The Quest Of The 'Golden Hope' Part 14

"Master Clifford," said he, "dost call to mind when you last saw the chart of the island? I remember having it in my hand as we worked our way into the harbour, but, strange to admit, I have no further recollection of it."

"'Twas left in yonder rack," I replied, pointing to where I had last seen the chart. "I remember that perfectly."

"Then it hath been filched," he said, "filched while we slept. Well, well, may it do the thief all the good he deserves! He, or the thieves, will not be able to find the treasure by its aid, though 'tis important should anyone but myself attempt to steer the _Golden Hope_ between the shoals. I must, therefore, explain the leading marks to Captain 'Enery and our quartermaster, for some mishap might occur to render me helpless. Do not say a word concerning this matter to anyone, Master Clifford. 'Tis best to keep such disquieting knowledge to ourselves; but, nevertheless, I'll have my weather eye open, and at the first sign of treachery or mutiny I'll give the culprits cause to remember Captain Jeremy Miles. Now you can go ash.o.r.e, but be sure to return on board ere nightfall. You had better not take up your quarters ash.o.r.e till things are ordered to ensure our safety."

I embarked on board one of the long-boats, which were laden almost to the water's edge with various stores, including powder and shot, ladders, spades and mattocks, carpenters' tools, nails and spikes, barrels of biscuits and flour, and canvas for making tents.

In spite of their overladen condition, the boats reached the sh.o.r.e in safety, for the water was as calm as a mill pond. We landed on a flat, sandy beach, close to the mouth of a little stream that was to supply us with fresh water. The plain that extended 'twixt the sea and the hammock= shaped hill was far more extensive than one would have supposed, when viewing it from the offing. It was nearly three miles in width, and was covered by a dense and luxurious vegetation.

Between the little stream and the rocky headland that formed the northernmost horn or arm protecting the harbour the ground was comparatively barren, so that a clear view could be obtained for several hundred yards.

Moreover, the rocks on the seaward side descended abruptly to the water's edge, so that they formed a natural defence in that direction, since no boats could land thereabouts. Midway betwixt the stream and the headland the master gunner fixed the site for the stockade.

A trial hole to the depth of ten feet revealed the presence of a copious supply of water, sweet and wholesome to the taste when once the mud had settled. This was especially fortunate, as we were not compelled to rely upon the stream, which was a quarter of a mile or more from our proposed fortress.

Having transported all the stores they had brought ash.o.r.e to the middle of a square that the master gunner had traced upon the ground, the landing party went up into the woods to fell and trim some trees for the purpose of making the stockade; and soon the silence of the grove was broken by the noise of the axes and the cheery voices of the men. They made enough clamour to give the alarm to every buccaneer that might be within a mile or so; but though our people worked with their muskets close at hand, and outposts were placed to give us ample warning of a surprise, the island appeared to be uninhabited save by its new masters.

It took a fortnight's hard work to construct the stockade, which was loopholed at regular intervals, and strengthened by a mound of earth on the inside. The soil thus utilized had been excavated so as to form a ditch without the barrier, thus increasing the value of our defences; while, in order to store our powder in safety, a deep hole or cave was dug in the centre of the fortress and covered over with the trunks of trees, on which earth was placed to a height of four feet. This made a magazine which was proof against any shot that might be fired into the stockade; while on the mound above it a lookout hut had been erected, being protected against musketry by a breastwork of sandbags.

Having completed this stronghold, the master gunner obtained permission to mount two of the _Golden Hope's_ guns. The work of getting these pieces of ordnance ash.o.r.e was a difficult one; but, thanks to Master Touchstone's energy and mechanical skill, they were placed in position and so arranged that both could be brought to fire from any side of the stockade by means of ingenious carriages somewhat resembling those used by troops in the field.

Thus, before we were ready to send an expedition into the interior, a month had elapsed; yet all hands felt that the time had not been wasted, since we were now in a position to repel an attack by either land or sea.

At length we set out to find the resting-place of the precious cargo of the _Madre de Dios_. For this expedition twenty men were drawn from each ship, Captain Jeremy being in command. During our absence Captain 'Enery was left in charge of the _Golden Hope_ and her consort, with orders to fire three guns should danger arise, as it was supposed that the sound of the discharge would be heard at any point on our march into the interior. Touchstone, with eleven men, was to hold the stockade.

We were one and all heavily laden, for, in addition to our arms and ammunition, each man carried a week's supply of provisions and an axe, or mattock. At every half-mile three men were to be left in order to form a chain of communication with the sh.o.r.e, so that by the time we reached the place where the treasure was supposed to lie, only twelve would remain. These twelve would be sufficient to remove the bulk of the spoil, while the rest of the treasure could be obtained at some future time.

Soon we plunged into the dense belt of vegetation that, I have mentioned, lay betwixt the sh.o.r.e and the mountain. It consisted of reeds, canes, and scrub, much higher than a man's head, so that we had to guide ourselves by means of a compa.s.s. It was tedious work, for we had to cut a path nearly every foot of the way, while in places the ground was so swampy that we frequently sank in the mud nearly to our knees.

Captain Jeremy had, years before, cut a path through the thicket, and the task had occupied him more than a week; but all traces of his former route had long been obliterated.

At length we reached a small open hillock surrounded by the thicket, and here our first post was established; for though it was more than half a mile from the stockade, our Captain did not care to expose his men to the risk of fever by leaving them on the low-lying ground.

On resuming our march the reeds and bushes became thicker, till it was only by sheer hard cuts with our axes that we were able to proceed, the men working by relays. It being now high noon, the heat was terribly oppressive, a close and moist mist rising from the marshy ground adding to our discomfort, while we were tormented by swarms of flies, which hovered round our heads till we could scarce open our eyes.

