Facing the Flag

Chapter 3

KIDNAPPED.

Half an hour later the Count d'Artigas and Captain Spade were

following the beech-lined road that separated the Healthful House

estate from the right bank of the Neuse. Both had taken leave of the

director, the latter declaring himself greatly honored by their visit,

and the former thanking him warmly for his courteous reception. A

hundred-dollar bill left as a tip for the staff of the establishment

had certainly not belied the Count's reputation for generosity. He

was--there could be no doubt about it--a foreigner of the highest

distinction, if distinction be measured by generosity.

Issuing by the gate at the main entrance to Healthful House, they had

skirted the wall that surrounded the property, and which was high

enough to preclude the possibility of climbing it. Not a word passed

between them for some time; the Count was deep in thought and Captain

Spade was not in the habit of addressing him without being first

spoken to.

At last when they stood beneath the rear wall behind which, though it

was not visible, the Count knew Pavilion No. 17 was situated, he said:

"You managed, I presume, to thoroughly explore the place, and are

acquainted with every detail of it?"

"Certainly, _Count_" replied Captain Spade, emphasizing the title.

"You are perfectly sure about it?"

"Perfectly. I could go through the park with my eyes shut. If you

still persist in carrying out your scheme the pavilion can be easily

reached."

"I do persist, Spade."

"Notwithstanding Thomas Roch's mental condition?"

"Notwithstanding his condition; and if we succeed in carrying him

off----"

"That is my affair. When night comes on I undertake to enter the park

of Healthful House, and then the pavilion garden without being seen by

anybody."

"By the entrance gate?"

"No, on this side."

"Yes, but on this side there is the wall, and if you succeed in

climbing it, how are you going to get over it again with Thomas Roch?

What if the madman cries out--what if he should resist--what if his

keeper gives the alarm?"

"Don't worry yourself in the least about that. We have only got to go

in and come out by this door."

Captain Spade pointed to a narrow door let into the wall a few

paces distant, and which was doubtless used by the staff of the

establishment when they had occasion to go out by the river.

"That is the way I propose to go in. It's much easier than scaling the

wall with a ladder."

"But the door is closed."

"It will open."

"Has it no bolts?"

"Yes, but I shot them back while we were strolling about, and the

director didn't notice what I had done."

"How are you going to open it?" queried the Count, going to the door.

"Here is the key," replied Spade, producing it.

He had withdrawn it from the lock, where it happened to be, when he

had unbolted the door.

"Capital!" exclaimed the Count. "It couldn't be better. The business

will be easier than I expected. Let us get back to the schooner. At

eight o'clock one of the boats will put you ashore with five men."

"Yes, five men will do," said Captain Spade. "There will be enough of

them to effect our object even if the keeper is aroused and it becomes

necessary to put him out of the way."

"Put him out of the way--well, if it becomes absolutely necessary of

course you must, but it would be better to seize him too and bring him

aboard the _Ebba_ Who knows but what he has already learned a part of

Roch's secret?"

"True."

"Besides, Thomas Roch is used to him, and I don't propose to make him

change his habitudes in any way."

This observation was accompanied by such a significant smile that

Captain Spade could entertain no doubt as to the r** reserved for the

warder of Healthful House.

The plan to kidnap them both was thus settled, and appeared to have

every chance of being successful; unless during the couple of hours of

daylight that yet remained it was noticed that the key of the door had

been stolen and the bolts drawn back, Captain Spade and his men could

at least count upon being able to enter the park, and the rest, the

captain affirmed, would be easy enough.

Thomas Roch was the only patient in the establishment isolated and

kept under special surveillance. All the other invalids lived in the

main building, or occupied pavilions in the front of the park. The

plan was to try and seize Roch and Gaydon separately and bind and gag

them before they could cry out.

The Count d'Artigas and his companion wended their way to a creek

where one of the _Ebba's_ boats awaited them. The schooner was

anchored two cable lengths from the shore, her sails neatly rolled

upon her yards, which were squared as neatly as those of a pleasure

yacht or of a man-of-war. At the peak of the mainmast a narrow red

pennant was gently swayed by the wind, which came in fitful puffs from

the east.

The Count and the captain jumped into the boat and a few strokes of

the four oars brought them alongside of the schooner. They climbed

on deck and going forward to the jib-boom, leaned over the starboard

bulwark and gazed at an object that floated on the water a few strokes

ahead of the vessel. It was a small buoy that was rocked by the ripple

of the ebbing tide.

Twilight gradually set in, and the outline of New-Berne on the left

bank of the sinuous Neuse became more and more indistinct until it

disappeared in the deepening shades of night. A mist set in from the

sea, but though it obscured the moon it brought no sign of rain. The

lights gleamed out one by one in the houses of the town. The fishing

smacks came slowly up the river to their anchorage, impelled by the

oars of their crews which struck the water with sharp, rhythmical

strokes, and with their sails distended on the chance of catching an

occasional puff of the dropping wind to help them along. A couple of

steamers passed, sending up volumes of black smoke and myriads of

sparks from their double stacks, and lashing the water into foam with

their powerful paddles.

