Part 13 (1/2)
In the course of the voyage they overhauled _The Star_, a four-masted s.h.i.+p bound from New York to Dover. For hours the two vessels were so close that the pa.s.sengers engaged in a kind of battle. Those on _The Star_ began it by hurling turnips at the men on the other s.h.i.+p who responded with a volley of apples. Solomon discerned on the deck of the stranger Captain Preston and an English officer of the name of Hawk whom he had known at Oswego and hailed them. Then said Solomon:
”It's a s.h.i.+p load o' Tories who've had enough of Ameriky. They's a cuss on that tub that I helped put a coat o' tar an' feathers on in the Ohio kentry. He's the one with the black pipe in his mouth. I don't know his name but they use to call him Slops--the dirtiest, low-downdest, d.a.m.n Tory traitor that ever lived. Helped the Injuns out thar in the West. See that 'ere black pipe? Allus carries it in his mouth 'cept when he's eatin'. I guess he goes to sleep with it. It's one o' the features o' his face. We tarred him plenty now you hear to me.”
That evening a boat was lowered and the Captain of _The Snow_ crossed a hundred yards of quiet sea to dine with the Captain of _The Star_ in the cabin of the latter. Next day a stiff wind came out of the west.
All sail was spread, the s.h.i.+ps began to jump and gore the waves and _The Star_ ran away from the smaller s.h.i.+p and was soon out of sight.
Weeks of rough going followed. Meanwhile Solomon stuck to his task.
Every one was sick but Jack and the officers, and there was not much cooking to be done.
Because he had to take off his coat while he was working in the galley, Solomon gave the precious letter into Jack's keeping.
Near the end of the sixth week at sea they spied land.
”We cheered, for the ocean had shown us a tiger's heart,” the young man wrote. ”For weeks it had leaped and struck at us and tumbled us about.
The crossing is more like hards.h.i.+p than anything that has happened to me. One woman died and was buried at sea. A man had his leg broken by being thrown violently against the bulwarks and the best of us were b.u.mped a little.
”Some days ago a New Yorker who was suspected of cheating at cards on the complaint of several pa.s.sengers was put on trial and convicted through the evidence of one who had seen him marking a pack of the s.h.i.+p's cards. He was condemned to be carried up to the round top and made fast there, in view of all the s.h.i.+p's company for three hours and to pay a fine of two bottles of brandy. He refused to pay his fine and we excommunicated the culprit refusing either to eat, drink or speak with him until he should submit. Today he gave up and paid his fine.
Man is a sociable being and the bitterest of all punishments is exclusion. He couldn't stand it.”
About noon on the twenty-ninth of November they made Dover and anch.o.r.ed in the Downs. Deal was about three miles away and its boats came off for them. They made a circuit and sailed close in sh.o.r.e. Each boat that went out for pa.s.sengers had its own landing. Its men threw a rope across the breakers. This was quickly put on a windla.s.s. With the rope winding on its windla.s.s the boat was slowly hauled through the surge, its occupants being drenched and sprinkled with salt water.
They made their way to the inn of The Three Kings where two men stood watching as they approached. One of them Jack recognized as the man Slops with the black pipe in his mouth.
”That's him,” said the man with the black pipe pointing at Solomon, whereupon the latter was promptly arrested.
”What have I done?” he asked.
”You'll learn directly at 'eadquarters,” said the officer.
Solomon shook hands with Jack and said: ”I'm glad I met ye,” and turned and walked away with the two men.
Jack was tempted to follow them but feeling a hidden purpose in Solomon's conduct went into the inn.
So the friends parted. Jack being puzzled and distressed by the swift change in the color of their affairs. The letter to Doctor Franklin was in his pocket--a lucky circ.u.mstance. He decided to go to London and deliver the letter and seek advice regarding the relief of Solomon.
At the desk in the lobby of The Three Kings he learned that he must take the post chaise for Canterbury which would not be leaving until six P.M. This gave him time to take counsel in behalf of his friend.
Turning toward the door he met Captain Preston, who greeted him with great warmth and wished to know where was Major Binkus.
Jack told the Captain of the arrest of his friend.
”I expected it,” said Preston. ”So I have waited here for your s.h.i.+p.
It's that mongrel chap on The Star who got a tarring from Binkus and his friends. He saw Binkus on your deck, as I did, and proclaimed his purpose. So I am here to do what I can to help you. I can not forget that you two men saved my life. Are there any papers on his person which are likely to make him trouble?”
”No,” said Jack, thinking of the letter lying safely in his own pocket.
”That's the important thing,” Preston resumed. ”Binkus is a famous scout who is known to be anti-British. Such a man coming here is supposed to be carrying papers. Between ourselves they would arrest him on any pretext. You leave this matter in my hands. If he had no papers he'll be coming on in a day or two.”
”I'd like to go with you to find him,” said Jack.