CHAPTER X
BARBARA TAKES CONTROL
The sun was rising and the mist rolled back from the lagoon. The tidewas low and _Arcturus'_ rusty side rose high above the smooth greenwater. Damp weed hung from the beams in her poop cabin and a dull lightcame down through the broken glass. A sailor, kneeling on the slimyplanks, tried to force a corroded ring-bolt from its niche; anothertrimmed a smoky lantern. Lister, Brown and Montgomery waited. In thehalf-light, their faces looked gray and worn. The sun had given them adull pallor, and on the West African coast nobody sleeps much.
After a few minutes the sailor opened the swollen trap-door and thenwent down, Brown carrying the lantern. As a rule a ship's lazaret is asmall, dark strong-room, used for stowing liquor and articles of value._Arcturus_ was wet and smelt of salt. A row of shelves crossed thebulkhead and some water lay in the angle where the slanted floor met theside sheathing. A thin jacket and an officer's peaked cap were in thewater. Brown indicated the objects.
"Looks as if somebody had stripped before he got to work, and then leftwithout bothering about his clothes," he said. "I don't know if Iexpected this, but we'll examine the thing later." He lifted the lanternand the flickering beam touched five or six small, thick boxes. "Well,there's some of the gold!"
Lister seized a box and tried to lift it up, but stopped.
"It feels like gold," he said and signed to a sailor. "Help me get thestuff on deck, Watson."
They carried the boxes up the ladder and Brown brought the cap andjacket.
"Second-mate's clothes," he said, indicating the bands round the cuffsand cap. The imitation gold-lace had gone green but clung to the rottenmaterial.
"Something in the pocket," he added and taking out a small wet book putit in the sun. "We'll look at this again, and now for the first box! Imay want you to state you saw me break the seals."
Sitting in the shade of the poop, they opened the box, which was filledwith fine dull-yellow grains. Then Lister sent a man to the boat forsome things he had brought, and when the fellow came back hung a smallsteel cup from a spring-balance.
"The scale's pretty accurate; I use it on board," he said. "Well, I gotthe specific gravity of gold, zinc and copper from my pocket-tables, andmade a few experiments with some bearing metals. They're all brasses;alloys of copper and zinc, with a little lead and tin in some. I weighedand measured two or three small ingots and afterwards calculated whatthey'd weigh, if their cubic size was the capacity of the cup. I'll giveyou the figures."
He did so and then filled the cup with the yellow grains and held up thebalance. Montgomery, leaning forward, looked over his shoulder.
"Weighs more than your heaviest bearing metal! It's gold!" he exclaimedhoarsely.
"Yes," said Lister, "it's obviously gold. Perhaps we needn't open theother boxes. When we get on board well weigh them against this lot. Sofar as I can reckon after heaving them up the ladder, well not find muchdifference."
Montgomery sat down, as if he were too limp to stand. "But these are notall the boxes that were shipped--"
Brown went for the pocket-book he had put to dry and took out somepapers. "This thing belonged to Gordon Herries, second officer."
"Mr. Herries?" exclaimed the sailor Watson. "The second-mate as wasdrowned when the surf-boat capsized!"
"What do you know about it?" Brown asked.
"I know something, sir," said Watson, but Montgomery stopped him andturned to the others.
"It seems the second mate tried to _save_ the stuff."
"Looks like that," Brown agreed and signed to the sailor. "Now tell usall you do know."
"We was lying in Forcados river, shifting cargo to the Lagos boatalongside. Barret, my townie, was on board her; he'd made a run in_Arcturus_, and told me about the wreck. When she struck, Mr. Herriesswung out number two surf-boat and Barret was her bowman. He went to thelazaret with Herries and they got up some bags of special gum and someheavy boxes. Barret thought they were gold, but hadn't seen them put onboard. Then a big comber hit the poop, smashed the skylights, andflooded the lazaret. They reckoned she was going over and had somebother to get out. Well, they got the surf-boat off her side; she waspretty full with a load of Kroo boys and three or four white men. In thesurf, the steering oar broke, she yawed across a sea, and turned out thelot. Some held on to her, but she rolled over and Barret made for thebeach. They all landed but Mr. Herries; Barret thought the boat hit him.Gum and boxes went down in the surf."
"Very good," said Brown. "Now get off and send somebody to help heavethe boxes on board."
Montgomery turned his head and leaned against the poop. Lister saw hetrembled as if the reaction from the strain was keen. After a fewmoments he braced himself.
