The Braganza diamond

Contents

CHAP. PAGE

I An Exciting Prospect 5

II A Visitor 15

Chapter I An Exciting Prospect

"'^^^ISITORS at Old Point Comfort remember well the little steam launch Midge, or yacht, as old J ake Berry, the owner, insisted on calling her. She was reasonably well adapted for a trip to Norfolk; or up the James River, although even in these sheltered waters the passengers might suffer some discomforts if a storm came up, owing to the lack of accommodations.

She was only thirty-five feet long, with an after cabin capable of holding four persons without any very great amount of crowding, an engine-room where two more might sleep or seek shelter from a storm, while forward, from amidships to the bow, there was no other protection than that afforded by a canvas awning.

A jaunty little craft she was, however, and among her numerous admirers the most ardent were probably Perry Sargent and Ernest Barnard, who, with their parents, were spending the winter at the big hotel where Northern people are wont to seek refuge from the frost king’s rule.

Many times had these two been out with Captain Jake, when his craft was chartered by a small party, and never a morning passed without their visiting the dock in the hope of receiving an invitation for a short cruise.

On this particular day, when the Midge is thus formally introduced, the boys paid their regular visit to the captain, and were both surprised and disappointed that he was about to take quite a long voyage, for, during the past four weeks, the little steamer had returned to her dock every night.

Yes ; I reckon on bein’ gone nigh on to two weeks,” Captain Jake said, ‘‘an’ if so be you fellers can get away for that length of time, an’ are willin’ to stand your share of the grub bills, why

AN EXCITING PKOSPECT here’s a chance for a right jolly lark. I’m goin’ down through the old canal to the south’ard of Roanoke Island with the widder Houghton an’ her daughter. I don’t calculate there’s much of any money in it for me, an’ still there may be ; leastways, I’m taking chances.”

Neither of the boys was particularly interested as to what the chances ” might be which the owner of the Midge was taking ; but they were literally wild with excitement at the prospect of a two weeks’ cruise, and, without waiting for further explanations, started off to gain the necessary permission.

To the delight of both, they met Mr. Barnard a short distance from the dock, and, before replying to his son’s earnest entreaties, the gentleman thought it advisable to consult with the owner of the Midge.

Danger ?” Captain J ake said, in reply to his questions. Not a bit of it ! We’ll run through the old canal into the Pasquotank River, then across Albemarle Sound, an’ there we are. We may find a little rough water off Roanoke, but no more than the boys see every day they go out with me. I’ll answer for it that they’re back here in two weeks, if so be you’re willin’ they should go.”

When do you intend to start ?” Mr. Barnard asked.

‘‘ I’m reckonin’ on leavin’ here in an hour, if nothin’ happens.”

After asking for more detailed explanations regarding the intended course and the object of the trip, Mr. Barnard accompanied the boys to the hotel.

Within the given time not only had they gained their parents’ permission, but all arrangements were made for the voyage. Each had a well-filled valise, together with sufficient money to enable him to pay his share of the grub bill,” and when they stepped on board the Midge, Captain J ake said, as he pointed with his thumb toward the tiny cabin :

‘‘ The widow an’ her daughter are there, an’ I’ve waited ten minutes or more to find out if you’re goin’.”

AN EXCITING PROSPECT

We got here as quickly as possible/’ the elder of the boys answered, apologetically, and the old gentleman replied :

‘‘ Oh, my waiting don’t make any difference. A few minutes more or less won’t count on a two weeks’ cruise. Before we get back I’ll show you more fun between here an’ Boanoke than can be stacked up on the whole United States coast.”

In obedience to the captain’s orders, Ernest cast off the hawser. Perry seated himself on the port locker in the cockpit, and the cruise of the little steamer was begun.

As is common in small steam launches, the Midge was steered by a lever on the starboard side amidships, where the helmsman could also act as fireman and engineer, the boiler being only of ten horse-power capacity, and the machinery requiring but little attention.

