"Now far he sweeps, where scarce a summer smiles,
On Bhering's rocks, or Greenland's naked isles;
Cold on his midnight watch the breezes blow,
From wastes that slumber in eternal snow,
And waft across the waves' tumultuous roar,
The wolf's long howl from Oonalaska's shore,"
Campbell.
Roswell Gardiner set about his duties, the succeeding day, with a shade of
deep reflection on his brow. A crisis had, indeed, come in his affairs,
and it behooved him to look well to his proceedings. Daggett's presence on
the island was no longer of any moment to himself or his owner, but there
remained the secret of the Key, and of the buried treasure. Should the two
schooners keep together, how was he to acquit himself in that part of his
duty, without admitting of a partnership, against which he knew that every
fibre in the deacon's system, whether physical or moral, would revolt.
Still, his word was pledged, and he had no choice but to remain, and help
fill up the rival Sea Lion, and trust to his own address in getting rid of
her again, as the two vessels proceeded north.
The chief mate of Daggett's craft, though a good sealer, was an impetuous
and reckless man, and had more than once found fault with the great
precautions used, by the orders of Roswell. Macy, as this officer was
called, was for making a regular onslaught upon the animals, slaying as
many as they could at once, and then take up the business of curing and
trying-out as a regular job. He had seen such things done with success,
and he believed it was the most secure mode of getting along. 'Some of
these fine mornings,' as he expressed it, 'Captain Gar'ner would turn out,
and find that his herd was off--gone to pasture in some other field.' This
was a view of the matter with which Roswell did not at all agree. His
forbearing and cautious policy had produced excellent results so far, and
he hoped it would continue so to do, until both schooners were full. On
the morning when the men next went forth, he as leader of both crews,
therefore, our young master renewed his admonitions, pointing out to the
new-comers, in particular, the great necessity there was of using
forbearance, and not to alarm the seals more than the work indispensably
required. The usual number of "Ay, ay's, sir!" were given in reply, and
the gangs went along the rocks, seemingly in a good humour to obey these
injunctions.
Circumstances, however, were by no means favourable to giving Roswell the
same influence over the Vineyard-men as he possessed over his own crew. He
was a young commander, and this was his first voyage in that capacity, as
all well knew; then, there had been rivalry and competition between the
two crafts, which was a feeling not so easily removed; next, Macy felt,
and even intimated, that he was the lawful commander of his own schooner,
in cases in which Daggett was disabled, and that the latter had no power
to transfer him and his people to the authority of any other individual.
All these points were discussed that day with some freedom, particularly
among the Vineyard-men, and especially the last.
Wisely has it been said that "the king's name is a tower of strength."
They who have the law on their side, carry with them a weight of authority
that it is not easy to shake by means of pure reasoning on right or wrong.
Men are much inclined to defer to those who are thus armed, legal control
being ordinarily quite as effective in achieving a victory, as having
one's "quarrel just." In a certain sense, authority indeed becomes
justice, and we look to its proper exercise as one of the surest means of
asserting what "is right between man and man."
"The _commodore_ says that the critturs are to be treated delicately,"
said Macy, laughing, as he lanced his first seal that morning, a young
one of the fur species; "so take up the pet, lads, and lay it in its
cradle, while I go look for its mamma."
A shout of merriment succeeded this sally, and the men were only so much
the more disposed to be rebellious and turbulent, in consequence of
hearing so much freedom of remark in their officer.
"The child's in its cradle, Mr. Macy," returned Jenkins, who was a wag as
well as the mate. "In my judgment, the best mode of rocking it to sleep
will be by knocking over all these grim chaps that are so plenty in our
neighbourhood."
"Let 'em have it!" cried Macy, making an onset on an elephant, as he
issued the order. In an instant, the rocks at that point of the island
were a scene of excitement and confusion. Hazard, who was near at hand,
succeeded in restraining his own people, but it really seemed as if the
Vineyard-men were mad. A great many seals were killed, it is true; but
twenty were frightened to take refuge in the ocean, where one was slain.
