"Then we must take our time, and, if we go, make plenty of preparation."

"Yes, yes," said the Cuban; "take plenty of diving suits and a diving bell."

"Don't you fidget about that, sir," said Mr Parkley, proudly. "I think we can find such appliances as will do the trick. Eh, Pugh?"

Dutch nodded, and then looked uneasily at the Cuban, whose presence seemed to fill him with a vague trouble.

"I've got an important contract on too," continued Parkley.

"A contract?" said the Cuban. "A new machine?"

"No, no; a bond such as we must have to do certain work."

"Yes, yes. I see."

"I've got to empty a ship off the coast here. She went down, laden with copper."

"I must see that," cried the Cuban, excitedly. "Where is it? Let us go. I must see the men go under water."

"All in good time, sir--all in good time; for I must finish that job first. Well, Rasp," he continued, as that worthy came in.

"It's Mrs Pug, sir. Shall I show her in?"

"No, no," exclaimed Dutch, eagerly.

But he was too late; for, as he spoke, a lady-like figure entered the room, and the bright, fair, girlish face, with its cl.u.s.tering curls of rich dark-brown hair, turned from one to the other in a timid, apologetic way.

"I am sorry," she faltered. "You are engaged. My husband arranged--"

"Come in, my dear--come in," said Mr Parkley, hopping off his stool, taking her hands, and patting them affectionately, as he placed her in a chair. "We've about done for to-day; and if we had not, there's nothing you might not hear. I'll be bound to say, Pugh keeps nothing from you."

"But she is beautiful!" muttered the Cuban, with sparkling eyes, as his lips parted, and a warm flush came into his creamy cheeks; while Dutch turned pale as he saw his admiration, and the vague feeling of dread came once more in combination with one of dislike.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER THREE.

UNDER WATER AND UNDER CURRENT.

"But I am not polite, my dear," said Mr Parkley. "This is Senor Manuel Lorry, a gentleman from Havana. Senor, Mrs Pugh, the wife of my future partner, and almost my daughter."

The Cuban bowed low as the young Englishwoman rose and looked anxiously at him, her eyes falling directly, and she blushed vividly, as though her fair young cheeks were scorched beneath his ardent gaze.

A pang shot through the breast of Dutch Pugh; but the eyes were raised again to his with so naive and innocent a look that the pain was a.s.suaged, and he crossed to her side.

"Well, Senor," said Mr Parkley, "I am to see that you are not imposed upon, so you are in my charge."

"I know so much of the straightforward honesty of the English, sir, that I am glad to be in your hands."

"That's complimentary," said Mr Parkley.

"It is true, sir," said the Cuban, bowing.

"Very well, then," said Mr Parkley, "we'll begin by trusting one another fully. Well, Rasp, what is it now?"

"Here's Sam Oak.u.m just come from Barrport."

"Well, have they got out all the copper?"

"Not a bit of it, for the men won't go down."

"Why?"

"Say the engine don't supply enough air, and the receiver's bust. Won't go down, hany one on 'em."

"Nonsense!"

"John Tolly's dead or thereabouts."

"Dead?"

"So Sam says."

"Tut, tut, tut!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr Parkley. "Always something wrong.

Pugh, you'll have to go down directly, and set an example, or I must.

Tolly always comes up dead when he don't like a job."

"No, no, no!" exclaimed Mrs Pugh, leaping off to catch her husband by the arm. "He must never go down again. Promise me you will not go,"

she cried, turning her ashy face up to his.

"But she is beautiful indeed!" muttered the Cuban.

"My darling," whispered Dutch, "be a woman. There is no danger."

"No danger!" she wailed. "Dutch, I've dreamed night after night of some terrible trouble, and it is this. You must not--must not go."

"My darling," he whispered. And, bending over her, he said a few words in her ear, which made her set her teeth firmly and try to smile, as she stood up clasping his hand.

"I will try," she whispered--"try so hard."

"I'm ready, Mr Parkley," said the young man, hoa.r.s.ely.

"That's right, Pugh. Go and set matters square. I'll see your wife safe back home."

"I leave her to you," said Dutch, in a low voice. "Good-bye, my darling, get back home. I'll join you soon," he whispered, and hurried out of the office.

But as he turned for a moment, it was to see the Cuban's eyes fixed upon the trembling girl; while the goblinlike figures against the wall seemed to be nodding and gibbering at him, as if laughing at the troubles that a.s.sailed his breast.