Sail Ho! Part 108

"Don't--don't fire," one of the men yelled. "We give in."

"Yes, yes; give in," came in a wild chorus.

"The beggars surrender, sir," cried Bob Hampton, who was on his knees re-charging the cannon. "But get that there poker ready again, Neb.

We'll hit 'em next time if they don't."

"Ahoy!" cried Mr Brymer, through a speaking-trumpet. "One boat come forward; but if there is any treachery, we'll show no mercy to any one there."

"Treachery?" shouted a man pitifully, as the first boat was slowly rowed in. "We're all spent, sir. There arn't a drop o' water. Give us all a drink first, and then shoot us if you like."

"Where's Jarette?"

"Here, in the bottom, sir, tied neck and heels. He went stark mad last night, and bit and fought till we had to tie him down under the thwarts."

"Water--water!--for heaven's sake, water!" came in a piteous chorus, as the second boat rowed slowly in.

"Is it real or a trick?" said Mr Brymer, in a whisper.

"Real enough," said Mr Frewen. "The men are suffering horribly, and-- oh! look! There's no subterfuge there,--that man--Jarette. He is dead!"

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.

It was plain enough: the man had died there where his companions had tied him fast, and that night the two boats lay astern carefully watched after all the arms had been handed on board.

Not that there was anything to fear. For at daybreak, after two bodies had been committed to the deep, the spokesman of the mutinous crew told a pitiful tale, of how they would gladly have given up but for their leader, who by force and violence kept them to their task till, in utter despair, they had turned upon him and bound him, as they would some dangerous wild beast that they dared not kill.

That day, half the poor worn-out wretches were again confined in the forecastle, while the others were, under careful surveillance, allowed to return to their work.

For the calms were over, and a hard fight began with the weather, which grew so bad at last that Mr Brymer, who, as the days pa.s.sed on, seemed to recover the more rapidly for having plenty to do, was glad to have all the men back to their duty.

This, in the hope of some mitigation of their punishment, they did well, working away, so that long before we reached Auckland we seemed to have a model crew.

That latter part of our voyage had its good effect on every one.

Captain Berriman recovered sufficiently to have re-taken the command, but he left it in Mr Brymer's hands till the day we sailed into harbour, when he once more took his place, and laughingly complimented Mr Denning upon the change which had taken place in him as well, though, poor fellow, he was so weak that he was glad to lean upon his sister's arm.

There was nothing to show how adventurous our voyage had been, but the roughly boarded-over deck, beneath which lay the sadly damaged cargo.

But, as Bob Hampton said,--"It were an accident, and of course it was well insured. But I want to know, my lad, what they're a-goin' to do with our crew. My word, they are a-shivering in their shirts, eh, Barney?"

"They just are. It'd be a charity to wring 'em out to dry."

"Arter taking on 'em off, and givin' on 'em four dozen a-piece on the bare back, and say no more about it," growled Neb Dumlow, "for I forgive--far as I'm consarned."

But there could be no "say no more about it" in such a case as this.

The men were tried and punished, but got off very easily in consideration of their sufferings and subsequent good behaviour.

Hampton, Barney, and Neb Dumlow were the only men who sailed with us again.

I kept my word to Walters, and a painful task it was. I have often thought of his conduct since, and talked with Mr and Mrs Frewen when I have been to see them at their residence in Auckland, where I have been four times since. But, as Mrs Frewen always says. "He was sorely tempted, and he fell."

"And,--_De mortuis_--you know the rest of the quotation, Dale," said Mr Frewen, "and if you cannot say nothing but good of the dead, my lad, don't say anything at all."

Those were delightful visits, when I was on sh.o.r.e in New Zealand, divided between Mr Denning's up-country farm, where he has grown strong as one of his own horses, and the Frewens' charming house just outside Auckland, where he is the most famous doctor for miles. Mr Frewen and Mr Denning are like brothers, of course, and they are always tempting me to leave the sea and settle in that grand new England; but no--I resist, and keep to my profession, and I suppose I always shall, for, as Bob Hampton says, "a man might do worse than go to sea."

"Not as I hold much with having ladies on board, my lad," the old fellow once said. "They're okkard an' in the way, unless they're the same kind as Miss Denning--I mean Mrs Frewen, bless her heart!--for it was like havin' of a hangel with us. But I say, Mr Dale, sir," he added with a chuckle; "her brother didn't like the doctor, bein' a bit jealous like; but I says to Neb Dumlow and Barney when they first come aboard,--'You see if them two don't make up a match.'"

"You did, lad," said Barney.

"That's so," said Neb.

For they did; but all through that voyage such an idea never entered my mind. I was a boy then, on my first long voyage. A perilous one too.

And would I go through it again? No, not for untold gold. I don't know though. Yes! I would--if once more I were a boy.

THE END.