As the hunt for the had continued all day, everyone, police, villagers and soldiers, were weary and disheartened. Consequently, when the three men met near the Fort, there seemed to be few people about. This was just as well, as they would have been followed to the jetty, and obviously it was best to keep the strange meeting with Captain Hervey as secret as possible. However, Don Pedro had taken Date into his confidence, as it was impossible to get past the cottage of the late Mrs. Jasher, in which the officer had taken up his quarters, without being discovered. Date was quite willing that the trio should go, but that he should come also. He had heard all about Captain Hervey in connection with the mummy, and thought that he would like to ask that sailor a few leading questions.
“And if I see fit I shall detain him until the inquest is over,” said Date, which was , as the inspector had no warrant to stop The Firefly or arrest her skipper.
The three men therefore were joined by Date, when they came along the path of the cottage, and the quartette proceeded further immediately, walking amongst the bents and grasses to the rude old wooden jetty, near which Hervey intended to stop his ship. The night was quite clear of fog, strange to say, considering the late sea-mist; but a strong wind had been blowing all day and the fog-wreaths were . A full moon rode amongst a of stars, which twinkled like diamonds. The air was frosty, and their feet the earth and grasses and coarse herbage under foot, as they made rapidly for the embankment.
When they reached the top they could see the jetty clearly almost below their feet, and in the distance the glittering lights of Pierside. Vague forms of at anchor on the water, and there was a stream of light where the moon made a pathway of silver. After a casual glance the three men proceeded down the slope to the jetty. Three of them at least had revolvers, since Hervey was an ill man to tackle; but probably Date, who was too to consider consequences, was unarmed. Neither did Don Pedro think it necessary to tell the officer that he and his two companions were prepared to shoot if necessary. Inspector Date, being a prosy Englishman, would not have understood such lawless doings in his own sober, law-abiding country.
When they reached the jetty Don Pedro glanced at his watch, the dial by his cigar to a ruddy glow. It was just after eight o'clock, and even as he looked an from Date made him raise his head. The inspector was pointing out-stream to a large which had steamed inshore as far as was safe. Probably Hervey was watching for them through a night-glass, for a blue light suddenly on the bridge. Don Pedro, according to his promise, fired a pistol, and it was then that Date learned that his companions were armed.
“What the devil did you do that for?” he inquired angrily. “It will bring my down on us.”
“I do not mind, since you can control them,” said De Gayangos coolly. “I had to give the signal.”
“And we all have revolvers,” said quickly. “Hervey is not a very safe man to tackle, inspector.”
“Do you expect a fight?” said Date, while they all watched a boat being lowered. “If so, you might have told me, and I should have brought a revolver also. Not that I think it is needed. The sight of my uniform will be enough to show this man that I have the law behind me.”
“I don't think that will matter to Hervey,” said Archie dryly. “So much as I have seen of him suggests to me that he is a singularly lawless man.”
Date laughed good-humoredly.
“It seems to me, gentlemen, that you have brought me on a expedition,” he said, and seemed to enjoy the novel situation. Date had been wrapped up in the cotton-wool of civilization for a long time, but his instincts rose to the surface, now that he had to face a probable rough-and-tumble fight. “But I don't expect there will be any scrap,” he said regretfully. “My uniform will settle the matter.”
It certainly seemed to annoy Captain Hervey , for, as the boat approached the shore, and the moonlight revealed a distinctly official overcoat, he gave an order. The man stopped rowing and the boat rocked gently, some distance from the jetty.
“You've got a high old crowd with you, Don Pedro,” sang out Hervey, in great displeasure. “Is that angel in the military togs, with the buttons, the !”
“No. I am here,” cried out Random, laughing at the description, which he recognized. “My friend Hope is with me, and Inspector Date. I suppose you have heard what has happened?”
“Yes, I've taken it all in,” said Hervey sourly. “I guess the news is all over Pierside. Well, it's none of my picnic, I reckon. So chuck that gold over here, Don Pedro, and I'll send along the writing.”
