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Sail Ho! A Boy at Sea, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 18 |
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_ CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. Mr Frewen and I were both too weak and faint from the terrible shock we had had, to do anything that day but lie back and rest, my place being chosen close to the hole I had bored, so that I could be ready to answer Mr Preddle's questions, which were constantly coming, and to listen to his lamentations about his fish--about the trouble he had taken, the water which must be drying--till, as I lay back there with my ear close to a second hole which I had bored lower down, every now and then from pain, heat, and the consequent faintness, I kept on dropping into a curious half-dreamy state, in which I seemed to be watching Mr Preddle's fish swimming about with their fat little mouths gasping at the surface of the water, and all looking as if they were so many hundreds of tiny Preddles asking me to get them out of prison. Oh, what a wretched time that was, and how I wished that I could go right off to sleep--a sleep without any dreams--and keep asleep till my side had left off aching. But it was no use to wish, for though Mr Frewen was sleeping, so sure as I nearly dropped off, Mr Preddle would put his lips to the hole I had made for my own torture, and whisper something. "Dale, I've been thinking that if Mr Frewen could seize the man who opens your door and attends upon you, and hold him while you ran out and opened mine, you and I could then go and open two more cabins, and so on, and then we could seize the ship." "Yes," I said heavily, and there was a pause. Then just as I was dropping off to sleep again--"Dale!" "Yes, sir." "We ought to do it when it is dark. I'm quite strong, and not hurt a bit. Do you think Mr Frewen is well enough?" "Oh yes!" I said drowsily, though all the time I knew he was not, but I couldn't help it. "Then I think we ought to try to-night. But what is your opinion of Mr John Denning?" "Haven't any opinion of him," I said, almost talking in my sleep. "Oh, but that's not fair. He certainly is very irritable, but he might be useful, and I think he is brave. A man who is in bad health is frequently irritable, and if we have to fight, as I suppose we very likely shall have to, his irritability would be of great advantage to us, because it would be vented upon our enemies." That's as far as I can remember what he said, for nature would bear no more, and I was fast asleep with a murmuring sound close to my ear shaping my dreams, which lasted till there was a rattling sound at the door, which as I started up was flung open, and two men brought in what was intended for our supper and dinner together. The supply was very coarse, and only consisted of cold salt beef, bread, and water, but if it had been a repast of the most delicious nature, it would not have tempted Mr Frewen or me. The fresh water was all we cared for, and a sip of this from time to time was most refreshing. But as soon as the men had left our cabin and closed the door, we heard them go into the next, and as we sat listening, we could hear almost every word that was said, for Mr Preddle questioned the men sharply, but obtained no answer, the door being roughly closed just in the middle of one of his speeches. Then as we sat listening we could hear the men go from cabin to cabin down one side of the saloon and back along the other. After this we began to talk in a whisper about our future prospects, and our plans were soon made--to wit, that as soon as Mr Frewen felt himself strong enough to act, an attempt should be made to evade the vigilance of the men on guard, and communicate with the captain or Mr Brymer, and then try to make some plan. "There don't seem to be much chance," I said, rather dolefully, for I was in a good deal of pain. "You never know what is going to happen, my lad," said Mr Frewen. "As for me, I feel quite cheerful about our prospects. These men never can get on without quarrelling, and if they are divided, then is our chance." "But suppose they do not quarrel, and are not divided?" I said. "Don't suppose impossibilities, Dale. I've been at sea long enough to understand a little about sailors. This man Jarette has won their ear for the time, but he will soon begin to behave tyrannically to them, and then they will be as ready to rebel against him as they were against Captain Berriman. We have to wait for that moment, and take advantage of it if we can." But three days glided on without our having a chance of knowing what was going on in the other cabins. We knew that we were sailing away south, and that the men seemed to be enjoying themselves, for there was a good deal of singing and shouting--strong indications of drinking going on. Mr Frewen was far better, and my pains had passed into an unpleasant stiffness; otherwise, I was all right. As for Mr Preddle, he would sit against the bulk-head and bemoan his fate as long as he could get a listener, and half his discourse would be about his fish, the other about the unfortunate passengers. I had cut a way through into his cabin by boring a great many holes, and then joining them with my knife, so that I could pass it through for him to try if he could communicate with the cabin further on. But that proved to be empty, and we could do nothing that way. So we sat through the hot day talking about the mad act on the part of the