CHAPTER V
THE WOUNDED MAN
Well, the whole affair had been a considerable farce, in which I hadplayed the most humiliating part. Indeed, but for the interposition ofBarraclough I must have come out of it the butt of all shafts. As itwas, I was sensitive in regard to my position, and more than once wastempted to see myself as I must have appeared to others. But after allthey had not gone through the scene with Holgate, and were notwitnesses to his astounding perfidy. I was angry with every one, withmyself, with the captain, and, above all, with little Pye. In theuniversal surprise that came of the discovery of Mr. Morland'sidentity, my shame, so to speak, was covered, but I felt myself themark of ridicule, from Holgate's cynical smile to the captain's openneglect of me. I turned on the lawyer's clerk in my fury, and gave himsome home truths about solicitors and their ways; to which, however, helistened unabashed.
"Doctor," said he, "do you suppose a man in my position is his ownmaster? You are welcome to know what you will about my own affairs, butI have my professional secrets to guard. What would be thought of mehad I come aboard blabbing of my firm's clients fore and aft? It wouldhave been a betrayal of confidence."
There was, of course, something in this, but the argument did not allaymy irritation; it merely directed it elsewhere, so that I began uponthe third mate. He heard me quietly.
"Mr. Holgate can answer for himself," he replied, "but it seems to me,if I may say so without offence, doctor, that you are misinterpreting asomewhat elaborate joke. Mr. Holgate's explanation is reasonable enough,and besides, the only other explanation is monstrous--inconceivable!"
"I agree with you," I said shortly, "and so I say no more."
He cast a shrewd glance at me, but made no comment.
Now, it was quite conceivable that Holgate should have made me aderisive object in the ship, but, on the contrary, he did nothing ofthe sort. The charge I had made against him did not leak out at themess-table. Day, Holgate and Pye were aware of it, and so far as I knowit went no further. This somewhat astonished me until I had some lightthrown upon it later. But in the meantime I wondered, and insensiblythat significant silence began to modify my attitude. Had he known mein the fulness of my disposition he would probably have spoken; but asit was he had other plans to follow. One of these seemed to include areconciliation with myself. His quizzical smile disappeared, and heshook his head at me solemnly at table.
"Doctor," said he, "that Scotchman's head!"
"I am not a Scotchman," I retorted impatiently.
"Well," he breathed heavily, "I will admit it was a very bad joke."
I was on the point of replying that it was not a joke at all, when Irecovered my temper. After all, it is trying to the temper to sitopposite to a man whom you know to be a prime ruffian, however impotenthis aspirations may be. Since I had unveiled his plot, even though nocredence was given it, still Holgate was harmless. But, as I havealready said, I am a man of precautions and I held my tongue. I thinkhe had taken me only for a man of impulse.
"I must confess I do not see the joke," I answered.
"Now you come to insist on it, and shed the cold light of reason on it,no more do I," he said with a laugh. "Jokes are very well behind thefootlights."
I shrugged my shoulders. "Think what a fool I look!" I said coldly.
His friendliness increased. "My dear fellow," he said, bending over tome, "I give you my word I've held my tongue. I thought of that. Ididn't know you'd take it so seriously."
"Your profession should have been the stage," I answered.
He nodded. "Low comedian. I wish I had. They make good salaries, Ibelieve, instead of beggarly----"
"Oh, you have the prince's boodle," I said lightly. He laughed. "So Ihave."
"And I'll be hanged if I apologise," I said. "I have suffered enoughfrom the mistake."
"Quite right, doctor," said he gravely, "I would not apologise to abishop, let alone a third officer."
With that apparent advance to an understanding we parted, and I did notset eyes on him again until the abrupt events that brought about theconference in the cabin.
If my personal appearance on the matter did not get out, at least thetale of the prince's identity passed swiftly from mouth to mouth. Thewhole ship's company was agog with interest, an interest whichincreased during the next two days. Sir John Barraclough expressed tome his opinion of Day's behaviour very roundly, for the captain hadicily withdrawn into himself, and spoke as little as possible to hisfirst officer.
"The man's a fool to take it this way, Phillimore," he said. "Does hesuppose it was my doing? I happened to know, but, of course, it was notmy secret."
This, too, was Pye's excuse for silence, and it was obviously adequate.But as the baronet's evidence of friendliness was thus betrayed in hisconfidence to me, I ventured on a question, which was not reallyinquisitive.
