Part 25 (1/2)
The boat started back with the doctor, while the other took out an anchor right astern, the capstan was rigged, a good strain got upon the cable, and after a great deal of tugging with the handspikes the an to strain harder, for the tide had risen a little, and the schooner gradually glided off into deeper water
An answering cheer canal was hoisted, which Mr Russell read toat anchor, and To to whisper to Mark,--
”We did tug at the of a s to have a bit of a wash and swab?”
”More signals, sir,” cried Bob, atching the _Nautilus_ and the flags being run up
”Yes, I see,” said the lieutenant ”Take the boat, Mr Howlett, and ask for stores to be sent on board here We are to remain”
Bob looked disappointed, and then pleased
”You're in for it, Van,” he whispered, as they walked to the gangway
”I say, shall I send you a bottle of eau-de-cologne with the stores?”
Mark esture as if to kick him, but Bob dropped down into the boat, was rowed off, and in due time the supplies arrived
”Not quite the sort of duty we expected, Vandean,” said the lieutenant, ”but we h with the smooth, I suppose”
”Shall we have to stop on board here?”
”Not a doubt about it, my lad; but she's a valuable prize, and by to-morroe'll have her different fro orders after the rasped the object of the taking of the schooner, and coan to ith tre a dialect somewhat different from that of the poor creatures on board, they made them understand that their lot had been bettered, and, as soon as this was understood, a cohed and cried, and the ht the hold had been cleansed and ventilated, and the deck opened to let in light, till, though still far froan to be bearable
The task had not been coh, without attendant horrors, for upon the first steps being taken to examine the hold, no less than six poor creatures, victi where they had fallen--dead
It was horrible in the extre else could be done, and the sufferers were committed to the deep by their rief and beatings of the breast Then all was over, and the cleansing went on, till Mr Russell gave orders for the rumbled Tom Fillot ”There's been some hundred millions o' buckets o' water slooshed about this here schooner”
”More or less, Toht,” said theup buckets and swabbing till I don't seem to have no arms Howsoever, we are a little biton our consciences to-night”
”What do you ers'll die 'cause of our not taking care on 'em, sir, that's all”
Just before dark, Bob Howlett was back on board with a despatch for the lieutenant, and soon after he had gone Mr Russell told Mark the contents
”We're to make sail as soon as there's a breath of wind,” he said, ”and steer for Port Goldby, so as to get the blacks ashore and in charge of the authorities as quickly as possible But there will be no wind to-night, my lad, and I shouldn't be surprised if it was calm all day to-morrow Still, there, one never knohat the weather is likely to be”
”It's callassy sea to where a thin haze veiled the shore ”How hot it is!”
”Yes; Africa deserves its character,” said the lieutenant, sroups of blacks--slaves no longer--lying about the deck in coh--”I must send those poor creatures below,” he said ”I don't think there is the ainst us, but the land is near, and they ht think they would like to strike off for liberty, and it would be a cruelty to let theot ashore”
”It does see hold,” said Mark; ”but I suppose it must be done”