The Shadow of the North eBook

Joseph Alexander Altsheler
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 353 pages of information about The Shadow of the North.

The Shadow of the North eBook

Joseph Alexander Altsheler
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 353 pages of information about The Shadow of the North.

A singular spirit seized Robert.  He saw that he was at the mercy of these men, who utterly without scruple wished for some reason to hold him.  He could be a player too, and perhaps more was to be won by being a player.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but I was tempted by the follies of the land, and I’ve had enough of ’em.  If you’ll overlook it and let the past be buried, captain, you’ll have no better seaman than Peter Smith.  You’ve always been a just but kind man, and so I throw myself on your mercy.”

The captain and Miguel exchanged astonished glances.

“I know you’ll do it, captain,” Robert went on in his most winning tones, “because, as I’ve just said, you’ve always been a kind man, especially kind to me.  I suppose when I first signed with you that I was as ignorant and awkward a land lubber as you ever saw.  But your patient teaching has made me a real sailor.  Release me now, and I think that in a few hours I will be fit to go to work again.”

“Cut the lashings, Miguel,” said the captain.

Miguel’s sharp knife quickly severed them, and Robert sat up in the bunk.  When the blood began to flow freely in the veins, cut off hitherto, he felt stinging pains at first, but presently heavenly relief came.  The captain and Miguel stood looking at him.

“Peter,” said the captain, “you were always a lad of spirit, and I’m glad to get you back, particularly as we have such a long voyage ahead of us.  One doesn’t go to the coast of Africa, gather a cargo of slaves and get back in a day.”

In spite of himself Robert could not repress a shudder of horror.  A slaver and he a prisoner on board her!  He might be gone a year or more.  Never was a lad in worse case, but somewhere in him was a spark of hope that refused to be extinguished.  He gave a more imperious summons than ever to his will, and it returned to his aid.

“You’ve been kind to Peter Smith.  Few captains would forgive what I’ve done, but I’ll try to make it up to you.  How long are we out from New York?” he said.

“It might be an hour or it might be a day or what’s more likely it might be two days.  You see, Peter, a lad who gets a crack on the head like yours lies still and asleep for a long time.  Besides, it don’t make any difference to you how long we’ve been out.  So, just you stay in your bunk a little while longer, and Miguel will bring you something to eat and drink.”

“Thank you, captain.  You’re almost a father to me.”

“That’s a good lad, Peter.  I am your father, I’m the father of all my crew, and don’t forget that a father sometimes has to punish his children, so just you stay in your bunk till you’re bid to come out of it.”

“Thank you, captain.  I wouldn’t think of disobeying you.  Besides, I’m too weak to move yet.”

The captain and Miguel went out, and Robert heard them fastening the door on the outside.  Then the darkness shut him in again, and he lay back in his bunk.  The spark of hope somewhere in his mind had grown a little larger.  His head had ceased to ache and his limbs were free.  The physical difference made a mental difference yet greater.  Although there seemed to be absolutely no way out, he would find one.

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Project Gutenberg
The Shadow of the North from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.