The Ocean Cat's Paw: The Story of a Strange Cruise

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER FIFTY.

  THE DOCTOR WILL NOT BELIEVE.

  It was about a fortnight later, during which time, in deliciously calmweather, the two vessels had been cruising here and there, to the greatsatisfaction of the doctor, who was in a high state of delight, for hehad been harvesting, as he termed it--bottling, Joe Cross said--numberless specimens of the strange creatures that swarm upon thesurface of the southern Atlantic. And as they had got out so far, thedoctor had been sounding Captain Chubb as to the possibility andadvisability of making for that strange volcanic island known asTrinidad--not the richly verdant island of the same name that seems asif it had been once a portion of the north-east shoulder ofleg-of-mutton-like South America, but the solitary island right awaysouth-east from Bahia, which stands lonely in the ocean, the remains ofthe great volcanic eminence swept by the terrific seas and tempests thatcome up from the South Polar Ocean--an island that is the habitat ofstrange sea-birds, the haunt of fish, and the home and empire of thosemost hideous of the crustaceans, the land crabs.

  Captain Chubb grunted and said he would think about it and consult thechart. As for the brig, Rodd did not banter Morny upon the subject whenhe came aboard, as he did pretty well every day when Rodd and his unclehad not visited the brig; but it was a standing joke between the lad andUncle Paul that King Dagobert had not sighted the sea-serpent as yet.

  "And it's my belief, Pickle, that they are going the wrong way to work."

  "Why, what would you do, then, uncle?"

  "Well, I'll tell you, my boy. He's a very shy bird, and if he knows youare looking for him he won't show. If you and I take up the search Itell you what we'll do; we won't look for him; we'll let him look forus."

  "According to that, then, uncle, we are more likely to find him thanthey are."

  "Of course, my boy. Why, haven't we proved it?"

  They were down in the laboratory, where Joe Cross had been helping themover the bottling, but he had gone up on deck, the day's task beingover, and the skipper now came down, looked and snorted at the freshregiment of bottles, and made some remark about the doctor seeming outof spirits. But he did not mean it for a joke. Captain Chubb never didjoke, for he was one of those men who pass their lives looking out forsqualls, and his allusion was to the emptiness of the doctor's set ofkegs.

  "Well, it doesn't matter," said the doctor. "Sit down and let's talk.I have got quite as many preparations in spirits as will last me foryears. By the way, did you think any more about Trinidad?"

  "Deal," said the skipper shortly, and he gave the fixed table a rap witha roll of paper which he had brought down tucked under his arm. "Here'sthe chart."

  "Well?" said the doctor, wincing, as the skipper unrolled the map on thedresser-like table, and catching up first one specimen bottle and thenanother used them as paper-weights to keep the chart flat, while hebegan to operate with his big rough, brown, index finger.

  "Here y'are," he said, "and its character written about it: currents,shoals, stormy seas, all kinds of dangers. Bad landing-place; veryrocky--place if you go to you ought to stop away."

  "Sounds hopeful; eh, Pickle?"

  "Oh, but curious, uncle. I should like to go."

  "Well, then, you won't," said the skipper gruffly, "because your uncle'stoo wise to tell me to risk the schooner in such a sea."

  "Humph!" grunted the doctor.

  "I'll obey your orders, sir, and sail anywhere," continued the skipper,frowning very heavily, "but it's my duty to tell you when you are goingwrong."

  "Of course," said the doctor, "and as you give the place such a badcharacter, captain, we'll disappoint Rodd and stay away."

  "Right," cried the skipper. Then after drawing a deep breath he lookedfiercely at Rodd, and then glared at the doctor, who opened his eyes alittle, wonderingly.

  "Do you know where you are now?" said the skipper.

  "Well, not exactly, only that we have been on ground rich in objectssuch as I wish to collect, and--excuse me, captain--that bottle--yourelbow. I wouldn't have an accident to that for the world."

  "Well, then," continued the skipper, very gruffly, as he dabbed his bigfinger down in the middle of the chart, "you are here."

  "Saint Helena," said Rodd, after a quick glance at the chart.

  "Right," grunted the skipper. "Now, Dr Robson, am I to speak out, orwill you send young Mr Rodd here up on deck first?"

  The doctor stared.

  "I see no reason for sending my nephew away," he said coldly. "He and Ihave the fullest confidence in one another."

  Rodd, who was standing leaning over the map, moved very slightly, butsomehow his left hand stole on to his uncle's shoulder.

  "Right, then," said the skipper harshly. "It is my duty, Dr Robson, totell you that you are in a false position."

  "Then, Captain Chubb, as my navigator in whom I have the most perfecttrust, it is my duty to tell you that you ought to be on deck sailing usout of it as soon as you can."

  "Come down here on purpose," said the skipper shortly, "and here goes.Now then, doctor, you are such a busy man, and you are so wrapped up inyour fads about natural history and that sort of thing, that anybodyartful could take you in and cheat you as easy as swallowing agooseberry."

  "Well, you have a nice opinion of me, Captain Chubb!"

