THE LAST ENCOUNTER
Dick awoke next morning with a feeling of nervous strain that got worse
as the day wore on. By going down to the saloon immediately the
breakfast-bell rang and making a hurried meal, he and his companions
avoided meeting Kenwardine, and, after bribing a steward, were given
lunch with the second-class passengers. Two difficulties were thus got
over, but the time passed heavily while they kept out of sight in quiet
corners of the after well, and Dick found it a relief when a friendly
engineer invited him below. Here he spent some hours, smoking and
watching the machinery, while the fingers of the clock on the bulkhead
crawled with painful slowness round the dial.
When he went up on deck the bold ridge of the Blue Mountains rose above
the dazzling sea, but the lower slopes were veiled in haze and he could
not tell how far the land was off. A mate informed him that they would
have the coast close aboard at dusk, but did not think anybody would be
allowed to land until the morning. Struck by a thought, Dick asked if any
passenger boats were likely to be in port, and the mate replied that a
Spanish liner would leave for Brazil soon after they arrived, but he knew
of no vessel going north for the next few days. Then, after giving Dick
some advice about the choice of a hotel, he went away.
Towards sunset the sea-breeze dropped and the mist gathered thicker about
the hills. Faint puffs of hot wind began to blow off the land, which
faded suddenly as darkness rolled down. A thin haze drifted out across
the water and the speed slackened as the vessel closed with the shore.
Then dim lights blinked out ahead, the engines stopped, and a detonating
rocket burst high up in the sky. Soon afterwards a steam launch came off,
and the purser stopped near Dick on his way to his room.
"We are going in, but will have to wait until the agent gets formal
permission from the guardship's commander, who must see our papers
first," he said. "As this may take some time, perhaps you had better dine
on board."
When the bell rang Dick and his companions went to the saloon. There were
not many passengers, and the room was nearly empty, but as they entered
Dick saw Kenwardine at the bottom of a table. He glanced up as he heard
their footsteps, and with an abrupt movement turned his revolving chair
partly round. Next moment, however, he looked at Dick coolly, and after a
nod of recognition went on with his dinner. Don Sebastian indicated a
table between Kenwardine and the door, and they sat down.
Jake played with his food, and Dick had not much appetite, although he
partook of the dishes set before him, because he wanted an excuse for
occupying the table until Kenwardine had finished. The latter showed no
anxiety to get away and now and then kept the steward waiting while he
studied the menu. Dick, who envied his coolness, thought it indicated one
of two things: Kenwardine knew he was beaten and was philosophically
resigned, or had some plan by which he hoped to baffle his pursuers. Now
and then Dick looked at Don Sebastian inquiringly, but the Spaniard
answered with an enigmatic smile.
In the meantime, the passengers went away to pack or get ready for a run
ashore, and at last the saloon was empty except for Dick's party and
Kenwardine. Then Don Sebastian crossed the floor and bowed to the latter.
"It would be a favor if you will take a glass of wine with us," he said.
"Certainly," said Kenwardine, getting up, and Don Sebastian, who gave an
order to a steward, led the way to a corner table where they would not be
disturbed.
"You were, perhaps, surprised to see us, señor," he resumed, when the
others joined them.
"I was," Kenwardine admitted. "Still, I suppose I ought to have been
prepared for something of the kind."
Don Sebastian bowed. "One may understand that as a compliment?"
"Perhaps it is, in a sense. But I certainly did not expect to meet Mr.
Fuller. We are told that his people mean to preserve a strict
neutrality."
Jake colored. "I'd have stood out if you had kept your dago friends off
my partner. That's what brought me in; but I'm still trying to be as
neutral as I can."
"Señor Fuller has informed us that he means to see you get fair play,"
Don Sebastian interposed.
"Well, he has my thanks for that, and my sympathy, which I think he
needs," Kenwardine rejoined with a twinkle. "There's no doubt that he
owes Mr. Brandon something, and I flatter myself that he rather liked me.
It must have been embarrassing to find that he couldn't be friends with
both. However, you had better tell me what you want. My clothes are not
packed, and I must land as soon as possible, because I have some business
to transact to-night."
"I am afraid you will be unable to do so," Don Sebastian said politely.
"Why?"
"The explanation is rather long, but, to begin with, you no doubt know I
was ordered to watch you."
"I must admit that I suspected something very like it."
"The President imagined you might become dangerous to the neutrality of
the State, and I learned enough to show that he was right."
"What did you learn?"
Don Sebastian smiled. "I will be frank and put down my cards. I would not
do so, señor, if I thought you could beat them."
He began a concise account of the discoveries he had made; showing
Kenwardine's association with the German, Richter, and giving particulars
about the purchase of the Adexe coaling wharf. Jake leaned forward with
his elbows on the table, listening eagerly, while Dick sat motionless.
Part of what he heard was new to him, but the Spaniard's statements could
not be doubted, and he envied Kenwardine's nerve. The latter's face was,
for the most part, inscrutable, but now and then he made a sign of
languid agreement, as if to admit that his antagonist had scored a point.
