Old Gold Part 4

"I am quite ignorant of having done anything to injure you, sir," said Brace. "Will you explain yourself?"

"Oh, I'll precious soon explain. You and your brother pushed in before me and stole my skipper."

"Did what?" cried Brace.

"Stole my skipper, squire. I came here straight, after being too late over a schooner at Trinidad. Found out that Skipper Banes had been disappointed of a cargo and was just the man likely to make a bargain with me, but before I could get in tow with him you and your brother had hooked on."

"Really, I'm very sorry for you."

"Never mind the sorrow, squire: I want something more substantial than that. What do you say to tossing for him?"

"Nothing," said Brace.

"Of course I knew you'd say that. What do you say to letting me have him, and I'll take you with me, both of you?"

"Nothing again," replied Brace, laughing.

"Why not? Lookye here: I'm going up the Orinoco exploring and collecting, shooting, fis.h.i.+ng, and hunting, and finding every precious thing there is to be found. That's just what you're going to do."

"Is it?"

"Yes, of course it is: only you two say Amazons, while I say Orinoco."

"You seem to know all about our affairs, sir," said Brace stiffly.

"Yes, I do, pretty tidy," said the American. "Come, what do you say?

You and your brother can pay half, and we'll share everything we get.

What do you say to that?"

"You had better explain your position to my brother, sir," said Brace quietly; "that is all that I can say."

"That means your brother won't come unless he can boss the whole show."

"Yes, that's it," said Brace, laughing. "It's a way we English have."

"That's true, but then, you see, we Amurricans have got the old AS blood in us."

"AS--Anglo-Saxon?" said Brace.

"That's the stuff; sir, and all the best of the British race in us along with our own qualities. It came out over the row with George Three, and it's come out more and more ever since. We like to boss the whole show too, and we do it."

"Or try to."

"Yes, and try wins, squire. But look here, I suppose you're right.

That's what your brother will say. He has made his plans and he don't want any Yankee meddling in them, eh?"

"Well! But I believe he will put it in a more gentlemanly way."

"Fine words won't better it, squire, and the disappointment will be as hard as ever. Look here: I want to go, and I'll pitch over the Orinoco and make it Amazons and go with you. Now then, what do you say to that?"

"Do you want the plain truth?"

"I want the words of an English gentleman," said the American sharply.

"Then I must say that I feel sure he will decline."

"Why?"

"You are a perfect stranger."

"Can't help that."

"Well, I'll be frank," said Brace: "he would not like it because of a certain English feeling of exclusiveness."

"Yes, that's it, squire; and that's where you Britishers go wrong. But look here: do I speak plain? I'll pay a fair half of all it costs-- straightforward dollars."

"My brother would not be influenced by money. But there, take no notice of what I say. He will be down soon: ask him."

"But I want you to back me up, squire."

"I can't do that, sir. Can't you see that it would be very unreasonable?"

"No," said the American shortly; "can't see anything, only that I want to go in that captain's vessel, and I don't mind whether it's up the Orinoco or the Amazons. I wouldn't mind if it was only up this bit of a river here to where the gold grows. They say there's plenty up there."

"Then go up this river and seek it," said Brace, "and you'll soon get over this disappointment."

"Maybe," said the American; "but it's getting light now: the sun comes up quickly in these parts. Let's go down to the waterside and have a look at the skipper's boat."

Feeling that it would be a welcome change in the conversation, Brace walked with him to where they could get a good view of Captain Banes's brig, whose taut rigging and shapely sides began to show plainly now in the early morning, a flash of sunlight seeming to have fallen just beneath the bows on the head of the white painted figurehead beneath the bowsprit; but it proved to be only the gilded Phrygian cap which the carvers had formed, while as they walked up, admiring the trimness of the well-kept vessel the while, there was another gleam of sunlight, but only on the gilt name "Jason."

"Ah," said the American, "'Jason': that had hold of me as soon as I saw it. He was the chap who went after the golden fleece, wasn't he?"

"I believe so," replied Brace.

"Yes, that's it; and if I'd had that s.h.i.+p I might have got a cargo of golden fleeces, or other things that would have done as well. You'll have to back me up, squire. I feel as if I must go."

"Impossible, sir. Charter another boat. You are prepared for such a voyage, I suppose?"

"Prepared?" exclaimed the American. "I've got a dozen cases ash.o.r.e here where I'm staying, full of guns, ammunition, tackle, and all sorts. My servant's got 'em in charge. There's not too much of anything, and nothing but what's likely to be useful to a man going to where he's surrounded by savages and wild beasts."

"Then you take a great interest in exploration?" said Brace.

"Interest? I should think I do, sir. I'm a regular Columbus, Marco Polo, and Captain Cook rolled up into one. Only just wish I'd a dozen smart chaps instead of only one. I'd go off in a boat, capture that brig, and sail right away."

"To be followed, caught, and put in prison for piracy," said Brace, smiling contemptuously.

"Eh?" said the American. "Yes, I suppose that's about the size of it."