_ CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
That storm showed no signs though of abating, and we watched on through the night, constantly on the strain, attacked as we were by alarms from below, and the furious assault of the winds and waves. Several times over during the night, when I was suffering from the cold, and faint with hunger and exhaustion, a horrible chilly feeling of despair came creeping over me. I began thinking of home and those there who would be heart-broken if I was lost; but always at these worst times something seemed to happen that took me out of myself, giving me work so particular to do that all my energies were directed to that duty, and in consequence I forgot my own troubles.
Twice over, when Mr Brymer came with one or other of the men, Mr Denning expressed a wish to be relieved, and I had to take his arm and help him along under the shelter of the bulwarks to the saloon and the cabin where his sister was waiting anxiously for news, and as we struggled aft, he talked to me as freely as if I had been his brother.
"Is there any hope for us, Dale?" he said on one occasion as we rested for a few moments underneath the bulwarks.
"Oh yes," I replied. "Why not?"
"I don't know, I'm not a sailor, but I should not have thought the ship could have kept on long like this without sinking."
I laughed.
"Why, she's a splendid boat," I said, "and quite strong, and so long as we've got plenty of sea-room, we shan't hurt."
"You're talking like this to comfort me," he said.
"No; I'm telling you the truth as far as I understand it. Of course I've never been out in a storm on the ocean before, but I've been in some big ones off the coast round Ireland, where we were always in danger of going on the rocks, which are awful there."
"But the sea comes thundering down on the ship so."
"What of that?" I replied. "The ship's hollow, and it sounds all the more, but the water is soft, and we go through it or ride over it somehow."
"Ah, you're too young to know what fear is," he said sadly.
"Oh no, I'm not," I cried, laughing. "I've been awfully frightened several times to-night, but I'm more afraid of Jarette and his gang than I am of the sea."
"You have no sister on board," he said. "No bitter regrets for letting her come into such danger."
"No," I said, rather chokingly; "but I've got people at home, and it would be very horrid to think I should never see them again."
"Let's go on," he said laconically, and I helped him along, choosing the easiest moments till we were in shelter, and then without leaving hold of me he whispered--
"Make the best of things to her."
There was a lamp burning in the cabin as we entered, and Miss Denning sprang to our side.
"Oh, John," she cried piteously, "this will be death to you, drenched with the cold sea! Pray, pray, stay in shelter now."
"Nonsense!" he cried; "it does me good, and it's grandly exciting to fight the storm like this. How are you, little one? Ah, don't touch me, I'm wet."
"Suffering terribly, John dear. You must stay with me now."
"Tied to your apron, you foolish girl," he said merrily. "Nonsense! I'm wanted to help. There, I bring you good news. We've got all the pirates safely in prison, and as soon as the storm's over all will be right again."
Miss Denning gave me a piteous, inquiring look.
"Yes, that's quite right, Miss Denning," I said cheerfully.
"But this terrible storm; shall we be wrecked?"
"Ships don't get wrecked out in the open sea," I replied coolly, "only have their sails blown away, and sometimes lose a spar, or get a boat torn off the davits."
"Then you think we are safe?"
"Oh yes, I hope so," I replied.
"Safe? Of course, darling little cowardly sis," said Mr Denning, kissing her pale cheek very lovingly, and I felt that I had never liked him so well before, never having seen his true nature and affection for his sister.
"Now then, Mr Dale and I have to go back on duty to shoot mutineers and pirates, and you are to lie down and trust in our all taking care of you. Try and sleep for a few hours."
"Sleep!" she said reproachfully, "with you exposed to all that danger."
"Yes! Why not? To grow strong, and ready to help me if I want it."
"But, must you go, John?"
"Yes, dear," he said gravely, "I must; but, please God, the worst danger is over, and you will not hinder me from doing my duty like a man, even if I am a weak one."
She held his hand to her cheek, and smiling at me, spoke quite cheerfully.
"Come back in about an hour," she said, "and I will have coffee made with the spirit-lamp, and try and find some biscuits."
"That we will," cried Mr Denning. "Make plenty, Lena, Mr Brymer and-- and the sailors will be glad of some."
