THE PARLOUR OF THE "BLUE DOLPHIN."
On the Cornish side of the Sound, and directly facing the harbour of
Plymouth, lay a snug fisher village. In the gray, weather-beaten
church were plentiful records of the births, marriages, and deaths of
the Pengellys. The homeless and wandering Dan might have claimed
relationship with half the inhabitants of the place had he chosen to do
so. Yet, being Plymouth born and at sea four-fifths of his time, he
had never visited the place since his boyhood. He thought less of a
voyage to the Indies than of a trip across the estuary of the Tamar.
And in this place, that echoed with his family name, and where he
himself might walk as a stranger, lodged the man he sought in every
street, byway, and tavern in Plymouth.
Dan had been down to the _Golden Boar_, and had talked with Captain
Drake and Master Morgan. They wanted news of his papers; he could give
them none.
"Then," said John Drake, "we can wait here no longer. Maybe thy papers
would give us the very route to 'El Dorado's' land, and save us a world
of danger and trouble; maybe they are about some other matter entirely.
In any case, I must sail in three days' time. We are thoroughly armed,
manned, and victualled; winter is gone, and the winds will serve. 'Tis
westward ho! and take the risks that other bold fellows have taken
before us. Yet I had rather the little priest had not gotten the
manuscript from thee. The cunning thief may be garnering gold whilst
we but reap wounds and fever. The New World is a big place, the
Orinoco a mighty stream; no man can say what lands lie along its
margin, and what mighty nations dwell on those lands. I have no fear
of the night, but 'tis a good thing to have a lantern in hand when one
walks in dark places."
Master Morgan agreed, and Dan resolved upon a desperate attempt to
recover his lost treasure. He left the harbour, sought and found the
Johnsons, and formulated a plan of action.
An hour or so later, Nick and Ned and the two stranger mariners entered
the "Blue Dolphin," and begged the landlady to grant them the use of
her parlour, as they wished to talk over a private matter of great
importance. The good woman assented with pleasure, and promised them
freedom from interruption. They went in, and upon their very heels
came Dan. He said something to the hostess in a low voice. She
protested volubly and angrily. He wheedled and coaxed, and at length,
very reluctantly, she relented. Dan tapped at the door thrice
separately and significantly. "This is our friend," said Nick Johnson,
and he opened the door to admit him who knocked. The strangers stared
at Dan; but, never having seen him before, had no suspicion of his
identity.
All five sat down at the table, the two strangers with their backs to
the fireplace, the three friends facing them, with their backs to the
door. Dan did the talking, addressing himself to Basil's henchmen.
"These two good fellows," he said, "old shipmates of mine, have
arranged this pleasant meeting at my request. I have heard somewhat of
you, and learn that we are all greatly interested in a certain matter.
If I just mention 'Indies,' 'Dons,' 'gold,' you will guess the run of
my thoughts."
The strangers nodded, and settled themselves into an attitude of closer
attention.
"There's a vessel in harbour almost ready to weigh anchor for the land
of the setting sun. Her aim is treasure. I sail in her, and I am in
the secret councils of her captain. Do you follow my thoughts?"
"Perfectly. You've some bold business on hand for dipping your hands
deep into the spoil of the voyage, and you want a few bold blades at
your back. Say no more. Get us aboard, and when you give the signal
we're with you. To tell you the truth, we were planning some such
scheme ourselves, but could see no chance of a berth on the vessel."
"I'm glad you're the stout fellows I took you to be. Now, don't be
surprised at what I say next. I have more than one man's secrets
locked in my bosom." Dan turned to Nick Johnson. "Just make sure
there are no eavesdroppers," he said.
Nick looked out into the passage. "Not a mouse stirring."
"Then, whilst thou art on thy legs, fetch in some ale. Our new
comrades would like to toast our enterprise."
Dan leaned back in silence whilst Nick did his errand. Healths were
drunk without words--just a nod, as much as to say, "To you, my hearty!"
Dan leaned across the table. "A thin, wiry, sallow-faced man;
black-haired, black-eyed, supple as an eel, cunning as a cat; a scholar
and travelled gentleman, who might easily be a cut-throat; one who
professes the old faith, and swears by the Pope--ye know him?"
The elder of the two spies licked his lips uneasily, looked hurriedly
from his companion to Dan, and from Dan back to his companion. The
latter stared and blinked his eyes in embarrassment.
"Ye helped him in a little job in this very house about three months
ago," pursued Dan. "D'ye know what he got out of it?"
"No."
"The very thing we want to get out of him. A sailor hid some papers in
this very house--papers that point the way to untold wealth, the way to
'El Dorado's' land. I was with him when he learned the secret, and
hurried back here to lay hands upon the precious packet. I was a
little behind time. Now, if we are going in the _Golden Boar_, we must
carry those papers with us. Ye both unwittingly played stalking-horse
whilst another man got the treasure."
"And he paid us scurvily, the yellow-faced rascal!" cried the spies.
"And he will pay ye scurvily for spying upon the _Golden Boar_ and
Master Morgan, whom he hates. D'ye see how well I know the fellow and
all his secrets? I could hang him an I could but lay hands on him.
Are we to go on a blind expedition to the Indies, he laughing at us
from the quayside, and straightway fitting a vessel at his leisure to
garner in the wealth we may search for in vain?"
"By the saints, no! But we took him for an honester man."
"Ye did not know him; I do. Now, where is he to be found? There is no
time to lose. I know he's not far off, but I had rather not waste
precious hours in searching for him."
The two rascals, astonished at Dan's knowledge of their doings, fell
into the trap he set for them. They jumped up. "We'll take ye to him
at once!"
"Softly, friends! I know my man and his ways. Did he but catch sight
of five of us approaching his hiding-place, we should never get a
glimpse of him. Did he but see me with ye, our quest were in vain.
Have I not said I know enough of him to hang him? Leave the business
to me, and wait here with my friends. Would ye send five dogs barking
and tearing through a wood to trap one fox? One silent hound, with a
good nose, sharp teeth, silent tongue, and a knowledge of the fox's
ways, would serve the purpose better. Let me know the lie of his den,
and trust me for the rest."
The fellows fell in with Dan's plan. Truth to tell, they had seen a
little of the sinister side of Basil's character, and had a pretty
wholesome dread of him. Their new friend, who knew his man so well,
was best fitted for the dangerous enterprise. They wished him joy of
it, and would be content to share its fruits. To Dan's astonishment,
they told him that Basil was hiding across the Sound in his own
ancestral village.
"Heart o' me!" he exclaimed, "he is mine! Yon place is filled with my
own kith and kin. The fox is in a very ring of dogs."
"Get not too many helpers, friend," said Nick cunningly, "else will the
spoil be split into too many portions."
"Well argued!" exclaimed Basil's dupes. "Too many hands in the
meal-tub means small share apiece."
"Never fear, comrades. A buss on the cheek or a handshake will be
payment enough. I shall not tell them that they are helping me to lay
fingers on the wealth of the Indies. Will ye take another flagon to
wish me success? I must be going. The afternoon wears on, and night
must be my time for work. Where shall we meet to-morrow?"
"Here, at noon," suggested Ned Johnson.
"Here, at noon," agreed Dan. He got up and went to the street door,
and Nick went with him.
"Cunningly managed, Dan," he murmured. "'Tis better than putting sword
to their throats and pricking out the information. Art going alone?"
"No; meet me at Ian Davey's boathouse at sunset. Let Ned keep an eye
on yon two."