The Secret of the Reef Read online

  CHAPTER XVIII--BOGUS GOLD

  Cold as it was, Jimmy lay for a long time on the sloop's deck when hehad been stripped of the diving gear. How he had crawled out of the holeand climbed the ladder was not clear to him; he thought that he musthave untangled the line as he fell and have been driven forward by anoverpowering longing for the upper air.

  He found some trouble in explaining to Moran what had happened, for hefelt limp and shaky yet. And he shuddered at the thought of going downagain.

  "When we once get the box out of the hold," he said, "there should be notrouble in swinging it on board."

  Moran smoked out a pipe before he took his turn. When the copper helmetdisappeared, Jimmy got a firm grip on the signal line; and while hewaited he looked about.

  The days were rapidly shortening, and the light was growing dim. Thehorizon seemed to be creeping in on them, obscured by smoky fog, whichstirred and wreathed about as the wind sprang up. Small ripples weresplashing round the sloop, and the swell was steeper.

  "I hope Hank will manage to sling that box," Jimmy said to Bethune, whonodded as he steadily turned the pump.

  "We may get another turn or two, but that will be all. There's a breezebehind the heave that's working in."

  Neither of them said anything further, but waited with what patiencethey could summon until Moran came up.

  "I got the box out of the hold before I was beat; the next man shouldn'thave much trouble in hitching a sling round it," he said, and glancedout to sea as he added significantly: "He'd better get through mightyquick."

  A gust of wind rent the fog, and a long, low mass, shining a dead, coldwhite, appeared in the gap. Then, while the haze streamed back, anotherpale streak showed up on the opposite bow.

  "They're all around us!" Jimmy exclaimed hoarsely.

  The men were not easily daunted, and they had borne enough in the Northto harden them, but the sight was strangely impressive, and theircourage sank. This was a peril with which none of them except Moran hadgrappled; and he had no cause for thinking light of it. The pack-ice wasgathering round the island, hemming them in, and the sloop would becrushed like an eggshell unless she could avoid its grip. Then, to makethings worse, a blast of bitter air whipped the men's anxious faces, andthe sea broke into short, angry ripples.

  "We have got to quit," said Moran despondently. "But I surely want thatbox."

  "You shall have it, if I can get the sling on," Bethune replied. "Helpme on with the dress as quick as you can."

  He flung a hasty glance about. A long raft of ice with ragged edges wasdrifting nearer, and the fog, disturbed by the rising breeze, rolledacross the sea in woolly streamers.

  "It looks as if I had to finish the job this time," he said with a harshlaugh. "I no longer have the cheap hotel to fall back on."

  When he had been down for some time, Jimmy, turning the pump inobedience to the plucking of the signal line, began to wonder when hewould come up. Bethune seemed particular about his air supply, and Jimmysurmised that he found it needful to move the case along the bottom toget a clear lead for the lifting line because the _Cetacea_ had alteredher position. Moran put his hand on the crank when required, but atother times he stood motionless, watching the ice with an imperturbablebrown face. Indeed, Jimmy, as a relief from the tension, began tospeculate about his comrade and wonder what he thought. Though they hadtoiled hard and faced many perils together with mutual respect andconfidence, he felt that he knew very little about the man. Moran'sreserve and stolid serenity were baffling. When strenuous action wasrequired he could be relied upon, but even then he was seldom hurried,and his movements somehow suggested that his splendid frame was endowedwith unreasoning, automatic powers. For all that, Jimmy knew that such aconception of his friend was wrong. He had seen the cool judgment andindomitable courage that controlled the man's strength in time of heavystress.

  All this, however, was not of much consequence. Jimmy fixed his eyesupon the frothing patch of bubbles that broke the troubled surface ofthe swell. It was stationary, and Bethune had already stayed below anunusual time. He was not in difficulties, because when Jimmy jerked theline he got a reassuring signal in reply. It looked as if the manexpected to bring up the case.

  In the meanwhile the ice was driving nearer, propelled by wind and tide,and its low height suggested that it had formed in some shallow bight.If this were so, it might not ground before reaching the sloop. Still,its progress was not rapid, and Jimmy did not think there was any urgentneed to recall Bethune, particularly as he must finish his task orabandon it.

  At last the bubbles began to move back. It was difficult to follow thembecause the swell was streaked with foam, but although they wereoccasionally lost for a few moments, they reappeared. Then the top ofthe ladder swung against the rail and soon the copper helmet rose out ofthe sea. Bethune flung an arm on deck and grasped a cleat, but he seemedto have some difficulty in getting any farther, and they dragged him onboard. His face was livid when they released him, and he lay back on theskylight without speaking for some moments. Then he gasped painfully:

  "The case is slung; I had to move it clear of her. Heave up!"

