CHAPTER XVIII HOT ON THE TRAIL
THE more Atherton thought about one of the crew of the mysteriousyacht the more he became convinced that the fellow was Sir SilasGwinnear's assailant.
After dinner, seizing a favourable opportunity, the lad approachedhis Scoutmaster on the subject.
"You're falling a victim to the powers of suggestion, I'm afraid,Atherton," remarked Mr Buckley. "When you first mentioned the matterto me you said you _thought_ he was the man. Now, after ruminating,you come to the conclusion that he _must_ be the culprit. Suchdefinite conclusions based upon flimsy suppositions are dangerous.Over and over again one reads of cases of persons being wronglyarrested owing to definite yet mistaken zeal on the part of animpressionable constable. Now, for example, what do you suggest wouldbe the best course to adopt? Inform the police?"
"Yes, sir; my idea is that he should not be allowed to slip throughour fingers, so to speak."
"And if the fellow gives a perfectly corroborated statement, andclaims damages for illegal arrest, where would the funds of the troopgo, eh? No, no, Atherton, we must get to work more cautiously. I amquite in agreement with you that the action of these two men on theyacht is suspicious, and that they ought to be kept underobservation. All the same, I do not like the idea of so much nightwork. Before I took over for Mr Trematon, you had more than onerestless night."
"If it has to be done, sir, it must be," replied Atherton earnestly."The other fellows are of the same mind."
"Very well, so long as the yacht remains of the Island we will keepher under observation. I'll send Simpson and the 'Wolves' out tillsunset, and then the 'Otters' can carry on till morning. Only, mindyou, it is to be distinctly understood that your patrol must restthis afternoon and also to-morrow morning. Seven hours' sleep inevery twenty-four is essential."
"Very good, sir," said Atherton.
"And," continued Mr Buckley, "I mean to take the night watch withyou. We must find a likely spot whence we can command the approach tothe Tea Caves as well as the yacht. Now tell the 'Otters' to turn in.No talking, mind. I'll see that Simpson has his instructions, andthen I'll have a nap myself."
Two hundred yards to the south-west of the Tea Caves a rocky headlandafforded all the shelter the Scouts required. The place seemed as ifit had been a Titan's playground, for huge flat boulders, someweighing more than twenty tons, had been piled up in picturesque andeven grotesque formations. On one group of rocks the Scouts hadbestowed the name of "The Mushrooms," and the designation was notinapplicable. Three separate columns, composed of discshaped rockstwelve feet in diameter, rose to the height of twelve feet above thegeneral ground level. On the summit of these were still broader rockswith slightly rounded upper surfaces, their edges overlapping thebases by three to five feet, and two of the top rocks touched eachother; the third was separated from the other by a space of less thana foot.
On the lee--side of "The Mushrooms" there was sufficient shelter forthe four Scouts of the "Wolves," for Hayes and Tenderfoot BasilArmstrong were left behind in camp while the "Otters" were resting intheir tent.
The yacht still remained close inshore, in the same position as whenthe Scouts had first sighted her. The tide had long since changed,but the crew had made no attempt to shift her, either by means of themotor or sweeps.
Throughout the rest of the afternoon the "Wolves" kept on the watch.The shadows lengthened as the sun sank down in the west; but the twomen on board gave no signs of their presence.
"Anything wrong?" asked Atherton, as the "Otters" came to the reliefof their comrades, Sayers and Scott being left in camp to perform alike duty to the one Hayes and Armstrong had been detailed to do.
"Not a sign," replied Simpson. "Just our luck. I suppose they'll dosomething as soon as it gets dark, and we'll be out of it."
"May not," rejoined Atherton. "Anyway, if anything exciting doesoccur we'll rouse you up right enough."
With that the "Wolves" reluctantly betook themselves off, and the"Otters" carried on the task of watching the mysterious yacht. TheScouts knew their work well. Even in the gathering twilight theyrefrained from showing themselves against the skyline. Each lad, witha cluster of gorse in his hat to still lessen the risk of detection,kept well behind cover.
Night fell. There was no moon, but the stars gave sufficient light todistinguish the outlines of the coast and the grimly silent yacht,that, two hundred feet below, rocked gently on the bosom of theocean.
"It's eleven o'clock and slack tide," said Phillips to his Leader."What do you say to this: suppose we get the others to lower us downthe cliffs by the Tea Caves? It's hardly any distance."
"What then?" asked Atherton.
"Well, there being no tide, we could easily swim off to that yacht.It would be worth doing to find out what those fellows are doing onboard."
"I'm game," agreed Atherton. "But we'll have to mention it to MrBuckley."
"Do you think he'll let us go?" asked Phillips, anxiously.
"If he won't there's an end to it," rejoined Atherton, sturdily. "Sohere goes, I'll ask."
"A hundred yards from the shore at least," observed the Scoutmaster,when Atherton made the proposal. "Are you quite sure you can do thedistance there and back?"
"Both Phillips and I hold half-mile certificates, sir," said theLeader. "If the other fellows will lower us on to the ledge leadingto the Caves, it will be a fairly simple matter to swarm down therope to the base of the cliff."
"Very well, then," assented the Scoutmaster. "But, whatever you do,exercise the greatest caution. Everest and Baker can remain here, therest of the available 'Otters' can support you."
"Thank you, sir," replied Atherton, saluting, and without furtherdelay the work of preparation began.
Green and Mayne were to remain on the top of the cliff above theledge leading to the Tea Caves, the Scoutmaster was to descend to theledge, make sure that there was no one lurking at the entrance to thecaverns, and to assist the two swimmers during their descent andascent to and from the sea.
