CHAPTER VIII
THE CAPTURE OF THE BRIDGE
I walked through the darkness to the head of the ladder, where Ellisonwas on watch.
"Any news?" I asked the quartermaster.
"No, sir; all quiet," he answered, and as I made to go down he criedout, "Where are you going, sir? Don't do that. You can't go there."
"It's all right," I answered. "Keep your eyes open. Nothing will happento me. And don't be lured from the staircase, whatever occurs; andhere, take my revolver. I'm on a mission of peace." I slipped down theladder and found myself in the gloom of the orlop deck. A lantern washanging in the shrouds and I had not reached it before I waschallenged.
"It's the doctor, Gray," said I, recognising his voice, "and come noearlier than you want him, I'll wager. There's more than one of you hasgot his gruel, I'm thinking."
He came into the light. "Are you armed, doctor?" said he.
"You can feel," said I, and he clapped his hands down my pockets.
"Well, I don't know," he said, in a hesitating way. "It's true enough.Davenport's dead as mutton, and Stephenson and Coyne are down in theirbunks. But it's Mr. Holgate commands here. I'll call him." He wentforward and whistled, and presently two other men approached, one ofwhom I saw was Holgate by his rolling form.
"Glad to see you, doctor," he said cheerfully. "I was hoping to behonoured by a visit, but, hang me! if I expected it. Come along now,and let's get some light on the case."
He led the way into the forecastle quarters, and emerged into the roomin which the hands had their meals, which was lit by electricity, aswere all the cabins and saloons of the _Sea Queen_.
"These digs are not what I'm accustomed to, doctor," he said, taking aseat. "I'm frank, you see; but of course I retire only to jump better.Isn't that how it goes? We jumped too soon, you see; and that was you.If it had not been for that fool Pierce! Twice the essential ass playedinto your hands. You were pretty smart, though I gave you a lead. ThereI was the fool."
"Well, Mr. Holgate, as between man and man, you were," I said.
He laughed. "Oh, it will work out all right, but it makes it bloody.Now, there was no need of blood in this little job, not if it had beenrightly managed, and I'll take blame for that. No, you were mymistake."
He looked at me in his tense unblinking way, as if he would have tornout of me on that instant what I thought and what I really was.
"I shall not be your last," I said indifferently.
"Have a drink," he said. "We've got some good champagne, all under lockand key, you bet, my son. That's not going to be my mistake, at anyrate. I've not lived forty years for nothing. I'm going to pull thisoff."
"Thank you," said I. "But it's business I've come on."
"Business and 'the boy' go together in the city, I've heard," heanswered. "Well, is it terms you want?"
"Oh, dear, no," I replied. "Only an affair of mercy. You've got twowounded men, and there's McCrae."
He looked down for a moment. "McCrae was another mistake, but notmine," he said. "You can't do any good to McCrae. But you can see theothers, if you will. Not that that's what you've come for. Shall I tellyou what, doctor? You've come like the gentlemen who went to the HolyLand, and came back carrying grapes, eh? I remember the picture when Iwas a boy--a precious huge bunch, too. Well, you can have the grapes ifyou'll take 'em in a liquefied form, and carry them in your belly."
I rose. "I'll see these men," I said abruptly.
He led me to the bunks, and I examined the wounded men. One was beyondhope; the other was but slightly injured; and I told Holgate the truth.He nodded.
"I don't much want Coyne," he said musingly. "I've no use for him. He'sa bungler."
The cold-blooded way in which he delivered this heartless criticismraised in me a feeling of nausea. I was moving away when he stopped me.
"Stay; you're not going back empty-handed, doctor, after all yourkindness. Any one you'd like to see?"
I thought. "Yes," said I. "Naylor or Williams."
Holgate moved out, and lifted the hatch. "Naylor!" he called. "Granger,let Naylor up." He turned to me. "We don't starve 'em. It's prettycomfortable 'tween decks when you're used to it."
I made no reply, and presently a voice hailed us from below.
"Is that Naylor?" asked Holgate.
"Yes."
"Naylor, here is the doctor inquiring after your health. Any questionshe puts to you you are at liberty to reply to."
He moved away whistling cheerfully, and I called out, "Naylor, I onlywant to know one thing. How many of you are there?"
