fall."
But Mark did not fall, and though he chose the easier way up he did
display some courage, and lay flat down to extend a hand to his
miserable companion.
"There, take hold of my hand. I'll help you," he said.
The man shook his head--wisely, perhaps, for Mark's help would not have
been great as far as sustaining him went.
"I can't--I daren't move," he said. "It's as bad as being shut up in
the hold. Please call for help."
"Ahoy, there!" shouted a familiar voice. "What are you doing, Mark?"
"Trying to help this man, father."
"Here, Jimpny," shouted the captain, "get up, sir. Don't hang in the
rigging there like that."
The man moaned, and only clung the closer.
"Do you hear, sir?" cried the captain; but the man was livid, and as he
gazed wildly up at Mark, the lad lowered himself down, thrust an arm
round one of the ropes, and took a firm grasp of his collar.
"What's the matter, Mark?" cried the captain.
"He's going to faint, I think."
"Here, Small, up aloft with a rope there," cried the captain, "and make
it fast round him."
The boatswain seized a coil of line and trotted to the other side of the
deck. Mark saw him cross, but was astonished to see how soon he
appeared at the mast-head.
"Hold tight, youngster," he said, "I'll soon give him his physic."
"What are you going to do?" cried Mark.
"Hang him. You'll see," said the boatswain with a chuckle.
Jimpny groaned and seemed to cling spasmodically to the shrouds as the
great seaman slipped the end of the rope round him and made it fast.
After which he passed the other end of the rope over a stay and lowered
it down to the deck.
"Ready below?" he shouted.
"All right!" came up.
"You get a bit higher, youngster. That's your sort. Now, my London
prime, let go with them hands."
"No, no," groaned the unfortunate man. "I dare not."
"Then I shall have to make you," roared the boatswain. "Heave ahead
there!"
The rope tightened and there was a tremendous strain upon the man's
chest, while, by a dexterous snatch, Small jerked one of the clinging
hands free and thrust Jimpny off the shroud, making him swing round in
the air, and this helped to jerk the other hand from its grip.
"Now you have him. Down he goes."
It was all so rapidly done that it took Mark's breath away. One minute
the miserable man was clinging there half fainting, the next he was
swinging in the air and being slowly lowered down to the deck.
"You don't want sarving that way, my lad," said the boatswain laughing.
"Catch hold o' that rope and slide down. I'll go this way."
Mark shrank for a moment but seized the rope the next, and slid down so
quickly that his hands felt uncomfortably warm, and he reached the deck
as Billy Widgeon was unfastening the rope from round Jimpny's chest.
"Nice sorter sailor that, Captain Strong," said Mr Gregory sourly.
"Yes," said the captain quietly. "Don't send him aloft again. Let him
help the cook."
"Help the cook! Do you want to poison us, sir?"
"No. The man has no nerve, but he may prove himself useful some other
way."
"You are a brave boy," said a pleasant silvery voice behind Mark, and
turning sharply round, it was to see the major's little daughter
hurrying toward the cabin, in which she disappeared.
"There, go below," said the mate angrily, "and don't show yourself to me
again for a week."
The stowaway rose and crept away, looking sideways at the sea, and
somehow Mark could not help feeling sorry for his pitiful case.
Mark did not feel as if he had been brave, and as they sat at tea that
evening and he looked across at where Mary O'Halloran was seated with
her mother, he said to himself that if she knew all he had thought up
aloft and what his sensations were she would have looked upon him as an
impostor.
He felt so uncomfortable all that evening, and worried, that he longed
to get away by himself, for the conversation seemed to be all about him.
"I should make a soldier of him," said the major to Captain Strong.
"The only career for a brave boy, sir, in spite of the disgraceful
management at the War Office."
Mark winced, and glanced towards those peaceful young gentlemen, the
German agricultural students; but they were all three beaming upon him
with their spectacles, looking about as round in the face and as
inexpressive as so many enlarged buns.
He glanced at the little Scottish merchant, but he took snuff and nodded
at him.
The stout doctor was looking at him and making notes in a memorandum
book, as if he were writing down an account of the affair.
Mr Morgan was on deck; but Mr Gregory, as soon as their eyes met,
deliberately winked at him.
He turned his gaze upon his father, to find that he was thoughtfully
watching him; while, after receiving a friendly shake of the head from
Mrs Major and a merry look from Mary, who seemed to be enjoying his
confusion, as a last resource the lad looked at his mother, to find she
had ready for him a tender smile.
"And she put three extra lumps of sugar in my tea," said Mark to
himself. "I never felt so ashamed of anything in my life."
