CHAPTER XV.
EXPECTATION.
As soon as I recover my senses I find myself lying on my bed in mycell, where it appears I have been lying for thirty-six hours.
I am not alone. Engineer Serko is near me. He has attended to mehimself, not because he regards me as a friend, I surmise, but asa man from whom indispensable explanations are awaited, and whoafterwards can be done away with if necessary.
I am still so weak that I could not walk a step. A little more and Ishould have been asphyxiated in that narrow compartment of the _Sword_at the bottom of the lagoon.
Am I in condition to reply to the questions that Engineer Serko isdying to put to me? Yes--but I shall maintain the utmost reserve.
In the first place I wonder what has become of Lieutenant Davon andthe crew of the _Sword_. Did those brave Englishmen perish in thecollision? Are they safe and sound like us--for I suppose that ThomasRoch has also survived?
The first question that Engineer Serko puts to me is this:
"Will you explain to me what happened, Mr. Hart?"
Instead of replying it occurs to me to question him myself.
"And Thomas Roch?" I inquire.
"In good health, Mr. Hart." Then he adds in an imperious tone: "Tellme what occurred!"
"In the first place, tell me what became of the others."
"What others?" replies Serko, glancing at me savagely.
"Why, those men who threw themselves upon Thomas Roch and me, whogagged, bound, and carried us off and shut us up, I know not where?"
On reflection I had come to the conclusion that the best thing to dowas to pretend that I had been surprised before I knew where I was orwho my aggressors were.
"You will know what became of them later. But first, tell me how, thething was done."
By the threatening tone of his voice, as he for the third time putsthis question, I understand the nature of the suspicions entertainedof me. Yet to be in the position to accuse me of having had relationswith the outside he would have had to get possession of my keg. Thishe could not have done, seeing that it is in the hands of the Bermudanauthorities. The pirates cannot, I am convinced, have a single proofto back up their suspicions.
I therefore recount how about eight o'clock on the previous evening Iwas walking along the edge of the lagoon, after Thomas Roch had passedme, going towards his laboratory, when I felt myself seized frombehind; how having been gagged, bound, and blindfolded, I felt myselfcarried off and lowered into a hole with another person whom I thoughtI recognized from his groans as Thomas Roch; how I soon felt that Iwas on board a boat of some description and naturally concluded thatit was the tug; how I felt it sink; how I felt a shock that threw meviolently against the side, and how I felt myself suffocating and lostconsciousness, since I remember nothing further.
Engineer Serko listens with profound attention, a stern look in hiseyes and a frown on his brow; and yet he can have no reason thatauthorizes him to doubt my word.
"You claim that three men threw themselves upon you?" he asks.
"Yes. I thought they were some of your people, for I did not see themcoming. Who were they?"
"Strangers, as you must have known from their language."
"They did not utter a word!"
"Have you no idea as to their nationality?"
"Not the remotest."
Do you know what were their intentions in entering the cavern?"
"I do not."
"What is your opinion about it?"
"My opinion, Mr. Serko? I repeat I thought they were two or three ofyour pirates who had come to throw me into the lagoon by the Countd'Artigas' orders, and that they were going to do the same thing toThomas Roch. I supposed that having obtained his secrets--as youinformed me was the case--you had no further use for him and wereabout to get rid of us both."
"Is it possible, Mr. Hart, that you could have thought such a thing!"continued Serko in his sarcastic way.
"I did, until having been able to remove the bandage from my eyes, Iperceived that I was in the tug."
"It was not the tug, but a boat of the same kind that had got throughthe tunnel."
"A submarine boat?" I ejaculate.
"Yes, and manned by persons whose mission was to kidnap you and ThomasRoch."
"Kidnap us?" I echo, continuing to feign surprise.
"And," adds Engineer Serko, "I want to know what you think about thematter."
