "Not content to wait
the striking of the ship's bell, you must even interrupt my prayers.
Nice treatment of a gentleman his last night on earth, to push yourself
in between him and the consolations of the holy father. _Sacre_! had I
only a small sword at my side I would write a message across your black
Spanish heart which would teach your master how to guard a French
cavalier safely, and still be decent about it."

It is doubtful whether the officer comprehended this tirade. It was
voiced in French, yet tone and manner must have conveyed much of its
import, for I distinguished a muttered word or so regarding the
unpleasant duty of a soldier, and the length of time the priest had
retained the key, ere the intruder finally backed out closing the door
behind him. I clung to my knees, however, until his retreating
footsteps had died entirely away in the distance; even until De Noyan
addressed me again in his exasperating drawl.

"So, Father, you must now realize, if never before, how highly I value
your ministrations. Faith! never until this hour have I truly enjoyed
the prayers of any _padre_; I knew not what I missed. Still there is
limit even to such pleasure, and it is time now to conclude; I have
heard better Latin in my day, while your provincial accent rasps
painfully upon the ears."

"You made your play quite well, Monsieur," I said shortly, somewhat
mortified he should thus take the leadership out of my hands at the
first symptom of danger. "But there must be something besides
play-acting for us to-night if we get free of this ship. So come now;
do you get into the box?"

He looked down at it doubtfully, with a shrug of the shoulders.

"_Pardieu_! I would ask certain questions first," he said with greater
show of seriousness. "For how long a time? for what sort of a passage?
It will prove somewhat cramped, I take it, for a man of my length of
limb."

"I hope both may prove short," I returned, continuing to hold up the
lid for him to enter. "Yet I know of no other possible means whereby
you can leave this room without being halted by the guard at the door.
There is no certainty in this, yet there is a chance, Chevalier, and
that ought always to be invitation to a brave man. Beyond this it is
God's affair."

The soldier twisted his long moustaches reflectively, a new light
gleaming in the eyes that fronted me.

"_Sacre_, man!" he said at last stepping forward in sudden resolution.
"As you say it may be worth trying, but it's not unlike climbing into a
coffin three sizes too small for the deceased. Still I 'll bide
therein for a while, only, I warn you, you better be easy when you put
me down, or the corpse may furnish a sudden resurrection."

It proved truly no easy task to stow him safely in that contracted
space. At any other time I should have laughed outright, marking the
final result of our combined efforts, especially at the expression,
half ludicrous, half pathetic, upon his face as he gazed up at me just
before the lid was closed.

"Now mind, Chevalier," I said gravely, for had I ventured upon a smile
at his predicament he would have popped instantly forth again, "you are
to make no movement of any kind until left alone. When certain of that
you may venture out of the chest, but remain quiet until you hear from
me again."

[Illustration: Had I ventured upon a smile at his predicament he would
have popped instantly forth again.]

"You believe you know a way?"

"Under God's guidance yes, if you will only bear your part."

Without pausing for his answer I dropped the heavy cover over him, and
gave vent to a sigh of relief.

So far, at least I had won; thus far the gods had favored me. In spite
of the obstacle of temperament I had found means to attain my end, to
work my will, yet I realized well De Noyan would never bear such
uncomfortable posture long; whatever was to be accomplished must be
done quickly. Fortunately my plan, dim and doubtful as it was, had
already taken outline. I had determined what to endeavor; it must be
attempted at once, with bold heart, or the opportunity would be gone
forever. Pulling the hood across my face, I partially opened the door,
glancing out upon the curious sentry. To my relief he was alone.

"I suppose the Commandant told you to give me a lift out with this
box?" I asked in Spanish.

"No, senor _padre_."

The man was exceedingly good-natured, evidently one who had profound
respect for the cloth.

"_Caramba_!" I growled angrily, using the Spanish tongue so he might
not miss my meaning. "He promised it only a moment ago, when he looked
in. He must have forgotten. There is no sense in having such a great
chest lumbering up the entire room. Know you how it ever came there?"

"It was the senor Lieutenant's state-room, _padre_, before the
prisoners were brought aboard. I think it might be his sea-chest."

"Well, the Commandant said it could be removed, so out it goes. It
leaves no space for us to kneel in prayer."