During the first ten minutes the boys looked furtively toward the cabin every now and then, but without seeing either of the passengers ; and noticing these glances, Captain Jake said :

‘‘ You’ll see ’em soon enough, I reckon, so there’s no need of frettin’. As I told you, it’s only the widder and little Mazie — though I don’t know why I call her that, for she’s as big as either of you. Now there’s a queer reason for this cruise, which I didn’t explain to your father, ’cause I hadn’t really a right to tell the secret ; but since we’re shipmates, the thing has got to be understood, an’ you shall be posted now. Coil up that bow hawser a little neater, Ernest, and after Perry puts some coal on the fire I’ll spin a cur’ous yarn.”

When these orders had been obeyed, the captain lighted his pipe, glanced toward the cabin to make sure his passengers could not overhear him, and began his story.

It’s nigh on to forty years since old Winslow Dorr — the widder’s uncle — was first put in command of the brig Terror ; leastways, that’s what folks say, an’ it must have been as long ago as that, because Roanoke inlet was open then, and it has been closed ever since I can remember. There were plenty of people ’round these parts

AN EXCITING PEOSPECT who said the captain wasn’t an honest trader, as he claimed to be, an’ more’n one will make his affidavit the Terror hoisted the black flag when she was off the Central American coast ; but that’s neither here nor there, so far as we’re concerned.

I was third mate of the ship Three Brothers when we heard as how old Winny had given up goin’ to sea, an’ settled down on what wasn’t much more’n a sand spit near New Inlet. The Terror was still in commission, but nobody ever knew why he left her, an’ I reckon he never explained, ’cause he wasn’t much given to tollin’ about his own business. Leastways, there he was, an’ there he lived alone, an’ there I reckon he is now, or we’ll be makin’ this trip for nothin’.”

So you are simply going down to see him, are you?” Ernest asked, disappointed because the story was not more thrilling.

“ That ain’t quite the size of it,” the old man answered ; and, leaning forward, he added in a whisper, ‘‘ we’re goin’ down to get one of the biggest diamonds you ever saw.”

“ Diamonds !” Perry rej^eated in astonishment.

Yes, an’ here’s the cur’ous joart of the whole thing. Last week the widder got a letter from the old captain sayin’ he had ’em an’ wanted her to come before he died, ’cause there wasn’t much show in the nature of things for him to last a great while longer. Where the jewels came from I don’t say ; hut I’ve got my opinion, an’ you can have yours. I’ve seen the letter, so that part of it is straight ; hut still the old man may have been clean out of his head, an’ hasn’t so much as a piece of glass to show. The widder’s jest crazy to get there, ’cause her mother used to say that she’d seen the diamonds once, an’ the old captain told a story of how he was keepin’ ’em for somebody else.

Now gettin’ down sou’east of Poanote ain’t the easiest kind of travelin’ unless you own a boat, or charter one, an’ since the widder’s husband died I reckon her money is kinder slim, so she showed me the letter, an’ I agreed to take her down. It’s the same as a loss of sixty dollars a week if there’s nothin’ in the story, ’cause

AN EXCITING PROSPECT

I can get that much for the use of the yacht durin’ pleasant weather. If the old captain is alive, if the diamonds are there, an’ if he gives em’ up, why I’ll he paid for the cruise ; but there are so many ‘ ifs ’ about the job that it’s kinder risky as a speculation.”

But if he had what represented so much money, why would he live down there ?” Ernest asked. They wouldn’t be any good to him.”

Well now by puttin’ together the letter and what an old nigger who used to sail with Captain Dorr told me, I can make a pretty good guess. This darkey — he was bosun’s mate on the Terror — says the captain got ’em from an East Indiaman what was ashore on the Florida reefs. I’ll leave you to figger how the thing was done ; but ’cordin’ to the nigger’s story, the men what owned ’em threatened the worst kind of revenge, an’ swore to follow him till he died if they couldn’t get the stones before. It wasn’t so much the value, hut ’cause they belonged to their outlandish gods, or somethin’ of that kind, I don’t rightly understand what; leastways, old

Winny settled down where nobody would be likely to find him.”