"It's done with! I think all the boxes held gold, but they're gone."
Brown indicated the cloud of spray that tossed above the advancing linesof foam. The long rollers had crashed on the bar from the beginning andwould never stop.
"All the surf gets it keeps," he said. "If there is a secret, I reckonthe secret's safe! However, we have to talk about something else. Youcan get us some native boys?"
"I'll send you a fresh gang. If my new agent arrives soon, I'll go withyou as far as Sierra Leone. Since you're short-handed, I might perhapshelp, and I've had enough of the factory."
The others agreed and soon afterwards got to work. When the negroesMontgomery sent arrived all the cargo worth salving was re-stowed, andhe bought the hulk for a floating store. Then, one night when the moonand tide were full, _Terrier_ steamed slowly across the lagoon. Twomassive ropes trailed across her stern and _Arcturus'_ high dark bowtowered above her phosphorescent wake. The land breeze blew behind herand the surf had not the fury the sea breeze gives by day, but when_Terrier_ plunged into the turmoil Brown watched the tow ropes withanxious eyes.
_Arcturus_ rolled and sheered about, putting a horrible strain on thehawsers, and sometimes for a minute or two it looked as if she wentastern. Flame blew from the tug's funnel, lighting the black trail ofsmoke; steam roared at her escape-pipe, and the engines throbbed hard.The ebb tide, however, was beginning to run and helped her across theshoals. The leadsman got deeper water, the rollers got smooth, andpresently the swell was long and regular and the spray cloud meltedastern. In the morning, a faint dark line to starboard was all thatindicated the African coast. Next day Brown steered for the land andcalled Montgomery to the bridge.
"I reckon to make an anchorage before dark," he said. "We'll give theboys the rest they need and send _Terrier_ to _Sar_ Leone for coal.Learmont will land you."
"Then you're not going to take _Arcturus_ into port?" Montgomeryremarked with some surprise.
"I am not. Cartwright expects me to save him as much as possible andthere are British officers and Board of Trade rules at _Sar_ Leone. Youdon't imagine they'd let me start for Las Palmas? Surveys, reports,repairs and sending for another tug, might cost two or three thousandpounds. Then half my crew are sick and some are helpless, though Ireckon they'll pick up sooner at sea than in an African hospital."
"It's a big risk. After all, I owe you much and know something aboutcuring malarial fever. Besides, I'm a yachtsman and can steer and usethe lead. If you'll take me, I'll go all the way. However, you ought tosend Lister off. He can't hold out."
"He claims he can," Brown said dryly. "We have argued about his going toGrand Canary by a mail-boat, but he's obstinate. Means to finish thejob; that's his sort! Anyhow, it's possible the Trade breeze will bracehim up, and if he did go, the chances of my taking _Arcturus_ toLiverpool are not good."
Montgomery stayed on board and when the tug returned with coal they hoveanchor and began the long run to Las Palmas. For a time, Lister kept theengines going and superintended the pump on board the wreck, but hecould not sleep and in the morning it was hard to drag himself from hisbunk and start another laborious day. The strain was horrible and he wasweakening fast, but it would be cooler soon and perhaps he might holdout until they met the invigorating Northeast br
eeze.
In the meantime, Cartwright went back to Liverpool, Mrs. Cartwright gotbetter, and Barbara waited for news. She had refused Lister, but torefuse had cost her more than she had thought. After a time Cartwrightwrote and stated that the tug and Arcturus had started home. No freshnews arrived and Barbara tried to hide her suspense, until one morning asmall African liner steamed into port. Some passengers landed and whenthey lunched at the hotel one talked about his going off with the firstofficer to a ship that signaled for help.
"It was a moving picture," he said. "The rusty, weed-coated steamerrolling on the blue combers, and the little, battered tug, holding herhead-to-sea. The breeze was strong and for some days they had not madethree knots an hour. Well, I know something about fever, but they were_all sick;_ the engineer delirious and very weak--"
Barbara, sitting near the passenger, made an effort for calm. Her heartbeat and her breath came fast. Nobody remarked her abrupt movement andthe other went on:
"Coal, food and fresh water were running out; their medicine chest wasempty. Everything was foul with soot, coal-dust and salt. I expect itwas long since they were able to clean decks. The skipper was in ahammock under the bridge-awning and could not get up. An African trader,Montgomery of a Liverpool house, seemed to have control. His skin wasyellow, like a mulatto's."
