Hunting the Skipper Part 47

"There you go again, mister! That's I don't know how many times you've let off that there prize word of yours, neefarious. There, don't bluff, sir; to use your old country word, them as plays at bowls must expeck rubbers. No, no, no, don't you begin ordering your fellows to meddle with me, because I'm rather nasty when I'm interfered with, 'sides which I've got some one inside the house to take care of me if it was wanted, as you can see for yourself--twenty of 'em, boys who can use a rifle; and that's what your chaps can't do."

In spite of himself the lieutenant started and raised his eyes, to become aware of the fact that some dozen or fourteen rifle barrels were protruding from the windows of the long low house, while others were being thrust from another building away to the right--a shed-like place that had been unnoticed before, through its covering of densely growing creepers.

"Don't do that, youngsters," said the American, with a sneering laugh; "they wouldn't hurt anybody if you pulled 'em out, and some of my fellows indoors might take it as what you call a signal to draw their knives."

"Trapped!" muttered the lieutenant to himself; but he did not wince, only stood thinking out to himself what would be his best course to pursue, and his musings were interrupted by the American, who lay back sending forth great puffs of smoke without a quiver visible in his face.

"Looks nasty, don't it, Mr Officer?" said the man, in his long, slow drawl. "But don't you be skeart; they won't fire without I give the order or they see me hurt. Then I won't answer for them. 'Tain't because they're so fond of me, youngsters," he continued, with an ugly cat-like grin, "because they ain't; but they're afraid, and that's a good deal better for me. And look here, they're lying back there in the dark because I told 'em to, and you can't see them; but they're not n.i.g.g.e.rs--oh no! You can't trust n.i.g.g.e.rs to fight. Your Jack Tars there would send a hundred of 'em running. n.i.g.g.e.rs are good field hands, and my chaps are bad at that, but they can fight, and so I tell you. Now, skipper," he continued, turning quietly to the lieutenant, who was pressing his lower lip hard between his teeth, "I think we understand one another now, and that you see I didn't put up any bunk.u.m when I telled you that I was boss of this show. So you let me alone, and I'll let you."

"Sir," said the lieutenant firmly, "I give you fair warning that if harm happens to a man of my party my captain will land a force that will burn this place to the ground."

"Very kind of him, too," said the man grimly, "but he won't, because he mustn't. You don't seem to savvy, skipper, that you ain't at home here.

Do you know, sir, where you are?"

"Yes, sir; on the sh.o.r.es of one of his Majesty's West Indian Islands."

"I thought so, squire; well, then, you're jest about wrong, and you've no more business here than if this here was Spain. I dessay you think you can hyste the British flag here, but I tell you that you can't, for this here island is called South Baltimore, and whenever a flag is hysted here it's the stars and stripes and the Aymurrican eagle, what some fellows call the goose and gridiron; and that's so."

"South Baltimore!" cried the lieutenant, who looked puzzled by the announcement. "And pray, sir, who gave the island that name?"

"I did," said the Yankee drily. "Now then, will that do for you?"

"No, it will not do," cried the lieutenant hotly. "My officer will need some far better explanation--one based upon greater authority than this--before he gives up the duty he has to fulfil."

"Vurry well, sir, let him go and find a better explanation, then. It don't trouble me. Only you had better march your men back aboard your schooner, or brig, or whatever you call it, before they get falling out with my fellows. You see yon men's sailors like yours are, and my fellows may get upset by your chaps, for I always find that British sailors get a bit sarcy and quarrelsome when they come ash.o.r.e, and no matter how quiet and patient the Aymurricans, they lay themselves out for a fight."

"As in the present case, sir," said the lieutenant sarcastically.

"Jes' so, squire. So now you take my advice and march your chaps back again. You see how the land lies, and as I've said afore, I don't want to ride rusty over your skipper. You've on'y got to send word ash.o.r.e as you wants fresh provisions and water, and say as you're ready to make a fair swap with a few things as we want, and there you are."

The lieutenant stood frowning in silence, turning his eyes from the American to the feeble-looking planter, and from him to the two middies and his men, in each case finding that he was being watched eagerly, every eye seeming to ask the same question--what are you going to do?-- while on his part he felt the impossibility of responding.

For the responsibility he felt was almost maddening. It was plain enough that his men called upon him to resent the American planter's insolence, and that if he did not do so at once, not only would the two lads and his men look upon his behaviour as cowardly and degrading to the British _prestige_, but the Yankee and his faintly seen sc.u.m of followers would treat the whole party with contempt.

It was a painful position, for the Yankee had plainly shown him the risks he ran. He would not have hesitated for a moment, in spite of the display of armed men ready to attack, for if he had felt free to act he would have chanced everything, depending as he felt he could upon his little party of thoroughly well-drilled able-bodied seamen, and boldly attacked at once; but he had to think of his captain and the great risk he ran of bringing him into difficulties and forcing him to answer for some international difficulty over the rights of the United States, which, if the American overseer was right, were sure to be jealously maintained.

