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For a very short time the boat was in the black shadow cast by the stern; then they were floating as it were on golden waters; and the same feeling animated every breast, though it remained an unspoken thought: This is all in vain; we must be seen and brought back. "A little more room there; sit close; move steadily," said the first-mate hoarsely. "Now two more oars."
It so happened, that at the very same moment that they came on board, the first-mate was ascending the companion hatch, to order a boat to be lowered down, and manned. When he perceived Mr Berecroft, he fell back with astonishment, and turned pale. "I thought you were gone," said he: "why, what could have saved you? did you not drift out to sea?"
"Yes, sir; smelt him out buried down below a thousand tons " "More or less," said Mr Morgan laughing. "Well, I didn't weigh or measure the cargo, did I, sir?" roared the first-mate. "Look at it, sir look at it, captain. We shall be at work all night re-stowing it, and then sha'n't be done." "He was right down there?"
But a few days gave me confidence, and I soon found I was obeyed as readily as the first-mate. A squall struck the ship in my watch, about a fortnight out, and I succeeded in getting in sail, and saving everything, canvass and spars, in a way that did me infinite service aft.
The first-mate came to his side, and confirmed the assertion; the second-mate endorsed his brother officer's opinion; and now began the terrible task of dragging out the closely fitted-in lading of the ship, so as to work right down to where the poor wretch had concealed himself.
"That's a bargain, mister," said Mr Lathrope; "though I guess you'll gain by the swop." "Sure and it sames to me you're both countin' your chickens afore they're hatched," observed the first-mate with a huge grin at his own joke. "You're not far wrong, Mr McCarthy," said Mr Meldrum.
They could see the waves breaking over the bar with tremendous force as they beat to and fro along the coast. Thorn, ignorant of the channel, did not dare take the ship in under such conditions. He therefore ordered First-Mate Ebenezer Fox to take Sailmaker Martin and three Canadians into a boat and find the channel.
"I thank you, sir," said Peter, touching his hat as he went forward. "I didn't expect it from a psalm-singer," observed the captain to the first-mate with his usual good-natured laugh. "There is no harm in the lad for all that," was the answer. Peter, however, had his trials. Being placed in a watch, he had to turn in and out with his watch-mates.
Mr Berecroft, in consequence of this resignation of his brother captain, was appointed to the command of the larger vessel; and Jackson, the first-mate, ordered to take the command of the Eliza and Jane. This was a sad blow to Newton, and one which he could not avoid, as Mr Berecroft could not take him in his new ship, all the sub ordinate situations being already filled up.
As Mark reached the great opening in the deck it was to find that the men who had been at work below were all clustered together listening and waiting for instructions from their officers. "Hush! Don't speak!" cried the first-mate, bending over the opening. "Are you sure it isn't a cat?"
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