CHAPTER ELEVEN.
THINKING BETTER OF IT.
Don stood looking at Jem Wimble for some few minutes in silence, as ifthe sight of some one else in trouble did him good. Then he sat down onthe stock of an old anchor, to begin picking at the red rust scales ashe too stared at the ships moored here and there.
The tall masts and rigging had a certain fascination for Don, and eachvessel seemed to offer a way out of his difficulties. For once on boarda ship with the sails spread, and the open sea before him, he mightcross right away to one of those beautiful lands of which Mike hadspoken, and then--
The thought of Mike altered the case directly, and he sat staringstraight before him at the ships.
Jem was the next to break the silence.
"Thinking you'd like to go right away, Master Don?"
"Yes, Jem."
"So was I, sir. Only think how nice it would be somewhere abroad, wherethere was no Sally."
"And no Uncle Josiah, Jem."
"Ay, and no Mike to get you into trouble. Be fine, wouldn't it?"
"Glorious, Jem."
"Mean to go, Master Don?"
"What, and be a miserable coward? No."
"But you was a-thinking something of the kind, sir."
"Yes, I was, Jem. Everybody is stupid sometimes, and I was stupid then.No. I've thought better of it."
"And you won't go, sir?"
"Go? No. Why, it would be like saying what Mike accused me of wastrue."
"So it would, sir. Now that's just how I felt. I says to myself,`Jem,' I says, `don't you stand it. What you've got to do is to goright away and let Sally shift for herself; then she'd find out yourvally,' I says, `and be sorry for what she's said and done,' but I knewif I did she'd begin to crow and think she'd beat me, and besides, itwould be such a miserable cowardly trick. No, Mas' Don, I'm going togrin and bear it, and some day she'll come round and be as nice as she'snasty now."
"Yes, that's the way to look at it, Jem; but it's a miserable world,isn't it?"
"Well, I arn't seen much on it, Mas' Don. I once went for a holiday asfar as Bath, and that part on it was miserable enough. My word, how itdid rain! In half an hour I hadn't got a dry thread on me. Deal worsethan Bristol, which isn't the most cheersome o' places when you'redull."
"No, Jem, it isn't. Of course you'll be at the court to-morrow?"
"I suppose so, Mas' Don. And I say they'd better ask me if I think youtook that money. My! But I would give it to some on 'em straight. Canyou fight, Mas' Don?"
"I don't know, Jem. I never tried."
"I can. You don't know what a crack I could give a man. It's my armsis so strong with moving sugar-hogsheads, I suppose. I shouldn't wishto be the man I hit if I did my best."
"You mean your worst, Jem."
"Course I do, Mas' Don. Well, as I was going to say, I should just liketo settle that there matter with Mr Mike without the magistrates. Yougive him to me on a clear field for about ten minutes, and I'd makeMaster Mike down hisself on his knees, and say just whatever I pleased."
"And what good would that do, Jem?"
"Not much to him, Mas' Don, because he'd be so precious sore afterwards,but it would do me good, and I would feel afterwards what I don't feelnow, and that's cheerful. Never mind, sir, it'll all come right in theend. Nothing like coming out and sitting all alone when you're crabby.Wind seems to blow it away. When you've been sitting here a bit you'llfeel like a new man. Mind me smoking a pipe?"
"No, Jem; smoke away."
"Won't have one too, Mas' Don?"
"No, Jem; you know I can't smoke."
"Then here goes for mine," said Jem, taking a little dumpy clay pipefrom one pocket and a canvas bag from another, in which were some roughpieces of tobacco leaf. These he crumbled up and thrust into the bowl,after which he took advantage of the shelter afforded by an empty caskto get in, strike a light, and start a pipe.
Once lit up, Jem returned to his old seat, and the pair remained in thesame place till it was getting dusk, and lights were twinkling among theshipping, when Jem rose and stretched himself.
"That's your sort, Mas' Don," he said. "Now I feels better, and I cansmile at my little woman when I get home. You aren't no worse?"
"No, Jem, I am no worse."
