Dutch the Diver; Or, A Man's Mistake

by George Manville Fenn

  STORY ONE, CHAPTER EIGHT.

  BREAKING THE CONTRACT.

  Five days had passed since the encounter in the garden, and Dutch Pughhad not been back to his home. He had lain for some time stunned fromthe blow he had received, and then risen half-dazed, and in a wretched,dejected way made for the town, where, letting himself into the office,he had thrown himself upon the floor, and slept heavily till morning, tothe great surprise of the clerks, who found him there when they came.

  With an intense desire to hide his anguish from everyone, he had givenout that he had fallen asleep after being many hours at work, and nonotice was taken of his soiled clothes. Then, with the truth graduallyoozing out, that no flight had been intended, but that for some reason,so Mr Parkley said, Senor Laure had gone back to his hotel, Dutchworked on, superintending till the vessel was ready for sea.

  The stores and machinery were complete for the purpose, and thepassengers were on board. Moreover, a brother of Mr Parkley had beeninvited to assist in the business during the chief partner's absence,and together Mr Parkley and Dutch walked down to the dock.

  "We had a sort of hint from Bessy Studwick that you haven't been homefor some days, Pugh," said Mr Parkley.

  "Don't talk about it, please."

  "Well, I won't much," said Mr Parkley, "for I guess a great deal. Itwas all my fault, Dutch, my dear boy. I had no business to haveproposed such a thing, and, believe me, if I had known what a scoundrelthe fellow was, I would never have entered into this project with him."

  "Pray say no more," exclaimed Dutch.

  "I must, my dear boy, I must, for I want to clear myself. You see thepreparation for this trip means five thousand pounds, and I cannot throwthe matter over; the loss is too heavy, or else I would."

  "Oh, no, it is impossible," exclaimed Dutch.

  "If I had known my man sooner, I would have seen him at Hanover before Iwould have had anything to do with him. But look here, my dear Pugh, Icouldn't help hearing a great deal about your domestic trouble. Haven'tyou been wronging the little woman?"

  "If you have any respect or feeling for me, Mr Parkley, say no more."

  "All right, my dear fellow," said the other, with a sigh, "I will not;only act like a sensible man in all things--home and business. Heigho,I really wish I was not going, but the idea of these hidden treasuressets me on fire."

  Mr Parkley forgot all his hesitation as they stepped on board and sawhow--in spite of the bustle and confusion consequent upon receiving latesupplies of fresh meat and vegetables--ship-shape and excellent wereCaptain Studwick's arrangements. John Studwick was on board, seatedupon a wicker chair, and his sister beside him; Mr Meldon, the youngdoctor, was leaning over the bulwarks, with a very tall, thin young man,the naturalist friend; the sailors were busy lowering bales andarranging coops and hens; and all was ready for the start--in fact, thedockmen were ready to warp the schooner out, and after a short runbehind a tug down the harbour, they would have the open Channel beforethem.

  There was a goodly concourse of people about the wharves, for the objectof the schooner's trip had somehow gained wind, and while some expressedinterest and curiosity in the voyage, others laughingly called it afool's errand.

  "Has anybody seen Senor Lorry?" said Mr Parkley at last.

  "I had a note from him," said Captain Studwick, "He said he would bedown here punctually at twelve. Has his luggage come, Oakum?"

  "None on it, sir," said the rough old sailor, pulling his forelock.

  "That's strange," said the captain. "When did you see him, Parkley?"

  "Last night, and he said he would be aboard in the morning, and glad ofit, for he was sick of England."

  "Twelve o'clock now," said the captain. "Well, the tide serves; I mustgive the word for getting out of dock. He must have a longer row forbeing late. He's sure to come, of course."

  "Oh, yes," said Mr Parkley; but he glanced uneasily at Dutch, as if hedid not feel sure.

  "Ready there," cried the captain. "Now, my lads, be handy--cast offthose ropes for'ard. Oh, here he is. Hold hard there."

  "But where's his luggage?" said Mr Parkley.

  "Oh, behind the crowd," said the captain. "Come along, sir, we weregoing without you."

  "Indeed!" said the Cuban, with a smile. "I doubt that. Where would yougo?"

  "Where Mr Parkley told me," said the captain. "Give me the order.I'll find the place. Let's see, Mr Pugh, we are to send you back inthe tug, I suppose."

  Dutch nodded.

  "Now, then, for'ard there," cried the captain; "be ready to cast off.Are you ready?"

  "Ay, ay," came in chorus from the smart, well-picked crew.

  "Stop!" exclaimed Laure in a loud voice, and, turning to Mr Parkley, hepointed to Dutch and said, "That is your partner, is it not, MrParkley?"

  "Yes, certainly."

  "And he will share in the profits of this expedition?"

  "Certainly he will, sir."

  "Then, sir, I break our engagement. I shall have nothing to do with thevoyage. The matter is entirely off."

  "Confound it all, sir!" cried Mr Parkley, in a passion. "You can't dothat."

  "But, sir, I have done it," said the Cuban, lighting a cigar.

  "What! After I've spent all this money in preparation?"

  "I have told you," said the Cuban, contemptuously--and he gave amalignant glance at Dutch.

  "Mr Parkley," said Dutch, stepping forward, "my private quarrel withthis man shall not stand in your way. All this preparation has beenmade for the expedition, and my being your partner shall not stop it.Sir, our partnership is at an end."

  "Is it?" said Mr Parkley, with his teeth set. "No, I'll be hanged ifit is;" and as the men gathered round, wondering at what they had heard,he laid his hand on Dutch Pugh's shoulder. "I've proved you, my lad,but I've not proved this man, who at the first touch bends and nearlybreaks. We are partners, and mean to stay so, and Mr Lorry here willhave to keep to his bond, or I'll soon see what the law says to him."