Does Mrs. Houghton know about all this ?” Perry asked.

“ Well it stands to reason she’s heard a good many things ; but except for that letter I don’t reckon she’s posted any better’n I am — ^perhaps not so well.”

‘‘ Then we are going to see a regular pirate,” Perry said in a whisper, as if the very idea alarmed him.

“You needn’t turn a hair on that account,” Captain Jake replied calmly. “ He must be nigh on to seventy years old, an’, consequently, not very dangerous. Then ag’in, if we’ve turned to an’ brought his niece, he’s bound to be half-way civil, if nothin’ more.”

The boys were eager to learn all that was known regarding the ex-pirate, and had begun to ply the captain with questions when the little door leading from the cabin was opened as the widow and her daughter entered the cockpit.

CHAPTEE II

'^HE boys had fancied that the grand-niece of a retired pirate must necessarily be rather a disagreeable looking person, therefore their surprise was great when a very pretty, brown haired girl, about sixteen years of age, entered the cockpit, followed by a lady whose widow^s cap framed a kindly, pleasing face.

These are the young gentlemen I was speaking about, Mrs. Houghton,” Captain Jake said, as he waved his hand toward the boys.

They have got a two weeks’ furlough, an’ are goin’ down to Roanoke with us.”

Mrs. Houghton bowed without speaking ; but her daughter Mazie sat down by Ernest’s side as she said gleefully :

I’m so glad you are going. I was afraid it would be lonesome shut up on a little boat like this so long ; but now I shall have an escort whenever I want to go on shore.”

Neither Ernest nor Perry had sufficiently recovered from their surprise to make any fitting reply ; hut Mazie continued talking without apparently noticing their embarrassment.

With all on board more or less excited by the singular purpose of the voyage, it is not to be wondered at that before half an hour passed they were conversing on this one subject, and after speaking about her uncle, very guardedly, as Ernest thought, Mrs. Houghton said, handing him a letter :

“ I presume Captain Berry has told you why we are making this trip, therefore it is no more than right you should see that which has caused it.’’

The missive was written on a soiled piece of brown paper, and in such cramped, angular characters that the boys would, perhaps, have been unable to read it if Mazie had not assisted them. It was as follows :

Niece Harriet : — I have been waiting for the last six months to get an opportunity of sending you some word. Not because I am very anxious to see any members of my family, but the time has come when I am likely to receive sailing orders at any moment. Even to write is taking big risks, for I know those black imps are still hunting me, and may, by some chance, get hold of this letter. If it reaches you, come at once to the second island or sand bar east by south from the southerly point of Eoanoke. I mud give the diamonds into your keeping, and explain how you may prevent them from falling into the clutches of the scoundrels who have pursued me so many years. They are mine, mine, and I’ll outwit the wretches even after I’m dead if you don’t get here in time to receive them. I have tried in vain to discover what virtue there is in the stones which makes the niggers so crazy. The whole lot might have gone to the bottom of the sea but for me, and if I can’t dispose of them in my own way, no one else shall have the opportunity. Be careful whose craft you hire, and keep the trip a profound secret ; but come at once before it is too late. Winslow Dorr.

When Ernest ceased reading, the occupants of the cockpit sat staring at each other until Captain Jake said gravely :

Old Winny was a queer fish, so IVe heard said, an’ it wouldn’t surprise me much to know that he’d lost his head, because it don’t stand to reason that anybody would chase up a lot of diamonds for twenty years or more, no matter how much they’re worth. I allow it’s his conscience that’s kinder threatenin’ him.”

Do you think he is crazy ?” Perry asked, addressing the widoAV.

I don’t know, ” she replied with a sigh. “ As Caj)tain Berry says, it doesn’t seem probable any one could be pursuing him, and yet I have heard this story of the diamonds several times.”

