Part 33 (1/2)
”I'm for the cash myself, sir, and I think the others'll be the same; but I'll tell them what you say,” answered the bos'n.
”As for the officers and engineers,” said Calamity when the bos'n had left the cabin, ”they will have to wait until their shares can be properly adjudged.”
”As long as we can get rid of the crew, they don't matter, skipper.”
In a few minutes the bos'n returned and said that the men were unanimously in favour of taking the cash.
”Then a.s.semble the men aft at eight bells, bos'n.”
”Aye, aye, sir,” answered the latter, and departed.
”Now,” said Calamity, rising from his chair, ”I'll signal Mr. d.y.k.es to put the same proposal to his men.”
He accordingly did this, and in a very short time received a message back to the effect that the men would prefer the cash payment.
At eight o'clock that evening the crew of the _Hawk_ lined up aft to receive their money. As each man's name was called out by the bos'n, the owner of it stepped up to the little table where Calamity was seated and received in his hat the equivalent in money and notes of about a hundred and twenty pounds, prize-money and pay. When they had all been paid, a boat was lowered and the Captain went aboard the _Satellite_, where a similar distribution was made.
Later on that night, when it was quite dark, a boat approached the _Hawk_ and made fast under her stern. Some cases and bags were lowered into her and then she slipped away into the darkness again.
CHAPTER XXV
THE ARREST
Early on the following morning the _Hawk_, with the gunboat in her wake, steamed towards Singapore harbour. As the vessels drew nearer, a motor-boat was seen approaching at full speed, and presently a man in the stern stood up and began to wave his arms frantically, apparently as a signal for the s.h.i.+ps to heave-to.
”Now, who the devil's that?” muttered Calamity, who was on the bridge with the pilot.
”Looks uncommon like Solomon's new motor b.u.m-boat,” answered the latter.
”That's his water-clerk in the stern.”
By this time the motor-boat had come within hailing distance, and the excited person ceased waving his arms and applied both hands to his mouth funnel-wise.
”s.h.i.+p ahoy!” he yelled. ”Is Captain Calamity on board?”
”Great Scot! How in the name of all that's uncanny did Solomon know that I was coming into port!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Calamity, turning to the pilot.
”Well, he might have heard from one of my men who went ash.o.r.e last night. I didn't tell them not to say anything about your coming in.”
”Is that Captain Calamity?” shouted the water-clerk once more.
”Yes, what do you want?” answered the Captain.
”I want to see you, sir. I have a message from Mr. Solomon.”
”Then come alongside.”
The motor-boat sheered alongside the _Hawk_, and the water-clerk, gripping a rope which had been thrown over the taffrail, hauled himself on board. He waited at the foot of the bridge companion-ladder for Calamity to come down, having learnt from experience that it was an unforgivable offence to go on the bridge himself unless requested to do so.