“Densmore, man the front desk a little longer. I’m going to be busy for a while.”
He then nodded to Silver, and Silver followed him into the office, closing the door behind him. Impatient, Silver stood before Anderson’s desk while the lawman took a seat behind it. Quickly, without revealing the nature of the conspiracy, Silver outlined the thing as best he could, stressing the need for entering the warehouse.
“I have the authority to get you in there,” Anderson said, “but then what? If there’s no real evidence to back up your suspicions, there could be serious legal problems.”
“There could be,” said Silver, “and I’ll take full responsibility.”
“I don’t suppose you could telegraph Washington for authorization,” Anderson said.
“Why, hell no,” said Silver angrily. “Two men’s lives are at stake, if they’re not dead already. Now, for God’s sake, will you get me into that building?”
Anderson sighed. “All right, if you’re willing to take responsibility for anything that may go wrong.”
“I am,” Silver said, “and I’m sure enough of what I’ve told you that I’d like to take along some deputies.”
“I have three,” said Anderson. “Condon and Blake should be here in a few minutes, and I can ask Densmore to stay over.”
When Condon and Blake arrived, Anderson told them as much as he could about the proposed mission. When he had finished, he spoke to Silver.
“Is there anything you’d like to add?”
“Only that this could be extremely dangerous,” said Silver. “These men are killers, and they’re involved in a conspiracy against the United States. Be sure your Winchesters are fully loaded, and don’t hesitate to shoot, if you have to.”
They nodded. When the four lawmen had saddled their horses, they mounted and then followed Silver toward the distant bay.
Wes and El Lobo had wriggled about, feeling with numbed hands for wooden crates with rough edges or protruding nails.
“I’ve found a nail that wasn’t driven all the way in,” Wes said. “Maybe I can loosen the knot enough to free my hands.”
“Bueno,” said El Lobo. “Rope tight.”
Wes worked frantically, for the longer he remained bound, the less feeling there was in his hands and wrists. Already they were numb and clumsy, and his task was becoming all the more difficult. There was no doubt in his mind that the ship would sail at dawn, taking with it any and all hope for their survival. Somewhere within the vessel, a bell rang five times.
“What that mean?” El Lobo asked.
“Five o‘clock,” said Wes. “First light’s not more than an hour away.”
The rain had ceased. Empty stood on the dock facing the bay, his eyes on the dark bulk of the sailing ship, for it was to there that Wes and El Lobo had been taken. Clouds had been swept away, and a few stars twinkled in the predawn darkness. Somewhere an awakening bird chirped. Finally, in loneliness and frustration, Empty lifted his head to the heavens, howling low and mournfully....
“My hands are free,” said Wes. “Let me get some feeling back into them, and I’ll free you.”
“Bueno,” El Lobo said. “We escape.”
“We must get that hatch open and get somebody down here without them knowing our hands and feet are free,” said Wes.
“Sí,” El Lobo agreed. “Fire, per‘ap?”
“You’re readin’ my mind,” said Wes. “I still have matches in my boot. All we need is something that will burn, stirrin’ up plenty of smoke.”
“If hombres no come, we be in trouble,” El Lobo said.
“From the smoke, as well as the fire,” said Wes, “but it’s a gamble we must take. I’ll burn this thing down to the waterline, with us in it before I’d risk going to sea with this Antonio Diaz.”
When Wes had freed El Lobo and their numbed hands and feet permitted, they began searching in the darkness for something that would burn. Most of the shipping crates had been constructed of pine, for the wood was soft and easy to work with. Splinters had split off, and Wes lighted one of them so that they might study their surroundings. Sometime in the past, crates had been broken, and the remains had simply been shoved aside.
“Bueno,” El Lobo said, getting his hands on some of the splintered pine. “It bum.”
“Take a pile of it beneath the steps, under the hatch,” said Wes. “We have to be sure that smoke will rise where it’ll be seen before we choke.”
