CHAPTER XXXIII: TERROR CARSON AGAIN.
“Well, Jack, this is about the worst yet.�
It was Raynor speaking. He and Jack were sitting on the sandy beach leaning against the boat. The others were scattered about with gloomy countenances. Cap’n Toby, utterly prostrated by this sudden dashing of his hopes, lay face downward on the beach in silence. He had not spoken a word since his outbreak and Jack feared for his reason.
“It’s pretty bad. We’ve got no food and no prospect of getting any, not to mention water. That rat, Terrill! If I ever get my hands on him and that treacherous Jarrow. They fooled us nicely, getting everyone who was hostile to them off the schooner.�
“Terrill certainly holds the whip hand over us,� agreed Raynor. “I suppose that he’ll make us come to some sort of agreement before he’ll let us have provisions or water.�
“I don’t see what the agreement can be,� rejoined Jack gloomily. “We can’t come to any concerning the treasure, for that’s on the top of Cedar Mountain. It’s about as unattainable as the moon. If only we had that wireless rigged, there’s a bare chance that we might pick up help.�
“What does it need to repair it?� inquired Raynor.
“That unlucky stick of Pompey’s smashed the silicon of the detector, but I have noticed traces of what looks like pyron in these rocks, and if we could get some of that, I believe I could fix the apparatus up.�
“But in the meantime we starve to death,� objected Raynor.
Jack could not but agree. He looked gloomily out at the empty sea. Suddenly, there came a joyous shout from round one of the rocky points that shut in the cove. It was Noddy. The next moment the Bowery boy appeared. He was burdened down by the weight of three big cod fish.
“Hurray, fellers, here’s our supper,� he panted as he staggered up to them with his burden.
“Good for you, Noddy. Well, we shan’t go hungry, at any rate,� cried Jack, “but how did you get the tackle?�
“Found it in de boat. I went nosin’ aroun’ while youse guys was all chewing der rag. I found something else in de boat too. A keg of water and anudder of biscuits, dose big roun’ fellers dey call sinkers.�
“By hookey, now I come to think of it every boat on the schooner was stocked with biscuit and water,� cried Jack. “I remember hearing Uncle Toby talk about it. It’s a maritime law to keep boats provisioned, but I guess it’s more honored in the breach than in the observance.�
The spirits of all rose greatly at the prospect of food. Even Captain Toby sat up and ate his share of broiled codfish and biscuit. But the old man gazed about him in a vacant way and kept mumbling to himself, and whimpering like a child over his misfortunes.
“I’m afraid his mind is affected,� Jack breathed to Raynor. Indeed, it appeared so.
Supper was over and darkness had set in. But they managed to keep warmth and light about the camping place by kindling a big fire of brushwood. They were thinking of turning in and trying to sleep, although it was bitter cold outside the immediate vicinity of the fire, and they had no blankets, when there came a sound from seaward that startled them all.
“Ahoy! Who are you?�
“It’s some of that rascally Jarrow crew up to some trick,� declared Sherry, “don’t answer them.�
“It doesn’t sound like them,� said Jack hesitatingly.
“Seems to me I know that voice,â€� said Raynor, “I’ve heard——â€�
“Ahoy, ashore there.�
The hail came again. This time it was accompanied by the splash of oars.
“Boat ahoy! What do you want?� hailed Jack, cupping his hands.
“Can we make a safe landing there?�
“Yes, pull for the fire. But who are you?�
“Shipwrecked sailors,� was the reply. Then there came the rapid dip of oars, and before many minutes a boat pulled into the glare of light cast by the fire. The boys ran forward as three men staggered out of the craft, showing signs of exhaustion. At sight of the first of the newcomers, Raynor uttered a shout of astonishment.
It was Terror Carson. The men with him were O’Brien, the Irish helmsman and another named Tewson.
“Captain Carson!� exclaimed Raynor. The other started back at the sound of his name. He stared as if he had beheld an apparition from the grave.
“Great heavens! it’s young Raynor!� he gasped out.
“Yes, Raynor, whom you left to die on the wreck of the Polly Ann,� said the boy sternly.
“An’ here’s anudder of yer chickens come home ter roost,� exclaimed Noddy Nipper, stepping up, “you’re a nice one, you are. You look as if you’d bin havin’ a pretty tough time, an’ you deserve it, too.
“Where are the rest of your crew? In other boats?� asked Raynor.
“Gone, all gone,â€� moaned Carson weakly. “Lost in a storm which overwhelmed us. There were ten men in this boat, but they all died or went mad but myself and these two. We were just about giving up when we saw the light of this fire and made for it. It’s—it’s like a judgment upon me.â€�
He sank down on the bench and covered his face with his hands.
“Have you anything that would bring a dead man to life like a bite of biscuit or sup of water at all, at all?� asked O’Brien.
“We are almost dead,� said Tewson huskily.
The boys, scoundrel though they knew Carson to be, could not but furnish him with food and drink. The man’s physique was so superb that, despite his sufferings in the boat, after his refreshment he was able to sit up, and talk of his adventures. O’Brien and Tewson, however, sank into a deep sleep of exhaustion.
“How did you come to this island?� asked Carson at length.
Jack explained and added:
“You see, your rescuers are almost as badly off as you are. The rascal Terrill——â€�
“Hold on,� cried Carson, “that name again!�
“Terrill—Rufus Terrill of Terrill & Co.,â€� said Jack. “Do you know him?â€�
“Know him?� repeated Carson bitterly. “He was the cause of all my misfortunes. He made me what I am, an outlaw and a seal poacher. He is the biggest rascal unhung.�
“Tell us about it,� urged Jack.
Carson breathed hard as if laboring under some strong emotion.
“So Rufus Terrill is here, here on this island, is he?� he muttered. “Strange that fate should bring us face to face in this place. I was an honest man when I met Terrill. I had been a sea captain in the West India trade. I owned my own ship and had a happy home and a pretty young wife. Terrill wanted me to do some dishonest work for him by wrecking a ship that was heavily insured. I refused. Then came a time when misfortune overwhelmed me. I lost my ship in a tropical hurricane. I returned home to find my wife had died of a fever. I was desperate and Terrill found me an easy tool, for I was half out of my mind.
“Then came discovery of the insurance plot by the underwriters. Terrill got clever lawyers and they fixed the blame on me. In the meantime Terrill had given me money to keep out of the country. When I learned the trick he had played on me I didn’t care what became of me. I invested what money I had in a seal poaching venture with a bad character known as Olaf Larsen. Larsen was killed by a chance shot when a British cruiser chased us. I was captured but escaped, and then fitted out the Polly Ann. I have sailed her ever since, till—till for my sins she was lost. Oh! if only I could begin over again, but it is too late, too late.â€�
“It is never too late to mend,� cited Jack, “perhaps, if ever we escape from this predicament, I can help you. I would be willing to.�
“And I, too,� said Raynor, stretching out his hand.
Tears filled Terror Carson’s eyes. His voice shook as he said:
“I heard a preacher feller once talking about coals of fire. Now I know what he meant.�
Soon after they all turned in. All, that is, but Carson. The last thing that Jack saw, as he dropped off into slumber, was the giant form of the seal poacher outlined blackly against the firelight. His head was sunk on his breast. His brawny arms folded. He stood motionless as a statue gazing into the embers as if he read his wild, rough past in the glowing coals.