THE CAPTURE OF THE BRIDGE
I walked through the darkness to the head of the ladder, where Ellison
was on watch.
"Any news?" I asked the quartermaster.
"No, sir; all quiet," he answered, and as I made to go down he cried
out, "Where are you going, sir? Don't do that. You can't go there."
"It's all right," I answered. "Keep your eyes open. Nothing will happen
to me. And don't be lured from the staircase, whatever occurs; and
here, take my revolver. I'm on a mission of peace." I slipped down the
ladder and found myself in the gloom of the orlop deck. A lantern was
hanging in the shrouds and I had not reached it before I was
challenged.
"It's the doctor, Gray," said I, recognising his voice, "and come no
earlier than you want him, I'll wager. There's more than one of you has
got his gruel, I'm thinking."
He came into the light. "Are you armed, doctor?" said he.
"You can feel," said I, and he clapped his hands down my pockets.
"Well, I don't know," he said, in a hesitating way. "It's true enough.
Davenport's dead as mutton, and Stephenson and Coyne are down in their
bunks. But it's Mr. Holgate commands here. I'll call him." He went
forward and whistled, and presently two other men approached, one of
whom I saw was Holgate by his rolling form.
"Glad to see you, doctor," he said cheerfully. "I was hoping to be
honoured by a visit, but, hang me! if I expected it. Come along now,
and let's get some light on the case."
He led the way into the forecastle quarters, and emerged into the room
in which the hands had their meals, which was lit by electricity, as
were all the cabins and saloons of the _Sea Queen_.
"These digs are not what I'm accustomed to, doctor," he said, taking a
seat. "I'm frank, you see; but of course I retire only to jump better.
Isn't that how it goes? We jumped too soon, you see; and that was you.
If it had not been for that fool Pierce! Twice the essential ass played
into your hands. You were pretty smart, though I gave you a lead. There
I was the fool."
"Well, Mr. Holgate, as between man and man, you were," I said.
He laughed. "Oh, it will work out all right, but it makes it bloody.
Now, there was no need of blood in this little job, not if it had been
rightly managed, and I'll take blame for that. No, you were my
mistake."
He looked at me in his tense unblinking way, as if he would have torn
out of me on that instant what I thought and what I really was.
"I shall not be your last," I said indifferently.
"Have a drink," he said. "We've got some good champagne, all under lock
and key, you bet, my son. That's not going to be my mistake, at any
rate. I've not lived forty years for nothing. I'm going to pull this
off."
"Thank you," said I. "But it's business I've come on."
"Business and 'the boy' go together in the city, I've heard," he
answered. "Well, is it terms you want?"
"Oh, dear, no," I replied. "Only an affair of mercy. You've got two
wounded men, and there's McCrae."
He looked down for a moment. "McCrae was another mistake, but not
mine," he said. "You can't do any good to McCrae. But you can see the
others, if you will. Not that that's what you've come for. Shall I tell
you what, doctor? You've come like the gentlemen who went to the Holy
Land, and came back carrying grapes, eh? I remember the picture when I
was a boy--a precious huge bunch, too. Well, you can have the grapes if
you'll take 'em in a liquefied form, and carry them in your belly."
I rose. "I'll see these men," I said abruptly.
He led me to the bunks, and I examined the wounded men. One was beyond
hope; the other was but slightly injured; and I told Holgate the truth.
He nodded.
"I don't much want Coyne," he said musingly. "I've no use for him. He's
a bungler."
The cold-blooded way in which he delivered this heartless criticism
raised in me a feeling of nausea. I was moving away when he stopped me.
"Stay; you're not going back empty-handed, doctor, after all your
kindness. Any one you'd like to see?"
I thought. "Yes," said I. "Naylor or Williams."
Holgate moved out, and lifted the hatch. "Naylor!" he called. "Granger,
let Naylor up." He turned to me. "We don't starve 'em. It's pretty
comfortable 'tween decks when you're used to it."
I made no reply, and presently a voice hailed us from below.
"Is that Naylor?" asked Holgate.
"Yes."
"Naylor, here is the doctor inquiring after your health. Any questions
he puts to you you are at liberty to reply to."
He moved away whistling cheerfully, and I called out, "Naylor, I only
want to know one thing. How many of you are there?"