To make matters worse, the major began in a loud voice to talk about the
heroic deeds of boys as found in history, and though the saloon cabin
was hot enough before, it seemed now to Mark that it was tropical, and
he was only too glad to go out on deck and wipe his streaming face in
the company of Bruff and Jack the monkey, who, from becoming the
companion of the dog, was willing enough to transfer some of his
friendliness to the dog's master.
But even here he was not left in peace, for Billy Widgeon came up to
compliment him on his climbing.
"Look ye here, Mr Strong, sir, you'll do it. You come up with me and
we'll go right up to the main-topgallant cross-trees to-morrow. I'll
see as you don't fall."
"Oh, bother the climbing!" cried Mark. "I wish there wasn't a bit of
rigging in the ship."
"But we couldn't get on without rigging, Mr Mark, sir," said the little
sailor taking the impatient words literally. "See how them sails is
spread. Rigging's a fine thing, sir; so's a ship. You be a sailor,
sir, and when you're a skipper you have me for your bosun. I aren't so
big as old Small, but I'd put a deal o' heart into it, and keep the men
up to the mark."
"Oh, I shall never be a captain," said Mark impatiently.
"I don't know so much about that, sir. All the lads says as it was
wonderful the way you went up after the rat."
"After the what!"
"Rat, sir. The lads calls that stowaway chap the rat because he made
hisself a hole down in the cargo. Lor' a me, think of a thing like that
calling hisself a man!"
"But he has been half starved, Billy, and kicked about in the world.
Perhaps if you'd been brought down as low you would have been as great a
coward."
"Hah! I never thought o' that," said Billy scratching his head. "I
say, Mr Mark, sir, how you do put things. But no, sir, you aren't
right--leastwise not quite, you see; because if I'd been brought down
like that, and felt as scared as he did, I wouldn't have let anyone
know, fear o' being laughed at."
"You don't know and I don't know, so we can't discuss it," said Mark.
"Here, what are you going to do?"
"Ketch Master Jack and take him to his snuggery. He's a-getting into
bad habits since your dog's come aboard, sir. Monkeys is a sooperior
sort o' animal, and the men's been talking it over."
"Talking it over?"
"Yes, sir. They says as a monkey's next door to a man. Not as I thinks
so."
"Then what do you think, Billy?"
"Oh, I think he lives several streets off, sir; but the men thinks
tother, and they says as though it's all werry well for a monkey to play
with a dog and be friends, just as a man might; it's going down hill
like for him to make a habit o' sleeping in a dog-kennel."
"Nonsense! the monkey's happy enough with the dog."
"So was a mate o' mine with the Noo Zeeling savages, after cutting away
from his ship; but our old skipper said he ought to be ashamed of
hisself for going and living that way, and them beginning to tattoo him
in a pattern. He said he was a-degrading of hisself, and fetched him
aboard, saying as if he wanted tattooing some of his messmates should
mark his back with a rope's end. No, sir, we thinks a deal o' that
monkey--our crew does--and we don't want to see him go wrong."
"What stuff! My Bruff is quite as intelligent an animal as your monkey.
Suppose I said he should not associate with the ugly brute?"
"No, no, sir: Jack aren't ugly," said Billy Widgeon in protest. "He
aren't handsome, but no one can't say as he's ugly; while that dog--"
"Oh, he isn't handsome either, but it's absurd to draw the line between
the two animals like that."
"Well, sir, I tell you what the men says; and they thinks a deal o'
Jacko, and looks after his morals wonderful. We do let him chew
tobacco, though it don't agree with him, 'cause he will swaller it; but
as to a drop o' rum, why, Old Greg nearly chucked a man overboard once
for giving him a tot, and Small the boatswain stopped one chap's grog
for a week for teaching Jack to drink. We thinks a deal of that monkey,
sir."
"And I think a deal of my dog, and keep him a deal cleaner than Jack.
But I don't want them to be together. Take Jack away."
"Werry sorry, Mr Mark, sir. Mean no offence," said Billy
apologetically; "but it's the men, sir. They think a deal o' that
monkey."
Billy went forward with a chain and a strap to where a kennel had been
made for Bruff, by turning a flour barrel on its side and wedging it
between two hencoops, and here, greatly to the vexation of the chickens,
who lived in dread of Jack's long hairy arm and clever fingers, which
were always stretching through the bars to pull their feathers, the
monkey had--to use Billy's words--"just turned in." The barrel held the
two animals tightly, and there they were cuddled up together in the most
friendly manner, Jack with his head right in towards the end, Bruff with
his long black muzzle to the front, and Jacko's tail moving up and down
in regular motion as he breathed.
