CHAPTER XV.
AN UNWARRANTED SEARCH.
Bob gave an expressive look to the boys when the repast had been placedon the table, and all three understood that he meant for them to leavethe cabin rather than run any chance of another encounter with the men.
A quarrel just now, however trivial the cause, might lead to veryserious consequences, because the guests were unscrupulous and strongerthan the Bonita's crew; therefore this precaution of the old sailor'swas a wise one. Jim and Harry not only realized the fact, but they weremore than eager to be beyond the reach of these quarrelsome strangers,whose blows were bestowed without provocation, and they went into thegalley, closely followed by Walter.
"I've sailed along of some pretty tough customers," Jim said with theair of one who has had many and varied experiences, as he seated himselfon an empty keg just outside the galley door, "but I never run acrossanybody like them duffers. They're worse'n old Mose Pearson, an' folksused to say he was the ugliest skipper that ever hove a mackerel-line."
"They act as if the brig belonged to them, and we were the ones who hadbeen taken off the key," Harry said bitterly. "I wish Bob never'dallowed them aboard!"
"So do I!" And Jim spoke very emphatically. "There'll be a heap oftrouble before we get rid of that crowd, or else I don't know anythingabout sich fellers. If they put on many more airs us three will have tosleep aboard of the tug, where we won't run the risk of bein' knockeddown."
"We can stand a good deal if they help us get the brig into port,"Walter said with a sigh. "I'm willing to be thumped every day for a weekif I can get home once more."
"Most any of us would;" and Jim again put on his air of exceedingwisdom; "but the trouble is we can't count on goin' where we want towhile they are aboard. I wouldn't be much 'stonished to hear thatred-nosed man order all hands, 'cept his own crowd, ashore any minute.I'll be satisfied if, when the next fight comes, Bob hits him one crackhard enough to send more'n a thousand stars dancin' before his eyes. Agood thump is the only thing that'll make him walk straight!"
The others would have been equally delighted at such a lesson; but therewas not time to say so, for just at this moment Joe called for coffee,and Harry ran below with a fresh supply, after which the boys set aboutcleaning up the galley preparatory to getting their own dinner.
In the cabin, matters were progressing so favorably that a strangerwould hardly have supposed the party had been upon the verge of an openrupture but a few hours previous. The thin man was particularly affable,and seemed to be thinking of no other subject save that of sailing thebrig to the nearest American port in the shortest space of time.
"If you're no navigator, how do you calculate it'll be possible to makethe trip?" he asked of Bob, during the course of the meal.
"It'll have to be done by dead reckonin', of course," the old sailorreplied in as near an approach to a friendly tone as he could command,for the recent trouble was yet too fresh in mind to admit of his feelingthoroughly at ease. "It don't matter what port we make, an' as it's allplain sailin' after we're clear of the bank, the job oughter be donewithout much trouble."
"The most important question is, When can we start?" the Mexican saidwith an odd laugh. "I've had so much of this key lately that I'd like tosee it a dozen miles astern just now."
"I fancy we're all of the same mind," said Joe, who seemed to think itnecessary he should say something, if only to show he harbored noresentment. "We shan't have long to wait, I hope."
By this time the engineer and Bob had finished the meal, while theothers seemed to have hardly begun. It was as if they had some purposein remaining a long time at the table; but yet one could not have seenin their manner anything to arouse suspicion.
The old sailor and Joe arose from the table and went up thecompanion-way ladder as the former said:
"It's too hot to stay below any longer than a feller is obliged to, an'I reckon you can get on as well without us."
The thin man replied that there was no reason why one should sufferdiscomfort because others were slow, and by the time he had finishedspeaking Bob and Joe were on deck, looking with satisfaction at theresult of their labors.
"We shan't be hanging round the Bahama banks much longer, my hearty,"the old sailor said gleefully. "Now that the brig has deep water underher keel once more, it's only a question of wind."
"I don't suppose it would pay to hang on here until the tug could berepaired?" Joe added half inquiringly, as he went forward where theshadow of the forecastle afforded a most refreshing shelter.