"Six, sir," said the man.
"All under hatch?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well; keep up your hearts. This is not the end. Good-night."
I went to Holgate. "Really," said I lightly, "I find there are more
honest men in this ship than I had anticipated."
I don't think he liked that. "You've got twelve," he said drily. "And
there's more than thirty with us."
"You forget one thing," I said. "We have the wheel, and to-morrow you
may find yourselves steaming cheerfully up the river to Buenos Ayres,
like any good liner."
"That would be a pity, wouldn't it?" he said with a grin. "But you also
forget one thing doctor--that is, I've got the engines. Supposing those
engines stopped?"
"Well, we can get a press of canvas on her," I suggested.
"Great heavens!" says he. "Can you? What are we doing?"
"I think," said I, "that we have a good marksman on board."
"You're right," he said savagely, "and, by thunder, I won't forgive him
for that. I had meant---- By thunder, I'll play Old Harry and merry
Hades to him for that. Lord, doctor!" he added with a sneer, "to think
of you sucking up to a potty prince! or perhaps it's the ladies."
"Yes; I hope you remember the ladies," said I. "It's not too late,
Holgate."
He was silent a moment. "I take no stock in women," he said at length.
"They're nothing to me. Let the little innocent birds go free. I'll
tell you what, doctor. I'll offer terms, and generous terms,
considering I've got the trumps. I'll drop the whole pack of you at the
mouth of the river, ladies and all, and add all personal possessions of
every one save what's in the Prince's safes. Now that's fair. I'll make
you ambassador. By gad, it will be the only chance you will ever have
of being a prince's ambassador." He laughed.
"Holgate," said I, "I've met many generous men, but you appropriate the
gingerbread, as you might say. Now I wish you good-night."
He advanced two steps towards me. "Doctor," said he gravely, "you've
got to consider this. It's important. I'm not here to play marbles.
It's a sure thing. I give you up there"--he made a movement of his
thumb to the quarterdeck--"just this chance. Strike a bargain and I'll
see you through. There's not a hap'orth of harm will come to any.
Otherwise----" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Mr. Holgate," said I, "I will deal with you as frankly as you seem to
desire. This spells for you, in my opinion one thing, and that's the
dock."
"Oh, dear, no," he interrupted, smiling. "The men were discontented,
despatched a deputation, and were fired on by the Prince. English
juries don't like these arbitrary German military ways."
"You forget McCrae," said I.
"No, I don't. There was an accident in the engine-room, and the second
engineer can bear witness to it, as well as some others. Oh, we stand
very well, doctor."
Even as he spoke I saw a shadow steal out of the deeper darkness and
draw to his side. I made it out for Pierce, the murderer. I will say
that that interruption of the ruffianly boatswain turned unexpectedly
the course of my blood. I had seemed somehow to have been dealing with
Holgate, as a scoundrel, certainly, yet upon terms of fair warfare. But
that shadow struck us all down to a lower level. Murder had been
committed, and here was the murderer. Without one word I turned and
made my way towards the ladder communicating with the upper deck.
I had no good news to offer to my comrades; indeed, had I spoken quite
what was in my thoughts, it was a black prospect with which I must
present them. But I did not wish to increase the tension of the
situation, and merely recounted the facts I had gathered.
"Thirty against twelve," mused Day, "and there are six true men in the
hold. Three head men. We have opened well, gentlemen."
He looked round sarcastically as he spoke, but at once returned to his
colder formal manner. "They have the engine-room and we the bridge.
That means that their attack will be on the bridge."
"I have no doubt that is what they mean," I said.
"Very well, gentlemen," said Day. "We know exactly where we are now,
thanks to Dr. Phillimore. You have your stations. I shall be obliged if
you will take them. We are likely to have a lively night."
"And let me say, gentlemen," said the Prince, raising his voice, "that
I do not conceive it possible that a pack of mutineers can secure the
control of their ship from their officers. It is inconceivable, I
repeat. I shall be at your disposal, captain," he turned to Day, "when
it is necessary. I will take my share in the common danger and
struggle."
There was a murmur of applause at this, and we dispersed to our
quarters. Legrand had the bridge, and the man at the wheel was turning
the spokes as calmly as if there had been no such thing as an alarm or
a rising. Down below all was quiet, and the engines were moving slowly.
