The Lady and the Pirate

CONTENTS


CHAPTER PAGE

I IN WHICH I AM A CAITIFF 1

II IN WHICH I HOLD A PARLEY 6

III IN WHICH I AM A CAPTIVE 14

IV IN WHICH I AM A PIRATE 23

V IN WHICH WE SAIL FOR THE SPANISH MAIN 34

VI IN WHICH I ACQUIRE A FRIEND 44

VII IN WHICH I ACHIEVE A NAME 52

VIII IN WHICH WE HAVE AN ADVENTURE 60

IX IN WHICH WE TAKE MUCH TREASURE 75

X IN WHICH I SHOW MY TRUE COLORS 90

XI IN WHICH MY PLOT THICKENS 97

XII IN WHICH WE CLOSE WITH THE ENEMY 102

XIII IN WHICH WE BOARD THE ENEMY 110

XIV IN WHICH IS ABOUNDING TROUBLE 122

XV IN WHICH IS CONVERSATION WITH THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN 131

XVI IN WHICH IS FURTHER PARLEY WITH THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN 143

XVII IN WHICH IS HUE AND CRY 154

XVIII IN WHICH IS DISCUSSION OF TWO AUNTIES 158

XIX IN WHICH I ESTABLISH A MODUS VIVENDI 166

XX IN WHICH I HAVE POLITE CONVERSATION, BUT LITTLE
ELSE 175

XXI IN WHICH WE MAKE A RUN FOR IT 184

XXII IN WHICH I WALK AND TALK WITH HELENA 192

XXIII IN WHICH IS A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH 205

XXIV IN WHICH WE HAVE A SENSATION 213

XXV IN WHICH WE MEET THE OTHER MAN, ALSO ANOTHER WOMAN 224

XXVI IN WHICH WE BURN ALL BRIDGES 244

XXVII IN WHICH WE REACH THE SPANISH MAIN 258

XXVIII IN WHICH IS CERTAIN POLITE CONVERSATION 267

XXIX IN WHICH IS SHIPWRECK 285

XXX IN WHICH IS SHIPWRECK OF OTHER SORT 299

XXXI IN WHICH WE TAKE TO THE BOATS 312

XXXII IN WHICH I RESCUE THE COOK 324

XXXIII IN WHICH WE ARE CASTAWAYS 333

XXXIV IN WHICH IS NO RAPPROCHEMENT WITH THE FAIR CAPTIVE 349

XXXV IN WHICH I FIND TWO ESTIMABLE FRIENDS, BUT LOSE
ONE BELOVED 357

XXXVI IN WHICH WE FOLD OUR TENTS 375

XXXVII IN WHICH IS PHILOSOPHY; WHICH, HOWEVER, SHOULD NOT
BE SKIPPED 384

XXXVIII IN WHICH IS AN ARMISTICE WITH FATE 395

XXXIX IN WHICH ARE SEALED ORDERS 400

XL IN WHICH LAND SHOWS IN THE OFFING 414

XLI IN WHICH IS MUCH ROMANCE, AND SOME TREASURE, ALSO
VERY MUCH HAPPINESS 426




THE LADY AND THE PIRATE




CHAPTER I

IN WHICH I AM A CAITIFF


I was sitting at one of my favorite spots engaged in looking through
my fly-book for some lure that might, perhaps, mend my luck in the
afternoon's fishing. At least, I had within the moment been so
engaged; although the truth is that the evening was so exceptionally
fine, and the spot always so extraordinarily attractive to me--this
particular angle of the stream, where the tall birches stand, being to
my mind the most beautiful bit on my whole estate--that I had
forgotten all about angling and was sitting with rod laid by upon the
bank, the fly-book scarce noted in my hand. Moreover, a peculiarly
fine specimen of Anopheles, (as I took it to be) was at that very
moment hovering over my hand, and I was anxious to confirm my judgment
as well as to enlarge my collection of mosquitoes. I had my other hand
in a pocket feeling for the little phial in which I purposed to
enclose Anopheles, if I could coax him to alight. Indeed, I say, I
was at that very moment as happy as a man need be; or, at least, as
happy as I ever expected to be. Imagine my surprise, therefore, at
that moment to hear a voice, apparently intended for me, exclaim,
"Halt! Caitiff!"