Lady and the Pirate

Emerson Hough

Description

Swash-buckling adventure on the high seas, passionate romance between star-crossed lovers -- The Lady and the Pirate has it all. This popular novel from American writer Emerson Hough is a fun read for pirate fans, historical romance junkies, and everyone in between.

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775413820
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE LADY AND THE PIRATE
BEING THE PLAIN TALE OF A DILIGENT PIRATE AND A FAIR CAPTIVE
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EMERSON HOUGH
 
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The Lady and the Pirate Being the Plain Tale of a Diligent Pirate and a Fair Captive From a 1913 edition.
ISBN 978-1-775413-82-0
© 2009 THE FLOATING PRESS.
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.
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Contents
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Chapter I - In Which I Am a Caitiff Chapter II - In Which I Hold a Parley Chapter III - In Which I Am a Captive Chapter IV - In Which I Am a Pirate Chapter V - In Which We Sail for the Spanish Main Chapter VI - In Which I Acquire a Friend Chapter VII - In Which I Achieve a Name Chapter VIII - In Which We Have an Adventure Chapter IX - In Which We Take Much Treasure Chapter X - In Which I Show My True Colors Chapter XI - In Which My Plot Thickens Chapter XII - In Which We Close with the Enemy Chapter XIII - In Which We Board the Enemy Chapter XIV - In Which is Abounding Trouble Chapter XV - In Which is Conversation with the Captive Maiden Chapter XVI - In Which is Further Parley with the Captive Maiden Chapter XVII - In Which is Hue and Cry Chapter XVIII - In Which is Discussion of Two Aunties Chapter XIX - In Which I Establish a Modus Vivendi Chapter XX - In Which I Have Polite Conversation, but Little Else Chapter XXI - In Which We Make a Run for It Chapter XXII - In Which I Walk and Talk with Helena Chapter XXIII - In Which is a Pretty Kettle of Fish Chapter XXIV - In Which We Have a Sensation Chapter XXV - In Which We Meet the Other Man, Also Another Woman Chapter XXVI - In Which We Burn All Bridges Chapter XXVII - In Which We Reach the Spanish Main Chapter XXVIII - In Which is Certain Polite Conversation Chapter XXIX - In Which is Shipwreck Chapter XXX - In Which is Shipwreck of Other Sort Chapter XXXI - In Which We Take to the Boats Chapter XXXII - In Which I Rescue the Cook Chapter XXXIII - In Which We Are Castaways Chapter XXXIV - In Which is No Rapprochement with the Fair Captive Chapter XXXV - In Which I Find Two Estimable Friends, but Lose One Beloved Chapter XXXVI - In Which We Fold Our Tents Chapter XXXVII - In Which is Philosophy; Which, However, Should Not Be Skipped Chapter XXXVIII - In Which is an Armistice with Fate Chapter XXXIX - In Which Are Sealed Orders Chapter XL - In Which Land Shows in the Offing Chapter XLI - In Which is Much Romance, and Some Treasure, Also Very Much Happiness Endnotes
Chapter I - In Which I Am a Caitiff
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I was sitting at one of my favorite spots engaged in looking throughmy fly-book for some lure that might, perhaps, mend my luck in theafternoon's fishing. At least, I had within the moment been soengaged; although the truth is that the evening was so exceptionallyfine, and the spot always so extraordinarily attractive to me—thisparticular angle of the stream, where the tall birches stand, being tomy mind the most beautiful bit on my whole estate—that I hadforgotten all about angling and was sitting with rod laid by upon thebank, the fly-book scarce noted in my hand. Moreover, a peculiarlyfine specimen of Anopheles, (as I took it to be) was at that verymoment hovering over my hand, and I was anxious to confirm my judgmentas well as to enlarge my collection of mosquitoes. I had my other handin a pocket feeling for the little phial in which I purposed toenclose Anopheles, if I could coax him to alight. Indeed, I say, Iwas at that very moment as happy as a man need be; or, at least, ashappy as I ever expected to be. Imagine my surprise, therefore, atthat moment to hear a voice, apparently intended for me, exclaim,"Halt! Caitiff!"
I looked up, more annoyed than displeased or startled. It is not oftenone sees so fine a specimen of Anopheles; and one could have swornthat, but for my slight involuntary movement of the hand, he must havesettled; after which— crede experto! —he would have been the same asin my phial, and doomed to the chloroform within the next hour.Besides, no matter who one may be or how engaged, it is not whollyseemly to be accosted as a caitiff, when one is on one's own land,offending no man on earth, owing no debt and paying no tribute,feudal, commercial, military or personal, to any man on earth.
