The King's Son of Palemban

ONCE upon a time, a great many years ago, — almost a century ago, in fact, — there lived a lady who was young and fair, and rich enough, in all conscience, as riches went then. Indeed, there were, no doubt, many ladies who were young and fair and rich enough; but this particular one was my great-grandmother, which may be the reason for my telling this story.

Now this lady, whom we will call Iphigenia, principally because that was not her name, was married to a very worthy gentleman and brave man, who was the captain of a ship. And this ship sailed, one voyage after another, to Bombay and Calcutta and Manila and Batavia and Singapore and such-like outlandish ports, from Boston. Captain Steele had sailed, late in September of the year 1821, on what was to be his last voyage. When he should sail into Boston Harbor again and land at the India Wharf, he would retire; or, at least, that was his intention. For he had been at sea, with certain brief intermissions, for the better part of fifteen years. And, at the age of thirty-three, it is fitting that a gentleman should retire from active service at sea, and should partake of the benefits and amenities of a life ashore.

Such, at least, was Captain Steele’s opinion; and such was the opinion of Iphigenia, his wife. Indeed, she would have been glad if he had seen fit to retire earlier. For in what was she better than a widow — a widow for all but about three months out of every twenty-four ? If she had been asked — she was not asked, but if she had been — she would have given it as her opinion that every gentleman should stay ashore for good and all after he was -twenty-three, thereby setting ahead the date of retirement by ten years. Captain Steele was married at twenty-three. And Iphigenia, as she pondered upon these matters in her own room, pouted somewhat.

“ Nine years a widow! ” she said. “Nine years a widow! Well, thank heaven, there is but a year more of it.” And she pulled the bell-cord.

She was sitting in her own room, rather huddled up over a great fire that roared in the chimney. It was cold, bitter cold, outside, and none too warm inside, although the fire was doing its brave best. But fire in the rooms does not warm the halls, especially if the doors be shut, as hers was. And, with the doors open, it is but a draughty place before the great chimney, that sucks up all the air it can get, be it cold or warm; and the air at this season was mostly cold. And Iphigenia had before her an embroidery frame and she was sitting in a very high-backed chair. The door into the hall must open sometimes. And she tried to embroider, but her fingers were rather cold, and besides, to say the truth, she did not want to. There was nothing that she did want to do, and neither did doing nothing suit her.

It is to be feared that Iphigenia was out of sorts. Perhaps she missed her husband. For I have always understood that Captain Steele was a very loving husband, although he did not ask his wife’s opinion as often as he might, even on matters in which she might have had a preference and in which that preference should have had some weight. He did not ask his wife’s opinion at all. No doubt he was to blame in that. We should not do so, now — we should not dare. But I have always understood, also, that it is never the way of sea captains — it is not a habit worth mentioning — to ask anybody’s opinion in regard to anything, but to trust to their own. And that method has its advantages, too.

The door opened and a maid entered. “Madam rang?” said she, in the low voice that well-trained maids always use — always have used, since maids were.

Iphigenia did not turn her head. “ Yes, Marshal], I rang,” she said; and her voice was not even and calm, like Marshall’s, but its tones betrayed her irritation. She did not have to modulate her voice always within a certain compass, as Marshall did. It might have been better for her if she had had to. She did not have to do anything that she did not want to do; it was only to convention that she bowed. And, if conditions only became sufficiently hard to bear, why, convention — But she went on.

“ What people have I asked to supper here, to-night, Marshall ? ”

“ Madam has asked but three people for to-night,” answered Marshall, in the same well-trained voice. “ There is Captain Cumnor, and Miss Peake, and Mr. Hunter. That is all, madam.”

“ Have n’t I asked Captain Ammidon — and Mrs. Ammidon?” asked Iphigenia, in a sort of panic, as it seemed.

“ No, madam.”

Now Iphigenia knew very well that she had not asked Captain Ammidon and Mrs. Ammidon. For, although it would be Christmas Eve, and although Captain and Mrs. Ammidon had always been asked to sup with her on Christmas Eve, she had omitted them of set purpose. Captain Ammidon was old and whitehaired and fatherly — Mrs. Ammidon did not matter; and Captain Cumnor was not old, nor was he white-haired or fatherly, but he was her very devoted slave — or so it appeared. Her friends were beginning to whisper that he was too devoted. But I am not forgetting that Iphigenia was my great-grandmother or that she was a very charming woman — even to Marshall; nor that Captain Steele had been at sea almost continually since they were married. And now it seemed that she was remembering some things, too, that she had been in danger of forgetting, and she was panic-stricken accordingly. For Miss Peake did not matter, either, nor did Mr. Hunter.

