STORY ONE, CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
A GOOD RESOLUTION.
The next day and the next and the next passed rapidly in the same toil;and work, rest, and refreshment were all that were thought of. EvenDutch had been seized now by the thirst for wealth, and, hardly lookingat Hester, he toiled on at his task, while she, pale and rigid, keptwatch over him, never once gaining confidence as she saw his manydescents, but always tortured by the horror of that first day.
To her great relief, though, Laure had hardly noticed her, and thereseemed to be an unspoken truce existing between them. She could seethat he was one of the most industrious of the workers, and sheshuddered as she felt why this was, and knew that some terriblecatastrophe might ere now have taken place on the schooner, only thatLaure wanted the divers to do their work to the full before he assertedhimself.
And yet she dared not speak, feeling that to utter a warning would be tosign her husband's death-warrant, while he, giving no heed to, perhapsnot crediting, her sufferings, passed her by at times without a look.
But a change was rapidly approaching, and it took place so suddenly asalmost to surprise Hester herself.
The only thing that had disturbed the harmony of the past week had beenthe bitter opposition of John Studwick to the advances made by the youngdoctor. So far from the presence of a medical man on board being ofadvantage to the invalid, it had served to irritate and annoy him, andmore than once he had angrily turned his back and drawn his sister awaywith the petty jealousy of a child more than a man, all which the doctorhad taken in quite good part, while Bessy had more than one hearty cryto herself, as she called it.
Hester and she were like sisters now, and in consequence a coolnessexisted towards Dutch, who saw nothing, however, but, miser-like,gloated over the enormous wealth he was helping to pile up for himselfand partner.
It was on the ninth day of the diving that, all elate, andcongratulating themselves on the calm and delightful weather that hadattended their efforts, the task began once more. The sand had beenwell mastered, and great half-rotten, water-hardened pieces of timberhad been removed, and the silver was sent up, from the ease with whichit was obtained, at a greater rate than ever.
Dutch had been down five times, and he was now down for the sixth,having succeeded Mr Parkley, and wading to the hole that had been made,after filling the bucket with some difficulty, the silver having nowbecome scarce, he took his bar and tried to remove a piece of blackenedwood that showed plainly in the mid-day sun.
It seemed quite fast, but a good wrench moved it, and, lifting it withease, Dutch carried it a few paces and thrust it between two of the ribsbehind him.
A man shut up in a diver's helmet and suit is not in a condition to feelmuch elation, but Dutch's heart beat rapidly as he resumed and stoopedto gaze down at what he had found. There was no mistake, though. Thehold of the wreck had been cleared from side to side, and there wasevidently no more silver--in fact, as far as it was concerned, thetreasure was won. He tried the iron probe to find sand or wood--sand orwood, forward or aft, while, of course, the possibility of anythingbeing found to right or left was bounded by the old ribs which now stoodout clear to the keel.
But here, aft of the silver treasure, and separated originally, nodoubt, by a strong timber partition, one of the timbers of which Dutchhad wrenched away, dull red and glistening, totally free from shellyconcretion, but in places bound together by a fine sand, lay, as hecleared away the covering from the surface, and plainly marked out bythe black wood that surrounded it on three sides, forming a greatchest-like place about four feet by six, but whose sides, of blackrotten timber, were ten inches thick, what was evidently of greatervalue than the mass of silver they had obtained.
For there before him lay neatly packed, as they had been by busy handsat least two hundred and fifty years before, hundreds upon hundreds oflittle rough ingots of gold. Not a bar was displaced, for the massiveframework in which they had been stowed, though rotten, had not givenway like what had probably surrounded the silver, which lay tossed aboutat random.
"Wealth, wealth, rich gold," muttered Dutch, as he signalled for moreair; and then, looking more closely at his find, he could see bysweeping away the sand that slowly trickled back, as if eager to coverthe treasure it had held secret so long, that the gold had not beenpacked as he had supposed, but had evidently been in little woodenboxes, which had rotted quite away, the places of the wood being filledup by sand, which lay in rectangular lines.
