AN UNEXPECTED DANGER.
During the remainder of that night Bob Brace stood at the wheel, save
now and then when Jim took his place that he might go into the galley to
light his pipe or solace himself with a pannikin of tea.
When the young fisherman lighted the flare both Harry and Walter firmly
believed that the ship which had almost run them down would heave to and
offer assistance; therefore, as the Bonita plunged on through the dense
gloom and over the howling waters without receiving any answer to the
mute appeal for aid, their despair was intense. To have been so near
those who might have given help seemed to make their position even more
desolate than it was before, and after watching in vain for some show of
a light from the stranger the boys gave way to grief.
"Now see here, fellers," Jim said gravely as he entered the galley and
found them weeping, "feelin' bad won't help matters, an' it'll only make
'em worse. Bob says there wasn't a chance for them on the ship to lend
us a hand, even if they wanted to, an' we must keep a stiff upper lip
till the weather clears a bit. By this time to-morrow there may be a
full crew on board, an' the brig standin' up for the coast; so don't
take on so hard. It won't be any use to stay on deck 'cause neither Bob
nor me can turn in, so you'd better go below. I'll sing out if there's
need for help."
Neither of the boys protested against following this advice. Both were
perfectly willing to go where they could not witness the conflict of the
elements, and when Jim went aft again they sought refuge in the cabin
with but little heed to what a few hours previous had been a place
peopled with phantoms of the imagination.
They were yet below when another day dawned, and Jim prepared an
appetizing breakfast before awakening them.
The gale still continued in all its fury. With the single piece of
canvas the Bonita plunged and rolled on her way southward, for the
wind's direction had not changed by so much as half a point, and the
watch on deck looked haggard and worn from the long vigil.
During the early hours of the morning, while the sun, through its cloudy
veil, was trying to dispel the gloom of night, Jim asked if it was not
possible to stand nearer the land in the hope of making some port, and
Bob replied very decidedly in the negative.
"It can't be done, lad. The boys below wouldn't be of any account in
makin' sail, an', besides, we'd stand a good show of plumpin' on the
coast where there wouldn't be the ghost of a chance to get ashore.
We'll keep her as she goes till this wind blows itself out, an' then
take to the boat if there's no craft in sight. This brig never'll reach
port, 'cordin' to my way of thinkin', and I'll be the first to say
'leave her' when the time comes."
On this day there was but little change in the condition of affairs. The
gale held strong from the north, but no sail appeared within the anxious
watchers' range of vision. Harry and Walter were eager to be of some
assistance; but beyond taking a few lessons in steering there was
nothing they could do, and their time was passed in comparative
idleness.
Bob and Jim alternately stood watch and slept until, when night came
again, they were in fair bodily condition for the work before them, and
once more Harry and Walter retired to the cabin, knowing they ought to
do a full share of the labor, but too ignorant to give any save the most
trifling aid.
Before midnight the wind fined down to a light breeze, still holding
from the north, however; and Bob said, with a sigh, as Jim made ready to
stand his trick at the wheel:
"Ah, lad, if we only had a couple of good men aboard how quick the old
hooker's head would be turned toward the coast."
"In case we don't sight a vessel why can't you put her about, anyhow?"
"We'll make a try to get the lower canvas on in the mornin'. You an' I
must have a good bit of help from the watch below, an' they'd be worse
than wooden boys in the night."
This was not the only reason why Bob made no attempt to get sail on at
once. He was yet feeble from the exposure and privations of the nine
days in the Trade Wind's yawl, and although there was but little labor
involved in such watches as had been kept since coming on board the
Bonita, the anxiety prevented an immediate return of strength.
"I've heard of vessels comin' in mighty short-handed," Jim said
thoughtfully, as if trying to bring forward some argument which might
induce the old sailor to take greater risks. "There was a fishin'
schooner from Newburyport what lost all her boats in a fog, an' the
captain brought her home with nobody but the cook to help."
"I ain't a questionin' that, lad. The packet-ship Three Brothers, in the
Chinese trade, anchored inside of Sandy Hook ten years ago, an' nobody
aboard able to lift a hand but two men and the captain's wife--all the
rest down with fever. I could spin yarns from now till daylight 'bout
jes' sich cases; we're fixed different. None of us knows navigation, an'
its got to be all dead reckonin', which is a pretty shaky way of runnin'
even a fishin' schooner. Then, again, Harry an' Walter ain't strong
enough to handle the wheel in any kind of a decent breeze, an' it's only
you an' me. We must lay by till somethin' more'n a good fair chance
comes, else we'll find ourselves in a bad scrape."
"Of course you're the one that knows what we ought to do, an' I ain't
sayin' a word if we run way down to South America; but it's kinder tough
on the boys. I can see 'em, when they think I ain't lookin', wipin'
their eyes an' actin' like as if it wouldn't take much to make both yell
right out. If they didn't have no more of a home than I've got neither
would bother 'bout how long the cruise is likely to last."