It was now about one in the morning, and on our beams the wind was
rising. The yacht was making about eight knots and no more, and we were
still a day's steam from Buenos Ayres. I paced the deck in cover of the
chart-house for an hour or more in a condition of nervous impatience.
Holgate, I knew, would move deliberately, but when he moved this time
he would strike hard.
It was towards the dawn that, stopping in my walk, I listened, and
heard amid the whistling of the wind and the wash of the water a little
mutter of sound somewhere in the disintegrating darkness below. I
called to Legrand under my breath, and I heard his "hist." He was at
attention, his ears straining in the wind to get news of what was
passing. Then there was a shot, and the noise of a _melee_ at the
ladder. Oaths and shouts and the reports of revolvers echoed from the
wooden walls.
"Can you see, Phillimore?" screamed Legrand against the wind.
"They are attacking the gangway," I shouted back. One of the two men
who stood armed near me rushed forward.
"Go back, go back," thundered Legrand from the bridge. "Go to your
post."
I was aware that the Prince had come out on the hurricane deck, which
was on the level of the bridge, and as I peered into the gloom,
suddenly a shout from the second man in my neighbourhood made me wheel
sharply about. I turned in time to see him fire at some figures that
came over the port side of the yacht. Immediately I guessed that this
was the real attack, and that the assault on the ladder was but a
diversion, I ran forward, calling to Legrand, I found Barraclough on
the other side of the deck-houses, using a cutlass, and I moved to his
assistance. Three men had reached the deck, and a fourth was clambering
over. The seaman who had called out fired wide, and the next moment
went down under a heavy blow from the figure in front. I discharged a
shot, but missed the man as he made his rush. Barraclough
simultaneously gave way, and I saw him being pushed backwards against
the side of the saloon. I fired again at one of his assailants, who
fell away with a curse, and just then the first flush of the coming
dawn moved over the waters, and shed a little light on the scene. It
disclosed the burly form of Holgate in grips with Legrand, who had
descended from the bridge, and Barraclough still struggling with his
opponent. I had just time to make this out when one of the mutineers
struck at me with a heavy bar, and the blow, owing to a movement on my
part, fell on my right arm and paralysed it. He raised his weapon again
while I fumbled to get the revolver out of my useless hand into my
left, when Day suddenly emerged from somewhere with a levelled pistol.
My antagonist dropped like a log. Day fired again, and then with an
oath Holgate threw the second officer heavily to the deck, and pointed
a revolver. There was a pause of two seconds, then a report, and Day
slipped, moved his arms helplessly, and slid along the deck. A shout
now came from the other side of the ship where the struggle at the
gangway had been going on; and in a moment a stampede was upon us.
I was forced back by sheer weight of numbers to the head of the
companion-way, using my weapon with some wildness, for all was passing
before me in confusion. I had received a hard crack on the head and
scarcely knew what I was doing, but was merely sustained in my
resistance by a sense of continuity, inherited, as it were, from the
earlier part of the struggle. Somehow I found myself in the shelter of
the corridor that led to the apartments of the Prince, his sister and
his guest, and, for some reason I could not with my dizzy head
conjecture, I was alone. I looked down the corridor, which was in
gentle light, but saw nothing; it was as silent as though it had been
plunged in the profound peace and slumber of the night. Without, the
racket of noises reached me as in a dream, and I remember that I sat
down on a couch in the corridor, my empty revolver in my hand.
What ensued or how long I sat there I do not know; but I think it could
not have been very long. I was aroused by a voice, and looked up
stupidly. A face floated in the mists before me, and I nodded in a
friendly way, smiling, and opened my mouth to speak. Instead I lurched
forward and was conscious of warm arms, the soft pressure of a human
body, and the fragrance of a dress. There was a time when I seemed to
sway alone in a cold and dreary vacancy, but soon there returned to my
senses the warmth and the fragrance and the ineffable comfort of some
presence. Some liquid was forced between my lips, and I drank; and as I
drank my brain cleared, and I looked and was aware who was supporting
me with her arm. It was Princess Alix.
"Madam----" I began stuttering.
"Hush! Drink this," she said quickly. "We have need of you. We cannot
spare a man like you. You have no dangerous wound?"
