The Last Cruise of the Spitfire/Chapter 6
CHAPTER VI.
A TURN OF FORTUNE.
It was now almost nine o'clock, and Nassau Street, where the patent offices of Stillwell, Grinder & Co. were situated, was crowded with people. My uncle made such a show of what he was doing that it was not long before quite a crowd was following us, all anxious to know what had happened.
"There is no use of your making such a show of the poor boy," said Mr. Banker. "You act as if he had murdered some one."
"Mind your own business," snarled Mr. Stillwell.
Mr. Banker was an upright farmer, and there was little of natural meekness in his nature. He resented my uncle's speech, and quite an altercation took place.
While the two were talking I was doing some hard thinking. The idea of going to prison became every moment more odious to me. I could fancy myself in a dark, damp cell, surrounded by criminals of every degree, awaiting a hearing. What would my friends think? And if the affair once got into the newspapers my good name would be gone forever.
The more I thought of the matter the more determined I became that I would not go to prison. Suppose I ran away?
No sooner had this foolish thought entered my mind than I prepared to act upon it. We were now on the corner of Fulton Street, and to cross here was all but impossible. My uncle and Mr. Banker were still in hot dispute, and for an instant neither of them noticed me.
"Good-bye, Mr. Banker, I'm off!" I cried out suddenly.
And the next moment I had torn myself loose from my uncle's grasp, and was dashing down Fulton Street at the top of my speed.
"Hi! come back!" called out Mr. Banker after me; but I paid no heed.
"Stop him! Stop him!" yelled my uncle. "Stop the thief!"
His last words set the street in commotion. The cry of "Stop the thief!" resounded on all sides, and soon it seemed to me that I was being followed by at least half a hundred men and boys, all eager to stop me in hopes of a possible reward.
But now that I had once started, I made up my mind not to be captured. I was a good block ahead, and by skillful turning I gradually managed to increase the distance.
I was headed for the East River, and it was not long before I came in sight of the docks and the ferry slips. At one of the slips stood a ferry-boat just preparing to leave for Brooklyn.
The sight of the boat gave me a sudden thought. I dashed into the ferry-house, paid the ferry fare, and in a moment was on board, just as the boat left the slip.
It had been a long and hard run, but at last I was safe from being followed. Once in Brooklyn there would be a hundred places for me to go in case of necessity.
Wiping the perspiration from my face, I made my way to the forward deck. But few people were on board, and quite undisturbed, I leaned against the railing to review the situation.
What should I do next, was the question that arose to my mind, and I found no little difficulty in answering it? I was half inclined to think that I had acted very foolishly in running away. Now every one would surely believe me guilty, and if I was caught it would go hard indeed with me.
Had I better go back? For one brief instant I thought such a course would be best; then came the vision of the cell, and I shuddered, and resolved, now I had undertaken to escape, to continue as I had begun. Whether I was wise or not I will leave my readers to determine after my story is concluded.
It was not long before the boat bumped into the slip on the opposite shore. The shock brought me to a recollection of the present, and in company with the other passengers I went ashore. I had something of a notion that a policeman would be in waiting for me, but none appeared, and I passed out to the street unaccosted.
I had been to Brooklyn several times on errands for the firm, so I knew the streets quite well. But fearful of being seen, I passed close to the wharves, and finally came to a lumber yard, and here I sat down.
It was a hot day, and it was not long before I was forced to seek the shade. Close at hand was a shed, and this I took the liberty of entering.
It was a rough place, used for the seasoning of the better class of wood. I found a seat on some ends of planking in a cool corner, quite out of the line of observation of those who were passing.
Here I sat for full an hour. Nothing seemed to be going on in the lumber yard, and no one came to disturb me.
But at last came voices, and then two rough looking men approached. I was about to make my presence known, but their appearance was such that I remained silent; and they took seats close to the spot where I was.
"And the captain is sure that she is fully insured? " asked the taller of the two.
"Trust Captain Hannock to cover himself well!" laughed the other. "You can bet he has her screwed up to the top notch."
"And what is this cargo insured for?"
"McNeil didn't say. Not much less than a hundred thousand, I guess. Of course you'll go, Crocker?"
"Ya-as," replied the man addressed as Crocker, somewhat slowly. "I can't pick up a thousand dollars any easier than that."
"I thought I had struck you right. Are you ready to sail?"
"Anytime you say, Lowell. I owe two weeks' board now, and Mammy Brown hinted last night I'd better pay up or seek other quarters."
And Crocker gave a short, hard laugh.
"Then meet me at the Grapevine in an hour," said the man called Lowell. "I've got to make a few other arrangements before we start."
"Right you are."
"And remember, not a word"
"Luff there! As if I didn't understand the soundings."
"All right. Come and have one."
The two men arose at once and headed for a saloon that stood upon the near corner.
