[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]Hitherto, it was not probable that they had been seen, and by using due
caution, the chances of Spike s overlooking them altogether amounted nearly to
certainty.
The necessary arrangements were soon made, the boat s masts unstepped, the
party placed behind their covers, and the females comfortably bestowed in the
spare sail, where they might got a little undisturbed sleep after the dreadful
night, or morning, they had passed. Even Jack Tier lay down to catch his nap,
as the most useful manner of bestowing himself for a couple of hours; the time
Mulford had mentioned as the period of their stay where they were.
As for the mate, vigilance was his portion, and he took his position, hid
like all the rest, where he could watch the movements of his old craft. In
about twenty minutes, the brig was quite near; so near that Mulford not only
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saw the people on board her, who showed themselves in the rigging, but fancied
he could recognise their persons. As yet, nothing had occurred in the way of
change, but, just as the Swash got abreast of the rock, she began to take in
her studding-sails, and that hurriedly, as is apt to occur on board a vessel
in sudden emergencies. Our young man was a little alarmed at first, believing
that they might have been discovered, but he was soon induced to think that
the crew of the brigantine had just then begun to suspect the character of the
ship to the northward. That vessel had been drawing near all this time, and
was now only some three leagues distant. Owing to the manner in which she
headed, or bows on, it was not a very easy matter to tell the character of
this stranger, though the symmetry and squareness of his yards rendered it
nearly certain he was a cruiser. Though Spike could not expect to meet his old
acquaintance here, after the chase he had so lately led her, down on the
opposite coast, he might and would have his misgivings, and Mulford thought it
was his intention to haul up close round the northern angle of the reef, and
maintain his advantage of the wind, over the stranger. If this were actually
done, it might expose the boat to view, for the brig would pass within a
quarter of a mile of it, and on the side of the rock on which it lay. It was
too late, however, to attempt a change, since the appearance of human beings
in such a place would be certain to draw the brig s glasses on them, and the
glasses must at once let Spike know who they were. It remained, therefore,
only to await the result as patiently as possible.
A very few minutes removed all doubt. The brig hauled as close round the reef
as she dared to venture, and in a very short time the boat lay exposed to view
to all on board her. The vessel was now so near that Mulford plainly saw the
boatswain get upon the coach-house, or little hurricane-house deck, where
Spike stood examining the ship with his glass, and point out the boat, where
it lay at the side of the rock. In an instant, the glass was levelled at the
spot, and the movements on board the brig immediately betrayed to Mulford that
the boat was recognised. Sail was shortened on board the Swash, and men were
seen preparing to lower her stern boat, while everything indicated that the
vessel was about to be hove-to. There was no time now to be lost, but the
young man immediately gave the alarm.
No sooner did the party arise and show themselves, than the crew of the Swash
gave three cheers. By the aid of the glass, Spike doubtless recognised their
persons, and the fact was announced to the men, by way of stimulating their
exertions. This gave an additional spur to the movements of those on the rock,
who hastened into their own boat, and made sail as soon as possible.
It was far easier to do all that has been described, than to determine on the
future course. Capture was certain if the fugitives ventured into the open
water, and their only hope was to remain on the reef. If channels for the
passage of the boat could be found, escape was highly probable, as the
schooner s boat could sail much faster than the brig s boat could row, fast as
Mulford knew the last to be. But the experience of the morning had told the
mate that the rock rose too near the surface, in many places, for the boat,
small as it was, to pass over it; and he must trust a great deal to chance.
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