ON BOARD THE SEA EAGLE
Let us now turn our interest and attention for a time to the cruise of
the Sea Eagle, under the guidance of that redoubtable free-booter,
Captain Broom. It was a mystery to the three who watched the ship turn
to the South, what her port could be. We will soon be in a position to
solve that problem.
No sooner had the Sea Eagle cleared the cove than Captain Broom went to
his cabin to go over his spoils which he had taken from the frontier
boys. He placed all the belts upon the table, took up one, and with a
keen knife slit the first pouch. A large heavy Spanish coin rolled out
and then clinked down upon the table.
The Captain's eyes glistened. "By Gosh!" he exclaimed, "it was worth
while rounding up those fellows. They must have struck it rich down in
Mexico. I bet the boys will be tickled to death to get their share." For
whatever crimes and shortcomings Captain Broom could be charged with,
at least he always divided fairly with his crew. Thereby he held their
loyalty. It was not all policy, either, for there was a sterling streak
in the bad old fellow.
Out of the next pouch there glittered upon the table several diamonds
and a small palm full of rubies, with their rich color and radiance.
"The boys will have enough to start a jewelry store," commented the
Captain. "But I am not surprised at this haul. I know something about
the hidden treasures myself, and they do say Mexico is the the place for
them."
Out of another belt he got some ingots of gold and a girdle that caused
the Captain to open his eyes. At first he did not know what to make of
it. When he held it up he saw that it was formed of golden disks linked
with strings of rubies and sapphires. In the third belt was a necklace
that might have been worn by some Princess of the Incas. It was oddly,
almost weirdly beautiful.
The fourth belt that he picked up chanced to belong to Jim.
"This seems lighter than the others," remarked the Captain. "Three of
the pouches are empty." His face got black with rage. For instantly his
mind leaped to the suspicion that one of his men had rifled it. If such
had been the case, the guilty party would have got short shift at the
end of a rope from the yard arm.
But the second examination showed that the cut was an old one.
"So!" he cried, "one of the boys has cached part of his share. I bet it
was that long-legged, black-haired guy. That fellow would give the best
of us trouble. I wish I had him to train. Maybe, I can make something of
the Injun boy," meaning Juarez.
As to the belts, the shrewd old fellow, to make sure, measured them to
see where the worn holes of the leather came, and the partially empty
belt had been worn two inches longer than any of the others.
"It was the big fellow's," said the Captain.
Then he went upon deck and called the crew forward.
"Now, lads, choose your man to get your share of the goods," he said.
"It's Jack Cales, sir," they said, knowing that they would be called
upon to select a man to take their share.
"All right! Come, lad," said the Captain, and led the way to his cabin.
When Jack Cales saw the treasures on the table, he opened his eyes and
mouth in astonishment.
"Why, Sir," he exclaimed, "we haven't seen anything like this since the
day two years ago when--" he stopped suddenly, seeing from a look in the
Captain's eyes that no reminiscences were desired.
"This is your share, lad," said the Captain, gruffly.
"Thank you, sir," responded Cales, as he swept the small pile of gold
and jewels into the palm of his big hands.
"And mind ye, lad," warned the Captain, "I don't want any quarreling
among yourselves or ye will hear from me."
"Aye, aye, sir," replied the sailor and backed out of the cabin.
There was an interesting gathering in the forecastle when Jack Cales
deposited his handful of treasures on the top of a sea chest that had
been hauled out for the purpose.
For once it was not necessary to have the lantern lit, for a broad band
of sunshine shone down the steep ladder and cut a golden swath through
the dingy gloom and fell athwart the chest and illuminated the group:
the tall and swaggering Cales, the rugged, grizzled Pete, and the other
sailormen; a typical group and not to be matched for picturesqueness
anywhere; with their faces intent upon the center of the old black sea
chest, where glowed and glittered the gold and jewels in the band of
light that shone upon some of the faces of the intent group, while
others were in the shadow. It was a scene such as Rembrandt--pardon,
kind reader, I forgot for a moment, this is a simple narrative of
Adventure.
