CHAPTER X
LEGRAND'S WINK
As I went down the corridor the figure of little Pye sprang out upon mefrom somewhere.
"Doctor," he said in a piteous voice. I stayed. "Doctor, I'm very ill.I'm just awful."
I looked at him closely. The flesh under his eyes was blue; the eyesthemselves were bloodshot, and his hands shook. I felt his pulse, andit was racing.
"You're in a blue funk, Pye," said I severely.
He groaned. "Anything. I'll admit anything, doctor. But for heaven'ssake let me go down to my bunk. I'll pull together there, I'll swearit."
"You'll go down and drink too much," I said.
"Not if you'll give me something. There must be lots of things," hepleaded. "I've never seen--I'm not fitted for this. Oh, doctor, I'veonly lived in a street before, a suburb, Tulse Hill. Think of that."
His voice cracked, and with the ghost of his favourite trick hisfingers quavered with the glasses on his nose. I took a pity for thecreature, a pity in which there was naturally some disgust.
"Very well," I said. "Go down, and I'll make it all right. I'll pay youa visit later."
He thanked me and scuttled away like a rabbit, and I sought Barracloughand explained.
"Ill?" said he. "Well, if he's ill----"
"He's ill enough to count," I said. "He's in a dead funk, and about asmuch use as a radish."
Barraclough's nose wrinkled in smiling contempt.
"Better make him steward and promote Jackson," he said. "He's part of aman, at any rate. They'll be on us before we know where we are."
"Do you think so?" I asked. "Well, to say the truth, Holgate puzzlesme. Why did he make that offer?"
"Because he'll find it infernally difficult to get in here," saidBarraclough easily. "Because it's a frontal attack all the way and acostly business. If it's a case of half the party going to glorythey'll look out for a cheaper way first. That's why."
"You may be right," I answered. "But Holgate isn't exactly particular,and anyway I want to find out."
"Find out?" he echoed in surprise.
"Well, Holgate used a flag. Why shouldn't I in my turn?" I asked.
He screwed up his mouth. "Well, I don't know," said he. "I won't sayyou nay, but--look here, there's risk, Phillimore. You say Holgateisn't particular. To put it plain, he's a black-hearted swine."
"You couldn't put it too plain," I replied. "But I have my notion, andI may not be wrong. He's black enough, God knows, but I think I'vegauged him a little. Why didn't he push the assault? Why doesn't henow? No, Holgate's not all plain and easy. It's not like reading print.I'm hanged if I know what he's up to, but whatever it is, it's bad. Andsomehow I feel my way along this, and I don't think he'll do any harmat present. Call it faith--call it instinct--call it superstition ifyou will."
He bit his moustache doubtfully. "You're on duty in an hour," heobjected.
"I'll be back before," I answered. "And another thing, Barraclough,there's Legrand.... Oh, they'll want a doctor."
"That's true. Well, God bless you," said he, placidly yielding, andunlocked the door. I had provided myself with a flag, and now emergedupon the deck clasping it in one hand.
I walked past the barred windows of the music-room and saloon, and pastthe smoking-room beyond, until I was level with the chart-house. I wason the windward side of the yacht, and she was heeling gently as sheran down the coastline under a full head of steam. Above me I coulddiscern also the white spread of her wings, and from the look of thelong white water that leaped and fell off her sides in a welter Iguessed that we must be footing it to a pretty tune. If poor McCrae hadbeen right in estimating her rate at eighteen knots, she could not bemaking much less than sixteen now.
The sails were full of noise, and the wind rattled and sang in theventilators. The first sight that struck me as I came back square withthe bridge was a man swinging in a travelling-cradle and leisurelypainting the funnel. It seemed so peaceful an occupation, and sostrangely out of accord with those terrible transactions of the night,that I stared in wonder. Then my eyes went to the bridge and markedsomething more in keeping with the situation, for the bridge had beenboarded about in the rear and sides with a wall of timber, so that thehelmsman and the man in charge, Holgate or another, were invisible fromthe deck below, as also from the hurricane-deck. I suppose that thisstructure had been put together in memory of the Prince's prowess, andof his ruthless performances from the hurricane-deck.
