The morning call., 1893-05-07
CHAPTER XXXIv.

In the cuddY crowd OF cunVIctS were roar
ing out the chorus of some vulgar popular
song of that time. Will said We have
had nothing to eat. Aren't you huugry?''
Here, you'll" exclaimed Tom to the fel-
low at the helm. Jump below TO the
cuddy and bring rs some food and wine
TO breakfast eff. Fll not trust this young
gentleman among them. You're known as
n friend. Johnstone. hold the wheel"
The man went like n dog to the COM
paniOn hatcn and disappeared down it,
"A worthy example of the British sailor"
said Tom. Hes one OF those fellows
who'd swear mans lite and liberty away
for noggin Of rum. Dye see that boat.
Maran?" He pointed to a long thin boat
called the captains gig that hung bY davits
over the stern with the line OF her gunwale
on level with the taffTail. Shell give US
our chance. Johnstene, thaPll be the beat
we'll make off in. The sooner the better.
Hark to them below Oh. my God, dear
heart, what has your love for me brought
You lnto9 JohnstOne. the equipment Of
that boat will be your duty. l shall hold
you responsible for everything being in IFS
place when we come to want her"
LAY, ay, sir" answered the lad with the
haoit of sailor in answer to an order.
rs it true, Tom, that they'd hang you if
they found you in command of this ship?'
said I.
There's been murder and piracy. and the
rIngleadeFs would be hanged. and l, found
in command Of the ship, would be reckoned
ripgleader. But do not fear. They're not
going to catch me- Wen be out of the ves-
sci soon, though Heaven help the unhappy
TufliaCs when ii comes to our leaving them"
Lei ha ,f ,I,o
euddy. He brought a bottle of sherry, a
broken tumbIer. plate of " hite biscuit ana
some timed meat He said, sullenly. as lie
pub the stuff down on the grating. that 1t
was all be could fad. There wasn't whole
tumbler to be seen.
Them convicts is gone mad. he said as
he sulkily grasDed the wheel; Them as
amt singings fighting. The cabin floors
a-running with blood. THEY'RE mostly the
Young 'uns. l never bargained for the likes
of this raree show. What's a-going to be-
fall the fred ship if this SOFT of carrying on's
10 Iast?"
''It was to be a roasting hot job" said l.
pointing to the injured topgsllant.
He gave me an evil look, but meeting
Toms eyes turned his haad and stared away
into the white, suitry. stagnant distance l
kept my back upon the bloodstains; l could
not have held them in view and tasted food.
While we ale and drank we heard Mr..
Bates calling out orders on the main deck.
met Toms glance; lie family smiled; it
was the first time l had seen him smile
Bat. indeed, the tragedy of the morning be-
came kind Of buresQue. when you thought
of the chief mate of the ship. dressed MS
convict, giving orders under the eye of Bar
ney Aaron, who was himself clothed IN the
apparel Of the captain.
We moved forward little way to get well
into the shelter OF the awning and out of
hearing of the fellow at the wheel. The
bottle had. been half full. We emptied it
and threw it and the broken tumbler over
board. and talked while we watched the
motions OF the convicts on the maindeck
and listened to the chOruses of the brutal
revelers in the cuddy. Some of the mu-
tir0us sailors went aloft with tackles on the
main and foreYards; meanwhile number
of the conyicts cleared away the longboat,
n large. SQUAD fabric which lay slowed for
ward of the galley. Tom said she was big
enough to safely carry forty souls.
Il wish you and l and VIII there were in
her." said he. "out OF sight Of this ship.
But she'll provide US with the opportunity
we want" he added. with a sideways mo-
ton of his head toward the gig over the
stern.
What are your plans after we leave the
this vast sea"
my plans" he answered making as il
he would take my hand. and arresting the
gesture with fierce glance at the helmsman,
"are fist of all to get away. The rest must
be our fortune. Anyhow, we'll eudeavOr to
keep afoat till we're pickedup."
ut might run into weeks before we fall
in with ship just here" said Will, land
what's to happen then? It's very well for
Marian and me-whars 10 become of you,
sir?"
whats to become of Tome" cried I.
'If you mean that you must ask what's TO
become of me- too"
Tom stood up and said: The convicts
mustn't see US always together; and par
ticularly will it not do for them to see us
talking earnestly. They're felons. with the
suspicious and passions of felons. l am
going TO the captains cabin"
He walked briskly TO the companionway,
at which he paused to look steadily round
the sea, and then disappeared.
why do you take me up so sharply,
Marian? ?" said viii.
"Call me Mariowe. Suppose you should
be overheard ! SharDlyl Why do you ask
what's TO become of Tomf 1t never could
be right with me If It's 10 be wrong with
him. And yet you say it'Il be all right for
you and me II we're picked uu."
IF we're picked up he may be carried to
England what then? ?'
Wen not allow ourselves to be picked
up by a ship going to England"
I'VE may be nearly dead with thirst and
without provisions. Look what a sea il is
Do you know where we arep This is the
junction of the two Atlantics. If you are
dying of thirst you'll be glad to DO pick ed
mp though the ship we should fall In we're
bound Toto" and my cousin with an ex-
pressive face pointed downward.
Don't talk to me. Leave it all to Tom.
lie is an Old sailor, and will he risk the
liberty he got this dayP l would sink and
drown in his arms sooner than stay in this
detestable ship or not be by his side where
ever he goes"
LAY, that's ali very well. But I'm 10
make one in the boat, remember. Pm very
sorry for Butler and Ike him greatly. al
though, hang me, il think his prison ex
peTienee las improved his manners; but |
don't see my way to 90 down hand in hand
with him."
Hold your tongue" cried, "the darling
saved your life and this is your gratitude"
He got up and went aft and stood looking
at the gig.
/ walked to the poop rail and looked down
at the mass Of coDyicts who filled the decks.
Some OF them were throwing the remains
of the barricades overheard. A considpra-
bic group stood near the port gangway,
and every one of that gang carried SOL
dier's musket. with the bayonet fixed. Some
OF these fellows had acted as first and sec
ond captains" under the doctor. They
NClS Hbh lteo HDleN III LNt cuQuN, q ieR IN
that Interior did indeed continue o drunk
enly shout out choruses. Here and there n
feion roamed with lurching steps, and often
with cut face and blood uuon him, as
though from savage scnffic; but ! soon
noticed that If this sort OF fellows got into
the peoples way they were elbowed and
Kicked without ceremony even 10 the ex-
tent OF being thrown headl0ng Most OF the
noisiest and the wounded people were |
young In truth, already was sensible of |
a change in tie bearing of the unhappy |
men. They stood in bodies watching what
was going forward. The first camorous |
brutal transports, the early delirious pas |
siOns which successful rebellion and the
possession OF freedom had excited were
Perha, S they had not met with
drink enough yet to make them all the
fierce. wild, shouting, exuliing demons
some of them had been changed into by the
cuddy drains. Be this as it may, there was
less confusion; the senseless bawling was
become rare; on deck the shouts broke
,1., fr1~ -