ON BOARD THE "MINNESOTA."
When the crash came, Terry was standing at the stern, a little in front
of Captain Afleck, who held the wheel. The shock hurled him to the
deck; but he instantly leaped to his feet again, and as he did so the
captain's voice rang out,--
"Jump for the martingale, Terry! quick!"
The great bowsprit of the colliding vessel overhung the shattered and
sinking schooner like the outreaching branch of a tree. It offered the
one possible chance of escape from death. Already two of the sailors
were frantically striving for it. Terry had not lost his wits despite
the suddenness of the catastrophe. Just before him were the
main-shrouds, tense and taut with the tremendous strain upon them.
Springing into these, he climbed hand over hand with a celerity born of
frequent practice on vessels lying at the docks, until he reached the
angles made by the shackling of the martingale stays to the
dolphin-striker of the other vessel. Into these he put his feet, and
clasping the dolphin-striker tightly with both arms he held on in
safety, while with a strange, grinding, crashing sound the big steamer,
having regained her impetus after the brief check, passed over the poor
_Sea-Slipper_, sending her down into the dark depths beneath!
The moment his own safety was assured, Terry thought of Captain Afleck,
and in the silence which for a moment followed the noise of the
collision, his clear, strong voice made itself hoard calling,--
"Captain Afleck, where are you? are you all right?"
It was too dark for him to see beyond the length of his arm, but he
hoped that the captain had, like himself, got hold of the steamer
somewhere, and thus saved his own life.
Nor was his hope unfounded. Out of the darkness below came the
captain's answer,--
"I'm here, Terry, holding on for dear life. Where are you yourself?"
Before Terry could answer there was a flashing of lights above, and
eager hands were stretched out holding ropes with a bight at the end,
one of which Terry caught, while another was grasped by the captain,
and presently they were both drawn up to the deck amid the cheers of a
crowd of sailors anxiously watching the operation.
Not only so, but in like manner two of the sailors were found clinging
to the bowsprit rigging. The other two, unhappily, were in the
forecastle at the time of the collision, and before they could reach
the deck their chance was gone, and the poor fellows had been drawn
down to death with the ill-fated schooner.
As soon as Captain Afleck had got his feet firmly on the deck, he
looked about at the circle of smiling sailors, and with as cheerful an
expression as though being run down were quite a common experience, he
exclaimed,--
"Well, you did me up on short notice; and serve me well right too, I
suppose, for not having my lights up. But who may you be, and where
away?"
A jaunty little midshipman who had just pressed his way through the
crowd responded at once,--
"We're the United States war-ship _Minnesota_, and we're extremely
sorry we ran you down; but you had no lights out, you know, and we
didn't see you until we were right upon you. Are you all safe? I'm
sure I hope so."
Captain Afleck looked round about him, and then, with a sorrowful shake
of his head, replied,--
"We're all here but two. Joe and Alec were in the foc'sle when you
struck us, and I guess they hadn't time to get out. Poor chaps! it's a
mean way to die, ain't it?--like rats in a hole."
The look of importance on the middy's face changed to one of genuine
concern at this, and with a courteous bow he said,--
"Will you please come astern and be presented to the captain?"
As they traversed the deck, Terry's keen eyes would have told him the
character of the vessel on board which he had been thus suddenly and
strangely flung, so to speak, even if the boyish officer, who seemed
little older than himself, had not already done so.
The long black cannon stood close together upon their heavy carriages,
with everything at hand, ready for immediate action if need be. Stands
of rifles were ranged around the masts and the base of the funnels; and
the whole ship had the appearance, as revealed by the light of many
lanterns, of being in readiness for an expected foe.
[Illustration: "_The whole ship had the appearance of being in
readiness for an expected foe._"]
More than one ship similarly equipped had Terry seen in Halifax
harbour, and being, like all the other boys of the city, a fervent
sympathizer with the South in the lamentable Civil War, he had
cordially hated them, and heartily wished them at the bottom of the sea.
Now, by an odd stroke of fate, he found himself a waif on board one of
these very vessels, and he didn't like the idea at all. Blinded by his
prejudice in favour of their antagonists, he had been wont to look upon
the Northern men as ruffians and bullies and cut-throats. Naturally
enough, he felt some apprehensions as to his safety in their midst.
But there was no retreat for him now. He had no alternative save to
accept the situation, which, to his credit be it told, he strove to do
with a brave countenance, even though it hid a beating heart.
Following in the wake of Captain Afleck, who on his part was troubled
with no such misgivings, his relations with the New England people
having always been so satisfactory that his sympathies leaned to their
side in the struggle, Terry presently was ushered into a roomy and
handsome cabin, brilliantly lit, where several officers in rich uniform
were seated at a table, listening to a report of the collision just
being presented by the navigating lieutenant, who had been on the
bridge at the time.
