Part 22 (1/2)

”It's a lie, I don't care who says it!-It's a lie!” he burst out angrily.

CHAPTER XXVI

A WICKED PLAN

How c.u.mmings came to be acting as the rascally Jarrold's agent is easily explained. After he was discharged from the _Tropic Queen_ at Jack's behest, he had drifted about seeking any sort of a job. In this way he discovered that a yacht called the _Endymion_ was being fitted out for a mysterious voyage.

There were several things about the _Endymion_ and her crew that had prevented other wireless operators from accepting a berth on her.

No information was forthcoming as to the nature of her cruise or its destination or even who the owner was.

But c.u.mmings was not particular. He met Jarrold on board and after an interview with the master rogue, in which he bound himself to ask no questions but obey orders, he found himself signed on as the yacht's wireless man.

The _Endymion_, as we know, was a much faster boat than the _Tropic Queen_, and had arrived in Kingston, after her mysterious maneuvering on the voyage south, a day ahead of the liner, slipping in almost unnoticed and docking at a remote pier. As soon as the _Tropic Queen_ docked, Jarrold, to whom alone these arrangements were known, hastened to the _Endymion_. He found c.u.mmings and a.s.signed to him the job of getting Jack Ready into his power. c.u.mmings would have obeyed Jarrold anyhow, but the work given him held an added relish, for it afforded him an opportunity to take revenge on the lad whom he hated with a malicious envy.

As the auto sped along the road, pa.s.sing few people and those, country negroes driving donkeys laden with produce for the Kingston market, c.u.mmings related with great glee to Jarrold the manner in which he had tricked Jack into taking the drugged drink.

”I'll take good care of you for putting the job through as you did,”

Jarrold a.s.sured the treacherous youth. ”With that young meddler out of the way, I'll accomplish what I set out to do before the _Tropic Queen_ reaches Panama.”

”Do you still intend to transfer to the _Endymion_ as soon as you have the papers in your possession?” asked c.u.mmings.

”Yes. I shall signal you by the red flash.”

”By the way, what happened to your apparatus the last time we exchanged signals?” asked c.u.mmings, recalling the night that Jack played his memorable trick and cut off the current by which Jarrold was working his flash lamp.

”I don't know, but I suspect that young jackanapes back there of having something to do with it,” was the reply.

”Well, you won't be bothered with him now,” said c.u.mmings.

”No; by the time he gets out of the Lion's Mouth the _Tropic Queen_ will be far out at sea,” chuckled Jarrold.

”How did you ever come to locate the Lion's Mouth, as you call it?”

asked c.u.mmings with some curiosity.

”Many years ago, when I was in Jamaica for-well, never mind what purpose-an old voodoo negro showed me the place. It forms part of the ruins of an old Spanish castle, and there is a legend that the old Don who once owned it kept lions in it for his amus.e.m.e.nt. Any one he didn't like, he'd let the lions make a meal of. Nice old gentleman, wasn't he?”

c.u.mmings joined in Jarrold's laugh at his own grim humor.

The road began to grow rougher and Jarrold had all he could do to keep the machine in the track. He had no more opportunity to talk. Rocky walls shot up on one side of the thoroughfare, and on the other a steep precipice tumbled sheer down to the sea, which broke in roaring ma.s.ses of spray at its foot.

It was a scene of gloomy magnificence in which the modern car with its red tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs and snorting engine seemed strangely out of place. At length they came to a spot where a ravine ran back from the sea, splitting the towering rock ma.s.ses and spanned by a narrow bridge.

Jarrold turned the car aside and ran it some distance back into a track that wound along one side of the deep cleft, at the bottom of which the sea boiled and roared.

c.u.mmings peered over somewhat fearfully into the dark depths.