Black Bar

  CHAPTER THIRTY.

  A JOINT WATCH.

  That day passed quietly enough. The weather was hot, but tempered by agentle gale, which wafted them on their way; and, as Mark gazed at theverdant shore through a glass and then at the glistening sea, it seemedto him as if Heaven was smiling upon their efforts to save the poorweak, trembling creatures, who were ready to wince and shrink away everytime he marched forward to where their part of the deck was shut off bya rope stretched taut from side to side. But as soon as he put off thestern official look he wore--an unconscious copy of Captain Maitland'squarter-deck manner--and smiled at them, their faces lit up, and he feltas if they would go down upon their knees to him and kiss his feet, ifhe would permit it.

  Already they looked better, and, like those in the second prize, baskedin the sunshine, and talked together in a low, soft, pleasantly-soundingtongue.

  The second prize was visited twice, and in addition to Taters, Grote andDance were left on board, to take it in turns at the wheel and managethe little sail, hoisted now to help the steering and ease the strain onthe tow-rope.

  So everything went well that day: the Americans were quiet down below,and though the progress made was only slow, Mark felt hopeful, as heswept the horizon with his glass, of seeing the _Nautilus_ come roundsome point, or appear in the offing at any time.

  That night, so as to guard against their being passed by their friendsin the darkness, lights were hoisted as a signal that would be prettysure to bring them help; and this being done, Tom Fillot approached hissuperior respectfully, to speak him, as he called it, about the divisionof the watches.

  "You'll let me take the first, sir, while you'll go below and have agood sleep, sir, won't you?" he said.

  "Certainly not," said Mark, shortly. "So sure as I go to sleep,something happens."

  "But you can't do without sleep, sir," said the man.

  "I can to-night, Tom. I've been resting and having little naps of a fewminutes at a time all day."

  "Well, sir, begging your pardon, it's the rummest sort o' rest I eversee. Take my word for it, sir, you can't hold up."

  "I must somehow, Tom; so no more words. Look here, we'll seep watchtogether, and the one who feels drowsy can take a nap now and then,ready to start up at the slightest alarm."

  "Very well, sir, if you won't sleep reg'lar, so be it."

  But it proved to be hard work. Nature is a terrible tyrant to those whotry to break her laws, and after about an hour's duty on deck, when theclustering stars had been watched, and their reflections in the sea, thewheel visited again and again, an ear given from time to time at theforecastle hatch and ventilator, where everything was silent as thegrave, all of a sudden Mark would find himself at home, talking to hisfather and mother, or on board the _Nautilus_, listening to Mr Whitney,the doctor, or to the captain, and then start up with a jerk to find hehad been asleep.

  "How long was I off, Tom?" he would whisper, angry with himself.

  "'Bout five minutes, sir."

  "Not more?"

  "No, sir."

  "That's right. All quiet?"

  "Yes, sir. Have another."

  "Nonsense! I'm better now."

  Mark took a turn to the wheel, said a few words to the steersman, andreturned to his seat, to find that in those brief minutes Tom Fillot hadgone off too, but only to start up, fully awake, at the moment his youngofficer sat down.

  "Look here, sir," he said; "mortal natur' won't bear it. I'll take atrot up and down now while you sleep."

  "I'm not going to sleep," said Mark, shortly.

  "Begging your pardon, sir, you are," said Tom; and he took a few turnsup and down, to return at last and find Mark quite fast.

  "I knowed it," he said to himself, but he had hardly thought this whenMark started up again, vexed with himself, but unable to control thedesire for rest.

  The consequence was that during the next two hours this natural processwent on, the one who sat down going off instantly to sleep, while theother kept up his sentry-like walk, and no more words were utteredrespecting it. They felt that it was nature's work and accepted theirposition till toward midnight, when Mark was resting with his back tothe bulwark, and his chin upon his breast, sleeping heavily, as he hadbeen for about a minute. Tom Fillot stepped up lightly to his side andtouched him.

  "Yes? What?" cried Mark, starting up in alarm.

  "Hist, sir! Steady! They're a-breaking out."

  "What!" said Mark, in an awe-stricken whisper, as his handsinvoluntarily sought pistol and dirk.

  "Hark!" came in a whisper to his ear; and leaning forward and peeringinto the darkness, he distinctly heard at intervals a faint, dull clink,as if some one were very carefully and slowly moving pieces of iron.

  For the moment, half drowsed still by his desire for sleep, Mark couldnot make out what it meant. Then he grasped the meaning of the sound.

  "Why, Tom Fillot," he whispered, "they're getting off the chain cablefrom the hatch."

  "That's it, sir; link by link."