Fortunately, the jolly-boat had been safely secured abaft the main
hatchway, the very point at which the ship parted amidships; and, being
lashed to ring-bolts athwart the deck, close to the break of the poop,
the little craft remained uninjured in the general rending of timbers
and splintering of planks that ensued when the beams gave way under the
strain upon them. The poor _Nancy Bell_, indeed, seemed to fall to
pieces in a moment; for, as soon as the keel broke in two and the lower
works of the vessel began to separate, the hold opened out like a
yawning gulf, dividing the bows and foremost sections from the stern by
a wide gap. Through this the sea made a clean breach, washing out the
cargo--the waves bearing away such articles as were floatable to
leeward, whilst the heavier portion of the freight, after being tossed
about and battered out of shape, quickly sank down to the bottom out of
sight.
Some of the men had been on the forecastle immediately before this
happened; but roused by Mr Meldrum's cry of warning they had just time
to escape the inrush of the sea and scramble aft to where the others
were grouped together on the poop, which was now considerably elevated
above the level of the water, the stern having been gradually forced up
more on the rocks as the fore part sank down, until it was now nearly
high and dry. This circumstance enabled all hands to proceed all the
more expeditiously with the construction of the raft that had been
already commenced, and which they had luckily begun here, instead of on
the main-deck that had just been broken up, where they would have lashed
it together but for the accidental fact of the mizzen jury-mast forming
the base of the raft, and their being unable to drag it forward before
the keel of the vessel began to give way. The extra quantity of
provisions, too, which had been got out of the hold had also remained on
the poop; and thus everything providentially was in their favour.
Certainly, their chances of escape now seemed more hopeful!
No time, however, was to be lost; for, although their haven of refuge,
the stern section of the ship, was high up on the reef and almost out of
reach of the remorseless waves that had already done such damage, still
there was no knowing what another tide would effect if the wind should
again get up. It behoved them all therefore to take advantage of the
opportunity afforded them and make their preparations for getting ashore
before it should be too late. Thus urged, the seamen, working with a
will under the supervision of Mr McCarthy and Adams, had completed a
substantial raft by eight o'clock, at which hour a spell was cried and
all hands piped to breakfast.
Meanwhile, the morning had advanced; and the sky being pretty free from
clouds, Mr Meldrum was able to obtain a good view of the land that
surrounded the bay in which the _Nancy Bell_ had come to grief.
The ship had, evidently, not merely been carried to leeward of the cape
by the strong current before striking, but had also been taken some
distance inshore as well; for the reef on which she was lying seemed
more than two miles to the eastward of the projecting point which she
had so much difficulty in rounding, close in to a range of rock-bound
coast similar to that which they had passed to the northward and
extending almost due east for from eight to ten miles--as nearly as Mr
Meldrum could judge--the line of the shore then trending off to the
south-west at an acute angle, as far as the eye could reach. High above
this latter stretch of coast rose a series of snow-crowned hills,
arranged in terraces the one above another, gradually increasing in
height until their peaks culminated in one that towered far beyond all,
like a giant amongst pigmies; while, to the right of this mountain, and
apparently much nearer, on a spur of the chain projecting into the sea
nearly south of the vessel's position, was one solitary peak, which
occasionally emitted thin columns of smoke and which, from the fact of
its summit being denuded of snow, most likely marked the site of some
volcanic crater in active operation.
Altogether, the prospect was sad and dispiriting in the extreme, for,
nothing was to be seen in the immediate foreground but the bare black
basaltic cliffs, against whose base the angry billows broke in endless
repetition, throwing up clouds of spray and tracing out their
indentations with lines of creamy foam; and, beyond the cliffs, were
high table-lands and hills all clad in the spectral garb of winter--with
never a tree or a single prominent feature to vary the monotony of the
landscape!
"We must endeavour to make for that curve in the bay to the north-east,
where the shore breaks off and leads southward," said Mr Meldrum to the
first mate, who, having seen the raft completed, had now come to his
side for further instructions. "It is only there, as far as I can see,
that there is likely to be any sort of harbour where we can land in
safety."
"Be jabers, I can't say, sorr," returned McCarthy; "sure an' it's
yoursilf that knows bist. I belave, however, it'll be the wisest
coorse; for the divil a harbour can anyone say ilsewhere; and, by the
same token, sorr, the current is setting shoreward in that very
direction. Look at thim planks there, sorr, sure an' if that's the case
it'll hilp the rhaft along foinely!"
