Here Bramble, to my astonishment, went on his knees. “Spare our lives,” said he, “and we will take the vessel safe to the French coast;” at the same time he gave me a pinch.
“If you do not you shall not live a minute,” said the captain (another pinch from Bramble). I now understood him, and I also went down on my knees, and pretended to cry. “We can’t take her out if this weather lasts,” said I, whimpering. “It’s impossible.”
“No, no! not if this weather lasts,” said Bramble, “but as soon as it changes we will do it.”
“Very well, so long as you do it when you can, that is all I ask. Now,” said he to the officer he had before addressed, “you’ll have twenty men—keep a sharp look-out—and don’t lose a moment in getting under weigh as soon as you can.”
The captain then returned to the privateer with the rest of the men, leaving the ship in charge of the prizemaster. The privateer was boomed off; but whether she dropped her anchor near to us, or remained under weigh, I could not tell. The men who had held the pistols to our heads now went away with the others to plunder, according to the manners and customs of all privateer’s-men, of whatever nation they may happen to be. Bramble and I walked aft.
“Pinned once more, by all that’s blue! Well, it can’t be helped—but we’re not in a French prison yet.”
“Why did you go down on your knees to those fellows?” said I, rather sulkily.
“Why, because I wished them to think we were chicken-hearted, and that we should not be watched, and might have a chance—who knows?”
“Two against twenty are heavy odds,” replied I.
“That depends upon whether you trust to your head or your arms. It must be head work this time. You see, Tom, we have so far a chance, that we cannot weigh till it clears up—they know that as well as we do. I’m pretty sure it will be thick all to-morrow, and perhaps longer; so you see something may turn up by that time. We are well in, and right in the Channel, for vessels up or down. I say again we are not in a French prison yet. They can’t take her out of this—we must do it; and we may run on shore if we like: and I tell you what, Tom, if it wasn’t for Bessy, I’d just as soon that my brains should be blown out as that these French fellows should take such a rich prize. Now let’s go below—we mustn’t be seen talking together too much; but look out sharp, Tom, and watch my motions.”