Archibald Hughson, the Young Shetlander | Page 3

and they were soon alongside the
whaler. Max clambered up the side, and hoisted his bag by a rope after
him. Archy followed. The officer of the watch was aft, and as the crew
and their friends were constantly coming and going, no notice was
taken of them. Max took up his bag, and as he passed up the main
hatchway, which was open, having ascertained that there was no one
below, he made a sign to Archy to slip down the ladder.
"I'll be with you in a few minutes," he whispered. "No one is likely to
go there at this hour."
Archy did as he was bid, and felt his way in the dark, till he found
himself among the empty casks in the hold, which were stowed ready
for use. There were certain spaces between the tiers which would afford
him room to hide himself away. Into one of these he crept, and lay
down waiting for Max. He fancied that where he was he should not be
seen by anyone moving about the hold, unless expressly looking for
him. He thought that Max was a long time in coming, and perhaps
would not come at all. On the return of daylight, which would stream
down through the open hatchway, should he not be discovered? he
thought. The crew would certainly be at work at an early hour, and he
might not have time to find a more secure hiding-place. Then he would
have to undergo the annoyance and disgrace of being put on shore, and
severely reprimanded by the captain, a very severe man, he had been
told. At last he heard some one moving, and presently a light fell on his
eyes. He was afraid to stir, almost to breathe, lest he should be
discovered.
"Well, if I had not come you would have been hauled out to a certainty
in the morning," said Max, who had only just then been able to pay him
his promised visit. "You must come down lower than this. Here, keep
after me. Now crawl in there, and don't come out till you hear three
blows, which I'll give on the casks above your head. You will know by

the movement of the ship when we have been at sea a couple of days or
so. There; now you have got your will. Here's your bundle; it will serve
as a pillow, and, remember, don't take any notice of me. I am your
friend, but I am not a man who chooses to be trifled with." Saying this,
Max, putting out the lantern, crept away, and Archy was left in solitude
and total darkness. The liquor his evil councillor had given him made
him sleepy, so he could not think. Otherwise his conscience might have
been aroused, and he might have recollected his poor mother lying on a
bed of sickness, and his affectionate sister watching for his return.
Satan knows that he has his victims secure when they are in that
condition.
Archy Hughson was at length awakened by the loud tramp of the crew
on deck, the boats being hoisted in, the anchor hove up. He could hear
the ripple of the water against the sides of the ship. The "Kate" was
under way, but she was not yet even out of Bressay Sound. The hours
passed by. He began to grow very weary of his imprisonment, and to
long for the expected signal from Max, even though he should soon
afterwards have to face the captain, and perhaps be punished for having
concealed himself on board. As he thought of this, he began to wish he
had waited till he had overcome his mother's objections, and been able
to go sea, like other lads, with a proper outfit. Now and then a better
feeling, akin to remorse, stole over him, when he thought of the sorrow
and anxiety his absence must cause his mother, who, though
over-indulgent, had ever been affectionate and kind to him. Still he did
not perceive the wickedness of his own heart, or the cruel ingratitude of
which he had been guilty. "She should have let me go, it's her own
fault," he repeated, hardening himself. "It's too late now to draw back. I
should look very foolish if I was to be set on shore on Unst, and have to
find my way home by myself."
Unst is the most northern of the Shetland Islands, and Archy guessed
that by that time the "Kate" was not far off it.
He had little appetite to eat the food he had brought, but he soon drank
up the contents of the flask. The mixture was somewhat strong, and
sent him off to sleep again. Once more Satan had him at an advantage,

for even then,