The Ocean Cat's Paw: The Story of a Strange Cruise

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

  A PROPOSED ADVENTURE.

  It was a busy and an anxious day. The brig's guns had been carefullyran to starboard and firmly lashed, and the yards lowered down, hertopmasts struck, and all made ready for laying her right over in the mudat low water, so that her spars should be upon the shore.

  "It wouldn't do to lay her over like this," said the skipper gruffly,"if she were full of cargo. It would mean a bad shifting. But I thinkwe can manage, and I'll risk it. We can easily start her water casks."

  There was no question of shooting that day, Rodd preferring to stay withhis French friend; and the doctor seemed to quite share the Count'sanxiety as they watched the proceedings of the sailors while the tidewent down.

  But everything went on admirably. As the water sank a steady strain waskept upon the cables, and by slow degrees the brig careened over towardsthe land till the newly-repaired side sank lower and lower, and she laymore and more over, till at last the water that had flooded the holdbegan to flow out with the tide till the beautiful vessel lay perfectlyhelpless upon her side, with the whole of her keel visible upon the longstretch of mud. Then Captain Chubb, taking hold of a rope which he hadmade fast to the larboard rail, climbed over on to the brig's side, andsteadying himself by the cord, walked right down and stood shaking hishead at the ghastly wound which the vessel had received.

  For after passing right through the hold, the cannon ball had struckupon and shattered one of what are technically called the ship's knees,ripping off a great patch of the planking and tearing through the coppersheathing, which was turned back upon the keel, making a ragged holeseveral times the size of the fairly clean-cut orifice by which the shothad entered.

  "You had better come and have a look here, Count," cried the captain--aninvitation which was accepted by several of those interested, and in avery short time an anxious group was gathered round the vessel's injury.

  "Well, sir," said the skipper, in his rough, brusque way; "what do yousay to that?"

  "Horrible!" groaned the Count. "My poor vessel!" And he looked at thecaptain in despair.

  "Well, sir," said the latter, "if anybody had told me that I could makea patch with sails over the bottom of your brig so as to keep her afloatas I have, I should have felt ready to call him a fool. It's a wonderto me that you kept her afloat as you did, before you came to us forhelp."

  "But now, captain," cried the Count, as his son looked anxiously on, "isit possible, away from a shipyard, to mend this as well as you have donethe other injury?"

  "Well, sir, if we were close to some port I should say, no, certainlynot; but seeing where we are, there's only one thing to be done."

  "Yes? And that--?" cried the Count.

  "Do it, sir. But it will take some time."

  The Count made an impatient gesticulation, and then threw his handsapart in a deprecating way, as if he accepted the position in despair.

  "Yes," he said; "you brave Englishmen, you never give up. You will doit, then?"

  "Oh yes, sir; we've got to do it; and what do they say? Time and tidewait for no man; so I'll thank you all to clear off and let me and mylads get to work. Only look here, sir; there's going to be no hoistingand lowering here. We shall have to keep the brig lying on her sidewithout any temporary patches, and the tide will have to flow in andout, even if it does some damage to your stores. So while my lads arestripping off the copper, you will keep your men busy with your hatchesopen to make a pretty good clearance inside, so that we can work inthere as well as out here."

  "Yes, yes," said the Count, who seemed to quite resign himself in fullobedience to the skipper's wishes. "But you will use all the speed youcan?"

  "You may trust me for that, sir," said Captain Chubb; for after two orthree attempts in the early parts of the proceedings connected with therepairs, and saying Monsieur le Count, the blunt Englishman gave it upin favour of plain straightforward "sir," and stuck to it; while thetitled captain seemed to like the Englishman none the less.

  "Now," said the captain, as he climbed back on to the sloping deck,following the others, "I didn't know that your brig would be so bad asthis, but I had my suspicions, and when I have not been busy here I havebeen casting my eye round for a good crooked bit of timber that wouldmake a ship's knee if I wanted one."

