diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/67826-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/67826-0.txt | 5017 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5017 deletions
diff --git a/old/67826-0.txt b/old/67826-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2a4fd64..0000000 --- a/old/67826-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5017 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Contraband, by E. R. Spencer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Contraband - A Tale of Modern Smugglers - -Author: E. R. Spencer - -Release Date: April 13, 2022 [eBook #67826] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Al Haines - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONTRABAND *** - - - - - - - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - - - -[Frontispiece: "'Good heavens!' cried Captain Stanley. 'Dare, my -boy! Are you hurt?'" (_See page_ 160.)] - - - - -Contraband - -A Tale of Modern Smugglers - - -By - -E. R. Spencer - -Author of "A Young Sea Rover," etc. - - - -CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD - -London, Toronto, Melbourne and Sydney - - - - -First published 1926 - - -_Printed in Great Britain_ - - - - -TO - -SPENCER LAKE - -AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES - -OF - -FORTUNE, NEWFOUNDLAND - - - - -CONTENTS - -CHAPTER - -1. On Board the "Glenbow" - -2. First Blood to the Smugglers - -3. Ben has a Brain-Wave - -4. At St. Pierre - -5. On the Trail - -6. Dare's Story - -7. In the Night - -8. The Secret Harbour - -9. Checkmate! - -10. The Escape - -11. Captain Stanley Acts - -12. The Closing of the "Oven" - - - - -CONTRABAND - - -A TALE OF MODERN SMUGGLERS - - - -CHAPTER I - -ON BOARD THE "GLENBOW" - -The mail packet S.S. _Glenbow_, ploughing her way up the south-west -coast of Newfoundland in a beam sea and half a gale of wind, rolled -rail in rail out as she neared St. Lawrence. - -Dare Stanley, who had been lying down in his berth, felt the -necessity of fresh air, and slipping on an oilskin coat he made his -way on deck. The air was fresh enough there in all conscience! He -found all but the bridge deserted; the heavy sea made a stay on deck -undesirable. Yet he did not wish to return to his cabin, having a -desire for company of some sort, so, watching his chance, he fought -his way aft to where the smoke-room was situated. - -Short as was the trip, he was drenched and had the breath half -knocked out of him before he could gain sanctuary. Once he reached -the smoke-room he had to exert all his strength to open the door, -which was pressed to as with a vice by the weight of the wind. He -managed to get it open enough to slip inside, when the door closed -precipitately behind him and knocked him half-way across the room. - -He was helped to his feet by the chief engineer, who was seated at a -card-table with the captain and two passengers. Three other -passengers completed the company. - -"Hello, young Stanley!" shouted the captain, who was a friend of -Dare's father. "Bit rough outside, is it?" - -Dare showed his teeth in a grin for answer, and stripped himself of -his oilskins, while the company returned to consideration of the game -his entry had interrupted. It was soon finished. The captain, who -was partnered with one of the passengers, showed great good humour as -he drew in his share of the winnings. Not so the chief, who had lost. - -"There ye are," said that disgruntled individual as he paid out. -"Man, dear, did ye ever see sich cards in all your born days! If my -luck keeps bad I'll have to follow the lead of the fo'c'sle crew and -play for tobacco." - -This humorous sally was greeted by an appreciative guffaw. - -"Speaking of tobacco," said one of the passengers during the -conversational lull which followed, "I'm a living witness that the -only way you can get rid of it on this coast is to give it away." - -"That's so," agreed his companion. They were both, it seemed, -representatives of tobacco firms. "And of all the places on the -coast Saltern Bay is the worst." - -"It's a crying shame!" - -This topic in lieu of a better was seized upon as likely to yield -something of interest. - -"How's that, Mr. Parsons?" said the captain insinuatingly. - -"Smuggling," answered Mr. Parsons tersely, and all the company, -including Dare, pricked up their ears. For although this was a -perennial subject of discussion, it never failed to rouse interest, -for the simple reason that it touched nearly everyone's feelings or -pockets, or both, in one way or another. - -"Smuggling, sir," repeated Mr. Parsons. "Saltern Bay is a hotbed of -smugglers. Mind you, I don't mind a man bringing in a little brandy -or tobacco on the quiet free of duty, but when you get a gang of men -organizing a regular supply of the stuff and thus undermining the -legitimate trade of the country, then I say it's time to stop it." - -"You're right," asserted his colleague. "If I had my way I'd blow -St. Pierre Colony sky-high out of water. Why we were ever fools -enough to give it back to the French when once we'd won it, I don't -know. It's been nothing but a thorn in the side of the tobacco -business ever since." - -"Oh come, Mr. Bayley," protested the captain good-humouredly; "you -wouldn't go so far as that surely. St. Pierre is all right. A jolly -little town in its way." - -"And as for giving it back to the French," put in the chief, "man, -there were reasons for that, diplomatic reasons which take no account -of individual likes or dislikes. The English had to smooth down the -French a little at the time, and the cheapest way of doing it was to -cede them St. Pierre and the rights of fishing on the so-called -French coast, an injustice to the islanders if there ever was one." - -"I'm with you there," put in a passenger who had hitherto remained -silent, a merchant from Bay de Verde. - -"Well, I'm not worrying about the fishing rights," said Mr. Parsons -egoistically; "it's the tobacco rights I'm interested in." - -"Of course," said the captain dryly. - -"It's come to the time when the Government has got to take action or -be for ever disgraced in the eyes of its electors," declared Mr. -Parson's colleague somewhat grandiosely. - -"Bad as that, is it?" said the captain, intent on drawing both men -out. - -"Worse," interpolated Mr. Parsons pessimistically. "Do you know the -extent of my order for the district between Point Day and Barmitage -Bay, captain? A measly five hundred dollars, on a route that ought -to yield a three thousand dollar order every month." - -"Umph!" The sympathetic articulation came from the chief, who had a -just appreciation of figures as such. "Man, dear, the smugglers must -be doing a roaring trade," he added, "for there's not a man on the -coast that doesna' smoke or chew the weed." - -"A true word," said Mr. Parsons sadly. "But what would you? Five -out of ten of them do their own smuggling, and the rest are supplied -by the smuggling gang. It's impossible to compete with their -cutthroat prices." - -"A gang, is there?" inquired the captain, who had been up and down -the coast for twenty years and probably knew more about Mr. Parsons' -subject of grievance than that worthy himself did. - -"Of course there's a gang, captain. There must be. There's a -regular underground trade." - -"What are the Revenue people doing?" put in the merchant from Bay de -Verde. - -"Bah!" Mr. Parsons expectorated in disgust, then attacked the -Service in earnest. - -"What do they ever do," he declared, "but send a dinky little gunboat -up and down the coast?--a boat that every smuggler recognizes twenty -miles away and avoids accordingly. What they need to do is to place -men on land, not ten miles off it. Saltern Bay is honeycombed with -coves and beaches where the smugglers can land and no one the wiser. -Have a few men spying up and down the land. Let them keep their eyes -open and find out the smugglers' cache--then make a raid. A few -raids and smuggling wouldn't be so brisk, for smugglers can no more -afford to lose their goods than other people." - -Mr. Parsons' colleague nodded in agreement. - -"I seem to remember hearing that the Customs at Saltern attempted -something of that kind," hazarded the captain. - -"Bah!" said Mr. Parsons. "Old man Johnson, sixty if he's a day, made -a daylight trip to 'Madam's Notch' and found half a case of brandy -and a few pounds of tobacco. There's those who believe the smugglers -placed it there on purpose. I'm one of them. There's others who say -that Johnson will never be a poor man if he lives to be a hundred and -that the smugglers have made his inactivity worth while. He ought to -be kicked out." - -"He has been." Dare could not resist the opportunity of being the -conveyor of new and interesting information. - -Mr. Parsons and his colleague turned surprised looks on their -informant. - -"What's that!" ejaculated Mr. Parsons incredulously. - -"Didn't you know?" said the captain easily, saving Dare the trouble -of repeating his statement. "Johnson resigned about three weeks ago. -Captain Stanley, this young man's father, has been appointed in his -place." - -"News to me," confessed Mr. Parsons. - -"We've been on the Northern route this past month," informed Mr. Bay -ley in explanation. - -"Seems to me," said Mr. Parsons after an appropriate silence and a -hard scrutiny of Dare's countenance that caused the latter to change -colour, "seems to me that I've heard of Captain Stanley before." - -"Well, you ought to have done," the chief declared, "for there's not -a man on the island has done more to rid the Revenue service of graft -and sheer inefficiency." - -"Oh, that's the man, is it? There was a question asked in the House -about him, I remember. Well, good luck to him if he's bound on -cleaning up Saltern Bay. All I can say is that he's got his work cut -out, for there's not a cleverer or rougher lot ever swindled the -Government out of revenue." - -This point seemed to be mutually recognized as bringing an end to the -conversation. The subject for the time being was dropped. Soon -after, the captain withdrew to visit the bridge, and the chief, -grumbling about cheap engines, went to see how those that were -serving the _Glenbow_ so well were progressing. - -Dare was left with the four other passengers, who were soon drawn -irresistibly to the card table. But he paid little attention to his -fellow-voyagers. His mind had been stimulated by the recent -conversation and was busy formulating guesses as to the real -situation in Saltern, and the likelihood of there being some -excitement to relieve the monotony he must otherwise endure in a -small village where he knew no one. - -As the captain of the _Glenbow_ had stated, Captain Stanley was -Dare's father, and, more than that, he was something in the nature of -a hero to his son. Bred to the merchant service, Captain Stanley -had, after twenty-five years of the Western Ocean trade, retired from -the sea and accepted from the Government a position as a special -inspector in the Revenue Service. - -That was five years ago, and they had been busy years, full of -incident and sometimes yielding adventure. In the past year or two -Dare had been taken a little into his father's confidence, and on one -occasion had proved very useful in the solving of a particularly -stiff problem centring upon illicit trading. When, therefore, his -father had been appointed temporary Customs Officer at Saltern, the -real reason for the appointment being the elimination of the -smuggling rife in the Saltern Bay district, he naturally hoped to be -allowed to take a hand in the affair. - -Captain Stanley had gone to Saltern two days after his appointment, -but Dare and the captain's old retainer, Ben Saleby, had been left -behind, Dare to finish his term at Bishop Field's College, and Ben to -attend to the details involved in closing the captain's town house. - -Now, however, both were on their way to join the captain. - -Dare was an average youth, quick, intelligent, well set up. He had -fair hair which lay close to his head and had a tendency to curl. -His eyes were blue, the colour of those of most adventurers, and he -wore for the most part a winning smile. That smile hovered about his -lips as he sat in the smoke-room thinking of Saltern and the work -ahead. Things promised well. - -The blowing of the siren and the sudden realization that the ship was -in smooth water roused him from his pleasant meditations. The ship -was making harbour. A glimpse through the port-hole showed him a low -point of land. He quickly donned his oilskin coat and went on deck. -The ship was now in calm water sheltered by the land. He went -forward and watched the town slowly come into view. While he was -eyeing it someone nudged his elbow. He turned round to face Ben. - -"Hello, Ben!" he shouted, pleased. "Well, we're getting there." - -"And about time too," Ben grumbled. "I've seen a windjammer work the -coast quicker'n this one." - -"What place is this? St. Lawrence?" - -"Aye. Weren't you sure? But I fergot; you ain't been this way -before." - -"That's so. I say, Ben, there was a chap in the smoke-room spouting -a lot of stuff about the smugglers in Saltern Bay. He said they were -a tough lot. Looks as if there's warm work ahead." - -"Reckon the cap'n kin be tough, too," said Ben with an odd touch of -pride. - -"You ought to know," laughed Dare. - -Ben had sailed with Captain Stanley for years and had left the sea at -the same time, though it must be admitted it had been with -reluctance. Only his loyalty to the captain enabled him to make the -break, for the change from bos'n of a ship to major-domo of a town -house did not appeal to his deep-water tastes. The monotony of town -life was relieved now and then, however, by the captain's Revenue -Service activities, for when there was work of a more than usually -difficult character ahead, Ben's services were always impressed, to -his great content. - -"It's only an eight-hour run from here," said Dare. - -"Ten on a day like this," declared Ben. - -"I hope we'll be able to land," said Dare anxiously. "It's pretty -rough." - -"We'll lose this sea when we rounds into the Bay," Ben told him. -"There's smooth water off Saltern. Never fear, we'll land all right." - -"I hope so!" ejaculated Dare. - -"I say, Ben," he added, a little later, "do you suppose it's true -what that chap was saying about those Saltern fellows being the -hardest lot going?" - -"I don't disbelieve it," said the old sailor. He put his hand in his -pocket and drew out a black-bowled clay pipe of incredible age, and -began to fill it dotingly. Dare remained silent while the rite was -being performed, gazing the while on the grizzled veteran. - -Ben was also "sixty if he was a day," but hard as nails yet. His -face, tanned the colour of a barked sail, was battered and ugly, but -good nature lit it and made it human and friendly. His short -stature, long arms, bowed legs, and slightly leaning-forward posture -gave him the appearance of a gorilla; but there the resemblance -ended, for under his hardened exterior he had the tender heart of a -child. - -"There's one of 'em in the steerage," he said when his pipe was -drawing well. - -"One of what?" asked Dare. - -"One of them fellers from Saltern Bay." - -"A smuggler?" exclaimed Dare, excited at the possibility. - -"That's as may be. He hails from Tarnish. He told me a lot about -the smugglin' game." - -"Ah!" - -"Aye, he knows a thing or two, he do. Know what he said?" - -"No." - -"He laughed when I asked if there warn't no way of stoppin' the -smugglin', and said, 'Not while there's a oven in Saltern Bay,' said -he. - -"'And what eggsactly do you mean by that?" I asked him. - -"'Oh,' he said, 'that's a riddle.' - -"'But what might ovens which is meant for cookin' have to do with it, -anyhow?' I asks again. - -"He laughed a great laugh and he said, 'That's fer you to find out.'" - -"Well?" demanded Dare eagerly, as Ben stopped. "What then?" - -"Nothing," replied Ben. "That's all." - -"It sounds meaningless to me," said Dare. "Do you suppose he was -pulling your leg?" - -"He might have been and yet he might not." - -"You didn't tell him the business we're on?" - -"Trust me," assured Ben dryly. - -"Well, we can do little but guess about things yet. I expect father -will have a few things to tell us when we see him." - -"Not a doubt of it." - -"Let's see. What time ought we to get there? Eight hours' run. -It's two o'clock now. Allow an hour for delay here. We ought to do -it by eleven o'clock." - -"Aye, around midnight," said Ben. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -FIRST BLOOD TO THE SMUGGLERS - -At half an hour after midnight, the _Glenbow_ rounded Saltern Head -and drawing in close to the land dropped her anchor about ten -minutes' row from Saltern Quay. The wind had dropped, and the sea -under the shelter of the land was quite calm. The town was hidden -from sight in the darkness, which was more than ordinarily intense -owing to the clouded sky and the lack of a moon. Ashore, the light -on the quay blinked its warning, and two or three other late lights -showed where the town lay asleep. - -A raucous blast of the ship's siren woke echoes between the -surrounding hills, but did not seemingly awake the people who lay -sleeping between them. Dare, leaning eagerly over the rail with his -gaze fixed shorewards, thought ruefully that such a sleepy town was -not likely to yield much in the shape of adventure. He had not much -time to dwell on that, however. Soon Ben, who had been collecting -the luggage and seeing it safely stowed in the boat, which had just -been lowered, came up, and they both went to the ship's ladder. A -few minutes later they were being rowed ashore. - -As the boat shot between the quays jutting out from the harbour, Dare -searched the blackness in vain for the gleam of a friendly light. - -"Doesn't look as if father has come to meet us," he said to Ben. -That worthy merely grunted. - -The boat was rowed towards some steps at the foot of the quay on the -town side, and they disembarked without further speech. Their -luggage was taken out of the boat and placed on the quay by the -boat's crew, which then went swinging off into the darkness, leaving -Ben and Dare to make their way through the town as best they could. - -"Here's a to-do," then grumbled Ben. "No one to meet us and it pitch -dark and we not knowin' the road or the house." - -"The best thing we can do is to follow the boat's crew," suggested -Dare. "It's likely the post office is not far from the Customs." - -They were, in fact, housed in the same building. Ben agreed, and -picking their way as well as they could, they set off to follow the -crew, with only the sound of the others' heavy tread to guide them. - -They managed well enough until they came to a turning, and by that -time the crew were so far ahead that neither Ben nor Dare could -determine which way they had taken. In this somewhat absurd -predicament they hesitated, Ben making use of the occasion as an -opportunity to air his vocabulary. They were about to go straight -ahead, when they saw a light approaching from the turning, and -decided to accost whoever carried it. As the bearer of the light -approached, they saw that it was a woman. Ben, taking the -initiative, went to speak to her. - -"Beggin' your pardon, ma'am----" he began. - -"I'm sure it's the first time you ever done it, Ben Saleby," came the -tart interpolation. - -"Why, it's Martha!" exclaimed Dare joyfully. Ben grunted. - -Martha, the family servant for twenty years, and housekeeper since -the death of Mrs. Stanley ten years before, had in the course of her -duties married Ben, to that individual's never-ending surprise and -astonishment. They got along very well together, however, having -both the same interests--that is, the welfare of the Stanleys, and -although Martha, by virtue of her superior position and her longer -length of service, was inclined to be tart with Ben now and then, Ben -did not seem to mind it. He had been well disciplined on the -quarterdeck, and it is to be supposed that he found something -reminiscent of his sailing days in Martha's summary treatment of him -at times. - -"Yes, it's me, Mr. Derek," answered Martha. Dare's real name was -Derek, but a tendency during early childhood to dare his -acquaintances to dare him to attempt incredible exploits had earned -him his nickname, which had in time ousted his real name from use by -all except Martha, who was exceedingly rigid as regards the -impropriety of misnaming those she served. - -"And what might you be doing, Ben Saleby, talking to a female like -this?" - -"I was goin' to ask the way. We've lost our bearings," explained -Ben. Martha sniffed. - -"And how might you be, Martha?" Ben asked appeasingly. - -"Well enough," said Martha shortly. - -Ben nudged Dare's arm and said sotto voce, "In a temper." - -"What's that?" demanded Martha, who was sharp of hearing. - -"I was saying I hoped the cap'n was well and hearty," stated Ben -mendaciously. - -"Well, you can keep on hoping," returned Martha. "Your father is -kept to the house, Mr. Derek," she explained. "He hurt his leg the -other day, and can't use it very well yet. That's why he's not come -to meet you." - -Dare was concerned to hear this and said so. - -"It's nothing serious," Martha hastened to assure him, and turned on -Ben. - -"Now then, Ben Saleby, pick up the baggage and don't keep us waiting -here all night. This way, Mr. Derek," she directed, and the trio -took the turning leading to the Customs House, where Captain Stanley -was lodged. - -They spoke little on the way. Martha was moody and out of sorts, and -at that hour none of them had much relish for gossip. As they halted -before a high-roofed building with lights showing below and above, -Martha spoke, however. - -"I might as well tell you both," she said brusquely, "that the -captain got his bad leg from the smugglers." - -Ben and Dare took this surprising information in different ways. -Dare was speechless, but Ben, ever ready to fill such a breach, -voiced several full-blooded oaths. Martha turned on him like a -virago. - -"Less of that, Ben Saleby, or I'll lay this lantern about your head. -Yes, Mr. Derek, it's so. They set upon him two days ago when he was -gallivanting goodness knows where. He's got a arm broke, too," she -admitted. - -Dare found speech at this. He knew Martha would make light of the -affair, and he felt certain that his father was much worse than she -had revealed. He turned on her impatiently, demanding to be admitted -to the house and shown to his father's room; and Martha, lifting the -lantern high, straightway led him up the stairs to the captain's -apartments. - -Captain Stanley was in bed, but awake, to receive them. To Dare's -relief there was little sign of serious illness to be seen in his -father's face. - -"What's this about being beaten up by the smugglers?" Dare demanded -affectionately when the first few embarrassed moments of their -greeting were over. - -As he lay in bed, all that could be seen of the captain was his head, -but that was clear enough evidence of his character and former -profession. The head was round, and the hair on it close cut; the -face full and red, the eyes blue and twinkling, the mouth firm but -able to relax in mellow moments, the chin square and dogged. A man -whom you would like and trust on sight, one in whom you would readily -confide, and to whom you would not hesitate to give responsibility. - -He smiled at Dare as the latter lightly asked his question so as to -hide his real feelings. - -"So Martha told you," said the captain. "Yes, Dare, first blood to -the smugglers, my boy." - -"Hurt much?" asked Dare shyly. He had never witnessed his father -helpless before. - -"No, no," the captain was quick to say. "My arm's broken below the -elbow, and my ankle's sprained a bit, but I'll be as well as ever in -two weeks. In fact, I'm going to get up to-morrow, but I won't be -able to move about, confound it. But sit down, sit down. And you -there, Ben--come in." - -Ben had been hanging about outside the door, and at the order he came -rolling into the bedroom. He stopped at the foot of the bed and -raised his hand in salute. - -"Howdy-do, cap'n? Bad news, cap'n. In dock for repairs, I hears." - -The captain nodded, still retaining his smile. - -"Leakin' bad, cap'n?" queried Ben. - -"Oh no," said the captain, and repeated the information he had given -Dare concerning the extent of his injuries. - -"It might be worse," said Ben, and added truculently, "I'd like to -have a go at them fellers." - -"And I too!" put in Dare, indignant at the treatment to which his -father had been subjected. "How did it happen?" - -"That's a long story," said the captain, "but I know you won't go to -bed till you hear it, so make yourselves comfortable. Ben, sit down -and take it easy while Martha makes you both something hot." - -They obeyed, and Captain Stanley wrinkled his forehead in the effort -of concentration as he prepared to accede to their wishes. - -"In the first place, this is a much more difficult business than I -expected," he began. - -"Ah!" said Ben, leaning forward with eager interest. - -"Yes. These chaps here are a crafty lot, and hard--hard as nails. -It's my belief they won't stop at anything short of murder to prevent -anyone spoiling their trade. And close! I've never met such -closeness. I've been here nearly three weeks now, and I