CHAPTER 17
The following morning while Chris was telling Mr. Wicker of theammunition being loaded on the _Venture_, Becky Boozer announced avisit from Captain Blizzard and Elisha Finney.
"Show them in, Becky," Mr. Wicker told her. To Chris he said, "Iwonder what brings them here so early? It must be a matter of someimportance. Stay with me, Christopher. I shall present you to theCaptain."
The extraordinary pair came in and Chris was introduced to CaptainBlizzard and Mr. Finney. The Captain was all smiles except for hiseyes; Chris noted that his eyes did not smile at all. Mr. Finney, trueto form, cast down his eyes, sighed, and let the corners of his widethin lips droop almost to his chin.
When a chair large enough and solid enough had been found for CaptainBlizzard, and Becky had brought in a decanter of sherry and glasses toset before the visitors, Chris shut the study door and sat down on thefloor where he could observe the three faces before him.
Mr. Wicker spoke first.
"Well, Captain, what brings you here so betimes? No trouble of anykind, I trust?"
Captain Blizzard set down his glass of sherry and cleared his throat."Now, sir, needs must I come with unpleasant news, and sorry I am tobring it. I have heard that the _Venture_ plans to sail at any time,and you well know she is a fast-sailing ship." He folded his plumphands over his paunch and twiddled his thumbs with agitation. "Sir, ithas been noised about that the _Venture_ is headed for the WestIndies."
He paused and glanced at Mr. Finney who nodded forlornly, his mouthdrooping.
"But 'tis not so." The Captain looked with anxious eyes at Mr. Wicker."Early this morning Ned Cilley brought me the information that the_Venture_ is to sail to the China seas."
Mr. Wicker's face was grave but showed no surprise. "I knew sometrouble was ahead," he said slowly, "but did not know what form it wasto take." He paused. "News of sailings and destinations get about sorapidly, it is more than likely that someone overheard the destinationof the _Mirabelle_, and sold his knowledge to Captain Chew. Although,"he added thoughtfully, "I think Claggett Chew guessed it. Well," andMr. Wicker looked alertly at the two men, "what advice do you giveme?"
Captain Blizzard wagged his head. "Nay sir, 'tis for orders that Icame to you. It is for you to say."
"How soon can the _Mirabelle_ put to sea?" Mr. Wicker asked, andChris's heart skipped a beat.
"At any time, sir," the Captain at once replied. "We have nearly waterenough, and quite sufficient stores. The men are all assembled."
The Captain fell silent and no one spoke for several minutes. Mr.Wicker leaning his chin on his folded hands was lost in thought.
"How move the tides?" he finally asked, raising his head.
The Captain, with surprising briskness for so large a man, pulled somefolded charts from his pocket. Without a word the three men rose andwent over to the table, pushing aside the china bowl filled withflowers to spread the charts flat on the table top. Captain Blizzardleaned his knuckles on the boards.
"The tide will be high at midnight, sir," he informed them. "See"--hepointed a short forefinger at a spot on one chart--"here is thesandbar that the tide covers for but a short time, and should there beother ships crowding the river near this point, we must slip throughthere then or not at all."
Mr. Wicker examined the charts and nodded. "Very well," he said, "somust it be," and Chris felt that his heartbeat would stifle him, itpounded so fast and thickly in his throat. All at once, looking up atthe thoughtful face of his master, Chris longed to be able to staysafe at home. The imminent journey, so far and perhaps so perilous,seemed suddenly too much for him. Mr. Wicker had taken the rivercharts and rolled them up, and now turned to the Captain and firstmate.
"Captain Blizzard, and you, Mr. Finney," he said, "should water casksbe seen going on board, the whole of Georgetown will know you mean tosail. I therefore ask you to so contrive it that the casks be hiddenin bales or boxes so that they seem to be anything but what they are."He tapped the rolled charts thoughtfully on the palm of one hand. "Ouronly chance to steal a march on the _Venture_ will be to sail at leasta day before her." The two men listening nodded in agreement. "Thereis one other thing. Your orders for where you are to anchor, oncenear China, will be secret, and carried on the person of this boy." Helaid one hand on Chris's shoulder. "He has a task of utmost secrecy tocarry out and will require your help, encouragement, and silence."
Captain Blizzard and Mr. Finney looked solemnly at Chris who looked assolemnly back.
"Not only that," Mr. Wicker went on, "but his presence on the shipmust not be known until the _Mirabelle_ is well to sea." He glanceddown meditatively at Chris. "I shall arrange to bring him aboardsomehow, and give you your sailing orders later."
He strode over to the window looking out to his gardens and the treeswhere the apples showed their russet cheeks.
"Leave me these charts for yet a little while, and I shall ponder onour plans," said Mr. Wicker. He turned. "See that the water casks aretaken on at once, Captain, and hidden, and make a place forChristopher, here," and at a beseeching look from Chris he added witha smile, "and Amos."
No sooner were the Captain and Mr. Finney gone than Chris spoke up ingreat excitement. "Mr. Wicker, sir, I have a plan! May we look at theriver charts again?"
Master and pupil spread out the charts once more, and Chris pointedeagerly.
"Look, sir! Here is the sandbar, and here"--he put his fingerdown--"the _Venture_. Or she was, yesterday. Now sir, the sandbarbeing just below and ahead of the _Venture_, once the _Mirabelle_ hasslipped by, wouldn't it be too bad if something happened to make the_Venture_ drift with the tide and run aground?"
He looked eagerly up into Mr. Wicker's face and saw in it thereflection of his own excitement.
"There are times, Christopher," said Mr. Wicker with his eyessnapping, "when you surprise even me. But how is it to be done?"
"Well, sir," began Chris, "it's a little tricky but I think, what withthe things we know, it can be worked."
He began outlining to his master the details of his plan.