"Yes, captain; I'm awake. What's your will?" was the answer.
"I'll tell you what I've been thinking of," said the captain in a very
low voice, evidently getting near the person he was addressing. "It
wouldn't be a hard matter to take this craft, and make off with her.
She is short-handed. We have four stout fellows, and the woman I make
sure would help us. I'd undertake, while he is caterwauling away with
the young gal, to knock that young sprig of an officer overboard. Then
we'd cast off the hawser, and let the `Crab' go adrift. They needn't
know it was done on purpose; and while the other king's ship was looking
after her to pick her up, we'd have a fine start. At all events, this
craft has the best pair of heels, and she would never come up with us
again. What do you say, Peter, to this?"
"I'm your man, captain," answered the mate chuckling. "There's four to
seven, and that's no great odds if we choose our time. We can count, I
guess, on the woman if you put her up to the trick. It may be a job to
do that, though."
"No fear on that score," observed Captain Cobb. "By the look of the sky
when the sun went down, there'll be a breeze before to-morrow night.
Just do you talk to Ahab and Silas, and I'll see about the rest."
The voices of the speakers sank so low after this that I could not catch
another word.
"Thank you, gentlemen," said I to myself. "I've had that trick
attempted to be played on me before now; but I didn't think that you, my
melancholy-looking friend, were up to it. However--forewarned,
fore-armed--I'll be ready for you. I suspect that Mrs Tarleton will
not be a little enraged when she hears the part she is to play in the
drama. She'll wither up the poor skipper into a mummy when she sees
him."
I could scarcely refrain from laughing aloud at the idea. I waited till
the two conspirators ceased speaking, and as I believed had gone again
to sleep; and then I noiselessly left my berth and went on deck. I had
my own pistols ready, and I sent Rockets to arm himself and the rest of
the people.
In the morning, when the lank skipper and his people came on deck, they
looked somewhat dismayed at the appearance we presented. I, however,
said nothing, and treated him as if I was totally ignorant of his kind
intentions towards me. I was, however, preparing to speak to him, in
the presence of Mrs Tarleton, hoping to enjoy her indignation and his
dismay; but the sight of Miss Carlyon put everything I was going to say
out of my head, as I sprang to the companion-hatch to hand her on deck.
How bright and beaming was the smile which irradiated her countenance!
While she was near, I scarcely had it in my heart even to frighten the
poor skipper, and certainly not to hurt him, even had he attempted to
carry out his kind intentions towards me. She looked about her,
enjoying the sight of the blue sparkling sea and the fresh breeze.
"It is very beautiful," said she at length.
"Very!" said I, but if she had asked me to say what I thought so
beautiful it would have made her blush. She did not remark a bank of
black clouds away to the eastward. I did, and was sorry to see them,
for I thought how much discomfort a gale would cause her. The lank
skipper saw them also, and probably hoped for an opportunity to carry
his pleasant little plot into execution. I determined at once to spoil
it. I had somewhat prepared Miss Carlyon, by telling her that I knew of
the existence of a plan to take the vessel from me, but made very light
of it that I might not frighten her. Calling Captain Cobb aft, while
Mrs Tarleton was on deck, I looked him full in the face, and recounted
the whole particulars of the plan he had concocted.
"And do you know, madam, our worthy friend not only expects you to
approve of his project, but to help him carry it into execution, whether
by the aid of the bowl or dagger I do not know; perhaps he expects you
to help in smothering us with pillows while we are fast asleep."
Never was a man more completely taken aback than was Mr Saul Cobb on
that occasion, nor was his confusion lessened by the address of the
lady.
"You wretched, miserable being! do you fancy that because I am a patriot
I would consort with murderers, whose sole idea is how they may make
money without a thought how they may best serve their country?"
Her attitude, expression, and manner, more than her words, expressed the
vehemence of her feelings; and the skipper, without attempting to excuse
himself, turned round and, bolting forward, dived down below to hide his
head in darkness. I told Rockets to keep an eye on him, for I thought
he might do some mischief.
"You, sir, will, I am sure, acquit me of approving even in the remotest
way of such a scheme," said the lady.
I assured her that I did, and I felt that I had, from the way I had
taken the matter, gained a yet further step in her good graces. I then
sent Rockets to tell the skipper that, should he attempt to make any
such demonstration as he had proposed, I should forthwith be compelled
to blow out his brains; but that, if he behaved well, I would pass the
matter over. I felt very sure that he would give me no further trouble.
Scarcely had I thus settled this affair than down came the gale on us
with a fury unexpected. I shortened sail, lengthened our hawser to the
utmost, and then went to try and make the ladies comfortable in the
cabin. Still, notwithstanding all my responsibilities and troubles, I
had never before felt so happy and proud in my life.