"Here! you've got to come home," cried Billy, making a dash at the
monkey's legs, but he started back as quickly as he went forward, for
Bruff sprang up, and, twitching his ears, burst into a furious fit of
barking, while Jack got behind him and chattered his defiance.
"Well, that's a rum game," said Billy, rubbing his nose with a rusty
link of the chain he held; "think o' them two sticking up for one
another like that."
"Now, then, which is the more intelligent animal?" said Mark, laughing.
"Well, sir, I dunno, but if so be as you'd take your dog away--"
"No," said Mark quietly, "I sha'n't interfere. The monkey's happier
there than down in your stuffy forecastle."
"Which I won't deny as it is stuffy, sir, far from it," said Billy; "but
when you get used to the smell you don't mind, and I'm sure Jack likes
it. So call away your dog."
"No," said Mark, "you may get him away if you like."
"Well, if so be as I must, I must," said the little sailor. "The men
says they wants Jacko, and--Lor' a me!"
As he spoke he had gone down on one knee to reach into the barrel and
get hold of Jack's leg, but at the angry remonstrative cry of the monkey
as he felt it seized, Bruff made so furious an attack upon the sailor
that he started back and rolled over, to find Bruff spring upon his
chest.
"Hold hard, mate; don't bite. I gives up," said Billy quietly. "Call
him off, Mr Mark, sir."
But the lad had already caught the dog by the collar, and dragged him
away growling.
Just then Jack sprang out of the barrel chattering loudly, and bounded
toward the main hatchway. Bruff followed as if understanding the call,
and as the monkey sprang down the dog leaped after him, but did not
descend the steps so cleverly as his quadrumanous friend, the fact being
made plain to those on deck by a loud scratching and scuffling noise,
followed by a heavy bump.
"That there's the dog," said Billy sitting up and scratching his ear.
"His head's too heavy for going down them steps nose fust. Think we can
catch Jack now?"
"No, that you will not," said Mark, laughing at his companion's troubled
face. "Did Bruff frighten you?"
"S'pose he did, sir. He made me feel mortal queer for a minute. But I
s'pose he wouldn't bite. Here, they may fetch the monkey theirselves,"
he continued, rising slowly; "I shan't try no more; and if his manners
is spylte by 'sociating with dogs it aren't my fault."
Billy Widgeon went forward toward the forecastle in his calm
even-tempered way, and Mr Morgan, who had been looking on from the
poop-deck, came and joined Mark, to stand talking with him as they
leaned over the side gazing up at the transparent starry sky, or down at
the clear dark sea, while they listened to the rushing water as the
great ship glided on under quite a cloud of canvas. The night was now
dark, with the ship's sailing lanterns and the glow from the
cabin-windows showing faintly and casting reflections upon the unruffled
sea.
"Suppose we were to run on to another ship, Mr Morgan," said Mark at
last, breaking a long silence. "What then?"
"If we kept such a bad look-out, and they did the same, most likely we
should go to the bottom, perhaps both of us; but you turn in and leave
all that to the watch."
CHAPTER TEN.
HOW BRUFF SOUNDED THE ALARM.
It was turning-in time, and after a couple of sleepy yawns Mark went to
the cabin to find that nearly everyone had retired for the night.
As soon as he had climbed upon his shelf he found that it was going to
be one of those hot uncomfortable nights when pillow and sheet get
ticklish and make the skin feel itchy. The air he breathed was
stifling, and for a long time he lay awake listening to the rippling of
the water against the sides of the ship. But at last he slept deeply
and dreamlessly, to be awakened by a hand laid upon his shoulder.
"Mark, my lad. Hist! don't make a noise."
"What's the matter, Mr Gregory?"
"Nothing much, my lad; only that dog of yours is somewhere below howling
dreadfully. I want you to come and quiet him."
"Won't he lie down when you speak, sir?" said Mark drowsily.
"No. Come: wake up my lad!"
"All right, sir!"
"Nonsense, boy! you're going to sleep again. Come, now, rouse up!"
"All--yes, sir, I'm awake," said Mark, springing out of his berth.
"I'll slip on something and come."
"I'll wait for you," said the mate dryly.
It was a wise decision, for Mark was so confused with drowsiness that he
dressed mechanically, and suffered himself to be led out on to the deck
where the comparative coolness made him a little more aware of what was
going on.
"Now, are you awake?"
