The Second String

"And you will keep it dark?" asked Amos.

"Certainly, if you do as we wish, and keep your mates quiet."

"And what about the money?" said Amos, with a leer.

"You shall have ten pounds for yourself if it comes off," said Phil Danks.

"That's not much."

"It is plenty, and you are not entitled to any. You can easily concoct some yarn to please the others."

"Very well, I'll see about it, but I'm going to make a night of it here, I don't often get the chance. I suppose you have no objections?"

"None at all," said Jack, as Amos appealed to him. "You are quite welcome to anything we have on board."

CHAPTER TENTH

THE TWO BLACK DIVERS

Amos Hooker went ashore taking with him several bottles of spirits with which to propitiate the pearl fishers. The men were down on the beach to meet him, and the sight of the bottles put them in a good humour; it was not long before they emptied two or three, and then commenced to talk freely.

"Spent a jolly night on board, Amos?" asked one man.

"Yes, they are real good fellows, two new chums, and you can take my word for it they'll do us no harm with their fishing."

"We made up our minds last night there's to be no pearling here, or there'll be a row."

"Tom Case, you are a fool," replied Amos. "Let 'em try their luck, and it's long odds they find nothing. While they are messing about here we shall have a plentiful supply of liquor, food stuff, and tobacco from the schooners. They are well provisioned, and that will be a change, you'll allow."

"There's sense in that," said one of the men, "and as Amos says, it's long odds they pick up nothing. I say, leave 'em alone; what's your opinion, mates?"

"If we give them a free hand it will mean that others will come and expect the same treatment," said Case. "I vote we stop their little game as soon as they commence."

Tom Case was jealous of the position held by Amos Hooker, and this was his reason for holding out. He saw, however, that the prospect of fresh supplies was too great a temptation for them, and finally it was decided to permit the newcomers to try their luck without any interference. This news Amos Hooker conveyed to the "Heron," and Jack handed him over ten pounds as a reward.

"We require some more divers," said Jack, "can you procure them for us?"

"How many do you want?"

"Six or seven; we have some of our own on board."

"I can get you them, but they are not very reliable. Still, if you treat them well I think they will be all right."

"We will deal liberally with them," said Jack, "providing they work well."

Amos Hooker saw a chance here. He had two black fellows who would do anything for him, and they were expert divers.

"Do you wish to take any of them with you when you go north, if they turn out well?" he asked.

"Yes," replied Jack, readily, "and they can be put in here on our return."

"Then I'll try and fix it up for you," said Amos.

The arrangements for sending out the boats with divers were soon completed, and while Amos was ashore they were at work in different parts of the bay.

Amos Hooker's two blacks were half civilised, and had been employed as divers for a long time. They were wonderfully clever, and could remain under water for a very long time. Through these men, Amos Hooker had secured many a good pearl that ought not to have fallen to his share. He had no scruples in robbing his mates by means of these divers who had been with him on the "Mary Hatchett" when he stole the schooner and made several voyages on his own account. He had treated them well, and although they were a couple of scoundrels they were afraid of him, and at the same time curiously attached to him. He seemed to exercise great influence over them, and they evidently understood one another. They were tall strong men, and capable of great endurance. When Amos Hooker seized the "Mary Hatchett" they stood by him, and had it not been for their support his plan for taking the schooner would have failed. There were ugly tales afloat about the "Mary Hatchett," and Kylis and Miah, the two blacks, could have told a terrible story had they chosen. The schooner was lost a few months after Amos Hooker secured her, and it was probably as well for him that such was the case.

He approached the men cautiously, and in a few words explained what was required of them. They spoke fairly good pigeon English, and it will be more understandable if properly translated.

"We are to go to sea in the schooners?" said Kylis, a curious name, which in some parts takes the place of boomerang.

"Yes, and you will have a good trip. There is plenty to eat and drink on board, and you will be well paid."

"We go as divers?" asked Miah.

"That is so; you are both clever at it."

"Are you going?" asked Kylis.

"No, of course not."

"I thought perhaps you might be in want of another schooner," grinned the black.

Amos cursed him, and bade him keep a guard on his tongue.

"We are to do something for you?" asked Miah, who knew very well "the boss" had some game of his own to play.

"You can help me and yourselves as well," he said. "These schooners are going north to some bay Jacob Rank discovered, and where he says there are many shells. This may be true, or it may not; in any case it matters very little to you, for you will be paid. If they find much shell there will be good pearls, and good pearls are rare, Kylis. I like good pearls."

The black showed his teeth in a broad grin; then he opened his mouth wide, showing a huge cavity. He closed it with a snap, made a show of swallowing something, and then rubbed his stomach.

"Quite so," said Amos. "You have swallowed pearls before, and can do it again, but on this trip you will have to adopt some other method of hiding them."

Miah grunted curiously, and then said —

"We can hide pearls, you can be sure of that."

"If they find you out you will have a bad time, so you had better be careful," said Amos. "Anyway, I suppose you will go?"

They both assented, and he said —

"If you find good pearls and bring them to me, I can get a price for them. You cannot do so, therefore it will be to your interests to hand them over to me."

They nodded, and understood perfectly well what he required of them. There were many ways of hiding pearls on a schooner, and expert divers had but little difficulty in concealing them.

The pearl fishing in Shark's Bay proved so unsatisfactory that Phil Danks strongly advised a move to the north-west.

"Hooker was about right," he said. "The place is worked out; we shall have no luck here, and it is a waste of time."