For the Term of His Natural Life
Page 55
The Pretty Mary--as ugly and evil-smelling a tub as ever pitched undera southerly burster--had been lying on and off Cape Surville for nearlythree weeks. Captain Blunt was getting wearied. He made strenuousefforts to find the oyster-beds of which he was ostensibly in search,but no success attended his efforts. In vain did he take boat and pullinto every cove and nook between the Hippolyte Reef and Schouten'sIsland. In vain did he run the Pretty Mary as near to the rugged cliffsas he dared to take her, and make perpetual expeditions to the shore. Invain did he--in his eagerness for the interests of Mrs. Purfoy--clamberup the rocks, and spend hours in solitary soundings in Blackman's Bay.He never found an oyster. "If I don't find something in three or fourdays more," said he to his mate, "I shall go back again. It's toodangerous cruising here."
* * * * *
On the same evening that Captain Blunt made this resolution, thewatchman at Signal Hill saw the arms of the semaphore at the settlementmake three motions, thus:
The semaphore was furnished with three revolving arms, fixed one abovethe other. The upper one denoted units, and had six motions, indicatingONE to SIX. The middle one denoted tens, TEN to SIXTY. The lower onemarked hundreds, from ONE HUNDRED to SIX HUNDRED.
The lower and upper arms whirled out. That meant THREE HUNDRED AND SIX.A ball ran up to the top of the post. That meant ONE THOUSAND.
Number 1306, or, being interpreted, "PRISONERS ABSCONDED".
"By George, Harry," said Jones, the signalman, "there's a bolt!"
The semaphore signalled again: "Number 1411".
"WITH ARMS!" Jones said, translating as he read. "Come here, Harry!here's a go!"
But Harry did not reply, and, looking down, the watchman saw a darkfigure suddenly fill the doorway. The boasted semaphore had failed thistime, at all events. The "bolters" had arrived as soon as the signal!
The man sprang at his carbine, but the intruder had already possessedhimself of it. "It's no use making a fuss, Jones! There are eight of us.Oblige me by attending to your signals."
Jones knew the voice. It was that of John Rex. "Reply, can't you?" saidRex coolly. "Captain Burgess is in a hurry." The arms of the semaphoreat the settlement were, in fact, gesticulating with comical vehemence.
Jones took the strings in his hands, and, with his signal-book openbefore him, was about to acknowledge the message, when Rex stopped him."Send this message," he said. "NOT SEEN! SIGNAL SENT TO EAGLEHAWK!"
Jones paused irresolutely. He was himself a convict, and dreaded theinevitable cat that he knew would follow this false message. "If theyfinds me out--" he said. Rex cocked the carbine with so decided ameaning in his black eyes that Jones--who could be brave enough onoccasions--banished his hesitation at once, and began to signal eagerly.There came up a clinking of metal, and a murmur from below. "What'skeepin' yer, Dandy?"
"All right. Get those irons off, and then we'll talk, boys. I'm puttingsalt on old Burgess's tail." The rough jest was received with a roar,and Jones, looking momentarily down from his window on the staging, saw,in the waning light, a group of men freeing themselves from their ironswith a hammer taken from the guard-house; while two, already freed, werecasting buckets of water on the beacon wood-pile. The sentry was lyingbound at a little distance.
"Now," said the leader of this surprise party, "signal to Woody Island."Jones perforce obeyed. "Say, 'AN ESCAPE AT THE MINES! WATCH ONE-TREEPOINT! SEND ON TO EAGLEHAWK!' Quick now!"
Jones--comprehending at once the force of this manoeuvre, which wouldhave the effect of distracting attention from the Neck--executed theorder with a grin. "You're a knowing one, Dandy Jack," said he.
John Rex acknowledged the compliment by uncocking the carbine. "Holdout your hands!--Jemmy Vetch!" "Ay, ay," replied the Crow, from beneath."Come up and tie our friend Jones. Gabbett, have you got the axes?""There's only one," said Gabbett, with an oath. "Then bring that, andany tucker you can lay your hands on. Have you tied him? On we go then."And in the space of five minutes from the time when unsuspecting Harryhad been silently clutched by two forms, who rushed upon him out of theshadows of the huts, the Signal Hill Station was deserted.
At the settlement Burgess was foaming. Nine men to seize the LongBay boat, and get half an hour's start of the alarm signal, was anunprecedented achievement! What could Warder Troke have been about!Warder Troke, however, found eight hours afterwards, disarmed, gagged,and bound in the scrub, had been guilty of no negligence. How couldhe tell that, at a certain signal from Dandy Jack, the nine men he hadtaken to Stewart's Bay would "rush" him; and, before he could draw apistol, truss him like a chicken? The worst of the gang, Rufus Dawes,had volunteered for the hated duties of pile-driving, and Troke had felthimself secure. How could he possibly guess that there was a plot, inwhich Rufus Dawes, of all men, had refused to join?
Constables, mounted and on foot, were despatched to scour the bush roundthe settlement. Burgess, confident from the reply of the Signal Hillsemaphore, that the alarm had been given at Eaglehawk Isthmus, promisedhimself the re-capture of the gang before many hours; and, givingorders to keep the communications going, retired to dinner. His convictservants had barely removed the soup when the result of John Rex'singenuity became manifest.
The semaphore at Signal Hill had stopped working.
"Perhaps the fools can't see," said Burgess. "Fire the beacon--andsaddle my horse." The beacon was fired. All right at Mount Arthur, MountCommunication, and the Coal Mines. To the westward the line was clear.But at Signal Hill was no answering light. Burgess stamped with rage."Get me my boat's crew ready; and tell the Mines to signal to WoodyIsland." As he stood on the jetty, a breathless messenger broughtthe reply. "A BOAT'S CREW GONE TO ONE-TREE POINT! FIVE MEN SENT FROMEAGLEHAWK IN OBEDIENCE TO ORDERS!" Burgess understood it at once. Thefellows had decoyed the Eaglehawk guard. "Give way, men!" And the boat,shooting into the darkness, made for Long Bay. "I won't be far behind'em," said the Commandant, "at any rate."