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Jack at Sea, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 37. A Stern Chase--Very |
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_ CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. A STERN CHASE--VERY "Ah!" ejaculated Ned, as he sat wiping the salt spray out of his eyes; "can't say as I should like to go through that again, Mr Jack, but now we have done it I like it. My word, how I can brag now to our chaps on board!" "Do you think they will try and follow us, Ned?" panted Jack, who spoke as if he had been running hard. "Surely not, sir. Never be so mad." "But I'm afraid they will. My father would never sit there and make no effort to save us." Ned was silent for some minutes, and the foam of the breakers on the reef began to soften as the blacks paddled hard straight out to sea. A few minutes later it was night, with the stars beginning to shine out clearly from the purpling sky, and the paddles making the water flash into phosphorescent foam. "You're right, Mr Jack," said Ned at last; "Sir John wouldn't mind running any risk to save us, but he might see that it was only throwing away a chance to get the boat capsized, and he may have to row back to the yacht so as to get her out of the lagoon and after us to cut us off before these black ruffians can get home to where they came from." "It means slavery after all, Ned," said Jack bitterly. "Why didn't we jump overboard and--and try to swim to the boat?" "What the doctor calls 'law of self-preservation,' sir," said Ned quietly. "We'd seen too much in that lagoon, very pretty to look at, but too many ugly things about in the blue waters. Been just about as mad as for them to try and follow the canoe. What do you say to making ourselves comfortable, sir, and having a nap?" "What, now? At a time like this?" cried Jack. "Yes, sir, that's what I was thinking, so as to be ready for work to-morrow." "I could not sleep," said Jack sadly, as he sat gazing back in the direction of the reef. "Very well, sir; then you take the first watch while I go below, only there ain't no below. It's of no use for you to look back at the reef, sir, for they couldn't have got through, and if they could this canoe goes two miles to their one. What we've got to do is to wait for to-morrow morning, and hope for the best." Jack said nothing, but he knew that all his companion said was right, and he sat there silent, while Ned stretched himself in the bottom and was off soundly to sleep. Almost directly after about half the blacks withdrew the paddles from the water and lay down in the bottom, leaving the rest to urge the boat along. It was hard work in the solitude of that night to keep from giving way to despair, and to cling to the hope that those in the boat had not attempted the daring feat performed with the canoe, but had turned back to the yacht to get her under weigh and come in chase. For always there came the thought that by morning the canoe would be out of sight, and he and Ned still on the way to some state of captivity, preserved for Heaven only knew what terrible fate. From time to time the resting half of the savages sprung up, summoned by a thump given with the handle of a paddle, each rower awakening the man who was to relieve him after about an hour's spell; and Jack watched all this in a dull, apathetic way again and again, till somehow the long weary night sluggishly drew near its end. Over and over again an angry feeling of resentment attacked the watcher, and when the sleeping savages were aroused he felt disposed to kick Ned and make him wake up and talk. But a better feeling soon prevailed. "Poor fellow!" he said to himself; "why shouldn't he rest and forget all his troubles for a few hours? It is only selfishness to rouse him." It was still dark when Ned suddenly sat up. "Morning, sir," he said; "been to sleep?" "I? No, Ned, I couldn't sleep." "That's a pity. I could, like a top. It's done me a lot of good, and I'm ready now for anything, fighting, swimming, or breakfast, specially the last. Hot coffee, toast, fried ham, or a bit of fish. Not particular. Don't do to be when you're at sea." "You don't seem to trouble much about our position, Ned," said Jack bitterly. "Not a bit, sir. What's the good? Don't make it any better to go on the dump. It can't last. It's like the weather--either gets better or it gets worse. My word, what a fine thing a bit o' sleep is! Bit cool though. Always is just before sunrise. Seen anything of the yacht, sir?" "Bah! Impossible! How could I?" Ned said nothing, but glanced at the dimly-seen paddlers working away, and at the sleeping party who were in the bottom of the canoe, and then turned his attention astern. "Wonder where they are taking us, sir," he said. "There must be a big island somewhere out in this direction, and--" He became silent so suddenly that Jack