CHAPTER XVI.
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
When I left the cabin after my interview with Captain Hannock I knew not what to do. I was unwilling to leave the vessel with the promise that I would not prosecute him for what had been done to me, and, on the other hand, I did not care particularly to stay on board if the Spitfire should continue her journey.
Of course I knew Mr. Ranson would stop the schooner at New Bedford if he could, and have the captain, Lowell and Crocker arrested for conspiracy to defraud. But there might be some slip, and I wished to take no chances.
Had I had the London letter that had been taken from me I should not have cared what Captain Hannock wished me to do, but watched my chances, and gone ashore at the first opportunity.
Where the letter was I could not imagine, excepting that it might be in the cabin or the captain's stateroom.
One thing was certain. Whatever happened I must regain the letter. Personally it was to me of greater importance than the exposure of what was going on aboard the schooner.
I walked aft and discovered the lawyer in conversation with Tony Dibble.
"I suppose you have been to see the captain," said Mr. Ranson with a peculiar smile.
"Yes, sir, I have;" and I related the result of the interview.
"I had a talk with him about your case," went on the lawyer. "But I did not think he would get around it in this fashion. Well, I will see that you get through all right."
"I wouldn't care, excepting for that letter," I returned.
"We can get a search warrant, and hunt it up."
"But, in the mean time, Captain Hannock may destroy it. No doubt he thinks it of small account."
"If I were you I'd hunt it up on my own account," put in Dibble. "You did slick work finding out about that cargo of stones and kindlings, why can't you do as well finding out about that letter and your money?"
"I have half a notion of that sort," I replied "What do you think of it, Mr. Ranson?"
"I'm afraid it would go hard with you if Captain Hannock caught you."
"But would I be acting right?"
"Every person undoubtedly has a right to search for his own when it has been stolen from him."
"Then I'll hunt it up if I have to turn the cabin and staterooms upside down," was my sudden determination.
"You will hardly have time while we are going up the harbor," said Dibble.
"Are we in sight of New Bedford?"
"Oh, yes. There it is right ahead."
I looked. Sure enough, land was not a great distance off.
"I'm going to get out of the way," I said suddenly. "Mr. Ranson, you will see me later."
"Do as you think best. I will stand by you."
I walked off. I was not sure of my course, and entered the forecastle to arrange my plans.
By this time the captain had come on deck. He saw where we were, and gave orders to lower some of the sails, and then called Lowell to consult with him.
Seeing that I was not being noticed, I slipped from the forecastle to the companionway. In a moment I was down the steps and in the cabin.
No one was present. Even Phil Jones was away; I could hear him talking to the cook in the galley. I had the place all to myself, and now was the chance to do the work I wished to accomplish.
I will not deny that I was nervous, and for the first moment my hand trembled so that I could hardly open what I touched.
But presently I grew more composed and even reckless, and ransacked whatever came beneath my notice.
My first work was to pull open the drawer of the cabin table. I found it full of charts and nautical instruments, accompanied by the log-book. There was also, stuffed in one corner, the ship's articles, and opening it, I discovered my name at the very end, written in a rough hand, entirely different from my own.
This was evidently the captain's or Lowell's work, and it was on the strength of it that the two hoped to clear themselves. The fact that I was a minor had not entered into their calculations.
I put the articles back into the drawer and closed it. Then I looked around to see in what direction to continue the search.
In one corner was a closet. I opened it, but found it contained nothing but bottles of liquor and medicine, the former predominating. I closed the closet and then wondered what I should attack next. While meditating I heard footsteps on the companionway. It was Captain Hannock descending, and I had hardly time to slip behind a curtain that led to one of the staterooms when he entered.
"Confound the boy, I wonder what has become of him?" I heard him mutter. "Foster!" he called out.
I made no sound. The captain stood still for a moment.
"Lowell must have been mistaken. The young cub would never dare to come down here on his own hook."
And with this comment and a final glance around, Captain Hannock left the cabin and mounted to the deck.
I breathed more freely when he was gone. I had had a narrow escape. Had he looked in the stateroom I would have surely been discovered.
I continued my search with difficulty. The stateroom was comparatively dark, and my ears were strained to their utmost to catch the first sound of any one approaching.
The room was that belonging to the captain. Under the berth was a locker, tightly fastened. I was certain that the locker contained what I was seeking for, because it was the one likely place that such a thing would be in. But how could I open the box?
I felt in my pockets, but they were bare of everything that could be of use to me. My eyes rested on a bunch of keys hung upon a nail near by. I took them down, and tried one after another.
At length I came to the right one, and in a moment had the locker open. The box was filled with clothing, but at the side was a smaller box or pocket, and this contained letters and documents of various kinds.
I took out the entire batch and ran my eyes over the superscriptions with all haste. The letters were all addressed to Captain Hannock with but one exception.
And that exception was the letter I had received from London.
Eagerly I opened the envelope. The contents were intact, and assured of this I stuffed the precious epistle in my bosom.
I was about to restore the remaining letters to their original place when the handwriting upon several of them attracted my attention. The chirography was of a peculiarly heavy and sloping character, and I instantly recognized it as that written by my uncle!
I was almost dumfounded by my discovery. What did Mr. Stillwell and Captain Hannock have in common?
For a moment I hesitated about opening the letters. Then I reflected that both of the men were plotting against my welfare, and I opened one of the epistles without any further compunction.
It was dated at New York City ten days before, and read as follows:
"Dear Hannock:—I will be unable to call upon you to-day as agreed, and perhaps it is just as well that we are not seen together too much. The cargo is now all ready at Kinley's in Brooklyn, well packed. Lowell can take charge of it for us mutually. The insurance is O.K.
"I trust you have no trouble with the insurance on the vessel. Powers will fix it up for you. The New Bedford business will be all ready for you when you arrive, and you need not wait but half a day at the most. Will see you to-morrow.
"F. S."
I read the letter through with great care. When I had finished I felt sick at heart.
Beyond a doubt my uncle was in league with Captain Hannock, and the two were engaged in as big a piece of villainy as had ever come to my notice.
I turned to several of the other letters. The second was evidently a reply to one from Captain Hannock, asking if my uncle considered the scheme safe, to which Mr. Stillwell said that "nothing ventured nothing gained," and that he needed money, because he did not as yet dare to touch the amount placed in his care.
This letter undoubtedly referred to my inheritance, and I wondered how large a sum it was, and why Uncle Felix did not dare to use it for his own benefit, seeing that he would tell me nothing concerning it.
I would fain have believed that he was not yet hardened to do such a deed. But his actions towards me did not tend to confirm that idea, and I was forced to come to the conclusion that he had as yet not had the courage to do so.
I put the two letters in my bosom along with my own. Perhaps this was not exactly the right thing to do, but I did not have time to consider my actions. By the noise on deck I knew we were approaching a landing, and I expected every moment to hear some one come down the companionway.
The third letter was a long one, and very hurriedly written, so much so in fact that I had all I could do to decipher its contents. I moved over to the skylight, and was soon deeply absorbed.
"You rascal, you, what are you doing here?"
It was Captain Hannock's voice. I started in alarm, and found the skipper of the Spitfire close at my elbow.