Chapter 25

THE CAPTAIN'S STORY

At half-past seven o'clock that same evening Herries was on the fisherman's jetty situated in the lower parts of Tarhaven, and with him was his cousin. Both were well wrapped up, as the night was bitterly cold. However, the atmosphere was clear, and there shone a wintry-looking moon, the light of which was occasionally obscured by drifting clouds. Maud looked over the grey choppy sea to an emerald star, which indicated the position of the "Tarabacca," and shuddered at the idea of venturing out on such an evening. Timid as a rule, only her love for Kyles made her resolve to board the ship. Also she had another idea in her head, and as she thought of it again, she stole a glance at her cousin, which was forebodingly forbidding.

But Herries was looking up towards the town, and wondering why Ritson did not come. The lawyer had insisted upon sharing the adventure, and on taking charge of the gold.

But the watched pot boiled on this occasion, and very soon a cab drove down to the top of the jetty, and Ritson came along, well-muffled up in a fur coat, followed by two men carrying a wooden box, which they placed in the waiting boat by his directions. Then Herries got in, after handing Maud to a seat, and the oarsmen,--there were two, dipped their oars into the gleaming water.

"Got it there?" asked Angus, nodding towards the wooden box, as they swept clear of the jetty.

"The lead. Yes!" said Ritson with a frown. "You mean the leaden seals, don't you?"

"Certainly," replied Herries, seeing that Ritson did not wish either the boatmen or Maud to learn the real contents of the wooden box.

"They are very heavy--those seals," continued Ritson with emphasis.

"What seals?" asked Miss Tedder, glancing at the box.

"Official seals connected with the Indiana Republic," answered the solicitor promptly. "Captain Kyles is taking them out."

"But I thought that he was not allowed to enter the Republican territory again?"

"Oh, he's made all that square. He and Se�ora Guzman are steaming back to Indiana to-morrow," replied Ritson, lying frankly.

"I'll go too," muttered Maud, "that is, if----" she huddled her wraps about her and stole a vicious glance at Herries, which passed unnoticed in the darkness.

There was not much conversation. Herries was anxiously wondering if Gowrie would be accused of committing the crime, and was congratulating himself that he had not informed Inspector Trent about the meeting on the yacht. He would scarcely have been so easy in his mind, had he known that Ritson had arranged with Trent that the police should board the "Tarabacca" between nine and ten o'clock, when the truth had been told, as it was probable it would be by that time. Ritson, on his side, was debating if he would inform Herries that Pope Narby had tried to pass one of the notes for which Sir Simon had been murdered. The lawyer had no doubt in his own mind but that Pope was the culprit, and privately considered himself a fool, for taking four thousand pounds in gold on board the yacht to pay Kyles for information already received. In fact, he had intended to stop away, but Trent had advised him to go, and to hear what Kyles would say. Then, even if the money were paid, it could be recovered again by the police, when they paid the proposed visit. Kyles did not expect that the law would board his nefarious craft on that night, and within a couple of hours.

As for Maud, she kept glancing every now and then at her cousin and hugging her secret to her breast. She had conceived an idea, by which she hoped to get back her fortune and thus secure Kyles. "If I could only get him away from that woman," thought Maud, "I would be quite happy. And when I have the money----" she glanced again at Herries, and laughed softly.

"What is amusing you, Maud?" he asked, rather uneasy at mirth so obviously out of place.

"Only my own thoughts," she muttered. "Shall we soon be there?"

Herries nodded. The yacht was only a stone throw away. As he looked, the long black form of the launch shot out from behind the ship, and steamed at full speed up the Thames, in the direction--as it seemed to Herries,--of the waterway which led to the "Marsh Inn."

"That boat can go," he said, wondering what was up.

"Ah, sir, she just can," said one of the boatmen, as the launch sped along scattering the white foam from her sides to glisten in the pale moonlight. "She's been dodging about these waters for the last month or so, racing between Tarhaven and Pierside. She can show a clean pair of heels, like the yacht herself."

"Is she quick?"

The boatman chuckled.

"I should just think so. A mate of mine met one of the engineers, a Scotch chap, and he said that she could steam hell for leather, begging the lady's pardon."

