Part 17 (1/2)

”Toney told him how he had been paid off and had pretty well emptied his pockets of s.h.i.+ners, and was thinking that before long he must join another craft.

”'That's just what I was a thinking of too, so just step in here, mate, and we'll have a talk about the matter over a gla.s.s or two,' and he pointed to the door of a public-house which stood temptingly open to entice pa.s.sers-by.

”Toney was not one of those chaps to get drunk on every occasion, but he had no objection to good liquor when it came in his way. So, intending to pay for what he had, he went in with Joe. Joe boasted of a craft he had served aboard--a privateer, he called her. She had taken no end of prizes, and had made every one on board her as rich as Jews, only somehow or other they didn't keep their money as well as Jews did, 'and that's the reason why my pockets ain't lined as well as they were a few weeks ago,' observed Joe. Toney, who was a steady sort of a man, didn't quite like the account Joe gave of the 'Viper's' cruise Joe was talking about.

”'Why, to my mind, she's no better than a bloodthirsty pirate,' he said.

”Joe laughed. 'You're too particular, mate,' said he. ''Tain't no worse than many another crew afloat.'

”However, he didn't press the point any longer, but emptying his gla.s.s, called upon Toney to drink up his, and ordered more and more liquor in, when Toney said he would not take another drop. At last Toney didn't know what happened except that he found himself slipping off from his seat on to the sandy floor, and could not, for the life of him, get up again. He thought it would be better to go to sleep where he was, so he coiled himself away to have a snooze. When he woke he tried to recollect what had happened.

”He remembered that he had been sitting with Joe Gubbins, and that he somehow or other got down on the floor, so he felt about, thinking he was there still. But all was dark; and instead of a sandy floor and the legs of the tables and chairs, his hand touched only some hard pitchy planks. He stretched out his arm as high as he could, and found that there was a deck close above him. He crawled along, and came right against a bulkhead. He knew then that he must be on board a craft of some sort. He was not a man to make a fuss about nothing; and as he was still only half awake, he thought he might as well turn round and go to sleep again.

”When he roused up a second time, he felt the vessel moving to the heave of the sea. He had been too long afloat not to know that she was making good way through the water with a fresh breeze. As he was getting somewhat hungry, he didn't want to be any longer down in the hold. He thought it was time to sing out and let those on board know where he was. Having a good pair of lungs of his own, he shouted pretty l.u.s.tily, but no one came near him, nor hailed him.

”'This seems a curious job,' he said to himself; 'have they taken me for a bale of goods and hove me down here to stay till they discharge cargo?'

”Presently he heard the sound of a gun fired overhead; right aft, he judged, for he knew well enough by the movements of the vessel which way she was going. Then another, and another followed; then came a cheer, though he heard it but faintly down where he was. The guns again went off. He guessed that the craft he was on board of was being chased, and that the cheer was given because the crew had knocked away some of the enemy's spars. He could hear two or three shots strike the hull of the vessel, so he knew that they were not having the game all to themselves.

Being fond of fighting, he wished that he was on deck to take his share in it. There was no use wis.h.i.+ng without trying to get out, but whichever way he moved he found a strong bulkhead.

”Though he kicked with all his might he could not start a plank. He tried again and again, till every muscle in his body ached. At last he had to give it up. His temper was not growing very sweet, as may be supposed. He began to think whether it was Joe Gubbins that had brought him aboard, for he didn't come of his own accord, of that he was certain. He vowed that he would pay Joe off whenever he fell in with him. At last the firing ceased. He felt, by the quiver running through every plank and timber that the craft was carrying as much sail as she could bear. There was no more cheering, and he could not tell whether she had got away altogether, or was still trying to escape from a big enemy. He tried to fancy why he was kept down there all this time. He supposed that he had been forgotten by whoever brought him aboard. He could not tell whether the vessel was a king's s.h.i.+p or a privateer, but that she was not a merchantman he was pretty sure. Perhaps, if she was a man-of-war, or a privateer, she was being chased by a Frenchman, but if she was a pirate she was more likely to be running from an English frigate than any other. Still it was not likely that a pirate would venture into Plymouth Sound.

”In either case Toney didn't relish the thoughts of being captured. In one there would be a French prison in store for him, and in the other a man-of-war captain would not believe that he had been brought aboard against his will, and would declare that he had stowed himself away to escape. At last he got so hungry that he began to fear he should be starved to death. He tried another shout. His voice didn't reach those on deck. He knew by this time that it must be night. Having nothing better to do, he was going off to sleep when he heard a bolt withdrawn from the outside, and a light streamed in to where he lay.

”'Who are you?' he asked, springing up and knocking his head against the deck above him with a force which sent him backwards.

”'I'm coming to see how you're getting on, mate,' answered his visitor.

”'Badly enough,' said Toney, 'I'm as hungry as a shark, and don't like being shut up down here. Who are you?'

”'I've been sent down here to ask if you'll, like a wise man, join this craft. She wants hands, and as you're well-known to be a good seaman, you'll get a good berth aboard.'

”'I never join a craft unless I know what sort of a captain and messmates I'm a-going to have,' said Toney.

”'There are times when a man mustn't be over particular,' said his visitor. 'You're a fool if you don't say yes, so just come on deck and sign articles. You'll learn all about this craft afterwards.'

”'No, no,' said Toney; 'I never buy a pig in a poke. Tell me what?

Want to know, then I'll tell you whether I'll join or not.'

”'You'll join, whether you like it or not,' said his visitor with a growl. 'You've chosen to come aboard, and we don't allow idlers.'

”'I didn't choose to come aboard,' said Toney. 'Somebody brought me aboard when I was obfuscated, I suppose, and I'll have a reckoning with that somebody before long.'

”'If that's your notion you'll stay where you are,' said his visitor, and he slammed the door and bolted it.

”Toney was a determined fellow, but there was one thing he couldn't stand, and that was hunger. He got worse and worse. He could not sleep, and he could not shout out. By the time his visitor came again he was as meek as a lamb.

”'Are you going to join or are you not?' was the question.

”'I give in,' said Toney.