"Indeed it wouldn't," and Bob spoke very decidedly. "In the first placewe must get this craft off our hands without loss of time; an' then,ag'in, the sooner we've said good-by to them new shipmates the saferI'll feel. They ain't to be trusted any further'n you can see 'em; butwe've got to mess with the crowd till the brig's in port."
Joe looked toward the steamer wistfully. He had suffered so manyhardships and been exposed to such great danger in her that it would bealmost like parting with an old friend to leave the little craft to rotat her moorings, or be blown ashore when the next gale should come fromthe east.
While these two were cheering themselves with the belief that in a fewhours at the longest the brig would be under way again, those in thecabin were proceeding to make themselves thoroughly at home.
Bob and Joe had no sooner gone on deck than the red-nosed man said, in awhisper:
"Now, Dave, you stay here, where it'll be easy to see if any of themfools come this way, an' I'll make quick work of the search. If thebrig's papers are to be found we shall run no risk in taking heranywhere, an' we'll soon set ourselves up for gentlemen."
"Unless somebody overhauls us for that little job down in the channel,"the thin man added gloomily.
"Don't be a fool!" was the savage reply. "How is anyone to know we had afinger in that pie? Even if it should come out, we won't be in this partof the world much longer. We can put in to Key West, hire a full crew,and an hour afterwards sail for any port we like best. Come on, Pedro."
The Mexican had already risen from the table, and was noiselessly makinghis way aft to the room on the starboard side which would naturally havebeen occupied by the Bonita's rightful captain.
The red-nosed man made haste to overtake him, as if doubtful of hisfriend's honesty, and the two entered the apartment at the same moment.
Up to this time no one had disturbed the watch which hung at the head ofthe berth. The boys and Bob believed that every article on board shouldbe delivered up to the authorities; but these men had no such scruples.
He with the red nose clutched it eagerly, almost overturning the otherin his efforts to reach the time-piece first, and against thisconfiscation the Mexican protested angrily.
"Don't be a fool! I've only taken charge of it for all hands. We're towhack up fair on everything!"
"Then why didn't you let it hang on the wall?"
"Because that fool of a Bob might have stowed it away before we've had achance to take possession. Now, don't stop to chin, but help me huntover these papers."
The Mexican looked much as if he distrusted the softly-spoken words; buthe made no further protest, and together the two men began to overhaulthe contents of the desk.
To find that for which they sought was not a difficult task. It was onlynecessary to examine half a dozen papers before the documents werediscovered, and the red-nosed man said grimly, as he put them in hispocket:
"I reckon we've got things pretty near as we want 'em. We're the mastersnow, an' there'll be mighty little talk made about rights. Come along;if we're not on deck soon them Miss Nancys may suspect somethin', an' wewant to keep their eyes closed two or three hours longer."
"But ain't we goin' to search the other rooms?"
"What's the use? There'll be plenty of time to-morrow, when we'realone."
The worthy Pedro was not content to wait. The loss of the watch, for heseemed to consider it such, troubled him, and he was eager to putsomething in his own pocket.
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When he who was evidently the leader of the party walked toward Dave toacquaint him with the pleasing fact that the search had been successful,Pedro darted from one room to another, and the studs and sleeve-buttons,which the boys had noted, did not escape his eager gaze.
"These shall not be taken charge of for all hands," he whispered half tohimself, and the articles had but just been secreted when Dave came tothe door.
"Do you want to spoil everything by loafin' 'round here?" he askedangrily. "These kind of chances don't come every day, an' if our plansare upset owin' to such nonsense I'll split you like a mackerel withyour own knife!"
That the Mexican was a rank coward could be told by the pallor whichcame over his yellow face as these words were spoken, and with amuttered but inaudible reply he followed Dave to the companion-wayladder.
"Now what are we to do?" the thin man asked when the three were ready togo on deck; and the leader of the villains replied readily:
"Nothin' yet awhile. Some chance will turn up before we're under way;but if it don't, the matter must be settled at night while they'rebelow. It won't be a hard job, for they can't stay on deck together allthe time, and when the crowd is separated it'll be like child's play.Don't act as if anything was in the wind, but be sweet as molasses tillthe flies are where we want 'em!"
Then the three men ascended the ladder, and from the benign expressionon their faces the most suspicious would hardly have fancied they hadbeen plotting to murder those who befriended them in a time of need.