men, and watched the horizon in the hope of seeing a ship to which we could signal, but nothing came in sight. The fourth night had arrived, and now Mr Frewen had made up his mind that our plan ought to be to work at a board in the bulk-head till we could get enough loose to draw a piece out; and then, after getting into Mr Preddle's cabin, work a way through into the next, the empty one, which was pretty sure to be open. Mr Preddle was almost speechless with excitement when the plan was broached to him, and he declared it to be too good for there to be any failure. "Why, we have only to loosen a board or two on my side, go through, watch our opportunity, and then go from cabin to cabin and let out our friends; then wait till the mutineers are all quiet below, and fasten the hatches tight down upon them. Alison Dale, my dear boy, we shall re-take the ship, save the ladies, and I shall, after all, get across with the greater part of my consignment of salmon and trout." He had his plump round face to the opening looking in at us as he said all this, and I could see that his eyes were sparkling with pleasure at the thought of the great success that was coming. "It is very easy in theory, Preddle," said Mr Frewen, "but I don't know that it is going to turn out so satisfactory in practice." "Oh, my dear Frewen, don't throw cold water on the plan, pray," he cried. "Not a drop," said Mr Frewen. "And you will try?" "Oh yes; anything that promises success in any shape. We cannot sit still. We must master them." "But are you strong enough to try?" "I'll make myself strong enough," said Mr Frewen, quietly. "Then which board shall we try to loosen first?" "Hist! some one coming," I said quickly, and I moved a couple of bottles belonging to Mr Frewen's store across the little opening, and took down another bottle to remove the stopper and begin sniffing at it as there was a sudden rattling at the door, which was thrown open, and Jarette entered. He left a bodyguard of five or six well-armed men outside, among whom I saw Bob Hampton, and I felt so enraged against him that I fixed him with my eye, but he seemed in no wise abashed, looking boldly back at me, and giving me quite a friendly nod. "Treacherous brute!" I muttered, and turned away to find Jarette looking at me searchingly. "Not dead yet then?" he said, with a half-laugh. Then to Mr Frewen-- "Well, doctor, you've patched yourself up, I see. What do you say to come under my flag?" "Prison flag!" said Mr Frewen, contemptuously. "Oh no, my good friend; in my little kingdom I am going to found. What do you say to a lovely spice island, all sunshine and flowers, where I can start a new civilisation? I offer you a fine position there as the only doctor. What do you say?" "No, of course," replied Mr Frewen, contemptuously. "Ah, you'll think better of it. I've started the idea too suddenly for you now you're sore; but you'll come round, and the sooner you do the more comfortable you'll be. It must come to that. You'll have no other chance." "We shall see," said Mr Frewen, coldly. Jarette looked at him sharply, and then all about the narrow cabin before fixing his eyes again upon my fellow-prisoner. "Look here," he said, in a sharp, fierce way. "You're thinking of escaping--listen to this, boy," he added, turning sharply to me, "it will do for you too. Now don't think any more about such a _betise_, doctor," he continued, "for it is of no use. There is no escape for you. If you tried to break out I have men on the watch whose orders are to shoot down any one who tries to get away, and that shooting down means pitching overboard afterwards. It would save me a great deal of trouble, but I don't want any more fighting and killing: I want peace. There, you can think it over. You had better be friends, for it would hurt my feelings to have to set you afloat in an open boat with those brute bullies, Berriman and Brymer. Think it over, man. Your friend, Mr Preddle, is sure to join me, for I can find him a pond or a river in which to keep his fish." He backed out of the cabin, and the door was closed, while as we listened we heard the party move on to Mr Preddle's cabin. I could not resist the temptation of listening, and as I was standing close by the partition, I took a step nearer to the opening I had made, and softly drew aside the bottle I had placed before it. Mr Frewen's lips moved, and I took it that he said "Be careful," so I nodded to him as much as to say "I will," and listened. I could not see through, for Mr Preddle had done as I had--drawn something before his side of the opening, which was so small and in such a dark part of the cabin, that unless searched for it was not likely to be seen. "Well, sir," cried Jarette, "when are you coming on deck again?" "Coming on deck?" said Mr Preddle, wonderingly. "Yes; those fish of yours want seeing to; I had to lift out half-a-dozen this morning with that string ladle of yours." "The little net?" cried Mr Preddle, eagerly. "That was very good of you. How do they all seem?" "As if they wanted their master to come and feed them. They all swam up to the top and put their mouths out of the water; didn't they, Hampton?" "Ay, ay, that's so," growled Bob, "and they all called out, 'Wittles, wittles,' in fish, on'y they've got such little voices through being so much in the damp that you couldn't hear 'em." The men laughed, and Mr Preddle joined in, but in a feeble forced way as he said weakly-- "No, no, that was for fresh air. They'll all be dead