When
he realized that the boys were not fooled by his forged order from
Mr. Beasley he decided to use the chloroform he had bought for just
such an emergency, and then rousing his followers when the boys were
drugged it had not taken long with their united efforts to load the
ivory.
Urged on by Barr's promise of a large reward the captain of the
launch had spun his little vessel down the river at top speed and
thus had been able to make the coast in record time.
"Where in thunder is that mate Halsey?" roared Barr as he saw the
bos'n--a seedy-looking fellow from the London slums--taking charge
of the transfer of the ivory from the launch to the deck of the
Brigand.
"He went ashore last night," rejoined the other.
"And I suppose he is helplessly drunk now," raged Barr. "How in the
name of fortune are we going to get the yacht out of here?"
"Wait till he gets sober," was the bos'n's grunted reply as the men
hastily transferred the last of the precious freight of tusks to the
Brigand's deck.
Barr jumped to the accommodation ladder and was aboard in a second,
despite his apparent feebleness. His face was distorted with rage
and cupidity.
"We have got to get out of here at once--now do you understand?" he
roared, crazed with rage.
"I'll give a thousand dollars to the man that will get me out of
this harbor and well off to sea.
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