I arose also and watched them out of sight. The conversation that they had held had not been a very lucid one, yet I was certain they were up to no good. One of them had spoken of making a thousand dollars in an easy manner, and I was positive that meant the money was to be gained dishonestly.
What was I to do? I was no detective, to follow the men, and I was just at present on far from good terms with the police. It seemed a pity to let the matter rest where it stood, but for the present I did not feel inclined to investigate it. I would keep my eyes open, and if anything more turned up, or was noted in the papers, I would tell all I had heard.
I wandered along the docks, piled high with merchandise of all descriptions. Beyond, a number of stately vessels rested at anchor, large and small, among which the steam tugs were industriously puffing and blowing, on the lookout for a job.
The sight was a novel one to me, and soon I walked out upon the end of a dock to get a better view.
"Hi, there! No loafing on this pier!" called a burly watchman; and I lost no time in moving on.
Presently I came to a wharf that seemed to be more public, and walked out to one side of it. Here it was shady, and close at hand floated a large rowboat.
The craft was deserted. Wishing to observe the scene without being noticed, I leaped into her. There was a cushion on the stern seat, and on this I sat down.
The breeze and the gentle motion of the boat were delightful, and for a moment I thought how pleasant a life on the ocean must be. Alas! little did I realize what was in store for me on the boundless deep.
As I sat on the soft cushion I could not help but speculate on all that had transpired within the last few hours. Early in the morning my mind had been free from care that was anyway deep; now I was a fugitive, not knowing which way to turn or what to do.
But I was not disheartened. I was healthy and strong and I felt confident that I could work my way in the world. But I was worried about clearing my fair name of the suspicion Uncle Felix had cast upon it. I must do that at any and all costs.
Presently a footstep sounded above me on the dock, and a well-dressed young man appeared.
"Hullo, there!" he cried, on catching sight of me.
"Hullo!" I replied, shortly. I was not in a talkative humor, and wished him to know it.
"What are you doing down there?" he went on, rather sharply.
"Nothing much."
"Do you know that that is my boat?"
"No, I didn't know it," I returned, and then jumped to my feet. "Excuse me, but I haven't hurt anything."
"But what are you doing there?"
"Only resting. I've walked a good bit to-day and I am tired. I'll go if you want to use the boat."
"Oh, no, that's all right. I don't want the boat for a couple of hours yet. You may stay where you are."
"Thank you."
He was about to turn away, but a sudden thought seemed to come into his mind.
"You say you have walked a good bit to day? he asked curiously.
"That's it."
"You are not out of work and on the tramp, are you?"
"Something like that," I replied. "I'm out of work and as I can't pay to journey around, I'll have to walk."
"I see. Well, I hope you strike something before long. It's not pleasant to be out of work and money."
The young man nodded pleasantly and walked away. I must confess I gazed after him longingly. I warmly appreciated the few kind words he had given me.
As I turned back to sit down once more I heard two men get up from behind a number of packing-cases on the pier, and walk away. I had not noticed them before, and I wondered if they had overheard the conversation which had taken place.
It was rather warm in the boat, and the rocking motion caused by the waves soon put me in a drowsy mood. My time was my own, and I felt in no humor to move away. I allowed my head to fall back, and almost before I knew it I had dropped into a light doze.
My wakening was a rude one. The row-boat gave a violent lurch, nearly precipitating me into the water. I tried to scramble to my feet, but some one with a big bag pushed me back.
"Here, what does this mean" I began, indignantly.
"Shut up!" come back in hurried tones.
Then the bag was pulled over my head and arms, and in five seconds I found myself a prisoner and hardly able to move hands or feet.
I tried to cry out and to ask questions, but could not. The bag was thick, and, being tied around my neck, almost took away my breath.
For the first instant I was afraid that the police from New York had found me, but I as quickly gave up this idea. They would never treat me in this strange fashion, I felt certain. But who were my strange assailants, and what did they intend to do with me?
I felt myself lifted out of the boat and into another craft. Then I was thrown on my back and something that felt like a piece of canvas was spread over me.
The boat, with me and my captors moved off and kept moving for perhaps ten minutes or quarter of an hour. I tried to struggle to my feet, but strong hands held me down.
"Better keep still!" I heard a voice cry. "You can't escape, no matter how hard you try."
When the boat finally came to a standstill I was nearly suffocated for the want of fresh air, and I wondered if I had not been chloroformed when first assaulted. I was hoisted up by several men and placed upon my feet, and then the cords which bound me were cut and the bag was removed.
I looked around with a start. I was on shipboard, with the great ocean all around me.
"Down with him!" shouted a voice behind me.
Before I could turn to face the speaker a big black hole loomed up in front of me, and I was tumbled down into utter darkness. The hatch above was closed, and I was left a prisoner!