Chapter XXXII
Listeners never hear any good of themselves.
Vanslyperken was awakened three hours after he had fallen asleep by thenoise of the buckets washing the decks. He heard the men talking ondeck, and aware that no one knew that he was on board, he rose from hisbed, and opened one of the sliding sashes of the skylight, that he mightoverhear the conversation. The first words he heard were fromBill Spurey.
"I say, Coble, I wonder what the skipper will say when he comes onboard, and finds that the dog is gone?"
"Hoh! hoh!" thought Vanslyperken.
"I arn't convinced that he is gone yet," replied Coble.
"Smallbones swears that he's settled, this time," replied Spurey.
"So he did before," replied Coble.
"Smallbones again," thought Vanslyperken. "I'll--Smallbones him, if Ihang for it."
"Why, he says he buried him two feet deep."
"Ay, ay; but what's the use of burying an animal who's not a humancreature? For my part, I say this, that the imp belongs to his master,and is bound to serve him as long as his master lives. When he dies thedog may be killed, and then----"
"Then what?"
"Why, with the blessing of God, they'll both go to hell together, and Idon't care how soon."
"Kill me, you old villain!" muttered Vanslyperken, grinding his teeth.
"Well, anyhow, if the dog be not made away with, no more be Smallbones.He ar'n't afeard of the devil himself."
"No, not he; I'm of opinion Smallbones wa'n't sent here for nothing."
"He's escaped him twice, at all events."
"Then they know it," thought Vanslyperken, turning pale.
"Ay, and I will take you any bet you please, that the skipper nevertakes that boy's life. He's charmed, or I am a gudgeon."
Vanslyperken felt that it was his own suspicion, and he trembled at theidea of the lad being supernatural.
"Out of the way, Coble, or I'll fill your shoes," cried out one of themen, slashing a bucket of water.
"That's not quite so easy, 'cause I've got boots on," replied Coble."However, I'll take up another berth."
The men walked away, and Vanslyperken could hear no more; but he hadheard quite enough. The life of the dog had been attempted bySmallbones, it was evident. Mr Vanslyperken, after a little agitation,rang the bell.
"By all that's blue, the skipper's on board!" exclaimed the men on deck.
"When the devil did he come?"
"Not in my watch, at all events," replied Coble. "Did he come in yours,Short?"
"No," replied Short.
"Then it must have been in the corporal's."
"The corporal never called me, nor was he 'on deck," replied Coble."I've a notion he never kept his watch."
The ring at the bell particularly concerned two people, the twoculprits, Smallbones and Corporal Van Spitter.
The latter made his appearance; but previous to his answering the bell,Mr Vanslyperken had time to reflect. "So they think my dog issupernatural," said he; "so much the better. I'll make them believe itstill more." Mr Vanslyperken called the dog, and pointed to his bed. Thedog, who was fond of a warm berth, and but seldom allowed to get on thebed, immediately jumped up into it when invited, and Mr Vanslyperkenpatted him, and covered him up with the bedclothes. He then drew thecurtains of the bed, and waited to see who would answer the bell.Corporal Van Spitter made his appearance.
"Corporal, I came on board very late, where have you put the dog? Bringhim into the cabin."
Here the corporal, who was prepared, shook his head, smoothed down thehair of his forehead, and made a very melancholy face.
"It was all my fault, Mynheer Vanslyperken; yet I do for the best, butde tog be lost."
"How is that, corporal?"
The corporal then stated that he had taken the precaution to take thedog on shore, as he was afraid to leave it on board when he went to thewasherwoman's, and that he was not long there, but while he was, the dogdisappeared. He had looked everywhere, but could not find it.
"You took Smallbones with you?" said Vanslyperken.
"Yes, mynheer, to carry de linen."
"And where was he when you were at the washerwoman's."
"He was here and dere."
"I know that it was he who killed and buried the dog, corporal."
Corporal Van Spitter started, he thought he was discovered.
"Kilt and perryed, mein Gott!" said the corporal, obliged to saysomething.
"Yes, I overheard the men say so on deck, corporal. He must have takenthe opportunity when you were in the house counting the linen."
Now the corporal had time to recover himself, and he argued thatanything was better than that he should be suspected. Smallbones wasalready known to have attempted the life of the dog, so he would leavethe lieutenant in his error.
"Mein Gott' he is von d----d kill-dog feller," observed the corporal. "Ilook everywhere, I no find te tog. Den de dog is dead?"
"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, "but I'll punish the scoundrel, depend uponit. That will do, corporal; you may go."
As Snarleyyow remained perfectly quiet during this conversation, we mustgive Vanslyperken great credit for his manoeuvre. The corporal went toSmallbones, and repeated what had passed. Smallbones snappedhis fingers.
