The Secret of the Reef

by Harold Bindloss

  CHAPTER XXVIII--A TRUCE

  When Jimmy sighted the island where the wreck lay, there was a ghostlywhite glimmer among the mist that hung heavily along the shore. Most ofthe land was hidden, but the bank of vapor had a solidity and sharpnessof outline that indicated the existence of something behind it. The windwas light, but it freshened as they crept on under easy sail, and thefog rolling back from the water revealed a broad and roughly levelstreak that glittered in the morning light. Nearer at hand two talldetached masses shone a cold gray-white on a strip of indigo sea. Thenthe vapor dropped again like a curtain as the breeze died away.

  "Ice!" commented Moran. "Guess we've got here too soon."

  "It seemed to be banked up north of the point," Bethune remarked. "Iimagine we'll be pretty safe in the bight unless some of that thin,cutting stuff is drifting about."

  Jimmy hove the boat to and lighted his pipe.

  "The matter needs thinking over, and we'll wait a bit for a betterview," he said. "It doesn't look as if we could get to work just yet,and if any big floes drove across the banks at high-water, we'd beawkwardly placed in the bight. On the other hand, the ice will probablyhang about until a strong breeze breaks it up, and I don't want to keepthe sea in wild weather while it's in the neighborhood. The fog comesdown thick and the nights are still dark."

  The others agreed to this and were afterward moodily silent. Whichevercourse they took there would be delay. It had been a relief to find thatthey had reached the island first, but they had no doubt that Clay wasnot far behind them. All they had gained by an earlier start might besacrificed unless they could finish their task before he arrived.

  The fog held all day and grew thicker when darkness fell; but the reddawn brought a clearer air with signs of a change, and Jimmy steeredshoreward, sweeping the beach with his glasses as they approached thechannel through the sands. That end of the island was free of ice, andafter consulting together they decided to enter the bight. They thoughtthey would be safer there, and they wanted to feel that the voyage wasfinished and they were ready to get to work. During the afternoon itbegan to blow strongly off the shore. The sloop lay in smooth waterclose to the beach, but when night fell the surf was roaring on thesands and they could hear the crash of rending ice. At times the din wasawe-striking, but it died away again, and although they kept anchorwatch in turns no floe appeared to trouble them. At dawn the greaterpart of the ice had gone, and they could see white patches shining farout at sea, but it was blowing much too hard for them to think ofleaving shelter.

  They waited two days, anxiously watching for a trail of smoke, butnothing broke the skyline, and at last the breeze fell. It was a flatcalm when they towed the _Cetacea_ out on a gray morning, but the swellran steep and a thin drizzle obscured the sea. The sloop plunged wildlyover the long undulations, jerking back the dory in spite of her crew'stoil at the oars, and it was nearly noon when they picked up theircross-bearings and anchored by the wreck. Nobody suggested gettingdinner and Jimmy went down as soon as he could put on the diving dress.He found the wreck, which freed him of a keen anxiety, but he had tocome up without entering the hold. She had moved a short distance sincehe last saw her, and now lay almost on her beam-ends with her upperworks badly shattered. The gap they had previously crept through wasclosed by broken beams. Jimmy supposed that heavy ice, floating deep inthe water, had ground across her higher part as it drove out to sea.

  Moran went down next, and reported on his return that an entrance mightbe made, with some trouble. Bethune went armed with a crowbar. Bynightfall they had wrenched away several obstructing timbers anddiscovered that there was a good deal of sand to be moved. They ate ahearty supper and went to sleep. The work was the same the next day, butalthough they began as soon as it was light they realized by noon thatthe most they could hope for was to clear the way for an entrance on themorrow. All felt the effects of their labors and of breathing thecompressed air, and when it was Jimmy's turn to go down toward evening,he leaned on the coaming, reluctant to put on the dress.

  "I'll be ready when I've finished this pipe," he said. "You'd betterscrew up that pump-gland in the meanwhile. I didn't get as much air as Iwanted last time."

  Moran set about it, and, though time was precious, Jimmy did not try tohurry him, but stood listlessly looking out to sea. A fine rain wasfalling, there was very little wind, and belts of fog streaked the dimgray water between him and the horizon. He was watching one belt when itseemed to open and a blurred shape crept out. Jimmy dropped his pipe andscrambled to the cabin top. He could distinguish a patch of white hulland a tall mast. As he called to the others a short funnel appeared, anda trail of smoke lay dark along the edge of the fog.

  "We don't need the glasses to tell whose boat that is," he said harshly.

  They knew her at the first glance and their faces hardened.

  "Clay's lost no time," Bethune remarked. "Well, I suppose it means afight, and we'll gain nothing by running away now, but we may as wellstop diving until we find out whether it's worth while to go on."

  After securing the pumps and gear they waited, watching the yacht'sapproach. She came straight on at moderate speed, and stopped three orfour hundred yards away. They saw the anchor splash and heard a rattleof chain, but after that there was no sign of activity on board thevessel.

