"He went overboard and was drowned; and many more will follow him, if we
are interfered with," answered some one from the end of the raft
occupied by the mutineers.
This answer evidently alarmed the carpenter, who was a very different
sort of man from the brave boatswain.
"We will remain quiet till we are attacked, and then, of course, we will
defend ourselves," he observed in a low voice.
"Our only chance will be to keep together and be constantly on the
watch," observed Boxall. "I wish he would let me have his sword; I
suspect that I should make a better use of it than he will."
The carpenter declined to give up his own weapon, but promised to try
and get one--as he was sure that the English officer would make good use
of it.
Boxall had hitherto been able to arm himself only with a heavy piece of
wood, but which his strong arm was likely to use with good effect. In a
short time, however, the gunner brought him a sword.
"Tell your brother officer that I am sure he will fight well with it,
and do his best to maintain order."
"Thank him," answered Boxall. "He may trust me."
Something like order was at length restored; and the mutineers held
their post on the after-part of the raft, while we kept ours round the
mast. Thus the remainder of the night passed away.
The sun rose at last hot and red over the calm ocean; the heat became
intense, and every one was crying out for food and water. Halliday
whispered to me that he had taken my advice, and had filled his pockets
with biscuits and sausages--which he invited Boxall and me to partake
of. We agreed that they would be nothing among so many; still we did
not like to eat them in the presence of others.
"I ate as much as I wanted during the night," said Halliday; "and I
think if you were to sit down behind me, you might be able to get some
food into your mouth without being observed. I should like to give the
carpenter some, though."
I undertook to convey a small portion to him. He was very grateful for
it, and did not even ask if we had any more. I then told him of the
casks. He called several men whom he could trust; who went to the side
and, with our assistance, got the casks on the raft. The larger one
contained spirits, the other water. On discovering this, a number of
the people made a rush towards them, afraid of losing their share,--and
we were compelled to keep them at bay with our weapons.
"The water and spirits shall be served out so that each shall have a due
share," cried the carpenter. Some small cups were found which served as
measures; and the people, awed by the bold front we exhibited, waited
patiently till each person had received his proper portion. Very nearly
half the cask of water was thus exhausted; and we should have acted more
wisely had we waited till the people's thirst had become greater. Some
of them had apparently a few biscuits and other eatable things in their
pockets; but besides this, a cask of pork, which had been thrown
overboard, and hauled up on the raft before it left the ship, was the
only food we possessed. Our only hope of escaping starvation was by
speedily reaching the shore.
"How soon shall we get there?" asked Halliday of Boxall.
"Never--unless a breeze springs up, and these fellows act like rational
beings instead of madmen," he answered, in a more gloomy tone than I had
ever yet heard him use. "We must not conceal from ourselves the fearful
position in which we are placed. These ruffians will probably try to
destroy the gunner and the other officers as they did the boatswain; and
watchful as we may be, we shall scarcely be able to guard ourselves
against them."
"I wish we had Ben with us," said Halliday. "A stout, brave fellow such
as he is would have been of great help, and with the assistance of the
better disposed we might have kept the villains at bay. I wonder what
can have become of him!"
"He and his companion have probably paddled towards the shore," answered
Boxall. "Self-preservation is the first thing a man thinks of; and
though he might not, under other circumstances, have deserted us, he
probably thought himself much better off on his light raft than he would
be on this large one,--and was afraid, if he came near us, that others
would attempt to gain a footing on it, and thus overload it."
"No, no; I do not think that Ben would willingly have deserted us," I
observed. "I am very certain that he would have done his best to help
us. He probably lost sight of our raft during the night, and could not
find it again; or one of the boats might have returned, and taken him
and his companion on board."
"Little chance of that," answered Boxall. "There is no excuse for their
cowardly desertion of us, and they are not likely to have come back for
the sake of rescuing any one."
This style of conversation, more of which I need not repeat, served to
pass away the time. While the calm continued, our condition did not
change for the better, as we could not move, and no sail could approach
to our assistance. The Spaniards around us were talking in even a more
gloomy strain,--uttering curses, not loud but deep, on the heads of
those who had basely deserted them; while the mutineers sat together at
the end of the raft muttering to each other, and, as we suspected,
hatching mischief.
The day wore on, and the sun struck down on our unprotected heads with
intense force; while the bright glare on the water affected our eyes,
and compelled us to shield them with our hands,--for the sail, though
hoisted, afforded us only a partial shade. The mutineers now began to
cry out that they wanted more food and water.
"It is not time yet to serve it out," answered the carpenter, who had
assumed the command. "If we use it up now, we shall have none for
to-morrow."
"Better eat and drink while we are hungry and thirsty, and let to-morrow
take care of itself," exclaimed one of the mutineers.