A young American doctor to whom Barbara had been talking looked up.
"Jaundice after malaria!" he remarked. "I don't know West Africa, but Iwas at Panama! Was malaria all the rest had got?"
"It was not," the passenger replied meaningly. "However, if you knowPanama--"
"Did you try to tow the ship?" Barbara interrupted.
"The mate thought it impossible. She was big and foul with weed, ourboat is small, and we could not delay much because of the mails. We senta surf-boat across with water and food, and then steamed on."
Barbara looked about the table. Mrs. Cartwright was at the other end andBarbara thought she had not heard. She touched the young doctor.
"Will you help me on board the African steamer? I must see the captain."
"Why, certainly! We'll look for a boat," the other replied and they wentoff.
Barbara saw the captain and when she stated that the owner of _Arcturus_was her step-father he sent for the chief mate, who narrated his visitto the wreck.
"You took the ship's doctor," said Barbara. "Is he now on board?"
The mate said he imagined the doctor had not landed and Barbara turnedto Wheeler.
"Go and find him! Find out all you can!"
For some time afterwards she talked to the ship's officers, and whenWheeler returned went back to her boat. While the _peons_ rowed them tothe mole she asked Wheeler for his pocket-book and wrote an address.
"Don Luis Sarmiento is the best doctor in the town and had something todo with a fever hospital in Cuba," she said. "If you tell him I sentyou, he will help. Take all the medicine he can give you and then go toLeopard Trading Company and buy whatever you think sick men would need.Bring me the bills."
"If I get all that would be useful, it will cost you high," said Wheelerand helped her up the steps at the mole.
"That is not important. Get the things!"
"Very well. But the ship is six hundred miles off. How are you going toput the truck on board?"
"I'm going to see about that next," Barbara replied and indicated acloud of dust rolling along the road. "There's the steam tram. Don'ttalk; hustle!"
Wheeler lifted his cap and running along the mole jumped on board thetram.
When he had gone Barbara went to the office of an important Englishmerchant house and asked for the junior partner. She was strangely calm,although she knew that when the strain was over she would pay. In themeantime, she needed help and admitted it was lucky young men liked her;she had not hesitated to use her charm on the American. The juniorpartner was keen to help, and going with her to a coaling office,offered to charter a powerful Spanish tug the company had recentlybought. The manager agreed and Barbara made a calculation.
"If you can get the boat ready to sail in the morning, I'll send you acheck when she starts," she said.
They went out and the merchant gave Barbara an approving smile. "Iimagine they haven't at the moment much use for the tug, which accountsfor their being willing to take a moderate sum. All the same, youhandled the situation like a good business man. Had they known muchabout your plans before we agreed, they would have sent the tug andclaimed a large reward for salvage. In fact, it looks as if you hadsaved Mr. Cartwright--"
"It's possible," Barbara broke in impatiently. "Still they don't knowwhere _Arcturus_ is and that her crew are ill. Now, however, we mustengage fresh men to relieve the others. I don't mind if you pay themsomething over the usual rate."
The merchant engaged the crew of a Spanish fishing schooner that wasbeing laid up, and Barbara returning to the hotel found Wheeler in thegarden.
"I've got all the medicine and truck I reckon would be useful," he said."If the steamboat man didn't exaggerate, you want a doctor next."
Barbara gave him a level glance and smiled. "If you like, you may go! Afast tug sails in the morning."
"Why," he said, "I'd be delighted! You can call it fixed. I came alongfor a holiday, but soon found that loafing made me tired--"
"Thank you," said Barbara and was gone.
The doctor laughed and joining an English friend in the hotel ordered adrink.
"I reckon I've been rushed," he remarked. "You folks look slow, but Iallow when you do get started some of you can move. Since lunch I'vebeen helping an English girl fix some things and she hit a pace thatleft me out of breath."
"Miss Hyslop?" said the other. "Perhaps if she'd had a job for me Imight have used an effort to get up speed. A charming girl, and I thinkshe's resolute."
"She's surely resolute!" Wheeler agreed. "Miss Hyslop sees where shewants to go and gets there by the shortest road."
When dusk fell Barbara thought all was ready and sitting down by Mrs.Cartwright narrated what she had done. After she stopped Mrs. Cartwrightput her hand gently on the girl's arm.