soon, I'm afraid." "Then why don't you come and attend to 'em?" said Jarette. "May I, Mr Jarette?" cried Mr Preddle, excitedly. "To be sure you may, sir. You've only got to satisfy me that you've thrown over these people here, whom I have been obliged to shut up for violence. Cast in your lot with us, and there you are, quite free; and I'll--come, I'll make you naturalist to my expedition, and one of the chief men of my island." "Naturalist to your expedition?" faltered Mr Preddle, wondering at the language used by a man whom he had heretofore looked upon as a common sailor, perfectly uneducated, and ready for any amount of violence and rapine,--"chief man in your island!" "To be sure." "But have you got an island?" "Waiting for me to go and take it, sir; and there you can study nature at home,--just the place for gentlemen like you." "Ah, yes, that it is," said Mr Preddle. "You'll join us then?" "The weak limp wretch," I heard Mr Frewen whisper. "No, sir, you said that I was a gentleman. I am, and gentlemen cannot do such things as that." "Not take up a delightful life yonder?" "No; the cost is too great. I should have to be false to my class, and to my companions in misfortune here." "Bah!--they are not so squeamish. They come, all of them, and are glad. You will join us?" "No, sir, no." "But your fish--dying!" "Poor things! It is a disappointment, sir; but I cannot do as you wish me to, even to save them." "You will not?" "No, sir, no." "Idiot!" cried Jarette, sharply, and directly after the door was banged and fastened. "My fish--my fish--my poor little fish!" muttered Mr Preddle; "but I couldn't, even to save them." Then there was silence, and I softly recovered the little hole and looked round at Mr Frewen, who nodded and smiled. "Yes," he whispered, "it is quite true: he is a gentleman, poor fellow, in spite of all." Then we listened again, and heard door after door opened, as Jarette went round to see his prisoners; and principally, I fancy, to make sure, as he used his eyes sharply, that no one was likely to escape. Door after door was opened, and then we heard fierce angry voices, one of which I was sure was Captain Berriman's. We could not hear what was said, but his voice sounded threatening, and Mr Frewen whispered-- "Thank heaven! I was afraid the poor captain had been murdered." Hardly had the words passed his lips before we heard a sharp report, a piercing shriek, and a heavy fall. Then for a few moments there was silence, but a quick muttering of voices followed, and then a door was banged. A few moments later as I stood there panting, and with the perspiration standing out upon my forehead, another door seemed to have been opened, and I heard a quick angry voice speaking loudly and upbraidingly. "Mr Denning!" I said excitedly, as I turned to my companion, whose face looked terrible in its rage and despair. "Whose voice was that, Dale?" he cried wildly. "Mr Denning's, I'm sure." "No, no, the lady's cry." "I--I--don't know," I stammered. "You do--you do!" he cried wildly, as he caught me by the breast; "speak out." "I--I half fancied it was Miss Denning shrieked out," I faltered. "Yes," he groaned. "Yes, and I am shut up like this. Is there no way of escape?" And all this while the angry muttering and talking went on, Mr Denning evidently bitterly upbraiding Jarette, and the latter mockingly defiant, and uttering what sounded like contemptuous retorts. Then a door was banged again loudly, and we stood listening, Mr Frewen with his forehead resting against the panel and his hands clenched, while his face was all drawn into puckers and wrinkles as if he was suffering the most intense agony. And as we listened, I, horror-stricken, and in the full belief that poor Miss Denning had been shot, perhaps in trying to save her brother, a couple more of the cabin-doors were opened and closed; then there was a good deal of talking and the giving of orders. At last, when we felt that Jarette and his men were going forward once again to their quarters in the forecastle, leaving us in horrible suspense, a heavy step approached our door, which was opened, and Hampton appeared. "Who was that shot?" cried Mr Frewen, rushing at the man and seizing him by the breast. "Easy, sir; easy it is. You'd best ask the skipper." "I say, who was that shot just now?" "And I says, ask the skipper, sir. It ain't my business. My business is to bring you out. You're wanted, and you're to bring your tools." "Wanted? To attend the injured person?" "I suppose so," replied Hampton, with brutal callousness; and just as Jarette approached, "Here's the captain, ask him." Mr Frewen did not ask, but darted to one of the little drawers with which his cabin was fitted, took out a case and a packet of surgical necessaries packed all ready for emergencies, and turned back to the door. "Here, where are you going, youngster?" cried Hampton, who was looking in with a peculiar expression upon his countenance. "With Mr Frewen," I said stoutly. "No, you're not. Go back." "But he'll want me to help him!" I cried excitedly. "I must go." "Yes; come with me, my lad!" cried Mr Frewen, and as I pressed forward, Hampton made no further objections to my presence, though before at a look from his leader he had barred the way with his sturdy arms. The next moment we were standing in the torn and blackened saloon, with Mr Frewen looking round wildly from door to door, seeking the one through which he was to go. _ |
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