The situation seemed to me singular. Had the time been some centuriesearlier, the place somewhere in the old world, such speech might havehad better fitting. But the time was less than a year ago, the placewas in America. I was on my own lands, in this one of our middlestates. This was my own river; or at least, I owned the broad acres onboth sides of it for some miles. And I was a man of no slinking habit,no repulsive mien, of that I was assured, but a successful Americanof means; lately a professional man and now a man of leisure, and notso far past thirty years of age. My fly-rod was the best that moneycan buy, and the pages of the adjacent book were handsomely stocked bythe best makers of this country and each of the three divisions ofGreat Britain; in each of which—as well as in Norway, Germany, or forthe matter of that, India, New Zealand, Alaska, Japan or otherlands—I had more than once wet a line. My garb was not of leatherjerkin, my buskins not of thonged straw, but on the contrary I wasturned out in good tweeds, well cut by my London tailor. To be calledoffhand, and with no more reason than there was provocation, a"caitiff," even by a voice somewhat treble and a trifle trembling,left me every reason in the world to be surprised, annoyed andgrieved. For now Anopheles had flown away; and had I not been thusstartled, I should certainly have had him. Yet more, no fish wouldrise in that pool the rest of that evening, for no trout in my littlestream thereabout ever had seen a boat or been frightened by the plashof an oar since the time, three years back, when I had bought theplace.
I looked up. Just at the bend, arrested now by hand anchorage to theoverhanging alders, lay a small boat, occupied by two boys, neitherof more than fourteen years, the younger seemingly not more thantwelve. It was the latter who was clinging with one hand to thedrooping bushes. His companion, apparently the leader in their presententerprise, was half crouching in the bow of the boat and he,evidently, was the one who had accosted me.
A second glance gave me even more surprise, for it showed that theboat, though not precisely long, low and rakish of build, evidentlywas of piratical intent. At least she was piratical in decoration. Oneach side of her bow there was painted—and the evening sun, shiningthrough my larches, showed the paint still fresh—in more or lessaccurate design in black, the emblem of a skull and cross-bones. Aboveher, supported by a short staff, perhaps cut from my own willows, flewa black flag, and whatever may have been her stern-chaser equipment,her broadside batteries, or her deck carronades—none of which I couldwell make out, as her hull lay half concealed among the alders—herbow-chaser was certainly in commission and manned for action. Thepirate captain, himself, was at the lanyard; and I perceived that henow rested an extraordinarily large six-shooter in the fork of a shortstaff, which was fixed in the bow. Along this, with a three-corneredgray eye, he now sighted at the lower button of my waistcoat, and in afashion that gave me goose-flesh underneath the button, in spite ofall my mingled emotions. Had I not "halted," as ordered, to the extentof sitting on quietly as I was, he no doubt would have pulled thelanyard, with consequences such as I do not care to contemplate, andmayhap to the effect that this somewhat singular story would neverhave been written.
"Halt, Sirrah!" began the pirate leader again, "or I will blow you outof the water!"
I sat for a moment regarding him, my chin in my hand.
"No," said I at last; "I already am out of the water, my friend. But,prithee, have a care of yonder lanyard, else, gadzooks! you may belikeblow me off the bank and into the water."
This speech of mine seemed as much to disconcert the pirate chieftainas had his me. He stood erect, shifting his Long Tom, to the greatease of my waistcoat button.
"Won't you heave to, and put off a small boat for a parley?" Iinquired.
Chapter II - In Which I Hold a Parley
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The two pirates turned to each other for consultation, irresolute, butevidently impressed by the fact that their prize did not purpose tohoist sail and make a run for it.
"What ho! mates?" demanded the captain, in as gruff a voice as hecould compass: "Ye've heard his speech, and he has struck his flag."
"Suppose the villain plays us false," rejoined the "mates" or rather,the mate, in a voice so high or quavering that for a moment it wasdifficult for me to repress a smile; although these three years past Irarely had smiled at all.
The captain turned to one side, so that now I could see both him andhis crew. The leader was as fine a specimen of boy as you could haveasked, sturdy of bare legs, brown of face, red of hair, ragged andtumbled of garb. His crew was active though slightly less robust, afair-haired, light-skinned chap, blue-eyed, and somewhat better cladthan his companion. There was something winning about his face. At aglance I knew his soul. He was a dreamer, an idealist, an artist, inthe bud. My heart leaped out to him instinctively in a great impulseof sympathy and understanding. Indeed, suddenly, I felt the bloodtingle through my hair. I looked upon life as I had not these threeyears. The imagination of Youth, the glamour of Adventure, lay herebefore me; things I cruelly had missed th