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Updated: June 25, 2025
Mark shook his head, and raising his glass, carefully inspected the distant vessel. "Yes," he said at last; "she looks too smart fer a trader." "She do, sir." "And I don't like to run any risks, Tom Fillot." "Oh Mr Vandean, sir!" "But we're out here to deal a deathblow at the slavery traffic." "To be sure we are, sir," cried Tom Fillot, excitedly.
This was as he hung out of the window from the waist, holding Mark Vandean; and exerting their great strength, the two sailors for Tom was helpless drew him right back and inward till Bannock could seize Mark's other leg. As they drew him in the man overhead made a savage blow at the boy with the bar he held, but it fell short.
"Then thank ye, sir; and if you want me, just give the word, and I'll tumble up at once." To the lad's wonder, Tom Fillot lay down in the bottom of the boat, and five minutes after he was breathing deeply and as regularly as if nothing whatever were wrong. How that night passed Mark Vandean could hardly tell.
"I say, Tom Fillot," he whispered, "is it very bad?" "What, down there, sir?" "Yes; I mean can a fellow bear it?" "Bear it, sir? Oh yes, if it comes to that; you see, Mr Vandean and me bore it ever so long. You'd stand it, I should say. Oh yes, you've got so much pluck in you, sir, you'd stand it right enough. There, sir, if I was you I'd go. You could but come up again."
My, how we could stick to the ribs of this boat here, and lay her aboard some day, and take her again. Ah, here comes the boat." In effect the boat was slowly pulled alongside, and amidst a great deal of shouting and noise, the prisoners could hear the men helped on board, and the boat hoisted into its place. "I wish I knew what was best to do," said Mark Vandean.
A British captain should be like a father to the lads whom he commands. Heaven knows I feel so toward you." He stopped, with his hand on Mark's shoulder, and the first lieutenant stepped forward, cap in hand, to wave it wildly. "Now, my lads," he shouted, "for Lieutenant Russell and Mr Vandean: cheer!" They did. "One more for our captain!" The voices rang out again and again, and yet again.
"What's that, sir?" cried the lieutenant in a rage; "why it's Mr Vandean, sir, getting under my feet like a spaniel dog, and the moment I move he yelps out, sir." "It wasn't your foot, sir," cried Mark sharply, for his head was stinging with pain. "You swung round your speaking trumpet, sir, and hit me." "Silence, sir! how dare you, sir?
He paused, and in the intense, painful silence the glowing quarter-deck, with its many faces, seemed to swim round Mark Vandean. "There is one whom I have not named," said the captain "Mr Vandean." Here, unchecked, there was a tremendous cheer, in which the officers joined, and the captain smiled, while now Mark's head did hang a little, and he trembled.
I shall not have done with you yet awhile, Vandean, and you'll have to attend very strictly to my orders if I'm to make a man of you. Did you take my medicine?" "Yes, sir." "Sure?" Mark coloured. "Yes, sir, I told you." "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" cried the doctor. "Dear me, how bumptious we are, young fellow. There, I believe you, but that's more than I'd do for some of your tribe.
Can't you explain what was wrong, Mr Vandean?" "No, sir; I saw a struggle, and one man seemed wounded." "And it was someone else. Tut tut tut! and we can't understand a word. What a useful thing speech is, after all."
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