"Yes, sir. Quite awake now, sir," said Mark wonderingly. "What do you
want? Is the ship going down?"
"Nonsense, boy!" said the mate laughing. "Why, you sleepy-headed
fellow, didn't you understand what I said?"
"That I was to get up?" said Mark.
"Yes, and quiet your dog. There, do you hear that?"
A long piteous howl now fell upon Mark's ears, and recalling how the dog
had gone below, he concluded that the animal was eager to escape on
deck, but after his experience in falling down the steps he did not care
to attack them again.
"What a noise!" cried Mark, as the long persistent howl came up. "Has
he got stuck somewhere in the cargo?"
"No; he could not be, I think. Hark, there's the monkey too."
An angry chattering sound came up, followed by another howl and an angry
bark.
"There, go down and quiet him. The men in the forecastle can't sleep."
Mark, now thoroughly awake, went sharply to the hatchway and descended,
wondering why one of the sailors had not been sent down to quiet Bruff,
and of course ignorant of the fact that they had one and all declined to
go and face him, for certain reasons associated with the sharpness of
his teeth and strength of his jaws, while the mate felt that it would be
an easier way of solving the difficulty to send down the dog's master
than to go himself.
It was very dark below, and the dog's howl came once more as Mark took a
lantern from where it was swinging.
"Why, where can he be? Here, Bruff, Bruff!"
Mark dropped the lantern with a crash, and the candle within it
flickered for a moment and went out, as a horrible thought struck him,
and turning back to the ladder he sprang up, and was about to shout, but
his better sense prevailed, and he ran to where the first-mate stood by
the bulwarks talking to one of the men.
"Well, have you quieted him?"
"Mr Gregory! Here! I want to speak to you," said Mark huskily.
"What, has he bitten you?"
Mark dragged at his arm, and as soon as they were on the other side,
panted out in a low whisper:
"There's something on fire down below."
"What!" shouted the mate in his surprise and horror. Then recovering
himself, and knowing the risks attending a scare, "Poor boy!" he cried
aloud. "Well, we shall be obliged to have that dog shot."
This quieted the men, who were advancing, and they went back to their
places, while Mr Gregory walked Mark slowly by him to the cabin-door.
"Are you sure you smelt fire?" he whispered.
"Yes, sir, and there is smoke coming out from between those lower
hatches."
"If I go down to make sure the men will take alarm and there may be a
rush," said the mate coolly. "Here, go and rouse up Morgan quietly.
Don't say what's wrong. I want him."
"And my father?" panted Mark.
"Be cool, boy; everything depends on coolness now. I'm going there."
In two minutes the captain and second-mate were out on deck, and Mark
caught a glimpse of a pistol in his father's breast, and saw him slip
two into the officers' hands.
"Gregory, Morgan," he said, "you stop with the men. You, Gregory, with
the watch; you, Morgan, keep guard over the forecastle hatch."
"Ay, ay, sir."
The next minute the captain was below, Mark following him, and he heard
him utter a deep sigh, almost a groan.
"Is it fire, father?" whispered Mark.
"Yes, my lad, somewhere down in the hold. Heaven help us! we are in a
sore strait now. Who first noticed the fire?"
"It was Bruff, father; he is howling now."
"Poor dog! he must not be burned to death. Go and try and find him; but
if you find there is any smoke or strange smelling vapour, come back at
once."
"Yes, father."
"No, stop; I'll go with you. Where is the dog?"
"Somewhere below."
"Then he must wait. I have the ship and people to try and save."
"Then let me go, father."
"Well, go, my boy, and Heaven be with you."
The necessity for risking his life was put aside, for there was a
scuffling of feet over the deck, and the dog came up whining and then
tried to go back. Mark called to him, but it was of no use, and he
rushed back a little way, barking now fiercely.
"I can't let him go," said Mark hoarsely, and he dashed after the dog;
but before he had gone a dozen yards he kicked against something soft,
and fell down, but only to scramble up again, for the mystery of the
dog's behaviour was explained. His companion the monkey was half
overcome by the vapour arising from the fire in the hold, and had
crawled, it seemed, part of the way toward the hatch and then sank down,
the dog refusing to leave him till he heard voices.
Mark dragged the poor, half inanimate animal to the hatch and carried
him on deck, Bruff barking loudly till they were on deck, where a scene
of excitement was rapidly growing.
"Silence!" the captain roared as Mark reached his side. "No man is to
go near a boat save those who are picked out. Listen, my lads, and you
gentlemen as well. I will have discipline observed. And mind this: I'm
going to extinguish this fire and save the ship if possible. If it
proves to be impossible we'll take to the boats."