Herries winced. Kyles was extremely unscrupulous, and in a boat of great speed, might not hesitate to keep him a prisoner until much more than four thousand was paid over. He had only to get up steam and slip away in the darkness for South America, and it would be difficult to catch him. However, the adventure was begun and had to be finished, and Herries, believing that his luck had changed with marriage, hoped for the best.

Shortly the boat was longside the yacht, swinging up and down on the tide. Kyles was expecting them, and a rope ladder was lowered. Up this swarmed Herries who was well used to the sea. Ritson came next, but was in a state of terror the whole time owing to the swaying of the rope ladder. Lastly, the boatmen assisted Maud up the steep black side of the yacht. Kyles, who had made no observation when the two men ascended, uttered an exclamation when he saw a woman appear.

"Have you brought your wife, Herries?" he asked, much vexed.

"It's my cousin."

"Your cousin!" said Kyles in tones of dismay.

By this time Maud had scrambled on deck, and was holding out her hand.

"Good evening, Captain Kyles," she said ceremoniously, "you have been quite a stranger of late."

"Why--why do you come--come here?" stammered the Captain who was considerably taken aback.

Maud laughed in an amused manner.

"To say good-bye," said she, carelessly.

"Humph! I believe that," he retorted and she could hear him grit his teeth at her unwelcome presence. At that ominous sound, the girl, who, unfortunately for herself, really did love him, turned pale, and laid her hand on her heart, as though she there felt a cruel pain, as no doubt she did. Kyles stared at her frowning and then turned away with a grunt of satisfaction as a wooden box was hoisted on board by the two boatmen and a couple of his own sailors.

"You've got it," he said, in a thankful tone.

Herries nodded.

"And this is my solicitor, Mr. Ritson, who advanced the cash and has come to see it paid over,--on conditions," added the young man significantly.

"Oh, I'll keep my word," said Kyles, looking over the side, "you two men below can remain where you are!" Then he turned to three truculent-looking sailors, "Don't let them come on board. You know what to do when the launch returns."

After giving his orders, he asked the company to come below, and two sailors carried the box between them down the brass-bound steps which led to the state-room. Herries was surprised at the splendour of the cabin, but still more surprised when he saw, seated at the head of the long table, a well-known figure sipping whisky and smoking vigorously.

"Aye!" said the voice of the missing sage, "it's me, ma ain sel, Angus, taken awa frae a useful existence tae herd wi' tarry men, the which ca' themsels sailors, but who are nae mair nor the scum o' the arth. But I'll hae an action for false detention if there's law to be had, and I chairge you, laddie, tae pay ma fees."

"How the deuce did you come here?" asked Herries, recovering from his astonishment.

"I kidnapped him," said Kyles casting down his gold-laced cap, and throwing off his oilskin. "Sit down, Miss Tedder."

"Miss Tedder," echoed Maud in tones of reproach. Kyles flushed all over his bronzed face, and gave her an angry look, striving meanwhile to remain calm. "We can speak, after we have transacted this business," he said.

"Call me Maud, then."

"Maud," said the Captain in ironical tones.

"And what is Maud doing here?" asked another voice--a woman's, cold and cutting as an east wind.

Maud recognised her rival with a snarl like that of an angry cat, and looked defiantly at her. Se�ora Guzman, in a richly trimmed dinner dress, which well became her beauty, was standing at the door of her berth, and her face grew pale with wrath, as she gazed at the insolent baby face of Miss Tedder.

"You have no right here," said the Mexican lady, "this is my ship."

"Captain Kyles' ship," taunted Maud.

"He is the skipper, and my servant. How dare you thrust yourself here uninvited?"

"I brought her, Se�ora," said Herries, firmly, "and it will be as well to postpone any conversation you may wish to have, until we have despatched the business we have come about."

The two women glared at one another, and all the men,--even the philosophic Gowrie,--felt uneasy at their attitude.

"Dods," he growled, "an' they ca' yon the weaker sex. It's weel that the late Mistress Gowrie is unnergrund, for never again wull I trust my ain precious sel' tae sic jades as they."

