Ann I was expected to join hands with the pirates against. I couldn't
help thinking of the many pleasant hours I had spent on board that
vessel, chatting and spinning yarns with the crew. What to do I didn't
know.
"The pirates were already clearing for action, and all seemed as busy
as bees. You ought to have seen the eager look there was on their
villainous faces, as they watched the Sally Ann, just, for all the
world, like a crafty spider, lying in wait for a fat fly.
"Just then the captain came up to where I was standing, and fixed his
sharp glance on me. 'Now, my man,' said he, 'here's a chance for you
to distinguish yourself. That vessel will no doubt prove a rich prize.
Do your duty, like a man, in the coming engagement, and you shall have
a good share of the spoils. If you don't, or if you prove false to us,
you know your fate.'
"He pointed up to the yard-arm, as much as to say that I should be
strung up, if I refused obedience, and I've no doubt he would have kept
his word.
"I just answered, 'Aye, aye, sir,' without looking particularly
concerned.
"'What will you do to the crew when the ship has fallen into your
hands?' I asked.
"'Send them to Davy Jones's locker,' he said, with no more compunction
than if he were speaking of a litter of kittens.
"Well, I felt as if I was in a pretty tight place; some like a man I've
heard of somewhere, who was being chased by a buffalo across a large
field. At last he came to a precipice a hundred feet high. Of course,
it would be death for him to jump off, and it would be just as much
death for him to stay where he was. So he just waited till the old
buffalo was close to him, and then he dodged out of the way, and the
buffalo, who was going at full speed, leaped over the precipice, and
was dashed to pieces. Well, I thought whether I couldn't do something
of that kind. I knew that, if I shouldn't fight, the pirates would be
as good as their word, and kill me, and if I did, I should be guilty of
piracy, and be liable to be hung as a pirate, if ever I got caught."
"That was a pretty hard choice," said Charlie.
"So it seemed to me," said Bill. "The only thing I thought of that
would do me any good, was to turn upon the pirates some way. If I
could only have jumped into the water, unobserved, and swam to the
other ship, I would have fought to the last, in their defence."
"Why didn't you do it?"
"Well, my lad, there were two objections. In the first place, the
pirates would have seen what I was at, and fired at me in the water. In
the second place, the sailors on board the Sally Ann, thinking that I
was a pirate, would have suspected I was up to some mischief, and so,
most likely, they would have blazed away at me, too. So, between the
two fires, I shouldn't have stood a very good chance."
"I don't know but you are right."
"No, my lad, it didn't take me very long to decide that there was
nothing to be gained in this way. At that moment, I chanced to go down
below for something, when my eye rested on--what do you think?"
"What was it?"
"_It was a keg of powder_," said Bill, shaking the ashes from his pipe.
"Perhaps, my lad, you can guess what thought that put me up to."
"Was it to blow them all up?" asked Charlie, in excitement.
"You've hit it, my lad."
"But that would be dangerous to you."
"I knew that well enough," said the sailor. "There was precious little
chance of old Bill Sturdy living to tell the story; but, my lad,
I'll tell you what made me overlook that. I must either turn pirate
and always remain so, with a pretty considerable chance of swinging
from the gallows some time, or else be butchered by the pirates for
refusing to join them. So, as there didn't seem to be much but death in
prospect, that consideration didn't weigh much. Then I thought that, if
I did die by the explosion, I should have the satisfaction of knowing
that the rascally pirates would share my fate, and the Red Rover, the
scourge of the seas, would never do any more harm. Besides that, I
should save the Sally Ann, and the lives of the captain and crew, and
that was something glorious to think of."
The boy's cheek glowed with sympathetic ardor, and he clasped Bill
Sturdy's rough hand, in token of understanding and appreciating his
motive.
"That seemed the only way open to me," resumed Bill, "and I determined
to adopt it. Of course, there were nine chances out of ten that I
should be blown up with the rest of them, but still there was a
possibility of escape. I couldn't help thinking of that, and the more
I thought, the more I had a kind of feeling that I should escape. I
thought I would go up on deck a minute, before carrying out my design,
and see what was going on. Well, the pirates had about got ready for
action. The decks had been cleared, the cutlasses and pistols and other
murderous weapons had been distributed among the men, and, altogether,
there seemed precious little chance for the poor fellows on board the
Sally Ann, especially, as I knew well enough that they had no cannon,
and only a few pistols, that were not likely to do them much good.
