Part 30 (2/2)
interposed Randall, with a smooth, deceitful softness of tone, that instantly reawakened La Salle's antipathies. ”I beg you, however,” he continued, ”to excuse me, and to make yourself at home in your old quarters. I should like to talk with you about your strange cruise, but at St. John's we may have a better opportunity over a bottle of wine.”
”I shall be glad to meet you with my friends as soon as I can see Smith & Co., and get some notes changed, so that I can buy suitable clothes for myself and friends;” and bowing, La Salle withdrew.
That night La Salle looked well to the fastenings of his door, las.h.i.+ng the k.n.o.b of the lock to a corner of his berth, where a knot had dropped out of the deal. Several times he felt the thin part.i.tion tremble, and heard the noise of some one tampering with the lock; but at last morning came, and three hours later the steamer lay at anchor off the city of St. John's.
The party had funds enough to secure a change of apparel and respectable quarters, until they should hear from Waring's father, to whom he had telegraphed their safe arrival, and want of money. A telegram to the wife of the new captain of the Mercedes, conveyed to Baltimore the news of the death of her brother-in-law.
Of course the party received much attention, and for a few days they were the lions of the city, although tales of adventure on the ice are of too frequent occurrence in St. John's, to awaken any lasting interest; for scarcely a winter elapses without the arrival of one or more crews who have seen their vessel disappear beneath the resistless pressure of colliding icebergs.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CAPTAIN'S VISIT.--HOMEWARD BOUND.--BROTHER AND SISTER.
At last the expected draft arrived, and the party were to leave for Halifax the next day in the Cunard steamer. La Salle had invited Captain Randall to spend the evening in a private parlor of the hotel, and at eight o'clock he was ushered in, and found no other guest save his first mate, Mr. Blake, who was still first officer of the Mercedes.
The table was well spread with delicacies, and although some constraint existed, the wine did its work, and soon Blake and Randall were laughing and joking, as if no cause for ill-feeling existed between them. At Randall's request La Salle gave a summary of their adventures, concluding the recital as follows:--
”Thus pa.s.sed the long days of our anxious drift, until your vessel steamed back to her old sealing-ground, and we left forever behind us our ice-built hut and the Deadman's Berg.”
The effect was magical. The smiles faded from the faces of the guests.
Randall's lips were drawn and thin, his eyes fixed and glittering, and one hand stole stealthily to his hip. Regnar, too, was pale, but not with fear, and his hand grasped the hilt of the antique dagger.
”Let me help you to some of this, captain,” said La Salle; and rising, he uncovered a small dish before him, and taking from thence a pair of Derringers, presented them at the head of his astounded guest. ”Up with your hands, murderer,” he said, sternly, ”or you die on the instant!” At the same time Blake and Regnar seized him by the arms.
”What is the meaning of all this?” asked Waring, trembling and appalled.
”Dis no good, La Salle. No Injin hurt man in his wigwam, or strike when he give 'em food,” shouted Peter, angry at what he considered a breach of hospitality; but both were unheeded.
”Why am I treated thus?” faltered the prisoner, whose trembling knees could scarcely support him.
”Captain Randall, I have here a man with whom you have an account to settle. He has been known among us as Regnar Orloff. His real name is Regnar Orloff Hubel. Where is the money and other valuables which your brother, Albert Randall, stole from two orphans, and was murdered for by you, that you in turn might become the thief?”
”Mr. Blake here knows the story, for we have told him how we found the corpse of his commander, with the skull pierced with one of your murderous sh.e.l.ls. We buried him in the berg; if you doubt it, behold the tokens.”
Regnar raised his hand: on one finger glittered the golden setting of the native talisman; on the table he laid the sheathed dagger.
”Are you satisfied, George Randall?” said he.
The wretch glared around as if he would have destroyed all who surrounded him; then he seemed to realize the futility of his rage, and catching his breath with a fierce sob, he asked, hoa.r.s.ely,--
”What will you have me do?”
Regnar stepped forward, and answered for himself.
”Give up the secret money-belt which you took from the person of your victim, with its contents untouched, and secure to me compensation for the sums taken by your brother. Your life I do not want, but if you hesitate I will have both.”
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