_THE VOYAGE._
Trans-Atlantic voyages in those days were not made with the same
comfort nor by any means in the same time that are occupied now. The
young men who have been coming to Canada in recent years board a ship
in Liverpool on Friday and land at Montreal on Friday or Saturday.
Nothing of the kind, however, was expected by the travellers on the
Hudson’s Bay Company’s vessel. Even now we know how uncertain and even
hazardous a voyage into the great northern inland sea--for in those
days the most direct passage to the Company’s Western posts was by
way of Hudson Bay--can be at certain seasons of the year. In those
days, when the trip was made on a small sailing vessel, they started
out with the anticipation of a voyage which might occupy six months,
or even a year, and with this was the chance that the ship might be
caught in the endless fields of ice which occupied the straits for
so long a season and never reach its destination. The vessel was one
of the Company’s regular ships, which was scheduled to make one trip
each year and carry the annual mail, which arrived at the Western
headquarters of the Company during the year. Her cargo was comprised of
supplies for the various camps and trading-posts, and these materials
were distributed from Fort Churchill and Port Nelson, on the Hudson Bay
coast, to the inland stations which had been established from these
bases. Ammunition, guns, traps, various kinds of food, heavy blankets
and clothing constituted the greater part of the cargo, but along with
these was carried a substantial supply of the trinkets which greatly
pleased the Indians in those days and which were used for trading
purposes. On their return journey the ships were loaded with furs which
had been caught in the interior during the winter and forwarded to the
Company’s stations, from which they had been in turn packed to the
Hudson Bay ports.
In addition to the regular crew the ship’s company comprised a score
or more picked young men from the Orkneys and other sections of
northern Scotland. Favors were not very much known among these men of
the sea, and usually the Company’s young men were left pretty much to
themselves. The captain’s attention, however, had been specially drawn
by the mother’s affectionate farewell to Robert and Will and, as might
be expected, his heart had been warmed toward the youths. By reason of
this, though it was not understood by the young men, they were given a
favored spot for their sleeping quarters and were placed rather nearer
amidships than usual. To anyone who crossed in the early days on one
of these small sailing vessels it will be at once apparent how much
comfort this, as compared with other locations, would mean to the two
lads.
Do you remember how you felt the first night you were away from home
when darkness set in? If so you will realize something of what the two
lads of our story felt that night, and their feelings were intensified
by the realization that they were on the mighty deep, this thought
being impressed by the lapping of the water on the ship’s bows and the
realization that the farewell of the afternoon was to be possibly the
last one. It is under such conditions that temptation to forget one’s
home principles easily finds a place, and the first test was to come
at this time to Robert and William. As can be appreciated, the crew of
the vessel were largely old salts, who had known only a hard-and-fast
life, with all the temptations which come to seafaring men. Since the
sleeping quarters of the young men adjoined those of the crew, the type
of language which came to the ears of the Company’s young employees
when the crew were preparing for sleep can be imagined. For a time
the two listened and contained themselves as best they could, and
finally Robert spoke. “This is not what we have been taught at home,”
he said. “We will kneel together and say our prayers.” And in the
midst of this company of rough, inconsiderate men, they offered up a
prayer, simple, uncultured, and yet one which meant so much, to the God
they had learned to love and trust. The other youths who accompanied
them were silent. Most of them had been reared in good homes, but they
did not exhibit the courage of Robert and William. While the heroic
stand of the two lads--and just how heroic the act was will not be
appreciated immediately by many of my readers--did not seem to have
much effect on the crew, and some of them had kept on with their oaths
and curses, reflecting on the lads themselves, one member, and a leader
among the others, had been strongly impressed. As he noted the manly
way in which the two lads knelt, adhering to their principles, in the
middle of the rough, uncouth crew, in spite of himself his mind turned
back to his youthful days, to the old home fireside where he had knelt
with mother, father, sisters and brothers; and when he saw the two
lads open the Bibles their mother had given them that afternoon he
was reminded of the Bible his mother had presented to him forty or
fifty years ago. He heard, also, his mother’s last words running in
his ears and, as can be imagined, it was some time before he went to
sleep. Sandy did not sleep well that night, either. Memories of home
and of earlier days and better things persisted, and when he woke a
kindlier feeling than usual possessed his heart. He appreciated more
than he had done before what it had meant to the two lads to take the
stand they had done then, and perhaps because of this, when the ship’s
company was called to breakfast, Robert was placed at the head of the
table. He was the youngest of the company and could scarcely see why
he was given this honor. As could be expected, many of the men fell
to immediately, but Robert, again remembering his home principles and
feeling that his position gave him some authority, rose and lifting his
hand in a commanding way, said: “Men, if you will bow your heads I will
ask a blessing.” It might seem that this action would have been likely
to stir up trouble, but perhaps by reason of Robert’s steady eye, his
earnestness, and his commanding appearance, as well as by his manly act
the night before, his wish was obeyed.
Ordinarily, ocean travellers expect to rest and enjoy themselves.
The Hudson’s Bay Company, however, provided no such easy means of
entertainment for their apprentices, and a distinct programme of
instruction and work to be done on the ship had been laid out for
them. To provide for this, along with the captain and the other ship’s
officers, a man who had seen many years in the Company’s service was
included, whose duties were to take charge of the young men on their
voyage and make them familiar with the services they would be called
on to render in the new field. Thus on the first morning, immediately
after breakfast, this instructional work was begun. At first the small
things were taken up, and each of the young men was put at a different
task. The making of harness for dogs, for instance, was given to one,
the repairing of snowshoes to another, the filling of cartridges,
cleaning of guns, the handling of traps was taken up by other young
men. Some of them were given instruction in the difficult art of doing
up a pack and how to carry that pack properly. Others were given
hints as to proper cooking in the wilds. Then others were instructed
as to how to meet emergencies and as to how energy, resourcefulness
and courage could be utilized under the varying conditions of the new
service. It was necessary also that each one should have at least
some understanding of the Indian dialect. Sketches were shown of
the different Indian tribes, bringing out their characteristics so
that these should be familiar when they were met with in the forest
solitudes. Interesting as this work was, it required not only close but
incessant application. However, the young men had been well selected.
They were the type of youths who said, “We can, We will!” They were
told plainly and bluntly that no weakling could live in the forest
solitude, and that it was their duty to be prepared for emergencies
of all kinds. As the voyage progressed they were given further
instruction in woodcraft and trapping of animals, and how to meet and
dispose of the larger animals, such as the grizzly, the silver tip,
the mountain lion, the wolf, and others which they would meet in the
wilderness.
With the practical side of this instruction came a romance side. At
times the Company’s officer very kindly accompanied his instruction
with stories of his experiences in the regions unknown to the young
men. While he was strict with them, he was patient, and naturally the
most of them grew very fond of him. They saw through his stories that
in the new life there was to be conflict among ever-changing conditions
and that with this adventure came victory--victory not only in things
which pertained to the Company’s welfare, but also which extended
to the making of their own characters. The lads longed to try their
fortune where nature was supreme, where the feet of white men had
seldom if ever trod, where the conflict of nature was unceasing.
At first, outside of the learning of these new duties, the voyage
passed uneventfully. Half of the anticipated time of passage had gone
by. The winds had largely been favorable. It is true that rough seas
had been encountered, but these had been expected, and bore with them
the usual quota of trial in seasickness, which after a time lost its
effect. All on board were well, and as the announcement was made that
more than half the distance had been covered and that Hudson Bay might
be reached in two or three months, an atmosphere of cheerfulness was
everywhere evident.
But with the passage of time had come somewhat changed conditions,
particularly among members of the crew. After a little time Sandy was
influenced to hunt up his Bible, deep among the worn-out clothing in
his seaman’s chest, and when he brought it forth to the light it was
seen that the blue ribbon which had been tied around the precious book
by his own mother, forty-five years before, still retained its place.
The Bible had not been opened. The mother’s message inside had not been
read. Tenderly and with tears in his eyes in spite of the hardness
which had come with his years of rough living, Sandy loosened the
knot and opened the book. Inside he found a one-pound note, with the
message, “Sandy, my boy, take this. It is all I have. As you go through
life do not forget that you should always do God’s will and help
others. If you can only help boys to be men, Sandy, I will be proud of
you.” The note was signed “Your affectionate, loving mother.”