There wasn't much time to lose, as the action was going to commence.
So I slipped down below, and fixed a slow match, so that it would
reach the powder in about a minute. I had just about got it fixed,
when who should I see coming down, but the pirate captain. It seemed
as if all my plans were going to be knocked in the head. No doubt he
suspected that all was not as it should be, and was coming down to see
what was to pay. I felt desperate, and fetched him as powerful a blow
as I was able, on the side of his head, and he fell like an ox, pretty
effectually stunned."
"What next?"
"The next thing I did was to hurry upon deck. 'Where's the captain?'
asked the mate. 'He'll be up directly,' said I. And so he was, but not
in the sense that he understood it.
"Well, I listened on deck for about half a minute, in a terrible state
of anxiety, you may be sure. Then, feeling that it was not safe for me
to stay any longer, I jumped into the water, and began to swim towards
the Sally Ann. As my head rose above the water, I saw the mate about to
fire at me, and I dove. When my head was fairly out of water again,
such a sound as smote upon my ear! The light had reached the powder,
and there was a terrible explosion. The ship was shattered to pieces.
The pirates were hurled into the air, some with mutilated limbs, and
I rather think that some of them were considerably astonished. The
captain did go up as I promised. He was flung a hundred feet into the
air, and never came down again alive. For my part, I was lucky enough
to reach the Sally Ann, untouched by the falling fragments. When they
found out who I was, and how I had saved them, their gratitude knew
no bounds. The owners made up a purse of two thousand dollars, and
presented it to me."
"And what did you do with it?"
"When I got back to Boston, I put it in one of the places you call
Savings Banks, and I expect it's there now."
XXIII.
ANTONIO'S PLOT.
Such is a specimen of the yarns--sometimes true, sometimes spun out of
whole cloth--with which the sailors amused themselves and beguiled the
tedium of the night-watch.
The companionship of honest and stout-hearted Bill Sturdy proved a
great source of happiness to Charlie, and enabled him to bear up, as
otherwise he might have found it difficult to do, under the hardships
of his condition, the persecution of the captain and the mate, who had
not forgotten their animosity, and the uncertainty he could not but
feel as to the situation in which his mother was left, with the painful
doubt as to whether she would be able to support herself till he could
return and relieve her necessities.
"When we get back, my lad," said Bill Sturdy, "I'll put half that money
in the Savings Bank in your name, so that if you and your mother want
it at any time, you can use it."
"No, Bill," said Charlie, earnestly, "you are very kind, but I couldn't
consent to that."
"And why not, my lad? What do I want of it? I've got neither chick nor
child, and am not likely to have. I've taken a fancy to you, and the
money'll do you more good than me."
"You are _very_ kind," said Charlie, gratefully; "but I mustn't take
advantage of your generosity."
"Nonsense, my lad. I know what it is to be a poor boy, without money or
friends, and nowadays money will bring friends. Mayhap it'll start you
in some business, and when you get rich you can pay me; or if, by and
by, I take a notion to come to anchor on shore, you'll give me a corner
in your house, where I can smoke my pipe and spin my yarns."
"That I will, Bill," said Charlie, seizing the old sailor's rough hand.
"If I have a roof to cover me, it shall cover you too."
"Thank you, my lad," said Bill. "I know you would."
Under Bill Sturdy's rough exterior there was a kind heart which warmed
to our young hero, partly because of his solitary position on board,
partly on account of his manliness and attractive qualities. So they
became fast friends.
Charlie did not find his duties altogether distasteful. He was a
bright, active boy, not without ambition, and resolved to do himself
credit in his new position, however it may have been forced upon him.
For this reason it was that the captain and the mate, although they
watched him with lynx eyes, hoping that he would afford them some
pretext for showing their rancorous feelings towards him, watched
ineffectually. By his activity, and his frank and manly disposition,
he was fast ingratiating himself with the crew, who were the more
disposed to espouse his cause, because they could not fail to notice
the injustice with which the officers treated him.
But trouble was brewing for Charlie, and soon the storm broke forth.
