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Updated: June 9, 2025
Certainly, whenever I take up the rudder-lines to put his head for any particular course the brute takes it as a personal affront, and begins to fret, go sideways, and bore and all but tell me what a duffer he thinks me.
And there is a current that might almost sweep a tea-chest out to sea! But the Rover's steady eye takes in the whole view, and his very nautical mind enables him to lay plans with wisdom. He looks sternly at his gig with the four stout oarsmen; his simple carpets are all right; his cushions, his pillows, his cigar-box, his silken rudder-lines are all as they should be.
He stooped forward at length very cautiously and, taking the rudder-lines from her, made them fast. "Now get into this!" he said. "Mind you don't upset the boat!" She stared at him for one speechless second. Then: "No, I won't, Big Bear," she declared emphatically. "Put it on again at once! Do you suppose I'll sit here in your coat while you shiver in nothing but flannels?"
With a slight movement of his head Rat, who had long dropped the rudder-lines, directed the rower to take the backwater. The creeping tide of light gained and gained, and now they could see the colour of the flowers that gemmed the water's edge. "Clearer and nearer still," cried the Rat joyously. "Now you must surely hear it! Ah at last I see you do!"
I backed up to him, leaned over, and passed one of the rudder-lines under his arm-pits; his struggling ceased and I shouted for help. Lights moved on the bank, and presently a boat shot towards us. The landlord said, "Mercy on us! Excuse me, sir, but you did ought to be careful. You ought to be shot for risking that man's life; I see as how it is."
Then hand grasped hand, the white holding the black in a desperate clutch, as the lieutenant dropped the rudder-lines, and saved Mark from going overboard by seizing him round the waist. Then came a little hauling, followed by a cheer, as the nude figure of a stalwart black was dragged in, to sink helpless, perfectly insensible, in the bottom of the boat.
Wyndham, in the shock of this announcement, broke out into an almost hysterical laugh. "Suspected me of cutting the rudder-lines!" he gasped. "Yes," said Riddell, sorrowfully. "I'm ashamed to say it." "Why, however could you?" exclaimed the boy, in strange bewilderment. Riddell quietly told him the whole story.
Mr Russell had turned to the rudder-lines, and there was a terrible burden towing astern. Those were solemn moments which followed. The lieutenant signed to the coxswain to come, and then helped him to draw the lifeless body of the poor fellow over the gunwale, and, as decently as was possible, laid the remains of what had once been a big, strong man in the bottom of the boat.
"No; he'd say, `It's your duty, boy. In God's name go and do your best." "I'm ready, Tom Fillot," he said half aloud, as he felt for and seized the rudder-lines. "Now, my lads." There was a low buzz of excitement, and then, in obedience to an order, a couple of oars were softly thrust into the water. Dance stood ready, but there was no boathook, and he fretfully asked what he was to do.
As he walked on fellows glared at him from a distance, and others passing closer cut him dead. A few of the most ardent Parrett's juniors took the liberty of hissing him and one ventured to call out, pointedly, "Who cut the rudder-lines?" Riddell, however, though he winced under these insults, took little notice of them.
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