Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 144: what you’re looking at

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EL possible to me to lay an anchor against the force of this current.” “Belay, belay your jawing tackle,” retorted Barabbas, “Soft words won’t fill an empty stomach, and. we must try-——” ‘IT see,” interrupted the lieutenant, ‘that you yourself confess that our situation is anything but satisfactory.” The captain muttered a sort of growl between his teeth, then immediately sent all hands aft, The order was obéyed. The crew came aft. On each countenance was depicted gloom and desperation. | ““My lads,” said Barabbas, ‘‘why are you dis- heartened ?” ““We are doomed,” seemed to be the general reply. ‘“‘Psha!” continued the deformed skipper, “ the loss of a ship does not involve that of her crew— nor does it follow that the ‘San Salvador’ is to be lost, although she may be inigreat danger, as she is at present. 'What fear should} we have? The water 1s smooth as a lady’s palm—we have plenty of time upon our hands—we can make a raft and take to our boats. | ‘Tt never blows among these islands. ‘‘We have land close under our lee, “Let us try what we can do with our trusty galiot. “Should we fail,” concluded Barabbas, “ despite all consequences, we must look to ourselves,” The pirates acquiesced in the remarks of their commander, and one and all went to work willingly, , The water casks were started. The men began to work the pumps, and evyery- thing that could be spared hastily disappeared to lighten the ship.” Notwithstanding the efforts of the toiling crew, they found their anchor still dragged with the strength of the current and bad holding ground, that they went further on the bank, Night came on before they quitted their labour —then a fresh breeze sprung’ up}and created a swell, | This occasioned the “ship to beat on the hard : sand, and thus she continued until the next morning, At daylight the men resumed their work at the pumps, but after a time pumped up only sand. This told them that a plank had started, and that their endeavours were futile, ‘‘ Messmates,” shouted Barabbas, as the discovery was made, ‘‘since fortune frowns upon us, let us do that which ever gains her smiles—courage ever finds favour in her eyes, and difficulties give way to enterprise and resolution, We must desert the ship and construct a raft, as I have already hinted to you. Let it be provisioned and used for those who cannot be taken into the boats,”’ These words had scarcely escaped the lips of Barabbas, when the yards were lowered, the top- sails struck, and the raft commenced, under the lee of the “San Salvador,” where the strong current flowing vigorously was checked. In a few hours the raft was completed, Water and provisions were then safely stowed on board, Here, in the centre, a secure and dry place”"was made up for the reception of their prisoners, Jack Warbold, Violet Tremaine, and Ellen Peveril. Violet being kept apart from the others, for what purpose the reader has yet to learn, The fearless rovers next provided themselves ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER. a Te with spare rope, sails, and everything that could prove useful as rigging in case of their being forced to go on shore. Muskets and ammunition also formed no mean | part of their cargo,jand intended to be used as emergency required. All being aay before trusting their raft to the foaming waters, Barabbas addressed his followers— “My brave companions, there is yet one thing we have neglected ; in the hold of the forsaken barque is a fabulous amount of specie taken from the Spanish trader, who had the temerity to dispute our will. Noble blood has earned it, and noble blood shall preserve it! Let each, therefore, take his’ share, and deposit it in safety near the magazine,” The pirates then, for the first time, went down into the hold of their vessel, and handed out casks of dollars. These were broke open, and: they helped them- selves, This action was attended with no serious blood- shed, though the men quarrelled with each other as each cask was opened for its first possession. At last every man had obtained as much as he could carry, and placed his spoil in the appointed depot. The boatswain [then gave the word as the cap- tives were lowered down, and took their station. The courage of Roving Jack never for one instant failed him, as he. gave a defiant look at the pirate captain and his lawless band. S The former of the last mentioned parties had noted well what appeared to him an important matter, and being aware: that as the water and provisions were expended there would be no occasion to tow so heavy a mass, he constructed it in two parts. These parts were separated, and might easily be severed, Thus by these means the boats would have less to tow as circumstances would enable them to part with one of them. On the given signal the boats took the raft in tow. It was cast off from the vessel, and away went the pirates, pulling with all their strength to avoid being stranded upon that part of the shoal which appeared above water. t This, as the reader may suppose, was a consider- able danger they had to encounter, and one which they very narrowly escaped. CHAPTER LXXVI. THE RAFT—THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE—VIOLET TREMAINE CAST ADRIFT. THERE were ninety souls in all. The four boats were filled, the remainder con- tinued on the raft. The raft, being well built and full of timber, floated high out of the water, which was now again smooth, Tt had been agreed upon that Barabbas should take command of the raft, while the boats should be under the control of his lieutenant—Rotaldo the Spaniard, At the time they quitted the ship, both leaders were on the raft in order to consult with respect: ‘to the direction of the current, and the most advis- able course to pursue. After a deliberation, these men found that they ‘were drifting towards the coast of New Guinea, | Gomichooksseom