Part 8 (1/2)
”Ay, lads, 'Better is a dry crust with contentment,'” remarked old Jim
”But how to leave the shi+p, so as to escape without being followed-- there's the difficulty”
”'Where there's a will there's a way,'” said Reuben ”If it ht, lad,” said Croxton; ”it must be done, for we deserve the fate of villains if we consort with theh I'll not say that all on board this unhappy shi+p are equally bad There are lad to escape from her if they had but the chance”
”It must be done,” repeated Reuben ”WeFrenchman and our own felloill be sure to join, and I think that there's three or four others--et away at any risk”
”We must run the risk, and it isn't a small one,” said Croxton ”If they were to catch us, they'd kill us There's no doubt about that”
The whole plan was soon settled--ere to be got to join--the boat to be taken--the way she was to be lowered Devereux and O'Grady were to be told of it when all was ready, and were to be brought up on deck as soon as it was dark, and stoay in the boat herself till the moment of escape had arrived Paul was usually employed to carry food to the midshi+pmen Sometimes, however, Croxton went, so suspected Paul waited till night-- the ti a lantern under his jacket, carefully groped his way down to the fro it into execution O'Grady, especially, was heartily weary of his confines will ever be able to stretch the, like herrings in a cask,” he exclaimed, in the low tone in which it was necessary to speak
”We owe you a heavy debt, Gerrard, and if you succeed in getting us out of this, it will be a huge deal greater”
”If it were not for old Jim and Reuben Cole, I could be but of little use, so say nothing about that, Mr O'Grady,” answered Paul ”I a to try and find out on the charts, when thehis day's work, exactly where we are, and if there's land near, we et away to-morrow”
Paul felt far fro that the mutineers suspected him, and that he should suddenly find himself seized and thrown overboard What he dreadedHis two friends had in the ht join them, but whether all were favourable to the plan he could not ascertain His eye was constantly on thehim near, sent him for his quadrant and tables This was just what Paul wanted He stood by while the observations were being taken, and then, carrying the instruht out the chart, and placed it before hi anxiously the movements of his companion as he measured off the distance run since the previous day
More than once the hed deeply
”In five or six days raceful task will be done,” he muttered, as he moved the compasses towards the coast of the Spanish no consented to the murder of one down, and the whole history of the butchery been hid froe Yet God knows it, and it may teach officers for the future the dreadful consequences of tyranny and cruelty”
He continued on in the sa Paul retired to a distance ”Shall I ask the ht to hireatly increase the risk of our being caught” He waited till the master was silent He went back to the table ”Shall I put up the charts?” he asked ”But before I do so, will you, sir, kindly shohere we are?”
Since the outbreak the poor master had not been treated with so much respect He showed Paul the exact position of the shi+p, the neighbouring lands, and re currents and winds
Paul rolled up the chart, and put it in its place He fancied that the hts Paul soon after met his friends, and told thereed that they would wait till it was the master's watch, for so few of the mutineers could take command of a watch, that he was compelled constantly to be on deck It was suspected that he had at tiiven way to intemperance, and Paul had observed more than once that when he ca, and that he frequently dropped asleep when sitting on a gun or leaning against the side of the shi+p Many of the seamen who had free access to the spirit-rooh the chief mutineers, from necessity, kept sober The once well-ordered man-of-war soon became like a lawless buccaneer Thecards and dice between the guns, so in any shady place they could find
Paul passed old Croxton on deck ”We shall have little difficulty in accooes on,” he whispered
”Yes, Paul, what is lost by fools is gained by wise ain more than all by the work done on board this shi+p He will soon leave his poor dupes to wish that they had never been born”
Paul and his friends waited anxiously for night: they had resolved no longer to delay their attempt
”I'll take care that they don't follow us,” said Reuben
”What do you mean?” asked Paul
”I'll tell you, lad,” was the answer; and he whispered so into his coreat deal to be done, and longed for the moment of action He observed with satisfaction that frequent visits wereThe shi+p sailed steadily over the calht drew on Paul's heart beat unusually fast He waited till he was sure that he was not perceived, and then he climbed into one of the boats He was there for soot into another; and so he visited all in succession Again he slunk down below
At length the ht, for those latitudes, was unusually dark, but the sea was slided calmly on, the ripple h the water showing, however, that a fair breeze filled her sails
The radually sunk down on it, resting his head on his hands The hel at the broad spread of canvas above hiht shi+ning in the binnacle before hiht hand nor to the left The rest of the watch placed theuns, and were soon, whatever ht have been their intention, fast asleep One by one others now stole on deck towards the boat Paul had last visited Not a as spoken At length two ures on their backs The latter were carefully deposited in the boat, which was quickly lowered The whole reatest rapidity and in the h drowsy, could not have been entirely asleep, took no notice of the over the side, a dark objectastern It was a boat, which contained Paul Gerrard and his companions, who had thus made their perilous escape from the blood-stained shi+p Not till they were far astern did any one venture to speak Devereux at last drew a deep sigh