It was O'Loghlin who solved that little mystery. O'Loghlin had
discovered the stowaway hidden behind the main fuel-tank that was
fitted athwartships just abaft the main hold. Pete would not have
been surprised had the engineer officer dragged him out by his woolly
hair and booted him in addition. That was the sort of thing he was
used to aboard the _Lucy M. Partington_, but nothing of the kind
happened, and Pete felt grateful. He described in detail how he
contrived to get on board without being "spotted" by any of the watch
on deck. After he had been rated ship's cook the nigger asked
O'Loghlin to tell him the names of every man on board, and, with a
retentive memory that many West Indian negroes possess, Pete "had
them all off pat".
Throughout the greater part of the day the wind held, but towards the
end of the first dog watch it fell a flat calm with considerable
haze. Away to the south'ard the African coast, although only five
miles distant, was lost to view. Night was approaching, so in order
to keep clear of the unlighted coast the _Titania's_ course was
altered a full point, and the motors were started to give her
steerage-way.
"We'll have the canvas stowed," decided Harborough; "one never knows
what's behind the mist. The glass is a bit jumpy, I notice."
Accordingly the sails were lowered and stowed, and throughout the
night the _Titania_ held on under power, riding over the long, sullen
ground-swell that was a sign of a gale raging not so many miles off.
The sea was highly phosphorescent, and, although from crest to crest
the rollers measured a full hundred yards, not a catspaw ruffled the
undulating surface.
Morning came and with it no change in the weather. A couple of miles
on the port bow was a large three-masted schooner with her canvas
slatting violently as she wallowed in the long swell. From her mizen
truck was displayed a two-flag signal.
"Stand by with the code-book," cautioned Beverley, who was in charge
of the deck.
He levelled his binoculars at the vessel. There was no need for the
code-book. Every seaman knows the significance of the letters
YF--Mutiny.
"On deck both watches," shouted Beverley. "Close up with the
answering pennant."
The order was obeyed in double-quick time, the watch below turning
out in a state of attire that could not by any stretch of the
imagination be termed uniform. Harborough, stopping only to don
oilskin coat and sea-boots over his pyjamas, came on deck.
"Serve out the arms, Mr. Beverley," he said, "and hoist a signal
saying we are sending a boat. Mr. Villiers, will you take half a
dozen armed men and proceed to yonder vessel?"
Almost as soon as the signal flags GTM--"I am sending a boat"--were
toggled and hoisted, the _Titania's_ whaler was swung outboard ready
for lowering, and under power the yacht rapidly bore down upon the
mutinous schooner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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