The carpenter took no notice of the remark, and the mutineers remained
quiet for some minutes, apparently not having made up their minds how to
act.
"Depend upon it, these fellows will attack us before long," observed
Boxall; "we must be prepared. Tell the carpenter what I say." The
latter agreed with Boxall, and spoke to the few around him whom he could
trust.
Boxall now suggested that we should place the three casks and some loose
planks so as to form a barricade in front of us, by which means we might
better resist an attack. We were engaged doing this, when the leader of
the mutineers cried out,--"What are you about? Let these things remain
as they are. We want food and water: if it's not given to us, we will
come and take it."
The carpenter, instead of boldly adhering to what he knew was wise, was
advised by his more timid companions, and replied that he would give
them a little pork and water provided they should remain quiet. I told
Boxall; who desired me to warn him that he was acting very imprudently,
as they would be sure to ask for more. He persisted, however; and
telling the men to come for their rations, he gave each a small measure
of water and a piece of pork. On this, several who had remained neutral
joined them, and also insisted on receiving their rations. Being
supported by the mutineers, the rest of the people very naturally cried
out that they must have their share,--fearing that otherwise the
mutineers would get the whole of it.
Scarcely had the distribution been made, when the mutineers again
demanded another supply.
"We must be firm, or, finding that they can overawe us, they will insist
on doing whatever they please," said Boxall.
The carpenter could not fail to see the wisdom of this advice, and
replied that not another drop of water or particle of food would be
served out till the next morning. The mutineers received the answer in
sullen silence, making at the time no movement; and we began to hope
that they would remain quiet. As, however, they soon again felt the
gnawings of hunger, they began to talk together in low voices; and,
influenced by the instincts of savage beasts, they seemed determined to
take by force what they wanted.
Their leader, starting up, cried out,--"It's time to have more food;
come, Mr Carpenter, give it to us at once."
"Be quiet, friends; you know that is impossible," was the mild reply.
It failed to influence them, however; and drawing their knives, with
which most of them were armed, they sprang towards us. Just at that
moment some one at the other end of the raft shouted out,--"A sail! a
sail!" The welcome sound arrested even the savage wretches, and,
sheathing their knives, they looked round in the direction in which the
man was pointing. We cast our eyes towards the spot. There could be no
doubt that there was a sail, but I saw at once that it must be a very
small vessel, or a boat. I thought it best, however, not to tell the
Spaniards this.
The mutineers sat down, looking out towards the sail. Though the
prospect of relief was sufficient, one might have supposed, to arouse
every one, yet so weak and dispirited were many of the Spaniards, that
they scarcely moved from their positions, but sat, as before, with their
heads resting on their knees. One thing was certain--that the craft,
whatever she was, was standing towards us, bringing up a breeze; yet she
approached very slowly.
"I suspected from the first what she was," observed Boxall. "Let me
have your glass, Charlie, that I may be certain." I gave him my
telescope, which I had kept slung at my back. "As I thought: it is a
small raft--probably Ben's. Honest fellow, I wronged him. He
calculated the direction in which we were likely to have drifted, and is
coming to our assistance."
In a short time the carpenter also observed to me that it was a raft,
with our countryman on it.
"We will not tell the mutineers so--let them find it out for themselves;
as they may form a plan for taking possession of it, if they think that
it would serve them better than this one," I observed.
How anxiously we waited the arrival of the raft! It came on very
slowly, for the breeze was light. Our own sail remained hoisted, but as
one of the sheets had been let go it remained partly furled round the
mast, and did not move the raft. Looking through my glass, I made out
Ben and another man. It was evident, then, that they had not succeeded
in saving any people from the burning wreck; probably, therefore, all
had perished.
The raft was soon visible to the dullest eyes of all on board. As she
approached, Boxall shouted to Ben, and advised him not to approach too
near--telling him of the disorderly state of those with us, and that
they would certainly attempt to take from him any water or provisions he
might have. Ben on this hauled down his sail, and we saw him apparently
endeavouring to make his companion understand the warning he had
received.
"We will do as you advise, sir," he shouted in return. "We have got
food and water enough on board for three or four people; and knowing
that you were likely to be short of both, we came to look for you. My
mate here is the brother of the boatswain, and is a very good fellow.
As you say, it will be dangerous for us to come alongside; but if Mr
Boxall, Mr Halliday, and you will swim off to us, we will run in closer
and take you aboard."
"No, no! don't come any nearer; we can all easily reach you," answered
Boxall. He did not wish to let the Spaniard know of his brother's
death, in case he might be less willing to remain faithful to us.
