Part 35 (1/2)

”Yes, I have a pretty good defence, I fancy.”

”You will, of course, place it in my hands?”

”Since you've arrived at such an opportune moment, Vayne, it would be an insult to the G.o.ds not to do so.”

”Good,” answered the lawyer. ”But that reminds me. You haven't asked why I'm here. It's some distance from Chancery Lane, eh?”

”Oh, I know why you're here,” replied Calamity, ”and for that reason we can discuss your errand later on. This piracy charge is a more pressing matter, and the sooner I place you in possession of the facts, the better. I will ask the Lieutenant if he can let us have half an hour alone together before I'm taken ash.o.r.e.”

The officer readily consented, and Calamity, accompanied by the lawyer, went to his cabin. There they remained in close conference until a seaman knocked at the door and informed the Captain that the Lieutenant was waiting for him. Then, under an escort of bluejackets, Captain Calamity was taken ash.o.r.e.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE TRIAL

A couple of hours later Calamity, with the Lieutenant and Mr. Vayne--the latter having been permitted to accompany them in his character of solicitor to the accused--was ushered into a s.p.a.cious room where several men sat round a large table, at the head of which was a bronzed, hard-featured man in naval uniform, evidently the president.

”You are John Brighouse, otherwise known as Captain Calamity, I believe?” said the latter, addressing the prisoner.

”That is correct,” answered the Captain.

”Briefly, the charge against you is that you did wilfully and feloniously seize in this harbour a steamer called the _Arrow_, belonging to Jacob Rossenbaum of Joh.o.r.e, and did detain and use the same with criminal intent. Are you guilty or not guilty?”

”Not guilty.”

Mr. Rossenbaum having been called upon to give evidence, stated that, having contracted with Isaac Solomon of Singapore for the repair of his, witness's s.h.i.+p, the _Arrow_, the latter was sent round to Mr. Solomon's s.h.i.+pyard. Witness had every reason to believe that the repairs were carried out, for he received a wire from Mr. Solomon telling him to send a crew to take over the _Arrow_, which had then left the yard and was lying in Singapore harbour. He had duly despatched a crew, but, on the following morning, received another wire from Mr. Solomon asking him to come to Singapore at once. On arrival, he learnt that his vessel had been boarded and taken out of the harbour under her own steam by a person known as Captain Calamity.

The president then called upon Isaac Solomon. The latter, who had carefully abstained from looking at Calamity, took his stand as far from him as he possibly could.

”According to the statement previously laid before us,” said the president, ”you undertook to repair the steamer, _Arrow_, belonging to Mr. Rossenbaum. The repairs having been duly executed, the steamer was anch.o.r.ed in the harbour to await a crew which you had wired Mr.

Rossenbaum to send?”

”That is so,” answered the witness.

”But while the steamer was waiting for this crew, she disappeared mysteriously?”

”Yes.”

”And you have reason to believe that the accused committed the offence?”

”I can prove it,” said Mr. Solomon eagerly, but still carefully avoiding the Captain's eye.

”That will do,” said the president, and Mr. Solomon, with a grin of triumph on his face, was about to retire, when the solicitor rose from his chair.

”With your permission, sir,” he said, addressing the president, ”I should like to ask this witness a question.”

”Proceed then.”