Midshipman wanted for a first-class India trader! "Oh! mother, that
will just do for me!" I exclaimed. "Do let me go; I shall be back in
no time, and have all sorts of yarns to tell you." I pressed and
pressed. My mother saw that I should do little good by remaining longer
at school, or thought so at all events, and I gained my point. Within a
month I found myself on board the good ship _Betsey Blair_, of six
hundred tons, Captain Joseph Johns, master, gliding over the Atlantic at
the rate of nine knots an hour, bound out to Singapore. We had two
mates, a surgeon, two midshipmen besides myself, one of whom was making
his first voyage, and three apprentices who had never before been to
sea, with a crew, including the boatswain, of five-and-twenty hands. I
did not find things quite as pleasant as I had expected, from reading
"Tom Cringle's Log" and Captain Marryat's novels, and other romantic
tales of the sea. Captain Johns was every inch a sailor. He told us
midshipmen that he intended we should become sailors, and he began by
sending us aloft the first calm day to black down the rigging and grease
the masts. I began to go aloft with my span new uniform on. "No! no!"
he said, calling me down, "the second mate will serve you out a shirt
and trousers fit for that work." The mates laughed and the men laughed
also. I got the shirt and trousers, and spent a couple of hours aloft,
making good use of tar-brush and grease-pot, till my clothes were as
black as the rigging and as greasy as the masts. It was my first real
lesson in the duty of a seaman. I am now much obliged to our worthy
master. I mention it to show that the realities of a midshipman's life
on board a merchantman, if the captain does his duty, are not quite what
young gentlemen anticipate.
We had a quick passage to Singapore. There discharging our cargo,
which, from that important mart of the East, was distributed in small
craft in all directions among the numberless islands of those seas, we
got ready for our return home, having to call at Melbourne on our way.
Having taken in our cargo, we polished up, and hearing that several
passengers were coming on board, we midshipmen put on our best uniforms
to receive them, flattering ourselves that, as the paint-brushes and
polishing leathers had been kept going, we and the ship cut a very
respectable appearance. Captain Johns was proud of his ship, and
prouder still of keeping his crew in perfect order. We had several
passengers, a Mr and Mrs Haliday and three children, a Mrs Burnett,
Mrs Magnus, and a Mr Turner, a merchant. The ladies were going home,
I believe, on account of health. My chief friend on board was the
surgeon of the ship, Mr Gilbert. He was a young man, but very
intelligent and scientific, and took a pleasure in imparting the
information he possessed. There seemed thus every prospect of our
having a pleasant voyage home. Mr Crawford was the first mate. I was
in his watch. Our second mate was a Mr Morgan. With colours flying,
our smart little ship stood out of the harbour of Singapore. The
weather was fine and the sea smooth.
"Do you think we shall have this sort of weather all the way home,"
asked Mr Haliday, who was a timid man, and anxious about his wife and
family.
"Well, sir, I have made three or four passages, when we carried the fine
weather the whole way out and home, but if we do not, we must do our
best and trust to God, Mr Haliday, that is my maxim, and I have always
found it hold good. I have been at sea ever since I was a boy, and in
more hurricanes and gales of wind than I can well count up, and yet I
never was shipwrecked, and here I am alive and well," answered Captain
Johns, to whom the question had been put.
"But, captain, there is a saying, `the pitcher which goes often to the
well gets broken at last.'"
"That, I rather think, means to refer to those who tempt God, and a man
who has to run into danger in the way of duty is not to my mind doing
that. We must trust God whatever happens, Mr Haliday. Even if the
stout little ship were to be cast away, He would find a means for our
escape if He thought fit."
I overheard this conversation, and it made a strong impression on me.
For some time the fine weather continued, when it came on very thick,
with baffling winds. For three days or more we had been unable to take
an observation. The chief mate had the morning watch. Soon after I got
on deck I heard him sing out, "Keep a sharp look-out there forward!"
