AN UNEXPECTED VISIT.
It was fully ten minutes after the excited boys arrived at the Sea Bird
before Bob and Joe could understand the meaning of the document which
Harry waved so triumphantly above his head, or learn where and how it
had been found. Each one insisted on telling the story at the same time,
and the result was that nothing could be distinctly heard until Bob
shouted:
"Hold up, lads! Give yourselves time to elect a president who can do the
talkin', an' then p'rhaps me an' Joe'll find out whether you've seen the
Bonita or discovered a bridge that leads to New York!"
"Let Harry tell the story while Walt an' me bail the yawl. Her seams
haven't swelled enough yet to prevent her from takin' in water;" and Jim
went forward resolving not to say another word until the matter was
fully explained; but before Harry had well begun the recital both he and
Walter were assisting in the conversation.
Bob and Joe did finally succeed in learning all the particulars
regarding the finding of the manuscript, and then their excitement
equaled that of the boys.
"There ain't any question but what the lads have lighted on the secret
of a pirate's treasure," the old sailor said in a positive tone, and
looking around at his companions as if challenging either of them to
contradict him. "Years ago these keys used to be a great place for 'em
to sneak in an' out of, an' it stands to reason this would 'a' been jes'
the kind of a harbor they'd try to make, 'cause there's water enough
here to float a good-sized craft."
"But it's a big question as to whether we can find it;" and Joe examined
the document carefully once more. "It has been a good while since this
was written, and perhaps both the tree and the coral rock have
disappeared."
"It won't take very long to learn that, matey," Bob replied in a tone so
cheery that it would have been difficult to believe he had felt so angry
and despondent a few hours previous. "There's a good compass in the
pilot-house, an' with it an' your tape-measure we'll be able to lay out
the course to a hair."
"Do you mean to knock off work for the sake of going treasure-hunting?"
Joe asked in mild surprise.
"Why not? Two or three days won't make much difference to us when the
repairs are a question of weeks, an' there's no great danger of an
easterly gale at this time of year."
It did not require any lengthy or able argument to convince Joe that he
would be warranted in ceasing his work as machinist to become a
treasure-seeker, for he was fully as eager as Bob to test the truth of
the apparent statement contained in the document.
Half an hour after the boys came on board all hands were ready for a
return to the key. The compass had been placed in the stern-sheets of
the yawl; Joe carried the measuring-tape in his pocket, and all was in
readiness for the start, when the old sailor suggested that one of the
Sea Bird's anchors be dropped.
"I ain't afraid of her slippin' the Bonita's hawser," he said; "but
it'll be a good idea to prevent her from swinging round into shoal
water."
Anything, no matter how much labor it might involve, which would guard
against a loss or further disablement of their second and only remaining
craft should be attended to, and all hands assisted in the work. The
tug's smallest anchor was let go with the cable made fast to the stern
bitt, and unless a violent storm should arise she would lay to her
moorings as safely as if in a dry-dock.
Bob looked once more to the stopper on the bow hawser, as if the idea of
leaving the little steamer even for so short a time made him uneasy
regarding her safety; and then, when, about to step over the rail into
the yawl, he involuntarily glanced seaward.
"Well, if that don't take all the wind outer my sails!" he exclaimed,
pointing with one hand toward the open ocean as he shaded his eyes with
the other. "An hour ago I'd 'a' been glad to see sich a sight as that;
but with the paper the boys found I've kinder lost all hankerin' for a
chance to leave this key."
The remainder of the party were already on board the yawl, and it was
some seconds before the full meaning of his words could be understood.
It was Harry who first caught a glimpse of that which attracted the old
sailor's attention, and he cried, as he clambered over the steamer's
rail:
"It's a vessel! Father has sent some one to look for us, and now we can
go home!"
"I reckon you're wrong there, lad," Bob said as his companions gathered
around him, all gazing intently at a small schooner which was creeping
slowly toward the key from the southeast, evidently heading directly for
the cove. "That craft hasn't got American sailors on board by
considerable. She looks like a fisherman--most likely comin' here for
turtles. Whatever she is, we must put off goin' ashore for a spell."
Joe quickly brought the compass from the yawl, that no evidences of
their intended visit ashore should be seen, and said, as he took up his
tools once more:
"We'd better keep right on about our work, for in case they are coming
here it may look suspicious to see us loafing when the steamer is so
nearly a wreck."
