Fighting Byng: A Novel of Mystery, Intrigue and Adventure

by A. Stone

  CHAPTER XX

  Rehashed departmental reports become mere braggadocio when the humaninterest is lacking.

  I had written perhaps one of the most vital chapters in Americanhistory. So far as the department is concerned it will remain unsung.My reward is in knowing I did it.

  Its direct results were the taking over of ships, needed more thanmoney, and the appointment of a custodian of alien enemy property toconfiscate hundreds of millions of dollars' worth, expelling the Hunand his kin from our frontiers and our industrial life for all time.Though Howard was well past want, I felt for him. I suspected he waseven affluent again--you can't keep such a man from making money, evenon the barren Keys. I felt sorry for his wife, Norma Byng. Little Jimhad wound herself about me as had her wonderful father who satsilently in the cabin of his boat looking wistfully at me. Maybe itwas because he made me her godfather and called her little Jim I feltthat the child was partly mine.

  Howard, scourged into bitterness, was possessed with an inflexibleconviction that his beautiful wife had betrayed him. I had to beextremely careful. I must wait for him to see the light as though fromwithin himself. Assuming a more cheerful attitude again, I asked:

  "Howard, have you heard absolutely nothing of what has been going onoutside? I mean about your private matters."

  "No more than if I was on another planet until now, when this manappeared in my life again," he replied emphatically, "and you came asI knew you would. And--and--well, you can see how I am fixed. How canI tell little Jim my name is not Canby? How can I explain to her thatthe fishermen named me Canby after the wrecked schooner, and I let itgo at that because I was practically insane for several years. You cansee how much she is to me now. I have been mother and father to hersince she was a year old. We are so near one, it makes me a coward, Itell you."

  "Life has certain responsibilities, Howard, we can't escape; perhapsyou have arrived at another turning point that calls for the big partof you."

  "Maybe so--maybe so--I can see now that you will need me as a witnessagainst these men. Our country is involved. I guess I must come out,at least part way, from my isolation for that reason, even if itkills. It's no time to slack against our Government," he said, more asan audible thought, giving me my cue.

  "Howard, you are right, your old English ancestors have never shirkedwhen their country needed them. They fought in the Revolution, theybattled with Indians and Mexicans, in the sixties they grappled withtheir consciences, then later they went after Spain like tigers, andnow old Georgia is sending its best blood in hordes against the Hunwith a whoop and yell that cannot be mistaken. Even if they do like tomoonshine a little they fight for their country and that is the lastand best test."

  His eyes glittered with a new kind of fire. I knew I had him.

  "Have--have you been up the river--I mean where the plant is--where wegot the moonshiners that time?" I could see all that grew out of thatincident now flashed through his mind at the mention of moonshiners.

  "No--but I have inquired several times. The land is raising cotton butthe paper mill is not running. I believe they have made no headwaywith the stumps. All in all, it's not doing very well."

  "Thought so," he replied, intensely gratified, "I could feel it," headded, "and what has become of those that were my people?" he askedwith effort.

  "I haven't had much information for seven or eight years, except thisman Ramund turning up. Potter went back to clerking in a bank. Hiswife has soured on the world in general and taken on acid fat. The oldfolks died."

  "And----?" His pipe was laid aside and he held himself viselike andlooked the vital question.

  "She is estranged from her sister and living quietly."

  "Did you--have you seen her yourself?" he asked coldly.

  "Yes, a long time ago, she was still beautiful, making her own living,but, Howard, I believe--I know she is a good woman." I decided I couldnot tell more then.

  The effect of this information was magical. Though his eyes took onthe fire of the fierce Georgia Cracker, I believe he was ashamed ofit. He arose and walked out on deck and looked over the Gulf. It wasabout time for little Jim and Don to return. Finally he returned andsat down. He was learning to conquer himself.

  "Wood--am I doing anything wrong--am I violating any law in robbingthat wreck?" he surprised me by abruptly changing the subject.

  "You mean where you have been getting those copper bars?" I asked,somewhat amused as the subject had never been referred to directly.

