It seems that Snowball, while in the galley about midnight, had heard Moody talking to two or three of his especial “pals” in the port-watch; and, thinking from his knowledge of the man that he was up to some mischief, the darkey had listened—thereby indulging a propensity which was Master Snowball’s weak point, that of being inordinately curious about other people’s business!
He listened, however, to some purpose on this occasion, for he heard enough to learn that a large proportion of the crew intended, as soon as they saw a favourable opportunity, to seize the long-boat—which contained nearly all the provisions that had been got up from the hold—and desert the ship before morning.
What was their intention in doing this the cook could not guess, but he imagined that they must have thought that they would perhaps have to work to save the cargo if they remained on board, whereas if they went off, as they planned, they would escape all supervision from the officers and be under their own control. Besides, he knew that Moody was anxious to pay off the grudge he had against the captain, for he heard him specially chuckle over the fact that if they took away the long-boat, the “old man” would never be able to leave the ship with all the remaining hands and the passengers, and the rest of them would all thus “sink together, and a good job too,” as the bloodthirsty ruffian said.
Primed with this news, Snowball at first hardly knew how to make use of it for the benefit of those the mutineers intended to abandon; for, the men were all hanging about the galley, where he pretended to be asleep, and if he attempted to go aft then, where nothing was stirring and when no one called him there, it would have at once aroused their suspicions and, probably, precipitated matters.
Snowball was in a quandary. He could see no way of warning the unsuspecting captain; and yet, even while he waited, the cowardly gang who thus purposed to desert their shipmates might carry out their intention!
Presently, he heard Captain Dinks tell the mates and starboard watch that they might go below, and Mr McCarthy and the others went to their cabins aft while the “star-bowlines” tumbled down the main hatchway, all glad to have a spell of rest and be out of the bitter cold night wind which almost seemed to freeze their bones and pierce them through and through.
“Its just like the grinding old tyrant,” he heard Moody mutter at this to another of his gang, “to keep us here on deck when there ain’t no need for it!” But Snowball was quick to notice that, when the captain subsequently called out that all the rest of the hands might turn in if they liked, save two or three to keep an anchor-watch, not one of them, in spite of all their grumbling at the hardship of having to stop on deck previously, now stirred to go below. He also saw Moody and some of the others, when the captain was not looking at them, stealthily shift round the bows of the long-boat on to the top of the hatchway, in addition to battening it down on the quiet, so that those who had gone below could not easily get up again, and they would thus have things all in their own hands.
Moody’s gang evidently intended to carry out their nefarious plan; but how was he to prevent it?
At last, while the mutineers were watching for their opportunity, he saw his; and at once took advantage of it.
During the excitement that ensued when Mr McCarthy rushed on deck, declaring that the vessel had bilged in to starboard—at which time Captain Dinks at length gave his tardy order to launch the boats—Snowball crept out of the galley; and making his way aft, entered the saloon.