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So to Gallao be went, for he was ever bearing in mind the grief of his children at the loss of their dear "Tommy Topsail-tie" and "Jacky Waterwitch," and his promise to them that if they and their Anaa companions were alive he would bring them back.
The men were stamping aft, and the topsail yards travelling up to the mast-head very fast, when they were stopped by a sudden check with the fore-topsail haul-yards. "What's the matter?" said the first lieutenant, calling to me, who was at my station on the forecastle. "Something foul of the topsail-tie," I replied. "What's the matter forward?" said the captain.
"Topsail-tie is foul, my lord," answered the first lieutenant. "Damn the topsail-tie! cut it away. Out knife there, aloft! I will have the topsail hoisted; cut away the topsail-tie!" For the information of my land readers, I should observe that the topsail-tie was the very rope which was at that moment suspending the yard aloft.
He called to the three men in the top, and inquired where I was? They replied at the mast-head. "What!" exclaimed Handstone, with an oath; "did I not see him this moment go up by the topsail-tie?" "No, sir," said the men; "he is now asleep at the mast-head." "Come down here, you lying rascals, every one of you," said the lieutenant, "and I'll teach you to speak the truth!"
But all his arguments were in vain they shook their heads and said that never, again would they go, willingly or unwillingly, upon the deep sea. Then the supercargo and Topsail-tie made their plans, and after spending another hour or so with the escapees, Flemming shook hands with them all, and guided by Nobal, returned to the base of the mountain.
I, who had by this time quietly resumed my station, was ordered down along with them; and we all four stood on the quarter-deck, while the following interrogations were put to us: "Now, sir," said the first lieutenant to the captain of the top, "how dare you tell me that that young gentleman was at the mast-head, when I myself saw him 'shinning' up by the topsail-tie?"
Then came a sudden rush of feet and brown, naked bodies from all around, and in another moment the young man was almost lifted off hid feet by Tommy Topsail-tie, who, clasping his mighty arms around him, pressed him passionately to his bosom.
Returning to Anaa, Flemming, through the aid of the French authorities in Tahiti, placed himself in communication with the British Consuls in Fiji and Samoa, telling them the details of the capture of the four men and of their transference with five others to another vessel, and enclosing a sum of money all he could spare to be given to Tommy Topsail-tie so that he and his three companions might be enabled to find their way back to Anaa.
"For, observe, Marlow," he said, making at me very round eyes which contrasted funnily with the austere touch of grey on his temples, "observe, my dear fellow, that everything depended on the men who cleared up the poop in the evening leaving that coil of rope on the deck, and on the topsail-tie carrying away in a most incomprehensible and surprising manner earlier in the day, and the end of the chain whipping round the coaming and shivering to bits the coloured glass-pane at the end of the skylight.
"For, observe, Marlow," he said, making at me very round eyes which contrasted funnily with the austere touch of grey on his temples, "observe, my dear fellow, that everything depended on the men who cleared up the poop in the evening leaving that coil of rope on the deck, and on the topsail-tie carrying away in a most incomprehensible and surprising manner earlier in the day, and the end of the chain whipping round the coaming and shivering to bits the coloured glass-pane at the end of the skylight.
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