Part 48 (1/2)
Jem started, but Don did not stir
”Now you are both very young, and you have worked so well, and with soyourselves sailors, that I should be sorry for you--either of you--to be guilty of such a mad trick as desertion If you tried it, you would almost certainly be retaken, and--the punishment must follow If, on the other hand, you escaped, it would be into the savage country before you, where you would fall into the hands of sos I daresay you have heard what takes place afterwards, when the Maori tribes have taken prisoners?”
Jen
”Ah! I see you know,” continued the captain, ”so I need say little uilty of such an act of madness as you conte which the law gives me power to do for the preservation of the discipline of ive an order, ”will be placed in irons for the present”
He n, and the two prisoners were taken below deck, and placed in irons
”Better than being hung, ruffly; and soon after they were alone, with a sentry on duty not far from where they were seated
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
TOMATL'S PROMISE
”Wonder whether Mike ever had a taste of this sort o' thing, Mas' Don,”
said Jem, after they had sat in silence so any atte in irons when he spun yarns about adventures”
”Jenantly; and as if it only wanted his companion's words to start him in a furious outburst of passion; ”it is sharace”
”Hush, hush, my lad! Don't take it that way They arn't so werry heavy, and they don't hurtus as if ere thieves”
”What, being ironed, sir? Well, it do seem a bit hard”
”It's cruel! It's horrible! And he had no right to do it for such an offence”
”Steady, my lad, steady The sentry 'll hear you, and have his turn, p'r'aps, at telling tales”
”But he had no right to do this, I say”
”P'r'aps not, Mas' Don; but skippers does just what they please when they're out at sea in war ti us once”
”He would not dare,” said Don
”Well, if he did, I should have liked to have a feords first with Mr Ra chaps I ever set eyes on, he's about the worst”
”A mean, cowardly spy!” cried Don
”Ah, that's it; so he is, Mas' Don; a mean, cowardly spy I couldn't think o' them words, but they're just what he is--Say, Mas' Don”