The mutineers, as well as the other people, suspected from this
conversation what we were about to do, and also from seeing that the
raft did not come nearer. It struck me that, since the poor boatswain
was dead, we ought to invite the carpenter to accompany us. Boxall
agreed with me; I therefore asked him in a low voice if he could swim,
and was willing to try and get on board the small raft.
"I cannot swim," he answered; "and if I could, I would not desert these
poor people who are trusting to me, for the mutineers would very soon
put them to death. But as you are not bound to remain, I will help you
to escape."
Thanking him heartily, I said that we would leap overboard suddenly, in
order that no one might attempt to stop us. We were all very sorry to
leave the carpenter, for we could not help fearing that when we should
be gone the mutineers would attack him, and in all probability treat him
as they had done the boatswain. We were still talking to him, when once
more the ruffians at the other end of the raft shouted out that they
must have water and provisions served out to them immediately.
"Ask them to wait patiently till the evening, and say that you will then
do as they wish; you will have fewer mouths to feed by that time."
I little thought at the moment how truly I spoke; for scarcely had the
carpenter uttered the words when the mutineers rose in a body, and,
drawing their knives, made a desperate rush at us. We had only time to
spring to our feet and defend ourselves. Though we might have leaped
overboard and escaped, we felt that it would be cowardly to desert the
carpenter and those who sided with him. As it was, three of the
unfortunate people who remained neutral, and were without weapons to
defend themselves, being nearest to the savages, were stabbed before we
could help them. We fought with the greatest desperation. Boxall cut
down one of the fellows, and the carpenter and I wounded two others.
Still they came on, as if resolved to overpower us. I observed, also,
that Ben was near enough to see what was taking place, and was hoisting
his sail, unable to resist his desire to come to our assistance. Should
he come near enough to enable any of the people on our raft to leap on
to his, I felt sure that our chance of escape would be lost.
"Are we bound to sacrifice our lives for these people?" I asked Boxall.
"Not when we have lost all hope of assisting them," he answered. "Ask
the carpenter again if he will accompany us."
I was on the point of putting the question, when the ruffians--who
seemed resolved on his destruction, believing that then they could have
everything their own way--made a desperate rush at him. He cut down one
of them, and would have treated the others in the same way, when his
foot slipped, and he fell into an opening between the spars. They
immediately, before he could regain his feet, threw themselves upon him,
and plunged their knives into his body.
"It is useless further to contend with the villains. Now is our time!"
cried Boxall; and driving back the fellows who were attacking us, we
made our way to the side of the raft.
"Now, Halliday, leap!" shouted Boxall, while he kept those who were
attempting to stop us at bay. Halliday plunged into the water, letting
go his axe as he did so, and struck out towards Ben's raft.
"Keep hold of your sword, Charlie," said Boxall; "I will defend you from
these fellows." I did as he advised me; and putting the sword in my
mouth, where I held it fast between my teeth, I leaped into the water,
and struck out with all my might towards the small raft. With a sweep
of his weapon my brave friend drove back the ruffians, who had now
turned their fury on him, and were pressing him hard; then springing
overboard, he followed close at my heels. Happily, none of the savages
could swim,--or, at all events, they dared not trust themselves in the
water, fearing that if they did so Boxall might have attacked them with
his sword; though some, in their rage, threw large pieces of wood and
other articles, which came very near us; and one of the most furious
flung his knife, which happily passed between Boxall's legs. Shrieks,
cries, and shouts for us to come back, were uttered by our enemies, with
threats of vengeance; but these, of course, only made us strike out the
faster.
Ben and his companion, in spite of the warning we had given them, had
hoisted their sail, and urging on the raft at the same time with a
couple of oars, were approaching us rapidly.
"Shorten sail!" cried Boxall; "don't come nearer; we can easily reach
you."
Ben obeyed; and we had the satisfaction of seeing Halliday--who, having
no weapon in his mouth, had kept well ahead of us--helped on to the
raft. Just then Ben cast a look of dismay towards us. "Strike with all
your might, and splash with your feet! Make haste! make haste!" he
shouted frantically. At the same time seizing a lump of wood, he flung
it into the water on one side of us; while he called to his companion,
who had been steering the raft, to put in his oar to help us. The
thought of the cause of his excitement flashed into my mind: he had seen
close to us a huge shark, which he dreaded every instant would seize our
legs. I had, I may say, less fear for myself than for Boxall, who was a
little behind me; and I had made but a few more strokes when Ben and the
Spaniard seized me by the hands, almost jerking off my arms as they
hoisted me on board. The moment my feet were on the raft, my first
impulse was to take my sword in my hand, ready to attack the shark
should it approach.
In a few seconds, greatly to my relief, I saw Boxall hauled up likewise.