  "And do you know where there is one?"

  "Yes," said the skipper; "and I think it will make a very goodmakeshift, for the wood's as hard as hard. But what wouldn't I give fora good old crooked piece of Devon oak from out of Dartmoor Forest!"

  Shortly afterwards he had set the carpenter and his mates to strip offthe copper sheathing, while he led off Joe Cross and another man about aquarter of a mile away from the river bank to where a huge pollard-liketree was growing at the edge of the forest, all gnarled and twisted inthe most extraordinary way.

  The two lads had followed them, and Rodd looked at the selected treeaghast.

  "Why, you are never going to set the men to cut down that tree,captain?" he cried.

  "Why not, my lad? Do you know a better bit?"

  "Better bit!" cried Rodd. "Why, the men can hardly get through thatwith those axes. Most likely take them a fortnight--I might say amonth."

  "Ah, well, I don't want it all. I am not going to load up the brig witha cargo of timber. I only want that big dwarf branch from low downthere where it starts from close to the root; and you will mind and getthat big elbow-like piece as long as you can, Joe Cross."

  "Ay, ay, sir! Just you mark out what you want, and we'll cut accordin'.Better take all the top off first, hadn't us?"

  "Why, of course, my lad. One of you use the saw while the other worksaway with an axe. You quite understand?"

  "Ay, ay, sir; me and my mate has seen a ship's knee afore now;" androlling up their sleeves, they soon made the place echo with the blowsof the axe, while the rasping harsh sound of the saw seemed to excite aflock of beautifully-plumaged parrots, which began to circle round thehead of the tree, before finally settling amongst the branches utteringtheir sharp screeching cries, and giving vent to croaking barks, as ifresenting this attack upon their domain.

  The carpenter and his men were meanwhile hard at work at the coppersheathing, making such progress that they were busy with their saws,dividing plank and trenail and working their way round the hole by thetime the tide had risen sufficiently to drive them back, and then theCount and his party grouped themselves as best they could about theirold quarters, looking despondently at what seemed like the beginning ofa very hopeless wreck, a good deal of confidence being needed on theirpart to feel that all would come right in the end.

  Fortunately the tide during the next two or three days did not rise sohigh, and good progress was made, while, thanks to the way in which theFrench crew had worked, the damage done by the water as it flowed inthrough the gap that was made was principally confined to its leaving athick deposit of mud.

  The doctor tried all he could to persuade the Count to take up his abodeupon the schooner, and offered to accommodate as many men as he liked tobring with him, but he would not hear of it, and, as Rodd saidlaughingly to Morny, insisted upon living all upon one side and climbinginstead of walking about the deck.

  Then all at once there was a surprise. It was on the third day, whenJoe Cross and his mate had called in the aid of a couple more to helpdrag the ponderous roughed-out piece of crooked timber to the watersideready for the carpenter and his men to work into shape with their adzes,and while the latter were slaving away at high pressure to get allpossible done before they were stopped by the tide, that, in obedienceto a shout from Captain Chubb, all the men of the schooner's crewhurried to their boat to get on board, while those of the brig hurriedto their arms ready for any emergency. For coming up with the tide andround a bend of the river, a large three-masted schooner made itsappearance with what seemed to be quite a large crew of well-armed menclustering forward, and apparently surprised at seeing that the riverhad its occupants alrea
dy there.

  "What do you make of them, sir?" shouted the skipper through hisspeaking trumpet.

  "A foreigner--Spanish, I think," shouted back the Count, after loweringhis spy-glass. "Same here, sir. Slaver, I think." The fact of herproving to be a slaver did not mean that an attack was looming in thefuture, but slaving vessels upon the West Coast of Africa bore a verybad reputation, and the preparations that were rapidly made did notpromise much of a welcome.

