“Seems to me as if they’re getting all sail set,” growled the boatswain.
“And they’ll run us over to the coast of France,” cried Hilary excitedly. “We shall be prisoners indeed.”
He drew his breath in between his teeth, and stamped on the deck in his impotent rage.
“There!” he said, at last, as the crew stood impatiently awaiting the result of their consultation. “It’s of no use for me to bully you, my lads, for not giving me ideas, when I can find none myself. You are all right. We’ll try all your plans, for the scoundrels must never sail the Kestrel into a French port with us on board. Waters, we’ll blow up the hatchway—but the fore-hatchway, not the cabin. Corporal, you and your lads shall give them a charge with bayonets. And lastly, if both these plans fail Jack Brown and the carpenter shall scuttle the little cutter; we may perhaps save our lives in the confusion.”
It was a sight to see the satisfied grin that shone out on each of the rough fellows’ faces, upon finding that their ideas were taken. It was as if each had grown taller, and they smiled at each other and at the young officer in a most satisfied way. Hilary did not know it; but that stroke of involuntary policy on his part had raised him enormously in the estimation of the crew; and the little council being dissolved, it was wonderful with what alacrity they set to work.
For the gunner’s plan was at once adopted, and in perfect silence a bed of chests was raised up close beneath the fore-hatchway, whose ladder was cautiously removed. On this pile were placed hammocks, and again upon these short planks, so that the flat surface was close up to the square opening that led from the forecastle on deck.
“You see, sir, the charge won’t leave much room to strike sidewise,” said the gunner, as he helped to get all ready, ending by emptying the bags of powder that formed four charges for the long gun. These he rolled up in a handkerchief, tied it pretty tightly, and before putting it in place he made a hole in it, so that some of the powder would trickle out on to the smooth plank.
This being done, he laid a train from it to the end of the plank, made a slow-match with some wet powder and a piece of paper, and finished by raising the planks by stuffing blankets under them at Hilary’s suggestion, till the powder charge was right up in the opening of the hatch, surrounded by the coamings, and the planks rested up against the deck.
“If that there don’t fetch ’im off, I’m a Dutchman,” said Billy Waters. “Here, just you keep that there lantern back, will you,” he cried to the corporal of marines; “we don’t want her fired before her time.”
“Yes, that will do,” cried Hilary. “There, stand by, my lads, and the moment the charge is fired make a dash for it with the ladder, and up and clear the deck whether I lead you or no.”