"The silver has all been saved without doubt," said Dutch to himself ashe gazed at his find, and thought of the delight with which the newswould be received by his partner. Then he turned to get the bucket andfill it, wishing himself on deck when it arrived there to watch theastonishment of those who emptied it.
As he moved he had again to signal for more air, and looking down he sawthe sand slowly trickling back over the gold, so that in a very fewmoments it would have been covered.
He picked up the shovel, meaning to throw the sand in that part moreeffectually away, when once more the difficulty of breathing attackedhim.
He signalled for more air, but no more came, neither to his next signal;and feeling that something must be wrong with the apparatus, he wasalready on his way to the steps, when he received a signal to come up;and on reaching the surface, with the air becoming each moment moredeficient, he was quickly helped on board and relieved of his helmet.
"I couldn't help it, Mr Dutch," exclaimed Rasp, "the leather's givingway on the piston, and we must have a good repair."
"But it's held out just long enough," said Mr Parkley, "for Rasp tellsme we've got to the end, and he only just left you a little of thesilver to send up."
"Yea, Mr Pug, I tried all round, but there was nothing but wood andsand--wood and sand everywhere. 'Cept what you've sent up, I say therewasn't a bit more silver left."
"Why didn't you say so before I went down?" said Dutch.
"Because I wanted to hear what you thought, and let you judge foryourself," growled Rasp, handling a screw-hammer.
As they spoke, the men who had been pumping and hauling gathered round,evidently eager to hear what was said, and this made Dutch alter thewords he was about to utter.
"Rasp is right," he said, "I have sent up the last of the silver."
"And have you tried well round with the rod?"
"Everywhere," said Dutch, "and touched the ship's timbers right downinto the sand. There isn't another bar of silver, I should say."
"Well," said Mr Parkley, "man's never satisfied. I was quite ready toget more. There, my lads, we'll clean up our apparatus."
"Yes," said the captain, "and clear the decks; they want it badlyenough. You've worked well, my lads, and you shall have a bit of afeast for this. 'Pollo shall prepare you a supper, and we'll drinksuccess to our next venture."
The men gave a bit of a cheer, but on the whole they looked ratherdisappointed, and Dutch, he hardly knew why, held his peace about thegold. One thing was evident: nothing could be done to get it on decktill the worn valve of the air-pump had been repaired, and this Raspdeclared would take him all the afternoon, for he would have to applynew leathers and india-rubber.
So the diving suits were hung up to dry, the helmets, polished dry andclean, and placed upon their stands. Mr Parkley and the doctor, whohad looked upon this part as more in his province--Mr Parkley saidbecause it helped to destroy life--had coiled up the wires, emptied thebattery, and placed the dynamite in safety, and the rough shelly matterwas thrown over the side, while Dutch, who had still kept his discoveryto himself, was down below close to the end of the wind-sail--thatcanvas funnel that took down a constant current of fresh air--smoking acigar with Mr Wilson, the naturalist, who was chatting away about hisbirds, and his determination to have another run or two on shore toshoot, asking his companion to accompany him.
"It would do the ladies so much good, too, I'm sure," said Mr Wilson;"and really, Mr Pugh, I never dare speak to Miss Studwick now," headde
d with a sigh, "for if I do, her brother looks daggers at me, and ifI mention Mrs Pugh, you look just as cross."
Dutch had been saying "Yes" and "No" in amusing manner, hardly hearingwhat his companion said, but the mention of his wife's name made himstart angrily round and glare at the speaker.
"There, that's just how Mr Studwick, junior, looks at me," said thenaturalist simply. "A regular jealous, fierce look. I wish you wouldnot treat me so, Mr Pugh," he continued earnestly, and with a pleadinglook in his weak, lamblike face, "for I like you, I do, indeed. Ialways have liked you, Mr Pugh, and how you can fancy I havedishonourable ideas about Mrs Pugh I can't think. It shocks me, MrPugh, it does, indeed."
