Part 5 (1/2)

”Hoot! Hoot!”

This time d.i.c.k sat up on his elbow, and looked about him vainly for the bird. ”Hoot! Hoot!” It came from his right, and he slowly turned his head in that direction. Then he did a curious thing. He lay flat of a sudden, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes vigorously.

”That's rummy!” he murmured beneath his breath. ”One of the boats has disappeared, and the others are moving away, and--what does it all mean?”

He rolled on to his back, lifted his head cautiously, and stared at the roof of the cabin. There was the figure of the Dutchman--immovable, looking fantastically huge, and sprawled out at full length. There was no pipe now to be seen, no smoke issued from his lips, while the rifle reposed beside him. Then came a deep, m.u.f.fled snore. Meinheer Van Somering was asleep.

”Then there is some one near us,” said d.i.c.k, swiftly. ”Some one is stealing the boats. I must act with caution.”

He had had experience of a midnight marauder before, and he determined on this occasion not to be so easily beaten. He rose to his knees, and crawled along the deck till he reached the Dutchman. A moment later he had the rifle in his hands, and had drawn back the lock. Click! At the crisp sound some one stirred. A dusky figure stood up on one of the boats close by, and commenced to pole l.u.s.tily. Then a second stood erect, and d.i.c.k could hear the splash as his pole fell into the water.

”Stop!” he shouted. ”Bring that boat back, or I fire!”

He covered the nearest figure with his weapon, and waited, while his shout was followed immediately by a scuffling behind him, and by the almost instant appearance of Mr Pepson. The latter seemed to take in the position at a glance. His eye detected the boat now so far away, the two remaining ones being poled by the two dark figures, and the huge, lumbering body of the Dutchman, still motionless and asleep.

”Shoot,” he said, quietly.

d.i.c.k lifted the weapon again, sighted for his man, and fired. There was a loud shriek, and hardly had the echo of the shot died down when a splash told that the bullet had reached. But our hero was not content.

He stretched for the bag, s.n.a.t.c.hed another cartridge, and, having placed it in the rifle, covered the second man. However there was no need to fire, for a second splash told that the miscreant, warned by the fate of his comrade, had leaped overboard.

”What has happened?” demanded Mr Pepson, sharply, but with no trace of excitement in his voice. ”You were asleep, for it is barely half-past eight. You found our watchman also asleep, and the boats departing.

Did you see any one else?”

”No one,” answered d.i.c.k, promptly. ”But there must be one other at least. Look! There is a man poling the far boat.”

”And he is too far away for a shot now. I might hit him, but the light is deceptive.”

”Then why not follow sir?” exclaimed d.i.c.k. ”Johnnie banked the fires, and in a few minutes there should be steam. That boat won't have a chance. We shall be up with her before she can get far.”

”But not before our goods are stolen. No, we will give chase in one of the other boats,” said Mr Pepson, with decision. ”Meinheer, bring the steamer along at once. d.i.c.k and I will follow.”

Already he was throwing off the hawser which held the anchor, and, as he did so, d.i.c.k seized a pole. A few strokes took the launch close to the moving boats which had been so silently set adrift.

”Hold on, Johnnie, and you too, Meinheer,” called out Mr Pepson. ”Now, d.i.c.k, get aboard with the gun, and I'll follow with another. We'll make one boat fast and pole the other down.”

He ran along the deck of the launch, while d.i.c.k leaped into one of the native craft, two of which remained lashed side by side, and were floating away together. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. He sprang back into the launch, seized the bag of cartridges, and satisfying himself that it was well filled, slung it over his shoulder and again sprang into the native boat.

”Better get all ready for the pursuit,” he said to himself. ”I'll set the two boats free, and toss the end of a rope attached to one to Meinheer. He can make it fast aft and follow with the boat in tow.”

He fell upon the las.h.i.+ngs with eagerness, and when Mr Pepson appeared from the cabin, carrying a rifle, d.i.c.k had the two boats separated, and had tossed a rope attached to one to the Dutchman.

”Catch, Meinheer!” he shouted, for the burly Dutchman, since he had become fully awake, seemed to be endeavouring to collect his wits. The report of the rifle had brought him languidly to his feet, and now he stared at his two comrades in amazement, wholly unable to understand the need for such bustling, or for so much excitement.

”Bud whad is zis?” he demanded. ”Is id ze middle of ze nighd, or-- whad?”

”It means that you've been asleep when you ought to have been keeping watch,” answered Mr Pepson, bluntly. ”Some thieves have cut our boats adrift, and one is being poled away. Don't stare, Meinheer. Take the rope d.i.c.k has thrown and make it fast. Then follow as soon as you have steam. Johnnie, get that fire to blaze.”

He stepped into the native craft and took the pole which d.i.c.k offered him.

”Ready?” asked d.i.c.k.