"What I think about it? Well, it appears to me that there is only oneplausible explanation possible. If the secret of your retreat has notbeen betrayed--and I cannot conceive how you could have been betrayedor what imprudence you or yours could have committed--my opinion isthat this submarine boat was exploring the bottom of the sea in thisneighborhood, that she must have found her way into the tunnel,that she rose to the surface of the lagoon, that her crew, greatlysurprised to find themselves inside an inhabited cavern, seized holdof the first persons they came across, Thomas Roch and myself, andothers as well perhaps, for of course I do not know----"
Engineer Serko has become serious again. Does he realize the inanityof the hypothesis I try to pass off on him? Does he think I know morethan I will say? However this may be, he accepts my professed view,and says:
"In effect, Mr. Hart, it must have happened as you suggest, and whenthe stranger tried to make her way out through the tunnel just as thetug was entering, there was a collision--a collision of which she wasthe victim. But we are not the kind of people to allow our fellow-mento perish before our eyes. Moreover, the disappearance of Thomas Rochand yourself was almost immediately discovered. Two such valuablelives had to be saved at all hazards. We set to work. There are manyexpert divers among our men. They hastily donned their suits anddescended to the bottom of the lagoon. They passed lines around thehull of the _Sword_----"
"The _Sword_?" I exclaim.
"That is the name we saw painted on the bow of the vessel when weraised her to the surface. What satisfaction we experienced when werecovered you--unconscious, it is true, but still breathing--and wereable to bring you back to life! Unfortunately all our attentions tothe officer who commanded the _Sword_, and to his crew were useless.The shock had torn open the after and middle compartments, andthey paid with their lives the misfortune--due to chance, as youobserve--of having discovered our mysterious retreat."
On learning that Lieutenant Davon and his companions are dead, myheart is filled with anguish; but to keep up my role--as they werepersons with whom, presumably, I was not acquainted, and had neverseen--I am careful not to display any emotion. I must, on no account,afford ground for the suspicion that there was any connivance betweenthe commander of the _Sword_ and me. For aught I know, Engineer Serkomay have reason to be very skeptical about the discovery of the tunnelbeing accidental.
What, however, I am most concerned about is that the unlooked-foroccasion to recover my liberty was lost. Shall I ever be affordedanother chance? However this may be, my notice reached the Englishauthorities of the archipelago, and they now know where Ker Karrajeis to be found. When it is seen that the _Sword_ does not return toBermuda, there can be no doubt that another attempt will be made toget inside Back Cup, in which, had it not been for the inopportunereturn of the tug, I should no longer be a prisoner.
I have resumed my usual existence, and having allayed all mistrust, ampermitted to wander freely about the cavern, as usual.
It is patent that the adventure has had no ill effect upon ThomasRoch. Intelligent nursing brought him around, as it did me. In fullpossession of his mental faculties he has returned to work, and spendsthe entire day in his laboratory.
The _Ebba_ brought back from her last trip bales, boxes, and aquantity of objects of varied origin, and I conclude that a number ofships must have been pillaged during this marauding expedition.
The work on the trestles for Roch's engine goes steadily forward, andthere are now no fewer than fifty engines. If Ker Karraje and EngineerSerko are under the necessity of defending Back Cup, three or fou
rwill be sufficient to render the island unapproachable, as they willcover a zone which no vessel could enter without being blown topieces. And it occurs to me that they intend to put Back Cup in astate of defence after having argued as follows:
"If the appearance of the _Sword_ in the lagoon was due to chance thesituation remains unchanged, and no power, not even England, willthink of seeking for the _Sword_ inside the cavern. If, on the otherhand, as the result of an incomprehensible revelation, it has beenlearned that Back Cup is become the retreat of Ker Karraje, if theexpedition of the _Sword_ was a first effort against the island,another of a different kind--either a bombardment from a distance, oran attack by a landing party--is to be expected. Therefore, ere wecan quit Back Cup and carry away our plunder, we shall have to defendourselves by means of Roch's fulgurator."
In my opinion the rascals must have gone on to reason still further inthis wise:
"Is there any connection between the disclosure of our secret--if itwas, and however it may have been made--and the double abduction fromHealthful House? Is it known that Thomas Roch and his keeper areconfined in Back Cup? Is it known that the abduction was effected inthe interest of Ker Karraje? Have Americans, English, French, Germans,and Russians reason to fear that an attack in force against the islandwould be doomed to failure?"
