CHAPTER XXVII.
THE RECRUIT WORKS BRAVELY--HARKAWAY's VENGEANCE--"HE NEVERFORGETS A DEBT."
The brigands soon found that they had made an invaluable acquisition intheir new recruit.
The day following his admission into their honorable fraternity, hebrought in an addition to his already handsome booty.
This was in the shape of a lady's reticule, containing a rich prize inmoney, and more jewels.
"I came across my late mistress," said Geoffery Martin in explanation;"she had ventured out of the town with her new maid, and so I fleecedthem royally. I did not leave them a stiver; moreover I secured this."
So saying, he spread out before them a newly-printed placard, which,translated, ran as nearly as possible in this wise--
"FIVE THOUSAND FRANCS REWARD
"Will be paid to the police or to any private person, who will secure,or give such information as may lead to the capture of, one GeoffreyMartin, lately a valet in the service of Mr. John Harkaway."
Then followed a description of his person, walk, and mode of speech.
"The said Geoffrey Martin having absconded with a large sum of money,besides property of great value, it is the duty of every man to aid inbringing him to justice."
He chose a good moment for bringing this paper in. There was a largemuster of the brigands in camp.
"Five thousand francs reward," he said to his newly-made comradesgenerally; "you have only to turn me over to the Harkaways, and you canmake a small fortune."
"You'll only find good men and true here," said Hunston.
Geoffrey Martin turned upon the latter.
"All?"
There was a hidden significance in his tone which thrilled Hunston.
"I am glad that they are all safe, friend; by the way, what is yourname? I haven't heard it yet."
"My name is Hunston, and I'm not ashamed of it."
"No, of course you wouldn't be; so you are Hunston?" he addedreflectively.
"Did you know my name?"
"Yes."
"Indeed. Heard your master speak of me, I suppose?"
"Yes; Harkaway and his friend Harvey."
"Harvey," cried Hunston contemptuously; "a paltry, frivolous fool."
"Yes; wasn't he? You should hear him speak of you."
"There was never any love lost between us," said Hunston moodily; "wehated each other most cordially from boyhood."
"Known him so long?" said Martin.
"We were at school together, and at college together," said Hunston.
"College--phew! then you must have been a swell."
"Well," he said haughtily, "and what of that?"
"Oh, nothing; I was only thinking."
"What were you thinking?"
"Why, if I had half your chance of getting on in life, you would neverhave found me here."
"What do you mean? Are you ashamed of your comrades?"
"No, no, not me," said Martin; "but I should be if I was you. You're aswell, and it's an awful drop for you. I'm only a poor devil--a nobody,and it's a rise in life for me to join your honorable company; give usyour hand."
And then, before he could say yea or nay, the new recruit seizedHunston by the hand and wrung it with real or affected warmth.
Hunston strode moodily away, hanging his head.
This singular individual, Geoffrey Martin, appeared greatly interestedin the fate of the unfortunate boys, young Jack and Harry Girdwood, andhe got Boulgaris to take him to the spot where the crosses had beenerected over the graves by the pious hand of Theodora, the girl who hadunwittingly lured them to the fatal trap.
"So here you have buried them?" said Geoffrey Martin.
"Yes, poor boys," said Boulgaris.
"Poor boys," echoed Martin in surprise, "poor boys."
"Yes, I see no reason for butchering two children, for they were littlemore."
The new brigand eyed the speaker rather curiously.
"Have you any pity to spare for Harkaway's boy?"
"And why not?" said Boulgaris. "True, Harkaway's our enemy, and I hatehim; I'd like to get the upper hand of him; but we don't want to fightboys. Besides, Harkaway is a good sort of enemy; a bold, daring fellow,not a sneak."
"No, that he isn't," said Geoffrey Martin, with warmth.
"I am sure he'd never murder a boy because the boy's father had wrongedhim."
"True."
"Besides, there is something in this Hunston I don't like. We are badenough in all conscience, but this brutal butchery will, perhaps be theruin of our band."
"Why?"
"Well, we were not loved before; but this brutal deed will make usexecrated by the whole country. The government scarcely dare to molestus; they are satisfied at keeping up a show of doing something. ButHarkaway is rich and powerful, I am told; English money and Englishinfluence will force the government to pursue us, and all for what?Why, for murdering two helpless children, who had done us no wrong; whofell into a trap while saving the life of one of us."
Geoffrey Martin opened his eyes in astonishment.
"Is that true?"
"Yes. Didn't you know the story?"
"No."
"It was the daughter of one of our old comrades, that the boys savedwhile sailing. Poor girl! If prayers and tears could move men's hearts,hers should have saved the boys."
Geoffrey Martin coughed and blew his nose loudly.
"Ahem!" he said, staring at Boulgaris. "You are a soft-hearted fellowfor a brigand."
"Not exactly that either," replied Boulgaris, grinning. "I feelincensed at this deed for its brutality, and for exposing all the bandto risks and dangers for the sole purpose of gratifying their revenge."
"Theirs; you mean Hunston's?"
"No; for Toro was interested also in it."
"Toro, Toro," muttered Martin; "why, the name sounds, familiar to me.Of course. They knew this Toro in Italy, I remember. He was one of aband that Harkaway and his friend Harvey exterminated."
"It is true, then, about that band?" said Boulgaris, his eyes flashingeagerly.
"Of course."
"You see, then, from that, what cause we have to dread arousing theenmity of such a man as this Harkaway."
"He is an awkward customer, and that's the fact of it; and I haveheard, my brave Boulgaris, that if Harkaway once says he will haverevenge, he never fails. Now, let's return."
Back they went together, and as they neared the brigands' camp, theyperceived signs of some great commotion.
"What is the matter now?" asked Boulgaris.
"Come with us," replied the first man, "and I will show you."
They silently followed.
Down one of the slopes and then through a narrow pass, and within fiveminutes' run of the brigands' stronghold, they came upon a number oftheir men gathered around a long figure stretched upon the ground andcovered with a cloak.
The brigand who had brought them there silently drew back the cloak,and showed that the figure was the corpse of one of their comrades whohad been on guard there.
"Look, another of our men killed. His death, like the first, has beensudden."
A sure, swift hand had pinned him through the body with a long dagger.
It had pierced his heart, and the point of the blade actually protrudednear his shoulder-blade.
"Look there," cried one of the brigands,
"Where?"
"At the handle."
Fastened to the haft of the dagger was a slip of paper, upon which werethese words--
"_Remember Harkaway never forgets an injury._"
Jack Harkaway and His Son's Escape from the Brigands of Greece Page 28