  "I have, sir--a splendid opinion of you," cried the skipper, "and I'dsay it before all the judges in the land--I mean at home--that there wasnever a more straightforward gentleman made than you. I'd do anythingfor you."

  "Hear, hear! Bravo, Captain Chubb!" cried Rodd. "What about me?"

  "You, youngster? Well, you aren't half a bad 'un as boys go. But lookhere, doctor; time's come for me to speak out. You are a bit tooinnocent."

  "Am I? Well, captain, that's better than being a bit too guilty; eh,Rodd?"

  "A deal, uncle. But what's the matter, captain?"

  "Why, this here, my lad. I can't stand still no longer and see youruncle being made a cat's-paw of."

  "Cat's-paw, eh, captain?" said the doctor. "Let's see, that means tofetch the roasted chestnuts out of the fire. This must apply to you,Master Rodd."

  "To me, uncle?" cried the boy, aghast.

  "Yes; I don't know anybody else whom Captain Chubb looks upon as amonkey."

  "Nay-y-y! I mean that there French Count."

  "Stop!" cried the doctor sternly. "Mind what you are saying, CaptainChubb. Count Des Saix is my friend--a gentleman, a nobleman."

  "I dessay he may be at home," said the skipper, meeting Rodd's indignanteyes, "but he aren't a gentleman, or he wouldn't be making such a toolof you. Now, don't you put yourself in a fury, doctor, or you'll besaying words you'll be sorry for arter. A gentleman like you as thinks,and is scientific too, has no business to go in a passion. That's allvery well for a skipper as has got to manage a lot of awkward sailorchaps; if he didn't use words sometimes there'd be no getting a shipalong. But you have got to take it cool like a Ann Eliza, and hear itright through, and then set yourself down and judge according."

  "But look here, Captain Chubb," said the doctor angrily, "I cannot besilent and let you malign my friend."

  "He aren't your friend, sir; he's only a Frenchman, and though I've donemy duty by him right through, I allers felt as if I couldn't trust him."

  "Why not?" said the doctor hotly.

  "Because he being a natural born enemy of an Englishman, it didn't seemright that he should pretend to be such a friend of yourn."

  "Why not, sir?" cried the doctor warmly.

  "Now, none of that, doctor. I did warn you about not getting put out.Don't you call me, _sir_, 'cause I don't like it."

  "Look here, Captain Chubb," cried the doctor, "I am sure you mean well."

  "Thankye, sir; I do."

  "Then why have you taken this prejudice against the Count?"

  "That's a straight question, sir. Now let me ask you one. What's hedoing here?"

  "Upon some kind of research."

  "Not h
im, sir! That's what he's told you, and it aren't honest. He'scarrying on a game of his own behind you; and the boy's as bad as theold man."

  "How dare you!" flashed out Rodd.

  "Silence, Rodney!"

  "I can't be silent, uncle. I won't stand here and listen to such anoutrageous charge against those two gentlemen. I don't know what hascome to Captain Chubb, but he ought to be made to apologise before heleaves this place."

  "Well, he aren't going to be made to, young pepper-caster," growled thecaptain. "Honest men don't apologise for telling the truth, even if itdon't taste nice."

  "Look here, Chubb," said the doctor, "we are having too many words.Let's have a clear understanding about what you think."

  "Right, sir. Let's get to the bottom of it at once. You want anexplanation. It's this now. I have been very suspicious from thefirst. What about this 'ere Count and his son? First you knowed of 'emwas as they was prisoners at Dartmoor. Well, it sounds bad for a man tobe a prisoner, but as he was took in war that don't count for much, sowe'll let that go. Next thing is, you runs agen 'em at Havre, cuttingtheir cable and running for it when Government gives orders for them tostop. Next thing is, they boards our schooner like a set of pirates,only we seem too many for them; and then they cackles up a cock-and-bullstory about wanting help, when they see they couldn't seize theschooner."

  "Look here, Captain Chubb--" began the doctor.

  "Give me my chance, sir, and let me finish, and then have your say.Help they had, and plenty on it, and I will say that a nicer, moregentlemanly-tongued chap than the Count I never met, nor had to do witha pleasanter nor nicer young fellow than his son."

  "Thank you," said Rodd sarcastically.

  "Now, don't you sneer, youngster," growled the captain, "for it aren'tclever, nor it aren't nice. Well, now, doctor, we all went through adeal all along of these Frenchies, for I don't see how it could havehappened if it hadn't been for them."

  "Why, you took us up the river, captain," cried Rodd indignantly.

  "That's true, sir, but it was to do the best for their leaky brig, and Imade her as good a craft as ever she was; so you needn't chuck that inmy teeth."

  "Be silent, Rodney, and let the captain speak."

  Rodd gave himself a snatch and clenched his fists.

  "Well, sir, to make a long story short, the Count gammoned you intokeeping company with him, and brought you here--here, of all places inthe world--here, to Saint Helena," and he thumped the chart just wherethe island was marked.

  "Yes," said the doctor thoughtfully--"here, to the neighbourhood ofSaint Helena; upon a scientific research."

