The Cruise of the Thetis Part 6

"Good afternoon, gentlemen!" he said, in almost perfect English; "what s.h.i.+p is this?"

"Leave him to me, Jack," whispered Milsom, upon discovering the welcome fact that he could make himself understood; and without waiting for Jack's consent he stepped forward and answered:

"This is the English yacht _Thetis_, of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, as you may see by looking at that ensign. And what s.h.i.+p is that, sir; and what does the captain of her mean by firing upon us?"

"That s.h.i.+p, Senor, is His Spanish Majesty's gunboat _Tiburon_, sent out especially to look for your vessel," answered the officer. "My Government has received positive intelligence from a reliable source that you have on board a large consignment of arms and ammunition destined for the use of the Cuban insurgents; and our instructions are to seize your vessel and take her into Havana. We fired upon you because you were somewhat slow in obeying our summons to stop."

"Oh!" said Milsom, "so that is how matters stand, is it? And do you suppose, sir, that Great Britain will allow her flag to be fired on without having something to say about it?"

"Great Britain will scarcely be willing to protect a vessel which, under the shelter of her flag, is engaged in succouring those who are rebelling against the rule of a friendly nation!" remarked the officer.

"And, in any case, we are prepared to take the consequences of our acts.

We know this so-called yacht to be a smuggler of contraband of war, and we intend to seize her."

"What if I were to tell you that we have not an ounce of contraband of war on board?" enquired Milsom.

"My captain would simply not believe you, Senor," answered the Spaniard.

"You will therefore be pleased to regard this vessel as a prize, and yourselves as prisoners!" and he stepped quickly to the gangway and called to the armed crew of the boat to come out of her. As he did so, Milsom put a whistle to his lips and blew a short, shrill blast. There instantly followed a rush of bare feet along the deck; and as the Spaniards pa.s.sed in through the yacht's gangway they found themselves confronted with some thirty stalwart British seamen, with drawn cutla.s.ses in their hands and revolvers in their belts.

"Caramba! What does this mean, Senor?" demanded the Spanish lieutenant, starting back in dismay at this unexpected _denouement_.

"It means just this, Senor Teniente," answered Milsom; "we don't intend to stand any nonsense of any description. You go back to your s.h.i.+p and tell your captain that, since somebody seems to have sent him out on a fool's errand, my owner here, Senor Don John Singleton, will--purely as an act of courtesy, mind you--permit him, or you, to search this s.h.i.+p from stem to stern and from keel to truck, in order that you may thoroughly satisfy yourselves that we have no contraband, whether of war or otherwise, on board. But there will be no seizure of this s.h.i.+p; understand that! Such an act would be an outrage to our flag; and, as you may see, we are both ready and willing to resist it! Also, you will please tell your captain that we demand an ample apology for his high- handed behaviour in daring to fire upon us."

"Carrajo! Senor, those are very big words; and you ought to be perfectly certain of yourself before you use them. They are offensive, sir; and a Spanish officer allows no one to use such words to him with impunity!" exclaimed the Spaniard.

"Sir," retorted Milsom, "the behaviour of your captain in firing upon this yacht was offensive; and he will find that he cannot treat Englishmen in that fas.h.i.+on with impunity. There is a right and a wrong way of doing these things, and your captain has chosen the wrong way; he will therefore be made to suffer for it."

"We shall see, Senor Englishman; we shall see," returned the Spaniard.

"Then, am I to understand that you refuse to surrender your s.h.i.+p?"

"Yes, sir," answered Milsom; "that is precisely what I wish you to understand. And I wish you to understand, further, that if you dare to attempt force, I will treat you as a pirate, and sink you, despite your flag. You see that I have the means and the power to carry out my threat--" waving his hand first towards the guns and then towards his men.

"Very well, Senor," answered the Spaniard, livid with rage at being thus hectored before his own men, "I will tell my captain what you say; and it will be for him to decide how he will deal with you. If it rested with me, I would blow your s.h.i.+p out of the water. And I shall remember your face, Senor; and it may be that some day we shall meet on sh.o.r.e."

"I expect to be in Havana to-morrow, or next day, Senor Teniente, and it will afford me the greatest pleasure to meet you there," answered Milsom. "Good afternoon, and don't forget to tell your captain that if he chooses to come on board in a friendly way, my owner here will be very pleased to see him, and to show him all over the s.h.i.+p. He can look into every nook and cranny of her if it will afford him any satisfaction to do so."

The Spanish lieutenant bowed without speaking, signed to his men to go back into their boat, and followed them down the side. Five minutes later Jack and Milsom saw him gesticulating violently on the gunboat's quarter-deck as he related to the commander of the craft his version of the recent interview.

CHAPTER SIX.

COMMANDER DON LUIS Y ALBUQUERQUE.

"I say, Phil, you seemed to have your knife into that Spaniard," said Jack, as he and Milsom stood watching the gunboat. "You appeared to take a delight in rubbing his fur the wrong way."

