Doctor Syn on the High Seas - Thorndike Russell - Страница 44
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generously. The Nantucket Bank, which they owned, had invested his money
credited from Albany well, so that when Syn and Mipps sailed from the
island for the port of New Bedford they were richer men. Here they
learned that Nicholas had sold the Isaiah for a good sum, and had
departed for the West Indies, where he proposed to buy another vessel
and with letters of marquee go privateering.
“I doubt whether he will trouble about the letters,” said Syn to
Mipps. “Like as not his privateering will be black piracy. Well, we know
something of that game ourselves.”
After so long at sea, Shuhshuhgah felt a hunger for his forests, but
could only be persuaded to visit his people when Syn selected a
rendezvous for a future meeting. Mipps, having been a professional
pirate, was able to supply the very place. There was a thriving tavern
in Santiago which was a popular sorting house for all the pirate news.
The landlord of “The Staunch Brotherhood” was a discreet man, who could
keep a secret so long as he was paid to do so. To this place Shuhshuhgah
was to repair whenever he felt ready to rejoin Syn. Should Syn be at
sea, the Indian, who was well provided with mone y, was to remain at this
tavern till summoned.
On their journey through the islands, Syn discovered that Nicholas
had also gone to Santiago.
“Which shows,” said Mipps, “that he’s turned pirate. It’s the chief
occupation of that there town.”
On their arrival, Syn found “The Staunch Brotherhood” to be a large,
rambling inn, built in the Spanish style with a large courtyard opening
out upon the harbour front. It was openly the resort of pirates from all
nations, where the roughest sailors jostled agai nst rich owners and
gaudily dressed captains. Riotous quarrels and the heaviest drinking
were the order of its days and nights. From his first entrance into this
place, Captain Clegg, with Mipps at his heels, made himself felt, for he
swaggered through the noisy crowd and in a ringing voice demanded the
immediate service of the landlord.
“I am Pedro the landlord,” answered a great, fat, greasy-looking
rascal, who was wise enough to size up a man before dealing with him.
“In what way can I serve you, Senor?”
“I propose staying in this town upon important business,” replied
Syn, speaking rapidly in Spanish. “I have heard this inn of yours spoken
of by my friend here as the best place for keeping one’s sword-hand in
practice. Also that your drinks are of the best. I hope for your sake
that they are. My immediate demand is that you show me the best set of
apartments, after which I shall sample your wines.”
“I will certainly show you my best rooms,” returned Pedro. “They are
very fine. Indeed, so fine that I have to make a small charge of one
gold piece to show them.”
“Travelers must pay, and landlord must live,” said Syn pleasantly.
“Here are two gold pieces. I am a generous man, but like my own way in
things, though I am willing to pay for it in reason. Lead the way.”
Taking care to hide his face from the newcomers, Pedro bestowed a sly
wink towards his friends nearest, and led the way to the outside
staircase.
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Unlocking a door that opened upon a balcony, he led the strangers into a
set of three well-furnished rooms.
“These are my best rooms,” he said. “Since you have paid for the
privilege, you are welcome to look at them.”
“I have looked at them, and think they are magnificent,” replied Syn
casually. “I desire no better. I take them. Now bring us wine, and I
will see that our trappings are brought from the ship.”
“That is not possible,” said the landlord suavely. “These rooms are
taken by a rich customer of mine. You paid to see. You have seen.”
“Faith, sir, if this is a jest,” retorted Syn sharply, “you will find
the laugh against you. Why should I waste my time viewing rooms if not
to take them. Indeed I have taken them.”
“But you see those two chests, Senor,” went on the landlord, “they
belong to the occupier, who has gone with his wife and son to view the
ship he has had built for him. Look, here are the wife’s garments
hanging in this cupboard. The press there is also full of their finery.
He is an ugly man to cross, this great captain.”
Mipps looked at Syn, and saw a grim smile on his lips as he said, “An
ugly man to cross, eh? Well, so am I, and should this rascal captain
with his wife and boy be tattooed from head to foot, he’ll fine me yet
the uglier.”
“He has many, very many tattoo marks,” said Pedro; “but if you take a
word of caution, Senor, from one who knows him well—”
Syn interrupted with, “Take out his things, sir. I take these rooms.”
“But, Senor—” he began again.
“There are no ‘buts’ about it, my good man,” interrupted Syn again.
“Mipps, put the chests in the passage there and heap the clothes upon
them. They must find rooms elsewhere. As for you, Master Pedro, there
will be no trouble unless I make it for you. I am accustomed to be
obeyed. Is this man called Nicholas Tappitt, Nikolina Tappittero or
what? He has a habit of changing his name, I hear.”
“The captain is known here as ‘Black Nick’, returned the landlord.
Syn laughed. “Then tell Black Nick when he returns that others have
the habit of taking what does not belong to them as well as he. You’ll
find he’ll understand. If he starts trouble, send him up.”
“May I tell him your name, Senor?” asked the landlord.
“Captain Clegg,” replied Syn. “We will now drink wine together, so
make haste and bring the best. Red wine for blood, and see that it is
good. Bring rum, too, to wash it down with. But first help my man there
with that chest. It looks heavy.”
Pedro looked at Mipps as he took one end of the great chest and said,
“You have been here before—yes?”
“Been to most places, I have,” returned Mipps in bad Spanish.
When everything had been cleared and placed in the passage, the
landlord brought the drinks.
“Mind, Senor,” he said, “I take no responsibility for what Black Nick
will do to you.”
“But I take full responsibili ty for what I shall do to him,” replied
Syn. “And now give me your key of this main door. I have no mind to have
any enter when we are out. We are going now to get our baggage. Here is
gold in earnest of our good faith with you. That should carry our credit
for some days,” and
he threw down, on the table, a handful of gold pieces.
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Then, locking the door, and closely followed by Mipps, Syn swaggered out
upon the quay.
Even amongst that crown of gorgeously dressed adventurers who
thronged the harbour, Syn stood out by reason of his magnificent
elegance and striking appearance. He wore a scarlet velvet suit trimmed
with silver braid, and round the waist of the full-skirted coat, a
silver sash that held his pistols. His high threecornered hat boasted a
fine ostrich feather, while his long legs were encased in perfectly
fitting thigh-boots, and as he strode along, the slender fingers of his
left hand rested easily upon the large, chased, silver hilt of this long
sword.
When Mipps went to en gage porters to carry their chests from the
ship, which had brought them there, and which was now busily unloading,
Syn approached a group of richly dressed adventurers who were seated at
a pavement table beneath the awning of a wine-shop. Swinging his ha t
off and bowing royally, he asked them in Spanish to do him the honour of
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