University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXII
DE VERE'S STORY

NED ran down to the shore, slipping and stumbling over the rocks, and once falling and bruising himself considerably. But he did not mind this. He wanted to get the water, for it might save the man's life. It looked as if some crime had been attempted, and evidence pointed to Blowitz.

Making as quick progress on the return trip as the carrying of a cap full of sea water would permit, Ned held it so Jerry could sprinkle some drops on the man's face. He stirred and seemed to be murmuring something.

"We ought to have some fresh water for him to drink," said Bob. "I'll get some from the cooler on the boat."

Off he hurried, returning presently with a pitcherful of fresh water and a glass, and with this the man was given a drink, when Jerry held up his head.

The water seemed the very thing needed for

the sufferer, as they could see by the light of the lantern, opened his eyes, and gazed wonderingly about him.

"What--where am I?" he asked, in a hoarse whisper.

"You're at the foot of the rocks--on the cliff near the ocean," said Jerry. "You had a fall. Are you badly hurt?"

The man groaned in reply. Then an angry, light shone in his eyes.

"No! I didn't fall!" he exclaimed. "I was shoved over the cliff. He wanted to get me out of the way so he could claim everything! He's a villain!"

"Who?" asked Ned quickly.

"Who? Who else but Carson Blowitz! I suppose he thinks I am dead, and he can have all that is on the ship! But I'll--"

The man stopped suddenly, and a spasm of pain passed over his face.

"What is it?" asked Jerry.

"My arm--Oh, I'm afraid it is broken!"

The boys remembered how the left arm of the man was doubled up under him in a peculiar manner. He had doubtless fallen on it.

"Wait a minute and we'll lift you up so that you will rest more comfortably," said Jerry, and,

with the aid of his chums he made from their coats and some seaweed a rude sort of bed for the man.

There was no doubt that the stranger's left arm was broken. It hung limply down, and the least motion of it produced terrible pain. Fortunately the man did not again lose his senses, and he directed the boys how to bandage the arm close to his side, with their handkerchiefs tied together, so that the injured member would not swing about, and further splinter the broken bones.

"Do you think you can walk down to our boat?" asked Jerry. "We can take you to a doctor, for I think you need one."

"Need one? I should say I did," replied the man. "It is a wonder I was not killed by that fall. I'm afraid my ankle is sprained, but, after I rest a bit, and get over this dizzy feeling, I'll try to walk to the boat. It's lucky you boys happened to come along, just when you did."

"We didn't 'happen' to come along," said Jerry. "We were looking for you."

"Looking for me'?"

"Yes, we saw you and Blowitz talking on the cliffs in the moonlight, and then we saw you disappear. We thought it was queer at the time," and Jerry related the subsequent events.

"I'm glad you witnessed that," said the man, when Jerry had finished. "This will be additional evidence against that scoundrel who intends to rob me, and who tried to get me out of his way. However my time of reckoning will come. But would you mind telling me your names?"

Jerry introduced himself and his companions, briefly, telling the reasons for their presence in California.

"My name is De Vere," said the man. "Maurice De Vere. I was in partnership with Blowitz, in several ventures, including the one in which a brig named the Rockhaven is concerned."

"Are you interested in that?" asked Jerry eagerly. "Why that is the derelict Blowitz wanted us to go in search of in the motor boat."

"He did? Now I understand why he wanted to get me out of the way!" cried Maurice De Vere, quickly. "He was afraid I would meet you boys."

"Yes, and that's why he was in such a hurry for us to start," added Ned, and they told of their dealings with Blowitz, and his anger at their refusal to take part in his schemes.

"I can't be thankful enough to you boys," said the wounded man. "I don't know what would have become of me if you hadn't happened to

have seen Blowitz push me from the cliff. I--I wish--"

Mr. De Vere seemed overcome by a sudden weakness, and fell back on the pile of coats and seaweed.

"We had better get him to a doctor," said Ned. "He may be more injured than we suppose."

"I--I'll be all right in a little while--that is all but my arm," said the injured man faintly. "It was just a little weakness. If you will give me some more water--"

They gave him some and he seemed to feel better after that. Then he tried to rise, but he had to fall back again.

"My ankle--I think it's sprained," he said.

"Then let us carry you to the boat," suggested Jerry.

"I'm afraid you can't."

"Well, we can try."

They did, but it was hard work. By dint of carefully picking their steps over the rocks, however, the three boys finally managed to get Mr. De Vere into the cabin of the Ripper, where they made him comfortable on the cushions.

"Now speed her up for the doctor's," said

Jerry to Ned, who had taken charge of the engine. "That is if you know where to find one."

"There is a physician whom I know, not far from the main wharf at San Felicity," said Maurice De Vere. "If you run the boat there I can get into a carriage and drive right to his house. Then after he has set my arm, I should like to tell you my story. That is, if you care to listen."

"We certainly do," said Jerry. "We will be very glad to help you in any way that we can."

"Will you?" asked the man eagerly. "Then, perhaps, I can get ahead of Blowitz after all."

Quick time was made to the dock, and, though it was quite late, the boys found several public hackmen on hand. Mr. De Vere was put in one of the vehicles and driven to the doctor's office, whither, after they had secured their boat, the boys followed.

It took a little time to set the broken arm, and, after some restoratives had been administered, and the sprained ankle, bandaged (though that hurt was not as severe as at first supposed) Mr. De Vere received the boys in his room, which his friend, the physician had provided.

