"It's a short story," he continued, "and won't take many words. I
warn't always what I am now. No, I was a man-o'-war's-man for many a
year, and, though I say it myself, there warn't many in the service as
knew their duty or did it better. But all that went for nothing. It
was at Spithead--we were lying there with the fleet, and I chanced to
run foul o' the master's-mate o' our ship. It was all about a bit o'
lass that we met ashore, who was my sweetheart. He was a-makin' too
free with her, and my blood got up. I couldn't help it, and I
threatened him--only threatened him. There's what I got for it. Look
there, little Will!"
As the sailor finished speaking, he pulled off his jacket, and raised
his shirt over his shoulder. I perceived across his back, and up and
down, and in every direction, a complete network of long scars--the
scars of old weals--which the "cats" had made upon his flesh.
"Now, my lad, you know why I'm driven to a ship like this. In course I
desarted the navy, and afterwards tried it in the merchant-sarvice, but
go where I would, I carried the Cain-mark along with me, and somehow or
other it always came out, and I couldn't stand it. Here I'm not the odd
sheep in the flock. Among the fellows below there, there's many a back
as well striped as mine."
Ben ceased speaking, and I, impressed with the brief history of his
wrongs, remained for some time silent.
After awhile I again ventured to broach the subject that lay nearest my
heart.
"But, Ben," said I, "this is a horrid kind of life to lead; surely you
do not intend to continue it?"
A shake of the head was all the answer I received.
"I could not endure it," I continued; "I have resolved to make my escape
whenever an opportunity offers. Surely you will aid me?"
"Both you and myself, lad."
"Oh! I am so pleased."
"Yes," continued he, "I am tired of it, too. I have been thinking how I
can leave it. This I'm determined shall be my last voyage--leastwise,
in this trade. I've been thinking, my boy, of giving 'em the slip, and
taking you along with me."
"Oh, how glad I shall be--when may we go?"
"There lies the bother, my lad; you see there's no place in all Africa
where we could get off, or, if we did, it would only be to wander among
these black savages, and likely enough get murdered by them. No; we
can't get clear of the _Pandora_ this side the Atlantic. We must stick
by her, and make the voyage; and on the far side we'll manage it, I
warrant you."
"'Tis a long time to suffer."
"You ain't a-going to suffer--I'll take care o' that; but keep quiet,
and don't show that you are not contented enough--not a word to anybody
about what's been said this night,--not a word, my lad!"
I promised faithfully to observe the directions given, and, as Brace was
now called to his watch upon deck, I went down along with him, feeling
lighter at heart than I had done since I first set foot on board the
_Pandora_.