All animals have their alarm cries, or, if not absolutely cries, signals
that are understood by themselves. Occasionally, one sees a herd, or a
flock, take to its heels, or to its wings, without any apparent cause, but
in obedience to some warning that is familiar to their instincts. Thus
must it have been with the seals; for the rocks were soon deserted, even
at the distance of a league from the scene of slaughter, leaving Hazard
and his gang literally with nothing to do, unless, indeed, they returned
to complete some stowage that remained to be done, on board their own
craft.
"I suppose you know, Mr. Macy, all this is contrary to orders," said
Hazard, as he was leading his own gang back towards the cove. "You see I
am obliged to go in and report."
"Report and welcome!" was the answer. "I have no commander but Captain
Daggett;--and, by the way, if you see him, Hazard, just tell him we have
made a glorious morning's work of it."
"Ay, ay; you will have your hands full enough to-day, Macy; but how will
it be to-morrow?"
"Why, just as it has been to-day. The devils must come up to blow, and
we're sartain of 'em, somewhere along the shore. This day's work is worth
any two that I've seen; since I came upon the island."
"Very true; but what will to-morrow's work be worth? I will tell Captain
Daggett what you wish me to say, however, and we will hear his opinion on
the subject. In my judgment, he means to command his craft till she gets
back to the Hole, legs or no legs."
Hazard went his way, shaking his head ominously as he proceeded. Nor was
he much mistaken in what he expected from Daggett's anger. That
experienced sealer sent for his mate, and soon gave him to understand that
he was yet his commander. Loose and neighbourly as is usually the
discipline of one of these partnership vessels, there is commonly a man on
board who is every way competent to assert the authority given him by the
laws, as well as by his contract. Macy was sent for, rebuked, and menaced
with degradation from his station, should he again presume to violate his
orders. As commonly happens in cases of this nature, regrets were
expressed by the offender, and future obedience promised.
But the mischief was done. Sealing was no longer the regular, systematic
pursuit it had been on that island, but had become precarious and
changeful. At times, the men met with good success; then, days would occur
in which not a single creature, of any of the different species, would be
taken. The Vineyard schooner was not more than half-full, and the season
was fast drawing to a close. Roswell was quite ready to sail, and he began
to chafe a little under the extra hazards that were thus imposed on
himself and his people.
In the mean time, or fully three weeks after the occurrence of the
accident to Daggett, the injuries received by the wounded man were fast
healing. The bones had knit, and the leg promised, in another month, to
become tolerably sound, if not as strong as it had been before the hurt.
All the bruises were well, and the captain of the Vineyard craft was just
beginning to move about a little on crutches; a prodigious relief to one
of his habits, after the confinement to the house. By dint of great care,
he could work his way down on the shelf that stretched, like a terrace,
for two hundred yards beneath the dwelling. Here he met Roswell, on the
morning of the Sabbath, just three weeks after their unfortunate visit to
the mountain. Each took his seat on a low point of rock, and they began to
converse on their respective prospects, and on the condition of their
vessels and crews. Stephen was near his officer, as usual.
"I believe Stimson was right in urging me to give the men their Sabbaths,"
observed Gardiner, glancing round at the different groups, in which the
men were washing, shaving, and otherwise getting rid of the impurities
created by another week of toil. "They begin anew, after a little rest,
with a better will, and steadier hands."
"Yes, the Sabbath _is_ a great privilege, especially to such as are on
shore," returned Daggett. "At sea, I make no great account of it: a craft
must jog along, high days or holidays."
"Depend on it, the same account is kept of the day, Captain Daggett, in
the great log-book above, whether a man is on or off soundings," put in
Stephen, who was privileged ever to deliver his sentiments on such
subjects. "The Lord is God on the sea, as on the land."
There was a pause; for the solemn manner and undoubted sincerity of the
speaker produced an impression on his companions, little given as they
were to thinking deeply on things of that nature. Then Roswell renewed the
discourse, turning it on a matter that had been seriously uppermost in his
mind for several days.
"I wish to converse with you, Captain Daggett, about our prospects and
chances," he said. "My schooner is full, as you know. We could do no more,
if we stayed here another season. You are about half-full, with a greatly
diminished chance of filling up this summer. Mr. Macy's attack on the
seals has put you back a month, at least, and every day we shall find the
animals less easy to take. The equinox is not very far off, and then, you
know, we shall get less and less sun,--so little, as to be of no great use
to us. We want day-light to get through the ice, and we shall have a long
hundred leagues of it between us and clear water, even were we to get
under way to-morrow. Remember what a serious thing it would be, to get
caught up here, in so high a latitude, after the sun has left us!"
