Sail Ho! Part 75

"Couldn't you get any farther?" I said, feeling greatly relieved at his return.

"No, sir. Neb's two sizes too large for the place, and I'm one size. I got as far as he did, and if I'd moved a bit farder I should ha' stuck."

"Yer didn't go as far as I did."

"Yes, I did, mate."

"How d'yer know?"

"'Cause I brought back your knife as lay just where I reached."

Neb Dumlow grunted, and Bob drew a series of very long breaths.

"Rayther hot in there, sir, and Neb had swallowed up all the fresh air there was."

"And precious little too. I could ha' swallowed bucketsful more if I'd had it."

"Lor'! what a fuss you two chaps make," said Barney. "I knowed that's how it would be. There, shut your eyes, both on you, and see yer father do it."

"You're not going, Barney?" I whispered.

"Oh yes, I am, sir. I can do it."

"Yes, sir, let him go," said Bob. "He's a reg'lar conger-eely sort o'

fellow, as can wiggle hisself through a gas-pipe a'most. You let him go, and see what he can do."

"Yes, sir, let me have a try," said Barney, and I reluctantly consented, though I had very little hope of his getting through.

"Hadn't us better have a biscuit and a drink of water first, sir?" said Bob Hampton. "I'm strange and hungry yet."

In my excitement I had forgotten all about the food, and giving the word, we squatted down round the bucket of water to nibble our biscuits and have a good drink from time to time; and in spite of the heat and closeness of our prison, that was one of the most enjoyable meals I ever ate.

We had just finished when we heard Jarette and his followers talking above us, and the subject of their discourse, as far as I could make it out, seemed to be something about a boat.

Then I heard Jarette say something that sounded like--

"Bah, my brave! He won't die. Well, let him. He'll be out of the way."

Then there was a good deal of thumping and stamping about, and I fancied that they were going to open the hatch again.

Under these circ.u.mstances I did not let Barney, who was thoroughly eager to show his prowess, make the trial; but at last all was quiet on deck, save that there was a good deal of talking and singing right aft, and as it seemed to me in the saloon.

"They've got some good stuff forrard there, lads," said Barney, suddenly.

"Why, o' course. I know," growled Bob Hampton, "and they might ha' left one or two lots for us."

"What do you mean?" I said.

"Why, sir, here's where there was a whole lot o' cases o' champagne stored, and they fished them out, and left this here hole as we're in.

I wouldn't mind a drop o' that now to cheer us up again. It's werry good stuff, ain't it?"

"What, champagne, Bob? I don't know. They say it is, but I never tasted it."

"More didn't we, sir," said Bob.

"You speak for yourself, old man," said Barney.

"Well, you ain't tasted it, and you know it," growled Bob, "so tell the truth."

"Well, I can't say as ever I did taste champagne," said Barney, "but I've had a bottle--ay, bottles and bottles--o' what comes next to it, and fizzles up wonderful."

"Why, what does?"

"Joeydone, or Sueydone, or something like that they calls it. It arn't so very bad. Might go now, sir, mightn't I?"

"Well, yes, if you mean to try."

"Oh yes, I mean to try, sir," he said. "Dessay I can manage it. Shall I start?"

"Yes," I replied, and without a moment's pause he rose, thrust his head and shoulders into the hole, and as he drew himself in, he began to whistle.

"He'd better save his wind," grumbled Dumlow. "He'll want it soon."

"Ay, that's the worst o' young chaps, they're so wasteful," muttered Bob Hampton. "But they thinks they knows best. How are you getting on, messmate?"

"Tidy--tidy!" came back. "It arn't so very tight."

The rustling went on, and I heard Dumlow whisper--

"When he holloas, let's fetch him out with a will."

"Ay, ay, but he don't holloa," said Bob. "Why, he've got farder than we did."

"Nay, not he. Why, he have though!"

For the whistling went on, just a softened hissing, and it was evident that Barney had got some distance in. What was more was that he was still progressing.

"He's going to do it, Bob!" I cried excitedly.

"Getting a bit farder, sir, that's all," replied Bob. "But what I wants to know is, how are we going to get hold on his legs when he gets stuck?

There won't be no reaching on 'em, as I can see."

"Hadn't yer better hail him to hold hard, and come back for us to hitch a line round one of his fins?"

"Which line would you use, messmate?" said Bob dryly. "The old 'un or the noo 'un?"

"Eh? Which on 'em?"