The Beautiful White Devil

d one. Hour after hour I tumbled and tossed in my bunk, and with the first sign of day, finding sleep still impossible, dressed and went on deck. It was as

but as I did not know whether or not this was a bluff of some kind, such a circumstance told me but little. I therefore leaned against the taffrail, looked up at the canvas, bellying out like great balloons above my head, and resigned myself to my thoughts. It had an exhilarating, yet for some reason bewildering, effect upon me, that stretch of canvas standing out so white against the clear blue sky, the chasing clouds, the bright sunshine, the dancing, rolling sea, and the s

revious evening, nor did I receive an invitation to visit her until

spare a few moments. Before you go, I want to explain the situation to you. The matter on hand, as you may guess, is the ca

am ready to do anything she may wish, but I'd like t

accident, that Ebbington should suppose she has abducted you as well as himself. That is to s

r to me, when I leave her yacht, by reason of my as

ll w

my assent, a

Ebbington. He looked, as well he might, hopelessly miserable. He opened his eyes in astonishment when he saw me enter. I, however, crossed the cabin with Walworth and stood on the port side without letting him see that I recognised him. Then solemn silence fell upon us all for nearly a minute. While it lasted Alie sat with her chin on her

," she said, "

s right hand clutch at his trouser leg and hold it tight. Tha

ervant, my faithful friend, my honourabl

he refused

n't you? Well, he pretended to be, and perhaps for a little time he really was. But his feelings soon underwent a change towards his benefactress. When he had money he wanted more; he knew his employer's secret, and at last, as a brilliant finale, he resolved to trade upon it. Then what idea do you think came into that faithful servant's mind? You will never guess. Why! neither more nor less than the betrayal of his benefactress to her enemies. And for what reward, think you? Millions? A million? For half a million? A quarter? No! no! For the miserable sum of five thousand pounds. It seems incredible that a man could be so foolish and so base, doesn't it? But, nevertheless, it is true. Perhaps he thought the woman, having escaped so often, must inevitably be caught before long, and, being a business man, he remembered the old adage that 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' At any rate, he w

nd at once fell in with it. Affecting to

nd it would be worse than useless for me to re

Then I will

from me t

ture. Let me tell you that only three months ago I hanged a man for murder-a far less serious offence in my eyes than yours. Why

was speaking," the wretc

"Think of the baseness of what you said! However, it shall be coun

as stopped by a hail from the deck.

in their own tongue, and they at once removed th

ctions explicit to the men on board her? Do you think

There will be no bungling, you may rest assured. Mat

pacities di

for Fu-Chow, Alderney as a newspaper correspondent to the East generally, Braham as an American mill owne

d your instruc

cer of the watch with their revolvers, and do the same for the skipper if he is there, or directly he comes on deck. They will then compel him to heave to. Burns by this time will have taken his stat

have arranged it admirably, and

sallow cheek. He did not answer, however, only

help in this last adventure; without your assistance I don't know w

I would have let that scoundrel betray you? Alie, you know how much I--But

a sweet smile that was very different to the

you please. In the meantime we must get to business. Will you come on de

ll-stayed masts had reared their graceful heads, now hung a raffle of broken timber and disordered cordage. Forrard of the foremast the port bulwark was completely broken down, or appeared to be, while over the side from it hung another display of broken

, the movements of a large steamer fast rising on the horizon. I strolled up just in t

n to half-mast, Mr. Patterson, and, when you think she's n

near enough for us to distinguish her answering pennant. The wind ha

than two miles distant, Alie tur

gh now. Tell her that we'

string of flags had broke

through the glass h

s to know

.' He is one of the directors of the company, and that will induce them

ooner had the message been de

reported. Thi

your

the boat,"