"You're right," said Mr Meldrum, glancing in the direction to which Mr
McCarthy pointed, where some of the broken timbers of the ship, after
being carried away to leeward, were now steadily drifting past her
again--although now in an easterly direction and in a parallel line with
the cliffs to the left. "The sooner, too, that we take advantage of
that same current the better, as it will be hard work for the jolly-boat
to have to tow us all the way. Let us see about getting the raft over
the side at once, Mr McCarthy. The sea is much calmer now, and I think
we'll be able to launch and load it without much difficulty. The jolly-
boat won't give us half the trouble to float that the raft will, for the
deck forms an inclined plane with the water and we can run her in when
we please."
"Aye, aye, sorr," answered Mr McCarthy, and breakfast being now
finished--a cold one for all parties, Snowball and his galley having
parted company, and the waves now rolling between the two sections of
the ship--the tough job of floating the raft alongside was proceeded
with; purchases being rigged so as to lower it down easily, and prevent
it afterwards from breaking away when it had reached the surface of the
sea, which was still rough and boisterous.
The weather keeping calm and bright, and the wind lulling instead of
increasing in force as the sun rose in the heavens, the task was at
length satisfactorily accomplished.
It was not done, however, until after two hours of continuous labour, in
which all hands were engaged, even Mr Lathrope assisting as well as his
still injured arm would permit. By six bells in the forenoon watch,
too, the jolly-boat had also been lowered into the water safely. Now,
nothing remained but to get the provisions and whatever else they could
carry that was necessary on board; for, Mr Meldrum sternly negatived
any attempt at taking private property, thereby incurring Mrs Major
Negus's enmity, for he refused passage to three large trunks of hers
which she had declared were absolutely indispensable, but which, on
being opened, were found to contain only a lot of tawdry finery which
might possibly have helped to astonish the natives of Waikatoo, but was
perfectly useless, even to herself, on the inhospitable shores where the
passengers of the _Nancy Bell_ were about to seek refuge from the
sinking ship.
Kate Meldrum was far more sensible, taking only those articles of warm
clothing which her father recommended for the use of herself and Florry;
and, indeed, leaving behind many things that he would probably have
permitted as necessaries, in order that she should not overburthen the
raft with what would not be serviceable to all. Unlike the "Major,"
Kate thought that it would be selfish on her part merely to consider her
own and her sister's wants!
As for Mr Zachariah Lathrope, his luggage consisted chiefly of an old
fur cloak, in addition to the clothes he stood up in, besides his
inseparable "six shooter" and a rifle--which latter he stated had been
given to his grandfather by the celebrated Colonel Crockett of "coon"
notoriety, and was "a powerful shootin' iron." The rest of the men folk
took with them almost as little; but Mr Meldrum did not forget charts
and nautical instruments, besides a compass and the ship's log-book and
papers. These latter he removed from Captain Dinks' cabin, at his
especial request, that, should he ever see England again, he might be
able to give a circumstantial account as to how the vessel was lost, and
satisfy both his owners and Lloyd's.
In reference to the general provisioning of the raft, it may be briefly
mentioned that all the bread and flour that had not been washed out of
the after-hold had been collected, in addition to several casks of salt
beef and pork, and such of the tinned meats and other cabin stores that
had not been stowed in the long-boat--for the benefit, as it
subsequently turned out, of the mutineers.
Some casks of water were also embarked; but not many, for, in the event
of a fresh supply not being found on landing they could easily melt down
the snow and thus manufacture what they required from time to time.
While considering the important question of a proper supply of food, the
pertinent fact was not lost sight of, that they would be exposed to a
climate of almost arctic severity for, probably, many months to come;
and, consequently all the blankets in the ship were collected and put on
board the raft, besides spare bedding and some hammocks. Snowball also,
true to his culinary calling, took care to secure his cooking utensils,
clambering back into the dilapidated forecastle for the purpose, almost
at the peril of his life--the darkey subsequently bewailing much his
inability to remove the ship's coppers, which were too firmly fixed in
the galley for him to detach them from that structure.
Finally, one or two small spars and sails were added to the general pile
of heterogeneous articles that had been heaped up in the centre of the
raft, whose buoyancy had been much increased, since it was first made
and launched overboard, by the accidental discovery in the steerage of
some empty puncheons, which were carefully bunged-up so that no water
could get into them and lashed underneath the floating platform; the
catalogue of stores being then completed by heaving on the heap all the
cordage that could be got at and cut away, in addition to some blocks
and a few odds and ends--the tarpaulin from off the broken cabin
skylight, which was certain to be of the greatest use, being, like other
equally serviceable articles, only thought of at the last moment.
By the time all these things were stowed on board, and the raft immersed
as deeply as it was considered advisable with safety--as few things as
possible being put in the jolly-boat, which was kept light in order that
she might be more usefully employed in towing the other--it was close on
twelve o'clock.
