_ CHAPTER THREE. THE PUSHING STRANGER
Wise people say that one ought to get up very early in the morning, and that it makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
It is a matter to be settled to a great extent by climate, and Brace Leigh wanted no urging to hurry out of--or, rather, off from his--bed just as the stars were beginning to pale, and open his window more widely, to breathe in the comparatively cool air.
His first thought was, of course, a bath or a plunge into the river for a swim.
But the latter was not to be thought of, for more than one reason. Mud was one, but that might have been borne; another reason was that certain loathsome lizardy creatures lurked about in those waters on the look-out for food.
It a pity, for the hotel was rather a primitive place, and did not boast a bath-room, nor even a good tub or a large basin, and the young fellow had to sigh and make believe with a sponge before dressing hurriedly and going out to wait for the sun's rising and the first notes of the birds.
"Morning is the time out here in the tropics," he said to himself, as he stepped out into the cool darkness, apparently the first person up that morning, for all was very still.
"I'll go down to the waterside and have a good look at Captain Banes's vessel."
He found out directly, though, that he was not the first person up, for the door was open, and as he was in the act of stepping out a peculiarly harsh, wiry voice said:
"Good morning!"
The young man felt taken aback, for he dimly made out the figure of the thin, inquisitive-looking personage who had hung about them the previous day during the interview with the captain.
"I thought you'd be up early, so I waited for you."
"What for?" said Brace sharply.
"Just for a chat. Folks get friendly when they're thrown together in an out-of-the-way place like this. I took to you as soon as I saw you. Brother up yet?"
"No, he is not," said Brace surlily.
"Ha, ha!" laughed the man. "You want your breakfast."
"Do I?" said Brace. "You seem to know."
"A man don't want to be very knowing to find out that. One always feels a bit snappish first thing. You're going down to have a look at the skipper's brig."
"Well, really--," began Brace.
"Don't be huffy, squire. It's quite natural that you should."
"And pray why, sir? I saw the vessel lying moored yonder yesterday."
"Of course, but when one's going for a voyage in a ship one likes to look at her a bit."
"Then I'm going on a voyage in that ship, am I?" said Brace.
"Of course--you and your brother. Up the Amazons, eh?"
This was said in a questioning tone, but Brace made no reply.
"Well, of course you've a right to choose, but I say you ought to go up the Orinoco. Deal more to see there, I believe. Dessay, though, there's plenty up the Amazons. They'll do."
"That's a comfort," said Brace, smiling in spite of his annoyance, for the man was as cool as he was imperturbable.
"Is it?" he said. "Glad of it. Glad too that you young Englishmen are so enterprising. As a rule you're downright sleepy and leave nearly everything in the finding out way to us Amurricans. Didn't know I was an Amurrican, did you?"
"I never doubted it from the moment you spoke."
"Didn't you, now? Well, that is curious. It's my pushing way, perhaps."
"Yes, that was it," said Brace, laughing.
"Well, there's nothing like it if you want to get ahead. So you're going up the big rivers, are you?"
"Look here, sir," said Brace: "my brother will be down soon. Wait a little while, and then you can ask him about his plans."
"No, thankye, sir," said the man. "He's short and sharp, and maybe he wouldn't like it. You're easier to deal with. Don't be huffy. Two fellows meeting out here in a place like this ought to help one another."
"I see," said Brace good-humouredly. "Now then, you want me to help you in something?"
"To be sure. That's it exactly."
"Well, sir, what is it?"
"Look here, never mind the _sir_. That's so English. Now you're getting stand-offy again, as if you thought I was a sharper with a story about being hard up."
"H'm!" coughed Brace.
"Hah! that's what you did think?"
"Well, perhaps so."
"No perhaps about it, squire. But you're wrong. I am hard up, but it isn't for dollars."
"Then what help do you want?"
"Friendly help. I'm down in a hole, and I want you and your brother to pull me out."
"Please explain."
"Don't be in a hurry. You've been too sharp for me as it is."
"How? I never saw you till yesterday, when you came hanging about our table."
"Enough to make any man hang about. It made me wild, squire, to see the ground cut from under my feet. I'm not used to it."
"I am quite ignorant of having done anything to injure you, sir," said Brace. "Will you explain yourself?"
"Oh, I'll precious soon explain. You and your brother pushed in before me and stole my skipper."
"Did what?" cried Brace.
"Stole my skipper, squire. I came here straight, after being too late over a schooner at Trinidad. Found out that Skipper Banes had been disappointed of a cargo and was just the man likely to make a bargain with me, but before I could get in tow with him you and your brother had hooked on."
