“Now speed her up for the doctor’s,” said Jerry to Ned, who had taken charge of the engine. “That is if you know where to find one.”
“There is a physician whom I know, not far from the main wharf at San Felicity,” said Maurice De Vere. “If you run the boat there I can get into a carriage and drive right to his house. Then after he has set my arm, I should like to tell you my story. That is, if you care to listen.”
“We certainly do,” said Jerry. “We will be very glad to help you in any way that we can.”
“Will you?” asked the man eagerly. “Then, perhaps, I can get ahead of Blowitz after all.”
Quick time was made to the dock, and, though it was quite late, the boys found several public hackmen on hand. Mr. De Vere was put in one of the vehicles and driven to the doctor’s office, whither, after they had secured their boat, the boys followed.
It took a little time to set the broken arm, and, after some restoratives had been administered, and the sprained ankle, bandaged (though that hurt was not as severe as at first supposed) Mr. De Vere received the boys in his room, which his friend, the physician had provided.
“I do not want to detain you boys too long,” he said, “and it is not necessary to go into all the details of my story now. I will tell you a little of it, and then I have a request to make of you. I have been making plans while the doctor was working over me. It helped me to forget the pain.”
“We’ll do anything we can for you,” promised Jerry, and the other boys nodded in assent.
“Well, Blowitz and I have been associated in many enterprises,” said Mr. De Vere, “but, of late, I have had my suspicions of him. I began to fear he was trying to get the best of me, so that he would control all the interests. Now I am sure of it.
“We went equal shares in loading the brig Rockhaven with valuable merchandise, for trade among the Santa Barbara Islands. There was also, aboard the brig, some valuable papers, and a considerable sum in gold, that was to go to a client of ours. After the ship was loaded I learned that Blowitz sent some mysterious boxes aboard. They came from Boston, I understand. I—”