  The Cuban smiled contemptuously.

  "Suppose I say it was all a mad dream, and I know of no such place: whatthen?"

  "Why, you are a bigger scoundrel than I took you for."

  "Sir!" cried the Cuban, menacingly.

  "Oh, you want to frighten me with your big looks, sir," cried MrParkley. "Now then, I ask you in plain English, will you fulfil yourundertaking, and show me the place where the old Spanish galleons aresunk?"

  "No," said the Cuban, coolly, "I will not help to enrich my enemy!" andhe again looked indignantly at Dutch.

  "Mr Parkley!" exclaimed the latter, "I cannot see all this costlyenterprise ruined because of my private trouble with this villain."

  "Villain!" cried Laure, confronting Dutch, whose face flushed and whosehands were half raised to seize his enemy.

  "Be silent," he said, in a low, hoarse voice, "I've that within me thatI can hardly control. If you rouse it again, by the God who made me,I'll strangle you and hurl you over the side."

  The Cuban involuntarily shrank from the menacing face before him, andDutch by a strong effort turned to Mr Parkley.

  "Make terms with him, sir. I will not stand in your way."

  "Yes, I'll make terms with him," exclaimed Mr Parkley, angrily. "Now,sir, I ask you again will you fulfil your contract?"

  The Cuban half-closed his eyes, puffed forth a ring of smoke, and saidquietly,--

  "In my country, when one man strikes another the insult is washed out inblood. Your bold partner there has struck me, a weaker man thanhimself, and I cannot avenge the insult, for you cold islanders hereboast of your courage, but you will not equalise the weak and strong byplacing the sword, the knife, or the pistol in their hands. You say no;that is the law. You call in your police. Fools! cowards! do you thinkthat will satisfy me?"

  "Did Mr Pugh strike you, then?" said Mr Parkley.

  "Yes, three cruel blows," hissed the Cuban, with his face distorted withrage.

  "Then you must have d
eserved it," cried Mr Parkley.

  "You think so," said the Cuban, growing unnaturally calm again. "Then Isay I must have satisfaction somehow. Your partner makes me his enemy,and you must suffer. I shall not fulfil my contract. I will not takeyou where the galleons lie. You have made your preparations. Good.You must suffer for it, even as I suffer. I give up one of the dreamsof my life. I will not go."

  A pang shot through Dutch Pugh's breast, for in this refusal to departhe saw an excuse to remain in England, and once more the hot blood roseto his face.

  "You absolutely refuse, then, to show Captain Studwick and me where theobjects we seek are hid?" said Mr Parkley, turning up his cuffs as ifhe meant to fight; and the Cuban's hand went into his breast.

  "I absolutely refuse," said the Cuban, disdainfully.

  "You know, I suppose, that you forfeit half the result," said MrParkley.

  "Yes," said the Cuban, moving towards the gangway, "I know I lose halfthe result."

  "You know I have spent five thousand pounds in preparations," said MrParkley, calmly.

  "Yes," sneered the Cuban, "and you have your law. Go to it for revenge;it may please you."

  "No," said Mr Parkley, looking round at the frowning faces of hisfriends; "that means spending another thousand to gain the day, andnothing to be obtained of a beggarly Cuban adventurer, who has neithermoney nor honour."

  "Take care!" cried Laure, flashing into rage, and baring his teeth likesome wild cat. But the next instant, with wonderful self-command, hecooled down, standing erect, proud and handsome, with his great blackbeard half-way down his breast. "Bah!" he exclaimed, "the Englishdiving-master is angry, and stoops to utter coward's insults."

  "I'll show you, Mr Lorry, that I am no coward over this," said MrParkley, firmly. "You mean to throw us over, then, now that we areready to start."

  "You threaten to throw me over," said the Cuban, smiling disdainfully."If you mean, do I still refuse to go, I say yes! yes! yes! You andyour partner shall never touch a single bar of the treasure. Ha! ha!What will you do now?"

  "Start without you," said Mr Parkley, coolly. "Captain Studwick, seethat this man goes ashore."

  The Cuban was already close to the gangway, but he turned sharply round,and took a couple of steps towards the last speaker.

  "What!" he said, with a look of apprehension flashing out of his eyes."You will go yourself without one to guide you?"

  "Yes," said Mr Parkley; "and if you went down on your knees now to begme, damme, sir, you've broke your contract, and I wouldn't take you."

  "Ha--ha--ha--ha--ha!" laughed the Cuban, derisively, as he quicklyrecovered his composure. "A beggarly threat. Do you not know that ittook me five years of constant toil to make the discovery? and you talklike this!"

  "Yes," said Mr Parkley. "It took a beggarly mongrel foreigner fiveyears, no doubt; but it would not take an enterprising Englishman fiveweeks."

  The Cuban's hand went into his breast again as he heard the words"beggarly mongrel foreigner," and Captain Studwick grasped amarlin-spike, ready to strike his arm down if he drew a weapon; but therage was crushed down directly, and Laure laughed again derisively.

  "Go, then, fools, if you like. But I know: it is an empty threat. Ha,ha, ha! Go alone. A pleasant voyage, Senor Parkley, and you, too,Senor Captain. You will perhaps find me there before you."

  "Perhaps," said Mr Parkley. "But go I will, and hang me if I come backtill I have found it."

  "Well, for the matter o' that, Master Parkley and Capen Studwick," saida rough voice, "if it means putting the schooner at anchor where themSpanish galleons was sunk in the Carib Sea, if you'll let me take thewheel, and you'll find fine weather, I'll steer you to the very spot."