PHARAOH NANJULIAN AGAIN.
I do not know to this day how I got out of the hammock, but no sooner
did I hear the Spanish captain utter these words than I made haste to go
on deck and examine the truth of his statement for myself. But before
I could reach the companion I reeled and staggered, and should have
fallen, if Nunez had not seized my arm and supported me. He helped me to
a seat, and handed me a glass containing a restorative.
"You are not well," he said. "But you will come round presently."
"Senor!" I cried, "what is the meaning of this? Why am I on this ship,
and why are we at sea? How is it that I am not at Scarborough? There has
been some treachery--some foul play!"
"Nay," said he, "be moderate, I entreat you, Senor. Do not let there be
any talk of treachery. Am I not serving you as a friend?"
"I do not comprehend anything of what you say," I answered. "There is
some mystery here. Again I ask you--why am I on board your ship and at
sea?"
"And I ask you, Senor, where else did you expect to be but on board my
ship and at sea?"
I stared at the man in amaze and wonder. He returned my gaze
unflinchingly, but I felt certain that in his eyes there was a cruel
mockery of me, and my blood seemed to turn cold within me as I
recognized that I was in the Spaniard's power. But, being now in a
desperate mood, I strove to be cool and to keep my wits about me.
"I expected to be at Scarborough, Senor," I said. "Where else? I
remember coming aboard your vessel and eating and drinking with you,
but after that I must have fallen asleep. I wake and find myself at
sea."
"Naturally you do," said he with a smile. "Allow me, Master Salkeld, to
recall to you certain incidents which took place last night. You came on
board my ship with your cousin, Master Stapleton, and I offered you my
poor hospitality. Was that all that took place?"
"It was," said I, confidently enough.
"That is strange," said he, giving me another of his queer looks. "I
fear you have undergone some strange mental change in your long sleep.
But as I perceive that you do not understand me, I will explain matters
to you. Last night, Master Salkeld, as you and your cousin sat at meat
with me, you explained to me that you had committed some great crime
against the laws of your country, and that it was necessary, if you
would save your head, to leave England at once. I remarked that I was
about to set sail for the West Indies, and should be pleased to take
you as my passenger, whereupon you and your cousin having consulted
together, you paid me the passage-money--and here we are."
The man told me all this with the utmost assurance, his face utterly
unmoved and his strange eyes inscrutable. It was a lie from beginning to
end, and I knew it to be a lie. Nevertheless, I knew also that I was
powerless, and I made up my mind to act prudently.
"Senor," I replied, "as between you and me, I may as well tell you that
I do not believe a single word of what you have said. There has been
treachery--and it lies with you and my rascal cousin, Jasper Stapleton.
I have committed no crime against the laws, and I wish to be put ashore
at your earliest opportunity."
"You shall be obeyed, Master Salkeld," he replied, bowing low, but with
a mocking smile about his lips.
"Where do you first touch land?" I inquired.
"I have already told you, Master Salkeld. Somewhere in the West Indies."
"But you do not mean to carry me to the West Indies?" I cried. "Why,
'tis a journey of many thousands of miles!"
"Precisely. Nevertheless, you must undertake it. We touch no land until
we make Barbadoes or Martinique."
I said no more; it was useless. I was in the man's power. Nothing that I
could say or do would alter his purpose. There had been villainy and
treachery--and my cousin, Jasper Stapleton, had worked it. I
comprehended everything at that moment. I had been lured on board the
Spanish vessel and subsequently drugged, in order that Jasper might rid
himself of my presence. That was plainly to be seen. But what of the
future? The West Indies, I knew, were thousands of miles away. They were
in the hands of our hereditary enemies, the Spaniards. From them I
should receive scant mercy or consideration. I was penniless--for my
money had disappeared--and even if I had possessed money, what would it
have benefited me in a savage land like that to which I was being
carried? I might wait there many a long year without meeting with an
English ship. I turned to the Spaniard.
"So I am a prisoner, Senor,--your prisoner?"
"My ship and my goods are at your disposal, Senor," he replied.
"So long as I do not make any demands upon them, eh?"
"Say unreasonable demands, Master Salkeld. As a matter of fact you are
free to walk or stand, sit or lie, wake or sleep as you please. I
entertain you as I best can until we touch land--and then you go your
own way. You have made a contract with me, you have paid your money, and
now I have nothing to do but carry out my share of the bargain."
"And that is----?"
"To take you to the West Indies."
"Very good, Senor. Now we understand each other. You will perhaps not
object to my telling you, that when I next meet my cousin, Master Jasper
Stapleton, I will break his head for his share in this foul conspiracy."
"I do not object in the least, Master Salkeld. But you do well to say,
when you next meet him."
"Why so, Senor?"
"Because it is so highly improbable. Indeed, you will never be so near
England again as you are at this moment."
I looked through the port, and saw the long, flat Lincolnshire coast.
The day was dull and heavy, and the land was little more than a gray
bank, but it meant much to me. I was being carried away from all that I
loved, from my sweetheart, my uncle, my friends, from everything that
had grown a part of my daily life. And I was going--where? That I knew
not. Not to the West Indies--no, I was sure of that. Captain Manuel
Nunez was an accomplished liar in everything, and I felt sure that he
had another lie in reserve yet. At the thought of him and of Jasper's
villainy the blood boiled in my veins, and tears of rage and despair
gathered in my eyes. But what was the use of anger or sorrow? I was
powerless.
I now made up my mind to show a good face to all these troubles and
difficulties, and, therefore, I strove to be as much at my ease as was
possible under the circumstances. I walked the decks, talked with such
of the men as knew a word or two of English, and cultivated as much of
the captain's acquaintance as my aversion to his wickedness would
permit. I learnt the names of masts, sheets, stays, and sprits, and
picked up other information of seafaring matters, thinking that it
might some day be useful to me. I am bound to say that Senor Manuel
Nunez was very courteous towards me. But what avails courtesy, when the
courteous man is only waiting his time to injure you?
We had been at sea something like three weeks, and had passed Ushant
four days previously, when, sailing south-by-west, we were overtaken by
a gale and had to run before it with bare poles. Upon the second
morning, our lookout, gazing across a stormy sea, cried that he saw a
man clinging to a piece of wreckage on the lee bow, and presently all
those on deck were conscious of the same sight. The man was drifting and
tossing half a mile away, and had seen us, for he was making frantic
efforts to attract our notice. I was somewhat surprised when Captain
Nunez took steps to rescue him, for it would have fitted in with my
notion of his character if he had suffered the wretch to remain unaided,
However, he sent off a boat, which eventually brought away the man from
his piece of wreckage, and had hard work to make the ship again, for the
sea was running hard and high. The rescued man crouched in the stern,
hiding his head in his hands, so that I did not see his face until he
came aboard. Then it seemed familiar, but I could not bethink me where I
had seen it before.
"And who art thou, friend?" asked Nunez.
"A mariner of Plymouth, good sir," answered the man, "and sole survivor
of the ship Hawthorn. Lost she is, and all hands, save only me."
Then I suddenly recognized him. It was the Cornish sailor, Pharaoh
Nanjulian. So the sea had given me a friend in need.