the queen of the pirate isle-第3部分

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brief　interval　enabled　Polly　to　collect　herself　and　to　look　around
her　in　her　usual　motherly　fashion。　　Suddenly　she　started　and
uttered　a　cry。　　In　the　excitement　of　the　descent　she　had　quite
overlooked　her　doll；　and　was　now　regarding　it　with　round…eyed
horror。

〃Lady　Mary's　hair's　gone！〃　she　cried；　convulsively　grasping　the
Pirate　Hickory's　legs。

Hickory　at　once　recognized　the　battered　doll　under　the　aristocratic
title　which　Polly　had　long　ago　bestowed　upon　it。　　He　stared　at　the
bald　and　battered　head。

〃Ha！　ha！〃　he　said　hoarsely；　〃skelped　by　Injins！〃

For　an　instant　the　delicious　suggestion　soothed　the　imaginative
Polly。　　But　it　was　quickly　dispelled　by　Wan　Lee。

〃Lady　Maley's　pigtail　hangee　top　side　hillee。　　Catchee　on　big
quartz　stone　allee　same　Polly；　me　go　fetchee。〃

〃No！〃　quickly　shrieked　the　others。　　The　prospect　of　being　left　in
the　proximity　of　Wan　Lee's　evil　spirit；　without　Wan　Lee's
exorcising　power；　was　anything　but　reassuring。　　〃No；　don't　go！〃
Even　Polly　（dropping　a　maternal　tear　on　the　bald　head　of　Lady　Mary）
protested　against　this　breaking　up　of　the　little　circle。　　〃Go　to
bed！〃　she　said　authoritatively；　〃and　sleep　till　morning。〃

Thus　admonished；　the　Pirates　again　retired。　　This　time　effectively；
for；　worn　by　actual　fatigue　or　soothed　by　the　delicious　coolness　of
the　cave；　they　gradually；　one　by　one；　succumbed　to　real　slumber。
Polly；　withheld　from　joining　them　by　official　and　maternal
responsibility；　sat　and　blinked　at　them　affectionately。

Gradually　she；　too；　felt　herself　yielding　to　the　fascination　and
mystery　of　the　place　and　the　solitude　that　encompassed　her。　　Beyond
the　pleasant　shadows　where　she　sat；　she　saw　the　great　world　of
mountain　and　valley　through　a　dreamy　haze　that　seemed　to　rise　from
the　depths　below　and　occasionally　hang　before　the　cavern　like　a
veil。　　Long　waves　of　spicy　heat　rolling　up　the　mountain　from　the
valley　brought　her　the　smell　of　pine…trees　and　bay；　and　made　the
landscape　swim　before　her　eyes。　　She　could　hear　the　far…off　cry　of
teamsters　on　some　unseen　road；　she　could　see　the　far…off　cloud　of
dust　following　the　mountain　stagecoach；　whose　rattling　wheels　she
could　not　hear。　　She　felt　very　lonely；　but　was　not　quite　afraid；
she　felt　very　melancholy；　but　was　not　entirely　sad；　and　she　could
have　easily　awakened　her　sleeping　companions　if　she　wished。

No；　she　was　a　lone　widow　with　nine　children；　six　of　whom　were
already　in　the　lone　churchyard　on　the　hill；　and　the　others　lying
ill　with　measles　and　scarlet　fever　beside　her。　　She　had　just　walked
many　weary　miles　that　day；　and　had　often　begged　from　door　to　door
for　a　slice　of　bread　for　the　starving　little　ones。　　It　was　of　no
use　nowthey　would　die！　　They　would　never　see　their　dear　mother
again。　　This　was　a　favorite　imaginative　situation　of　Polly's；　but
only　indulged　when　her　companions　were　asleep；　partly　because　she
could　not　trust　confederates　with　her　more　serious　fancies；　and
partly　because　they　were　at　such　times　passive　in　her　hands。　　She
glanced　timidly　around。　　Satisfied　that　no　one　could　observe　her；
she　softly　visited　the　bedside　of　each　of　her　companions；　and
administered　from　a　purely　fictitious　bottle　spoonfuls　of　invisible
medicine。　　Physical　correction　in　the　form　of　slight　taps；　which
they　always　required；　and　in　which　Polly　was　strong；　was　only
withheld　now　from　a　sense　of　their　weak　condition。　　But　in　vain；
they　succumbed　to　the　fell　disease；they　always　died　at　this
juncture；and　Polly　was　left　alone。　　She　thought　of　the　little
church　where　she　had　once　seen　a　funeral；　and　remembered　the　nice
smell　of　the　flowers；　she　dwelt　with　melancholy　satisfaction　of　the
nine　little　tombstones　in　the　graveyard；　each　with　an　inscription；
and　looked　forward　with　gentle　anticipation　to　the　long　summer　days
when；　with　Lady　Mary　in　her　lap；　she　would　sit　on　those　graves　clad
in　the　deepest　mourning。　　The　fact　that　the　unhappy　victims　at
times　moved　as　it　were　uneasily　in　their　graves；　or　snored；　did　not
affect　Polly's　imaginative　contemplation；　nor　withhold　the　tears
that　gathered　in　her　round　eyes。

