I received a note from him”—he displayed a letter—“stating that he will pass the jetty of Gartley at that hour, and will burn a blue light.
If I fire a pistol, he will send off a boat with a full account of the theft of the mummy of Inca Caxas, written by himself.
Then I will hand his messenger fifty gold sovereigns, which I have here,” added Don Pedro, pointing to a canvas bag on the table, “and we will return. I wish you to go with me, senor, and also I wish your friend Mr. Hope to come.”
“Do you anticipate treachery from Captain Hervey?” asked Random.
“I should not be surprised if he tried to trick me in some way, and I wish you and your friend to stand by me.
Were this man alone, I would go alone, but he will have a boat’s crew with him.
It is best to be safe.”
“I agree with you,” said Random quickly. “Hope and I will come, and we will take revolvers with us.
It doesn’t do to trust this blackguard.
Ho! ho! I wonder if he knows of the Professor’s flight.”
“No.
Considering the terms upon which the Professor stood with Hervey, I should think he would be the last person he would trust.
I wonder what has become of the man.”
More people than Don Pedro wondered as to the whereabouts of Braddock and his servant, for everyone was inquiring and hunting.
The marshes round the cottage were explored: the great house itself was searched, as well as many cottages in the village, and inquiries were made at all the local stations. But all in vain.
Braddock and Cockatoo, along with the cumbersome mummy in its case, had vanished as completely as though the earth had swallowed them up.
Inspector Date’s idea was that the pair had taken the mummy to Gartley Pier, after the search made by the soldiers, and there had launched the boat, which Cockatoo—judging from his visit to Pierside—apparently kept hidden in some nook.
It was probable, said Date, the two had rowed down the river, and had managed to get on board some outward-bound tramp.
They could easily furbish up some story, and as Braddock doubtless had money, could easily buy a passage for a large sum.
The tramp being outward-bound, her captain and crew would know nothing of the crime, and even if the fugitives were suspected, they would be shipped out of England if the bribe was sufficiently large.
So it was apparent that Inspector Date had not much opinion of tramp-steamer skippers.
However, as the day wore on to night, nothing was heard of Braddock or Cockatoo or the mummy, and when night came the village was filled with local reporters and with London journalists asking questions.
The Warrior Inn did a great trade in drink and beds and meals, and the rustics reaped quite a harvest in answering questions about Mrs. Jasher and the Professor and the weird-looking Kanaka.
Some reporters dared to invade the Pyramids, where Lucy was weeping in sorrow and shame, but Archie, reinforced by two policemen, sent to his aid by Date, soon sent them to the right about.
Hope would have liked to remain with Lucy all the evening, but at half-past seven he was forced to meet Don Pedro and Random outside the Fort in order to go to Gartley Jetty.
CHAPTER XXVII. BY THE RIVER
As the hunt for the fugitives had continued all day, everyone, police, villagers and soldiers, were weary and disheartened.
Consequently, when the three men met near the Fort, there seemed to be few people about.
This was just as well, as they would have been followed to the jetty, and obviously it was best to keep the strange meeting with Captain Hervey as secret as possible.
However, Don Pedro had taken Inspector Date into his confidence, as it was impossible to get past the cottage of the late Mrs. Jasher, in which the officer had taken up his quarters, without being discovered.
Date was quite willing that the trio should go, but stipulated that he should come also. He had heard all about Captain Hervey in connection with the mummy, and thought that he would like to ask that sailor a few leading questions.
“And if I see fit I shall detain him until the inquest is over,” said Date, which was mere bluff, as the inspector had no warrant to stop The Firefly or arrest her skipper.
The three men therefore were joined by Date, when they came along the cinder path abreast of the cottage, and the quartette proceeded further immediately, walking amongst the bents and grasses to the rude old wooden jetty, near which Hervey intended to stop his ship.
The night was quite clear of fog, strange to say, considering the late sea-mist; but a strong wind had been blowing all day and the fog-wreaths were entirely dispersed.
A full moon rode amongst a galaxy of stars, which twinkled like diamonds.
The air was frosty, and their feet scrunched the earth and grasses and coarse herbage under foot, as they made rapidly for the embankment.
When they reached the top they could see the jetty clearly almost below their feet, and in the distance the glittering lights of Pierside.
Vague forms of vessels at anchor loomed on the water, and there was a stream of light where the moon made a pathway of silver.
After a casual glance the three men proceeded down the slope to the jetty.
Three of them at least had revolvers, since Hervey was an ill man to tackle; but probably Date, who was too dense to consider consequences, was unarmed.
Neither did Don Pedro think it necessary to tell the officer that he and his two companions were prepared to shoot if necessary.
Inspector Date, being a prosy Englishman, would not have understood such lawless doings in his own sober, law-abiding country.
When they reached the jetty Don Pedro glanced at his watch, illuminating the dial by puffing his cigar to a ruddy glow.
It was just after eight o’clock, and even as he looked an exclamation from Date made him raise his head.
The inspector was pointing out-stream to a large vessel which had steamed inshore as far as was safe.
Probably Hervey was watching for them through a night-glass, for a blue light suddenly flared on the bridge.
Don Pedro, according to his promise, fired a pistol, and it was then that Date learned that his companions were armed.
“What the devil did you do that for?” he inquired angrily. “It will bring my constables down on us.”
“I do not mind, since you can control them,” said De Gayangos coolly. “I had to give the signal.”
“And we all have revolvers,” said Random quickly. “Hervey is not a very safe man to tackle, inspector.”