CHAPTER TEN
Seven weeks at sea have their effects, but Lane enjoyed his new life. Just off the port side, he could see waves upon waves. There was nothing of the coast.
“Lord.” Lane began to pray. “If it weren’t for the facts here, the fact that man is selfish and we’re following a slave ship, I’d really be amazed. The things you’ve made are beautiful.”
He caught sight of a very large sea animal.
“For example, Lord. That’s a whale over there. He doesn’t know the first thing about coveting what another might have in his purse.”
Lane could also see the ship they were following. It was never very far away. And, he knew that Nathan was somewhere aboard that vessel.
“Thank you, Lord, for showing us which direction to follow. Please look out for Nathan and the others on that ship. It can’t be easy, and they have no way to know or learn we are here, that we mean to assist in their escape.”
He turned to look back at the ship’s helm.
The red haired man he had met on the first night, or David, was on duty here.
Lane had learned a lot about sailing from David and the others, things about rigging and the ship’s sails. There was still a lot to study.
“Please give them reasons for hope, Lord. I would not like to be in their place.”
And, as had become his custom, Lane looked into the sky to see whether there were clouds.
“Lord. You have been with me since leaving for the city. And, let me correct that. You have been with me from the day I was born, even before that. I acknowledge you, Lord. Thank you for my life.”
His mind strayed to Captain Matthew, for the man had turned out to be a true follower of the Lord.
“Please, continue to bless the Princess, too, Lord. We’re still trusting you to show us what to do when we catch the slavers, or I wonder if we should actually catch them. You are God, and I have no doubt that we will be useful to you in this rescue.”
Lane could see other whales with the first now, but they were moving outside his visual range.
“Please bless those whales, too. They are your creatures, and they look to you for those things they require.”
Lane turned away from the railings, and he began to inspect the ship’s riggings.
David had taught Lane that it was always needful to look after the safety of the ship. The Princess was a worthy vessel, but aboard her were always required to pay attention.
Another thought crossed his mind, momentarily, and it concerned the cities he had visited. Which would they be? Would he find Christians, or other people like the Romanists in Joppa?
Captain Matthew was certain that they were on their way to Tunisia. There was a port city there called Tunis. It was part of a country called Africa.
The Captain said the slave ships often went there to trade both slaves and other items, too.
It was a pleasing thought that he would get the chance to walk the streets of another nation’s port city. But, Lane was just going to have to trust the judgment of Captain Matthew.
They were supposed to be heading west, but they said they were hugging the coast. Lane looked to the south, but he couldn’t see land.
Another moment existed, when he wondered how the crew knew north from south out here. And, Lane made a mental note to learn their methods.
He turned to the wheelhouse with another idea. David smiled as Lane approached. He spoke.
“What did you see from up there?”
The nod from David’s head indicated that he had queried about the ship they followed.
“I can’t really see much.” Lane admitted.
“Ever use one of these?” David asked, and handed Lane a metal cylinder.
Lane never seen such a thing, so he asked. “What is that?”
David answered simply. “The proper term, a telescopic lens. Everybody here calls it an eye.”
“What’s it good for?” Lane rightly figured that this device was one of those he would need to understand, if he were to live aboard a vessel like the Princess.
David showed Lane how to operate the eye. And, he also explained it.
“It’s for seeing distant objects.”
Lane put the device to his own eye and was now able to see a long way into the distance. It was as if things out there were larger and, at the same time, they got closer to the Princess.
“This is nice. Mind if I take this up to the bow? Maybe I can see what they’re doing up there.” Lane was quick to see that the eye, or this lens device would be useful.
David affirmed it. “I was thinking the same thing. But do me a favor!”
“What’s that?” Lane should have been able to guess what was coming, but he had to ask.
“We’ve only got one of those on this ship.” David explained it. “And, the Captain would not be happy over its’ loss.”
It was possible now to guess the message. “Don’t drop it over the rail!!!!”
David nodded. “That’s what I’m asking. Be careful!!!!”