‘‘ If they were mine I would sell every one and use the money for my own pleasure rather than hide from the world all my life,” Mazie said, and then Ernest tried in vain to form some theory which Avould make Captain Dorr’s behavior seem less like that of a madman.

The trip from Hampton Roads to Norfolk occupied but little more than an hour, and nothing satisfactory had been decided upon by the party save the fact that they were going to visit this island south of Koanoke, when the Midge was run alongside of Batchelor’s lumber wharf, where the hawsers were made fast.

I’ve got to stop here a while,” the captain said, ‘‘an’ if there’s anything you women are likely to want within the next two weeks, it would be a good idea to get ’em now. The boys can keep ship while we’re gone.”

Then the captain jumped ashore and hurried toward the market place, after Mrs. Houghton decided that she also would do a little shopping.

“ Who is coming with me ?” Mazie asked, laughing, as her mother went on shore. “ One big boy ought to be enough to take care of a little boat like this, and I’m going over to the cotton presses. It isn’t often I get a chance to see the sights of Norfolk.”

Both the ship keepers were eager to accompany her ; but it was necessary one should remain, and Perry suggested that they draw lots to decide which could go. Mazie held two straws, and Ernest drew the longer, which entitled him to the position of escort.

th:^ beaganza diamond

Five minutes later Perry was alone in the cockpit, trying unsuccessfully to amuse himself by watching a party of negroes who were unloading a lumber barge.

This was not very exciting sport, and grew monotonous in a short time. Then he went on the dock, and while sitting on a pile of boards, wondering what sort of a cruise they would have through the swamp, he was accosted by one who at first sight appeared to be a negro.

The new comer, who had walked briskly down the wharf as if bent on some particular errand, looked to be at least sixty years of age. He had white but straight hair, and an almost black skin ; but the nose was aquiline, while the lips were unusually thin.

Perry had time to notice these peculiarities before the man spoke, and instead of using the negro dialect, the stranger’s language was similar to that of a Spaniard or Frenchman who has but imperfectly learned English.

This boat of yours, is it not rather small for so long a journey ?” he asked, waving his hand toward the Midge.

A VISITOK

“She has been out in some pretty had weather,” Perry replied, “ and I guess we shan’t find much of a sea in the swamp.”

“ Do you not travel further than through the canal ?” the old man asked.

“Oh, yes; we’re going down south of Roanoke ; but there will be no need of running in heavy weather.”

“ It would please me to travel to Beaufort, if your captain is willing to take a passenger.”

“ I don’t believe you could fix it. There are two already, and besides, we are not going very far/’

“ Then you stop at Roanoke ?”

“Just a little south of the island. I don’t know exactly where,” Perry replied, and then the arrival of Captain Jake put an end to any further questioning.

The black man turned to the owner of the Midge, and in a courteous, but yet nervous manner, repeated his desire to visit Beaufort, concluding by offering to pay well for a passage to Roanoke.

“ Couldn’t do it nohow. Chartered by another party. Besides, we haven’t room on board for any more,” was the curt reply, and, after looking steadily at the Midge as if to impress her general appearance upon his memory, the man walked rapidly up the pier to the street.

Well, that’s the rummest kind of a nigger I ever saw!” Captain Jake exclaimed, as he watched until the stranger turned in the direction of the post-office. He don’t belong around these parts, that’s certain, an’ if he reckons on findin’ a chance to get to Beaufort by Avater, I’m afraid he’ll hang ’round here a long while.”

‘‘ It seems to liie that he is more of a Spaniard than an African,” Perry said, musingly.

“ When he asked me where we were going ”

Did he Avant to know that ?” Captain Jake interrupted quickly. ‘‘ Now if old Winny has reason to be afraid of anybody, as he says, the black fellow would be just about the kind of a chap I should think might be tryin’ to get hold of the diamonds.”

