Part 19 (1/2)
_Wayne Scott._
”Ah!” said Captain Marat. ”Thad look ver' deeferent. They want we shall follow thee _Orion_--and they are to be on board of thee _Orion_. And so that what Duran mean w'en he say--'We must not leave them behind.'”
”And,” offered Robert, ”he wants us to look out for them. That means that when we get near enough, they'll escape overboard if they get a chance; and they want us to pick them up if they succeed.”
”Say,” broke in Norris, holding the paper and addressing Robert. ”What you kids can't think up isn't in the dictionary, or Shakespeare. That Duran is a sharp one, but let Wayne and Robert, here, alone--we'll beat that skunk yet.”
CHAPTER XIV
JULIAN CONTINUES THE NARRATIVE--NORRIS' BIG GUN
There was much discussion now, and the storm having pa.s.sed, we got up on deck again. It was decided to make it appear to Duran that we meant to remain, waiting for the return of the boys. We got a boat ready, put into it blankets and provisions, and the like, as if for a sojourn on sh.o.r.e. We made certain Duran would be watching our preparations. An hour before night we pushed off, Robert and Rufe, only, remaining aboard with the sailors.
At the wharf we hired a mule and cart, and transferred the cargo; and directly, we were moving to the back of the town, stopping only when we had reached a little wooded eminence. We did not unload, but unhitched the mule and put him to graze.
We had not been long at the place, when Norris went off, saying he had an errand, and would meet us at the boat-landing.
We could see both schooners from the little hill, until darkness came.
Then we kept watch for Robert's signal.
”What do you think Norris can be up to?” I said.
”Ah!” returned Marat, ”Thad Englishman, he got some buzz in hees bonnet.
He ver' good man. He--”
”There thee light!” said Carlos.
I looked, and out of the black harbor, dotted with anchor lights, there appeared a wee flas.h.i.+ng, repeated at frequent intervals. We answered with a few flashes from our lantern. Then Robert's signal ceased.
The mule was put to the cart again, and we returned to our boat.
There was Norris, waiting. He sat on the bow of the small boat, twirling his thumbs. While we were transferring our property from the cart to the boat again, I noted a pair of white men seated in a flatboat of some bulk, lying nose on the beach, nearby. When we started for the _Pearl_, Norris made a gesture to the two men who immediately followed with their boat in our wake.
”What have you got there?” I asked of Norris.
”Oh, that's just a couple of dagos doing a job for me,” Norris answered.
”The _Orion's_ gone,” said Robert, as we drew near the _Pearl_.
We threw our outfit aboard. And then Norris unlashed the block from the main gaff and swung it down to the ”Dagos,” who had come alongside with their boat. They hitched the tackle to a tarpaulin-wrapped article. From its shape, it might be a piece of cordwood. When that had been pulled aboard, the block went down into the boat again, and soon up came a gun carriage. It was that type so much seen in the old fortifications, the supports of wood, with small wheels at the base. Next came about fifty rounds of, perhaps, two-pound b.a.l.l.s, and powder in kegs, not forgetting ram-rod and swabber.
The ”Dagos” moved quietly away, money in their fists.
”Never heard of a s.h.i.+p on such a chase as ours without some kind of a cannon,” explained Norris.
He had seen some old cannon lying useless in an old fortification on sh.o.r.e. He fastened his liking on a bra.s.s gun, of not too great size, and 'by hook or by crook,' had made a deal for it--”With the fixin's,” as he said. One little wheel of the carriage was broken, but he contrived a temporary prop in its place. He did not rest till he had the bra.s.s barrel mounted and lashed up near the bows, and hid under its tarpaulin.
”What are you going to do with that 'barker'?” said Robert.