"He may keel-haul, or hang me, for all I care. The dog is dead. Neverfear, corporal, I won't peach upon you. I'm game, and I'll die so--if sobe I must."
Vanslyperken sent for Smallbones. Smallbones, who was worked up to thehighest state of excitement, came in boldly.
"So, you villain, you've killed my dog, and buried it."
"No, I ar'n't," replied Smallbones. "I knows nothing about your dog,sir."
"Why, the men on deck said so, you scoundrel, I heard them."
"I don't care what the men say; I never killed your dog, sir."
"You rascal, I'll have your life!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.
Smallbones grinned diabolically, and Vanslyperken, who remembered allthat the men had said in confirmation of his own opinion relative toSmallbones, turned pale. Smallbones, on his part, aware from CorporalVan Spitter, that the lieutenant had such an idea, immediately tookadvantage of the signs in the lieutenant's countenance, and drawledout,--"That's--not--so--easy!"
Vanslyperken turned away. "You may go now, sir, but depend upon it youshall feel my vengeance!" and Smallbones quitted the cabin.
Vanslyperken finished his toilet, and then turned the dog out of thebed.
He went on deck, and after he had walked a little while, sent forCorporal Van Spitter to consult as to the best method of ascertainingwhat had become of Snarleyyow. Having entered apparently very earnestlyinto the corporal's arrangements, who was to go on shore immediately, hedesired the corporal to see his breakfast got ready in the cabin.
It so happened, that the corporal went into the cabin, followed bySmallbones; the first object that met his view, was Snarleyyow, sittingupon the chest, scratching his ragged ear as if nothing had happened.
"Gott in himmel!" roared the corporal, turning back, and running out ofthe cabin, upsetting Smallbones, whom he met in the passage, andtrotting, like an elephant, right over him. Nor was Smallbones the onlyone who suffered; two marines and three seamen were successively flooredby the corporal, who, blinded with fear, never stopped till he ran hishead butt against the lining in the forepeak of the cutter, which, withthe timbers of the vessel, brought him up, not all standing, in onesense of the word, for in his mad career his head was dashed soviolently against them, that the poor corporal fell down, stunned toinsensibility.
In the meantime Smallbones had gained his feet, and was rubbing hisribs, to ascertain if they were all whole. "Well, I'm sure," said he,"if I ar'n't flattened for all the world like a pancake, with that 'erecorporal's weight. One may as well have a broad-wheel waggon at once goover one's body; but what could make him come for to go to run awaybellowing in that ere manner? He must have seen the devil; or, perhaps,"thought Smallbones, "that imp of the
devil, Snarleyyow. I'll go and seewhat it was, anyhow."
Smallbones, rubbing his abdomen, where the corporal had trod hardest,walked into the cabin, where he beheld the dog. He stood with his mouthwide open.
"I defy the devil and all his works," exclaimed he, at last, "and you beone of his, that's sartain. I fear God, and I honour the king, and theparish taught me to read the bible. There you be resurrectioned upagain. Well, it's no use, I suppose. Satan, I defy you, anyhow, but it'svery hard that a good Christian should have to get the breakfast ready,of which you'll eat one half; I don't see why I'm to wait upon the devilor his imps."
Then Smallbones stopped, and thought a little. "I wonder whether hebee'd dead, as I thought. Master came on board last night without no oneknowing nothing about it, and he might have brought the dog with him, ifso be he came to again. I won't believe that he's hal-together not to bemade away with, for how come his eye out? Well, I don't care, I'm a goodChristian, and may I be swamped if I don't try what he's made of yet!First time we cuts up beef, I'll try and chop your tail, anyhow, that Iwill, if I am hung for it."
Smallbones regained his determination. He set about laying the thingsfor breakfast, and when they were ready he went up to the quarter-deck,reporting the same to Mr Vanslyperken, who had expected to see himfrightened out of his wits, and concluding his speech by saying, "If youplease, sir, the dog be in the cabin, all right; I said as how I neverkilt your dog, nor buried him neither."
"The dog in the cabin!" exclaimed Mr Vanslyperken, with apparentastonishment. "Why, how the devil could he have come there?"
"He cummed off, I suppose, sir, same way as you did, without nobodyknowing nothing about it," drawled out Smallbones, who then walked away.
In the meantime the corporal had been picked up, and the men wereattempting to recover him. Smallbones went forward to see what hadbecome of him, and learnt how it was that he was insensible.
"Well, then," thought Smallbones, "it may have been all the same withthe dog, and I believe there's humbug in it, for if the dog had made hisappearance, as master pretends he did, all of a sudden, he'd a been morefrightened than me."