"Six, sir," said the man.
"All under hatch?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well; keep up your hearts. This is not the end. Good-night."
I went to Holgate. "Really," said I lightly, "I find there are morehonest men in this ship than I had anticipated."
I don't think he liked that. "You've got twelve," he said drily. "Andthere's more than thirty with us."
"You forget one thing," I said. "We have the wheel, and to-morrow youmay find yourselves steaming cheerfully up the river to Buenos Ayres,like any good liner."
"That would be a pity, wouldn't it?" he said with a grin. "But you alsoforget one thing doctor--that is, I've got the engines. Supposing thoseengines stopped?"
"Well, we can get a press of canvas on her," I suggested.
"Great heavens!" says he. "Can you? What are we doing?"
"I think," said I, "that we have a good marksman on board."
"You're right," he said savagely, "and, by thunder, I won't forgive himfor that. I had meant---- By thunder, I'll play Old Harry and merryHades to him for that. Lord, doctor!" he added with a sneer, "to thinkof you sucking up to a potty prince! or perhaps it's the ladies."
"Yes; I hope you remember the ladies," said I. "It's not too late,Holgate."
He was silent a moment. "I take no stock in women," he said at length."They're nothing to me. Let the little innocent birds go free. I'lltell you what, doctor. I'll offer terms, and generous terms,considering I've got the trumps. I'll drop the whole pack of you at themouth of the river, ladies and all, and add all personal possessions ofevery one save what's in the Prince's safes. Now that's fair. I'll makeyou ambassador. By gad, it will be the only chance you will ever haveof being a prince's ambassador." He laughed.
"Holgate," said I, "I've met many generous men, but you appropriate thegingerbread, as you might say. Now I wish you good-night."
He advanced two steps towards me. "Doctor," said he gravely, "you'vegot to consider this. It's important. I'm not here to play marbles.It's a sure thing. I give you up there"--he made a movement of histhumb to the quarterdeck--"just this chance. Strike a bargain and I'llsee you through. There's not a hap'orth of harm will come to any.Otherwise----" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Mr. Holgate," said I, "I will deal with you as frankly as you seem todesire. This spells for you, in my opinion one thing, and that's thedock."
"Oh, dear, no," he interrupted, smiling. "The men were discontented,despatched a deputation, and were fired on by the Prince. Englishjuries don't like these arbitrary German military ways."
"You forget McCrae," said I.
"No, I don't. There was an accident in the engine-room, and the secondengineer can bear witness to it, as well as some others. Oh, we standvery well, doctor."
Even as he spoke I saw a shadow steal out of the deeper darkness anddraw to his side. I made it out for Pierce, the murderer. I will saythat that interruption of the ruffianly boatswain turned unexpectedlythe course of my blood. I had seemed somehow to have been dealing withHolgate, as a scoundrel, certainly, yet upon terms of fair warfare. Butthat shadow struck us all down to a lower level. Murder had beencommitted, and here was the murderer. Without one word I turned andmade my way towards the ladder communicating with the upper deck.
I had no good news to offer to my comrades; indeed, had I spoken quitewhat was in my thoughts, it was a black prospect with which I mustpresent them.
But I did not wish to increase the tension of thesituation, and merely recounted the facts I had gathered.
"Thirty against twelve," mused Day, "and there are six true men in thehold. Three head men. We have opened well, gentlemen."
He looked round sarcastically as he spoke, but at once returned to hiscolder formal manner. "They have the engine-room and we the bridge.That means that their attack will be on the bridge."
"I have no doubt that is what they mean," I said.
"Very well, gentlemen," said Day. "We know exactly where we are now,thanks to Dr. Phillimore. You have your stations. I shall be obliged ifyou will take them. We are likely to have a lively night."
"And let me say, gentlemen," said the Prince, raising his voice, "thatI do not conceive it possible that a pack of mutineers can secure thecontrol of their ship from their officers. It is inconceivable, Irepeat. I shall be at your disposal, captain," he turned to Day, "whenit is necessary. I will take my share in the common danger andstruggle."
