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PIRATE'S GOLD BREEDS PIRATE'S WAYS
That evening, in the seclusion of their apartment at Carvel Hall, theytook Axtell into their confidence--to a certain extent (though, again,he protested his willingness simply to obey orders). They told him, ina general way, of Parmenter's bequest, and how Croyden came to be thelegatee--saying nothing of its great value, however--its location, theloss of the letter the previous evening, the episode of the thieves onthe Point, that morning, and their evident intention to return to thequest.
"Now, what we want to know is: are you ready to help us--unaided by thelaw--to seize these men and hold them prisoners, while we search forthe treasure?" Croyden asked. "We may be killed in the attempt, or wemay kill one or both of them, and have to stand trial if detected. Ifyou don't want to take the risk, you have only to decline--and holdyour tongue."
"My dear Mr. Croyden!" said Axtell, "I don't want you to pay me acent--just give me my board and lodging and I'll gladly aid you as longas necessary. It's a very little thing to do for one who has lost somuch through us. You provide for our defense, if we're apprehended bythe law, and _that_" (snapping his fingers) "for the risk."
Croyden held out his hand.
"We'll shake hands on that, Axtell, if you please," he said; "and, ifwe recover what Parmenter buried, you'll not regret it."
The following morning saw them down at the Point with the equipage andother paraphernalia. The men, whom they had brought from Annapolis forthe purpose, pitched the tents under the trees, ditched them, receivedtheir pay, climbed into the wagons and rumbled away to town--puzzledthat anyone should want to camp on Greenberry Point when they had theprice of a hotel, and three square meals a day.
"It looks pretty good," said Croyden, when the canvases were up andeverything arranged--"and we shan't lack for the beautiful in nature.This is about the prettiest spot I've ever seen, the Chesapeake and thebroad river--the old town and the Academy buildings--the warships atanchor--the _tout ensemble!_ We may not find the treasure, but, atleast, we've got a fine camp--though, I reckon, it is a bit breezy whenthe wind is from the Bay."
"I wonder if we should have paid our respects to the Superintendentbefore poaching on his preserves?" said Macloud.
"Hum--hadn't thought of that!" Croyden answered. "Better go in and showourselves to him, this afternoon. He seems to be something of apersonage down here, and we don't want to offend him. These navalofficers, I'm told, are sticklers for dignity and the prerogatives duetheir rank."
"Hold on!" exclaimed Macloud. "On that score, we've got some rankourselves to uphold."
"What!" said Croyden.
"Certainly! the Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, of theUnited States Senate, is with us. According to the regulations, is ithis duty to call _first_ on the Superintendent?--that's the point."
"Give it up!" laughed Croyden. "However, the Superintendent has a copyof the letter, and he will know the ropes. We will wait a day, then, ifhe's quiescent, it's up to us."
"Great head!" laughed Macloud. "You should have been a diplomat,Croyden--nothing less than an Ambassadorship for you, my boy!"
Croyden smiled.
"A motor boat would be mighty convenient to go back and forth toAnnapolis," he said. "Look at the one cutting through the water there,midway across!"
It came nearer, halted a little way off in deep water, and an officerin uniform swept the tents and them with a glass. Then the boat putabout and went chugging upstream.
"We didn't seem to please him," remarked Macloud, gazing after theboat. Suddenly it turned in toward shore and made the landing at theExperiment Station.
"We are about to be welcomed or else ordered off--I'll take a beteither way," said Macloud.
"Welcomed!" Croyden responded. "Otherwise, they wouldn't havedespatched an officer--it would have been a file of marines instead.You haven't lost the permit, Macloud!"
"You don't seem very sure!" Macloud laughed.
Presently, the officer appeared, walking rapidly down the roadway. Assoon as he sighted the tents, he swung over toward them. Macloud went afew steps forward to meet him.
"Is this Senator Rickrose?" the Lieutenant inquired.
"No," said Macloud. "Senator Rickrose isn't coming until later. I amone of his friends, Colin Macloud, and this is Mr. Croyden and Mr.Axtell."
"Very glad to meet you, gentlemen!" said the Lieutenant. "TheSuperintendent presents his compliments and desires to place himselfand the Academy at your disposal." (He was instructed to add, thatCaptain Boswick would pay his respects to-morrow, having been called toWashington to-day by an unexpected wire, but the absence of theChairman of the Naval Affairs Committee rendered it unnecessary.)
