XIX--THE COTTERELL SILVER PLATE
While the campers and Cotterell and his guests had been making prisonersof the four men on the beach, the steward Sampson and the two others whohad separated from the main party had embarked in a motor-boat that wasmoored in the creek and made their way out to the fishing-smack. To thesurprise of the skipper, who was the only man aboard, two men infantastic knee-breeches had swung themselves over one side of his boatwhile he was idly surveying the northern point of the island from theother side. He turned to find himself looking at the muzzle of the mostremarkable pistol he had ever seen. Being unarmed himself, he hadimmediately put up his hands. Whereupon the two men had smiled, and theone with the pistol, lowering that ancient weapon, had said, "That's agood fellow. Is there anyone else aboard?"
"No," said the skipper, not wanting to have the smack searched.
"Take a look through his clothes for a weapon," the man with the pistolsaid to his companion.
No weapon was found. The man in the motor-boat came aboard, and two ofthe men went into the smack's cabin, while the third guarded theskipper.
When the two returned from the cabin some time later, one of them wentto the rail and shouted and waved his handkerchief toward shore. Andpresently Cotterell and Tom, David and Ben rowed out in the smack'sboat.
In the cabin were the hats and cloaks and the other things that Tom andLanky had seen in the shack at the cove. Sampson set out at once in themotor-boat for Barmouth, and before the sun had touched the tops of thetrees the four men on the beach and the skipper were in custody of thepolice, charged with having stolen certain valuables from the Gables.
"Well," said Cotterell, when he and his guests were again on the island,"my treasure is still secure from the rebels, thanks to you," and hebowed to the campers.
"Oh, is your famous dinner-set really in that chest?" asked MissPenelope Boothby. She went to the chest and looked at its contents."Why, it's only clothes and bric-a-brac! There's no silverware there."
"No," said Cotterell, smiling. "That is not my silver plate. I keep itbetter hid than that."
"Oh, do let us dine off it to-night," begged Miss Boothby. "I shoulddearly love to see it."
Cotterell looked perplexed. "Why, I should like you to," he answered.Then he glanced at the sun. "But the party waits. And it was myintention to dance a minuet on the lawn before my house while it wasdaylight. Come, friends, come along with me."
They went back through the woods. The boys and Tuckerman branched off bythe path to their camp, promising to come to Cotterell Hall in time tojoin the party. And, once out of hearing of the others, David turned toBen. "You're a cute fellow, Benjie. How'd you ever guess that the menfrom the smack would go after that chest?"
"I don't mind telling you now," said Ben with a grin. "I was pretty surethat those men were snooping around the house, looking for clues to thetreasure, and so I put a copy of that message on the parchment out onthe lid of the desk, where they couldn't very well fail to see it. ThenI went down on the beach by the cliff when the smack was fairly nearshore, and tried to give them the notion that I was looking forsomething. Well, they bit all right. They thought the treasure washidden there, just as I thought myself when I first saw Sampson'smessage."
"I'll hand it to you, sonny," said Tom. "You turned the trick! Andthat's the crowd that stole the jewels from the Gables, just as Ithought."
"They stole some of Mr. Fitzhugh's costumes," said Ben. "It seems to methat the fact that we found those costumes in the cabin shows whatthey've been doing."
They sat on the bank a few minutes, talking over the adventure. ThenTuckerman stood up. "Well, we're due at Cotterell Hall. Wash your handsand brush your hair, so you'll look your smartest."
"Do you suppose we'll have to dance?" asked David, as he ran a combthrough his thatch of hair.
"I think that one of the ladies has her eye on you," said Tuckerman,laughing. "However, if you've got a game leg, I'll be glad to take yourplace."
As they reached the house Peter Cotterell came out at the door. Behindhim were Miss Boothby and Sampson. "My wardrobe is still upstairs," thebuff-coated man said genially. "Make what use of it you please."
This time the campers found costumes quickly. Even Ben, who kept lookingat the row of pegs from which he had taken down the yellow satin coat,got into that coat and a pair of breeches. There was the sound of aviolin in front of the house, and as they came down the steps they foundthe whole party taking places for a dance.
"I'm afraid we don't know the minuet," said Tuckerman, hesitating.
"Oh, it's easy enough," said the host. "I'll call off the figures."
Ben gave Tom a nudge, and pointed out two men who stood at a littledistance with a big camera. "Sir Peter's up to date," he whispered. "Iguess it's the first time anyone ever took moving-pictures onCotterell's Island."