  "Scientific research!" growled the skipper scornfully. "Look here, sir,don't you be so innocent. You make me wild. What's this 'ere Count? AFrenchman, aren't he?"

  "Well, plenty of clever Frenchmen have followed science," said thedoctor indignantly.

  "Chinese too, sir, though they can't dress like Christians," cried theskipper. "But just you tell me this 'ere, sir; who lives at SaintHelena? Don't old Bony? Him as we shut up like the warlike lunatic heis, to keep him out of mischief?"

  "Well, yes," said the doctor, much more suavely; "there is something inthat."

  "I should think there is, sir! Haven't I heard you carry on dozens oftimes about what a bad 'un he's been to the whole world?"

  "Yes, yes, Chubb; I certainly do entertain strong feelings against thattyrant and usurper."

  "You do, sir. I've heard you say things at times as have soundedred-hot."

  "And I'm not ashamed of them, Captain Chubb," cried the doctor warmly.

  "'Shamed on 'em! Not you, sir! They're a honour to you as an Englishgentleman. Not much of the innocent in you about that."

  "Thank you, Captain Chubb; thank you," said the doctor.

  "Oh, uncle!" cried Rodd, between his teeth.

  "You let your uncle alone, youngster; I aren't done with him yet. Nowthen, doctor, your eyes aren't quite open now, but you are beginning topeep. Now, just have the goodness to tell me what you are a-doing hereat Saint Helena--a place that a gentleman with your sentiments ought tohave kept clear of like pison."

  "Well," cried the doctor, warming up again, "you know I have accompaniedmy friend the Count upon his scientific expedition."

  "Your friend the Count, sir! His scientific expedition!" snarled theskipper. "Do you call old Bony a scientific expedition?"

  "I don't understand you, captain."

  "Then here you have it, sir, plain. Your friend the Count is a Bonyparty, and as the French Government knew what game he was on and triedto stop him from running out of Havre, when he come upon us and foundout what we were doing, `Here's my man,' he says; `I will just creepunder his cloak and carry on my little game to carry off Bony. No onewill suspect me if I am in good company, and on what he calls scientificresearch.' Consekens, here's you, sir, off the island of Saint Helenain co and company with this 'ere Bony party come to carry off and setfree the man of all others you hate most in the world. Now youunderstand what you have come to do."

  "I'll be hanged if I have!" cried the doctor, bringing his fist downwith a tremendous thump upon the table, making one of the bottles leapup, fall over upon its side, and discharge its stopper at Rodd, whofielded it cleverly, though the contents--gelatinous infusoria andspirit of wine--were scattered all over the map.

  "That's spoke like you, sir," cried the skipper; "but you needn't havespoiled my chart."

  "Confound your chart, man! Here, Rodney, you hear all this? Do youthink it's true?"

  "No, uncle, I can't."

  "Neither can I, sir. I cannot. I will not. You, Captain Chubb, youmean well, I know, but--Oh, it's outrageous! That I, Paul Robson, a manof my sentiments, should come to do such a disloyal thing as this--this--this--this treachery against my country and my King! Here,Captain Chubb, are you mad, or--"

  "Drunk, sir? Say it out. I don't mind. It does me good to see youcome to your senses like this. Brayvo, sir! That's the way to takeit."

  "Oh, uncle!" panted Rodd.

  "You let him alone, sir. He's all right," cried the skipper. "I'vestuck the harpoon into him. You give him line, and you'll see we shallhave him in his flurry directly."

  "Stop, man! Where are your proofs?"

  "Yes," cried Rodd, stamping excitedly about the cabin; "where are yourproofs?"

  "Proofs?" said the skipper. "I d'know. Yes, I do. You ask the Countto his face, and his boy with him, whether what I say aren't true."

  "Yes," cried the doctor. "Go on deck, and take that confounded speakingtrumpet of yours. Hail the brig, and ask the Count to come on board."

  "Yes--with his son!" stormed Rodd. "How can I? They went off thisafternoon on some game or another, and haven't been in sight since."

  "Hah!" said the doctor, fanning himself with one hand, wiping his facewith the other, and then shaking his bandanna silk handkerchief up anddown to try and get cool. "There, I am not going to be in a passion,Rodney. I am not going to say angry words to you, Chubb, for youbelieve all this, while I--I--I can't believe it. The Count is toogrand a gentleman to have made a--a--what you said, of me. But I willhave this matter cleared up, and you will have to apologise to me andthe Count."

  "And to Viscount Morny des Saix," cried Rodd.

  "Yes, my boy; exactly," said the doctor; and then to the skipper--"Ifyou are wrong!"

  Saying this, he literally stamped out of the cabin.

  "Where are you going, uncle?" cried Rodd, following.

  "Up on deck, my boy," cried the doctor, without turning his head. "Ifeel like a furnace, and if I speak any more words they'll be like theskipper said--red-hot."

  "Well," said the captain, as he stood staring towards the cabin stairs,"I never see'd the doctor with his monkey up like that afore. Anyhow,he aren't afraid to trust me with his bag of tricks down here, andbottles of mixture. But he needn't have spoiled my chart!"