The Missing Ship | Page 5

I do not feel
that you have any special reason to be thankful to me," answered
Owen.
"As to that matter, all I know is, that if you hadn't jumped on the raft at
the moment you did and thrown me a rope, I should have been washed
away, and have been by this time where many a bold fellow has gone
before; and though a more exalted fate may be in store for me,
according to the old saying, as I have no wish to leave the world just
yet, I am bound to be grateful to you, captain--for I conclude that you
are the skipper of this craft," said the stranger.
"No, I am but the mate," answered Owen; "the skipper is ill, and as the
berths in the state cabin are occupied, I can only offer you mine--and I
would advise you to get off your wet clothes and turn in between the
blankets, with a stiff glass of grog, or you may be the worse for your
wetting and exposure."
"I have knocked about too much up and down at sea, with all sorts of
adventures, to be much the worse for what I've gone through. However,
I will accept your offer. A stiff glass of grog, especially, will be
welcome, and something to eat with it; for I had no opportunity of
dining on the raft, as you may suppose," answered the stranger.
He said this in an off-hand, careless manner, laughing as he spoke; but
notwithstanding his boasts, he was glad of the assistance of Owen and
Dan Connor, on whose shoulders he rested while they conducted him to
the cabin of the former. No sooner did he reach it than he sank down
utterly exhausted, and it was not without considerable help from Dan
that he was able to get off his garments and turn in to bed.

"You'll be all to rights now, your honour, and I'll be after bringing you
a basin of soup and a glass of grog," remarked Dan, as he was gathering
up the wet clothes to carry to the galley fire.
"Stay, there are some papers in my pockets which I wish to keep in my
own possession," said the stranger, as he saw what Dan was about.
"They're like to be in a pretty mess, which it will take a pair of sharp
eyes to read, by this time," observed Dan.
"They are in a tin case--hand it to me," was the answer, as Dan began to
feel about in the pockets of the stranger's jacket. "You may take the
clothes away now, my man; and don't be long in bringing me the grog,
mind you," added the stranger, when he had possessed himself of the
tin case and, in addition, a well-filled purse and several other smaller
articles, which his pockets had contained.
"By-the-by, what's the name of this vessel, and to what port is she
bound?" he asked.
"Shure, she's the Ouzel Galley, your honour," answered Dan, "and as
sweet a craft as sails between the West Indies and Dublin city--though
we're bound just now to Waterford, and we'll be after getting there, I
hope, some day."
"And what's the name of your skipper and your mate, who pulled me
out of the water?" continued the stranger.
"It's Captain Tracy you mane, and the mate's Mr Owen Massey, as fine
a man as iver stepped a deck. I'm after belaving, if he wasn't, he
wouldn't have done what he did just now, as your honour will be
willing to own," answered Dan.
"You're right--it was a brave deed," said the stranger. As soon as Dan,
bundling up the clothes, had left the cabin, its occupant eagerly opened
the tin case and examined its contents, apparently to satisfy himself that
they had escaped damage; then closing it, he placed it under his pillow,
on which he sank down exhausted.

"Faith, I've had a narrow escape--but as this craft is bound to fair
Waterford, I must either quit her before she gets there, or take care that
none of my friends recognise me when I step on shore," he murmured
to himself. "However, my good genius may enable me to escape that
danger, as it has to scramble through many others. Strange that my life
should have been saved by Owen Massey--he does not know me,
however; but that is not surprising, as I am greatly changed since we
were together. Few traces remain about me of the slight youth I then
was. I must be on my guard not to betray myself to him, or he and his
commander may take it into their heads that their loyalty obliges them
to deliver me over to the Government. As long as they don't find out
who I am,