Pirate's Promise (2 page)

“She says she needs a girl.” Big John looked at Tom. “But seven boys is enough.”

“Yes, sir,” said Tom.

“Did your father leave you any money?” asked Big John.

“No, sir,” said Tom.

“You look able to work,” said Big John. “I've got friends in London. One of them might have work for a boy your size. How does that sound to you?”

“Very good, sir,” said Tom. “What kind of work would it be?”

“I couldn't say,” said Big John. “I'd have to talk that over with my friends. One of these days I'll take you down to London, and we'll see what we can do.”

Tom was too surprised to answer.

Afterward, when he and Dinah were alone in the pantry, he said, “Did you hear Uncle John? He's not going to turn us out. He's going to be kind to us.”

“If he takes you to London, I want to go, too,” said Dinah. “I want us to be together.”

“So do I,” said Tom. “When I get work in London, we
will
be together. First we'll have a room or two. Then, when I get ahead in my work, we'll have a whole house.”

“With a little garden?” she asked.

“We'll have a big garden if you want it,” he said.

“I hope we can have a garden like the one at home,” she said, “and I can sit there in summer and watch the moon come up. Tom, what made Uncle John change?” she asked. “Last night he was going to turn us out.”

“Maybe he was cold and tired last night,” said Tom. “Maybe he feels better today. Did you see him, Dinah? He even smiled at us.”

“I saw him, and I didn't like it. It wasn't a
good
smile.” Tears came to Dinah's eyes. “I wish he wouldn't take you away.”

“Maybe he won't,” said Tom. “He may forget all about it.”

But Big John did not forget.

The next day he said to Tom, “Be ready in the morning. If tomorrow is a fine day, I'll take you down to London.”

The next day was fair. The wind had stopped blowing.

Big John said to Tom, “Get your clothes.”

Dinah packed Tom's clothes. She tied them in a small, neat roll.

She said, “I wish London weren't so far.”

“It isn't so far,” he said.

“When will you send for me?” she asked.

“As soon as I can,” he said. “Don't forget, first we'll have a room. Next we'll have a house. Then we'll have a garden.”

She tried not to cry when they said good-by. Big John's wife stood beside her in the doorway. They both waved. Jacky looked out from behind them and made a face. Then Tom and Big John were on their way to London.

They walked through the village and down the road. Horses and wheels had made tracks in the snow. Tom and Big John walked in the tracks.

Late in the day they came to London. Tom had thought it would be a beautiful place. He was disappointed to find the streets so dirty. The smoke in the air made him sneeze.

But there was much to see. There were horses and carriages. There were Christmas trees in the windows. There were people everywhere—more people than Tom had ever seen before.

Big John took him to a room in an inn. It was a tiny room with a bed and a chair. There was a window that looked down on the street.

“Wait here,” said Big John, “and don't try to go anywhere by yourself. If you do, you're sure to get lost.”

He went away.

Tom looked out the window. The city was growing dark. He saw a lamplighter go by and light the lamps along the street.

Far away a church bell rang. He could hear boys and girls singing in the street. They were singing a Christmas song.

Tom turned from the window. He was sleepy and tired. He lay down on the bed and pulled the covers over him. Almost at once he was asleep.

There was a light in the room when he woke. Big John was there with a little man in a long black cloak.

“Get up.” Big John pulled Tom out of bed. “You're going with Sparrow.”

The other man had Tom's roll of clothing in his hands. He threw it, and Tom caught it.

“Come along, Redhead,” he said.

Tom was still half asleep. Sparrow caught his arm and led him out of the room.

“Where are we going?” asked Tom.

“Not far,” said the man.

“Isn't my uncle coming with us?”

“You don't see him, do you?”

They were out in the street. The cold air struck Tom in the face. He was wide awake now.

“Am I going to work for you?” he asked.

The man did not answer. He led the way down a dark street. Tom could smell the river. At the end of the street he could see light shining on the water.

They walked out onto a wharf. There was a plank from the wharf to the deck of a ship. Tom read the name on the ship. It was
Lady Peg
.

“Up you go,” said Sparrow.

Tom drew back. “Why are we going on a ship?”

“Because I say so.” The man pushed Tom up the plank.

“Wait!” said Tom. “I'll not go on this ship till you tell me—”

Sparrow gave him another push. Tom turned and began to fight.

“Leave off!” cried Sparrow. “You'll have us both in the water!”

“Get out of my way!” Tom struck Sparrow in the chest. The man slipped on the plank. He fell and pulled Tom down with him. Before Tom could get to his feet, he was caught in Sparrow's cloak.

He could not see or cry out. He could hardly breathe. Sparrow dragged him up the plank and onto the ship.

Tom heard a man ask, “Did he give you a fight?”

“That he did,” said Sparrow. “My legs are black and blue.”

“Take him below,” said the other man. “Leave him in the crib till we're on our way.”

The crib was a wooden cage below the deck of the ship. It was so small that when Tom stood up, his head came to the top. There was barely room for him to lie down.

It was dark all about him. He could see nothing, but he could hear footsteps above.

“Let me out!” he shouted. He beat on the crib. He kicked the door. “Let me out!”

Now and then he stopped to listen. No one answered him. He was not sure that anyone could hear him.

In the morning a little light came into the crib. Tom looked through the bars. He could see boxes and tubs and water barrels. He knew that he must be in the ship's storeroom.

There were footsteps on the deck above. Men were shouting. He felt the ship move.

A man came into the storeroom. He had brought a plate of food.

“Let me out!” said Tom.

“I can't be doing that,” said the man. “I'm the cook on this ship, not the captain.”

“I want to see the captain,” said Tom.

“You'll be seeing him soon enough,” said the cook.

“Why are they keeping me here?” asked Tom. “What's to be done with me?”

“You'll be knowing soon enough.” The cook pushed the plate of food through the bars of the crib. He started away.

“Come back,” said Tom.

“What now?” asked the cook.

“Won't you tell me whose ship this is and where it's taking us?” asked Tom.

“I can't stay and talk,” said the man. “I've got my work.” But he did stay a minute longer. “Eat your food. I put a bit of pudding on the side, because of Christmas.”

Tom looked at the plate of salt fish with a bit of black pudding on the side. So it was Christmas Day, and this was his Christmas dinner.

The ship was two days at sea before Tom was let out of the crib.

It was Sparrow who opened the door.

“Keep quiet, and do as you're told,” he said, “and you'll come to no harm.”

He climbed a ladder and was gone.

Tom followed him up the ladder. He stepped out on deck. Some of the seamen turned to look at him, but no one spoke.

The cold wind nearly swept him off his feet. He looked out over the gray water. There was no land in sight.

He went to the other side of the deck where the wind was not so strong. A boy stood there by the rail. He was tall, with long arms and legs.

“You, there!” he said. “I never saw you before.” He kept staring at Tom. “I was said to be the only boy on this ship. What might your name be?”

“Tom Pippin,” Tom told him.

“Mine is Diggory—Diggory Smith,” said the other boy. “Where did you come from? Did you drop down out of the sky?”

“I've been in the crib,” said Tom.

“The crib? Oh, that's cruel!” said Diggory. “Why did they put you there?”

“I don't know,” said Tom. “I know nothing of this ship or where it's sailing or why I'm on it.”

“Then why did you come on board?” asked Diggory.

“I didn't
come
on board,” said Tom. “A man
dragged
me. I tried to get away, and he threw me into the crib.”

“I don't understand,” said Diggory. “Start at the beginning. Tell me what happened.”

Tom told him about coming to London with Big John. He told about Sparrow.