Part 10 (1/2)
”We must be out of this as fast as we can,” said Mr Saunders to me, ”for very likely those fellows who made their escape will rouse their friends, and we may have a mob of all the ruffians in the town upon us before we can reach the boats.”
What had become of Mother McCleary and her a.s.sistants we could not tell.
She probably thought it wise to keep out of the way, lest any of her late guests might suspect her of betraying them, as she probably had done. We had not got more than half-way towards the boats, when our ears were saluted by a chorus of yells and shrieks, and we could distinguish through the gloom on either side of us a ma.s.s of human beings, apparently intending to attempt the rescue of our prisoners.
”I warn you, good people, that if you come nearer, I'll give my men orders to fire on you,” shouted my lieutenant.
A volley of wild yells burst from the mob, sufficient to unnerve many who had not before heard such cries. Directly afterwards a brickbat flew past my head, aimed, no doubt, at the more prominent figure of the lieutenant. Fortunately, it missed us both.
”Remember, if any of you are killed, you'll have brought the punishment on yourselves,” again shouted the lieutenant.
Though the people yelled as before, the warning had its effect, and we could see the dark moving ma.s.s retreating to a more respectful distance.
They, apparently, only wanted a leader to make an onslaught. That leader, however, was not to be found. Had Hoolan been at liberty, I have no doubt but that we should have fared but ill. As it was, missiles from a distance came flying by us, though the prisoners suffered more than we did. Mr Saunders was naturally anxious to avoid bloodshed. At length the boats were reached. Again Hoolan made a desperate effort to get free, but he was hauled on board, and thrust down to the bottom of the pinnace, the rest of the men being disposed of, some in her, and others in the jolly-boat, of which Nettles.h.i.+p took charge. As we shoved off the people collected on the quay, saluting us with renewed yells and execrations, and brickbats, stones, mud, and filth were hurled at us. We speedily, however, got beyond their reach, no one receiving any serious damage.
”We've made a fine haul,” observed Mr Saunders as we pulled down the river. ”We shall soon turn these fellows into good seamen, as obedient and quiet as lambs.”
”I'm thinking, sir, that you'll not find Dan Hoolan as quiet as a lamb,”
I observed; and I told him of the encounter my uncle and I had had with the outlaw and his followers.
”That'll make no difference,” answered Mr Saunders. ”When he finds that he can't escape, if he's got any sense in his brains he'll bend to circ.u.mstances.”
I still, however, doubted whether my lieutenant's opinion would prove right.
When the boats arrived alongside the frigate, our captives, being unable to help themselves, were hoisted up like bales of goods, and made to stand on the deck in a line. They all looked sulky enough as the lantern was held up to their faces; but Hoolan's countenance wore a ferocious aspect, which made me think that it would have been as well to have left him on sh.o.r.e to be hanged, which in all probability would ultimately have been his fate. Mr Saunders had changed his rough dress for his proper uniform, and as he went round to inspect the prisoners Hoolan recognised him, and so savage did he look that I thought he would have sprung at his throat.
”Are you the captain of the s.h.i.+p?” he asked in a fierce tone.
”No, I'm not the captain, but an officer, who you'll be compelled to obey,” answered Mr Saunders, interrupting him. ”Keep down what was rising to your tongue, or it'll be the worse for you.”
”I'm no seaman, and I don't want to be after going to sea; and I beg you to tell me for what reason you knocked me down against the law?”
”You were found among seamen, and if you're not one we'll make you one before long, my fine fellow,” said the lieutenant.
”Arrah, it'll be a hard matter to do that same,” cried Hoolan, but he spoke in a less savage tone than at first.
”We shall see to that,” said Mr Saunders as he pa.s.sed on to the other men, most of whom appeared quiet enough. Even Hoolan's followers didn't venture to say anything, having a just conception of the stern discipline on board a man-of-war. The execution of one or more seamen for frequent desertion, of which I have before spoken, showed them that they could not venture to play tricks with impunity.
Having had their names,--or such as they chose to give,--ages, and other particulars entered, they were sent down to the main-deck under a strong guard, with a hint that should they exhibit the slightest degree of insubordination it would be the worse for them.
The light of a lantern happened to fall on my face while I was pa.s.sing Hoolan, who, with the rest, were seated on the deck, where they were to pa.s.s the remainder of the night. He started up, and glaring savagely at me, with a fierce oath exclaimed, as he stretched out his arm--
”There's one of the young traitors who brought us into this trouble. I wish we had strung you up to Saint Bridget's oak when we had you and your uncle in our power.”
”Then, as I thought, you are Dan Hoolan,” I said. ”You have now a chance of leading an honest life, and I'd advise you to take advantage of it.”
Hoolan, without replying, sank back on the deck.
I was glad enough to turn in, and slept soundly till the hammocks were piped up next morning.
On coming on deck I saw Blue Peter flying at the masthead of our own s.h.i.+p, and at those of the two other men-of-war, a frigate and a corvette, and of all the merchantmen. The admiral fired a signal-gun.