I TAKE UP MY QUARTERS AT CANVEY
Up to this point I had, as far as possible, avoided visiting the island
myself, but I now came to the conclusion that the time had come when it
would be necessary to carry on my investigations in person. Fortunately
there was not wanting an excuse by which I could do so without arousing
suspicion. My friend Muir, who is an ardent sportsman, rents a part
of Canvey to shoot over. Hence he is a very familiar figure there, and
is known and loved by every man, woman, child, and dog. To go as his
friend would, I knew, insure me a ready welcome, so I got him to row
me over once or twice in his boat, and then, when we had been seen
frequently in each other’s company, to ask the landlord of the inn at
Hole Haven to find me a bed for a week or two, as I was a friend of his
who had come to Canvey for some shooting. By this means I was able to
keep a constant watch upon the “Cuban Queen” without being noticed by
Hughes, for the sea-wall, as I have elsewhere said, was so high that,
standing outside, one is invisible from the water, but anybody inside,
who wishes to look out to sea, can walk up the sloping bank on the
inner side of the wall until his eyes are level with the top, and then
can peer through the long weedy grasses without attracting attention.
A week passed uneventfully, and then Muir came over, accompanied by
Quickly, for an afternoon’s shooting. After a late lunch we made our
way on foot, and inside the sea-wall, towards the eastern end of the
island. My interest in the sport was not very keen, for I was keeping
half an eye meanwhile upon the hulk; but by the time we started to
retrace our steps it was becoming dark. Just as we reached the point
off which the “Cuban Queen” was lying I fancied I heard the stealthy
dip of oars, and asking Muir and Quickly to wait a moment, I peered
over the sea-wall. Some one was coming on shore from the “Cuban Queen”
under cover of twilight, and instead of making for the usual “hard”
at Hole Haven, the oarsman, whoever he might be, clearly intended
effecting a landing in some more secluded spot. I stole softly back
to Muir and Quickly, telling them what I had seen, and asking them to
crouch down with me under cover of some bushes to wait events.
That there were two persons in the boat was evident, for in another
minute we heard the grinding of the keel upon the shingle, followed by
a few whispered words. A low voice said, “Pass me out the parcel and
I’ll push her off.” Again we heard the stones scrunch as the boat was
slid back into the water. “Good-nights” were exchanged, and receding
oar-dips told us that the boat was returning to the hulk. Then somebody
climbed the sea-wall, and stood still for half a minute as if looking
around to make sure that no one was in sight. Our hiding-place was
fortunately well in shadow, and we ran very little risk of discovery,
but it was not until the person who had landed had turned and taken
some steps in the opposite direction that I ventured to lift my head.
Night was fast closing in, but standing as the new-comer was upon the
sea-wall, silhouetted against the darkening sky, I could distinctly
see that the figure was a woman’s. “Hughes’ old woman, zur,” Quickly
whispered in my ear; but I motioned to him to be silent, and so we
remained for a few seconds.
Then Muir spoke, with evident disgust, and not in a whisper either:
“Look here, Master Max Rissler, eaves-dropping and foxing about after
women isn’t in my line. You haven’t told me what your little game is,
and I haven’t asked you. I’ve a great respect for you, as you know, but
if you’re playing tricks with that poor devil’s wife, why, damme, man,
I’d as soon knock your jib amidships as look at you.”
I could have strangled the big-hearted blundering Briton, but had to
content myself with shaking a fist at him and grinding my teeth with
vexation until I grinned, for “Mrs. Hughes” was still within earshot.
It did not lessen my annoyance to know, from the approving grimace
which I could feel, rather than see, on the generally expressionless
face of Quickly, that he also credited me with evil designs upon “Mrs.
Hughes,” and shared his master’s sentiments.
Him too I was strongly moved to strangle; and that I resisted the
temptation was due chiefly to the fact that I had present need of his
services.
“Look here, old man!” I said to Muir when I thought it safe to speak.
“Did you ever know me do a dirty action?”
“Never, my boy,” he responded promptly.
“Well I _can’t_ tell you my purpose in this business just now, except
to say that if you knew it you’d be with me heart and soul, and that
if my surmise is right the person we have just seen dressed like a
woman isn’t a woman at all but a man. He isn’t going to Hole Haven, for
he’s just turned down the path that leads to the ferry at Benfleet. It
looks as if he meant catching the nine o’clock train for London from
Southend. He must be followed, but not by me, and for two reasons:
the first is that while he’s away I must get by hook or by crook upon
the ‘Cuban Queen;’ the second is that I don’t want him to see me, as
in that case he’d know me again. Will you trust me that all’s square
until I can tell you the whole story, and in the meantime will you let
Quickly follow that man and try to find out for me where he goes? It is
most important that I should know.”
“All serene, my boy,” said Muir, slapping his great hand into mine too
vigorously to be altogether pleasant, and too loudly to be discreet
under the circumstances. “All serene; I’ll trust you up to the hilt;
and I’m sorry I spoke. Do what you like about the skipper, and I’ll
never ask a question.”
I turned to Quickly: “Can you get round to the station without being
seen, before that person gets there, so that he shan’t suppose he’s
followed?”
“Ees zur,” said Quickly, “if I go through the churchyard and cross yon
field.”
“Off you go, then,” I said. “Here are three pounds for expenses. Get
to the station before he does and keep an eye for him from the window
of the men’s waiting-room, where he can’t see you. If he goes into any
waiting-room it will have to be into the ladies’, while he has that
dress on. So you go into the general room. But take tickets before
he gets there, one to Shoeburyness, which is as far as the line goes
one way, and the other to London, which is as far as it goes in the
opposite direction. If he waits for the next down train, you wait
too, and go where he goes, but if he takes the up train to London,
slip out and into the same train when his back is turned. Wherever he
goes, up or down, you’re to go too, and when he gets out, shadow him,
without being seen yourself, and make a note of any place he calls at.
Then when you’ve run him to earth, telegraph to Mr. Muir at the inn
here--not to me--saying where you are, and I’ll join you next train.
But keep your eyes open at all the stations the train stops at to see
he doesn’t get out and give you the slip. Do this job well and carry it
through and there’ll be a couple of ten-pound notes for you when you
get back. And now be off.”