"I s'pose it does seem rough," Bob said reflectively; "but what's to be
done? I reckon they'd rather loaf 'round here a good many days than take
chances on a raft. Sailorizin' is a mighty risky thing for green hands,
an' while I can hold my own among the best of 'em in the fo'castle, I'd
make a poor fist of navigation. They'll have to grin an' bear it same's
many a good man has done before 'em."
Jim had no reply to make. Even before the conversation was begun he
realized the difficulty of reaching port unless under the most favorable
circumstances; and now since Bob had spoken so freely he resolved to be
patient, no matter how long they might remain at sea.
The old sailor, instead of going below, where there would be some
trouble to awaken him in the event of a sudden emergency, laid down on
the deck to leeward of the house, and a few seconds later his loud
breathing told of unconsciousness.
To remain at the wheel, the only one of this small crew awake, and in a
certain degree responsible for the safety of all, was a task from which
even a more experienced sailor than Jim might be excused for shrinking;
but it was a matter which could not well be bettered, and the boy stood
up to it bravely. Now and then the white crest of a wave in the distance
caused him to start with joy, only to be correspondingly depressed a few
seconds later as the true nature of the object was discovered; and thus
amid alternate hope and despondency the two long hours of his watch were
passed.
Then Bob took his trick at the wheel, Jim camping down on the deck in
the place so lately vacated by the old sailor; and when his eyes were
closed in slumber he did not open them again until the sun began to send
long shafts of golden light across the leaping waters.
"What made you let me sleep so long?" he asked, with just a shade of
irritation in his tone. "I was better able to stand watch than you, an'
a couple of hours' sleep would a'-fixed me up all right."
"Well, lad, somehow the thinkin' of what might be the end o' this 'ere
queer cruise kept me awake, an' when I wasn't sleepy there could be no
reason for pullin' you out. We'll square it before dark, though. Now
s'posen we get a little grub, call the watch below so's they can take a
few lessons in steerin', an' be ready for settin' the canvas."
Jim, feeling that he was in a certain degree responsible for having thus
unconsciously shirked his duty, carried out these instructions with the
greatest alacrity. When Harry and Walter were awakened they went aft to
their teacher in seamanship, while the amateur cook prepared a hearty
breakfast, which was served on the top of the house in order that all
might eat at the same time.
Then Bob went below for what he called a "double dose of snoozin'."
Walter set things to rights in the galley, and Harry steered while Jim
stood beside him to make sure the Bonita was kept on the course,
exercising as much care as if it was the only one which could be pursued
with safety.
Although Bob had fully determined to turn the brig toward the coast on
this day, there was no change in her course at noon, and for a very good
reason. Before daylight the breeze had died away entirely, and at nine
o'clock the Bonita was rising and falling on the glassy ocean with not
air enough stirring to lift the narrow thread of blue bunting at the
main-truck.
The involuntary crew had spread the yawl's sail from the house to the
starboard rail as an awning, for the heat in the cabin was too great to
admit of their remaining below, and under this all sought shelter from
the sun's fervent rays.
Bob found a reasonably large stock of tobacco among the Bonita's stores,
and with this and a short black pipe he occupied himself during the
hours of enforced idleness, while the boys thought of home and the loved
ones whom they might never see again. The seconds came and went until
the sun was directly overhead, and the old sailor had but just settled
down for a noonday nap when all four sprang to their feet in alarm, as
the deafening crush of an explosion was heard.
The brig quivered from stem to stern as if from the effects of a torpedo
beneath her keel, and the fore hatch was flung high in the air while a
dense cloud of what appeared to be smoke arose from the hold.
Astonishment and fear rendered the younger members of the crew incapable
either of speech or movement, and they might have remained staring
stupidly forward an indefinite length of time if Bob had not shouted,
excitedly:
"It's a case of fire, lads! Jump to it for what provisions an' water can
be got out in a hurry! There's no time to be lost if we want to leave,
for most likely the hold is one mass of flame."
These hurriedly-spoken commands aroused the boys from their
stupefaction, and in an instant all three leaped toward the pantry. Each
took what was nearest at hand, and in a very few moments there was a
reasonably large but varied collection of canned provisions in the yawl.
No water had been put on board for the very good reason that they could
not find a breaker; and Jim shouted, after they had searched several
moments in vain:
"We shall have to leave without anything to drink, for we can't get one
of the scuttle-butts on the boat."
"I'll stand a pretty good scorchin' afore startin' like that," Bob said
decidedly, "'cause you see I know what it is to be thirsty. Fill half a
dozen of the fire-buckets while I hunt after bottles."
During all this time the smoke had been pouring from the fore hatchway
in dense clouds, apparently giving evidence of some mighty conflagration
below; but before a supply of water could be put on the yawl it had
fined down to a thin curl of vapor, and to this Jim called Bob's
attention just as they were preparing to lower the boat.
"It looks as if somethin' had put the fire out," he said; and Bob
replied, as he let go the davit-falls:
"Make fast there, lads, an' I'll take a look below. We don't want to
abandon the brig while there's a chance of standin' by her."