"Oh, well, you see I've known the prince off and on some time. He and Iyachted together before I lost my money, and he gave me this chance.He's a good sort." With which bluff and British indifference heterminated the conversation.
I think that the mysterious aloofness of our passengers served to keepthe interest warm. Had Mr. Morland and his party descended and been onshow, so to say, before the company, it is probable that the bloom ofsurprise would have worn off with the contact. But they kept tothemselves and the hurricane deck. Every morning and afternoon theprince and his sister took a prolonged walk together, and at times theywere joined by my patient, who, however, in the better weather we wereenjoying, reclined in her chair and took the sun. On these occasionsMr. Morland and his sister ceased their promenade and sat with theirguest. Sometimes the full voice of Mlle. Chateray, or Trebizond, wouldcome to us below, and occasionally her light laughter was heard, verymusical to the ears.
Speculations, it is not necessary to say, were rife among us. It wasknown we were set for Buenos Ayres, and it was taken for granted thatthere the Prince was to effect his morganatic marriage. But what was tohappen afterwards? We were chartered for twelve months. That bespoke acruise, and guesses flew about the ship. Lane, the purser, was the mostin evidence in these discussions. He was an excitable man with apassion for talk and company, and he offered to lay me a certain sumthat we should pull up in Yokohama.
"As like as not paid off there. We've no contracts against it," he saidin a fume.
It was the attitude of McCrae, the chief engineer, that interested mein view of his professed opinions. He unfolded his mind to me oneevening when we had been out some ten days.
"It's like this, doctor. The man's sheer sick of courts and barbarisms,and he's in search of a healthy, independent life, which he needs, I'mthinking. That's to his credit altogether. But it's a wonderful thing,when you come to think of it, that one man like that should upset thepolitics of Europe, and a man that does not achieve it, mind you, butgets it by mere birth and chance. The paper said he had a million ofhis own. A fool could be independent on that, aye, and live healthy,too, if he weren't too much of a fool. But what right has a man withwealth like that, I ask you? As Mr. Holgate was saying yesterday, it'san insult to decent, hardworking men like you and me."
"So that's Mr. Holgate's idea, is it?" said I, and mused. The engineerwas proceeding in the strain when I saw the face of the boatswain jumpsuddenly into the dimness of the engine-room. It was a thin-lipped,gaunt face, lacking eyebrows, which added to the gauntness, and thegeneral complexion was red to the shade of crimson. When his jaw was inrepose it appeared as if the lower part of his face had been sucked upinto the upper like a lid into its box. But now his jaw was open,disclosing a plentiful lack of teeth.
"You're wanted, doctor," he said, in his abrupt voice. "There's been anaccident forward."
I left at once and followed him, asking some necessary questions.
"I don't know exactly how it occurred," he said in answer.
"One of the men, Adams, fell on something and it's drilled a hole inhim."
When we reached the man's berth he was surr
ounded by a number of thecrew, whom I ordered off.
"If I've got anything to do I don't want to be hampered," I said, "soclear out and leave Adams to me and the boatswain."
When the place was clear, I made an examination, and found a woundunder the shoulder-blade. It was not dangerous, but might well havebeen so. I sent for my bag and dressed it, the boatswain looking on.All the time I made no comment, but when I had finished I turned andmet the boatswain's eyes.
"That's a knife wound," I said, shortly.
"Is it, sir?" he replied, and stared down at Adams. "How did it comeabout, Adams?" he inquired authoritatively.
"I was larking along with Gray and ran up agen him," said the man, in asullen voice. "I didn't see what he 'ad in his 'and."
"More fool you!" said the boatswain angrily. "D'ye think I can go shortof men for a lot of horse-play? All right, doctor? Nothing serious?"
"No," said I, deliberating. "If the knife was clean there's not muchharm done except that you go short of a man, as you say, for somedays."
The boatswain swore as politely as an oath can be managed.
"I'll come in again later," I said. "Meanwhile keep him in bed."
But on my next visit it was manifest that the wound was not such asimple affair, for the man's temperature had risen and he waswandering. He gave tongue to a profusion of oaths, which seemed to bedirected, in the main, against Gray, but also included the boatswain,raised himself on his arm, and shook his fist in my face, muttering "myshare," and "not a brown less," and something about "blowing the gaff."