At eight o'clock the Count d'Artigas appeared on the schooner's deck

accompanied by a man about fifty years of age, to whom he remarked:

"It is time to go, Serko."

"Very well, I will tell Spade," replied Serko.

At that moment the captain joined them.

"You had better get ready to go," said the Count.

"All is ready."

"Be careful to prevent any alarm being given, and arrange matters so

that no one will for a minute suspect that Thomas Roch and his keeper

have been brought on board the _Ebba_."

"They wouldn't find them if they came to look for them," observed

Serko, shrugging his shoulders and laughing heartily as though he had

perpetrated a huge joke.

"Nevertheless, it is better not to arouse their suspicion," said

d'Artigas.

The boat was lowered, and Captain Spade and five sailors took their

places in it. Four of the latter got out the oars. The boatswain,

Effrondat, who was to remain in charge of the boat, went to the stern

beside Captain Spade and took the tiller.

"Good luck, Spade," said Serko with a smile, "and don't make more

noise about it than if you were a gallant carrying off his lady-love."

"I won't--unless that Gaydon chap--"

"We must have both Roch and Gaydon," insisted the Count d'Artigas.

"That is understood," replied Spade.

The boat pushed off, and the sailors on the deck of the schooner

watched it till it was lost to sight in the darkness.

Pending its return, no preparations for the _Ebba's_ departure were

made. Perhaps there was no intention of quitting the port after the

men had been kidnapped. Besides, how could the vessel have reached the

open sea? Not a breath of air was now stirring, and in half an hour

the tide would be setting in again, and rising strongly and rapidly

for several miles above New-Berne.

Anchored, as has already been said, a couple of cable-lengths from the

shore, the _Ebba_ might have been brought much nearer to it, for the

water was deep enough, and this would have facilitated the task of the

kidnappers when they returned from their expedition. If, however, the

Count d'Artigas preferred to let the vessel stay where she was, he

probably had his reasons.

Not a soul was in sight on the bank, and the road, with its borders

of beech trees that skirted the wall of Healthful House estate, was

equally deserted. The boat was made fast to the shore. Then Captain

Spade and his four sailors landed, leaving the boatswain in charge,

and disappeared amid the trees.

When they reached the wall Captain Spade stopped and the sailors drew

up on each side of the doorway. The captain had only to turn the key

in the lock and push the door, unless one of the servants, noticing

that the door was not secured as usual, had bolted it. In this event

their task would be an extremely difficult one, even if they succeeded

in scaling the high wall.

The captain put his ear to the key-hole and listened.

Not a sound was to be heard in the park. Not even a leaf was rustling

in the branches of the beeches under which they were standing. The

surrounding country was wrapt in the profoundest silence.

Captain Spade drew the key from his pocket, inserted it in the lock

and turned it noiselessly. Then he cautiously pushed the door, which

opened inward.

Things were, then, just as he had left them, and no one had noticed

the theft of the key.

After assuring himself that nobody happened to be in the neighborhood

of the pavilion the captain entered, followed by his men. The door was

left wide open, so that they could beat a hurried and uninterrupted

retreat in case of necessity. The trees and bushes in this shady part

of the park were very thick, and it was so dark that it would not have

been easy to distinguish the pavilion had not a light shone brightly

in one of the windows.

No doubt this was the window of the room occupied by Roch and his

guardian, Gaydon, seeing that the latter never left the patient placed

in his charge either by night or day. Captain Spade had expected to

find him there.

The party approached cautiously, taking the utmost precaution to avoid

kicking a pebble or stepping on a twig, the noise of which might have

revealed their presence. In this way they reached the door of the

pavilion near which was the curtained window of the room in which the

light was burning.

But if the door was locked, how were they going to get in? Captain

Spade must have asked himself. He had no key, and to attempt to effect

an entrance through the window would be hazardous, for, unless Gaydon

could be prevented from giving the alarm, he would rouse the whole

establishment.

There was no help for it, however. The essential was to get possession

of Roch. If they could kidnap Gaydon, too, in conformity with the

intentions of the Count d'Artigas, so much the better. If not--

Captain Spade crept stealthily to the window, and standing on tiptoe,

looked in. Through an aperture in the curtain he could see all over

the room.

Gaydon was standing beside Thomas Roch, who had not yet recovered from

the fit with which he had been attacked during the Count d'Artigas'

visit. His condition necessitated special attention, and the warder

was ministering to the patient under the direction of a third person.

The latter was one of the doctors attached to Healthful House, and had

been at once sent to the pavilion by the director when Roch's

paroxysm came on. His presence of course rendered the situation more

complicated and the work of the kidnappers more difficult.

Roch, fully dressed, was extended upon a sofa. He was now fairly calm.

The paroxysm, which was abating, would be followed by several hours of

torpor and exhaustion.

Just as Captain Spade peeped through the window the doctor was making

preparations to leave. The Captain heard him say to Gaydon that his

(the doctor's) presence was not likely to be required any more that

night, and that there was nothing to be done beyond following the

instructions he had given.

