After supper we rose to go on deck. I observed as we did so, that La
Touche replaced the bottle in the locker. I felt more inclined to go to
sleep than to pace the deck, but I resolved to take the first watch,
that Nash might have the middle one. The wind had fallen still more,
the moonbeams cast a silvery light over the ocean. La Touche, who had
followed me out of the cabin, joined me, and we walked up and down for
some time. At length, giving a yawn, he said--
"If monsieur does not wish me to keep watch, which I shall be happy to
do, I shall turn in, for I can scarcely keep my eyes open."
"Thank you," I said; "but I cannot disobey my orders, though I should
place perfect confidence in your honour."
"I am much obliged to you for the compliment," he replied in a
hesitating tone; and wishing me good-night, and a pleasant watch, he
dived below.
I continued walking up and down the deck, doing my utmost to keep myself
awake. Seeing Larry, I called to him to come to me. One of our men was
at the helm. I asked Larry how the people were getting on forward.
"We're all as friendly as bees, Mr Terence. Shure the Frenchmen are
mighty pleasant fellows, though I wouldn't be after trusting to them too
much. The steward has got some bottles of the crathur, and he's been
serving it out pretty freely. I have been afraid that Dan Hoolan and
Mat would be after taking more than is good for them, though Dan's head,
to be sure, could stand lashins of liquor, and be none the worse for
it."
"Take care, and not be tempted yourself, Larry," I said.
"No, no, Mr Terence, I know my duty too well for that, though the
Frenchmen in their love of me tried to force it down my throat."
"I wish you could manage to find the bottles of liquor, and bring them
aft, or heave them overboard; it would be putting temptation out of the
men's way," I said.
"Shure, Mr Terence, I'll obey your orders, though the Frenchmen won't
be loving me so much, if they find out it was myself that did it."
While Larry went forward to carry out my directions, I continued my
solitary walk. I was afraid even to rest against the bulwarks for a
moment, or I should have been off to sleep like a shot. Even as it was,
as I stood on deck watching the canvas, to see that the man at the helm
was steering properly, I more than once became unconscious of where I
was. Though my eyes might not have closed, I lost the power of seeing,
now fancying myself on the deck of the frigate, now on board the
_Soleil_, and I heard the voices of Nettleship and Tom Pim talking to
each other, though except that they were speaking about me, I could not
make out what they said. Now I opened my eyes. "No higher!" I sang
out, as I saw the head-sails almost aback. The helmsman turned the
spokes of the wheel, and the sails filled I continued my walk, but soon
again stopped. I went to the binnacle lamp to look at my watch. It
still wanted half an hour to midnight. I would have given much to have
had that half hour over; and it was with the greatest difficulty that I
managed to stand upright. Once more as I stood, now looking out
forward, now at the sails, strange voices sounded in my ears, and my
senses wandered.
"Faith, Mr Terence, the spalpeens have been too sharp for me; I could
only find one bottle of spirits, and that was empty. The blacks are as
drunk as fiddlers, and the Frenchmen seem to have lost their senses,
while Dan Hoolan and the rest of our men are much the same, barrin' Tim
Logan here, at the helm, and Ben Nash, and he's fast asleep, waiting for
me to call him, and relieve you."
"Well, then, Larry, go and rouse him up at once, for if he doesn't come
down soon there'll be only you and Logan to look after the ship, as I'm
pretty well done up."
"Hush, Mr Terence! I'd like to see Logan kept at the helm," said
Larry, putting his hand to his mouth; "for when he goes forward I am
after thinking that the Frenchmen will be tempting him with the liquor,
and he's not the boy to refuse a glass of the crathur when it's put
before his nose."
"I'll speak to Nash when he comes," I said. "Take a look-out ahead
before you go below."
In a short time Ben Nash came aft, hitching up his trousers and rubbing
his eyes as if just awakened out of sleep. I gave him my directions,
and inquired about the rest of the crew.
"Why, sir, the watch below don't seem inclined to turn out and the men
forward seem more asleep than awake," he answered. "It seems to me that
they have been having a drop too much; I only hope we shan't have to
shorten sail, or there won't be many of them fit to go aloft."
Ben's reply confirmed what Larry told me. It made me very unwilling to
turn in, but so overpowerful was my sleepiness, that I knew it would be
impossible for me to keep awake much longer.
