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Updated: June 12, 2025
Suddenly I came to a definite resolution. Captain Selover had descended to the pier. I approached him. "You need a mate," said I. He looked me over. "Perhaps," he admitted. "Where's your man?" "Right here," said I. His eyes widened a little. Otherwise he showed no sign of surprise. I cursed my clothes.
Captain Selover listened almost indifferently. "I came back from the islands last year," he piped, "with three hundred thousand dollars' worth of pearls. There was sixteen in the crew, and every man of them was blood hungry for them pearls. They had three or four shindies and killed one man over the proper way to divide the loot after they had got it. They didn't get it. Why?"
King responded in his Bulletin, by stating in that paper that he defied Selover; and he went on to state the place of his residence; the time he left home to go to his office in the morning; the route thither he usually took: and also the same details of his customary way home every afternoon.
One instant I saw clear against the waning daylight the bulky, foolish-swaying form of Captain Selover: the next it had disappeared, carried down and obliterated by the rush of attacking bodies. Knives gleamed ruddy in the sunset. There was no struggle. I heard a deep groan. Then the murderers rose slowly to their feet. I had plenty of time to run away.
The sound of heavy breathing, dull blows, the tear of cloth; and grunts of punishment received; the swirl of the sand, the heave of struggling bodies, all riveted my attention, so that I did not see Captain Ezra Selover until he stood almost at my elbow. "Stop!" he shrieked in his high, falsetto voice.
If they have just plain, black eyes, they're all right; but if they have grey eyes, with red rims around 'em, they're vampires. I wish you'd let me know, if you do find out. It's interesting." "Don' get me near no bats," growled the Nigger. "Where's Selover?" inquired Darrow. "He stays aboard," I hastened to say. "Wants to keep an eye on the ship." "That's laudable. What have you been doing?"
Doctor believes it, and makes me lay my course for those bearings. And here's the island! So the bum's story was true! I'd like to know what the rest of it was!" His eyes were shining. "Do we anchor or stand off and on?" I asked. Captain Selover turned to grip me by the shoulder.
Certainly my sincerity would be without question; and I hoped that two years or more of service such as I had rendered would tickle Dr. Schermerhorn's sense of his own importance. So adequate did this plan seem, that I gave up thought on the subject. My whole life now lay on the shores. I was not again permitted to board the Laughing Lass. Captain Selover I saw twice at a distance.
Dusk was falling, in the swift Californian fashion. Already the outlines of the wharf houses were growing indistinct, and the lights of the city were beginning to twinkle. Captain Selover came to my side and leaned over the rail, peering critically at the black water against the piles. "She's at the flood," he squeaked. "And here comes the Lucy Belle."
In my fatigue it seemed hardly worth thinking about. The men had rolled themselves in their blankets, tired with the long day. Next morning Captain Selover was ashore early. He had quite recovered his spirits, and offered me a dram of French brandy, which I refused.
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