CHAPTER XVI
PYE
I looked up into Barraclough's face.
"Then you're all right," I said weakly; "and the Princess----"
"We've held these rooms, and by heaven we'll keep 'em," said hevigorously.
I saw now that his left arm was in a sling, but my gaze wandered afieldunder the lantern in search of others.
"The Prince and the Princess are safe," said he, in explanation. "Butit's been a bad business for us. We've lost the cook, Jackson, andGrant, and that little beggar, Pye."
I breathed a sigh of relief at his first words; and then as I took inthe remainder of his sentence, "What! is Pye dead?"
"Well, he's missing, anyway," said Barraclough indifferently; "but he'snot much loss."
"Perhaps he's in his cabin. He locked himself in earlier," I said."Give me an arm, like a good fellow. I'm winged and I'm all bruises. Ifell into the saloon."
"Gad, is that so?" said he; and I was aware that some one else waslistening near. I raised my head, and, taking Barraclough's hand,looked round. It was Princess Alix. I could make her out from herfigure, but I could not see her face.
"You have broken an arm?" she said quickly.
"It is not so bad as that, Miss Morland," I answered. "I got a scrapeon the shoulder and the fall dazed me."
I was now on my feet again, and Barraclough dropped me into a chair."They got in by the windows of the music-room," I said.
"Yes," he assented. "Ellison and Jackson ran up from the saloon on thealarm, apparently just in time to meet the rush. Ellison's bad--bulletin the groin."
"I must see to him," I said, struggling up. A hand pressed me gently onthe shoulder, and even so I winced with pain.
"You must not go yet," said the Princess. "There is yourself toconsider. You are not fit."
I looked past her towards the windows, some of which had been unbarredin the conflict.
"I fear I can't afford to be an invalid," I said. "There is so much todo. I will lie up presently, Miss Morland. If Sir John will be goodenough to get me my bag, which is in the ante-chamber, I think I canmake up on what I have."
Barraclough departed silently, and I was alone with the Princess.
"I did not come," I said. "I betrayed my trust."
She came a little nearer to my seat. "You would have come if there hadbeen danger," she said earnestly. "Yet why do we argue thus when deathis everywhere? Three honest men have perished, and we are nearer homeby so much."
"Home!" said I, wondering.
"Yes, I mean home," she said in a quick, low voice. "Don't think that Iam a mere foolish woman. I have always seen the end, and sometimes itappears to me that we are wasting time in fighting. I know whatthreatens, what must fall, and I thank God I am prepared for it. See,did I not show you before?" and here she laid her hand upon her bosom,which was heaving.
I shook my head. "You are wrong," said I feebly. "There is nothingcertain yet. Think, I beg you, how many chances God scatters in thisworld, and how to turn a corner, to pause a moment, may change the faceof destiny. A breath, a wind, the escape of a jet of steam, a valveastray, a jagged rock in the ocean, the murmur of a voice, ahandshake--anything the least in this world may cause the greatestrevolution in this world. No, you must not give up hope."
"I will not," she said. "I will hope on; but I am ready for the worst."
"And the Prince?" I asked.
"I think he has changed much of late," she said slowly. "He is altered.Yet I do think he, too, is ready. The prison closes upon us."
She had endured so bravely. That delicate nature had breasted so noblythese savage perils and mischances that it was no wonder her fortitudehad now given way. But that occasion was the only time she exhibitedanything in common with the strange fatalism of her brother, of which Imust say something presently. It was the only time I knew that intrepidgirl to fail, and even then she failed with dignity.
Barraclough returned with my bag, and I selected from it what I wanted.I knew that, beyond bruises and shock, there was little the matter withme, and for that I must thank the chance that had flung me on the bodyof my assailant, and not underneath it. There was need of me at thatcrisis, as I felt, and it was no hour for the respectable and judiciousmethods of ordinary practice. I had to get myself up to the norm ofphysique, and I did so.
"Well," said Lane, who had been attending to Ellison, "they'veappropriated the coker-nut. It wasn't my fault, for the beggars kept meand the Prince busy at the door, and then, before you could say'knife,' they were off. A mean, dirty trick's what I call it!"
"Oh, that's in the campaign!" I said. "And what said the Prince?"
"Swore like a private in the line--at least, I took it for swearing,for it was German. And then we ran as hard as we could split to therow, but it was too late. There wasn't any one left. All was over savethe shouting."
"Then the Prince is well?" I asked.
"Not a pimple on him, old man," said the efflorescent Lane, "and he'swriting like blue blazes in his cabin."
