Mr. Dunn looked anxiously serious as he said, “I more than half agree with you; the villain was half intoxicated this evening, and let out more than he meant to. Did you see his face when he promised us the money? But what plans can he have? What port does he intend to make?”
This brought to my mind a conversation I had held a few days before with one of the officers, Cambiaso’s chief adviser and confidant, and a man who before this had scarcely exchanged a word with me. He, through the help of one of the sailors, a Chilian, but who talked English tolerably well, had questioned me about the lay of the shore around Rio Janeiro, and the approach to that port, the landing, and so forth. This I repeated to Mr. Dunn, and putting that conversation with Cambiaso’s entire change of orders since we first left the colony, his evident intentions of continuing his course eastward, the amount of food which he had stored in the Florida, and other slight indications of the same sort, we felt that Rio Janeiro was his destination, and that we had some clue to his plans.
Still, I was convinced, and at last succeeded in convincing Mr. Dunn, that his friendly expressions towards us, and his offers of money were entirely insincere; his bids were altogether too high. I knew that all the treasure on the vessel did not amount to more than eighty thousand dollars, and of that he would hardly give twenty-six thousand to men whom he had entirely within his power; and give it, too, when he had no longer any further use for them. Long afterwards, and on my return to Valparaiso, I found that my suspicions were correct; for I learned from Garcia and the other officer of Cambiaso, both of whom were pardoned by the Chilian government, that Cambiaso’s plan had been to take the Florida to some part of the Brazilian coast that was uninhabited, probably on the inhospitable shores of the province of Santa Catharina, there to compel most of his followers and prisoners to land and shift for themselves; using some such stratagem as that which had been so successful at Cape Holland; and to keep on the vessel only his intimate friends, and myself and crew. On reaching the harbor of Rio Janeiro, and coming near enough to gain the shore in the boats, he and his companions were to murder myself and crew, scuttle the vessel, and with the treasure, make their escape to the port; there, dividing the booty, they were to disperse, Cambiaso himself intending to take passage in the steamer for Europe, and his officers to seek whatever foreign country might please them and seem a safe refuge for them.
Mr. Dunn and myself parted, with our distrust of Cambiaso confirmed, and with a renewed determination to strain every nerve to escape from his hands. After I reached my berth, and as I lay tossing and revolving our perils, the thought struck me that it might be possible to re-take the vessel. A thousand difficulties and dangers started up to intimidate me, but the possibility of success seemed to overbalance all uncertainties, and I spent the rest of the night in laying my plans, in measuring the chances of resolution and fidelity amongst my crew, and in estimating the probability of our being joined by any of the released prisoners.
By the morning, I had made up my mind to the attempt, and rose with a determination to lose no time, but to effect it, if possible, that very day.
CHAPTER VIII.
The re-taking of the vessel planned—Mr. Dunn—Captain Avalos—Preito—The corporal—Three bells—The struggle—Cambiaso overpowered—Garcia—Cheers for victory—The crew swear fidelity to me—Our course—Cambiaso put in irons—His cowardice—The prisoners from the hold—River Gallegos—Voyage round Cape Horn—Attempted outbreaks—Our danger—We reach San Carlos.
Wednesday, the 14th of January, we left Cape Gregory behind us, and continued our course eastward, towards the eastern entrance of the Straits. I sought Mr. Dunn early in the morning, and communicated my determination to him. I found him ready and willing to sustain me in the attempt, and that he agreed with me that the sooner it was made, the better; so, determining to hurry things on, we parted—he to sound such of the prisoners and soldiers as we thought would join us.