Dutch the Diver Part 56

"Keep him on board until we find some place to set him ash.o.r.e, a couple or three hundred miles away--anywhere away from here."

There was so much reason in Dutch's words that it was decided to follow his advice, repugnant as it was to have the villain with them in the s.h.i.+p.

"And now then," said the captain, "my motto is, homeward bound; though we cannot sail with wind and tide like this."

"But we must not stay so near the land," exclaimed Mr Parkley, glancing uneasily towards the sands, where the followers of the Cuban had been landed.

"I'm afraid we must," was the reply; "but surely we can contrive to keep our prize, now we have got the upper hand."

The feeling that they could neither sail nor get rid of Laure acted like some great depressing influence on board, but the matter was inevitable, for to have set him ash.o.r.e would have been like putting fire to gunpowder, which was safe enough left alone, so careful arrangements were made, and these being in the face of them thoroughly secure, a more satisfactory influence began to pervade the vessel, and the partners congratulated one another on the escape they had had.

As for Oak.u.m and Rasp, they went from one to the other, chuckling and enjoying the interpretation that had been placed upon their behaviour, Oak.u.m in particular seeming to think it the height of human enjoyment to have been thought such a scoundrel when he was straining every nerve to save his friends.

Night had fallen again, and to ensure against further surprise, Dutch, Mr Parkley, and the captain were all on deck, well-armed and watchful, meaning to keep their posts till daybreak, when the schooner was to start on the head of the tide.

Nothing more had been seen of the men set ash.o.r.e, for they had plunged at once into the forest; and the Cuban was so well secured that little was to be feared from him; but all the same an uneasy feeling prevailed, and Dutch told himself that he should not feel satisfied till they were well at sea, and on reporting this to Mr Parkley, that individual replied:

"Neither shall I, Dutch Pugh, nor yet when we have got the treasure safe home; for you see if that scoundrel does not go to law. What's that you say, Rasp?" he said, turning sharply, for the old man was close behind.

"Oh, don't you take no notice of me. I was only chuntering to myself.

I couldn't help hearing what you said to Mr Pugh there."

Almost contrary to their expectations, the night pa.s.sed without any alarm, and at daybreak, the tide still not serving for a couple of hours, Dutch and his friends went to lie down, leaving the deck in charge of Oak.u.m and Rasp, with instructions to call them at a specified time.

Dutch, however, felt that he could hardly have dropped asleep when a strange feeling of uneasiness came over him, and, reproaching himself for leaving the deck even now, he awoke fully to sit up and try to get rid of the confusion which oppressed him.

For a few moments he could not tell whether he was awake, or dreaming that he was once more busy diving, for there was the clanking of the air-pump, splas.h.i.+ng of water beside him, and heavy feet pa.s.sing overhead.

But it was no dream. Hardly had the deck been placed in charge of its deputies, than Rasp beckoned up 'Pollo and the two sailors who had been so faithful to them, and began to talk in a low voice, saying something which evidently gave them the greatest satisfaction, and Rasp softly chuckled and rubbed his hands as he turned to Oak.u.m.

"I don't like it," said the old fellow; "it's cowardly."

"Not it," said Rasp; "and if it is, what then? I only mean to give him a dose of it, and if he dies, why that's his fault."

"And ours," said Oak.u.m.

"Yah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Rasp. "Look here, old squeamish, that chap's a tiger, and if he gets loose, he'll be the death of all on us, won't he?"

"Devil a doubt on it," said Oak.u.m.

"Very well, then: I've got a score to pay him off," growled Rasp; "so's them poor fellows who've got the mark of his knife on them; and, besides, I kep him from cutting my soots to pieces on purpose to give him a taste."

"But it's like murder," said Oak.u.m.

"It was like murder for him to cut that there chube when the best diver in England was down; and now we'll see how he likes it."

"What, and cut the toob?" said Oak.u.m, with a look of horror on his honest face.

"Not I. I'll only send the warmint down, and give him a quarter of an hour, that's all."

Oak.u.m gave way, and felt a grim kind of satisfaction in helping to bring the Cuban on deck, where, in spite of his struggles, he was forced to a.s.sume one of the diving suits, and almost before he knew it the helmet was thrust over his head and secured, making him a complete prisoner, at the mercy of his tormentors.

"Now let the sharks have a go at him if they like," said Rasp, as he forced the prisoner to the side. "I've a good mind not to give him a safety-line; but there, I won't be shabby."