I bent down as I spoke, exerting all my strength, and succeeded in
dragging the heavy, iron-bound chest forward, across the threshold. My
heart beat fiercely in misgiving lest the guard might feel moved to
interfere, but he never stirred; merely gazed at my movements in stolid
wonder. Concealing from him all the interior possible with my body, I
spoke a brief word of farewell to the prisoner, supposed to be safely
within, then closed and locked the door.

"Here," I said authoratively, my cheeks flushed with delight at so
successful an issue, "lay hold on one end of this, and give me a lift."

Obligingly, and apparently without a moment's reflection as to his
duty, the soldier, young in years and doubtless a new recruit, leaned
his gun against the mast, bending down with hand upon the rope handle.

"Where to, senor _padre_?"

"The Commandant said it might be placed in the store-room. 'Twill stow
away safely enough there, and bother nobody. Know you where that is?"

"Ay; only a step this way."

"Lead on then, yet Saint Cecilia! it makes no light load. The
Lieutenant must have kept his stock of wine within."

I durst not venture bearing the thing farther, fearful lest we might
run afoul of others of the guard who would prove more suspicious than
this honest fellow, besides, all my hasty plan of escape hung now upon
the faith retained, that the half-open cuddy door had direct
communication with the provisions stored below. Surely they could
never be loaded and unloaded by means of the distant hatch-ladder. So
dull and unintelligent in the dim light appeared the face of the fellow
opposite, as we strained forward beneath the weight of the chest, I
ventured upon a question.

"How does the cook get out all that provender from here?"

"I know not, senor _padre_; but I think there will be opening from the
store-room to the upper deck. They were at work there yesterday while
I was on guard."

By good fortune the room sought was only three doors down the
passageway. As it was, my forehead was wet with perspiration for fear
De Noyan would lose what little stock of patience he possessed before
we reached there, or that the Spaniard would begin to wonder at the
surprising weight. Dropping the chest with good will amid the raffle
littering up the floor space, we came forth together, the soldier to
pick up his gun, while, mopping my face vigorously, I proceeded forth
into the guard-room for the purpose of delivering up the key.

This was a task I approached with dread. Even now some slight slip of
tongue, or action, could easily ruin everything accomplished, yet I
durst not omit the precaution, lest the missing key awaken suspicion
and lead to immediate pursuit. Here, again, fortune played strangely
into my hands, as I discovered the officer dozing in his chair, and,
stepping softly, so as not to arouse him, I gladly handed that
important bit of iron over to the care of one of the guard, himself too
drowsy from potations to trouble me with questioning. Relieved of this
duty, my heart filled with gratitude for all the mercies of the night,
I betook myself up the ladder unmolested, and a moment later stood in
comparative freedom upon the open deck.

I could scent the coming dawn in the fresh morning air the moment I
arose through the hatch opening, yet there was no sign of it in the
sky; indeed I felt there must be fog in the atmosphere, it rendered it
so thick, although not sufficiently heavy to drip in moisture. It
required only a moment to locate all life present along the forward
deck, and I became convinced few wakeful eyes remained among them at
this sleepiest of all hours of the night. Trusting to this, as well as
the garb I wore for concealment, I walked boldly back as far as the
mainmast, meeting no one. Then, fearful of observation from the
officer still pacing the poop, I skulked stealthily along in the black
shadow of the cook's galley, until I reached the cuddy door, quaking
with fear lest it fail me. It opened instantly to the touch of the
hand, and with heart throbbing wildly, for now all that had been
accomplished hung in the balance of this last experiment, I groped
about within seeking to solve the mystery of that gloomy interior. The
place had the feel of a big, square box; by stretching out across the
edge I could barely reach the farther side, but could touch no bottom,
nor did I feel the rungs of any ladder leading down. It resembled a
well, and the thought immediately took possession of me that the crew
hauled up their provisions by use of ropes, yet I could discover no
hoisting apparatus of any kind. With head projected far below the deck
level I ventured a soft whisper into the darkness:

"Are you there, Chevalier?"

There was a slight movement beneath, as if he drew closer to where I
was.

"Yes, it is all right," he returned, his voice so modulated as to be
barely audible. "But I discover nothing in this darkness to aid in
reaching the deck. Know you where a rope can be secured?"

"Ay; lie quiet until I return."