This was the hour Mr Meldrum had fixed for abandoning the ship, as then
the tide would be at the half flood, and they would be able to utilise
not only that but the current as well, which would about that time set
inshore--at least, judging by its influence on the previous day in
carrying the _Nancy Bell_ in that direction of the reef. By these
various means Mr Meldrum thought the raft might be floated onward
towards the curve in the coast-line which he had pointed out to the
first mate as a probable place where they might expect to discover some
small bay or harbour to land at.
Besides this, Mr Meldrum believed that by starting on the half tide, in
the event of the stream turning before they were able to reach an
available beach in some sheltered cave--for the current which he had
noticed took a southerly direction with the ebb--the retiring tide could
not possibly drift them out to sea. At the very worst, it would only
sweep the raft down the coast in the direction of the volcanic peak that
had been observed to cap the spur of the mountain chain which stretched
out right into the water at an angle with the land; and, here, there was
every probability of their finally finding an opening in the breastwork
of adamantine rocks that ranged along the coast-line as if to prevent
any intrusive strangers like themselves from getting on shore!
Before Mr Meldrum gave the order for embarkation, however, he had one
last duty to perform on board the _Nancy Bell_.
It was just noon; and, the sun being for a wonder unobscured, he
determined to take a final observation to fix their position, or rather
that of the reef on which the ill-fated vessel was doomed to leave her
bones. This was an eventuality which evidently could not take long in
its accomplishment, for the forward portion of the ship was being
rapidly broken to pieces, and it would not be any great time before the
stern followed suit, some of the cabin furniture below having already
been shaken down, while the poop did not offer a very firm foothold,
trembling every now and then from the washing in and out of the waves
below, as if, the poor thing were seized with a submarine ague fit!
After a brief calculation, as briefly worked out, Mr Meldrum found that
the ridge of rocks, which bore north-west by south-east, was in
longitude 68 degrees 45 minutes east, and latitude 49 degrees 16 minutes
south. These facts indisputably settled the point of their being to the
southwards of Cape Saint Louis, put down on the chart as the westernmost
point of Kerguelen Land, and that the highest of the snow-covered
mountain peaks to the south-east was Mount Ross. The information, he
thought, might possibly be of much assistance to them hereafter in
directing their course, should such a step become necessary, to those
better known portions of the island on the eastern side which whalers
and seal-hunting craft were reported to be in the habit of frequenting
during the short summer season of that dreary region. This period,
however, would not come round for the next three or four months, as it
was now only the first week in August, the midwinter of antarctic
climes.
The last observation made, and the ship's ensign hoisted, upside down,
on the stump of the mizzen-mast--not so much for the very unlikely
chance of any passing vessel observing it, as from the special request
of Mr McCarthy, that, as he expressed it, the poor _Nancy Bell_ should
"have a dacent burial"--Mr Meldrum at length gave the word for all
hands to embark, an operation which occupied even less time than that of
his "taking the sun."
First, in due order of precedence, the ladies were lowered down in a
chair by a whip from a boom rigged out over the stern right on to the
raft, where a comfortable place had been arranged in the centre and
barricaded round with chests and barrels. Next, Captain Dinks was
lowered down in his cot, which had been removed bodily from its slings
in his cabin below, so that he might be shifted without disturbing him;
then, Mary Llewellyn, the now husbandless stewardess, followed suit;
and, after her, Mr Lathrope and the children. Eight of the remaining
sixteen men of the crew were then directed to take their places around
the ladies' inclosure, along with Mr Adams and Frank Harness, while the
other eight hands, under the command of Mr McCarthy, were told off to
the jolly-boat, which was provided with double-banked oars and attached
to the raft by a stout tow-rope--it being the intention of Mr Meldrum,
who remained on the raft as deputy commander-in-chief of the whole party
in poor Captain Dinks' place, to relieve the rowers every alternate
hour, so that all should have an equal share in the arduous task of
towing, a job which would tax all their strength.
Everything being ready, the signal was given to start, when, away went
the jolly-boat, smartly at first, but more slowly afterwards as soon as
the strain of the tow-rope was felt, moving gradually from the wreck of
the old ship, and tugging after her the unwieldy raft, which seemed
somewhat loath to go. But, not an exclamation was uttered, not a word
spoken, as the survivors of the wreck glided off through the water
towards the shore, leaving behind them the wave-scarred craft that had
so long been their ocean home.
It was like a funeral procession.
The thoughts of all were too deep for words.
Even the children were awed into silence by the seriousness of their
elders;--a seriousness that was as much owing to the uncertainty of
their own fate as to their regret at parting the last link that bound
them to their English home and civilisation, from which they seemed to
have been cut adrift for ever in casting off from the poor, old, ill-
fated _Nancy Bell_!