"It's lucky you came out with me," she said. "I would not have knownwhat to do, and I doubt if Mortimer--"
Barbara laughed. "Mortimer would have calculated, weighed one thingagainst another, and studied his plans for a week. Mine are rude, but inthe morning they'll begin to work. After all, in a sense, I have notdone much. I have sent others, when I want to go myself."
"It's impossible, my dear," said Mrs. Cartwright, firmly.
"Well, I expect I must be resigned. One is forced to pay for breakingrules! I have paid; but we'll talk about something else."
"The tug and supplies have, no doubt, cost much," Mrs. Cartwrightremarked. "You must let me give you a check."
"No," said Barbara in a resolute voice. "I will take no money untilmine's all gone. Father's a dear, I owe him much, and now I can help I'mgoing to help. I have sent a cablegram he had better come out but in themeantime he needn't be anxious because I have taken control."
Mrs. Cartwright let her go presently and Barbara went to her room. Shehad borne a heavy strain, but the reaction had begun, and throwingherself on a couch she covered her face with her hands and cried.
CHAPTER XI
LISTER'S REWARD
Signal flags fluttered in the breeze at the top of the Isleta and asmoke cloud stained the blue horizon. For a few minutes the cloudvanished, and then rolled up again, thicker than before. Cartwrightstudied it carefully and gave the glasses to Barbara, who stood near himon the Catalina mole.
"Is that _one_ trail of smoke?" he asked.
"I think I see two. Sometimes they melt, but they're getting distinctnow. There _are_ two!"
"Ah!" said Cartwright. "Then it's _Arcturus_. I expect your tug hassaved the situation."
"Lister saved _Arcturus_ before I meddled," Barbara declared with ablush. "However, I'm glad I could help. You have often helped me."
Cartwright's eyes twinkled. "All
I gave I have got back, but I'm notpersuaded you didn't mean to help another. Well, perhaps, the otherdeserves your interest. Brown's a useful man, but he has some drawbacksand I doubt if he could have carried through the undertaking."
"If you'll wait in the shade, I'll get a jacket," Barbara replied."There's a fresh breeze, the launch splashes, and I'm going with you tomeet _Arcturus_."
When the first flag blew out from the Isleta staff, she had calledCartwright, and they had hurried to the neighboring mole. Cartwright hadarrived two days before and they had watched the signals until thelonged for message came: _Steamer in tow from the South._
"I think you'll wait," said Cartwright quietly. "You don't know muchabout fever and the men I sent are not altogether making a triumphantreturn."
The blood came to Barbara's skin. She had meant to go and hated to bebaffled, but Cartwright gave her a steady glance and she knew there wasno use in arguing when he looked like that.
"Did you or your mother tell me Mrs. Seaton arrived by a recent boat?"he resumed.
Barbara was surprised, but said Mrs. Seaton was at the Metropole.Cartwright looked at the tugs' smoke.
"Then, I ought to have time to see her before they tow _Arcturus_ in.Some sea is running and they can't steam fast."
He started for the Catalina and when he stopped by Mrs. Cartwright'schair his face was hot and he trembled. Hurry and muscular effort upsethim, but time was valuable.
"I have not yet asked you for money, Clara," he said.
"That is so," Mrs. Cartwright agreed. "Sometimes I was hurt because youdid not. You ought to know all that's mine is yours."
Cartwright smiled. "You are a good sort and I'm going to borrow nowbecause I can pay back. I want you to telegraph your bank to meet mycheck."
"I'll write you a check."
"No," said Cartwright, "I think the other plan is better. Well, the sumis rather large--"
He stated the sum and Mrs. Cartwright said, "I'm not very curious, butwhy do you want the money?"
"I'm going to buy Mrs. Seaton's shares."
"Ah," said Mrs. Cartwright with a disturbed look, "she tried to forceyou to buy before."
Cartwright knew his placid, good-humored wife hated Mrs. Seaton.
"You're puzzled?" he remarked. "Well, I'd have bought the shares longsince, but I wasn't rich enough and didn't think my borrowing wasjustified. All the same, the block she holds gives her a dangerouspower, and if I can get them I'll baffle the opposition at the company'smeeting. But I must be quick."
"If you want to baffle Ellen Seaton, you can use all the money I havegot!" Mrs. Cartwright declared. "Tell me what I must telegraph thebank."
