CHAPTER XIII
JULIAN'S NARRATIVE--THE SECRET MESSAGE
It was dark when we parted with Wayne and Ray, who went to the Marcelplace, where Duran was to give a ball. I gathered from the talk I heardthat he had often visited the Port, where he loved to display hiswealth; and he seemed even to nurse the curiosity people had as to thesource of it. I talked with a French tobacconist, who said it was givenout that Duran claimed descent from a king.
When we climbed aboard the _Pearl_, Grant Norris had his usualgood-natured grumble. "I don't see the sense in losing sleep watchingthat skunk of a Duran," he said. "If we watch his schooner, that hetravels by, he isn't going to slip far to that gold mine without ourknowing."
"Yes, if we could be sure," said Captain Marat, "that would be allright. But it may be he give this party to confuse us; and then he sneakaway, and go off in some other boat. And then, what I hear las' nightwhen we are by the _Orion_, show he is _up to some theeng_, as you say;and Wayne and Ray they fin' out what it is, maybe."
Most of us on the _Pearl_ went to sleep early. Robert alone said hewould stay awake till Wayne and Ray should come.
It was long past midnight when Robert came and wakened us. He said hewas sure something was wrong. At midnight he had rowed off in the boat,and hovered around the schooner _Orion_ to see when Duran should return.He said it was a feeling of uneasiness that prompted him. He had hadthat uneasiness all evening, though he hadn't liked to talk about it. Hesaid--"Duran went aboard his schooner a little bit ago; and he seemed anawful sight pleased about something. I heard that voice of his laughingwhile he talked with those black fellows of his."
"I wish you had taken me with you," I told him. "I might have heard whathe said."
Robert's fears quickly permeated the rest of us, and soon we were in asmall boat, moving toward shore. We passed near the _Orion_ in the dark.Duran must have made us out, for we heard his laugh from the rail. Itwas such a laugh as a villain laughs--with derision in it. Norris almostexploded with rage when he heard. "I'll plug your d----d carcass yet,you low skunk!" he hissed under his breath. Carlos grunted his sympathywith Norris's mood.
We found the other small boat where it was left for the boys. CaptainMarat remained with the two boats, while Norris and Robert and I hurriedto the Marcel place for traces of Wayne and Ray. Our uneasinessincreased with every moment. We got amongst the shrubbery with ourlights, for we knew their plan. At last Robert called us to a spot wherethere were many prints of bare feet, among one or two shoe marks, in thedew-moist sand. Those prints we were able to follow to the edge of apalm grove, where they were lost in a path that was much used. We heldto the trail for some way; till finally we came to many branchings, andwere compelled to give it up.
"There's no telling which way they went," said Robert. "But thosevoodoos of Duran's got the boys all right."
It was a disheartening speech.
"If they did," said Norris, "and if they harm them, I'll put a bullet inevery d----d carcass; and I'll hang that skunk, Duran, by a hook in histongue, gold or no gold." And he said more that was not altogether fitto repeat. And he meant it, for he was no mere boaster.
Day was just burst when we came back to Captain Marat.
"Ah," he said, "thad was the theeng, Duran, he talk about las' night. Heplan it all, for he feel sure we watch heem at the ball."
"And what will he do to those boys? That's what I want to know," saidNorris. And there was fire in his eyes.
"He weel not harm them, I theenk," said Captain Marat, "for he know wesuspect him."
"He'll keep them hid," said Robert; "and while we're looking for them,he'll up and run off to the gold mine. That's his game."
"And I, for one," declared Norris, "will stay and hunt for them, gold orno gold."
We rowed back to the _Pearl_ for breakfast, and to prepare for thesearch. It was arranged that I remain on board with Rufe, and ifanything should occur, to require the others to return, I was to hoist ared ensign; for back of the town were hills all round, and they would benever far from a vantage-point whence they could have a good view ofevery vessel in the harbor.
They went, intending to scour the region all about town, beginning thesearch where we lost that trail beyond the pine grove. They hoped todiscover the boys locked in some hut. That they were not over-sanguinewas plain. Even Norris must have some notion of the sagacity of Duran.
I used a slit in the awning for my view-port. My binoculars werepowerful, and I kept a sharp eye on the _Orion_. Duran I saw using hisship's glasses to observe the _Pearl's_ boat going to shore. And sometime in each hour I would see him training them on some particular pointlandward. I speculated much on what might be the object of his interest.
The heat of the afternoon was stifling; the pitch bubbled in the seamsof the deck; and the barefoot sailors stepped only on the shadowedplaces.
It was nearing four o'clock, when I saw Duran go into a boat and startshoreward. Instantly I sent aloft the red ensign.
Twenty minutes must have passed. Cats' paws began to show on the bay,suggesting a squall. I observed a skiff making directly to the _Pearl_.It had but one occupant--a black boy. He came alongside, and held upsome paper, folded. I reached down and took it. And the boy was formaking off at once. I told him to come aboard, speaking in French. Hedid not understand, so I tried him in Spanish. No, he said, he was toldnot to remain. I showed him a handful of silver, at which his expressionchanged, and he tarried.
"Wait a moment," I said. And I opened the paper. Inside was a smallsheet bearing writing, and signed by Wayne. I read hastily.
"Who gave you this?" I asked.
"A black man," he said.
"Was a white man there?" I asked.
"I can't tell," he answered, faltering.
"Not for all this money?" I asked.
"You won't tell on me?" he asked.
"No, I'll not tell," I assured him.
"Yes, a white man gave it to me. He is that rich white man from theschooner."
I gave the boy the money.
Then it was not long till I saw Duran go back to the _Orion_.
Dark clouds had begun to gather and I looked anxiously for the _Pearl's_boat. At last I saw it come into view.
I gave them the writing, telling them the circumstances of its coming.Captain Marat held the paper while all read as follows:
Do not follow the _Orion_. We will not be on board of her. We are promised freedom if you go not from the northwest coast, where you are, for three days. Then keep a lookout for us, and we will come to you as soon as we can.
_Wayne Scott._
The wind was on us, so we hurried down into the cabin. Directly the rainwas pattering on the roof.
"So we must give up the gold for the present," spoke Captain Marat. "Ah,thad was it--just like we suspect: Duran plan thees thing to give us theslip."
"Let me see that," said Robert. And he took the paper in his fingers,studying the writing with intentness, and holding it in varyingpositions.
"It's Wayne's writing, all right, isn't it?" said the wondering Norris.
"Yes," said Robert, "but I know Wayne."
He dug out from the papers on the table a piece of blotting paper; andhe called to Rufe to bring him some water. The wondering Rufe jumped forit. Robert wet the blotting paper; then laying Wayne's writing on thetable, he pressed the wet blotter on it. When he uncovered the paper wewere astounded to see some of the words standing out in purple letters,the purple reading thus:
Do follow the _Orion_. We will be on board of her. you go north coast Then keep a lookout for us, and we will come to you as soon as we can.
_Wayne Scott._
"Ah!" said Captain Marat. "Thad look ver' deeferent. They want we shallfollow thee _Orion_--and they are to be on board of thee _Orion_. And sothat what Duran mean w'en he say--'We must not leave them behind.'"
"And," offered Robert, "he wants us
to look out for them. That meansthat when we get near enough, they'll escape overboard if they get achance; and they want us to pick them up if they succeed."
"Say," broke in Norris, holding the paper and addressing Robert. "Whatyou kids can't think up isn't in the dictionary, or Shakespeare. ThatDuran is a sharp one, but let Wayne and Robert, here, alone--we'll beatthat skunk yet."