"Yes," agreed Milsom meditatively, "I am afraid I did; and I am afraid, too, that I went just a little farther than there was any strict need for. But then the beggars put my back up, to start with, by firing at us. Had they contented themselves with pitching a shot across our fore- foot, I would not have minded so much; but they fired to hit--if they could. Then that lieutenant must needs come swaggering aboard here, putting on side, and threatening us--actually threatening us--with arrest, and imprisonment, and goodness knows what else! I only wish they would try to take us; I would teach them that it pays to be civil to Englishmen.--Well, what the d.i.c.kens are you laughing at?" for Jack had burst into a hearty peal of laughter.

"Oh, Phil, Phil," Jack exclaimed, when at length he had regained control of himself, "you are as good as a pantomime! The idea of you, of all men, complaining of the other fellow having threatened, and put on side!

Why, man alive, you were just as exasperating as you could possibly be to the poor chap; and, as to the threatening--why, you were simply breathing out threatenings and slaughter! You will have to keep your weather eye lifting, my hearty, when you get round to Havana; for that fellow will look out for you, and force you into a fight, as sure as eggs are eggs."

"All right!" answered Milsom, "I'll not disappoint him; if he wants fighting he shall have as much as he can take. But, after all, Jack, I have no doubt you are right, and that I was a bit 'trying', as my poor mother used to say. But then, you see, I was 'bluffing', doing the virtuous-indignation business, and all that, you know, for it was necessary to persuade the gentlemen that we are absolutely virtuous and innocent; it would never do to allow them to entertain the slightest shred of suspicion of the vessel, otherwise they would be continually watching her. Ah! As I expected, here comes the skipper himself to have a talk with us--and also to have a look round. I expect that, after what his lieutenant has told him, he is feeling a bit uncomfortable. But we must be civil to him and smooth him down; for, after all, there is nothing to be gained by making enemies without good and sufficient cause. And perhaps you, in your character of owner of the s.h.i.+p, had better tackle this fellow; then we shall have an opportunity to witness your skill as a diplomatist."

Accordingly, when the captain of the gunboat entered the yacht's gangway, it was Jack who received him, Milsom simply standing by as a sort of supporter.

The new arrival was a man apparently a few years older than his lieutenant, very distinguished looking for the commander of a mere gunboat, and with a considerably more polished and affable manner than the man who had preceded him. He raised his cap at Jack's salutation, and said, in English:

"Good afternoon, gentlemen! I am given to understand by my lieutenant that a most unfortunate mistake appears to have in some inexplicable manner arisen in connection with this vessel; and I have come on board for the purpose of putting matters right, if possible."

"You are most welcome, Senor Capitan," answered Jack cordially; "and I shall be very pleased to render you all the a.s.sistance in my power--the more so since I am very anxious to see as much as possible of your beautiful island, and may perhaps remain here for some time. Indeed, I may say that one reason for my visit to Cuba is that I have had some idea of investing in a tobacco plantation here."

"Indeed, Senor?" observed the Spaniard. "Our information pointed to a very different reason for your visit. As my lieutenant has already informed you, we have been led to believe that the presence of your yacht in Cuban waters was due to sympathy on your part with the insurgents, and a determination to a.s.sist them by smuggling munitions of war into the country for their use. And, as my lieutenant has also informed you, the _Tiburon_ has been sent out specially for the purpose of seizing the vessel."

"Yes," said Jack suavely, "your lieutenant mentioned that fact--in somewhat emphatic language; so emphatic, indeed, that, if I may be permitted to say so, it was almost offensive, and my captain felt bound to adopt somewhat vigorous speech in expressing our disapproval, not only of his behaviour, but also of that of your Government. It is not usual, Senor, as you must know, for an Englishman, visiting a foreign country in his own yacht, to have his vessel seized upon the strength of a mere rumour; and you must allow me to say that, in acting as it has done, I consider your Government has not only been precipitate, but has also behaved in such a manner as will evoke a very strong protest from my own. The British Government, Senor, is not wont to have its flag fired upon without exacting ample reparation."

It was quite clear that the Spanish officer was beginning to feel exceedingly uncomfortable. He was silent for several seconds, and appeared to be reviewing the situation. At length he said:

"Senor, you must not blame my Government for the indiscretion of one of its officers. I personally am responsible for the act of firing upon your s.h.i.+p, which I now acknowledge to have been a quite unjustifiable act, for which I beg to tender you my most sincere and profound apologies; although I must be allowed to say that I fired under the impression that you intended to disregard my summons to heave-to."

"I am afraid, Senor," said Jack, "that your explanation does not go very far toward mending matters; for my contention is that you had no right to stop me on the high seas. But I will allow that to pa.s.s, and will accept your apology, for I have no wish whatever to make matters unpleasant for you personally, or for your Government; on the contrary, I am anxious to establish the most amicable relations possible between myself and the Spanish authorities during my stay in the island: therefore, having made my protest, I will say no more about it. But as there appears to have been some suspicions with regard to the character of my yacht, I must insist that either you, or someone on your behalf, shall examine the vessel at once, that you--and, through you, your Government--may be completely satisfied that such suspicions are absolutely groundless."

