Kitabı oku: «In Search of Treasure», sayfa 2
CHAPTER IV
IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
Day followed day, and week succeeded week, and the good ship Osprey kept steadily on her way. Guy was not seasick, rather to his own surprise.
“You seem to be cut out for a sailor. Guy,” said the captain.
“I don’t know about that.”
“You enjoy the sea, do you not?”
“Yes, sir; but I don’t think I should care to be a sailor.”
“You are picking up a good deal of seamanship. It won’t be long before you know every rope in the ship.”
“Knowledge doesn’t come amiss, captain. I have an inquiring mind.”
They rounded the Cape of Good Hope at length, and soon found themselves in the Indian Ocean. It would not be long before they would reach the neighborhood of the island which was the goal of Guy’s hopes and expectations.
Till now he had not thought particularly what he would do when he got there. It would be small satisfaction to see the island, if perchance he should, and not be able to stop there. What could he do?
Alone, he was quite aware that he could do nothing. It was absolutely necessary that he should make a confidant of someone, and of someone who could be of service in helping him carry out his cherished plan.
Evidently there was no one on the Osprey who answered this description except the captain; but how would the captain look upon this plan?
Captain Grover was a pleasant man, and a good friend, but how he would regard Guy’s project was something that could not be guessed.
Guy decided, however, to tell his secret and sound the captain.
Already they had passed the southern point of Madagascar, and Guy felt that there was no time to be lost.
He had free access to the captain at all times, and he took the opportunity of entering his cabin one evening when the first mate was taking his turn in commanding the vessel.
“Well, Guy, how goes it?” asked the captain, pleasantly. “I am tired. You can talk to me.”
“That is just what I want to do, captain,” said Guy.
“Heave ahead, then. I am listening. Perhaps you have some advice to give me as to the management of the vessel.”
“I have, captain. I wish you would be guided by me.”
“Well,” said Captain Grover, eyeing his young companion with curiosity, “I am getting more than I bargained for. Please favor me with your suggestions, Captain Guy.”
He said this with a pleasant smile, for he really liked his young passenger, apart from the friendship he felt for the father.
“I wish, captain, you could be induced to visit the Agalegas Islands in your course.”
“What on earth do you know about the Agalegas Islands, Guy?”
“I know, or am very confident, that one of them was used by a band of pirates as a hiding place for treasure which they had collected from those they had robbed.”
“Where did you read about this?” asked the captain, abruptly.
“Not in any book,” answered Guy, “but in a letter written by my uncle George.”
“Your sailor uncle?”
“Yes.”
“And was this your object in coming to sea with me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let me know what your uncle George said. I attach no importance to it, but I have a feeling of curiosity. He was never a pirate, was he?”
“I hope not.”
“Then how could he know anything of pirate treasures?”
“I have his letter, captain. Would you mind hearing it?”
“No; but first, where did you get the letter?”
Guy told the story of his search in the attic, and his discovery of the letter in George Brandon’s chest.
“Very well. Now for the letter. Read it to me.”
In a slow, deliberate manner, in order that it might be fully understood, Guy read the letter.
The accompanying paper, however, he did not produce. He did not care to give away the whole secret unless he was assured of the captain’s co-operation.
“This is a strange yarn,” was Captain Grover’s comment, after he had heard the letter through.
“Don’t you believe it?” asked Guy, quickly.
“It sounds plausible,” answered the captain, slowly, “but I have heard a great many stories about pirate treasure. Plenty of sailors are ready to manufacture them. They tell them so often that at last they come to believe them themselves.”
“My uncle George would not indulge in deception.”
“I presume not, but I am not so sure as to the sailor from whom he received the information.”
“The sailor was on his deathbed. Would a man be likely to tell a falsehood at such a time?”
“No doubt it has been done often. However, the paper which he gave to your uncle was not written when he was on his deathbed, as I understand, but some time before, when he was perfectly well, and had no idea of death.”
“That is true,” Guy was obliged to admit.
“I don’t see what object he could have had in deceiving my uncle, though,” he added, after a pause.
“Nor I.”
“Then you think there may be something in it?”
“There is such a possibility.”
“Think what a great thing it would be for us to find the treasure,” said Guy, his face lighting up with enthusiasm.
“It would be very agreeable, certainly; but there are some serious obstacles in the way, even if we knew the treasure to be there.”
