Sail Ho! Part 79

After it was withdrawn conversation became more easy, and I had a few words with Mr Frewen and Mr Preddle, all of which were cheering, though as far as escape was concerned it did no good. But I learned how that they had been literally thrown down there, as they supposed, for they had come-to very much as we had, to find themselves lying helpless on the floor.

We had reached this point when Barney's voice came, and it sounded anxious.

"Better come now, Mr Dale, sir," he whispered. "We can get along here again."

"Yes, I'll come soon," I whispered back, for to a certain extent I forgot my troubles in the satisfaction of having been able to reach my friends.

"Better come now, sir. They're getting scared behind yonder, and seems to me there's on'y just wind enough left for us to breathe going back.

If you stop any longer there won't be none, for I shall swaller it all."

I explained what he said to me, and it was Mr Frewen who now spoke through the tiny hole.

"Yes, go back directly," he said. "Come again in a few hours' time, the air will be better again then, and we will cut this hole big enough for you to come through."

I could have wished it to have been made bigger then, so that I could get to my friends, but I knew it would be like forsaking the men I had left, so after promising to return soon--thinking nothing now of the difficulty of the journey--I said good-bye, and began to crawl back, remembering directly plenty of things I should have liked to ask.

But now I had to think of my perilous journey back, and I shuddered as I thought how nearly I had been wedged fast beside the crate. Somehow, though, now that I knew the extent of my risk, it did not seem half so bad, I reached the crate, changed from the horizontal to the perpendicular opening, kept close to the top with my head and shoulders, and let my legs go down till I could rest them on the crossbar of the crate, made my way to the end round the corner, and reached the place where Barney was anxiously waiting, and then paused for a few moments to rest, ready to wonder at the ease with which I had returned. I said something of the kind to Barney, and he laughed.

"Oh yes, sir," he said. "It's like going aloft when you're young. I remember the first time I went up to the main-topgallant mast-head, I said to myself, 'On'y let me once get down safe, and you'll never ketch me up here again;' while now one goes up and does what one has to do without thinking about it, and--Hear that?"

"Yes; what are they b.u.mping about on the deck?"

"Dunno, sir. Sounds like getting the big boats off from over the galley. But they won't hear us, sir; let's get back to where we can have a pull at the fresh air. Will you go first?"

"No; you know the way best."

Barney chuckled.

"There arn't much queshtion of knowing the way, sir. There arn't no first turnings to the left, and second to the right. It's all go ahead, and you're sure to come out right if you don't get stuck, and I s'pose I mustn't get jammed anywhere 'cause of you."

He went on, and as I followed I could not help thinking about how terrible it would be if he did get fast, and more than once a curious sensation ran through me as he struggled on. But we had no mishap, and at last crept out to where Bob Hampton and Dumlow were waiting for us.

"You have been a long time, sir," growled the former. "Did you make anything out of it?"

"Yes, Bob, I reached the forecastle."

"You did, lad! Well done you! I allus thought you'd do something some day."

Then I told them both of all that had pa.s.sed, as I lay there in that hot, dark, stifling hole, thinking though all the while how delightfully fresh and light it was. When I had finished, Bob rubbed his ear, and growled softly--

"Why, my lad," he said, "seems to me as it's like pig-shearing."

"Pig-shearing? What do you mean?"

"Much cry and little wool, sir. We've all been crawling about in the hold like rats, and got to where the t'others are--leastwise you have-- and then you've come back again."

"Yes, Bob."

"Taken all that trouble for nothing."

"Well, but I have been able to talk to them, and make plans."

"Bah, sir, I don't call them plans. What was the good of us all getting smothered as we was, just to find out as we couldn't do nothing?"

"I communicated with Mr Brymer and Mr Frewen," I cried.

"And said 'How de do? I'm quite well thank you, how are you?' Didn't pay for the trouble, sir. We must do something better than that. What do you say, Neb?"

"I says as I arn't going to squeedge my carcadge into that hole again if I knows it, messmate."

"And you, Barney?"

Barney Blane uttered a low deep snore. Worn-out by his exertions, he had lain down on his back and gone to sleep at once, and ten minutes later the hot vitiated air had produced such an effect upon me that I was just as fast, and dreaming of bright sunshine and lovely tropic lands, till I was aroused by strange noise, and a sharp angry voice cried--

"Now then, all! _Vite_! _vite_! Tumble up."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

I was so confused by being awakened suddenly from a deep sleep, and by the light of a lantern flashing in my eyes, that for a few minutes I moved about quite mechanically, getting out of the way of my companions in misfortune, as first Barney, and then Neb Dumlow, obeyed and climbed out on deck.

"Now then, look sharp," cried the same voice, "don't keep us here all night."

"You go next, my lad," growled Bob, "and I'll give you a hyste. Take hold o' the combings and give me one leg."

I obeyed, in a sleepy stupid way--in fact, if I had been told to jump overboard I think I should have done so then--and as I grasped the combings Bob Hampton seized the leg I lifted as if I had been going to mount a horse, and jerked me right up to where I was seized by a couple of men, thrown down, and then dragged along the deck to the open gangway, where, as I awoke to the fact that there was the black sea all gleaming with yellow scintillations, I suddenly made a desperate effort to escape.

"No, no," I shouted. "Help!"

"Hold still, will you?" cried one of the men. "Now then, out with him!"

In spite of my struggles they forced me onward, holding on to my wrists the while; and speechless now in my horror, I felt that the next moment I should be plunged into the black water to drown.

Those were terrible moments, but they only were those brief s.p.a.ces of time, for just as I felt that all was over, the man who had just spoken shouted--"Below there! Now then, together, mate," and they stooped as low as they could, lowering me down, and then s.n.a.t.c.hed their hands away, and I fell what seemed to be a terrific distance, though it was only a few feet, before I was caught by strong arms and lowered into a boat.

"There you are, sir. Go aft."

I staggered in the direction in which I was pushed, and dropped on to a thwart, still half-stunned and confused, but sensible enough to understand the words uttered about me, and to see the dull yellow light of the lanterns held by the gangway lighting up a number of drink-flushed faces.

"I don't want chucking down, I tell you," growled Bob Hampton. "Give's a hold of a rope and I'll drop down."

"Yes, you pig," snarled Jarette, for I knew it was he now who gave orders, and now came full into sight, with the lights showing: his evil-looking face. "It's rope you want, is it? Hah, for two sous I'd have one round your neck and run you up to the yard-arm. Treacherous lying dog."

Bob Hampton was a big heavy man, but as quickly and actively as a boy he swung himself clear of the men who held him, and lowered himself down.

"Stand clear," he shouted, and the next moment he had dropped down into the boat.

"Was you talking 'bout the rope for yourself, Frenchy?--because they keep that round the yard-arm for thieves and pirates, not for honest men."