The Missing Ship | Page 5

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, I shall have no difficulty in making my escape, even though I am compelled to set foot on shore in Waterford itself. I wish those fellows would bear a hand and bring me some food--that and a night's rest will restore my strength and enable me to consider what to do better than I now can. I have run many a narrow chance of