Thornhall Manor Read Free Page A

winds. We voyaged on and on.
    One sweltering hot day, with the ship hardly moving, I raised my arm to shelter my face from the burning sun.
    â€œI don’t like it. I don’t like it.” There was Nobby, my friend. “I don’t like it,” he repeated over and over again.
    â€œWhat don’t you like?”
    â€œThis weather - it’s too calm, the calm before the storm. Anyway, I’ve come to tell you, God willing, this time tomorrow land will be sighted.” He leant forward, ruffling my unkempt hair with his hand and with a smile on his face. “Chin up, old boy.” He turned and walked away.
    Yes, indeed he was a friend - my only friend on this long journey. It seemed to be getting hotter and hotter. I looked along the deck at the other prisoners. A sorry lot they looked. The thought of land tomorrow sent a shiver down my spine.
    A sudden gust of wind billowed the ship’s sails, and the sun was blotted out by clouds. Then came lashing rain.
    â€œClear decks! Clear decks!”
    With great difficulty we were ushered below deck. In our cramped conditions, with the violent motion of the ship, water spilling about our feet, and the noise above as the seamen went about their duties, hour after hour passed by.
    Then our hatch opened. Seawater came cascading over the ship’s bosun as he descended.
    â€œGuard! Guard!” he shouted. “A message from the Captain: unchain all prisoners.”
    He then proceeded to climb back on deck, leaving the hatch open. There was a look of fear on our guard’s face. He just stood there, then he climbed the ladder, paused for a moment, looked back, then disappeared through the open hatch.
    Cries of “Come back - don’t leave us here!” could be heard above the noise of the wind and rain.
    I knew this was the end. I put my hands together and started to pray: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name-”
    â€œWatch out below!”
    A large bunch of keys splashed in the water near my feet. There was no mistaking these keys. I’d seen them enough around our guard’s belt. I quickly unlocked my ankle and wrist chains, then released prisoner after prisoner who then made, with great difficulty, the climb to the upper deck. Thank God, at least they now had a chance of survival. With the ship listing at forty-five degrees and with rough seas pounding the upper deck, I began to climb to the opening above. As my head rose above the hatch, I saw, there under a heavy beam, the body of our guard. The deck was awash with debris. A feeling of utter helplessness came over me. Would this nightmare never end!
    Then suddenly there was a terrifying noise, followed by a great surge of rushing water that carried me up and on to the deck. Before I could gain a foothold a huge wave swept me overboard. I could see small groups of survivors clinging to floating wreckage, but months of prison life had taken its toll. It was as much as I could do to stay afloat.
    I closed my eyes and drifted in the warm, calm sea. As quickly as the storm had come, so it had gone. Was it not the time to end it all?
    An unholy silence was broken by “Hold on.”
    Taking a firm grip of the outstretched hand and with the breath slowly returning to my body, I was able to pull myself alongside him. I could not believe my eyes.
    â€œNobby!”
    â€œWell, I’ll be blowed! Never thought I’d see you again, me lad. Now hold tight.”
    There we were, both bobbing up and down, drifting slowly in a gentle swell, seagulls screeching overhead.
    â€œHe done all he could.”
    â€œWho done all he could?”
    â€œThe Captain. Blown on to a coral reef. She’ll be cut to pieces.”
    Looking back, I could see the great ship, battered and bruised, lying on her side, her rigging and superstructure disappearing as the sea washed over her. A long silence followed. I could see small groups of people helping the survivors on to