I was not entirely sure that pulling on the string was a good idea. After all, it could have been attached to the triggering device. But there was no time to protest. Holmes reached over and untied the string with a firm yank. Moments later, he was pulling away the paper, and removing a square of cardboard. This uncovered a round opening in the package.
‘Does anyone have a match?’
Boxhall pulled a match from his pocket and gave it to Holmes, who struck it against a crate and used it to illuminate the interior of the box.
‘Well, well, well... I see a bottle, and some electrical items. I believe we have found our second bomb.’
‘Incredible!’ exclaimed the captain. ‘How did it get down at the bottom of the pile? One of the post-room crew must have...’
‘Or, someone posing as a member of the crew,’ Holmes interjected. ‘In any case, the bomb was placed here, in this position, at the beginning of the voyage. After that, setting the timing device became a matter of opening the end of the package and turning a switch. Any skilled thief could accomplish that without anyone noticing.’
‘Ingenious,’ said Futrelle. ‘In fact, if you do not mind, Commodore, this kind of thing might be a nice touch for one of Professor Van Dusen’s adventures.’
‘Indeed, Futrelle,’ said Holmes. ‘I am sure the anarchists will raise no objection if you include it in one of your stories.’
Hanson chose that moment to walk into the room. His big red handkerchief was soaking wet as he mopped the sweat off his hands and face. As he walked into the room, he looked like a man who had just run a mile in the hot sun.
‘Well, sir, the bomb is all taken care of. I have removed the triggering device. So if you don’t mind, I will run up to my quarters and...’
‘No time for that now, Hanson. You will find bomb number two inside that box.’
Boxhall ran back to steady the man, whose legs seemed to be giving out beneath him.
The captain spoke. ‘And now, gentlemen...Miss Norton, now that the danger to the ship has passed, let us pay our respects to Mr Brandon and his friends. If the search party has not yet discovered them, we know where they will be at midnight.’
MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY 14 APRIL 1912
I must confess to being a creature of comfort. Nothing pleases me more than sitting in front of the fireplace, catching up on my reading. But to his credit, Holmes has sent frequent ripples through what might have been a life of tranquillity. How many times have I been pulled away from my easy chair, or left my dinner on the table, to go running into the night on some adventure? And my life has been the richer for it.
But there is one form of discomfort that I simply cannot abide. Old soldier that I am, I have never become used to the penetrating chill of a cold wind. And there is no wind worse than the kind that occurs on the open sea.
I was contemplating the warmth of my cabin that Saturday night as I crouched behind the lifeboat, with my service revolver in my coat pocket. The wind was whipping across the deck and the temperature was below freezing. All in all, this was not my idea of a pleasure cruise.
Fortunately, none of the passengers was partial to bitter cold weather either. They were all below enjoying the comforts of the ship. The captain had posted men inside to be on the lookout for Brandon’s men, and at the same time to redirect any passenger who might want to wander out on deck.
Holmes and Miss Norton were at my side. It was our job to stand watch on the port side of the boat deck, along the second-class promenade. The captain, Futrelle and Boxhall were guarding the starboard side. Other members of the crew were posted by the boats at the forward end of the ship.
I remembered Brandon’s words well. A ship would be waiting for him and his four companions at midnight, a mile off the starboard side of the ship. It was now approaching 11.30. If they were to make their rendezvous, they would have to arrive soon to take one of the lifeboats.
Miss Norton’s teeth were chattering. In the dim glow of the ship’s lights, I saw Holmes give her a disapproving look.
‘Miss Norton, silence is essential.’
‘I do not think they are coming,’ she whispered. ‘Not if they know that Doctor Watson and Mr Futrelle have escaped.’
‘We cannot be sure of that.’
Boxhall had issued each of us with a heavy coat. He said he had worked on deck many a time without getting cold. After a while, however, I noted that they were not designed to keep a man warm while sitting still.
Miss Norton moved close to me. Why had such a young girl chosen such a dangerous career? Being a courier was difficult enough, but this...? If Brandon and his friends did come on deck, I resolved that my chief responsibility would be to protect her. Why had she insisted on joining in this vigil?
There was a glow on the deck of the ship. Ice was forming! An odd chase this would be if we all ended up sliding into each other...
‘I say, Holmes,’ I said, quietly. ‘Do you remember the Roylott case, when we stood watch outside the house at night, and the cheetah and baboon were roaming the grounds?’
‘Yes, Watson, I remember. That was a long time ago. As I recall, it was much warmer...’
‘Quiet,’ urged Miss Norton.
I was about to make a brief reply, when she put her fingers over my lips and whispered, ‘No, please, listen!’
There was a clattering sound coming from the raised area, just forward of the aft funnel. In the dim light, I saw several figures moving about. Quietly, they moved towards the ladder and then disappeared. Moments later, one man, dressed in dark clothing, made his way across the deck. I did not need to see his face. The height and breadth of the man immediately told me that it was Swede.
The huge figure disappeared behind a lifeboat, while the others remained hidden around the corner. From time to time, we heard rustling and clanking sounds. While the temptation to leave our hiding place was overwhelming, we remained in the shadows, listening and watching.
Several minutes passed, during which we heard nothing but the sound of the wind whistling across the deck. Then there was a faint clanking of metal, followed by a cranking sound. The lifeboat forward of Swede began to rise, up, up and over the rail, until it was positioned above the water. Then Swede emerged, cautiously walking to the centre of the deck. He looked all around, fore, aft and up to the raised roof. Deciding that all was clear, he motioned to his friends to come out of hiding.
Swede returned to the lifeboat and lifted the edge of the canvas cover, as his companions hurried across the deck and stood anxiously by the rail.
At that moment I felt a tap on my shoulder. Holmes moved casually out on to the deck. His revolver was pointed directly at the men.
‘Stay where you are, Hugo Brandon.’ His voice cut through the wind, and the five men searched quickly through the darkness to trace its source. Within moments, all eyes were fixed on Holmes. ‘You will not be going anywhere tonight,’ Holmes said.
Brandon stepped forwards, peering into the darkness. ‘Commodore, is that you? Why yes, I believe it is.’
A man in the shadows reached slowly into his coat. Charlie, Kurt, Willy? I could not tell.
My revolver in hand, I quickly took aim. I did not have time to fire. There was an explosion and flash from Holmes’s gun. The man twisted and fell to the deck, holding his right shoulder.
Unfortunately, the revolver’s recoil caused Holmes to lose his footing momentarily on the icy deck. Brandon and his men used the opportunity to jump for cover behind a lifeboat. It was directly in front of the boat that had been positioned over the water.
Holmes, regaining his balance, ran back to Miss Norton and me, pushing us to the deck as he skidded to a stop.
‘That should bring the captain and his men,’ Holmes shouted. ‘Would you prefer to put down your weapons
