by Kirk Munroe
CHAPTER XIII.
A PRISONER OF WAR.
With the disappearance of the launches our lads realised that it wastime to make new plans for immediate action. So, as they walked slowlyback towards the village, they earnestly discussed the situation.
"It is too bad that I have drawn you into such a scrape," said White,"and the very first thing for me to do is to make an effort to get youout of it. So, if you like, I will drive you over to the station thisafternoon, where you can take the morning train for St. Johns."
"No," replied Cabot, "that wouldn't do at all. In the first place, youdidn't draw me into the scrape. I went into it with my eyes open, andam quite ready to stand by what I have done. In fact I rather enjoy itthan otherwise. At the same time I do not propose to be arrested if Ican help it, and for that reason do not care to visit St. Johns atpresent. Even at the railway station we should be very likely to meetand be recognised by some of our recent unpleasant naval acquaintances.Besides, I am going to see this thing through, and shall stand by youjust as long as I can be of any service, for I hope you don't think someanly of me as to imagine that I would desert in the time of histrouble the fellow who saved my life."
"I never for one moment thought meanly of you," declared White, "and Iknow that in rescuing you from that raft I also gained for myself oneof the best friends I ever had. For that very reason, though, I don'twant to abuse your friendship."
"All right," laughed Cabot. "Whenever I feel abused I'll let you know.And now, it being settled that we are to fight this thing out together,what do you propose to do with the pack we have worked so hard to make?"
"I don't know," replied White, despondently; "but, as it is legallyyour property, I think you ought to decide what is to be done with it."
"Nonsense!" retorted Cabot. "It no more really belongs to me than itdoes to that black-faced Frenchman. At the same time I'd fight ratherthan let him have it."
"I'd toss every case into the sea first," cried White, "and everythingthe factory contains besides."
"'Same here,' as the Englishman said; but I guess we can do better thanthat. Why not accept Captain Bland's offer, and trade it to him forgroceries?"
"I thought you were opposed to receiving smuggled goods?"
"So I am on general principles," admitted Cabot, "but circumstancesalter cases. I consider the highway robbery that two of the mostpowerful nations of the world are attempting right here a circumstancestrong enough to alter any case. So I would advise you to accept theonly offer now remaining open. You will at least get enough groceriesto keep your family supplied for a year."
"I should say so, and for two years more, provided the goods didn'tspoil."
"Then you might sell what you couldn't use."
"Where?" asked White. "Not in Newfoundland, for they would be seizedas contraband in any part of the island. Besides, you seem to forgetthat as both of us are liable to arrest, we are hardly in a position togo into the grocery business just at present."
"That's so. Well, then, why not carry them somewhere else in the 'SeaBee'? To Canada, or--I have it! You said something once about makinga trading trip to Labrador, and now is the very opportunity. Whyshouldn't we take the goods to Labrador? I don't believe we'd bearrested in that country, even for smuggling, and they must need a lotof provisions up there. It's the very thing, and the sooner we canarrange to be off the better."
"But you don't want to go to Labrador," protested White.
"Don't I? There's where you make a big mistake; for I do want to go toLabrador more than to any other place I know of. Also I would rathergo there with you in the 'Sea Bee' than in any other company, or by anyother conveyance. So there you are, and if you don't invite me tostart for Labrador before that brass-bound navy chap has a chance toarrest me, I shall consider myself a victim of misplaced confidence."
"I do believe you have hit upon the very best way out of our troubles,"said White, thoughtfully. "If I could arrange to leave mother, and ifthe Yankee captain would make a part payment in cash, so that she andCola could get along until my return, I believe I would go."
"You can leave your mother and sister now as well as when you went toSt. Johns, and better, for I am sure David Gidge would look out forthem during the month or so that we'll be away."
"But David would have to go along to help work the schooner."
"I don't see why. You and I could manage without him, and so save hiswages, or his share of the voyage, which would amount to the samething. If one man can sail a 30-foot boat around the world alone, asCaptain Slocum did, two of us certainly ought to be able to take a50-foot schooner up to Labrador and back. Any way I'm game to try it,if you are, and I'd a heap rather risk it than stay here to bearrested. There is Captain Bland now. Let's go and talk with him."