I advanced to the end of the deck and hailed the forecastle, waving myflag.
"Is Mr. Holgate there?" I called out. "I wish to see him," and again Iwaved my flag.
A man came into the open on the deck below and stared up at me, andpresently after he was joined by another whom I recognised as Gray.They exchanged words, and I knew also from a sound overhead that someone was peering at me from the bridge. Once more I called out forHolgate, brandishing my flag vigorously: and then I heard Holgate'svoice below.
"Hold on, doctor!"
He emerged into my line of vision and with him was Pierce, his lank redface upturned to me, his lower jaw in its socket. Gray gesticulated,indicating me, and Holgate stood passively looking at me. Suddenly theex-boatswain put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a revolver andpresented at me. It was the work of a moment. Holgate struck his armup, and the bullet whizzed past me and banged into the chart-house.
"Steady there, doctor," said Holgate. "Glad to see you. Just in time,wasn't I? Step along down there." I moved towards the ladder anddescended to the lower deck, where Holgate met me.
"Difficult to keep our respective men in hand, isn't it, doctor?" hesaid with a quizzical look. "But I won't have any firing on a flag oftruce any more than you. You and I keep to the code of honour."
I could have sworn that the piece of comedy which had just beenperformed had been his. I knew for certain now that it was his jest,this crude and savage joke that was on the margin of tragedy, and mighthave gone over the border. But what would he care, this infamous man ofastute intelligence, cold, cunning, and ruthless determination? Hiseyes twinkled, and he laughed now so as to disclose his abominablefang.
"We are now quits, eh, doctor?" he said. "His Royal Highness would havehad me but for you, and now Pierce yonder would have potted you but forme. I like honourable warfare," he chuckled.
"Well," said I cheerfully, for I was resolved to take him in his ownway, "then the Prince's offence is wiped out. He is forgiven."
"Oh, there's nothing to forgive about the Prince," says Holgateindifferently. "I don't want him. I want his safe. What's a Prince ortwo?" He looked at me narrowly. "Shall we get to business? Changed yourminds?"
"There's not the slightest chance of that," I answered. "You may setthat on record."
"Say, I will," said he, unexpectedly turning, and called out, "Pierce,Gray, come here. Just listen to the whoop our cockerels give up there.Now, doctor, spit it out."
"I have nothing to add to my statement that there is no chance of anyterms," I said sharply.
"Think of that," observed Holgate to the others. "They don't knowwhat's good for them. Well, let 'em alone, doctor. Let 'em stew intheir juice. They'll come round in a brace of shakes, after a littleargument, let's say."
Gray guffawed, and Pierce grinned, his thin face puckering to his eyes,an unpleasing sight. It was clear who was master here. Holgatecommanded by the sheer force of his individuality and his coolness.
"Well, to what do we owe the honour of this visit?" went on Holgateeasily. "Come to borrow some of our provisions? Strikes me you're a bitfond of the forecastle. We shall have to make room for you. Got roomfor a little one inside, Pierce?"
The joke sent Gray off again, but I was aware that this gross foolingwas as much a piece of acting as had been the feint of shooting at me.He was playing to an audience, and that audience a gallery that dealtonly in crude fun. Why did he do it? What was his object? He puzzledme. But I made answer very plainly.
"You know my profession, Mr. Holgate. We had a seco
nd officer...?" Ipaused.
"Have!" he corrected mildly. "Have; not, of course, on activeservice--resting, let us say."
Gray giggled. His master was as good as the clown in a circus to histickled ears. Holgate looked at me.
"There's nothing much the matter with Legrand," he went on, "savenatural chagrin and a crack on the head. You see, I got him just so."He put both hands together in a comprehensive gesture, "and itinterfered with his vertebrae. But better see him, doctor, better seehim; and while you're about it, we've got a job or two more for you."
I followed him, as he spoke, towards the forecastle deck, and soon wasbusy in my professional capacity, Holgate chatting the while verywheezily in my ear. And when I had finished he had the hatch opened andI descended to the prisoners.
