"Four, sir," says one of the boatmen.
"Then fetch as many as may safely leave the boat," said I. "Billy, get candles and make a good light here. Throw on coal, boys; there"s enough to carry us home."
I saw Mason gazing curiously about him.
""Tis like a tale out of the Arabian Nights, Paul," he exclaimed.
"Ay," said I, "but written in bitter prose, and no hint of enchantment anywhere. But, thank G.o.d, you are come! I have pa.s.sed a dismal time of expectation, I promise you." I added softly, "I have something secret--we will sup first, man--I shall amaze you! We must talk apart presently."
He bowed his head.
Three more boatmen arrived, giving us the company of five of them. Soon there was a hearty sound of frying and a smell of good things upon the air. Pitt put plates and gla.s.ses upon the cabin table, two great bowls of punch were brewed, and in a little time we had all fallen to. I whispered Wilkinson, who sat next me, "These boatmen know nothing of our business; I shall have to take Mr. Mason apart and arrange with him.
These fellows may not be fit for our service. Let no hint escape you."
"Right, sir," said he.
This I said to disarm his suspicions should he see me talking alone with Mr. Mason. He entertained us with an account of his excursion to London; and then, partly to appease the profound curiosity of the boatmen and partly to save time when I should come to confer with my relative, I gave them the story of my shipwreck, and told how I had met with the schooner and how I had managed to escape with her.
"And now, Mason," said I, "whilst our friends here empty these bowls, come you with me to the cook-room." And with that we quitted the cabin.
"D"ye mean to tell me, Paul," was the first question my relative asked, "that this vessel was on the ice eight-and-forty years?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Surely you dream?"
"I think not."
"What we have been eating and drinking--is that forty-eight years old, too?"
"Ay, and older."
"Well, such a thing shall make me credulous enough to duck old women for witches. But what brandy--what brandy! Never had spirit such a bouquet.
Every pint is worth its weight in guineas to a rich man. To think of Deal boatmen and n.i.g.g.e.rs swilling such nectar!"
"Mason," said I, speaking low, "give me now your attention. In the run of this schooner are ten chests loaded with money, bars of silver and gold, and jewellery. This vessel was a pirate, and her people valued their booty at ninety to a hundred thousand pounds."
His jaw fell; he stared as if he knew not whether it was he or I that was mad.
"Here is evidence that I speak the truth," said I. "A little sample only--but look at it!" And I put the pirate captain"s watch into his hand.
He eyed it as though he discredited the intelligence of his sight, turned it about, and returned it to me with a faint "Heaven preserve me!" Then said he, still faintly, "You found some of the pirates alive?"
"No."
"Who told you that the people of the vessel valued their plunder at that amount?"
I answered by giving him the story of the recovery of the Frenchman.
He listened with a gaze of consternation: I saw how it was; he believed my sufferings had affected my reason. There was only one way to settle his mind; I took a lanthorn, and asked him to follow me. As we pa.s.sed through the cabin I whispered Wilkinson that I meant to show my relative the lading below, and bade him keep the Deal men about him. I had the keys of the chests in my pocket: lifting the after-hatch, we entered the lazarette, and Mason gazed about him with astonishment. But I was in too great a hurry to return to suffer him to idly stand and stare. I opened the second hatch and descended into the run, and crawling to the jewel chest opened it, removed a few of the small-arms, and bade him look for himself.
"Incredible! incredible!" he cried. "Is it possible! is it possible!
Well, to be sure!" And for some moments he could find no more to say, so amazed and confounded was he.
I quickly showed him the gold and silver ingots and then returned the firearms and locked the chests.
"_These_," said I emphatically, pointing to the cases, "have been my difficulty; not the lading, though there is value there too. My crew know nothing of these chests: of their value, I mean; they believe them cases of small-arms. How am I to get them ash.o.r.e? If I tell the truth, they will be seized as piratical plunder. If I equivocate, I may tumble into a pit of difficulties. I durst not carry them to the Thames, the river swarms with thieves and Custom House people. I am terrified to linger here, lest I be boarded and the booty discovered. There is but one plan, I think: we must hire some Deal smugglers to run these chests and the cargo for us. The boat now alongside might serve, and I don"t doubt the men are to be had at their own price."
My relative had regained his wits, which the sight of the treasure had temporarily scattered, and surveyed me thoughtfully whilst I spoke; and then said, "Let us return to the fire; I think I have a better scheme than yours."
The men still sat around the table talking. Some liquor yet lay in one of the bowls, and the fellows were happy enough. I smiled at Wilkinson as I pa.s.sed, that he might suppose our inspection below very satisfactory, and I saw him look meaningly and pleasantly at Washington Cromwell, who sat with a laced hat on his head.
"Paul," said Mason, sitting down and folding his arms, "your smuggling plan will not do. It would be the height of madness to trust those chests to the risks of running and to the honesty of the rogues engaged in that business."
"What is to be done?"
"Tell me your lading," said he.
I gave it to him as accurately as I could.
"Why," he exclaimed, "a single boat would take a long time to discharge ye--observe the perils--several boats would mean a large number of men; they would eat you up; they would demand so much, you would have nothing left. And suppose they opened the chests! No, your scheme is worthless."
"What"s to do, then, in G.o.d"s name?"
"I"ll tell you!" he exclaimed, smiling with the complacency of a man who is master of a great fancy. "I shall sail to Dover at once. "Tis now a quarter past four. Give me twelve hours to make Dover: I shall post straight to London and be there by early morning. Now, Paul, attend you to this. To-day is Wednesday; by to-morrow night you must contrive to bring your ship to an anchor off Barking Level."
"The Thames!" I cried.
He nodded.
I looked at him anxiously. He leaned to me, putting his hand on my leg.
"I own a lighter," said he: "she will be alongside of you at dusk. I have people of my own whom I can trust. The lighter will empty your hold and convey the lading to a ship chartered by me, arrived from the Black Sea on Sunday and lying in the Pool. The stuff can be sold from that ship as it is--"
"But the chests--the chests, Mason!"
"They shall be lowered into another boat, and taken ash.o.r.e and put into a waggon that will be in waiting--I in it--and driven to my home."
I clapped him on the shoulder in a transport.
"n.o.bly schemed indeed!" I cried; "but have we nothing to fear from the Customs people?"
"No, not low down the river and at dark. You bring up for convenience, d"ye see. Mind it is dark when you anchor. A lighter and boat shall be awaiting you. It is down the river, you know, that all the lumpers drop with the lighters they go adrift in from ships" sides. There"s more safety in smuggling over Thames mud than on this coast shingle. One thought more: you say that Wilkinson believes the chests hold small-arms?"
"Yes."
"Then account to him for sending the chests away separately by saying that I have found a purchaser, and that they are going to him direct.
You have your cue--you see all!"