The entrance of two of the survivors of the disaster caused the
officers to rise to their feet, and the one who evidently held the
highest rank to say in a tone of sincere interest, as he held out his
hand,--
"I presume you are the captain of the schooner we have been so
unfortunate as to collide with. I assure you I profoundly regret the
mishap. If the blame lies with us, you may rely upon my giving you
every assistance in obtaining due reparation. Won't you please be
seated?"
Not deeming himself included in this invitation, and finding the
atmosphere of the brilliant cabin by no means congenial, Terry beat a
retreat to the maindeck, leaving Captain Afleck to give his version of
the _Sea-Slipper's_ disaster.
On the deck he was soon surrounded by a number of the sailors, who
questioned him about the schooner, and why no lights had been hung out.
He felt very ill at ease amongst them for the reason indicated, but
knew better than to show it, and answered every question as promptly
and as fully as was possible; so that the sailors voted him quite a
bright chap, and one of them was moved to ask,--
"Say, young fellow, wouldn't you like to be one of us? I reckon ye
could join all right, for there's none too many boys aboard just now,
and there's more wanted."
To this proposition Terry gave such an emphatic negative as to rather
raise the ire of the speaker, who, growing red with indignation,
exclaimed,--
"Consarn you, my young turkey-cock, you needn't be so touchy. Better
boys than you would be glad enough of the chance."
Now it was not because he thought himself above the business that Terry
had so flatly declined the sailor's suggestion, although of course the
prospect that had opened out before him at Drummond and Brown's had
entirely banished the notion he once cherished of following the sea.
His reason was simply his antipathy to the North, which rendered the
idea of entering its service most unwelcome.
With a boy's rashness, he was about to say something in reply to the
sailor's taunt that would have made clear his mind in the matter, and
probably got him into trouble for being a "Secesh" sympathizer, when
happily at that moment Captain Afleck appeared and called him to him.
Terry instantly noted the gravity of his face, and felt sure that he
had some bad news to tell; and so indeed it proved for both of them.
The war-ship _Minnesota_, on which they were passengers in spite of
themselves, was on her way to Hampton Roads, Virginia, to strengthen
the Federal naval force there, it having been reported that some novel
and menacing additions had recently been made to the Confederate navy.
As an attack was expected any day, the _Minnesota_ had orders to
proceed with the utmost speed direct to Hampton Roads. It was,
consequently, impossible for her to land the survivors of the
collision, and there was no alternative but for them to accompany her
to her destination, and get back to Boston from there as best they
might manage.
For both the captain and Terry this was a very distressing state of
affairs. The former's presence would be required at once in Boston, to
prepare his claim against the company in which his vessel was insured;
while the latter burned with impatience to get back to Halifax, and
right himself at Drummond and Brown's.
"We're in a fix, and no mistake, Terry," said Captain Afleck, cracking
the knuckles of his big horny hands after a fashion he had when
perplexed of mind. "Of course, the captain of this ship is not to
blame. He's got his orders, and he's bound to obey them, particularly
seeing it's war time. But it's mighty hard, all the same, for a fellow
to be lugged off like this against his will, and to run the risk of
being killed into the bargain."
"Bein' killed!" exclaimed Terry, with a startled look on his face.
"Sure, an' what do you mane by that?"
"There now, my boy, don't get scared," replied the captain soothingly.
"I didn't mean to tell you just now, but it slipped out unbeknownst to
me. You see, it's this way. This war-ship's bound for Hampton Roads,
where there's goin' to be a big fight right away, if it hasn't begun
already, and it's not likely she'll have a chance to land us before she
goes into the thick of it herself; consequently, if it all comes out as
the captain expects--and he spoke right to me like an honest man--why,
Terry, we're in for a battle, that's all, and not one of our own
choosin' either."
The dismay expressed on Terry's countenance would have been comical
enough but for the real gravity of the situation. There would, of
course, be no call upon the two Nova Scotians to take any part in the
conflict. But they would necessarily have to share the danger with the
others on board, and they could not expect the shot and shell or flying
splinters to make any distinction on their behalf.
"Oh, but that's terrible altogether!" lamented poor Terry. "It's kilt
we'll be for sure, and"--here his voice suddenly took a note of
indignation, as if fate had been entirely too unkind--"on board a
Yankee man-of-war, too! Now, if it might be on a--"
Captain Afleck's hand suddenly clapped over his mouth cut off the rest
of the sentence.
"Whist, you young imp," he said in a deep whisper; "keep that to
yourself, will you? You'll get knocked on the head if you talk that
way here."
He was evidently alarmed at the boy's rashness, and looked anxiously
around to see if the words had been overheard. As it chanced, the
sailor who had proposed to Terry to join the crew was passing at the
moment, and did catch his injudicious remark; but although he had
stopped to listen with pricked ears, he was somewhat in doubt as to the
boy's exact meaning, and would have liked to hear more. Captain
Afleck's prompt action, however, having disappointed him in this, he
moved on, but with a scowl on his face that boded ill for Terry should
he be found expressing Southern sympathy in a more decided manner.
Having read his youthful companion a lecture upon the necessity of
keeping his own counsel, Captain Afleck proceeded to lay out the course
of action he proposed to follow.
