Dutch the Diver; Or, A Man's Mistake

by George Manville Fenn

  STORY ONE, CHAPTER THREE.

  UNDER WATER AND UNDER CURRENT.

  "But I am not polite, my dear," said Mr Parkley. "This is Senor ManuelLorry, a gentleman from Havana. Senor, Mrs Pugh, the wife of my futurepartner, and almost my daughter."

  The Cuban bowed low as the young Englishwoman rose and looked anxiouslyat him, her eyes falling directly, and she blushed vividly, as thoughher fair young cheeks were scorched beneath his ardent gaze.

  A pang shot through the breast of Dutch Pugh; but the eyes were raisedagain to his with so naive and innocent a look that the pain wasassuaged, and he crossed to her side.

  "Well, Senor," said Mr Parkley, "I am to see that you are not imposedupon, so you are in my charge."

  "I know so much of the straightforward honesty of the English, sir, thatI am glad to be in your hands."

  "That's complimentary," said Mr Parkley.

  "It is true, sir," said the Cuban, bowing.

  "Very well, then," said Mr Parkley, "we'll begin by trusting oneanother fully. Well, Rasp, what is it now?"

  "Here's Sam Oakum just come from Barrport."

  "Well, have they got out all the copper?"

  "Not a bit of it, for the men won't go down."

  "Why?"

  "Say the engine don't supply enough air, and the receiver's bust. Won'tgo down, hany one on 'em."

  "Nonsense!"

  "John Tolly's dead or thereabouts."

  "Dead?"

  "So Sam says."

  "Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Mr Parkley. "Always something wrong.Pugh, you'll have to go down directly, and set an example, or I must.Tolly always comes up dead when he don't like a job."

  "No, no, no!" exclaimed Mrs Pugh, leaping off to catch her husband bythe arm. "He must never go down again. Promise me you will not go,"she cried, turning her ashy face up to his.

  "But she is beautiful indeed!" muttered the Cuban.

  "My darling," whispered Dutch, "be a woman. There is no danger."

  "No danger!" she wailed. "Dutch, I've dreamed night after night of someterrible trouble, and it is this. You must not--must not go."

  "My darling," he whispered. And, bending over her, he said a few wordsin her ear, which made her set her teeth firmly and try to smile, as shestood up clasping his hand.

  "I will try," she whispered--"try so hard."

  "I'm ready, Mr Parkley," said the young man, hoarsely.

  "That's right, Pugh. Go and set matters square. I'll see your wifesafe back home."

  "I leave her to you," said Dutch, in a low voice. "Good-bye, mydarling, get back home. I'll join you soon," he whispered, and hurriedout of the office.

  But as he turned for a moment, it was to see the Cuban's eyes fixed uponthe trembling girl; while the goblinlike figures against the wall seemedto be nodding and gibbering at him, as if laughing at the troubles thatassailed his breast.

  "Off down to Barrport, Mr Pug?" said Rasp, as he stood in the outeroffice.

  "Yes, instantly. Come, Oakum," he said, to a rough-looking sailor, whostood hat in hand.

  "Sharp's the word, Mr Pug," said Rasp; "but I say," he continued,pointing with his thumb over his shoulder, "that foreign chap, I don'tlike the looks o' he."

  "I tell you what it is, sir," said the rough-looking sailor, as hewalked by Dutch Pugh's side down to the station. "If I weer much alongo' that Rasp, it would soon come to a row."

  "Why, man?"

  "'Cause he's such a overbearing sort of a chap. He's one of them kindas always thinks he's skipper, and every one else is afore the mast. Ifhe'd come aboard the ship and hailed me, I should ha' ast him to sitdown on the deck and handed him the bacco; but when I comes in he sitsand stares at one orty like, and goes on taking his bacco, in a savagesorter way, up his nose, and never so much as says, `Have a pinch,mate,' or the like."

  "You don't know him, my man," said Dutch, quietly.

  "And don't want to," growled the old sailor. "I should just like tohave him aboard our vessel for a month. I'd show him how to count ten,I know."

  "Well, there are more unlikely things," said Dutch. "Perhaps he maysail with you."

  "What, are we going off, sir?" said the sailor, facing round.

  "I don't know yet," said Dutch, "but it is possible."

  "I'm glad on it," said the sailor, giving his canvas trousers a slap."I'm tired o' hanging about the coast as we do. All this diving work'svery well, but I want to get out in the blue again."

  "Tell me all about the upset over the work," said Dutch. "Is Tollybad?"

  "Not he, sir," chuckled the sailor. "I'd ha' cured him with arope's-end in about two twos. Didn't want to go down, and when theskipper turned rusty, and said as how he must, his mates takes sideswith him, and say as Mr Parkley wants to send 'em to their death, andthen the real sore place comes out--they wants a rise in the pay.`Well, then,' says the skipper, `I'll send for Mr Parkley;' and thenTolly says in his blustering way, `Ah,' he says, `I ain't afraid to godown, and if I loses my life it's all the governor's fault.' So down hegoes, and dreckly after he begins pulling his siggle rope, and theypulls him up, unscrews him, and lays him on the deck, and gives him coldgrog."

