The Pirate of the Mediterranean: A Tale of the Sea Read online

  CHAPTER TWO.

  The speronara would, on a near inspection by a nautical eye, appearsomewhat different to the general run of vessels of her rig and build.There was evidently the greatest attention paid to her ropes, spars, andoars. They were of the best hemp and toughest wood; not a stranded oreven worn sheet or halyard was to be seen; every spar was sound, and hercanvas was new and strong. Her crew, or those who sent her out of port,seemed to consider that much might depend on her speed and capability ofkeeping the sea.

  If, however, she was employed in carrying passengers between Sicily andMalta, it was very natural that her owners should make her appear asseaworthy as possible, to induce people to trust their lives andproperty in her. We will suppose her still outside the port, soon afterJack Raby and his companions first saw her. Evidently the mostimportant person on board was a young man of very pleasing exterior. Hewas rather tall than otherwise, and though slight, possessed a breadthof chest which gave promise of great strength and activity. Hiscomplexion was sunburnt, if not dark by nature, and his lip, whichbetokened scorn and firmness, and gave an unattractive expression to hiscountenance, was shaded by a thick curling moustache. His features weredecidedly regular and handsome; and had they been otherwise, his large,flashing, dark eye would have challenged observation. His age wasprobably about two or three-and-thirty--he might have been younger--andhe was certainly a very remarkable person. Those who saw him even butfor a moment, went away fancying that they had been long acquainted withhis features. His costume at once betrayed his nation; for he wore thered fez, the embroidered jacket and full white kilt, and richly-workedleggings and slippers of the Greek, and the cast of his countenance madeone also conclude that he belonged to that nation. The only otherperson on board dressed in the Greek costume, was evidently some yearsyounger, and was neither so tall nor so strongly built as his companion.His countenance was decidedly handsome, and what would be calledaristocratic. It was very grave, and, indeed, melancholy in theextreme; and an accurate observer of character might have divined, fromthe form of his mouth and expression of his eyes, that he was sadly inwant of firmness and decision in his actions, which idea, probably,would not have been very far from the truth. His dress, though thematerials were good, was as plain as the costume he wore would allow;but it could not be otherwise than elegant and handsome, and it sat wellupon his graceful figure.

  Those two persons were earnestly engaged in conversation with another,who appeared to be the master of the vessel, and they were standingleaning over the side, away from the rest of the people on board.

  "Remember, now," observed the principal Greek to the master, "you are tobe ready to weigh and make sail at a moment's notice; it may beto-night, even--it may be tomorrow or on the following day--I cannotsay, but you must be prepared."

  "_Signor, si_," answered the master in a tone of deep respect. "I willtake care to obey your commands to the letter; but I am afraid there maybe some difficulty with the authorities at the custom-house. They oncesuspected me of smuggling, though I was as innocent as the babe unborn,and they may detain me."

  "You know the consequences," returned the Greek, with a fierce look; "Iwill listen to no excuse if anything miscarries, so look to it!"

  "It is a dangerous expedition you go on, signore," observed the Sicilianmaster.

  "Dangerous!" exclaimed the Greek, in a tone of contempt. "Danger is thefood we live on, the air we breathe; without it life would lose half itszest. I'll tell you what, my friend, he is but a base-born slave whoknows not how to live, and fears to die. Give me a life of activity andexcitement, and when that ceases death will be welcome."

  "You, signore, are the best judge of your own taste," answered theSicilian; "for my part, I am content to make an honest livelihood bytrading between my native city of Syracuse and yonder good port ofValetta, where, please the holy saints, we shall drop our anchor in thecourse of ten minutes."

  "And anything else by which you may turn a colonna," muttered the Greek.

  The speronara continued in her course, and as she came off FortRicasoli, the other person habited as a Greek, who had not hithertospoken, observed the four figures suspended on the southern bastion.

  "Holy Virgin, what are those?" he exclaimed in Italian.

  "Those, signore," answered the padrone, as the master of the speronarawas called, with particular emphasis, "are pirates."

  "Pirates!" ejaculated the young man, while a shudder ran through hisframe.