The influence of the two lads had been made apparent in other ways.
Sandy now said his prayers at nights, and a few of the crew followed
his example. Some of the men held aloof, but there was no more
carousing at bedtime. Men who had not learned to bow the knee to their
heavenly Father in each others’ presence at least had learned to
respect those who did.
No member of the crew dared to speak badly of Robert and Will in
Sandy’s presence. They knew it would mean a fight to a finish. The
two lads had no truer friend on board than Sandy. The members of the
crew well understood this, and for this reason, if not for their own
sake, were always respectful to the two young men; and in addition to
this they admired them for their pluck and courage. They realized that
almost any lad could fall in and drift with the crowd, but that it
required backbone and unusual courage to stand alone for what was right
when they were surrounded by men such as made up the ship’s crew.
For many years Sandy had been associated with men of a lower type,
and he consequently understood that they as well as himself respected
the young man who, possessing backbone and nerve, fought at all times
for the principles he believed to be right. These men were rough and
uncouth and had forgotten a good deal of their early training, but at
heart they still had considerable of inherent goodness. In consequence,
they learned to love Robert and Will because the lads played the game
of life fairly and squarely and under well-defined and well-recognized
rules. The young men carried the matter of right straight into the
enemy’s camp and had won the first round of the game, as we have seen,
the first night they were on board the ship. As a baseball writer would
put it, “Robert had put the first ball straight over home plate and had
registered a strike.” Following this he kept on with his good pitching.
Sandy, in his turn, played the game also like a man and tried to instil
the same spirit into his friends of the crew.
As days passed it was noticed that the air became more chill. The
thermometer showed a much lower temperature. To the seamen this was
indicative of a peril which did not evidence itself to the young men
who were making their first voyage. What this was will perhaps be
guessed when it is known that the lookouts were doubled and that the
captain and mate spent considerably more of their time on the bridge.
Then one day, just as the sun was setting, the lookout sang out:
“Berg two points to sta’board, sir.”
And in a few minutes the golden glow of the sinking ball of fire could
be seen reflected on the peak of a huge iceberg a little to the right.
As can be imagined, the young men revelled in this unusual sight, and
when the vessel passed within a mile of the berg it gave the appearance
of a frozen mountain of diamonds. After some inquiries Robert and Will
learned the reason for the care on the part of the ship’s officers.
It appeared to them that the danger was over so soon as the berg was
passed, but when they were told that the danger was not so great from
the visible ice mountains as from those which lay closer to the sea
and which were not so much in evidence, they understood the situation
better.
Other dangers added their quota to the excitement. Heretofore
exceedingly good weather had been enjoyed on the voyage, but now it
seemed that the gods of the storm had settled their efforts on the
destruction of the little craft. For several days a hurricane of
wind, snow and sleet prevailed. Sails were blown to bits. Ice fields
were numerous, thus causing a great deal of anxiety to the officers
and crew. Attempts were made to escape the larger bergs, but, time
after time, in spite of all efforts, it did appear that some of these
numerous ice mountains would carry the ship downwards into the deep.
When lulls in the gale appeared the ship was hove to and new sails
were bent on to take the place of those destroyed. Every man on board
was doing his full duty and with a determination to keep the good ship
afloat.
On the eighth day of the storm, when its fury seemed to be increasing
a shout was suddenly heard, even above the roar of the sea: “Man
overboard!” came from half a dozen throats. Looking quickly over the
side, Robert noted a man in the grip of the cold, angry sea, and a
moment later identified him as his friend Sandy, whom a huge wave had
carried some distance from the vessel. Robert’s early training and
native courage at once came to the fore. Waiting only to throw off
his coat and boots, he leaped from the deck into the foaming sea and
started with strong strokes for the drowning man. Fortunate it was
that Robert had practised the art of swimming from boyhood and that
over and over he had swam through the mountainous waves which at times
surrounded his island home. Many and many a time, for the pure love of
it, he and his brothers had made their way through the howling surf
of the rocky coast and had gloried in thus defeating the strength of
nature. All this stood him in good stead now. While Sandy was able
to keep afloat, he was a much older man, and in the maelstrom which
surrounded him it was impossible for him to make headway. All on board
watched the struggle of the young hero. Some suggested that a boat
should be launched, but the captain knew that this was impossible. A
boat would not have lived a minute in such a sea. The captain followed
the best plan he knew, however, and ordered the lowering of the main
sails, so that the ship’s way was checked until only steerage-way
remained. As the vessel tossed it was difficult to follow the two
imperilled men. Now and then their heads could be seen above the
storm-lashed sea. It was evident that Robert was making headway and
that Sandy had seen Robert and was doing his best to reach his rescuer,
though he disappeared and rose again at intervals. Then a huge wave
picked him up and carried him speedily toward the goal he was striving
for.