"When it's too late," shouted one of the crew.
"No; when it is necessary. Mr Morgan, take three men and the
passengers, and put provisions and water in the boats with compasses,
and lower them down ready. As soon as each boat is ready place one of
the gentlemen armed by her, and he is to shoot down any man who turns
coward and rushes for the boats before orders are given. Now, sir, you
have your orders. Go on."
"Ay, ay, sir," cried the second-mate. "Widgeon, Small, Smith, this way.
Now, gentlemen, quick!"
There was a rush to follow the mate, while the rest of the men on deck
stood in a knot whispering and excited, for the smell of burning now
grew plainer and plainer, and a dense fume rose from the hatch.
"Now, Gregory, have up the men from the forecastle. Did they hear what
was said?"
"Ay, ay, sir," came in a chorus as the men came scrambling up.
"But, captain--the ladies," cried Major O'Halloran excitedly.
"Well, sir, they will behave like English ladies should," said the
captain loudly. "My wife will have charge of them, and they will be
ready to go down to the boats slowly and in order. Mark, my boy, go to
your mother's side and help her in every way you can."
Mark ran to where his mother was standing with Mrs O'Halloran and Mary,
all half-dressed and trembling.
"I heard what your father said, Mark, my boy, and we are going to be
calm. You can go back and help."
Mark ran back, to find his father giving orders sharply, but in as cool
and matter-of-fact a manner as if there was no danger on the way. The
pump handiest was rigged with the fire hose attached, and another was
being got ready for supplying the buckets with which the men were
preparing to deluge the flame.
"Now, Gregory, I must stay on deck. Go down and haul off the hatches.
Find as near as you can where the fire seems to be before you begin to
work. Remember one gallon well placed is worth five hundred thrown at
random."
"You may trust me, Captain Strong," said the mate quietly. "Now then,
two men--volunteers. Go down on your hands and knees as soon as we are
below, and you will not feel the smoke."
The mate disappeared down the main hatch, and the men stood panting to
begin, buckets filled, the hose distended, and one of the sailors
holding his thumb tightly over the hole in the branch.
As the men went down the captain drew a long breath, for he realised how
difficult it would be to apply the water effectively. The lower deck
was growing more dense with smoke moment by moment, and the men who were
to direct the water upon the flames would be compelled to stand below in
that stifling heat.
It was an awful time, and every soul there realised the horror of the
position--a hundred miles from the nearest land, the vessel all of wood
and laden with a fairly inflammable cargo, which must be well alight by
now to judge from the tremendous fume.
The captain's manner and his orders, however, gave some confidence to
the men, who, as they waited, saw one boat lowered and heard it kiss the
water, while directly after preparations were being made for the
lowering of another.
"That's right," said the captain cheerily. "We have plenty of boats, so
there is nothing to fear. Now, Mr Gregory, how is it below?"
There was a faint reply, evidently from a distance, and then a rush was
heard, and the two men came up blinded, choking, and coughing violently.
"Where's Mr Gregory?" cried the captain.
"Here!" was the reply, and the first-mate's head appeared above the
coamings of the hatchway.
"Well?"
"I can make out nothing, sir," said the mate, setting down his lantern,
"only that the smoke is rising all over."
"Can't you localise the place?"
"No."
"Up with the hatches, then, and let's have the water in," cried the
captain. "You take the deck now, and I'll go down. Three fresh men
here."
Half a dozen stepped forward and part were selected, for the discipline
of the ship told, and not a man so much as glanced at the boats now.
"Axes," said the captain, "and as soon as we haul off some hatches pass
down that hose, Gregory, and begin handing down the buckets."
"Are you going to stay below, sir?"
"Yes, for a spell," said the captain; and Mark felt a swelling sensation
at his breast as he saw his father go down into that suffocating fume to
risk his life.
At that moment a hand was laid upon his shoulder, and turning sharply it
was to see that the major was just passing him, laden with provisions
for the next boat.
"What a soldier he would have made, my lad!" said the major, and passed
on.
"He could not have done anything more brave," said Mark to himself, "if
he had been a soldier;" and he ran close to the hatchway as the buckets
of water were being handed steadily down, while the pumps clanked
heavily with the labour given by willing hands.
"Bravo, my lads!" cried Mr Gregory excitedly. "Cheerily ho! Now
then."
The men uttered a tremendous cheer, and another and another, and for the
next half-hour there was the clanking of the pumps, and the loud
slushing noise of the water being thrown below, and the hiss and rush of
the constant stream from the hose.