Hurricane Island

rence in

t knocking, but he was awake at onc

s it a raree show?" he inqu

Dr. Phillimore has to im

s taking part in some more theatricals," he said

y. "If you would only listen instead

voyage," said Day with

ut his important uniform. He might have been merely a member of Parliament, or a minor p

oo long," he said sharply. "It is time I knew where I stand

dance," he said, "and have sent for Sir John Barraclough

Mr. Holgate, ca

"Here is a report of conspiracy and mutiny you bring me

my former charge, C

ir?" he

, does it not shed some light on my former charge against Mr. H

and then he look

" he observed with sarcasm, "I shoul

n clothes," I replied angrily, "or should

door opened and Holgate's face appeared Day said civilly enough, "I am sorry to have

e moved slowly on his bull

as nothing legible in his gaze. It was blank

. Morland, dressed as when he walked the hurricane deck daily,

e in circulation. It is an untimely hour, but that is not my fault. Dr. Phillimore has brought me a story, which, if he is correct

"I have employed you, sir," h

and whom I know as Mr. Morland, but who is stated to be Prince Frederic of Hochburg. I am justified, therefore, in asking if Mr. Mo

reasonable," he said, as if reflecti

. "And the money?" he

w I was surprised that I had not identified long since that guttural German accent.

d his ha

that there is a plot among the crew to seize the s

which my sodden garments were a genuine witn

that I was chartering a good vessel with a good captai

lders. "I am not responsible for the crew.

n, "But you tell me they have turned o

"As for me, if I had known what I know now, you would have

listened to it, the

he asked, and his eyes fell on Ell

t the doctor

s,

n Adams," concluded his Royal

me the bar of iron which McCrae had

said I, "take this

e with a lift

ile. "This seems a pretty show

ith Mr. Morland and the captain. The former scrutinised me closely and delibera

ence, and it will be forthcoming presently. But I must say," I added bitterly, "that I resent the way in which my testimony has been

bject certainly I shall not, D

tiently; "we are in a peril toge

t to be prov

ced the return of the party, an

s missing,

mation, and the Prin

in the cabin," s

here?" said a voice which I recognised at once. Barracl

ams is missing, doctor. It seems a bad case. He was delirious, an

lie!"

made to me," he said; "I came at once," an

not likely to throw himself overb

delirious?" as

a time he was slig

s when he told y

t I

on. "What do you s

man in confusion. "He didn't

y, looking at

ke a common sailor's word before

ng to you, delirious for a time. He made some communication as to a plot. Then he disappears.

attempt on me,

t it hardly gets us further. It fits in with either suppositio

urning on my heel. "And I will beg of you, Mr. Morland, to gra

swer. He made an impat

fied, Captain

as the lac

pline is kept among your men," said the Pri

Upon my soul--" he began, but was

onets here for my taste." He stamped round the room in agitation. "My men!" he cried. "Good Lord, what have I had to do with them?

hard hostility. The exit of the Prince had stayed

on his shoulders till his gaze rested on me again. Something flickered in it, something like a leer on that malicious

ment before you change," he said civil

ndering, and the door c

or nights," burst out the captain

emed sunken in his head. At once I was the pr

said I, "and tell

doctor, and I don't like my employer," he said

else,"

" he paused, and proceeded in his ridiculously precise voice. "I had the misfortune

struck me as tragic. That this vain, self-contained, and reticent man should confe

, captain," said I. "

shook his hea

down. I'll see to

nts, and carefully extracted what I wanted

y been done this night," I said

pain went through my arm which had been bruised and battered in the sea, and s

g over me, glass in hand, a l

laces," said I feebly, "and

ou less than justice just now," he said

owly. "I will now res

fully, and then, "Heavens, I sho

s, I promise you," I answered, a

t a word of this. We must talk about the other thing. I don't like my o

culties before us Captain Day would count for little. To face such emer

g, and I found him in quite a brisk, cheerful state. He did not allude to

happened, doc

irators were not ready with their plans. Otherwise they would not have been so d

I can take no action. I will have an inquiry into Adams's disappearance, of course, but

stem had been shocked, and once more I despaired of such a captain in such circumstances. I carried my

d. "A better seaman doesn't exist

man nature

his sextant. "You say we're slumbering over a volcano. I daresay we are. It's more or

ptic, where I had so

his to ridicule

ed. "You have only given us something to

suppose it is my word agains

n't trust Holgate if he were on a dozen oaths-not if he were swung at a

after a pause. We exchanged g

to keep a watch. We shall know shortly. Ex

were indifferent to the danger, or else incredulous. I alone knew how incompetent was the captain to secure his vessel, and the attitude of "Mr. Morland" filled me with contempt. It was very well for a royal prince in his palace, surrounded by his guard, servitors, and dependants, to assume an autocratic attitude, and take things for granted. But it was another case when he had deliberately abando

cess. Adams was gone, gone overboard, as I knew, and I could have put my hand on his murderer, if I could not also identify the man who had made an attempt to be mine. L

ed plaintively. "You might h

n sleeping as sou

nough on this beastly boat. If

s how big a row you ma

rumbled, which, when you come to think

ed to make search, and to discover that Adams was missing, and subsequently that the port-hole was open. He had then, as he declared, reported the matter at once to the officer of the watch, who was Holgate. Holgate came to the captain's cabin, as has been related. There was no discrepancy to be noted in the stories of the two men, nor was there

dies, as we could observe, to the lightest of cotton dresses. For all, however, that we saw of them they might have been dwelling in another sphere, as, indeed, they were

and that in the most unexpected manner. One evening I had retired to my cabin and was stretched in my bun

of chiffon, very pretty to the eye, and over her head and shoulders a mantle of silk lace. She had naturally, as I had observed on my p

t of accent than her brother's, but speaking somewhat formally,

feet. "Madam, no one el

then, "I want you to come an

I must point out that Mr. Morland has cognisance of my story.

in my brother's position to entertain these suspicions. It is not

to go, I took a sudden impulse. My heart was beating faster at this unexpected appear

I, "if I must conti

ame, sir," sh

r otherwise, but one in which you say you believe, is dependent wholly on your name not being Morlan

u had authority over it,"

ou and Mr. Morland are not what you claim to be, and on other suppositions. If these be untru

use, but spoke quic

Prince Freder

hip contains treasure? Let

t on board," she said, as if reluctantly. "It

Princess Alix would not

hat you will, sir

and you keep me at arm's length. I am not asking out of curiosity. I only want to know what allies I can depend on. Heave

o put-if I can," she replied in a mild

why you credit th

gh some words dropped by Mr. Morland. But this I know-that he runs a great risk. He has

company you," and forthwith, wit

. He had a nervous way of flipping his fingers when put out, and he stood now firing off his white

ore," he said abruptly, "perhaps you will be good eno

ho nodded curtly. Evident

yres," I said. "I would advise, therefore, that we change our cou

re is something in that," he said. "

"It is for me to s

a new captain," said Day politely.

added, "I order you to put into Rio, captain.

ss gave me a quick glance, in

y, and ceremoniously left the cabin. W

said, as if he were conferring a decoration;

be treated. The man was obviously incapable of discretion in his state. He entered presently with a heav

or. This can only end one way, and I won't have i

snappishly. "You are ca

d, ignoring his words. "It is new, but there are great possibilities in i

he groaned. "Night and day, night and day.

ad seen his soul undressed and naked, and it frightened me. I felt more than anxiety for him; I felt co