Part 26 (1/2)

”I wonder how many of them'll live in a foreign country, sir, when you gets 'em there,” said Oak.u.m.

”Well, not all,” said Mr Wilson; ”but many of them. Mind the paint on that cage, Mr Oak.u.m. I'm so much obliged. Er--you won't take any notice about that cage and the birds? Not that it matters, only Mr Meldon or Mr Parkley might laugh, perhaps.”

”Not I, sir. You may trust me,” growled Sam.

”Some people have a habit of laughing at natural history, you know, er-- er--because they don't understand.”

”You may trust me, sir,” exclaimed the old fellow, as he went up the steps; and then to himself, ”Yes, some folks has a habit of laughing at that kind o' nat'ral history when they see it. For only to think of a thin, wobbling chap fancying as our Miss Bessy would take up with the likes o' he. Hah! its a curus thing this love, and them as has got spliced don't allus seem to fit.”

He went on deck to find Bessy Studwick still reading to her brother; and her voice sounded so hoa.r.s.e that the old fellow trotted to the steward's pantry for a gla.s.s of water and a couple of lumps of sugar, squeezing in afterwards the two halves of a lemon, bearing the drink himself to where John Studwick lay back gazing at the setting sun, his face lit up with a calm, placid smile; and, though his sister read on, he evidently hardly heard a word that was read.

He started slightly as Oak.u.m came up with the tumbler.

”What is it?” he said, harshly. ”Has that Mr Meldon sent me more medicine? I will not take it.”

Bessy Studwick must have turned her face more to the setting sun, for her cheeks grew crimson at her brother's words; and, seeing this, he looked at her angrily.

”Lor' bless your 'art, no, sir,” said Oak.u.m. ”I thought you and our young lady here might be a bit thirsty after so much book, so I brought you some lemonade.”

They gave him a grateful look, each thanking him for the attention to the other, and as he walked back with the empty gla.s.s Mr Meldon, who was standing talking to Hester Pugh and Mr Parkley, turned, sighed to himself, and looked after the old man with a feeling of envy.

”If I had paid that little attention,” he thought, ”it would have been refused with some harsh remark. Poor fellow! even though he's her brother, I do not wonder at his feeling jealous of every look.”

Days of sailing over bright, sun-flecked seas, evenings of gorgeous sunsets, and nights of black violet skies, with the great stars sparkling overhead, and reflected in myriads on the smooth surface of the wondrous phosph.o.r.escent water, all aglow with pale fire wherever fish darted, while the schooner's bows seemed plunging through foaming, liquid moonbeams. Mornings with such wondrous tints of orange and scarlet, crimson and gold, that those who gazed upon them did so in awe of the mighty works of the grand world. Then came heat so intense that the bra.s.s rails burned the hand, the pitch oozed from the seams, and the pa.s.sengers lay panting beneath the awning spread aft, and longing for the evening breeze.

Now and then the cocoanut-fringed islands were seen, but no stoppage was made; for, on consideration, it was decided that such a step might afford the Cuban a clue to their whereabouts, while now both Captain Studwick and Dutch felt satisfied that their suspicions had been without foundation--that they had indeed eluded him, and all they had to do now was to make the best of their way to the treasure, and secure their prizes.

So southward and westward went the schooner, past reef, key, and island towards the El Dorado of their hopes; the two invalids much better; in fact, Hester's colour had been pretty well restored, and all she waited for was the day when her golden hopes would be realised--not those of finding ingot or bar long buried in the sea, but the restoration, complete and full, of her husband's love and trust.

The Caribbean Sea had long been entered, and its sheltering chain of islands left behind; and now, with Oak.u.m in consultation with the captain, the vessel's course was altered to due south, with the result that one evening, after gradually creeping along the forest-clad coast of Venezuela, and land that seemed almost weird in its silence and wild grandeur, anchor was cast for the night, for the voyage was almost at an end.

A long debate took place that night, in which Oak.u.m and the black took part, the result being eminently satisfactory to Mr Parkley and Dutch, for both the above spoke positively as to their being now within certainly a mile east or west of the spot where one of the wrecks could be found.

”I don't say, you know, as I've put the schooner right on the spot; but she's here close, and we must out boats and cruise about, looking down through the water, which is as clear as gla.s.s, till we get right, and then we can sail or tow her up.”

As the stars came out, and the adventurers stood by the bulwarks, gazing at the thick black wall of forest beyond the rocks and snowy sand, where the waves broke in lines of phosph.o.r.escent gold, they could easily understand how it was that these treasures had lain untouched so long.

For here the beasts of the forest had sole dominion; and even the Indians of the country showed no sign of ever visiting the grand solitudes. All seemed as nature had left it when her handiwork was at an end; and, driven by some furious hurricane upon one or other of the rocks that abounded, a s.h.i.+p would fill and sink, and be forgotten.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

OAk.u.m AT FAULT.

There was a silence almost awful, affecting those on board so that they spoke in whispers; but every now and then some strange howl or wild cry made sailors and pa.s.sengers start, and listen again for the weird whispers and noises that arose.

The solemnity of the scene had its effect on the men, who gathered together talking of supernatural visitations, haunted s.h.i.+ps, and the ghosts of the old buccaneers who watched over their buried treasure, till they were all more or less infected with fear; and the squinting sailor expressed his opinion that no good would come of meddling with what was evidently meant to lie buried, he was sure--a declaration that excited the laughter of Tonio, who ended by calling him a cowardly fool.

Meanwhile, on deck the excitement of being at last so near the goal of their hopes kept the leaders of the expedition from seeking their cots, and Dutch was gazing thoughtfully at the breaking sea falling back in a murmur in golden foam, when he started, for a little cold hand was laid upon his, and he found that Hester was by his side.

”What do you want?” he said, coldly; but his voice had lost its former harshness.