"Now, Mr. Gilfleur, if you will indicate the precise point at which you desire to put off in your boat, I will have the ship there at the time you require," said the captain, who had drawn5 a rough sketch6 of the islands, and dotted upon it the points he mentioned in his statement.
"Of course you do not wish the ship to be seen from the islands," suggested the detective.
"Certainly not; for if the Dornoch is in port at St. 93 George's that would be warning her to avoid us in coming out, and she might escape by standing7 off to the northward," replied the commander. "Besides, there might be fishing-craft or other small vessels8 off the island that would report the ship if she were seen. It is not advisable to go any nearer to the islands till after dark. We will show no lights as we approach your destination."
"How near Gibbs Hill light can you go with safety in the darkness, Captain?" asked Mr. Gilfleur.
"I should not care to go nearer than ten miles; we could not be seen from the shore at that distance, but we might be seen by some small craft."
"That will do very well; and if you will make a point ten miles south-west of Gibbs Hills light, I shall be exactly suited," added the detective, as he made a small cross on the sketch near the place where he desired to embark10 in the boat.
The conference was finished, and the two passengers went on deck to inspect the craft which was to convey them to the islands. By order of the commander the carpenter had overhauled11 the boat and made such repairs as were needed. Every open seam had been calked, and a heavy coat of 94 paint had been put upon it. The sailmaker had attended to the jib and mainsail, and everything was in excellent condition for the trip to the shore.
"Is this the same boat that you used when you were in the Bermudas, Mr. Gilfleur?" asked Christy, as they were examining the work which had been done on the craft, its spars and sails.
"Oh, no; it was six years ago that I spent the winter in the islands. I found this boat under a shed on a wharf12 in New York. It had been picked up near the Great Abaco in the Bahama Islands by a three-master, on her voyage from the West Indies," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "When I had formed my plan of operations in the vicinity of Nassau, in order to obtain the information the government desired, I bought this boat. When picked up, the boat had her spars, sails, oars13, water-breakers, and other articles carefully stowed away on board of her; and it appeared as though she had broken adrift from her moorings, or had been carried away by a rising tide from some beach where those in charge of her had landed. I happened to find the captain of the vessel9 that brought the boat to New York; and he made me 95 pay roundly for her, so that he got well rewarded for his trouble in picking it up."
The Chateaugay stood due south till six o'clock at little more than half speed, and when she came about her dead reckoning indicated that she was seventy-five miles to the south-west of Gibbs Hill light. The weather was very favorable for the proposed enterprise, with a moderate breeze from the west. Mr. Gilfleur did not wish to leave the ship till after midnight, for all he desired was to get inside the outer reefs before daylight. The speed of the ship was regulated to carry out this idea.
The light so frequently mentioned in the conference is three hundred and sixty-two feet above the sea level, for it is built on the highest point of land in the south of the Bermudas, and could be seen at a distance of thirty miles. At three bells in the first watch the light was reported by the lookout14, and the speed was reduced somewhat.
About this time the detective came out of his stateroom, and entered that of Christy. He had smeared15 his face with a brownish tint16, which made him look as though he had been long exposed to the sun of the tropics. He was dressed in a suit 96 of coarse material, though it was not the garb17 of a sailor. He had used the scissors on his long black mustache, and given it a snarly18 and unkempt appearance. Christy would not have known him if he had met him on shore.
"You look like another man," said he, laughing.
"A French detective has to learn the art of disguising himself; in fact, he has to be an actor. Perhaps you will not be willing to believe it, but I have played small parts at the Théâtre Français for over a year, more to learn the actor's art of making himself up than because I had any histrionic aspirations19. I have worked up a case in the capacity of an old man of eighty years of age," the detective explained. "When I recovered the property of your father, stolen at Havre, I played the part of a dandy, and won the confidence of the stewardess20, though I came very near having to fight a duel22 with the voleur who was her 'pal23' in the robbery."
"Of course it will not do for me to wear my lieutenant24's uniform," suggested Christy.
"Not unless you wish to have your head broken by the crews of the blockade-runners you will find at St. George's," replied the Frenchman significantly.
97 "I have some old clothes in my valise," added the lieutenant.
"I don't like the idea of putting you in a humiliating position, Mr. Passford, but I have not told you all my plans."
"I will take any position you assign to me, for I am now to be a volunteer in your service."
"I intend to represent myself as a French gentleman of wealth, who has passed the winter in the Bahama Islands in search of health, and found it in abundance," said Mr. Gilfleur, with a pleasant smile on his face, as though he really enjoyed the business in which he was at present engaged.
"Have you ever been in the Bahamas?" asked Christy.
"All through them, including Nassau. If I had not, I should not have brought that boat with me. I made a trip in an English steamer from the Bermudas, which had occasion to visit nearly all the islands; and I passed about two months of my stay in this region on that cruise," replied the detective.
