by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER IX.
A VISIT FROM AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
I could not help thinking of the Islander as we lay at anchor off thepier in St. Augustine. As I looked at the angry billows outside, Iunderstood what kind of a time Captain Blastblow was having. But if hehandled his vessel well, and kept out of the breakers, I had no doubthe would come out of the trial all right. The wind had hauled stillmore to the southward, and even to the east of south. I was confidentthat the Islander, having the wind nearly dead ahead, would not makemuch headway against such a fierce wind.
About two o'clock in the afternoon, when we had finished our dinners,both in the after and the forward cabin, I saw a boat put off from theshore. The person in the stern sheets had a familiar look, though I didnot recognize him till he came on deck.
"I hope you are quite well, Captain Garningham," said he, advancingtowards me with extended hand.
It was Cornwood, who had been with us up the St. Johns in the doublecapacity of guide and pilot, to say nothing of a third capacity asconspirator. While I could not prove it, I was satisfied that he wasemployed by Captain Boomsby to get me out of the way in some mildmanner. He had caused a drunken mulatto to be employed as a waiter inthe fore-cabin, who was another of the conspirators. But both of themhad been foiled; though, if my father had not arrived at the scene ofaction when he did, I might not have been privileged to tell my story.The waiter had been sentenced to a term as a convict, though Cornwoodhad been his counsel.
I thought it was rather impudent of Cornwood to come on board of theSylvania after what had happened; but brass and impudence were theprincipal elements of his stock-in-trade. He seemed to have as muchassurance as though his relations had been entirely pleasant with me.He was a man of decided ability, though not as a lawyer. He knew moreabout Florida than any other man I had met; and I had never known him,in the month of my intimacy with him, to be ignorant of any subject,from the navigation of an interior lake or river to the scientific nameof a plant or animal. In spite of the harm he had intended to do me,through his agent, I had a great respect for his ability.
"You found it rough outside, Captain Garningham," said Cornwood, whenhe had disposed of the commonplace introductories.
"Too rough for the ladies; and I came in here to find a smoother sea,"I replied.
"The storm won't last long, as it comes from the southward," he added.
"When did you leave Jacksonville, Mr. Cornwood?" I asked, for I thoughtI had seen him in the street the day before.
"I came up in the morning boat," he replied. "It is getting to be verydull in Jacksonville, and I thought I might find something to do here,for fishing and hunting parties often come to St. Augustine withoutstopping at the city."
"We had some thought of trying the fish at Indian River as we wentalong; but circumstances do not allow us to stop, and we shall rundirect for Key West. Was there anything new in regard to the robbery ofthe bank messenger this morning?"
"I heard nothing. But your friend, Captain Boomsby, is in greattrouble," said Cornwood, smiling, as though the saloon-keeper'strouble, whatever it was, could not produce a deep impression on hislate employe.
"What is the matter with the captain?" I asked, with interest.
"His son Nick has disappeared."
"Nick disappeared!" I exclaimed, not a little astonished.
"He cannot be found, though his father searched from six o'clock thismorning till the time I left."
"When did his father first miss him?"
"It appears that Nick tended bar till after midnight. The old man wastoo full to sit up any longer, and he left Nick to close the bar. Thecaptain says his son did not sleep in the house last night, and he hasno idea when or where he went."
"Very likely he left in the first train this morning," I suggested,recalling all that had passed between Nick and me the day before.
"No, he didn't, for his father went to the station, and passed throughthe train just before it started. He did not leave by railroad, or comeup the river in the Hampton, or I should have seen him."
"Nick has something like sharpness, and he knew he could not get off onthe morning train. But he could have walked to Baldwin between the timehe closed the bar and nine o'clock, and taken the train there," Iadded.
"I don't believe Nick walked twenty miles: he is too lazy to doanything of the kind," added Cornwood, with a smile of incredulity."But he is not a great loss to his father; and he may make his way whenhe is thrown on his own resources. There was another piece of news inJacksonville this morning."
"What was that?" I inquired.
"But I suppose you know more about this matter than any one in thecity. It was said that Colonel Shepard's yacht, in which he was goingto New Orleans, left without him or his family. Is that a fact?"
"It is true, to the letter," I replied. "I took the colonel and hisfamily on board of the Sylvania, and they are in the cabin now."
"That's very odd--that Captain Blastblow should leave without hispassengers," added Cornwood. "What does it mean?"
"That is more than any one on board of the Sylvania can explain."
"Was there any money on board of the yacht--I forget her name, though Ihave heard you mention it several times?"
"The Islander: she is the twin-sister of the Sylvania, and as near likeher as one pin is like another," I answered. "I am not aware that therewas any money on board of her; and I should say there was not, for thepassengers had not sent their baggage on board."
"Does any one know where she is gone?"
"She is bound to the south, for we saw her off St. Johns' bar headed inthat direction. The pilots off the St. Augustine light saw her to-daynoon. We were chasing her when our passengers desired to get out of theheavy sea."
"I should think Colonel Shepard would have some idea of the motives ofCaptain Blastblow."
"He has no more idea than I have, and I have none. We are inclined tobelieve that the captain misunderstood his orders, for Colonel Shepardwas in doubt whether or not he should be able to go up the Mississippiwith us. When the mail got in yesterday afternoon, he wrote a card withhis instructions to Captain Blastblow on it, and sent it off to theIslander by Nick Boomsby, who happened to be talking to me in thepost-office at the time."
"Sent it off by Nick Boomsby," repeated Cornwood; but he did not appearto be astonished. "How came Nick to be about at that time?"
I told my late guide and pilot all that passed between me and the sonof my ancient enemy, to which he listened with deep interest. He seemedto be engaged in earnest thought all the time, as though Nick'smovements had some meaning to him, though not a particle to me. I toldhim I was in Captain Boomsby's saloon to say good-by to him at the timethe robbery of the messenger occurred. He questioned me very minutelyin regard to the affair, and I told him all I knew about it.
"Buckner sent for me to act as his counsel; but I thought I could makemore by coming down here," added Cornwood. "I lost one case a few daysago, and I don't care to lose another yet awhile."
Cornwood laughed as he alluded to his defence of Griffin Leeds, themulatto employed by him to do his bidding on our excursion to theinterior.
"Have you any doubt that Buckner is the man who robbed the messenger ofthe four thousand dollars?" I asked, rather to bring him out thanbecause I valued his opinion in a detective case.
"Not the slightest in the world; but I should not be surprised to learnthat he gave Nick a hundred dollars, or something of that sort, toclear out at just this time," replied Cornwood, easily.
"I don't see how that could have been," I protested. "Nick could nothave seen Buckner after the money was stolen, unless he visited him inthe lock-up."
"That was easily enough done."
"But some officer would have heard what passed between them. Besides,Buckner had no money, for none was found upon him when he wasarrested."
"Buckner hid the money, but he stowed away enough to see him throughthe trial. As the case now stands, they can't convict the man, for Nic
kwas the most important witness. He saw Buckner take the money. I haveno doubt Buckner will be discharged to-day," said Cornwood,confidently.
"Was that the reason you would not act as his counsel?" I asked, forthe late pilot's statements seemed to be contradictory.
"What you have told me, Captain Garningham, entirely changes myopinion. You were present, and you have told me exactly how the affairhappened. I supposed Peverell saw Buckner take the package. That makesall the difference in the world in a court of law. No one saw Bucknertake the money, according to your evidence, except Nick. The supposedrobber was arrested down the wharf; he was searched, all the holes andcorners, including the river, were searched for the package, but itcould not be found. What evidence is there that Buckner took it?"
"I don't see any, except that of Nick Boomsby; and he don't tell hisstory twice alike," I replied. "But, if Buckner did not take the money,I can't see who did take it. I saw the messenger lay the package on thecounter; and the next thing I saw was Nick leaping over the counter."
"I don't say that Buckner did not take the package; on the contrary, Ibelieve he did take it; only there is not evidence enough to convicthim without Nick," argued Cornwood. "If I had known that Nick was to beout of the way, I certainly should have taken the case, for a man whohas stolen four thousand dollars can afford to pay the lawyer well whogets him out of the scrape."
I was disgusted with this logic, though it was perfectly consistentwith all I knew of the man. I did not care to say anything more aboutthe case.
"After hearing your version of the affair, Captain Garningham, I aminclined to return to Jacksonville this afternoon, and offer myservices to the prisoner. When he gets out of jail he will have moneyenough to pay me handsomely," chuckled the lawyer; "but perhaps I cando something better if I can recover Colonel Shepard's loststeam-yacht."
"Do you think you can recover it?" I asked, curiously.
"I am quite confident I can. I suppose you will sail as soon as theweather will permit?" continued Cornwood.
"We shall. As I said, I am convinced that Captain Blastblow has simplymisunderstood his orders. I think he will proceed directly to NewOrleans, possibly touching at Key West."
"He will certainly put in at Key West; but he will probably be from tento twenty hours ahead of the Sylvania, and he will not wait for you. Ishould like to see Colonel Shepard."
I called the colonel up from the cabin, and as it was raining intorrents, I conducted him and the lawyer to my stateroom.
"For two hundred dollars--I can't work for nothing, and find myself,though I should be glad to do so for Colonel Shepard--I will recoverand return your yacht to you at Key West, or at some point this side ofthere; half down to pay my expenses, and half when the Islander isdelivered to you," said Cornwood.
"I haven't much confidence in you, Mr. Cornwood, and I don't care toadvance any money to you," replied the owner of the lost steamer.
"Quite natural, colonel. I will do it without any advance. But in halfan hour it will be too late to do anything," replied Cornwood, not atall repelled by the colonel's lack of confidence in him. "I must be inCedar Keys to-morrow night; and I must be in Jacksonville this eveningin order to do it. I shall get to Key West Sunday morning, and find theIslander there."
The plan was considered at length, and finally the colonel assented toit, and wrote the instructions for Cornwood. He hastened on shore.