“You acted for the best, Jumbo, and I do not blame you. We must hope to escape this danger and make our escape another time. Remember that we do intend to make our escape, if we can, on board the first vessel the pirate gets alongside. It will be somewhat hazardous, but it is our only chance. You must try and escape also, and I hope that Sam will, though it would be more difficult for him, as he has to fight with the rest of the crew.”
Jumbo shook his head; he evidently thought Roger’s plan impracticable. All night long the tempest howled, the ship was tossed to and fro, the blocks and rigging rattled, the sea dashed over her, the voices of the seamen were heard amid the uproar shouting to one another, while occasionally the clanking sound of pumps was added to the noise. Morning broke dark and gloomy. During the day the wind decreased, and Hamet told Roger to continue his course to the southward. He seemed to fancy that in those northerly regions he was likely to meet with more gales than were pleasant. The following day the weather had moderated greatly, and by degrees the sea went down, and the ship glided on as smoothly as before. A bright look-out was of course kept for strangers; and the Tiger was about the latitude of the Straits of Gibraltar when a sail was seen to the eastward, which had apparently come out of the Mediterranean. Chase was at once made, for she appeared to be a merchant vessel, and, though of good size, not much larger than the rover. As they got nearer, she showed English colours. Roger and Stephen watched her anxiously, and they called Jumbo.
“Remember what I told you,” said Roger. “Follow our movements whatever happens; you are not expected to fight, so probably will not be missed.”
“What do you think of her?” asked Roger, who went in search of the old seaman.
“That she is a stout English craft, likely not to give in without tough fighting; but she probably carries not more than thirty men, if so many, and we muster a hundred, so that she has very little chance if we run her alongside.”
“But you don’t mean to say that you fight your countrymen, Sam?” said Roger.
“Cannot help myself,” he answered. “I would rather not; but should have my head whipped off in a moment if I was to show the white feather, or try to hide away.”
“Well, I tell you this much, Sam,” said Roger. “I don’t believe that craft will be taken, although she may have but thirty men on board; but they are thirty honest Englishmen against these hundred cut-throat Moors; and if you can manage to get on board and let them know that you are an Englishman wishing to escape, you will act wisely.”
“Cannot do it, Mr Willoughby,” said Sam with a sigh. “I should like to be free. The chances are the Englishmen cut me down before I can open my mouth, and the Moors will whip off my head if they see me making the attempt.”
“Still you would have done the right thing, and I hope you will risk it,” said Roger. He could not venture to say more, as the Moors always cast frowning glances at the Englishmen when they saw them talking together.