“Dear me! ” cried Iphigenia. “I must ask them at once. I hope they will overlook the lateness of the invitation and come. Oh, Marshall, I hope they will! ”

“ If madam will excuse me,” said Marshall, still in that low voice which contrived to hint at sympathy, “ I think that they will come. They believe that it is through some mistake that they have not received their invitation. They have always been asked, madam knows.”

“ Yes, yes,” said Iphigenia hastily. “ And you will see, Marshall, that Captain Ammidon is seated on my right and Captain Cumnor on my left. The others will be — where you see fit to put them, Marshall.”

“ Yes, madam,” said Marshall. And she opened the door again, to go out, and there entered a blast of air so cold that Iphigenia shivered as she got up to write her belated note to Captain Ammidon. It was addressed to Mrs. Ammidon and the words were written to Mrs, Ammidon; but the spirit of it was, none the less, to the captain.

And so it was come to Christmas Eve and the table was all dressed prettily — Marshall had seen to that; and Iphigenia was all dressed, infinitely more prettily — and Marshall had seen to that, too. And, when she was all dressed and ready to go down, she would first see her boys. For she was the mother of two fine boys, the older eight years old and the younger but three. They were already in bed.

“ I am afraid, madam,” said Marshall, “ that Bobby is asleep.” She smiled as she spoke. “ Madam knows that he wastes no time, but goes immediately to sleep. But Norton is awake. He was hoping that you would come in.”

“ And so I will,” said Iphigenia. Then she sighed. “ We have too much company, Marshall, too much company. It’s going to be stopped.” And, with that, she swept out; and Marshall smiled a knowing smile and murmured something under her breath.

“ Poor dear! ” she said. “ Poor dear! If only the captain would come! It’s full time.”

But Iphigenia swept into her sons’ room. Norton was silting up in the high bed with a warm wrapper over his shoulders. His eyes were shining. The room was cold and Iphigenia shivered.

“ Oh, mother! ” cried Norton, softly, lest he wake Bobby. “ You are so beautiful— so beautiful! I love to see you ready for parties. I wish father could see you now.”

Iphigenia sank down with her knees on the cushion that her little boys used to get into bed; for the bed was an oldfashioned, high affair, with hangings. And she flushed in a fashion that, Norton thought, made her more beautiful yet.

“ I wish father could see me, my dear little boy,” she said. “ I wish he could! ” And she took him in her arms and crushed his face against hers.

“ But your pretty dress, mother! ” protested Norton, struggling away. “ It ’ll rumple it all up.”

Iphigenia was in a passion of tenderness. “ Never mind the dress, Norton,” she cried. “ Never mind the dress. Give me a great big hug — a regular bear hug! Now! ”

And Norton, although he could seldom be prevailed upon to do such things, — he loved his mother dearly, but was shy about demonstrations, — Norton complied.

“ My dear little boy!” cried Iphigenia. “ My dear little boy! ” And she kissed him until he protested and hid his face in the pillow.

And Bobby was restless and talking in his sleep, although neither his mother nor Norton could make out what he said. Suddenly he sat up in bed, crying and evidently much frightened. Iphigenia had him in her arms in an instant.

“ What is it, Bobby, dear? ” she said. “ Did he have a bad dream ? Here is mother, and Norton is right beside you. Nothing can hurt Bobby.”

But Bobby kept on crying and sobbing. It was some minutes before he could be quieted. Then he opened his eyes, saw his mother, and clung with both arms about her neck.

“ Had a horrid dream,” he faltered sleepily, “ about farver, an’ he was on a big ship an’ sailin’ over the wide ocean, an’ some other little ships coined an’ — an’ they — an’ — ” And Bobby was sleeping again, peacefully this time.

Iphigenia laid him back in his place. She was strangely excited. “ Now, Norton,” she said, “ we will pray to the good God — just say it to ourselves, silently — that He will bring father safe home again.”