Noiselessly the little party gained the spot, almost opposite theanchored yacht. No signs of life were visible from the unlightedcraft. Her outlines could only just be discerned against the darksurface of the water.
It did not take the Scouts long to discover the holes into which thestaves and crowbars had been driven on the first occasion of theirfirst exploration of the Tea Caves. The tufts of earth that had beenplaced in them to hide the traces of the Scouts' operations wereremoved and two stout iron bars deftly inserted.
Giving a final glance round, Mr Buckley made one end of the rope fastround his body. "Lower away, lads," he exclaimed. "I'm not a heavyweight, and when one has a groggy arm it puts a stopper onhand-over-hand work."
As soon as Mr Buckley reached the ledge, Atherton and Phillipsswarmed down. They were now only twenty feet above the sea, and atthat particular spot the irregular shape of the cliffs permitted afairly easy descent.
"We'll go with you, sir, as far as the Caves," whispered the Leader,but the Scoutmaster demurred.
"One can go where three cannot sometimes," he replied. "If there'sany bother I'll whistle for you. I think I can well hold my own tillthen."
In five minutes Mr Buckley returned.
"It's all clear, I think," he remarked in an undertone. "The dustseems undisturbed and there's been no wind to level it. I've coveredmy tracks very carefully in case of accidents."
Quickly undressing, Atherton, with a rope tied round his waist, incase he slipped, made his way down to the water's edge. Casting offthe rope, he waited till Phillips joined him, and as noiselessly asthe little creatures from which the patrol took its name, the twoScouts slipped into the water.
Not a word was spoken as the lads swam with steady strokes towardsthe yacht The sea was quite warm, warmer in fact than the air. BothScouts knew how to swim with the least exertion and without making asplash. They did not hurry, realising that haste in swimming meansloss of strength; so, keeping side by side, they made light work oftheir
outward journey.
The mysterious yacht was now riding lightly to her anchor. There waslittle or no tide; and her cable was, in nautical parlance, "straightup and down." By a fortunate chance, owing no doubt to theslovenliness of her crew rather than to their lack of seamanship, theyacht's bobstay was still hove taut, and this afforded a finefoothold for the two lads.
Atherton could just manage to grasp the bowsprit. Raising his legs,he threw his heels over the low bulwark and contrived to draw himselfon deck. He waited, every sense keenly on the alert. All was quiet,save for a muffled conversation in the cabin.
Assisting Phillips on board, the elder lad led the way aft. Theirbare feet made no sound upon the dew-sodden decks; and, cautiouslypicking their way over coils of ropes and avoiding formidable-lookingcleats that would, in the event of hitting them, cause painfulresults, the two Scouts came to the closed companion hatchcommunicating to the main cabin.
Through a chink in the teak door, Atherton saw that a light wasburning. The scuttles had been covered with a thick material in orderto screen the light within.
It was a remarkable sight that met the Scout's gaze. On the swingingtable was a quantity of silver plate. Sitting on one bunk was one ofthe crew, who was apprehensively regarding his companion. Of thelatter Atherton now had no doubts. He was the same red-necked fellowwho had been one of the assailants of Sir Silas Gwinnear. There wasno mistaking the closely cropped iron-grey hair, the rounded thoughmassive shoulders and back, the long legs and all the othercharacteristics the Scout had so carefully noticed. In his hands heheld a sporting rifle, which was pointed in the direction of hiscompanion.
"Ere, chuck it, Bill. Turn that blessed thing away," remonstrated theseated man.
"'Tain't loaded, yer blinkin' juggins."
"That's wot yer says, Bill."
"'Struth: don't yer know as well as I does that there ain't ablinkin' cartridge aboard. All the same it'll come in 'andy-like tofrighten them nippers if they comes a' nosin' abaht 'ere agen."
"They won't. I'll chaunce me arm on that, Bill."
"'Ow d'ye know that? Ain't they properly kippered that old foolTassh, till 'e ain't got no mind to call 'is own? If it weren't forthem blessed Scouts we'd a' hid all the blessed swag aboard aforenow. Tassh won't budge till nigh on one in the mornin', as yerbloomin' well knows, the white-livered swob."
"'E was late last night. Arter three afore 'e gived the signal."
"Ef 'e's blinkin' well late to-night we'll go ashore and rout 'im outof 'is blessed cave."
"Not this 'ere child, Bill. I ain't got no likin' to wormin' me waythrough that 'ole between the two caves. I'll wait in the outer oneif yer likes."
"You'll blessed well do as I tells yer," retorted the latter man,laying the gun down on the bunk. "Onderstand that. Well, 'ere goes.I'll 'ave a look on deck, and see if anything's stirrin'. Douse thatglim for a minnit, while I opens the 'atch."
Atherton touched his companion's shoulder. Both lads rose to theirfeet and began to make their way for'ard, Phillips treading on oneside of the deck and Atherton on the other, so as to prevent thecraft from heeling. Even the faintest heel would be noticeable to thetwo men below, and their suspicions would be instantly aroused.
Phillips lowered himself noiselessly over the bows, but beforeAtherton could clamber over the windlass that occupied a portion ofthe foredeck, the noise of the hatch being slid back told him thatBill was in the act of coming on deck.
There was no time to be lost. Atherton hurried to rejoin his comrade,but his haste led to his undoing. His bare feet slipped on the wetplanks, and the next instant he was sprawling at full length upon thedeck.
"Throughout the rest of the afternoon the Wolves kept on thewatch."--_Page_ 217.