SELF-BETRAYED.
The consternation and bewilderment caused to our little party by the
pearl-fishing captain’s visit may be better imagined than described.
The captain’s burly figure had hardly disappeared when Duke came back
wagging his tail. Alas! poor dog, he little knew the trouble he had
caused his friends. He came up and laid his head down on Alice’s knee to
be patted, and made much of her as was his wont.
Of course we discussed the recent event in all its bearings. The only
definite result of the long talk, however, was the general conclusion,
which can perhaps be best stated in Mr. Millward’s words, as follows:
“We are discovered,” he said, “just as we were congratulating ourselves
that we would not be. The man does not know, however, that we are aware
of the pearl-fishery. He believes, on the contrary, that we are not
aware of it. If we are not apprised of his secret he can have no object
in doing us harm. He tells us the first convenient lie that occurs to
him to gain time to think matters over. However bad he may be in fact,
it is not to be expected that he will go to the length of wantonly
murdering three people for no purpose; and I feel, therefore, that we
are safe as long as he does not fear that we have discovered his secret.
That he intends to offer us a passage on his sloop I do not believe at
all. That would be to betray his business here at once; for even if the
general character and appearance of the men and apparatus did not
suggest it, when we reached port it would inevitably come out. I am
inclined to believe he told the truth when he said that the party did
not intend to remain long on the island. Now, if we can keep matters as
they are at present, the gang will doubtless remove all evidence of
their occupation, and then quietly leave the island, and leave us to get
away as best we may.”
This all seemed reasonable and probable. Our cue, therefore, was plainly
not to discover the pearl-fishery secret, but to remain quietly at home
and await events, without attempting to invade our neighbor’s privacy.
That this was a wise conclusion was made evident that very day in the
afternoon, as follows:--
In plain sight of the house and on the skirts of the savanna, or open
grass-land, there grew a huge silk cotton-tree, with buttressed trunk
and spreading branches. I chanced to be looking that way and noticed a
flock of parrots fly to the tree and then, instead of lighting on its
branches as they seemed to have intended, break up into a confused body
as though something therein alarmed them, and scatter in all directions.
My first impression was to go up to the tree, which was perhaps an
eighth of a mile distant, to investigate. Then the idea occurred to me
that the flurry among the birds might have been caused by the captain or
some of his gang lurking there to spy upon us. To satisfy my mind on
this point, I went to the house and got Mr. Millward’s glass, and
putting it through a crevice which I cut in the wall for that purpose,
examined the neighborhood of the distant tree very carefully. Presently
I saw, perched high in the branches, and partly concealed by the
foliage, so as to be quite invisible to the naked eye, my old
acquaintance the Chinaman. There he was comfortably ensconced among the
limbs, knitting away at his white sock, just as I had before seen him.
Undoubtedly he was on watch to spy out our doings.
“Watch on, my celestial friend,” thought I; “we shall endeavor to
conduct ourselves to the eminent satisfaction of your black-whiskered
patron.”
I reported the discovery of the spy to my companions, and we had a quiet
laugh to ourselves over the matter. The only thing we did in consequence
of the discovery was to tie up poor Duke in the shed for fear that he
might find the Chinaman and occasion him some uneasiness of mind. For,
in truth, the fact that the captain had set his Chinaman to watch us was
a thing that comforted me amazingly. I reasoned it out in this fashion:
So long as the captain knew we stayed safely at home, so long would he
feel that his secret was safe; and so long as he felt his secret safe,
so long would he lack motive to molest us. The spy was a guarantee that
he would know that we were not spying about ourselves.
Four days passed thus. Each day I cautiously examined the tree with the
glass, and each time found either the Chinaman or the negro mounted on
guard. Whether they kept up the espionage at night as well as by day I
had no means for determining satisfactorily. From the actions of the dog
at times I imagined, however, that they did so.
