Dutch the Diver Part 6

"No, sah, 'sure you, sah. I too much sense, sah, to put um foot on de tub.u.m. It was dis fellow, sah," said the black, with dignity.

"I presume it was an accident," said Dutch, quietly. Then, turning to the divers--"I have been down, as you see, my men. The apparatus is in perfect working order, the water clear, the light good, and the copper easy to get at. Begin work directly. If anything goes wrong, it is the fault of your management."

"But ain't this black fellow to be punished?" began the man Tolly.

"Mr John Tolly, you are foreman of these divers," said Dutch quietly, "and answerable to Mr Parkley for their conduct. If one of the sailors deserves punishment, that is Captain Studwick's affair."

For a moment there was dead silence, then 'Pollo spoke.

"I not a sailor, sah; I de ship cook. You mind I not put de cork in de tub.u.m, Ma.s.s' Tolly, next time you go down."

"There! do you hear him?" cried Tolly. "Who's going down to be threatened like that?"

"Yah, yah, yah!" laughed the black. "Him great coward, sah. He not worf notice."

Then he turned and walked forward, while Tolly resumed his suit, vacated for him by Dutch, their helmets were put on by two of the men, and diving commenced, Dutch remaining on board till it was time to cease, and having the satisfaction of seeing a goodly portion of the copper hauled on the deck of the schooner, the divers fastening ropes round the ingots, which were drawn up by the sailors.

"That was a malicious trick, of course," said Dutch to the captain while Tolly was below.

"I'm afraid it was," said the captain, "to try and make out that the machinery was out of order."

"Yes, I expected it," said Dutch; "and that's why I spoke to you. They did not mean to do me a mischief, of course--only to frighten me. I don't suspect the black, though."

"What, 'Pollo!" said the captain. "Good heavens, no! He's as staunch as steel. A thoroughly trustworthy man."

"I must wink at it, I suppose," said Dutch, "for it is not easy to supply vacancies in our little staff, and the men know it. They are hard fellows to manage."

"And yet you manage them well," said the captain, smiling. "You ought to have been a skipper."

"Think so?" said Dutch; "but look, who is this coming on board?"

"Poor John!" said the captain, with a sigh. "Poor boy, he's in a sad way."

"But he's very young, Mr Studwick, and with the fine weather he may amend."

"He's beginning to be out of hope, Pugh, and so is poor Bessy. The doctor says he must have a sea voyage into some warmer climate--not that he promises health, but prolonged life."

"Indeed!" said Dutch, starting, as he thought of the Cuban's proposal, and the probability of Captain Studwick having charge of the vessel if the trip was made, but not feeling at liberty to say much; and, the boat from the sh.o.r.e touching the side, he held his peace.

A minute later a fine, handsome, but rather masculine girl--whose clear eyes sparkled as they lit on Dutch Pugh, and then were turned sharply away--stepped on deck, holding out her hand directly after to a.s.sist an invalid to pa.s.s the gangway, which he did, panting slightly, and then pausing to cough.

He was evidently enough the girl's brother, for with his delicate looks and hectic flush he looked strangely effeminate, and in height and stature the pair were wonderfully alike.

"I don't think it was wise of you to come out, John," said the captain, kindly; "it's a cold, thick day."

"It's so dull at home," said the young man, "and I must have change.

There, I'm well wrapped up, father; and Bessy takes no end of care of me."

He gave the girl a tender and affectionate look as he spoke; and she smiled most pleasantly.

"Ah, Mr Pugh, I'm glad to see you. Have you been down?"

"Yes, just for a little while," said Dutch, shaking hands with him, and then holding out his hand to the sister, who half shrank from him with an angry, flushed face; but his frank, pleasant look overcame her, and she held out her hand to him.

"You have not been to see us yet, Miss Studwick," he said, frankly.

"Hester quite expects you to call, and I hope you will be friends."

"I will try to be, Mr Pugh," said the girl, huskily. "I'll call-- soon."

"That's right," he said, smiling. "Come, too, John. We shall be very glad to see you."

The young man started, and looked at him searchingly with his unnaturally bright eyes.

"No," he said, sadly. "I'm too much of an invalid now. That is, at present," he said, catching his father's eye, and speaking hastily. "I shall be better in a month or two. I'm stronger now--much stronger; am I not, Bessy? Give me your arm, dear. I want to see the divers."

The couple walked forward to where the air-pump was standing, and the eyes of the captain and Dutch Pugh met, when the former shook his head sadly, and turned away.

There was something very pathetic in the aspect of the young man, in whom it was plain enough to see that one by one most fatal diseases had made such inroads as to preclude all hope of recovery; and saddened at heart, for more than one reason, above all feeling that his presence was not welcome, Dutch superintended his men till, feeling that it would be absolutely necessary that some one would have to be on deck every day till the copper was all recovered, he made up his mind that it would fall to his lot, except at such times as Mr Parkley would relieve guard.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER FOUR.

THE DIVER AT HOME.

The next morning Rasp was sent off to act as superintendent, for Mr Parkley decided that Dutch must stay and help him in his plans for carrying out the Cuban's wishes, if he took the affair up, and previously to discuss the matter.

Dutch announced to Rasp then that he would have to set off at once.

"It's always the way," grumbled the old fellow. "Board that schooner, too. Yah!"

"Never mind, Rasp; you like work. You'll be like the busy bee, improving each shining hour," said Dutch, smiling.

"Yes; and my helmets, and tubes, and pumps getting not fit to be seen, and made hat-pegs of. Busy bee, indeed! I'm tired of improving the shining hours. I've been all my life a-polishing of 'em up for some one else."

He set off growling, and vowing vengeance on the men if they did not work; and Dutch returned to find Mr Parkley with a map of the West Indies spread upon the desk.

"Look here," he said, "here's the place," and he pointed to the Caribbean Sea.

"Do you think seriously of this matter, then?" said Dutch.

"Very. Why not? I believe it is genuine. Don't you?"

"I can't say," replied Dutch. "It may be."

"I think it is," said the other, sharply; "and it seems to me a chance."

"If it proved as this Cuban says, of course it would be."