"Pete," said Cales, "how the ladies will love you when they see a chain
of glittering diamonds around your throat."
"One thing is certain, lad," replied the grizzled Pete, "I won't be
givin' none of my diamonds away to the ladies. I'll keep the stones safe
in my jeans."
"You'll have to be keerful, Pete," rallied another, "they'll be marrying
you for your ill-gotten wealth, when they find out that you are an
heiress. You can't help yourself, Pete. It won't make any difference
because you are a pirate, that won't scare 'em. Not when they see them
jewels."
"What's the use of you boys a talkin' to me," he said with a wise wink,
"you're only kittens. I'm sixty year old and I'm a free man yit."
"Here's a pill for you, Pop," said Cales, dropping a diamond into his
horny hand.
"Gee! I'm just as well pleased to get this as I was to get a bunch of
popcorn when I was a kid back in New England, off the Christmas tree."
"Better have it sot in one of your front teeth, Pop," said Jack. This
produced a roar of laughter, for Pete's front teeth were conspicuous by
their absence.
So the distribution went on without any bickering at first, only jovial
jokes, but at last there came a bone of contention over the last
diamond. And in a jiffy Jack Cales and a short, stocky sailor were all
tangled up in a fierce encounter. Their comrades, none too gently,
hoisted them up on deck. There they continued their fight.
No sooner did Captain Broom see them than he cluttered down from the
bridge at a furious rate. The two combatants ought to have taken warning
but they were deaf to everything except their own struggle. He was livid
with anger, and his wrath was in a large measure justified.
"I'll larn you!" he yelled, grabbing each by the back of the neck. "You
won't fight any more this trip."
They were like children in his hands. He had not only the arms of a
gorilla, but the strength of one when he was aroused and it was a
caution the way he slammed them around, flaying the deck with them, and
dashing their heads together. It seemed as if every bone in their bodies
would be broken. Finally he flung them unconscious on the deck.
"Put them in the Sagenette," he ordered the mate.
"Aye, aye, sir," he replied, and with the aid of one of the sailors,
they were chained in a narrow cell.
Here was where Juarez and Tom came in. As the two fighters were knocked
out and locked up, it made the crew short and they were ordered out on
deck from the cabin where they had been kept. Almost famished though
they were, they had to jump in and work like nailers, not to say,
sailors.
Fortunately for them, they had experienced a hard schooling in many
different ways since they came west and were practical masters of
several lines of industry, but this was their first experience
sailoring. It was a hard school, but they learned more in a few days,
than they would have under months of more gentle tuition. This was to
stand them in good stead when they started on their cruise to Hawaii.
"I'll get even with those fellows," growled Tom as he passed near Juarez
who was busy polishing some brass work. "Yes, if it takes the rest of my
life."
"What do you mean, stopping and gabbing, you little shrimp?" roared the
mate who chanced to see Tom stop.
And he rushed up and grabbing Tom by the back of the neck, shook him
ferociously, landing him a couple of kicks at the same time. This was
too much for Juarez, who poised a stone that he was using and was about
to brain the mate with it when the Captain's iron grip fell on his arm.
He didn't throw that brick.
"Easy, lad," said the Captain. "No more fighting on board this ship, or
I'll take a hand again and don't you two lads pass the time of day
either. You won't be killed if you work hard and keep cheerful." Then he
gave the mate a look, which that worthy understood and Tom was allowed
to go about his work without further molestation.
But this was a new and hard doctrine that the Captain had laid down that
the boys had to take hard usage and unceasing work and keep cheerful
about it. They soon found that the Skipper meant what he said. It was a
bitter lesson, but perhaps they were the manlier for learning it so
young. For it's something that life hands out to everyone sooner or
later.
Often the boys looked longingly over the rail towards the faint, far
outline of the California coast. The Skipper was keeping his ship far
out from the land for reasons best known to himself. One thing was
favorable in that the sea air had braced up Juarez so that he felt more
like himself though his head was queer at times. And no wonder for that
blow the Mexican dwarf had given him was sufficient to have stunned an
ox.