CHAPTER III
MR. SCHMITT-SCHMITT
"Yes," cried Bob Vilett impulsively. "Why did the pilot try to wreck the_Swallow_?"
The young engineer had been an interested listener to the conversationthat had passed between Dave and Adair. The latter shrugged hisshoulders.
"Sheer natural meanness and hatred of foreigners," he said, "or theymean to delay you."
"Why should they delay us?" protested Dave.
"To bleed you. The longer you stay here the more they will get out ofyou. They overcharge for everything, make you pay, and fine you, andmake you trouble on every little technicality of the law that wretchedgovernor can dig up."
"Why, that's abominable!" declared Bob.
"You see, the island here is in a squabble between Chili and Peru,"explained the artist. "The governor has set up an independentdictatorship. He knows it can't continue, so he is hurrying to make allthe money he can out of his position while it lasts."
"It looks as if you have given us some pretty straight information,"said Dave seriously. "I must tell Captain Broadbeam. No," Dave checkedhimself. "I'll wait till I am sure of what you suspect, and look alittle deeper into this matter."
"There's a group I'd like to take," interrupted Adair, glancing with anartist's fine interest at the sailors of the _Swallow_ getting sometackle out to keel the ship.
He seized a boathook and, leaning over the side, caught its end in hiscamera outfit lying in the skiff below.
"There are some island views, if you would like to look them over," heobserved, unstrapping a square portfolio from the camera rack.
Adair set up his portable tripod and focussed the group amidships. Daveturned over the photographs in the portfolio.
"You'll find a pretty good picture of that rascally pilot," said Adair."Third one, I think."
"I've got it," nodded Dave, "and--say!"
So violent was this ejaculation that Adair was startled into snappingthe camera shutter before he was quite ready.
"You've spoiled my picture for me," he said, but not at all crossly."Why, my friend, what's struck you?"
Dave was wrought up all out of the common. Generally cool andlevel-headed, his nerves seemed to have suddenly gone to pieces.
He had dropped the portfolio, and Bob was scrambling to preserve itsscattered contents. Dave himself held a single photograph in one hand;with the other he was pulling Adair by the arm. He drew the surprisedartist out of direct range of the others.
"Look here," he said, with difficulty steadying his trembling voice,"this picture?"
"Yes," nodded Adair, with a casual glance at the photograph--"ourfriend, the pilot."
"There is no trouble recognizing him," said Dave. "It's the otherfellow in the picture, I mean."
"Oh, do you know him?"
"I think I do," answered Dave, in a suppressed but intense tone.
"Likely. He's been haunting the harbors here for several days. Ihappened to see the two sitting on that bench in front of the pilot'sshanty, and took a shot."
Dave, looking worried and hopeful, in doubt and suspicious, by turns,kept scanning the photograph.
"Who is the man, anyhow?" he asked, placing his finger on the pilot'scompanion.
"Schmitt-Schmitt, he calls himself--from the Dutch West Indies, hesays."
"He calls himself that, does he?" said Dave thoughtfully, "and he is aDutchman?"
"All I know is that he got onto the island here somehow--I believe froma tramp steamer a few days ago. He's close up to the governor and thepilot. Every craft that touches here, he visits its captain and wantsto charter the ship."
"He wants to charter a ship," repeated Dave--"what for?"
"Mysterious cruise. He has discovered an island full of diamonds, or amountain of gold, or some such thing," replied Adair. "He makesfabulous offers to any captain who will take a thirty-day cruise on thespeculation. When he turns out all promises and no ready cash, of coursethe captains laugh at him. Been to you to join in his speculation, eh?"
"No," said Dave emphatically. "He knows too much to try it! Mr.Adair," he continued, warmly grasping the artist's hand, "you have doneus a service you little dream of."
"Glad of that," responded Adair, with a hearty smile.
"I don't know how to thank you. May I have this picture for a day ortwo?"
"Keep it--I've got the negative. Time to go, I fancy," added Adair, asthe crew crowded with the repair tackle in their direction.
Dave saw the artist safely into the skiff, waved his hand in adieu, andwent in search of his father.
Amos Fearless sat in the cabin, immersed in deep thought.
"What is the captain going to do, father?" asked Dave.
"He's all worked up, and I hardly know how to take him," replied Mr.Fearless. "His only idea for the present is to get away from MinotaurIsland; he says they're a set of conscienceless plunderers."
"He is right in that," declared Dave. "Did you suggest to him anythingabout searching for the stolen gold?"
"I did, Dave."
"What did he say?" eagerly asked Dave.
"He shook his head gloomily, said he would like to help us out, butaccording to his contract with the owners of the _Swallow_, he was duein San Francisco. You see, this cruise was taken by him under directionof Doctor Barrell. The doctor having accomplished his mission, there isnothing for him to do but to get the government collection ofcuriosities home as soon as possible."
Dave looked somewhat cast down at this unfavorable report. Of course,without the _Swallow_ at their service it was useless to think furtherof the stolen treasure.
"Well, father," he said, after a long, thoughtful spell, "just letthings rest as they are for the present. Only I wish you would warnCaptain Broadbeam to keep close watch over the _Swallow_ and to allow nostrangers aboard."
"Why," exclaimed the old diver, "is there danger?"
"In the air and all around us," declared Dave. "I don't want to alarmyou, father, and I don't want to say anything further until I have goneup to the town here."
"Going ashore?" murmured his father, in an uneasy tone. "I wouldn't,Dave, if things are not safe."
"Oh, they will be safe for me, as I shall take Mr. Stoodles and BobVilett along with me. When I come back, father, I think I shall havediscovered something that will put Captain Broadbeam on his mettle andopen the way for one more effort to find the fortune we have been robbedof."
Dave went to the deck again. He sought out Stoodles and Bob in turn andtold them he wished them to go to the town with him. Of the trio theyoung engineer only was under ship discipline. He reported to theboatswain and was soon ready to join the others.
They rowed down the creek to the ocean in a small yawl, rounded thecoast, and landed about half a mile from the town.
"I'll just drop my letter to my friends in New York while I'm in town,"observed Pat.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Stoodles," advised Dave.
"Eh, why not, lad?" asked Pat.
"Just a few steps further and I will tell you," answered Dave.
He led his companions to a spot where there were some low rocks andmotioned them to be seated.
"No one can overhear us at this lonely spot, that is sure," said Dave."Now then, my friends, I want to have a serious confidential talk withyou."
Bob looked curious and Stoodles important.
"Captain Broadbeam is worried and undecided," went on Dave, "my fatheris slightly discouraged, the crew sullen and discontented over losingthat treasure. If no one stirs up something, as we must do--then thingswill drop, and we will go back home poorer than when we started out.Now, I don't give up so easily."
"Good boy!" nodded Stoodles approvingly.
"I shall make an effort to trace our stolen fortune if I have to do itall alone in a canoe."
"If we only knew where it was," said Bob Vilett. "That's the trouble,you see, Dave. It may be thousands
of miles away. It may be adrift onthe ocean. It may be halfway to China, or divided up and squandered bythat miserable Hankers crowd."
"No," said Dave, with emphasis. "I have pretty good evidence in mypossession that the treasure is safe and sound on the Windjammers'Island."