"No, sir; it was Bob Howlett's idea."
"Oh, was it?" said Mr Russell. "Well, never mind; they seem to trust
you. Go on and see what you can do."
"It's so difficult, because they cannot understand, sir," replied Mark;
"but I think I can show them what we want. Shall I try?"
"Yes, of course," said the lieutenant, to whom Mark had already given
his message. "The schooner is too fast on the bank here for us to get
her off, so the blacks must be taken to the _Nautilus_, and then we'll
fire her at once. Pity too--such a fine boat. There, try and get the
poor wretches on deck, and let's see how many there are. I'm afraid
that some are dead."
Mark shuddered and turned to the blacks, who were watching him eagerly.
Signing to them to pick up a couple of buckets, he led them to the
fresh-water tub, made them fill them, and then, taking up a couple of
pannikins, he led the way to the mouth of the noisome hold, from which
low moans were now issuing.
They followed him, and he pointed down, but they shrank away wildly,
their eyes rolling, and the fear of treachery still in their breasts.
"Very well, then," said Mark, quietly, while the officers and boat's
crew looked on. "We are going to give those poor creatures some water;"
and he stepped through the hatch to the ladder, and once more began to
descend.
That was enough. The two blacks carefully raised their buckets of water
and followed him down, to the satisfaction of every one save Bob
Howlett, who felt horribly aggrieved.
"Hadn't I better go too, Mr Russell?" he said. "I understand those two
blacks."
"Perhaps you had," said the lieutenant, drily. "By all means go."
"Thankye, sir," cried Bob; and he stepped toward the hatch, where, as
Mr Russell turned away, he found Tom Fillot looking at him with his
face puckering up into a broad grin.
Meanwhile Bob had reached the hatch and bent over it prior to stepping
down, but instead of raising his foot for that step, he started back,
his hand to his face, and a look of the most intense horror and disgust
overspreading his merry countenance.
"Oh!" he ejaculated; and then again, "Oh!"
"What is the matter, Mr Howlett?" said the lieutenant, quietly.
"Oh, just you go there, sir. 'Pon my word! it's just awful."
"Ah, yes, I know," said the lieutenant, quietly. "The hold is bad with
the poor creatures being shut up there. That is why I want to get them
on deck;" and he walked to the hatch.
"You beggars! I'll serve some of you out for this," said Bob to
himself, as he saw several of the men grinning hugely at his discomfort.
He turned away and found himself face to face with Tom Fillot, who
looked at him with a preternaturally solemn aspect.
"Find it a bit strong, sir?"
"What?" cried Bob, haughtily.
"I said find it a bit strong, sir? I did at first when I went down;
but, bless your 'art, sir, after the first few sniffs you don't mind it
a bit, you rather likes it."
"Then you'd better go down, sir," said Bob, sharply.
"Yes, sir, soon as I'm wanted, sir. I did go down before with Mr
Vandean."
"Did he go down, then?"
"Oh yes, sir. We was there ever so long. Just you go down and see,
sir; it's very interesting. Never was in the hold of a slave ship, sir,
I s'pose? It's something to talk about, I can tell you. Wonderful
dark, and all you can see is the niggers' eyes. You see, them being
black, they fits in with the darkness, and as they never laughs you
don't see their teeth. I'd go if I was you."
Bob hesitated. It would never do for him to show the white feather
before the man, and if he did not go Mark Vandean was taking all the
credit. Tom Fillot was right, it would be something to talk about, and
after another moment's hesitation, he turned to the sailor.
"I say, Tom Fillot," he whispered, "is it very bad?"
"What, down there, sir?"
"Yes; I mean can a fellow bear it?"
"Bear it, sir? Oh yes, if it comes to that; you see, Mr Vandean and me
bore it ever so long. You'd stand it, I should say. Oh yes, you've got
so much pluck in you, sir, you'd stand it right enough. There, sir, if
I was you I'd go. You could but come up again."
"Yes, of course," said Bob, cavalierly. "I could come up again."
"Of course, sir, if you could stand it, and didn't faint right away."
Bob turned upon him sharply, with the fact dawning upon him that Tom
Fillot, the most impudent joker on board the _Nautilus_, was laughing in
his sleeve at his expense; but before he could make quite sure, a thrill
ran through all on deck, and a rush was made for the hatchway.
The moment before, Mr Russell was peering down uneasily, and his
conscience was smiting him for allowing so young an officer to undertake
the onerous task of descending into that loathsome den. For strange
noises--low mutterings, and harsh whisperings--were going on; and
directly after, to his horror, Mark's voice rang out in wildly excited
tones, just as there were the sounds of a struggle going on.
"Here, men--Mr Russell! Help--quick!" shouted Mark; and in response
thereto the lieutenant shouted to the boat's crew to come on, took a
step downward to lead the way, and then stepped back as the lesser of
the two black sailors suddenly appeared at the hatchway with his face
wild with excitement, and his white duck frock and trousers horribly
stained with blood.