"The skipper slapped his-self and swore,Oh, pulling out for Rio!He'll stay no longer slack ashore,Oh, pulling out for Rio!He's said 'so-long' to gal and boss,And started out for gain or loss,To lift the blooming Southern Cross;Pull out for Rio Grande."
"The skipper slapped his-self and swore,
Oh, pulling out for Rio!
He'll stay no longer slack ashore,
Oh, pulling out for Rio!
He's said 'so-long' to gal and boss,
And started out for gain or loss,
To lift the blooming Southern Cross;
Pull out for Rio Grande."
"We're off at last," said Tera, with a happy laugh.
"At last!" echoed Jack; "and glad I am to see the tail of the old country. We have just got to drop Pharaoh Lee ashore somewhere down the Channel, then let her smell the open sea."
"Jack, if you put Pharaoh ashore, he may go back to Grimleigh and kill Mr. Mayne. Then what will Rachel say?"
"He couldn't show his face in Grimleigh without being arrested," replied Jack, encouragingly, "and Mayne is on his guard. Oh, you bet, Tera, that gipsy's had enough of sticking people. Don't let us talk about him."
"We must talk of Koiau," said Mrs. Finland. "Oh, Jack, how glad I am to go back! We shall be so happy in my land."
"There is bound to be trouble at first, Tera. We must tell your father about Niga's plot, and straighten him out. But perhaps Viara has already done that, and things may, of course, be all square when we arrive."
"Buli is very powerful, Jack. He will conquer Niga, and you will help. He will proclaim me as the next ruler, and when we rule, Jack, we will make a great nation of Koiau."
"Oh, we'll make it a tidy place, I dare say. Come down to the cabin, Tera, and see if the baggage is all square."
The sails were set by this time, and theDayspringwas heading to sea. Overhead the sky was cloudless, and the hot sun made the plain of the sea glitter as with myriads of jewels. As the wind bellied the sails, and the boat increased her speed, the foam swirled in creamy flakes from her sharp bow. In her own cabin, Tera was arranging her effects for the voyage. Suddenly she heard loud voices, the scuffle of feet, and then a cry of surprise from Jack. She ran hurriedly into the saloon. There, between two stalwart sailors, stood Brand. He was dusty, dirty, haggard and pale; but his eyes were bright, and his face set firm.
"You scoundrel!" cried Jack, fiercely; "how did you come on board?"
"He's a blooming stowaway, sir," spoke up one of the sailors; "we found him hidden in the hold."
Before Brand could answer, the skipper came down the companion in a fury. "A stowaway aboard my boat?" he snapped out. "How did---- Well, here's a party! It's your Brand."
"Yes," replied Brand, looking from one to another; "when I ran away, I knew you'd put the police on to me, so I came back to Sister Hoppus. She hid me in her cottage, and the police never looked for me there. Last night, as she found out you were leaving for Koiau, I got down to the water, and swam out to the boat, where I concealed myself."
"I'll put you ashore, cuss you," growled Shackel. "I ain't going to have no Jonah this trip, no, sir."
"I am innocent--I never----"
"Here, shut your jaw," said Jack, sharply; "we heard you confess with your own lips that you killed Zara in mistake for my wife."
"Your wife? Are you married?"
"Yes, we are married," cried Tera; "and we go to Koiau to punish Niga."
"I go to Koiau also," said Brand, resolutely folding his arms; "you can't put me ashore now."
"Can't we?" growled Shackel, savagely. "There's two words to that, my lad; we drop Pharaoh here down Channel, and you'll go with him. A nice square time you'll have; for he knows you killed his gal, and he'll knife you, sure as a gun."
"I'll hold my own. If you won't take me to Koiau, at least I'll have a chance of escape now I'm out of Grimleigh."
"How do you know we won't hand you over to the police?"
"What good will that do?" retorted Brand, doggedly, "you can't prove that I killed the girl."
"Three of us can. Johnson, myself, and Tera. But I don't care if you swing or not. All I wish for is the truth. Here are pen, ink, and paper, so you sit down and write a confession."
"I won't," said Brand, desperately.