[Illustration: “HE LEAPED FROM THE DECK INTO THE FOAMING SEA.”]
As Sandy struggled his mind was not idle. A thousand and one thoughts
ran through his mind. He wanted to live at that moment more than he had
ever done before. He wanted to visit once more the home of his boyhood
days, to take back the little Bible to his dear old mother, to kneel
at her side and thank her for the Book that had helped to win him back
to his God. He wanted, too, to thank the young man who had brought him
back to a realization of his position and who, he knew now, was braving
unusual peril for his sake. Sandy wanted to do something worth while
in whatever remained to him of life. He prayed during these moments of
agony, during this time of suspense between life and death. His heart
cried out to God and, as is always the case, he was heard. As his power
and strength seemed to be waning, and when he was about ready to give
up, a strong arm grasped him in a vicelike grip. Robert had caught him
under the arms and was swimming with his heavy burden toward the ship.
When it was seen that the rescuer’s goal had been reached a cheer
went up heartily from those on board. This, in turn, was drowned by
the roaring and hissing of the waves. Robert was now making a supreme
effort. Again and again he disappeared with his burden, and again and
again mighty waves seemed to be trying to wrench his charge from his
grasp. He realized that the life of his friend depended on him, and set
himself to additional effort.
In the meantime Will had been watching the scene with a readiness
second only to his brother. He, like Robert, had played and fought with
the waves that dashed on the Orkney shores, and he, too, had gained
from these struggles a courage which was only waiting to be tried. In
the moments of waiting until it seemed his efforts would be necessary
he also had removed his outer clothing and stood among the old tars of
the crew ready to give himself when the time came. As was only natural,
swimmers there were in numbers among these rough men, but not another
was ready to tackle the job that the lads were ready to meet. Will
watched his brother as closely as the drenching seas permitted, and
when it seemed that his strength was failing he, without hesitation,
plunged headlong into the sea and struck out with lengthy strokes which
were the admiration of the crew. He knew Robert’s powers better than
any of the others, but he realized that even a giant’s endurance could
not last in such conditions, and he planned to relieve his brother
of the burden which he knew must be so overwhelming to him. After a
few moments he reached the side of the two struggling men and with
some difficulty persuaded Robert to relinquish his hold on Sandy and
finally, after continued struggling through the waves, which seemed
reluctant to give up their prey, they reached the ship and were helped
aboard.
At first it appeared surprising that while the two lads seemed to
regain their usual strength immediately and were able to walk to their
sleeping quarters, Sandy was almost altogether overcome, and it was
necessary that efforts to revive him should be made. To those who
thought about it, however, it showed that the victory won by the two
lads proved at once that they had led clean lives and were possessed
of the kind of courage which through all the history of the world has
overcome the greatest obstacles. The first act of the brothers when
they returned to the sleeping quarters was to get down on their knees
and thank their Heavenly Father for the strength He had given them to
save the life of a friend.
After another day the storm seemed to wreak its fury. The sun shone
once more and prospects seemed much more favorable. How the lads were
greeted after their heroic experience can well be appreciated. They
had made a warm place in the hearts of the crew before, but now they
had proved themselves heroes, and while not much of the feeling was
expressed in words, they felt the goodwill of both captain and crew in
a good many ways. In a few days, too, Sandy was about again quite as
well as ever. Words would fail to tell his appreciation of what his
friends had done for him.