It was a bit ticklish, yet required doing. A trip to the foremast put
in my possession quite a section of line sliced from off the rope's end
previously left dangling from the upper yard. Incidentally as I passed
back and forth I revisited Father Cassati, still resting easily in his
bonds, but now peacefully sleeping off his earlier potations
undiscovered upon the hard deck. Returning with my treasure, I payed
it out into the intense blackness of the cuddy hole, and anxiously
awaited developments below.

Nor had I long to wait--there came a touch on the line followed by a
firmer pull, as if the party below tested its strength. For a moment
the cord wiggled about as if the man was working with his end to some
purpose, then there followed three sharp jerks which I interpreted to
mean to hoist away. I promptly put my full strength to it, bracing
both feet firmly against a heavy cross-piece of timber, evidently
nailed there for that very purpose. The rope ran over a small roller
set close against the coaming, which I had failed to observe in my
hasty search, so I found the strain less than expected, although a
heavy weight was evidently attached to the other end. But I uplifted
this, for I was vain of my strength in those days, and the distance was
not so great but that shortly his hands managed to grip hold upon the
deck planks, and a moment later he stood beside me, complacent and
debonair as ever, in the dense shadows of the galley.

"_Sacre_! 'tis a most scurvy trick we are playing on the Dons, friend
Benteen," he murmured smiling easily, while peering about him in the
darkness. "And now, what is the next act in this midnight melodrama,
most cautious youth?"

"The keeping of a still tongue until we are both overboard," I replied
somewhat roughly. "Follow me closely, and keep quiet about it, if you
retain the slightest care for your life."

It was not much of a trick, the rest of it, and within five minutes we
were silently floating down the great river, through the darkness,
seeking after some quiet landing-place below the fleet.

CHAPTER IX

THE BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN

We durst not swim to the nearest landing, just beyond the bow of the
big flag-ship we had so unceremoniously quitted, fearing our efforts to
stem the current might attract the attention of some watcher on board.
So permitting myself to drift silently beneath the vessel's stern,
without the stir of a limb to disturb the water, I was soon well away
from the great black shadow. Without a word De Noyan followed. Yet
time was far too precious to permit long drifting, and at the earliest
moment I dared the venture we turned aside, striking out boldly for the
shore.

"We must move rapidly, Chevalier, to make up lost time," I cautioned
briefly, wading out, dripping, upon the bank.

"Are the streets patrolled by the Dons?"

"Ay! although not as thoroughly as when the Spaniards first landed. We
shall require to exercise caution."

"Where do you take me? There can be no safe hiding spot in New
Orleans?"

"I know none. We go to the rear of a long row of tobacco sheds near
the North Gate. A boat thoroughly stocked, with two oar men, awaits
us."

"I mind the place," he said eagerly, "I outfitted there for hunting
more than once. It is best for me to lead, as I know well every inch
of the path, and have grown interested in the play."

He certainly proved his familiarity with that labyrinth of sombre
streets and alleys. Selecting a devious course, stooping low beneath
the black shadows of walls and fences, he yet set so swift a gait with
his confounded long legs it kept me puffing to follow. But we found
clear passage, seeing no one close enough to interfere with our rapid
progress, while no challenge sounded, until we crept, silently as
possible, around the dilapidated end of the old tobacco shed, and a
black figure, scarcely distinguishable in the gloom, suddenly arose,
uttering no word, yet with threatening gesture, barring further passage
toward the river.

"Virginia," I gasped, breathless from the hard run.

"Bless de Lawd, Massa Benteen," returned a darky voice. "An' Massa
Charlie, as I 'm a sinner. I tell you, sah, we done 'bout gib you both
up fo' suah."

"Stop talking just now, Alphonse, and lead along lively," said De
Noyan, with returning authority. "We can converse later, in
surroundings more congenial."

Another moment and we were in the boat, the Chevalier pushing it clear
of the bank, then lightly clambering in over the stern.

"Benteen," he exclaimed, panting heavily, "I confess I'm about useless
from lack of wind. _Sacre_! I 've been housed so long I am weak as an
invalid, yet I can steer the craft if you inform me where 'tis best to
go."

"Up country is our only chance," I gasped, grasping an oar, vaguely
noting a second figure huddled within the bow. "All the lower water is
patrolled by the fleet, but above there are plenty of hiding places.
Lay down to it hard, you black rascals; you are pulling for your lives."

De Noyan extended his hand toward the east.