The scuffle between Bill Sturdy and Antonio, of which Charlie was the
occasion, will not have been forgotten. Antonio had before hated Bill
on account of his superiority in strength, which deprived him of his
former champion's life. This feeling was increased by the issue of the
contest which had resulted in his humiliation and defeat, and his anger
was also stirred up against Charlie, who had been the occasion of it.
Yet he did not dare to venture upon abuse, because it was generally
understood that Bill Sturdy had constituted himself Charlie's especial
friend and protector.
But there were other ways of compassing his end. Antonio was subtile.
He felt that his revenge must be a more secret one, and he desired that
it should involve both Bill Sturdy and his _protégé_. If he could only
involve Charlie in some offence which would draw upon him the active
displeasure of the captain, and subject him to public punishment,
he felt sure that Bill Sturdy would not stand tamely by and see it
inflicted, while any interference would be insubordination, and get his
rival into serious trouble.
After reflection Antonio decided to implicate Charlie in a charge of
theft. It happened that the captain had a valuable gold ring, set
with diamonds, which, for reasons unnecessary to state, he prized even
beyond its pecuniary value. Captain Brace, however, was not a careful
man. He would sometimes take off his ring, and lay it down on the cabin
table. On one occasion Antonio, while upon deck, observed the captain
pass, and ascertained by a swift glance that the ring was not upon his
finger. He watched his opportunity, and slipping down into the cabin,
found, as he anticipated, the ring upon the table. It was the work of a
moment to snatch and conceal it in his pocket.
He returned to the work in which he had been engaged, and resumed it,
supposing he had not been observed.
In this he was mistaken.
Bill Sturdy had had his eye upon him from the time of his difficulty
with him. He could see Antonio's craftiness in his face, and the
apparent affability and conciliatory manner of the latter afterwards
had by no means deceived him.
"Look out for squalls," thought he. "He's too fair seeming to be
trusted. I've no doubt he's hatching up something or other. I'll keep a
sharp lookout for him."
When Antonio made his stealthy visit to the cabin, as above described,
the vigilant eye of Bill Sturdy was upon him and his movements.
In a moment he reappeared. Bill saw it all out of the corner of his
eye, though he appeared to be looking in just the opposite direction.
"What's the fellow up to?" he thought. "Some mischief, I reckon. What
business has he in the cabin? I must watch him."
Of course, Antonio's object will be understood. He meant to place the
ring in Charlie's chest, and when the loss should be discovered by the
captain, he would suggest that a general search should be instituted,
the result of which must involve our young hero.
Charlie was, of course, quite unconscious of the machinations which
were being formed against him, and even Bill was not yet quite certain
for what purpose Antonio had made his visit to the cabin.
Antonio felt the necessity of doing quickly what he had in
contemplation.
Going below, he made his way to the chest belonging to our hero, and,
lifting the cover, for it was unlocked, let the ring drop into one
corner.
Bill Sturdy saw his second disappearance from the deck. He could not
ascertain precisely what he was doing, without following him,--a
thing which he did not wish to do, since it would arouse Antonio's
suspicions, and place him on his guard.
Antonio came up with an expression of malicious satisfaction, which
Bill did not fail to notice.
"I wish," he thought, "I knew exactly what the fellow has been doing."
Bill was destined to learn ere long.
The captain went below, and glanced carelessly at the place where he
remembered to have left the ring. To his surprise, it had disappeared.
"What can have become of it?" he thought.
He instituted a careful examination, but did not succeed in finding the
lost article.
He prized it beyond its actual value, which was considerable, and began
to feel alarmed. It occurred to him that he might have been mistaken
about leaving it on the table. It might possibly have been dropped upon
deck.
Going on deck, he communicated his loss to the crew and requested a
general search.
"I think, Captain Brace," said Antonio, officiously, "that I can guess
where it is."
"Where?"
"I saw that boy have it," pointing to Charlie.
"It's a lie!" exclaimed Charlie, surprised and indignant.
"We'll see about that," said the captain, with a sneer. "Do you know
what he did with it, Antonio?"
"I think he may have hidden it in his chest."
"Let his chest be brought on deck, and publicly examined. If he is
found guilty, he shall be punished, as sure as my name is Brace."
XXIV.
CHARLIE GETS INTO TROUBLE.