What was he writing? Was that dull-blue eye eloquent of fate? When heshould be afoot, what did he at his desk? Even as I pondered thisquestion, a high voice fluted through the corridor and a door openedwith a bang. It was Mademoiselle. She dashed across, a flutter ofskirts and a flurry of agitation, and disappeared into the apartmentsoccupied by the Prince. Princess Alix stood on the threshold with adisturbed look upon her face.
"She's gone to raise Cain," said Lane, with a grimace.
"We've got enough Cain already," said I, and walked to the windowopposite. Dawn was now flowing slowly into the sky, and objects stoodout greyly in a grey mist. From the deck a noise broke loudly, and Lanejoined us.
"Another attack," said he. "They're bound to have us now."
I said nothing. Barraclough was listening at the farther end, and Ithink Princess Alix had turned her attention from Mademoiselle. I heardHolgate's voice lifted quite calmly in the racket:
"It's death to two, at all events. So let me know who makes choice.You, Garrison?"
"Let's finish the job," cried a voice. "We've had enough," and therewas an outcry of applause.
Immediately on that there was a loud rapping on the door near us.
"When I've played my cards and fail, gentlemen," said Holgate's voice,"I'll resign the game into your hands."
"What is it?" shouted Barraclough. "Fire, and be hanged!"
"You mistake, Sir John," called out Holgate. "We're not anxious foranother scrap. We've got our bellies full. All we want is a littlematter that can be settled amicably. I won't ask you to open, for Ican't quite trust the tempers of my friends here. But if you can hearme, please say so."
"I hear," said Barraclough.
"That's all right, then. I won't offer to come in, for William Tell maybe knocking about. We can talk straight out here. We want the contentsof those safes, that's all--a mere modest request in thecircumstances."
"You've got the safes," shouted Barraclough. "Let us alone."
"Softly, Sir John, Bart.," said the mutineer. "The safes are there safeenough, but there's nothing in 'em. You've got back on us this time, bythunder, you have. And the beauty of the game was its simplicity. Well,here's terms again, since we're bound to do it in style ofplenipotentiaries. Give us the contents of the safes, and I'll land youon the coast here within twelve hours with a week's provisions."
There was a moment's pause on this, and Barraclough looked toward me inthe dim light, as if he would, ask my advice.
"They've got the safes," he said in perplexity. "This is moretreachery, I suppose."
"Shoot 'em," said Lane furiously. "Don't trust the brutes."
"Wait a bit," said I hurriedly. "Don't let's be rash. We had bettercall Mr. Morland. There's something behind this. Tell them that we willanswer presently."
Barraclough shouted the necessary statement, and I hurried off to thePrince's cabin. I knocked, and entered abruptly. Mademoiselle sat in achair with a face suffused with tears, her pretty head b
owed in herhands. She looked up.
"What are we to do, doctor? The Prince says we must fight. But there isanother way, is there not?" she said in French. "Surely, we can makepeace. I will make peace myself. This agitates my nerves, this fightingand the dead; and oh, Frederic! you must make peace with this 'Olgate."
The Prince sat awkwardly silent, his eyes blinking and his mouthtwitching. What he had said I know not, but, despite the heaviness ofhis appearance, he looked abjectly miserable.
"It is not possible, Yvonne," he said hoarsely. "These men must behanded over to justice."
I confess I had some sympathy with Mademoiselle at the moment, soobstinately stupid was this obsession of his. To talk of handing themutineers over to justice when we were within an ace of our end anddeath knocking veritably on the door!
"The men, sir, wish to parley with you," I said somewhat brusquely."They are without and offer terms."
He got up. "Ah, they are being defeated!" he said, and nodded. "Ourresistance is too much for them." I could not have contradicted himjust then, for it would probably have led to an explosion on the lady'spart. But it came upon me to wonder if the Prince knew anything of thecontents of the safes. They were his, and he had a right to removethem. Had he done so? I couldn't blame him if he had. He walked outwith a ceremonious bow to Mademoiselle, and I followed. She had driedher eyes, and was looking at me eagerly. She passed into the corridorin front of me, and pressed forward to where Barraclough and Lanestood.
"The mutineers, sir, offer terms," said Barraclough to the Prince."They propose that if we hand over the contents of the safes we shallbe landed on the coast with a week's provisions."
The Prince gazed stolidly and stupidly at his officer.
"I do not understand," said he. "The scoundrels are in possession ofthe safes."
"That is precisely what we should all have supposed," I said drily."But it seems they are not."