turned to him in surprise, and saw that he was gazing fixedly over the stern of the canoe into the black darkness, for there was no sign of the coming day. "What are you thinking?" said Jack at last. "That I shall have to report you to the captain, sir, for not keeping better watch. I didn't set you to it. You volunteered." "What do you mean, Ned?" cried Jack excitedly. "You said, when I asked you whether you had seen anything of the yacht, 'Bah! Impossible! How could I?'" "Well, how could I in the dark?" "By keeping a bright look-out, sir. There's her light." "What!" cried Jack. "Steady, sir, steady. Don't jump out of the boat." "But you don't mean--" "Oh yes, I do, sir. Look yonder." "Oh, nonsense!" cried Jack bitterly; "that must be a star setting in the west." "Well, it may be, sir, and if it is, it's so close down that in another five minutes it'll be one; but it strikes me that there's a little lighter look yonder, and that it's the east. Of course I don't know for certain like, and I've been asleep. Let's watch for a bit. I believe it's our star as the guv'nor's had lit up to let us know he's coming after us--that's what I think, sir." "It is too much to hope," said Jack despondently. "Not a bit, sir. You can't say but what it's as likely as likely. But there, we shall soon know. I wonder whether the niggers have seen it yet." Evidently they had not, and this, knowing how sharp-eyed they were, strengthened Jack's belief that it was only a star, and he said so. "All right, sir," said Ned, after a long watching, "pr'a'ps you're right; but it's a new kind if it is, for it don't come up nor it don't go down. Anyhow that's the east, for the sun means to come up there, or I'm a Dutchman." They sat watching for about a quarter of an hour longer, and then Jack exclaimed softly-- "You were wrong, Ned, it was a star, and it has sank out of sight." "Down in the east, sir?" "It cannot be the east, Ned, it must be the west." "Then it's last night again, sir, and that's a speck left up to show where the sun went down." As Ned spoke he pointed to where there was a faint flush of light, which grew warmer and warmer as Jack sat trying to keep from being too sanguine. Then he turned away and feared to gaze aft any more, oh account of the blacks, who were paddling steadily away, for against a pale streak of light in the east, there, plainly enough to be seen, were the hull and spars of the _Silver Star_, while like a pennon there floated out behind her a long dark cloud of smoke, telling that her engine fires were roaring away and her propeller hard at work. "I was afraid to hope, Ned," whispered Jack. "Think they see us?" "Think they see us, sir! Why, of course. Mr Bartlett's up in the main-top with his glass to his eye, you may be sure, and the lads below are shovelling in the coals as if they cost nothing. Look at the smoke. I say, see how the niggers are at it. They know. Shouldn't be surprised if we catch sight of the place we're going to when the sun's up. All I hope is that it's so far away that they can't reach it." The sun rose at last, and the mountain became glorified once more, but it was a long time before a glimpse could be caught of their destination, and then, like a faint cloud extending right and left for miles, there was land--dim, low-lying misty land, without a sign of elevation or peak. "That's it sure enough, Mr Jack, sir," said Ned, shading his eyes from the glare of the sea; "and now it's a question of paddles against screw." "Yes. Which will win, Ned?" "Screw, sir. If it was wind and sails in this changeable sort of place I should be a bit doubtful, but I ain't the least." A stern chase is always a long one, they say, and to the prisoners it seemed to be here, and Hope and Doubt alternately held sway, while to Jack's agony the dim, distant flat land, which by degrees began to assume the aspect of a long range of extremely flat islands, appeared to come steadily nearer, while the yacht hardly seemed to stir. "She will never catch us, Ned," said Jack despondently. "Go along with you, sir. She'll do it before we get near. Not but what these fellows paddle splendidly. Hallo! what are they going to do?" The answer came in the quick hoisting of a couple of low masts and the same number of matting sails, for the water was beginning to be flecked by a coming breeze. In addition, the men rapidly rigged out a couple of bamboos on one side, and lashed their ends to another which lay along the bottom of the boat, so as to form an outrigger to counteract the pressure of the sails. A few minutes later the paddles were laid in, for the great canoe was gliding through the water faster than the men could propel her. At last, though, hope began to grow stronger in the prisoners' breasts, for it was plain now that with full steam on the yacht was rapidly coming up. "They'd got no pressure on at first, sir, only enough to send her along a bit. What do you say to it now?" "It's in doubt, Ned. They may run us into shallow water where the yacht dare not come." "But she dare send her boats, sir. Oh, we're all right now.