The Pirate, and The Three Cutters Part 11

'Who's there?--who's there?' cried Cain.

The officer in charge of the deck hastened down. 'Did you call, sir?'

'Call!' repeated the captain. 'I thought there was some one in the cabin. I want a light--that's all,' continued he, recovering himself, as he wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead.

In the meantime Francisco, with Pompey, had gained his former place of refuge with the Kroumen. The feelings of the young man changed from agony to revenge; his object in returning to the cabin to recover his weapons had been frustrated, but his determination now was to take the life of the captain if he possibly could. The following morning the Kroumen again refused to work or go on deck; and the state of affairs was reported by Hawkhurst to his chief. The mate now a.s.sumed another tone; for he had sounded not the majority but the most steady and influential men on board, who, like himself, were veterans in crime.

'It must be, sir; or you will no longer command this vessel. I am desired to say so.'

'Indeed!' replied Cain, with a sneer. 'Perhaps you have already chosen my successor?'

Hawkhurst perceived that he had lost ground, and he changed his manner.

'I speak but for yourself: if you do not command this vessel I shall not remain in her; if you quit her, I quit also; and we must find another.'

Cain was pacified, and the subject was not renewed.

'Turn the hands up,' at last said the captain. The pirate crew a.s.sembled aft.

'My lads, I am sorry that our laws oblige me to make an example; but mutiny and disaffection must be punished. I am equally bound as yourselves by the laws which we have laid down for our guidance while we sail together; and you may believe that in doing my duty in this instance I am guided by a sense of justice, and wish to prove to you that I am worthy to command. Francisco has been with me since he was a child; he has lived with me, and it is painful to part with him; but I am here to see that our laws are put in force. He has been guilty of repeated mutiny and contempt, and--he must die.'

'Death! death!' cried several of the pirates in advance; 'death and justice!'

'No more murder!' said several voices from behind.

'Who's that that speaks?'

'Too much murder yesterday--no more murder!' shouted several voices at once.

'Let the men come forward who speak,' cried Cain, with a withering look.

No one obeyed this order. 'Down, then, my men! and bring up Francisco.'

The whole of the pirate crew hastened below, but with different intentions; some were determined to seize Francisco, and hand him over to death--others to protect him. A confused noise was heard--the shouts of '_Down and seize him!_' opposed to those of '_No murder! No murder!_'

Both parties had s.n.a.t.c.hed up their arms; those who sided with Francisco joined the Kroumen, whilst the others also hastened below to bring him on deck. A slight scuffle ensued before they separated, and ascertained by the separation the strength of the contending parties. Francisco, perceiving that he was joined by a large body, desired his men to follow him, went up the fore-ladder, and took possession of the forecastle. The pirates on his side supplied him with arms, and Francisco stood forward in advance. Hawkhurst, and those of the crew who sided with him, had retreated to the quarter-deck, and rallied round the captain, who leaned against the capstern. They were then able to estimate their comparative strength. The number, on the whole, preponderated in favour of Francisco; but on the captain's side were the older and more athletic of the crew, and, we may add, the more determined. Still, the captain and Hawkhurst perceived the danger of their situation, and it was thought advisable to parley for the present, and wreak their vengeance hereafter. For a few minutes there was a low consultation between both parties; at last Cain advanced.

'My lads,' said he, addressing those who had rallied round Francisco, 'I little thought that a firebrand would have been cast in this vessel to set us all at variance. It was my duty, as your captain, to propose that our laws should be enforced. Tell me, now, what is it that you wish. I am only here as your captain, and to take the sense of the whole crew. I have no animosity against that lad; I have loved him--I have cherished him; but like a viper, he has stung me in return. Instead of being in arms against each other, ought we not to be united? I have, therefore, one proposal to make to you, which is this: let the sentence go by vote, or ballot, if you please; and whatever the sentence may be, I shall be guided by it. Can I say more?'

'My lads,' replied Francisco, when the captain had done speaking, 'I think it better that you should accept this proposal rather than that blood should be shed. My life is of little consequence; say, then, will you agree to the vote, and submit to those laws, which, as the captain says, have been laid down to regulate the discipline of the vessel?'

