CHAPTER ELEVEN.
A SKRIMMAGE FOR LIFE--A TRUCE--A SAIL, A SAIL APPEARS--MARCUS TO THERESCUE--THE PIRATE TAKES US OFF--SAM SNAG'S FEARFUL END.
The grey dawn had just broken. It was the hour when even vigilantwatchers are apt to doze, and deepen to sleep most soundly. I sprangout of our hut, in front of which I found Peter with his staff liftedready to guard his head, at which the mulatto mate, Sam Snag, who had atthat moment come up, was aiming a fierce blow, while his companion, whowas a little behind, had also his stick uplifted, prepared to follow upthe blow, or to inflict another on the dog, or on me. It was veryevident that they had expected to find us both asleep, and to havemurdered us without difficulty. So suddenly, indeed, did I appear, thatI was able to turn aside the blow Snag was aiming at the lad, and togive him in return so severe a one on the right arm, that he dropped hisstick; and this left me at liberty to defend myself against the otherruffian, who might have given me a great deal of trouble had not Ready,watching the moment that he was about to strike, seized him by the leg,which he tore away at with a fury which enabled me to gain an easyvictory. Peter, also, while Snag, unwisely despising his youngantagonist, stopped to pick up his stick, dealt him so heavy a blow onhis head, that he sent him rolling over, and before he could recoverhimself I gave him another blow, which very nearly finished him. I had,however, to turn my attention to his companion, who, in spite of Ready'sjaws, was about to hit me, and while I warded off the blow Snag pickedhimself up and retreated, calling upon the other to follow his example.This he could not have done had not Ready at that moment opened hismouth to get a better grip, I fancy, when he sprang away with an agilityI had not expected.
Had we followed them they would have had the advantage, for there wereplenty of heavy pieces of coral about with which they could have settledReady. Then, too, they were better prepared, for having only Peter toback me, who, though he had plenty of pluck, was but a boy in strength,I thought it prudent not to push matters to extremities. There westood, the only four human beings on that desolate island, ready to takeeach others' lives, and I may say, literally, that our opponents werethirsting for our blood. After all, we were only doing, on a smallscale, what nations are often doing on a large one. Perhaps we had moreto fight about, namely, our opponents wanted to eat us, and we did notwish to be eaten. I moralised much in this strain as I waited to seewhat Snag and his companion would next do. They probably wereconsidering how they could execute their purpose with least risk tothemselves. Their eyes glared fiercely as they looked at us. They wereevidently very hungry. I determined to try what pacific measures wouldeffect. I shouted to them, and told them that we had found an abundanceof shell-fish on our side of the island, and that we would not molestthem if they wished to collect it. I told them, also, that they mighttake some fire from ours. The mate looked at me for some minuteswithout speaking, as if he did not exactly comprehend what I was saying.
"There isn't much to thank you for that," he at length answered."However, if you don't wish to do us harm we'll let you alone, and sothat's settled."
The reply was ungracious, but I only said, "Very well, it is sounderstood between us."
I did not, however, intend to trust the villains, for I was sure that,should they discover that we had the wine, they would make an attempt topossess themselves of it, and might, besides, very likely attack usagain.
The excitement of the fight had not taken away our appetites, and soPeter and I set to work to collect shell-fish till the sun was highenough to allow of the use of the burning-glass. The two men, seeinghow we were employed, followed our example; but even then, the way I sawthem talking together and glancing towards us when they thought thatthey were not observed, convinced me that they would set upon us shouldthey find a favourable opportunity. I had told Peter to keep near me,but he did not hear me, for, looking up, I saw that he had gone in thedirection of the men, who at that moment were springing towards him withtheir clubs uplifted. I shouted out to him to avoid the danger, andjust then, as I glanced seaward, my eyes fell on a vessel standing inunder full sail towards the watering-place. I pointed her out to themen, and their attention being thus distracted, the lad escaped and gotbehind me, while they set off towards the watering-place, to be thefirst, I concluded, to welcome the strangers, and tell their own tale.
