Hurricane Island

Ri

increased the doubts of those who knew I was responsible for the alteration of the course. The change could not, of course, be concealed very long. The watch was privy to it, when Day set the new course, and by next morning it was all over the ship. Yet the same dignified routine proceeded; no one volunteered any act of violence; and if I believed in myself no one else did, I am sure. Little Pye mused openly on the change, but

hould say al

also. "It was political,

uddenly, "I think, doctor, I w

that Holgate also should go, but refrained. I knew not how

t spirits, and talked with the officers. As we entered the harbour we heard the sound of music pouring from the saloon, which had never yet been used by the party, and on that the rich notes of a fine mezzo-soprano. The little exhibition arrest

hen he got ashore, and yet he could not keep off the sea. I learned from him with satisfaction that Pierce, the boatswain, was gone, paid off at the captain's orders. So here was something for my consolation. I breathed a little more freely, and inquired further. But the rest of his information was not so satisfactory. Besides the passengers, Day, Barraclough, McCrae, and himself had come ashore, leaving Legrand with Holgate and little Pye to represent what might

oke-wrack flying abaft, and trudging steadily for the mouth of the harbour. I stood there, I think, fully three minutes before I moved or took action, but during that space of time I had jumped at the conclusion. I was not want

quay, where one of the big two-de

to a man on the bridge. "I w

of which tongue I am quite ignorant. I clambered aboard and made my way to him, by which time he had been joined

s impo

I added several hundred thousand more reis, and they were plainly shaken. Heaven knew why I should have been offering my poor money for the sake of Prince Frederic of Hochburg. I did not stop to reason, but acted merely on impulse. The man with the gold

going as fast as we it would probably be impracticable to attract her attention for some time, until, at any rate, we were clear of the shipping. Surely then the sight of a cumbrous ferry-boat beating down on an unwonted journey to the heads would draw their eyes and fill their speculations. We were three miles out twenty minutes after starting, and now it was obvious that we were not making ground,

the solution came to me, came to me too just as mere selfish considerations were asserting themselves. I had thought of the Prince and the conspirators if I had thought at all, certainly not of myself; and now came the reflection that I had pledged my last soverei

ets?" I asked, tur

addressed his mate in Portuguese, and they held an animated c

ieur," said the captain. "It was

is hands, we set ourselves to work. The men by this time were interested, and we had the rocket rigged

hissing of a hundred serpents. Then there was silence, and the light, describing its arc, vanished into the water ahead. I gazed anxiously, but it was not until ten minutes later that we were able

pped aboard her, and the man who

you were in your cabin.

aid I; "I thought

captain's orders," he repli

d cheerfully. "I wasn't a

nd, who stared at me. "It'

voice. "But maybe it w

ut. Day, I found, was surveying me from th

llimore, perhaps we may be allowed

s must be poured into Lane's ears. Barraclough lo

sir?" he sai

berate drawl. "It cost me

yed and had a good old time," said La

n't tell. If I'd only thought of it, La

et the notice

eless fellow, but I'm a modest one also; and I

y good sir," said Sir John, w

all I can of this-that is, clothes,

eet Day in a furious temper, as I could tell from his eyes. I explained the circumstan

changes at Rio than I did," he s

ble. From the deck above, the face of Mlle. Tre

ish, showing her pretty teeth. "It was most

elle," said I politely. "I take so

would have been much better," said sh

hed in great good-humour. She had made many purchases, but complained of the shops. She could not get her favourite perfume, she protested, and wondered how people could l

an acciden

land had communicated with Captain Day. It should have

the harbour, which we were then passing. "I am glad yo

k, and had, after my own poor fashion, paid so heavily for it. I might even have looked for a sentence of thanks for my zeal. But the Princess was a princess still,

y," I replied, "at least, when it comes to a pinch

with a little bow, mov

I had occasion to pay a visit to the stoke-hole, where one of the men had injured his hand, and I had finished my work and was mounting the grubby wire ladder, when a fireman passed me with averted face. I hardly glanced at him, and certainly did not pause the least fraction of a

piracy. It could not be that only a few men were concerned in it. Holgate had been right. How many hands could we depend on? Who put Pierce in his present situation? I went on deck in a fume of wonder and excitement. Plainly something was h

an evening gown that fitted her beautiful figure closely,

hing to tell me

was dismissed is still on bo

ed her lips

madam, busin

d quietly, but I could see her

and persuade him of the crisis. I will go to the captain with my tale, a

ickly. "Go at once. I

waiting for permission. I found him with his arm bared

"Pierce is on board, and there is danger.

ear it," he declared, in even tones. "Take tha

hat he was o

" he broke off. "But how do yo

is a case for preparation," he said

ran out in his pyjamas, and I followed. We heard B

re, man; get

stars, and I could only make out a knot of men at

all of a sudden the knot of men opened in a struggle, and a

"They've seized the engine-room, and M

ant, one of the deck-hands,

reply the gang of men approached nearer, and s

ce. "They are not satisfied with their pay, for one thing, and there are other matters. No harm is intended, but they have decid

ade me boil, but on Day it seemed to

drily, "and you are to step into my shoes. I will give you three minutes

thinly, but Barraclough

't you do some

promenade deck, and, looking up, saw the Pri

alled out in his deep voice.

d one of the men fell. A second report rang out, and a curse ros

ce was shooting as calmly as at so many partridges. I ran down stairs and fetched my revolver, and wh

m on her," he said. "The bru

our hands. They'll be here again. The Prince took them by s

exclaimed. "This mak

grand came runnin

he said. "Oh, we've

s Ellison with you? I'm

aid Barr

der, and here's Grant. Let

work to-night,

to place all the men you can trust on guard, with orders to fire in case of nece

h all these events. One could surely rely upon a man with such a sense of duty; so, having made such dispositions as were poss

," said he. "I ask his pardon. We must see how many men w

said the little cl

depend on, so far as we know-if, that is," he ad

now more," s

ay, and opened the

e disturbance and bloodshed of the last quarter of an hour-little, u

he remarked in his determined Ge

we are trying to find out about the ot

blood on his face, and a bri

the mutineers?"

lf an hour ago, when I ran into them, and they seized me. There was Gray and

ou had no inkling of this?

d the man earnestly, "and I'll take my o

said the Prince, noddin

orecastle. "If they're not here, sir, your highness," he said hesitatingly

weep," said Barraclough, with a la

at the first, sir, in

ficer. "Phew! No, there she goes," he exclaimed, as the screw began to bump

er, "and forty-odd t'other side. Oh!" he

med; and, secondly, see if we are in a position to add to our numbers. But we have th

ed the purser boldly. "I'll go bail on them. I've kn

w?" asked Day, in his old irritable tone; at which, to

id,

sses on his nose with two fingers in his nervous way, and blinked t

Legrand to me, with infin

ye, "that some of them have gone wrong

in the hands of lawyers," said L

ou. You fell in with the wrong crowd. If I had known--" he paused. "The question

into the forecastle and find out," said P

on the part of the Prince, who was eyeing Pye severely, and on the part of myself

ed Pye; but his protest was feeble in

ill not do, s

ince's eyes came over to me, leaving Pye. H

ked you out first and for

octor," declared

t be dead. No one knows. And, what's more, the mutineers have two or

revent you. It is essential we should know something more. It will come to blows again, and th

with a bow, "I may as well take time by the foreloc