Boastful as the mate had been, he turned deadly pale as he saw the
dangerous position in which the brig was placed. When, however, she lay
quiet--the sea not again breaking over her--he recovered himself. The
crew meantime, led by Barker, had gone aloft, without his orders, to
furl sails, the first thing under the circumstances to be done.
"Get the boats out," he said at length. His voice had lost its usual
authoritative tone. "We must warp the vessel off."
"No easy matter to do that," observed the boatswain. "I know what these
banks are made of, and it will be a hard job to find holding ground.
Which way will you haul her off, sir?"
"The way she came on," answered the mate. "That was sideways, I have a
notion," observed old Barker. "You will not get her off so."
I soon saw, by the manner the brig lay over, that Barker was right; but
without sounding round her, it was impossible to judge properly what to
do. I suggested that this was the first thing to be done. "Give your
advice when it is asked, Mr Crawford," said Kydd, walking up and down
the deck. "Be smart there with the boats!"
While he was speaking, another wave came rolling in and struck the
vessel with greater force than the former one, breaking over the fore
part of the deck.
"We must get the boats over to the starboard side," said Barker (the
vessel's head was to the north). "They will be stove in if we attempt
to lower them on the outer side."
"What are you afraid of, man?" exclaimed Kydd. "Why, the sea is as
smooth as a mill-pond between these rollers. Am I to be obeyed, or am I
not? Here, lower this boat first. We will have her round on the other
side before the next roller comes in."
Several of the men hastened to obey him. The boat was cleared, and two
of the crew jumping into her, she was lowered. Just, however, as she
reached the water, before the others could follow, another far heavier
roller came gliding towards us. "In board for your lives, lads!" I
cried out, but the men either did not hear me or despised the warning.
The wave struck the boat and dashed it with tremendous force against the
counter, sweeping them off towards the shore. They held out their hands
imploring assistance.
"If we get the starboard-quarter boat lowered we shall be in time to
save them, Mr Kydd," I said; and without waiting for his reply, Barker
and I, with Jack Handspike, assisted by some of the gentlemen, lowered
the boat. Scarcely, however, had we seized the oars, when we heard a
loud shriek, and one of the poor fellows disappeared beneath the
surface. A shark had taken him. The other, who was at a little
distance, saw his companion's fate, and cried out to us to make haste.
We pulled away as hard as we could lay our backs to the oars, old Barker
steering. But just before we reached the man, his arms were thrown up,
and down he sank. He, too, had become the prey of one of the rapacious
monsters of the deep. We now returned on board, the boat remaining
perfectly quit on the starboard side. No attempt had been made in the
meantime to sound round the vessel. I offered to do it.
"I have made up my mind to haul her off astern," answered Kydd. "We
will carry a kedge out in that direction."
"As you please," I said. "It may be right, but it may be the wrong
way."
"It is my way, at all events," was the petulant reply.
It was necessary to get the long-boat into the water to carry out the
kedge. Before this could be done, she had to be cleared of all sorts of
articles stowed in her. It took us some time. The fate of their
companions had thrown a damp over the spirits of the men, and they did
not work with their ordinary activity. I could not help looking out
seaward now and then, thinking that heavier rollers might be coming in,
when our position would be truly dangerous. Where we were all this time
we could not ascertain,--whether we were on a sandbank at a distance
from the coast, or on the coast itself. In either case the danger was
great. At last we got a kedge out right astern, and the crew manned the
capstan. They worked away for some time. It seemed to me that the
anchor was coming home. I was sure of it indeed, for not an inch did
the vessel move. I meantime had got hold of the hand-lead, and hove it
ahead. There was ample water there, at all events, for the brig to
float. I then ran with it aft and dropped it over the taffrail. The
water was evidently much shallower at that end of the ship. We had been
working away all that time, therefore, to haul her still faster on to
the bank. I was determined not to stand this any longer.
"Perhaps, Mr Kydd, you will try the depth of the water astern as well
as ahead," I said; "and it strikes me that if we were to attempt to haul
her off the other way, we might have a better chance of success."