Two weeks more of changeable weather was experienced, with wind enough
to keep the ship well on her course, and then, all in a moment as it
seemed, on one bright day endless fields of ice loomed up ahead. The
captain, with glass in hand, stood on the bridge looking for an opening
to the east, and after sailing along the apparently impenetrable
barrier for several hours a narrow sheet of open water was finally
encountered. The ship’s course was set for the open space, but when
the spot which had formerly been clear was reached disappointment
was manifest, for there was no open channel in evidence, but only
grinding, crushing, pushing ice. They had come to the edge of the
northern ice fields which, opening and closing at intervals, made it
perilous for any ship built as they were at that time to attempt a
passage. Nowadays a Canadian Government ice-crusher would have forced
a way without difficulty over the ice-pack. Then, with a vessel built
for ocean travelling and with little experience in ice, this was not
possible. The captain, though, had had years of experience in Hudson
Bay conditions and had sailed in the northern waters in the sealing and
whaling trade years before. He knew that the ship must be kept clear of
the dangerous field or it would be in constant peril of being crushed
or pinched by the mass of ice which, pushed by the millions of tons of
ice and the forces of wind and wave and tide behind, moved together
with titanic force. So he was contented to follow a course in the open
sea for a week in order to avoid these difficulties.
Following a southern course, at the end of several days the end of the
ice field was reached and blue water was in evidence ahead. Suddenly a
sight of much interest appeared to the young men when a whale was seen
blowing off the port bow. The next morning, which was Sunday, brought
joy to the hearts of all and an appreciation that the end of the voyage
was approaching, with the lookout’s announcement that land was sighted.
Some surprise was caused again when Sandy suggested a special service
of thanksgiving. For weeks he had been doing his best to bring his
friends of the crew to a realization of the responsibilities of life.
In the sleeping quarters, when the men were off duty, he had talked to
them as never before, and many who had sailed with him for years were
impressed with the fervor of his prayers and could not help but be
convinced of the staunch stand he had taken to serve his Maker as best
he knew.
There was reason for rejoicing. The sight of land confirmed the result
of the captain’s observations, and when it was known that after a week
or ten days of clear sailing they would reach the end of the voyage,
feelings of thankfulness and cheer were much in evidence. Smaller
icebergs and less extensive ice fields were now encountered, and here
the youthful employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company saw for the first
time polar bears with their cubs, walrus, seal, and other animals of
the kind which made their home in Hudson Bay waters.
Anyone who has occasion to cross the Atlantic now knows, or finds out
before the passage is complete, that it is the custom to organize
a ship’s concert. Even at this early date the custom had been
established, and now that the end of the passage appeared to be in
sight such entertainment was arranged for. In this everyone took part.
[Illustration: “FOR THE FIRST TIME SAW POLAR BEARS.”]
The arrival of the vessel meant a good deal to other than those on
board, a fact which was not thoroughly appreciated during the passage
by the young men who were travelling to the new land for the first
time. On the voyage of this one vessel the Company’s employees in
the far Canadian West depended almost wholly for their supplies and
for a great deal of their food. With the centre of the Company’s
interests at Fort Churchill, the officers and employees of the concern
naturally gathered at that point, and recently food there had been
running somewhat low. As can be expected also, there were many who
were looking forward with great expectations to letters from their
loved ones at home. The Factor and those in charge knew, if the vessel
had had an ordinary voyage, what time she might be expected, and as
the anticipated date approached a sharp lookout was kept each day
for signs of the white sails. Several days passed unavailingly, but
finally patience was rewarded and a cheer went up from the employees
of the Company gathered at the Fort as the ship came in sight. For the
last few days, also, the inhabitants of the Fort had been added to by
numbers of Indians who from year to year came to see the Company’s
vessel arrive. It was the great event of the year for the people of
that land. Many of the Indians had trapped faithfully for the Company
during the winter; the result of their work had been placed to their
credit in the Company’s books, and in return for this they were anxious
to secure useful articles which were comprised in the ship’s cargo.
