"I suppose I shall as long as these ropes hold out," I replied.
"You made the trouble, and now you will have to take it. If the men don't want to obey orders now, they will catch pistol balls, instead of plum duff and grog."
"What does the mate mean to do with me?" I asked.
"He means to make you work when we get the niggers on board. You will have to feed them, and clean them out," laughed the Spaniard.
"Come; he is safe where he is now," added Grego.
My persecutors left me alone, and went on deck to report to the mate what they had done. They had certainly done their work well, for my wrists ached, the line was so tight upon them. My situation looked very hopeless; and, after I had tested the strength of the cords that bound me, I felt very much like giving up in despair. But, in the cause of truth and justice, I felt that I had no right to despair. I was one of those upon whom devolved the duty of preventing the Michigan from being turned into a slave ship. We were to act not alone for our own safety and comfort, but in the interests of humanity. God would bless our efforts in his own way, and we were in duty bound to do our best, without regard to consequences.
Though I did not know till afterwards, what followed on deck, I shall relate it now, in the order of the events. Martino and Grego returned to the waist, and reported to the mate that the prisoner was safe. Martino then went forward, and told the men what had happened to me. They had no suspicion of it before, so skilfully and silently had the ruffians done their work. They were shocked and confounded. They immediately took counsel among themselves; and at the suggestion of Baxter, they decided to appear to yield to the circumstances.
While the conference was in progress, the steward went forward with the grog. This time they drank, and Sanderson took my allowance. Every man seemed to be happy and cheerful; and the mate called all hands to brace up the bark; for, as the steamer had not been seen for several hours, it was decided to resume the course. The mate then spoke to the hands, as he had in the forenoon, and they yielded the point. They were willing to make a thousand dollars, and glad to have "watch and watch," plum duff, and grog. The mate was satisfied; and, when the starboard watch came on duty in the second dog watch, he went below. I knew the sound of his step, and I heard him coming towards the steerage.
"Mr. Waterford," said the captain, calling to him from his state-room, which was near the open door leading into the steerage.
"Well, captain," replied the mate.