"Leave that to me," he answered in the same tone as before.
"Round with the pauls, my lads," he sung out. "We will soon have her
afloat."
"I am not going to step another foot round the capstan without I know
that we are trying to haul off the right way," said Barker, who
overheard what I had said.
This remark made the mate furious. The men followed Barker's example.
Mr Kydd swore and stamped about the deck, declaring that there was a
mutiny.
"No mutiny, sir," answered old Barker; "but our lives are worth as much
to us as yours is to you."
"Take that then!" cried the mate, rushing forward toward the old man and
striking him a blow which brought him to the deck. "Who is going to
oppose me now?"
I thought the boatswain was killed, for he lay motionless. The crew,
indignant at the way one they looked upon as their friend was treated,
threw down the pauls, and refused to work any longer. Jack Handspike
alone remained firm in entreating them to obey orders. "Mr Kydd is now
master of the ship, and if we do not obey him, whom are we to obey?" he
said.
While the dispute was going on, the passengers taking no part in it, the
mist which had hitherto hung over the sea slowly lifted, and looking to
the eastward I saw a line of coast, fringed with mangrove bushes, and
blue mountains rising in the distance. "The land! the land! we are all
right!" cried some of the crew. "I for one am not going to stop here
and be bullied by an ignorant greenhorn!" cried one. "Nor I," exclaimed
another. "Well, mates, let us take the old boatswain, who was our
friend at all times, and see what is to be got on shore. Would any of
you ladies and gentlemen like to come with us?"
Captain Hyslop now stepped forward. "My men," he said, "I know what you
are likely to find on yonder coast, and I entreat you to remain on board
till we see if we can get the brig off. The probabilities are that the
boat will be upset in the surf as you attempt to land, and if not, when
you get on shore there are savage people, who are as likely as not to
murder you immediately."
"Oh, that's all humbug!" cried one of the men, "just to make us remain.
Mates, are we to go, or are we to stop and get abused by this ignorant
fellow?"
The crew, one and all, with the exception of Handspike, were in a state
of mutiny. I spoke to them, but they would not listen to me. "Well,
you may go with us," they said, "but go we will. We do not want to
leave anybody behind." Without attempting even to bring the anchor on
board, they lifted the still insensible boatswain into the boat, and in
spite of the entreaties of the ladies and Stanley's warnings, shoved
off. Kydd not till then seemed to recollect that he had pistols in his
belt. Drawing one, he senselessly fired, but the men were too far off
to be injured. They answered with loud laughs and gestures of derision,
and away they pulled. We had now only one boat left, and she was too
small to weigh the anchor. I begged Stanley and David and one of the
Mr Rowleys to come with me in her, however, to sound round the vessel.
Kydd by this time was almost beside himself with rage, and did not
interfere with us. We found, as I suspected, that the brig had driven
broadside on to a long sandbank, an eighth of a mile in width, but how
long we could not tell, for the water was deep on the outer or port side
of the vessel; ahead it was also sufficiently deep to float her; and
should the wind come off shore, I was in great hopes that we might yet
forge her off. Astern, however, the water was far more shallow; and,
indeed, the senseless efforts which Kydd had made had contributed to
drag her still further on. It all depended, however, upon the wind
coming from the eastward. A westerly wind must inevitably prove our
destruction, as with the sea which broke against her in that perfect
calm, it was clear that the breeze would have the effect of driving her
further on, and sending the sea completely over her. Our position was a
truly fearful one. Stanley, however, who was no seaman, did not seem to
dread it so much, but Handspike and Timbo fully agreed with me that we
should be prepared for the worst. Deserted by the crew, even should the
wind come off the shore, we could with difficulty make sail, and then it
would be a hard matter to navigate the vessel. We only, hoped, however,
that they would return on finding the unattractive appearance of the
coast. The mist clearing away to the west, the rays of the sun glanced
almost horizontally across the waters, over which they cast a ruddy
glow, showing us the boat just as she reached the shore, I went aloft
with a spy-glass to watch her, and could make out a number of dark
figures hurrying down to the beach. She stopped for some time when at
no great distance, and the people in her seemed to be holding a
conversation with those on shore. She then pulled on, and directly
afterwards I saw her surrounded by the dark figures, who seemed to be
running her up the beach. Presently, to my horror, I perceived some of
the crew running, and the blacks apparently pursuing them. Now one was
struck down, now another. It was too evident that the infatuated men
were being murdered by the savages. Soon all pursuit ceased; and here
and there I could see figures stretched their length and motionless on
the sand. Then I made out a crowd of blacks dancing and leaping, so it
seemed to me, round the boat. A new alarm seized me. I was afraid that
they might attempt to come off, and treat us as they had done the crew.