"I think not," I said with difficulty. "A blow on the head----"
My hand went feebly to it as I spoke, and came away with a patch of
red. I rose and totteringly picked up my revolver, which had fallen.
"What has happened?"
She shook her head. "I was up in the hurricane-deck, but my brother
sent me down. There is nothing to be heard. I was going out when I
found you here."
"It is good of you," I said vaguely. "Let us go out, then. Take this
weapon."
"I have one," said she quickly.
I nodded. "Brave girl!" said I gravely. "Brave heart, as brave as
beautiful!" I felt vaguely I was paying her a necessary compliment, but
that was all. Yet the corridor was clearing before me now, and the
light of dawn was filtering through the curtained windows.
Princess Alix had turned to the door which gave on the deck.
"If they have won," she said suddenly in a low voice, "why have they
not come here?"
I shook my head. "They do not want the saloon. They want other things,"
said I. "They want the strongrooms."
"Then are they----?" she began.
"I cannot tell," said I. "I will go out."
"No," she said imperatively. "Wait." Of a sudden a voice was raised in
a scream from the farther end of the corridor. "It is Mademoiselle,"
said she, with a little frown. "She is impatient of my return. I must
go back."
She glided off swiftly, and I stood by the door waiting for some
moments. As she did not return, I opened it softly, and the strong wind
off the morning sea took me in the face, refreshing me. I stepped out
upon the deck. The sky was as grey as the sea, and the silhouette of
the spars and funnel was ghost-like. The _Sea Queen_ thundered on her
course, heeling to the broad wash of the water. As I stood watching, my
ears alert for any sound that would give me information, I saw a figure
detach itself from the bulwarks and move uncertainly about, and as it
drew near I discovered it was Pye's. His face was of a colour with the
gray steel of his revolver, which he held loosely, as if he was not
aware he held it.
"Oh, my God!" he said in a hoarse whisper. "Oh, my God! I didn't know
it was like this. Oh, my God!"
"Pye!" I called softly; and he started and dropped his pistol.
"Pick it up, man, and keep silence," I whispered. "Come this way." I
took his arm and stealthily withdrew him into the corridor. "What has
happened?"
He gazed at me wildly. "They've got the ship," he said with a whisper.
"Oh, I didn't know it would be like this."
I gave him a dose of the brandy which the Princess had brought for me,
and it seemed to pull him together. He blinked at me through his
glasses, and eyed me with some terror and distrust.
"Do you know how things stand?" I asked.
He shook his head. "The captain's killed," he said falteringly. "I
don't know about the others."
"We've got to find out," I said, and thought. Then, for I saw he would
be of little use to me in his present state, I said, "Look here, Pye,
I'm going to explore, while you keep this door. Mind you let no one in.
We'll bolt it, see."
I did so as I spoke, and turning found the Princess coming down the
corridor. I explained to her the situation, and added that Pye would
be placed on guard. She cast a glance at him, and looked at me
inquiringly.
"I'm going down to the saloon below," I said. "This set of cabins is
isolated, except for the doors at each end to the deck and the door
that gives on the staircase to the saloon. Can I depend on you to hold
out for five minutes? A shout will bring me up at a moment's notice."
"Yes," she said breathlessly.
I opened the second door that admitted to the staircase and glanced
down. No one was visible, and no sound was audible. I turned, nodded
reassuringly to the Princess, and descended. The saloon was empty, and
there were no signs of any struggle. I passed along the passage towards
the officers' quarters, but everything was in order; and finally
retraced my way towards the kitchens, which abutted on the engine-room,
but were separated from it by a thick partition of steel and wood. As I
went, the yacht rolled and sent me against a closed door with a heavy
bump. From within issued a sound, subdued but unmistakable as that of a
human voice. I reflected that the mutineers would not be here, for it
was evident that the door was locked, and no mutineer would secure
himself in a cabin in the midst of his triumph. I rapped loudly on the
door and called out:
"It's Phillimore. Who is in here?"
After a pause I heard the bolt go back and the door opened a little,
disclosing the face of Lane.
"You, doctor?" he said. "Thank the Lord we're not all done yet." He
flung the door wide, and I could see now that his companion was the
head steward.
"Where's the Prince?" I asked anxiously.
