Part 32 (2/2)
”What I mean is, can they keep their mouths shut?”
”Like limpets.”
”Right. Now just listen to this little yarn of mine, Abott, and don't interrupt before I'm through. Savee?”
”Forge ahead, skipper.”
For close upon half an hour the Captain talked in lowered tones, and, as he proceeded, the pilot's face exhibited every degree of astonishment. Even when Calamity had finished he remained silent for some moments, as if unable to wholly realise what the latter had told him.
”Well I'm d.a.m.ned!” he muttered at last, and, taking a large blue handkerchief from his pocket, mopped his face.
”And now the question is, will you accept the proposal or not?” asked the Captain.
”I don't know that I've fairly got my teeth into it yet, skipper. It sort o' takes one's breath away, and that's a fact.”
”I'm afraid I can't give you much time to think it over, Abott.”
”By thunder, I'll take it on then!”
”I'm glad, because there's no other man I could trust,” answered Calamity. ”We'd better set to work and get the job over as quickly as possible.”
”Wait, though,” said the other. ”This is the sort of thing that wants to be done at night. Suppose we sheer away from land a bit and don't put in till to-morrow morning?”
”That's not a bad idea. Your boat could come alongside after dark then?”
”Yes, but there's another thing to consider as well. How about the men?
Can't you pay them off, prize-money and all, before we put in? You'll want to get rid of that crowd as soon as possible after the hook touches mud.”
”It might be possible. Just lend me a hand, Abott.”
With the pilot's a.s.sistance, all the boxes containing money, including the heavy box found in the fort, were dragged out into the middle of the cabin and opened.
”Before we count this you'd better tell the first-mate--a woman, by the way--to alter the course and signal the _Satellite_ to do the same,”
said the Captain.
The pilot left the cabin, and when he returned Calamity had already started to count out the money. Even with the two of them at work it took a long time, and when it was finished and the values of the various currencies adjusted, Calamity made some hurried calculations on paper.
”I can offer each man about a hundred pounds in addition to wages due,”
he said at last.
”And a pretty fine bonus, too, for such a short trip! They won't jib at that offer, you bet your life. The sooner that deal's squared the better, I should say, skipper.”
The Captain unlocked the cabin door, and, calling Sing-hi, told him to fetch the bos'n.
”I want you to make a proposal to the men,” said Calamity, when the bos'n appeared. ”In the ordinary way they might have to wait a week or more before they received the prize-money due to them, but, if they prefer it, I will pay each man a hundred pounds cash in addition to wages. They might get more by waiting till the stuff is valued and disposed of, but, if they prefer the cash, I will divide the balance among the various marine charities.”
<script>