El Lobo heaped the resinous wood beneath the narrow stairs, where any flames wouldn’t be readily obvious. Wes had lighted several more splinters from the first one and quickly used them to ignite the pile of wood.
“Now,” Wes said, “all we have to do is stay out of sight until somebody sees the smoke and comes to investigate. If the man on watch comes alone, we’re in luck. But if our luck turns sour, and he sounds the alarm first, we may be up against the whole damn crew, including Antonio himself.”
“We no fight,” said El Lobo. “We escape.”
“Bein’ unarmed, our only hope is to escape,” Wes said. “We’ll go over the side at the closest point and swim like hell for shore. Let’s just hope none of these varmints are armed with Winchesters. They can pick us off in the water.”
Otis Belton and Abel Wilks, along with four armed men who had escorted Wes and El Lobo to the ship, had remained at their headquarters the rest of the night. It was a practice Belton demanded, until he knew the ship was safely out of harbor and bound for the open sea. The men were restless, wanting rest and food.
“Antonio should be hoisting anchor by now,” Wilks said. “Suppose I go look?”
“Suppose you sit down and shut the hell up,” said Belton. “The last thing we need is unwanted attention, and the quickest way to attract it is to be out there at dawn, gawking at a ship. We’ll give it another two hours. Then all of you can go.”
Silver and the four lawmen rode south, following the avenue along the bay. None of the saloons had opened, for it was still early. Incoming ships were already being unloaded at some of the piers, but these were soon left behind. On the distant pier where Empty had last seen Wes and El Lobo, the hound waited, watching the five riders approach. Then with a bark of recognition, he ran to meet them. Silver reined up and leaped from his saddle.
“It’s only a dog,” said Deputy Marshal Blake.
“Not just a dog,” Silver replied. “He belongs to one of the two men I’m looking for.”
Barking excitedly, Empty came no closer. Instead, he trotted back the way he had come. He paused, looking back, barked once, and trotted on.
“He wants us to follow,” said Silver, mounting his horse.
The five riders followed in silence, reining up near the pier where Empty had faithfully kept watch. Nothing was in sight except the vessel flying Mexican colors. Empty continued barking, his eyes on the distant ship.
“By God,” Silver all but shouted, “my men are being held captive on that ship!”
“That’s out of our jurisdiction,” said Anderson. “Besides, they’re hoisting anchor.”
“Damn your jurisdiction,” Silver said. “I’ll go after them myself.”
“I don’t think so,” said Anderson. “That’s a commercial vessel, and there’s no way you can board and search it without due process of law.”
Before Silver could respond, circumstances changed rapidly. In the early-morning stillness there were three gunshots aboard the distant vessel.
As the fire flamed higher, Wes smothered it with his coat, creating clouds of smoke that filtered upward. Suddenly there was a shout and a fumbling at the hatch door.
“Damn,” said Wes, “get ready.”
The first man down the narrow stairs had a Winchester. Wes seized the muzzle of the weapon with his left hand, throwing its bearer off balance, slugging him unconscious with a right to the chin. Quickly Wes was through the hatch, El Lobo at his heels. Three men ran toward them, but they just as quickly turned and fled when Wes fired three times,
driving lead into the deck beneath their feet. Reaching the ship’s rail, Wes dropped the Winchester, going over the side. Seconds after he hit the water, El Lobo swam beside him toward the distant pier.
“After them,” Antonio Diaz shouted.
Quickly a dinghy was lowered and five crewmen piled into it. Two began rowing while the others—armed with Winchesters—began firing at the escaping captives. But they soon changed their minds, for on the pier Bryan Silver had seized the Winchester Tom Rigger had loaned him. Silver fired as rapidly as he could lever in the shells, and lead slammed into the dinghy, bringing a cry of pain from one of the men rowing rapidly back toward the distant ship. Satisfied that Wes and El Lobo would safely reach the shore, Silver slid the Winchester back into his saddle boot. Finding the eyes of all four of the federal lawmen on him, Silver spoke with sarcasm that could have been cut with a Bowie knife.
“I’m obliged for your help.”