"My dear fellow," said Dutch, smiling, half in amusement, half incontempt, "I never did think any such thing."
"Then why do you look at me so?" continued Wilson, mildly. "You see,"he said, with gathering enthusiasm, "I love Miss Studwick very dearly,but I seem to have no hope whatever. But why are you so angry?"
"There, there, there, don't talk about it," said Dutch, shaking thenaturalist's hand. "These are matters one don't like to talk about."
"Yes, yes, of course," said Wilson, looking at him wistfully. "But youwon't mention what I said."
"As to your love confidences," said Dutch smiling, "they are safe withme; but look here, Wilson, you are better as you are--better as youare."
"You think so, perhaps," said the young man; "but I do not. You areangry with Mrs Pugh for something: that is all. She is very pretty,but perhaps she is a little imprudent," he added simply.
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Dutch angrily.
"Don't be cross with me, Mr Pugh. Perhaps I am wrong."
"Speak! What do you mean?" exclaimed Dutch, panting.
"I only thought she ought to be more particular, perhaps, as a lady, andnot speak to the dark mulatto sailor."
"Have--have you seen her speaking to--to that man?" said Dutch, with hisbreath coming thick and short.
"Yes, I did last night," said Wilson; "but I did not mention it toanyone else, and of course she was only doing it out of kindness, forshe is very amiable."
"When--when was it?" panted Dutch, whose face flushed with shame andanger that he should be stooping to ask such questions.
"Just after dark, when you diving people were having your meal below.They parted, though, directly."
"Thanks; say no more about this," said Dutch, more calmly. "Perhaps itlooks a little imprudent, but, as you say, she is so amiable and kind tothe men that her actions are easily misconstrued."
Dutch rose to go on deck, for the air in the cabin seemed to stifle him,but Wilson arrested his steps.
"But you will come if we have a shooting expedition, Mr Pugh?" heexclaimed. "You have not been ashore yet, but spending your time overthis dreadful treasure-hunting, when the treasures ashore are a thousandtimes more beautiful."
"I will see--perhaps--I cannot say," replied Dutch; and he stumbled ondeck to stand watching Rasp, who was busy over the air-pump, which hehad taken all to pieces, but as it was close upon dusk he was collectingthe various screws and placing them loosely in their proper holes beforecovering all over with a tarpaulin to keep off the heavy night dew thathung in drops each morning from every rail.
The words of Wilson, the simple-hearted naturalist, had so troubledDutch that his mind was once more in a whirl. Till then he had beengradually getting into a calm, resigned state, and accepting theinevitable; but now to hear such remarks as these about his wife'sconduct was simply maddening him, and as he went and leaned over theside, gazing down into the pure water where the golden treasure lay, itwas forgotten mostly in the trouble of his heart, and he made up hismind that he would see Hester and demand some full explanation of herconduct, and so end this terrible suspense.
"I will know," he muttered; and as he rose he felt surprised at thelapse of time, for the short tropic twilight had given place to intensedarkness while he had been brooding over his troubles, and now itoccurred to him that he had not told Mr Parkley about the gold.
"I'll see him now," he said; and he was turning to go to the cabinstairs when the low musical voice of his wife fell upon his ear, andthough the darkness was so great that he could not see her he was awarethat she was close at hand in conversation with some one whose voiceseemed familiar.
He could not make out a word, but it was evident that whoever wasspeaking to Hester was addressing her in a low, passionate tone, whileher replies were almost inaudible.
Who was it? Not the mulatto: his peculiar, harsh, grating voice was toofamiliar. This was the voice of some one who made his nerves thrillwith rage and indescribable emotion; and yet in his confusion andexcitement he could not make out who it could be.
"I cannot play the spy like this," said Dutch to himself, and, raging ashe was with curiosity and mortification, he walked away; but his agonywas unbearable, and, turning back, he approached the spot once more, tohear a half-stifled cry for help; then there was the noise of a slightstruggle, and he darted forward to strike himself against the foremastand stagger back half-stunned, and lean against the side to collect hisscattered thoughts.