"Thank Captain Boswick, for Senator Rickrose and us, and tell him weappreciate his kindness exceedingly," Macloud answered. "We're campinghere for a week or so, to try sleeping in the open, under sea air.We're not likely to prove troublesome!" he added.
Then they took several drinks, and the aide departed.
"So far, we're making delightful progress," said Croyden; "but thereare breakers ahead when Hook-nose and his partner get in the game.Suppose we inspect the premises and see if they have been here in ourabsence."
They went first to the place where they had seen them conceal thetools--these were gone; proof that the thieves had paid a second visitto the Point. But, search as they might, no evidence of work wasdisclosed.
"What does it mean?" said Croyden. "Have they abandoned the quest?"
"Not very likely," replied Macloud, "with half a million at stake. Theyprobably are seeking information; when they have it, we shall see themback again."
"Suppose they bring four or five others to help them?"
"They won't--never fear!--they're not sharing the treasure with any oneelse. Rather, they will knife each other for it. Honor among thieves islike the Phoenix--it doesn't exist."
"If the knifing business were to occur before the finding, it wouldhelp some!" laughed Croyden. "Meantime, I'm going to look at the ruinsof the light-house. I discovered in an almanac I found in the hotellast night, that the original light-house was erected on GreenberryPoint in 1818. This fact may help us a lot."
They went out to the extreme edge, and stood gazing across the shoalstoward the ruins.
"What do you make the distance from the land?" Croyden asked.
"About one hundred yards--but it's very difficult to estimate overwater. It may be two hundred for all I can tell."
"It is exactly three hundred and twenty-two feet from the Point to thenear side of the ruins," said Croyden.
"Why not three hundred and twenty-two and a half feet!" scoffedMacloud.
"I measured it this morning while you were dawdling over yourbreakfast," answered Croyden.
"Hitched a line to the land and waded out, I suppose."
"Not exactly; I measured it on the Government map of the Harbor. Itgives the distance as three hundred and twenty-two feet, in plainfigures."
"I said you had a great head!" Macloud exclaimed. "Now, what's the restof the figures--or haven't you worked it out?"
Croyden drew out a paper. "The calculation is of value only on theassumption--which, however, is altogether reasonable--that thelight-house, when erected, stood on the tip of the Point. It is nowthree hundred and twenty-two feet in water. Therefore, dividingninety-two--the number of years since erection--into three hundred andtwenty-two, gives the average yearly encroachment of the Bay as threeand a half feet. Parmenter buried the casket in 1720, just a hundredand ninety years ago; so, multiplying a hundred and ninety by three anda half feet gives six hundred and sixty-five feet. In other words, thePoint, in 1720, projected six hundred and sixty-five feet further outin the Bay than it does to-day."
"Then, with the point moved in six hundred and sixty-five feetParmenter's beeches should be only eighty-five feet from the shoreline, instead of seven hundred and fifty!" Macloud reflected.
"Just so!" said Croyden.
"But where ar
e the beeches?" asked Axtell.
"Disappeared!" Croyden replied. "As the Point from year to year slippedinto the Bay, the fierce gales, which sweep up the Chesapeake,gradually ate into the timber. It is seventy years, at least, sinceParmenter's beeches went down."
"Why shouldn't the Duvals have noticed the encroachment of the Bay, andmade a note of it on the letter?" Macloud asked.
"Probably, because it was so gradual they did not observe it. They,likely, came to Annapolis only occasionally, and Greenberry Pointseemed unchanged--always the same narrow stretch of sand, with largetrees to landward."
Macloud nodded. "I reckon that's reasonable."
"Next let us measure back eighty-five feet," said Croyden, producing atape-line.... "There! this is where the beech tree should stand. Butwhere were the other trees, and where did the two lines drawn from themintersect?"...
"Yes, now you have it!" said Macloud--"where were the trees, and wheredid the lines intersect? I reckon you're stumped."
"Let us try some more assuming. You had a compass yesterday, still gotit?"
Macloud drew it out and tossed it over.
"I took the trouble to make a number of diagrams last night, and theydisclosed a peculiar thing. With the location of the first tree fixed,it matters little where the others were, in determining the directionof the treasure. It is practically the same. The _objective point_ willchange as you change the position of the trees, but the _direction_will vary scarcely at all. It is self-evident, of course, to those whounderstand such things, but it was a valuable find for me. Now, if weare correct in our assumption, thus far, the treasure is buried----"
He opened the compass, and having brought North under the needle, ranhis eye North-by-North-east. A queer look passed over his face, then heglanced at Macloud and smiled.
