CHAPTER XXI.
I was alone with the prisoners,—nine in number,—all but one of whom lay in the berths of the steerage, bound hand and foot. Waterford, the most active and dangerous of the party, was tied to a stanchion. I had not caused him to be placed in this uncomfortable situation because he had done the same thing to me, but because I dared not permit him to be where the sentinel could not see all the time what he was doing. If one of these slave traders should get loose, he could free the others, and we should be obliged to fight the battle over again.
Occasionally I walked around the steerage to see that all was safe, and to satisfy myself that the mate had not loosened his bonds. He and the two Spanish passengers were inclined to argue the matter with me; but I thought, as I had the best of the case, I would not meddle with the subject. I did not wonder that the passengers were uneasy. As they were bound to the Slave Coast to buy negroes, it followed that they were well supplied with money, which I concluded was in their state-room. The venture must have looked like a poor speculation to them, while they were prisoners in the steerage, with the bark headed to the north.
At twelve o'clock the new captain came below to see me in regard to the watches. We arranged that Sanderson should take charge of the mid-watch, and that Baxter should stand guard over the prisoners. This plan was carried into effect immediately. The port watch turned in, and the starboard took the deck. Captain York and myself slept in the cabin, he taking the captain's state-room, and I that of the two passengers. I slept pretty well, notwithstanding the excitement of the night. At eight bells in the morning we were called to relieve the watch on deck. Walker, properly armed, took his place in the steerage, with orders to examine all the prisoners at least every half hour.
I went on deck with York. Although he had been promoted to the highest position on board, he did not "put on any airs." I was a boy, but he called me to the quarter-deck for a consultation in regard to the course to be pursued.
"When I went on deck last night to take my watch, I didn't expect to be captain before morning," said he. "When we reached the coast of Africa I intended to protest, and leave the bark with as many of the men as were willing to join me."
"You would have been too late," I replied. "That steerage was fitted up for the Spanish and Portuguese sailors, and in my opinion more were to be obtained somewhere. I don't think you would have found a chance to leave the vessel. These men were to be armed, and were to compel the rest of the crew to do duty."
"You are right, though I would rather have captured the vessel after the negroes were taken on board. It would not have looked at all like mutiny then."
"I don't think it does now. We have evidence enough that the bark is on a slaving voyage; and I have no doubt we shall find more proof when we have overhauled the hold," I replied.
"I am satisfied that it is best as it is," he added. "But what are we to do?"
"That's a question we have yet to decide. Do you know who owns the vessel now?"
"Those Spaniards. They bought out the Ashborns' interest in her. If the vessel has to be destroyed, Captain Farraday is to be paid for his share, and has a percentage on the profits besides."
"There must be a great deal of money on board."
"Probably there is."
"I know that Waterford had about ten thousand dollars."
"But he says you robbed him of fifteen hundred dollars."
"I took what was my own," I replied, explaining my relations with the mate.
"You have a right to your own property wherever you find it," said Captain York.
"There are two things on board that will give us more trouble than our prisoners," I continued.
"What are they?"
"The rum and the money."
"That's so," replied the captain, emphatically.
"Sanderson says he will not drink another drop until this cruise is up."
"I am afraid they will all drink if they get a chance."
"It will be well to keep them out of temptation as much as possible," I replied. "Did you help stow the vessel?"
"Only the stores and provisions, but I know where the rum is."
"We shall get along better without it than with it."
"What do you mean?"
"In plain words, the rum will do less harm on the bottom of the bark than it will down the throats of the men. I believe in pulling out the spigots of the barrels."
"Certainly; we could do that, if necessary."
"We had better do it before it is absolutely necessary. If the men get drunk, we don't know what they may do."
"No; no one ever knows what a drunken man will do."
"What about the money?"
"Do the men know anything about it?"
"I think not; I never heard them say anything. But they will naturally suspect that there is a large sum on board."
"I don't know where it is."
"Nor I; except what Mr. Waterford has in his trunk. I think the men will do well enough, if we only keep them sober."
We spent the whole of the morning watch discussing the various questions of interest that presented themselves. When the sun rose, the breeze freshened, and we had evidently escaped the region of calms. There was nothing like an incident on board, for the sentinel in the steerage performed his duty so faithfully that none of the prisoners had a chance to strike for liberty. We did not see a single sail or the smoke of a steamer in the distance. The discipline of the bark was as good as it had ever been; and everybody, except the occupants of the steerage, was satisfied.