Charlie, at first taken by surprise when the charge of theft was
brought against him, now looked scornfully indignant. Ignorant of the
ways of the world, and the wickedness of which some men are capable, he
never, for a moment, feared the result of the investigation. As for the
crew, they had already become interested in his favor, and now pitied
him for the unfortunate position in which he found himself placed. None
of them believed him guilty.
As the captain had directed, his chest was brought on deck.
Before this was searched, however, he was subjected to a personal
examination, at which nothing was discovered. There was a murmur of
satisfaction.
"The lad never stole the ring," said a stout seaman, standing next to
the real perpetrator of the crime, Antonio.
"Don't be too sure of that," said the Spaniard, in a malignant tone.
"His chest hasn't been searched yet."
"I don't care for that; I can tell by his face. A lad, with such a
figure-head as that, wouldn't do anything mean or dishonorable."
"You seem to have taken a great fancy to him," sneered Antonio. "You
mustn't trust too much to appearances. He looks to me as if he were
guilty."
Charlie's cheeks were flushed, but not with shame or confusion. It was
indignation, that he should be suspected of such a disgraceful crime.
By his side stood Bill Sturdy, who took an opportunity of whispering
into his ear, "Never you mind, my lad, even if the ring is found in
your chest."
"But it isn't there," said Charlie.
"It may be," said Bill, who, by this time, suspected the nature of
Antonio's two errands below.
"How should it be there?" asked Charlie quite in the dark.
"It might have been put there, my lad."
"But who could put it there?" persisted our hero, but little
enlightened.
"Hark you, my lad," said Bill, still farther lowering his tones;
"you've got more than one enemy on board this ship."
"The mate?"
"Yes, and the captain too, for that matter."
"But neither of them would put the ring in my chest."
"No, probably not."
"Then who would?"
"There is another enemy besides these two."
"Do you mean Antonio?"
"Yes."
"But he seemed friendly lately."
"He isn't to be trusted, my lad. He's borne a grudge against both of us
ever since I got the better of him the other day, and he's made up his
mind to be revenged. I've been watching him when he didn't suspect it,
and know more than he thinks I do."
"Do you know anything of this affair, Bill?" asked Charlie, looking up
hopefully into the face of his friend.
"I expect I do."
"What is it?" questioned our hero, eagerly.
"I shall save it till it will do some good. But see, they have nearly
finished searching your chest. Perhaps the ring is not there after all."
As Bill said, the search was nearly completed. Charlie's clothes had
been unceremoniously tumbled out upon deck, which was not calculated
to improve their appearance, and the captain and mate, who had shown
themselves particularly active on the occasion, were peering about in
search of the lost ring.
It chanced, however, that the ring had got in a fold of one of the
shirts which lay upon deck. Of course, therefore, the search in the
chest proved unavailing.
"I doubt whether it is here," said the captain, in a tone of
disappointment.
"Let us look a little longer," said the mate, who could not so easily
resign the chance of getting into trouble the boy whom he hated with a
malevolence such as his nature was capable of.
Antonio became alarmed at the prospect of all his plans being
frustrated by a failure to find the ring.
When the mate also gave up the search, he came forward, and, addressing
the captain, said,--
"Captain Brace, if you will let me assist in the search, perhaps I can
succeed in finding it."
"You are the one that saw the boy have it, are you?" queried the
captain.
"Yes, sir."
"How long since?"
"About half an hour."
"Why did you not mention it at the time?"
"I thought perhaps he had only picked it up, and would give it back to
you," said the Spaniard, in some confusion. "I didn't want to charge
him with the theft till I felt sure he meant to steal it."
"And what makes you feel sure he did so intend?"
"Because when you said the ring was lost, he did not come forward and
restore it."
"Ay," said Captain Brace, "that is strongly against him. If it is
found that he has concealed it anywhere, he shall repent it, by----"
It is unnecessary to stain our pages by printing the oath with which he
emphasized this assertion.
"What reason have you for supposing that he concealed it in his chest?"
asked the mate.
"Because I saw him go down below," answered Antonio, with unblushing
falsehood.
"It's a lie," said Charlie, boldly. "I haven't been below this morning."
"Silence!" thundered the captain, scowling menacingly; "don't add
falsehood to theft."
"I haven't been guilty of theft," said Charlie boldly.
"Silence!" again thundered the captain, "or it will be the worse for
you."
