Part 39 (2/2)
”Cowardly--begging your pardon, sir--ain't half bad enough word for it, Mr Vandean? sir”
”One ht not to risk it, and the next I feel that I ought, Too upon, but--Oh, I can't, as I ao away, perhaps loaded with slaves, Toht, I must do it”
”Three cheers for you, sir!” cried To in it, for if you ht Then now, sir, shall I have a little more canvas shook out, and alter her course, sir?”
”No,” cried Mark, firmly
”You won't try and take her, sir?” said the sailor, despondently
”Indeed, but I will, Toin to chase her, she'll be off, and sail perhaps as quickly as we do Weto take no notice, and then be ready to go aboard”
”Why, of course, sir My, what a dunder-headed beetle of a fellow I a's the word”
”Yes,” said Mark, decisively now ”Now, my lads, quick Off with those duck frocks, all of you, and et that Anals us, and send the blacks below, all but our two and their gang Let them lie down on the deck”
The blacks looked surprised at being sent down into the stifling hold, but Soup see of as intended, and he spoke eagerly to his coood deal of gesticulation, to the men whom he had selected for his followers These appeared to understand as on the way, looking earnestly at the distant vessel, and then taking the positions assigned to theh
”They'll walk into the trap beautiful, sir, see if they don't,” he said
”Lor', sir, if you only could make yourself look like the Yankee skipper, we should be lovely”
Mark said nothing, but quietly went on with his preparations He made the man at the wheel look as much as possible like an ordinary sailor, and transfor his instructions about the men's duck frocks, he partly lowered down the boat with an ar Toht, and ready for hi below, he made a few alterations in his own dress, so as to conceal the fact that he was in uniform; threw his belt, dirk, jacket, and cap into the stern-sheets of the boat, and clapped a Panama hat, which he found in the cabin, upon his head Then he walked about the deck in shi+rt and trousers, and with the Yankee skipper's big spy-glass under his ar he did was to plant two of thelooking over the bulwarks, and watching the co vessel
For she had altered her course and ca her colours--the Stars and Stripes--the sa sent aloft by dick Bannock at a word from Mark
”Now, my lads,” he said, ”whatever you do in the boat, keep out of sight If they catch a gliside”
”Ay, ay, sir,” caerly from the boat in which the two black sailors had also been stowed, each looking eager and excited about the work to coht, and a couple of hours passed, with Mark's steerser, which, having the advantage of the wind, glided down to the to speak them, and ask for news
”It couldn't be better, sir,” said Toars and slass now and then”
”But I can't smoke, Tom”