“DOUCHARD'S ISLAND”

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 11087, 10 April 1933, Page 4

“DOUCHARD'S ISLAND”

by Aidan de Brune

(Author of "The Dagger and Cord;’’ "The Shadow Crook;’’ “Find This Man!" etc., etc.)

CHAPTER XI. (Continued). Dnuchard had trailed them from port i o this lonely coast—while they had been deluding themselves that they were following him. In some way Douchard had learned what had happened oh board the “Lilith” and of the exposure of Partridge. He had got in touch with the man and had bribed him to steal the letter and map and to bring them to him under the shadow of the southern hills. Then, if Douchard was at that fire, where wan Grace? If Douchard war, at that fire! Had he brought Grace inland or left her with iiis friends on hoard the steamer? Where was the steamer? The young man guessed on the southern side ot Cape Norton. Again Tony moved forward, using the utmost precaution. At the far ■side of the belt of trees he found that he was within sight of the camp. He watched carefully. He could see men lying about the fire. He counted them. Four men, but he could not see a girl. Who were the men? He believed Douchard and his three friends —owners of the steamer. Then, where was Partridge? He went forward a few yards, intent on a closer view.

Something rustled in the tree under which he was standing. Tony looked up. A moment, and a dark mass fell from the tree, crushing him to the ground. A weapon struck his head and he lost consciousness. Tony came to himself to find that he was lying close to the camp fire, under some high sheltering rocks; his head resting on some soft substance. He looked up—into Grace’s grave eyes. When she saw that he wa.s conscious idle bent over him, placing her finger to her lips, in sign for silence.

He turned his head, with a little sigh of satisfaction, to watch the men around the camp-fire. He had found Grace; but they were in the hands of Douchard and his friends. Close to the fire were two men, bending over something lying on the ground. For a moment Tony was puzzled. Who were the men and what were they doing? Then, one of the men raised his head and the young man recognised Partridge. Partridge and Douchard were bending over the map and letter. Partride had discovered that he was railing him and had set an ambush to capture him. Partridge had taken the map and letter from him the previous night and were now intent on deciphering the riddle. Three other men sat beside the two men, but they did not appear to be taking any part in the discussion between Douchard and Partridge. For some time it continued, then Douchard rose to his feet and came to Tony and Grace. “How is the invalid, Miss Dormer?” The man spoke easily. "I think he is conscious.” Gra.ce answered shortly. /- “Is he?” Douchard bent and looked into Tony’s face, closely. “Well, M. Tony, how are you now?” “Sore.” Tony grinned. “But not half so isore as you will be when I have finished with you.” The man laughed. “You muGt expect hard knocks if you will wander into the enemy’s camp.”

“I shall give no promise.” Tony shook his head.

"I regret.” The man hesita.ted. “Perhaps ...” he laughed gently. “No, the cords are not necessary. Ma’amselle is here and M. Tony will not forsake her. Soon the dawn comes and we .... we have far to go.” The man’s finger moved across the map and came to rest on the second hut under the hill. “There, m’sieu; there my genie tells me that I shall find the treasure of . . . ” “Of whom?” Tony asked, curiously. “Of my brother, Louis.” “Louis Douchard was your brother?” “Yes, m’sieu. I am Charles, the younger of twins. Louis was my brother, my elder by half an hour. Thus are we alike —very much as you have observed.” ” “Do you think that your brother would have abducted Arthur Dormer’s daughter? Do you think that he would hgve subjected her to the you have done?” The man raised his eyebrows, inquiringly. “Ma’amselle has been treated with all respect. That has been my will. That the impetuosity of yourself and your friends have made it necessary tor me to require her help—that is for regrets: but it was necessary.”

“How did you come here?” Tony was keeping his temper with difficulty for he wanted information.

“Asking questions now?” Bouchard laughed again. “Well,' I don’t mind telling you. We followed the trail of the ‘Lilith’.” “But we were following you?” Tony stared, in amazement. “Were you?” There was mockery in the man’s voice. “I don’t think so. True, we came out of the harbour first, but it was easy to hide and let the ‘Lilith’ pass us. You went south and we followed—and all the time you thought you were chasing us we were following you.” The man sat back on his haunches and roared with laughter. Tony could not blame him. They had been outwitted and by the simplest of tricks. Almost he laughed with the man. “Well, now you’ve found out where we went, what do you want?” Tony spoke easily. He knew that lie could only get Grace and himself out of their present predicament by using all the wits he had been born with.

“W’hat do I want?” Bouchard laughed again. “Only the solution of the map and the letter, m’sieu.”

“I don’t know them.” “Is that so?” Bouchard became grave quickly. He frowned, staring down at the young man with a glint in his eyes. “Then, tell me, friend how came you so directly to this spot, unless you first read the cypher contained in that letter?” CHAPTER XII.

“For you to attempt to steal the letter and the map?” Tony paused. "Do you realise Douchard, that they were sent to Mr Dormer as a gift, not a trust?”