Ker Karraje must know very well that these powers would not hesitateto attack him, however great the danger might be. The destruction ofhis lair is an urgent duty in the interest of public security andof humanity. After sweeping the West Pacific the pirate and hiscompanions are infesting the West Atlantic, and must be wiped out atall costs.
In any case, it is imperative that the inhabitants of Back Cup shouldbe on their guard. This fact is realized, and, from the day on whichthe _Sword_ was destroyed, strict watch has been kept. Thanks to thenew passage, they are able to hide among the rocks without havingrecourse to the submarine tunnel to get there, and day and night adozen sentries are posted about the island. The moment a ship appearsin sight the fact is at once made known inside the cavern.
Nothing occurs for some days, and the latter succeed each other withdreadful monotony. The pirates, however, feel that Back Cup no longerenjoys its former security. Every moment an alarm from the sentriesposted outside is expected. The situation is no longer the same sincethe advent of the _Sword_. Gallant Lieutenant Davon, gallant crew,may England, may the civilized nations, never forget that you havesacrificed your lives in the cause of humanity!
It is evident that now, however powerful may be their means ofdefence, even more powerful than a network of torpedoes, EngineerSerko and Captain Spade are filled with an anxiety that they vainlyessay to dissemble. They hold frequent conferences together. Maybethey discuss the advisability of quitting Back Cup with their wealth,for they are aware that if the existence of the cavern is known meanswill be found to reduce it, even if the inmates have to be starvedout.
This is, of course, mere conjecture on my part. What is essential tome is that they do not suspect me of having launched the keg thatwas so providentially picked up at Bermuda. Never, I must say, hasEngineer Serko ever made any allusion to any such probability. No, Iam not even suspected. If the contrary were the case I am sufficientlyacquainted with Ker Karraje to know that he would long ago have sentme to rejoin Lieutenant Davon and the _Sword_ at the bottom of thelagoon.
The winter tempests have set in with a vengeance. The wind howlsthough the hole in the roof, and rude gusts sweep through the forestof pillars producing sonorous sounds, so sonorous, so deep, that onemight sometimes almost fancy they were produced by the firing of theguns of a squadron. Flocks of seabirds take refuge in the cavern fromthe gale, and at intervals, when it lulls, almost deafen us with theirscreaming.
It is to be presumed that in such weather the schooner will make noattempt to put to sea, for the stock of provisions is ample enough tolast all the season. Moreover, I imagine the Count d'Artigas will notbe so eager in future to show his _Ebba_ along the Americancoast, where he risks being received, not, as hitherto, with theconsideration due to a wealthy yachtsman, but in the manner KerKarraje so richly merits.
It occurs to me that if the apparition of the _Sword_ was thecommencement of a campaign against the island, a question of greatmoment relative to the future of Back Cup arises.
Therefore, one day, prudently, so as not to excite any suspicion, Iventured to pump Engineer Serko about it.
We were in the neighborhood of Thomas Roch's laboratory, and hadbeen conversing for some time, when Engineer Serko touched upon theextraordinary apparition of an English submarine boat in the lagoon.On this occasion he seemed to incline to the view that it might havebeen a premeditated expedition against Ker Karraje.
"That is not my opinion," I replied, in order to bring him to thequestion that I wanted to put to him.
"Why?" he demanded.
"Because if your retreat were known a fresh attempt, if not topenetrate to the cavern, at least to destroy Back Cup, would ere thishave been made."
"Destroy it!" cried Serko. "It would be a dangerous undertaking, inview of the means of defence of which we now dispose."
"They can know nothing about this matter, Mr. Serko. It is notimagined, either in the new world or the old, that the abduction fromHealthful House was effected for your especial benefit, or that youhave succeeded in coming to terms with Thomas Roch for his invention."
Engineer Serko made no response to this observation, which, for thatmatter, was unanswerable.