haven't -found out a fact that's of real importance, though I've discovered a -few things that bear upon the case and reveal the extent of the -difficulty we're up against. - -"But I'd better begin at the beginning. The day after I landed I -took over the office here. The tide-waiter was helpful but not very -enthusiastic about my coming. In fact, the majority of the people -seem to resent it. The merchants are the only men who are downright -glad to see me. There's some resentment naturally at Johnson's being -fired. He's lived here a long time and has his home here still. The -truth of it is, of course, the majority of the people benefit by the -smuggling, for it's not only liquor and tobacco that's smuggled, but -commodities like sugar, luxuries (though in a smaller way) such as -perfume, and much more extensive than that, the smuggling of gear. -But the tobacco and liquor trade is the heaviest. - -"This attitude of the townspeople--the place, by the way, is little -more than a village--made things difficult for me from the start. -Naturally I'd expected to extract a good deal of information from the -people, but they won't talk. As for my predecessor in office, I -couldn't very well, in the nature of things, expect to learn much -from him. He turned over the office to me and left me to work out my -own salvation. - -"The news of my coming travelled fast, of course, and no doubt the -smugglers knew it before anyone else. I received a letter hinting at -bribery before I'd been here a week, and when I didn't answer it I -received another, threatening me and advising me to go back to St. -John's, as Saltern wasn't a healthy place for busybodies. I didn't -take any notice, of course. I've been threatened before. I kept on -with my work. - -"I hired a boat and sailed up and down the coast by day and night. I -took long walks on the cliff-head when there was a chance of being -unobserved. And last of all, I kept my ears well open, but for all I -saw or discovered I might have saved myself the trouble. -Nevertheless, I knew that all I had to do was to keep at it. -Something was bound to turn up. Someone was sure to talk. Or the -smugglers were sure to make a slip or to relax their vigilance some -time or other. - -"The smugglers and the villagers probably realized this as much as I -did, and in the first ten days I was here I became the most unpopular -man in the district. They'd all found out by that time that I wasn't -to be bribed or frightened off by threatening letters. So they -changed their tactics and commenced an offensive. I found myself -being deliberately hindered in my work. My boat's gear was stolen -and when afterwards I kept the new gear locked up, they sunk the boat -at her moorings. The windows of the house here were broken late one -night--pure hooliganism, that--and the man who was helping me work -the boat gave up the job. And I found I couldn't get another, though -I offered big money. Those who would have liked to take the money -were afraid. The gang here really dominates the district. They're -not outlaws, but they're very nearly becoming so. Of course, there's -no police force. A sleepy fat old constable keeps the peace, but -he's practically useless except to settle domestic quarrels and to -fine people for keeping dogs without a licence. - -"I had to deal with the hooliganism alone, but all I could do was to -lodge a complaint and guard against similar trouble in future. For a -while I was successful. Then I was caught, not off my guard, but in -a defenceless position, without a weapon except a heavy -walking-stick, for I don't believe in carrying a revolver." - -A knock at the door interrupted the narrative at this point, and -Martha came in bearing three steaming bowls of chocolate and a plate -of sandwiches. She refused to leave the room until the chocolate had -been drunk and the sandwiches eaten. - -When Martha, satisfied, finally left the room the captain took up the -thread of his story. - -"By one thing and another I had my attention turned from the coast to -what is known as the Spaleen road. This is a cross-country road -linking Saltern to Spaleen, and running beyond Saltern to Shagtown, -Tarnish, etc., farther round the Bay. It seemed to me there was a -great deal of traffic on this road between Spaleen and Saltern. I -knew, of course, that the people used it a great deal for the purpose -of farming small patches of land in the district, and to cart -fire-wood from the hills. But that did not seem to me to account for -the large amount of traffic. - -"I made up my mind I'd keep a closer watch on it. One day I took up -a stand on a small hill overlooking the road three miles from the -town, and with the aid of a pair of binoculars spied on all who -passed. And I had a piece of luck; for I'd not been there an hour -when I saw two horse-drawn carts meet and stop. The men driving them -engaged in conversation, and I actually saw a bottle which I dare say -contained whiskey change hands, and also a package which looked -suspiciously like a box of tobacco. - -"Of course, that was a very slight exchange, and I might easily have -been mistaken in the articles passed, but I didn't think so then, and -later something occurred which proved, or at least made me feel -certain, that I was right. - -"I began to puzzle out where the traffic had its head. Spaleen, I -thought, was too far away to be considered practicable, seeing that -the smugglers could have their cache so much nearer Saltern and the -centre of Saltern Bay. I decided to examine a road map before I made -any further investigations, and returned to town. - -"That same day I located a road map in the office and discovered what -I might have expected, that the Spaleen road was a devious one, and -at two points it approached to within a few miles of the coast -between Spaleen and Saltern. - -"One of the points was near Spaleen, the other in the neighbourhood -of Saltern. I fixed upon the latter as being relative to my -suspicions. I suspected the smugglers of having a cache somewhere on -the coast near Saltern and that the back-door of this cache gave upon -the Spaleen road, which could be made to serve admirably the needs of -distribution, as there was a great deal of traffic on it daily and -movement of any kind would not be liable to excite the curiosity and -suspicion of those who, either by nature of their profession or their -sympathies, were antipathetic to the trade. - -"The thing I had to do was to prove my suspicion well founded. But -the trouble was, how? It's harder to escape observation on a country -road than in a city street. I couldn't very well go in the daytime -without my every movement being watched. And it was little use -looking for a track to the coast on a dark night--and the nights have -been particularly dark lately. The only thing to do was to -compromise, and set out at dawn, when there were few people stirring. -And that's what I did. - -"Well, to cut a long story short, I was about four miles from the -town and passing a wood when a gang sprang up from nowhere, and -jumping on me from behind had me at their mercy before I could strike -a blow or even turn upon them. - -"They didn't trouble to tie me up but hit out with their boots, and -one of them lay about him with a heavy stick. I thought they were -going to finish me, but just before I lost my senses I heard one of -them shout: 'Don't kill him; Payter said only make him wish he was -dead!'" - -Both Dare and Ben broke out into indignant speech at healing this, -then allowed the captain to finish. - -"They dumped me in a bush a gunshot from the road. That's where I -was when I came to. I would have been pretty badly situated, for I -couldn't walk, if a passing countryman hadn't heard my shouts for -help and taken me to Saltern in his cart. - -"I sent for the doctor, feeling pretty bad. Apart from my arm, and a -twisted ankle, a great number of bruises and two cuts on the head, I -was in excellent condition, he told me ironically, and sent me to -bed. And here I am." - -Dare and Ben, who had hitherto restrained their feelings, now broke -into excited comment. - -"Of all the dirty, underhand, mean ways of fighting!" exclaimed Dare. - -"Did you know any of them, cap'n?" asked Ben, who had for a few -minutes relapsed into the language of the fo'c'sle without rebuke. - -"No," replied the captain, "I didn't recognize their voices and I -didn't see their faces. As I've said, they came on me from behind. -And when I did glimpse their faces I was too dazed and stunned to see -them clearly. All I discovered was that Payter didn't want me -killed, though who Payter is I don't know. I've never heard the name -mentioned here." - -"He might be the leader of the gang," suggested Dare. - -"I've thought so myself," said his father. - -"There was no doubtin' but that 'twas the smugglers who bate you, -cap'n?" asked Ben. - -"Who else would it be?" returned the captain. - -"Aye, who?" agreed Ben. - -Further discussion that night, or rather that morning, was then -resolutely forbidden by Captain Stanley. - -"It's time you both turned in," he declared. "We'll talk again later -in the day. Now, away with you!" - -Obeying orders, they both left the room and retired for a much-needed -rest. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE - -"What are you going to do about it, father?" - -It was ten o'clock the same day. The captain had carried out his -threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg -resting on a footstool. Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, -and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about -in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog. At Dare's -question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer. - -"I suppose you mean, what am I going to do about this assault?" the -captain counter-questioned. - -Dare nodded. - -"Well," said his father, "as a matter of fact I'm not going to do -anything--not at present. I could call in reserves, but I'm not -going to. I'm going to work this thing out myself. And, mind you, -although I'm not a boasting man, I'm going to make someone pay -heavily for that licking I got." - -"That's the talk," approved Dare. "And as to reserves, why, you've -got Ben and myself." - -"And very good reserves too," said the captain, his eyes twinkling, -"but I don't think I can use them at present." - -"You'll be givin' us a rayson, cap'n, no doubt," said Ben, while Dare -checked his disappointment as it was about to find expression. - -"Yes, Ben, I will," said the captain affably. "To be frank, at -present there's absolutely nothing we can do in Saltern. Those chaps -are too much on their guard. We've got to play a waiting game. We -must wait, as I said before, until somebody talks or the smugglers -make a slip. Meanwhile, about all we can do at the moment is to -prevent stuff coming in openly, as I'm assured it did in Johnson's -time." - -"But why can't Ben and I go on with the work where you dropped it?" -protested Dare. "I'm a good wood scout if I do say it myself, and -Ben can smell a whiskey bottle a mile away, as you know." - -"Agreed," said the captain. "But I'm not going to have you two get a -dose of the medicine they gave me. And that's all that would happen -if you attempted to play my game at present. It's useless, as I've -said. You wouldn't be a mile along the Spaleen road before every -smuggler in the district would know you were coming. I could, as -I've said, call up enough reserves to search the woods and the -cliff-head adequately. But I don't want to do that. The time for -reserves is when we've discovered the cache ourselves, and can plan a -coup that will catch the beggars red-handed. - -"No, the thing to do is to play at patience. I've got two weeks or -more of enforced leisure in which to think out a plan, and I promise -you that at the end of that time things will begin to happen." - -"Two weeks!" exclaimed Dare ruefully. - -"It may seem a long time to wait for action, but it will soon pass," -consoled the captain. - -"Cap'n," said Ben, who had been making heavy work at thinking, -"there's more than one place to find out things." - -"What exactly do you mean, Ben?" - -"Well, now, ain't it a fact that all the liquor and things comes from -St. Pierre?" - -"Certainly." - -"Well, cap'n, if you was to ask me I'd say the St. Pierre end was a -good place to pick up a little smuggling news on the quiet." - -Captain Stanley considered the idea. - -"Ben," he said at last, "you're right. There's something in that." - -"Aye," said Ben, greatly gratified. "Men will talk, cap'n, -especially when havin' taken drink, and where would they be as free -in their ways and speech as in a place that's outside the laws of the -country they're robbin'?" - -Dare, who knew when to listen, did so now. - -"Certainly something might come of that," said Captain Stanley, now -frankly interested in the action Ben had suggested. "Of course, I -shall have to send someone not known to the Saltern people or the -smugglers. Now who is there I can give the job to?" - -"There's me, cap'n," said Ben modestly. - -"There's no one I'd rather send, Ben, but all Saltern will know who -you are as soon as you put your head out of doors." - -"And what if I don't put it out?" asked Ben. - -The captain did not answer. - -"Did you meet anyone when you came ashore last night?" he asked -instead. - -"Nary a one," declared Ben, "except Martha." - -"And I've said nothing to anyone about your coming. There's no one -in my confidence here. Who came ashore with you?" - -"No one but the boat's crew with the mail-bags." - -"They may have talked." - -"Who to, cap'n?" - -"Well, the postmistress." - -"Send Martha to find out, cap'n. If there's news of that kind ready -to the post-mistress's tongue she's not likely to hide it." - -"I'll do it. Ask Martha to come here." - -Ben left the room and a few moments later returned, preceded by the -housekeeper. The captain explained clearly what he wanted her to do. - -"Go down for my letters, Martha, and engage the postmistress in -gossip. Find out if she knows anything about Ben and Dare having -arrived last night. Don't put a leading question. But there, you'll -know well enough how to set about it. You haven't spoken to anyone -yourself about their coming here, have you, Martha?" - -"Not me, sir. There's no one here I'd want to talk to about your -affairs--or my own." - -"Good woman. Well, we want to keep their presence here a secret if -it's not already known." - -Martha left on her errand, and Ben, enthused at the prospect of -action, paced up and down the room as though he were on watch at sea -once again. - -"If there's no one the wiser for my being here, you'll send me, -cap'n?" - -"Certainly, Ben." - -"And what about me, father?" demanded Dare excitedly, breaking into -speech at last. - -"It's not a job I care for you to go on, Dare." - -"Oh come, now, is that fair? I don't want to blow my own horn, but -didn't I come in handy on that last job?" - -"Yes, you did." - -"Well, sir, why not give me the benefit of the doubt in this case?" - -"I'm not suggesting you wouldn't be useful, my boy, but I'm afraid of -your running too many risks. St. Pierre can be a rough spot at -times." - -"But Ben would be there." - -"Ben would be there, certainly, but you know yourself that you're not -likely to be restrained much by Ben's presence." - -"That's not saying much for my discretion," said Dare ruefully. - -"Well, to be frank, Dare, you are inclined to be over-impulsive, you -know. It's a good fault--on the right side. But it might lead to -serious consequences on a spying-out-the-land job like this." - -Dare jumped to his feet. - -"Look here, sir," he said, "I swear if you'll only let me go that -I'll take my orders from Ben like I would from you. I won't do a -thing that he forbids me to do. Word of honour, sir." - -"Well, you seem very keen, Dare, and I'm sure you mean what you say, -but even so I can't promise." - -"But it's not dangerous work, sir!" - -"Not if the men sent know their business. I can trust Ben to be in -character--he's never anything else. No one would ever suspect him -of being an amateur detective. But if you went with him, you with -your soft hands, your educated speech, how would you explain your -relation to him? Ben has to pretend he's a fisherman. But that will -make your presence seem an incongruity, for you don't look like a -fisherman and I don't think you ever will." - -"Beggin' your pardon, cap'n, but I think that's easier nor what you -make out," said Ben, who was obviously on Dare's side. - -"He could go as my nevvy, the only child of my niece who married a -clerk in St. John's, who give the boy a good eddication afore he -died, and who, leavin' him without a penny, his mother bein' already -dead, he was forced to come to me to earn his living, he bein' -without friends or pull of any kind, and me bein' glad to have him." - -The captain's face twisted amusedly at the construction and the -content of Ben's unusually long speech. - -"I didn't know you had so much imagination, Ben. It's sound enough, -of course, what you say, and as I've said already, there's very -little danger in the job if you go about it rightly, as I've no doubt -you will." - -"Then you'll let me go, father?" demanded Dare eagerly. - -"Perhaps. We'll see what Martha says first." - -Martha came back with the information that so far as she could -discover no one in Saltern excepting themselves knew of Dare and -Ben's presence. - -"Then that settles it," declared the captain. "You'll continue to -keep under cover, Ben, and you also, Dare. If you give me your word -not to rush your fences, as the hunting men say, you can go with Ben." - -"I'll promise that quick enough," said Dare, overjoyed. "It's -awfully good of you, father." - -"Well, that's arranged then. I'm not sure you'll accomplish much, -but certainly nothing can be lost by trying. Now, as to plans---- - -"There's one thing certain; you can't start from here. People would -be too curious. Besides, you've got to keep out of their sight. You -must go to Shagtown--stay here to-day and to-night, and early -to-morrow morning slip out of the house before people are stirring. -It's a four-mile jaunt to Shagtown, but you won't mind that, -especially as you're travelling light. - -"At Shagtown, which is somewhat larger than Saltern, you'll not -attract much notice. You can tell them you're baymen come to buy a -boat. And that, in fact, will be the truth, for that's the first -thing you must do. I advise you to buy a stout, decked boat. Ben -knows the type I mean. They're much used by the fishermen here. -Commission her and leave Shagtown the next day. I don't want you to -make the trip to St. Pierre at night, though it is only a matter of -twenty-five miles. Ben can find his way there easily enough. We've -harboured often at St. Pierre in the old days. - -"Don't run up too many expenses, even though the Government is -footing the bill. And you're to telegraph me every four or five days -'O.K.,' so that I'll know you're all right. Don't sign it. I give -you two weeks. At the end of that time I'll expect you to return -whether you've been successful or not." - -Dare and Ben listened closely to every word that fell from the -captain's lips, nodding repeatedly in agreement and understanding. - -"Have Martha pack two of Ben's old dunnage bags, one for each of you. -And you, Dare, get out your very oldest and roughest clothes, roughen -up your hands a bit and don't wash your face too often. By the time -you get to St. Pierre you'll be more in character, though as Ben's -'eddicated' nephew there's not much for you to assume in that way. - -"When you get to St. Pierre, Ben, you can talk a bit about your own -smuggling propensities. But there, I leave that part of your -programme to you. No doubt it will be dictated by what you find -happening on the spot." - -The rest of that day and the early night was given up to considering -ways and means. Both Ben and Dare entered into the adventure in -optimistic spirit. The captain, while not so sanguine of their -success, was inclined to be enthusiastic about the project. Martha -was the only one to disapprove of it. But Captain Stanley won her -over with a few phrases, repeatedly assuring her that there was no -danger and that the outing could be looked upon in the nature of a -holiday. - -At three o'clock the next morning, Dare and Ben slipped unnoticed out -of the house, the captain's guarded "Good luck!" sounding in their -ears. - -They took to the Shagtown road with a will, striking into a walk that -would bring them to the town in an hour or so. They reached it -without having met a single person, and made at once for the quay. -They had in a knapsack a plentiful supply of food, and on reaching -the quay they chose a snug corner and prepared to eat while waiting -for the town to awake. - -There was a good deal of shipping in the harbour, from imposing -three-masted ships to fishermen's boats such as they themselves -intended to acquire. One of the latter lay by the quay near them, -and, at the sight of smoke issuing from the small fo'c'sle, Ben -suggested asking the owner for something hot to drink, as the morning -was a raw and chilly one. - -Dare agreeing, they gave the boat a hail, and in response a shutter -was pulled back and a bearded, good-natured face appeared. - -"Good mornin' to you," said Ben. - -"And to you," said the man, eyeing them in a friendly manner. - -"We was wonderin' if you was boilin' the kettle and if we could get a -drap of tay. We've the money to pay." - -"As to your money," said the man, "I want none of it. But you're -welcome to take a drap of tay. Come aboard." - -They proceeded quickly to accept the invitation, and leaving their -bags on deck were soon sitting down in the cramped but otherwise -comfortable fo'c'sle. In return for the tea they shared their food, -which Martha had put up with a liberal hand. When all three had -partaken freely, the two older men exchanged tobacco pouches and -prepared to gossip, while Dare, to whom the unusual environment was -keenly stimulating, stretched himself out and prepared to listen. - -"You're up early on the go," said the boat's master. - -"Aye," said Ben. "To tell the truth we got to the town too late, or -too early you might say, to take a bed, and was waitin' for sun-up." - -"No sun to-day," said the fisherman with a glance up through the -companion-way at the grey sky, across which swift clouds were moving. -"The wind's from the east." - -"So 'tis," agreed Ben, who was very pleased with his surroundings. - -"You'll not be Saltern men, I reckon," said the fisherman. - -"No," replied Ben warily, "we comes from beyant Spaleen. Name of -Wheeler. This here boy is me nevvy. We come to Shagtown to buy a -boat." - -"And wouldn't you be finding one in Saltern, then?" - -"The Saltern boats is not to our likin'. We heard tell that Shagtown -is a good place fer boats Barmitage Bay built." - -"So 'tis," admitted their host. "This boat of mine is one of 'em." - -"I knowed as much from her lines," said Ben. "A good boat, I reckon." - -"Aye, good enough," returned the other, then added with some pride: -"She can do eight knots in a breeze and you don't have to take in -sail until it's too bad weather for any Christian to be out. But -she's a little small for my needs." - -"Say you so? 'Tis one like her we're lookin' for. She's not too big -an' she's got the speed. If you can put us next to one we'd be -obleeged." - -"Ah, that's easier said nor done," declared the fisherman. He eyed -Ben with more interest than hitherto. "You was goin' to pay cash, I -doubt?" he said. - -"We was," stated Ben; and, his attention caught by something -calculating in the other's look, he added: "It'd be the great luck to -find a one like this. You wouldn't be sellin' her for a penny, I -bet." - -"No," replied the man, "but I'm not sure I wouldn't be sellin' her -for the right price." - -"Ah!" - -"She's worth seventy-five dollars the way she stands now." - -"A nice price," said Ben. "We was goin' to give sixty, weren't we, -nevvy?" - -"Sixty," agreed Dare solemnly. - -The fisherman seemed to lose all interest in the conversation. He -was silent for some minutes, then as though it were no matter of -great concern, he said: - -"You'd want her fer fishin', I s'pose?" - -"Well, in a way," admitted Ben. Then, as though revealing something -of importance, he added: "We was thinkin' of runnin' to St. Pierre -now and then." - -The fisherman nodded sagely in a manner that showed he understood. - -"Was you, now? Tobaccy is a big price, 'tis true." - -"And so is sugar and whiskey and gear," said Ben. - -Quite satisfied now of the character of his guests, the other said: -"But they're cheaper in St. Pierre." - -Ben nodded. "That's so." - -"Eighty dollars, was it, I said I'd take for her?" - -"Seventy-five. But we mentioned we was going to give sixty for one -if we found her." - -"Ah, was it so? 