SHORT STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18471, 7 August 1923, Page 12

SHORT STORY.

:])IKKEB ON THE "GRIP."

£ BY A. .WALLIE.

y,'; '' ' -(Copyright)* '• ''-.;■ „■'•'

■ ':' Captain Alexander Mather, of the steam boaster "Grip," was hurrying along Cardiff Streets dockyards to his vessel, which had {just completed loading for Southampton, ;:when he was accosted by a youngish man, *martly. attired •in yachting costume, and /.wearing' on his cap the gilt badge of ./■-"'|k famous South Coast, club.' "Captain Mather?" the stranger queried. / "That's me," the' sailor retorted gruffly enough, having all the dislike of his class towards the average amateur seaman. "That's me—but I'm in a hurry." ' "So I heard," retorted the other, coolly . "You were pointed out to me as master of a boat just' leaving for Southampton. I want to go there at once also." S'The hint was obvious enough, but Mather did not choose to follow it up. "Take the train then," he 'replied; "passengers ain't in my line." : "So I would"—the young.man appeared disposed to be persistent"but I have -a lot of heavy luggage here, and I wish it to accompany me to my yacht which is •lying off; Cowes. ..If you'll take it, and me, I'll.make it worth your while." J.; The captain hesitated. The "Grip" possessed, small accommodation for outsiders, but a job like tins might mean something in the skipper's pocket. ;; "Well," ho said, surveying the stranger over again, "since you have been told who I am I reckon you've a notion what my ship is; she ain't a liner you know, but just a coasting tramp , covered this blessed minute with coal muck, that won't come off her till she starts washin' herself outside Lundy." /..His new acquaintance seemed iii no way dismayed at this description. "That will be all right, Captain," he returned; f come in. here a minute, and let us talk it; over." .-".;.... i.The place thus indicated was an adjacent bar, where over suitable drinks,, the yachtman continued negotiations. -'""There are about a dozen large wooden cases," he-went , on, "'with' furnishings, and my own outfit for a long West Indian cruise. I should have sent them on ahead of me but for some stupid delay, and now, if I loose sight ,of them, heaven knows how long I may be kept waiting for them in the Solent." V "What's your yacht's , name?" de-

manded Mather, not, quite liking this exlanation. , Jt;.;'-"^ The stranger took out his card-case, "You are : a bit suspicious," he- said, pleasantly, enough; "and I don't blamo you—but we'll have everything fair and square. That is my name." He handed over a card us he spoke, and on it the jailor read "E. , V.. Eentore, S.Y. 'Sea- . Swift' E.Z.Y.C," / ■l-The first name was unknown to Mather, but that of the, vessel'hap^ened^ to be i: familiar to him ■;■■■, while the last four cryptic letters he was aware represented the title of one of the most exclusive clubs : in ; the kingdom ';•.?; ■. .; ..■-•'■ • -"Then, sir," he said, with an obvious change of manner, "if you want me to take, your things it-; will have -to be arranged quickly. I'll be hauling out for sea in a couple of hours. If they are not too heavy, and you have them alongside within that time I might manage. But for yourself," the" speaker hesitated again, "our only spare cabin is poor enough." The other laughed. "I've roughed it before," he answered "and won't quarrel with the best you can give me. My man Bhall have the cases down within the time yqu .say—they are not heavy, and your own crane will easily swing them on board. And as to terms—will twenty pounds suit you?" ; ' -. ' , The sailor gasped. He had not expected , nearly so much- ■••,'- * ' "If you'll throw in the price of a new hat for myself, sir," he responded quickly, "we'll call it a deal." "good!''. .Rentore ; pioduced his purse. "Here's half of it now, and a couple of Boveieigns for yourself. " There will be as much more at Southampton for you, and for your crew, if nothing is broken." Thus the bargain was sealed,, and Mather, much elated at his good fortune for such windfalls do not come every • day in the coasting trade —made his way down to the "Grip" lying close to one of the shoots. He had not been long there when a waggon appeared, bearing the cases, and escorted by a man of valet type. "There's the stuff," the latter grumbled • to the skipper, "and what the gov'nor wanted travelling with it in a coal barge for I don't know. 'Alf a mind to give him notice, I 'aye. Is your ship safe, Captain -.--;•;; ■,';;-,i-fr- '■■ t .-'■';-■.;■'.•,:• =■•-••:-•.« Mather surveyed .him scornfully. "She'll carry you, my son," he retorted scarcastically, "supposin' ; you ; don't put on that much side you make her.-top heavy." ' The servant ; scowled, '.'I 'ope so," he replied with meaning; "anyway you'd best see the goods are safely put away or the gov'nor '11 give you what for. See they are kept right side up —they're all v « marked for that." • The , skipper ' was too busy preparing for sea to discuss this further. He passed the instruction; on to his mate and went about his business, j' Presently Rentore himself clambered on board. ; "Ah!" he remarked, smiling in the pleasant way he had; "I see that you have my dunnage, captain. Are you going to carry all the cases on deck?" "Yes, sir," ' answered Mather, "the weather is fine, and they'll be safe lashed these two small ones" indicated two boxes as he' spoke-—"we'll put bedow." "I wouldn't do that," his passenger laughed back, "one is a case of champagne I hope you'll help me to put away on the way round; the other is a dozen of whisky, which you'll allow me to give to your hands."

