Silverside

“ I asked, in a sick voice, and Silverside made no answer. He had wound the belt of cartridges around his neck, and hung his rifle in the crotch of a mangrove. Standing there in water, chest deep, he stared at me moodily from his dark, deep-set eyes.
“You say that you love Therese,” said I, bitterly, “and God knows that up to now you have proved it. Yet you will not try a desperate chance to save what must be dearer to her than life itself, and let me, a stranger, tackle it alone. Suppose we do fail; isn't that better than living on in the knowledge that we let a fighting chance go by? ”

“ Two years ago I sent a schooner to the old place to look for them, but they had gone. Silverside had been there and taken them away.”
“Who is Silverside?” I asked.
“He was my cook; man or devil, I'm not sure which. Silverside has hid them somewhere. I want you to find Therese, my wife, and give her a last message from me, and make her claim my fortune for herself and the child. The message is that I'm sorry for the way I treated her, and beg her to forgive me. The fortune comes to a couple of million and odd dollars.”
I stared at him, too astonished to speak. Fairfax gave me a grim smile. ”

“ But the boat presently reappeared, heading for the farther beach, and I saw Cullom's white-clad figure in the stern. I was following their course, when Silverside touched my elbow.
“Look, Dr. Ames,” said he. “They are heaving in chain.”
The man was right. Two dark figures were swaying up and down at the windlass, and we heard the clatter of the chain cable as it came slowly in through the hawsepipe.
“Cullom means to go out to-night,” said Silverside in my ear. “He will profit by the daylight that is left to load the rest of the oysters, then work out after dark. He is frightened.” ”

“ The wind seemed to gain in weight as we drew in toward the land, and astern of us the mammoth surges were crumbling dangerously.
Sam Lung came aft and stood for a moment by the rail, clinging to one of the main backstay runners and staring alternately ahead, astern, then at Silverside, whose big bony hands were wrapped about the spokes of the wheel, the long fingers gripping like the tentacles of an octopus. ”

“ I answered, and I told her of how my father had tried to send him to gaol or the gallows.
“Cullom wants two things badly,” said I; “he wants Silverside and he wants the pearls. I do not think that he will try to do much about the pearls, though, until he has got Silverside, and from what I have seen of that person I do not worry much about his ability to take care of himself. Don't be afraid, Delphine; we are going to come out of this scrape all right. I'd better overhaul the mate's locker now, and see if I can find something less filthy to wear than what I have got on. ”

“ Seaward stretched the reef, the great seas thundering over it, and flinging their sprays as it seemed to the meridian. All about us the water was swirling, the surface deep in spume, but comparatively still. Masses of débris were eddying here and there, but of the forward fragment of the yawl I saw no sign.
Silverside, braced behind the stump of the mizzen, looked down at me with a bleak smile. I stared at him questioningly. Thought and action were fast becoming possibilities again. ”

“ I raised the glass, focussed carefully, and looked into the pale, kelp-encircled face of Silverside.
“What is it?” asked Delphine, in a low voice, as I turned to her and she saw my face.
“Silverside,” I answered.
“In that bunch of weed?”
“Yes. Don't look yet. The men forward might come aft to see what we were watching.”
I walked to the rail and hung over it as if idly. The mass of weed was moving faster now, and presently I could see through the clear water the gleam of a white body. The two natives up forward were busy on their sail and did not look aft. Nearer and nearer came the weed. ”

“ The Chinaman listened, smiling, and it seemed to me that his eyes twinkled more brightly than ever. “Never,” said Connor, “was there his ayqual ... unless, perhaps, 'twas Silverside, that used to sail with Dan'l Fairfax. Myself, I never ate his cookin', but, accordin' to them that have, the felly was a prince of cooks. By-the-bye, whativer became of Silverside?”
“I don't know what has become of Silverside,” said Von Bulow, leaning back in his chair, “but I suppose you have heard of what happened to Captain Fairfax?” ”

