Part 31 (1/2)
During these weeks, and especially during the tiot better acquainted with their companion
At first the Spaniard was et that his neighbours were English; but Johnnie's repeated acts of courtesy and kindness, and his cheeriness at tierously despondent, broke down the barrier of race and creed and speech Hernando began to talk of hientleman adventurer aboard a Spanish shi+p; was hot-tempered and impatient of official control On several occasions whilst in harbour at Panama he had come into wordy conflict with the authorities A sailor aboard his vessel, who had acted as his servant, abused his trust, and had been soundly thrashed in consequence, had gone to the governor with a plausible story concerning a conspiracy which he declared hisHernando was in bad odour with the authorities at the tiuilty of rash and foolish speeches; so the story was believed, and he was sent to the galleys The treacherous servant was rewarded with the post of boatswain, and he used his authority over his old master with the most offensive vindictiveness
The Europeans talked with one another fairly freely Morgan and Jeffreys were looked up to by the English section The two stranger sailors had both been captured in Spanish waters some years before, and, after a period in the jail of Cadiz, sent out to the Indies; they had been galley slaves at Pana on his bench, no boatswain or free sailor within hearing, Hernando asked his two English co an escape They replied that at first they had thought of nothing else, but no ways or means offered, and they had almost abandoned the idea They detailed the story of their attempt to escape from the prison in Panama The Spaniard listened carefully
”Now,” he said, ”I have seen chances of escape froain; not for one man, mind you, but for a body of resolute felloould follow a leader There are soh rascals chained to these benches; I have sounded them, and found that I dared not trust them It is not difficult for atraitor on his coiven for the betrayal of any plot for revolt: a coward or rogue would take such a chance instantly”
”What about the Indians?” asked Jeffreys
”Sheep! I do not count upon them, and I have shown you that we dare not dependof you two and the three sailors from your shi+p that has revived lishht I know it, and have hated you for it I hope to live and find my hatred turned to esteem and affection The two sailors that were here before you I sounded long ago One is eager enough; the other has beco where failure would add to his present , and not yet cowed at all by the lash The ill never cow e to take; and I will take it, or die in a bold attempt to do so
There are seven of us prepared to plot and dare all in the dash for liberty; one of your countrymen is weak I can depend pretty confidently on four of ee at number one oar The cut-throats and thieves, that help to h if suddenly they find thehter and revenge will nerve them But we must not trust them beforehand The poor Indians, too, will strike a blow at their oppressors if a clear chance of freedo for an opportunity in one of these harbours?”
”No, nor in Panae; there are too o out with empty cabins; no one but the captain and his officers Stores have to be carried from port to port, and treasure fetched froht, that our hour will come We must watch for it, prepare for it, and use it without hesitation Are you with me in the matter?”
”Heart and soul! Heart and soul!”
A boatswain's step was heard, and nothing more was said
Chapter XLVIII
THE REVOLT OF THE SLAVES
The _Santa Maria_ returned to Panaovernor had no further need of her for a while, so she lay anchored about two cables' length from the quay The slaves remained aboard, still chained to their benches
The chain that went around their waists was attached to another piece fastened to a ring in the seat itself This attached piece was just long enough to allow a ave hialley arrived in harbour in the late afternoon, and pulled in alongside the quay wall
For a couple of hours there was plenty of bustle and confusion aboard;of soldiers, sailors, and servitors Hernando looked eagerly up to the bulwarks ; and on more than one occasion hethe water each ti to the rigging The fellow gave a quick glance down, and so dropped into the Spaniard's lap Awas dropped this tiht had just commenced A little afterwards the boatswain's whistle sounded, the oarsstation
The journey that day had been a long one; the unfortunate slaves were half dead with fatigue The anchor chains rattled, and the great sweeps were drawn in Lanterns flashed along the boatswains' bridge; cakes, water, and a little fruit were handed down to be eaten and drunken in the dark
”The saints be praised!” ejaculated Hernando when the last lantern disappeared; ”they will not trouble to fetter us to-night I have prayed all day that they uns of the fort To-morroe shall probably be chained hand and foot at the oncoht in harbour, especially if we come in late and wearied This is our chance, and an ”I have had one or two of these dropped on several occasions before, but have always thrown the afraid to trust nalled for them to-day Shall we make the venture?”
”The chance is desperate,” whispered Johnnie
”So uard aboard will be small and sleepy; our limbs are free; we lie a fair distance frouarded as when in Panalishmen re the matter out ”Let's try, and God be with us!” said Jeffreys ”If we fail, then death is preferable to life in this foetid pit, chained up and treated like dogs”