Anxious to watch them, I did not descend till the shades of night, which
rapidly came on, hid them from my sight. I then returned on deck, and
taking Stanley and David aside, told them what had occurred.
"We must defend ourselves to the last," he answered, "if they do come.
It will be better to die fighting than let them get on board. What do
you advise?"
"We have nearly a dozen muskets," I said, "and with our two guns we may
make a stout defence. I do not think they would wish to encounter our
firearms, even though they possibly have some themselves."
"I am afraid that fellow Kydd will be of no use to us," observed
Stanley. "He seems beside himself. We will hear what Timbo says,
however. He knows more of these people than any of us."
Timbo was standing at no great distance, and Stanley called him up. I
told him what I had seen.
"Not surprised," he observed. "De white men make dem slave, and so when
dey catch de white men dey kill dem. Dat's it; but dey no come off at
night. No fear of dat. Dey t'ink we one slaver; and if we fired a gun,
dey no come off at all."
This information was cheering, as we thought we could rely on Timbo's
knowledge.
"Would you consent to go on shore and gain their friendship?" I asked.
"If they know that we are not their enemies, they may possibly be
disposed to help us; for as to getting off the brig, I fear greatly it
is not to be done."
He hesitated. "Yes," he said at length; "I go to-morrow morning. I
talk deir lingo; and if dey come from up de country, as I t'ink, I make
friends wid dem."
I agreed to accompany him, with David and the younger Mr Rowley.
Darkness at length came on; and as the mist settled once more over the
ocean we were unable to see many fathoms on either side of the vessel.
We made these arrangements without consulting Kydd, for his conduct had
been such that we felt it would be useless: indeed, when I looked round
I could not distinguish him on deck. All this time the brig lay
tolerably quiet, for though the sea every now and then struck her, and I
feared sent her even more on to the bank, yet it did not break over
sufficiently to wash anybody off the deck; the after part, indeed,
remained perfectly dry. Here the ladies had collected, with the two
boys, while the five gentlemen passengers, Jack Handspike, Timbo, and I,
busied ourselves in getting up the muskets and ammunition for them and
the guns. "We are going to fire," I heard Stanley say, and soon
afterwards Timbo appeared with a hot poker from the galley fire, and our
guns were discharged in succession. "Dat keep de niggers away," he
observed, returning to the galley. I was surprised that Kydd made no
inquiry when the guns were fired. As I was going aft I saw a figure
come up the companion-hatch. I could make out that he had a number of
packages under his arm. I was sure it was the mate, and my suspicions
were aroused, though I could scarcely tell what he was going to do. I
pointed him out to Stanley, who was standing near the mainmast. "We
will follow him, at all events," he answered. As we got aft we saw him
leaning over the quarter, and evidently engaged in hauling up the boat.
"Mr Kydd, what are you about?" exclaimed Stanley, seizing him by the
arm. "Are you going to leave the brig?"
"I am captain, and who dares question me?" was the answer.
"You shall not deprive us of our only boat, at all events," said
Stanley. "If you leave the vessel, it must be on a raft, or swim for
it."
Kydd made no answer, but continued leaning over the side. We saw that
he was dropping something into the boat. It seemed that he was about at
that instant to throw himself over, when Stanley seized him and dragged
him back. As he did so Kydd let go the painter, and before I could
spring forward and seize it, the boat had drifted away from the vessel I
would have jumped overboard and swam to her--I was on the point of doing
so--when David, who had followed us, stopped me.