"Look here, Holgate," called out Barraclough after a moment's silence,"are we to understand that you have not got the safes open?"
It seemed odd, questioning a burglar as to his success, but theposition made it necessary.
"We have the safes open right enough," called Holgate hoarsely, "butthere's nothing there--they're just empty. And so, if you'll be so goodas to fork out the swag, captain, we'll make a deal in the terms I havesaid."
"It is a lie. They have everything," said the Prince angrily.
"Then why the deuce are they here, and what are they playing at?" saidBarraclough, frowning.
"Only a pretty little game of baccarat. Oh, my hat!" said Lane.
"It seems to me that there's a good deal more in this than isapparent," I said. "The safes were full, and the strong-room wassecure. We are most of us witnesses to that. But what has happened? Ithink, Sir John, it would be well if we asked the--Mr. Morlandforthwith if he has removed his property. He has a key."
"No, sir, I have not interfered," said the Prince emphatically. "Icommitted my property to the charge of this ship and to her officers. Ihave not interfered."
Barraclough and I looked at each other. Lane whistled, and his colourdeepened.
"There, doctor, that's where I come in. I told you so. That's agive-away for me. I've got the other key--or had."
"Had!" exclaimed the Prince, turning on him abruptly.
"Yes," said Lane with sheepish surliness. "I was telling the doctorabout it not long ago. My key's gone off my bunch. I found it out justnow. Some one's poached it."
The Prince's eyes gleamed ferociously, as if he would have sprung onthe little purser, who slunk against the wall sullenly.
"When did you miss it?" asked Barraclough sharply.
"Oh, about an hour and a half ago!" said Lane, in an offhand way.
"He has stolen it. He is the thief!" thundered the Prince.
Lane glanced up at him with a scowl. "Oh, talk your head off!" said hemoodily, "I don't care a damn if you're prince or pot-boy. We're all ona level here, and we're not thieves."
Each one looked at the other. "We're cornered," said Barraclough. "Itwill make 'em mad, if they haven't got that. There's no chance of abargain."
"It is not my desire there should be any bargain," said the Princestiffly.
Barraclough shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. But it was plainto all that we were in a hole. The mutineers were probably infuriatedby finding the treasure gone, and at any moment might renew theirattack. There was but a small prospect that we could hold out againstthem.
"We must tell them," said I; "at least, we must come to somearrangement with them. The question is whether we shall pretend to fallin with their wishes, or at least feign to have what they want. It willgive us time, but how long?"
"There is no sense in that," remarked Prince Frederic in his autocraticway. "We will send them about their business and let them do what theycan."
"Sir, you forget the ladies," I said boldly.
"Dr. Phillimore, I forget nothing," he replied formally. "But will yoube good enough to tell me what the advantage of postponing thediscovery will be?"
Well, when it came to the point, I really did not know. It was wholly adesire to delay, an instinct in favour of procrastination, thatinfluenced me. I shrank from the risks of an assault in our weakenedstate. I struggled with my answer.
"It is only to gain time."
"And what then?" he inquired coldly.
I shrugged my shoulders as Sir John had shrugged his. This was commonsense carried to the verge of insanity. There must fall a time whenthere is no further room for reasoning, and surely it had come now.
"You will be good enough to inform the mutineers, Sir JohnBarraclough," pursued the Prince, having thus silenced me, "that wehave not the treasure they are in search of, and that undoubtedly it isalready in their hands, or in the hands of some of them, possibly bythe assistance of confederates," with which his eyes slowed round toLane.
The words, foolish beyond conception, as I deemed them, suddenly struckhome to me. "Some of them!" If the Prince had not shifted his treasure,certainly Lane had not. I knew enough of the purser to go bail for himin such a case. And he had lost his key. I think it was perhaps themere mention of confederates that set my wits to work, and whatdirected them to Pye I know not.
"Wait one moment," said I, putting my hand on Barraclough. "I'd like toask a question before you precipitate war," and raising my voice Icried, "Is Holgate there?"
"Yes, doctor, and waiting for an answer, but I've got some tigersbehind me."
"Then what's become of Pye?" I asked loudly.
There was a perceptible pause ere the reply came. "Can't you find him?"
"No," said I. "He was last seen in his cabin about midnight, when helocked himself in."
"Well, no doubt he is there now," said Holgate, with a fat laugh. "Anda wise man, too. I always betted on the little cockney's astuteness.But, doctor, if you don't hurry up, I fear we shall want sky-pilotsalong."
"What is this? Why are you preventing my orders being carried out?"asked the Prince bluffly.