"Senor," said the Spaniard, "you overwhelm me with your generous consideration. If you will kindly permit me I should like, as well for your justification as for my own, to look over your vessel, in order that I may be in a position to absolutely a.s.sure my superiors that their suspicions are without foundation. And, to prevent all possibility of any future misunderstanding, I should like my lieutenant to be present at the inspection, if you will be so very good as to permit it."

"By all means," answered Jack cordially. "Pray send your boat for your lieutenant--and any other officers whom you would like to be present.

The more, the better; for, Senor, you must understand that I wish your inspection of my yacht to be thorough and exhaustive."

The Spaniard bowed and, stepping to the gangway, called down to his c.o.xswain, instructing him to proceed to the gunboat and request Lieutenant Fernandez to come on board the English yacht forthwith.

Then, during the short interval between the dispatch and the return of the boat, the Spanish Commander chatted affably with Jack and Milsom upon indifferent subjects, incidentally introducing himself as Commander Luis y Albuquerque.

Lieutenant Fernandez was in a much more subdued mood when he returned than he had been upon his departure from the _Thetis_: probably he had done some hard thinking in the interim, and had come to recognise the possibility that trouble might be looming ahead of him; at all events his manner was all courtesy and politeness as he again stepped in through the gangway.

"Senor Fernandez," said Don Luis, "I am very much afraid that, from what Don Juan Singleton has told me, there has been a most serious mistake somewhere, and that we have thus been betrayed into unwittingly inflicting a most unprovoked affront upon an English gentleman. Senor Singleton has, however," with a bow to Jack, "been good enough to accept my explanation and apologies, and I therefore venture to hope that we may now consider the incident as closed. But Senor Singleton insists-- quite justifiably, I think--that we shall satisfy ourselves as to the falsity of the statement that he is carrying munitions of war; and I have therefore sent for you to accompany me on a tour of inspection through this yacht, which we must make so thorough that there shall be no possibility of any aspersions being hereafter cast upon the integrity of Don Juan or his vessel. And now, Senor," to Jack, "we are ready to accompany you."

"Very well," said Jack. "Where would you like to begin--forward, or aft?"

"Perhaps we may as well begin forward, and work our way aft," answered the Spanish Commander.

"Right," acquiesced Jack. "Captain Milsom, be so good as to give instructions for two or three men to attend us below with lanterns.

Meanwhile, gentlemen, perhaps you will give my boats an overhaul. I will have the canvas covers stripped off them."

"Oh no, Senor," protested Don Luis, "there is not the slightest necessity for us to go to such extreme lengths as that; for, a.s.suming for a moment that you actually had contraband on board, you would not be in the least likely to carry it stowed in your boats."

Now this offer of Jack's was a piece of "bluff", for his boats were the only places that he did not wish the Spaniards to examine, since in one of them was stowed his submarine, the sight of which he knew would be likely to give rise to renewed suspicions. And, as we have seen, the "bluff" worked to perfection, possibly in consequence of the slight, but none the less perceptible, tone of sarcasm in which Jack made the offer.

With a feeling of carefully suppressed relief, Jack accordingly led the Spaniards forward to the forecastle, down into which the party descended, and where they found three men--one of whom was the carpenter--awaiting them with lighted lanterns. The forecastle was soon examined, and then the hatch of the forepeak was lifted, and that darksome storehouse very carefully explored. There was no pa.s.sage from the forepeak into the hold, as the collision bulkhead ran from the keelson right up to the deck; and, Jack having pointed out this fact, the party emerged on deck and descended into the officers' quarters, proceeding from thence down into the main hold, where they found nothing but iron ballast and the water tanks, every one of which Jack insisted should be opened and looked into. Thence they proceeded to the engine- room and stokehold, where they found much to admire in the scrupulous cleanliness and unusual form of the machinery, but no sign or trace of anything in the nature of contraband. Then they entered the main saloon, and examined it and the sleeping cabins, finis.h.i.+ng up with the steward's storeroom, the sail-room, and the powder magazine. Jack was quite prepared to be questioned about this last, and he was; but he had his answer ready.

"Is it usual, Senor Singleton, for English yachts to go as heavily armed as your vessel is?" suavely enquired Don Luis.

"Not when cruising in home waters," answered Jack. "But when the intention is to 'cruise foreign', as we phrase it, especially if the cruise is to be round the world, it is usually considered prudent to provide the vessel with an armament sufficiently powerful to protect her from the attacks of pirates--Malays, Chinese, and so on--or, in fact, aggressors of any description. For instance," he continued maliciously, "if we had not happened to have been armed to-day, just consider, Senor, how unpleasant would have been our predicament at this moment."