So reasoned Smallbones, and he reasoned well. In the meantime thecorporal opened his eyes, and gradually returned to his senses, and thenfor the first time, the ship's company, who were all down at theirbreakfast, demanded of Smallbones the reason of the corporal's conduct.
"Why," replied Smallbones, "because that 'ere beast, Snarleyyow, be comeback again, all alive, a'ter being dead and buried--he's in the cabinnow--that's all."
"That's all!" exclaimed one. "All!" cried another. "The devil!" said athird.
"I said as how it would be," said Obadiah Coble--"that dog is no dog, assure as I sit here."
The return of the dog certainly had a strong effect upon the whole ofthe ship's company. The corporal swore that he was not in the cabin, andthat Mr Vanslyperken had arranged for his going on shore to look forhim, when all of a sudden the dog made his appearance, no one knew how.Smallbones found himself so much in the minority, that he said nothing.It was perfect heresy not to believe that the dog was sent from thelower regions; and as for any further attempts to destroy it, it wasconsidered as perfect insanity.
But this renewed attempt on the part of Smallbones, for Vanslyperkenwas convinced that an attempt had been made, although it had not beensuccessful, again excited the feelings of Mr Vanslyperken against thelad, and he resolved somehow or another to retaliate. His anger overcamehis awe, and he was reckless in his desire of vengeance. There was notthe least suspicion of treachery on the part of Corporal Van Spitter inthe heart of Mr Vanslyperken, and the corporal played his double part sowell, that if possible he was now higher in favour than ever.
After a day or two, during which Mr Vanslyperken remained on board, hesent for the corporal, determining to sound him as to whether he wouldmake any attempts upon Smallbones; for to such a height hadVanslyperken's enmity arrived, that he now resolved to part with some ofhis darling money, to tempt the corporal, rather than not get rid of thelad. After many hints thrown out, but not taken by the wily corporal,who was resolved that Vanslyperken should speak plainly, the deed andthe reward of ten guineas were openly proclaimed, and Vanslyperkenwaited for the corporal's reply.
"Mein Gott, Mynheer Vanslyperken! suppose it vas possible, I not takeyour money, I do it wid pleasure; but, sir, it not possible."
"Not possible!" exclaimed Vanslyperken.
"No, mynheer," replied the corporal, "I not tell you all, tousand tyfel,I not tell you all;" and here the corporal put his hand to his foreheadand was silent, much to Vanslyperken's amazement. But the fact was, thatCorporal Van Spitter was thinking what he possibly could say. At last, abrilliant thought struck him--he narrated to the lieutenant how he hadseen the ghost of Smallbones, as he thought, when he was floating about,adrift on the Zuyder Zee--described with great force his horror at thetime of the appearance of the supernatural object, and tailed on to whathe believed to be true, that which he knew to be false, to wit, that theapparition had cried out to him, that "_he was not to be hurt by mortalman_." "Gott in Himmel," finished the corporal, "I never was sofrightened in my life. I see him now, as plain as I see you, mynheer.Twenty tousand tyfels, but the voice was like de tunder--and his eyelike de lightning--I fell back in one swoon. Ah, mein Gott, mein Gott!"
So well did the corporal play his part, that Vanslyperken became quiteterrified; the candle appeared to burn dim, and he dared not move tosnuff it. He could not but credit the corporal, for there was anearnestness of description, and a vividness of colouring, which couldnot have been invented; besides, was not the corporal his earnest andonly friend? "Corporal," said Vanslyperken, "perhaps you'll like a glassof scheedam; there's some in the cupboard."
This was very kind of Mr Vanslyperken, but he wanted one himself, muchmore than the corporal. The corporal produced the bottle and the glass,poured it out, made his military salute, and tossed it off.
"Give me another glass, corporal," said Vanslyperken, in a tremuloustone. The lieutenant took one, two, three glasses, one after another, torecover himself.
The corporal had really frightened him. He was convinced that Smallboneshad a charmed life. Did he not float to the Nab buoy and backagain?--did not a pistol ball pass through him without injury?Vanslyperken shuddered; he took a fresh glass, and then handed thebottle to the corporal, who helped himself, saluted, and the liquoragain disappeared in a moment.
Dutch courage is proverbial, although a libel upon one of the bravest ofnations. Vanslyperken now felt it, and again he commenced with thecorporal. "What were the words?" inquired he.
"Dat he was not to be hurt by mortal man, mynheer. I can take mine pipleoath of it," replied the corporal.
"Damnation!" cried Vanslyperken; "but stop--mortal man--perhaps he maybe hurt by woman."
