Part 18 (1/2)

CHAPTER XIII

JULIAN'S NARRATIVE--THE SECRET MESSAGE

It was dark when we parted with Wayne and Ray, who went to the Marcel place, where Duran was to give a ball. I gathered from the talk I heard that he had often visited the Port, where he loved to display his wealth; and he seemed even to nurse the curiosity people had as to the source of it. I talked with a French tobacconist, who said it was given out that Duran claimed descent from a king.

When we climbed aboard the _Pearl_, Grant Norris had his usual good-natured grumble. ”I don't see the sense in losing sleep watching that skunk of a Duran,” he said. ”If we watch his schooner, that he travels by, he isn't going to slip far to that gold mine without our knowing.”

”Yes, if we could be sure,” said Captain Marat, ”that would be all right. But it may be he give this party to confuse us; and then he sneak away, and go off in some other boat. And then, what I hear las' night when we are by the _Orion_, show he is _up to some theeng_, as you say; and Wayne and Ray they fin' out what it is, maybe.”

Most of us on the _Pearl_ went to sleep early. Robert alone said he would stay awake till Wayne and Ray should come.

It was long past midnight when Robert came and wakened us. He said he was sure something was wrong. At midnight he had rowed off in the boat, and hovered around the schooner _Orion_ to see when Duran should return.

He said it was a feeling of uneasiness that prompted him. He had had that uneasiness all evening, though he hadn't liked to talk about it. He said--”Duran went aboard his schooner a little bit ago; and he seemed an awful sight pleased about something. I heard that voice of his laughing while he talked with those black fellows of his.”

”I wish you had taken me with you,” I told him. ”I might have heard what he said.”

Robert's fears quickly permeated the rest of us, and soon we were in a small boat, moving toward sh.o.r.e. We pa.s.sed near the _Orion_ in the dark.

Duran must have made us out, for we heard his laugh from the rail. It was such a laugh as a villain laughs--with derision in it. Norris almost exploded with rage when he heard. ”I'll plug your d----d carca.s.s yet, you low skunk!” he hissed under his breath. Carlos grunted his sympathy with Norris's mood.

We found the other small boat where it was left for the boys. Captain Marat remained with the two boats, while Norris and Robert and I hurried to the Marcel place for traces of Wayne and Ray. Our uneasiness increased with every moment. We got amongst the shrubbery with our lights, for we knew their plan. At last Robert called us to a spot where there were many prints of bare feet, among one or two shoe marks, in the dew-moist sand. Those prints we were able to follow to the edge of a palm grove, where they were lost in a path that was much used. We held to the trail for some way; till finally we came to many branchings, and were compelled to give it up.

”There's no telling which way they went,” said Robert. ”But those voodoos of Duran's got the boys all right.”

It was a disheartening speech.

”If they did,” said Norris, ”and if they harm them, I'll put a bullet in every d----d carca.s.s; and I'll hang that skunk, Duran, by a hook in his tongue, gold or no gold.” And he said more that was not altogether fit to repeat. And he meant it, for he was no mere boaster.

Day was just burst when we came back to Captain Marat.

”Ah,” he said, ”thad was the theeng, Duran, he talk about las' night. He plan it all, for he feel sure we watch heem at the ball.”

”And what will he do to those boys? That's what I want to know,” said Norris. And there was fire in his eyes.

”He weel not harm them, I theenk,” said Captain Marat, ”for he know we suspect him.”

”He'll keep them hid,” said Robert; ”and while we're looking for them, he'll up and run off to the gold mine. That's his game.”

”And I, for one,” declared Norris, ”will stay and hunt for them, gold or no gold.”

We rowed back to the _Pearl_ for breakfast, and to prepare for the search. It was arranged that I remain on board with Rufe, and if anything should occur, to require the others to return, I was to hoist a red ensign; for back of the town were hills all round, and they would be never far from a vantage-point whence they could have a good view of every vessel in the harbor.

They went, intending to scour the region all about town, beginning the search where we lost that trail beyond the pine grove. They hoped to discover the boys locked in some hut. That they were not over-sanguine was plain. Even Norris must have some notion of the sagacity of Duran.

I used a slit in the awning for my view-port. My binoculars were powerful, and I kept a sharp eye on the _Orion_. Duran I saw using his s.h.i.+p's gla.s.ses to observe the _Pearl's_ boat going to sh.o.r.e. And some time in each hour I would see him training them on some particular point landward. I speculated much on what might be the object of his interest.

The heat of the afternoon was stifling; the pitch bubbled in the seams of the deck; and the barefoot sailors stepped only on the shadowed places.

It was nearing four o'clock, when I saw Duran go into a boat and start sh.o.r.eward. Instantly I sent aloft the red ensign.