"Nothing like coming out when you're red hot, and cooling down. I'mcooled down, and so are you. Come along."
Don felt a sensation of reluctance to return home, but it was gettinglate, and telling himself that he had nothing to do now but act astraightforward manly part, and glad that he had cast aside his foolishnotions about going away, he trudged slowly back with his companion,till turning into one of the dark and narrow lanes leading from thewater side, they suddenly became aware that they were not alone, for astoutly-built sailor stepped in front of them.
"Got a light, mate?" he said.
"Light? Yes," said Jem readily; and he prepared to get out his flintand steel, when Don whispered something in his ear.
"Ay, to be sure," he said; "why don't you take a light from him?"
"Eh? Ah, to be sure," said the sailor. "I forgot. Here, Joe, mate,open the lanthorn and give us a light."
Another sailor, a couple of yards away, opened a horn lanthorn, and thefirst man bent down to light his pipe, the dull rays of the coarsecandle showing something which startled Don.
"Come on, Jem," he whispered; "make haste."
"Ay? To be sure, my lad. There's nothing to mind though. Onlysailors."
As he spoke there were other steps behind, and more from the front, andDon realised that they were hemmed in that narrow lane between twolittle parties of armed men.
Just then the door of the lanthorn was closed, and the man who bore itheld it close to Jem's face.
"Well?" said that worthy, good-temperedly, "what d'yer think of me, eh?Lost some one? 'Cause I arn't him."
"I don't know so much about that," said a voice; and a young-looking manin a heavy pea jacket whispered a few words to one of the sailors.
Don felt more uneasy, for he saw that the point of a scabbard hung downbelow the last speaker's jacket, which bulged out as if there werepistols beneath, all of which he could dimly make out in the faint glowof the lanthorn.
"Come away, Jem, quick!" whispered Don.
"Here, what's your hurry, my lads?" said the youngish man in rather anauthoritative way. "Come and have a glass of grog."
"No, thank ye," said Jem; "I've got to be home."
"So have we, mate," said the hoarse-voiced man who had asked for alight; "and when a horficer asks you to drink you shouldn't say no."
"I knew it, Jem," whispered Don excitedly. "Officer! Do you hear?"
"What are you whispering about, youngster?" said the man in the peajacket. "You let him be."
"Good-night," said Jem shortly. "Come on, Mas' Don."
He stepped forward, but the young man hurried on the men, who had nowclosed in round them; and as Jem gave one of them a sturdy push to getoff, the thrust was returned with interest.
"Where are you shovin' to, mate?" growled the man. "Arn't the road wideenough for you?"
"Quiet, my lad," said the officer sharply. "Here, you come below hereand have a glass of grog."
"I don't want no grog," said Jem; "and I should thank you to tell yourmen to let me pass."
"Yes, by-and-by," said the officer. "Now then, my lads, sharp."
A couple of men crowded on Jem, one of them forcing himself between thesturdy fellow and Don, whose cheeks flushed with anger as he felthimself rudely thrust up against the wall of one of the houses.
"Here, what are you doing of?" cried Jem sharply.
"Being civil," said one of the men with a laugh. "There, no nonsense.Come quiet."
He might just as well have said that to an angry bull, for as he and hiscompanion seized Jem by the arms, they found for themselves how strongthose arms were, one being sent staggering against Don, and the otherbeing lifted off his legs and dropped
upon his back.
"Now, Mas' Don, run!" shouted Jem.
But before the words were well out of his lips, the party closed in uponhim, paying no heed to Don, who in accordance with Jem's command hadrushed off in retreat.
A few moments later he stopped, for Jem was not with him, but strugglingwith all his might in the midst of the knot of men who were trying tohold him.
"Mas' Don! Help, help!" roared Jem; and Don dashed at the gang, hisfists clenched, teeth set, and a curious singing noise in his ears. Butas he reached the spot where his companion was making a desperatestruggle for his liberty, Jem shouted again,--
"No, no! Mas' Don; run for it, my lad, and get help if you can."