Meantime Miss Boothby had gone up to David and boldly proclaimed that hewas to dance with her. The suit that David had put on in the attichappened to be green, and when she reminded him that that was the colorshe had asked him to wear he turned beet red and stammered somethingabout "trying to please a lady."
"My wardrobe is still upstairs. Make what use of it youplease."]
"We will stand near Mr. Cotterell, and I will show you all the steps,"she said. "I could tell you were very light on your feet the very firsttime I saw you."
"Well, I can pick them up pretty well in a clog or a shuffle," admittedDavid.
"I knew it! I knew it!" exclaimed the delighted Miss Boothby; andpouncing on David's hand she led him to where Peter Cotterell wasassigning places to the dancers.
Tom and Ben and Tuckerman all had partners. The violin began to play,and Cotterell led off the dance. The host was very graceful and so wasthe lady he danced with, and they posed and bowed and courtsiedconstantly as they went through the stately measures of the minuet. Theothers copied their leaders, and after a few minutes' practice contrivedto do it well. Meantime the camera clicked, taking reels of pictures ofthe old-fashioned dance.
There was a final bow and courtesy, a final posing in position. ThenCotterell raised his hand. "That was beautifully done, my friends," hesaid. "Surely my island home has never witnessed a more graceful scene.I trust you have all gained an excellent appetite for dinner."
"What a gorgeous sunset!" exclaimed Miss Boothby, looking toward thewater.
They all moved down in the direction of the pier. As they came in viewof the broad and many-colored bay they saw a sailboat heading for thelanding. Cotterell stopped and again raised his hand. "Can it be thatthe people of Barmouth are coming out here again?" he demandedindignantly. "I'll have nothing to do with them, and they know it! Iwill not give them my plate!"
The sailboat came on. Cotterell, followed by the others, walked out onthe pier.
"What do you want?" called out the buff-coated man. "This is Cotterell'sIsland."
"We know it is," answered a man in the boat. "Who are you? You look likeSir Peter."
"I don't want any rebels from Barmouth landing here," came the reply.
"There aren't any rebels nowadays. We won the Revolution."
"You shan't have my silver plate."
There were laughs from those in the boat. "We don't want it. We'vebrought paper plates of our own."
"Well," said Cotterell, "this is most extraordinary!" He turned to hisguests. "Shall I let them land?"
"We've got an ice cream freezer aboard," called a girl in the boat."Fresh strawberry ice cream."
"Yes," said Miss Boothby, at Cotterell's elbow, "we'll let them landwith that cargo."
The sailboat touched the landing-stage, and two men, two women and twogirls got out. "Hello, Benjie," cried Milly Hallett, waving her hand tothe dark-haired boy. "What grand company you've got!"
The arrivals were Mr. and Mrs. Hallett and Mr. and Mrs. Hooper and Millyand Sarah. They went up on the pier, where Tom introduced them to PeterCotterell.
Mr. Hallett looked at the compan
y. "I'd no idea, sir," he said,addressing Cotterell, "that your island was entertaining so many gueststo-day. I wish I'd brought a dozen gallons of strawberry ice cream."
"You are welcome anyhow, Mr. Hallett," answered Cotterell graciously. "Ithink perhaps I can supply any deficiency." He turned to his steward."Sampson, will you bring Mr. Hallett's ice cream freezer up to theHall?"
"Oh, no, Sir Peter," protested Mr. Hallett. "We were going to have asimple picnic supper outdoors."
The buff-coated gentleman bowed. "Your pardon, sir; but I am theoverlord here. Those whom I allow to land on my island are my guestsduring their stay. You must dine at my board."
Peter Cotterell offered his arm to Mrs. Hallett, and led the way up tothe house. Sampson and Tom brought up the rear, carrying the ice creamfreezer.
They all went into the large front room. "Dinner in half-an-hour,"announced the host.
"That reminds me," said Miss Boothby; "since we're all friends here,aren't you going to offer us dinner from your silver plate?"
"Really, Penelope," expostulated Cotterell, "you repeat yourself. That'sthe second time this afternoon you've mentioned the same idea."
"It seems only hospitable," pouted Miss Boothby.
Cotterell looked at the floor. "Well, you see," he began. "You see----"
The lady interrupted. "I believe you've forgotten where you put it!"
There was an awkward pause. Cotterell flushed, bit his lip.
"Well, if he has," piped up Ben, "he's only mislaid it. I think I canshow him where it is."
