Part 33 (1/2)
”Think so, sir?” cried the ain That's the ht, then, sir I couldn't tell, because ot; but you weren't hit, and of course you'd know”
Just then there came a low, piteous, half-stifled wail fros, that his voice sounded changed and suffocated, as he whispered,--
”I've often said that I was sorry I came to sea, Tom Fillot, so as to be sent on this horrible slavery business, but I'ht, sir”
”And we'll have that schooner back, and set those poor creatures free if I die for it”
”That you shall, sir,” cried Tom Fillot ”No, no, that you shan't, I mean”
”Not take her?” said Mark, half aloud in his surprise
”Hist! No, no, sir I didn't mean that; I mean not die for it”
”Oh, I see”
”You shall take her, sir, as soon as you give the word; but, begging your pardon, sir, if I ht ask a favour for me and the men--”
”Yes; what is it?”
”Don't be too hard on us, sir, in the way of orders”
”What do youI shall not try to do myself”
”Oh, it ain't that, Mr Vandean, sir We know you for a fine, plucky young gent, as we'd follohere What I meant was, don't be too stiff with the'ears, but we should like to give it 'em as hard as we can”
”Do, Tom,” whispered Mark, excitedly ”The beasts! the wretches! the unmanly brutes! Oh, how can those poor blacks be such pitiful, miserable cowards, and not rise up and kill the villains who seize them and treat them in such a way!”
”I'll tell you, sir It's because they've been beaten I don't ht, and made prisoners up the country Since then they've been chained and driven and starved and knocked about till all the ot a spark o' pluck left You take 'em and treat 'em well, and it all comes back, like it did to poor old Soup and poor old Taters They was fast growing into good, stiff,in 'ein a man All a matter o' taste, sir Dessay the black ladies thinks they're reg'lar han'soly as sin”
”We must have that schooner, Toot it, sir, and we'll sail her up to the port with flying colours You'll see”
”I hope you'll turn out a true prophet, To to whisper to the boys what you say, and then I'o on board and kick those chaps over the side”
”No killing, Too quite so far as that,” said the sailor gri to hishis eyes in the direction of the schooner, hot, excited, but without the slightest sensation of shrinking This had given place to an intense longing for action, which made his heart beat with a heavy throb, while, fro in his throat, as he thought of the agony of the poor creatures pent-up in the stifling heat of the schooner's hold, so to join their fellows in the silent waters, happily released froht that he did not notice Toave quite a start as the man laid a hand upon his knee
”Look there, sir,” he whispered
”Eh? where?”