"I understand you, Gardner," answered the other, quietly, though his
manner denoted a sort of compelled resignation, rather than any cordial
acquiescence in that which he believed his brother master intended to
propose. "You're master of your own vessel; and I dare say Deacon Pratt
would be much rejoiced to see you coming in between Shelter Island and
Oyster Pond. I'm but a cripple, or I think the Vineyard craft wouldn't be
many days' run astarn!"
Roswell was provoked; but his pride was touched also. Biting his lip, he
was silent for a moment, when he spoke very much to the point, but
generously, and like a man.
"I'll tell you what it is, Daggett," said our hero, "good-fellowship is
good-fellowship, and the flag is the flag. It is the duty of all us Yankee
seamen to stand by the stripes; and I hope I'm as ready as another to do
what I ought to do, in such a matter; but my owner is a close calculator,
and I am much inclined to think that he will care less for this sort of
feeling than you and I. The deacon was never in blue water."
"So I suppose--He has a charming daughter, I believe, Gar'ner?"
"You mean his niece, I suppose," answered Roswell, colouring. "The deacon
never had any child himself, I believe--at least he has none living. Mary
Pratt is his niece."
"It's all the same--niece or daughter, she's comely, and will be rich, I
hear. _Well_, I am _poor_, and what is more, a _cripple!_"
Roswell could have knocked his companion down, for he perfectly understood
the character of the allusion; but he had sufficient self-command to
forbear saying anything that might betray how much he felt.
It is always easier to work upon the sensitiveness of a spirited and
generous-minded man, than to influence him by force or apprehensions.
Roswell had never liked the idea of leaving Daggett behind him, at that
season, and in that latitude; and he relished it still less, now that he
saw a false reason might be attributed to his conduct.
"You certainly do not dream of wintering here, Captain Daggett?" he said,
after a pause.
"Not if I can help it. But the schooner can never go back to the Vineyard
without a full hold. The very women would make the island too hot for us
in such a case. Do your duty by Deacon Pratt, Gar'ner, and leave me here
to get along as well as I can. I shall be able to walk a little in a
fortnight; and, in a month, I hope to be well enough to get out among the
people, and regulate their sealing a little myself. Mr. Macy will be more
moderate with my eye on him."
"A month! He who stays here another month may almost make up his mind to
stay eight more of them; if, indeed, he ever get away from the group at
all!"
"A late start is better than a half-empty vessel. When you get in to
Oyster Pond, Gar'ner, I hope you will send a line across to the Vineyard,
and tell 'em all about us."
Another long and brooding pause succeeded, during which Roswell's mind was
made up.
"I will do this with you, Daggett," he said, speaking like one who had
fully decided on his course. "Twenty days longer will I remain here, and
help to make out your cargo; after which I sail, whether you get another
skin or a thousand. This will be remaining as long as any prudent man
ought to stay in so high a latitude."
"Give me your hand, Gar'ner. I knew you had the clear stuff in you, and
that it would make itself seen at the proper moment. I trust that
Providence will favour us--it's really a pity to lose as fine a day as
this; especially as the crittur's are coming up on the rocks to bask,
something like old times!"
"You'll gain no great help from that Providence you just spoke of, Captain
Daggett, by forgetting to keep 'Holy the Sabbath,'" said Stimson,
earnestly. "Try forbearance a little, and find the good that will come of
it."
"He is right," said Roswell, "as I know from having done as he advises.
Well, our bargain is made. For twenty days longer I stay here, helping you
to fill up. That will bring us close upon the equinox, when I shall get to
the northward as fast as I can. In that time, too, I think you will be
able to return to duty."
This, then, was the settled arrangement. Roswell felt that he conceded
more than he ought to do; but the feeling of good-fellowship was active
within him, and he was strongly averse to doing anything that might wear
the appearance of abandoning a companion in his difficulties. All this
time our hero was fully aware that he was befriending a competitor; and he
was not without his suspicions that Daggett wished to keep him within his
view until the visit had been paid to the Key. Nevertheless, Roswell's
mind was made up. He would remain the twenty days, and do all he could in
that time to help along the voyage of the Vineyarders.
