“If he asks you what I want,” said I, “answer that Mr. Fielding and Teach are talking about casting away the brig and looking at the chart of Australia.”
In a few moments Travers arrived. He was closely followed by Jimmy. He descended the steps without the least appearance of misgiving. I perceived, however, that in a moment he began to cast his eyes about for Teach.
“D’ye know anything of the coast of New Holland, Travers?”
“Nothen, sir.”
“Teach and I have been talking about casting this brig away. Teach’ll be here in a moment,” said I, with a significant sideways motion of my head toward my berth, which I was willing the fellow should construe as he pleased. “This is the spot which Teach recommends,” said I, putting my finger upon the chart. “Draw near, will you. You’ll understand my meaning when your eyes are on the drawing of the coast.”
He came at once to my side, cap in hand. I bade him observe the conformation of the coast, and while I spoke I made a motion with my left hand, whereupon, with lightning speed, the cap was on him! The man halloed faintly inside: ’twas like a voice from the height of a tall chimney; then, Jimmy and I bringing his brawny arms together, I slipped the handcuffs on.
He was a more powerfully built man than Teach, but without that devil’s desperate spirit. He appeared to understand what we meant to do, felt his helplessness, and after a brief, fierce struggle stood quiet. We ran him, silent and suffocating in his bag, to the forward cabin on the larboard side, by which time he was nearly spent for want of air, so that, when we drew the bag off his head, he was black in the face. I waited a few minutes till he rallied somewhat, then gagged him with a second gag of Miss Aurora’s manufacture. We next pulled off his boots, to provide against his kicking at the door, and threw them into the cabin, and shutting him up I went to the locker in which I had stored my borrowings from the magazine, as you have heard, and thrust a couple of loaded pistols into my pocket.
My lady Aurora had fallen into a chair: she was deadly white and trembled violently, and seemed to be fainting. I told Jimmy to give her a glass of brandy and follow me on deck. I dared not pause now, no, not even though her life should be risked by my going. I went on deck and stood a minute at the companion. Call was at the wheel, carelessly grasping the spokes. I looked toward the island; the boat was clearly ashore, her sail lowered, and nothing therefore to be seen of her, at that distance, with the naked eye.
Taking no notice of Call I walked to the caboose and looked in, expecting to see Meehan at work there boiling my cocoa. The caboose was empty, but the fire burned briskly as though freshly trimmed, and a saucepan was boiling upon it. I stepped swiftly to the fore-scuttle, that is to say, to the hatch by which the sailors entered or left the forecastle, and, when I was within a few feet of it, I spied Meehan’s head in the act of rising to come on deck. I sprang and struck him hard, crying out, “Keep below till you’re wanted.” He fell backward, and I instantly drove the cover of the scuttle over the hatch and secured it by its bar.
Call remained to be dealt with. As I walked aft Jimmy came up out of the cabin. Call was very white. He let go the wheel, and cried out, “Mr. Fielding, where’s my mates?”