Chapter XXIV: More Trouble in Sight

Since the return of the master gunner and his party from their successful chase of the buccaneers, the crew of the _Neptune_ had been increased, though not up to full strength. It was Captain Jeremy's intention to keep a large garrison in the stockade, under Captain 'Enery, while the master gunner resumed his duties on board the _Golden Hope_. Joe Clemens, by virtue of his having been mate on a trading vessel, was appointed to the charge of the _Neptune_ till such time as Captain 'Enery could resume his command.

This was, in a measure, somewhat tactless, for Clemens, not being one of the original crew of the _Golden Hope_, was looked upon by some of the men as an outsider who had risen over their heads.

But Joe Clemens, cheerful and easy-going Cornishman that he was, treated this matter lightly, though he was fully aware of it. On being told of the feeling amongst certain of the crew of the _Neptune_, he merely remarked that they would soon get used to it, and that he was quite big and strong enough to look after both Captain Jeremy's interests and his own.

It happened, however, that one day, while Captain Jeremy, the master gunner, and I were in the cabin, a seaman knocked softly and, without waiting to be bidden to enter, came in and closed the door behind him.

He was one of the original band of Lymington men, yet Captain Jeremy, ever a strict disciplinarian, liked not the manner of his entry.

"How now, Cherry?" he asked sternly. "Is this the way--bursting in upon your officers without so much as 'by your leave'?"

"What I have to say must be said quietly, sir," replied the man resolutely.

"Say on."

"There's underhand work aboard the _Neptune_, sir," continued the man. "There's a dozen of 'em in touch with that rascal Slater."

Instinctively I recalled Slater's words: "Dost think I have no friends aboard the ships?"

"How d'ye know this?" demanded Captain Jeremy coolly.

"I heard 'em talking in the fo'c'sle last night, while I was lying down on the cathead for a spell. They'll try to seize the stuff when we get it aboard."

"Will they?" said the Captain grimly. "And who may the rascals be?"

Cherry gave the names of about a dozen, all of whom had, like Slater and his companions, joined the _Golden Hope_ from a Chatham brig. "They mean to mutiny, lay hands on the treasure, and place it in the sloop," he continued. "They can scarce hope to take the _Golden Hope_."

Now, the sloop was a small, half-decked vessel, of about ten tons burthen, one of the craft that Touchstone had found hard by the place where he had ambushed the buccaneers. These boats had been brought round while I had been ill, and now lay close inshore, and almost abreast of the stockade.

"Why not send an armed force aboard the _Neptune_ and secure them?" asked Touchstone. "They'll lie safely in the bilboes, even if we do not run them up to the yard-arm."

"Nay, I'll play with them awhile," said Captain Jeremy. "Yet I'll take no risks in the matter. For aught I care, they are right welcome to the sloop. And now, Cherry, I thank you for your warning, and rest assured that I'll not forget to recompense you for it."

The sailor withdrew, and long and anxiously the two officers conferred as to their plan of action.

"'Twill be one way out of the difficulty," concluded Captain Jeremy, slapping his thigh as he was wont to do when in high good humour. "Sink me! we'll begin our preparations to-morrow."

Accordingly, soon after breakfast on the morrow he was rowed aboard the _Neptune_, and having assembled the crew, true men and false alike, he addressed them.

"My lads," said he, "in the course of a few days I hope to have the long-sought-for treasure in our possession. Now, since no one can deny that I am a just man, I'll speak plainly on what I propose to do. Those of you who left England in the Golden Hope will receive a share in the _Madre_ treasure, while all hands are entitled to the spoils we recovered from the wreck of the pirate ship. Now, to prevent mistakes, I propose to separate the two; and since the _Neptune_ is of the lighter build, and sails a full knot faster than the _Golden Hope_, I'll stow the whole of the _Madre_ treasure in the hold of the _Neptune_. Thus, should we be attacked while homeward bound, the _Golden Hope_ can ward off our foes while the _Neptune_ shows a clean pair of heels. Then, should Providence guide us safely into port, a fair and just distribution will be made ere we warp alongside Poole Quay."

Three cheers greeted this announcement, though I felt certain that there were a dozen rogues at least who were laughing in their sleeves at Captain Jeremy for being a fool.

Ere noon arrived the whole of the treasure that we had recovered from the buccaneering craft was safely stowed away in the strong room of the _Golden Hope_; while, acting under instructions, Joe Clemens and several of the proved members of the _Neptune's_ crew removed their personal effects to the parent ship.

Meanwhile, the men who garrisoned the stockade had not been idle. They had thoroughly explored the cliff path that led to the now deserted buccaneering settlement, and also the road that traversed the island from north to south, the same one that we had struck on our first expedition into the interior. The cliff route was found to be far more practicable than the direct one through the forest, though 'twas considerably longer.

Captain 'Enery had constructed several large wheelbarrows so that, with the assistance of a couple of men pulling ahead, the treasure could be conveyed to the shore with comparative ease; and Captain Jeremy gave orders for several large boxes, or chests, to be made of strong wood, each numbered on the lid. These boxes, he announced, would hold the treasure safely during the passage home, till the time came for it to be duly apportioned.

While this was being done Captain Jeremy sent a party of six trusty men to proceed along the east coast of the island in a southerly direction till they came to a clump of three small palm trees standing far apart from the rest of the vegetation and close to the water's edge. These the men were to cut down, move a hundred yards in a southerly direction, and set up again as well as they were able. The seamen did this faithfully and well, whereat Captain Jeremy again slapped his thigh in evident satisfaction.

That the rascals on board the _Neptune_ were in constant communication with Slater and his fellows we had no doubt, for twice we perceived two men swimming off to the ship by night. Yet all this Captain Jeremy purposely winked at, being of a mind to let the villains work their own destruction.

On the morning of the day before we purposed to set out to secure the treasure, two of the rascals rowed alongside the Golden Hole and asked permission to water their ship, as the tanks were well-nigh empty. To this request Captain Jeremy readily gave permission, and by the ill-concealed grin on the faces of the rogues when they heard him agree, I knew that they were setting in a store to last them on a voyage.

Every preparation having been completed, our Captain recalled 'Enery to take charge of the _Golden Hope_ during his absence, while Touchstone was again to be in command of the stockade.

"There's mischief brewing," said he to Captain 'Enery. "But, mark my words, they'll lie quiet enough till the treasure is safely aboard the _Neptune_. Nevertheless, I know I can rely upon you to take every precaution to safeguard the ship; but do nothing to arouse suspicion. Let the men have shore leave if they ask for it; do nothing beyond the daily routine, for should those rascals smell a rat, all our preparations would count for naught."

At daybreak the force picked out for the expedition paraded outside the stockade. There were forty-five all told, composed of fifteen of the original crew of the _Golden Hope_ on whom we could thoroughly rely and thirty of the peasants whom we had rescued from the _Neptune_.

All were armed with muskets and cutlasses, while in the barrows were piled hatchets, spades, and mattocks, together with a goodly supply of provisions.

Amid the cheers of those who were left behind, for all, whether true or false, wished us success, the expedition set out, Captain Jeremy and I walking at the head of the column.

Unless untoward events prevented it, another thirty-six hours would see the treasure of the _Madre de Dios_ within our grasp.