Then stepping aft he said to the man at the helm, "Keep the ship
north-by-west." The wind, I should say, at this time was west-by-south,
and we were going nearly nine knots through the water. The events of
that morning were vividly impressed upon my memory.
"Mr Jennings," said the first mate to me, "what is that black look in
the water ahead!"
I ran forward. The look-out man declared that it was the reflection of
a heavy black cloud hanging just over the ship.
"It is no such thing!" exclaimed the mate, sharply looking over the
gangway. "Hard up with the helm! All hands on deck! Wear ship!"
I, with the watch on deck, flew to the braces. The ship wore round, but
almost before we could touch the ropes a terrific crash was heard, and
she struck heavily aft. The following sea drove her broadside on to the
reef, part of which we now saw clearly rising out of the water not a
cable's length from us. The first crash sent the captain and other
officers rushing on deck, while cries and shrieks arose from the poor
passengers in the cabin. The next sea which struck her, after she had
touched, came flying over us, and there seemed scarcely a possibility of
our saving our lives. "Lads!" shouted the captain, "obey my orders, and
I will do my best for you. See to cutting away the masts. Clear the
rigging as the masts are cut away. Mr Jennings, clear the pinnace for
launching." Another midshipman was sent down to entreat the passengers
to remain quiet below till the boats were ready, assuring them that they
would run great risk of losing their lives if they came on deck.
Although the masts were quickly cut away, the ship continued to lurch
heavily upon the reef, and it seemed that she must quickly go to pieces.
She now lay completely on her beam ends, so that it was difficult to
stand on her deck. I had made the pinnace ready for launching, but she
was a heavy boat, and though all hands exerted themselves to the utmost,
we could not manage it, our good captain getting his leg jammed in the
attempt. We hauled him up to the weather bulwarks, where he held on,
still giving his orders. Our next attempt was to launch the jolly-boat.
To do this we had to hoist her up to the davits on the upper quarter.
When placing oars, and a couple of good hands in her, we watched our
opportunity, and, after a sea had broken over us, quickly bailing her
out, allowed her to glide into the water. Captain Johns ordered the men
to pull to the rock which we had at first seen, and which lay a short
distance inside the reef. We had a small well-built lifeboat. To
preserve her from injury was of the greatest importance. We got her up
in the same way to the upper davits and launched her in safety. As soon
as this was done the ladies and children were brought up from the cabin,
which was already half full of water, and, being placed in her, she
pulled away for the jolly-boat. The ladies' husbands watched them
anxiously. It was impossible to say at what moment the ship would break
up. So terrific were the blows she was receiving that it seemed
scarcely possible she could hold together many minutes; indeed, already
portions of her had been torn away, and were seen floating to leeward.
In the next trip the men passengers and the young seamen were taken to
the jolly-boat.
"Do you, Jennings, and you, Mr Gilbert, go in her," said the captain.
"No, sir, thank you, I will stay by you," I answered.
"I order you both into the boat. I am not to be disobeyed," he
exclaimed.
Of course we could not refuse. Already the jolly-boat, when we got into
her, was very full, and there seemed some risk of her being swamped.
Just then one of the seamen struck his boat-hook down alongside. "Why,
the water is quite shallow here!" he exclaimed. "Overboard lads! The
ladies shall run no risk on our account;" and six or eight men instantly
jumped into the water, holding on to the boat, it being tolerably smooth
under the lee of the rock where she lay.
By the last trip the master came off, bringing some charts and nautical
instruments, which he had secured. "What about food?" some one asked.
A small quantity, it appeared, had been secured, but not a drop of fresh
water had been brought off. The master now ordered some of the men to
get into the lifeboat, and we were pretty evenly divided among the two.
"How far off are we from the Australian coast?" asked Mr Haliday.
"Four hundred miles at the nearest," was the answer. "It is true, my
friends," said the master, "but half-a-mile off there is a sand-bank.