After the forenoon watch was called, we gave the prisoners their breakfast, the watch below attending to this duty. We allowed each one of the slave traders to use his right hand only, and we had force enough to overpower them if they attempted a demonstration.
"How long am I to be kept in this position, Phil?" asked Waterford, evidently very much subdued by the discomforts of his situation.
"I don't know; we can't trust you; and we must keep you so that we shall know where to find you."
"But I am suffering with pain."
"Do you think you suffer any more than one of the poor negroes would, if you had crowded four or five hundred of them into the hold and between decks?"
"I'm not a nigger."
"But a negro has the capacity to suffer as well as you. I hope it will not be necessary to keep you where you are many weeks."
"Many weeks! I should die in one week. I can't sleep a wink tied to this stanchion," pleaded he.
"I will see what can be done for you in the course of the day," I replied.
"I am in pain."
"So was I last night."
"I have been here ten hours."
"We put you there because there was no other safe place for you," I replied, as I left the steerage.
We had agreed to call all hands during the forenoon, and decide upon our future course. We were all in the dark in regard to the status of things on board. We were not sure whether, in the eye of the law, we were mutineers, or had done our duty in capturing the vessel. I had seen some books in the captain's state-room; and in the hope of obtaining the information we needed, I brought them out into the cabin. Among them were "The Shipmaster's Assistant," and a thin volume of "Naval Laws." In the former I found an abstract of the laws relating to the slave trade, and in the latter the laws themselves. I read both with deep interest, and the result of my study was entirely satisfactory.
While I was thus engaged, Captain York called all hands, and I hastened on deck with the books in my hand. The bark was under easy sail, and going along very comfortably. The man at the wheel, and the one who stood guard over the prisoners, were all that were actually employed. Franklin, the doubtful man, had been released shortly after his capture, and was now one of the most zealous and active of the crew; though, if the battle had gone the other way, I am afraid he would have been just as zealous and active on the other side. The principal men in the conference were York, Sanderson, Baxter, and Walker.
The command of the bark was formally given to York, and all hands promptly assented. The selection of a chief mate proved to be a more difficult matter, for the men were about equally divided in favor of Sanderson and Baxter. The old man was ready to retire from the field, and urged the men to go for Baxter; but the latter, not less magnanimous, waived his own claim in favor of Sanderson.
"We must vote on this question," I suggested.
"Ay, ay, vote; we know how to do that," cried Walker.
"All right, shipmates; bring in your ballots," added Captain York. "The one who gets the most votes shall be chief mate."
I brought up some paper from the cabin, cut it into small slips, and gave each man one of them. Pencils were provided, and each hand wrote the name of his candidate, if he could write: if he could not, he came to me, and I wrote it for him. The sentinel in the steerage was called upon to exercise his privilege. I was appointed to receive the votes; and when I had counted them, I found they stood eight to eight, for the captain voted with the others. We balloted a second time with the same result.
The Crew Vote for Chief Mate.
The Crew Vote for Chief Mate.
The Crew Vote for Chief Mate.
After I had announced the vote, I saw that Sanderson and Baxter were very busy among the men; and on the third ballot I was not a little astonished to find that Phil Farringford had twelve of the sixteen votes, and was therefore chosen. I positively declined to serve, where-upon Baxter withdrew his name once more; but Sanderson did the same. I distributed the votes a fourth time, and did a little electioneering for my man, Sanderson. This time he had ten votes, and was therefore elected. He began to decline, but Baxter and several others assured him it was his duty to serve, and he finally consented.
"Now, my lads," said the master, "neither the captain nor the mate you have chosen is a navigator; and the second mate ought to be the only one on board who can take an observation and lay down the ship's position on the chart. Those who are in favor of Phil Farringford for second mate will say, Ay."
"Ay!" shouted the whole crew.
"Those opposed say, No."
The crew were silent, and I was declared to be the choice of all hands. I did not feel equal to the position, and began to decline; but I was silenced, and with the best grace I could command, I accepted. The watches were then rearranged, so as to make them as nearly equal as possible, both in regard to numbers and seamanship.