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diff --git a/29667-h/29667-h.htm b/29667-h/29667-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5bb7875 --- /dev/null +++ b/29667-h/29667-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7541 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Adrift on the Pacific, by Edward S. Ellis.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + hr.p17 {width: 17%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both; margin: 1em auto;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + hr.toprule {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + p.center {text-align: center !important;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + p.tp {font-size:1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:center;} + h1 {font-size:1.8em;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Adrift on the Pacific, by Edward S. Ellis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Adrift on the Pacific + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: August 11, 2009 [EBook #29667] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADRIFT ON THE PACIFIC *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:40px;font-size:2.2em;margin-bottom:40px;'>Adrift on the Pacific</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:40px;'>A Boys Story of the Sea and its Perils</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;margin-bottom:20px;'>By EDWARD S. ELLIS</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'>Author of<br />“The Young Pioneers,” “Fighting to Win,” “Adrift in the<br />Wilds,” “The Boy Patriot,” Etc.</p> +<div style='margin:40px auto; text-align:center;'><img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-emb.jpg' /></div> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:40px;font-size:1.2em;'>A. L. BURT COMPANY; PUBLISHERS<br />NEW YORK</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='center'>Copyright, 1911<br /> +<span class='smcap'>By A. L. BURT COMPANY</span></p> +<hr class='p17' /> +<p class='center'><span class='smcap'>Adrift on the Pacific</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h1>Adrift on the Pacific</h1> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_CAPTAIN_STRATHMORES_PASSENGER' id='CHAPTER_I_CAPTAIN_STRATHMORES_PASSENGER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>CAPTAIN STRATHMORE’S PASSENGER</h3> +</div> +<p>A few hours before the sailing of the steamer <i>Polynesia</i>, +from San Francisco to Japan, and while Captain +Strathmore stood on deck watching the bustle and +hurry, he was approached by a nervous, well-dressed +gentleman, who was leading a little girl by the hand.</p> +<p>“I wish you to take a passenger to Tokio for me, +Captain Strathmore,” said the stranger.</p> +<p>The honest, bluff old captain, although tender of +the feelings of others, never forgot the dignity and +respect due to his position, and, looking sternly at the +stranger, said:</p> +<p>“You should know, sir, that it is the purser and not +the captain whom you should see.”</p> +<p>“I have seen him, and cannot make a satisfactory +arrangement.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span></div> +<p>“And that is no reason, sir, why you should approach +me.”</p> +<p>The captain was about moving away, when the +stranger placed his hand on his arm, and said, in a +hurried, anxious voice:</p> +<p>“It is not I who wish to go––it is this little girl. +It is a case of life and death; she must go! You, as +captain, can take her in your own cabin, and no one +will be inconvenienced.”</p> +<p>For the first time Captain Strathmore looked down +at the little girl, who was staring around her with the +wondering curiosity of childhood.</p> +<p>She was apparently about six years of age, and the +picture of infantile innocence and loveliness. She +was dressed with good taste, her little feet being incased +in Cinderella-like slippers, while the pretty +stockings and dress set off the figure to perfection. +She wore a fashionable straw hat, with a gay ribbon, +and indeed looked like a child of wealthy parents, who +had let her out for a little jaunt along some shady +avenue.</p> +<p>When Captain Strathmore looked down upon this +sweet child, a great pang went through his heart, for +she was the picture of the little girl that once called +him father.</p> +<p>Her mother died while little Inez was an infant, +and, as soon as the cherished one could dispense with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span> +the care of a nurse, she joined her father, the captain, +and henceforth was not separated from him. She +was always on ship or steamer, sharing his room and +becoming the pet of every one who met her, no less +from her loveliness than from her childish, winning +ways.</p> +<p>But there came one awful dark day, away out in +the Pacific, when the sweet voice was hushed forever, +and the rugged old captain was bowed by a grief such +as that which smites the mountain-oak to the earth.</p> +<p>The little girl who now looked up in the face of +Captain Strathmore was the image of Inez, who years +before had sunk to the bottom of the sea, carrying +with her all the sunshine, music and loveliness that +cheered her father’s heart. With an impulse he could +not resist, the captain reached out his arms and the +little stranger instantly ran into them. Then she was +lifted up, and the captain kissed her, saying:</p> +<p>“You look so much like the little girl I buried at +sea that I could not help kissing you.”</p> +<p>The child was not afraid of him, for her fairy-like +fingers began playing with the grizzled whiskers, +while the honest blue eyes of the old sailor grew dim +and misty for the moment.</p> +<p>The gentleman who had brought the child to the +steamer saw that this was a favorable time for him to +urge his plea.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span></div> +<p>“That is the little girl whom I wished to send to +Tokio by you.”</p> +<p>“Have you no friend or acquaintance on board +in whose care you can place her?”</p> +<p>“I do not know a soul.”</p> +<p>“Is she any relative of yours?”</p> +<p>“She is my niece. Her father and mother are missionaries +in Japan, and have been notified of her coming +on this steamer.”</p> +<p>“If that were so, why then were not preparations +made for sending her in the care of some one, instead +of waiting until the last minute, and then rushing +down here and making application in such an irregular +manner?”</p> +<p>“Her uncle, the brother of my wife, expected to +make the voyage with her, and came to San Francisco +for that purpose. He was taken dangerously ill at the +hotel, and when I reached there, a few hours ago, he +was dead, and my niece was in the care of the landlord’s +family. My wife, who is out yonder in a carriage, +had prepared to accompany me East to-morrow. +Her brother had made no arrangements for taking +the little one on the steamer, so I was forced into +this unusual application.”</p> +<p>While the gentleman was making this explanation, +the captain was holding the child in his arms, and admiring +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +the beautiful countenance and loveliness of +face and manner.</p> +<p>“She does look exactly like my poor little Inez,” +was his thought, as he gently placed her on her feet +again.</p> +<p>“If we take her to Japan, what then?”</p> +<p>“Her parents will be in Tokio, waiting for her. +You, as captain, have the right, which no one would +dare question, of taking her into your cabin with you, +and I will compensate you in any manner you may +wish.”</p> +<p>“What is her name?” asked Captain Strathmore.</p> +<p>“Inez.”</p> +<p>“She shall go,” said the sailor, in a husky voice.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_THE_CAPTAIN_AND_INEZ' id='CHAPTER_II_THE_CAPTAIN_AND_INEZ'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>THE CAPTAIN AND INEZ</h3> +</div> +<p>The steamer <i>Polynesia</i> was steaming swiftly across +the Pacific, in the direction of Japan––bravely plunging +out into the mightiest expanse of water which +spans the globe, and heading for the port that loomed +up from the ocean almost ten thousand miles away.</p> +<p>Although but a few days out, little Inez had become +the pet of the whole ship. She was full of high +spirits, bounding health––a laughing, merry sprite, +who made every portion of the steamer her home, and +who was welcome wherever she went.</p> +<p>To the bronzed and rugged Captain Strathmore +she was such a reminder of his own lost Inez that she +became a second daughter to him, and something like +a pang stirred his heart when he reflected upon his +arrival at his destination and his parting from the +little one.</p> +<p>Inez, as nearly as the captain could gather, had +been living for several years with her uncle and aunt +in San Francisco, from which port her parents had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span> +sailed a considerable time before. The stranger gave +a very common name as his own––George Smith––and +said he would await the return of the <i>Polynesia</i> +with great anxiety, in order to learn the particulars +of the arrival of his niece in Japan.</p> +<p>However, the captain did not allow his mind to be +annoyed by any speculations as to the past of the little +girl; but he could not avoid a strong yearning which +was growing in his heart that something would turn +up––something possibly in the shape of a social revolution +or earthquake––that would place the little girl +in his possession again.</p> +<p>And yet he trembled as he muttered the wish.</p> +<p>“How long would I keep her? I had such a girl +once––her very counterpart––the sweet Inez, my +own; and yet she is gone, and who shall say how long +this one shall be mine?”</p> +<p>The weather remained all that could be wished for +a number of days after steaming out of the Golden +Gate. It was in the month of September, when a +mild, dreamy languor seemed to rest upon everything, +and the passage across the Pacific was like one long-continued +dream of the Orient––excepting, perhaps, +when the cyclone or hurricane, roused from its sleep, +swept over the deep with a fury such as strews the +shores with wrecks and the bottom with multitudes of +bodies.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span></div> +<p>What more beautiful than a moonlight night on the +Pacific?</p> +<p>The <i>Polynesia</i> was plowing the vast waste of waters +which separates the two worlds, bearing upon her +decks and in her cabins passengers from the four +quarters of the globe.</p> +<p>They came from, and were going to, every portion +of the wide world. Some were speeding toward their +homes in Asia or Africa or the islands of the sea; and +others living in Europe or America, or the remote +corners of the earth, would finally return, after wandering +over strange places, seeing singular sights, and +treading in the footsteps of the armies who had gone +before them in the dim ages of the past.</p> +<p>Now and then the great ship rose from some mighty +swell, and then, settling down, drove ahead, cleaving +the calm water and leaving a wide wake of foam behind. +The black smoke poured out of the broad funnels, +and sifted upward through the scant rigging, and +was dissipated in the clear air above. The throbbing +of the engine made its pulsations felt through the ponderous +craft from stem to stern, as a giant breathes +more powerfully when gathering his energy for the +final effort of the race. A few drifting clouds moved +along the sky, while, now and then, a starlike point +of light, far away against the horizon, showed where +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +some other caravansary of the sea was moving toward +its destination, thousands of leagues away.</p> +<p>Although Captain Strathmore was on duty, and +it was against the rules for any passenger to approach +or address him, yet there was one who was unrestrained +by rules or regulations, no matter how +sternly they were enforced in other cases.</p> +<p>The captain was standing on the bridge, when he +felt some one tugging at his coat, and he looked down.</p> +<p>There was Inez demanding his attention.</p> +<p>“Take me up, pop,” said she.</p> +<p>“Bless your heart!” laughed the captain as he +obeyed the little empress; “you would ruin the discipline +of a man-of-war in a month.”</p> +<p>While speaking, he perched her on his shoulder, as +was a favorite custom with him.</p> +<p>The day had been unusually warm, and the night +was so mild that the steady breeze made by the motion +of the steamer was scarcely sufficient to keep one cool. +Little Inez had thrown aside her hat with the setting +of the sun, and now her wealth of golden hair +streamed and fluttered in fleecy masses about her +shoulders.</p> +<p>The steamer was plowing straight to the westward, +cutting the waves so keenly that a thin parabola of +water continually curved over in front of her from the +knife-like prow.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span></div> +<p>Perched aloft on the shoulder of the captain, Inez +naturally gazed ahead, and the figure was a striking +one of innocence and infancy peering forward through +the mists and clouds toward the unknown future. But +Inez was too young to have any such poetical thoughts, +and the captain was too practical to be troubled by +“æsthetic meditations.”</p> +<p>He chatted with her about their arrival in Japan, +saying that she would be glad to see no more of him, +when she replied:</p> +<p>“If you talk that way, I’ll cry. You must go home +and live with us. Uncle Con says papa has a big dog, +and if we haven’t room in the house, you can sleep +with him, and I’ll feed you each morning––oh, look!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_AN_ACCIDENT' id='CHAPTER_III_AN_ACCIDENT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>AN ACCIDENT</h3> +</div> +<p>That which arrested the attention of the little girl +in the arms of Captain Strathmore, was a sight––unique, +rare and impressively beautiful.</p> +<p>All around the steamer stretched the vast Pacific, +melting away into darkness, with here and there a +star-like twinkle, showing where some ship was moving +over the waste of waters. Overhead, the sky was +clear, with a few stars faintly gleaming, while the +round, full moon, for whose rising so many on the +steamer had been watching, had just come up, its disk +looking unusually large, as it always does when so +close to the horizon.</p> +<p>Just when the moon was half above the ocean, and +when the narrowing path of the illumination stretched +from the ship to the outer edge of the world, a vessel +under full sail slowly passed over the face of the +moon.</p> +<p>The partial eclipse was so singular that it arrested +the attention of Inez, who uttered the exclamation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +we have recorded. It was seen by nearly all the passengers, +too, most of whom were looking toward the +horizon for the rising of the orb, and expressions of +delight were heard from every quarter, for such a +sight, we say, is rare.</p> +<p>When observed by the passengers on board the +<i>Polynesia</i>, the moon had barely cleared the horizon, +as we have stated, and the top of the mainmast just +reached the uppermost portion of the periphery, while +spars, rigging and hull were marked against the yellow +disk as distinctly as if painted in India ink.</p> +<p>Such an obscuration, like a total one of the sun, +could last but a few seconds, for the <i>Polynesia</i> and the +other ship were moving in opposite directions, while +the moon itself was creeping upward toward the +zenith. Slowly the black ship glided toward its destination––hull, +masts and rigging gradually mingled +with the gloom beyond, until the moon, as if shaking +off the eclipse, mounted upward with its face unmarred, +excepting by the peculiar figures stamped +there when it was first launched into space.</p> +<p>When the wonderful exhibition was over there were +murmurs of admiration from the passengers, who, +grouped here and there, or promenading back and +forth, had stood spellbound, as may be said, while it +was in progress.</p> +<p>Captain Strathmore and two of his officers had seen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +the same thing once or twice before, but they had been +favored in this respect above others, and could hardly +expect anything of the kind again.</p> +<p>The captain now prepared for an interesting and +novel ceremony, which he had announced would take +place that evening by moonlight.</p> +<p>Descending to the deck, and approaching the stern, +where the expectant passengers had gathered together, +the group were silent a minute, while he stood among +them holding little Inez by the hand. A few minutes +later the purser came aft, carrying a parcel in his +hand, which he carefully placed upon the taffrail. +Then he spoke in a sepulchral voice.</p> +<p>“Ladies and gentlemen, we all have lost minutes +and hours, but it is seldom that we deliberately throw +away a day. But we are to do so now. We are about +to bury a day. To-day is the Twentieth, to-morrow +will be the Twenty-second, and where, then, is the +Twenty-first? There it lies” (pointing to the parcel +on the taffrail). “Life is short enough, without deliberately +casting an entire day into the sea; but there +is the consolation of knowing, on your return, that it +shall be restored to you, and thus beautifully does nature +preserve the equilibrium throughout the world. +What more fitting than that the day should be buried +by the hands of one whose life is as spotless as the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +snow upon the peaks of the Sierras we have left behind +us?”</p> +<p>All now uncovered their heads––that is, the gentlemen +did––and the captain advanced, leading Inez +Hawthorne by the hand. Holding her up a short distance +from the deck, she called out:</p> +<p>“Good-by, Twenty-first of September!”</p> +<p>She repeated the words correctly, for the captain +whispered them in her ear, and as she spoke she gave +the parcel a slight shove, and overboard it went, striking +the water with a splash, and instantly sinking +out of sight. The package was nothing but some old +iron, wrapped about with coarse brown paper.</p> +<p>The ceremony of burying a day, as the reader +knows, is a common, and it may be said, a necessary, +one with vessels sailing westward over the Pacific, as +the picking up of a day is necessary on the return. +At first sight it seems incongruous, but it is in fact +the only way in which the reckoning of time can be +kept correctly.</p> +<p>The little ceremony naturally caused the matter +itself to become one of discussion, and probably a +goodly number of young ladies and gentlemen picked +up more knowledge of the matter than they had ever +dreamed of before.</p> +<p>Two curious things happened within a half hour +of this novel ceremony.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></div> +<p>The <i>Polynesia</i> was driving along with that steady +motion in which the throbbing of the vessel can only +be detected by carefully standing still and watching +for it, when every passenger, and especially the captain +and his officers, suddenly felt an alarming jar, +which shook the steamer from stem to stern. It was +noticed that the engine instantly stopped and the enormous +ship gradually came to rest upon the long, heaving +swell of the Pacific.</p> +<p>In a few minutes it was ascertained that the +steamer had broken the shaft of her propeller, thus +rendering the all-important screw useless. This necessitated +the hoisting of her sails, and a monotonous +voyage to her destination, a return to San Francisco, +or a long deviation to Honolulu for repairs.</p> +<p>While the necessary investigation was going on, a +sail had been sighted bearing down upon them, and +in half an hour it came-to, a short distance off, in the +hope of being able to afford some assistance––as the +sight of a steamer lying motionless on the water meant +that something was amiss.</p> +<p>This new craft was the schooner <i>Coral</i>, a stanchly-built, +sharp-bowed little vessel of forty tons burden, +built for the Honolulu trade. She was about seven +years old, very fast, and constructed as strongly as +iron and wood could make her. The forecastle, cook’s +quarters and cabin were all under deck, so that in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +heavy weather there was no danger of being washed +from one’s bunk whenever a big sea came thundering +over the rail.</p> +<p>The skipper or captain of this trim little craft was +Jack Bergen, of Boston, and he with his mate, Abram +Storms, had made the trip across the continent by rail +to San Francisco––thus saving the long, dangerous +and expensive voyage around Cape Horn.</p> +<p>In the Golden Gate City they––for the mate and +captain were joint partners––bought the <i>Coral</i> at auction, +paying just two-thirds the sum they expected to +give for the vessel they needed. However, when she +was fitted up and provisioned, they found very little +of their funds left, and they could but feel some +anxiety as to the result of the extraordinary enterprise +upon which they were engaged. The crew of the little +schooner consisted of the two sailors, Hyde Brazzier, +Alfredo Redvignez, and a huge African, Pomp +Cooper, who shipped as cook and steward, with the liability +of being called upon to do duty in an emergency.</p> +<p>But of these, more hereafter.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen, after his craft came-to, was rowed +across the short, intervening distance with his mate, +and they were assisted upon deck, where they were received +most courteously.</p> +<p>“Is there anything I can do to help you?” he asked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +after he and his brother officer were received by Captain +Strathmore.</p> +<p>“I’m obliged to you, but I’m afraid not,” was the +courteous response. “You know, there’s no way of telling +when a piece of iron is going to fracture, and so +there is no way of providing against such an accident.”</p> +<p>“Is the shaft broke?”</p> +<p>“Yes; broken clean off.”</p> +<p>“Where?”</p> +<p>The captain of the steamer smiled, for he saw no +need of such a question, since he considered the damage +irremediable.</p> +<p>“Quite a distance from the screw, and it’s a curious +fracture. Would you like to look at it?”</p> +<p>“I would, indeed. You see, we have got considerable +out of our course––being too far west––and we +shall make a pretty sharp turn to the south, toward +Honolulu.”</p> +<p>“I am debating whether to go there, turn back to +San Francisco, or keep on under sail to Tokio.”</p> +<p>“This is my mate, Abram Storms, from Enfield, +Connecticut,” said Captain Bergen, introducing the +two. “I bring him along because he is the most ingenious +man ever turned out by that home of ingenuity; +and when I saw that something was the matter +with you, I came alongside, more because I believed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +he could help you, than in the expectation that I could +be of any service.”</p> +<p>“Captain Bergen does me too much honor,” protested +the stoop-shouldered New Englander, who, had +there been more of daylight, would have been seen to +blush under the compliment.</p> +<p>“I have no doubt he speaks the truth,” replied +Captain Strathmore, leading the way below to where +the broken shaft rested motionless; “but this trouble +is too much like a broken neck for any surgery to +help.”</p> +<p>A minute later, a group of half a dozen stood about +and stooped over the broken shaft, and examined it +by the aid of lanterns, the chief engineer showing a +more courteous spirit than is usual under such circumstances.</p> +<p>As one looked at the huge cylinder of solid iron, +gleaming with a silvery whiteness all over the jagged +face where it had been twisted off, the wonder was +how it could be possible for any force to be tremendous +enough to do such damage. The peculiarity +about the breakage, however, was that, instead of +snapping nearly squarely off, the fracture extended +longitudinally for fully eighteen inches, so that the +face of each part was a great deal broader and longer +than is generally the case in such accidents.</p> +<p>The group surveyed it a minute or two in silence, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +stooping down and feeling of the innumerable jagged +protuberances, the indentations, and the exceedingly +rough surface, the minute particles gleaming in the +lamp-light like a mass of silver ore split apart.</p> +<p>The first remark came from the New Englander, +Abe Storms.</p> +<p>“That is curious, for there are no signs of crystallization, +nor can I detect a flaw.”</p> +<p>“Nevertheless, it must be there, for perfect iron +would not have broken in that manner,” said the chief +engineer.</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon,” said the mate, courteously, +“but it frequently happens. There has been some peculiar +combination of the movement of the steamer on +the swell of the sea, with the position of the screw at +that moment––a convergence of a hundred conditions––some +almost infinitesimal, but necessary, and which +convergence is not likely to take place in a million +revolutions of the screw––that has brought an irresistible +strain upon the shaft––one that would have +wrenched it off, had the diameter been twice what +it is.”</p> +<p>The group looked wonderingly at the speaker, for +every intelligent man felt that the theory of the New +Englander had a stratum of truth beneath it. It was +hard to make clear what the mate meant, but all to a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +certain extent understood, and no one ventured to +gainsay it.</p> +<p>“However,” added Abe Storms, “there’s one good +thing about this; it will be easy to mend it.”</p> +<p>Captain Bergen smiled, for he expected something +of the kind, and he knew that that wonderful Yankee +mate of his never boasted, and would demonstrate +every assertion he made. But the others stared at the +speaker with something like consternation, and +seemed to be debating whether he was crazy or a natural +born idiot.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_MISSING' id='CHAPTER_IV_MISSING'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>MISSING</h3> +</div> +<p>“Mend a broken shaft?” repeated the chief engineer, +in amazement. “How do you expect to do +that?”</p> +<p>“I will show you,” replied the mate of the little +schooner, who immediately proceeded to business.</p> +<p>The first thing he asked for was several coils of +wire, which were immediately furnished him. Then, +with great labor, the two parts of the shaft were fitted +together and the wire was twisted tightly around the +fractured portion over and over again.</p> +<p>As the tenacity of iron is tremendous, the shaft was +securely fastened, but this was not enough. Ropes +and chains were bound around the iron in turn, until +there was really no room to bandage the broken shaft +further.</p> +<p>“There, sir!” exclaimed Storms, as he stepped back +and viewed his work. “That is as secure as before, +though, if you can possibly do so, you should avoid reversing +the screw until you reach Tokio, for you can +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +understand that to reverse and start will wrench the +shaft to a dangerous degree.”</p> +<p>The captain now told the engineer, who had been +assisting in the operation, to start the engine slowly +and with great care.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen ran on deck to see that the <i>Coral</i> +was in position to receive no harm from the forward +motion, while the rest of the group watched the movements +with intense interest, standing away from the +shaft so as to escape the “splinters,” that more than +one thought might be flying about their heads the next +minute.</p> +<p>There came the sound of steam, of plunging rods +and cylinders from ahead, then there was heard a +furious splash at the stern, and all saw that the shaft +in its entirety was revolving.</p> +<p>The keen eyes of Abe Storms, who had leaned directly +over his handiwork, lamp in hand, his nose almost +touching the gleaming chains, detected the very +yielding which he had prophesied. He heard the +creaking of the chains, the faint gasping, as it may be +called, of the rope, and the soft grinding of the fine +wire beneath.</p> +<p>All this showed what an enormous strain was +brought upon them, and almost any other person detecting +the rasping of the ragged edges of iron against +each other would have started back appalled, believing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +that everything was about to fly apart. But it was +precisely what the mate expected, and what was inevitable +under the circumstances. Then, at his request, +the engineer was ordered to put on a full head +of steam, and the <i>Polynesia</i> plowed forward, cleaving +the water before her.</p> +<p>Abe Storms knelt down and bent almost lovingly +over the round mass revolving on its axis. Then he +beckoned to the engineer to approach and do the same. +He obeyed, as did several others, and placing their +ears close, they listened intently to the revolution of +the shaft.</p> +<p>Not even the faintest noise could be detected to +show that there was anything but a normal movement +of the shaft. Every one saw, too, that the revolutions +were not only going on regularly, but would continue +so for an indefinite time. The shaft was practically +whole again, with the exception that a reverse movement +would be likely to undo everything, and by +scraping the corrugated surfaces of the fractures, render +it impossible to do anything of the kind again.</p> +<p>Captain Strathmore and his officers stood for a full +hour more steadily watching the revolving shaft, and +at the end of that time they were satisfied. Then the +new acquaintances saluted and bade each other good-by, +the officers of the <i>Coral</i> passing over the rail, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +were rowed back to their own vessel, which had followed +in the wake of the steamer, as may be said.</p> +<p>By this time it was midnight, and the captain returned +to his station on the bridge, reflecting to himself +that some of the most insurmountable difficulties, +apparently, are overcome by the simplest means, and +that there are some persons in the world who really +seem capable of inventing anything.</p> +<p>The hour was so late that all the passengers had retired, +and little Inez, as a matter of course, had become +invisible long before. She had declared several +times that she was going to sit up with the captain, +and she tried it, but, like most children under such +circumstances, she dropped off into slumber by the +time it was fairly dark, and was carried below to the +cabin.</p> +<p>The child was like so much sunshine flitting hither +and thither upon the steamer, and whose presence +would be sorely missed when the hour came for her +to go. But Captain Strathmore was a disciplinarian, +who could never forget his duty, and he remained at +his post until the time came for him to go below to +gain the few hours’ sleep which cannot be safely dispensed +with by any one, no matter how rugged his +frame.</p> +<p>Tumbling into his berth, he stretched out with a +sigh of comfort, and went to sleep.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span></div> +<p>“Inez will be in here bright and early to wake me,” +was his conclusion, as he closed his eyes in slumber.</p> +<p>But he was disappointed, for when he was called +from his couch, it was not by the little one whom he +expected to see. At the breakfast-table she did not +appear, and then Captain Strathmore, fearing that +she was ill, made inquiries. He heard nothing, and +filled with a growing alarm, he instituted a thorough +search of the vessel from stem to stern and high and +low. Not a spot or corner was omitted where a cat +could have been concealed, but she was not found.</p> +<p>And then the startling truth was established that +little Inez Hawthorne was not on board the steamer.</p> +<p>“Oh!” groaned poor Captain Strathmore, “she became +my own child! Now I have lost her a second +time!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_THE_NEW_PASSENGER' id='CHAPTER_V_THE_NEW_PASSENGER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>THE NEW PASSENGER</h3> +</div> +<p>Captain Strathmore rewarded Abe Storms liberally +for the service he had rendered them, and the +mate and captain of the schooner, as we have said, +were rowed back to the boat by Hyde Brazzier.</p> +<p>Reaching the deck of the <i>Coral</i>, they watched the +progress of the great steamer until she vanished from +sight in the moonlight, and then the two friends went +into the cabin to “study the chart,” as they expressed +it.</p> +<p>It may be said that this had been the principal +business of the two since leaving the States, though +the statement is not strictly correct. The hum of conversation +went on for hours; the night gradually wore +away, but still the two men sat talking in low tones, +and looking at the roll of paper spread out between +them, and which was covered with numerous curious +drawings. The theme must have been an absorbing +one, since it banished all thought of the passage of +time from their minds.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span></div> +<p>“I tell you,” said the captain, as he leaned back in +his chair, “there isn’t the remotest doubt that a colossal +fortune is awaiting us, and unless some extraordinary +accident intervenes, we shall gather it up.”</p> +<p>“So it would seem,” replied the mate, with a weary +look, “and yet I sometimes feel certain that it will +never be ours––Good gracious!”</p> +<p>The two men almost leaped out of their chairs, and +their hair fairly rose on end. They were absolutely +certain that no one else was in the cabin besides themselves. +Redvignez was at the wheel, and Brazzier +awaited his call in turn at the end of the watch. But +just then both heard a rustling, and saw a movement +in the berth of Captain Bergen, which showed something +was there. It couldn’t be a dog or cat, for there +was nothing of the kind on board. Besides which, +just then, the two men caught sight of the little white +hand which clearly belonged to some one of their own +species. Then the covering was thrown back; a mass +of tangled golden hair was observed, and instantly +after, the fair face of a young child peered wonderingly +out, as if seeking to learn where she was.</p> +<p>Of course the little one was Inez Hawthorne, +though neither of the two men had ever seen or heard +of her before, and it is, therefore, idle to attempt to +picture their overwhelming astonishment when they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +became aware so suddenly of her presence in the +cabin.</p> +<p>Neither of the two men was superstitious; but there +was good excuse for their being wonder-struck. If +an individual in the middle of a desert should suddenly +become aware of the appearance of a strange +person at his elbow, a situation apparently in which +he could only be placed by supernatural means, it +would be a very mild word to say he would be surprised.</p> +<p>Flinging the coverlet from her shoulders and throwing +back her mass of rich golden hair, Inez assumed +the sitting position, with her dimpled legs swinging +over the side, and her little hands resting on the rail, +as if to steady herself during the long swells of the +sea, while she looked at the two men as if trying to +recollect where she was and who they were.</p> +<p>“Well, if that doesn’t beat anything that was ever +heard or read of before!” exclaimed the captain, turning +about and staring at her. “Where in the name of +the seven wonders did you come from?”</p> +<p>Abe Storms, the mate, did not speak, but seemed +to be waiting to see whether the child had a voice, and +thus settle the question in his mind as to whether it +was mortal or not.</p> +<p>The problem was quickly solved, for Inez was never +backward in asserting her individuality.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span></div> +<p>“How did I come here? That’s a great question +to ask! I got tired and lay down to sleep, and have +just woke up. I think this is a real nice boat. Are +you the captain? My name is Inez Hawthorne––what +is yours?”</p> +<p>These questions, uttered with childish rapidity and +ingenuousness, threw some light upon the apparent +mystery.</p> +<p>“She belongs to the steamer,” said Abe Storms, +with his eyes fixed wonderingly upon her. “She has +managed to get in our boat in some way, and we have +carried her off. Did you ever see anything so pretty?”</p> +<p>As the reader has learned, there was good cause for +this admiring question. Both of the men were bachelors, +but they possessed natural refinement, and they +could reverence the innocence and loveliness of childhood. +With the discovery that she was an actual human +being, the awe-struck wonder of the two men +vanished, though their curiosity was great to learn +how it was she was carried away from the steamer.</p> +<p>“Won’t you come here and talk with me?” asked +Storms, reaching out his arms invitingly, but a little +doubtful whether she would respond, though the +stoop-shouldered inventor was always popular with +children. The answer of Inez was a sudden spring, +which landed her plump into the lap of the mate, +while she flung her arms around his neck with a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +merry laugh, and then wheeled about on his knee, so +that she could look in the face of either of the men, +who, not unnaturally, felt a strange and strong attraction +toward the beautiful child.</p> +<p>Then the two began a series of questions that were +answered in the characteristic fashion of childhood, +but from which the friends succeeded in extracting +something like a clear explanation of her presence on +board the <i>Coral</i>––so many miles from the steamer on +which she had set sail at San Francisco.</p> +<p>They learned that Inez––who was such a pet on +the <i>Polynesia</i> that she was allowed to do as she chose––was +invited by one of the crew to visit the <i>Coral</i>, +while she lay so close to the disabled steamer. The +one who gave this invitation was Hyde Brazzier, and +he was struck with the wonderful loveliness of the +child, when she questioned him about the schooner.</p> +<p>There is no nature, however steeped in crime, in +which there is not a divine spark which may be fanned +into a flame––which, perchance, may illumine the +whole soul; and but for the subsequent strange events, +little Inez Hawthorne might have proved, in the most +literal sense, a heaven-sent messenger upon that craft, +which carried so much wickedness in the forecastle.</p> +<p>Brazzier rowed the short intervening distance, and +then took the child by the hand and showed her +through the schooner, there being little to exhibit. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +Finally she was led into the cabin, where she said she +was tired and wished to lie down. Thereupon Brazzier +lifted her upon the captain’s berth and drew the +coverlet over her. A minute later the weary eyes +closed in slumber and he left the cabin.</p> +<p>Brazzier had no intention, up to this time, of using +any deception in the matter; but, under the persuasion +of Redvignez, he gave way to the innate wickedness +of his nature, and chuckled over the lamentable +occurrence. They felt pleasure in the certainty that +what they were doing was sure to make other hearts +ache.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_PORT_YOUR_HELM' id='CHAPTER_VI_PORT_YOUR_HELM'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>“PORT YOUR HELM!”</h3> +</div> +<p>When a thorough search of the steamer <i>Polynesia</i> +made known the truth that little Inez Hawthorne was +nowhere upon it, the sorrowful conclusion was that +she had fallen overboard in some manner and been +drowned.</p> +<p>But the belief was scarcely formed, when the discovery +was made that such was not the case; that in +fact she had been taken away by the schooner <i>Coral</i>, +whose mate performed such good service in mending +the broken shaft of the <i>Polynesia</i>.</p> +<p>The story as told Captain Strathmore was as +follows:</p> +<p>The two officers of the schooner were rowed to the +steamer by one of the crew, who climbed up the ladder +at the side of the <i>Polynesia</i>, and spent a few minutes +in inspecting the broken shaft. He then came back. +His attention was attracted to little Inez, whose +childish curiosity was excited by the appearance of a +stranger who had but one eye, and who looked so different +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +from the trim-looking members of the steamer’s +crew. The two fell into conversation, and Inez asked +so many questions about the schooner that the stranger +invited her to take a look at it. He was heard to say +that the captain and mate would be engaged for two or +three hours, and there would be plenty of time to row +the child over the intervening distance, explore the +<i>Coral</i>, and come back before Captain Bergen and his +mate would be ready to leave.</p> +<p>Naturally, Inez gladly accepted the invitation, and +the sinister-looking man, picking her up, carefully descended +the ladder to his small boat, and rowed away +to the schooner.</p> +<p>This story, it will be observed, corresponded with +that told by Brazzier himself.</p> +<p>No one thought anything of the proceeding, which +was one of the most natural in the world, and there +was nothing to arouse misgiving on the part of those +who witnessed it.</p> +<p>Inez was almost a spoiled child from the indulgence +shown her by every one with whom she came in contact. +She distrusted no one, because she had never +had any reason to do so. It was night when the officers +of the schooner were rowed back, and those who +had seen Inez taken away did not observe that the +boat returned without her. Holding no thought of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +anything wrong, they gave no further attention to the +strange sailor.</p> +<p>The moment Captain Strathmore learned these +facts, he caused an abrupt change to be made in the +course of the <i>Polynesia</i>. For he was determined that +no effort should be spared to recover the lost child, +who had so endeared herself to every one on board the +steamer.</p> +<p>The precise point where the accident had befallen +the shaft was recorded on the log, as a matter of +course, and it was within the power of the chief officer +to return wonderfully close to that spot. If the +schooner <i>Coral</i> should remain anywhere in that latitude +and longitude, she could be found and Inez +recovered.</p> +<p>“But it is not likely the schooner is near there,” reflected +Captain Strathmore, as he swept the horizon +with his glass and failed to catch sight of a sail. +“They could not have taken away the child ignorantly, +and instead of remaining there or attempting to find +us, the captain has headed in some direction which is +not the one he named, as if by accident, when he was +aboard.”