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Your cunning cannot help you here.
Thomas saw what was to happen. They meant to flog him. Once
he was spread and bound on that frame, there would be no chance
to break free. Suddenly, he yanked the line from the mate s grip and
dashed toward the grassland. The mate, startled at first, pursued him
and stepped on the trailing rope. Thomas stumbled and almost fell.
He straightened, tried to regain his speed, but Morgen scooped up the
line and hauled back on it. Thomas was jerked about and flung to the
ground in a heap. Both officers dragged the struggling sailor back to
the triangle and managed to pass the rope over the top of it. They
hauled on the line from the opposite side until Thomas was drawn
up and hanging there at full length with his hands nearly touching
the bindings that held the framework together. The mate crouched at
the pole on the right where it rested on the earth and reached out to
get a line around the lad s ankle. Thomas kicked at him and, for a few
seconds, hindered the officer from binding his leg. Tobit kneeled at
the opposite side and attempted the same with the left leg. Unable to
kick effectively at both officers at the same time, Thomas was finally
subdued. With each leg bound to a pole, he could only move his head.
He had hung there several minutes when the mate stepped up behind
him and tugged at his jacket. He felt a stinging cut over his spine and
then knew the officer was working with a blade of the volcano glass,
MOTOO EETEE 295
slitting his jacket open so he would have a clear swing at his whole
back. Ha! No half-measures for the mate. He wanted the whip to wrap
around his back to the more tender skin under his arms. Would that
satisfy old Tobit, he asked himself, or would he crave a worse revenge
after Thomas s back was cut open?
Where was Christopher? He is my mate! He will help. He would
not allow this! Thomas thought. Had they bound him someplace so
he could not interfere? Surely he would come to his rescue and save
him from this beating if he was able. But where was he?
Mr. Morgen finished cutting the back of his jacket and tossed the
splinter of glass to the ground. Thomas could see it lying there to his
right. The gray light was now strong enough to send a dull shine from
its surface. The mate then tied each half of his jacket to the nearest
elbow with twine.
The captain stepped under the triangle and put his face close to
Thomas s. You deserve this and more for your foul nature, he declared
with measured words, but I have an offer to make you. Tobit leaned
his head back a little and considered the bound lad for a moment
with his eyes sighted along his large nose. Mr. Morgen has laid a
charge of his powder up on the volcano, he announced. You are to
light the train. Do just that and you will not be flogged. You may then
go your way with my leave and without your due punishment. Agree
and you may take your boat and try your fortune on the ocean.
Why should I do a thing for you? You two are a useless pair, no
help to Chips and me. And why lay a charge? Thomas asked. What
are you up to? You should want to get home, not blast the mountain
asunder.
The captain leaned forward and peered at Thomas s mouth. What
did you expect from such blackguards? Well deserved, well deserved
from our enemies.
Thomas grimaced at Tobit, showing the gap in his upper teeth.
They were not our enemies until you made them so. It should have
been your fat face they struck. You are the murderer! Now what other
evil are you up to?
296 MOTOO EETEE
What I do is not for you to question! Neither in this nor anything
I do. I am captain and you are a mere thing to be ordered about.
You find reason to stay here because you fear a voyage not rising
two hundred mile. Aye, you fear it! You are too much a coward to
attempt it. Captain Tobit must play at some mysterious game lest he
be counted a poltroon. Thomas gave a jeering laugh until the cap-
tain struck at his face.
You foul thing! Tobit shouted. I have made you a decent offer
and you taunt me. I ask this one last time, agree to it or you will feel
a hundred of my best. Your answer now?
Thomas s mouth pulled up into a slight smile. The pre-dawn light
was growing. He watched the captain s seamed face as he asked, Why
not light it yourself? Why give me leave for such a trifle? What assur-
ance do I have that you will free me once I have lighted the train?
Only your word.
Tobit, inflamed by the suggestion, screamed, You doubt my word?
The word of an officer!
Ha! Thomas shouted back. I am not such an innocent to believe
all that is told to me! You see no chaff in my hair. You have too much
a conceit of yourself. You cannot be without your command, your pul-
pit, or some power over others. You mean to have me light the train
for there is too much risk. I saw the mate s trials of it. If I light it and
it does what you wish, then you will find some other notion to keep
me at work.
There! You call me a liar! You call Captain Tobit a liar! You mis-
creant, you scorn my offer! he shouted. His jaw closed and the
muscles tensed as he stared into the lad s eyes. A flush spread on the
skin of his cheeks and across his forehead. With his right forefinger
rigid and almost touching Thomas s nose, he raved, You oblige me to
discipline you, you oblige me! Bring the cat, Mr. Morgen!
Mr. Morgen stepped forward and handed him something. The cap-
tain then placed himself one pace from Thomas s left side and swayed
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