on our arrival off the medway, i had just gone down to bed and was undressing, when i heard fleming come on deck and haul up the boat. i looked up the hatchway; it was very dark, but i could perceive marables hand him the bag and handkerchief, with which he pulled on shore. he did not return until the next morning at daylight, when i met him as he came up the side. “well, jacob,” said he, “you’ve caught me, i’ve been on shore to see my sweetheart; but you boys ought to know nothing about these things. make the boat fast, there’s a good lad.”
when we were one night discharging our cargo, which was for government, i heard voices alongside. from habit, the least noise now awoke me: a boat striking the side was certain so to do. it was then about twelve o’clock. i looked up the hatchway, perceived two men come on board and enter the cabin with packages. they remained there about ten minutes, and then, escorted to the side by fleming, left the barge. when the barge was cleared, we hauled off to return, and in three days were again alongside of mr drummond’s wharf. the kindness both of marables and of fleming had been very great. they lived in a style very superior to what they could be expected to do, and i fared well in consequence.
on our arrival at the wharf, marables came up to me, and said, “now, jacob, as i have honestly told you the secret, i hope you won’t ruin me by saying a word to mr drummond.” i had before made up my mind to say nothing to my master until my suspicions were confirmed, and i therefore gave my promise; but i had also resolved to impart my suspicions, as well as what i had seen, to the old dominie. on the third day after our arrival i walked out to the school, and acquainted him with all that had passed, and asked him for his advice.
“jacob,” said he, “thou hast done well, but thou mightest have done better; hadst thou not given thy promise, which is sacred, i would have taken thee to mr drummond, that thou mightest impart the whole, instanter. i like it not. evil deeds are done in darkness. noctem peccatis et fraudibus objice nubem. still, as thou sayest, nought is yet proved. watch, therefore, jacob—watch carefully over thy master’s interests, and the interests of society at large. it is thy duty, i may say, vigilare noctesque diesque. it may be as marables hath said—and all may be accounted for; still, i say, be careful, and be honest.”
i followed the suggestions of the dominie: we were soon laden with another cargo of bricks, to be delivered at the same place, and proceeded on our voyage. marables and fleming, finding that i had not said a word to mr drummond, treated me with every kindness. fleming once offered me money, which i refused, saying that i had no use for it. i was on the best terms with them, at the same time that i took notice of all that passed, without offering a remark to excite their suspicions. but not to be too prolix, it will suffice to say that we made many trips during several months, and that during that time i made the following observations:— that fleming went on shore at night at certain places, taking with him bags and bundles; that he generally returned with others, which were taken into the cabin; that sometimes people came off at night, and remained some time in the cabin with him; and that all this took place when it was supposed that i was asleep. the cabin was invariably locked when the barge was lying at the wharfs, if fleming was on shore, and at no time was i permitted to enter it. marables was a complete cipher in fleming’s hands, who ordered everything as he pleased; and in the conversations which took place before me, with much less restraint than at first, there appeared to be no idea of fleming’s leaving us. as i felt convinced that there was no chance of discovery without further efforts on my part, and my suspicions increasing daily, i resolved upon running some hazard. my chief wish was to get into the cabin and examine its contents; but this was not easy, and would, in all probability, be a dangerous attempt. one night i came on deck in my shirt. we were at anchor off rotherhithe: it was a dark night, with a drizzling rain. i was hastening below, when i perceived a light still burning in the cabin, and heard the voices of marables and fleming. i thought this a good opportunity, and having no shoes, walked softly on the wet deck to the cabin-door, which opened forward, and peeped through the crevices. marables and fleming were sitting opposite each other at the little table. there were some papers before them, and they were dividing some money. marables expostulated at his share not being sufficient, and fleming laughed and told him he had earned no more. fearful of being discovered, i made a silent retreat, and gained my bed. it was well that i had made the resolution; for just as i was putting my head below the hatch, and drawing it over the scuttle, the door was thrown open and fleming came out, i pondered over this circumstance, and the remark of fleming that marables had not earned any more, and i felt convinced that the story told me by marables relative to fleming was all false. this conviction stimulated me more than ever to discover the secret, and many and many a night did i watch, with a hope of being able to examine the cabin; but it was to no purpose, either fleming or marables was always on board. i continued to report to the dominie all i had discovered, and he agreed at last that it was better that i should not say anything to mr drummond until there was the fullest proof of the nature of their proceedings.