"The treasure is buried," he repeated--"the treasure is buried--_out inthe Bay_."
Macloud laughed!
"Looks as if wading would be a bit difficult," he said dryly.
Croyden produced the tape-line again, and they measured to the lowbluff at the water's edge.
"Two hundred and eighty-two feet to here," he said, "and Parmenterburied the treasure at three hundred and thirty feet--therefore, it'sforty-eight feet out in the Bay."
"Then your supposition is that, since Parmenter's time, the Bay has notonly encroached on the Point, but also has eaten in on the sides."
"It would seem so."
"It's hard to dig in water," Macloud remarked. "It's apt to fill in thehole, you know."
"Don't be sarcastic," Croyden retorted. "I'm not responsible for theBay, nor the Point, nor Parmenter, nor anything else connected with thefool quest, please remember."
"Except the present measurements and the theory on which they'rebased," Macloud replied. "And as the former seem to be accurate, andthe latter more than reasonable, we'd best act on them."
"At least, I am satisfied that the treasure lies either in the Bay, orclose on shore; if so, we have relieved ourselves from digging up theentire Point."
"You have given us a mighty plausible start," said Macloud.
"Land or water?" Croyden laughed. "Hello, whom have we here?" as abuggy emerged from among the timber, circled around, and halted beforethe tents.
"It is Hook-nose back again," said Macloud. "Come to pay a social call,I suppose! Anything about for them to steal?"
"Nothing but the shooting-irons."
"They're safe--I put them under the blankets."
"What the devil do they want?"
"Come to treat with us--to share the treasure."
"Hum! they've got their nerve!" exclaimed Croyden.
By this time, they had been observed by the men in the buggy who,immediately, came toward them.
"Let us get away from this place!" said Croyden, and they saunteredalong landward.
"And make them stop us--don't give the least indication that we knowthem," added Macloud.
As the buggy neared, Macloud and Croyden glanced carelessly at theoccupants, and were about to pass on, when Hook-nose calmly drew thehorse over in front of them.
"Which of you men is named Croyden?" he asked.
"I am," said Geoffrey.
"Well, you're the man we're lookin' for. Geoffrey is the rest of yourhandle, isn't it?"
"You have the advantage of me," Croyden assured him.
"Yes, I think I have, in more ways than your name. Where can we have alittle private talk?"
"We can't!" said Croyden, stepping quickly around the horse andcontinuing on his way--Macloud and Axtell following.
"If you'd rather have it before your friends, I'm perfectly ready toaccommodate you," said the fellow. "I thought, however, you'd ratherkeep the little secret. Well, we'll be waiting for you at the tents,all right, my friend!" and he drove ahead.
"Macloud, we are going to bag those fellows right now--and easy, too,"said Croyden. "When we get to the tents, I'll take them into one--andgive them a chance to talk. When you and Axtell have the revolvers,with one for me, you can join us. They are armed, of course, but onlywith small pistols, likely, and you should have the drop on them beforethey can draw. Come, at any time--I'll let down the tent flaps on theplea of secrecy (since they've suggested it), so you can approach withimpunity."
"This is where _we_ get killed, Axtell!" said Macloud. "I would that Iwere in my happy home, or any old place but here. But I've enlisted forthe war, so here goes! If you think it will do any good to pray, we canjust as well wait until you've put up a few. I'm not much in that line,myself."
"Imagine a broker praying!" laughed Axtell.
"I can't," said Macloud. "But there seem to be no rules to the gamewe're playing, so I wanted to give you the opportunity."
As they approached the tents, Hook-nose passed the reins to Bald-headand got out.
"What's to do now?" asked Macloud. "They're separated."
"Leave it to me, I'll get them together," Croyden answered.... "Youwish to see me, privately?" to Hook-nose.
"I wish to see you--it's up to you whether to make it private or not."
"Come along!" said Croyden, leading the way toward the tent, which waspitched a trifle to one side.... "Now, sir, what is it?" as the flapsdropped behind them.
"You've a business way about you, which I like----" began Hook-nose.
"Never mind my ways!" Croyden interrupted. "Come to the point--what doyou want?"
