THE ARREST
Early on the following morning the _Hawk_, with the gunboat in her wake,
steamed towards Singapore harbour. As the vessels drew nearer, a
motor-boat was seen approaching at full speed, and presently a man in
the stern stood up and began to wave his arms frantically, apparently as
a signal for the ships to heave-to.
"Now, who the devil's that?" muttered Calamity, who was on the bridge
with the pilot.
"Looks uncommon like Solomon's new motor bum-boat," answered the latter.
"That's his water-clerk in the stern."
By this time the motor-boat had come within hailing distance, and the
excited person ceased waving his arms and applied both hands to his
mouth funnel-wise.
"Ship ahoy!" he yelled. "Is Captain Calamity on board?"
"Great Scot! How in the name of all that's uncanny did Solomon know that
I was coming into port!" ejaculated Calamity, turning to the pilot.
"Well, he might have heard from one of my men who went ashore last
night. I didn't tell them not to say anything about your coming in."
"Is that Captain Calamity?" shouted the water-clerk once more.
"Yes, what do you want?" answered the Captain.
"I want to see you, sir. I have a message from Mr. Solomon."
"Then come alongside."
The motor-boat sheered alongside the _Hawk_, and the water-clerk,
gripping a rope which had been thrown over the taffrail, hauled himself
on board. He waited at the foot of the bridge companion-ladder for
Calamity to come down, having learnt from experience that it was an
unforgivable offence to go on the bridge himself unless requested to do
so.
"Now then, what's your message?" asked Calamity, as he descended the
ladder.
The water-clerk, an undersized Malay half-breed with small, shifty eyes,
made a movement that was something between a salaam and a salute.
"I have important news from Mr. Solomon, Captain," he said.
"Well, go ahead."
The clerk glanced at the men at work on deck and made a significant
gesture.
"It is very private, sir," he answered.
"Then you'd better come to my cabin," said the Captain, and led the way
aft. On entering the cabin he sat down, but did not request his visitor
to do likewise, and the latter knew enough to remain standing.
"Now unload your instructions," said Calamity.
"The fact is, Captain, there's been great trouble about you in
Singapore," began the clerk, speaking in subdued tones. "It's said that
your Letters of Marque were forged and that you're nothing but a
pirate----"
"A what?" broke in the Captain, so fiercely that the other jumped.
"I--I'm only telling you what people say," the clerk answered nervously.
"You mean you're telling me what Solomon told you to say. Well, get on
with it."
"I know nothing about the matter myself, Captain, but the authorities
are going to arrest you and take possession of the ship."
"And Mr. Solomon has sent you to warn me, is that it?" asked Calamity
with an ironical smile.
"Yes. He is afraid that the authorities will seize the ship and all the
plunder."
"That's better, now we're getting at the truth. But how does Solomon
know I've got any plunder?"
"He did not think you would return without any."
"H'm, a far-seeing man is Solomon. But what does he expect me to do?"
"His idea is that you should transfer the most valuable stuff to the
motor-boat so that it may be taken away to a safe place. Then, you see,
when the officials board your ship they will find practically nothing."
"An excellent plan," remarked Calamity almost with enthusiasm. "But what
about me?"
"About you, Captain?"
"Yes; am I to be left to the care of the police while Solomon is looking
after the plunder?"
"Oh no!" ejaculated the clerk in shocked tones. "If there is nothing of
value on board the authorities can't do much to you. Besides, Mr.
Solomon will do his utmost to secure your acquittal if you are tried."
"A very ingenious scheme. And now tell me about this story of the
_Arrow_."
"The _Arrow_?" repeated the other with affected innocence.
"Exactly. Hasn't Solomon declared that I stole it; that, in short, it
belonged to Rossenbaum?"
A startled expression crossed the water-clerk's face, but it was gone in
an instant.
"I think you must be mistaken, Captain," he answered suavely. "I have
heard nothing about the _Arrow_."
"Well, you go back to Solomon and tell him that his little scheme's gone
adrift, and that he needn't worry himself about the plunder, because I'm
looking after it myself. Now quit."
The clerk looked as if he would have liked to protest, but thought
better of it, and, leaving the cabin, hurried back to the motor-boat
which then made for the harbour at full speed.
"That'll shake up our friend Solomon a bit, I fancy," said Calamity,
when he had told Abott about the interview. "It was a clever scheme, and
might have succeeded if you hadn't told me about that _Arrow_ affair."
"He'll be about the maddest thing between here and 'Frisco when that
little runt gives him your message," answered the pilot with a grin.
"The whole thing's as clear as daylight now," went on Calamity. "He got
hold of Rossenbaum's ship and palmed it off on me as his own, so that,
when the time came, he could get me arrested on a charge of piracy and
collar the whole of the proceeds himself. There are two things he didn't
count on, however, and one of them was that I might get rid of the stuff
before reaching Singapore."
