THE VILLA AGAIN--A MESSAGE FROM THE ENEMY'S CAMP--HOW A SNARE
WAS LAID.
Harvey carried his project into execution, and went off, leaving Mrs.
Harvey and Mrs. Harkaway under the impression that he was going about
the vessel, and making preparations generally for their departure.
They were one and all anxious to be gone from the place, which was for
evermore associated in their minds with the mishaps of the last few
days.
When Harvey had been absent forty-eight hours, they grew anxious.
But on the morning of the third day, Nabley the detective came with a
message from Dick.
He had met him by appointment and brought news.
There was something in Nabley's face which made Harkaway anxious to see
him alone.
"Now tell me, Nabley," he said, eagerly, "tell me all. How is Harvey?
What does he say of the boys? What is he doing? Has he any plan of
action decided?"
"Gently, Mr. Harkaway, gently," said the detective; "you overpower me."
"Oh, Nabley, I say--"
"There, there! don't be impatient. I'll give it all out as fast as ever
I can."
"I don't want all," interrupted Jack Harkaway, passionately. "How are
my boys? Answer that. Are they safe? No, no! I read it in your face."
And then he dropped heavily into a chair, looking the picture of misery
and despair.
Nabley had scarcely a word to say for himself.
The sight of the brave Harkaway so utterly collapsed was more than he
could endure.
Jack rallied a little and turned again to Nabley.
"Well, quick, tell me the news."
And then, as Nabley still stammered, he went on--
"I know; save your breath. I knew it; poor boys! poor Harry and my poor
brave boy Jack."
"Dirk Harvey bids you keep your courage up," said Nabley; "not to be
downcast. It is quite time enough to be down upon our luck when we find
out that the worst is true. The boys may yet live."
"No, no," cried Jack; "I fear my poor boys are no more."
"Let us hope they still live, but meanwhile, Mr. Harvey has treated the
brigands as though the worst was true."
"How?"
Nabley made a significant gesture with his right arm as though stabbing
violently at some unseen enemy.
"What, the brave Dick seeking and taking revenge?" exclaimed Jack.
"Yes. Two of the Greek brigands have fallen by his hand. The rest will
follow, be sure of that; and, moreover, they never suspect whose hand
has dealt the blow."
"Not suspect!"
"No, his game has been and will continue to be picking them off in
single file. He meets one of them alone, and Harvey makes sure of him
by his own strong right arm."
"Oh, brave Harvey," said Jack.
"Yes," said Nabley, "it is revenge. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth; and I for one should like to see the whole gang food for kites
and wolves."
"You have suffered in losing your old comrade," said Harkaway; "judge,
then, if you so keenly feel the loss of a friend, what must I feel for
my boy--my own flesh and blood."
"Yes," said Nabley; "I have suffered, but I will yet have a bitter
revenge on my poor pal's murderers. He was to me a brave and true
friend. Poor Pike! he was foully assassinated."
"Yes, Nabley; he was cowardly shot by the villain Toro. But do the
brigands know who is now taking revenge on them?"
"Yes; it is told them in black and white. A paper fixed to each carrion
carcase tells that this is another proof of Harkaway's vengeance."
Jack's face flushed crimson at these words.
"Well done, Dick; well done, brave old boy," he muttered; "well done!".
"And he tells me that they are in a rare state about it in the camp. It
has thrown all the lot of them into the greatest consternation. Hunston
has grown very unpopular. It needs very little upon Harvey's part to
make sure of him."
"That's brave."
"Now he's growing ambitious. One at a time no longer satisfies him, so
he has a scheme for bagging half-a-dozen of the brigands at once."
"How?"
"You know the spot that the boys christened the fig-tree grove."
"I do."
"He pretends to have intercepted a letter (when he "stole" the money
and jewels I took him by way of keeping up appearances), which informs
him that one of your party--a Mr. Hardy, or Harpy, he pretended--would
be passing through the fig-tree grove this evening, with money, on a
journey of some importance. As this Hardy or Harpy is a dangerous
person, the brigands, on Harvey's advice, are to send six of their best
men on the business."
Harkaway's eyes twinkled again at this.
"Now," said Nabley, "we must bait the trap well. I'll be the bait."
"You?"
"Yes."
"But why should you have so dangerous a post?"
"I prefer it," said Nabley, quietly; "besides, although alone, I shall
have some staunch and valuable friends with me."
"You speak in paradoxes, Mr. Nabley."
The detective's reply to this was to draw his two hands from his
coat-pockets, and in each hand there was a six-shooter.
"Here are twelve lives," said the detective, "and I've six more in
here," tapping his breast.
"You're a regular arsenal," said Harkaway, smiling. "But supposing,
when you raise your hands, they close upon you and ransack your
pockets."
"I have no need to withdraw my hands to use them. I fire through the
pockets."
They must have been made with something of this intention, for they
were cut in the side seams of the coat which were exceedingly roomy.
"Well, well," said Harkaway, jumping up, "when do we get to work?"
"Now."
"Now?"
"There are no preparations to make, Let Mr. Jefferson be sent for. Both
of you get your arms ready, and follow me."
"Good. What arms?"
"Short axe, in case of close work, and rifle each. You'll be more than
a match for six Greeks. Besides," he added, with a significant smile,
"I shall not be idle."
"Well, well; away with you," cried Jack; "I am all eagerness to be at
work. I shall be quite another man when I have had a brush with these
beasts."
"Right, sir," cried the detective; "they will find a powerful foe in
you."
"Yes, Nabley," cried Jack, "my arm is nerved for this fight, and it
shall go hard with me, but I will have my revenge on those Greek devils
for the murder of my poor boys."
The door opened and Jefferson entered.
"The very man!" exclaimed Harkaway.
"What, Nabley!" said Jefferson. "What news of Harvey?"
"Mr. Harkaway will tell you all," answered the detective; "my time's
up. Follow me as quickly as you can."
"Off with you," said Harkaway, growing quite excited at the prospect of
a brush with the enemy.
"The fig-tree grove," said Nabley.
"Understood."
And off went the detective.
"Jefferson," said Jack, "I am now about seeking my foes, and fear not
but I will render a good account of my actions, for against the
brigands I feel the strength of a giant."