</p> +<p>The captain was in that mood that it would have +been dangerous for him to come upon the daring +thieves. He could conceive of no explanation that +would relieve them from his wrath, and as the steamer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +described a huge curve in the sea and headed toward +the point where he hoped to gain sight of the sail, full +steam was put on, and she ran at a rate of speed +which, in the condition of her shaft, was certainly +dangerous to a high degree.</p> +<p>It may be said there was not a heart on board the +<i>Polynesia</i> that did not share in the general anxiety, +and there was scarcely an eye that did not scan the +broad ocean again and again in the hope of catching +sight of the schooner.</p> +<p>Several sails were descried in the course of the day, +but not one was that of the <i>Coral</i>, and when the night +descended not only had there been a complete failure, +but the captain was convinced that it was useless for +him to delay the steamer by hunting further.</p> +<p>With an angry and sad heart he gave over the +search, and the <i>Polynesia</i> was headed once more toward +the far-off imperial Japanese city of Tokio.</p> +<p>“I would give a thousand dollars to know what it +all means,” said Captain Strathmore, as he stood on +the bridge debating the matter with himself. “There +is something about the whole business which I don’t +understand. In the first place, Inez came under my +charge in an extraordinary way. I don’t believe that +that man who brought her down to the wharf told the +truth, and I very much doubt whether the parents of +the little one have ever been in Japan. She may have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +been stolen from some one, and this means has been +resorted to in order to get her out of the way. I wish +I had questioned her more closely,” continued the +perplexed captain, following up the train of thought, +“for she let drop an expression or two now and then +that showed she had some remembrances which it +would have been interesting to call up. It’s too late +now,” added the old sailor, with a sigh, “and probably +I shall never see her again. She had nestled down +into that spot in my heart which was left vacant many +weary years ago, when my own Inez died and my only +boy became as one dead, and there is no sacrifice I +would not make would it but bring this one back to +me. It is curious, but the feeling is strong upon me +that somewhere at some time we shall meet again.”</p> +<p>“Port your helm!”</p> +<p>This was the startling order which the quartermaster +sent to the wheel-house at that moment, and which +was obeyed with as much promptness as is possible +on such a gigantic craft as an ocean steamer.</p> +<p>The night, for a rarity, was dark and misty, a peculiar +fog resting upon the water, and shutting out +the view in every direction. It would seem that there +could be little danger of a collision on the broad bosom +of the mightiest ocean of the globe, but there must always +be a certain ratio of danger, and none realized +this more than Captain Strathmore.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span></div> +<p>The <i>Polynesia</i> had been running at half speed ever +since the sun went down, and her whistle blew at +irregular intervals. At the moment the startling order +was communicated to the man at the wheel, the +lights of another steamer were discerned directly +ahead. And these were scarcely observed when the +mountainous hull loomed up to view in appalling +proximity, and a cold shudder ran through every officer +and sailor at the sight, for there was just a single +second or two when it seemed certain that the two +crafts would come together with an earthquake shock +and such an irresistible momentum as would crash +the two prodigious hulls to splinters, and send the +crews and passengers to join the multitudes who have +gone before them to the bottom of the sea.</p> +<p>Signals and commands were rapidly exchanged, and +the slight misunderstanding which existed between the +two steamers at first was quickly removed. The +shouts and orders, the tinkling of the engineer’s bell, +and even the sound of hurrying feet, were heard on +one ship as distinctly as on the other.</p> +<p>Most fortunately the officers of each were sensible +men, who enforced discipline, and who, therefore, did +not lose their heads when sudden peril came upon +them.</p> +<p>There was desperate need of haste on the part of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +all, but the haste was intelligent, and something was +accomplished.</p> +<p>The stranger instantly reversed her screw, while the +<i>Polynesia</i> was equally prompt in her backward movement. +They escaped by a chance so narrow that it +was terrifying. The bow of the <i>Polynesia</i> grazed the +side of the stranger as they passed upon their diagonal +courses, and every one on the two ships who understood +the dreadful peril drew a deep breath and uttered +a prayer of thankfulness when it swept by, and +the two steamers vanished from each other’s sight in +the misty darkness.</p> +<p>The engineer of the <i>Polynesia</i> was signaled to go +forward again, and the screw was started; but, if the +one who uttered the order had forgotten the contingency +against which they had been warned, the one +who executed that order had not, and he gave the engine +just enough steam to start the shaft.</p> +<p>As he did so, listening intently the meanwhile, he +heard an ominous crunching, grinding and jarring +in the after hold, and he knew too well what it meant. +He instantly shut off steam, and with the captain +hastened to make the investigation. As they feared, +the broken shaft had been wrenched apart again, and +it looked as if it were injured beyond repair.</p> +<p>But what man has done, man can do, and the ingenious +recourse of Abe Storms was resorted to again. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +With great care the fractured pieces were reunited +and bound, but the task was, in reality, harder than +before, since the terrific grinding and wrenching to +which it had been subjected broke off much of the corrugated +surface.</p> +<p>The work was completed after many long hours of +hard work, and once more the <i>Polynesia</i> started slowly +under steam for the strange island-empire of Asia. +This unexpected delay, as the reader will see, doubtless +had much to do with the failure of the schooner +to find the steamer, since it threw out all possibility of +calculating where the larger craft could be.</p> +<p>“Now, if we have no more vessels trying to run into +us,” muttered the captain, as he resumed his place on +the bridge, “we stand a chance of reaching Japan +after all, without calling on our sails to help us.”</p> +<p>But, standing at his post, with everything going +well, his thoughts naturally reverted to the strange +mischance by which little Inez Hawthorne was lost to +him.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe Captain Bergen or his mate, Abe +Storms, would knowingly take off the child in that +fashion, though the girl was enough to tempt any one +to steal her. There is something about the whole business +which I don’t understand. We ought to have +found each other, though, if he is still hunting for me. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +This second breakage of the shaft will tend to keep us +apart.”</p> +<p>The long voyage of the steamer to Japan terminated +without any incident worth the recording, and Captain +Strathmore naturally became anxious to meet the +parents of Inez, though sorrowing very much over the +story he would be forced to tell them. But no one +appeared at Tokio to claim the child, and the wondering +captain proceeded to make inquiries.</p> +<p>It was easy to obtain from the church authorities +a list of the names of the Christian missionaries in +Japan, and they were scanned carefully by the captain, +who was given such assistance by the officials +themselves that there could be no mistake. Among +them was no one by the name of Hawthorne. It was +plain then that deception had been used when the man +in San Francisco declared that the parents of Inez +were missionaries in Japan.</p> +<p>As day after day passed and the steamer <i>Polynesia</i> +was gradually prepared for her return voyage to California, +there was one strong, harrowing conviction +which forced itself upon the distressed captain:</p> +<p>“Had Inez not been stolen from the steamer, no one +would have come to claim her, and she would have +been mine.”</p> +<p>His heart thrilled at the thought of how close he +had come to obtaining such a priceless prize for his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +possession, and then he added, as if to cheer himself:</p> +<p>“Never mind; the earth is far and wide. She is +alive somewhere upon its face, and at some time, at +heaven’s own pleasure, she and I shall meet again.”</p> +<p>Brave and rugged Captain Strathmore! Was the +spirit of prophecy upon you when you muttered the +cheering words?</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_THE_REASON_WHY_THE_VOYAGE_WAS_UNDERTAKEN' id='CHAPTER_VII_THE_REASON_WHY_THE_VOYAGE_WAS_UNDERTAKEN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>THE REASON WHY THE VOYAGE WAS UNDERTAKEN</h3> +</div> +<p>At this point it is necessary that the reader should +be made acquainted with what has been only hinted +up to this point. We mean the reason why it was that +the little schooner <i>Coral</i>, under the charge of Captain +Bergen and Abram Storms, the mate, was on the Pacific +Ocean, voyaging toward the South Seas.</p> +<p>The skipper was fond of telling the strange story, +and the mate heard it many times, as repeated to him +one stormy night, around the roaring fire of Captain +Bergen’s hearthstone in New England. It ran thus:</p> +<p>“You see, Abe, I was going down Washington +Street, in Boston, one day, when I came upon a +drunken sailor, who was suffering a terrible beating +at the hands of a couple of land-sharks, that were +were evidently determined to rob him, if they had +not already done so.</p> +<p>“It r’iled my blood to see such scandalous proceedings +going on, and I sailed in.</p> +<p>“Then I helped pick up Jack tar, and he was taken +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +to the hospital, where his wounds were found to be of +a dangerous nature. His assailants were so badly +hurt that they went to the hospital, and when they +came out they were shifted to the penitentiary, where +they’re likely to stay for a good many years to come.</p> +<p>“Having taken the part of Bill Grebbens, as he told +me his name was, I called at the hospital to see him +every day, for I wasn’t busy just then. The poor fellow +was very grateful for the service I had done him, +though sad to say I was too late.</p> +<p>“Bill had been on such a terrible spree that his system +wasn’t in condition to resist disease, and before +long it was plain he was going to make a die of it. +He was a plucky fellow, and when the doctor told him +he had to go, he didn’t weaken.</p> +<p>“Just before he died, he took me by the hand, and +told me he hadn’t a living relative in the world, nor +one who had been such a friend to him as I had proved +to be. By that time my own eyes were getting misty, +and I begged him to say nothing about it.</p> +<p>“I told him I would see that he had a decent burial, +and would attend to anything he wanted me to do. He +said there wasn’t anything, for it could make no difference +to him what became of his body after his +death, and for his part he would as lief the doctors +should have it.</p> +<p>“However, he took this paper from under his pillow +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +and showed it to me, and told me all about it. I +thought at first his mind was wandering, but I soon +saw that his head was level, and he knew what he was +talking about.”</p> +<p>The paper which Captain Bergen produced at this +point of his narrative was covered with some well-executed +drawings, which, having been done by the +sailor himself, showed that he was a man of education.</p> +<p>“Those dots there represent the King George +Islands of the South Pacific, lying in about fifteen +degrees south latitude and one hundred and forty-three +degrees west longitude. To the north here is +Mendina Archipelago, and here to the east are the +Paumotu Islands, sometimes known as the Pearl +Islands. There are a good many of them, and away +to the northeast of the group is another island, which, +although much the larger on the map, is really a small +coral island, with a lagoon, and so unimportant that +it has no name, and cannot be found on any map I +ever saw.</p> +<p>“You will observe the figure and directions marked +on this paper,” added Captain Bergen, who invariably +became excited at this point in his narration, “which, +with his explanations, are so easily understood that +no one can go astray.</p> +<p>“Well, Bill Grebbens once belonged to a party of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +mutineers of a British vessel, who found it growing so +hot for them that they put in to this island, scuttled +and sunk their ship, and lived there two years. It was +uninhabited, and they led a lazy, vagabond life in +that charming climate till a strange sort of sickness +broke out among them and carried off eight, leaving +only Grebbens and a single shipmate.</p> +<p>“These two spent several months longer in wandering +about the island looking for and yet dreading to +see a sail, when one day they discovered a bed of +pearl-oysters, which they examined and found to be of +surpassing richness. The majority of the shells contained +pearls, many of them of great size, and the two +men saw that an immense fortune lay only a few +fathoms under the surface.</p> +<p>“They instantly set to work with great eagerness; +but it is seldom that a man obtains wealth in this +world by walking over a path of roses.</p> +<p>“Within the first half-hour, a huge man-eating +shark glided into the clear water, and with one snap of +his enormous jaws actually bit the body of the other +sailor in two. The horrified Grebbens managed to get +out just in time to save himself.</p> +<p>“He had enough of pearl-diving, and he shudderingly +turned his back upon the spot, and began looking +out to sea again for a sail, determined now to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +leave, no matter if he should be carried to England +and executed.</p> +<p>“He managed to set up the topmast of the wreck, +and to catch the attention of a whaler a few days +later, and was taken off. Before going, however, he +made a careful drawing of the place, and by studying +other charts on the American whaler which took him +away he was able to locate the island with such correctness +that he could return to it at any time, his intention, +of course, being to do so at some period when +he could go provided with means to prosecute his +search without such frightful risk.</p> +<p>“But Bill never saw the time, for he was too fond +of liquor when ashore. He met his death just as I +told you, and he gave me this chart or map of the +locality, telling me that a fortune lay at that point +where my finger is resting to whosoever should go +after it.”</p> +<p>Such was the story of Captain Bergen, as he related +it to his friend, Abe Storms, to whom he proposed +that they should fit out an expedition to go to +the South Seas in quest of the fortune that awaited +them in the shape of pearls.</p> +<p>Abe was slower and more deliberate, but he finally +fell in with the scheme, and the two, as we have already +stated, became joint partners in the grand +enterprise.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></div> +<p>Both were frugal men, and they now decided to invest +all their funds in the scheme, which promised to +make or break them. Instead of sailing from the port +of Boston, they took an important cut “across lots” by +going by rail to San Francisco, thus saving the longest +and most dangerous portion of the voyage, which +otherwise would be necessary. In San Francisco, at +a sale of bankrupt property, they bought the schooner, +which has already been described, and shipped their +crew.</p> +<p>The wonder was that two men possessing the +shrewdness of Storms and Bergen should have been +so deceived respecting their men.</p> +<p>Hyde Brazzier was an American sailor, with +blotched, bleared face, with one eye gone, while over +the sunken, sightless cavity he wore a green patch, his +face covered by a scraggly beard, and his single eye, +small and deep-set, added to the sinister expression of +his countenance.</p> +<p>He had the reputation of being a good seaman, and +undoubtedly he was, and being strong and vigorous, +in the prime of life, he was considered an especially +valuable man to Captain Bergen, who paid him five +dollars more per month than he expected.</p> +<p>Since Captain Bergen had pursued a rather original +course from the beginning, he continued to do so. +He engaged his men without any help from the shipping-master, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +and had hardly reached an understanding +with the American when Alfredo Redvignez put +in an appearance and applied for a berth, saying that +he had heard the best kinds of accounts of the captain’s +seamanship and humanity––even in far-away +Boston.</p> +<p>Redvig––so called for convenience––said that he +had been employed in the East India trade, and was +a sailor of nearly twenty years’ experience. It struck +both Captain Bergen and Mate Storms that, as they +were going to the tropics, he was likely to prove a useful +man, and he was engaged.</p> +<p>The captain ventured to ask Brazzier’s opinion of +the other sailor, but the American said he had never +heard of him before––though he liked the cut of his +jib, and was glad he had been hired. But had any one +been watching the faces of the American and Spaniard, +he would have detected several suspicious signals +which passed between them; and this, added to the +fact that, in a very short time, they became intimately +acquainted, as may be said, looked as if there had been +deception on that point.</p> +<p>The fact was, the two had arranged the matter beforehand, +so as to go together in this business––somewhat +on the same principle that their employers entered +into partnership. They were both serving under +assumed names, and were obliged to take no little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +precaution to keep their identity concealed, for they +were “wanted” for serious crimes in more than one +port.</p> +<p>Redvig was a small, swarthy, muscular man, with +coal-black, curling hair, short, curly beard and mustache, +black eyes, with an aquiline nose, and both he +and Brazzier had a fashion of wearing small gold +ear-rings. Their arms and breast were plentifully +tattooed, so that but for the great exception of their +evil dispositions, they might well have passed for good +specimens of the proverbial Jack tar.</p> +<p>It was different with the huge colored man, Pomp +Cooper, who had been known about the wharves of +San Francisco for a number of years. He was jolly +and good-natured, possessed of prodigious strength, +and had been on shipboard enough to acquire a fair +knowledge of navigating a coasting vessel.</p> +<p>While many believed he possessed the proverbial +loyalty of his race, and could not be induced to commit +any grave crime, yet it must be admitted that +there were ugly rumors afloat concerning him. It +was asserted by more than one that he was a river and +harbor pirate, and belonged to one of the worst gangs +that ever infested the harbor of San Francisco.</p> +<p>While Captain Bergen was not ignorant of these +rumors, yet he placed no credence in them, and believed +Pomp to be one of the most valuable men he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +could obtain. Such in brief was the crew of the +<i>Coral</i>, when she sailed on her long voyage to the South +Seas, in quest of pearls––the location of which had +been given by the dying sailor in the Boston hospital.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_VOYAGING_SOUTHWARD' id='CHAPTER_VIII_VOYAGING_SOUTHWARD'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>VOYAGING SOUTHWARD</h3> +</div> +<p>It was certainly very wonderful that little Inez +Hawthorne should have been transferred from the +steamer to the schooner, and that many hours should +have passed before the discovery was made by the +respective captains of the craft.</p> +<p>Yet such was the fact, and Captain Bergen and +Mate Storms had no sooner learned the real situation +than Hyde Brazzier was sent for to tell how it occurred. +As he was the one who rowed the small boat, +there could be no doubt that he knew. The story he +told was the true one, with the exception of the supplement––that +he actually forgot about the little girl +after she went into the cabin and fell asleep.</p> +<p>It was impossible, it may be said, that such could +be the fact, and the officers looked knowingly at each +other. They knew he was falsifying, but they made +no comment, except to declare that she must be taken +back to the steamer without an hour’s delay.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen learned from Inez that she had no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +relatives on board the steamer, and she did not show +any special distress over being where she was. But, +for all that, the honest New Englander felt that she +should be restored, and he immediately took every +means for doing so.</p> +<p>His supposition was that she would be speedily +missed from the <i>Polynesia</i>, which would at once make +search for the schooner. Accordingly, the <i>Coral</i> was +headed northwest, under all sail, the sun just rising +at the time this change of course was made.</p> +<p>“The steamer will go so much faster than we,” said +the captain, “that there is no possibility of overhauling +her, unless her shaft should give out again.”</p> +<p>“There’s no danger of that. More likely she’ll +turn about and look for us.”</p> +<p>As the sun climbed the heavens, the horizon was +anxiously scanned for some point where the black column +of a steamer’s smokestack could be seen staining +the clear sky. Far away to the northward, a vapor +was observed, which at first was set down as the sight +for which they were searching; but it was soon learned +that it was a peculiarly-formed cloud, resting almost +upon the water.</p> +<p>The upper rigging and sails of possibly an American +whaler were descried a long distance to the northward, +and a full-rigged ship was detected closer in, +and further to the eastward. But no sign of the <i>Polynesia</i> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +was discovered through the powerful binocular +glasses with which Captain Bergen swept the horizon. +There was strong hope, in spite of this, that she would +be seen before sunset, and the <i>Coral</i> held to her course +toward the southwest, not only for that day and night, +but for the two succeeding ones. But it is useless to +dwell upon the search made by the smaller vessel, +which was without the faintest glimmer of success.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen and Mate Storms did their utmost +to undo the wrong act of their sailors, but at the end +of the third day they held an anxious consultation as +to what was the right course left to pursue. They +had given up hope of meeting the <i>Polynesia</i> except +by chasing her all the way to Japan, they having +learned that Tokio was her destination.</p> +<p>Should the <i>Coral</i> follow her there, or first fulfil its +own destiny in the Paumotu Islands? This was the +all-important matter to be settled.</p> +<p>When a man makes a great invention or discovery, +his first dread is that some one else will anticipate him +and gather to himself all the glory and profit. This +had been a constant fear in the case of the captain +and mate of the schooner <i>Coral</i> ever since they began +their preparations for the journey to the South Seas. +It cost them a pang of dread when, therefore, they +headed the schooner about in the hunt for the steamer, +for, as will be readily understood, the apprehension of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +which we have spoken intensifies the nearer one gets +to the goal.</p> +<p>There were other considerations which entered into +the question as to whether they should go on or turn +about. Inez Hawthorne had, as might have been expected, +adapted herself to her new position as passenger +on the schooner, and ran hither and thither at +will, just as she did on the <i>Polynesia</i>, and she climbed +all over the captain and mate, as if they were Captain +Strathmore and his officer, or some of the passengers.</p> +<p>She occasionally expressed a longing to see the +grizzled old sea-captain, whom she called her second, +or new “papa,” but there was no one else for whom +she particularly longed. Her affection was distributed +so equally and spontaneously that among several +hundred it could not be very profound. Only in the +case of the brave old Captain Strathmore was it deep +and steadfast.</p> +<p>It would delay the voyage to the Pearl Islands not +for weeks, but for months, to sail away to Asia, and +then turn about and put back to the southern seas, +and during that interval what might not take place? +What assurance could there be that the precious pearl-bed +would not be devastated?</p> +<p>With the plans which Abe Storms had perfected +on the way from home, it was believed that a week’s +time after their arrival at their destination would be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +sufficient to make them enormously wealthy, and thus +the voyage which they would afterward take to Japan +would be delayed only a month or two, perhaps. Furthermore, +the parents and friends of Inez would +have every reason to believe she was in safe hands, +and would soon be restored to them. All these were +weighty considerations, it must be confessed, and they +decided the question.</p> +<p>“We have done all that can be done,” said Captain +Bergen, standing at the stern with his hand upon +the wheel, while Abe Storms, thoughtfully smoking +his pipe, was at his elbow, with his arms folded and +his eyes gazing dreamily toward the western horizon, +where the sun was about to dip into the ocean.</p> +<p>“I agree with you,” was the reply of his mate, who +was as conscientious in everything he did as was the +captain. “I consider that the chance is as one in a +thousand that we shall meet the steamer this side of +Tokio, and if we undertake to follow, we shall lose +several months of most precious time, without accomplishing +any commensurate good. The child is contented +and happy here.”</p> +<p>As if to emphasize this assertion, the laugh of Inez +was heard at that moment as she came bounding up +the steps of the cabin, and ran toward the bow, where +the giant negro, Pomp, was leaning against the gunwale, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +his arms also folded, and an expression of contentment +upon his broad, shiny countenance.</p> +<p>The instant he caught sight of Inez his face lighted +up and his white, even teeth were displayed with +pleasure, as she ran toward him.</p> +<p>It was singular, indeed, that, ever since her first +awaking on board the <i>Coral</i>, Inez had shown not a +positive dislike of Redvig and Brazzier, but what may +be called a lack of friendship toward them. She was +trusting and loving to Pomp and the two officers, but +it was evident that she avoided the others. Possibly +she could not have told the reason had she tried, and +it is equally possible that she was not aware of it herself. +But every one else on board saw it plainly.</p> +<p>When two men in authority talk as did the captain +and mate of the schooner <i>Coral</i>, the conclusion is inevitable. +The decision was made to go on to the Paumotu +Islands, after which the voyage would be made +to Japan, and, alas! that it was so.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_GROPING_IN_THE_DARK' id='CHAPTER_IX_GROPING_IN_THE_DARK'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>GROPING IN THE DARK</h3> +</div> +<p>Life on board the schooner <i>Coral</i>, bound for the +South Seas, now became like one delightful dream.</p> +<p>The sails, fanned by the steady trade-wind, hardly +ever required attention, since the course of the craft +never varied more than a few points for days at a +time, and whoever it was at the wheel, he might as +well have lashed it fast and gone to sleep, for all the +necessity there was of keeping awake.</p> +<p>There had been some elemental disturbances which +required seamanship to weather, but nothing like that +usually encountered in the Atlantic. But there came +a long spell of weather, faultless in every respect, and +whose only drawback was the dread that each day +would be the last of such delight. The sun rose clear +and bright, and at high noon, as they approached the +equator, it was sometimes hot, but the breeze which +continually swept the deck tempered it to the crew +and passenger. Had they been caught in a calm the +heat would have been suffocating; but Providence +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +favored them, and they sped along like a seagull toward +their destination. There seemed to be times +when the green surface of the sea was at perfect rest; +but the regular rising and sinking of the <i>Coral</i> showed +that the bosom of the great deep was heaving as it always +does, though the long swells came only at extended +intervals.</p> +<p>The water was of crystalline clearness, and, looking +over the gunwale, one could see far into the depths, +where strange-looking fish were sporting, sometimes +coming to the surface and then shooting far down beyond +the reach of human vision. Now and then, too, +as little Inez leaned over the side of the vessel and +peered downward, she caught sight of something like +a shadow, gliding hither and thither, apparently without +the slightest effort to keep pace with the schooner, +which was bowling along at a rapid rate. It was one +of those monstrous sharks, that will snap a man in +two as quickly as if he were but an apple, should he +fall overboard.</p> +<p>Not a day passed without descrying one or more +sails at varying distances, but our friends did not hail +or approach any. Both Captain Bergen and Mate +Storms were in a nervous condition, and were morbidly +apprehensive of being anticipated by some one +in dredging for the invaluable pearl-oysters. They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +were afraid their errand would be suspected, or they +would be attacked after they should secure their prize.</p> +<p>One day, under the pretense of wanting medicine, +Hyde Brazzier suddenly appeared at the cabin door. +The mate and captain were, as usual, studying the +chart, and while the mate was ransacking the medicine +chest for the drug, that single eye of the sailor +secured five minutes’ sharp scrutiny of the all-important +map.</p> +<p>Redvignez and Brazzier were not much together, +as a matter of course, for one was in the captain’s +watch and the other in the mate’s, but during the +long, pleasant days and nights when they were voyaging +toward the South Seas, they obtained many +opportunities for confidential talks. All this might +have been in the natural order of things on board the +schooner, where the discipline was not strict, but Abe +Storms had become pretty well satisfied that harm +was meant, and mischief was brewing. He saw it in +the looks and manner of these two men, who, while +they were watching others, did not suspect they were +watched in turn.</p> +<p>About Pomp he was not so certain. The steward +and cook seemed to be on good terms with the two +sailors, and he frequently sat with them as they +formed a little group forward, on the bright moonlight +nights, when they preferred to sit thus and smoke +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +and spin yarns to going below and catching slumber, +when it was their privilege to do so.</p> +<p>“I believe he is in with them,” was the conclusion +which Storms, the mate, finally reached, after watching +and listening as best he could for several days. +“They’re hatching some conspiracy––most likely a +mutiny to take possession of the ship. Captain Bergen +doesn’t suspect it––he is so absorbed in the pearl +business; and I’ll let him alone for the present, +though it may be best to give him a hint or two to +keep him on his guard.”</p> +<p>It never can be known what the restraining power +of little Inez Hawthorne was on board that vessel on +her extraordinary voyage to the Paumotu Islands, in +the South Seas. She lived over again the same life +that was hers during the few days spent on the <i>Polynesia</i>. +She ran hither and thither, climbing into dangerous +places at times, but with such grace and command +of her limbs that she never once fell or even lost +her balance. She chatted and laughed with Brazzier +and Redvig, but she preferred the others, and showed +it so plainly in her manner, that, unfortunately, the +two could not avoid noticing it.</p> +<p>“See here,” said Captain Bergen, one evening while +sitting in the cabin with the child on his knee, “I want +you to try and think hard and answer me all the questions +I ask you. Will you?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></div> +<p>“Of course I will, if you don’t ask too hard ones.”</p> +<p>“Well, I will be easy as I can. You have told me +all about the big steamer that you were on when we +found you, and you said that you lived with your +Uncle Con in San Francisco, and that it was he and +your Aunt Jemima that put you on board.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t say any such thing!” indignantly protested +Inez. “I haven’t got any Aunt Jemima––it +was my Aunt Letitia.”</p> +<p>The captain and mate smiled, for a little piece of +strategy had succeeded. They had never before got +the girl to give the name of her aunt, though she +mentioned that of her uncle. But she now spoke it, +her memory refreshed by the slight teasing to which +she was subjected.</p> +<p>“That’s very good. I’m glad to learn that your +uncle and aunt had two such pretty names as Con and +Letitia Bumblebee.”</p> +<p>“Ain’t you ashamed of yourself?” demanded Inez, +turning upon him with flashing eyes. “I never heard +of such a funny name as that.”</p> +<p>“I beg pardon. What, then, is their name?”</p> +<p>The little head was bent and the fair brow wrinkled +with thought. She had tried the same thing before, +though it must be believed that she could not have +tried very hard, or she would not have failed to remember +the name of those with whom she lived but a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +short time before. But she used her brain to its utmost +now, and it did not take her long to solve the +question. In a few seconds she looked up and laughed.</p> +<p>“Of course I know their name. It was Hermann, +though he sometimes called himself George Smith.”</p> +<p>“The other sounds German,” remarked Storms, in +a lower voice. “Go ahead and get all you can from +her.”</p> +<p>“How long did you live with them?”</p> +<p>“Let me see,” said Inez, as she turned her lustrous +blue eyes toward the roof of the cabin, as if she expected +to read the answer there. “I guess it was about +two––three hundred years.”</p> +<p>She was in earnest, and Storms observed:</p> +<p>“She must be a little off on that; but take another +tack.”</p> +<p>The captain did so.</p> +<p>“Do you remember living with any one excepting +your Uncle George and Aunt Letitia?”</p> +<p>Inez thought hard again, and replied, after a few +seconds:</p> +<p>“I don’t know. Sometimes he was Uncle George +and sometimes Uncle Con. We lived in the city a +good while, where there were, oh, such lots of houses! +but there was a time before that when we come such +a long, long way in the cars. We rode and rode, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +I guess we must have come from the moon, for we was +ten years on the road.”</p> +<p>“Do you remember what sort of looking place the +moon was?”</p> +<p>“It was just like San Francisco––that is, it was +full of houses.”</p> +<p>The officers looked at each other with a smile, and +the mate said:</p> +<p>“It’s plain enough what that means. She has come +from New York, over the Union Pacific, and her trip +was probably the longest of her life.”</p> +<p>“Do you remember your father and mother?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” said Inez, with a look of perplexity +on her young face which it was not pleasant to see. +“Sometimes I remember or dream of them, before we +took such a long ride on the cars. My mother used to +hold me on her lap and kiss me, and so did my father, +and then there was crying, and something dreadful +happened in the house, and then I can’t remember +anything more until I was on the cars.”</p> +<p>“It may be all right,” said Captain Bergen to his +mate, “for this could occur without anything being +amiss.”</p> +<p>“It is possible; but I have a conviction that there is +something wrong about the whole business. I believe, +in short, that the person who placed her on board +the steamer <i>Polynesia</i> had no claim upon her at all.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></div> +<p>“That, in fact, the man stole her?”</p> +<p>“That’s it, exactly; and still further, I don’t believe +she has any father or mother in Japan, and that +if we had gone thither we should have lost all the time +and accomplished nothing.”</p> +<p>“It may be, Abe, that you are right,” said the +captain, who held a great admiration for his mate, +“but I must say you can build a fraud and conspiracy +on the smallest foundation of any man I ever knew. +But, Abe, you may be right, I say, and if you are, +it’s just as well that we didn’t go on a fool’s errand +to Tokio, after all.”</p> +<p>“The truth will soon be known, captain.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_THE_MUTINEERS' id='CHAPTER_X_THE_MUTINEERS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>THE MUTINEERS</h3> +</div> +<p>A few degrees south of the equator, the schooner +<i>Coral</i> ran into a tempest of such fury that with all +the skilful seamanship of her captain and crew, and +the admirable qualities of the schooner itself, she narrowly +escaped foundering.</p> +<p>There were two days when she was in such imminent +peril that not an eye was closed in slumber, excepting +in the case of little Inez Hawthorne, who felt +the situation only to the extent that it compelled her +to stay close in the cabin, while the vessel pitched and +tossed from the crest of one tremendous billow, down, +seemingly, into the fathomless depths between, and +then laboriously climbed the mountain in front, with +the spray and mist whirling about the deck and rigging +like millions of fine shot. But the gallant <i>Coral</i> +rode it out safely, and the steady breeze caught her +and she sped swiftly in the direction of the Pearl +Islands.</p> +<p>The little girl had run hither and thither, until, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +tired out, she had flung herself upon the berth in the +cabin, where she was sleeping soundly, while the captain +was doing the same; Abe Storms, the mate, being +on deck at the wheel. It was yet early in the evening, +and Hyde Brazzier and Alfredo Redvignez were sitting +close together, forward, smoking their pipes and +conversing in low tones. The breeze was almost directly +abeam, so that the sails carried the craft along +at a rapid rate, the water foaming and curling from +the bow, while the rising and sinking of the schooner +on the enormous swells were at such long intervals as +almost to be imperceptible. As far as the eye could +extend in every direction, no glimpse of a sail or light +could be perceived, nor had any been observed through +the day, which confirmed what Bill Grebbens, the +sailor in the Boston hospital, said, to the effect that, +despite the location of the Paumotu Islands, the approach +to them from the direction of California took +one in a section where the sails of commerce were +rarely seen.</p> +<p>The captain and mate had been consulting their +chart, and had taken their reckoning more frequently +and with greater care than ever before. The conclusion +at which they arrived was that they were already +south of the northernmost island of the Paumotu +group, and were close to the Coral Island, along +whose shore were to be found the precious pearls +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +which were to make them all, or rather the two, +wealthy.</p> +<p>“It’s a curious business,” reflected Abe Storms, +while holding the wheel motionless. “When I consider +the matter fairly, I don’t see why the expedition +should not succeed. But it is so different from the +coasting business, in which the captain and I have +been engaged for years, that it is hard to believe +we’re going to make anything out of it.”</p> +<p>He listened a minute to the murmur of the voices +forward, and then he added, pursuing the same train +of thought:</p> +<p>“What an extraordinary thing it is that we should +have this little girl for a passenger! Suppose we +carry her back to Tokio after this pearl hunt, and fail +to find her parents?”</p> +<p>He took but a minute to consider the question, +when he answered:</p> +<p>“It can never make any difference to Inez herself, +for her sweet face and winning ways will secure her +a welcome and a home in a hundred different places.”</p> +<p>While the mate was indulging in these fancies and +reveries, Brazzier and Redvignez were holding an important +conference forward.</p> +<p>“I’m sure we won’t have much further to sail,” observed +the Spaniard, with a slightly broken accent. +“We’re in the latitude of the Paumotus.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></div> +<p>“Have you ever been there?” asked his companion.</p> +<p>“No; but I know something about them, and then +you had a glimpse of the chart, which they’re continually +looking at, and I’m certain from what you said +that the particular spot we’re after isn’t far off.”</p> +<p>“I conclude you’re right, more from the way they’re +acting than anything else. I wish I could get hold of +that chart.”</p> +<p>“What would you do?” asked Redvignez, with a +significant side-glance at his companion.</p> +<p>“What would I do? Why, I wouldn’t wait––that’s +all.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see as it will make much difference,” said +the other, in the most matter-of-fact voice, as he +coolly puffed his pipe. “We might as well take them +there and make sure of the spot, before we knock them +in the head.”</p> +<p>Brazzier gave a contemptuous sniff and a vicious +puff of his pipe, and remarked:</p> +<p>“Did you ever see two such fools, Redvig?” He +continued, with mock solemnity: “Beware of the +temptations of wealth. Behold those two specimens, +who have come all the way from Boston to fish for +pearls in the Paumotu Islands. Some old sailor had +the secret, and told the captain about it, and he has +told his friend, and they have formed a partnership +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +and hired us to go with them to dredge up the +oysters.”