United States or Heard Island and McDonald Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Rarely did they finish one debauch before they began on another. Redfox seemed to exercise hypnotic power over the Captain. Willy, the darling of the crew, at first was much grieved over his uncle's behavior and the aversion which the first officer showed for him, but he soon became accustomed to their ways.
The first thing that the Captain did was to order the Chinamen to take what was left of the sails and build themselves tents; then he gave his attention to the question of the water supply. "We must cross to the main land and get some drinking water," he said, "for we have only one cask left." "Just enough to last the big boat on its trip to Australia," whispered Redfox to the Captain.
And the Captain said to Willy in a more friendly manner than he had ever spoken: "You prayed well, my little man." "Will the first officer also be good to me?" asked Willy, happy to receive a kind word. "Hello, Redfox," cried Green, "we quite forgot you in this mad scramble," and the helmsman went to him and helped him along the deck.
Weeks had passed since the happenings told of in the previous chapter took place, and nothing of any importance had occurred. Redfox had not again ordered Willy to climb the mast with him, and even when the ship was becalmed and lay with slackened sails on a sea smooth and clear as a looking-glass, he would not allow him to go up to the crow's nest.
The helmsman was the only one to signify his willingness to stay; the rest preferred to settle the matter by drawing lots. According to this Redfox and Gray were to remain, so the Captain appointed Green to direct the boat to Australia. "Green, you are the only man equal to the task, and I give my nephew into your keeping. The boy's life must be saved.
"Indeed, Master Willy, you speak the truth, for without the help of your guardian angel I should not have been able to save you," affirmed Green, wiping drops of cold sweat from his forehead. Then he thundered at Redfox: "Thank God, that you lay yourself down to rest tonight without a murder on your conscience. It is no fault of yours that that boy came down from the rigging alive."
"Now see, he is astride the yard sliding out fully twelve feet from the main mast now he is loosening the rope by which the top-sail is fastened to the arm! Redfox ought to do that himself," said the helmsman to himself. "But no, he forces the boy before him out on the yard, orders him to stand up and unfasten the rope. The inhuman wretch! That means the boy's death.
Indignantly the helmsman looked after him, and then he again asked the boy if he was very sure that Redfox had pushed him. "Quite sure," he replied, "and he looked at me more wickedly than I thought any man could look. What has he against me? I have never done him any harm. And my uncle, too, acts so strangely, he has never once given me a pleasant word or look."
"If anything happens to him you'll answer for it on a charge of criminal carelessness at the first port we put into." "Wait till you get a chance," growled the officer to Green; to Willy he said, "Go on up." Willy crossed himself, then swung himself without fear up on the rope ladder leading from the side of the vessel to the crow's nest. Right after him followed Redfox.
"At first he would not listen to a word of it; then Redfox threatened him with something which Peppo could not understand, and at last he said, 'Oh, you are my bad angel. I am in your power. Do what you must, but I won't have any part in it." "Pontius Pilate made similar remarks when he gave Our Lord over to death, but handwashing of that sort is of no use. As for the rest you are right.
Word Of The Day