"We've got to stay by this ship for the present, Terry, that's clear.
But I don't mean to go into action with her if I can any way help
myself. So I'll just keep a sharp look-out for a chance to get ashore
as soon as we make Hampton Roads. There'll be sure to be some
shore-boats coming off to us, and I'll get a passage in one of them."
"And leave me here?" cried Terry, laying hold of his arm with both
hands, as though he thought he were about to go at once.
"No, you young rogue," responded the captain, taking him by the collar
and shaking him just for fun; "of course not. I won't go without you,
seein' that I'm mainly to blame for your being here."
Greatly relieved in his mind, and putting implicit faith in his big
friend's ability to get them both out of their present complications,
Terry, with the volatility of his race, dismissed all further concern
on that point from his mind, and stood ready for the next thing that
might turn up.
His was a happy nature in many ways. He liked the idea that
"sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." He was not given to
taking much thought for the morrow. To do this was one of the lessons
in life he had to learn. In the meantime he lived in the present hour,
getting the most out of it he knew how, and leaving the future to take
care of itself.
That night he had nothing better than a coil of rope for a bed and a
bit of tarpaulin for a coverlet; but he slept as soundly as if on his
straw mattress at home, and woke up in the morning with an appetite
that many a millionaire might envy.
Awaking at dawn next morning, he hastened on deck to find the powerful
_Minnesota_ steaming at full speed southward, with the coast hardly
visible on the right. His heart sank as he realized that every minute
was taking him further from home, and nearer the indefinite dangers
which he must share so long as he remained on board the war-ship.
He had gone up to the bow, and was leaning over the bulwarks lost in
perplexing thought, when a voice behind him said tauntingly,--
"Well, young 'un, have you been thinkin' over what I said about taking
service with us?"
And Terry turned round to face the sailor who had overheard his
interrupted utterance the night before.
He did not at all like the look of the man. He had a crafty, cruel
face, and apparently relished the prospect of having a good chance to
tease the Bluenose boy who had been thrown in his way. The North was
well aware how strongly sympathy with the South ran in Halifax; and as
Terry came from that city, the Yankee sailor would have taken it for
granted that the boy sided with the enemy, even though he had had no
other ground for the belief.
Not knowing what reply to make, Terry discreetly kept silence, and his
questioner continued,--
"You're kinder bashful, I reckon, and don't like to say how glad you'd
be of the chance."
Now this, of course, was far from being Terry's state of mind, as the
sailor well knew; yet the boy shrank from admitting it. Had the place
been Long Wharf, he would not have hesitated for a moment to give a
Roland for the other's Oliver, and then trusted to his legs to carry
him out of danger. But on the deck of the sailor's own ship it was an
altogether different matter.
His position was certainly calculated to teach him a fine lesson in
self-control. But it is very doubtful if he would have been equal to
the strain. Happily, before he was tempted overmuch, Captain Afleck
appeared upon the scene, and taking in the situation at a glance,
called him to him, as though he had something to communicate of
importance.
Glad of this diversion, Terry turned his back upon the sailor, and
joined the captain, who, when they had moved apart a little, proceeded
to say,--
"You mustn't be talkin' with the sailors, my boy, any more than you can
help, or you'll be puttin' your foot in it for sure. They're a mighty
touchy lot, I can tell you; and if they find you letting on that you
want the Southerners to win, there's no sayin' how hot they'll make it
for you."
Terry promised to be careful, adding with a rueful face,--
"Oh! but it's meself that wants to be off the botherin' ship. Sure I
never axed to be aboard her, and it's sick I am of her entirely."
Captain Afleck could not keep back a laugh. The boy seemed so deeply
concerned about his perplexities whenever he stopped to think of them,
although he could forget them so completely when something else engaged
his mind.
"Keep your heart up, Terry," he said, in a cheering tone. "We're on a
losin' tack now seemingly, but we may 'bout ship soon. Come along with
me and see if they won't give us some breakfast."
They found a ready welcome at one of the sailors' messes, and a big
piece of bread washed down with steaming coffee perceptibly lightened
Terry's spirits, for the time being at all events.
All that day and the next the _Minnesota_ maintained her strenuous
speed; and as the afternoon wore on, the signs of bustle and excitement
on board, and the earnest way in which the men talked together, showed
that they were rapidly nearing their destination.
The approach of battle is a serious enough matter when the forces on
both sides are pretty well known, and the character of the undertaking
can be at least measurably estimated; but it is a very different matter
when neither of these things is known, and when the affair is very much
of a leap in the dark.
Now this was just the state of things on the _Minnesota_. No one on
board, not even her captain, had any clear knowledge of the perils and
difficulties to be encountered. The Confederate naval force might be
found overwhelmingly strong or miserably weak. Moreover, there were
certain disturbing rumours afloat about an alarming novelty, in the way
of a naval monster, against which no wooden vessel would have the
slightest chance. Of this mystery the Norfolk navy-yard still held the
secret, although it was generally believed to be about ripe for
revelation.