'Tis a pity, but no doubt you'll find one to suit -you." - -"Aye, no doubt. There's a man I knows here who is well knowledged in -boats." - -"I'm not sayin' I wouldn't take seventy, mind you," said the -fisherman. - -"Would you, now? Sixty-five is our limit, ain't it, nevvy?" - -"We wouldn't go above sixty-five," agreed Dare. - -"Cash, I think you said?" put in the fisherman. - -"Cash," repeated Ben and Dare in chorus. - -"Then if you're agreeable, we'll make a bargain." - -Delighted more than he could say by this opportune offer, Ben stated -his willingness and the two immediately put their heads together. - -"You can take her over right now," said the fisherman, "if you likes -to pay a extry five dollars fer the cookin' gear and stove. The -dory, of course, goes with her." - -Ben was agreeable. By taking over the boat practically ready for -sea, they would save time and money. He suggested that they should -go ashore when the bank opened, and sign the necessary papers in the -presence of witnesses. And this they did, leaving Dare in charge. - -By ten o'clock Ben was the owner of the boat and was in possession. -And by noon they had provisioned her and made her ready for sea. -Before taking leave of them the fisherman wished them good luck, and -advised them when they went to St. Pierre to trade at Giraud's. "You -can't do better," he told them. - -At this time the wind was blowing a good steady breeze from the east, -which meant a fair wind for St. Pierre, and Ben, who had examined the -sky closely, was inclined to put to sea immediately. - -"We've done the business of buyin' a boat much quicker'n the cap'n -expected," he said to Dare. "If we can work out of the harbour, and -I think we can, though the wind's blowin' in a bit, we could make the -run to St. Pierre in three hours. The weather's clear and there's no -sign of worse to come. What do you say, Mr. Dare?" - -"The quicker the better," replied Dare; "to-morrow the weather may -not be so good." - -"Then get ready, and put on your oilskins, for it'll be wet outside." - -Dare obeyed and in half an hour the boat, named the _Nancy_, cast off. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -AT ST. PIERRE - -They had difficulty in working the boat out of the harbour, but under -reduced sail and Ben's expert handling they eventually managed it. - -Once they were far enough off the land to clear Shagtown Cape they -had straight sailing, and shaking out the reef in the big foresail -they settled down to the short voyage. They passed Saltern a mile -from the land, which was skirted by the white foam of breaking seas. - -The boat gave an admirable exhibition of her qualities and proved her -late owner's boast correct, for with a fair wind and a following sea -she did her eight knots in grand style. - -Dare and Ben had an opportunity to observe the Saltern coast, and -found it wild and rugged. Cliffs ranging from two hundred to four -hundred feet in height rose uncompromisingly upright from the sea, -but were broken at points by intersecting small sandy beaches which -gave upon less precipitous backgrounds. - -Except for a solitary merchantman beating her way towards Shagtown, -they had the sea to themselves, for the weather was too rough for the -local fishermen to go to their trawls and nets. - -Ben gave Dare the tiller of the _Nancy_ and turned a pair of -binoculars on the Saltern cliffs, subjecting them to a long, close -scrutiny. Except for a few sheep and goats, and a fisherman's -cottage or so in lonely, desolate-looking spots, there was no sign of -life or human habitation. A rugged, solitary coast it certainly Was. - -Further from Saltern, however, the coast became more pleasing to the -eye, and sloped down more gradually to the sea. Ben, at this point, -took the tiller again and changed the course a little. Miquelon, the -companion island of St. Pierre, could be plainly seen, as could Green -Island, and setting his course by the latter Ben turned the boat's -head definitely from the land. This necessitated taking in some -sheet and subjected the boat to a rough beam sea. She was, -fortunately, in good ballast, and had little to fear from the press -of wind bearing her down heavily as she sank into the hollows. Dare, -who was with Ben in the cockpit, the deck at a level with their -waists, welcomed the rough water. The sting of the spray, the roar -of the wind, stimulated him to a high degree, and enjoyment swallowed -up any concern there might have been as to their safety. - -Ben, chewing with gusto a plug of tobacco, was in his natural -element. He had not enjoyed himself so much for years. Now and then -he gave a grunt of approval as the boat rose gallantly from under a -breaking sea, but for the most part he was stoically inexpressive, -his gaze fixed ever ahead, his capable hand hard set on the tiller. - -At four o'clock they brought open the roadstead of St. Pierre -harbour, and half an hour later, in half a gale of wind and a -blinding rainstorm, they made the inner harbour. - -Considerably elated at their successful run, they headed the boat -towards the public quay next Treloar's wharf, and in calm water tied -her up and made her shipshape for the night. - -"Four hours an' a half from one quay to t'other," said Ben in high -good humour. "Now we'll go below and put the kettle on and have a -cup o' tea." - -It was snug and cosy in the little fo'c'sle and Dare, stripped of his -oilskins, listened with growing pleasure in his environment to the -wail of the wind, the beat of the rain, and the uneasy chafing of the -boat and the shipping in her vicinity as the wind streamed through -their rigging. - -Now and then there sounded a long warning note from a siren, a dog -would bark, and a solitary cart rattle by on the cobble-stoned quay. - -A stormy night, Ben prophesied, but as they were snug in harbour they -could ignore the weather. Ben, like the seasoned campaigner he was, -went about the business of boiling the kettle, and in a short time he -had fashioned a delectable meal consisting of a roasted piece of cod -fish, cold ham, pickles, bread, butter, jam, and tea, all tasting a -little of smoke and the tang of salt water. - -Dare, as he consumed prodigious quantities of this fare, felt he had -never supped better in his life. After the meal was finished he made -himself useful and washed up. Ben filled his pipe and took his -pleasure of it. His work done, Dare stretched out on a blanket. For -awhile both he and Ben maintained a strict silence, listening to the -steady drip of the rain on deck. - -"We won't telegraph the cap'n till to-morrer," Ben said at last. "He -won't be expectin' us to get here before then. As it's a dirty night -and'll be dark early, we won't go ashore now but take our comfort -here." - -Dare, lying on his back, his head supported by his clasped hands, -nodded contentedly. St. Pierre was lying waiting for him. He could -afford to be patient. There would be all the joy of discovery in -watching the town awake next morning. - -"Ah, these is good times, Mr. Dare," said Ben after another silence. -"It does my heart good to be lyin' here like this. Many's the time -I've laid me down to sleep to the sound of wind and water, and woke -to hear the cry of the watch, and the sound of the waves striking -like a steel hammer on the deck overhead. And other nights there was -when I took me blankets on deck and laid me down under the stars, -with the sea that smooth you could frame it like a picture with the -horizon, and the air that warm an' soft you would be thinkin' you was -in the tropics, instead of in the Western Ocean not two days sail -from the Azores." - -Dare nodded dreamily, Ben's voice like distant music in his ears. -What boy has not had his imagination sent rioting by thinking of such -things? A fine life, a clean life, a brave life, that of the sailor, -with strange ports always lying ahead, and the sea, the vast sea -always about one, bringing calm and storm, monotony and drama and -adventure. - -He slept that night the sleep of eager youth and dreamed rosy dreams -of the things he should do some fine day when he came into his -kingdom--that delectable world which lies before youth when it -attains the age of manhood and emancipation, that bright, that -chivalrous age of twenty-one. - -Early the next morning he was roused by Ben's shout of "show a leg!" -He tumbled out eagerly. Ben had already kindled a fire. He shoved -his head above deck and saw the town wrapt in a morning mist, and on -the waters of the harbour the dimly seen hulls of the ships. - -There was a nip in the air that drove sleep and dreams from him and -made him keen to launch forth into action and adventure. He went on -deck, and drawing up a bucket of water plunged his head deep into it. -His toilet was soon made. He grinned as he remembered that for the -first time in his life he had an adequate excuse for not scrubbing -his face. When he had finished he went to the fo'c'sle head and -called down to Ben. - -"Brekfus is not ready yet," Ben told him. "As you're up there you -might as well wash down the deck and take a turn at the pump." - -While he was doing this the mist rolled away and the sun appeared as -if by magic, gilding the town and the shipping with early morning -beauty. - -The boat was too far below the quay for him to see anything but the -upper stories of the buildings facing the harbour, so he had to -content himself with gazing upon the latter and the variegated -shipping that filled it. Steam trawlers, coal tramps, American -deep-water fishermen, Newfoundland Bank fishermen, cargo boats, -sailing and steam yachts, steam tugs and a host of smaller craft -filled the basin. - -He gazed on this scene as he had so often gazed on St. John's harbour -as seen from the college windows, admiring the beautiful lines of -some of the vessels, the ugliness of others, indeed their endless -variety. - -He was torn from this pleasant exercise by the call to breakfast. -After the meal was over they loosened the sails and shook them out to -dry, then prepared to go ashore. By this time the town was well -awake. At a neighbouring quay one vessel was discharging coal and -another produce, both of which commodities were being loaded on to -antiquated ox-carts drawn by even more antiquated oxen. Numerous -dogs were barking and pretending to be fiercely excited by pieces of -stick floating in the water, and one after another were diving off -the quay, encouraged by errant bakers' boys and other seemingly -unattached youths. - -The sound of strange speech struck the ear, a French that Dare could -hardly believe was the same language he was taught at school. - -In time they prepared to enter this strange world. Ben locked up the -fo'c'sle, asked the crew of a nearby boat to keep an eye on the -_Nancy_, then, followed by Dare, climbed up the side of the quay and -stood erect on dry land. - -The town of St. Pierre has been formed by the needs of the visiting -sailors and fishermen of France, America, and Newfoundland. Old as -age goes in the Americas, the remains of the English fortifications -can still be seen, but now by the Treaty of Utrecht, no garrisoning -or fortification of the island is permitted. Its architecture is -such as one finds in the seaports of Brittany and sea towns such as -Marseilles. There has been a rich trade done there in its day, but -its importance has declined with the importance of St. Pierre et -Miquelon as a colony, the only French colony in the Atlantic, and -little more in reality than a station for her Bank fishermen. - -But enough remains of the colony's importance to ensure a brisk trade -in the summer months when the population is greatly augmented by the -visiting fleets. - -The principal street is known as the waterfront. It runs parallel to -the quays and is flanked by numerous cafés, shops, and marine stores. - -Breaking it about half-way is a large square with a decrepit fountain -and an uneven, cobble-stoned pavement. It was into this square that -Ben and Dare stepped on their first visit ashore. - -Ben, faced by several routes, stopped to consider his movements. - -"We can't do better than walk a little way along the waterfront, and -drop in on Madame Roquierre," he said. "It's a little early for the -cafés, but madame is always on hand night and day." - -Dare, to whom even the name of Madame Roquierre was unfamiliar, -nodded agreement, and they sauntered on their way. The waterfront -presented a very animated scene. Scores of sailors strolled up and -down, proprietors of _magasins_ and cafés stood outside their -premises exchanging salutations with the passers-by and not omitting -to call attention to the exclusive benefits patronage of themselves -would bring, teams of oxen plodded slowly by, and gendarmes strolled -on their rounds, keeping a vigilant eye on one and all. - -Ben had little eyes for so familiar a scene, but to Dare every detail -was foreign to anything in his previous experience and therefore -worthy of interest and attention. - -They eventually reached Madame Roquierre's café, a large square box -of a building with a prevailing atmosphere of sour wine inside and -out. The bar was empty except for an old manservant busy raising a -cloud of dust. In response to Ben's inquiries after madame, he -answered, "Elle est sortie." - -Dare recognized the phrase and translated it for Ben's benefit. - -"Out, is she?" said Ben. "Well, it's no matter; we can come back -again." They returned to the waterfront. - -"The madame," explained Ben, "is a wise old bird. She knows everyone -and everything in St. Pierre. She's kept that there grogshop of hers -for forty years and more. Although it's ten years since I've been -here, I'm willin' to bet she can remember me. Aye, that's so. You -might think I wouldn't want to be remembered as a bos'n of the -cap'n's. But you'd be wrong. Madame ain't the one to blab, and when -I tells her that I'm named Wheeler an' that I wants everybody who -knows me to forget they've seen me before, she'll catch on as quick -as anything. Nothin' can't surprise her. She's seen too much in her -time. I'm countin' to hear a bit from her about this end of the -smuggling game. And maybe she'll be able to give us a few names. -We'll go to her fer our dinner and supper--she keeps a good kitchen, -as I knows of old. It ain't convenient to eat aboard all the time." - -Dare welcomed this plan and said so, it being likely to offer them -diversion as well as benefit their mission. - -They spent the morning sauntering from quay to quay in the manner of -others of their kind. Now and then they were drawn into -conversation, and on such occasions responded genially and with that -seeming openness most likely to inspire confidences. At noon they -went to the telegraph office and cabled the captain. They then -returned to the quay and had a look at the boat. Then they wended -their way once more towards Madame Roquierre's. - -All was changed now. The bar was fairly crowded, and through the -swing door leading to the kitchen came a delectable odour, and a -burst of sound comparable to that attendant upon the feeding of a -battalion. - -Ben pushed through the crowd at the bar, Dare in his wake, and went -into the kitchen. There, presiding over the distribution of an -enormous tureen of soup, was Madame Roquierre. She was stout, -possessed a heavy moustache, and very white teeth which were often -revealed in an excess of geniality. She found time, amidst her other -duties, to greet everyone who entered, and Dare and Ben were no -exceptions. Ben called out a "bonjoor, madame," while Dare silently -gave an imitation of a bow. - -They took seats at a long table already well filled, and as soon as -they were seated immense bowls of soup were placed before them. The -soup seemed to Dare to contain nearly every known vegetable, but -decidedly it was good. Ben attacked it with gusto, and before long -Dare was following his example. - -"Never anything else here in the kitchen but soup," said Ben. "If -you want other things they're special. But after a bowl or two of -this you don't want much. I come here because it would look funny -our askin' fer a private room. We're not of that sort now. But -later I'll have a talk with madame and we can have what we like here -in the kitchen." - -After the soup they ordered coffee, and sat so long over it that the -room was practically empty when they rose to go. Before they could -reach the door, madame confronted them. - -"Bon jour, messieurs," she said genially. "Ah, I have seen you -before, my fren'," she said to Ben, and wrinkled her forehead in an -effort to remember. "So! It was with the capitaine----" - -"No names, madame, if you please," interrupted Ben. "I'd take it as -a favour if you'd fergit you've seen me before." - -"Hein? Ah, so, I see! Eh bien, it is as you say. You stay long?" - -"Two weeks, perhaps. Perhaps less." - -"So! It is well. You shall come to see me again, is it not?" - -"We was thinkin' of takin' dinner and supper here, madame." - -"Good," declared madame. "But stay, you will drink a brandy?" - -Ben, who looked upon the offer of hospitality as most favourable to -his intentions, accepted. - -"And you, m'sieu?" said madame, turning to Dare. - -"Nothing, thank you," replied Dare. - -"But a sirop," insisted madame, "a bon sirop." And Dare perforce -could do no other than accept. - -They seated themselves again at a table and madame, who was inclined -to gossip, joined them. - -"It is long, I think, since you came last," she said to Ben. - -"Aye, madame, ten years." - -"Ma foi! How the time it goes! And you sail no more with the -capitaine who shall not be named?" - -"That's so. I got a boat of me own, madame. Me and me nevvy here, -we intends to run between St. Pierre and the mainland. Tobaccy is -dear on the mainland. Savvy?" - -Madame smiled wisely. - -"There is light," she answered. "So, you also, hein? Well, and why -not? The poor should not have to pay taxes." - -"You said it, madame." - -"Tobacco, you have said. And wine, yes?" - -"Liquor, madame, is like tobaccy. If you got to have it, get it -cheap." - -"So you are wise. Now I---- Well, my fren', I have a large cellar. -Vous comprenez? And you shall do as well by me as at that ol' thief -Giraud's, who boasts he has all the trade of such as yourself." - -"I've heard of Giraud," said Ben cautiously. - -"A thief, my fren'. I have said it. And it is not true that he has -all the trade, for, mark you, I, Roquierre, say it--Pierre has taken -from me no less than one mille of the three-cross brandy since two -years." - -"And who might Pierre be, madame?" Ben made the mistake of inquiring. - -Madame's expression changed the slightest bit. A curtain of reserve -slowly descended. - -"You know not Pierre?" she asked, a little surprised. - -"Never heard of him," admitted Ben. "A smuggler, is he?" - -Madame rose to her feet, smiling enigmatically. - -"A smuggler?" she said. "But what is that? Here we name not such -things. If one wishes to take a bottle or two quietly, ma foi, is he -then to be called a smuggler?" - -"What else, madame?" - -"It makes nothing," madame quietly answered. "We talk of other -things, n'est-ce pas?" - -"But this Pierre feller?" insisted Ben stupidly. - -Madame eyed him for a moment, then leaned forward impressively. - -"Understand, m'sieu, one does not talk lightly of Pierre to those who -know him not. So, enough. I have already said too much. Au'voir, -messieurs. You are welcome always, and forget not what I have said -of Giraud." - -She gave them a guarded smile and left the room. Ben watched her go -without a word, then, beckoning to Dare to follow, made for the -street. - -"Well, we didn't get much forrarder there," he exclaimed ruefully, as -he stood in the street outside. - -"You went about it in the wrong way," said Dare impatiently. "If you -hadn't asked her who Pierre was, she would have been telling you all -about him in a few minutes." - -"Aye, I reckon that's so," agreed Ben, abashed. "What a dunderhead I -be! Why didn't you stop me, Mr. Dare?" - -"I didn't have a chance. Madame, as you've said, is a wise old -lady," he added. "She thought it was queer your not knowing Pierre -if you were a smuggler. Pierre, who took no less than a thousand -cases of brandy from her in two years!" - -"Aye, I reckon it seemed funny," said Ben humbly. "But anyhow, we -got somethin' to go by, we can keep a look-out for that feller -Pierre." - -"That's so, of course. He must be a smuggler in a pretty big way, -don't you think?" - -"There's no tellin', but it seems so. A thousand of brandy from one -cellar in two years is not bad work, not to mention what he might -have had from Giraud." - -"Of course, he may be running cargoes down the coast, and not in -Saltern Bay at all." - -"That's what we've got to find out. One of the first things we got -to do is see Giraud." - -"We might go up there later in the afternoon." - -"Aye. And to-night I'll try and get on the right side of madame -again. I don't believe she thinks I'm not what I give myself out to -be." - -"No," agreed Dare. "But you'll have to go carefully there. It's my -belief it's no use trying to pump her now. She'll be on her guard. -Still, it won't hurt to quieten down her suspicions if she has any." - -"You said it." - -In a few minutes they had reached the quay. The _Nancy_ was lying -almost level with it on a flood tide. - -"What shall we do now?" asked Dare. - -"I was thinkin' of takin' a nap," confessed Ben. "There's no use -tryin' to see that feller Giraud till three o'clock." - -"All right," said Dare. "As for me, I'm going across the square to -that barber's shop you see there, to get a hair-cut. Then I'll take -a stroll around and be back here for you at three sharp." - -They parted on that understanding. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -ON THE TRAIL - -Ben overslept. That is to put it mildly. He woke with a start to -discover that it was five o'clock. After magnifying his conduct in -appropriate language he hurried on deck to look for Dare. But there -was no sign of Dare either on board or ashore on the quay. - -Ben, frankly, did not quite know what to do then. He thought it -queer that Dare should not have roused him at the hour they had -arranged to meet. Perhaps Dare had not come back at all. Or could -it be that he had returned and, finding him, Ben, asleep, had gone -ashore again? Ben was more inclined to think the former. And from -thinking thus he began to wonder why Dare had not returned. Had he -been prevented? Was he hurt? Ben turned cold at the thought of harm -coming to the "cap'n's boy" while the latter was, in a way, under his -care. - -Well, there was no use in sitting still, he decided, and set out to -make inquiries. The men hanging about the quay helped him little. -They could not remember seeing anyone of Dare's description in their -vicinity during the last hour or so. Ben, shaking off their -negatives impatiently, plunged across the square in the direction of -the barber's shop. It was possible the barber might have noted which -direction Dare had taken when he left the premises. - -The barber, an exquisite to his finger-tips, scented, hair curled, -beard drawn silkily to a point, smiled professionally as Ben entered, -but lost some of his interest when he discovered that Ben was there -merely to ask questions. He could, as it happened, speak English, -and he began to do so with those flourishes most Latins find -necessary in their attempts at self-expression. - -A youth? English? But no. But yes! It is to say, a young man, -blond, sans barbe, with the air pleasing, and muscular, oh yes, -muscular, most decidedly. The young man had come to his shop at two -of the clock, but what he had come for it was not to be known, for to -the most astonishment this young man after a reading of the journal -short and inadequate, considering that it was the most admirable -"Journal of the Débats," that young man had thrown down the journal -with force and had run, yes decidedly, run from the shop with a -manner excitable, l'air excité. - -Ben listened with impatience, following the long rambling sentence -with difficulty, due to the accent of the speaker. - -"But what way did he go?" he demanded of the barber. - -Oh, as to that, it was to be regretted, but it was not known. Tiens, -no! The young man had gone so quickly. - -Ben, seeing there was no more to be learned there, thanked his -informant gruffly, and like an annoyed bear set off once again on his -search, grumbling audibly at himself and the inadequacy of the -information he had received. - -Now what could have caused Mr. Dare to run from the shop like that? -Something interesting, belike. Or it may have been no more than a -dog fight or a fight between street boys, which was much the same -thing, seen from the shop window. In any event the fight, or -whatever it was that had had him out of the place so quickly, was -long over now. That was no explanation of his failure to turn up at -three o'clock. But had he failed to turn up? How did he, Ben, know? -He didn't know and he had to admit it. - -He crossed the square in a humour which was a mixture of chagrin and -anxiety, though as yet he could not very well see in what there was -cause for the latter. It was broad daylight, and St. Pierre wasn't -Port Said by any means; and a boy ought to be as safe on its streets -as in St. John's. Still, there was no denying that there were more -facilities for trouble in the French town for a venturesome lad, and -Mr. Dare was all of that. - -He returned to the quay and took a look at the _Nancy_ in case Dare -had returned, but the boy was still missing. Ben bethought him then -of their intention to visit Giraud. What more likely than that Dare, -not finding him waiting on the quay, had gone on to Giraud's alone? -The boy might be there even now, still waiting for him. - -At this thought Ben's mood lightened and he set out for Giraud's in -the hope of reaching it