第61章
I fall into the hands of pirates - How they treated me, and what Isaid to them - The result of the whole ending in a melancholy separation and in a most unexpected gift.
MY heart seemed to leap into my throat at the words; and, turning round, I beheld a man of immense stature, and fierce aspect regarding me with a smile of contempt.He was a white man, - that is to say, he was a man of European blood, though his face, from long exposure to the weather, was deeply bronzed.His dress was that of a common seaman, except that he had on a Greek skull-cap, and wore a broad shawl of the richest silk round his waist.In this shawl were placed two pair of pistols and a heavy cutlass.He wore a beard and moustache, which, like the locks on his head, were short, curly, and sprinkled with gray hairs.
"So, youngster," he said, with a Sardonic smile, while I felt his grasp tighten on my shoulder, "the villains have been baulked of their prey, have they? We shall see, we shall see.Now, you whelp, look yonder.As he spoke, the pirate uttered a shrill whistle.In a second or two it was answered, and the pirate-boat rowed round the point at the Water Garden, and came rapidly towards us."Now, go, make a fire on that point; and hark'ee, youngster, if you try to run away, I'll send a quick and sure messenger after you," and he pointed significantly at his pistols.
I obeyed in silence, and as I happened to have the burning-glass in my pocket, a fire was speedily kindled, and a thick smoke ascended into the air.It had scarcely appeared for two minutes when the boom of a gun rolled over the sea, and, looking up, I saw that the schooner was making for the island again.It now flashed across me that this was a ruse on the part of the pirates, and that they had sent their vessel away, knowing that it would lead us to suppose that they had left altogether.But there was no use of regret now.
I was completely in their power, so I stood helplessly beside the pirate watching the crew of the boat as they landed on the beach.
For an instant I contemplated rushing over the cliff into the sea, but this I saw I could not now accomplish, as some of the men were already between me and the water.
There was a good deal of jesting at the success of their scheme, as the crew ascended the rocks and addressed the man who had captured me by the title of captain.They were a ferocious set of men, with shaggy beards and scowling brows.All of them were armed with cutlasses and pistols, and their costumes were, with trifling variations, similar to that of the captain.As I looked from one to the other, and observed the low, scowling brows, that never unbent, even when the men laughed, and the mean, rascally expression that sat on each face, I felt that my life hung by a hair.
"But where are the other cubs?" cried one of the men, with an oath that made me shudder."I'll swear to it there were three, at least, if not more.""You hear what he says, whelp; where are the other dogs?" said the captain.
"If you mean my companions," said I, in a low voice, "I won't tell you."A loud laugh burst from the crew at this answer.
The pirate captain looked at me in surprise.Then drawing a pistol from his belt, he cocked it and said, "Now, youngster, listen to me.I've no time to waste here.If you don't tell me all you know, I'll blow your brains out! Where are your comrades?"For an instant I hesitated, not knowing what to do in this extremity.Suddenly a thought occurred to me.
"Villain," said I, shaking my clenched fist in his face, "to blow my brains out would make short work of me, and be soon over.Death by drowning is as sure, and the agony prolonged, yet, I tell you to your face, if you were to toss me over yonder cliff into the sea, Iwould not tell you where my companions are, and I dare you to try me!"The pirate captain grew white with rage as I spoke."Say you so?"cried he, uttering a fierce oath."Here, lads, take him by the legs and heave him in, - quick!"The men, who were utterly silenced with surprise at my audacity, advanced, and seized me, and, as they carried me towards the cliff, I congratulated myself not a little on the success of my scheme, for I knew that once in the water I should be safe, and could rejoin Jack and Peterkin in the cave.But my hopes were suddenly blasted by the captain crying out, "Hold on, lads, hold on.We'll give him a taste of the thumb-screws before throwing him to the sharks.Away with him into the boat.Look alive! the breeze is freshening."The men instantly raised me shoulder high, and, hurrying down the rocks, tossed me into the bottom of the boat, where I lay for some time stunned with the violence of my fall.
On recovering sufficiently to raise myself on my elbow, I perceived that we were already outside the coral reef, and close alongside the schooner, which was of small size and clipper built.I had only time to observe this much, when I received a severe kick on the side from one of the men, who ordered me, in a rough voice, to jump aboard.Rising hastily I clambered up the side.In a few minutes the boat was hoisted on deck, the vessel's head put close to the wind, and the Coral Island dropped slowly astern as we beat up against a head sea.