  "It's my opinion Clay knows who we are," Moran said.

  "You can take that for granted," Bethune replied. "We'll hear from himbefore long, but he doesn't mean to show any eagerness in sending a boatoff. As time's getting on, I think we'll have supper."

  As they finished the meal a smart gig, pulled by uniformed seamen,approached the sloop, and when she stopped alongside the helmsman handedJimmy two notes.

  Opening them in the cabin, he showed his companions two sheets of finepaper bearing an embossed flag and the vessel's name. One note statedthat Mr. Clay requested their company at supper on board his yacht, andthe other, which was longer, was from Aynsley. He said that although hewas not sure they had much cause to remember him with gratitude, hewould be glad to see them, and hoped they would not refuse his father'sinvitation.

  "Do you think Clay made him write this?" Jimmy asked.

  "No," said Bethune. "On the whole, I imagine it was sent without Clay'sknowledge. Of course, Aynsley had some reason for writing, but while Ican't tell what it is, he's not in the plot."

  "Anyway, I'm not going; I've no wish to sit at that man's table."

  Bethune grinned as he indicated his pilot jacket, which was shrunk andstained by salt-water, and his old sea-boots.

  "Our get-up's hardly smart enough for a yacht's saloon; and I've anotion that it might be wiser to stay where we are. Still, we'll have tosee him before long, and you'd better write a civil refusal; though I'mafraid we can't match his decorative stationery."

  Jimmy tore a leaf out of his notebook and scribbled a few moments with apencil. Then he read to his comrades:

  _"Mr. Farquhar and his friends regret their inability to leave their boat, but would esteem Mr. Clay's company if he cares to visit them."_

  "Bully!" exclaimed Bethune. "You've sealed it with a thumb-mark,and--well, we haven't an envelope."

  When the gig's crew rowed away with the note the three men gatheredtogether in the little cabin.

  "Will he come, do you think?" Moran asked.

  "Oh, yes; but he'll take his time, and get his supper firstcomfortably," Bethune replied. "I'm rather anxious about the thing,because if he doesn't come we can look out for trouble."

  "If that's what he wants, he'll get it," Moran drawled, from his corneron a locker.

  Jimmy sat smoking in thoughtful silence. He had learned that Clay wascunning and unscrupulous; and, if worse came to worse, they were cut offfrom any outside help by leagues of lonely sea. Their enemy had a strongcrew who were, no doubt, well paid and ready to do his bidding; forJimmy knew that Clay would not have sailed on such an errand with men hecould not trust. The sloop's party would be hopelessly outmatched if heused
force; and it would be difficult to obtain redress afterward,because they were only three in number, and all interested in theundertaking, while Clay would have many witnesses, who could claim to beindependent. The situation needed careful handling, and Jimmy was gladthat Bethune was on board. For all that, if things came to the worst,Clay should not find them easy victims.

  Presently he went out to look at the weather. The rain had stopped andlow mist hung about, but a half-moon was rising in a patch of clear sky.The swell heaved, long and smooth, about the sloop, which swung up anddown with a regular motion. Jimmy could see the yacht's anchor light notfar away and the yellow blink from her saloon windows, but he could hearnothing that suggested preparations for sending off a boat. As it wascold in the cockpit, he returned to the cabin, where the others hadlighted the lamp, and none of them said much for the next hour. Theycould hear the loose halyards slap the mast and the water splash aboutbeneath the floorings, and the soft lapping of the tide along theplanking.

  Moran suddenly raised his hand, and, after their long wait in suspense,it was a relief to hear the measured splash of oars.

  "That means he's willing to make terms," Bethune said.

  Five minutes later the yacht's boat ran alongside and Clay climbed onboard.

  "You can take a run ashore, boys, and come off when we signal," he saidto his crew, and then turned to Jimmy. "I've come for a talk."

  "Will you come below," said Jimmy, moving back the scuttle-slide. "Becareful how you get down: there's not much room."

  Clay bumped his head before he found a place on a locker, where he satsilent for a moment, looking about. The light of the bulkhead lamprevealed the rough discomfort of the narrow cabin. Condensed moistureglistened on the low roof-beams; the floorings were damp and litteredwith coils of rope. The end of a torn sail projected from the forecastledoor, and damp blankets were loosely spread on the lockers to dry in thewarmth of the rusty stove. All this indicated stern, utilitarianeconomy, and the men's ragged, work-stained clothes were in keeping withit; but Clay noticed that their expression was resolute.

  In the meanwhile they were studying him, and it struck them that helooked ill. His face was flabby and there were heavy pouches under hiseyes.

  "So my invitation didn't bring you off!" he said. "Were you afraid Imight carry you out to sea?"

  "Not exactly," Bethune replied. "One would not suspect you of so crude aplan. Can't you take it that we were afraid of a change of wind? Yousee, it's a rather exposed position."

  "That's so," Clay agreed; "you have no steam to help you ride out abreeze. But we'll get down to business. I made you an offer of fivethousand dollars to give me the first chance of cleaning up this wreck.I'll now go a thousand dollars better."

