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Sail Ho! A Boy at Sea, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 30 |
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_ CHAPTER THIRTY. Seeing how thoroughly upset I was, the mate told Mr Frewen to speak to me as soon as he was gone; for he was about to join the men on the watch by the forecastle-hatch, so as to be ready to take action as soon as possible after the drug had acted. "How soon will it be?" he asked Mr Frewen. "I cannot tell you. I never administered it like this before, only in small doses as an opiate in cases of intense suffering. It may be soon, it may be an hour or two. If they have, as we suppose, an ample supply of spirits and tobacco below, it is possible that they may retard the action." "Well," said Mr Brymer, "be ready to come well-armed when I give the signal--two whistles, mind. I shall call upon you the moment I fancy it can be done. Hist!--the men." For the two sailors whom we had made prisoners through their being at the wheel had been apportioned the duty of taking the steward's place, that poor fellow having without doubt gone overboard on the night of the rising; and as Mr Brymer left the cabin, these two quickly and roughly prepared the table for our mid-day meal, went forward, and brought back a tureen of soup, with a kind of ragout of the kangaroo's tail from the tin. The dinner was just ready, when there was a noise from forward; and we hurried to the door-way, but it was only to hear a roaring chorus rise from the forecastle-hatchway. "They have begun at the spirits," said Mr Frewen. And then telling the two sailors to ask Mr Brymer to come and join us, the men went forward, spoke to the mate, and he came to the saloon entrance. "Better come and join us, Brymer," said Mr Frewen. "You want food: and we can tell by the cessation of the noise they are making when the time for action has come." "Oh, I can't eat, man, at a time like this!" said the mate, excitedly. "You must, to keep up your strength. Will Miss Denning join us?" This to Mr Denning, who shook his head. "No; let her stay in her cabin. She would only be in our way. I will take her in some dinner." "You had better keep up appearances, so that the men may not notice anything. Mr Preddle, help the soup." I shuddered, and every one turned pale. "Oh, there is no risk," said the mate quickly. "But here, make the plates and spoons look as if they had been used, and then throw all the soup out of the stern-window." I brightened a little at hearing this, for the possibility of the cook having made a mistake was always before my eyes. So after satisfying ourselves that the men were not likely to return yet, I was one of the busiest in dirtying the plates and spoons, and ended by emptying the soup from the window with a feeling of the most intense relief. "Will it send the fishes to sleep, Mr Frewen?" I whispered, as I placed the empty tureen back in its place. "Bad for them if it does," he said, with an attempt at looking merry. "For their enemies are safe to swallow them while they are napping." "With both eyes open," said Mr Preddle. The departure of the soup acted like a charm on all; and after Mr Brymer had been down once more as far as the forecastle, we all began to partake of the savoury Australian dish the cook had prepared, with an abundance of rich gravy, and the whole surrounded by a thick wall of beautifully cooked white rice. Though our meals had been rough and unsatisfactory for many hours, every one began his dinner with manifest distaste, for it was impossible to avoid thinking of what had been done; but after a portion had been taken into the cabin by Mr Denning for his sister, and a little of the gravy and rice to the captain by the doctor's orders, first one made a little pretence of eating by nibbling at his biscuit, then another tasted the savoury-looking dish and commented upon it, and a minute later, as a jovial chorus came rolling out of the forecastle-hatch, Mr Frewen began to eat. "Come, Dale," he said, "have some dinner, and forget all that. It was your duty, my lad." "Yes; I will try," I said; and making an effort, I mastered my disinclination and swallowed a mouthful. "Capital, isn't it?" said Mr Frewen, smiling. "Yes, it is good," I replied; and I went on, feeling surprised at my returning appetite. The result was that Mr Brymer and Mr Denning fell to, and we were all--perhaps in a forced manner, to encourage each other--loud in our praises of the dish, of which we ate heartily. In fact, when I had nearly finished my plateful, a thought struck me, and