Murder on Paradise Island by Robin Forsythe

Author:Robin Forsythe [Forsythe, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dean Street Press
Published: 2016-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter VII

On reaching camp Freda and Geoffrey at once described their adventure at the bathing pool to Major Dansie. It was narrated with the prearranged reservations and the French sailor’s cap was produced and inspected. Hanchett and Lingwood were still absent, and were informed of the new development immediately on their arrival.

“A deserter from his ship, I should say,” remarked Hanchett, “and probably loneliness has driven him off his chump. All the more reason why we should take every precaution against any nasty prank the fellow may play.”

“The conclusion’s based on rather hasty inferences,” objected Lingwood pompously. “The presence of a French sailor’s cap on the island doesn’t warrant our assuming that the sailor came along with it. It may have been lost by a landing party. It may have been blown overboard from a French warship and washed ashore. It wouldn’t have taken long to round up a deserter on a small island like this. Besides, I have to-day made a very important discovery.”

Lingwood looked round on the company with unconcealed satisfaction. Everyone was waiting on his words with rapt attention. Tom Haylock could not curb his impatience.

“Spit it out, Lingwood. You’re as childishly artful as a novelist. Dénouement please!” he said.

“My discovery points to the fact that the armed man on the island is a native. It doesn’t prove it conclusively…”

“For heaven’s sake cut the cackle!” exclaimed Hanchett brusquely.

“But it certainly points that way,” continued Lingwood, ignoring the remark. “On my patrol this evening, among some scrub just above the beach at the far end of the lagoon, I came upon a native canoe.”

“Was it merely pulled up clear of high tide or had it been hidden?” asked Major Dansie excitedly.

“Looks as if it had been deliberately hidden,” replied Lingwood.

“We must look into this thoroughly to-morrow. It may have nothing to do with the man with the rifle,” commented the major thoughtfully, and the conversation died out.

The events of the day, however, had cast a feeling of uneasiness over the company. A threat of impending disaster held them in its grip and their fears were heightened by a sense of the mysterious, of something malignant and secretive that was stealthily and remorselessly preparing for some hideous and lightning-like outburst of violence. Their apprehensions were clearly reflected in their strained looks, and their obvious attempts to appear unconcerned. Their leader was harassed and very much preoccupied. At dusk he gave orders that the guards should patrol round the hut at not more than twenty yards’ distance, and give instant alarm at the approach of any stranger.

The night, however, passed uneventfully, and next morning the major, accompanied by Hanchett, Geoffrey and Lingwood, went to inspect the hidden canoe. This turned out to be a single outrigger canoe of native construction, but from its appearance and the manner in which the surrounding scrub had overgrown it, it had manifestly not been used for a considerable period. It was, nevertheless, apparently still sound, and the major congratulated Lingwood on his discovery, which he said would prove very useful for fishing expeditions till a more seaworthy craft could be built.

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