"Wouldn't it be well to go on shore and try and pick up some news? We
may gain intelligence which may be of importance; at all events, we
shall pass the time more pleasantly than on board."
"A good idea," answered Dubois. "We will go. You'll be content to
remain on board?" he added, turning to me. "It might be inconvenient to
take you with us, as we might meet some of your brother officers; but I
brought a few books of light literature in my portmanteau, besides my
nautical almanack, and you can read them while we're on shore."
I thanked him, and was very glad to find that he didn't wish me to go;
as, although by landing I might have a chance of making my escape, I
would not do so without Larry.
They did not wait for dinner; but telling the steward to bring me mine
at the usual hour, pulled away in one of the boats, leaving the brig
under the charge of a quartermaster, who had come on board at Gonavez
Bay. He was a sharp-eyed old fellow, and had evidently been directed to
keep a watch on Larry and me. Several shore-boats came alongside, but
after some fresh provisions had been purchased, the others were ordered
to keep off.
Soon after the officers had gone Larry came up to me.
"Hwist, Mr Terence," he said in a low voice. "Dan Hoolan and the other
boys know that the frigate out there is the _Liffy_, and I heard Dan say
to one of them that they must take care we don't get away to her, for
he's afraid, if we do, that Captain Macnamara, when he hears of the
mutiny, will consider that he has a right to retake the brig, and that
they'll all be triced up to the yard-arm before many hours are over
afterwards."
"We must try, then, to throw them off their guard, Larry," I said.
"Have you thought of any other plan for escaping?"
"Not just yet, Mr Terence; but I'm still hoping that something will
turn up. I'll tell you all about it presently; but I mustn't stop long
aft, for I have a notion that Dan and the rest have got something into
their heads, and that they won't be stopping aboard if they can help it,
to run the risk of hanging."
Larry again went forward, and I returned to the cabin. I cannot say
that the books Dubois left me were edifying; and after I had turned over
a few pages, I threw them aside as abominable trash, not fit for any
gentleman's eyes to rest on. They were such works as contributed to
prepare the way for the French Revolution. The steward brought me an
excellent dinner, and placed a bottle of claret on the table, of which,
however, I partook very moderately. I passed the afternoon as best I
could, now and then going on deck to have the pleasure of taking a look
at the _Liffy_, and hoping to see one of her boats passing. I
determined, should one pull by, to hail her and say who I was; for I was
afraid that Nettleship might suppose the brig had been lost, and that
the report of my death might, by ill-luck, reach Ballinahone. I
watched, however, in vain. As evening approached I expected that Dubois
and La Touche would return. Something kept them on shore; probably,
finding the calm continue, they were carrying out their intentions of
amusing themselves. At last darkness came on, and I went back into the
cabin. I should have said that the brig carried a small boat hoisted up
astern, but which was in a dilapidated condition, and considered not fit
to put into the water. As we had no carpenter on board able to repair
her, she was allowed to remain hoisted up. I had been in the cabin some
time, and I believe I must have dropped off into a doze, when I heard a
sound of blocks creaking, and presently there was a splash in the water.
Springing up, I looked out of one of the stern ports, which was open,
and could distinguish a boat just below me with a man in her, moving
round the quarter. At first I thought he was Larry, and then I felt
sure that Larry would not have taken a boat without first giving me
notice of his intentions. In less than a minute afterwards, however, he
poked his head into the cabin.
"Hwist, Mr Terence, it's just as I thought it would be," he whispered.
"Dan Hoolan and the rest are going to pull on shore. They have made the
watch below drunk, and they have seized the anchor watch and put them in
limbo. They fancy that if they can get away up the country, they'll be
safe, and I have a mind to go with them and pull the boat back, and take
you off. Keep a look-out of the cabin window, Mr Terence; maybe I'll
come under the counter, and you can squeeze through the port without
anybody on deck finding us out. Now I'm off."
Larry hurried out of the cabin, leaving me in a state of anxious doubt
as to whether he would succeed. I was afraid of going on deck lest I
should be seen by the mutineers, and I at once therefore went to the
port, hoping that I might catch a glimpse of them pulling away. Even if
Larry got off with them, there might be many chances against his
returning. The boat even might fill before she could reach the shore,
or she might encounter the French officers returning to the brig, and be
seized. I wondered at their carelessness in leaving the vessel with
such a crew as theirs; for those who had proved traitors to me might
have been expected to turn traitors to them.
Scarcely a minute had elapsed before, to my surprise, I heard a "hwist"
come from under the counter, and Larry's voice saying--
"Lend a hand, Mr Terence, and catch the painter as I chuck it up."