Dick Cheveley Part 17

"Toney told him how he had been paid off and had pretty well emptied his pockets of s.h.i.+ners, and was thinking that before long he must join another craft.

"'That's just what I was a thinking of too, so just step in here, mate, and we'll have a talk about the matter over a gla.s.s or two,' and he pointed to the door of a public-house which stood temptingly open to entice pa.s.sers-by.

"Toney was not one of those chaps to get drunk on every occasion, but he had no objection to good liquor when it came in his way. So, intending to pay for what he had, he went in with Joe. Joe boasted of a craft he had served aboard--a privateer, he called her. She had taken no end of prizes, and had made every one on board her as rich as Jews, only somehow or other they didn't keep their money as well as Jews did, 'and that's the reason why my pockets ain't lined as well as they were a few weeks ago,' observed Joe. Toney, who was a steady sort of a man, didn't quite like the account Joe gave of the 'Viper's' cruise Joe was talking about.

"'Why, to my mind, she's no better than a bloodthirsty pirate,' he said.

"Joe laughed. 'You're too particular, mate,' said he. ''Tain't no worse than many another crew afloat.'

"However, he didn't press the point any longer, but emptying his gla.s.s, called upon Toney to drink up his, and ordered more and more liquor in, when Toney said he would not take another drop. At last Toney didn't know what happened except that he found himself slipping off from his seat on to the sandy floor, and could not, for the life of him, get up again. He thought it would be better to go to sleep where he was, so he coiled himself away to have a snooze. When he woke he tried to recollect what had happened.

"He remembered that he had been sitting with Joe Gubbins, and that he somehow or other got down on the floor, so he felt about, thinking he was there still. But all was dark; and instead of a sandy floor and the legs of the tables and chairs, his hand touched only some hard pitchy planks. He stretched out his arm as high as he could, and found that there was a deck close above him. He crawled along, and came right against a bulkhead. He knew then that he must be on board a craft of some sort. He was not a man to make a fuss about nothing; and as he was still only half awake, he thought he might as well turn round and go to sleep again.

"When he roused up a second time, he felt the vessel moving to the heave of the sea. He had been too long afloat not to know that she was making good way through the water with a fresh breeze. As he was getting somewhat hungry, he didn't want to be any longer down in the hold. He thought it was time to sing out and let those on board know where he was. Having a good pair of lungs of his own, he shouted pretty l.u.s.tily, but no one came near him, nor hailed him.

"'This seems a curious job,' he said to himself; 'have they taken me for a bale of goods and hove me down here to stay till they discharge cargo?'

"Presently he heard the sound of a gun fired overhead; right aft, he judged, for he knew well enough by the movements of the vessel which way she was going. Then another, and another followed; then came a cheer, though he heard it but faintly down where he was. The guns again went off. He guessed that the craft he was on board of was being chased, and that the cheer was given because the crew had knocked away some of the enemy's spars. He could hear two or three shots strike the hull of the vessel, so he knew that they were not having the game all to themselves.

Being fond of fighting, he wished that he was on deck to take his share in it. There was no use wis.h.i.+ng without trying to get out, but whichever way he moved he found a strong bulkhead.

"Though he kicked with all his might he could not start a plank. He tried again and again, till every muscle in his body ached. At last he had to give it up. His temper was not growing very sweet, as may be supposed. He began to think whether it was Joe Gubbins that had brought him aboard, for he didn't come of his own accord, of that he was certain. He vowed that he would pay Joe off whenever he fell in with him. At last the firing ceased. He felt, by the quiver running through every plank and timber that the craft was carrying as much sail as she could bear. There was no more cheering, and he could not tell whether she had got away altogether, or was still trying to escape from a big enemy. He tried to fancy why he was kept down there all this time. He supposed that he had been forgotten by whoever brought him aboard. He could not tell whether the vessel was a king's s.h.i.+p or a privateer, but that she was not a merchantman he was pretty sure. Perhaps, if she was a man-of-war, or a privateer, she was being chased by a Frenchman, but if she was a pirate she was more likely to be running from an English frigate than any other. Still it was not likely that a pirate would venture into Plymouth Sound.

