The Man Who Had Nowhere to Go

In the early morning (it was the second morning after my recovery, and I believe the fourth after I was picked up), I awoke through an avenue of tumultuous dreams,—dreams of guns and howling mobs,—and became sensible of a hoarse shouting above me. I rubbed my eyes and lay listening to the noise, doubtful for a little while of my whereabouts. Then came a sudden pattering of bare feet, the sound of heavy objects being thrown about, a violent creaking and the rattling of chains. I heard the swish of the water as the ship was suddenly brought round, and a foamy yellow-green wave flew across the little round window and left it streaming. I jumped into my clothes and went on deck.

Early in the morning, I woke from a series of chaotic dreams about guns and howling mobs. It was the second morning after my recovery, and I believe the fourth since I had been picked up. I became aware of hoarse shouting above me. I rubbed my eyes and lay listening, unsure for a little while where I was. Then came a sudden patter of bare feet, the sound of heavy objects being thrown about, loud creaking, and rattling chains. I heard water swish as the ship suddenly turned. A foamy yellow-green wave swept across the little round window, leaving water streaming down it. I jumped into my clothes and went on deck.

As I came up the ladder I saw against the flushed sky—for the sun was just rising—the broad back and red hair of the captain, and over his shoulder the puma spinning from a tackle rigged on to the mizzen spanker-boom.

As I climbed the ladder, the sun was just rising, and I saw the captain’s broad back and red hair against the glowing sky. Over his shoulder, I saw the puma spinning from a tackle attached to the mizzen spanker boom.

The poor brute seemed horribly scared, and crouched in the bottom of its little cage.

The poor animal seemed terrified and crouched at the bottom of its little cage.

“Overboard with ’em!” bawled the captain. “Overboard with ’em! We’ll have a clean ship soon of the whole bilin’ of ’em.”

“Overboard with them!” shouted the captain. “Overboard with them! We’ll soon have the whole lot of them off this ship.”

He stood in my way, so that I had perforce to tap his shoulder to come on deck. He came round with a start, and staggered back a few paces to stare at me. It needed no expert eye to tell that the man was still drunk.

He was in my way, so I had to tap his shoulder to get onto the deck. He turned around with a start and staggered back a few paces, staring at me. Anyone could see that he was still drunk.

“Hullo!” said he, stupidly; and then with a light coming into his eyes, “Why, it’s Mister—Mister?”

“Hello!” he said stupidly. Then his eyes lit up. “Why, it’s Mr. Mr.?”

“Prendick,” said I.

“Prendick,” I said.

“Prendick be damned!” said he. “Shut-up,—that’s your name. Mister Shut-up.”

“Damn Prendick!” he said. “Shut up. That’s your name. Mister Shut-up.”

It was no good answering the brute; but I certainly did not expect his next move. He held out his hand to the gangway by which Montgomery stood talking to a massive grey-haired man in dirty-blue flannels, who had apparently just come aboard.

There was no point in answering the brute, but I certainly did not expect his next move. He held out his hand toward the gangway. Montgomery stood there talking to a massive, gray-haired man in dirty blue flannels. The man had apparently just come aboard.

“That way, Mister Blasted Shut-up! that way!” roared the captain.

“That way, Mister Blasted Shut-up! That way!” roared the captain.

Montgomery and his companion turned as he spoke.

Montgomery and his companion turned as he spoke.

“What do you mean?” I said.

“What do you mean?” I said.

“That way, Mister Blasted Shut-up,—that’s what I mean! Overboard, Mister Shut-up,—and sharp! We’re cleaning the ship out,—cleaning the whole blessed ship out; and overboard you go!”

“That way, Mister Blasted Shut-up, that’s what I mean! Overboard, Mister Shut-up, and hurry up! We’re cleaning out the ship, the whole blessed ship, and overboard you go!”

I stared at him dumfounded. Then it occurred to me that it was exactly the thing I wanted. The lost prospect of a journey as sole passenger with this quarrelsome sot was not one to mourn over. I turned towards Montgomery.

