I said in an instant, for I was talking to Walters one moment, and the
next I was fighting the fire over again, and seeing now all kinds of
horrible glowing-eyed serpents and dragons, which kept on raising their
heads and breathing out flames. And as they reared their heads, they
glared at me with their glowing eyeballs, and lifted themselves higher,
to try and lick with their fiery tongues the woodwork of the ship.
It was all wonderfully plain, and the worry and trouble were terrible.
I held the nozzle, of the hose, and knew that unless I drove them back
with a strong jet of water they would destroy the ship at once; but the
tube was empty, the pump did not clank, and the hissing creatures rose
higher and higher, till they were about to scorch me, when I started
into wakefulness, and found that I was lying on my back, bathed in
perspiration, and all was perfectly still.
I soon changed my position, and dropped off to sleep again--a calm,
restful sleep for a time; but the old trouble returned: there I was
standing at the edge of that great steaming gap in the deck, with the
fiery serpents darting here and there and dancing up and down. Then
they began to make darts at the woodwork, and one greater than all the
rest reared itself up to try and reach the main-mast, but sank back
again. Then it reared itself up and tried once more, this time reaching
higher and higher, till it disappeared in the grey smoke; and directly
after I saw that it had reached the mast, and was creeping up it, in one
long undulating streak of golden and ruddy fire, which would soon reach
the mast-head, if I did not drive it down with the jet of water.
I raised the copper branch, and directed it straight at the fiery
monster, but the pump still did not clank, and no water flowed. Instead
thereof came a jet of steam--not the visible grey vapour which is really
the water in tiny vesicles, but a jet of invisible steam which rushed
out of the breach with a shrill whistling sound, and again I awoke with
a start to fancy that I was yet dreaming, for the sharp whistling still
rang in my ears.
Then I knew what it was--the signal of danger given by Mr Denning or
his sister, and, hurrying out of the cabin, I crossed the saloon, and
ran out and upon deck to where they were.
"A boat?--the mutineers?" I panted.
"No," said Miss Denning, excitedly. "The fire has broken out again!"
At the same moment I found that the alarm had been heard forward, for
the men were tumbling up from the forecastle, and Bob Hampton's voice
thundered out--
"Ahoy, there! man the pumps. She's going it again."
For, on reaching the gap in the deck where the hissing had recommenced,
the steam which we had left steadily rising when we went to lie down,
then looking of a blackish grey, now appeared luminous, as if some great
light were playing about beyond it.
Knowing where the copper branch had been made ready, I made for it at
once; but as I picked it up, it was snatched from my hands by some one,
whom I could not distinguish till he spoke, and when he did, his voice
sounded husky and strange from excitement.
"Ready there?" shouted Bob Hampton, from forward; and none too soon, for
there was a flash of light, which turned the steam to ruddy gold, and a
dull crackling roar was rising out of the hold.
"Yes; go on there!" shouted Mr Brymer from the other side of the deck.
"Who has the branch?"
"I have," cried Mr Frewen.
Then as my heart beat wildly from excitement, the clanking of the pump
began again, and directly after a shrieking and hissing, which, in the
darkness of the night, sounded louder than ever. Report after report
came too, and with them the steam seemed to be denser than ever. Dark
as the night appeared, it was visible enough, and looked so awful and
yet grand, lit-up as it was by the fierce burst of fire beneath, that it
became hard to believe that it too was not glowing, curling flame,
rising up from the hold, and wreathing about the great yards and sails
of the main-mast.
I watched it as it rose, fully expecting to see the sails burst into
flame; but there it came in heavy folds, dimly-seen here, black in
shadow there, and the fiery-looking clouds proved to be only visible
vapours, water perfectly harmless, while the real flames caused by the
fire having reached something specially combustible, never rose many
feet in the hold, and by degrees began to yield to the powerful jet of
water Mr Frewen poured down.
"Tell me if I miss any of the worst places, Dale," he shouted, to make
his voice heard above the din of the elemental strife.
I answered that he was doing quite right; and the proof of my words was
shown by the gradual darkening of the steam from bright gold to pale
yellow, then to orange, bright red, and soon after to a dull glow, which
served to show where the danger lay, and this part was so deluged, that
in less than an hour the glow died out, and we were in utter darkness.