It was hard to do, and Murray noticed a peculiar twitching about his officer's lips as he turned at last to the smiling, sneering man, his first words showing his hearers how bitterly he felt his position and the necessity for obeying the teachings of the proverb that discretion is the better part of valour.

"Well, sir," he said, in a cold, hard fashion, "I have heard all that you have to say. As to the correctness of your statement that we are not upon British soil, I must leave that to my superior's judgment and decision, for certainly I cannot feel that it is my duty to proceed farther without drawing off my men and going back to lay the matter before Captain Kingsberry."

"That's right, Mr Lieutenant," said the overseer. "Nothing like it.

You always do that; when you find yourself in a tight corner, you get out of it as soon as you can."

"Ha, ha, ha!" rang out in a harsh, discordant tone from somewhere inside the house, and this acted as the signal for a burst of jeering laughter which made the lieutenant wince and his face turn pale even to his lips, which he bit until they were white, while a low, dull murmur that sounded like the threatening premonitory growl of the British bulldog being p.r.i.c.ked by an insult, ran through the group of sailors.

"Silence, there!" cried the lieutenant, in a choking voice; and the murmur died away.

"That's right, Mr Officer," said the American. "Yew always drop on to your fellows sharply when they show signs of mutiny. I allus do. And you within there, none of that row. Quiet, do you hear?"

There was another low mocking laugh, but the American paid no heed, only went on talking at Mr Anderson.

"That was very good of you, squire, but while you're about it if I were you I'd just say a word or two to them two bantam-c.o.c.k-like boys of officers of yours, who keep on sneering like at my men and setting their backs up. You don't mean it, of course, being ready to do what's right.

So you give 'em a good talking to when you get 'em back safe aboard.

You'd best do it, for if them puppies keep on that how they may make my chaps wild. Now just look at that!"

For the two midshipmen had been growing warmer for some minutes past as they listened to the American's insulting language, and at last, hot with annoyance, Murray, unable to contain himself and forgetting discipline, clapped his hand upon his side-arms and took a step forward, his eyes flashing with boyish anger, and exclaimed--

"Do you mean that insulting language for me, sir?"

Perhaps there was something in the lad's manner, as in that of Roberts', who immediately followed his example, or maybe the overseer's men were only waiting for an opportunity to be aggressive. At any rate, they seized upon the opportunity to burst out into a derisive laugh.

"Quiet! Steady, my lads!" cried the lieutenant fiercely.

"But, sir--" began Murray hotly.

"Silence, sir!" roared his officer; and then what happened was too much for him, for a dark shadow came from somewhere amongst the trees, a shadow-like something which described a curve and struck the speaker full in the chest, and fell to the ground in the shape of a great unhusked cocoanut.

In an instant the lieutenant's hand flew to his sword, but he checked himself. His act, though, had its effect, for there was a yell of laughter, and the one great nut was followed by a shower, two of which half drove the two young officers mad as they struck heavily, the rest having effect amongst the sailors, who with one impulse fell into line and presented arms.

There was another yell of laughter, and the overseer sprang up from his cane chair.

"That'll do!" he shouted; but he made no effort further to check his men, but dashed in through one of the open windows of the house, just as from another came the sharp flash and puff of smoke from a rifle, followed by a ragged volley from the creeper-covered building that lay farther back.

This was answered by a fierce British cheer and a rush on the part of the sailors, who either carried their officers with them or were led--no one afterwards seemed to know--but in almost less time than it takes to describe, the little party of sailors swept through the plantation house from front to back, driving its defenders before them, and without firing a shot till a few desultory rifle-shots began to spatter from the thick patch of tropic forest which sheltered the back of the attractive dwelling. Then, and then only, three or four volleys silenced the enemy's fire, and it was evident that the overseer and his men had now fled, taking with them the planter, if he had not retreated by his own efforts, for he was nowhere visible. Then all was silence as soon as the rustling and crackling of cane and the heavy shaddock-like foliage had ceased.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

MURRAY'S MISSION.

"Hah! I did not mean this," cried the lieutenant; and his eyes lit upon Murray, who winced and felt guilty as he stood dirk in hand panting and waiting for his superior officer's reproof, which he felt must come.

"Ah, Mr Murray," he continued, as he took off his hat and wiped his forehead, "you there? Any one hurt?"

"I saw Tom May fall, sir," replied the lad, as the incident was brought to his mind by his officer's question.

"Picked him up again, sir," came in a deep growl, "but two of our messmates has got it, I find."

"That's bad," said the lieutenant. "Who are they?"

There was no response, and the lieutenant turned sharply upon the midshipman.

"Mr Murray," he said, "take two men, May and another, and try if you can find your way down to the boat. Do you think you can?"

"Yes, sir."

"Off with you, then, at the double. When you reach the boat, out oars, and with the two boat-keepers try and reach the sloop. Don't run more risks than you can help. If you are cut off by enemies on the banks, retreat back to me here and help me hold this place until the captain sends a force to my relief. You will report to Captain Kingsberry that I did everything possible to avoid an encounter. But there--you know.

I trust to your discretion, my lad, in spite of your late mistake.