It was plain enough: the man had died there where his companions had
tied him fast, and that night the two boats lay astern carefully watched
after all the arms had been handed on board.
Not that there was anything to fear. For at daybreak, after two bodies
had been committed to the deep, the spokesman of the mutinous crew told
a pitiful tale, of how they would gladly have given up but for their
leader, who by force and violence kept them to their task till, in utter
despair, they had turned upon him and bound him, as they would some
dangerous wild beast that they dared not kill.
That day, half the poor worn-out wretches were again confined in the
forecastle, while the others were, under careful surveillance, allowed
to return to their work.
For the calms were over, and a hard fight began with the weather, which
grew so bad at last that Mr Brymer, who, as the days passed on, seemed
to recover the more rapidly for having plenty to do, was glad to have
all the men back to their duty.
This, in the hope of some mitigation of their punishment, they did well,
working away, so that long before we reached Auckland we seemed to have
a model crew.
That latter part of our voyage had its good effect on every one.
Captain Berriman recovered sufficiently to have re-taken the command,
but he left it in Mr Brymer's hands till the day we sailed into
harbour, when he once more took his place, and laughingly complimented
Mr Denning upon the change which had taken place in him as well,
though, poor fellow, he was so weak that he was glad to lean upon his
sister's arm.
There was nothing to show how adventurous our voyage had been, but the
roughly boarded-over deck, beneath which lay the sadly damaged cargo.
But, as Bob Hampton said,--"It were an accident, and of course it was
well insured. But I want to know, my lad, what they're a-goin' to do
with our crew. My word, they are a-shivering in their shirts, eh,
Barney?"
"They just are. It'd be a charity to wring 'em out to dry."
"Arter taking on 'em off, and givin' on 'em four dozen a-piece on the
bare back, and say no more about it," growled Neb Dumlow, "for I
forgive--far as I'm consarned."
But there could be no "say no more about it" in such a case as this.
The men were tried and punished, but got off very easily in
consideration of their sufferings and subsequent good behaviour.
Hampton, Barney, and Neb Dumlow were the only men who sailed with us
again.
I kept my word to Walters, and a painful task it was. I have often
thought of his conduct since, and talked with Mr and Mrs Frewen when I
have been to see them at their residence in Auckland, where I have been
four times since. But, as Mrs Frewen always says. "He was sorely
tempted, and he fell."
"And,--_De mortuis_--you know the rest of the quotation, Dale," said Mr
Frewen, "and if you cannot say nothing but good of the dead, my lad,
don't say anything at all."
Those were delightful visits, when I was on shore in New Zealand,
divided between Mr Denning's up-country farm, where he has grown strong
as one of his own horses, and the Frewens' charming house just outside
Auckland, where he is the most famous doctor for miles. Mr Frewen and
Mr Denning are like brothers, of course, and they are always tempting
me to leave the sea and settle in that grand new England; but no--I
resist, and keep to my profession, and I suppose I always shall, for, as
Bob Hampton says, "a man might do worse than go to sea."
"Not as I hold much with having ladies on board, my lad," the old fellow
once said. "They're okkard an' in the way, unless they're the same kind
as Miss Denning--I mean Mrs Frewen, bless her heart!--for it was like
havin' of a hangel with us. But I say, Mr Dale, sir," he added with a
chuckle; "her brother didn't like the doctor, bein' a bit jealous like;
but I says to Neb Dumlow and Barney when they first come aboard,--`You
see if them two don't make up a match.'"
"You did, lad," said Barney.
"That's so," said Neb.
For they did; but all through that voyage such an idea never entered my
mind. I was a boy then, on my first long voyage. A perilous one too.
And would I go through it again? No, not for untold gold. I don't know
though. Yes! I would--if once more I were a boy.