And Norton, very willingly, folded his hands as he sat there in bed, and his lips moved, while Iphigenia buried her face in the bedclothes as she knelt. And, having done, Iphigenia rose to her feet.

“ Good-night, mother,” said Norton. “ Now He will, won’t He? ”

“ Yes, dear little son,” said Iphigenia. “ Now He will. Good-night.”

She found Captain Cumnor warming his hands before the fire. He had come early, for some reason best known to himself. Iphigenia made a beautiful picture as she came into the room with her emotion fresh upon her. Captain Cumnor advanced to meet her and bowed low; and he took her hand in his and lightly touched her fingers with his lips. Iphigenia shivered.

“ My lady is looking well, to-night,” he said, in a low voice. His eyes said much more. Captain Cumnor had handsome eyes.

”I have been bidding my babies goodnight,” said Iphigenia, with a little trembling smile.

There was something about that smile which seemed to Captain Cumnor to put him far from her. He did not like it.

“ And — ” said Captain Cumnor, “and —? There is something else. What is it? ”

“ And — ” repeated Iphigenia, “ and — ” But she could not tell him. “ No,” she replied somewhat coldly, “ there is nothing else.”

Then Captain Ammidon came in, and Iphigenia was glad. And Mrs. Ammidon came after the captain, as they ever were, she following in his wake like a shadow - or like a shark — a very mild sort of shark; more like a dogfish - or so Iphigenia seemed to think. Iphigenia did not like Mrs. Ammidon. And Miss Peake and Mr. Hunter came together, and after a time they all went in to supper.

It was toward the end of the supper that Captain Ammidon was giving toasts. And he had just proposed Captain Steele’s health, with the hope that he might have a fortunate voyage and live thereafter in honor and happiness ashore. Captain Ammidon had retired years before. And they were all standing and had raised their glasses - little, delicate glasses, with the leopard’s head cut on them — when Iphigenia had a feeling that she was about to faint. She braced herself; she would not faint. And then —

She was just stepping out of the cabin door on to the quarter-deck of the Aulis. Before her was Captain Steele, in the gold-laced uniform that he kept for state occasions. The mates, also, were in uniform, which was unusual, and the crew, below, in the waist, were clad in the best that they could raise, which was not bad, for the most part, considering. It seemed to be about seven in the morning, although the sun was well up, being perhaps two hours high, or thereabouts. The weather was hot and sultry, with a promise of worse to come.

Iphigenia was much surprised to find that it seemed the most natural thing in the world that she should be there at that time. There was a light air stirring, but not enough to fill the sails, which hung, almost flapping, from the yards. There was a cloud of canvas spread, and Iphigenia noted that. She noted, too, that the ship was barely making steerage way. She advanced towards the group of officers.

Captain Steele was speaking to the mate. “ Overhaul the cargo,” he said. “ or as much of it as you can, and find something that will do for presents.” Iphigenia touched him on the arm. He looked up, and she was about to speak, but he held up his hand for her to be silent. She was silent, waiting. “ Be quick about it,” he added, to the mate. “ They will be aboard of us in half an hour.”

Then he turned to Iphigenia. “ Goodmorning, my dear,” he said, smiling, “ and a merry Christmas to you! ”

Iphigenia took hold of the lapels of his coat with both hands. She would have clung to him with her arms around his neck, but that there were the two mates and the whole crew to see. She turned imploring eyes to him.

“Is it Christmas morning, Elliott? A merry Christmas to you, if it is. I wish that you — you could — kiss me, Elliott.” Her eyes filled.

Captain Elliott Steele laughed. “ Do you, Iphigenia ? Well, bless you, I can.” He bent and kissed her full on the mouth. “ If everything were as easy as that — and as pleasant! A man may kiss his wife, I hope, on Christmas morning, without exciting remark.”

She was happy, then. “ And where are you now, Elliott ? And why have you got your uniform on — and why is — everything ? Tell me.”