There was a murmur of applause at this, and we dispersed to ourquarters. Legrand had the bridge, and the man at the wheel was turningthe spokes as calmly as if there had been no such thing as an alarm ora rising. Down below all was quiet, and the engines were moving slowly.It was now about one in the morning, and on our beams the wind wasrising. The yacht was making about eight knots and no more, and we werestill a day's steam from Buenos Ayres. I paced the deck in cover of thechart-house for an hour or more in a condition of nervous impatience.Holgate, I knew, would move deliberately, but when he moved this timehe would strike hard.
It was towards the dawn that, stopping in my walk, I listened, andheard amid the whistling of the wind and the wash of the water a littlemutter of sound somewhere in the disintegrating darkness below. Icalled to Legrand under my breath, and I heard his "hist." He was atattention, his ears straining in the wind to get news of what waspassing. Then there was a shot, and the noise of a _melee_ at theladder. Oaths and shouts and the reports of revolvers echoed from thewooden walls.
"Can you see, Phillimore?" screamed Legrand against the wind.
"They are attacking the gangway," I shouted back. One of the two menwho stood armed near me rushed forward.
"Go back, go back," thundered Legrand from the bridge. "Go to yourpost."
I was aware that the Prince had come out on the hurricane deck, whichwas on the level of the bridge, and as I peered into the gloom,suddenly a shout from the second man in my neighbourhood made me wheelsharply about. I turned in time to see him fire at some figures thatcame over the port side of the yacht. Immediately I guessed that thiswas the real attack, and that the assault on the ladder was but adiversion, I ran forward, calling to Legrand, I found Barraclough onthe other side of the deck-houses, using a cutlass, and I moved to hisassistance. Three men had reached the deck, and a fourth was clamberingover. The seaman who had called out fired wide, and the next momentwent down under a heavy blow from the figure in front. I discharged ashot, but missed the man as he made his rush. Barracloughsimultaneously gave way, and I saw him being pushed backwards againstthe side of the saloon. I fired again at one of his assailants, whofell away with a curse, and just then the first flush of the comingdawn moved over the waters, and shed a little light on the scene. Itdisclosed the burly form of Holgate in grips with Legrand, who haddescended from the bridge, and Barraclough still struggling with hisopponent. I had just time to make this out when one of the mutineersstruck at me with a heavy bar, and the blow, owing to a movement on mypart, fell on my right arm and paralysed it. He raised his weapon againwhile I fumbled to get the revolver out of my useless hand into myleft, when Day suddenly emerged from somewhere with a levelled pistol.My antagonist dropped like a log. Day fired again, and then with anoath Holgate threw the second officer heavily to the deck, and pointeda revolver. There was a pause of two seconds, then a report, and Dayslipped, moved his arms helplessly, and slid along the deck. A shoutnow came from the other side of the ship where the struggle at thegangway had been going on; and in a moment a stampede was upon us.
I was forced back by sheer weight of numbers to the head of thecompanion-way, using my weapon with some wildness, for all was passingbefore me in confusion. I had received a hard crack on the head andscarcely knew what I was doing, but was merely sustained in myresistance by a sense of continuity, inherited, as it were, from theearlier part of the struggle. Somehow I found myself in the shelter ofthe corridor that led to the apartments of the Prince, his sister andhis guest, and, for some reason I could not with my dizzy headconjecture, I was alone. I looked down the corridor, which was ingentle light, but saw nothing; it was as silent as though it had beenplunged in the profound peace and slumber of the night. Without, theracket of noises reached me as in a dream, and I remember that I satdown on a couch in the corridor, my empty revolver in my hand.
What ensued or how long I sat there I do not know; but I think it couldnot have been very long. I was aroused by a voice, and looked upstupidly. A face floated in the mists before me, and I nodded in afriendly way, smiling, and opened my mouth to speak. Instead I lurchedforward and was conscious of warm arms, the soft pressure of a humanbody, and the fragrance of a dress. There was a time when I seemed tosway alone in a cold and dreary vacancy, but soon there returned to mysenses the warmth and the fragrance and the ineffable comfort of somepresence. Some liquid was forced between my lips, and I drank; and as Idrank my brain cleared, and I looked and was aware who was supportingme with her arm. It was Princess Alix.
"Madam----" I began stuttering.
"Hush! Drink this," she said quickly. "We have need of you. We cannotspare a man like you. You have no dangerous wound?"
