By Conduct and Courage Part 27

They were out for some hours, and when they returned it was found that Will had come across four fowls, Tom had gathered a variety of fruit, consisting chiefly of melons and peaches, while Dimchurch, who was the last to come in, brought a small sheep.

"We only want one thing to make us perfect," Will said, "and that is a pipe of 'bacca."

"Well, that would be a welcome addition," Tom admitted, "but it does not do to expect too much. I should not be at all surprised if we were to light upon some tobacco plants in one of the gardens, but of course it could hardly be like a properly dried leaf. I dare say, though, we could make something of it."

So they lived for a month, sometimes better, sometimes worse, but with sufficient food of one sort or another. So far as they knew no suspicion of their presence had been excited, though their petty robberies must have been noticed. One evening, however, Will, on going to the top of the sand-hill, as he generally did, saw a large detachment of soldiers coming along, searching the ground carefully. He ran down at once to his companions.

"Take your weapons, lads," he said, "and make off; a strong party of soldiers are searching the country, and they are coming this way. No doubt they are looking for us."

They had run but a few hundred yards when they heard shouts, and, looking round, they saw a Moorish officer waving his hands and gesticulating. This was alarming, but they reckoned that they had fully five hundred yards start.

"Keep up a steady pace," Will said; "I don't expect the beggars can run faster than we can. It will be pitch dark in half an hour, and as, fortunately, there is no moon, I expect we'll be able to give them the slip."

As they advanced they found that the vegetation became scarcer and scarcer.

"I am afraid we are on the edge of a desert," Will said, "which means that there are no more fowls and fruit for us. I see, Dimchurch, that you have been the most thoughtful this time. That half sheep and those cakes will be very valuable to us."

"I wasn't going to leave them for the soldiers if I knew it, sir; they wouldn't have gone far among them, while they will last us some time with care."

They changed their course several times as soon as it became quite dark, and presently had the satisfaction of hearing the shouts of their pursuers fade away behind them.

"Now we can take it quietly, lads. We can guide ourselves towards the sea by means of the stars. I fancy it must be fully twenty miles away. We must hold on till we get to it, and then gradually work our way along among the sand-hills or clumps of bush bordering it till we come to a village. Then we must contrive to get a good supply of food and water, steal a boat, and make off. If galleys were sent out to search for us they must have given it up long ago. As for other craft, we'll have to take our chance with them."

They kept steadily north and at last came down to the coast. As it was still dark they lay down till morning. When the sun rose they thought they could make out a village some eight miles away.

"Now it will be quite safe to cook our breakfast," Dimchurch said.

"Yes, I think so," Will answered, "but we must be sparing with the mutton; that is our only food at present, and it may be some little time before we get hold of anything else."

After breakfast they lay down among the bushes and slept till evening.

Then they started along the sh.o.r.e towards the village. When they got within half a mile of it they halted. They could see some boats on the sh.o.r.e, so they felt that the only difficulty in their way was the question of provisions. When it was quite dark they went into the village and started to forage, but on meeting again they had very little to show.

Between them they had managed to take five fowls; but the village was evidently a poor place, for with the exception of a few melons there was no fruit.

"The beggars must have grain somewhere," said Will. "They can't live on fowls and melons."

"I expect, sir, they live very largely on fish."

"That is likely enough," Will agreed. "Let us put down these fowls and melons under this bush, and have a nap for a couple of hours, till we are sure that everyone is asleep. We can then go down and have a look at the boats. Those of them that come in late may probably leave some of their catch on board."

When they went down to the boats they found that three of them contained a fair quant.i.ty of fish. They helped themselves to some of these, and then retreated some distance from the village, picking up the other provisions on the way, and then, going into a clump of bushes, cooked a portion of the fish.

"That pretty well settles the question of provisions," Will said. "We must choose a night when there is a good wind blowing offsh.o.r.e, so that we may run a good many miles before morning. Then we must trust to falling in with one of our cruisers."

"Fish won't keep long in this climate," suggested Tom.

"No," said Will, "but we can dry some of them in the sun and they will then keep good for some time. Then we might clean half a dozen fowls and cook them before we start."

"The great difficulty will be water."

"Yes, but we can get over that by stripping the gardens clean of their melons. They weigh four or five pounds apiece and would supply us with fluid for a week easily."

