STORY ONE, CHAPTER FOUR.
THE DIVER AT HOME.
The next morning Rasp was sent off to act as superintendent, for MrParkley decided that Dutch must stay and help him in his plans forcarrying out the Cuban's wishes, if he took the affair up, andpreviously to discuss the matter.
Dutch announced to Rasp then that he would have to set off at once.
"It's always the way," grumbled the old fellow. "Board that schooner,too. Yah!"
"Never mind, Rasp; you like work. You'll be like the busy bee,improving each shining hour," said Dutch, smiling.
"Yes; and my helmets, and tubes, and pumps getting not fit to be seen,and made hat-pegs of. Busy bee, indeed! I'm tired of improving theshining hours. I've been all my life a-polishing of 'em up for some oneelse."
He set off growling, and vowing vengeance on the men if they did notwork; and Dutch returned to find Mr Parkley with a map of the WestIndies spread upon the desk.
"Look here," he said, "here's the place," and he pointed to theCaribbean Sea.
"Do you think seriously of this matter, then?" said Dutch.
"Very. Why not? I believe it is genuine. Don't you?"
"I can't say," replied Dutch. "It may be."
"I think it is," said the other, sharply; "and it seems to me a chance."
"If it proved as this Cuban says, of course it would be."
"And why should it not?" said Mr Parkley. "You see he has nothing togain by getting me to fit out an expedition, unless we are successful."
"But it may be visionary."
"Those ingots were solid visions," said Mr Parkley. "No, my lad; thething's genuine. I've thought it out all right, and decided to go infor it at once--that is, as soon as we can arrange matters."
"Indeed, sir!" said Dutch, startled at the suddenness of the decision.
"Yes, my lad, I have faith in it. We could go in the schooner. Take acouple of those divers, and some of our newest appliances. I look uponthe whole affair as a godsend. Hum! Here he is. Don't seem too eager,but follow my lead."
A clerk announced the previous night's visitor; and Dutch recalled forthe moment the previous day's meeting, and the annoyance he had felt onseeing the stranger's admiring gaze. But this was all forgotten in afew moments, the Cuban being certainly all that could be desired ingentlemanly courtesy, and his manners were winning in the extreme.
"And now that you have had a night for consideration, Senor Parkley,what do you think of my project?" he said, glancing at the map.
"I want to know more," said Mr Parkley.
"I have told you that vessels were sunk--ships laden with gold andsilver, Senor Parkley, and I say join me. Find all that is wanted--aship--divers--and make an agreement to give me half the treasurerecovered, and I will take your ship to the spots. Where these are ismy secret."
"You said I was slow and cold, Mr Lorry, yesterday," said Mr Parkley."You shan't say so to-day. When I make up my mind I strike while theiron is hot. My mind is made up."
"Then you refuse," said the Cuban, frowning.
"No, sir, I agree. Here's my hand upon it."
He held out his hand, which the Cuban caught and pressed hastily.
"Viva!" he exclaimed, his face flushing with pleasure.
"You will both be rich as princes. Our friend here goes too?"
"Yes, I shall take him with us," said Mr Parkley.
Dutch started in wonder at what seemed so rash a proceeding.
"And he must share, too," said the Cuban, warmly.
"Yes; he will be my partner," said Mr Parkley.
"And when do we start--to-morrow?"
"To-morrow!" laughed Mr Parkley. "No, sir; it will take us a month tofit out our expedition."
"A month?"
"At least. We must go well prepared, and not fail for want of means."
"Yes, yes, that is good."
"And all this takes time. Trust me, sir, I shall not let the grass growunder my feet."
"I do not understand the grass grow," said the Cuban.
"I mean I shall hurry on the preparations," said Mr Parkley.
The Cuban nodded his satisfaction; when the rest of the morning wasspent in discussing the matter; and, though the visitor was extremelycareful not to say a word that might give a hint as to the locality ofthe treasure, it became more and more evident that he was no emptyenthusiast, but one who had spent years in the search, and had had hisquest browned with success.
Several days passed in this way, during which great success attended theraising of the copper, and a proper deed of agreement had been drawn upand duly signed between the parties to the proposed expedition, atwhich, however, Dutch had said but little at his own home, lest heshould cause his wife, who had been delicate since their marriage, anyuneasiness.
