Chapter X The End of the Islander

dition.” “No,Ihardlythinkso.Thislairofhiswouldbetoovaluablearetreatincaseofneedforhimtogiveitupuntilhewassurethathecoulddowithoutit.Butasecondconsiderationstruckme.JonathanSmallmusthavefeltthatthepeculiarappearanceofhiscompanion,howevermuchhemayhavetop-coatedhim,wouldgiverisetogossip,andpossiblybeassociatedwiththisNorwoodtragedy.Hewasquitesharpenoughtoseethat.Theyhadstartedfromtheirhead-quartersundercoverofdarkness,andhewouldwishtogetbackbeforeitwasbroadlight.Now,itwaspastthreeo’clock,accordingtoMrs.Smith,whentheygottheboat.Itwouldbequitebright,andpeoplewouldbeaboutinanhourorso.Therefore,Iargued,theydidnotgoveryfar.TheypaidSmithwelltoholdhistongue,reservedhislaunchforthefinalescape,andhurriedtotheirlodgingswiththetreasure-box.Inacoupleofnights,whentheyhadtimetoseewhatviewthepaperstook,andwhethertherewasanysuspicion,theywouldmaketheirwayundercoverofdarknesstosomeshipatGravesendorintheDowns,wherenodoubttheyhadalreadyarrangedforpassagestoAmericaortheColonies.” “Butthelaunch?Theycouldnothavetakenthattotheirlodgings.” “Quiteso.Iarguedthatthelaunchmustbenogreatwayoff,inspiteofitsinvisibility.IthenputmyselfintheplaceofSmall,andlookedatitasamanofhiscapacitywould.Hewouldprobablyconsiderthattosendbackthelaunchortokeepitatawharfwouldmakepursuiteasyifthepolicedidhappentogetonhistrack.How,then,couldheconcealthelaunchandyethaveherathandwhenwanted?IwonderedwhatIshoulddomyselfifIwereinhisshoes.Icouldonlythinkofonewayofdoingit.Imightlandthelaunchovertosomeboat-builderorrepairer,withdirectionstomakeatriflingchangeinher.Shewouldthenberemovedtohisshedoryard,andsobeeffectuallyconcealed,whileatthesametimeIcouldhaveheratafewhours’notice.” “Thatseemssimpleenough.” “Itisjusttheseverysimplethingswhichareextremelyliabletobeoverlooked.However,Ideterminedtoactontheidea.Istartedatonceinthisharmlessseaman’srigandinquiredatalltheyardsdowntheriver.Idrewblankatfifteen,butatthesixteenth—Jacobson’s—IlearnedthattheAurorahadbeenhandedovertothemtwodaysagobyawooden-leggedman,withsometrivialdirectionsastoherrudder.‘Thereain’tnaughtamisswithherrudder,’saidtheforeman.‘Thereshelies,withtheredstreaks.’AtthatmomentwhoshouldcomedownbutMordecaiSmith,themissingowner?Hewasrathertheworseforliquor.Ishouldnot,ofcourse,haveknownhim,buthebellowedouthisnameandthenameofhislaunch.‘Iwantherto-nightateighto’clock,’saidhe,—‘eighto’clocksharp,mind,forIhavetwogentlemenwhowon’tbekeptwaiting.’Theyhadevidentlypaidhimwell,forhewasveryflushofmoney,chuckingshillingsabouttothemen.Ifollowedhimsomedistance,buthesubsidedintoanale-house:soIwentbacktotheyard,and,happeningtopickuponeofmyboysontheway,Istationedhimasasentryoverthelaunch.Heistostandatwater’sedgeandwavehishandkerchieftouswhentheystart.Weshallbelyingoffinthestream,anditwillbeastrangethingifwedonottakemen,treasure,andall.” “Youhaveplanneditallveryneatly,whethertheyaretherightmenornot,”saidJones“butiftheaffairwereinmyhandsIshouldhavehadabodyofpoliceinJacobson’sYard,andarrestedthemwhentheycamedown.”