“So would I,” said Roger. “Tell Captain Hamet that we will not obey his orders.”
“Very sorry to hear you say that, Master Willoughby,” said Sam. “You see it is not a matter of choice; the Captain has the power to make you do what he wishes, whether you like it or not.”
“There is an old saying that you may take a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink,” said Stephen; “he may carry us aboard by main force, but he cannot compel us to do any duty when we are there.”
“Now, just look at the matter in this way, young gentlemen,” said Sam. “The Captain has heard that you understand navigation, and he wants some one to navigate his ship, for, as far as I can learn, these Moorish fellows do not understand much about that thing. He will make officers of you and treat you well, and I do not suppose he expects you to fight.”
“How could he know that we understood navigation?” asked Stephen.
“That is more than I can say,” answered Sam. “I know that I did not tell him; he heard it by some means, and that was the reason he bought you of the old Sheik, and paid such a high price for you too. So you see he is not likely to be balked, and I’d advise you to come with a good grace. I am very sorry that you should have to do what you do not like, but you see you have no choice in the matter; when he asked me I had to confess that it was right.”
“Me tell how it happened,” said Jumbo. “Me tell Captain Hamet that Massa Battiscombe and Massa Willoughby were two officers, and that if he buy dem he some day get a good ransom, but neber tink at de time dat he want dem to serve aboard his ship; dat’s how it came about.”
“That explains the mystery, and we don’t blame you, Jumbo,” said Stephen. “But we cannot go and serve willingly on board a pirate.”
“Still I must obey orders, young gentlemen,” said Sam, “and I came ashore with a boat’s crew to carry you on board, and I will bear witness if we ever fall into the hands of a king’s ship that you did not come willingly.”
As he spoke Sam made a sign to several men who were standing at the entrance to the court-yard, who at once, marching in, surrounded the two young Englishmen and Jumbo, and seizing their arms, began to drag them along into the street. They struggled to free themselves, but the Moors, strong muscular fellows, quickly mastered them, and conducted them along through the narrow lanes towards the port. On reaching it they were shoved somewhat unceremoniously into a boat, which immediately pulled away for a large vessel which lay at the entrance of the harbour.