“Gracious! I never thought of that, an’ I’ve told him where we were goin’ ! But of course there can’t be people running around after Captain Dorr,” Perry added, as if to shake off the fears which suddenly beset him, “ and, besides, unless that man has got a steamer, we can go down there and back before he’ll get through the swamp.”

“ There are cur’ous things in this world,” Captain J ake said, half to himself, “ an’ the most cur’ous of all are them what pop right up sudden like. Howsomever, we won’t borrow trouble, an’ I guess we’d better not say anything about the Frenchified nigger, ’cause it’s no use to set the widder a frettin’.”

The arrival of the stores caused the captain to think of business, and both he and Perry were soon actively engaged stowing the provisions away, completing the job but a few minutes before the remainder of the party came on board.

The fire had been banked, therefore it required only a few moments to raise steam again.

and the Midge was soon running up the Elizabeth River.

After steaming six miles the dark waters of the Dismal Swamp Canal were entered, and here the speed was reduced to four miles per hour in accordance with the rules governing this passage.

It was yet early in the afternoon when the feeder from Lake Drummond was reached, and here Mazie begged that a halt be made.

‘^Oh, Captain Berry,” she said, “I have wanted so much to see the lake of the swamp, and perhaps this will he my only opportunity. Why can’t we stop here to-night ?”

‘‘Well,” the captain replied, thoughtfully, “I don’t know as it makes much difference. We wouldn’t he very likely to go through the lock before morning, and we might as well lay here as at South Mills. It’s a pretty stiffish pull up the feeder in the small boat ; hut if the hoys want to tackle the job, it’s their lookout, not mine.”

Both Ernest and Perry were willing to row the little craft up the narrow water way if it was to please Mazie, and the Midge was made fast to the right hank of the canal, half hidden by the overhanging bushes, where she would be out of the track of the steamers from Elizabeth City.

The hoys made ready the tender, and, yielding to her daughter’s entreaties, Mrs. Houghton entered the cockle shell of a boat, after which the remainder of the party took their places, pulling up the feeder as rapidly as the sluggish current would permit.

Captain Berry, knowing that the passengers and guests would be absent a reasonably long while, filled his pipe and made of the cockpit cushions a bed where he could enjoy a smoke in what he considered perfect comfort.

One, two, three hours passed, and it was time the visitors to Lake Drummond returned, when the sound of oars was heard some distance down the canal.

The captain roused himself, crossed to the other side of the yacht, and parted the overhanging bushes that he might see who the new comers were.

In a small sloojD-rigged boat about twenty feet long were three black men, with white hair, one of whom he had spoken with at Norfolk. There was no air stirring, and the voyagers were making their way through the canal by the aid of oars.

“ I’m blest if it ain’t that very same French nigger,” the captain muttered to himself in accents very like fear, “ an’ the other two are jest about as gray and queer lookin’. It begins to seem as if old Winny wasn’t very crazy when he wrote about bein’ afraid of losin’ his diamonds.” Then dropping the branches to conceal himself from view, he added : ‘‘I declare, I’m gettin’ to be a reg’lar old woman ! It don’t stand to reason that these men have got anything to do with him, or with us ; but at the same time I’ll let ’em go by without showing myself.”

Captain J ake watched eagerly as the strangers passed without discovering the Midge, and when the sloop was lost to view in the distance, he said to himself :

‘‘I wouldn’t he surprised if Mazie’s idea of stayin’ here all night might turn out a good one. If they keep on after finding that we haven’t gone through the lock, I’ll know we ain’t being chased; but if they come back, or stay over in South Mills, I’ll begin to grow mighty suspicious.”

Chapter III

^ APT AIN JAKE was still speculating upon the probable mission of these strangers when his passengers came down the feeder, and, despite his efforts to appear unconcerned, it was apparent to all that something had occurred to disturb him.

“ Are you angry because Ave didn’t come back sooner?” Mazie asked. “It was lovely up there, and we forgot all about everything connected with the outer world.”

“ Bless your heart, child, I couldn’t be angry with you, no matter what you did. It would have been as well if you had stayed a couple of hours longer, seein’ that we’re goin’ to stay here all night.”