The strange fancies that had troubled him had been almost forgotten, andin spite of himself he had become somewhat tinged by the Cuban'senthusiasm, and often found himself dwelling on the pleasure of beingpossessed of riches such as were described.
"It would make her a lady," he argued; "and if anything happened to meshe would be above want."
He was musing in this way one morning, when Mr Parkley came to him,they having dined together with the Cuban on the previous evening at hishotel.
"Well, Pugh," he said, "I'm getting more faith every day. Lorry's agentleman."
"Yes," said Dutch, "he is most polished in his ways, and I must say Ibegin to feel a great deal of faith in him myself."
"That's well," said Mr Parkley, rubbing his hands. "You'll have to gowith us."
"I'm afraid, sir, you must--"
"Excuse you? No, I don't think I can. Besides, Pugh, you would go withme as my partner, for I shall have all that settled."
"You are very, very kind, sir," said Dutch, flushing with pleasure.
"Nonsense, man," cried Mr Parkley; "all selfishness. You and I can doso much together. See how useful you are to me, partner."
"Not your partner yet, sir."
"Yes, you are, Pugh," said the other, slapping him on the shoulder; "andnow we'll go in for calculations and arrangements for the expedition. Iwas thinking the schooner would do, but I find it would be too small, soI shall set Captain Studwick to look out for a good brig or a smallbarque, and take him into our confidence to some extent."
"Not wholly?"
"No; and yet, perhaps, it would be as well. And now, Pugh, I've got afavour to ask of you."
"Anything, sir, that I can do I will do with all my heart," repliedPugh, enthusiastically.
"I knew you would," replied Mr Parkley. "You see, this is a big thing,my lad, and will be the making of us both, and Lorry is a very decentfellow."
"Decidedly," said Pugh, wondering at what was coming.
"Well, I must be as civil to him as I can, and so will you, of course."
"Of course."
"He's taken a great fancy to you, by-the-way, and praises you sky-high."
"Indeed!"
"Yes; and look here, Pugh, he has got to be tired of this hotel where heis, and wants society. I can't ask him to my shabby place, so I wantyou to oblige me by playing the host."
Pugh started as if he had been stung.
"Nothing could be better," continued Mr Parkley, who did not notice theother's emotion. "Ask him to come and stay at your little place. MrsPugh has things about her in so nice and refined a way that you can makehim quite at home. You will gain his confidence, too, and we shall workbetter for not being on mere hard business terms."
Dutch felt his brain begin to swim.
"I'll come as often as I can, and we shall be making him one of us. Thetime will pass more pleasantly for him, and there'll be no fear ofsomebody else getting hold of him to make better terms."
"Yes--exactly--I see," faltered Pugh, whose mind was wandering towardshome, and who recalled the Cuban's openly expressed admiration for hiswife.
"The dear little woman," continued Mr Parkley, "could take him out fora drive
while you are busy, and you can have music and chess in theevenings. You'll have to live better, perhaps; but mind, my dearfellow, we are not going to let you suffer for that, and you must let mesend you some wine, and a box or two of cigars. We must do the thinghandsomely for him."
"Yes, of course," said Dutch vaguely.
"Quite a stranger here, you know, and by making him a friend, all willgo on so much more smoothly afterwards."
"Exactly," said Dutch again.
"But how dreamy you are? What are you thinking about?"
Dutch started, for in spite of his love and trust he was thinking of thehandsome Cuban being installed at his home, and always in company withhis innocent young wife, while he was away busy over his dailyavocations.
"I beg pardon; did I seem thinking?"
"That you did. But never mind; you'll do this for me, Pugh?"
"Certainly, if you wish it," said Dutch, making an effort; while thefigure of the Cuban seemed to be coming like a dark shadow across hislife.
"Well, yes, I do wish it, Pugh, and I am very much obliged. By-the-way,though, what will she say to your going out on the expedition?"
Dutch shook his head.
"By Jove, I never thought of that," said Mr Parkley. "Poor littlewoman, it will be too bad. I tell you what, I was going to get oldNorton to mind the business. I will not. You shall stay at home."
"I should like to go," said Pugh, quietly; "but situated as I am, Ishould be glad if I could stay."
"So you shall, Pugh--so you shall," said Mr Parkley. And nodding hishead over and over again, he left Dutch to his thoughts.
