Brandon of the Engineers Part 43

"Then you are sailing somewhere along the coast," said Clare, who moved forward, and d.i.c.k taking her permission for granted, turned and walked by her side.

"Yes. I left Jake at the mole, putting provisions on board."

"It looks as if you would be away some time," Clare remarked carelessly.

d.i.c.k thought she was not interested and felt relieved. It had been announced at the irrigation camp that he was going to Coronal to engage workmen, in order that the report might reach Kenwardine. He had now an opportunity of sending the latter misleading news, but he could not make use of Clare in this way.

"I expect so, but can't tell yet when we will be back," he said.

"Well," said Clare, "I shall feel that I am left alone. My father is going to Kingston and doesn't know when he will return. Then you and Mr.

Fuller----"

She stopped with a touch of embarra.s.sment, wondering whether she had said too much, but d.i.c.k looked at her gravely.

"Then you will miss us?"

"Yes," she admitted with a blush. "I suppose I shall, in a sense. After all, I really know n.o.body in Santa Brigida; that is, n.o.body I like. Of course, we haven't seen either of you often, but then----"

"You liked to feel we were within call if we were wanted? Well, I wish I could put off our trip, but I'm afraid it's impossible now."

"That would be absurd," Clare answered, smiling, and they went on in silence for the next few minutes.

She felt that she had shown her feelings with raw candor, and the worst was that d.i.c.k was right. Though he thought she had robbed him, and was somehow her father's enemy, she did like to know he was near. Then there had been something curious in his tone and he had asked her nothing about her father's voyage. Indeed, it looked as if he meant to avoid the subject, although politeness demanded some remark.

"I am going shopping at the Almacen Morales," she said by and by, giving him an excuse to leave her if he wished.

"Then, if you don't mind, I'll come too. It will be out of this blazing sun, and there are a few things Jake told me to get."

It was a relief to enter the big, cool, general store, but when Clare went to the dry-goods counter d.i.c.k turned aside to make his purchases.

After this, he strolled about, examining specimens of native feather-work, and was presently seized by an inspiration as he stopped beside some Spanish lace. Clare ought to wear fine lace. The intricate, gauzy web would harmonize with her delicate beauty, but the trouble was that he was no judge of the material. A little farther on, a case of silver filigree caught his eye and he turned over some of the articles.

This was work he knew more about, and it was almost as light and fine as the lace. The design was good and marked by a fantastic Eastern grace, for it had come from the Canaries and the Moors had taught the Spaniards how to make it long ago. After some deliberation, d.i.c.k chose a belt-clasp in a box by itself, and the girl who had been waiting on him called a clerk.

"You have a good eye, senor," the man remarked. "The clasp was meant for a sample and not for sale."

"Making things is my business and I know when they're made well," d.i.c.k answered modestly. "Anyhow, I want the clasp."

The clerk said they would let him have it because he sometimes bought supplies for the camp, and d.i.c.k put the case in his pocket. Then he waited until Clare was ready and left the store with her. He had bought the clasp on an impulse, but now feared that she might not accept his gift. After a time, he took it out.

"This caught my eye and I thought you might wear it," he said with diffidence.

Clare took the open case, for at first the beauty of the pattern seized her attention. Then she hesitated and turned to him with some color in her face.

"It is very pretty, but why do you want to give it to me?"

"To begin with, the thing has an airy lightness that ought to suit you.

Then you took care of me and we were very good friends when I was ill.

I'd like to feel I'd given you something that might remind you of this.

Besides, you see, I'm going away----"

"But you are coming back."

"Yes; but things might happen in the meantime."

"What kind of things?" Clare asked in vague alarm.

"I don't know," d.i.c.k said awkwardly. "Still, disturbing things do happen.

Anyhow won't you take the clasp?"

Clare stood irresolute with the case in her hand. It was strange, and to some extent embarra.s.sing that d.i.c.k should insist upon making her the present. He had humiliated her and it was impossible that she could marry him, but there was an appeal in his eyes that was hard to deny. Besides, the clasp was beautiful and he had shown nice taste in choosing it for her.

"Very well," she said gently. "I will keep it and wear it now and then."

d.i.c.k made a sign of grat.i.tude and they went on, but Clare stopped at the next corner and held out her hand.

"I must not take you any farther," she said firmly. "I wish you a good voyage."