  "Yes."

  "No; on the other hand, you are doing a patriotic duty. If a wreckfloats, Uncle Sam is interested, but at the bottom, getting iskeeping. But, Howard, that is something of which I want some details.I have been waiting for you to tell me. It's mighty important in thiscase."

  "I know it is. That's why I asked. The sunken submarine explainsmostly why Bulow and Company want to get rid of me. You see, I hadbeen a thorn to them for some time, for I had been taking thespongers' trade. They have been loading vessels ever since the warwith such material as copper, cotton, and rubber. When they could notfool the British by shipping through the Netherlands, they sent cargosubs. They advertised one coming to a northern port, but that wasjust to cover more extensive operations down here. Bulow and Companypicked up the stuff from all the Gulf ports. One was about loaded outthere by the Tortugas. Word was received that a Yankee destroyer wascoming, so she submerged to lay on the bottom until it left. But thedestroyer was attracted to the spot by the gulls waiting for possiblefood, and let go two or three depth bombs, for luck. The sub nevercame up. I located her in twelve fathoms of water. You know, a divewithout a suit lasts only four or five minutes, and it was a hard jobto get her open, but I did finally, and have been taking copper fromher ever since. The whole thing is there yet, dead sailors and all.

  "When Bulow and Company learned that I knew of the wreck and suspectedI was salvaging that settled it. I had dangerous knowledge. Theywanted the wreck themselves. If I can get all that's in her I'll beworth more money than I can ever use; even a small ship loaded withcopper and rubber has an immense value. Now do you understand whythey decided to sink me without trace? I never told little Jim justwhat I was doing because I partly promised her I would not dive anymore, since the shark bit me on the leg and she saved me; and, again,little Jim is so innocent and frank, as I want her to be, I was afraidshe might let it out."

  "And you thought Bulow and Company was too strong for you, so younever gave the Government information?"

  "Yes, they have been powerful enough to keep me from getting goodsexcept in a roundabout way and at high prices, and have run everythingelse down here to suit themselves. They felt they owned everything,and, as you see, became very bold. How could I, without even a name,beat them except by strategy? I wanted the copper and other things Icould salvage, so kept as quiet as possible.

  "When little Jim told me about a salesman from a New York house beinghere I was glad, and told her to buy, but I never fell for your stunt,though I often thought of you. I believed as formerly Bulow andCompany would prevent the shipment even for cash in advance, they areclever at managing such details as that. I understand they have theGovernment's wireless and telegraph code besides their own men insidethat service."

  "But you got the goods I sold you?"

  "Yes, every item. Little Jim says the prices were much better. And,more, the railroad did something they never did before--they stoppedthe freight and unloaded them right at the back door." Howard laughedoutright for the first time. "How could I tell who it was? But, as Isaid, I might have suspected something like that from you."

  "Howard, is this sunken submarine intact?"

  "Yes, entirely so as far as I can see. The crew seems to have diedsuddenly. There are two openings in her--one at the conning tower,that lets you into the engine room and crew's quarters, and a smallhatch, more of a manhole, pretty well forward, which opens into thefreight hole, evidently a separate compartment as it had not filled.The great water pressure held it sh
ut. I finally got in. There iswonderful value there. I don't wonder the Huns want it. Once in thecrew's quarters was enough. It has filled and is not a very pleasantplace to go. I am used to about everything in the water when sponging,except dead men."

  "How many of the crew are there?"

  "Well--I counted about twenty, but there may be more, and if you sawthem you would not think they were dead. One man stands up with hiseyes open in a listening attitude, the wireless man is before hisinstruments, and the rest sit about perfectly natural. It seems as ifthe captain knew they were done for and turned on gas or somethingthat killed them instantly."

  "Howard, we can get those bodies, can't we?"

  "Yes, if we go there fixed for it, but it won't be such a delightfuljob. I shut it so the sharks wouldn't enter."

  "I must have every one of them, and every piece of paper in her, thecargo don't interest me with the exception of a few samples."