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In the darkness of night it would be an easy trick to disconnect the steering-gear from the short tiller on the rudder-head, and then, by re-rigging the preventer tackles, steer from both sides of the poop well enough for'ard to be out of the range of the ventilator.
It's more the smoke an' fumes that have choked me than the grog. Come, lad, let's go for'ard an' git as far from it as we can." The man and boy went to the bow of the vessel, and seated themselves near the heel of the bowsprit, where the sounds from the cabin reached them only as a faint murmur, and did not disturb the stillness of the night.
And I know, now, why from the very first I disliked the second mate. And I understand that live thing, that other thing, that lurks within and peers out through the eyes. I have recognized the same thing in the three gangsters for'ard. Like the second mate, they are prison birds. The restraint, the secrecy, and iron control of prison life has developed in all of them terrible other selves.
"We'll have to give up that reef," he said to Mr. Pike. "Just make the sail fast. Better put on double gaskets." And with lagging feet, from time to time pausing and holding on as spray and the tops of waves swept over him, the mate went for'ard along the bridge to vent his scorn on the two watches of a four-masted ship that could not reef a foresail. It is true.
Thar's a white spot painted over his heart. "The chief of the Osages, who's present to see jestice done, motions to the Bob-cat, an' that gent steps to a red blanket an' stands on its edge with all the blanket spread in front of him on the grass. The Bob-cat stands on the edge, as he saveys when he's plugged that he'll fall for'ard on his face.
"Lay for'ard there two of you and lash him to the topmast shrouds. He shall have his hour up there, dead or alive, then we'll settle his shamming." Two sailors, seizing some loose line, ran up the foremast to where Ralph had sunk back in a swoon, overcome by the combined effects of illness and the terrors of his position.
"It's the little professor they all blame, sir; and there are four of them who swear the ship is haunted that he keeps evil spirits under lock and key for'ard " "But but Mr. Webb Evil spirits under lock and key! Do you mean bad rum? And who is he?" "Hush, sir! don't talk so loud. He's walking the deck now. It's the professor I mean, sir.
And, if so, we must keep up with her at all costs until the weather moderates sufficiently to bring her to; so just step for'ard, will you, my lad, and get the fore-trysail on deck and bent ready for setting in case we need it.
Then he held out his hands to the second mate, who snapped the handcuffs on his wrists. "Take him to the for'ard deck-house," snarled Hendry viciously. "I protest against this, sir," said Oliver respectfully. "I beg of you to beware of what you are doing." Hendry gave him a furious glance, but his rage choked his utterance.
They came to the very foot of the ladder. Presently we heard something mounting them slowly. The sentry moved on. So did I, but looking round I saw as surely as I sit here, the head of old Dick Carcass's ghost rising slowly above the deck. "We did not stop to see more of him, but walked away for'ard.
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