Beauvallet Read Free Page A

Spanish.
    Don Manuel started; Dominica gave a gasp. ‘Is it a jest, señor?’ Don Manuel demanded.
    ‘In God's Name, why should I jest?’
    ‘You make us prisoners?’
    ‘Nay, I bid you be my guests, señor. I said I would amend all.’
    The lady broke out again. ‘You mock us! You shall not take us aboard your ship. We will not go!’
    Beauvallet set his hands on his hips. The mobile eyebrow went up again. ‘How now? First you will and then you will not. You tell me I am a dog to hinder your return to Spain, and curse me roundly for a rogue. Well, I have said I will amend the fault: I will convey you to Spain with all speed. What ails you then?’
    ‘Take us to Spain!’ said Don Manuel uncomprehendingly.
    ‘You cannot!’ cried Dominica, incredulous. ‘You dare not!’
    ‘Dare not? God's Son, I am Nick Beauvallet!’ said Sir Nicholas, amazed. ‘Dared I sail into Vigo a year back, and lay all waste? What should stop me?’
    She flung up her hands, and the dagger flashed in the sunlight. ‘Oh, now I know that they named you well who named you Mad Beauvallet!’
    ‘You have it wrong,’ Beauvallet said, jesting. ‘Mad Nicholas is the name they call me. I make you free of it, señora.’
    Don Manuel interposed. ‘Señor, I do not understand you. I cannot believe you speak in good faith.’
    ‘The best in the world, señor. Is an Englishman's word good enough?’
    Don Manuel knew not how to answer. It was left for his daughter to say No, very hotly. All she got by that was a quick look and a slight laugh.
    Across the deck came Don Juan de Narvaez, stately even in defeat. He bowed low to Don Manuel, lower still to Dona Dominica, and ignored Beauvallet. ‘Señor, the boat waits. Permit me to escort you.’
    ‘Get you aboard, Señor Punctilio,’ said Sir Nicholas. ‘Don Manuel sails with me.’
    ‘No!’ said Dominica. But it is very certain that she meant yes.
    ‘I have no desire to jest with you, señor,’ Don Juan said coldly. ‘Don Manuel de Rada naturally sails with me.’
    A long finger beckoned to Don Juan's guard. ‘Escort Don Juan to the long boat,’ said Sir Nicholas.
    ‘I do not stir from here without Don Manuel and his daughter,’ said Narvaez, and struck an attitude.
    ‘Take him away,’ said Sir Nicholas, bored. ‘God speed you, señor.’ Narvaez was led away, protesting. ‘Señora, be pleased to go aboard the Venture. Diccon, have their traps conveyed at once.’
    Dominica braved him, to see what might come of it. ‘I will not go!’ She clenched the dagger. ‘Constrain me at your peril!’
    ‘A challenge?’ inquired Beauvallet. ‘Oh, rash! I told you that I never refused a challenge.’ He bore down upon her, and dodged, laughing, the dagger's point. He caught her wrist, and had his other arm firmly clipped about her waist. ‘Cry peace, sweetheart,’ he said, and took the dagger from her, and restored it to its sheath. ‘Come!’ he said, tossed her up in his arms, and strode off with her to the quarter-deck.
    Dominica forebore resistance. It would be useless, she knew, and her dignity would suffer. She permitted herself to be carried off, and liked the manner of it. They did not use such ready methods in Spain. There was great strength in the arm that upheld her, and the very carelessness of the man intrigued one. A strange, mad fellow, with an odd directness. One would know more of him.
    She was carried down the companion into the waist, where the men were busy with the treasure – China silks, and linen-cloths, ingots of gold, bars of silver, and spices from the islands. ‘Robber!’ said Dominica softly.
    He chuckled. It was annoying. To the bulwarks he went, and she wondered how he would manage now. But he did it easily enough, with a hand on the shrouds, and a leap up. He stoodpoised a moment. ‘Welcome aboard the Venture , sweetheart!’ he said audaciously, and climbed down with her safe tucked in his arm to his own poop-deck below.
    She was set on her feet,