A STARTLING SUGGESTION
The program for the next day was like that of the first, except that no
time was spent on a general exploration of the island.
The impatience shown by Captain Richmond made Guy fear that unless the
treasure were speedily found he would object to staying longer. Of
course, this would be in violation of the agreement he had made with the
owners, but there was no court to enforce that agreement, and if the
captain should, in his obstinacy, decide to sail away, the whole object
of the expedition would be lost, or, at any rate, indefinitely deferred.
Therefore, on reaching the island in the morning, Guy and his two
friends immediately set about searching for the six trees arranged in
the shape of a cross. It did not seem that it would be difficult to find
them, but nevertheless three more days slipped away, and at the end of
that time they were no nearer success than before.
Even Guy began to feel anxious. He knew that in the event of the failure
of the expedition Mr. Saunders might blame him for the loss of the
considerable sum which had been spent in fitting it out, and, moreover,
he would feel in duty bound to return the five thousand dollars which
the merchant had advanced to him.
A part of this sum had been spent, some of it in paying the mortgage on
his father’s house, and he would be left hopelessly in debt.
“Don’t feel blue, Guy,” said Abner Titcomb. “It took us months to come
here, and surely we can spare a month for the search.”
“Yes, Abner; but will the captain wait for us that long?”
“There is the rub?” said Titcomb. “For some reason he is very impatient,
and very averse to staying here.”
“Probably he is naturally impatient,” suggested Luke Clark.
“That does not explain it. He is evidently unfriendly to Guy, and does
not want him to succeed.”
“And for that reason I am all the more determined to succeed,” said Guy,
firmly.
For two hours after this they searched vigorously and earnestly. Not a
clump of trees but was scanned critically, in the hope that it might be
the lucky cross of which they were in quest.
The time most dreaded by Guy was the evening and the return to the ship
unsuccessful and empty-handed.
Captain Richmond was always on hand, and always put the question:
“Well, have you succeeded?”
“Not yet,” answered Guy, reluctantly.
“Of course not,” retorted the captain, contemptuously.
“But I mean to do so,” said Guy, pluckily.
“And how many years do you expect me to ride at anchor here waiting for
you?”
“We have been here but five days, so far,” said Guy.
“And have accomplished nothing. You might as well make up your mind,
first as last, that there is nothing to be found here. I don’t believe,
for my part, that any pirates ever visited the island.”
“Why, then, should a dying man tell my uncle so, Captain Richmond?”
“It was a sailor’s yarn. There are some men who can’t help lying, even
upon their deathbed.”
“Don’t you believe any pirates ever concealed their booty?”
“Nine out of ten of the stories about pirates and hidden treasure are
fabrications.”
“Be that as it may, Captain Richmond,” said Guy, with dignity, “you
will lose nothing by waiting.”
“I shall lose my patience, for one thing.”
“I don’t think you have much.”
“No impertinence, young man!” said Captain Richmond, angrily.
“I don’t mean to be impertinent, but I want you to carry out in good
faith the terms of the agreement I made with your owners.”
The captain walked away without a word, but there was a look upon his
face which Guy did not like. He knew that if the captain chose to put an
end to his stay upon the island he would have no alternative but to
submit, and would be obliged to keep on to Bombay in the humiliation of
failure.
Guy’s fears were increased by a few words he had with Frank Low, the
young sailor already referred to as an object of dislike to the captain.
It was one evening, when the captain had retired early.
“Guy--Mr. Fenwick,” said Frank, “let me speak a few words to you.”
“By all means, Frank. You need not call me Mr. Fenwick. I am only a boy
like yourself--younger, indeed.”
“But you are a passenger, while I am only a poor sailor.”
“You are my friend, all the same. Now what have you to tell me?”
“Captain Richmond is in a great funk at being obliged to stay here while
you are on shore.”
“I know that very well, Frank, but he has no right to be. I made a
special agreement with the owners of the Osprey for which they will be
handsomely paid.”
Frank shook his head.
“That’s all very well, Master Guy, but the captain will play you a trick
if he can.”
“What trick can he play me?”
“He can forbid your going on shore again.”
“He wouldn’t do that. He knows that in that case, the contract being
broken, I should have an excuse for refusing to pay the sum agreed
upon.”
“Is it after hidden gold you are searching, Master Guy?”
“Yes; after treasure concealed on this island by pirates.”
“Do you believe it is there?”
“Yes. I have very good reason to believe it.”
“Then why don’t you get the captain on your side by offering him
something--say a thousand dollars--in case you find it.”
“It wouldn’t do much good. The captain doesn’t believe in the
treasure.”
Frank Low looked uneasy.
“I’ll tell you what I am afraid of, Master Guy,” he said.
“Go on, Frank.”
“I am afraid some day when you are on the island he will set sail
without you.”
Guy looked startled, as he well might, at this suggestion.
“He wouldn’t dare do that,” he replied.
“I don’t know. I believe he would dare to do anything. Besides----”
“Well, Frank,” said Guy, seeing that he hesitated.
“Besides, I don’t think the captain is wholly responsible for what he
does.”
“Why do you think that?” asked Guy, quickly.
“From the way he behaves. Sometimes he paces up and down the deck,
muttering to himself. I shouldn’t be surprised if he were off his base.”
“You mean that he is crazy?”
“It looks to me like that. I had an uncle who was affected in the same
way. He used to go up and down through the village, muttering, and took
very little notice of anyone he met when he had the fit on him. After a
while he got worse, and at last had to be carried to an asylum.”
“Then you think that with the fit upon him, the captain might sail away
and leave me and my two friends on the island?”
“That is what I am afraid of.”
“Thank you for putting me on my guard, Frank. I will think over what you
have said and try to prepare for it.”
“I don’t see how you can.”
“I must still continue my visits to the island, whatever risk I run;
that is due to my employer. But, should the worst happen, you can do
something for me.”
“I will do anything for you, Master Guy,” said the young sailor,
earnestly.
“Then, Frank, if the captain treacherously deserts us, and keeps on his
course to Bombay, as soon as the Osprey arrives there I want you to call
on Mr. Saunders, my employer, and let him know where I am. He will
probably have the captain arrested, and will send the Osprey or some
other vessel to our help.”
“But you will be left to starve!”
“I don’t fear that. There are natural fruits on the island, and animals
that we can kill for food. I think that we can get along as Robinson
Crusoe did.”
“I will remember what you have told me, Master Guy, but I hope there
will be no need to do it.”
“I trust, too, that the necessity will not arise.”
“Don’t you think you had better give up your search, Master Guy,
considering how much opposition there is to it?”
“No, Frank,” said Guy, firmly. “You must remember that I am in the
employ of Mr. Saunders, and represent his interests. I will prove
faithful to him, whatever happens.”
Frank Low looked perplexed and uneasy. He had become anxious, and being
warmly attached to Guy, who treated him as a friend and an equal,
thought chiefly of his safety.