| 145 | 146 | 147 | 148 | 149 |
| 1 | 41 | 81 | 122 | 162 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
possessed sufficient knowledge of navigation to get them out of the South Atlantic
and around the cape into more congenial waters where they might find a market
for their ill-gotten wealth, and no questions asked.
The day before they sighted Jungle Island and discovered the little land-locked
harbour upon the bosom of which the Cowrie now rode quietly at anchor, the
watch had discovered the smoke and funnels of a warship upon the southern
horizon.
The chance of being spoken to and investigated by a man-of-war appealed not at
all to any of them, so they put into hiding for a few days until the danger should
have passed.
And now Gust did not wish to venture out to sea again. There was no telling, he
insisted, but that the ship they had seen was actually searching for them. Kai
Shang pointed out that such could not be the case since it was impossible for any
human being other than themselves to have knowledge of what had transpired
aboard the Cowrie.
But Gust was not to be persuaded. In his wicked heart he nursed a scheme
whereby he might increase his share of the booty by something like one hundred
per cent. He alone could sail the Cowrie, therefore the others could not leave
Jungle Island without him; but what was there to prevent Gust, with just
sufficient men to man the schooner, slipping away from Kai Shang, Momulla the
Maori, and some half of the crew when opportunity presented?
It was for this opportunity that Gust waited. Some day there would come a
moment when Kai Shang, Momulla, and three or four of the others would be
absent from camp, exploring or hunting. The Swede racked his brain for some
plan whereby he might successfully lure from the sight of the anchored ship
those whom he had determined to abandon.
To this end he organized hunting party after hunting party, but always the devil
of perversity seemed to enter the soul of Kai Shang, so that wily celestial would
never hunt except in the company of Gust himself.
One day Kai Shang spoke secretly with Momulla the Maori, pouring into the
brown ear of his companion the suspicions which he harboured concerning the
Swede. Momulla was for going immediately and running a long knife through the
heart of the traitor.
It is true that Kai Shang had no other evidence than the natural cunning of his
own knavish soul--but he imagined in the intentions of Gust what he himself
would have been glad to accomplish had the means lain at hand.
147
Page
Quick Jump
|