Part 22 (1/2)
”No, it is said that he's taken it for a Frenchy, who comes down off and on. They say he's in the smuggling business with Black Jack, and that he disposes of the silks and wines that are brought over in the _Lucy_, and that Jack trades over in France with his friends. The lieutenant at the coast-guard station has his eye upon him, and I believe that some day they will catch Black Jack as he runs his cargo; but he's a slippery customer. It would be a good day for Hayling if they could do so, for he and his crew do a lot of harm to the place.
They look more like men who have belonged to the _Seamew_ I was talking to you about than honest English fishermen.”
”It is a curious thing, dad, that the Frenchman should be coming backwards and forwards here, and I wonder that the revenue people don't inquire into it.”
”I don't suppose that they know very much about it, Harry. He comes off and on, generally arriving at night, and leaving a few hours afterwards. I hear about these things because everyone knows that old Peter Langley is not the chap to put his nose into other people's business. I don't like these goings on, I must say, and consider they will end badly. However, it is no business of ours, lad. We get our brandy cheap in Hayling--nowhere cheaper, I should say--and that, after all, is the matter that concerns us most. The wind's rising fast; I think we're in for a gale.”
It was as Peter said. The clouds were rising fast behind the island, the waves were breaking with a short, sharp sound upon the beach, white heads were beginning to show themselves out at sea, the fis.h.i.+ng craft were running in towards Portsmouth under reefed sails, the men-of-war at Spithead could be seen sending down their topmasts, and everything betokened that it would be a nasty night.
”What time must you leave, Harry?”
”I shall go off at three to-morrow morning; shall cross the ferry, and catch the coach as it goes along at eight. I promised that I would be back on the following morning, and I would not fail in keeping my appointment, for as the captain has been so good I should be sorry that he should think that I had broken my word.”
In the course of the day Harry went over to the village and saw many of his boy friends. Bill Simpkins, however, his great chum, happened to be away, but his parents said that he would be back at nine in the evening. He had gone over to Winchester to see a brother who was in a regiment quartered there. Accordingly, soon after nine o'clock Harry said to his father that he would just walk over to have a chat with his friend, and be back in an hour or so.
”Thou had best stop at home and go to bed at once,” Jane Langley said; ”if thou hast to start at three o'clock, it were time thou wert in bed now.”
”I am accustomed to short nights,” Harry said, laughing, ”and I shall be able to sleep long to-morrow.”
Putting on his hat, he nodded to the old couple, and went off at a run into the darkness.
The road was a wide one, and but little frequented, and the gra.s.s grew thick over a considerable portion of the sides, therefore as he ran along with a light, springy tread the sound of his footsteps was deadened. As he came along by the cottage of which he had been speaking to Peter Langley he heard the sound of voices within. Being curious to see what this mysterious Frenchman was like, Harry paused, lightly lifted the latch of the gate, and entered the little garden.
He had intended to peep in at the window, and having satisfied his curiosity to be off; but just as he reached the door the latter opened suddenly, and Harry had only time to draw back behind the little porch before two men came out. In one Harry recognized by his voice the smuggler Black Jack; the other was by his halting English evidently the foreigner. They stopped for a moment, looking out into the night.
”I tell you,” the smuggler said, ”it's going to be a storm, and no mistake. The _Lucy_ is a tight craft, and has weathered gales when many a bigger s.h.i.+p has gone down. Still, I don't like running out into it without necessity.”
”Necezity,” said the Frenchman. ”I sould have sought zat ze earning of five hundred pounds was as urgent a necezity as was wanted.”
”Aye, the money will be handy enough,” the smuggler said, ”though one does put one's head into the noose to earn it. However, the sum is bigger than usual, and, as you say, the affair is important.”
”Bah!” the Frenchman said, ”what does it matter about ze nooze? It hasn't got over your zick neck or my zin one, and till it does we needn't trouble about it. I tell you zis is ze most important dispatch we have ever sent, and if it gets safe to hand zey cannot grudge us double pay. I have ridden from London wizout stopping, and have killed a horse worth fifty of your guineas. However, zat matters not. Zis letter should fetch us ze money to pay for a dozen horses and a dozen of your _Lucys_.”
”All right!” the smuggler said; ”in an hour we will be off. Letters like that in your pocket are best not kept on hand. You are sure that the _Cha.s.se Maree_ will put out to meet us in such weather as we are likely to have?”
”She will put out if a hurricane's blowing,” the Frenchman said. ”Zey know ze importance of ze news, which is expected, and which I am bringing zem. _Mon Dieu!_ what sums have been paid to get ze news zat's in zis little dispatch!”
”Do you know what it is?” the smuggler said.
”Not for certain,” the Frenchman replied, ”but I believe it is ze orders zat are to be sent to ze British fleet, and zat zey are about to strike a great blow zomewhere.”
”Well,” the smuggler said, ”I will go round and tell the boys. I warned them to be in readiness, and I will send them straight down to the beach. In a quarter of an hour I will return for you.”
While this conversation had been going on Harry had been standing against the porch, the sides of which were filled with latticework over which a creeper grew. He had been frightened at the importance of the secret that he was hearing, and had been rapidly meditating in his mind how this all-portant information which was about to be conveyed to the enemy could be stopped. He had made up his mind that the instant the smuggler moved out he would make his way down to the village, tell the tale to half a dozen men, and have the Frenchman seized. He saw at once that it would be difficult, for the smuggler and his gang were not men to be attacked with impunity, and the fishers of the village would hesitate in taking part in such a struggle merely on the information of a boy. However, Harry saw that it was the only chance.
In his anxiety to stand close to the lattice and so hide himself from the view of the two men who were standing on the little garden-path in front, he pressed too hard against it. The woodwork was rotten with age, and suddenly with a crash it gave way.
With an oath the smuggler turned round, and he and the Frenchman dashed to the spot, and in an instant had collared the lad. In a moment he was dragged into the room.
”We must cut his throat, mounseer,” the smuggler said, with a terrible imprecation. ”The scoundrel has heard what we've said, and our lives won't be worth a minute's purchase if he were to be let free. Stand by and I'll knock out his brains;” and he seized a heavy poker from the side of the hearth.
”No, no,” the Frenchman said, ”don't let us have blood. Zere might be inquiries, and zese sings will sometimes be found. Better take him to sea wis you in ze _Lucy_, and hand him over to ze _Cha.s.se Maree_. Zey will take care zat he does not come back again.”
”I will take care myself,” the smuggler said. ”I'm not going to risk my neck on the chance of his blabbing. It's better, as you say, to have no blood, but as soon as the _Lucy's_ at sea overboard he goes.”