  As the stranger drew near it was evident that busy preparations werebeing made there too, but in his brief colloquy with Uncle Paul theskipper grunted out that he did not think the foreign vessel meant toattack, but to be ready to take care of herself in case the Englishschooner tried to surprise her and make her a prize.

  "We ought to have taken the boat," he said, "and gone up. It seems tome that there must be a town up there somewhere--savage town, of course,belonging to some chief, for it aren't likely that there can be three ofus all coming out here into this river on a scientific cruise. Two'scurious enough, English and French, but a Spaniel won't do at all. Forthat's what she is, sir, plain enough. Well, if she means fight, sir,you mean business, I suppose?"

  "Of course," said the doctor sternly; "and I am quite sure that we candepend upon the Count's help."

  "Ay, ay, sir; but it's a bad job the brig can't manoeuvre at all."

  "But I should say," said the doctor, "that when these men see how firmwe are and well prepared, they will prove peaceable enough."

  As it proved in a short time after colours had been hoisted, those ofthe French brig being raised upon a spare spar, the stranger camesteadily on in the most peaceable way till the tide had carried herwithin reasonable distance of the schooner's anchorage, when an orderrang out, an anchor was lowered with a splash, and as she swung slowlyround, a light boat was dropped from the davits, and a swarthy-lookingSpaniard, who seemed to be an officer if not the skipper of theswift-looking raking craft, had himself rowed alongside the schooner. Abrief colloquy took place in which questions and answers freely passed,Captain Chubb speaking out frankly as to the object of their missionthere, an avowal hardly necessary, for the appearance of the brig withthe newly-cut hole, and her position, told its own story.

  The Spanish skipper, for so he proved to be, was just as free in hisannouncements as soon as he found that the brig and schooner werefriendly vessels, and began to explain that he was on a tradingexpedition, that there was a king of the country up there, a great blackchief, who had a large town, and that he came from time to time withstores to barter, which he always did with great advantage, going awayafterwards pretty well laden with palm-oil and sundries, which theblacks always had waiting for his annual visit, these sundriesincluding, he said, with a meaning laugh, ostrich feathers, choice dyewoods, ivory, and a little gold.

  He spoke strongly accented but very fair English, and made no scrupleabout coming on board the schooner and examining her critically as hetalked.

  "I thought at first, captain, that you had found out my private tradingport and were going to be a rival;" whereupon the doctor began chattingfreely with him and asking questions about the natural products of theplace; and Rodd listened eagerly, drinking in the replies made by theSpanish captain as soon as he thoroughly realised the object of theschooner's visit and the bearing of the doctor's questions.

  He soon became eagerly communicative regarding the wild beasts thathaunted the forests, the serpents that were found of great size, theleopards and other wild cats that might be shot for their skins, thebeauty of the plumage of the birds, and above all the wondrous size ofthe apes that haunted the trees.

  "There's gold too to be washed out of the soil," he said, looking hardat Rodd; "but don't you touch it. Leave that to the blacks."

  "Why?" said Rodd.

  "Because," said the man, shaking a fore-finger at him, upon which was athick gold ring, "the white men who turn up the wet earth to wash it outget fever."

  "But," said the doctor, "we have not come gold-hunting. And so thereare great apes in these forests? Have you seen them?"

  "Oh, yes," said the Spanish captain. "I have been coming here for tenyears, and never saw another vessel up here before--only the big canoesof the blacks. Why, I could take you into the forest and show youplenty of beautiful birds and flowers, and all kinds of wonders."

  "But the forest seems to be impassable," put in Rodd.

  "Yes," said the Spaniard, with a laugh--"to those who don't know theirway. Higher up there are small rivers which run into this, where boatscan go up and get to where the trees are not all crowded together, butmore open like this patch here," he continued, waving his hand to wherethe forest retired back. "There are sluggish streams where you canwander for days, and camp ashore, and shoot all kinds of things. I usedto at one time, when it was all new to me; and I collected skins andsent them to Cadiz and other European cities, where they sold well. ButI have given all that up long enough. The black king--bah!--chief--he'sonly a savage. He makes his people collect the palm-oil and otherthings for me, and I load up and take them back."