On the morning of the fifth day of this watch, at about eight o’clock,
we received a second visit from Captain Senlis. He brought the carcass
of a young pig just killed, and inquired, after a little general
conversation, where the plantains were to be found. I endeavored to tell
him as plainly as I could where the old plantation was located and how
he might get there, and finally volunteered to guide him to the hog-path
and put him in the right course to reach the north valley. He remained
with us half an hour, and then expressed a desire to be guided as I had
suggested. Now this required that we should cross the creek, and as I
had no notion of letting him see our boats, we waded over the stream
breast-deep, and walked on up the beach. When we got to the hog-path I
pointed it out to him, and explained that he only needed to follow it
until he reached the gorge, and to pass on through the latter into the
valley; that he would then have no difficulty in finding the fruit
trees; but that in order to get out of the valley he would be obliged to
return through the gorge, as the surrounding cliffs were very
precipitous. He asked me then suspiciously if I had ever attempted to
scale the cliffs surrounding this valley. I truthfully answered that I
never had, and indeed, never had occasion to do so.
He asked me minutely about the topography of the valley, and I described
it to him as well as I could,--the surrounding wall of cliff, the little
harbor, the buildings, fields, orange groves, etc. He was particularly
interested apparently in the harbor, and I thought I could readily
understand why, though of course I did not hint that I knew he was
thinking of it as a secure place of concealment in the prosecution of
his future diving operations. At length he started into the path, and I
followed for a little way continuing the conversation. When we were well
into the forest I said I need go no farther, and we parted, he going on
and I returning on the path.
When I came out on the beach it occurred to me that this was an
excellent opportunity to walk up to the basin and take a look at the
galleon, to see how she came on. There was nobody in sight, and I was
already half-way there. I had bitter cause subsequently to regret this
foolish performance, as you will presently see.
When I reached the place I climbed upon the rocks and looked down into
the basin. There was the galleon peacefully resting in the clear, calm
pool, visible from end to end through the transparent water. I stood
thus contemplating this object, so interesting to me, for perhaps a
quarter of an hour, and then came down upon the beach and started home.
I walked quietly along, in no special hurry to be back, entirely without
suspicion of any misfortune, and thinking of the time when our
troublesome neighbors would be gone, when suddenly I saw in the damp
sand tracks which I at once recognized as having been made by the feet
of the Chinaman. There was no mistaking these footprints. They could
only have been made by the peculiar shoe worn by that people. The prints
indicated that he had come diagonally out on to the beach to the edge of
the water and then run in again toward the forest.
I took this all in at a glance and read its meaning instantly. The
almond-eyed spy had followed me up the beach, and here was where he had
run out to get sight of me as I turned in toward the rocks. No doubt he
had seen me looking into the basin. I did not pause in my walk, for he
might even now be watching me; but I edged in slowly toward the jungle
and got out of sight. Then I looked back up the beach, but could see
nothing. Would the Chinaman go up and look into the basin, or would he
content himself with simply following me to see that I did not go toward
Farm Cove? I determined to find out. There was nothing in sight. I could
not go through the jungle, so I came boldly out and ran up the beach
close to the bushes as fast as I could until I had gone about twenty
rods. By going out to the water I could now see the rocks of the basin.
So I lay down flat on the sand and rolled out nearly to the water’s
edge. If the Chinaman was there watching he might wonder; but no matter,
I would take that chance. When far enough out I looked toward the rocks,
and saw the spy there at the basin looking in just as I had done. It was
enough. His back was turned. I sprang to my feet and ran back under
cover. Our secret was out now with a vengeance, and all through my own
stupidity. The situation was a desperate one. The treasure seemed in a
fair way to be irretrievably lost. Without arms Mr. Millward and I could
not cope with the pearl-fishing gang, and it was too much to expect that
on this remote island, far from the power of the law, they would respect
our prior right to the cargo of the old vessel which we had brought up
from the deep. They would do what they pleased, and would doubtless
speedily please to go diving in the basin; and we would be powerless to
prevent it.
With head bent down I slowly made my way home. There was a gloomy party
there that day. Of course no one blamed me for the misfortune but
myself. That was, however, no consolation. I was so fully convinced that
the truculent Senlis and his gang would seize on the treasure of the
galleon, that I already counted it almost as good as lost. Still I did
not entirely despair, and did not intend to give up all effort until the
treasure was actually gone. But what could we do? Mr. Millward thought
we could do absolutely nothing.
“Don’t grieve over spilt milk, my boy,” said he, kindly, in an effort to
soothe my terrible disappointment. “There are far greater sorrows in
this world than the mere loss of money.”
Alice, too, was full of sympathy, and put her hand on my shoulder
without a word. But I could read well enough in her face what she would
say.