The pirates on Francisco's side looked round among their party, and, perceiving that they were the most numerous, consented to the proposal; but Hawkhurst stepped forward and observed: 'Of course the Kroumen can have no votes, as they do not belong to the vessel.'

This objection was important, as they amounted to twenty-five, and, after that number was deducted, in all probability Francisco's adherents would have been in the minority. The pirates with Francisco objected, and again a.s.sumed the att.i.tude of defence.

'One moment,' said Francisco, stepping in advance; 'before this point is settled, I wish to take the sense of all of you as to another of your laws. I ask you, Hawkhurst, and all who are now opposed to me, whether you have not one law, which is _Blood for blood?_'

'Yes--yes,' shouted all the pirates.

'Then let your captain stand forward, and answer to my charge, if he dares.'

Cain curled his lip in derision, and walked within two yards of Francisco.

'Well, boy, I'm here; and what is your charge?'

'First--I ask you, Captain Cain, who are so anxious that the laws should be enforced, whether you acknowledge that "Blood for blood" is a just law?'

'Most just: and, when shed, the party who revenges is not amenable.'

''Tis well: then, villain that thou art, answer--Didst thou not murder my mother?'

Cain, at this accusation, started.

'Answer the truth, or lie like a recreant!' repeated Francisco. 'Did you not murder my mother?'

The captain's lips and the muscles of his face quivered, but he did not reply.

'_Blood for blood!_' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck.

Hawkhurst and several of the pirates hastened to the captain, and raised him.

'She must have told him last night,' said Cain, speaking with difficulty, as the blood flowed from the wound.

'He told me so himself,' said Francisco, turning round to those who stood by him.

Cain was taken down into the cabin. On examination, his wound was not mortal, although the loss of blood had been rapid and very great. In a few minutes Hawkhurst joined the party on the quarter-deck. He found that the tide had turned more in Francisco's favour than he had expected; the law of 'Blood for blood' was held most sacred: indeed, it was but the knowledge that it was solemnly recognised, and that, if one pirate wounded another, the other was at liberty to take his life, without punishment, which prevented constant affrays between parties, whose knives would otherwise have been the answer to every affront. It was a more debased law of duelling, which kept such profligate a.s.sociates on good terms. Finding, therefore, that this feeling predominated, even among those who were opposed to Francisco on the other question, Hawkhurst thought it advisable to parley.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 'Blood for blood!' _cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck._]

'Hawkhurst,' said Francisco, 'I have but one request to make, which, if complied with, will put an end to this contention; it is, that you will put me on sh.o.r.e at the first land that we make. If you and your party engage to do this, I will desire those who support me to return to their obedience.'

'I grant it,' replied Hawkhurst; 'and so will the others. Will you not, my men?'

'Agreed--agreed upon all sides,' cried the pirates, throwing away their weapons, and mingling with each other as if they had never been opposed.

There is an old saying that there is honour amongst thieves; and so it often proves. Every man in the vessel knew that this agreement would be strictly adhered to; and Francisco now walked the deck with as much composure as if nothing had occurred.

Hawkhurst, who was aware that he must fulfil his promise, carefully examined the charts when he went down below, came up and altered the course of the schooner two points more to the northward. The next morning he was up at the mast-head nearly half an hour, when he descended and again altered the course. By nine o'clock a low sandy island appeared on the lee bow; when within half a mile of it he ordered the schooner to be hove-to, and lowered down the small boat from the stern. He then turned the hands up. 'My lads, we must keep our promise to put Francisco on sh.o.r.e at the first land which we made. There it is!'

And a malicious smile played on the miscreant's features as he pointed out to them the barren sand-bank, which promised nothing but starvation and a lingering death. Several of the crew murmured; but Hawkhurst was supported by his own party, and had, moreover, taken the precaution quietly to remove all the arms, with the exception of those with which his adherents were provided.

'An agreement is an agreement; it is what he requested himself, and we promised to perform. Send for Francisco.'

'I am here, Hawkhurst; and I tell you candidly, that, desolate as is that barren spot, I prefer it to remaining in your company. I will bring my chest up immediately.'

'No--no; that was not a part of the agreement,' cried Hawkhurst.

'Every man here has a right to his own property. I appeal to the whole of the crew.'

'True--true,' replied the pirates; and Hawkhurst found himself again in the minority.