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diff --git a/old/56017-0.txt b/old/56017-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 587e1e4..0000000 --- a/old/56017-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8244 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Barque, by T. Jenkins Hains - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Black Barque - A Tales of the Pirate Slave-Ship Gentle Hand on Her Last African Cruise - -Author: T. Jenkins Hains - -Illustrator: W. Herbert Dunton - -Release Date: November 20, 2017 [EBook #56017] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK BARQUE *** - - - - -Produced by KD Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from -images generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s Note: - -This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. -Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_. - -Footnotes have been moved to follow the paragraphs in which they are -referenced. - -Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please -see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding -the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE BLACK BARQUE - - A Tale of the Pirate Slave-Ship - =Gentle Hand= - on Her Last African Cruise - - A Tale of the Pirate Slave-Ship - =Gentle Hand= - on Her Last African Cruise - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Works of - T. JENKINS HAINS - -[Illustration: decoration] - - The Windjammers $1.50 - The Black Barque 1.50 - The Voyage of the Arrow 1.50 - Bahama Bill 1.50 - -[Illustration: decoration] - - L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - New England Building - BOSTON MASS. - -[Illustration: - - “SPRANG WITH THE EASE OF A CAT UPON OUR POOP-RAIL.” - (_See page 227_) -] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - The - Black Barque - - A Tale of the Pirate Slave-Ship - Gentle Hand - on Her Last African Cruise - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - By - T. JENKINS HAINS - AUTHOR OF - “THE STRIFE OF THE SEA,” “THE WIND-JAMMERS,” ETC. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - =Illustrated by= - W. HERBERT DUNTON - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: colophon] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - BOSTON - L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - _Copyright_, 1905 - BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - (INCORPORATED) - - --- - - _All rights reserved_ - - - - - - - - - Published February, 1905 - - Fifth Impression, March, 1908. - - - - - - - - - _COLONIAL PRESS_ - _Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. - Boston, Mass., U.S.A._ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - TO THE - MEMORY OF MY GRANDFATHER - =Thornton Jenkins= - REAR-ADMIRAL UNITED STATES NAVY - AND HIS COUSIN - =Sir Robert Jenkins, K.C.B.= - VICE-ADMIRAL ROYAL NAVY - WHOSE SERVICES TO THE BLACK MAN SHOULD NOT - BE FORGOTTEN - THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CONTENTS - - -------------- - - PAGE - I. I SEEK A NEW SHIP 1 - II. CAPTAIN HOWARD 8 - III. THE BARQUE 18 - IV. SHANGHAIED 30 - V. IN THE FO’C’SLE 39 - VI. I BECOME “COCK OF THE WALK” 48 - VII. TWO KINDS OF HAND-SHAKES 55 - VIII. OUR BOS’N 65 - IX. I MAKE ANOTHER FRIEND 72 - X. YANKEE DAN AND HIS DAUGHTER 81 - XI. WE MAKE A DAY OF IT 92 - XII. HOW THE DAY ENDED 100 - XIII. A SURPRISING SALUTE 107 - XIV. I DECIDE TO LEAVE THE BARQUE 117 - XV. OTHERS DECIDE OTHERWISE 128 - XVI. A TASTE OF COLD IRON 135 - XVII. SIR JOHN AND MISS ALLEN 144 - XVIII. THE BARQUE HAS ILL LUCK 152 - XIX. AND STILL MORE ILL LUCK 162 - XX. WHAT HAPPENED IN MADEIRA 171 - XXI. THE STRANGE BRIG 180 - XXII. “STAND TO IT!” 188 - XXIII. WHAT THE CAPTAIN’S CHEST HELD 198 - XXIV. THE CAPTAIN SHOWS HIS METTLE 207 - XXV. WE HEAR OF LONG TOM 218 - XXVI. WE REPEL BOARDERS 225 - XXVII. OUR CAPTIVE 233 - XXVIII. MY FIRST GLIMPSE OF SLAVERY 241 - XXIX. WE LAY IN OUR CARGO 248 - XXX. I SUSPECT TREACHERY 254 - XXXI. I MEET CORTELLI 264 - XXXII. OPEN MUTINY 273 - XXXIII. THE FIGHT ON DECK 280 - XXXIV. THE CARGO BREAKS LOOSE 288 - XXXV. OUR LAST CHANCE 296 - XXXVI. THE END OF THE BLACK BARQUE 305 - XXXVII. THE LAST STRAND OF MY YARN 313 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - THE SHIP’S COMPANY - OF THE - =Gentle Hand= - - OFFICERS - - WILLIAM HOWARD, master. - RICHARD HAWKSON, first officer. - JOHN GULL, second officer. - SHERMAN HENRY, third officer. - - CREW - - PETER RICHARDS, American, boatswain. - JOHN HEYWOOD, American, gunner (who relates the story). - - _Able Seamen_ │ _Ordinary Seamen_ - TIM, American │JOHNSON, Dane - BILL, Norwegian │JONES, Welshman - HELIGOLAND, Norwegian │ANDERSON, Swede - GUINEA, Dago │HOLMBERG, Swede - ERNEST, German │JENNINGS, Dutch - MARTIN, Scotch │PETE, Dago - JOHNS, German │TOM, Cockney - JORG, Finn │JIM, Englishman - PAT, Irishman │GILBERT, half-breed Kanaka - GUS, Swede │JOHNSON, Norwegian - │PACETTI, Dago - - ------- - - WATKINS, steward │THE “DOCTOR,” cook - - OWNERS AND PASSENGERS - - YANKEE DAN, of Nassau, trader (Daniel Allen). - - ROSE ALLEN, his daughter. - - LORD RENSHAW, an outcast from society, with money in the - enterprise. - - SIR JOHN HICKS, bankrupt, engaged in the slave traffic. - - MR. CURTIS, engaged in the slave traffic. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - -THE BLACK BARQUE - - CHAPTER I. - I SEEK A NEW SHIP - - -When I struck the beach in Havre, the war with England had turned adrift -upon that port’s dock heads a strange assortment of men. Many had served -in either the American or English navy, and many more had manned French -privateers and had fought under Napoleon’s eagles. The peace that had -followed turned hordes of these fighting men into peaceable merchant -sailors without ships, and they drifted about without definite means of -support. - -I had come over from the States in an old tub of a barque called the -_Washington_, after having served as mate for two years on the schooner -_General Greene_. The war had taught me something, for I had served in -the navy in one of the South Pacific cruises, and had fought in the -frigate _Essex_. I was only a boy in years, but the service--and other -matters hardly worth mentioning here--had hardened my nature and -developed the disagreeable side of my character. I was mate of the old -hooker, and could have made out well enough if the captain hadn’t been -somewhat down on me, for I never cared especially for women, and I -believed my experience justified my opinion of them,--but no matter. - -The old man seemed to think I couldn’t be happy without thrashing every -day one or more of the miserable dagoes he had had the assurance to tell -me were sailors, and, after a nasty voyage of fifty days, I was not -sorry to step ashore. I joined the saturnine pier-enders with my pay and -discharge as being a remarkably hard and quarrelsome mate with but small -experience. - -We tied up to one of the long docks, and I had seen that all the canvas -was properly unbent and stowed below before being notified of my -failings. - -The dock-jumpers had made their leap, and we were short-handed enough, -so I may have been a bit out of sorts with the extra work and the -prospect of breaking out the cargo with only four Portuguese and a third -mate, who was the captain’s son. - -It wasn’t the work I dodged, however, nor was it that which caused the -outfly. It was started by this third mate coming aboard with a very -pretty girl whom he had met in town. To see him walking about the main -deck with her, when he should have been hard at work, aggravated me. -They said he was to marry her, and the dagoes kept looking after him -instead of doing what I told them, and then--well, after it was over I -didn’t care very much. - -The only man aboard who seemed interested to any extent was old -Richards, the second mate. Richards had served on the frigate _Essex_ in -her famous cruise, and after the war he had chosen to try his hand in -merchant ships, for the change of the man-o’-war’s man’s life from -action to slothful peace had been too much for him. Silent and -thoughtful, he had listened to me and was pained at my speech. He was -called old Richards because of his quiet manner, although he was not -much over thirty-five, and I bore with his sour looks while I went to -the quarter-deck to finish my little say with the skipper. - -As an American man-o’-war’s man, it was my duty to invite the captain -ashore to prove to him by the force of my hands that I was the best -natured young fellow afloat. As I was a powerful lad, and had served two -years under him, he had the good judgment to explain to me that my -argument would prove most illogical, and that if I dared to lift a hand -against him, he would blow a hole through me as big as a hawse-pipe. To -lend emphasis to his statement, he produced a huge horse-pistol, and, -sticking it under my nose so that I might look carefully down the bore -and see what he had loaded it with, he bade me get hence. - -I was not very much afraid of the weapon, so I gazed carefully into it, -while I pronounced some flattering comments about his birth and the -nationality of his mother. Then, lest I might really appear quarrelsome -to the few knaves who were enjoying the spectacle, I spat into the -muzzle as though it were the receptacle for that purpose, and, turning -my back upon him, sauntered ashore, followed by my second mate, whom I -thought came to expostulate with me and bring me to a better humour, and -return. - -I was in a somewhat grim humour, but not by any means quarrelsome. I had -lost my ship, but I had a bit of American gold, and as long as a sailor -has this commodity he is cheerful enough. I had no sooner landed on the -pier than I was accosted by a little ferret-faced fellow, who seemed -busy nosing around the dock after the manner of a nervous little dog -that noses everything rapidly and seriously, as though its life depends -upon its finding something it is not looking for. - -“Bon jaw,” he said. - -I turned upon him and looked into his ugly face. - -“I’m a Yankee sailor,” said I, “and if you want any business with me -you’ll have to speak something I understand. And besides,” I added, -edging closer to him, “I don’t allow fellows to talk about me in a -foreign language,--unless I’ve got a good reason to think they’re saying -something truthful. You savvey? Or I’ll make a handsome monkey of you by -changing that figurehead you’ve got there.” - -A sudden scowl came over the fellow’s face and went again. “I kin give -you all the langwidge you need, young man, but I was only about to do -you a favour.” - -“‘Virtue is its own reward,’” I said, reaching into my pocket as though -for a piece of money. “Cast loose!” - -“It’s on account of that reward I reckon you don’t practise it,” grinned -the fellow. “Perhaps a more substantial acknowledgment might--” - -“Shut up!” I snapped. “If you are an American or English, let’s have -your lay. - -“Is it a ship you want me to take? For, if that’s your game, you better -slant away. Don’t you see I’ve enough ship for the rest of my life, -hey?” - -The creature sidled closer to me and attempted to slip his arm through -mine, but I brushed him away. He flashed that fox-like scowl at me -again, his little yellow eyes growing into two points. He gave me an -unpleasant feeling, and I watched his hands to see if he made any -movement. Then I was more astonished, as I noticed his fingers. They -were enormous. - -“Look a-here now, don’t you think we cud do a bit a bizness without all -these here swabs a-looking on? You look like you had sense enough to go -below when it rains right hard. What! you follow me? Now there’s a ship -without a navigator a-fitting out not far from here, and, if you’ll come -go along with me, an’ talk the matter over, there’ll be no harm done -except to the spirruts,--an’ they’s free.” - -I was very thirsty and could talk no French, so, more to be guided to a -place to quench my thirst on good ale than by curiosity, I allowed him -to lead me up the dock. I noticed several of the loungers upon the -pier-head scowl at me as I went my way, and one tall, fierce-looking -fellow, who had been glancing at me frequently, gradually fell away from -the group of loafers and strolled up behind us. I paid no further -attention to these fellows, but, as I reached the street with its babble -of unfamiliar language, a sudden feeling came upon me. I don’t know what -it was, but I was only a boy, and the future seemed dark and lonely. I -turned and looked back at the _Washington_. She was the only thing -American in sight, and the months I spent aboard her were not to be -thrust aside lightly. They had all been too full of work and sorrow. - -“Good-bye, old barkey,” I cried, holding my right hand high -up,--“good-bye, and may the eternal God--no, bless you.” - -I hastened on to where the ferret-faced fellow stood grinning at me. He -was peculiarly aggressive, and his shabby unnautical rig only added to -this disagreeable characteristic. Richards followed slowly behind, his -eyes holding a peculiar look as he joined the little stranger. The man -gave a sneer. - -“Very sentimental and proper feeling,” said he. “A ship’s like a person, -more or less, an’ when one gets used to her he don’t like to give her -up.” - -“What do you know about sentiment, you swine?” I asked, fiercely. “I’ve -a good notion to whang you for your insolence.” - -“A very fine spirit,” he commented, as though to himself, as he walked -ahead, “a very fine spirit indeed, but guided by a fool. Here’s the -ale-house I spoke of, and the sooner we have a mug or two, the better.” - - - - - CHAPTER II. - CAPTAIN HOWARD - - -I might as well say in the beginning that, while I have a sailor’s taste -for liquor, I’m not especially noted as a drunkard or spirit-wholloper. -By the latter I mean given to ruffianism or brawling while under its -influence. It is because of a naturally refined and peaceful disposition -that I am so constituted, and I take no glory on that account. It is -nonsense to suppose all sailors ruffians and all tales of the sea -coarse, because some swabs have found that the hand of a knowing mate or -skipper lies heavy upon an empty pate. The story of many voyages on -American ships is gentle and uneventful as the daily run of a lady’s -carriage. For evidence, read their logs. We entered the den of our -little ferret-faced companion, and had no sooner sat at a table to order -the ale than I was aware of the tall, dour man who had followed us from -the pier-head. My second mate was too much taken up with the inmates of -the place to notice anything else. I might as well confess Richards was -a very pious fellow, and it must have been much against his wish to have -been where he was. The tall man paid little attention to him, but looked -at me. - -He did not come into the room, but stood in the doorway, his fierce eyes -fixed upon my face, and his long, drooping moustache hanging below his -jowls, giving him a most sinister appearance. Our companion appeared not -to perceive his presence at first, and only when he tilted his mug and -threw his head back did his weasel eyes seem to fall in with those of -the stranger. - -“Come in, you terrier!” I cried. “Come in and have a mug to soak your -whiskers in. Sink me, but barbers must be scarce around here. Soldier o’ -the guard, hey? No one but a Voltigeer-r-r o’ the guard-r-rd would wear -such hangers.” - -“Young man,” said the stranger, quietly, “your language is rather -unseemly, and should not be applied to one of the cloth. Hark ye! I am a -man of peace, sir. I am Richard Raymond, chaplain of the _Guerrière_ -frigate. I never indulge.” He raised a lean, sinewy hand and shook his -head gently at the proffered ale. - -“May the devil seize me if you ain’t the holy joe I’m looking for!” I -cried. “Sit down, man, sit down.” - -“Not in such a place. I but came to plead with you not to fill yourself -with that liquid. It is ruinous.” Here he looked across the room where -the proprietor was attending to a group of sailors who were about a -table. “It is ruinous, I say, and here I implore you not to drink too -much. As a man of God, I ask you, and the chaplain of the _Guerrière_,” -and he raised his eyes aloft and clasped his hands as if in prayer. I -now noticed his clothes were somewhat clerical in cut, though shabby. At -this moment, a buxom maid brought some fresh mugs, foaming full, and I -tossed her a piece of money. She looked at me and smiled, saying -something I failed to understand. Then casting a look at the tall man in -the door, she laughed and went her way. - -“And why not on the frigate now?” I asked Mr. Raymond, who still seemed -to be absorbed in prayer. - -“Lost, man, lost!” said my little companion, taking a fresh mug. “Don’t -you know she was lost?” - -“Well,” I cried, “what difference? Should a holy man desert his ship any -the sooner for being holy, hey? Answer me that. Why didn’t you get lost -in her? Sink me, but I like a man who will do something more than talk -for the good of a soul. I like a bit o’ sacrifice now and again to show -the meaning true. I’d like to see our friend drink this mug of ale to -save me from the devil, for, if he’ll drink it, I vow I’ll not buy -another for myself.” - -“Deliver us from evil,” moaned Raymond. “Oh, Henry, I couldn’t do it,” -and his eyes rolled up. - -“So your name is Henry, is it?” I asked my little companion. - -He looked queerly at me. - -“Why didn’t you say so before?” I asked, roughly. - -“You never asked me,” said he. “The chaplain has known me many years.” - -“Well,” I cried, rising and advancing upon Mr. Raymond, “you’ll either -drink this ale or get it in the face, for I’ll not be badgered by every -hairy heaven-yelper I run against. Drink!” and I held the mug toward -him. - -His fierce eyes gleamed curiously, and he reached for the tankard. Then -he raised it to his lips, and the long moustache was buried half a foot -in the foam. When he let it down it was empty. The next instant -something crashed against my head, and I saw many stars. Then came a -blank. It must have been some minutes before I came to, and, when I did, -I found myself lying upon the floor with my Mr. Henry and the barmaid -wiping the blood from my face. The tall man had disappeared, and I -struggled to my feet, my head whirling. Upon the floor lay pieces of the -mug. - -“Did that sky-pilot do it?” I asked, feebly. - -Henry grinned. - -“Ah, ah, pauvre garçon, pauvre, pauvre--what eet is, boy? Pauvre boy. -C’est poar boy, poar boy,” said the stout girl, wiping my clothes gently -and laying a hand on my shoulder. - -The effect of a little sympathy was strange, especially from a woman. - -“Never mind,” I said, taking her hand from my shoulder and holding it a -moment. “Get some fresh ale. There is no damage done. If that fellow was -a man of peace, I should not like to come across his breed as man of -war. Sit down, you son of a fox,” I continued to Henry, “and let’s have -your yarn, and if I see you so much as grin, this shop will be unlucky.” -We drew up again to the table. - -“I should think,” said Richards, “you have had your say long enough now, -and would listen to reason. Steady yourself and get back into some ship -before you get in jail. I don’t care any more for the hooker you just -left than you do, and wouldn’t go back in her if there was any other -vessel wanting hands.” - -“I feel flattered at your attentions, my dear Peter,” said I. “It is -good of you to follow me to take care of one so young. My morals are -pretty bad, and I need a nurse.” - -“That is certain,” said the sailor, with conviction that angered me not -a little. - -Richards’s manner was a bit trying to me at all times when I wanted to -have a say, and this time I lost patience. Yet, when I thought of it -afterward, I saw a steady head would have kept me out of much trouble. -He was a perfectly balanced man. He would neither lose his head with -joy, nor sink with despair at some seeming desperate trouble. He had -learned this by experience, and his steady eyes were not those of a -dullard. He felt as much as any one, as I soon learned when I gave him -the sharp edge of my tongue. He was not a large man, but rather small -and wiry. His size, I often thought, had governed his actions, for -aboard ship a small man cannot talk too loud. Since he had served with -me, I had reason to believe his body had little to do with his mind. - -“Peter,” I said, acidly, “I’m looking for a ship. Will you go along in -her with me?” - -“That I will,” he said, but I thought he was simply falling into my trap -to gain time. - -“Then, my weasel,” said I, turning to Mr. Henry, “you have two bully -boys at your tow-line, for, sink me, I’ll hold my mate to his word if I -ship in nothing better than a West Indian sugar-boat. Sail in, my bully. -Let’s have the old tune I’ve heard so often.” - -Henry drew up his chair and gloated over us. We were two good enough men -to tempt any sort of crimp, but, on account of my size, he addressed -himself to me as the leader. I have always had this happen when there -were others around, but I take no especial note of it, for it was -nothing that I was a well-put-up man. I had nothing whatever to do with -my birth. - -“You see,” said he, “I don’t make any bones wot I’m up to. I’m after men -sech as you an’ me. My father were a Yankee sailor, though my mother -were sech as I have to break the commandment wot arguefies for a long -life every time I think of her.” - -“You can honour her memory by keeping her name off your tongue,” I -growled. - -“Perhaps so,” he assented; “maybe, but she were hung right here in this -town, and her property taken, so that’s why I’m lookin’ out fer men -wot’s men. I get ten shillings a head per sailormen, an’ I stands in -with the crowd. No shanghai business with me. It don’t pay. Why should a -man ruin his business just to shanghai one or two men who will turn -against him as soon as they come back, hey? A matter o’ a pound or two -an’ a good name fer fair dealin’ gone. Oh, no! I don’t run fer bad -ships. I only takes the clippers, an’ I give handsome.” - -“What’s the hooker’s name?” I asked. - -“That’s just what I’m coming to if you’ll only say the word to go in -her. They want a mate, and they’ll pay a big whack for a good man.” - -“Name, you wolf,” I repeated, draining my mug. “Give the name, or pay -for this ale and clear.” - -“I’ll take you to her--” - -He was interrupted by the entrance of a small man who strode quickly -into the room and sat at once in an empty chair near the door. As the -newcomer entered, Henry half-rose and saluted, receiving a slight nod of -recognition in return. - -“Who’s your friend?” I asked, gruffly. - -“Sh-h! not so loud,” and he scowled at me. “That’s Captain Howard.” - -“Who the saints is Captain Howard? Can he drink ale?” I asked. - -“I wouldn’t ask him if I were you. He’s not a man of peace,” and he -looked at me slantwise. - -“I see,” I answered, and I looked the stranger over carefully. He was -quite small in stature and his face was pale. His hands were soft, -white, and effeminate-looking. Upon one finger a huge diamond sparkled. -Just then he turned his gaze to meet mine, and I must admit his eyes -gave me quite a turn. They were as glassy and expressionless as those of -a fish. His whole smooth face, in fact, seemed to express nothing but -vacancy. I had never seen a human face so devoid of expression. There -was hardly a line in it save about the drooping corners of his mouth. - -“He don’t look dangerous,” I said, with a chuckle. “However, I’m not -hunting trouble, and, if you think he’ll be offended at my acquaintance, -he can go without it.” - -“He’s related to the great English house,--them--them ar’stocrats, ye -know. That’s the way he’s got the king’s pardon.” - -“Pardon for what?” I asked. - -He glanced sidewise at me with that ferret look upon his face. “You’ve -heard, sure? No? Well, then, that’s the skipper that held up the _Indian -Prince_.” - -Then I remembered well enough. He was the little fellow with the pirate -crew that had held up the big East-Indianman in the China Sea some years -back. It was he who took the treasure and squandered it in mad riot in -the streets of Singapore, and defied the authorities. Here, indeed, was -the man feared by both whites and savages of the Eastern seas, sitting -in this little ale-house as unconcerned as though nothing unusual had -happened to excite curiosity. I was so taken up looking at him and -wondering at his foul crimes that he had received and drunk off his -liquor before I realized what had happened. As he left, I seized my mug -and drank it. - -“Come along,” I said. “Show me your ship,” and Mr. Henry paid the score -and started for the door, while I followed. As I reached it, I turned to -see what Richards would do, but he was game. - -“Here comes your nourse, sonny,” he said. “I was paid off yesterday, and -don’t mind a change if it’s for better,” and he looked so serious that I -burst out laughing. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - THE BARQUE - - -Henry led the way through the streets until we came to the anchorage -basin beyond the docks. He was talkative enough, but my head ached from -the blow I had received from the man of peace, and I paid little -attention to the fellow’s words. - -We passed a large American ship that had been captured by the English -during the war and sold. She loomed up grandly from the small craft -lying near, her long, tapering masts still showing the unmistakable -Yankee rigging, and her yards having yet a vestige of the white American -cloth which has since been a pleasant feature of all our craft. Her -paint was worn off, however, and upon her decks a mongrel crew chattered -away like a pack of monkeys. I halted a moment and looked at her in -disgust. - -“What ship is that?” I asked. - -“The _Independence_ of Boston. She were taken by the English line ship -_St. Marys_ off Cape St. Roque. She were stove up some. See that big -piece spliced into her stern where she was shot away. Her mainyard’s -fished in two places. Took two whole broadsides to fetch her to, they -say. That trim-lookin’ craft beyond her is the one we’re headin’ -fer,--the one laying head on with the foreyards cockbilled.” - -We went toward the vessel indicated, and I soon saw what indeed appeared -to be a fine craft. She was large, probably five hundred tons, but she -was barque rigged, with her mainmast stepped well aft. Her foreyards -were lifted to starboard and her main were braced to all angles, giving -her the appearance of having been suddenly deserted by her crew after -making port. Upon the spars the white canvas lay bent and furled, the -clews standing out a foot or two clear of the bunt, and the gaskets hove -in taut as brass bands. Her black sides showed a good freeboard, but I -thought little of this, as nearly all vessels bound to the westward were -going pretty light at that time. She was coppered, and the top band was -a good half-fathom clear of the water. She was pierced for six guns on a -side, and had several more ports painted along the bulwarks on the -main-deck, as was the custom of the day. At a distance she might have -been taken for a vessel of twenty or more guns. Her build was English, -but her rig was Scandinavian, and I noticed her poop was painted white -everywhere except on deck, after the Yankee fashion. - -Three heavy boats were slung amidships on booms. Forward of these a -galley was built or lashed upon the deck, and from its window appeared -the black head of an African. We went close to the water’s edge and -Henry hailed. - -“Th-war-bull-yah! Ahoy!” he bellowed. - -“What’s her name?” I asked. - -“Ha-Yah-Wah, ahoy!” he bellowed again in answer, and the nigger in the -galley waved a white rag in reply. - -“May the sharks eat me, you dock wrastler, but that’s a queer name for a -fine ship! How do you call her?” I asked. - -“He’s comin’ now,” said Henry, with a grin. “Names is mostly just -sounds, an’ furrin sounds is just like others, only different. We’ll go -aboard her, and you can see the old man an’ settle with him. Don’t be -afraid o’ high pay. He’ll give it.” - -In a few minutes a boat left the barque from the side opposite us, where -it had been out of sight. It rounded under her stern and came toward us, -with the nigger standing aft sculling with the peculiar swing of the -Bahama conch. He landed almost at our feet, and Henry motioned me to -jump aboard. - -“Ole man aboard, hey?” asked Henry, stepping in after me. - -“Yassir, disha boat just done taken him abo’d. He’s done expected mos’ -all han’s afo’ dis.” - -“Well, take us over,” said Henry, and he settled himself heavily upon a -thwart. - -In a short time we were alongside. We clambered up a long hanging ladder -amidships, and then over the rail to the main-deck. - -As we did so a venerable, white-haired old fellow stepped out of the -cabin door and greeted us. - -Henry took off his cap and bowed with uncommon civility. - -“Captain Watkins, allow me to make known Mr.--Mr.--” - -“Heywood,” I suggested. - -“Mr. Heywood,” continued Henry. “He is the best mate in Havre, an’ is -just off the American ship _Washington_. I knowed you wanted a good -mate, so I brought you the best in town.” - -The old fellow held out his hand gravely, and said how glad he was to -make my acquaintance. - -“I am just looking for a good navigator, and if you’ll come at my terms, -I’ll reckon we’ll deal.” - -I suggested that the terms be made known. - -“Well, I reckon on thirty pound a month is all I allow just now. Will -you consider that?” - -As this was five times as much as any mate I had ever heard of received, -I told him I would consider the matter closed. - -“An’ your friend, here. I take it he is an American, too,--an’ a -sailorman from clew to earring.” - -Richards looked at him steadily. - -“You are a right smart of a guesser, Mr. Watkins,” said he. “I was -second in the _Washington_, but I’ve been in better ships.” - -The insolence of old Peter calling the captain mister was almost too -much for me. Here was a chance of a lifetime. I turned upon him. - -“If you are going to act foolish with one drink of ale, just for a -chance to back down, you better get ashore,” I snapped. - -“I’ve seen many men more sensible drunk than you are sober, Heywood,” -said he, looking calmly at me, “but I’ll not back down.” - -“Will you accept the same terms?” asked the old man, kindly. - -Richards looked at him in scorn. Then he spat on the white deck. - -“I’ll go,” said he, and Captain Watkins turned to me. - -“There is no grog served aboard, and no swearing on this ship, Mr. -Heywood,” said he. “I am an old man, as you see, and wish my crew -orderly and quiet. Do you wish to stay aboard at once?” - -I said I would just as soon turn to at once. The rate of pay fairly -frightened me, and I was afraid if I went ashore he might get some one -else in my place. The appearance of the barque was much in her favour. -Her decks were as white as holystone could make them, and her gear was -all new and carefully selected. Such lines seldom found place upon any -ships save men-of-war, and her blocks, with polished brass pins and -sheaves, were marvels to me. I stood idly pulling a topsail brace with -one hand and looking up at the fine rigging, while Henry talked of his -tip for bringing me. Even the sheer-poles were polished brass. The old -fellow finally led us below, and handed Henry a small gold piece, and -then offered me a few pounds in advance, requesting me to sign a receipt -for the same. This I did, and then Henry left, shaking me heartily by -the hand as he went over the side. I returned his grip, for I felt he -had indeed been my friend. - -“You may take the port room there, Mr. Heywood, and put your things -shipshape as soon as Henry gets them off your vessel. If the second or -third mate comes aft to see me, don’t fail to call me,--er--er, you know -I’m quite without officers, sir, but will probably have both them and a -crew aboard soon. The papers have not been made out yet, but I believe I -have your receipt for your advance. Witnessed by Henry, it will do, I -suppose, but I am not afraid of you, Mr. Heywood. You don’t look like a -man to take advantage of a ship’s generosity.” Then he went aft, and I -went to the port room. It meant that I was first mate, and I opened the -door with a high heart. - -There was nothing at all in the stateroom save an old clay pipe and a -twist of tobacco. The bunk was bare, and I sat upon the edge of it -speculating upon my good fortune. Finally I lit the pipe and smoked. The -smoke wreaths rolled upward, and, as I watched them, I built many -pleasant things in the future. - -How long I dreamed I don’t know, but it was quite late in the afternoon -when I heard a hail from the shore that sounded like Henry’s. I went on -deck and met the nigger coming from the galley to the boat. I noticed -what a strapping buck the fellow was, and he saw me watching him. - -“Disha hooker’ll have er crew soon. Yassir, she will dat,” said he, -grinning and showing a row of teeth almost as pointed and white as those -of a shark. Then he climbed over the rail, and was soon sculling to the -shore, where I saw Henry and two men waiting. - -They came aboard and were ushered into the cabin by the venerable -skipper, whom I had awakened. - -“This is Mr. Martin,” said Henry, introducing the first one with the air -of a man presenting a lord. The fellow pulled off his hat and squared -his shoulders, and then looked somewhat disturbed by this mark of -respect. He was clean shaven, with a great broad head set upon an -enormous pair of shoulders. He was short but powerfully built, and his -bright eyes were restless. He was no drunken ship-rat, but a strong, -healthy sailor. - -“Mr. Martin, it gives me pleasure to meet you, sir. As I understand you -wish to sign as second mate, I present you to Mr. Heywood, the first -officer,” and he nodded to me with a graceful sweep of the hand. He had -evidently forgotten Richards, but I did not feel inclined to remind him -at that moment. - -The fellow looked at me and scowled, at the same time nodding. This sort -of thing was more than he had expected. Then he broke forth in broad -Scotch that he would sign or go ashore. - -“Would twenty pound a month do you?” asked the skipper, wistfully. - -The fellow did not understand. The amount probably dazed him. Captain -Watkins repeated the offer. - -“Weel an’ guid! weel an’ guid!” he cried, slapping his stout leg. “Let’s -have a squint o’ th’ goold.” - -“I shall be glad to hand you a few pounds at once in advance,” said the -old skipper. “Please sign this receipt for four pounds,” and so saying, -he produced the money. - -The fellow put it in his clothes and signed the paper at once. - -His companion stepped up. He was a Swede and blond. His blue eyes were -bleary with liquor, and the old man looked at him and shook his head -sadly. - -“No drinkin’ and no swearin’ aboard here, my friend--er--er--” - -“Anderson,” said Henry. - -“No drinking here, Mr. Anderson. If you’ll accept fifteen pounds a month -and three pounds in advance, just scratch off a receipt and we’ll finish -up and have dinner.” - -This was done and the two men saw Henry over the side, giving him, as I -had done, a good tip for his kind interest in getting them such fine -berths. Then the big nigger cleared the table and brought in a very -substantial meal, at which the captain and we mates fell to. - -I was not a little astonished at the appearance of Richards. He was all -cleaned up and wore a scarf tied under his newly shaved chin. He was -always neat in appearance, but here he was, without anything apparently -to tog out with, all rigged as fine as though he were going ashore. His -smooth face, sunburned and lined as it was from exposure, seemed to tell -of much hardship in the past. He was a solemn-looking fellow at best, -and to see him togged out in this shape, with his hands washed and old -clothes brushed, was strange. He took his place at the table without a -word. - -“You see,” said Captain Watkins, looking at me with his sharp eyes, “I -believe in the equality of all men.” - -I nodded, for it was not often the mates and sailors of a ship had a -chance to eat in the forward cabin of a vessel, especially together. The -Scotchman, Martin, eyed the old fellow narrowly. We could not all be -mates. - -“One man’s as good as another, and sometimes even better,” said -Richards, softly. - -“That’s it. Even a black man is as good as a white one. Some people -don’t think so, but I know it’s so,” said the skipper. - -“I’ve seen some I thought better,” said Richards, helping himself to a -piece of boiled meat, “but it don’t keep people from jerking them up for -slaves when they get a chance.” - -“I have known slavers,” said the old man, gently, “but they are a rough -set and capable of any crime. On our last voyage one of those fellows -wanted to visit me during a calm, but I was afraid of him and warned him -away. A desperate-looking set they were.” - -“Must have frightened you badly,” sneered Richards. - -The old skipper looked at the sailor. There was something like sadness -in his voice as he answered. - -“I’m of a somewhat timid nature, but cannot help it. I cannot stand -seeing poor coloured folk made to suffer. You will know me better after -you have sailed with me for a voyage.” - -I thought I saw just the glimmer of a smile around the corners of his -mouth as he said this, and looked for some reply from my talkative mate. -Richards made no further remark, and the conversation turned to more -sailor-like topics. - -We talked rather late, as the skipper was most fatherly in his manner, -and, when the fellow Martin suggested he would go ashore and get his -dunnage, it was found that Henry had taken the boat without the nigger, -and had not sent it back aboard. - -“It is of no great consequence, I hope,” said Watkins. “You two, Mr. -Heywood and Richards, may turn in the port room; you, Mr. Martin and Mr. -Anderson, to starboard, and perhaps in the morning I can let you have -the day ashore.” - -Then we separated. Richards and I tossed a coin to see who would get the -bunk, and I won. I arranged my coat for a pillow and soon fell asleep, -leaving my roommate to shift for himself on the deck. - -Once or twice during the night I thought I heard stealthy footsteps -overhead, and once it seemed to me that the barque was heeling over a -bit. Finally I was awakened by a loud banging at my door, and, springing -up, found it was broad day. Then it suddenly dawned upon me that the -barque was under way. - -Opening the door, I found a strange fellow scowling at me. He was -dressed as a common sailor and was a bit drunk. - -It is just as well to start discipline right aboard a ship, thought I, -so I hitched my trousers’ belt the tighter before sailing in to show how -an American mate whangs the deviltry and liquor out of a foreign skin -when aroused from pleasant dreams. I noticed the absence of Richards, -but thought he had already turned out for duty. Then I accosted the -fellow and asked softly what he wanted. - -“What cher doin’ in my room, yer bloomin’ swine?” he howled. “Git out -an’--” - -I had stopped him with a right swing on the jaw, and the next instant we -were loping about that cabin in fine style. In a moment there was a rush -of feet, and something crashed on my head. Then followed stars and -darkness. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - SHANGHAIED - - -When I came again into this world, I found myself lying in a dark, dirty -hole of a forecastle. There was not a man there, but, as I looked over -the empty berths, I saw plenty of clothes and bedding, which gave -evidence of a full crew. - -Getting to my feet, I found my head sorely cut and bruised, and wondered -what had happened. A throbbing pain across the eyes did little to aid my -thoughts, and, while I stood holding to the ladder down which I had been -flung, the scuttle above me was thrust back and the fellow Martin -started down. - -“Aha!” he said when he saw me, “’twas a guid wan ye got ain yer haid. A -clout will do ye na harm, ye thievin’ trixter, ye deceivin’ rascal. Now -I’ll give you one for ald lang syne, an’ teach ye better to deceive a -honest mon ag’in.” - -While talking, he turned back the sleeves of his jumper and made ready -to carry out his threat. He saw I made no movement, however, and -hesitated. - -“Defend yairself, mon, defend yairself. Do not let me whollop yer like a -babe,” and he advanced toward me with his hands before him in some very -fair style. - -“See here,” I said, “what the mischief has happened? What are you -driving at? I’ve played no trick, but it looks like some one has played -a trick on me.” - -“Ah, na backslidin’, ye corward, na backslidin’! Yer can’t fool a canny -sailormaun that way. Put yer hands before yer ugly face, or I’ll whollop -ye like er babe.” - -“I’m not afraid of your wholloping, Scotty. Let me get a turn about my -head a bit, and pull this ragged shirt off. Wonderful clean fo’castle -this. No drunks, no filthy dunnage overhauled, no--what infernal ship is -this, anyway?” - -He saw I was not joking. Indeed, my appearance, as his eyes grew -accustomed to the gloom, put joking aside, and my last remark about the -vessel was true. - -He dropped his hands and stared at me. - -“Ware ye sure rung in like the rest? Waren’t ye in the game?” Then he -burst into a hoarse laugh and held out his hand. At that minute the -tramp of feet sounded overhead, and a half-score of men came clattering -down the companion-ladder. - -It was a mixed crew,--Norwegians, Swedes, dagoes, and Dutchmen,--but all -with the unmistakable swing of the deep-water sailor. They stared at me, -and then started a gabble of language that in my disturbed condition I -failed to understand. They crowded around me and asked questions, and I -noticed Anderson eyeing me suspiciously. Then Martin, with a sweep of -his hand, cut them off, and began telling how I came aboard. When he was -through with his flowery description of Henry, I noticed several men -shake their clenched hands aft. - -“Well,” said I, “I’m the mate, and I guess I’ll go aft and find out who -rapped me over the head. Some fellows in the other watch, I suppose.” - -They burst into derisive laughter. - -“We’re all mates and captains here,” sung out a big Norwegian addressed -as Bill. “You better turn in while you may, friend Heywood. You’re in -Henry’s watch, an’ the captain ain’t turned out yet.” - -“Who’s the old man?” I asked, bewildered, and thinking I must still be -daffy from the crack on the head. - -“Ain’t seen him yet,” said several at once. - -“Well, what infernal hooker am I in, anyway?” I asked Martin. - -“They call her _The Gentle Hand_, but there ain’t na name painted on -her. Some says she’s the _Fly-by-Night_, Howard’s old pirate barque, but -that canna weel be. She’s light. Not a hundred ton below decks, an’ -that’s mostly stores.” - -“The _Fly-by-Night_ was a cruising brig before the first war with -England,” I said. “It can’t possibly be that old hooker. Besides, she -was used against the French by your General Braddock.” - -“Well, when you find out just what we’ve gotten into, coom an’ tell us,” -said Martin. - -It had been slowly dawning upon me that I had been the victim of a -trick, and I felt in my pocket for the advance I had received the day -before. The barque was under way, that was certain, but no one seemed to -know where she was bound, and, as I fumbled through my clothes, Martin -laughed. - -“’Twas guid money, Heywood, but ’tis gone. I missed mine this morning. -Maybe Anderson can tell where it is,” and he grinned. - -The money was gone. That was certain. Yet it was no dream. I had -received it fair enough. Feeling anger and hatred for the trick upon me, -I bound up my head and went up the ladder to the deck to have a look -around. Several men called out to me to have a care of the mate, but -most of them were busy arranging their belongings, quarrelling and -fighting among themselves over the possession of what clothes happened -to be common to the crowd. I saw Martin steal a pair of tarpaulin -trousers from a fellow who was wrestling with the sailor Bill for the -possession of a bag of straw bedding. Then I stepped on deck. - -The cool air did me good. I went to the rail and looked over. The barque -was going steadily to the southward with every rag set. She was heeling -but gently, and there was little wind or sea. She was braced a bit to -starboard, her port tack aboard, and by her trimming I saw she was under -English officers. Every yard just in line with its fellow, from the big -main to the little royal that crossed a good hundred and seventy feet -above the sea. Far away to the eastward showed the even outline of the -French coast, and between us many sails strung along the band of blue, -their hulls either just below or rising above the horizon’s line. The -day was fine and the easterly breeze gentle, and the barque was swinging -easily along. - -I looked aft and saw men of the mate’s watch at work setting up the -backstays in the main-rigging, and some on the mizzen topsail-yard, -apparently under the direction of Richards, serving a worn foot-rope. -The canvas covers were off the guns, and a dozen bright twelve-pounders -of polished brass shone in the sunlight. The white deck beneath and the -varnished spars above made a pretty picture, and I grew warm to think -that I was not indeed the mate of such a craft. They had played a fine -trick on me to get me aboard sober and without compulsion, signing a -receipt for an advance equal to a couple of months’ ordinary wages. -There were plenty of sailors about the pier-heads, for the war had -turned many adrift without means of getting a ship, and there seemed to -be no reason why these fellows should try their land-shark game in -getting a crew. - -As I looked aft it dawned upon me that these men were much better than -the ordinary run of common sailors. There was something in the fellow’s -walk I now saw crossing the deck that spoke of the war-ship. Even the -watch I had just seen below were remarkably rough and tough specimens of -a rugged humanity. - -While I stood there taking in the scene, I saw a man come from aft and -walk to the break of the poop. He looked over the barque carefully, and -as his gaze came down the fore-rigging it stopped upon me. - -He was dressed something after the manner of a preacher, with black -cloth coat and stock, and his hair was cut short. As I took his figure -in, there was little difficulty in recognizing Richard Raymond, the man -of peace. He beckoned me to come aft, and, as I did so, he removed the -huge drooping moustache he had been wearing and tossed it over the side. - -“I reckon you know me now, Heywood,” said he, “though it’s been over six -years since we parted. I wanted you on this voyage, and took some pains -to get ye. That was the old man who welted ye over the head. I’m sorry -for it.” - -It was Hawkson, sure enough. I recognized him easily now in spite of his -gray hair and older look. How I failed to recognize him at first even in -his disguise puzzled me. We had made the cruise in the _Petrel_ -together, and had served on the man-of-war. - -“Well, you’ve got me fast enough, though you played a mean trick getting -me. Now what’s the game?” said I. - -The old privateersman smiled, and his jaws worked as though muttering to -himself. His face creased into ugly lines about his large mouth, and he -showed his teeth. - -“I’m first officer here. That fellow Gull you fouled this morning is -second. Remember this first and the rest’ll come easy. Henry is third -mate, and I hear them say that you’re to be made gunner. How’s that?” - -“Who’s them?” I asked, somewhat nettled. - -“Them’s us, sonny. The old man, the two gentlemen aft, myself, and the -rest.” - -“Where are we bound for, and what’s the hooker’s name? It’s all well -enough to be cribbed aboard a ship, but I’m going to find out what’s the -game.” - -“We’re bound for the South Pacific; that’s all clear as mud, an’ we’ve -got a picked crew because the business in hand needs honest men.” - -“I bow to myself,” I answered. “It’s well to know.” - -“What more do you want, hey? Go forrads an’ turn in, an’ I’ll square ye -with the fellow Gull. Don’t let them see me talkin’ too much with ye, -sonny, or I’ll have to forget the past for the needs o’ the present. -You’re aboard a fine ship.” - -“Well,” I answered, “that’s all good enough, but I would like to know -her name and who’s her skipper,--and what’s more, I’m going to find out -right away.” - -Hawkson’s eyes glinted with that light I knew so well meant danger, and -his ugly mouth worked nervously. - -“Perhaps you’d care to go aft and interview the captain about it,” said -he, with his drawl. “He’s a gentleman every inch, and will be a -revelation to ye after them packets you’ve sailed in. Suppose you lay -aft and make out your own case. You were always an obstinate youngster, -but I reckon since you’ve been mate your head’s swelled worse’n ever.” - -I knew Hawkson to be one of the most dangerous men afloat when aroused, -but about this time I was not exactly a lambkin myself. A man does not -become mate of a western ocean packet with anything lamblike in his -make-up, unless it is by accident for one voyage. I was not quarrelsome, -but resented with righteous indignation the manner in which I had been -kidnapped in broad daylight without even being under the influence of -liquor. The simplicity of the whole affair maddened me, and not even the -fellowship of Martin and Anderson or others in the list of victims -detracted one jot from the implied lack of ordinary precautions and -common sense. I started up the weather side of the poop to go aft, and I -noticed several fellows to leeward looking at me. - -“Go to lor’ard,” growled Hawkson, fiercely. - -But I paid no attention, and was half-way up the steps when a man came -up the after companion and walked toward me. As he reached the deck and -turned before I had gotten up, I stopped short, looking at him. It was -Captain Howard, the pirate. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - IN THE FO’C’SLE - - -I will admit my zeal abated a trifle when I met the captain’s gaze, but -I was not much afraid of any man, so up the ladder I went and toward -him. - -He saw me approaching and stopped. Then he demanded in a high voice from -Hawkson what I wanted and why I was allowed up the weather side of the -quarter-deck. - -“He’s a bit daffy, sir,” said Hawkson, touching his cap. “That crack on -the pate you gave him has turned his burgoo case. He’ll be all right -soon, sir.” - -“Daffy or not,” said I, “I want to know what ship I’m in and where she’s -bound,--and I’m going to find out.” - -The ugly face of Captain Howard was inscrutable. His glassy eyes like -those of some reptile were fixed upon me. His thin, hooked nose appeared -like the beak of an albatross. He took off his hat and bowed to me -politely, saying: - -“It will give me great pleasure to listen to you, sir.” I noticed his -poll was as smooth and hairless as the sole of my foot, only a red seam -that stretched from the crown to his left ear wrinkled its bronzed -roundness. - -“Well,” I said, more mildly, “I would like to find out what ship I’m in -and where she’s going.” - -“Were you drunk, sir, when you came aboard her?” he asked, calmly. - -“I was not,” I answered, warmly. - -“Were you blind?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Well, then, you have permission to look about you, and, if you’re the -sailor you claim to be, you will perceive this is a barque. She is -called the _Gentle Hand_. She is bound for the South Atlantic.” - -“But I shipped as mate of her,” I stammered. - -“That is manifestly impossible. Mr. Hawkson has been mate of her for -some time. That was probably a little joke of Watkins, the steward.” -Here he threw up his head and burst into a rattling laugh, his mouth -slightly open, but his face otherwise unmoved. - -“He, he, he!” he rattled, “you’ll be a mate fast enough,--a gunner’s -mate. And, if that don’t suit you, Mr. Hawkson will introduce you to the -gunner’s daughter. Go forward now and remember that if you come on the -weather side of the quarter-deck while I’m here, I’ll write my name on -you with a hot iron. Do you see? Ho, ho, ho! That Watkins is a tricky -knave and you have my permission to manhandle him. There he is now. -Breakfast--” - -As he spoke, the venerable old scoundrel emerged from the door of the -forward cabin, and, standing upon the poop step, announced that the -morning meal was ready. There was little left for me but to get forward. -The “gunner’s daughter” on that ship I knew was the sinister name -applied to the breech of one of the guns, and an introduction consisted -of being held over it with a naked back, while a sailor cut the victim -to ribbons with a cat-o’-nine-tails. - -As the old rascal Watkins stood there announcing breakfast, he -recognized me and grinned. - -“It isn’t well to laugh early in the morning,” I said, as I went past -him. The captain went below, and I stopped on the last step of the -poop-ladder. “For sometimes it’s rude.” Here I caught him a cuff with -the flat of my hand that sounded all over the deck, knocking him a -couple of fathoms toward the main-hatch. A man to leeward laughed -outright, and even Hawkson chuckled. - -The old fellow recovered himself, and his grin was conspicuously absent -as he came toward me in a menacing manner. - -“Now you trot along, Noah,” said I. “I’ll give you one like that every -little while until I find that advance money back in my pocket.” - -He stopped in front of me, and his mouth worked nervously. His eyes -seemed to disappear under his shaggy brows, and his beard fairly -bristled with rage. - -I was a stout man among stout men, and he saw there was little use -speaking out loud. Then he turned and went into the cabin, where Captain -Howard was bawling for him to bring his coffee. - -“Better have let the old man alone, Heywood,” said Hawkson. “There’s a -lot of trouble bottled up in his old carcass.” - -“Well, I’m uncorking a few of my own,” I said, “and if that second mate -turns out while I have my hands warm, there’ll be some more.” - -Hawkson chuckled. - -“You’re taking things rather hard, ain’t ye? You’ll be mighty glad they -took ye aboard the old pirate before you’re through.” - -“Well,” I said, “you’ve not answered my question, and I’m going to find -out a few things in my own way. Piracy is nonsense these days, though if -there were such things, you’d be in them all right. How did that skipper -get command of this vessel, anyway, and where is she headed for?” - -“I told you we were bound for the South Atlantic. Just where, you’ll -find out by the time we get there. We’re to stop at Nassau to take the -owners aboard and then go ahead. That’s all there is to it. Sailing to -the Bahamas and then around the Cape of Good Hope over to where the -owners want to go. That’s plain as mud, ain’t it?” - -“How about the pay? Do you suppose I’ll go for nothing?” - -“The pay is good, no fear. You won’t lose anything. Why, most of these -fellows here have shipped without knowing any more’n you do, so what’s -the use making trouble for yourself? It’s a regular trading voyage. Just -plain trading in the Atlantic, an’ if we get the best of some trades, -why--so much the better for the owners and all hands. The owners are all -right, sonny, an’ they’ll be here to settle.” - -“Well, if you had only told me this,” I answered, “I would probably have -shipped anyhow, though I don’t care about going forrard again.” - -“That’s what I was afraid of, an’ the officers’ berths were full. Three -or four o’ the A. B.’s forrards has been mates before. You’ll be all -right as gunner if you leave this after-guard alone. It’s goin’ to take -all your care now to clear Watkins. He’ll kill you the first chance he -gets.” - -“Bah!” I said, turning to go. - -Hawkson left me and went aft. I hesitated a few moments, looking around -to see if any one on deck had heard our talk, but there was no one near -enough, and those who saw us might have thought the mate was giving me a -reprimand for whanging the old steward. Hawkson would be friendly in a -rough way, and I did not care for all hands to know it. As I was in Mr. -Gull’s watch, I had four hours below before confronting that gentleman, -and I might as well take advantage of them, as my head was very painful. -Taking one more look over the vessel and beyond where sunlight danced -upon the wrinkled blue surface of the ocean, I went to the forecastle -hatch and forthwith below. Here I took possession of a bunk which the -thoughtful owners had cleaned and painted, and, announcing my claim to -the watch who had finished a late breakfast, sat upon its edge and -munched a piece of hard bread. - -“I see ye whack the old duffer Watkins,” said the fellow Bill. “What’d -yer hit him for?” - -I told him, and looked at Martin to see if he agreed to my accusations -against the old rascal’s honesty. He smoked in silence. - -“D’ye know who Watkins is?” asked a big Finn with a long black beard, -“because if you don’t, you’re apt to find out too late.” - -“Do you know me?” I asked. - -The fellow looked surlily at me. - -“Because if you fellows down here don’t, some of you will find out all -of a sudden.” - -I had noticed that they had left the mess things lying about, as if -awaiting something, and then I had a grave suspicion that the something -was myself, whom they would delegate to clean up after them. It was just -as well to take the matter in hand at the beginning, and if there was to -be a fracas to see who was to be the boss of that crowd, the earlier the -better. - -The big Finn gazed at me, but said nothing, and Bill seemed to size me -up closely. - -“Who and what is that old swab, Watkins?” I asked, suddenly turning upon -Bill. - -“They say he was mate with Howard when he was a boy. Served thirty years -for a few things they did in the China Seas. Killed more’n forty men.” - -“Well,” I answered, “if some one had taken him in hand before he’d -killed the last thirty-nine, he would have a better chance than he has -now for keeping out of the devil’s company. Now you get hold of those -mess things, William, and make the Czar’s cousin here lend a hand. If -you don’t, I’ll make you wish Watkins was here to run this mess when the -watch is called.” - -Here I lounged back in my pew, finishing off with a chunk of salt beef -and a cup of cold water. Afterward I lit a pipe and smoked complacently, -while keeping a lookout to see what the crowd would do. - -Bill was a fine specimen of the Norwegian sailor, and he surveyed the -mess things contemptuously for a few minutes. Then he seized upon a -stocky little Dane, and bade him carry the things away. The men, having -finished, were talking and smoking, sitting in their pews or upon the -sea-chests the more lucky happened to bring aboard. They saw Bill’s -move, and a murmur of disapproval ran among them. Several pointed at me, -but I smoked in silence, feeling much better for having eaten something, -and recovered my usual strength and spirits. In a few minutes we might -be called on deck, perhaps, to trim sail, but if not, the -after-breakfast smoke would be followed by an arranging of the -forecastle. The little Dane entered a loud protest against his new -duties, but Bill silenced him quickly with an oath. - -“You do as I tell yer. I’ll settle with the Yank later,” said he. - -“There’s no time like the present,” said I, putting my pipe away and -slowly rising out of my pew. “I’m the high cock of this roost, and when -I give an order below here there needn’t be any settlement called for. -Peel off! Get ready, for I’m coming for you, William.” - -The loungers looked up, and Martin chuckled. - -“Coom, coom, a fair fight, an’ may the best mon win,” he cried. “Gie us -room, laddies, gie us room. I’ll back the Yank, mon, and, Anderson, ye -knave, ye’ll back yer Scandinavian.” - -Bill was not a coward, but he had the blood of a peaceful race in his -veins. He was very strong and able, and he cursed me heartily, while I -calmly pulled off my upper garment. His fierce threats only made me more -determined to put him through, for the more he swore the angrier he -became, telling plainly that the matter was not so greatly to his taste. - -As gunner or petty officer of any rank aboard ship, it was absolutely -necessary to make a clear start, in order to avoid disagreements later. -The weaker must be made to act as cook for the mess, and there was no -help for it. It was the rule that had to be established in the same old -way. - -Martin drew a line across the deck with a piece of charred wood. I -stepped up to it and placed the toe of my left foot upon it and was -ready. Bill quickly swaggered up, and I landed like lightning upon his -jaw. He staggered back into the arms of Anderson. Then he spit out a -mouthful of blood, and came at me with an oath and a rush. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - I BECOME “COCK OF THE WALK” - - -There was nothing brutal or rough in this encounter, and, if it savours -of the commonplace sailor’s brawl, I can only say that such are the -customs on deep-water ships, and they must continue through all time. -Life at sea is not always gentle. There is no use trying to make it so. -It is nearly always a fight against the elements, and the roughness -prevents the customs from becoming effete as those of the drawing-room, -where an easy tongue and sarcastic wit does the hurting. This is said to -be refined and not brutal, but for my part I have seen men more brutally -and cruelly hurt by words than by fists. A person with a weak stomach -will stand an uncommon lot of verbal brutality, but when it takes a -physical form, they shrink from it and cry out that it is degrading. It -is less degrading than a vile tongue. - -When Bill landed upon me, there was something of a mix-up, and some -short-arm work that might have proved interesting to lovers of sport. We -were in pretty good training, and the thuds of our blows sounded -healthily through the little forecastle. The men lounging in their pews -and gazing complacently at us, their bodies and legs well out of the -way, made a very appreciative audience and left the deck perfectly -clear. Their remarks were not always well advised, for they clamoured -loudly for Bill to put the finishing touches to me, while I jolted him -repeatedly upon the side of his bullet-head. - -Finally Martin and Anderson separated us for a breathing spell, and I -had a chance to look about the room with the one eye left me for duty. -Then I noticed the companionway blocked by the forms of two men who were -somewhat remarkable in appearance. They were dressed in the height of -fashion, and sat upon the topmost steps smoking and looking interested. -The younger was about my own age, and good-looking, and his companion -was nearer middle age, with a face describing free living. - -“I have your money on that first round,” said the younger. “The Yank -drew first blood,” and he pulled forth a handsome gold watch and noted -the time. - -“Two to one he loses yet,” said the older man, carelessly, as though it -was of no consequence whatever. - -That stirred something within me. - -“Perhaps you would care for a turn,” I suggested, turning sharply at -him. But he laughed immoderately, and the younger man joined, slapping -his leg, crying: - -“I’ll take you! I’ll take you!” - -At that instant time was called by Martin, and we went at it again. - -There is no use going into the details of the finish, but it will -suffice to say that the American eagle which was tattooed upon my breast -had no reason to blush. I was somewhat aroused by the unfriendly tone of -the Englishman above, and I jolted Bill rather roughly upon the point of -his jaw. It was not viciously done, but at the same time I put a bit of -weight into my hand, and my heavily limbed antagonist dropped to the -floor. Anderson tried to get him to start again, but he reeled as he -reached his knees and swayed hopelessly for a space. The motion of the -ship seemed to bother him also. - -“My money! My money!” cried the younger man above. “The Yank has him -going.” - -It was more than that, and I felt sorry for Bill. He was out of it, and -a heavy jolt might mean something serious. I went to my bunk and began -to put my clothes on, while Martin cried for me to wait. “I’ll give you -a turn another time,” I said, shortly. - -“No, no, he isn’t done for yet,” they all cried, but I knew better. - -Poor Bill! He turned his face up, and I saw his vacant eyes trying to -grasp the situation. He was game enough, and struggled to rise, swaying -to and fro like an unstayed topmast. The deck would slant away from him -and his hand would reach out for support. Then the barque heaved a bit -to leeward, and he staggered, swayed, and then pitched forward prone and -lay still. - -“Pour water over him, mon, pour water over him,” cried Martin, and -Anderson sluiced the allowance in the forecastle over the fallen man’s -head. Then they raised him and put him in his pew, and, by the time I -had finished dressing, he was sitting up regarding me curiously. - -“Now, William,” said I, “just as soon as you feel better, you take hold -of these mess things and get them cleaned up and shipshape. Jorg there -can lend you a hand this morning, and, if he doesn’t bear a hand, I’ll -see what kind of skin they raise in Finland.” And I nodded to the -bearded fellow who had chosen to question me regarding Watkins. Then I -settled myself for a nap, and tied a rag over my bruised side-light, -while I smoked and listened to the discussions around me. - -The younger man who sat in the companion, and who had backed me, now -arose and stood twisting the ends of his little blond moustache while he -looked down. His face was tanned a ruddy brown, and I was not inclined -to find fault with his looks. His companion cursed his luck and Bill, -his face almost purple with anger and his black beard fairly bristling. - -“I’ll own I’ve lost, Sir John, but may the curse of the vikings strike -that lubber I backed,” he growled. “One wouldn’t think there was so -little in such a big fellow. I thought Hawkson had a picked crew, but, -if that fellow Bill’s the best, they’re a poor lot.” - -“I think the Yank proved satisfactorily the Sou’wegian isn’t the best -man in the forecastle. Bill is all right enough. Come along. They’ll be -all right for our business.” - -“And what is their business?” I asked Martin, as they went aft. “Is it -to come forrard and try and get on a fracas for their amusement? For if -that’s their lay, I’ll see they get one before long if they are -passengers.” - -“I hear they’re part-owners. The owners will join at the islands. It’s -themselves who are runnin’ the vessel an’ expedition,” said the Scot. - -“Well, they strike me as a queer lot, and the whole thing don’t seem -regular. Here we are in Howard’s old pirate barque, being tricked into -signing on. The old rascal is in command, although he must be more than -three-quarters of a hundred years old. And here we sail away on an -expedition no one seems to know anything about except the owners -themselves.” - -“There ain’t any such thing as piracy in these times, hey?” said Martin, -and he looked at me hard with his bright gray eyes, his whole broad face -showing plainly enough that he was more than willing that there should -be. - -“No, of course not,” I said. “How the deuce could a barque like this -turn pirate? She isn’t fast enough, in the first place.” - -“Ye is wrong there. There ain’t anything afloat that’ll go to windward -o’ this craft. Good mon, just look how she travels! Na, na, friend -Heywood, this be a trim ship for a robber, and we’re uncommon well -manned. Twenty men forrards, and there’ll be nigh a dozen more aft, -making up to forty when we ship the owners. ’Tis a biggish crowd fer a -barque o’ five hundred ton. Now I’ve been a peaceable man an’ mate o’ a -dozen ships,--as you yoursel’,--but I wouldna gie thruppence fer me -conscience should th’ owld raskil aft say th’ word. Be you afeard, -friend Heywood?” - -“Not of you, Watkins, or Howard himself,” I answered, “but it’s all -foolishness to think of dodging men-of-war in these days. I’ve sailed in -a man-o’-war that would clean the South Sea of all floating things in -six months. It’s not that they’re after. They’re up to some expedition -among the islands. Maybe the scoundrel has treasure hid, and these -bloods are going out to hunt it. That’s more like the lay of it.” - -“Maybe, maybe, friend Heywood, but even so I’m that keen for the -adventure, I’ll not stand for the money they robbed us of, if there’s a -chance to get it back.” - -“Well, I’ll clear at the Bahamas if I get a chance, unless they show me -that advance I missed,” I said, warmly, “and I’ll make that old -scoundrel sorry for some of his sins.” - -Then we smoked in silence until Hawkson’s voice bawled out for eight -bells, and a rough-looking Dutchman poked his head below and bellowed -the news, receiving an old sea-boot full in the face from Martin for his -pains. - -The morning had passed rapidly enough, and although tired and sore from -the incidents of the past few hours, I was not sorry to go on deck and -get a breath of fresh sea air. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - TWO KINDS OF HAND-SHAKES - - -Mr. Gull, the second mate, was already on deck when we arrived, and I -expected to continue our pleasantries of the early morning. He looked -hard at us and said nothing, and then I knew Hawkson had put in a word -for me, for no second mate could otherwise have resisted the temptation -of taking it out of an able-bodied seaman, no matter how able-bodied he -might be. I was informed shortly that I was made gunner, and was -henceforth in charge of the barque’s battery to see that it was kept in -order. But there was no more room aft for any more petty officers. Henry -and Watkins occupied the only remaining room, on account of the space -occupied by the passengers and their luggage. Jorg, the Finn, I found -was the carpenter, but he also had to share the forecastle. - -Before going below, Hawkson summoned all hands, and he and Gull went -through the old form of choosing the watches. - -“Bos’n,” said Hawkson, addressing Richards, “you may muster the men -aft.” - -“Ay, ay, sir,” said the man-o’-war’s man, and he touched his cap with -his hand like in the old days aboard the frigate when I had seen him -speak to the officer of the deck. - -It was something of a surprise to me, and also to the rest, to find the -man who had served under me as second mate as bos’n of that crowd. It -made me think that perhaps I might dispute the position with him, for I -was a navigator and capable of working the ship’s position to a fairly -accurate extent, and old Peter Richards was only a plain able seaman. -But I soon saw why he had been chosen. He was a trained man and used to -the discipline of a fighting ship, and there were plenty of navigators -aft. He was very sober and quiet in his manner this day, and I wondered -at it, for I was under the impression he had been fooled into going -aboard like the rest of us. - -“How is it, Peter,” I asked, as he came near me, “are you going to give -me my orders?” - -“Yes, and I advise you to obey them without making trouble for -yourself,” said he, quietly. “You came into the ship with your eyes wide -open. Now stand to it. I told you I’d follow you and take care of you.” - -He said the last part of his speech with just a suspicion of a smile -lurking about the corners of his mouth, and I was not in the humour to -be laughed at. - -“All right, my cock,” said I, “if you are one of the officers and know -the destination of this hooker, you will oblige me by telling me her -port of destination. If you don’t, I might be tempted to argue the -question with you. You are not pretty, Peter, when you smile.” - -“Don’t think I would tackle you, Heywood,” said he, looking sternly at -me. “You’ve been aboard a fighting craft, and know just what I’ll do if -you don’t turn to when I say. I don’t know any more about this vessel -than you do, except--well, except that I wouldn’t have picked her out as -a choice of ships. If you had used your eyes before you signed on, you -could have seen she was something irregular. Brace up and do what you’re -told until you find out what you’re in for.” - -Then he went along to get the rest of the crew. - -The men who had temporarily gone below to get their morning meal, and -who had remained below as the port watch, were now lined up with those -on deck, and Hawkson began by choosing a huge fellow named Jones. He was -a big, burly, red-headed Welshman. Then Gull chose Bill in spite of his -appearance. And so it went until each had an equal number of men on a -side, Jorg going into the starboard, and myself into the port watch, for -we were in the forecastle with the rest, while Richards slung his -hammock in Hawkson’s room. I started on the forward guns, and spent the -rest of the day polishing. - -The weather was fine and it was exhilarating to sit in the gun-port to -windward and watch the old barque go. The land had now entirely -disappeared to the eastward, and we were rapidly drawing off. - -The barque was very fast. With a breeze of not more than twelve knots, -she was running a full nine knots, seeming hardly to disturb the smooth -sea. Her wake was clean, and only the steady pouring of her bow-wave -whitened her path. - -I sat for hours rubbing the muzzles of the guns with whale-oil and dust, -and, as I did so, I watched the flaking foam of the side-wash spread -away with its musical hiss and tinkle. Down deep in the blue below a -piece of weed now and then flashed past, looking like an eel or snake as -the sunlight wavered upon it. It was a warm, lazy day, and I pondered -long upon the strange turn of fortune that had suddenly placed me upon -the old barque with her sinister past and mysterious future. Here she -was all fitted out for a long voyage, but without any cargo to speak of, -and that little stowed in such a manner that it was easy of access. - -I gazed aloft at the fine rigging, and noted how well her canvas was -cut. Every sail was fitted as aboard a man-o’-war, and all her running -gear was of new hemp line of the finest grade, totally unlike the loose -laid stuff they used for clew-lines, bunt-lines, leach-lines, and even -braces aboard the ordinary western ocean merchantmen. Hawkson had the -yards trimmed in a shipshape and seamanlike manner, and the grease or -varnish upon them brought out the grain of the wood. They were large for -a vessel of five hundred ton. High above, the mainroyal swung across a -cloud-flecked zenith, a small white strip, while beneath, in regular -rotation, stretched the t’gallantsail, topsail, and mainsail into -increasing size until across the main-yard the distance must have been -full seventy feet or more. - -The breeze hummed and droned under the foot of the great mainsail, -sounding restful and pleasant with the easy roll of the vessel. - -I was thinking how easy it would be to desert the ship at Providence -Harbour, in the Bahamas, and return to the States. It was but a few -days’ run from there to Savannah, and plenty of small vessels would be -bound over at this time of the year. It was degrading to have to polish -brass like a common foremast hand. However, if I tired of it, I was -really only working my way home. That was the best way to look at it. -But the thought of home changed the half-formed purpose. What was there -in the name for me? Only a poor old mother living in a bit of a house, -with a negro girl I had brought from Jamaica some years before. They -were dependent entirely upon me and the little money I had saved to eke -out an existence, the girl doing all the work and caring for the aged -mother. If I went back, there would be only one more to draw on the -small hoard, and I might not get another berth very soon. Here was a -very proper ship, rigged almost like a man-o’-war, and evidently bound -on some special mission. Perhaps there was money to be made. At all -events, there would be little lost by staying in her, for the pay in -American ships was almost as poor as the English. - -While I thought over these matters, I watched the two passengers, who -were lounging aft on the quarter, smoking long clay pipes and drinking -ale from a tankard filled from a keg in the lazarette. They certainly -appeared well-to-do people, and, if they were part-owners, there was -little doubt from their manners that they were used to living as -gentlemen of wealth and position. - -Bill came down from aloft along the weather main-rigging above me, where -he had been fastening chafing-gear on the backstays at the point the -topsail-yard would touch. He saw me gazing aft while I rubbed, and he -dropped somewhat ostentatiously upon the deck to attract my attention. - -“Welcome, hey?” he said. - -“Of course,” I answered, holding out a greasy hand. “Why not?” - -“Well, I’ve no grudge, John,” said he. “You licked me fair enough.” - -“You haven’t come for another one?” I asked, smiling. - -“No,” he said, grasping my fingers in a tarry grip, “no, I believe -you’re all right. I youst wanted to ask what you t’ought of the -passengers. They say they’re part-owners. Now, I’ve been in American -ships ten years and more, an’ I never t’ought to go in a wessel not -knowin’ youst where she’s bound, did you?” - -“How did you come to ship in her?” I asked. - -“Oh, I signed all right. I youst saw she was a fine wessel an’ the pay -good,--more’n a mate of an old country wessel,--so I t’ought it all -right. Only I’d youst like to find out, friend John, where she’s bound -for,--I mean what port.” - -“The first is Nassau, but we’re signed for some place in the South -Atlantic or Pacific, and unless you’re going to cut and run, or make a -pier-head jump, you’ll land in some of the South Sea Islands for -certain,” said I. “Who got you to come aboard?” - -“A little fellow youst like a fox,--Henry they called him; he hasn’t -been on deck yet much. I t’ought he’d be a bit backward turnin’ -out--There he is now, comin’ out on the main-deck. If you soak him one, -I’ll stand by, for it would youst serve him right, or if you youst stand -by, I’ll attend to it, hey?” - -“No use, Bill,” I answered; “there’ll be enough of real sure fracases -before we’re on the beach again. Let him alone. It will only make -trouble aft, and then the whole after-guard will be for putting us -through. I’ll look out he don’t put his face in the forecastle, but he’s -third mate, and he belongs aft. These vessels are not like American -ships. A fellow don’t take rating by his hands, and if you whollop an -officer it only means trouble. I like your style, Bill, and, if there’s -trouble, I’ll stick close to you; but there won’t be any unless you make -it.” - -Bill held out his big fist again and squeezed mine. There was an honest -look in his blue eyes I liked, albeit they were pretty well draped in -black from the discipline of the early morning. We were friends from -that moment, and I never had cause to regret that hand-shake. - -Henry saw us looking at him and came forward. He was afraid of nothing -on a ship’s deck, and, if he were a tricky little sea-wolf, he was as -grim as any in the forests of the New England shores. He swung up his -hand to his cap as he reached me, but took no notice of Bill. I kept on -rubbing the breech of the gun and took no notice, for I was still a -trifle sore at the way he had treated me. - -“Mister Heywood, I saluted you, sir,” said Henry, stopping. - -“So you did,” I answered, “and it does great credit to that mother of -yours that your manners are proper. I always return the salute of an -honest man, though it’s hardly necessary aboard ship, especially -merchant vessels.” - -“Now, see here, Heywood, what’s the use of keeping up a grudge? I got -you into a good ship, didn’t I? And, if you ain’t mate, you’re gunner.” - -“If I had a grudge, I would wring your neck, Henry,” I answered, calmly. - -“No fear, Hi say,” he answered, smiling, and held out his hand. “Put ’er -there and we’ll call it even, hey?” - -I held out my hand, for there was really little use keeping up a bad -feeling aboard. I might as well see the joke and bear a hand with the -rest. I held out a greasy paw to signify all was well. - -The next instant his long fingers, which I had at first noticed on the -pier, closed upon mine like a steel vice, and I involuntarily cried out -with the pain. Such a grip! There was nothing human about it, and I felt -my bones cracking. - -“Let go!” I roared, and Bill sprang upon him at the same instant. - -But Henry grabbed his arm before he could strike, and there we stood -like two boys for an instant, unable to move, with the keen-faced rascal -between us. Before either could strike with the disengaged hand, Henry -cast us loose with a laugh. - -“Don’t you try it,” he grinned, as he passed forward. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - OUR BOS’N - - -The bos’n of an English ship usually has eight hours or more below, and -the best part of four watches on deck. This enables him to walk around -after the men and take charge during the time they are at work and the -navigator is unable to leave the poop or quarter-deck. Yankee bos’ns, or -fourth mates, as we used to call them, were distinguished by a rough, -strong voice made raucous by hard usage. Yelling and swearing at -delinquent mariners, as the shore folk put it, was supposed to be their -principal occupation, and to a certain extent the shore folk were right. -But Richards was not noisy. Neither did he have the rough voice of the -man-o’-war bos’n. He was as gentle as any shore-bred person, and even -while he had served as second mate under me, he had never been anything -but “Old” Richards,--old because he was so quiet. - -When he took in hand the crew of that ship, it made me smile to think of -him tackling men like Bill, Jones, or myself. Yet there he was over us, -and it soon began to look like Hawkson knew what he was about when he -put him in charge. - -In the first place he had been used to discipline. He had served on a -war-ship for so long that he seemed to know just what to do to get men -to work without getting afoul of them. - -There is an art in this. It is born in some, cultivated in others, but -absolutely impossible to define in a way that might be useful to the -great majority, for it is a mixture of so many qualities, so many -different freaks and phases of temperament, and generally so dependent -upon chance for its establishment, that it must be dealt with only as a -peculiarity happening in human beings at remote intervals. - -Richards had the one necessary quality to begin with, and that was a -really kind disposition under his silent exterior. There was nothing -offensive in him, and, while he never seemed to attract any one, he did -not repel them. Magnetism he possessed in abundance, but this quality is -of small use among men who have to be made to do things which often -result in death and always in discomfort. - -Often he would sit and listen to the arguments of the men, and they -would sometimes appeal to him as judge, because he was so quiet and -always gave them an answer they could understand. - -“What makes ye sa keen fer carryin’ on discipline, friend Richards?” -asked Martin, good-humouredly, one evening as the watch sat or lounged -about the forecastle scuttle waiting to be called. - -“It’s not your country’s ship; why d’ye care? Now a war-ship an’ a -patriot I kin understand. I was a patriot mysel’.” - -“I fou’t for England,” said big Jones, “but that ware different.” - -“You’d have fought for China just as quick,” said the bos’n, “if any men -you knew were going out to fight. It’s the same aboard a fighting craft -as it is here. I’ve seen clerks in the shipping-houses, that couldn’t -tell a cutlass from a pike, go crazy to fight when the war broke out. -They liked to be called ‘patriots,’ too. All men like to fight if the -whole crowd go in. It’s excitement and vanity. You’ll be more of a -patriot and less a fighting man after you get ashore to stay.” - -“Ay, that he will,” said Tim, the American. “He’s too ready for fight, -an’ a bit o’ discipline will do him good.” - -“Ah, hark ye at the bit o’ a man,” sneered Martin. “One might think he -feared a little fracas, hey?” and he leered at the small sailor, who -looked him squarely in the eyes and swore at him, for a bullying Scot he -was. - -Somehow, Richards never made trouble between men. They rarely took -offence at his answers, and he never struck one. - -To him the striking of a man lowered him at once. If the man was an -equal and had any self-respect, it was necessary to go further into the -matter always, he explained. If he had not enough self-respect to fight -his smiter to the last limit, then he was taking whatever chance the -fellow had of ever becoming a man, for no man, he held, could be a -person of spirit and courage and allow another to strike him. It might -work well in religious congregations, where men were tricky and -desperately low and mean, stooping to any vile revenge, but among men at -sea upon a ship deck it was different. To assault a man weaker than -himself was almost as bad in his eyes as assaulting a girl. In either -case, the victim’s self-respect was lost, and the person consequently -liable to be ruined. It would require a nice adjustment, he claimed, to -prevent murder. He very plainly stated that, if Martin, Jones, or any -one of the heavy fellows who might be tempted to try accounts with him -at some disliked order, should so far forget the discipline of the ship -and make a fight with him, he would be bound by all law and precedent, -as upon a man-of-war, to kill him. The turning of the smitten cheek to -the offender was not to be taken literally. It meant a man should show -due forbearance before entering into a fracas, which would certainly end -fatally for one or the other. - -This doctrine might not appeal to the landsman, and from a certain point -of view it might appear unchristian. But, if there was ever a man who -practised kindness toward his fellow men, that man was the bos’n of the -old pirate barque. He was honest. - -I had found that on former cruises to heathen islands and countries, the -heathen were usually all right until some of the professed Christians -appeared to convert them. Afterward the histories of these places were -of a somewhat sinister character, and, if ever there was an exception to -prove the rule, I had never heard tell of it. Every so-called Christian -country had allowed and advanced all kinds of oppression among natives. -Whether this was for their spiritual welfare or not, it is not necessary -to inquire, the fact was always the same. Therefore, I was interested in -our future course, but, from the steady discipline and forbearance of -the officers, expected to see very little of the usual kind of -conversion. Every ship full of canting religionists came home full of -black murder and worse. There was much more to be expected from a vessel -whose after-guard stood for easy ship in regard to these matters. - -Sometimes, in the evening dog-watches, Richards would even take the -liberty of coming into the forecastle and joining in the talk, or -sitting upon the forecastle head in the warm wind and listening to a -chanty roared out by Martin or some one who had served in the Eastern -trade-ships. One of the favourite songs, made up from different snatches -heard either upon the men-of-war or along the dock-ends of Liverpool, -ran something like this: - - “We had come to anchor fine, sir, - In a vessel o’ the line, sir, - We had cruised for five years steady - Upon the Southern Seas-- - When a boat from off the shore, sir, - Brought a lady out aboard, sir, - She was black as soot an’ mud, sir, - An’ she smelled o’ oil an’ grease--” - -Then all hands would roar out with will the refrain, pointing to the -bos’n: - - “Then up jumped the bos’n, up jumped the crew, - The first mate, second mate, the cook and steward too-- - But the captain swore he’d have her, - An’ the mate ’e tried to grab her, - She couldn’t have ’em all, sir-- - What could the lady do?” - -Sometimes the gentlemen from aft would come forward and lend a hand with -some new version of an old song, but more often they were content to -listen from the sacred precincts of the quarter-deck. - -Old Howard never interfered with hilarity, but rather encouraged it. I -wondered at this, but remembered the cruise had only just begun. I had -seen captains encourage men before. Sometimes it held a more sinister -meaning than simple delight at their pleasure. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - I MAKE ANOTHER FRIEND - - -During the next week’s run we made a deal of westing, passing to the -southward of the Azores and getting well into the western ocean. The -northeast trade was picked up, and, as it was well to the eastward, it -enabled us to carry on stun’sails fore and aft. - -We were better acquainted in the fo’castle now, and I had learned to -like several men of my watch. Bill was a warm friend. Martin proved a -very entertaining fellow, but was absolutely without principle. Anderson -was quiet and attended to his duties like the average Swede, being a -good sailor and an excellent hand for sewing canvas and making -chafing-gear. He went by the name of Goldy in the forecastle on account -of the colour of his hair, which was bushy and covered his face. - -In the other watch was Jones, the giant Welshman, who was one of the -best men that ever stood upon a ship’s deck. He was as strong as a whale -and as kind-hearted as a girl. - -But the little fellow called Tim, who was in my watch, was the man I -chummed with. He was not much to look at, being small, ugly, red-headed, -and freckled. He was an American, however, and there was that something -about him that drew me to him as the magnet draws iron. He had been -pressed into the British navy before the war, and had served his time. -When the fighting was over and he received his discharge, he shipped in -an East-Indiaman, and made two voyages around the world. Why he never -returned to his home in the States was the cause of some speculation on -my part, but, as he never mentioned his people, I refrained from -trespassing. It is bad form for a sailor to inquire too closely into his -shipmate’s past. - -Tim was so insignificant looking among those picked men that I took -little or no notice of him until one night when it was blowing a stiff -gale and the barque was staggering along under topsails through an ugly -cross-sea that made her old timbers groan with the wrench. - -I had occasion to go to the forecastle head, and, while I stood there, -leaning over the life-line which did duty for a rail, I became absorbed -for a few minutes watching the fine phosphorescent display in the bow -wave. The night was very dark, and the deep, booming note of the taut -fabric above and the rushing sound below drowned all minor noises. - -Suddenly I heard my name called loudly, and something soft struck me in -the back. I turned and saw no one, but, while I searched the darkness -with my eyes, the door of the forward cabin opened, and I saw for an -instant the tall, erect form of Watkins, the steward, against the light -inside. I continued to look over the side until a hand was laid upon my -shoulder, and the little man Tim, who was really hardly more than a boy, -slewed me around none too gently. - -“’Tain’t healthy,” said he, “to be near the side o’ nights in a ship -where things is queer. You came nearer your end a minute ago than you -ever will again but once,” and he nodded aft. - -“The steward?” I asked. - -He nodded again, and looked so serious that my first inclination to -laugh died away at once. “He was within two fathoms of you when I -hailed, and his knife was as long as that,” and he stuck forth his arm -with his left hand placed midway to the shoulder. - -“So that’s his game, is it?” I said. “I’ll keep an eye on him hereafter. -The whole outfit aft have something queer about them. I’m obliged to you -for the warning. What was it that struck me in the back?” - -“Pair o’ my rolled-up socks,--the only ones I’ve got, too,--an’ if -they’re gone overboard, I’ll have to go barefooted, for I can’t abide -shoes without socks. Them ratlines do cut the bare feet of a feller most -uncommon though, an’ I’ll have a job aloft in the morning sending down -them t’gallantstun’sail-booms.” - -He searched about the forecastle deck for some minutes in the darkness, -but failed to find them. The night being warm, we remained on deck, as -the stiff wind was invigorating and the forecastle somewhat close. -Finally we sat upon the weather side of the windlass and leaned against -it. There was a man on lookout forward, but we were pretty well out of -the track of ships, and the only person liable to disturb us was the -third mate, who might come forward to trim head-sail. The starboard -watch were grouped upon the main-hatch, lounging and resting, and -Hawkson walked fore and aft on the poop, his tall form showing dimly now -and then as he passed the cabin skylights where the light from within -flared up. We snuggled down comfortably to sleep, but the snore of the -gale through the rigging and under the forestaysail kept us wakeful. I -watched Tim alongside of me, and saw he was still chewing his tobacco. - -“How did you come to get into the hooker without clothes?” I asked, -thinking he was tricked like myself. - -“Signed all right. There’s money in her, if what I believe is correct. -She’ll pay a feller like me. I’ve got no ties ashore. But they’re a -tough crowd. That feller, Sir John Hicks,--you’ve heard of him, hey?” - -“Never did. What’s he done?” I asked. - -“He ain’t done nothin’ in particular, but he’s the wildest of the -family. Got plenty o’ money, an’ that Lord George Renshaw, the old -un,--well, say, Heywood, you’ve heard how he got chased out o’ London?” - -I had heard nothing, being an American. - -“I forgot,” he went on. “You see, I’m mighty nigh an Englishman,” and he -spoke sadly and sighed, heaving his tobacco away. - -“Why do you stick to English ships after they stuck you for three years? -I should think you’d drop them by this time,” I said. - -He turned upon me savagely, his eyes shining and his face drawn. - -“Why do I?” he cried, hoarsely, his voice sounding above the snore -overhead. “Why do I? What business is it of yours why I do it? Why would -any man do the thing I’ve done--but to forget--not the British Navy, -good God, no. It was bad enough, but you can forget it easy enough, and -to forget--” - -“A woman?” I asked, boldly. - -“What else,” he said, almost softly. “I was a decent man once, Heywood, -and not an outlaw--what you will be if you stay aboard here. Yes, I was -married. Had as good girl as ever breathed. But I was poor. What crime -can a feller commit equal to poverty, hey? You know the old, old yarn. I -go to sea as mate of an Indiaman, and the owner saw the beauty of that -angel. Do I blame her? Not a bit. What chance would a poor girl left -alone for a few months have with a rich young feller like him,--an’ him -a rich ship-owner standin’ for everything that’s good to the mind of a -poor girl. She was lost if he went unchecked, an’ who would check the -honourable gentleman? Not her friends. Oh, no! He took her out on a -voyage with him--an’ left her without a cent--an’ now I’ll forget.” - -“What’s against the ship?” I asked. - -He seemed not to hear and was gazing aft, his head thrown back against -the windlass barrel. I repeated the question. - -“Nothing I know of. But you can rest easy, Heywood, they are up to some -expedition that won’t bear the light. If you take a fool’s advice, -you’ll make the jump at Nassau.” - -“Are you going there?” I asked. - -“I don’t say. Mebbe I will, an’ mebbe no. But you better.” - -“I’m glad you take such an interest in my future,” I said, rather -shortly. - -He turned full upon me, and I saw his eyes shine in the light. “Look -here, Heywood, I don’t deserve that. You’ve got a bad memory. I may have -been a fool to let off about myself. I reckon I was, but I’ve liked you, -and there’s not a damn thing aboard here I ever could like except you. I -say again, it’ll be best for you if you jump her at Nassau.” - -“Well,” I said, “Tim, I’m pretty mean to say you no after saving me from -that Watkins’s carver, though I reckon I could take care of the old -duffer even if he had forty knives. I didn’t mean to rough you, for it’s -with you whether I go or not. I’d stay aboard to be with you, and that’s -saying a bit more than I’ve said to any man for some time.” - -He gazed steadily at me, and I thought his eyes had a wistful look. Then -he spoke low in a voice I could hardly hear. - -“I’m glad you like me, Heywood. Maybe we’ll go together. Yes, we might -go together. Afterward--afterward--you won’t mind a feller being, so to -say, a bit outside the law. There’ll be a line for my neck, you know, -if--well, no matter. If you stay in the ship, there’ll be one for all -hands, if there’s any faith to be placed in signs.” - -Then we remained silent for a long time. I thought of Watkins and his -dastardly attempt upon me, and wondered if Tim was not a bit off in his -mind. But when I remembered the lost socks, I knew he was not mistaken, -for a sailor would hesitate a long time before throwing his last pair -away. The danger must have been imminent. It was a queer ship. That was -certain. Half her crew had been shipped by fraud, and her alleged owners -were not above reproach. As to her captain, there was nothing he was not -capable of, provided it was wrong, in spite of his years and mask-like -face, withered and bare as a sun-scorched lemon. We must have been -asleep when the watch was called, for I remember nothing of the bells, -and suddenly found myself looking into the rising sun, which shone with -unusual vigour over a windy sea. - -Tim was just in the act of going below as I looked at the forecastle -scuttle. His face seemed pale and drawn, but he smiled as he dived down -the companion-way. - -“You can get those gun-covers laced fast before we start washing down -decks,” said Mr. Gull, coming to the edge of the forecastle, and I was -soon on the main-deck with my trousers up to my knees, enjoying the -rushing warm sea water the watch were flinging along the gangway, -following it aft with squeegee and swab until the planks were spotless. - -How refreshing is that breeze of the early day at sea! The lines, all -damp with the salt dew of the night, hum a note of gladness to welcome -the rising disc of light. The brisk sea wind freshens, wrinkling the -broad ridges rushing before it, and brushing their white crests into a -wide spread of glittering jewels that flash, sparkle, and hiss in the -growing light. The air braces the tired body, and the appetite grows -keen. The men of the morning watch take on new life, and all eyes begin -to cast looks at the galley stovepipe, watching for the increasing -volume of smoke outpouring that tells of the preparation of the morning -meal. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - YANKEE DAN AND HIS DAUGHTER - - -For the next three weeks we ran smoothly to the westward, with nothing -occurring aboard _The Gentle Hand_ to break the monotony of ship’s duty. -The stiff breeze, the edge of the northeast trade-wind, bore us steadily -on over warm seas bright with sunlight and under blue skies flecked with -the lumpy trade clouds that hung apparently motionless in the void -above. - -During this weather I had little to do, and had a better chance of -seeing something of the after-guard while looking to the gear of the two -long twelves we carried upon the quarter-deck for stern-chasers. We -carried no metal on the forecastle, and it appeared that these heavy -guns aft were out of all proportion to the rest of the battery. - -I spoke to Hawkson about it, but he explained that the natives of the -Navigator, Society, and Fiji groups were somewhat dangerous, and that, -as our mission was one of peaceful trading, we would always run when -attacked rather than fight, and the heavy twelves were for keeping large -canoes at a distance. - -“It would be a rather large canoe,” I admitted, “that would face the -fire of a long twelve-pounder as heavy as any used in vessels of the -frigate class. The islands you speak of are not, however, in the South -Atlantic.” - -“You always were a clever lad, Heywood,” said he, with an ugly smile. -“What a smart one you were to see the error of that! But we’ll have a -try just to see what you can hit. Get a beef barrel and heave it -overboard, an’ get the men of the gun-crew aft.” - -After that we seldom let many days slip without practice. Tim begged me -to take him in the gun-crew, and, as he was as active as a monkey, I -always let him have a chance. He grew very quiet and sad as we drew near -the Bahamas, and when we ran clear of the trade, within a hundred miles -of the island, he seemed to be gazing over the sunlit ocean, watching -for a coming breeze. - -Sometimes I had him aft, polishing the brass of a gun-breech, and I -noticed that he divided his attention mostly between the captain, Hicks, -and Renshaw, and the southern horizon. - -The great southern ocean is a lonely place, but its very loneliness and -quietness on the edge of the great winds makes it appeal to a turbulent -soul. - -Tim and I sat a long time on the breech of the stern-chaser, rubbing the -metal easily and gazing out over the calm ocean. It was quiet aboard, -and the voices of the men on the main-deck sounded loud and discordant. -The slatting of the canvas was the only sound aloft, the royals jerking -at the clews first as the barque swung easily on the swell, and then the -t’gallantsails followed by the topsails fore and aft, the taut canvas -fanning the almost still air with the rolling swing, making the jerking -of the tacks and clews sound rhythmically upon the ear. Below, the -captain and his two passengers smoked and drank their ale under the -cabin skylight, their jokes sounding particularly coarse in the sunlit -quiet. - -Tim suddenly stopped work and gazed to the southward. Far away, miles -and miles to windward, the horizon darkened slightly where the deeper -blue of the ocean stood out against the pale azure of the semitropical -sky. - -While he looked, there came a sound over the water. It was a long, -plaintive cry of immense volume, but hardly distinct enough to be heard -unless the listener gave his attention. It was like a wild minor chord -of a harp, long continued and sustained, rising and falling over the -dark blue heave of the swells where the light air darkened and streaked -the ruffled surface. Farther away to windward, the ocean took on a -deeper blue, and the air filled the sails more steadily for a few -minutes. - -Tim stood gazing into the distance, his eyes bright and his lips parted, -but there was an expression of peace and tranquillity upon his freckled -face that I had never noticed before. - -“It’s the calling, Heywood, Heywood,” he whispered. “It’s the great -calling of the millions who have gone before. Listen!” - -I heard it. The sad, wailing notes coming from miles and miles away to -windward over that smooth sea, with the freshening breeze, made an -impression upon me I could not throw off. It vibrated through my whole -being, and was like the voice of great loneliness calling from the vast -world of sea and sky. It was not like the hum of the trade in the -rigging or the snore of a gale under the foot of a topsail, nor like the -thunderous roar of the hurricane through the rigging of a hove-to ship. -The melancholy sadness of the long-sustained wail was musical to a -degree. I sat there listening. - -Of course, it must have been caused by the wind over the surface of the -sea at a great distance, or by different currents of air in passing, but -the effect upon the imagination was like that which might be caused by -the prolonged cry of a distant host from the vastness of sunlit waste. -It pervaded my whole being, and enforced listening to its call, seeming -to draw my soul to it as if out in that sparkling world of rippling -wavelets lay the end of all strife and the great eternal peace. - -Tim stretched forth his arm. His eyes held a strange look in them, and -he moved to the rail as though in a dream. - -“I am coming, May, coming,” he whispered. - -Before I realized what had happened, he had gone over the side. Then I -jumped to my feet with a yell, and bawled out: “Man overboard!” at the -same time heaving the end of a gun-tackle over the taffrail. The cry and -noise of my rush brought the entire watch to the side, and the captain -and Hawkson to the quarter-rail. The barque was barely moving, and Tim -was alongside. But he refused to take the end of the line. There was an -exclamation beside me at the taffrail, and Renshaw leaned his elbows -upon the rail and looked over at the sinking sailor. Their eyes met for -an instant, and Tim made a grab for the line. He was hauled up quickly, -and went forward without a word of excuse to the captain and Hawkson’s -inquiries as to how he happened overboard. - -It was a strange occurrence, and I pondered over it that evening while -the barque rolled slowly toward the islands under a bright moon, and our -watch stretched themselves upon the main-hatch to smoke and spin yarns. -Tim avoided me. - -The next morning we found ourselves close to New Providence Harbour, the -white water of the Great Bahama bank stretching away on all sides. - -The skipper seemed to know the bank pretty well, for he sprung his luff -and headed into the harbour without waiting for a pilot. We ran close -in, clewing up the topsails as we went; then dropping the head-sails, -let go the hook within pistol-shot of the town of Nassau. The town -looked inviting enough. There it lay, and any kind of a swimmer could -make the beach easily. In fact, before we had the sails rolled up there -were niggers alongside, swimming out in utter disregard for sharks, and -begging for a coin to be tossed overboard that they might dive for it -and catch it before it reached the bottom. I was anxious about Tim. His -strange action and talk made me expect some peculiar happening, and I -watched him closely. - -Martin came to me as I stood in the fore-rigging and spoke, looking -longingly at the white coral beach, where the cocoanuts raised their -bunchy, long-leaved tops into the hot air and rustled softly an -invitation to the sailor. - -“I say, Heywood, ye dare do it or no, hey?” he said. - -“I’ll see,” I answered; “but isn’t the barky all right? We’ve been -treated mighty well even if we were gulled in signing into her. I don’t -know the place, and we might be a great deal worse off ashore.” - -“Barky be sunk! What the devil care I for the barky, man? Didn’t I sign -on as mate?” - -Bill came down from aloft and joined us, and then big Jones came forward -with Tim. We made a pretence of coiling down running-gear on the -pin-rail, while we gazed longingly at the shore. - -While we looked, a whale-boat shot out from the landing. It was rowed by -eight strapping blacks, the oars double-banked, and in the stern-sheets -were two men in white linen, looking very cool and trim in the hot -sunshine. As the craft drew nearer, we saw she was heading for us, and -the two men were gazing at our quarter-deck, where Hawkson and Captain -Howard were talking earnestly with Hicks and Renshaw. The one who was -steering was a medium-sized man with a smooth, red face, his beard -seeming to start just beneath his chin and fill his collar with its -shaggy growth that shot upward from somewhere below. - -Behind this man in the stern-sheets, I caught the flutter of a dress, -and soon made out the figure of a young girl dressed in white muslin. - -“Who is it?” asked Bill. “Looks youst like an admiral.” - -“It’s Yankee Dan,” said Tim. “I thought so. That’s his daughter with -him. He’s the biggest trader north o’ Cuba.” - -“The deil run away with him,” said Martin. “If he’s backin’ this barque -fer nothin’ but plain, honest trade, I’m no man fer him. She ware a -pirit once, why not again? I slip before dark. Will ye be the mon to -follow, ye giant Jones, or be ye nothin’ but a beefy lout like what ye -look?” - -The big fellow scowled at this. - -“Ef you are the better man, show me to-night,” said he. - -The boat had now drawn up alongside, and the bearded fellow in charge -stood up and hailed the quarter-deck, where Howard, Hawkson, and the -rest were leaning over the rail watching him. Hicks and Renshaw bowed -and removed their hats in deference to the young lady, but Hawkson and -the skipper stood stiff. - -“Didn’t expect to see you, Howard,” cried the trader. “They haven’t hung -you yet! How is it? Rope scarce? Lines give out? This is my -daughter,--and you’ll be damn civil to her if you’ll do any business -with me. Swing over your ladder, and don’t keep me waiting. I won’t wait -for you or any other bull-necked Britisher.” - -Hawkson had already had Mr. Gull swing out the accommodation ladder from -the poop, and the second mate simply lowered it an inch or two as the -whale-boat swept up. - -“Take in them oak gales,” roared Yankee Dan, whacking the stroke oarsman -over the knuckles with a light cane he carried. Then pulling savagely -upon the port tiller-rope, the boat swung up alongside the ladder under -full headway. - -“Stop her,” he bellowed. - -It looked as though she would go rasping along the whole length of the -barque with the impetus, but the blacks were instantly at the rail, -grasping and seizing anything in their powerful hands, while one man -forward, who had banked the bow oar, stood up with a huge hook and -rammed its point into our side to check her. She brought up so suddenly -that the trader was almost thrown from his feet. - -“Come aboard, Whiskers, an’ don’t tear all our paint off,” said Hawkson, -swaying the man-ropes so they fell aboard. - -The old trader glanced upward, the white hair of his beard sticking out -aggressively over his collar and framing his otherwise hairless face in -a sort of bristling halo. I saw the young girl flash a glance of disdain -at the poop and then seize the man-ropes. She sprang lightly upon the -ladder and mounted rapidly to the deck, followed by the younger man, who -had replied to none of the salutations and had quietly awaited events. - -Yankee Dan followed and seized Hawkson’s hand, greeting him as an old -friend. Then he slapped Captain Howard a rousing blow upon the back and -introduced his daughter. Mr. Curtis shook hands all round, appearing to -know every one, and we rightly surmised that he was the principal owner. - -The vociferous trader kept talking in high good humour, being on -familiar terms with Hicks, Renshaw, and the captain, and our men were -anxious to hear his words, hoping to gather something in reference to -our cruise. As for me, I found my attention drawn more toward the young -lady, for never had I seen such perfection in womanly form or feature. - -She was tall, and her figure, while not stout, had a supple fulness that -spoke of great strength and grace. Her face was full and rosy, and her -dark eyes were exquisitely bright, glancing quickly at a word or look. -Her mouth, partly open, showed strong white teeth, and her smile was a -revelation. There was nothing about her that spoke of her father save -her apparent good humour and disdain for conventionalities. Her eyes -were gentle, and had nothing of the fierce twinkle of the trader’s. -Altogether I was so entirely taken up noting her charms that I was not -aware of Mr. Gull until he came close to us and bawled out: - -“Clear away the long-boat. All loafers who are tired of the sea and want -a run on the beach get ready to go ashore.” - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - WE MAKE A DAY OF IT - - -“Did you fellers hear me?” asked Mr. Gull, coming toward Martin and the -rest of us. - -“Harkee, Mr. Gull,” said the Scot, “d’ye mean we can clear ef the wessel -don’t suit? Is that the lay o’ it? She’s a fine ship, Mr. Gull, an’ fer -me ye can lay to it. I’d never leave her, unless it’s the wish o’ the -matchless officers that commands her.” - -“If you drunkards ain’t aboard again by eight bells to-night, it’ll be a -sorry crowd that’ll come next day,--an’ ye can lay to that, ye fine -Scotchman, an’ with just as much scope as ye may care for.” - -Big Jones smiled as he unbent the boat tackle. It was evident our second -mate was not as big a fool as he looked, but it seemed strange we should -be allowed ashore unless the captain had good reason to believe we could -be back aboard again. Only a few minutes before we were planning some -desperate means of reaching the beach, and now the invitation was -offered to all who cared to avail themselves of the captain’s -liberality. - -In a very short time the boat was overboard, and a liberty crew, -consisting of Martin, Tim, Big Jones, Bill, Anderson, a Norwegian of -Gull’s watch, a German called Ernest, the black cook, and myself, jumped -into her and started off. - -“If I come back again,” said Jones, “they’ll need a good, strong heavy -man over there or a pair o’ mules to drag me.” - -“Good-bye,” said Bill. “Youst keep awake when we come alongside. ’Twould -be a pity to rouse you,” and he grinned knowingly at the men who leaned -over the rail to see us depart. - -I saw the old rascal Watkins come out in the waist and stand a moment -gazing after us, and Ernest bawled out a taunt in German which none of -us understood. Then we shot out of hearing and headed for the landing, -as wild for the beach as so many apprentices. - -The “Doctor,” who was a most powerful nigger, grinned in anticipation of -the joys on the shore. His clothes were nondescript and bore evidence of -the galley, and his feet were big, black, and bare. - -“Yah, yah, yah!” he laughed, “my feet is laughin’ at my pore ole body, -all rags and grease. Dey’ll hab a time asho’. Ain’t seen no green grass -lately.” - -The boat was run upon the coral, and all hands sprung out without -waiting to shove her up. We splashed ashore through the shallow water, -leaving the Doctor to haul the boat up and make her fast. It was evident -he intended going back aboard, but we were a bit differently inclined. - -The black soon joined us and led the way to the nearest rum-shop, the -place all sailors steer for, and, without comment, we filed into the -dirty hole for our first drink. - -“I says, Thunderbo’, give us disha stuff they says do a nigger good,” -said the Doctor, who acted as our pilot. “My feet is sure laffin at my -belly, Thunderbo’, ’cause it’s as empty as yo’ haid.” - -Thunderbore, who was a huge, nautical-looking pirate as black as the -Doctor, showed a set of white teeth and a large jar of a vile fluid -which fairly tore my throat to ribbons as I swallowed my “whack.” Big -Jones took his with a grimace, and was followed by Martin and the rest -until all had drunk. - -The stuff was pure fire, but the Doctor gulped a full half-pint, and -smacked his lips. - -“Thunderbo’, yo’ sho’ ain’t gwine to make a po’ nigger drink sech holy -water as disha. Give us somethin’ that’ll scratch, yo’ ape, or I’ll have -to take charge here,--I sho’ will,” said the Doctor. - -Thunderbore had a good temper, but was used to dealing with all classes -of desperadoes. He passed the jar again, and drew a Spanish machete or -corn-knife from his belt. He reached over and smote the Doctor playfully -a blow with the flat of it that sounded with a loud clap through the -dirty den. - -Some of the men laughed in derision, but the Doctor showed his ugly -teeth and glared at the den-keeper. He took another drink, and the fiery -liquid began to show its effects. Even Martin’s eyes looked queer after -a second taste, and he edged toward the huge, smiling African who held -the jar and knife. - -“I weel ken ye a murderer by yer eye,” said he, “but dare ye lay aside -the steel an’ stand forth, I’ll trim ye, ye black ape. I’ll trim ye for -th’ sake o’ the good wittles the Doctor has cooked.” - -The pernicious effect of the liquor was showing in the men’s faces. Even -I, temperate and peacefully disposed as I always am, began to feel a -desire to assert myself in a manner not in keeping with my usual -modesty. In fact, there were some there who were so drunk they actually -accused me afterward of having precipitated trouble by driving my fist -into the good-natured Thunderbore’s anatomy and seizing his machete. If -I did such a thing, it must have been in the same spirit of playfulness -that he exhibited when smiting the Doctor, for I was that peacefully -inclined that even after seeing a struggling pile of human forms upon -the floor, with the jar beneath them, I tried to separate a few with all -my strength. After exhausting this, I remember Tim cautioned me to leave -the intemperate fellows, who still struggled, threatened, and swore at -the black Thunderbore, who, with several friends who had rushed from an -adjoining room to his aid, now held the sailors at bay with a -boarding-pike. This he jabbed furiously at the Doctor, and, because Big -Jones would not allow him to be impaled upon it, the sea cook took -offence and turned upon his saviour, with Martin as an able ally. - -The whole scene soon resolved itself into a sailors’ brawl, which I feel -ashamed to describe. I therefore withdrew with my companion Tim, who was -almost as averse to a quarrel as I was myself. - -We left the den, and he guided the way through the white streets of -coral rock, which shone glaringly in the sunshine. They were dazzling, -and the light made my head swim a bit, but we kept on until we ran into -a shady lane, where an old negress had a small shanty, in front of which -she displayed a litter of shaddocks, sour-sops, and sapodillas. Tim -purchased some of the fruit, and then we struck into the bush until we -reached a small inlet. Here, in the clear water into which one could see -several fathoms, we plunged, leaving our clothing upon the bank. - -“That settles it for me,” I said. “I’ll not go back in that ship. Even -Mr. Curtis, with all his money and influence, can’t get me back.” - -“Mr. Curtis is closely related to the governor, and can get you easy -enough if he wants you,” said Tim. “But I feel myself like making the -jump right here. I’ve been here before. There ain’t nothin’ can get off -the island without he knows it. That’s the only thing that keeps me from -it.” - -“I thought you were so keen for me to get out here,” I said, sourly. - -“I didn’t suggest Nassau, did I?” said Tim. - -“That’s the place,” I answered, “but I suppose you were a bit loony. -What made you act bug-house and go over the side, hey?” - -Tim looked at me strangely a moment. - -“I didn’t mean you to jump right here. You can’t do it. They’ll have us -back aboard to-morrow. Wait till we get to the s’uthard for wood. -There’ll be a chance on the Caicos or Turk’s Island, and we go in -there.” - -I swam about, enjoying myself as much as possible with a rising temper -at the thought of going back aboard. I began to study the question, and -asked about the size of the island and the distances to the different -points on the Bahama bank. Tim had been all over the bank, and knew it -pretty well, and I became absorbed listening to him and forming my -plans. - -Suddenly it occurred to me I needed a smoke, and started for the shore -to get my pipe out of my clothes. We could sit naked in the shade and -enjoy life a bit while trying a scheme. - -“Where the deuce did you put those clothes?” I asked Tim, who followed -me. - -“I never touched them. What’s the matter?” - -“I don’t see them anywhere,” I answered, suspiciously. - -We were both on the bank, and stood there gazing about us. There was -nothing in the shape of a garment near, not even a handkerchief. Tim’s -white, freckled body looked rather meagre, and I noticed several huge -flies that lit upon him and made him jump with their bite. Then -something got foul of my back and stung me madly. - -“Devil nab me,” I yelled, “what the mischief is it?” - -“Nothin’ but a fish-fly,” said Tim, slapping me a rousing whack between -the shoulders. “Our clothes are gone all right, and we’ve got to foot it -back to the landing naked. What’s the use growlin’ about it?” - -“Well, you are a--” but words failed me. That couldn’t express what I -felt. I had trusted to Tim’s knowledge of the place, and here was a -mess. There was no possible means of clearing out without a stitch of -clothing, and the rascally thief who had taken ours gave me an idea how -closely a deserter would be followed over the low island barren of heavy -timber. I looked along the bank, and saw there was no use. - -“You’re the biggest fool I ever knew,” I finally said, and we started -slowly back to the town, with nothing to clothe us save an air of -seeming chastity not at all in keeping with civilization. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - HOW THE DAY ENDED - - -Immodesty is the principal vice I do not possess. When we started to get -back to _The Gentle Hand_ clothed in the odour of sanctity and -villainous liquor, I must say my heart failed me at the sight of the -town. We halted at the outskirts and tacked ship, standing for the house -of a conch, as the Bahama bank men are called. The mosquitoes and flies -had by this time made life almost unbearable, and something had to be -done. I objected to stealing on principle, but in practice I expected to -err, for, if a suit of clothes could be found not too dirty to wear, I -felt it my duty to quell my scruples in the interest of the -self-respecting citizens of Nassau. - -“Tim,” said I, “you little speckled leopard, you shall go in front. You -have, at least, some large brown spots to cover your hide, while I’m as -pure white as the coral road we’re walking on.” - -Tim demurred at this. - -“What’s the matter with you? Put your hulking carcass in front, and I’ll -walk behind. There’s no use making fun of the thing. You strut about big -enough on deck, glad enough to have any one notice you--Hi! there’s an’ -ole nigger woman now,” and he crouched down in the long grass. - -I sank instantly and hailed the old lady. - -“Hi, there! Mammy, have you a spare--er--er pair--I mean an apron or two -you could lend?” - -“Lawd sakes! How yo’ scart me!” cried the old negress. “Where yo’ is, -honey?” and she looked about her. - -“We’re over here in the grass. Lost our clothes while swimming. Don’t -come over, but just fetch out a bit of dunnage and run away, that’s a -good ole gal,” I said. - -“Run away! Huh! Who is you toe tell me to run away. I’se Mr. Curtis’ -nigger, an’ I doan’ run fo’ no one, I jest tell yo’ dat,” and she -advanced toward us. - -“Ah, trot along,” growled Tim. “Get us some clothes, or we’ll take some. -We haven’t time to fool with any blamed old nigger.” - -She advanced close to us, and I noticed she held a small black baby in -her arms. Tim edged behind me, and I tried to shove him in front. - -“Land sakes alive!” she cried. “He, he, he, yah, yah! Well, I nebber. -Yo’ is sho’ nuff nakid. Jest as nakid as this little babe under his -clothes. Yah, yah, he is sho’ just as nakid as you is under his clothes. -Well, I nebber--” - -But we waited no longer. The situation was too humiliating, and we -sprang to our feet and dashed down the path into the scrub. - -“What the deuce will we do?” I asked, when we were out of sight. “If she -wasn’t a woman, I’d rip her clothes off pretty quick and make shift of -her skirt.” - -“S’pose we lay for some man, then,” said Tim. “Seems to me you might -turn your knowledge of scrappin’ to some account.” - -“I’ve a notion to practise a bit on you, you speckled beauty,” said I, -angrily. “It’s your foolishness that got us in this fix.” - -“Here comes a feller your size. Try him.” - -I turned and followed his gaze, and there, sure enough, loomed a huge -black conch with a bucketful of sour-sops in either hand, striding up -the path. Hung over his shoulder was a long blacksnake whip, such as -overseers sometimes used upon refractory slaves. - -“Hi, there, uncle,” I cried, “I would like to buy some sops,” and we -both stepped forth into view. - -The fellow’s ugly visage wrinkled, and he set his buckets upon the -ground. - -“Who is yo’?” he asked, sourly. - -“We? Why, we are visitors, friends of Mr. Curtis,” I said. “We left our -clothes over there at the inlet, and some son of a polecat ran off with -them. Give us some sops and give us a shift. We’ll pay you well for it.” - -“Whar’s yo’ munny?” he growled. - -“In our clothes. Sink you for a fool nigger, you don’t suppose we have -pockets in our skins, do you?” - -“Who yo’ callin’ a fool nigger?” and he drew his whip over his shoulder. -“Don’t yo’ call me no names, yo’ po’ white trash. I’ll cut yo’ toe -ribbons, dat I will.” - -Before either of us could spring aside, the lash flew out and caught -first one and then the other of us on our naked bodies. The pain was -awful. Tim dashed up the path instantly without waiting for a second -dose, and the huge conch sprang after him, leaving me behind. - -Away they went, the lash flying out like the tongue of a snake, landing -every time upon that part of poor Tim’s anatomy which is said to be -equally discourteous to present to either friend or enemy. And every -time it landed, it brought forth a yell. I stood grinning for an -instant, in spite of the pain I suffered, and then the sense of outraged -decency getting the best of my risibilities, I launched myself full -speed in pursuit. - -Away we went up that trail, Tim’s speckled body leading the way, his red -hair streaming in the wind, and close behind him rushed that big black -conch with his cruel whip, his bare feet not heeding in the least a -thousand things that pricked and pained the soles of mine, as I tore -along in his wake. - -“Hi, hi, go it, Jackson!” howled a black fellow who stood in the path -and watched the race. - -An upper cut with my left fist did much to abate his zeal, and left him -lying upon his back, while with undiminished speed I went ahead. Soon -the white coral street of the town showed a bit in front through the -bushes, and in another minute we were fairly into the main street of -Nassau. - -I was now thoroughly aroused, and forgot entirely my predicament, so -intent was I upon reaching that rascal’s back. I called hoarsely for Tim -to stop, but, either because I was a bit winded or our pace was too fast -to allow the sound of my voice to reach him, he heeded it not at all, -but held his pace under all sail. - -White men now sprang from doorways to see what had happened, as the -yells came flying down the thoroughfare, and many women immodestly -halted to view the spectacle. I don’t know how the matter would have -ended had not Tim turned a corner suddenly, and plunged straight into -the arms of Big Jones and Martin, who were rushing for the pavement at -the sound of alarm. - -The Scotchman, with rare presence of mind, made a grab at Tim’s speckled -body, thinking it some peculiar breed of ape that had escaped from its -keeper, and in doing so lost his drunken balance, and plunged head -foremost into the stomach of the pursuing conch, and together they -rolled over into the street. Before they could disengage, I had a grip -upon that conch that he will remember yet. - -“Deil save us, ye cateran, what is it?” gasped the inebriated Scot, -struggling to his feet. “What? You Heywood! Ye immodest heathen! Hold -him, ye black feller, an’ I’ll lay the lash upon his unchaste hide.” - -Before he could come to the conch’s assistance, a speckled form sprang -upon him and bore him back again into the street, and I saw Tim change -from a fugitive into a veritable leopard, striking fiercely and tearing -at the blouse of the sailor until it had parted and come away in halves. -Just then I had business with the giant conch that needed attention, and -I saw nothing more of that fracas. - -The black man was a powerful fellow, but he lacked skill. The blow in -the stomach had winded him temporarily, and, before he had recovered, I -was cutting him up scientifically with his own whip, while the crowd -hooted and cheered in derision. When I desisted, he could hardly stand, -much less walk, and then Big Jones, who was enjoying the spectacle, -offered me his jumper. This I put on by running my legs through the -sleeves, after splitting them, and buttoning it behind. Tim had by this -time divested Martin of his spare raiment, and, dressed somewhat alike, -we strode side by side with much dignity to the boat, followed by Big -Jones, the Welshman, and an admiring throng of natives who cheered us -lustily. - -Martin and the well-thrashed overseer were left behind to compare notes, -while, with the blue eagle upon my breast fairly red with mortification, -we stepped aboard and shoved off. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - A SURPRISING SALUTE - - -As we drew up alongside _The Gentle Hand_, our peculiar attire attracted -more or less attention. Hawkson called vociferously for Hicks, Renshaw, -and the rest to observe us. Captain Howard threw back his head and -cackled away like an old hen, his bald poll turning red with exertion. - -“Sink me!” he cried, “but you two men shall lay aft here.” - -The Yankee trader shook with emotion, and insisted that Mr. Gull fetch -us aft to parade the quarter-deck. This I had no intention of doing, so, -springing quickly into the channels, I made a rush for the forecastle, -and got below before we were captured. But Tim was not so lucky. He was -intercepted by Mr. Gull, and escaped below only after a vigorous chase, -in which all hands joined, pelting him with rope’s-ends and whatever -they could lay hands to. As the uproar of laughter on deck subsided, we -changed our jumpers for clothes, both mad and disgusted thoroughly at -the humiliating performance we had undergone. But, tired as we were, Mr. -Gull turned us to with the men who had stayed aboard and were sent below -into the ’tween deck, where the noise of hammering now became apparent. -Richards took no notice of us while he was at work overhauling a pile of -lumber brought from the shore. Evidently he was disgusted at our -behaviour and took this way of showing it. - -Jorg, the Finn, was working away with a gang of men, building a platform -around the sides of the empty hold, and driving heavy staples into the -barque’s ceiling. He gave me a sour look as I passed him, and then Mr. -Gull led the way aft to where Henry was at work cutting up planks. - -“Better measure ’em off accurate, Heywood,” he said, motioning to the -pile of lumber that lay near. “Allow six feet six inches fer them long -niggers, or they’ll be lame from hanging their heavy feet over the -edge.” - -Then he passed on, leaving me alone with the ferret-faced officer, who -was sawing up a length of plank. The long lines of staples with chains -attached began to have some meaning to me now, for the effects of the -run had done much to clear my head. Henry saw my gaze following the line -forward, and stopped to mop the perspiration from his dripping face. - -“What d’ye think, will she carry five hundred, hey?” he said. - -The horror of the thing began to dawn upon me. The chains and staples -were for human beings. The temperature of that hold, as it was, could -not have been less than one hundred degrees. What would it be with a -mass of filthy black humanity packed and wedged in as tight as they -could be stowed! - -“Is five hundred niggers her rating?” I asked, with unconcern. - -Henry shot his fox-like glance at me. - -“Don’t you really know no better’n that?” he said. - -“Slaving and piracy hasn’t been my chief occupation, Henry,” I said. “My -people have always been respectable, and I have been a man-o’-war’s man. -Besides, my mother hasn’t been hung yet.” - -“Well,” he said, wincing at this last part of my remark, “law an’ -justice air two different things. It hain’t a penal hoffence to bring a -fool into the world, but it should be,--an’ a capital one, too.” - -“I’ll admit justice miscarried in the case of your parents, but let it -go. Explain what’s wrong with me. I don’t know any better than ask if -five hundred is this bark’s complement, cargo, or whatever you choose to -call it.” - -“Well, if ye’d ever been in a slaver before, Hi cudn’t hexcuse yer -foolishness, Heywood, but, since ye ask me, ye may note that this here -’tween-decks will mighty nigh accommodate a trifle o’ five hundred. What -about the lower hold, hey?” - -“Do you mean that they’ll fill her up solid with human bodies?” I asked. - -“Oh, no; they’ll let in a bit o’ air through the hatch-gratings in good -weather. The voyage ain’t a-goin’ to last for ever. Say, d’ye think this -is a slow ship? You seen her run. Honest now, how long d’ye calculate we -be ’tween here an’ the Guinea coast. A man, even a nigger, can stand -bein’ shut up a little while. An’ then, stave you, Heywood, for a -priest, don’t ye think a bit o’ sufferin’ is worth goin’ through to be a -good Christian an’ die in the faith, hey? Every black bloomin’ son of a -gun’ll be as good Christian as you are afore he dies.” - -I said no more. When I saw Tim he showed no surprise. - -“I expected at least that,” he said. “It’s Yankee Dan’s principal -business. I was with them once before, an’ that’s the reason I wanted -you to clear.” - -“It’s a strange Yankee that should be at the head of such a business,” -said I. “Now, if a Spaniard--” - -“Stow it!” said Tim, angrily. “There never was any other real slaver -than the Yankee, an’ they’re the ones makin’ the most howl against it. -Nearly every slave-ship that comes here has a Yankee shipper.” - -This I found later to be only too true. It was more than disgraceful for -the fact that, even at that time, in the Northern States there had been -angry discussions upon the question, the South being scored heavily for -the slaves it held from necessity to work the plantations. - -It was evident that the English governor winked at the trade, and that -few, if any, of our crew had suspected before this time just what the -barque’s trade would be. As there seemed every prospect of many of them -not coming aboard again, I would not worry myself about the matter when -they would learn the truth. As for Martin, he would be glad to be in a -slaver, and as for the morals of the rest of the liberty crew, they were -not worth considering when pitted against a few English sovereigns or -American dollars. I went aft that evening to lower the colours with a -very disagreeable feeling at the prospect in store. - -It was always the custom aboard _The Gentle Hand_, I learned, to lower -the colours in man-o’-war style when the vessel was in soundings, so I -repaired to the quarter-deck to load one of the after guns, and stand by -to set the sun. - -Tim went with me, acting as quartermaster, and I felt somewhat abashed -at the presence of Miss Allen, Yankee Dan’s daughter. I wondered if she -had seen me come aboard, and the memory of that jumper put on upside -down made my face wear a smile that was not lost on Hawkson. - -“Glad to see you lookin’ happy, Heywood. Yer see, this ain’t sech a bad -ship, after all. Put a good big charge in that twelve-pounder, and p’int -her straight for the governor’s house, and let him know there’s some say -t’us. It never hurts to put on a bit o’ side to these lazy rulers,” said -he, as I began unlacing the gun-cover. - -“Do you want a shot rammed in it, too?” I asked. “It might be just as -well to stir him up with a handful of good iron. It would probably be -small loss to his country if he happened to try and stop it.” - -“That’s where you show a lot o’ foolishness,” he replied. “There’s -devilish few men like him, and, if his country can spare him, we can’t. -By no means let a shot get in that gun.” - -While we were talking, Miss Allen came up the companionway accompanied -by Hicks, Renshaw, and Curtis. She looked magnificent as she stood there -in the fading sunlight, her hair taking on a deep coppery-red colour, -and her eyes sparkling with amusement. - -“Will you let me fire it, Mr. Sailorman?” she asked, nodding toward the -gun which I was loading. - -“Indeed he will not,” said Mr. Curtis, whom I now observed to be a man -of some presence, wearing a single eye-glass and a look such as I had -imagined belonged to men much given to science and books. - -“You have my permission,” laughed Sir John, winking awkwardly, “but, of -course, you must not disobey.” - -“I have not promised to obey yet,” said the girl, with a slight raising -of the eyebrows. “Suppose, Sir John, you allow your wit to flow in -different channels.” - -“Wit!” growled Renshaw. “Don’t use the word, I beg you, in connection -with his speech. One might really suppose there was such a quality in -his nature, since you suggest it, Miss Allen, and much as I should like -to--” - -“Oh, stow it! Belay for the lady’s sake,” said Sir John. “There is such -a thing as talking a person to death.” - -“Between the two of you, she is in rather a dangerous situation,” said -Mr. Curtis, sourly, “but I suppose there is some excuse for men who have -been at sea over a month.” - -Miss Allen had heard little or none of this last remark, for she was -advancing to me as I stood at the breech of the fine brass gun. - -“Do you give me the lock-spring. I see it does not need a port-fire like -those ashore,” said she, coming to my side. - -“It is not time to fire yet,” I said. “Mr. Hawkson will come from below -and pass the word from the old man--I mean, Captain Howard.” - -“Why, he and papa will never get through talking as long as there’s a -bottle between them,” she said. “Let me have the cord. What care I for -your Captain Howard?” - -“Here, you fellow! Don’t give Miss Allen that lanyard,” said Mr. Curtis, -in a tone such as he had probably been accustomed to use to his niggers. -It rubbed me the wrong way. I was entitled to mister while on the poop. - -I bowed and passed the string into her hand, and noticed how firm and -round were the fingers that closed upon it. - -“Fire whenever you are ready, Miss Allen,” said I. “Jerk hard upon the -cord.” - -The next instant there was a flash and roar. The blue powder smoke -swirled over the harbour, and the echoes were loosened in the bay, while -over all a slight, droning snore, rapidly dying away in the distance, -told of a twelve-pound solid shot tearing its way through the quiet air -between the ship and the governor’s house. - -I looked vainly to see the effect of the shot, wondering how on earth -the ball came to get into the gun. Then the humming of the signal -halyards called my attention, and I saw Tim lowering the ensign, with a -peculiar glint in his eyes, while Hawkson, Yankee Dan, and the captain -came bounding from below. - -“What the devil has happened?” bawled Hawkson, emerging first. “Who told -you to fire that gun?” and he glared at me. - -“I just told the rascal not to,” said Mr. Curtis, “and what does he do -but deliberately do it.” - -Captain Howard turned his mask-like face to me. - -“Did you have shot in that piece?” he asked. - -“Not that I know of,” I stammered, hesitatingly, for, though I had heard -the shot as plainly as he, I knew nothing of how it came in the gun. - -“You may put him in double irons until I want him,” said Howard, -dismissing the subject and turning to the trader. - -“He did not fire that gun, and shall not go in irons,” said Miss Allen, -firmly, standing before her father and the captain. “I fired that gun. -Now, what are you going to do about it?” - -Howard looked straight at her for a moment. Then he broke forth into his -cackling laugh. - -“Nothing, of course. He, he, he, ho, ho! not a thing. If you fired that -gun, it’s all right. Ho, ho, ho! Now, Dan, you’d better go ashore and -explain to the governor how your daughter happened to send a -twelve-pounder into his house. When you come back, maybe you’ll think -ten thousand pounds is a big price to pay for the risk we run, and maybe -you won’t. If he’s in a good humour, I doubt if he lets you land.