“What obstacles, captain?”
“The islands you refer to are considerably to the north of my usual course, and my duty to the owners of the vessel would not permit me to vary my route for any private enterprise of my own.”
Guy’s countenance fell. He saw at once that the captain was right in his statement, but it destroyed the faint hopes he had entertained that he might secure his co-operation.
“I am afraid,” he said, despondently, “you don’t have any confidence in the existence of the treasure.”
“I don’t say that, Guy. It may exist; but unless you have clear and explicit directions, we might miss it even if we should go especially in search of it.”
“But I have a description of the island,” urged Guy.
“Suppose you give me an idea of it.”
“It is well wooded to within a mile of the shore; toward the center there is a hill, or slight eminence, perhaps a hundred and fifty feet in altitude. The extent of it is probably five miles by eight.”
“That is tolerably definite.”
“Don’t you think it is sufficiently so to identify the island?”
“Perhaps so; but, though small, one might hunt a good while before finding the treasure after the island was discovered.”
“I have some directions that would help me.”
“That is well, or would be if there were any chance of your ever finding yourself on the island.”
“Captain Grover, I want to ask your advice. Can you suggest any way by which I can manage to reach the island?”
“You’ve got me there, Guy. These islands are never visited for commercial purposes. I know almost nothing of them—indeed, nothing at all, except their location. Of course, if there were ships that visited them for any purpose, that would simplify matters; but, so far as I see, the only way of seeking the treasure would be to organize an expedition expressly for that purpose.”
“I suppose that would be very expensive.”
“It certainly would.”
“But if the treasure were found, the one who incurred the expense would be richly repaid.”
“Well, perhaps so,” said the captain, skeptically.
“You won’t go anywhere near the island, then, captain?”
“No, Guy, I sha’n’t.”
Guy sat quiet a moment. He was very much disappointed. He began to realize how utterly quixotic was the expedition on which he had embarked.
“I begin to wish I had never found the letter,” he said.
“As to that, Guy, no harm is done. I presume, if you hadn’t found the letter, I should not have had the pleasure of your company on this voyage.”
“No, I suppose not.”
“Probably you will derive some pleasure and benefit from the trip, even if you never touch a dollar of this treasure.”
“That is true, captain; but I have a special reason for wishing I might obtain money from this source, or some other.”
“What is it?”
Then Guy told what he had learned as to Deacon Crane’s intention of driving his father from the parish. It would be a heavy blow to the minister, who was no longer endowed with a young man’s energy or hopefulness.
“You are a good boy, Guy, to have so much consideration for your father; but I am afraid you are leaning on a broken reed if you have any idea of helping him by the discovery of this treasure. However, I will turn the idea over in my mind, and if I can think of any suggestion to offer you I will do so.”
CHAPTER V
AN ADVENTURE IN BOMBAY
Guy’s conversation with Captain Grover left him with a feeling of disappointment. He felt that the captain had little faith in the reality of the treasure, and considered his enterprise a failure in advance.
Guy had overlooked the principal difficulties in the way. He had managed to reach the Indian Ocean, but this had brought him no nearer the realization of his hopes. If he had had nothing on his mind he might have enjoyed the bright, calm days and the clear skies, with glimpses here and there of islands covered with tropical vegetation.
But he had started on his voyage with a purpose. He wanted to find and secure the treasure hinted at in his uncle’s letter, and make his father independent for life. Of this there seemed to be now no chance, or next to none.
There was nothing for him to do except to remain on board the Osprey till the vessel reached Bombay. Then there would be the return voyage, at the end of which he would have seen considerable of the world, but would have gained nothing to repay him for the year he had spent away from home.
But there was no help for it. The captain would not change his course, and Guy must be content to leave the island unvisited, and the great problem unsolved.
At last they reached Bombay.
Guy surveyed the place with curious interest. He was not prepared to find it so large.
A city which contains seven hundred thousand inhabitants is a great city in any part of the world.
Not having any duties on board the ship, Guy was allowed to go and come when he pleased.
He found that among the foreign residents the English were the most prominent and influential. His walks were chiefly in what is called the European town, but he frequently strolled through the more picturesque part occupied by the natives.
One evening he was sauntering through the Persian quarter when he was startled by seeing a brown-faced native, his head surmounted by a turban, dart from an alleyway and pursue a well-dressed man, apparently either English or American.