"Stay, Andrew!" he exclaimed. "We are surrounded by sharks. I saw
three just before dark. You would be their prey in an instant."
Meantime Kydd was struggling with Stanley, who however quickly
overpowered him.
"I was not going to take the boat," said Kydd, "whatever you may fancy.
I am captain of this vessel, and I have a right to do what I like. It
was through your fault that the boat got away, and you are answerable
for that. Let me go, I say!"
Stanley released Kydd, who slunk away without uttering another word.
"This is not a time for disputes," said my cousin. "We must be ready
for resistance should the blacks come off to us; though I hope that
Timbo is right in supposing that they will not venture from the shore
till daylight."
So short a time did the occurrence I have described take, that the
ladies were scarcely aware of what was happening till it was over.
"What is the matter, Stanley?" asked Kate.
"Nothing to alarm you, my dear sister. I trust all will yet be well.
There is every sign of the calm continuing; and perhaps in the morning,
when the wind comes off the land, we may get the brig afloat. What do
you say, Andrew?"
"I hope we may," I answered, "as she has not struck very hard."
"Had not you and Bella better go below, Kate, with Miss Rowley, and Leo
and Natty will attend on you! We men must remain on deck to do what is
necessary should any fresh emergency arise."
Kate begged to remain also, but David, and the Rowleys joining him,
persuaded the young ladies at length to retire to the cabin. Timbo
followed them to light the cabin lamp, and I saw them, as I looked
through the skylight, seated at the table, Kate having a large book
before her, which I recognised as the old captain's Bible. She was
reading from it to her companions, the two boys and Bella listening with
earnest looks, though Miss Rowley seemed to be too much alarmed to pay
any attention. The young Irishman and the two Rowleys now exerted
themselves as much as the rest of us in making preparations to defend
the vessel.
"If there were boarding-nettings, we should find them useful," said
Stanley. "Mr Kydd, have you any on board?"
"No, sir," was the answer. "We do not carry such things; and, for my
part, I think all this preparation is useless. The blacks are not
likely to come off to attack us, and if they do, we could very soon
drive them back again."
"If we are properly prepared we may," said my cousin; and we all
continued the work we had in hand.
Besides the firearms we had a few ship's cutlasses; and at Timbo's
suggestion we fastened all the knives and axes we could find to some
long spars, to use them as boarding-pikes. We ran lines also along the
sides between the rigging to answer in a measure the purpose of
boarding-nettings; and before the morning broke, we were as well
prepared as we could expect to be to resist an attack. We were looking
out for the rising sun, when I felt a light wind fan my cheek. I said
nothing, but again I felt it blow stronger.
"We shall have the wind off the shore soon," I cried out, "and we must
be ready to trim sails to make the most of it."
"Who is issuing orders on board this vessel?" I heard Kydd exclaim.
"Mr Crawford, I am the man to say what is to be done."
"If you will tell us what to do, we will take good care to do it,"
Stanley said to me, in a low voice. "There is little use in listening
to that fellow."
The breeze came stronger and stronger; and by the time the first streaks
of early dawn appeared over the land, there was a strongish breeze
blowing, hot, and smelling of the arid sand and damp mangrove marshes.
"Faith, there is but little of the spices of Araby," I heard Terence
O'Brien observe to one of his friends.
"Those who know how to handle ropes, come and help me to trim the
sails," exclaimed Kydd. "Handspike, you are the only man under my
orders. You go to the helm."
We all set to work to trim the sails. Senhor Silva and his servant, who
had hitherto not done much, now joined with a will. The canvas blew
out, and the yards creaked and strained, but not an inch was the vessel
moved. Kydd then ordered us to run fore and aft; but the light weight
of a few people on board the stout brig produced no perceptible effect.
"Had we the boat, and could we carry an anchor out, we might get the
brig off," I observed to Stanley. "But, I fear, now it is hopeless,
unless, indeed, we were to build a raft. With that we may do something,
though there will be no slight risk in the undertaking."
