Old Gold Part 15

"Dirty, sir, dirty."

"Only business, skipper. I'd made up my mind to come, and it seemed to me the only way."

"Ah, you were very clever; but it won't do sir. You're going ash.o.r.e."

"But what about that cool drink, skipper?"

"And as soon as it's light," said the captain, ignoring the request.

"Mr Dellow."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Set the course a few miles nearer sh.o.r.e. No fear of a squall off here."

"Well, I dunno, sir," said the mate. "I don't think I'd run in too close. The water's shallow, and there's often very heavy seas closer in."

"Be bad for an open boat, skipper," said the American.

"Very, sir," said Captain Banes. "I daresay you'll get pretty wet before you're set ash.o.r.e."

"That's bad, skipper; but I wasn't thinking of myself, but about my traps."

"Your traps?"

"Yes, I've got a lot of tackle that won't bear wetting. Dessay there's a ton altogether aboard."

"What!" roared the captain. "You've no goods aboard?"

"Oh, haven't I? Guns, ammunition, provisions, and stores of all sorts."

"How did they get here? Bring 'em in your pocket?"

"Nonsense. Your second mate brought 'em aboard."

"What? Here, Lynton, speak out. Have you been in collusion with this fellow, and brought his baggage aboard?"

"Not a bag, sir," cried the mate indignantly.

"Oh, come, I like that!" said the American, laughing. "Didn't I come and sit by you and smoke and see it all done?"

"No!" cried the second mate angrily.

"Well, you Englishmen can tell crackers when you like. What about that big cask with the holes in?"

"That cask? Was that yours?"

"Of course it was, and all the rest of the things on that truck," said the American coolly. "You don't suppose I should have come and sat there to see anybody else's tackle taken on board, do you?"

"Well," broke in Brace, laughing, "judging by what I've seen of you, sir, I should say you would."

The American turned upon him in the midst of the laugh which arose, and said smilingly:

"All right, sir, have your joke; but when I ask questions or hang around to see what's going on I do it for a reason. I wanted to go on this voyage in this s.h.i.+p, sir: that's why I was so inquisitive; and here I am."

"Yes," said the captain hotly, "for the present. And so you tricked my second officer and men into bringing your baggage on board, did you?"

"Schemed it, skipper, schemed it," said the American coolly.

"Exactly. Very clever of you, my fine fellow; but look here: suppose I make you forfeit your baggage when I set you ash.o.r.e?"

"Law won't let you, skipper."

"I'm the law on board my s.h.i.+p," cried the captain angrily. "Suppose I refuse to stop my vessel to get your baggage out of the hold, and that precious cask?"

"Good, that's right, skipper--precious cask," said the American coolly.

"Precious or not precious, I shall set you ash.o.r.e, and continue my voyage, and whether it lasts one month or twelve, you may wait for your baggage till I come back, and you may look for me wherever I am."

"You can't do it, skipper," said the American smoking away quietly.

"Oh, can't I, sir?" cried the captain. "You'll see."

"No, I shan't, skipper. It would be murder, I tell you, to set me ash.o.r.e, and double murder to sail away with my luggage."

"Bah!" cried the captain.

"You see, there's that cask. What about it?"

"Hang your cask! I'll have it thrown overboard."

"Oh, I say, you mustn't do that," cried the American, with some slight display of energy; "the water would get in through those holes bored in the top, and spoil the contents."

"What's that to me, sir?" cried the captain.

"Murder number three, because I have warned you not to do it in the presence of witnesses."

"Murder!" cried the captain, looking startled. "Why, what's in it?"

"Only my servant."

"What!" came in a chorus.

"My boy--my servant," said the American coolly; "and he ought to be let out now, or he'll be smothered. I found it very hot down there, sitting among the boxes and chests. I dunno how he finds it, shut up in a cask."

"_I_ say, gentlemen," said the captain, with a gasp; "is this fellow an escaped lunatic--is he mad?"

"Not I," said the American, answering for himself; "I was, though, down there when I got in."

"Hah! broke in," cried the captain sharply.