Bunyip Land Part 12

"What do you mean?" I said.

"Sharks took him down, poor chap," said the captain. "Sharks is ignorant, or they would have grabbed the white fellows instead."

As I still watched the scene, with my brow wet with perspiration, I saw the boat make now for the schooner, and quite a dozen canoes put off from the sh.o.r.e.

"Lor', what a thing ignorance is, and how far n.i.g.g.e.rs are behind white men in pluck! Why, if these fellows knew what they were about, they might easily overhaul that little schooner, take their brothers out of her, and give the blackbird catchers such a lesson as they'd never remember and never forget, for they'd kill the lot. There ain't a breath o' wind."

"But they will take them, won't they, captain?" I cried.

"No, my lad, not they. They'll go and shout and throw a few spears, and then go back again; but they'll bear malice, my lad. All white folks who come in ships will be the same to them, and most likely some poor innocent boat's crew will be speared, and all on account of the doings of these blackbird catchers."

"But what do they do with the poor fellows?" I cried.

"Reg'larly sell 'em for slaves, though slavery's done away with, my boy."

"But will not the blacks rescue their friends?" I said.

"No, my lad."

"Then we must," I cried excitedly; and Jack Penny threw up his cap and cried "Hooray!" Gyp started to his feet and barked furiously, and Jimmy leaped in the air, came down in a squatting position, striking the deck a tremendous blow with his waddy, and shouting "Hi--wup, wup--wup," in an increasing yell.

The captain, hardened by familiarity with such scenes, laid his hand upon my shoulder, and smiled at me kindly as he shook his head.

"No, no, my lad, that would not do."

"Not do!" I cried, burning with indignation. "Are we to stand by and see such cruelties practised?"

"Yes, my lad; law says we musn't interfere. It's the law's job to put it down; but it's very slow sometimes."

"But very sure, captain," said the doctor quietly. "And when it does move it is crushing to evil-doers. The captain is quite right, Joe, my boy," he continued, turning to me. "We must not stir in this case.

I've heard of such atrocities before, but did not know that they were so common."

"Common as blackguards," said the captain, "It's regular slavery.

There, what did I tell you, my lad?" he continued, as he pointed to the canoes, which were returning after making a demonstration. "These poor blacks are afraid of the guns. It's all over--unless--"

He stopped short, scratching his head, and staring first at the schooner and then at us in turn.

"Unless what, captain?" I said excitedly.

"Here, let's do a bit o' bounce for once in our lives," said the bluff old fellow. "Get out your revolvers and shooting-tackle, and let's see if we can't frighten the beggars. Only mind, doctor, and you too, my young bantam, our weapons is only for show. No firing, mind; but if we can bully those chaps into giving up their blackbirds, why we will."

The boat was lowered, and with a goodly display of what Jack Penny called dangerous ironmongery, we started with three men, but not until the captain had seen that the Malay was safely secured. Then we started, and the people aboard the other schooner were so busy with their captives that we got alongside, and the captain, Doctor Grant, and I had climbed on deck before a red-faced fellow with a violently inflamed nose came up to us, and, with an oath, asked what we wanted there.

"Here, you speak," whispered the captain to Doctor Grant. "I'm riled, and I shall be only using more bad language than is good for these youngsters to hear. Give it to him pretty warm, though, all the same, doctor."

"D'yer hear?" said the red-faced fellow again. "What do you want here?"

"Those poor wretches, you slave-dealing ruffian," cried the doctor, who looked quite white as he drew himself up and seemed to tower over the captain of the other schooner, who took a step back in astonishment, but recovered himself directly and advanced menacingly.

"Come for them, have you, eh?" he roared; "then you'll go without 'em.

Here, over you go; off my ship, you--"

The scoundrel did not finish his speech, for as he spoke he clapped a great rough hairy paw on the doctor's shoulder, and then our friend seemed to shrink back at the contact; but it was only to gather force, like a wave, for, somehow, just then his fist seemed to dart out, and the ruffianly captain staggered back and then fell heavily on the deck.

