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In a few weeks after this we reached the shores of Old England in safety, and though we had heartily enjoyed our voyage, right glad and thankful too were we to see once more its snow-white cliffs. I spent three days with Captain Frankland's family, and then Jerry and old Surley, who must not be forgotten, accompanied me to my own home.
We all sat down on the deck of the cabin, holding on by the legs of the table that is to say, Jerry and I held on, and Surley lay between us. The doctor was in his berth. After, as he said, he had sufficiently enjoyed the scene on deck, he had wisely turned in, feeling that he could be of no use anywhere else. Never before had I spent so uncomfortable a night on board.
Jerry and I entreated that we might accompany him. "One only can go," he answered; "I am very sorry." The lot fell upon me. Jerry was never jealous. "Old Surley and I will take care of each other," he answered. Away we went. A long, low island was in sight from the mast-head. The other boats could nowhere be seen. We got up to the whale before she sounded. I fancy she was asleep.
Thus we remained as anxious as ever. While, however, we were engaged in this manner, we had not watched old Surley, and when we looked up he was gone. Just before we got into the boat, Jerry's cap had tumbled off, and when he wanted to put it on again, though we hunted about in every direction, it was nowhere to be found.
We two, in the meantime, sat ourselves down on a gun, with Surley at our feet. He put his nose between us, and looked anxiously up into our faces, as if to learn what it all meant. We were there allowed to remain unmolested, while the pirates went past us attending to the duty of the ship.
Up, up we climbed, old Surley after us. He seemed to think it very good fun; but Fleming, not accustomed to such exercise, was soon blown. "Come along, Fleming," cried Jerry; "we shall soon be up to the beasts; don't give in, man." "No, Mr Gerard, you go on, and leave me to follow you slowly," answered Fleming. "If I stop, you'll easily find me again."
Silva, leaving three men on board, ordered us to get into his boat to return with him to the big schooner. As we were shoving off, old Surley, who had been smelling about after the other men, gave a loud bark, as much as to say, "Don't leave me behind," and leaped in after us. Truly glad were we to have him, poor fellow. He might prove to us a friend in need.
Old Surley seemed to be very hungry after his imprisonment, so I made another excursion on deck to the cook's larder, and got him a piece of meat, with which I returned to the cabin. We should have been glad of something of the sort ourselves, but as we could not attempt to cook anything, and the meat I had brought was raw, we gave the whole of it to our four-footed friend.
I did not even suspect it. But I must go. You will surley see that I must go, Dudley." "Tell me what it is," he said, in a voice so kind, she turned and looked into his face, almost in surprise. He met her eyes, and, reading all the distress there, he added: "Don't be afraid, Hal.
Old Surley, as may be supposed, would not consent willingly to be left behind, and, watching his opportunity, he sprang in after us, and, as if he thought he might be carried back again if perceived, immediately hid himself under the seats between our legs. We were delighted to have the old fellow, and trembled lest the pirates, among some of whom he was a favourite, might insist on keeping him.
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