This mattered very little to me. If the strangers were honest, I feltsure that I could make my story good, and if not, I could scarcely beworse off than at present, and might, at all events, get rid of myunpleasant neighbours, waiting patiently till Peter and I could make ourescape. Therefore, with some degree of tranquillity, I watched from arock what was taking place. The schooner stood on like a vessel wellaccustomed to the place, and when close in brought up and furled allsails. Her crew were of a motley description; and as they approached intheir boats, I was convinced of what I had before suspected--that theschooner was the very piratical vessel which had captured the_Shaddock_, and on board which I had found Marcus, the black. Though Icould have wished him now, for his own sake, to have been in bettercompany, I was anxious to ascertain if he was still with the pirates, asin that case I had no fear as to our safety. Peter also understood thestate of the case.
"Yes, there he is; that's him standing up in the first boat," cried thelad. "He seems in an awful rage, though. If I thought he wasa-threatening of me, I'd like to run away and hide myself."
Sure enough, there was Marcus; but what could have excited his anger? Isoon learned, for, looking higher up the rock, I saw the huge mulattomate, Sam Snag, and his companion, on their knees with uplifted hands,in the most abject state of terror, imploring mercy, while Marcus, asthe boat approached, stood ready with a pistol in his hand to shoot, itappeared, one or the other of them.
As the boat's keel grated on the sand, he sprang on shore, gnashing histeeth like a wild beast, and I thought would have shot Snag dead at thatmoment, but seeing that he was really totally unarmed, he contentedhimself with hitting him in the face, and then kicking him over.
"Wretched slave-driver--overseer of your fellow-men--have I found youonce again?" he exclaimed, literally foaming at the mouth, and strikinghim each time that he spoke. "Death is too good for a wretch like you.No fear, I'll not kill you," and seizing, as he spoke, the huge powerfulman by the hair, he dragged him along over the sand. I never saw a manso completely prostrated by abject fear as was this would-be murdererand bully, Snag. Meantime some of the pirates had espied Peter and me,and with no very friendly gestures, thinking that we were of SilasSnag's gang, were hurrying towards us. I thought it was now time toclaim the protection of Marcus. The moment he heard my voice his wholemanner changed. He almost took me in his arms in the excess of hisaffectionate feelings, as he inquired by what wonderful circumstance Ihad come there. I told him of the shipwreck and the cause of it.
"Ah, and that villain unhung was at the bottom of the mischief!However, we shall settle accounts ere long. I would have killed himto-day but that death would be too happy a fate for a wretch like him."
I entreated Marcus not to stain his hands with the blood of the man,though I acknowledged that I had little reason for wishing to save himfrom punishment, as he had just before attempted to take my life andthat of my companion.
"Well, I will promise to let him live on as long as he can on thisislet," said Marcus, casting a glance of hatred and contempt at themulatto mate, who stood literally trembling before him. "He knows thatit's out of the track of most vessels, and that only those who areengaged as we are come off here occasionally for water, when they cannotventure elsewhere, so that his chance of escape is very small. If hewishes to prolong his life he must kill his companion, or his companionwill kill him. Such things have been done on this island before now,and that is one of the reasons why it is so generally avoided."
To this mode of treating Snag I had no objection to make. I couldscarcely propose that he should be taken away in the pirate vessel, andhe certainly had brought his fate upon hi
mself. I was glad to get awayfrom him and from a spot of such ill-repute; at the same time I doubtedwhether I should not be leaping out of the frying-pan into the fire.How might I be treated should the pirate be captured by a man-of-war,either English or American, and I be found on board? I could not saythat I did not know her character before I went on board, and it was aquestion whether the plea would hold good that I did so in preference toremaining on a desert island. Still I saw that I had no choice. If Iremained with Snag and did not kill him, he would if he had theopportunity kill me, and Peter and Ready into the bargain; whereas if Iembarked I might very possibly get safe on shore, and if we werecaptured I felt very sure that Marcus would give evidence in my favour,and I hoped that the other pirates would do so likewise.
I told Marcus, therefore, that I accepted his offer, hinting, however,at the predicament in which I should be placed should the schooner becaptured.
"She will never be captured," he answered fiercely. "Sooner than that Iwould blow up the vessel, and all on board."
A pleasant prospect for me, I thought to myself; however, as I said, Ihad no choice. Accordingly, I and Peter and Ready embarked with Marcusin the first boat returning with water to the schooner. The crewreceived us without any questions, and we were soon discussing in thecabin such a meal as we had not eaten for many a day. I said nothingabout the wine we had left on shore, as I thought that it would do thepirates no good, and might do harm. Great despatch was made in gettingwater aboard, and in a short time all that was required was obtained.Marcus did not return to the shore, but I heard him giving directions tothe officer of one of the boats which went back for water. Meantime Iwas watching what was taking place on the beach. Snag, who hadconcealed himself from Marcus, now made his appearance, and wasevidently exerting his powers of persuasion on the crew of the remainingboat, probably forgetting that though his words could not reach theschooner his gestures could be seen from her. Judging from his and hiscompanion's manner, he appeared to have been successful; some flaskswere produced from the boat, and they and the crew were seen to sitdown, and to smoke and drink in a friendly manner.
The officer sent by Marcus, and several of his men, went heavily armed.On their reaching the beach the crew of the other boat were ordered intoher, and then seizing the white man they carried him into their boat.Snag rushed after him but was driven back by the officer, who held apistol towards his head as he approached the boat. In vain he pleadedwith the very men with whom he had so lately been on friendly terms.The horror of his position burst upon him. He was to be left on thedesert islet to die alone, without even the companionship of his formershipmate and associate in crime. In vain he pleaded. The pirateslaughed at his terror and rage. He stamped--he gnashed with his teeth--he shook his clenched fist. He was unarmed and helpless. The boatspushed off and were already some distance from the beach. He waved andshouted to them. For a minute he stood irresolute, apparently hopingthat those he had seemed to gain over would take him on board. Again hewaved; some signal was made from the boat. He plunged headlong into thesea, and swam towards her. Still she pulled slowly towards theschooner, though, it seemed, he thought that he could overtake her. Toolate he discovered that a barbarous trick had been played him, worthy ofthe wretches who were guilty of it. He might still have returned to theshore, but just then a dark fin, which had been hovering about theschooner, was seen to dash off in the direction of the boats. Aninstant after the mulatto mate threw up his arms--a fearful shriek washeard, and he disappeared beneath the water, an ensanguined circle onthe surface marking the spot where he had gone down. Directly after theboats were hoisted in, the breeze sprang up, and the schooner made sailto the northward.
"Now, my friend, at which port do you wish to be landed?" asked Marcus.
"I was bound to New Orleans, and still wish to return there," Ianswered.
"It is not the place I would counsel you to go to," he observed. "Someof the people there have long memories, and they would treat you withLynch law, and a scant allowance of that, if they caught you."
I told him that I was aware that there was some danger, but that I hadresolved to push north up the Mississippi; besides which, as I hadletters of credit on a mercantile house at New Orleans, I must go therefor the sake of replenishing my purse and wardrobe. He replied that hemust consult with the captain about it, as he had strong doubts as tothe policy of the proceeding. Some hours afterwards Marcus told me thatit was impossible to land me at New Orleans, but that they would put meon shore at Havanna, from whence I could easily get across to that cityif I still desired to go.
"But can you venture into the Havanna? will not your schooner run agreat risk of being recognised?" I asked.
"Oh no, our papers are all correct. We have powerful friends there whowould get us out of trouble, if we got into it, and we depend much onour boldness to escape suspicions," he answered. "You shall see. Withregard to you we shall only have the truth to tell. We found you castaway on an island, took you off, and wish to land you. We must dependon your discretion for the rest. For anything you know to the contrary,as far as you have seen, this vessel is perfectly honest. Youunderstand me."