Cartwright did so and made for the Metropole as fast as possible,because the tugs' smoke was not far off. When he reached the big squarehotel he gave a page his card and frowned while he waited in theglass-roofed patio. Time was valuable and he hoped Mrs. Seaton would notbe long. On the whole, he did not think he was going to be shabby, butperhaps shabbiness was justified. Ellen had not forgotten she hadthought him her lover, and although it was long since she would notforget. She hated his wife and had tried to injure him. Cartwrightimagined she would try again, and so long as she kept her shares herantagonism was dangerous.
She entered the patio with two young tourists, whom she sent off, andbeckoned Cartwright to a bench behind a palm. The sun that pierced theglass roof was strong and he reflected with dry amusement that Ellenlooked better by electric light in the evening. Although she smiled, herglance was keen and not friendly.
"I arrived some days since and met Barbara in the street, but she hasnot been to see me yet," she said. "However, now you have come I oughtto be satisfied! Since you were able to get away from the office, Iexpect shipping is languid."
Cartwright thought she meant to be nasty. For one thing, Barbara had notgone to see her and perhaps had not urged her calling at the hotel.Ellen did not like the girl, but she wanted to know people and Mrs.Cartwright had stopped at Las Palmas for some time. As a rule, Clara'sfriends were good. This, however, was not important. He must buy Ellen'sshares before _Arcturus_ arrived and the news of her salvage got about.
"Oh, well," he said, "although I think I see signs of improvement,things are not very promising yet."
"If you are not hopeful, the outlook must be black," Mrs. Seatonremarked meaningly. "Perhaps I ought to sympathize, but the effort's toomuch. My investments have all gone wrong and my luck at the GrandNational was remarkably bad. In fact, if nobody will buy my shares inyour line, I may be forced to agree with the people who want to wind upthe company."
Cartwright thought his luck was good. Ellen was extravagant and agambler. No doubt, she needed money, but he knew she was willing to hurthim and could do so. All the same, if she could force him to buy theshares she thought worth nothing, her greed would conquer herspitefulness. Well, he was going to indulge her.
"If you did join my antagonists, I might pull through, but I'll admit itwould be awkward," he replied. "In order to avoid the fight, I'll buyyour shares for ten shillings."
Mrs. Seaton hesitated. She did not want to lose her power, but shewanted money. Nominally, the shares were worth a much larger sum, butshe had found out that nobody else was willing to buy the block. For allthat, Cartwright was cunning and she wondered whether he knew somethingshe did not. She asked for a higher price, but Cartwright refused. Hewas cool and humorous, although he knew _Arcturus_ was steadily nearingthe harbor. Perhaps in a few minutes the look-out on the Isleta wouldread her flags. At length he pulled out his watch.
"I have an engagement, but I rather want the shares. My getting themwould help me at the meeting," he said. "Shall we say twelve-and-sixpence?This is the limit."
"Very well," said Mrs. Seaton and smiled with a sense of triumph. "Itlooks very greedy, but when can I have a check? You see, I'm nearlybankrupt."
"Now," said Cartwright, and taking out his fountain pen, rang a bell."Send a page for some notepaper and write an undertaking to deliver methe shares."
Mrs. Seaton did so and Cartwright wrote the check. Then she signed toone of the young men she had sent off. "Since you are verybusiness-like, you had better have a witness! I'm relieved to get thecheck, particularly since I expected you would be forced to ask Clarafor the money."
Cartwright had to smile. The sneer was Ellen's Parthian shot. She wasretiring from the field, but he owned that she might have beaten him bya bold attack and he had been afraid.
He went to the bar and ordered a drink, and then going out saw freshsignals blow from the Isleta staff. _Arcturus'_ hull was visible in thetugs' thick smoke; the look-out on the hill with his big telescope hadread her flags and was signaling her name and number to the town.Cartwright had won by a few minutes and was satisfied, although he hadgiven Mrs. Seaton twelve-and-sixpence for her shares, when perhaps heneed not. This was now about their just value, and, for old time's sake,he had not meant to cheat her. In the meantime a launch was waiting totake him on board _Arcturus_ and he hurried to the mole.
Barbara saw the launch start, with mixed emotions. She was something ofa rebel and had anybody but Cartwright ordered her to stop she would nothave obeyed. She waited in the shade, fixing her eyes on the laboringtugs. Sometimes she felt a thrill of triumph because Lister hadconquered; sometimes she was tortured by suspense. She did not know ifhe stood at the levers in the engine-room, or lay, unconscious, in hisbunk. Well, she would soon know and she shrank.