"Let me take it a bit now," said Mr Brymer, joining us; and with the
hissing and sputtering to guide him, he now continued to pour on the
water, talking loudly the while about our alarm.
"I ought not to have lain down," he said, in tones full of
self-reproach. "I might have known that the fire would break out
again."
"Why, we couldn't have had a better watch kept, Mr Brymer."
"You are right, my lad," he replied warmly. "I ought to have thought of
that too. Go and tell Mr and Miss Denning that the danger is at an
end."
I hurried off, and mounted to the poop, where Mr Denning sat in his
chair, well wrapped in a plaid; and as I approached, Miss Denning's
voice asked quickly--"Who is that?"
"Dale, Miss Denning. I've come to tell you that the fire is mastered
again."
I heard her utter a deep sigh, and I believe she began to cry, but it
was too dark to see her face.
"How long had it been burning when you whistled?" I asked.
"Not a minute," said Miss Denning. "We were watching the setting of one
of the stars, when all at once there was a dull report somewhere in the
hold, and in an instant there was a flash, and great volumes of fire and
smoke began to roll up."
"But it was only lit-up steam," I said, talking as one experienced in
such matters.
"Then there is no more danger?" said Mr Denning.
"No, I think not--at present."
"Why do you say at present?" cried Miss Denning, eagerly; and she caught
my arm.
"Don't say anything to frighten her, Dale," said Mr Denning; "she is
half-hysterical now."
"Indeed no, John dear; I am quite calm. Tell us, Alison. It is better
to know the worst."
"I only meant," I said hastily, "that there is sure to be some fire left
smouldering below, where the water will not reach it, and it may break
out again two or three times--just a little, that's all. But we shall
watch it better now. No, no," I cried, "I don't mean that; because no
one could have watched better than you did."
"Starboard watch, ahoy!" cried Mr Brymer, cheerily. "How are you, Miss
Denning?" but before she could reply the mate was up with us.
"Thank you for keeping watch so well. Any idea what time it is?--we
hadn't been asleep long, I suppose."
Mr Denning uttered a little laugh.
"It must be close upon morning," he said.
"Morning? Impossible! What do you say, Miss Denning?"
"I think it must be very near day," she replied. "It is many hours
since you left us."
"And gone like that!" cried the mate in astonishment. "Ahoy there, Mr
Frewen, Preddle," he shouted, "what time should you think it is?"
"My watch is not going," replied Mr Frewen; "but I should say it is
about midnight."
"Oh no," cried Mr Preddle, in his highly-pitched voice; "about eleven
at the outside. Do you think we may venture to lie down again?"
"Almost a pity, isn't it," said the mate, merrily. "Look yonder--
there--right astern."
"Yes?" said Mr Frewen. "What is that? The moon about to rise?"
"Say sun, and you will be right," cried Mr Brymer. "Go and lie down if
you like, gentlemen; but look yonder too; there is a fleck of orange
high up. For my part, I propose a good breakfast."
"No, no, you cannot be right," said Mr Frewen, from the main-deck; "but
we'll take our watch now. Mr Denning, will you and your sister go and
take yours below?"
"No, not yet," said Mr Denning.
"Then I must speak as the medical man, and give my patient orders. You
ought both to have some sleep now."
"Wonderful!" cried Mr Preddle, excitedly. For, with the wondrous
rapidity of change from night to day so familiar in the tropics, the
morning broke without any of the gradations of dawn and twilight. There
was a brilliant glow of red, which, as we gazed at it, became gold; and
then, dazzling in its brightness, the edge of the sun appeared above the
gleaming water, still and smooth as ever; then higher and higher,
sending its rays across the vast level, and turning all to gold. It was
between us and the sun now one broad patch of light, but not quite all
golden glory, for as I looked right away from the poop-deck, with that
indescribable feeling of joy in my breast which comes when the darkness
of night and its horrors give place to the life and light of day, I felt
a strange contraction about my heart--a curious shrinking sensation of
dread.
For, far away on that gleaming path of gold, I could plainly see a
couple of black specks. Half-stifled with emotion, I caught at Mr
Brymer's arm, and pointed as I looked in his face, and tried to speak,
but no words would come.
I must have pointed widely, for he turned quickly, looked in the
direction indicated by my finger, and then clapped me on the shoulder.
