Scarhaven Keep by J. S. Fletcher (best value ebook reader TXT) 📕

he continued, sitting down at the table, and engaging the attention of the others, “I think we had better have a council of war. Petherton has just gone to speak to the police authorities about those warrants which have been taken out against Chatfield and the impostor, but we can go on in his absence. Now there seems to be no doubt that those chests which Spurge tells us of contain the gold which Chatfield procured from the bank, and concerning which he seems to have played his associates more tricks than one. However, his associates, whoever they are⁠—and mind you, gentlemen, I believe there are more men than Chatfield and the Squire in all this!⁠—have now got a tight grip on Chatfield, and they’ll force him to show them where that gold is⁠—they’ll certainly not give up the chances of fifty thousand pounds without a stiff try to get it. So⁠—I’m considering all the possibilities and probabilities⁠—we may conclude that sooner or later⁠—sooner, most likely⁠—somebody will visit this old peel tower that Spurge talks of. But⁠—who? For we’re faced with this wireless message. I’ve no doubt the vessel here referred to is the Pike⁠—no doubt at all. Now she was seen making due east, near this side of the Dogger Bank, late last night⁠—so that it would look as if these men were making for Denmark, or Germany, rather than for this coast. But since receiving this message, I have thought that point out. The Pike is, I believe, a very fast vessel?”

“Very,” answered Vickers. “She can do twenty-seven or eight knots an hour.”

“Exactly,” said Sir Cresswell. “Then in that case they may have put in at some Northern port, landed Chatfield and two or three men to keep an eye on him and to accompany him to this old tower, while the Pike herself has gone off till a more fitting opportunity arises of dodging in somewhere to pick up the chests which Chatfield and his party will in the meantime have removed. From what I have seen of it this is such a wild part of the coast that Chatfield and such a small gang as I am imagining, could easily come back here, keep themselves hidden and recover the chests without observation. So our plain duty is to now devise some plan for going to the Reaver’s Glen and keeping a watch there until somebody comes. Eh?”

“There’s another thing that’s possible, sir,” said Vickers, who had listened carefully to all that Sir Cresswell had said. “The Pike is fitted for wireless telegraphy.”

“Yes?” said Sir Cresswell expectantly. “And you think⁠—?”

“You suggested that there may be more people than Chatfield and the Squire in at this business,” continued Vickers. “Just so! We⁠—Copplestone and myself⁠—know very well that the skipper of the Pike, Andrius, is in it: that’s undeniable. But there may be others⁠—or one other, or two⁠—on shore here. And as the Pike can communicate by wireless, those on board her may have sent a message to their shore confederates to remove those chests. So⁠—”

“Capital suggestion!” said Sir Cresswell, who saw this point at once. “So we’d better lose no time in arranging our expedition out there. Spurge⁠—you’re the man who knows the spot best⁠—what ought we to do about getting there⁠—in force?”

Spurge, obviously flattered at being called upon to advise a great man, entered into the discussion with enthusiasm.

“Your honour mustn’t go in force at all!” he said. “What’s wanted, gentlemen, is⁠—strategy! Now if you’ll let me put it to you, me knowing the lie of the land, this is what had ought to be done. A small party ought to go⁠—with me to lead. We’ll follow the road that cuts across the moorland to a certain point; then we’ll take a by-track that gets you to High Nick; there we’ll take to a thick bit o’ wood and coppice that runs right up to the peel tower. Nobody’ll track us, nor see us from any point, going that way. Three or four of us⁠—these here young gentlemen, now, and me⁠—’ll be enough for the job⁠—if armed. A revolver apiece your honour⁠—that’ll be plenty. And as for the rest⁠—what you might call a reserve force⁠—your honour said something just now about some warrants. Is the police to be in at it, then?”

“The police hold warrants for the two men we’ve been chiefly talking about,” replied Sir Cresswell.

“Well let your honour come on a bit later with not more than three police plain-clothes fellows⁠—as far as High Nick,” said Spurge. “The police’ll know where that is. Let ’em wait there⁠—don’t let ’em come further until I send back a message by my cousin Jim. You see, guv’nor,” he added, turning to Copplestone, whom he seemed to regard as his own special associate, “we don’t know how things may be. We might have to wait hours. As I view it, me having listened careful to what his honour the Admiral there says⁠—best respects to your honour⁠—them chaps’ll never come a-nigh that place till it’s night again, or at any rate, dusk, which’ll be about seven o’clock this evening. But they may watch, during the day, and it ’ud be a foolish thing to have a lot of men about. A small force such as I can hide in that wood, and another in reserve at High Nick, which, guv’nor, is a deep hole in the hilltop⁠—that’s the ticket!”

“Spurge is right,” said Sir Cresswell. “You youngsters go with him⁠—get a motorcar⁠—and I’ll see about following you over to High Nick with the detectives. Now, what about being armed?”

“I’ve a supply of service revolvers at my office, down this very street,” replied Vickers. “I’ll go and get them. Here! Let’s apportion our duties. I’ll see to that. Gilling, you see about the car. Copplestone, you order some breakfast for us⁠—sharp.”

“And I’ll go round to the police,” said Sir Cresswell. “Now, be careful to take care of yourselves⁠—you don’t know what you’ve got to deal with,