Towards midnight, the slight surface fog, which had up to that time hung
over the sea, lifted, when it could be seen that the ice had almost all
disappeared--drifting towards the south, where some towering bergs,
amongst which probably was the one that had done all the mischief to the
ill-fated vessel, were conspicuous in the distance.
The wind, also, had diminished considerably in force, blowing now from a
point to the westward of north, although the waves were still rolling
heavily, as they always do for some time after a storm in the southern
ocean, setting in towards the land that was just faintly visible right
ahead of the _Nancy Bell_, and whither she was now proceeding steadily,
but, of course, making but very slow progress through being waterlogged
forwards and possessing such small sail-power.
There was no moon, to complete the description; but the heavens above
were twinkling with bright stars that gave sufficient light to illumine
the horizon for miles round, for they touched up the crests of the waves
with coruscations of silver, and made the broken spray gleam like jets
of flame above the dark expanse of water. Everything, in a word, looked
favourable for their enjoying a quiet interval on board after all the
anxiety and hard work of the preceding day and night.
Seeing that no pressing danger was imminent, and that nothing more could
be done for the present, Mr Meldrum tried to induce Captain Dinks, who
had been on deck for over forty-eight hours, to go below and have some
rest, as he had a good deal yet before him to go through, and looked
fagged and worn-out.
But the captain would not hear of the suggestion for a moment.
"No," said he; "I mistrust that mutinous chap, Bill Moody, and the lot
who sided with him in making a rush for the boats when we struck. I
know they would be up to some mischief or other as soon as my back is
turned."
"But there is McCarthy your chief mate," replied Mr Meldrum, "surely he
can take command of the vessel, as he has so often done before, while
you have a spell off?"
"Ah, McCarthy, though as good an officer as ever stepped a plank, isn't
myself, Mr Meldrum; and as for Adams, he wants backbone, while Frank
Harness is too young a lad for the men to obey him if any difficulty
arose. Besides, there are a lot of things to see to that want my
supervision, which must be given while I have this breathing time--the
boats have to be prepared and provisioned, for instance."
"Talking of that," interrupted the other, "I have roused up that lazy
steward of yours and set him to work collecting all the tinned meats and
cabin stores he can find, and getting them up out of the steerage."
"That's right," said the captain. "It was very thoughtful, and just
what I had intended doing myself, only I forgo it! I have got our old
friend Snowball, the cook, busy here in the same way, boiling as much
salt beef and pork as he can cram into his coppers, so that it may be
ready-cooked when wanted and save time. The darkey has got the galley
fire in full blast now."
"A good precaution," said Mr Meldrum; "but I do wish I could get you to
go below. If you like I'll remain on deck in your stead?"
But, no! Captain Dinks would not hear of leaving the deck until the
fate of the poor _Nancy Bell_ was settled for good or ill; and there he
remained amidships--the mates sticking by him and lending a willing hand
so as to inspire the crew with an equal energy--superintending the
constant pumping operations which were necessary to keep the water from
gaining, one watch at a time being engaged solely on the task. Others
were preparing the longboat and jolly-boat for service, which was a
tedious job, for the gunwales and bottom planking of both had been
damaged greatly by the knocking about they had sustained since leaving
England, even if they had been properly seaworthy then--a very
problematical point, for many of the boats of merchant ships which carry
passengers on distant voyages are never taken off the chocks or tested
from year's end to year's end, in spite of all marine codes and
Passenger Acts or Board of Trade ordinances to the contrary, and Mr
Plimsoll's effort notwithstanding!
When Mr Meldrum got below again he found that matters had quieted down
in the cuddy. Mrs Negus, persuaded at last that the ship was not
immediately going to engulf herself and her darling boy, had been
induced to take some refreshment--Snowball sending in a splendid hot
supper by the direction of the captain, as the regular routine of the
meals in the cuddy had been somewhat revolutionised through the
calamities of the vessel. If she had any scruples, Mr Lathrope set the
good lady a praiseworthy example in looking after the necessities of the
inner man.
"S'pose we air gwine down to Davy Jones's Locker," said the American,
with a comical twinkle in his cunning grey eyes; "thar's no reason why
we shouldn't go with a full stummick as well as one like an empty meal
sack, hey? Look at me, marm. I treats it philosopherically, I dew, fur
I find thars nothin' like feedin' to keep up a coon's grit."
Mrs Major Negus murmured something about "somebody" being "shockingly
vulgar," but, whether inspired by Mr Lathrope's "philosopherical"
remark or not, she could not resist a second helping of some capital
"lobscouse" which the darkey cook had dished up most appetisingly; after
which the good lady retired to her cabin for the night in much more
cheerful spirits.
Florry's cut head was easier, too, and by Mr Meldrum's directions she
and Kate turned in comparatively early. They really both wanted a good
night's rest, and their father was not long in following out his own
precept, advising Mr Lathrope to do likewise, to which he was nothing
loth; so that, soon after eight bells had struck, all the occupants of
the saloon were buried in repose and the ship quiet--with the exception
of an occasional tinkering sound from the main-deck, coupled with the
"clink-clank" of the chain-pumps and the wash of the waves past the
sides, all of which were almost inaudible aft.
About four bells in the morning watch, Mr Meldrum awoke; and, without
disturbing any of the others, he rose and went on deck.
He seemed to have a presentiment of something happening.
It was quite dark now, the stars having gone in and the sky become
clouded over; while the wind had changed and was blowing in short sharp
gusts from the southward, which, with the chopping sea, made the ship
labour a good deal, taking in lots of water forward. She seemed to bury
her head in every wave, her bows being so depressed from the fore
compartment being full; and this compelled the crew in consequence to
work double spells at the pumps, which caused much grumbling, for the
men were almost dead beat, although Captain Dinks still kept them hard
at it.
