On Board the Esmeralda Part 8

"Then, come along o' me," the good-natured salt said, and lifting the scuttle communicating with the hold forwards, he told us to get down into the forepeak, showing us how to swing by our hands from the coaming round the hole in the deck, as there was no ladder-way.

"There, you stow yourselves well forrud," he enjoined, as soon as we had descended, chucking down a spare tarpaulin and some pieces of canvas after us to make ourselves comfortable with. "Lie quiet, mind," he added as a parting injunction, "the rest of the hands and the skipper will be soon aboard, and it'll be all up if they finds you out afore we start."

"All right, we'll be as still as if we're dead," I said.

"Then, belay there," replied Jorrocks, shouting out kindly, as he replaced the hatch cover, which stopped up the entrance to our hiding place so effectually that the interior became as dark as Erebus. "Good, night, lads, and good fortune! I'll try and smuggle you down some breakfast in the mornin'."

"Thank you; good night!" we shouted in return, although we doubted whether he could hear us now the scuttle was on.

Thus left to ourselves, we sc.r.a.ped together, by feeling, as we could not see, the materials Jorrocks had supplied us with for a bed, on which we flung ourselves with much satisfaction, thoroughly tired out on account of the Doctor's having kept us standing up all day, in addition to the exertions we had since made in making our escape from school.

The novelty of our new situation, combined with its strange surroundings, kept us awake for a little time, but we were too much fatigued both in body and mind for our eyelids to remain long open; and soon, in spite of our daring escapade and the fact that the unknown future was a world of mystery before us, we were as snugly asleep as if in our beds in the dormitory at Dr h.e.l.lyer's--albeit we were down in the hold of a dirty coal brig, with our lullaby sung by the incoming tide, which was by this time nearly on the turn, was.h.i.+ng and splas.h.i.+ng by the bows of the vessel lying alongside the projecting jetty, in its way up the estuary of the river that composed the little harbour.

How long we had been in the land of dreams, and whether it was morning, mid-day, or night, we knew not, for a thick impenetrable darkness still filled the forehold where we were stowed; but, Tom and myself awoke to the joyful certainty that we were at sea, or must be so--not only from the motion of the brig, as she plunged up and down, with an occasional heavy roll to port or starboard; but from the noise, also, that the waves made, banging against her bow timbers, as if trying to beat them in, and the trampling of the crew above on the deck over our heads.

We listened to these sounds for hours, unable to see anything and having nought else to distract our attention, until Tom, becoming somewhat affected by the smell of the bilge water in the hold as well as by the unaccustomed rocking movement of the brig, began to feel sea-sick and fretful.

"I declare this is worse than the Doctor's," he complained.

"We'll soon be let out," I said, "and then you'll feel better."

But, the friendly Jorrocks did not appear; and, at length, wearied out at last by our vain watching, we both sank off to sleep again on our uneasy couch.

After a time we woke up again. There was a noise as if the hatchway was being raised, and then the welcome gleam of a lantern appeared above the orifice.

It was Jorrocks come to relieve us, we thought; and so we both started up instantly.

The hour for our deliverance had not yet arrived, however.

"Steady!" cried our friend. "We're just off Beachy Head, and you must lie where you are till mornin'; but, as you must be famished by now, I've brought you a bit of grub to keep your p.e.c.k.e.r up. Show a hand, Master Martin!"

I thereupon stretched out upwards, and Jorrocks, reaching downwards, placed in my grip our old acquaintance of the previous night, the mess- tin, filled with pieces of beef and potatoes mixed up together, after which he shoved on the hatchway cover again, as if somebody had suddenly interrupted him.

I made a hearty meal, although Tom felt too qualmish to eat much, and then we both lay down with the a.s.surance that our troubles would probably soon be over.

I suppose we went to sleep again, for it seemed but a very brief interval, when, awaking with a start, I perceived the hatchway open.

"Rouse up, Tom," said I, shaking him; "we'd better climb on deck at once."

"All right," replied Tom, jumping up, and he was soon on the fo'c's'le, with me after him.

"Who the mother's son are you?" a gruff voice exclaimed; and, looking round, I saw the skipper of the brig advancing from aft, brandis.h.i.+ng a handspike.

I immediately stepped forwards in front of Tom.

"We've run away to sea, sir," I explained.

"So I see," said the skipper, drawing nearer; "but, what right have you to come aboard my craft?"

"We couldn't help it, sir," I answered, civilly, wis.h.i.+ng to propitiate him. "It was our only chance."

"Oh, then you'll find it a poor one, youngster," said he grimly.

"Boatswain!"

"Aye, aye, sir!" responded Jorrocks, stepping up.

"Do you know these boys?"

"I've seen 'em at Beachampton," said our friend.

"You don't know how they came aboard, eh?"

"No, I can't say as how I can say, 'zactly, cap'en."

"Well, then tie 'em up to the windla.s.s and fetch me a rope's-end. Now, my jokers," added he, turning to us, "I've sworn to larrup every stowaway I ever finds in my brig, and I'm a going to larrup you now!"

CHAPTER EIGHT.

"A FRIEND IN NEED."

Jorrocks had no option but, first, to proceed to pinion us, and then tie us separately to the windla.s.s, using us as kindly as he could in the operation and with a sympathising expression on his face--that said as plainly as looks could speak, "I am really very sorry for this; but I told you what you might expect, and I can't help it!"

He afterwards went aft to the skipper's cabin, bringing forwards from thence a stout piece of cord, with the ends frayed into lashes like those of a whip, which had evidently seen a good deal of service. This "cat" he handed deferentially to the commander of the brig; who, seizing it firmly in his right fist, and holding the handspike still in his left, as if to be prepared for all emergencies, began to lay stroke upon stroke on our shoulders with a dexterity which Dr h.e.l.lyer would have envied, without being able to rival.

It was the most terrible thras.h.i.+ng that either Tom or myself had ever experienced before; and, long ere the skipper's practised arm had tired, our fort.i.tude broke down so, that we had fairly to cry for mercy.

"You'll never stow yourself away on board my brig again, will you?"

asked our flagellator of each of us alternately, with an alternate lash across our backs to give emphasis to his question, making us jump up from the deck and quiver all over, as we tried in vain to wriggle out of the las.h.i.+ngs with which we were tied.

"No, I won't," screamed out Tom, the tears running down his cheeks from the pain of the ordeal. "I'll promise you never to put my foot within a mile of her, if you let me off!"

"And so will I, too," I bawled out quickly, following suit to Tom.

I can really honestly aver that we both meant what we said, most sincerely!

"All right then, you young beggars; that'll do for your first lesson.

The thras.h.i.+ng will pay your footing for coming aboard without leave.

Jorrocks, you can cut these scamps down now, and find them something to do in the fo'c's'le--make 'em polish the ring-bolts if there's nothing else on hand!"

So saying, the skipper, satisfied with taking our pa.s.sage money out of our hides, walked away aft; while Jorrocks began to cast loose our las.h.i.+ngs, with many whispered words of comfort, which he was afraid to utter aloud, mixed up with comments on the captain's conduct.

"He's a rough customer to deal with--as tough as they make 'em," said he, confidentially, removing the last bight round Tom's body and setting him free; "but, he's all there!"

"So he is," said Tom, with much decision, rubbing his sore shoulders.

"I will vouch for the truth of that statement!"