But for the document found by the boys Joe would not have had such a
thought. Now, however, the possibility that there might be a large
amount of treasure secreted on the key made him over-cautious and
distrustful.
Bob returned to the cabin, for the "curse of wealth" had also begun to
make itself felt on him, and the three boys watched the approach of the
stranger, but far less eagerly than would have been the case a few hours
previous.
Slowly the schooner drew nearer, still heading directly for the cove,
and shortening sail only when she was inside the outer point of land.
"Come on deck, Bob," Joe said in a low tone. "She's got just about way
enough on to fetch us, and there's no question but that she's coming to
anchor close alongside."
Bob emerged from the companion-way as the schooner swung around to her
cable, and a man who was standing near the wheel shouted:
"Steamer ahoy!"
"Halloo!" Bob replied.
"What's the matter? Are you in distress?"
"Not exactly; we've been at the wrong end of a collision, an' put in
here to patch up a little."
"Have you been ashore yet?"
"Do you suppose they know we found the paper?" Walter whispered in alarm
as Bob hesitated before saying:
"Three of the crew landed this morning to look for water."
"Did you see any men there?"
"If you mean a Mexican, a thin feller, an' one with a red nose, we've
seen more'n we wanted!" and by the tone of Bob's voice it could be
easily understood that he was growing very angry.
"That's the crowd we're looking for!" the man on the schooner said
excitedly. "On what part of the key are they?"
"You'll find 'em somewhere between here an' the coast of the United
States. We had the brig Bonita in tow when we came to anchor, an' by
lockin' us below on the tug they stole her!"
The man conversed with those near him for a moment, and then resumed the
conversation by asking:
"When did that happen?"
"About two hours before sunset yesterday afternoon. Do you know anything
of the scoundrels?"
"Considerable that ain't to their credit. They shipped at Nassau on a
trading-vessel, and tried to get up a mutiny in order to seize the
craft. The captain marooned them here, and we shouldn't have troubled
our heads about such a lot if it had not been learned that they murdered
two turtle-fishers in the North-west Channel three weeks ago simply for
the small amount of money the men received from sale of the cargo. It
looks now as if the villains had given us the slip."
"I ain't so sure of that," Bob replied after some thought. "The brig is
a decently heavy sailer, an' there hasn't been wind enough to take her
very far away. The chances are they're loafin' 'round the Bank now."
As may be supposed, the crew of the Sea Bird were astonished at learning
the true character of those whom they would have befriended. That the
men were scoundrels there had been good proof; but to learn they were
murderers as well, shocked all hands.
"It's a good thing we didn't sail on the Bonita," Walter said in a
whisper. "If they'd kill two fishermen for a little money, I'm sure
there wouldn't have been much hesitation about butchering us before we
arrived in port, so they could claim the brig."
"All that appears unfortunate is not ill-luck," Joe added; and then the
captain of the schooner shouted:
"We'll give them a chase, anyhow. Tell us the full particulars
concerning the brig, and if we don't succeed in catching the murderers
it will be easy to send the information to every port they're likely to
enter. By that means they'll be prevented from enjoying the stolen
property very long. Come aboard, where we can talk without such a waste
of wind!"
"Let's all hands go," Bob suggested; and in a few moments the crew of
the Sea Bird were on the schooner--Harry telling the story of how he,
Walter and Jim were carried away by the Bonita; Bob relating the
particulars of the Trade Wind's loss, and Joe giving an account of the
collision.
"It's kind of a mixed up affair," the captain said, rubbing his nose
vigorously, as if to quicken memory, "and I reckon it'll be safer to
take down all the names, so's there'll be no mistake."
"I'll write out the whole thing for you," Harry proposed, and the
captain appeared to be relieved by the proposition.
"I ain't got much of a fist for writin'," he replied
half-apologetically, "an' it'll save me a deal of time." Then, as Harry
began what of necessity would be quite a lengthy narrative, he asked
Bob: "Is there anything we can do for you? Have you stores enough for a
decently long voyage?"
"I reckon we have everything needful except coal, an' we'll have to run
into Nassau for that. If you'll give me the course it'll be a big help,
seein's how I ain't very much of a navigator."
This the captain was not only willing but pleased to do. He even went so
far as to draw on a piece of brown paper a rude chart of the North-east
Providence Channel, and the self imposed task was hardly completed when
Harry brought his written story to an end.