The sealing was now continued with more order and method than had been
observed under Macy's control. The old caution was respected, and the work
prospered in proportion. Each night, on his return to the house, Gardiner
had a good report to make; and that peculiar snapping of the eye, that
denoted Daggett's interest in his calling, was to be again traced in the
expression of the Vineyarder's features; a certain proof that he was fast
falling into his old train of thought and feeling. Daggett was never
happier than when listening to some account of the manner in which an old
elephant or lion had been taken, or a number of fur-seals had been made to
pay their tribute to the enterprise and address of his people.
As for Roswell, though he complied with his promise, and carried on the
duty with industry and success, his eye was constantly turned on those
signs that denote the advance of the seasons. Now he scanned the ocean to
the northward, and noted the diminished number as well as lessened size of
the floating bergs; proofs that the summer and the waves had been at work
on their sides. Next, his look was on the sun, which was making his daily
course, lower and lower, each time that he appeared, settling rapidly away
towards the north, as if in haste to quit a hemisphere that was so little
congenial to his character. The nights, always cool in that region, began
to menace frost; and the signs of the decline of the year that come so
much later in more temperate climates, began to make themselves apparent
here. It is true, that of vegetation there was so little, and that little
so meagre and of so hardy a nature, that in this respect the progress of
the seasons was not to be particularly noted; but in all others, Roswell
saw with growing uneasiness that the latest hour of his departure was
fast drawing near.
The sealing went on the while, and with reasonable returns, though the
golden days of the business had been seriously interrupted by Macy's
indiscretion and disobedience. The men worked hard, for they too foresaw
the approach of the long night of the antarctic circle, and all the risk
of remaining too long. As we have had frequent occasion to use the term
'antarctic,' it may be well here to say a few words in explanation. It is
not our wish to be understood that these sealers had penetrated literally
within that belt of eternal snows and ice, but approximatively. Few
navigators, so far as our knowledge extends, have absolutely gone as far
south as this. Wilkes did it, it is true; and others among the late
explorers have been equally enterprising and successful. The group visited
by Gardiner on this occasion was quite near to this imaginary line; but we
do not feel at liberty precisely to give its latitude and longitude. To
this hour it remains a species of private property; and in this age of
anti-rentism and other audacious innovations on long-received and
venerable rules of conduct, we do not choose to be parties to any inroads
on the rights of individuals when invaded by the cupidity and ruthless
power of numbers. Those who wish to imitate Roswell must find the islands
by bold adventure as he reached them; for we are tongue-tied on the
subject. It is enough, therefore, that we say the group is _near_ the
antarctic circle; whether a little north or a little south of it, is a
matter of no moment. As those seas have a general character, we shall
continue to call-them the antarctic seas; with the understanding that,
included in the term, are the nearest waters without as well as within the
circle.
Glad enough was Roswell Gardiner when his twenty days were up. March was
now far advanced, and the approach of the long nights was near. The
Vineyard craft was not full, nor was Daggett yet able to walk without a
crutch; but orders were issued by Gardiner, on the evening of the last
day, for his own crew to "knock off sealing," and to prepare to get under
way for home.
"Your mind is made up, Gar'ner," said Daggett, in a deprecating sort of
way, as if he still had latent hopes of persuading his brother-master to
remain a little longer "Another week would almost fill us up."
"Not another day," was the answer. "I have stayed too long already, and
shall be off in the morning. If you will take my advice. Captain Daggett,
you will do the same thing. Winter comes in this latitude very much as
spring appears in our own; or with a hop, skip, and a jump. I have no
fancy to be groping about among the ice, after the nights get to be longer
than the days!"
"All true enough, Gar'ner; all quite true--but it has such a look to take
a craft home, and she not full!"
"You have a great abundance of provisions; stop and whale awhile on the
False Banks, as you go north. I would much rather stick by you there a
whole month, than remain here another day."
"You make me narvous, talking of the group in this way! I'm sartain that
this bay must remain clear of ice several weeks longer."
