now became sufficiently apparent. To the eastward and astern of her a
small island, measuring about two miles from north to south, was seen.
Its shores were indented and rocky, the surf beating upon them with
great violence; and between it and the ship, at a distance nowhere
greater than a mile, there lay an extensive crescent-shaped reef, almost
completely encircling the unfortunate craft. The swell, rolling heavily
in from the westward, hurled itself with appalling fury upon this reef,
the far-reaching expanse of white water revealing distinctly the
extremity of the peril through which the ship had passed during the
previous night. Indeed, it was difficult to understand how she had
escaped at all, for the opening between the two horns of the reef was so
narrow that he would have been a bold navigator who would willingly have
risked the passage, even in broad daylight.
Williams' first act was to summon Rogers and Martin, in whose company he
paid a visit to the fore-topmast cross-trees, where the trio devoted a
full half-hour to a careful and critical examination of the ship's
position. Fortunately there was no occasion for haste, the anchor
maintaining a firm grip of the ground, notwithstanding the occasional
heavy plunges of the ship when some exceptionally big roller came
sweeping in unbroken through the narrow channel in the reef. It was
possible, therefore, for the mutineers to weigh well the advisability of
the steps they contemplated, and to act with due caution. The cross-
trees afforded a clear and thoroughly comprehensive view of the entire
reef; and from this lofty stand-point the position of the ship was seen
to be much less critical than it had appeared to be when viewed from the
deck below. The _Flying Cloud_ was, in fact, found to be lying in about
the centre of a natural harbour. True, it was rather a wild berth for a
ship, especially in the particular spot which she then occupied--this
spot happening to be exactly opposite the opening in the reef and fully
exposed to the unbroken run of the sea--but it was seen that by moving
her half a cable's-length either to the north or south the craft would
be sheltered by one of the arms of the reef, and, with a couple of
anchors down, might hope to ride out a moderately heavy gale in safety.
This was all very well, and very satisfactory--so far as it went--for it
relieved their minds of all anxiety respecting the immediate safety of
the ship. But, safe as she might be for the moment, the spot was not
one in which a prudent mariner would linger one unnecessary instant; and
Williams' only anxiety just then was how to get out.
The channel into this natural harbour trended as nearly as possible due
east and west; and, with the wind as it then stood, the ship, in order
to get to sea, would have to make a series of short tacks to windward.
But the opening was so narrow and tortuous that the little party in the
cross-trees considered it exceedingly doubtful whether this would be
possible with so lengthy a ship as the _Flying Cloud_; and, for the
moment, it looked very much as though they would have to remain where
they were until a change of wind should occur to release them.
At length, however, an expedition in the gig to the mouth of the channel
was decided upon, and Ned--who had already distinguished himself by the
exhibition of an altogether exceptional aptitude and dexterity in his
handling of the ship--was instructed to join the party. The boat was
soon lowered and manned, and, with Williams, Rogers, and Ned in the
stern-sheets, pulled away towards the entrance. They had had the
precaution to provide themselves with a hand-lead; and as soon as the
channel was reached a very complete set of soundings, from end to end
and over its entire width, was taken under Ned's supervision. The
result was unexpectedly satisfactory, no detached rocks being found in
the fairway, whilst a tolerably even depth of water, nowhere less than
five fathoms, and extending right up alongside the edge of the reef,
prevailed throughout the entire length of the channel.
The progress of this survey was watched with the utmost anxiety by
Williams--who, indeed, actually took the soundings with his own hands;
and upon its completion he was so intensely gratified at the way in
which this important service had been executed that he actually went the
length of stammering out a few half-intelligible words of thanks to Ned.
The only question now remaining for settlement was, whether it would be
prudent to make the attempt to work the ship out to sea. All hands were
most keenly anxious to get clear of the place, for, safe as the ship
just then undoubtedly was, they knew that it might prove a death-trap to
them if it came on to blow heavily from the westward; but they also had
the sense to know that a single mistake or miscalculation on the part of
the person working the ship would send her on to the reef, a hopeless
wreck.
Rogers and the boat's crew were unanimously of opinion that the project
was an impossibility; Williams expressed his belief that the thing
_might_ be done, but he at the same time frankly confessed that he had
not faith enough in himself to undertake the responsibility. Ned
prudently kept his opinion to himself until he was directly appealed to,
when he modestly said that, with a smart hand at the wheel, a keen look-
out aloft to warn him of the presence of any sunken rocks which might
perchance have escaped their search, and a lively crew at the sheets and
braces, he believed he would be able to work the ship into open water.
"Then," exclaimed Williams with an oath, "you shall try your hand at the
job. But remember," he added, "if the ship touches anywhere, though it
be only lightly enough to just graze the paint off her bottom, you may
look out for squalls!"
"Now, look here, Williams," answered Ned hotly, "if you want me to do my
best for you, you had better be somewhat more sparing with your threats;
and unless you withdraw what you have just said I shall decline to have
anything to do with this matter. The task you have asked me to
undertake is a most difficult and delicate one. I am quite willing to
do my best, if you see fit to intrust me with the care of the ship, but
it is a case in which even so slight a matter as a temporary flaw in the
wind may bring about a very serious accident. If, therefore, I am to
make the attempt, it must be with the distinct understanding that I am
not to be held responsible for anything which may happen."
"What d'ye think, mates? dare we trust him?" asked Williams, appealing
to Rogers and the other men in the boat.
