The Black Bar Part 54

"Hurrah!" cried Mark, forgetting the officer in the elation of the boy.

"Joe Dance will not let the Yankees overhaul him now. Look, he's getting the blacks to help haul up the mainsail. Then that prize is all right," he added, with a sigh of satisfaction.

"Hope so, sir," said Tom. "I should feel better satisfied, though, if we were aboard too. My, how we could stick to the ribs of this boat here, and lay her aboard some day, and take her again. Ah, here comes the boat."

In effect the boat was slowly pulled alongside, and amidst a great deal of shouting and noise, the prisoners could hear the men helped on board, and the boat hoisted into its place.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

AFTER A REST.

"I wish I knew what was best to do," said Mark Vandean. It was not long before he had to come to the conclusion that unless accident favoured them there was very little chance of escaping from the cabin, and he sat at the window at last, fretting with impatience, trying to master his disappointment, and comparing his fate with that of Bob Howlett, who was doubtless quietly going on with his duties, and amusing himself in his leisure teaching the chimpanzee to chew tobacco.

"I wish I knew what was best to do," Mark said to himself again.

"See that, sir?"

Mark looked round sharply.

"See what?"

"They've altered her course, sir, and are going after the other schooner."

It was plain enough, now that his attention was drawn to the fact. The coast which had been on the starboard side was now on the port, and there, about a mile away was the other schooner just gliding round, and with her sails filling for the other tack.

"Joe Dance sees what they're up to, sir, but he'll never get away. Too short-handed."

"But he and Grote mean to try for it. Look, Tom."

"Ay, well done, my lads," cried Tom Fillot, slapping his leg and then wincing. "Oh, how sore I am! He has the n.i.g.g.e.rs hauling. Pull away, my lads, up with her. Go on, altogether--another pull. That's her.

Now then, sheet her home. My wig, look at her now, sir. She can sail."

"Yes, like a yacht," cried Mark, as the great mainsail, which had been only half hoisted in a slovenly way, now spread its broad canvas to the light breeze, and the graceful vessel sped rapidly through the calm sea, and pa.s.sed out of their sight. "Why, Tom, this boat will have to sail well to catch her."

"They won't catch her, sir, by fair means. If they do, it will be by seamanship, and having plenty of hands to manoeuvre."

"Well, Tom, it seems as if we can do nothing?" said Mark.

"No, sir, 'cept sit on the deck and growl, and that won't do no good, will it? Wish we could see how Joe Dance is getting on."

"I've thought every way I can," continued Mark, "but I can find no means of escape."

"Might perhaps get on deck when it's dark, sir. Dessay I could manage to get up enough to make a jump on to the chap on the watch, and hold him till you were all alongside."

"A desperate venture, Tom."

"Yes, sir, and we're all desperate now, I can tell you."

No more was said then, and after making a hearty meal from the provisions in the cabin, the men sat about and went off fast asleep, worn out as they were with watching and exertion.

But Mark could not sleep. There was the great sense of responsibility to keep him awake, and the question always troubling him: Had he done the best as an officer who had succeeded to so important a charge?

He went to where Mr Russell lay in his berth, and bent over him for a few minutes, but only to go away again with his feeling of misery increased, and seat himself once more at the cabin window in the hope of catching a glimpse of the other schooner when a tack was made; but fate did not favour him. All he could make out was that the vessel must be sailing south and south-west, and the one they were in keeping on in full pursuit.

"I don't wonder," he thought. "It means a splendid profit for them to take her and her living freight."

It was terribly hot down in that cabin, and an intense longing came over the lad to get on deck in the fresh air. Then he looked longingly down into the clear sparkling water through which they were rushing, and thought of how delightful it would be to plunge down and swim.

"Right into the jaws of some shark," he muttered, bitterly, and then, "Oh, Bob Howlett, I wish you were here to take your share of the worry."

The heat and anxiety seemed too much for him, and despair made everything now look black; he could see no ray of light.

But nature is very kind, and she came to the sufferer's help, for as he looked round sourly at those in the cabin, Mr Russell in his stupor-like slumber, and the rest breathing heavily in perfect repose, he muttered:

"Not one of them seems to care a bit. Even Tom Fillot and that black asleep, and at a time like this!"

It is a bad thing to set up as a judge without a plentiful stock of profundity. Mark scowled angrily at the sleepers, and turned away in disgust to gaze out of the cabin window at the flashing sea and try in vain to catch sight of some sail, that might bring help.

The next minute he, too, was sleeping heavily, for nature was building them all up again ready for the struggles yet to come.

A heavy bang as of a closing door made Mark Vandean start up and strike his head against a piece of wood--a blow which for the moment increased his confusion.

Where was he? What had happened?

No answer came, but there was a question from out of the darkness.

"Say, messmates, hear that?"

"Tom Fillot."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Where are we?"

"Dunno, sir. Here, I think."

"But where is here, stupid?"

"That's a true word, sir. I am stupid--who's this?"

"d.i.c.k Bannock, AB, it is," said the familiar voice of that seaman.

"Know where we are, mate?"

"No. Awake, I think."

"Well, we know that," cried Mark, pettishly. "Yes, I remember now. I must have gone to sleep."