We will make for that, and there pray that God will give us the means of
escape." The grey dawn broke soon after we reached the bank, where we
landed in safety. "Now, my friends," said the master, as we stood
grouped around him, "let us lift up our hearts in thankfulness to that
merciful God who has thus far preserved us." Hearty and sincere was, I
feel assured, the prayer that rose from that barren sand-bank. We
thanked God for preserving us, and we prayed that He might yet watch
over us, and carry us in safety to land.
The bank was scarcely more than a hundred and fifty yards long, and
about a third of the width. Still we had reason to be thankful. Not a
life had been lost, in spite of the fearful risk we had run. Had a gale
been blowing, however, not one of us could have escaped. As the sun
rose our clothes quickly dried, but its rays soon became fearfully hot,
and beat down upon our unprotected heads. The master was suffering all
this time from the injury he had received, and was obliged to lie down.
He, however, first directed the two mates to return with the boats to
the wreck, to bring off whatever they could find likely to be of use,
and anxiously we watched them as they pulled away. Our lives depended
upon the success of their expedition. Meantime, the hot sun increased,
and we all began to suffer from thirst. It was sad to see the poor
little children crying for water when there was none to give them. Some
of us, with pieces of board, began to dig in the sand, hoping to find
water, but after making several deep holes we came each time to the
coral rock. That, however, was moist and free from salt. Though the
amount of fluid we could obtain was trifling, it afforded us some slight
relief to lick the bare rock, and helped to cool our tongues. At length
the boats returned. Eagerly we all hurried down to welcome them, and
haul them up on the beach. A shout of joy arose when we found that the
jolly-boat had a cask of water on board, besides some provisions--a
cheese, some potted meat, and some biscuit. How thankfully we poured
the sweet liquid down our throats. Captain Johns, however, would allow
only half-a-gill to each of us, all sharing alike. These things might
prolong our lives for a short time, but yet our hopes of escaping were
small indeed. The wreck still hung together, but the wind appeared to
be again getting up; indeed, there was so much sea, that the captain was
afraid of sending back the boats. Anxiously that night passed away, but
our courage was kept up by the captain's cheerful and manly voice.
"Trust in God, friends," he continued to say, "that is the best advice I
can give you. As I have said before, I will do my best, and I hope all
you will do your best, and let us never despair." Next morning, in
spite of the heavy sea running, the mates pushed off in the boats in the
hopes of obtaining further supplies from the wreck. Dangerous as was
the undertaking, the condition of our party on the sand-bank was not
less perilous, for should the boats be lost, our fate, in all human
probability, would be sealed. We watched them anxiously. Now they
appeared on the crest of a sea, now they were hidden by the foaming
breakers. At length they were altogether lost to sight from the
sand-bank. We stood, our hands on each others' shoulders, our necks
stretched out, eagerly watching for their return. Now a dark object was
seen. We thought it was one of the boats. No, it was a piece of the
wreck. Another and another piece appeared. Some drove on to the beach,
and we hurried down to secure them. At length I saw the lifeboat
drawing near. Alas! was the other lost? "See! see! she is astern of
her!" cried someone. On they both came, and we hurried down to welcome
them. Both of them came laden. In the jolly-boat were some sails, and
several casks of provisions, and in the lifeboat, among other things, a
small keg of lime-juice. The surgeon spied it out, and literally
shouted for joy. "It may be the saving of our lives," he exclaimed;
"and will at all events keep scurvy at bay." That night we were able to
erect a tent for the poor women and children, as also for some of the
men passengers, and two or three of the seamen and boys who were
suffering from exposure. Still my friend the surgeon looked grave.
"Jennings," he said to me, as we were taking a turn together, "there is
one thing I dread more than all others--the want of water. What we have
will go a very, very short way, and then--! My lad, do you know what it
is to die of thirst--the throat becoming drier and drier, the tongue
swelling, and getting as hard as shoe-leather, and blacker and blacker,
the sight growing dim, the voice failing?"
"A fearful picture!" I said. "What is to be done?"