"It will be dawn in about an hour," he said, a tone of earnestness
creeping into his soft voice. "We can never pull against this stiff
current so as to get any distance in that time. This east shore is
flat as a board for leagues. I 'm for heading straight across. If we
gain the west bank within an hour, or even two, the Devil himself would
have a hard job to find us."

"Go on," I muttered, bending grimly to my task. "You know this country
better than I. When we reach upper waters it will be my turn to guide."

As I uttered these words, a bit impatiently, there sounded a quick step
on the low bank at our right. A sharp voice cleaved the darkness.

"Halt there! Halt that boat, or I put a ball through you."

"Sheer off lively, lads," I whispered. "Swing her head out, Chevalier."

There was a rush of feet down the steep embankment. Then a second
voice questioned eagerly:

"What was it you saw, Sanchez?"

"Nothing, Senor; I heard voices out yonder. Listen! As the saints
watch, 't is the dip of oars."

"Halt that boat, or we shoot!"

There followed a moment's painful pause. An oar in our bow slipped,
making an awkward splash in the water. "_Caramba_! you will not? Take
aim, men--fire."

A jagged flash of flame cleaved the night. It lit the steep bank,
flinging a bright glare across the dark waters. In that instant I saw,
my face set shoreward, a dozen black figures clustered in a bunch. One
ball crashed into the planking close beside my hand, hurling a splinter
of wood against my face. The boat gave a sudden tremor, and, with a
quick, sharp cry of pain, the negro next me leaped into the air, and
went plunging overboard. I flung forth a hand in vain effort to
grapple his body, yet never touched it, and everything about became
black once more.

"The poor devil's gone," muttered De Noyan. "The rest of you lay down
to your oars, before they have time to load again."

So quickly did this occur I do not believe we lost more than a stroke
or two, and were already well out into the stream, nothing except our
narrow stern pointing toward the bank, where some of the soldiers--we
judged from their voices--were reloading for a second volley, the
others searching the shore after some boat in which to begin the
pursuit. It was a hard pull, especially upon my part, as I chanced to
sit on the lower side, having full sweep of the current tugging against
my oar, while De Noyan headed the boat as directly as possible for the
western shore. The soldiers, completely swallowed in the gloom, made
no further attempt to fire; possibly, having seen the fall of the
black, they believed their work done. Nor did other sounds reach us
evidencing pursuit; for that moment at least we were free. It was then
I watched the coming of the dawn.

There was a slight, scarcely perceptible, shading into a lighter tinge
of the clinging black shadows that veiled the eastern sky, dimly
revealing misty outlines of white, fleecy clouds extending above the
faint horizon line, until they assumed a spectral brightness, causing
me to dream of the fairies' dwellings which my mother pictured to me in
childhood. Gently the delicate awakening spread along the wider
expanse of sky, which became bluish gray, gradually expanding and
reflecting its glow along the water, until this also became a portion
of the vast arch, while the darker borderland, now far astern, formed
merely a distant shade, a background to the majestic picture. The east
became gradually a lighter, more pronounced gray; rosy streaks shot
upward through the cloud masses, driving them higher into an
ever-deepening upper blue like a flock of frightened birds, until at
last the whole eastern horizon blushed like a red rose, while above the
black line of distant, shadowy trees, the blazing rim of the sun itself
uplifted, casting a wide bar of dazzling gold along our wake. Gazing
thus, every thought of our surroundings, our dangers, and fatigue
passed from memory. Bending to the oar, my soul was far away upon a
voyage of its own.

Some unusual movement served to attract attention from this
day-dreaming, my eyes falling suddenly upon De Noyan. His face, turned
partially away from the rising sun, was gray with anxiety, and I noted
he shivered in his wet clothes. Yet his smile and speech seemed
jauntily unconcerned as ever.

"Yonder was to have been my last sunrise," he remarked grimly, nodding
backward across his shoulder. "'Tis about the hour now for those in
the hands of the Dons to have their backs against the wall."

I caught a sound as of a partially suppressed sob behind me, but before
I could turn sufficiently to ascertain the cause, the Chevalier sprang
past, rocking the little boat furiously, and my ears overheard that
which caused me to keep my face set the other way.

"Eloise!" he exclaimed exultantly. "Are you here, little wife? Mon
Dieu! I dreamed it not; yet should have known you would never leave
such duty to the slaves."

