THE CAPTAIN’S FATE.
About ten o’clock in the morning we had the first news of our neighbors.
Captain Senlis, the negro, and the three Indians at that hour came
walking up the beach from the direction of our house. The negro had a
coil of rope over his shoulder, and one of the Indians carried a water
jug. It was plainly an expedition to view the galleon. When they came in
sight the negro pointed out our boats, and they all paused a moment to
look at us, as we swung at anchor just beyond range from the nearest
point of the shore.
We were curious to know what would be their method of procedure with
reference to the galleon. In view of the vast amount of incrustation of
shells and coral, it would be no very easy task even for the
pearl-divers to get at the contents of the old ship by diving and
breaking into the hull. That such was their design I conjectured from
the fact that the captain carried an axe, and one of the Indians an iron
bar. When they had reached the rocks I took Mr. Millward’s glass, and
climbed the mast of the sloop to the cross-trees, where I could have a
footing, and from which I could just see over the edge of the
breakwater, and get a glimpse of the surface of the water in the basin,
for about half its extent.
When they came to the rocks all five stood looking down into the basin
for some time, the Indians pointing now and then, and the captain and
the negro holding conversation together. Then they all came down into
the breakwater. One of the Indians began to prepare himself for a dive,
greasing his body with oil from a bottle and plugging up his nose and
ears, in the slow, methodical way that I had before observed, and with
the same apparent reluctance. When he was ready he sat down on the sand
with such an air of indifference and disinclination to proceed that I
could not help smiling. Then the captain began to gesticulate and talk
in a way that made it plain, though of course at that distance I could
not hear a word, that he was cursing the poor Indian at a stormy rate.
There seemed to be some sort of hitch or difficulty in affairs. The two
other Indians came up to the captain and began to talk to him. From the
distant pantomime I fancied they were endeavoring to convince him that
the rock at the shore side would be a better place to work from than the
low breakwater. But this the captain would not see. He presently went up
to the seated Indian and pushed him on the shoulder; but the man only
looked stolidly. The captain then threw off his coat, kicked off his
shoes, and plunged into the basin. He evidently intended to swim to the
wreck, and stand on the higher portions of it. It required only a few
strokes for a powerful swimmer such as he would doubtless be.
But the unfortunate man never reached the galleon. After he had plunged
in he was hidden from my view by the breakwater. My glass was levelled
carefully on the scene, and the whole of it was in the field. I expected
almost instantly to see his burly figure rising from the three or four
feet of water that covered the poop of the galleon, but he did not
appear. Not only did he fail to appear, but there arose immediately the
greatest excitement among the others. The Indians began to throw up
their arms and shout and to cast stones into the basin. The negro
covered his face with his hand as though to shut out some fearful sight.
The meaning of all this did not penetrate to my mind at once. I could
not understand the disappearance of the captain. But the conduct of the
Indians, in their shouting and stone-throwing, led me presently to
conjecture the real state of the case. It was the imprisoned shark. I
now recollected that he lay in the basin like a sentinel guarding the
galleon. The captain had been attacked by the fish, and probably killed.
The conduct of his followers would soon determine this. Mr. Millward
called up to me to know what the evident excitement meant. In a moment
more I caught a glimpse of what seemed a blood stain on the surface of
the pool, though of course I could not be sure; for while the glass
brought the view up to an apparent distance of not over ten rods, still
there was a certain glimmer due to the refraction of the light which
made such a thing as a discoloration of the water an extremely difficult
thing to see. But putting all together,--the disappearance of the
captain, the fact that the shark was there, and finally the conduct of
the remaining members of the party,--I felt morally certain that he had
met his fate in a horrible death from the treacherous fish. If such was
the case (and there seemed to be no escape from the conclusion) I felt
sure there would be no further attempts made by the party to get at the
wreck until they could get rid of the shark. I told my companions what I
had seen and my conclusions drawn therefrom, and they agreed with the
latter.
I came down on deck, as we could watch the doings of the party on the
rocks quite well from there, though we could not see into the basin.
The three Indians and the negro were now gathered together in a group on
the rock, evidently engaged in a consultation. Presently the negro
started off down the beach toward Home Creek, and the Indians remained
at the rock. We immediately concluded that he had gone to their camp to
get a shark hook, or the gun, or some means of destroying the man-eater.
I at once made up my mind that we did not want our sentinel destroyed,
and that the only way to prevent it was to reach the camp ahead of the
negro, and get possession of the shotgun and ammunition. There would be
no one at Farm Cove now except possibly the Chinaman, who would be left
there as a guard to the property. I recollected his propensity for
knitting and sleeping, and thought it possible to catch him napping if I
could arrive there before the negro. He would require over two hours to
go, and would most likely sail back in the pearl-fishers’ sloop, and
would then be in a position, with the gun, to make the neighborhood too
warm for us. I determined to be beforehand with him if possible. I could
do this by sailing down to Farm Cove in my boat, along the west coast,
which would not take longer than an hour. The Chinaman, if he should be
keeping a bright lookout, which was not very likely, would not be
expecting anybody from the sea. The chances of success in the enterprise
seemed more than even.