Half a dozen men sprang forward at this, but Doctor Grant did not flinch, he merely took out his revolver and examined its lock, saying:

"Will you have these poor fellows got into our boat, captain?"

"Ay, ay, doctor," cried our skipper; and the slave-dealing crew shrank back and stared as we busily handed down the blackbirds, as the captain kept on calling them.

Poor creatures, they were still half-stunned and two of them were bleeding, and it must have seemed to then? that they were being tossed out of the frying-pan into the fire, and that we were going to carry on the villainy that our ruffianly countrymen had commenced. In fact had we not taken care, and even used force, they would have jumped overboard when we had them packed closely in.

"Here, shove off!" the captain said, as we were once more in our boat; and just then the leader of the ruffians staggered to his feet and leaned over the side.

"I'll have the law of you for this," he yelled. "This is piracy."

"To be sure it is," said our captain; "we're going to hyste the black flag as soon as we get back, and run out our guns. Come on, my red-nosed old c.o.c.ky-wax, and we'll have a naval engagement, and sink you."

He nudged me horribly hard with his elbow at this point, and turning his back on the schooner winked at me, and chuckled and rumbled as if he were laughing heartily to himself in secret; but he spoke again directly quite seriously.

"I haven't got no boys of my own," he said, "but if I had, I should say this was a sort o' lesson to you to always have right on your side.

It's again' the law, but it's right all the same. See how we carried all before us, eh, my lads! The doctor's fist was as good as half a dozen guns, and regularly settled the matter at once."

"Then we may set these poor fellows free now?" I said.

"Well, I shouldn't like to be one of them as did it," said the captain drily. "Look at the sh.o.r.e."

I glanced in that direction and saw that it was crowded with blacks, all armed with spears and war-clubs, which they were brandishing excitedly.

"They wouldn't know friends from foes," said the doctor quietly. "No; we must wait."

I saw the reason for these remarks; and as soon as we had reached the side of the schooner and got our captives on board I attended the doctor while he busied himself bandaging and strapping cuts, the blacks staring at him wondering, and then at Jimmy, who looked the reverse of friendly, gazing down at the prisoners scornfully, and telling Jack Penny in confidence that he did not think much of common sort black fellow.

"Jimmy xiv all o' men waddy spear if try to kedge Jimmy," he said, drawing himself up and showing his teeth. "No kedge Jimmy. Killer um all."

It was hard work to get the poor prisoners to understand that we meant well by them.

"You see they think you're having 'em patched up," said Jack Penny, "so as they'll sell better. I say, Joe Carstairs, give your black fellow a topper with his waddy; he's making faces at that chap, and pretending to cut off his legs."

"Here, you be quiet, Jimmy, or I'll send you below," I said sharply; and as I went to the breaker to get a pannikin of water for one of the men, Jimmy stuck his hands behind him, pointed his nose in the air, and walked forward with such a display of offended dignity that Jack Penny doubled up, putting his head between his knees and pinning it firm, while he laughed in throes, each of which sent a spasm through his loose-jointed body.

The black to whom I took the water looked at me in a frightened way, and shook his head.

"He thinks it is poisoned, Joe," said the doctor quietly; and I immediately drank some, when the prisoner took the pannikin and drank with avidity, his companions then turning their eager eyes on me.

"It is the feverish thirst produced by injuries," said the doctor; and as I filled the pannikin again and again, the poor wretches uttered a low sigh of satisfaction.

The schooner lay where we had left it, and all seemed to be very quiet on board, but no movement was made of an offensive nature; and the day glided by till towards sundown, when there was less excitement visible on the sh.o.r.e. Then the captain ordered the boat to be lowered on the side away from the land, while he proceeded to sweep the sh.o.r.e with his gla.s.s.