  "_Si, signore, pirates_," answered the padrone, with a significant look."They had a short life of it after they had committed the acts forwhich they were condemned. They had reached Smyrna with their booty,when they were captured by the British and brought back here."

  "An awful lesson to others to be more careful how they manage affairs,"observed the principal Greek, laughing. "Now, I dare say, if the truthwas known, those fellows blundered terribly. It's always the case whenpeople get into the clutches of the law."

  The other Greek shuddered and turned his head aside. "It is not apleasant sight," he observed.

  "Oh! those English are terrible fellows for punishing those engaged inany little transaction of that sort," said the padrone. "They are goodpeople, though."

  "They are remarkably conceited," said the Greek, twirling hismoustache--"they believe that they can make the whole world obey them;but it is time that we should look about us. Ah! steer near thatmerchant-brig there, in the mouth of the harbour, I should like to havea look at her that I might know her again."

  The man at the helm put it so much to port, that the end of one of thelong tapering yards of the speronara nearly got foul of the _Zodiac's_fore-yard.

  "What the deuce are you lubbers about, that you cannot keep yourselfclear of your neighbours?" sung out Bowse's mate, from the main rigging."I'll teach you better manners if I catch you at sea, that's all."

  "The Englishman seems angry," said the Greek, laughing. "That brig,though, looks as if she had a valuable cargo on board. I must learnmore about her."

  Conversation was now put a stop to, in consequence of the cautionnecessary for steering into a thickly-crowded harbour, and the hurry ofbringing up.

  She dropped her anchor among a number of similarly-rigged craft, closeinshore, where she lay exciting little or no observation, except that afew boatmen saw her, and were calculating their prospects of having totransport her passengers or merchandise to the landing-place.

  As soon as her sails were stowed, which was speedily done, thehealth-boat came alongside, and as it appeared she had come from Sicily,pratique was immediately given her. She was next visited by thecustom-house boat. The officer, for some reason or other, seemed toconsider that there was something suspicious about her, for he examinedher papers very minutely, and read them over more than once, but was atlast obliged to pass them as correct. The vessel next underwent astrict search, but nothing contraband was found on board her, and atlast he took his departure, even then casting back a look of doubt ather, as if he was not thoroughly convinced that all was right.

  During these proceedings the Greek sat in the after part of the vessel,maintaining a perfect silence, while he played with the handle of ashort poniard which he wore in his sash.

  "You appear to be suspected, my friend," he observed to the master, assoon as the officers had gone.

  "So it seems, signore," he answered. "The fact is, once upon a time, Ihad a few bales of goods on board, which I contrived to land withoutpaying the duties, and I have ever since been watched as if I were asmuggler."

  "It was clumsy in you to be discovered," observed the Greek. "In thepresent instance I might find it inconvenient."

  A man in a small boat, who had been paddling quietly at a littledistance from the speronara, as soon as the government officials hadleft her, darted alongside.

  "Ah! Signor Sandro, welcome back to Malta," he exclaimed, addressingthe master of the little vessel. "I have not seen you here for a longtime."

  "Not th
e less welcome I hope, Manuel," said the master.

  "Few are who remember their friends and pay well," said the boatman."How can I best serve you, signore?"

  "By landing my passengers, and giving them all the information they mayrequire," said the master. "Hark you, Manuel--put your head nearer--myboy's life is answerable for their safety--so, as you love me, take carethat they get into no trouble. They seek a passage to some part oftheir own country on board a merchantman, and have come here to look forone to suit them."

  "I understand clearly, signor," said the boatman, significantly. "Butwho are they? What is their calling, or occupation?"

  "Oh! mother of Heaven, don't ask me!" answered the padrone, with aterrified look. "They may overhear you. It is not my business to putquestions to them. It is enough that they pay well, and do not wish tobe known. Besides, they would not scruple to cut my throat if they wereoffended--and most assuredly their friends would string up my poor boy,if anything went wrong with them. Even now, look at the captain--I meanthe best dressed of the two. How he is playing with the hilt of hisdagger there. He is meditating sticking it into my ribs because I amtalking so long to you. I tell you, you must watch over their safety;and, in the name of the saints, aid them to get away as fast aspossible--for, till they are out of the place, I shall not feel my headsecure on my shoulders."