before the store closed. - -It was a comparatively easy matter to find one's way to Giraud's. -Giraud had seen to that. From the harbour one could see the towering -sign on his store, and once on shore, there was always to be seen -round some corner or other, the one word, Giraud's. - -The premises were next the dry dock on the opposite side of the -waterfront. Dark, dingy, huge, lacking paint and adequate windows, -the place was impressive only because of the vast quantities of -merchandise it stored. - -Huge butts of rum and brandy, seven feet in diameter, nearly all on -tap, lay in the darkest regions. Piles of rope, mountains of paint -tins, great anchors, barrels of tar, ochre, bales of oakum, etc., -filled another section, and still another part of the premises was -given up to lighter articles such as soap, tobacco, ship's biscuit, -cheese, and margarine. All these commodities, each with a -distinctive odour, gave the place an atmosphere indescribable. It -was too strong to be attractive to most people, yet to some it was -very pleasing, none the less. - -Ben, who was not over delicate in such matters, wrinkled his nose in -appreciation as he entered the store. - -The entrance gave upon a small space which had the semblance of an -office, with various merchandise as its walls. A cash register, a -few account books, and a desk of polished wood on high rickety legs, -together with an old clerk, deaf and shortsighted, completed the -paraphernalia of the place. - -Ben entered this space, gave "good day" to the deaf old clerk, and -then looked about him for someone in authority--Giraud, if possible. - -Down long lanes of merchandise he caught sight of several clerks and -a number of customers. He hesitated which way to take, then was -saved the necessity of choice by the appearance of the proprietor. - -Ben recognized him from descriptions heard on the waterfront, and -from a glimpse he had had of him in the old days. It was not a -figure to be forgotten, once seen. Giraud was a man of commanding -presence. His bulk alone inspired respect. He was enormously tall -for a Frenchman, over six feet, and his immense girth, his great -rounding shoulders, gave a suggestion of bull strength. On top of -this great mass of flesh was set a head which, in proportion with the -trunk, looked ridiculously small. The face was clean shaven, and -under a low forehead were set two crafty-looking eyes which hid their -cunning, under heavy half-lowered lids. - -Ben was no more a match in duplicity for such a person than a -new-born babe. He had the intelligence to realize this and decided -that he would make the interview as short as possible. - -Giraud's eyelids flicked once indifferently, and he felt that he knew -all about Ben, his antecedents, his occupation, his very innermost -thoughts. - -"Mr. Giraud, I think," said Ben in his bluff, simple manner. - -"Yes," admitted Giraud non-committally. - -"I heerd of you from Sam Stooding," said Ben expansively. "I bought -that there boat of his, the _Nancy_. A good boat, too, in her way. -Sam finds out one way and another that I'm likely to make a trip to -St. Pierre now and then, so he says to me, you take my word fer it, -Ben--Ben Wheeler, that's me name--you take my word fer it, Ben, says -Sam, you can't do better than trade at Giraud's if you ever think of -bringin' in a little brandy or tobaccy. I got a good respect fer -Sam; Sam knows what's what. So here I be and right glad to meet you, -mister." - -Giraud's face remained expressionless during this garrulous -introduction, but he acknowledged Ben's cordiality with a slight nod -not to be mistaken for the courtesy of a bow. He did not remember -ever having heard Stooding's name before. But then, there were -scores of his customers whom he never saw, much less knew by name, -and it was not the first time that the indirect recommendation of -such had had good results. - -He had little interest in Ben or Ben's needs. He knew that the order -would be a small one, ridiculously small, he suspected, and as such -it could very well be turned over to some subordinate. He was too -good a business man, however, to show his feelings, whatever they -were, and he proceeded with cut-and-dried flattering phrases to -express his pleasure at Ben's having singled out his store for -patronage. - -Then he turned from Ben to call a clerk to attend to him. Ben, -however, having guessed his intention, put up a deprecatory hand. - -"I won't be tradin' fer a day or so," he said. "I just looked in to -say howdy-do and to give your place a look over. Now I've done that -and seen you, I'll be on my way. But I'll be back--oh aye, you can -depend on that." - -Giraud's eyelids flicked once again as though there were something in -Ben's tone which he did not quite understand. Ben, who was looking -as stupid as possible, noted this sign of aroused interest and -proceeded to go. He had a feeling, rightly, that this big man was -even more dangerous mentally than physically. - -"Well, I reckon that's all," he pronounced heartily, and was about to -turn away when he remembered what he had hitherto completely -forgotten, that he was there to inquire about Dare. - -"Now dang me! if I hadn't nearly forgot," he burst out. "My nevvy, -you ain't seen my nevvy by any chance, I s'pose?" - -Giraud, who was by now somewhat bored by Ben's presence, looked -bewildered. - -"Your what?" he asked. - -"My nevvy," explained Ben. "A fine boy, gone eighteen, tall, with -light curly hair and a laughin' face. He was goin' to meet me here, -but blessed if I can see him." - -"Oh, your nephew," said Giraud enlightenedly. "No, I have not seen -him. But he may be here. The place is large. If you care to look -around----" He waved his hand vaguely and indifferently towards the -various departments with their mountainous barriers of merchandise, -and taking Ben's acceptance of his invitation for granted, moved off. - -He had not proceeded half a dozen paces, however, when a man nearly -as impressive in appearance as himself entered the store, and -sighting Giraud, exclaimed, "Ah, mon vieux, vous êtes là !" - -"So, Pierre!" exclaimed Giraud, suddenly animated; "but enter. I -have been waiting for you. The stores, they are safely on board, -yes?" - -"Mais oui," answered Pierre. "Ça va bien," and talking vivaciously -he walked arm in arm with Giraud down one of the long aisles of goods -leading to Giraud's private office. - -Pierre is one of the most common names in St. Pierre, as it is in -other French towns, yet, none the less, when Ben heard it pronounced -by Giraud he did not doubt for a moment that the new-comer so called -was the Pierre of whom Madame Roquierre had spoken. Considerably -elated by his discovery, he determined to take advantage of this -accidental meeting and his situation by hanging about and keeping his -eye on Giraud's office and the men in it. - -Pierre's appearance had, more than his significant name, convinced -Ben that he was on the track of a redoubtable man. Pierre, like -Giraud, was tall, but there all resemblance between the two ceased. -Pierre was lithe as a tiger, walked with a pronounced swagger, and -had a shrewd open eye and an easy facile smile which, strangely -enough in one who seemed to be a Frenchman, showed between moustache -and beard of a glaring red. - -He was like no Frenchman that Ben had ever seen, and come to that, -like no man of any other nation he had met. - -Less formidable mentally than Giraud, he was, as Ben was old and wise -enough to judge, more to be feared than the proprietor where action -was required, or in times when passions ran riot. Extreme caution -would certainly be needed in dealing with either of them. - -Keeping an eye on the clerks and the customers, and taking care -always to be in sight of the office door, Ben strolled about, -stopping now and then to finger a piece of yarn or a boat-hook or -some such thing, as though contemplating purchasing. He had kept -watch for about half an hour when he was rewarded by the sight of the -office door opening and Pierre and Giraud emerging. - -As he was within their range of vision he made haste to slip behind a -high bale of goods, and as he did so he very nearly exclaimed aloud, -for facing him was Dare! - -Dare was nearly as much excited by Ben's presence as Ben was by his, -and would probably have expressed his feelings in speech if Pierre's -voice, speaking French, had not suddenly reached their ears. - -They stared at each other and realized that they were on the same -quest, then without a word spoken they flattened themselves against -the bales in case the two men should pass that way. - -But Pierre, they soon learned, was leaving the store. They heard -Giraud say "à demain," then heard him retreat in the direction of his -office. Immediately they both headed for the street. They reached -it just in time to see Pierre's rangy figure turn a corner, and -followed hot-foot after him. - -They had no time to exchange confidences or to give explanations at -the moment, so concentrated were they on the affair in hand. - -Pierre, they observed, was making by an indirect route for Treloar's -wharf. And sure enough, at the end of ten minutes' walk, the trail -ended there. Pierre, who had not, it seemed, the slightest suspicion -that he was being followed, whistled for a boat and in a few minutes -was being rowed towards the shipping in the centre of the harbour. - -Dare and Ben ran on to the wharf and whistled for a boat also, but -there was not one to be had. All they could do was to wait and see -if possible what ship Pierre was boarding. They were fortunate in -this, for Pierre boarded a small schooner on the edge of the shipping. - -"Now we've got to row out there and find out her name," declared -Dare, speaking to Ben for the first time since their encounter, "or -we may not know her again." - -"I'd know her," stated Ben, who had been eyeing the schooner closely -and expertly. - -"All the same, we ought to know her name," insisted Dare, "and the -best time to find it out is while she's under our eyes." - -"Aye, perhaps you're right," said Ben, "but I wouldn't want them on -board to catch us at it." - -"Who's going to notice a rowboat passing astern?" asked Dare, and -certainly in such a maze of shipping not much attention was likely to -be paid to them. - -They hurried on board the _Nancy_, and drawing up their dory, -proceeded to make their way out into the harbour where lay their -objective. - -The schooner Pierre had boarded was a swift-looking little craft of -about sixty tons, neatly rigged, painted dead black, with her deck -bare of the fishing dories which most of her type in the harbour -carried. Her deck seemed deserted. - -It was growing dusk when Ben and Dare neared her, and they could not -read her name on her bow, it being very faintly painted. They made a -detour and passed under the stern, and there they read plainly enough -the legend: "Mary Lee, St. John's, Nfld." - -"Well," said Ben in a harsh whisper as they rowed quietly by, "she's -St. John's registered, but the feller who went on board her is a -Frenchman or I'll eat my boots, though I do say he's the queerest -lookin' Frenchman I ever seed." - -"Partly," said Dare. - -"Partly what?" asked Ben, not quite clear about what Dare was -alluding to. - -"Partly French. He's half English." - -"How do you know?" asked Ben, surprised. - -"I heard someone say so." - -"You heard somebody say so!" repeated Ben. - -"Yes. Ben, do you know who that fellow is?" - -"I sartainly do," declared Ben, relishing his triumph. "That's the -feller Pierre, that madame was talkin' about." - -"It's Pierre all right," admitted Dare, "but, more than that, it's -Payter!" - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -DARE'S STORY - -Dare related the events which had culminated in his dramatic meeting -with Ben, when they returned on board the _Nancy_. - -"When I left the quay I went straight across to the barber's," he -told Ben. "He's a funny chap; smells like anything of scent; and -talk--my word! he gets round a subject in the most complete way." - -"I know," put in Ben; "I went over and asked him if he'd seen you." - -"Ah, you did. Well, when I entered the shop he was busy shaving a -sailor; American, I think. I sat down to wait my turn, and began -looking at a paper to pass the time. While I was doing that and -having a look round in between whiles, I began to listen to the -barber, who was talking at a fearful rate. - -"He talked about the weather, the town, the number of ships in the -harbour, the state of his trade, and gradually he got more personal -and began to try and pump the sailor. But the sailor wasn't having -any. All he answered was yes and no, and sometimes he didn't even -bother to say that. But the barber didn't mind; he kept on. And -finally he began to talk about hair; that was when he had finished -shaving the man, and had suggested a hair-cut. The sailor told him -to go ahead, and go ahead he did, cutting the hair and talking about -it at the same time. - -"'Mais it is the hair most distinctive,' he said, in that funny way -he speaks English. It certainly was distinctive, that hair; like a -carrot for colour, and as wiry as nails. The sailor grunted. - -"'Yes, it is the hair distinctive and original!' went on the barber; -'the colour, ah! it is not often one sees such in St. Pierre.'" - -Knowing how red-headed chaps hate to have anyone mention the colour -of their hair, I was half expecting that sailor to punch the barber -one in the jaw. But all he did was grin. - -"'Only one head is there to compare it with in St. Pierre,' went on -the barber, who seemed really enthusiastic. 'Only one head, and that -of a Frenchman.' - -"'Never heard of a Frenchman with red hair before,' said the sailor. - -"'There are many such in Normandy, oh yes. But this man I speak of -he is only half French. He is part English, is the excellent -Capitaine Pierre,' said the barber. - -"When I heard that name I pricked up my ears. You never can tell, I -thought; this might be the very Pierre Madame Roquierre was talking -about. - -"'That accounts for it,' said the sailor and I waited to hear what -the barber would say. If he'd known how curious I was he couldn't -have been more provoking, for what does he do but jaw about racial -characteristics as revealed in the colour of complexion, hair, and so -on, talk which the sailor couldn't understand even if he'd been -listening. I got tired of hearing the jabber, and began to look at -my paper again. By and by the sailor left, but there were two others -before me. I didn't mind, as I had nothing to do, so I killed time -by looking at my paper and looking out of the window alternately. -The window, as you may have noticed, overlooks the square. And while -I was looking out over the square I saw a tall man swaggering down -the middle of it. And he had red hair! - -"I know it was jumping to conclusions, but no sooner did I see him -than I thought, 'That's Pierre!' and I made a bee-line for the door. - -"Once out in the square I set about dogging the fellow, and a pretty -chase he led me. He crossed the square, taking his time, visited a -dock, two cafés, and finally he walked along the waterfront towards -Roquierre's. He stopped to speak to a man on Buyez's wharf, but -didn't stay long before he was off again. I was getting fond of the -game by that time, and I forgot the hour, my hair-cut, and my -appointment with you, so keen was I on finding out something about -the fellow before I lost him. - -"I thought he was bound for Roquierre's at first, but he turned off -the waterfront into a side street, and pulled up in front of a -grog-shop called Boitet's. I don't know if you know it?" - -"Aye," said Ben, "I've been there. Well, what then?" - -"He went in," continued Dare, "and after awhile I followed. It was -easy enough. There was quite a crowd there drinking, and although I -look pretty young, no one stared because there were Frenchmen there -who looked no older than I did. - -"This Boitet place is not like Roquierre's, as you know. It's -smaller and it's divided into two or three sections by thin -partitions, which don't go as high as the ceiling and not quite as -far along as the bar. The sections look like cubicles with one end -knocked out. - -"I couldn't see the red head in the section I entered, but as it was -the closest to the door and I knew that he would have to pass by it -on his way out, I didn't bother to look in the other cubby-holes to -see where he'd got to. Besides, it would have looked too suspicious -to go about staring into places. - -"I sat down at a table set against the partition separating the first -section from the second, and ordered one of those sirops, like I had -at Madame Roquierre's, to pass the time. - -"While I was sipping it and taking a look round, the red head turned -up at the bar and began talking to the proprietor. His back was -towards me. He stayed there talking quite a while, and every now and -then he would look towards the door as though he was expecting -someone, and sure enough he was. - -"The door opened to let in a little bow-legged man with wide flaps of -ears and a mouth that looked like a big slash right across his face. -As soon as he saw Pierre he went up towards him, and touching his -sou'wester said something that I couldn't hear. Pierre didn't say a -word, but led the man to a seat in the cubicle next mine. By the -greatest good luck they were not far away from me, and they spoke -English. I took advantage of my position to lean back against the -partition, and although there were some words I missed, I heard -enough to gather the sense of all they said. - -"Pierre started it. - -"'When did you get in, Bagley?' he asked. - -"'A half-hour ago,' answered the man. 'Thurlton come with me--he's -mindin' the boat. I come right ashore and walked straight here.' - -"'How is everything?' - -"'Couldn't be bettered,' declared Bagley. 'Sure, the coast is as -quiet as an old maid's backyard.' - -"'That fellow hasn't been making any more trouble, I hope?' - -"'Not he, cap'n. Sure, he's a sick man. He'll know better than to -be pokin' his nose in other people's business again, I warrant.' - -"'Don't be too sure. I know that fellow by reputation. He's -dangerous, whether he's got a cracked head or not. But let him look -to himself if he interferes with me.' - -"I tell you what, Ben, it made me think a bit the way he said that. -I didn't feel a bit too comfortable myself. The man called Bagley -laughed. - -"'That's the talk, cap'n. But there's little chance of that fer a -while, anyhow.' - -"'Good. Now what about the tides?' - -"'It's low water as near as you wants it at eleven o'clock to-morrow -night.' - -"'And smooth water?' - -"'Aye, with the wind drawin' more off shore. That easterly kicked up -a bit of a lop, but it's gone now.' - -"'Well, we're loaded and ready,' said Pierre, 'and waiting on the -weather. If it's in our favour you can expect us at eleven to-morrow -night. Have all the shore hands ready. There's a heavy night's work -in front of us. I'm going to run two or three bumper cargoes and -then lay off a bit, to give the Revenue snifters time to get tired of -laying for us. Once we have the stuff cached there's nothing to -worry about. For although you trapped that Nosy Parker on the -Spaleen road there's not a chance in a thousand of anybody ever -happening on the place.' - -"'Aye, that's so, cap'n. Sure, it was made for the business. The -fools could pass us by sea and land and never know we was there.' - -"'Now look here, Bagley, there's one thing I'm not easy about. Are -you sure the shore gang is on the square?' - -"'As sure as you're sittin' there, cap'n.' - -"'Then how came there to be six cases missing in the last accounting?' - -"'Sure, there's always a few breakages, and you knows yourself how -many a bottle goes to wet a customer's whistle at the time of selling -him the stuff.' - -"'Admitted,' said Pierre, 'but let there be less breakages in future. -Understand me, Bagley?' - -"'Aye, I'll see to it, cap'n.' - -"They were silent for a while, as though they were drinking deeply; -then Pierre started again. - -"'Mind you,' he said, 'I'm not the man to bother about a case or two -going the usual way--but no more than that. There's not a better -paid crew on the Island than my lot, not to mention their shares of -the profits. And, after all, who takes all the risks? I do. And -who plans the business, and buys the stuff and gets a good cut off -Giraud? Why, I do. It's easy enough to peddle the stuff when it's -ashore, but it's no easy thing running along that infernal coast on -dark nights with no lights showing, and making in with no more than a -few inches of water to spare under the boat's keel.' - -"'Aye, you've reason to say so, cap'n,' agreed Bagley. 'But it ain't -all fun fer me ayther, keepin' the shore gang bunch up to the mark. -And if one of 'em was to squeal, where would I be?' - -"'Where you'd deserve to be,' said Pierre. 'Hang me, do you think -I'd put up with you a minute if you couldn't keep their tongues still -in their heads? And what do you mean by talking of squealing, -anyhow? Do you mean to say there's a chance of them doing so? For -if there is, by the living image, I'll put the fear of the old 'un -into them to-morrow night.' - -"'Be aisy, cap'n, be aisy,' said Bagley, as though he was half -scared. 'Sure, 'twas only a supposition of mine. There's no one -goin' to squeal.' - -"'You'll be the first to pay if anyone does, I tell you that, Bagley.' - -"'Ah, sure, don't I know? Be aisy, now, cap'n, be aisy.' - -"'All right. I hear you. Now get back to the coast and be ready for -us. And double the look-outs at the cache. I don't feel too safe -since that nosy beggar turned up.' - -"'I'll do it, cap'n. I'll be leavin' in a hour at most.' - -"'And why not now?' - -"'Sure, cap'n, a man must needs eat at times,' protested Bagley. - -"'Well, hurry up then,' said Pierre, and I heard them push back their -chairs. They both came out and made for the door. A man waved to -Bagley as he passed, and Bagley, with a glance at Pierre, went up to -him. - -"The man must have asked him to stay and have a drink or something, -for Bagley answered: 'Sure, I've no time. I have to be gettin' back. -Payter is in a bad temper.' And then he followed Pierre. - -"I realized then what I'd half guessed since the beginning of their -talk, that Pierre was Payter. The English for Pierre is Peter, but -an Irishman like Bagley would naturally pronounce it Payter. I -followed the two till they separated at the quay, then I tagged on to -Pierre again. I wanted to find out as much as I could while I had -the chance. As it happens, he made straight for Giraud's. I waited -till he'd been in the shop a few minutes, then I strolled in myself -and stepped right into your arms. The rest you know." - -Ben was considerably impressed by Dare's story, and when it ended he -gave expression to his feelings in his own peculiar way. - -"That's what you might call a stroke of luck," he declared -enthusiastically. "Here's news for the cap'n." - -"Not yet," said Dare. - -"An' why?" - -"Well, what have we got to tell him, except that we've found out who -Payter is?" - -"Not much, 'tis true." - -"Exactly. We knew there was a cache before, and that's all we know -now. It's no good telling father about Pierre unless we can manage -to have him caught red-handed. And before we can do that we must -know where that cache is. That's our job and we've got to do it. -I'd give anything to be able to make father's coup possible." - -"Same here," declared Ben. "The question is, how?" - -"Well, we've got to think about that. We've not done so badly so -far." - -"Aye. But there was luck in it. Still, the luck may hold." - -"I very nearly boiled over when I heard them call father a Nosy -Parker. Well, Mr. Pierre, look out for yourself, that's all I can -say." - -"He seems a bad lot," remarked Ben. - -"He's a dangerous man," declared Dare. - -"There's no doubting it," admitted Ben. "If we knowed where he was -going to land we could telegraph the cap'n and have him behind the -bars pretty quick." - -"If----" said Dare. "From this time on," he added, "we've got to -keep watch on the _Mary_ day and night." - -"And what about when she leaves harbour?" - -"We'll follow her. Are you willing, Ben?" - -"More than willin'." - -Their watch began next day. There was not much activity on board the -_Mary_, and Ben rightly conjectured that the crew was sleeping in -preparation for the night's work. The weather continued mild, and -favourable to the smugglers' purpose, and there seemed no reason to -doubt that she would leave harbour that night. Dare and Ben made -their preparations accordingly. - -"There's one thing knocks me," said Ben, "and that's the talk about -the tide. Why wait fer low water when low water means, as Payter -said, that there'll only be a few inches under her keel?" - -"I was thinking of that too. It doesn't seem reasonable, does it?" - -"Nary a bit," declared Ben with conviction. - -"That's another mystery we've got to solve. And that reminds me, -Ben, we didn't say anything to dad about the ovens." - -"What ovens?" - -"You know what that fellow said on board the _Glenbow_--that there'd -be smuggling in Saltern while there was an oven in the Bay." - -"Oh, aye. I remembers now. But it's my belief that man was drunk. -What can ovens have to do with the matter, as I said to him?" - -"I don't think he was joking or drunk, now. You said yourself he -seemed to know something. I wish we'd mentioned it to dad. It might -have been a good clue." - -"You could write him a line." - -"We'll wait until we get back from our trip to-morrow. We might have -bigger news to write then." - -"Here's hoping. There's only one thing bothers me and that is, will -the _Mary_ be the beat of the _Nancy_? If so, we ain't got much -chance of keepin' in her company." - -"Well, as it's a short trip and she's not due till eleven p.m. it's -not likely that they'll drive her much. That ought to give us a -chance to keep in with her." - -"It won't be easy," said Ben, "and that's a fact. But there, we've -had the luck so far, and it may hang on to us. I expect she'll leave -around dusk," he went on to say. "That'll give her plenty of time. -Payter won't risk not turnin' up on the hour. Like as not he'll be -ahead of time. He'll draw in to the land, douse his lights and stand -by." - -"All the better for us if he does. If the place is near Saltern we -might get a chance to slip into the harbour and give the warning." - -"And the cap'n laid up in his bed!" - -Dare's face fell. - -"It had slipped my mind. Well, there's no use in meeting trouble -half-way. The thing to do is to manage by hook or by crook to get -some idea of where that cache is. We can think about what we'll do -then afterwards. Our best chance is in trying to dog the _Mary_ like -we did her skipper." - -"Not a doubt of it," agreed Ben. - -"There's nothing we've forgotten? We're all ready to leave harbour?" - -"We're all set," said Ben. - -"Well, we haven't got much longer to wait." - -They kept to the _Nancy_ all day. During the afternoon there was -some slight activity on board the _Mary_. Pierre was seen to go on -shore and to return twice in three hours. Then there was once more a -cessation of movement, and the calm that precedes action lay over the -ship. Not over the harbour, however. A nice breeze from the -south-west kept up its strength and showed no sign of dying out with -the approach of night. - -At six o'clock Dare, watching the _Mary_, saw a haze of smoke issuing -from her quarter, about half-way down to her waterline. This puzzled -him at first. Then he turned to Ben, enlightened. - -"She's got an engine, petrol-burning," he said. "That'll make it -hard for us if there comes a calm." - -Ben sniffed at the weather, lifting his nose to the sky dog-fashion. -"Rest easy," he said, "the wind will last." - -"I've a hunch she'll leave soon," returned Dare, and went below to -put on a jacket. He had not been there three minutes when Ben showed -his head down the companion-way. - -"The crew's on deck, breakin' out the anchor." - -Dare went up, and looking to where the _Mary_ lay, saw the foresail -being hoisted by a deck engine. - -"You're the skipper, Ben," he said. "Give the orders." - -Ben, fastening down the flap of his sou'-wester, nodded. - -"We don't want to tag her too close. We'll give her a mile or so to -start with. In this light wind the _Nancy_ can keep up with her -easy, unless they start that contraption of an engine." - -"Why not leave ahead of her?" - -"That would never do. No, we got to take our chance and trail her. -There! She's driftin'. Now the wind's got her sails. Stand by to -cast off." - -Half an hour later the two boats had passed the harbour rock and were -heading for Saltern Bay. