The Beautiful White Devil

cted awning. The canvas walls of my resting-place prevented me from seeing anything more of my surroundings than my toes, but when I lifted m

appeared to have the entire deck to myself. Whose boat was she? How had I come to be aboard her? And how long had I been there? But though I puzzled my brains for an

hat I saw there? Three years have passed since then, but I have the recollection of even the minutest detail connected wit

figure, as much as I could see of it, was beautifully moulded; her face was exquisitely shaped; her eyes were large, and of a deep sea-blue; while the wealth of rippling hair that crowned her head was of a natural golden hue, and enhanced rather than detracted from the softness of her delicate complexion. As if still further to add to her general fairness, she was dressed entirely in white, eve

beside the chair found the dog's head, and began softly to stroke his tulip ears. Then her ey

s I heard her it struck me that her voice was even more beautiful than all h

e. "You don't mean to say that I've been twelve hours asleep? I can hardly believe it. Why it seems only a few minutes

bout you when the junk was sighted. I am afraid, from your compa

ully. "One such experience is enough to last a man a lifetime. By the wa

noticed. He is below at present, but as soon as he comes on deck I will send him to you. Now you had better li

e go any further will you tell me what yacht th

owner." As she said this she looked at me in rather a queer sort

ink me pertinacious, but is it per

r bitter laugh; "But I don't think you will be any too pleased when you hear it. My real name is Alie, but

ght my breath with excitement

ying in vain to keep my vo

peculiar smiles, and then, calling her bulldog to her, she bowe

f Surabaya and Vesey of Hong Kong, I was now her prisoner. And by what a simple ruse I had been caught! By all that was reasonable in woman, however, what possible advantage could she hope to gain by abducting me? At the very most, I could not lay my hands on more than three thousand pounds, and what earthly use could that be to a woman who was known to deal in millions? But perhaps

een sent to induce me to leave Hong Kong. But in that case-and here the original argument wheeled back upon me-what possible advantage could accrue to her through abducting me? There were hundreds of richer men

t was Walworth, the individual who had visited me in Hong Kong and enticed me away. He was dressed in European habiliments now,

e you're better. All things considered you've had a nasty time o

se of it all," I thought to myself. "However, I'll give him a

ainment, I must say," I answered aloud. "But will you tell me one thing? Wh

he police, and we should not then have been able to give

were about it. For even with that five hundred you gave me, your leader will

had occupied, and lit a fresh cigar

that I quite

tely rude. The long and the short of it is, Mr. Walworth, if it's mone

was perfectly honest. We are on our way to the island now where the small-pox exists, and believe me, when your work is accomplished, you will be conveyed safely back

unique position, for it was evident I was not only to be permitted the opportunity of making the Beautiful White Devil's acquaintance, but

while?" Walworth said, when he had finished his

companion hatch. I was still very weak, and incapable of much exertion. There cou

n, she must have been a topsail schooner of about three hundred tons burden, with auxiliary steaming power, for I could see the funnel, which was not in use just then, lying along the deck. In what part of the world she had been bu

would suit her ladyship. Believe me, there are times when even the Lone Star is pretty well put to it t

ellying into balloons above our heads, appeared at first sight to have been lately washed, while the very ropes were white and, when not in actual use, flemish-coiled upon the decks. She carried six boats, an unusually large number for a craft of her size; two were surf-boats, I found on inspection; two were uncollapsible lifeboats; one was an ordinary ship's gig, while the other was a small steam launch of excellent build and workmanship. Fo

ity. At first glance they looked like reversible shop shutters more than anything else, being about six feet long by three wide, and were

us reasons. In this case, however, and since you have give

deck and threw it over the side, where it hung,

an be attached in no time, and when they are once fixed, the shape of the masts altered, the funnel differently cased or done away with altogether,

the Beautiful White Devil was supposed to possess. I beg

his ingenious inventi

ship's own," he replied. "And wond

on your good nature if I seek to le

l give you, however, for the sake of what we went through together yesterday. Take care how you behave towards her. In spite of her quiet demeanour and frank, artless manner, she sees, takes in, and realises the motive and importance of everything you

went back to my chair. A tall man with a gray beard close-cropped, sharp glittering eyes, and a not unhandsome face, marred, howev

s, smart, intelligent-looking fellows, and excellently disciplined. Whether they were Dyaks or Malays, ho

along at an exhilarating pace, and, looking over the side at the line of foam extending from ei

Cavendish Square, London, whose sole aim in life, a year ago, had been to put a brass plate upon his front door, and collect wealthy hypochondriacal lady patients,-was now medical adviser to a mysterious female, who perambulated Eastern waters in a chameleon craft, blackmailing rajahs, abducting merchants, l

r. This was an unexpected honour, and one which, you may be sure, I did not hesitate to accept. I wanted, however, to make a suitable toilet first, but where to do it puzzled me, for so far as I knew

xt to Mr. Walworth's, he says, and if you

er side a number of fair-sized berths were situated. The one set apart for me was nearest the companion, and contained a bunk, a small settee and locker combined, a wash-hand basin, and a place for hanging clothes. The fir

artistic by a heavy pile of carpet which covered the steps, and by the curtains which draped the entrance and the portholes. More of the same noiseless carpet covered the floor, while light was supplied from ports on either side, and from a richly decorated skylight in the deck above. The effect of the thick butt of the mainmast was entirely taken away by a number of artfully contrived and moulded Japanese mirrors, which, besides fulfilling their original purpose, gave an additional air of light and elegance to the room. The walls, which were exquisitely panelled and moulded in ivory and gold, were loaded with bric-a-brac of every description, including much china and many pictures of rare value, while deep chairs and couches, Turkish and Indian di

