STORY ONE, CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
RETRIBUTION.
The supreme moment seemed to have come, and with her heart beatingfuriously Hester made up her mind to make one more effort to reach thedeck, shouting the while for help, and then if no other help came, shetold herself that she could seek it in the sea.
Her hands clasped those of Bessy for a moment convulsively, and thendropping them, she stood upon her guard as the lock was shot back, thedoor was flung open, and in an instant Laure caught her in his arms,when, as her lips failed to utter a shriek, there was a heavy fall ondeck, the noise of feet hurrying to and fro, a crash, and with an oathLaure rushed across the cabin, and Hester staggered back trembling intoBessy's arms.
"What does it mean?" the latter whispered hoarsely.
"Help at last," panted Hester, as the noise on deck increased. Shotswere fired, there was another heavy full, and the clashing together ofsteel, followed by the voice of Laure culling to his men to come on.
Before they dared to hope for safely, Dutch literally leaped down intothe cabin, with a cutlass in his hand, followed by Mr Meldon, both menpale with excitement and stained with blood.
"Quick!" cried Dutch, catching his wife by one hand; "the scoundrels mayprove too many for us."
"Bessy, darling," whispered Mr Meldon, hoarsely; and for a moment hefolded her in his arms before leading her hastily on deck after Dutch,who had already hurried Hester below into the main cabin.
Bessy followed her on the instant, and the two men rushed forward againto where a desperate fight was going on, which resulted in Laure and hisparty being driven below, but not until some severe wounds had beengiven on either side.
Then hatches were clapped on, and cables coiled over them, before theparty dared to breathe freely and congratulate themselves on theirsuccess.
"It is more than I dared to hope for," said Dutch, as they stoodclustered round a lantern placed upon the deck, "for it was a bitterstruggle."
"Bitter, indeed," said Mr Parkley, with a sigh. "I little thought oursilver was going to be so stained with blood."
"It may be all washed off yet," said John Studwick, who was standing by,looking ghastly pale.
"What do you mean?" said his father.
"That you have not got it home yet," was the reply; "and will not whilethat scoundrel is on board."
"Then he shall not stay on board long," exclaimed the captain, angrily."There is the land, and a boat shall take him, and all he likes to claimas his followers, as soon as morning dawns."
Hester shuddered as she crept close to her husband, and felt as if shecould never cease to fear as long as the villain was at large; but hiswords comforted her, and for the rest of the night long careful watchwas kept, and not without need, for several attempts were made by thosebelow to force their way on deck.
Morning came, though, at last, as bright and sunny as if man nevertroubled the earth with his struggles, and as the sun arose the extentof the past night's troubles were more clearly seen; for the doctor'saccount showed that of their own party four had rather serious wounds,while two of the enemy lay dead, having succumbed to their injuriesduring the night.
To get rid of the dangerous party below was the next thing; and at lastsurrounding the forecastle hatch, the cable was cast off, and as soon asthe opening was laid bare Laure darted up, sword in one hand, pistol inthe other, but Dutch seized one hand, Captain Studwick the other, and hewas disarmed, and roughly thrown down into the little cabin from whichHester had been rescued, and the hatch secured.
Having now no leader, the other men came sulkily on deck, and gave uptheir arms without a struggle, and all were ordered over the side intothe boat, a plentiful supply of beef and biscuit was furnished to them,with a couple of guns and ammunition, and they were rowed ashore, tomake the best of their way to any settlement they could find.
"And now for the senor," said Captain Studwick, as he returned with hiswell-armed party, after setting Laure's followers ashore.
"We must not set him ashore with those scoundrels," said Dutch, firmly,"or he will contrive some plot to get back with them and retake theship."
Hester shuddered as she heard his words.
"What would you do, then?" exclaimed Mr Parkley.
"Keep him on board until we find some place to set him ashore, a coupleor three hundred miles away--anywhere away from here."
There was so much reason in Dutch's words that it was decided to followhis advice, repugnant as it was to have the villain with them in theship.
"And now then," said the captain, "my motto is, homeward bound; thoughwe cannot sail with wind and tide like this."
"But we must not stay so near the land," exclaimed Mr Parkley, glancinguneasily towards the sands, where the followers of the Cuban had beenlanded.
