Part 11 (1/2)

”Faith, Mr Charcoal is better than he looks,” observed O'Grady, as he bade the contrast to the outside There was a large table and chairs, and several bed-places, with coverlids to the beds of rich damask, and there were numerous chests and articles of shi+ps'

furniture in corners and ranged along the wall The black, too, produced from a chest several silver and richly-e emptied a rich stew frouests, and n to fall to

This they were not slack to obey, for all were desperately hungry No one inquired of what it was cos of Devereux, as likely to be the most particular, as he hooked up what certainly looked very like the body and feet of a lizard

However, he said nothing, and minced up the remainder of his portion before he exas which caught his eye in the pot, but he said nothing, as he was too hungry to be particular

When the whole party were satisfied, the good-natured black pointed to the couches, and signified that they ht rest on them--a permission of which they did not fail immediately to avail themselves, and in a few minutes all were fast asleep The black, meantime, in spite of the warmth of the weather, sat down by the side of the fire at which he had been cooking, and gave himself up to conteuests in his power! Who could tell what injuries he had to avenge on the white ave the waited till they were so sound asleep that a great gun fired close to their ears would scarcely have awakened them, he took his crutches and stumped out of the hut Some hours passed away Paul was the first to open his eyes; no one besides his friends were in the hut

He did not like to rouse theer--the same cause which had awoke him--ro had given the more to eat in the hut O'Grady proposed that they should cliet some cocoanuts

It was, however, more easy to propose than to execute the achieveet up a tree, and then Paul made the experirasp the stehtest, helped by his coruff shout made them turn round, and old Charcoal, as they called the black, was seen sha on his crutches towards them He beckoned Paul to come down from the tree in a hich showed that he would not be disobeyed

They saw that he had a basket on his back, and, pointing to the fountain to inti its contents, which were of a very heterogeneous character, into the large stew-pot from which he had supplied their breakfast The h to convince them that it would be wise not too minutely to examine the contents of the pot The black produced soly, helped down the strange mess

Two or three days passed by, and the black continued to treat theested that he was possibly like the ogre in the fairy tale--only fattening thereed that he was a very good fellow, and the majority were of opinion that he would help them to reach the nearest British island if he had the power However, hitherto not a word had been exchanged between hi the island, but their discoveries only convinced them that it was very barren, and that noaway from it They came, to be sure, on a canoe, in which they concluded that the black occasionally went out fishi+ng; but it was only just large enough to hold him, and the paddles were nowhere to be found Soon after this, O'Grady, as in advance, saw a large boat hauled up under some bushes ”Hurrah, boys! here's a craft which will carry us to Jamaica, if need be,” he shouted, and ran on, followed by Paul and Alphonse

The tone of his voice changed as he got nearer ”She has a hty antique look about her, but she may still serve our purpose,” he said

”But I'ainst a plank, which crumbled away before the blow A kick sent another plank into fragments The whole boat was mere touchwood

There was a sht directly afterwards and had evidently been watching them at a distance

They were in a certain sense his prisoners, and yet he could not mean them ill, or he would not have treated them with so much hospitality

How he procured their food, was a question, and certainly it was his wish that they should not be able to provide it for theain they discussed the et away; but when they expressed their wish to hins, he shook his head, and tried to show that it would be ian to suspect that he had so the when they were thrown on the island; but one day, on waking, just as it was light, Paul got up, and going out, saw a schooner gliding along through the lagoon or creek leading to the hut He called up his companions, ere speedily on foot, and all rushed out to see the stranger She was a long, low, dark schooner, with mischief in her very look--such as was not at that tio about on any lawful errand,” observed old Croxton to Reuben

”I should think not, mate If ever there was a pirate, that 'ere craft is one,” was the answer

The matter was pretty well set at rest by the appearance of a black flag, which had hitherto hung against the mast, but which, non out by the breeze suddenly freshening up, exhibited the skull and cross-bones which the rovers of those days delighted to carry, either in the presence of a weak enemy, or to exhibit in triumph to their friends

The midshi+pmen felt that their uniforms would not be looked on with a favourable eye by the pirates, and yet they could not nor would have attempted to hide themselves The vessel was soon securelylowered, and hampers, casks, and cases placed in theestures, came on shore They appeared to be men of all nations and of every hue, frolishman or Dane They soon h debauch, for the greater nuan without loss of time to unpack cases of wine and provisions in a shady spot under the trees Several, however, surrounded the Englishh tone what had brought them there

Devereux replied calmly that they had been cast on the island, and hoped that he and his companions would be treated with courtesy

”That depends on how you behave yourselves, ruffly ”We want a few hands to supply the places of those ere killed in our last engageood; if not, look out for squalls”

CHAPTER SIX

The midshi+pmen and their companions were in an unpleasant predica them in no measured terms, ordered them, on the peril of their lives, to remain where they hile they the their feast Old Charcoal, the black, soon appeared fro to Croxton and Reuben, he bade thee stew-pot full of viands, and place it in the midst of the pirates The outlahen they had done this, ordered theain wanted, and then set to in earnest, digging their long knives and daggers into the pot, and ladling out its more liquid contents, some with silver, and others ooden spoons It seemed a matter of indifference to thene and claret were soon broken open, and each man seized two or three bottles, froons, which he drained in a couple of draughts Seasoned as were probably their heads, the result of these copious libations was soon apparent by the fiercer oaths they uttered, their louder laughter, and the quarrels which began to arise between those who apparently were strong friends a few minutes previously

The black had taken his seat on the ground near the of wine, Paul observed that he poured the chief part of its contents on the ground No long tireater part of the crew So, and their unsheathed knives in their hands, vociferating loudly Bloere exchanged, and wounds given, though on each occasion the coain, and applied the, others shouted and fired off their pistols in the air, and others again got up and danced wildly round their companions, till, wearied with their exertions, they reeled back to their former places Old Charcoal shouted, and applauded, and clapped his hands with the rest

The day wore on--the orgies of the outlaws continued till the larger nuround, surrounded by broken bottles, though a few retained sufficient sense to reel towards the hut, where round could afford were to be found The black followed, n to Paul and his companions to remain where they were