Now, men, said Swinton, this is a tough job we have in hand, for they are strong men, and the boy, albeit not big, is a very tiger-cat to fight. You see, if our plan was murder we could easily settle their business while they slept but thats not our plan. We are not murderersby no means!
Certainly not, growled Blazer, with virtuous solemnity.
Well, that bein so, we must take them alive. I will creep into the tent with you, Jim Heron, for youre big and strong enough. You will fall on Trench and hold im down. Ill do the same to Burns. Garnet will manage the boy. The moment the rest of you hear the row begin, you will jump in and lend a hand wi the ropes. After weve got em all safe into the boat, we will pull to the big islandland them there, an bid them a tender farewell!
But surely you wont land them without a morsel to eat? said Taylor.
Why not? Theyre sure to fall in wi their dear friends the savages, who will, doubtless, be very grateful to em, an supply grub gratis! Now, lads, you understand what youve got to do?
Ay, ay, was the response, in a low tone, as they moved cautiously away, like evil spirits, to carry out their wicked plans.
Fortune, it is said, favours the brave, but in this case she did not thus bestow her favours, for the cowardly plan was successfully carried out. Before the sleepers were well awake, they were overwhelmed by numbers, secured and bound. They were not gagged, however, as no one was near to hear even if they shouted their loudest, which they knew it was useless to do. In a few minutes the three prisoners were hurried into the boat and rowed across the wide channel that separated the islet from the opposite shore.
At that time it was not supposed, either by the original discoverers or those who immediately followed them, that Newfoundland was one large islandconsiderably larger than Ireland. Not till many a year afterwards did explorers ascertain that it was an island of about three hundred and seventeen miles in length, by about the same in breadth; but so cut up by deep bays, inlets, and fords as to have much the appearance of a group of islands.
During their passage across the channel both Trench and Paul attempted to reason with Swinton, but that hardened villain refused to utter a word till their prisoners were marched up the shingly beach, and told to sit down on a ledge of rock under the steep cliffs, where innumerable sea-birds were screaming a clamorous welcome, or, perchance, a noisy remonstrance.
Now, my friends, said their foe, as you are fond of commanding, you may take command o them there sea-birdsthey wont object!and if ye fall in wi your friends the savages, you may give them my love an good wishes.
But surely you dont mean to leave us here without food, and with our hands tied behind us? fiercely exclaimed Master Trench, whose wrath at any thing like injustice was always prone to get the better of his wisdom.
As to grub, answered Swinton, theres plenty of that around, if you only exert yourself to find it. I wont cut your lashins, however, till we are fairly in the boat, for we cant trust you. Come along, lads; and, Garnet, you bring the boy with ye.
Under the impression that he was to be separated from his father and friend, and taken back again to the islet, poor Oliver, whom they had not thought it worth while to bind, struggled with a ferocity that would have done credit to the wildcats with which he had been compared; but Garnet was a strong man, and held him fast.
Take it easy, my boy, said Paul, who, being helpless, could only look on with intense pity. Submit to Gods willwe will pray for you.
But Ollys spirit could by no means reach the submitting point until he was fairly exhausted. While they dragged him towards the boat, Taylor turned back and flung a small canvas bag at the captains feet.
There, Master Trench, he said, youll find a lump o pork in that bag to keep you goin till ye get hold o somethin else. An dont take on about the boy. We dont want im, bless you. Why, we only want to prevent him settin you free before we gets fairly away.
This was true. When the boat was reached and the men were on board, ready to shove off, Garnet, still holding Olly fast by the arm, said, Keep still, will you, and hear what Master Swinton has got to say?
Now, you fiery polecat, said Swinton, you may go and cut their lashins, and take that as a parting gift.
The gift was a sounding box on the ear; but Olly minded it not, for while Garnet was speaking, as he stood knee-deep in the water close to the boat, he had observed an axe lying on one of the thwarts near to him. The instant he was set free, therefore, he seized the axe, and, flourishing it close past Garnets nose, with a cheer of defiance he sprang towards the beach. Garnet leaped after him, but he was no match for the agile boy, who in another minute had severed Pauls bonds and placed the weapon in his hands.
Hallo! hi, youve forgot me. Cut myho!
But there was no occasion for Master Trench to cry out and struggle with the cords that bound him. A furious rush of Paul with the axe caused Garnet to double with the neatness of a hunted hare. He bounded into the boat which was immediately shoved off, and the sailors rowed away, leaving Paul to return and liberate the captain at leisure.
Silently the trio stood and watched the receding boat, until it was lost in the darkness of the night. Then they looked at each other solemnly. Their case was certainly a grave one.
Cast away on an unknown shore, murmured the captain, in a low tone; as if he communed with his own spirit rather than with his companions, without food, without a ship or boatwithout hope!
Nay, Master Trench, said Paul, not without hope; for God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble, so says His own Word, as my mother has often read to me.
It is well for you, Paul, returned the captain, that you can find comfort in such wordsI can find none. Stern realities and facts are too strong for me. How can I take comfort in unfulfilled promises? Here we are in trouble enough, surely. In what sense is God a refuge to usor strength, or a present help? Why, we are left absolutely destitute here, without so much as a bite of food to keep our bodies and souls together.
He spoke with some bitterness, for he was still chafing under the sense of the wrong which he had suffered at the hands of men to whom he had been invariably kind and forbearing. As he turned from Paul with a gesture of impatience his foot struck against the canvas bag of pork which the man Taylor had flung to him on leaving, and which had been forgotten. He stopped suddenly and gazed at it; so did Paul.
Looks like as if God had already helped usat least to fooddoes it not? said the latter.
It was Taylor helped us to that, objected Trench.
And who put it into Taylors heart to help us? asked Paul. He is one of the worst men of our crew, so we can hardly say it was his own tenderness, and certainly it was not the devil who moved him to it. Am I wrong in holding that it was Our Father?
I believe you are right, Paul. Anyhow, I have neither the capacity nor the inclination to dispute the point now. Pick up the bag, Olly, and come along. We must try to find some sort of shelter in which to spend the rest o the night and consider our future plans.