Nevertheless we stuck manfully to our arduous task, for it was necessary for health's sake to avoid spending a night in that unwholesome district. We must reach the high ground ere we pitched our camp.

Suddenly a shout from one of our men caused us to stand to our arms.

The column halted, but Captain Jeremy, who was in the middle, forced his way betwixt the wall of bushes and the men who were in front.

Then followed a lengthy pause, till the line of men moved forward again, this time with greater rapidity, and I found myself standing in an open clearing, surrounded by our astonished seamen. This clearing was of recent date, for many of the saplings and canes showed signs of having been cut but a short time ago, while running north and south across the direction of our route was a fairly broad and well-defined path.

We were now in a quandary. It would be unwise to resume our way and leave an unexplored path betwixt us and the sh.o.r.e, and it would be equally hazardous to separate our slender force into two bodies, so that the beaten track could be examined in both directions. It was also inexpedient that the inhabitants of the island (since it was inhabited) should be aware of our presence until we had a.s.sured ourselves whether they were peaceful settlers, or otherwise.

"This path has not been used for a month at least, Cap'n," said one of our men, a smart young seaman in the carpenter's crew.

"How so?" asked Captain Jeremy.

"By these footprints, sir," replied the seaman, pointing to a number of well-defined marks on the hard ground. "They are the footprints of men wearing boots and also of naked feet, and they are pointing in both directions, showing that people have walked this way and that."

"Quite so," a.s.sented Captain Jeremy. "But how say you that these are a month or more old?"

"The ground is quite hard; we cannot leave the imprint of our boots," continued the seaman. "And since we have been on this island more than a month, and no rain has fallen during all that time----"

But before he could complete his explanation the distant boom of a cannon, followed at regular intervals by two more, caused us to look at each other in alarm.' It was the signal for our recall; something of extreme importance had occurred.

CHAPTER XVII

Attacked by Buccaneers

"Back to the ships!" was the cry, and with the utmost haste we retraced our footsteps. Not having to cut our way back, our progress was considerably quicker than on the outward journey, most of the men casting aside their stock of provisions to enable them to lighten their loads. Yet, owing to the marshy state of the ground through which we floundered heavily, it was nearly two hours later ere we emerged from the forest--if forest I may term it.

The cause of our sudden recall then became apparent, for standing in under all plain sail were three large ships. They were still a league or more from the mouth of our harbour, but already they were in shoal water, so that 'twas plain they were no strangers to the island, since they were following the intricate channel through which we ourselves had come.

Our arrival had already been observed from our own ships, and boats were putting off to take us on board. While we were awaiting them Captain Jeremy ordered twelve men to reinforce the little garrison within the stockade, and on numbering the remainder we were astonished to find that only twenty-two remained. The outposts whom we had left on the hillock had been recalled, and on the march not a cry of alarm had been raised, so that the missing men must have disappeared without a sound.

"Who are they? What are their names?" demanded Captain Jeremy anxiously.

Several names were mentioned, although some of them, I knew, were those of the men who had been sent to the stockade; but all were agreed that Ned Slater was amongst the six missing seamen.

A stern look overspread Captain Jeremy's bronzed features. The loss of the chart, and the unaccountable disappearance of a man of whom I had expressed my distrust, had considerably shaken our Captain's faith in his former shipmate; but, controlling himself, he ordered the men to embark, for the boats had by this time gained the sh.o.r.e.

Although we hurried on board there was no unseemly haste or panic, and as each man came up over the side he took his place in his allotted position.

Captain 'Enery, having handed over the command to Captain Jeremy, returned to the _Neptune_, where, as on board the _Golden Hope_, the magazines had been opened, and powder and shot placed alongside the guns, ere we came off.

The wind blew steadily straight on sh.o.r.e, so that we hoped the strange vessels had not heard the guns fired as the return signal, though, as most merchantmen carried small guns for this purpose, the discharge, even had it been heard, would not have led the enemy to suppose that our vessels were well armed.

Meanwhile we lost no time in improving our posture of defence.

Captain Jeremy sent away the long-boat with a kedge slung underneath her, to which was attached a long hawser, leading over the ship's stern. The kedge was then dropped, and by taking a strain on the cable the _Golden Hope_ was brought to lie broadside on to the mouth of the harbour. A similar manoeuvre was also carried out on board the _Neptune_, so that all our available ordnance, or as many as there were gun ports for, were trained on the approaching vessels, though as yet the guns had not been run out.

In breathless silence we awaited the oncoming ships, for, by Captain Jeremy's orders, not a shot was to be discharged, nor a shout raised, from either brig till the word was given to open fire.

When just outside the inner reef the leading vessel rounded, and as she did so her ensign became visible. It was the skull and crossbones.

"She means to leave us no longer in doubt," exclaimed Captain Jeremy. "I am right glad that she has shown yonder flag, for it seems they take us for harmless traders, and would terrify us into surrender."

Even as he spoke a cloud of smoke burst from the pirate's side amidships, and a twelve-pound ball whizzed betwixt our masts, striking our lee bulwarks and knocking up a shower of splinters; then, rebounding, it plunged into the sea within a few yards of the sh.o.r.e.

Another and another followed, while the remaining ships took up a similar position and also opened fire. Though many of their shots went high or pa.s.sed wide, one penetrated the bulwarks, killing two men and wounding three.

The master gunner, who had returned on board, besought our Captain to open fire.

"No," he replied resolutely. "We must grin and bear it awhile."