Page:Once a Week June to Dec 1863.pdf/157

. 1, 1863.] my intention was, after having committed the two Jews to safe guardianship, to go myself among the people and see whether I could be of any use. As I was tolerably cool, and everybody else appeared to be taken frantic, it seemed likely that I might be able to do some good. At least I should be able to get some trustworthy information.

The two Jews, poor fellows, were most thankful for my offer. The ungracious Gentile seemed to grudge them their refuge; but I reminded him that I was the patron of the boat for the time being, and that I must direct her course, if I was eventually to pay. So he sulkily lent himself to my behest, and brought us alongside of the Mary Jane. I believe that nothing could have given him a worse opinion of my religious standing, than the apparent fact that I sympathised with these persecuted victims. Certainly the zeal of the Eastern Christians is of the demonstrative kind.

As we drew near I perceived that the commotion of the moment was not confined to the good folks on shore. Allowing for difference of temperament, I do not know that the state of our own people did not show even more excitement than did that of the others. There was no gesticulating, no dancing about the deck, no audible cursing. But all hands were gathered together in earnest conclave, and in disregard of conventional distinctions of rank and standing. The cook, and the carpenter, and the mate, and the captain were there, with long faces. Quillet looked as I had never known him look before. Bitter anguish was in his expression, and dogged, fierce determination. He had pistols in his belt, and really altogether looked more like a theatrical pirate, than a respectable skipper. His boat was alongside, so that evidently he was preparing for the shore, and that, judging by his costume, in no amicable spirit. Everybody was there save the two females. The mother and daughter, I took it for granted, were down in the cabin, to be out of the row.

One seaman was haranguing the company. He appeared to have somehow acquired a private stock of information, and to be serving it out pro bono publico. I could not catch many words, nor much of the sense, but made out plainly enough that he was expatiating on some tremendous misdeed, and inviting all and everybody to a purpose of vengeance.

I must confess that I was beginning myself to feel somewhat off the equilibrium. The manifestation on board the vessel seemed to bring matters painfully near to oneself. I hope that I am not deficient in philanthropy. Still I cannot pretend to say that I felt stirred to the same depth by the view of danger threatening strangers, as by that of danger threatening ourselves. It was being brought near to us in my apprehension, little as I could understand how this was to be. I had an instinctive and uncomfortable misgiving that nothing short of personal interest could have so stirred the people.

They were too busy to see me at first, and it was not till I hailed that some one threw me a rope (a painter, by the bye, they call it in nautical language, an etymology that I never could trace out). The commotion seemed to receive a decided access when they made out who it was. When Daniel loomed full on their vision, two or three of the number greeted him in terms far other than polite. One fellow made a demonstration of jumping into the boat with hostile purpose, and from the whole body on deck arose a shout, warning him not to venture among them unless he wished to get his deserts. I felt that if the poor fellow only could be sure of this, of getting no more than the harm that he deserved from us, he would be well enough off; for he was an honest, good fellow, and particularly well-disposed towards Englishmen. But there was little chance of fair dealing at the moment. Evidently he had fallen under suspicion of complicity with the evil-doing of his fellows, and, among these impulsive sailors, was in danger of coming to grief.

It was a moment for energetic action, and my friends told me afterwards I came out well under the circumstances.

I first stopped my friend who wanted to invade the boat. By a judicious application of force, and by placing myself in such a position that he could not get in amongst us without first pushing me overboard, I retarded his progress. The moment’s delay was enough. I stepped out, and in the act of doing so gave the boat a shove off, and left it to their sagacity to maintain the advantage of position.

“Now, then, my men,” I said, “what’s the matter?”

They positively scowled at me. They, the best tempered set of the best tempered class of men, scowled at me as though something of their overflowing wrath had been directed in my direction.

“The matter is,” growled one of them, “that we mean to break that Jew fellow’s neck to begin with.”

“We don’t like them as stick up for murderers and kidnappers,” said another.

“And blessed if we don’t break his neck,” said a third. “We ain’t going to be gammoned by any swells of passengers.”

All this time Quillet hung back, and said nothing, which struck me as the most serious symptom of all. I knew that a trifle would set the sailors in a ferment, but Quillet was a sober-minded person. I began to feel queer. The vessel was in a state of anarchy—mutiny it was scarcely to be called, since the captain seemed to be going with the tide of opinion. But it was a dangerous and instantly threatening anarchy.

“Captain Quillet,” I said, assuming as firm a countenance as I could, though I heartily confess that I was in a fright. “Captain Quillet, I appeal to you for protection for the men in that boat who are in my service. If any of them is hurt, I will take care that you answer for it before the proper tribunal.”

“Young man,” was the captain’s rejoinder, “you are committing yourself to more than you bargain for. That man Daniel is a black-hearted rascal. He deserves to be hung at the yard-arm.”

What madness could have seized them! How could Daniel have done anything to deserve these maledictions, when he had been absent with me?

“Be it so,” I said, “still for the moment you owe him protection and safe custody. The whole