I stared at him in disbelief. Then I realized this was exactly what I wanted. I wouldn't mourn the loss of a journey alone with this quarrelsome drunk. I turned toward Montgomery.

“Can’t have you,” said Montgomery’s companion, concisely.

“Can’t have you,” said Montgomery’s companion briefly.

“You can’t have me!” said I, aghast. He had the squarest and most resolute face I ever set eyes upon.

“You can’t have me!” I said, horrified. He had the squarest and most determined face I had ever seen.

“Look here,” I began, turning to the captain.

“Look here,” I began, turning to the captain.

“Overboard!” said the captain. “This ship aint for beasts and cannibals and worse than beasts, any more. Overboard you go, Mister Shut-up. If they can’t have you, you goes overboard. But, anyhow, you go—with your friends. I’ve done with this blessed island for evermore, amen! I’ve had enough of it.”

“Overboard!” said the captain. “This ship ain’t for beasts and cannibals and worse than beasts anymore. Overboard you go, Mister Shut-up. If they can’t have you, you go overboard. But either way, you go with your friends. I’m done with this blessed island forever, amen! I’ve had enough of it.”

“But, Montgomery,” I appealed.

“But, Montgomery,” I pleaded.

He distorted his lower lip, and nodded his head hopelessly at the grey-haired man beside him, to indicate his powerlessness to help me.

He twisted his lower lip and nodded hopelessly at the gray-haired man beside him, showing that he couldn't help me.

“I’ll see to you, presently,” said the captain.

“I’ll deal with you soon,” said the captain.

Then began a curious three-cornered altercation. Alternately I appealed to one and another of the three men,—first to the grey-haired man to let me land, and then to the drunken captain to keep me aboard. I even bawled entreaties to the sailors. Montgomery said never a word, only shook his head. “You’re going overboard, I tell you,” was the captain’s refrain. “Law be damned! I’m king here.” At last I must confess my voice suddenly broke in the middle of a vigorous threat. I felt a gust of hysterical petulance, and went aft and stared dismally at nothing.

Then a strange three-way argument began. I appealed to each of the three men in turn. First I begged the gray-haired man to let me land. Then I begged the drunken captain to keep me aboard. I even shouted pleas to the sailors. Montgomery said nothing and only shook his head. “You’re going overboard, I tell you,” the captain kept saying. “To hell with the law! I’m king here.” At last, I must admit, my voice suddenly broke in the middle of a fierce threat. I felt a surge of hysterical frustration, then went to the back of the ship and stared miserably at nothing.

Meanwhile the sailors progressed rapidly with the task of unshipping the packages and caged animals. A large launch, with two standing lugs, lay under the lee of the schooner; and into this the strange assortment of goods were swung. I did not then see the hands from the island that were receiving the packages, for the hull of the launch was hidden from me by the side of the schooner. Neither Montgomery nor his companion took the slightest notice of me, but busied themselves in assisting and directing the four or five sailors who were unloading the goods. The captain went forward interfering rather than assisting. I was alternately despairful and desperate. Once or twice as I stood waiting there for things to accomplish themselves, I could not resist an impulse to laugh at my miserable quandary. I felt all the wretcheder for the lack of a breakfast. Hunger and a lack of blood-corpuscles take all the manhood from a man. I perceived pretty clearly that I had not the stamina either to resist what the captain chose to do to expel me, or to force myself upon Montgomery and his companion. So I waited passively upon fate; and the work of transferring Montgomery’s possessions to the launch went on as if I did not exist.

Meanwhile, the sailors worked quickly to unload the packages and caged animals. A large launch with two lug sails lay sheltered beside the schooner. The sailors swung the strange assortment of goods into it. I could not yet see the islanders receiving the packages, because the schooner's side hid the launch's hull from me. Neither Montgomery nor his companion paid me the slightest attention. They were busy helping and directing the four or five sailors unloading the goods. The captain went forward, getting in the way rather than helping. I swung between despair and desperation. As I stood waiting for things to happen, I twice nearly laughed at my miserable predicament. Missing breakfast made me feel even worse. Hunger and a lack of blood cells take all the manhood from a man. I could see quite clearly that I lacked the strength to resist whatever the captain did to drive me away. Nor could I force myself upon Montgomery and his companion. So I waited passively for fate to decide, while the transfer of Montgomery's possessions to the launch went on as if I did not exist.