"Won't you, by gum!" roared the skipper; "then I'll clap you in irons, and send you ashore at the nearest port in charge of the police."
The missionary looked round. He saw no gleam of mercy on the faces before him. He reflected that if he was only put ashore away from Grimleigh, he might contrive to escape. It would not be difficult to catch a ship bound for America; then he could make for 'Frisco, and pick up a schooner for Koiau. Once on the island, and Niga, for his own sake, would protect him.
"I have health and money," he reflected, rapidly; "it really does not matter if I confess, as I shall be far beyond reach when the statement is placed in the hands of the police. I shall----"
"Come now, sonny," interrupted Shackel, sharply; "what's your game?"
"Oh, I'll write the confession you wish," said Brand, gloomily; "but I must state that I killed Zara in mistake for Tera. If by her death I could secure the advantage of Koiau being Christianized at once, I contend that I was right to remove her. The blood of martyrs is the seed of----"
"Stop that," cried Jack, roughly. "I'm not going to listen to any excuses for your infernal wickedness. Sit down and write, I tell you. Then you shall go ashore with Pharaoh, and I hope he'll knife you as you deserve."
"You misunderstand my motives, Mr. Fin----"
"I understand one thing, that you are a foul murderer. All your religion won't get you over that."
Brand said no more. The man was a fanatic, and really thought he was acting rightly when he decided to kill Tera. Her death meant the conversion of Koiau to the Christian faith, the spread of the gospel, the saving of many souls. But such arguments could not avail with the irreligious lot around him. With a sigh Brand sat down, and in half an hour had written out a full account of how he had murdered Zara. Moreover, he gave his reasons. This document he signed in the presence of Tera, Jack, and Shackel. When Mayne's safety was thus secured, Finland turned on the missionary.
"Go on deck, you hound," he said, leading him to the door, "and if you really believe in the stuff you preach, sling yourself overboard."
"If I am a sinner," cried Brand, his eyes flashing, "I repent of many things. I repent of Zara's death; but if I had killed Tera I should rejoice. I----"
Jack's arm shot out from his shoulder, but before the blow could get home Brand had scrambled up the stairs. Tera held back her husband.
"Let me go, Tera," panted Jack, "I want to kick the beast."
"Leave him alone, dear. Pharaoh will settle him."
There was a loud cry on deck. "By gad, I believe Pharaoh is settling him," cried Finland, rushing up, followed by Tera.
It was as he said. Pharaoh had come out for a stroll on deck, after being confined below so long. When he saw Brand emerge from the cabin he first stared at him in amazement, then furiously launched himself at him with a knife.
"I'll kill you--I'll kill you!" cried Pharaoh, closing with the missionary. "You killed my poor Zara--you shall die!"
"I will not die," roared Brand, putting out his great strength against the gipsy. But he was weak with fasting, and Pharaoh, unable to use his knife, tried to strangle him.
"The same death as you gave Zara," he muttered.
While the two men swayed and swung, the ship's company mustered to look on. Shackel would not let any one interfere.
"Let 'em kill one another," he said. "I'll have no Jonahs on this here barkey."
The struggle was not of long duration. With a mighty effort Pharaoh lifted Brand over the taffrail, but the man clung round his neck, and his superior weight dragged the gipsy over. Tera and Jack and every one on board ran to the side. Neither man would loose his hold, and together they splashed into the water. The ship, now well under way, sailed on. Once only two heads were seen to rise out of the glittering water, then murderer and avenger went down into the deep sea, never to rise again. Zara was avenged, and for her Pharaoh had given his life.
* * * * *
Next day Jack and Shackel went ashore at the last port before leaving England, and made a declaration of the deaths. Jack also delivered Korah's confession to the police, who promised to forward it to Inspector Chard at Grimleigh. Then they went aboard again, and theDayspringspread her white wings and lifted to the swell of the open sea. Her nose was pointed south for the Horn.
"And then, Koiau!" whispered Jack to his wife,
"Koiau!" sighed Tera, and burst into wild singing in her native tongue. So they went sailing to a future of joy--to the spicy islands set like jewels in the shining seas of the under world.