"Really, I'm very sorry for you."
"Never mind the sorrow, squire: I want something more substantial than that. What do you say to tossing for him?"
"Nothing," said Brace.
"Of course I knew you'd say that. What do you say to letting me have him, and I'll take you with me, both of you?"
"Nothing again," replied Brace, laughing.
"Why not? Lookye here: I'm going up the Orinoco exploring and collecting, shooting, fishing, and hunting, and finding every precious thing there is to be found. That's just what you're going to do."
"Is it?"
"Yes, of course it is: only you two say Amazons, while I say Orinoco."
"You seem to know all about our affairs, sir," said Brace stiffly.
"Yes, I do, pretty tidy," said the American. "Come, what do you say? You and your brother can pay half, and we'll share everything we get. What do you say to that?"
"You had better explain your position to my brother, sir," said Brace quietly; "that is all that I can say."
"That means your brother won't come unless he can boss the whole show."
"Yes, that's it," said Brace, laughing. "It's a way we English have."
"That's true, but then, you see, we Amurricans have got the old AS blood in us."
"AS--Anglo-Saxon?" said Brace.
"That's the stuff; sir, and all the best of the British race in us along with our own qualities. It came out over the row with George Three, and it's come out more and more ever since. We like to boss the whole show too, and we do it."
"Or try to."
"Yes, and try wins, squire. But look here, I suppose you're right. That's what your brother will say. He has made his plans and he don't want any Yankee meddling in them, eh?"
"Well! But I believe he will put it in a more gentlemanly way."
"Fine words won't better it, squire, and the disappointment will be as hard as ever. Look here: I want to go, and I'll pitch over the Orinoco and make it Amazons and go with you. Now then, what do you say to that?"
"Do you want the plain truth?"
"I want the words of an English gentleman," said the American sharply.
"Then I must say that I feel sure he will decline."
"Why?"
"You are a perfect stranger."
"Can't help that."
"Well, I'll be frank," said Brace: "he would not like it because of a certain English feeling of exclusiveness."
"Yes, that's it, squire; and that's where you Britishers go wrong. But look here: do I speak plain? I'll pay a fair half of all it costs-- straightforward dollars."
"My brother would not be influenced by money. But there, take no notice of what I say. He will be down soon: ask him."
"But I want you to back me up, squire."
"I can't do that, sir. Can't you see that it would be very unreasonable?"
"No," said the American shortly; "can't see anything, only that I want to go in that captain's vessel, and I don't mind whether it's up the Orinoco or the Amazons. I wouldn't mind if it was only up this bit of a river here to where the gold grows. They say there's plenty up there."
"Then go up this river and seek it," said Brace, "and you'll soon get over this disappointment."
"Maybe," said the American; "but it's getting light now: the sun comes up quickly in these parts. Let's go down to the waterside and have a look at the skipper's boat."
Feeling that it would be a welcome change in the conversation, Brace walked with him to where they could get a good view of Captain Banes's brig, whose taut rigging and shapely sides began to show plainly now in the early morning, a flash of sunlight seeming to have fallen just beneath the bows on the head of the white painted figurehead beneath the bowsprit; but it proved to be only the gilded Phrygian cap which the carvers had formed, while as they walked up, admiring the trimness of the well-kept vessel the while, there was another gleam of sunlight, but only on the gilt name "Jason."
"Ah," said the American, "'Jason': that had hold of me as soon as I saw it. He was the chap who went after the golden fleece, wasn't he?"
"I believe so," replied Brace.
"Yes, that's it; and if I'd had that ship I might have got a cargo of golden fleeces, or other things that would have done as well. You'll have to back me up, squire. I feel as if I must go."
"Impossible, sir. Charter another boat. You are prepared for such a voyage, I suppose?"
"Prepared?" exclaimed the American. "I've got a dozen cases ashore here where I'm staying, full of guns, ammunition, tackle, and all sorts. My servant's got 'em in charge. There's not too much of anything, and nothing but what's likely to be useful to a man going to where he's surrounded by savages and wild beasts."
"Then you take a great interest in exploration?" said Brace.
"Interest? I should think I do, sir. I'm a regular Columbus, Marco Polo, and Captain Cook rolled up into one. Only just wish I'd a dozen smart chaps instead of only one. I'd go off in a boat, capture that brig, and sail right away."
"To be followed, caught, and put in prison for piracy," said Brace, smiling contemptuously.