"If you think it can be done, _we_ will do it," said Stanley.
"Certainly," I said, "it is our only chance."
"Then it shall be done," he exclaimed. "Mr Kydd, we wish to build a
raft to carry out the anchor."
Kydd was about to reply, but the captain's look silenced him. All hands
now set to work to collect all the spare spars and planks to be found.
We got up also a number of small casks from below, in which palm-oil was
to be stowed; and this assisted us greatly.
"Massa," said Timbo, coming up to Stanley, "me t'ink it better to have
two raft. Suppose no get de brig off, den we want dem _to get away_.
Suppose de niggers come off, den what we do? We not stay here for
eber."
"A wise suggestion, Timbo," said his master. "Crawford, will you
undertake to build another raft? Mr Kydd seems busy with the one
forward."
Senhor Silva and his servant had, they told us, once assisted in
building a raft to escape from a wreck, and were well able to lend a
hand. While the rest of the party were collecting materials, I went
aloft, anxious to see what the negroes on shore were about. The mist
which usually hangs over the land at early dawn had by this time
disappeared. With my glass I could distinguish the boat on the beach,
and a number of people moving about. As, however, they did not seem
preparing to launch her, I hoped that we might have time, at all events,
to get our rafts ready; and quickly again descended with the
satisfactory intelligence. Believing that there was but little prospect
of getting the vessel off, we did not scruple to use the hatches and
bulkheads, and, indeed, to rip off the inner planking. It would
require, we saw, two rafts of considerable size to carry so many people
with any degree of safety even in smooth water. Still, what other
prospect had we of saving our lives? I had not for a moment allowed my
mind to dwell more than I could help on our too possible fate; indeed,
it would almost have unmanned me to contemplate the hardships to which
the young ladies must inevitably be exposed even at the best. However,
we were doing all that men could do under the circumstances, and that
kept up our spirits. Kydd had become somewhat humbled by this time, and
worked away like the rest of us, without taking any leading part;
indeed, several of the rest of the party were far more expert in
constructing the rafts than he was.
The water, as I said, remained smooth inside of us. We now set to work
to launch our rafts. Kydd took charge of the one forward; I of the
after one, at the construction of which I had assisted. Having cut away
the bulwarks, we worked them over the side with the capstan bars, and
then lowered them as gently as we could with ropes. Mine, I found, was
somewhat the largest, and floated higher than the other out of the
water. We had now to fit masts and sails to them. Fortunately there
was a number of spare oars on board, so that our time was not occupied
in making fresh ones. I however thought it well to have one long one to
serve as a mast. The important business of provisioning our rafts had
next to be attended to. We first got up four water-casks, which we
secured in the centre of the raft. Round them we formed a strong
railing, with a raised platform, on which a few of the party could sit
well out of the water, which I feared, as soon as there was any sea,
would wash over the main part.
I saw Kydd hurrying on with his preparations. "Now, Miss Rowley," he
said, "I hope you will entrust yourself to my charge. I ought to know
better how to manage a raft than those landsmen," and he cast a glance
at me; "and I promise to take good care of you and your brothers."
I did not hear what the young lady said, but directly afterwards I saw
her being lowered down on to Kydd's raft. Her brothers and the young
Irishman followed.
"Come, Handspike; we want you," sung out Kydd, standing up on the raft.
"No, no," answered Handspike. "The landsmen, as you say, will want my
help, and I must go aboard the other."
While this was going on, I saw that Timbo had gone aloft. Presently he
came gliding down by a backstay on deck. "Quick! quick! Massa Andrew,"
he exclaimed. "No time to lose! De niggers coming off in de boat! If
we stop and fight, dey take away de rafts. If we sail off, dey come
aboard vessel, and stop and steal and get drunk, and we get away."
Kydd overheard him. "Shove off!" he cried out to his companions. They
obeyed him; and immediately the raft was clear of the vessel, he began
to hoist his sail.
"Stop! stop!" I cried out. "Take more of our party on board! Senhor
Silva and his servant will go with you!"