"I was simply compelled to come," she answered, and I could mark her
voice falter. "Do not be angry with me. What have I now left except
you? The rising of the sun sealed my father's fate."

"True," he admitted soberly, lifting his hat in grave gesture. "I feel
like a condemned coward, my name a byword for the rabble, being here in
such comparative safety, when, in honor, I should be lying beside my
comrades."

"Nay; say not that! You are young; much of life, of usefulness, lies
before you. I knew that at the best only one destined victim might be
plucked from the Spaniard's vengeance. It was at his approval I made
choice of you. My father is robbed of but few years, while you are too
young to die. Somewhere--God guiding--we shall find a home again, and
days of peace."

"Ay! you were ever of brave heart, Eloise. But let us not forget we
yet remain in reach of Spanish claws, and they are merciless. Go back
to the tiller a while, and let me lay hold upon this oar; 'tis heavy
work for such soft hands as yours. Point the course direct for the
cane island--you must remember it; you were there once with me."

I fail to recall even glancing into her face as she sat fronting me,
her hands upon the tiller bar. I durst not, fearing some telltale
expression within my eyes might bring her added pain. So I sat with
glance downcast upon the planks, while tugging doggedly at the oar with
all my strength, feeling that same sunrise had brought with it my own
death warrant. So dull and heavy grew my heart with lonely weariness,
I cannot guess how long we pulled before the boat's nose ran up upon
the shore, and De Noyan, springing overboard, dragged it well beyond
view among the thick cane.

"We shall be safe enough here," he exclaimed lightly, gazing about with
approval. "Come, Eloise, step on this dry sand, for you must be
greatly cramped from so tedious a passage."

As I arose, the more easily to permit her passing me in the narrow
space, she suddenly grasped both my hands within her own; then my eyes
glanced up once more to meet hers, dark with unshed tears.

"Do not think, Geoffrey Benteen," she said brokenly, her voice
vibrating with emotion, "that I fail to realize what this means to you.
Your troubled face has been a silent accuser of me this hour past. But
I thank you; you have proven yourself a man, such a man as I have ever
believed you to be. May the good God bless you and bring you peace."

"Ay!" chimed in her husband, apparently in good humor. "He's the
nerviest fellow ever I met, Eloise. _Sacre_! had you hunted this
province over you could never have found one to perform better work
this night. I wonder how it was you chanced upon him?"

Without venturing a word in reply to either of them, I helped her
gravely over the boat's side, within grasp of his outstretched hand,
all about us the warm sunshine piercing the thick canes with golden
light.

CHAPTER X

A COVERT IN THE CANE

Our boat was securely hidden amid a thick growth of reeds, which
extended their domain far down the shore, even out into the river
shallows. These reeds sprang quickly back into position as we pressed
through, leaving no trail for pursuers to follow. Nevertheless, making
all secure on board, and removing from the locker a quantity of biscuit
and some smoked meat, we took the further precaution of covering the
boat with rushes so as thoroughly to disguise its presence from prying
eyes. Satisfied with the result of these efforts, we clambered up the
slight ridge to where we found a small open space, carpeted with soft
grass, and sufficiently elevated to permit our looking about above the
level of the cane, while remaining concealed ourselves.

Our lodgment was upon a small island, a stream of languidly flowing
water extending between us and the main west shore. This, so far as my
eyes could distinguish, did not differ in appearance from our present
abiding place, being composed of low, swampy land, thickly covered with
a heavy growth of cane, and exhibiting no sign of human habitation.
The sole break to this dull monotony of outline was a narrow fringe of
trees situated farther back, where doubtless firmer soil gave spread to
their roots.

Northward the eye might trace the slight curve of the bank for miles.
It appeared irregular and low, slightly diversified by small, marshy
islands, similar to this we occupied, possibly cloven from the mainland
by some eccentricity of current. Occasionally I distinguished openings
into lagoons, such passages into the low-lying mainland being evidenced
by the deeper green of the vegetation bordering them, as well as by
wind-twisted trees clinging despairingly to the crooked banks. East
and south swept the river, so broad our eyes could barely trace the dim
presence of a distant shore. Below, that majestic yellow flood poured
downward unbroken, although De Noyan imagined he perceived distant
spars of the Spanish fleet outlined against the blue background of the
southern sky. This may have been possible, yet to my eyes all was
blank, although I could mark pretty accurately where they should have
been.

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