I tried to think of some way by which I might be enabled to make
reparation for the loss; but my reflections were only foolish, as they
were bitter. I owned nothing in the world that I knew of--nothing but
my old watch--and that--ha! ha! ha!--would scarce have paid for the box
of crackers!
Yes, there was something else that belonged to me--and does still (for I
have kept it till this hour)--something which I esteemed far more than
the watch--ay, far more than I would a thousand watches; but that
something, although so highly prized by me, would not have been valued
at a single sixpence. You guess of what I am speaking? You guess, and
rightly, that I mean that _dear old knife_!
Of course, my uncle would do nothing in the matter. He had no interest
in me farther than to give me a home, and that was a thing of choice
rather than responsibility. He was in no way bound to make good my
damages; and, indeed, I did not permit myself for a moment to entertain
the idea.
There was but one thought that held out to me the slightest hope--one
course that appeared to be tolerably rational. It was this: I could
bind myself to the captain for a long period. I could toil for him as a
boy-sailor--a cabin-boy--a servant--anything that would enable me to
work off my debt.
If he would only accept me for this purpose (and what else could he now
do, unless, indeed, he really did toss me overboard), then all might yet
be right.
The thought cheered me; and I resolved, as soon as I should reach the
captain's presence, to make the proposal.
Just at that moment I heard a loud stamping noise above me. It was a
continued series of thumps, that resembled the heavy footsteps of men
passing backward and forward over the decks. They were on both sides of
the hatchway, and all around it, upon the deck.
Then I heard voices--human voices. Oh, how pleasant to my ears! First,
I heard shouts and short speeches, and then all of them mingling
together in a chant or chorus. Rude it may have been, but during all my
life never heard I sounds that appeared to me so musical or harmonious
as that work-song of the sailors.
It inspired me with confidence and boldness. I could endure my
captivity no longer; and the instant the chorus ended, I sprang forward
under the hatch, and with the wooden handle of my knife knocked loudly
upon the planks overhead.
I listened. My knocking had been heard. There was a parley among the
voices above, and I could distinguish exclamations of surprise; but
although the talking continued, and even a greater number of voices
appeared to take part in it, no attempt was made to take up the hatch.
I repeated my knocking louder than before; and added to it the summons
of my voice; but I could myself perceive that my voice was tiny and
feeble as that of an infant, and I doubted whether it could have been
heard.
Again I listened to a volley of loud exclamations that betokened
surprise; and from the multitude of voices I could guess that the whole
crew was around the hatchway.
I knocked a third time, to make sure; and then I stood a little to one
side, in anxious and silent expectation.
Presently I heard something rubbing over the hatches. It was the
tarpaulin being removed; and, as soon as this covering was taken off, I
perceived that light shot in through several chinks at the joining of
the planks.
But the next moment the sky suddenly opened above me; and the flood of
light that poured down upon my face, rendered me quite blind. It did
more--it caused me to faint and fall backward against the boxes. I did
not lose consciousness all at once, but swooned gradually away under a
feeling of strange bewilderment.
Just as the hatch was lifted upwards, I noticed a ring of rough heads--
human heads and faces--above the edge, all around the great opening, and
I observed that all of them were drawn suddenly back with an expression
of extreme terror. I heard cries and exclamations that betokened the
same; but the shouts gradually died upon my ears, and the light dimmed
and darkened in my eyes, as I lapsed into a state of unconsciousness, as
complete as if I had been dead.
Of course, I had only swooned; and was insensible to what was passing
around me. I did not see the rough heads as they reappeared over the
edge of the hatch frame, and again reconnoitre me with looks of alarm.
I did not see that one of them at length took courage, and leaped down
upon the top of the cargo, followed by another and then another, until
several stood bending over me, uttering a volley of conjectures and
exclamatory phrases. I did not feel them as they tenderly raised me in
their arms, and kindly felt my pulse, and placed their huge rough hands
over my heart to see whether it was still beating with life--no more did
I feel the big sailor who lifted me up against his breast and held me
there, and then, after a short ladder had been obtained and placed in
the hatchway, carried me up out of the hold and laid me carefully on the
quarter-deck: I heard nothing, I saw nothing, I felt nothing, till a
shock, as if of cold water dashed in my face, once more aroused me from
my trance, and told me that I still lived.