</p> +<p>“What is there so foolish in all that?” asked the +Spaniard, with a grin, which showed his white teeth +in the moonlight.</p> +<p>“Nothing; for you or I would have done the same +had we been placed in their shoes. But we would +have shown more sense than they. They believe we do +not suspect what their business is; and yet we both +understand the whole thing. Here we are within a +few hours’ sail of the spot, and what’s to be done?”</p> +<p>The Spaniard indulged in a light laugh, and +replied:</p> +<p>“To think that we should consent to take twenty-five +dollars a month, while they scooped in their thousands––their +millions––it strikes me sometimes as the +greatest joke I ever heard. But, Brazzier, the best +plan is for us to be good boys, and go on to the island +and help take up the pearls; for then we shall be sure +of the right spot, and there shall be no mistake; +whereas, if we should take possession now, we might +miss the place, even with the help of the chart.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know but what you’re right, Redvig, +though it galls me to wait. You know a lot of us took +charge of the <i>Spitfire</i>, and set the captain and first-mate +adrift, off Valparaiso. You were in favor of +waiting, and it was well if we had done so, for we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +came nearer running our necks into the halter that +time than we ever did since, and there wasn’t anything +aboard the old hulk that was worth the saving.”</p> +<p>“But what about Pomp?” asked Redvig, in a +half-whisper, and with an accent which showed that +he considered the question of the highest importance. +“Is he all right?”</p> +<p>“You needn’t have any fear about him. I had a +long talk with him last night, and we shook hands on +the question.”</p> +<p>The negro was an important factor in this business, +for, a giant in stature and strength, whichever side he +precipitated himself and his prowess upon was sure to +win––judging from the ordinary human standpoint.</p> +<p>Pomp, as we have hinted further back, was not an +African with a perfectly clear record. The rumors +about his belonging to a gang of river pirates in San +Francisco were correct, and he had been engaged in +some deeds which were of a character that the law +puts the severest ban upon. He was known to be daring, +and possessed such prodigious power, united to +activity, that, beyond a doubt, if he were placed upon +an even footing, he could have conquered the captain, +mate and the two sailors, without any special effort +upon his own part.</p> +<p>The importance of his declaring himself can therefore +be understood. He was a far better man than +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +either of the two Caucasians, who hesitated about +approaching him. As it had to be done, however, the +matter was skilfully broached, after they had left San +Francisco and were sailing southward.</p> +<p>It was agreed by the two mutineers that, if the negro +held off, he was to be gotten rid of by some treachery, +though it was such a serious matter that they hesitated +long as to how it could be safely accomplished. +To their surprise and delight, however, Pomp listened +eagerly to the project and expressed his willingness to +go into it, though he insisted there should be no murdering +done, as he was not base enough at heart to +wish the death of either of the officers.</p> +<p>Brazzier consented; but in doing so he deceived the +negro. A mutiny, such as he contemplated, could +never be carried to a successful conclusion without +disposing finally and forever of the two officers themselves. +If they should be spared, the mutineers would +never be safe. But Pomp was misled from the first, +because it was believed he could be won over before +the time came to strike the blow. Redvignez set himself +very skilfully to do so, for Pomp was ignorant +and exceedingly greedy for wealth. Redvignez began +by telling him of a large number of fictitious mutinies, +in which the mutineers had made their fortunes +and lived happy and respected afterwards, and the +narrator made certain to impress upon the African +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +the fact that the job was rendered a perfect one by +following out the proverb that dead men tell no tales. +Then he incidentally mentioned others in which the +mutineers came to grief, all from the fact that they +allowed themselves to be controlled by a foolish sentiment +of mercy. The evil seed thus sown did not fail +to take root and bring forth its fruit, just as the sower +intended.</p> +<p>These little incidents were multiplied, and by-and-by +Pomp was told that there was but one way in +which to secure the enormous riches that lay in the +little bay in the South Seas, awaiting their coming, +and that was by making themselves complete masters +of the situation. The negro could not mistake the +meaning of this, and, after a feeble opposition, he +gave his assent, and said he would help carry out the +terrible programme, as it had been arranged from the +first.</p> +<p>It was certainly very curious how the coming of little +Inez Hawthorne upon the ship threatened for +awhile to disarrange every plan; but so it was. There +was a time when the better nature of the two evil men +asserted itself, and they began to consider the question +in the light of their awakened consciences; but these +divine monitors were only roused into temporary +wakefulness and speedily dropped asleep again. The +manifest distrust which Inez showed toward them +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +seemed to fill their hearts with the most atrocious feelings, +and neither of them would have hesitated to +fling her overboard, had the opportunity been given. +Incredible as it may seem, it is the fact that they +would have preferred to do so, being restrained by +the simple question of policy. They saw that Pomp +had grown very fond of her, and any such action on +their part might alienate him––a catastrophe which +they were anxious to avert above everything else.</p> +<p>“You say he shook hands with you upon it?” repeated +Redvignez. “What does all that mean?”</p> +<p>“It means that he is with us heart and soul. He +sees the necessity of putting the captain and mate out +of the way, and he will help do it.”</p> +<p>“But what about the little girl––the viper?”</p> +<p>“It was a bad thing for us, Redvig, when we +played that little trick, for I have been ready to despair +more than once, but the remedy is so simple that +I wonder we have not thought of it before.”</p> +<p>“How is that?”</p> +<p>“We will spare her, for Pomp gave me to understand +that on no other conditions would he go into it. +She will be a pleasant playmate for him, and will +help keep him true to us. She is so young and simple-hearted +that we can make her believe that some accident +has befallen the other two, by which they came +to their death, so there will be no danger from anything +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +she ever can tell. When we have gathered in +all the pearls we will set sail for South America. At +Valparaiso or some of the ports we will place the girl +in some convent or school, with enough money to take +care of her, and then we will land at another port, +sell the schooner, divide up the proceeds and separate, +each taking a different route home, if we choose to go +there, and then all we’ll have to do, Redvig, is to +enjoy the wealth which shall be ours.”</p> +<p>“How much do you think it will be?” asked the +Spaniard, with sparkling eyes.</p> +<p>“There is no telling,” was the reply. “I hardly +dare think, but I know it runs into the hundreds of +thousands, and it is not at all impossible that it +touches the millions.”</p> +<p>Redvignez drew a deep breath and his heart gave +a great throb, as would be the case with the most +phlegmatic being who contemplated the near possession +of such vast wealth. Visions of the wild round +of dissipation and excesses in which they would indulge +came up before the two evil men, and it was no +wonder that they were impatient for the hour to come +when they should strike the blow for the prize. Like +the officers, they were so full of the scheme that they +had no desire to sleep; and while the figure of Mr. +Storms was visible at the wheel, and the <i>Coral</i> sped +on to the southward over the calm, moonlit sea, these +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +two men talked about and agreed upon the particulars +of the frightful crime which had been in their +hearts, as may be said, from the moment they hoisted +sail and passed out of San Francisco harbor.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_CAPTAIN_BERGEN_MAKES_TWO_IMPORTANT_DISCOVERIES' id='CHAPTER_XI_CAPTAIN_BERGEN_MAKES_TWO_IMPORTANT_DISCOVERIES'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>CAPTAIN BERGEN MAKES TWO IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES</h3> +</div> +<p>Before the faintest streak of light appeared in the +eastern horizon, Captain Bergen was awake and in the +rigging, with the binocular glasses in his hand.</p> +<p>The most careful computation showed they were in +latitude about 19 south and longitude 140 west. They +had passed to the eastward of the Mendina Archipelago, +catching a glimpse of one of the islands, where +the mate proposed they should touch and obtain some +supplies. But the captain was too eager to push +ahead, and Grebbens had told him that one peculiarity +about the little island which was their destination +was that it contained fresh water, with some tropical +fruit, while there could be no difficulty in catching all +the fish they wished.</p> +<p>Since the island was altogether uninhabited, and +very rarely visited, it would have been a good thing +for the party could the suggestion of the mate have +been carried out. But it was the conviction of Captain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +Bergen that they would not spend more than two +weeks at the fishery––if such it might be called––and, +under the circumstances, it cannot be said he was +imprudent. Steadying himself with one arm about +the mast, the captain stood firmly in his elevated position, +and, as the sun came slowly up and the golden +radiance spread over the sky and sea, he swept the +arch of the horizon to the south, east and west, straining +his keen vision for the first sight of the eagerly-wished-for +land.</p> +<p>“Water, water,” he murmured, despondingly. +“Water everywhere, and no sight of the haven! +Hello!”</p> +<p>His heart gave a great bound, for, just in the edge +of the horizon––at the very point where ocean and +sky met––he saw a dark substance, like a fleecy vapor, +no bigger than a man’s hand.</p> +<p>“It may be a cloud,” said the captain to himself, as +he carefully scrutinized it, “and it may be land; and, +by the great horn spoon, it is land! Land ho!”</p> +<p>“Where away?” called back Storms, from below, +quite confident what the answer would be.</p> +<p>“Two points on the weather-bow.”</p> +<p>The mate headed toward the point indicated, and +then silence reigned for awhile on board, excepting +in the case of Inez, who bounded up on deck, and was +here, there and everywhere.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></div> +<p>The captain was left to himself, for Abe Storms +knew he would come down and report as soon as he +had anything definite; and, in the nature of things, +he could know nothing positive for a considerable +time to come.</p> +<p>As the <i>Coral</i> sped forward––sometimes on the long, +sloping crest of an immense swell, and then again in +the valley between––the captain saw and thought of +nothing else but the little island ahead, which was +slowly rising out of the ocean. He had discovered +that it was circular in shape, quite small, and fringed +with vegetation. This corresponded, in a general way, +with the description given by the sailor in the hospital; +but there are hundreds of other islands in the +South Seas to which the same description will apply, +and it was not impossible that the <i>Coral</i> was many +a long league astray.</p> +<p>“When I was on the island, ten years ago,” said +Grebbens, “I found remains of a ship that had been +wrecked there but a short time before. There was a +portion of the mast, which we managed to erect by +scooping a deep hole in the beach and then packing +the sand about the base. On the top of this we kept +our signal of distress flying, in the hope of catching +the notice of some passing vessel, as was the case after +a long while. It was my jacket which fluttered from +the top of that mast, and the old garment has been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +blown away long ago; but I don’t know any reason +why the pole itself shouldn’t be standing, and if it is, +you will find it on the right of the entrance to the +lagoon.”</p> +<p>The island, it will be understood, was an atoll––that +is, a circular fringe of coral, with a lagoon of the +sea inside which was entered through a comparatively +narrow passage from the ocean. The atoll to which +the old sailor referred was extensive enough to furnish +fresh water and fruit, while at the entrance, and in +other places, there was a sufficient depth of sand to afford +secure “anchorage” for the pole which they +erected. Peering through the spy-glass, Captain Bergen +could see the white line where the sea beat against +the coral shores and was rolled back again in foam. +And while he was gazing, his practiced eye detected a +gap in the line of breakers––that is, a spot where the +white foam did not show itself. This must necessarily +be the opening through which the ocean flowed +into the lagoon within the island. Since it met with +no opposition, it swept inward with a smooth, grand +sweep, which proved that the water was deep and +without any obstruction.</p> +<p>“Suppose he deceived me?”</p> +<p>Captain Bergen asked himself the question while +he was scanning the island.</p> +<p>It was the first time the thought suggested that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +maybe the sailor, dying in the Boston hospital, had +told him an untruth, and such a shuddering, overwhelming +feeling of disappointment came over the +poor fellow at that moment that he grew dizzy and +sick at heart, and came nigh losing his balance.</p> +<p>“No, it cannot be,” he repeated, rallying himself, +with a great effort. “I have a better opinion of human +nature than that.”</p> +<p>His glasses were still pointed in the direction of +the island, and he was peering with an intensity that +was painful at the spot where the dark break in the +foamy breakers showed the entrance to the atoll, when +he detected a black, needle-like column which rose +from the beach at one side of the entrance. It was so +thin that he could not make sure it was not some trick +of his straining vision, and in doubt as to its reality, +he relieved his aching eye by removing the glass for +a moment and looking down on the deck beneath him.</p> +<p>He saw Redvignez and Brazzier standing at the +bow, also gazing toward the island, which was plainly +visible from the deck. They occasionally spoke, but +their tones were so low that no word could be distinguished +by any ears excepting those for which they +were intended. Mr. Storms was at his post, and as +Pomp and Inez were invisible, the conclusion was +inevitable that they were in the cabin, whence issued +the appetizing odor of cooking fish, and where no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +doubt the young lady was receiving the attention +which she expected as her right.</p> +<p>At this instant a peculiar experience came to the +captain of the yacht <i>Coral</i>. A slight flaw in the +breeze, which was bearing the vessel forward, caused +the sails to flap, and must have made a sort of funnel +of one of them for the moment; or rather, as may be +said, it made a temporary whispering gallery of the +deck and rigging of the craft. And being such, it bore +the following ominous words to Captain Bergen, uttered, +as they were, by Hyde Brazzier in a most +guarded undertone:</p> +<p>“We shall be the two richest men in America!”</p> +<p>Captain Bergen was in that state of intense nervous +sensibility in which his perceptions were unnaturally +acute, and he felt, on the instant the words +struck his ear, that they had a frightful meaning.</p> +<p>The two continued their cautious conference, but +the sail favored acoustics no longer, and the listener +did not catch another syllable.</p> +<p>“They mean to kill Abe and me,” he said to himself, +“and run away with the pearls. If they had determined +to be honest men, and we had secured any +particular amount of wealth, they would have been +rewarded liberally. Forewarned is forearmed.”</p> +<p>Captain Bergen was a brave man, and there was no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +fear of his displaying any shrinking in the crisis +which was evidently close at hand.</p> +<p>Once more he raised the glass to his eye and gazed +toward the inlet of the atoll. During the few minutes +that he had spent in looking down upon the deck and +listening, the schooner had made good speed, and the +island was less than a half mile distant. When the +instrument was pointed toward the place, he saw +clearly and unmistakably the figure of the mast standing +beside the inlet, where it had been placed years +before by Grebbens and his companions.</p> +<p>This, then, was Pearl Island, as the New Englanders +had named it; and here it was that the bed of pearl +oysters of fabulous richness was to be found.</p> +<p>Something like a feeling of depression came over +the captain when he realized that the land of promise +had risen on his vision at last. For days, weeks +and months this had been the one absorbing theme of +his mind. He had dreamed of it until he was almost, +if not quite, a monomaniac, and he had built air-castles +until the whole sky of his vision was filled with +gorgeous structures. And it should be added, in justice +to both Bergen and Storms, that these structures +were creditable to the builders; for, realizing in the +fullest sense that about all they could extract personally +from riches was their own board and lodging, +they had perfected a number of colossal schemes for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +benefiting humanity; indeed, charity was the foundation-stone +of all these castles. And now, after these +long months of waiting, he seemed to see the wealth +lying within his grasp, and something like a reaction +came to him.</p> +<p>“Is it worth all this?” he asked himself. “Is the +gain likely to pay for the peril in which we have +placed ourselves?”</p> +<p>Still further, the ominous words which he had +overheard impressed him vividly with the impending +danger in which he and his mate were placed. He saw +now that in taking Brazzier and Redvignez he had +taken two mutineers aboard, and two who, in all probability, +had won the giant African, Pomp, over to +their side.</p> +<p>What was to be the outcome of all this?</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_IN_THE_HAVEN_AT_LAST' id='CHAPTER_XII_IN_THE_HAVEN_AT_LAST'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>IN THE HAVEN AT LAST</h3> +</div> +<p>As Captain Bergen descended the rigging to the +deck of the schooner he was greatly depressed, for the +conviction was strong upon him that in entering this +promised land––as he had sometimes termed the little +circle of coral and earth which he had named Pearl +Island––he would never leave it. The immense +wealth which lay hidden along its coast, awaiting the +coming of some one to gather it, would never be carried +away by those who had already come more than +half-way round the globe to garner it.</p> +<p>As the captain stepped upon deck, Redvignez and +Brazzier respectfully saluted him, and looked as if +they were the most loyal of sailors.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen forced himself to respond to their +salute, and then he walked quietly over to where Abe +stood at the wheel.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you make of it?” asked the mate, in +a low voice.</p> +<p>“It’s the island!” replied Bergen.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span></div> +<p>“Are you sure of it?”</p> +<p>“Yes; there can be no doubt. I made out the landmark +that Grebbens told me would identify it beyond +all question. That’s the mast which they erected on +the shore, close to the inlet. You can see it without +the glass,” added the captain, turning about and looking +in that direction.</p> +<p>Such was the case, and Storms observed it plainly.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, captain?” asked the mate, +bringing his gaze back to the face of his friend, and +scrutinizing him keenly. “You look pale and agitated. +Have your nerves given out after this strain?”</p> +<p>“Abe,” said the captain, in a carefully-guarded +voice, and glancing over his shoulder, “I learned, a +few minutes ago, that those two men forward intend +to mutiny and run away with the pearls.”</p> +<p>“Is that all? Why, I knew that weeks ago!”</p> +<p>“You did?” demanded the astounded captain. +“Why, then, didn’t you tell me?”</p> +<p>“I thought it was better to wait till we reached the +island, by which time their plans were likely to be +more fully developed.”</p> +<p>“That sort of reasoning I don’t understand,” said +the captain, anything but pleased with his mate. “But +never mind about it now. Tell me what you have +learned.”</p> +<p>“Not a great deal more than you have told. Those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +two men, I am satisfied, are old acquaintances, who +have been partners in more than one crime, though +we supposed them strangers at the time we shipped +them; and I have no doubt they began planning our +deaths from the day we sailed out of San Francisco +harbor.”</p> +<p>“What about Pomp?”</p> +<p>“They had a hard time, but they have won him +over, and he is pledged to go with them.”</p> +<p>“And you have tried to gain the good will of +Pomp?”</p> +<p>“I have done my utmost, and have treated him with +unusual leniency, making him many presents, some of +which I gave him to understand came from you. But +they’ve got him, for all that. There’s our greatest +safeguard.”</p> +<p>As the mate spoke, he pointed to Inez, who, at that +moment, came bounding up the steps of the cabin and +ran laughing forward.</p> +<p>“Pomp thinks all the world of her, and she will be +the peacemaker, perhaps.”</p> +<p>“But don’t they like her as well?”</p> +<p>“No; they wouldn’t hesitate any more over killing +her than they would in killing us.”</p> +<p>“The villains!” muttered the horrified captain. “I +never conceived it possible that any human being +could fail to love such beauty and innocence as hers.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></div> +<p>“There is no immediate danger,” said the mate, +somewhat surprised to observe how completely the +discovery had taken possession of the mind of the captain. +“Let’s give our attention now to the business +upon which we came, and there will be time enough +to think of the other matter between now and nightfall.”</p> +<p>Captain Bergen was sorely perplexed, but the circumstances +were such that he was able to follow the +suggestion of his faithful mate. They were now close +to the island, which was of that singular formation so +frequently seen in the Pacific. Countless millions of +tiny insects, toiling through many years, had gradually +lifted the foundations of coral from the depths +of the ocean, until the mass, in the form of a gigantic +ring or horse-shoe, was above the surface. Upon this +had gradually gathered sand, seeds and vegetable matter, +in the usual way, until beneath the tropical sun +and the balmy climate the “desert blossomed like the +rose.” This took a long while, but the process it went +through was similar to that of hundreds of much +larger islands which to-day rest like nosegays upon +the bosom of the vast Pacific.</p> +<p>Among these fruits were the banana, plantain, +breadfruit, and a sort of mango, found in Farther +India, and which, at first disliked, becomes in time a +great favorite with every one. Most singular of all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +was the fact that at two widely-separated points burst +forth a spring of clear, fresh water.</p> +<p>One might well wonder where the supply for this +came from, since the whole island had its foundation +in salt water––but there are many strange distillations +going on at all times in nature’s laboratory beyond the +power of man to fathom.</p> +<p>These were probably stored away in some of the +hidden vaults of the island, and bubbled forth, the +fountain being renewed before the precious contents +were exhausted.</p> +<p>The entrance to the interior was through a deep +passage, toward which Mr. Storms directed the vessel. +As the <i>Coral</i> glided into this “inland sea,” Captain +Bergen took the helm, being as familiar with the +contour of the atoll as if he had spent a dozen years +upon it. He knew where the best anchorage was to be +found, and he headed over toward the eastern shore, +where it was safe to run close enough in to spring +from the deck to the land. He was a good seaman, +and he brought his craft to with as much skill as a +stage-driver brings his team to a halt before the door +of an inn. The anchor was let go at the proper moment, +and the <i>Coral</i> slowly swung at her mooring in +the very position her master desired, both bow and +stern being so close to shore that there would be no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +occasion to use the small boat which is generally +called into requisition on such occasions.</p> +<p>The scenery and situation were peculiar and novel +in the highest degree. These atolls are the natural +harbors of the ocean, and if any vessel can run through +the openings into the calm waters within, she may +ride in safety from the severest tempest.</p> +<p>The water within the lagoon was as calm as the +surface of a mill-pond. On every hand rose the trees +and vegetation so dense that the only portion where a +glimpse of the ocean could be caught was at the entrance, +which, it would seem, the builders of the island +had left on purpose for the ingress and exit of endangered +shipping.</p> +<p>Despite the alarming discovery which Captain Bergen +had made but a short time previous, he carried +out the purpose formed weeks before, and which the +mate urged him to fulfil. The schooner having been +secured in position and everything put in ship-shape +order, he addressed the three men who composed the +crew:</p> +<p>“My friends, when I engaged you to go upon this +voyage, I did not tell you whither, and you may think +it is late in the day to give you such information, now +that we have reached our destination. Some time ago, +before I sailed, I received information that a bed of +oysters existed at a certain portion of this island unusually +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +rich in pearls. It is to obtain them I have +come, and now I wish to say, what I determined to +say from the first, that if you work faithfully, and +give me all the assistance you can, each of you three +shall receive enough to make you rich for life. In an +enterprise of this kind the business is a partnership, +and you shall be liberally treated, provided you prove +worthy.”</p> +<p>During the utterance of these words, both the captain +and the mate carefully watched the faces of the +three men to see the effect produced.</p> +<p>Had the African been alone he would have been +won over, and as it was he turned about in an inquiring +way, and looked toward the two men as if seeking +to see how they took it. Their countenances were +so immobile that he gained no information from the +looks there; but both the officers did. Abe Storms, +especially, was a skilful physiognomist, and that +which he saw convinced him that the speech, coming +as it did, was a mistake. As is frequently the case, it +was accepted as an evidence of timidity on the part +of the officers, and the conspirators were given a confidence +which otherwise would not have been theirs.</p> +<p>“It was a blunder,” whispered Storms, when the +captain stepped beside him. “Those wretches mean +mischief, and it is coming within twenty-four hours.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII_THE_OYSTER_BED' id='CHAPTER_XIII_THE_OYSTER_BED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>THE OYSTER BED</h3> +</div> +<p>Little Inez Hawthorne was overrunning with delight +at the prospect of a romp on shore, after having +been confined so long in the cramped quarters of the +schooner, and she was darting hither and thither, +eager to start upon her frolic.</p> +<p>“I say, captain,” said Hyde Brazzier, bowing profoundly +and with great humility, “we be greatly surprised +by what you tell us about the pearls, and we +are very much obliged for your kindness, which the +same is a great deal more than we expected; but it +has set us all topsy-turvy, as we may say. If it’s all +the same, we would like to go and take a look at that +same pearl-oyster bed, if it isn’t inconvenient.”</p> +<p>The captain and mate both understood the meaning +of this, for it showed only too clearly how impatient +the men were to commit the crime which they had in +mind. Still, there was no excuse for refusal, and the +officers were anxious enough to see the place for themselves. +Each had his revolver carefully shoved into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +his pocket, and each knew that the six chambers were +fully charged, when they sprang over the vessel’s side +and started toward the northernmost part of the +island. The captain and mate led the way, for they +were sure they were in no personal danger so long as +the oyster-bed remained undiscovered.</p> +<p>The fringe of coral trees was quite broad, but, as +the little party made their way through them, they +could catch the gleam of the water on each side, while +the roar and boom of the breakers never ceased.</p> +<p>The sun seemed to linger in the horizon to their +left, as if to guide them in the search they were making.</p> +<p>As they advanced, all observed that the outer +rim of this fringe was very irregular, as if it had +been broken up and changed by the action of fierce +tempests for many decades. This peculiarity, if such +it may be termed, left many places where the ocean +was as calm as within the atoll, and it was in one of +these that the oyster-bed for which they were searching +was to be found.</p> +<p>Mate and captain advanced quite spiritedly for +some distance, until they were close to the northernmost +portion, when they hesitated, slackened their +gait, looked to the right and left, conferred in low +tones, and then the captain suddenly exclaimed:</p> +<p>“This looks like the spot!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></div> +<p>The words were scarcely out of his mouth when +the two men dashed down the slight slope, ran a short +distance, and then abruptly halted close to the water’s +edge, at a point where the sea was locked in so that +it was only slightly disturbed by the ordinary swell. +Close behind them were Redvignez and Brazzier, +while Pomp brought up the rear. The three men exchanged +only a word or two while following, and +those were heard by the leaders, because they were of +no significance, but it is safe to conclude they did a +great deal of thinking.</p> +<p>The five grouped themselves along the water, standing +side by side and peering down into the depths before +them. This perhaps averaged three fathoms, and +the water itself was as clear as crystal, without even +the tinge of green generally seen in the ocean. The +bottom was quite even and flat, resting upon a substratum +of coral. The glinting rays of the sun helped, +so that a marble could have been distinguished many +fathoms down. And looking downward, the quintette +saw the bottom strewn with oysters of unusual size, +lying so close together that in many places they +seemed to touch each other.</p> +<p>For a full minute the five stood motionless and +speechless. It was Pomp who was the first to recover +his voice:</p> +<p>“My gracious! am dem ’isters full of pearls?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span></div> +<p>“That can only be told by examination,” was the +quiet reply of Mr. Storms.</p> +<p>“Dat’s ruther deep to dive down, an’ how ’bout +sharks?”</p> +<p>The mate smiled.</p> +<p>“We thought of all that before we left home, +Pomp.”</p> +<p>“Well, what good did all de thinkin’ do? Dat +won’t drive away de shark, dat would as lief bite a +man in two as to swaller a fish.”</p> +<p>“If you and Redvig will return to the vessel and +get that coat of mail on deck, I will agree to go down +there and take all the risks.”</p> +<p>The three mutineers, as they may be called, exchanged +glances, but said nothing. The captain and +mate noted this telegraphy of the eyes, and they, too, +were silent, but it was a little test which they had determined +upon before leaving the <i>Coral</i>, lying some +distance away, safely moored close inshore. Evidently +the three could think of no valid excuse, and +Brazzier said, in a low voice, which was heard by all:</p> +<p>“Go, men, and hurry back.”</p> +<p>Pomp started off at once, Redvignez following close +behind him. The mate and captain saw they were +speaking together; but, of course, it could only be conjectured +what they were talking about.</p> +<p>The three who remained behind were in an embarrassing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +situation, for there could be no doubt that +Brazzier, the leader in the plot, had had his suspicions +aroused by this little incident, and it was hard +work for him to conceal a certain uneasiness at the +thought that he had lost the confidence of the two +officers of the <i>Coral</i>.</p> +<p>With a view of strengthening his position, Captain +Bergen took out his revolver, looked at it in an inquiring +way, and then shoved it back into his hip-pocket. +Abe Storms did precisely the same thing, excepting +that he perhaps made a little more display +about it.</p> +<p>Not one of the three as yet had spoken a word; but +Brazzier, as if to conceal his uneasiness, advanced to +the edge of the water and peered down into the crystal +depths at the supposed wealth which lay scattered over +the bottom, awaiting the hour when some one should +draw it forth from the hiding-place it had occupied +for so many years.</p> +<p>“If they’ve got pearls in ’em,” observed Brazzier, +“it’ll make a good haul for us.”</p> +<p>“There is reason to think so,” replied the captain, +holding his peace, for he began to suspect that too +much deference had already been paid to the crew.</p> +<p>Since Pomp and Redvignez were making good time, +they soon reappeared, bearing between them the coat +of armor which Abe Storms had constructed before +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +leaving his New England home. This, it may be said, +was an invention peculiarly his own, containing some +conveniences not generally attributed to diving-bells +or armor, and which, if they withstood the test to +which they were sure to be subjected, would be a great +step forward in the rapid improvements that have +been made in submarine armor during the last few +years. A superficial examination would not discover +anything out of the usual order in the make of the +armor, with its bulging glass eyes and general resemblance +to the coats of mail such as were used by the +crusaders and knights of the middle ages. There were +the two pipes, one of which went in at the top of the +helmet, as if the man were going to breathe through +the crown of his head, while the other was adjusted so +as to come nearer the front of the face. One of these +was for the admission of fresh air, and the other for +the expulsion of that which was exhaled. Besides this, +there was the rope, fastened around the waist of the +diver, to assist him to the surface should a sudden necessity +arise. But, without going into any detailed description, +we may say that the ingenious New Englander +had so constructed it that he required the assistance +of no second person at any portion of the +work.</p> +<p>Storms immediately began adjusting the apparatus, +the others standing off and looking on, for he had declined +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +their proffers of service. The armor had never +been tested, and the man might well pause, now that +he was going to stake his life upon the issue, as may be +said.</p> +<p>But it was not that fact which caused the mate the +most uneasiness, for his confidence in his own invention +was so strong that he would not have hesitated a +moment to trust himself in water of twice the depth. +Indeed, the pearls were so near at hand that a very +ordinary diver would have found no difficulty in +bringing them up without the help of any armor at +all––the latter being required by other considerations.</p> +<p>“Now, all I want done is to allow the two upper +ends of the pipes to be kept clear,” said Storms, when +he had adjusted the “harness” about him. “I will do +the breathing for myself, provided I am not interfered +with.”</p> +<p>The two ends were secured among the coral in such +a way that there was no danger of their being drawn +in by any action of the armor itself, and then Storms, +taking an immense sheath-knife in his hand, promptly +stepped off from the shore, and as promptly sank under +water.</p> +<p>It was a singular sight the four companions whom +he left behind saw, when they approached to the edge +of the water and looked over.</p> +<p>The mate, incased in his armor, looked like some +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +huge, curiously-shaped shellfish or monster, whose +weight was such that he went as straight down as an +arrow, and, a few seconds later, was seen bent over +and moving about the bottom, loosening up the oysters.</p> +<p>This first venture of Storms’ was more in the nature +of an experiment or preliminary reconnoissance. He +wished to find how the land lay, as the expression +goes. If everything should prove to be in good shape, +he would venture down again, with a basket, and the +real work of gathering the pearl-oysters would begin.</p> +<p>As we have intimated, Abe Storms felt no misgivings +concerning his armor when he moved off from +solid land and was submerged in the edge of the Pacific, +for he had constructed so many contrivances +and machines that he had learned to understand fully +what they would do before they were put to work. +He carried the enormous sheath-knife in his right +hand, and when his feet lightly touched the shells on +the bottom, he began turning them over with the point +of his knife. The depth of the water being so moderate, +he found no difficulty in breathing, and indeed +the conditions were such that whoever chose to collect +the oysters in this armor was not likely to experience +the slightest difficulty.</p> +<p>Down where he was at work the water seemed to +be of a light-yellowish tint, caused by the refraction +of the sunlight as it made its way to him. He noticed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +the mild glow, which, of course, would steadily +diminish as the sun went down, when all at once it +was eclipsed so suddenly by a dark shadow that he +instantly suspected the true cause.</p> +<p>Looking upward, he saw an immense shark, certainly +a dozen feet in length, that had halted and was +evidently surveying with some curiosity this intruder +upon his domains.</p> +<p>The man-eater being directly over the diver, was +not in the best position to use his fearful jaws with +effect, but he was evidently reconnoitering with a view +to hostilities. Abe observed that this shadowy figure +was motionless, its fins slightly moving back and forth +as if it were using them like a balancing-pole, to maintain +itself motionless in position, and he marked the +horridly-shaped mouth which yawned over his head. +Reaching upward with his long-bladed knife, he +touched it against the white belly of the monster, and +then gave it a strong push.</p> +<p>It was so keen and sharp that it entered deep into +the yielding flesh and inflicted a severe wound. Just +then the gigantic man-eater suspected he had committed +a blunder, and with a lightning-like whirl of +his huge body, he dashed out to sea, leaving a crimson +trail after him.</p> +<p>Indeed, his charge was so sudden that the huge +knife was wrenched from the grasp of Abe Storms, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +and he was drawn forward off his balance. Had it +been in the open air, he would have been hurled to the +ground with great force. But he managed to recover +himself, and caught a shadowy glimpse of the great +shark darting off, as the knife dropped from the +wound and sank to the bottom. Not wishing to lose +the valuable weapon, Storms walked forward, and seeing +it lying on the bottom, at a point which seemed +to be the edge of the oyster-bed, he stooped over and +recovered it.</p> +<p>He had now been down a considerable while, and +muttered:</p> +<p>“The captain promised to signal me if trouble came, +and he hasn’t done so. But, for all that, I don’t believe +it will be safe for me to stay down here much +longer. I may as well–––”</p> +<p>The sentence was never finished, for it received a +startling interruption. The rubber pipes by which +he breathed were suddenly closed, and Abe Storms +knew it had been done purposely by some one above.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_REVOLT' id='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_REVOLT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>THE REVOLT</h3> +</div> +<p>For a brief while after the descent of the mate of +the <i>Coral</i>, incased in his new diving armor, the four +men above did nothing more than merely wait for his +coming up. But all the time the parties were watching +each other, for Captain Bergen was convinced that +the crisis was at hand. The mutineers had learned +where the oyster-bed was, and therefore could be no +longer restrained by that consideration. They could +get on without the diving-armor, though they saw how +convenient it might be to have it; but, since it was connected +with the shore, it could be drawn in and recovered +if they should need it.</p> +<p>The mate was down in the ocean, and the captain +was standing on terra firma. What more favorable +separation was likely to present itself? Here were +three men against one, and the three had gained the +secret which had restrained them so long.</p> +<p>“I say,” said Hyde Brazzier, “does the mate down +there find things as he expected?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></div> +<p>“We can tell that better after he comes up,” was the +reply of the captain, who kept his hand at his hip, +where it could rest on the butt of his revolver. “But +there is reason to believe that he isn’t disappointed.”