"Why, we must go off at all risks, and see if we cannot get materials
from the wreck to form a still. The ship struck at high water, I
observed, and possibly what we want, even though washed out of her, may
be obtained at low water. Will you go off with me to make the search?"
I, of course, agreed, and the second mate steered the lifeboat. A fresh
crew was quickly found, and we put off from the bank.
"Another night may see the wreck broken up, and we may lose everything,"
observed the surgeon. We pulled on. The wreck had by this time driven
up so far on the reef that at dead low water part of the coral rock was
exposed, and we could wade up to her. We hunted about till we came upon
some copper piping. "This is valuable," exclaimed the surgeon. We next
found a boiler, and afterwards a large cistern, still inside the vessel.
We got it out, though not without difficulty, and on board the boat.
Several tools, an iron ladle and some solder were also found; indeed, we
regretted that the jolly-boat had not come off, that many more things
might have been landed. All we could hope was that the weather would
continue moderate, and that other articles might be saved on the
following day. We returned in safety with our prize. As soon as we
landed, the surgeon summoned the blacksmith and his mate to his
assistance, and a fire being lighted, immediately set to work to erect a
still. A shout of joy was raised when the first fresh water was seen to
issue from it. We lay down that night with one of our chief causes of
anxiety removed. "We may thank God for this," said the master,
summoning all the people round him. "Now I have a proposal to make. It
is clear we cannot remain on this reef for ever. I wish to know whether
those who are fit to assist in the work will undertake the building of a
boat, in which we may reach the mainland." A considerable number held
up their hands to signify their readiness to assist in what he proposed.
"Then, my friends," he said, "I will divide you into three parties--one
to assist Mr Gilbert in distilling the water, another to visit the
wreck and obtain all the materials which can be saved, while the third
will be employed in building the boat." All agreed to this proposal,
and early next morning, as soon as daylight broke, we were on our feet
ready to commence work. I was employed with the second mate in going
off to the wreck, while the first mate and the master assisted the
carpenter's crew in building the boat. We were fortunate in obtaining
all sorts of articles, amongst others, useful tools and a supply of
clothing. With the articles we found, the surgeon improved his
machinery for distilling the water, and at length he produced nearly
thirty gallons a-day. Our provisions, however, were getting short, and
at length we were reduced to half-a-pound of flour a-day, which we made
up into puddings with salt-water--very heavy dough, but it stopped our
hunger and kept us alive. It took us just a month from the day the
boat's keel was laid till she was launched. It was a day not to be
forgotten. The ladies and children stood round cheering lustily. We
called her the _Hope_. She sat well on the water, but leaked
considerably. We had therefore to haul her up again, and stop the
leaks. When again launched she was found to be thoroughly watertight.
It took us two days to get her rigged and stowed. All the casks we had
been able to save were filled with water, Mr Gilbert working day and
night to obtain a supply. At length, after a residence of five weeks on
the sand-bank, which would assuredly have proved our grave, had it not
been for the invention of our surgeon, we bade the sand-bank farewell,
and stood towards Moreton Bay, on the Australian coast. The wind was
fair and moderate. About thirty of us were on board the _Hope_, while
six preferred trusting their fortunes to the lifeboat. The wind
shifting, when we were, according to our calculations, about twenty
leagues off the land, drove us to the mouth of the Brisbane river. A
somewhat heavy sea was running, but the _Hope_ behaved beautifully, and
our captain knew the entrance. What an idea it gave us of perfect rest,
when, after being tossed about for so many days, we glided up the
tranquil river! The settlers came down as we reached the shore, and
warmly welcomed us. "Thanks, friends, thanks!" said our good master,
"but before I thank you I desire to thank One by whose means we have
been preserved," and kneeling down, the fine old man poured out his
heart in prayer. I am thankful to say that one and all of us followed
his example, and if we did not pray with as much fervour and earnestness
as he did, I believe that the prayer and the gratitude we expressed came
from our hearts.
Story 8--Chapter 1.