I fell back. "Do as you will," said I. "Our lives are in your hands."
Barraclough shouted the answer dictated to him, and there came a soundof angry voices from the other side of the door. An axe descended onit, and it shivered.
"Stand by there," said Barraclough sharply, and Lane closed up.
Outside, the noise continued, but no further blow was struck, and atlast Holgate's voice was raised again:
"We will give you till eight o'clock this evening, captain, andgood-day to you. If you part with the goods then, I'll keep my promiseand put you ashore in the morning. If not----" He went off withoutfinishing his sentence.
"He will not keep his promise, oh, he won't!" said a tense voice in myear; and, turning, I beheld the Princess.
"That is not the trouble," said I, as low as she. "It is that we havenot the treasure, and we are supposed to be in possession of it."
"Who has it?" she asked quickly.
"Your b
rother denies that he has shifted it, but the mutineersundoubtedly found it gone. It is an unfathomed secret so far."
"But," she said, looking at me eagerly, "you have a suspicion."
"It is none of us," I said, with an embracing glance.
"That need not be said," she replied quickly. "I know honest men."
She continued to hold me with her interrogating eyes, and an answer wasindirectly wrung from me.
"I should like to know where Pye is," I said.
She took this not unnaturally as an evasion. "But he's of no use," shesaid. "You have told me so. We have seen so together."
It was pleasant to be coupled with her in that way, even in that momentof wonder and fear. I stared across at the door which gave access tothe stairs of the saloon.
"It is possible they have left no one down below," I said musingly.
She followed my meaning this time. "Oh, you mustn't venture it!" shesaid. "It would be foolhardy. You have run risks enough, and you arewounded."
"Miss Morland," I answered. "This is a time when we can hardly stop toconsider. Everything hinges on the next few hours. I say it to youfrankly, and I will remember my promise this time."
"You remembered it before. You would have come," she said, with asudden burst of emotion; and somehow I was glad. I liked her faith inme.
"What the deuce do you make of it?" said Barraclough to me.
I shook my head. "I'll tell you later when I've thought it over," Ianswered. "At present I'm bewildered--also shocked. I've had astartler, Barraclough." He stared at me. "I'll walk round and see. ButI don't know if it will get us any further."
"There's only one thing that will do that," said he significantly.
"You mean----"
"We must make this sanguinary brute compromise. If he will land ussomewhere----"
"Oh, he won't!" I said. "I've no faith in him."
"Well, if they haven't the treasure, they may make terms to get it," hesaid in perplexity.
"_If_ they have not," I said. He looked at me. "The question is, whohas the treasure?" I continued.
"Good heavens, man, if you know--speak out," he said impatiently.
"When I know I'll speak," I said; "but I will say this much, thatwhoever is ignorant of its whereabouts, Holgate isn't."
"I give it up," said Barraclough.
"Unhappily, it won't give us up," I rejoined. "We are to be attackedthis evening if we don't part with what we haven't got."
He walked away, apparently in despair of arriving at any conclusion bycontinuing the conversation. I went toward the door, for I still had myidea. I wondered if there was anything in it. Princess Alix had movedaway on the approach of Sir John, but now she interrupted me.
"You're not going?" she asked anxiously.
"My surgery is below," said I. "I must get some things from it."
She hesitated. "Won't--wouldn't that man Holgate let you have them? Youare running too great a risk."
"That is my safety," I said, smiling. "I go down. If no one is there somuch the better; if some one crops up I have my excuse. The risk is notgreat. Will you be good enough to bar the door after me?"
This was not quite true, but it served my purpose. She let me pass,looking after me with wondering eyes. I unlocked the door and went outinto the lobby that gave on the staircase. There was no sound audibleabove the noises of the ship. I descended firmly, my hand on the buttof a revolver I had picked up. No one was visible at the entrance tothe saloon. I turned up one of the passages toward my own cabin. Ientered the surgery and shut the door. As I was looking for what Iwanted, or might want, I formulated my chain of reflections. Here theyare.
The key had been stolen from Lane. It could only have been stolen bysome one in our own part of the ship, since the purser had not venturedamong the enemy.
Who had stolen it?
Here was a break, but my links began a little further on, in this way.
If the person who had stolen the key, the traitor that is in our camp,had acted in his own interests alone, both parties were at a loss. Butthat was not the hypothesis to which I leaned. If, on the other hand,the traitor had acted in Holgate's interests, who was he?