  "Oh! I understand. They are political offenders disguised as Greeks,who do not wish their movements to be known;" said the sharp-wittedboatman, jumping at a conclusion. "I'll undertake to serve you andthem--not forgetting myself--and, I trust, that they will make it worthmy while."

  "No fear of that," the padrone was saying, when the Greek's voicesummoned him aft.

  "What were you saying to the boatman?" he asked in an angry tone.

  "I was making arrangements with him to take you on shore, signor, and doyour bidding," was the answer.

  "Well, he may land me at once," said the Greek. "Paolo, do you remainon board till I send for you, and let not a man quit the vessel on anyexcuse," he whispered. "Such provisions as they require, the boatmancan bring off for them, and I will manage to make him faithful."

  The Greek, without further remarks, swung himself over the side of thevessel and took his seat in Manuel's boat.

  "Hist, Manuel," he said, in the _lingua Franca_, well understood by theMaltese boatmen; "you are debating in your mind whether you will informthe authorities that a suspicious character has landed on the island,and get a reward from them, or whether you will take the chance ofpocketing what my generosity may induce me to bestow. Now, mark me, myhonest friend. In the first place, I could get you hung for a littletransaction, of which you know."

  The boatman started, and looked round with a suspicious glance.

  "_Que diavolo_, who can this be?" he muttered.

  "In the second, remember the English do not detain a man on baresuspicions, and but shabbily reward an informer. On the other hand,twenty colonati are yours, if you do my bidding. I do not want ananswer--you are not a fool. Now row on shore as fast as you can."

  The Greek was a judge of character; and he seemed not to be altogetherunacquainted with Manuel, the boatman. The boat ran into the publiclanding-place, and he stepped on shore with an independent and fearlessair, where he mingled among the busy and motley throng who crowded thequay. The boatman, Manuel, sat in his boat a little distance from theshore, watching him, and ready, apparently, to obey his orders when heshould be required.

  The Greek proceeded onward through the lower parts of the town, eyeingthose he passed with a quick keen glance, which seemed to read theirvery thoughts. People were too much accustomed to see the variedcostumes of the East to regard him with unusual curiosity, or toincommode him in his progress by stopping to stare at him; at the sametime that many remarked him as he slowly sauntered on and wonderedwhence he had come. He seemed to have nothing more to do than to amusehimself by viewing the city, though he had certainly not selected themost interesting or cleanest quarter. He apparently was a stranger tothe place, by the way in which he hesitated at each crossing, whichturning he should take, till he had carefully deciphered the name on thewall. Now he stopped to look into a shop, then to gaze up at thewindows of a house as if he expected to see some one there, and then tothrow a copper to some importunate beggar. He walked with an air of somuch independence and nonchalance, indeed, at times, almost ofhaughtiness, that it was difficult to suppose he had the slightestapprehension of danger. Not a person, however, who, passed him, escapedhis scrutiny; and even when he appeared to stop carelessly, or for thesake of considering the way he was to take, he cast a hurried glancebehind him to satisfy himself that no one was acting the spy on hismovements. He had evidently seen enough to convince him that thevessel, in which he had come, was in bad odour, and he naturallyconcluded that her passengers would be narrowly watched. Of the crowdswho passed, not a human being seemed to know him, and if he was inreality particularly observed, it was done so cleverly and socautiously, that with all his ingenuity, he failed to discover whethersuch was the case or not. He had already traversed a number ofstreets--ascending several flights of steps and descending others--when,at the corner of a narrow lane, his eye fell on a squalid-looking beggarwho was lustily calling on the passers-by, in the name of all thesaints, to preserve him from starvation. A broad-brimmed hat with acrown similar to those worn by Italian bandits, but sadly battered andbrown with age and dirt, was worn slouchingly on his head, so as almostto hide his features, which were further concealed by a handkerchieftied under his chin, and a black patch over one of his eyes. A tatteredcloak, the cast-off finery of a dandy of the palmy days of the oldKnights of Malta, covered his shoulders, as did, in part, his legs, apair of blue cloth trousers, through which his knees obtruded, and whichwere fringed with torn stripes at the feet. Such of his features aswere visible were as ill-favoured as well could be. His voice, too, hada peculiarly disagreeable tone, as in the _lingua Franca_ of the Maltesemendicants he begged for alms.