I explained the plan to Alice and her father, and the necessity that
existed for speed and promptness in its execution. After much
hesitation, particularly on Alice’s part, they finally agreed that the
move was a proper and advisable one. I immediately cast loose the
“Mohawk” and made sail, leaving the Millwards and their boat at anchor.
As I parted from them I told Mr. Millward to keep a bright lookout, and
if he should see the pearl-fishers’ sloop coming before my boat, to
weigh anchor and stand to the north, and then make his way as best he
could to Martinique, and assured him that I would follow in my own boat
if I came to no harm. The wind was light, and had shifted so that I had
it fairly on the port beam, and made satisfactory speed on the way. I
would have at least a half-hour to spare before the negro could make the
distance by land, the route he was taking, and probably an hour, unless
he made more haste than I believed he felt occasion to do.
When I came nearly opposite the cove I bore up close-hauled and headed
fairly for the sloop, which lay moored at the mouth of the little
stream, and came boldly in. If the Chinaman should be at the tent the
intervening foliage would prevent him from seeing me, and if he was on
board the sloop, which was not likely, I would soon see him. When I drew
up alongside the sloop, keeping the sails full to prevent their flapping
in the slight breeze, I found it deserted, and immediately made fast
leaving my sails hoisted ready for a rapid retreat if it should be
required. Now the greatest caution became necessary. If the Chinaman was
at the camp I must see him before he saw me. Moreover, I conceived that
there was no time to spare even if I had a full hour before me.
From my previous visits and observations the lay of the land was
perfectly familiar to me. The best way to reach the tent would be to
follow up the creek, where I would be screened from view by the
oleanders that grew on its banks. This would necessitate swimming for a
few rods just at the mouth, and I felt a little nervous at the
recollection of the recent shark episode, but rightly concluded that the
sharks could not be very plentiful hereabouts, or the diving could not
have been carried on. Without delay I slipped gently over the side into
the water and swam in until my feet found bottom. It grew rapidly
shallow now until the water was soon only ankle-deep in the little
narrow rivulet. Cautiously advancing I soon came to a point where the
tent was visible. The gun and ammunition hung in their old place, but no
Chinaman could be seen. The stream took a bend here, and by following it
completely round I could gain a spot within a couple of rods of the
tent. This I safely reached and looked around again for the Chinaman,
but he was not to be seen. I then waited, watched, and listened for
fully five minutes, but could get no trace or sign of him. The gun was
so near that I then made up my mind to make a bold dash for it. If I
could get hold of the gun I did not care for the Chinaman. With this
intent I started on a run straight for the tent before me.
I had not taken three steps before my foot came down exactly upon the
celestial lying flat on his back asleep in the grass. I must have
knocked the wind out of him completely, as my foot backed up by my whole
weight struck him fairly in the pit of the stomach. He squirmed and
struggled up to a sitting posture, but did not cry out nor make any
effort to stop me. Indeed, I believe the fellow could not have cried out
to save his life after the foul blow he had received in the diaphragm.
I turned to look at him as I ran on, but did not pause until I had the
weapon in my hands, a cartridge in both barrels, and the belt of
ammunition buckled around my waist. I was now master of the situation,
as I supposed. I looked around the tent to see if there were any other
firearms, but could see none. My back was momentarily turned towards the
prostrate foe, when a curious whistling sound caught my ear, and
instinctively I wheeled quickly around just in time to escape a knife
which he had thrown at my back with all the dexterity of a juggler.
Instantly I covered him with the gun, and there never was a Chinaman
nearer death, who lived to tell it, than this yellow scoundrel at that
moment. My finger was on the trigger, when he threw himself face down
flat on the grass with his arms stretched toward me, the palms together.
It was not worth while nor did I want to kill him, I reflected in a
moment, and moreover I did not care to fire the gun, for there was no
telling how near the negro might be. So, keeping an eye upon him as long
as I could see him lying there, I hurried down to the boats. Just as I
reached the place where they were moored I caught a glimpse of the
light-blue blouse of the Chinaman as he ran swiftly up the path toward
the top of the cliffs.
As I have before stated, the pearl-fishers had laid a warp from the
shore to a buoy anchored well out, which they used to haul the sloop in
and out by. I hastily cast off the shore end of this warp, which was
fast to a tree, and taking it on board the pearl-fishers’ sloop hauled
that vessel, my own, and the pearl-fishers’ yawl, all three, out to the
buoy. I then made shift to haul up the anchor by aid of a winch on the
pearl-fishers’ craft, and left it hanging at the bow, cutting loose the
buoy. We now began to drift, and I took a line to my own boat
preparatory to towing the entire flotilla. All this had occupied some
time, and just as I was fairly under way I saw the Chinaman and the
negro run down to the mouth of the creek. The black fairly danced with
anger, and shouted out curses loud and deep after me, to all of which I
made no reply, but getting the sails on my boat trimmed, jogged slowly
along with my heavy tow safe behind. I felt now for the first time since
our disagreeable neighbors had come on the island that the game was once
more in our hands.