Presently；　the　lids　of　the　round　eyes　began　to　droop；　the　landscape
beyond　began　to　be　more　confused；　and　sometimes　to　disappear
entirely　and　reappear　again　with　startling　distinctness。　　Then　a
sound　of　rippling　water　from　the　little　stream　that　flowed　from　the
mouth　of　the　tunnel　soothed　her　and　seemed　to　carry　her　away　with
it；　and　then　everything　was　dark。

The　next　thing　that　she　remembered　was　that　she　was　apparently
being　carried　along　on　some　gliding　object　to　the　sound　of　rippling
water。　　She　was　not　alone；　for　her　three　companions　were　lying
beside　her；　rather　tightly　packed　and　squeezed　in　the　same
mysterious　vehicle。　　Even　in　the　profound　darkness　that　surrounded
her；　Polly　could　feel　and　hear　that　they　were　accompanied；　and　once
or　twice　a　faint　streak　of　light　from　the　side　of　the　tunnel　showed
her　gigantic　shadows　walking　slowly　on　either　side　of　the　gliding
car。　　She　felt　the　little　hands　of　her　associates　seeking　hers；　and
knew　they　were　awake　and　conscious；　and　she　returned　to　each　a
reassuring　pressure　from　the　large　protecting　instinct　of　her
maternal　little　heart。　　Presently　the　car　glided　into　an　open　space
of　bright　light；　and　stopped。　　The　transition　from　the　darkness　of
the　tunnel　at　first　dazzled　their　eyes。　　It　was　like　a　dream。

They　were　in　a　circular　cavern　from　which　three　other　tunnels；　like
the　one　they　had　passed　through；　diverged。　　The　walls；　lit　up　by
fifty　or　sixty　candles　stuck　at　irregular　intervals　in　crevices　of
the　rock；　were　of　glittering　quartz　and　mica。　　But　more　remarkable
than　all　were　the　inmates　of　the　cavern；　who　were　ranged　round　the
walls；men　who；　like　their　attendants；　seemed　to　be　of　extra
stature；　who　had　blackened　faces；　wore　red　bandana　handkerchiefs
round　their　heads　and　their　waists；　and　carried　enormous　knives　and
pistols　stuck　in　their　belts。　　On　a　raised　platform　made　of　a
packing…box　on　which　was　rudely　painted　a　skull　and　cross…bones；
sat　the　chief　or　leader　of　the　band　covered　with　a　buffalo　robe；　on
either　side　of　him　were　two　small　barrels　marked　〃Grog〃　and
〃Gunpowder。〃　　The　children　stared　and　clung　closer　to　Polly。　　Yet；
in　spite　of　these　desperate　and　warlike　accessories；　the　strangers
bore　a　singular　resemblance　to　〃Christy　Minstrels〃　in　their
blackened　faces　and　attitudes　that　somehow　made　them　seem　less
awful。　　In　particular；　Polly　was　impressed　with　the　fact　that　even
the　most　ferocious　had　a　certain　kindliness　of　eye；　and　showed
their　teeth　almost　idiotically。

〃Welcome！〃　said　the　leader；〃welcome　to　the　Pirates'　Cave！　　The
Red　Rover　of　the　North　Fork　of　the　Stanislaus　River　salutes　the
Queen　of　the　Pirate　Isle！〃　　He　rose　up　and　made　an　extraordinary
bow。　　It　was　repeated　by　the　others　with　more　or　less　exaggeration；
to　the　point　of　one　humorist　losing　his　balance！

〃Oh；　thank　you　very　much；〃　said　Polly　timidly；　but　drawing　her
little　flock　closer　to　her　with　a　small　protecting　arm；　〃but　could
youwould　youpleasetell　uswhat　time　it　is？〃

