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 Pirate's 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 humourist losing his balance!
"O, thank you very much," said Polly, timidly, but drawing her
little flock closer to her with a small protecting arm; "but could
you--would you--please--tell us--what 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 honour." 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!"
[Illustration]
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
|