Part 31 (1/2)

She pointed across the cove and beyond the bar, and I saw then that a boat had been put off from the destroyer and was being pulled at a rapid rate towards the line of surf which, under the deepening tide, was now but a thin streak of white. It seemed to me that I could see the glint of arms above the flash of the oars--anyway there was a boat's crew of blue-jackets there.

”They're going to board her!” I exclaimed. ”I wonder what they'll find?”

”Dead men!” answered Miss Raven, quietly.

”What else? After all that shooting! I should think that man who's just got away was the last.”

”There was a man left on board who fired at him--and at whom he fired back,” I pointed.

”Yes--and who never fired again,” she retorted. ”They must all--oh!”

She interrupted herself with a sharp exclamation, and turning from watching the blue-jackets and their boat I saw that she was staring at the yawl. From its forecastle a black column of smoke suddenly shot up, followed by a great lick of flame.

”Good heavens!” I exclaimed. ”The yawl's on fire!”

I guessed then at what had probably happened. The man who had just disappeared with his boat behind the spit of land further along the cove had in all likelihood been one of two survivors of the fight which had taken place in the early hours of the morning. He had wished to get away by himself, had set fire to the yawl, and sneaked away in the only boat, exchanging shots with the man left behind and probably killing him with the last one. And now--there was smoke and flame above what was doubtless a shambles.

But by that time the boat's crew from the destroyer had crossed the bar and entered the cove and the vigorously impelled oars were flas.h.i.+ng fast in the sheltered waters. The boat disappeared behind the drifting smoke that poured out of the yawl--presently we saw figures hurrying hither and thither about her deck.

”They may be in time to get the fire under,” I said. ”Better, perhaps, if they let the whole thing burn itself out. It would burn up a lot of villainy.”

”Here are people coming along the beach,” remarked Miss Raven, suddenly. ”Look! They must have seen the smoke rising.”

I turned in the direction in which she was looking, and saw, on the strip of land and pebble, beneath the woods, a group of figures, standing at that moment and staring in the direction of the burning s.h.i.+p, which had evidently just rounded the extreme point of the cove at its southern confines. There were several figures in the group, and two were mounted. Presently these moved forward in our direction, at a smart pace; before they had gone far, I recognized the riders.

”A search party!” I exclaimed. ”Look--that's Mr. Raven, in front, and surely that's Lorrimore, behind him. They're looking for us.”

She gazed at the approaching figures for a moment, s.h.i.+elding her eyes from the already strong glare of the mounting sun, then ran forward along the s.h.i.+ngle to meet them; I followed as rapidly as my improvised foot-wear would permit. By the time I reached them, Mr.

Raven and Lorrimore were off their horses, the other members of the party had come up, and my companion in tribulation was explaining the situation. I let her talk--she was summing it all up in more concise fas.h.i.+on than I could have done. Her uncle listened with simple, open-mouthed astonishment; Lorrimore, when it came to mention of the Chinese element, with an obvious growing concern that seemed to be not far away from suspicion. He turned to me as Miss Raven finished.

”How many Chinese do you reckon were on board?” he asked.

”Four--including the last arrival, described as a gentleman,” I answered.

”And two English?” he inquired.

”One Englishman, and one Frenchman,” said I. ”My belief is that the Chinese have settled the other two--and then possibly settled themselves, among them. There's one man somewhere in these woods.

Whether he's a Chinaman we can't say--we couldn't make out.”

He stared at me wonderingly for a moment; then turned and looked at the yawl. Evidently the blue-jackets had succeeded in checking the fire; the flame had died down, and the smoke now only hung about in wreaths; we could see figures running actively about the deck.

”There may be men on there that need medical a.s.sistance,” said Lorrimore. ”Where's this boat you mentioned, Middlebrook? I'm going off to that vessel. Two of you men pull me across there.”

”I'll go with you,” said I. ”I left my boots in the cabin--I may find them--and a good deal else. The boat's just along here.”

The search party was a mixed lot--a couple of local policemen, some gamekeepers, two or three fishermen, one of Mr. Raven's men-servants.

Two of the fishermen ran the boat into the water; Lorrimore and I sprang in.

”This is the most extraordinary affair I ever heard of,” he said as he sat down at my side in the stern.