Frontier Boys in the South Seas Part 35

"Humph!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the professor, "this doesn't seem to be any place for us!"

"But what about Jim?" asked Tom.

"Oh, that's another matter," said the professor, in a whimsical way he had when confronted by a serious problem. "One thing at a time, you know."

"How do you think they know we were here?" asked Berwick.

"I have it!" cried Tom, excitedly, "The smoke!"

"What about it?" said Jo.

"Why, don't you see," responded Tom. "It was a signal."

"Well, suppose it was, what has that got to do with them?"

"Everything," replied Tom. "That was a sign that the Storm King was here."

"But who did it?" persisted Jo.

"That villain of a steward," a.s.serted Tom. "You know that someone on board was signalling to the Marjorie, and just as soon as we got in here he made some pretense to get ash.o.r.e."

"Tom is right," agreed Berwick.

"I knew it was him," lamented Tom, "and to think we let him get away."

"I am afraid that that was because of my over-confidence," admitted the professor, "but I was deceived in him. He had been to the South Seas with me, you know."

"Well, it can't be helped now," declared Jo, philosophically. "The question is, what is the next thing to do?"

"Let us make a reconnoitre down by the harbor, and see what we can find out," suggested Berwick. "Perhaps we might get an opportunity to capture a prisoner or two that we could hold as a hostage for Jim."

"That's a good scheme," agreed the professor.

"I hope we can get a hold on that villain of a steward," cried Tom, vindictively.

"Or that imp, Manuel," added Jo.

"Don't speak of him," remonstrated Berwick. "It is like a premonition of evil whenever I hear his name."

"Come on," said Tom, picking up his rifle. "The sooner we get there, the better."

As they journeyed toward the harbor, the professor related to the others the facts concerning his acquaintance with Mr. Jranvin, now the chief of Rarihue. He spoke of his fine character, and recalled his long struggle with adversity because of inherited pulmonary trouble.

"And do you really believe that he knows about the treasure and that it is gone?" asked Tom.

"I believe that he speaks of what he knows, but I think it not unlikely that he could tell, if he would, where it is gone."

"Then is our venture a failure?"

"Who can tell? Anyway we shall not give up the search."

As there seemed reasonable a.s.surance that they were alone in the forest, they advanced rapidly and exercised no special caution till they were nearing the harbor. Approaching the fringe of wood near the water's edge, they carefully made their way to a point where an un.o.bstructed view was had of the bay. Tom was the first to announce to the others the ident.i.ty of the other vessel they had seen from the tree top.

"By all that is wonderful! If there isn't the Sea Eagle just moving out of the harbor!"

"The Sea Eagle? Well, this is hard," said Jo. "Just to arrive in time to see her sailing away."

"And what a row they are having on board the Marjorie; looks like a regular mutiny," cried Berwick.

The panorama on the bay, which was being enacted before them, was one of startling interest. What had happened to have brought the now disappearing Sea Eagle to the harbor they could not determine, but disorder and confusion was apparent on the Marjorie's decks.

"Captain Beauchamp is not to be seen," said the professor. "There seems to be merely a lot of sailors, and it looks as if two factions were contending for the mastery."

"Jim is not there," said Jo, sadly. "I wonder what has become of him?"

"Probably he is still a prisoner, and we--hush! There is somebody moving through the woods!"

Some one was approaching, but in a slow and hesitating manner, yet making no effort at concealment.

"It is the steward," whispered Jo, after a moment. "Be ready, Tom, we will get him for sure!"

Absolutely motionless they all were until the steward had come to within a dozen feet of where they lay hidden, then, as he turned to move in another direction, Jo and Tom, at a signal from the former, sprang to their feet and with one bound were upon their intended prisoner. They bore him to the earth and held him secure, while Berwick quickly bound his hands behind his back.

Greatly to the surprise of all, the steward offered no resistance and made no effort whatever to escape. He hung his head on seeing whom his captors were and looked like a man suffering abjectly.

"Quick, you villain," cried Jo, grasping his arm. "Where is my brother?"

Without hesitation came the answer, "He is quite safe. He has escaped."

"How can we know?"

The steward looked only at the professor and for answer said, "May I speak with you alone for a moment?"

"Certainly not. Say openly what you have to say," was the answer.

"I think," interposed Berwick, "I would grant his request. It can do no harm."

The boys and Berwick separated, each taking a few steps in different directions so as to prevent any possible attempt at escape.

The two thus left alone, although under close observation, conversed earnestly for a few moments, and then the professor called the others together.

"It is a deplorable matter," said the professor. "This man is deserving of condemnation and of punishment. He has been a traitor to our cause, but he admits fully his crime and wants to atone in any way he can. Jim, he says, was confined on board the Marjorie, but he himself helped him to escape and he believes that Jim is now safe and sound, probably by this time on board the Storm King."

"How can we be sure of that?" Jo asked.

"We have only this man's word, and in a sense his word is valueless, but he can go with us and we can deal with him accordingly, if he tells not the truth."

"What's happening on the Marjorie?" asked Berwick.