  "Is that your limit?"

  "It is; you'll save time by realizing it. I've bid up to the last cent Ithink worth while."

  "Suppose we decline?"

  "You would be foolish. You have no claim on the wreck; in a sense, Ihave, and if we can't come to some understanding I begin work at once.My yacht can hang on through a gale of wind and with our outfit we canget something done in pretty bad weather. You have a small sailing-boatand poor, cheap gear. As soon as a breeze gets up you'll have to quit."

  "I imagine you haven't yet mentioned all your advantages over us,"Bethune suggested.

  Clay looked at him keenly and then smiled. "That's so. I'm trying to bepolite."

  "In fact, you're keeping your strongest arguments in reserve. Unless weagree to your proposition, there's not much chance of our recoveringanything from the wreck?"

  "You're pretty near the mark," Clay answered, smiling confidently.

  "The odds seem against us. Perhaps I'd better be candid. The truth is,we have already recovered something of importance."

  Clay's expression became intent.

  "Then you're smarter than I thought and you played your hand well thelast time I met you. However, it will probably save us all trouble if weput our cards on the table. What have you got?"

  Bethune took out his notebook.

  "To begin with, two bags of gold; the weight and marks, so far as wecould make the latter out--"

  "Shucks!" interrupted Clay. "They don't count. You can keep your shareof their salvage. Come to the point."

  "One iron-clamped, sealed case. The stencil marks, although partlyobliterated, appear to be D.O.C. in a circle; the impress on the sealsto attached tracing. Contents"--Bethune paused and looked steadily atClay--"I dare say you know what these are?"

  "Do you?" Clay asked sharply.

  "We opened the case."

  There was silence for a few moments and all were very still. Clay'svoice was not so steady when he spoke again.

  "Where is the case?"

  "Not here," said Bethune dryly. "If we don't turn up to claim it withina fixed time, or if any attempt is made to obtain possession of it inour absence it will be handed to the underwriters."

  "You seem to have taken precautions," Clay remarked.

  "We did the best we could," Bethune admitted with a modest air.

  "Imagining that you might sell the box to me?"

  "No!" Jimmy interposed sternly. "That was not our plan. When my partnerfirst let you make an offer for the wreck--"

  Clay stopped him with a gesture.

  "It was to lead me on--you needn't explain. Very well; I suggestedputting our cards down, and now I'll tell you something you don'tsuspect. There's a duplicate of that box on board and it contains thegold."

  Jimmy started, Moran gazed at Clay with knitted brows, and Bethunelooked frankly puzzled. Clay seemed quietly amused at their surprise.

  "You don't understand?" he said. "After all, there's no reason why youshould do so; but the truth of my statement is easily tested. Now I'llask you a question to which I want a straight answer. What are you goingto do with the gold you get?"

  "Deliver it to the underwriters and claim salvage," said Jimmy promptly.

  "That's all? You have no other plans?"

  "That is all."

  "Then I'll exchange the case which holds the gold for the one you have.You can't recover it without my help."

  For a time no one spoke. The three partners looked at one another inperplexed indecision, while Clay sat quietly still. There was a mysterybehind the matter to which they could find no clue, and Clay wouldobviously not supply it. They did not know what to think.

  "Do you know where to find this case?" Bethune asked.

  "I believe so. I suggest that one of you come down to help me; Mr.Farquhar for preference."

  "Then you think of going down!" Jimmy exclaimed.

  "I am going down the first thing to-morrow, whether you come or not. Butwhat about my offer?"

  "We can't answer yet," said Bethune. "It needs some thought."

  "Very well," Clay agreed. "For all that, I must make a start in themorning. If you prefer, we can let the matter stand over until we findthe case." He paused and smiled at Jimmy. "You don't look a nervous manand you needn't hesitate. I've never put on a diving dress and you havehad some experience; and I'm willing to use your boat and let yourfriends control the pumps."

  "I'm not afraid," retorted Jimmy. "The difficulty is that the way intothe strong-room is not yet open. It will take at least a day to removethe sand that has banked up against the opening."

  "Then I suppose I must wait, but I'll send my diver across to help youat daybreak," said Clay. "When everything is ready you can let me know.Now, if you have no suggestion to make, I think I'll get back."

  Moran signaled to the boat's crew, and when Clay had gone they sat downagain in the cabin with thoughtful faces.

  "I'll admit that things have taken an unexpected turn," Bethuneremarked. "It's obvious that we're on the track of a secret of someimportance which might explain a cunning fraud, but the matter'scomplicated by the shipping of the genuine box of gold, and I can'tdetermine yet how far it's our business to investigate it."

  "You don't seem so ready at forming theories as u
sual," Jimmy commented.

  "I've made one or two and they look rather plausible until you testthem. However, as it might be dangerous to jump to conclusions about thecourse we ought to take, I think we'd better wait. And now, as we're tostart at daybreak, it might be wise to go to sleep."