"There's no false starts with you, my friend, are there!" laughed theother. "That's the thing--bang! and we are off. Good!--we'll get tobusiness. You lost a letter recently----"
"Not at all," Croyden cut in. "I had a letter _stolen_--you, I suppose,are the thief."
"I, or my pal--it matters not which," the fellow replied easily. "Now,what we want, is to make some arrangement as to the division of thetreasure, when you've found it."
"I thought as much!" said Croyden. "Well, let me tell you there won'tbe any arrangement made with you, alone. You must get your pal here--Idon't agree with one. I agree with both or none."
"Oh, very well, I'll have him in, if you wish."
Croyden bowed.
"I do wish," he said.
Hook-nose went to the front of the tent and raised the flap.
"Bill!" he called, "hitch the horse and come in."
And Macloud and Axtell heard and understood.
While Hook-nose was summoning his partner, Croyden very naturallyretired to the rear of the tent, thus obliging the rogues to keep theirbacks to the entrance.
"Mr. Smith, this is Mr. Croyden!" said Hook-nose.
"I'm glad to make your acquaint----" began Smith.
"There is no need for an introduction," Croyden interrupted curtly."You're thieves, by profession, and blackmailers, in addition. Get downto business, if you please!"
"You're not overly polite, my friend--but we'll pass that by. You'rehell for business, and that's our style. You understand, I see, thatthis treasure hunt has got to be kept quiet. If anyone peaches, theGovernment's wise and
Parmenter's chest is dumped into its strongbox--that is, as much as is left after the officials get their ownflippers out. Now, my idea is for you people to do the searching, and,when the jewels is found, me and Bill will take half and youn's half.Then we all can knock off work, and live respectable."
"Rather a good bargain for you," said Croyden. "We supply theinformation, do all the work and give up half the spoils--for what,pray?"
"For our silence, and an equal share in the information. You havedoubtless forgot that we have the letter now."
"And what if I refuse?" Croyden asked.
"You're not likely to refuse!" the fellow laughed, impudently. "Betterhalf a big loaf than no loaf at all."
"But _if_ I refuse?" Croyden repeated.
"I see what's in your mind, all right. But it won't work, and you knowit. You can have us arrested, yes--and lose your plunder. Parmenter'smoney belongs to the United States because it's buried in United Statesland. A word to the Treasury Department, with the old pirate's letter,and the jig is up. We'll risk your giving us to the police, my friend!"with a sneering laugh. "If you're one to throw away good money, I missmy guess."
Croyden affected to consider.
"I forgot to say, that as you're fixed so comfortable here, me and Billmight as well stay with you--it will be more convenient, when youuncover the chest, you know; in the excitement, you're liable to forgetthat we come in for a share."
"Anything else you are moved to exact?" said Croyden. His ears wereprimed, and they told him that Macloud and Axtell were coming--"Let ushave them all, so I can decide--I want no afterthoughts."
"You've got them all--and very reasonable they are!" laughedHook-nose.
Just then, Macloud and Axtell stepped noiselessly into the tent.
Something in Croyden's face caused Hook-nose's laugh to end abruptly.He swung sharply around--and faced Macloud's leveled revolver--Axtell'scovered his pal.
"Hands up! Both of you!"--Croyden cried--"None of that,Hook-nose!--make another motion to draw a gun, and we'll scatter yourbrains like chickenfeed." His own big revolver was sticking out ofMacloud's pocket. He took it. "Now, I'll look after you, while myfriends tie up your pal, and the first one to open his head gets abullet down his throat."
"Hands behind your back, Bald-head," commanded Axtell, briskly. "Bequick about it, Mr. Macloud is wonderfully easy on the trigger. So,that's better! just hold them there a moment."
He produced a pair of nippers, and snapped them on.
"Now, lie down and put your feet together--closer! closer!" Anotherpair were snapped on them.
"Now, I'll do for you," Axtell remarked, turning toward Hook-nose.
With Croyden's and Macloud's guns both covering him, the fellow wasquickly secured.
"With your permission, we will search you," said Croyden. "Macloud, ifyou will look to Mr. Smith, I'll attend to Hook-nose. We'll give them ataste of their own medicine."
"You think you're damn smart!" exclaimed Hook-nose.
"Shut up!" said Croyden. "I don't care to shoot a prisoner, but I'll doit without hesitation. It's going to be either perfect quiet orpermanent sleep--and you may do the choosing."
