the queen of the pirate isle-第4章
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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 peculiar rock that stuck out of it； which signified what
there was below。 Long afterwards； other Red Rovers who had heard
of it came here and spent days and days trying to discover it；
digging holes and blasting tunnels like this； but of no use！
Sometimes they thought they discovered the magic marks in the
peculiar rock that stuck out of it； but when they dug there they
found no treasure。 And why？ Because there was a magic spell upon
it。 And what was that magic spell？ Why； this！ It could only be
discovered by a person who could not possibly know that he or she
had discovered it； who never could or would be able to enjoy it；
who could never see it； never feel it； never； in fact； know
anything at all about it！ It wasn't a dead man； it wasn't an
animal； it wasn't a baby！〃
〃Why；〃 said Polly； jumping up and clapping her hands； 〃it was a
Dolly。〃
〃Your Majesty's head is level！ Your Majesty has guessed it！〃 said
the leader； gravely。 〃It was Your Majesty's own dolly； Lady Mary；
who broke the spell！ When Your Majesty came down the slide； the
doll fell from your gracious hand when your foot slipped。 Your
Majesty recovered Lady Mary； but did not observe that her hair had
caught in a peculiar rock； called the 'Outcrop；' and remained
behind！ When； later on； while sitting with your attendants at the
mouth of the tunnel； Your Majesty discovered that Lady Mary's hair
was gone； I overheard Your Majesty； and dispatched the trusty Step…
and…Fetch…It to seek it at the mountain side。 He did so； and found
it clinging to the rock； and beneath itthe entrance to the Secret
Cave！〃
Patsey and Hickory； who； failing to understand a word of this
explanation； had given themselves up to the unconstrained enjoyment
of the sweets； began now to apprehend that some change was
impending； and prepared for the worst by hastily swallowing what
they had in their mouths； thus defying enchantment； and getting
ready for speech。 Polly； who had closely followed the story；
albeit with the embellishments of her
