CHAPTER XXIII
IN WHICH THE SUPERCARGO IS CORNERED
From one street corner Dave and Roger hurried to another, looking inevery direction for some sign of Captain Marshall. This hunt they keptup for the best part of half an hour, but without success.
"He is certainly nowhere in this vicinity," said the senator's son. "Iwonder where he can be keeping himself."
They walked on more slowly, and at the entrance to a lane came toanother halt. Then, chancing to look into the lane, Dave uttered a shortcry:
"There he is!"
Coming along the lane was Captain Marshall. His step was an uncertainone, and he pitched from side to side. As the two boys ran forward, themaster of the _Stormy Petrel_ gave a lurch and landed on some old boxeswith a crash.
"Oh, Dave, can this be possible!" murmured Roger. "I did not think thecaptain would do it."
"Let us help him to the ship," answered Dave. He was as much shocked ashis companion, and he could not help but think of what the supercargohad said.
"Oh, is it you, boys?" mumbled the captain, as he espied them. "I wantto--to get back to the ship."
"We'll help you," said Dave.
"I've had an awful night--my mind is in a perfect whirl," went on themaster of the _Stormy Petrel_.
"We'll soon have you safe on the bark," put in Roger.
The two assisted the captain to his feet. His eyes had a peculiar starein them. Suddenly he clapped his hand to his pocket.
"Funny!" he muttered. "Very funny! I've got my watch! And I've got mymoney, too!"
"Did you think they were gone?" queried Dave.
"Well, I shouldn't be--be surprised. I thought they did it to rob me.What time is it? Oh, but I am weak in the legs, boys!"
"It is about eight o'clock."
"In the morning?"
"Yes."
"Then I must get back to the _Stormy Petrel_ by all means. I--how didyou come to find me?"
"We were out looking for you," answered Roger. "We were alarmed, and sowas Phil, because you didn't come back last night."
"I--I meant to come back. Oh, how my head spins! I wish I had a drink ofwater! That coffee they dosed me with was vile."
"Coffee they dosed you with?" queried Dave. "Were you drugged?"
"I must have been, lad. I met some men, and they wanted me to drink withthem. I refused. Then they offered me some coffee and native cakes, and,to be sociable, I took the stuff. Directly afterward I began to growsleepy, and then I didn't know a thing until I woke up at the end ofthat lane awhile ago."
"Did you know the men?" asked Roger.
"I did not, but they pretended to know me. It's queer they didn't robme. I wonder why they drugged me?"
"I don't know," answered Dave, "unless----"
"Unless what?"
"I shouldn't like to say, Captain Marshall. But I'll tell you one thing,you are wanted on board of the _Stormy Petrel_ at once."
"Who wants me?"
"Phil Lawrence. We have learned something about Mr. Van Blott which wethink you ought to know. But you must get your head cleared up, first ofall."
They walked the captain back to the bark, and, by accident more thandesign, managed to get the skipper on board without the supercargoseeing the party. Then they called Phil into the cabin, and in themeantime got the captain some fresh water and some other things theyfancied might do him good. They were glad to note that his dizzinesswas fast leaving him.
"This looks suspicious to me," said Captain Marshall, after he had heardwhat the boys had to relate. "But I cannot accuse Van Blott of having medrugged, as I have no proof of it. I do not know who those men were,and, more than likely, they will keep themselves out of sight."
"That is true," returned Phil. "But you can help me regarding this stuffto be taken away by Baumann & Feltmuller, can't you?"
"Certainly, Phil. I want to know all about that stuff before it leavesthis ship. Have you the records of the goods?"
"No, sir; Mr. Van Blott has locked the books in the safe."
"Then, if I were you, as your father's representative, I should demandto see the records. I will back you up."
"If you will back me up, I'll go to him at once. He is already gettingthe goods out of the hold."
"I'll put a stop to that," answered the captain.
He was still feeble in the legs, but managed to climb to the deck, andwalked to where the supercargo and the first mate were directing theunloading of a portion of the cargo.
"Hello, so you are back!" exclaimed the supercargo, and his face paled alittle.
"I am," returned the captain, coldly. "Mr. Shepley, did you give ordersto unload?" he went on, turning to the mate.
"I--I--er--did," stammered the mate. "You said yesterday we were tostart first thing this morning."
"I did--but I expected to be here when we began. Mr. Van Blott, PhilipLawrence wishes to see you in your office."
"I haven't time to bother with him now," growled the supercargo. "Goahead with those cases!" he shouted to some stevedores who were nearby,and pulling out his handkerchief he gave it a flourish toward the dock.
