Jack Harkaway and His Son's Escape from the Brigands of Greece
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE VILLA AGAIN--A MESSAGE FROM THE ENEMY'S CAMP--HOW A SNAREWAS LAID.
Harvey carried his project into execution, and went off, leaving Mrs.Harvey and Mrs. Harkaway under the impression that he was going aboutthe vessel, and making preparations generally for their departure.
They were one and all anxious to be gone from the place, which was forevermore associated in their minds with the mishaps of the last fewdays.
When Harvey had been absent forty-eight hours, they grew anxious.
But on the morning of the third day, Nabley the detective came with amessage from Dick.
He had met him by appointment and brought news.
There was something in Nabley's face which made Harkaway anxious to seehim alone.
"Now tell me, Nabley," he said, eagerly, "tell me all. How is Harvey?What does he say of the boys? What is he doing? Has he any plan ofaction decided?"
"Gently, Mr. Harkaway, gently," said the detective; "you overpower me."
"Oh, Nabley, I say--"
"There, there! don't be impatient. I'll give it all out as fast as everI can."
"I don't want all," interrupted Jack Harkaway, passionately. "How aremy boys? Answer that. Are they safe? No, no! I read it in your face."
And then he dropped heavily into a chair, looking the picture of miseryand despair.
Nabley had scarcely a word to say for himself.
The sight of the brave Harkaway so utterly collapsed was more than hecould endure.
Jack rallied a little and turned again to Nabley.
"Well, quick, tell me the news."
And then, as Nabley still stammered, he went on--
"I know; save your breath. I knew it; poor boys! poor Harry and my poorbrave boy Jack."
"Dirk Harvey bids you keep your courage up," said Nabley; "not to bedowncast. It is quite time enough to be down upon our luck when we findout that the worst is true. The boys may yet live."
"No, no," cried Jack; "I fear my poor boys are no more."
"Let us hope they still live, but meanwhile, Mr. Harvey has treated thebrigands as though the worst was true."
"How?"
Nabley made a significant gesture with his right arm as though stabbingviolently at some unseen enemy.
"What, the brave Dick seeking and taking revenge?" exclaimed Jack.
"Yes. Two of the Greek brigands have fallen by his hand. The rest willfollow, be sure of that; and, moreover, they never suspect whose handhas dealt the blow."
"Not suspect!"
"No, his game has been and will continue to be picking them off insingle file. He meets one of them alone, and Harvey makes sure of himby his own strong right arm."
"Oh, brave Harvey," said Jack.
"Yes," said Nabley, "it is revenge. An eye for an eye, a tooth for atooth; and I for one should like to see the whole gang food for kitesand wolves."
"You have suffered in losing your old comrade," said Harkaway; "judge,then, if you so keenly feel the loss of a friend, what must I feel formy boy--my own flesh and blood."
"Yes," said Nabley; "I have suffered, but I will yet have a bitterrevenge on my poor pal's murderers. He was to me a brave and truefriend. Poor Pike! he was foully assassinated."
"Yes, Nabley; he was cowardly shot by the villain Toro. But do thebrigands know who is now taking revenge on them?"
"Yes; it is told them in black and white. A paper fixed to each carrioncarcase tells that this is another proof of Harkaway's vengeance."
Jack's face flushed crimson at these words.
"Well done, Dick; well done, brave old boy," he muttered; "well done!".
"And he tells me that they are in a rare state about it in the camp. Ithas thrown all the lot of them into the greatest consternation. Hunstonhas grown very unpopular. It needs very little upon Harvey's part tomake sure of him."
"That's brave."
"Now he's growing ambitious. One at a time no longer satisfies him, sohe has a scheme for bagging half-a-dozen of the brigands at once."
"How?"
"You know the spot that the boys christened the fig-tree grove."
"I do."
"He pretends to have intercepted a letter (when he "stole" the moneyand jewels I took him by way of keeping up appearances), which informshim that one of your party--a Mr. Hardy, or Harpy, he pretended--wouldbe passing through the fig-tree grove this evening, with money, on ajourney of some importance. As this Hardy or Harpy is a dangerousperson, the brigands, on Harvey's advice, are to send six of their bestmen on the business."
Harkaway's eyes twinkled again at this.
"Now," said Nabley, "we must bait the trap well. I'll be the bait."
"You?"
"Yes."
"But why should you have so dangerous a post?"
"I prefer it," said Nabley, quietly; "besides, although alone, I shallhave some staunch and valuable friends with me."
"You speak in paradoxes, Mr. Nabley."
The detective's reply to this was to draw his two hands from hiscoat-pockets, and in each hand there was a six-shooter.
"Here are twelve lives," said the detective, "and I've six more inhere," tapping his breast.
"You're a regular arsenal," said Harkaway, smiling. "But supposing,when you raise your hands, they close upon you and ransack yourpockets."
"I have no need to withdraw my hands to use them. I fire through thepockets."
They must have been made with something of this intention, for theywere cut in the side seams of the coat which were exceedingly roomy.
"Well, well," said Harkaway, jumping up, "when do we get to work?"
"Now."
"Now?"
"There are no preparations to make, Let Mr. Jefferson be sent for. Bothof you get your arms ready, and follow me."
"Good. What arms?"
"Short axe, in case of close work, and rifle each. You'll be more thana match for six Greeks. Besides," he added, with a significant smile,"I shall not be idle."
"Well, well; away with you," cried Jack; "I am all eagerness to be atwork. I shall be quite another man when I have had a brush with thesebeasts."
"Right, sir," cried the detective; "they will find a powerful foe inyou."
"Yes, Nabley," cried Jack, "my arm is nerved for this fight, and itshall go hard with me, but I will have my revenge on those Greek devilsfor the murder of my poor boys."
The door opened and Jefferson entered.
"The very man!" exclaimed Harkaway.
"What, Nabley!" said Jefferson. "What news of Harvey?"
"Mr. Harkaway will tell you all," answered the detective; "my time'sup. Follow me as quickly as you can."
"Off with you," said Harkaway, growing quite excited at the prospect ofa brush with the enemy.
"The fig-tree grove," said Nabley.
"Understood."
And off went the detective.
"Jefferson," said Jack, "I am now about seeking my foes, and fear notbut I will render a good account of my actions, for against thebrigands I feel the strength of a giant."