"Well," he said when the other finished, "it is a story that might do me
harm, and there are parts I cannot deny; but it is not complete. One
finds awkward breaks in it. For example, you do not show how the raider
got coal and information from the Adexe Company."
"I think Señor Brandon can do so," said Don Sebastian, who turned to
Dick.
Taking his cue from the Spaniard, Dick related what he had noted at the
coaling wharf and learned about the movements of the tug when the
auxiliary cruiser was in the neighborhood. His account to some extent
filled the gaps that Don Sebastian's narrative had left, but now he came
to put the different points together and consider them as a whole, their
significance seemed less. He began to see how a hostile critic would look
at the thing. Much of his evidence was based upon conjecture that might
be denied. Yet, while it was not convincing, it carried weight.
There was a pause when he finished, and Jake was conscious of a strong
revulsion of feeling as he studied his companions. In a way, the thin,
dark-faced Spaniard and tranquil Englishman were alike. Both wore the
stamp of breeding and were generally marked by an easy good humor and
polished wit that won men's confidence and made them pleasant companions.
But this was on the surface; beneath lay a character as hard and cold as
a diamond. They were cunning, unscrupulous intriguers, who would stick at
nothing that promised to serve their ends. Jake knew Kenwardine now, and
felt angry as he remembered the infatuation that had prevented his
understanding the man.
Then he glanced at Dick, who sat waiting with a quietly resolute look.
Dick was different from the others; he rang true. One could not doubt his
rather naïve honesty, but in spite of this there was something about him
that made him a match for his scheming opponent. Kenwardine, of course,
had courage, but Dick was armed with a stern tenacity that made him
careless of the hurt he received. Now, though he had nothing to gain and
much to lose, he would hold on because duty demanded it. The contrast
between them threw a lurid light upon Kenwardine's treachery.
Then the latter said: "You have stated things clearly, Brandon, but,
after all, what you offer is rather plausible argument than proof. In
fact, you must see that your evidence isn't strong enough."
"It's enough to justify our handing you to the military officers in
Kingston, who would, no doubt, detain you while they made inquiries."
"Which you don't want to do?"
"No," said Dick shortly. "But I may be forced."
"Very well. This brings us back to the point we started from," Kenwardine
replied and turned to Don Sebastian. "What is it you want?"
"To know where Richter is, and who supplied him with the money he paid
for the coaling business."
"Then I'm sorry I cannot tell you, and you certainly wouldn't get the
information by having me locked up, but perhaps I can meet you in another
way. Now it's obvious that you know enough to make it awkward for me to
carry on the Adexe wharf, and my help is necessary for the part of the
business you object to. If I retire from it altogether, you ought to be
satisfied."
The Spaniard did not answer, and while he pondered, the beat of a
launch's engine came in through the open ports. Kenwardine lighted a
cigarette, spending some time over it, and as he finished the launch ran
alongside. There were footsteps on deck, and a few moments later a
steward entered the saloon.
"We are going in," he announced. "Will you have your luggage put on
deck?"
"You can take ours up," said Don Sebastian, who indicated Kenwardine.
"Leave this gentleman's for the present."
Kenwardine did not object, but Jake, who was watching him, thought he
saw, for the first time, a hint of uneasiness in his look. Then Don
Sebastian got up.
"I must think over Señor Kenwardine's suggestion, and you may want to
talk to him," he said, and went out.
When he had gone, Kenwardine turned to Dick. "There's a matter I would
like to clear up; I had nothing to do with the attempts that seem to have
been made upon your life. In fact, I suspected nothing of the kind until
you told me about the accident at the dam, but Fuller afterwards showed
me that it was time to interfere."
"That's true," said Jake. "Anyhow, I gave him a plain hint, but as he
didn't seem able to stop the accidents, I put Don Sebastian on the
track."
"You can't with any fairness make me accountable for the actions of
half-breeds who hold life very cheap and meant to keep a paying job,"
Kenwardine resumed, addressing Dick. "You knew what kind of men you had
to deal with and took the risk."
"It's hard to see how a white man could make use of such poisonous
colored trash," Jake remarked. "But I expect you don't want me, and I'll
see what Don Sebastian is doing."
He left them, and there was silence for a few moments until the screw
began to throb and they heard the wash of water along the steamer's side.
Then Kenwardine said quietly, "Fuller has tact. There's a matter that
concerns us both that has not been mentioned yet. I'll clear the ground
by stating that although our Spanish friend has not decided what he means
to do, I shall not go back to Santa Brigida. I imagine this will remove
an obstacle from your way."
"Thanks for the lead," Dick answered. "I resolved, some time ago, to
marry Clare if she would have me, though I saw that it would mean
separating her from you."
"And yet you believed she stole your papers!"
"I thought she did," Dick answered doggedly. "Still, I didn't blame her."
"You blamed me? But you ought to be satisfied, in one respect, because
Clare and I are separated, and I'll own that I'm anxious about her
future. Had things gone well, I would have tried to keep her away from
you; in fact, I did try, because I frankly think she might have made a
better marriage. For all that, if you are determined and she is willing,
you have my consent. You will probably never be very rich, but I could
trust Clare to you."