"You had better not say anything more, my lad," whispered Bill Sturdy;
"we shall yet bring you off with flying colors. Don't you fear. Bill
Sturdy is your friend, and he will stand by you."
Charlie looked grateful.
When his statement had been so unequivocably denied by our hero,
Antonio suffered himself to look at him for one instant, but in that
brief glance was concentrated so much of spite and venom and malice,
that the boy could not help shuddering, as if the countenance of a
fiend had been unexpectedly revealed to him.
"I think, Captain Brace," said Randall, "that we may venture to let
Antonio assist us, since he may succeed where we have failed."
"Very well," said the captain, "I have no objection to offer. On the
contrary, if he succeeds in finding it, I will take care that he shall
be rewarded."
Antonio was already on his knees before the chest. There was a murmur
of disapprobation among the crew. They were in favor of fair play,
and this undue eagerness to convict our hero of guilt did not commend
itself to their sense of justice and generosity. But Antonio cared
little for the sensation which his conduct might excite among his
fellow-seamen. He cared more for the gratification of his revenge than
for personal popularity.
A glance satisfied him that the ring was not in the chest. He next
began to examine carefully the clothes which had been taken out and
were lying on deck.
In lifting and shaking a shirt the ring rolled out.
"_There is your ring_, Captain Brace," said he, in a tone of
exultation, as he picked it up and extended it to the captain.
XXV.
THE REAL CULPRIT IS DISCOVERED.
The discovery of the ring made a profound impression upon all present.
The sailors looked at first surprised, and then sorrowful, for they
could not escape the conviction that Charlie had been tempted by the
richness of the prize and had actually stolen it.
Charlie was overwhelmed with astonishment and indignation, and the
thought that he was considered guilty made him feel very uncomfortable.
The captain, the mate, and Antonio could hardly conceal the
satisfaction which this discovery afforded them. Each had motives
of his own, the captain being, of course, glad to recover an article
which he valued, but of the three perhaps there was none that felt a
more malicious satisfaction than the one who had devised the plot. He
glanced exultantly at Charlie and Bill Sturdy, who he knew would be
equally affected by his favorite's misfortune.
Bill Sturdy returned his glance composedly. Antonio was disappointed
to find that he neither looked disturbed nor frightened. Bill waited
calmly the course of events.
Captain Brace exclaimed in his harsh voice, "It seems we have a thief
on board. We'll soon teach him the way all such rascals will be treated
on board this ship. Boy, take off your jacket."
"Captain Brace," said Charlie, with glowing cheeks, and in a tone that
might have convinced any one not prejudiced against him, "just hear
what I am going to say. I didn't steal your ring, indeed I didn't. I
would scorn to do such a thing. Ever since I could speak my mother has
taught me how mean a thing it is to take what belongs to another. I
own that appearances are against me."
Here Randall stepped forward with an evil smile upon his face.
"Captain Brace, as I am the uncle of this boy, perhaps you will allow
me to tell you how much dependence can be placed upon his word. He is
an artful young rascal. I am sorry to say it, since he is related to
me, but the fact is, he was on the point of being arrested for theft
just before we sailed, when I, to protect him from imprisonment, and
snatch him from the custody of the law, took him to sea with me. I have
said this against my will, because, although I know you, Captain Brace,
would not be imposed upon by his story, I thought there might be others
that would."
The sailors looked at each other, not knowing what to think, while the
captain exclaimed, sternly, "So this is not the first of your tricks,
my fine fellow. You shall have justice done you on the sea, if not on
the land. Strip, I tell you."
Charlie was so thunderstruck by Randall's bold falsehood that he
actually had nothing to say. He mechanically began to take off his
jacket.
At this moment the clarion voice of Bill Sturdy was heard, as, hitching
up his trousers a bit, he left the mast against which he had been
leaning, and advanced into the midst of the assembled sailors.
"Captain Brace," he said, in a tone firm but respectful, "if you'll
allow me, I'll tell you what I know of this affair."
"So you know something about it, do you?"
"I thought so," said Randall, in a low voice, for he had disliked Bill
from the first.
"I do," was the composed reply, "but I have no reason to be ashamed of
what I do know."
"I think," said the mate, "we already know all that we require, since
we have discovered the thief."
He was apprehensive, from Bill's tone, that what he had to say might
put a different face on the matter, and perhaps clear Charlie.