Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 3, 2025
"This reminds me of my boyhood days when I read pirate stories. Do you remember that yarn about Kydd, where he rigged painted canvas about his ship and hid all the ports, 'Stump'? It was great. The whole piratical crew, with the exception of a dozen men, kept below, and when a poor unfortunate ship came along, the bloodthirsty villains captured her."
Kydd had become somewhat humbled by this time, and worked away like the rest of us, without taking any leading part; indeed, several of the rest of the party were far more expert in constructing the rafts than he was. The water, as I said, remained smooth inside of us. We now set to work to launch our rafts.
We now returned on board, the boat remaining perfectly quit on the starboard side. No attempt had been made in the meantime to sound round the vessel. I offered to do it. "I have made up my mind to haul her off astern," answered Kydd. "We will carry a kedge out in that direction." "As you please," I said. "It may be right, but it may be the wrong way."
"Dat keep de niggers away," he observed, returning to the galley. I was surprised that Kydd made no inquiry when the guns were fired. As I was going aft I saw a figure come up the companion-hatch. I could make out that he had a number of packages under his arm. I was sure it was the mate, and my suspicions were aroused, though I could scarcely tell what he was going to do.
Kydd then ordered us to run fore and aft; but the light weight of a few people on board the stout brig produced no perceptible effect. "Had we the boat, and could we carry an anchor out, we might get the brig off," I observed to Stanley. "But, I fear, now it is hopeless, unless, indeed, we were to build a raft. With that we may do something, though there will be no slight risk in the undertaking."
He added the last sentence in a whisper, sufficiently loud, however, for Miss Rowley to hear him. "As the captain has been too ill to take an observation for some time, I suppose that you know our correct longitude, Mr Kydd.
Mr Kydd swore and stamped about the deck, declaring that there was a mutiny. "No mutiny, sir," answered old Barker; "but our lives are worth as much to us as yours is to you." "Take that then!" cried the mate, rushing forward toward the old man and striking him a blow which brought him to the deck. "Who is going to oppose me now?" I thought the boatswain was killed, for he lay motionless.
Without attempting even to bring the anchor on board, they lifted the still insensible boatswain into the boat, and in spite of the entreaties of the ladies and Stanley's warnings, shoved off. Kydd not till then seemed to recollect that he had pistols in his belt. Drawing one, he senselessly fired, but the men were too far off to be injured.
I again addressed Mr Kydd. I told him that the captain wished to have the lead hove. "The old man is always issuing his orders through you, Mr Crawford," he answered at length, in a scornful tone. "I know, I should think, what ought to be done, and I will do it. And I beg you will not interrupt me when I am talking to ladies."
"You shall not deprive us of our only boat, at all events," said Stanley. "If you leave the vessel, it must be on a raft, or swim for it." Kydd made no answer, but continued leaning over the side. We saw that he was dropping something into the boat. It seemed that he was about at that instant to throw himself over, when Stanley seized him and dragged him back.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking