Part 7 (2/2)
Otherwise the gold cases would have been twice the weight of those that contained the baser metal; for lead is proverbially heavy, but under scientific tests is to gold as five to twelve, or thereabouts.
In his secret and mysterious labor Wylie was often interrupted. Whenever he heard a step on the pavement outside he drew the slide of his lantern and hid the light. If he had examined the iron shutters he would have seen that his light could never pierce through them into the street. But he was not aware of this. Notwithstanding these occasional interruptions, he worked so hard and continuously that the perspiration poured down him ere he had unscrewed those eighteen chests containing the pigs of lead.
However, it was done at last, and then he refreshed himself with a draught from his flask. The next thing was, he took the three pigs of lead out of one of the cases marked _Shannon,_ etc., and numbered fifteen, and laid them very gently on the floor. Then he transferred to that empty case the mixed contents of a case branded _Proserpine_ 1, etc., and this he did with the utmost care and nicety, lest gold dust spilled should tell tales. And so he went on and amused himself by s.h.i.+fting the contents of the whole eighteen cases marked _Proserpine,_ etc., into eighteen cases marked _Shannon,_ etc., and refilling them with the _Shannon's_ lead. Frolicsome Mr. Wylie! Then he sat down on one of the cases _Proserpine'd,_ and ate a biscuit and drank a little rum; not much; for at this part of his career he was a very sober man, though he could feign drunkenness, or indeed anything else.
The gold was all at his mercy, yet he did not pocket an ounce of it; not even a penny-weight to make a wedding-ring for Nancy Rouse. Mr. Wylie had a conscience. And a very original one it was; and, above all, he was very true to those he worked with. He carefully locked the gold cases up again and resumed the screwdriver, for there was another heavy stroke of work to be done; and he went at it like a man. He carefully screwed down again, one after another, all those eighteen cases marked. _Shannon,_ which he had filled with gold dust, and then, heating a sailor's needle red-hot over his burning wick, he put his own secret marks on those eighteen cases--marks that no eye but his own could detect. By this time, though a very powerful man, he felt much exhausted and would gladly have s.n.a.t.c.hed an hour's repose. But, consulting his watch by the light of his lantern, he found the sun had just risen. He retired to his place of concealment in the same cat-like way he had come out of it--that is to say, he mounted on the high cases, and then slipped down behind them, into the angle of the wall.
As soon as the office opened, two sailors, whom he had carefully instructed overnight, came with a boat for the cases; the warehouse was opened in consequence, but they were informed that Wylie must be present at the delivery.
”Oh, he won't be long,” said they; ”told us he would meet us here.”
There was a considerable delay, and a good deal of talking, and presently Wylie was at their back, and put in his word.
Seaton was greatly surprised at finding him there, and asked him where he had sprung from.
”Me!” said Wylie, jocosely, ”why, I hailed from Davy Jones's locker last.”
”I never heard you come in,” said Seaton, thoughtfully.
”Well, sir,” replied Wylie, civilly, ”a man does learn to go like a cat on board s.h.i.+p, that is the truth. I came in at the door like my betters; but I thought I heard you mention my name, so I made no noise. Well, here I am, anyway, and--Jack, how many trips can we take these thundering chests in? Let us see, eighteen for the _Proserpine,_ and forty for the _Shannon._ Is that correct, sir?”
”Perfectly.”
”Then, if you will deliver them, I'll check the delivery aboard the lighter there; and then we'll tow her alongside the s.h.i.+ps.”
Seaton called up two more clerks, and sent one to the boat and one on board the barge. The barge was within hail; so the cases were checked as they pa.s.sed out of the store, and checked again at the small boat, and also on board the lighter. When they were all cleared out, Wylie gave Seaton his receipt for them, and, having a steam-tug in attendance, towed the lighter alongside the _Shannon_ first.
Seaton carried the receipt to his employer. ”But, sir,” said he, ”is this regular for an officer of the _Proserpine_ to take the _Shannon's_ cargo from us?”
”No, it is not regular,” said the old gentleman; and he looked through a window and summoned Mr. Hardcastle.
Hardcastle explained that the _Proserpine_ s.h.i.+pped the gold, which was the more valuable consignment; and that he saw no harm in the officer who was so highly trusted by the merchant (on this and on former occasions) taking out a few tons of lead and copper to the _Shannon._
”Well, sir,” said Seaton, ”suppose I was to go out and see the chests stowed in those vessels?”
”I think you are making a fuss about nothing,” said Hardcastle.
Mr. White was of the same opinion, but, being too wise to check zeal and caution, told Seaton he might go for his own satisfaction.
Seaton, with some difficulty, got a little boat and pulled across the harbor. He found the _Shannon_ had s.h.i.+pped all the chests marked with her name; and the captain and mate of the _Proserpine_ were beginning to s.h.i.+p theirs. He paddled under the _Proserpine's_ stern.
Captain Hudson, a rough salt, sang out, and asked him roughly what he wanted there.
”Oh, it is all right,” said the mate; ”he is come for your receipt and Hewitt's. Be smart now, men; two on board, sixteen to come.”
Seaton saw the chests marked _Proserpine_ stowed in the _Proserpine,_ and went ash.o.r.e with Captain Hewitt's receipt for forty cases on board the _Shannon,_ and Captain Hudson's of eighteen on board the _Proserpine._
As he landed he met Lloyds' agent, and told him what a valuable freight he had just s.h.i.+pped. That gentleman merely remarked that both s.h.i.+ps were underwritten in Sydney by the owners; but the freight was insured in London, no doubt.
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