"I am determined."
"Very well. I can tell you something you may be glad to hear. Clare did
not rob you, nor did I."
Dick looked at him with keen relief. "Then who took the plans?"
"Your cousin. The pocket they were in was unbuttoned when he took hold of
you and hurried you out of the house. He brought them to me afterwards,
but I saw they were not valuable and destroyed them."
It was impossible to doubt the statement, and Dick flushed with shame and
anger as he realized that his absurd and unjust suspicion of Clare had
prevented his seeing who the real culprit was. Clare had accidentally
torn his pocket loose, the bulky envelope must have been sticking out,
and Lance had noticed it as he hustled him across the hall.
"Yes; Lance took the plans!" he exclaimed hoarsely. "But why?"
"It looks as if you hadn't heard from home. Your cousin has stepped into
your place. I imagine he had always envied it, and didn't hesitate when
he saw an opportunity of getting rid of you."
Dick was silent for a few moments and his face was very hard. He heard
the crew hurrying about the deck, and a winch rattle as the hatches were
lifted. The vessel would soon be in port, and Kenwardine's fate must be
decided before they went ashore; but the man looked very cool as he
leaned back in his chair, languidly waiting.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Dick asked sternly.
"I should have thought my object was plain enough," Kenwardine replied.
"I didn't want Clare to marry a badly paid engineer. Things are different
now and I admit that you have stood a rather severe test. I'll give you
two letters; one to Clare, advising her to marry you, and the other
stating how your cousin stole the plans, which you can use in any way you
like. Before writing them, I'd like to see Fuller for a minute or two.
You needn't hesitate about it, because I don't mean to victimize him in
any way. In fact, I want to tell him something to his advantage."
Dick went out, and when he had sent Jake down, leaned upon the steamer's
rail lost in thought. It had been a shock to learn of his cousin's
treachery, but this was balanced by the relief of knowing that Clare was
innocent. Indeed, he grew hot with shame as he wondered how he had
suspected her. He felt angry with Kenwardine for keeping him in the dark
so long, but his indignation was tempered by a touch of grim amusement.
Since the fellow was ambitious for Clare, he must have regretted having
destroyed the plans when he learned that Dick's father was rich, but
after conniving at the theft he could not put matters right. Now, when
his career was ended, he was willing, for his daughter's sake, to clear
Dick's name and help him to regain the station he had lost. But Dick was
not sure he wished to regain it just yet. He had been turned out of the
army; his father, who had never shown much love for him, had been quick
to believe the worst; and he was bound for a time to a man who had
befriended him.
Presently he looked about. Lights were opening out in twinkling lines as
the steamer moved shoreward, and a splash of oars came out of the gloom.
Dick vacantly noted that several boats were approaching, and then a winch
rattled and Don Sebastian, who had come up quietly, touched his arm. A
chain sling swung past beneath a moving derrick, and as they crossed the
deck to get out of the way he saw a steamer close by. Her windlass was
clanking as she shortened her cable and he supposed she was the Spanish
boat the mate had spoken of, but he followed his companion and listened
to what he had to say. Then as the anchor was let go he thought Jake
ought to have come back and went to look for him. He found the lad
leaning against the deckhouse, smoking a cigarette.
"Where's Kenwardine?" he asked.
"I left him in the saloon. He gave me two letters for you and a useful
hint about some debts of mine."
"Never mind that! How long is it since you left him?"
"Quite five minutes," Jake answered coolly.
Struck by something in his tone, Dick ran below and found no luggage in
Kenwardine's room. None of the stewards whom he asked had seen him for
some time, and a hasty search showed that he was not on deck. Dick went
back to Jake.
"Do you know where the fellow is?" he asked sharply as Don Sebastian came
up.
"If you insist, I imagine he's on board the Spanish boat," Jake answered
with a chuckle. "As she seems to have her anchor up, I guess it's too
late for us to interfere."
A sharp rattle of chain that had rung across the water suddenly stopped
and Dick saw one of the steamer's colored side-lights slowly move. It was
plain that she was going to sea.
"Since we had been passed by the doctor, there was nothing to prevent the
shore boats coming alongside, and I believe one or two did so before we
quite stopped," Jake resumed. "They were, no doubt, looking for a job,
and the ladder was already lowered."
"Then you knew Kenwardine meant to steal away?"
"I didn't know, but thought it likely," Jake replied with some dryness.
"On the whole, it was perhaps the best thing he could do. What's your
opinion, Don Sebastian?"
The Spaniard smiled. "I think the President will be satisfied that it was
the simplest way out of the difficulty."
"Well," said Jake, "here are your letters, Dick. Perhaps we had better
see about getting ashore."
They moved towards the gangway, past the hatch where some heavy cases
were being hoisted up, and Dick carefully put the letters in his pocket.
This distracted his attention from what was going on, and when he heard a
warning shout he stepped back a moment too late. A big case swung forward
beneath a derrick-boom and struck his shoulder. Staggering with the blow,
he lost his balance and plunged down the hatch. He was conscious of a
heavy shock, a sudden, stinging pain, and then remembered nothing more.