It was with difficulty that I completed my ministrations; but I did so,and gave the boatswain a dose to be given to the wounded man at onceand another four hours later. It was entirely an involuntary omissionon my part that I said nothing of returning.
Nevertheless I did return only two hours later, and just beforemidnight. I had had the man removed to a disused cabin, and when I gotthere the door was locked. Angrily I went on deck and found theboatswain.
"Pierce," I said, "the door of the sick-room is locked. What on earthdoes this mean? I want to see my patient."
"Oh, he's all right, sir. He went to sleep quite easy. I asked one ofthe hands to keep an eye on him, and I suppose he's shut the door. Butit isn't locked."
"But it is," I said angrily.
"The blockhead!" said the boatswain. "I'll get the key for you, sir, ifyou'll wait a minute."
But I was not going to wait. I was making for the hatchway when I washailed through the darkness by a voice:
"Dr. Phillimore!"
I turned, and little Pye emerged from the blackness.
"I've been trying to get to sleep, but I've got the most awfulneuralgia. I wish you'd give me something for it," said he.
"In a moment," I said. "I've got to see one of the hands, and then----"
"Oh, come, doctor, give us a chance," said Pye. "If you tell me what,I'll get it myself. Look here, would a dose of chloral do any good?"
"My dear sir," said I drily. "Every man in these days seems to be hisown doctor. Try it, and if it's only satisfactory enough, we'll have abeautiful post-mortem to-morrow."
"Well," said little Pye, with a return of his native repartee, "it'sprecisely because I don't want to be my own doctor that I've come toyou."
That naturally was unanswerable, and I acknowledged the hit byprescribing for him. Then I went on my way.
The door was open and the boatswain was waiting. He covered a yawn as Iapproached.
"It was that fool, Reilly, sir," he explained. "He mucked myinstructions."
I nodded and proceeded to examine my patient. The boatswain seemed tohave spoken the truth, for the man was as quiet as a log, save for themovement of the clothes when he respired. But it was that veryrespiration that arrested my attention. I felt his pulse, and I tookthe temperature. As I moved to examine the glass, Pierce's thin crimsonface, peeping over my shoulder, almost struck upon me. The jaw wassucked into its socket. The temperature was still high, too high toallow of that placid sleep. I contemplated the thermometer meditatively.The port was shut, and the only sounds that broke the night were thedull beating of the screw and the duller wash of the waves against theside of the _Sea Queen_. The boatswain stood motionless behind me.
"You are right," I said slowly. "He has gone off pretty comfortably,but I should like to see his temperature lower. However, the sleep willdo him good, and I've no doubt I'll find him all right in the morning."
As I spoke I turned away with a nod and passed out of the cabin. Onceon deck, I paused to consider what I should do. Two things I knew forcertain: firstly, that the knife-wound was no accident, for no merehorse-play could have resulted in such a deep cut; secondly, that Adamswas under the influence of a narcotic. Who had administered it and why?I recalled the man's delirium and his wandering statements to which atthe time I had paid little heed, and I thought I began to get the clue.I looked at my watch and found it half-past twelve. Every one, savethose on duty, was abed, and the steamer ploughed steadily through thetrough, a column of smoke swept abaft by the wind and black against thestarlight. I sought my cabin, poured myself out a stiff glass of grog,and sat down to smoke and think.
At two bells I roused myself and went on deck. How singularly still wasthe progress of the vessel! I heard the feet of the officer on thebridge, and no other sound in all that floating house. A figure like astatue stood out in the dimness by the chart-house, and I came to apause. It turned, and I thought I made out my friend the quartermaster.
"That you, Ellison?" I asked.
"Yes, sir."
"I want to look at that man Adams in the forecastle," I said. "Pleaseaccompany me, as I may need your assistance."
I descended the ladder and went forward till I reached the cabin whichI had used as a hospital, and turned the handle of the door. It opened,but the darkness was profound, and Ellison struck a match and lit thelamp. Adams lay in his bunk groaning faintly. I turned up his sleeveand examined him. The wound was inflamed, as I had expected, and it wasnot that which arrested me, but a mark on the arm above the elbow. Itwas the prick of the hypodermic syringe. My doubts were nowcertainties.
As we stood there Adams opened his eyes, and struggled into a sittingposture.
"No, my man," said I, "you must keep to your back."