“ I looked again at Delphine, and began to feel a murderous temptation.
“What could we do ashore?” I asked of Silverside.
“I know of a safe hiding place,” he answered, rapidly. “When this vessel came in I recognised her and took no chances. Cullom is a wolf, and Therese's worst enemy. The women knew of a hiding place, so we went there, taking food and the three rifles. I signalled to you from the beach, but you would not look. Oh, for the sake of all you hold dear, do as I ask. What are two old natives to a man of your strength?” ”

“ It makes one feel in the world somehow. It's jolly nice to think that Silverside is of so much importance in the town."
"Bet we'll make a good show-up on Dedication Day!" commented Laura, who had drifted into the conversation. "Hopscotch was saying something about the whole school in white dresses and our badges. By the by, Miss Thompson's got a little surprise for us. She's been having some beautiful ribbon, in the school colours, specially woven for Silverside. She showed it to Adah and me this morning in the study, and I can tell you it's topping! ”

“ Shortly after dark it began to blow with gradually increasing force, the wind so straight over the taffrail that a main boom tackle was rigged to keep the heavy spar from jibbing.
“This is a good thing for you,” said I to Silverside. “The yawl is a dull sailer and needs a gale to move her. With this breeze astern she ought to start off a little.”
“It will not make much difference,” said Silverside. “Her bottom is foul, and she can only get up to a certain speed. See here, Dr. Ames; don't you think that you might say a word in my favour to Sam Lung?” ”

“ Silverside went away, and mother brought the schooner here. She had been taught how to navigate by Daniel Fairfax, and Keowa Harry was mate.”
“Keowa Harry,” I cried, for I remembered the Kanaka boy as my father's right hand man. It was big Keowa Harry who had taught me to swim and fish and handle a canoe and many other island accomplishments.
“Yes,” said Delphine. “Silverside got him. All the rest of the crew are Kanakas also, and very good men. We built this bungalow, and got the pearl oysters with diving armour. ”

“ Fairfax interrupted curtly.
“Then Silverside and the women are on the island ... with the blacks?” She turned to Connor. “We must arm and go ashore at once,” said she. 'I think that I know where the women are hiding. Keowa Harry took me once to a cave which he had found on the other side of the crater while hunting goats. He said at the time that if we should ever need a refuge it would be a perfect place, as there is a sort of labyrinth inside. The women knew of the place.” She looked at me. “Did Silverside tell you why Cullom was so anxious to destroy him?” ”

“ The bottom under us is sewn as thick with pearls as the tunic of a rajah.”
I did not answer. It seemed to me that I was beginning to understand Silverside to some slight extent. My life mattered as much to him as the life of a cockroach; in fact, I was not sure but that he might have preferred to see me go the road of the coolies. Dead men are good confidants. ”

“ There must have been a little grease on his thumb.”
“And Von Bulow has it,” said Connor.
“Do you think that he will discover it?” I asked.
“Trust him. A Chinese business man has an eye for a thumb-mark, like a bank cashier for a signature. More than that, he saw it at once. 'Twas for that he wanted the list. Now he has Silverside's life undher his own thumb. At this minute he 1s studyin' how it may profit him. You will see. When the stores come aboard the list will have been mislaid. From this hour Silverside is his slave.” ”

“ No, we have done all that is humanly possible. If there were time we might go around and attack them on the beach, but it would take three or four hours to get there, Cullom and they would have gone. Cullom will probably load the shell aboard.”
I gave a groan. Silverside's face softened.
“It is hard,” said he, “but what can we do? Fate is fate, and we are only mortal. Come, let us get out of this. We have no more than time enough before nightfall.” ”

“ Delphine let herself over the rail, and slipped down into the water. I fol lowed her, and we pushed ourselves clear of the schooner's side.
“Swim straight in for the mangroves,” said Silverside. “Make for that dark spot; it's the opening of a little creek which we must follow to reach solid ground.”
We struck out together through the clear, warm water. Delphine swam like a strong, athletic boy. I must be remembered that she was island born, and from childhood had romped along the beach with Kanaka playmates. ”

