Percy F. Westerman
THE BUCCANEERS OF BOYA
Title: The Buccaneers of Boya
Author: PERCY F. WESTERMAN (1876-1959)
Illustrated by W. Rainey, R.I.
Edition: Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow
1925
ASGER HOLBAEK SEEKS FREEDOM — Frontispiece
ILLUSTRATIONS
ASGER HOLBAEK SEEKS FREEDOM — Frontispiece
I AM YOUR VERY GOOD FRIEND — page 48
THE BOSUN IS SURPRISED — page 136
TACKLE HIM LOW!" EXCLAIMED KENNETH — page 176
THE FUGITIVES CROUCHED IN A SHELTERED FISSURE — page 208
BACK HER OUT!" SHOUTED GREGORY — page 280
CHAPTER I. THE S.Y. "PALOMA"
The yacht agent shook his head.
"Absolutely nothing of that tonnage is to be chartered, Mr. Heatherington," he declared. "The present industrial dispute has prevented all craft of any size being fitted out. There are numerous yachts up to forty tons, but I presume one of these would be too small for your purpose?"
Mr. Heatherington indicated that it would, and turned to meet the disappointed gaze of his son.
"It's rough luck, Kenneth," he remarked.
Kenneth, a tall, strapping youth of sixteen, tried to conceal his dismay, for the yacht agent's announcement was of the nature of a shattering blow to his hopes.
Mr. Heatherington had planned to charter a large steam-yacht for a three months' trip to the South Pacific. It was to be a combined pleasure and business undertaking. Kenneth's father had, several years previously, obtained authentic information of the existence of a coral island, Talai by name, where black pearls, that would fetch fabulous prices in London, were to be found; and it was only now possible for him to undertake the task of chartering a vessel and making a special voyage to Talai, with the object of gaining possession of sufficient black pearls to give a good return on his outlay.
Although it was only late in June, Kenneth was having a holiday. The school at which he was a boarder had been closed owing to an epidemic of measles; and, if the truth be told, the lads hailed measles with a fervour that would have shocked and horrified their parents. To the former the epidemic came as a direct gift of good fortune; to the latter as a catastrophe likely to upset the entire domestic arrangements of many a home for weeks to come.
As the school was not to reassemble until the end of September, Kenneth had the best part of three months' holiday. In ordinary circumstances, Mr. Heatherington would have been worried to know what to do with his son for such a long period. In fact he was beginning to wish that there were no such things as epidemics in schools, when it occurred to him that now was a most excellent opportunity for him to undertake the expedition to Talai, and at the same time enlarge his son's mind and develop his body through the medium of travel.
Naturally Kenneth jumped at the idea, but suggested tentatively that it would be better fun if he had a chum of about his own age. Mr. Heatherington considered the proposal, and, realizing that the advantages outweighed the disadvantages, thought that perhaps the matter might be satisfactorily arranged.
"None of your harum-scarum chums," he added. "I want you to have a sensible sort of a companion, and not one who will take up the best part of my time in getting him out of foolish scrapes. Whom have you in mind?"
"Arkendale—Peter Arkendale," replied Kenneth. "Don't you remember? I introduced him to you last Sports Day. He won the hurdles and the mile."
His father admitted the statement. In point of fact he had been introduced to about a score of Kenneth's chums, had taken the whole crowd of them to a tuck-shop. But there his recollection ended. He could not visualize Kenneth's special chum Arkendale.
"All right," he said, "I'll write to his people. He has parents, I suppose?"
"No; he lives with his uncle when he's at home," corrected Kenneth.
"Simplifies matters, then," continued Mr. Heatherington. "There might have been difficulty in getting his parents' consent if they were alive. In the case of an uncle it's different. He's not so likely to imagine that a trip to the Pacific is a sort of desperate adventure. Do you know Arkendale's uncle's address?"
Within forty-eight hours, Mr. Arkendale's letter was received, expressing thanks for Mr. Heatherington's kind invitation, and stating that he was perfectly willing to entrust his nephew to the capable hands of Kenneth's father.
And now, when everything seemed to be running smoothly, came the unexpected set-back. A series of visits to well-known yacht agents all produced similar results. Owing to a prolonged strike in the ship and yacht industries, there was hardly a steam-yacht in commission and not one available for charter.
"There are at least twenty large steam- and motor-yachts lying in mud-berths up the river," declared the agent. "In ordinary circumstances they would have been afloat early in the summer. We usually have half a dozen on our books for charter, but now——"
He gave an expressive gesture with his hands.
"Of course, if we hear of anything at all suitable, we will inform you at once," he added.
"I don't feel disposed to wait on the off chance of something that might possibly materialize about next Christmas," observed Mr. Heatherington with asperity.
"Don't blame me," protested the agent. "We suffer from the ill-effects of this deplorable strike as much as anyone. I'm sorry——"
At that moment his partner, who had been a silent participator in the meeting, touched him on the shoulder.
"There is the Paloma," he said.
"Oh, yes, the Paloma," echoed the senior partner. "I hadn't forgotten her, but she wouldn't be suitable, I feel sure."
"What is the Paloma, in any case?" asked Mr. Heatherington.
"She's not a British owned yacht," was the reply. "She is owned by a Spanish Count—Count Cristoval Xarifa. He was cruising on her when he was recalled to Madrid on urgent business. Her master's English, I understand, but the rest of the officers and crew are Spaniards. We were asked to put her on our books for charter, but you will understand, sir, that no one wants to hire a foreign yacht with a foreign crew."
"Possibly not," admitted Mr. Heatherington. "But although people don't want to do a good many things they have to all the same. In my case I'd naturally prefer a British owned and manned yacht; but, since that is at present out of the question, I'll have to make the best of a bad job and take what I can find. What is the Paloma? Is she in Lloyd's?"
"She is not on Lloyd's list, sir," was the reply. "She's a 750 ton steel-built craft, schooner rigged. Her speed is, I believe, seventeen knots, but for protracted cruising her economical speed is twelve. At the present rate of exchange the terms asked are very reasonable."
Kenneth looked hopefully at his parent, but Mr. Heatherington, although apt to be impulsive, had a cautious side to his nature.
"I'll think it over," he declared, "and let you have my decision within the next forty-eight hours. Meanwhile you might give me an order to inspect the vessel."
"Certainly, sir," replied the agent. "She's lying in the harbour. If you let me know at what hour you propose going on board, I'll have a boat waiting at the town quay."
"Do you think she'll do, Pater?" asked Kenneth, as father and son walked up the High Street.
"She might, but I don't like the idea of a foreign crew," replied Mr. Heatherington. "The difficulty is that when we arrive at Talai we must keep all knowledge of the existence of the pearling grounds from the men. If they found out they'd probably help themselves and flood the market. Black pearls are rare, but if the Talai find becomes public property the market will be flooded and the price in consequence will fall. 'Tany rate we'll have a look at the Paloma and see if there's any chance of paying off the present crew and shipping a British one."