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - I DECIDE TO LEAVE THE BARQUE - - -I was allowed to go forward, followed by Tim, who gave me a queer look -as he passed. - -“What did you do it for?” I asked, when we were out of hearing. - -But Tim only looked sullen and said nothing. - -“I have half a notion to report you,” I said, angrily. - -“Call away the shore boat!” came Hawkson’s hail, and, before we had a -chance to say anything more, we were hustled into her by Mr. Gull, while -the negro crew in Mr. Curtis’s gig dropped to the gangway. - -Henry came in our boat, with orders to collect his men and bring them -aboard, and we had just time to see the trader and his daughter embark -with Mr. Curtis, followed by the jests of the gentlemen aboard who -handed the young lady down the ladder. I felt very grateful to Miss -Allen, and, as her laughter fell upon our ears, Henry turned and gazed -astern. - -“If I know the governor, there’ll be trouble yet,” said he. “That Yankee -ain’t too well liked.” - -As we drew near the landing, we noticed a crowd gathering, and an -official-looking person in a peculiar uniform or livery came to meet us. - -“I have a message for your captain,” said he. - -“Is it official?” asked Henry. - -“It is, and both imperative and immediate,” said the man. - -“I suppose, then, you want to deliver it?” asked Henry. - -“Your discernment does you great credit,” said the man. - -“Why! Wh-o-o-a! Say not so,” said Henry, with impressive gravity. “In a -hurry, eh?” - -“I am, and it’ll be the worse for you if you delay me any longer.” - -“Now hark at that man!” cried Henry, as his little eyes glittered. -“Delay him! Here I am a-goin’ right along about my business, an’ here -this chap comes up sayin’ I delay him. I’ll see the gove’nor about this. -Come along, bullies,” and he sprang ashore, ordering us to follow. - -“It’s the governor who will see you, you fellow,” said the man. - -“An’ him a-callin’ me names,” cried Henry. Then in a lower tone, as we -drew away: “Hi reckon ’is ’ighness’ll get along without us. We’ll want -to hustle that crew aboard ’fore there’s trouble.” - -This seemed harder to me than it did to the third mate, and I smiled as -I thought of Jones, Martin, and the fighting Doctor. We quickly left the -vicinity of the landing, and hurried through the darkening streets in -the direction of the den kept by the truculent Thunderbore. - -They were not there, and we hurried on in the direction the big conch -told us they had taken, Henry apparently confident that we would have -them in hand shortly. - -As the darkness fell, and objects could not be distinguished, the desire -to desert the barque took strong hold of me. Her mission was apparent -now, and I determined to make a dash for liberty at the first -opportunity. Tim’s peculiar behaviour troubled me, and I was somewhat -backward in taking him into my confidence. However, when we struck into -an extremely dark street, I thought his knowledge of the town would be -of use, and I whispered my intention of clearing. The next instant we -were plunging into the darkness, while Henry’s voice bawled forth, dying -away in the distance: - -“Come back, ye blazin’ fools! Come back!” - -We ran wildly up the street until it ended in a thick thorn hedge, into -which I foolishly plunged, getting badly scratched for my pains. The -impetus of the run sent me through and into a ditch beyond, followed by -Tim, who plunged through the opening my body had made. He landed heavily -upon me, knocking the breath out of my body, and for awhile I lay there -unable to rise. Then Mr. Henry’s voice, cursing a couple of fools, -sounded unpleasantly near, and I started up, resolved to make a fight if -necessary. - -The little mate, however, refused to seize us, even though he could -easily have done so, as he reached the bank of the ditch before we could -get clear. He tried to argue the question, preferring words to blows in -the darkness, doubtless fearing the knife in such an encounter. - -“What’s the meanin’ of it, anyways?” he asked. “What yer runnin’ fer?” - -“Go on, Henry,” said I. “Go get the men, but don’t try to get me back -aboard the slaver, or there’ll be trouble.” - -“Well, where ye a-goin’? What’s the sense o’ playin’ the fool when you -have to be a man, anyways. I ain’t goin’ to te’ch you, but I’ll say -right here you’ll probably get irons for tryin’ this fool trick.” - -“When I’m aboard, we’ll discuss the irons. Now stand clear, or there’ll -be trouble.” - -Tim and I started across the clearing, heading for a light we saw in the -distance. Henry declined to follow, and we left him swearing at our -stupidity. Going on, we came to a pathway which led toward the house, -and we had hardly struck into it when there was a rush of feet on the -coral, followed by a deep growling. - -“Keep clear of the houses. Cut for the cover back of the town,” said -Tim, hoarsely. - -As I sheered off, a huge animal sprang upon me and knocked me down, -fastening its teeth in my neck and shoulder. I heard Tim cry out, -“Bloodhound,” and then he flung himself upon the beast, while I tried my -best to pull out my knife and get the animal in front of me. - -The dog let out a deep, baying cry as Tim struck, and this was answered -by several animals near the house. I soon had my knife at work, and, in -spite of a lacerated shoulder, plunged it again and again into the -ferocious brute. Then he relaxed his hold, and I stood up. A lantern -flashed in the path, and, before we could run, forms of men showed close -to us. - -“Who is it? What’s the matter?” said a strong voice I recognized as -Yankee Dan’s. Behind him were Mr. Curtis, Miss Allen, and the two -stalwart conchs who accompanied them from the landing. - -It was now or never. The dog was evidently done for, and we must run for -it. - -“Come on,” I said to Tim, and away we went. - -“Halt!” came the deep voice of the trader. “Halt, or I’ll fire!” - -“It’s the sailors; don’t!” cried Miss Allen. - -We were going pretty fast, and must have been out of sight in a few -minutes. Perhaps the trader did not wish to hit us. At all events, his -shot whistled past, and we were soon out of range. Had he known the loss -of his dog, he might have taken better aim. - -We were soon in the thick tropical jungle, and, as it was almost -impenetrable, we were forced to halt. We waited a few minutes to try and -get our bearings, and then worked out into the open again, keeping away -from all lights. In this way we blundered along for an hour or two, Tim -swearing noisily at the darkness and obstacles that came in our path. - -“It’s all foolishness, anyhow, for you to clear here,” said he. “They’ve -hounds that’ll catch us in half an hour, and there’s no way to leave -this island, without going to sea, before they hunt for us.” - -“Well, show me a boat,” said I, angrily. “Anything that’ll carry a sail -across the Florida channel will do, and, if you think I’ll mind stealing -it, you know mighty little how I want to clear. I’ll face the savages of -the Florida peninsula before going with that gang of nigger hunters.” - -We skirted the town, and finally came out on the shore near the harbour -entrance. Here we could find some kind of craft, for there were numerous -spongers and fishermen in the town. - -Tim finally brought up on the beach and tried to get his bearings. There -was nothing in sight that looked like a sailing craft, except a dim -shadow out in the harbour which gave promise of being an able sloop, for -the tapering line that went skyward seemed to describe a tall mast. We -cast about to find some means of getting aboard without swimming, for -the water looked black and forbidding, and the phosphorus flared weirdly -in places, and gave rise to a belief in the presence of that ugly fish, -the shark of the Bahama bank. - -While we skirted the fringe of rippling waves, which flamed and sparkled -as they rolled upon the beach, we heard the deep-mouthed baying of -hounds. - -“My God! I told you so,” said Tim. - -“They’re a long way off yet,” I answered, surlily. - -“A sailor ain’t much at running, ye know, an’ we haven’t all night to -clear,” he answered. - -“Well, you’ve forgotten your gait mighty sudden, then,” said I. “How -about this morning?” - -But Tim had struck into a quick trot, and I followed, for the deep, -musical cry of those dogs was anything but nerve-steadying, sounding as -it did through the darkness, when not a tree or house showed us a place -of refuge. It was take to either a tree or water, and, as there were no -trees, I made ready for a swim, willing to trust the hidden monsters -below the surface rather than those of dry land. - -After running for a few minutes toward the town, the cry of the hounds -sounded louder. They were evidently upon our trail, and it would be but -a few minutes before they would close with us, and then capture would be -certain. It might be well if we were captured before the brutes seized -us, for, judging from the size of the one we had killed, they would make -things pretty hot if it came to a fight. - -“Into the water!” panted Tim. - -We struck into the edge of the surf, splashing through the water where -it was but a few inches deep, hoping thus to put the dogs off the scent. -In a little while, however, we found this failed to check them, for, -while they stopped a few minutes at the spot we struck the water, they -soon showed sagacity enough to burst into full cry and come tearing up -the beach in our wake. - -We were now nearing houses again, and in a moment bright lights shone -ahead. A large building on the edge of the town showed lights in many -windows, and the sound of music and hoarse voices came forth. It was -evidently a place for fishermen and traders to carouse, and we headed -straight for it as the baying drew close to our heels. The door was -open, and in we dashed, flinging it to in the faces of as ugly a pair of -brutes as I ever saw. - -The hounds were evidently well trained to hunt slaves, for they flung -themselves against the panels until the lock burst and the door flew -open, letting them into the room in full cry. - -Our entrance into the company collected in that place naturally caused -some commotion. The big Welshman, Jones, was in the act of footing a -hornpipe with a tall, yellow girl for a partner; Martin sat with a mug -of ale on one hand and a stout blond woman on the other, and he fiercely -squeezed and pulled an old accordion, while the black Doctor howled and -patted time with his bare feet upon the prostrate form of Ernest, the -German. The rest of the company were ranged about, looking at the big -Welshman, roaring or screaming as the case happened to be. - -For an instant the crowd stopped spellbound at our headlong entrance. -Martin was in the act of hurling the accordion at us in his anger at -being interrupted. The door crashed in, and the two black shapes leaped -among them. - -The hounds, with their flaming eyes and lolling tongues, presented a -hideous spectacle, and the effect of their headlong plunge was too much -for the nerves of the drunken crew. There was a wild howl of terror and -a general scramble. I knocked over one lamp, and Tim adroitly dowsed the -other, causing total darkness, and then above the wild din I could hear -Martin’s voice, roaring: - -“’Tis th’ dev’l, man! Tis th’ dev’l! Gawd save us, ’tis th’ dev’l -himsel’! Coom out an’ fight like a man, ye coward! Coom in th’ light, -an’ I’ll whollop ye like a babe, ye sneakin’ traitor! Coom out an’ stan’ -to a true Christian sailor--ho-oo-t!” - -The screams of the women and bawling of the men, coupled with the deep -baying howls in the darkness, caused a disorder hard to describe. - -There were several windows in the large room, but in the wild scramble -these were overlooked by some, and, before the hounds could disengage -themselves from the struggling crowd, Tim and I had leaped out and were -running wildly into the streets of Nassau. - -Windows were thrown open and heads peered out, looking in the direction -of the uproar, and I distinctly heard several doubtful encomiums -pronounced upon the habits of sailors by some of the more respectable -residents of that not very pious town. Then we fell into a walk, -somewhat amused at our sudden deliverance, and soon mingled with the -loungers upon the broad street, which at this early hour was still full -of people. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - OTHERS DECIDE OTHERWISE - - -After following the street for a time, we concluded that our presence -would be noted by the natives, and we turned into a broad, poorly -lighted avenue, whose pavement shone white in the darkness. Here the -houses seemed of the better class, and, as the avenue stretched away -back inland to the southward, we decided to get across to the other side -of the island, and trust to getting a sponger or fisherman to take us to -some of the deserted cays until we could make good our escape. - -“If you didn’t leave such a confounded trail,” said Tim, “the dogs -couldn’t follow us. But you must be mighty nigh as smelly as a nigger, -for they never even slowed down after they hit it fair.” - -I was about to make a rather warm retort to this remark, but at that -instant the door of a large house across the street opened, and a boy -appeared upon the threshold. He was joined instantly by a large woman, -whose strong face in profile showed plainly against the light inside. - -Tim halted and seized my arm. Then he swore softly, and stood gazing at -them while they came out into the street. The door was closed with a -bang by the woman, but not before I had time to note her figure. She was -huge. Almost as tall as myself, and her shoulders were those of a -prize-fighter. - -“Georgie, you dear,” she said, “if you run off this time, you’ll be -sorry.” And her voice was peculiarly gentle and soft, almost absurdly so -for a person of her size. She locked the door, and they came toward us -until we started to turn aside to pass. - -“Mary!” said Tim, in a low tone. - -The woman stopped as if turned to stone. - -“Who is it?” she asked, sweetly, and I saw her face clearly as she -looked full at me. She was handsome. It was dark, but her eyes shone, -and I could see the firm sweep of her chin and the well-cut nose and -lips. She was not young, but she had all the colour and vigour of a -girl. - -“It’s me,” said Tim, shortly. - -The next instant the boy’s stick fell across his shoulders with a loud -whack. - -“Clear out, you rascal,” he said. “How dare you speak to a lady! Oh, -it’s you, is it--” - -In an instant the boy’s arms were around Tim’s neck, and he was hugging -him closely. - -“Oh, papa, papa!” he was crying, while the woman looked on silently. - -In a moment Tim put him aside and stood before his wife. The scene was -strange, and, as I stood by, gazing at them, I thought of what the -little sailor had told me. - -Tim advanced and held out his hand. The woman sprang forward and seized -it, pressing it to her lips and falling upon her knees. - -“Forgive me,” she said. - -But the sailor could not or would not answer. He stood looking down at -her a long time. - -“Oh, Tim, Tim!” she pleaded, gazing up at him. - -I was somewhat disturbed at the scene, for there were people abroad on -the streets, and here was a fine, large woman, as good-looking as one -would care to see, kneeling before a pitiful-looking sailor, who was as -ragged and dirty looking as a forlorn slave. If we were to make good an -escape from the barque, it was anything but the proper thing to make a -scene in the town streets. - -“He is aboard the barque,” said Tim, slowly. “Will you give him up and -come back to me if I get away?” - -I knew he was speaking of Renshaw. - -“Yes, yes,” moaned the woman; “only say you’ll forgive me, Tim. I’ll try -and help you get away. You know I can handle a boat, and can come up to -you on the ship if you will let me--” - -He placed his hand upon her head and bade her rise. As he did so, two -men came from the shadow of the houses across the street, and I -immediately recognized Renshaw, followed by the bos’n, who came -respectfully a few feet behind him. Old Richards drew up alongside his -master, and stood ready for further orders. - -“Get back to your boat, sir,” said Renshaw, addressing Tim. - -The little sailor waited to see his wife upon her feet. Then he turned, -and I expected to see him make a break for it, as he struck me as being -pretty good at running. But I was mistaken. - -With a sudden lunge, he struck Renshaw a terrific blow in the face. The -next instant the bos’n sprang forward and tried to grab him, and would -have succeeded but for the fact that my foot slid out between, and -Richards went sprawling in the dust. - -It looked as though things would take a more serious turn, for Tim had -now been in open mutiny. Renshaw had fallen and struck his head on a -piece of the flagging in front of the house, and lay quite insensible. - -“For the Lord’s sake, Richards, let us get away,” I said, as the bos’n -arose angrily to his feet. - -“Into the house, quick,” cried Tim’s wife, as she led the way toward the -door. - -“He isn’t hurt half as badly as he ought to be,” said Tim, pointing to -the fallen man. “Take him away, bos’n, before some one sees him.” - -Then we crowded to the door, which was flung open. - -At that minute the deep baying of the hounds fell upon our ears, -sounding weirdly musical in the night, and a few moments later human -forms dashed up the street, with the leaping animals straining at the -chains that held them, fairly pulling the men into their tremendous -stride. - -“Way there! way there!” bawled a voice I knew was Henry’s, and, before I -could move, one of the animals, with a howl, leaped straight for my -throat. - -All thought of escape was gone in an instant, and I struggled -desperately with the animal, while the black conch beat and pulled to -drag him off. - -Finally, after I had my hands badly torn with the brute’s teeth, they -succeeded in quieting him, and Henry clapped irons upon my wrists. Then -I saw Tim had also been taken, and was standing quietly with his hands -ironed behind him and his head bowed forward, his thoughts evidently far -away from the barque or her crew. Upon the white coral road lay a dark -object, and, while I looked, men raised it and bore it into the house -the woman had but left a few minutes before. - -I stood gazing after them until Henry shoved me roughly ahead. - -“Come, git a move on ye,” said he. And his fingers closed upon my arm -like a vice. - -We went some distance before reaching the landing where we had come -ashore, and I was more astonished to find that, in spite of our wild -run, the boat was not only waiting for our return, but had an uproarious -crowd ironed in her. I could hear the voice of Martin raised in an -argument with Bill, insisting the devil had taken charge and was afraid -to stand to a true Christian like himself. And the big Norwegian would -earnestly try to strike him, and then bewailed his inability, owing to -his ironed hands. Above all, the deep roar of Jones floated over the -quiet harbour, joined now and then by the thick tones of the Doctor -bawling for Thunderbo’ to bring him something that would “scratch.” - -We were hustled into the boat without ceremony, and started for the -barque. - -As we drew alongside, Hawkson’s voice hailed us. - -“Got ’em all?” said he. - -“Hevery bloomin’ one, sur,” answered Henry. - -“Knock off their irons, then, and let ’em turn in. We’ll make a start -early in the mornin’ if things turn out all right.” - -“There’s been a bit o’ trouble ashore,” said Henry, climbing up the -chains, and then he evidently told Hawkson something of what had -happened, for Tim’s irons and mine were left on, and we were hustled -below, where we were hitched to ring-bolts in the slave-deck. - -Shortly afterward, the noise of the howling men ceased, and I knew that -they had either obeyed orders and turned in, or had been gagged. It was -dark below, and I could see nothing of Tim. I spoke his name softly, but -received no answer. Then I heard a voice, agonized and full of great -suffering, praying and pleading for some one to come back again. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - A TASTE OF COLD IRON - - -It was hard to tell just when the morning dawned in that dark hold of -the slaver. I was awakened by Henry coming below and leading us both on -deck, where our usual mess of bread and coffee was served for breakfast. -Then we were told to lay aft, and, following Hawkson, we entered the -cabin to hear our sentence pronounced by Captain Howard. - -As we entered, that strange old rascal was at the table with Hicks, -engaged in a most peculiar game. The cloth was divided up into squares -like a checker-board, and from opposite sides the two were hard at it, -and paid no attention to Hawkson’s entrance. In a short time I found -that “beef was king,” that is, a plate with meat upon it could jump a -dish of bread or cup of coffee, as with checkers, the person losing not -having any more of that victual for the meal. While they played, they -ate from whatever dishes they could reach, and were so absorbed that it -was not until Hicks jumped the old man’s plate of sliced pineapple with -a chunk of salt beef that the old villain turned and noticed us. Then he -surlily demanded what was wanted. - -Whether it was the loss of his fruit or memory of the last night’s -occurrence that oppressed him, it was hard to tell, but his mask-like -face showed no feeling. He bade Hawkson stand us against the cabin -bulkhead, and called Watkins to hand him pistols. - -The old steward obeyed with alacrity, for it was only too evident what -he wanted them for. Hicks, however, burst forth into a laugh. - -“Hold on, Captain Howard,” said he. “You forget this isn’t exactly a -pirate ship. Bless your old heart, you would pistol them both.” - -“And I will,” said the old villain, cocking back the flints of the -weapons. - -He had formerly had the playful habit of loosing off one or both of his -pistols under the table, to suddenly emphasize an after-dinner argument, -and the rough habits of his early days stuck to him, only now the -weapons appeared above the board. The game of grub, I learned, was one -he had practised with his mates in the old days when the gambling habit -had taken so strong hold upon him he must play at something. - -Hicks, however, would hear of no such thing as shooting us without -trial. The captain’s will, he admitted, was law, but we were in an -English harbour and not on the high seas, and such action might cause -endless trouble if the governor heard of it. Hawkson also urged the -necessity of care for the sake of the voyage, and indeed he appeared -somewhat worried about the matter until the pistols were finally laid -aside and our case taken up. - -Tim was asked if he had anything to say why the sentence of death should -not be pronounced upon him. It would be fulfilled, with the governor’s -permission, sometime that day. He had admitted the testimony of two -witnesses, who swore they had seen him wound Renshaw. - -He was silent and hung his head. Then he raised it and stood straight -before them. - -“I don’t mind the sentence,” said he, “but I do mind it coming from such -as you.” - -“You may gag and take him forward,” said Howard. “He shall be blown from -a gun.” - -He was led away, and they turned to me. - -What had I to say? Well, I had considerable, and I told at some length -how I had nothing whatever to do with Tim’s case. - -“You may drop him overboard with a shot to each foot,” said Howard, as I -finished. “Call away the gig, Mr. Hawkson. I’ll go over to the -governor’s before he gets too warm to see any one.” - -The whole scene, the entire lack of feeling, the disposing of our cases -as though we were simply niggers, made an impression upon me that can -hardly be described. Then the old pirate turned to his meal as though -nothing had happened, and finished his coffee, while I was led forward. - -“Keep a stiff neck, Heywood,” said the old privateersman, as we came on -deck. “I believe you’re all right. I’ve heard something of this Renshaw -before. He’s a feller of title, ye know, an’, if it wasn’t for that, I -could save the little red-headed feller, too. But Sir John will insist -on one o’ ye goin’. Blow the little chap from a gun? I’ll see he hears -more o’ your story, an’, if worse comes from it, I’ll--well, never mind. -There’s plenty o’ time between now and when the old man sees the -governor. He won’t do anything without permission in port.” - -“Don’t take any trouble on my account,” I said, angrily. “I’ve tried to -clear fair enough, and would have gone but for Tim meeting his wife. I’d -as soon stand in front as behind the guns of a slaver.” - -“You’ll never have sense enough to stand anywhere, an’ that’s a fact,” -growled Hawkson. “A good ship, a good crew, and plenty of profit in -sight. D--n you, Heywood, I’ve a notion to take you at your word.” - -His fierce eyes held an evil light that I knew boded no good, and his -ugly mouth worked convulsively, showing his teeth. I was aware my case -was not one to trifle with too freely, and concluded I would hold my -tongue. He left me with an ugly sneer, and I went below attended by Mr. -Gull, who eyed me savagely, and hustled me with such energy that I -turned upon him. - -“You want to bear a hand and remember that a live sailor is worth a -couple of fool slavers,” said I. “It’ll pay you to be a bit more -careful, Mr. Gull.” - -“Shut up!” he answered, and hitched my shackle to the ceiling. Then he -turned and left me without another word, while I cursed freely and -fluently, with as much bitterness as a man can express in language. - -It was very dark, and I knew nothing of what was going on above, -although I noticed as I crossed the deck that the fore and main topsails -were hanging up by their clews, all ready to sheet home, and above them -the royals were also hanging loose. From this I gathered that there -would be a start made very soon, and even as I wondered at our probable -destination, I heard the distant clank and rattle of the windlass. Then -I recognized the Doctor’s voice bawling the old refrain: - - “Dey’s trouble ob-hyer, an’ dey’s trouble ober dar, - An’ I really do believe dat dey’s trouble ebbywhar-- - Trouble--trouble--” - -And I knew the mates were working the liquor out of his black hide. - -Soon the anchor was short, and then silence reigned for a time, broken -only by the scurrying of a ship’s rat across the empty hold. - -How oppressive the bilge heat was, and how rank the stench of the hold! -The barque had evidently been built at a time when salting ships had not -come into fashion, and her old timbers stunk. I tried to think of the -events of yesterday, and wondered what had become of poor Tim. I feared -they would give him the full penalty, for, although Renshaw was a -notorious adventurer, he was interested in the craft, and was a friend -of Hicks. - -His position, also, called for summary vengeance upon a common sailor, -even though that sailor was an American. - -In my case, however, the affair was different. I had done nothing to -either aid or abet Tim in his assault. I was deserting, and had admitted -that, but I knew nothing of the other affair that had ended so -uncomfortably and caused our arrest. Hawkson knew this well enough, and -it was with him my fate rested. He might save me from a hanging yet. - -I stood wondering when and how the case would be settled, and was very -hot and tired, but the shackle would not allow me to either sit or lie -down upon the deck. The pain caused by the strain upon my wrists was -intense, and I swore loudly at the men who had forced me into the cursed -ship. - -Suddenly I thought I heard a laugh. I strained my eyes in the direction -whence it came, and soon made out a shape sitting upon the lower step of -the ladder leading on deck. It chuckled and grunted for some minutes, -and I wondered what it was, when it rose, and I made out the figure of -Watkins. - -The old steward came over and stood looking with a hideous sneer upon -his face. The light was enough to see each outline of his features, for -my eyes were now accustomed to the gloom, and the hatch let in a small -ray of sunshine through the crack of the slide. - -“You seem devilishly well pleased, Noah,” said I, with as much composure -as I could muster. - -He made no reply, but came close to me, and, leaning forward, as if -about to whisper something in my ear, he seized that member in his teeth -and bit it slowly. The pain was intense, and I roared out, wiggling to -free myself from the monster, but he held on for many minutes. - -I was fairly sick with pain, but the old fellow failed to notice that my -legs were not ironed. As I was unable to move, he had doubtless supposed -they were shackled. - -With what remaining strength I had left, I kicked him, and by excellent -luck landed full upon his stomach. He gave a grunt and doubled up like a -pocket-knife, falling away from me and lying motionless upon the deck. - -I mentally prayed I had killed him, and bawled at the top of my voice -for Hawkson and Gull to come below. I might just as well have saved my -breath, for not a sound could reach the main-deck, where they would -evidently be at that time of day. I tried to ease my ear a bit by -pressing my shoulder against the wound. - -After a time that seemed an age, the pain let up a little. I looked at -the form upon the deck before me, and saw it move and then rise and -again come toward me. - -“You old cannibal,” I cried, “if ever I get clear of these irons, I’ll -cut you to ribbons for this.” - -“If ever you do, you may,” he hissed. “How would you like to shake hands -on that.” And he seized my irons behind my back, keeping to one side -from my kicks, and he twisted until I almost fainted with agony. I -roared and bawled and struggled, but to no purpose. I could not shake -the horrible old creature off. Just when I thought I could stand the -pain no longer, and I verily believe the fiend intended to kill me, the -hatch was opened, and the carpenter came down the ladder with an armful -of chains. - -Instantly Watkins sprang away and disappeared, leaving me calling for -the fellow Jorg to lend me a hand and keep the rascal off. - -Jorg came stolidly below, and began shackling his chains to the -ring-bolts, paying no more attention to me than to a man raving in -delirium. He looked at me curiously and shook his head. - -“Youse’ll get over it, friend John, in a day or two,” he said, and went -on deck. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - SIR JOHN AND MISS ALLEN - - -While I stood there, sweating in the heat and pain below, expecting the -reappearance of the old steward, I heard the windlass at work again, and -faint cries as of men straining up the topsails. - -Suddenly I recognized Hawkson’s voice near the main-hatch, and a moment -later the section was slid aside and he came below. - -“Get me out of this!” I roared at him, as he came up. “Get me out, or -there’ll be murder aboard.” - -“Steady, steady! D’ye expect me to turn ye loose when ye talk of murder? -Sink ye, Heywood! what’s come over ye, anyways?” - -“If you’re the man you claim to be,” I said, hotly, “turn my hands -loose, and stand before me for ten minutes. Only ten minutes, Hawkson, -and, if I don’t kill you, you may eat me alive. You may choose any -weapon, and I’ll take my bare--” - -“Tut, tut, what kind o’ hysteria is this? What’d I want t’eat ye alive -for? Sink ye for a crazy boy! who’d eat a tough youngster like you, boy? -What--well--oh, ho!” - -He had come close to me, and had noticed my ear. Then he chuckled in his -quiet way, his ugly face working with amusement. - -“Yes,” I said, “that’s the old steward’s doings, and he’ll probably come -back to finish me.” - -“Well, well, oh, ho, ho!” he laughed. “Didn’t I tell you the old fellow -would try his hand on you? But it’s a trifle; stand clear.” - -Here he loosened the irons, and I stood forth, rubbing my sore wrists -that were now partly paralyzed by being held so long. - -“It’s all right. Go up on deck and lend a hand, as soon as you get your -head cleared up. Mind ye, now, it was a rat that bit ye, understand? -Don’t make any more trouble. If ye want to kill the steward, do it some -other time. I had hard work savin’ ye, an’ I don’t want any more -trouble.” - -I went forward, and, after bathing my sore ear, I went on deck in time -to see the last of Nassau. - -The sun was shining brightly and the air was hot, but the trade-wind was -fresh, and we went to sea at a rapid rate under royals. Bill asked me -where I had been, and Martin stopped me to make some remark of the wild -day before, but neither appeared to know what had happened, save that -every one had gotten very drunk. Tim was not aboard, and I never saw him -again. He had disappeared, and nothing but his broken irons were left to -tell of his departure. The bos’n, however, was on watch, and he spoke -vaguely afterward about a small boat coming alongside with a woman in -it. Just what part Richards had played in the game, it was, of course, -impossible to find out, but before long I knew that Tim and his family -had made a voyage across the Florida channel in a small boat, and had -probably succeeded in evading pursuit. No further notice of the affair -was taken by the officers aft for reasons better known to themselves, -and Renshaw chose to remain ashore, taking no further interest in the -enterprise. - -It was now evident that we had started on our voyage for blacks, and -that escape from the barque was impossible. I was angry enough, but -remembered that desertion merited some roughness, and, upon the whole, I -had been pretty well treated. - -Henry gave me a furtive look from his ferret eyes as I passed him on -deck. He had done no more than his duty in chasing me, and I, therefore, -bore him no malice because he had been successful. It was several days -before he would trust himself near me, however, and kept his eyes busy -as we went about the vessel attending to our various occupations. - -The day was perfect for navigating the reef, and, as my hands were badly -used up, I spent much time forward, watching the shoals and banks, that -were distinctly visible under five or six fathoms of water. We could run -in this, and at such a depth, with the sun shining, a very small object -could be seen upon the coral bottom. Yankee Dan and his daughter were -upon the poop with Hicks and Howard. The girl was to go with us as far -as St. Helena on our voyage to Africa. - -Mr. Gull had volunteered this much information, and the men were -somewhat curious in their gaze aft. - -The passengers took no notice of this, but spent the afternoon watching -the reef or bank, the young girl being much entertained by the various -sights upon the bottom. - -In the afternoon I went upon the poop to clean the guns and otherwise -attend them, and the young lady gave me a nod of recognition. She -evidently remembered that shot, for I found out afterward it had cost -her father a pretty sum, and for a time it looked as if there would be -no slaver cleared at Nassau. - -The governor, however, compromised on a handsome fee for damages, as the -shot had plunged clear through his parlour, leaving only a small hole in -both walls to mark its passage. How much of this fee found its way into -Howard’s pocket, it was hard to determine, but he evidently was not -forgotten. The affair was not alluded to again except among the men. - -Hicks scowled at me, but said nothing, and then I kept close watch upon -him, as he appeared to still bear me some malice for having been present -at Renshaw’s mishap. He was a bold and unscrupulous rascal, and would -have taken a lively interest in my jump over-side, had they insisted on -it, with a shot to each foot. His manner toward the young girl irritated -me also, for, while I’m far from being a priest, yet there is a certain -respect for young women every honest sailor has, and which was -apparently entirely absent in this man’s manner. They were evidently -talking of Renshaw, for I heard Hicks mention his name sadly in -connection with the dishonourable affair at the card-table that had -caused his abandonment by people of his own class. - -“I see,” said Miss Allen, “cheating over a game of cards is highly -wrong, but cheating a man out of his wife’s affections is highly -commendable. A strange code of morals you Englishmen have. In your -class, perhaps, the money is more valuable. Is that it?” - -“Whatever his sins were, let us not judge them,” said Hicks. “As for the -class you speak of, I can only answer that a wife’s affections are -valued by most men according to the wife. Don’t you think a woman has -pretty much the same gauge to measure by?” And, as he spoke, he leaned -toward her, looking her straight in the eyes until she flushed crimson. - -“I have broken all of the ten commandments for women,” said Hicks, -slowly, still keeping his gaze fixed upon her, “and I would break them -all gladly for the woman I love.” - -“A self-confessed saint!” she answered, somewhat uneasily. - -“Well, slaving is not the least of my ambitions,” said he, carelessly. -“Perhaps you think there is nothing in running a cargo of blacks? It may -be there’s little, but, if we were overhauled with your father aboard -and a crowd below, even ‘trading’ would not appear an innocent -occupation.” - -“I know it, but what can I do? Do you suppose I think everything that -papa does is right?” - -“I would hardly accuse you of such lack of judgment,” said Hicks, -laughing and glancing at Howard and her father in conversation near the -break of the poop. - -“But because papa does strange things, you needn’t think I believe they -are good,” she said, with some feeling. “As for slavery, it’s only wrong -in the abstract. How could the poor blacks look out for themselves? They -must be taken care of. What on earth would we do without servants?” - -“I was not trying to convince you that you were a desperate pirate,” -said Hicks, still laughing. “Only to show you what a saint had the -pleasure of talking to you. When you have lived with me a time, you’ll -realize it better--” - -“When what?” she exclaimed. - -“When we’ve been married a few seasons, you’ll--” - -“When is a good word,” she said, angrily. “How dare you speak to me like -that, Sir John!” - -“I dare much more,” he answered, quietly, his handsome face setting into -an expression of grim determination, “but this is hardly the place to -declare it.” - -I thought it was about time for me to leave that vicinity, and I -strapped the vent-cover on the gun I was attending to ostentatiously, -and started forward. Hicks never gave me even a passing glance, but, as -I went forward, I heard steps sounding upon the companionway aft, and, -turning for a moment, I beheld the head and shoulders of Mr. Curtis -emerging from the cabin. He looked a moment at Hicks and the girl, and -then went over to where they stood, near the taffrail, while I joined -the watch on the main-deck. - -As I went down the lee steps, I caught a glimpse of Watkins in the -cabin, making a grimace I could hardly fail to understand. He was out of -reach, and I could only stop and curse him, until Mr. Gull came out and -asked me what was the matter. Then I turned and lent Bill and Martin a -hand at the weather main-brace, for we had gotten well clear of the -bank, and were running off to the westward on our course for the other -side. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE BARQUE HAS ILL LUCK - - -I now come to that part of the narrative which deals with the -turning-point of our luck on this cruise. - -Since Renshaw’s leaving left much of the influence to be desired out of -the enterprise, Mr. Curtis began to feel anxious about his -responsibility in the matter. It is true the gentleman was an outcast -from his own people, but he was a nobleman, for all that, and the -governor of New Providence would be much influenced by him. It might be -necessary to have a friend at hand in case something unpleasant turned -up, especially as the laws governing slaves were becoming more and more -strict. - -The bos’n was suspected in having aided Tim to escape from the barque. -At any rate, he was responsible for him. He was an American also, and -often when the seaman would come upon the poop, Curtis would find some -harsh word to say to him. Afterward he would complain to Howard so -bitterly at the bos’n’s insolence that the old captain began to -experience some of the landsman’s bad temper. - -The discipline of the ship had been good, save for the incidents of the -run on the beach. Now the real cruise had begun and there was no more -chance for desertion, the strictest laws of a war-ship were easy in -comparison to those enforced. - -This put much work upon Richards, and began to make unnecessary friction -between him and the men. Between the hard feeling caused by Curtis aft, -and the steady grumbling of such men as Martin and some of his followers -forward, the bos’n began to have an unpleasant time of it, and a most -desperate affray was averted on several occasions only by his steadiness -and coolness of temper. - -One day the bos’n was called to attend to some repairs on the -wheel-ropes. - -Mr. Curtis saw him, and either inadvertently or deliberately jostled him -as he came along the poop. Hawkson saw the affair, and hastened to avert -trouble, but was too late. Curtis very foolishly kicked the bos’n -savagely and swore at him before all the men of the watch on deck. -Richards, true to his creed, lashed out most vigorously, and knocked the -landsman half-way across the deck before Hawkson caught him. It was only -Hawkson’s steadiness of purpose that prevented a general mix-up on -board, for Curtis insisted upon the sailor being flogged. Richards swore -he would kill the man who laid hands on him, and, as he had several -friends forward, including myself, who would have stood by him, and as -he had the chief officer aft, there was a deal of trouble before -anything like order prevailed. When the outfly was patched up by Yankee -Dan and Sir John, who saw the danger of such affairs, there was no -longer anything like smoothness again. The bos’n never attempted to give -an order, and went about his duties with a set smile, which I tried to -fathom on several occasions and received a cold silence for my pains. -Then I knew trouble was coming, and prepared for it, caring little, -however, just when and in what shape it would appear. - -For a day or two we dragged slowly over the blue water. The royals would -pull a bit in the light air, but our wake was not a long one. - -On the third day, I was cleaning the forward gun to windward, gazing -over the beautiful calm water. To the southward the deepening blue of -the sky seemed to show in peculiar contrast to the ocean, and, while I -gazed over the vast distance, the water streaked and darkened under the -light draughts. The royals came to the masts every now and then, when -the breeze died almost entirely, and flapped gently, coming full again -as the barque swung herself to windward on the swell. - -Miss Allen was on the poop with Mr. Curtis, and that saturnine young -man, Hicks, was standing aft gazing at them with an expression far from -pleasant upon his handsome face. - -I became aware of a low, vibrant, wailing murmur coming out of the -sunlit void to the south’ard. It was like the cry I had heard before and -had had such an effect upon poor Tim. - -Yankee Dan’s daughter evidently heard it, for she straightened up and -listened, gazing steadily to windward. As the cry rose and fell, dying -away as the breeze increased, it thrilled me through and through. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Henry, who had come up and noticed my intense -look. - -“Don’t you hear it?” I asked. - -“S’pose Hi do; it’s nothin’. Have ye cooled off?” - -It was the first time he had spoken directly to me since the affair with -the hounds, and I took it for an overture of friendship. - -“If you squeeze my hand, I’ll brain you,” I said, and held it out. He -took it, smiling. - -“What made ye bolt, anyways?” he asked. “Hi could git ye anywheres on -that island. Hi had to pay fer that dog ye killed, too.” - -He seated himself beside me, as it was nearly eight bells, and we talked -a few minutes, he describing the amusement caused by the two hounds -loosed into the room of Thunderbo’s dance-hall. - -“’Twas a fine sight, Heywood, to see that bloodhound grab the conch by -the heel. If Hi hadn’t stopped there to laugh it out, Hi wud ha’ bust -wide open. There he was hanging out the window, with Jones a-pullin’ one -way an’ the dog the other, while the Doctor whanged him over the -buttocks as they stretched ’im over the sill.” - -I felt little like laughing, although the scene of confusion must have -been amusing to an uninterested spectator. Had he taken us sooner, the -other affair would not have followed. - -“I cud ’a’ taken ye, but Hi had to laugh at that conch,” explained -Henry. “What d’yer s’pose makes my fingers so big, anyways?” - -“Poking them in other people’s business,” said I. - -“An’ that’s a fact,” he answered. “Poking them in other people’s -business. Man, I was chief garroter in Havana onct, an’ I ’as strangled -more men than there is in this ship. Hi ’av’ been a detective an’ a -executioner both. That’s how I know how to handle dogs. Save ye, -Heywood, d’ye suppose Hawkson would ’a’ let you fellows loose ashore ef -he didn’t know Hi’d bring ye back all standin’, as the sayin’ is?” - -Henry had never appeared prepossessing to me, and now his statement as -to his vocation did little to draw him nearer. On the contrary, he -noticed my look of disgust and wonder, as I scanned his huge fingers. - -“Never mind,” he said, with a grin, “’tain’t likely they’ll be used on -you, though Hi closed ’em onct on the old man’s neck when he was taken -fer cuttin’ out them Spanish wood-hunters in the Isle o’ Pines. They let -him go just in time. Now they use a screw, for there ain’t been a man -there since as c’u’d do the trick wid his fingers,--an’ old Howard -insisted that Hi must stick to him for a lucky boy.” - -While he talked, I noticed the barque gave a sudden heave of much -greater inclination than usual. She seemed to take a new motion, as -though a swell from the westward had rolled up against the trade swell. -I looked over the side, and noticed a long heave to the sea setting at a -sharp angle to the slight rise and fall we had been riding. Henry saw it -also, and gazed to the south’ard. - -Far away on the horizon a dim haziness seemed forming in the otherwise -cloudless sky. I looked aft in time to see Howard come up the companion -and gaze around the horizon. Then he said something to Hawkson, who had -also appeared, and the old mate came to the break of the poop. - -“Take in them royals,” he called to the watch on deck, and the men, who -were expecting to hear eight bells struck and dinner announced, had a -job. Henry sprang up and went aft. - -“T’gallants’ls,” said Hawkson, laconically. - -I pulled on the gun-cover, and had already gotten it fast when the order -came to clew up the mainsail. Then, as I had to go aloft with the rest, -I joined Bill and Ernest in the weather main-rigging. - -“Fallin’ glass,” said Bill. “I youst heard the mate tell Henry. Ole -Richards looks worried. Didn’t think he’d take that interest, hey?” - -We rolled the sail up in short order, keeping an eye on the poop, where -Howard was now squinting away at the sun with his sextant. - -“Eight bells,” came his hoarse croak, and a Norwegian struck them off -loudly. - -“Roll up the spanker an’ foresail,” came the order, and, instead of -getting dinner, the watch turned out with the rest, and all hands were -kept busy. Then came the topsails, and finally we reefed the fore and -main topsails, the barque rolling log-wise in a very uneasy roll that -came quickly from the south’ard. - -It was one bell before we were allowed on deck, and then, all tired and -hot, we scattered for cool places to eat the deferred meal. - -Hardly had we finished than a cool, clammy mist spread itself over the -ocean, and a good breeze began blowing from the north’ard. The sun -appeared like a copper ball, and as it dimmed the breeze increased. The -swell now began running with a tremendous heave from the southwest, and -the barque rolled her channels under. All hands were kept on deck. - -The black Doctor had just gathered the last of the forecastle truck into -the galley, where the little Dane, Johnson, was allowed to clean them -up, when we heard a deep moaning to the south’ard. The bank of the mist -seemed to grow thicker. Then, with a slow rising, droning roar, the -hurricane struck the barque and laid her over on her side until her lee -dead-eyes were a foot below the sea. - -How Miss Allen and Curtis climbed down off the poop, I could never -guess. The deep notes of the wind rushing through the rigging drowned -all sound save the cries of Hawkson and Gull, who, hanging on to the -poop-rail, bawled for the men to man the braces and get the ship hove -to. - -It struck us full upon the quarter, and nothing had carried away, -although the straining strips of canvas aloft seemed marvellously strong -to withstand that furious outfly. The sea was as white as a coral bank, -looking as though covered with a finely drifting snow, as the wind swept -the top of the ocean level and drove the foam before it. - -We were under the shortest canvas, and were trying to get her on the -wind before the sea made, as it was sure to make, in a few minutes. - -As we tailed on to the topsail-brace, I caught a glimpse of Richards and -Yankee Dan rolling the wheel over, although the deck was as steep as the -ship’s sides. Slowly the old barque righted herself, as she headed up -within four points of it, scooping her main-deck full of water, some of -which found its way below, as the main-hatch had not been battened or -caulked, and the flood rolled over it waist-deep. Had we been taken -aback, the topmasts would surely have gone overboard in that blast, for -it was impossible to realize its tremendous power. - -I could hear the captain’s hoarse croak from near the mizzen, sounding -faintly in the roar about us, and I caught the look of Big Jones’s face -as he raised it over the rail and brought it back streaming with the -flying drift and gasping for breath. Then we belayed the line, and -started to get all yards sharp on the starboard tack. - -It was desperate work, but it was finished at last, and, by the time we -had a chance to breathe and look about us, the barque was riding into -such a sea as seldom runs in the western ocean, her topsails hanging in -short ribbons from the jack-stays, and a gale thundering through her -rigging that bid fair to drive her under by the sheer weight of the wind -in it. - -There was no steady blow. Sometimes the roar aloft would die down for a -few minutes, and it would seem as if the weight of it had passed. Then -would come a squall, snoring and roaring, rising up into a wild chaos of -sound that was almost deafening, and the barque would be laid upon her -side for several minutes as it tore past. - -Jorg, with the pluck and perseverance of his race, worked desperately at -the hatches to get them battened down firmly. Henry and I managed to get -a large timber over the canvas cover, and, lashing one end fast to the -ring-bolt on one side, we hove down with it until we could get Richards, -Bill, Jones, and the rest to pass a lashing, heaving the lever over as -tight as our combined weight could make it go. I saw Hawkson waving his -hand, and crawled to him along the pin-rail. - -“Go aft to the wheel,” he roared in my ear, and I climbed the poop. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - AND STILL MORE ILL-LUCK - - -As I crawled up the lee steps of the poop of _The Gentle Hand_, I began -to believe it was blowing. I could not possibly stand before that blast. -Holding to the poop-rail, I worked aft and relieved Yankee Dan, who had -helped the man already there by taking the spokes to windward. - -All about the barque were the lowering banks of scud, darkening the -ocean now almost to night, and flying with the rapidity of the wind. -Above was the deep gray of the heavy pall of vapour. - -I glanced into the binnacle and noticed that the wind had already -shifted, although it had been blowing less than an hour. It had become -more and more squally, and the blasts roared down upon the barque with -incredible force. The sea was ugly, but instead of the great, rolling -sea of the Cape, it was a short, quick mass of water that flung itself -with appalling force. High as she was, _The Gentle Hand_ took them now -and again over the topgallant-rail, and flooded her main-deck -waist-deep. Soon her lee bulwarks tore away, letting the flood have full -sway across and overboard. This eased her a trifle, and we strove to -nurse her closer to the wind, although, without canvas, the wheel would -have been as well lashed hard down. - -For three hours more she headed up beautifully, although sometimes the -blasts would take her to leeward and whirl her head up into the sea. -Then another would strike her full, and off she would swing almost into -the trough, while Hawkson and the rest would struggle to get a cloth -against the weather mizzen ratlines. - -Suddenly, after one wild, snoring rush of warm wind, it fell dead calm. -The sea was leaping wildly, bursting over our bow one moment, and then -the next piling in amidships with a crash that tested the strength of -the old hull. She would seem to settle under the load, and once there -was nothing visible forward of the break of the poop save the end of her -t’gallant forecastle. The men had to lay aft and keep alive. - -While the calm moments lasted, the air was oppressively warm, and I -noticed Hicks come from behind the shelter of the spanker-boom and -coolly light his pipe, although the barque was rolling and plunging so -heavily it was hard to see how he kept his feet without holding on. He -made his way aft just as Mr. Curtis emerged from the companion, followed -by Miss Allen. - -The barque was plunging wildly, and I had all I could do to hold the -wheel-spokes. Suddenly I heard a cry from forward. Captain Howard stood -clear of the mizzen for a moment and pointed aft. Over the starboard -quarter a huge sea rose like a wall, then topped into a snoring comber, -and flung with the rush of an avalanche over the poop. The dull, -thunderous crash drowned all sound, and the same instant I felt myself -being torn from the wheel by the flood. Then I went under, still holding -on with all my strength to the spokes, but feeling them dragged from my -hands by the prodigious power washing me away. - -When I came to my senses, I was lying against the rise of the poop, -where I had brought up doubled over, my body on top and my legs hanging -in the swirl that rolled over to leeward. There was no one at the wheel. -The Norwegian had gone overboard, and, as he had probably struck heavily -against the spokes, he was doubtless killed outright. - -I crawled back, gasping and driving the brine from my face. Then I -remembered Miss Allen and her lover, Mr. Curtis, and looked for them. - -In the boiling foam of the side-wash a few fathoms from the side, the -girl’s head, with her hair floating in tangles, showed above the white. -She was apparently swimming, though feebly, for she must have been -hurled far below in the cataract that poured to leeward. Near her was -Mr. Curtis, his eyes staring at the ship and his face expressing -surprise and anxiety. He struck out for the barque, and did not help the -girl near him, or, in fact, give her any attention until he had grasped -the lee mizzen channels as the vessel rolled down. Here he drew himself -up, and started to coil a line trailing overboard to throw to her. I -started to the side, letting go the wheel, but before I reached the -rail, I saw a form plunge from the mizzen sheer-pole, and in an instant -Hicks rose to the surface almost alongside the young lady. It was boldly -done, and I caught the expression in his eyes as he seized her by the -shoulder and turned toward the ship. - -Hawkson was bawling out something, and I turned in time to feel the -first puff of a squall that came snoring down upon us with a rush that -made every line sing to the strain. In an instant the barque was laying -over to it, and as it struck her abaft the beam she started ahead. - -Hicks was now alongside, and Curtis, aided by Yankee Dan, was helping -the young girl on deck. It was a remarkable occurrence, happening as it -did in the centre of that hurricane, when the barque was becalmed and -without any headway. Otherwise it would have been a certain death for -any one going over the side. In less than five minutes the gale was -blowing as hard as ever from an almost opposite point of the compass, -the squalls coming with appalling force, sending us a good fifteen knots -an hour, with nothing but the bare yards aloft to receive the pressure. - -Two men came aft to relieve the wheel, which I had rolled up with Mr. -Gull’s help, and I had a few minutes’ breathing space as we tore along, -the men forward trimming in the braces and squaring the yards for a run -before it. - -Hicks stood upon the poop near the mizzen, where he had climbed up, and -he gazed after Curtis, who, with Yankee Dan, half-dragged and -half-carried Miss Allen below. There was a strange look in his eyes, and -I saw him cursing in a sinister manner, though what he said was lost in -the uproar. Then he joined the captain at the break of the poop, where -the old man had remained, having escaped the flood by springing with the -rest upon the spanker-boom. - -Sir John Hicks was a thorough rascal, according to report, but somehow -he showed up very well with Mr. Curtis, who had been a well-known -churchman and piously inclined even to the time he had bought his -interest in _The Gentle Hand_. - -As for the grim old villain in command, he made no comment, but stood -watching his ship without a trace of anxiety upon his mask-like -countenance. Even as I watched him, he was calculating the time to swing -her up on the port tack to keep afloat in that cross-sea, before which -no vessel could run very long. - -I could hardly help thinking then that so much nervous strength and -control must have a limit sometime. The old fellow had been through a -good deal, and certainly must have used up much of his giant energy in -earlier trials. I wondered vaguely for a few moments when the time would -come when his stoical indifference and cruelty would be used up and he -become a debtor to nature. How would the old man die? Would he be -inscrutable and implacable to the last? It would be a matter of physical -force with him, and he appeared pretty tough yet, ready for many a rough -fracas, and afraid of nothing. - -Yet I doubted whether his courage was any finer than some others who -were less reckless and held responsibility as something of value. He -finally gave the order to Hawkson, and the deep voice of the mate -sounded above the booming, sonorous roar overhead. A heavy tarpaulin was -lashed in the mizzen-rigging on the outside, so that the shrouds might -make a solid background to hold it against the blast. It was an old -hatch-cover, but of heavier cloth than our topsail. - -The wheel was rolled hard down just as a heavy squall showed signs of -slacking, and a comparative smooth space showed to windward. The old -barque came quickly into the trough, and, as she did so, the full force -of the hurricane could be felt. Over and over she went until her lee -rail disappeared beneath the foam, while above her towered a sea that -bade fair to drive her under as it fell aboard. She lay perfectly on end -for an instant, the deck being absolutely perpendicular, and her -yard-arm beneath the swirl to leeward, and the weight of that rolling -hill broke clear across, the larger part of it landing in the sea to -starboard. - -The shock was terrific. Both fore and main topmasts went out of her and -trailed alongside in the smother. There was no sound save the thundering -crash of the water, but as soon as the men who had saved themselves -could move from their places, we tried to save the ship. Hawkson, Gull, -Henry, Richards, Jones, Martin, and the rest made their way forward by -holding to the pin-rail, and we cut to clear away the foretopmast -alongside. All the time the barque was on end, her hatches under water, -and the wild, booming snore of the hurricane roaring over her, sending -cataracts of water over her t’gallant-rail. By desperate work we led the -wreckage forward, and towed it by a heavy line from the port cat-head. -This finally had the effect, together with the tarpaulin aft, of pulling -her head into the sea, and after a quarter of an hour, every minute of -which I expected to see her go under, she began to right herself. - -Too exhausted to speak and half-drowned by the seas, we hung on under -the shelter of the forecastle until she once more rode safely into it. I -looked into the streaming faces of the men, and wondered how many had -gone to leeward that day, and then it seemed to me that slaving for -wealth might not be any better than I had originally held it to be. -Aloft in that gray pall the scud were whirling past, and I found myself -thinking of Tim and the cry of the South Sea. A sailor is apt to get -superstitious even without reason, and it struck me that there would be -little luck aboard the old pirate on this cruise. - -When we had a chance to leave, we found that one dago and the little -Dane had disappeared from among us, and, as the gale wore down toward -evening, there was a sorry picture of a black barque riding the quick -sea of the western ocean, her rigging hanging and trailing to leeward -from the stumps of her topmasts, and a half-drowned crew holding on to -anything they could. - -Before morning the hurricane had passed, and we were again heading off -across the ocean, with a badly wrecked ship and an ugly, demoralized set -of men, cursing their luck, the ship, and especially her officers in a -manner that spoke of trouble ahead. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - WHAT HAPPENED IN MADEIRA - - -The days following that storm were full of labour for all on board the -barque. Rigging a jury maintopmast, and securing the yards that had -remained fast to the line ahead, and which had acted as a sea anchor or -drag and thereby saved us, we made the best of our way to Madeira. The -voyage was uneventful and long, owing to our wrecked condition, but it -ended at last. - -During the days of toil the temper of the men grew worse, and at one -time Martin and Anderson began to talk pretty freely in the watch below. -Howard tied the Scandinavian up in the rigging, and was about to use -even more severe methods, but Hawkson and Hicks prevailed. He was -apprised of the murmurings forward by his steward, Watkins, who took -care he lost very little of what went on. - -Hawkson and Hicks, backed by Mr. Gull and Henry, however, knew that to -precipitate trouble would ruin whatever prospects the voyage still held, -and they made it plain to the trader that his influence was also -necessary to curb the captain’s temper. Together they held him in check, -and we made harbour without coming to desperate measures. - -The behaviour of Mr. Curtis after the storm was most peculiar. He prayed -very often, and seemed to develop a most pious disposition. This went to -the extent of asking permission to have the men mustered on Sundays, so -that by standing on the break of the poop he could address and harangue -them upon religious matters. - -The idea tickled Howard so keenly that he not only agreed to it, but -insisted that it should happen twice a week until the men were in better -temper. It was being enforced when the towering sides of Pico Ruivo rose -above the eastern horizon. - -Miss Allen had not been especially impressed by these harangues, and -this day joined Hicks upon the poop, while the affair took place. Hicks -had been below, but had appeared forward talking confidentially to -Martin, and had passed a package which the brawny Scot had taken below -very hurriedly just as all hands mustered. When Hicks reached the poop, -coming up the cabin companion, we were already standing under the break, -lounging in various attitudes of inattention. - -I hardly remember what Mr. Curtis said on this occasion, but he pointed -to the distant mountains and waxed very eloquent. We had seen this land -before, but he had not. - -“It is the prayers of us poor sinners,” said he, stretching forth his -hand, “that has at last saved our barque from storm and calm. We are -poor, weak mortals, and must ask for help.” - -“Who calls er mon like me er weak mortil, hey?” came a voice from the -crowd, and there stood Martin, the empty bottle in hand, his eyes shifty -and dangerous. - -“I’m a true Christian man, d’ye ken that, an’ if ye dare say I be ither, -I’ll wallop ye like er babe.” - -Curtis was off the poop in an instant, and there was a mix-up that -promised much in the way of diversion, for whatever our preacher lacked, -it was not a quick temper. He seized the tipsy Scot by the hair with -both hands, and, in spite of the hoots and wallops he received, was -making a very fair job of him when Jones and Henry separated them. - -Howard stood on the poop and cackled away, enjoying the scene, refusing -to do anything to Martin unless Curtis ordered it. This the younger -man’s vanity would not permit, and upon the whole it was just as well, -for it made the feeling a little less uncomfortable forward, which was a -good thing for a vessel going into a harbour where crews might be -scarce. - -There was some hesitancy on Hawkson’s part about going in with such a -large crew, for trading-vessels generally were not heavily manned. It -might create enough comment to attract the attention of a man-of-war, -and even though our papers might be fixed satisfactorily, a boarding of -the barque would be hazardous to a slaving enterprise. At all events, it -was decided that Mr. Gull should take a boat’s crew and land upon the -Desertas, the rocks about a dozen miles to the southward. Here they -would kill as many wild goats and hogs as they could, and await the -barque’s signal before venturing in, bucanning the meat for the voyage -back. - -We soon anchored in the open roadstead not very far from the beach. The -town of Funchal lay before us to the north’ard, its terraces and -vineyards rising from the water up the steep sides of the mountains. A -very pretty place it was, and in a short time the captain’s gig was -called away to take him ashore. Richards silently brought the boat to -the ladder, and sat stiff and motionless, a regular man-o’-war -cockswain. The whole after-guard, except Henry and Watkins, clambered -into the boat, Yankee Dan and his daughter accompanied by Hicks and -Curtis. - -The old trader had been somewhat subdued in spirits during the latter -part of the trip across, owing to our loss of gear and the leaky -condition of the vessel. Now he spoke with his usual spirits, which rose -as the distance between him and the shore lessened. - -“Sink me!” said he, “if I don’t try to show these dagoes how to drive a -trade for them topmasts.” - -“I wouldn’t, if you intend staying ashore,” said Hicks. - -“Will I stay ashore?” said Miss Allen. - -“Until we can ship you to the Continent,” said her father. “It won’t be -long before we put you and Curtis aboard some ship for Havre. Then -you’ll both be safe.” - -I had realized before this that Mr. Curtis was looked to as the fowl who -was laying the golden egg for the enterprise, while Dan was to do the -trading. His daughter was the principal tie between them, and she was, -doubtless, the innocent lever the trader had used to get the younger man -interested in slaving. It looked as if there would soon be a marriage. - -The girl had nodded to me as I took the stroke oar, and I will admit I -felt interested in her future. Whatever Sir John Hicks felt, he kept it -well to himself, for he joined the conversation right merrily, although -his behaviour toward Mr. Curtis was unnecessarily polite. We rowed -swiftly over the swell of the blue roadstead, and ran the boat’s nose -upon the sand, the light surf splashing into the stern-sheets just -enough to cause some scrambling for dry places. Then the boat was -surrounded by natives, who plunged into the water regardless of their -white breeches, and offered to carry the passengers ashore. - -Jones and myself, however, placed a short board for Miss Allen to sit -upon, and then raised it to the height of our shoulders with her upon -it, bearing her aloft, while she gave a bit of a scream and fastened her -fingers in our hair for support. Then we strode ashore to the dry beach -above high water, with small regard for the scowling dagoes who failed -to earn their silver. - -The rest were so busily engaged in getting ashore dry that they failed -to note that I seized the little hand upon my head and kissed it -fervently, much to Big Jones’s delight and the young lady’s -embarrassment. - -“You know what they’d do to you if they knew you were so rude,” said -she, flushing. - -“I’ve risked death for less pleasure,” said I, touching my forehead. - -“Then the fool-killer surely was not in the neighbourhood. You forget -your position,” said she, haughtily. - -“I was a mate once,” I answered. - -“Well, you’re not now. If it were not that Sir John--I mean, Mr. Curtis -would kill you, I should report your insolence.” - -“’Tis a small deed to die for,” said I, “and, if I must go, perhaps I -had better make my end doubly certain--” - -At this moment Yankee Dan’s voice called, and I turned in time to see -him approaching. - -Jones, who had walked toward the boat, glanced back uneasily at me, but -I touched my forelock, having no cap, and left Miss Allen. The big -Welshman did not hear all of our conversation, but, lest he retail part -of it to the men, I took the trouble to make it plain to him that such a -trick would be reckoned as a great discourtesy to the lady and myself, -and that a necessary settlement would therefore take place. Jones, in -spite of his size, was a man of keen discernment and not without -discretion. He was silent. - -As the island was well wooded with fine large trees, it was but a short -time before we had our topmasts on the beach ready to take aboard and -set up. Jorg took charge of the spars, and we floated them alongside and -hoisted them on deck, where he at once set to work upon them. Much of -the ironwork from the wreck we had saved, and this shortened the job -very considerably. Within a week from the day we dropped anchor, -gant-lines were rigged and the new spars sent aloft. The backstays were -then set up and the t’gallant-masts were sent up, one of these having -been saved from the wreck and the other cut ashore. - -The work of rigging kept all hands busy day and night, so we saw little -of the town of Funchal. We went ashore once to buy a second-hand suit of -t’gallantsails and royals, which were to be used as good weather canvas, -and have an old maintop-sail recut, but there was little time even for -sampling the wines I had heard so much about. - -While we lay there, a large American brig came in and anchored near us. - -She was evidently a trader by her look, and by her build and rig she -appeared very fast and rakish. She flew the American ensign, and I was -interested in her. As soon as we had a little respite from rigging, I -asked permission to visit the stranger, and, to my surprise, it was -granted. Neither Hawkson nor Howard appeared the least interested in the -vessel, and had neither received a visit from her captain nor made a -visit to him. When Bill, Ernest, Martin, and myself took the small boat -that evening and started over to her, Hawkson called me aside. - -“Take a peep below hatches if ye get the chance, and see what sort o’ -guns she carries. Maybe ye’ll care to change ships,” said he, with his -ugly smile. - -As something of this nature had really been finding place in my mind, I -suppose I flushed a bit. I had intended to desert, should the brig clear -first, for slaving was no more to my taste now than formerly. From -Richards’s silent behaviour I felt that I would not have to go alone, -and I intended to broach the subject to the bos’n that very night. - -“All right,” I answered, with a sinking of spirits I tried to conceal. -“I’ll search her if I get the chance.” - -What Hawkson meant was evident as soon as we came within a half-mile of -her to leeward. A most horrible odour, peculiar and penetrating, seemed -to come from her. I had never known it before, but Bill stopped rowing -at once and turned toward her. - -“Niggers,” said he, spitting in disgust. - -“Aboard of her?” I asked. - -“Not youst now, maybe, but she’s been full of niggers more’n once. -There’s youst a smell left behind, and it never leaves.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - THE STRANGE BRIG - - -We reached the brig’s side, and a surly voice hailed us. “Whatcher -want?” it said, in the deep baritone of the typical Yankee bos’n. - -“Hoot, ye Yankee,” cried Martin, “we’ve come visitin’, d’ye ken that? -A-visitin’, an’, if ye be so hospitable as ye have no reason t’ be, -we’re dommed welcome. If we ain’t, I’ll ask ye to show us cause why, an’ -maybe I ken prove ye’re wrong by the strength o’ logic,” and he held up -two brawny hands like the paws of a tiger. - -“Well, I don’t keer to have no drunken louts aboard this here vessel,” -said the fellow, leaning over the rail so that I could get a glimpse of -him. “Ef yer got any money, sing out whatcher want. This here’s a honest -trading-brig, an’ kin give ye all a good nip o’ prime American whiskey -for a mighty low price.” - -The man was quite uncommon-looking. He must have stood six feet six, and -was as lean as a flagstaff. His face was lined and burned, as though -used to a tropical sun, and his eyes were faded and yellow. - -“Ye be a rare raskil, an’ that’s a fact,” said Martin. “Is there -anything ye widna do for the coin? Bide a bit, and let us coom aboard. -’Tis liquor I crave for the sake of me system.” - -We ran the dingey alongside and prepared to mount the channels to the -deck, but, on looking up, we noticed the long man had not moved or -spoken, but had drawn forth a huge horse-pistol, which he poked over the -rail. - -“Youst hold on a bit with that,” said Bill. “We know you’re a trader all -right by the smell o’ yer. We ain’t no men-o’-war’s men, so what’s that -got to do with us?” - -The tall man looked thoughtfully along the barrel of the weapon, and -then put it out of sight. “Wall, come up, then, if ye know the smell so -well.” - -Thus invited, we quickly made our way aboard, and lost no time in -purchasing some of the “good American whiskey,” which turned out to be -the worst stuff afloat. - -All idea of changing ships left me as I stepped on deck. She was without -doubt a slaver, bound out in the same rascally enterprise we were. But, -as she carried the American flag, she was free from British men-of-war, -and consequently less afraid of detection. For, although slaving was now -a piracy, no British ship could take her without slaves aboard, and -there were only two or three small American cruisers in the South -Atlantic, and these were too slow to capture a very fast ship. I -wondered why Hawkson allowed us aboard her, knowing well that we were -almost sure to tell of our affairs. Then I remembered his request to -note her armament and crew. - -The latter we found just below the hatches, all armed to the teeth with -pistols, cutlasses, and boarding-pikes, awaiting the word of their -captain to spring on deck and defend their ship should occasion arise. -Our boat was a suspicious object that the long skipper had been watching -for some time, and believed there was some game behind our innocent -call. The six little guns on each broadside were all loaded, and we -found that she would clear just as soon as water could be brought -aboard. - -After the men--there were twenty-six in all--had put aside their arms -and received us as companions, we had the usual sailors’ orgy before -starting back. Yarns were told, and, if ever there was a crew of unhung -rascals, these self-confessed villains would have formed them. - -Martin seemed pleased at last to find men who stopped at nothing, and -before he left was talking piracy, and begging some of the hardiest to -join him. He was very drunk, however, and his railings were counted as -little, but I knew that he was really speaking, as drunken men often do, -from their inmost hearts. One great hulking fellow, with red whiskers, -took a little with the scheme, and another man, an Italian sailor, -looked a bit queer about the eyes when the Scot talked of gold. The long -skipper heard nothing of their ravings, for, after allowing us aboard -the vessel, he retired to the cabin, where his mates were waiting to see -the outcome of the visit. When they saw we were really only four -able-bodied men of a strange barque, their interest appeared to fade -away entirely. We finally shoved off, dizzy and sick with the poison -imbibed, myself thoroughly disgusted with the slaver’s crew, and Martin -and Ernest inviting them to a meeting ashore. - -Hawkson took me aside when we returned, and asked a few questions. My -disgust for my countrymen was too apparent not to be noticed, and the -mate evidently thought it safe to trust me now anywhere, for I was -allowed ashore again that evening. - -Our liberty crews were unique and grotesque. There was little care for -desertion, evidently on account of Henry’s ability to get the deserters -without trouble from any island where access to the mainland could only -be had by some large vessel that could be easily seen. And, as we were -mongrel in the extreme, there was much to be expected from mixture. - -Bill declared he should get very drunk at once on the wine he had heard -so much about but never had tasted, and Martin declared he would do -anything a true Christian sailor might be expected to do. His chum, -Anderson, was surly and fierce, on account of his recent ill-treatment -aboard, and talked openly of killing any one of our officers he might -meet on the beach. Watkins had gone in the captain’s gig to attend to -getting fresh provisions for the after-guard, and the black Doctor came -with us, for it was to be our last run ashore, as we would clear at -once. The signal had been set and a gun fired for the crew on the -Desertas, and all was ready again for our voyage. The goats’ and hogs’ -meat would be ready to be pickled, and would be stowed at sea. - -We landed on the beach, and a crowd of the strangely dressed natives -offered to pilot us around to see the town of Funchal. The men wore -tight knee-breeches, and their thin, bare legs sticking out of enormous -boots looked remarkably queer. A pair of them insisted on joining us, in -spite of Martin’s threat and the Doctor’s pugnacity, and, after a -scuffle or two, we let them lead the way to town. Our other boats had -rowed up. - -Hawkson had detained only Jorg and a couple of Swedes aboard, and I -wondered vaguely if it were well to be so short-handed should a British -man-of-war rise above the horizon. I did not know whether or not we -could be taken, for, although English built, we were evidently under -Yankee Dan’s charter. Still there must certainly be considerable -treasure aboard, in order to do the trading, and, if searched and -captured, there was a strong probability of losing it. - -We finally reached the sailors’ harbour, that is, a wine-shop, and -because I had not forgotten the effects of the last carouse I had in -Nassau, I refused to drink. The swinish crew insisted, and the Doctor -wished to know why I would not drink with him. - -“Disha nigger’s as good as any white man, an’, if I am a slave, I belong -to er man wat’s er m-a-an, an’ he’s done quit drinkin’ milk. I never did -think much of you nohow, an’ I kin lick yo’ fur tuppence, dat I kin,” -said he, advancing and showing his ugly, sharp teeth. - -There was no earthly use of starting a fight, and there was little glory -in handling a man who was bound by law to submit to the white man’s -will. I therefore left the crowd and went alone through the town, hoping -to see something besides debauch. - -I strolled through the quaint streets, attracting more or less -attention, and somehow I found myself straying in the direction of the -inn where Yankee Dan and his daughter were staying. Then I began to feel -a bit ashamed of my appearance, for, although I rated a gunner, and -therefore a petty officer, I was dressed but little better than an -average sailor, and my linen, though put on fresh for the beach, was not -what I wished it to be. I soon recognized the place, and looked to see -Mr. Curtis around, but he was evidently with the captain and Dan, making -a settlement for the spars we had shipped, and fixing the barque’s -papers. - -I caught sight of the flutter of a dress on the broad loggia, and then -saw Miss Allen sitting there in the breeze. An unaccountable impulse -made me stop and head directly toward her, for she was the only thing -that relieved the coarseness and roughness of the life I had led aboard -the barque. - -“Good evening, Miss Allen,” I said, stopping just in front of her. - -“Good evening, John,” she answered, kindly, as if addressing an old -servant, and she smiled and laid aside her book. - -The tone disturbed me. Had she shown any interest besides that for a -hopelessly familiar chat from a superior point of view, I might have -passed on and nothing would have happened. As it was, my spirit rose a -bit. - -“I am as well as any man can be who is fastened to a ship he would like -to get clear of,” said I, and walked boldly upon the porch where she -sat. - -“I wonder you can get along anywhere with your amazing impudence,” she -answered. “Can you tell me what you would have me do to alleviate your -suffering? If papa saw you here talking to me like this, I think you -would even care less for a voyage with him in _The Gentle Hand_.” - -“Hang your--I was about to say your father,” I answered, “but as this -fate is liable to overtake all the men concerned, it would be unwise to -tempt Providence. I didn’t come here, however, to carry tales to his -daughter.” - -“Will you kindly state just what brought you, then? You are an American, -John, and I’m interested in you to that extent.” - -“That is most kind,” I answered, “and I will make it perfectly plain -before I leave.” Here I drew up a chair, and sat quietly down at a -respectful distance. Her eyebrows raised a trifle at this action, and -her smile hardened a bit, but I was aroused now and I paid no further -attention to mere details. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - “STAND TO IT!” - - -“I suppose,” I said, “that you believe me suffering from sconce -swellus.” - -“It must be an extraordinary disorder for a sailor,” she answered. - -“Translated into nautical language, it means swelling of the frontal -bone, producing an ecstatic degree of self-complacency in a hitherto -irresponsible mind,” said I, “and it is more often found to exist among -young persons, much younger even than I am. I wished to say that my -exalted rank on the barque was not such as to produce the disease.” - -“I see,” said Miss Allen, raising her eyebrows slightly. - -“In that case, I’ll proceed to tell you that slaving is not my chosen -vocation, and, if you are unfortunate enough to marry Mr. Curtis, and -thus control the sinews of the enterprise, I would like to have the crew -diminished by one or two hands, beginning with me.” - -“Did it ever occur to you that the captain might be the person to whom -you should make the request,” she answered, smiling a little. - -“It did occur to me that he might be the one, but, on considering his -peculiar and hasty actions, it occurred later to me that he might not.” - -“Well, if you intend to wait until the misfortune overtakes me that you -suggest, I’m afraid there is little use of your sublime impudence.” - -“If that is really true,” said I, without hardly knowing what I was -saying, “I will be content to be slaver, or even pirate, for that -matter. If you really don’t intend to--” - -“That will do, sir! Be still!” she cried, now aroused. Then she arose -from her chair, and, looking like an angry goddess, turned about to face -Mr. Curtis, who had stepped out of the house, and who had evidently lost -very little of the last part of our conversation. - -“Good evening, Miss Allen,” said he. “When you get through talking to -that sailor about your private affairs, we might take a little stroll -before dark.” - -“I hardly feel it necessary under the circumstances,” said the girl. - -“You might later on,” said he. His voice was cold, but his eyes held -smouldering fires that flashed ominously. - -“Is that a threat?” said she, haughtily, as steps sounded on the gravel -walk around the corner of the house. - -“No fear,” I snapped out without thinking, and, as I did so, Hicks and -Captain Howard swung around the corner and were alongside. - -The old pirate stopped and looked at me a moment. “What’s this fellow -doing here?” he asked, noting my attitude, which was not of respect to -Mr. Curtis. - -“I don’t know,” said he; “but if you will kindly lend me your cutlass, -I’ll see if he has blood in him.” - -The old fellow instantly drew forth the hanger he always carried -whenever going ashore, and passed the hilt to Mr. Curtis. Hicks stood -near, smiling contemptuously. - -The affair began to have a serious look. I could hardly run with honour, -and Miss Allen would sooner have cut off her right hand than ask him to -withhold the blade. - -“Sir John,” she cried, turning to Hicks, “if that man is harmed, you -will live to be sorry for it. Heywood,” she said, turning to me, “go -about your business.” - -“Not while he has that weapon in his hand,” said I, “but if he will lay -it aside, and step down on the beach here--” Here he made a pass that -would have given me a bad stab had not Hicks knocked the thrust aside -with his heavy walking-stick, which he now held before him like a sword. - -Like a flash, Curtis turned upon him. The cutlass rose and fell like -rapid flashes of lightning in the gathering darkness, but each stroke -found the thick cane in its path, and Hicks remained unhurt. - -Howard burst into a loud guffaw. “Go it, bullies!” he cried. “Poke him -in the ribs, Curtis! Whang him on the knuckles, Hicks! Stand to it! -Stand to it! No flinching!” - -Yankee Dan’s daughter stood upon the porch, her hands clenched, and her -breast heaving with excitement. “Stop them! Oh, do stop them, Heywood,” -she gasped. - -“If he does, I’ll stuff his hide for a figurehead,” cried Howard, -sitting down to fully enjoy the scene. “Any one who stops such pretty -play, my dear child, will surely learn trouble. Look at that, an’ that!” - -Curtis had forced his adversary backward into the road, and several -persons came running to see the scuffle. One of these had recklessly -tried to seize the cutlass, and had received a couple of good slashes -with the blade. The fellow screamed with pain. I started forward, but -was instantly ordered back by Captain Howard. - -The slight diversion gave Hicks a chance to recover himself from the -suddenness of the attack, and land a blow upon Curtis’s knuckles, which -caused him to drop his weapon. Then, in spite of Howard’s threats and -the struggles of the combatants, they were separated just as Yankee Dan -and the main official of the town appeared at the door of the inn, -followed by a crowd of servants and sightseers. - -“It’s a shame your men interfere with such sport,” said Captain Howard. -“It’s an outrage, sir.” - -Yankee Dan had evidently settled for the repairs on the barque, and the -officer’s good-will was not held so high as formerly. - -“Are you addressing me, sir?” asked the officer. - -“I am, sir, I am. It’s a d----d outrage the way you allow these rogues -to interfere with gentlemen. You owe me an apology for spoiling that -sport.” - -“You’ll get something entirely different if you entertain any such -peculiar ideas regarding sport,” said the official. - -“Tut, tut, stow the row!” said Yankee Dan. “Come inside, Rose,” he -continued to his daughter, and she followed him out of sight. - -Hicks came up at that moment and strode through the staring group, and I -thought it about time to depart. - -Curtis had disappeared, and a fellow handed Captain Howard his cutlass. -The old sailor’s face remained as unmarked by passion as a piece of -iron, while he called the official names that would have made a dog -wince, and he thrust his cutlass back in its scabbard with easy -carelessness. Then he called for something to drink, and seated himself -comfortably again to enjoy it. I slipped off down the road, and he -evidently forgot all about the incident and the part I took in it before -I was out of sight. As I reached the landing, where we had left the -small boat, I noticed the big man, the skipper of the Yankee trader, -directing two of his crew to lift a large box. He apparently did not see -me in the gloom of the evening, for it was now getting quite dark, and -he ordered his men about in rough tones. - -“You, Sile, fling your end aboard, and don’t get them slops wet, -whatever you do. That Cap’n Howard don’t want no wet slops a-comin’ -aboard his ship. Says he’s paid nine shillin’ sixpence fer them jumpers -wot’ll sell fer five shillin’ anywhere outside London docks.” - -I approached and stood by, looking on. Suddenly he noticed me. - -“Hello, mate,” said he, “be ye a-goin’ aboard yer ship?” - -There seemed little use staying ashore. - -“Yes, I reckon I will when I get a boat,” I answered. - -“Well, hop right in there. I’ve got a bit o’ goods fer yer cap’n, and so -long as I’ve got tew take ’em aboard, I’ll take ye along with ’em.” - -I stepped into the boat, and was followed by four surly cutthroats, who -sullenly took up the oars. The captain followed. - -“Shove off!” he growled, and the men sent her clear. Then two natives -appeared and clamoured for some payment, following the boat into the -water. - -“Get clear, you Guineas!” growled the tall man, giving one a rap over -the head with the boat-hook, and the other a sharp crack on the -knuckles, where he held the gunwale. This caused them to let go and -retreat to the beach, spluttering a string of strange oaths, which the -men heeded not the least, but let fall their oars, and in a moment had -the boat heading out in the roadstead in the direction of _The Gentle -Hand_. - -“I s’pose you uns ain’t goin’ out fer a day or two yet?” said the tall -skipper, after he had seated himself in the stern-sheets. - -“I believe we’ll clear to-morrow,” I answered. “Our crew out on the -Desertas must have bucanned enough goat to last half the tribes of the -Senegal six months.” - -“This feeding them blamed niggers is the very devil,” said he, seeming -to be remarkably communicative for a captain who was talking to a -strange sailor. “Them coons has ter be kept fat. Just as soon as they -begin to pine, they goes almighty fast. Now there’s ole Zack Richards, -who’s too mean to lay out anything except boiled rice. Why, he left a -trail o’ dead men clean acrost to Cuba, an’ there warn’t an hour between -bodies a-followin’ in his wake. You say you’re well heeled with grub?” - -I told him everything was first-class aboard _The Gentle Hand_. - -“Got plenty o’ rocks, hey? Plenty o’ real money ter back the game, hey? -I s’pose they keeps a safe aboard, with iron doors an’ regular money -lock, under the cabin. Never seen the cash outfit, hey?” - -“No,” said I; “I’m only the gunner aboard, although I shipped as mate. I -never got a chance to see what’s aft.” - -“You’re most uncommon clever for a gunner, sink me! but I took ye for -first officer, at least. ’Course you’ve been mate an’ master, too, for -that matter. I c’u’d see that easy. I was just a-tellin’ Sile, when you -came over to-day, what a crackin’ mate they had on that barque.” Here he -looked hard at the surly man with the stroke oar, who nodded and spat -abundantly over the side to emphasize his corroboration. - -“Must be somethin’ of a wessel when she has fellers like you below -mate’s ratin’. She is a good-lookin’ barque, but I reckon she’s pretty -old. We’ll swing up on the port quarter best, and you can hail the deck. -Tell ’em here’s a chest o’ slops fer Captain Howard wot goes in his -cabin. He sent ’em off in this boat, an’ I won’t charge him nuthin’ fer -freight.” - -I bawled for a line, and Hawkson’s head appeared over the taffrail. - -“Here’s a chest for the captain,” I said, “it has--” - -“It goes in his cabin,” said the long man, interrupting. “Them’s his -instructions.” - -“What’s in it?” asked Hawkson. - -“Just common slops,” said the long skipper, “though he’s paid a shillin’ -or two more’n them cheap goods is worth. As fer me, I wouldn’t vally the -whole contents o’ that chest ekal to the powder an’ lead to blow ’em ter -Davy Jones,--an’ I don’t mind sayin’ it loud enough to be heard. He’s -got a lock on it big an’ strong enough ter hold solid gold, an’ he’s -kept the key. Pass a line an’ we’ll heave it up. I must be goin’. Reckon -I’ll clear in a couple of hours.” - -A couple of men dropped a line, which was quickly bent to one of the -handles of the chest, and in a few moments it was aboard the barque. The -small boat hung alongside for some minutes, while the long skipper swore -and cursed at Sile for not having been more careful about the barque’s -paint, as the chest scratched it a little. Then, hearing the men -carrying the affair below, he waved his cigar, which shone in the -darkness, and shoved off. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - WHAT THE CAPTAIN’S CHEST HELD - - -“You may lower down that signal, Haywood,” said Hawkson, after I had -watched the long skipper disappear in the darkness. - -Glancing aloft, it was too dark to see what signal he meant, so I -hesitated, knowing all our bunting was generally hauled down at sunset. - -“That pennant flying from the gaff,” said Hawkson, noting my slowness. -“That’s been flying all afternoon for Mr. Gull on the Desertas. Signal -agreed on to call him in. We’re bound out to-morrow, but didn’t have to -tell the whole island about it.” - -I went to the spanker-boom and sought the signal halyard. Then I hauled -down the pennant, which I remembered noting during the day, but gave no -particular thought. Rolling it up, I started forward to turn in when -Hawkson stopped me. - -“I wish you would keep a lookout aft there,” said he, “I’m going below -and turn in a bit, and I want to be called when the old man comes -aboard. Get your supper from Heligoland, and then lay aft until the gig -comes alongside.” - -On reaching the forecastle, I noticed Heligoland eye me sharply, then he -brought forth a piece of paper folded squarely and sealed on the corners -in very fine style. - -I wondered at this, for I had not received a note from any one for a -long time. Looking askance at the Norwegian, I slowly tore it open, and -spread it forth under the forecastle lamp. At first I could make little -out of it, for it was a scrawl and somewhat blotted. Then I finally made -out the name Richards at the bottom of it, and started in to read it -afresh. - - “My dear friend Heywood,” it went, “when you get this note, I will be - off the ship. There won’t be any use looking for me until I choose to - turn up, but you will see me again before long. I wanted you to go - with me, but it couldn’t be fixed. If you take care not to get killed, - maybe I can help you live a bit longer. - - PETER RICHARDS.” - -The letter was somewhat ambiguous, but Richards was something of a -scholar, having been a mate and an officer on a man-of-war, so I thought -that it was perhaps simply a way he had of saying good-bye. I knew he -intended to jump the ship, and supposed, of course, he would not think -of such a thing without taking me in his confidence. Here he had gone, -and he made no excuse, save that it could not be fixed. I swore at him -for fully a minute, and then Heligoland asked what it was. As he could -not read any language, let alone English, it was safe to tell him the -first thing that happened not to bear in any way upon the case. He -seemed satisfied. - -At eight bells I had eaten a bad meal cooked by the Norwegian sailor -left in charge, and betook myself aft to the quarter-deck. The night was -quite dark, and the lights on the shore twinkled brightly, sending their -reflection streaming seaward over the oily swell that rolled in gently -upon the sand. There was little wind, barely enough to feel, and I -lounged over the taffrail until I found myself dozing. - -It was close to two bells when I was roused by a peculiar sound in the -lazarette beneath me. There was a noise as of some one sawing gently, -and this was followed by a scraping like that caused by dragging -something heavy across the deck. - -While I rested half upon the rail, with my eyes fixed upon the lazarette -hatch, I became aware of the sound of voices in the water astern, coming -from seaward. Soon I distinguished the gentle rippling of water from a -boat’s stem, and heard Mr. Gull’s voice tell his men to take in their -sail. - -“Don’t seem to be any one on deck,” he growled, surlily, as the boat -came under the counter directly beneath me. - -“Give me your painter,” I said, quietly, reaching over for it, and then, -as it was tossed up, taking it forward to the mizzen lanyards, where I -proceeded to make it fast. - -While doing this, I became aware of two men standing on the taffrail, -carrying a heavy chest, which they were balancing upon the rail while -bending on a line to it. At first I thought they were from the boat -alongside, but instantly remembered the height of our quarter above the -rail of the small boat, and knew no one could have climbed up so -quickly. - -“Stand from under,” growled one, whose voice sounded very like that of -the red-headed villain Martin had taken into his drunken confidence -aboard the brig. Then the chest disappeared over the rail, and the other -man quickly caught a turn with the line about a belaying-pin, to ease it -off. I was now close beside them, and had no difficulty in recognizing -the silent one as the Guinea we had met in the brig that morning. - -“Over with you!” growled the fellow who had first spoken. “Don’t be all -night about letting that go,” and, suiting his action to his words, he -sprang upon the rail and dropped over. - -“What the blazes is this?” roared Mr. Gull from below, as the chest -landed in his boat. - -The fellow saw me as he slipped over the rail, and flung his knife at my -face, the blade just grazing my cheek. Before I could recover myself, -both the men had cleared the side and had dropped below. I rushed to the -rail and peered over. Below there were fierce oaths and the sound of a -desperate struggle, and in an instant several voices roared out for the -watch on deck. Mr. Gull could be heard and dimly seen cursing and -grappling with a man who strove to get over the boat’s stern into the -water, while a black mass of men struggled in the boat’s bottom, yelling -and cursing wildly in a strenuous combat. - -The sudden uproar aroused Hawkson, who came bounding up the companion, -with a cutlass in one hand and pistol in the other. - -“What’s the row?” he bawled, making to the side. - -“You may search me,” I answered. “Looks like a lot of lunatics below -there.” - -“Shore grog, I reckon. I’ll string that Martin up for this, an’ give -Jones a dozen--Break away there, you blackguards, an’ come aboard, or -I’ll fire into ye,” he bellowed, levelling his pistol. - -“Hold on!” I cried. “It’s Mr. Gull and his men.” - -“Mr.