More Cargoes - W. W. Jacobs

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came to an abrupt termination as his listeners sprang out of their bunks, and bolting on deck, burst wildly into the cabin, and breathlessly reeled off the heads of the letter to its astonished occupants.

      “Stuck a wot in the hold?” gasped the skipper.

      “Infernal machine,” said the mate; “one of them things wot you blow up the 'Ouses of Parliament with.”

      “Wot's the time now?” interrogated Jem anxiously.

      “'Bout ha'-past ten,” said the cook trembling. “Let's give 'em a hail ashore.”

      They leaned over the side, and sent a mighty shout across the water. Most of Lowport had gone to bed, but the windows in the inn were bright, and lights showed in the upper windows of two or three of the cottages.

      Again they shouted in deafening chorus, casting fearful looks behind them, and in the silence a faint answering hail came from the shore. They shouted again like madmen, and then listening intently heard a boat's keel grate on the beach, and then the welcome click of oars in the rowlocks.

      “Make haste,” bawled Dobbs vociferously, as the boat came creeping out of the darkness. “W'y don't you make 'aste?”

      “Wot's the row?” cried a voice from the boat.

      “Gunpowder!” yelled the cook frantically: “there's ten tons of it aboard just going to explode. Hurry up.”

      The sound of the oars ceased and a startled murmur was heard from the boat; then an oar was pulled jerkily.

      “They're putting back,” said Jem suddenly. “I'm going to swim for it. Stand by to pick me up, mates,” he shouted, and lowering himself with a splash into the water struck out strongly towards them. Dobbs, a poor swimmer, after a moment's hesitation, followed his example.

      “I can't swim a stroke,” cried the cook, his teeth chattering.

      The others, who were in the same predicament, leaned over the side, listening. The swimmers were invisible in the darkness, but their progress was easily followed by the noise they made. Jem was the first to be hauled on board, and a minute or two later the listeners on the schooner heard him assisting Dobbs. Then the sounds of strife, of thumps, and wicked words broke on their delighted ears.

      “They're coming back for us,” said the mate, taking a deep breath. “Well done, Jem.”

      The boat came towards them, impelled by powerful strokes, and was soon alongside. The three men tumbled in hurriedly, their fall being modified by the original crew, who were lying crouched up in the bottom of the boat. Jem and Dobbs gave way with hearty goodwill, and the doomed ship receded into the darkness. A little knot of people had gathered on the shore, and, receiving the tidings, became anxious for the safety of their town. It was felt that the windows, at least, were in imminent peril, and messengers were hastily sent round to have them opened.

      Still the deserted Susan Jane made no sign. Twelve o'clock struck from the little church at the back of the town, and she was still intact.

      “Something's gone wrong,” said an old fisherman with a bad way of putting things. “Now's the time for somebody to go and tow her out to sea.”

      There was no response.

      “To save Lowport,” said the speaker feelingly. “If I was only twenty years younger——”

      “It's old men's work,” said a voice.

      The skipper, straining his eyes through the gloom in the direction of his craft, said nothing. He began to think that she had escaped after all.

      Two o'clock struck and the crowd began to disperse. Some of the bolder inhabitants who were fidgety about draughts closed their windows, and children who had been routed out of their beds to take a nocturnal walk inland were led slowly back, By three o'clock the danger was felt to be over, and day broke and revealed the forlorn Susan Jane still riding at anchor.

      “I'm going aboard,” said the skipper suddenly; “who's coming with me?”

      Jem and the mate and the town-policeman volunteered, and, borrowing the boat which had served them before, pulled swiftly out to their vessel and, taking the hatches off with unusual gentleness, commenced their search. It was nervous work at first, but they became inured to it, and, moreover, a certain suspicion, slight at first, but increasing in intensity as the search proceeded, gave them some sense of security. Later still they began to eye each other shamefacedly.

      “I don't believe there's anything there,” said the policeman, sitting down and laughing boisterously: “that boy's been making a fool of you.”

      “That's about the size of it,” groaned the mate. “We'll be the laughing-stock o' the town.”

      The skipper, who was standing with his back towards him, said nothing; but, peering about, stooped suddenly, and, with a sharp exclamation, picked up something from behind a damaged case.

      “I've got it,” he yelled suddenly; “stand clear!”

      He scrambled hastily on deck, and, holding his find at arm's length, with his head averted, flung it far into the water. A loud cheer from a couple of boats which were watching greeted his action, and a distant response came from the shore.

      “Was that a infernal machine?” whispered the bewildered Jem to the mate. “Why, it looked to me just like one o' them tins o' corned beef.”

      The mate shook his head at him and glanced at the constable, who was gazing longingly over the side. “Well, I've 'eard of people being killed by them sometimes,” he said with a grin.

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      Mr. Boom, late of the mercantile marine, had the last word, but only by the cowardly expedient of getting out of earshot of his daughter first, and then hurling it at her with a voice trained to compete with hurricanes. Miss Boom avoided a complete defeat by leaning forward with her head on one side in the attitude of an eager but unsuccessful listener, a pose which she abandoned for one of innocent joy when her sire, having been deluded into twice repeating his remarks, was fain to relieve his overstrained muscles by a fit of violent coughing.

      “I b'lieve she heard it all along,” said Mr. Boom sourly, as he continued his way down the winding lane to the little harbour below. “The only way to live at peace with wimmen is to always be at sea; then they make a fuss of you when you come home—if you don't stay too long, that is.”

      He reached the quay, with its few tiny cottages and brown nets spread about to dry in the sun, and walking up and down, grumbling, regarded with a jaundiced eye a few small smacks, which lay in the harbour, and two or three crusted amphibians lounging aimlessly about.

      “Mornin', Mr. Boom,” said a stalwart youth in sea-boots, appearing suddenly over the edge of the quay from his boat.

      “Mornin', Dick,” said Mr. Boom affably; “just goin' off?”

      “'Bout an hour's time,” said the other; “Miss Boom well, sir?”

      “She's a' right,” said Mr. Boom; “me an' her 've just had a few words. She picked up something off the floor what she said was a cake o' mud off my heel. Said she wouldn't have it,” continued Mr. Boom, his voice rising. “My own floor too. Swep' it up off the floor with a dustpan and brush, and held it in front of me to look at.”

      Dick Tarrell gave a grunt which might mean anything—Mr. Boom took it for sympathy.

      “I called her old maid,” he said with gusto; “'you're a fidgety old maid,' I said. You should ha' seen her look. Do you know what I think, Dick?”

      “Not exactly,” said Tarrell cautiously.

      “I

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