"Drop those cases!" roared Captain Marshall, his face growing red. "Dropthem, I say!" And the natives who were carrying the cases stopped short.
"Captain Marshall----" began Jasper Van Blott. "I--what do you mean bythis--er--by this----"
"I told you that Philip Lawrence wanted to see you in your office. Youhad better see him before we move any more of this cargo."
"Yes, but----"
"I won't argue the matter, Mr. Van Blott. I was drugged last night. Doyou understand? Drugged! But my mind is clear now, and I want everythingon this bark to run smoothly. You had better go to your office, and I'llgo with you."
The supercargo glared at the captain, and the latter glared in return.Then Van Blott shrugged his shoulders.
"As you please," he said. "But it is a strange proceeding." And hewalked to that part of the ship where was located his little office. Ashe passed the first mate, he gave the man a wink and turned his eyestoward the cases on the deck. Paul Shepley nodded slightly.
In the office they found Phil awaiting them. Roger followed the pair,but Dave had seen the wink that was passed, and remained on deck, and amoment later seated himself on one of the very cases the stevedores hadbeen in the act of removing from the ship.
"Ain't you going with them?" asked the first mate, coming up with a darkfrown on his face.
"No, I think I'll stay here until they come back," answered Dave,lightly.
"Then please get off of that box."
"I am not hurting the box, Mr. Shepley."
"Get off, I say!"
The boy from the country did so.
"I believe Captain Marshall wanted nothing moved until he came back,"said Dave, gazing boldly into the mate's angry face. "Perhaps I hadbetter call him, if you are going to work again."
"Who said I was going to move anything?" growled Paul Shepley, hismanner showing that that was just what he had had in mind to do. "Don'tyou get too fresh around me, or there will be trouble!"
"Well, if there is trouble, I'll do my best to stand up against it."
"Aw! you make me tired!" grumbled the first mate, and strode away indeep disgust, leaving Dave master of the field.
In the meantime a stormy meeting was being held in the supercargo'soffice. At first Van Blott flatly refused to allow Phil to look at hisbooks, but at last brought forth several, which the shipowner's son knewwere of little importance.
"I want the books that relate to the goods to be landed here," saidPhil. "I want to know all about each piece before it is put ashore."
"Humph! You are getting very particular, young man!" observed thesupercargo.
"I do not deny it."
"Did your father send you on this trip to spy on me?"
"You may put it that way, if you wish, Mr. Van Blott. I am here simplyto learn this business and to see that everything is O. K."
"If everything is all r
ight, what have you to fear from an inspectionlike this?" came suggestively from Captain Marshall.
"I am not going to work here and be watched like a criminal!" stormedJasper Van Blott. "If old man Lawrence can't trust me, it is time weparted company!"
"I agree with you," returned the captain.
"Do you?" came with a sneer. "Very well. I'll close up my accounts andquit."
"You'll not do it just yet," put in Phil. He was pale, but determined.
"I won't?"
"No. Before you quit you must make an accounting to me of goods andmoney, and satisfy me, and also Captain Marshall, that everything is O.K. in every particular."
"Bah! Boy, who gave you authority to talk to me in this fashion?"
"My father."
"I don't believe it. Why, you are a mere boy--you don't know what youare saying. I'll close up this business to suit myself and leave my keyswith Captain Marshall, and that will end it."
"Mr. Van Blott, you must remember that Philip Lawrence is theshipowner's son," said the captain, sternly.
"I don't care if he is. He has no legal authority, and I don't proposeto let him drive me."
"Just wait a minute, until I come back," said Phil, starting for thedoor.
"Where are you going?" asked Roger.
"To my stateroom. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"What is he going to do?" questioned the supercargo, uneasily.
"I don't know," answered Captain Marshall, shortly. "But, if I were you,Mr. Van Blott, I should listen to him. In a certain sense, he representshis father on this vessel."
"He doesn't represent him with me!" muttered the supercargo. His angerhad made him lose a good portion of his common sense.
There was a minute of silence, during which Jasper Van Blott strode upand down the narrow office. Then a step was heard outside, and Philreappeared, carrying a large envelope in his hand.
"My father said I was not to use this unless it was necessary," he said,drawing a paper from the envelope.
At the appearance of a legal-looking document the supercargo startedback.
"What's that?" he demanded, hoarsely.
"This is a document authorizing Captain Marshall to take charge of youraffairs, Mr. Van Blott. He is to investigate everything, under mysupervision, and is to hold you strictly accountable for everything youhave done since starting on this voyage."