after a little hesitation I turned to Mr Brymer. "Well?" he said. "What is it, Dale?" "I was thinking, sir," I said. "What of--the gang singing? They're passing the bottle round pretty freely." "No, sir," I said. "I was thinking how tantalising it must be to hear this dinner going on, and smell it, and not get some." "Oh, we'll call the men to finish it when we've done. Poor fellows! they work hard for us, and we will not stand on ceremony now." "I meant Walters, sir," I said. "Humph! The treacherous young hound! Why, you don't mean you want to take him some?" "Yes, I do, sir," I said quickly. "I don't like him, or defend him, but I'd give him a plate of this." Mr Brymer looked round the table and frowned. "Well," he said, "take him some, but mind he don't get out." I rose eagerly. Mr Preddle smiled all over his round, plump face, and well filled a plate, which I bore to the cabin in which Walters was prisoned, and unfastening it, bore it in. He was leaning against the ship's side, gazing out of the cabin-window, and would not turn his head. "I've brought you some dinner," I said, but he paid no attention, and I repeated the words, but still he did not move. "Oh, very well," I said. "If you like to be sulky, be so. I'll take it back." He faced round in an instant. Hunger is, after all, very taming. "Set it down," he said shortly; and thereat our eyes met, and he saw my bruised and disfigured features. His face expanded in an unpleasantly triumphant grin. "Oh, all right," I said, setting the plate and biscuit down on the locker, though feeling all the time as if I should like to take it back. "Laugh away; you don't look so very beautiful, Mr Pirate Lieutenant." He gave an angry start, and the smile changed to a savage frown, which did not improve a pair of terribly black eyes and a cut and swollen lip. But I was ready to give him quite as defiant a look as I opened the door, and then going out I re-locked him in, and went back to my place, ready for some more of the kangaroo stew. "Well, was he very grateful?" said Mr Brymer. I shook my head, and finished my dinner in silence, listening the while to the men, who were singing uproariously. "Your prescription seems to agree with them, Mr Frewen," said the mate significantly, as we all rose. "Yes; but wait a wee, as the Scotch folk say." "Yes, up by the forecastle," said the mate. "Put your pistols in your pockets, and we'll keep watch and listen to the effects of the drug while the men have their meal. Dale, my lad, take Blane at the wheel a portion, while I send the others to have theirs." I hastily obeyed, taking a pretty good ration for Barney Blane, who must have been having pretty good sniffs of the savoury food to slacken his appetite, and he grinned hugely as he saw me approach. "That's your sort, sir; I was getting hungry." "Can you eat and steer too, Barney?" I said. "Can I eat and steer too?" he cried. "You just set that theer on the binnacle, sir, and come back in ten minutes and see." "I will, Barney," I said, "and bring you some grog too." "And I'll say you're a real gentleman, Mr Dale, sir, that I will, and drink your health." "You shall, Barney," I said, turning to go. "But I say, sir, ain't they pretty lively down in the forksle?" "Yes, very." "What did you serve out? Were it rum?" "No, Barney, soup," I said; "but wait a bit and they won't be quite so merry." "No, sir, they won't. It's unlimited grog, for they've got plenty down below; but, as you say, wait a bit. They will have done by-and-by." "They will," I said to myself, with a faint shiver of nervousness coming over me again as I descended the ladder, just as, relieved from duty, Bob Hampton and Neb Dumlow came aft. "In with you," I said, "and eat away. The others coming?" "No, Mr Dale, sir; they've been having their snack along with the cook in the galley, and got it done." "The more for you then," I said, trying to laugh, but feeling very serious indeed. They entered on tip-toe as if afraid of disturbing the captain and Miss Denning, and directly after were eating ravenously at the remainder of the meal. It was a lovely day, and I could not help thinking what a pity it was that Miss Denning should not be on deck watching the blue sea and the silvery, fleecy clouds. Every now and then some fish sprang out of the clear water as if disturbed by the Burgh Castle's prow as she glided along due south almost upon an even keel. One moment I felt disposed to suggest to Mr Denning that he should bring her out to where the sails cast a shade, but the singing of the men in the forecastle and the anxious looks of Mr Brymer