"Call!" repeated the captain. "I thought there was some one in the
cabin. I want a light--that's all," continued he, recovering himself,
as he wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead.
In the meantime Francisco, with Pompey, had gained his former place of
refuge with the Kroumen. The feelings of the young man changed from
agony to revenge; his object in returning to the cabin to recover his
weapons had been frustrated, but his determination now was to take the
life of the captain if he possibly could. The following morning the
Kroumen again refused to work or go on deck; and the state of affairs
was reported by Hawkhurst to his chief. The mate now assumed another
tone: for he had sounded not the majority but the most steady and
influential men on board, who, like himself, were veterans in crime.
"It must be, sir; or you will no longer command this vessel. I am
desired to say so."
"Indeed!" replied Cain, with a sneer. "Perhaps you have already chosen
my successor?"
Hawkhurst perceived that he had lost ground, and he changed his manner.
"I speak but for yourself: if you do not command this vessel I shall not
remain in her: if you quit her, I quit also; and we must find another."
Cain was pacified, and the subject was not renewed.
"Turn the hands up," at last said the captain. The pirate-crew
assembled aft.
"My lads, I am sorry that our laws oblige me to make an example; but
mutiny and disaffection must be punished. I am equally bound as
yourselves by the laws which we have laid down for our guidance while we
sail together; and you may believe that in doing my duty in this
instance I am guided by a sense of justice, and wish to prove to you
that I am worthy to command. Francisco has been with me since he was a
child; he has lived with me, and it is painful to part with him: but I
am here to see that our laws are put in force. He has been guilty of
repeated mutiny and contempt, and--he must die."
"Death! death!" cried several of the pirates in advance: "death and
justice!"
"No more murder!" said several voices from behind.
"Who's that that speaks?"
"Too much murder yesterday--no more murder!" shouted several voices at
once.
"Let the men come forward who speak," cried Cain with a withering look.
No one obeyed this order. "Down, then, my men! and bring up Francisco."
The whole of the pirate-crew hastened below, but with different
intentions. Some were determined to seize Francisco, and hand him over
to death--others to protect him. A confused noise was heard--the shouts
of "_Down and seize him_!" opposed to those of "_No murder! No
murder_!"
Both parties had snatched up their arms; those who sided with Francisco
joined the Kroumen, whilst the others also hastened below to bring him
on deck. A slight scuffle ensued before they separated, and ascertained
by the separation the strength of the contending parties. Francisco,
perceiving that he was joined by a large body, desired his men to follow
him, went up the fore-ladder, and took possession of the forecastle.
The pirates on his side supplied him with arms, and Francisco stood
forward in advance. Hawkhurst, and those of the crew who sided with
him, had retreated to the quarter-deck, and rallied round the captain,
who leaned against the capstern. They were then able to estimate their
comparative strength. The number, on the whole, preponderated in favour
of Francisco; but on the captain's side were the older and more athletic
of the crew, and, we may add, the more determined. Still, the captain
and Hawkhurst perceived the danger of their situation, and it was
thought advisable to parley for the present, and wreak their vengeance
hereafter. For a few minutes there was a low consultation between both
parties; at last Cain advanced.
"My lads," said he, addressing those who had rallied round Francisco, "I
little thought that a fire-brand would have been cast in this vessel to
set us all at variance. It was my duty, as your captain, to propose
that our laws should be enforced. Tell me now what is it that you wish.
I am only here as your captain, and to take the sense of the whole
crew. I have no animosity against that lad: I have loved him--I have
cherished him; but like a viper, he has stung me in return. Instead of
being in arms against each other, ought we not to be united? I have,
therefore, one proposal to make to you, which is this: let the sentence
go by vote, or ballot, if you please; and whatever the sentence may be,
I shall be guided by it. Can I say more?"
"My lads," replied Francisco, when the captain had done speaking, "I
think it better that you should accept this proposal rather than that
blood should be shed. My life is of little consequence; say, then, will
you agree to the vote, and submit to those laws, which, as the captain
says, have been laid down to regulate the discipline of the vessel?"
The pirates on Francisco's side looked round among their party, and,
perceiving that they were the most numerous, consented to the proposal;
but Hawkhurst stepped forward and observed: "Of course the Kroumen can
have no votes, as they do not belong to the vessel."
This objection was important, as they amounted to twenty-five, and,
after that number was deducted, in all probability, Francisco's
adherents would have been in the minority. The pirates, with Francisco,
objected, and again assumed the attitude of defence.
"One moment," said Francisco, stepping in advance; "before this point is
settled, I wish to take the sense of all of you as to another of your
laws. I ask you, Hawkhurst, and all who are now opposed to me, whether
you have not one law, which is _Blood for blood_?"
"Yes--yes," shouted all the pirates.
"Then let your captain stand forward, and answer to my charge, if he
dares."
Cain curled his lip in derision, and walked within two yards of
Francisco.
"Well, boy, I'm here; and what is your charge?"
"First--I ask you, Captain Cain, who are so anxious that the laws should
be enforced, whether you acknowledge that `Blood for blood' is a just
law?"
"Most just: and, when shed, the party who revenges is not amenable."
"'Tis well: then villain that thou art, answer--Didst thou not murder my
mother?"
Cain, at this accusation, started.
"Answer the truth, or lie like a recreant!" repeated Francisco. "Did
you not murder my mother?"
The captain's lips and the muscles of his face quivered, but he did not
reply.