</p> +<p>“And he breathes through these pipes that lie +here?” pursued Brazzier, while the expression on the +face of Pomp and Redvignez convinced Skipper Bergen +that serious mischief was coming.</p> +<p>“You can see that without asking me,” replied he, +stepping back a pace or two so as to keep the men before +him.</p> +<p>“Well, if a man can’t get what air he wants, what +is likely to happen?” continued Brazzier, with an insolent +swagger that was exasperating, following upon +his fawning sycophancy.</p> +<p>“Any fool would know that he would die.”</p> +<p>“Well, now that we’ve landed, I don’t see as there +is any need of a mate or a captain neither, with this +crew––do you, boys?”</p> +<p>And he turned toward his companions with a laugh.</p> +<p>“Of course not. The best place for him is in Davy +Jones’ locker!” said Redvignez.</p> +<p>“Now you is talkin’ right!” was the characteristic +comment of the negro, Pomp, who seemed the most +eager of the three, when the mutiny had come to a +head.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></div> +<p>It was evident that Brazzier had determined to +drown the mate while he was below the surface.</p> +<p>“The first man who interferes with those pipes I +will shoot dead!”</p> +<p>Captain Bergen spoke the words in a low voice, but +there could be no mistaking his deadly earnestness. +Feeling that the crisis had come, the captain determined +to give the signal agreed upon with Abe Storms, +which was a sudden jerk of the rope fastened to the +one around the waist of the mate. The latter would +understand that his presence above was needed at +once.</p> +<p>The captain was in the act of stooping over, when +Redvignez sprang behind him with the stealth and +agility of a cat, and struck his arm a violent blow. +His purpose was to knock the revolver out of the captain’s +hand, so that he and his friends could secure +the use of it. But he overdid the matter, for the revolver +went spinning out of the captain’s hand and +dropped into the water, where it sank out of sight. +Startled and shocked, he straightened up without giving +the signal to Abe Storms below the surface.</p> +<p>None of the party had any firearms, but Captain +Bergen saw it would be madness for him to make any +resistance. Without a moment’s hesitation, therefore, +he wheeled about and ran with all the speed of which +he was capable.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span></div> +<p>His flight was not altogether an aimless one, for +he hoped to reach the schooner, lying an eighth of a +mile away, far enough in advance of his pursuers to +seize one of the rifles carefully concealed there, and to +make defense against his foes. The instant he broke +into a run, his pursuers did the same, uttering loud +shouts, as if they were American Indians who were +certain of their prey.</p> +<p>For the time, it was a question of speed between +pursuers and pursued. If the latter could reach the +craft considerably ahead of the others, there was a +chance of his making a successful defense against the +three who were seeking his life. If he failed to attain +the goal, he felt it would be all over with him, for +they were not the men to show any mercy.</p> +<p>Darting among the palm-trees, therefore, he +strained every nerve to draw away from his enemies, +while they strove, with equal desperation, to overtake +him.</p> +<p>It was a straight run, and comparatively an unobstructed +one, for the palm-trees were far enough apart +to give him a pretty fair course, which was of equal +advantage to all parties. Perhaps it is possible, therefore, +to imagine the anxiety with which, after running +a short distance, Captain Bergen glanced over his +shoulder to see how his pursuers were making out. +But it is not possible to appreciate his consternation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +when he saw that two of them were outrunning him, +and, as he had striven to his very utmost, the frightful +truth was manifest that he was sure to be overtaken +before he could reach the <i>Coral</i>.</p> +<p>Those who were gaining upon him were Pomp, the +negro, and Brazzier himself. But the fact that they +were gaining upon him was no cause for the fugitive +falling down and yielding without a struggle. He +still had his sheath-knife, which he grasped with a +despairing feeling as he realized, during those awful +seconds, that complete, disastrous failure, instead of +the brilliant success he had counted upon, had overtaken +him at last.</p> +<p>The pursuers gained rapidly, and not one-half the +distance was passed, when all three of the men were +almost within striking distance, for Redvignez was at +the elbow of his companions. Captain Bergen looked +over his shoulder, and was about to throw his back +against a palm-tree, with the view of turning at bay +and fighting to the last, when, like the historical John +Smith of our own earlier times, his lack of attention +to his feet precipitated the very fate against which he +was struggling. His feet struck some obstruction, and +being exhausted from his extraordinary exertion, he +pitched forward and fell on his face. As he went +down he was conscious of hearing two widely different +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +sounds––one the exultant cries of the pursuers, and +the other the terrified scream of a little girl.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen attempted to rise, but Redvignez +and Brazzier were upon him, and the knife of the latter +was upraised with the purpose of ending the matter +then and there forever, when the cry of the child +was heard the second time, and little Inez sprang, like +Pocahontas, between the uplifted arm and the intended +victim.</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t hurt him! Please don’t hurt him! +Please, please don’t hurt him, ’cause I love him!” +pleaded the agonized child, with all the earnestness of +her nature.</p> +<p>The position of the prostrate captain attempting to +rise, and the little one interceding for him, was such +that the mutineer hesitated for the moment, for he +could not strike without endangering her life. Seeing +this, with the wonderful quickness which sometimes +comes over the youngest child in such a crisis, +Inez persistently forced her body with amazing quickness +in the way of the poised knife as it started to descend +more than once––the other two holding back for +their leader to finish the work.</p> +<p>Brazzier was a man of tigerish temper, and he became +infuriated in a few seconds at this repeated +baffling of his purpose.</p> +<p>“Confound you!” he suddenly exclaimed, with a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +fierce execration. “If you will keep in the way, then +you must take it!”</p> +<p>The arm was drawn still further back, with the intention +of carrying out this dreadful threat, when the +wrist was seized in the iron grip of Black Pomp, who +said:</p> +<p>“Hold on, dere! None ob dat! De man dat hurts a +ha’r ob dat little gal’s head will got sot down on by me, +an’ mashed so flat dat he’ll neber rose ag’in. Does +you hear me, sah?”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV_THE_FRIEND_IN_NEED' id='CHAPTER_XV_THE_FRIEND_IN_NEED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>THE FRIEND IN NEED</h3> +</div> +<p>There was no excuse for not hearing this warning, +for it was uttered in a voice loud enough to reach +over the whole extent of the atoll.</p> +<p>Both Redvignez and Brazzier were enraged at the +interference, and there was an instant of time when +the two were on the point of attacking him. But he +was a terrible foe for any one to assail, and he would +have made warm work, as they well knew, for he was +not afraid of the two together.</p> +<p>Brazzier was quick to comprehend the situation, +and he refrained.</p> +<p>“Take away the girl, then,” he commanded, “so I +can get at him.”</p> +<p>“I will not leave him,” declared Inez, throwing her +arms about the neck of the captain, who was rising to +his feet. “You mean to hurt him, and you shan’t hurt +him without hurting me. He has been kind, and he’s +a good man.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></div> +<p>“Take her away,” commanded Brazzier, with difficulty +repressing his anger at the repeated delay.</p> +<p>“Oh, Pomp! You won’t let him hurt the captain?” +pleaded Inez, turning toward him, and ready to throw +her arms about his dusky neck, were it not that she +was afraid to leave the captain for the moment––he +having risen to his feet, while he held her hand and +looked at his enemies, panting from his own great +exertion, though he did not speak a word.</p> +<p>Even in the dreadful peril which enveloped him, he +was too proud to ask for mercy from such wretches.</p> +<p>But the appeal of Inez to Pomp had produced its +effect. When she turned her misty eyes upon him, +and pleaded in such piteous tones for mercy, the +mouth of the huge African twitched, and any one +could see that a hard struggle was going on within.</p> +<p>“If you don’t keep those bad men from hurting +Captain Bergen,” she added, in the same impassioned +manner, “I’ll never speak to you––never, never, never––there!”</p> +<p>This was accompanied by a stamp of her tiny foot, +and then she burst into weeping––sobbing as if her +heart would break.</p> +<p>Hyde Brazzier stood irresolute, and seemed on the +point of leaping, knife in hand, upon the captain. +But the prayer of the innocent child had settled the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +question, and the sable Hercules sprang in front of +the endangered man.</p> +<p>“Dis ’ere thing hab gone fur ’nough; let de cap’in +alone. If dere’s any killin’ to be done, why I’m de +one dat’s gwine to do it.”</p> +<p>The two mutineers were wild with fury, for this +unexpected show of mercy promised to upset the whole +scheme they had been hatching for weeks. Both Redvignez +and Brazzier protested vehemently, seeking to +show that it was imperatively necessary that both the +officers should be put out of the way, and that since +the mate was gone, it was the sheerest folly to allow +the captain to remain.</p> +<p>But the words were thrown away.</p> +<p>The prayer of little Inez Hawthorne had reached +the heart of the gigantic African, and the sight of the +child standing there weeping was more than he could +bear, although it but served to add to the exasperation +of the other two savages.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen did not stand mute and motionless +during all this rush of events, which really occupied +but a few seconds. As soon as he saw the way open, +he took the hand of little Inez and began moving in +the direction of the schooner, his purpose being to +secure refuge upon that if possible. As he moved +away he saw Pomp and the two mutineers in conference, +for Brazzier and Redvignez at that moment +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +would have given a large share of their prospective +wealth for the purpose of disposing finally and forever +of the captain.</p> +<p>“We have been in mutinies before, Pomp, and the +only safe course––and that ain’t safe by any means––is +to follow the rule that dead men tell no tales.”</p> +<p>“Dat may be de rule, but it ain’t gwine to work in +dis case; an’ de reason am ’cause de little gal dere +don’t want it done. You can talk an’ argufy fo’ fourteen +years, but it won’t do no good. De only way you +can finish up de job am by killin’ me fust.”</p> +<p>The foregoing is the substance of the protests and +replies of the two parties to the angry discussion. It +so happened, as we have shown, that the African held +the balance of power. He was strong and courageous, +and he was armed and ready to fight, and they knew +it. They did not dare to attack him openly, where the +result was so likely to be disastrous to both, and they +were compelled to fall in with his scheme of saving +the captain, though it can well be understood that it +was the most distasteful thing to which they could +consent.</p> +<p>This discussion lasted but a few minutes; but, as +we have said, it was improved by Captain Bergen, +who saw that the wisest course for him to pursue was +to remove the cause as far as practical. He walked +backward a few steps until he was some way off, when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +he turned about, still holding the hand of Inez in his, +and they continued until a number of palm-trees intervened, +when he sped so rapidly that the child was +kept on a run to maintain her place at his side. She +had ceased her crying, but her face and eyes were red, +and she was in an apprehensive, nervous and almost +hysterical condition from the terrible scene she had +witnessed––a scene such as should never be looked +upon by one of her tender years.</p> +<p>A minute later Captain Bergen caught sight of the +trimly-built schooner lying at rest in the lagoon, close +to the shore, and his heart gave a throb of hope, that, +if he could once secure position on her deck, he would +be able to hold his own against the mutineers.</p> +<p>During the next few hurried minutes occupied in +the passage to the schooner, the conviction had grown +upon him that this mercy which had spared his life +for a brief while would not be continued. Pomp +Cooper would not continue to be his friend after his +spasm of affection for Inez should spend itself, and +devoid as the African was of intellect, he was likely +to understand that the true course of the party who +had entered upon the villainy was to make thorough +work of it.</p> +<p>The captain saw the three men still talking and gesticulating +angrily when he reached the schooner.</p> +<p>In a twinkling he had lifted Inez upon the deck, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +and then he sprang after her. He ran into the cabin, +reappearing in an instant with the three loaded rifles.</p> +<p>“Now,” said he, with a sigh of relief, “let them +come! I am ready.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVI_A_STRANGE_VISITOR' id='CHAPTER_XVI_A_STRANGE_VISITOR'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>A STRANGE VISITOR</h3> +</div> +<p>But the mutineers took good care not to show +themselves just then; and the captain, deeming such a +course prudent, tugged at the anchor until it was +lifted, when he managed to shove the craft off, and +reaching the middle of the lagoon, the anchor was +dropped.</p> +<p>“Now they won’t be likely to approach without my +seeing them,” was his conclusion; “and so long as I +can keep awake, I can hold them at bay. I hate to +shoot a man, but if ever a person had justification for +doing so, I have. I am rather inclined to think that if +either Brazzier or Redvignez should wander into +range, one of these rifles would be likely to go off!”</p> +<p>Seeing no immediate danger, Captain Bergen descended +into the cabin for a few minutes. Poor, tired +Inez had thrown herself on the hammock and was +sound asleep.</p> +<p>“Sleep, little one,” murmured the captain, as he +lingered for a minute to look at the sweet, infantile +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +face, in the gathering twilight. “It is a sad fate +which orders you to witness so much violence, and +sorry I am that it is so; but where would I have been +excepting for you?”</p> +<p>Then he softly left the cabin and took his position +on deck. The moon was full, which was gratefully +noticed by the captain, for he could easily keep awake +all night, and thus detect the approach of his enemies. +In fact, his nerves were so unstrung that he would not +be able to sleep for many hours to come.</p> +<p>“But what is to be done hereafter?”</p> +<p>This was the question he put to himself, and which +had to be answered.</p> +<p>The mutineers kept carefully out of sight, and, as +night settled over the scene, the captain remained +wide awake and vigilant. There was ample food for +thought and reflection––the cutting of the hose-pipes +of the diving apparatus, the attack by the mutineers, +the terrible flight and pursuit, the interference of +Inez––all these and more surged through the brain of +the captain, while he slowly paced back and forth, +with eyes and ears wide open. Inez still slumbered, +and all was silent, excepting the boom of the ocean +against the coral-reef; while, as the night wore on, the +captain maintained his lonely watch.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen scanned the fringe of shore which +circled about him, like a great wall thrown up between +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +the lagoon and the Pacific, that steadily broke +on the outside. But turn his keen eyes wheresoever +he chose, he could detect not the slightest sign of the +mutineers. He thought it likely they would start a +fire somewhere, but no starlike point of light twinkled +from beneath the palm-trees, and he was left to conjecture +where they were and what they were doing.</p> +<p>“They will probably wait till they think I am +asleep,” was his thought, “and then they will swim +quietly out and try to board.”</p> +<p>He believed it would be either that way or they +would construct a raft and paddle themselves out to +the schooner. Knowing the captain was on the Coral, +and knowing how important it was that he should not +be allowed to run away and leave them there, they +would neglect no precaution to prevent his going off. +They, too, would understand what it was he was waiting +for, and they were seamen enough to know the +hour when he would be able to sail, and, consequently, +what they were to do to prevent it.</p> +<p>“They have no way of closing the channel, or they +would do so, and it remains–––Hello!”</p> +<p>He was standing at the prow, looking carefully +about him, and with all his senses alert, and he stood +thus fully twenty minutes, expecting something whose +precise nature he had already conjectured.</p> +<p>“That splash meant something, and I think–––”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span></div> +<p>Just then he heard a commotion in the water +directly under the prow, and, looking over, he saw a +strange-looking object, like one of the uncouth monsters +of the deep, come to the surface and begin climbing +up by aid of the fore-chains.</p> +<p>“I say, cap’n, can’t you give a fellow a lift?”</p> +<p>It was the mate, Abe Storms, who asked the question, +and, as the captain extended his hand, he said, +in a low, fervent voice:</p> +<p>“Thank heaven! I was about giving you up for +lost!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVII_ON_THE_CORAL' id='CHAPTER_XVII_ON_THE_CORAL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>ON THE CORAL</h3> +</div> +<p>Captain Bergen and Abe Storms, as may be supposed, +greeted each other ardently when the latter +stepped upon the deck of the schooner, clad in his +diving-suit.</p> +<p>“I was growing very anxious about you,” said the +captain, “for I could not understand what kept you +away so long.”</p> +<p>The eccentric New Englander, removing his headgear, +but leaving the rest of his armor on, laughed and +asked:</p> +<p>“Tell me what took place after I went down.”</p> +<p>The captain hurriedly related his experience, which +has been already told the reader.</p> +<p>“We took a good deal of risk, as you know,” said +the mate, “and when I went down in the water, I was +a great deal more uneasy than I seemed to be. I was +expecting a signal from you, and when it did not +come I started for the surface. The shore is rough +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +and craggy, you know, so that it was something like +climbing up stairs.</p> +<p>“Well, I had got pretty well up when the pipes +were cut. I understood what it meant, and, holding +my breath, with the water rushing down the two hose-pipes, +I scrambled for the top.</p> +<p>“It may have been a perilous thing for you that +the rascals pursued you with such enthusiasm, but it +was fortunate for me, for, although I had a dry revolver +under my armor, it was several minutes before +I was in a condition to use it.</p> +<p>“As soon as possible, however, I made ready, believing +you were in sore need of help. Crawling forward +on my hands and knees, I took a quick look over the +bank, and saw you and Inez walking off in the direction +of the schooner, with the three scamps sullenly +watching you.</p> +<p>“I suspected what you tell me was the truth, and +I was on the point of rushing forward and making +short work of them with my revolver, but it flashed +upon me that they possessed a fearful advantage over +us. Redvignez and Brazzier are as cunning as serpents, +and one of them, more than likely, would have +caught up the little girl and held her in front of him +as a screen.</p> +<p>“Inez would have proved an effectual armor, indeed, +and, with her in their possession, they would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +have been masters of the situation, and could have +dictated whatever terms they chose to us. Pomp +would have been transformed into a bitter enemy at +once, and the chances of disaster to us all were so +great that I remained quiet, but watchful, ready to +dash forward to your assistance should it become +necessary.</p> +<p>“I lay down in a secluded place to rest, when––shall +I confess it?––I fell asleep, and did not wake up until +half an hour ago. After thinking the matter over, I +decided still to deceive the rascals. I was quite certain +that the water in the lagoon was not very deep, +so I fastened the upper ends of the hose to floats, and +walked out here on the bottom.”</p> +<p>“Did you see anything of them?”</p> +<p>“No; I don’t know where they are; but you can +feel sure they’ll never take their eyes off the +schooner.”</p> +<p>After further discussing the exciting events of the +day, they considered the all-important question as to +what should be their own line of action. The decision +which they reached was a most remarkable one, being +no less than to make a direct proposition to the mutineers +to turn over the schooner to them, with a portion +of the oysters, and to allow them to depart, while +the captain, mate and little girl were left upon the +island.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span></div> +<p>The captain was not convinced that this was altogether +wise, and he said:</p> +<p>“Since your plan is for us to stay on the island, and +allow them to leave with the schooner, will you tell +me how we are to depart, when ready?”</p> +<p>The mate indicated the inlet, where the mast was +still pointing toward the sky.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to run our chances. We may be taken +off in a week, and possibly not for years; but, with all +these probabilities before us, I am in favor of surrendering +the schooner, and allowing them to leave +us forever, if they will agree to do so.”</p> +<p>“But, if we make the proposition, will they not suspect +our purpose, or take it as a confession of weakness +on our part?”</p> +<p>“We must prevent that. But, captain, I’ve had +all the sleep I want, and you are in need of it. Better +secure it, therefore, while you can. Go below in the +cabin and take your rest. I will stand guard here, +and you need have no fear of my dropping into slumber +again.”</p> +<p>The captain remained some time longer, and even +then was loth to leave, but he consented to do so, and +finally descended into the cabin, where he threw himself +upon his hammock without removing his clothes.</p> +<p>The incidents of the day were exciting enough to +keep him awake, and, despite the exhaustion of his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +body, he lay a long time before he closed his eyes in +slumber. Even then his sleep was haunted by horrible +dreams, in which he lived over again the scenes +through which he had passed, when, but for the piteous +pleadings of little Inez, he would have fallen a +victim to the ferocity of the mutineers, and he awoke +more than once with a gasp and a start, which showed +how disturbed his mind was.</p> +<p>He had not slept long when he suddenly awoke +again, and looked around in the gloom. The lamp +overhead had been extinguished, and he was in utter +darkness, though the silvery glow of the moonlight +outside was perceptible through the windows and +partly-open door. He could hear the dull booming of +the breakers on the outside of the atoll, but all else +was quiet, except the gentle breathing of Inez, in the +berth beneath his.</p> +<p>“God protect her and us all!” he prayed, his heart, +in the solemn stillness and solitude, ascending to the +only being who could assist him and his friend in +their dire extremity; for Captain Bergen was sure +that no one could be placed in greater peril than were +he and Abe Storms, so long as they remained among +the Pearl Islands.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVIII_A_VISIT_FROM_SHORE' id='CHAPTER_XVIII_A_VISIT_FROM_SHORE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>A VISIT FROM SHORE</h3> +</div> +<p>In the meantime Abram Storms was acting the +part of a vigilant sentinel at his station on deck.</p> +<p>There was no doubt in his mind that the mutineers +were fearful the schooner would sail away and leave +them on the lonely coral island, and they were certain, +as he viewed it, to make some effort to prevent +such a disaster to them. But precisely how this was to +be done was a serious question. They knew that the +captain, having reached the <i>Coral</i>, had several rifles +at command, and would not hesitate to shoot them +the instant any attempt was made against him or little +Inez, under his charge.</p> +<p>Nothing was more certain than that an unremitting +watch would be kept upon the <i>Coral</i>, and, though +they might believe there was but the single man there, +yet unquestionably he commanded the situation.</p> +<p>“They will try some trick,” muttered the mate; +“but I shall have a very small opinion of myself if +they win. Pomp Cooper’s affection for Inez led him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +to interfere, when his interference accomplished a +good deal more than he imagined. Ah!”</p> +<p>At that moment the mate heard a ghostly “Halloo!” +from the shore, and he recognized the voice as belonging +to Pomp.</p> +<p>“Just as I suspected,” said Storms, to himself; +“they’re using the negro as a cat’s-paw. Well, I’ll see +what they are driving at.”</p> +<p>Imitating the tones of Captain Bergen as closely +as possible, the mate shouted:</p> +<p>“What do you want?”</p> +<p>“Am you dere?” was the rather superfluous question.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Won’t you let me come on board?”</p> +<p>“What for?”</p> +<p>“I’m sick ob dis business. I hab quarreled wid +Redvig an’ Brazzier, an’ I want to jine you an’ git +away from dis place.”</p> +<p>Abe Storms was not deceived for a moment by this +transparent story. He knew there had been no quarrel, +but that the mutineers had planned to get the negro +on the schooner with the hope of deceiving the captain +and gaining a chance to overpower him when off +his guard.</p> +<p>“Come on out here, then,” replied the mate, who +quickly determined his course of action.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span></div> +<p>Almost at the same instant a loud splash was heard, +and the head of Pomp was descried in the moonlight, +swimming toward the boat. The mate kept himself +concealed as much as he could, stepping back when the +negro began clambering up the fore-chains. Panting +from his exertion, he speedily came over the gunwale +upon the deck.</p> +<p>“Yes, cap’in, I’s tired ob dem willains, an’ I’m +gwine–––Oh! oh! oh!”</p> +<p>At that instant his eyes fell upon the figure of the +mate, clad in his diving-armor, with the exception +of his face, which was so clearly revealed in the moonlight +that there could be no mistaking his identity.</p> +<p>Worse than that, the mate, standing as rigid as +iron, had a gleaming revolver pointed straight at him. +Pomp sank on his knees in the most abject terror.</p> +<p>“Oh, my heben!” he chattered, clasping his hands, +“I t’ought dat you was drowned. Am you sartin dat +you ain’t?”</p> +<p>“I am quite well satisfied on that point. But, +Pomp, get up; I’ve got a word or two to say to you.”</p> +<p>“I will, I will; but please p’int dat weepon some +oder way.”</p> +<p>The mate complied, and the African, somewhat reassured, +though still considerably frightened, listened +to the words of the man who he supposed was drowned +hours before.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></div> +<p>“I am alive and well, Pomp, as you can see, and so +is the captain, who is taking a short nap in the cabin. +We are well armed, as you know–––”</p> +<p>“Yas! yas! yas!” chattered the negro.</p> +<p>“And we can sail away in the morning, at the +turning of the tide, and leave you here–––”</p> +<p>“Dat’s what I want you to do, an’ I’ll go wid you.”</p> +<p>“You can’t go! I know well enough what you came +out here for. You thought you would find a chance +to get the upper hand of the captain, and would let the +other villains on board. There! you needn’t deny it. +I understand the matter too well to be deceived.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t I sabe de cap’in’s life?” quavered Pomp, +still fearful of the cold, measured tones of the mate.</p> +<p>“You befriended him at a critical moment, and +therefore I won’t shoot you, when I have such a good +chance to do so. But you have regretted your interference +more than once, and you are seeking now to +undo all the good you have done. We have it in our +power not only to go away, but to bring back a force +which shall hang every one of you three, as you deserve +to be, but–––”</p> +<p>“Oh! oh-o-o-o!”</p> +<p>“But we don’t propose to do it. We are not going +away to leave you here. To-morrow we shall have a +proposal to offer to your mates, which they will be +glad to accept. That is about all I have to say to you.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIX_THE_DEPARTURE' id='CHAPTER_XIX_THE_DEPARTURE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>THE DEPARTURE</h3> +</div> +<p>As Mate Storms said, he had but little more communication +to make with the negro.</p> +<p>“You may now swim back to your friends and say +that we will be ready to negotiate to-morrow morning. +If they will come down to the shore, we will have a +talk and arrange the whole business. Now, perhaps, +you had better go back.”</p> +<p>Pomp Cooper was quick-witted enough to understand +that this utterance was in the nature of a hint +for him to depart, and he stood not on the order of his +going.</p> +<p>“Good-by, sah,” he called out. “Much obleege fo’ +your kindness, dat I shall remember a good while.”</p> +<p>Mate Storms stood motionless, watching him until +he was perhaps a hundred feet from the craft, when +he said, just loud enough to be heard:</p> +<p>“Sharks are mighty plenty hereabout, and I saw a +big one yesterday. Shouldn’t wonder if he has a leg +bit off before he gets back.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span></div> +<p>Pomp heard the words, and they “disturbed” him, +to put it mildly. Evidently he had forgotten the +peril to which all persons are exposed in tropical waters, +and, as the truth was impressed upon him with +such suddenness, he uttered a “whiff” like a porpoise +and began swimming with fierce energy toward the +shore. In fact, he never put forth so much effort in +all his life. The expectation of feeling a huge +man-eating monster gliding beneath you when in +the water is enough to shake the nerves of the strongest +swimmer. He kept diving and swimming as far as he +could below the surface, and then came up and continued +his desperate efforts until he reached the land, +where he joined his companions.</p> +<p>Abe Storms stood looking and listening, his face expanded +in a broad smile, when he heard a light laugh +at his elbow. Turning his head, he found the captain +there.</p> +<p>“I heard your summons to him,” said the captain, +by way of explanation, “and I came up to hear what +it meant. I must admit, you managed the case well.”</p> +<p>“It might have been worse. My only fear is that +the imps won’t believe we honestly intend to hold the +conference with them, and offer a compromise.”</p> +<p>“They will find it out at daylight, and meanwhile +they can’t help themselves. It is useless for me to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +stay below, Abe,” added the nervous captain. “There’s +too much on my mind to sleep.”</p> +<p>Therefore, the two remained on watch until the sun +rose, at which time there was nothing to be seen of the +mutineers.</p> +<p>“They’re suspicious,” concluded the mate, who +called out, in a loud voice that reached every portion +of the island:</p> +<p>“Hello, men! come and show yourselves. We want +to have a talk with you!”</p> +<p>A few minutes later Hyde Brazzier appeared on +the shore and answered back again. It was deemed +best to give the mutineers a proof of their sincerity, +and instead, therefore, of holding the conversation +from the deck of the schooner, the small boat was +lowered, and both the captain and mate entered it and +rowed ashore, where all three awaited them, as may +be supposed, with some degree of astonishment.</p> +<p>Storms and Captain Bergen were not without some +misgivings, and they did not venture unprepared into +the lion’s den. Both carried a loaded revolver at command, +and in case of an attack the business would +have been lively. But it was unreasonable to suppose +that our friends would be assailed under the peculiar +circumstances. Furthermore, as the parties understood +each other, there was no time wasted in reproaches +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +or recriminations, but Captain Bergen came +directly to the point.</p> +<p>“This state of things can’t last,” said he; “we are +deadly enemies, and we would kill each other on the +slightest pretext. The island is too small to contain +us all. Either you three or we two must leave before +the sun reaches meridian, or we shall go to fighting +like caged tigers. Neither can we go away +together, for I would not trust any of you again, nor +would you trust either of us; therefore, one party +must go, and the other must stay––which shall it be? +We were prepared to leave, when we reflected that if +we should be caught in some of the storms which +sweep over this region, the mate and I would hardly +be able to manage the schooner, and we are anxious to +take care of the little girl, to whom we are greatly +attached. There are three of you, all able-bodied +seamen, and in case of a tempest you would be able to +navigate the <i>Coral</i>. It would be safer, therefore, for +you to take the vessel and go to some of the ports, +secure assistance and send them after us. We make, +therefore, this proposition: We will turn over the +schooner to you, on condition that you leave with us +such stores as we may choose to take, and that you +proceed at once to the nearest of the inhabited Paumotu +Islands and send assistance to us. Furthermore, +as you know all about the pearl-oysters, we will agree +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +to divide with you. You can take up half of what are +on the bed out yonder, and you may carry them away +with you, leaving a moiety to us. You are to sail just +as soon as the oysters are placed on board. That’s +our proposition––what do you say?”</p> +<p>There could be no doubt that the mutineers were +astonished by the generosity of the offer, coming, as +it did, from those who were in reality masters of the +situation.</p> +<p>Had they been a little more cunning, they might +have suspected there was something behind it all, +which was kept carefully out of sight; but the terms +were so good that Brazzier answered, the instant the +question was put to him:</p> +<p>“We’ll do it, and carry out our part fair and +square.”</p> +<p>“Very well; there’s no need of delay. We’ll bring +the schooner inshore and take out what we want, and +then turn the craft over to you.”</p> +<p>This amazing programme was carried out to the letter. +Captain and mate, accompanied by Pomp, rowed +back in the small boat, and the schooner was carefully +worked toward the shore.</p> +<p>Abe Storms and Captain Bergen saw that among +the possibilities of the future was a long stay on the +lonely island, and they therefore prepared for such a +contingency, having an eye mainly to securing that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +which little Inez would be likely to need. Pomp informed +the officers that there was a small cabin a +short distance away, which had no doubt been put up +by the sailors of whom Grebbens had told the captain. +It was made of planking that had come ashore from +the wreck, and the fact that it had stood so long +proved that it must have been built with much skill +as well as strength.</p> +<p>It was found just as represented by Pomp––there +being two compartments, each a dozen feet or so +square, and one of these was so well put together that +it seemed to be waterproof. Our friends were greatly +surprised and pleased over the discovery, for Grebbens +had never said anything about the structure.</p> +<p>The goods from the <i>Coral</i> were carried to this building +and deposited in the rear room, which was so +tight that one would have almost suffocated had he remained +in it during the tropical weather which prevails +among the Paumotu Islands most of the time.</p> +<p>The goods stowed there were of a varied assortment, +including the three breech-loading rifles, ammunition, +tool-chest and contents, a portion of the medicine-chest, +some biscuits, cooking utensils, and a trunk of +calicoes, linens and materials such as are used +in the making of feminine costumes. It was a +singular coincidence that Abe Storms had provided +a considerable quantity of this before leaving +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +San Francisco, knowing as he did the fondness +of savages for such finery, and having a suspicion +that it might be turned to good account in the way +of barter in some of the South Sea islands. Little did +he suspect the use to which it would be put, and +thankful indeed was he that it was at his command, +when it was so likely to be needed for Inez +Hawthorne.</p> +<p>There was a goodly amount of stock, which was +transferred to the cabin, the mutineers assisting with +the rest, for all felt there was no time to lose. There +was mistrust at first, each party seeming to be suspicious +of the other, but it soon wore off, and any one +looking upon them could not have been made to believe +they were deadly enemies.</p> +<p>When the transfer was completed, it was evident +that the current was close upon its turn, and unless +they should leave the island soon, they would be compelled +to wait perhaps twelve or twenty-four hours +longer.</p> +<p>Since the sea was very calm, Hyde Brazzier proposed +that the schooner should be taken outside and +anchored directly over the pearl-oyster bed, so that +sail could be hoisted as soon as they were ready. +There was a slight risk in the action, but it was done, +and after some careful maneuvering the <i>Coral</i> was +secured in position.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span></div> +<p>It looked very magnanimous and somewhat stupid +for Abe Storms to volunteer to go down in his coat of +armor and scoop the oysters into a huge basket, for +the very parties who had tried so hard to drown him +when similarly engaged the day before. Nothing, it +would seem, could be more absurd, and yet the reader +is requested to suspend judgment until he shall have +read the following chapter.</p> +<p>All this was done, and in the course of the succeeding +two hours fully three-fourths of the oysters scattered +over that particular bed were dumped upon the +deck of the <i>Coral</i>, and Abe Storms, pretty well exhausted, +was pulled to the surface. The captain and +mate, with the armor, rowed themselves the short distance +ashore in the small boat. The <i>Coral</i> hoisted +sail, and, heading out to sea, rapidly sped away over +the Pacific.</p> +<p>And all this time the three mutineers felicitated +themselves upon the manner in which they had gotten +the best of the bargain. And yet, never in all their +lives had they been so completely outwitted as they +were by Abe Storms and Captain Jack Bergen, as we +shall now proceed to show.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XX_HOW_DIAMOND_CUT_DIAMOND' id='CHAPTER_XX_HOW_DIAMOND_CUT_DIAMOND'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>HOW DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND</h3> +</div> +<p>The three mutineers on board the schooner Coral +had sailed away and disappeared from view on the +face of the vast Pacific, and the captain and mate +were left with little Inez alone upon a small, lonely +member of the Paumotu Group, in the distant South +Seas.</p> +<p>Inez was too young to realize the gravity of the +situation, and she ran hither and thither, delighted +with her new home, though she found the cabin too +warm inside to be comfortable, and she made frequent +draughts upon the spring of cool, clear water near +which the former residents of the atoll had built +the cabin. Then, too, she had found that there was +considerable tropical fruit growing in the place, and +she made such havoc among it that Captain Bergen +felt impelled to caution her, if she should become sick +on their hands, she would be apt to fare ill, for they +had little medicine at command.</p> +<p>While she was thus engaged, captain and mate were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +reclining on the ground, in the shade of the palm-trees. +They spoke only now and then, but there was +a peculiar expression on their faces as they watched +the schooner gradually disappearing in the distance, +for it was a long while in sight. The time came at +last, however, when even their straining vision could +not detect the faintest resemblance to a sail in the +horizon, though it was still visible, as a matter of +course, through their glasses.</p> +<p>“I believe she is gone,” said Storms, looking toward +the captain.</p> +<p>“Yes; I see nothing of her.”</p> +<p>“Then it’s about time to shake.”</p> +<p>The two brawny hands clasped, and the friends +greeted each other with remarkable cordiality; and, +as they did so, they laughed heartily, and the mate +almost shouted:</p> +<p>“Captain, but it was a good trick!”</p> +<p>“So it was; and I give you the credit of inventing +it. I never would have thought of it.”</p> +<p>“Shake again; and now to work.”</p> +<p>The mate had deposited some of the oysters brought +up on the bank, and they were carefully opened. +They were eight in number, and there was not found +a single pearl among them.</p> +<p>In all probability the entire lot which were carried +away upon the schooner were not worth as much as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +the same quantity of bivalves from Chesapeake Bay. +In short, this was not the pearl-oyster bed which +had brought the two friends the greater part of the +way around the globe. Suspecting––or, rather, knowing––the +evil intentions of the mutineers, Abe Storms +proposed the ruse, by which the visit was made to the +wrong place. The mutineers themselves were outwitted, +and, under the belief that they were carrying +away a cargo of fabulous wealth, they did not wait +to make an examination of the mollusks until they +were well out to sea.