"Perhaps it may; it is more likely to be so than to freeze up. But this
will not lengthen the days and carry us safe through the fields and bergs
that we know are drifting about out here to the northward. There's a
hundred leagues of ocean thereaway, Daggett, that I care for more just
now, than for all the seal that are left on these islands. But, talking is
useless; I go to-morrow; if you are wise, you will sail in company."
This settled the matter. Daggett well knew it would be useless to remain
without the aid of Roswell's counsel, and that of his crew's hands; for
Macy was not to be trusted any more as the leader of a gang of sealers.
The man had got to be provoked and reckless, and had called down upon
himself latterly more than one rebuke. It was necessary, therefore, that
one of the Sea Lions should accompany the other. The necessary orders were
issued accordingly, and "hey for home!" were the words that now cheerfully
passed from mouth to mouth. That pleasant idea of "home," in which is
concentrated all that is blessed in this life, the pale of the Christian
duties and charities excepted, brings to each mind its particular forms of
happiness and good. The weather-beaten seaman, the foot-worn soldier, the
weary traveller, the adventurer in whatever lands interest or pleasure
may lead, equally feels a throb at his heart as he hears the welcome
sounds of "hey for home." Never were craft prepared for sea with greater
rapidity than was the case now with our two Sea Lions. It is true that the
Oyster-Ponders were nearly ready, and had been quite so, for a fortnight;
but a good deal remained to be done among the Vineyarders. The last set
themselves to their task with a hearty good-will, however, and with
corresponding results.
"We will leave the house standing for them that come after us," said
Roswell, when the last article belonging to his schooner was taken out of
it. "The deacon has crammed us so full of wood that I shall be tempted to
throw half of it overboard, now we have so much cargo. Let all stand,
Hazard, bunks, planks and all; for really we have no room for the
materials. Even this wood," pointing to a pile of several cords that had
been landed already to make room for skins and casks that had been brought
out in shocks, "must go to the next comer. Perhaps it may be one of
ourselves; for we sailors never know what port will next fetch us up."
"I hope it will be old Sag, sir," answered Hazard, cheerfully; "for,
though no great matter of a seaport, it is near every man's home, and may
be called a sort of door-way to go in and out of the country through."
"A side-door, at the best," answered Roswell. "With you, I trust it will
be the next haven that we enter; though I shall take the schooner at once
in behind Shelter Island, and tie her up to the deacon's wharf."
What images of the past and future did these few jocular words awaken in
the mind of our young sealer! He fancied that he saw Mary standing in the
porch of her uncle's habitation, a witness of the approach of the
schooner, looking wistfully at the still indistinct images of those who
were to be seen on her decks. Mary had often done this in her dreams;
again and again had she beheld the white sails of the Sea Lion driving
across Gardiner's Bay, and entering Peconic; and often had she thus gazed
in the weather-worn countenance of him who occupied so much of her
thoughts--so many of her prayers--picturing through the mysterious images
of sleep the object she so well loved when waking.
And where was Mary Pratt at that day and hour when Roswell was thus
issuing his last orders at Sealer's Land; and what was her occupation, and
what her thoughts? The difference in longitude between the group and
Montauk was so trifling that the hour might be almost called identical.
Literally so, it was not; but mainly so, it was. There were not the five
degrees in difference that make the twenty minutes in time. More than this
we are not permitted to say on this subject; and this is quite enough to
give the navigator a pretty near notion of the position of the group. As a
degree of longitude measures less than twenty-eight statute miles at the
polar circles, this is coming within a day's run of the spot, so far as
longitude is concerned; and nearer than that we do not intend to carry the
over-anxious reader, let his curiosity be as lively as it may.
And where, then, was Mary Pratt? Safe, well, and reasonably happy, in the
house of her uncle, where she had passed most of her time since infancy.
The female friends of mariners have always fruitful sources of uneasiness
in the pursuit itself; but Mary had no other cause for concern of this
nature than what was inseparable from so long a voyage, and the sea into
which Roswell had gone. She well knew that the time was arrived when he
was expected to be on his way home; and as hope is an active and beguiling
feeling, she already fancied him to be much advanced on his return. But a
dialogue which took place that very day--nay, that very hour--between her
and the deacon, will best explain her views and opinions, and
expectations.