〃We　are　approaching　the　middle　of　Next　Week；〃　said　the　leader
gravely；　〃but　what　of　that？　　Time　is　made　for　slaves！　　The　Red
Rover　seeks　it　not！　　Why　should　the　Queen？〃

〃I　think　we　must　be　going；〃　hesitated　Polly；　yet　by　no　means
displeased　with　the　recognition　of　her　rank。

〃Not　until　we　have　paid　homage　to　Your　Majesty；〃　returned　the
leader。　　〃What　ho！　there！　　Let　Brother　Step…and…Fetch…It　pass　the
Queen　around　that　we　may　do　her　honor。〃　　Observing　that　Polly
shrank　slightly　back；　he　added：　〃Fear　nothing；　the　man　who　hurts　a
hair　of　Her　Majesty's　head　dies　by　this　hand。　　Ah！　ha！〃

The　others　all　said　ha！　ha！　and　danced　alternately　on　one　leg　and
then　on　the　other；　but　always　with　the　same　dark　resemblance　to
Christy　Minstrels。　　Brother　Step…and…Fetch…It；　whose　very　long
beard　had　a　confusing　suggestion　of　being　a　part　of　the　leader's
buffalo　robe；　lifted　her　gently　in　his　arms　and　carried　her　to　the
Red　Rovers　in　turn。　　Each　one　bestowed　a　kiss　upon　her　cheek　or
forehead；　and　would　have　taken　her　in　his　arms；　or　on　his　knees；　or
otherwise　lingered　over　his　salute；　but　they　were　sternly
restrained　by　their　leader。　　When　the　solemn　rite　was　concluded；
Step…and…Fetch…It　paid　his　own　courtesy　with　an　extra　squeeze　of
the　curly　head；　and　deposited　her　again　in　the　truck；　a　little
frightened；　a　little　astonished；　but　with　a　considerable　accession
to　her　dignity。　　Hickory　and　Patsey　looked　on　with　stupefied
amazement。　　Wan　Lee　alone　remained　stolid　and　unimpressed；
regarding　the　scene　with　calm　and　triangular　eyes。

〃Will　Your　Majesty　see　the　Red　Rovers　dance？〃

〃No；　if　you　please；〃　said　Polly；　with　gentle　seriousness。

〃Will　Your　Majesty　fire　this　barrel　of　gunpowder；　or　tap　this
breaker　of　grog？〃

〃No；　I　thank　you。〃

〃Is　there　no　command　Your　Majesty　would　lay　upon　us？〃

〃No；　please；〃　said　Polly；　in　a　failing　voice。

〃Is　there　anything　Your　Majesty　has　lost？　　Think　again！　　Will　Your
Majesty　deign　to　cast　your　royal　eyes　on　this？〃

He　drew　from　under　his　buffalo　robe　what　seemed　like　a　long　tress
of　blond　hair；　and　held　it　aloft。　　Polly　instantly　recognized　the
missing　scalp　of　her　hapless　doll。

〃If　you　please；　sir；　it's　Lady　Mary's。　　She's　lost　it。〃

〃And　lost　itYour　Majestyonly　to　find　something　more　precious。
Would　Your　Majesty　hear　the　story？〃

A　little　alarmed；　a　little　curious；　a　little　self…anxious；　and　a
little　induced　by　the　nudges　and　pinches　of　her　companions；　the
Queen　blushingly　signified　her　royal　assent。

〃Enough。　　Bring　refreshments。　　Will　Your　Majesty　prefer　wintergreen；
peppermint；　rose；　or　acidulated　drops？　　Red　or　white？　　Or　perhaps
Your　Majesty　will　let　me　recommend　these　bull's…eyes；〃　said　the
leader；　as　a　collection　of　sweets　in　a　hat　were　suddenly　produced
from　the　barrel　labeled　〃Gunpowder〃　and　handed　to　the　children。

〃Listen；〃　he　continued；　in　a　silence　broken　only　by　the　gentle
sucking　of　bull's…eyes。　　〃Many　years　ago　the　old　Red　Rovers　of
these　parts　locked　up　all　their　treasures　in　a　secret　cavern　in
this　mountain。　　They　used　spells　and　magic　to　keep　it　from　being
entered　or　found　by　anybody；　for　there　was　a　certain　mark　upon　it
made　by　a　p