"After the business is ended we can speak," said Se�ora Guzman, and sat down disdainfully.

"I'll be only too glad," snapped Maud likewise sinking down. "You're not going to have it all your own way, madam," and after a mutual scowl, both fixed their jealous eyes on Kyles, who, for a brave man, looked decidedly nervous. He was about to relieve the situation by addressing himself to the business in hand, when the silence was broken by an exclamation from Herries. The young man had mechanically picked up a telegram which was lying on the table, and without thinking had read the same. Its contents astonished him not a little.

"I beg your pardon, Kyles," he stammered, still holding the telegram with an expression of amazement on his face. "I read this inadvertently. It is from Kind, to you."

"Quite so," answered the Captain smoothly, "and you will see that Pope Narby presented one of the notes stolen from Sir Simon at a shop, and was given in charge. Also that he escaped, and that Kind believed he fled at once with his mother to the 'Marsh Inn.' It takes a lengthy wire to explain all that, Herries, but I told Kind not to spare expense."

"Was this why Kind went up to town?"

"Yes. He met me yesterday ashore, and I gave him my instructions."

"Oh," cried the young man, wonderfully surprised, "and do you mean to say that Kind obeyed them?" Kyles pointed to the telegram. "That proves it." Ritson picked up the wire and looked at the time. "You got this before the news came to Trent," he said sharply.

"Oh," remarked the Captain smiling, "so the police have been informed already. I told Kind to let them know in London, guessing that the news would be at once forwarded to Tarhaven. My only regret is that Pope Narby should have escaped. But we can't foresee everything."

"Aye," remarked Gowrie waving his pipe, "what says glorious Robbie?

'The best laid plans o' mice an' men
Gang then wrang.'

"I'm nae varra sure o' the context, but there's the sense for ye."

Herries passed a bewildered hand across his brow. "I don't quite understand," he observed. "Is Pope Narby the guilty person?"

"Oh, I don't say that," replied the Captain, agreeably.

"It's his limmer o' a mither," cried Gowrie.

"What!" cried Ritson, jumping up with an activity surprising in so elderly a lawyer. "Did she----?"

"Here!" interrupted Kyles impatiently, "we'll never get on at this rate. Mr. Gowrie, you had better tell what happened at the 'Marsh Inn' and I'll take up the story when your knowledge fails."

Gowrie smiled graciously, asking nothing better than to be the central figure in the conversation. The three men listened attentively, but the two women, still glaring at one another, gave but a careless ear to the tale, told in the old tutor's best style and in his best English. "For the beenefit o' the lawyer body," explained Gowrie, nodding towards Ritson, "him being unacquaint wi' the tongue o' Auld Reekie. But baith ye laddies," he indicated Herries and Kyles respectively, "ken well the vernacular ye sooked in wi' yer mither's milk as it micht be."

"Get on, get on," cried Kyles looking at his watch, "we have not much time. I have steam up, and we lift anchor before midnight."

Ritson smiled to himself, thinking that before midnight Captain Kyles would probably find himself in Tarhaven prison. However, as Gowrie was speaking, he gave his attention to the story, and it astonished him not a little.

The sage related all that had taken place at the inn since his arrival there, and described with indignation how he had been kidnapped while searching for the box buried by Mrs. Narby. In the midst of his diatribes, the Captain cut him short.

"I learned from Se�ora Guzman that Mrs. Narby had gone to see her son in London," he explained rapidly, "and got the address from the maid-servant of the inn. Mrs. Narby had given her the address and had told her to send on any letters. On receiving this information I went ashore with one of the notes, which I took from the box. I intended to come and see you, Herries, and make an arrangement. But I met Kind by chance on the jetty and made the arrangement with him. He agreed to take the note to town, and give it to Pope Narby; also to try and induce him to pass it, and then give information to the police so that Pope might be arrested, and thus the note would be brought under the notice of the Scotland Yard authorities."

"But Pope would never have tried to pass a note of that sort, when he knew that the authorities had the numbers."