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -IN THE NIGHT - -Once clear of the harbour the _Mary_ set out on a course which would -find her some miles off the Saltern coast by ten o'clock, if she kept -to it. Ben and Dare were nowise put out by this. They had expected -some such tactics. With the falling of night the _Mary_ would draw -in to the land, there was no doubting that. So they sailed -resolutely on the same course. - -The _Nancy_, as Ben had prophesied, had little difficulty in keeping -in sight of the _Mary_, partly due to the fact that Pierre's boat did -not use her engine and thus the propeller acted as a drag, and partly -due to the light wind which was in the _Nancy's_ favour. - -The wind was south-west and the course the _Mary_ had taken meant she -would have to beat her way back to the land, when she changed her -course. Up to nightfall they had no difficulty in keeping the _Mary_ -in sight, and they did it without getting near enough to her to -excite too close an inspection. When dusk deepened into night, -however, their task became more difficult, for the stay lights of the -_Mary_ were not visible from behind, and they had to rely on the -light in her cabin to guide them. - -The wind also began to show signs of freshening, and this adding to -the _Mary's_ advantage, threatened to take her so far ahead that she -would be lost sight of in the growing density of the night. - -At this period of their chase Ben was in the bow and Dare at the -helm, both straining their eyes in the effort to keep the light in -view. They wisely carried no lights themselves. - -Gradually the form of the _Mary_ was entirely hidden from them and -the will-o'-the-wisp cabin light was the only evidence they had of -her existence. The night was as black as can be imagined, due to the -lack of a moon, and the wind was coming off shore in increasingly bad -squalls. - -They managed to keep the light in view for an hour or so, then what -they had dreaded happened and they lost sight of it. It was now ten -o'clock. - -To their great joy, however, the _Mary's_ port light suddenly came -into view and realization of what had happened dawned on them. The -_Mary_ had swung off her course and was heading for the land. - -They were about to imitate her when the port light suddenly went out -and left them completely lost now as to the schooner's position. - -Ben came running aft to Dare. - -"She's doused her lights," he shouted. "We might have known they'd -do it 'fore beatin' in to the land. We're done for." - -It certainly seemed as though their chase had ended for that night. -The blackness was such that without some kind of beacon it was -impossible even to guess where the _Mary_ lay. When this happened -the _Nancy_ had been about half a mile or so to the windward of the -_Mary_ and about a mile behind her; for Ben had had a thought for the -necessity of beating in to the land later, and had kept as much to -the windward as possible. - -It became necessary to decide how they should now act. Dare, -frankly, was at a loss to know what to do, but Ben was not without -hope that they might pick up the _Mary_ again if they hauled in a -little to the land. - -The _Mary_ was on her port tack. The _Nancy_ was half a mile to the -windward of her. By laying in on the starboard tack they might come -near enough to the _Mary_ to pick up her cabin light again. - -Curiously enough, neither Ben nor Dare thought of the obvious -thing--that the _Mary_ would use her engine and head straight for the -land. They kept to their course. - -They showed no lights, and as there was now in their vicinity another -boat without lights, both were a menace to each other. Ben -recognized the risk, but as they were on the look-out for the _Mary_ -he thought it was obviated by their preparedness. And so it might -have been if the _Mary_ had been on her port tack, as they thought. -Instead of that, the schooner had lowered her sails and was heading -for the shore in almost complete silence under the power of her motor. - -Ben, in the bow of the _Nancy_, kept a sharp look-out, as did Dare at -the tiller. Both ears and eyes were serving them. But the rising -wind was a perfect cover for the movements of the _Mary_. Even if -she had been to the windward of them it is difficult to say if they -would have heard her quiet exhaust. As it happened she was to -leeward, and heading such a course that in less than twenty minutes -she was to bring a swift doom to the _Nancy_. - -It was Dare who first became aware of the impending catastrophe. He -had given a glance to leeward and there saw nearly on top of them the -black mass of the oncoming ship. He gave a shout of warning and -thrust the tiller hard down at the same time, but neither move served -his purpose. The cry was too late to be acted upon, and before the -_Nancy_ could answer to her helm the bows of the _Mary_ cut her -relentlessly in two. - -Dare at the impact was flung off his feet and momentarily stupefied. -He retained enough of his senses, however, to reach up a hand -instinctively for support, and fortunately he found the _Mary's_ head -rigging. - -He felt the _Nancy_ sink under his feet, and drew himself up towards -the _Mary's_ trembling bowsprit. He lay there a minute or so, -breathless, and dazed by the suddenness of the catastrophe, his ears -filled with the rush of a great wind and the intermittent shouts of -alarm voiced by the _Mary's_ crew. Then, once more clear in his -mind, he bethought him of Ben, who must have gone down with the boat. -His heart sank at the thought, and considerably sobered by the tragic -ending to their adventure, he began cautiously to make his way -towards the _Mary's_ deck. - -The collision had almost as startling an effect on the _Mary's_ crew -as it had on Dare. At first they thought their own ship must be -fatally hurt and there was a great rush on deck. Pierre, who had -been below, was one of the first to reach the scene. - -"What is it? What's happened?" Dare heard him shout. - -"We've run down a boat," answered half a dozen voices. "We're -sinking!" "Show a light!" shouted the more fearful. - -"The first man that shows a light goes to the fishes!" roared Pierre. -"For'ard there, confound you, and see what's the damage. We can't be -hurt or we wouldn't be driving ahead like this." - -Strange to say, the engine had not been stopped. There was seemingly -no thought of attempting to salvage boat or men, even if it had been -possible. A callous lot, thought Dare bitterly. - -Pierre's voice gave the crew confidence and three or four of them -went into the bows to investigate, followed by their captain. Dare, -climbing cautiously along the bowsprit, could hear them although he -could not see them. - -As he reached the bow and put a foot on the deck he collided with a -moving body. There came a burst of vigorous speech. Dare -interrupted the tirade with a shout of joy. "Ben!" he cried, "is it -you?" - -"Aye, it's me," replied Ben, wringing Dare's hand and gasping -painfully for breath. "It's me, what's left of me, and mighty glad I -am to see you. I thought you'd gone down with the boat." - -"And I thought you had gone." - -"'Tis a great mercy." - -Further conversation was interrupted by the surprised shouts of the -crew. - -"There's two of 'em on the bowsprit!" someone cried. - -"What's that?" Pierre himself came running at the surprising -information. - -"They're a-comin'," said Ben in a whisper to Dare. "Keep your head -and leave everything to me." - -"Hello!" they heard Pierre shout, "is anyone there?" - -"Aye, we're here right enough," answered Ben as though he were in a -passion, "we're here right enough, what you've left of us. And what -we wants to know is this--what do you mean by runnin' without lights, -eh? You've lost us a boat and nearly our lives, not to mention as -nice a lot of liquor and tobaccy as ever you'd wish to see in a day's -walk. What're you goin' to do about it, eh? I'll have the law on -you--aye, I will, you cold-blooded bunch of deep-water murderers!" - -"Close his mouth, somebody," shouted Pierre, incensed, "or he'll have -every boat within five miles coming to see what's the matter. Bring -them aft. Hey, you, how many are there of you?" - -"Two," shouted back Ben, "and it's a good job for you there ain't -more." - -"Bring them aft," repeated Pierre impatiently. - -"We don't need to be brought," said Ben. "We'll come quick enough. -We wants a word or two with you, mister." - -And stumbling along in the dark as best they could, led by the crew, -now thoroughly recovered from their scare, they eventually reached -the cabin where Pierre had preceded them. - -The scene held a certain dramatic quality. Pierre was seated on the -cabin table, one foot swinging slightly, his arms folded, a scowl of -disapproval on his high-boned face. Ben stood before him -truculently, a bit shaken by the shock of the accident and more than -a little angry in consequence. - -Dare kept in the background as much as possible, as Ben had directed. - -"Well?" rasped Pierre. - -"No, it's not well, mister," burst out Ben, indignant at this -insolent reception, for Pierre, far from expressing any regret for -the accident, seemed to expect regret to come from the other side. -"No, it's not well, and if that's all you've got to say there'll be -trouble." - -"What's your grouch, anyhow?" demanded Pierre. "I didn't run you -down. You ran under my bows, didn't you, when I had the right of -way?" - -Ben gasped at the impudent assertion. "But you wasn't showin' no -lights," he shouted. "How'll you account fer that?" - -"And what about yourself?" demanded Pierre. "Where were your lights? -My men didn't see them." - -"That's got nothin' to do with it. I was runnin' a small punt. -Expect me to have port and starboard lights on a fishin' punt? It's -you, mister, who'll have to answer that question, and before a court, -and right soon." - -Dare, who was observing the growing blackness of Pierre's face, -thought Ben was going a little too far. The moment was inopportune -to interrupt, however. - -"What do you mean by talking about a court?" asked Pierre, ominously -quiet. - -Ben did not hesitate. - -"What do I mean? Well, I like that. Mean to say you think I'm not -goin' to report this and get damages?" - -"I wouldn't advise you to," said Pierre simply. - -Dare began to get uneasy. - -"Oh, aye," said Ben. "Maybe you'll tell me how to get me money back -fer the boat? It warn't insured." - -"I'll tell you this. You won't get any money at all if you don't -drop that tone. Do you know who you're talking to?" - -"No, I don't. But I'd like to know--aye, and to have the name of -your boat, too." - -"You'll get it--perhaps." - -Ben, having sufficiently worked upon Pierre's feelings to divert any -suspicion there might have been as to their real identity and their -object in these waters, began to speak in a milder manner. - -"Look here, cap'n. I know I'm a bit hot under the collar, but -wouldn't you be if you was in my boots? That there boat had most -everything I own in the world on board her, and when you sunk her you -very nearly sunk us with her. I'm standin' on me rights, that's all. -I'm askin' for a square deal. And I don't want to go to no court if -there's a chance of settlin' outside." - -"You're talking more sensibly now," said Pierre. "A minute ago I -thought I'd have to throw you overboard. Don't you suppose I've got -a grievance, having a clumsy idiot like you fall afoul of me on this -night of all nights? Man, what's your boat to me, or you, compared -to my business? Bah!" - -"That's a high an' mighty tone to take, cap'n," said Ben doggedly. -"But you can't help admittin' you was in the wrong, runnin' without -lights." - -"Wrong! Can I help it if my lights fail me at the moment you were -crossing my bows?" - -"Well, I ask you, could I help it, cap'n? Be fair now." - -"It doesn't matter to me what you could help. I'd like to help you -ashore with the toe of my boot. Falling foul of me like that! What -am I going to do with you, that's what I want to know?" - -"You can pay me for my boat and put me ashore, that's what you can -do." - -"Oh?" - -"Aye, and that's fair enough, too. If I had me rights you'd pay for -the brandy and tobac----" - -Ben stopped suddenly as though he had said too much. Pierre eyed him -closely. - -"What's that about brandy and tobacco?" he demanded sharply. - -"Never you mind," said Ben secretively. - -"But I do mind," said Pierre, smiling maliciously. "Smuggling, eh?" - -"Prove it," defied Ben. - -Pierre shrugged his shoulders indifferently. Ben's hint at his -feigned activities had evidently changed the current of his thoughts. -His mood lightened, though annoyance still showed on his face. Dare -and Ben, knowing his business, could guess at its cause. - -Their appearance on board was in the nature of a dilemma, for he had -neither the time nor the inclination to land them forthwith, even -though they could come to an agreement over the damages due to Ben -for the loss of his boat. He eyed them gloomily. - -"How much was that tub of yours worth?" he asked. - -"She warn't no tub, cap'n. She was a smart-lookin' fishin' boat in -prime condition, and I paid sixty-five dollars fer her to Sam -Stooding in Shagtown a few days ago, and five dollars fer the -fo'c'sle fittings." - -"I'll give you seventy-five dollars," said Pierre; "that'll cover her -fully." - -"Aye, it'll cover the boat." - -"You're not thinking of trying to get me to pay for your liquor, are -you?" sneered Pierre. "Try it in a court. Be funny, wouldn't it, to -hear you explain what you were doing with the stuff in Saltern Bay?" - -"I ain't sayin' nothin'. I'll take the seventy-five, cap'n." - -"On this condition--that you take to my rowboat, row to land, and -keep your mouths for ever shut." - -"Take to a boat on a night like this!" exclaimed Ben in dismay. Now -that he and Dare were on board the _Mary_ they were not in a hurry to -leave her until they had gained some idea as to her destination, and -the exact location of the cache. - -"Why not?" - -"Why, before we knowed where we was the wind would blow us across the -Bay and wreck us on Brunette." - -"I'll give you a sail. By taking a straight course you can lie easy -to Shagtown." - -"But, cap'n," protested Ben, "that ain't no way to treat a man you've -runned down." - -"You can go in the boat or swim," burst out Pierre impatiently, and -hurried on deck to consult his mate. - -Ben and Dare, left alone in the cabin, stared at each other, not -daring to speak their thoughts for fear of being overheard. They -heard a brief vivid argument between Pierre and another on deck; -then, before they could comment on it, Pierre returned to the cabin. - -He was seriously put out now. The mate had vigorously protested -against turning the two men adrift in the boat. And he had produced -two good reasons why it should not be done. In the first place it -was their only boat and they might need it themselves. In the second -place, if the two men were turned adrift and later rowed into some -harbour in a boat with the _Mary Lee's_ name on it, there would be -talk, whether the men promised to keep their mouths shut or not. -Pierre could not deny the truth of this, and the mate won the day. - -When Pierre returned to the cabin he ignored Ben and Dare, while he -considered the problem their presence presented. - -"Who are you?" he demanded at last. Ben told him. "Me name's Ben -Wheeler. This is me nevvy, in a way of speakin'." - -"Where do you come from?" - -"Me home's wherever there's a honest penny to be turned. The _Nancy_ -was me last. I don't know where me next will be." - -"Nor I," said Pierre grimly. - -Up to this time Dare had been silent, but now he boldly turned on -Pierre. - -"Why can't you land us at the port you're making for, captain?" he -asked. - -"Ah, why!" said Pierre sarcastically. "Because I don't choose to." - -"That's not much of a reason." - -"It's all you'll get." - -Pierre seemed to be talking in order to gain time to puzzle out the -affair. Hesitation of any kind was foreign to his nature, but in -this case he was forced to vacillate. He was completely at a loss as -to how to deal with his unwanted guests. To land them on the coast -in the vicinity of the _Mary Lee's_ impending operations would be the -height of folly. To turn them adrift in the boat would be far from -wise. The best plan of all was to take them back to St. Pierre, but -that would mean their presence on board during the landing of his -illicit cargo. He did not care to decide on either course, yet could -not see another way out of his difficulty. - -In the end action was forced upon him. There came the subdued sound -of voices on deck, the soft patter of feet overhead; then a face was -thrust down the companion-way of the cabin. It was that of the mate. - -"We've just picked up the shore signal, cap'n," he warned. - -Pierre jumped to his feet. - -"Lower the spars," he ordered. "I'll be on deck in a minute." - -He turned to Ben and Dare. - -"This way," he said, and led them to his own private stateroom; a box -of a place with a bed, a desk, a few charts, a chair, a dory compass, -and other small articles. - -Dare and Ben entered the room, wondering what Pierre's intentions -were. They soon found out. When they were fairly inside, Pierre -slipped behind them and before they could make a move had darted out -of the room and shut the door. The key turned in the lock and they -were left virtually prisoners. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE SECRET HARBOUR - -Ben and Dare found themselves in complete darkness. Their surprise -at their sudden imprisonment robbed them of speech for the moment, -then found expression. - -"Here's a mess!" exclaimed Ben. - -Dare nodded, then remembered that Ben could not see him in the dark. -"We might have expected something like this," he said. - -"Well, there'll be a reckoning, no fear of that," growled Ben angrily. - -"So long as it's a reckoning we don't have to pay, I don't mind," -said Dare, for Pierre's personality had impressed him and he could -not help remembering the summary treatment handed out to his father. - -"Never a fear. It won't be us who'll pay. Keep up your pecker, Mr. -Dare." - -"Not so loud, Ben," warned Dare in a whisper. "We don't know if -anyone can hear us or not." - -"Aye, that's so. A word in season. Well, we won't stay in the dark -anyhow; I've got some matches." - -Striking one of them, he looked round for a lamp. One was discovered -hanging over the bed. It took only a moment to light it. By its -glow they were enabled to examine more completely the room in which -they were confined. - -It had but one outlet: the door through which they had entered. One -side of the room gave upon the hold; the other three walls were -formed by the side of the ship and two strong partitions. The door -was of mahogany and too strong to be forced. There were perforations -above it, but that was the only way air could get in or out, for -there was no port-hole or fanlight. - -"As watertight as a coffin," was Ben's estimate of their quarters. -"We'll get out when he's a mind to let us out, and not before." He -tried the door, just to substantiate his estimate of its solidity. -It did not budge. - -"Well, here we are," he declared philosophically, and sat down on the -bed. - -Dare followed his example. Their minds went back simultaneously to -the moment of the accident. - -"We found the _Mary_ all right," said Ben grimly, "but I never -thought we'd learn where she was like we did." - -"I happened to look to the leeward," said Dare, "and I saw her on top -of us, I gave a shout." - -"Aye, I heard it just before the crash. I was wellnigh throwed -overboard by the shock. But it so happened that when I flung out me -hand I found the _Mary's_ bob-stay, and hung on to it. Our boat sunk -in two minutes." - -"She must have been cut right in half," said Dare. - -"Aye." - -They both considered their marvellous escape for a few minutes, then -relegated it to the back of their minds as a subject for future -discussion. There were other things to be considered now. - -"I don't think there's any suspicion as to who we are," whispered -Dare close to Ben's ear. - -"Nary a bit," agreed Ben. "You noticed how quick he was to believe -we was smugglers like hisself?" - -"Yes. You did that well. First and last you've had to tell a lot of -whoppers, Ben." - -"Ah, sure, they is not black lies, they is just white lies. There's -no one goin' to think the worse of me fer them." - -"Not at all. I wonder what's going to happen now." - -"There's no sayin'. Dear knows what he wouldn't do if he got an -inklin' of our business." - -Dare agreed. "We've got to try and get more in his confidence," he -said. - -"That'll take some doin'." - -Their conversation was interrupted suddenly by the hurrying of feet -overhead and the distinct roar of breakers. - -"Heavens! he's driving her ashore!" exclaimed Dare. - -"He's certainly taking her near the land," admitted Ben anxiously. - -They listened to the light, running footsteps overhead. Except for -that sound, considerably deadened by the roar of the breakers, no -other noise reached their ears. The _Mary_ was making port with a -minimum of disturbance on board. Dare and Ben tried to visualize the -conditions of the ship's approach to the land, but only succeeded in -being puzzled. They were off a straight and precipitous coast -intersected here and there by coves, but so far as they knew with -nothing in the way of a harbour. Yet here was the _Mary_ practically -among the breakers, and still going ahead! It seemed that there was -a secret harbour of some sort. Otherwise, how account for the -schooner's nearness to the shore?