Mather looked grave. "I'll see, sir," he said tentatively, "when we get out; I'll take 'em to my own room for safety. Is everything aboard now.?." ''Everything !" the other answered, and the clock gates just then opening, the captain took his post on the bridge, while the passenger went below to, see to his accommodation. Nor did.Mather set eyes on him .again until the "Grip" had opened out theChannel, and in the growing dusk the light on Flatholme was commencing to twinkle far astern. Then he met the skipper as ' the latter was descending from the bridge. "Come along, Captain," he said, "I've taken the liberty of making myself at home—got my man to overlook your cook, and have a bit of dinner ready for you now the ship's clear of .the'land. Come down and join me." In response to this invitation the sailor' passed below to encounter a scene such as the dingy saloon of the tramp had not seen since her long-past trip—if then. The table was set with crystal on spotless linen, silver and flowers garnished it, and the swinging tray above sparkled with bottles full of such wines as the captain had seldom seen nearer than across a bar counter. "I told you I'd make myself comfortable, "Rentore laughed at the other's amazement, "the hotel people put some of

;. this up for me but your ; book did : the rest J bo sit down and do him justice.' Perkins," :he /turned, to hia servant, "tell them to servo dinner." ' > -. . •• ':&: Captain 'Mather was sufficient ; of a.philosopher to accept the gifts the gods thus sent—he sat down as requested, end, if his handling of his > knife/ and fork left something .to Be desired, his appreciation of : the' ■ meal 1 was • none 1 the less :: patent. ;: Moreover, hi& host—or his gdest; for the passenger was both —saw to it that; his . glass was frequently replenished, * so that, as the cheese came on: the table, the skipper went under it.I'*1 '* "Perkins," ordered Rentore then, "get the steward to help you to take Captain Mather to his roomhe does not seem well. And—ah— might have word sent to the bridge I'll be glad if the mate will join me here—the night's fine and I expect the boatswain can take the ship past Lundy without sinking the island." 'The passenger /appeared to the, steward ; ■—who was present—to be also slightly; touched with an after dinner manner. The , mate, when he came, had the same impression, but nevertheless, that officer also collapsed as his superior had done, leaving Rentore still quite composed. /The chief engineer— had joined the feast j at the request of the giver of lit, along with the matewas simultaneously overcome. ■ . , . .*■ :. "Most extraordinary," /remarked Bentore, "Never saw,men•• so easily upset. ■I'm going on Perkins, ■ youc might j see the steward gets out that case of! whisky for the men forward and ; • the stokers." / '. On deck the passenger lit a cigar, mounted to the bridge/and joined tho boatswain, who had charge of it. "I've sent a bottle or two of hard stuff forward," he said to him, affably. "You might go down and have your share. I'm sailor enough to watch her if you leave me. the course." "Thank 'ee kindly, sir," answered the seaman, who, like the rest of the crew, was blessing his stare for having given the. "Grip" the carrying . of such ■ a benefactor* "Keep her sou-west by west, and she'll take no harm for the minute I'll be gone." • When the boatswain's cap had vanished down the ladder Rentore 'turned to the hand at the wheel. "You shouldn't be out of this, my man," he said, "off you go, and drink my healthl can keep her head straight." He gripped the wheel, and the sailor saw the compass card kept steadily to the course. Then he, too, disappeared, and silence reigned fore and aft along the decks of the "Grip." .