The disaffection had almost reached a head before Mr Meldrum came up,
on account of the captain keeping the port watch, in which was Moody and
two of his special chums--at the unpleasant task, without allowing them
a turn off below, as he had done the other watch, the members of which,
however, had had their spell of duty before "all hands" had been called,
and thus were fully entitled to the relief. But, the grumblers, in
considering their own grievance, did not recollect this, and the
appearance of the passenger, whom some of them were already inclined to
dislike from something Ben Boltrope had dropped of his being a naval
man, and the fact of his now ranging himself alongside of the captain,
as if to support his authority, brought matters to a crisis.
"Spell ho!" shouted Bill Moody defiantly, dropping his arms and striking
work. "I'm hanged if I pump another stroke! The blessed old hulk can
go to the bottom as soon as she likes."
"Nor I," exclaimed another, likewise leaving off. "Nor I!" chorused
half a dozen more; and, in a second, the pumps were at a standstill.
Adams, the second mate, who was in charge of the men on the main deck--
Mr McCarthy and Frank Harness having been sent below by Captain Dinks
along with the starboard watch--stood meanwhile, staring aghast at the
delinquents and not knowing what to do, "like a stock fish," as Mr
Meldrum thought, looking on the scene.
It was a critical moment.
Captain Dinks, of course, hearing the steady "clink, clank" of the pumps
stop, knew that something had occurred, and guessed the cause; but he
waited to hear what the second mate would say before he interfered,
nudging Mr Meldrum to call his attention, although the latter was
already listening with keen interest.
"Do, my men," they could hear Adams entreat the rebellious gang, "do put
your hearts into it and start work again! It won't be for long, you
know."
"A cursed sight too long for me!" said Moody, interrupting him with a
coarse laugh. "You aren't a going to come over us with your soft
sawder, nor the skipper neither! I, for one, ain't agoing to have any
more o' this slave-driving work! Why should we sweat our hearts out
trying to keep the old tub afloat and drive her to shore, when we can
reach there quite as well in the boats, without half the trouble? I
votes for quitting her at once--what say you, mates?" and he turned
round to the others, seeking their support.
"Aye, aye!" shouted several voices together with acclamation. "Let us
have no more pumping or slaving; but quit the ship at once and leave the
cussed thing to sink. To the boats! To the boats!"
Captain Dinks thought he had allowed the matter to go far enough. The
time for action had arrived, and he was ready.
"Hold!" cried he, in clear ringing tones that penetrated fore and aft
the vessel and which could be heard above every other sound, advancing
to the top of the poop ladder and drawing a revolver from his pocket as
he spoke. "The first man who touches either of those boats without my
orders, I'll shoot like a dog!"
At the first sound of his voice the men had stopped speaking, and now
there was a dead silence in which you could have heard a pin drop. Not
a movement was made by any of the men--all standing still as if turned
to stone.
"Do you know that what you are doing, men, is rank mutiny?" continued
the captain, taking advantage of the occasion. "Return to your duty at
once, however, and I'll think no more about it. What I am making you do
is for the good of us all, and I wouldn't give you a moment's
unnecessary work if I could avoid it!"
"But," interposed Bill Moody.
"Ah, I thought it was you, you scamp, ever trying to foment discord
amongst the crew--a lazy hound, always grumbling and skulking, you're
not worthy the name of a sailor--you are only a thing aboard a ship!
I'll soon settle your reckoning, my hearty!" And, little man as he was,
Captain Dinks sprang down the poop ladder in one bound; and, dashing up
to where Moody was standing, knocked him senseless to the deck with a
blow from the butt end of the pistol which he held in his hand right
across his temples.
"There!" exclaimed he, when the ringleader of the gang was thus disposed
of, kicking his body on one side and spurning it with his foot. "That's
the way I deal with mutineers! Now, man the pumps again, my lads, and
set to work with a will. As Mr Adams told you just now, it will not be
for long that you'll have to stick at it, for we'll soon be able to
beach the vessel, and then your task will cease!"
Cowed by his summary treatment of Moody, rather than encouraged by his
words, the men started pumping again, although without any heartiness,
clink-clanking till daylight, when they were relieved by the other watch
and went below, taking Moody with them--that worthy having regained his
consciousness after a time, in consequence of the water in the lee
scuppers, where he was lying, washing over him and acting more
efficaciously than the application of smelling-salts or sal volatile
would have done under other circumstances.
Before the mutineer went below, however, he turned his scowling face
towards the poop, the blood all streaming down from a rather ugly cut on
the left temple, and shook his fist in the direction of Captain Dinks,
although the latter did not see the gesture, for his face was turned at
the moment to the binnacle.
But, Mr Meldrum saw it.
"You'll have some more trouble yet from that fellow!" said he to the
captain, relating what he had seen and telling how Moody looked.
"Pooh!" exclaimed the captain. "He's only a bully and a lazy grumbler;
and all bullies and grumblers are curs at heart!"
"Ah," said the other, "but those sort of sneaking chaps are just as
likely to knife you as not when your back's turned, though they would be
afraid to face you pluckily, like a man."
"Let him knife away," replied Captain Dinks. "That is, if I give him
the chance! I fancy he'll remember that little tap I gave him just now;
and if he gives me any occasion for it he shall have another!" The
skipper then went away laughing, but Mr Meldrum, from the vindictive
look he had seen on the man's face did not think it a laughing matter at
all.