"In either case Toney didn't relish the thoughts of being captured. In one there would be a French prison in store for him, and in the other a man-of-war captain would not believe that he had been brought aboard against his will, and would declare that he had stowed himself away to escape. At last he got so hungry that he began to fear he should be starved to death. He tried another shout. His voice didn't reach those on deck. He knew by this time that it must be night. Having nothing better to do, he was going off to sleep when he heard a bolt withdrawn from the outside, and a light streamed in to where he lay.

"'Who are you?' he asked, springing up and knocking his head against the deck above him with a force which sent him backwards.

"'I'm coming to see how you're getting on, mate,' answered his visitor.

"'Badly enough,' said Toney, 'I'm as hungry as a shark, and don't like being shut up down here. Who are you?'

"'I've been sent down here to ask if you'll, like a wise man, join this craft. She wants hands, and as you're well-known to be a good seaman, you'll get a good berth aboard.'

"'I never join a craft unless I know what sort of a captain and messmates I'm a-going to have,' said Toney.

"'There are times when a man mustn't be over particular,' said his visitor. 'You're a fool if you don't say yes, so just come on deck and sign articles. You'll learn all about this craft afterwards.'

"'No, no,' said Toney; 'I never buy a pig in a poke. Tell me what?

Want to know, then I'll tell you whether I'll join or not.'

"'You'll join, whether you like it or not,' said his visitor with a growl. 'You've chosen to come aboard, and we don't allow idlers.'

"'I didn't choose to come aboard,' said Toney. 'Somebody brought me aboard when I was obfuscated, I suppose, and I'll have a reckoning with that somebody before long.'

"'If that's your notion you'll stay where you are,' said his visitor, and he slammed the door and bolted it.

"Toney was a determined fellow, but there was one thing he couldn't stand, and that was hunger. He got worse and worse. He could not sleep, and he could not shout out. By the time his visitor came again he was as meek as a lamb.

"'Are you going to join or are you not?' was the question.

"'I give in,' said Toney.

"'Come along then,' said his visitor.

"Toney crawled out and up the ladder of the main hatchway. He found that he was on board a brigantine, a rakish-looking craft, with several officers standing aft by the captain, and a numerous crew, among whom he saw Joe Gubbins. He couldn't help lifting his fist and shaking it at Joe, who stood with a brazen face looking as if the threat could not be intended for him.

"'Are you hungry, my man?' asked an officer, whom he supposed to be the captain.

"'Can't say but what I am,' said Toney.

"'Then there'll be plenty of grub for you when you've signed these articles.'

"'Should like to know what they are, sir,' said Toney.

"'There's the book; you may read them,' said the captain. 'Put your name down at the bottom of the page.'

"Now Toney was no great hand at reading or writing. He could just manage to scrawl his name. He tried to make out what the articles were about, but it was more than he could do.

"'Come, my man, are you ready for your grub?' asked the captain.

"Toney felt as if he should drop if he didn't get something to eat, and just then a whiff from the galley came across his nose. He took the pen and managed to write his name, in a fas.h.i.+on.

"'That'll do, my man,' says the captain. 'You're now one of the crew, and under my orders. We've pretty strict discipline aboard here.

There's the yard-arm, and there's the sea alongside.'

"Toney was now allowed to go forward and enjoy a good blow out, which he much needed. He felt more like himself afterwards. He soon showed that there was not a better seaman aboard.

"Nothing particular occurred to show the character of the vessel. Joe kept out of his way until he got into a better temper, and they became very good friends again. They ran to the southward till they were in the lat.i.tude of the Guinea Coast, when they fell in with a craft, into which they discharged part of their cargo in exchange for some bags of gold. They now carried on in a strange way, chasing several vessels, capturing some and taking their cargoes out of them, in spite of what their crews could say, afterwards putting them on board a Spanish or a Portuguese craft and getting doubloons in exchange. Their guns and their numerous crew made resistance impossible. They were wonderfully successful in their proceedings, until one day they fell in with a British frigate and had to up stick and run for it. The African coast had become too hot for them, so they stood away for the Caribbean Sea and Spanish Main. Here they carried on worse than before. The crews of all vessels which resisted were made to walk the plank, and the vessels, after everything had been taken out worth having, were sent to the bottom.

