The four made their way back to the bungalow almost without another word. The sight of the wretched Mendoza had cast a shadow over their spirits. His punishment was a heavy one—far greater than that which had overtaken his comrades in lawlessness. They were resting on the bed of the sea; his was a living death. A body capable of action, but devoid of reason. In his madness he was "lower than the beasts of the field".
CHAPTER XXXI. "TABU"
Several days passed in almost unalloyed delight as far as Kenneth and Peter were concerned. They "had the run of the place", did almost exactly as they liked, and enjoyed the novelty of a typically beautiful Pacific island to their heart's content. The only fly in the ointment was the presence of Mendoza. They could not help feeling sorry for the fellow's terrible state, his past record notwithstanding.
"It's about time we took steps to locate the pearl beds, lads," observed Mr. Heatherington one morning. "I've been thinking over the affair considerably, to know the best course to pursue. Black pearls are remarkably rare. Here are sufficient to swamp the market and bring the price down, in which case the enterprise will not repay our expenses; they have been heavy enough in all conscience. I want to set Captain Holbaek on his feet financially, for he's been a thundering good sort, but how? We can't very well dive for pearls without his knowledge. If he discovers their value he may—mind you, I don't say that he will—he may obtain a quantity on his own account. In that case the market's done for."
"But he's got sense enough to dispose of them to the best advantage," said Kenneth.
"Yes; but there are the natives under him to be taken into account. We'll suppose Holbaek is let into the secret. His Kanakas will do the diving part of the operations, but it will be a matter of difficulty to keep the knowledge of the discovery from the natives of Talai. Directly we leave they'll start diving on their own account and barter their finds for a few yards of cloth or some rubbishy trade goods to the first pearler arriving off the island."
"Why not take Holbaek entirely into our confidence?" suggested Kenneth. "He'd see your point. He could tabu the beds as far as the natives were concerned. They wouldn't dare touch them. Remember how careful they were in bringing our gear up from the boat."
Accordingly the subject was broached to their host. Captain Holbaek was frankly sceptical.
"I tell you there are beds," he observed, "but they are valueless. As for black pearls, there are none in these parts. Certain traders have shown me so-called black pearls, but they were obviously artificially treated. However, we shall see. My Kanakas are at your disposal."
Even Captain Gregory displayed no enthusiasm when he was let into the secret with a promise that he should share in the proceeds. He was, as he expressed it, absolutely fed up with kicking about ashore, and his greatest wish was to be on his way back to England.
For some considerable time they discussed plans. Finally it was resolved to commence diving operations on the following morning, and steps were taken to provide the necessary gear and equipment.
The Paloma's boat was launched and taken round to the creek. In her were placed short planks, ropes, weighted baskets for sending down to the oyster beds, heavy stones to serve as moorings for the boat fore and aft, and rifles and ammunition in case the divers were molested by sharks.
Soon after dawn the five white men, accompanied by half a dozen Kanakas, embarked and pushed off from the natural jetty by the creek. Twenty minutes steady pulling brought the boat over the spot where, according to his best recollection, since he had no chart, Mr. Heatherington thought the precious beds were located.
It was a sheltered basin, although fifty yards to lee'ard the surf pounded heavily upon the reefs, which, owing to the tide being at three-quarters ebb, rose a couple or three feet above the surface.
Anxiously the occupants of the boat peered over the gunwales into the limpid depths beneath. The bottom was of firm white sand with a few trailing weeds of vivid scarlet and amber and blue. Not a sign of a bivalve was to be seen.
A few strokes of the oars and the boat gathered way. The oars boated, the ripples died away. Only the dark shadow of the little craft moving over the sandy bottom indicated a sense of motion. Presently the water deepened. The bed was invisible. Right beneath the boat's keel was a submarine ravine, black with dense marine growth—a locality that the hardiest and pluckiest diver would take good care to avoid.
"If the oysters are down there it is hopeless," commented Captain Holbaek. "Perhaps the farther shoal will prove more successful."
He ordered the Kanakas to give a few more strokes. The gulley was only about twenty yards wide. Beyond the water shoaled to five fathoms, the sand being mingled with numerous almost indistinguishable shells to which marine growth adhered.
"Bad lands!" exclaimed the Danish skipper. "These oysters are not of the pearl-bearing kind."
"This is somewhere about the spot," declared Mr. Heatherington. "I'm right on one bearing, but I wasn't sure about the other. Let the men try, anyway."
Captain Holbaek smiled tolerantly and gave the necessary order.
Over the side four weighted baskets were lowered until they rested on the bottom. Two of the Kanakas, each armed with a stone knife, poised themselves on the edge of the diving boards placed across both gunwales, and with hardly a splash dived overboard.
The chums could watch their movements with the utmost clearness. Arriving within a foot or so of the bottom, the men swam in wide circles, deftly "un-anchoring" the oysters, and at the same time avoiding the horny lips of the bivalves. To be caught by the fingers meant a quick choice between severing the digits or being drowned; to be held by the arm or leg would result in death by asphyxiation, for human power was unavailing to force apart the vice-like shells of the mammoth oysters.
The divers seemed to remain below for a very long time. In reality they were slightly less than two minutes, although, had necessity arisen, they might have remained nearly twice that space of time. Making sure that they were over a clear spot they brought one foot sharply down to the hard sand and by a vigorous kick shot to the surface like arrows. Barely had they clambered over the gunwale before another pair descended, repeating the performance until the baskets were laden with the trophies of the deep.
Placing the firmly-closed oysters in one end of the boat, the Kanakas unmoored and shifted their position another thirty yards; dived and brought up another generous sample, which they put carefully aside from the other lot.
The operations lasted the best part of two hours, and although a strict look-out was kept for sharks, the divers were able to work unmolested save by a few curious but inoffensive fish.
The two chums expected to see a reassuring result of the work there and then; but they were to be disappointed. Should any of the oysters contain pearls the forcible opening of the bivalve would render the precious contents almost valueless. They had to be taken ashore and laid in the sun until the oyster died and the vice-like jaws automatically relaxed.
It was not until about four in the afternoon that the opening process took place. Kenneth and Peter, warned of the consequences of watching the operation from close quarters, kept their distance, while the Kanakas under their master's supervision deftly examined the spoil.
Oyster after oyster was scrutinized without the anticipated result, until Holbaek hurried across to where Heatherington and the boys stood.
"Here is something," he announced, and held out a black pearl about the size of a pea.