Read Online Captain Caution by Kenneth Roberts - Free Book Online
Authors: Kenneth Roberts
Tags: Historical
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Ha, hal We serve the Griffons mashed and en brochette, eh? You with the fist and me with the knife, no?" Holding Marvin by the shoulders still, he danced lightly before him; then kissed him again with fervor.
Marvin pushed him away. "Where's Corunna?" he demanded.
"He means the rabbitI" Argandeau cried. "Why have you not told me she is yours? Ah, but she is more pigeonl A true pigeonl You know where we are this minute now, if that sublime pigeon had not helped us? We are down there in that stinkpot with mud in the ear, and nothing to look forward to but mud in the other earl Oh, but Holy Christophe, Marvin, there is a pigeon whom I would be willing to acknowledge as the mother of my children!"
He drew up his shoulders, then, and smiled affectionately. "Why you look angry because I make a graceful compliment?" he asked. "I tell you there are women who have sickened and died for lack of one kind word from Argandeaul Not more than one hundred times in my life have I paid such a tribute as I have paid to your pigeon! In Hispaniola men go for miles to look with admiration at a rabbit of whom Argandeau has been known to say that he would be willing to acknowledge her as the mother of his children."
"We don't need to go into that," Marvin said.
As if to himself Argandeau murmured, "He means I may think about his pigeon, but must never say what I thinkl" He shook his head despairingly, then added, "You wish now to know the whereabouts of your pigeon? Well, look therel" And he pointed to the hatch where Slade, bending so low that his long black hair fell forward over his face, was at that instant helping Corunna to the deck.
"Why," Marvin said, with bewilderment in his voice, "why, he didn't fightl" He stepped toward the two at the hatch, only to be
CAPTAIN CAUTION 319
stopped by Argandeau once more. "Wait one little minute!" Argandeau ordered. "You do not please anyone by saying he did not fight, because he did. Oh, yeslHe is very agreeable man with a knife; not complete artist, like me, but I think very good very welll"
The tumult on the Beetle's quarter-deck grew louder and more shrill; and Argandeau, turning to cast a quick glance over his shoulder, stood staring at the man who picked his way almost daintily along the bowsprit of the victorious schooner.
He had an air of fragility to him, this man, that seemed to come less from his stature than from the snugness with which his creamcolored small clothes fitted around his slender waist and hips, and from the dark shadows beneath his black eyes. His face was palely brown; his head held high by the tall stiff collar of his fine blue coat.
"Look here at thisl" Argandeau murmured, with a quality in his soft voice that turned Marvin's eyes from Corunna's flushed face. "Here is something wonderful! Out of this American schooner arrives one of the great men of Francel"
Argandeau took Marvin by the arm and hurried him toward the quarter-deck. On the bowsprit, which hung like a suspended sword above the conquered British brig, stood the fragile, shadowy-eyed man, staring down at the howling, blood-stained throng who cheered him, and at the dead and wounded who lay among them and ringed them round. He spoke brusquely to those beneath, and at once dropped lightly to the deck to stand beside the body of Lieutenant Strope.
"This brave gentleman," he said in a penetrating, nasal voice, "is deadl Who commands here?" He looked sharply about him; then nodded slowly at the young officer who stepped forward. "I am Captain Diron," he said. "Private armed schooner Decatur, Charleston. I think I have been assisted in taking this vessel."
The young officer laughed abruptly, but there was no amusement in the sound. "If it hadn't been for that rabble," he said, moving his head contemptuously toward the vessel's bow, "we'd have cut you to pieces!"
Captain Diron studied him attentively. "Ah, yesl" he agreed. "No doubtl" The seamen behind him set up a growling, at which he abruptly wagged a
Marvin pushed him away. "Where's Corunna?" he demanded.
"He means the rabbitI" Argandeau cried. "Why have you not told me she is yours? Ah, but she is more pigeonl A true pigeonl You know where we are this minute now, if that sublime pigeon had not helped us? We are down there in that stinkpot with mud in the ear, and nothing to look forward to but mud in the other earl Oh, but Holy Christophe, Marvin, there is a pigeon whom I would be willing to acknowledge as the mother of my children!"
He drew up his shoulders, then, and smiled affectionately. "Why you look angry because I make a graceful compliment?" he asked. "I tell you there are women who have sickened and died for lack of one kind word from Argandeaul Not more than one hundred times in my life have I paid such a tribute as I have paid to your pigeon! In Hispaniola men go for miles to look with admiration at a rabbit of whom Argandeau has been known to say that he would be willing to acknowledge her as the mother of his children."
"We don't need to go into that," Marvin said.
As if to himself Argandeau murmured, "He means I may think about his pigeon, but must never say what I thinkl" He shook his head despairingly, then added, "You wish now to know the whereabouts of your pigeon? Well, look therel" And he pointed to the hatch where Slade, bending so low that his long black hair fell forward over his face, was at that instant helping Corunna to the deck.
"Why," Marvin said, with bewilderment in his voice, "why, he didn't fightl" He stepped toward the two at the hatch, only to be
CAPTAIN CAUTION 319
stopped by Argandeau once more. "Wait one little minute!" Argandeau ordered. "You do not please anyone by saying he did not fight, because he did. Oh, yeslHe is very agreeable man with a knife; not complete artist, like me, but I think very good very welll"
The tumult on the Beetle's quarter-deck grew louder and more shrill; and Argandeau, turning to cast a quick glance over his shoulder, stood staring at the man who picked his way almost daintily along the bowsprit of the victorious schooner.
He had an air of fragility to him, this man, that seemed to come less from his stature than from the snugness with which his creamcolored small clothes fitted around his slender waist and hips, and from the dark shadows beneath his black eyes. His face was palely brown; his head held high by the tall stiff collar of his fine blue coat.
"Look here at thisl" Argandeau murmured, with a quality in his soft voice that turned Marvin's eyes from Corunna's flushed face. "Here is something wonderful! Out of this American schooner arrives one of the great men of Francel"
Argandeau took Marvin by the arm and hurried him toward the quarter-deck. On the bowsprit, which hung like a suspended sword above the conquered British brig, stood the fragile, shadowy-eyed man, staring down at the howling, blood-stained throng who cheered him, and at the dead and wounded who lay among them and ringed them round. He spoke brusquely to those beneath, and at once dropped lightly to the deck to stand beside the body of Lieutenant Strope.
"This brave gentleman," he said in a penetrating, nasal voice, "is deadl Who commands here?" He looked sharply about him; then nodded slowly at the young officer who stepped forward. "I am Captain Diron," he said. "Private armed schooner Decatur, Charleston. I think I have been assisted in taking this vessel."
The young officer laughed abruptly, but there was no amusement in the sound. "If it hadn't been for that rabble," he said, moving his head contemptuously toward the vessel's bow, "we'd have cut you to pieces!"
Captain Diron studied him attentively. "Ah, yesl" he agreed. "No doubtl" The seamen behind him set up a growling, at which he abruptly wagged a
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