The Secret of the Reef Part 7

A light wind faintly ruffled the landlocked water when the _Cetacea_ crept up to her anchorage off a small lumber port on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. A great boom of logs was moored near the wharf, and stacks of freshly cut lumber and ugly sawdust heaps rose along the beach. Behind these were tall iron chimney-stacks, cl.u.s.ters of wooden houses, and rows of fire-blackened stumps; then steep, pine-clad hillsides shut the hollow in. Though there were one or two steamers at anchor, and signs of activity in the streets, the place had a raw, unfinished look; but the _Cetacea's_ crew were glad to reach it. Cramped by their narrow quarters on board, it was a relief to roam at large; and the resinous smell that hung about the port was pleasant after the stinging saltness of the spray.

But they had come there on business, and Bethune presently stopped a man they met.

"Which is the best and biggest general store in the town?" he asked.

"Jefferson's; three blocks farther on. He's been here since the mills were started."

"Is it necessary to go to the best store?" Jimmy inquired as they went on.

Bethune laughed.

"Oh, no! Now that we've found out which it is, we can try somewhere else. I've a suspicion that our business won't have much attraction for a prosperous dealer who can choose his customers. It's the struggling man who's readiest to take a risk."

"We'll leave it to you," Jimmy said confidently. Bethune had arranged their commercial transactions with tact and shrewdness, and they had discovered that it was far from easy to obtain supplies without paying cash for them.

After strolling through the town, they entered a small, wooden store, which had an inscription, "T. Jaques: Shipping Supplied," and found its proprietor leaning idly on the counter. He was a young man with an alert manner, but, although he was smartly dressed, Bethune, studying him, imagined that he had not yet achieved prosperity. Indeed, he thought he saw signs of care in the man's keen face.

Taking out his notebook, he enumerated the supplies they wanted, and examined samples. The provisions were good; the store was neatly kept and fairly well stocked; but Jimmy, leaning on the counter and looking about, thought the goods had been arranged with some skill to make the biggest show possible, which implied that the dealer had not much of a reserve. Then, while the man talked to Bethune, Jimmy noticed a woman approach the gla.s.s door at the back and stop a moment as if she were interested in the proceedings. All this suggested that his comrade had offered their custom at the right place. The provisions would not be a large item, but they needed ropes, chain, and marine supplies, which would cost a good deal more.

"I can send the small stores off whenever you want, but I can't give you the other truck until the Vancouver boat comes in, and that won't be for four days," Jaques said. He looked rather eager as he added: "I guess you can wait?"

"Oh, yes. I expect it will be a week before we get off."

"Then, I'll wire the order. You'll pay on delivery?"

"That," answered Bethune, smiling, "is a point we must talk about. I think I could give you ten dollars down."

The dealer's face fell and he looked thoughtful.

"Well," he said slowly, "I'd certainly like this order. What's your proposition?"

"I don't know that I have one ready. Perhaps I'd better tell you how we stand and leave you to suggest a way out of the difficulty."

"Come into the back store and take a smoke," invited Jaques; and they followed him into an apartment which seemed to serve as warehouse, general living room, and kitchen. A young woman was busy at the stove, and after looking up with a smile of welcome she went on with her cooking; but Jimmy felt that she had given him and his comrades a keen scrutiny.

Jaques brought them chairs and laid a few cigars on the table.

"Now," he said to Bethune, "you can go ahead."

"First of all, I want your promise to keep what I tell you to yourself."

Bethune glanced quietly toward the woman.

"You have it, and you can trust Mrs. Jaques. Susie does all her talking at home; and there's a good deal of her own money in this store. That's why I brought you in. I allow she's sometimes a better judge than I am."

Bethune bowed to Mrs. Jaques; and then, to Jimmy's surprise, he began a frank account of their financial difficulties and their salvage plans.

When it came to their doings at the wreck, he made a rather moving tale of it, and Mrs. Jaques listened with her eyes fixed on the speaker and a greasy fork poised in her hand. Jimmy wondered whether Bethune was acting quite judiciously in telling so much. The storekeeper leaned an elbow on the table, his brows knitted as if in thought; and Moran sat still with an expressionless brown face. Except for Bethune's voice it was very quiet in the small, rudely furnished room, and Jimmy surmised that the projected deal was of some importance to its occupants. It was certainly of consequence to his own party, for they could not continue operations without supplies.

"There's a bond on your boat already," Jaques objected, when Bethune paused.

"For about half her value. We could demand a public sale if she were seized, and the balance would clear your debt."

"It's hard to get full price for a vessel that's too small for a regular trade. You allowed you bought her cheap?"

"We did," Bethune carelessly answered. "Still, one has to take a risk."

They were interrupted by a knocking, and Jaques went into the store and did not return for some minutes.

"Nolan, the river-jack," he explained, as he came in. "Wanted gum-boots, and I thought I'd better let him have them; though he hasn't paid for the last pair yet."

"That," Bethune smiled, "bears out my argument."

Jaques looked at his wife, and she made a sign of a.s.sent, as if she understood him.

"Supper's nearly ready, and you had better stay," he said. "It's plain fare, but you won't find better biscuits and waffles than Susie's in the province. Besides, it will give us time to think the thing over."

They were glad to accept the invitation, and no more was said about business while they enjoyed the well cooked and daintily served meal.

Jimmy was conscious of a growing admiration for his neat-handed hostess, with her bright, intelligent face, and her pretty but simple dress, and he tried to second Bethune in his amusing chatter. Jaques did not say much, but he looked pleased. As for Moran, he steadily worked his way through the good things set before him. His one remark was: "If we strike grub like this, ma'am, we'll want to stop right in your town."

"Then my husband will lose his order," Mrs. Jaques replied, and though she laughed, Jimmy thought her answer had some significance.

When she cleared the table Jaques lighted a cigar and smiled rather grimly when Jimmy inquired if trade was good.

"Well," he said, "it might be better-that's one reason why I'd like to make a deal with you. There's less money in keeping store than you might suppose. I've been two years in this town, and my customers are mostly of the kind the beginner gets-those who can't pay up in time, and those who don't mean to pay at all. The ones worth having go to the other man."

"Where were you before?" Jimmy asked.

"In Toronto. But the wages I was making in a department store were not enough to marry on. With a few dollars Susie had left her and with what I'd saved we thought we might make a start; but there's not much room for the small man now in the eastern cities, and we came out West. It's a pull all along; but we'd make some progress if the blame bush settlers would pay their bills."

Jimmy felt sympathetic. The man did not look as if he found the struggle easy.

"Have you got your business fixed?" Mrs. Jaques asked, coming in from an adjoining room.

"Not yet," Bethune answered. "I've a suspicion that your husband was waiting for you; and I couldn't object, because I ventured to believe you would say a word in our favor."

Mrs. Jaques studied him keenly. He was a handsome man, with graceful manners, and she thought him honest; and it was difficult to a.s.sociate duplicity with Jimmy's open face.

"Well," she promised, "I'll go as far as I can."

"Then we'll get down to business." Jaques turned to his guests. "You feel pretty sure you'll find the gold when you get back?"

"No," said Jimmy frankly. "We hope so; but we can't even be sure we'll find the wreck. The gale may have broken her up and buried her in the sand."

"Then, if your plan falls through, I won't get paid."

"That's taking too much for granted. There'll be something left over if we have to sell the boat, and we're able to earn more than our keep on the wharf or in the mills. Your debt would have the first claim on us."

"It would take you a long time to wipe it off on what you'd save out of two dollars a day."