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Updated: June 15, 2025
The men who had charge of the raft, fortunately, were amongst the best of the crew, and at once acceded to Owen's request; indeed they looked upon him as an officer, and were willing to obey him as such. Mr Scoones, who was a powerful man, aided by his long pole, made great progress. Every now and then, when he got to a distance from the men, he turned round and shouted to them to come faster.
"It is sufficient, sir, to make the boy grow weary of life, and what a heavy responsibility would rest on those who drove him to commit an act of desperation." "What's all that you are talking about, boy?" exclaimed Mr Scoones, in an angry tone. "Mind your own business; you'll soon be fancying yourself captain of this ship, I suppose."
Loud cheers greeted them as they came alongside, and Owen received the compliments of the captain and the officers; even Mr Scoones condescended to acknowledge that he had done a brave thing. Nat, under the care of the doctor, soon recovered. "You have saved my life, Mr Hartley, and you have stood my friend ever since I came on board this ship," exclaimed Nat, the tears bursting from his eyes.
"Can you tell about where we are?" asked Owen. "What's that to you, youngster?" answered the mate, who in reality had been utterly ignorant of the position of the ship when she struck. Owen walked away: he saw that the less communication he had with Mr Scoones the better.
Thus habited, although in the dress of a common seaman, he certainly did not look like an ordinary ship's boy. Still, he was allowed to remain forward with his two companions. As yet they had seen nothing of Mr Scoones, who was, they understood, occupying one of the officers' cabins aft.
Mr Grey had carefully kept the reckoning, and knew, as he believed, more or less, her position; but he found, on comparing notes, that the calculations made by Mr Scoones placed her at a considerable distance from where he supposed she was; he was therefore eagerly looking out for a glimpse of the sun by day or a star by night to ascertain which was correct.
The wind soon increased, and it became necessary to close reef all the sails, while the quick motion of the boat, as she danced lightly over the seas, made every one, with the exception of Mr Scoones and Owen, very ill. The mate abused them for giving way. "Shure it's not for pleasure, sir," exclaimed Mike. "As soon as the sea chooses to be quiet, we will be quiet too."
Light the fire, and get the breakfast ready," said the person who had thus rudely disturbed his slumbers. Glancing up, he saw the first mate standing over him. He sprang to his feet, looking, as he felt, much astonished at the treatment he had received. "Call the other boy to help you," continued Mr Scoones. "Be sharp about it." Owen made no reply.
"He now commands the ship, and as long as he does not direct me to do anything which will injure any one, I am bound, I consider, to obey," answered Owen. "It is not pleasant, but I do not thus really disgrace myself." Owen had been accustomed to take an observation with the captain and mates. As soon as he appeared, Mr Scoones ordered him off the poop, exclaiming, in an angry tone
The sky was cloudy, and as there was no moon it was very dark. A good look-out was kept forward, although the keenest pair of eyes could not have pierced the gloom many fathoms ahead. Mr Scoones paced the deck, every now and then, shouting to the men forward. Some care seemed to oppress him. He might not have had the full confidence in his own reckoning which he professed to have.
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