  "But was he senseless?"

  "He wasn't so senseless that he couldn't lap the grog, sir, no end; andif he warn't playing at sham Abraham, my name ain't Sam Oakum."

  Barrport was soon reached, and, boarding a small lugger, Dutch and hiscompanion were put aboard a handsomely-rigged schooner, lying about fourmiles along the coast, at anchor, by the two masts of a vessel seenabove the water. And here it was evident that arrangements had beenmade for diving, for a ladder was lashed to the side of the vessel,evidently leading down to the deck of the sunken ship, while four men indiving suits lounged against the bulwarks, their round helmets, sogreatly out of proportion to their heads, standing on a kind of rack,while the heavy leaden breast and back pieces they wore lay on theplanks.

  "Ah, Pugh," said a weather-beaten, middle-aged man, greeting Dutch as hereached the deck; "glad you've come. When I've a mutiny amongst my ownmen I know what to do; but with these fellows I'm about done, especiallyas they say the machinery is defective."

  "Of course, Captain Studwick," said Dutch aloud, "men cannot be asked torisk their lives. Here, Tolly, what is it?"

  The diver spoken to, a fat-faced, pig-eyed fellow, with an artful leerupon his countenance, sidled up.

  "The pump don't work as it should, Mr Pugh," he said. "Near prettynigh gone--warn't I, mates?"

  The others nodded.

  "Is the work below very hard?" said Dutch, quietly.

  "Well, no, sir, I don't know as it's much harder nor usual; but thecopper's heavy to move, and the way into the hold is littler nor usual;ain't it, mates?"

  "Take off your suit," said Dutch, after glancing at the men at theair-pump, and seeing that they were those he could trust.

  "It won't fit you, sir," said the man, surlily.

  "I'm the best judge of that," said Dutch; "take it off instantly."

  The man glanced at his companions, but seeing no help forthcoming fromthem, he began sulkily to take off the copper gorget and theindia-rubber garments, with the heavy leaden-soled boots, which, withthe help of the old sailor, Dutch slipped on with the ease of oneaccustomed to handle such articles; then fitting on the leaden weights--the chest and back piece--he took up the helmet, saw that the tube fromthe back was properly adjusted and connected with the air-pump, which heexamined, and then turned to Captain Studwick--

  "You'll see that no one touches the tube, Mr Studwick," he said, in alow tone. "One of those fellows might feel disposed to tamper with it."

  The captain nodded, and Dutch then lifted on the helmet, the rim ofwhich fitted exactly to the gorget, had the screws tightened, and then,with the old sailor and the captain himself seeing that the tube andsignalling cords were all right, the pump began to work, and Dutchwalked heavily to the side, took hold of the rungs of the ladder, andbegan to descend.

  In a
few moments his head had disappeared, and his blurred figure couldbe made out going down into the darkness, while a constant stream ofexhausted air which escaped from the helmet-valve kept rising in greatbubbles. The pump clanked as its pistons worked up and down, and thesailors and divers--the former eagerly and the latter in a sulkyfashion--approached the side and looked over.

  Captain Studwick himself held the signal-line, and answered the callsmade upon him for more or less air by communicating with the men at thepump; and so the minutes passed, during which time, by the necessity forlengthening out the tube and cord, it was evident that Dutch was goingover the submerged vessel in different directions. All had gone so wellthat the captain had relaxed somewhat in his watchfulness, when he wasbrought back to attention by a violent jerking of the cord.

  "More air!" he shouted--"quick!" just as there was a yell, a scuffle,and the man Tolly struggled into the middle of the deck, wrestling hardwith a black sailor, who backed away from him, and then, running forwardlike a ram, struck his adversary in the chest and sent him rolling overinto the scuppers.

  By this time the signalling had ceased, and Dutch was evidently movingabout at his ease.

  "What was that?" said Captain Studwick, sternly, as the man Tolly got upand made savagely at the black, but was restrained by the strong arm ofthe old sailor, Oakum.

  Tolly and the black both spoke excitedly together, and not a word was tobe understood.

  "Here you, Mr Tolly, what is it?" cried the captain. "Hold yourtongue, 'Pollo."

  "I bash him head, sah. I--"

  "Hold your tongue, sir," said the captain. "What was it?"

  "I happened to look round, sir, and found this stupid nigger standing onthe tube, and when I dragged him off he struck me."

  "Who you call nigger, you ugly, white, fat-head tief?" shouted theblack, savagely. "I bash your ugly head."

  "Silence!" cried the captain.

  "It great big lie, sah," cried the black. "I turn roun' and see datugly tief set him hoof on de tubum, and top all de wind out of Mass'Dutch Pugh, and I scruff him."

  "You infamous--"

  "Silence!" roared the captain. "Stand back, both of you. Oakum, seethat no one goes near the tube. Haul in gently there; he's coming up."

  This was the case, for in another minute the great round top of thehelmet was seen to emerge from the water; its wearer mounted the side,and was soon relieved of his casque, displaying the flushed face ofDutch, who looked sharply round.

  "Some one must have stepped on the tube," he said. "Who was it?"