He slowly went through Hook-nose's clothes--finding a small pistol,several well-filled wallets, and, in his inside waistcoat pocket, theParmenter letter. Macloud did the same for Bald-head.
"You stole one hundred and seventy-nine dollars from Mr. Macloud andone hundred and eight from me," said Croyden. "You may now have theprivilege of returning it, and the letter. If you make no more trouble,lie quiet and take your medicine, you'll receive no further harm. Ifyou're stubborn, we'll either kill you and dump your bodies in the Bay,or give you up to the police. The latter would be less trouble, for,without the letter, you can tell your story to the Department, orwhomever else you please--it's your word against ours--and you arethieves!"
"How long are you going to hold us prisoners?" asked Bald-head--"tillyou find the treasure? Oh, Lord!"
"As long as it suits our convenience."
"And luck is with you," Hook-nose sneered.
"At present, it _is_ with us--very much with us, my friend," saidCroyden. "You will excuse us, now, we have pressing business,elsewhere."
When they were out of hearing, Macloud said:
"Doesn't our recovery of Parmenter's letter change things verymaterially?"
"It seems to me it does," Croyden answered. "Indeed, I think we needfear the rogues no longer--we can simply have them arrested for thetheft of our wallets, or even release them entirely."
"Arrest is preferable," said Macloud. "It will obviate all danger ofour being shot at long range, by the beggars. Let us put them wherethey're safe, for the time."
"But the arrest must not be made here!" interposed Croyden. "We can'tsend for the police: if they find them here it would give color totheir story of a treasure on Greenberry Point."
"Then Axtell and I will remain on guard, while you go to town andarrange for their apprehension--say, just as they come off the Severnbridge. When you return, we can release them."
"What if they don't cross the Severn--what if they scent our game, andkeep straight on to Baltimore? They can abandon their team, and catch aShort Line train at a way station."
"Then the Baltimore police can round them up. I'm for chancing it.They've lost Parmenter's letter; haven't anything to substantiate theirstory. Furthermore, we have a permit for the Chairman of the NavalAffairs Committee and friends to camp here. I think that, now, we canafford to ignore them--the recovery of the letter was exceedinglylucky."
"Very good!" said Macloud--"you're the one to be satisfied; it's awhole heap easier than running a private prison ourselves."
Croyden looked the other's horse over carefully, so he could describeit accurately, then they hitched up their own team and he drove off toAnnapolis.
In due time, he returned.
"It's all right!" he said. "I told the Mayor we had passed two men onthe Severn bridge whom we identified as those who picked our pockets,Wednesday evening, in Carvel Hall--and gave him the necessarydescriptions. He recognized the team as one of 'Cheney's Best,' andwill have the entire police force--which consists of four men--waitingat the bridge on the Annapolis side." He looked at his watch. "They arethere, now, so we can turn the prisoners loose."
Croyden and Macloud resumed their revolvers, and returned to thetent--to be greeted with a volley of profanity which, for fluency andvocabulary, was distinctly marvelous. Gradually, it died away--for wantof breath and words.
"Choice! Choice!" said Croyden. "In the cuss line, you two are the realthing. Why didn't you open up sooner?--you shouldn't hide suchproficiency from an admiring world."
Whereat it flowed forth afresh from Hook-nose. Bald-head, however,remained quiet, and there was a faint twinkle in his eyes, as though hecaught the humor of the situation. They were severely cramped, and inconsiderable pain, but their condition was not likely to be benefitedby swearing at their captors.
"Just listen to him!" said Croyden, as Hook-nose took a fresh start."Did you ever hear his equal!... Now, if you'll be quiet a moment, likeyour pal, we will tell you something that possibly you'll not be averseto hear.... So, that's better. We're about to release you--let you gofree; it's too much bother to keep you prisoners. These little toy gunsof yours, however, we shall throw into the Bay, in interest of thepublic peace. May we trouble you, Mr. Axtell, to remove the bonds?...Thank you! Now, you may arise and shake yourselves--you'll, likely,find the circulation a trifle restricted, for a few minutes."
Hook-nose gave him a malevolent look, but made no reply, Bald-headgrinned broadly.
"Now, if you have sufficiently recovered, we will escort you to yourcarriage! Forward, march!"
And with the two thieves in front, and the three revolvers bringing upthe rear, they proceeded to the buggy. The thieves climbed in.
"We wish you a very good day!" said Croyden. "Drive on, please!"
In Her Own Right Page 10