--unless Pierre had overestimated -his distance from the land and had suddenly found his ship among the -breakers. But that event would surely have produced more alarm and -accompanying noise than was evidenced on deck now. - -Their puzzled thoughts found expression. "Why did they lower the -masts, Ben? You heard the order. It's strange for a boat this size -to have masts that can be lowered at will, isn't it?" - -"Aye. And why wait for low water, when low water means there'll only -be a few inches under her keel?" - -"It's as if they had to go under something...." - -"Mr. Dare!" exclaimed Ben, "you've hit on the very thing. They're -goin' under somethin'; somethin' that's not very high and therefore -has to be gone under at the lowest tide possible!" - -There seemed indeed reason to believe that Dare had discovered the -solution of the puzzle. - -"But under what?" asked Dare. - -"Aye, that's the question. I can't begin to think of what. It -passes belief or understandin' when you thinks of the coast we're on." - -The roar of the breakers suddenly increased. At the same moment -there came a decided bump of the vessel's keel as it touched bottom. -For a wild moment Dare and Ben thought the ship lost and visualized -themselves being drowned like rats in a trap. Then the ship floated -tranquilly again.... - -And then, with only the previous roar of the breakers for warning, -there broke upon their ears a perfect pandemonium of sound. Even in -their retreat they had to raise their voices to be heard above it. -It was as if immense copper gongs were being beaten with giant -hammers of steel. - -It took Dare and Ben several minutes to recover their equanimity. - -Then Ben burst into excited speech. - -"We're in a cave!" he shouted. "We're in a cave! That's the sea -breakin', that sound we hears. Of all things! Would you believe it!" - -Dare willingly believed it. There was no other adequate explanation. -The cave would act as an enormous sound-box with super-acoustic -properties, and the waves breaking against its rocky walls would echo -in its vaulted roof until the sound emanating from them would be -increased a thousandfold, developing into the din of an inferno. But -a cave large enough to harbour a schooner of sixty tons! It did not -seem feasible. If it existed it would surely be too well known to -make a safe base for the smugglers. Yet---- - -"I believe you're right, Ben," said Dare, "but I can't conceive a -cave like that." - -"Aye, it must be a big one. An' to think we passed close to this -coast and didn't see it! Hallo!" he added, "they're takin' off the -hatches. And listen, you can hear shoutin'." - -It seemed that with the entering of the secret harbour all caution -was thrown aside, so sure were the smugglers of the safety of their -retreat. There were shouts from many throats echoing in the vault in -which the ship lay, sounding above the terrific clamour as the shrill -cries of the seagulls sound above a great storm. Accompanying the -shouts were the creak of tackle and the noise of the cargo being -dumped on deck. There was great activity in the hold, separated from -them by a single stout partition, and voices speaking French and -English reached their ears. - -There seemed to be a score of men; certainly many more than the ship -carried as crew. Dare and Ben's curiosity grew almost beyond bounds. -They would have given anything to be on deck, witnessing what was -going on. If they remained imprisoned while the ship was in the cave -they would be no wiser as to its position on the coast than before -they entered it. - -Ben threw his bulk against the locked door once or twice, more as a -result of impatience than in the belief that he could force an exit -through it. Then he desisted. - -They sat for some time, half an hour or so, listening to the feverish -activity centring about the ship. Then, so unexpectedly as to -startle them, there came the sound of the key being turned in the -lock. The door opened and Pierre once more stood before them. -Neither Ben nor Dare moved. Pierre entered the room, closed the -door, and placed his back against it, smiling sardonically the while. - -"High-handed actions, cap'n," said Ben at last. - -"It was necessary," returned Pierre frankly. "I couldn't have you -coming on deck at the moment of making harbour. I'm on private -business, you understand; that's why I've been puzzled what to do -with you. Now I've made up my mind. You'll have to come back to St. -Pierre with me." - -"It's as you say, cap'n," Ben agreed, hardly able to hide his relief -and satisfaction. "We're seemin'ly at your mercy. I reckon you'll -pay for the boat?" - -"I'll pay as I promised," said Pierre; "seventy-five dollars. You'll -get it when I put you ashore, and I'll expect you to keep your mouth -shut in the bargain." - -"You can count on that, cap'n. I'm no tale-bearer. Sure, you could -land your liquor and tobaccy in broad daylight as far as I'm -concerned." - -Pierre did not look so startled as this revelation of Ben's knowledge -of his business would have caused one to expect. He seemed to think -temporizing necessary, however. - -"Liquor and tobacco!" he said. "What are you talking about?" - -The pretence was vain. - -"Sure, cap'n, I can smell both a mile away, and this boat stinks of -them," declared Ben boldly. - -There certainly was a distinct odour of both in the cabin. The fact -had to be recognized, though not explained, as far as Pierre was -concerned, even if indirectly he acknowledged its existence. - -"Well, what about it?" - -"Nothin'," said Ben. "We knows what we knows. I've done the same on -a smaller scale in me time." - -Pierre said nothing for a moment or two, but eyed them thoughtfully, -as though once more in doubt as to the best way to handle the -situation. - -"This makes a difference," he said at last; "but I've no time to talk -to you now. There's work for me on deck." - -Then, with the same swift movements which had characterized his -entrance, he let himself out of the room, once more locking the door -behind him. - -"Now you've gone and done it!" declared Dare ruefully. - -"How so?" asked Ben. - -"Why, do you think he's going to be as easy with us now that we've as -good as told him we know he's a smuggler?" - -"Why not? He must have known we guessed there was something funny in -the wind or he wouldn't have asked us to keep our mouths shut." - -"Nevertheless, I don't see why you wanted to make him certain we -knew." - -"I thought it best to be open," explained Ben. "If we'd pretended we -didn't smell somethin' fishy he might have suspected we wasn't on the -square with him. Never a fear, we won't lose by that. One thing, -he'll be open with us now." - -Dare looked dubious and paced up and down the confined space at their -disposal. He eyed their quarters moodily, his gaze wandering from -the bed to the charts on the walls, the bare floor, and the one chair -and desk. On top of the desk was an assortment of small articles, a -few screws, a pair of compasses, a file, a tin of tobacco, a pocket -knife, and a key. The latter caught Dare's attention and a surmise -rose to his mind. He took the key, regarded it for an instant; then, -going to the door, thrust it in the lock. He turned it. It -functioned, and the door came open under his grasp. - -When this happened Ben, who had been regarding Dare's movements -curiously, rose to his feet with an exclamation. Dare turned to him -with suppressed eagerness. - -"It's open!" he said. - -"Aye." - -They both stared at the open door thoughtfully, then Ben resumed his -sitting posture on the bed. - -"You'd better shut it again," he advised. - -"Why?" - -"What good'll it do us? If we went on deck Pierre would be as mad as -blazes and we'd spoil what we've done. Even if we could get away, we -don't want to go yet awhile. Not until we knows where this here cave -is." - -"We could get a look at it now, if we went on deck." - -"Too risky. You don't want Pierre to catch you spyin'." - -Dare was not to be dissuaded, however. He was fired at the thought -of catching a glimpse of the secret harbour and the activity on deck. - -"I'm going, anyhow," he said, and after ascertaining that the cabin -was empty he slipped out of the room, taking care to shut the door -firmly behind him. He stood still in the middle of the cabin for a -full minute, then cautiously mounted the ladder leading to the deck. -He was facing the taffrail as his head emerged. There was no one in -that part of the ship. He summoned sufficient nerve to raise his -head high enough above the shutter to view the whole of the scene -about him. - -The ship, as Ben had surmised, was in a cave. An immense cave it -was, vaulted like a cathedral. Huge splinters of rock hung like -icicles from its roof, and its walls gleamed black as ebony in the -light of immense flares which dotted the ship's deck and rose in -tiers high up into the cave, illuminating what Dare guessed to be a -rocky stair leading either to the cliff-top or to some inner chamber. -Yet so intense was the blackness within the cave that the flares only -lit up their immediate vicinity, and deepened the intensity of the -darkness outside their bright circles. - -There was grandeur in the scene, a grandeur heightened by the great -volume of sound which echoed through the cave like the emanations of -a gigantic pipe organ with all stops pulled full out. The noise had -been immense even when heard in the seclusion of the cabin, but here -on deck it was deafening. - -The mind rocked under its assault and in Dare it caused a confusion -which made the scene partake of the quality of a nightmare. The -flitting figures of the crew, each carrying a case and sometimes two -on his shoulders, had an air of unreality. Their activities seemed -fantastic and their movements queerly mechanical. The cave seemed to -hold itself aloof from the use to which it was being put, gloomily -voicing continual rumblings which might be interpreted as threats to -the invaders, but which served the smugglers as a perfect cloak for -their illicit work. - -So far as Dare could see there was no beach here. The water ran deep -right to the cave's limits, and the ship was lying close against the -rock, her side protected by immense rope fenders. - -The crew were carrying the cargo up a sloping, winding staircase -whose top was lost sight of in the gloom, a narrow, treacherous -staircase which it seemed that only goats could safely tread, but -which the smugglers mounted with facility. - -Dare searched in vain for the entrance to the cave. It was hidden in -the gloom, but from the shape of the immense vaulted roof he could -imagine it as being little more than a hole in the face of the cliff; -a cliff solid in appearance, but hollowed out by some freak of nature. - -No wonder the smugglers considered their base as being perfect for -their purpose. It was all that Dare had ever conceived a smugglers' -cave could be, and more. It was like no smugglers' cave he had ever -seen or read of. He was a little awed by it, so strong an impression -did its grandeur make on his sensibility. - -He crouched in the companion-way, lost to the danger of detection, -his whole mind given up to consideration and appreciation of the -scene around him. The crew, fortunately, were too occupied to notice -so small an object as his head rising above the cabin shutter, even -if they had been able to see it in the shadows cast by the rigging. - -He remained there, safe from disturbance or discovery, until the -sudden emergence of the men from the hold caused him to think that -the cargo had been discharged. He caught sight of Pierre and some of -the crew making their way aft, and swiftly, with a minimum of noise, -he returned to the cabin and Ben's company. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -CHECKMATE! - -Half an hour later the ship began to get under way. She made her -exit from the cave without accident of any kind, though her sides -scraped the rock in passing. - -Dare and Ben sat waiting to be set free, or at least to receive some -kind of notice from Pierre. But the ship had been at sea an hour -before they were given attention. When they were far enough away -from the cave to prevent their discovering even by hazardous guessing -where it was situated, one of the crew unlocked the door and summoned -them to appear before Pierre, who was waiting for them in the cabin. - -Pierre did not waste any time in discussion, but went straight to the -point in no uncertain way. - -"You two know the smuggling game, eh?" he demanded. - -"Well, cap'n--" Ben began to quibble. - -"Say yes or no, hang you!" interrupted Pierre. - -"Well then, it's yes." - -"I thought as much. You know the business we're running, it seems. -Now look here, I've got a proposition to make to you. I'm going to -run two more cargoes in the next ten days or so. I'm two men short. -I'll ship you two and pay you three times ordinary wages and a bonus -for the two trips." - -Ben and Dare were both so amazed at this unexpected turn in the -situation that they could only stand and stupidly regard their gaoler. - -"Well?" demanded Pierre impatiently; "say something, can't you!" - -"We hardly knows what to say, cap'n," said Ben, recovering a little -from his surprise. "It's kind of sudden." - -"Of course it's sudden. But it needn't take you aback like that. -Well, what about it? What's it to be?" - -Ben looked at Dare uncertainly, while Dare stared at him. They were -both puzzled as to what were Pierre's intentions. Those intentions -should have been fairly obvious. Pierre wanted to keep them under -his personal supervision until he had finished running the big -cargoes which were to herald a temporary cessation in the trade. The -easiest way of doing that was to keep them on board voluntarily. But -he was quite capable of keeping them on board against their will if -they did not consent to accept the offer he made them. - -So confused were Ben and Dare at the sudden proposition that they did -not think of this obvious reason for it. They were hopelessly -puzzled as to Pierre's designs, and could only consider if it would -be to their advantage to pledge themselves to stay on board. If they -did they stood a chance of finding out where the cave and the cache -it led to were situated. But they might not get an opportunity to -utilize their knowledge until the cargoes were run, and thus the -opportunity of taking Pierre and his crew red-handed would be lost, -at least for some time. - -On the other hand, if they refused the offer and went back to Saltern -with such knowledge as they had, they might, by a close inspection of -the coast from Saltern to Point Day, make the discovery of the cave's -whereabouts in a few days and then be free to plan the coup that -would end in the smugglers' capture. - -It was true the coast had been searched many times already without -result, but with their special knowledge the task would be much more -likely to yield success. - -Those thoughts passed swiftly through their minds as Pierre sat -impatiently waiting for their decision. Dare was inclined to stay on -board, as that would be likely to yield the greatest amount of -excitement, but Ben, with an eye to the main chance, was governed by -his cautious instincts, and as it was he who was in charge he voiced -their decision. - -"If it's all the same to you, cap'n, we're much obleeged, but we'd -like to leave at St. Pierre." - -The captain's face clouded. - -"Think again," he warned them harshly. "I'd advise you to accept my -offer and save trouble. I'm giving you your chance." - -A chance he was giving them certainly, but not much choice, for his -manner dictated their final decision. Ben opened his eyes a little -at the veiled threat, and began to understand a little better -Pierre's intentions and the reason for them. This caused him to -reverse his former decision without hesitation, for although Pierre -as yet had not dealt in extremes, Ben felt him capable of doing so if -thwarted. - -"Of course, cap'n," he said cringingly, "of course, if it's a favour -to yourself and if you're wishin' it strongly, we'll sign on and be -glad of the chance." - -"I'm doing more than wishing it. I'm telling you to do it." - -"Well then, cap'n, we will." - -"You're wise," said Pierre with that sardonic note in his voice that -he could call up so easily; but he looked a little pleased none the -less. The decision saved time and trouble. - -"Then that's all right," he added. "You'll be a lot better off in -pocket and perhaps in other ways. Now you can go for'ard and turn in -with the rest of the crew. The mate will show you there. But no -talking to the crew, you understand." - -"Aye," said Ben, and Dare nodded in agreement. - -Pierre then called down the mate, a rough, hard-looking case who -regarded the new recruits in no over-friendly manner. His name was -Hines, and he acknowledged their existence with a baleful glare. He -respectfully inclined his head toward Pierre, however, while the -latter explained Dare and Ben's new status on board. Evidently -Pierre was held in something like awe by his subordinates. Hines, -having taken his orders, turned to leave the cabin. "Now then, you -two!" he snarled in a thoroughly ill-humoured way, and Ben and Dare -falling to heel were led for'ard. - -The fo'c'sle was in semi-darkness, and those of the crew not on watch -were asleep in their berths. Hines pointed out a narrow, coffin-like -space in which there was only a straw-stuffed mattress. - -"That'll have to do for the two of you," he said. "We're more than -full-up here already. You can git blankets when we reaches St. -Pierre." - -With those words he left them. They watched him go, then turned to -their berth. There was no chance of talking without being overheard, -so the only thing to do was sleep. As they had not slept for -twenty-four hours they found it possible to find forgetfulness even -in such an uncomfortable bed, and they did not wake to reality till -late in the morning. - -Dare was the first to stir. He woke to find himself in unfamiliar -surroundings. The smell of frying fish assailed his nostrils, and -the grumblings of the crew struggling out of their berths filled his -ears. To his surprise the schooner was stationary. So far as he -could determine they were once more at St. Pierre. - -Excited by this possibility and interested beyond everything in his -surroundings, he sprang lightly out of his berth on to the fo'c'sle -floor. - -The others of the crew who were stirring regarded him curiously. - -"It's the feller we runned down last night," said one. "Where's the -old one?" asked another. "There in his berth," was the reply. - -Dare felt somewhat embarrassed at being discussed as though he were -not present. The crew had none of his sensitiveness, however, and -what they didn't know they proceeded to ask about until they were in -possession of an expurgated account of the circumstances attending -the arrival of the two in the fo'c'sle. - -Their curiosity satisfied they sat down to the table, and the cook, a -Frenchman, bearded, stout, and as far removed in cleanliness and -skill from the conventional idea of a French chef as can be imagined, -served them. - -Dare roused Ben, who woke in full possession of his wits and -proceeded immediately to meet the crew on their own ground of -familiarity. The cook pointed out two places which they were told to -take, and they breakfasted with the others. - -Silence hung over the table--that is, a conversational silence--until -all food in the immediate vicinity had been consumed. Then some of -the men went on deck. Others returned to their berths. - -Ben questioned the cook, who was not averse to gossip, as to the hour -of their arrival, and discovered that they had arrived at St. Pierre -at five o'clock, and that it was now ten. - -"Didn't hear a sound," confessed Ben. "Dog-tired we was, both of us. -You fellers nearly made us food fer the fishes last night." - -"Tiens!" said the cook. "An' your boat, she has give me the one -fright. Mon Dieu, it was to think the ship she was killed!" - -"Well, all's well that ends well," said Ben soothingly. "What say if -we goes on deck?" he added to Dare. - -Dare jumped at the suggestion and made for the companion-way. Ben -followed him. - -Those of the crew who were on deck were idly smoking and gossiping, -overlooked by the mate who, seated on the cabin roof, was keeping an -officious eye on both ship and men. - -Ben led the way casually to the rail near the break-deck, where they -were fairly well isolated, and seating himself, motioned to Dare to -follow his example. - -"Well, here we are," he said, keeping his voice as low as possible. - -"Yes." - -"And no choice but to be here. You don't doubt that after what he -said last night?" - -"No," replied Dare. "There was nothing else to do. Anyone could see -with half an eye that he was going to keep us on board whether we -wanted to stay or not." - -"Aye. The cap'n wouldn't be easy if he knowed," Ben stated. - -"There's no need for him to know until we see this thing through." - -"I s'pose not. We'll have to send him one of them O.K. telegrams -to-morrer." - -"Yes. I'd write him also if he could do anything with the -information we can give him. But as he's laid up there's not much -use. It would only worry him. We'll wait till we know more and he -can get about. That ought to be in ten days or so. I can't see us -staying on board this craft after we once know what we want to know, -can you?" - -"No," admitted Ben. "Once we finds out fer sure where that cave is -and gets a chance to make a break, we're off fer Saltern." - -"There's the crew getting out the boat," said Dare after a short -pause in their conversation. "We might ask to go ashore too." - -"We'll do that," agreed Ben, and walked aft to solicit shore leave of -the mate. - -"Go ashore?" growled that individual. "No, you can't. Not by a long -shot." - -"This afternoon, p'r'aps?" suggested Ben with appropriate humility. - -"No, nor then." - -"Well, to-morrer?" - -"No, nor to-morrer, nor the next day. See?" - -"No, I don't see," said Ben. "Who give them orders, if I might ask?" - -"The capting, that's who. If you wants to go ashore you can whistle -yourself there. My orders is to keep you on board and in sight till -we sails again." - -Ben, considerably discomfited by this information, rejoined Dare and -told him what had taken place. - -"We might have expected it!" said Dare. "He's not taking any -chances." - -"Aye. But this don't make things more easy fer us. Why, we can't -even wire the cap'n O.K. or send him a note. Looks like it ain't -goin' to be as easy to leave this one as we thought." - -"We'll leave her when we've got a mighty good reason for doing so, -don't you fret, Ben," said Dare, who considered that Pierre had -contracted one more debt that would have to be paid with interest. -"As for sending a cable to father, we might find some way of doing -that yet. We'll have to use our brains. We can't let this bunch get -the better of us." - -"One thing's certain," growled Ben; "that feller Pierre is goin' to -get a big surprise one of these days. If I ever meets him alone on a -dark night---- The high-handedness of that feller is beyond belief. -I'm goin' to tackle him when he comes on deck to know what he means -by keepin' us shut up like chickens in a coop." - -"Best not to make trouble," said Dare. - -"I'm not goin' to make trouble. I'm only goin' to protest. Come to -that, it wouldn't seem natural to him if I didn't." - -But he got no chance of protesting to Pierre that day. The captain -had already gone ashore and he did not return, but spent the night on -land. About noon the next day, however, he came on board and was -closeted for a long time with the mate. When he appeared on deck it -was once more to go ashore. Ben had the temerity to intercept him as -he was about to board the waiting boat. - -"What's this, cap'n, about me and the boy not bein' allowed to go -ashore?" he asked. - -Pierre turned on him shortly. "Don't bother me with your troubles," -he said. "Take your orders from the mate." - -"But, cap'n----" began Ben in protest. - -Pierre, impatient, unexpectedly struck out with his clenched fist, -and as Ben landed his length in the scuppers he said: "Do I have to -tell you twice, curse you! Take your orders from the mate." - -Ben got to his feet, his hand feeling at his damaged jaw, and -rejoined Dare, rage eating at his heart. - -They did not make the mistake of asking for leave again, but waited -their opportunity to go ashore without leave. The opportunity did -not arrive, however. They found themselves kept under close -surveillance. The mate or one of the crew unostentatiously shadowed -their every movement. - -When two days passed and they failed to escape the vigilance of the -crew even for sufficient time to hail a passing boat, they began to -get anxious. Captain Stanley, they knew, if he did not receive a -cable in another day or so, would become alarmed and might make -inquiries in St. Pierre which would wreck their plans and might very -conceivably endanger their position. - -On the fourth day in port they began to load again, and the talk -for'ard was that they would be leaving on the night of the sixth. -There had been no confidential exchanges between Ben and Dare and the -rest of the crew. Evidently the latter had been warned, for whenever -Ben or Dare endeavoured casually to bring the conversation round to -the subject of the _Mary's_ activities, an uncompromising silence -settled down. - -They finished loading on the day they began taking cargo. After -supper that evening Ben, smoking a pipe on deck, admitted to himself -the hopelessness of trying to get into communication with Captain -Stanley. - -At that time of day the harbour was dotted with row-boats pulling to -the quays, containing ships' crews bound ashore for a night's -jollification. One such passed close to the _Mary_, where Ben was in -sole possession of the deck, though a wisp of tobacco smoke, rising -above the cabin shutter, showed that the vigilant mate was not far -away. - -Ben eyed the boat as he had eyed every boat which had passed the ship -for days, in the hope that it might contain some person known to him -and that some way would be found to get a message sent to the -captain. As before he was disappointed. He knew no one in the boat, -and therefore had no reason to hail her except for the purpose of -asking for a lift ashore, and that was not possible while the mate -was within earshot. To his surprise, however, he was hailed by one -of the men in the boat, which contained four persons. - -"That you, Ben? How goes it?" - -At the sound of voices the mate came running on deck. He approached -near enough to Ben to hear all that passed between him and the men in -the boat. Ben, ignoring his presence, singled out the man who had -hailed him and after a few seconds remembered him as an old shipmate. - -"You Ames?" he called out. "What you doin' here?" - -"We just got in from Lisbon. Bound to Saltern with salt. What you -doin'?" - -"Coastin' a bit." - -"Goin' ashore?" - -"Not the night. Might see you to-morrer." - -"We sails in the morning." - -"Too bad. Well, drink one fer me. And remember me to all old hands -you see." - -The boat then passed on, and the mate, after a suspicious look at -Ben, went back to his seat in the companion-way. - -Ben was delighted with the chance meeting and the opportunity it had -given him of getting word to the captain. For Ames was bound to meet -Captain Stanley in his official capacity at Saltern, and the captain, -knowing him to have come from St. Pierre and to be an old shipmate of -Ben's, would be sure to question him. - -Ben turned to go below to inform Dare of the fortuitous incident, but -before he could do so Dare came on deck. Ben saw from his face that -something out of the ordinary had happened, and he kept back his own -news till he had heard Dare's. - -"What is it?" he asked. - -Dare was labouring under great excitement. - -"Ben, I've found out about the oven. You'll never guess. It's the -cave!" - -Ben was more bewildered than surprised. - -"The oven ... the cave?" he repeated. - -Dare explained in detail. - -"While I was lying down the sailors began to talk. They didn't mind -me, apparently. They talked about sailing to-morrow night and one of -them said he hoped the water would be smoother than the last time -they were at the Oven. The cave is called the Oven, it seems. -That's what that fellow on board the _Glenbow_ meant. And Ben! I -think I know where it is. One of the men mentioned the Table. He -said it was a nuisance and that some time the _Mary_ would break her -back on it in making the cave. Well, the Table is a queer, -flat-topped rock. I heard the dad mention it by name when he talked -about how he had inspected the coast. It's less than a mile from -Saltern!" - -Dare's excitement did not exceed Ben's once that worthy had fully -grasped the value of the discovery. - -"We got to get away from here as soon as we can," he said. "We got -to get away before the _Mary_ sails and find some way of sendin' word -to the cap'n." - -"Absolutely!" agreed Dare. "We'll try for it early in the morning." - -But they did not. At nine o'clock that same night Pierre came aboard -in a great hurry. In a moment the news spread that the _Mary_ would -sail that night ... immediately. And half an hour later the schooner -was nosing her way out of the harbour. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE ESCAPE - -Pierre was in a great hurry. He pressed all sail on the schooner and -started the engine, with the result that she began to cover the -course at a great rate. A new moon was in its first quarter, but the -sky was clouded, as it usually is on that coast, and acted as an -effectual screen. Nevertheless, there was a lightening of the -intense blackness which had marked the previous voyage. - -The ship carried lights until she picked up the mainland, then she -cloaked them. Pierre was taking the shortest route to the cave and -was hugging the coast, which he evidently knew by heart, to use a -local phrase. No man not completely confident as to his knowledge of -that coast would have dared sail as Pierre did that night. The land -loomed up visibly and now and then the crew even caught sight of a -white fringe of breakers. - -There was some excitement on board, and a little grumbling. The men -hated to have their leave cut short, but the moodiness caused by this -was to a great extent submerged in curiosity as to the reason for the -sudden change of plans. Pierre never did anything without a very -good reason, and it was not likely that he would risk entering the -cave with the tide still two hours to fall without there being -urgency of an unusual kind. - -Dare and Ben shared in the curiosity and excitement. But their -chagrin at having failed to get away from the _Mary_ in time to be -able to make use of their knowledge in regard to the cave's -whereabouts, was great. Ben was able to resign himself to -circumstances more than Dare, who, in fact, could not resign himself -at all. - -All the while the _Mary_ was forging along the coast, a white wave at -her prow, he was trying desperately to think of some way of escaping -and getting word to his father. - -Could one escape in the cave? Or would Pierre lock them up again as -he had done formerly, as soon as they neared the coast where it was -situated? He eyed the land, which loomed up darkly. It was no more -than a quarter of a mile away. If he were ashore there he could cut -across country and get to Saltern in an hour. He knew the lie of the -land well enough for that, for he had observed it closely as they had -passed it on their way to St. Pierre. - -But the land might as well have been ten miles away for all the -chance there was of his reaching it. Quarter of a mile! He could -swim it easily on a night like this. At that thought his heart -leaped. Why not swim it? But how to escape so as to avoid pursuit? -He took a step backwards in his excitement and stumbled. His hand -caught the rail and he steadied himself. The incident showed him a -way out. He would pretend to fall overboard. He could do it easily, -shout "cramp," dive, and come up some distance away from the -schooner. Then, after waiting for the excitement which would follow -his loss to cool down, he could strike out for the land. - -He had no sooner visualized the feat than he decided on it, despite -its hazardous nature. It was a chance, and a sporting chance, to get -the news to his father in time to plan the great coup that would end, -he felt sure, in the capture of the smugglers. Though his father was -lame, he could go to the cave by boat. A crew of loyal men could be -raked up somehow. He did not stop to think much of these -difficulties. His great desire was to get word to Saltern. - -He had no time to lose and he had to plan quickly. Should he confide -in Ben? He decided against it. Ben would, he knew, forbid the -attempt, and he had promised his father to obey him. There was -nothing for it but to let Ben remain in ignorance. It was better for -the success of the plan that he should. It would be hard on him, but -it could not be helped. - -The _Mary_ was now nearing Saltern. Dare went to the fo'c'sle, and -taking off his heavy boots put on a pair of loose slippers, which -could be kicked off easily once he was in the water. - -Trousers and a shirt would thus be his only impediments. Having made -these preparations he went on deck. The ship was in darkness. He -looked ashore and could just descry a line of breakers which -betokened, he hoped, a beach. Now was his chance! By the greatest -good luck the mate at this moment gave the order to pump the ship. -He told Dare to draw a bucket of water. Dare jumped at the chance to -fake an accident. The deck was sufficiently dark for his purpose. - -Dare approached the side and in the shadow of the rigging, which -obscured his movements, threw the bucket overboard. He began drawing -it up hand over hand; then, as he leaned forward to take it in over -the rail, he pretended to slip. He gave a shout of alarm and fell -into the sea, taking a perfect header. - -He dived deep and swam under water towards shore until he was forced -to come to the surface. When he emerged the _Mary_ was already some -distance away, but her engine had been reversed and there were sounds -of confusion rising from her deck. Evidently there was some doubt as -to who had fallen overboard. He gave a shout of "Cramp!" -Immediately there was an answering hail. He shouted "Help!" more -feebly, then remained silent and attended upon the event. - -He heard suddenly Ben's voice, hoarse with terror: "Show a light! -Lower a boat! The boy's drowning!" - -And closely following came Pierre's voice: "Knock that old fool on -the head! He'll rouse the whole coast. How'd that boy fall -overboard? Can you see him? Where is he? Give a shout and if he -answers we'll lower a boat." - -A guarded shout rang out. Silence followed it. Dare heard someone -say: "I heard him shout 'cramp.' He's done for." - -"Looks like there's nothing we can do," said Pierre. "We might as -well get under way again. We've got no time to lose. Lower the -spars." - -At this moment Ben, who had evidently been stunned by a blow, began -to recover and shout again. - -"Put a sock in his mouth!" Pierre could be heard exclaiming. "Take -him below and lock him up." Then the _Mary_ began to move ahead once -again. - -Dare, satisfied of the success of his ruse, began to swim shorewards -with a steady stroke. The water was smooth under the land and there -was no wind, but the sea was terribly cold and he began to fear that -he would have a real attack of cramp if he remained in for long. - -He had never swum at night before, and at first he felt overwhelmed -by the tremendous isolation bred by the darkness. He felt pressed -down by it also, and began to realize for the first time what a puny -force was his, as he lay in the arms of the eternal mother. Would -she bear him up or would she smother him in her embrace? - -His imagination began to exaggerate the dangers before him, and -suddenly he began to lose confidence. Was he swimming in the right -direction? How was he to know? He had dived, and while under water -might have turned seawards instead of landwards. It was with great -relief that he heard the sound of the breakers ahead of him. - -Then he began to be haunted by a fear that he would not find a beach. -Suppose he found the land guarded by an unscalable mountain of rock? -But the beach was there. He had seen its white fringe of breakers. -He might be able to see it now. He stood upright, treading water, -and raised himself as high as possible, but could see nothing but the -cliff-head looming repellently in the gloom high up above him. -However, it was something to see even that. At least he was sure now -he was swimming in the right direction. He must go on. He swam -forward, vigorously at first, then less so as the long minutes -passed. The surf was near enough now to deafen him to other sounds, -and the sea rose in waves which rolled landward and broke, not -against a wall of rock, but on a beach. To his great joy and -thankfulness, he had found his landing--a narrow strip of shingle -between two upright cliffs. - -Dare put extra energy into his enfeebled stroke, warmed and -strengthened by his success. The last few yards were the most -difficult. He was thrown shorewards in headlong manner, then sucked -back yards more than he had gained. Eventually, however, he got near -enough the shore to touch the shingle. He stood erect and began to -run forward. A sea caught him, knocked him off his feet, and threw -him high and dry on the beach. - -He lay panting there just long enough to recover his breath, then he -began to eye the cliff before him. Was it scalable? It did not rise -precipitously, like the cliffs which had their base in deep water. -This much he could see In those moments when the young moon peeped -from behind a cloud. It sloped back until it merged almost -imperceptibly with the grassy headland. Once within reach of that -upper incline and he had as good as won through. But before that -could be gained the rocky base, steep enough to daunt even the -boldest climber, had to be negotiated. - -Every moment was of value now, and as soon as he had recovered his -breath he set about exploring. The stones cut his feet cruelly. He -felt his way along the base of the cliff until he came to a -declivity. Water ran down it in the wet season, but now it was dry -and filled with stones, dead twigs, and other rubbish. He felt that -this would be a good take-off for his climb. He might even follow it -to the top, if the loose rubble in it did not betray his footing. - -He made a light leap, and using hands and feet, managed to secure a -hold. He straddled his legs as much as possible, and pressing his -body well forward so as to maintain his balance, made a move upwards. - -The headland seemed an immense distance away. The rock cut his feet -more cruelly than the beach and made his hold precarious. But he -held firmly to his endeavour. There was no going back now. He had -to go upwards or fall. So he went upwards. Step by step, feeling -his way, testing every hold, he mounted towards the cliff-top. It -was slow, agonizing work, and the concentration needed very -fortunately prevented him from thinking overmuch of the peril of his -position. Once, about half-way up, he had a sudden vision of the -cliff and himself, hanging like a fly to its walls, suspended over -the waiting beach below. And suddenly he looked down. The sea lay -like a lake of ink, washing the beach with a white cloth. He grew -dizzy at the thought of falling. Then, fearing the panic which -gripped his vitals, he put all idea of falling from him and held -tenaciously to his purpose. - -As he mounted, the cliff grew less steep and facilitated his -progress. Eventually, in reaching up a hand for a hold, he touched -grass and knew that his climb was near its end. He quickened his -movements. Gradually the rock was left behind. He fell on his knees -and began to crawl; the cliff was still too steep for him to stand -erect. The grass was soothing to his bruised feet. He used hands -and knees and feet in negotiating the slippery, grassy slope, and -after a last breath-taking effort reached the top, rolling himself on -to the level headland, where he lay temporarily exhausted. - -His intention, once he had recovered sufficiently to make a move, was -to strike inland, and cut across the wooded head of land which -separated him from Saltern. He did not know how far he was from the -town, but he estimated it at three miles. He thought at first the -best plan was to take the short cut, though it entailed the risk of -getting lost in the wood. The discovery of a goat track on the edge -of the cliff, however, decided him to take the longer but more -certain, though far more dangerous, route along the shore. The goat -track would, he thought, enable him to skirt the coast successfully. -And he had only to follow it to reach his objective, whereas in the -dark wood there was probably little to guide his steps, and he might -end by being lost altogether and spending the night in futile -searching for a way out. - -Having decided on the goat track, he proceeded to prepare for it. He -knew he could not long walk in his stockinged feet over such a path. -He therefore stripped off his shirt, tore it in two pieces and -wrapped up his feet as best he could. The result was very -cumbersome, but much more comfortable; and he set out confidently on -his jaunt. - -Although the night was a dark one, it was not so hopelessly black as -to preclude all idea of direction. Dare could descry large solid -objects at a distance of ten yards, and the path was dimly visible -for two yards or so. This helped him a little, but he had to go very -slowly. - -There were times when a slip of the foot would have meant a fall of -some hundreds of feet; there were other times when the path ran level -and free from obstacles, well away from the edge of the cliff. But -for the most part it skirted the precipice in a nerve-racking fashion. - -The transforming of his shirt into bandages for his feet left the -upper part of his body bare, and he flinched at times as the branches -of obstructing boughs tore his skin. Fortunately the night was warm -and he did not suffer from exposure, despite his recent swim. - -He was in splendid condition, and although he had accomplished two -dangerous feats and was engaged on another, he felt no fatigue. He -experienced an exhilaration which made effort seem almost play. - -The darkness was his greatest obstacle. It hid the dangers of the -track from him and caused his imagination to play nervy tricks. It -made boulders take on the form of crouching creatures and stunted -trees appear as men. There were several occasions when he startled -and was startled by sheep and goats; but on the whole his path was -free from living creatures, except those created by his imagination. - -Then suddenly, as he was mounting an incline, he saw a man rise out -of the earth before him. He could hardly credit his senses with the -apparition, but as if to prove to him that he was not dreaming, -another vague shadowy form rose up and followed the first inland. - -The darkness hid Dare from them, for he was in the shadow cast by -some trees, while they were on the high back of the ridge towards -which he was mounting. Excited by the possibility the appearance of -these nocturnal figures presented, Dare flung himself down on the -turf and waited. Another figure appeared, then another and another, -until he had counted ten. Then there was an end. - -Each figure had had a hump-like protuberance on its back, and Dare -knew as well as if he had been told by Pierre himself that he had -seen the smugglers carrying their illicit spoil to their cache. - -This incident tempted him to side-track his mission to Saltern and to -make a personal investigation of the cache. Fortunately wisdom -returned to him in time to prevent him doing this, and he kept to his -original venture. He crept up behind the opening in the ground. He -would have liked to take a peep down into the cave, but caution -forbade. He stopped only long enough to tie his pocket handkerchief -to an adjacent bush, then hurried on towards Saltern. - -He had an idea that when he passed the next ridge he would see the -town. And this proved to be so. To his great joy he saw Saltern -light blinking its warning, and, farther off, the lights of a ship at -anchor. The town itself was indicated by one or two late lights, -such as those which had marked it on his arrival from St. John's. - -Spurred by the thought of a successful end to his endeavour, he left -the goat track and struck down straight towards the harbour. The -trees had thinned out now sufficiently to enable him to see his way -easily, and he soon found himself on a grassy slope which ended at -the shore. - -He ran down the last few yards, his momentum carrying him knee-deep -into the water. He then had to cross the harbour. He did not like -the idea of swimming. He had had enough of that for one night. So -he set about searching the shore feverishly for a boat, and as they -were fairly plentiful he soon found one. - -It did not take him long to row to the town side. Once there he -hastily tied the boat to the quay and set out at a run for the -Customs House. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -CAPTAIN STANLEY ACTS - -Captain Stanley was closeted with the captain of the Revenue cutter -_Drake_, which had anchored off Saltern at eleven o'clock that night. -Despite the lateness of the hour Captain McDonnell had come ashore to -call, some rumours having reached him concerning the attack to which -his colleague and friend had been subjected. - -An all-night session had thus been inaugurated, for Captain Stanley -had much to discuss and much to plan, following the opportune visit -of the _Drake_. He gave Captain McDonnell the full story of his -activities since reaching Saltern, including the departure of Ben and -Dare for St. Pierre. Captain McDonnell felt inclined to deprecate -the latter action, but he held his peace, seeing that his friend was -already reaping the consequences. For Captain Stanley had been made -uneasy and finally alarmed by the continued silence of the two -adventurers. - -"I'd look upon it as a personal favour," he said to Captain -McDonnell, "if you would call at St. Pierre and set inquiries on -foot. I admit now that I made a mistake in sending those two there. -I should have known that those smuggling fellows were unscrupulous -and that if they ever came to suspect Ben and Dare it would go hard -with them. Of course, there may be some simple reason for their -silence. But I have my fears." - -"I'll call there, certainly," said McDonnell. "We'll leave the first -thing at daybreak." - -Captain Stanley nodded and continued: "Then, if you don't mind, I'd -like you to come back here and help me clean up this nest. I'll -borrow your crew for a land attack. I'll find that cache or know the -reason why. It's time the high-handed actions of those fellows were -put a stop to." - -"We'll back your moves, certainly," said McDonnell vigorously. "I'd -give a good deal to see those fellows put under restraint. They've -made me a joke on the coast for years. Of course, as you know, -except for chasing bait pirates we're not much use here. We're -almost helpless so far as the liquor trade is concerned. We can't -stop every small boat we see on suspicion. That would be only -trouble for nothing, for these fellows, I am convinced, run only on -dark nights and usually when the _Drake_ is on another route. For -they're well informed. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know I -was here now; at least, I'm sure they've heard I'm due within -twenty-four hours, for I took care to make it known at St. Mary's -that I should be here then. But I altered my course and got here -about fourteen hours ahead of time. I thought it wouldn't be a bad -idea to get here before I was expected, considering all the -circumstances." - -"You did well," Captain Stanley assured him, then broke into a sudden -exclamation. For there had sounded at the door a series of loud, -insistent knocks. Knocks at that time of the night, or morning, -rather! Both men stared at each other; Captain Stanley in a sort of -dread. - -"One of my fellows, I expect," said McDonnell, "though why he's come -I don't know. I'd better go down and open the door, hadn't I?" - -"Yes, yes, go down," commanded Captain Stanley, and literally pushed -his friend from the room. - -A very few minutes later Captain McDonnell returned, his face -transfigured with excitement. - -"Stanley, here's news, good news!" he shouted joyously, and dragged -Dare into the room; a Dare naked to the waist, covered with sweat -through which oozed blood from one or two deep scratches, his feet -ragged bundles of cloth, his riotous hair tumbling over eyes ablaze -with excitement. - -"Good heavens!" cried Captain Stanley. "Dare, my boy! Are you hurt?" - -Dare fervently shook the hand he found in his. "Not a bit!" he -gasped, for he was winded a little. "Fit as a riddle ... I've just -escaped ... listen----" - -"Not a word!" broke in his father authoritatively; "not a word! Rub -him down, McDonnell, he's wet and chilled. I'll rouse Martha and get -him a dry shift. There's spirits in the cupboard. Give him a dose." - -Dare was forced to submit to these ministrations. Several times he -essayed to tell his story, pleading urgency, but his father would not -hear a word of it till he was once more in dry clothes, with the -warmth of the spirit coursing through his veins. - -Then he was permitted to speak. He told his story quickly, beginning -with the hour they had left Saltern and leading up to his dramatic -escape and subsequent adventures. Both auditors failed to conceal -their astonishment and even horror at the risks he had taken. But -they were too much occupied by the dramatic development his -adventures had made possible to censure him at the moment. - -"McDonnell, we've got them!" exclaimed Captain Stanley. - -"We have, indeed!" - -"Now as to plans---- What a bit of luck, your turning up on this -night of all nights! I must have your crew." - -"And myself with them, I hope?" - -"Of course. Now, Dare, my boy, you're sure of your facts? Near the -Table, I think you said?