the cabin was now the sole object of my thoughts, and many were the schemes resolved in my mind to obtain an entrance. fatima never coveted admission to the dreadful chamber of bluebeard as i did to ascertain the secrets of this hidden receptacle. one night fleming had quitted the barge, and i ascended from my dormitory. marables was on deck, sitting upon the water-cask, with his elbow resting on the gunwale, his hand supporting his head, as if in deep thought. the cabin-doors were closed, but the light still remained in it. i watched for some time, and perceiving that marables did not move, walked gently up to him. he was fast asleep; i waited for some little time alongside of him. at last he snored. it was an opportunity not to be lost. i crept to the cabin-door; it was not locked. although i did not fear the wrath of marables, in case of discovery, as i did that of fleming, it was still with a beating heart and a tremulous hand that i gently opened the door, pausing before i entered, to ascertain if marables were disturbed. he moved not, and i entered, closing the door after me. i caught up the light, and held it in my hand as i hung over the table. on each side were the two bed-places of marables and fleming, which i had before then had many a partial glimpse of. in front of the two bed-places were two lockers to sit down upon. i tried them—they were not fast—they contained their clothes. at the after part of the cabin were three cupboards; i opened the centre one; it contained crockery, glass, and knives and forks. i tried the one on the starboard side; it was locked, but the key was in it. i turned it gently, but being a good lock, it snapped loud. i paused in fear—but marables still slept. the cupboard had three shelves, and every shelf was loaded with silver spoons, forks, and every variety of plate, mixed with watches, bracelets, and ornaments of every description. there was, i perceived, a label on each, with a peculiar mark. wishing to have an accurate survey, and encouraged by my discovery, i turned to the cupboard opposite, on the larboard side, and i opened it. it contained silk handkerchiefs in every variety, lace veils, and various other articles of value; on the lower shelf were laid three pairs of pistols. i was now satisfied, and closing the last cupboard, which had not been locked, was about to retreat, when i recollected that i had not re-locked the first cupboard, and that they might not, by finding it open, suspect my visit, i turned the key. it made a louder snap than before. i heard marables start from his slumber on deck; in a moment i blew out the lamp, and remained quiet. marables got up, took a turn or two, looked at the cabin doors, which were shut, and opened them a little. perceiving that the lamp had, as he thought, gone out, he shut them again, and, to my consternation, turned the key. there i was, locked up, until the arrival of fleming—then to be left to his mercy. i hardly knew how to act: at last i resolved upon calling to marables, as i dreaded his anger less than fleming’s. then it occurred to me that marables might come in, feel for the lamp to re-light it, and that, as he came in on one side of the cabin, i might, in the dark, escape by the other. this all but forlorn hope prevented me for some time from applying to him. at last i made up my mind that i would, and ran from the locker to call through the door, when i heard the sound of oars. i paused again—loitered—the boat was alongside, and i heard fleming jump upon the deck.
“quick,” said he to marables, as he came to the cabin-door, and tried to open it; “we’ve no time to lose—we must get up the sacks and sink everything. two of them have ’peached, and the fence will be discovered.”
he took the keys from marables and opened the door; i had replaced the lamp upon the table. fleming entered, took a seat on the locker on the larboard side, and felt for the lamp. marables followed him, and sat down on the starboard locker;—escape was impossible. with a throbbing heart i sat in silence, watching my fate. in the meantime, fleming had taken out of his pocket his phosphorus match box. i heard the tin top pulled open—even the slight rustling of the one match selected was perceived. another second it was withdrawn from the bottle, and a wild flame of light illumined the deck cabin, and discovered me to their view. staggered at my appearance, the match fell from fleming’s hand, and all was dark as before; but there was no more to be gained by darkness—i had been discovered.
“jacob!” cried marables.
“will not live to tell the tale,” added fleming, with a firm voice, as he put another match into the bottle, and then relighted the lamp. “come,” said fleming, fiercely; “out of the cabin immediately.”
i prepared to obey him. fleming went out, and i was following him round his side of the table, when marables interposed.
“stop: fleming, what is that you mean to do?”
“silence him!” retorted fleming.
“but not murder him, surely?” cried marables, trembling from head to foot. “you will not, dare not, do that.”
“what is it that i dare not do, marables? but it is useless to talk; it is now his life or mine. one must be sacrificed, and i will not die yet to please him.”
