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I looked down at him. If I spoke truth, Melinza's blade would soon cut short his hearing of it. A wild laugh rose in my throat; I could not hold it back, and it rang out, merrily mad, in the silent room. "Señores," I said, "Señores, I love a brave man, not a coward!" and that was truth, though none in that room read me aright, save Doña Orosia.
"What has he done to be so ill served? And whose the enmity behind it all, Melinza's, or the Governor's?" "Lor'!" exclaimed one of the sailors, "the young Don is past revenge, mistress. If he lives out the night 'tis more than I look to see." "Here, now, let me tell the tale, lad," the old captain interposed. "'Twas a duel began it, Mistress Tudor.
I leaned over the railing, and, loosing quickly from my hair the fellow to the rosette Don Pedro wore, I tossed it to the lad below, saying, in almost the only Spanish words I knew, "It is a gift!" Melinza's face grew white with anger; he tore off the bit of riband and ground it under his heel; then he strode down the stair, mounted his horse, and rode away.
"Unless," he added, "the Governor of San Augustin sends out a ship to intercept us there, or anywhere upon the way; in which case there will be naught for me to do but give you up to him." Upon that I was in a fever to be gone; for I felt that the day could not pass by without Melinza's discovering my flight, and I would endure any hardship rather than risk his intercepting us.
Rivers, springing forward to tear the lads apart; for now the mulatto's fingers were at his opponent's throat. Melinza's hand flew to his sword; with a volley of oaths he interposed the shining blade between Mr. Rivers and the writhing figures on the floor. Quick as thought another blade flashed from its sheath, and the angerful gray eyes of my betrothed burned in indignant challenge.
Another voice joined in. It was Melinza's own. "Stand back!" he called loudly. "Out of the way, slaves! Who dares dispute the orders of his Excellency? If a man goes within twenty paces of that leprous crew he may follow them to perdition; but there'll be no longer any room for him within these walls!" A murmur rose, and died away in the distance. We moved on once more.
Old Señor de Colis was mounted on a handsome bay that pranced and curvetted beneath him, to his most evident discomfort; but Melinza's seat was superb. It was a dappled gray he rode, with flowing mane and tail of silvery white; a crimson rosette was fastened to its crimped forelock, and the long saddle-cloth was richly embroidered.
This he raised to his lips with a laugh, and then fastened upon his breast. I was deeply angered, and I cast about for some means of retaliation that would show him the scorn I held him in. At the foot of the pavilion stood the youth who was holding Melinza's horse.
What is your pity worth?" I demanded, forcing back the tears. "I have a way of escape to offer," she answered softly. "Escape for him? Or for me?" "For both. Now listen! There is but one way to relax Melinza's hold on Señor Rivers. He would exchange him willingly for you." "Better for us both to die!" I exclaimed indignantly.
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