by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER VIII
A NOTABLE EXPEDITION
The position of the Chateaugay was accurately laid down on the chartfifty miles to the westward of Spears Hill, which is about thegeographical centre of the Bermuda Islands. Captain Chantor had invitedhis two passengers to his cabin for a conference in relation to theproposed enterprise, after the observations had been worked up at noon,on the fourth day after the departure from New York.
"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, if you will indicate the precise point at which youdesire to put off in your boat, I will have the ship there at the timeyou require," said the captain, who had drawn a rough sketch of theislands, and dotted upon it the points he mentioned in his statement.
"Of course you do not wish the ship to be seen from the islands,"suggested the detective.
"Certainly not; for if the Dornoch is in port at St. George's that wouldbe warning her to avoid us in coming out, and she might escape bystanding off to the northward," replied the commander. "Besides, theremight be fishing-craft or other small vessels off the island that wouldreport the ship if she were seen. It is not advisable to go any nearerto the islands till after dark. We will show no lights as we approachyour destination."
"How near Gibbs Hill light can you go with safety in the darkness,Captain?" asked Mr. Gilfleur.
"I should not care to go nearer than ten miles; we could not be seenfrom the shore at that distance, but we might be seen by some smallcraft."
"That will do very well; and if you will make a point ten milessouth-west of Gibbs Hills light, I shall be exactly suited," added thedetective, as he made a small cross on the sketch near the place wherehe desired to embark in the boat.
The conference was finished, and the two passengers went on deck toinspect the craft which was to convey them to the islands. By order ofthe commander the carpenter had overhauled the boat and made suchrepairs as were needed. Every open seam had been calked, and a heavycoat of paint had been put upon it. The sailmaker had attended to thejib and mainsail, and everything was in excellent condition for the tripto the shore.
"Is this the same boat that you used when you were in the Bermudas, Mr.Gilfleur?" asked Christy, as they were examining the work which had beendone on the craft, its spars and sails.
"Oh, no; it was six years ago that I spent the winter in the islands. Ifound this boat under a shed on a wharf in New York. It had been pickedup near the Great Abaco in the Bahama Islands by a three-master, on hervoyage from the West Indies," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "When I had formedmy plan of operations in the vicinity of Nassau, in order to obtain theinformation the government desired, I bought this boat. When picked up,the boat had her spars, sails, oars, water-breakers, and other articlescarefully stowed away on board of her; and it appeared as though she hadbroken adrift from her moorings, or had been carried away by a risingtide from some beach where those in charge of her had landed. I happenedto find the captain of the vessel that brought the boat to New York; andhe made me pay roundly for her, so that he got well rewarded for histrouble in picking it up."
The Chateaugay stood due south till six o'clock at little more than halfspeed, and when she came about her dead reckoning indicated that she wasseventy-five miles to the south-west of Gibbs Hill light. The weatherwas very favorable for the proposed enterprise, with a moderate breezefrom the west. Mr. Gilfleur did not wish to leave the ship till aftermidnight, for all he desired was to get inside the outer reefs beforedaylight. The speed of the ship was regulated to carry out this idea.
The light so frequently mentioned in the conference is three hundred andsixty-two feet above the sea level, for it is built on the highest pointof land in the south of the Bermudas, and could be seen at a distance ofthirty miles. At three bells in the first watch the light was reportedby the lookout, and the speed was reduced somewhat.
About this time the detective came out of his stateroom, and enteredthat of Christy. He had smeared his face with a brownish tint, whichmade him look as though he had been long exposed to the sun of thetropics. He was dressed in a suit of coarse material, though it was notthe garb of a sailor. He had used the scissors on his long blackmustache, and given it a snarly and unkempt appearance. Christy wouldnot have known him if he had met him on shore.
"You look like another man," said he, laughing.
"A French detective has to learn the art of disguising himself; in fact,he has to be an actor. Perhaps you will not be willing to believe it,but I have played small parts at the Theatre Francais for over a year,more to learn the actor's art of making himself up than because I hadany histrionic aspirations. I have worked up a case in the capacity ofan old man of eighty years of age," the detective explained. "When Irecovered the property of your father, stolen at Havre, I played thepart of a dandy, and won the confidence of the stewardess, though I camevery near having to fight a duel with the _voleur_ who was her 'pal' inthe robbery."
"Of course it will not do for me to wear my lieutenant's uniform,"suggested Christy.
"Not unless you wish to have your head broken by the crews of theblockade-runners you will find at St. George's," replied the Frenchmansignificantly.
"I have some old clothes in my valise," added the lieutenant.