She rubbed the glasses and looked again. There were two towropes;_Terrier_ plunged across the rollers on _Arcturus'_ starboard bow, theSpanish tug to port. It looked as if the wreck's steering-gear did notwork. Spray blew about the boats and the crested seas broke in foamingturmoil against the towed vessel's side until she drew in behind theIsleta. A few minutes afterwards she swung round the mole and Barbarathought the picture moving.
The tugs looked very small; the half-loaded hull they towed to ananchorage floated high above her proper water-line. Rolling on thelanguid swell at t
he harbor mouth, she looked huge. Her rusty side waslike a warehouse wall. When she lifted her plates from the water one sawthe wet weed shine; higher up it clung, parched and dry, to the rediron, although there were clean belts where the stuff was scraped away.Barbara pictured the exhausted men scraping feebly when the sea was calmand the sun did not touch the vessel's side.
All the same, the men had won a triumph. It looked impossible that thehandful of bemused ruffians she had seen start at Liverpool could havedragged the big vessel from the bottom of the lagoon, but the thing wasdone. _Arcturus_, battered and rusty, with sagging masts and brokenfunnel, was coming into harbor. A big pump throbbed on board, throwingwater down her side; she flew a small, bright red ensign aft and a newhouse-flag at the masthead. Barbara thought the flag flaunted proudlyand the thing was significant. Cartwright had weathered the storm, butshe had helped.
The tugs' engines stopped and Barbara's heart beat, for a yellow flagwent up. She hated the ominous signal, and turning the glasses, followedthe doctor's launch. The boat ran alongside _Terrier_, a man went onboard, returned and climbed a ladder to _Arcturus'_ deck. He did notcome back for some time and Barbara looked for Lister, but could not seehim. Then the yellow flag was hauled down and _Arcturus_ moved slowly upthe harbor.
A fleet of shore-boats followed and when the anchor dropped crowdedabout the ship. Barbara braced herself and waited. Half the voyage wasover and when the engines were cleaned and mended _Arcturus_ would steamto England. The salvors had won, but sometimes victory cost much, andBarbara knew she might have to pay.
A launch with an awning steamed to the mole and vanished behind thewall. Barbara stopped in the shade; somehow she durst not go to thesteps. Cartwright came up, but seeing his grave look, she let him pass.Then the American doctor reached the top and called to somebody below.Three or four men awkwardly lifted a stretcher to the pavement, andCartwright signed to the driver of a carriage waiting in the road.Wheeler stopped him.
"It's not far. Carrying will be smoother."
"Very well, I'll see all's ready," said Cartwright and got into thecarriage.
Then Barbara went to the stretcher, which was covered by green canvas.She thought she knew who lay behind the screens, and her look wasstrained.
"Is Mr. Lister very ill?" she asked.
Wheeler gave her a sympathetic glance. "He is pretty sick; he was nearlyall in when I boarded the ship. Now it's possible he'll get better."
Barbara turned her head, but after a few moments looked up. "Thank youfor going! Where are the others?"
"We have sent some to the Spanish hospital, landed them at the coalingwharf. They're not very sick. The rest are on board."
"_All_ the rest?"
"Three short," said the doctor quietly. "They have made their lastvoyage. But the boys are waiting to get off with the stretcher."
Barbara let him go and followed. He looked very tired and she did notwant to talk. She saw the stretcher carried up the hotel steps and alonga passage, and then went to her room. A Spanish doctor and nurse werewaiting and she knew she would be sent away. To feel she could not helpwas hard, but she tried to be resigned and stopped in the quiet room,listening for steps. Somebody might bring a message that Lister wantedher.
The message did not come and she was conscious of some relief, althoughshe was tormented by regretful thoughts. Lister loved her and she hadrefused him, because she was proud. Perhaps her refusal was justified,but she was honest, and admitted that she had known he would not let hergo, and had afterwards wondered how she would reply when he asked heragain. Now she knew. The strain had broken her resolution. She hadindulged her ridiculous pride and saw it might cost her much. Her loverwas very ill; Wheeler doubted if he would get better.
In the evening Montgomery joined Cartwright in a corner of thesmoking-room.
"I expect Captain Brown told you about the bother I gave him," heremarked.
"That is so," said Cartwright. "He, however, stated you gave him somehelp."
"All the same, at the beginning, I held up the job. When Brown could notwork, your expenses ran on and I feel I ought to pay."
"It's just. Coming home, when my men were sick and Brown was in hisbunk, you undertook the duties of doctor and navigator, and Wheeleradmits your cures were good. Since you have a counter-claim, suppose wesay we're quits?"
