The following morning while Chris was telling Mr. Wicker of the
ammunition being loaded on the _Venture_, Becky Boozer announced a
visit from Captain Blizzard and Elisha Finney.
"Show them in, Becky," Mr. Wicker told her. To Chris he said, "I
wonder what brings them here so early? It must be a matter of some
importance. Stay with me, Christopher. I shall present you to the
Captain."
The extraordinary pair came in and Chris was introduced to Captain
Blizzard and Mr. Finney. The Captain was all smiles except for his
eyes; Chris noted that his eyes did not smile at all. Mr. Finney, true
to form, cast down his eyes, sighed, and let the corners of his wide
thin lips droop almost to his chin.
When a chair large enough and solid enough had been found for Captain
Blizzard, and Becky had brought in a decanter of sherry and glasses to
set before the visitors, Chris shut the study door and sat down on the
floor where he could observe the three faces before him.
Mr. Wicker spoke first.
"Well, Captain, what brings you here so betimes? No trouble of any
kind, I trust?"
Captain Blizzard set down his glass of sherry and cleared his throat.
"Now, sir, needs must I come with unpleasant news, and sorry I am to
bring it. I have heard that the _Venture_ plans to sail at any time,
and you well know she is a fast-sailing ship." He folded his plump
hands over his paunch and twiddled his thumbs with agitation. "Sir, it
has been noised about that the _Venture_ is headed for the West
Indies."
He paused and glanced at Mr. Finney who nodded forlornly, his mouth
drooping.
"But 'tis not so." The Captain looked with anxious eyes at Mr. Wicker.
"Early this morning Ned Cilley brought me the information that the
_Venture_ is to sail to the China seas."
Mr. Wicker's face was grave but showed no surprise. "I knew some
trouble was ahead," he said slowly, "but did not know what form it was
to take." He paused. "News of sailings and destinations get about so
rapidly, it is more than likely that someone overheard the destination
of the _Mirabelle_, and sold his knowledge to Captain Chew. Although,"
he added thoughtfully, "I think Claggett Chew guessed it. Well," and
Mr. Wicker looked alertly at the two men, "what advice do you give
me?"
Captain Blizzard wagged his head. "Nay sir, 'tis for orders that I
came to you. It is for you to say."
"How soon can the _Mirabelle_ put to sea?" Mr. Wicker asked, and
Chris's heart skipped a beat.
"At any time, sir," the Captain at once replied. "We have nearly water
enough, and quite sufficient stores. The men are all assembled."
The Captain fell silent and no one spoke for several minutes. Mr.
Wicker leaning his chin on his folded hands was lost in thought.
"How move the tides?" he finally asked, raising his head.
The Captain, with surprising briskness for so large a man, pulled some
folded charts from his pocket. Without a word the three men rose and
went over to the table, pushing aside the china bowl filled with
flowers to spread the charts flat on the table top. Captain Blizzard
leaned his knuckles on the boards.
"The tide will be high at midnight, sir," he informed them. "See"--he
pointed a short forefinger at a spot on one chart--"here is the
sandbar that the tide covers for but a short time, and should there be
other ships crowding the river near this point, we must slip through
there then or not at all."
Mr. Wicker examined the charts and nodded. "Very well," he said, "so
must it be," and Chris felt that his heartbeat would stifle him, it
pounded so fast and thickly in his throat. All at once, looking up at
the thoughtful face of his master, Chris longed to be able to stay
safe at home. The imminent journey, so far and perhaps so perilous,
seemed suddenly too much for him. Mr. Wicker had taken the river
charts and rolled them up, and now turned to the Captain and first
mate.
"Captain Blizzard, and you, Mr. Finney," he said, "should water casks
be seen going on board, the whole of Georgetown will know you mean to
sail. I therefore ask you to so contrive it that the casks be hidden
in bales or boxes so that they seem to be anything but what they are."
He tapped the rolled charts thoughtfully on the palm of one hand. "Our
only chance to steal a march on the _Venture_ will be to sail at least
a day before her." The two men listening nodded in agreement. "There
is one other thing. Your orders for where you are to anchor, once
near China, will be secret, and carried on the person of this boy." He
laid one hand on Chris's shoulder. "He has a task of utmost secrecy to
carry out and will require your help, encouragement, and silence."
Captain Blizzard and Mr. Finney looked solemnly at Chris who looked as
solemnly back.
[Illustration]
"Not only that," Mr. Wicker went on, "but his presence on the ship
must not be known until the _Mirabelle_ is well to sea." He glanced
down meditatively at Chris. "I shall arrange to bring him aboard
somehow, and give you your sailing orders later."
He strode over to the window looking out to his gardens and the trees
where the apples showed their russet cheeks.
"Leave me these charts for yet a little while, and I shall ponder on
our plans," said Mr. Wicker. He turned. "See that the water casks are
taken on at once, Captain, and hidden, and make a place for
Christopher, here," and at a beseeching look from Chris he added with
a smile, "and Amos."
No sooner were the Captain and Mr. Finney gone than Chris spoke up in
great excitement. "Mr. Wicker, sir, I have a plan! May we look at the
river charts again?"
Master and pupil spread out the charts once more, and Chris pointed
eagerly.
"Look, sir! Here is the sandbar, and here"--he put his finger
down--"the _Venture_. Or she was, yesterday. Now sir, the sandbar
being just below and ahead of the _Venture_, once the _Mirabelle_ has
slipped by, wouldn't it be too bad if something happened to make the
_Venture_ drift with the tide and run aground?"
He looked eagerly up into Mr. Wicker's face and saw in it the
reflection of his own excitement.
"There are times, Christopher," said Mr. Wicker with his eyes
snapping, "when you surprise even me. But how is it to be done?"
"Well, sir," began Chris, "it's a little tricky but I think, what with
the things we know, it can be worked."
He began outlining to his master the details of his plan.