"I don't know," he said, heaving a big sigh. "Thank the Lord there's
some one else alive. I was forced down the companion and fell. Lost my
weapon, too, or I'd 'a' showed more fight. Great Scott, I rolled all
the way down, not before I'd done for one or two, I tell you."
"Well, you're wanted upstairs now," said I, "both of you. We've got the
ladies on our hands, and we've got to find out where the Prince is. Day
is dead."
Lane whistled. "Poor beggar!" he observed. "But Jackson must stay here.
This is our magazine, my boy--where the grub is. If we've got to stand
a siege we've got to seize the grub-chest. The storage chamber's along
here."
The advice seemed excellent. "Yes," I answered, "that is true. Well,
let Jackson wait here and lie low. He won't be discovered here."
"I dare say the cook's somewhere hidden about here, sir," observed
Jackson.
"All the better. Find him if you can. And remember that, if we pull
through, this means a big business for you, Jackson, and cook, too."
"Yes, sir," he assented mildly.
"Now, then, Lane," I went on, and the purser followed me into the
saloon. We mounted the staircase, and I took the chance of closing the
doors at the head that gave access to the deck. Then I rapped on the
door that gave on the Prince's corridor. It was opened by the Princess
eagerly.
"We are two more, Miss Morland," I said cheerfully, "and here is one of
them."
"But my brother!" she cried out.
"I've not discovered his whereabouts yet," I said evasively.
"Do you think that he's----" She did not finish.
"Not a bit of it," I said, as decidedly as I could, for, to tell the
truth, I had my grave doubts. "I have unearthed Mr. Lane and the
steward. Why shouldn't I unearth Mr. Morland, too?"
Yet, if the others were alive, why was the yacht so quiet?
She sighed, and then looked over at the couch on which Pye sat huddled.
"That man's no use," she said contemptuously. "He's been doing nothing
but drink brandy."
Lane crossed over to him. "The beggar's drunk," said he in disdain.
"Then you must hold one door and Miss Morland the other," said I.
"But you----" She paused.
"I am going on another expedition. You must let me out and in. Two
knocks will warn you."
So saying, I slipped the bolt and got out on deck. From the appearance
of the sky I judged that it was only half an hour since I had found
myself in the corridor. It was light enough to make out things fairly
well, and now I could discern on the bridge the portly form of Holgate
struck with this light. The figure of a man was visible a little in
front of me by the chart-house. I heard Holgate's voice raised wheezily
in orders, and the replies of the men came back to me inarticulately.
As I crouched under the shelter of the cabins on the lee side I became
aware of a faint but continuous line just over the bulwarks, and then
the explanation of the mysterious silence on the yacht dawned on me. It
was the coast line, from which we could not be more than a couple of
miles away, and in the confusion of the fight, no doubt, the _Sea
Queen_ had lost her course and been driven inshore. It had, therefore,
become imperative for Holgate to devote his attention and the
activities of his men to the danger that threatened, more particularly
as the heavy wind had threshed itself into a gale abeam.
Now at this juncture I must confess that I was entirely at a loss. I
could not move a foot across the deck without being discovered, since
it was merely the fact that I was in the lee of the cabins and in the
deeper shadows of the dawn that enabled me to skulk where I was. Yet I
was reluctant to go back without having carried the search a stage
further. It was obvious from the calm which reigned among the mutineers
that the Prince and his following were either dead or prisoners. Which
had been their fate? The shadow of the man in front of me, scarcely a
dozen paces away, turned and stopped and seemed to put his ear to the
woodwork. It must be (I reflected) the chart-house door by which he
stood. What was he listening for? Was it possible that some of our men
were shut up in the chart-house? I shuffled a step or two nearer and
watched him. He was fully armed, for I could make out a weapon in his
hand, and he had something by his side, probably a cutlass. It was
probable that he was placed guard over the prisoners. I drew two steps
closer still. Holgate's voice still painfully dominated the wind and
water, and I ventured yet a pace nearer. Did he turn now the man must
see me, for I was in the gray light of the dawn, a deeper shadow than
the wooden walls by which I lurked. My hands twitched, and I almost
seemed to have sprung before I did spring. Then I knew I was on his
back and had a leg twisted about his legs. He fell heavily, and I
thrust a hand across his mouth. He struggled hard, writhing upon the
deck under the weight of my body like a snake, and a choking sputter
issued from his throat. Hastily I dragged a handkerchief from my pocket
and pushed it into his mouth. The struggling increased. I glanced up
and found that we had fallen under the door of the chart-house; also in
that same glance I observed that the key was in it. No doubt it had
been turned on the outside. I reached up a hand, but missed the key by
a few inches. The endeavour had loosened my hold of my prisoner, and I
was flung against the door with a thud; but I hurled myself upon him
again just in time to prevent him from withdrawing the gag. In the
struggle which ensued I managed to push him a little closer under the
door, and then, with a desperate effort, stretched out and turned the
key. I was fumbling for the handle when the man once again evicted me
from the possession of his body, and I fell in a heap, jamming the
door, which opened outwards. But on that I was aware that my back was
being jarred and scored, and the next instant I was tumbled over at the
foot of the mutineer, who had got on his legs at last. The door was
thrust open with a noise, and men issued from it, stepping over my
body.
