The Boy Chums in the Gulf of Mexico

by Carol Norton

  CHAPTER X.

  A RASH RESOLVE.

  THE boys watched Manuel closely throughout the entire afternoon, butthey could detect nothing amiss in his manner or actions. He didhis work willingly and cheerfully, humming a tune most of the time,apparently he was at peace with himself and the world.

  They were not the only ones who watched the Greek closely. Whenever thelads glanced at the handsome sailor, they found him gazing intently atthe suspected man, much as a cat watches a mouse, ready to spring atits slightest movement.

  The boys kept well apart from the crew, watchful for any threatenedoutbreak on their part. But the men seemed so cheerful, willing andcontented that they soon grew ashamed of their distrust.

  Once the handsome sailor approached them respectfully, hat in hand,and, halting before them, spoke rapidly in a low voice. The lads shooktheir heads to show that they did not understand, and, with a look ofhelpless resignation on his face, the fellow returned to his work.

  "I wish we could understand what he says," Charley said, wistfully."He, evidently, has something important he wishes to tell us."

  "We will be able to make out what he says before long," Walter said,cheerfully. "We are learning lots of new words every day."

  "Yes, we are getting along pretty well," his chum agreed, "but weare not picking up the language near as well as Chris. It's reallywonderful how fast he is learning."

  The little negro and the Greek boy had become great friends and Chris,naturally quick witted, was learning with astonishing rapidity to talkto his new chum.

  "It's the best day we've had yet," Charley declared as they returnedto the schooner in the evening. "We have got as many sponges thisafternoon as we have during any entire day."

  Captain Westfield was elated over their success. "It's turned out allright after all," he said. "We've stumbled upon a mighty rich part ofthe banks, an' I reckon, we ain't lost the fleet either, as we feared,thar's some twenty sails coming up from the South'ard."

  The vessels, which the boys had not noticed before, were approachingrapidly, coming before the stiff breeze. Before dark settled down, theywere plainly visible but the eager watchers could not recognize anyof them, they seemed larger schooners than any they had seen in thefleet. The strangers anchored for the night near the "Beauty" and thecaptain got out his night glass and studied them carefully.

  "They ain't any of the fleet," he declared with keen disappointment."They're Spanish smacks from Cuba. They fish around this coastregularly every season."

  "Well, they'll be some company, anyway, as long as they stay near us,"Charley said, cheerfully. "I can speak Spanish if I can't Greek, we cango over and call on them in the morning. I'd like to go to-night, but Ifeel too tired out to move."

  Soon after supper, Manuel approached Captain Westfield, respectfully.

  "We would like to go aboard the schooners, if you will permit," herequested. "We are nearly out of tobacco and the Cubans always carry alot for which we can trade."

  The old sailor thought for a few minutes. "You can go," he said,shortly, "you an' one man. Take the dingy. I don't want the diving boatused. An' be sure you're back aboard early."

  The Greek thanked him effusively for the permission, and, calling oneof his shipmates, the two got the schooner's little boat over the sideand sculled away for the nearest smack.

  "They have got plenty of tobacco," growled the captain, as soon as thetwo were out of hearing. "Thar was enough sent aboard at Tarpon to lastthem for months. I reckon he's figuring on deserting, that's why I lethim go. I'd be willing to lose the boat and the other man to be wellrid of him."

  It seemed that the old sailor was correct for when eight o'clock cameManuel had not returned.

  "After what happened last night, I don't reckon it's wise to leave thedeck alone," the captain said as the boys prepared to retire to theirbunks. "One of us had ought to keep watch to see that no one monkeyswith the wheel or compass."

  Walter offered to take the first watch from eight to twelve, and,leaving him pacing back and forth aft of the mainmast, the othersretired to rest.

  Charley was awakened by a vigorous shaking and his chum's voice callingto him to get up.

  "My watch so soon," grumbled the lad sleepily, "Seems like I just gotto sleep."

  "It's only eleven o'clock," said Walter in excited tones, "but Manuelcame aboard an hour ago very drunk. He must have brought liquor withhim for they are all raising merry Ned in the forecastle now. Thecaptain and Chris are on deck. Hurry up, there's likely to be troubleany minute."