He stared at me, but allowed me to force him backwards, and continuedto stare.
"Adams, can you understand?" said I firmly. "Gray struck you with aknife?"
"Between the shoulders, damn him," he growled sulkily. "Doctor, myhead's bad--give me something to drink."
I had come prepared, and I did so, and he fell back with a sigh,showing more signs of alertness.
"You quarrelled?" I suggested, but he made no answer. "Look you here,my man," I went on sternly, "I know a good deal about this, and whatyou quarrelled over. It would be wiser, believe me, to be candid.Pierce had a hand in this."
Still he was silent. I pulled from my pocket a syringe, and showed itto him.
"Do you know what that is?" I asked.
He shook his head, staring.
"Well," said I, "it came pretty near finishing you off. You have had aheavy dose. I want to know who did it." I caught up his arm, and thrustthe puncture under his nose. He still stared.
"You were talking pretty wildly in your delirium, and had to besilenced. That was how it was done. If they can't silence you one waythey will another. How much was your share to be?"
The man's face worked in an ugly fashion, and he was at any time arepulsive creature. The glitter in his eyes spoke of fever.
"The devil's own," he said hoarsely. "They wanted to cheat me of it,and I said I'd split. Damn Pierce, and Gray, and all!"
"So you were going for the prince's cash-box, were you?" I saidequably.
"It's more than that," said he. "There's the treasure in thestrong-room. That's their game."
"Now I see you are sensible," I said, "and I can undertake to make youwell and sound and happy provided you tell th
e truth."
"Doctor, it burns like fire," he groaned.
"I will see to that," I said. "What is the plot?"
"I have cried off. That's why I got the knife," he said faintly. "Butswear to God no harm'll come to me."
"I promise you that," I said, nodding.
"It's the boatswain's plot," he whispered, "and he has more'n half themen. They are going to rise ere ever we get to Buenos Ayres. But I wasno party to their plans," he continued feverishly, and as if anxious toconvince me, "that's why I've this knife, doctor, because I'm an honestman."
I had more than my doubts of that, but I nodded again.
"You have only done your duty in telling me, Adams," said I, "and I'llkeep my promise, provided you hold your tongue about this. They havegiven you a dose of morphia, and it's lucky it wasn't bigger. If you dowhat I tell you, we'll have you right in a couple of days."
I made him drink a draught I had brought with me, and, closing thedoor, left him. A passage led from here to the men's quarters, and as Icame out, I signed to Ellison to be noiseless, and put out the light.Then we moved towards the hatchway. When we reached it I happened toglance round at Ellison, and through that brooding darkness, lightenedonly by a dim swinging lamp, I thought I saw a flitting shadow. But thenext swing of the boat threw the light clear into the corner, and therewas nothing. We emerged on the lower deck, and thence regained thequarterdeck. There was a bright light in the chart-room, and I ledthe way thither. I closed the door and turned on the quartermaster.His face was grey, and his hand trembled.
"You heard?" said I.
"Yes, sir," he replied, and hesitated. "But he's wandering, sir, ain'the?"
"My man," said I, "I'm a doctor--leave that much to me. I only want toknow if you heard. That is all your part. No, there is one thing more.What about the hands?"
"They're a pretty mixed lot, sir, not exactly what I would call yachthands, but----"
"Were you engaged with them?" I interrupted sharply.
"No, sir, Sir John he got me on. I've sailed with him before."
"Thank the Lord for that," I said heartily, for I had begun to suspectevery one. The voyage was a nightmare, I thought.
"Who is the officer in charge?" I asked.
"Mr. Legrand, sir," said Ellison.
The second mate and I had had few exchanges. He was a reserved man, anddevoted to his duty. Besides, as navigating officer he had his fullshare of responsibility for the safety of the ship. I moved out of thechart-house, leaving the quartermaster in a maze of bewilderment, and,I think, incredulity. The stars illumined the figure of the secondofficer on the bridge, and I stood in a little gust of doubt whichshook me. Should I sleep over the new discovery? I had Ellison, aDidymus, for witness, but I was still sore from the reception of myprevious news. I took the length of the deck, and looked over the poopwhere a faint trail of light spumed in the wake of the ship. Suddenly Iwas seized from behind, lifted by a powerful arm, and thrown violentlyupon the taffrail. It struck me heavily upon the thighs, and I plungedwith my hands desperately in the air, lost my balance, and pitched overhead foremost towards the bubbling water.