That his object was murder or robbery, perhaps both, seemed evident, for he held in his hand a long, narrow, dangerous-looking knife.
Guy was not only courageous, but prompt. He carried a stout cane, not that he needed its support, but because he had been recommended to have it with him for defense, if needed.
He did not pause a moment, but springing forward, brought it down with emphasis on the arm of the Persian.
The native gave a sharp, shrill cry, which attracted the attention of the man whom he had intended to attack.
He was clearly an Englishman, inclined to be stout, and apparently about forty-five years of age.
He looked quickly from the native to Guy, and back again.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Only that this man was about to attack you with his knife.”
“And you saved me?”
“Yes; I was, fortunately, in time to prevent his striking you.”
“I don’t know how to thank you, but I must deal with this scoundrel, first.”
He seized the Oriental by the throat, and forced him to his knees.
“Dog!” he said, “what have you to say before I kill you?”
The cowardly fellow uttered voluble and abject entreaties for pardon in bad English. The purport of his speech was that he was a poor man, and had no money.
“Forgive me, Mr. Saunders,” he said.
“Ha! You know my name!” said the Englishman.
He bent over and scanned the face of his would-be assailant closely.
“I know him,” he said, briefly. “He was a native servant in my employ. I had to discharge him because I found him dishonest and a liar. Probably his attack to-night was prompted by a spirit of revenge.”
“Don’t kill me!” pleaded the Persian, in terrified accents.
“So you would have killed me, you scoundrel!” retorted the Englishman, shaking him vigorously.
“I—pardon me—I didn’t know it was you, worshipful sir!”
“You knew it well enough, I’ll be bound!”
“If you will go with me,” went on the Englishman, turning to Guy, “I will conduct this fellow to the police office. I do not propose to let him off. He is evidently a dangerous man, and, coward as he is, he may do harm unless he is secured.”
Guy readily accompanied his new acquaintance, and saw Isef, as he was called, placed in the hands of the police officials. He agreed, also, to appear the next day and give the testimony of an eye-witness as to the man’s felonious attempt to assault Mr. Saunders.
“And now,” said the Englishman, after this matter was disposed of, “let me know the name of the boy who has done me such an important service.”
“My name is Guy Fenwick.”
“Are you English?”
“No, sir; I am an American boy.”
“I thought so. Though there are resemblances, there is a dash about you Americans that I don’t find in my own countrymen. But how does it happen that you are so far from home?”
“I came to Bombay as a passenger on the American ship Osprey, Captain Grover.”
“A passenger? Then you are not connected with the ship?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you come here on a business errand?”
“Partly, sir; but it is business of a strange nature. If you will let me call upon you to-morrow, I shall be glad to tell you what it is.”
“I shall certainly wish to know, and if it is anything in which I can help you, I will try to do so.”
“You don’t know how much you are promising, Mr. Saunders,” said Guy, smiling.
“No, I don’t know that; but I do know that you have saved my life this evening,” returned the Englishman, earnestly.
Guy did not gainsay him, for he knew that it was true. Had the Persian driven his knife into the back of the English merchant the blow would have been instantly fatal.
“Perhaps I had better leave you now, sir,” said Guy. “The captain expects me to report at the ship before ten o’clock.”
“Very well; but I shall expect to see you to-morrow at my office.”
“Where is it, sir?”
In reply, Mr. Saunders handed Guy his card.
The office was on the principal business street in the European town. Guy was already sufficiently acquainted with Bombay to know exactly where it was located.
“I will come, sir,” he said.
When Guy returned to the ship the captain said: “You are late to-night, Guy.”
“Yes, sir; I was detained by important business.”
“So you have business here already?” returned Captain Grover, smiling.
“Yes, sir. Shall I tell you about it?”
“If it won’t take too long.”
“I was fortunate enough to save the life of an English merchant.”
Guy here gave particulars.
“John Saunders!” repeated the captain, in surprise. “Why, he is one of the wealthiest and most prominent men in the English colony.”
“Whatever he is, he was very near death to-night.”
“Did he ask you to call upon him?”
“Yes. I am to call to-morrow.”
“By all means keep the appointment,” said the captain, in a significant tone.
“I certainly shall. Mr. Saunders seems to be very friendly to me, and I am glad to have made his acquaintance. Do you know, Captain Grover, he is the first Englishman I ever met; that is, to become acquainted with.”