Like a flash it occurred to Don that long before he could get help Jemwould be overpowered and carried off, and with the natural fightinginstinct fully raised, he struck out with all his might as he strove toget to the poor fellow, who was writhing and heaving, and giving hiscaptors a tremendous task to hold him.
"Here, give him something to keep him quiet," growled a voice.
"No, no; get hold of his hands; that's right. Serve this cockerel thesame. Down with him, quick!" cried the officer sharply; and inobedience to his words the men hung on to poor Jem so tenaciously thathe was dragged down on the rough pavement, and a couple of men satpanting upon him while his wrists were secured, and his voice silencedby a great bandage right over his mouth.
"You cowards!" Jem tried to roar, as, breathless with exertion,bleeding from a sharp back-handed blow across the mouth, and giddy withexcitement and the effects of a rough encounter between his head and thewall, Don made one more attempt to drag himself free, and then stoodpanting and mastered by two strong men.
"Show the light," said the officer, and the lanthorn was held close toDon's face.
"Well, if the boy can fight like that," said the officer, "he shall."
"Let us go," cried Don. "Help! He--"
A jacket was thrown over his head, as the officer said mockingly,--
"He shall fight for his Majesty the king. Now, my lads, quick. Someone coming, and the wrong sort."
Don felt himself lifted off his feet, and half smothered by the hotjacket which seemed to keep him from breathing, he was hurried along twoor three of the lanes, growing more faint and dizzy every moment, tillin the midst of a curious nightmare-like sensation, lights begansuddenly to dance before his eyes; then all was darkness, and he knew nomore till he seemed to wake up from a curious sensation of sickness, andto be listening to Jem Wimble, who would keep on saying in a stupid,aggravating manner,--"Mas' Don, are you there?"
The question must have been repeated many times before Don could get ridof the dizzy feeling of confusion and reply,--"Yes; what do you want?"
"Oh, my poor lad!" groaned Jem. "Here, can you come to me and untiethis?"
"Jem!"
"Yes."
"What does it mean? Why is it so dark? Where are we?"
"Don't ask everything at once, my lad, and I'll try to tell you."
"Has the candle gone out, Jem? Are we in the big cellar?"
"Yes, my lad," groaned Jem, "we're in a big cellar."
"Can't you find the candle?" said Don, with his head humming and themental confusion on the increase. "There's a flint and steel on theledge over the door."
"Is there, my lad? I didn't know it," muttered Jem. "Jem, are youthere?"
"Yes, yes, my lad, I'm here."
"Get a light, quick. I must have fallen and hurt myself; my facebleeds."
"Oh, my poor dear lad!"
"Eh? What do you mean? You're playing tricks, Jem, and it's too bad.Get a light."
"My hands is tied fast behind me, Mas' Don," groaned Jem, "and we'repitched down here in a cellar."
"What?"
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I don't mind for myself," groaned Jem, in hisdespair, "but what will she do?"
"Jem!"
"I often said I wished I could be took away, but I didn't mean it, Mas'Don; I didn't mean it. What will my Sally do?"
"Jem, are you mad?" shouted Don. "This darkness--this cellar. It's allblack, and I can't think; my head aches, and it's all strange. Don'tplay tricks. Try and open the door and let's go."
"What, don't you know what it all means, Mas' Don?" groaned Jem.
"No, I don't seem as if I could think. What does it mean?"
"Mean, my lad? Why, the press-gang's got us, and unless we can let 'emknow at home, we shall be took aboard ship and sent off to sea."
"What?"
The light had come--the mental light which drove away the cloud ofdarkness which had obscured Don Lavington's brain. He could think now,and he saw once more the dark lane, the swinging lanthorn, and felt, asit were, the struggle going on; and then, sitting up with his hands tohis throbbing head, he listened to a low moaning sound close at hand.
"Jem," he said. "Jem! Why don't you speak?"
There was no answer, for it was poor Jem's turn now; the injuries he hadreceived in his desperate struggle for liberty had had their effect, andhe lay there insensible to the great trouble which had come upon him,while it grew more terrible to Don, in the darkness of that cellar, withevery breath he drew.