CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR.
AN ASTONISHED CREW.
I tried to think of some way by which I might be enabled to makereparation for the loss; but my reflections were only foolish, as theywere bitter. I owned nothing in the world that I knew of--nothing butmy old watch--and that--ha! ha! ha!--would scarce have paid for the boxof crackers!
Yes, there was something else that belonged to me--and does still (for Ihave kept it till this hour)--something which I esteemed far more thanthe watch--ay, far more than I would a thousand watches; but thatsomething, although so highly prized by me, would not have been valuedat a single sixpence. You guess of what I am speaking? You guess, andrightly, that I mean that _dear old knife_!
Of course, my uncle would do nothing in the matter. He had no interestin me farther than to give me a home, and that was a thing of choicerather than responsibility. He was in no way bound to make good mydamages; and, indeed, I did not permit myself for a moment to entertainthe idea.
There was but one thought that held out to me the slightest hope--onecourse that appeared to be tolerably rational. It was this: I couldbind myself to the captain for a long period. I could toil for him as aboy-sailor--a cabin-boy--a servant--anything that would enable me towork off my debt.
If he would only accept me for this purpose (and what else could he nowdo, unless, indeed, he really did toss me overboard), then all might yetbe right.
The thought cheered me; and I resolved, as soon as I should reach thecaptain's presence, to make the proposal.
Just at that moment I heard a loud stamping noise above me. It was acontinued series of thumps, that resembled the heavy footsteps of menpassing backward and forward over the decks. They were on both sides ofthe hatchway, and all around it, upon the deck.
Then I heard voices--human voices. Oh, how pleasant to my ears! First,I heard shouts and short speeches, and then all of them minglingtogether in a chant or chorus. Rude it may have been, but during all mylife never heard I sounds that appeared to me so musical or harmoniousas that work-song of the sailors.
It inspired me with confidence and boldness. I could endure mycaptivity no longer; and the instant the chorus ended, I sprang forwardunder the hatch, and with the wooden handle of my knife knocked loudlyupon the planks overhead.
I listened. My knocking had been heard. There was a parley among thevoices above, and I could distinguish exclamations of surprise; butalthough the talking continued, and even a greater number of voicesappeared to take part in it, no attempt was made to take up the hatch.
I repeated my knocking louder than before; and added to it the summonsof my voice; but I could myself perceive that my voice was tiny andfeeble as that of an infant, and I doubted whether it could have beenheard.
Again I listened to a volley of loud exclamations that betokenedsurprise; and from the multitude of voices I could guess that the wholecrew was around the hatchway.
I knocked a third time, to make sure; and then I stood a little to oneside, in anxious and silent expectation.
Presently I heard something rubbing over the hatches. It was thetarpaulin being removed; and, as soon as this covering was taken off, Iperceived that light shot in through several chinks at the joining ofthe planks.
But the next moment the sky suddenly opened above me; and the flood oflight that poured down upon my face, rendered me quite blind. It didmore--it caused me to faint and fall backward against the boxes. I didnot lose consciousness all at once, but swooned gradually away under afeeling of strange bewilderment.
Just as the hatch was lifted upwards, I noticed a ring of rough heads--human heads and faces--above the edge, all around the great opening, andI observed that all of them were drawn suddenly back with an expressionof extreme terror. I heard cries and exclamations that betokened thesame; but the shouts gradually died upon my ears, and the light dimmedand darkened in my eyes, as I lapsed into a state of unconsciousness, ascomplete as if I had been dead.
Of course, I had only swooned; and was insensible to what was passingaround me. I did not see the rough heads as they reappeared over theedge of the hatch frame, and again reconnoitre me with looks of alarm.I did not see that one of them at length took courage, and leaped downupon the top of the cargo, followed by another and then another, untilseveral stood bending over me, uttering a volley of conjectures andexclamatory phrases. I did not feel them as they tenderly raised me intheir arms, and kindly felt my pulse, and placed their huge rough handsover my heart to see whether it was still beating with life--no more didI feel the big sailor who lifted me up against his breast and held methere, and then, after a short ladder had been obtained and placed inthe hatchway, carried me up out of the hold and laid me carefully on thequarter-deck: I heard nothing, I saw nothing, I felt nothing, till ashock, as if of cold water dashed in my face, once more aroused me frommy trance, and told me that I still lived.