At eleven o’clock the next day Guy presented himself at the office of his English friend.
He sent in his card by a young Persian who seemed to be in the merchant’s employ. He was received at once.
“I am glad to see you, my young friend,” said the merchant, cordially. “I didn’t fully realize till after you left me what a narrow escape I had. It is God’s mercy that I am alive to-day.”
“The danger came so suddenly, and was so soon over, that I have not realized it yet.”
“I realize it, and shall always remember it. But you came here to explain the business that brought you to Bombay.”
“I had no thought of Bombay, Mr. Saunders. It was an island in the Indian Ocean that I wished to visit.”
“Indeed! Have you visited it?”
“No, sir; and I fear that I shall never have an opportunity to do so.”
“I am in the dark. I do not understand you.”
“Then, sir, I will try to explain, but I am not sure what you will think of my enterprise.”
“Go on.”
The merchant settled himself in a posture of attention, and Guy began his narrative.
He was listened to without interruption. Guy could not gather from the merchant’s expression what impression the story was making upon him.
When he finished, Mr. Saunders said:
“Your tale is certainly a strange one, and your business of a remarkable character for a boy of your age.”
Here he paused.
“I am not prepared to express any opinion yet,” he added. “I must take a little time to think it over. Meanwhile I will detain you through the day. I shall be glad if you will take dinner with me.”
“I shall be happy to do so.”
“Then if you will occupy yourself with the papers and magazines you will find on yonder table, I will write some letters which must go by the next steamer, and will then be at your disposal.”
CHAPTER VI
GUY’S PROGRESS
“How long will the Osprey remain in port?” asked the merchant, when they sat at dinner.
“Four weeks, sir.”
“Your sole object in taking passage and coming to this part of the world was to look after the concealed treasure, I take it?”
“Yes, sir. At any rate, but for that I should hardly have come.”
“Of course, you knew that the chances of your ever being able to visit the island were small?”
“Yes, sir; I knew that, but I trusted to luck; and I knew that at any rate I should enjoy the voyage.”
“In what way do you propose to make your living—by a profession, or by a business career?”
“I expect to become a business man.”
“Have you a fair education?”
“Yes, sir; I am prepared to enter Harvard College. I completed my course of preparation last summer.”
“That is well. Now I am going to make you a proposal.”
He paused, and Guy listened eagerly for what was coming.
“It is this,” said the merchant. “I suppose you have nothing to do on the ship.”
“No, sir.”
“I will invite you to work for four weeks in my counting-room. It will be the commencement of your business education. Besides, you will do me a favor, as a young clerk is absent from duty, sick with a fever. What do you say?”
“I will accept gladly, sir.”
“The hours are not wearing. In this warm climate we cannot venture to work as steadily as in England or America.”
“Will it be necessary for me to board in the city?”
“No; it will be better, on the whole, to sleep aboard the vessel, as you might contract a fever on shore, not being acclimated.”
“Very well, sir. When do you wish me to begin?”
“To-morrow morning.”
“All right, sir.”
“As to your compensation, I will give you twenty-five dollars per week.”
“But,” said Guy, astonished, “that is a large salary for a novice like me.”
“You won’t be a novice very long, and I paid that salary to my clerk who is sick.”
“You are very liberal, sir.”
“I have good reason to be.”
When Guy reported his engagement to Captain Grover, that officer congratulated him.
“It is a great thing,” he said, “to have won the favor of a rich merchant like Mr. Saunders. Besides, the knowledge you will obtain of business will be of infinite value to you.”
So Guy went to work the next day.
Of course, everything was new at first, but he had a thorough training as a student, and he set to work to learn business in the same way he had learned Greek, Latin, and mathematics at school. The result was that he made such progress as to surprise Mr. Saunders.
“You have already become of value to me,” the merchant said one day.
“Didn’t you think I would, sir?”
“I thought it would take longer to break you in. You have the making of a very successful business man in you.”
Guy was gratified by this tribute.
“I am pleased to have you say so,” he replied. “I have a special object in wishing to succeed.”
“What is that?”
“My father is a minister, dependent upon a small salary for support. He is now fifty, and there is a movement to oust him from the place. Should that succeed, I want to be able to free him from pecuniary anxiety.”
“That is highly commendable in you.”