As he spoke he secured the rope to the Cuban's waist, and then, as he fully realised that they were going to send him overboard, he made a desperate struggle to free himself, but all in vain. There were five to one; the gangway was open, and, acting all together, Laure was forced to the side, and fell backwards into the sea with a sullen plunge.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

"GOOD-BYE."

Rasp had placed a man at the pump and a supply of air was being kept up, a supply now augmented by another man being sent to help turn the wheel, while with a grim look of satisfaction Rasp took hold of the life-line and tightened it a little, to feel the unwilling diver's movements.

"He'll be pulling hard directly," chuckled the old fellow. "Only let him see a shark--one of his first cousins--a villain. Wonder what Mr Dutch'll say when he knows how we've been serving out the scoundrel as--"

"What does all this mean?" exclaimed Dutch, coming so suddenly upon the group that they started asunder, and the air-pump stopped.

"On'y giving that rascal a lesson in diving," growled Rasp.

"Whom? What do you mean? You surely don't mean to say that Laure, the prisoner--"

"They're on'y having a lark with him, sir," said Oak.u.m.

"Quick, there! Pump, you scoundrels," exclaimed Dutch; and the wheel spun round once more. "Rasp, Oak.u.m, pull here. You dogs, if mischief has befallen that man I can never forgive you."

Setting the example he hauled upon the life-line, and 'Pollo running to his help, the Cuban was dragged to the surface, and lay motionless on the deck as Dutch freed him of his helmet and exposed his livid face.

"Quick! Call up Mr Meldon," cried Dutch; but that gentleman was already on deck, and, to the great relief of Dutch, declared the Cuban to be still alive.

It had been a narrow escape for him, as, between dread and the want of air, another few seconds would have sufficed to finish his career. As it was, quite an hour escaped before he recognised those who had worked hard to restore him, and then it was with a malignant grin of disappointed malice.

"He'll do now," said the doctor; and as the patient seemed disposed to sleep, they left him--Oak.u.m, who was exceedingly penitent for the part he had taken, being stationed as sentry at the door.

Meanwhile Captain Studwick had taken advantage of the breeze and tide, and the schooner was once more under way, threading her course amongst the rocks, and gradually leaving the cocoanut-fringed strand behind.

Everyone was on deck watching the receding sh.o.r.es, and in full expectation of some new danger springing up to hinder their homeward journey, for with the treasure they had on board it was determined to tempt fortune no more, but to make all speed across the Atlantic as soon as they had cleared the inland sea.

Favourable winds sped the schooner at a rapid rate through the water, and all seemed so peaceful and happy that it raised a feeling of dread in those who had found the other portion of the voyage so rife with peril. Rasp shook his head, and said that they were not safe home yet, while Oak.u.m was away; but as soon as Oak.u.m began to croak and prognosticate evil, he changed his tone, and declared that they would soon be safely home.

The voyage home to Hester and Bessy seemed like a glimpse of heaven, for Hester was ever by the latter's side, striving hard to make her forget the past, and revelling in her loving, grateful looks; while Bessy, though no words pa.s.sed, knew that Meldon loved her with all his heart, though for her sake and lest he should arouse the jealous susceptibilities of her brother, he maintained silence. But she knew that the day must come when he would speak, and her heart leaped with joy as she saw his patient a.s.siduity in attending to her brother, who now turned daily more and more towards him, and sought his help.

But the presence of two sick men was not without its influence on the little crew of the s.h.i.+p, and Captain Studwick, looked with nervous dread for what he saw must come ere long, and felt that the events might again be looked upon as an ill omen.

For though Mr Meldon said it not in so many words, he gave him fully to understand that poor John Studwick's days were growing very few.

In fact the doctor felt that it was an open question whether Laure or John Studwick would be the first to leave them, for the former seemed never to have recovered from the shock of his descent, but lay in a helpless, raving state, evidently growing weaker day by day, till, in place of getting up to sit and watch the sea from the cabin window, he now rarely rose, and then only with the a.s.sistance of old Rasp, who, as a kind of recompense for being the cause of his state, const.i.tuted himself his nurse, and waited on him night and day.

"I hate him like the very old 'un," growled Rasp, when talking about him to Oak.u.m; "but as I've had my bit of a go at him for what he did, I ain't going to see him die like a dog for want of help."