“ The cook went back to his work, and Connor turned to me with another laugh.
“'Twas an intelligent answer,” said he. “There's nothing to tickle the palate of a seafaring man like good corned mate, and a bit of cabbage and a few biled spuds. But as for the original Silverside, the chances are he would pison the stomach of a cannibal when you come to consider that avin John Shark will have none of him.” ”

“ It was getting dark, and Cullom paused with his head and shoulders above the hatch to bawl forward, as I guessed, to tell the cabin boy to light up. We could not see his face when he came down, and for several moments he stood puffing and snarling as if to himself.
“What's wrong?” I asked.
“Hell's wrong ...” he growled. “That de'il Silverside. I sent a boat ashore to see was there aught to eat or drink. The bungalow was locked, and no sooner had they set foot on the threshold than there cam' twa shots fra' the bush, and here was a couple o' my best hands gone to glory.” ”

“ The boarders at Silverside, who preferred country to town, greatly deplored this suburban growth. They had always begged to take their walks in an opposite direction, and had ignored Harlingden and its industries as persistently as possible. The advent of about fifty day girls into Silverside they regarded as neither more nor less than an alien invasion. ”

“ The after fragment of the yawl to which we clung had ceased its aimless twisting and turning, and presently seemed to come to rest in still water. The ripples washed past as though we were at anchor.
“We've stopped moving,” I called to Silverside.
“Yes,” he answered; “something is holding us. A bight of iron shroud, perhaps, caught around a mass of coral. Did you ever see so many sharks? The water is alive with them.” ”

“ Ye have a top-piece like a hammerhead shark, 'tis that long. I am old and none too sober. It is disgustin'.”
I measured out the dose and took it forward. Silverside took it with a toneless expression of thanks.
“Thank you, sir,” said he; “I hope that the captain is not angry.”
“Oh, no,” I answered. “I told him that a man suffering from neuralgia was scarcely to be blamed for seeking relief. Now go to sleep. That ought to quiet the pain.”
“I hope so, sir,” answered the cook.
When I went aft Connor, cigar in mouth, was pacing the quarter-deck. ”

“ But he seemed to recover himself, and stood glaring from Jean to me, the smoking revolver hanging in his grip.
“Now, here's a way o' treatin' peaceful folk,” he snarled. “Who is this ye've got, back there in the bush? Answer me quick, Master Berdou. And you ...” He turned on me. “What do ye here in drippin' rags and the face of a drowned dog?” His face was blotchy and congested, and his small blue eyes beginning to dance like those of a boar about to charge. “Who is that skulkin' in the bush, firin' on strangers and honest men?”
“Silverside,” I answered.
“What say ye? Silverside....” ”

“ What are you? What is anything ... after what I have wrought and suffered? Fairfax is dead ... by these two hands, and for days my greatest dread was lest his malady might cheat me of what was mine. But God was good to me, and he has gone to hell, his gold hung round his neck to sink him to the uttermost depths. Therese does not need his money; Berdou can provide for her when I am gone.”
He fell forward across the table, burying his forehead in his arm.
I waited in silence. Presently Silverside roused himself.
“It was not my intention to defraud Von Bulow,” said he. ”

“ But they were mine ... not his. I had worked for them, and although ten years passed without my seeing Therese, I could not endure that 'Tiapolo Fairfax' should return to claim her. Besides, I hated him.'
Silverside's head sunk between his shoulders, and he was silent for awhile. I did not speak. He seemed to drowse, but presently roused himself.
“Berdou took the schooner and what money was left and set out, first to hide them, then to work the pearl island should there be anything there. I worked my way to San Francisco, and there I found my enemy. ”

“ The savagery of Cullom's mood seemed to abate on coming aboard. In fact, the knowledge that he had Silverside to reckon with seemed to have sobered him. Following us into the cabin he went to a locker and got out a bottle of whiskey and some glasses, which he set on the cabin table,
“A bad business, Misther Douglas,” said he, mildly enough, and shaking his shaggy head. “Ye will obsairve, both o' ye, that I acted in self-defence. Take a drop wuskey, man; you look as if ye needed it. And give some to the lad ... though wuskey is not good for boys....” ”