Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Dynamiter

THE FAIR CUBAN. 171
Thereupon the officer bade nie sit down, and began
to lielp Ine, and join in the meah ' I fill your ladyship's
glass/ said he, and handed me a tumbler of neat rum.
' Sir,' cried I, ' do you expect me to drink this ? '
He laughed heai-tily. ' Your ladyship is so much
changed,' said he, ' that I no longer expect any one thing
more than any other.'
Immediately after, a white seaman entered the cabin,
saluted ])oth Mr. Kentish and myself, and informed the
officer there was a sail in sight, which was bound to
pass us very close, and that Mr. Harland was in doubt
about the colours.
' Being so near the island 1 ' asked Mr. Kentish.
' That was what Mr. Harland said, sir,' returned the
sailor, with a scrape.
' Better not, I think,' said Mr. Kentish. ' My com-
pliments to Mr. Harland ; and if she seem a lively boat,
give her the stars and stripes ; but if she be dull, and
we can easily outsail her, show John Dutchman. That
is always another word for incivility at sea ; so we can
disregard a hail or a flag of distress, without attracting
notice.'
As soon as the sailor had gone on deck, I turned to
the officer in wonder. ' Mr. Kentish, if that be your,
name,' said I, ' are you ashamed of your own colours ? '
' Your ladyship refers to the " Jolly Roger " 1 ' he in-
quired, with perfect gravity ; and immediately after,
went into peals of laughter. ' Pardon me,' said he ;
' but here for the first time, I recognise your ladyship's
impetuosity.' ISTor, try as I pleased, could I extract
from him any explanation of this mystery, but only oily
and commonplace evasion.
While we were thus occupied, the movement of the
' Nemorosa ' gradually became less violent ; its speed at
the same time diminished ; and presently after, with
a sullen plunge, the anchor was discharged into the sea.
Kentish immediately rose, offered his arm and conducted
me on deck ; where I found we were lying in a roadstead
among many low and rocky islets, hovered al)out by an
innumerable cloud of sea-fowl. Immediately under our