--what?” he asked, peering over. “Sink me, if it ain’t! What’s the -matter below there? D’ye want any help?” - -At that moment a shadow shot out of the gloom, and we saw a boat swing -quickly alongside of the one already fast to us. - -“Now, then, cut loose there,” drawled the voice of the long skipper, and -instantly the blackness was streaked with flashes, as the weapons rang -out. - -Then some of our men began clambering aboard by the painter in the -mizzen, while Hawkson roared and fired his pistol at the new boat. - -Bawling for men to follow, we slid down the lines still trailing over -the stern, but, before we could reach the boat beneath, it was pulled -from under us, and then we were left hanging over the black water. By -the time Hawkson and I climbed back on deck, the scuffle below had -ceased, and the long skipper was bawling out a hoarse farewell from the -darkness seaward, and being answered by Mr. Gull from his boat in -fitting terms. - -When lanterns were brought out, it was seen that several of our men were -seriously hurt, and lay upon the pile of provisions in the boat. The -chest had disappeared, and was evidently in the possession of the -skipper of the Yankee brig. At this, Hawkson plunged below, and came up -a few minutes later with the news that the barque’s treasure-chest was -missing, and that she must consequently be made ready for sea at once. - -The affair was now perfectly plain. Our men were nearly all ashore, and -it was impossible to get them before morning. The long skipper had put a -couple of men in the chest, sent them aboard, and they had worked the -treasure-chest on deck, mistaking Mr. Gull’s boat for their own, which -they had evidently arranged to have on hand at the appointed time. But -for the last part of the game, everything would have gone quietly. The -empty slop-chest, with its large lock, was the only evidence, besides -some wounded men, to show that we had been boarded and robbed in the -most approved pirate fashion. - -We stood about, gazing at the empty chest with its lock, which was put -on to guard against inquisitive persons opening it before the men within -desired to come out. Forgetting entirely that we were within the sacred -precincts of the captain’s cabin, Hawkson stood gazing at the affair -lying open before him, swearing at the tricky skipper who had so easily -hoodwinked him, and apparently lost as to the best method of regaining -the chest. - -Suddenly the sound of voices came down the companion, and the noise of a -boat bumping alongside. He sprang to the poop, cutlass in hand, ready-to -repel boarders, and the rest followed in his wake, all armed now and in -a temper for business. - -We arrived just in time to meet Captain Howard and Hicks, who climbed up -the ladder to starboard, and were on their way aft followed by Watkins, -the steward. - -Mr. Gull had already started to explain matters, and tell how he had -been overpowered, but our formidable appearance caused the old fellow to -draw his cutlass and stand on guard. - -“What’s this mean? D’ye dare mutiny?” he roared, and it was some moments -before Hawkson could explain that mutiny was our last thought, but that -our principal desire was to meet the long trader and his crew. I was -afraid I would suffer from suspicion in the affair, but Mr. Gull told -how he sent me forward with his painter to make it fast in the mizzen, -and nothing was said to me about the matter. - -“Allen carried most of the specie ashore the day after we came in,” I -heard Hicks say to Mr. Gull. “There was nothing of any value in that -chest, but, as it’ll be dead calm all night, we’ll have a try at him -to-morrow if he’s in sight. He won’t get far, and, if we only had all -hands here, we could board him where he lays.” - -Howard, after seeing that everything was all right aboard, and that Mr. -Gull had brought a ton or more of goat meat, went below, while we rove a -tackle and unloaded the stuff on deck, the men hurt in the fracas being -allowed to turn in. - -It was nearly midnight before the rest of us went into the forecastle, -which now somewhat resembled a hospital, and I stretched out in my pew, -wondering what would become of Mr. Curtis and Miss Allen if the barque -sailed in the morning with our trader aboard. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - THE CAPTAIN SHOWS HIS METTLE - - -Before the light of the early morning filtered below, we were aroused by -the entrance of the liberty crew. - -“Youst look at the mess,” cried Bill, staggering down the companion. -“Jump below, friend Martin, an’ see the horsepittle they’ve made in this -fo’c’sle.” - -“Hoot, ye Scandinavian imp, is any one hurt? Mark ye, if there’s any -fighting to be done, I’ll do it! Ye ken that? I’ll do it. I’ll do it.” -And he followed Bill below, and after him trooped Big Jones, Ernest, and -the rest. There was noise enough when we told our yarn of the evening -before, and all except Anderson took a peep from the hatch seaward to -try and raise the brig, which had cleared during the night. She was out -of sight, however, and they came swarming below again, where the surly -Swede was thanking the fates the barque had been robbed, and only -mourned because none of her officers were killed or wounded. - -Jennings and Jorg, the Finn, were about the only men who had received no -hurt from the fracas, except myself. Even Heligoland had received a bad -scratch from a stray bullet, and all of Gull’s crew were more or less -bruised and banged about by the villains. One of the boat’s crew took a -crack over the head that had put him out for many minutes, and another a -stab from a knife that rendered his hand useless for the time being. -Owing to the darkness, no one had received a bullet from the long -skipper’s fire. - -Before we had time to speculate upon what we would do, Hawkson’s voice -bawled out for all hands, and Henry appeared at the hatch. - -We turned out and saw smoke flying from the galley-pipe, and heard the -voice of the Doctor singing off the effects of shore grog while he -hustled the breakfast. In a few minutes we had eaten, and were manning -the windlass to heave short. - -There was a gentle breeze blowing, and the topsails were loosened, the -canvas falling from the yards and hanging hauled up at the clews, ready -to sheet home at the word. Far away seaward, the Desertas--the barren -rocks infested only by wild goats--stood out sharply against the -southern sky. Nothing white like a royal, however, broke the line of -blue, and it was evident that our friend, the brig, had made a good -offing during the night, in spite of the lack of wind. While Jim and -Tom, our two Liverpool cockneys, squeaked out a song, to which Gus and -Ernest added their guttural grunts, the starboard watch hove on the -windlass brakes, and began to take the slack out of our cable. Before we -had taken twenty feet, however, we noticed a boat coming from the shore, -and soon recognized Yankee Dan, the trader. In a few minutes he was -alongside bawling for Captain Howard. Then he climbed over the side, -and, without stopping to pay his fare, started aft. - -“It’s a nice mess he’s made ashore,” he said, as Hawkson appeared on the -poop. “Don’t he know he’ll have to fight? What’s he afraid of, anyway?” - -“Who?” asked the mate. - -“The old man, of course. Who else? Hasn’t he insulted that Guinea -officer ashore there? Don’t he know he’s playing mighty strange, not -showin’ up when time’s called? Where is he?” - -“Below,” said Hawkson, “but he’ll be on deck if he hears you, fast -enough. What’s the trouble?” - -I had reached the starboard quarter gun by this time, and saw a smooth -poll, like the knob of a door, poked up the companion. - -“Who’s making that racket?” growled a voice, and Howard’s face appeared -over the coamings. - -“Ain’t you goin’ to meet your man?” bawled the trader. - -“What man, you nigger-thief?” growled Howard. - -“I’ll settle with you afterward,” said the trader, coming close to him. -“You better attend to one quarrel at a time. Are you goin’ to fight or -not? You know the man well enough, the officer you insulted yesterday.” - -“Where is he?” growled the old villain. - -“On the beach, waitin’ for you. Are ye blind?” - -“That’ll do the anchor. Get the small boat ready,” said he to the mate. -“I reckon we’ll wait a bit and see what’s up ashore.” - -In a moment after, he had disappeared down the companion. Howard came -stiffly on deck again, buckling on a cutlass. His face expressed -nothing, and, as he went toward the gangway, he called for his steward -to bring him a glass of grog. The effect of this was instantaneous. - -He limbered up, and, as Holmberg, Bill, and myself brought the boat to -the steps, he was pacing fore and aft, cursing at our delay. - -“I’ll have my breakfast when I come back,” he growled to Watkins. “No -fear, I’ll take the stiffness out of somebody.” - -Then he climbed down the side ladder and sprang into the boat, followed -by Yankee Dan. - -“Shove off!” he growled. Then he turned to the trader. “Where’s this -fracas to be, and what’s it about? What am I fighting for, you -nigger-thief?” And he broke into a high, cackling laugh, while his face -hardly changed in expression, his fishy eyes roving in their gaze toward -the beach. - -We gave way with a will, and were out of hailing distance of the barque -before Hicks appeared on deck. I could see him waving, but, as the -captain sat with his back facing aft steering, I thought it was little -use to call his attention to the matter. - -We were heading, under the trader’s guidance, to a spot on the shore out -of sight of the town, and in a little cove where there was no surf from -the heave of the swell. Here the craft was beached, and we sprang out to -drag her up. Then the trader and our skipper stepped ashore. Out from a -thicket of laurel sprang a trio of men, all wearing the Portuguese -uniform, and then I recognized one of them as the dago officer who had -been talking to the trader the evening before, and whom our old captain -had cursed so villainously. Under the arm of a younger man was a bunch -of swords, such as were used at the time for fencing in the -army,--little long, thin blades of the rapier pattern, and sharp as -needles. - -“Sorry to have kept you folks waitin’ so long,” said Yankee Dan, “but -the old man had overslept himself. I reckon he’ll fight fast enough. -We’re ready when you say the word.” - -The younger officer passed him the hilts of a couple of rapiers, and -politely begged that he try their temper and make a choice. - -While he did so, our old skipper tossed aside his coat, and stood forth -in a none too clean shirt and flowing trousers, held up by a broad -leathern sword-belt. This he began to unbuckle unconcernedly, and, as he -finished, he wrapped it around the scabbard of his hanger and drew forth -the blade. - -“I haven’t much time to waste on these Guineas,” said he, breaking into -a sudden cackling laugh which ended abruptly. His face wore the same -mahogany mask-like look it always presented, and his eyes were -lustreless and fixed as those of a dead mackerel. “If there’s any game -goin’, let it start, for we’ve a job in the offing to attend to.” - -“Here,” said the trader, presenting him the hilt of a rapier he had -chosen, “drop that meat-axe and bear a hand. We’ll settle our little -affair later.” - -“I’ll settle you, if you don’t sheer off,” growled Howard. “If the dago -wants to fence, let him come in. This is the sword for me, and, if he’s -finky about it, I’ll chase him clean up his chimney before he’ll get -clear of it.” - -Yankee Dan threw down his sword in disgust. - -“Don’t let him worry on my account,” said the officer, in good English. -“Let him keep whatever weapon he chooses. Perhaps he would like to have -a pistol also.” - -It seemed strange that the officer, who was a high official not far -below the governor himself, should want to fight a duel with a man like -Howard. He evidently intended to kill him, for he took no pains to -hinder his clearing with his ship, and appeared eager to come to a -personal settlement. - -A line was drawn across the sand, and the two combatants advanced to it, -the officer not above middle age and graceful, his sword held in proper -manner before him and his feet set at the right distance apart, while -his left hand he held poised at a level with his shoulder in the rear. - -Howard grasped his scabbard in his left hand, with its belt wrapped -about it, and, holding it high above him, advanced his cutlass’s point, -and proceeded to work with no more concern than if he were prodding a -lazy sailor. - -The sun had risen, and the sea was a beautiful blue offshore, the gentle -rippling along the beach sounding musically. The breeze just rustled the -foliage overhead, and made a low, continuous clicking which blended with -the sound of the steel. The air was warm, but fresh with the odour of -the sea, and the two men facing each other felt its bracing influences, -for they were hard at it in an instant, the old skipper breaking forth -into a high, cackling laugh, as he swung his weapon with marvellous -quickness. It was evidently great sport for him, and he was enjoying it. - -The dago’s glinting black eyes shone fiercely as he thrust and lunged, -with the black lust of murder in his heart, determined to rid the world -of a villain. He was an expert swordsman, and accounted Howard a dead -rascal. But the ways of Providence are strange. It won’t do to trust -that the wicked will be punished and the good go unscathed. The ways of -the Almighty Power are inscrutable, and to dictate a policy against -crime, with oneself as the avenger, is a dangerous undertaking. The -Almighty has a way of his own for dealing with all things, and the -fallible human being is not consulted with a view to proving who or -which is best. - -The very confidence of the officer made me nervous. His fierce smile -seemed to hold contempt and disdain for his antagonist, who, with his -old scabbard held high in rear, ambled about the sandy shore like some -old reptile, the perspiration starting out on the top of his bald poll -and running down his expressionless face in little streams. - -Once he was pricked sorely in the side, but the old fellow only laughed -in his high, cackling voice, and swung his cutlass with renewed vigour. - -Four, five, ten minutes passed, and the conflict waxed hotter and the -men began to breathe heavily. The officer’s face was pale and calm with -a fixed resolution. His breath came in sharp, rasping jerks, but his eye -was bright and watchful, and he was much lighter and quicker on his -feet. - -Suddenly he lunged out and pressed the old man fiercely. Howard’s -scabbard sank lower and lower behind him until he let it trail upon the -ground. He was getting tired, though his face showed nothing. The -officer stabbed him badly in the arm, and there was a look in his eyes -that told of the finish. With a movement quick as lightning, the sailor -transferred his sword to his left hand, and came on with his fresh -wrist, working with the precision of the trained fencer. - -Then the old man stopped, stepped back a pace, evidently thoroughly -blown with the exertion. It looked like the end now, and I began to feel -sorry for him, standing there to be spitted by the implacable dago. - -“To the death,” hissed the officer in good English, and lunged out with -a vigour that seemed to defy a parry. - -It seemed to me his sword must go half a fathom beyond the old man’s -body, and I gave a little exclamation of sympathy. Then something -strange happened. Howard dropped his point and jerked his sword -backward. It sheered off the thrust to starboard, and, before the -officer could recover, the cutlass rose and fell like a flash in the -sunshine. The blade landed fairly on his antagonist’s head, and down he -went on the sand like a poleaxed bullock, while Howard broke forth into -his cackling laugh, and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. Then he -turned and strode toward the boat, where Bill held his coat and hat. The -rest crowded around the wounded man, and cried out in excited tones. - -“Shove her off,” growled our captain; “he isn’t hurt much, but it’s too -hot for this kind of play. He, he, he! I’d a good notion to break his -head, Dan, he looked so wicked, hey! ’Twouldn’t do to hurt one of those -fellows if we want to come again. He’ll be all right in a week. Hi, hi, -hi! but he hated me right fairly, hey?” - -“I’ll call it quits,” said Yankee Dan, smiling, as he climbed aboard. We -shoved off, and were soon on our way to _The Gentle Hand_. - -As we sent the craft sheering through the clear water, I had a chance to -look shoreward, for I faced aft with the stroke oar. Upon the yellow -sand several forms now moved in a body, and, as they opened a bit, I saw -the wounded officer walking away leaning upon the arm of his young -comrade. - -“Hi, hi, hi!” cackled Howard, “what an appetite a little play gives one, -hey? Would you like to try your hand, you man-eater, to-morrow?” - -“I’m no butcher; the pistol is good enough for me,” said Yankee Dan. - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - WE HEAR OF LONG TOM - - -In less than half an hour we were back again aboard, and as the trader -clambered over the side, he was greeted by his daughter. He was -evidently surprised, for he threw his head back until his beard, -sticking upward from his throat beneath his collar, stood out straight -in a most aggressive manner. It evidently had its effect on the young -lady’s spirits. - -“You don’t seem overpleased to have me here again,” she said before he -had spoken. - -Yankee Dan gave a loud grunt of protest. - -“Are you going clear to the coast, and be aboard when we take ’em on, -hey?” said he, with a show of sarcasm in his harsh voice. - -“I’m going with you, and you may put me ashore with Aunt Mary at St. -Helena, or on board some vessel bound for New York, so I can get to -Uncle Henry’s. I’m not going to stay ashore here,” she answered. - -Then the father turned away; the interview ended as Hawkson came up. - -Fearing trouble for the vessel in her dismasted condition when she -arrived, her treasure had been removed ashore, so that in case some -prying man-of-war should happen to take charge on suspicion, it would be -safe. This alone saved the enterprise from failure that morning, but, -when the story of the brig’s rascally skipper had been related to the -trader, he instantly started ashore with Mr. Gull and a couple of men, -to get the gold at once from Mr. Curtis, in order that there might be no -delay in getting to sea and overhauling the brig, if only to give him a -lesson in trading etiquette. At this time slave-traders were not -overscrupulous in their dealing, and among themselves were little better -than pirates, for they would seldom hesitate to overhaul or rob each -other, knowing that the slaver robbed could get no redress without -admitting guilt of similar transactions. - -By the time he returned, the barque was hove short, and her sails ready -to sheet home, and the young lady, who had already gone below to her -cabin, was not given much thought by either her father or the old -skipper. As the boat drew up alongside, I noticed Mr. Curtis aboard, but -he took no thought of me as he came on deck. In an instant we had hooked -the boat on and whisked her on deck, and in less than five minutes we -were starting out to sea before a light westerly breeze that sent us -along about five knots. - -I cleared the guns and loaded them all, and then a man was sent aloft to -keep a lookout for a sail, which we all hoped might be the Yankee brig. -We were on our course for the African coast, but might alter it if -occasion offered. - -The old barque sailed well with her new topmasts, and, if anything, she -showed a bit faster, as her main was now a foot higher and her new-cut -topsail a little deeper. Much of her fine gear was gone, but what we had -purchased in Funchal was of the best quality, and we had lines enough to -rig another ship. Altogether she made a good showing, and even Mr. -Gull’s crew, who had eaten much goat meat, and in consequence were in -prime condition, were not sorry to get back aboard her. - -All day we held to the southward over an almost glassy ocean, ruffled -here and there by the falling breeze, and by sunset we were rewarded by -Big Jones’s yell from the foretop: “Sail dead ahead, sir.” - -We were going too slow to tell just what the vessel might be before -dark. Her royals were showing white on the clear blue line, and the sun -went down before even her topsails rose above the horizon. The white of -her cloth, however, gave us some hope, for Americans used white canvas, -and the brig could not be very far ahead of us, and undoubtedly bound on -the same course. - -It was calm all night, but somehow the barque slid along, and by -daylight the fellow ahead could be made out plainly not over three miles -distant. It was the brig, and the long skipper was evidently not much -disturbed at our approach, for he took in his after stunsails and -wallowed along slowly over the smooth swell. - -We were through breakfast before we knew anything of Howard’s plans, -although there had been much speculation among the men forward, some, -who had suffered in the fracas the evening before, being especially -anxious to try conclusions with the men who had inadvertently dropped -the chest and themselves on top of them and their goat meat in the small -boat. - -Gus, a stout Swede, and Pat, a heavy-built little Irishman, showed -bandaged arms which they wished avenged, and Jennings, a Dutchman, who -was a good sailor, poked his swathed head over the rail and swore an -unintelligible oath at the Yankee. Hawkson stood upon the poop and -watched the brig steadily, until Hicks and Howard came from below. - -“Will he fight?” asked Hicks, coming to the old mate’s side. - -“Did you ever see a Yankee sailor that wouldn’t?” said Hawkson. “No -fear! You’ll see all the fighting you want, if we come in range,--an’ -we’re mighty near that now.” - -“We’ll take him before eight bells,” said Howard, without interest, as -though it were a thing he did every day. “Get the small arms ready, and -stand by.” - -We were nearing the brig, although only going about three knots an hour, -and when within about a mile of her, a puff of white flew from her -starboard quarter, and in a few moments later a six-pound shot landed -with a loud bang against our side, and smashed through into the -’tween-decks, drowning the faint boom of the gun with its slamming -around below. - -“He, he, he!” laughed Howard, his ugly mouth showing barely a trace of -amusement. “He means fight without any talk. That’s plain enough. -Suppose you pop him one or two, just to try the range.” - -Hawkson stepped down on the main-deck and went to a forward gun. - -“Keep her off a couple of points,” he bawled to Henry, and, as the -barque yawed a little, he fired. - -We watched to see the shot strike, and saw a jet of water thrown against -the brig’s side, telling plainly that the ball had struck at or below -the water-line. Several men cheered, but behind me I heard a fierce -oath. Turning, I saw Martin glaring savagely at Hawkson, while near him -stood Anderson with a scowl on his face. Even as I looked in surprise, -the wily Scot caught my eye, and his look changed. - -“’Tis a pity it didn’t hit him and cut his mast out. Ye may ken it’s far -better to knock out a spar in a chase,” said he to me, in a low voice -that Hawkson could not hear. His tone was not natural, however, and I -wondered at him for some time afterward, and thought of the possible -ways the long skipper could have heard of the barque’s treasure-chest in -the lazarette that he had run off with so handily. We were soon busy -firing the guns of the port broadside as fast as we could serve them at -the enemy, now well within range. - -Shot were striking the barque often, for the Yankee was making excellent -practice with his light guns, but no one had been injured aboard. This -being cut up did not suit Howard. He valued the old vessel too highly to -have her hurt badly, and knew also the difficulty of repairing old -timbers. - -“Let her head up half a point,” said he, and we were soon dead astern of -the brig and creeping up toward her, our own guns unable to fire, and -receiving only the fire of one little six-pounder they brought on the -poop. This single gun made havoc with our sails, hitting them time and -again, and tearing our outer jib so badly that it was useless. We drew -closer, and suddenly the Yankee ceased firing. We were very close to him -now, and the long skipper could be easily seen leaning indolently upon -the poop-rail, watching us with apparent unconcern. - -Hawkson took up a speaking-trumpet and bawled out. - -“Heave that vessel to, or we’ll sink you,” he roared. - -The long captain put his hand to his ear, as if unable to understand, -and the hail was repeated. - -“I can’t heave her to,” drawled the fellow. “There’s too many men aboard -her, an’ they won’t let me.” - -Yankee Dan now came from below, where he had taken his daughter for -protection, and gazed at the brig. - -“It’s Long Tom Shannon,” said he, “and it would have been a lot better -if we hadn’t come up with him. It’s strange you didn’t know him, the -worst rascal on the coast.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - WE REPEL BOARDERS - - -There was no one in sight aboard the brig save the skipper and the man -at the wheel, but we knew she had a full crew. The barque hauled up -rapidly, even while the mate and skipper spoke, and we stood at the port -guns, ready to let loose a broadside that would finish our enemy. - -“Hard aport,” came the order, and we expected to swing quickly to -starboard, and thus bring each gun to bear at close range, our heavier -battery of twelve-pounders being sufficient to cripple any vessel the -size of the brig, who, with her little six-pounders, could hardly hope -for escape. - -Some one, I think it must have been Martin, let fly the jib-sheet as a -little air filled it, and prevented our paying off rapidly, and, as we -went, we had the satisfaction of seeing the brig port his helm also, and -swing up ahead of us, while he opened again with his gun on the poop. -Hawkson saw the mistake, or trick, whichever it was, with the -head-sheet, and, roaring out orders to flatten it in, he sprang down -upon the main-deck, followed by Gull and Henry, and rushed forward to -the braces. - -A shot from the brig’s six-pounder struck Pete, a dago, and cut him -almost in half, flinging him bodily upon Anderson, both going into the -starboard scuppers in a heap. Then, before the long Yankee captain -realized what we were about, we had braced sharp on the starboard tack -forward, and he, thinking we would haul up to bring our battery to bear, -came up into the wind, and, falling off, drifted down upon us until it -was certain we would be alongside in a few minutes. - -“Tumble up here, ye bullies,” he cried, in his drawling tones, and, as -he spoke, his men came bounding from below, rushing for the starboard -fore-rigging, to come aboard us the instant the vessels fouled. Luckily -the battery was loaded, and in an instant Hawkson was at the guns with -Gull, Henry, and myself, bawling for men to leave the main-braces and -lend a hand, while Howard himself rolled the wheel hard up again. - -The brig fell off until her jib-boom came across the poop, where Hicks -and a couple of men tried to bear it off astern. They only partly -succeeded, but they managed to keep it clear of the backstays and -prevent fouling, while the brig’s crew fired several shot into us, -getting in return our four heavy twelves, that did some execution among -them, several men falling upon the deck at the discharge. Howard jumped -forward on the poop, calling for men to repel boarders, and, after -firing the last gun, we swarmed up the poop-ladder to check the -piratical-looking crew that had now left everything on the brig’s deck, -and was climbing into her chains, armed with cutlass and pistol, for a -spring aboard us. - -The long skipper balanced himself on the fore sheer-pole, with his -cutlass swinging in his hand and a belt stuck full of pistols. In an -instant he gave a yell for his men to follow, and sprang with the ease -of a cat upon our poop-rail, right among us. It was a long jump, and -only possible for a man of great length of limb. - -“Come on, Brannigan,” he drawled out to his mate, making a slash at -Howard’s bare poll, but the old skipper warded off the blow, while we -rushed in upon him. Then we were favoured by a most singular turn of -fortune, aided by Hawkson’s skill. - -A lively little puff of wind filled our spreading canvas and shoved the -barque ahead. Before the brig could quite reach us, we had drawn a -couple of fathoms clear. One fellow threw a grappling-hook over our -rail, but Bill cut the line. Hawkson jumped for the forebrace, calling -for men to follow, and, before the brig’s crew realized it, we had -extended the couple of fathoms into a dozen, and were slipping along -before the light breeze very handsomely indeed. - -In vain did the Yankee crew fire at us with their small arms. Not a soul -was hit, and, while their helmsman rolled the wheel up to follow in our -wake, I trained the heavy stern-chasers upon him, and sent a couple of -shots through his foresail, which rendered that piece of canvas worse -than useless. While these affairs were taking place, Shannon was having -a lively time of it on our poop. He sprang away from the first rush upon -him, but so covered our men that his own could not deliver an effective -shot without danger of killing their leader. He bawled lustily for his -mate, Brannigan, and, being so hard pressed, he could not turn to see -what had happened, wondering why he had been so suddenly deserted. - -Then he heard shouting recede astern, and, as he listened to Mr. -Brannigan’s tongue expressing the grossest possible encomiums upon us, -he realized the game was up. He sprang backward a space and turned to -clear the rail, preferring to take his chances swimming back to his -vessel than to accept our hospitality. At this instant, however, Yankee -Dan sprang upon him from behind and clasped him firmly around the legs, -at the same time calling for some one to bring a lashing to make him -fast. The plucky trader would have had a hard time of it but for Henry. -Shannon tore him clear, and was about to heave him over the side also, -when the ferret-faced man, with a bound like a monkey, fastened those -terrible fingers of his into Shannon’s throat. It was useless to try to -shake him off, for well I knew the fatal strength of his grip. We let -him hold on while we passed a line about the struggling man, hoping we -would get him fast before the strangle would kill. - -The long man’s struggles were terrific. Twice he flung Gull and myself -from him, giving Yankee Dan a kick that shot him clear across the deck, -and landed him helpless to leeward. Big Jones alone managed to keep his -hold beside Henry, and I heard the high, cackling laugh of old Howard -enjoying the struggle. Up and down, sometimes all in a tangle, we rolled -over and over that poop, Shannon gradually getting blue in the face and -weakening under that horrible grip. But he was an American, and fought -with the steadiness of a man who was used to taking trouble lightly. -Finally we drew the line close about him, pinning his arms to his sides, -and then passed a gasket over his ankles. Then Henry let go, but the -want of air had done its work, and the long fellow lay limp as a rag. We -stood up, gasping for breath from our exertions, and then Howard’s high -cackle sounded upon our ears. - -“Hi, hi, hi! don’t kill him. Throw a bucket of water over the fellow,” -he cried. “We want that man. We need that long rascal.” - -Ernest started to get a draw-bucket, but, before he left the poop, -Watkins came from below with a bottle of spirits, and, running to the -long skipper, raised his head and poured a little into his mouth. This -nearly finished Henry’s work, but, instead of choking to death, Shannon -gave a gasp and choke, blowing the liquor out of his mouth. - -At this instant a shot from the brig struck the deck close to Watkins, -ripping a great rent in the white planks, and driving a cloud of -splinters among us. One of these long pieces of pine struck the old -steward in the middle of the back. It drove clear through his body, and -came out several inches in front, piercing him through and through. He -gave a sharp scream, dropped the bottle, and rose to his feet with -staring eyes. Then he drew forth a pistol and pointed it at my head. -Before he could pull the trigger, he staggered and fell, the weapon -exploding harmlessly, and when we reached him he was dead. - -Howard came to where he lay, and gazed down upon him for an instant, -while Gull, Hawkson, and the rest went at the long stern-chasers, and -opened fire again upon the brig, which was still within close range. I -stood but a moment gazing at the old steward, with somewhat mixed -feelings in regard to him, and, as Howard ordered a couple of men to -carry him below, I joined the rest at the guns. - -We now delivered such a heavy and accurate fire upon the pirate slaver -that it soon silenced him, and in half an hour we were well out of -range, leaving him with his foremast over the side and several of his -numerous crew killed and wounded. - -We had lost two men, Pete, the dago, and Watkins, the steward, while a -fellow named Guinea was badly wounded in the leg, and a German sailor, -named Johns, had received a bullet through the arm. Altogether a heavy -loss for a vessel without a fighting crew. We had had a narrow escape -from being boarded by a stronger force, and, while I knew we would have -given a good account of ourselves, our officers showed good judgment in -not engaging too closely a force of Americans with our mongrel crowd. -The brig was at our mercy before we finished, but there was nothing to -be gained by taking her, and Howard seemed more than satisfied in having -taken her skipper. I expected him to lay the barque across the brig’s -bow, and fire at her until she sank, but instead he kept straight away -on his course, without thought of revenge further than the chastisement -already administered. - -As we loaded the guns for the last time, holding the fire in reserve, a -voice broke upon our ears that had grown familiar of late. - -“I wanter know! I wanter know! What the devil has happened around here, -anyway?” it drawled. “Am I a soger, an’ this here a battlefield covered -with blood and glory, or am I on a stinking slave-ship? That’s what’s -worryin’ me.” - -And then Shannon proceeded to pronounce the grossest possible things -upon us. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - OUR CAPTAIN - - -Captain Shannon had recovered and had tried to rise into a sitting -position, but the lines upon him were none too softly drawn, and he -found himself stiff as a mummy, being lashed from above his able elbows -to his long and pointed shoes. - -Mr. Curtis, who had arrived on deck in time to take part in the fracas, -now insisted that our captive be set free on the promise that he would -not attempt to either make further disturbances or go overboard. - -“Disturbance! I wanter know,” said Shannon, “who’s the one makin’ the -disturbance? Here I just politely hopped aboard your ole barque, an’ -some gorilla in breeches nabs me by the mizzen and jest naturally stops -my bazoo. Why didn’t ye finish the job instead o’ bringing me to again -to swing me at your yard-arm.” - -“We don’t intend to swing you,” said Curtis. “If you behave yourself, -we’ll promise not to harm you until--until--” - -“Until what, I wanter know?” said Shannon. - -It was evident that Mr. Curtis had meant to say that he would deliver -him over to the authorities of law and order at the first port touched, -but, upon consideration, this seemed manifestly absurd. _The Gentle -Hand_ was not hunting authorities for law and order just at the time, -and the matter must necessarily be settled by the parties interested, -which, after all, is considered not unfair by most human beings who do -not care to bother their neighbours with their personal affairs. - -While this was taking place, Miss Allen, who had remained below to -escape injury during the engagement, now appeared on deck, and instantly -noticed the captive. She gazed at him in astonishment, and asked how he -came aboard. - -He seemed as much surprised at seeing a woman aboard a slaver as if she -had been a naval officer in uniform. As he solemnly swore that he would -not fight any more, his lashings were cast adrift below his waist, and -he was raised to his feet. - -“Well, I wanter know,” was his first comment, as he stood looking at the -trader’s daughter. “Be you goin’ to make the middle passage, miss?” - -The “middle passage” was that from the slave coast, with human freight, -to the point of destination of the slave, and the term was used to -distinguish that part of the voyage from the one out and the return. The -term was American, but applied as well to British ships, who, like -ourselves, sailed first out of some English port. Miss Allen smiled at -the long fellow and looked into his faded yellow eyes, but she disdained -to answer him, and he was hustled forward by several men, while he broke -forth afresh in a low tone, pouring a stream of the foulest invective -upon them in the easy and indolent manner that was characteristic of his -speech. - -During the following fortnight we made good way to the southward, -passing the high peak of Teneriffe the third day out of Funchal, leaving -it a dark cloud upon the eastern horizon. We held our course now closer -in toward the coast, but still distant enough to be offshore from any -cruiser that might be watching for slave-ships. - -Then we crossed the line and stood in through the Guinea Current for the -Gulf, heading straight for the Bight of Benin. - -Our captive had by this time given abundant evidence that he could be -trusted about the decks without danger of his trying to escape. In fact, -he appeared to take a fancy to _The Gentle Hand_. - -Martin, who appeared drawn to the fellow, several times announced that -it was a shame to keep his hands in irons, and, after repeating this to -Henry and Mr. Gull for some days, it reached Hawkson and the captain. - -We were now three men short in the crew, and an extra man, especially of -Shannon’s build and energy, was a matter to be considered. The mate held -out strenuously for either putting the long fellow ashore or hanging him -forthwith, but, as Curtis, Hicks, and the rest were absolutely set -against such a measure as capital punishment, and the land was some -distance off, the inevitable took place. That is, Shannon was -practically shanghaied into the ship, but chose to sign articles of his -own free will to become a member of her crew, and was regularly -installed. - -His great delight was to dwell humourously upon the adventure of the -treasure-box in Funchal, telling at some length how Brannigan, his mate, -who had come aboard in the chest, had dropped right upon Jennings, the -Dutch sailor’s back, when he went over the side. This accounted for the -state of Jennings’s head, for the skipper assured us that Mr. Brannigan -was a man of parts, and could do up a whole ship full of square-heads. -He explained how angry he had become at the mistake he had made in -taking Mr. Gull’s boat for the one meant for him, and how he had -thrashed each member of the boat’s crew for not pulling harder and -getting under the stern half a minute sooner. The only thing that -prevented our capture in the last encounter was the fact that Brannigan -had failed to jump aboard, but if he had, the two of them could easily -have taken the barque. - -While we had some doubts about the last statement, we were entertained -to a high degree, and Shannon became rapidly a favourite. More -especially as we had already had some evidence of his prowess, and a -look from his faded eyes following a drawling request for tobacco or -other commodity had the usual effect of producing considerable attention -from the person addressed. His arms, of course, had been delivered aft, -but he had a way of gazing at one that made a person feel that his -good-will was of the utmost value. Martin was his devoted companion, and -Anderson, who had been badly bruised and stunned by the shot that had -killed Pete, even forgave the damage and appeared much more friendly -than we had reason to expect. Bill and I had several talks over the -Scot’s peculiar manner with the stranger, and we became more friendly -and confidential over the subject. Big Jones kept his own counsel, and -seemed to admire the long limbs of the Yankee skipper, yet did not care -too much for his company. - -Jorg, with a gang of helpers consisting of Tom and Tim, two Liverpool -dock-rats of the other watch, and Ernest and Heligoland, kept hard at -work repairing the damage done us by the brig’s six-pounders, and were -hardly finished by the time we sighted the low coast near Lagos. - -The haze which hangs over the surf in the Guinea Gulf hides the land -until a vessel is almost upon it. We were close in, and could hear the -dull thunder of the swell falling upon the sand before we realized that -the run was over, and the work of trading and capturing human beings -would begin. - -No time was lost after we came to soundings. The boats were made ready -and the anchors gotten over the bows, while the topsails, though clewed -up, were left hanging ready to sheet home at a moment’s warning. A man -was posted in the foretop all day, and everything done to prevent a -surprise of some prowling man-of-war. Even Hawkson showed signs of -peculiar alertness, and his nervousness, though slight, was quickly -transmitted to both Gull and Henry. - -Only old Howard seemed impervious to the excitement, and ambled about -the poop unconcernedly, watching the shore until we had reached the -mouth of a low, marshy river. - -The breeze was off the land, and the barque was hove to, while the small -boat was manned and sent in with Yankee Dan and Hicks to see if there -were any negroes to be procured. - -I managed to pull stroke oar, and went more to see how the business was -to be conducted than anything else. We had half a dozen muskets in the -boat, with powder and lead, to use in defence, if necessary, or in trade -if possible. Yankee Dan was so nervous that Hicks insisted on taking the -tiller as we headed for the beach, and he picked up a loaded gun and -laid it handy upon the stern-sheets in case of emergency. - -The breeze being light and offshore, the heat of the equatorial sun was -intense. It was about nine o’clock in the morning when the barque stood -in, and it was nearly eight bells now, the sun being at its height, and -the sky a brazen dome of heat above us. - -It took quite half an hour to pull in, for the shore was really several -miles distant, and by the time we neared the huge white combers rolling -in upon the sand, we were so hot that under other conditions an upset in -the breakers would have been welcomed by all hands. - -As it was, we skirted the shore just outside the lift of the outer -breaker, and soon found an opening over the bar at the river mouth. -Hicks headed in through this opening, regardless of consequences, and we -were soon carried by the current well in behind the southern point of -sand. Here we found the marshy banks of the river stretching away -inland, and upon one just behind a little rise covered with low trees, -we saw the slave factory, as the pens were called where the unfortunates -were corralled. - -There was not a sign of life anywhere, and the only sound that broke the -glaring stillness was the deep-toned roar of the surf outside. - -Suddenly there was a sharp “ping,” and a crack upon the boat’s gunwale, -followed by the report of a rifle. - -“Way enough,” said Hicks, calmly. And we rested on our oars, with our -chins on our shoulders, trying to see who had welcomed us so cordially. - -Yankee Dan stood up and waved his hat from side to side, in token of -friendship, and almost instantly a man strode out from the palisade, now -but fifty fathoms distant. - -“Stop that firing and come aboard,” bawled the trader. - -“Give way together,” said Hicks, and we sent the boat rapidly towards -the beach, and ran her nose high and dry on the sand. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - MY FIRST GLIMPSE OF SLAVERY - - -A heavy-built, squat Guinea, as the Portuguese here are called, greeted -us as we sprang ashore. He was a villainous-looking scoundrel, and his -rifle and knife did little to improve his formidable appearance. His -white teeth showed in an ugly smile, as he explained in broken English -that we had been mistaken for the boat of a British cruiser that had -been lately on the coast, and he had fired at us accordingly. - -Hicks was not ready to believe his lie, and, had it not been for the -trader, would undoubtedly have pistolled him where he stood, but Dan was -used to the tricks of the pirates, and knew better than to show his -feelings. Several rascally black men armed with rifles now came from the -palisade, and we seized our rifles from the boat to be ready for any -tricks. The Guinea, however, only grinned and shrugged his shoulders, -and invited us to his place to consider business. His followers, dressed -only in gee-strings and ammunition-belts, laid aside their arms in token -of friendship, and thus reassured we filed into the enclosure. - -If I had at any time doubted my distaste for the life I was leading, -there could have been no chance for such a thing after entering that -“factory” where slaves were made. Of all the horrible places on earth, -save perhaps the hold of the overdue slaver at the end of the middle -passage, that filthy den was the most awful. In the mire made by their -own dung, like a lot of hogs, the cursed sons of Ham lay or stood in the -fierce sunshine, awaiting the coming of some pirates like ourselves to -take them to a foreign land, and sell them into comparative comfort and -luxury to work for their white masters. Ugly they were in the extreme, -their black, brutish faces having nothing more human about them than -those of apes, but even monkeys should be shown some consideration if -they would be made to live. Women with infants were kept in a separate -pen, but the older ones were thrown in with the men, without a vestige -of clothing, not even a clout or gee-string. The younger girls the -Guinea kept in his own house, having over fifty that he formed into a -seraglio for himself and guards. - -Yankee Dan showed at once his familiarity with the business in hand, and -instantly began negotiations by prodding a stalwart black in the ribs, -and pinching his biceps, while the poor creature smiled and grinned, -jabbering something unintelligible, but at the same time trying to show -that he was a powerful fellow and should be taken away to work. - -The hot stench of the pen made me sick, and for a time I was nauseated -to a degree. Gradually I became used to it, but noticed that Gus and -another man were upset. As for Hicks, he simply kept his handkerchief to -his nose and gasped. I hardly think he realized what slaving was when he -embarked in the enterprise, for the voyage was still a thing just begun, -and, with a hold full of the filthy creatures, the smell can better be -imagined than described. I can only say that it was more nauseating, -penetrating, and more unlike any odour I ever before encountered. - -In a short time, Yankee Dan, who could speak any language separately and -fluently, and who could curse and swear in all combined, had, with some -persuasion and some forceful epithets, convinced the Guinea that he -meant business, and would take on the fifty-four human beings enclosed -there at a certain figure. Three other white men now entered, and the -wrangling became animated, the bargain, however, being finally closed -with the understanding that we would leave the vicinity by noon the next -day, and pay in gold and arms. - -I was glad enough to get clear of the vile place, and, as we men were -not invited to the slaver’s house to take a drink to show good feeling, -we missed the foulness it contained. Hicks accompanied Dan to the -“palace,” and I must give him credit that he did so with less grace than -he usually showed upon occasions of invitation. The rest of us sought -the shade of the river-bank, where some scrub-palms offered shelter from -the terrible sunshine. Here we were joined by some of the slaver’s -guard, who now sought every opportunity to propitiate our good-will, -telling yarns and explaining the interesting back country, where the -curse of the bar and shackle had laid its grisly hand. - -One of the guards, although a black, had been to London as a free man, -having never been a slave, but belonging to a Congo tribe that held sway -to the southward of St. Paul de Loando, and which, owing to its control -of a part of the coast, had to be treated with respect by the villains -that scoured the Bight. - -This fellow spoke English fairly well, and he described at length how -the slave-trade was being ruined by the men-of-war that hunted and -cruised between the Congo and Senegal. These vessels were sometimes -quite small, some being only brigs of ten to twelve guns, but most of -them were very fast and heavily manned, quite able to overhaul and -capture even the fast flyers that plied the trade against the law. One -of these cruisers, an American, called the _Hornet_, was a sloop of war -of the fastest type, having overhauled the _Bat_, a schooner of some two -hundred tons, which had the record of being the fastest vessel that had -ever sailed out of New Orleans. - -This conversation was interesting, especially as the cruiser was last -seen off Lagos only a month before, and I wished more than ever that I -had taken more pains not to have joined the expedition. Then I thought -of the young girl aboard, and wondered at her father bringing her into -such scenes of danger and bloodshed, with the shadow of the hangman’s -noose from the yard-arm continually over the black barque and her crew. - -Gus, the Swede, spoke uneasily of the future, but the great black pirate -only showed his teeth and swore softly in Portuguese. For him life meant -very little indeed, and if he could capture a nice young girl now and -then and get ammunition for his rifle, it was all he desired. No -man-of-war should take these small pleasures from him if desperate -fighting could prevent it, and, as for danger, he lived on it. It was in -the very air of the deadly swamps and forests, and he survived solely -because he was fit. - -Pointing to an indistinct object across the river, he broke forth -fiercely: - -“That’s all left of a fine village. Plenty rum, plenty slaves, plenty -powder. Now all gone. Why? Man-of-war fire it and destroy. Some day -man-of-war try factory here. Want to be here den,” and he patted his -rifle-stock affectionately. Part of the gang to which he belonged were -now up the river hunting villages and scattered bands of negroes, but -they were becoming scarce, and the death-rate being high, it hardly paid -going up after them. - -In a little while Hicks and Dan came back, accompanied by the half-dozen -Portuguese and some black fellows, and we started to the ship to make -ready for our cargo. Slaves were more plentiful to the eastward perhaps, -but we would take what we could get and hurry along, trusting to evade a -cruiser until the cargo was made up. - -We took one of the Guinea fellows back with us to pilot us through the -surf on the bar, and arrived alongside without accident. - -A line of heads peered over the topgallant-rail, watching curiously our -passenger, and, as the boat fell alongside, the drawling tones of -Shannon broke forth. - -“What’s niggers at now, stranger?” said he, addressing the Guinea. - -“Way down, way down. Bucks runnin’ for ten to twenty. Fine gals thirty -and forty,” cried the fellow from the boat, evidently thinking he was -addressing our commander. - -Shannon gave a great sigh, and looked wistfully at the shore. - -“An’ here I am,” said he, “without a ship. It’s hard luck. I wanter -know, I wanter know.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - WE LAY IN OUR CARGO - - -The next day was a busy one aboard _The Gentle Hand_. All the boats were -gotten out early, and the barque headed in shore again. We had stood off -at night, for fear of a current setting us into the breakers, and we did -not care to let go an anchor. - -By two bells (nine o’clock) in the forenoon, we were close in to the bar -at the river mouth, the breeze giving us way at the rate of about five -knots, but, as we drew under the land, it became puffy and showed signs -of dying out altogether. It was decided not to go in any closer, so the -foreyards were left full, the main backed, and the forestaysail hauled -amidship, heaving the barque to with a slight reach to the southward. - -Pretty nearly all hands tumbled into the boats and rowed through the -broiling sunshine for the beach, it being the captain’s object to get -all the cargo aboard at once, and stand off to work along to the -eastward. - -By noon the first boat-load of the poor creatures arrived. There were -fourteen of them closely packed and manacled in the bottom of the craft. -As they drew nearer, they set up a chattering like a crowd of monkeys, -and the Guinea in charge rapped them severely over the head with a stout -stick, bidding them be quiet. Their white eyeballs and teeth shone in -contrast to their skins, and the excitement they were undergoing made -them show both eyes and teeth much more than usual, giving them a -strange, wild look. Streaks of mud and filth showed upon their black -bodies. The men had little kinky beards upon their chins and lips, and -the women had huge bunches of wool on their heads, which were simply -great nests of dirt and vermin. Poor creatures, they were hardly human, -but for all that I felt sorry for them when I thought of the -’tween-decks of the barque under that torrid sun. - -Henry hustled them on deck, and Jorg, with a couple of men, sent them -below at once to get them out of the way. By eight bells, we had the -crowd below, where they kept chattering until Gull went among them with -a long whip, and touched them up lustily whenever they made a noise. -Martin, Anderson, Bill, Shannon, and myself went in for the last -boat-load. - -The heat was terrible, and the breeze was almost imperceptible after the -bar was crossed, making all hands quiet and sullen with the exertion. -Inside the river mouth the same glaring quiet prevailed, broken only now -and then by the sound of a gull’s scream, the dull, heavy rumble of the -swell only adding to the desolate stillness. - -“’Tis a good coast for the business,” said Martin, in a low tone to the -long sailor, who was rowing stroke oar. I held the tiller, and had -charge, but Martin appeared to think my rating did not command silence, -and I let him speak. - -The fellow Shannon only looked over his shoulder up the turbid stream -that flowed around the distant point of marsh in the direction of the -heavy forest beyond. - -“What better place d’ye want? ’Twould be a good one to find ye in that -glade,” continued the Scot. - -“There’s mighty little water on the bar, Scotty,” said Shannon. “What -the devil would become of yer ship, I wanter know?” - -“Lighten her more, lighten her. Take out her guns and ballast. She’d be -a floatin’ fort until ye were ready to go to sea full o’ niggers. Mon, -mon, na mon-o’-war c’u’d come after ye, an’ as fer small boats--hoot!” -And he gave a cry of contempt at the idea. - -“Joust whin would ye do these things, friend Martin?” asked Bill. - -“Shut up, ye square-head. Keep silence when men are speakin’, or I’ll be -fer whollopin’ ye the minit we hit the beach,” growled Martin. - -Then they rowed on in the heat without a word, the regular clank of the -oar-locks sounding over the glassy surface of the stream with the -regularity of the ticking of a clock. - -We ran the boat up near the “factory,” and the villainous Guinea in -charge brought down the last instalment of the slaves. Some of them were -young girls barely in their teens, but all without any clothing -whatever. The sun would have flayed a white man and cooked him to death -in half an hour, but they appeared not to suffer with the heat. Some of -the girls were made to spring into the river, with a line attached, in -order that they might get a last bath before entering the hell in store -for them. One tried to remain under water and drown herself; at least -the Guinea feared that was her design, for he hauled her in hand over -hand, and administered several whacks to brace her up, while I sat and -tried to invent some new opprobrious epithet to call him, finally -exhausting the English language without apparent effect. - -One girl, who had left behind her brother and relatives, on account of -their not coming up to Yankee Dan’s standard of fitness for a middle -passage, was tearful and sad. This poor creature was flung into the -water, and held by a strapping black buck, who used a bunch of grass to -scrub her clean. Her piteous screams had no effect on him, so, when my -patience was quite exhausted by the heat, I seized an oar. He was -bending over, and wore nothing but a gee-string. The swing of the oar -landed fair on his buttocks with all the weight and strength I could put -into it, and he shot forward with a crack, making a very creditable dive -into deep water. It was only because payment had not been complete that -bloodshed was averted when he arose, for he made straight for his rifle, -which had to be forced from him by half a dozen pirates as fierce and -powerful as himself. Finally we had the crowd all aboard, and shoved off -for the barque, meeting the boat with the Portuguese fellow, who had -gone aboard for the pay, just as we cleared the breakers. - -Arriving aboard, we soon had the blacks below, and, as payment had been -made in gold for our cargo, we had nothing further to do with the -scoundrels on the beach. The yards were swung, and we stood offshore to -take advantage of the light breeze and work along the coast to the -eastward, in the hope of picking up the rest of our cargo before some -prying ship-of-war should overhaul us. For several days we worked along -without any luck. One or two places Dan knew of had been deserted since -the law against slaving had begun to be enforced, and we had to row in -through a heavy surf to find this out. This caused the loss of one boat -and the drowning of a sailor named Tom, an English cockney chap of -little account. During this part of the cruise, I had much to do on the -poop, keeping the battery in order and ready for instant action. I saw -something of the life aft, and the feeling between Mr. Curtis and Hicks, -which had shown itself that night in the town of Funchal. These two men, -whose interests were identical, seldom spoke directly to each other now, -and only when the trader’s daughter appeared on deck did they show -anything but polite hatred in their speech. Curtis was sarcastic, and -Hicks was almost as savage by the time we reached Lagos and ran in to -finish loading. Miss Allen seemed to avoid both as much as possible, -although it was quite evident that she favoured the bolder of the two -adventurers. Curtis was anything but a coward, but Hicks had a certain -reckless gallantry about him that could hardly fail to attract. - -Forward I had been entertained several times by Martin’s brutal jests -regarding affairs aft, and, as the girl had always been civil to me, it -was all I could do not to chastise the rogue for his foul tongue. My -apparent apathy, however, gave him cause to believe I favoured him, and -soon he spoke of things that caused me to pay attention and watch him -more closely. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - I SUSPECT TREACHERY - - -The night we stood in for settlement, there was a bright moon nearly -full. We could hear the snore of the surf before midnight, and we -shortened the barque down to her topsails in order not to go too fast. - -The breeze was fitful and squally off the land as usual, and bringing -with it the thick haze of pollen from the rank vegetation on shore. The -air being hot, the watch below stayed on deck and lay in the waterway or -behind the deck-house, trying to catch the draught blown on the deck -from the stretched canvas as it slid under the foot of the main and -foresails. - -Martin was lying in the shadow of the foremast to keep the moon out of -his eyes, and he shifted his position every little while as the bright -light followed him around the mast. Beside him lay Anderson, and near -by, in the open moonlight, in total disregard for his eyes, was -stretched the long skipper, Shannon, prone upon his back, with his shirt -open to catch the breeze. - -I sat near the fore-hatchway and watched the shadow of the fabric above -swing to and fro upon the deck planks, the lines of the rigging standing -out sharp and black on the white wood, the dark blots of the canvas -moving slowly within a certain radius with each easy roll of the long -swell. It was a bright tropic moon, and it was serenely beautiful. I -lounged there, enjoying the silvery light, and hated to sleep lest I -miss some of the rare beauty of the darker hours. - -Gradually the men on watch settled themselves comfortably, and only the -steady tramp of the man on lookout upon the forecastle head, and -Hawkson’s step upon the poop told of life aboard. Once or twice the -mate’s hoarse voice sounded gruffly, asking Holmberg, who was at the -wheel, how she headed, and the answer came low and distinct through the -quiet night. The musical hiss and twinkle of the side-wash sounded -restful upon the ear after the day’s toil and heat, and seemed to tell -of cool sprays. I had the right to sleep, but only dozed, thinking of -the disagreeable work in store for us. We would probably take on many -blacks here, and nearly, if not quite, fill up with them. Those already -aboard gave forth an odour that was far from reassuring, coming as it -did up the open hatchway, and I dreaded several hundred more creatures -jammed below there, where they must of necessity die like vermin in a -box. - -While I dozed, I became aware of a whispered conversation. Soon I -recognized Martin’s voice, though I could not quite hear his words. He -seemed to be talking to Shannon, who had now rolled over in the shadow -of the mast alongside of the Scot. - -I listened again, for the fellow’s voice was eager, as it was when he -talked of any deviltry he expected to enjoy, and I noticed the same tone -he used to me when we first made our acquaintance, and when we discussed -the probability of the barque becoming a rover and preying upon any -vessel of smaller size. - -“D’ye ken that? I say, ye long man, d’ye ken that?” said he in answer to -a question he had evidently asked. “’Tis as easy fer us as not. There’s -Anderson waiting to kill the mate, an’ Jorg willin’ to kill any one, and -there’s Pat, Gus, Gilbert, an’ the Doctor willin’ to follow. Hoot! we’d -make a finish, na fear. Why, ye c’u’d whollop half the crew yerself, ye -long cateran. Didn’t ye nigh do it the day ye made yer jump into the -hooker? Help ye? Now, now, c’u’d I have helped ye? Na, na, don’t ask -mericles. I let fly the jib, but ’twould have been murder an’ sudden -death to have gone aft then. All armed, an’ with that gunner man -fightin’ like a sack o’ wildcats, an’ the little fox havin’ a death-grip -on yer pipe. Talk sense an’ to the p’int.” - -“You air a loose-jawed hell-dog, I wanter know,” said Shannon. “D’you -suppose it’s fear a-keepin’ me, hey? What’d you know about the coast, -anyways? What’d you want to try an’ tell me?” Then in a more friendly -tone: “I know you air a navigator. Good sailor, all right, an’ would -stick to a job, but there is a right time for business. I’m a-runnin’ -this thing, an’ all you’ve got to do is wait till I says the word. I -think a whole lot o’ ye, Martin, an’ would hate to see you swing. There -ain’t no one I cares as much for, that’s a fact. An’ when a fellow like -me cares for a man,--I say a man, Martin, for that’s what you are, hey? -When a fellow like me says that, that same thing, it stands fer -something. If it don’t, I wanter know.” - -This sort of flattery evidently pleased the Scot. He said something in a -low tone, and I felt convinced that he was easily within the power of -the long countryman of mine. It’s strange, but immediately after hearing -this, I must have lost consciousness, for when I awoke it was gray dawn -and a chill filled the air. The watch was called, and I turned out by -simply standing up and then sitting down again. - -In a little while we washed down the damp decks, and I had a chance to -get a look to the northeast, when the haze of the surf blotted out the -shore-line. By the time the Doctor had his fire started and we had -something warm, the sun rose and disclosed the ruinous settlement of -Lagos. - -The conversation I had heard disturbed me. There was something sinister -in its meaning, and, while I had no love for the barque, I did not care -to make a bad matter worse. However, I had no chance to talk the matter -over until we had run in and dropped our anchor close to the settlement, -and there Yankee Dan appeared on deck ready to go ashore for trading. -Howard and Curtis also turned out, and Miss Allen appeared at the -companion, very much interested in the distant shore, where the houses -were just visible in the morning sunshine. - -She smiled somewhat sadly at me as I went aft and loosed the covers from -the stern guns, and saw that the priming was in good order. I had begun -to think the poor girl out of place long before, and I now felt a sort -of hatred for her father, who could expose her to such scenes without -any apparent pity. But the trader had become callous from experience in -the slaving business, and saw nothing unusual in cooping up a shipful of -human beings. They were no more than so many cattle to him, and, as to -his daughter’s feelings, he had offered her a chance to stay ashore. If -she preferred the scenes of violence, it was no concern of his. - -Before I had a chance to see Hawkson, the shore boat was called away. -Bill, Jones, Jennings, and myself manned the whale-boat, and we were -soon heading in over the swell for the slave factory that was known to -exist a short distance inland. Hicks and Gull accompanied the trader -ashore, and the latter stood at the steering-oar to pilot us through the -surf. In spite of the calm weather in the Bight of Benin, there is -sometimes a heavy swell that sets in from many miles offshore, where -some passing disturbance of the atmosphere has caused a heavy blow. The -swell is long and heaving, and not so easily noticed until it begins to -rise in the shoal water. Then its size develops, and it goes up in a -wall until the top breaks and the whole mass goes roaring shoreward in a -great smother of foam. From the sea side, the height of the breakers is -hard to judge, and they are very apt to be underestimated on a calm day. - -Mr. Gull stood up as we neared the first line of snoring water, and I -could see by his face that he was a bit nervous. This had its effect on -me, for no one with any nervousness should attempt to go through a heavy -surf. The situation calls for absolute coolness. - -“Easy now,” came the order, and we lay waiting for a smooth spell. By -some strange freak of nature, seas always roll in sequences. That is, -they will run in twos and three or sixes and nines, with a “smooth” -between. A surfman will always watch to see how they are running before -going in. Gull counted three heavy fellows that roared and thundered in -a most appalling manner, and then, grasping the long steering-oar -firmly, sung out to give way lively. - -We went racing for the beach, and were doing well when, on looking over -the stern, I saw an enormous sea rising and coming quickly after us. It -rose like a wall astern and towered above the boat. Then instantly it -broke with a roar and rush, and we were hurled before it. Gull tried to -hold her true, keeping her stern to the surge, but she took a slew and -the oar broke. Then she swung sideways and rolled over and over with the -rush, and when I came to the surface of the foam, half-strangled by -being so quickly rolled out of the boat, she lay bottom up some ten -fathoms distant, floating in the smother. - -No one was visible, and I struck out for the craft, as there was no -bottom and the beach was fifty fathoms distant. Suddenly I saw Bill -spattering and struggling, trying to reach the wreck, but showing -plainly that he could not swim a stroke. Ernest suddenly appeared -alongside of him, and, being able to swim after a fashion, he aided him -to reach the gunwale, where both held on firmly, ducking the following -seas that flowed over them. - -Jennings managed to keep his grip on the boat, and was alongside, -holding on, when I noticed a form floating face downward pass me. - -I was a fairly good swimmer, although it is a strange fact that few real -sailormen can swim at all. I grasped the body and lifted the head clear -of the water with my hand just as another sea broke heavily over me, -dragging and crushing me down with its weight. - -My heart seemed bursting when I arose, still holding the insensible man, -and my first intake of breath nearly strangled me. However, I was a -powerful fellow, and in a few strokes managed to get started for the -upturned boat that now floated some distance nearer shore. - -In a few minutes I reached her, and Bill relieved me for a moment while -I passed a line over the craft’s bottom. On the other side I found Jones -and Yankee Dan both safe and holding on. Together we managed to hold -Hicks, whom I now recognized, clear of the water. He had been struck on -the head by the boat or an oar and knocked insensible. Gull was nowhere -about, and for some time we gave him up for lost, but he had swum in on -a broken thwart. - -In a little while we heard shouting, and saw him standing on the sand -with a couple of black fellows, who, at his direction, plunged in and -came toward us. The negroes helped us ashore, and we hauled the boat up -clear of the surf. It was a close call, and Hicks still appeared either -dead or senseless. We carried him up the beach and laid him under a -palm, and set to work chafing his wrists and ankles. - -In a little while he opened his eyes and noticed me. - -“What’s the matter?” he asked, faintly, trying to sit up. Bill caught -his head and held it, while Gull passed his arm under him. - -“Trying to quit the expedition,” said Yankee Dan, bluffly. “You were -trying to leave us, my boy, but this fellow, Heywood, here, nabbed you -in time, and swam in to the boat with you. Otherwise you’d ’a’ been -drowned, an’ that’s a fact. You’d ’a’ been drowned sure.” - -Hicks looked at me seriously for some moments and then spoke: - -“It’s hard to owe one’s life to a fool, but here’s my hand, Heywood,” -said he, with a faint smile. - -“It’s as hard to acknowledge the favour from one, sir,” I answered, with -some little feeling, but then I remembered the time at Funchal, and I -smiled and held out my hand, which he grasped firmly, and rose to his -feet. - -Sir John Hicks was a man of rather unsavoury reputation, but he was not -a man who would be gross enough to forget. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI. - I MEET CORTELLI - - -While the trader, Mr. Gull, and Hicks were ashore, there was no chance -whatever of communicating any of my suspicions concerning Martin and -Shannon. Just what these rascals intended to do was certainly a matter -of doubt, and, after all, the talk had been so characteristic of the -Scot that I feared I was taking it too seriously to give it a thought. - -We tramped over the loose sand to the factory, a couple of miles inland, -and the heat of the marsh was awful. Hicks, who had hardly recovered -from the accident of the morning, had difficulty in keeping up, for his -head was still giddy from the effects of the blow he had received upon -it. The black fellows, who had sighted our barque before daylight, had -thought nothing of a run to the beach, and they went ahead at a great -rate along the jungle path, caring neither for briars, spines, or any of -the various prickling things that make even a well-shod man hesitate -before treading on them. They were a tall and powerful set of men, all -armed with old flint-lock muskets of ancient pattern; doubtless some of -them had been used in the first war between the States and England. We -finally arrived and were ready for business. The compound, or slave -corral, was an immense enclosure completely out of sight from the beach, -and away from the prying eyes of any cruiser that might be prowling -along the coast. Felado Cortelli, the half-breed Italian slaver, whose -presence had cursed the West African coast for years, was in charge, and -he came forth to meet us. Our lack of arms seemed to give him amusement, -but when he heard how we had been rolled over in the surf, he laughed -loudly. - -Within two hours from the time we left the surf, our arrangements had -been made, and we were leading between two and three hundred blacks to -the beach, where payment was to be made, and they were to be shipped -aboard, Cortelli’s own guard of coast pirates making the escort for the -unfortunates. - -Our boat came alongside with its first load of human freight. Hicks and -Curtis stood at the quarter-rail watching the creatures, and for the -first time in many days seemed on speaking terms. They appeared to -comment upon a girl who was crying and sobbing bitterly, and who was -shackled to a huge buck, who sat stolidly gazing out to sea. - -The oily swell rocked the boat but little; the barque, however, rolled -lazily like a huge log, swinging her long spars slowly from side to -side, and the momentum of each swing hove her down until her channels -brought up with a smacking jar upon the surface. - -This made it necessary for the boatman to use some caution, for, if the -small boat’s gunwale caught anywhere upon the vessel’s side while she -was on her downward swing, it would instantly be forced under and the -craft upset. - -Cortelli stood at the break of the poop, talking to the trader, and, as -the girl was told to make ready for a spring aboard, he looked over the -side and grinned. The poor creature was frightened and shrank back, -delaying the unloading. - -“Stir her up,” said the Guinea to one of his bullies. - -A black pirate laid the lash, and she screamed. - -“Hold on there!” cried Hicks, leaning over the side. “If you do that -again, I’ll pistol you.” - -His face was flushed, and his hand sought his broad leather belt, where -hung his cutlass and long-barrelled pistol belonging to the barque’s -supply. - -“Sho, man, what’s the matter?” asked Yankee Dan, and the Guinea scowled -savagely. - -“Dis gal free,” said the big buck, standing up, as he heard the -conversation. “He no right to take her--nor me. I Begna Sam, no slave. -Lib right ashore till you come. Den he cotch us both, an’ say we slave -’cause long sailor, Shannon, he say he buy us.” - -Cortelli grinned. It was not the first time he had practised this trick, -and, if the blacks had no friends strong enough to protest, they -invariably went with the rest of the cargo. - -“Where are the girl’s people?” asked Hicks. - -“What difference does it make?” asked Yankee Dan. “I see no difference -whether they’re ashore here or back in the timber, do you?” - -Mr. Curtis nodded encouragingly. It was evident he had no scruples how -or where the girl had been kidnapped. - -The Guinea, Cortelli, shrugged his fat shoulders, and shot a venomous -look at the Englishman. - -“Shall I find out where each black resides when at home?” he asked, -sarcastically. Then he turned away. - -Hicks, instead of following him, leaned over the rail. A strange look of -sadness came into his eyes. He was a hard men among hard men, and he had -revolted at the squeal of a black woman. I watched him a moment, and -looked to see something more happen. - -He evidently saw that to send the girl ashore meant to doom her to -Cortelli’s will. There was only one way, and, as she stepped on deck -with the big buck, Sam, he went to him and asked about the girl’s -people. She was being separated from her old mother and crippled sister, -neither of whom were of any value as slaves. Begna Sam was hustled below -with the rest, and Hicks went back on the poop. - -“Bring her mother and sister aboard,” said he to Cortelli. “I’ll give -you full price for both.” - -The little fat scoundrel glanced at him quickly to see if he were in -earnest. Hicks looked him squarely in the eyes and repeated his request. -Then the Guinea went to the rail and said something to the black bullies -in the small boat that made them grin, and the next boat brought off the -desired pair. Hicks had a separate place made for the three near the -open hatchway, and afterward paid for them from his own pocket. Then he -went aft, followed by the smiles and winks of half the starboard watch, -and even Hawkson, who came to the edge of the poop, could scarce -suppress amusement. An exhibition of human feeling appeared very strange -to the men of _The Gentle Hand_. - -All that day we made landings in the heavy surf, taking a few shackled -blacks aboard at a time, being aided a little by the filthy and indolent -denizens of the ruinous village, who came to the shore and squatted -around under the trees to give comment upon the affair. They were good -surfmen, and sometimes helped to run out the boats when promised a drink -of rum. They were all half-breed Guineas and scum from the -slaving-ships, but some had skins as black as the negro slaves they were -watching. Cortelli appeared to be the chief among them, and it was said -he sometimes seized upon some of the blackest and sold them. They gave -him a wide berth as he strode among them, and jumped at each word he -uttered, no despot creating greater awe among his subjects than this -filthy little fat rascal, whose black eyes had pointed the way to death -or worse to so many unfortunates of that inhospitable region. - -It was dark before the last boat-load had been stowed below hatches, for -several boats had capsized in the surf, and the delay of rescuing the -shackled prisoners from drowning had taken much time. Only three were -lost, the pirate guard, which had contracted to do most of the rowing, -proving the best kind of boatmen, and the way they swam about in the -breakers was a thing to wonder at. Sharks were swarming about the -barque, and must have been also in the surf, but the black men gave them -little thought. - -The final payment was made in good yellow gold to Cortelli, and he -passed over the side into his own boat, followed by the farewells of the -trader, who appeared to feel that he had not been badly cheated in his -purchase. The black bullies rowed the Italian rapidly shoreward, while -that worthy squatted over his bag of money, which he made fast to a -buoy, in case of accident, and, drawing a long pistol, cocked back the -flint. It was evident that he would take no chances in that country, -where a piece of yellow metal may be worth several human lives. The last -I saw of him, he was explaining to his steersman that an accident meant -certain death to him, the steersman, at least, and therefore the utmost -caution should be exercised in going through the surf. The money could -not sink, but he never had had accidents, and was not going to begin at -this time. - -Then the order came from our quarter-deck to heave short, and we were -ready to make the desperate run for the other side. Hawkson had kept a -boat going all day between the ship and shore, taking in fresh water, -and our stores were in good condition. We had taken in enough for an -army at Funchal. - -“Lay forrads, all ye starbowlins,” bawled Henry, “an’ wake her up.” Then -the feeling that we were indeed homeward bound over the middle passage -took a strong hold of us, and we hove heavy on the windlass brakes. - -“‘Ole Stormy, ’e was a good ole man,’” piped a sailor. - -“‘Yo, ho! Oh, we storm along,’” bellowed the watch in chorus, and, with -the wild, crazy song, we walked the anchor in, while the rest sheeted -home the topsails and romped up with the t’gallant-halyards. - -In a few minutes the land-breeze bore us off, and we braced in the yards -for a run off the land to the southward. We would try to go clear of -everything, and then haul up and go across with every rag we could crack -on her. - -Bill, Ernest, and myself raced up the main-ratlines to loose the royal -and the topmast stun’sails. In the dim light of the early evening, I saw -the low shore of the African continent for the last time. When I -finished with the gaskets, I waited a few moments, watching it fade into -the gloom of the tropic night, and thinking of the hell of sorrow and -suffering the poor creatures bore who were cursed by birth upon its hot -lowlands and stinking marshes. Even while I looked, the plaintive murmur -from the wretches below hatches told plainly they knew their voyage to -death and slavery had begun, and I thought I could make out the wild and -sad refrain of some savage song. Over three hundred black creatures -packed below! I thanked Heaven there had been no more to take, for I -knew they would have packed another three hundred into her if they had -been ready for sale. They would make the run with these without further -risk, and trust to landing them in better condition, thus securing a -much higher price. - -I started down the ratlines, but, before going over the futtock-shrouds, -I looked at the last bit of light on the western sky-line. - -It seemed to me I saw a bit of a speck showing on the darkening horizon. -Bill was opposite me, and I called to him to look. He gazed steady for a -few seconds. - -“Youst like a brig’s royals, them little dots,” said he, and went on -down the ratlines to the deck. - -I followed, and forgot to report the object in the hurry and hustle to -get the anchor in on deck and everything shipshape for sea. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII. - OPEN MUTINY - - -My! How those blacks did smell! We had worked well into the night, only -stopping to eat supper, and, when we did go below to turn in, all tired -out, the odour was something to remember. The wind being aft, the cabin -was clear, but the forecastle was pretty bad, and we had only just -started. - -“It makes a fellow feel like goin’ out an’ getting rid o’ some o’ his -crimes,” said Big Jones, sniffing and spitting upon the deck. - -“Hif dirt’s a crime, you’d been hung long ago,” observed Jim. “Better -turn in with hit.” - -“Too hot,” said Bill. “It’s youst a little too hot fer me. I’ve sweated -all the water out of me working, an’ I don’t want to sweat sleepin’. -I’ll take the deck an’ let her go.” - -“A man’s ’bout one-third water, anyways, according to some o’ them -doctors’ sayings,” drawled Shannon, who lounged in his bunk. - -“What’s the rest,--likker?” asked Jim, wofully. - -And then the men split up, each seeking a spot for resting during his -watch below, some on deck and some in the forecastle. - -I followed Bill to the windlass, and we stretched out in my old -favourite spot, with our heads upon a coil of the forestaysail-downhaul. -Here we had the draught from under the foot of the sail blowing downward -in our faces, and we instantly gave way to its soothing influence and -fell asleep. Since Watkins had gone over the side, with a shot to each -foot, sewed tightly in canvas, I had been a bit more free to sleep out -on deck at night in the warm weather, and I now rested as only a tired -and healthy sailor could. The barque held along steadily and the motion -was slight, and there was silence on board save for the murmur coming -from below. The first thing I knew of trouble was being suddenly aroused -by a piercing scream. It was shrill and sharp and full of terror and -pain. - -Bill started up at the same time, and both of us asked each other what -was the matter. I tried to put out my hand to steady myself from the -roll of the barque and get to my feet, but something held it firmly to -the other in front of me. The night was intensely black, as the moon had -not yet risen, and for an instant I was blundering about, striving to -free myself, until Bill blurted out that he was ironed. Then I realized -that my hands were shackled fast in iron bracelets, and that there was -little use to try to free them. Some one had slipped them upon our -wrists while we slept, and we were as helpless as though paralyzed. - -I tried to see the watch on deck, and strained my eyes through the gloom -to catch sight of their forms in the waist, where they usually grouped -to keep awake and tell yarns. There was not a soul in sight. Even the -poop seemed vacant, but, while I looked, shadows appeared creeping up -the gangways over the break, and in a moment a flash lit the darkness. -Following the report, a perfect roar of voices burst forth, yelling and -bawling, interspersed now and again with shouts and cries of wounded -men. Then Martin’s hoarse yell arose above the uproar aft, and I began -to realize what was happening. - -“Break loose, Bill, for God’s sake,” I cried, tugging away at my irons. -“Break loose, for that devil, Martin, is going amuck, and Shannon is in -his wake.” Our legs were free, and I ran to the windlass-bitts, which -were covered with metal. Raising my hands high above my head, I brought -the bracelets down with all my force upon the iron tops. - -The pain was awful. For some moments I could do nothing but gasp, for it -seemed to me that I had broken both my wrists. They were numb and -paralyzed with the shock. - -“Let me try,” said Bill, and he brought his hands down with full force. -The lock on his iron sprang open, and he gave a groan. - -“Lay your wrists here,” he said, and I stretched the connecting link -over the bitt-head. Bill seized a heavy chain-hook and smote again and -again upon the chain link until it bent, buckled, and finally opened. I -was free. - -With my irons hanging to my wrists, we started aft, where the fracas was -now in full sway. Forms were surging upon the break of the poop, and -among them I recognized some of our men mixed with the naked black -bodies of the Africans. We dived into the forward cabin door to get at -the cutlass rack in the passage, where all the arms were hung. As we did -so, Mr. Curtis thrust a pistol into my face and pulled the trigger. The -damp, hot climate had evidently affected the priming of the weapon, for -I heard the flint fall distinctly. Then I struck up the muzzle as it -exploded, the charge going upward into the deck. - -“Don’t shoot!” I bawled, as the report rang out. “Don’t shoot! can’t you -see us? Give us the cutlasses, quick.” - -Bill reached for the rack where they hung, and was about to take one, -when a form swung out of the darkness, heaving some heavy weapon -overhead. There was no time to explain matters, so I sprang upon the -fellow and grasped him firmly before the blow fell upon Bill’s head, and -together we went to the deck. - -Instantly I recognized Jorg, the carpenter, as his axe fell clattering -across the cabin, and the rascal gripped my throat with both hands. -Before I could disengage his hands, two more bodies fell over me, -scrambling, cursing, and struggling. A foot--I think it was Bill’s--gave -Jorg a kick under the ear, and he slackened his hold on my throat. - -“What the mischief are you doing?” I gasped. “Can’t you see we ain’t -niggers? What’s the matter with you?” - -Just then a lantern flashed, as the cabin door was thrown open, and Mr. -Gull stood before us, pike in hand, ready for business. He seemed to -hesitate a moment, and looked inquiringly at me and then at Bill, who -had Curtis under him on the cabin deck, calling upon him to let him get -away, and trying to disengage the Englishman’s hands, that had fastened -themselves firmly around his neck. The noise overhead continued, and the -rapid trampling of men and shuffling of feet told of a fierce encounter. -Hawkson’s hoarse cry could be distinguished cheering the men on about -him, and Martin’s wild yells and curses upon the ship, the crew, and -everything about her. It was evident something worse than a rising of -the blacks was taking place, and I hurriedly asked the second mate what -had happened. He saw the manacles upon my wrists, where they still hung, -and this showed him I had been a captive very recently. Then we knew the -after-guard had taken no prisoners and would never give quarter. - -“Put on in my sleep,” I said, quickly. “Bill and I both were ironed. -Give us the weapons and let us help.” - -“I believe you, Heywood. Take a cutlass and come along. The devil is -loose to-night aboard here,” he said, and he grabbed Curtis’s hands at -the same instant. - -“Let him go,” he said to Curtis. “Let him go and get up. They’re all -right.” - -It was several moments before the Englishman realized what was wanted, -and kept calling for Gull to run Bill through with his pike. - -I grabbed a cutlass from the arm-rack just as Jorg sat up, dazed and -dizzy. He evidently expected me to cut him down, and was much astonished -when I helped raise him and handed him his axe. - -“You’re youst a little bit too much in a hurry,” said Bill to Curtis, as -they got up, the sailor red and angry at the choking he had received. -But Gull pressed a cutlass into his hand, and called for us to follow, -opening the door into the after-cabin. There was no time to lose. The -incident had already cost us several minutes, and we might be too late. - -“It’s Martin and the fellow Shannon,” said Gull, as we piled through. -“They’ve got half the port watch an’ a dozen niggers with them. They’re -the fighting devils of Cortelli’s guard shipped in, all ready to take a -hand. Shannon and the Guinea stood in together to do the job. Come -along, for God’s sake, come along!