From the noise on deck it was evident that preparations for diving were rapidly going on, and now another dread a.s.sailed Hester. She felt sure that Dutch would be one of the first to go down, and she shuddered as she thought of the sharks, and determined to make an effort to dissuade him.

She was on the point of going on deck when Laure's words stayed her.

She was watched, and if she tried to communicate with her husband might he not interpret it as an attempt to betray him, and in an instant compa.s.s his destruction.

"If I only knew what to do?" she moaned. "If I could but warn him of the danger they might seize that villain in time. I will warn him at all hazards."

She was ready to die to save Dutch from peril, but she was so circ.u.mstanced that her warning would compa.s.s his destruction, and she sank back feeling at last that she could not betray what she knew.

For the moment she was rea.s.sured by hearing Dutch's voice, and directly after Bessy came to fetch her into the cabin to breakfast, where all save she were in high spirits, no one having a suspicion of the danger that threatened them. The talk was all of the treasure, and the specimen ingots that Laure had shown them were mentioned, while to Hester's horror she found that the Cuban was apparently forgotten.

It soon became evident to her that all the preparations had been made, and she followed the actors in the busy scene to be enacted on deck as soon as the hurried meal was at an end.

Dutch had glanced at her once, and her heart throbbed with pleasure as she read his look as one more of sorrow than anger, and this last determined her to speak to him at all hazards.

The air-pump was ready, with Rasp dictating and ordering the men about; and had Hester felt any hesitation before, the sight of Dutch drawing on the heavy india-rubber suit determined her to act.

"I don't think their teeth would go through this," he said coolly to Mr Parkley, "if they come; but we'll do what we said, and that will keep them off."

He went on with his preparations, and twice over, as she saw him nearing readiness, Hester approached, but, each time on glancing round, she saw that the Cuban had his eyes fixed upon her, and she shrank away.

At last, however, Dutch was ready, all but having the great copper diving-helmet screwed on. A stout leather belt was round his waist, heavy leaden-soled boots upon his feet; square weights of lead hung from the copper gorget round his neck and breast and back; the long tube was attached to helmet and air-pump, and a keen handy axe and a long sharp double-edged knife lay ready for placing in his belt, side by side with a heavy iron bar.

A stout wooden ladder, in joints, had been fitted together and secured to the gangway, its foot being within a few inches of the sand that lay in the midst of the sunken wreck, which, seen through the clear water, seemed, although five fathoms down, but a very little distance from the keel of the schooner.

There too was the signalling rope ready for placing round the diver; and to make the preparations more complete, the galvanic battery was charged, and half-a-dozen little dynamite cartridges, attached to as many thin wires, lay ready for hurling in the direction of any approaching shark and exploding in the water. This, it was considered, might kill it, but would certainly scare it away, while the size was not large enough to injure the diver, protected by his helmet. A careful investigation had resulted in not one of the monsters being seen, and all hoped that the explosions of the previous day had killed and scared all that they need fear for the present.

Very good theories all these, but those on board forgot that a good deal of refuse food was thrown overboard by 'Pollo every now and then, and that this floated away slowly on the current, and might act as an attraction to the fish some distance away.

The air-pump was tried, and proved, thanks to Rasp, in excellent condition. Such of the crew as were not to work at the pump were in good places for observation, partly to satisfy their own curiosity, for the novelty of the coming experiment quite excited them, partly to keep watch for sharks and give ample warning; while a portion of the deck was marked off, where the apparatus was placed, and no one but those at work was allowed to pa.s.s the ropes. Here Rasp had arranged his coils with mathematical exactness; the rope for signalling was as carefully arranged, and men stationed at the pump, to the use of which he had drilled them; and in addition a stouter coil with a spring hook was ready, the spring being held in Rasp's hand.

"I think you had better have it attached, Pugh," said Mr Parkley.

"Nonsense!" replied Dutch, smiling; and as his countenance lit up Hester thought he had never looked so true and brave before. "Why, anyone would think I was a novice, who had never been down."

"'Taint that, Mr Pug," said Rasp, "it's on account of those long-nosed sharks. You just have it on, and if we sees one o' the warmint coming we'll haul you up in a way such as'll startle him."

"I'm not afraid of the sharks," said Dutch, taking up and feeling the point of the great dagger-like knife. "A man can but the once."

"My dear Pugh," exclaimed Mr Parkley, "don't talk in that cynical way.

Of course, a man can only die once; but do you think I want to go to the end of my days feeling that I had murdered you by my neglect. My dear boy, I would not exchange your life for twenty sunken ship-loads of treasure."

"Thank you, Parkley," said Dutch, taking and wringing his hand, "I believe you."

"Then, come, you will have the rope attached?"

"No, no, it will only be in the way."

"My dear fellow, it will not. It is not as if you were going down the hold of a ship. All is clear; there is not even a rock in your way, only a few upright ribs that you can easily avoid."

"But it is such a childlike preparation," said Dutch, petulantly.

"Here, give me the helmet, Rasp."

"Yah, you allus was as obstinate as a mule, Mr Pug," said the old fellow, handing the great casque with its barred visor. "If you don't have the rope, I won't give you a good supply of wind--there!"

"I'm not afraid of that, Rasp," said Dutch, laughing; and then, as he stood with the helmet on his arm, he turned cold and stern again, for he saw Hester approach, and as she did so the others involuntarily drew away.

"What is it?" he said, coldly.

"Dutch," she whispered, as she laid her hands upon his shoulders, "your true, faithful wife, who has never wronged you in thought or deed, implores you to take the precaution they ask."

"Pish!" he exclaimed, contemptuously.

"You do not believe me, dear," she continued, with the tears streaming down her cheeks; "but G.o.d is my judge that I speak the truth. Oh, Dutch, Dutch!" she continued, as she saw his face begin to work, "some day you will know all, and your heart will bleed for the agony you have caused me."

"Hester," he said, in the same low tone, "I'd give twenty years of my life to have back the same old trust in you, but it is gone, gone for ever."

"No," she replied, with a bright look beaming in her face, "it is not: the truth is coming--coming soon, and when it does, Dutch, you will come back to my heart with the knowledge that your little wife has forgiven you your injustice from the first, that she loves you more dearly than ever."

"You forgive me?" he said bitterly.

"Yes, the wrong you have done me, Dutch. You have nothing to forgive me but for keeping my secret for your sake."

There was such an air of candour and truth in her countenance that had they been alone he would have clutched her to his breast, but he knew that they were watched by many eyes, and restraining himself he said quietly:

"It is enough now. Tell me this--will you--when I return--"

"You're a-going to have on that rope, ain't you, Mr Dutch?" said Rasp, interrupting them.

"Yes. You can get it ready," replied Dutch.

"G.o.d bless you for that," whispered Hester earnestly.

"Now, go back," he said quietly; "there must be no scene here. You need not be afraid for me; I shall incur no risks now, in the hope that, as you say, you can make all clear between us. You will explain all-- everything to me when I come up."

With a wild look of delight she was about to say yes, when she quailed and shrank away, for at a little distance behind Dutch she saw Laure apparently busy arranging the rope there around the deck, but evidently hearing all that was said.

"You promise?" said Dutch sternly.

"Spare me, oh, my darling," she moaned. "I dare not--oh I dare not speak."

"What," he whispered, "is this your truth?"

"It is for your sake," she moaned, "for your sake," and with drooping head she crept away.

"Come, come, little woman," said Mr Parkley, taking her hand; "be firm, be firm; he shall not come to harm."

"Not he, mum, while old Tom Rasp is alive to help," growled the old fellow.

"Perhaps you'd better go below, my dear," said Mr Parkley.