When the vessel drew into the dock there was a shout of rejoicing and,
as can be imagined, it was a varied crowd of humanity which pressed
toward her. The Indians, however, as they had been taught from year
to year, kept a respectful distance, and the Factor was the first man
to grasp the hand of the captain when the men reached shore. After the
captain and officers, the first to land were the score or more youths
who had been so carefully selected to further the Company’s trade.
One of the features most looked for in the vessel’s arrival was the
mail which she brought. In these days, when letters and newspapers are
delivered to us three or four times a day we cannot appreciate what it
meant to these men, shut off in the wilderness, to receive news from
home which came only once a year. And it was not all rejoicing which
followed the opening of the mail pouches. For some men their quota of
letters brought sadness. A mother or a father, sister or a brother,
or possibly a child, had passed away since they had received news the
year before. As these sorrowful items were made known moist cheeks were
seen even among these weathered and grizzled heroes who had accepted
the call of the wilderness in the vast region where white men were
practically unknown outside the employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
[Illustration: “THE FACTOR WAS THE FIRST MAN TO GRASP THE HAND OF THE
CAPTAIN.”]
MacTavish, the Factor, looked the lads over carefully, wondering what
kind of material the Company’s officer had chosen for him. He was a
man not given to smiles, and through long association with the Indians
and the half-civilized people of the wilds he had come to cultivate
a stern and hard mien which did not by any means represent his true
feelings. However, when the stalwart lads from the Orkneys, with Robert
in the lead, marched past, each with his strong box containing all his
earthly goods on his shoulder, a smile was seen to break through the
sternness of his face. Never had the Company landed better looking lads
at Fort Churchill, and MacTavish felt that if the young men measured
up to their appearance he would be exceedingly well satisfied. The
interest manifested in this smile was deepened when the captain, who
had been talking to him, pointed out Robert and Will as they passed and
told him of the heroic episode on the voyage. Around the Factor and the
captain were also grouped some of the Company’s older trappers, who had
been in conflict with the frozen wilds for many a year. They too saw in
the newcomers the makings of men who were to do things, men who would
meet obstacles and who would overcome them.
For more reasons than one the coming of the ship was a season of
rejoicing to the Company’s employees. This first day the crew had
been given leave on shore, which was long needed after their cramping
experiences on shipboard, and had been allowed to stretch their legs
and enjoy themselves as they saw fit. The evening, too, brought its
enjoyment, for a banquet had been spread in which a part of the ship’s
cargo had a large place. Naturally the Company’s officers resident at
the Fort, with their subordinates, were interested in food from the Old
Land brought over by the vessel, and in their turn the members of the
crew were very well satisfied to dine on brook trout, venison, bear
steak, and other dishes prepared from the food available in the wilds.
While the banquet was in progress an incident occurred which the young
men long remembered. As became their new station, Robert and William,
with their companions from the Old Land, had been seated with the
Company’s officers. At an unexpected moment their friend Sandy, who
had been with the crew, was seen edging his way, first through the red
men with their squaws on the outside of the gathering and then through
the Company’s employees, until he approached his young friends. It
had suddenly occurred to Sandy that this would probably be the last
opportunity he would have to exchange a kindly word with his rescuers,
and before he was through, even if he had not felt so before, Robert
felt well repaid for any effort he had made in the old sailor’s behalf
during the night of the storm at sea.
The following morning the scene around the vessel was one of great
energy and apparent confusion. All hands were busy removing the ship’s
cargo, which was transferred to a large warehouse at the Fort. For
the crew this would have been an enormous task, but since the horde of
Indians who had gathered from the hundreds of miles around the Fort for
this event of the year found the work somewhat of a novelty, only two
days were occupied. Then began the work of loading the vessel with its
return cargo. Furs, tied carefully in great bundles, were stored away
in the holds, and after the holds were full huge piles, which, in their
rolled-up state, resembled cord-wood, were securely fastened by lashing
to the deck. This was the great outlet for the Company’s product,
and annually tens of thousands of the finest skins were shipped to
its sorting and distributing house in London. Two days more sufficed
for this part of the work and finally, while those on shore waved a
hearty farewell, the ship started on its return journey. Not the least
important part of its cargo were letters from Robert and Will to the
loved ones at home, giving vivid descriptions of the voyage which had
been the means of landing them in their new home.