The doctor then walked towards the door, which, it will be remembered,

was close to the window in front of which Spade and his men were

standing. If they remained where they were they could not fail to be

seen, not only by the doctor, but by the warder, who was accompanying

him to the door.

Before they made their appearance, however, the sailors, at a sign

from their chief, had dispersed and hidden themselves behind the

bushes, while Spade himself crouched in the shadow beneath the window.

Luckily Gaydon had not brought the lamp with him, so that the captain

was in no danger of being seen.

As he was about to take leave of Gaydon, the doctor stopped on the

step and remarked:

"This is one of the worst attacks our patient has had. One or two more

like that and he will lose the little reason he still possesses."

"Just so," said Gaydon. "I wonder that the director doesn't prohibit

all visitors from entering the pavilion. Roch owes his present attack

to a Count d'Artigas, for whose amusement harmful questions were put

to him."

"I will call the director's attention to the matter," responded the

doctor.

He then descended the steps and Gaydon, leaving the door of the

pavilion ajar, accompanied him to the end of the path.

When they had gone Captain Spade stood up, and his men rejoined him.

Had they not better profit by the chance thus unexpectedly afforded

them to enter the room and secure Roch, who was in a semi-comatose

condition, and then await Gaydon's return, and seize the warder as he

entered?

This would have involved considerable risk. Gaydon, at a glance, would

perceive that his patient was missing and raise an alarm; the doctor

would come running back; the whole staff of Healthful House would

turn out, and Spade would not have time to escape with his precious

prisoner and lock the door in the wall after him.

He did not have much chance to deliberate about it, for the warder was

heard returning along the gravel path. Spade decided that the best

thing to be done was to spring upon him as he passed and stifle

his cries and overpower him before he could attempt to offer any

resistance. The carrying off of the mad inventor would be easy enough,

inasmuch as he was unconscious, and could not raise a finger to help

himself.

Gaydon came round a clump of bushes and approached the entrance to the

pavilion. As he raised his foot to mount the steps the four sailors

sprang upon him, bore him backwards to the ground, and had gagged him,

securely bound him hand and foot, and bandaged his eyes before he

began to realize what had happened.

Two of the men then kept guard over him, while Captain Spade and the

others entered the house.

As the captain had surmised, Thomas Roch had sunk into such a torpor

that he could have heard nothing of what had been going on outside.

Reclining at full length, with his eyes closed, he might have been

taken for a dead man but for his heavy breathing. There was no need

either to bind or gag him. One man took him by the head and another by

the feet and started off with him to the schooner.

Captain Spade was the last to quit the house after extinguishing the

lamp and closing the door behind him. In this way there was no reason

to suppose that the inmates would be missed before morning.

Gaydon was carried off in the same way as Thomas Roch had been. The

two remaining sailors lifted him and bore him quietly but rapidly down

the path to the door in the wall. The park was pitch dark. Not even a

glimmer of the lights in the windows of Healthful House could be seen

through the thick foliage.

Arrived at the wall, Spade, who had led the way, stepped aside to

allow the sailors with their burdens to pass through, then followed

and closed and locked the door. He put the key in his pocket,

intending to throw it into the Neuse as soon as they were safely on

board the schooner.

There was no one on the road, nor on the bank of the river.

The party made for the boat, and found that Effrondat, the boatswain,

had made all ready to receive them.

Thomas Roch and Gaydon were laid in the bottom of the boat, and the

sailors again took their places at the oars.

"Hurry up, Effrondat, and cast off the painter," ordered the captain.

The boatswain obeyed, and pushed the boat off with his foot as he

scrambled in.

The men bent to their oars and rowed rapidly to the schooner, which

was easily distinguishable, having hung out a light at her mizzenmast

head.

In two minutes they were alongside.

The Count d'Artigas was leaning on the bulwarks by the gangway.

"All right, Spade?" he questioned.

"Yes, sir, all right!"

"Both of them?"

"Both the madman and his keeper."

"Doesn't anybody know about it up at Healthful House?

"Not a soul."

It was not likely that Gaydon, whose eyes and ears were bandaged, but

who preserved all his sang-froid, could have recognized the voices of

the Count d'Artigas and Captain Spade. Nor did he have the chance to.

No attempt was immediately made to hoist him on board. He had been

lying in the bottom of the boat alongside the schooner for fully

half an hour, he calculated, before he felt himself lifted, and then

lowered, doubtless to the bottom of the hold.

The kidnapping having been accomplished it would seem that it only

remained for the _Ebba_ to weigh anchor, descend the estuary and make

her way out to sea through Pamlico Sound. Yet no preparations for

departure were made.

Was it not dangerous to stay where they were after their daring

raid? Had the Count d'Artigas hidden his prisoners so securely as to

preclude the possibility of their being discovered if the _Ebba_,

whose presence in proximity to Healthful House could not fail to

excite suspicion, received a visit from the New-Berne police?

However this might have been, an hour after the return of the

expedition, every soul on board save the watch--the Count d'Artigas,

Serko, and Captain Spade in their respective cabins, and the crew in

the fore-castle, were sound asleep.