Sail Ho! Part 76

"Ay. Why, there arn't no line down here, is there? What yer talking about?"

"No," muttered Dumlow, thoughtfully; "there arn't no line down here, o'

course. I never thought o' that. But s'pose he gets stuck fast, as he will farder on, what's to be done?"

"I d'know, without old Jarette comes and has the cargo out. Why, where's he got to!"

I was listening intently, but the whistling and rustling had ceased, and half in alarm, half hopeful that he would find a way through to where our companions were imprisoned, I strained my ears longingly for some suggestion of how far Barney could be. All at once the sound recommenced, stopped, began again, and then much nearer than I had expected there came a struggling and panting, which made my blood run cold.

"He's. .h.i.tched," muttered Bob Hampton, and then in quite a low voice he cried into the opening--

"Where are you, mate?"

"Here," came back in a smothered voice.

"I knowed he would," growled Dumlow. "He's got fast, and now what's to be done?"

It was very horrible, shut down there in that close, hot place, listening to the struggles of a fellow-creature who was in such a position that wanting help he was beyond the reach of those who were eager to render it. The perspiration once more streamed down my face, and my hands trembled as I called upon myself to act in a manly way.

Neither of my companions could go to Barney's help. They were, as had been proved, too bulky, and yet help must be given, and quickly too.

Everything pointed to the fact that the task must fall upon me to creep forward to render aid; but when I got there in that confined place, what would my strength be toward getting the poor fellow back? All I could do would be to creep along to him and say a few words of encouragement to incite him to make a fresh effort or two to struggle free, and if that failed, stay beside him and talk of hope while the men gave the alarm, and help was brought to take off the hatches right along, and drag out cargo until the man was reached and set free.

"Ahoy, messmate!" cried Bob now. "Are you stuck fast?"

"Ay, ay."

The words sounded so stifled and strange that I knew the moment had come for me to make an effort to save him, and mastering the horrible sensation of shrinking cowardice that came over me, I drew a long, deep breath, and seized Bob Hampton to draw him aside.

"What's wrong, my lad? What is it?" he said, almost surlily. "It arn't my fault; I'd go in to pull him back, but I shouldn't get in fur 'fore I was stuck."

"No, no," I said excitedly. "Of course not."

"Then Neb had have to come, and he wouldn't get far arter me for he was stuck too. Then what would you do 'bout pulling us out all three?"

"Nothing," I said, desperately. "You must not either of you go. The time has come for me to try and save him myself."

Bob Hampton laid a hand upon my shoulder to stop me; but I thrust him back and was half into the opening when the rustling sound within increased.

"I'm coming, Blane," I said, in a loud whisper.

"No, no; don't you come," he whispered back. "I'm coming out, and there arn't room for two."

I stopped in astonishment, for I had pictured him to be hopelessly fixed and unable to move; and not only did the rustling continue, and he seemed to be approaching, but he said he was coming out.

"Rather an awkward kind o' place, sir," he said, and his voice was carried along toward me, so that it sounded as if he were whispering close to my ear. "One feels like a rat going down a pump to make a meal off the sucker, and a drink o' water after. Don't you try to come, sir."

"But I am in, Barney, I came to help you."

"Thankye, sir; but I'll talk to you when I get out. I'm coming fast now."

And he did come on so fast that in less than a minute, as I waited motionless, and with one hand extended to touch his feet when they came into reach, his face was close to mine, and I shrank back as he said--

"Here we are, sir. That's you, isn't it?"

"Yes, Barney. But you didn't go in feet first?"

"No, sir, head-first; and I come out head-first too."

I was so puzzled that I said nothing, and backed out as quickly as I could, followed by the sailor, who seated himself panting.

"Precious hot in there, sir," he said.

"But how did you manage? You said you were stuck fast," growled Bob.

"So I was, matey, for a minute or two, right at the end as far as I could go; for it got too small for me at last."

"How far did you go in?"

"Ah, that I don't know, sir. Ever so far in, till it got so as I should ha' been stuck fast if I'd gone any farther."

"Then how could you turn round?"

"It was wider and higher a little bit this side of the narrow part, and I made s.h.i.+ft to double myself up pretty close and get round there."

"Then was it there you were stuck?" I asked.

"Yes, sir; but by a bit o' giving and taking I got round, and come out face forrard, as you see."

"I am thankful," I murmured.

"Well, if you come to that, sir, I liked it better when I'd got face outwards; for it arn't nice to feel yourself set fast in among a lot o'

cargo which may s.h.i.+ft if the s.h.i.+p gives a roll, and there you are, just like a blue-bottle shut in a big book, and come out next year flat and dry."

"Why, you must be a thin 'un, Barney," growled Bob. "You'd better leave the sea, and take to being first-cla.s.s messenger to go up and down steam-pipes."

"Be quiet, Bob!" I said angrily. "Here, tell me, Barney," I continued; for now that the man was safe, the horror and nervousness of a terrible accident rapidly pa.s.sed away.

"Tell you what, sir?"

"Is it hopeless? Is there no chance of getting to the forecastle bulk-head that way?"

"Well, sir, I can't say only that you know how far Neb Dumlow got, and then how Bob Hampton got a little farther."

"Didn't," growled Dumlow.

"Now what's the good o' you talking, messmate? because he did, just a bit farther," said Barney, in a tone full of protest. "You may just as well say I didn't go three times as far."

"Nay, I won't say that, lad."

"'Cause I did; and arter the tight nip of a bit where them two stuck, it were pretty easy, and I got along fast, though of course it's all ups and downs like. Then there's the widish bit 'tween them two big cases, where I twisted round; and after that the cargo's closer together, and nigher the beams, till it got too stiff for me, and I give it up; for I knowed that if I got stuck there, I should have to stay."