United States or Sudan ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Leaving the American in charge of the big black, Mark set to at once to make his arrangements, after the poor creatures had been let out of the hold, where they had been nearly suffocated, and now huddled together on deck, trembling and wondering what was to be their fate. "I don't like parting with you, Tom Fillot," said Mark, "but I must.
That morning, as soon as the party on board the first schooner was provisioned, the boat was manned, and Fillot, accompanied by Soup, went aboard the second schooner, where all proved to be satisfactory, Taters greeting them smilingly, while the emancipated slaves were ready to lie down on the deck. "To make it soft for us to walk upon," Tom said on his return.
"Then you two escaped," cried Mark, as soon as the excitement had subsided a little; and the big black tried to explain, but could only get out the words, "All right, messmate," and then spoke volubly in his own tongue. "Never mind, sir; they did get off," cried Tom Fillot. "They must have been chucked below along with the rest, and then kep' prisoners." "And a good job for us, Tom," said Mark.
"Are you two coming?" cried Bob, looking as fierce as he could "fierce as a maggot," Tom Fillot said. "Because if you're not, I'm coming to fetch you." The men joined hands and stood back. "Come," said Mark, quietly, as he stepped to the gangway and held out his hand; "it is all right."
The coxswain lay asleep, and, upon examining him, he seemed cool, and with the hope that he might wake up calm and collected, Mark gave one look at Tom Fillot who was the most disfigured of all, the blows he had received having caused his face to swell up till he was hardly recognisable and then devoted his attention to Mr Russell, who lay senseless.
The shadow passed away; and mounting on the cabin table by the midshipman's orders, one of the men tried hard to find some way of opening the light, but short of breaking it open with sturdy blows of a sledge-hammer, there was no possibility of escape that way. After a time Mark whispered with Tom Fillot as to the renewal of an ascent through the cabin window and over the poop.
Let my head alone, will yer?" came in a low, deep growl. "That's Joe, sir, safe enough. Harkee there! Hear 'em?" Sundry creaking sounds came out of the darkness some distance away now, and Tom Fillot continued in a whisper, "They're hysting all the sail they can, sir. Look! you can see the water briming as she sails. They're going same way as we. Tide's taking us."
"Make ready, my lads," he cried. "Cutlasses only. Quick!" Just then there was a fresh crackling and breaking sound, and the skylight, through which he had meant to lead his men, was also darkened by the falling over it of a part of the great sail and the gaff; so that they were in twilight. "Better try the door, sir," cried Tom Fillot. "We'll kick it out now, sir; there's nothing behind."
It was so dark now that they seemed to be gliding along right in the shadow, while more out towards the middle of what was evidently a broad river the stream widening above the mouth it was comparatively light, sufficiently so for them to see any object afloat. "Can't you make anything we can hook on to, sir?" said Tom Fillot. "No, my lad, not yet. But I shall directly. You be ready."
"Hold on by the chains, mate," whispered Tom Fillot, "and I'll help you. Dessay we can make the painter fast afore we get aboard." As he spoke, he was busily loosening the rope which held them to the tree, and then stood holding the end just round the bough. "Ready, sir, when you like to say `Let go!"
Word Of The Day