I continued:
"Therefore a squadron sent by the maritime powers who have an interestin breaking up this island would not hesitate to approach and shellit. Now, I argue from this that as this squadron has not yet appeared,it is not likely to come at all, and that nothing is known as to KerKarraje's whereabouts, and you must admit that this hypothesis is themost cheerful one, as far as you are concerned."
"That may be," Engineer Serko replied, "but what is, is. Whether theyare aware of the fact or no, if warships approach within five or sixmiles of this island they will be sunk before they have had time tofire a single shot!"
"Well, and what then?"
"What then? Why the probability is that no others would care to repeatthe experiment."
"That, again, may be. But these warships would invest you beyond thedangerous zone, and the _Ebba_ would not be able to put in to theports she previously visited with the Count d'Artigas. In this event,how would you be able to provision the island?"
Engineer Serko remained silent.
This argument, which he must already have brooded over, was toological to be refuted or dismissed, and I have an idea that thepirates contemplate abandoning Back Cup.
Nevertheless, not relishing being cornered, he continued:
"We should still have the tug, and what the _Ebba_ could not do, thiswould."
"The tug?" I cried. "But if Ker Karraje's secrets are known, do yousuppose the powers are not also aware of the existence of the Countd'Artigas' submarine boat?"
Engineer Serko looked at me suspiciously.
"Mr. Hart," he said, "you appear to me to carry your deductions ratherfar."
"I, Mr. Serko?"
"Yes, and I think you talk about all this like a man who knows morethan he ought to."
This remark brought me up abruptly. It was evident that my argumentsmight give rise to the suspicion that I was not altogetherirresponsible for the recent incident. Engineer Serko scrutinized mesharply as though he would read my innermost thoughts.
"Mr. Serko," I observed, "by profession, as well as by inclination, Iam accustomed to reason upon everything. This is why I communicated toyou the result of my reasoning, which you can take into considerationor not, as you like."
Thereupon we separate. But I fancy my lack of reserve may have excitedsuspicions which may not be easy to allay.
From this interview, however, I gleaned a precious bit of information,namely, that the dangerous zone of Roch's fulgurator is between fiveand six miles off. Perhaps,
during the next equinoctial tides,another notice to this effect in another keg may also reach a safedestination.
But how many weary months to wait before the orifice of the tunnelwill again be uncovered!
The rough weather continues, and the squalls are more violent thanever. Is it the state of the sea that delays another campaign againstBack Cup? Lieutenant Davon certainly assured me that if his expeditionfailed, if the _Sword_ did not return to St. George, another attemptunder different conditions would be made with a view to breaking upthis bandits' lair. Sooner or later the work of justice must bedone, and Back Cup be destroyed, even though I may not survive itsdestruction.
Ah! why can I not go and breathe, if only for a single instant, thevivifying air outside? Why am I not permitted to cast one glance overthe ocean towards the distant horizon of the Bermudas? My whole lifeis concentrated in one desire: to get through the tunnel in the walland hide myself among the rocks. Perchance I might be the first tocatch sight of the smoke of a squadron heading for the island.
This project, alas! is unrealizable, as sentries are posted day andnight at each extremity of the passage. No one can enter it withoutEngineer Serko's authorization. Were I to attempt it, I should riskbeing deprived of my liberty to walk about the cavern, and even worsemight happen to me.
Since our last conversation, Engineer Serko's attitude towards me hasundergone a change. His gaze has lost its old-time sarcasm and isdistrustful, suspicious, searching and as stern as Ker Karraje's.
_November 17_.--This afternoon there was a great commotion in theBeehive, and the men rushed out of their cells with loud cries.
I was reclining on my bed, but immediately rose and hurried out.
All the pirates were making for the passage, in front of which wereKer Karraje, Engineer Serko, Captain Spade, Boatswain Effrondat,Engine-driver Gibson and the Count d'Artigas' big Malay attendant.
I soon learn the reason for the tumult, for the sentries rush in withshouts of alarm.
Several vessels have been sighted to the northwest--warships steamingat full speed in the direction of Back Cup.