Sea-Dogs All!
Page 28
Chapter XXVIII.
THE PARLOUR OF THE "BLUE DOLPHIN."
On the Cornish side of the Sound, and directly facing the harbour ofPlymouth, lay a snug fisher village. In the gray, weather-beatenchurch were plentiful records of the births, marriages, and deaths ofthe Pengellys. The homeless and wandering Dan might have claimedrelationship with half the inhabitants of the place had he chosen to doso. Yet, being Plymouth born and at sea four-fifths of his time, hehad never visited the place since his boyhood. He thought less of avoyage to the Indies than of a trip across the estuary of the Tamar.And in this place, that echoed with his family name, and where hehimself might walk as a stranger, lodged the man he sought in everystreet, byway, and tavern in Plymouth.
Dan had been down to the _Golden Boar_, and had talked with CaptainDrake and Master Morgan. They wanted news of his papers; he could givethem none.
"Then," said John Drake, "we can wait here no longer. Maybe thy paperswould give us the very route to 'El Dorado's' land, and save us a worldof danger and trouble; maybe they are about some other matter entirely.In any case, I must sail in three days' time. We are thoroughly armed,manned, and victualled; winter is gone, and the winds will serve. 'Tiswestward ho! and take the risks that other bold fellows have takenbefore us. Yet I had rather the little priest had not gotten themanuscript from thee. The cunning thief may be garnering gold whilstwe but reap wounds and fever. The New World is a big place, theOrinoco a mighty stream; no man can say what lands lie along itsmargin, and what mighty nations dwell on those lands. I have no fearof the night, but 'tis a good thing to have a lantern in hand when onewalks in dark places."
Master Morgan agreed, and Dan resolved upon a desperate attempt torecover his lost treasure. He left the harbour, sought and found theJohnsons, and formulated a plan of action.
An hour or so later, Nick and Ned and the two stranger mariners enteredthe "Blue Dolphin," and begged the landlady to grant them the use ofher parlour, as they wished to talk over a private matter of greatimportance. The good woman assented with pleasure, and promised themfreedom from interruption. They went in, and upon their very heelscame Dan. He said something to the hostess in a low voice. Sheprotested volubly and angrily. He wheedled and coaxed, and at length,very reluctantly, she relented. Dan tapped at the door thriceseparately and significantly. "This is our friend," said Nick Johnson,and he opened the door to admit him who knocked. The strangers staredat Dan; but, never having seen him before, had no suspicion of hisidentity.
All five sat down at the table, the two strangers with their backs tothe fireplace, the three friends facing them, with their backs to thedoor. Dan did the talking, addressing himself to Basil's henchmen.
"These two good fellows," he said, "old shipmates of mine, havearranged this pleasant meeting at my request. I have heard somewhat ofyou, and learn that we are all greatly interested in a certain matter.If I just mention 'Indies,' 'Dons,' 'gold,' you will guess the run ofmy thoughts."
The strangers nodded, and settled themselves into an attitude of closerattention.
"There's a vessel in harbour almost ready to weigh anchor for the landof the setting sun. Her aim is treasure. I sail in her, and I am inthe secret councils of her captain. Do you follow my thoughts?"
"Perfectly. You've some bold business on hand for dipping your handsdeep into the spoil of the voyage, and you want a few bold blades atyour back. Say no more. Get us aboard, and when you give the signalwe're with you. To tell you the truth, we were planning some suchscheme ourselves, but could see no chance of a berth on the vessel."
"I'm glad you're the stout fellows I took you to be. Now, don't besurprised at what I say next. I have more than one man's secretslocked in my bosom." Dan turned to Nick Johnson. "Just make surethere are no eavesdroppers," he said.
Nick looked out into the passage. "Not a mouse stirring."
"Then, whilst thou art on thy legs, fetch in some ale. Our newcomrades would like to toast our enterprise."
Dan leaned back in silence whilst Nick did his errand. Healths weredrunk without words--just a nod, as much as to say, "To you, my hearty!"
Dan leaned across the table. "A thin, wiry, sallow-faced man;black-haired, black-eyed, supple as an eel, cunning as a cat; a scholarand travelled gentleman, who might easily be a cut-throat; one whoprofesses the old faith, and swears by the Pope--ye know him?"
The elder of the two spies licked his lips uneasily, looked hurriedlyfrom his companion to Dan, and from Dan back to his companion. Thelatter stared and blinked his eyes in embarrassment.
"Ye helped him in a little job in this very house about three monthsago," pursued Dan. "D'ye know what he got out of it?"
"No."
"The very thing we want to get out of him. A sailor hid some papers inthis very house--papers that point the way to untold wealth, the way to'El Dorado's' land. I was with him when he learned the secret, andhurried back here to lay hands upon the precious packet. I was alittle behind time. Now, if we are going in the _Golden Boar_, we mustcarry those papers with us. Ye both unwittingly played stalking-horsewhilst another man got the treasure."
"And he paid us scurvily, the yellow-faced rascal!" cried the spies.
"And he will pay ye scurvily for spying upon the _Golden Boar_ andMaster Morgan, whom he hates. D'ye see how well I know the fellow andall his secrets? I could hang him an I could but lay hands on him.Are we to go on a blind expedition to the Indies, he laughing at usfrom the quayside, and straightway fitting a vessel at his leisure togarner in the wealth we may search for in vain?"
"By the saints, no! But we took him for an honester man."
"Ye did not know him; I do. Now, where is he to be found? There is notime to lose. I know he's not far off, but I had rather not wasteprecious hours in searching for him."
The two rascals, astonished at Dan's knowledge of their doings, fellinto the trap he set for them. They jumped up. "We'll take ye to himat once!"
"Softly, friends! I know my man and his ways. Did he but catch sightof five of us approaching his hiding-place, we should never get aglimpse of him. Did he but see me with ye, our quest were in vain.Have I not said I know enough of him to hang him? Leave the businessto me, and wait here with my friends. Would ye send five dogs barkingand tearing through a wood to trap one fox? One silent hound, with agood nose, sharp teeth, silent tongue, and a knowledge of the fox'sways, would serve the purpose better. Let me know the lie of his den,and trust me for the rest."
The fellows fell in with Dan's plan. Truth to tell, they had seen alittle of the sinister side of Basil's character, and had a prettywholesome dread of him. Their new friend, who knew his man so well,was best fitted for the dangerous enterprise. They wished him joy ofit, and would be content to share its fruits. To Dan's astonishment,they told him that Basil was hiding across the Sound in his ownancestral village.
"Heart o' me!" he exclaimed, "he is mine! Yon place is filled with myown kith and kin. The fox is in a very ring of dogs."
"Get not too many helpers, friend," said Nick cunningly, "else will thespoil be split into too many portions."
"Well argued!" exclaimed Basil's dupes. "Too many hands in themeal-tub means small share apiece."
"Never fear, comrades. A buss on the cheek or a handshake will bepayment enough. I shall not tell them that they are helping me to layfingers on the wealth of the Indies. Will ye take another flagon towish me success? I must be going. The afternoon wears on, and nightmust be my time for work. Where shall we meet to-morrow?"
"Here, at noon," suggested Ned Johnson.
"Here, at noon," agreed Dan. He got up and went to the street door,and Nick went with him.
"Cunningly managed, Dan," he murmured. "'Tis better than putting swordto their throats and pricking out the information. Art going alone?"
"No; meet me at Ian Davey's boathouse at sunset. Let Ned keep an eyeon yon two."