Part 14 (1/2)
”At all events, I hope to ascertain our latitude if the weather clears, and perhaps we ht,” said Toood look-out must be kept ahead, for I know that there are nu us up if we are not careful”
The doctor assisted the midshi+pmen to search for a sextant and nautical almanack, but, to their surprise, neither were to be found ”The chronometer was,” the doctor said, ”he knew, in the captain's cabin;”
and they at last began to suspect that the boatswain had et hold of the mate's as well as the captain's sextant and charts, and had shut them up in the cabin he had appropriated What his object was in so doing it was difficult to say, unless he thought that he should keep thethe whereabouts they were
Just before breakfast the boatswain ca the door behind hi on deck so a word either to the surgeon or to thequick enough in bringing him what he asked for To some time, said in his usual polite way--
”I should be ed to you, Mr Betts, if you can supply me with a sextant, and the use of the chronometer, as I should like to ascertain our position”
”Then you won't be obliged to me, for I don't intend to let you have them,” answered the boatswain ”I can take care of this shi+p, and I won't have any one interfering with me”
”I do not wish to interfere,” said Tom ”I only desire to take an observation for my own satisfaction”
”Then you won't have the satisfaction,” said the boatswain Desmond bit his lip, and To, which would be sure to enrage the boatswain
”At all events, if I can get a look at a chart, I shall be able to calculate where we are although thatthe shi+p on a reef, and it will be a ht Toone out of his mind,” said Desmond, when he found himself alone with his two messmates ”It is a pity we did not put hiht now have been on our way to Hong-kong”
”We did as right,” observed Tom, ”and whatever happens that will be a satisfaction”
They hunted about for a chart, but the boatswain had locked that up also, and refused to allow To the day, though the weather looked unsettled, and the sea appeared again to be getting up As the shi+p was kept under her topsails and spanker, with two reefs down, no fresh sail was made, and the boatswain did not order the midshi+pmen to perform any duty The doctor seemed to feel the loss of the captain veryhi no confidence in the boatswain's skill as a navigator, he seemed to have made up his mind that the shi+p would be cast away, and that all on board would be lost He had hitherto appeared to be of a cheerful disposition, but he now sat all day h his eye scarcely glanced at its pages Tom and Gerald tried to induce hi that he did not feel able to walk Billy endeavoured to a him one of his funny stories, but not a smile came over the poor doctor's face At dinner the midshi+pmen had all the conversation to themselves The boatswain did not address even a word to them This did not, however, disconcert the away as if there was no such person present, so that he ell pleased to get up and go on deck
The same weather continued for a couple of days The boatswain kept a watch on thean observation Billy, however, found a quadrant in the secondhis opportunity when Mr Betts was below, brought it up on deck to Tom and Gerald They had fortunately carefully compared their watches with the chronometer, and the doctor had concealed a nautical almanack
”Arrah!” exclai of an observation, although not as correct as we should wish”
Toh it, when he suddenly felt it dashed fro round he saw Mr Betts, who had stolen up behind hiate the shi+p, do you; and must needs try and take an observation yourself? Do you and your ain, and I'll land you all on the first island we sight, where you es don't knock you on the head and eat you; and if some one doesn't take you off, which is not very likely, there you will re to answer this rude address, when Tom stopped him
”We do not wish to have a dispute with you, Mr Betts, though we have a perfect right to take an observation, or to do anything else which does not interfere with the discipline of the shi+p,” said To that it was better to avoid any dispute with the boatswain
To to his co the boatswain to pace up and down by hi he sent the steward to them, and told them that he expected all three to keep the middle watch
”Your men will have the first watch,” he said, ”and I would advise you to be on deck directly you are called”
As there was no reason to object to this they agreed to do as the boatsished They accordingly turned in for the first part of the night They had been asleep some ti awake, quickly slipped into their clothes
”I kneould be so,” exclaimed the doctor, whom they met in the cabin; ”we shall none of us see another sunrise”
”I hope things won't be so bad as that,” said To forward; perhaps she has merely touched a coral reef and has scraped clear We will go on deck and ascertain how matters stand”
The cries and shouts which reached the cabin showed that so serious had happened Scarcely had Toain the shi+p struck with greater force than before, every ti fro with it thethe shi+p swept over her The wild shrieks for help which followed showed that some of the crew had been borne away
”Can you see land?” asked Desmond of Tom
”No; we are on a coral reef, and our chances of escape are very s out to the crew to lower a boat, the only one reo in her,” said Toether, we shall be better off where we are: when daylight coet there on it”
Both Desreed to do as Tom proposed