My gorge rose at that.
"One lives and one learns," said I. "I had not thought to meet a woman who rejoiced in cold-blooded murder."
"Cold-blooded, say you!" she fired up then, "Am I then to stand and be butchered like a sheep?"
"Had you chosen the proper life for a woman you had had no necessity either to slay or be slain," said I, carried away by my revulsion. And I then regretted what I had said for it was beginning to dawn on me who this girl must be.
"So, so, self-righteous," sneered she, her eyes beginning to flash dangerously, "so you think I'm a rogue! And what might you be, may I ask; what do you on this out-of-the-way island and why do you come a-stealing through the jungle to take the belongings of dead men?"
"My name is Stephen Harmer, mate of The Blue Countess, Virginia trader. Seven days ago she burned to the waterline from a fire that broke out in her hold and all her crew perished save myself. I floated on a hatch, and eventually raised this island where I have been ever since."
The girl eyed me half-thoughtfully, half-mockingly, while I told my tale, as if expecting me to lie.
"As for taking weapons," I added, "it's but bitter mead to bide without arms among such rogues."
"Name them none of mine," she answered shortly, then even more abruptly: "Do you know who I am'?"
"There could be only one name you could wear—what with your foppery and cold- blooded manner."
"And that's—?"
"Helen Tavrel."
"I bow to your intuition," she said sardonically, "for it does not come to my mind that we have ever met."
"No man can sail the Seven Seas without hearing Helen Tavrel's name, and, to the best of my knowledge, she is the only woman pirate now roving the Caribees."
"So, you have heard the sailors' talk? And what do they say of me, then?"
"That you are as bold and heartless a creature as ever walked a quarter-deck or traded petticoats for breeches," I answered frankly.
Her eyes sparkled dangerously and she cut viciously at a flower with her sword point.
"And is that all they say?"
"They say that though you follow a vile and bloody trade, no man can say truthfully that he ever so much as kissed your lips."
This seemed to please her for she smiled.
"And do you believe that, sir?"
"Aye," I answered boldly, "though may I roast in Hades if ever I saw a pair more kissable."
For truth to tell, the rare beauty of the girl was going to my head, I who had looked on no woman for months. My heart softened toward her, then the sight of the dead man at my feet sobered me. But before I could say more, she turned her head aside as if listening.
"Come!" she exclaimed. "I think I hear Gower and his fools returning! If there is any place on this cursed island where one may hide a space, lead me there, for they will kill us both if they find us!"
Certes I could not leave her to be slaughtered, so I motioned her to follow me and made off through the trees and bushes. I struck for the southern end of the island, going swiftly but warily, the girl following as light-footed as an Indian brave. The bright-hued butterflies flitted about us and high in the interwoven branches of the thick trees sang birds of vivid plumage. But a tension was in the air as if, with the coming of the pirates, a mist of death hung over the whole island.
The underbrush thinned as we progressed and the land sloped upward, finally breaking into a number of ravines and cliffs. Among these we made our way and much I marveled at the activity of the girl, who sprang about and climbed with the ease of a cat, and even outdid me who had passed most of my life in ship's rigging.
At last we came to a low cliff which faced the south. At its foot ran a small stream of clear water, bordered by white sand and shadowed by waving fronds and tall vegetation which grew to the edge of the sand. Beyond, across this narrow rankly-grown expanse there rose other higher cliffs, fronting north and completing a natural gorge.
"We must go down this," I said, indicating the cliff on which we stood. "Let me aid you—"
But she, with a scornful toss of her head, had already let herself over the cliff's edge and was making her way down, clinging foot and hand to the long heavy vines which grew across the face of it. I started to follow, then hesitated as a movement among the fronds by the stream caught my eye. I spoke a quick word of warning—the girl looked up to catch what I had said—and then a withered vine gave way and she clutched wildly and fell sprawling. She did not fall far and the sand in which she lighted was soft, but on the instant, before she could regain her feet, the vegetation parted and a tall pirate leaped upon her.