Scarcely were his feet out of the water when the hideous monster made a
dash at the raft, his jaws closing on a projecting part of it, which
trembled with the blow. A stroke which I dealt with right good will at
its throat,--for a moment exposed to me as it turned on its back to
bite,--made it relinquish its hold; and it darted away.
Frail as was the structure on which we now found ourselves, we felt in
comparative safety; but the impulse which had been given to the raft
before the sail was lowered sent it dangerously near the big one.
Judging from the attitudes of the people on it, we could make out that
several were preparing to swim off to us; with the intention, in all
likelihood, of making us prisoners, and taking possession of the
provisions and water on the raft. On this Boxall called to Ben to work
one of the oars, and Halliday and I assisted the Spaniard at the other.
While we did our utmost to increase our distance from those whom we were
now compelled to look upon as our enemies, they were all shouting and
shrieking; some ordering us to come back, others entreating us not to
leave them.
As we had to pull against the wind, we made but slow progress; and at
length three of the boldest of the mutineers, urged by their
companions,--probably because they were good swimmers,--leaped into the
sea with their knives in their mouths, and made towards us. The attempt
was a mad one, as with our swords and axes we could easily have
prevented them from getting on our raft. As they evidently had not seen
the monster shark which had so nearly caught us, I shouted to them,
telling them of their danger, and advising them to go back; but,
believing that it was merely to prevent them from attacking us, they
disregarded my warning.
On they came, swimming with long powerful strokes, and threatened
quickly to overtake us. Unwilling to injure them, we continued to row
away as fast as we could--now and then turning our heads to watch them.
They had got about half-way when a piercing shriek rent the air, and one
of them, throwing up his arms, disappeared beneath the surface: a shark
had seized him. His companions, seeing what had happened, turned round
and endeavoured to regain the raft. We watched them anxiously, for we
had no desire for their destruction, and gladly would we have saved them
if we could. They had got some way back, and we hoped that they would
succeed in reaching the raft; but when about a dozen fathoms from it,
another huge shark rose to the surface, and dragged down a second
shrieking victim. The third swam on frantically, crying out to his
companions for assistance. They stretched out their arms to him, and we
were thankful to see that he at length gained the raft in safety.
What the fate of those miserable wretches would be, with no one to
command them, to maintain discipline, or to direct them how to gain the
land, we dared not think. As for ourselves, we felt in comparative
safety on our small but well-constructed raft.
Boxall consulted with Ben whether we could take off any of the
unfortunate people; but the latter was strongly opposed to the attempt
being made.
"In the first place, it would be impossible to get off those we might
select," said Ben. "And then," he added, "this craft carries us very
well in smooth water; but should it come on to blow, and a heavy sea get
up, it's more than she would do if we had half-a-dozen more people on
board. Then, you see, we have water and provisions for ourselves; but
we should be on short commons if we had more people to consume it."
Ben's arguments prevailed; and though we felt sad at the thought of
having to leave so many people to almost certain destruction, yet we
could do no more.
The wind had now completely fallen, and as Ben and his companion, as
well as ourselves, had been awake all the previous night, we felt too
weary to continue working the oars. We were, also, both hungry and
thirsty, though we had hitherto been too much excited to think about it.
Halliday was, as usual, the first to cry out.
"Of course, we will get some food for you, sir. I forgot how sharp set
you must have been," said Ben; "but as we have no galley aboard this
craft of ours, you must be content to eat your supper raw."
"We shall be content to eat anything we can get our teeth into," cried
Halliday. "Oh, do give me a cup of water, as we had only a few
thimblefuls on board the big raft."
Ben quickly drew a small-sized cupful from one of several casks ranged
round the raft.
"I should like to serve out more, gentlemen; but Mr Boxall will agree
with me that it's necessary to be careful, as our stock is but small,
and we shall not get more till we reach the shore--and perhaps not even
then."
Ben had secured some flour, which he rolled up into small balls. We ate
these thankfully, with some salt fish, from which they assisted to take
off the saltness. We made a better meal than we had enjoyed since we
left the ship; but I observed that neither Ben nor his companion ate
anything.
Night now came on. The ocean was as calm as a mirror, and the stare
came forth from the cloudless sky and shone down upon us, their soft
light tending greatly to tranquillise our spirits. One of us kept watch
at a time, while the rest lay down, with the sail as an awning, on the
planks with which Ben had formed a raised deck to the raft. We could
dimly distinguish the large raft in the distance; while voices, borne
over the tranquil ocean with peculiar distinctness, reached our ears,
though I could not make out what was said. Again there came shrieks and
cries, then all was quiet. Once more loud voices--as if the people were
holding a violent debate, or were fiercely disputing--reached us. After
all was quiet, I lay down and slept as soundly as I had ever done in my
life.