"Eh?" said the American. "Yes, I suppose that's about the size of it."
"Ship ahoy, there! What cheer, oh? Morning, sir," came from the brig, and Captain Banes, who had just come on deck, took off his hat and waved it, but stopped suddenly as he made out who was Brace Leigh's companion.
"Morning, skipper!" cried the latter.
"Morning, sir, morning," shouted the captain gruffly, and then, turning sharply round, he began to give orders to the crew, which were immediately followed by sounds of holystone upon the already white boards, and splashing of water as buckets came over the side and were hauled up again.
"Don't seem as if he's going to ask us aboard," said the American.
"No," replied Brace, smiling. "Which way are you going, sir, because I am going to stroll along by those sugar-warehouses and back to the hotel on the other side."
"That's just my way; so I'll walk with you. Ah, here's the sun. Going to be another stinging hot day."
"It's hot already," said Brace, whose cheeks were beginning to tingle at the man's persistency.
"Yes, it is hot, and--I say, ain't that your brother coming this way?"
"Yes," said Brace eagerly, and he uttered a sigh of relief as he felt that an unpleasant business would be brought to an end at once.
He soon saw that there was a frown on his brother's brow, and Sir Humphrey's voice told plainly what he felt upon the stranger attacking him at once about the business he had in hand.
He heard him courteously to the end, and then, with a few words of sympathy for the disappointment he was causing, plainly told the applicant that his proposal was quite out of the question.
"Humph!" said the American. "Well, I don't like it, mister. I've come all this way to go up one of these rivers, and I don't mean to be put off. They're as free for me as for you."
"Quite so," said Sir Humphrey, "and you will go your way while I go mine."
"Ye-e-es, but it seems a pity. I like you two gentlemen, and I don't think you'd find much harm in me."
"I have nothing against you, Mr--Mr--"
"Don't you mind about the 'mister.' My name's P Franklyn Briscoe, squire, and I should like to be friends with you."
"So you shall be," said Sir Humphrey, smiling, "for I promise you I will not quarrel."
"Then you'll make a bargain of it?" cried the American eagerly.
"Decidedly not, Mr Briscoe," said Sir Humphrey firmly. "Make up an expedition of your own, sir: and I wish, you success."
"But we should do so much better, squire, if we joined hands."
"Possibly, sir, but I must decline to enter into any kind of partnership."
"With a stranger, eh?"
"Well, yes, with a stranger. Once more, sir, I wish you success."
"I'm a very useful sort of man, squire."
"That I do not doubt; but I prefer to take my own journey my own way."
"Wouldn't stop to pick me up, I suppose, if you found me drowning or starving, eh?"
"I hope I have an Englishman's share of humanity towards a fellow-man in distress, sir," said Sir Humphrey coldly; "but on your own showing you have a goodly supply of necessaries and ample funds for prosecuting your journey."
"Well, yes, tidy."
"Then once more good morning. Come, Brace, my lad, I daresay we can get some breakfast now."
Sir Humphrey bowed to the American and turned away, followed by his brother, after the latter had saluted the stranger, who stood looking after them.
"All right," he said. "People don't take to me don't like my ways, I suppose: I thought I was as polite as a man could be. But if you keep on whittling you're sure to get through the stick: whether it take a long time or a short time, PFB, my friend, depends upon the blade. Now, is your blade a sharp one, or will it only cut cheese if you put a lot of strength into the stroke? Well, we shall see."
Before the brothers had finished their meal Captain Banes was ashore, and an earnest conversation ensued about ways and means.
"Let's see," said the captain; "what about your luggage and stores? You haven't much, gentlemen?"
"Indeed, but we have," said Brace: "tons."
"Oh, that's nothing."
"I think you will say it is something when you see," said Brace. "We have stores of all kinds to last for a couple of years if necessary."
"Then you have plenty of ammunition, I suppose?"
"Plenty," said Sir Humphrey. "In fact, we brought everything we could think necessary. When will you have it on board?"
"Some time this afternoon, gentlemen. I shall warp in alongside the wharf so as to get it under hatches easily. The sooner it's aboard the better. I'll give orders to the mate, and he'll see to that while I arrange about what fresh stores are necessary. That won't take long."
"Then you propose sailing soon?" said Sir Humphrey.
"Yes, sir, as soon as you like. We can settle our little business affairs in five minutes, or I can take your word. That's enough for me."
"Thank you, Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey gravely; "but I should prefer you to draw up a business letter that would be binding upon us both."
