Syd Belton Part 57

"Did you see which way it went?"

"No, sir, 'cause o' the smoke."

"It seemed to me to disappear among these rocks," said Roylance.

"No; I saw it come out from behind there, and then it leaped off into the darkness just below the gun. Here, spread out, my lads; it didn't go that way. Keep a smart look-out, and go steady down to the edge. It couldn't have jumped off, and must be here."

A thorough search took place, and this was easy enough, for the s.p.a.ce within the gap or chasm was comparatively small. But there was no result, and at last a few burning brands were thrown down from the edge just below the gun to light up the rocks there, in the hope that some animal might be lying killed by its fall.

There was nothing visible, and at last, after making their arrangements for the night, Roylance and Sydney sat together, talking in low tones about the mysterious appearance seen now twice.

"Here, I'll keep watch," said Roy, after they had taken another look at the injured man.

"No, I'll take the first half," said Syd, quietly.

"Well, you're in command," said Roylance; "but I don't feel comfortable about going to sleep with a wild beast dancing minuets all over one in the night."

"I shall be watching," said Syd.

"Oh, very well: I'll lie down. Poor Terry's got the best of it; he has been fast asleep for an hour."

Roylance lay down under the sail, covering himself with his boat-cloak, and was asleep directly; while Sydney, after another glance at Dallas, who seemed to be sleeping quietly, placed his pistols in his belt, and went out to visit the watch.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

As Syd stood outside the effect was very curious. The wind was blowing with hurricane violence, and in a dull distant way the sea was breaking wave after wave against the rocks, but where he stood there was hardly a breath of air. Then with the novelty of his sensations increasing, and feeling that all this seemed to him like a dream from which he would awake in the morning, he walked to where the watch was posted, and started a little on seeing two figures in the darkness instead of one.

"On'y me, Mr Belton, sir," came in the boatswain's gruff growl.

"Rogers here felt it a bit lonesome like with no company but a long gun.

And look ye here, mate," he whispered to the man, "don't you never forget to reload arter you've fired your pistol."

"Seen or heard anything more?" said Syd, making an effort to keep up his new dignity.

"No, sir. Fancied I did once, but it warn't nothing."

"Blowing very hard, bo'sun."

"Well, sir, tidy, tidy; most a capful o' wind. Thought I'd come and stay with him, sir," he whispered, as they walked aside to gaze out to sea; "bit scared like arter seeing that there thing again."

"There was something, Barney, I'm sure."

"Steady, Master Syd, sir, steady," growled the boatswain. "You can't lower yourself to call me Barney now you're commander of a fort, and a werry strong one too."

"Oh, very well, bo'sun. But about that thing, whatever it was. What do you think it could be?"

"Well, sir, I don't see how it could get here; but it's either a monkey or some small kind o' n.i.g.g.e.r as lives nateral like on rocks."

"But what could he live on?"

"Dunno, sir; lickin' on 'em p'r'aps."

"But there's no water."

"No, sir; that's what puzzles me. The worst on it is it scares the lads."

"Well, it is startling. He did not hit it, I suppose?"

"Hit it?" said the boatswain, contemptuously; "not him, sir. Get's thinking it's--there, I arn't going to say what he thinks. Sailors has all kind o' Davy Jonesy ideas in their heads till they gets promoted, and then o' course they're obliged to be 'bove all that sort of thing."

"When do you think the frigate will be back?"

"Can't say, sir. Not so long as the wind's blowing like this."

"Oh!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Syd; "so unfortunate. Just as we want the surgeon so badly."

"What for, sir?"

"Mr Dallas, of course."

"Surgeon? What do he want with a surgeon? You mended him a deal better than I've seen poor chaps patched in the c.o.c.kpit during an action, when the surgeon and his mates was busy. Look ye here, Master Syd, I've knowed you ever since you was a bit of a toddlin' thing as held on to my finger--this here one--and couldn't get your little dumpy things right round it; and you know me, sir, I wouldn't say a word to praise you as I didn't mean."

"Oh, I don't know, Strake."

"Then you may know, sir; I wouldn't--theer! And I says to you now as a honest man as never took nothin' worse than one o' them yaller gummy plums off the wall--them as crack right open like wide mouths, and seems to be putting out their stones at you laughin' like, and sayin', eat me if you dare. Well, sir, I say as a honest man, if ever I'm wounded I don't want no surgeon but you."

"Oh, nonsense, man! There'll be a long serious time yet when he wants the surgeon's attention."

"Not him, sir. No: we'll do all that."

"I hope so, Strake. But now we are alone, tell me what I am to do to-morrow."

"Just what you like, sir. If it was me I should mast-head Master Terry, if he come any of his games."

"Without a mast-head?"

"No, sir; you'll have to set up one o' them spars, the one with the little truck for the halliards right a top o' the highest pynte, to fly the Bri'sh colours, and you can send him there."

"But about this place, and men?"

"Oh, I dunno, sir. If it was me I should set the lads to level the gun-platforms a bit, and some o' the others to build up two or three walls with the loose rocks for us to roof in. One for the men, one for the orficers, and one for the stores."

"Yes, I thought of doing that."

"Why, of course you did, sir. And then you could give the men some gun-drill, and arter that wait till the enemy comes."

"Yes, and when the enemy comes?"