"What ho! Black Bart," said he, after his third helping of bacon, "why
does our good ship lie here idle at her anchor?" Question direct, like
Jean himself, and demanding direct answer.
"Ask Captain Peterson," said I. "He perhaps can tell where we can get
more gasoline."
"No, he can't. I asked him this morning."
"Then 'twould seem we must lie here all winter, unless discovered by
some relief expedition."
"Why don't we start a relief expedition of our own?" demanded he.
"And how?"
"Why, me and Willy, the deck-hand, we'll take the long boat an' go out
an' explore this region roundabout. Somebody may have gasoline
somewhere, and if so, we can git it, can't we?"
"Your idea is excellent, Jean Lafitte," said I. "Within the hour you
shall set forth to see whether or not there is any settlement on this
bayou. And that you may not need use violence when secrecy is our
wish, here is a fat purse for our stores. And hasten, for of a truth,
Jean Lafitte, I am most aweary of this very morning, and I long to see
the white seas roll once more."
It was determined, therefore, that we should fare onward--in case we
could fare at all--with our ship's company as it now was; for, of
course, none but myself knew what was afoot between Black Bart and his
captive. And well enough I knew that in keeping Helena Emory thus
close to me, I was breeding sleepless nights and anxious days.
This day itself was anxious enough, nor could all of Epictetus teach
me calm philosophy, distracted as I was over this situation, complex
as it was. As to the fortune of the long boat, we knew nothing until,
at three of the afternoon, I saw a white speck of a sail round the
bend of our bayou, and saw that was hoisted, spirit fashion, over our
boat, which now, with following wind, rapidly drew in toward us.
"It's all right," called out Jean Lafitte, when he came within hail;
and I saw now that he, indeed, had a boat's load of gasoline in tanks,
cans and all manner of receptacles.
"Town and a store, down there five miles," he explained as I caught
his gunwale with boat hook. "You can git anything there. Now, the
Giants an' the Cubs, why, they tied in the 'leventh inning yesterday.
An' say----"
"Enough," said I, "let me hear nothing of the cursed Giants or the yet
more accursed Cubs, for I have more serious work afoot! Tell me, is
there a bar cutting off the other end of the bayou; and how long is
the bayou?"
"Sixteen miles," answered the useful Lafitte, "an' she seems like good
water all the way. They say there's seven foot on the bar, and the
wood boats run in and out."