"Why, Dale, my lad, what's the matter?" he said. "Did you see a whale?"
At that moment Barney shouted from where he stood forward, unseen for
the mist of dimly illuminated steam which lay between us, though his
voice was plainly heard, and sent a thrill through all who heard--
"Boat-ho! Two on 'em astarn."
"Ay, ay!" roared Bob Hampton in a voice of thunder, "lying doo east.
It's Frenchy and his gang come back."
For a few seconds there was a dead silence, and no one stirred. Then,
as if electrified, I ran half-way down the ladder, and leaped the rest
of the way, dashed through the saloon to Mr Brymer's cabin, seized his
glass, and ran back with it and up on to the poop-deck.
He gave me a quick look which seemed to say, "Good!"--snatched the
glass, brought it to bear upon the two black specks, and then stood
motionless, while all present waited breathless for the lowering of the
glass again, and the mate's first words.
For we hoped against hope. The boats might be two sent from some
invisible ship to our aid.
All such thoughts were swept away as the mate lowered his glass and
nearly threw it to me.
"He's right," he said calmly. "They are our boats and men. They must
have been somewhere near, and seen the light rising up from the ship,
and come back to see what it means."
"Then all is lost!" said Mr Denning, wildly, as he seized his sister's
hand.
"Oh, no," replied Mr Brymer, coolly, "by no means. Miss Denning,
kindly see what you can do in the way of breakfast for us. Those men
cannot be here under an hour, and we shall all be faint. Cheer up.
They're not on board yet."
The next minute he was on the main-deck, giving his orders.
"They can't board us," he said, "but they can cut that boat adrift, and
carry her off with all those provisions on board. Now, Mr Frewen, you
will help us. Mr Preddle, be ready to come and haul when you are
asked, but in the meantime I leave the arms to you. See that they are
all loaded and laid ready on the saloon-table, and with the ammunition
to hand."
"Yes, I'll do that," he said eagerly; and he was moving off.
"Stop," cried Mr Brymer. "There is a small keg of powder in the
cable-tier, get that in the saloon too; and in the locker in my cabin
you'll find some big cartridges and shot. Everything is there. Do you
think you can load and prime the cannon?"
He pointed as he spoke to the small brass gun, used for signalling when
going into port. "I never loaded a big one," said Mr Preddle, "but I
used to have a brass one when I was a boy, and I've loaded and fired
that."
"It is precisely the same, sir. Have it ready, and a poker in the
galley red-hot. Bah! we have no fire."
"Wrong, sir. Stove's going, and the kettle nearly on the bile," growled
Dumlow, who had limped up.
"Bravo!" cried the mate. "They have not taken us yet. Off with you,
Mr Preddle. Now, Hampton, we must either get that boat on board, or
save all we can, and then she must be stove in."
"Which would be a pity, sir," said Bob Hampton. "She's heavy, and we're
few, but I think if you'll help get out all you can from her,
water-breakers and sech, I can slew round the yard, and rig up tackle as
'll do the job."
"Right! Up with you! Now, Blane, and you, Dale, have the boat round
here to the gangway, and down into her. Mr Frewen, you and I will
lower tackle, and have all up we can to lighten her."
The men cheered, and, as excited as they were, I added my shout, and the
next minute we were all at work as ordered by the mate. The boat was
soon brought round, made fast, and by the time Barney and I were in, the
port-gangway was opened, and tackle lowered, to which we made fast one
of the breakers of water, and saw it hauled up. The other followed, and
then cases, biscuit-bags, everything heavy was roped together and hauled
up on them, till nothing remained but small things that it would have
taken too long to collect.
"Now then," shouted Mr Brymer, "look out!" and there was a creaking and
clanging sound as the iron wheel of the tackle used for loading and
unloading the cargo spun round, and the falls for running up boats to
the davits descended, and were hooked on bow and stern.
"Now then, up with you!" cried the mate; and we seized the rope lowered,
and climbed on board.
"Are they close here, sir?" I panted.
"Don't talk; no. Ready there at the capstan?"
"Ay, ay," came back.
"Haul away then."
The rattle and clang of the tackle began, as the men turned with all
their might, the catches on either side making sure of every foot they
won, and by degrees the heavy boat rose slowly out of the water, and
higher and higher, till she was above the bulwarks, when the men
cheered, ceased turning, made all fast, and while two of us got hold of
the painter and swung the boat's head round, the crane-like spar, at
whose end the iron wheel, hung, was slewed round till the boat was well
on board.
Then Hampton and Barney ran back to the capstan and lowered away, till
the boat lay on its side on the deck, when, with a rousing cheer, the
gangway was closed, and I felt that I could breathe; for, as I looked
over the bulwarks for our enemies, there they were, steadily rowing
toward us, but still quite a mile away.
I breathed more freely then, for, in spite of their superior strength, I
felt that our position was not unfavourable. The sides of the ship were
high and smooth, and, without help from within, the only likely places
for our enemies to be able to gain the deck were from under the
bowsprit, where I had climbed up, or through the stern-windows. But we
had a keen and thoughtful man in command. Mr Brymer soon rendered the
stern-windows safe by having the dead-lights over them, while I was sent
round to screw up the glazed-iron frame of every circular window. Then
our principal vulnerable point was the stay beneath the bowsprit, where
he stationed Dumlow, armed with a capstan-bar, which the big sailor
prepared to use as a club; the other dangerous points being the chains,
where it was possible for a man to climb up by means of a boot-hook.
These places Mr Brymer guarded as well as possible by stationing one or
other of his forces ready for their defence, with the understanding that
we were to act on our discretion, and run to help in the defence of the
part most menaced.
All these arrangements were quickly made, and lastly, the saloon was
reserved for our final stand, the cannon being wheeled just inside,
pointed so as to sweep the entrance, though I failed to see how it was
to be fired if we were driven there, when the red-hot poker was in the
stove of the galley.
By this time they were all armed. Miss Denning was back in our citadel,
the saloon, where we had all been refreshed with the provisions she had
prepared for us. Mr Brymer had begged Mr Denning, too, to go into his
cabin, out of the way of danger; but he had flushed up and insisted upon
having a chair placed by the cannon, and being furnished with one of the
guns and some cartridges.
"I am a good shot," he said, "weak as I am, and I command a good deal of
the bulwarks on either side of the ship."
So he was placed as he wished, and sat with his gun across his knees,
just at the breach of the cannon.
"And I can fire that if it becomes necessary," he confided to me, as I
said good-bye to him before I went to my place.
"How?" I asked,--"with a match?"
"No," he whispered; "if it comes to the worst, and Jarette and his
scoundrels are making for here, I shall put the muzzle of my gun to the
touch-hole and fire it."
"Won't it blow the priming away?" I said.
"No; it will fire the piece instantly."
"I hope he will not have to try," I thought to myself as I ran to
Walters' cabin, and told him of the fight to come.
"And I can't help," he moaned. "I wish I could."
"What, to take the ship?" I said spitefully.
"You know better than that," he said.
I don't know how it was, but one minute I was saying that to him
spitefully, the next I had hold of his hand and shook it.
"I didn't mean it," I said quite hurriedly. "Good-bye, old chap; we're
going to whop them after all."
I ran out of the cabin with the thought in my mind that I might perhaps
be killed.
"And one ought to forgive everybody," I said to myself, just as Mr
Brymer cried--
"Oh, here you are, Dale. Take this gun, and mind, you are the reserve.
Be ready to go and help any one who is most pressed. There must be no
nonsense now. Shoot down without mercy the first scoundrel who reaches
the deck. If it is Jarette, aim at his head or breast; if it is one of
the others, let him have it in the legs."
He hurried to the side then, leaving me with a double-barrelled gun and
a handful of cartridges, which, after seeing that the piece was loaded,
I thrust into the breast-pocket of my jacket.
"This is a rum way of forgiving one's enemies," I said to myself; "but I
suppose I must."
And then I began patrolling the deck as we waited on our defence, with
the boats coming on and the insidious enemy within, for the fire was
certainly making a little way in the hold.
The boats were only a couple of hundred yards away now. I could see
Jarette seated in the stem of one of them, as they came on abreast,
making straight for the port-gangway abaft the main-mast; and my breath
came thick and fast, for the fight was about to begin, and I felt that
we could not expect much mercy at the hands of the leader of the men.