</p> +<p>When they should open and examine them they +were not likely to suspect the trick, but would think +that the whole journey was a failure, and the three +left on the island were, in reality, worse off than +themselves.</p> +<p>And yet the true bed of oyster-pearls remained to +be visited.</p> +<p>“It is possible they may suspect something and +come back again,” said the mate, “but it is hardly +probable.”</p> +<p>“Are they likely to send any friends to take us +off?” asked the captain, with a quizzical look.</p> +<p>“Not to any great extent. They will be sure to give +us as wide a berth hereafter as possible. In the meantime, +I propose that we investigate.”</p> +<p>The two rose to their feet, and, lugging the armor +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +between them, moved off toward a point whose location +was as well known to them as if they had spent +years upon the atoll.</p> +<p>While they were thus walking, the mate, who was +much the better-educated man, said:</p> +<p>“This pearl-hunting is a curious business. Those +specimens that I brought up were the genuine species, +and yet they have very few or no pearls among them. +It must be because the conditions are not favorable for +their creation or development, while, at the place we +are about to visit, the mollusks are the same, and yet +there are conditions existing there which cause an +abnormal growth of the precious jewels.”</p> +<p>“Did you make a careful examination of those other +oysters?”</p> +<p>“Yes. As I told you, they are genuine, but they +have no pearls of any account, the conditions being +unfavorable for their formation. You know the +pearls grow within the oysters, being composed of +slimy secretions deposited around some foreign substance +that enters them. It may be that a peculiar +action of the tide drives a grain of sand into the mollusks, +where we are to visit––though that is all conjecture.”</p> +<p>But Mate Storms, who was only fairly launched +out in the discourse upon pearls, was here interrupted +by the captain exclaiming:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span></div> +<p>“This must be the spot.”</p> +<p>The particular bank had been designated so clearly +that there could be no mistake, and had the chart, or +map, fallen into the hands of the mutineers, they +would have discovered the trick played on them in an +instant. The spot was a peculiar one where the two +friends stopped. Instead of being partly landlocked +like the other, it opened out fairly upon the sea, and +appeared to be entirely unprotected from the force of +the breakers, which boomed against the beach.</p> +<p>It would have been supposed naturally that the true +course was for the fishermen to go out in a small boat, +and make their explorations from that, but Grebbens +had instructed the captain that the formation was so +peculiar that nothing would be gained by this course. +The shore sank like the side of a wall to a considerable +depth, and the oysters lay on the bottom, with some +clusters clinging to the rocks, where they could be +torn off like sponges.</p> +<p>It can be understood that the work of removing +these would be almost impossible for any one excepting +a professional diver, unless, as was the case with +our friends, he should have some artificial assistance. +But for the diving-armor, it is hardly possible that +Abe Storms would have made a serious attempt to secure +anything, knowing the danger from sharks, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +the difficulty of retaining his breath for any extended +time below the surface of the water.</p> +<p>It was near the middle of the afternoon when this +spot was reached. The sea was calm, but there were +signs in the sky ominous of a coming storm, so that +the two were anxious to make a beginning without any +unnecessary delay. Stooping almost upon their faces, +when the swell had receded enough to permit them, +they peered down into the crystal depths, and caught +shadowy glimpses of the prizes. They saw the craggy +clusters, big and brown, clinging to the rocks, while +others were outlined on the floor of the bank.</p> +<p>“They’re there, beyond a doubt,” said Storms, “and +it now remains to see whether they are worth the +gathering. Help me get on this suit.”</p> +<p>Both worked deftly, and it was soon adjusted. The +main thing was the breathing apparatus, Storms having +some fear that at such a depth the pressure would +be so great as to close the pipes, and thus shut out +the air. However, the only way to learn was by experiment, +and he did not wait. Carefully coiling his +pipe, he took the rope in his hand and began descending, +the two having arranged the signals so that with +ordinary care no accident need result. Captain Bergen +held one end of the rope in his hand, ready to +draw his friend to the surface the instant he should +receive notice that it was necessary.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></div> +<p>“It is a long way to the bottom!” exclaimed the captain, +standing like the harpooner in a whale-boat, and +saw the line steadily paying out.</p> +<p>“It won’t do for him to go much further,” was his +conclusion, noticing, with some alarm, that but little +more of the hose was left on the ground. “I wish +those pearls had fixed themselves not quite–––Hello!”</p> +<p>He knew from the instant cessation of the weight +on the rope, and the motionless condition of the hose, +that the bottom had been reached by Abe Storms, and +none too soon, either. Peering carefully into the clear +depths, Captain Bergen saw, too, that his mate was +attending to business.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXI_AT_LAST' id='CHAPTER_XXI_AT_LAST'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>AT LAST</h3> +</div> +<p>Mate Storms, so far as could be seen, looked like +an immense crab at work on the bottom of the pearl +bank and along the rough rocks. He was so far below +the surface that he was insensible to the long, heavy +swells, which at intervals broke upon the beach with a +thunderous boom, and so long as the breathing apparatus +kept right he could pursue his labor without +difficulty.</p> +<p>As he anticipated, he had not been long at work +when several sharks made their appearance and reconnoitered +the mysterious intruder upon their domains. +They were evidently puzzled over the appearance of +the strange visitor, and when Storms gave one of +them an ugly prod with the point of his knife, he +darted out of sight, instantly followed by the others, +who seemed to suspect they were in danger from the +monster, whose slightest touch was so emphatic.</p> +<p>It did not take long for the diver to fill his basket, +and when he gave the signal, Captain Bergen pulled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +with might and main, and, a few minutes after, the +man in his armor scrambled upon shore, tumbled over +by a huge swell, which broke at that moment. The +basket was full, and catching it up, Captain Bergen +left his friend to himself and began hurriedly prying +open the mollusks with his sheath-knife. His heart +throbbed, for they were the largest oysters he had +ever seen, and he was full of high hope.</p> +<p>The first bivalve opened disclosed a pearl almost as +large as a robin’s egg. It possessed the faint yellowish +tinge which is recognized in the East as belonging to +the most valuable species.</p> +<p>With trembling, eager hands, Captain Bergen +opened the second, and discovered another, nearly as +large as the first. Half beside himself, he snatched +up the largest oyster in the heap, and forced it apart +with such precipitancy that he cut his hand. There +lay a pearl before him fully a third larger than the +first, with the purest tint, oval in form, and worth +thousands of dollars.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen could contain himself no longer, +but springing to his feet he threw his hat in the air, +and shouted, and danced about like a madman.</p> +<p>Mr. Storms did not remove his armor, for he intended +to go down again. His laugh, muffled and +sounding strangely from within the visor, was heard +as he joined in the demonstrations of his companion.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></div> +<p>When, encumbered as he was with his awkward armor, +he began executing a double shuffle on the beach, +the sight was so grotesque that the captain came near +going into convulsions. But the exercise was too exhausting, +and the mate speedily sat down on the shore +and also began opening oysters. His ardor was somewhat +dampened when he failed to discover anything +in the first, and he became quite solemn when the second +was equally barren of results; but the third +yielded a beautiful pearl, fully equal to the first which +the captain brought forth. There could be no doubt +now that the men had struck a pearl bank of marvelous +richness.</p> +<p>“There are plenty more down there,” said the mate, +preparing to descend with his knife and basket again.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen allowed him to go, while he took +the rope in hand, restraining his excitement with difficulty, +for he was now sure that the wildest dreams +in which he had indulged promised to be more than +realized, and he considered the fortune of himself and +friend assured.</p> +<p>“The fools,” he muttered, referring to the mutineers; +“if they had acted the part of honest men they +might have shared this, but they chose to be scoundrels, +and truly they have had their reward.”</p> +<p>He noticed this time that the mate drew more upon +the hose than before––so much so, indeed, that he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +threatened to draw the upper ends under water––and +the captain gave a warning tug at the rope, to apprise +him that he must venture no further. The warning +was heeded, and when, a few minutes later, the diver +was helped to terra firma again, his basket was filled +heaping full.</p> +<p>This was dumped out, and he prepared to descend +once more. Captain Bergen was so occupied in attending +to his friend that he gained little time to open the +oysters, and could only look longingly at them. Now +and then, while the diver was cautiously working below, +the captain snatched one up and pried the shells +apart, and the success he met with was enough to turn +the head of the coolest and most unconcerned of men. +Beyond question, as we have said, the bank contained +oysters of astonishing richness, fully three-fourths +possessing pearls of extraordinary size and value.</p> +<p>Abe Storms went down and came up with the basket +heaped to the top six separate times, and then +doffed his armor.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked the captain, in +surprise.</p> +<p>“That’s all!”</p> +<p>“What! are there no more?”</p> +<p>“Not another one, so far as I can see.”</p> +<p>“That’s too bad,” observed the captain, in a tone +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +of disappointment. “I supposed there was enough +to keep us employed several days.”</p> +<p>“Ah, Jack,” replied the mate, in a reproving tone, +“see the emptiness of riches, and how little they can +do to satisfy the cravings of the human heart. There +is enough wealth there at your feet to make you and +me independently rich for life, and yet you complain +because you have so little.”</p> +<p>“It was wrong,” said the captain, meekly. “I am +in such a nervous condition that I’m hardly myself. +I am truly grateful for what we have here, and glad +that we made the long voyage to secure them. We +have enough––to crave more is wicked.”</p> +<p>They now set to work opening the shells between +which were nestling the pearls, and the result was +simply astonishing. It was hard work to get some of +the thick, ridgy bivalves apart, but when they succeeded +they rarely failed to be rewarded munificently. +Some of the pearls were small, the majority large, +and about twenty of enormous size and clearness. +When the entire lot was placed in a little pile, there +were found to be one hundred and twenty-odd; and, +although it was impossible to estimate their value, +Mate Storms––who was the better informed––believed +they were worth at least a quarter of a million of dollars. +All these had been taken in a few hours, though +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +the preparations and the voyage thither had occupied +many long, long months.</p> +<p>“I think I will go down and take a farewell look,” +said Abe, when the task was finished. “I have a suspicion +that I may have missed something.”</p> +<p>“I am quite sure you have,” replied the captain, +assisting him with his armor; “and you have but a +short time at your disposal, either, for I think a storm +is brewing.”</p> +<p>This time the mate meant to proceed differently. +In descending along the rocks the first time, he paused +to break off some of the clusters, and he thought he +caught the shadowy glimpse of an enormous oyster, +further in; but there were so many closer at hand, +and he was so excited––despite his natural coolness––that +he forgot about it until now, when he determined +to look further, half hoping, more than believing, that +it might possess a still larger pearl than any he had +seen. He was confident that this was the only one +he had missed, for the search he made during his last +descent, in other respects, was thorough and left nothing +to be done over again.</p> +<p>Carefully he sank into the depths of the ocean, with +one hand grasping the rope, ready to give the signal +to stop lowering the instant it should become necessary. +He passed several yawning crevices in the +rocks, which, of course, were of coral formation, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +all at once he tugged smartly at the rope. He recognized +the spot, and his feet were still about three +yards from the bank upon which he had walked back +and forth so many times. Captain Bergen responded +at once, and held him suspended where he was, which +was anything but a comfortable position, inasmuch as +he could find no support for his feet, and his left hand +was of little use.</p> +<p>Immediately before his face the rock made an inward +sweep, showing an abrupt ledge, a yard in width +and depth. Scanning this as closely as he could in +the dim twilight of the ocean-cavern, Storms thought +he saw something resembling an oyster, which was +fully a foot in length. Uncertain as to its identity, +he shoved his hand in and found it was suspended to +the rock above, and after two or three violent +wrenches, and by using his knife as well as he could, +he broke it loose and drew it out.</p> +<p>It was an oyster, indeed, of prodigious size, and he +instantly signaled to the captain to draw him up. The +latter did so with a vigor that threatened to dislocate +the armor itself.</p> +<p>“Here it is,” he exclaimed, the moment he reached +the air. “But I don’t know whether there is anything +in it or not.”</p> +<p>“My stars! Is that an oyster?” asked the captain, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +picking it up and turning it over like a huge stone, +with inquiring eyes.</p> +<p>Little Inez Hawthorne had come to the spot while +the mate was down the last time, and she danced with +delight at the sight of the beautiful pearls piled upon +the ground like a heap of tiny cannon balls.</p> +<p>“What are you going to do with that?” she asked, +surveying the big bivalve, with an expression of disgust +on her pretty face.</p> +<p>“That is yours,” said the captain, earnestly.</p> +<p>The mate looked at him and said:</p> +<p>“Do you mean that, captain?”</p> +<p>“I do. Whatever we find inside of that shall be +consecrated to the use of Inez Hawthorne––to be hers +absolutely. There may be nothing at all, but if there +be a pearl, it will possess a value which we cannot +estimate.”</p> +<p>The mate reached out his hand.</p> +<p>“The proposition does credit to your heart, captain, +and I join it without reservation. Now do you +open it.”</p> +<p>The captain hesitated a moment and looked at the +big shell curiously, as if afraid to make the investigation.</p> +<p>While thus employed, Storms called attention to the +fact that the two shells were already slightly separated, +as if the mollusk were gasping for air, which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +could not be the case. Captain Bergen held up the +huge shell and peeped inside. He did so but an instant, +when he dropped it upon the sand, and exclaimed, +with a pale face and trembling voice:</p> +<p>“It’s there!”</p> +<p>Mate Storms knew what it meant, and he in turn +raised the oyster, ran his knife in carefully, worked +hard for a minute, and then managed to get the two +shells apart.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXII_THE_PEARL_OF_THE_PACIFIC' id='CHAPTER_XXII_THE_PEARL_OF_THE_PACIFIC'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>THE PEARL OF THE PACIFIC</h3> +</div> +<p>There, at the front of the oyster, and slightly to +one side, was the most marvelous pearl upon which +the eyes of the men had ever rested. It was the size +of an ordinary hen’s egg, clear and pure, and worth +a sum of money which neither of the astounded men +dared attempt to guess.</p> +<p>For a few seconds they were speechless, and then +Inez clapped her hands with delight, and asked:</p> +<p>“Is that for me?”</p> +<p>“Yes, that is yours,” replied Captain Bergen. “The +mate and I give it to you, to be yours and no one’s +else.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t it splendid?” cried Inez, catching it up, +passing it from one hand to the other, holding it up in +the sunlight, and showing as much genuine pleasure as +if she were a veritable South Sea Islander, presented +with some new trinket.</p> +<p>“That,” said Mate Storms, “may be called The +Pearl of the Pacific!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></div> +<p>“No,” objected the captain, “it is she who is the +pearl of this great ocean, for it was upon its surface +that we first saw her, and she has proved herself far +above the worth of pearls or diamonds or rubies. To +her, under heaven, my life, and not impossibly yours, +is owing. The greatest pleasure of this voyage has +come from her companionship, and all that I ask now +is that we shall be able to preserve this wealth for her, +and that the opportunity may be ours to do our full +duty toward her.”</p> +<p>Mate Storms looked admiringly at the captain, who +had so eloquently expressed his own sentiments.</p> +<p>“You are right, Jack,” said he, speaking in his familiar +way. “It is she who is the Pearl of the +Pacific!”</p> +<p>The men surveyed, with the greatest pleasure, the +frolicsome delight of the little one, who was all unmindful +of the immense treasure which had fallen to +her lot, and of the title of honor which her friends had +given her. Naturally, the entire party were so absorbed +that for a time they hardly glanced beyond +their immediate surroundings; but when Abe Storms +came up for the last time, he glanced, by the merest +accident, out to sea, and exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Oh, my goodness! Just look there, Jack!”</p> +<p>No more than half a mile distant, a flying proa was +seen, speeding with great swiftness over the water, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +while a number of dark figures were discovered on the +deck, evidently looking with no little curiosity at the +white men.</p> +<p>The singular craft, however, came no nearer, and +soon vanished in the distance. Its appearance caused +some apprehension and uneasiness on the part of our +friends, and after discussing the matter they decided, +as a matter of precaution, to bury the pearls.</p> +<p>Inez was persuaded, without difficulty, to trust hers +to the keeping of her friends, who dug a small well in +the sand, and inclosing the entire number of pearls +in strong canvas bags, made for that purpose, buried +them out of sight, there to remain until one or both of +the men should choose to dig them up again, and it +was agreed that that should not be done until the +way opened for them to leave the island.</p> +<p>The long afternoon was well advanced when this +task was completed, they fixing the precise spot so +clearly in their minds that there was no necessity of +landmarks, either being sure of finding it whenever it +should become necessary.</p> +<p>“It seems to me the swells are larger than usual, +and they make more noise when they break upon the +beach,” observed Mr. Storms, looking curiously at the +sky.</p> +<p>They had just dumped back the remains of the +pearl-oysters into the sea, so as to leave no trace of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +their work, and Captain Bergen straightened up and +surveyed the sky.</p> +<p>“There’s a storm coming––a regular screamer! +Look, by the great horn spoon!” he added, in no little +excitement.</p> +<p>There was good cause for the emotion of the captain, +for the light of the sun was obscured by a thick, +yellow haze, which was fast overspreading the sky, +and, far out to sea, the long line of mist seemed to +be churning the water into foam, and to be advancing +rapidly toward the island, where stood the two men +contemplating the coming fury of the elements.</p> +<p>The light of the sun was obscured, and there was +a perceptible chilliness in the air, and the barometer––which +they had brought from the <i>Coral</i>––showed +a most startling change. One of the fiercest of the +tropical tempests was gathering, and was sure to break +upon the island in a few minutes.</p> +<p>This was alarming to contemplate, for the men +knew well what kind of elemental disturbances spring +up on the shortest notice in the South Seas. But it +was not this alone which startled them.</p> +<p>Looking directly out to sea, toward the yeasty +waters, they saw a schooner sinking and rising upon +the long swells, and certain to be caught, in the very +vortex, as may be said, of the hurricane, or tornado, +or typhoon, or whatever it should be termed. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +craft was not an unfamiliar one––both knew it well––for +it was the <i>Coral</i>, with the mutineers on board.</p> +<p>Unarmed as they were, they would not dare place +themselves in the power of those toward whom they +had shown such enmity, but that they were literally +forced to do so to escape almost certain destruction +from the impending tempest.</p> +<p>If they should run into the lagoon to wait until the +storm should subside, neither the captain nor mate +would disturb them––provided they took their departure +as soon as it became safe. Still, knowing their +treacherous character so well, Bergen and Storms did +not mean to trust them at all. Inez was therefore +placed within the cabin, while her protectors made +certain they were armed and ready for any contingency.</p> +<p>Now that the sun was shut out from sight, a darkness +like that of night overspread land and water, +while the strong gale howled among the palms, which +swayed and bent as if they would soon be uprooted +and flung out into the boiling sea. The swells were +topped with foam, and large drops of rain, sweeping +almost horizontally across the island, struck against +the face like pebbles.</p> +<p>The mutineers were heading, so far as was possible, +towards the opening in the atoll, but they were not in +position to strike it, and, with the deepening darkness +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +and increasing tempest, the task was becoming more +difficult every minute. Suddenly a vivid flash of lightning +illumined the gloom, and the schooner <i>Coral</i> was +observed on the crest of a high wave, heading toward +the island; but the two men who saw her, saw also, +that she missed the opening and was too close in to +make it.</p> +<p>The rumble of thunder continued for some minutes, +when once more a blinding flash swept across the +murky sky, lighting up sea and island for the instant, +as if with the glare of the noonday sun. Captain Bergen +and Mate Storms were straining their eyes to +catch sight of the little schooner and its crew, but it +was invisible. In that single searching glance, they +could not have failed to see her had she been afloat. +The conclusion, therefore, was inevitable. She and +her crew had gone to the bottom of the sea.</p> +<p>Such was the fact. The mutineers had met a +frightful though merited fate, and could trouble our +friends no more.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIII_A_DISMAL_HOME' id='CHAPTER_XXIII_A_DISMAL_HOME'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>A DISMAL HOME</h3> +</div> +<p>Captain Bergen and his mate were not certain +that one or more of the mutineers had not survived +the foundering of the schooner <i>Coral</i>, and had managed +to reach the island.</p> +<p>If such were the case, they considered it important +that it should be known as soon as possible, and on +the morrow, therefore, they made careful search, but +none of the three men was ever seen again. A few +fragments of spars, floating here and there, were all +the signs that such a craft had ever sailed over the +Pacific.</p> +<p>Since the captain and mate were now given the +opportunity to think of their own situation, they did +so like men of gravity and sense. They were safely +upon Pearl Island, as they had named it. They had +secured the prize for which they had come so many +thousand miles, and they were, as the world goes, +wealthy men. More than that, they had found a pearl +of such marvelous size and purity that, being dedicated +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +to little Inez Hawthorne, it was a great fortune +indeed to her.</p> +<p>And yet, in one sense, the little party were paupers; +that is, so long as they were held prisoners upon +the atoll, for the treasure of pearls could not purchase +them food, clothing, friends, happiness––nor, in fact, +were they anything more than so many valueless pebbles. +They must reach civilization again to realize +anything from the riches which had come into their +possession.</p> +<p>But how were they to leave the island? This was +the one great question which faced them, and which +they were called upon to solve, for now that there was +no further cause for staying, the homesickness of the +men increased, and it was not long before they felt +they would give half their wealth for the means of getting +back to Boston.</p> +<p>Since they were absolutely without this means, it +was evident they could do nothing but rely upon Providence +to send some vessel to their relief. It was not +impossible that Abe Storms, gifted as he was with so +much wonderful ingenuity, might have attempted to +construct some sort of craft from the palm trees, and +it is quite likely he would have succeeded in making +something that could be utilized. But the awful blotting +out of the <i>Coral</i>, before their eyes, had alarmed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +both, and made them more timid than they otherwise +would have been.</p> +<p>It was a good many miles to the nearest inhabited +island, as laid down on their chart, and they might +succeed in reaching it, provided they could be assured +of a week of good weather. But there could be no such +assurance, and a disturbance meant the same fate that +overtook the mutineers.</p> +<p>It is not at all unlikely, too, that the presence of +little Inez Hawthorne increased this timidity. Had +they been without her, they would not have hesitated +to take great risks, but, somehow or other, her life was +inestimably precious in their eyes, and they would +never have forgiven themselves had any ill befallen +her through their dereliction of duty.</p> +<p>“There is a mystery about her life which shall yet +be cleared up,” Abe Storms frequently remarked; +“and we must not do aught that shall endanger or delay +the solution of the question.”</p> +<p>There were comparatively few stores which the +schooner had left them before its final departure, and +the survivors were forced to rely mainly upon what +the island afforded. Of course there were fish in +abundance, and they frequently rowed out in the +lagoon in the tender, or small boat, or cast out their +lines from shore, and never failed in a short time to +catch all they wanted.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></div> +<p>The spring of clear, cool water bubbled and trickled +steadily, and never failed them. And the several +species of tropical fruits about them were used sparingly, +the men having the prudence to seek to prevent +the supply giving out.</p> +<p>It was a great relief to Storms and Bergen to find, +after the most thorough exploration they could make, +that there were no poisonous reptiles upon the island.</p> +<p>“We may as well face the situation,” said Captain +Bergen, after they had held frequent consultations; +“we have been here five weeks now, and we haven’t +caught sight of the first sail, with the exception of +our own, which has gone to the bottom, and it may be +that weeks and months more may pass before we shall +see another.”</p> +<p>“It is not unlikely that it may be years,” added +Storms, gravely; “for, according to the narrative of +Grebbens himself, he was here a long time before he +was taken away. The wisest thing we can do is to prepare +ourselves for an indefinite stay.”</p> +<p>A long time before, the captain had laboriously +climbed the mast which was erected in the sand by the +inlet, and had securely fastened an old garment to the +highest point. There it was still, fluttering in the +wind, when there was enough breeze to raise the irregular +folds, but, alas! it had not brought the friendly +sail which they longed for, and they had been forced +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +at last to look upon an extended residence upon the +island as not only possible, but very probable.</p> +<p>Like philosophers, they governed themselves accordingly. +The signal was kept flying and they busied +themselves fishing, talking or doing odd things which +were done simply to pass away time. But the two +felt that a most urgent duty was upon them, respecting +Inez Hawthorne.</p> +<p>“We must do what we can for her,” said Storms. +“With the material which I have on hand we can construct +garments that will keep her clad with comeliness, +though she may not be in the fashion; and yet +I don’t know but what she will,” he added, with a +smile, “for we may strike some of the vagaries without +knowing it. Then, too, she must be educated.”</p> +<p>“I’m not well up in the line of an education,” said +the captain, with some embarrassment, “being as I +never attended any other than a district school, but I +believe you graduated, didn’t you, Abe?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I went through Harvard three years ago, and +stood second in my class. I haven’t any fear that I +won’t be able to teach her, for she is a child of unusual +brightness.”</p> +<p>And, as may be supposed, the mate went to work +thoroughly in the instruction of Inez Hawthorne, who +proved herself one of the most apt of pupils, and advanced +with a rapidity which delighted her teacher.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIV_THREE_YEARS' id='CHAPTER_XXIV_THREE_YEARS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +<h3>THREE YEARS</h3> +</div> +<p>Three years have passed, and still Captain Bergen, +Mate Storms and Inez Hawthorne are upon the lonely +Pearl Island in the South Sea.</p> +<p>Could they have believed when they left Boston +that they would be doomed to such an imprisonment, +it may well be doubted whether they would have made +the voyage, even if assured of the vast fortune which +thereby came into their hands.</p> +<p>The three years had been dismally monotonous to +them, and their courage had been tried to the utmost, +for there had been times when both agreed that they +would probably stay there until released by death, +and then they fell to speculating as to which would +be the last one to survive. According to human logic, +it would seem that that lot would fall to Inez, and +their hearts sank at the thought of her being left to +perish in the lonely spot.</p> +<p>When the coat fluttering from the top of the mast +was blown away by the gale, Captain Bergen climbed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +up and nailed another in its place, grimly remarking +that it looked as if they were going down with their +colors flying.</p> +<p>It was surprising what was done by Mate Storms, +whose ingenuity was almost incredible. With the material +at his command, he kept Inez clothed in a tasteful +manner.</p> +<p>She wore dresses and shoes which fitted her well, +and her hat was renewed with extraordinary skill, +from material obtained from the palm-trees.</p> +<p>Those three years, although of indescribable weariness +at times, were marked by some startling incidents, +and by many worthy of record. The great object +of Storms was to educate Inez, and he did his utmost +in that direction, assisted by the bright intellect +of the girl and her own ardent desire to explore the +wonders of knowledge.</p> +<p>There were few facilities in the way of furniture, +considered so indispensable in these later days. He +had no pens or ink, and only a Bible in the way of +books. He had some blank paper and a single lead +pencil, which were utilized to their fullest extent. +For a slate or blackboard, he used the beach, as did +Archimedes of the olden time.</p> +<p>Selecting a place where the water had left it hard +and smooth, Storms, with a sharp-pointed stick, made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +his characters and gave his instruction in the mysteries +of mathematics.</p> +<p>It would sound incredible were we to say that, during +those three years, the dwellers on the lonely atoll +had never descried a sail; and such was not a fact, for +there are few shores on this globe where a human +being can bury himself so long from sight of the +white-winged birds of commerce. They had seen +many ships, but it looked very much as if they themselves +had not been seen, nor had their presence been +suspected by any of them.</p> +<p>“The idea of our being so nervous lest some one +should get here ahead of us,” remarked Storms, more +than once, “when we might have delayed our coming +a dozen years without any danger from that cause.”</p> +<p>They had discovered the cloud-like picture of the +canvas sail as it came up over the horizon, and their +hearts swelled as it expanded and came closer. But +all hope faded again when it grew less in the distance +and finally passed from view altogether.</p> +<p>This had happened repeatedly, and more than once +Captain Bergen had laboriously made his way up the +smooth mast to the very top, where he swung his hat +wildly; but it must have been that the little island in +the South Seas possessed slight interest in the eyes of +the navigators who occasionally drifted in that direction, +for had they seen the signal of distress, or caught +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +sight of the man frantically waving his hat from the +top, they would have learned what its meaning was.</p> +<p>The greatest dejection which took possession of the +couple was when they, through the glass, saw the Stars +and Stripes fluttering from the mizzen of the ship +which came the nearest and then made off again. The +sight of that most beautiful banner in the world was +like a glimpse of their distant New England home, +and they seemed to feel the cool breeze fanning their +hot brows as it bore steadily toward them.</p> +<p>When it went over the convex sea out of sight, Captain +Bergen covered his face with his hands and wept, +and when, after awhile, he looked up again, he saw +the tears on the cheeks of Abe Storms, who stood motionless +and gazing silently off upon the deep, as if he +expected the vessel would come back to them. It was +a severe blow, and it was a long time before they +recovered from it.</p> +<p>The exact age of Inez Hawthorne when she became, +by an extraordinary turn of the wheel of fortune, the +protégée of the two sailors, was, as given by herself, +six years, but both the captain and mate were confident +that she was fully one, if not two years older.</p> +<p>Now, at the termination of the period named, she +was a girl as fully developed mentally and physically +as one of a dozen years, and she was growing into a +woman of striking beauty. She was still a child, with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +all the innocence and simplicity which distinguished +her at the time she was taken from the deck of the +steamer <i>Polynesia</i>, but in a few years more, should +she be spared, she would become a woman.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen and Mate Storms were honest, conscientious +men, and Christians, and they performed +their full duty in that most important respect to Inez +Hawthorne. Never passed a day in which Storms +did not read, in an impressive voice, from the great +Book of all books, and the sublime passages, the wonderful +precepts, the divine truths and the sacred instruction +from that volume were seed which fell upon +good ground and bore its fruit in due season.</p> +<p>If ever there was a good, pure, devout Christian, +Inez Hawthorne became one, and her greatest desire, +as she repeatedly expressed it, was that she might go +out in the great world among all people, and do her +utmost to carry the glad tidings to them.</p> +<p>“The time will come,” replied Abe Storms, when +he listened to these glowing wishes. “God never intended +you should live and die upon this lonely island +when there is such need for missionaries like you. I +don’t see that we are of much account, but I believe +He has something for us, too, and we shall be given +the opportunity to do it.”</p> +<p>“Ah,” said the skipper, with a sigh, “you have been +saying that for three years, and the sails that come go +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +again and care nothing for us. I am beginning to believe +we are to stay here for the rest of our lives, and +that I am to be the first one to take the long, last +sleep that awaits us all.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXV_AN_ARRIVAL' id='CHAPTER_XXV_AN_ARRIVAL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> +<h3>AN ARRIVAL</h3> +</div> +<p>When Captain Bergen was inclined to become pessimistic, +the mate treated it lightly, for he feared the +strong sailor would break before long from sheer +homesickness.</p> +<p>It was fortunate that neither had any family, the +mate being one of those who are without any close living +relative, while the captain had a sister in New +England, and his aged mother was in San Francisco, +living with a nephew, of whom she was very fond.</p> +<p>Thus the three years passed away, and the second +era in their lives approached. There was something +curious in the fact that all the inhabitants of the +lonely Pearl Island had lost their reckoning. No two +could agree on the day of the week, and when they +compromised on one, which was called Sunday, and +observed as such, they were much in doubt whether +they were right, and, as it afterward proved, they +were not.</p> +<p>One afternoon, when the sun had hardly passed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +the meridian, the mate and captain were stretched +upon the beach under the shade of a palm-tree, and +looking out upon the sea, over which they had come +to this desolate spot so long before. The day was +cooler than usual, and a steady breeze blew, rendering +the position of the friends in that respect as pleasant +as they could wish, though their weary, homesick feeling +was telling upon them. Both the ragged sailors +were thinner, and there was a yearning, far-away look +in their eyes, especially in those of the captain, which +presaged the approach of insanity or death at no distant +day, unless a change were made in their condition +and surroundings. This lamentable state was partly +due, no doubt, to the diet to which they had been subjected +for many months.</p> +<p>Inez, who seemed happy everywhere and at all +times, was busying herself in the cabin, where she +could find plenty to do; and ever and anon the sound +of her voice could be heard, as she sang some snatch +of song, which came through the mist of memory from +her infancy.</p> +<p>“I tell you what it is,” said Captain Bergen, in his +low, determined voice, “this thing cannot continue +much longer.”</p> +<p>“You are no more weary of it than I, Jack; but +show me the way in which it can be ended.”</p> +<p>“We’ve got to take the risk. The tender there is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +large enough to carry us and a good supply of provisions––that +is, enough water, to last several days. We +can rig some sort of sail, and, in less than a week, by +keeping to the northwest, we shall reach some inhabited +island, unless we should be picked up before that +time, which I consider quite likely.”</p> +<p>“I’ve thought a good deal of it, Jack,” said the +mate, in a voice of equal seriousness. “We have been +restrained heretofore by the fear that it would endanger +too greatly the safety of Inez, and mainly by +the feeling that we couldn’t stay here long without assistance +being summoned by that signal fluttering up +there. And yet, three years have come and gone,” continued +the mate, “and not a living soul has come to us. +There have been hundreds of days within this long +period when we might have embarked on board the +little boat and safely made our way to some other +port, but we could not know it, and the result is––here +we are.”</p> +<p>“And the situation is very different from what it +was when we first landed, for it is now a choice between +staying here with the certainty of miserably +perishing––every one of us––and of starting boldly +out upon an unknown sea, as it may be called, with +the chances between life and death about even.”</p> +<p>“You have stated the case correctly,” assented Mr. +Storms; “and though it is your place to command, yet +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +as you have deferred to me, I give you my promise +that to-morrow we shall begin rigging the best sort of +sail we can, and at daylight on the next day we will +start for whatever port Providence directs us.”</p> +<p>“That has put new life into me, Abe. I feel now as +I did three years ago, when we first caught sight of +those pearls. I am ten years younger. I prefer a +bold stroke for life to a weak submission to fate, with +this dismal waiting for help to come to us. By the +great horn spoon! a thousand such pearl banks as we +cleaned out wouldn’t tempt me to spend another year +on this hated island–––”</p> +<p>At this instant the voice of Inez was heard, excitedly +calling to them, and while they rose to the +sitting position and looked inquiringly in that direction, +she was seen to spring through the open door of +the cabin, and to come running toward them on the +beach, bareheaded and with her long, yellow hair +streaming in the wind.