Captain Steele laughed again, a full, round laugh. “No time for an answer to that. We are in latitude about nine fifty south, and longitude one hundred and five forty-four east. I have not taken an observation to-day, but that land you see over there is Christmas Island, and the water you see is the Indian Ocean. And the feluccas you see rowing this way are, I suspect, buccaneers, who will be aboard of us in less than half an hour, now. And the wind that you don’t see is what I wish devoutly that there was, to help us show them a clean pair of heels. But don’t you be frightened, Iphigenia,” he added hastily. “ I think that we shall circumvent them.”

Iphigenia was not frightened. She looked over the water, that rolled in long, lazy swells, unruffled by a breeze, and, far down upon the northern horizon, she thought that she saw the high land of Christmas Island, although she was not very sure. It made but a darker patch of blue on the blue of the horizon, at the best. And to the eastward she saw four boats — the “ little ships ” of Bobby’s dream, she thought — that, in the absence of wind, had out a forest of oars and were closing in, in a leisurely manner, upon their prey. Each little ship was crowded with men. And she wondered — wondered — and said nothing.

“ You keep near me,” said Captain Steele, “ and whatever I may do — I don’t know, yet, what I shall do — you follow my lead. You understand, Iphigenia P Follow my lead.”

“ Yes,” said Iphigenia.

In the crew there was one man who could speak the native language of those parts. Captain Steele had that man called to act as interpreter, for he himself knew but little of that tongue. And he had a gangway put over the side, and the first of the boats drew near and hung, a few oars’ lengths away. A man stood out from the mass of men, but, before he could speak, the interpreter called to him.

“ Peace be with you! ” he said.

And the man looked surprised, but he answered, and in his own tongue.

“ And with you, peace,” he said.

And, with that, the interpreter, at Captain Steele’s bidding, asked him to come aboard, with thirty of his men — there were thirty men in the crew of the Aulis — and be the guests of the Aulis at dinner. And, after a few minutes of hesitation — no doubt he had some fear that he might, I say, be walking into a trap, he and his men; it was a reasonable fear — after a few minutes, he came, and certain of his men from each of the boats came also. But the boats took up their stations about the ship, about a cable’s length away, as though they meant to stay there. And Captain Steele, clad in his gorgeous uniform, and the mates, and Iphigenia, a little timorous, waited at the head of the gangway.

The man came up and bounded lightly on deck, his men behind him. He looked alertly about him, ready for anything, it seemed; then, seeing only the officers in their uniforms, and a certain timorous lady, he smiled and touched his head and his lips and his breast, and made a low salaam, and said something which nobody understood. There was not time for the interpreter; and, besides, he had gone with the crew. Captain Steele held out his hand, which the man took, and he was presented to Mrs. Steele, although it is to be feared that he understood no more of what was going on than they did of his language.

He was a handsome man, younger than Captain Steele, with a little black mustache which turned up, quite cunningly, at the ends, and, on his head, a big turban of fine linen. Iphigenia laughed as she looked into his eyes, but whether from relief or from nervousness or from what other cause soever she could not have told, for the life of her. But she felt no fear of him. And he, seeing her laughing, and her eyes looking frankly into his, smiled merrily back again. And, at that, Captain Steele laughed too, and they all went into the cabin together.

“ It’s a little early for our Christmas dinner,” said Captain Steele, “ but we’ll have it, if the steward has done his duty. If not, I’ll string him up.”

And again they all smiled, though it must have been more from the friendly feeling which had come over them than because of Captain Steele’s words. And their guest was seated cross-legged on cushions that had been placed upon a divan. This divan commonly did duty as a transom and locker, in which were kept various papers of Captain Steele’s; among them, the log of the voyage which is before me now. And at the other end of the table sat Captain Steele, with Iphigenia and the first mate on either side; and the door opened and a badly frightened steward began serving the dinner.

It was a merry meal, in spite of the fact that nobody could understand a word that their guest said; and, noting that, which was plain enough, he seemed to have a certain pleasure in talking much. It was to be supposed that he could understand no more of what was said to him. And presently, Captain Steele, getting tired, as I suppose, of understanding nothing that his guest said, and being equally weary of keeping the smile on his face and not knowing what he smiled at, had the interpreter fetched to help them out. It was rather hard on him, taking him away from his dinner and making him stand behind the captain’s chair, from which point he could smell the dinner well enough, but could not get so much as a taste of it. There was no turkey, nor yet goose; but there was a very passable soup, and excellent salt horse and plum-duff to come, and Captain Steele could keep wines well enough, if he could not keep fresh meat.