Everyone turned to look at the fellow who spoke with such confidence.John Tuckerman stared, and so did Tom, while David gave a low whistleand muttered, "It's just like Benjie to do something ridiculous."
Cotterell smiled. "I am a great hand at mislaying things--it's mybesetting sin. Now I would be very much obliged if you would show mewhere I did put that silverware."
"How funny," said Miss Boothby, "that a total stranger should know. Iunderstand that he came here for the first time this afternoon."
"What joke is he going to play on them?" Tuckerman whispered to Tom. "Ican't imagine what he's got in mind."
"He's putting up a good bluff," Tom whispered back. "He looks very muchin earnest."
And Ben did look as if his statement had been perfectly reasonable. Henodded at Cotterell. "You may be a great hand at mislaying things--Idon't know much about that; but I do know that you're a wonder at hidingthem."
"That's so, I am," agreed the buff-coated man with a pleased chuckle. "Ican hide things so well that very often I don't know where to look forthem myself."
"Well," said Miss Boothby, "where is the silver? It's almost time fordinner."
Ben bowed, imitating the courtly manner of Cotterell. "Ladies andgentlemen," said he, "if you will be so good as to fall into line behindme, I will endeavor to answer Miss Boothby's question."
Like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, Ben, in his yellow satin coat andknee-breeches, went into the hall and up the stairs, followed byCotterell, Penelope Boothby, Milly and Sarah, Tuckerman, Tom and David,and a line of men and women.
He led them into the attic. When they were all in the big room hepointed to the wall along which ran the row of pegs from one of which hehad taken the coat.
"Now," he said, "please tell me what you see."
"A wall," answered Milly promptly, "with some pegs to hang things on."
"Miss Hallett is certainly right," said Tuckerman. "There may be somecobwebs, too, up under the ceiling. Do you mean the cobwebs, Ben?"
"There are lots of more interesting things here," said Sarah, lookingaround. "There's that lovely green lacquered temple."
"Don't joke with the magician, Sally," David admonished her. "He wantsyou to look at those pegs."
"No, that particular wall is the most interesting thing in this attic,"Ben declared stoutly. "I think it's the most interesting thing in thehouse."
They all looked where he pointed, but none of them caught what he wasdriving at.
"Why, Professor Tuckerman," said Ben, "I thought you were a betterobserver."
"Well, I don't see anything but the pegs and some rather dingywallpaper," Tuckerman confessed.
"Ah, now you're talking! You do see the wallpaper, do you?" Bencontinued.
"Of course," said Tuckerman. "It's the pictured kind, like that in therooms downstairs."
"Oh, no, it's not," exclaimed Ben. "There's not another piece like thatin Cotterell Hall."
"Is that so?" said Tuckerman. "Well, it represents some sort of outdoorscene."
"I think those are meant to be pine trees," Cotterell put in.
"And that looks like a sunset," Miss Boothby contributed. "Though someof the red has rubbed off."
Ben bobbed his head. "And those yellowish things are rocks." He steppedup to the wallpaper and pointed with his finger. "Three pines that standbetween two rocks where the sun goes down." He turned. "Does that conveyanything to you, Professor?"
"By Jove! You're right! So it does!" Tuckerman exclaimed. "That was theold saying! The hiding-place is just beyond the three pines that standbetween two rocks where the sun goes down."
"Exactly!" said Ben, in a quiet tone of triumph. He rapped on the wallwith his knuckles. "It's wood. Mr. Cotterell, have you any objection toour taking this part of the wall down?"
"None in the least," answered Cotterell. "Sampson, will you be so goodas to get some chisels and hammers? I think you'll find them in thelittle room to the right of the kitchen."
While Sampson went on his errand Ben and Tom and Tuckerman fingered thatpart of the wall that was bounded by the picture. They found the edgesof two boards, running from floor to ceiling, and when they had peeledoff the paper that concealed these edges they discovered there was apanel.
Sampson returned with a couple of chisels and hammers. Wedging thechisels in between the boards and giving a couple of light blows, hepried the panel loose. Ben pulled it away. Behind it, under the eaves ofthe house, was a compartment. And in the compartment was a big squarebox.
Ben and Tom and Tuckerman pulled the box out into the attic. It wasfastened with a single lock. Hammer and chisel soon knocked the lockoff. Tuckerman raised the lid. "Yes, it's the Cotterell silver plate!"he cried. "By Jove, we've found it now!"
They handed the plate around, magnificent old silverware that was wortha small fortune. And they were still admiring it when a dinner gongsounded downstairs.