‘Oh, Tom! Oh, Tom! Why were you taken from me? What has been your sin that you should be there?’ and then I broke into a strangled fit of crying. Will pulled me gently on to a seat and fondled me and told me to keep up my courage, for that I had spirit enough to bring things right. ‘Boat, ahoy! What boat is that?’ was shouted from the gangway of the hulk. The waterman answered. ‘Shove ahead with you!’ cried the voice. ‘No boats are allowed to lie off here.’ ‘Pull for Blackwall,’ said Will. ‘And time, too,’ said the waterman as he swept the boat’s head around. ‘They’re armed with loaded carbines up there, and they’d make no more of sending a ball through a man’s head than drinkin’ his health.’ CHAPTER XIII SHE CONCEIVES A STRANGE IDEA On Friday, October 18, I went to drink tea and sup with my aunt, whom I had not visited nor indeed seen for nearly a fortnight. Whilst we sat at tea, my uncle being present, Will came into the room; his manner was rather excited, he entered with some vehemence, and looking around at us cried out: ‘What do you think?’ ‘What?’ asked my uncle. ‘The tender of the owners of the _Childe Harold_ has been accepted, and we are to load convicts for one of the settlements early next month.’ I started, then sat motionless, feeling my cheeks bloodless. ‘Who told you this?’ said my uncle. ‘Mr. Bates. I met him in the Minories. He only got the news this afternoon.’ ‘Convicts?’ said my aunt. ‘I don’t like the idea of your going out in a convict ship.’ ‘Safe as the Bank of England,’ said my uncle. ‘They carry plenty of soldiers, plenty of sailors, and a large freight of handcuffs and irons. What more would you have?’ ‘Suppose Captain Butler should be put into our ship!’ exclaimed Will, looking at me. I could not make him any answer then. ‘The chances are a hundred to one against such a probability,’ exclaimed my uncle. ‘It is a big convict ship that takes out three hundred felons. How many have you aboard the Thames’s hulks alone? Not less than one thousand, I dare say. Then batches are picked up at Portsmouth and Plymouth. Consider the odds. Besides, Butler has served no time in the hulks. Yet it would be extraordinary should it come to pass,’ he added musingly. ‘The ship goes to Deptford to be equipped--I don’t know when,’ said Will. ‘Will the _Childe Harold_ be the only convict ship of her date?’ I asked. ‘That’s to be found out,’ said Will. ‘I’ll find out!’ I exclaimed. ‘Why do you ask, Marian?’ said my slow-minded aunt. ‘Tom is to tell me when he sails,’ I replied. ‘If his date is to be the _Childe Harold’s_ date, and if there should be no other vessel, Will’s ship will be Tom’s ship.’ My aunt averted her face as though annoyed by my coupling Will with Tom in the same breath.