Stories with a Vengeance — page 57: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE CAPTAIN ae discover a nest of scoundrels, or onl forlorn, shipwrecked people, we shail done our duty as English sailors.” ‘Yes, sir,” said Travers. “IT think that we had better try and sight these islands first—from a distance,” continued the captain. ‘Then, at night, we can lie-to in the usual course of India- men, and furling all sail, make ourselves invisible.” “ That’s it—exactly what I thought of!” cried Travers, enthusiastically. And so it was settled. The vessel’s course was altered to the south-eastward, and a good look-out was kept. have Towards evening a man announced land | right ahead. The captain and his leutenant at once ascended the rigging, and swept the horizon in the direction indicated. | They at once made out a number of low- lyng islands, with a lofty one in the middle, very prominent. Is Was enough. captain told Travers to have every sail furled, and bring the vessel to. _ Not a light was to be burned where it might be visible from without. Of course the orders were obeyed, though some of the men wondered what could be the motive of such peculiar conduct. “There ain’t no pirates about here that I ever heard of,” said one, who thought himself very knowing. “ But,” replied an old salt, “there used, years ago, to be a great hiding-place for slavers about here—them Arab dhows, I mean. hey was never particular,” he continued, in a low whisper, “who they took and sold.” “No?” cried his listeners, in surprise. “It’s as true as I’m alive,” his comrade went on; “and if some of them gimcrack captains knew as much as I do, they might get a goodish bit of prize-money even now-a-days.” “Why do you not tell, then?” asked the other. ‘‘They’d be glad to know.” “Not I,” said Bill Hatton, walking away. ‘It ain’t no business of mine.” “ @ueer chap that,” remarked one, when he was out of sight and hearing. “ Expect _ he knows more t he cares to tell.” And others seemed to be very much of the same opinion. The night was fine, but dark. By degrees the sea went down, and the frigate lay almost motionless. At eight.o’clock in the evening—in this latitude day and night are about equal— there sprang up a nice pleasant breeze. The watches were relieved at that hour, and one half went below. Google OF THE Going below, the|o FORTUNE. 63 some} Bull Hatton was in the first lieutenant’s watch. He was quite sixty years of age, very yellow and tanned, but active in the extreme. As soon as the others had left the deck, he asked one of the middies if he might say two words to Lieutenant Travers. That officer was surprised at the message ; but knowing the sailor to be an old and experienced salt, he told him to come aft. Hatton looked around, to see that no one was listening or able to hear. “What I am goimg to say, sir, will be considered quite confidential like ?” he said, touching his hat-brim timidly. “ Certainly, if it’s anything worth hear- Travers. “Do you see them three stars, sir?” he asked, pointing to the eastward and south- ward. “ Yes,” replied the officer. “That’s the way they’ll come,” he went n. “Who ?” whispered the astonished lieu- tenant. “The pirates, sir,” the old man said. “The moment you stopped here, I knew you had a clue to the confounded rascals.” “But why did you not speak before ?” continued Travers, in a low tone. “Do you think people would believe the likes of me?” said Bill Hatton, bitterly. “TI believe the villains. have been at this work more ’an fifty years. But, sir, don’t ask me any more. I’ve told you all I can.” Lieutenant Travers saw that the old sailor was much moved, and forbore to question him any more. That he knewa good deal about these pirates was evident ; ut to press him more closely could answer no good purpose. At break of day they made a good offing. only returning to resume their post of observation when evening came again. Lieutenant Travers had simply told the captain that Bill Hatton suspected their object, adding that he seemed fully con- vinced of the presence of evil-doers on those islands. “The old man is reticent,” said Travers ; “but he appears thoroughly convinced of what he tells me.” “It will be a grand thing to extirpate such a nest of scoundrels,” replied Arundel, gravely. ‘“ What heart-burnings and misery they must have caused in their time!” Shortly afterwards the two officers sepa- rated, it being almost the hour to shift the watch. At about half an hour before midnight my man,” responded Lieutenant CY, JOO S CO)