As soon as the Fairy was secured alongside the Alerte, the latter's foremast derricks were swung outboard with the necessary tackle rove. There were cases of automatic pistols, each weapon concealed in an air-tight tin and packed in tallow. The tins bore the name of a well-known firm of tinned beef exporters and the cases were entered in the manifest as containing pressed beef. Three thousand rounds of small-arms ammunition followed, similarly disguised. Then came a crate with a card nailed to it, describing its contents as a sewing-machine. It was: "It sowed death broadcast"; for on the case being broken open there was revealed a machine-gun, firing the same calibre ammunition as that of the pistols, automatic in action and air-cooled. This had been ordered as an afterthought. As that class of article went it was cheap.
The mate and the boy of the lugger next set to work to shovel aside a thick layer of coal in the Fairy's hold. This done, they laid bare what appeared to be the lugger's kelson, a long, roughhewn piece of timber. Under this was passed wire slings. The eyes of the slings were engaged in the hook of the lower block of the Alerte's derrick-purchase.
"Handsomely now, my lads!" cautioned Captain Cain, to the man manning the running part of the tackle. "Walk back with her—here she comes."
Torn from its bed of coal the huge bunch of timber rose slowly. By means of grips one end was dipped sufficiently to allow the twenty-five feet of woodwork to clear the hatchway coamings. Higher and higher it rose, the Fairy listing acutely during the operation, while even the Alerte heeled under the strain on her masthead.
"At that!" shouted Captain Cain. "Swing her gently, lads!"
Inboard swung the derrick, its load swaying eight feet above the deck in spite of the efforts of the hands at the grips.
"Ease away handsomely!" exclaimed the pirate captain. "Stand from under!"
With a dull thud the baulk of timber was deposited upon the steel deck of the Alerte. The slings were cast off, and while some of the hands lowered and secured the derrick, others set to work seemingly to dismember the twenty-four feet of rough pine.
It was an easy task. Snugly hidden between the slabs was the much-wanted six-inch quick-firer. Its mounting followed, and was immediately bolted down to the deck just abaft the rise of the fo'c'sle.
"Carry on, Cap'n Porthoustoc," exclaimed Cain, after the necessary exchange of banknotes had been effected. "Look out for us on the 1st, and we'll have a rare cargo for you. Chenal du Four at sunset. It'll be slack water at nine."