  "Then you would make a good guide," said the doctor.

  "I, captain?" said the man eagerly. "Oh yes. A man could not come herefor ten years, and stay a month or two each time, without getting toknow the country well."

  "I suppose not. But this is the captain. I am only a doctor,travelling to make discoveries."

  "Ah, a doctor!" cried the Spaniard eagerly. "Then you will help me andone or two of my men! Yes? I will pay you well."

  "Oh," said the doctor quietly, "if I can help you, or any one with youwho needs assistance, I will do so, of course. I want no pay, but Imight ask you to guide me and my nephew here in a little expedition ortwo into the forest."

  "Uncle," said Rodd quickly, "we mustn't leave the Count and Morny."

  "Well, well," said the doctor, "we'll see about that."

  "I am glad to know you, Senor Medico," said the Spaniard, patting on thestiffness of the formal Don and bowing profoundly, "and I will gladlyhelp you in any way I can. But I am only a poor trader, and glad to doany business I can when I meet a strange ship that has needs. Do youwant powder? I see you have guns," he said sharply.

  "Oh yes," said the doctor. "One never knows what enemies one may meetwith among savage people; so we are well-armed, and as you see have agood crew."

  "Yes, yes," said the Spaniard, looking sharply round.

  "But I thank you. We have plenty of powder."

  "So have I," said the Spaniard. "The black chief is always glad to buyit, and guns too. That is my money--that and rum. Those will alwaysbuy palm-oil. But I have plenty of ship stores; canvas, oakum, andpitch. You are mending the other ship, I see. Can I sell you some?"

  "I thank you, no," said the doctor. "We are well supplied, I think,with everything; and in reply, if there is anything you want that we cansupply to you I shall be pleased."

  "Then I should like a few canisters of your good English powder."

  "Thought you said you'd plenty," said Captain Chubb gruffly.

  The Spaniard closed his eyes slowly till they were like two narrowslits, and he gave the skipper a meaning nod.

  "Yes," he said significantly, "I have plenty. It is good for the blackman's guns. But if you fired it from yours--pff! It makes much smoke,and the barrel very wet, and the shot do not go too far. But the blackmen know no better. I do. Ha, ha! You will let me have a few poundsfor my own pistols?"

  "And that long gun of yours too?" said the skipper.

  "Yes," said the Spaniard. "As your medico says, one never knows whatsavage people one may meet. It is good too behind a bullet for ourfriends here in the river. You have seen them?"

  He put his wrists together with his palms closed, and then slowly openedthem widely in imitation of a crocodile's jaws, and closed them with asnap.

  "Oh yes," said Rodd, "we have met them, and found out how horny theirskins are."

  "Ugh! Beasts!" said the Spaniard
. "Last time I was here they swept twoof my men out of a boat, and I never saw them more. We caught some fishas we came up the river, at the mouth. _Adios, senores_; I will sendyou some. We shall meet again. I do not hurry for some days, for I ambefore my time."

  "How far is it up to the town?" asked Captain Chubb.

  "Three days' journey. This is a great river, and the water is deepright up into the country till you reach the mountains, far beyond thetown."

  "Well," said the doctor, "let's go ashore, Rodd, and tell the Count. Wedidn't bargain for this, eh, captain?"

  "No," said the skipper gruffly, as he watched the departing boat, afterordering the crew back into their own so as to row the doctor and hisnephew to the brig.

  "Well, Rodd," continued the doctor, "it would be a grand chance for usto have some expeditions with a good guide. What do you think of theSpanish captain?"

  "Don't like him at all, uncle. There's a nasty, catty, foxy look abouthim."

  "A mixture of the feline and the canine, eh, my boy? Well, he must be abad one! Ah! British prejudice is as strong in you as it is in me."