Dave Porter on Cave Island: or, A Schoolboy's Mysterious Mission

CHAPTER XVII – MEETING OLD FRIENDS

“They may have gone on some other vessel,” remarked Roger, after a pause. “Let us find out what other ships have left here during the past few days.”

“Say,” said Phil, to the elderly shipping-clerk. “Maybe you know my father or some of the captains working for him. His name is Lawrence, of the Lawrence Lines.”

“Indeed!” cried the shipping-clerk. “Well, of course I know him! Are you Phil Lawrence?” he questioned, eagerly.

“I am.”

“Now isn’t that strange!” The man put out his hand. “I don’t suppose you know me. My name is Sam Castner. I was once a supercargo for your father, on the Arvinus. You took a trip in her with your mother, when you were about ten years old, – down to Tampa and back, from Philadelphia.”

“That’s right, so I did!” cried the shipowner’s son. “I remember you now. We went fishing together.”

“So we did, Mr. Lawrence. My, how you’ve grown since then!” added the former supercargo, as he gazed at Phil’s tall and well-built form.

“Mr. Castner, we are in a hurry, and maybe you can help us a good deal,” went on Phil. “We are after two fellows who we think sailed in that schooner, or bark, or some vessel that left here within the past two days. They were young fellows, not much older than us boys. Will you aid us in getting on their track?”

“Sure I will,” was the ready answer. “What do you know about ’em?”

“All we know is that they went under the names of Leeds and Cross,” answered Dave. “But those are not their right names.”

“And that they are supposed to have sailed on the ship known by a common name —Emma something or other,” put in Roger.

“I can soon find out who sailed on the Emma Brower” answered Sam Castner. “Come with me to the next shipping office.”

He called another clerk to take charge, and accompanied the party to the next shipping office. On the way he was introduced to Dave and the others.

“One of your father’s vessels is in this harbor now,” he said to Phil.

“What ship is that?”

“The Golden Eagle, Captain Sanders.”

“Captain Sanders!” cried Dave. “Do you mean Bob Sanders, who used to sail on the Stormy Petrel with Captain Marshall?”

“The same, Mr. Porter. Then you know him?”

“Indeed I do!” returned Dave. “Why, I sailed with him in the South Seas!”

“Well, he’s here.”

“We’ll have to try to see him before we leave,” said Phil. “He was a nice fellow.”

At the second shipping office further inquiries were made concerning the sailing of the Emma Brower. It was learned that the bark had carried not more than half a cargo for Barbados and eight passengers. The names of Merwell, Jasniff, Leeds, or Cross did not appear on the passenger list.

“Did anybody here see those passengers?” asked Dunston Porter.

“I did,” returned a young clerk. “I was aboard just before she sailed, and I saw all of them.”

“Were there two young fellows, chums?” asked Dave.

“There were, two tall chaps, a bit older than you.”

“Did they look like these fellows?” and now our hero brought out the photographs he had used before.

“They certainly did!” cried the clerk. “I remember this fellow distinctly,” and he pointed to Jasniff’s picture, taken just before that individual had run away from Oak Hall.

“Then they sailed, just as we feared!” returned Dave, and there was something like a groan in his voice.

“Wonder if they took the jewels,” murmured Roger.

“Most likely, Roger,” answered Dunston Porter.

“But what would they do with them in such an out-of-the-way place as Barbados?”

“I rather imagine their plan is to keep quiet for a while, until this affair blows over. Then they’ll either return to the United States, or take a British vessel for England. Barbados is an English possession, you must remember, and a regular line of steamers sail from there to England.”

“I wonder if we couldn’t charter a steam tug and go after the bark?” mused Dave.

“It might be done,” returned his uncle. “But I doubt if we could catch the bark, or even locate her. She has too much of a start.”

“Was the bark going to stop at any ports along the way?” asked Phil.

“She was not,” answered the young shipping-clerk.

“Then there is nothing to do but to sail for Barbados after them!” cried Dave.

“Sail after them – that far!” ejaculated the senator’s son.

“Yes, Roger. Of course you haven’t got to go, or Phil either. But I think my uncle and I ought to go after ’em. Don’t you think so, Uncle Dunston?”

“I don’t know – perhaps,” was the slow reply. “We had better make a few more inquiries first, Dave.”

“Oh, yes, let us find out all we can about Merwell and Jasniff.”

They left the shipping office and walked back to the hotel. Here they had a late breakfast and then commenced to make diligent inquiries concerning all the movements of Merwell and Jasniff. They soon learned that the pair had had plenty of money to spend, and that they had bought many things for the trip to Barbados, even taking along an extra supply of the Turkish cigarettes that came in the boxes with bands of blue and gold.

“I think that that proves my clew of the cigarette box is correct,” said Dave.

They visited the local pawnbrokers, and from one of them learned that Merwell had pawned two diamonds for two hundred and fifty dollars. The rascal had told the pawnbroker that the gems were the property of a rich lady who was awaiting a remittance from France.

“Do these diamonds belong to the Carwith collection?” asked Roger.

“That remains to be found out,” answered Dunston Porter, and then he told the pawnbroker to be sure and not let the gems go out of his possession until a further investigation could be made. The man grumbled somewhat, but when Dave’s uncle spoke about calling in the officers of the law, he subsided.

“Very well, I’ll keep them,” he said. “And if anything is wrong, I’ll do what the law requires, even if I lose by it.”

“Let us visit the Golden Eagle and see Bob Sanders,” said Phil, late in the afternoon. “Perhaps he knows something about the Emma Brower, and her trip.”

The others were willing, and sundown found them aboard the vessel belonging to Phil’s father. Hardly had they stepped on deck when a grizzled old tar, with white hair, rushed up to Dave.

“If it ain’t Dave Porter!” he burst out. “Yes, sir, Dave, wot I haven’t seen in a year o’ Sundays! How be you, my boy?” And he caught the youth by both hands.

“Billy Dill!” exclaimed our hero, as his face lit up with pleasure. “Where in the world did you drop from? I thought you had given up the sea.”

Billy Dill, as my old readers will remember, was the tar who aided Dave in locating his Uncle Dunston. As related in “Dave Porter in the South Seas,” Billy Dill had traveled with our hero to that portion of the globe, in the Stormy Petrel, of which Bob Sanders was, at the time, second mate. On returning home, the old tar had been placed in a sanitarium and then a sailors’ home, and Dave had imagined he was still in the latter retreat.

“Couldn’t give up the sea, Dave,” replied the old sailor. “I tried my best, but it wasn’t no use. So I goes to Phil’s old man, an’ I says, says I, ‘Give me a berth an’ anything I’m wuth,’ an’ he says, says he, ‘How would ye like to sail with Cap’n Sanders, wot sailed with you to the South Seas?’ ‘Fust-rate,’ says I; an’ here I be, an’ likes it very much.”

“Well, I’m glad to see you looking so well,” answered Dave.

“It’s the sea air done it, lad. When I was ashore I jest knowed I wanted sea air. No more homes ashore fer Billy Dill, not much!” And the old tar shook his head with conviction.

A few minutes later, while the old sailor was shaking hands with the others, and asking and answering questions, the captain of the ship came up.

“Very glad indeed to see you again,” said Captain Sanders, with a broad smile. He looked closely at the boys. “Grown some since I saw you last.”

“And you have advanced, too,” answered Dave, with a grin. “Let me congratulate you on becoming a captain, Mr. Sanders.”

“It’s all through the kindness of Mr. Lawrence and Captain Marshall. If it wasn’t for them, I shouldn’t be in this berth.”

“How is Captain Marshall?” asked our hero. The man mentioned was the commander of the ship in which Dave had sailed to the South Seas.

“First-rate, the last I heard of him. He sailed from San Francisco to Manila ten days ago.”

“Captain Sanders, what port are you bound for next?” questioned Phil, after greetings had been exchanged all around and a number of other questions had been asked.

“No port as yet, Phil. I’m waiting for orders.”

“Have you any idea where you may go to?”

“Something was said about a cargo for Porto Rico. But nothing was settled. I’ll know in a couple of days, I think.”

“Do any of our ships ever sail to Barbados?”

“Not very often. I could have had a cargo for that port from here, but the firm didn’t take it, and it went to the Emma Brower.”

“The very ship we are after!” murmured Dave.

“Could you get another cargo for Barbados, do you think?”

“I don’t know – maybe. Why?”

“We want to go there!”

“You do! That isn’t much of a place.”

“But we have a reason for wanting to go,” went on Phil. And then, knowing he could trust Captain Sanders, he told the story of the stolen gems and the search for Merwell and Jasniff.

“Humph! that’s a queer yarn,” mused the captain of the Golden Eagle. “Supposing I got a cargo for that port – you’d go along?”

“I would,” answered the shipowner’s son, promptly. “That is, if dad would let me – and I’m sure he would.”

“So would I go,” added Dave.

“I’d have to go – to look after the others,” said Dunston Porter, with a smile.

“Well, you can’t leave me in the cold,” came from Roger. “If the rest went, I’d go too.”

“Come down to the cabin and talk it over,” said Captain Sanders, and led the way across the deck and down the companionway.

Once below they were invited to remain to supper and did so. While at the meal the boys and Dunston Porter told all they knew concerning the case against Merwell and Jasniff, and the captain told what he knew about the Emma Brower and her commander.

“I am going to telegraph to my father about this,” said Phil, a little later. “If this vessel can get a cargo for Barbados she might as well sail for that port as anywhere.”

“Well, I’m willing,” answered Captain Sanders. “When will you send word to him?”

“Right away – I’ll send him a telegram at once.”

“I hope it turns out all right,” said Dave. “I feel it is my duty to get after Merwell and Jasniff, and do it as soon as possible.”

CHAPTER XVIII – OFF FOR BARBADOS

The next three days were busy ones for the boys and Dunston Porter. Telegrams were sent back and forth between Phil and his father, and also between Dave and Mr. Wadsworth.

“Here is news!” cried our hero, after receiving one of the messages. “Just listen to this.” And he read the following, from the jewelry manufacturer:

“Clew in Boston proved to be false, also clew in New York. Hope you are on the right track and get gems. Spare no expense if you feel you are right.”

“And here is a telegram from my dad,” said Phil. “He tells us – Captain Sanders and myself – to use our own judgment.”

“Can you get a cargo for Barbados, Phil?” asked Roger.

“We can get a half-cargo.”

“At once?”

“Yes, that is, inside of two days.”

“Then by all means take it, Phil!” cried Dave. “I know Mr. Wadsworth will stand the extra expense. And if he won’t, I know my father will.”

“Where is your Uncle Dunston?” questioned the shipowner’s son.

“He’s out on a little business trip. He got a telegram from New York that upset him somewhat. I hope it isn’t anything serious,” added Dave, soberly.

The boys rushed off to talk the matter over with Captain Sanders. They found the master of the vessel at the shipping office, talking over the matter of a cargo for Barbados.

“Four men want to take passage with us, if we go,” said the captain. “That will help pay for the trip, since they are willing to pay good passage money.”

“We want you to take that half-cargo,” said Phil, and explained matters.

“All right, if you say so,” answered Captain Sanders. “But you had better speak to Mr. Porter about it first.”

Half an hour later Dunston Porter came driving up in a cab. He was plainly excited.

“I’ve got to go to New York at once,” he said. “I must look after some valuable investments in Wall Street. Do you think you boys can get along alone?”

“I think we can, Uncle Dunston,” answered Dave. “You know we are used to taking care of ourselves,” and he smiled faintly.

“Then go ahead and do as you think best.”

“We want Captain Sanders to start for Barbados as soon as he can,” went on our hero, and told of the telegrams received.

A general talk followed, lasting until Dunston Porter had to ride away to catch the train for New York.

“You must be right, and Merwell and Jasniff must be guilty,” he said. “And if they are, spare no expense in catching them. I think the quicker you start for Barbados the better. And as soon as you arrive do your best to locate the rascals and have the authorities arrest them. And above all things, keep your eyes open for the jewels, for we need them much more than we need to catch Merwell and Jasniff. To catch the rascals and miss the gems will do us no good.”

“I understand, Uncle Dunston,” answered Dave. “And if the jewels are anywhere around we’ll locate them.”

“Then good-by and good luck!” finished Dunston Porter, and in a minute more he was off.

As soon as he was gone the boys and Captain Sanders commenced preparations for the trip to Barbados. An extra number of longshoremen were engaged, so that the half-cargo to be taken along could be gotten aboard quickly, and the boys spent their time in buying such things as they needed for the trip.

“They tell me it is pretty warm down there,” said Roger. “So we had better buy some thin suits.”

“And we had better go armed,” added Phil. “No telling what trouble we may run into, in trying to corner Merwell and Jasniff. Merwell is no great fighter, but Jasniff is a brute.”

“Yes, I’ll take no chances with Jasniff,” answered Dave. He had not forgotten his quarrel at Oak Hall with that bully, and how Jasniff had attacked him with an Indian club, as related in detail in “Dave Porter’s Return to School.”

At last all was in readiness for the trip, and the boys and the other passengers, four burly Englishmen, went aboard. Fortunately, the Golden Eagle was well provided with staterooms, so there was but little crowding. Dave had a small room to himself and next to him were his chums, with Captain Sanders and the first mate opposite. Billy Dill was, of course, in the forecastle with the other sailors.

“It’s grand to have you along ag’in,” he said, to Dave and Phil. “Seems like old times, when we sailed the Pacific.”

“So it does,” answered our hero.

“Only ye ain’t a-lookin’ for no uncle this trip, be you?” And the old tar chuckled.

“No, Billy, we are looking for somebody quite different – two rascals who ran away with a lot of diamonds.”

“Mackerel an’ codfish! Ye don’t tell me, Dave! Your diamonds?”

“No, but some diamonds that were left with a close friend of mine. If they are not recovered, my friend will be almost ruined.”

“Jumpin’ dogfish! Then I hope you catch them lubbers! If so be I can help ye any, don’t be afeered to call on me,” added the old sailor, earnestly.

“All right; I’ll remember that,” replied Dave.

Early the next day the Golden Eagle slipped down the St. John’s River and past the jetties and the lighthouse into the Atlantic Ocean. It was warm and clear, with a good wind blowing from the west, an ideal day for the departure. The boys remained on deck, watching the scenery of the winding stream and then the fading shoreline, and then went below to arrange their belongings, for the trip to Barbados would occupy some time.

“I hope we don’t get seasick,” remarked the senator’s son.

“Well, if we do, we’ll have to stand it,” replied Phil. “But don’t let’s think about it.”

“What I am wishing, is that we’ll have good weather and a quick passage,” remarked Dave. “We can’t get to Barbados any too quick for me.”

“I was looking up the place in the shipping-guide,” went on Roger. “It’s not much of an island, only twenty-one miles long by fifteen wide. The whole population is only about two hundred thousand, mostly English.”

“The smaller the population the easier it will be to find Merwell and Jasniff,” was the comment of the shipowner’s son.

“Well, there may be a good many hiding-places on an island twenty-one miles long by fifteen miles wide,” added Dave, with a grin.

“Oh, we’ll rake the island with a fine-tooth comb, if we have to,” cried Roger.

“Roger, was your father quite willing to let you go on the trip?”

“Yes. He and mother are now in Washington, you know, and as the school is closed, I’d either have to go to the Capital, or stay with you. And I told him I’d much rather be with you and Phil.”

“And we are glad to have you with us!” cried Phil, and Dave nodded, to show that he felt the same way about it.

“What do you think about the other passengers?” asked Phil, in a lower voice, so that nobody else might hear.

“I don’t think I’ll like them very much,” replied the senator’s son. “That man named Geswick is very loud and dictatorial.”

“Yes, and the chap named Pardell is little better,” returned Dave.

“What line are they in, Phil, did you hear?”

“Oh, they are traveling, that’s all. They came to this country from London, and they are going back by the way of Barbados.”

“They seem to have some money.”

“Yes, but Captain Sanders told me that they hang on to it pretty well – more so than he at first expected they would.”

The first day passed rapidly and the Golden Eagle made good headway. The boys spent most of the time on deck, amusing themselves as best they could. They talked to Captain Sanders and his mate, and also visited with Billy Dill. Occasionally they conversed with the four Englishmen, but they noticed that the Britishers were inclined to keep to themselves.

“I guess it is just as well, too,” said Dave to his chums. “They are not our sort at all.”

“Unless I miss my guess, they have had some sort of quarrel among themselves,” remarked Phil. “They were disputing over something early this morning and again just before dinner.”

Several days passed, and the boys commenced to feel quite at home on the ship. None of them had been seasick, for which all were thankful.

“The weather has been in our favor,” said Captain Sanders. “If it keeps on like this, we’ll make Barbados in record time.”

“Billy Dill said he smelt a storm,” returned Dave.

“Hum! Is that so?” mused the captain. “Well, he’s a pretty good weather-sharp, I must confess. I’ll take another look at the glass,” and he walked off to do so.

The storm came up during the night, and Dave was awakened to find himself rolling from one side of his berth to the other. He arose, and as he did so he heard an exclamation from Roger.

“What is it, Roger?” he called out.

“I – I guess I’m seasick!” answered the senator’s son. “Gracious, how this old tub rolls!”

“Don’t call the Golden Eagle a tub!” returned Phil. “Say, can I do anything for you?” he went on sympathetically.

“Yes, tell Captain Sanders to keep the boat from rocking.”

“Better lie down again, Roger,” said Dave, entering the stateroom. “It’s a little better than standing up.”

“Oh, I – I guess I’m not so very ba-badly off,” gasped the sufferer. “But I do wish the storm was over.”

“We all wish that.”

But, instead of clearing away, the storm increased in violence, and by nine o’clock in the morning the wind was blowing close to a gale. Both the captain and the mate were on deck, and the former advised the boys and the other passengers to remain below. Two of the Englishmen were very seasick and found all manner of fault because of the storm.

“I’d never have come on this treasure hunt had I known I was to be so sick!” groaned one.

“What bloody luck!” said the other sick man. “All the pirates’ gold in the world is not worth it!”

“Stow it!” cried the man named Geswick. “You know you weren’t to mention what we were after.”

“Nobody can hear us, in this storm,” replied the first man who had spoken.

“Those boys might hear,” put in the fellow named Pardell.

“Oh, well, they are only boys. Besides, they’d not dare to follow us up to Cave Island – ”

“Hush, I tell you!” cried Geswick, savagely. “Do learn to keep your tongue quiet.” And then the men continued to talk in whispers.

Dave had been passing the staterooms of the Englishmen during this conversation and he could not help but hear what was said. When he rejoined his chums he told them of the talk.

“They must be on the hunt after pirates’ gold,” said Phil. “Well, they are not the first to do that kind of searching. Party after party has sailed down here for the same purpose.”

“Yes, and each party has been unsuccessful, so far as I know,” answered Dave.

“Perhaps they have some extra-good clew,” suggested Roger, trying to forget his seasickness.

“Perhaps,” returned Dave. “Well, if they can find any pirates’ gold on any of these islands they are welcome to it, so far as I am concerned. All I want to get hold of are the Carwith jewels.”