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him as in a vise of iron。 Meantime； our hero's assailant made
frequent though ineffectual attempts to thrust a hand into the
breeches…pocket where the ivory ball was hidden； swearing the
while under his breath with a terrifying and monstrous string of
oaths。 At last； finding himself foiled in every such attempt； and
losing all patience at the struggles of his victim； he endeavored
to lift Jonathan off of his feet； as though to dash him bodily
upon the ground。 In this he would doubtless have succeeded had he
not caught his heel in the crack of a loose board of the wharf。
Instantly they both fell； violently prostrate； the captain
beneath and Jonathan above him； though still encircled in his
iron embrace。 Our hero felt the back of his head strike violently
upon the flat face of the other； and he heard the captain's skull
sound with a terrific crack like that of a breaking egg upon some
post or billet of wood； against which he must have struck。 In
their frantic struggles they had approached extremely near the
edge of the wharf； so that the next instant； with an enormous and
thunderous splash； Jonathan found himself plunged into the waters
of the harbor； and the arms of his assailant loosened from about
his body。
The shock of the water brought him instantly to his senses； and；
being a fairly good swimmer； he had not the least difficulty in
reaching and clutching the cross…piece of a wooden ladder that；
coated with slimy sea…moss； led from the water…level to the wharf
above。
After reaching the safety of the dry land once more； Jonathan
gazed about him as though to discern whence the next attack might
be delivered upon him。 But he stood entirely alone upon the
docknot another living soul was in sight。 The surface of the
water exhibited some commotion； as though disturbed by something
struggling beneath； but the sea…captain； who had doubtless been
stunned by the tremendous crack upon his head； never arose again
out of the element that had engulfed him。
The moonlight shone with a peaceful and resplendent illumination；
and； excepting certain remote noises from the distant town not a
sound broke the silence and the peacefulness of the balmy；
tropical night。 The limpid water； illuminated by the resplendent
moonlight； lapped against the wharf。 All the world was calm；
serene； and enveloped in a profound and entire repose。
Jonathan looked up at the round and brilliant globe of light
floating in the sky above his head； and wondered whether it were；
indeed； possible that all that had befallen him was a reality and
not some tremendous hallucination。 Then suddenly arousing himself
to a renewed realization of that which had occurred； he turned
and ran like one possessed； up along the wharf； and so into the
moonlit town once more。
VI。 The Conclusion of the Adventure with the Lady with the Silver
Veil
Nor did he check his precipitous flight until suddenly； being led
perhaps by some strange influence of which he was not at all the
master； he discovered himself to be standing before the
garden…gate where not more than an hour before he had first
entered upon the series of monstrous adventures that had led to
such tremendous conclusions。
People were still passing and repassing； and one of these
groupsa party of young ladies and gentlemenpaused upon the
opposite side of the street to observe； with no small curiosity
and amusement； his dripping and bedraggled aspect。 But only one
thought and one intention possessed our heroto relieve himself
as quickly as possible of that trust which he had taken up so
thoughtlessly； and with such monstrous results to himself and to
his victims。 He ran to the gate of the garden and began beating
and kicking upon it with a vehemence that he could neither master
nor control。 He was aware that the entire neighborhood was
becoming aroused； for he beheld lights moving and loud voices of
inquiry； yet he gave not the least thought to the disturbance he
was creating； but continued without intermission his uproarious
pounding upon the gate。
At length； in answer to the sound of his vehement blows； the
little wicket was opened and a pair of eyes appeared thereat。 The
next instant the gate was cast ajar very hastily； and the
pock…pitted negress appeared。 She caught him by the sleeve of his
coat and drew him quickly into the garden。 〃Buckra； Buckra！〃 she
cried。 〃What you doing？ You wake de whole town！〃 Then； observing
his dripping garments： 〃You been in de water。 You catch de fever
and shake till you die。〃
〃Thy mistress！〃 cried Jonathan； almost sobbing in the excess of
his emotion； 〃take me to her upon the instant； or I cannot answer
for my not going entirely mad！〃
When our hero was again introduced to the lady； he found her clad
in a loose and an elegant negligee； infinitely becoming to her
graceful figure； and still covered with the veil of silver gauze
that had before enveloped her。
〃Friend；〃 he cried； vehemently； approaching her and holding out
toward her the little ivory ball； 〃take again this which thou
gavest me！ It has brought death to three men； and I know not what
terrible fate may befall me if I keep it longer in my possession。
〃What is it you say？〃 cried she； in a piercing voice。 〃Did you
say it hath caused the death of three men？ Quick！ Tell me what
has happened； for I feel somehow a presage that you bring me news
of safety and release from all my dangers。〃
〃I know not what thou meanest！〃 cried Jonathan； still panting
with agitation。 〃But this I do know： that when I went away from
thee I departed an innocent man； and now I come back to thee
burdened with the weight of three lives； which； though innocent I
have been instrumental in taking。〃
〃Explain！〃 exclaimed the lady； tapping the floor with her foot。
〃Explain！ explain！ explain！〃
〃That I will；〃 cried Jonathan； 〃and as soon as I am able！ When
I left thee and went out into the street I was accosted by a
little gentleman clad in black。〃
〃Indeed！〃 cried the lady； 〃and had he but one eye； and did he
carry a gold…headed cane？〃
〃Exactly；〃 said Jonathan； 〃and he claimed acquaintance with
friend Jeremiah Doolittle。〃
〃He never knew him！〃 cried the lady； vehemently； 〃and I must tell
you that he was a villain named Hunt； who at one time was the
intimate consort of the pirate Keitt。 He it was who plunged a
deadly knife into his captain's bosom； and so murdered him in
this very house。 He himself or his agents； must have been
watching my gate when you went forth。〃
〃I know not how that may be；〃 said Jonathan； 〃but he took me to
his apartment； and there； obtaining a knowledge of the trust thou
didst burden me with； he demanded it of me； and upon my refusing
to deliver it to him he presently fell to attacking me with a
dagger。 In my efforts to protect my life I inadvertently caused
him to plunge the knife into his own bosom and to kill himself。〃
〃And what then？〃 cried the lady； who appeared well…nigh
distracted with her emotions。
〃Then；〃 said Jonathan； 〃there came a strange mana
foreignerwho upon his part assaulted me with a pistol； with
every intention of murdering me and thus obtaining possession of
that same little trifle。〃
And did he；〃 exclaimed the lady； 〃have long； black mustachios；
and did he have silver ear…rings in his ears？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jonathan； 〃he did。〃
〃That；〃 cried the lady； could have been none other than Captain
Keitt's Portuguese sailing…master； who must have been spying upon
Hunt！ Tell me what happened next！〃
〃He would have taken my life；〃 said Jonathan； 〃but in the
struggle that followed he shot himself accidentally with his own
pistol； and died at my very feet。 I do not know what would have
happened to me if a sea…captain had not come and proffered his
assistance。〃
〃A sea…captain！〃 she exclaimed； 〃and had he a flat face and a
broken nose？〃
〃Indeed he had；〃 replied Jonathan。
〃That；〃 said the lady； 〃must have been Captain Keitt's pirate
partnerCaptain Willitts； of The Bloody Hand。 He was doubtless
spying upon the Portuguese。〃
〃He induced me；〃 said Jonathan； 〃to carry the two bodies down to
the wharf。 Having inveigled me therewhere； I su