“ Then what makes you look as if something unpleasant had happened ?”

“ I didn’t allow that my old face was any '28 different from what it usually is. Perhaps I got to thinkin’ about some business at home ; Pve had time to conjure up most anything.’’

Then, to avoid further questioning, the captain brought into the cockpit a little oil stove that Mrs. Houghton might prepare supper, and amid the confusion attending the culinary operations in such a limited space his apparent perturbation was forgotten.

Night came before the meal had been eaten, and when Mazie and her mother went into the tiny cabin to retire, the captain called the boys forward, where, after telling them of the sloop and her crew, he said :

Now I don’t want to put any old woman’s * fancy into your heads ; but at the same time it won’t do any harm if we kinder sneak ’round to find out where them black fellers have gone. It’s only a couple of miles from here to South Mills, an’ if you will keep ship. Perry, Ernest an’ I’ll run ahead an’ find out whether they went through the lock, or stayed at the village.”

The long pull to the lake and back had tired

Ernest very much; but while thinking that Captain Jake was taking a useless precaution, he made no protest against the plan.

Clambering into the boat softly, that the occupants of the cabin might not know of the departure, the two set out. Captain J ake using the oars so deftly that not the slightest sound disturbed the almost perfect silence, while Ernest did his best at the rudder to keep the little craft in the middle of the canal, a task which was by no means simple owing to the profound darkness.

In this manner, speaking not a word, and trying to peer through the gloom for any signs of the sloop, the boat was propelled toward the settlement until an odd, crooning sound, which could hardly have been made by bird or beast, caused the captain to cease rowing as he turned in the direction of the noise.

The craft had sufficient headway to move quite a distance on the still waters, and before this onward motion had entirely ceased a most weird spectacle met the watchers’ gaze.

On the hank of the canal, opposite the low path amid a tangle of cypress and juniper trees, whose roots formed a sort of island in the swamp, was a camp fire, and around it, only half clad, were the three black men who had passed the Midge a few hours previous.

Instead of being engaged in ordinary pursuits the men were dancing about the flames while they made the peculiar, droning noise which was possibly intended for music. Now and then one would spin around and around like a top during several seconds; but always keeping in a circle with his companions, and as each dancer whirled, the other two made the most horrible contortions of body and face, while every movement marked accurate time with the subdued song.

These maneuvers were continued five minutes — perhaps very much longer, for neither of the spectators was able to form any idea of the lapse of time, and then the dancers stood motionless, side by side, in front of the fire.

The song was hushed, and, after a series of most fantastic gestures, the eldest of the three threw on the embers something which caused red, blue, and green flames to spring up like serpents, reaching high among the branches. His companions chanted softly, hut not unmusically, in a language unintelligible to those in the boat, until the brilliant Are died away, when the dancing was continued as before.

The maneuvers were kept up until each had copied the movements of the first, and when the brilliant flames died away for the third time the men stood with hands crossed above the fire, while all sang in hoarse, guttural notes what Ernest fancied might be an oath or compact binding them to some common purj)ose.

This finished, the men resumed their clothing, and seated themselves on the trunk of a fallen tree, where they indulged in serious conversation as if discussing some plan. A short distance above, made fast to the shore, could be seen the sloop's mast ; but nothing on board of her betokened the presence of any addition to the party.

It was evident that the ceremony, or incantation, whichever it might be, had been brought to a close, and Captain Jake aroused himself with a start. The boat's how was turned in the direction of the yacht, and, pulling swiftly, yet noiselessly, the two returned, not venturing to speak until they stood once more in the cockpit of the Midge, when the captain exclaimed, as he gave vent to a long-drawn breath of relief:

‘‘ Well, I’m jiggered !”

‘‘Where have you been so long?” Perry asked, eagerly.

“ It hasn’t been more than half an hour since we left,” Ernest replied, “and that’s not long for a four-mile pull.”