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Updated: June 25, 2025
What a rate we're going at. Shan't capsize, shall we?" "Hope not, because if we did that schooner would escape. Why don't they fire?" "Waste of powder and shot, my boy," said a voice behind them; and, looking sharply round, there stood the first lieutenant with his glass to his eyes, watching the flying boat. "Ha! we're moving now. Better get on a lifebelt, Mr Vandean, if you feel afraid."
We'll take to the oars and row for a bit to keep off the chill. Why, Vandean, you ought to be well praised for this night's work. I feel quite ashamed of myself for letting you suggest a way out of our difficulty with the capsized boat." "Oh, it was nothing, sir. It just occurred to me," replied Mark.
The voice was quite close to the door now, and a shadow was cast down into the darkened cabin. "Oh yes, sir, there's some one down here," said Bob. "We haven't taken the schooner after all." "What!" "It's all right, sir," said Mark, stepping out on to the deck to face Mr Staples. "We took the schooner." "Mr Vandean! Bless me, my dear boy, I am glad to see you again. We thought you were gone.
Don't take any notice of him, Whitney. Well, Vandean, I'm very glad to see you so cheerful, but don't presume upon it. You must take it quietly, and be patient. I want to see you on deck again." "Quite out of the question yet," said the doctor, sharply. "I don't mean on duty, Whitney," said the captain smiling, "but in a cane seat under the awning.
The men set up a cheer, while a feeling of exultation such as he had never before experienced caused a strange thrill in the midshipman's breast. "He may thank you for his life, Vandean," said the second lieutenant, "for we should never have seen him. Now I wonder whether that scoundrel will try the same game over again." "Safe to, Russell," said the first lieutenant, gruffly.
After listening impatiently for some time, orders were given, and a couple of boats were lowered, each furnished with lanterns for signalling, of course kept hidden; and the monkey episode being for the time forgotten, Mark Vandean obtained permission to go in the first cutter, Bob Howlett being sent in the second.
"There," cried Bob; "now you see what a pair of black fools you were." "That will do, Mr Howlett," said the lieutenant sternly; "let Mr Vandean manage them. He can do it better than you." "Well, I am blest!" muttered Bob, turning scarlet. "That was a capital thought of yours, Mr Vandean. You brought these men to interpret."
The captain of the schooner had probably intended to pretend that he had no slaves on board, but had altered his mind and fled after the poor wretches had been shut down; and, without doubt, if they had been unable to break out to the deck, in less than an hour not a soul would have been left alive. "Here, Vandean," cried Mr Russell, "we must risk their attacking us, and have them on deck.
It was with a mingling of satisfaction and disinclination that the lad obeyed; and as they stood about the open hatch, Mr Russell said, "We must give them time to find out that we are friends. This is my first experience, in spite of all our chasing, Vandean, and it is worse than I could have believed." "Signal from the Naughtylass, sir," said Tom Fillot. "Yes; the captain is getting anxious.
Mark shook his head. "Oh, Mr Vandean, sir, look at her. She's another schooner about the same cut as this, and though she can see us, she isn't showing us her heels, for she don't know there's a man-o'-war's crew aboard, headed by the smartest young midshipman in the ryle navy." "That'll do, Tom Fillot. No gammon, please." "It ain't gammon, sir," cried Tom, sturdily, "but the solid truth.
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