Part 39 (1/2)

”I believe he went ash.o.r.e in a small boat,” said the lieutenant.

”I'm having him watched, though, for I think he had some hand in this smuggling. In fact, he may prove to be at the bottom of the whole business.”

And so it turned out. Senor Ramo, while pretending to be a respectable Spanish coffee merchant, had been engaged secretly in smuggling. It was he who planned the mutiny on the Ramona for purposes of his own, though the storm gave him unexpected aid. He had joined the steamer later, after having stolen the papers from the room of Inez.

For it was Ramo who had taken them. His agents had sent him word that Inez had the means to free the political prisoner, and as this would have interfered with the plans of Ramo and his cronies, he determined to frustrate it. So, watching his chance, he took the papers and fled to join his mutinous and smuggling comrades. But the fates were against him. Later, it was learned that Ramo had tried, through agents in New York, to get the papers from the Spanish girl.

And the tramp in Chelton was, undoubtedly, one of them.

Inez said Ramo explained to her that he intended to keep her father a prisoner only a short time longer. With Senor Ralcanto free, the plans of the smugglers would have been interfered with, for the father of Inez, and his party, stood for law and order.

”But now I free my father myself!” cried the Spanish girl, proudly.

”No more do I wait for that fat one!”

So with the papers which would eventually release the Spanish prisoner, and well fitted out for the cruise to Double Island, the party once again set forth on her cruise.

”There the island is!” cried Lieutenant Walling, on the second day out. ”And I think I can see a flag flying. Few s.h.i.+ps pa.s.s this way, but, very likely, the refugees would try to call one.”

And, a little later, as the Tartar came nearer, Cora, who was looking through the gla.s.ses, cried out:

”I can see them! They are on sh.o.r.e! There's mother, Jack! She's waving, though of course she doesn't know who we are. And I see your mother and father, girls! Oh, Bess--Belle--we've found them!”

CHAPTER XXIX

AT SEA HORSE

There proved to be a good harbor at Double Island--a harbor ringed about with sand-fringed coral, with a sandy bottom which could be seen through the limpid depths of the blue water that was as clear as a sapphire-tinted crystal. And, a short way up from the beach was a line of palms and other tropical plants, while, in a little clearing, near what proved to be a trickling spring, was a rude sort of hut.

”Ahoy, folks!” yelled Jack, his voice a shout with its old vigor.

”Here we are!”

What the three on the beach said could not be heard, but they were plainly much excited.

”They don't yet know who we are,” said Cora.

”They only know they are being rescued,” echoed Bess.

”Oh, but isn't it great--we've found them!” cried Belle in delight, hugging first Cora, Bess and next Inez.

Inez said nothing, but her s.h.i.+ning eyes told of the joy she felt in the happiness of her friends. Her time for rejoicing was yet to come.

So little did the beach in the coral harbor shelve that the big motor boat could come up to within a few yards of the sh.o.r.e.

”Why it's Jack--and Cora!” cried Mrs. Robinson. ”It's your son and daughter--and the girls! Oh, of all things!”

Mrs. Kimball could not answer. She was softly crying on the shoulder of Mrs. Robinson, Mr. Robinson, who had been trying to catch some crabs along sh.o.r.e, had his trousers rolled up. He was rather a disheveled figure as he stood there--in fact, none of the refugees appeared to sartorial advantage--but who minded that?

”Hurray!” yelled Mr. Robinson, waving, a piece of cloth on a stick--an improvised crab-net.