He paid no attention to my shouts, but continued hoisting his sail,
though I saw the gentlemen on board were expostulating with him.
"We must all go, then, on the one raft," I said. "I trust it will hold
us, although it was treacherous of the mate to go away, leaving the
party thus unequally divided."
"I am sorry our friends are under no better charge," said Stanley.
"But, Andrew, we are ready to place ourselves under your and Handspike's
guidance. Timbo, too, will be of no slight service; so that we need not
complain of what has occurred. We have no time to lose, though."
Jack and Timbo now going on to the raft, assisted the rest of the party
to descend. I was the last to leave the unfortunate brig. As I looked
round I did not see Natty. "Where can he be?" I exclaimed. I sprang
up the side. My young charge had fallen on the deck, and lay concealed
from those on the raft by the bulwarks in the fore part of the vessel.
"Hold on for a moment," I cried out; "I will bring him down to you." I
lifted the poor boy up in my arms. A falling block or spar, I
conjectured, had struck his head and stunned him. Had I not discovered
his absence, how dreadful would have been his fate left alone on board
the brig. To my great joy he soon recovered. Jack Handspike received
him in his arms as I lowered him down, and I following, without delay we
shoved off, and passed under the brig's stern. The blacks could not see
what was occurring, and would therefore, I hoped, not hurry themselves
in coming off, so that we might have a considerable start of them should
they pursue us. The raft was, as may be supposed, deeper in the water
than I could have wished; at the same time, in that smooth sea, it was
well capable of supporting us all. My hope was that we should be picked
up by some cruiser or passing merchant vessel, and that we might not
have long to remain on it. Still, the risk was a fearful one, but it
seemed better than venturing to the shore after we had discovered the
savage disposition of the natives. If they had murdered the seamen,
there was no reason to suppose that we should escape the same treatment.
The mate's raft, being lighter, had already got a considerable distance
ahead. Our sail, however, was larger than his; and as we had hands
enough to lower it quickly, we could venture to carry it longer in the
increasing breeze. We got out the oars also, which contributed to urge
the raft through the water. We thus, in a short time, had nearly
overtaken the mate and his companions. Few of us spoke much. We were
all too anxious for talking. Senhor Silva advised that we should alter
our course, as soon as we had got out of sight of the brig, to the
southward, hoping that we might be picked up by some vessel bound to
Loando, the nearest European settlement on the coast. One thing was
certain, that should the wind shift to the eastward we should have no
choice, but should be compelled to run back for the land.
We had placed Kate and Bella on the most secure part of the raft, with
the two boys, while we spread a piece of awning, which projected a
little way over their heads, thus affording them some shelter from the
hot rays of the sun. The water remained smooth, and was bright and
clear; and could we have forgotten that it might at any moment be tossed
into huge waves, there was little to give us a sense of danger. Jack
Handspike was at the helm, and tended the sheets while the rest of us
pulled; I kept an eye on the halliards, ready to let go should the
breeze increase too much for our sail. We had brought a telescope,
through which, every now and then, I took a glance astern to ascertain
whether the negroes had reached the brig. We were gradually getting to
a distance from her, so that our white sails would have looked almost
like specks on the ocean, unless seen through a spy-glass, and those
that remained on board we hoped the savages would not know how to use.
Presently I saw the bright flash of a gun, and, a few seconds after, the
sound came booming across the water; then, once more looking through the
glass, I caught sight of several dark objects moving above the bulwarks.
There was no doubt that the blacks must have reached the vessel; but
whether or not they had discovered us remained uncertain. All we could
do was to use our best exertions in getting away from them, by rowing as
hard as we could and keeping our sails spread to the breeze. By this
time we had come abreast of the other raft. I hailed her and told what
I had seen.
"Never fear," cried out Kydd. "We will drive them back if they do
come."
He exhibited several muskets which he had placed on his raft. We also
had taken a couple, and a small quantity of ammunition.