"But how far is it from the Bermudas to the nearest point in the Bahamas? Will people believe that we came even from the Great Abaco 98 in an open boat?" inquired Christy. "What is the distance?"
"I estimate it at about seven hundred and fifty miles. That is nothing for a boat like mine, though I should not care to undertake it in the hurricane season," replied Mr. Gilfleur. "By the way, we must borrow some charts of this region from the captain, though only to keep up appearances."
"You have not told me in what character I am to be your companion," suggested Christy.
"As my servant, if you do not rebel at the humiliation25 of such a position, though I promise to treat you very kindly26, and with all proper consideration," laughed the Frenchman.
"I have not the slightest objection to the character; and I will endeavor to discharge my duties with humility27 and deference," responded the lieutenant in the same vein28.
"Now let me see what sort of a suit you have for your part," added the detective.
Christy took from his valise a suit he had worn as a subordinate officer when he was engaged in the capture of the Teaser. It was approved by his companion, and he dressed himself in this garb.
99 "But you have been bleached29 out by your long stay at Bonnydale, and your complexion30 needs a little improvement," said Mr. Gilfleur, as he went to his room for his tints31.
On his return he gave to the face of the officer the same sun-browned hue32 he had imparted to his own. While he was so employed, he explained that the tint was a fast color under ordinary circumstances, and in what manner it could be easily removed, though it would wear off in about a week.
"Now, you need only a little touching33 up," continued the detective, when he had completed the dyeing process. "You will be amazed at the change produced in the expression of a person by a few touches of paint skilfully34 applied," and he proceeded to make the alteration35 proposed.
When he had finished his work, Christy looked in the glass, and declared that he should hardly know himself. The preparations were completed, and the French gentleman and his servant were ready to embark. But it was only eleven o'clock, and both of them turned in for a nap of a couple of hours. The captain had retired36 early in the evening, and the quartermaster conning37 the wheel 100 was steering38 for the light, the Chateaugay making not more than six knots an hour.
At one o'clock the commander was called, in accordance with his order to the officer of the watch. He went on deck at once, had the log slate39 brought to him, and made some calculations, which resulted in an order to ring two bells, which meant "Stop her." Then he went to the ward3 room himself, and knocked at the doors of his two passengers. Mr. Gilfleur and Christy sprang from their berths40, and the two doors were opened at once. No toilet was necessary, for both of them had lain down with their clothes on.
"Pray, who might you be?" demanded the captain, laughing heartily41 when the detective showed himself in his new visage and dress. "Can you inform me what has become of Mr. Gilfleur?"
"He has stepped out for a couple of days, and Monsieur Rubempré has taken his place," replied the detective.
"And who is this gentleman?" asked Captain Chantor, turning to his other passenger, who was quite as much changed in appearance.
"Contrary to his usual custom, he does not 101 claim to be a gentleman just now. This is Christophe, my servant, employed as such only for a couple of days," answered Monsieur Rubempré.
"All right, Mr. Rubumper! Three bells have just been struck, and the watch are putting your boat into the water," continued the commander. "I have directed the steward21 to fill your breaker with water, and put a small supply of provisions into the craft. We shall be ready for you in about half an hour."
"We are all ready at this moment," replied Monsieur Rubempré; for both of the passengers had agreed to call each other by their assumed names at once, so as to get accustomed to them, and thus avoid committing themselves in any moment of excitement.
The detective came out of his room with a valise in his hand, which he had packed with extreme care, so that nothing should be found in it, in case of accident, to compromise him. He had superintended the placing of Christy's clothing in one of his valises. He objected to the initials, "C. P.," worked on his linen42; but the owner had no other, and the difficulty was compromised by writing the name of "Christophe Poireau" on a number of 102 pieces of paper and cards, and attaching a tag with this name upon it to the handle.
Both of them put on plain overcoats, and went on deck, where the boat, which had the name of Eleuthera painted on the stern, had already been committed to the waves.
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1
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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2
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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3
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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4
geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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5
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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6
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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7
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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8
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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9
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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10
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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11
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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12
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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13
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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15
smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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16
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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17
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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18
snarly
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| adj.善于嚣叫的；脾气坏的；爱谩骂的；纠缠在一起的 | |
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19
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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20
stewardess
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| n.空中小姐，女乘务员 | |
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21
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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22
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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25
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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26
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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27
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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28
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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29
bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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30
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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31
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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32
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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33
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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34
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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35
alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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36
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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37
conning
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| v.诈骗，哄骗( con的现在分词 )；指挥操舵( conn的现在分词 ) | |
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38
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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39
slate
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| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
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40
berths
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| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
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41
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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42
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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