Part 15 (1/2)
Joe spoke in a matter-of-fact tone; but it could be seen that he was laboring under no less excitement than the sailor; and the latter, beginning to realize the weakness of their position, asked hoa.r.s.ely:
”What do you think we ought to do?”
”Wait awhile till we see how they're going to act;” and then the engineer ascended the companion-ladder to ascertain the condition of affairs forward.
CHAPTER XIV.
A BARGAIN.
It surely seemed as if those who had been carried away by the Bonita were to have their cup of trouble filled to the brim. Running ash.o.r.e on a pleasant night when there was every reason to believe they were near a home port was looked upon as a great disaster at the time; but now it dwindled into a trifle before the dangers which menaced.
There could no longer be a question but that the strangers were ripe for any mischief, even at the expense of a drawn battle, and Joe was inclined to believe they might vanquish his party.
”They're hard tickets, and were most likely marooned here because of their misdeeds,” he muttered to himself as he lounged on deck to ascertain if the enemy had made any change of position. ”It'll take some mighty neat work to get us out of this sc.r.a.pe, for we can't risk a fight, and it's a question whether Bob can be held in check.”
The men yet remained forward, where, in the shadow of the forecastle, they could have the benefit of the light land breeze, and were apparently indifferent as to what move the rightful crew of the brig might make.
Joe stood on the quarter-dock nearly half an hour trying in vain to decide upon some plan which would at least promise success, and then he went below, looking, as in fact he felt, his lack of hope in the final result.
”It's pretty near high water,” he said to Bob, who was making one more search of the cabin with the idea that it might yet be possible to find weapons, ”and the question is, are we going to lose this tide without making an effort to launch the brig?”
”What can we do?” the old sailor asked impatiently. ”It don't stand to reason that them villains would be any more decent if she was afloat than they are now!”
”And before many days there'll come an easterly wind which will drive her up on the sand beyond all chance of ever being launched again!”
”That's jes' what is makin' me almost wild!” Bob cried as he turned and faced the engineer, ”She oughter be floated between now an' to-morrow night; but it can't be done!”
”Why not?” Joe asked calmly. ”I've been turning matters over in my mind, and don't see the slightest chance of ever being able to drive those men ash.o.r.e. Wouldn't it be better to join forces rather than lose the brig entirely and be dependent upon sighting some vessel to take us off the key?”
The old sailor looked up as if astonished that such a proposition should be made; but before the angry reply, which was trembling on his lips, could be spoken, Joe said gently:
”Think the whole matter over before you say anything, and take plenty of time, for we don't want to make another mistake.”
Bob looked at the speaker angrily for a moment, and then seating himself at the table with his head in his hands, he remained silent so long that the boys, who were watching him intently, believed he had fallen asleep.
”What's your plan?” he finally asked.
”It isn't what can be called a plan, but, according to my way of thinking, the only course left for us to pursue. We've _got_ to make some kind of a trade with those villains in order to get away from this place, and the sooner it's done the better.”
”Go out an' see what they'll agree to!” Bob said hoa.r.s.ely. ”I'll stand by any bargain you think half-fair.”
Joe did not wait for further conversation. He was eager to take advantage of the tide, and no time was to be lost.
”Look here, Jim,” the old sailor said, when the engineer had left the cabin, ”if Joe makes a trade with them scoundrels, as I reckon he will, something must be done to prevent you boys from bein' kicked 'round, for we can't have a fight every hour. While the brig is aground you'd best stay on board the tug, so's to be out of the way. When the grub is ready shove it on the table, an' then all three clear out, leavin' us to wait on ourselves. That'll ease things up a little.”
While Bob was thus planning to save the boys from brutal treatment, Joe had lost no time in finis.h.i.+ng his very disagreeable task.
When he went forward the men did not pay the slightest attention to his movements, but continued their conversation as if whatever he might do was no concern of theirs. It was not until he halted directly in front of the party that the red-nosed man so much as raised his eyes.