None of the four said anything, and Silver took his lariat from the saddle and made a loop at one end. Tying the loose end to his saddle horn, he led the horse as near the edge of the pier as he could. He then dropped the loop to Wes, and finally to El Lobo. For a moment the two sprawled on the pier, exhausted.
“Silver,” said Wes, breathing hard, “you’ve got to stop that ship! It’s loaded with all the evidence you’ll ever need.”
“It’s too late for that,” Buford Anderson said. “They’ll soon be in international waters.”
“I’ll stop it, in or out of international water,” said Silver. “Where’s the naval station?”
“Not far,” Anderson said. “Mount up and we’ll take you there.”
“Then let’s ride,” said Silver. “Will a couple of your deputies allow my men to ride double with you?”
“Condon, Densmore,” Anderson said, “give them a hand up.”
When they reined up near the naval station, the federal marshals waited while Silver, Wes, and El Lobo entered.
“I am Captain Stevens, the post commander. What can I do for you?”
Quickly Silver produced his identification. He then introduced Wes and El Lobo, and as briefly as he could explained the situation to Captain Stevens.
“This is highly irregular,” said Stevens, “and might well result in a court-martial for me and my crew. I suppose you’re aware of our diplomatic relationship with Mexico?”
“I’m entirely too much aware of it,” Silver said. “Frankly, I think we were better off in the old days, us shooting at them an them shooting at us. Will you side me, or not?”
“Very well,” said Stevens, “I’ll risk it. Before they reach international water, we have the right to board and search the craft. But there won’t be room for all of you. Who are those men with you?”
“Federal marshals,” Silver said, “and they haven’t been much help.”
“We won’t need them,” said Stevens. “I have a five-man crew, all armed.”
“Then get them ready,” Silver said, “while I dismiss the lawmen.”
“The navy’s going after them,” Silver told Anderson and his deputies, “but I still want you to get me into that warehouse. It’s more important now than ever.”
“If all this is important enough to involve the navy,” said Anderson, “I reckon we’ll be able to help you wrap it up. You want us to wait for you here?”
“Yes,” Silver said. “Keep an eye on my horse.”
From his saddlebag Silver took a box of shells, and drawing the Winchester from its saddle boot, began loading the weapon. The naval craft proved to be a fast clipper ship, and with Silver, Wes, and El Lobo aboard, it started in pursuit of the Mexican vessel. The journey afforded Wes and El Lobo time to tell Silver much of what he needed to know of the Golden Dragon’s San Francisco operation.
“I reckon you won” recover all the stolen gold from that ship,“ said Wes, ”but you’ll get a pile of it. There were six crates loaded in the hold with us.“
“Recovery of some of the gold will help,” Silver replied, “but I’m more concerned with what we’re likely to find behind the walls of that warehouse. Buford Anderson and his deputies have promised to get me in there.”
“I hope you have better luck than we did,” said Wes.
“Sí,” El Lobo said. “We be shot.”
“One way or another,” said Silver, “we’re going in. I expect to find the molds and all the necessary equipment for counterfeiting, and we’ll need it for evidence.”
“There she is!” a crewman shouted, looking through binoculars.
“We’ll cut in as close as we can, and I’ll challenge them,” said Captain Stevens.
Once the naval vessel was near enough, Captain Stevens spoke through a megaphone.
“This is Captain Stevens of the United States Navy. In the name of the United States of America, this is a formal request to board and search.”
“Señor Stevens,” came the response, “I am Captain Antonio Diaz. This is a commercial vessel, and we do no wrong.”
“Then you have nothing to fear,” Stevens shouted back. “We believe you may have taken on illegal cargo without your knowledge. Request to come aboard.”
“Your request is denied, señor,” said Diaz.
“Captain Diaz,” Stevens shouted, “we have cannon, as well as a Gatling gun. We can and will board you by force, if there’s no other way. The choice is yours, and I won’t warn you again.”
“I will yield, señor,” Diaz responded, “but I will file a formal protest.”