The guest observed the salt horse with some amusement, and tasted everything, though he did scarcely more. Then, when the salt horse was finished, — it was the second course, — he said something to Captain Steele, with much smiling and many gestures. Captain Steele looked at the interpreter, whose face was glowing.

“ He says, captain, will my lord pardon him for suggesting, and accept a slight contribution from his stores? For he has been ashore within these two days, at Java, and there procured fresh meat and a trifle or two, which he well understands that his excellency has not had this long time, being at sea. And he believes the trifles he mentions will be gra teful to his lord and honorable lady, and to the crew, and he hopes that you will deign to accept them. And I make bold to say, captain, that I hope you will.”

At which ending Captain Steele burst out. laughing, as did Iphigenia and the mate; and their guest laughed as merrily, which made Iphigenia wonder whether he really understood no more than he seemed to. But Captain Steele thanked him heartily for his courtesy and said that he would gladly accept whatever he offered. And he, not waiting for the interpreter to interpret, murmured his excuses and arose and hastened on deck, with Captain Steele following after as fast as he could. But Iphigenia waited there with the mate.

And, after a while, there entered Captain Steele with their guest, and, strangely enough, he had his hand on the man’s shoulder, as if he were an old friend.

“ Iphigenia,” said the captain, “ what do you think of him ? He understands English as well as I, and he has been fooling us all this time. As for you,” he added, to the interpreter, “ you can go forward to your dinner.”

“ Aye, aye, sir; thank you, sir,” said the man; and went out, laughing silently.

“ I make my apologies to the lady and the honorable captain,” said the guest; “ but it was necessary that I be sure that there was no plan to trap us, me and my men. Now we can enjoy our dinner in fullness.”

“ In fullness,” echoed Captain Steele.

Iphigenia laughed again. And immediately there entered men bearing dishes in their hands. And they set them down and whipped off the covers, and there were pheasants, smoking hot, and many another thing that I do not know the name of, for neither Iphigenia, nor Captain Steele in his log, has said what they were. But I am sure enough that they must have tasted good to Captain Steele and his sailors, who had been three months without fresh meat or fruits, or anything much better than salt beef.

And, when the dinner was over, Captain Steele gave an order, and there was brought in to him, as he sat at the table, a box of carved ebony inlaid on the top and sides with silver. And the captain made a little speech, which I will not try to give — he had been drinking toasts, which will account for his readiness with his tongue; for he was not used to making speeches, and he did not like to — he made a speech, presenting the box and its contents to his guest, in memory of a pleasant occasion. And he pushed the box across the table, turned the silver key, and opened it. There lay a pretty pair of pistols, with their grips inlaid with some fine and beautiful design in silver, also.

“ I had nothing else that I could offer you,” said Captain Steele. “ I hope you will not be using them upon my friends.” And he laughed in somewhat embarrassed fashion.

Iphigenia saw a deep red suffuse the dark color of the man’s cheek, and she feared that the captain might have transgressed some rule of which he was ignorant. Then the man laughed as if he was pleased, and, feeling beneath the neck of his robe, he drew forth a chain of pearls. It was a long chain, and they were beautiful great pearls, each one perfect; and they grew from little to big, and at the bottom of the loop was a pendant with an enormous blue pearl in it. Iphigenia drew a long, shivering breath at the sight. She liked pearls very much; no doubt she would have said that she loved them. And the man rose, smiling, and went over to Captain Steele and bowed.

“ I beg that you will accept this trifle for madam,” he said. And, seeing the doubt growing on Captain Steele’s face, he laughed. “ I did not take it from one of your friends,” he continued. “ It is nothing. It will give me pleasure to have madam wear it — to remember a pleasant occasion.”

And there was nothing else for the captain to do but to take it, which he did with what grace was in him, and with but feeble protest. As for Iphigenia, she went red and pale by turns, and could only stammer her thanks. And, in time, they went on deck and the man betook him to his boat again and sailed away. For a gentle breeze had arisen, with, now and then, hard squalls. And great thunder heads darkened the water, but it was yet hot. Iphigenia leaned upon the rail and watched the boats and waved her handkerchief. She was no longer timorous.