She went into a shop and d.i.c.k turned back to the harbor where he boarded the launch. The boat was loaded deep with coal, the fireman was busy, and soon after the provisions d.i.c.k had bought arrived, steam was up. He took the helm, the engine began to throb, and they glided through the cool shadow along the mole. When they met the smooth swell at the harbor mouth the sea blazed with reflected light, and d.i.c.k was glad to fix his eyes upon the little compa.s.s in the shade of the awning astern. The boat lurched away across the long undulations, with the foam curling up about her bow and rising aft in a white following wave.

"I thought of leaving the last few bags of coal," Jake remarked. "There's not much life in her and we take some chances of being washed off if she meets a breaking sea."

"It's a long run and we'll soon burn down the coal, particularly as we'll have to drive her hard to catch the Danish boat," d.i.c.k replied. "If we can do that, we'll get Kenwardine's steamer at her last port of call.

It's lucky she isn't going direct to Kingston."

"You have cut things rather fine, but I suppose you worked it out from the sailing lists. The worst is that following the coast like this takes us off our course."

d.i.c.k nodded. After making some calculations with Don Sebastian's help, he had found it would be possible to catch a small Danish steamer that would take them to a port at which Kenwardine's boat would arrive shortly afterwards. But since it had been given out that he was going to Coronal, he must keep near the coast until he pa.s.sed Adexe. This was necessary, because Kenwardine would not risk a visit to Jamaica, which was British territory, if he thought he was being followed.

"We'll make it all right if the weather keeps fine," he answered.

They pa.s.sed Adexe in the afternoon and boldly turned seawards across a wide bay. At sunset the coast showed faintly in the distance, obscured by the evening mist, and the land breeze began to blow. It was hot and filled with strange, sour and spicy smells, and stirred the sea into short, white ripples that rapidly got larger. They washed across the boat's half-immersed stern and now and then splashed on board at her waist; but d.i.c.k kept the engine going full speed and sat at the tiller with his eyes fixed upon the compa.s.s. It was not easy to steer by, because the lurching boat was short and the card span in erratic jerks when she began to yaw about, swerving off her course as she rose with the seas.

The night got very dark, for the land-breeze brought off a haze, but the engine lamp and glow from the furnace door threw an elusive glimmer about the craft. White sea-crests chased and caught her up, and rolling forward broke between the funnel and the bows. Water splashed on board, the engine hissed as the spray fell on it, and the floorings got wet. One could see the foam on deck wash about the headledge forward as the bows went up with a sluggishness that was the consequence of carrying an extra load of coal.

The fireman could not steer by compa.s.s, and after a time Jake took the helm from his tired companion. d.i.c.k lay down under the side deck, from which showers of brine poured close beside his head, but did not go to sleep. He was thinking of Clare and what he must do when he met her father. It was important that they should catch Kenwardine's boat, since he must not be allowed to land and finish his business before they arrived. In the meanwhile, he listened to the measured clank of the engine, which quickened when the top blade of the screw swung out. So long as she did not lift the others she would travel well, but by and by he heard a splash in the crank-pit and called to the fireman, who started the pump.

Day broke in a blaze of fiery splendor, and the dripping launch dried.

The coast was near, the sea got smooth, and the tired men were glad of the heat of the red sun. By and by the breeze died away, and the long swell heaved in a gla.s.sy calm, glittering with silver and vivid blue.

When their clothes were dry they loosed and spread the awning, and a pungent smell of olive oil and coffee floated about the boat as the fireman cooked breakfast. After they had eaten, d.i.c.k moved a bag or two of coal to trim the craft and sounded the tank, because a high-pressure engine uses a large quant.i.ty of fresh water. Then he unrolled a chart and measured the distance to their port while Jake looked over his shoulder.

"We ought to be in time," he said. "The advertis.e.m.e.nt merely stated that the boat would sail to-day, but as she didn't leave the last port until yesterday and she'd have some cargo to ship, it's unlikely that she'll clear before noon."

"It might have been safer to telegraph, booking two berths. These little boats don't often miss a chance of picking up a few dollars, and the skipper would have waited."

"I thought about that; but the telegram would have shown what we were after if Kenwardine has bribed somebody in the office, which is possible."

"You seem convinced he has had an important part in these attacks on merchant ships," Jake said thoughtfully.

"It's hard to doubt."