"I think not," I said with difficulty. "A blow on the head----"
My hand went feebly to it as I spoke, and came away with a patch ofred. I rose and totteringly picked up my revolver, which had fallen."What has happened?"
She shook her head. "I was up in the hurricane-deck, but my brothersent me down. There is nothing to be heard. I was going out when Ifound you here."
"It is good of you," I said vaguely. "Let us go out, then. Take thisweapon."
"I have one," said she quickly.
I nodded. "Brave girl!" said I gravely. "Brave heart, as brave asbeautiful!" I felt vaguely I was paying her a necessary compliment, butthat was all. Yet the corridor was clearing before me now, and thelight of dawn was filtering through the curtained windows.
Princess Alix had turned to the door which gave on the deck.
"If they have won," she said suddenly in a low voice, "why have theynot come here?"
I shook my head. "They do not want the saloon. They want other things,"said I. "They want the strongrooms."
"Then are they----?" she began.
"I cannot tell," said I. "I will go out."
"No," she said imperatively. "Wait." Of a sudden a voice was raised ina scream from the farther end of the corridor. "It is Mademoiselle,"said she, with a little frown. "She is impatient of my return. I mustgo back."
She glided off swiftly, and I stood by the door waiting for somemoments. As she did not return, I opened it softly, and the strong windoff the morning sea took me in the face, refreshing me. I stepped outupon the deck. The sky was as grey as the sea, and the silhouette ofthe spars and funnel was ghost-like. The _Sea Queen_ thundered on hercourse, heeling to the broad wash of the water. As I stood watching, myears alert for any sound that would give me information, I saw a figuredetach itself from the bulwarks and move uncertainly about, and as itdrew near I discovered it was Pye's. His face was of a colour with thegray steel of his revolver, which he held loosely, as if he was notaware he held it.
"Oh, my God!" he said in a hoarse whisper. "Oh, my God! I didn't knowit was like this. Oh, my God!"
"Pye!" I called softly; and he started and dropped his pistol.
"Pick it up, man, and keep silence," I whispered. "Come this way." Itook his arm and stealthily withdrew him into the corridor. "What hashappened?"
He gazed at me wildly. "They've got the ship," he said with a whisper."Oh, I didn't know it would be like this."
I gave him a dose of the brandy which the Princess had brought for me,and it seemed to pull him together. He blinked at me through hisglasses, and eyed me with some terror and distrust.
"Do you know how things stand?" I asked.
He shook his head. "The captain's killed," he said falteringly. "Idon't know about the others."
"We've got to find out," I said, and thought. Then, for I saw he wouldbe of little use to me in his present state, I said, "Look here, Pye,I'm going to explore, while you keep this door. Mind you let no one in.We'll bolt it, see."
I did so as I spoke, and turning found the Princess coming down thecorridor. I explained to her the situation, and added that Pye wouldbe placed on guard. She cast a glance at him, and looked at meinquiringly.
"I'm going down to the saloon below," I said. "This set of cabins isisolated, except for the doors at each end to the deck and the doorthat gives on the staircase to the saloon. Can I depend on you to holdout for five minutes? A shout will bring me up at a moment's notice."
"Yes," she said breathlessly.
I opened the second door that admitted to the staircase and glanceddown. No one was visible, and no sound was audible. I turned, noddedreassuringly to the Princess, and descended. The saloon was empty, andthere were no signs of any struggle. I passed along the passage towardsthe officers' quarters, but everything was in order; and finallyretraced my way towards the kitchens, which abutted on the engine-room,but were separated from it by a thick partition of steel and wood. As Iwent, the yacht rolled and sent me against a closed door with a heavybump. From within issued a sound, subdued but unmistakable as that of ahuman voice. I reflected that the mutineers would not be here, for itwas evident that the door was locked, and no mutineer would securehimself in a cabin in the midst of his triumph. I rapped loudly on thedoor and called out:
"It's Phillimore. Who is in here?"
After a pause I heard the bolt go back and the door opened a little,disclosing the face of Lane.
"You, doctor?" he said. "Thank the Lord we're not all done yet." Heflung the door wide, and I could see now that his companion was thehead steward.
"Where's the Prince?" I asked anxiously.