  Charley slipped hastily into his clothing and securing his revolverran on deck. His three companions with revolvers in their hands wereranged across the deck just aft of the mainmast. From the forecastle,forward, came an uproar of shouting, cursing, and fighting.

  The old sailor was blaming himself, bitterly. "I'd ought to havethought of it," he exclaimed, "Auguident is cheap as water in Cuba an'those smacks always carry a lot of it to trade off for other things.What an old fool I was."

  "What shall we do?" Charley asked.

  "Nothing, but let 'em fight it out amongst themselves an' keep 'emfrom crowding aft on us. Our lives wouldn't be worth a pinch of snuffif we went down to quiet them. If any of 'em tries to come aft of themainmast, shoot him."

  The words were hardly out of his mouth when a figure burst out of theforecastle and came running aft followed by several others staggering,shouting and cursing.

  The captain raised his pistol and took deliberate aim as the flying mandrew near.

  "Stop, or I'll shoot," he commanded.

  Charley knocked aside his upraised arm. "Let him pass," he cried, "it'sthe strange sailor, they have been trying to kill him."

  The handsome fellow was bleeding from a dozen knife wounds, and wasbreathing short and heavily. As he reached the little party of chums,he turned about and faced his pursuers. It was evident that he did notlack courage.

  The pursuing Greeks stopped short at sight of the little band stretchedacross the deck with leveled revolvers. For a minute they seemed aboutto dash forward regardless of consequences, but, after a moment'shesitation, with a volley of curses they turned and slunk back to theforecastle. They were yet sober enough to realize the danger of openmutiny.

  "I don't think they'll try to bother us," said the captain with a sighof relief. "They ain't drunk enough for that yet, an' I reckon they'veabout drank up all their liquor by now. It wouldn't last long amongstso many of them."

  The strange sailor had sunk to the deck in a dead faint, and, leavingthe boys to guard the deck, the Captain and Chris carried him below,and, laying him in one of the bunks, hurried back to their companions.

  "He ain't going to die," the old sailor informed them. "He's just weakfrom loss of blood. I didn't take time to look him over close, but Icounted nineteen knife cuts on his body an' likely thar's some I didn'tnotice."

  "We will have to keep him back aft with us. They would likely killhim if we sent him back to the forecastle, for he is unable to defendhimself now," Charley said, and his chums agreed with him.

  The uproar in the forecastle continued for a long time then graduallysubsided. Evidently, the crew had disposed of the last of the liquorand its effects were slowly wearing off.

  Not until four o'clock, however, did the last noise cease, and thelittle party of chums remained on deck until the sun rose, ready forany violence from the drunken Greeks. Daylight found them pale andtired from their long, anxious vigil.

  "Better go below, lads, and have a good nap," the captain advised."They have all quieted down and there is no danger of trouble for thepresent. They are going to feel mighty sick and weak from the drink."

  "I'm not going to give them a chance to sleep off their bad feelings,"declared Charley, grimly. "My crew have got to turn to and work asusual. I'm going to turn them out as soon as Ben awakes."

  When the little Greek lad appeared, looking pale and frightened,Charley sent him below to rouse Manuel.

  The lad, appare
ntly, did not relish the task but he went, and, after along time, reappeared accompanied by the Greek.

  Manuel plainly showed the effects of the liquor. He looked sick andhaggard and one eye was much discolored from a blow he had received. Hewas ready, however, with an excuse for the night's disorder. "I did mybest to stop the noise and trouble, and it was thus I received a blowin the eye."

  "You were drunk when you came aboard," accused Walter.

  "I took a drink on the schooner," admitted Manuel, "only one littledrink. It was foolish, for I am unused to liquor and it went to mylegs, but my head was clear. I regret the disorder of the others."

  There was no doubt in the minds of the captain and the boys that he wasreally the author of all the trouble, but they could not prove it andCharley dismissed him with a curt command to call the crew.

  They were a sick-looking crowd when they were at last collected ondeck. All showed the effect of the liquor and many were the blackeyes and bruised faces. Their fighting humor seemed to have departed,however, and they went about their tasks quietly, sullenly, andlistlessly.

  After they had finished their morning coffee, Charley ordered his crewinto the diving boat and set out for the spot where they had found somany sponges.