, and reads Heine too, does sh

nd was now attired in some soft clinging fabric of a dark colour, which not only brought out all the lines of her superb figure, but rendered her even more attractive than before. There must have been a quantity of jet scattered about the costume, for I was conscious of a shimmering sensation which accompanied her every movement. She carried herself with a truly regal air, and I had a better opportunity permitted me now of seeing what a be

loveliness, the same ferocious bulldog followed at her heels, and, whe

ver to me and holding out her tiny hand with a frank gesture.

the charm of her manner. "I cannot think what made me break down in that undignified

fanned herself with a black ostrich plume, at the same

that horrible junk. I feel as if I was personally to blame for it. However, I shall have more to say on that subjec

tion into a pleasanter channel, I commented on the sailing qualities of her sch

er knows his horse. She is the most beautiful and the swiftest craft in the world. And there are times, Dr. De Normanville,"-here she sank her voice a little, and it seemed to me it trembled,-"when it is of the utmost impo

will not t

hink it would be better if we sat down to tab

her side and ordered tiffin. When it was served

t was admirably cooked and served. As it proceeded we chatted on various minor matters, literature of all nations, music and painting, and it was no

e said, ensconcing herself in a big chair whe

But I must confess I do not quite understan

ll see it for yourself soon enough. In the meantime I may inform you that the havoc wrought by the disease has been terrible, and it was only when I found that I

liment she paid me, and asked if she

r mother, and naturally turn to me for assistance in their t

wise, do you think,

ld I? Do you think of the risk you run whe

on, at least. When were you

, in Jun

I'll do it again, and at once

bared to the shoulder. Never, if I live to be a hundred, shall I forget the impression that snow-white arm made upon me. It seemed like an act of basest sacrilege to perform even such a simple operation upon it. Beelzebub, the bulldog, evidently thought so too, for he w

can,-while you are with us, at any rate,-the stories you have heard about me. Some day, per

ried away by her outburst of girlish f

n't believe you are!" I bl

ess; and then, making me a little curtsey, she turned and disapp

ould be the notorious criminal of whom all the East was talking. And yet without a shadow of a doubt it was so. And if it came to that, what was I, staid, respectable George De Normanville, doing, but aiding and abetting her in her nefarious career? True, I might salve my

the water around us was almost without a ripple, but glorified with flakes and blotches of almost every colour known to man. Near at hand it was a mixture of lemon and silver, a little further almost a lilac-purple, further still a touch of pale heliotrope meeting salmon-pink and old

hat a variety of thoughts thronged my brain. I tried to think what my dear old mother would have said could she have seen the position my over-rash acceptance of a tempting offer had placed me in. From my mother, who, with my father, had been dead nearly five years, my thoughts passed on to other relatives-to

ater. I turned, and, leaning against the rail, looked aloft at the stretch of canvas which seemed to reach up almo

discovered it was none other than the Beautiful White Devil herself. She was st

she said softly, looking down at the sparkling water. I noticed the beaut

, unfathomable depths, what future do you hold for me? My fate is wrapped up in you. I was born

ry many years to come," I answered bluntly. "Besides, what possib

ll be alive to-morrow! You don't know what the sea has been to me. She has been my good and my evil genius. I love her in every mood, and I

e rising moon. In any other woman such a gesture would have been theatrical and unreal in th

the sea belongs to Eternity, and not Time, and of th

you think there are others that fully equal it? What d

sworth, 'The sea that bare

up to the cloud and wind.' Could anything be finer than that? There you have

u,' so that he

e secret

who brave

nd its m

That c

tood silent, gazing across the

e it is? Dr. De Normanville, I think if I were to tell you some of t

d believe anyth

I was dining at the house of a prominent police official, as the friend of his wife. I had met her some months before under peculiar circumstances, and we had become intimate. During the meal my host spoke of the Beautiful White Devil, and commented on her audacity. 'However, we have at last received a clue concerning her,' he said. 'Sh

he never

hom I was dancing, a young inspector of police, apologised for having to leave me. He said he had received information concerning the Beautiful White Devil, who was known to be in the town. During supper he had been telling me about his prospects, and the girl who was coming out from England to marry him when he got

un such awful risks?" I as

help myself. I stood in need of some important informa

n a terrible five

ance. His Excellency apologised pr

ttle rose into the cloudless sky. Under her glamour the sea became a floor of frosted

companion said, after a little while. "I wish I could induce you to tell me what you have

y variations of the same story, but knowing how news travels

erhaps, about the

ated th

n no redress for their grievances, I determined to meet him on his own ground. I arranged my plans accordingly, abducted him, made him disgorge a large sum of money, half of which I caused to be anonymously distributed amongst the poor wretches he had robbed, and at the same time told him his character for the first and only time in his heathen existence, promising him as I did so that if he did not mend his ways, I'd catch him again and silence him for ever. Punishment was surely never more fitly ear

t," I said, "but-the Vec

ot look upon it in the same light myself. I am, and have been all my life, at war with what you call Society-the reason I may perhaps explain to you some day. I know the risk I run. If Society catches me, in all probability my life will pay the forfeit. I know that, and I am naturally resolved not to be caught. One thing is certain, I prey only on those who can afford to lose, and, like the freebooters of romance, I make it my boast that I have never knowingly robbed a poor man, while, on the other

d t

her little white

of it; while I live they will never catch me, and when I am de

clock), the lookout at the fo'c's'le-head cried, "All's well!" silence reigned, a wonderful quiet broken only by the humming of the breeze in the shrouds,