As I fell my shoulder struck the bulge of the iron carcase of thevessel, and I cannoned off into the void, but by the merest chance myclutching hands in that instant caught in the hitch of a rope which hadstrayed overboard. The loop ran out with my wrist in it, and I hit thewater. Its roar was in my ears, but nothing else, and when I rose tothe surface the ship was thirty yards away. But the rope was still overmy arm, and as soon as I recovered breath I began to haul myself slowlyand painfully in. As it was, I was being torn through the water at therate of from twelve to fourteen knots an hour, and in a very fewminutes the chill which my immersion had inflicted on me passed away,giving place to a curious warmth that stole throughout my limbs, andenabled me to continue the onward struggle. I drew nearer foot by foot,the sea racing past me, and burying my face constantly in floods ofsalt water. But I was encouraged to observe the _Sea Queen_ was nowperceptibly closer, and I clung and hauled and hauled again. My dangernow was the screw, and I could hear the thumping of the steel bladesbelow, and see the boiling pit under the stern by the vessel. If Ihauled closer should I be dragged into that terrible maelstrom, and bedrawn under the deadly and merciless machinery? I could see the opentaffrail, through which the stars glimmered away above me. It seemedthat safety was so near and yet so far. She rolled, and the lights ofthe port-holes flashed lanterns on the sea in that uprising. I raisedmy voice, helplessly, hopelessly, in a cry.
I repeated this shout three times, and then I saw a man come and hangover the taffrail. Was it the unknown murderer, and did he look for hisvictim to complete his abominable job? As the thought struck me I wassilent, and then I saw him stoop and examine the iron stanchions at hisfeet. Next I felt the rope being pulled slowly in. At this I shoutedagain, and he ceased.
"The screw!" I called. "The screw!"
He moved away to the port side and once more the rope began to move.Gradually I reached the side of the ship, about a dozen feet to port,and five minutes later I was safe on deck.
"Good Lord, sir, what is it?" asked Ellison's voice in terror.
"My arm is cut through, and one leg is near broken," I gasped. "Don'task me more, but get me brandy."
He returned in an incredibly short time, for if he was a man ofleisurely British mind he was wonderful on his feet. I drank the rawspirit and felt better.
"Now, do you believe?" I asked him.
"You mean----"
"That I was knocked overboard. I knew too much," I said sharply. "Don'tstand staring, man. We don't know where we are, or what is afoot. Giveme your arm and let us get to the bridge. Stay, have you any weapon?"
"No, sir."
"Any available?"
"No, sir, not without waking the carpenter."
"That is the usual British way," said I. "Believe nothing until ithappens. Nothing does happen, does it? Nothing has happened, has it,Ellison? Well, we must chance it. At least we have stout fists. We madeour way under the shelter of the saloon and smoking-room, and came tothe steps of the bridge. I mounted with great difficulty, and Ellisonfollowed. Legrand turned at our appearance and surveyed us under thegleam of his lamp with astonishment.
"Mr. Legrand," said I, "I need not ask if you have weapons available,for I'm sure you have not. But you will need them."
"What is't you mean?" he said sharply.
"Mutiny and murder," said I.
He went straight to the speaking-tube without a word, and called downto the engineer's room, "Mr. McCrae, will you personally bring me acouple of pistols, or any offensive weapon at hand. Iron bars willdo--at once, please."
This was a man after my own heart. I could have embraced him. He cameback to me.
"And now, doctor?"
I told him. He was silent, and then brought out a string of expletives."I mistrusted the filthy pack from the first," he said. "See what theygive us to work with, sir--the scum of Glasgow and London; and none ofus to have a say in the matter. I'd sooner go to sea with Satan thanscum like that," he said fiercely. "As soon as I set eyes on them Iknew we were in for it--but not this," he added, "not this by a longchalk."
"There's one thing to be done," said I.
"We'll do it now," he replied, his fury gone as suddenly as it came,and we descended the ladder.
At the foot we met McCrae, very angry and sarcastic, wanting to knowsince when the deck was allowed to order the engine-room about likepot-boys, but a few words put him in possession of the facts, and Ithink, if any argument had been needed, my exhausted and dripping bodywould have sufficed.
"The old man?" said he. Legrand nodded.