“We’re coming aboard,” Stevens shouted.
Stevens’ crew were already lowering a boat.
“We’re going to have to confiscate some cargo, Captain,” said Silver.
“Then I’ll take two crewmen with us,” Captain Stevens said. “With the three of you, it should be enough.”
“If you have extra weapons,” said Wes, “El Lobo and me would be obliged for the use of them. We were held prisoner aboard that ship, and we’re not of a mind to return to it unarmed.”
“We have extra rifles,” Stevens said. “I’ll get them.”
“Wes,” said Silver while Stevens was away, “do you have any idea where those crates are within the hold?”
“They should be near the front,” Wes said. “After we were taken to the hold, nothing else was brought aboard.”
“Good,” said Silver. “The sooner we can wrap this up, the better. We must return to the Dragon headquarters as quickly as we can.”
Captain Stevens returned with a pair of Winchesters, passing one of them to Wes and the other to El Lobo.
“This won’t be pleasant,” Silver said. “Let’s be done with it.”
Chapter 16
When the six armed men boarded the Mexican vessel, they found Captain Antonio Diaz and his crew in a hostile mood. Four of the men were armed with Winchesters.
“Put the weapons aside,” Captain Stevens ordered.
Reluctantly they did so.
“Captain Stevens,” said Silver, “if you’ll leave your men up here to keep this bunch of hombres from getting foolish ideas, we’ll go below and begin our search.”
Captain Stevens nodded to his men and they assumed port arms positions with their Winchesters, facing Diaz and his crew.
“Now,” Silver said, seizing a single-bitted ax, “let’s investigate that cargo.”
Wes and El Lobo led the way, Silver and Stevens following. There was a lantern on a hook above the hatch. Silver lighted it, passed it to Wes, and he ascended the narrow steps into the hold. El Lobo, Silver, and Stevens followed.
“Those six crates nearest the steps were loaded after El Lobo and me were brought aboard,” Wes said.
Using the blade of the ax, Silver pried off the boards securing the top. Within was a metal box surrounded by straw. Silver dropped the ax, and with El Lobo’s help tried to lift out the heavy metal box. The two of them were unable to do so, and taking the ax, Silver demolished all of the crate except the bottom, on which the metal
chest rested. Wes brought the lantern closer, and stenciled on top of the box were the words UNITED STATES MINT, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. Silver smashed the lock with the ax and raised the lid. In the lantern’s pale light, there was no mistaking the glitter of gold.
“My God,” said Captain Stevens.
“Stolen from United States mints and replaced with counterfeit,” Silver said.
He took up the ax and began smashing the other wooden crates, and one by one, they each yielded stolen gold.
“I’ll go after Captain Diaz,” said Stevens. “I’m going to confront him with this.”
Predictably, Diaz denied any prior knowledge of the stolen gold.
“The crates are closed when I get them, señors,” Diaz protested. “I do not know what is in them, I swear.”
“There are bills of lading,” said Silver. “Get them.”
Captain Stevens escorted Diaz to the captain’s quarters, and when they returned with the necessary bills, Stevens was shaking his head.
“The bills of lading call for machinery,” Stevens said.
“I reckon you freight a lot of machinery,” said Silver, his hard eyes on Diaz. “Comin’ in, how much did you deliver to these people?”
“Four pieces,” Diaz said sullenly. “It is machinery also.”
“Like hell,” said Silver. “I suppose you didn’t know two of my men were here in your cargo hold, bound hand and foot?”
“I do not know, señor,” Diaz said with as much conviction as he could muster.
“He’s lying through his damn teeth,” said Wes. “The dirty coyote made a deal to drop El Lobo and me overboard once they were at sea.”
“I do not,” Diaz protested.
“You knew they were aboard,” said Silver. “I saw them jump ship, and I saw your crewmen come after them, shooting. They changed their minds when I began shooting at them.”
“You are wrong, señor,” Diaz insisted. “Those not my crew.”
“Silver,” said Captain Stevens, “we need to talk.”
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