"It's very extr'or'nary, Mary," commenced the uncle, "that Gar'ner doesn't
write! If he only know'd how a man feels when his property is ten thousand
miles off, I'm sartain he would write, and not leave me with so many
misgivings in the matter."
"By whom is he to write, uncle?" answered the more considerate and
reasonable niece. "There are no post-offices in the antarctic seas, nor
any travellers to bring letters by private hands."
"But he _did_ write once; and plaguy good news was it that he sent us in
that letter!"
"He did write from Rio, for there he had the means. By my calculations,
Roswell has left his sealing ground some three or four weeks, and must now
be as many thou sand miles on his way home."
"D'ye think so, gal?--d'ye think so?" exclaimed the deacon, his eyes
fairly twinkling with pleasure. "That would be good news; and if he
doesn't stop too long by the way, we might look for him home in less than
ninety days from this moment!"
Mary smiled pensively, and a richer colour stole into her cheeks, slowly
but distinctly.
"I do not think, uncle, that Roswell Gardiner will be very likely to stop
on his way to us here, on Oyster Pond," was the answer she made.
"I should be sorry to think that. The best part of his v'y'ge may be made
in the West Ingees, and I hope he is not a man to overlook his
instructions."
"Will Roswell be obliged to stop in the West Indies, uncle?"
"Sartain--if he obeys his orders; and I think the young man will do
_that_. But the business there will not detain him long,"--Mary's
countenance brightened again, at this remark,--"and, should you be right,
we, may still look for him in the next ninety days."
Mary remained silent for a short time, but her charming face was
illuminated by an expression of heartfelt happiness, which, however, the
next remark of her uncle's had an obvious tendency to disturb.
"Should Gar'ner come home successful, Mary," inquired the deacon,
"successful in all things--successful in sealing, and successful in that
other matter--the West Ingee business, I mean--but successful in all, as I
daily pray he may be,--I want to know if you would then have him; always
supposing that he got back himself unchanged?"
"Unchanged, I shall never be his wife," answered Mary, tremulously, but
firmly.
The deacon looked at her in surprise; for he had never comprehended but
one reason why the orphan and penniless Mary should refuse so
pertinaciously to become the wife of Roswell Gardiner; and that was his
own want of means. Now the deacon loved Mary more than he was aware of
himself, but he had never actually made up his mind to leave her the
heiress of his estate. The idea of parting with property at all, was too
painful for him to think of making a will; and without such an instrument,
there were others who would have come in for a part of the assets, "share
and share alike," as the legal men express it. Of all this was the deacon
fully aware and it occasionally troubled him: more of late than formerly,
since he felt in his system the unerring signs of decay. Once had he got
so far as to write on a page of foolscap, "In the name of God, Amen;" but
the effort proved too great for him, and he abandoned the undertaking.
Still Deacon Pratt loved his niece, and was well inclined to see her
become the wife of "young Gar'ner," more especially should the last return
successful.
"Unchanged!" repeated the uncle, slowly; "you sartainly would not wish to
marry him, Mary, if he was _changed!_"
"I do not mean changed, in the sense you are thinking of, uncle. But we
will not talk of this now. Why should Roswell stop in the West Indies at
all? It is not usual for our vessels to stop there."
"No, it is not. If Gar'ner stop at all, it will be on a very _unusual_
business, and one that may make all our fortunes--your'n, as well as his'n
and mine, Mary."
"I hope that sealers never meddle with the transportation of slaves,
uncle!" the girl exclaimed, with a face filled with apprehension. "I would
rather live and die poor, than have anything to do with them!"
"I see no such great harm in the trade, gal; but such is not Roswell's
ar'nd in the West Ingees. It's a great secret, the reason of his call
there; and I will venture to foretell that, should he make it, and should
it turn out successful, you will marry him, gal."
Mary made no reply. Well was she assured that Roswell had an advocate in
her own heart, that was pleading for him, night and day; but firm was her
determination not to unite herself with one, however dear to her, who set
up his feeble understanding of the nature of the mediation between God
and man, in opposition to the plainest language of revelation, as well as
to the prevalent belief of the church, since the ages that immediately
succeeded the Christian era.