and the gentlemen with him reminded me of the serious business in hand. The cook was busy in his galley, and the two men were lolling about talking to him now and then, and occasionally glancing aft, waiting for Bob Hampton and Dumlow to finish before going aft to clear away, and fetch the things to the galley, where they would get hot water to wash up. How beautiful and calm and peaceful it all seemed! The ocean looked so lovely, and I felt so happy and so much at peace that it seemed a pity for me to have that pistol stuck in my belt, for it was in my way as I laid my arms on the bulwarks and my breast against them to listen to the singing of the mutineers. For they were not shouting now. Their voices sounded pleasant and sweet, though I could not make out the words, which came softer and softer, and then there was the chorus almost as soft. I knew why this was. The drug was beginning to take effect, and I felt that before long their voices would be quite hushed. They would be asleep, and I did not mind it now. It was all my exaggerated fancy, I felt, for it would do them good, and bring them to their senses to find themselves separated and away from the influence of Jarette. I turned to look toward the forecastle, near which Mr Frewen was standing with Mr Brymer, and they were evidently listening attentively, while Mr Preddle and Mr Denning were close up to the bulwarks on the starboard side, I being to port. After a time Mr Frewen approached me, and I began to think that he was a very much taller man than I had been in the habit of supposing, and his face was bigger too. It looked larger round than Mr Preddle's and there was a peculiar, light, rainbow-like look around it as if I was gazing at him through a spy-glass. Then I started, for though he was a long way off he took hold of my shoulder with an arm like a telescope, and shook me. "What's the matter, Dale?" he said. "Don't look like that, my lad. Not well?" "Not well?" I said, or rather it was as if somebody a long way off said so. "Of course I am. Quite well, thank you." "Well, don't go to sleep, boy." He shook me just as I felt as if I was beginning to fly right off over the blue sea, and away into the fleecy clouds, and as I made an effort to get rid of the clutch upon my shoulder, he said, or somebody else said-- "Great heavens! what does this mean?" I distinctly heard Mr Frewen say that, and wondered what he meant. For it did seem absurd that he should come slowly up to me till his eyes were looking close into mine, and then gradually shrink away again till he was right off on the other side of the ship, and then over the bulwarks and away at sea, till he was no higher than my finger before he came back again. But though he appeared to be so distant, I could hear him breathing hard all the time. I was so disgusted that I determined to take no notice of him, and looked instead at the two sailors by the galley. One of them was laughing and the other staring at me very hard. Then he began behaving in the same manner as Mr Frewen, till the doctor said suddenly-- "Drink this." It was cold water, and tasted, delicious. "Thank you," I said, with my voice sounding a long way off, and I think it was Mr Brymer who spoke then, but his voice sounded too as if he were distant, though his words were perfectly distinct. "Over-excitement, isn't it, and the heat of the sun?" Then after a very long pause Mr Frewen said-- "Perhaps, but I am beginning to be afraid. Yes, that's light, my lad, sit down here in the shade. Take off your cap." That lad--I did not know who it was then--sat down on the bottom of a tub, and leaned his head back against the bulwarks for the soft breeze to play through his hair; and very pleasant and dreamy and restful it all was for him, whoever he was, while I listened, too, to what was going on. A great deal appeared to be going on about me just then, and I quite enjoyed it, and somehow it was as if everything was surrounded by beautiful colours. Mr Brymer came and went just as if I were seeing him through a cut-glass decanter-stopper, but he was not half so striking as Mr Preddle, who came and stood over me looking gigantic, but his face and even his clothes were prismatic. So was the air, which now began to descend rapidly, as if it were some brilliant waterfall coming down from the clouds. "Will you fetch me a cane seat off the poop?" "Ay, ay, sir." It was Mr Preddle's highly-pitched voice which I heard, and it was the sailor who had sat talking to the steersman who answered, and soon after I heard the chair squeak very loudly, as big Mr Preddle, looking as