"I don't know," he said, heaving a big sigh. "Thank the Lord there'ssome one else alive. I was forced down the companion and fell. Lost myweapon, too, or I'd 'a' showed more fight. Great Scott, I rolled allthe way down, not before I'd done for one or two, I tell you."
"Well, you're wanted upstairs now," said I, "both of you. We've got theladies on our hands, and we've got to find out where the Prince is. Dayis dead."
Lane whistled. "Poor beggar!" he observed. "But Jackson must stay here.This is our magazine, my boy--where the grub is. If we've got to standa siege we've got to seize the grub-chest. The storage chamber's alonghere."
The advice seemed excellent. "Yes," I answered, "that is true. Well,let Jackson wait here and lie low. He won't be discovered here."
"I dare say the cook's somewhere hidden about here, sir," observedJackson.
"All the better. Find him if you can. And remember that, if we pullthrough, this means a big business for you, Jackson, and cook, too."
"Yes, sir," he assented mildly.
"Now, then, Lane," I went on, and the purser followed me into thesaloon. We mounted the staircase, and I took the chance of closing thedoors at the head that gave access to the deck. Then I rapped on thedoor that gave on the Prince's corridor. It was opened by the Princesseagerly.
"We are two more, Miss Morland," I said cheerfully, "and here is one ofthem."
"But my brother!" she cried out.
"I've not discovered his whereabouts yet," I said evasively.
"Do you think that he's----" She did not finish.
"Not a bit of it," I said, as decidedly as I could, for, to tell thetruth, I had my grave doubts. "I have unearthed Mr. Lane and thesteward. Why shouldn't I unearth Mr. Morland, too?"
Yet, if the others were alive, why was the yacht so quiet?
She sighed, and then looked over at the couch on which Pye sat huddled."That man's no use," she said contemptuously. "He's been doing nothingbut drink brandy."
Lane crossed over to him. "The beggar's drunk," said he in disdain.
"Then you must hold one door and Miss Morland the other," said I.
"But you----" She paused.
"I am going on another expedition. You must let me out and in. Twoknocks will warn you."
So saying, I slipped the bolt and got out on deck. From the appearanceof the sky I judged that it was only half an hour since I had foundmyself in the corridor. It was light enough to make out things fairlywell, and now I could discern on the bridge the portly form of Holgatestruck with this light. The figure of a man was visible a little infront of me by the chart-house. I heard Holgate's voice raised wheezilyin orders, and the replies of the men came back to me inarticulately.As I crouched under the shelter of the cabins on the lee side I becameaware of a faint but continuous line just over the bulwarks, and thenthe explanation of the mysterious silence on the yacht dawned on me. Itwas the coast line, from which we could not be more than a couple ofmiles away, and in the confusion of the fight, no doubt, the _SeaQueen_ had lost her course and been driven inshore. It had, therefore,become imperative for Holgate to devote his attention and theactivities of his men to the danger that threatened, more particularlyas the heavy wind had threshed itself into a gale abeam.
Now at this juncture I must confess that I was entirely at a loss. Icould not move a foot across the deck without being discovered, sinceit was merely the fact that I was in the lee of the cabins and in thedeeper shadows of the dawn that enabled me to skulk where I was. Yet Iwas reluctant to go back without having carried the search a stagefurther. It was obvious from the calm which reigned among the mutineersthat the Prince and his following were either dead or prisoners. Whichhad been their fate? The shadow of the man in front of me, scarcely adozen paces away, turned and stopped and seemed to put his ear to thewoodwork. It must be (I reflected) the chart-house door by which hestood. What was he listening for? Was it possible that some of our menwere shut up in the chart-house? I shuffled a step or two nearer andwatched him. He was fully armed, for I could make out a weapon in hishand, and he had something by his side, probably a cutlass. It wasprobable that he was placed guard over the prisoners. I drew two stepscloser still. Holgate's voice still painfully dominated the wind andwater, and I ventured yet a pace nearer. Did he turn now the man mustsee me, for I was in the gray light of the dawn, a deeper shadow thanthe wooden walls by which I lurked. My hands twitched, and I almostseemed to have sprung before I did spring. Then I knew I was on hisback and had a leg twisted about his legs. He fell heavily, and Ithrust a hand across his mouth. He struggled hard, writhing upon thedeck under the weight of my body like a snake, and a choking sputterissued from his throat. Hastily I dragged a handkerchief from my pocketand pushed it into his mouth. The struggling increased. I glanced upand found that we had fallen under the door of the chart-house; also inthat same glance I observed that the key was in it. No doubt it hadbeen turned on the outside. I reached up a hand, but missed the key bya few inches. The endeavour had loosened my hold of my prisoner, and Iwas flung against the door with a thud; but I hurled myself upon himagain just in time to prevent him from withdrawing the gag. In thestruggle which ensued I managed to push him a little closer under thedoor, and then, with a desperate effort, stretched out and turned thekey. I was fumbling for the handle when the man once again evicted mefrom the possession of his body, and I fell in a heap, jamming thedoor, which opened outwards. But on that I was aware that my back wasbeing jarred and scored, and the next instant I was tumbled over at thefoot of the mutineer, who had got on his legs at last. The door wasthrust open with a noise, and men issued from it, stepping over mybody.
