Dave Porter on Cave Island/Chapter 18
CHAPTER XVIII
OFF FOR BARBADOS
The next three days were busy ones for the boys and Dunston Porter. Telegrams were sent back and forth between Phil and his father, and also between Dave and Mr. Wadsworth.
"Here is news!" cried our hero, after receiving one of the messages. "Just listen to this." And he read the following, from the jewelry manufacturer:
"Clew in Boston proved to be false, also clew in New York. Hope you are on the right track and get gems. Spare no expense if you feel you are right."
"And here is a telegram from my dad," said Phil. "He tells us—Captain Sanders and myself—to use our own judgment."
"Can you get a cargo for Barbados, Phil?" asked Roger.
"We can get a half-cargo."
"At once?"
"Yes, that is, inside of two days."
"Then by all means take it, Phil!" cried Dave. "I know Mr. Wadsworth will stand the extra expense. And if he won't, I know my father will."
"Where is your Uncle Dunston?" questioned the shipowner's son.
"He's out on a little business trip. He got a telegram from New York that upset him somewhat. I hope it isn't anything serious," added Dave, soberly.
The boys rushed off to talk the matter over with Captain Sanders. They found the master of the vessel at the shipping office, talking over the matter of a cargo for Barbados.
"Four men want to take passage with us, if we go," said the captain. "That will help pay for the trip, since they are willing to pay good passage money."
"We want you to take that half-cargo," said Phil, and explained matters.
"All right, if you say so," answered Captain Sanders. "But you had better speak to Mr. Porter about it first."
Half an hour later Dunston Porter came driving up in a cab. He was plainly excited.
"I've got to go to New York at once," he said. "I must look after some valuable investments in Wall Street. Do you think you boys can get along alone?"
"I think we can, Uncle Dunston," answered Dave. "You know we are used to taking care of ourselves," and he smiled faintly.
"Then go ahead and do as you think best."
"We want Captain Sanders to start for Barbados as soon as he can," went on our hero, and told of the telegrams received.
A general talk followed, lasting until Dunston Porter had to ride away to catch the train for New York.
"You must be right, and Merwell and Jasniff must be guilty," he said. "And if they are, spare no expense in catching them. I think the quicker you start for Barbados the better. And as soon as you arrive do your best to locate the rascals and have the authorities arrest them. And above all things, keep your eyes open for the jewels, for we need them much more than we need to catch Merwell and Jasniff. To catch the rascals and miss the gems will do us no good."
"I understand. Uncle Dunston," answered Dave. "And if the jewels are anywhere around we'll locate them."
"Then good-by and good luck!" finished Dunston Porter, and in a minute more he was off.
As soon as he was gone the boys and Captain Sanders commenced preparations for the trip to Barbados. An extra number of 'longshoremen were engaged, so that the half-cargo to be taken along could be gotten aboard quickly, and the boys spent their time in buying such things as they needed for the trip.
"They tell me it is pretty warm down there," said Roger. "So we had better buy some thin suits."
"And we had better go armed," added Phil. "No telling what trouble we may run into, in trying to corner Merwell and Jasniff. Merwell is no great fighter, but Jasniff is a brute."
"Yes, I'll take no chances with Jasniff," answered Dave. He had not forgotten his quarrel at Oak Hall with that bully, and how Jasniff had attacked him with an Indian club, as related in detail in "Dave Porter's Return to School."
At last all was in readiness for the trip, and the boys and the other passengers, four burly Englishmen, went aboard. Fortunately, the Golden Eagle was well provided with staterooms, so there was but little crowding. Dave had a small room to himself and next to him were his chums, with Captain Sanders and the first mate opposite. Billy Dill was, of course, in the forecastle with the other sailors.
"It's grand to have you along ag'in," he said, to Dave and Phil. "Seems like old times, when we sailed the Pacific."
"So it does," answered our hero.
"Only ye ain't a-lookin' for no uncle this trip, be you?" And the old tar chuckled.
"No, Billy, we are looking for somebody quite different—two rascals who ran away with a lot of diamonds."
"Mackerel an' codfish! Ye don't tell me, Dave! Your diamonds?"
"No, but some diamonds that were left with a close friend of mine. If they are not recovered, my friend will be almost ruined."
"Jumpin' dogfish! Then I hope you catch them lubbers! If so be I can help ye any, don't be afeered to call on me," added the old sailor, earnestly.
"All right; I'll remember that," replied Dave.
Early the next day the Golden Eagle slipped down the St. John's River and past the jetties and the lighthouse into the Atlantic Ocean. It was warm and clear, with a good wind blowing from the west, an ideal day for the departure. The boys remained on deck, watching the scenery of the winding stream and then the fading shoreline, and then went below to arrange their belongings, for the trip to Barbados would occupy some time.