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII. - THE FIGHT ON DECK - - -Gull led the way through the cabin, and, as we neared the companionway, -a stateroom door was thrust open, and Miss Allen stood before us. She -held a pistol in her hand, and her eyes were bright and sparkling. She -seemed most beautiful to me, as she stood there confronting five armed -men. - -“Oh!” she exclaimed, “I’m glad it’s you. I thought--” But she left her -sentence unfinished. We knew what she meant, and the pistol was not a -weapon for offence. It was her last defence, and the thought of the girl -waiting with it in her hand gave me a turn. We hurried up the ladder -while she called after us, asking if her father was all right. - -The blackness on the poop was lit up by Gull’s lantern, and we saw a -sight that made us grip our weapons. A confused mass of men were closed -in desperate combat, cutting, thrusting, hacking, and clutching at each -other in the darkness. Guided by Hawkson’s voice, we soon made out the -mate, surrounded by a crowd of the black devils from the beach and -several of our own men. By his side was Hicks and the sailor, Ernest, -all hewing away at the press about them. Several bodies lay beneath -Hawkson’s feet, telling of the old fighter’s desperate sword-play. - -A little farther on, with his back against the mizzen, stood Howard, his -bare poll shining in the light of Gull’s lantern, showing the -perspiration pouring down over his face, his eyes steady and shining -like glass beads, his cutlass dripping in his right hand, and an empty -pistol in his left. He was hard at it with Martin and Shannon, both of -whom pressed him sorely, in spite of Yankee Dan’s help. - -Henry was engaging Anderson and Gus at his side, and the forms of two -men lying between the old captain and Martin told of the Scot’s and -Shannon’s deadly work. Shannon had cut down one and Martin had put a man -out of the way as we rushed up. - -The fight now waxed hotter. The barque, being without any one at the -wheel, luffed slowly into the breeze until her foreyards were aback and -she gathered sternway. The cracking of the slatting canvas added to the -noise of the yelling men, and for a time there was chaos on the poop. - -Instinctively Gull and myself rushed to Howard’s side. The old fellow -was wary and quick, warding off the furious onslaughts of the long -skipper with a skill and strength that was amazing. He had his old -cutlass ahead of him, sword fashion, and he hopped about that deck like -some horrible old monkey, laughing now and again in his high, cackling -voice, as he lunged and stabbed with a catlike quickness. Even the long -skipper’s giant strength was powerless to force his guard for a few -moments, but, as we fell upon the long rascal, we were met by Martin, -who came in furiously, yelling like a demon. - -“Hoot, ye dogs! Stand out an’ die! Stand out an’ die like true Christian -men!” he bawled, and as he did so he struck fiercely with a cutlass. - -Jennings, Pat, and Holmberg had gone against us, and I caught a glimpse -of them in the crush about Hawkson, as I circled about Shannon, trying -to get within his guard, while he made long, full-arm sweeps as he -advanced that kept us busy getting out of his way. Only Howard seemed to -be able to stand and yet clear them. - -Curtis, Jorg, and Bill had fallen upon the crowd pressing about the -mate, and now some of the black pirates left the press there and came to -Shannon’s aid. One of these sprang within the guard of the trader and -smote him heavily. Then he dodged back again as Gull pressed him, -cutting him again and again with lightning-like strokes, his -cutlass-blade glinting like a flash of flame in the light of the lantern -set upon the companion slide. - -Shannon came steadily on. Yankee Dan reeled and struck out wildly. A -pistol flashed somewhere in the night, and he pitched forward under the -long man’s feet. - -Everything now was mixed. A grinning black face showed before me, and I -cut at it with all my power. A hoarse scream from the Doctor told me -that the blow had hit hard, although there seemed little resistance to -the blade. The rascally cook had evidently joined the mutiny, and had -gotten his deserts. At the same time I did not stop to argue the -question of right or wrong. I had been gulled into joining the ship, and -had no reason to love her or her officers, yet, when it came to standing -by her, there was no thought of shirking. - -Had Martin been a different kind of a rascal, he might have approached -me, but he had judged rightly that I had no use for him as a leader, and -he had ironed me for future consideration, not wishing to part with any -more men than necessary on the short-handed ship. He might have knifed -me and tossed me over the side just as easily. - -The death of Yankee Dan appeared to madden Martin. He roared and cursed -and swung a vicious stroke at Gull. Then seeing me, his rage broke forth -in a torrent of oaths. He made a cut at me and missed. I stabbed him -savagely in the ribs, my point hitting him hard, for I had to jerk it -clear. He roared and rushed in upon me, followed by Shannon, and I was -beaten backward to the poop-rail. In vain did Howard and Gull cut and -lunge at the long villain. Shannon beat their weapons down, and came -upon me, with the wounded Scot at his side, now silent with pain and -with the weakness of his hurt. I fought with despairing energy, but -received a blow on my shoulder that almost made me drop my cutlass. The -long villain took a stride nearer to me, and Martin stabbed me in the -leg, as I frantically drove his point downward from my breast. I was -hard pressed, and for an instant it seemed that I could not escape. The -rail struck me in the small of the back, and I brought up against it. I -had reached the limit. Then Bill did a thing that makes me believe in -the honesty and nobility of men. It was not what might have been -expected from a member of that crew, but it was more than even the duty -of a friend, and we had once fought against each other. - -Gull smote Jennings so sorely that he fell back and opened the way to -Martin. Like a flash the second mate sprang in just as the wounded, but -still wary, Scot stabbed me, and he struck him so savagely that he went -staggering to one side. Pat and a black fellow pressed Howard, and -Shannon whirled up his blade to make a finish of me when Bill sprang -between and closed. - -Howard thrust the Irishman through the body, and, as his cackling laugh -broke out, the fellow fell heavily, striking Shannon’s legs behind at -the knee joints. The impact of Bill in front brought all three to the -deck, where they rolled into a struggling, kicking mass in the darkness. - -As quickly as possible, Gull and myself sprang in to finish the long -skipper before Bill was done for, but it was too late. The tall -scoundrel arose almost instantly to his feet and sprang clear of our -thrusts, leaving Bill lying stark dead upon the deck. He had died to -save me, poor sailorman though he was, and, as I stepped over his -bleeding body, I could hardly repress a sob that rose in my throat. -John, Gilbert, Anderson, and Heligoland, with six of Cortelli’s black -scoundrels, had by this time pressed Hawkson, Ernest, and Hicks so hard -that even the aid of Curtis and Jorg availed them but little. In the -general mix-up, the carpenter had received a blow over the head with a -dull cutlass, which had rendered him insane for a time. I saw him -rushing forward, screaming, but gave him no other thought, while I went -for Shannon, determined to avenge poor Bill. - -Nearly every one had received several wounds by this time, as the -fighting had been close and furious, but Shannon appeared to brighten up -and go in for a finish. He had fought silently up to the present moment, -but now he began to drawl out his oaths viciously at each stroke of his -cutlass. - -“I’ll have ye in a minute, ye long caterman,” cried Howard, pressing -upon him. - -“I wanter know, I wanter know, you bald-headed thief!” he roared in -reply, and he mixed things up so fast that his blade shone like a -thousand gems in the dim light of the lantern. Anderson came to Martin’s -aid and supported him, while the badly wounded, though still undaunted, -Scot bawled feebly for his enemies to come on. He seized the rail with -his left hand, and still showed the point of his cutlass ready for -business. - -During this last rally, I had noticed the uproar below sounding like the -surf on the shore. I thought it was caused by the slaves in their fear, -hearing the sounds of the desperate fight on the deck above. - -Suddenly the uproar swelled louder, and distinct cries came from the -main-deck. Forms flitted here and there and came bounding upon the poop. - -I saw Hawkson make a desperate rally and cut down John and a black -giant, and, as they fell, Henry rushed in and finished them. Curtis -fell, badly wounded, but Hicks and Ernest drove the crowd back. Again -and again did Gull, Howard, and myself press Shannon, but the long -fellow, while not able to make any way against us, placed his back to -the poop-rail, and kept us a sword-length away with ease. - -Martin, Shannon, Anderson, and their followers now crowded aft along the -rail, and we were unable to stop them. Hawkson swung clear of the press -about him, and Hicks followed. - -At that instant a surging crowd of black forms came pouring up the -poop-ladders. They were naked and unarmed, save for whatever bars and -belaying-pins they had found in the darkness. - -“Good God, the cargo’s loose!” cried Henry. “Get aft, it’s the only -chance.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV. - THE CARGO BREAKS LOOSE - - -The pouring torrent of black men flowed and swept between the mutineers -and ourselves, and we were borne along before them like a chip on the -crest of a wave. Their wild cries sounded above the curses and yells of -the fighting men, blending into a wild, hoarse roar from three hundred -deep chests. By sticking close together, we managed to make a retreat to -the after-companionway, but it was desperate work. - -The Africans hurled their naked bodies upon our weapons, regardless of -cuts and thrusts that went home every time, and they struck at us -savagely with the bars and staves they had collected. - -Mr. Gull received a blow that stretched him senseless, and it was only -after a desperate stand that we managed to haul him out from under the -struggling men who pitched upon him. Curtis, being badly wounded, could -not keep with us, and he was pulled back into the crowd and never seen -again. Ernest, who bore himself so bravely, fell at the companion, and -it was Hawkson who tore his way into a mass of mad blacks and hauled him -over the ladder. - -There were only a few of us left. Hawkson, Hicks, Henry, Howard, and -myself could do duty, but we were all badly wounded. - -The light from the cabin below shone in our faces, and we set our backs -to the opening. I saw Howard’s eyes shining from his mask-like face like -two bright, black beads. Blood poured down Hawkson’s cheeks from a cut -on the forehead, and made him a grisly sight. Hicks was white as a -sheet, but cool and steady. He had received a thrust in the breast that -made him wheeze at each breath. - -We made one desperate rally at the companion, and I looked below over my -shoulder. As I did so, I saw a form staggering in from forward, and -heard the clank of the heavy door in the bulkhead. I looked again, and -saw Big Jones coming, with a pair of broken irons on each wrist, and a -pistol in his left hand, while in his right he carried a shining -cutlass. - -“Stand clear, I’m a-comin’,” he said, and we made way for him as he -mounted the steps. - -The light on the top of the companion, where Gull had placed it, still -burned. The slaves swarmed everywhere, except on the glass skylight. - -By the dim flare, I could see what was taking place. Shannon had been -carried along the port rail to the after end of the poop, and Martin had -thrust with all his remaining strength, hobbling along, aided by -Anderson. Over the heads of the black crowd, I could make out Shannon’s -tall form, as he cut and slashed right and left, making a lane through -the men, and leaving a pile of bodies to mark his course and ease the -pressure upon him. - -“Coom on, ye black divils!” cried Martin, faintly. “Coom on, an’ take -the sailormen.” - -A huge black towered above him, wielding a hand-spike, and several more -pressed Anderson back. - -The Scotchman rose to his full height, and, seizing his cutlass in both -hands, smote the African a blow that sank the blade down to his nose. -Before he could wrench it clear, the fellow went headlong to the deck, -carrying the blade with him, snapping it free from the hilt, and leaving -Martin helpless. The mob surged upon him and he disappeared. We saw him -no more. - -Anderson had a similar fate. A dozen giants in ebony grasped his cutlass -in their hands, regardless of the blade. It was wrenched from him, and -he went down, followed by a dago named Guinea and a couple of the blacks -from the slave-pen. Gus, Gilbert, and the rest of the mutineers had -disappeared already, leaving only one black and Shannon of the entire -crowd. - -The African, fighting against his fellows, lasted but a few moments. He -was crowded to the rail. Throwing his cutlass into the mob, he sprang -clear of the side and was gone in the darkness, and Shannon was left -alone at the taffrail, where he made his last stand. - -A great black fellow made his way aft, calling out in a clear, deep bass -voice. He was apparently entirely naked, and his skin shone and -glistened in the lantern’s light. He carried a cutlass in his hand, and -thrust his followers aside, as he made his way to the long skipper, who -fought gamely on. - -“Ho! Benga Sam, I wanter know,” cried the sailor. And the black giant -called out something in his clear tones. - -It was evident that there was a score to settle, for the black man -hurled his kind right and left to get in. Some of the nearest drew back -at the sound of his deep voice, and pressed back the heavy weight of the -mob behind, clearing a small space in front of Shannon. Into this the -black giant forced his way. - -All this happened in an incredibly short time, but the solid bank of -human flesh before us was pressing closer, in spite of Hawkson’s -desperate efforts. - -Big Jones reached us, and, placing his pistol at the breast of the -nearest African, fired. Then he whirled his blade into the thick of -them, and all together we forced a space clear about the companion. -Howard was nearly spent. I was desperately wounded, and leaned against -the companion, panting for breath, while Hicks grasped the coaming to -keep from falling. - -In the breathing spell, while Jones held the way, I saw what was taking -place a few feet distant. - -In the open space cleared around the long skipper, the big black fellow -stood and called upon the white man to pay the penalty of some past -crime. Shannon had been on the coast before, and he certainly recognized -the black. He had doubtless done him some wrong. He met him with a -spirit worthy of a white man, and, in spite of his sins, he made a -gallant stand to the end. - -The black set upon him with terrific force, his blade rising and falling -so fast that the eye could hardly follow it. Shannon, drawing himself to -his full height, parried and returned stroke for stroke, his amazing -vigour unimpaired by the action of the past half-hour. There was no -retreating for either. The black wall of human bodies held them on all -sides to the taffrail, and the nearest living men strained their utmost -to keep clear of the whirling blades, while those behind pressed in and -forced them closer. - -Both men were desperately wounded in a few moments. Then Shannon, -seeming to feel that his life was ebbing, rose to one mighty effort. - -He slashed with great vigour for some moments, and then, without -warning, sprang furiously forward, and, taking the black’s blade through -the body, he drove his own into his black chest until I saw the glint of -the metal in the rear. They swayed for a few seconds, and then went -down, while the mob surged over them and flowed around to where we were -holding the stairs. - -“Get below and shut the doors,” said Jones. “I ken hold them fer a few -minutes, that’s all.” - -Hawkson looked at him, and I saw a ghost of an old smile flitting over -his hard-lined face. - -“You’ll do for a big one, Jones,” said he, and his teeth gleamed in the -night. - -“You stand on either side,” said Howard. “I’ll take the front.” - -Hawkson was about to remonstrate, but the old pirate shut him off -harshly. - -“Who’s the captain here, me or you?” he cried. - -“You, but you won’t be within five minutes,” said Hawkson. - -“Get below, Hicks and Heywood; maybe you can bring Gull and Ernest back -for short stand. There’s liquor in the pantry.” - -We were too badly hurt to stand much longer, and were worthless in a -rush, so we went down the companion and tried to tie up our hurts. - -Miss Allen had already brought Gull around, and had partly revived -Ernest. She smiled faintly at me, as I came down the companionway, -limping and clutching the rail at the side. Hicks was behind me, and -looked sadly at the girl as the noise of the rush sounded behind us. - -She came to us and tied us up the best she could, stopping the bleeding, -and, as she handed me a glass of spirits, spoke. - -“Hicks,” said I, “you better take Miss Allen below into the lazarette -and bar the door. They may overlook you there. It will only be a matter -of a few minutes’ more fighting. The barque is doomed. Go while you can, -for there is no other to take her. Gull and I must make our last stand -on deck.” - -“And a precious short one at that,” said the second mate, who was barely -able to keep his feet. - -The liquor was burning within me now like oil poured upon a dying flame, -and under its influence I grasped my cutlass and placed my foot on the -stair, to mount again and join the panting, struggling men, whose backs -showed against the opening now and then, as they cut and lunged at the -press before them. They could not last long, and I could already hear -the high, rasping breathing of the old captain, who was making his last -fight. - -“You will come also,” said Miss Allen to me. “You must know of some way -to hide in a ship.” - -Her eyes held a mute appeal that was hard to resist. She was filled with -horror, and the terror in her look made me hesitate. Yet, when I -thought, I knew Hicks could find a place easier than I, and one would be -less apt to be missed than two. Besides, the men on deck were fighting, -and my place was there as long as I could stand. Sir John Hicks looked -at me, but said nothing. - -“I’ll come later,” I answered. “Some one must hold the stair. Hurry -while there’s time.” - -Then I mounted the companion, followed by Gull, and came out into the -last fight on the quarter-deck. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV. - OUR LAST CHANCE - - -The big Welshman, Jones, had just swung into the press about him as we -came up, and Hawkson had a breathing spell for a few moments. The old -privateersman saw me behind him in the doorway, and the ghost of his old -smile wrinkled the corners of his ugly mouth. He was covered with blood, -and growing weak from exertion, but he held out a long, sinewy hand, and -I grasped it. He said nothing, but looked at the surging crowd that was -pressing closer and closer against the struggling Welshman and Howard. -Henry clung to the companion coaming with one hand, and closed the gap -between them. The black mass swung back toward us, and instantly we were -fighting desperately to hold them in check. - -A pile of black bodies in front impeded their movement, but they pressed -us so close that we were jammed shoulder to shoulder, with Jones -slightly in advance to the right, and the old captain in front. Gull -ducked below my arm, and stabbed viciously upward at the Africans who -came on. - -There had been a short pause, caused by Jones’s fierce fight, but, as he -gradually slackened his efforts, and the men behind pressed forward, the -gap began closing up. It would soon be over. - -A huge black fellow reached out and grasped Captain Howard. The old -pirate ran him through the body with marvellous quickness, but, before -he could disengage his weapon, several more seized him and jerked him -away from us. He disappeared in the blackness, and we saw him no more. -He had gone to his account without a word, fighting desperately to the -last, and with him went the last hope we had left. - -Hawkson was tiring. A couple of men seized me and started to drag me -out, but the old privateersman made a last desperate rally, and I tore -myself free from dying clutches. But the fight could not last for ever. -A black giant, who wore a gee-string, smote Hawkson’s blade a terrific -blow with a windlass-brake, knocking it out of his hand. Instantly -several seized him, and, though I cut and stabbed frantically, they -managed to pull him away, to be served as had been the others who had -fallen into their hands. - -Suddenly, while I cut wildly at the forms in front, some one pulled me -backwards. I expected to find myself in the hands of the black tigers, -thirsting for blood and revenge, and was about to make one last sweep, -but my arm was seized, and I was pulled down the companionway, while -Jones slammed the doors together and bolted them. The big sailor and -myself were all the men left on deck of our after-guard, and he had -pulled me back just in time. The door would stand a few minutes against -the assault. Gull and Henry had both gone, the little ferret-faced -fellow fastening his great fingers firmly in the throat of a man who -drew him to his death. There was now no hope but to delay the inevitable -for as many minutes as possible. - -Jones and I had a short breathing spell, while bars and handspikes -crashed through the heavy door panels. We took down several of the -muskets from the racks, and, placing their muzzles against the rents in -the wood, fired them one after the other, with the result of abating the -zeal of the fellows who stood close against the other side. The room -filled with the dense powder smoke, and the light from the swinging -cabin lamps barely lit up the gloom enough to distinguish objects. -Ernest, who had been left half-dead upon the cabin floor, now aroused -himself enough to stagger to his feet. - -“The lazarette,” he gasped; “it’s our only chance. Bring some muskets -and ammunition. We can make a stand there.” - -Grasping an armful of the discharged weapons, I led the way through a -small door in the after-bulkhead, as heavy blows crashed upon the door -of the forward cabin. Jones followed with an armful of cartridges and a -priming-flask, Ernest leaning heavily upon him. Then I hesitated. - -“Put out the light. Let ’em think we’re waitin’ in the dark,” said the -big sailor. - -I turned back and took the lamp out of the bracket. It would serve to -light the black hole we were entering, for Hicks had taken no lantern -with him, being hardly able to walk, with weakness from wounds and -exertion. - -Jones went ahead with Ernest, and I looked quickly about the cabin for -some means of preventing entrance through the small, low door into the -stern of the boat. Nothing appeared handy, and I turned to follow. - -At that same instant the attack upon the companion was resumed and the -doors crashed in, letting several black forms come plunging down the -steps. - -There was no time to lose, so, quickly entering the hole, I closed it -and set the lamp close by on the deck, where its dim rays would light -the entrance when the door would be burst in. The bulkhead was not very -thick, and it would take very few minutes to smash the small door, but, -as the passage was only about three feet wide, two able men with muskets -and cutlasses could make it good from the inside, for no matter what the -press beyond, the Africans would have to come in twos and threes through -the opening. They would not think to cut a new way through, and, as long -as they came in front, we could pile them up as fast as they could pull -the dead and disabled away. - -Jones had disappeared into the blackness farther aft under the cockpit -as I entered, but the sound of the yelling blacks entering the cabin -brought him back to my side, and I motioned him to stand to starboard, -while I took the port side, our cutlass blades a little more than -overlapping as we held them ready for the rush. - -On all sides the ship’s stores were piled and stored close up under the -low deck. Spare canvas rolled and stopped in long bundles lined the -passageway, placed near at hand that in case of emergency they could be -brought out quickly and bent to stripped spars. We stood perfectly -quiet, while the din below increased, but, as the savages had no light, -they could not, at first, find the small door in the after-bulkhead. - -While we waited, Hicks appeared, stooping and coming along under the low -beams. He had a musket in each hand which he had loaded, and when he saw -us he stopped. Laying down the guns, he began pulling at an old topsail, -and Jones, seeing what he wanted, hastened to help. Together they rolled -and dragged the canvas to the door, piling it up to close the opening as -much as possible, and at the same time serve as a breastwork. Suddenly a -savage voice howled close against the bulkhead, and instantly a rain of -tremendous blows fell upon the door. It splintered, broke, and was torn -away in an instant. Then the black bodies crowded in. - -Jones on one side and myself on the other fell upon them with our -cutlasses, and the first three lay groaning and blocking the way. Hicks -crouched down behind the pile of topsail and rested his musket, with its -muzzle about three feet from the opening, but held his fire. He would -wait until one of us failed to stop our men. - -The three bodies were whisked away, and a half-score of black faces, -with white eyeballs and ivory teeth, filled the gap, each savage trying -to get in at once, none flinching in the least from the sword cuts. -Capstan-bars, muskets, and cutlasses were shoved through, and we had to -keep alert to prevent being wounded. One huge negro, with a woolly beard -on his black chin, pulled a couple of his fellows back from the opening, -and thrust a long muscular arm inside, holding a cutlass. He swung it -with marvellous quickness, and parried my stroke, giving me a bad cut in -return, but Jones reached him with a short-arm thrust, and, before he -could recover, I had him out of action. He was jerked back before we -could get hold of his weapon, and others took his place. - -It was a nightmare scene there in between the decks of the old pirate -barque. I could sometimes catch a glimpse of Sir John Hicks lying in the -bight of the old topsail, with his eyes looking steadily along the -barrel of the musket and shining like beads in the dim light. He was -good for one fellow,--the one we would miss. Opposite me the big sailor -slashed and cut at everything that came through the opening, while just -without the black bodies crowded, and hideous black faces grinned and -yelled in savage fury. - -Another rush, and then another, and Jones received a stab from a cutlass -thrust suddenly in at the door. Three armed negroes tried to enter at -once, and almost succeeded. I stopped one, but Jones’s man came through, -and another started to follow. Then the musket crashed in the passage, -and we were choked with smoke. But Hicks had stopped the leader, and -Jones then finished the other. We still held our own. - -Suddenly the faces and forms drew back from the opening. A wild yelling -was heard on deck, followed by a scrambling up the companion. Some -noises sounded at the doors, pounding and hammering. We drew back and -waited. - -The minutes passed slowly. Hicks placed his spare gun in position, and -coolly proceeded to load on the stores packed behind us. All was black -and quiet now in the cabin, save for the hammering at the doors. - -In a little while I began to get nervous. The yelling had begun to die -away, and only now and then voices sounded forward. - -“I reckon I’ll take a peep into the cabin,” I said. “Bring the lamp, and -stand for a rush if there are any tricks played.” - -Jones took the light, and, standing just inside the hole, let the rays -fall upon the cabin-deck. It was apparently deserted. Poking my cutlass -ahead of me, ready for a surprise, I made my way slowly through the -opening, keeping my eyes on both sides as I came through. The cabin was -empty. - -I looked up at the companion entrance, and, as my eyes became accustomed -to the gloom, I saw the doors were closed. The forward doors also had -been put in place, and the hammering had now ceased. I distinctly heard -the rattle of blocks with the tackle running rapidly. - -“No one here,” I whispered, and Jones came through the bulkhead. -Presently Hicks followed. - -“Better leave the light inside,” he suggested. “They may have some trick -to get us out.” - -Jones sniffed the air loudly for a few moments. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Sir John. - -“Seems to me they’ve already played it,” said Jones, coolly. “I smell -smoke, an’ I smell it strong.” - -“Powder smoke, man; the place is thick with it,” I said, choking and -coughing a little. - -Jones turned his great face toward me. - -“You may be the gunner, Mr. Heywood, you might know,” said he, “but I -smells wood. There ain’t no mistake. The barque’s on fire, an’ they’ve -nailed us below.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI. - THE END OF THE BLACK BARQUE - - -“For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks. - -Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke -was thicker than when we first stopped firing. The peculiar pungent -odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent. - -The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there -broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun. - -We looked at each other. Then it sounded again, and a loud crash above -told of a shot tearing through our hull, while the dull report was -repeated. - -“Man-o’-war,” said Jones, significantly. - -“Break down the door,” I cried. “We must get Miss Allen and Ernest.” - -Hicks had already started for the light, and Jones bounded up the steps, -cutting at the panels as he reached the top, while we hurried back to -the lazarette. - -Even as we went, the barque’s deck seemed to slant a trifle forward, and -I wondered at it vaguely, as we made our way along the dark passage -under the cockpit. In a few minutes we had made our way clear aft to the -vessel’s run. Here, behind boxes and barrels of stores, that Hicks had -broken out and formed into a barricade, was Miss Allen. She greeted us -calmly, but I could see the terror in the girl’s eyes that the horror of -the night had produced. - -“I expected you,” she said, her voice trembling. - -Hicks looked at her sadly, and held out his hand. - -“Come,” he said, “we haven’t a minute to spare. Where’s Ernest?” - -“Here, sir,” said the sailor, rising from the deck. He was badly hurt, -and could hardly stand. - -“Take a grip of my shoulder,” I said, “and hurry along. We must get out -of this.” - -Even as we went, the deck began sloping forward. The incline was getting -greater all the time, as though the barque was settling by the head. By -the time we reached the cabin, she had listed to starboard, and Jones, -who was cutting away at the shattered companion doors, broke through -just as the steps or ladder, torn from its fastenings by the rush upon -it when the savages came below, fell to one side and crashed down upon -the floor, bringing the big sailor with it. We tried to place it back -again in position, but, while we lifted it, the deck began to slant -dangerously. A flickering light shone down through the opening Jones had -made in the barricade, and, as he staggered to his feet, he called out -that it was no use. - -“She’s listed too much. It won’t stand. She’s all afire forrads, and -goin’ down by the head. The devils have plugged her, too, an’ she’s -fillin’ like a basket! Put it on the starboard side, an’ I’ll hold it -while ye mount.” - -We tried this method, but it wobbled so that Jones was sent up first to -hold the top. - -The barque was now sinking rapidly. The blacks had evidently cut a hole -in her, besides setting her afire, to make sure of catching us below. -She was to be our coffin,--a fitting end for men engaged in the foul -trade. Jorg must have gone forward with his axe, mad with the blow he -had received from Shannon’s men, and, after he had liberated some slaves -by knocking the irons off, they had evidently overpowered him, taken his -axe, and cut a hole in the vessel’s bottom, while the mass of them had -surged aft for vengeance. - -It took several precious moments to clear the barricade above -sufficiently for a man to get out. Jones tore and pried at the shattered -woodwork, but the negroes had piled a lot of gratings, lines, etc., over -the opening, after fastening the doors by spiking some of their -bunk-boards or slave-deck timber over the shattered panels. - -They had intended to make certain of us before leaving in the small -boats. - -Gradually Jones forced his way out, while the noise of the escaping air -under the sinking deck grew into a deep snore, rushing as it did through -every aperture, while the sea followed after. - -Quickly we passed Miss Allen up, while we felt the ship settling. Then -Ernest was lifted until Jones could reach his hand and get him out. Then -the big sailor disappeared a moment from the opening, and we knew he had -taken the girl to safety, if such a thing existed near. The listing -motion increased rapidly. There was a loud roaring below. - -Hicks seized the ladder, while I held the foot of it to keep it from -sliding to starboard. Then he turned. - -“After you, Heywood,” he said, quickly. “Jump, there’s no time to lose.” - -“Go!” I yelled; “go while you may. She’s going down now.” - -But he turned his face to me, and for an instant I saw its expression in -the dim light of the lamp still burning on the floor. There was no sign -of fear in it. Only a deep sadness, as in one who has suffered a sudden -great loss. - -“After you,” he said, calmly, and made a motion with his hand toward the -sloping steps. There was something of an old-time courtesy in that -gesture that told of men who had gone before. They who had borne the -name he had disgraced. Bad man he may have been, but who shall judge him -after that gallant end? - -I saw that argument would be useless, even had there been time for it. -Seizing the steps, I mounted as quickly as I could, while I felt them -slide beneath me. I grasped the coamings as the steps left my feet and -fell away to starboard, leaving me hanging. - -In a moment I had thrown a leg over the edge of the opening, and drew -myself panting and gasping to the poop. Jones was just in the act of -disappearing over the rail, having lowered Miss Allen and Ernest -overboard to a couple of planks and gratings he had hove in. I called to -him for aid to help me get Hicks out, but it was just too late. - -The barque was now almost perpendicular, pointing bow forward to the -bottom. As I staggered to my feet, she gave a sudden lurch. Then -straight as an arrow, she dived, and I found myself in the roaring, -swirling vortex she left behind. - -In the choking blackness beneath the ocean’s surface, I seemed to stay. -Down and down I went, in spite of frantic struggles. Then the suction -ceased, and I began to mount. If I could only hold my breath a little -longer! - -A roaring was in my ears, and stars flashed in my eyes, and just when I -was losing consciousness, my head came out into the air again. - -How good was that first breath! I was back again in the world of air for -another struggle. It seemed useless, and I swam slowly, wondering why I -did so, yet my whole nature revolted against going under. It would only -be a matter of minutes, and why not take the rest of a somewhat hard -existence easy? My reason began to assert itself, and the uselessness of -effort began to be manifest. Turning over on my back, I floated easily, -only striking out now and then with a spasmodic kick. - -Suddenly I heard voices. There were men near, and I quickly turned over -again to try to gaze about me through the darkness. - -Something made a rushing sound through the water, and, following the -swish of the spray, I made out the regular stroke of oars. For an -instant I thought of the slaves who had taken our boats, and I had no -desire to call for aid. Then it struck me that the oar-stroke was very -regular and could only come from trained men. - -I called loudly, and soon had the satisfaction of getting an answer. The -craft headed toward me, and in a moment I could make her out coming head -on. - -I grasped the gunwale as she came up, and was hauled inboard by a couple -of men. - -“Here’s another rascal who’d rather hang than drown,” said one to the -other. Then loudly to the man aft: “We’ve got him, sir.” - -I was bundled aft, and made to sit in the bottom of the craft, which I -now saw, by the aid of the lantern the helmsman had between his feet, to -be a boat from a ship-of-war. The men were in uniform, and the man at -the helm was an officer of the United States navy. - -“How many of you got away in the boats?” he asked, sternly. “And how did -you happen to be left behind?” - -“I reckon I’m the only one left,” I said, sadly. “None of us escaped -except me.” - -“A likely yarn,” snapped the officer. “Who are you, anyway?” - -“I’m an American, like yourself, and was gunner of the barque _The -Gentle Hand_,” I answered. - -I thought he would strike me when I said I was like himself, but he saw -I meant no offence. - -“Did all the slaves go down in her after you fired her, when you saw you -couldn’t get away from us?” he asked again. - -Then it suddenly dawned upon me that the cruiser had thought we had -burned and scuttled the ship ourselves, after finding he was closing in -and would soon have her under his guns. - -“We didn’t fire her,” I answered. “The blacks did that, and there’s no -one left alive of her crew that I know of besides myself.” - -He gave a grunt of disgust, as if it were no use talking to a rascal, -and headed for his vessel’s side. I could see her lights now only half a -mile away, and I wondered who and what she was, and what fate she had in -store for me. - -It looked as if I had made a mistake in leaving _The Gentle Hand_, and -visions of a figure swaying at a yard-arm began flitting through my -tired brain. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII. - THE LAST STRAND OF MY YARN - - -When we came alongside the man-of-war, another small boat had already -arrived. Lights were in the gangway, and forms showed along the rail. -The vessel was a brig-rigged cruiser, not very large, but, judging from -the heaviness of her spars that towered above in the darkness, she was -very fast, capable of overhauling the majority of traders. She would not -have caught _The Gentle Hand_ in a breeze of any weight, and, as I gazed -at her, I remembered the sail I had seen before dark, and to which I had -called Bill’s attention while aloft. This vessel was evidently the one -seen but not reported, and she had probably crept up on us in the -darkness without our knowing it. Then came the rising forward among the -men, planned and led by Shannon and Martin, who had plotted with the -slave-driver ashore for some of the profits. They had intended taking -the barque in themselves, selling and landing the cargo somewhere on -either the Cuban or American coast, and then making another trip, or -sinking her before being overhauled and found out. It was a game easily -played among dealers who asked few questions and who paid cost prices. -Clearing would not be difficult to men who thought nothing of forging -papers, and who would close the mouths of certain officials of the -Spanish ports well known to them by handing over a small percentage of -the profits. How it all ended is now known, and I seemed to be the sole -survivor of the affair. - -We ranged alongside the cruiser, and the order came to peak oars. How -the accurate obedience of the men and quick, certain movements brought -back memories of the days when I wore the blue uniform and served -frigate’s guns. Then we were fast, and I was ordered to stand up. - -“Now then, up with you,” snapped the officer aft. “Clap that fellow in -irons as he comes aboard,” he added to the quartermaster, who stood in -the gangway, and who promptly laid a heavy paw upon my shoulder. I was -seized by two sailors and hustled below without further ado, and when I -arrived in the ’tween-decks, a fellow clapped the irons upon my wrists. - -“Where’ll we put him?” asked one of the sailors of the master-at-arms, -who was superintending operations. - -The light from the lanterns shone upon me, and I must have presented a -pretty hard spectacle. Several wounds that I had received had begun to -bleed afresh, and the salt water mixed with the blood, completely -saturating my clothing. - -“You look like you had a clip or two, my friend,” said the -master-at-arms to me. “Had a bit of a fracas, hey?” - -The tone was familiar, and I looked hard at the man. Then, in spite of -his clean-shaved face and uniform, I had no difficulty in recognizing -old Peter Richards, bos’n of _The Gentle Hand_. - -“Well, how in thunder did you get here?” I asked. - -“Didn’t you get my note?” said Richards. - -“I did, but am not the scholar you appear to be. Sink you, Peter, how -did you play it on me so?” - -Richards smiled grimly. - -“You know,” he said, “when you first signed with old Watkins, I did not -want to go in the barque. Your gaff set me on, John, and I thought you -such a fool you would get in trouble. I knew what she was, well enough, -but I would have stayed with her if they had treated me right. But folk -in that business don’t treat people right. The whole game is one of -wrong and oppression,--an’ you know it. When I left, I knew she was -going out the next day, and tried to tell you, but you had just gone -ashore, and when I found you had gone, I went as far as the place where -you had the outfly with Curtis on account of the gal. I heard of the -mess, an’ got to the long skipper’s boat in time to see him rowing you -back to _The Gentle Hand_.” - -“Did you know what he had in the chest, too?” I asked. - -“No, but I knew he was up to something. I knew he couldn’t do much with -the vessel he had, and I thought I would come along in your wake in this -brig. We got here too late. Tell me how the trouble came about.” - -I told as much as I could of the rising, and before I was through, an -officer called him aft to give instructions about me. I knew he would do -what he could, and hoped to have him stand between me and the end of the -gant-line. - -While he was gone, a master’s mate came up and took me in hand. - -“What became of the rest of the crew?” he asked, - -“They killed all hands,” I answered, sullenly. “I’m the only one left.” - -“Not exactly,” answered the sailor, kindly. “Not exactly, my boy. -There’s a pretty good lump of a Welshman and a fairly sized Dutchman -already ahead of you.” - -“What!” I cried. “Did you pick up Miss Allen and Big Jones?” - -“I haven’t the honour of the gal’s acquaintance,” said the fellow, “but -we’ve got her aboard all right, and the men with her. Who is the young -lady,--the skipper’s daughter?” - -“Daughter of the trader,” I answered, with a feeling of relief. “Her -father was killed with the rest. So she’s aboard, is she?” - -“All safe, but we don’t hang women for piracy, so I don’t know what the -old man’ll do with her. No, Sam, we won’t put him in the brig,” he said, -addressing one of the men. “It’s too hot, too much like the hold of a -slaver to suit him. I’ve always noticed these fellows are mighty -particular about themselves. You can stow yourself there in that hammock -to-night, my friend, and here’s some togs for you,” he continued to me, -“and here’s a nip of grog for you. Stand by for a call to come aft and -be sentenced.” - -His tone was kindly, but so cool withal, when discussing my probable -end, that I hated the fellow. Hadn’t I gone through enough? Must I be -goaded and hung, after all? I changed my dripping clothes, with the help -of a couple of men who loosed my hands for a few minutes, and then the -order was passed to bring me aft to the captain for examination. - -Tired and exhausted as I was, I was hustled aft between two sailors, and -brought to the poop, where sat the captain of the cruiser in a chair. He -was only partly dressed, on account of the heat, and he smoked a long -cigar of the kind rolled in Cuba. Richards had passed a word for me, and -he looked less dangerous than I expected. - -He was an intelligent officer, and, as I told my story, beginning at the -time I was tricked into signing into the barque, he became interested, -and I could see he believed much I told. While I talked, Jones was -brought up, and, without hearing what I had already said, corroborated -me in all details. Then we were allowed to go below and turn in, and for -twelve blessed hours I knew nothing. Ernest was too far gone to talk -that night, but the next day his story was found to be in the main like -ours. - -As for Miss Allen, she was unable to leave her room for several days, -but when she could tell of the affair, her testimony did much to save -our lives. - -We were paroled and given the liberty of the ship while she cruised to -the eastward along the coast of the Guinea Gulf and Bight of Benin. - -Soon I found the cruiser, which proved to be the _Hornet_, was looking -for a brig commanded by a fellow named Shannon, who had made a -reputation on the coast for being a most desperate pirate and slaver. -When the bos’n came aboard, they immediately gave chase to the barque. -Then I explained the affair that happened in Funchal, and the encounter -with the brig to the southward of that place. It was evident from my -description of the fellow that it was the same man they were hunting, -and they finally had enough confidence in my testimony to bear away -again to the westward and start up the coast. - -After two weeks’ cruising under the hot sun, we raised the topsails of a -peculiar-looking craft that was heading down toward the slave coast. Her -foretopmast was remarkably short, and, as we overhauled her, I had no -difficulty in recognizing Captain Shannon’s vessel. - -She saw us and stood inshore close-hauled, and when within a mile of the -beach, backed her foresail and waited for us to come up. The brig fired -a shot or two across her, and then called away three of her boats, which -were filled with armed men, to go in and take possession. - -We were to leeward, and the odour that came down the wind told plainly -her occupation. Had it been night, Brannigan would have dumped the -blacks he had aboard into the sea, for he was capable of anything, but -the sun was shining now, and it was no use, for he had failed to -recognize the _Hornet_ as a man-of-war until she was close enough to see -any such manœuvre from her tops. There was nothing to do but either -get rid of the cargo, or get out of his vessel, and, as we could now see -her deck plainly, Brannigan chose the only course to keep clear of the -hangman’s noose. He lowered down his boats, and, as ours started in for -him, he started for the beach, keeping up a rapid and well-directed fire -from muskets until he struck the surf. His brig, which had been named -the _Black Jewel_, after the manner customary among facetious slave-ship -owners, was scuttled where she lay as soon as the blacks were taken out -of her. - -As the _Hornet_ had been some time on the coast, just as soon as she put -the slaves ashore, she stood away for home. We crossed the line, picked -up the northeast trade, and made a straight course for the States. - -I was allowed the freedom of the deck after I had made known my true -rating, and had explained how I had once served in a war-ship and as -first officer in several others. In this way I had a chance to meet Miss -Allen. - -“You are a rough sailorman, are you not, Mr. Heywood?” she asked one -day, as we neared the Carolina coast. - -“I suppose I may be classed as such,” I assented, “but I’ve held a -master’s position once, and been mate of several ships.” - -“Well,” she said, “I must confess that I like rough sailormen very much. -You know I’ve been used to the society of gentlemen.” - -“Your discernment in choosing acquaintance does you immense credit, Miss -Allen,” I answered. “I’m sure I feel honoured.” - -“I have always associated with men who could read and write, you know, -and who have been to school. But I do like rough sailormen. They have -much that is interesting about them,” she continued, calmly, without -heeding my interruption. - -“There are over a hundred on board this ship,” I asserted, getting my -breath. “Possibly some of them could sign their names, or, at least, -make a cross-mark opposite them. As for me, I fear so much learning -would be dangerous in so rough a sailor.” - -She flushed, and I saw at once that she had meant nothing disagreeable. -Then she asked me straightway about Sir John Hicks. - -“How was it he did not follow us?” she asked. - -“Because he held the ladder for me,” I answered. - -“And you let him stay below while you escaped,” she cried, her eyes -flooding scorn and contempt. “You, a sailor, let him die, and ran to -save yourself?” - -“Only after he refused to go. I did all I could to persuade him,” I -answered. - -She looked long and steadily at me. Then she turned and went slowly -below, and I saw her no more on board. We ran in between the Chesapeake -Capes, and Jones, Ernest, and myself were soon given our liberty. - -I took command of a coaster running general cargo to Havana, and before -I sailed I received a letter from New York. I read it over and over many -times on the run south, and finally decided to call on the writer at the -end of the return voyage. But this matter has nothing further to do with -the last voyage of _The Gentle Hand_. - -Sometimes I wonder at the end of all those former shipmates of mine, all -the strange, savage, and kindly crew of that old, ill-fated barque. Even -Tim, the little American sailor, had a history. Where are all those -faces, the strong, bad, saturnine, and jovial? They flit like phantoms -through my memory,--men who have gone before. I have missed their voices -often. In the deserted forecastle of some large, home-arrived ship, I -have more than once half-expected to meet one or more of that last crew -I sailed with as a man before the mast. - -Far away offshore, in the middle of the southern ocean, I have heard -that strange voice of the sea again, the low, far-reaching, vibrating -murmur that thrills the soul of the listener until each fibre of his -being responds. It is then the sailor realizes the vast world of rest -and peace of the countless crews who have gone before, and wonders as -though the cry came from some mighty invisible host, calling through the -void of air and sunshine. He thinks of the men he once knew, and -wonders. They were good. They were bad. They were a mixture of the two. -But they were all human. And who shall say where they have gone? - - THE END. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s Note - -Compound words which occur at line or page breaks retain the hyphen if -supported by other mid-line instances of the same word. - -Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and -are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original. -The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions. - - 26.17 brought in a very substan[t]ial meal Inserted. - - 286.12 while the badly wounded, though[t] still Removed. - undaunted - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Barque, by T. 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