“Thank you, Lord.” Lane wasn’t slow in giving full credit to the Lord, and he walked back to the ship’s bow.
Putting the eye to his own eye, Lane could see the other ship, even the details.
“What are you doing?” The Captain’s voice broke into Lane’s mind, and it disrupted the peace a bit.
Removing the eye from his own, Lane addressed Captain Matthew “I’m watching them, Sir. Would be nice to learn as much as I can about what they’re doing over there.”
“Let’s take a look!” The Captain was indicating that Lane hand over the eye.
Lane passed the device over to the Captain.
Putting the lens to his own eye, Captain Matthew took a long look at the other ship. Then, he nodded.
“That’s the Fabien. She’s out of Tunis.” Captain Matthew confirmed that he knew the other ship.
“The Fabien, Sir?” Lane wasn’t yet certain he understood what he was being told.
Captain Matthew pointed with his forefinger to the ship they were chasing. “It’s the name of the other ship, Lane. The Fabien. She’s out of Tunis, which is the port we’re headed for now.”
“How can you tell, Sir?” Lane wanted to know as much as he could learn, not just about the Fabien, but he was getting more and more interested in sailing.
The Captain smiled his approval. “When you get to be my age, Lane, you will know a few more things, too. Keep an eye on that ship!!!! And, I want you to report to me on everything.”
“Report to you, Sir?” Lane wanted to be sure he had caught this last part correctly.
Captain Matthew told Lane what he needed to hear. “Report to me, Lane. If they go north or south, I want to be notified.”
Lane took the task seriously. ‘Yes, Sir.” And, he turned back to the railing to observe.
This new device, this telescopic lens, made it easy to see some things formerly hidden on board the Fabien.
Lane caught glimpses of the crew, as they went about their chores. He saw a man at the helm, just like David here. And, there were other men checking over that ship’s riggings, too.
Then, he saw something fishing in the sunlight. It was a piece of metal or so he thought.
A man stood on the Fabien with a knife, or it might have been some other kind of tool. He stood in front of a hatchway.
From Lane’s time on the Princess, he knew that hatchway would lead to the lower decks of the Fabien. And, he figured that was the most likely place for the slaves.
Two men carried another man through the hatchway.
No life could be seen in the man they carried, but Lane believed him to be one of the slaves. It was a matter of the other man lacking clothing.
The guy carrying the metal was moving now. He approached the slave and picked up his head. It was obvious from his actions that he wanted to determine the status of the man being carried.
There didn’t seem to be any kind of response, or the man didn’t acknowledge what was being done to him. Lane wanted to see some movement.
Some verbal signal was given, though Lane couldn’t read the man’s lips. But, there was also a nod of the head. The first guy on the Fabien’s deck, the one with the metal piece, or the knife, was in charge.
The two others took the slave to the port side railing. They lifted the slave and let him drop over the railing, and he fell into the sea.
The man was dropped into the water.
Lane couldn’t believe what his eyes were seeing. He turned to the helm; where David was still at his post.
Lane waved his arms at David, his arms in a panic movement. David didn’t seem to understand; he didn’t even respond, not really. So, Lane ran to alert him as to what happened.
“They tossed him into the water!!!!” Lane blurted.
David caught the excitement in Lane’s voice, but he needed to ask for more details. “Tossed whom?”
Lane pointed to the Fabien. “They put one of the slaves over the railings.”
Now, David was excited, too. “Can you see the guy?”
Lane had not even thought to try looking. His lack of answers were enough to get the message across, so David made a suggestion. “Go back up there and see what you can see.”
Lane could hear the bell ringing near the helm, and he knew David was calling more men to the deck. He needed help.
Many other men came running, and this included both Tiger and the Captain.
“What’s going on?” Tiger’s voice was beside him.
Lane could see the man in the water, and he handed the eye to Captain Matthew.
“There’s a man in the water, Sir.” Lane gave his report. “Two men on the Fabien tossed this other man into the water.”
Captain Matthew gave orders to every man in the ear shot. “Keep your eyes on the man in the water,” And, the older man looked out into the blue water by way of the metallic eye.