On to Pekin/Chapter 6
CHAPTER VI
OFF FOR CHINA
The young lieutenant felt utterly disgusted over the speech and actions of the young man before him; yet he did not feel inclined just yet to part company with Nuggy Polk. There is an old saying that, "when the wine is in, the wit is out"; and Gilbert felt certain that by judicious "pumping" he could learn a good deal concerning the Richmond Importing Company and the Polks' peculiar method of transacting business.
Gilbert could readily see that Nuggy Polk was a "high-flyer," or, in other words, a fast young man, and one who was inclined to spend his father's money much faster than the parent had made it. Yet the young man did not look like a hard drinker; and his present condition, Gilbert concluded, was an unusual one.
"May I ask if you have been in Richmond lately?" said Gilbert, after a pause, during which Nuggy Polk had closed his eyes, as if on the point of going to sleep.
"Came from Richmond to 'Frisco, an' from 'Frisco here," was the unsteady answer. "'Bout four months ago—came on mail steamer. Going to China—do the country in 'bout six weeks, and then go home again. This don't suit at all. Richmond is good enough for me."
"I suppose you'll have a good deal of work to do in China for your company."
"A little, lieutenant. You see, I don't believe in killing myself with labor." Nuggy Polk tried to laugh, but the effort only ended in a hiccough. "Main object is to find a man named Bartlett, a fellow who owns a little block of stock in our concern."
"Going to buy him out?"
"You've struck the head on the nail—I mean— er—the nail on the nai—no, the nail on the—the head—yes, the head. Don't want Bartlett in the company any more. He'll make too much money if he stays in." And Nuggy Polk gave a chuckle.
"Supposing this Bartlett won't sell out?"
"He's got to, or we'll—er—we'll squeeze him, same as we did the others."
"Bound to hold on to a good thing, I see," commented Gilbert, speaking as carelessly as possible. "I suppose you and your father organized the company in the first place."
"Not exactly, although it was father's idea. There was a fellow named Jefferson Pennington used to do quite a business in tobacco and cotton, and some tea and coffee; and the company started out of his trade."
"Oh! then this Pennington is at the top of the concern."
"No, not a bit of it! He's dead years ago."
"And I suppose you scooped his share, too. You must be a smart set."
"Thanks for the compliment, lieutenant. Reckon we are smart; but then, you see, it runs in the blood. Both of my grandfathers were bankers and brokers, and knew how to turn things to the best advantage."
"It's a wonder Pennington and these others didn't kick at being squeezed."
"They did kick; but it didn't do 'em no good, not a bit. We had the whip hand, an' we kept it. Pennington's widow raised a big row, so father has told me; but it ended in smoke."
"You held the evidence and kept it."
"You hit the nail on the head ag'in, lieutenant. We are smart, and we are the people." Nuggy Polk gave a long, drunken yawn. "This looks as if Jerry wasn't coming back. Say, I've an idea."
"Well?"
"Can't you carry me back to Manila on your hoss?"
"I don't believe the pony will carry the weight."
"Lemme try him."
Only with the greatest of difficulty did Nuggy Polk manage to rise to his feet. Then he lurched up against Gilbert, took a plunge, and hit the pony in the ribs. The animal turned, bumped roughly against the young man, and Polk measured his length on the ground.
"Whoa, you rascal!" spluttered the fallen one. "Lieutenant, he's worse than the team. I can't ride him nohow."
At this juncture a rumble of cart wheels was heard, and soon a native turnout hove in sight, drawn by a pair of caribaos. A sleepy Tagal sat on the seat.
Stopping the cart, Gilbert inquired if the Tagal was bound for Manila.
"Si, señor," answered the man, in Spanish.
"Take me along then," put in Nuggy Polk. "I'll pay you well." And he jingled some coin in his pocket.
The native assented, and, leaping to the ground, he assisted the young man to a seat in the rear of the cart. Here there was some straw, upon which rested several bunches of plantains; and on this straw Nuggy Polk stretched himself, and in a moment more was sound asleep.
"You can take him to the Hotel for American Gentlemen," said Gilbert. "Do you know the place?"
