The Tales of the Thames (Thriller & Action Adventure Books - Boxed Set). Pemberton Max

than if he'd been cast-iron ballast."

      "How many of 'em is to come aboard here?" asked Kenner somewhat anxiously. "You see, whatever they have, our lot's got to have the same, if they're going right along smooth with it."

      "I've thought of that," replied Messenger; "put down fifty thousand for the men together, and there needn't be a whisper; but you'll get all the arms you have aft, and if they've any pride forward, we'll have to begin the shooting!"

      "That's as plain as dough-nuts!" cried Burke, snapping his fingers; "and it rests for us to know what our instructions is—you're mighty quiet about them."

      "I am going to write them," said Messenger, taking up the pen and a big sheet of foolscap, and speaking with an easy air of command, as one inheriting it; "I am going to make it so plain that a child of seven could follow it. In the first place, you will weigh the moment I am gone, and get into Sheerness for as much coal as you can carry, stacking decks as well as bunkers. You will lie at the river's mouth until to-morrow night—it may be until ten, it may be until eleven. The money will leave Bishopsgate Street somewhere about seven o'clock, and will be carried in a special train from Fen church Street to Tilbury, where it will be put, in charge of Sydney Capel and Arthur Conyers, the head clerk of the house, upon the tag Admiral, I shall be already upon the tug, which will weigh at once and proceed up river. At Sheerness we shall show a flare, when you, being ready to put out, will follow us as closely as common sense dictates until we stand well in the North Sea, and clear of ships. We shall shape a course full N.E. to be out of the track of steamers, and when we are ready for you, which will not be until we have passed Hull—we shall send up a couple of rockets, and you will answer and make fast alongside, while we come over and bring the money. After that, as I said to you three months ago, it's a question of sea-legs."

      The American listened to the clear enunciation of ideas with a close attention and admiration for the man whose brain could generate such a plausible hypothesis. There were yet, however, links missing from the chain as he saw it, and his first question was in a degree proof of his own shrewdness:

      "These clerks, or whatever you call 'em," said he—"who's going to lay them out?"

      "That depends on themselves, or on one of them, at any rate," answered Messenger, continuing to write. "You've read from my letters that Capel is in with us to his armpits. I bought him for a quarter share—as between you and me, Kenner—a month ago. He owes a matter of fifty thousand in London, and can't draw back—I've seen to that. He flew at the job almost before I'd opened my lips, and I'd trust him to the end of it. The other's a mere dummy, a numskull, who'll either cave in at the first show of fight or go under for his pains. It's the mate, as I said before, that's like to trouble us; the rest's a mere pleasure cruise."

      And the destination?" asked the American.

      "Montevideo first, and the blessed shades of the Argentine or Urugaay after."

      He wrote out fully the directions he had given, marking the hours most plainly in uncouth if legible capitals, the others waiting for him patiently, though their excitement was palpitating and visible. When he had concluded the whole with a fine flourish, he looked at his watch, and said that he had ten minutes, a reflection which drew from the American the desire to "crack a bottle for luck."

      "Which you'll need badly," muttered Burke. "I've no fancy for work begun on Fridays."

      Messenger listened to him, a mocking sneer upon his lips.

      "Burke," said he, "I've had fine accounts of you; and you're in for the biggest venture of your life. Are you going to play the old woman now?"

      "By thunder! that's sense to the kernel," added Kenner. "We're afloat, and Heaven knows when we'll see the shore again——"

      "That depends on us all," said Messenger, rising; "but if any man shows false, let him look to himself."

      With this he went on deck, to find the gig waiting, and Fisher leaning moodily upon the taffrail. For a moment he made as though to step into the boat without any notice of the lad; but a sudden impulse arrested him, and he took the boy's hand quickly, and spoke to him in a low voice.

      "Hal," said he, "I've much to say to you, but this isn't the time. I shall be aboard here again in three days, and then I'll count upon you."

      He was gone almost with his words; and while Fisher was yet thinking of them, the Semiramis had weighed anchor, and was standing in toward the river's mouth.