by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
STEALING ABOARD.
But how was I to get aboard? How conceal myself when there?
These were the difficulties that presented themselves. I might walk ondeck as I had already done, but not without being observed by some ofthe crew, and of course ordered ashore again.
Could I not bribe some of the sailors to let me go about the deck? Whathad I to bribe them with? Not a penny of money. My sloop and myclothes--these last of very poor quality--were all I possessed in theworld. I would have given the sloop, but a moment's reflectionconvinced me that no sailor would set any value on an article which hecould easily make for himself; for I presumed that all sailors couldmanufacture little ships at their pleasure. It would be useless toattempt bribing any of them with such a toy, and I thought no more ofit.
But stay! I had something upon my person of some value. I had a watch.It is true it was but a very common one--an old-fashioned silver watch,and not worth much, though it kept time well enough. It had been givenme by my poor mother, though she had left me a much better one, which myuncle had appropriated to himself. The old one, of little value, I wasallowed to carry about with me, and fortunately it was in my fob at thatmoment. Would not this bribe Waters, or some other of the sailors, to"smuggle" me aboard, and conceal me there till the ship got out to sea?The thing was not unlikely. At all risks, I resolved to make trial.
Perhaps the chief difficulty would be to see Waters, or any of thesailors, apart from the rest, in order to communicate my wishes; but Iresolved to hang about the ship, and watch till some one of them shouldcome ashore alone.
I was not without hopes that I might be able to steal on board ofmyself--perhaps after nightfall, when the men had "knocked off" work,and were below in the forecastle. In that case, I need not tell any ofthem of my design. In the darkness, I believed I might manage to crouchpast the watch or clamber over the side and get down below. Once in thehold, I had no fear but that I should be able to secrete myself among somany barrels and boxes as they were stowing away.
There were two doubts that troubled me. Would the ship remain in portuntil night? Would my uncle and his people not be after me before then?
For the first time, I was not very uneasy. I saw that the vessel stillcarried the same placard as on the preceding day--"_The Inca, for Peru,to-morrow_!" It was not likely she would sail upon that day. Moreover,there were still many packages of merchandise lying on the quay--which Iknew were intended as part of her lading, from the position in whichthey were placed. I had heard, moreover, that vessels, when bound fordistant parts, are not very punctual in their time of starting.
Reasoning in this way, I felt assured that the ship would not sail onthat day, and I should have the chances of boarding her in thenight-time.
But then there was the other danger--of my being captured and carriedback home. On reflection this did not appear imminent. They would notmiss me on the farm before nightfall; or if they did, they would waituntil dark before going in search of me, thinking, of course, that nightwould bring me home. After all, I had no reason to be apprehensive fromthis source; and ceasing altogether to think of it, I set about makingpreparations to carry out my design.
I had foresight enough to perceive, that when once in the ship, I shouldhave to remain concealed for at least twenty-four hours--perhaps muchlonger. I could not live so long without eating. Where was I to getprovisions? I had not, as already mentioned, one penny in the world,wherewith to purchase food, and I should not have known where or how tobeg for it.
But an idea came into my head that promised to relieve me from thisdilemma. I could _sell my sloop_, and thus obtain wherewith to buysomething to eat.
The little vessel would be of no more use to me now; and why not partwith her at once?
Without farther consideration, therefore, I made my way out from amongthe barrels, and proceeded along the quay to look out for a purchaserfor my little craft.
I soon succeeded in finding one. A sort of marine toyshop offereditself; and after a little bartering with the proprietor, I closed thebargain for a shilling. My little sloop, neatly rigged as she was, wasworth five times the amount, and, under different circumstances, I wouldnot have parted with her for even that sum; but the Jew dealer evidentlysaw that I was in difficulties, and, like all his tribe, had no scruplesabout taking advantage of them.
I was now in ample funds for my purpose; and repairing to a convenientshop, I laid out the whole of the money on cheese and crackers. Ibought sixpence worth of each; and having crammed my pockets with mypurchase, I returned to my old place among the merchandise, and seatedmyself once more upon the box. I had grown somewhat hungry--for it hadgot to be after dinner hour--and I now relieved my appetite by an attackupon the crackers and cheese, which considerably lightened the cargo inmy pockets.
Evening was now approaching, and I bethought me that I might as welltake a stroll along by the side of the ship, by way of a reconnaissance.It would enable me to ascertain where I might climb over the side mosteasily, which knowledge would be of use to me when the hour shouldarrive for making the attempt. What if the sailors _did_ see me goingabout? They could not hinder me from walking along the quay, and theywould never dream of my object in staying there. What if they shouldtake notice of me, and taunt me as before? I could talk back to them,and thus gain a good opportunity for observation--the very thing Iwanted.
Without losing another moment, I stepped forth from my resting-place,and commenced sauntering along, with an assumed air of indifference toall that was passing around. I soon came opposite the stem of the bigship, where I paused and looked up. Her deck was nearly on a level withthe pavement, because she was now heavily laden, and of course at fulldepth in the water; but the high bulwarks on her quarter prevented mefrom seeing the deck. I perceived that it would be easy to step fromthe quay, and after clambering up the bulwarks, get over by the mizenshrouds; and I at once made up my mind that this would be the properway. Of course, I should have to creep through the shrouds with greatcaution. If the night should not prove dark enough, and I should bedetected by the watch, it would be all up with me. I should getcaught--perhaps suspected as a thief and punished. No matter; I wasresolved to risk it.
Everything was quiet on board. I heard neither voice nor noises. Someof the merchandise was still lying upon the wharf, and therefore theycould not have finished lading the vessel. But the men were no longerat work, for I was now near enough to have a view of both the gangwayand the main hatch. Whither could they have gone?
I moved silently forward, until I stood by the very end of the staging.I had now a full view of the hatchway, and a considerable portion of themain deck around it. I saw neither the blue jacket of the mate nor thegreasy garments of the sailors. All the men must have gone away to someother part of the ship.
I paused and listened. Indistinctly, I could hear the hum of voicescoming from the forward part of the vessel. I knew they were the voicesof the crew in conversation with each other.
Just at that moment, I observed a man pass by the opening in thegangway. He was carrying a large vessel that steamed at the top. Itcontained coffee or some other hot viand. It was the evening meal forthe people of the forecastle, and he who carried it was the cook. Thisaccounted for the cessation of the work, and the absence of the sailorsfrom "amidships." They were about going to supper. Such was myconjecture.
Partly impelled by curiosity, but as much by a new idea that had enteredmy mind, I stepped upon the staging and glided cautiously aboard. Icaught a glimpse of the sailors far off in the forward part of thisship--some seated upon the windlass, others squatted upon the deckitself, with their tin plates before them, and their jack-knives intheir hands. Not one of them saw me--not one was looking in mydirection: their eyes were too busy with the cook and his steamingcopper.
I glanced hastily around; there was no one in sight. The new idea towhich I have referred became more fully developed.
"Now or never!"whispered I to myself; and under the impulse, I stepped down upon thedeck, and crouched forward to the foot of the main mast.
I was now on the edge of the open hatchway; and it was into this Iintended to go. There was no ladder, but the rope by which the goodshad been lowered, still hung from the tackle, reaching down into thehold.
I caught hold of this rope; and pulled on it, to find if it was securelyfastened above. It proved to be so; and, grasping it firmly with bothhands, I slid downward as gently as I could.
It was a close shave that I did not break my neck--and as it was, I hada tumble at the bottom--but I soon got to my feet again; and, scramblingover some packages that were not yet stowed in their places, I crawledbehind a huge butt, and there ensconced myself in darkness and silence.