Presently that work was finished, and then came a struggle. I was hauled, resisting weakly enough, to the gangway. Even then I noticed the oddness of the brown faces of the men who were with Montgomery in the launch; but the launch was now fully laden, and was shoved off hastily. A broadening gap of green water appeared under me, and I pushed back with all my strength to avoid falling headlong. The hands in the launch shouted derisively, and I heard Montgomery curse at them; and then the captain, the mate, and one of the seamen helping him, ran me aft towards the stern.

Soon the work was finished, and then there was a struggle. I resisted weakly as they dragged me to the gangway. Even then, I noticed the odd brown faces of the men with Montgomery in the launch. But the launch was now fully loaded, and they hurriedly pushed it away. The gap of green water beneath me grew wider. I pushed back with all my strength to avoid falling headfirst. The men in the launch shouted mockingly, and I heard Montgomery curse at them. Then the captain, the mate, and one of the sailors ran me toward the stern.

The dingey of the Lady Vain had been towing behind; it was half full of water, had no oars, and was quite unvictualled. I refused to go aboard her, and flung myself full length on the deck. In the end, they swung me into her by a rope (for they had no stern ladder), and then they cut me adrift. I drifted slowly from the schooner. In a kind of stupor I watched all hands take to the rigging, and slowly but surely she came round to the wind; the sails fluttered, and then bellied out as the wind came into them. I stared at her weather-beaten side heeling steeply towards me; and then she passed out of my range of view.

The dinghy of the Lady Vain had been towed behind the ship. It was half full of water, had no oars, and had no food or supplies. I refused to get aboard and threw myself flat on the deck. In the end, they swung me into the dinghy with a rope, because they had no ladder at the stern. Then they cut me loose. I drifted slowly away from the schooner. In a kind of daze, I watched the whole crew climb into the rigging. Slowly but surely, the schooner turned into the wind. The sails fluttered, then filled as the wind caught them. I stared at the schooner’s weather-beaten side as it leaned steeply toward me. Then the schooner passed out of sight.

I did not turn my head to follow her. At first I could scarcely believe what had happened. I crouched in the bottom of the dingey, stunned, and staring blankly at the vacant, oily sea. Then I realised that I was in that little hell of mine again, now half swamped; and looking back over the gunwale, I saw the schooner standing away from me, with the red-haired captain mocking at me over the taffrail, and turning towards the island saw the launch growing smaller as she approached the beach.

I did not turn my head to follow her. At first, I could hardly believe what had happened. I crouched in the bottom of the dinghy, stunned, staring blankly at the empty, oily sea. Then I realized I was back in that little hell of mine, now half full of water. I looked back over the side and saw the schooner sailing away from me. The red-haired captain was mocking me from the stern. Then I turned toward the island and saw the launch growing smaller as it approached the beach.

Abruptly the cruelty of this desertion became clear to me. I had no means of reaching the land unless I should chance to drift there. I was still weak, you must remember, from my exposure in the boat; I was empty and very faint, or I should have had more heart. But as it was I suddenly began to sob and weep, as I had never done since I was a little child. The tears ran down my face. In a passion of despair I struck with my fists at the water in the bottom of the boat, and kicked savagely at the gunwale. I prayed aloud for God to let me die.

Suddenly, I realized how cruel it was to be abandoned like this. I had no way to reach land unless I happened to drift there. You must remember that I was still weak from my time exposed in the boat. I was hungry and very faint, or I would have had more courage. But instead, I suddenly began to sob and cry as I had not done since I was a little child. Tears ran down my face. In a fit of despair, I struck the water in the bottom of the boat with my fists. I kicked wildly at the side of the boat. I prayed aloud for God to let me die.