She nodded, trying to look cheerful, and we left her, but had not reached the broken companion-way before a door on our right opened, a light was thrown across us, and I felt Mr Denning's arm twitch. For it was Mr Frewen coming out of the cabin in which Walters had been placed, the one in which Mr Preddle had been kept a prisoner, and as soon as he was outside he carefully locked it.
"Not much need for it," he said to us quietly, "for the little wretch is very weak still. Nice sort of characters you choose for your companions, Dale," he continued. "How do we know that you have not been contaminated, and are going to rise against us?"
"There's no fear till the storm's over, Mr Frewen," I said, laughing, and then, with the two gentlemen keeping perfectly silent, we went forward again, and had nearly reached the forecastle-hatch, when, sounding very feeble and strange, there was the report of a pistol, and we hurried forward to hear shouts of rage coming from below the hatch, and the blows of an axe being used with such effect, that before long whoever wielded it must make a way through.
Mr Brymer glanced round at us as we came up, and I saw the barrel of his revolver glistening in the pale light.
Then with his face close to the hatch he shouted--
"Once more, stop that or I fire!"
A shout of derision came from within.
"I warn you again!" roared Mr Brymer. "I fired before without trying to hit you, now I shall aim straight. Stop that this moment!"
"Fire away! Ready below, lads, I'll have it off--"
The report of the revolver, a hoarse, half-stifled cry from within, and then a yell of rage arose, to mingle with the shrieking of the wind.
"I was obliged to fire, Mr Frewen," said the mate, sharply, "for at any cost we will keep the upper hand now."
No one spoke, and I could not help shivering as I saw the stern looks of the men by me, even Mr Preddle's round smooth face looking fierce and determined.
Mr Frewen was the first to open his lips.
"It is a bitter necessity," he said; "those men must be kept down, but I am obliged to speak now. Brymer, I am a surgeon, and there are at least two wounded men there below, perhaps more. It is necessary for me to go down."
"It is impossible, Mr Frewen. If I give orders for that hatch to be opened, there will be a rush, and even if we remain masters and beat them down, it can only be at the cost of wounding more, perhaps causing death."
"Why not make a truce with them?"
"With the men it would be easy enough, but not with their leader, a scoundrel who feels that he is fighting with penal servitude before him, perhaps the halter! But, Mr Frewen, these are no times for being humane. No; that hatch shall not be opened."
"But I will stand ready, after telling the men what I am going to do, and if they will keep away while the hatch is open there can be no rush."
"I think differently, sir," said Mr Brymer, coldly.
"I agree with Mr Brymer, sir," said Mr Denning, "that it would be madness."
"But you agree with me, Mr Preddle?" cried the doctor, excitedly.
"No, I don't, Mr Frewen," came in Mr Preddle's high-pitched voice. "I don't like men to suffer, but I won't give my vote for you to go down into that wild beasts' cage."
Mr Frewen laughed bitterly, and turned to me.
"What do you say, fellow-prisoner?" he cried.
"I shall vote against Mr Frewen being allowed to go down," I said sturdily. "We want your help more than they do."
"Bravo! my lad," cried Mr Brymer.
"Well, yes; bravo! then," said the doctor, sadly. "I am beaten; I give in."
"Thank you, Frewen," cried Mr Brymer, holding out his hand, which the doctor took frankly. "I am sorry to go against you, but you are too valuable to us here. I am sure that if I let you go down, they would not let you come up gain. Jarette is fox enough to know how your absence would weaken us, and then there is the captain; I place his life as of more value than that of a mutinous crew."
"I'm convinced," said Mr Frewen. "My desire was to stay, but as a surgeon I couldn't stand still, knowing that my help was wanted down there."
"You doctors are so greedy," cried Mr Preddle. "You have two patients as it is, and if we're going, on like this I'm afraid you'll soon have some more."
"Yes," said the doctor, turning to Mr Denning, "I shall have another one. Forgive me for speaking, Mr Denning, but I think you ought to go back to your cabin now and remove your wet things."
"You mean well, sir," said Mr Denning, courteously, "but I am wanted here."
"Not now, sir," said the mate. "I think we can manage, and if you would hold yourself in readiness to turn out if we raise an alarm that would be enough."
"I am here, and I have faced so much of the storm and trouble that I will see it through now."
No one attempted to argue with him, and the watch was resumed, with the ship tearing through the water before the storm, for short-handed as we were, Mr Brymer shrank from attempting to alter her course, or riding head to wind.