"I hope we don't get seasick," remarked the senator's son.
"Well, if we do, we'll have to stand it," replied Phil. "But don't let's think about it."
"What I am wishing, is that we'll have good weather and a quick passage," remarked Dave. "We can't get to Barbados any too quick for me."
"I was looking up the place in the shipping-guide," went on Roger. "It's not much of an island, only twenty-one miles long by fifteen wide. The whole population is only about two hundred thousand, mostly English."
"The smaller the population the easier it will be to find Merwell and Jasniff," was the comment of the shipowner's son.
"Well, there may be a good many hiding-places on an island twenty-one miles long by fifteen miles wide," added Dave, with a grin.
"Oh, we'll rake the island with a fine-tooth comb, if we have to," cried Roger.
"Roger, was your father quite willing to let you go on the trip?"
"Yes. He and mother are now in Washington, you know, and as the school is closed, I'd either have to go to the Capital, or stay with you. And I told him I'd much rather be with you and Phil."
"And we are glad to have you with us!" cried Phil, and Dave nodded, to show that he felt the same way about it.
"What do you think about the other passengers?" asked Phil, in a lower voice, so that nobody else might hear.
"I don't think I'll like them very much," replied the senator's son. "That man named Geswick is very loud and dictatorial."
"Yes, and the chap named Pardell is little better," returned Dave.
"What line are they in, Phil, did you hear?"
"Oh, they are traveling, that's all. They came to this country from London, and they are going back by the way of Barbados."
"They seem to have some money."
"Yes, but Captain Sanders told me that they hang on to it pretty well—more so than he at first expected they would."
The first day passed rapidly and the Golden Eagle made good headway. The boys spent most of the time on deck, amusing themselves as best they could. They talked to Captain Sanders and his mate, and also visited with Billy Dill. Occasionally they conversed with the four Englishmen, but they noticed that the Britishers were inclined to keep to themselves.
"I guess it is just as well, too," said Dave to his chums. "They are not our sort at all."
"Unless I miss my guess, they have had some sort of quarrel among themselves," remarked Phil. "They were disputing over something early this morning and again just before dinner."
Several days passed, and the boys commenced to feel quite at home on the ship. None of them had been seasick, for which all were thankful.
"The weather has been in our favor," said Captain Sanders. "If it keeps on like this, we'll make Barbados in record time."
"Billy Dill said he smelt a storm," returned Dave.
"Hum! Is that so?" mused the captain. "Well, he's a pretty good weather-sharp, I must confess. I'll take another look at the glass," and he walked off to do so.
The storm came up during the night, and Dave was awakened to find himself rolling from one side of his berth to the other. He arose, and as he did so he heard an exclamation from Roger.
"What is it, Roger?" he called out.
"I—I guess I'm seasick!" answered the senator's son. "Gracious, how this old tub rolls!"
"Don't call the Golden Eagle a tub!" returned Phil. "Say, can I do anything for you?" he went on sympathetically.
"Yes, tell Captain Sanders to keep the boat from rocking."
"Better lie down again, Roger," said Dave, entering the stateroom. "It's a little better than standing up."
"Oh, I—I guess I'm not so very ba-badly off," gasped the sufferer. "But I do wish the storm was over."
"We all wish that."
But, instead of clearing away, the storm increased in violence, and by nine o'clock in the morning the wind was blowing close to a gale. Both the captain and the mate were on deck, and the former advised the boys and the other passengers to remain below. Two of the Englishmen were very seasick and found all manner of fault because of the storm.
"I'd never have come on this treasure hunt had I known I was to be so sick!" groaned one.
"What bloody luck!" said the other sick man. "All the pirates' gold in the world is not worth it!"
"Stow it!" cried the man named Geswick. "You know you weren't to mention what we were after."
"Nobody can hear us, in this storm," replied the first man who had spoken.
"Those boys might hear," put in the fellow named Pardell.
"Oh, well, they are only boys. Besides, they'd not dare to follow us up to Cave Island"
"Hush, I tell you!" cried Geswick, savagely. "Do learn to keep your tongue quiet." And then the men continued to talk in whispers.
Dave had been passing the staterooms of the Englishmen during this conversation and he could not help but hear what was said. When he rejoined his chums he told them of the talk.
"They must be on the hunt after pirates' gold," said Phil. "Well, they are not the first to do that kind of searching. Party after party has sailed down here for the same purpose."
"Yes, and each party has been unsuccessful, so far as I know," answered Dave.
"Perhaps they have some extra-good clew," suggested Roger, trying to forget his seasickness.
"Perhaps," returned Dave. "Well, if they can find any pirates' gold on any of these islands they are welcome to it, so far as I am concerned. All I want to get hold of are the Carwith jewels."