The Law of the Land by Emerson Hough (top 10 inspirational books .txt) 📖

“As to the law, Captain Wilson,” said Eddring, to the master of the Opelousas Queen the following morning, as he sat in the cabin; “I’m a lawyer myself, and I want to tell you, the law is a strange thing. It will, and it won’t. It can, and it can’t. It does, and it doesn’t. It’s blind, crosseyed and clear-sighted all at the same time. It offers a precedent for everything, right or wrong. Now, as you say, it is unlawful for us to stop the delivery of these mails. I know it—big penalty for non-delivery. But let’s talk it over a little.”

The Opelousas Queen was now plowing steadily upstream, far above Baton Rouge, meeting the crest of the greatest flood she had ever known in all her days upon the turbid waterway. Her master now, surly but none the less interested, out of sheer curiosity in this strange visitor, sat looking at him without present speech.

“Are you a married man, Captain Wilson?” said Eddring. “Have a cigar with me, won’t you?”

“What difference is it to you?” said Wilson, waving aside the courtesy.

“Yes; but are you?”

“Wife died six years ago,” said Wilson, gruffly. The muscles ridged up along his jaw as he closed his lips tightly.

“Any children?” said Eddring.

“Daughter, eighteen years old; and a beauty, if I do say it.”

“I reckon you love her some, don’t you, Captain? Thought a heap of your wife, too, maybe, didn’t you?”

Wilson half-rose, one hand upon his chair back, as he pounded on the table in front of him with the other. “Now look here, Mister Whoever-you-are, I’ve stood a lot of foolishness from you already,” said he, “but those are my matters, and not yours. Get on out of here.” Yet Eddring only looked at him smiling, and into his eyes there came a flash of pleasure.

“I’m mighty glad to hear you say those very words, Captain,” said he; “because now I know you’d do anything in the world to help a good girl out of trouble, or to keep her out of it. Now, about the law. I’m sure, Captain, you believe in the higher law—the supreme law— the chivalry of the southern man, don’t you?” Wilson waved him away again, but still gazed at him curiously. “Now listen, Captain,” Eddring persisted.

“I am listening,” blurted out Wilson. “Say, man, if I had your nerve, and what I know about poker on this river, I’d own the country.”

“But listen—”

“No. I just want to set here and admire you a few minutes before I tell the deck-hands to throw you into the river.”

“Captain,” said Eddring, pulling up his chair, “after I’m done with what I have on hand, you may throw me into the river, if you like. I don’t think it will make much difference. But now, don’t you think you’re running this boat. The real commander of this boat, Captain Wilson, is the supreme law of this land—that law under which the gentlemen of the South are bound at any time and all times to give courtesy and comfort to a woman when she needs them.” Wilson looked at him mutely, the muscles on his jaw straining up again. He jerked his head toward the aft state-rooms with a gesture of query. Eddring nodded.

“She’s a beauty, too,” said Wilson, sighing. “Reminds me of my own wife, the way she used to look—the way my own girl looks now. You’re a lucky man.”

“Captain Wilson, I don’t figure in this thing personally at all. But now I’ll tell you the whole story, and let you decide for yourself.”

He went on speaking slowly, evenly, gently, impersonally, telling what had been the case of Miss Lady upon the very night preceding; telling how great was the stress of events at the head of the Delta, very far away, and impossible now of access. He made no offer of pecuniary reward, but stated his case simply and asked his auditor to put himself in his own position.

As he spoke, the chair of Captain Wilson began to edge toward his own. In the eyes of the old steamboat man there came a glisten strange to them. His hand unconsciously reached out. “Stop!” he roared. “Give me your hand. The boat is yours! Of course she is.”

Eddring was silent, for there came a lump in his own throat, as he felt Wilson’s assuring hand clap him on the shoulder.

“You’re what I call a thoroughbred,” said the latter. “Man, can you play poker? You certainly can make a pair of deuces look like a full house. Get up an’ shake hands. You’re right. The boat’s yours. Uncle Sam can wait—the whole damned North American continent can wait—”

Eddring rose and took him by the hand.

“Well, that’s my case, Captain,” said he. “We’ve both one errand, and that’s to protect the white people of the Delta; and to get hold of the truth which will put this girl where she belongs. Public necessity is the greatest of all laws; unless it be the unwritten and general law which I know you’ve respected all your life.”

“Well, man—” Wilson broke into an uproarious laugh, “you certainly are the yellow flower of the forest. It’s mighty seldom I’ve laid down to a line of talk, but I ain’t ashamed to do it now. Here’s the boat, and we’ll run her express, as soon as we can get rid of the mail and passengers up above. Any river-man knows what levee-cutting means, and what it means if the niggers get out of hand. I’ll take you in—why, I know Cal Blount myself—and I couldn’t look my own daughter in the face again if I didn’t do just what you say.”