"Yees, mistair. He has drank much, not so?"
"Yes. They know him at the hotel, though; and I reckon it will be all right. I'll ride behind."
No more was said, and soon the cart was on its way to the capital. Hardly a mile was covered when they came upon Jerry Nickerson, sitting on the wreck of the fancy cart, the picture of misery and despair. Broken bits of harness lay on the ground, and the ponies were nowhere in sight. Nickerson had had his left hand cut, and had the member bound up in his handkerchief.
"They tried to take a stone wall, hang 'em!" he explained to Gilbert. "The cart's a wreck, and so'm I. Where's Nuggy?"
"Safe," answered the young lieutenant. "If you don't want to stay here all night, you had better hop up behind."
"But the busted cart—?"
"You had better attend to the cart and the ponies in the morning."
Nickerson wished, in drunken style, to argue the matter; but the young lieutenant was in no humor to listen to such a beast, and ordered the Tagal to drive on. Seeing this, Nickerson scrambled up behind, threw himself beside Nuggy Polk, and was soon snoring lustily.
The Hotel for American Gentlemen was reached without further incident; and, having had the Tagal drive into the court-yard, Gilbert interviewed the clerk, and had the two sleeping ones transferred to the rooms they had previously occupied.
"Can you tell me who this Jerry Nickerson is?" asked the young lieutenant of the clerk at the desk.
"I cannot, excepting that he seems to be a close friend to Mr. Polk," was the reply.
"How long have the pair been at the hotel?"
"About ten days."
"And what vessel are they going to take for China?"
"The Orient. But she sails at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, and I doubt if they awake in time to go on board," concluded the clerk. As far as he was concerned, he did not wish the two guests to catch the steamship. They had paid well for their accommodations, and he felt inclined to have them remain with him as long as possible.
Having seen to it that the Tagal owning the cart had been paid for bringing the two yoimg men to Manila, Gilbert took his pony back to the livery stable, and then made his way to the barracks. He had not learned a great deal concerning the Richmond Importing Company, yet he had gathered sufficient information to set him to thinking deeply.
"Those Polks are rascals beyond a doubt," he said to himself. "But there is a big difference between knowing a thing and being able to prove it. I hope, when I get to China, that I shall have a chance to hunt up Mr. Bartlett and to watch what Nuggy Polk does."
It was late when the young lieutenant turned in; and, as the pony ride had made him tired, he slept soundly, and did not awaken until the roll of the drum aroused him. Dressing hastily, he stepped out to the parade ground in front of the barracks.
The scene was an animated one, for a crowd had gathered to see the regulars off. As soon as the companies could be formed, they were marched to the wharf at the Anda Monument; and here numerous cascoes began to take men and equipments off to the Logan and the other transport which were to carry the soldiers on their journey up the China and Yellow Seas.
"Off at last, eh!" cried a voice in Gilbert's ear; and, turning, he saw Ben Russell at his elbow. Ben had but a few minutes to spare, and a short but lively conversation ensued. Then the old chums shook hands; and Gilbert stepped into the casco which was to take him to the transport. The friends were destined not to see each other again for a long, long time.
A band was playing on the Lunetta, the great pleasure ground of Manila, as Gilbert went on board the transport. Many had preceded him, and soon the boat was comfortably filled, although not crowded.
Besides the soldiers, there were a regimental band, a hospital corps, a number of officers' families, and half a dozen newspaper correspondents. There were also others on board whose presence were to surprise the young lieutenant greatly.
"Well, lieutenant, how do you feel?" asked Major Morris, as he met Gilbert in one of the gangways.
"First-rate, major, but rather sorry to leave the Philippines, after all."
"Precisely my case. We had many a lively campaign there, didn't we?"
So the talk ran on until night shut out a view of the city, leaving only the electric and other lights to twinkle in the darkness. There was but little sleep on board. At sunrise all were astir, and a little while later the steamship turned her head for the entrance to Manila Bay. Two hours sufficed to pass Corregidor Island; and then it could be said that the voyage to China was fairly begun.