CHAPTER XLI
TheHeronsteamed at full speed from Southampton to Las Palmas, but she did not travel fast enough for Lady Mildred, who made Captain Samson’s life miserable by the way she worried him.
“Won’t she go any faster, captain?”
“No, my lady. She is doing over twenty-four knots,” he answered reproachfully.
As soon as they arrived at Las Palmas, Lord Lynton hastened ashore and it was not very long before he ascertained that a number of men had left the island to join a cruiser. He returned with this information and there could be no doubt that Gaunt had gone to the Congo.
Lady Mildred sent for the captain and announced their destination.
“It isn’t a fit place for your ladyship to visit. You will be sure to get fever,” he protested nervously.
“We start at once, captain. Mr. Gaunt is there, and it is important that we arrive at the earliest possible moment,” Lady Mildred answered, and then proceeded to tell the story of Gaunt’s expedition.
The captain listened in open-eyed amazement, but he no longer hesitated, and orders were given that the yacht should sail at once. To Lady Mildred these few days seemed interminable, and as they drew near her suspense increased. At last the mouth of the Congo came in sight and with the aid of glasses they could see themany disabled steamers. It was Captain Samson who first made out theEsmeraldaand he came from the bridge to tell them.
Lady Mildred was putting on a pith helmet and her face had grown very pale.
“I wonder what has happened?” she muttered to herself. “Captain, will you get a launch ready? I want to go on board at once,” she said aloud.
“There is a pinnace putting off from the cruiser, my lady, and she is traveling towards us at a good speed,” the captain answered.
Lady Mildred put the glasses to her eyes and gave a cry at what she saw.
“There is only one man astern. It is not John. I think it is Mr. Drake.”
“Let me see,” Lady Ethel cried eagerly, and she almost snatched the glasses from her sister.
Lady Mildred turned away for she wished to hide her distress. It was evident that they had recognized theHeron, and why had not her husband come to meet her? Was it that he could not forgive her?
Sailors were busy lowering the companion way, and the launch drew alongside. Edward Drake jumped lightly onto the platform and hastened up to greet them.
“Where is Mr. Gaunt?” Lady Mildred cried, before he could utter a word.
“He is ill, and the doctor says that he is not fit to stand any excitement. That is why I have hastened to meet you,” he answered quickly.
“What has happened? Is he dangerously ill?” she asked, and her voice shook with fear.
“No. He is out of danger. Shall we go to yourcabin? I have a lot to tell you,” he asked; and Lady Mildred led the way.
Edward Drake stood and faced them, and they could see the deep lines brought to his face by grief and pain. But his voice was steady when he began to tell them all that had happened. It was only when he spoke of his brother’s death that he faltered, and dared not look at Lady Ethel.
“Mr. Gaunt is in no danger, but you must be very careful. Before you go to theHeronI should like to speak to you alone, Lady Mildred.”
Lord Lynton and Lady Ethel moved away, and for the first time Drake glanced at the woman he loved. She was crying quietly, and tears were streaming down her cheeks.
When they had gone, he turned to Lady Mildred, and his face was very grave.
“I think I am justified in breaking a confidence. I have thought deeply, and am sure it is my duty to tell you the reason why your husband has acted as he has done. I am aware that you have felt bitter towards him, but it was because you did not know.”
“Mr. Drake, you need not tell me. I am ashamed of my conduct, and I have come to my husband to ask his forgiveness,” she answered in a low voice.
“Still, I think you should know. Gaunt is a man in a thousand, and I want you to understand his character. He has always loved you passionately from the first time you met, but he was determined to conceal his love until he had won you. He thought he was succeeding until that terrible day when it seemed that in all human probability you would die. Gaunt was in utter despair, andin his agony he turned to God. You must remember that the specialist had told him that there was no hope of your living. He prayed to God, and made a bargain with Him. Gaunt told me the very words he used, and they are imprinted on my memory. ‘Give me the life of my wife, and I swear that every action of my life shall be deliberately thought out, and shall be in accordance with the teaching of Christ.’”
Drake paused, and he could see that Lady Mildred was listening with breathless attention.
“And since that night, when God gave him your life, he has struggled nobly to keep that vow. That is the reason why——”
“Stop!” she cried harshly.
Her face worked painfully as everything became clear to her mind. She knew her husband’s pride that he always kept his word, and she could understand how fiercely he must have been tempted to abandon the fulfilment of his vow, and it was she herself who had made his task a thousand times more difficult.
“What a man!” she muttered feverishly.
And pride and love overwhelmed her so that she grew afraid.
“You are sure that his life is not in danger?” she said tremulously.
“Quite. So long as you do not excite him.”
“You may trust me, Mr. Drake. His life is too precious to me.”
Suddenly she seized his hand and pressed it to her lips.
“And I am proud of your friendship for my husband. But I have been selfish. I have forgotten your terrible loss. What can I say to comfort you?”
“And your sister, for I believe she loved Lindsay.”
She gave him a quick look, but remained silent.
“May I go to John at once? I promise that I will be quite calm,” she said at last.
In a few minutes the launch was rapidly taking them to the cruiser. Drake refused to allow either Lord Lynton or Lady Ethel to accompany them, and he would give no reason for his refusal.
As soon as they reached the deck of the cruiser, Drake hastened to the sick bay.
“Gaunt, your wife is here,” he said quietly.
“Bring her to me, and you will leave us alone.”
And Lady Mildred stood in the doorway, hesitated for a moment, then ran to the bunk where her husband lay.
“John.”
She knelt by his side and pressed her lips to his.
“Forgive me, dear. I was cruel, but I did not understand,” she whispered.
Their eyes met and there was no need for words. Understanding came to them and the past seemed as though it had not been. And she sat by his side, her hand resting on his, but she did not speak.
“You should not have come,” he said reproachfully.
But she leant over and kissed him on the lips.
“I care for nothing so long as I am with you,” she whispered tenderly.
The doctor came in, glanced keenly at his patient, and relief came to his face when he had felt Gaunt’s pulse.
“May I stay? I will be very quiet,” Lady Mildred said appealingly.
“Yes, I think that he is already better, but don’t talk too much,” the doctor said warningly.
Soon Lady Mildred began to think of the future. In her anxiety for her husband’s health, she had forgotten that they were in a war-ship, that had been guilty of acts that might be regarded as piratical.
What would happen? Would John be punished for what he had done? She dared not question him, but she felt that she must know. His eyes were closed and she tried to remove her hand from his, but he stirred restlessly. At last his grip relaxed, and she went on deck where she found Edward Drake who was talking to Captain Armstrong.
“What is going to be the end of this?” she asked, and waved her hands towards the disabled steamers.
“We shall know in an hour’s time,” the captain answered.
“What do you mean?”
“There are war-ships on the horizon and they are coming here.”
“Then why don’t you escape while there is time?” she cried excitedly.
“Ask Mr. Drake,” the captain said drily.
Lady Mildred looked inquiringly at him.
“We have acted as our consciences directed, and we are prepared to face the responsibility for what we have done,” Drake said quietly.
“But you may be severely punished. You, and my husband. Mr. Gaunt is ill. Escape while there is time,” she cried excitedly.
Drake shook his head decidedly, and she appealed to Captain Armstrong.
“Don’t you think it would be better to go?”
“It is not a matter of opinion. Before we came herewe laid down a line of action which we shall faithfully carry out. It might be worse, for we are not responsible for any loss of life, save on our own side.”
“Poor Captain Drake,” she said sadly, and tears came to her eyes.
There was a cry from the bridge.
“The first flies the White Ensign.”
“I am glad it is our own people, and no beastly foreigners,” the captain said grimly.