The Two Supercargoes | Page 8

opened, the young people expecting to see
Miss Deborah enter. What, therefore, was their surprise when Captain
Roderick talked into the room. He stood for a moment gazing fiercely
at Harry.
"What business have you here?" he exclaimed in a voice hoarse with
passion.
Harry wisely did not answer him; but Lucy, looking up and holding
Harry's hand, said quietly--
"Mr Bracewell has come to escort my aunt and me into the country, and
I have good reason for the annoyance I feel at the question you have
put to him. My father is from home and will not return for some time,
so I cannot invite you to wait for him."
Captain Roderick was not a man to be abashed even by the way Miss
Lucy had addressed him. Taking a turn or two in the room, he
waited--so Harry thought--expecting Miss Deborah to come
down-stairs and invite him to accompany them. Lucy, suspecting his
purpose, took Harry's arm and whispered, "Let us go down to the
carriage."
Miss Deborah, happening to look out of her window, saw them get in,
and being just then ready, she joined them without going into the
drawing-room. Lucy, with much presence of mind, just before the
carriage drove off, desired the servant, in a low voice which her aunt
did not hear, to see Captain Roderick out of the house.
Whatever Captain Roderick might before have supposed, he now

discovered to a certainty that Harry Bracewell was his rival. When I
heard the account just given, believing that the mate was right in his
suspicions, I felt sure that, should he have an opportunity, he would
revenge himself on my friend. I told Harry all I could to warn him. I
said that I believed Captain Roderick was a bad, unprincipled man,
whom no fear of consequences or any right feeling would restrain from
committing an act of violence if he thought that it would further his
object.
Harry merely laughed, and observed, "When he finds that he has no
chance of cutting me out he'll take himself off. I should think his
brother, who is so strict and correct in his conduct, would be very glad
to get him away from Liverpool."
Knowing what dreadful deeds had been done by men of ill-regulated
minds influenced by jealousy, I felt seriously anxious about Harry, lest
Captain Roderick should find means to revenge himself. Had I been
able to explain the cause of the dread I had of him I might have
convinced Harry of his danger, and induced him to be careful when
going abroad at night; but I could only tell him that I suspected the man,
and that I did not like him: Harry, however, though he had a true regard
for me, either thought that I was mistaken or needlessly alarmed.
Sometimes I thought of telling my fears to Mr Trunnion, and asking
permission from him to warn Harry Bracewell; but I knew that he
would feel highly offended were I to speak on the subject to him. I
therefore, whenever Harry went out, made some excuse for
accompanying him, especially when he went to Mr Crank's house. On
those occasions, instead of going in, I used to walk about in the
neighbourhood, or sit down in an archway where the dark shadow
concealed me from the view of passers-by. On two different evenings I
saw a person pass whom I felt sure by his figure was Captain Roderick.
The second time, when he stopped before Mr Crank's house, the light
of the moon falling on his face revealed his features to me, and
convinced me that I was not mistaken. He was dressed as I first saw
him at the counting-house, and he had a hanger by his side, and a brace
of pistols in his belt, with a pair of riding-boots on, as if prepared for a

journey.
Fearing that Harry might come out, and that his rival might attack him,
I went up as if I was going to knock at the door; instead of which I
stood in the porch, where, concealed, I could watch Captain Roderick.
Perhaps he suspected that I had recognised him; for after waiting a
minute, and looking up at the windows, he moved away, and I lost sight
of him. I waited until Harry came out, and then taking his arm, I
hurried him along in an opposite direction to that which he would
naturally have followed as the shortest way home.
"Why are you going by this road?" he asked.
"I will tell you presently," I answered, continuing at a quick pace.
"Don't ask questions just now, for I really cannot answer you."
Harry did as I wished, and we therefore exchanged few word until we
reached home.
"Now," I said,