"I don't like the idea of putting you in a humiliating position, Mr.Passford, but I have not told you all my plans."
"I will take any position you assign to me, for I am now to be avolunteer in your service."
"I intend to represent myself as a French gentleman of wealth, who haspassed the winter in the Bahama Islands in search of health, and foundit in abundance," said Mr. Gilfleur, with a pleasant smile on his face,as though he really enjoyed the business in which he was at presentengaged.
"Have you ever been in the Bahamas?" asked Christy.
"All through them, including Nassau. If I had not, I should not havebrought that boat with me. I made a trip in an English steamer from theBermudas, which had occasion to visit nearly all the islands; and Ipassed about two months of my stay in this region on that cruise,"replied the detective.
"But how far is it from the Bermudas to the nearest point in theBahamas? Will people believe that we came even from the Great Abaco inan open boat?" inquired Christy. "What is the distance?"
"I estimate it at about seven hundred and fifty miles. That is nothingfor a boat like mine, though I should not care to undertake it in thehurricane season," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "By the way, we must borrowsome charts of this region from the captain, though only to keep upappearances."
"You have not told me in what character I am to be your companion,"suggested Christy.
"As my servant, if you do not rebel at the humiliation of such aposition, though I promise to treat you very kindly, and with all properconsideration," laughed the Frenchman.
"I have not the slightest objection to the character; and I willendeavor to discharge my duties with humility and deference," respondedthe lieutenant in the same vein.
"Now let me see what sort of a suit you have for your part," added thedetective.
Christy took from his valise a suit he had worn as a subordinate officerwhen he was engaged in the capture of the Teaser. It was approved by hiscompanion, and he dressed himself in this garb.
"But you have been bleached out by your long stay at Bonnydale, and yourcomplexion needs a little improvement," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he went tohis room for his tints.
On his return he gave to the face of the officer the same sun-brownedhue he had imparted to his own. While he was so employed, he explainedthat the tint was a fast color under ordinary circumstances, and in whatmanner it could be easily removed, though it would wear off in about aweek.
"Now, you need only a little touching up," continued the detective, whenhe had completed the dyeing process. "You will be amazed at the changeproduced in the expression of a person by a few touches of paintskilfully applied," and he proceeded to make the alteration proposed.
When he had finished his work, Christy looked in the glass, and declaredthat he should hardly know h
imself. The preparations were completed, andthe French gentleman and his servant were ready to embark. But it wasonly eleven o'clock, and both of them turned in for a nap of a couple ofhours. The captain had retired early in the evening, and thequartermaster conning the wheel was steering for the light, theChateaugay making not more than six knots an hour.
At one o'clock the commander was called, in accordance with his order tothe officer of the watch. He went on deck at once, had the log slatebrought to him, and made some calculations, which resulted in an orderto ring two bells, which meant "Stop her." Then he went to the ward roomhimself, and knocked at the doors of his two passengers. Mr. Gilfleurand Christy sprang from their berths, and the two doors were opened atonce. No toilet was necessary, for both of them had lain down with theirclothes on.
"Pray, who might you be?" demanded the captain, laughing heartily whenthe detective showed himself in his new visage and dress. "Can youinform me what has become of Mr. Gilfleur?"
"He has stepped out for a couple of days, and Monsieur Rubempre hastaken his place," replied the detective.
"And who is this gentleman?" asked Captain Chantor, turning to his otherpassenger, who was quite as much changed in appearance.
"Contrary to his usual custom, he does not claim to be a gentleman justnow. This is Christophe, my servant, employed as such only for a coupleof days," answered Monsieur Rubempre.
"All right, Mr. Rubumper! Three bells have just been struck, and thewatch are putting your boat into the water," continued the commander."I have directed the steward to fill your breaker with water, and put asmall supply of provisions into the craft. We shall be ready for you inabout half an hour."
"We are all ready at this moment," replied Monsieur Rubempre; for bothof the passengers had agreed to call each other by their assumed namesat once, so as to get accustomed to them, and thus avoid committingthemselves in any moment of excitement.
The detective came out of his room with a valise in his hand, which hehad packed with extreme care, so that nothing should be found in it, incase of accident, to compromise him. He had superintended the placing ofChristy's clothing in one of his valises. He objected to the initials,"C. P.," worked on his linen; but the owner had no other, and thedifficulty was compromised by writing the name of "Christophe Poireau"on a number of pieces of paper and cards, and attaching a tag with thisname upon it to the handle.
Both of them put on plain overcoats, and went on deck, where the boat,which had the name of Eleuthera painted on the stern, had already beencommitted to the waves.