Sail Ho! Part 51

Walters' eyes gave a roll and then closed as he lay there; but they opened again directly, for Mr Brymer gave him an angry thrust--a thrust, not a kick--with his foot.

"Here, get up, cur! You're our prisoner now. What do you say?"

Walters' lips were moving as Dumlow held the light over him and bent down.

"Says as you're to stow him in prison, sir, and not let the skipper see him."

"Bah! Has it come to this? Speak to him, Dale. What does he say now?"

"Water; he is asking for water," I said, as I saw how piteously weak the lad was.

"Suffering from exhaustion and want of air."

"Then he must have a rest," cried Mr Brymer. "Now, sir, can you get up and walk?"

"No," said Mr Frewen, decisively.

"Lift him up, Dumlow," said Mr Brymer, "and bring him aft to one of the cabins. Will you see to him, Mr Frewen?"

The doctor nodded, and I felt as if I wanted to go; but my duty was there, and I had to stay.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

That storm showed no signs though of abating, and we watched on through the night, constantly on the strain, attacked as we were by alarms from below, and the furious a.s.sault of the winds and waves. Several times over during the night, when I was suffering from the cold, and faint with hunger and exhaustion, a horrible chilly feeling of despair came creeping over me. I began thinking of home and those there who would be heart-broken if I was lost; but always at these worst times something seemed to happen that took me out of myself, giving me work so particular to do that all my energies were directed to that duty, and in consequence I forgot my own troubles.

Twice over, when Mr Brymer came with one or other of the men, Mr Denning expressed a wish to be relieved, and I had to take his arm and help him along under the shelter of the bulwarks to the saloon and the cabin where his sister was waiting anxiously for news, and as we struggled aft, he talked to me as freely as if I had been his brother.

"Is there any hope for us, Dale?" he said on one occasion as we rested for a few moments underneath the bulwarks.

"Oh yes," I replied. "Why not?"

"I don't know, I'm not a sailor, but I should not have thought the ship could have kept on long like this without sinking."

I laughed.

"Why, she's a splendid boat," I said, "and quite strong, and so long as we've got plenty of sea-room, we shan't hurt."

"You're talking like this to comfort me," he said.

"No; I'm telling you the truth as far as I understand it. Of course I've never been out in a storm on the ocean before, but I've been in some big ones off the coast round Ireland, where we were always in danger of going on the rocks, which are awful there."

"But the sea comes thundering down on the ship so."

"What of that?" I replied. "The ship's hollow, and it sounds all the more, but the water is soft, and we go through it or ride over it somehow."

"Ah, you're too young to know what fear is," he said sadly.

"Oh no, I'm not," I cried, laughing. "I've been awfully frightened several times to-night, but I'm more afraid of Jarette and his gang than I am of the sea."

"You have no sister on board," he said. "No bitter regrets for letting her come into such danger."

"No," I said, rather chokingly; "but I've got people at home, and it would be very horrid to think I should never see them again."

"Let's go on," he said laconically, and I helped him along, choosing the easiest moments till we were in shelter, and then without leaving hold of me he whispered--

"Make the best of things to her."

There was a lamp burning in the cabin as we entered, and Miss Denning sprang to our side.

"Oh, John," she cried piteously, "this will be death to you, drenched with the cold sea! Pray, pray, stay in shelter now."

"Nonsense!" he cried; "it does me good, and it's grandly exciting to fight the storm like this. How are you, little one? Ah, don't touch me, I'm wet."

"Suffering terribly, John dear. You must stay with me now."

"Tied to your ap.r.o.n, you foolish girl," he said merrily. "Nonsense!

I'm wanted to help. There, I bring you good news. We've got all the pirates safely in prison, and as soon as the storm's over all will be right again."

Miss Denning gave me a piteous, inquiring look.

"Yes, that's quite right, Miss Denning," I said cheerfully.

"But this terrible storm; shall we be wrecked?"

"Ships don't get wrecked out in the open sea," I replied coolly, "only have their sails blown away, and sometimes lose a spar, or get a boat torn off the davits."

"Then you think we are safe?"

"Oh yes, I hope so," I replied.

"Safe? Of course, darling little cowardly sis," said Mr Denning, kissing her pale cheek very lovingly, and I felt that I had never liked him so well before, never having seen his true nature and affection for his sister.

"Now then, Mr Dale and I have to go back on duty to shoot mutineers and pirates, and you are to lie down and trust in our all taking care of you. Try and sleep for a few hours."

"Sleep!" she said reproachfully, "with you exposed to all that danger."

"Yes! Why not? To grow strong, and ready to help me if I want it."

"But, must you go, John?"

"Yes, dear," he said gravely, "I must; but, please G.o.d, the worst danger is over, and you will not hinder me from doing my duty like a man, even if I am a weak one."

She held his hand to her cheek, and smiling at me, spoke quite cheerfully.

"Come back in about an hour," she said, "and I will have coffee made with the spirit-lamp, and try and find some biscuits."