The men of the Aulis were taking in sail. Captain Steele leaned on the rail, beside Iphigenia, and watched the boats. Their crews seemed to have no idea of taking in any sail, but they went with all that they could carry. “The fools!” said he. “ Well — perhaps they know their own boats best.”

And he shrugged his shoulders and turned away. Iphigenia watched the boats as they drew abreast of Christmas Island. It was very squally there, the wind drawing off the high land in puffs and swirls. She saw the boats careen, one after another, under one of these puffs, and recover; then, seemingly, there came a blast of great force. It knocked them flat, so that they went over like a row of ten-pins, and the men were struggling in the water. Iphigenia gave a little scream and dropped to the deck.

Queer things were happening to her. She would have cried out with the horror of it, but she could not raise her voice above a whisper.

“ Oh, is he drowned ? ” she said. “ Tell me, is he drowned ? ”

It was very still, and she was about to repeat her question. Then she heard voices, low and far off. And she opened her eyes, and she saw faces turned to hers, over the candles; but she saw them vaguely and indistinctly, as if they were dream-faces. Then they came nearer and were more real, and she knew them. She was in her own dining-room and she still held the little glass in her hand — the little glass with the leopard’s head cut in it — and her other hand gripped the table so hard that it was numb. And Captain Ammidon and Mrs. Ammidon were looking at her, their faces beginning to show the fear they felt, and they whispered together. Captain Cumnor was looking at her, too. Miss Peake and Mr. Hunter did not matter, as I have said.

“ My lady is not well ? ” asked Captain Cumnor, in a low and anxious voice. There was more in his voice than in his words — infinitely more, and his eyes expressed more than his voice. They said — but it does not matter, now, what they said; if he had only known it, the time was already past when it could matter to Iphigenia what he said, whether with lips or voice or eyes. And his voice was so low that even Captain Ammidon, on Iphigenia’s other hand, did not hear. But Captain Ammidon was deaf. As his lady did not reply, Captain Cumnor went on, —

“ Let me take you into — ”

And Iphigenia turned upon him a look that would have frozen his heart within him — if he had had a heart — so filled was it with contempt and loathing.

“ I am quite well, thank you,” she said; and shuddered and turned again and drank her wine. How long had she been standing there, holding that glass ?

Captain Cumnor was surprised at the look she gave him; surprised out of his discretion. What could he know of the workings of a woman’s mind ? What did the woman herself know of them, for that matter? But he was no fool. He could see through a hole in a millstone.

“ I am very glad that you are well,” he said. “ I was beginning to fear that, perhaps, you were not.” And he shrugged his shoulders.

His words were well enough, but his voice was an insult; and no woman would have cared to see his eyes as he spoke. Iphigenia turned towards him, and her words cut like knives.

“ I fear it is you who are ill, Captain Cumnor,” she said. “ If you feel that you should go home, we will excuse you.”

Captain Cumnor smiled an evil smile. “ I am indebted to you, madam,” he said. “ I hesitated to ask so great a favor.” He turned to the others. “ Mrs. Steele is kind enough to excuse me at once. She thinks I am ill and ought to be at home. Good-night.” And he bowed and was gone.

Mr. Hunter and Miss Peake gaped in astonishment and Mrs. Ammidon smiled grimly. Only Captain Ammidon reached over and took Iphigenia’s hand. He did not smile but he looked affectionately at her. “ Casting pearls, my dear,” said he; “ casting pearls.”

Involuntarily, Iphigenia reached up to feel her pearls. They were her own amber beads that she felt between her fingers.

Iphigenia never saw Captain Cumnor again, which was just as well, no doubt. But when Captain Steele came back, nearly a year later, he handed her a packet. And she undid the packet, with fingers that trembled a little, and she drew out from its wrappings a string of pearls. It was a long chain, and they were beautiful great pearls, each one perfect; and they grew from little to big, and at the bottom of the loop was a pendant with an enormous blue pearl in it. Captain Steele watched her as she drew them forth, but he said nothing, only stood there, smiling slightly.

And Iphigenia raised shy eyes to his. “Was he drowned?” she whispered. “ Tell me, was he drowned? ”

Captain Steele laughed. “ I don’t know what you can know about them — or him,” he said. “But I will show you.”