A part of the time Guy was employed upon the books of the firm. One day he pointed out an incorrect entry which would have entailed a considerable loss.
“You are sharp,” said the merchant. “Do you know that you have saved me five hundred pounds? Besides, you have opened my eyes. I have reason to think that my former bookkeeper—the one whose place you have taken—was in league with the customer in whose account you have found an error. Our transactions are so large that I should have suspected nothing. Now I shall make an investigation.”
“My predecessor may have been simply careless,” suggested Guy.
“True; but I can’t afford to employ men who are careless.”
“You won’t deprive him of his situation, sir?”
“Not at once, but I shall watch him. For some reason I should like to have you in his place.”
“I should like to be in your employ, but I should not care to be so far away from my father for any length of time.”
“There is another consideration, also. This climate would be dangerous to one unaccustomed to it. No; I have other views for you.”
“I wonder what they are,” thought Guy.
The four weeks rolled quickly away. They might have seemed long to Guy if he had been unemployed, but his duties in the office so occupied his time that the period seemed very short indeed.
One day Captain Grover surprised him by saying: “Well, Guy, the Osprey will start for home next Monday.”
Guy heard the announcement with regret. He had become so interested in his work that he did not like to leave it.
“I suppose you will be ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
Guy notified Mr. Saunders that he should have to leave him.
The merchant looked thoughtful.
“I am sorry for that,” he said. “Your predecessor—the man whose place you are taking—is not yet well.”
“I am sorry if I inconvenience you, Mr. Saunders.”
“You are specially anxious to return on the Osprey?”
“If I don’t, I know of no other way of getting home.”
“You can get home quicker by way of London and Liverpool.”
“But that would cost considerable money.”
“That is true. Of course, if I detain you here I shall undertake to send you home free of expense to yourself. Perhaps, however, that may not be a matter of so much importance to you.”
Guy looked puzzled.
“You would travel by steamer to Liverpool, and from there to New York or Boston, also by steamer.”
“It would enable me to see more of the world, but it would cost you a good deal of money.”
“Yes; but I have not yet told you that I may have some business for you to attend to for me in England.”
“That would alter the case, sir. If you have confidence enough in me to employ me in that way, I shall be very glad to do what I can for you.”
“Then there is another matter. I have not yet spoken to you about the pirates’ treasure.”
“No, sir.”
“I have thought over the story you told me, and I will tell you the decision to which I have come. I think there is a faint chance of the story being true.”
Guy brightened up at this admission, for he had great faith in Mr. Saunders’ judgment.
“Of course, it will cost money to obtain it, even if it exists, for I see no other way than to fit out a special expedition.”
“Yes, sir,” returned Guy, soberly, for he believed this would destroy all chance of his ever obtaining the treasure.
“As to the prospect of influencing anyone with capital to go on such a quest, I am afraid it is not bright.”
“I suppose I may as well give it up, then?”
“Not necessarily. The time may come when I can myself undertake it. Meanwhile, as it may be a good while, you will be left in suspense and poverty.”
“Still, if I thought the time would ever come when you would be willing to take hold of it, I would be content to wait.”
“Then suppose you have a copy made of your uncle’s letter, and also of the one in which directions are given as to the island and the place of concealment. The original papers you can keep, and leave the copies with me.”
“I will do so, sir.”
“You repose a good deal of confidence in me. Suppose I fit out the expedition, secure the treasure, and cheat you out of your share of it?”
“I have no fear,” replied Guy. “I have perfect confidence in you.”
“You shall not regret that confidence. I will see that you derive some immediate benefit from this treasure to which you have fallen heir. I propose that, as the expense of fitting out the expedition will be mine, I shall have a right to claim one-half the treasure.”
“I agree to that, sir.”
“And I furthermore agree to pay over to you at once one thousand pounds, to be repaid to me out of your share of the treasure when it is found.”
“But it may never be found!”
“That will be my lookout.”
“And I shall be worth a thousand pounds—five thousand dollars!” said Guy.
“Exactly so.”
“I can hardly believe it.”
“You will believe it when the money is in your hands, as it will be to-morrow.”
“It was a very fortunate day when I met you, Mr. Saunders,” said Guy, gratefully.
“And a providential day when I met you, Guy. Don’t forget that you saved my life. But I have not yet spoken of the business which you are to do for me in England.”
When Guy heard this he was even more surprised.
