Part 7 (1/2)
I did not quite agree with Tubbs as to negroes being born to be shut up in the hold of a slave s.h.i.+p, but I did not just then contradict him. By a faint gleam, like the light of a glow-worm, which came down from overhead, we knew that it was morning, and soon afterwards we felt the s.h.i.+p heel over to larboard, or port as it is now called. In a short time the increasing motion also showed us that the sea had got up. We heard sounds which indicated that sail was being shortened. We stood on, it might have been an hour, on the same tack, when the s.h.i.+p was put about, and now she heeled over more often, and pitched and tumbled about in a way which showed that it was blowing fresh. The cries of the wretched slaves, unaccustomed to the motion, reached our ears, while the tossing stirred up the bilge water and almost stifled us. Two or three hours pa.s.sed, when the s.h.i.+p became somewhat steadier. Tubbs averred that the helm had been put up, and that we were running before the wind.
”There's something taking place, although I cannot make out just what it is to a certainty; but I've a notion that there is some craft in sight which the 'Vulture' wants to escape; and if so, I hope she won't.”
”So do I, indeed,” murmured Harry. ”I shall die if we remain here much longer.”
Another hour of suffering and anxiety pa.s.sed, when Tubbs roused Harry and me--for we had dropped off in a kind of stupor--by exclaiming--
”Holloa! What was that? A shot, or I'm a Dutchman.”
As he spoke I distinctly heard the sound of a gun, though it seemed to be at a great distance. We listened with bated breath. Again there came a faint boom, and at the same instant a crash, which told us that the shot had struck the s.h.i.+p.
”Hurrah! I thought so,” cried Tom; ”there's a man-of-war in chase of us, and it is pretty evident that the 'Vulture' has no wish to engage her, or she would not have been trying to get away, as she has been for some hours past.”
We waited now with intense anxiety. We knew that the ”Vulture” was a fast craft, and that it was too likely she had just pa.s.sed within range of her pursuer's guns, but might escape notwithstanding. Except by the motion of the vessel, we could not possibly judge how we were steering.
In spite of the stifling atmosphere, our senses were wide awake. Again there came the sound of a gun. Although the shot did not strike the s.h.i.+p, yet it seemed to us that our pursuer must be nearer. Another and another shot followed. The ”Vulture's” guns were now fired, although I was surprised to find how little noise they appeared to make, and could scarcely believe that they were fired from our deck, had not Tubbs a.s.sured us of the fact. Then there came a lull, and we heard a whole broadside fired, the cras.h.i.+ng and rending sound showing that the shot had torn through the bulwarks and sides of the s.h.i.+p. The fearful shrieks which rose from the hold made us fear that the miserable slaves had suffered, though perhaps their cries rose from terror as much as from the injuries they had received. A fearful uproar ensued, the roar of the great guns, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of the slaver's crew, the shrieks and cries of the slaves, the groans of the wounded, the rending and cras.h.i.+ng of planks mingled, were well-nigh deafening even to us. Presently there came a crash. The s.h.i.+p seemed to reel, a shudder pa.s.sed through her whole frame.
”They've run us aboard,” cried Tubbs, ”and maybe the s.h.i.+p with all hands will be sent to the bottom. We must get out of this somehow to try and save our lives. There will be no one on the look-out to stop us.”
The boatswain's exclamations made us fear that probably our last moments were at hand.
”We must try and find something to help us to force our way out,” cried Tubbs. ”If we cannot get the hatch off, we must make our way through this bulkhead. Hurrah! here's an iron bar.”
As he spoke, Harry and I laid hold of it to be sure that he was not mistaken. How it came there, of course we could not tell.
”Now, keep behind me, that I may have room to use it,” he exclaimed.
We obeyed and he commenced a furious attack on the bulkhead. The crash which followed showed that he had succeeded in driving in some of the planking. He worked away with the fury of despair, fully believing that ere long the s.h.i.+p would be sent to the bottom. The noise he made prevented our hearing what was going forward on deck; indeed, all sounds were undistinguishable by this time.
”There is room to pa.s.s now,” he cried.
He led the way through an opening he had formed. We followed him, but still found that there was another bulkhead before us. He quickly attacked that, and in a few seconds had demolished a sufficient portion to enable us to creep through. We found a ladder, which led, we judged, into the captain's cabin. We climbed up it, and were just on the point of springing through a skylight which would have led us on to the p.o.o.p-deck, when we saw Captain Roderick himself enter, a pistol in his right hand and a sword in the other, his countenance exhibiting rage and despair. He did not observe us. Several casks of powder, which had been brought up to be more ready at hand, were piled in one corner of the cabin. He pointed his pistol, his intention was evidently to blow up the s.h.i.+p and all on board. In another moment his desperate purpose would have been effected. As if moved by one impulse, we all three sprang upon him, Tubbs grasping his right wrist and turning the pistol away, the bullet striking the deck above. Mercifully none of the sparks fell on the powder. Tubbs, grasping him by the throat, and throwing himself with his whole force upon him, brought him to the deck, while Harry and I each seized an arm and knelt upon his body to prevent him from rising. Although we exerted all our strength, it was with the greatest difficulty we could keep him down. He seemed now like a wild beast than a human being. He gnashed his teeth and glared fiercely at us.
”Be quiet, captain, won't you?” exclaimed Tubbs. ”We have saved you and ourselves from being blown into the air, and you ought to thank us.”
The captain made no answer. I looked round for a piece of rope or some means of securing him; for had he been set loose, he would probably have accomplished his purpose, and we, of course, were eager to get on deck and try and save our lives, for we fully believed that the ”Vulture” was on the point of sinking. The guns, however, had ceased firing, although there was a stamping overhead, the clas.h.i.+ng of hangers, and the occasional sounds of pistols at the further end of the s.h.i.+p.
”The man-of-war's men have gained the after part, and have driven the pirates forward,” observed Tubbs; ”we shall soon have some of our people here to help us.”
Again the captain gnashed his teeth and made an effort to free himself.
”It's all of no use, captain,” said Tubbs. ”I don't want to take your life, but if you don't keep quiet, I shall be obliged to draw my knife across your windpipe.”
The captain evidently fully believed that the boatswain intended to do what he threatened.
”You've treated us with less severity than we might have expected, Captain Roderick,” said Harry. ”Will you give us your word that you will not again attempt to destroy the s.h.i.+p, or to attack any of the people who have captured her, and we will conduct you into a cabin where you must remain until to-morrow, or until you are set at liberty?”
Captain Roderick made no reply.
All this time the s.h.i.+p, I should have said, had been rolling and pitching, and it was very evident that she had broken loose from the man-of-war. It might possibly be that the pirates had gained the upper hand, but the appearance of Captain Roderick below convinced us to the contrary. At length the sounds I have described ceased, although there was a continuous tramping of feet overhead, and the rattling of blocks and yards.
”They are shortening sail,” observed Tubbs; ”we shall soon have some one below to relieve us of this gentleman, and I'm thankful to say I don't believe the s.h.i.+p's going down just yet. If he had thought she was, he wouldn't have taken the trouble to try and blow her up.”
We could see Captain Roderick's eyes glaring at us, but Tubbs held him too tight by the throat to allow him to speak. So violent were his struggles, however, that he nearly got one of his arms loose, on which Tom tightened his grip until the pirate captain was nearly black in the face. In spite of this, giving a sudden jerk, he freed the arm Harry was holding down, when three persons appeared at the door. One was, I saw, a naval officer, by his uniform--the other two, seamen. I shouted to them to come to my a.s.sistance, and seeing what we were about, they sprang forward.