"I must lie down for half an hour or so," I said, "and if you observe
anything unusual, send Larry down to call me. Let him stay by you if he
can manage to keep awake, while Logan remains at the helm a short while
longer."
"Never fear, sir," answered Nash. "I'll do as you order me."
Under other circumstances I should have myself gone forward and roused
up the watch, but from the reports Nash and Larry had given me, I knew
that it would be useless, as I had no power to enforce obedience. I
therefore very unwillingly went below, and threw myself on the bed all
standing, and in half a minute was fast asleep.
I didn't dream; not a thought passed through my brain till I was at
length partly awakened by a noise overhead. What it was I couldn't make
out. Presently I heard some one come down, as I supposed, to call me.
Now fully awake, I was on the point of jumping up to hurry on deck, when
I became aware that two persons were standing close to my berth.
"_Soyez tranquille, monsieur_," said the voice of La Touche. "The brig
is no longer under your command; most of your people have joined my men,
and they insist on carrying her into the Havanna."
"Impossible!" I exclaimed. "My men would not have turned traitors.
I'll go on deck and see how matters stand."
"That we cannot allow. I did not instigate my men to recapture the
vessel, they managed it themselves; but now that they have possession, I
dare not order them to give her up."
"I know that two of my people would have fought to the death rather than
have turned traitors," I exclaimed.
"Those two you speak of--the old man and the Irish lad--were
overpowered, and are stowed safely below, with handcuffs on their
wrists," he answered. "Have I your word that you'll not interfere? You
treated me with courtesy, and I wish you to be allowed to remain at
liberty; but if you decline to give me your word, I cannot prevent you
being treated as they are."
While he was speaking, I felt for my pistols, which I had placed at the
head of the berth, intending to spring up suddenly, knock him and his
companion over, and gain the deck, but they were gone. My sword had
also been taken away.
I observed by the light of the lantern that his companion held, that
both of them were fully armed, and prepared to resist any attack I might
make on them. The countenance of the other person, who wore the uniform
of a lieutenant, I did not recognise, but I guessed he must be the sick
messmate to whom La Touche had been so attentive. I could not help
thinking also that La Touche was not so ignorant altogether of the
intentions of his crew as he asserted.
"I'll consider the subject, and let you know in the course of a few
minutes, if you'll give me that time for reflection," I answered.
I was anxious to gain time, for I still had a lingering hope that Nash
and Larry had managed to retain their liberty, and that if I could once
get on deck, we might recover possession of the brig.
"I'll not hurry you, monsieur, but shall be very much grieved if you
will not give me your word, as I shall be under the painful necessity of
subjecting you to an indignity such as I would willingly avoid,"
observed the lieutenant.
I spent the time in considering what I would do, and finally came to the
conclusion that it would be useless to refuse the freedom offered me,
as, were I handcuffed and imprisoned below, I could not assist my two
faithful men, or make any attempt to recover the brig.
I therefore said, with as good a grace as I could command, "I accept
your offer, Monsieur La Touche."
"You must give your word to this gentleman, who is my superior officer,"
said La Touche, turning to the supposed sick man.
I said nothing; but I had a shrewd suspicion that he had remained on
board for the purpose of carrying out the plan which had been so
completely successful. I felt, however, very much downcast, and very
foolish at being outwitted, and indignant at the treacherous conduct of
my own men. Yet what more could I have expected from Hoolan and his
associates?
"Monsieur, I promise not to interfere with the discipline of the brig,
provided I am allowed to retain my liberty," I at length said,
addressing the lieutenant.
"That is well," he replied. "I would advise you to lie down again and
finish your sleep. You will be in better heart to-morrow to bear your
misfortune, and we wish to return the courtesy which we have received at
your hands. It is the fortune of war, and we have acted fairly."
I was not so clear about that, but there was no use in complaining, so I
at once threw myself into the berth, and in a minute was in happy
forgetfulness of all that had occurred.
Next morning, when I went on deck, I found the brig was steering to the
north-west. How different I felt to the day before; then I was in
command, now I was a prisoner. As I cast my eye along the deck, I
caught sight of Hoolan and the other mutineers. He scowled at me
maliciously, but did not approach, and the others continued the work on
which they were engaged. La Touche had charge of the deck. I had my
misgivings as to how it had fared with Larry and Nash.