“you shall not—by god, fleming, you shall not!” cried marables, seizing hold of my other arm, and holding me tight.
i added my resistance to that of marables; when fleming, perceiving that we should be masters, took a pistol from his pocket, and struck marables a blow on the head, which rendered him senseless. throwing away the pistol, he dragged me out of the cabin. i was strong, but he was very powerful; my resistance availed me nothing: by degrees he forced me to the side of the barge, and lifting me in his arms, dashed me into the dark and rapidly flowing water. it was fortunate for me that the threat of fleming, upon our first meeting, had induced me to practise swimming, and still more fortunate that i was not encumbered with any other clothes than my shirt, in which i had come on deck. as it was, i was carried away by the tide for some time before i could rise, and at such a distance that fleming, who probably watched, did not perceive that i came up again. still, i had but little hopes of saving myself in a dark night, and at nearly a quarter of a mile from shore. i struggled to keep myself afloat, when i heard the sound of oars; a second or two more and i saw them over my head. i grasped at and seized the last, as the others passed me, crying “help!”
“what the devil! oars, my men; here’s somebody overboard,” cried the man, whose oar i had seized.
they stopped pulling; he dragged in his oar till he could lay hold of me, and then they hauled me into the boat. i was exhausted with cold and my energetic struggles in the water; and it was not until they had wrapped me up in a great-coat, and poured some spirits down my throat; that i could speak. they inquired to which of the craft i belonged.
“the folly barge.”
“the very one we are searching for. where about is she, my lad?”
i directed them: the boat was a large wherry, pulling six oars, belonging to the river police. the officer in the stern sheets, who steered her, then said, “how came you overboard?”
“i was thrown overboard,” replied i, “by a man called fleming.”
“the name he goes by,” cried the officer. “give way, my lads. there’s murder, it appears, as well as other charges.”
in a quarter of an hour we were alongside—the officer and four men sprang out of the boat, leaving the other two with directions for me to remain in the boat. cold and miserable as i was, i was too much interested in the scene not to rise up from the stern sheets, and pay attention to what passed. when the officer and his men gained the deck, they were met by fleming in the advance, and marables about a yard or two behind.
“what’s all this?” cried fleming, boldly. “are you river pirates, come to plunder us?”
“not exactly,” replied the officer; “but we are just come to overhaul you. deliver up the key of your cabin,” continued he, after trying the door and finding it locked.
“with all my heart, if you prove yourselves authorised to search,” replied fleming; “but you’ll find no smuggled spirits here, i can tell you. marables, hand them the key; i see that they belong to the river guard.”
marables, who had never spoken, handed the key to the officer, who, opening a dark lanthorn, went down into the cabin and proceeded in his search, leaving two of the men to take charge of fleming and marables. but his search was in vain; he could find nothing, and he came out on deck.
“well,” said fleming, sarcastically, “have you made a seizure?”
“wait a little,” said the officer; “how many men have you in this barge?”
“you see them,” replied fleming.
“yes; but you have a boy; where is he?”
“we have no boy,” replied fleming; “two men are quite enough for this craft.”
“still i ask you, what has become of the boy? for a boy was on your decks this afternoon.”
“if there was one, i presume he has gone on shore again.”
“answer me another question; which of you threw him overboard?”
at this query of the officer, fleming started, while marables cried out, “it was not i; i would have saved him. o that the boy were here to prove it!”
“i am here, marables,” said i, coming on deck, “and i am witness that you tried to save me, until you were struck senseless by that ruffian, fleming, who threw me overboard, that i might not give evidence as to the silver and gold which i found in the cabin; and which i overheard him tell you must be put into sacks and sunk, as two of the men had ’peached.”
fleming, when he saw me, turned round, as if not to look at me. his face i could not see; but after remaining a few seconds in that position, he held out his hands in silence for the handcuffs, which the officer had already taken out of his pocket. marables, on the contrary, sprang forward as soon as i had finished speaking, and caught me in his arms.
“my fine, honest boy! i thank god—i thank god! all that he has said is true, sir. you will find the goods sunk astern, and the buoy-rope to them fastened to the lower pintle of the rudder. jacob, thank god, you are safe! i little thought to see you again. there, sir,” continued he to the officer, holding out his hands, “i deserve it all. i had not strength of mind enough to be honest.”
the handcuffs were put on marables as well as on fleming, and the officer, allowing me time to go down and put on my clothes, hauled up the sacks containing the valuables, and leaving two hands in charge of the barge, rowed ashore with us all in the boat. it was then about three o’clock in the morning, and i was very glad when we arrived at the receiving-house, and i was permitted to warm myself before the fire. as soon as i was comfortable, i laid down on the bench and fell fast asleep.