"Toney, being an honest man, could not stand this; but he knew that, being tarred with the same brush, if taken he would share the fate of the rest. He determined to cut and run on the first opportunity. A strict watch was kept on him; and Joe, who knew his thoughts, hinted that the yard-arm would be his fate if he made the attempt and failed.

Still he was resolved to try and get off, but the matter was settled for him in a way he little expected. The brigantine, during a heavy gale one night, was struck by lightning and blew up, Toney and two others only finding themselves floating among the wreck. Joe Gubbins was one of these. Toney managed to get hold of the mainmast and clambered into the top, where he got his legs out of the water and was trying to help Joe Gubbins, when Joe, with a shriek, disappeared. The other man shared the same fate. Toney expected to die, but the next day he was picked up by an English sloop-of-war; and as he took care not to give a very clear account of the craft he had been aboard of, he was allowed to enter as one of her crew. Here he met Roger Riddle, to whom he gave the account of his adventure."

I thought to myself perhaps the "Emu" is employed in the same sort of trade as the "Viper," and if so, I shall be as badly off as Toney Lawson.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

The hold--My provisions become exhausted--A fresh attempt at escape-- Pressed by hunger, I persevere--The spar-deck--Not out yet--A ray of light--My prostrate condition--My mind gives way--A curious trio--The main hatchway--Fresh difficulties arise--A last effort--I am rescued-- Ghost of a ghost--I make a new friend and meet with an old one--The crew of the s.h.i.+p--My new quarters--I receive a piece of advice from my new friend--Mark's adventures, and how he came aboard the "Emu"--Poor Jack Drage--Mark gets into trouble.

The recollection of Toney Lawson's adventure didn't tend to make me feel any more comfortable than before. I could scarcely hope to be as well off as he was, or to have so fortunate an escape. My provisions being exhausted, I was aware that I must soon get out of the hold or perish, yet I didn't antic.i.p.ate much satisfaction from obtaining my liberty. No time was, however, to be lost, and I therefore nerved myself up for a fresh struggle. Feeling that I had my knife about me, and having put on my shoes, I prepared to make a desperate attempt to effect my escape. I crawled on through the crate, and once more attempted to climb up over the packages into the main hold.

I tried to do this in several directions, but I found no opening so promising as the one which I had before explored. My weakness prevented me from making the exertions that were required to force my way between the bales. I was in momentary fear of falling down a crevice, and being jammed to death. My situation in some respects was infinitely worse than that of Toney Lawson, who was bolted in, but then people knew where he was. No one on deck was aware of my deplorable condition. Still I crawled on, resolved to succeed. While feeling about, I discovered a s.p.a.ce between three or four bales. I crept in very much as a rat does into his hole, only he knows where he is going. I could not tell whether I should get through or have to force my way out again legs first. Still the cravings of hunger induced me to venture. On I crept, when on putting up my hand I found that there was nothing above me which I could touch, so that I was able to stand upright, though there might be some depth in front down which I might fall.

I moved with the greatest caution. It turned out, however, that they were only bales piled one upon another, and that I was standing in a sort of well. Still there were stepping-places, and with the ropes which bound the bales I was able to work my way upwards. Higher and higher I got. I could now distinctly hear the footsteps of the men on the deck, which I guessed, therefore, could be no great distance above me. The s.h.i.+p must have been moving calmly along, and I was thus preserved from being jerked off from the place to which I was clinging.

I still moved on till I reached a part of the hold filled chiefly, it appeared to me, with large packing-cases and casks. I was almost on a level floor. It might have been the spar-deck. Wearied with the fatigue I had undergone, I sat down on a box to rest. I could now distinctly hear not only the tread of the men's feet, but their voices.

They were the first human voices which had reached my ears for days, or rather weeks. I tried to shout to attract their attention, but my voice had completely failed me. Not a sound could I utter. I felt that I had not strength to move an inch further.

Twice I made the attempt, and had to sink back again on my seat. I was gazing upward, the only direction from which help could come, when a ray of light streamed right upon me. Forgetting my weakness, I started up.