A breaker of fresh water, another of hard bread, together with pork and beef, were accordingly placed in the vessel. Then followed a couple of line-tubs, a boat-sail, and a bucket of tar, with a brush.
“The two rascals can make a tent with them things for the gal. I haven’t any thing against her, and so don’t see why she shouldn’t be made as comfortable as she can be, considering the circumstances, and according to the law of equal rights.”
The ship was now running at the rate of about seven knots, along the eastern edge of the floe, and, as the boat had been lowered upon the larboard side, it was between the ship and the ice—the latter not being further than five fathoms from it.
“If me may be so bold,” said the steward, obsequiously, to the self-constituted captain, “me would like to ask whether you be going to put de prisoners in de boat?”
“Ay, ay,” answered Lark, roughly; “but why do you ask?”
“Because me wanted to know whether me shouldn’t go into de cabin and tell Miss Alice to get ready, and gag de mouths of dat Stump and Marline.”
“And why should they be gagged?” cried the giant. “You must be mad!”
“Oh, because me t’ink you no like to hear dem—especially dis Stump—talk to you, and call you bad names!” stammered the frightened Portuguese, who readily foresaw that, the instant the hatch was opened, the villainous trick which he had performed, without the sanction of Lark, would be discovered. The reader will, therefore, understand the reason why he wished to obtain the consent of the giant to the measure he had proposed. Should he succeed in doing this, he might make his way rapidly from the run to the spot occupied by the prisoners, and conceal the furnace before the main hold could be opened. The smoke, that had already emanated from the coal, would, of course, be perceived, and would excite much astonishment. But the gags in the mouths of the prisoners would prevent them from betraying the author of the mischief.
Thus far, and no further, extended the hastily-formed conclusions of the Portuguese, who was certainly not a very deep thinker. It did not occur to his confused brain that the gags would at once be taken from the prisoners to enable them to explain the cause of the smoke, and of their own half-senseless condition!
“Yes, you must be mad!” cried the giant, as he fixed his great, round eyes upon the livid face of the steward; “and I don’t know but what it would be as well for me to set you adrift with the prisoners. That would be equal rights!”