And he went and fetched his log: the log of the Aulis on the voyage from Boston towards Manila, beginning September the twenty-seventh, 1821. And he opened it and turned to a certain page, and set it before her. That same log lies open before me now, and at the same place. And I will mention, in passing, that I have that same string of pearls in my strong box at the bank. It is a long chain still — as long as when it was Iphigenia’s — and they are beautiful great pearls; but some of them are turned dark. It is nearly a century since Iphigenia got them.

At sea the day began, for Captain Steele at least, at noon; which will account for the date of the entry. And so December the twenty-fourth, “ latter part,” would correspond to the forenoon of the twenty-fifth, as we reckon days ashore. He mentions it. And, if Captain Steele had been of a religious turn, he might well have filled a page of the book with a prayer. Captains of those days often filled nearly a page with prayers, of a Sunday — uncommon long ones, too, though, no doubt, they were sincere. And this was Christmas Day, which would have been excuse enough, if one were needed. But Captain Steele contents himself with the briefest, though it must have been heartfelt.

Monday, Dec 24th, 1821. 88 days. Comes in gentle S. E. gales and pleasant weather. Set royals and skysails. Middle part light airs. Set royal steering sails. At daylight saw Christmas Island bearing N. by W. about five leagues.

Christmas morning at home — and here. May God bless us all and all who are dear to us, and grant us a safe return to our native land. Amen !

Latter part squally, with thunder, lightning and rain. Sent down all steering sails, royals, T. Gallant sails and skysails and reef’d main topsail. At about 10 A. M. pass’d the Island distance about three miles. Very squally while passing the Island, with great numbers of Boobies and Man-o’-War birds round the Ship. Ends with fresh trades and passing clouds. All proper sail set.

At about 7 A. M. sighted four feluccas bearing down on us, which I took to be buccaneers. Had the mates (and myself) in our best uniform to their great astonishment, and the men in their best, and received them hospitably. Christmas dinner at 8 A. M. (rather early) at which the captain of the buccaneers show’d himself a friendly fellow and a man of a pretty wit. Mirabile dictu! Made him a present of my silver-mounted pistols, with the hope that he would not use them on my friends. He, in turn, presented me with a string of pearls for Mrs. Steele. (I had a curious sense of her presence with me all through dinner and for a little while after. Then she was gone.) Very handsome pearls, if I am any judge. Wondered where they came from, but asked no troublesome questions, being thankfull for our own escape. God moves in a mysterious way. After dinner, the captain of the buccaneers took to his boats and stood away from us, in towards Christmas Island. Very heavy squall capsized all boats. Stood in as fast as we could, but had to make some sail. Picked up the captain and the most part of his people.

And when Iphigenia had finished the reading of the log for that day, Captain Steele stooped and turned a page. “ There! ” he said, “ Read that, too.” And he turned away to hide a smile.

So Iphigenia read.

Thursday, Dec. 27th, 1821. 91 ds. At anchor in Mero Bay, the peak on Prince’s Island bearing N. by W., the North Extreme of Java N. 38 E. the Watering Place on Java Shore S. 25 E. Sent the boats for water. Our Captain of Buccaneeres gone with them, with his men. The boats returned at five, having 2010 gals, water. Took in boats and water and got under way and made sail through the straits. Stood in for Anger at 11 A. M. I went ashore and left letters for Boston and procured a supply of fowls, vegetable and turtle. Ends light airs from N. & W.

Friday, Dec, 28th, 1821. 92 ds. Comes in light airs and pleasant weather. At 1 o’k, I came on board with our supplies, procured of Amon, a Chinaman, having heard by the master commandant (Van Bassal) of the recovery of Palemban by the Dutch and the taking of the King, then a prisoner on board a Dutch Man of War at Batavia, and the escape of the King’s son, with a party. It is thought that he may have sailed to make war upon the Dutch. Can he be our captain of buccaneers!

Ends with It. airs and variable. Three ships in sight supposed bound for Batavia, one of which is the English ship Amity of Whitby, 157 days from England. Iphigenia looked up from her reading, a question in her eyes. “ Was he? ” she asked, at last.

Captain Steele laughed. “ He was, I found, the King’s son of Palemban.”

Truly, he loved a joke, that King’s son of Palemban.