Part 17 (2/2)

”'I give in,' said Toney

”'Co then,' said his visitor

”Toney crawled out and up the ladder of the antine, a rakish-looking craft, with several officers standing aft by the captain, and a nu who his fist and shaking it at Joe, who stood with a brazen face looking as if the threat could not be intended for hiry, my man?' asked an officer, whom he supposed to be the captain

”'Can't say but what I arub for you when you've signed these articles'

”'Should like to knohat they are, sir,' said Toney

”'There's the book; you may read them,' said the captain 'Put your nareat hand at reading or writing He could just e to scrawl his name He tried to make out what the articles were about, but it was more than he could do

”'Corub?' asked the captain

”Toney felt as if he should drop if he didn't get soalley caed to write his name, in a fashi+on

”'That'll do, my man,' says the captain 'You're now one of the crew, and under my orders We've pretty strict discipline aboard here

There's the yard-arside'

”Toney was now allowed to go forward and enjoy a good blow out, which he much needed He felt more like himself afterwards He soon showed that there was not a better sea particular occurred to show the character of the vessel Joe kept out of his way until he got into a better teain They ran to the southward till they were in the latitude of the Guinea Coast, when they fell in with a craft, into which they discharged part of their cargo in exchange for so several vessels, capturing sooes out of the the doubloons in exchange Their guns and their numerous crew made resistance impossible They onderfully successful in their proceedings, until one day they fell in with a British frigate and had to up stick and run for it The African coast had become too hot for them, so they stood away for the Caribbean Sea and Spanish Main Here they carried on worse than before The crews of all vessels which resisted werehad been taken out worth having, were sent to the botto an honesttarred with the same brush, if taken he would share the fate of the rest He determined to cut and run on the first opportunity A strict watch was kept on hihts, hinted that the yard-arm would be his fate if he made the atteet off, but the matter was settled for hi a heavy gale one night, was struck by lightning and blew up, Toney and two others only finding the the wreck Joe Gubbins was one of these Toney et hold of the s out of the water and was trying to help Joe Gubbins, when Joe, with a shriek, disappeared The other man shared the same fate Toney expected to die, but the next day he was picked up by an English sloop-of-war; and as he took care not to give a very clear account of the craft he had been aboard of, he was allowed to enter as one of her crew Here he ave the account of his adventure”

I thought to myself perhaps the ”Emu” is employed in the same sort of trade as the ”Viper,” and if so, I shall be as badly off as Toney Lawson

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The hold--My provisions becoer, I persevere--The spar-deck--Not out yet--A ray of light--My prostrate condition--My ives way--A curious trio--The main hatchway--Fresh difficulties arise--A last effort--I ahost--I make a new friend and meet with an old one--The crew of the shi+p--My new quarters--I receive a piece of advice from my new friend--Mark's adventures, and how he caets into trouble

The recollection of Toney Lawson's adventure didn't tend to make me feel any more comfortable than before I could scarcely hope to be as well off as he was, or to have so fortunate an escape My provisions being exhausted, I are that I et out of the hold or perish, yet I didn't anticipatemy liberty No time was, however, to be lost, and I therefore nervedthat I hadput on my shoes, I prepared to make a desperate atteh the crate, and once es into the main hold

I tried to do this in several directions, but I found no opening so pro as the one which I had before explored My weakness preventedthe exertions that were required to forcedown a crevice, and being jammed to death My situation in some respects was infinitely worse than that of Toney Lawson, as bolted in, but then people knehere he was No one on deck are of my deplorable condition Still I crawled on, resolved to succeed While feeling about, I discovered a space between three or four bales I crept in very oing I could not tell whether I should get through or have to force er inducedupabove ht, though there ht fall

I reatest caution It turned out, however, that they were only bales piled one upon another, and that I was standing in a sort of well Still there were stepping-places, and with the ropes which bound the bales I was able to work ot I could now distinctly hear the footsteps of the reat distance above , and I was thus preserved fro

I still moved on till I reached a part of the hold filled chiefly, it appeared to -cases and casks I was alht have been the spar-deck Wearied with the fatigue I had undergone, I sat down on a box to rest I could now distinctly hear not only the tread of the men's feet, but their voices

They were the first human voices which had reached my ears for days, or rather weeks I tried to shout to attract their attention, but my voice had completely failed th to move an inch further

Twice I ain onupward, the only direction froht uponmy weakness, I started up