"It is I--Phillimore," I gasped. "Run for the cabins."
Some one helped me to my feet, and I saw the mutineer drop with a sword
point through him; and then we ran, I between two of the others, one of
whom I was conscious was Ellison. A shout sailed down to us from the
bridge, and there was the noise of a revolver shot, but luckily it
missed us, and we gained the companion-way in safety, locked and barred
the door, and knocked on the entrance to the corridor. Lane opened it.
"His Royal Highness, by gum!" he cried excitedly, and for the first
time I was able to recognise my companions. The Prince was there, safe
and scathless, and with him Barraclough, Ellison, and a fourth man, who
was Grant.
Princess Alix rushed on her brother, and was taken to his arms. He
kissed her affectionately.
"Yvonne?" he said.
"She is safe," said the Princess, withdrawing herself. "She it safe,
dear, but frightened."
She spoke in German, and he nodded.
"Ah, she would be frightened. It is no woman's work this, Alix. We must
be tender with her."
"We have done our best," she replied, I thought a little coldly; and at
that a door down the corridor opened, and Mademoiselle herself
appeared.
"Frederic!" she cried ecstatically, and hastened towards us with
graceful movements. "Ah, Frederic, it is cruel to leave me so. I wish I
were back in Paris. Oh, _mon Dieu!_ what a voyage, what a ship!"
As they embraced I turned my head away, for this reunion of lovers was
no sight for public eyes, and as I did so I swept the Princess in my
vision. Her face had fallen dead and chill, and I thought that a little
curl of her lips betrayed some impatience with these demonstrations.
Meanwhile Barraclough was narrating in his deliberate way the
adventures of the party; but I cut him short, only asking one question:
"Where is Legrand?"
"They took him up and carried him forward, but I couldn't say if he
were dead."
"We have no time to lose," I said. "They may attack at any moment, and
we have too much space to defend for comfort."
"Why, we can manage this well enough," said he easily.
"And be starved," said I. "No; we must keep the access to the saloon
and the kitchens, and that means precautions. Look at the windows
through which we may be approached."
"Dr. Phillimore is right," said the Prince in his deep voice. "We must
guard the windows."
"We must close them," said I. "Grant, you can use tools. Ellison, you
and Grant do what you can. There is plenty of woodwork to draw
on--doors and trappings in the cabins. The portholes are useless to the
mutineers, but they can enter by the skylights or the windows. They
must be all barred. We are in a state of siege."
"You hear your orders," said the Prince in his imperious voice. "The
doctor speaks sense. See that it is done."
Barraclough and Lane and the Prince himself were left on guard, and the
rest of us sallied down to hunt for tools and timber to carry out this
primitive fortification. In this we had the assistance of the steward,
Jackson, and the cook, who had been discovered in one of his pantries.
The work took us a full hour or more, but at last it was decently
accomplished. The windows of the saloon and music-room that gave on the
deck were shuttered, as also the windows of the cabins. Nothing but the
skylights remained unprotected, and these we could trust ourselves to
guard. I reckoned that we were in a position to stand a siege
indefinitely, unless something untoward occurred. The fortifications
completed, we stationed our guards, two in the corridor, two in the
saloon, and sat down at last, wearied out with the fatigue of that
abominable night.