He thought of easy-going Absalom carefree and gay; he thought of Antonia, her past sorrows and present loneliness ... her warm beauty, the wonder of love he had seen in her eyes, heard in her voice. He recalled his own loveless, solitary life.... And now, if he would, he might know the joyous fulfilment of his dreams ... for she was his own, the one woman predestined to him from the first ... she was his for the taking. And he was captain and master of this ship and his own destiny.... The seas were wide ... and there were islands ... a paradise on earth! Yes, he was captain and master, but ... she was Antonia whom he had loved with a reverence far above and more enduring than passion ... she was Antonia and in his care. Yet was she mere woman as he was merest man, and life was very uncertain. Ay but ... in her bewitching body, that must someday fade and pass, was a deathless soul pure and unsullied that looked from her calm, gentle eyes, all glorious with truth and unashamed—as yet.
So thus, while Adam paced the deck and the moon soared high above him, his two selves battled for mastery.
At last, warned by the ship's bell and changing watch that it was past midnight, he went slow-footed to his cabin and chancing to espy his father's sword where it hung beside his bed, took it down, scarce knowing what he did, unsheathed it and saw the long blade very bright, thanks to Smidge's unremitting, loving care. So for a while he stood gazing on the gleaming steel, but thinking only of this most beloved woman. At last, sighing deeply, he sheathed the sword, placed it upon nearest chair and, being in no mood for sleep, turned to go back on deck and saw Antonia, cloaked and very pale, leaning in the doorway as if faint.
"Oh, Adam!" she gasped, shuddering violently. "Oh—I dreamed I was dead and ... lost ... lost in a great darkness ... very terrible! Does this mean I am indeed to die ... soon ... I that am so full of life?"
"Ah no—no!" said he, hastening to comfort her. "Dreams, they say, do ever go by contrary."
"And yet.... I know!" she whispered, breathlessly. "I feel ... I am going to ... my death. And I have not lived ... so very long!" He had taken her shaking hands and, finding them deathly cold, was striving to warm them with his burning lips, his cheek.
"Speak not of death," he pleaded. "Oh, my Antonia, dear woman I so love ... never think of death!"
"Nay but I must," she gasped. "I must, for ... indeed I ... cannot help. So, whiles I have life I would fain live ... fully as I may.... Oh, Adam!"
"Beloved," he murmured, drawing her to his lips, "you ... mean——?"
"I love thee!" Even as she spoke, he clasped her in his arms and then, to her joyous wonderment, swept her up to his heart and was bearing her whither he would. But as he carried her thus, heedless now of all else in earth or heaven save that she was for him—the one and only woman predestined to this hour, he blundered into a chair—something fell clattering, and he saw this was his father's sword. Instinctively he freed her and looking down on this treasured relic, this emblem of honour and high rectitude, he groaned and sank to his knees, looking up at her like one in agony.
So, for a long, breathless space, they gazed into each other's eyes above this sword that glittered between them; then, leaning down to him, she kissed his furrowed brow, his tear-bright eyes, his quivering lips.
"More than life and beyond death ... I shall love thee!" she whispered. Then she turned away and left him with his honour and yet a man very despondent and full of grief.
CHAPTER XLIII
HOW THEY CAME TO DEAD MAN'S KEY
"Excellent!" exclaimed Mr. Perks, beaming down on the map Adam had copied and added to with such deft precision.
"I perceive you are no mean cartographer, sir. And your scheme of onfall and attack promises well, I dare to affirm."
"Ay, Cap'n!" quoth Joel Bym, "I don't see as us can anyways fail, by cock!"
"We must not!" said Adam grimly, as he pointed to a small, neat cross he had just made upon the map, "Here, you tell me, the wall is something ruinous and apt for climbing—and no need o' ladders?"
"Ay, about there, sir,—and never a ladder! 'Tis bit of a breach-like i' the stonework as a man may go up very handily—leastways sailormen like we."
"And you will be able to find this place again—in the dark?"
"Sure-ly, sir! 'Twas there as Master Perks and me took cover the night as us 'scaped."
"Verily!" nodded the little surgeon. "And with the dons clattering their pikes unpleasantly near."
"Well now," said Adam, intent upon his map, "beyond this wall is a garden, and beyond this again, a narrow street leading past the Monastery of San Francisco and market square and so, betwixt the Governor's Palace and prisons of the Holy Office. From here a broader street runs direct to this—the West Gate, that I mark with another cross. I have these bearings right so far, Joel?"
"Ay, by cock!"
"Perfectly, sir!"
"Then," continued Adam, "from this West Gate, going due south, we reach the main and seaward parapet, and following thus eastwards, come to the castle and defences flanking the Ozama river."
"And vastly strong they are!" said the little surgeon, shaking his head, "and armed wi' many batteries of great cannon, sir!"
"So then," nodded Adam, "we must depend on the element of surprise which, thanks to your information, I think shall succeed and——" he glanced up as came Ned to say:
"We'm closing wi' the island, sir. Dead Man's Key—bearing nor'-easterly, and 'leven ships wi' their cables hove short. Shall we run down to 'em?"
"No. Close within half a mile and anchor. For, d'ye see, Ned, though we must needs sail with these pirates we'll have little truck with 'em as may be."
"Ay, ay, Cap'n Adam! Which, seeing as how, so says I."
"Is the lady Perrow on deck, Ned?"
"Ay, along o' Sir Ben and George, looking on these yere ships through perspective glass."
"Then say I beg she'll speak with me here."
Thus presently, seated alone and busy with his map and charts, Adam started to her quick, light step, and as she entered, rose to place a chair for her close beside his own.
"Antonia," said he, with such look and tone as brought the rich colour to her cheek, "on ... that night ... you had proof how I love you far better than myself."
"That night!" she repeated, leaning nearer. "It is a sweet and fragrant memory ... it is our deathless glory ... that, loving as we do, we can look on each other all unashamed ... because you were Adam!"
"And you," he answered, "you the woman made sacred to me by such love as shall never die, but with our immortal souls, live on forever. And this certainty is my comfort and makes me bold to meet the future, and patient to endure whatsoever must be. And when Death come, soon or late, he shall be God's angel to unite us at last beyond all parting.... Yet now, beloved, because you are so dear and infinite precious to me, I would have of you a promise, a most solemn pledge, Antonia."
"Which I shall give you with all my heart, Adam,—when I have heard,—perhaps."
"And there," said he, smiling, "there spake my cautious Antonia! Well now, I plan to attack San' Domingo by night and, so doing, this ship must lie close against the castle and surely take some scathe. Therefore I want your promise, your word of honour, that you will remain in the shelter I have had prepared for you below the waterline where no chance shot may reach you."
"Where shall you be, Adam?"
"Rowing hard up the Ozama river with muffled oars."
"And with me close beside thee, my Adam."
"No!" he exclaimed, "you shall not—I am determined!"
"Ay but—so am I!" she answered, very tenderly, though with the utmost resolution. "Dear love, how foolish to think I would cherish my life while you peril yours! For if ... you are to die, then I could not live, I will not! So don't pinch your chin at me and shake that dear, white head. I am determined beyond all argument! Therefore the matter is settled—thus!" And leaning to him suddenly, she kissed the lips that would have denied her will.