No one could suggest any plan of action except that now it might perhaps
be quite as well for us to embark and leave the island and the dangerous
neighborhood of the captain and his crew. But I was not willing to do
this until I knew with definiteness what were his intentions. We finally
concluded that as soon as it was dark we would get the boats ready and
go out to sea, where we could watch proceedings in safety.
About four o’clock in the afternoon the captain came sauntering down the
beach. I knew quite well that he had seen the galleon, or at least the
inference that the Chinaman had reported it to him was almost certain.
But though he crossed the creek and came to the shed where we were all
seated and talked with us a while, he said not a word concerning the
subject that was uppermost in all our minds. Could it be possible the
Chinaman had not told him? No; I could dismiss that idea from my mind;
it was too improbable. He knew of the wreck, and moreover he knew that I
knew of it. His present demeanor was simply the outcome of his naturally
secretive disposition. But there was one thing he did not know, and I
did not intend to let him know it. And that was the fact that we were
aware he knew of the galleon. So I said nothing that would lead him to
suspect that I had been watching his spy; nor did the others.
The man’s deceitful nature, which I well comprehended by this time,
coupled with the offensive air of gallantry which he exhibited toward
Alice Millward, together with the fact that I felt sure he intended to
overhaul the galleon and seize upon the fruits of our tremendous labor,
made me feel as though I should like to have it out with him there and
then. And the effort I was obliged to make to control my feelings did
not add to my comfort while he stayed. I was very glad, as we all were,
when he left.
Just before sunset I strolled into the grove of cocoanuts about half a
mile from the house, on no special errand but just idly thinking over
the condition into which our affairs had drifted. I was so absorbed in
my own thoughts that for the time I had forgotten our determination to
stay close at home. As I was standing near a tall palm, with my hands in
my pockets, I was rudely awakened from my revery by the whistle of a
bullet close to my head, and the report of a pistol following
immediately after. I got behind the tree in short order and watched to
see if I could discover the author of this wanton attack. That it was
the captain or some of his gang I had no doubt; most probably it was the
captain, for so far as I knew he was the only one who carried firearms.
I waited where I was for half an hour, until the dusk had come, and then
went home. I did not tell of this adventure just then, as it was not
necessary to make my friends feel uneasy. They had heard the shot, but
attached no special importance to it. This deliberate attempt to murder
me made me feel strongly the danger of our remaining longer on shore. I
had no right on any account to subject Alice and her father for a moment
more to the tender mercies of such a gang of cutthroats. Let the galleon
and its treasure go if necessary, we must put to sea at once. The full
moon would rise by nine o’clock, and as we wanted to be off shore before
that time, we had to hurry our preparation. The boats were fortunately
both provided with a supply of fresh water in gourds, which would keep
sweet, and it did not take us long to put our provisions on board,
together with such things as we thought we might need for a voyage. The
masts were down in both boats, having been lowered for the purpose of
concealment. We were obliged, therefore, to have recourse to our oars,
rowing the large boat and towing mine after it. We had forgotten Duke,
but he came swimming after us just as we were about to leave the creek,
and I helped him on board. As I did so my hand came in contact with his
collar. I stopped the boat and took this collar off, for the reason that
it bore the name of Senlis, and dropped it overboard into the sea. I
smile when I think of the childish performance; but it seemed to me then
that I could not bear to have anything near me pertaining to the
truculent knave. And I have no doubt that Duke also felt delighted, and
with much more reason. My companions both noticed the act, but said
nothing.
Just as we got beyond the rollers I made out in the darkness the figure
of a man running down to the beach. I knew he could see us better than
we could see him.
“Pull, Mr. Millward!” I cried; “they are after us. Get down in the
bottom of the boat Alice, quick! they may shoot.”
The words were hardly out of my mouth when three pistol-shots were fired
in rapid succession, and the balls whistled close by us. From the flash
I thought I could make out the captain as the murderous assailant.
He did not fire again and we were soon out of range, and casting anchor
began the work of setting up the masts and rigging. The light of the
moon, which soon rose, showed nobody on the beach. It was almost light
enough to read coarse print, and this facilitated our work greatly. As
soon as the boats were in sailing trim we stood off to the north with a
gentle breeze coming from the south. By midnight we were off the north
cape, and here we cast anchor in plain sight of the rocks surrounding
the galleon basin and in such a position that we could see the
pearl-divers’ boat long before it could come within gunshot, if it
should put to sea and attempt to round the cape.