large as an elephant now, sat down by the boy on the tub, and leaned his head back against the bulwarks. He talked to him about the fish, and said that the hot weather did not agree with them, and that he was afraid that kangaroo-tail was too rich a dish to agree with them, for it was indigestible, and made people drowsy. The boy did not make any answer, but sat staring at Mr Preddle sidewise, wondering why the big stout naturalist also should keep on going and coming in that telescopic fashion, which was so puzzling to me as well as to that boy, who was, however, exceedingly stupid, for he did not say a word, but only stared with his mouth half open. Then I was listening to Mr Brymer, who was talking anxiously to the doctor, as they stood watching the forecastle-hatch, from which came a deliciously sweet chorus, and I knew why it sounded so pleasant--it was because the men were so far away in the bows, for the Burgh Castle grew longer and longer, till the bowsprit seemed as if it were miles away, but with every rope and block as distinctly seen as if it were still close to me. "Well, my lad, how are you?" said Mr Frewen just then; but the boy leaning back against the bulwark only stared at him, and I felt ready to kick him for being so rude, and then I wanted to punch Mr Preddle, for he began to snore abominably. "I don't like it, Frewen," said somebody just then. "What do you say? You don't think it possible that--" He did not finish speaking, for just then I saw Mr Frewen go to the boy on the tub, and dash some water over his face. "Now, my lad," he said, "you must get up and walk about." He took hold of the boy's arm, but did not pull him up, for the lad fought against him angrily, and then I knew I was that boy staring hard at the doctor, and then at Mr Denning, who came along the deck from the companion-way far-distant, crying-- "Doctor--my sister--come directly--she's dying!" The doctor went away directly, and I saw him going what seemed to be miles away, but so gently and easily that it was like something in a dream. Mr Brymer went after him, and the cook and the two men stood watching them till they disappeared through the saloon entrance, while the men in the forecastle kept on singing a chorus, sounding now loud and now soft, just as one hears the music of a great organ when the performer opens and closes the swell. I don't know how long it was afterwards, but it did not seem to matter, for everything was so pleasant and calm, before I saw Mr Brymer come back with the doctor, and directly after, though he seemed to be still a long way off, Mr Brymer said-- "I must send another man. He is hanging fast asleep over the wheel." Then I saw Mr Frewen catch at one of the shrouds and stand gazing at him vacantly, and then I felt quite pleased, for Bob Hampton was there along with Neb Dumlow. "It is all going to be right now," I thought, though I did not know that anything was wrong, and I felt as if I was just dropping off into a delicious sleep. But all was quite clear and plain again, as I heard Bob Hampton say-- "Some one has been playing larks with the grub, sir. I can't go to the wheel, for I can't--can't--can't--can't--Here, hold up Neb, lad; don't lurch about like that." "I'm a-going down, matey, I'm a-going down," growled Dumlow, and I saw him sink on the deck. "You scoundrels, you've been at the rum!" cried Mr Brymer, and he drew his pistol, but only gave a stagger, and caught about in the air to try and save himself from falling. "Help--Frewen--something--give me something," he panted, and Mr Frewen came to him, feeling his way with his arms stretched out just as if he were playing at blindman's buff. He came on as if from a great distance, till he touched Mr Brymer, and I heard him whisper the one word--"Treachery." "I knew it!" cried the mate, fiercely, and cocking his pistol he staggered for a moment just as I saw Bob Hampton sink down on the deck holding his head. Directly after, as Mr Frewen stood swaying to and fro, the mate rushed to where the cook and the two men stood by the galley-door. The two sailors shrank away to right and left, while Mr Brymer seized the cook and dragged him away, forcing him down upon his knees, holding him by the collar with one hand, and swaying to and fro as he said thickly-- "You dog, you drugged that dish you sent in to dinner!" "No, sir--'pon my word, sir--I swear, sir!" shrieked the poor fellow. "You treacherous hound, you've poisoned us!" stammered out the mate. "I swear I haven't, Mr Brymer, sir. Don't, sir--that pistol, sir-- pray, sir--indeed, indeed, I haven't!" Mr Brymer was