</p> +<p>“What can be the matter with her?” exclaimed the +captain, rising to his feet. “What is she saying?”</p> +<p>“Hark!”</p> +<p>The distance was so short that the girl was at their +side a second or two later. She was laughing, and +uttering something in her excitement, which, until +that moment, they did not understand.</p> +<p>“Who ever saw any one so stupid?” she called out, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +cheerily. “What are your eyes for? Why don’t you +look out to sea?”</p> +<p>The two obeyed, and an exclamation of amazement +escaped both, for there, while they had lain on +the beach talking in such disconsolate tones, and looking +dreamily out upon the ocean, a craft had been +steadily approaching, and neither of the two saw it.</p> +<p>At the furthest, it was no more than a mile distant, +and, since it was heading straight in toward the atoll, +the chances were a hundred to one that the signal of +distress had been seen, and the lonely island at last +was going to have a visitor.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen muttered something about the +“great horn spoon,” under his breath, while Storms +said nothing, but gazed steadily at the craft, upon +which his hopes were so suddenly and strongly fixed. +It might be that the hearts of all three bounded +with hope at this sight of a vessel, but the hope was +mixed with apprehension, for the sailors saw it was +not the sort of vessel for which they had been praying +so long.</p> +<p>Instead of a gallant ship, with the Stars and Stripes +streaming from the fore, it was what is termed a +flying proa, which is the name applied to the narrow +canoes used principally in the Ladrone Islands. They +are about thirty feet long, three feet wide, and are +steered by a paddle at either end. The sail is lateen, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +with a boom upon one mast; the prow and stern curve +to a high point, and the depth being considerably +greater than the width, the proa would, if unsupported, +capsize instantly, but a hollow log or heavy-pointed +spar rests on the water, parallel with the windward +side, and, being secured in place, acts as an outrigger +and removes the danger of overturning. The +same name is applied to the boats used by the Malays, +and which are propelled by both oars and sails.</p> +<p>But the one which greeted the astonished eyes of +Storms and Bergen had its huge lateen sail spread, +and was moving with great velocity, for the proas of +the Indian and Pacific oceans are probably the fastest +boats in the world. It rode the waters like a bird, and +would soon enter the lagoon within the island, for +there could be no doubt that the men on board had +seen not only the signal, but the persons themselves +who were waiting for them.</p> +<p>Inasmuch as a couple of men were discernible with +the naked eye on the proa, it followed that the latter +must descry the three individuals who were standing +out in full view upon the shore of the island.</p> +<p>“How about this?” asked Captain Bergen, stepping +to the side of his mate, and speaking in an undertone. +“Shall we rejoice or not?”</p> +<p>“It’s uncertain,” was the dubious reply. “Those +boats generally carry the vagabonds of the ocean, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +the last motive which, as a rule, brings them to a spot +like this is humanity.”</p> +<p>“Where’s your glass?”</p> +<p>“I declare, I never thought of that––I was so surprised!”</p> +<p>Storms carried it with him always, and he now +brought it to bear upon the singular-looking craft +approaching. It was so close inshore that, with the +aid of the instrument, he was able to see everything +distinctly, especially as the boat at that moment bore +off a little and then headed toward the entrance again.</p> +<p>So far as could be ascertained, there were three persons +on the boat, and the captain reached the same conclusion +after using the glass.</p> +<p>“If that’s the case,” said Captain Bergen, “we +haven’t anything to fear from them, for, with our guns +and ammunition, we can hold our own against a dozen +South Sea Islanders.”</p> +<p>“There may be others concealed about the craft, but +I incline to think not. However, it’s best to be prepared. +So let’s get to the house and make ready to +receive them––whether they come as enemies or +friends.”</p> +<p>The suggestion was a prudent one, and the two men +hurried up the beach in the direction of the cabin, +while Inez remained to watch the proa. The men +examined their rifles and saw they were loaded and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +ready for instant use, and then, bearing one apiece, +they came forth again. As they did so, something like +a shadow seemed to shoot through the trees, and, looking +toward the lagoon, they saw the cause. The proa +had entered the quiet waters within, and was coming +to rest as gracefully as a sea gull stops in its flight.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVI_THE_FLYING_PROA_AND_ITS_COMMANDER' id='CHAPTER_XXVI_THE_FLYING_PROA_AND_ITS_COMMANDER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +<h3>THE FLYING PROA AND ITS COMMANDER</h3> +</div> +<p>The lateen sail of the proa descended with a rattle +and bang, the man at the oar gave it several vigorous +sweeps, and the strange-looking but astonishingly +swift craft came to rest almost in the same position +that the schooner <i>Coral</i> occupied three years before.</p> +<p>“Helloa, there! How are you? How long have +you been here?”</p> +<p>When it is stated that this hail came from aboard +the proa, it is unnecessary to say that our two friends +were surprised, for they supposed that the visitors +were natives, who at the best could not speak more +than a few words of broken English.</p> +<p>This astonishment was turned to literal amazement +when they saw that the speaker was a Caucasian like +themselves, one of the two standing at the prow, and +looking out upon them with a smiling countenance. +There was no mistaking the ruddy, sunburned face, +the curling hair, and the regular, European features +of the young man, whose expanded smile showed a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +set of white, even teeth, and he seemed to enjoy their +astonishment after hearing his words.</p> +<p>It was curious that they had failed to notice him +before, inasmuch as his dress was dissimilar from the +others, he having the usual tarpaulin hat and the +broad trowsers of the American and English sailor. +It was plain, too, that he was scarcely a man, being, +in fact, a boy, who by some strange means was adrift +in this part of the world.</p> +<p>As soon as the proa was within reach of land, the +youth sprang ashore, and, walking straight up to Captain +Bergen, extended his right hand to him and his +left to Mr. Storms, shaking both warmly, while, as he +spoke, he looked from the face of one to the other.</p> +<p>“How long have you been in this place? Judging +from your clothes and looks, I should say about +twenty years? Do you want to emigrate? Where are +you from? What are your names? How came +you here? My name is Fred Sanders, and I’ve been +knocking about among the South Sea Islands for the +last five years.”</p> +<p>There was no resisting the jolly good-nature of the +young man, who had a habit of laughing heartily, +when no one else could see anything to laugh at, and +whose high spirits always infected others with whom +he came in contact. But it would not have required +much study for any one to discover that he was a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +wild, reckless youth, who had probably run away +from home, and taken to bad ways from a natural +inclination in that direction.</p> +<p>While this interview was going on, Inez Hawthorne +was absent, she having withdrawn at the suggestion of +her friends, though of course the visitors knew of her +presence, from having seen her on the beach.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen replied to the greeting of his +friend:</p> +<p>“We have been here full three years. If I’m not +mistaken, it is three years and two weeks this very +Thursday.”</p> +<p>“Then that’s just where you <i>are</i> mistaken!” broke +in Fred Sanders, with his ringing laugh, “for it so +happens that to-day isn’t Thursday, by a long shot!”</p> +<p>“Of course not,” Mr. Storms hastened to say. “I +don’t know how many arguments I have had with the +captain to prove he was wrong, and that this is +Friday–––”</p> +<p>And Fred threw back his head and roared louder +than ever.</p> +<p>“It’s a toss up between you. I don’t wonder that +you got muddled when you were forced to stay in such +an outlandish place as this so long. I think I would +have got mixed myself.”</p> +<p>“Pray tell me what day of the week it is.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span></div> +<p>“This is Tuesday afternoon, with a half-dozen +hours of daylight left to you yet.”</p> +<p>While this brief conversation was going on, the two +natives were upon the boat, waiting as if for permission +to land. They sat as meekly as children, in a +partly crouching position, intently watching, with +their glittering black eyes, the three figures before +them. They appeared to listen with absorbing attention +to the words, as if they understood them––which +they did not, excepting so far as they were interpreted +by the vigorous gestures.</p> +<p>Inez Hawthorne, as we have stated, had withdrawn +to the house, when requested to do so by her teacher, +but her curiosity led her to step forth and look upon +the parties and listen to the conversation––the distance +being so short that she could hear all that was +said. The natives saw her, and so did Fred Sanders, +who occasionally glanced over the shoulders of the two +men with whom he was talking, in a way which they +understood. The visitors could not fail to be greatly +interested in her, but Fred refrained for a time from +referring to the girl.</p> +<p>Mate Storms explained that the craft in which they +came to this portion of the world was wrecked, and +that three of the crew were lost, and the captain, mate +and a single passenger saved. Since then they had +looked in vain for the coming of some friendly sail; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +plenty enough, however, having appeared, only to depart +again and leave them in greater depths of gloom +than before.</p> +<p>“Where are you from?” asked the captain, putting +the question directly to the young man.</p> +<p>“I’m an American, born in New England, and am +seventeen years old, and it is a long time since I have +seen my home.”</p> +<p>“How came you in this part of the world?”</p> +<p>“Why not here as well as anywhere else?” asked +Fred Sanders, in reply. “I left home when I was +only ten years of age, and have knocked about the +world ever since.”</p> +<p>“But you are now among the Paumotu Islands.”</p> +<p>“Where I have been for a good while. Some time, +perhaps, I will give you the whole history, but it is +too long to tell now.”</p> +<p>It was apparent, from the manner of the boy, that +he wished to conceal some facts of his previous life, +and neither the captain nor mate pressed him––for, in +truth, it was of no special interest to them, their all-absorbing +subject of mental anxiety being as to how +they were to get away from the hated place.</p> +<p>“Where are you directly from?” asked Mr. Storms.</p> +<p>“From an island, the name of which I have never +heard in English, though its native name is something +like Wauparmur.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span></div> +<p>“Inhabited, of course?”</p> +<p>“Yes. There are four or five hundred natives and +their families. The island is a dozen miles in extent, +is very fertile, and has several native towns. At one +place is a good harbor, and nearly always some foreign +vessel is there. Sometimes I have seen three or more, +and when I left, four days ago, a trading-ship from +Boston had arrived.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” exclaimed Abe Storms. “So near and yet +so far!”</p> +<p>“I think it will probably stay a week longer, for +they are doing a good trade with the islanders.”</p> +<p>“You have awakened a hope that is really painful,” +said Captain Bergen, while the pale face of Mr. +Storms showed he was affected fully as profoundly.</p> +<p>“I don’t know why it need be painful,” said the +young man, in his off-hand manner, which was so captivating; +“for we were going on a little cruise, when +we caught sight of your signal flying, and we put in +to find out what the trouble was.”</p> +<p>“And are you willing to take us off?” asked Storms, +who, while he felt the question was unnecessary, was +still trembling with anxiety lest something should prevent +their going.</p> +<p>“Will we take you off?” asked Fred, with a ringing +laugh. “That’s a pretty question to ask us, when we +came for the express purpose of doing so. Of course, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +we’ll take you straight away to the island we came +from, and, of course, we’ll put you in the way of getting +back to Boston as soon as possible, and we only +regret that we hadn’t the chance to get here three +years sooner, so as to save you this dreary waste of +time.”</p> +<p>Tears came to the eyes of both the men, and, as +Captain Bergen took the hand of the youth, he said:</p> +<p>“We will thank you forever, and will pay you +well.”</p> +<p>It was an unfortunate speech, and the cooler-headed +mate would never have uttered it.</p> +<p>It might result in no harm; but why let the reckless +youth know that they possessed the ability to pay +him well? It would be time enough to present him +with some of their valuable pearls after reaching +Wauparmur, when no possible complication could result +from Sanders knowing that these two ragged +sailors were very wealthy men. But the words had +been said, and could not be recalled, though a vague +uneasiness shot through the mind of Abe Storms when +he saw a sudden flash of the dark eyes of the youth, +who said, in the cheeriest of voices, slapping the captain +on the shoulder with a vigor that staggered him:</p> +<p>“Who talks of paying one for doing his simple +duty? If you or your friend repeats that insult, there +will be war between us; and then––excuse me, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +ain’t you joking when you talk of paying well? For, +begging pardon again, you don’t look like millionaires +with a very heavy bank account.”</p> +<p>Storms trembled, but he could not restrain the +captain.</p> +<p>“Of course, we wouldn’t insult you, but you will be +remembered; and though we are not very extravagant +in the way of dress, and don’t look like very wealthy +men, yet I can promise you you shall be well recompensed, +and, what is more, we can carry out the promise, +too, in a way that will open your eyes.”</p> +<p>Having uttered these compromising words, Captain +Bergen laughed in a way which alarmed the mate +still more; for there was a peculiarity in his friend’s +actions which he had never noticed before.</p> +<p>“I know we are dressed very poorly,” added the +captain, “and we wouldn’t be very popular in a drawing-room, +but if you set us down as poor men you will +make a great mistake. Won’t he, Abe––eh, boy?”</p> +<p>And he facetiously punched the astonished and +grieved mate in the side, and danced about as if he +had perpetrated the best joke of his life.</p> +<p>Just then Storms caught the eye of Fred Sanders, +and he significantly tapped his own forehead to signify +that the captain was not exactly right, mentally. +And, when he did so, the kind-hearted mate spoke the +truth.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVII_FRED_SANDERS' id='CHAPTER_XXVII_FRED_SANDERS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> +<h3>FRED SANDERS</h3> +</div> +<p>Captain Bergen was so affected by the joyful +awakening to the fact that his long, dismal sojourn +on the lonely island in the Pacific had reached the +end at last, and by the belief that now he would be +carried as rapidly as wind and sail could take him to +his beloved New England again, that his mind was +unsettled and he behaved in a way that pained, as +much as it astonished, his companion.</p> +<p>Inasmuch as such was the fact, Mr. Storms hoped +that it would be accepted as an explanation of the +strange utterances in which he had indulged, for he +believed that the cupidity of the young man had +already been excited, and a most unfortunate complication +threatened.</p> +<p>“You will excuse the excitement of my friend,” +said he to Sanders, “though mine is nearly as great; +but he had almost settled into the belief that we were +doomed to perish in this desolate spot, and the reaction +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +caused by your joyous tidings is too much for +him.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s all right!” was the cheery response. “I +understand how that is. But, begging pardon, I believe +you have another companion?”</p> +<p>Fred looked so earnestly at the figure of Inez Hawthorne, +standing a short distance off, that his meaning +could not be mistaken.</p> +<p>“It is I who should beg your pardon,” said Storms, +in turn, beckoning to Inez to approach; “but we were +so much interested in you that we forgot her for the +time.”</p> +<p>While the girl was approaching the group, Captain +Bergen turned about, and without a word, walked +slowly away in the direction of the cabin, his manner +showing still more clearly than ever that his mind was +unbalanced––a fact which caused Storms great +discomfort. Aside from his love for the good, honest +man, he saw that he had already imperiled, and was +likely still further to imperil, their great possessions +by his rambling, and yet significant, talk.</p> +<p>The pearls still lay some distance away, buried in +the sand in their canvas bags, and must be procured +before leaving the island.</p> +<p>Since the captain had already awakened suspicion +respecting the truth, the difficulty of getting the prizes +away without detection was immeasurably increased, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +while the likelihood of his making still further disclosures +remained.</p> +<p>Storms was fearful that this sudden movement on +the part of Bergen meant something of the kind, but +the situation was such that he could not interfere, and +all he could do during the few minutes remaining of +the trying interview, was to keep a furtive watch, so +far as possible, upon the movements of the captain.</p> +<p>“Mr. Sanders,” said the mate, “this is Inez Hawthorne––a +little girl who became a companion of ours +through no fault of hers or of either of us. She has +been here during the three years we have spent on +the island, and though she has stood it so much better +than we, she is fully as anxious to get away. Inez, +this is Mr. Fred Sanders, who has come to take us +off.”</p> +<p>The handsome young fellow doffed his hat and +bowed with a certain grace and deferential regard in +his manner, which led Storms, who was narrowly +watching him, to suspect that he was of high birth and +had moved in good circles before he had made his +début in this strange part of the world. Inez possessed +the same charming simplicity which had distinguished +her in her earlier years, though she was more reserved, +as was natural with her. She extended her hand to +Sanders, who gave it a gentle pressure, while he said:</p> +<p>“When I saw the signal fluttering up there I suspected +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +there were persons here who wanted help, but +I never dreamed that we should find you.”</p> +<p>“And why not me as well as any one else?” asked +Inez, with a smile. “Is there any reason why I +shouldn’t have misfortune the same as other persons? +If there is any such rule, I have never heard of it.”</p> +<p>“I know of none; but shipwreck, as a general thing––and +certainly in the case of your companions––has +been a great injury to them. They look emaciated +and ill, and the captain is surely injured in the mind. +But you––why––well, never mind.”</p> +<p>Fred laughed and broke down, for he really meant +to say nothing that could be construed into flattery or +impertinence. There was an air of goodness and refinement +about the girl which compelled the respect, +for the time at least, of the wild youth.</p> +<p>“I am so glad you have come,” said Inez, without +commenting upon his last words; “for though I have +been as cheerful as I could, it has been mainly on account +of the captain and Mr. Storms. I saw how +dejected they were, and tried to cheer them as best I +could.”</p> +<p>“Which was very kind in you. But, thank heaven! +it is all over now, and I hope we shall soon bear you +away from this place, that no doubt has become so +detestable in your eyes that you never want to see it +again.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span></div> +<p>“I cannot say how dreadful it is and how much I +dislike it. The ship which ought to have taken us +away as it brought us, was broken to pieces on the +beach, and the mutineers, who thirsted for our lives, +were drowned when almost in reach, as may be said, +of the shore.”</p> +<p>Here was some more unexpected information that +greatly interested Fred Sanders, who began to think +he would get at all the facts by interviewing each +member of the little company.</p> +<p>Mr. Storms heard the remark of Inez; but, while +he regretted it––on the ground that it might raise +some more uncomfortable suspicions––he did not care +particularly, for the sad story was one that could +easily be told, and upon which he was ready for cross-examination. +But what more interested him at that +moment was the fact that Captain Bergen just then +reached the cabin, and, instead of stopping within, +passed on beyond.</p> +<p>The conclusion of Storms was natural that he had +gone to the upper part of the island to dig up the +pearls; in which case, in his peculiar mental condition, +he would, most likely, lose them all. This would +never do, and the mate excused himself, saying:</p> +<p>“I am a little uneasy respecting the captain, and I +will leave you two here while I look after him.”</p> +<p>Fred Sanders saluted him, and told the truth when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +he said he would forgive his departure with pleasure; +with which the ragged mate went hurrying after the +ragged captain.</p> +<p>“Won’t you step on board the proa for a little +while?” asked Fred, who was rather tired of standing +on the sand under the palm-trees. “As it is to be your +dwelling-place for a few days, you may like to select +your apartments.”</p> +<p>Inez said she would be glad to do so, and Fred +uttered some sharp exclamation, which caused both of +the dusky natives to spring to their feet and hasten +to the side of the proa nearest the shore, where they +waited the chance to help her aboard. Inez noticed +that the islanders were muscular, athletic fellows, +with such a peculiar appearance that she could not +avoid staring at them for a few seconds. Each was +fully six feet in height––an unusual stature among +the South Sea Islanders––and their breasts, arms and +legs were tattooed with all sorts of figures and representations. +Since these portions of their anatomy +were uncovered, the singular ornamentation was very +prominent.</p> +<p>They had the curious tattooing on their cheeks, +noses and foreheads, so that their appearance was repellent. +Besides this, their teeth were black, their +noses large and flat, and their mouths wider than +there was any necessity for. Their heads were bare, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +and, indeed, were furnished by nature with all the +covering they could need. The hair was very long, +but frizzly, so that as it curled up about their ears +and crowns, it formed an immense bushy screen, +which gave their heads prodigious size. Their hands +and feet were very large, and it would have been hard, +in short, to discover anything in their looks that could +attract a person toward them. Surveying them dispassionately, +one could not help suspecting they belonged +to a tribe of cannibals.</p> +<p>However, Inez did not show any repulsion which +she might have felt, but stepping close to the proa took +the extended hand, and sprang lightly aboard of the +strange craft. The natives immediately withdrew, +leaving the young captain, as he appeared to be, to +conduct the fair visitor around the “ship,” whose +dimensions did not require much time to investigate.</p> +<p>Fred explained that the proa was a vessel peculiar +to the Indian and Central Pacific oceans, and that it +could sail with great swiftness, going either forward +or backward with equal readiness. It is a favorite +boat used for inter-communication between hundreds +of the islands of the South Seas, and the Malays +employ them in a different form for their piratical +expeditions. They owe their swiftness mainly to the +fact that they stand so high out of the water, are very +narrow, and present such a large surface to the wind.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span></div> +<p>“They are good for short voyages,” said Fred, “but +I shouldn’t want to start for New York or Liverpool +in one of them.”</p> +<p>“How long will it take us to reach the island from +which you came?” asked Inez.</p> +<p>“If we start early to-morrow morning, with a good +wind, we ought to be there at the end of two days.”</p> +<p>This was shorter time than he had given Mate +Storms, but he was now striving to speak the truth.</p> +<p>“And suppose we are overtaken by one of those +terrible tempests which sometimes visit this part of +the world?”</p> +<p>“We cannot escape the risk, no matter where we +are. The storm that would sink a proa might cause +a seventy-four to founder, and the only way you can +shun danger is to stay here all your life. I hardly +think that such is your wish, Miss Inez.”</p> +<p>“No; I am as anxious to leave as are Mr. Storms +and the captain. Indeed, I think I am more so, for +I understand that they expect to wait until to-morrow +morning, while if I had my wish I would start this +very hour.”</p> +<p>“We are at the disposal of yourself and friends,” +Sanders courteously responded; “but the reason for +delay is that thereby we expect to be compelled to +spend but a single night on the voyage, while if we +started now we should have two.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVIII_THE_MATE_BECOMES_CAPTAIN' id='CHAPTER_XXVIII_THE_MATE_BECOMES_CAPTAIN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> +<h3>THE MATE BECOMES CAPTAIN</h3> +</div> +<p>“Poor Jack!” murmured Abe Storms, hastening +after him. “I have been fearing this very thing. He +has taken the matter more to heart than I, and there +has been a look in his eye in the last few weeks which +showed he was not right; but I thought, when he +found he was going back to his home again, he would +almost instantly regain his mental equipoise.</p> +<p>“But it has operated the other way, and I shouldn’t +wonder if he is as wild as a loon. When we get him +away, dress him up, change his food, and give him a +sight of a Boston vessel, he will be sure to come +around; but, he has said too much already.</p> +<p>“I wonder what sort of a fellow that Fred Sanders +is?” added Storms, whose intellect seemed to be sharpened +by the same cause which overturned that of the +captain. “I would be glad to trust him fully, but +somehow, I can’t. While he is courteous and kind––and, +no doubt, means to carry us all to the inhabited +island, where we shall be able to take care of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +ourselves––there is something about him that awakens distrust. +The fact of his having been five years, as he says, in +these South Sea Islands, shows that all is not right, +which is confirmed by his dislike of saying anything +about his earlier history.</p> +<p>“The best thing in his favor is his youth, and yet,” +continued Storms, thoughtfully, “that, after all, may +be the worst. It would seem that he is too young to +have done a great deal of evil; and yet, if he has committed +many transgressions, it is a woful record for +such a lad. It was too bad that the captain hinted +that we have so much means, and he wouldn’t have +done it had he been in his right mind; but it has produced +an effect upon Sanders, as I could see by the +flash of his eyes, and the apparently indifferent questions +he asked afterwards.</p> +<p>“But we have saved our ammunition,” muttered +Storms, a minute later, compressing his lips; “and I +know how to use my revolver, and it is only for a short +time that I shall have to maintain watch.”</p> +<p>While Abe Storms was talking to himself in this +fashion, he had his eye on the captain, who was walking +slowly toward that portion of the island where the +pearls had been concealed so carefully, and there could +be no doubt of his errand. He did not hear the soft +footstep behind him, which was so regulated that it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +came up with him just as the latter paused at the all-important +spot.</p> +<p>The captain first looked out to sea, and then behind +him, catching sight, as he did so, of the smiling countenance +of his mate––so far as his countenance could +be seen through the wealth of beard.</p> +<p>“Hello! What are you doing here?” asked the captain, +in a voice which showed some perplexity, if not +displeasure.</p> +<p>“What are you doing here?” asked Storms, in turn, +slapping him familiarly on the shoulder. “I suppose +we came upon the same errand, as we are so soon to +leave for home. The pearls are buried here, and we +must carry them away with us.”</p> +<p>“How do you know that’s what I came for, Abe?”</p> +<p>“I’m only saying I suspect it’s your business. I +know it’s mine.”</p> +<p>Captain Bergen was a little bewildered by the sharp +manner in which the good-natured mate caught him +up, and, while he seemed to be debating with himself +what to say, Storms took his arm and led him a short +distance off, and, seating him on the beach, said:</p> +<p>“There’s no hurry about the business, Jack, for we +won’t start until to-morrow morning at daylight, so as +to have as few nights on the voyage as possible, and we +had better decide on the proper course for us to take.”</p> +<p>“That is correct,” replied the captain, assenting so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +quietly that his friend hoped he would remain easily +manageable.</p> +<p>“You remember, Jack, that when we buried the +pearls there, we divided them––your half is in a +strong canvas bag, so packed that they won’t rub together, +or make any noise; and mine are in another +sack. The single pearl which belongs to Inez is also +carefully covered; and now we must manage to get +away with them, without letting Sanders know they +are in our possession.”</p> +<p>“What do you want to do that for?” demanded the +captain, turning fiercely upon the mate. “I like that +fellow. He’s going to put me on a ship and send me +back to Boston; and any one who does that does me +a service worth more than all the pearls in the world. +I am going to give him all mine, and I hope Inez will +do the same. I shall do my best to persuade her, and +if you don’t, Abe, you and I are deadly enemies, and +I’ll kill you the first chance!”</p> +<p>Storms showed his shrewdness by the manner in +which he managed the poor fellow.</p> +<p>“That’s all right, Jack,” he replied, assuming a +look and expression of anger, as he glared upon the +lunatic, well aware that he must make him afraid of +him. “If it’s any fun for you to talk in that style, +I’ll let you do it once, but don’t you try it again. Did +I ever tell you about those sixteen persons that I killed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +up in New Hampshire before we started out with the +<i>Coral?</i>”</p> +<p>“No!” gasped the captain, looking at him with awe.</p> +<p>“Well, I won’t tell you now,” said the mate, with +the same frightful earnestness, “for it would make +you feel too bad. If they hadn’t made me mad, I +wouldn’t have killed them, and I’ll let up on you if +you do not say anything of the kind again. If you do, +I’ll get mad, Jack.”</p> +<p>“By the great horn spoon!” exclaimed the alarmed +captain, “I’ll let the matter drop, if you will.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the mate, relenting somewhat. +“And, mind you, don’t you go to talking to Sanders +about it. Don’t you tell him another thing, and never +mention the word pearls.”</p> +<p>“I won’t––I won’t!” was the meek rejoinder of +poor Captain Bergen, who had been completely cowed +by the fierceness of his mate.</p> +<p>“I’m an awful man when my wrath is roused!” +Abe Storms thought it best to add; “and it was just +rising to the boiling-point when you were lucky +enough to take back your foolish expression.”</p> +<p>“What are we going to do now?” asked the captain, +apparently anxious to turn the current of conversation +into a more agreeable channel.</p> +<p>“We’ll go back and make ready to leave on the proa. +We have considerable to do before we depart. There +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +are a number of things in the cabin that we must +carry with us.”</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s so; I forgot that. But, Abe––don’t +you get mad!––what about them?”</p> +<p>“Just never you mind,” replied the mate with an +important wave of the hand. “I’ll attend to them.”</p> +<p>“All right. I was afraid you would forget ’em!”</p> +<p>It pained Storms to tyrannize over his superior officer +in this fashion, but stern necessity compelled +him to become the real captain. The intention of the +mate when he first followed his friend was to dig up +the pearls and give him his share, but he saw that that +would never do. It would precipitate a tragedy to +allow the lunatic any option in the matter. So, without +any further reference to the pearls, the two rose +to their feet and walked slowly back in the direction +of the proa, talking on no particular subject, since the +mate was desirous of diverting the mind of the captain +as much as possible.</p> +<p>The discoveries of the next few minutes did not +serve to lighten the apprehension of Storms, for when +he reached the proa the two islanders seemed to be +enjoying a siesta, while neither Fred Sanders nor +Inez was in sight.</p> +<p>Suspecting what was wanted, one of the natives +roused up and pointed toward the sea, jabbering some +odd words, which could not be understood, but which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +Storms concluded were meant to indicate the direction +taken by the couple.</p> +<p>“That’s almost the path to the spot where we were,” +he thought, as he turned and walked away, holding +the arm of the captain within his own.</p> +<p>Sure enough, they had not gone far when they +caught sight of Fred and Inez sitting on the beach, +just as if they were at some fashionable seaside resort +in summer time, and were chattering no particular +sense at all. Storms noticed that the place was such as +to command a view of that where he and the captain +had held their conversation, and where their precious +possessions were buried.</p> +<p>“I wonder whether that was done on purpose?” he +thought. “It may be he meant nothing, but I fear +he took Inez along merely to hide the fact that he was +playing the spy upon us.”</p> +<p>It was not pleasant to believe this, and yet the suspicion +was rooted pretty firmly in the mind of the +mate, who, perhaps, was becoming over-suspicious.</p> +<p>“Ah, how are you?” asked Sanders, with a laugh, +changing his lounging to the sitting position. “I conducted +Miss Inez over the proa, so as to make her acquainted +with the craft, as you may say, and since +that didn’t take long, we thought we would try a little +stroll down here, where we could have a talk without +those natives staring at us. How is your friend?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +asked the young man, suddenly lowering his voice to +such a sympathetic key that Storms felt guilty for +the moment for ever having suspected him capable of +wrong.</p> +<p>“I’m a little uneasy about him,” was the reply, as +both glanced at the captain, who sat down beside Inez +and began talking to her, “for he seems to have broken +up all at once. He was such a strong man, just in the +prime of vigorous manhood, that it would hardly be +supposed he would give away so suddenly.”</p> +<p>“I think he will soon recover, for the change will +be so radical, and the awakened hope so strong, that +he will be sure to rally in the course of a few days.”</p> +<p>“I hope so,” was the response, “but he must be +watched very carefully.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIX_FAREWELL_TO_THE_ISLAND' id='CHAPTER_XXIX_FAREWELL_TO_THE_ISLAND'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> +<h3>FAREWELL TO THE ISLAND</h3> +</div> +<p>The weather remained enchanting. The tropical +heat was tempered by the ocean breeze, which stole +among the palms, and across the island, and where the +crew, and those who had lived there so long, lounged +in the shadow, or sauntered in the sunshine, when the +orb sank low in the western sky.</p> +<p>It was curious that now, after the coming of the +proa, when no other help was needed, the signal at the +masthead, as it may be called, seemed to have acquired +an unusual potency; for, on two separate occasions +during the afternoon, the island was approached by +vessels, who were given to understand that the parties +on shore were provided for. Mate Storms, now the +captain, very much doubted whether he did a wise +thing in declining this proffered assistance, but the +main reason for doing so was the fact that the pearls +were still buried, and he knew of no way of getting +them without discovery.</p> +<p>One of the ships was a Dutch one, from Java, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +the other was British, bound for Ceylon––neither very +desirable, as they would have compelled a long, roundabout +voyage home. But Storms would have accepted +the offer of one on account of his distrust of the young +man, Fred Sanders, but for the reason given.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen, after the “setting back” given him +by Storms, became quiet and tractable, and stayed almost +entirely with Inez, for whom he showed the +greatest affection. Since she was tenderly attached +to him, and sympathized in his affliction, this kept the +two together almost continually––an arrangement +which it was plain to see was not agreeable to Fred +Sanders, though he was too courteous to make any +mention of it.</p> +<p>During the afternoon such goods as were deemed +necessary were transferred to the proa, which lay at +anchor in the lagoon. These were not very numerous +or valuable, and consisted mostly of garments which +Storms had manufactured for Inez.</p> +<p>When night came, after a meal had been eaten on +shore close to where the proa lay, it was arranged +that Sanders should sleep on board with his crew––if +two men might be termed such––while the others +should stay in their cabin, as was their wont.</p> +<p>Storms contrived this on the plea that his companion, +the captain, would be more tractable. His real +purpose was to gain a chance to secure the pearls unnoticed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +The young man made not the slightest objection +to the plan, for he had too good sense to do so; +nor did his silence in that respect lull the suspicions +of Storms himself.</p> +<p>“I wish there was not such a bright moon,” said the +mate to himself, not far from midnight, “for I need +all the quiet and darkness I can get; and I don’t see +any use of waiting longer,” he added.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen had been sleeping quietly for several +hours, while the silence in the apartment of Inez +showed that she, too, was wrapped in slumber, and +possibly dreaming of far-away scenes, of which her +memory was so misty and indistinct.</p> +<p>As to those upon the proa, everything must necessarily +be conjecture; but, in the middle of the night, +with his senses on the alert, and his imagination excited, +Abe Storms conjured up all sorts of fancies and +suspicions. There were many times when he believed +that these men, including the boyish leader, were the +worst kind of pirates, who were only waiting the +chance to secure the pearls, when they would either +desert or treacherously slay them. But, since meditation +and idleness could avail nothing, he rose from his +couch upon the floor, and, making sure that his loaded +revolver was in place, he stole out from among the +palm trees, and began moving in the direction of the +spot where his treasures lay hid.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span></div> +<p>He did this with the utmost precaution, glancing in +every direction at each step, frequently pausing and +changing the course he was pursuing, and, in short, +doing everything he could think of to prevent detection. +The full moon rode high in an almost unclouded +sky, and the air was as charming as that of Italy. +The solemn roar of the ocean and the irregular boom +of the long, immense swells breaking against the shore +and sending the thin sheets of foam sliding swiftly up +the bank, were the only sounds that greeted his ears.</p> +<p>“That is wonderful!” exclaimed the searcher, for +all at once he descried a ship, under full sail, seemingly +within two hundred yards of shore. “If these +parties hadn’t arrived to-day this craft wouldn’t have +come within a score of miles of us.”</p> +<p>The ship looked like a vast bird, when with all +sail set and her black hull careening to one side under +the wind, she drove the foaming water away from her +bows, and sped forward as if pursuing or fleeing from +some enemy.</p> +<p>Whether the watch saw the signal of distress in the +moonlight, cannot be known, but the vessel speedily +passed on, and vanished in the night, while Mate +Storms, recalling his thoughts, and seeing no one near +him, moved directly to where he had deposited his +riches such a long time before, and to which he only +made an occasional visit.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></div> +<p>He had advanced too far to retreat, whether he was +seen or not, and he stooped down and began digging +with his hands and sheath-knife. It was only a short +distance, when he struck something, and a moment +after drew up a small, strong canvas bag. Soon came +another, and then a smaller one, which contained the +wonderful pearl that belonged to Inez Hawthorne. +They were all there, and had not been disturbed.</p> +<p>“Now, it only remains to keep these in my possession,” +was his thought, as he straightened up and +started to return. “I would give half of them if they +were at home and safe in the bank––Hello!”