"It is I--Phillimore," I gasped. "Run for the cabins."
Some one helped me to my feet, and I saw the mutineer drop with a swordpoint through him; and then we ran, I between two of the others, one ofwhom I was conscious was Ellison. A shout sailed down to us from thebridge, and there was the noise of a revolver shot, but luckily itmissed us, and we gained the companion-way in safety, locked and barredthe door, and knocked on the entrance to the corridor. Lane opened it.
"His Royal Highness, by gum!" he cried excitedly, and for the firsttime I was able to recognise my companions. The Prince was there, safeand scathless, and with him Barraclough, Ellison, and a fourth man, whowas Grant.
Princess Alix rushed on her brother, and was taken to his arms. Hekissed her affectionately.
"Yvonne?" he said.
"She is safe," said the Princess, withdrawing herself. "She it safe,dear, but frightened."
She spoke in German, and he nodded.
"Ah, she would be frightened. It is no woman's work this, Alix. We mustbe tender with her."
"We have done our best," she replied, I thought a little coldly; and atthat a door down the corridor opened, and Mademoiselle herselfappeared.
"Frederic!" she cried ecstatically, and hastened towards us withgraceful movements. "Ah, Frederic, it is cruel to leave me so. I wish Iwere back in Paris. Oh, _mon Dieu!_ what a voyage, what a ship!"
As they embraced I turned my head away, for this reunion of lovers wasno sight for public eyes, and as I did so I swept the Princess in myvision. Her face had fallen dead and chill, and I thought that a littlecurl of her lips betrayed some impatience with these demonstrations.Meanwhile Barraclough was narrating in his deliberate way theadventures of the party; but I cut him short, only asking one question:
"Where is Legrand?"
"They took him up and carried him forward, but I couldn't say if hewere dead."
"We have no time to lose," I said. "They may attack at any moment, andwe have too much space to defend for comfort."
"Why, we can manage this well enough," said he easily.
"And be starved," said I. "No; we must keep the access to the saloonand the kitchens, and that means precautions. Look at the windowsthrough which we may be approached."
"Dr. Phillimore is right," said the Prince in his deep voice. "We mustguard the windows."
"We must close them," said I. "Grant, you can use tools. Ellison, youand Grant do what you can. There is plenty of woodwork to drawon--doors and trappings in the cabins. The portholes are useless to themutineers, but they can enter by the skylights or the windows. Theymust be all barred. We are in a state of siege."
"You hear your orders," said the Prince in his imperious voice. "Thedoctor speaks sense. See that it is done."
Barraclough and Lane and the Prince himself were left on guard, and therest of us sallied down to hunt for tools and timber to carry out thisprimitive fortification. In this we had the assistance of the steward,Jackson, and the cook, who had been discovered in one of his pantries.The work took us a full hour or more, but at last it was decentlyaccomplished. The windows of the saloon and music-room that gave on thedeck were shuttered, as also the windows of the cabins. Nothing but theskylights remained unprotected, and these we could trust ourselves toguard. I reckoned that we were in a position to stand a siegeindefinitely, unless something untoward occurred. The fortificationscompleted, we stationed our guards, two in the corridor, two in thesaloon, and sat down at last, wearied out with the fatigue of thatabominable night.