Lieutenant Webster joined the Portuguese officer in the chart-room,
where, with his gallant attempts to speak French, and his readiness to
join in the laughter at his own most amusing blunders, he quite charmed
Lieutenant Gobo, who grew confidential, and imparted an interesting item
of news.
"You will remain with us, amigo mio, and we will crack many a bottle of
old Madeira in a posado kept by an old man with two lovely daughters."
"Thanks, senor, with pleasure, if we do not depart to-morrow."
"To-morrow! What say you? We have a proverb that says that the wages
of to-morrow mock the promise of yesterday. To-morrow you will all be
our very good guests."
"For my part, nothing would please me better; but our Captain has said
that to-morrow he will sail, and he is a very devil--diavolo--eh?"
"You speak idly, my friend. I assure you to-morrow this ship of yours
will be seized."
"How so, Lieutenant? We have no quarrel with Portugal; and, moreover,
there is no craft here that could overhaul us."
"Not here at present, senor, but it is coming."
"Your glass is empty, Lieutenant. Is this a British ship you speak
of?--for I know none other that could capture us."
"There are other ships than British afloat," said the officer, twirling
his moustache. "The ship I speak of flies the Brazilian flag: the
_Esperanza_ sloop of war, which, providentially, left Lisbon two days
since, and may be here at any hour. She was advised of the escape of
your boat from the Thames, and has warned us to be on the watch. Juarez
is her commander, and I tell you he also is a devil. Ha! ha!"
"I perceive," said Webster, with a laugh, "you have been too smart for
us. We English are sometimes very dull."
"Truly, mon ami, in quickness of wit, as in matters of love, we of the
South are superior to you heavy islanders. But you are good comrades,
nevertheless. Your health, senor."
"I see the bottle's empty. Pardon me, Lieutenant, while I overhaul the
locker." Webster, with an innocent look on his bronzed face, went below
and sent a message to the Captain.
"Sir," he said, as the Captain approached, "there is a Brazilian sloop
of war in pursuit of us. She may be here to-night, or in the morning."
"How did you learn this?" asked Captain Pardoe, with a dark look.
"From that yellow-skinned effigy on deck. The _Swift_ is to be taken
to-morrow and the crew landed. It is all settled."
"Is it?" said the Captain, with a peculiar smile. "We shall see to that
Hume will presently leave for the shore with two men. As soon as his
boat is clear have these soldiers seized and bound. Take your measures
quietly, Mr Webster, and be very careful that they do not cry out."
"What's on foot, Captain?"
"We mean to have that coal, my boy, sloop or no sloop. Thunder, do they
suppose I'll surrender to a sloop after defying a British cruiser! You
have your orders." The Captain went down to the engine-room; and
Webster, after securing another bottle, gave a few sharp words of
instruction to the Quartermaster, who received them with a grin.
Soon after a boat from the shore came alongside with a gendarme, who,
after a few words with Lieutenant Gobo, received a note from that
officer and returned.
"I have assured my Captain," said the Lieutenant to Webster, "that we
are friendly here, and that while one of your men is ashore he need not
take extra precautions."
"What precautions are, then, necessary?"
"Oh, a boat or two of soldadoes!"
"Mr Hume!" cried the Captain, from his position on the bridge, "you
will take the boat for Mr Dixon, and see what arrangements you can make
for coaling to-morrow."
The Lieutenant jogged Webster in the ribs.
"Is he not droll--this Captain of yours?"
"Very droll," remarked Webster, with a meaning look at the
Quartermaster, who stood near.
Hume swung into the boat with two men, and gave the order to push off.
Webster leaned over the side, ran his eyes over the men on deck who were
drinking with the three soldiers, then spoke a word to the
Quartermaster, who immediately joined the group, placing himself as he
did so between the soldiers and their rifles, which rested against the
side.
Webster strolled to the chart house, took another look at the group on
guard, then flung himself on the Lieutenant, pinning that astonished
individual by the throat. There was a scuffle forward, a smothered cry
or so, and in a minute the four Portuguese were bound and gagged.
"Lower the long boat, Mr Webster," said the Captain in low tones.
This was done by the now thoroughly alert and expectant crew in silence.
"Man the boat, take a tow-line, and make for the coal barges."
Four men dropped into the boat, a tow-line was made fast.
"Weigh anchor and deaden the noise with tow. Let the flukes hang for
the present."
Quietly and slowly the anchor came in. Webster entered the boat, the
tow-line tautened, and the _Swift_ gradually moved off in the direction
of the barges.
Meanwhile Hume had met a boat half-way from the shore, with the chief
engineer on board, and taking him in, waited till the shore boat had
rowed out of hearing, then shaped for the barges.
"You are shaping a wrong course for the _Swift_, Mr Hume."
"We are making for two barges laden with coal, Mr Dixon."
"Oh, oh, what's in the wind?"
"These beggars won't give us coal, so we mean to take it. We will
approach the barges quietly, board them, and secure the people on board.
Will you assist us, Mr Dixon?"
"Certainly, my boy; and what's the Captain doing meanwhile?"
"He'll be alongside very soon after we have done our business. No doubt
he's on the move now, with a tow-line out. Gently, men, I think I see
the loom of something dark."
They stole softly up to the unwieldy boats, going alongside one which
had an awning forward, made the boat fast, then clambered on deck. One
of the sailors walked along the broadside, and reconnoitred. There were
two men only, sleeping on a rough bed of sacks, their forms dimly
outlined by the light of a lantern. He then crossed to the other boat,
which was unoccupied. He made his report, and next minute the sleepers
were aroused to find four men standing over them. They permitted
themselves to be bound without a murmur, on an assurance from Hume that
they would not be harmed.
