I had no business to have proposed such a thing, and, believe me, if I had known what a scoundrel the fellow was, I would never have entered into this project with him.”
“Pray say no more,” exclaimed Dutch.
“I must, my dear boy, I must, for I want to clear myself. You see the preparation for this trip means five thousand pounds, and I cannot throw the matter over; the loss is too heavy, or else I would.”
“Oh, no, it is impossible,” exclaimed Dutch.
“If I had known my man sooner, I would have seen him at Hanover before I would have had anything to do with him. But look here, my dear Pugh, I couldn’t help hearing a great deal about your domestic trouble. Haven’t you been wronging the little woman?”
“If you have any respect or feeling for me, Mr Parkley, say no more.”
“All right, my dear fellow,” said the other, with a sigh, “I will not; only act like a sensible man in all things – home and business. Heigho, I really wish I was not going, but the idea of these hidden treasures sets me on fire.”
Mr Parkley forgot all his hesitation as they stepped on board and saw how – in spite of the bustle and confusion consequent upon receiving late supplies of fresh meat and vegetables – ship-shape and excellent were Captain Studwick’s arrangements. John Studwick was on board, seated upon a wicker chair, and his sister beside him; Mr Meldon, the young doctor, was leaning over the bulwarks, with a very tall, thin young man, the naturalist friend; the sailors were busy lowering bales and arranging coops and hens; and all was ready for the start – in fact, the dockmen were ready to warp the schooner out, and after a short run behind a tug down the harbour, they would have the open Channel before them.
There was a goodly concourse of people about the wharves, for the object of the schooner’s trip had somehow gained wind, and while some expressed interest and curiosity in the voyage, others laughingly called it a fool’s errand.
“Has anybody seen Señor Lorry?” said Mr Parkley at last.
“I had a note from him,” said Captain Studwick, “He said he would be down here punctually at twelve. Has his luggage come, Oakum?”
“None on it, sir,” said the rough old sailor, pulling his forelock.
“That’s strange,” said the captain. “When did you see him, Parkley?”
“Last night, and he said he would be aboard in the morning, and glad of it, for he was sick of England.”
“Twelve o’clock now,” said the captain. “Well, the tide serves; I must give the word for getting out of dock. He must have a longer row for being late. He’s sure to come, of course.”
“Oh, yes,” said Mr Parkley; but he glanced uneasily at Dutch, as if he did not feel sure.
“Ready there,” cried the captain. “Now, my lads, be handy – cast off those ropes for’ard. Oh, here he is. Hold hard there.”
“But where’s his luggage?” said Mr Parkley.
“Oh, behind the crowd,” said the captain. “Come along, sir, we were going without you.”
“Indeed!” said the Cuban, with a smile. “I doubt that. Where would you go?”
“Where Mr Parkley told me,” said the captain. “Give me the order. I’ll find the place. Let’s see, Mr Pugh, we are to send you back in the tug, I suppose.”
Dutch nodded.
“Now, then, for’ard there,” cried the captain; “be ready to cast off. Are you ready?”
“Ay, ay,” came in chorus from the smart, well-picked crew.
“Stop!” exclaimed Lauré in a loud voice, and, turning to Mr Parkley, he pointed to Dutch and said, “That is your partner, is it not, Mr Parkley?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“And he will share in the profits of this expedition?”
“Certainly he will, sir.”
“Then, sir, I break our engagement. I shall have nothing to do with the voyage. The matter is entirely off.”
“Confound it all, sir!” cried Mr Parkley, in a passion. “You can’t do that.”
“But, sir, I have done it,” said the Cuban, lighting a cigar.
“What! After I’ve spent all this money in preparation?”
“I have told you,” said the Cuban, contemptuously – and he gave a malignant glance at Dutch.
“Mr Parkley,” said Dutch, stepping forward, “my private quarrel with this man shall not stand in your way. All this preparation has been made for the expedition, and my being your partner shall not stop it. Sir, our partnership is at an end.”
“Is it?” said Mr Parkley, with his teeth set. “No, I’ll be hanged if it is;” and as the men gathered round, wondering at what they had heard, he laid his hand on Dutch Pugh’s shoulder. “I’ve proved you, my lad, but I’ve not proved this man, who at the first touch bends and nearly breaks. We are partners, and mean to stay so, and Mr Lorry here will have to keep to his bond, or I’ll soon see what the law says to him.”
The Cuban smiled contemptuously.
“Suppose I say it was all a mad dream, and I know of no such place: what then?”
“Why, you are a bigger scoundrel than I took you for.”
“Sir!” cried the Cuban, menacingly.
“Oh, you want to frighten me with your big looks, sir,” cried Mr Parkley. “Now then, I ask you in plain English, will you fulfil your undertaking, and show me the place where the old Spanish galleons are sunk?”
“No,” said the Cuban, coolly, “I will not help to enrich my enemy!” and he again looked indignantly at Dutch.
“Mr Parkley!” exclaimed the latter, “I cannot see all this costly enterprise ruined because of my private trouble with this villain.”
“Villain!” cried Lauré, confronting Dutch, whose face flushed and whose hands were half raised to seize his enemy.
“Be silent,” he said, in a low, hoarse voice, “I’ve that within me that I can hardly control. If you rouse it again, by the God who made me, I’ll strangle you and hurl you over the side.”
The Cuban involuntarily shrank from the menacing face before him, and Dutch by a strong effort turned to Mr Parkley.
“Make terms with him, sir. I will not stand in your way.”
“Yes, I’ll make terms with him,” exclaimed Mr Parkley, angrily. “Now, sir, I ask you again will you fulfil your contract?”
The Cuban half-closed his eyes, puffed forth a ring of smoke, and said quietly, —
“In my country, when one man strikes another the insult is washed out in blood. Your bold partner there has struck me, a weaker man than himself, and I cannot avenge the insult, for you cold islanders here boast of your
