"Oons! We'll cure that. All aboard! Stow the cockerel in the foc'sle; strap un to a plank; we'll have no 'tarnal tricks."
As Harry was lugged forward he noticed two figures standing beneath a lamp swinging to one of the yards. He started, and involuntarily increased his weight upon his bearers. One of the two came forward a step towards the captain and, tapping a snuff-box, said:
"Whom have we here, captain?"
"A young puppy as ha' run through a duke's fortune and goes as redemptioner where I've carried many a man before him."
"Indeed! So young! 'Tis sad, the wastefulness of young men in this age."
He took a pinch of snuff and stepped back again. Harry had scanned his features and heard what he said. His heart almost stopped beating with surprise, for the speaker was Mr. Berkeley, the squire, and his companion was Captain Aglionby. "Did they not recognize me?" he thought. Surely if he could appeal to the squire he might even yet, at the last moment, be saved. He struggled with his captors, but they tightened their hold upon him and wrenched his limbs with brutal callousness. He was carried to the sailors' quarters in the foc'sle. His bonds were loosed for a moment; then he was laid on a plank and lashed to it. There was a sudden commotion. The captain roared an order to his men, then went to the side to meet a custom-house officer who had just come aboard with two men. An observer would have noticed that Mr. Berkeley hastily turned his back and retreated into the shadow.
"Thought you'd forgot us, sir," said the captain.
"No, no. But we won't keep you long; you want to catch the tide."
The rummaging crew began a perfunctory inspection of the vessel. When they were out of sight Mr. Berkeley came forward and spoke in a low tone to the captain.
"Right, sir," he replied, and sent a man forward with orders to place Harry in a bunk in the darkest part of the foc'sle and cover him up. Consequently, when the custom-house officer reached the sailors' quarters, where several of the crew were lolling about, Harry lay hidden, half-stifled beneath a tarpaulin.