From time to time there was a stir below, and voices rose angrily, but we could always hear Jarette's shrill utterances, and he generally seemed to calm the men down, or to master them, with the result that the angry sounds ceased and gave place to a low murmuring as if some plan were being discussed. After this had been going on some time, on one occasion Mr Brymer, who had been aft at the wheel with Bob Hampton and had returned in time to hear the talking, shook his head and said to Mr Frewen--
"That sounds bad. They're hatching a new plot against us. It is like having your ship on fire somewhere amongst the cargo in a place where you cannot reach. It goes on smouldering day after day, and you are in the full expectation of its breaking out. You don't know when, but you are sure that it must come before long."
"I was thinking something of the kind," replied the doctor.
And so was I, though I did not speak. And in addition, I had an idea in my head that I could not work out, and while I was trying I had another idea. The first one was, that if by any means we could catch Jarette, the mutiny would all fall to pieces; but then the job was to catch the rascal, and that puzzled me.
It was very close to daylight; and cold, low-spirited, and miserable, I was beginning to think that between the storm and the men below, the poor old Burgh Castle must come to grief, when Bob Hampton came up glistening in his oilskins.
"I were to come and say as the lady's got jorums o' hot coffee ready, sir, in the captain's cabin. Mr Denning and Mr Dale's to go first, and I'm to take the watch till they comes back."
I saw Mr Denning wince and dart a sharp look at the doctor, but the latter did not turn his head, and once more we began fighting our way back, with the ship seeming at times quite to dance on the tops of the waves.
But we reached the shelter in safety, and as soon as we were under cover I felt sure that the wind was not so fierce, and said so.
"I could not tell any difference," said Mr Denning, sadly, as we went right aft, to find the captain's cabin, right in the stern--the one through whose window I had climbed after my hazardous descent from the rigging--looking bright and cheerful, and hot coffee waiting for us, in company with sweet smiles and cheering words.
It was wonderful. One minute I had been ready to give up and think that all was over; the next, as the hot drink sent a glow through me, I was ready to smile back at Miss Denning, and join her in persuading her brother to go to his cabin and change; while the very next minute Mr Brymer came down with a large bottle, and after hastily swallowing a cup of the coffee, he begged for a bottleful to carry up to the men at the wheel.
"Is the storm still so bad, Mr Brymer?" asked Miss Denning, as the mate was about to hurry back on deck.
"No," he said emphatically. "It's one of those gales which blow in a circle, and we're passing through it. The glass is rising, and in less than an hour I think it will begin to lull." This was joyful news, and I rose to hurry back so as to take the place of Mr Preddle.
"You'll stay now, John," I heard Miss Denning say, and he answered her quite passionately.
"Don't tempt me, Lena!" he cried. "I want to stay, but I want also to-- there, I will act like a man."
I did not then understand him as I did afterwards, what a strange jealous hatred and dislike there was burning within him as he caught my arm, and held it tightly.
"Help me quickly!" he whispered. "Take me back before my weakness masters me, and I break down."
"But if you are so weak?" I said anxiously. "Take me forward!" he whispered angrily. "You cannot understand."
I saw Miss Denning looking wonderingly at her brother as we went out, and again fought our way back to the forecastle-hatch, no easy task with the ship heeling over, and the spray flying as it did; but I felt hardened to it now, and the darkness did not appear so terrible, nor the danger so great, with the warm glow I felt spreading through me. Then I looked at my companion quite wonderingly, as I could just see his pale thin face, for he said quickly in a lull of the wind--
"I think I've conquered, Dale."
"Conquered? It's wonderful how brave you have been."
I saw him smile, and then wondered afresh that I could have seen the change in his face. "Why, it's getting light!" I said joyfully.
I was quite right, and as we were in the tropics the change was coming rapidly. But just then we reached the watch, and to my surprise Mr Denning said as well as the rushing wind would let him--
"Mr Frewen, Mr Preddle, my sister has hot coffee ready, and will be glad if you can go at once."
I saw Mr Frewen give quite a start, and Mr Preddle regularly jumped, but they were both so surprised that they could neither of them speak, while Mr Denning turned to Bob Hampton.
"Your turn must be when they come back," he said.