</p> +<p>Perhaps the vision of the sailor was unusually keen +just then, for when he paused with a start he caught +sight of a shadowy figure, which seemed to glide, +without any effort of its own, over the sand, and +immediately disappeared among the palm trees. +There was something so peculiar in its movements +that Abe was chilled with awe as he stood still and +watched it for the few seconds it remained in view. +But there could be no doubt of its identity. It was +Fred Sanders, who had been on the watch, and who +must have seen the mate dig up the treasures, and +knew they were now in his possession.</p> +<p>Storms was in anything but a comfortable frame of +mind while walking thoughtfully back to the cabin, +which he entered.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span></div> +<p>“What more likely than that he will steal up here +in the night, believing I am asleep, and try to shoot +me? Well, if he does so, he shall find me prepared for +him, anyway.”</p> +<p>The first proceeding of the mate was to deposit the +pearls contained in the three diminutive canvas sacks +in a small valise, which he had carefully preserved all +through the years, and which now held a few necessities +that he meant to take away with him. The addition +of these precious contents taxed the receptacle +to its fullest capacity, but, after all, this was the best +thing to do, and he believed he would be able to keep +it under his eye during the comparatively short time +they would be on the voyage to Wauparmur Island.</p> +<p>It may be said, indeed, that there was nothing else +to be done, which rendered it unfortunate that he +could not secure a few hours’ sleep before venturing +away in the proa. But the nerves of the mate were +too unstrung by his position to feel easy, and he placed +himself by the opening of the cabin, with his hand +upon the weapon, prepared to watch until daylight.</p> +<p>As might have been supposed, in spite of his uneasiness, +he gradually became drowsy, and it was not +long before his head sank on his breast, and he, too, +was asleep. It was well he did so, for he gained the +rest so necessary, and as it was, he might have slept +longer had he not been awakened by outside causes.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></div> +<p>Captain Bergen slept on, but Inez was on her feet +at an early hour, and seeing that Storms was unconscious, +she passed out without disturbing him, and +made her way to the spring, where she always performed +her morning ablutions.</p> +<p>It was natural that the mate, going to sleep as he +did, with his mind filled with the most dismal of +fancies, should find his slumbers visited by horrible +phantasies. He was struggling with the figure of a +man, who had the face of Fred Sanders, and they +were bearing each other over an immense cliff, when +his opponent got the upper hand, and, holding him +suspended for the moment, began to laugh at his +calamity. The laugh grew louder, until it awoke the +startled sleeper, who, opening wide his eyes, saw the +veritable figure of Fred Sanders before him, laughing +as heartily as he had been doing in the struggle in +sleep.</p> +<p>“Mercy! where’s the valise?” gasped the bewildered +Storms, clutching at the receptacle which lay at +his side. “I thought you had stolen it–––”</p> +<p>Just then the quick-witted sailor recalled his situation, +and he, too, broke into mirth, in which there was +not much heartiness.</p> +<p>“What a curious dream I had, Sanders! I really +believe I have been asleep!”</p> +<p>“And what is strange about that, since a full night +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +has passed since we last met? I hope you have had +a good rest, even though your awaking was not so +pleasant.”</p> +<p>Abe Storms was excessively chagrined, for his +very action, when aroused so unexpectedly, would, of +itself, have turned suspicion to the satchel, which he +snatched up like a startled miser. This action, united +with what Captain Bergen had said, and with what +the young man himself had witnessed the preceding +night, could not have failed to tell him that that rusty-looking +valise––about which the owner was so careful––contained +a great amount of wealth in some form.</p> +<p>But what of it?</p> +<p>This was the question Storms put to himself as he +sprang up and called to Inez––who immediately appeared––and +began the preparation for the last meal +they expected to eat upon the detested island.</p> +<p>Captain Bergen was quiet and thoughtful, but the +others were in high spirits.</p> +<p>The two natives made their meal on board the proa, +where they stolidly awaited the coming of the passengers, +the “baggage” having been transferred the day +before. And the sun was no more than fairly above +the horizon when the proa started on her eventful +voyage to Wauparmur Island––a voyage destined to +be marked by events of which no one on board +dreamed.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXX_ON_THE_FLYING_PROA' id='CHAPTER_XXX_ON_THE_FLYING_PROA'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> +<h3>ON THE FLYING PROA</h3> +</div> +<p>At last the friends who had been left on Pearl +Island three years before, and whose hearts had been +bowed with despair more than once, saw the atoll +gradually fade from view, until the top of the tallest +palm-tree dipped out of sight in the blue Pacific and +vanished from view forever.</p> +<p>“It seems hardly possible,” said Abe Storms, when +at last his straining vision could detect no shadow of +the spot, “that we have been rescued. I’m so full of +joy and hope at the prospect before me that it is hard +work to restrain myself from shouting and jumping +overboard.”</p> +<p>“What is your idea in jumping overboard?” asked +Sanders, with a laugh, in which Inez Hawthorne +joined.</p> +<p>“Merely to give expression to my exuberance of +joy; after I should cool off, I would be cooler, of +course.”</p> +<p>Captain Bergen, to the grief of his friends, showed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +no signs of mental improvement, though his hallucination +took a different form. Instead of being talkative, +like he was the day before, he became reserved, saying +nothing to any one, not even to answer a simple question +when it was put to him. He ensconced himself at +the stern in such a position that he was out of the +way of the man with the steering oar, where he curled +up like one who wished neither to be seen nor heard.</p> +<p>“Humor his fancies,” said Sanders, “for it will +only aggravate him to notice them. It was the same +with Redvignez and Brazzier that I was speaking +about last night.”</p> +<p>“Redvignez and Brazzier?” repeated Inez; “where +did you ever see them?”</p> +<p>“I sailed a voyage with them once from Liverpool, +and I was telling Mr. Storms last night that I saw +them both so frightened without cause that their +minds were upset for a while. And may I ask whether +you know them?” asked the young man, with a flush +of surprise, addressing the girl.</p> +<p>“Why, they and a negro, Pomp, were the three mutineers +who were the means of our staying on the +island. They tried to kill the captain and mate, +but–––”</p> +<p>“She saved us,” broke in Storms, who thereupon +gave the narrative told long ago to the reader, omitting +the attempt that was made upon his own life by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +cutting the hose-pipes which let the air down to him, +inasmuch as that would have caused the telling of the +pearl fishing also.</p> +<p>Fred Sanders listened with great interest, for he +had known the men well, and it may as well be stated +that the danger to which the scoundrels were exposed, +as referred to by him, was that of being executed for +mutiny; and, as it was, the part of Sanders himself +was such that he would have been strung up at the +yard-arm in short order had it not been his extreme +youth, which pleaded in his favor.</p> +<p>Since Storms and his companions had revealed +some things that might have been better concealed, so +Fred Sanders himself felt he had hinted at a little +story which was likely to injure his standing in the +eyes of those toward whom he was playing the part of +the good Samaritan.</p> +<p>The proa was arranged as comfortably as possible, +Inez Hawthorne being given a place in front, where a +sort of compartment was made for her, by means of +stretching awnings of cocoa-matting and a portion of +the reserve fund of lateen on hand. The others disposed +themselves so that she was left undisturbed +whenever she chose to withdraw to her “state room,” +as Captain Fred Sanders facetiously termed it.</p> +<p>The two natives had little to say, and they obeyed +orders like the veritable slaves they were. There could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +be no doubt they understood the management of the +proa to perfection, and the strange craft spun through +the water with astonishing speed.</p> +<p>Mr. Storms deposited his valise, with its valuable +contents, forward, where he seemed to bestow little +attention on it, though, as may well be supposed, it +was ever present in his thoughts, and quite often in +his eye.</p> +<p>Several times in the course of the day they caught +sight of sails in the distance, but approached none; +for, as Sanders said, the all-important thing now was +to make the most speed possible, while the opportunity +remained to them. There was a freshening of the +breeze and a haziness which spread through the northern +horizon that caused some misgiving on the part +of all, for the proa would be a poor shelter in case +they were overtaken by one of those terrific tempests +they had seen more than once.</p> +<p>Toward the middle of the afternoon something like +a low bank of clouds appeared to the left, or in the +west, which, being scrutinized through the glasses, +proved to be a low-lying island. Sanders knew of it, +and said they passed it still closer on their way to the +atoll.</p> +<p>It was also an atoll like that, but much smaller in +size, and, of course, uninhabited. It might do for a +refuge in case of the coming of a violent storm, while +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +in the vicinity; but otherwise it would only be a loss +of time to pause at it. The fact that such a place existed +so near them caused something like a feeling of +security upon the part of Mate Storms, such as comes +over one on learning he has a good friend at his elbow +in face of some coming trouble.</p> +<p>As the afternoon advanced, and the proa bounded +forward before a strong, steady breeze, Storms thought +the occasion a good one to obtain some sleep, with a +view of keeping awake during the coming night, and +he assumed an easy position, where, his mind being +comparatively free from apprehension, he soon sank +into slumber.</p> +<p>This left Inez Hawthorne with no one to talk to +excepting Fred Sanders, who seemed in better spirits +than usual. When they had discussed the voyage, and +he had given her as good an account as he could of the +island toward which they were hastening, and after +she had answered all his questions as best she could, +she turned upon him and asked:</p> +<p>“How long did you say you had spent in these +islands?”</p> +<p>“As nearly as I can recollect, it is about five years.”</p> +<p>“And, as you are now seventeen, you must have +been only twelve years old when you first came here.”</p> +<p>“That agrees with my figuring,” said Sanders, with +a nod of his head. “You can’t be far out of the way.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span></div> +<p>“Where did you live before that?”</p> +<p>“Well, I lived in a good many places––that is, for +two years. I was on the Atlantic and on the Pacific +and––well, it would take me a good long while to tell +of all that I passed through. I may as well own up +to you, Inez, that it was a wild, rough life for a man, +even without taking into account the fact that I was a +boy.”</p> +<p>“Then you went to sea when you were only ten +years old?”</p> +<p>“That also coincides with my mathematical calculations,” +replied Sanders, somewhat embarrassed, for +he saw they were approaching delicate ground.</p> +<p>“Then before you were ten years of age?”</p> +<p>“I lived at home, of course.”</p> +<p>“And where was that?”</p> +<p>“You will excuse me, Inez, from answering that +question. I have reasons for doing so. Let me say +that I stayed at home for the first ten years of my +existence, and was as bad a boy as can be imagined. +I fell into the worst kind of habits, and it was through +the two men––Redvignez and Brazzier––whom I’ve +heard you speak of, that I was persuaded to go to sea +with them, when I ought to have been at home with +my father.”</p> +<p>“Is your mother living, Mr. Sanders?”</p> +<p>The youth turned his head away, so she could not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +see his face, and when he moved it back and spoke +again there was a tear on his cheek, and he replied, +in a voice of sadness:</p> +<p>“My mother is in heaven, where her son will never +be.”</p> +<p>Inez was inexpressibly shocked.</p> +<p>“Why, Mr. Sanders, what do you mean by that?”</p> +<p>“A better woman than she never lived, nor a worse +boy than I. You can’t understand, Inez. You are +too young and too good yourself to realize what a +wretch I was. I deliberately ran away from home +seven years ago, and have never been within a thousand +miles of it since, and I never expected to do so, +until within the last day or so; somehow or other, I’ve +fallen to thinking more than before.”</p> +<p>“Have you a father?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. I think he is dead, too, for I was +enough to break his heart, and I have never heard of +him since. I hadn’t any brothers or sisters when I +came away. I’m all that’s left, and now there is a +longing coming over me to hunt up my father again +before he dies, that is––if––he––isn’t––already––gone!”</p> +<p>It was no use. Fred Sanders, the wild, reckless +youth, who had passed through many a scene that +would have made a man shudder, suddenly put his +hands to his face, and his whole frame shook with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +emotion. The memories of his early childhood came +back to him, and he saw again the forms of those who +loved him so fondly, and whose affection he returned +with such piercing ingratitude. Conscience had slept +for many years, but the gentle words of Inez had +awakened its voice again. The goodness of the girl, +who was already like a loved sister to Sanders, had +stirred up the better part of his nature, and he looked +upon himself with a shudder, that one so young as he +should have committed his many transgressions.</p> +<p>No wonder that he felt so pressed down that he +cried out in the bitterness of his spirit that heaven +was shut from him. It was hard for Inez to keep +back the sympathizing tears herself when she witnessed +the overwhelming grief of the strong youth.</p> +<p>The latter sat silent for some minutes, holding his +face partly averted, as if ashamed of this evidence of +weakness––an evidence which it is safe to say he had +not shown for years, young as he was.</p> +<p>Ah, there were memories that had slumbered long +which came crowding upon the boy––memories whose +import no one on board that strange craft could suspect +but himself, and whose work was soon to appear +in a form and with a force that neither Inez Hawthorne +nor Mate Storms so much as dreamed of.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXI_A_STRANGE_CRAFT' id='CHAPTER_XXXI_A_STRANGE_CRAFT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> +<h3>A STRANGE CRAFT</h3> +</div> +<p>“I tell you a boy who uses his mother bad is sure +to suffer for it some time. I’ve seen so many cases +that I know there’s such a law that governs the whole +world. I thank heaven that I never brought a tear +to my mother’s eyes.”</p> +<p>The speaker was Captain Bergen, who was talking +to Fred Sanders while the two sat together on the +proa, near midnight succeeding the conversation mentioned +between Inez and the youth Fred.</p> +<p>The latter might have believed, as he had jocosely +remarked, that he had captured a small party of missionaries, +who were making a dead set at him; but his +feelings had been touched in a most tender manner, +and he had done more thinking during the last few +hours than in all his previous life.</p> +<p>The only one on the proa who was on duty was +Fred, who held the steering-oar in place, while the +curiously-shaped vessel sped through the water. The +sea was very calm and the wind so slight that they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +were in reality going slower than at any previous +time, and the task of guiding the boat was hardly a +task at all.</p> +<p>Fred sat looking up at the stars half the time, with +his memory and conscience doing their work. His two +men had lain down, and were asleep, for they were +regular in all their habits, and he had seen nothing of +Inez since she had withdrawn to her “apartment.”</p> +<p>Mate Storms kept up a fragmentary conversation +with the young captain until quite late, when he +withdrew, and Fred was left with himself for fully +two hours, when Mr. Bergen crept softly forth and +took a seat near him, even getting in such a position +that he would have been very much in the way had +any emergency arisen. The captain was disposed to +talk––somewhat to Fred’s dislike––for he was in that +mood when he desired to be alone; but he was also in +a more gracious and charitable temper than usual, and +he answered the old captain quite kindly.</p> +<p>“You’ve a good deal to be thankful for,” said he, in +reply to the remark above given. “But my mother has +been in heaven for many a year.”</p> +<p>“She is fortunate, after all,” said the captain, with +a sigh, and a far-away look over the moonlit sea.</p> +<p>“Yes, a great deal more fortunate than her son will +ever be.”</p> +<p>“It all depends on you, young man,” said the captain, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +severely. “Heaven is reached step by step, and +there’s no one who cannot make it. If you haven’t +started in the right direction, now’s the time to do so.”</p> +<p>Fred Sanders may have assented to this, but he was +silent, and he, too, looked off over the sea as if his +thoughts were running in a new and unaccustomed +channel. “My mother must be a very old woman by +this time,” added the captain, after a minute or more +of silence, during which nothing but the rushing of +the water was heard.</p> +<p>“How old is she?” asked Fred.</p> +<p>“She must be close on to eighty; and I think she’s +dead, for she was very feeble when I saw her, three +years ago, in San Francisco. But I’m going to see +her very soon; yes, very soon––very soon.”</p> +<p>“It’s a long way to ’Frisco,” ventured Fred, mildly; +“but I hope you will have a quick voyage.”</p> +<p>“I am not going to wait till we get there.”</p> +<p>“How are you going to manage it, then?”</p> +<p>“This way. I’m coming, mother!”</p> +<p>And Captain Jack Bergen sprang overboard and +went out of sight.</p> +<p>“Heavens! what was that?” exclaimed Mate +Storms, leaping forward from where he had been +dozing upon his couch.</p> +<p>“The captain has jumped overboard!” was the horrified +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +reply of Fred Sanders, who was bringing the +proa around as fast as he could.</p> +<p>Without another word, Mate Storms made a bounding +plunge after him, leaving the young captain to +manage the craft as best he could. The latter uttered +a sharp command which brought the crew to their feet +in an instant, and, in an incredibly short space of +time, the proa came around, and, scarcely losing any +headway, moved back toward the spot where the demented +man had sprung into the sea, which was now +a long distance astern.</p> +<p>It was a startling awaking for Abram Storms, who +did his utmost for his unfortunate captain. The mate +was a splendid swimmer, and, plunging forward with +a powerful stroke, he called to his friend again and +again, frequently lifting himself far out of the water, +when on the crest of a swell, and straining his eyes +to pierce the moonlight about him, hoping to catch +sight of the figure of the captain, who was also a +strong swimmer. But if he had jumped overboard +with the intention of suicide, it was not to be supposed +he would continue swimming. The mate, however, +was hopeful that in that awful minute when he went +beneath the waters, something like a realizing sense +of what he had done would come to him and he would +struggle to save himself.</p> +<p>But, alas, for poor Captain Jack Bergen, who had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +journeyed so many thousand miles, and had endured +such a long imprisonment upon a lonely island! He +sent back no answering shout to the repeated calls of +his mate, whose eyes failed to catch sight of his gray +head as he rose and sank for a brief while on the +water.</p> +<p>When Fred Sanders got the proa about he guided +its movements by the sound of the mate’s voice, and, +in a short while, he ran alongside and assisted him +on board. Nothing had been seen nor heard of the +captain, and there could be no doubt now that he was +gone forever. Nevertheless, the proa continued cruising +around the place for fully an hour, in widening +circles, until all were convinced that not a particle of +hope remained, when they filled away again, and a +long, last farewell was uttered to Captain Jack +Bergen.</p> +<p>He had procured a fortune in a comparatively +easy manner, and it looked for a time as if the payment +was small; but the price demanded now was his +life, and what more can a man give, excepting his +soul?––which, most happily, was not the case with +him.</p> +<p>During these minutes of excitement, Inez Hawthorne +slept soundly, and she never knew anything of +the sad occurrence until the morrow was well advanced. +Her grief prostrated her for many hours, for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +she was a child unusually affectionate by nature, and +she had been tenderly attached to the captain, who +had been such a father to her.</p> +<p>It spread a gloom over the boat, as may be said, +the only ones who showed no sorrow in their countenances +being the dusky islanders, who seemed to take +everything as it came along as a matter of course, and +who obeyed the Caucasian captain like so many machines +under the control of an engineer.</p> +<p>Fred Sanders was thoughtful, and, what was rather +curious, had little to say to Inez during the first portion +of the day. He uttered a few words of sympathy +when she sought to restrain her tears, but after that he +kept very much to himself, as if there was some new +and important matter on his mind, as was indeed the +case.</p> +<p>It will be remembered that the expectation was that +the voyage of the proa would terminate that night by +their arrival at their destination, but the delay caused +by the moderate wind and the search for the lost captain +led Mate Storms to feel some doubt, and he asked +Captain Sanders his view of the matter.</p> +<p>“I can’t tell you anything about it!”</p> +<p>It was not these words alone, so much as the abrupt +manner, which set the mate somewhat back. He had +received nothing of the kind from the youth since +their meeting, and it astonished him.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span></div> +<p>A hot reply rose to the lips of Abe Storms, but he +suppressed it and moved away.</p> +<p>“I wonder whether he doesn’t feel soured at the +thought that the death of the captain will prevent his +getting such a large reward for his services?” said the +mate to himself, who, after thinking over the matter +for a few minutes longer, reached a conclusion. “We +expected to reach Wauparmur Island to-night, before +dark. We shall be late, but, as it is, I shall have no +trouble in keeping awake the rest of the voyage, and +I’ve little fear that I will not be able to protect my +property as well as myself.”</p> +<p>With this, he moved back to the youth, and said, in +a cheery voice:</p> +<p>“You recall, sir, that poor Captain Bergen made +some promises to you about rewarding you liberally +for your services. My friend was a little wild in what +he said, but he was right when he declared we had the +means, and I wish simply to say that his wishes and +intentions in that respect, which accorded with my +own from the start, shall be carried out to the letter.”</p> +<p>Mr. Storms immediately joined Inez, while the captain +made no reply, much to the discomfiture of the +mate, who said to Inez:</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with Sanders?”</p> +<p>“He is watching an object over the sea yonder. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +has been expecting to discover something, and he has +caught sight of it at last.”</p> +<p>The mate instantly produced his glasses, and leveled +them in the direction the young captain was +looking.</p> +<p>There was something, indeed.</p> +<p>As revealed by the instrument, it was what might +be termed a double canoe, or proa––that is, two narrow +canoes were joined together, side by side, and connected +by a sort of framework, while an enormous +lateen sail towered above them, and carried it forward +with remarkable speed.</p> +<p>The surprised mate carefully scrutinized the +strange craft, and saw that it contained a large crew, +there being, as he estimated, fully twenty men on +board. It was to the westward of the smaller proa, +and like that was pursuing almost a northerly course, +though the experienced eyes of the sailor told him +that the paths of the two were converging, and that, +unless changed, they undoubtedly would meet before +nightfall.</p> +<p>The double canoe was about two miles distant, and +as it rose on the crest of a swell the glass revealed the +white foam which curled away from the bows, and +there could be no doubt of its remarkable swiftness.</p> +<p>After watching this strange craft for a few minutes, +Mr. Storms devoted some time to a furtive but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +careful study of the face of Fred Sanders, who was on +the most elevated portion of the proa, and was carefully +noting the course of the two vessels.</p> +<p>The alarming conclusion reached by Abram Storms +was that the other craft contained a gang of pirates; +that Fred Sanders knew them, and he was guiding his +own proa by an understanding previously had with +them.</p> +<p>And Abram Storms was right.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXII_A_FRIEND_AMONG_ENEMIES' id='CHAPTER_XXXII_A_FRIEND_AMONG_ENEMIES'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII</h2> +<h3>A FRIEND AMONG ENEMIES</h3> +</div> +<p>The double canoe, with its cumbersome lateen sail +and its crew of twenty-odd pirates, had stolen down +from somewhere among the Paumotu Islands, and +was now gradually approaching the proa which contained +Abram Storms and Inez Hawthorne.</p> +<p>The experience of the preceding few years, and +especially of the last day or two, had given Mr. Storms +an astonishing acuteness, which enabled him often to +detect the truth without difficulty. The strong suspicion +he now formed was that Fred Sanders was expecting +the appearance of the craft, and that he was +guiding his own proa in accordance with some prearranged +plan. This was an alarming conclusion to +reach, but Storms felt hardly a particle of doubt that +he was right.</p> +<p>“He intends to betray us, and has intended to do so +from the first.”</p> +<p>The New Englander took another look at the double +canoe, and he saw, even in the few minutes that had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +passed, that they were closer together. And now that +his suspicions were aroused, he detected several other +little things which only confirmed all that had entered +his mind. The two islanders who composed the crew +were continually glancing off at their brothers, and +frequently spoke in low tones, and showed by the +gleam of their swarthy faces that they were on the +tip-toe of expectation.</p> +<p>From one corner of the lateen sail, Storms now noticed +that a large crimson handkerchief was fluttering +in the wind.</p> +<p>“It is put there as a signal,” was the decision respecting +that, “and doubtless signifies that they have +us on board and all is going right.”</p> +<p>Fred Sanders was so occupied with this business +that he never once suspected that he himself was being +watched in turn.</p> +<p>“Inez,” said the mate, “go to the captain and speak +a few words to him.”</p> +<p>“But he is so occupied that he will not wish to be +disturbed.”</p> +<p>“Never mind about that; I wish you to go and say +a few pleasant words to him. Let them be sympathetic.”</p> +<p>“What shall I say?”</p> +<p>“I can give you no further directions.”</p> +<p>“I am loth to do so, but if you wish it–––”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span></div> +<p>“I wish it very much.”</p> +<p>That was enough, and the girl, with some natural +hesitation of manner, advanced to the young captain, +who did not notice her until she was at his elbow.</p> +<p>“Good-day, Captain Fred,” she said; “you have +been busy so long that you must be tired, for you +slept none last night.”</p> +<p>He looked toward her with a quick, curious expression. +There was a half-smile on his face, while his +forehead was wrinkled with displeasure. Inez noticed +this, and would have withdrawn had she not +recalled the strange earnestness with which Storms +made the request for her to utter a few pleasant words +to the youth. She therefore determined to carry out +his wishes.</p> +<p>“Can’t we relieve you of your work?” continued +she.</p> +<p>Sanders was in reality doing nothing in the way of +physical labor, since the steering oar was in the hands +of one of the crew, but he was absorbed in “watching +things,” as the expression goes.</p> +<p>“I am sure there is no way in which you can relieve +me,” said Fred, unbending somewhat from his +reserve.</p> +<p>“We are in such deep water, and the wind is so fair, +that there can be no danger, I suppose. But tell me, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +what sort of a boat is that yonder which is pursuing +nearly the same course with us?”</p> +<p>“That––I presume,” was the hesitating response, +as the young man glanced in that direction, “is one of +the double canoes or proas which are often seen among +these islands.”</p> +<p>“And who are the crew?”</p> +<p>“Islanders, like my own.”</p> +<p>“Are we going to meet them?”</p> +<p>“I hardly know what to answer to that,” said Fred, +looking inquiringly toward the large proa again, as if +he had not seen it before.</p> +<p>“Well, Captain Sanders, they must be pirates,” said +Inez, stepping close to him, and speaking in a low, +tremulous voice; “but whether they are or not, my +faith in God and in you cannot be changed. I know +you will do all you can for us–––”</p> +<p>“There! there!” protested the young captain, with +an expression of pain on his face, “say no more. +Please go away, Inez, and leave me alone.”</p> +<p>“Of course I will leave you, if you do not wish me +here, but gratitude would not let me keep silent. I +know, from what you said last night, that you have a +good heart, and henceforth conscience is to be your +master and guide.”</p> +<p>And without looking to see the effect of her words, +Inez left the captain to his own thoughts.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span></div> +<p>Abram Storms, with folded arms, was intently +watching him, and he carefully studied his countenance. +He was still doing so, when Inez turned her +back upon Sanders. Mr. Storms noted the strange expression +on the handsome countenance, and just then +Sanders turned and looked straight at the man before +the latter could withdraw his gaze. As their eyes met, +he signaled to Storms to approach, and the latter, with +no little wonderment and some misgiving, did so.</p> +<p>“Mr. Storms,” said he, “that double canoe off yonder +has twenty-three pirates on board.”</p> +<p>“I suspected as much,” coolly replied the other.</p> +<p>“And a set of worse villains cannot be found in the +South Seas.”</p> +<p>“I am sure you are quite right.”</p> +<p>“These two men that I have on board belong to the +same crew.”</p> +<p>“Indeed! I hadn’t thought of that.”</p> +<p>“I belong to the same gang.”</p> +<p>“I suspected that!”</p> +<p>“You did, eh? Did you suspect that I was in the +plot to obtain possession of your pearls?”</p> +<p>“I did not suspect it; I was sure of it, which is why +I have carried my loaded revolver with me.”</p> +<p>“That wouldn’t have defeated the plan we had laid, +for when twenty-three odd savages, with their spears, +war-clubs and a few muskets, had stolen up to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +island in the darkness, and crept silently into your +cabin, what good would your guns and revolvers have +done you?”</p> +<p>“Was that the plan?”</p> +<p>“That was it precisely. By some means or other, +which I never could understand, rumors reached Wauparmur, +months ago, that two men and a child were +on an island to the south of us, and that they had an +immense lot of the most valuable pearls. I cannot +comprehend how it was the natives gained such +knowledge, for it must have had some basis of truth, +inasmuch as it proved to be true.”</p> +<p>“There was a proa which passed close to the island +while we were opening the pearl-oysters,” said Storms. +“We all saw it.”</p> +<p>“The rumor came from them, then,” continued +Sanders, “and a party was formed to go down there, +and find out whether it was true, and, in case it was, +the white men were to be overcome by treachery, and +their possessions in the shape of pearls taken. Since +there is no more desperate and wicked member of the +gang than am I, of course I was one of the first +chosen.</p> +<p>“We started in two boats, and, as we went along, I +could see difficulties in the way which never occurred +to them. It was not likely you carried the pearls +about with you, as a person wears his jewelry; but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +most likely they were buried, so that if we came +down upon you and made an overwhelming attack, as +was first intended, we might put you all to death, and +then be unable to find where you had hidden your +treasures. Besides that, I saw that it was more than +probable you had firearms, with which you could successfully +hold out against a large force, and it would +prove no easy thing to subdue you.”</p> +<p>“You were correct in both your surmises,” said +Storms. “We were always prepared to make a fight, +and, with our guns against your spears, we would +have beaten you off. The pearls, too, were carefully +concealed where you never would have found them.”</p> +<p>“I was well convinced of that, so we resorted to +strategy. I was to go with a couple of the men and +bring you away, trying all the time if I could to secure +the pearls, which, of course, were afterwards to +be disposed of and the proceeds divided among us––the +intention being that when we got you on the proa, +you would be pitched overboard, for then the situation +would be so changed that we could manage it without +trouble. If I thought it unsafe to make the attempt, +I had only to wait until reinforcements should come +up; for the larger boat, knowing the course I was to +take on my return, had only to be on the lookout for +us, and we would be sure to descry each other.”</p> +<p>“And that was to be your signal that you had us +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +aboard?” said Storms, pointing to the fluttering handkerchief.</p> +<p>“That’s it precisely,” assented Sanders. “But there +was one force which we did not think to provide +against,” added the young man, in a low voice, in +which Storms detected a slight tremor.</p> +<p>“What was that?”</p> +<p>“An awakened conscience,” was the impressive answer. +“And it was she who aroused the sleeper. +There was something in the goodness of the girl––the +faith which she showed not only in heaven but in +me as well––that upset all my calculations. Then, +too, she seemed to say the right words just at the right +time; and you saw how I suffered.”</p> +<p>“Yes; and it gave me great hope; for, Fred, I distrusted +you from the beginning. I saw many little +things which you never supposed I nor any one else +would notice. And I may add,” said the mate, with +a sly twinkle, “that I endeavored always to be prepared +for you.”</p> +<p>The face of Sanders flushed, but he added, with the +same seriousness:</p> +<p>“Matters now are going in accordance with the program +arranged days ago. The large proa yonder has +been waiting for us, and we are now to keep on converging +lines until we meet to-night.”</p> +<p>“Do you intend to follow out your agreement?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span></div> +<p>“No; I had an awful struggle with my conscience +last night, after my talk with Inez and with the poor +captain, but the evil triumphed in me, despite all I +could do. The fight was still going on, being renewed +this morning, and I had about yielded to Satan, when +she came and spoke to me. That,” said Fred Sanders, +with a compression of the lips, “has settled it forever. +I am now your friend, and I am ready to give up my +life for the safety of you and her, hoping that heaven +will take it, with my repentance, as some atonement +for the many sins I have committed.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXIII_THE_PURSUIT' id='CHAPTER_XXXIII_THE_PURSUIT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2> +<h3>THE PURSUIT</h3> +</div> +<p>There are two angels within us forever struggling +for the mastery: One is the angel of darkness, and +the other of light––of evil and of good.</p> +<p>They had waged their battle in the heart of Fred +Sanders for a long time, and too often did the restraining +spirit fold her hands over her face and +withdraw in sorrow at the triumph of the other. But +the final struggle––the decisive warfare––was now +ended, and the beauteous countenance of the good +angel was radiant with hope and courage, for a soul +had been saved.</p> +<p>Abram Storms smiled with pleasure as he looked +upon the manly young fellow, and he was filled with +delight at the resolution shown by him.</p> +<p>“There is no shrinking or trembling there,” said +Storms to himself. “He means every word he says, +and he will stick to the end.”</p> +<p>The man tried to look calm and self-possessed, when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +he moved forward and extended his hand, but there +were tears in his eyes, and he could only murmur:</p> +<p>“God bless you, my boy! You have chosen the +better part.”</p> +<p>They were silent for a minute or so, each one’s +thoughts active, when Fred said:</p> +<p>“If you please, I would rather that Inez should +know nothing of this.”</p> +<p>“She never shall know a word of it from me.”</p> +<p>“One of these days, perhaps, I will tell her what a +villain she was the means of saving from destruction.”</p> +<p>Fred appreciated the skill, seamanship and shrewdness +of Storms, and consulted fully with him, saying +that, as he himself was captain, he would appoint the +other to his old position––that of mate.</p> +<p>The whole scheme had already been made clear by +the youth. The large proa was in sight, by appointment, +having been cruising back and forth for several +days, on the lookout for the smaller boat with the +party who it was expected would be robbed and killed +for the valuable pearls in their possession. The signal +of the fluttering handkerchief from the triangular sail +meant that the party were on board, and the original +program was to be carried out. That is, the pursuing +boat was to hold off until after dark. She was to keep +on a converging course, so as not to lose sight of the +small proa, and gradually approaching, overhaul and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +attack her at the time when the chances of success +were at the best.</p> +<p>The plan decided upon by Captain Sanders was +simply to keep away from the larger craft, and to do +his utmost to prevent being overhauled; and he +showed his earnestness in this respect by taking the +steering oar and bearing away from the other, so that, +instead of being converging, they became parallel.</p> +<p>The two natives displayed some surprise when they +observed this action, but they said nothing, and most +likely felt no suspicion as yet of their captain, whose +desperation and heartlessness on more than one previous +occasion had won the confidence of the islanders.</p> +<p>It was not long before the change was noticed on +board the pursuer, where, most likely, it was accepted +as the proper thing, possibly on account of the fear +from the passengers.</p> +<p>“I have no revolver like you,” said Captain Fred, +after they had kept this up for a couple of hours, “but +I have a double-barreled pistol which is loaded to the +muzzle. You have your six-chambered weapon, and +you must keep it ready, for, when the two islanders +here become certain of the truth, it is more than probable +they will make a savage attack on us, for two +more desperate demons never lived.”</p> +<p>“I should hardly think so,” said the mate, glancing +furtively at them.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span></div> +<p>“No; they are as meek looking as lambs, but they +were sent with me on account of their fierce courage. +Why, they were ready and eager, when we visited you +upon the island, to make an open attack, where the +chances of their defeat were about even. They would +rather fight and kill any moment than eat, and I had +to be pretty sharp to restrain them.”</p> +<p>“I shan’t forget your warning.”</p> +<p>“It won’t do for either of us to sleep to-night, for +they are as treacherous as cobras. They would feign +slumber on purpose to put us off our guard, and then +stab us to death in our sleep.”</p> +<p>“Will we not reach Wauparmur to-night?”</p> +<p>“It is doubtful, for the change we have made in +the course is taking us away from the true direction +and gives the advantage to them, as they are closer in +than we. We have lost some good ground from the +lightness of the wind, and we shall be fortunate if we +catch sight of the place before to-morrow’s sunrise.”</p> +<p>“After all, Captain Fred, it must be a question of +speed between us and our pursuer. Which, therefore, +is the faster, the double canoe yonder or ourselves?”</p> +<p>A troubled expression came over the face of the +young captain, as he answered:</p> +<p>“I don’t know, for there has never been a test. We +kept company most of the way out, but we rattled +along without any thought of speed, sometimes together +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +and sometimes apart; but my opinion is that in +moderate weather like the present there is little difference +between us, or if there is any it is in our favor. +In a strong wind, the other would he apt to outspeed +us.”</p> +<p>“We are going to have more wind,” said the mate, +looking anxiously about him. “I think I perceive it +freshening already.”</p> +<p>“I fear the same thing,” said Fred, who was manifestly +very uneasy. “We are now about two miles +apart, and the prospect is that that will be cut down +one-half by sunset.”