--If they don't knock us on the head when they find they're beaten," Ned added to himself. The faces of those on board the yacht began now to grow plain as the mountain seemed to be steadily sinking in the distance, and figures could be made out on the low shore in front. "Ned, Ned, look," whispered Jack excitedly. "It's all over with us." "Why, what for?" "Can't you see they are getting out two more canoes?" "You've got better eyes than I have, sir; I can't see anything." Jack proved to be right, for soon after a couple of great canoes came through an opening in a line of breakers, and made straight for the one which bore the prisoners. "It's going to be a close shave, Mr Jack," said Ned at last. "If they get near enough to the land they'll win, because the _Star_ won't dare to follow, but I don't give up yet. Only look here, sir, if matters come to the worst they'll try and kill us, so be on the look-out. You can swim now after those lessons I gave you." "Oh, Ned, only a few strokes. I cannot trust myself," groaned Jack. "Oh dear! and you a gent, and your education neglected like that. Why, to be able to swim now, sir, is worth all the Latin and Greek in the world. But never mind, I can, though all the Greek I know is _quantum stuff_, and p'r'aps that's Latin. You do as I tell you; the moment you see that one of the niggers means mischief, over you go; I shall be there, and I'll help you swim, sir, and the yacht's sure to have a boat ready to drop and pick us up." On they went, with the wind sending the canoe rapidly along, and the blacks sat on the edge to keep her well down, and on the outrigger. The speed now was wonderful, the long elastic vessel bent and glided like some live creature over the swell, and had the blacks had another mile to go, the fate of the two prisoners would have been sealed; but at full speed now the yacht, with sail after sail shaken out to the help of the propeller, came up hand over hand, and when pretty close swayed off to windward, curved round as she glided by, and was once more answering her helm in the other direction, racing for the canoe's bows, the steering being so true that the fore-part was forced under water while the stern rose slowly in the air. "Now for it," said Ned sharply. Jack hesitated for a moment or two, and then tried to plant one foot upon the side and leap after his companion; but his momentary hesitation was nearly fatal, for one of the blacks made a dash at him, caught him by the shoulder, and struck at him with his raised club. In his despair the lad forced himself forward, and instead of the head of the heavy club, it was the man's arm which struck him across the shoulder, and the next moment they were thrown by the rising of the stern headlong amongst the struggling crowd as the canoe filled. Then all was darkness and confusion as the lad felt himself dragged down lower and lower, till it seemed as if he would never rise again. Moments are changed to minutes at such times as these, but prolonged as the agony seemed, he was soon at the surface once more, panting for breath and beating the water like a drowning dog. But coolness came with the strong desire for life, and he now struck out bravely as he saw the water about dotted with the black heads of his enemies, one and all swimming for the floating wreck of their canoe, whilst the yacht was far away, and Jack's courage became despair as he kept on swimming slowly, better than he could have believed, so as to keep himself afloat. "That's the way, Mr Jack, sir," came from behind him; "and you said you couldn't swim." "Ned," gasped the boy, turning in the direction of the sound, and his slow, steady strokes became on the instant fast and wild. "Ah, don't do that!" cried Ned, swimming alongside. "Slow and steady, sir. Don't wind yourself. There, it's all right; I could keep you up, but I want you to try yourself. Strike out as I told you last time we bathed. Slow and steady. Let your legs go down as far as they like. Never mind if the water comes right up to your mouth; lay your head sideways and screwed round so that you can look over your right shoulder, and rest the back of it on the water. That's the way. Think you're having a lesson in swimming, and do just as I do. See? We only want to keep afloat till a boat comes from the yacht to pick us up. Well done, sir. This is the best lesson in swimming you ever had." Jack took stroke for stroke feebly enough, and kept well afloat, but he felt all the time that if Ned were not at his side he would have begun to strike out again in frantic despairing haste, wearied himself in a very short time, and gone down. "Man never knows what he can do till he tries, sir," said