"M’sieu is correct.” Douchard came to his feet and bowed. “But it is that lam my brother’s heir, He had not right to make gifts beside me. M. Dormer was a rich man—a very rich man. His children are wealthy. I am poor and ...” “You think that the treasure, when found, should be yours?” "Certainly.”

Bouchard had asked a question Tony could not answer. He and his companions had come to Cape Norton following what they supposed to be the route of the “Vixen,” bearing Bouchard and Grace. Chance had let them on Bouchard’s Island —the land the man had pictured on his map.

“Then why not have gone to Mr Dormer, or his heirs, and said so? Neither Miss Dormer nor her brother were after the treasure, for the gold; only for the love of adventure. Had you told them what you now tell me they would have dealt fairly with you.”

How could he answer the man? The fact that they had come direct to this place was against him. Bouchard would not believe that chance had led him there. He had to gain time; in some way to plan to forstall this man. He turned, abruptly, to Grace.

“Who deals fairly in this world.” The man laughed, mirthlessly, “In the cities, in the wilderness, it is every man for himself. I . . .you

“What are you doing here, Grace, with this man?” he asked. "We have been looking for you. everywhere.”

. . .know of men of wealth and socalled honour who never scruple to add to their wealth —so long as they are not discovered doing wrong. So won would have had me go, cap in hand, to ask for what is my own? To be laughed at, scorned. No. I am strong. I, Charles Bouchard, I take that which is mine.”

“Miss Bormer?" Bouchard spoke when the girl did not reply. “M. Tony forgets. You knew I had taken l ie c—for my own safety.” Tony had to fight to conquer the impulse to fly at the man’s throat. But, what good would violence do, now? He conquered his temper. In some way he must satisfi this man, for the time, and plan to get Grace away to the barque.

“And, if there is nothing to take? Tony laughed gently.

‘‘There is treasure.” The man spoke boldly, yet Tony noticed that there was now less conviction in his voice,

“A man would hardly want a girl s protection.” Tony threw all the scorn he could muster ino his voice. Especially one wlfo boasts of his abilitj to dodge danger, as you do. “Sore, eh?” The man laughed. "Sore because I made you and >oui friends lead me to this spot. Sore, because I forded you and your crowd

“Why should there be treasure here?” The young man sat up. “Remember, Bouchard, this country is not part of the Spanish Main where treasure ships drove ashore and were looted. This Is not the Barbary Coast where pirate captains" buried

at the house overlooking the harbour. Bah, it was easy!" "How?” The young man was willing to flatter the man’s vanity: if by so doing he could gain time. "You oaw Miss Dormer run down the lawns to the cliffs.” Douchard sat hack on his' haunches, speaking reminiscently. "Well, when I thought it was safe I followed her. At the head of the cliffs I drew her into the shelter of the bushes, and waited. As I expected, you followed me to the cliffs.’’ He paused and waved his hand, airily. “Then we—Miss Dormer and myself went through the shrubbery to the road —at our leisure, You never thought of following us there.”

Tony groaned within himself at the simplicity of the trick. It had been fully half-an-hour after Douchard had left the library before one of them thought of going to the gates on the road. By that time Douchard had carried the girl far beyond pursuit.

"Why did you go, with him, Grace?" He turned to the girl. "He threatened to shoot you, Tony, if I did not go with him to the cliff, so that he could get away. When he caught up to me there he pulled me into the shrubbery and gagged me. He carried me to the gates where he had a car down the road and . . . .”

“Miss Dormer will pardon me." Douchard interrupted. "I am sure the details will not interest M. Tony.”

For long minutes there was silence. Tony would not speak and the pressure of his hand held the girl silent. The longer things remained as they were the stronger their position became. Soon day would dawn. Captain Bowman would find the note he had pinned to his blanket. He would follow the trail and then . .

“The map, m’sieu?” Bouchard spoke suddenly. The man turned and whistled. One of his companions seated by the fire came to him. A short, whispered order and the man went to Partridge and took from map and letter. He brought them to Bouchard. “Here are the map and letter, M. Tony.’’ The man’s eyes glittering as he spoke. “I will be obliged if you will read the riddle to me.’ “I have told you, Bouchard, I cannot decipher map or letter.” “Cannot, or will not?” “I have tried and failed.” “Yet you guided your friends to this place?” “Chance guided us. We were following what we believed to be your route.” Tony smiled. “We thought you were leading us to the location of the treasure.” J

For a time the man pondered, frowning thoughtfully, Tony had spoken with a simplicity that carried conviction. , “I am afraid that I shall want proof, m’sieu.” Bouchard spoke at length. “What proof?” “That is a matter I shall hftve to consider.” The man showed his teeth in a wolfish grin. “Have I m’sieu’s word that he will make no attempt to escape? If not, then H,he cords . .”

their loot, for future generations to find. This ...” he hesitated. (To be continued).