The Yankee skipper stood near the shattered door of the factory incompany with a number of villagers, all of whom seemed greatlyinterested in something going on inside. As our lads drew near thesemade way for them, and Captain Bland said:
"'Pears like the new owner is making himself perfectly at home."
Inside the factory the Frenchman Delom, who had remained behind to makegood his claim to the confiscated property of his rival, was too busilyat work to pay any attention to the disparaging remarks and mutteredthreats of those whom he had forbidden to enter. He had collected allthe tools and lighter machinery into a pile ready for removal, and wasnow marking with his own stencil such of the filled cases as remainedon the lower floor.
So dreaded was the power of France on that English coast that up tothat moment no one had dared interfere with him, but Cabot Grant wasnot troubled by a fear of France or any other nation, and, as herealised what was going on, he sprang into the building. The nextinstant our young football player had that Frenchman by the collar andwas rushing him towards the doorway. From it he projected him soviolently that the man measured his length on the ground a full rodbeyond it.
Livid with rage at this assault, the Frenchman scrambled to his feet,whipped out an ugly-looking knife, and started towards Cabot withmurderous intent.
Livid with rage, the Frenchman whipped out anugly-looking knife.]
"No you don't," shouted Captain Bland, and in another moment MonsieurDelom's arms were pinioned behind him, while he struggled helplessly inthe iron grasp of the Yankee skipper.
"I think we'd better tie him," remarked the latter quietly. "'Tain'tsafe to let a varmint like this loose on any community."
White produced a rope and was stepping forward with it, but Cabot tookit from him, saying: "For the sake of your family you mustn't haveanything to do with this affair." So he and Captain Bland bound theFrenchman hand and foot, took away his knife, and carried him forpresent safe keeping to a small, dark building that was used for thestorage of fish oil. Here they locked him in, and left him to meditateat leisure on the fate of those who have done to them, what they woulddo to others if they could.
"Well," said Captain Bland, at the conclusion of this incident, "youyoung fellers always seem to have something interesting on hand; whatare you going to do next? Are you going to skin out, or wait for thereturn of the French and English fleets? I'd like to know, 'cause Iwant to be getting a move on; but if there's going to be any more fun Iexpect I'll have to wait and take it in."
"I expect our next move depends very largely on you, captain," repliedWhite. "Are you still willing to trade your cargo for our pack?"
"I might be, and then again I mightn't," answered the Yankee, as hemeditatively chewed a blade of grass. "You see, the risk of the thinghas been so increased during the past two days that I couldn't makenigh so good an offer now as I could at first. Also, here's so manyclaiming the pack of this factory that I'm in considerable doubt as towho is the rightful owner. First there's the Baldwin interest and theAmerican interest, represented by you two chaps. Then there's the St.Johns interest, represented by that travelling man; the Britishinterest, which is a mighty powerful one, seein
g that it is supportedby the English navy; the French government interest, which is likewisebacked up by a fleet of warships, and the French factory interest,represented by our friend in limbo, who, though he isn't saying muchjust now, seems to have a pretty strong political pull. So, on thewhole, the ownership appears to be muddled, and the pack itself subjectto a good many conflicting claims. I expect also that the factoryworkmen and the lobster catchers have some sort of a lien on it forservices rendered."
"Look here, Captain Bland," said Cabot, "we understand perfectly thatall you have just said is trade talk, made to depreciate the value ofour goods, and you know as well as I do that they have but one rightfulowner."
"Who is that?" asked the skipper with an air of interest.
"Mrs. William Baldwin."
"But I thought she deeded the property to you."
"So she did; but as I am not yet of age that deed is worth no more thanthe paper on which it is written."
"You don't mean it. What a whopping big bluff it was then!" criedCaptain Bland, admiringly. "Beats any I ever heard of, and I'm proudto know 'twas a Yankee that worked it. What you say does alter thesituation considerable, and I'd like to have Miss Baldwin's own viewson the subject of a trade."
In accordance with this wish an adjournment was made to the house,where Mrs. Baldwin assured the Yankee skipper of her willingness toabide by any agreement made with him by her son and Mr. Grant.
"Which so simplifies matters, ma'am," replied the captain, "that Ithink we may consider a trade as already effected, and make bold to saythat this season's pack of the Pretty Harbour lobster factory will besold somewhere's else besides Newfoundland."
