He was so frightened and confused, and full of what he had heard, that he did not know what to do at first, and this had prevented his speaking to the captain as he should have done; while, when he grew collected again, there was Frank Harness shouting down the companion and Mr McCarthy and the American passenger bolting up on to the poop, and no one to speak to, that he could see, who could do any good. He called out for the steward, but he had disappeared; and the darkey feared that his plan for defeating the schemes of the mutineers would turn out fruitless from his failing to find any one to help him in undertaking it, when all at once he saw Kate Meldrum, for whom he had a profound respect on account of her plucky behaviour during the storm and her kindness to him when he was discovered as a stowaway and so injured in the hold.
“Lor, missy,” exclaimed he, “help me sabe ship and capting, and all; or dey all go way and leab us drown on board!”
“Why, what do you mean?” said Kate, who was pale and excited, for she could not help hearing Frank’s call for assistance; and was just about proceeding to ascend the companion ladder to see for herself what was going on and if she could be of any aid, when Snowball thus ran against her. “What is the matter on deck; and why do you come here?”
“Dat debbel Bill Moody, an’ all him gang in port watch, say dey is goin’ murder capting and go way in long-boat, and leab us drown on board!”
“But won’t the other men prevent them?” asked Kate anxiously.
“Dey can’t, missy! Dey is down in main-hold; an’ Moody shut um under hatchway so dat dey can’t get up.”
Just then the report of Mr Lathrope’s revolver sounded above, and Kate almost screamed; but she controlled herself by a strong effort.
“And what can you or I do to help the captain and the others?” she said as calmly as she could, longing all the while to go above, although her presence there would be useless.
“Dat jus why I come here,” replied Snowball eagerly. “We can get down steerage, whar I’se stow away dat time—I knows de place well—clear way traps in de way, and knock down bulkhead; starboard watch come troo de openin’ and up on poop; den Moody’s gang knock all of a heap, catch it hot, missy! But, really, poah Snowball not able do it all alone down dere!”
Such were the darkey’s spasmodic utterances, as they came out in gasps, amidst the sound of the struggle going on on the main-deck and the hoarse cries of those engaged, which could be plainly heard in the cuddy. Kate at once comprehended the situation.