He left for home that night with the cloud seeming to darken round him.He felt that under the circumstances he was bound to accede to hispartner's wishes, and yet he was about to take this man, a stranger, tohis own sacred hearth, and he shuddered again and again at the ideasthat forced themselves upon his brain.
"I've said I'll receive him," he said at last, half aloud; "but it isnot yet too late. Hester shall decide, and if she says `No,' whythere's an end of it all."
A short run by the rail took him to his pleasant little home--a smallhouse, almost a cottage, with its tolerably large grounds and well-keptlawn. The little dining and drawing-rooms were shaded by a broad greenverandah, over which the bedroom of the young couple looked down, insummer, upon a perfect nest of trailing roses.
Dutch gave a sigh of satisfaction as he saw the bright, sunny look ofpleasure that greeted him, and for the next hour he had forgotten thedark shadow as he related to his young wife the great advance in theirfuture prospects.
"I do love that dear old Mr Parkley so," she cried, enthusiastically."And now, Dutch, dear, tell me all about why this foreign gentleman istaking up so much of your time. Why, darling, is anything the matter?"
Dutch sighed again, but it was with satisfaction, as with a mingling oftender love and anxiety the little woman rose, and, throwing one armround his neck, laid her soft little cheek to his.
"Matter! No, dear. Why?" he said, trying to smile.
"You looked so dull and ill all at once, as if in some pain."
"Did I? Oh, it was nothing, only I was a little bothered."
"May I know what about?"
"Well, yes, dear," he said, playing with her soft hair, as he drew herdown upon his knee. "The fact is that Mr Parkley is anxious for someattention to be paid to this Cuban gentleman--this Mr Laure."
"And he wants us to ask him here," said Hester, gravely; and for amoment a look of pain crossed her face.
"Yes. How did you know?" he cried, startled at her words.
"I can't tell," she replied, smiling again directly. "I seemed to knowwhat you were going to say by instinct."
"But we cannot have him here, can we?" said Dutch, eagerly. "It wouldinconvenience you so."
She remained silent for a moment, and a warm flush appeared upon herface as he gazed at her searchingly; for it was evident that a strugglewas going on within her breast, and she was debating as to what sheshould say. Then, to his great annoyance, she replied--
"I don't think that we ought to refuse Mr Parkley this request, dear.I hardly liked the idea at first, and this Mr Laure did not impress mefavourably when we met."
Dutch's face brightened.
"But," she continued, "I have no doubt I shall like him very much, andwe will do all we can to make his stay a pleasant one."
Dutch remained silent, and a frown gathered on his brow for a fewmoments; but the next moment he looked up, smiling on the sweetingenuous countenance before him, feeling ashamed of the doubts andfancies that had intruded.
"You are right, dear," he said, cheerfully. "It is a nuisance, for Idon't like any one coming between us and spoiling our evenings; but itwill not be for long, and he has come about an enterprise that may bringus a considerable sum."
"I'll do all I can, dear," she cried, cheerfully.
And then, going to the piano, the tones of her voice fell upon the earsof Dutch Pugh even as the melodies of David on the troubled spirit ofSaul of old, for as the young husband lay back in his chair, andlistened to his favourite songs--sung, it seemed to him, more sweetlythan ever--the tears gathered in his eyes, and he closed them, feelingthat the evil spirit that assailed his breast had been exorcised, andthat the cruel doubts and fears were bitter sins against a pure, sweetwoman, who loved him with all her soul; and he cursed his folly as hevowed that he never again would suffer such fancies to gain an entranceto his breast.
For quite an hour they sat thus, she singing in her soft, low voiceballad after ballad that she knew he loved; and he lying back there,dreamily drinking in the happiness that was his, and thanking Heaven forhis lot. For the shadow was beaten back, and true joy once more reignedsupreme.
He was roused from his delicious reverie by the touch of two soft, warmlips on his forehead.
"Asleep, darling?" whispered Hester.
"Asleep? No," he cried, in a low, deep voice, as he drew her to hisheart. "Awake, darling--wide awake to the fact that I am the happiestof men in owning all your tender, true, womanly love."
As he spoke his lips sought hers, and with a sigh of content, and asweet smile lighting up her gentle face, Hester's arms clasped his neck,and she nestled closer to his breast.
Dutch the Diver; Or, A Man's Mistake Page 4