Part 60 (1/2)

”It is simple enough, sir; the little river forks and forms two mouths.

I sailed down one, and Mr Munday after we had met sailed down the other in pursuit of the enemy, and came out as you saw. It is quite simple, sir.”

”Then I must be too dense to understand it, Mr Anderson,” said the captain angrily; ”and now look here, sir,” he continued, ”you tell me that the river has two mouths?”

”Yes, sir.”

”There's one, then,” said the captain, pointing to where it could be plainly seen.

”Yes, sir.”

”Then where's the other, sir?”

”Really, sir,” replied the first lieutenant, glancing round and seeing that the two middies were hearing every word and striving hard to keep their faces straight in spite of an intense desire to laugh--”Really, sir, I cannot point out the exact spot, but I suppose that it is where the lugger and the second cutter came out.”

”You suppose that, sir, do you--suppose it!” roared the captain, thumping the rail with his open hand. ”Well, that's what Mr Munday supposes; but where is it, sir--where is it?”

”I must ask Mr Munday, sir, for I suppose he examined that part of the coast when he came out himself.”

”Suppose--suppose--suppose!” cried the captain. ”I'm sick of all this supposition. Mr Munday knows nothing whatever about it. The lugger sailed out, and after a bit the second cutter sailed out and continued the pursuit--for I suppose it was a pursuit?”

”Yes, sir, of course.”

”Don't say of course, Mr Anderson. I tell you it was all like a pantomime trick. He has thoroughly examined the coast there, and he can find no second mouth.”

”River's shut it up again, d.i.c.k,” whispered Murray.

”He has regularly muddled it, Mr Anderson,” continued the captain--”just as you muddled your part of the expedition; and the fact is that these slaver people have here an intricate what-do-you-call-it?--the same as the cla.s.sical fellow. Here, you boys, it is not long since you left school: What did they call that puzzle?

You, Mr Roberts.”

”I forget, sir,” said the mids.h.i.+pman, upon whom the captain had turned sharply.

”More shame for you, sir! Now, Mr Murray, I hope you have a better memory.”

”Labyrinth, sir,” replied the lad. ”Of course--labyrinth! A child could have answered such a simple question;” and the speaker turned to the first lieutenant again, while Murray c.o.c.ked his eye at Roberts and Roberts made a derisive ”face” suggestive of scorn and contempt, and as much as to say, Then if a child could have answered it, why couldn't you?

”Yes,” continued the captain--”a labyrinth, Mr Anderson, and it is very plain that the slaving scoundrels believe that their place is _so_ confusing and strong that they can set his Majesty's sloop of war at defiance, and continue to carry on their abominable traffic as they please. But I think not, Mr Anderson--I think not, sir, for we are going to show them that we laugh at all their slippery talk about the island, or whatever it is, belonging to the American Government, and that we are a little too sharp to be deceived over their hiding-places.

Only narrow ditches like so much network through swamps. Dreadfully confusing, of course, till you have been through them once, and afterwards as easy to thread as a big packing-needle. I'm disappointed in Mr Munday, I must say, but here is a splendid opportunity for you, you young gentlemen. You are not going to allow yourself to be baffled by a bit of a maze, Mr Murray?”

”No, sir; I hope not,” said the lad. ”And you, Mr Roberts?”

”No, sir, now we have been through forest, or cane brake, as Murray calls it.”

”Of course you will not let such trifling obstacles stand in your way,”

said the captain, beginning to pace up and down now, and rubbing his hands. ”We are going to find out here more than we expect, and after long disappointments make up for the past. Now, Mr Anderson, it is very plain that this Mr er--What do you say the American scoundrel is called?”

”His princ.i.p.al, Allen, addressed him as Huggins,” replied the first lieutenant.

”Huggins! Bah! What a name! It suggests a convict of the worst type.

It is a name bad enough, young gentlemen, to condemn any ruffian.