Part 6 (1/2)
”Will you go aboard under Mr. Ives?”
”Anywhere my officer goes I'll go, and gladly, sir.”
Ives was sent aboard in charge. For that night, in a light breeze, the two s.h.i.+ps lay close together, the schooner riding jauntily astern. But not until morning illumined the world of waters did the _Wolverine_'s people feel confident that the _Laughing La.s.s_ would not vanish away from their ken like a shape of the mist.
V
THE DISAPPEARANCE
When Barnett come on deck very early in the morning of June 7th, he found Dr. Trendon already up and staring moodily out at the _Laughing La.s.s_. As the night was calm the tow had made fair time toward their port in the Hawaiian group. The surgeon was muttering something which seemed to Barnett to be in a foreign tongue.
”Thought out any clue, doctor?” asked the first officer.
”_Pet.i.t Chel_--Pshaw! _Jolie Celimene!_ No,” muttered Trendon.
”_Marie--Marie_--I've got it! The _Marie Celeste_.”
”Got what? What about her?”
”Parallel case,” said Trendon. ”Sailed from New York back in the seventies. Seven weeks out was found derelict. Everything in perfect order. Captain's wife's hem on the machine. Boats all accounted for. No sign of struggle. Log written to within forty-eight hours.”
”What became of the crew?”
”Wish I could tell you. Might help to unravel our tangle.” He shook his head in sudden, unwonted pa.s.sion.
”Evidently there's something criminal in her record,” said Barnett, frowning at the fusty schooner astern. ”Otherwise the name wouldn't be painted out.”
”Painted out long ago. See how rusty it is. Schermerhorn's work maybe,”
replied Trendon. ”Secret expedition, remember.”
”In the name of wonders, why should he do it?”
”Secret expedition, wasn't it?”
”Um-ah; that's true,” said the other thoughtfully. ”It's quite possible.”
”Captain wishes to see both of you gentlemen in the ward room, if you please,” came a message.
Below they found all the officers gathered. Captain Parkinson was pacing up and down in ill-controlled agitation.
”Gentlemen,” he said, ”we are facing a problem which, so far as I know, is without parallel. It is my intention to bring the schooner which we have in tow to port at Honolulu. In the present unsettled weather we cannot continue to tow her. I wish two officers to take charge. Under the circ.u.mstances I shall issue no orders. The duty must be voluntary.”
Instantly every man, from the veteran Trendon to the youthful paymaster, volunteered.
”That is what I expected,” said Captain Parkinson quietly. ”But I have still a word to say. I make no doubt in my own mind that the schooner has twice been beset by the gravest of perils. Nothing less would have driven Mr. Edwards from his post. All of us who know him will appreciate that.
Nor can I free myself from the darkest forebodings as to his fate and that of his companions. But as to the nature of the peril I am unable to make any conjecture worthy of consideration. Has anyone a theory to offer?”
There was a dead silence.