"Dat is quite anoder ting, mynheer."
"He shan't escape if I can help it," retorted Vanslyperken. "I mustthink about it." Vanslyperken poured out another glass of scheedam, andpushed the stone bottle to the corporal, who helped himself withoutceremony. Mr Vanslyperken was now about two-thirds drunk, for he was notused to such a quantity of spirits.
"Now, if I had only been friends with that--that--hell-fire MoggySalisbury," thought Vanslyperken, speaking aloud to himself.
"Mein Gott, yes, mynheer," replied the corporal.
Vanslyperken took another glass--spilling a great deal on the table ashe poured it out; he then covered his eyes with his hand, as if inthought. Thereupon the corporal filled without being asked, and, as heperceived that his superior remained in the same position, and did notobserve him, he helped himself to a second glass, and then waited tillVanslyperken should speak again; but the liquor had overpowered him, andhe spoke no more.
The corporal, after a few minutes, went up to his superior; he touchedhim on the shoulder, saying, "Mynheer," but he obtained no reply. On thecontrary, the slight touch made Mr Vanslyperken fall forward on thetable. He was quite insensibl
e.
So the corporal took him up in his arms, laid him in his bed, thentaking possession of the lieutenant's chair, for he was tired ofstanding so long, he set to work to empty the bottle, which, being largeand full at the time that it was produced from the cupboard, took sometime, and before it was accomplished, the Corporal Van Spitter hadfallen fast asleep in the chair. Shortly afterwards the candle burntout, and the cabin was in darkness.
It was about three o'clock in the morning when Mr Vanslyperken began torecover his senses, and as his recollection returned, so were his earsmet with a stupendous roaring and unusual noise. It was, to hisimagination, unearthly, for he had been troubled with wild dreams aboutSmallbones, and his appearance to the corporal. It sounded like thunder,and Mr Vanslyperken thought that he could plainly make out, "_Mortalman! mortal man!_" and, at times, the other words of the supernaturalintimation to the corporal. The mortal man was drawn out in lengthenedcadence, and in a manner truly horrible. Vanslyperken called out,"Mor--tal--man," was the reply.
Again Vanslyperken almost shrieked in a perspiration of fear. The soundnow ceased; but it was followed up by a noise like the rattling ofglasses, tumbling about of the chairs and table, and Vanslyperken buriedhis face under the clothes. Then the door, which had been shut, washeard by him to slam like thunder; and then Snarleyyow barked loud anddeep. "Oh! God forgive me!" cried the terrified lieutenant. "OurFather--which art in heaven--save me--save me!"
Shortly afterwards the corporal made his appearance with a light, andinquired if Mr Vanslyperken had called. He found him reeking withperspiration, and half dead with fear. In broken words he stated how hehad been visited, and how the same intimation that no mortal man couldhurt Smallbones had been rung into his ears.
"It was only one dream, Mynheer Vanslyperken," observed the corporal.
"No--it was no dream," replied Vanslyperken. "Stay in the cabin, goodcorporal."
"Yes, mynheer," replied the corporal, drawing the curtains of the bed;and then quietly picking up the various articles on the floor, the tableand chairs which had been overturned.
Alas! Fear is the mate of guilt. All this horrid visitation was simplythat Mr Vanslyperken had heard the corporal's tremendous snoring, as heslept in the chair, and which his imagination had turned into the words,"Mortal man." The first exclamation of Mr Vanslyperken had awoke thecorporal, who, aware of the impropriety of his situation, had attemptedto retreat; in so doing he had overturned the table and chairs, with thebottles and glasses upon them.
Fearful of discovery upon this unexpected noise, he had hastened out ofthe cabin, slammed the door, and waked up Snarleyyow; but he knew, fromthe exclamations of Vanslyperken, that the lieutenant was frightened outof his wits; so he very boldly returned with a candle to ascertain theresult of the disturbance, and was delighted to find that the lieutenantwas still under the delusion.
So soon as he had replaced everything, the corporal took a chair, andfinding that he had fortunately put the cork into the stone bottlebefore he fell asleep, and that there was still one or two glasses init, he drank them off, and waited patiently for daylight. By this timeVanslyperken was again asleep and snoring; so the corporal took away allthe broken fragments, put the things in order, and left the cabin.
When Vanslyperken awoke and rang his bell, Smallbones entered.Vanslyperken got up, and finding the cabin as it was left the nightbefore, was more than ever persuaded that he had been supernaturallyvisited. Fear made him quite civil to the lad, whose life he nowconsidered, as the ship's company did that of the dog's, it was quiteuseless for him, at least, to attempt, and thus ends this chapterof horrors.