A Millionaire at Sixteen by Oliver Optic

Louis Belgrave recalled the circumstances under which Bickling had applied to him for permission to go in the boat with the exploring expedition. He had asked to be taken with the young man, saying that he could be of service to him. Before he could say anything more the mate came on deck, and the cook seemed to be in mortal terror of him, for he had noticed the fright of the fellow at the moment.

It did not occur to Louis at the time that anything could be wrong in the arrangements for visiting the shore; but he realized now that the cook had discovered some signs of treachery on the part of Frinks; but his fears prevented him from uttering a word.

"It looks now as though you knew something about the trick which has been played upon us, Bickling," continued Louis, more gentle in his manner than before.

"Which I didn't know anything at all about it, sir, but which I thought there was something wrong goin' on in the cabin, sir, and I did not know what," pleaded Bickling.

"I am sorry you did not speak to me."

"Which I should 'ave done if I 'ad known what was hup, sir."

Though Louis had given the cook twenty-five dollars, rather for the service he rendered him and his party as cook than for any other reason, he could not feel that he had any claim upon the fidelity of the man. He had made an advance towards telling what he knew; but he was sadly wanting in pluck, and he had failed, so that the intention must be taken for the deed.

"Did you know that it was the mate's purpose to abandon us on the shore, and return to the schooner? " asked Louis.

"Which I hope to die when my time comes, sir, if I 'ad the smallest idea of what he was goin' to do, sir! " protested the cook vehemently. "If I 'ad, sir, I wouldn't 'ave let you and the captain go in the boat. I thought I'd 'ave a chance to tell you what little I knew when you got to the shore. If I 'ad let Mr. Frinks know what I was tellin' you, that would have spoiled, the 'ole, and the mate would have killed me dead on the spot, sir."

"That is sensible, Louis," interposed the captain. "He could not afford to blow on the mate; it was not safe for him to do so, as he did not belong on our side of the question."

"Which the young gentleman has been very kind to me, and I was glad to do him a good turn if I could; and I am very sorry I could not, sir, which it is all I can say, sir," pleaded the cook.

"He meant right, Louis, and it is a pity he had not a small portion of your pluck," added the captain.

"Now tell me what you did know, Bickling," continued Louis.

"I was trying to get to sleep, sir, on one of the sofas, when I 'eard a noise near the mate's room. I looked that way, sir, but I did not move, and the mate thought I was asleep, no doubt. He unlocked the door of the stateroom, for he 'ad an extra key, and went in, sir. He shut the door after him; and then I heard him and the captain talking together."

"Could you make out what they said? " asked Louis, not a little excited at the revelation of the cook.

"Not much of it, sir, which they did not talk out very loud, sir. They were to get possession of the vessel, but 'ow it was to be done, I did not 'ear, sir. I put my hear to the partition, and tried 'ard to understand what they said, sir. By this time I reckon they 'ad fixed the plan to get the vessel; and I heard Captain Farrongate, or whatsoever his name might be, say that he should go to Bermuda, sir, while the friends of the lady would go to Southampton to look for her, sir. That is all, sir, and every syllable I could make out, sir."

The man had some education, and he did not mangle his h's very badly unless he became very much excited. It was easy enough to see that he was one of those men of no force of character that are often met in the world, but are at the same time filled with good intentions. The plot to leave Louis and the captain on the shore to the westward of the creek, the cook insisted, had not been mentioned in his hearing. He had made out the last part of the conversation, and that certainly was very important as a guide to future movements.

During this narration the trio had been walking at a tolerably rapid pace towards the town, finding a footbridge over the creek, and had accomplished a good part of the distance. It was midnight, and most of the lights in the houses had been extinguished. Another quarter of an hour brought them to the few wharves in the place, for the party had kept near the shore of the bay all the way from the creek.

With the most intense interest on the part of Louis, they passed from one pier to another, till they had gone beyond the water front of the town. Not a steamer of any kind was there; no tug-boat had taken shelter from the storm within the bay, so far as they could discover. There was not a light to be seen on the waters of the bay, and the few vessels in port were all made fast to the wharves, where they were partially sheltered from the violence of the gale.

With the midnight hour came a change in the aspect of the weather, which Captain Ringgold was the first to observe. The wind was hauling to the westward, and it had been what he called a "dry storm. " He was confident that the sun would rise clear in the morning, for the wind had already measurably abated.