For his forehead had come violently into collision with the mast, andfor a few minutes memory forsook her seat, and a strange sense ofsickness accompanied the oblivion.
This soon passed off, though, and now, thoroughly roused, Dutch retracedhis steps, going with outstretched hands to the spot whence the voiceshad seemed to proceed, to find all perfectly still.
"But she was here," he muttered moodily; and recalling his determinationto insist upon a full explanation, Dutch walked straight to the cabinoccupied by Bessy Studwick and his wife, and stood listening for a fewmoments before he knocked.
He could hear voices behind him, where it was evident that the captainand his friends were gathered, and upon listening more attentively helearned what he wished to know, but was never in doubt about--namely,the presence of Hester in the little cabin.
She was there, though, for he heard some one talking in a low tone, andthat there was a low sob.
He waited no longer but knocked.
There was no reply.
He knocked again, and there was a rustling sound within which made hisheart beat heavily, the blood rushed to his eyes, and a strange swimmingaffected his brain, as the horrible suspicion crossed his mind that itwas not Bessy Studwick's voice he had heard, but the same that he hadlistened to on deck.
Fighting against the dizzy sensation, and striving to become calm, heraised his hands and stood in the attitude of one about to hurl himselfagainst the door and burst it from its fastenings; but something seemedto restrain him, and he knocked again, and this time plainly enough, heheard Hester's voice in an excited whisper say,--
"He is there! pray, pray, don't open the door."
It never occurred to Dutch that his wife could not know that it was hewho knocked, for the hard jealousy that he had taken to his heartsuggested and thought but evil of the woman he had sworn to love andprotect. It was not Bessy Studwick, then, who was with her, and theydared not open the door. He had given up before, and sought no revenge;this time he would have it if he died.
"Open this door," he said in a low deep whisper, full of the rage hefelt, for in his mad cunning he told himself that if he raised his voiceor broke in the door, he would alarm the occupants of the other cabin.
There was a dead silence for a few moments, and he was about to make afresh demand as his hands clenched, and the veins in his forehead stoodout throbbing from the excess of his wild emotion.
"Will you open this door?" he hissed again savagely, with his lips closeto the panel.
"No," exclaimed a firm voice. "Make the slightest attempt to enteragain, and I will alarm the ship."
Dutch Pugh's hands dropped to his side and a sigh like a groan burstfrom his lips as he staggered away on deck, and going to the side restedhis aching head upon the rail.
"Am I mad?" he said to himself. "That was Bessy Studwick
. Could ithave been her I heard talking here on deck? No, that was impossible,for there was the struggle. Oh! Hester, Hester, my darling, forgive meif I am judging you wrongfully; I'd give my life to believe you true,and yet again to-night I am so ready to accuse you in my heart.
"It is no use, I will not lead this life of hell upon earth: she must--she shall explain her conduct. There was some reason more than I knowfor her coming on board here. Her conversations with that mulatto.That meeting to-night. Ha! is it possible? Yes! I have it at last:Studwick was right: Laure's influence still with us. Bah! I believe Iam half-mad," he said, with a contemptuous ejaculation. "I will see herin the morning, and this trouble shall be cleared away."
As he spoke he went down to the cabin he shared with the doctor, feelinglighter of heart for the resolution he had made, and telling himselfthat half his trouble might have been saved had he spoken to his wife."She might even have come out of the trial unscathed," he said, with astrong feeling of elation, and worn out mentally and bodily he threwhimself half dressed into his berth, after opening the little window,for the heat was stifling.
"A good resolution at last," muttered Dutch as he laid his head upon hispillow, and as he dropped off to sleep listening to the lapping of thewater against the schooner's side, the sound seemed to form itself intoa repetition of the words--"Too late, too late, too late," until he fellinto a heavy sleep.