CHAPTER V.
FREE.
From the direction of the wheel there came a loud snore. The sailor haddeliberately seated himself upon the deck in a comfortable position.
Jack stole up to the sleeping seaman and softly encircled his arms withthe noose. Then he passed the lashing around his ankles and tied themfirmly. This aroused the sleeper, who began to mumble protests.Instantly Jack slapped the plaster over his mouth. Then he dragged theman to the skylight and tumbled him down unceremoniously, and followedhim into the cabin.
Frank and Hetherington held him while Jack removed the plaster andthrust him through the hole in the bulkhead. Just as Jack once more puthis head through the skylight, there was the sound of a voice and Jackdrew inside.
"Something queer on this ship, I tell you," declared the leader. "FirstPedro goes overboard and then Antonio follows him. Sebastian, you takethe wheel."
"Not me," came the reply. "I'm not going overboard if I can help it.Take the wheel yourself."
"Neither am I," declared another voice.
A wrangle followed, with the result that the leader was forced to takethe wheel. Looking out again, Jack saw that the man was peering out overthe water. Softly he again dropped to the deck, and stole upon theunsuspecting leader.
A fierce struggle ensued. The Italian was a big man, and in spite ofJack's strength and size, he put up a furious battle. The two rolledagainst the rail, there was a sharp crack and with a loud cry the leadersuddenly went overboard. Jack jumped back to the skylight and croucheddown; and it was not a moment too soon.
The other three men approached.
"He's gone all right," said one, gazing at the spot where the leader hadstood a moment before.
"Yes, he's gone," said another. "I guess it will be our turn next."
Suddenly a cry from the water drew their attention.
"It's Ferdinand," said one of the sailors, "and he is swimming."
"What's to be done?" demanded another. "We can't let him drown likethat."
"No," replied another. "Francisco and I will get out the boat and pullhim in. You stay here," turning to the third man.
"What!" came the reply. "Stay here by myself?"
"You do as I say. We have got to get Ferdinand."
Suddenly Jack was struck with an idea. He was well aware of thesuperstitious nature of sailors, and he planned to play upon it. Hedescended to the cabin and from the wall took a suit of the captain'soilskins. Then he went back on deck.
Two of the men had gone over the side in the small boat, and theremaining sailor was now engaged in hanging a lamp from the stern. Jacksilently approached him.
Having secured the lamp, the sailor took a long look out over the seaand then turned toward the deck; and as his eyes fell on the tall,oil-skinned figure, he uttered a gasp of horror, and began to shufflebackward.
"The captain's ghost!" he exclaimed in an awed voice.
Suddenly the sailor's heels caught on a ringbolt and he staggered andfell on the deck with a howl of terror; but in another instant he hadscrambled to his feet and rushed away forward, whence the slam of theforecastle scuttle announced his retirement to a place of safety.
More than half an hour elapsed before a hoarse hail from the seaheralded the return of the boat.
"Is all well?" came the cry. "Ferdinand is gone. We couldn't find him."
Jack stepped back into the shadow of the mainsail. Soon the heads of thetwo men appeared over the rail, and they swung themselves to the deck.
For one instant they stood as if petrified; then, with one accord, theystampeded forward, and once more the forecastle scuttle slammed. Jackfollowed, and, quietly thrusting a belaying pin through the staple ofthe scuttle, secured them in their retreat.
The mutiny was a thing of the past.
Then Jack made his way to the cabin, where he informed his twonewly-made friends of the success of his endeavors, and the three wenton deck.
"You're all right," Frank told Jack in great admiration, as the threegazed out over the water. "I had given up all hope of getting awayalive. I don't see how you ever managed it."
"Nor I," said Hetherington. "I know Frank and I couldn't have done ittogether."
Jack laughed modestly.
"A little thinking is all that's necessary," he replied.
"Well, you are quite a thinker," said Frank; "but it strikes me you aresomething of a fighter besides."
"What shall we do now?" broke in Hetherington.
"I suppose I had better get home," replied Jack. "Besides, we are notfar from there. You had both better come with me."
"I want to get back to Naples," declared Frank.
"And I must get to Nalut, Tripoli, at the earliest possible moment,"declared Hetherington.
"Nalut!" exclaimed Jack. "Why, we can't be far from there now. It'sclose to my home. I have been there several times."
"You don't mean it," cried Hetherington. "Then I can get there from yourplace?"
"Easily, by camel. It is about a day's journey."
Hetherington turned to Frank.
"Why can't you come with me?" he asked. "I'll look after you. I expectto be back in England in a couple of weeks, and you can go with me. Thenyou can return to the United States."
"But I wanted to get back to Naples and try and find my father."
"You probably wouldn't be able to find him now. The chances are he hasreturned home himself, hoping to find you there, as he has been unableto find you in more than a week."
"I guess you are right," replied Frank. "I'll go with you."
It was late the next afternoon when the schooner once more drew near thelittle African town in which Jack lived, and dropped anchor.
Jack called the prisoners from below.
"I don't know why I should bother with you," he said. "I know you aremutineers and should be dealt with severely, but I am not anexecutioner. Pay me my two pounds four," he continued, turning to one ofthe men, "and we shall leave the ship. It's not my ship and neither isit yours; but you can have it as far as I am concerned."
"Yes," said Frank. "We don't need it any longer."
One of the Italians ran hurriedly below. Returning he placed two bags ofgold in Jack's hand.
"Take this, _signor_," he exclaimed. "We will have no luck unless wegive you this gold."
"No," replied Jack, "all I want is what is due me."
"Yes, yes; you must take it, _signor_," cried all the Italians.
Jack thrust his hand into one of the canvas bags and brought out ahandful of coins, from which he selected two. The others he returned tothe bag, adding to them a couple of coins from his own pocket.
"Two shillings change," he remarked.
He threw the bags down on deck and dropped himself into the small boatnow lying alongside. The other two followed him.
But he had hardly taken his seat when two heavy thumps on the floor ofthe boat, followed by a jingling impact, announced the arrival of thetwo bags of gold.
"You must take the gold, _signor_. You must take it, else we shall haveno luck."
Jack stood up in the boat. Frank and Hetherington pulled on the oars.
"Pull," Jack commanded, and the boat started away.
Aiming skillfully at the open gangway, Jack sent the heavy bags, oneafter the other, skimming along the deck.
One of the Italians grabbed them up and rushed to the gangway. But hewas too late. The boat was twenty yards away, and leaping forwardbeneath the strokes of Frank and Hetherington.