Ned cheerily. "It's all right. Just keep your mouth above water while you take a good long breath, and then shut it again. Lower you are the easier you float. When you're tired you shall turn on your back, and I'll guide you." "Shall we be drowned, Ned?" panted the lad. "We'll talk about that by and by, sir. We can go on like this easy in the sea for an hour, if you do as I tell you. Now then, we're not running a race. Just try to think you're standing in the water, and to move your hands as slowly as you can. It's all right, Mr Jack, sir. We've escaped. Here's the yacht coming back to pick us up, and they've got one of the cutters ready to drop with the men in her. Don't you say nothing. You just attend to your swimming lesson: I'll do all the talking. I learnt to swim when I was a little bit of a nipper and went with the boys at school. They used to pitch me in, so that I was obliged to swim, I can tell you. That was only fresh water. It's ever so much easier to swim in the sea--when it's smooth. Mind you, I don't know nothing about it when it's rough." "Is the yacht near, Ned?" said Jack huskily. "What's that to you?" cried the man fiercely. "You mind your lesson. Ought to know better than that. I want to see you swim well, and you were doing beautiful before you began to talk. No, you ain't getting tired. If you was, as I told you, I'd make you float. Ur-r-r!" Ned uttered a sound like a savage dog, for a panting and splashing had made him turn his head to see, not six yards behind him, a fierce-looking black face, with grinning teeth and flashing eyes, looking the more savage from the fact that, to leave his arms both at liberty, the black was holding his war-club in his grinning teeth. The partly submerged canoe, burdened with its clinging crew, was a hundred yards away, the two which had been launched to her assistance quite three, and the yacht still two, but cutting the water fast. Ned set his teeth; and for a brief instant thought of getting out his knife, but he knew it would be madness to attempt it, and he prepared with desperate energy for the worst. "Don't you take any notice of me," he growled fiercely to his young master. "You keep on swimming. Do you hear?" In utter ignorance of the peril behind, and influenced in his weakness and helplessness as a swimmer by one whom he instinctively felt to be at home in the water, and his master, Jack obeyed, keeping to the slow stroke with his arms, while his action with his legs was that of the well-known treading water. All this was but brief. After savagely shouting at Jack, Ned drew a deep breath and turned to meet the black, whose eyes glowed with race hatred as he raised one hand from the water, took the short melon-headed nulla-nulla club from his teeth, rose a little higher, and struck at his fellow-swimmer with all his might. But it was for dear life. Ned threw himself sidewise, the head of the club grazed his shoulder as it splashed the water. Then, quick as thought, Ned retaliated by dashing out his left fist, and struck his enemy full on the cheek. But it was a feeble blow, and did no more than make him fiercer as he turned to renew the attack. "It's all over!" groaned the poor fellow. "If they'll only pick up the poor young governor in time!" A hoarse sob of despair escaped from Ned's breast, as he prepared to dodge the next blow from the club, meaning not to strike another nerveless, helpless blow from the water, but to grapple with the black. "And then it's who can hold his breath longest," he thought. "Oh, why did I come on a trip like this?" Thought comes quickly at a time like this. The club was once more raised and held suspended in the air for a few moments, the wily black feinting twice over, and making Ned dodge. The third time he made another quick feint, and was in the act then of delivering a tremendous blow, when Jack uttered a wild cry, for he had turned his head to appeal to his companion for help. At that moment Ned heard a whizz, as if some beetle had suddenly passed his ear; there was instantaneously a sharp pat, and the moment after the report of a rifle. The club fell into the water with a splash. "Hah!" ejaculated Ned, turning on his side, and in a dozen side strokes he was alongside of Jack once more, as he was making a brave effort to come to his companion's aid. "Back, my lad, back!" cried Ned as he swam. "No, no; you're not beaten yet. Hooray! the boat! They're close here, and--Mr Jack, sir--it's-- it's too much--I--I--Swim, sir, swim--don't--don't mind me!" The poor fellow's look seemed fixed and staring, his arms refused their office, and Jack caught at him to try and support him. Then struggling vainly the water closed over his head, as his starting eyes saw the flashing of the water thrown up by six oars, and a figure standing leaning toward him, boat-hook in hand. _ |
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