The _Steadfast_ had made so successful a commencement of her voyage that
all hands hoped she would get full much sooner than many had expected,
and be able to return home. The whales, however, having disappeared
from the fishing-ground where she had been engaged, she was about to
proceed to the western part of the Pacific, when a mass of rugged rocks
was sighted out of the ocean.
"An awkward spot to run against on a dark night," observed Harry, as
they approached them. "Hark! what is that strange roaring noise? I
could fancy that a thousand lions or more were assembled together
holding a concert."
"They are sea-lions, Master Harry," observed old Tom; "the whole rock is
covered with them and their cubs. If we could manage to get hold of
some of them, we should find their skins very useful."
Captain Graybrook was of this opinion, and as the wind was light and
there was no dangerous current running, the ship was hove to, and he
ordered two of the boats to be got ready to capture some of the
sea-lions, the ordinary species of seal found in the southern seas. Mr
Champion took command of one boat and old Tom of the other, and the boys
got leave to accompany the second mate.
They pulled away towards the rocks. As a heavy surf broke on the rocks,
rushing up some distance with great force and then back again, which
would have dashed the boats to pieces, had they got within its
influence, they were compelled to pull a considerable distance round
before a spot was found on which a landing could be effected with any
degree of safety. Even there, those who were to land had to watch for
an opportunity, as the boat was sent forward on the crest of a breaker,
to leap out and spring up the rocks, while the boats, with a couple of
hands in each, were pulled back again out of danger.
No sooner had the party scrambled up the rocks than the seals, alarmed
at their approach, made towards the water, rushing down impetuously, and
working themselves along by means of their fins--their heads and manes
giving them the appearance of lions. Their threatening aspect, and the
loud roars they uttered, were enough to daunt any one not accustomed to
encounter them.
"I wish that I had remained on board," cried Dickey. "See, here comes a
fellow; he will knock us over to a certainty. What shall we do?"
The men, however, had brought heavy clubs, with which they struck right
and left as the monsters, with glistening fangs, rushed down on them,
snapping their jaws, powerful enough to bite off a limb in an instant.
The position of the party was dangerous in the extreme as the monsters
came rolling and sliding down the rocks. To avoid them, the men were
compelled to climb over the bodies of those which had been stunned; but
still more met them, and Harry would have been knocked over by a big
seal, and probably carried into the sea, had not Mr Champion, close to
whom he kept, struck the creature on the head and dragged Harry out of
the way. Old Tom saved Dickey in the same way.
Though most of the seals which had not been killed had made their
escape, a few remained on the higher ground, among which was an enormous
male seal. The monster seemed determined to give battle to his
assailants, and came down the rocks towards them shaking his mane and
extending wide his jaws armed with sharp tusks. Old Tom, who boldly
went forward to meet the creature, inflicted a tremendous blow with his
club on its head, but without stopping its career. Wishing to secure
it, he took a harpoon which one of the men, by his orders, had carried
with a line attached to it, and plunged it into the animal, trying to
make fast the line to a jutting point of rock. The seal, however,
rendered only more furious from its wounds, rushed into the midst of the
party, dragging the rope, which, as Mr Champion sprang forward to meet
it, became entangled around his leg. Before any one could rescue him,
he was carried away into the midst of the wild surf dashing up against
the rocks.
A cry of horror and dismay rose from all the party as they saw the young
mate buried beneath the waves. Old Tom and several of the men sprang
forward in a vain attempt to seize him, and were nearly swept away.
The boats were at too great a distance to render assistance. The next
instant Leonard Champion was seen struggling amid the curing crest of a
breaker; but, alas! much too far off to be reached.
"Oh, he is gone! he is gone!" cried Harry, wringing his hands.
Little did he think of the agony his gentle sister would have suffered
could she have witnessed the scene. Happily, those at home are not
aware of the dangers to which their loved ones are exposed till they are
over. When ending fatally there comes, it is true, the unavoidable
sorrow; but even that does not equal the intense suffering of mind which
is endured when the peril is witnessed and no help can be sent.
Again the young mate disappeared.
"There, there he is!" cried Harry, as he was seen struggling on the
snowy summit of an enormous roller.
Onward he was borne. His shipmates, clasping each other's hands, formed
a line, the strongest bravely dashing in towards him. He was already
almost senseless; one outstretched hand was seized. Exerting all their
strength, the men worked their way up the rock, and then, two of them
clasping him in their arms, he was borne in triumph out of the power of
the greedy waves. Harry threw himself down by his side overcome by his
feelings.
"You are safe, Mr Champion!"
"Thank God for it!" answered the young man, pressing Harry's hand; but
he could say no more.
The task of embarking was a hazardous one. The mate was first placed in
his boat, when the seal-skins, which had been quickly stripped off, were
thrown on board; and, thankful to escape from the treacherous rocks, the
party returned to the ship.
Leonard Champion was for several days confined to his cabin. He thought
much, and he was constantly reading. Harry recognised the books which
had been his sister's. "You must find them very interesting, Mr
Champion," he observed.
"I wish that I had begun reading them sooner, Harry," was the answer.
"I feel that I have been rescued from the jaws of death through God's
mercy; and how unprepared I was to die."
"But I hope you will not be exposed to the same danger again, Mr
Champion."
"I pray not, for it was terrible--I can scarcely make you understand how
terrible. I cannot help seeing that I should be indeed ungrateful if I
did not acknowledge the loving mercy of God, who preserved my life, and
endeavour from henceforth to serve Him faithfully, instead, as I have
hitherto done, of rebelling against Him. Yet I am sure that we should
accept the offers of God, and serve Him from love and gratitude, and not
from fear of death; I do not mean simply the death of the body, but
eternal death--the doom of all who die unreconciled, and therefore at
enmity with God."
"Is that what Hannah's books say?" inquired Harry, in perfect sincerity.
"Yes, and much more. You would have found what I now say in the book I
lent you," observed the mate.
"I have not yet read it, but I will try and do so," said Harry; "still,
except on a Sunday, I have not much time, as you know, and the book
appeared to me very dull."
"I am not surprised at that, for I thought it so myself, though I read
it. But now, Harry, that I have had time for reflection, and feel how
nearly I was lost, I see its value," said Mr Champion. "Let me ask you
to read it, Harry, even although you do find it dull."
Harry promised that he would, and fully intended to read it.
Captain Graybrook observed the change which had come over his mate, but
he forbore to ask him questions; he could scarcely suppose, however,
that a peril to which seamen are so constantly exposed should have
produced the change.
"I thought Mr Champion was as brave as any fellow in the ship,"
observed Dickey Bass to Harry. "It seems to me that he must have been
in a terrible fright, being carried off by the seal, or he would not
look so grave and down-hearted as he seems."
"I don't think it was fear, for I am very sure he is as brave as any man
alive," answered Harry; but he made no other remark, for of late he had
become less willing than formerly to talk to Bass on such a subject,
suspecting as he did the real cause of the change which his young
shipmate had observed in the second mate.