"I'm accompanying you, doctor," explained Holgate, "not because I'mgoing to spy on you--that would be mean, and not in the game--but as aguarantee of good faith, as one might say. You see I feel responsiblefor you, and if some one with an imperfect sense of honour, say likethe Prince, should take it into his head to clap hatches on you, wherewould my reputation be?"
He smiled, took a lamp from one of his men and descended after me.
The prisoners were standing or squatting moodily about in that smallcompartment of the hold, which was otherwise almost empty, and lying onhis back with his face turned towards us was the second officer. Hiseyes gave no indication that he was aware of my presence, though theywere wide open, and, I confess, I was alarmed to see his condition. Itlooked like death. I felt his pulse, and examined him, and all the timehis eyes were on me unwavering. His high colour had fallen away, andhis face was now spotted with unhealthy blotches on a pallid skin. Ipressed my fingers to the back of his neck, puzzled, and as I did so mybody came betwixt Holgate with the light and Legrand.
It seemed to me that now the eyes moved, and I could have declared thatone of them closed sharply and opened again. But at the moment Holgateshifted his position the eyes were again dull and vacant.
I drew in my underlip, and stood up, looking at the mutineer.
"A heavy crack," said I.
"Well, I suppose he came down rather nastily," said Holgate,unperturbed. "I'm sorry. I bear Legrand no grudge. He was a goodnavigating officer."
"It looks like brain lesion," I said. "But I should like to examinemore carefully."
"Welcome, doctor, welcome," said he cheerfully, "always welcome, solong as I command this ship. Fly a flag and I'll see there's noreigning princes about. I'm the only prince here, you may take my wordfor that."
I thanked him coolly, and giving the prisoners some directions for thecare of Legrand, climbed to the deck. As I left the lower deck with thesuave compliments of Holgate in my ears, I had two things in my mind toponder. In the first place, there was the mystery behind the chiefmutineer. What ailed him that he had made no attack on our weakgarrison? And had the deviation of the yacht's cruise been an adequatereason for leaving the strong-room untouched? Again, when he hadoffered terms, had he not known that we could not accept them, and whyhad he conducted himself with such easy insolence as to prevent us fromaccepting them had we been disposed to do so? This problem franklybaffled me. But the other thought was more consolatory. I was convincedthat Legrand was not much injured, and I guessed that he was"shamming." That he had winked at me to convey his real case seemedobvious. My heart rose at the thought, for it had been downcast, heavenknows. But it was something to feel that we had allies forward, in theheart of the enemy, even if they were at present under hatches. I hadfaith somehow in Legrand, a silent, forcible man, and I entered thestaterooms with cheerfulness.
Oddly enough, the note with which I was received bore some relation tothat cheerfulness, for I was admitted to the tune of tremulouslaughter. It was Ellison who let me in, but the laughter did notproceed from him. Half-way down the corridor was Sir John in animatedconversation with Mademoiselle. At least, the animation was on herpart, for he was decorously stolid, and favoured me with a nod.
"Managed it, then, Phillimore. Good for you," he said with amiablepatronage. "I though it was all up when I heard that shot. ButMademoiselle put her money on you."
"Ah, was I not right?" she asked archly in her pretty English. "I knowthe doctor. He is an old friend of mine."
She was dressed in a smart morning gown, somewhat open at the throat,and her admirable voice seemed to encompass us in its sympathy. Onecould not but feel pleased and flattered by her faith. I smiled.
"I am glad to say that Legrand's safe, but _hors de combat_," I wenton. "Perhaps not for long. We may have a surprise in store for us. Atany rate, Holgate does not know everything. He's a little too clever,to my mind."
"Oh, I wish they were all hanged, and dead," broke out Mademoiselle,with an impatient gesticulation.
"They will be in due time," said Barraclough.
"Tell me, Sir John, tell me, doctor, is there any danger?" she askedvivaciously.
Sir John was ever deliberate, and I anticipated him.
"None, or very little at present, I think."
"Ah!" she beamed on us both. "Then you shall have time to play with me.Do you play breedge, Sir John?"
I turned away, for it was time to relieve Lane in the saloon.