The Quest Of The 'Golden Hope' Part 19

"Stand by!" I heard a gruff voice exclaim, and the next instant I was lowered into s.p.a.ce, where I hung, turning slowly at the rope's end, with the dull murmur of the waves at the base of the cliff some fifty feet below to add to the terror of my situation.

By the number of successive short jerks I knew that I had not been lowered more than ten feet when I was seized by rough hands and dragged in towards the cliff. The rope by which I had been lowered was cast off, and, lifted in a horizontal position, I was borne away.

The sudden change from the scorching rays of the sun to a chilly atmosphere, and the echoing footsteps of my captors, told me that I was being carried along a tunnel in the rocks. I distinctly counted four-and-forty footfalls ere the men set me down upon a stone floor; then the bandage was whipped off my eyes, and I found myself blinking in the subdued daylight.

Surrounding me I recognized Ned Slater and the five others who had slipped away on our retreat through the forest.

"Now, youngster," began the villainous rascal, whom I now knew to be guilty of my father's murder and the theft of the chart, to say nothing of his other crimes, "no beating about the bush, or 'twill be the worse for you. Where lieth the treasure?"

"I know not. You have the chart."

"Aye," he replied, with a hideous oath, "and little good it is to us. It is marked 'Much treasure here'--here, on or near this spot; but that is false. I know it, and you know it. Now, where does the treasure lie--somewhere inland? or was that part of old Miles's plan to mislead us? Come now, answer."

"I cannot say, nor would not if I could."

"You lie, you young rascal. But I'll find a way to make you use your tongue, though you may shout till you're black in the face, for no one will hear you. Search him first."

Two of the rogues emptied my pockets and relieved me of my knife.

"Ho, ho! What have we here?" exclaimed Slater, examining the blade carefully. "'Tis an old acquaintance. Nay, I go farther--'tis my property."

"Considering you sheathed it in my father's body," I replied boldly, "'tis not to be wondered at, you double-dyed murderer."

"All is fair in love and war," he replied. "If your father barred my way, what was to be done? But take heed, lest I plunge it into your body. Now, once again, where does the treasure lie hidden?"

I did not reply, for I was hard at work trying to devise some plan of thwarting him and at the same time of effecting my escape.

Finding that I remained obstinate, they left me lying bound and helpless, with a pannikin of water within a foot of my face, having previously moistened my lips with salt water.

I was indeed in a very tight fix. The cave was about ten feet in height, but owing to a sharp bend I was unable to see how long it was, or in what direction it dived into the rock. Unless one knew of its existence, he might search the ledge above for hours without being aware that its mouth yawned ten feet beneath. No doubt when I was missed a search would be made for me, with the result that it would be supposed that I had fallen over the edge into the sea.

As I lay unable to stir hand or foot, my thirst grew intolerable, my tongue was parched, and my throat burned like a lime-kiln. Yet within a foot stood a vessel of water which, for the good it did me, might have been better out of my sight.

Away in the recesses of the cave I could hear my captors talking in eager tones, doubtless highly excited at their success, for 'twas certain that they thought I held the prized secret.

"Get it from him at all costs, then do as you say," I heard one remark.

"Hus.h.!.+ not so loud," replied another.

"Yet it must be done."

"I know; I'm not saying anything against that, so----"

Here their voices became inaudible, but in those few words I gathered the full signification of their intentions. When they had finished with me they meant to finish me in a very complete sense.

Plan after plan flashed across my mind, only to be dismissed as impracticable, till, with the faintest ray of hope, I lighted on a scheme that might serve my purpose.

At length Ned Slater returned, humming a rollicking air, and with a hideous grin on his face. Stooping down, he raised the pannikin of water to his lips and took a draught with the utmost ostentation.

This done, he motioned as if to give me what remained in the vessel, but when 'twas within a few inches of my mouth he slowly and deliberately withdrew it. Twice did he offer the water, then with a steady hand he poured it on the floor, so that the liquid splashed over my bound hands.

"A curse on my clumsiness!" said he. "I must needs fill the pannikin again."

I heard the hollow sound of his footsteps retreating down the pa.s.sage, but presently he returned, with the pannikin filled to the brim. Setting it down where it formerly stood, he said:

"Help yourself, you young rascal; there's plenty to spare."

Had the water been a thousand leagues off, I could not have helped myself any the less, and the villain knew it.

"Now, concerning the plan," he began, pointing to the chart which he held in his hand. "Art still of the same mind?"

"I'll tell you," I replied hoa.r.s.ely; then, feigning with little effort, I began to cough and gulp as if unable to continue.

"Water!" I gasped, after a while.

He raised the pannikin and allowed a thin stream to trickle on to my face, and as I swallowed the cold liquid it seemed to instil new life into my tortured body.

"That chart is not correct," I began.

"I knew it," he replied, in a tone of triumphant expectancy; "but I'll lay hands on the treasure."

"And when you do, can you remove it from the island?"

"I'll find away," he replied, with a leer. "Dost think I have no friends aboard the s.h.i.+ps?"

"Cast my hand loose, and I'll trace a plan of the island," I continued, pretending to ignore the latter part of his remark.

"Very well, then; but no trickery, or----" and he touched the hilt of my knife, which he was wearing in his belt.

"Do I look as if I could trick you?" I asked wearily. "A lad with his feet bound could not hope to get the better of you."

Without another word he cut the rope that encircled my arms, then, stepping back a pace, he drew the knife and held it in a menacing position.

I gave a short glance at the rope that bound my feet. It was thin cord, commonly known as half-inch line.

"Let this represent the coast," I began, tracing an irregular line in the dust that covered the floor of the cave. "Here is the cliff, and here the place where the _Madre_ first struck. The first hiding-place of the treasure was here, I take it."

"'Tis more to the east, if yon point marks the cliff. Thus says the chart."

"Does it?" I asked, with feigned surprise. "Art sure?"

"Look for yourself," said he, holding the parchment close to my face.

"The light is bad," I replied, peering at the crabbed writing. "Turn it this way, so that it shows to the best advantage. 'Tis as I said; the place lies to the west of the cliff, just here----"

The villain's face was within arm's length, for in his eagerness he had drawn closer to hear my explanation. My fist shot out with a swift upward movement, and, taking him fairly on the point of his chin, sent him staggering against the opposite wall, whence he fell senseless to the ground.

In two bounds I was at his side, and seizing the knife, I severed the rope that fastened my ankles.