I now told my companions of the narrow escape I had had at the cocoanut
grove, which, owing to more recent events, was no surprise to them.
We arranged to keep a watch as follows: I would take the first watch
until two o’clock; then Alice would watch until four, and Mr. Millward
until six, and then I would take another turn while they slept in the
morning. Alice insisted on taking her share of this duty.
Mr. Millward rolled himself up in the bottom of the boat and in five
minutes was sound asleep. Alice and I sat in the stern sheets together.
She insisted she was not sleepy, and wanted to change the order of the
watches agreed upon, and to take the first watch herself. This I would
not let her do, as I had determined if she went to sleep not to waken
her. I could not persuade her to lie down. We sat silently thus for half
an hour, when I saw that she had fallen asleep. I gently drew her toward
me that she might rest with some comfort, and held her thus unconscious
in my arms, the moonlight falling softly upon her sweet, pale face. I
felt that here was a treasure to console me for the loss of the galleon.
The long, heaving swell rocked us gently, and the soft plash of the
water against the boat sung a lullaby. More than once I found my heavy
eyelids about to close. Then I would rouse myself up, for fear of
disturbing the dear burden that rested upon me, and look about. Nothing
came in sight. I could see the rocks where lay the galleon; the long
line of breakers down the beach; the sea stretching clear to the
horizon on all sides except where the island obstructed the view; the
shore and foliage lit up by the silvery light of the moon; but no sign
of our interesting neighbors. The hours passed on until three o’clock
and after. One after another the constellations moved down to the
western sky line, and still Alice slept peacefully on.
At last she moved uneasily and seemed about to awaken. I wanted very
much to let her head gently down upon the seat, that she might not know
how she had been sleeping, but my attempt to do this wakened her fully;
and she at once realized the whole situation.
I said then, speaking low that her father might not be wakened, “Alice,
never mind, you have been sleeping.”
She looked up at me in a startled way and blushed until the flush was
visible in the moonlight.
Again I said, gently, “Never mind about it, you have been sound asleep.
Pray don’t distress yourself.”
Then how it came about I do not exactly know, and perhaps should not
care to analyze it here at any rate. In her sweet confusion, while lying
thus in my arms, I put my lips to hers, and pressed her to my heart.
The uncertainty was gone, never to return. My dear Alice was mine, mine
alone. I had rescued a treasure, indeed, from the sea. Ah! do you know
what it means, this finding out your true love? If you do, then no need
for me to write it down; if you do not, then mere lifeless words cannot
paint to you the pure delight, the flood of hope and fond emotion.
Of course we had much to talk about, as lovers do, and we sat talking
low until the gray dawn stole into the eastern sky heralding the sun. I
learned a good deal in that time. Perhaps the most instructive lesson
was when Alice drew forth my old stained visiting card, and showed it to
me.
Just before sunrise the old man woke up from his sound sleep, and came
aft to where I was sitting with my arm around his daughter.
I lost no time in telling him what had passed between us.
“Is it so, Alice?” said he, putting his hand on her head tenderly and
turning her face up toward his.
“Yes, father.”
“Well”--after a long pause, and sighing--“I suppose it is only natural.”
Then turning to me he laid his other hand on my shoulder, and said: “My
boy, you may be thankful to have such a wife. She will prove to you what
her dear mother was to me. I thought I could see this coming, but it is
hard to lose my little girl.”
He then sat down beside us, and after a little silence said: “Now, my
children, we are all here together. You have made up your minds to love
each other. It will please me that you should love each other well; the
more the better. And I want you to take me into the partnership. I am an
old man, and I cannot lose my daughter. She is all I have on earth. Make
a place for me, my son, in your heart, as I have already made a place
for you. And you, Alice, love him with all your heart, and do not feel
that I am an outsider, or my presence a hindrance to you. Often have I
tried to console other parents by saying they gain a son when they lose
a daughter. Now I am called upon to console myself. I may do it by
loving you both.”
I was much affected by the old man’s earnest manner and the deep feeling
that trembled in his voice. I took his hand in mine and pressed it
fervently. Alice threw her arms about his neck and passionately declared
no one could take his place in her heart.
The sun rose upon this scene, and his level beams shone upon us with a
flood of golden light. A bright new day had dawned for me in more senses
than one.