The British Mysteries Edition: 14 Novels & 70+ Short Stories. Sapper
"That just about puts the lid on, Bill. What the devil are we going to do? Can't you find anybody who will volunteer?"
The sailor shrugged his shoulders.
"You know what these dagos are," he said. "I can offer double wages, but I'm doubtful of it being much use."
"What do you want a man for?" demanded Percy.
"To run the motor, you ass," said Jim.
"Less of your natural history references, James," remarked his cousin. "I was about to say that I, in consideration of receiving several blood-red rubies as my share of the swag, will undertake that side of the performance."
"But can you, Percy dear?" cried the girl.
"Can I run that darned motor?" snorted Percy. "Great heavens, woman, what do you take me for? I could run it in my sleep."
"By Jove! old boy," said Jim quietly, "one up to you. I'd forgotten you were a motor fan. That's settled that, Bill. Now they're still carrying on with the work, aren't they?"
The sailor nodded.
"Yes. I told them to finish it."
"And now the point that arises is how to slip away. That blighter Miguel is bound to be keeping the boat under observation."
"We've got to chance that," said Blackett. "And my suggestion is this. Instead of waiting till dawn to-morrow, we'll get away as soon after midnight as possible. There is a night watchman on the yard who's a pal of mine, and there will be no trouble about getting in. I'll let Antonio think that we're giving up the trip as we can't get a mechanic, and we'll just have to trust to luck."
Jim shook his head.
"Not good enough, Bill. I agree over getting her away under cover of darkness, but we've got to plant 'em on a false trail. Otherwise there's going to be knife work. You and young Percy will have to get her ready, while Miss Draycott and I draw them off. Let's all go down there now, and we'll start the good work. You perceive, don't you, one of our friends—that sallow-looking swab in the corner. He's been watching us like a lynx."
He ordered the concierge in a loud tone to obtain a taxi, and with no effort at concealment told the driver to go to the boat yard.
"That," he remarked as he got in, "will save our friend following too close on our heels. Though I don't suppose he's the only one."
Having arrived he sent for Antonio and, in fluent Brazilian, he told him exactly what he thought of his firm, himself, and his workmen. And during the telling a couple of men drew closer and closer.
"However," he wound up, "since your hands are too cowardly to come with us there is nothing more to be said. I shall not require your boat, having found another method of getting to my destination—Don Miguel's yacht. Bill," he ordered, "get on board. And you too, Percy. And stay there," he added in an undertone.
"All the kit and stores," he relapsed into angry Brazilian, "have to be packed up, just because there isn't a man with guts in the place."
"I shall chance it about eleven o'clock, Bill," he muttered. "Be ready for us. You can leave the boat for a bit, if they seem to be getting suspicious, but get everything fixed by then. I'm going back to the hotel to continue the good work."
Still fuming he helped Judy into the taxi, and gave the address.
"Your rôle, Judy," he said, as they drove off, "is a flat refusal to go by the yacht. You're going to remain here in Rio until our return. Don't forget your part for an instant: anyone may be a spy. But with a little bit of luck we may bluff 'em."
"Do you think he really intended to take us in his yacht?" said the girl.
"Not a hope," laughed Jim. "We should have been left high and dry here. You can bet they haven't taken all this trouble in order to share anything that may be there with a single unnecessary person."
"Won't it be marvellous if we do find something."
"Don't build on it, Judy," he warned. "Though I honestly am quite hopeful. Neither Miguel nor Dresler strike me as gentlemen who waste time or money. Here's the hotel: play up for all you're worth."
And play up she did to the vast edification of the sallow-faced gentleman who reappeared mysteriously from nowhere. No power on earth would induce her to go on Don Miguel's yacht, and if Jim was unable to get anyone to man the boat she would remain in Rio. And finally with a shrug of his shoulders he strolled away to the bar, calling high heaven to witness on the unreasonableness of woman. Then he instructed the hall porter to get Don Miguel on the telephone for him, and to him he spoke at length. He wondered who could have given his destination away: so did Don Miguel. Anyway it settled things, and he would accompany Don Miguel in his yacht, at which the Brazilian professed himself overjoyed. And finally he left the box with the comforting reflection that if the bluff had failed it was not for want of lying.
They had dinner, after which there was nothing to do but sit and wait. The sallow-faced man had gone, but there were several men in the lounge any one of whom might have been his successor. They had decided on their plan, and time seemed to drag interminably. At ten o'clock Judy rose from her chair.
"Jim," she said irritably, "it's insufferably hot. Can't we take a car and go somewhere before going to bed?"
He stifled a yawn.
"Bit late, Judy, isn't it?" he remarked doubtfully.
"I can't help it: I'll never sleep. Let's drive out to that place where they bathe."
"Capacabana!" His expression was resigned. "All right."
He beckoned to a page.
"Tell the hall porter to get me a taxi. I want to go for a run to Capacabana."
The boy gave the message, and returned shortly after to say the car was waiting.
And it was not until they were half-way to their destination that Jim turned to the girl.
"A little bit too clever, Judy," he said in a low voice, "or rather, not quite clever enough. But it's going to complicate things. This driver is one of them."
"How do you know?"
"At about a quarter to ten I had a look at the taxi rank opposite the hotel. This car was in front. Two taxis were ordered between then and ten o'clock when we got this one. Why did he let two other men take the jobs?"
"What are you going to do?"
"You'll see in a moment," he said. "But it's a lucky thing all taxis here are open cars."
He gave an order in Brazilian to the driver.
"I've told him to drive right out to the end beyond the hotel," he told the girl. "And when we get there I will show you a little trick of my own."
The lights grew fewer and farther between, and at length ceased altogether. And suddenly Jim told the man to stop. In his hand he held a short bar which he was balancing carefully. She watched him fascinated, as, all in a single movement, he rose and hit the driver one blow on the nape of the neck. And the driver collapsed like a log on the floor of the car.
"Not everybody's weapon," said Jim calmly, as he rummaged under the seat for some rope. "It's very easy to kill a man with it unless you're careful. Now this sportsman will sleep peacefully for about four hours, but in case he wakes sooner we may just as well truss him up."
He pulled out a length of cord evidently used for baggage, and tied the unconscious driver up deftly. Then he placed him gently in the ditch, and put a hundred milreis note in his pocket. After which he jumped into the driving-seat.
"It's neck or nothing, Judy," he said, as he turned the car round. "We'd never have got away with that lad at the wheel. And now I think we may, if luck is with us."
They swung back towards Rio, with Jim crouching over the wheel to conceal his height. To reach the docks they had to go through the main street, and it was there that the danger lay, for the police in the Avenida Rio Branco are an extremely capable body of men. But fortune was with them: