Part 44 (1/2)
”Are they still on board her?” asked Commander Olding.
”As to that, sir, I cannot say,” answered Dillon; ”but our captain was in good humour, and may have spared their lives, though I will own it is not always his custom to let his prisoners live. He ordered me, with the hands you found on board, to take charge of the prize, and to follow him as soon as I could get her into seaworthy trim.”
Gerald was satisfied that one part of Dillon's statement was correct, as on examining the cabin he could find none of his sister's trunks, nor any in either his father's or Captain O'Brien's cabins, although nothing else had apparently been removed from the s.h.i.+p. What the intention of the pirate was with regard to them, it was impossible to say. Dillon could throw no light on the subject. Mr Foley expressed his hope that the pirate intended to treat them mercifully, and perhaps, he thought, would land them at some place whence they could find their way to Jamaica, or to put them on board any vessel they might fall in with bound to that island.
This idea of Mr Foley's greatly relieved Gerald's mind, and he again began to hope that he should have the happiness of once more seeing them. The commander gave him permission to visit Dillon, so that he might try to ascertain the fate of Owen Ma.s.sey.
”Though you were among those who dragged me on board the king's s.h.i.+p, I bear you no ill-will,” answered Dillon. ”I will therefore tell you that I saw Owen Ma.s.sey, alive and well, not ten days ago. He was then on good terms with the pirate captain, but I cannot answer for what may happen when the young lady appears on the scene. She may perchance prove to be an 'apple of discord.' The captain has an eye for beauty, and from what I have heard, Owen Ma.s.sey is engaged to marry your fair sister.”
”How do you know that?” asked Gerald, surprised at the man's remark.
”We hear all sorts of things, and such an idea was current among our fellows,” answered Dillon in a careless tone, which somewhat excited Gerald's anger.
”You have given your promise to try and rescue Owen Ma.s.sey and any of his companions, as well as my father and sister, and their friend Captain O'Brien,” he observed.
”I have promised to do my best to help them, and I intend to keep to that promise,” answered Dillon.
Villain as he knew the pirate to be, Gerald was now satisfied that the lives of his father and Norah had been preserved.
Soon after dawn the next morning a light breeze sprang up, which enabled the _Research_ to get under way. As soon as she was clear of the reefs, Dillon was brought on deck, and desired to inform the master what course to steer in order to reach the pirate's stronghold. Look-outs were stationed aloft and at each fore-yardarm, that any dangers ahead might be seen and avoided, the commander not trusting alone to Dillon's pilotage.
”With this light wind it will take us three days at least to reach 'Tiger Key;' that is the name the buccaneers have given their stronghold,” said Dillon. ”It is a place no one, even when looking for it, would be likely to find, unless he knew the landmarks well, or came upon it by chance, and they will not thank me for leading you to it. I must trust, sir, to your not only sparing my life, but protecting me afterwards, for if I fall into their hands they will murder me to a certainty.”
These remarks were addressed to Mr Tarwig, to whom the pirate seemed more inclined to be communicative than to any one else.
”What makes you so ready to deliver your late companions into our hands?” asked the first lieutenant. ”I thought that buccaneers were always faithful to each other, although at war with the rest of the world.”
”In the first place, sir, I wish to save my life--that would be sufficient reason for what I have undertaken,” answered the pirate; ”and, then,” he added, a dark scowl coming over his countenance, ”I have sworn vengeance against those who have offended me. I had a quarrel with the captain, whom, though I am his equal, I was ready to serve. He treated me with contempt, and refused to trust me. However, it is a long story, and I will not trouble you with it now. What I say will convince you that I intend to be faithful, and that it will not be my fault if you fail to capture the pirate and his followers.”
”And who is this buccaneering captain of whom we have heard so much of late years?” asked Mr Tarwig.
”He goes under different names, sir; and, although I may happen to know his right one, you will excuse me if I decline to tell it,” answered Dillon, the dark frown still resting on his brow as he spoke.--”His present followers know him as Manuel Bermudez; but he has not a drop of Spanish blood in his veins, I can answer for that.”
What Dillon said convinced Mr Tarwig that he could be trusted in carrying out their project. It was arranged that on approaching Tiger harbour he should appear to have the command of the s.h.i.+p, and that only as many men as had been left on board by the pirates should be seen on deck, all of them dressed as the pirate crew had been, and that the remainder should lie down concealed under the bulwarks, or remain below ready to spring up at a moment's notice. Commander Olding intended, on entering the harbour, to run up alongside the _Ouzel Galley_ and capture her, and then to turn his guns on the people on sh.o.r.e should any resistance be offered. Dillon a.s.sured him that no forts existed on sh.o.r.e for the defence of the harbour, the pirates trusting entirely to the intricacy of its navigation.
The _Research_ stood on for a couple of days more, close-hauled, frequently having to tack to avoid the rocks and reefs to the westward.
Without the greatest possible care she might easily have shared the fate of the _Champion_. As she got to the northward the difficulties of the navigation increased. Dillon, however, proved himself to be an able pilot. He smiled as he saw the pistol which one of the warrant officers held constantly at his head, as if he considered the precaution a very unnecessary one.
”n.o.body desires to see the _Research_ safe inside Tiger harbour more eagerly than I do,” he observed. ”Should the s.h.i.+p strike on a reef, it will not be my fault.”
”A sail on the weather-bow!” shouted the look-out from aloft.
”What is she like?” asked Mr Foley, who had charge of the watch.
”A small boat or canoe under sail, sir,” was the answer.
Gerald, who was on deck, was sent by Mr Foley with a spy-gla.s.s aloft to take a look at the boat. ”If she steers as she is now doing she will pa.s.s, I take it, a couple of miles from us, sir,” he cried out.
The commander, who just then came on deck, upon hearing this, ordered the s.h.i.+p to be put about to cut off the boat. At the same time the colours were hoisted, so that should the people in the boat be English, they might know that the s.h.i.+p was a friend. A considerable amount of curiosity was excited as to what a small boat could be about in these little-frequented seas, and all the gla.s.ses on board were turned towards her. As she had now altered her course and was standing towards the s.h.i.+p, she was rapidly neared, and five people were counted on board her.
CHAPTER TWENTY.