Part 22 (2/2)

”Well, then, Larry, go and rouse him up at once, for if he doesn't come down soon there'll be only you and Logan to look after the s.h.i.+p, as I'm pretty well done up.”

”Hush, Mr Terence! I'd like to see Logan kept at the helm,” said Larry, putting his hand to his mouth; ”for when he goes forward I am after thinking that the Frenchmen will be tempting him with the liquor, and he's not the boy to refuse a gla.s.s of the crathur when it's put before his nose.”

”I'll speak to Nash when he comes,” I said. ”Take a look-out ahead before you go below.”

In a short time Ben Nash came aft, hitching up his trousers and rubbing his eyes as if just awakened out of sleep. I gave him my directions, and inquired about the rest of the crew.

”Why, sir, the watch below don't seem inclined to turn out and the men forward seem more asleep than awake,” he answered. ”It seems to me that they have been having a drop too much; I only hope we shan't have to shorten sail, or there won't be many of them fit to go aloft.”

Ben's reply confirmed what Larry told me. It made me very unwilling to turn in, but so overpowerful was my sleepiness, that I knew it would be impossible for me to keep awake much longer.

”I must lie down for half an hour or so,” I said, ”and if you observe anything unusual, send Larry down to call me. Let him stay by you if he can manage to keep awake, while Logan remains at the helm a short while longer.”

”Never fear, sir,” answered Nash. ”I'll do as you order me.”

Under other circ.u.mstances I should have myself gone forward and roused up the watch, but from the reports Nash and Larry had given me, I knew that it would be useless, as I had no power to enforce obedience. I therefore very unwillingly went below, and threw myself on the bed all standing, and in half a minute was fast asleep.

I didn't dream; not a thought pa.s.sed through my brain till I was at length partly awakened by a noise overhead. What it was I couldn't make out. Presently I heard some one come down, as I supposed, to call me.

Now fully awake, I was on the point of jumping up to hurry on deck, when I became aware that two persons were standing close to my berth.

”_Soyez tranquille, monsieur_,” said the voice of La Touche. ”The brig is no longer under your command; most of your people have joined my men, and they insist on carrying her into the Havanna.”

”Impossible!” I exclaimed. ”My men would not have turned traitors.

I'll go on deck and see how matters stand.”

”That we cannot allow. I did not instigate my men to recapture the vessel, they managed it themselves; but now that they have possession, I dare not order them to give her up.”

”I know that two of my people would have fought to the death rather than have turned traitors,” I exclaimed.

”Those two you speak of--the old man and the Irish lad--were overpowered, and are stowed safely below, with handcuffs on their wrists,” he answered. ”Have I your word that you'll not interfere? You treated me with courtesy, and I wish you to be allowed to remain at liberty; but if you decline to give me your word, I cannot prevent you being treated as they are.”

While he was speaking, I felt for my pistols, which I had placed at the head of the berth, intending to spring up suddenly, knock him and his companion over, and gain the deck, but they were gone. My sword had also been taken away.

I observed by the light of the lantern that his companion held, that both of them were fully armed, and prepared to resist any attack I might make on them. The countenance of the other person, who wore the uniform of a lieutenant, I did not recognise, but I guessed he must be the sick messmate to whom La Touche had been so attentive. I could not help thinking also that La Touche was not so ignorant altogether of the intentions of his crew as he a.s.serted.

”I'll consider the subject, and let you know in the course of a few minutes, if you'll give me that time for reflection,” I answered.

I was anxious to gain time, for I still had a lingering hope that Nash and Larry had managed to retain their liberty, and that if I could once get on deck, we might recover possession of the brig.

”I'll not hurry you, monsieur, but shall be very much grieved if you will not give me your word, as I shall be under the painful necessity of subjecting you to an indignity such as I would willingly avoid,”

observed the lieutenant.

I spent the time in considering what I would do, and finally came to the conclusion that it would be useless to refuse the freedom offered me, as, were I handcuffed and imprisoned below, I could not a.s.sist my two faithful men, or make any attempt to recover the brig.

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