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There was no reply, but the glowing end of the cigar disappeared from where it shone some fifteen feet above their heads, and at the end of a few minutes something was lowered down, which proved to be so many sheets tightly rolled up and knotted together. The first-mate seized the extemporised cord and drew hard upon it to see if it would bear.
Down went the anchor to the music of the rattling chain-cable a sound which had not been heard since the good ship left the shores of Old England. "If we were only a few yards farther in, sir," remarked the first-mate, "we should be better. I'm afraid of the stream of ice coming round yonder point."
"Very well, Mr Jones," said Captain Drawlock, with assumed indifference, but at the same time fidgeting on his chair. The first-mate and Newton immediately quitted the cabin. "Miss Tavistock, will you take a little of this pudding?" "If you please, sir, a very little." "A man-of-war! I'll go and have a look at her," said the colonel; who rose up, bowed to the ladies, and left the cuddy.
"Be jabers, and it's glad I am to hear that same!" exclaimed Mr McCarthy, interrupting the speaker in his jubilation at not being forced to walk any more, a means of locomotion to which, from his long life at sea, the first-mate was strangely averse.
"There, don't turn like that, my lad," said Morgan kindly, as he clapped the lad on the shoulder. "We only fancy there may be something wrong, and I hope we have been deceived." "Do you think there will be a fight, Gregory?" said the major excitedly. "Heaven forbid, sir!" said the first-mate solemnly. "What are you talking about, sir? and you all the time with a double gun in your fist.
"Be jabers!" exclaimed the first-mate in surprise; "and how, thin, will you carry the lot ov us?"
The castaways were gathered together in little groups, some near Mr Meldrum and the first-mate, who stood by the flagstaff, others along the ridge which ran from thence above the beach, and the remainder on the shore; but all were intent on one object, and looking down the bay at the little speck in the distance that was said to be the boat, which was steadily making its way towards the creek.
The first-mate, Lapworth, also became a favourite with us all. The doctor was usually drunk, or partly so, and led his wife, a kind and amiable little lady, a very unpleasant life. The Misses Hunt were elderly, amiable, and generally just what they should be. In a half-wakeful fit, I put out my hand, to find it rest upon a huge rat, which was seated on my chest.
"Go on up, sir; go on up," shouted the first-mate, and his hoarse orders attracted the attention of the passengers. But the poor fellow did not move, and growing tired at last, the mate ordered him to come down. This order was of as much effect as those which preceded it, the man remaining motionless.
Mark dropped the lantern with a crash, and the candle within it flickered for a moment and went out, as a horrible thought struck him, and turning back to the ladder he sprang up, and was about to shout, but his better sense prevailed, and he ran to where the first-mate stood by the bulwarks talking to one of the men. "Well, have you quieted him?" "Mr Gregory! Here!
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