  They sprang to the line he had brought and hauled it in; Jimmy trying tocontrol his fierce impatience. Care was needed lest the sling get loosein dragging along the sand. At last the line ran perpendicularly down,and they were encouraged by the weight they had to lift. Even Moranshowed excitement as a corner of the box broke the surface. Throwinghimself down, he swung it on board with a powerful heave. Then he andJimmy dropped down limply on the deck and gazed at their treasure. Thebox was thick and bound with heavy iron, the wood waterlogged; but,making allowances for that, it obviously contained a large quantity ofgold. Jimmy felt exultant, but after a time Bethune disturbed hispleasant reflections.

  "Look at the ice!" he exclaimed.

  The floe was bearing down on them, and in the distance, half hidden bythe fog, a taller mass seemed to have stranded on the reef, for thespray was leaping about it and there was a great splash as a heavy blockfell off. Moran glanced at the floe and ran forward. Jimmy joined himand they hurriedly got the chain cable in; then, with Bethune's help,they reefed the mainsail and stowed the folding ladder and pumps below,but they had a struggle to lift the kedge anchor. It seemed to havefouled some waterlogged timber below; but they would not sacrifice it byslipping the warp, because they knew it might be a long time before theycould come back. When they finally broke it out Bethune had alreadyhoisted the mainsail. There was no time to lose, for the fog was gettingthicker in spite of the rising wind, and a glimmering mass of ice hadcrept up threateningly close. Moreover, the light was going and the seagetting up. Hurriedly setting a small jib, they stood out for open sea.

  "Make the best offing you can," directed Jimmy, leaving Moran at thehelm. "I'll get the stove lighted, and after supper we'll open thecase."

  It was nearly twenty-four hours since he had eaten anything and he wasbeginning to feel faint from want of food. Indeed, he had somedifficulty in getting the fire to burn and was conscious of an annoying,slack clumsiness. When the meal was ready he called Bethune down andhanded out Moran's share.

  "I've been extravagant, but we have earned a feast to-night," he saidexultantly.

  They ate hungrily while the water splashed beneath the floorings and thelamp swung at erratic angles as the _Cetacea_ rolled; and Bethune madeno objection when Jimmy afterward lighted his pipe. The case lay againstthe centerboard trunk, but they did not feel impatient to open it. Thiswas a pleasure that would lose nothing by being deferred; they weresatisfied to sit still in the warm cabin and gloat over their success.

  "Strictly speaking, we have no right to break into the thing," Bethunesaid; "and it might perhaps lay us open to suspicion; but I'm afraid Ican't keep my hands off until we get home. Get out the tools, Jimmy."

  Jimmy did so, and then, opening the scuttle, called to Moran.

  "We're going to look inside the box. Is it safe for you to come down?"

 
Moran seemed to make a negative sign, though Jimmy could hardly see him.It had grown dark, and thick fog was driving past the boat, while thespray that beat in through the weather shrouds indicated that she wassailing hard. Dropping back below, Jimmy closed the scuttle and took upa hammer. His fingers shook and he felt his nerves tingle as he drove awedge under the first band.

  "I wish we'd cleaned out the strong-room; but we can come back, and wehave got enough to wipe off our debt and give us a luxurious winter," hesaid happily. "It will be a change to put up at a good hotel--we mighteven make a trip to California; and if Jaques can get somebody to runthe store we will bring him and his wife to town."

  "It's not a very ambitious program," Bethune laughed. "I dare say we cancarry it out; though we don't know yet what our share will come to."

  "I'll stand out for half," declared Jimmy with a determined air. "Infact, we'll make a bargain before we deliver up the stuff."

  Working eagerly, he soon started the band and inserted a chisel under aboard. In a few moments he prized it loose, and thick folds of rottencanvas were exposed.

  "There seems to be a lot of packing," Bethune remarked. "There's a sealhere we'll have to break; but we have smashed one already. Don't wastetime. Rip it open!"

  Jimmy used his knife, and plunged his hand into the case. He wassurprised by the feel of its contents.

  "It seems to be in small ingots," he said.

  "That's curious, because there's no smelter in the country. Slash thewrapping to bits and let's see it!"

  Jimmy did so and then uttered an exclamation as he dropped the object hetook out. It was dark-colored, and fell with a dull thud.

  "It's lead!" he cried.

  Tilting the case in savage anger, Jimmy shook out a number of small graylumps. They scattered about the floorings, and when he gashed one withhis knife the metal cut soft and showed a silvery luster. He dropped theknife and his face grew hard and white. There was tense silence for amoment, and then Jimmy, rousing himself with an effort, flung thescuttle back.

  "Hank!" he called, and his voice was strangely hoarse.

  It seemed that Moran recognized the urgent tone, for they felt by thechange of motion that he was altering the boat's course, but withcharacteristic coolness he neglected no seamanlike precaution. Jimmyheard the jib being hauled aback and the mainsheet got in, and she washove to, rising and falling with an easy lurch, when Moran droppedthrough the scuttle. He stooped over the box, and after a time looked upwith a heavy frown.

  "Some crook has worked off a low-down trick on us!" he said.

  "On the underwriters first, but that's no matter," replied Bethune, whowas struggling against the shock. "Slit one of the bags, Jimmy, andlet's see if it's all the same."

  Jimmy took the bag he had found in the wreck, and when he cut it open afew coarse, yellow grains ran out.

  "That looks all right, but there's not very much of it; and the bag Hankbrought up isn't large," he said gloomily.

  "You want to sew it up before you lose the stuff," advised Moran,sitting down on the box. "Now, if there's anything to be fixed, we hadbetter get it settled. She's carrying all the sail she wants and I can'tleave her long."

  "Are we to go back?" Bethune asked. "We haven't emptied the strong-room,and what we have left behind may be genuine."

  "Can't do it," Moran said grimly. "The way the wind is, the drift icewill be packed solid along the shore to-morrow."

  They sat silent for a while. There was only one thing to be done, butthey shrank from indicating it and owning their defeat. At last Jimmymade a gesture of resignation.

  "Square away; our course is south," he said.

  Moran nodded silently and went up through the scuttle, and Jimmy threwhimself down on the locker while Bethune lighted his pipe. Neither ofthem spoke until they heard a rattle of blocks and the rush of wateralong the lee side showed that the _Cetacea_ had swung round.

  "Our plans for the winter won't materialize," Bethune said; "we'll beglad to put up at a dollar hotel if we're lucky enough to get taken onat a mill. However, we can talk about this to-morrow; I don't feel quiteup to it now."

  After a curt sign of agreement, Jimmy pulled a damp sail over him and,although he had not expected to do so, presently went to sleep.

  When Moran wakened him to take his turn at the helm it was blowing hardand bitterly cold. Settling himself as far as he could in the shelter ofthe coaming, he began his dreary watch. Long, white-topped seas racedafter the sloop, ranging upon her weather quarter, while the spray sheflung aloft beat in heavy showers on Jimmy's slicker. He could scarcelysee her length ahead, and knew that he was running a serious risk ifthere was ice about; but he thought she would not be much safer if hehove her to, and, fixing his eyes on the compass, he let her go.

  After exhausting toil and many hardships, their search had failed, andhe was too jaded and depressed to wonder whether it would ever beresumed. They were going back bankrupt; he could not see how they wereeven to retain possession of the sloop. At the best, they could make nouse of her until the spring. The outlook was black, and what intensifiedthe gloom was that Jimmy now recognized that since Bethune had firstbroached the scheme he had been buoyed up by a faint but stronglyalluring hope. He had not allowed his mind to dwell on it, but it hadhovered in the background, beckoning him on. After all, there had been acertain chance that their project would succeed, and in that case hisshare of the salvage should have been sufficient to set him on his feet.There were many openings in western Canada for a man with energy andmeans enough to give him a start, and Jimmy did not see why he shouldnot prosper. Then when he had begun to make progress he might renew hisacquaintance with Ruth Osborne.

  He had thought of her often, and looking back on their voyage, heventured to believe that he had to some extent won her favor. Herecollected trivial incidents, odd words and glances, which could nothave been altogether without their significance. Could he lift himselfnearer her social level, it was not impossible that he should gain herlove. The thought of this had driven him stubbornly on.

  Now he had failed disastrously. He was going back a ruined man. The besthe could hope for was that by stern self-denial and rough work on thewharves or in the sawmills, he might earn enough to discharge his debtto the storekeeper who had trusted him. Beyond that there was nothing tolook forward to. He must try to forget Ruth.

  Jimmy's heart sank as he sat shivering at the helm while the bitterspray whirled about him and the sloop lurched on through the darkness,chased by foaming seas.