"He did not know that this was one of the stolen notes. Mrs. Narby, I presume, went to London to tell him that the box had been found--which it was by me, and is now on board,--but he would never connect Kind and the stolen notes. Kind presented the note to Pope, who is a fool, as a present from Se�ora Guzman, who admired his poetry. It was for fifty pounds, and Pope swallowed the bait. He went out to cash the note, as he was short of money. Kind, according to my instructions, entered the shop with him, and declared that it was one of the notes that had to do with the Tedder murder, and gave Pope in charge."

"But since Kind gave him the note----"

"Oh, Kind could explain that in due time. All he wanted and I wanted, was to have that Narby animal arrested. However, Pope lost his head, and before the policeman could seize him, he escaped. I think that was how the affair happened, and you see from that telegram, that Kind believes Pope and his mother have made for the 'Marsh Inn.' I expect that they will hastily pack a few things and escape."

"Then Pope Narby killed Sir Simon," said Herries again.

"I can't be certain of that until I see him," said Kyles.

"Then you don't get the four thousand pounds," retorted Ritson.

"I'll have it before midnight," said Kyles glancing again at his watch, "for then I sail for--let us say, Indiana. I have so wish that you, Mr. Ritson, should put the police on my track. Mr. Herries I can trust, but you,--a lawyer."

"Aye, aye," commented Mr. Gowrie, "they lawyer bodies are the bairns o' Auld Nicky-Ben. The Faither o' Lies, the Accuser o' the Brethren, perverse an' damnable----"

"Don't miscall your best friend, Mr. Gowrie," snapped Ritson. "But we are no nearer the end than we were. Perhaps, Captain Kyles, you will now make your long deferred explanation."

"Have you the four thousand pounds?" asked Kyles sharply.

"There's the box. But you don't get it until----"

"Open the box, and let me see the money," said Kyles. "How do I know but what you will diddle me?"

"You said that you would trust me," put in Herries.

"Yes. I also said that I mistrusted your lawyer. I'll get a screw-driver and a hammer. The box must be opened," and Kyles left the cabin in a hurry.

"I believe he is guilty himself," exclaimed Ritson striking the table.

"You are wrong," remarked Se�ora Guzman quietly, "Captain Kyles is innocent."

"He isn't," cried Maud, viciously. "I can prove--"

"You can prove nothing."

"I can!"

"You can't, and what is more, you shan't."

The two women, panting and savage, faced one another defiantly. However the scene was ended for the time being by the return of Kyles, and the box was opened by Ritson, who declined to let the Captain tamper with the precious metal. When the lid was thrown back and the glitter of sovereigns was displayed, Kyles raised another objection.

"You have some money there," he admitted, "but how do I know that the sum amounts to four thousand pounds?"

"Count it," said Ritson curtly.

"That would take too long. Mr. Herries, will you give me your word of honour that the sum of four thousand pounds is in that box?"

"Yes, so Ritson assures me."

"Ah," Kyles was suspicious at once, "then _you_ can't say yourself if the whole--hark!" he stopped abruptly and held up his finger.

There was a long shrill whistle, evidently from some steamer near at hand. Kyles rushed out of the cabin, and Ritson hastily replaced the lid on the box, wondering if the police had arrived thus inopportunely, and before the revelation had been made. But in any case the gold was safe, and he chuckled at the thought of having Kyles arrested, and forced to speak the truth in order to save his own neck. The buccaneer would not gain possession of the gold after all, for which Ritson was profoundly thankful. But his glee was of short duration. In five minutes, during which everyone sat pale and expectant, Kyles returned. But not alone. With him was Pope Narby, white and sick with fear. He shambled in at the heels of the Captain, and dropped into a chair.

"Here," said Kyles, waving his hand, "allow me to present to you Mr. Pope Narby. He and his mother did return to the 'Marsh Inn' to prepare for flight. I sent up the launch, and they have sought safety on board this boat. I'll take them to South America. Meanwhile, I can now say, Herries, that this," he laid his hand on Pope's arm, "this is the murderer of your uncle."

"No, no," howled a high, shrill voice, "I killed 'im," and Mrs. Narby, looking like a grey old rat at bay in a trap, rushed into the cabin.