"I'm afraid we must," was the reply; "but surely we can contrive to keepour prize, now we have got the upper hand."
The feeling that they could neither sail nor get rid of Laure acted likesome great depressing influence on board, but the matter was inevitable,for to have set him ashore would have been like putting fire togunpowder, which was safe enough left alone, so careful arrangementswere made, and these being in the face of them thoroughly secure, a moresatisfactory influence began to pervade the vessel, and the partnerscongratulated one another on the escape they had had.
As for Oakum and Rasp, they went from one to the other, chuckling andenjoying the interpretation that had been placed upon their behaviour,Oakum in particular seeming to think it the height of human enjoyment tohave been thought such a scoundrel when he was straining every nerve tosave his friends.
Night had fallen again, and to ensure against further surprise, Dutch,Mr Parkley, and the captain were all on deck, well-armed and watchful,meaning to keep their posts till daybreak, when the schooner was tostart on the head of the tide.
Nothing more had been seen of the men set ashore, for they had plungedat once into the forest; and the Cuban was so well secured that littlewas to be feared from him; but all the same an uneasy feeling prevailed,and Dutch told himself that he should not feel satisfied till they werewell at sea, and on reporting this to Mr Parkley, that individualreplied:
"Neither shall I, Dutch Pugh, nor yet when we have got the treasure safehome; for you see if that scoundrel does not go to law. What's that yousay, Rasp?" he said, turning sharply, for the old man was close behind.
"Oh, don't you take no notice of me. I was only chuntering to myself.I couldn't help hearing what you said to Mr Pugh there."
Almost contrary to their expectations, the night passed without anyalarm, and at daybreak, the tide still not serving for a couple ofhours, Dutch and his friends went to lie down, leaving the deck incharge of Oakum and Rasp, with instructions to call them at a specifiedtime.
Dutch, however, felt that he could hardly have dropped asleep when astrange feeling of uneasiness came over him, and, reproaching himselffor leaving the deck even now, he awoke fully to sit up and try to getrid of the confusion which oppressed him.
For a few moments he could not tell whether he was awake, or dreamingthat he was once more busy diving, for there was the clanking of theair-pump, splashing of water beside him, and heavy feet passingoverhead.
But it was no dream. Hardly had the deck been placed in charge of itsdeputies, than Rasp beckoned up 'Pollo and the two sailors who had beenso faithful to them, and began to talk in a low voice, saying somethingwhich evidently gave them the greatest satisfaction, and Rasp softlychuckled and rubbed his hands as he turned to Oakum.
"I don't like it," said the old fellow; "it's cowardly."
"Not it," said Rasp; "and if it is, what then? I only mean to give hima dose of it, and if he dies, why that's his fault."
"And ours," said Oakum.
"Yah!" ejaculated Rasp. "Look here, old squeamish, that chap's a tiger,and if he gets loose, he'll be the death of all on us, won't he?"
"Devil a doubt on it," said Oakum.
"Very well, then: I
've got a score to pay him off," growled Rasp; "so'sthem poor fellows who've got the mark of his knife on them; and,besides, I kep him from cutting my soots to pieces on purpose to givehim a taste."
"But it's like murder," said Oakum.
"It was like murder for him to cut that there chube when the best diverin England was down; and now we'll see how he likes it."
"What, and cut the toob?" said Oakum, with a look of horror on hishonest face.
"Not I. I'll only send the warmint down, and give him a quarter of anhour, that's all."
Oakum gave way, and felt a grim kind of satisfaction in helping to bringthe Cuban on deck, where, in spite of his struggles, he was forced toassume one of the diving suits, and almost before he knew it the helmetwas thrust over his head and secured, making him a complete prisoner, atthe mercy of his tormentors.
"Now let the sharks have a go at him if they like," said Rasp, as heforced the prisoner to the side. "I've a good mind not to give him asafety-line; but there, I won't be shabby."
As he spoke he secured the rope to the Cuban's waist, and then, as hefully realised that they were going to send him overboard, he made adesperate struggle to free himself, but all in vain. There were five toone; the gangway was open, and, acting all together, Laure was forced tothe side, and fell backwards into the sea with a sullen plunge.