Part 26 (2/2)
It is to be presumed that in such weather the schooner will make no attempt to put to sea, for the stock of provisions is ample enough to last all the season. Moreover, I imagine the Count d'Artigas will not be so eager in future to show his _Ebba_ along the American coast, where he risks being received, not, as. .h.i.therto, with the consideration due to a wealthy yachtsman, but in the manner Ker Karraje so richly merits.
It occurs to me that if the apparition of the _Sword_ was the commencement of a campaign against the island, a question of great moment relative to the future of Back Cup arises.
Therefore, one day, prudently, so as not to excite any suspicion, I ventured to pump Engineer Serko about it.
We were in the neighborhood of Thomas Roch's laboratory, and had been conversing for some time, when Engineer Serko touched upon the extraordinary apparition of an English submarine boat in the lagoon.
On this occasion he seemed to incline to the view that it might have been a premeditated expedition against Ker Karraje.
”That is not my opinion,” I replied, in order to bring him to the question that I wanted to put to him.
”Why?” he demanded.
”Because if your retreat were known a fresh attempt, if not to penetrate to the cavern, at least to destroy Back Cup, would ere this have been made.”
”Destroy it!” cried Serko. ”It would be a dangerous undertaking, in view of the means of defence of which we now dispose.”
”They can know nothing about this matter, Mr. Serko. It is not imagined, either in the new world or the old, that the abduction from Healthful House was effected for your especial benefit, or that you have succeeded in coming to terms with Thomas Roch for his invention.”
Engineer Serko made no response to this observation, which, for that matter, was unanswerable.
I continued:
”Therefore a squadron sent by the maritime powers who have an interest in breaking up this island would not hesitate to approach and sh.e.l.l it. Now, I argue from this that as this squadron has not yet appeared, it is not likely to come at all, and that nothing is known as to Ker Karraje's whereabouts, and you must admit that this hypothesis is the most cheerful one, as far as you are concerned.”
”That may be,” Engineer Serko replied, ”but what is, is. Whether they are aware of the fact or no, if wars.h.i.+ps approach within five or six miles of this island they will be sunk before they have had time to fire a single shot!”
”Well, and what then?”
”What then? Why the probability is that no others would care to repeat the experiment.”
”That, again, may be. But these wars.h.i.+ps would invest you beyond the dangerous zone, and the _Ebba_ would not be able to put in to the ports she previously visited with the Count d'Artigas. In this event, how would you be able to provision the island?”
Engineer Serko remained silent.
This argument, which he must already have brooded over, was too logical to be refuted or dismissed, and I have an idea that the pirates contemplate abandoning Back Cup.
Nevertheless, not relis.h.i.+ng being cornered, he continued:
”We should still have the tug, and what the _Ebba_ could not do, this would.”
”The tug?” I cried. ”But if Ker Karraje's secrets are known, do you suppose the powers are not also aware of the existence of the Count d'Artigas' submarine boat?”
Engineer Serko looked at me suspiciously.
”Mr. Hart,” he said, ”you appear to me to carry your deductions rather far.”
”I, Mr. Serko?”
<script>