About one o’clock the boat of the Millwards hove in sight, and knowing
he would have his glass bearing on me I stood up in the stern sheets
that he might plainly see all was right. By three o’clock we were once
more together, and all three boats at anchor, in plain sight of the
Indians on the rock, who exhibited the utmost excitement when they saw
me towing up their sloop. In a little while afterward the negro and the
Chinaman came up to the beach and joined the rest of their party.
Having no fear now of firearms, we had brought all the boats to anchor
much nearer the shore, so that we were now in easy hailing distance of
the shore party. After a talk with his companions the negro came out
alone to the nearest point on the rocks and called to us in “darky”
English. When I had answered his hail, he said “Wharfor you done tek our
boat, boss? How you reckon we kin git off dis hyar island with no boat?”
“Do you want to leave the island?” said I.
“Yes boss, de captain’s dead, eat up by shark. We don’t want to stay
hyar no longer. Fore de Lawd, I speak true.”
“Tell the rest to come where you are,” said I.
When they had all gathered there and stood in a row, I asked them in
Spanish if they wanted to go, and they all began to speak at once. Then
I motioned for silence, and bade them each to speak in turn, the
right-hand man first, who happened to be the Chinaman. He wanted to go,
and one after another they said the same.
“If I let you have the boat will you sail straight away, and leave here
for good and all?”
To this they all assented except the negro, who said they wanted to go
to the cove to get the things left there. There could be no objection to
that, if they did not stay longer than was necessary to embark the
property, and I so told them. Moreover, they would need a supply of
water. If they set about it at once they could do all this and be away
by midnight, as there would be a moon to light them on the way.
Having settled this to our mutual satisfaction, I cut loose the yawl
that it might drift in, and directed them to come on and get their
vessel.
The alacrity with which the whole party tumbled into the yawl was
sufficient evidence of the desperate straits they had fancied themselves
to be in, at the prospect of being marooned on the island. Before they
got under way, I told the negro that if they chose to do so they might
delay departure until the next day, which would give them more time to
make proper preparation for their voyage; but that they must be under
way before the next night. He agreed to this and said,--
“Boss, we got nothen agin you. You’ve treated us square, and we’s mighty
glad to get away.”
The Chinaman grinned at me as they bore away, as though he felt grateful
for not being shot, and had forgiven the blow below the belt. The
Indians sat stolidly silent, but I felt surer of them than of either of
the others.
As soon as they had sailed we brought the boats to the shore, in the
sheltered nook I have before mentioned, and unloaded the
pumping-apparatus before nightfall, to be ready to set it up in the
morning.
That night we slept on board the boat, but kept a watch all night. I
turned in immediately after sundown and slept until one o’clock. Then
Mr. Millward wakened me and I kept watch until five o’clock, after which
Alice watched for the two hours we both continued to sleep. There were
no signs of the other party during the night. And I may state here, to
avoid repetition, that they put off in their boat about three o’clock in
the afternoon of that day, and before sunset were out of sight in the
western board.
It took us all that day to set up the pumping-machine and get it into
working order, in addition to the slight task of setting up a sail on
the sand for a tent in which to sleep.
We had suffered so many set-backs now in regard to the galleon that we
all felt like crowding the work to our utmost, for fear something new
might turn up. I could not help feeling that the pearl-fishing gang, as
soon as they could reach port and procure firearms, might take it into
their heads to return for the spoils that they must expect would be
found in the wreck. We could not hope, therefore, to feel entirely
secure for longer than ten days.
When the pearl-fishers sailed we observed them with the glass and noted
that the whole party was on board; therefore we should not need to keep
a watch for the present. That night, tired out, I slept soundly, but was
troubled with dreams about the galleon. For example, I dreamed that we
had emptied her hold completely and found nothing in it but a sealed
jar, which upon opening we found to contain a dirty visiting-card, on
which was written, “I raised this galleon in 1830 and took out all her
contents. This is for the benefit of the next man who tries it. Please
let her sink again.”
This, absurd as it was, when added to the real uncertainty and natural
anxiety I felt contributed not a little to my discomfort. I could not
help anticipating a possible disappointment. But then reason told me
plainly that the probabilities were all the other way. Still, there was
the ever recurring thought, “What if there should prove to be no
treasure?”
The next day Mr. Millward and I began the pumping business in earnest.
Of course I was able to keep much longer at it than he, and his share
amounted to little more than to spell me occasionally for a short time.
Since that leg-aching and back-breaking experience, kept up for four
days, I never can see a horse in a treadmill without a gush of sympathy.
On the fourth day the water was so low that the shark was almost
aground, and I put two loads of buckshot into the living grave of
Captain Senlis, whereupon it succumbed, and left the galleon unguarded.
By night of this fourth day the basin was pumped out sufficiently, and
the galleon lay almost completely exposed, the water inside of her still
leaking out slowly. Completely exhausted we went to bed early and left
her to drain as she might. Human nature could endure no more. I was so
exhausted that I went supperless to bed, and consequently woke early in
the morning hungry as a hunter. While the others still slept I raked the
embers together, built up the fire and put the coffee on to boil. I then
roused my companions, and we were soon at breakfast discussing the
probabilities of finding anything in the old hulk. At last the day had
come around for which we had toiled and waited so long.