</p> +<p>“And then?”</p> +<p>Fred shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p>“All is not lost. When the sun goes down, with us +a mile apart, we shall be invisible; but they will crowd +all speed, and stand a good chance of coming up with +us again.”</p> +<p>“But we gain a chance to maneuver.”</p> +<p>“There is hope and yet great risk in that, for if we +can throw them off the track we shall be safe, for we +can easily get beyond their range of vision long before +sunrise; but at the same time, in making these sharp +turns, we shall lose a great deal of ground, provided +we don’t succeed, and if they once get in sight of us +after the moon rises, the race will be ended, for we +won’t gain a chance to dodge them again.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span></div> +<p>“And then?”</p> +<p>“There will be the worst fight you ever saw. We +shall have to begin by shooting these two, or pitching +them overboard, if they don’t happen to get their work +in ahead of us, and then we shall have more than +twenty savage islanders to keep off––if we can.”</p> +<p>“We are pretty well armed, Captain Fred.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we have our pistols, and there is a musket +apiece for you, me and Inez––for she will have to take +a hand in the fight.”</p> +<p>“And there will be no braver than she. Have they +any firearms on board?”</p> +<p>“I’m sorry to say they have, and that’s what makes +me more anxious than anything else. There are +spears, knives, battle-axes and at least six loaded muskets, +and what is more, the men who have them in +hand know how to use them.”</p> +<p>Mate Storms looked anxious, as well he might, for +this was a phase of the question which had not presented +itself to him. The case being as it was, the +pursuers would be likely to begin firing as soon as +they came within range, and when close in, the matter +would be entirely within their hands.</p> +<p>Everything seemed to augur ill for the fugitives. +The wind was steadily increasing and the flying proa +was dashing through the water at a tremendous rate. +The pursuing one had already shifted its course, so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +that this early in the afternoon the struggle had begun +and settled down to a virtual test of speed.</p> +<p>“What do you suppose they think of the whole +business?” asked Mate Storms, looking back at the +double canoe as it rose on a huge swell at the same +moment that they themselves sank in the vast, watery +waste.</p> +<p>“I don’t know whether they think anything is +wrong yet or not, but imagine I am trying to keep off +until after dark.”</p> +<p>“Why, then, don’t they respect your purpose and +work with you?”</p> +<p>“The leader of that company is an islander who is +somewhat jealous of me. He believes he knows more +about such business than I do, and he has made up his +mind to keep this in hand, no matter what my wishes +are. So, though he may think I mean all right, yet he +is sure he knows better, and governs himself accordingly.”</p> +<p>“These two men here on board try to look indifferent, +but they act suspiciously to me.”</p> +<p>“And they are suspicious, too.”</p> +<p>Fred Sanders might have added further that they +were not only suspicious, but had actually discovered +the truth.</p> +<p>They understood the purpose which had brought all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +three to the lonely island, and they knew that that +purpose had been changed.</p> +<p>Inez Hawthorne, the girl of his own race, had +caused this wonderful transformation in the heart of +the young captain, and instead of being her enemy, +he had become the devoted friend of herself and companion. +While they could not understand the English +tongue as they heard it spoken, they could read +the meaning of looks and gestures and the confidential +talks which they saw going on around them. They +were convinced that their captain intended to betray +them, and prevent the wealth from falling into their +hands.</p> +<p>Would they submit?</p> +<p>Far from it. They would not only refuse to give +their assent to any such perfidy, but they would use +their utmost endeavors to defeat it. Such was their +purpose, and Fred Sanders knew it, for he understood +the character of the wretches; well, therefore, was it +that he whispered the warning in the ear of Mate +Abram Storms.</p> +<p>Inez Hawthorne sat at the front of the proa, in the +place that had been assigned her, for something +seemed to tell her that the men were so occupied with +their duties that it would be better for her to keep +away from them. It was with much reluctance that +she consented to exchange the few words with Captain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +Fred Sanders, and little did she dream that it was +those same few words which turned the young man +from a deadly enemy into the most devoted ally, and +gave some promise of life to herself and her companion. +Yet, as we have shown, such was the fact.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXIV_CLOSING_IN' id='CHAPTER_XXXIV_CLOSING_IN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2> +<h3>CLOSING IN</h3> +</div> +<p>When the sun sank in the western horizon, the +situation of the two craft had not materially changed. +The larger had perceptibly gained upon the smaller; +but a good distance still separated them, and +both parties were doing their utmost. The wind was +blowing stronger than at mid-day, but it was not such +a gale as had been feared, and our friends were not +without hope of eluding the natives, who were endeavoring +to overtake them.</p> +<p>Inez Hawthorne could not avoid seeing how matters +stood, though she was far from suspecting the whole +truth. Mr. Storms told her that the other boat contained +pirates, who were doing their utmost to overtake +them, and they were striving their hardest to prevent +it. As it stood, there was a prospect of a fight, in +which she would likely be called upon to take part. +She smiled, looked reverently upward, and said she +was ready whenever needed, and then she remained as +cool and watchful as either of her friends.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span></div> +<p>Mr. Storms advised her not to go to sleep, as the +coming night must decide the case one way or the +other for them.</p> +<p>“No fear of my sleeping,” she said. “I realize our +position too well to do that.”</p> +<p>“And Inez,” whispered Storms, “these two savages +on board are the worst sort of men. Keep watch, and +do not place yourself in too dangerous a position +respecting them.”</p> +<p>“I have been alarmed more than once at their looks +and mutterings.”</p> +<p>As the sun went down, it was a curious sight when +the double canoe rose on a swell and was outlined +against the flaming disc behind, as we have described +the ship and the moon more than three years before.</p> +<p>The sight was a strange one, though it lasted but a +moment, when the craft went down, and the smaller +proa swiftly climbed the long slope of the watery +mountain in front. The round moon speedily rose in +the sky, and it was so bright that it was hard to tell +when twilight ended and its light began.</p> +<p>Never did Storms and Sanders long for utter darkness +more than on the present occasion. Had the +moon been obscured, they would have made a sharp +turn in their flight, with every prospect of throwing +the others completely off their trail, and with every +reason to hope for a clean escape before sunrise.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span></div> +<p>But the flood of moon light prevented either proa +losing sight of the other.</p> +<p>“There’s only one thing left to us now,” said the +young captain.</p> +<p>“And that’s to fight.”</p> +<p>Fred nodded his head.</p> +<p>“Well, we can do that. But I wish we were well +rid of these fellows with us. It puts us between two +fires, and there can be no doubt they suspect the +truth.”</p> +<p>“I am sure of that. Hello!”</p> +<p>Mr. Storms had hold of the steering-oar, and Fred +was sitting close to him when he uttered the last exclamation, +and, springing forward, hastily drew his +pistol, took a quick aim and fired.</p> +<p>A frenzied howl followed, and one of the crew made +a furious plunge far out into the sea, and, going down +like a log, never came up again.</p> +<p>“Over with you, too!” shouted Sanders, in their +native tongue, his eyes flashing; “not an instant, or +I’ll shoot!”</p> +<p>The savage did not hesitate, with his knife clenched +in his hand, and the young captain leveled his pistol +at him.</p> +<p>The sight of the muzzle so close to his skull, and the +finger resolutely pressing the trigger, were too much, +and the savage made a tremendous leap, like a tiger +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +springing from his hiding-place, went far out into the +sea, and, quickly coming to the surface, blew the water +from his mouth, and began swimming with a swift, +powerful stroke in the direction of the pursuing boat.</p> +<p>“Did you see that?” inquired Sanders, beginning +coolly to reload his pistol.</p> +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> +<p>“Did you know why I fired as quickly as I did?”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“That wretch had drawn his knife, and was moving +in the direction of the unsuspecting Inez, sitting there. +I overheard him say something which aroused my suspicion, +and he was in the very act of raising his knife +when I fired.”</p> +<p>“Is it possible? He deserved death, then, and you +finished him. But what purpose could they have in +killing an innocent girl like her?”</p> +<p>“Pure fiendishness––that’s all. Then they meant +to make their attack upon us, and they would have +made things lively.”</p> +<p>“But how much better it would have been had they +waited until the others attacked, when they could have +made a fatal diversion?”</p> +<p>“Most certainly; but their course shows the nature +of the wretches. They are so fiendish and so eager to +fight that they have no judgment.”</p> +<p>“Are we heading toward Wauparmur, Fred?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span></div> +<p>“No; we are steering wide of it.”</p> +<p>“Since, then, we are engaged in a regular chase for +that port, why not head straight for the island, so as +to have that advantage, at least?”</p> +<p>“You are right, for there is nothing to be gained +by maneuvering to throw them off the track.”</p> +<p>Fred Sanders took a small compass from his pocket, +and studied it carefully for a minute or two by the +light of the moon. Then he gave directions to Storms +to bear more to the left, or the westward, until finally +he informed him that they were heading directly for +the port where all their hopes were now centered.</p> +<p>The wind fell slightly, but the pursuing boat +steadily gained, and it was impossible to see how +our friends could escape a hand-to-hand fight with the +pirates, and there could be but one issue to such an +encounter.</p> +<p>The islanders were thoughtful enough to lower +their immense sail, and stand by until they could pick +up their comrade struggling in the water, actuated +probably as much by curiosity to know the facts as by +humanity.</p> +<p>This gave our friends a show once more, and they +drew away from their pursuers; but, alas! not to an +extent to leave them out of sight, and until they could +do so, they could not hope to accomplish anything.</p> +<p>Mr. Storms was not without a strong hope of seeing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +some friendly sail, to which they could hasten for assistance, +and he continually searched the horizon, telling +Inez to do the same.</p> +<p>Captain Fred did not expect anything of that nature, +and, since the glasses were in his hands, he kept +them turned most of the time in the direction of the +double canoe, and called out his information and orders +to his mate at the helm.</p> +<p>Of course the distance was much less than a mile, +or the proa would scarcely have been discernible, but +the moonlight was strong, such as those who live in +temperate zones can hardly realize, and the illumination +of the sea was wonderfully brilliant.</p> +<p>Both Fred and Storms, who had spent years in the +South Seas, agreed that they had never seen anything +like it before, and, for all purposes, it might as well +have been broad day. The finest print could have +been read with ease, and the glasses leveled at the approaching +boat showed the crowds of swarthy pirates +on board, all as eager as wolves to come up with the +craft, which they were gaining so steadily upon.</p> +<p>And the fugitives knew well enough what the sequel +would be. The rival of Captain Fred would want no +better excuse for cutting him and his companions to +pieces, and the wealth in their possession would be +more “loot” than the same parties could obtain in a +dozen piratical expeditions.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span></div> +<p>“But they shall never get a pennyworth of it!” said +Abe Storms to Fred.</p> +<p>The latter lowered his glass and looked inquiringly +at him.</p> +<p>“When it becomes absolutely certain that they have +got us, I shall throw all the pearls overboard, so that +they shall gain nothing more than our lives.”</p> +<p>“That’s right; only,” said the young captain, with +a smile, “I advise you not to be in too much of a hurry +about it, for you will feel somewhat mortified if we +reach Wauparmur, after all, and you find you have +cast your whole wealth into the sea.”</p> +<p>“I shan’t lose my head,” said the mate, with a +laugh, “unless one of them takes it off.”</p> +<p>Inez Hawthorne was silent at the prow of the proa, +where she was looking for the longed-for sail, which, +alas! was never to appear, for she, too, had come to believe +there was no other hope for her and her friends.</p> +<p>Mate Storms and Captain Fred happened to turn +their heads at the same moment, and were looking at +the double proa coming up with them very rapidly, +when each uttered an exclamation, for they suddenly +saw a red flash at the prow of the boat, a puff of +smoke, and then the report of a musket reached them +almost at the same instant that the whistle of the bullet +through the rigging was heard.</p> +<p>“By George, they are firing at us!” said Fred, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +if it was not the most natural thing in the world for +them to do.</p> +<p>“Yes, and they’re aiming pretty well, too, for that +shot went through the sail!”</p> +<p>“I hardly supposed they were near enough to do +that, but they are in earnest. Wouldn’t it be a good +idea to reply to their hail?”</p> +<p>“It would, most undoubtedly!”</p> +<p>Putting up his glass, Captain Fred dived forward, +brought out one of the muskets, and taking deliberate +aim, fired at the approaching craft.</p> +<p>His shot was a fortunate one, too, for the cry which +instantly followed showed that some one was struck. +The others did not fire again for some time, but +seemed to concentrate all their energies and attention +upon the pursuit, which was turning more and more +every minute in their favor.</p> +<p>“I don’t see any escaping a fight,” said Fred Sanders. +“Inez says she hasn’t caught a glimpse of a sail, +and I am sure she won’t. We may as well bring our +guns here and be ready to repel boarders.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXV_WAUPARMUR' id='CHAPTER_XXXV_WAUPARMUR'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV</h2> +<h3>WAUPARMUR</h3> +</div> +<p>Oftener than we suppose does heaven interfere directly +in the affairs of men. Minutes had passed since +Sanders and Storms had agreed that no earthly occurrence +could avert a fight with the dusky demons, with +scarcely a grain of hope for escape from them, when +Inez uttered the astounding exclamation:</p> +<p>“We are gaining on them!”</p> +<p>It was inconceivable, and the two looked again to +the rear to learn the cause of her unaccountable delusion. +Five minutes later Sanders added in a husky +gasp:</p> +<p>“She is right; we are not only gaining, but we are +gaining fast.”</p> +<p>“How do you account for it?”</p> +<p>“I can’t account for it.”</p> +<p>“I can.”</p> +<p>“How?” asked the amazed youth.</p> +<p>“God interposes many times when mortals do not +see it,” said the New Englander reverently; “there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span> +is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. You +have repented, and He has extended his hand to help +you.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you are right,” replied Sanders, much +impressed.</p> +<p>“I <i>know</i> I am right.”</p> +<p>“And I hope to prove worthy of such undeserved +kindness. All I ask is the opportunity.”</p> +<p>“It shall be granted you. But, humanly speaking, +there has been some accident on board that craft +yonder.”</p> +<p>“It must be that; as a sailor, you know any one of +a half dozen things would be sufficient to throw them +out of the race. A ripping of the sail, a fracture of +the mast, the breaking of the steering gear, or some +sudden quarrel would do the trick. Sufficient for us +is it to know that it has been done.”</p> +<p>“God helps them that helps themselves,” added +Storms, “and we must improve to the utmost the +chance thrown in our way.”</p> +<p>Naturally the fear of the two was that their pursuers +might repair the accident which was throwing +them to the rear for the time, and regain what was +lost. They steadily fell behind, and, as soon as invisible, +the proa made an abrupt change in her course, +with the view of defeating the calamity that they +feared threatened them. When this had lasted for an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +hour, another change was effected, with the result, as +Sanders announced, that they were now heading +directly for Wauparmur.</p> +<p>The eyes peering backward through the vivid moonlight +failed to bring the dreaded craft to view, and it +was not yet midnight when Sanders announced the +thrilling fact that the twinkling lights, which appeared +in front like a constellation in the horizon, +were made by the dwellings in the native South Sea +town of Wauparmur. All danger was past, and about +an hour later the proa glided in among the shipping in +that excellent harbor, made fast to the wharf, and the +three disembarked.</p> +<p>Fred led the way to a house of entertainment near +the harbor, in which he found good lodging for his +friends.</p> +<p>Abram Storms carried all the precious pearls to his +room and carefully secured the door, after which he +threw himself upon the bed and slept as soundly as an +infant.</p> +<p>Inez Hawthorne, in the solitude of her apartment, +devoutly thanked her Heavenly Father for His care, +and then she, too, slept the sleep of exhaustion and +perfect health.</p> +<p>It was near noon on the succeeding day when both +rose and found Fred Sanders awaiting them. The +young man had not slept at all, and was uneasy.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span></div> +<p>“It won’t do to stay here another night,” said he, in +explanation, as soon as the meal was concluded.</p> +<p>“I am sure we have no wish to do so,” replied +Storms. “But wherein lies the particular peril?”</p> +<p>“That whole crew of the double canoe are scattered +through town, and they only await the chance to kill +us. They will find the chance, too, to-night, if we +remain here.”</p> +<p>“But what is the prospect of getting away?”</p> +<p>“I was in despair nearly all the forenoon; but a +little while ago I came upon a schooner which sails +for San Francisco at three o’clock this afternoon. I +have engaged passage on it for us three, for you know +I go with you.”</p> +<p>“How can we ever repay you for your kindness?” +said Inez, her lustrous eyes speaking eloquently her +gratitude to the youth.</p> +<p>“There’s no service on earth that I can render you +which will compare with what you have done for me,” +was the reply of Captain Fred, whose manner showed +his sincerity. Inez Hawthorne did not understand +what all this meant, but the speaker ventured upon no +explanation at the time.</p> +<p>As the three were about to start upon a long voyage, +it was decided that some indispensable articles should +be procured, and, since they had little spare time at +command, the three set out immediately after dinner.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span></div> +<p>Wauparmur, as we have already intimated, is a +town numbering several hundreds––perhaps more +than a thousand––in population. Among these are +a number of foreign shopkeepers, whose places are +close along shore, so as to be the more readily accessible +to their customers, who are almost exclusively +confined to those on board the vessels which stop at the +island.</p> +<p>Back from the town the land rises into hills, and +the settlement becomes straggling and scattered. In +these portions it is composed entirely of rude huts and +cabins, in which none but natives live, and they are a +bad lot.</p> +<p>It was from among those who lived in the “suburbs” +that the wretches were gathered with which to attempt +to capture and murder the little party of Europeans +for the sake of the invaluable pearls they had in their +possession.</p> +<p>Fred Sanders shuddered when he thought of the +risk he and his friends ran by going straight to the +inn and taking quarters for the night, for these miscreants +must, after all, have reached Wauparmur only +a few hours after the proa, and the wonder was that +they did not manage to slay the fugitives in their +beds.</p> +<p>The first thing Fred did in the morning was to slip +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span> +out and buy a revolver, and his second act was to +load it.</p> +<p>While engaged in hunting a vessel upon which to +take passage, he encountered his own acquaintances +continually, and he needed not their black faces and +scowling eyes to tell how they thirsted to kill him +for his treachery. It was only by his bold front and +constant watchfulness that he kept the dusky demons +at a distance. Some of them were seen when the three +ventured out, and though the pirates dared not attack +them in open daylight, they were on the verge of doing +so more than once. But their fury was directed principally +against Captain Fred Sanders, and there can +be no doubt the youth spoke the truth when he declared +that if he attempted to stay on land until morning, +he would not live till midnight.</p> +<p>Mr. Storms laid in a good supply of clothing, shoes +and knick-knacks for himself and Inez, and with as +little delay as possible. When they reached the wharf +and approached the plank leading to the deck of the +schooner, Mr. Storms noticed a small man standing a +few feet off, with a blanket drawn up about his +shoulders and neck like an Indian. His legs, feet and +head were bare, but a huge bandage was bound around +his forehead, giving him a grotesque appearance.</p> +<p>His position was like a statue, and he held the +blanket so high that little could be seen except his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span> +black, glittering eyes. Some distance off, on the street +close to the shop-houses, was a group of other natives, +who looked as if they were expecting some important +event.</p> +<p>So they were, indeed!</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXVI_HOMEWARD_BOUND' id='CHAPTER_XXXVI_HOMEWARD_BOUND'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVI</h2> +<h3>HOMEWARD BOUND</h3> +</div> +<p>“Storms, do you notice that fellow?” asked Fred +Sanders, as they approached the plank.</p> +<p>“Yes; it looks odd to see him standing there so motionless, +and yet with his eyes fixed upon us.”</p> +<p>“He’s Weroo, the man who led that gang of pirates +last night, and he hates me with such a consuming +hate that he sent out his men to kill me, and in case +they fail to do so, he has stationed himself there with +the determination to assassinate me, for he is ready +to run any risk rather than allow me to get away.”</p> +<p>“Are you prepared?” asked Storms, with no little +anxiety.</p> +<p>“I rather guess so! Walk ahead with Inez and +leave him to me.”</p> +<p>With some hesitation, Storms did as requested, +though he placed his hand on his revolver, so as to +be ready for any emergency, the crew of the <i>Albatross</i>, +who were busying themselves around, seeming to hold +no suspicion of the situation.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span></div> +<p>Just as Captain Fred put his foot on the plank, the +islander took a short step forward, like a panther +gathering himself for the leap upon its victim. At +that very instant, as if by intuition, Captain Fred +turned about and leveled his revolver at the muffled +figure, which paused. Every one who was looking on +supposed, of course, the boy was going to fire, but, +though his finger pressed the trigger, he did not discharge +his weapon. With the pistol pointed straight +at the savage, Fred slowly backed up the plank, keeping +his foe covered until he himself was on the deck +of the schooner.</p> +<p>The barbarian seemed paralyzed. After taking the +slight step forward, he paused and stood motionless, +staring and transfixed, until his victim was beyond his +reach. Then, without a word or exclamation, he +turned about, and strode away to where his infuriated +and discomfited comrades were watching him with not +the slightest doubt he would prevent the escape of the +white boy. Within the succeeding hour the <i>Albatross</i> +was standing down the bay, with all sail spread; and +her long voyage to distant California was begun.</p> +<p>Ah, that journey from the South Seas across the +equator and northward into the stern climate of the +Temperate Zone!</p> +<p>Not one of those who participated in it can forget +it to his dying day. They had many hours of fierce, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +wild weather, in which the <i>Albatross</i> was more than +once in danger, but Captain Hardy was a good sailor, +he had a good crew, and he safely rode through it all.</p> +<p>Then came those delightful nights which seem peculiar +to the Pacific, when the moonlight takes on a +witchery of its own, and the calm sea becomes like an +enchanted lake as the vessel glides over it.</p> +<p>Captain Hardy was a kind man as well as a skilful +sailor, and, since he received a most liberal price for +the passage of the three persons who joined him at +Wauparmur, the best treatment was given them.</p> +<p>It was on this homeward voyage that Captain Fred +Sanders told to Mate Storms and Inez Hawthorne the +story of his life, the main points of which have +already been hinted to the reader. He ran away from +his home in San Francisco when but a mere boy, +scarcely ten years old. He was led into all sorts of +evil, and was so deeply implicated in a fierce mutiny +that, as we have said, he would have been strung up +at the yard-arm, excepting for his extreme youth.</p> +<p>He then joined a trading vessel in the South Seas, +but the crew were attacked and massacred by a band +of pirates, and he was taken off a prisoner. These +pirates belonged to the Wauparmur settlement, and +they were so pleased with the bravery displayed by the +boy that they adopted him among them. There was +something in the life which was attractive to the wild +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span> +American lad, and he embraced it eagerly, and spent +five years among them. His bravery, skill, and natural +“smartness,” advanced him rapidly along the line +of promotion, until, while yet a boy, he became an +acknowledged leader.</p> +<p>Captain Fred spent a portion of his time in the +settlement, where he showed his good sense, in one +respect at least, by picking up all the education he +could from the instructors who were to be found there. +He succeeded well––which will explain the intelligence +he displayed in this respect while conversing +with his friends.</p> +<p>He confessed all this, and said further that his +mother died before he ran away, and he had no idea +where his father was; but, if he were alive, the son +determined to find him, no matter where he might be +on the broad earth. Now that his conscience had +been awakened, his affection came back with it, and +his great fear was that he would not see his parent +alive.</p> +<p>It was a source of never-ending wonder to Fred +Sanders how it was he could have been so wicked a +lad, and how it was that his moral sense could have +been so totally eclipsed for years. The gentle, winning +words of Inez Hawthorne had first aroused his +conscience, until finally it would not allow him to rest +until he had made his peace with it.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXVII_CONCLUSION' id='CHAPTER_XXXVII_CONCLUSION'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVII</h2> +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> +</div> +<p>Many a long hour did the two––Fred and Inez––spend +in talking together of the past and their future. +They were as brother and sister to each other, and +their prospects were discussed as if it were fixed that +they should never lose sight of each other again.</p> +<p>It was on this voyage, too, that Abram Storms disclosed +the plan of action he had decided upon.</p> +<p>“The pearls which I have in my possession I shall +dispose of in San Francisco––or at least a portion of +them. Those which were my share, according to the +original agreement, I shall keep. The single pearl, +which will doubtless bring a large price in New York, +is the property of Inez, and shall be devoted to her +benefit. I intend to place her in a school and make +a systematic effort to trace her parentage. The pearls +left by Captain Bergen go to you, Fred.”</p> +<p>But here occurred the first stumbling-block. Fred +Sanders refused pointedly, but firmly, to accept a +single one of them. He declared he had no claim +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span> +upon any one of that little party, and he would not +suffer himself to be dissuaded from his position.</p> +<p>He was yet young, vigorous and ambitious, and +with the help of heaven he would carve out his own +fortune. Seeing it was useless to argue the question, +Storms fell back upon the original intention of Captain +Bergen, which was to devote the greater portion +of his wealth to charity.</p> +<p>In due time, the <i>Albatross</i> glided through the +Golden Gate, and our friends found themselves in +San Francisco, whose streets all had trod years before.</p> +<p>The first thing Storms did after establishing Inez +in pleasant quarters was to hunt up the mother of +Captain Bergen, and he prosecuted his search with a +heavy heart, bearing the bad news which he did. He +was relieved to find that she had been dead fully two +years, and the nearest relative of the captain remaining +was his cousin, who was in such affluent circumstances +that Storms decided not to give him any portion +of the wealth left by the deceased captain.</p> +<p>While Abe Storms was engaged upon his duty, +young Fred Sanders was busy.</p> +<p>Although he had revealed a great deal of his past +life, there remained one great secret, which he had +reserved as a final surprise, especially to Inez Hawthorne, +who, as yet, had not formed the slightest idea +of what was coming. And what this secret was, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span> +the particulars of not one but two astounding discoveries, +we will now proceed to relate.</p> +<p>The grim old sailor, Captain Strathmore, of the +steamer <i>Polynesia</i>, has made many voyages between +San Francisco and the Imperial Japanese city of +Tokio since we last saw him, more than three years +ago. There is little change, however, in his appearance, +and the same kindly heart, tempered in the furnace +of affliction and sorrow, throbs beneath his rough +exterior. There are few officers holding such a responsible +position as he who are greater favorites with +the multitudes that go down to the sea in ships, and he +promises to perform many valuable years of service +to his employers, who appreciate the sterling worth of +the brave, noble man.</p> +<p>The steamer has been at the dock several days, and +soon is to leave for her long voyage across the Pacific. +The captain is sitting in his cabin, reading and writing +some letters. By-and-by he lays down his pen, +and wheeling his chair around, gives utterance to his +thoughts, as he has grown in the habit of doing of late.</p> +<p>“I shall keep in harness till I die, for idleness would +take me off in a short time. I have striven to do my +duty to God and my fellow-man––and though much +sorrow has come to me, yet I shall never murmur nor +complain, when I see so much around me and know +that no race and no place in society is exempt from it.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span></div> +<p>“Years ago I placed away my beloved wife in the +distant New England hills, and then when the fair +bud which she left behind blossomed, that, too, was +gathered by the angels and I was left alone.</p> +<p>“The darling son upon whom I centered all my +hopes was a wild, wayward boy, and he left my roof +and has never come back again. Whether he is +or is not, I cannot tell, but I fear that, if he still +treads the earth, he is sowing the wind and will reap +the whirlwind. I have striven to forget that I was +ever afflicted in being the parent of such a child. But +alas, the roots of affection are planted so deep that it +is hard to withdraw them.</p> +<p>“Then there came to me a second Inez, and I loved +her as I did the first. Just as she nestled around my +heart, she was taken away in the most surprising manner. +I believed then that I should see and clasp her +again in my arms. But the years have come and +gone, and still she comes not to me. Ah! could I but +hear the music of that voice––could I but feel those +dimpled arms about my neck as I used to do–––Helloa!”</p> +<p>Just then Fred Sanders walked briskly into the +cabin, doffed his hat, made a bow, laughed and said:</p> +<p>“Helloa, pop! how are you?”</p> +<p>Captain Strathmore gasped, stared and replied:</p> +<p>“No––no––no––Fred. Is that you, my own boy?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span></div> +<p>And Fred laughed, and then, with tears in his eyes, +leaped forward and threw his arms about the old captain’s +neck and cried like a child, while the parent, +fondly caressing him, cried too, and for a minute +neither could speak an intelligible word.</p> +<p>“Pop,” finally said the youth, raising his head and +sitting upon the strong knee, “I have been a bad boy. +I have brought trouble to you, but I have come thousands +of miles to ask your forgiveness and to try to +cheer your declining years.”</p> +<p>“What are you talking about declining years for, +you young rascal? I never was so strong and hearty +in my life. You have made me twenty years younger! +Ah, if your mother could but see this! But she is +smiling in heaven over it, and so is our darling Inez, +who joined her long ago. God be thanked! my boy is +dead but is alive again!”</p> +<p>And, laughing and crying, they shook hands, and +talked and talked.</p> +<p>“Tell me everything that has befallen you, my dear +son.”</p> +<p>And Fred did so, as we have already told the +reader, adding that he never so far forgot himself as +to dishonor his father by bearing his name. He was +known everywhere as Frederic Sanders, whereas his +full name was Frederic Sanders Strathmore––which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span> +he was now proud to assume, and which, with God’s +help, he meant to honor.</p> +<p>They sat a long time in loving converse, and, +finally, Captain Strathmore told the story of Inez +Hawthorne, who came to and went from him in such +an extraordinary manner, and for whom he sighed +and longed as he had for his own child, taken from +him years before.</p> +<p>Fred smiled in an odd way, while this story was +being told, and then asked his father to walk down to +the Occidental Hotel with him.</p> +<p>“I have some very particular business,” he added, +“and will take it as a great favor if you will so so.”</p> +<p>“Of course I will,” responded the cheery old captain, +springing to his feet. “I will walk if I can, but +I feel more like flying; and if there’s any more good +news, I’ll set up a dancing and yelling carnival.”</p> +<p>“Well, there is good news awaiting you, so you had +better get ready to put on the brakes.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean, Fred?”</p> +<p>“Wait, and you will see.”</p> +<p>A few minutes later there was a gentle tap on the +door of Inez Hawthorne’s room at the Occidental. +She was busy sewing, and she called out in a somewhat +startled voice:</p> +<p>“Come in!”</p> +<p>Fred Strathmore threw the door wide open, and, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span> +taking hold of his father’s arm, gave him such a vigorous +shove that he was forced several steps into the +apartment before he could stop himself.</p> +<p>He caught sight of a beautiful, scared face, which +stared with something like terror at him for a moment; +and then there was a scream, and she made one +bound forward.</p> +<p>“Oh, father, father! my own dear father! I am so +glad!”</p> +<p>Again the arms were about the neck of the weather-beaten +sea-dog; again the kisses were showered upon +his bronzed face; again his own lost Inez was in his +arms.</p> +<p>Poor Captain Strathmore broke down completely. +Instead of shouting and dancing, as he threatened to +do, he sat in his chair, and, with Inez on his knee, +overrunning with joy, delight and supreme happiness, +he could do nothing but cry, cry, cry, and murmur +his gratitude and thankfulness.</p> +<p>But, after a time, he did recover himself; and then +he became aware for the first time, as did the others, +that a fourth party was present. This was Mate +Storms, who suspected the situation before he was introduced +to the happy captain of the <i>Polynesia</i>. +Since they all had such an extraordinary story to relate, +the captain had an equally remarkable one to tell +them.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span></div> +<p>The persistent and never-ending investigation +which he set on foot concerning the lost Inez had resulted, +not in finding her, but in unearthing her entire +history.</p> +<p>She was a native of the city of New York, and her +father died there before she was a year old. A former +suitor of her mother, angered because she would not +become his wife, even after her husband was deceased, +resorted to the atrocious revenge of stealing Inez +when she was but an infant, and he hastened across +the continent with her.</p> +<p>When he had kept her there a brief time, he sought +to open negotiations with the mother, with a view +of delivering back her child on condition that the parent +should become his wife; but he was shocked to +learn that the poor, heartbroken mother had died +from grief, and the child was upon his hands.</p> +<p>This man finally married a woman in San Francisco, +but neither of them could ever feel any affection +for the little girl (whom, however, they treated quite +fairly), and the wife insisted that she should be gotten +rid of in some way. Through some whim or other, the +abductor had always called her by her right name––Inez +Hawthorne––and, seeing some mention of it in +the newspapers, he resorted to the means which we +described, at the opening of this story, for ridding +himself forever of her.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span></div> +<p>As soon as Inez was safely placed on the steamer, +this wicked couple disappeared, and no further trace +of them could be found. Captain Strathmore, who +was anxious to punish them, believed they had left the +country. Inez, therefore, was an orphan, and while +a gentle sadness filled her affectionate heart––as she +heard the particulars of her own history for the first +time, and reflected upon that poor, heartbroken +mother, who had gone to her rest long ago––she could +not feel any poignant grief, for her memory of the +lost one was too shadowy and faint. But she had +found a home and friends for life.</p> +<p>Abram Storms explained that he had met three +English gentlemen who were making a tour of the +world in a large steam yacht; and, since they possessed +abundant means, and were very social, he had +shown them the pearls in his possession and offered to +dispose of them all. They were delighted with the +specimens, and especially with the enormous one belonging +to Inez. They offered twenty-five thousand +dollars for the single one, and just one hundred thousand +for the rest. This was less than Storms had +counted upon––and doubtless less than he could have +secured by consulting leading lapidaries in other parts +of the world––but he was inclined to end the transaction +by accepting it, and he asked the advice of his +friends. After fully discussing the matter, it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span> +agreed to close with the offer, and the exchange was +completed that afternoon, and the money belonging to +Inez was placed in the bank the next morning.</p> +<p>Since Storms was anxious to return to his home, +and since there was no call for his remaining longer in +San Francisco, it was arranged that Inez should enter +an excellent school in the Golden Gate City, where +she should spend several years, while Captain Strathmore +was to act as her guardian until she should +attain her legal majority. The captain’s position enabled +him to find a berth under him for Fred on the +steamer <i>Polynesia</i>, and the boy sailed with him on the +next voyage to Tokio, and on many a subsequent one.</p> +<p>Abe Storms is as poor as he was before he made his +voyage to the South Seas, for, having dedicated the +wealth left by Captain Bergen to charitable purposes, +he felt it his duty to do the same with his own, and, +since he has no one besides himself dependent upon +him, he is not troubled by fears of not being able to +make a comfortable living.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>THE END</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad01.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad02.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad03.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad04.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad05.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad06.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad07.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad08.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad09.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad10.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad11.jpg' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='ad page' src='images/illus-ad12.jpg' /> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: ppg0809 --> +<!-- timestamp: Mon Aug 10 21:07:35 -0600 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Adrift on the Pacific, by Edward S. 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