_ CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.
That daylight seemed as if it would never come, and a more painful and depressing time I never spent, in spite of the glory of the starry heavens, and the beauty of their reflections in the calm sea beneath. It was hard sometimes not to believe that many of the stars had fallen, and were sinking slowly down into the dark, inky black of the ocean, where I could see dots of light travelling here and there, now looking mere pinheads, now flashing out into soft effulgent globes, whose brightness reached a certain point, and then slowly died out.
Every now and then too there was a disturbance some little distance down, as if something had suddenly passed along, and caused all the phosphorescent creatures to flash and sparkle, and mingle their lights into a pale lambent blaze, which soon passed away, leaving all still and calm as before, with the tiny stars gliding softly here and there.
But the greater part of my attention was taken up by the lights dimly visible on board the ship, where I tried to picture what was going on in the cabin where Mr Denning and his sister were prisoned. Jarette would, I know, have taken possession of the guns, but without doubt Mr Denning would have kept the little revolver which I knew he wore hidden about his person. And, what was more, I knew that he had the stern courage to use it if put to the test, in spite of his weakness.
"And if he does use it," I thought, "it could only be against Jarette."
"If he does," I said half-aloud, "what a change in the state of affairs it would produce!"
"What yer talking about, Mr Dale?" said Dumlow, who was nearest to me of those forward; "not asleep, are you?"
"Asleep!--who could go to sleep at a time like this?"
"Ah, it's hard lines, sir," said Barney Blane, joining. "Such a pity, too, just as we'd found a way of getting along over the cargo! Next thing would have been as we should have took the ship."
"And we'll do that yet somehow, Barney," I whispered, for I felt in my heart that Mr Frewen would not rest till some desperate effort had been made to save Mr and Miss Denning.
Barney said he hoped we should, if it was only to give him one chance at Jarette.
"One charnsh," growled Dumlow, whose voice sounded as if he were very sore indeed. "I on'y want half a charnsh, my lad; that'll be enough for me. I don't brag, but on'y give me half a charnsh, I don't care if he's all pistols. I says on'y give me half a charnsh, and the side of the ship close by--"
"What'll you do?--chuck him overboard, mate?"
"Ay, that I will, just as if he were a mad cat, and that's about what he is. Just think of it, our getting that dose as the doctor meant for him. I can't get over it, and that's a fact."
The night passed slowly by--so slowly that I felt we must have been roused up quite early, and directly after we had gone to sleep. But at last the golden clouds began to appear high up in the sky, then it was all flecked with orange and gold, and directly after the great sun rolled slowly up over the ruddy water, lighting the ship where she lay not a quarter of a mile off, till the whole of her rigging looked as if the ropes were of brass, and the sails so many sheets of ruddy gold. To us it seemed to give life as well as light, and instead of feeling despairing, and as if all was over, the brightness of that morning made me look eagerly at the ship, and ask myself whether the time had not come for us to make our dash and secure it. For I could not see a soul visible at first, not even a man at the wheel. Then my heart gave a throb, for I could see a white face framed in the little opening of one of the cabin-windows.
"It's Miss Denning," I said to myself, and I waved my hand, and then felt for a handkerchief to wave that.
But I had none, though it did not matter, for my signal had been seen, and a white handkerchief was waved in response.
I turned to Mr Frewen, who was bending down over Walters, and was about to point out the face at the window, but it disappeared.
"How is he?" I asked.
"Very bad," was the laconic answer, and I could not help shuddering as I looked at the pinched, changed features of my messmate, as he lay there in the bottom of the boat, evidently quite insensible.
"I must not move him now," said Mr Frewen gravely. And turning to Dumlow he was about to offer to dress the wound better now that he could see, but the great fellow only laughed.
"It'll do, sir," he said. "There's nothing much the matter. I'm not going to make a fuss over that. It's just a pill as old Frenchy give me. If it gets worse I'll ask you for a fresh touch up."
There appeared to be so little the matter with the man that Mr Frewen did not press for an examination, and he joined me in searching the ship with our eyes, but there was no one at the round window.
"Can you see any one on board, sir?" I said.
"Only one man. But he is evidently watching us."
"Where? I can't see any one."
"In the main-top."
I had not raised my eyes from the deck, but now as I looked aloft, there was a man plainly enough, and he was, as Mr Frewen said, watching us.
Directly after, I saw him descend, and we neither of us had any doubt about its being Jarette.
Our attention was now directed to Mr Brymer, who, being in command, had, directly the light made such action possible, begun to see how we poor wretches afloat in an open boat, eight hundred or a thousand miles from land, were situated for water and food, and he soon satisfied himself that our enemy, possibly for his own sake, had been extremely merciful and considerate.
For there were two breakers of water, a couple of kegs of biscuit, and a quantity of tins of provision, which had been pitched down anyhow.
There was a compass too, and the regular fit out of the boat, spars and two sails, so that if the water kept calm, and gentle breezes sprung up, there was no reason why we should not safely reach land.
But we did not wish to safely reach land in that way, and the exaltation in Mr Brymer's face and tone was due to the power which Jarette had unwittingly placed in our leader's hands.
"He never thought of it; he could not have thought of it," said Mr Brymer. "Of course in a gale of wind we shall be nowhere, but if the weather is kindly, we can hang about the ship, or sail round her if we like, and so weary him out, that sooner or later our chance must come for surprising him."
"Without any arms," said Mr Preddle, shaking his head sadly.
"We must use brains instead, sir," replied Mr Brymer. "Jarette mastered us by means of cunning, we must fight him with his own weapons. Dale, I shall have to depend on you to carry out a plan I have ready."