"_Blood for blood_!" cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at Cain,
who staggered, and fell on the deck.
Hawkhurst and several of the pirates hastened to the captain, and raised
him.
"She must have told him last night," said Cain, speaking with
difficulty, as the blood flowed from the wound.
"He told me so himself," said Francisco, turning round to those who
stood by him.
Cain was taken down into the cabin. On examination, his wound was not
mortal, although his loss of blood had been rapid and very great. In a
few minutes Hawkhurst joined the party on the quarter deck. He found
that the tide had turned more in Francisco's favour than he had
expected; the law of "Blood for blood" was held most sacred: indeed, it
was but the knowledge that it was solemnly recognised, and that, if one
pirate wounded another, the other was at liberty to take his life,
without punishment, which prevented constant affrays between parties,
whose knives would otherwise have been the answer to every affront. It
was a more debased law of duelling, which kept such profligate
associates on good terms. Finding, therefore, that this feeling
predominated, even among those who were opposed to Francisco on the
other question, Hawkhurst thought it advisable to parley.
"Hawkhurst," said Francisco, "I have but one request to make, which, if
complied with, will put an end to this contention; it is, that you will
put me on shore at the first land that we make. If you and your party
engage to do this, I will desire those who support me to return to their
obedience."
"I grant it," replied Hawkhurst; "and so will the others. Will you not,
my men?"
"Agreed--agreed upon all sides," cried the pirates, throwing away their
weapons, and mingling with each other, as if they had never been
opposed.
There is an old saying, that there is honour amongst thieves; and so it
often proves. Every man in the vessel knew that this agreement would be
strictly adhered to; and Francisco now walked the deck with as much
composure as if nothing had occurred.
Hawkhurst, who was aware that he must fulfil his promise, carefully
examined the charts when he went down below, came up and altered the
course of the schooner two points more to the northward. The next
morning he was up at the mast-head nearly half an hour, when he
descended, and again altered the course. By nine o'clock a low sandy
island appeared on the lee bow; when within half a mile of it, he
ordered the schooner to be hove to, and lowered down the small boat from
the stern. He then turned the hands up. "My lads, we must keep our
promise, to put Francisco on shore at the first land which we made.
There it is!" And a malicious smile played on the miscreant's features
as he pointed out to them the barren sand-bank, which promised nothing
but starvation and a lingering death. Several of the crew murmured; but
Hawkhurst was supported by his own party, and had, moreover, taken the
precaution quietly to remove all the arms, with the exception of those
with which his adherents were provided.
"An agreement is an agreement; it is what he requested himself, and we
promised to perform. Send for Francisco."
"I am here, Hawkhurst; and I tell you candidly, that, desolate as is
that barren spot, I prefer it to remaining in your company. I will
bring my chest up immediately."
"No--no; that was not a part of the agreement," cried Hawkhurst.
"Every man here has a right to his own property: I appeal to the whole
of the crew."
"True--true," replied the pirates; and Hawkhurst found himself again in
the minority.
"Be it so."
The chest of Francisco was handed into the boat.
"Is that all?" cried Hawkhurst.
"My lads, am I to have no provisions or water?" inquired Francisco.
"No," replied Hawkhurst.
"Yes--yes," cried most of the pirates.
Hawkhurst did not dare put it to the vote; he turned sulkily away. The
Kroumen brought up two breakers of water, and some pieces of pork.
"Here, massa," said Pompey, putting into Francisco's hand a fishing-line
with hooks.
"Thank you, Pompey; but I had forgot--that book in the cabin--you know
which I mean."
Pompey nodded his head, and went below; but it was some time before he
returned, during which Hawkhurst became impatient. It was a very small
boat which had been lowered down; it had a lug-sail and two pair of
sculls in it, and was quite full when Francisco's chest and the other
articles had been put in.
"Come! I have no time to wait," said Hawkhurst; "in the boat!"
Francisco shook hands with many of the crew, and wished all of them
farewell. Indeed, now that they beheld the poor lad about to be cast on
the desolate island, even those most opposed to him felt some emotions
of pity. Although they acknowledged that his absence was necessary, yet
they knew his determined courage; and with them that quality was always
a strong appeal.
"Who will row this lad ashore, and bring the boat off?"
"Not I," replied one; "it would haunt me ever afterwards."
So they all appeared to think, for no one volunteered. Francisco jumped
into the boat.
"There is no room for any one but me; and I will row myself on shore,"
cried he. "Farewell, my lads! farewell!"
"Stop? not so; he must not have the boat--he may escape from the
island," cried Hawkhurst.
"And why shouldn't he, poor fellow?" replied the men. "Let him have the
boat."
"Yes--yes, let him have the boat;" and Hawkhurst was again overruled.
"Here, Massa Francisco--here de book."
"What's that, sir?" cried Hawkhurst, snatching the book out of Pompey's
hand.
"Him, massa, Bible." Francisco waited for the book.
"Shove off!" cried Hawkhurst.
"Give me my book, Mr Hawkhurst!"
"No!" replied the malignant rascal, tossing the Bible over the taffrail;
"he shall not have that. I've heard say that _there is consolation in
it for the afflicted_."
Francisco shoved off his boat, and seizing his sculls, pushed astern,
picked up the book, which still floated, and laid it to dry on the
after-thwart of the boat. He then pulled in for the shore. In the
meantime the schooner had let draw her fore-sheet, and had already left
him a quarter of a mile astern. Before Francisco had gained the
sand-bank she was hull-down to the northward.