Part 46 (1/2)
”The old _ladrone_, Striker, began it. But what will astonish you still more; the first mate knows all our plans, and's agreed to go in along with us. He's at the head of the mutineers, too, and insists on the same thing. They swear, if we don't divide equally, the strongest will take what they can. I've hastened hither to ask you what we'd best do.”
”They're determined, are they?”
”To the death--they all say so.”
”In that case,” mutters Gomez, after a moment or two spent in reflection, ”I suppose we'll have to yield to their demands. I see no help for it. Go straight back, and say something to pacify them. Try to put things off, till we have time to consider. _Maldita_! this is an unexpected difficulty--ugly as sin itself!”
Padilla is about to return to his discontented s.h.i.+pmates on the forward-deck; but is saved the journey, seeing them come aft. Nor do they hesitate to invade the sacred precincts of the quarter; for they have no fear of being forbidden. There they pause for a few seconds, and then continue on.
Soon they mount to the p.o.o.p-deck, and cl.u.s.ter around the wheel; the whole crew now present--mates as men--all save the captain and cook.
And all take part in the colloquy that succeeds, either in speech or by gesture.
The debate is short, and the question in dispute soon decided. Harry Blew and Jack Striker are the chief spokesmen; and both talk determinedly; the others, with interests identical, backing them up by gestures, and exclamations of encouragement.
”s.h.i.+pmates!” says the first officer, ”this thing we're all after should be equally divided between us.”
”Must be,” adds Striker, with an oath. ”Share and share alike. That's the only fair way. An' the only one we'll gie in to.”
”Stick to that, Striker!” cries Davis: ”we'll stand by ye.”
”_Pe gar! certainement_,” endorses the Frenchman, ”Vat for no? _Sacre bleu_! ve vill. I am for _les droits de matelot_--_le vrai chose democratique_. Vive le fair play!”
Dane and Dutchman, with Tarry and Slush, speak in the same strain.
The scene is as short, as violent. The Spaniards perceiving themselves in a minority, and a position that threatens unpleasant consequences, soon yield, declaring their consent to an equal distribution of the ”dust.”
After which, the men belonging to the off-watch retire to the forecastle, and there betake themselves to their bunks; while the others scatter about the decks.
Gil Gomez remains at the wheel, his time not yet being up; Hernandez beside him. For some moments, the two are silent, their brows shadowed with gloom. It is not pleasant to lose fifty thousand dollars apiece; and something like this have they lost within the last ten minutes.
Still there is a reflection upon which they can fall back well calculated to soothe them--other bright skies ahead.
Gomez first returning to think of this, says:
”Never mind, _amigo_. There will be money enough to serve our present purposes all the same. And for the future we can both build on a good sure foundation.”
”On what?”
”On our 'Castles in Spain!'”
CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.
COLDLY RECEIVED.
The _mal de mer_ is no respecter of persons. Voyagers of every age, and either s.e.x, must pay toll to it; the which it indiscriminately, if not equally, exacts from the strong robust youth, and the frail delicate maiden. Even beauty must submit to this merciless malady; at whose touch red lips turn pale, and rose-tinted cheeks show wan and wasted.
Afflicting, on first acquaintance with it, it is always more or less disagreeable, and ever ready at offering its hand to those who go down to the sea in s.h.i.+ps--that hand whose very touch is palsy.
The voyage Carmen Montijo and Inez Alvarez are now making is not their first. Both have been at sea before--in the pa.s.sage out from Spain.
But this does not exempt them from the terrible infliction, and both suffer from it.