Montgomery felt some relief. It looked as if Cartwright did not mean touse his advantage; the old fellow was generous. Montgomery hesitated fora moment and then resumed: "I understand you bought the wreck?"
"I used the shareholders' money; at all events, I used as much as Idurst. She's the company's ship."
"But the cargo?"
"The cargo's mine. That is, I get an allowance, agreed upon with theunderwriters for all I have salved. I rather think the sum will belarge."
"Then you're satisfied? Although you didn't get all the gold and lostthe valuable gum in the lazaret?"
Cartwright's eyes twinkled. "I've some grounds for satisfaction, and Iknow when to stop! But perhaps I'd better be as frank as is needful.Very well! I get salvage on some of the gold. The rest is under the surfand nobody will open the boxes now. The thing's done with."
Montgomery was moved, but he saw there was no more to be said and askedquietly: "Will you tell me what you think about the prospects of theline?"
"On the whole, I imagine the prospects are good. We have got a usefulboat for a very small sum, and the last report was _Oreana_ couldprobably be floated without much damage when the St. Lawrence icebreaks. Well, I calculate next year's trading will earn us a smalldividend, and since business is improving, we ought to prosper beforevery long."
"Thank you," said Montgomery. "I know something about the line andimagine the directors may need support. Just now I have some money thatdoes not earn much. Would it help if I bought a number of your shares?"
"I think not," said Cartwright. "The plan has drawbacks. People aresometimes uncharitable and I have antagonists who might hint at a bribe.Besides, I don't need support. My luck has turned and I rather think Ican break the opposition." He smiled and getting up, put his hand onMontgomery's arm. "All the same, when I send a boat to Africa you canload her up. Now I'm going to find the nurse and ask about Lister."
Lister was delirious, and for two or three days the doctors doubted hisrecovery. Then, one morning, they said his temperature had fallen andthere was hope. Next morning they admitted that he was slowly makingprogress. Barbara did not leave the hotel, lest she miss the latest newsfrom the sick-room. She was not allowed to go in, and when evening cameshe knew she could not sleep. She had not slept much since they carriedLister up the steps.
When all was quiet and the guests had gone to bed she went to theveranda and leaned against the rails. She was highly strung andrebellious. Lister had sent her a message, but she was not allowed tosee him yet. She wanted to see him and was persuaded that for him to seeher would not hurt. She knew he wanted her.
The moon was bright, but the shadow of the hotel stretched across thegarden. Somebody was moving about in the gloom and Barbara started whenshe saw it was the nurse. The tired woman had gone out to rest for a fewminutes in the cool night air and Barbara saw her opportunity.
Stealing across the veranda, she went along a passage and up somestairs. The landing at the top was dark, but she knew Lister's door, andturning the handle quietly, looked in. Bright moonlight shone throughthe open window and a curtain moved in the gentle breeze. Mosquito gauzewavered about the bed where a quiet figure lay. Barbara stole across thefloor and pulled back the guard. The rings rattled and Lister opened hiseyes. He smiled, and Barbara, kneeling by the bed, put her arm round hisneck.
"My dear! You know me?"
"Of course! I wanted you. Since I got my senses back, I've tried to callyou."
"You called not long since. I cheated the nurse and came; but if youought to be quiet, I mustn't talk. The doctors said--"
"They don't understand," said Lister. "Now I have seen you, I'm going toget
well."
Barbara lifted her head and studied him. His face was pinched, his skinwas very white and wet. Her eyes filled and she was moved by tenderpity.
"Oh, my dear!" she said. "It was for my sake you went!"
Lister took her hand, and she felt his was thin and hot. "I'm paid forall! But, Barbara, I think you're _logical_ When I'm better--?"
She kissed him. "Of course. I'll marry you when you like. In themeantime you're weak and tired and must go to sleep."
"I am tired," he admitted. "Besides, the nurse will come."
Barbara gently touched his wet hair and moved his pillow. "The nurse isnot important, but you mustn't talk."
She gave him her hand again and he went to sleep. Some time afterwardsthe nurse returned and started when she saw the white figure kneeling bythe bed. Then she began to talk angrily in a low voice. Barbara wasgetting cramped, but without moving her body, she looked at the nurseand her eyes sparkled with rebellious fire.
"Be quiet; he mustn't wake!" she said. "There's no use in arguing. Imean to stay!"
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends