Martin Conisbys Vengeance | Page 7

but make good the breakage and caulk the gaping seams.
The longer I looked the more hopeful I grew and the end of it was I
hasted to bring such tools as I needed and forthwith set to work. All the
morning, and despite the sun, I laboured upon this wrecked boat,
stripping off her cracked and splintered timbers and mightily pleased to
find her framework so much less damaged than I had dared hope,
insomuch that I presently fell a-whistling; but coming on three ribs
badly sprung I became immediately dejected. Howbeit I had all the
wood I could wish as planks, bulkheads and the like, all driven ashore
from wrecked vessels, with bolts and nuts a-plenty; thus as I worked I
presently fell a-whistling again.
Suddenly, I was aware of the woman watching me, and glancing at her
as she leaned cross-legged against an adjacent boulder, she seemed no
woman but a pert and handsome lad rather. Her thick hair, very dark
and glossy, fell in curls to her shoulders like a modish wig, her coat
was of fine blue velvet adorned with silver lace, her cravat and ruffles
looked new-washed like her silk stockings, and on her slender feet were
a pair of dainty, buckled shoes; all this I noticed as she lolled, watching
me with her sombre gaze.
"What would you with the wreck, fool?" she demanded, whereupon I
immediately betook me to my whistling.
"You do grow merry!" said she, frowning, whiles I whistled the louder.
And when she would have spoken further, I fell to hammering lustily,
drowning her voice thereby.
"Will you not speak with me then--no?" she questioned, when at last I
paused. But I heeding her no whit, she began swearing at me and I to
hammering again.
"Curst fool!" cried she at last, "I spit on you!" The which she did and so
swaggered away and I whistling merrier than ever.
CHAPTER III

HOW I HEARD A SONG THAT I KNEW
I was early at work next morning, since now my mind was firm-set on
quitting the island at all hazards, thereby winning free of this woman
once and for all. To this end I laboured heartily, sparing myself no
pains and heedless of sweat and sun-glare, very joyous to see my work
go forward apace; and ere the sun was very high my boat lay stripped
of all the splintered timbers on the larboard side. My next care was to
choose me such planks from my store of driftwood as by reason of
shape and thickness should be best adapted to my purpose. And great
plenty of wrought wood had I and of all sorts, it having long been my
wont to collect the best of such as drove ashore and store it within those
caves that opened on Deliverance Beach. Thus, after no great search, I
had discovered all such planking as I needed and forthwith began to
convey it down to the boat.
In the which labour the woman met me (I staggering under a load of
my planks) and strutted along beside me, vastly supercilious and
sneering.
"Hold!" cried she. "He sweateth, he panteth purple o' the gills! And
wherefore, to what end?"
"To win free of two things do weary me."
"Ah--ah? And these?"
"This island and yourself."
"So! Do I then weary you, good Master Innocence?"
"Mightily!"
"Ah--bah! 'Tis because you be fool and no man!"
"Mayhap," said I, taking up my hammer, "howbeit I do know this
island for a prison and you for an evil thing--"
"Ah!" sighed she softly. "I have had men hanged for saying less!"

"So would I be quit of you as soon as may be," said I, fitting my first
timber in place whiles she watched me, mighty disdainful.
"So you would mend the boat, amigo mio, and sail away from the
island and me--yes?"
"God knoweth it!"
"Mayhap He doth, but what o' me? Think ye I shall suffer you to leave
me here alone and destitute, fool?"
"The which is to be seen!" said I; and having measured my plank and
sawed it to proper length I began to rivet it to the frame, making such
din with my hammer that she, unable to make herself heard, presently
strode away in a fury, to my great content.
But, in a little back she cometh, and on her hip that bejewelled Spanish
rapier that had once been part of Black Bartlemy's treasure (as hath
been told) and which (having my own stout cut-and-thrust) I had not
troubled to bring away from the cave.
Whipping out the long blade then, she makes with it various passes in
the air, very supple and dexterous, and would have me fight with her
then and there.
"So-ho, fool!" cried she, brandishing her