Courtenay even laughed. Elsie as the Jonah of the ship was a quaint
conceit.
"I mentioned Ventana because I was told he took some part of the
insurance on his own account," he explained. "But he was a member of
Baring's copper syndicate, and, indeed, was spoken of as a mining
engineer of high repute. Believe me, I was not jumping to conclusions
on that account."
"I know him to be a very bad man," said Elsie, slowly. Her face was
white and her eyes downcast. It was evident that the sudden
introduction of Ventana's personality was distressing to her, but
Courtenay, preoccupied with the dastardly attempt made to sink his
ship, did not observe this feature of a peculiar discussion.
"Bad! In what sense, Miss Maxwell?" he asked unguardedly.
"In the most loathsome sense. He is evil-minded, vicious, altogether
detestable. If Mr. Baring knew his character as I know it, Ventana
would not be allowed to enter his office."
"Pedro Ventana?" interrupted Christobal. "Is he a half-caste, a tall,
brown-skinned man, who affects an American drawl when he speaks
English--a man prominent in Santiago society and in mining circles
generally?"
"Yes," said Elsie.
"That is odd, exceedingly so. I once heard a rumor--but perhaps it is
unfair to mention it in this connection. Yet it cannot hurt any one if
I state that Isobel Baring and he were--well--how shall I put it?--at
any rate, there was a lively summer-hotel sort of attachment between
them."
"Isobel has never told me that," said Elsie, nerving herself for a
personal disclosure which was obviously disagreeable. "I own a small
ranch near Quillota, and, as there was a chance of copper being located
there, Mr. Baring advised me to employ Ventana as an expert prospector.
Indeed, Mr. Baring himself sent Ventana to examine the property and
report on it. He came to see me. He told me there were no minerals of
value on my land, but I could never free myself from him afterwards.
Indeed, I am running away from him now."
She uttered the concluding words with a genuine indignation which
forthwith evaporated in its unconscious humor. Everybody laughed, even
the girl herself, and Boyle grunted: "Huh, shows the beggar's good taste, anyhow."
Courtenay, perhaps, thought that if he encountered Ventana again he
would take the opportunity to reason with him in the approved manner of
the high seas. And, as there was no need to prolong a topic which
caused Elsie any sort of embarrassment, he hastened to say: "I have brought names into the discussion largely to show what a
doubtful field is opened once we begin to suspect without real cause.
The only witness of any value we have on board is Frascuelo, and his
evidence merely goes to prove a secret design to interfere with, or
control, the trimming of the bunker. That particular hatch must be
sealed, and the specimens we have secured put away under lock and key.
I feel assured that the remainder of our coal is above suspicion. We
can carry the inquiry no further while we remain here. Now, Mr.
Walker, you have something of a more cheering nature to communicate, I
think."