Before I could continue my chain to the end, I had something to do, asearch to make. I left the surgery noiselessly and passed along thealley to Pye's cabin. The handle turned and the door gave. I opened it.No one was there.
That settled my links for me. The man whom I had encountered in the fogat the foot of the bridge was the man who was in communication withHolgate. That pitiful little coward, whose stomach had turned at thesight of blood and on the assault of the desperadoes, was theircreature. As these thoughts flashed through my mind it went backfurther in a leaf of memory. I recalled the room in the "Three Tuns" onthat dirty November evening; I saw Holgate and the little clerk facingeach other across the table and myself drinking wine with them. Therewas the place in which I had made the third officer's acquaintance, andthat had been brought about by Pye. There, too, I had first heard ofPrince Frederic of Hochburg; and back into my memory flashed thestranger's talk, the little clerk's stare, and Holgate's frown. Theconspiracy had been hatched then. Its roots had gone deep then; fromthat moment the _Sea Queen_ and her owner had been doomed.
I turned and left the cabin abruptly and soon was knocking with theconcocted signal on the door. Barraclough admitted me.
"I have it," said I. "Let's find the Prince."
"Man, we can't afford to leave the doors."
"We may be attacked," said he.
"No; they won't venture just yet," I replied. "It's not their game--atleast, not Holgate's. He's giving us time to find the treasure and thenhe'll attack."
"I wish you wouldn't talk riddles," said Barraclough shortly.
"I'll speak out when we get to the Prince," I said; and forthwith wehastened to his room.
"Mr. Morland," I burst out, "Pye came aboard as representing yoursolicitors?"
"That is so," he replied with some surprise in his voice and manner.
"He was privy then to your affairs--I refer to your financial affairs?"I pursued.
"My solicitors in London, whom I chose in preference to Germansolicitors, were naturally in possession of such facts relating tomyself as were necessary to their advice," said the Prince somewhatformally.
"And Pye knew what they knew--the contents of the safes in thestrong-room?"
He inclined his head. "It was intended that he should return fromBuenos Ayres, after certain arrangements had been made for which hewould lend his assistance."
"Then, sir," said I, "Pye has sold us. Pye is the source of the plot;Pye has the treasure."
"What do you mean?" exclaimed the Prince, rising.
"Why, that Pye has been in league with the mutineers all along,and--good Lord, now I understand what was the meaning of his hints lastnight. He knew the attack was to be made, and he is a coward. He lockedhimself up to drink. Now he is gone."
"Gone!" echoed Barraclough and Lane together; and there was momentarysilence, which the latter broke.
"By gum, Pye's done us brown--browner than a kipper! By gum, to thinkof that little wart getting the bulge on us!"
"I should like to know your reasons, doctor," said Prince Frederic atlast.
"I'm hanged if I can puzzle it out yet myself," said Barraclough. "Ifthey've got it, why the deuce do they come and demand it from us?"
"Oh, _they_ haven't got it," I said. "It's only Holgate and Pye. Therank and file know nothing, I'll swear. As for my reasons, sir, herethey are"; and with that I told them what I knew of Pye from my firstmeeting with him, giving an account of the transactions in the "ThreeTuns," and narrating many incidents which now seemed in the light of mydiscovery to point to the treachery of the clerk. When I had done, Lanewhistled, the Prince's brow was black, but Barraclough's face wasimpassive. He looked at me.
"Then you are of opinion that Holgate is running this show forhimself?" he asked.
"I will wager ten to one on it," I ans
wered. "That's like him. He'llleave the others in the lurch if he can. He's aiming at it. And he'llleave Pye there, too, I shouldn't wonder. And if so, what sort of a manis that to make terms with?"
Barraclough made no answer. For a man of his even nature he lookedtroubled.
"If this it so, what are you in favour of?" he said at last.
The Prince, too, looked at me inquiringly, which showed that he hadfully accepted my theory.
"Go on as we are doing and trust to luck," said I.
"Luck!" said the Prince, raising his fingers. "Chance! Destiny!Providence! Whatever be the term, we must abide it. It is written,gentlemen; is has been always written. If God design us our escape, weshall yet avoid and upset the calculations of these ruffians. Yes, itis written. You are right, Dr. Phillimore. There must be no faintheart. Sir John, give your orders and make your dispositions. I willtake my orders from you."
This significant speech was delivered with a fine spontaneity, and Imust say the man's fervour impressed me. If he was a fatalist, he was afighting fatalist, and I am sure he believed in his fortune. I was notable to do that; but I thought we had, in the vulgar phrase, a sportingchance. And that I was right events proved, as you will presently see.