• This lasted for perhaps half-an-hour— then Perkins appeared upon the bridge. ."They're gone under at last he said in tones very different from any he had previously used. " Shall I let our lads loose ?" . " Yes," . answered Rentore. " Tell some of them to see quickly to the fires— I can feel the old tub's speed slackening. And send a hand here to relieve me." Perkins descended to where the cases were ranged, and tapped a peculiar tap on each." They opened as he did so, and dim figures from them darted swiftly to his bidding. The " Grip " had got a fresh, crew.

Next morning, just before daylight, a small coasting steamer crept into the anchorage of St. Mary's, Scilly, and brought up close " alongside the palatial yacht Boccanera, belonging to a multi-million-aire of American extraction, which* had been lying there for some days while its owner explored the islands in accordance with intentions previously , announced somewhat widely in the public prints. Descriptions afterwards given of the little coaster in no way corresponded with that of Captain Mather's command. The height, and colour-band of her funnel were different, and, Mather's vessel was square rigged on the foremast, which the other was not. Besides those who inspected the latter through glasses before she left again, declared the name on her bows to be Jane, and ? not Grip. ■' ; These points were material because, in the darkness before dawn, the Boccanera was visited by a boatful of armed men from the new arrival, the . anchor watch on her deck overpowered, the remainder of her crew battened - down, and the millionaire .robbed, under threat of violence, of every portable article of value he had ! with him, including a large sum in gold, and his wife's jewels; reputedly of fabulous worth. „•; ...... . \ The" day was not two hours old when word of this daring robbery reached the shore, but by that time the stranger, who had got under weigh again immediately his boat returned,; was- hull down to the westwards,, and had. utterly vanished beyond sight from the islands ere any action could • be' taken on the telegrams' Which were ; . immediately despatched :to the authorities. ~ During the night of the day '.following : the Grip reached Southampton,> and was berthed ready to.commence discharge next morning. There was nothing to connect her with the robbery" and not even the police on: duty noticed that her crew all slipped ashore one by one during :the darkness. It was the lumpers, coming down to commence work on the .cargo, , who first observed anything wrong, there being no sign of life about the vessel. Every place was vacant, the stokehole was cold and empty, no cases were on deck- The men explored the forecastle, last, and, from below it, came a muffled knocking. Raising the hatch leading into the forepeak, « there emerged from' that literally black hole a string of disconsolate figures, i Captain Mather bringing no the rear in crestfallen fashion. -\ •" Here," he demanded, rubbing his eyes, "where in blazes are we?" "Southampton in course," he was told;; *'. didn't you bring the ship in here?" " No," he retorted, in lurid language, " we were hocussed someway a few hours out, and found ourselves where you got us when we came to. Where the ship's been," he added brokenly, " I know no' more than a baby—l'd best see the -police.; If they'll catch me that yachtsman, I'll hang him for them myself—curse the smile of him, and his dinner." A sentiment in which the multi-million-aire, when -it was repeated to him,, fully concurred. 5 , - ' ■ . ... ■, ', ,