"Very well, sir: it shall be done."
"But what about your mate and the crew?" said Brace.
"Oh, I had a talk to them last night, sir."
"You mean that they are willing to come?"
"They all look upon it as a holiday, sir, and are as pleased as can be."
"But they've not seen us yet," said Sir Humphrey.
"What, sir?" cried the captain, laughing. "They all came ashore as soon as I'd told 'em about you, and crept up to the open window of the room where you two gentlemen sat talking by the lighted lamp."
"Indeed?" cried Brace. "I did not hear them."
"Only came one at a time, sir, and they'd no shoes on."
"Well, what did they say?" cried Brace.
"Like to hear, gentlemen?"
"Of course," cried Brace.
"They're good trusty lads, gentlemen, but, like all British sailors, a bit plain-spoken. P'raps Sir Humphrey here mightn't like it, though I answer for 'em that they meant no harm."
Brace looked merrily at his brother as if asking a question.
"Oh, yes, speak out, captain," he said.
"Well, gentlemen, they all agreed that they thought Mr Brace here would turn out a regular trump as it would be a treat to follow."
"Come, that's a good character," cried Brace; "eh, Free?"
"The poor fellows don't know you yet, Brace, my boy," said Sir Humphrey drily.
"Oh, my chaps aren't far wrong, sir," cried the captain, smiling.
"Well, what did they say about me?" asked Sir Humphrey.
The captain's eyes twinkled, and he cocked one of his eyes at Brace; but he did not speak.
"Was their report so very bad?" said the young man.
"Yes, sir; pretty tough," replied the captain.
"Never mind," said Sir Humphrey, "so long as it was honest. What did they say, captain?"
"Said they didn't quite know what to make of you, sir; but they all agreed that you looked a bit hard in the mouth, and bull-doggy--that's what they called it. The first mate said, too, that he quite agreed with them, for he could see that if ever it came to a fight with any of the natives, two-foots or four-foots, you'd never flinch."
"I hope not," said Sir Humphrey; "but I also hope we may never be put to the test."
"But--"
The captain stopped.
"Oh, there's a _but_," said Brace merrily. "It would have been quite a decent character if it had not been for that _but_."
"What was the _but_, captain?" asked Sir Humphrey.
"He couldn't say how you'd come up to the scratch if it was trouble with the long twisters that swarm up the rivers and in the damp forests of these parts."
"Snakes?" suggested Brace.
"That's right, sir: boa constructors, as the showman said they was called, because they constructed so many pleasing images with their serpentile forms."
"Well," said Sir Humphrey, "to be perfectly frank, I don't know myself how I should behave under such circumstances, for I have a perfect dread of serpents of all kinds. The poisonous ones are a horror to me."
"Or anyone else, sir," growled the captain. "I'd rather have a set-to with one of the tigers here."
"Tigers!" cried Brace; "there are no tigers in the New World."
"They call 'em tigers here, sir, though they've got spots instead of stripes. Jaggers I suppose is the proper name. Fierce beasts they are too. But poisonous snakes--ugh! They give me the creeps. But there, these things always get away from you if they can."
"Let us change the subject," said Sir Humphrey; "I am quite satisfied with your men's judgment, Captain Banes, and I daresay we shall become very good friends."
"Of course, sir," said the bluff man addressed. "I'll answer for them, as I told them I'd answer for you two gents. By the way, I hear the Yankee chap wants to charter a vessel for some such a voyage as you gentlemen mean to make."
"Yes," said Sir Humphrey; and the brothers related their interviews of the morning.
"Want'll have to be his master," said the captain, who had listened, smiling grimly during the narration. "I don't see myself going on such a trip with him. I took a dislike to that chap as soon as I saw him. Well, I wish him luck. Then if it's all the same to you, gentlemen, I'll have your stores on board a bit late in the afternoon when the sun's getting lower, and--Well, now! look at that. Think he heard what I said?"
"I hope not," said Sir Humphrey quietly. "It's as well not to excite people's dislike by making remarks about their appearance before them."
"Right, sir," said the captain. "That's one for me."
"I beg your pardon, Captain Banes," cried Sir Humphrey earnestly. "I did not mean to--"
"It's all right, sir; I deserved it," said the captain bluffly, "and I hope now he didn't hear. Poor beggar! It is his nature to. Now, gentlemen, what do you say to coming and having a look over your cabin and berths? All being well, they'll be your quarters for many a long month to come."
"By all means," they cried, and started for the brig at once. _