  This interesting personage was supporting himself carelessly on a pairof crutches, while he rested on one foot, and stretched forth the palmof his right hand to grasp whatever might be put into it. The Greekstopped and put his hand into his pocket to draw out a piece of money,while he did so narrowly eyeing the beggar. The man's voice changedinstantly that he saw the stranger looking at him; from a half whiningyet impudent tone, it began to sink and tremble with alarm, and finallyhe became perfectly mute and forgetful of his calling.

  "I thought you would know me," said the Greek. "And you must remember Inever forget those I have once seen either as friends or foes."

  "No, signor, I perceive you do not," replied the beggar, trembling withalarm. "Have mercy on me."

  "That depends upon yourself," said the stranger. "At present, youdeserve no mercy at my hands; but I will now give you an opportunity ofserving me; and if you do so faithfully, I will overlook the past."

  "You are very generous, signor--you always were," exclaimed the beggar,trying to fall down and embrace his knees, which the Greek prevented."I will go to any part of the world. I will go through fire and waterto serve you."

  "You have not to go far to perform my directions; but I wantfaithfulness in the discharge of the duty I shall impose on you," saidthe Greek, sternly. "And, mark me, Giacomo--if you play me false, asyou have done others, I will find you out, and finish your worthlesslife with as little compunction as I would that of a rabid dog."

  "_Si, signor capitan_, I very well know that you are not a man to betrifled with," answered the beggar, bowing his head.

  "Tell me what you want, and by the Holy Virgin and all the saints inheaven I will perform the work faithfully."

  "Your oath is superfluous, as you would break it for a copper-piece, sodon't insult me with it," replied the Greek, scornfully. "But, listen:there is a certain Jew--Aaron Bannech by name--his office--his den--theplace where he cheats, and robs, and lies, is beneath the Albergo--inthe Strada.
Do you hear?"

  "_Si, signor, si_,--I know the place--I know the man," said the beggar,hastily.

  "You know him; it is well that you should--you are an admirable pair.He would sell his soul for a dollar, and would then try to cheat thedevil out of it. You are a meaner knave. Half that sum would buy you.You both are useful to me, though. Hasten to him, and tell him that Iam here. Say that he must clear out his den of visitors, clerks, orother prying knaves, and that I will be with him in half an hour. Whenyou have done this, go down to the port, and learn what vessels areabout to sail, shortly, for the eastward, with all particulars aboutthem--their cargoes--armed force--and number of men--also what ships areexpected to arrive shortly from the same quarter. Having gleaned thisinformation, which you well know how to do, come up with it to theresidence of the Jew. Listen, also, if anything is said about the_Speronara Volante_, from Syracuse, by which I arrived. Alessandro isher master--or, if any remarks are made respecting me. I am, probably,unnoticed; but it is as well to be cautious."

  "I will strictly obey your directions, signor," said the beggar. "Haveyou further orders?"

  "No--you may go. I have been talking to you too long already, and mayhave been observed."

  "Rest assured of my fidelity," said the beggar, hobbling off up thestreet on his crutches, at a far more rapid rate than he was generallywont to move.

  No sooner, however, had he got out of sight of the Greek, than heslackened his pace.

  "Now, I wonder what I should get by denouncing him to the authorities,"he muttered to himself. "They are stingy in rewarding informers though,and he, probably, will pay better; besides, as he says, he may get mehung by a word; and if I get him into trouble, some of his friends arecertain to avenge him. After all, too, he would probably make his storygood, and I should not be believed. You can never catch those Greeksasleep; their wit is so keen, and they twist, and turn, and double insuch a manner, that if they get into a scrape, they are certain ofworking their way out of it. No, it won't do. I must keep to my word,and be honest with him. Curse him! Here am I a beggar on crutches, anda far greater rogue lords it over me as if he were a prince."

  So the beggar hobbled on towards the house of the Jew to fulfil hismission. I am afraid that there are too many people in the world likeGiacomo, the Maltese beggar, who are honest as long only as it suitstheir purpose.