AN UNWARRANTED SEARCH.
Bob gave an expressive look to the boys when the repast had been placed
on the table, and all three understood that he meant for them to leave
the cabin rather than run any chance of another encounter with the men.
A quarrel just now, however trivial the cause, might lead to very
serious consequences, because the guests were unscrupulous and stronger
than the Bonita's crew; therefore this precaution of the old sailor's
was a wise one. Jim and Harry not only realized the fact, but they were
more than eager to be beyond the reach of these quarrelsome strangers,
whose blows were bestowed without provocation, and they went into the
galley, closely followed by Walter.
"I've sailed along of some pretty tough customers," Jim said with the
air of one who has had many and varied experiences, as he seated himself
on an empty keg just outside the galley door, "but I never run across
anybody like them duffers. They're worse'n old Mose Pearson, an' folks
used to say he was the ugliest skipper that ever hove a mackerel-line."
"They act as if the brig belonged to them, and we were the ones who had
been taken off the key," Harry said bitterly. "I wish Bob never'd
allowed them aboard!"
"So do I!" And Jim spoke very emphatically. "There'll be a heap of
trouble before we get rid of that crowd, or else I don't know anything
about sich fellers. If they put on many more airs us three will have to
sleep aboard of the tug, where we won't run the risk of bein' knocked
down."
"We can stand a good deal if they help us get the brig into port,"
Walter said with a sigh. "I'm willing to be thumped every day for a week
if I can get home once more."
"Most any of us would;" and Jim again put on his air of exceeding
wisdom; "but the trouble is we can't count on goin' where we want to
while they are aboard. I wouldn't be much 'stonished to hear that
red-nosed man order all hands, 'cept his own crowd, ashore any minute.
I'll be satisfied if, when the next fight comes, Bob hits him one crack
hard enough to send more'n a thousand stars dancin' before his eyes. A
good thump is the only thing that'll make him walk straight!"
The others would have been equally delighted at such a lesson; but there
was not time to say so, for just at this moment Joe called for coffee,
and Harry ran below with a fresh supply, after which the boys set about
cleaning up the galley preparatory to getting their own dinner.
In the cabin, matters were progressing so favorably that a stranger
would hardly have supposed the party had been upon the verge of an open
rupture but a few hours previous. The thin man was particularly affable,
and seemed to be thinking of no other subject save that of sailing the
brig to the nearest American port in the shortest space of time.
"If you're no navigator, how do you calculate it'll be possible to make
the trip?" he asked of Bob, during the course of the meal.
"It'll have to be done by dead reckonin', of course," the old sailor
replied in as near an approach to a friendly tone as he could command,
for the recent trouble was yet too fresh in mind to admit of his feeling
thoroughly at ease. "It don't matter what port we make, an' as it's all
plain sailin' after we're clear of the bank, the job oughter be done
without much trouble."
"The most important question is, When can we start?" the Mexican said
with an odd laugh. "I've had so much of this key lately that I'd like to
see it a dozen miles astern just now."
"I fancy we're all of the same mind," said Joe, who seemed to think it
necessary he should say something, if only to show he harbored no
resentment. "We shan't have long to wait, I hope."
By this time the engineer and Bob had finished the meal, while the
others seemed to have hardly begun. It was as if they had some purpose
in remaining a long time at the table; but yet one could not have seen
in their manner anything to arouse suspicion.
The old sailor and Joe arose from the table and went up the
companion-way ladder as the former said:
"It's too hot to stay below any longer than a feller is obliged to, an'
I reckon you can get on as well without us."
The thin man replied that there was no reason why one should suffer
discomfort because others were slow, and by the time he had finished
speaking Bob and Joe were on deck, looking with satisfaction at the
result of their labors.
"We shan't be hanging round the Bahama banks much longer, my hearty,"
the old sailor said gleefully. "Now that the brig has deep water under
her keel once more, it's only a question of wind."
"I don't suppose it would pay to hang on here until the tug could be
repaired?" Joe added half inquiringly, as he went forward where the
shadow of the forecastle afforded a most refreshing shelter.
