Dave Porter in the South Seas/Chapter 23
CHAPTER XXIII
IN WHICH THE SUPERCARGO IS CORNERED
From one street corner Dave and Roger hurried to another, looking in every direction for some sign of Captain Marshall. This hunt they kept up for the best part of half an hour, but without success.
"He is certainly nowhere in this vicinity," said the senator's son. "I wonder where he can be keeping himself."
They walked on more slowly, and at the entrance to a lane came to another halt. Then, chancing to look into the lane, Dave uttered a short cry:
"There he is!"
Coming along the lane was Captain Marshall. His step was an uncertain one, and he pitched from side to side. As the two boys ran forward, the master of the Stormy Petrel gave a lurch and landed on some old boxes with a crash.
"Oh, Dave, can this be possible!" murmured Roger. "I did not think the captain would do it."
"Let us help him to the ship," answered Dave. He was as much shocked as his companion, and he could not help but think of what the supercargo had said.
"Oh, is it you, boys!" mumbled the captain, as he espied them. "I want to—to get back to the ship."
"We'll help you," said Dave.
"I've had an awful night—my mind is in a perfect whirl," went on the master of the Stormy Petrel.
"We'll soon have you safe on the bark," put in Roger.
The two assisted the captain to his feet. His eyes had a peculiar stare in them. Suddenly he clapped his hand to his pocket.
"Funny!" he muttered. "Very funny! I've got my watch! And I've got my money, too!"
"Did you think they were gone?" queried Dave.
"Well, I shouldn't be—be surprised. I thought they did it to rob me. What time is it? Oh, but I am weak in the legs, boys!"
"It is about eight o'clock."
"In the morning?"
"Yes."
"Then I must get back to the Stormy Petrel by all means. I—how did you come to find me?"
"We were out looking for you," answered Roger. "We were alarmed, and so was Phil, because you didn't come back last night."
"I—I meant to come back. Oh, how my head spins! I wish I had a drink of water! That coffee they dosed me with was vile."
"Coffee they dosed you with?" queried Dave. "Were you drugged?"
"I must have been, lad. I met some men, and they wanted me to drink with them. I refused. Then they offered me some coffee and native cakes, and, to be sociable, I took the stuff. Directly afterward I began to grow sleepy, and then I didn't know a thing until I woke up at the end of that lane awhile ago."
"Did you know the men?" asked Roger.
"I did not, but they pretended to know me. It's queer they didn't rob me. I wonder why they drugged me?"
"I don't know," answered Dave, "unless"
"Unless what?"
"I shouldn't like to say, Captain Marshall. But I'll tell you one thing, you are wanted on board of the Stormy Petrel at once."
"Who wants me?"
"Phil Lawrence. We have learned something about Mr. Van Blott which we think you ought to know. But you must get your head cleared up, first of all."
They walked the captain back to the bark, and, by accident more than design, managed to get the skipper on board without the supercargo seeing the party. Then they called Phil into the cabin, and in the meantime got the captain some fresh water and, some other things they fancied might do him good. They were glad to note that his dizziness was fast leaving him.
"This looks suspicious to me," said Captain Marshall, after he had heard what the boys had to relate. "But I cannot accuse Van Blott of having me drugged, as I have no proof of it. I do not know who those men were, and, more than likely, they will keep themselves out of sight."
"That is true," returned Phil. "But you can help me regarding this stuff to be taken away by Baumann & Feltmuller, can't you?"
"Certainly, Phil. I want to know all about that stuff before it leaves this ship. Have you the records of the goods?"
"No, sir; Mr. Van Blott has locked the books in the safe."
"Then, if I were you, as your father's representative, I should demand to see the records. I will back you up."
"If you will back me up, I'll go to him at once. He is already getting the goods out of the hold."
"I'll put a stop to that," answered the captain.
He was still feeble in the legs, but managed to climb to the deck, and walked to where the supercargo and the first mate were directing the unloading of a portion of the cargo.
"Hello, so you are back!" exclaimed the supercargo, and his face paled a little.
"I am," returned the captain, coldly. "Mr. Shepley, did you give orders to unload?" he went on, turning to the mate.
"I—I—er—did," stammered the mate. "You said yesterday we were to start first thing this morning."
"I did—but I expected to be here when we began. Mr. Van Blott, Philip Lawrence wishes to see you in your office."
"I haven't time to bother with him now," growled the supercargo. "Go ahead with those cases!" he shouted to some stevedores who were nearby, and pulling out his handkerchief he gave it a flourish toward the dock.