A few minutes later the _Swift_ crept up, took in her boat, and got up
steam.
"Make fast the tow-line to the barges, Mr Hume," came an order from the
Captain.
"It is done, sir."
"Cut the moorings."
The rope was cut, and the _Swift_ steamed out, towing the barges, until
she had rounded the south-western point below Funchal, when she dropped
anchor, and all hands, including the two Portuguese sailors, were hard
at it, transferring her coal to the torpedo-catcher. The coal was in
sacks, the steam tackle was set in motion, and with a loud noise that
sooner or later would reach the ears of the people ashore, the precious
cargo was swung on board and shot down the shoots, covering every part
of the deck and rigging with grit. The long, low steamer lay sandwiched
between the barges, and while the steam tackle worked aft, forward the
sacks were handled by the men, everyone, except Miss Anstrade and Mr
Commins, lending a willing hand.
They had been hard at work for an hour, when a confused babble of
shouting was heard from the port, and shortly after they saw a shaft of
light shoot into the sky and glance across the harbour. It was the
flash-light from the little fort, and no doubt revealed the absence of
steamer and coal barges.
Presently they heard the beat of engines--a steamer's light appeared
round the point.
"Show a light, Mr Webster. We don't want to be run down."
A red light was hung out over the stem.
"Keep on with your work," shouted the Captain, as the men paused to
watch the progress of the steamer.
"Carambo! Senor Capitaine, what in the devil's name is the meaning of
this?" shouted a deep voice from the steamer, in furious accents.
"Quien es?"
"Demonios! Colonel Alvaro, commander of the fort. What mean you by
moving off like a thief in the dark? It is an offence against Portugal
and the laws."
Captain Pardoe laughed. "I am merely taking coal for which I am willing
to pay. Will you receive the money?"
"Yes," said a strange voice; "I represent the coal company."
There was an altercation on board the tug, for such it proved to be.
"I protest, Colonel Alvaro. When I have received payment you may do
what you like. Lower a boat."
Colonel Alvaro gave way, the boat was lowered, and a young Englishman
stepped on board, who was immediately taken below, where he made a good
bargain.
"Now, Captain," he said, after securing a roll of notes, "you have acted
in a high-handed manner, and it is no business of mine to help you, but
the sooner you move the better. The warship _Esperanza_ has been
signalled, and will be here in half an hour."
"Thank you," said the Captain, with a grim smile; "we can look after
ourselves. Mr Webster, release the soldiers, and let them return with
these gentlemen."
Webster did so, and could not forbear chaffing Lieutenant Gobo. "We are
no match for you, Lieutenant, in resource, but you see we are having our
own way."
"Matre de Dios!" cried the Lieutenant, grinding his teeth, "you will pay
for this, you base picaro!" and he shot a vengeful glance at Webster and
Hume, who stood close by, their faces black with coal-dust.
Little did they dream that Gobo would make good his threat.
The tug waited for its boat, then steamed away towards the harbour at
great speed, Colonel Alvaro and Lieutenant Gobo shouting a string of
threats as to what they would do on their return.
Mr Dixon reported that the bunkers were filled.
"Stack a row of sacks along the sides, and have them lashed. Get a full
head of steam up. Mr Webster, cast this boat off from the port side."
Soon the steam from the escape pipe set up its shrill clamour.
The Captain mounted to the bridge, and with his night glass fixed to his
eye searched the mouth of the harbour.
"See that row of lights, Captain?" said Miss Laura.
"A steamer just entering the harbour."
"And there is another light moving."
"That is the tug which just left us. Is there much more coal left, Mr
Webster?"
"About fifty sacks, sir, I should say."
"Whip them in, then. All firemen get below." He approached the tube.
"Stand by, Mr Dixon!"
The steamer which had just entered the harbour put out her lights, but
there was a glow from her funnels which revealed her movements, as it
grew rapidly brighter.
"All aboard!" shouted the Captain. "Cast off the barge!" The men
clambered from the barge, and the unwieldy craft was shoved away.
"Full speed ahead!"
The water was lashed by the screws, the _Swift_ vibrated like a living
thing, and shot away, leaving the barges rocking on the swell she had
kicked up.
"Surely, Captain," said Miss Anstrade, "that steamer is following us!"
"She is, Miss Laura, sure enough. It is the Brazilian ship _Esperanza_,
Captain Don Juarez."
"Don Juarez," said the girl, in a startled whisper. "O, Santissima
Maria," she added, with a passionate cry, "that treacherous dog, the
murderer of my brother! Captain Pardoe, you must not fly. Mr Webster,
listen to me."
"Laura, my dear girl," said Mr Commins, laying his hand on her arm.
She shook him off with an angry gesture, and turned her flashing eyes on
the Captain, while her bosom heaved.
Some of the men had heard her cry, and stood near the bridge.
"Men," she said, in quick, excited tones, "hear me! That is a Brazilian
warship behind. It is commanded by a man who has done me a most fearful
wrong. You are Englishmen, and I ask you--"
"Enough, madam," whispered Pardoe sternly. Then, raising his voice,
"Clear the guns for action."
The Quartermaster's shrill whistle rang out in immediate response, and
in reply a flame of fire leapt out from the darkness astern, followed by
the screech of a shell.