The old sailor went forward, the boys remaining aft ready to lower away
at a moment's notice, and in a few seconds, to the surprise of all, he
was seen going below.
"Now, that's what I call queer!" Jim said after five minutes had passed
and Bob did not make his appearance. "He couldn't stay down there very
long if the fire amounted to much."
"Perhaps he's been suffocated and can't get back," Harry suggested in a
low, tremulous tone.
This idea was sufficient to alarm the other boys, and stopping only long
enough to make the falls fast they rushed forward, reaching the fore
hatchway just as Bob began to ascend.
"Is the fire very big?" Jim asked; and the reply astonished them quite
as much as had the explosion.
"There ain't even a spark!"
"Then what caused the smoke?"
"The brig is loaded with alcohol in casks made of red-oak. That kind of
wood is porous, an' the fumes escapin' have formed a gas that looked
like smoke, but which had force enough to blow off a hatch that wasn't
battened down." Then, as Bob seated himself on the combing and wiped the
perspiration from his face, he added: "Now we can have a pretty good
idee as to why this craft was abandoned. There was an explosion same as
happened a few minutes ago, an' all hands thought what we did--that the
brig was on fire. They hove her to an' got the boats over, most likely
meanin' to lay at a safe distance until it was possible to find out what
would happen. The mainsail was stowed, so she had no after-canvas to
hold her steady. Then she got stern-way-on an' backed off till the wind
filled her topsails, when she started like a rocket, leavin' the crew
behind. Of course she would run a couple of miles, then come to, an'
before the men could catch her she'd be off once more. The chances are
that them maneuvers were kept up till night set in, when she was lost
entirely."
The three boys listened with the utmost attention to this very plausible
explanation of what had previously been such a deep mystery, and when
Bob concluded there was a look of most intense relief on their faces. Up
to this moment the brig herself terrified them because of what had
possibly happened on board; but now all seemed changed, and she was
suddenly transformed from something supernatural to the most innocent
and peaceful of traders.
"Then there's no reason for abandoning her?" Harry said
half-interrogatively.
"Not a bit of it, lad. We'll leave the hatch open to let the gas out,
an' run her in on the coast if we don't speak a craft that can lend us
two or three hands."
"S'posin' you could get some more sailors, then how would you fix it?"
Jim asked, remembering what the old man had said regarding his ignorance
of navigation.
"Take the chances of keepin' off the shore till we sighted a New York
pilot-boat, an' then lay claim for a fat salvage."
"And we should be landed at home!" Walter exclaimed in delight. "We
might stop in front of Harry's father's store, which is close by the
wharves; and I guess there'd be a big time when Mr. Vandyne found out
who had brought in the Bonita!"
"Don't count too much on anything like that, Walt," Harry added gravely.
"Bob said he would try to make that port if he could find some sailors
to help him; but according to the looks of things now it'll be a long
while before such good luck comes."
"We can believe it will be here any moment, and then the nights won't
seem so lonely, nor the days so long."
"That's right, lad; don't trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.
Keep a stiff upper lip whatever happens, an' you'll stand a better show
of pullin' through!" Bob cried in a cheery tone. "I was shipmate once
with a chap what was allers worryin' 'bout findin' hisself on a haunted
vessel. He never'd put his mark to the articles till after he'd asked
all about the craft, an' whether there was any ghosts aboard. Now, you
let a man go nosin' 'round expectin' to see things, an' it happens that
what he's huntin' for most allers comes, or else he conjures 'em up.
Well, so it was with Tom--Tom Byard, he called hisself. He got drunk one
night, an' the next mornin' awoke on a ship bound 'round the Horn with a
cargo of railroad iron.
"It wasn't long before he commenced to hunt after ghosts, 'an this time
he didn't have to look very far. I reckon the liquor--he'd been on a
four days' spree--had considerable to do with his eyes; an' that very
night, while they was within sight of Sandy Hook, he saw, or thought he
did, the biggest kind of a ghost makin' right for him with a bloody
knife. Tom was on the maint'gallant-yard with another chap when the
thing come. He give a big yell, singing out that he knowed it would be
there some time, an' over he went. Nobody ever saw hide or hair of him
afterward, an' the captain put in the log-book as how it was delirium
tre--tre--tremenjus, or somethin' like that, what killed him."
The point that Bob sought to make was forgotten owing to the length of
the story, and even he himself appeared to have lost sight of any moral;
therefore, what had been intended as a strong argument why people should
not seek out trouble passed for nothing better than a very improbable
yarn.
The boys were eager to see the cargo which had given them so much alarm,
and had also possibly been the cause of the brig's abandonment by her
original crew; therefore they went below on a tour of investigation,
which was not very satisfactory because there was nothing but a quantity
of casks to be seen.
Ten minutes in the hot hold was sufficient to gratify their curiosity,
and then the amateur cook sat about preparing the noonday meal.