"_Remember Harkaway never forgets an injury._"
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE VILLA AGAIN--A MESSAGE FROM THE ENEMY"S CAMP--HOW A SNARE WAS LAID.
Harvey carried his project into execution, and went off, leaving Mrs.
Harvey and Mrs. Harkaway under the impression that he was going about the vessel, and making preparations generally for their departure.
They were one and all anxious to be gone from the place, which was for evermore a.s.sociated in their minds with the mishaps of the last few days.
When Harvey had been absent forty-eight hours, they grew anxious.
But on the morning of the third day, Nabley the detective came with a message from d.i.c.k.
He had met him by appointment and brought news.
There was something in Nabley"s face which made Harkaway anxious to see him alone.
"Now tell me, Nabley," he said, eagerly, "tell me all. How is Harvey?
What does he say of the boys? What is he doing? Has he any plan of action decided?"
"Gently, Mr. Harkaway, gently," said the detective; "you overpower me."
"Oh, Nabley, I say--"
"There, there! don"t be impatient. I"ll give it all out as fast as ever I can."
"I don"t want all," interrupted Jack Harkaway, pa.s.sionately. "How are my boys? Answer that. Are they safe? No, no! I read it in your face."
And then he dropped heavily into a chair, looking the picture of misery and despair.
Nabley had scarcely a word to say for himself.
The sight of the brave Harkaway so utterly collapsed was more than he could endure.
Jack rallied a little and turned again to Nabley.
"Well, quick, tell me the news."
And then, as Nabley still stammered, he went on--
"I know; save your breath. I knew it; poor boys! poor Harry and my poor brave boy Jack."
"Dirk Harvey bids you keep your courage up," said Nabley; "not to be downcast. It is quite time enough to be down upon our luck when we find out that the worst is true. The boys may yet live."
"No, no," cried Jack; "I fear my poor boys are no more."
"Let us hope they still live, but meanwhile, Mr. Harvey has treated the brigands as though the worst was true."
"How?"
Nabley made a significant gesture with his right arm as though stabbing violently at some unseen enemy.
"What, the brave d.i.c.k seeking and taking revenge?" exclaimed Jack.
"Yes. Two of the Greek brigands have fallen by his hand. The rest will follow, be sure of that; and, moreover, they never suspect whose hand has dealt the blow."
"Not suspect!"
"No, his game has been and will continue to be picking them off in single file. He meets one of them alone, and Harvey makes sure of him by his own strong right arm."
"Oh, brave Harvey," said Jack.
"Yes," said Nabley, "it is revenge. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; and I for one should like to see the whole gang food for kites and wolves."
"You have suffered in losing your old comrade," said Harkaway; "judge, then, if you so keenly feel the loss of a friend, what must I feel for my boy--my own flesh and blood."
"Yes," said Nabley; "I have suffered, but I will yet have a bitter revenge on my poor pal"s murderers. He was to me a brave and true friend. Poor Pike! he was foully a.s.sa.s.sinated."
"Yes, Nabley; he was cowardly shot by the villain Toro. But do the brigands know who is now taking revenge on them?"
"Yes; it is told them in black and white. A paper fixed to each carrion carcase tells that this is another proof of Harkaway"s vengeance."
Jack"s face flushed crimson at these words.
"Well done, d.i.c.k; well done, brave old boy," he muttered; "well done!".
"And he tells me that they are in a rare state about it in the camp. It has thrown all the lot of them into the greatest consternation. Hunston has grown very unpopular. It needs very little upon Harvey"s part to make sure of him."
"That"s brave."
"Now he"s growing ambitious. One at a time no longer satisfies him, so he has a scheme for bagging half-a-dozen of the brigands at once."
"How?"
"You know the spot that the boys christened the fig-tree grove."
"I do."
"He pretends to have intercepted a letter (when he "stole" the money and jewels I took him by way of keeping up appearances), which informs him that one of your party--a Mr. Hardy, or Harpy, he pretended--would be pa.s.sing through the fig-tree grove this evening, with money, on a journey of some importance. As this Hardy or Harpy is a dangerous person, the brigands, on Harvey"s advice, are to send six of their best men on the business."
Harkaway"s eyes twinkled again at this.
"Now," said Nabley, "we must bait the trap well. I"ll be the bait."