shaking the pistol about threateningly, as he rocked to and fro over the cook, who as he knelt clasped his hands in agony, and I heard him say something very indistinctly, for he was sobbing about his wife and child. Then there was a loud bang as the pistol fell, and directly after I saw Mr Brymer glide down as it were on to the deck, and roll over toward where Mr Frewen already lay--though I had not seen him fall--with his arms now folded, and his face upon them as if he were asleep. And still it didn't seem to trouble me in the least. Even when Mr Brymer was gesticulating with his pistol, it did not alarm me, for it was all something interesting going on before me just as if it were part of a dream which would all dissolve away directly, and then I should wake up and think of it no more. I think my eyes must have been closing then, but they opened widely again, and at one glance I saw my companions perfectly motionless from where I sat back against the bulwark, and heard Mr Preddle snoring heavily by my side. For the cook exclaimed passionately-- "I swear, if it was the last word I had to titter, I've done nothing! I never drugged nobody's food!" "All right, matey," said the sailor I had seen talking to the steersman; "it warn't you--it was me." "You?" cried the cook. "You've poisoned them!" "Not I, my lad," said the man, laughing; and every word he uttered rang in my ears as if it was being shouted by some tremendous voice, for my senses were at that moment abnormally clear. "Not I, my lad. I was up yonder, when I saw Brymer and the rest of 'em get together to have what old Frenchy calls a parley, and they hadn't been there long, leaving me wondering what game was up, and what they were going to do about the lads down below, when I see the sky-light opened a bit. So of course I crep' along the deck to hear what they'd got to say." "And did you hear?" "Every word, mate. They were going to get the doctor to find the stuff to send all the lads to sleep, and then they were going to open the hatch and shove Jarette by himself, and the others some in the cable-tier and some in the hold." "Yes, yes!" cried the cook, eagerly, while I listened hard. "Well then, that warmint yonder said it ought to be put in the soup, and so they settled it. "'Two can play at that game,' I says, and I listened till they spoke so low that I opened the light a bit wider, and it slipped out of my hands and went down bang. So I nipped back to set alongside o' Tommy here, and my gentleman comes up to peep, sees me right away, and goes back again. I thought perhaps they'd give it up then, but I kep' my eyes open, and bimeby I sees my nipper here come to you with three tins, and he tells you what to do with them. "'All right,' I says, 'I can see through that dodge,' so I lays low and waits my chance, empties the tin of soup you'd put aside into a pan, and then pours the one you were going to use into the one you'd set aside, and that out of the pan into the tin, but I washed it out first, and put it ready for you to use." "You couldn't; I was here all the time," said the cook, angrily. "Oh, was you? Didn't go round to the back to fetch taters, did you?" "Of course. I forgot." "Ah, that's right," continued the man. "But I warn't satisfied then, for I says to myself, 'Them poor beggars down below won't get the dose now, but I should like t'others to have a taste;' and to make sure as they did, I takes the tin as you'd got the lumps o' meat in, pours out all the pieces and fills it up from the tin they'd doctored, and filled it up again with the juice I'd poured out; now I says to myself, whichever lot they have'll give 'em what they meant for some one else-- and so it did. My word, they mixed it pretty strong." "Why, the tins were wet and sticky!" cried the cook. "Course they was, mate; I had to be in such a hurry for fear of your coming back." "And I couldn't make out about that pan." "Hadn't time to wash it, messmate." "Then I gave the lads down below the soup the cabin was to have had?" "You did." "And them in the cabin the soup and kangaroo they'd physicked?" "That's so, matey, and their games are over again. You'll jyne us, won't you?" "I? Join you?" faltered the cook, looking across at me; "here, what are you going to do?" "Let the lads out again. It's their turn now." And just then the men in the forecastle finished a chorus and began to cheer. "I shall wake up from this dream directly," I remember thinking, but I did not, for all was black, and I was in the deepest sleep that I ever had in my long life. _ |
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