The
negro had excited himself by a recapitulation of the cruelties exercised
on his unfortunate shipmates, and the unwarrantable caption of himself
and rib, a deed that in the nautical calendar would rank in atrocity
with the murder of a herald or the bearer of a flag of truce. He kept
murmuring to himself, as he groped about in the dark for the sentry
"Catch pilot! who ever hear of such a ting? I suppose dem would have
pull down light--house, if dere had been any for pull. Where is dis
sentry rascal?--him surely no sober yet?"
The sentry had fallen asleep as he leant back on the ladder, and had
gradually slid down into a sitting position, with his head leaning
against one of the steps, as he reclined with his back towards it, thus
exposing his throat and neck to the groping paw of the black pilot.
"Ah--here him is, snoring heavy as my Nancy--well, dronk still; no fear
of him overhearing we--nice position him lie in--quite convenient--could
cut his troat now--slice him like a pumpkin--de debil is surely busy wid
me, Peter. I find de very clasp--knife in my starboard pocket beginning
to open of himshef."
I tapped on the floor with my foot.
"Ah, tank you, Massa Tom--de debil nearly get we all in a scrape just
now. However, I see him is quite sound--de sentry dat is, for de oder
never sleep, you know." He had again come under the window. "Now,
Lieutenant, in two word, to--morrow night at two bells, in de middle
watch, I will be here, and we shall make a start of it; will you
venture, sir?"
"Will I?--to be sure I will; but why not now, Peter? why not now?"
"Ah, massa, you no smell de daylight; near daybreak already, sir.
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