"Yes, sir," I said eagerly; "what is it?"
"That you shall see, my lad. Now then, gentlemen, and my men, we must have strict discipline, please; just as if we were on board ship. The first thing is to rig up a bit of an awning here astern, to shelter the captain and--faugh! it makes my gorge rise to see that young scoundrel here, but I suppose we must behave like Christians,--eh, Mr Frewen?"
"You have just proved that you intended to, sir, for you were thinking of sheltering the lad as well as Captain Berriman, when you talked of the awning."
"Well, yes, I confess I was, but I thought of our lad here too. I suppose you will have to lie up, Dumlow?"
The big fellow gave quite a start, and then turned frowning and spat in the sea, in token of his disgust.
"Me, sir--me lie up!" he growled. "What for?"
"You are wounded."
"Wounded? Tchah! I don't call that a wound. Why, it arn't bled much more than a cut finger. Me under a hawning! I should look pretty, shouldn't I, mates?"
"Oh, I don't want to make an invalid of you, my lad, if you can go on."
"Then don't you talk 'bout puttin' of me under a hawning, sir; why I'd as soon have you shove me in a glass case."
The bit of awning was soon rigged up, and the captain and Walters placed side by side. Then the little mast was shipped forward, and the tiny one for the mizzen right aft; the sails hoisted ready for use, and also so that they might add their shade; and while this was being done, and the rudder hooked on as well, I saw that some of the men had come on deck and were leaning over the bulwarks watching us, while at the same time I saw something glisten, and pointed it out to Mr Brymer.
"Yes," he said, smiling, "but I'm afraid that he will be disappointed. Do you see, gentlemen?"
Both Mr Frewen and Mr Preddle, who were eagerly scanning the ship, turned to look at him inquiringly.
"Jarette has the captain's spy-glass at work, and he is watching us, expecting to see us move off, rowing, I suppose, but I'm afraid he will be disappointed. He did not think he was arranging to have a tender to watch him till he loses the ship. But now all is ready, as they say on board a man-of-war, we will pipe to breakfast."
A tin was opened, and with bread and water served round, but nobody had any appetite. I could hardly touch anything, but I had enjoyed bathing my face and hands in the clear, cool water, while the rough meal had hardly come to an end, and I had placed myself close to Walters, to see if I could be of any use in tending him, when a faint breeze sprang up, making the sails of the ship flap to and fro, and the yards swing and creak, though she hardly stirred. With us though it was different, for giving orders to Bob Hampton to trim the sails, Mr Brymer told me to take hold of the sheet of the mizzen, and he seized the rudder, so that the next minute we were gliding through the water.
Jarette came to the side, and seemed to be staring in astonishment at the boot, which he evidently expected to begin sailing right away, but instead was aiming right for the ship, Mr Brymer steering so that we should pass close under the stern.
"Keep farther out!" yelled Jarette, as we approached, but no notice was taken, and just then the mate said steadily to me--
"Now, Dale, hail Mr Denning. I want to speak to him as we pass."
"Denning, ahoy!" I shouted through my hands. "Mis-ter Den-ning!"
"Keep off there, do you hear?" roared Jarette, and I saw the sun gleam on the barrel of a pistol.
"Den-ning, ahoy!" I cried again, but I must confess that the sight of that pistol levelled at the boat altered my voice, so that it trembled slightly and I gazed at it rather wildly, expecting to see a puff of smoke from the muzzle.
"Hail again, Dale," cried Mr Brymer. "Never mind his pistol, my lad. It would take a better shot than he is to hit us as we sail."
"Mr Denning, ahoy!" I shouted once more.
Bang! went the pistol.
"I told you so," said Mr Brymer coolly, and at that moment I heard a sharp gasp behind me, and saw that a white face was at the little round cabin-window we were nearing.
"When we are passing," said Mr Brymer, "that is, when I say 'now,' and begin to run off, tell Miss Denning to be of good cheer, for she and her brother shall not be forsaken. We are going to keep close to the ship till help comes."
"Keep off, you dogs," snarled Jarette; "you will have it then," and he fired again.
I felt horribly nervous as I thought of the wounds received by Walters and Dumlow, but I drew my breath hard, as I stood up in the boat and tried not to look alarmed, though, as I waited for Mr Brymer's orders to speak, I knew that I must offer the most prominent object for the mutineer's aim.
And all the while nearer and nearer glided the boat, and I saw Jarette, after cocking the pistol, raise his arm to fire again.
"Yah! boo! coward!" yelled Dumlow, and as he shouted, he lifted one of the oars which he had thrust over the side, and let it fall with a heavy splash just as the Frenchman drew trigger, and the bullet went through the sail.
"Now," cried Mr Brymer, ramming down the tiller, and as we glided round the stern I cried--
"We are going to stay close by, Miss Denning."
"Keep off!" roared Jarette, and he fired again.
"The boat will be kept close at hand to help you and your brother."
"Yes--yes--thank you," she cried shrilly. "God bless you all! I knew you would not--"
"Go," I dare say she said, but another shot prevented us from hearing the word, and as we sailed round the stern Jarette rushed to the other side, held his left hand to his mouth, and shouted--
"Now off with you. Come near this ship again and I'll sink you--I'll run you down."
"Hi, Frenchy," roared Barney, "look out for squalls; we're coming aboard one night to hang you."
"Silence forward!" cried Mr Brymer, and we were now leaving the ship fast. "Frewen, what does this mean? Where is Mr Den--"
The doctor shook his head. _