"Oh, all right, sir, I can wait," growled Bob--I mean roared--for though there was a momentary cessation in the shrieking of the wind, he spoke as if Mr Denning were by the wheel; and there was no doubt now--we could not see it, nor were we likely to, through the mist and spray, but the sun was rising, and ten minutes after I was gazing at the sea, which was churned up into one chaos of foam.
"It's all over!" yelled Bob, a minute or two later.
"What's all over?" I asked.
"The hurry-cane, sir. We're most through it, and the wind's beginning to drop."
"But it's blowing terribly," I cried.
"Ay, sir, it is; but 'nour ago it was blowing ten times as terrible. Why, there was a time when it most shaved my head, and another time when I put my hands up to feel if my ears was cut off. Strikes me as they would ha' gone if they hadn't been tied down with the flaps of this here sou'-wester."
"Yes, it's getting lighter fast," cried Mr Denning. "But how rough the sea is!"
"Ay, sir, she be a bit tossy like," said Bob; "but this here's nothing to what it is on a rocky coast. Ah, that's bad if you like."
"But we've had an awful night, Bob."
"Tidy, sir, tidy. Not so bad as it might ha' been."
"Oh, it couldn't have been worse!" I cried.
"What? Not been worse, sir? Why, where's your mainmas' gone by the board, and your fore-mast cut off at the top-mast-head, and your mizzen splintered into matchwood? Why, my lad, this arn't been nothing. And look yonder, there's the sun a-coming out, leastwise it's making the clouds look red-like. We're coming out of it well. Why, you ought to be proud, Mr Dale, o' belonging to such a ship as the Burgh Castle. She's a clipper, if ever there was one built."
"I am proud of her, Bob," I said, "but I'm not proud of her crew."
"Well, no, sir," said Bob, rubbing his red nose, which looked wet and shiny now; "they arn't turned out a werry good lot, but then arter all they might ha' been worse. You see it's just like having so much soup as the cook's made for you, and all as good as can be, till the cook's mate tilts the lamp aside by a-hitting it with his head, and a drop o' hyle goes into the soup. That one drop o' train-hyle spyles all the pot. See what I mean?"
"That Jarette is the drop of oil?"
"That's it, sir, and a werry, werry rancid drop he be."
Mr Denning laughed, and I saw him turn his back to the direction in which Mr Frewen had gone.
"_Tlat_!" went Bob Hampton's lips in a loud smack. "Glad when they gents come back, for I want some o' your young lady's hot coffee, bless her! to take the taste o' the hyle out o' my mouth."
"You shall have it soon, Hampton, my good brave fellow," cried Mr Denning, and I saw the weak tears in his eyes, "and you tell my sister that she is to find my little silver flask, and give you some brandy in your coffee."
"Thankye, sir, thankye, that's very good of you. Why, Mr Dale, sir, you talk of our having a bad night. Tchah!--nothing, lad, nothing. How could it be a werry bad 'un when you have the luck to be shipped aboard a craft with a angel aboard? A angel, that's what I says, and Neb Dumlow and Barney says the same. We all said it arter the mutiny had begun, and that if we didn't get the best of old Frenchy somehow we'd eat our heads.--Lie down, will yer?" he roared, as he gave the side of the hatch so fierce a kick that I thought his heavy boot would have gone through.
There was a heavy rustling sound, and the grumbling of voices plainly heard now, for the wind was rapidly falling.
"That was French Jarette a-listening, sir, for a penny-piece," whispered Bob, for it was growing possible to whisper now. "Strikes me we arn't done with him yet, and if I might adwise, I should say as Mr Frewen ought to be sent down below with some of his doctor's stuff to pyson that chap like you would a rat, for there'll never be no peace while he's aboard. Hah!" he continued, smacking his lips. "There's your sort; here's Mr Preddle coming back with his face shining and smelling o' hot coffee like a flower-garding."
Mr Denning turned round sharply, but checked himself as he saw that Mr Frewen was coming too.
"Looks like my turn now."
"Miss Denning is waiting to give you some coffee, Mr Hampton," said the naturalist.
"Thankye for the mister, sir, and thank her for the coffee," said Bob, smiling, and he straddled off, the sloping of the deck as the ship rose and fell and heeled over being apparently of no consequence to him. _