Walworth, I noticed, was in command of her, so I took up the glass he had left upon the skylight, and brought it to bear upon the mail boat, now less than a mile distant. She pres

sual was occurring on board. Presently our boat got alongside and the gangway was lowered. A consultation seemed to be going on upon the bridge, and after a few

nd even the bulwark itself had recovered its proper shape and comeliness. Moreover, the tarpaulin which had hitherto covered the centre of the deck was being removed, an

pared, Mr. Patters

replied the officer

eam

for the last

quarters, and stand by to receive

on deck and placed themselves at their respective posts. Against the foremast I noticed a curious mechanical contrivance, the use of wh

d dark hair, appeared up the side. He seemed to wonder what was required of him, and it was evident that so far he had no idea into whose hands he had fallen. I glanced at Alie, as he appeared on de

ck. "It was only last month I heard that you were coming to China to take up your residence among us. It is my desire to offer you

and presently retur

d, to my thinking, does not properly reward. Mr. Barkmansworth, in case you may not know in whose presence you now stand, let me inform you that I am the woman you have so often expressed a desire to meet. I am

me, showed signs of fear. Indeed, it is my opinion he would have fallen to the ground had not Walworth upheld him on one s

e craftily managed to escape punishment from your own authorities, but you must see that cunning will

the eyes of all on board being upon him, tr

it of yours what

reatened what you would do to me when you caught me, an

arn you I am in high authority, and I'll exterminate yo

cruples at all in carrying out my plan. You flogged those poor women in Yakilavi, and that ma

by his arms and legs, and bore him swiftly from the gangway to the object whose use I had been wondering. Once there his feet were firmly secured, the uppe

lashes," said

nistered the blood had begun to flow. After the first cut the wretched culprit no longer attempted to comport himself like a man; he struggled, whined,

id; "now you will have six more for the man you butchered, and six more o

might, however, as well have appealed to a stone: the second twelve were duly administered, and he was then cast loose. He fell in a heap on the deck, and for some time refused to budge; but, on b

the capture of the passenger. Steam was up by this time, and within five minutes of raising the boat to the davits we were und

known as Mrs. Beecher, and who had been confined to her cabin by ill-health ever since our leaving Singapore, was present, we only conversed on general

s of my character, have you not? I hope, among th

g many of the world's unfortunates; second, I have seen you toiling day and night, without thought of yourself, for the welfare of the lives you loved; and, last,

n; you have seen that I can bite as well as bark. I should be sorry if I lost your good esteem. Now,

r this afternoon. The man is already nearly mad with fear

ween us, I cannot let him go out into the world again, and yet I do not want to keep him a pe

think about it, we dismissed the subject for th

cloud away to the northeast? I hope it won't delay our getting back to the settl

gave the officer of the watch some instructions.

some sleep in case we are to have trouble later. I have left

when I had walked to the

back to England. After that, for a year, I told myself, I would work hard at my profession, and at the end of the time stipulated, she would arrive to be my wife. What my life was to be after that I could not of cou

surprise the occupant was none other than the prisoner, Ebbington. He seemed a trifle d

e," he managed to get out at last. "But you were not in, so I th

nting to the locker, "a

encouraged, he delivered himself of his symptoms, and asked to be treated. Long before he had finished his tale, howev

al reason of this visit? For you know v

then seeing it would be us

ucted you; I know better. You were in her confidence at Singapore and you're in it now. For Heaven's sake don't play with me-tell me the tru

I don't want to hit a man when he's down, but I must own, I think, whatever you do get won't be too much for you. You would have betrayed her, if you cou

ntly became bl

ed; "spy, traitor, coward! wouldn't y

deliberately spat in my face. I knocked him down, and, having done so, picked him u

ing at my door. Thinking that the ship must be in danger, I sprang from my bunk and unlocked it as q

I'm afraid a trifle irritably. "What on

h answered, taking my arm and drawing me al

" I cried. "Let me

e vessel, at the further end of the saloon. I found the patient stretche

n this fashion had Alie's difficulty been solved for her, and, perhaps, all things considere

im?" asked Walworth, who had been watc

eautiful White Devil's vengeance won't reach him. Poor de

ll, now, I suppose I must go and tell her ladyship

only sorry nothing coul

d-ni

to my own cabin to think it all out. One thing became perfectly plain to me when