"Indeed it wouldn't," and Bob spoke very decidedly. "In the first place
we must get this craft off our hands without loss of time; an' then,
ag'in, the sooner we've said good-by to them new shipmates the safer
I'll feel. They ain't to be trusted any further'n you can see 'em; but
we've got to mess with the crowd till the brig's in port."
Joe looked toward the steamer wistfully. He had suffered so many
hardships and been exposed to such great danger in her that it would be
almost like parting with an old friend to leave the little craft to rot
at her moorings, or be blown ashore when the next gale should come from
the east.
While these two were cheering themselves with the belief that in a few
hours at the longest the brig would be under way again, those in the
cabin were proceeding to make themselves thoroughly at home.
Bob and Joe had no sooner gone on deck than the red-nosed man said, in a
whisper:
"Now, Dave, you stay here, where it'll be easy to see if any of them
fools come this way, an' I'll make quick work of the search. If the
brig's papers are to be found we shall run no risk in taking her
anywhere, an' we'll soon set ourselves up for gentlemen."
"Unless somebody overhauls us for that little job down in the channel,"
the thin man added gloomily.
"Don't be a fool!" was the savage reply. "How is anyone to know we had a
finger in that pie? Even if it should come out, we won't be in this part
of the world much longer. We can put in to Key West, hire a full crew,
and an hour afterwards sail for any port we like best. Come on, Pedro."
The Mexican had already risen from the table, and was noiselessly making
his way aft to the room on the starboard side which would naturally have
been occupied by the Bonita's rightful captain.
The red-nosed man made haste to overtake him, as if doubtful of his
friend's honesty, and the two entered the apartment at the same moment.
Up to this time no one had disturbed the watch which hung at the head of
the berth. The boys and Bob believed that every article on board should
be delivered up to the authorities; but these men had no such scruples.
He with the red nose clutched it eagerly, almost overturning the other
in his efforts to reach the time-piece first, and against this
confiscation the Mexican protested angrily.
"Don't be a fool! I've only taken charge of it for all hands. We're to
whack up fair on everything!"
"Then why didn't you let it hang on the wall?"
"Because that fool of a Bob might have stowed it away before we've had a
chance to take possession. Now, don't stop to chin, but help me hunt
over these papers."
The Mexican looked much as if he distrusted the softly-spoken words; but
he made no further protest, and together the two men began to overhaul
the contents of the desk.
To find that for which they sought was not a difficult task. It was only
necessary to examine half a dozen papers before the documents were
discovered, and the red-nosed man said grimly, as he put them in his
pocket:
"I reckon we've got things pretty near as we want 'em. We're the masters
now, an' there'll be mighty little talk made about rights. Come along;
if we're not on deck soon them Miss Nancys may suspect somethin', an' we
want to keep their eyes closed two or three hours longer."
"But ain't we goin' to search the other rooms?"
"What's the use? There'll be plenty of time to-morrow, when we're
alone."
The worthy Pedro was not content to wait. The loss of the watch, for he
seemed to consider it such, troubled him, and he was eager to put
something in his own pocket.
When he who was evidently the leader of the party walked toward Dave to
acquaint him with the pleasing fact that the search had been successful,
Pedro darted from one room to another, and the studs and sleeve-buttons,
which the boys had noted, did not escape his eager gaze.
"These shall not be taken charge of for all hands," he whispered half to
himself, and the articles had but just been secreted when Dave came to
the door.
"Do you want to spoil everything by loafin' 'round here?" he asked
angrily. "These kind of chances don't come every day, an' if our plans
are upset owin' to such nonsense I'll split you like a mackerel with
your own knife!"
That the Mexican was a rank coward could be told by the pallor which
came over his yellow face as these words were spoken, and with a
muttered but inaudible reply he followed Dave to the companion-way
ladder.
"Now what are we to do?" the thin man asked when the three were ready to
go on deck; and the leader of the villains replied readily:
"Nothin' yet awhile. Some chance will turn up before we're under way;
but if it don't, the matter must be settled at night while they're
below. It won't be a hard job, for they can't stay on deck together all
the time, and when the crowd is separated it'll be like child's play.
Don't act as if anything was in the wind, but be sweet as molasses till
the flies are where we want 'em!"
Then the three men ascended the ladder, and from the benign expression
on their faces the most suspicious would hardly have fancied they had
been plotting to murder those who befriended them in a time of need.