In Search of Treasure

Quick and stern came these words from Abner Titcomb:

“If you kick that boy again, Captain Richmond, by the heavens above me I’ll fell you to the deck and kick you!”

There was something so resolute in Titcomb’s words and manner that Captain Richmond, furious as he was, was impressed in spite of himself.

“Mr. Titcomb,” he said, “I can have you arrested and imprisoned for what you have said.”

“If you don’t desist at once I will report your brutality to the American consul at the first port at which we stop, and demand your trial!”

As has already been said, Captain Richmond, though a bully, was a coward, and he did not dare to follow up his brutal treatment, much as he desired to do so.

“You may find that someone else will report to the consul,” he said, sullenly. “You will find, sir, that it is a serious thing to interfere with discipline on board ship.”

James Low moved slightly, opened his eyes, and seemed coming out of his stupor.

Captain Richmond bent over, seized him by the shoulder, and raised him to his feet.

“Now go below,” he said. “You will be kept on bread and water for the next twenty-four hours.”

James Low was glad enough to creep below, and the threat did not disturb him in the least.

Anything was better than going about his work when he was scarcely able to stand erect.

Captain Richmond, with as much dignity as he could command, went to his own cabin, and left the field to Titcomb and Guy.

“What do you think of such a man as that?” said Titcomb, turning to Guy.

“I never felt so indignant in my life! He is not a man, but a brute! You saved the poor fellow, Mr. Titcomb.”

“Yes; and I mean to shield him from the captain’s malice hereafter, for he will undoubtedly try to do him a mischief.”

“What would you have done had the captain kicked him again?”

“What would I have done? Don’t ask me. I would have treated Captain Richmond worse than he treated James, regardless of consequences.”

CHAPTER XXVII

GUY AND THE CAPTAIN

A strong, resolute man makes himself respected. Abner Titcomb had asserted his manhood and faced the captain fearlessly.

Autocrat as he aspired to be, Captain Richmond did not dare to go to the lengths he intended.

He made a show of maintaining his authority by ordering James Low below, and restricting him to bread and water. This was not, on the whole, a hardship, as it gave the poor fellow what he needed—complete rest.

Feverish as he was, also, the scanty diet was not, on the whole, undesirable. At the end of twenty-four hours he felt better, and returned to his work.

The captain did not molest him further, though he was seen at times to look at him with a contracted brow, as if he hated him. For the present, at least, however, he desisted from any further persecution, and as Low did his duty faithfully he gave his captain no excuse for ill treatment.

The weather was, on the whole, favorable, and in due time they reached the Indian Ocean.

As they drew nearer the group of islands, one of which, as Guy believed, contained the mysterious treasure of which he was in search, Guy became restless and excited. He held conferences with his two assistants, and managed to excite their interest, though he found that they were not so sanguine as himself.

“I have heard such stories before,” said Abner Titcomb, “and though it may all be true, you must not be too much disappointed if you don’t find what you expect.”

“I shall certainly be disappointed, Mr. Titcomb. My uncle’s letter was so direct and circumstantial that it carried conviction of its truth to my mind.”

“No doubt he believed it himself, but the sailor from whom he got his information may have been spinning a yarn.”

“You must remember, Mr. Titcomb, that he was on his deathbed. That is hardly a time to spin yarns.”

“True; and I hope his story was correct.”

“It was certainly natural. Granted that there are pirates, they would be likely to have a place of concealment for their booty.”

“I don’t say anything against that, Guy.”

The two men, though in Guy’s employ, were in the habit of calling him by his first name.

“At any rate, Luke and I are ready to co-operate with you and help you in every way to secure this treasure.”

“I don’t doubt that, Mr. Titcomb. I feel sure of your fidelity.”

The time came when it would be necessary to deviate from the usual course and make for the islands.

Not a word had been exchanged between Guy and the captain on this subject since the first day of the voyage, and he thought it well to bring the matter once more to the attention of the Osprey’s commander.

“Captain Richmond,” he said, one day, as that officer was about to leave the deck, “I should be glad to have a few words with you.”

The captain regarded Guy with an unpleasant frown, and said, sneeringly: “Perhaps you have some advice to give me as to the management of the vessel.”

“You are mistaken, sir,” said Guy, with dignity. “I wish to speak to you about the business which has brought me on board.”

“Very well. I will listen to what you have to say.”

They were now in the cabin. Guy took a seat opposite the captain, and began:

“I believe you know, in a general way, the object of my expedition.”

“I know very little about it,” said the captain, indifferently.

“It is desirable that you should know definitely. You understand that I wish to visit one of the Agalegas Islands?”

“Which one?”

“I can’t tell yet.”

“Then it looks as if we were bound on a fool’s errand.”