_ CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
"We want a long calm," said the mate that evening, as we lay on the glassy sea.
"You will have it," said Captain Berriman, and so it proved.
We saw the enemy, as he was called by all, pacing up and down the poop-deck hastily, and scanning the offing with a spy-glass, as if in search of approaching vessels or of clouds that promised wind, but neither came, dark night fell once more, and Mr Brymer ordered the oars out and we were rowed round to the other side of the ship, from which position we could see a light faintly shining from the little round cabin-window where we knew Miss Denning to be.
Mr Frewen had been carefully attending Walters; Dumlow had declared he was "quite well, thank ye," and the captain was lying patiently waiting for better days, too weak to stir, but in no danger of losing his life; and now Mr Brymer and the two gentlemen sat together talking in a low voice, and at the same time treating me as one of themselves, by bringing me into the conversation.
It was a weird experience there in the darkness, with the only sounds heard the shouts and songs of the ship's crew, for they were evidently feasting and drinking.
"And thinking nothing of to-morrow," said Mr Preddle, sadly.
"No, sir, and that is our opportunity," said Mr Brymer. "Let them drink; they have plenty of opportunity, with the cases of wine and the quantity of spirits on board. We could soon deal with them after one of their drinking bouts; but the mischief is that Jarette is a cool, calculating man, and sober to a degree. He lets the men drink to keep them in a good humour, and to make them more manageable. He touches very little himself."
"What do you propose doing?" said Mr Frewen, suddenly. "We must act at once."
"Yes; I feel that, sir," replied Mr Brymer, "but can either of you suggest a plan?"
They both answered "No."
Then Mr Frewen spoke out--
"There is only one plan. We must wait till toward morning, and then quietly row close to the ship, climb on board, and make a brave attack, and hope to succeed."
"Yes," said Mr Preddle, "and if we fail we shall have done our duty. Yes, we must fight."
"But you've got nothing to fight with," I said, for no one spoke now.
"Except the oars," said Mr Preddle.
"Why, you couldn't climb up the ship's side with an oar in your hand," I cried. "Look here, wouldn't it be best for one of us to get on board in the dark, and try to get some guns or pistols?"
"Will you go and try, Dale?" said Mr Brymer, eagerly. "That was what I meant."
I was silent.
"You are right," he said sadly; "it would be too risky."
"I didn't mean that," I said hastily; "I was only thinking about how I could get on board. I don't mind trying, because if he heard me and tried to catch me, I could jump over the side, and you'd be there waiting to pick me up."
"Of course," cried Mr Brymer. "I know it is a great deal to ask of you, my lad, and I would say, do not expose yourself to much risk. We should be, as you say, ready to pick you up."
"I don't see why he shouldn't go," drawled Mr Preddle. "One boy stole the arms and ammunition away, so it only seems right that another boy should go and steal--no, I don't mean steal--get them back."
"Will you go, Mr Preddle?" said the mate.
"If you like. I'll do anything; but I'm afraid I couldn't climb on board, I'm so fat and heavy, and, oh dear! I'm afraid that all my poor fish are dead."
At any other time I should have laughed, but our position was too grave for even a smile to come upon my face. Instead of feeling that Mr Preddle was an object to excite my mirth, I felt a sensation of pity for the pleasant, amiable gentleman, and thought how helpless he must feel.
"You will have to go, Dale," said Mr Brymer.
"Yes," said Mr Frewen; "Dale will go for all our sakes."
"When shall he go?" said the mate; "to-morrow night, after we have thrown Jarette off his guard by sailing right away?"
"It would not throw him off his guard," cried Mr Frewen, excitedly. "The man is too cunning. He would know that it was only a ruse, and be on the watch. Dale must go to-night--at once. Who knows what twenty-four hours may produce?"
"Exactly," said Mr Preddle.
"I quite agree with you," replied the mate; "but I did not wish to urge the lad to attempt so forlorn a hope without giving him a little time for plan and preparation."
"I'm ready," I said, making an effort to feel brave as we sat there in the darkness. "I don't think I could do better if I thought till to-morrow night."
"How would you manage?" said the mate.
"I know," I said. "I'm not very strong, but if you made the boat drift under the ship's bows, I could catch hold of and swarm up the bob-stay easily enough. Nobody would see me, and if I got hold quickly, the boat could go on round to the stern, and if anybody was on the watch he would think you were trying to get to the Dennings' window."
"Some one would be on the watch," said the mate; "and that some one would be Jarette."
"And he would think as Dale says," exclaimed Mr Frewen, "that is certain."
"Oh yes, I must go to-night," I said, with a bit of a shiver. "It would be so cruel to Miss Denning to keep her in suspense, and thinking we were not trying to help her."
A hand touched my arm, glided down to my wrist, and then a warm palm pressed mine hard.
"Then you shall go, Dale," said Mr Brymer, firmly. "Keep a good heart, my lad, for the darkness will protect you from Jarette's pistol, and you can recollect this, we shall be close at hand lying across the stern ready to row along either side of the ship if we hear a splash. That splash would of course be you leaping overboard, and you must remember to swim astern to meet the boat."
"And what is he to do when he gets on board, sir?" said Mr Frewen. "Make for the Dennings' cabin at once?"
"No," I said sharply. "That's just where I shouldn't go. Some one would be sure to be watching it. I should try and find out which was the cabin Jarette uses, for the arms would be there, and then I should tie some guns--"
"And cartridges," whispered Mr Preddle, excitedly.
"Oh yes, I shouldn't forget them. I'd tie 'em together and lower them down out of the window. He's sure to have the captain's cabin, and the window will be open, ready."
"Bravo!" cried Mr Preddle. "Oh dear! I wish I was a boy again."
"And the best of the fun will be," I continued excitedly, "old Jarette will never think anyone would go straight to his cabin, and be watching everywhere else."
"Then you think you can do this?" said Mr Frewen, eagerly.
"Oh yes, I think so, sir."
"I'd better come with you, my lad," he continued.
"No; that would spoil all. A boy could do it, but I don't believe a man could."
"He is right, Frewen," said the mate. "Then understand this, Dale, you will have to act according to circumstances. Your object is to get weapons, which you will hang out so that we can get hold of them; perhaps you will be able to lower them into the boat and then slide down the rope you use. But mind this, you are not to try and communicate with the Dennings."
"What?" said Mr Frewen, angrily.
"It would be fatal to our success," said the mate, firmly. "Now, Dale, you understand, guns or revolvers, whichever you can get."
"Yes, sir, I know."
"Then how soon will you be ready?"
"I'm ready now."
"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Frewen, and my heart began to go pat pat, pat pat, so heavily that it seemed to jar against my ribs, while a curious series of thoughts ran through my brain, all of which were leavened by the same idea, that I had been playing the braggart, and offering to do things which I did not dare. _