Part 21 (2/2)

On a further search other signs of violence were discovered. Jack began to suspect that the man's account of being deserted by the crew was not a true one. He resolved, however, before questioning him, to take him on board the _Bellona_, to let Captain Murray decide what to do. ”It appears to me that unless several hands are placed on board to keep the vessel clear of water, she must sink in a day or two if towed by the s.h.i.+p; and that certainly Mr Jull, experienced seaman as he may be, even with the aid of his wife, cannot, even were the craft supplied with masts and sails, find his way back to China. He is far more likely to run on a coral reef, or purposely cast his vessel away on one of the many islands in these seas, and take up his abode there.”

One thing was certain, there was something suspicions about the man.

Captain Rogers and Tom now made their way to the main cabin, where what was their surprise to see a remarkably handsome young female bending over a chest, in which she was engaged in packing up various articles which Jonathan Jull, as he called himself, standing by, was handing to her. Her complexion and countenance, as well as her costume, showed her to be an oriental, probably a Malay, though her features were more refined than those of Malays in general. She rose as she saw the strangers enter the cabin, and unconsciously stood with her arms crossed on her bosom, gazing at them with her large l.u.s.trous eyes, which expressed more terror than satisfaction.

”I see that you are preparing to quit the vessel, Mr Jull,” said Jack.

”I must beg you to make haste and stow that chest, as we cannot remain much longer on board. Indeed, from her condition, it is impossible to say when she may go down.”

The man, without at first answering, turned to the Malay girl, and spoke some words to her in her own language, on which she again knelt down and continued packing the chest. There were several cases which the man handed quickly to the girl, but the other things were chiefly articles of clothing, with two or three jewel-hilted daggers, a short sword, and a brace of long-barrelled, beautifully mounted pistols. He had been apparently not desirous to allow the English officers to see the contents of his chest. As soon as it was filled, having locked it, he produced a stout rope and lashed it in a seamanlike manner.

”Now, sir, my wife and I are ready,” he said, throwing a cloak over the girl's head, with which she could conceal her features. ”If your people will lend me a hand to get this chest into the boat, I shall be obliged,” he continued. ”As you say, sir, the craft is not very seaworthy, and since I made you out I have neglected to keep the pump going. I have been compelled to work at it for several hours every day, or the leak would soon have gained on me.”

The man as he spoke seemed perfectly cool and collected, and not at all unwilling to go on board the s.h.i.+p of war. The chest, which was somewhat heavy, was lowered into the boat, with the aid of a tackle which the owner produced. He and his wife then followed, taking their seats in the stern sheets. As the boat pulled away from the junk Jack observed that she had sunk already much lower in the water than when he went on board, and seemed to be settling down astern.

”That craft has sprung a fresh leak since we saw her first,” observed one of the crew, who had remained in the boat looking at the stranger.

”I heard a curious noise as we were alongside, as if water was rus.h.i.+ng in under the counter. We should have let you know if you hadn't come to the side with the chest.”

These words were spoken loud enough to be heard aft. Tom fancied that he detected a peculiar expression pa.s.s over Jull's countenance, but the man immediately resumed his unconcerned look, and spoke to his wife as if endeavouring to quiet her apparent alarm.

The chest was hoisted on board, and the two persons who had been taken from the junk were allowed to seat themselves on it, while Jack made a report to Murray of his visit to the junk.

”Her cargo,” he observed, ”appears to be of considerable value, and it would be a pity to lose it.”

”We might get some of the most valuable portion out of her, but we must not spend time about it,” remarked Murray. ”From your account, even were we to take her in tow, she is not likely to keep above water. We can afterwards examine this suspicious gentleman and his wife, although I doubt whether we shall get much out of them.”

”We are not likely to get much out of the junk either,” said Jack, pointing at her. ”Look there!”

As he spoke the junk, towards which the frigate was steering, was seen to lift her bows, and immediately afterwards a loud report was heard; her stern and after decks were blown into fragments, and in a few seconds she disappeared beneath the surface.

”Our friend there had no intention that we should make a further examination of the craft,” observed Jack. ”Depend upon it, he had taken effectual measures to prevent us from doing so after he had secured in his chest the most valuable property on board.”

”We have no proof that he was instrumental in her destruction, though the circ.u.mstances are suspicious,” said Murray. ”He will of course tell us what he thinks fit as to the cause of her sudden foundering and the explosion on board, while we are prevented from making any further examination of the signs of a conflict, which you suppose must have taken place. We will, however, try to get some information out of the man.”

A few fragments of wood floating on the surface was all that remained of the junk, as the frigate, now again put on her proper course, pa.s.sed over the spot where she had lately floated. Notwithstanding the suspicions which were entertained about Mr Jull, Captain Murray wis.h.i.+ng to treat the man's wife with consideration, ordered a screen to be put up on the main-deck, where she might be in private and have the chest under her eye. He then sent for Mr Jull to come into the cabin, where he, with Jack and the first lieutenant, were seated.

Jonathan Jull persisted in the story he had given to Jack, stating that he had commanded an opium clipper, which had been cast away; and that he had simply taken a pa.s.sage with his wife on board the junk to go to Shanghai, where he expected to find other employment. He glibly announced the name of his craft, the _Swallow_, as well as the names of his officers, and was running on with those of his crew when he was stopped.

”That is not necessary at present,” observed Captain Murray. But Mr Jull seemed to be anxious that there should be no suspicion resting on him. He next mentioned her tonnage and armament, and indeed everything about her.

”All very good,” said Captain Murray; ”but can you account for the signs of violence which we observed on board the junk--the stains of blood, the chipped beams, the bullets sticking in the bulkheads?”

Captain Jull, as he announced himself, looked very much astonished.

”You have observed, sir, what I failed to discover,” he answered, ”and I simply cannot account for the marks. If any violence occurred, it must have taken place before I went on board the junk. The crew appeared perfectly orderly, and only after the vessel had been dismasted, and they found her drifting away from the sh.o.r.e, did they take to their boats. For some reason, for which I cannot account, they refused to allow my wife and me to accompany them.”

”Very well, Mr Jull; but can you account for the junk sinking so soon after you left her, and for the explosion?”

”She was leaking very much indeed, and probably a b.u.t.t suddenly gave way,” answered Captain Jull. ”In regard to the explosion, my wife had lit a fire in a stove aft, and I suppose a cask of gunpowder must inadvertently have been left in the neighbourhood. But this is merely conjecture. She herself will tell you that she lit the fire.”

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