The Message

culars so as to glut his eyes with the full specta

ar-a man with "retired tradesman" writ large on face and figure-bel

eel August day. I knew it. Fust thing this morn

read the weather–prophet's label at a glance. But life was too gracious at that moment, a

ally. "Now, though the barometer stood high, I

tly one

a barrowmeter in my bones that's worth a dozen o' them things. I'll back

ch of genius that makes men lis

bacon!" h

not? Pig skin an' salt-one of 'em won't have any truck wi' damp-doesn't want it an' shows it-an' t'other sucks it up like a

or the old–fashioned notion

e point. It was new to him,

nt wi' bacon," he

veloping your very original

ou may shatter, th

he roses will hang

ment. Though he hoped some of his friends would see him

to do with it?" he

And consider the porcine love of flowers. Why, there once

cking. But his clean–cut, somewhat sallow face did not rel

scraps of

the like?... An' becos it kem into a garden.

ast Lepe buoy. Jackyard topsails and bowsprit spinnakers preened before it. Though almost imperceptible on shore, it awoke these gorgeous butterflies of the sea into life and motion. Huge 23–meter cutters, such as White Heather II, Brynhild and Nyria, splendid cruisers like Maoona, errymaid, Shima, Creole, and Britomart, swooped grandly into the midst of the anchored craft as though bent on self–destruction. To the unskilled eye it seemed a sheer miracle that any of them should emerge from the chaos of yachts, redwings, launches, motorboats, excursion steamers, and smaller fry that beset their path. But Cowes is nothing if not nautical. Those who understood knew

mpshire coast. The Dreadnought was hauling at her anchors before taking a king and an emperor to witness the prowess of her gunners. The emperor's private yacht,

zvous of well–dressed women. Parties were assembling for luncheon either in the clubhouse or on board the palatial vessels in the roads. To the multitude, yachting at Cowes consists of the blare of a s

in the various matches spinning merrily to Spithead would not move his hired cutter a yard against the tide. So, having nothing better to do, he sauntered along

f her name is M

othouse peaches. Being a dilettante in some respects, he admired and became the prospective owner of the

he half sovereign carelessly into the ti

said the greengrocer affa

s at Tusculum

places in the Isl

aler across the street suppli

an gr

gettin' at you

ccording to Horace, I su

aid that,

denly turned and pe

o's this here Lucullus y

eaded boy

ho?" s

eparted

ave scored two failures. Having conjured Horace from a

nd his craft had gone out of commission together. Both were famous in the annals of Channel pilotage, but an accident had deprived Peter of his l

g that happy–go–lucky mood in later days of storm and stress, he tried to piece together the trivial incidents that were even then conspiring to bring about the great climax of his life. A pace to left or right, a classical quip at his extravagance in the matter of the peaches, a slight hampering of free mo

young lady, detaching herself from the living torrent that delay

can ascertain the berth of th

e many scoundrels infesting the hinterland of Nigeria. There was no mistaking the man. The Panama hat, spotless linen, fashionable suit and glossy boots of a typical visitor to Cowes certainly offered strong contrast to the soiled garb of the balked slav

wandered far afield. Instinctively he raised his hat as

Souci, did

–yacht-Mr. Ba

g Figuero's motives in coming to England, and, of all places, to Cowes. Of the many men he had encountered during an a

s obsession, became confus

had no idea there would be such a crowd, and I spoke to

elf–possession, and pro

mits no competition. Against him, even you would dazzle in vain. To make amends, let me take you to

ding was peculiar, to say the least. She was so good–looking that young men were apt to

n officer on board the steamer told me I ought to discover the whereabouts of the

you straight there for nothing. Come with me as far as the quay. O

an's smile with almost uncanny prescience. Th

s Souci a l

look! We can eat the

hed lightly. Were she a Frenchwoman she would have said, "Bu

he quay you

Close a

eye that his glance was searching the thinning mob of her fellow pas

t trespassing on your

icense. I meant the West African sun. A man who arrived on your

ak to him, of course,"

ain, and hel

d he is gone. Would you have me run after hi

t is rid

cert

could you possibly have

ere we are, you and I and the luscious four. And there is Peter, sailing master, cook, and general factotem of the Nancy cutter. Don't you think Peter's wooden leg induces trust? He cal

e compared the gigantic Peter with the diminutive dinghy. She had never before seen so

she inquired with

many a heavy sea. Don't be afraid. We will put you safely on board the Sans Souci. Now, y

grinned Peter, casting an appreciative eye over

s to reach that big yacht moored abreast of the cutter. So give way, O heart of oak!

olemnly at the

don't he, mi

ure. It savored of romance. Already her slight feeling of nervousness had vanished. In her

of a band playing in the grounds of the clubhouse. A bugle sounded faint and shrill from the deck of a distant warship. Sitting in this cockleshell of a craft, so near the glistening water that one might trail both hands in it, was vastly agreeable after a long journey by rail and steamer. From sea level the girl obtained an ent

no one spoke. The wondrous silence was broken only by the rhythmical clank of the oars, the light plash of the

rowned with a mass of dark brown hair. Accent, manner, and attire bespoke good breeding. She was dressed well, though simply, in blue canvas. Being somewhat of an artist, he did not fail to note that her hat, blouse, gloves and boots, though probably inexpensive, harmonized in brown tints. S

t was borne out by a paleness beneath the tan of the yachtsman. A regimental mess, too, is a university in itself, conferring a well–defined t

ht it was "nice of him" not to question her. She was quite sure that if they met again ashore that afternoon he would leave her the option of renewing or dropping their ac

he kept strictly to the p

o a large white yacht in the distance. "A sp

' good for ten knots in any

of course?" w

ver before set

e, perhaps. From last night's indications, y

any people t

g dinner party yesterday. The launch

dicating with a glance a small round object

like a float broken loose fro

nced Peter. "Nets have corks an'

ancied just now that I caught a resemblance to a fa

they all looked at the dancing ye

uggests a piratical

rtain it is black on the other side. There! Surely I am not

w presented a mask–like visage, more than half submerged, as it swirled about in a chance eddy. That some loungers on a ya

by the law of the high seas. Bend your back for the honor

the girl tried t

g by the position of that other craft, an' from wot I know o

Warden, on his knees in the

he sprang

!" he shouted, an

–blade snapped against the sturdy ribs of the dinghy, and the two boats shot p

to jump for it. But don't you worry

ung the dinghy about so nimbly that she lost all sense of direction. It seemed as if the lau

?" she wailed. "I shall

to see Warden, with blood streaming from a gash across his forehead,

ed. "Come close.

coolly. "I fear I look rather ghastly, but the inj

en his fingers rested on the stern rail. Yet, even under such trying circumstances, she was helpful. Though half sobbing, and utterly distressed, she dipped her h

so madly?" she asked

oars and a light skiff against Peter's two and a dinghy that is broad as it is long. To equal

larger than it looked when afloat. The girl threw it into the bottom of the boat without paying the leas

my wits," she gasped. "Can y

s. Peter, pull up to the nearest ship's l

ry expression of awe, almost of fear, at

ge, it's his head stoker's. I've never seen anything like it, no,