"I do not want to detain you boys too long," he said, "and it is not necessary to go into all

the details of my story now. I will tell you a little of it, and then I have a request to make of you. I have been making plans while the doctor was working over me. It helped me to forget the pain."

"We'll do anything we can for you," promised Jerry, and the other boys nodded in assent.

"Well, Blowitz and I have been associated in many enterprises," said Mr. De Vere, "but, of late, I have had my suspicions of him. I began to fear he was trying to get the best of me, so that he would control all the interests. Now I am sure of it.

"We went equal shares in loading the brig Rockhaven with valuable merchandise, for trade among the Santa Barbara Islands. There was also, aboard the brig, some valuable papers, and a considerable sum in gold, that was to go to a client of ours. After the ship was loaded I learned that Blowitz sent some mysterious boxes aboard. They came from Boston, I understand. I--"

"Those are the boxes we saw in Cresville!" exclaimed Bob.

"What's that?" asked Mr. De Vere, and the boys explained the curious actions of Blowitz in connection with the boxes.

"Very likely they were the same," said Mr. De Vere. "What they contained I do not know, but I--"

"Excuse me for interrupting you," said Jerry, "but I think at least one of the boxes contained something poisonous," and he related how the dog, in the Cresville freight station, had been affected by smelling at the broken package.

"That's it!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. De Vere, after a moment's thought. "I see it all now. I can understand his actions. But I will explain later, for I want to be very sure of my facts. At any rate, not to burden you with too many details, after the brig had sailed, Blowitz wanted to purchase my interest in her. As he offered me a large sum I consented, and I transferred all my rights to him.

"As soon as I had done so he left town, and then I learned that he had cheated me, for he had pretended to give me certain property for my share in the ship, and this property he gave me was utterly worthless. I then considered the deal off, and I knew that I still had a right to my half of the ship and the cargo. But, more than this, I also learned that Blowitz had cheated me in another way, by taking property and money that belonged to me. I consulted my lawyers, and

they told me I had a right to the entire ship Rockhaven and all that it contained. I am the sole owner, and Blowitz has no right to the brig nor anything on it. It is all mine, though he is trying to get it.

"This all happened before the brig was abandoned and became a derelict, but I can't understand how that happened, as she was a very stout vessel, though small. There has been no collision, as far as I can learn. It is all something of a mystery, but I am going to solve it. As soon as I learned what a scoundrel Blowitz was, and of the wrecking of the brig, or, at least, the reported wrecking of it, I came here for further news.

"When I met Blowitz I accused him of cheating me, and I claimed the brig, when she should be found. He wanted to argue with me, and talked of seeing lawyers, but I knew I was right. Then he asked me to meet him on the clips to-night, to talk matters over. He said we might get some news of the ship from the captain of a fishing smack.

"Rather foolishly I consented to meet him, and talk the thing over. We quarreled, and he attacked me, with what result you saw. He pushed

me over the cliff, and fled, leaving me, I suppose he thought, for dead.

"Now what I am going to ask of you boys is this: Will you go with me in your motor boat and search for the brig? Wait; do not give me an answer now. I think I can prove to you that I have a right to the abandoned ship, and I will pay you well for your time and trouble. Better than Blowitz offered to. But do not decide in a hurry. I must get in a little better shape myself, and then I have some arrangements to make. But I hope you will decide to go. Of course, if you don't care to, I can hire some one else, but I would rather have you boys. Now you can go home and think it over, and let me know at your leisure."

The boys did not know what to say. Events had happened so rapidly that they did not exactly understand all of them. They realized, however, that they had another chance to go on a cruise on the Pacific, in the Ripper, and they felt that they ought to take advantage of it, and aid Mr. De Vere.

"I think I shall have to break up this little party," said the physician, coming in just then. "I can't have my patient getting a fever. You

boys will excuse me, I know, if I ask you to let him get some rest now."

"That's all right," spoke Jerry. "We'll see you to-morrow, Mr. De Vere."

"Very well," was the answer, and the boys left the injured man to the care of the doctor.

"Well, what do you think of that?" asked Ned, as he and his chums were on their way to the Seabury bungalow. "Isn't it simply great?"

"Great? It's immense!" exclaimed Bob. "We're going, aren't we, Jerry?"

"If you fellows say so, and outvote me, I suppose you are."

"But you want to go, don't you, Jerry?"

"I didn't say I did not. I think we have a different man to deal with, in this Mr. De Vere, than we had in Blowitz. I think we shall go derelict hunting, boys."

"And maybe we'll not have sport!" exclaimed Ned.

They were soon within sight of the bungalow. The storm clouds had continued to gather, and the moon only shone at brief intervals. The wind was blowing considerable, and there was every evidence that it would rain before morning.

"Guess we got in just in time," said Ned, as they entered the gateway. As he spoke Ned came

to a sudden stop. He was looking at a dark figure which seemed to be stealing up to the bungalow.

It appeared to be that of a man, advancing so as to make no noise, and attract no attention. The fitful gleams of moonlight showed him to be stooping over, and, now and then, glints of light about him, indicated that he carried a dark lantern, which he flashed at intervals to enable him to see his way.

"Look!" whispered Ned, grasping Jerry's arm.

"I see," was the low answer.

"It's a burglar," spoke Bob. "Let's creep up on him, and make a capture!"