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"I've passed it a dozen times. There is a hole in the cliff there. -A good-sized one, when you go near it. But I could never have -believed it is what you say if I hadn't been told. I remember the -first time I saw it the fisherman who was with me explained why it -was known locally as the Oven. He said that there was deep water -inside and no beach, and that the suction and noise of the sea -forcing itself into the chasm made a noise like that of a lot of -copper pans being banged about. So some local wit called it the -Oven. I never dreamed that it was practicable for the smugglers' -purposes, a cave without a beach! Of course, I never imagined a back -exit. Who would, looking at the solid face of the cliff? Why, the -old fisherman even warned me not to enter it, giving as a reason the -fact that there were huge splinters of rock hanging from its roof and -that from time to time there were regular avalanches of these -splinters, so that it was highly dangerous to go into the cave. And -I believed him, for certainly the fishermen never seemed to go near -it. Well, it's a lesson to me not to overlook even the remotest -possibility after this. - -"McDonnell, we must attack from both ends. I'll have to nab them at -the sea end because of my leg, which prevents me from walking. I'll -take one of your boats and a good crew. We'll make our way to the -Oven and lie off it, waiting for your signal. For I want you to take -a dozen men and go with Dare to the land entrance. You think you can -find it, Dare?" - -"Absolutely, sir! It's on the top of the second ridge near the -cliff-end, and to make sure I could find it again I tied my -handkerchief to a bough." - -"Good boy! You say they come out in single file?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"That gives you a perfect chance to nab them one by one as they come -out, McDonnell. Knock 'em on the head and tie 'em up, and when -you've got the shore gang fast, flash us a signal from the cliff-top -with your flashlight--three long and one short--then we'll close in -by water and nab the schooner and her crew. Agreed?" - -"Agreed," said Captain McDonnell. - -"Then we ought to be on our way at once. Your boat's crew is on the -quay, I suppose?" - -"I expect so. That's where I left them." - -"Then if you'll give me an arm and my stick we'll go there right -away. I'm afraid we won't be in time. Come on, Dare." - -Stopping only long enough to speak a few reassuring words to Martha -regarding Ben's safety, the party left the house. - -On the quay they found the boat's crew waiting, and were soon rowed -on board the _Drake_. Here the crew were roused and divided into two -parties of eight men each. Arms were served out, for it was felt the -smugglers would put up a determined resistance. Then Captain -McDonnell took to one boat with Dare and his crew, and Captain -Stanley took to the other, with the _Drake's_ second officer as his -second-in-command. - -"Give us half an hour to get there, Stanley; then row to the cave. -Don't frighten them at your end before we've nabbed the shore crew. -From what Dare says, however, the noise in the cave is such that they -won't hear anything till we're suddenly among them." - -"Right you are," said Captain Stanley. "Keep an eye on Dare. He's -taken enough risks for one night." - -"Ready? Push off!" ordered McDonnell, and his boat went surging -harbourwards at a great rate. - -The crew beached her near the spot where Dare had found a boat a -little while before, then stepped ashore, moving quietly and -efficiently. Captain McDonnell spoke to one of them, and the man -stooped and filled a large pocket handkerchief with sand, knotting -the cloth into the shape of a bag. The result was a silent, -formidable weapon. He then told Dare to take the lead, and the climb -up the incline began. Dare, though a little tired by excitement and -physical effort, showed no outward signs of fatigue. He led the crew -swiftly and well, and they soon approached the ridge near which the -entrance to the cave was situated. They gained the vicinity of the -entrance without having given the slightest cause for an alarm. The -men fell on hands and knees in negotiating the last few yards. At -last Dare discovered his handkerchief and a halt was signalled. The -men were ranged immediately behind the entrance, so that the -smugglers would emerge with their backs to them. - -Captain McDonnell drew one of the crew to his side and whispered an -order. "We'll let the first man who comes out go, so that we can -find out where the cache is. Follow him and don't let him get away -or give an alarm." - -The man nodded and saluted. Captain McDonnell then turned to the -sailor whom he had bade fashion the sandbag. "Hit every man who -comes out after the first fellow, so that you don't have to hit -twice," he ordered. "Two men will ease them down to the ground to -prevent a noise. The others will tie them up and lay them on one -side. Every man is to be treated in the same way. No unnecessary -noise, if you value your extra pay." - -There was silence then. Dare, who was not the least excited of the -crew, felt as though his breath was being emitted in stentorian -snorts, which would surely warn the smugglers of his and his -companions' presence. - -The suspense of waiting did not last long, however. There suddenly -sounded a noise as though a foot had slipped on a pebble. It was -followed by a human grunt, and the muffled sound of human speech. -The waiting men stiffened expectantly. Then, when they had begun to -wonder if they had not been deceived, and even to be subjected to the -fear that they had arrived too late, a man's head and shoulders rose -out of the middle of the bushes behind which they were crouching. He -was carrying two or three heavy cases hung sling-fashion from his -shoulders, and went staggering inland. The member of the crew -detailed to follow him slipped quietly in his wake, and both were -soon lost sight of in the darkness. - -The watchers sighed with relief. They were in time, and the coup had -begun well. Without warning another man appeared. The sandbag -descended on his head as he set foot in the open. Two of the sailors -caught him as he sagged, and lowered body and plunder to the ground. -Quickly others of the crew dragged both away. - -Captain McDonnell counted the seconds as they passed. Dare, his -heart beating at a suffocating rate, did likewise. Three men then -appeared so close behind each other that the last emerged before his -predecessor could be dragged from his path. His suspicions were -aroused, but before he could cry out the sandbag fell once again. -There was a dull report as man and packages crashed to the earth, but -no alarm was taken. Five more men appeared in quick succession. -Each was treated in similar fashion, and the whole proceeding was -carried out so expertly that those in the cave had not the slightest -suspicion of the Nemesis on their track. - -"I think that's all the shore crew," whispered Dare, when the tenth -man had been trussed. "I counted ten the other time." - -"We'll wait five minutes," said Captain McDonnell. "Then, before -those in the cave can get uneasy about these fellows, we'll signal -your father and he can take them by surprise as we planned." - -The five minutes passed without anyone appearing. Captain McDonnell -then took an electric torch from his pocket and made his way to the -edge of the cliff. Holding the torch so that it would be visible -from below, he flashed it on and off--three long and one short. He -waited anxiously for a minute, then saw a single spot of light show -for an instant below. His signal had been received. He hurried back -to the waiting crew. - -The latter were in a tremendous state of excitement, for they were -looking forward to a fight. Hitherto, although the adventure had -been of a sporting character, it had not proved exceptionally -thrilling. But if, as they expected, Captain McDonnell gave the -order to descend into the cave, there would certainly be a fight, and -not one of them but, like overgrown schoolboys, was excited by the -prospect. - -Captain McDonnell noted the change in their attitude and smiled to -himself in the darkness. "We'll give the boat five minutes to get -into the cave, men," he said cheerfully. But before the five minutes -had expired there came from the sea, in the vicinity of the cave, the -report of a rifle. - -"They've begun!" shouted Captain McDonnell, throwing aside all -caution with the disappearance of the need for it. "After me, men!" -He leapt into the bushes and disappeared. With a hearty cheer the -crew precipitately followed his example. They could be heard -tumbling down and shouting warnings to those behind them, warnings -which were totally disregarded, for in that moment not one of the -party had a thought for his own neck, and they would have leapt a -precipice if there was a fight going on at the bottom of it. - -Dare, as the youngest and weakest, had been forced to the tail-end of -the procession. His turn soon came, however. He leapt into the -bushes as recklessly as any of his predecessors and fell with a -resounding bump for a distance of ten feet, for at the entrance to -the cave the stair was absolutely perpendicular. He picked himself -up, felt for broken bones, and not finding any made his way as fast -as possible after the rest of the crew. The formation of the passage -was such that the tremendous din of the cave did not penetrate it. -All Dare could hear was the shouts of the crew ahead. Flares such as -he had viewed from the _Mary's_ deck lighted his way. The stair -followed a zigzag course, and suddenly he found himself in full sight -and hearing of the cave. It was about sixty feet below him. - -The flares revealed the _Mary_ lying by the side of the rock. On her -deck were struggling demoniac figures, staggering like drunken men -from one rail to the other. And below him, just above the -landing-place, Captain McDonnell and his crew were encountering those -of the smugglers who, seeing the danger from the sea, had attempted -to escape by the stair. - -The wildness of the scene, half revealed in the supernatural light of -the flares, held him spellbound. So great was the din given off by -the surging water in the cave that no sound of the furious battle in -progress rose above it. Voices, blows, oaths, and cries of pain and -alarm were drowned by the great voice of the cave, which seemed to -exert itself in an effort to obliterate every human sound in its -vicinity. - -Now and then in the light of the flares Dare saw an agonized face, a -lifted weapon; but no sound accompanied either revelation. It was as -if the fight were being carried on in dumb-show. - -He hurried down the stairs to join in the affray, throwing aside -caution, which had no place in any of those there that night. As he -neared Captain McDonnell's party, which was gradually forcing the -smugglers back on board the _Mary_, where they were being severely -handled by Captain Stanley and his crew, he saw one of the fellows -escape and make a dart up the stair towards him. He waited for the -man to get within jumping distance, then launched himself -precipitately upon him. - -The smuggler gave a grunt as Dare struck him, and collapsed. Both -went rolling over and over down the stairs and, bouncing past the -struggling crew, who were too much occupied to notice them, rolled -off the ledge into the water. - -Dare, half-winded, felt the smuggler's hold relax and came above -water blowing noisily. He saw his opponent rise about the same time -and make for the rock, a knife between his teeth. A flare revealed -him climbing up the face of the ledge. Then an arm reached out, -dragged him over, and clubbed him with a rifle before he could raise -a hand in defence. - -Dare did not care to risk being treated in similar fashion by his own -party in the dark. He looked about him and for the second time that -night found himself under the bowsprit of the _Mary_. He clambered -into the head rigging and eventually reached the schooner's deck. - -The mass of the struggling men were centred aft on the landing side. -The smugglers were between two fires, the land party and the sea -party, and as they were outnumbered nearly two to one it was only a -matter of minutes before they would be overpowered. Nevertheless, -they were putting up a desperate resistance. At such close quarters -the _Drake's_ crew found their rifles worse than useless. Even if -they had desired to fire on the smugglers they could not have done so -without bringing down some of their own men. So the battle -degenerated into a bout of fisticuffs, with here and there a blow -from a stick and the attempted use of a knife. - -Dare made a vain effort to force his way between the backs of the sea -crew in order to get a chance for a crack at the enemy. Finding his -attempt hopeless--for the _Drake's_ men were massed shoulder to -shoulder in fighting formation--he ran round the cabin so as to reach -the landing side farther aft. - -As he passed the companion-way he stopped to take a glance down into -the cabin. It was deserted. He was about to pass on when he saw the -door of the captain's stateroom tremble as though under an assault. -At the same instant he heard a concerted cry of victory from the -_Drake's_ men. He did not hesitate longer, but jumped down into the -cabin. And as he did so he suddenly remembered Ben. It was Ben, of -course, who was in the room! He had heard Pierre give the order to -lock him up. And he had forgotten the poor old chap completely until -this instant! He ran to the door. The key was in the lock. He -turned it, opened the door, and was confronted by Ben. - -The old sailor staggered backwards when he saw Dare before him. "Mr. -Dare!" he exclaimed, and his voice trembled. - -He reached out a horny hand and grabbed Dare's arm as though to -convince himself of its solidity. "Mr. Dare!" he exclaimed again, -tears of thankfulness and joy in his eyes. "Then you're not drowned?" - -Dare wrung the old fellow's hand excitedly. - -"No, no, not at all. Why, I _jumped_ overboard. I wanted to get -word to Saltern, and I didn't tell you for fear you'd prevent me. -And I did it, Ben, I did it! We've captured the lot!" - -"Then it was fighting I heard?" - -"Yes, yes!" - -"On deck!" shouted Ben, the light of battle in his eyes. But before -they could make a move a wild figure suddenly filled the -companion-way, and leaping down into the cabin confronted them -menacingly. - -It was Pierre. Blood was running down his face. His eyes were -bloodshot. His shirt was torn from his body, which gleamed darkly. -He had the wild, distracted appearance of one who had suffered -overwhelming, humiliating defeat. - -When he saw Dare he cried aloud: - -"You! Then you didn't drown? Ah, now I see it all! You swam ashore -and gave us away, eh? Curse you, you'll suffer for that!" - -He leapt towards Dare, who stood his ground. But suddenly he was -swept backwards by Ben, who drove in two fists to the charging -Pierre's chest. They rang as on hollow wood. - -"All right, you first!" raged Pierre, and swung two heavy blows to -Ben's head. The latter staggered, then shook off the effect of the -blows doggedly. He sprang in and was enfolded by Pierre in a -bear-like hug. Ben managed to trip his opponent. They fell to the -floor, rolling over and over, kicking, gouging, biting. For Pierre -was not in a mood to waste time on finesse; and Ben was forced to -meet him with his own methods in an effort at self-preservation. - -Dare, his face strained and white, watched the uneven conflict. He -knew Ben had no chance in a rough-and-tumble with Pierre, and he -sought to aid him before he should be crippled or worse. He hovered -round the two, watching his chance. But it was impossible to -distinguish between the opponents, so swift and tortuous were their -movements. - -Then suddenly Pierre managed to drive his knee deep into Ben's -stomach. Ben gave an immense sigh as the air was expelled from his -lungs, then relaxed his hold and lay helpless. Pierre, as quick as a -panther, was on his feet, his face disfigured with hate and rage. He -raised his heavily booted foot, aiming at the prostrate figure on the -floor. - -Dare suddenly felt the red tide of hate rise in himself, a hate of -the cowardly and brutal gesture. - -"No, you don't!" he shrieked vindictively, and raising the wooden -pump-handle he had seized as a weapon when he came on board, he -brought it down heavily on Pierre's flaming head. - -The heavy, poised foot stopped in mid-air. The kick was never -delivered. Pierre was struck suddenly immobile, then his body sagged -like a bag of sawdust and he fell to the floor without a word or a -cry. The last of the smugglers had been taken. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE CLOSING OF THE "OVEN" - -Dare was standing at the window of his father's office, looking out -over the town to where the _Drake_ rode at anchor. In the room were -Captains McDonnell and Stanley, deep in the details of the coup which -had been carried out so successfully that morning. All the smugglers -had been taken. Twenty-four in number, they were reposing at that -moment in cells which the _Drake_ held ready for the detention of -such as themselves. Some of them were badly hurt, and most of them -carried cuts and bruises, as did the _Drake's_ crew. There had been -no fatality, however, to the great satisfaction of both Captain -McDonnell and Captain Stanley; for the crew of the _Drake_ had used -only the butt-ends of their rifles, while the smugglers had been -caught weaponless save for a few knives. Excepting the shot fired as -a signal at the entrance to the cave, no force except that of -physical strength had been used against the smugglers, but that had -sufficed. Nine had been taken on the cliff, twelve in the cave, and -three at the cache, where that member of the _Drake's_ crew detailed -for the duty had found them and easily overpowered them with the -threat of his rifle. - -The cache had yielded a great store of illicit goods of all -descriptions. These had been seized and placed on board the _Mary_, -which now rode at anchor in Saltern harbour, her hold and her cabin -and fo'c'sle sealed, awaiting her fate. - -The smugglers were to be taken to St. John's, where they would stand -their trial. The coup had been an unprecedented success, in fact, -and both Captain Stanley and his colleague were considerably elated -at the sudden elimination of a strong, cunning enemy. - -That smuggling had been wiped out in Saltern could not be doubted. -At least, it would be some time before it raised its head again, and -it probably would never attain in the future such proportions as it -had done formerly. The capture of the whole gang had been the most -important success of Captain Stanley's career in the Revenue Service. -The people of Saltern could not hide their surprise, and in some -cases their consternation, at the event. For if the smugglers -talked, many of them would be implicated. There was a great deal of -destruction of evidence that morning, and many of the villagers eyed -each other in some anxiety, wondering what was to happen next. They -had been defying the law so long without injury to themselves that -its sudden transformation into a Nemesis routed their habitual calm, -for each knew himself guilty of receiving benefits from the crime the -captured men had committed. - -Dare saw them pass in groups before the Customs House, eyeing its -windows as if anxious to discover whether it was preparing a like -thunderbolt to that which had already been launched, and he could not -help smiling a little maliciously, for he had no sympathy with them; -not so much as he had for Pierre and his crew, who, at least, faced -manfully the penalties of their crimes. These fearful villagers were -indirect, weak accomplices for the most part, not one of whom would -have boldly run the gauntlet of the Revenue Service as Pierre, the -rogue, had. They did not need to fear for their skins, however. -Captain Stanley was more than content in having captured the -ringleaders of the trade. - -"It's just enough to frighten the villagers out of their bad habits," -he said to Captain McDonnell. "Oh, we've ended the trade here, -there's no doubt of that." - -"I think so," agreed McDonnell. "Well," he added, "that's all the -inventory, isn't it? And long enough it is. My men are tickled to -death, for I've told them there'll be prize money in it for them. -Prize money for them and plenty of glory for us!" - -His eyes twinkled merrily as he pronounced the latter words. - -"We destroyed that cache completely after we'd taken out the last of -the stuff. A perfect hiding-place it was: an immense pit overgrown -with brushwood so densely that it was as dry as a lime-kiln. And you -might have walked by it a dozen times without seeing it. We set fire -to the brush, and now all that's left of the cache is a hole in the -ground." - -"A good business!" declared Captain Stanley emphatically. - -"Aye. Now, as to the _Mary_---- She's moored, I warrant you, so -that she's as safe as if she was beached. I'll leave you five of my -men under the bo'sun to guard her and her cargo until the court makes -the order to have her fetched to St. John's." - -"Five will be enough. I'm not very doubtful of the temper of the men -here. They're cowed, and I think that now Pierre and his fellows are -locked up they'll lose any initiative they ever had. Still, we won't -take risks, for the _Mary_ is a prize of considerable value as she -stands." - -"That's so. And speaking of prizes, I shall recommend that man of -yours for a good competence. It's impossible to over-estimate the -value of his and Dare's work. My word, Stanley, that boy of yours is -a good plucked one!" - -Captain Stanley flushed with pleasure and looked in Dare's direction. -Dare had heard his name pronounced and had turned inquiringly. His -father beckoned him to approach. - -"Well, Dare, my boy, we've settled up the odds and ends of this -business. It's been the most complete success, thanks to you and -Ben. You took risks that I could never approve of, but the results -have been so splendid that I've had no difficulty in promising -Captain McDonnell to overlook that part of the affair. You did -splendidly, my boy, splendidly. But I'll spare your blushes. -Besides, if I'm not mistaken, you'll hear more of this from another -and a higher quarter." - -"That's so," interpolated Captain McDonnell. "The Government will -learn of your services, my lad, both through the official report and -the medium of your humble servant. And as you've saved them some -thousands in revenue and gained them a great deal more in seizures, -you can count on them doing the right thing." - -"But I don't want them----" began Dare, considerably abashed by the -turn the conversation had taken, though he could not help feeling -delight in having earned the praise of his superiors. - -"Of course you don't, boy," interrupted Captain McDonnell, "but -that's neither here nor there. You've been of service, and as it's a -Government affair things must take their proper course. Now, as to -the present---- But you'd better break this to him, Stanley." - -Dare looked at his father questioningly. Captain Stanley returned -the look, smiling gravely. - -"I've decided, Dare, and Captain McDonnell supports my decision, that -it's best for you to leave Saltern now that our object in coming here -has been attained. The temper of the villagers is uncertain. -They're disappointed and scared, and at such times people are apt to -be excessive in their demonstrations of emotion. It's not that -there's any great danger, but they know of the part you played in the -cleaning up of the gang and they don't feel very friendly towards -you, to say the least; and under the circumstances I'd rather that -you left here as soon as possible. - -"I'll be following you shortly myself. As soon as the _Mary_ is -taken to St. John's, someone will be sent to relieve me and in time a -permanent official will be appointed. Then we'll do some hunting and -fishing in the Humber Valley. In the meantime I hope you won't mind -obliging me by leaving here alone. I won't order you to go; you've -earned the right to decide for yourself, but I own I'll be -considerably relieved if you'll consent to follow my advice." - -Dare flushed. - -"Of course, dad," he burst out impulsively, "whatever you wish----" - -"But where am I to go?" he asked, when his father had placed his hand -on his shoulder to show his approval. - -"Ah! that will interest you, I think. Captain McDonnell has offered -to take you cruising in the _Drake_ for a month." - -"Dad!" - -Both Captain Stanley and Captain McDonnell smiled at that -enthusiastic, forceful exclamation. - -"Appeals to you, eh?" chuckled McDonnell. - -"Rather!" ejaculated Dare. "There's nothing I'd like better, seeing -I can't stay on here." - -"Then be on board by five o'clock." - -* * * * * - -At half-past five the _Drake_ broke out her anchor and, dipping her -flag to the Customs House ensign, slowly got under way. When she -reached the Oven she slackened speed, and a gun was trained on the -former harbour of the smugglers. The shell expelled from it struck -the face of the cliff just above the narrow opening. There came a -report as though the cliff itself had split in twain, then hundreds -of tons of loosened rock fell to form a barrier for all time to the -entrance to the cave. - -Dare, who was with Captain McDonnell on the bridge, witnessed the -result with considerable satisfaction. - -"Well, that's the end of the Oven," he said. - -"And a jolly good thing too," said Captain McDonnell. Then he -reached out a hand and rang "Full speed ahead" to the engine-room. - -And the _Drake_, shuddering from stem to stern at the sudden -revolutions of her propeller, leapt forward like a greyhound, and -with a white wave at her prow headed jauntily for the open sea. - - - -_The Mayflower Press, Plymouth. William Brendon & Son, Ltd._ - - - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONTRABAND *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |