Chapter FORTY-ONE

As soon as he had received the instructions to proceed across the island from the cruiser Lieutenant Lockwood lined up his men and gave the order to advance. He took a position ahead of them, Redmond walking alongside him, leading the way through the jungle. By noon the party had reached the cave in the center of the island, and a halt was made to eat and rest during the heat of the day.

At three o’clock in the afternoon a fresh start was made, and an hour’s brisk march brought the party to the rock where Redmond had so often met Mary Ingleton.

The New Orleans was already lying off the entrance to the harbor outside the mine belt which the pirate had laid down as a protection for himself. Otherwise everything bore a normal appearance to Redmond. The familiar wisp of blue smoke curling up idly from the workshop chimney told him the Kanakas were busily engaged in their regular jobs.

“Do you think we’ll have any trouble with them?” Lockwood asked Redmond.

“I don’t think so,” replied the latter.

At this moment one of the men exclaimed:

“There’s a boat coming in from the ship, sir.”

“Well, I guess we’ll go down and meet it,” said Lockwood. He gave an order to the chief petty officer to remain with the landing party until he returned. He then set off with Redmond for the beach.

By the time they arrived there the boat was already tied up to the old mooring ring of the pirate’s airplane, and two officers had come ashore. One of them was the ship’s surgeon.

“I came along,” he told Lockwood, as soon as they caught up with one another, “to see what condition Levanter is in. If he can be moved, the captain’s instructions are to bring him aboard immediately.”

“Well! We might as well get over there right away,” remarked Lockwood who then signalled to his men to join him. As soon as they came up he instructed them to seize the workshop and bring the Kanakas out.

While the landing party was engaged in this task the three officers and Redmond entered Levanter’s room in the living hut.

As they entered Redmond halted abruptly and an involuntary gasp of astonishment escaped his lips. Levanter was lying on his cot, and the Kanaka chief was alongside him. The pirate’s features had visibly shrunk and his skin was tightly drawn across his hollowed cheeks. His eyes stood out, uncanny and piercing, while the flush of fever which suffused his cheeks gave him an unnatural appearance.

He started in surprise as he saw the strangers enter his room. With an effort he raised his weakened body upon his elbows and then exclaimed:

“Who are you? How did you get here?”

Redmond went over to his bedside.

“I’m the man who shot you,” he said. “You have never seen me before, but I’ve been on your island for weeks. We are here now because you have come to the end of your rope.”

The pirate sank back upon his pillow. For several moments he remained motionless. Finally he asked:

“Where is my ship?”

“It’s lying on the bottom of the ocean,” replied Redmond.

“What happened to Johnston and my crew, then?”

“They are lying there with it. If it’s any satisfaction to you, they died fighting.”

Levanter raised himself again, his eyes flashing with hate.

“Damn you!” he snapped. “If I’d been there you wouldn’t have had a chance.”

“That’s just where you are wrong,” said Redmond coolly. “The government beat you at your own game.”

At this moment the surgeon stepped forward and pushed Redmond back. He saw how critical the pirate’s condition was, and was anxious to put an end to the altercation which was rapidly causing the injured man’s temperature to rise dangerously.

“Lie down,” he commanded.

“What are you going to do with me?” enquired Levanter as he obeyed.

“I’m going to find out what’s the matter with you,” replied the surgeon who, after taking the pirate’s temperature and pulse, examined the injured leg. He then dressed the wound as carefully as he could with the limited facilities at his disposal. As soon as this task was completed he went over to his two companions.

“We’ll have to get back to the ship as rapidly as possible and put him in the sick bay. It’s a dangerous job. The shock will probably kill him, but it’s our only chance to save him. He’ll die quick enough if he’s left here.”

“I didn’t know he was as badly as that,” said Redmond.

“He’s in pretty bad shape,” added the surgeon. “We’ve got to amputate that leg, and there’s no time to lose. In fact, I think it’s too late now.”

Without further ado Lockwood went out. The landing party had already marshalled the Kanakas together outside the huts and was standing by awaiting further instructions.

Lockwood called two of his men over to him and ordered them to carry the pirate on the stretcher into the launch. He then instructed the others to wait with the Kanakas until a boat could be sent over from the warship to transfer the wounded pirate.

The two men quickly lifted the latter on the stretcher and then carried him down to the landing place where the three officers assisted in placing him aboard.