We had got some little way ahead of the other raft, when I proposed
hauling down the sail, not to run away from her. I was about to do so,
when the wind, which had hitherto been getting somewhat lighter, fell
altogether, and we were left on a perfect sea of glass, the other raft
being about a quarter of a mile away from us. The heat was very great;
and as we had been rowing all day, we felt scarcely capable of further
exertion. We had also, we hoped, got beyond the reach of the negroes,
as it was not likely they would follow us so far out to sea. Timbo
asserted that they were black fellows from the interior, as he did not
think the coast natives would have murdered the crew. As we had brought
an ample supply of provisions, we took our meals regularly. Timbo had
provided a small charcoal stove, with which we could boil water, and
make our tea and coffee--a great luxury under the circumstances. We
had, however, to economise our fuel, of which there was but a small
quantity. Considering all things, our spirits rose wonderfully; and I
believe every one of us hoped before long to fall in with a vessel and
be taken on board.
"Our friends on the other raft seem to be making themselves merry,"
observed Stanley. "Listen. They are singing!"
So indeed they were. The sound of their voices, though so far off,
reached us across the smooth water. We had brought some cloaks, with
which we wrapped the young ladies up; and they lay down on the platform
I have described, under the awning, to sleep, the remainder of us
dividing ourselves into watches. The watch below, as we called it,
placed themselves on the other side of the platform, to seek such rest
as could be found. I know, when it was my turn to lie down, I slept as
soundly as I had ever done in my life. The two boys lay down close
together; but during the night I heard poor Natty sobbing. He had
awoke, it seemed, and recollected his loss. It was sad to hear him in
the still silence of the night out there on the ocean. Poor fellow! he
at length sobbed himself to sleep again.
I woke up, feeling a gentle moving of the raft, and, rising to my feet,
found that the night wind had again come off the shore, though it seemed
rather more to the northward than before. We again hoisted the sail, as
we were not far enough out to be in the track of any traders.
The night at length came to an end; and when the dawn once more broke,
we found the same mist as on the two previous mornings hanging over the
ocean. The young ladies and the boy were still sleeping. We looked
round, but could nowhere discover our companions. That was, however,
what might be expected, as the mist greatly circumscribed our view. I
was standing by Timbo's side.
"I fear dis calm weader not last much longer," he observed to me. "I
hope we soon get aboard ship; for if it come on to blow, den we in bad
way."
"We must pray to Heaven to protect us," I said.
"Yes, Massa Andrew. If Heaben no protect us, den it be bery, bery bad
indeed."
"We must not, however, alarm the young ladies," I observed; "so do not
express your fears, but let us pray that a vessel may be sent to relieve
us. Now, I think we had better prepare breakfast. It will cheer our
spirits."
Soon after this Kate and little Bella appeared from under their awning.
"My father would have had prayers, I think," said Natty to me, in a low
voice.
"He would, I am sure; and so will we," I answered; and before going to
our meal, we offered up a prayer to Heaven for our protection, and Kate
read a chapter from her Bible, which she had not forgotten to bring.
The hours after this sped slowly on. Once more the mist lifted. We
looked round for the raft. It was nowhere to be seen.
"I trust no accident has happened to it," said Stanley. "It would be a
sad fate for the Rowleys and that pretty girl."
I could not suppose this, and yet I could not account for its
disappearance should Kydd have continued steering the course we had
agreed on. On sweeping the horizon with my glass, I made out a small
sail in the distance to the southward. It was, however, so far off,
that, in consequence of the slight mist which still remained, I could
not be certain whether it was the topgallant sail of some ship rising
above the water or the bow-sail of the raft. I gave the glass to Jack
Handspike.
"To my mind it is the raft," he said. "The lighter sails of a large
vessel would not look so clear as that does."
If Jack was right, there could be no doubt that the mate had purposely
altered his course for the sake of getting away from us. I could not
help thinking that he was fully capable of such treachery. Soon after
this, again sweeping the horizon with the glass, my eye fell on the
topsails of a vessel far away to the north-west. I pointed it out to
Jack, and both he and Timbo were of opinion that she was standing toward
us on a wind, and that if we continued running as we were doing, she
would before long be up with us.