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Updated: June 3, 2025
You're knocking us all to flinders." Hindhaugh beckoned. "Look here, my good chap, it won't matter to you for a couple of hours. Let us lie till dusk, and then I'll get away. I've got important business ashore." "That's very well, Captain. But look here; if there's anything on, I'm in it. You understand I'm in it." "You understand that, do you?
Everything depended on swiftness of action, and Hindhaugh determined grimly that if rapidity could do anything he would teach the "furriners" a lesson for trying to swindle him. He said, very politely, "We're all ready now. You get your men aboard the lighters, and we'll soon rash your cargo over the side." This was transmitted to the smugglers, and immediately they swarmed aboard their own boats.
No been throw nothin' at myself. Beesiness! I'se been com' for beesiness. Big thing, Capeetan!" The last phrase was spoken with such a profound wink that Hindhaugh held his hand, and, addressing the man as one would an ill-conditioned dog, said, "Don't keep bowing and scraping there, you tastrel! Get it out sharp!" The Scorpion whispered, "No been talk up here.
"All right, Pilot, never mind; come down and have some tea." Then Hindhaugh gradually drew his man out, until the pilot was absolutely confidential. At last the man leaned over and gave a masonic sign. "What was that job you was speaking about, Cap'n? We're near home now, you know. Better not go too near." Hindhaugh played a large card. He smiled carelessly.
The fellow gurgled, but he couldn't cry out. Hindhaugh called the steward, and that functionary came out of his den with the long bowie. "Sit on him," said the captain. "If he stirs cut his throat. Now, you, if you move a finger you're done." The steward straddled across the Scorpion, and held the knife up in a sarcastic way.
The Scorpion whispered down the companion, "They'se been com'," and the captain went on deck. Two large felucca-rigged lighters hove up slowly through the dusk, and the chief Scorpion's signal was answered. Hindhaugh saw both lighters draw near, he felt the usual scraping bump, and then he heard a sudden thunder of many feet. The second mate sung out, "Here's half a hundred of these devils, sir.
When the sun had dipped low the Scorpion-in-chief came aft, and pointed mysteriously to the northeast. "You'se been look where I point myself. Feluccas! You'se follow them in and drop anchor." Hindhaugh smiled. "Do you think you're talking to a fool? Come you below there, and let me have that other money sharp." "Ah, Capeetan, wait till agent's man come with felucca.
No one is so cordial as a pilot who has secured a good ship. The two men exchanged news, and gradually slid into desultory talk. Suddenly Hindhaugh said, "Are you game for a bit of work? Do you ever DO anything?" The pilot was virtuously agitated. He drew himself up, and, taking care that the mate should hear, answered, "Me! Not for the wurrrld, Cap'n. I've got a wife and children, sir."
In an instant every possible ounce of steam was put on, and the Jenny Jones went away at eleven knots toward the Gut. All night long the firemen were kept hard at it, and before morning the Rock was far astern of the driving steamboat. Three of the Scorpions had stayed aboard, and Captain Hindhaugh noticed that they earned their knives.
The Jenny Jones went back to Gibraltar, and Captain Hindhaugh was very careful never to go ashore without a companion. One day he was passing a chandler's shop when a sunken glitter of dark eyes met him. His old acquaintance, the chief Scorpion, was looking stilettos and poison at him.
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