"Drop those cases!" roared Captain Marshall, his face growing red. "Drop them, I say!" And the natives who were carrying the cases stopped short.
"Captain Marshall" began Jasper Van Blott. "I—what do you mean by this—er—by this"
"I told you that Philip Lawrence wanted to see you in your office. You had better see him before we move any more of this cargo."
"Yes, but"
"I won't argue the matter, Mr. Van Blott. I was drugged last night. Do you understand? Drugged! But my mind is clear now, and I want everything on this bark to run smoothly. You had better go to your office, and I'll go with you."
The supercargo glared at the captain, and the latter glared in return. Then Van Blott shrugged his shoulders.
"As you please," he said. "But it is a strange proceeding." And he walked to that part of the ship where was located his little office. As he passed the first mate, he gave the man a wink and turned his eyes toward the cases on the deck. Paul Shepley nodded slightly.
In the office they found Phil awaiting them. Roger followed the pair, but Dave had seen the wink that was passed, and remained on deck, and a moment later seated himself on one of the very cases the stevedores had been in the act of removing from the ship.
"Ain't you going with them?" asked the first mate, coming up with a dark frown on his face.
"No, I think I'll stay here until they come back," answered Dave, lightly.
"Then please get off of that box."
"I am not hurting the box, Mr. Shepley."
"Get off, I say!"
The boy from the country did so.
"I believe Captain Marshall wanted nothing moved until he came back," said Dave, gazing boldly into the mate's angry face. "Perhaps I had better call him, if you are going to work again."
"Who said I was going to move anything?" growled Paul Shepley, his manner showing that that was just what he had had in mind to do. "Don't you get too fresh around me, or there will be trouble!"
"Well, if there is trouble, I'll do my best to stand up against it."
"Aw! you make me tired!" grumbled the first mate, and strode away in deep disgust, leaving Dave master of the field.
In the meantime a stormy meeting was being held in the supercargo's office. At first Van Blott flatly refused to allow Phil to look at his books, but at last brought forth several, which the shipowner's son knew were of little importance.
"I want the books that relate to the goods to be landed here," said Phil. "I want to know all about each piece before it is put ashore."
"Humph! You are getting very particular, young man!" observed the supercargo.
"I do not deny it."
"Did your father send you on this trip to spy on me?"
"You may put it that way, if you wish, Mr. Van Blott. I am here simply to learn this business and to see that everything is O. K."
"If everything is all right, what have you to fear from an inspection like this?" came suggestively from Captain Marshall.
"I am not going to work here and be watched like a criminal!" stormed Jasper Van Blott. "If old man Lawrence can't trust me, it is time we parted company!"
"I agree with you," returned the captain.
"Do you?" came with a sneer. "Very well. I'll close up my accounts and quit."
"You'll not do it just yet," put in Phil. He was pale, but determined.
"I won't?"
"No. Before you quit you must make an accounting to me of goods and money, and satisfy me, and also Captain Marshall, that everything is O. K. in every particular."
"Bah! Boy, who gave you authority to talk to me in this fashion?"
"My father."
"I don't believe it. Why, you are a mere boy—you don't know what you are saying. I'll close up this business to suit myself and leave my keys with Captain Marshall, and that will end it."
"Mr. Van Blott, you must remember that Philip Lawrence is the shipowner's son," said the captain, sternly.
"I don't care if he is. He has no legal authority, and I don't propose to let him drive me."
"Just wait a minute, until I come back," said Phil, starting for the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Roger.
"To my stateroom. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"What is he going to do?" questioned the supercargo, uneasily.
"I don't know," answered Captain Marshall, shortly. "But, if I were you, Mr. Van Blott, I should listen to him. In a certain sense, he repre sents his father on this vessel."
"He doesn't represent him with me!" muttered the supercargo. His anger had made him lose a good portion of his common sense.
There was a minute of silence, during which Jasper Van Blott strode up and down the narrow office. Then a step was heard outside, and Phil reappeared, carrying a large envelope in his hand.
"My father said I was not to use this unless it was necessary," he said, drawing a paper from the envelope. At the appearance of a legal-looking document the supercargo started back.
"What's that?" he demanded, hoarsely.
"This is a document authorizing Captain Marshall to take charge of your affairs, Mr. Van Blott. He is to investigate everything, under my supervision, and is to hold you strictly accountable for everything you have done since starting on this voyage."