  "It lies between these two," said Captain Studwick, pointing to the pairof adversaries.

  "It was the nigger, sir," said Tolly.

  "No, sah, 'sure you, sah. I too much sense, sah, to put um foot on detubum. It was dis fellow, sah," said the black, with dignity.

  "I presume it was an accident," said Dutch, quietly. Then, turning tothe divers--"I have been down, as you see, my men. The apparatus is inperfect working order, the water clear, the light good, and the coppereasy to get at. Begin work directly. If anything goes wrong, it is thefault of your management."

  "But ain't this black fellow to be punished?" began the man Tolly.

  "Mr John Tolly, you are foreman of these divers," said Dutch quietly,"and answerable to Mr Parkley for their conduct. If one of the sailorsdeserves punishment, that is Captain Studwick's affair."

  For a moment there was dead silence, then 'Pollo spoke.

  "I not a sailor, sah; I de ship cook. You mind I not put de cork in detubum, Mass' Tolly, next time you go down."

  "There! do you hear him?" cried Tolly. "Who's going down to bethreatened like that?"

  "Yah, yah, yah!" laughed the black. "Him great coward, sah. He notworf notice."

  Then he turned and walked forward, while Tolly resumed his suit, vacatedfor him by Dutch, their helmets were put on by two of the men, anddiving commenced, Dutch remaining on board till it was time to cease,and having the satisfaction of seeing a goodly portion of the copperhauled on the deck of the schooner, the divers fastening ropes round theingots, which were drawn up by the sailors.

  "That was a malicious trick, of course," said Dutch to the captain whileTolly was below.

  "I'm afraid it was," said the captain, "to try and make out that themachinery was out of order."

  "Yes, I expected it," said Dutch; "and that's why I spoke to you. Theydid not mean to do me a mischief, of course--only to frighten me. Idon't suspect the black, though."

  "What, 'Pollo!" said the captain. "Good heavens, no! He's as staunchas steel. A thoroughly trustworthy man."

  "I must wink at it, I suppose," said Dutch, "for it is not easy tosupply vacancies in our little staff, and the men know it. They arehard fellows to manage."

  "And yet you manage them well," said the captain, smiling. "You oughtto have been a skipper."

  "Think so?" said Dutch; "but look, who is this coming on board?"

  "Poor John!" said the captain, with a sigh. "Poor boy, he's in a sadway."

  "But he's very young, Mr Studwick, and with the fine weather he mayamend."

  "He's beginning to be out of hope, Pugh, and so is poor Bessy. Thedoctor says he must have a sea voyage into some warmer climate--not thathe promises health, but prolonged life."

  "Indeed!" said Dutch, starting, as he thought of the Cuban's proposal,and the probability of Captain Studwick having charge of the vessel ifthe trip was made, but not feeling at liberty to say much; and, the boatfrom the shore touching the side, he held his peace.

  A minute later a fine, handsome, but rather masculine girl--whose cleareyes sparkled as they lit on Dutch Pugh, and then were turned sharplyaway--stepped on deck, holding out her hand directly after to assist aninvalid to pass the gangway, which he did, panting slightly, and thenpausing to cough.

  He was evidently enough the girl's brother, for with his delicate looksand hectic flush he looked strangely effeminate, and in height andstature the pair were wonderfully alike.

  "I don't think it was wise of you to come out, John," said the captain,kindly; "it's a cold, thick day."

  "It's so dull at home," said the young man, "and I must have change.There, I'm well wrapped up, father; and Bessy takes no end of care ofme."

  He gave the girl a tender and affectionate look as he spoke; and shesmiled most pleasantly.

  "Ah, Mr Pugh, I'm glad to see you. Have you been down?"

  "Yes, just for a little while," said Dutch, shaking hands with him, andthen holding out his hand to the sister, who half shrank from him withan angry, flushed face; but his frank, pleasant look overcame her, andshe held out her hand to him.

  "You have not been to see us yet, Miss Studwick," he said, frankly."Hester quite expects you to call, and I hope you will be friends."

  "I will try to be, Mr Pugh," said the girl, huskily. "I'll call--soon."

  "That's right," he said, smiling. "Come, too, John. We shall be veryglad to see you."

  The young man started, and looked at him searchingly with hisunnaturally bright eyes.

  "No," he said, sadly. "I'm too much of an invalid now. That is, atpresent," he said, catching his father's eye, and speaking hastily. "Ishall be better in a month or two. I'm stronger now--much stronger; amI not, Bessy? Give me your arm, dear. I want to see the divers."

  The couple walked forward to where the air-pump was standing, and theeyes of the captain and Dutch Pugh met, when the former shook his headsadly, and turned away.

  There was something very pathetic in the aspect of the young man, inwhom it was plain enough to see that one by one most fatal diseases hadmade such inroads as to preclude all hope of recovery; and saddened atheart, for more than one reason, above all feeling that his presence wasnot welcome, Dutch superintended his men till, feeling that it would beabsolutely necessary that some one would have to be on deck every daytill the copper was all recovered, he made up his mind that it wouldfall to his lot, except at such times as Mr Parkley would relieveguar
d.