Part 37 (1/2)
”Ah-h,” whispered the j.a.p and drew in his breath sharply with delight.
”I might start the boys--I might turn them loose on the s.h.i.+p,” went on Hovey, ”but the time ain't come yet for that. We're too far from the coast. Whatever happens, Kamasura, can you promise me to keep your face shut about the mutiny?”
”Yes-s.”
”Even if they was to tie you up an' feed you the lash? Henshaw's equal to that.”
Kamasura stammered, hesitated.
”Don't make no mistake,” said Hovey fiercely, ”because we'll be standin' close, some of us, an' the first tune you open your d.a.m.ned mouth, we'll bash your head in. Get me?”
The entrance of Eric Borgson made it impossible for the j.a.p to answer with words, but his eyes were eloquent with promise. Hovey started back for the forecastle; he had much to say to the sailors, and thereafter life on the Heron would be equally dangerous for both Harrigan and McTee.
The two, in the meantime, were making their way aft shoulder to shoulder. When they reached the stretch of deck behind the wireless house, McTee said: ”Harrigan, what's it to be? Are you for fighting it out?”
”I'm with you in anything you say,” retorted the dauntless Irishman, and then with a changed voice, ”but I'm feelin' sort of sick inside, Angus. Did ye see that murtherin' dog smash the mouth of that j.a.p when he hadn't the strength to lift his head? Ah-h!”
”I'm sick, too,” said McTee, ”but not because of the j.a.p. It's something worse that bothers me.”
”What?”
”It's the thought of White Henshaw, Dan. The brain of that old devil is going back on him. I think he loves death more than life. His memories of what he's done put him in h.e.l.l every minute he lives.”
”Go easy, McTee,” said Harrigan. ”D'you mean to say that Henshaw blew up those boats--an' his s.h.i.+p still in the middle of the Pacific?”
”I say nothing. All I know is that he talked d.a.m.ned queerly of how wonderful it would be if a s.h.i.+p in the middle of the sea put her nose under the waves and started for Davy Jones's locker. Yes, if she went down with all hands--dived for the bottom, in fact.”
”What can we do?”
”I don't know, but I'm beginning to think that this s.h.i.+p--and our lives--would be safer in the hands of Hovey and his gang of cutthroats than they will be under White Henshaw. Queer things are going to happen on the _Heron_, Harrigan, mark my word.”
”You think Henshaw blew up the boats so not one of the crew could escape?”
”It sounds too crazy to repeat.”
”McTee!”
”Yes, I'm thinking of her, too.”
”Between the mutiny and the crazy captain, Angus, it'll take both of us to pull her through.”
”It will.”
”Then gimme your hand once more, cap'n. We're in the trough of the sea once more, an' G.o.d knows when we'll reach dry land, but while we're on the _Heron_, we're brothers once more. For her sake I'll forget I hate you till we've got the honest ground under our feet once more.”
”When the time comes,” said McTee, ”it'll be a wonderful fight.”
”It will,” agreed Harrigan fervently. ”But first, McTee, we must let her know that we're standin' shoulder to shoulder to fight for her.
Otherwise she won't give us her trust.”