“No,” said Don Pedro, prompted by Date. “You must come .”
“I guess not,” said Hervey vigorously. “You want to run me in.”
“For that theft of thirty years ago,” laughed De Gayangos. “Nonsense! Come along. You are quite safe.”
“Shan't take your damned word for it,” Hervey. “But if those two gents can swear that there's no trickery, I'll come. I can depend on the word of an English aristocrat, anyhow.”
“Come along. You are quite safe,” said Sir Frank, and Hope echoed his words.
Thus being made certain, Hervey gave an order and the boat was rowed right up to the beach, immediately below the jetty. The four men were about to , but Hervey seemed anxious to avoid giving them trouble.
“Hold on, gents,” said he, leaping ashore. “I'll come up 'longside.”
Date, ever suspicious, thought it queer that the skipper should behave so politely, as he had gathered that Hervey was not usually a considerate man. Also, he saw that when the captain was climbing the bank, the boat, in charge of a mate—as the inspector judged from his brass-bound uniform—backed water to the end of the jetty, where it swung against one of the shell-encrusted piles. Hervey finally reached the jetty level, but refused to come on to the same. He to Don Pedro and his companions to walk forward to the ground upon which he was . Also, he seemed exceedingly anxious to take time over the transaction, as even after he had handed the of writing to the Peruvian, and had received the gold in exchange, he engaged in quarrelsome conversation. Pretending that he doubted if De Gayangos had brought the exact sum, he opened the canvas bag and insisted on counting the money. Don Pedro naturally lost his temper at this insult, and swore in Spanish, upon which Hervey responded with such volubility that anyone could see he was a pastmaster in Castilian swearing. The row was considerable, especially as Random and Hope were laughing at the quarrel. They thought that Hervey was the worse for drink, but Date—clever for once in his life—did not think so. It appeared to him that the boat had gone to the end of the jetty for some reason connected with the same reason which induced the skipper to spin out the time of the meeting by indulging in an unnecessary quarrel.
The skipper also kept his eyes about him, and insisted that the four men should keep together at the head of the .
“I daresay you're trying to play low down on me,” he said with a , after satisfying himself that the money was correct, “but I've got my shooter.”
“So have I,” cried Don Pedro indignantly, and slipped his hand round to his pocket, “and if you talk any further so insulting I shall—”
“Oh, you bet, two can play at that game,” cried Hervey, and ripped out his own weapon before the Spaniard could produce his Derringer. “Hands up or I shoot.”
But he had reckoned without his host. While covering De Gayangos, he overlooked the fact that Random and Hope were close at hand. The next moment, and while Don Pedro flung up his hands, the ruffian was covered by two revolvers in the hands of two very capable men.
“Great Scott!” cried Hervey, lowering his weapon. “Only my fun, gents. Here, you get back!”
This was to Inspector Date, who had been keeping his ears and eyes open, and who was now for the end of the jetty. Peering over, he uttered a loud cry.
“I thought so—I thought so. Here's the nigger and the mummy!”
Hervey uttered a curse, and, past the trio, careless of the leveled weapons, ran down to the end of the jetty, and, throwing his arms round Date, leaped with him into the sea. They fell just beside the boat, as Random saw when he reached the spot. A confused volley of curses arose, as the boat pushed out from the encrusted pile, the mate thrusting with a boat-hook. Hervey and Date were in the water, but as the boat shot into the moonlight, Random—and now Hope and De Gayangos, who had come up—saw a long green form in amongst the sailors; also, very plainly, Cockatoo with his great mop of yellow hair.
“Shoot! shoot!” yelled Date, who was struggling with the skipper in the shallow water near shore. “Don't let them escape.”
Hope ran up the jetty and fired three shots in the air, certain that the firing would attract the attention of the four or five constables on guard at the cottage, w............