"But you've still got to prove that you didn't pirate old Rossenbaum's
hooker."
Calamity laughed softly, but made no answer. Very soon afterwards a
naval steam pinnace hove in sight, and, without signalling the _Hawk_ to
stop, came alongside. A young Lieutenant caught hold of the rope by
which the water-clerk had lowered himself into the motor-boat and
scrambled on board with the agility of a monkey.
"Captain Calamity?" he inquired briskly as the latter, who had left the
bridge, came forward.
"At your service," answered the Captain.
"It is my duty to inform you, sir, that you are under arrest," said the
officer.
"On what charge?"
"The charge will be formulated by the authorities," replied the
Lieutenant, who, apparently, had no very great liking for this police
work.
"What do you propose to do with me then?"
"I must ask you to accompany me ashore as soon as this vessel is
anchored."
"I am at your disposal," answered the Captain.
Steaming into the harbour, the _Hawk_ dropped her anchor, and the
_Satellite_, having received no orders to the contrary, followed suit.
While this work was proceeding, a native boat put off from the shore and
approached the yacht. In it was a passenger attired in a frock coat,
and--a thing as rare in Singapore as snow--a tall silk hat. The boat
came alongside, and the boatman, in answer to an inquiry from his
passenger, indicated the rope that was still hanging over the taffrail
of the _Hawk_.
"Hullo, what is it?" shouted the Lieutenant from the deck above.
"Can you tell me if Mr. John Brighouse is on board?" inquired the
silk-hatted person in dignified tones.
"I will ask, but who are you?"
The stranger took a card-case from his pocket, but, realising the
impossibility of handing it up to the officer, put it back again.
"I am Henry Vayne, of Vayne & Paver, solicitors, Chancery Lane, London,"
he said in the same dignified tone.
"You had better come aboard, sir."
"Thank you, but--er--is there no other means of ascending than by this
rope?"
"If you'll wait a moment, I'll let down the accommodation ladder,"
answered the Lieutenant.
The ladder having been lowered, the visitor, who carried a small leather
handbag, mounted to the deck.
"I should be greatly obliged," said he, taking the card-case from his
pocket again and presenting a card to the officer, "if you would give
this to Mr. John Brighouse, and ask if I might be permitted to see him."
The Lieutenant took the card, and, turning to the bos'n who was standing
near, asked him if there was any one called John Brighouse on board.
"No one as I knows of, sir," answered the bos'n.
"I'm afraid you have made a mistake, sir," said the Lieutenant, but at
that moment Calamity appeared on deck, and, catching sight of the
visitor, hurried towards him.
"Vayne, by all that's wonderful!" he exclaimed.
The solicitor stared at him in a puzzled fashion for a moment, and then
his eyes lit up with a flash of recognition.
"Bless my soul, John, I shouldn't have known you!" he exclaimed as they
shook hands.
"Fifteen years make a great difference, eh?"
"Fourteen years, ten months and nine days," corrected the lawyer. "I am
always most exact on the subject of dates. The last time we met was in
my office, and the circumstances were--er--somewhat painful."
"Yes," answered the Captain, "they were. Still, Vayne, you behaved like
a brick; you were the only person who believed in me."
"Pah! Nonsense!" exclaimed the other. "But you've altered," he went on,
"altered most remarkably."
"Yes," said Calamity grimly, "I have altered, as you say. Strange you
should turn up at this juncture, because I'm in trouble once more."
"Dear me, dear me," murmured the lawyer in a tone of concern.
"Yes, I've been arrested on a charge of piracy, if I'm not mistaken."
"Pi----" began the other, and then, stopping short on the first
syllable, hastily adjusted a pair of pinc-nez on his nose and regarded
the Captain through them. "Piracy, did you say?" he went on.
"Yes, that's my latest crime. Last time we met it was forgery."
"Tut, tut," said the lawyer in a peevish tone, "you mustn't put it like
that. But, my dear John, piracy! Surely you are joking?"
"Ask that gentleman," answered Calamity, indicating the Lieutenant, who
had moved a little distance away.
"But you will disprove the charge?"
"Yes, I have a pretty good defence, I fancy."
"You will, of course, place it in my hands?"
"Since you've arrived at such an opportune moment, Vayne, it would be an
insult to the gods not to do so."
"Good," answered the lawyer. "But that reminds me. You haven't asked why
I'm here. It's some distance from Chancery Lane, eh?"
"Oh, I know why you're here," replied Calamity, "and for that reason we
can discuss your errand later on. This piracy charge is a more pressing
matter, and the sooner I place you in possession of the facts, the
better. I will ask the Lieutenant if he can let us have half an hour
alone together before I'm taken ashore."
The officer readily consented, and Calamity, accompanied by the lawyer,
went to his cabin. There they remained in close conference until a
seaman knocked at the door and informed the Captain that the Lieutenant
was waiting for him. Then, under an escort of bluejackets, Captain
Calamity was taken ashore.