February 24, 1916. 
LAND AND WATER 
CHAYA. 
A Romance of the South Seas. 
By H. de Vere Stacpoole. 
Synopsis : Macqiiart, an adventurer who has spent 
most of his life at sea, finds himself in Sydney on his beam ends. 
He has a wonderful story of gold hidden up a river in New 
Guinea and a chance acquaintance, Tillman, a sporting man 
about town, fond of yachting and racing, offers to introduce him 
to a wealthy woolbroker, Curlewis, with a view to financing the 
scheme. Macquart also makes the acquaintance of Houghton, 
u well-educated Englishman out of a job, who has done a good 
deal of yachting in his time. Curlewis turns down the scheme, 
Ihougit Macquart tells his story in a most convincing manner. 
His silent partner Screed believes in it, and unbeknown to 
Curlezfis, follows the three men, asks them to his house, and 
agrees to find the ship and the money, on seeing that Macquart' s 
hidden treasure map agrees with an Admiralty chart. The 
ship is the yawl " Barracuda." Screed, on the morrow, takes 
ihe three men over the " Barracuda," with which they are de- 
lighted. Coming away Macquart is overtaken by an old friend, 
■one Captain Hull, who hails him as B — y Joe, and accuses 
him of many mean crimes. Macquart gives Captain Hull 
the slip, but unbeknown to him Hull gets in touch iinth Screed, 
and enlightens him on the real character of Macquart. Screed, 
thereupon plans a surprise. Tillman and Houghton, busy 
on the " Barracuda," talk of the prospects of the voyage and 
agree they are in for a big risk.] 
CHAPTER VI.— {Continued.) 
" I'm not afraid of the risk," replied Houghton. 
"Afraid of it!" said Tillman; "Why, the risk is ah 
the pleasure of the business. I tell you, I'm sick of living 
here in Sydney and knowing every day what's coming next. 
I want to get out and live." 
" I'm the same," said Houghton. 
The collapsible boat of ths Br.rracuda, proved rotten 
m parts of its canvas. Screed suggested patching but 
Tillman stood out either for a dinghy or a new collapsible. He 
carried his point ; also the spare mainsail, if tried, would 
have blown to tatters in any squall ; canvas, especially in 
the tropics, has only a certain length of life even if little used 
— this point was put right. A patent sea anchor was the last 
infliction put upon Screed by Tillman, and Screed bore it, 
though badly. Screed had this peculiarity, though he 
fought over halfpence and about little things, he was lavish 
when what he considered to be the essentials were at 
stake. Thus, whilst he groaned and moaned over a few 
square yards of extra canvas, the charts, compass, sextants — 
there was a spare one — and chron meter were of the best. 
The outfitting of the expedition took a fortnight instead 
of a week, and on the evening before the day of starting, 
Tillman, having given a last look round to see that everything 
was good, took his seat on deck beside Houghton and Macquart 
who were seated by the saloon hatch. 
" Well, that's done with," said Tillman. " Everything 
is aboard even to the tobacco ; twenty-five pounds of Navy 
plug ought to last us, and I made the outfitters throw in five 
boxes of Borneo cigars by way of langnyappe. — There's no 
■drink — only six bottles of whiskey by way of medicine, and 
a bottle of chlorodyne." 
Said Houghton. " You've forgot one thing. Suppose 
we have accidents ? " 
" Well," said Tillman, " What then ? " 
" Where's your surgical instruments and things ? " 
Tillman sniffed. " Much good they would be without a . 
surgeon. We haven't got to have accidents. We can't 
afford luxuries of that sort. What do you think you're going 
on — a yachting cruise ? " 
" I know something of bone setting," said Macquart, 
■ ' and I can stop bleeding from an artery — -used to be able to 
do so." 
As he spoke, a dusky form emerged from the fo'c'sle 
hatch, stood erect, and then going to the side leaned over 
the rail looking shoreward. 
It was Jacky, the black fellow secured by Screed to act 
as cook and deck-hand. Jack was used to the sea, he could 
steer and was a first-rate boat hand. Two natives had been 
in the original programme, but on second thoughts Screed 
had declared for only one, and wisely ; in an expedition of 
this sort the native element is always best reduced to a 
minimum. Natives can't think much unless they can talk 
together. 
Tillman, having seen the anchor light swung, smoked 
another pipe, then the three adventurers went below and 
turned in, unconscious of the surprise that Screed was abo\n 
to spring upon them in the morning. 
CHAPTER VII. 
The " Barracud.\ " S.-mls, 
TILLMAN was on deck just before sunrise, and as 
the sun broke over the hills Macquart and 
Houghton appeared, rubbing the sleep from 
their eyes and yawning. Jacky was skipping 
about in and out of the caboose getting breakfast ready, 
and the sounds and smell of bacon being fried filled the air. 
It was a lovely morning, the white gulls were fishing on 
the ruffled blue water of the harbour and a warm, stead\- 
land wind was blowing favourable for the Heads. 
Jacky, leaving the cooking for a moment in abeyance, 
skipped below to lay the table in the cabin, whilst the others 
hung on deck talking and leaning on the rail with an eye 
shoreward for the boat that would bring off Screed and the 
pilot. 
" I'm blest if that nigger doesn't remind me of a bounding 
kangaroo," said Tillman, " and he seems to have a dozen 
pair of hands ; look at him cooking the breakfast and laying 
the table at the same time, and he was more use getting the 
stores on board than half a dozen thumb-fisted stewards 
would have been." 
" Look," said Houghton. " Here's the boat." 
A white painted boat was putting off, two men at the 
oars and two men in the stern sheets. 
" It's not the pilot boat," said Tillman. " It's Screed ; 
but who is the chap beside him ? " 
Macquart was standing with his hand shading his eyes 
watching the approaching boat, then he turned and went 
below. 
As the boat came alongside, Tillman threw the ladder 
down and Screed came on deck followed by his companion ; 
it was Captain Hull. 
" So 3'ou are all ready to start," said Screed. " Well, 
I -have brought you a new man, a friend of mine. Captain 
Hull. He is also an old friend of Macquart 's. He is going 
with you as supercargo. ■ He understands all about the 
business, and as you are a bit short-handed, you will find 
him useful — but where 's Macquart ? " 
" He's below," said Tillman, taken aback at this new 
move ; " but this, I must say, is a surprise. A word with 
you." 
He led Screed forward. 
" What on earth have you brought that chap for," said 
he. " I remember him ; he met Macquart one morning in 
the street and they went off together. What's the meaning 
of it ? How do we stand ? " 
" You stand just this way," said Screed. " Macquart 
is one of the biggest blackguards on God's earth. I didn't 
know all about him till recently. Hull is the antidote to 
him. Please trust me in this matter, for my interests are 
yours. Macquart would have done you and Houghton in 
like the babes in the wood if you had gone alone with him. 
Hull is the iron grip I will keep on him. Hull has been let 
down by him. Hull knows enough to hand Macquart over to 
the police, and he's strong enough to hold Macquart down, 
and he's straight enough to suit me ; he's a spirit level com- 
pared to Macquart." 
" My God ! " said Tillman. " What a ship's compaay 
packed away in this ten-cent boat." 
" Oh, you'll get on all right, but you must never forget 
there's a live bomb-shell aboard, and that is Macquart. Put 
your trust in Hull and back him if there's trouble. I have 
told him I would tell you everything and warn you. Don't 
ever lose your temper on this job, don't get heated up with 
the idea that Macquart is a rogue and worse — of course he 
is. A half million of bidden money means roguery somewhere. 
Macquart most likely did John Lant in years ago. I'm 
pretty sure he did, but we mustn't trouble about that ; what 
we want is to lay hands on the money. Now come aft ; 
Macquart is down below, you say, hiding from Hull most 
likely. I'm going to confront them." 
He led the way aft, and then he went down to the littk 
cabin, followed by Tillman, Houghton and Hull. Macquart 
was seated at the table. He had started breakfast on some 
bread and a tin of sardines. Dumbfounded at the apf)earance 
of Hull coming off with Screed, he fancied that the whole 
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