Part 20 (2/2)
In the mean time a boat which had been sent in pursuit of the captain andfound the boat they had escaped in bottons of its late occupants, ith their treasure had gone to the bottom, or been eaten by sharks
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
OFF TO SIMON'S BAY--MUTINY OF THE SLAVES--THEIR REPULSE--shi+P ON FIRE-- THE BLACK DEMONS--THE ZULUS' ESCAPE--THE VESSEL SINKS
Although the slaver had been the scene of soto the Cape he begged the captain's peret back to Natal, or at least to let his friends know that he was alive and well The captain of the brig did not like to let Hans go, because from him he hoped to discover the head-quarters of the slavers; but Hans infored that he could tell no more even if with him, for he did not knohat part of the coast the slavers lived on, except that it was not far fro to persuade Hans to stay with hi in the slaver, and so Hans once h under very different conditions froiven a hammock in the captain's cabin, and was able to roam about the shi+p without hindrance By dint of soap andoff the composition that the slavers had painted hih white man
It was not considered safe to free the slaves and allow them all to come on deck, but a portion of theht up to the fresh air; and when these had been again secured, others were allowed to co the twenty-four hours every slave passed a certain portion of his ti fair for the slaver, she ran rapidly with the current that runs down the coast to the south-west, and was supposed to be about forty ulhas on the day after she had parted co of this day it fell cal Hans was leaning over the side of the vessel, talking to the lieutenant who co attracted their attention
”We shall have enough wind before the ,” said the lieutenant, ”for the sun looks windy”
”Yes, that is the truth,” replied Hans ”How long will it be before we get to the Cape?”
”We could drift down there in little more than two days even if there was no wind, for there is a current of threedown this coast; but with a fair e shall get there in less tiet to the Cape?”
”I et up to Natal as soon as I can,” replied Hans; ”but I know not how to do that I have no money, and know no one there Hark to the slaves! they are more noisy than ever”
”Yes,” replied the officer, ”they are just letting out so slaves on board, but there ought not to be all this noise; so”
This last re to where the slaves were confined four of the sailors rushed up on deck, two of the fro the They shouted, ”The slaves have mutinied, sir,”
”Look out, sir,” ”They have freed themselves,” and ran towards the officer and Hans Closely following these sailors nearly a score of the negroes rushed on deck, yelling likeand benches, hich they had armed themselves From the shouts which arose froroes had possessed the their chains and handcuffs; and thus the situation of the prize creas rather critical
The trained sailor, however, saw that instant action was the only chance Calling to the two sailors to follow hiro, who a pistol fro round for another victiroes, panic-stricken by the sudden exhibition of power, rushed to the hatchway, and tust their co only their two slain comrades on deck ”On with the hatch,” shouted the lieutenant; and the two sailors, ere now joined by the man who had stood by the wheel, and by the tounded sailors and Hans, placed the hatch over the hatchway, and immediately secured it so that no man could come up
”Who's below?” inquired the lieutenant of one of his men
”Steel and Roberts, yer honour They're torn to bits by this time”
”How did this occur, men?”
”Just the devil in these fellows, sir We was taking the 'em a look at the sea, when one of 'em whistles, and at once the whole lot turns upon us, snatches et hold of it, knocks down Steel and Roberts, slices those two across the face, and so begins it I knocked two of 'eers' heads is tarnal hard, and fists is no account against a hundred of them fellohen they have your cutlass, too; so I comes up to you to tell you, sir”
”Are all the men on deck?” asked the lieutenant ”Yes, sir, all”
”Get the arms out of the chest, Jones Let each man have fifty rounds of ammunition Four men keep watch over this hatch, and shoot any slave who attempts to force it up Blake, you take two men, and see that the slaver's crew are quiet Give them a hint that we are not to be trifled with, and then wait for orders”
These directions having been given by the lieutenant, he reloaded his pistol, and turning to Hans, said, ”The two hundred slaves, if on this deck, would murder us, and throw us into the sea, in spite of our weapons; but if we can keep theet free of their chains If a breeze does spring up, we shall be in Simon's Bay in twenty-four hours, and we can then obtain force enough to defy all these savages Two of ive thees are like infuriated wild beasts when they have once tasted blood, and to open that hatch noould risk all our lives You have no weapons,” he re that Hans had neither sword nor pistol ”Go into my cabin; you will find a double-barrelled pistol above the cot in which I sleep We may all want to use our weapons”
Hans entered the cabin, and found the pistol, hich he returned on deck, when he i his men how to oppose the efforts of the slaves to force the hatchway; one or two thrusts with a cutlass, and the exhibition of a pistol, being found effective to check these atteroans were uttered for so them, resounded above the tumult, and all was for a time hushed The lieutenant, with Hans and the crew, fancied that a combined effort would be made to force the hatches up, and they therefore prepared to resist this; but as tian to think this attereat rapidity, as it always does in the tropics; and before any attempt was one down, and darkness had set in Finding that there seemed no immediate cause for action, the lieutenant asked Hans to co, an invitation which Hans willingly accepted
”Whenever we English have any fighting,” said the lieutenant, ”ays like to eat I don't know if it is so with you Dutch”
”I alish on my ry; butrequires exertion”