The next evening they went down and made a more careful examination of the boats. One in particular attracted their attention. She was nearly new, and looked likely to be faster than the rest. She was anch.o.r.ed some fifty yards from the sh.o.r.e. Three more evenings were spent in prowling about the village collecting food. It was evident that the villagers were alarmed at their depredations, for on the third evening they were fired at by several men. In consequence of this they moved a mile farther away, in case a search should be made, and the next night carried the provisions down to the sh.o.r.e. As they were all expert swimmers they were soon alongside the chosen craft. They pushed the provisions before them on a small raft, and when they had put them on board they made a trip to one or two of the other boats and brought away some twenty pounds of fish. Then they cut the hawser and hoisted sail. As they did so they heard a great tumult on sh.o.r.e, and the villagers ran down to the water's edge and opened fire upon them. The shooting, however, was wild, and they were very soon out of range. Several boats put off in pursuit. This caused them some uneasiness, and they watched them somewhat anxiously, for the wind, though favourable, was light, and they felt by no means certain that they would be able to keep ahead of the rowers. The stolen craft, however, proved unexpectedly fast, and the boats, after following fifteen miles without sensibly gaining, at last gave up the chase. About this time, too, the wind, to their great relief, became stronger, and the little vessel flew more and more rapidly over the sea.

"She is a fine craft," Dimchurch said; "these Moors certainly know how to build boats. It would require a smart cutter to hold her own with us."

Dimchurch kept at the helm and the other two investigated their capture.

She was three parts decked. In the cabin they came upon a lantern and flint and steel, and soon had light, which helped them greatly in their work. In the bow ropes were stored away, while in a locker they found some bread, which, although stale, was very acceptable. They also unearthed two or three suits of rough sea clothes with which they were glad to replace the light clothes they had carried away with them from the palace grounds, for though the weather on sh.o.r.e was warm the sea-breeze was chilly. Among other useful things they also discovered several long knives, and axes, and a flat stone for cooking upon.

"Now it is all a question of luck," Will said; "the danger will be greater when we get a bit farther out. All vessels going up and down the Mediterranean give the Barbary coast a wide berth. Of course those pirate fellows are most numerous along the line of traffic, but they are to be found right up to the Spanish, French, and Italian coasts, though of late, I fancy, they have not been so active. There are too many of our cruisers about for their taste, and the Spaniards, when they get a chance, show the scoundrels no mercy."

When morning broke not a sail was visible.

"I think, sir," Dimchurch said, "that there is going to be a change of weather, and that we are in for a gale."

"It does not matter much. I fancy this boat would go through it however severe it might be."

"Yes, sir, but it would check our progress, and we want to run north as fast as we can. I see, by the line you are making, that you are aiming at Toulon, and at our present pace it would take us something like four days to get there. If we are caught in a gale we may take two days longer."

"That is so," Will agreed; "but on the other hand, if the wind becomes much stronger we'll have to take in sail, and in that case we should have more chance of escaping notice if we come near any of those Moorish craft.

Besides, if the sea were really rough it would be difficult for them to board us even if they did come up with us."

"You are right, sir; still, for myself, I should prefer a strong southerly wind and a clear sky."

"Well, I am afraid you will not get your wish, for the clouds certainly seem to be banking up from the north, and we'll get a change of wind ere long."

By night the wind was blowing fiercely and the sea rapidly rising. The sails were closely reefed, and even then they felt with pleasure that the little craft was making good way. The wind increased during the night, and was blowing a gale by morning. Just at twelve o'clock a craft was seen approaching which all were convinced was an Algerine. She changed her course at once and bore down upon them, firing a gun as a signal for them to stop.

"She is rather faster than we are," Dimchurch said, "but we'll lead her a good dance before she gets hold of us. She could not work her guns in this sea, and if she is the faster, at least we are the handier."

For three hours the chase continued. Again and again the Algerine came up on them, but each time the little boat, turning almost on her heel, so cleverly was she handled, glided away from underneath the enemy's bows.

Each time, when they saw the chase slipping away from them, the angry Moors sent a volley of musketry after her, but the fugitives took refuge in the cabin, or lay down on the deck close under the bulwarks, and so escaped.

Soon the Moors were so intent on the chase that they began to take great risks with their own vessel. In fact, they became positively reckless. For this they paid very heavily. After many disappointments they felt that the fugitives were at last in their clutches, and were preparing to board her when suddenly Dimchurch put down his helm sharply. He nearly capsized the little craft, and indeed they would rather have gone down with her than fall into the hands of the Moors again, but she righted immediately, and once more skimmed away from her pursuers. In the excitement of the moment the Moorish steersman attempted the same manuvre. If he had succeeded he would probably have run down the c.o.c.kle-sh.e.l.l that had baffled him so long. But at that moment a violent squall struck his ship with its full force, and her mainmast snapped a few feet above the deck. The three fugitives jumped to their feet and cheered, and then calmly proceeded on their way.

CHAPTER XII

BACK ON THE "TARTAR"

The next morning broke fair. Their late foe had dropped out of sight on the previous evening, but now, when the sun rose, Tom made out the top-sails of a large ship on the horizon.

"She is coming towards us, lads, and by the course she is steering she will pa.s.s within three miles of us. Is she English or French?"

"She is too far away yet to be certain," Dimchurch said, "but I can't help thinking she is French."