They said they thought that Ned's objection was quite fair and
reasonable; and Rogers, unceremoniously changing places with Ned,
whispered something in Williams' ear, whereupon the latter said:
"Very well. Will you swear, Ned, to honestly do your best to get the
ship out of the fix she is now in, and to navigate her safely into open
water?"
"Certainly I will, if you wish it," answered Ned, "but a little
reflection would convince you, I think, that I must be as little anxious
as any of you to be cast away in such an unpromising spot as this."
"All right, then," said Williams; "we'll chance it. Give way, men, for
the ship."
A quarter of an hour later all hands were once more on board, the boat
was hoisted up to the davits, and the word was passed to man the
windlass and heave short.
CHAPTER NINE.
THE CAPTAIN'S DENUNCIATION.
"Now, Ned," said Williams as the windlass-pawls began to clank, "you are
in charge of the ship, mind, until she is in the blue water once more;
and all hands, myself included, are ready to obey your orders, whatever
they may be. You want a smart hand at the wheel, you say, and another
as a look-out aloft. I intend, therefore, to take the wheel myself; and
Rogers, who has the quickest eye on board the ship, will station himself
on the fore-topsail-yard to watch for the rocks you spoke about. The
rest of the hands will be stationed at the sheets and braces, with
orders to let go and haul the moment you give the word. So, with this
arrangement, if anything goes wrong you will not be able to say that any
of us were to blame."
"All right," cried Ned, "I am quite satisfied with the arrangement; and
I will do my best, as I said, to take the ship safely through. As there
is a good steady breeze blowing I shall work her under topsails,
topgallant-sails, jibs, and spanker, with the courses in the brails
ready for an emergency, but not set; as presently, when we get into the
narrowest part of the passage, our boards will be so short that the men
would not be able to get down the tacks and sheets before it will be
time to heave in stays again. When the cable is shortened in to twenty-
fathoms let the hands go aloft and loose the canvas."
"Right you are," said Williams, turning away and walking forward to
superintend operations on the forecastle.
The men roused the cable in to the inspiriting strains of a lively
"shanty;" and before long Rogers' voice was heard announcing the news
that the twenty-fathom shackle was inside the hawse-pipe.
"Away aloft and loose the canvas" was now the word, upon which the men
deserted the windlass; and whilst some swarmed aloft to cast off the
gaskets from the upper sails others laid out upon the jib-boom to loose
the jibs, the residue scattering about the decks to attend to the calls
of their shipmates aloft to "let go the main-topgallant-clewlines" and
to perform other similar operations of an equally mysterious character--
mysterious, at least, to Sibylla, who, at a hint from Ned, had ventured
out on deck to look abroad upon the unwonted scene, and to watch the
passage of the ship through the reef.
In thus summoning Sibylla from the seclusion of her own cabin Ned
honestly believed that his only motive was to do the poor girl a
service. He said to himself that she would be far better on deck,
breathing the fresh air and stimulated by the healthy excitement of a
little peril, than she would be if she remained below cooped up in a
stuffy state-room, fretting her heart out over matters that neither she
nor he could help. Moreover, he was anxious that she should become
accustomed as quickly as possible to the novelty of being the only woman
on board, and accustomed, too, to the idea of coming and going as freely
about the decks as she had done before the mutiny. And if, in addition
to these motives, there lurked another far down in the depths of Ned's
heart, making him anxious that Sibylla should see for herself how
valuable, and indeed indispensable, his services were to the mutineers,
who shall blame him?
With the usual amount of bustle on board a merchantman the canvas was at
length set, the yards braced in the manner necessary for casting the
ship, and the men returned to the windlass--Williams walking aft and
standing by the wheel, whilst Rogers and Martin remained on the
forecastle to superintend the operation of getting the anchor. Williams
was evidently very much pleased at the prospect of getting out to sea
again, for as he passed Sibylla he raised his hat with more grace than
could have been expected of him and wished her "good-morning!"--a
salutation which the young lady silently acknowledged with one of her
most stately bows.
Presently the cry came from Rogers:
"Anchor's aweigh, sir."
"Very well," said Ned; "rouse it up to the bows smartly, cat it, and
then range along your cable all ready for letting go again if need be.
Flatten in your larboard jib-sheets for'ard; man your larboard fore-
braces and brace the headyards sharp up. Hard a-starboard with your
helm, Williams--she has stern-way upon her. And you Rogers, away aloft
and keep a sharp look-out for sunken rocks. Martin will see to the
catting of the anchor."
Fully alive to the necessity for prompt obedience to the orders which
had been given them, the crew sprang to their several stations and did
their work with a smartness which would have been creditable even on
board a man-of-war; and in another minute the ship had paid handsomely
off on the larboard tack, with her after-canvas clean full.
"Let draw your jib-sheets," now shouted Ned; "let go your larboard and
round-in upon your starboard fore-braces, and then lay aft here, two or
three of you, and haul out the spanker. Steady the helm and meet her,
Williams. Keep everything a-rap full and let her go through the water.
What is the latest news from the anchor for'ard there?"
"The stock is just coming out of the water, sir," answered Martin.
"That is right; up with it as smartly as you can, lads," urged Ned.
Then to Rogers:
"How are things looking from aloft, Rogers?"
"All right, sir--no rocks anywhere in the way as I can see, and deep
water right up to the edge of the reef," came the answer.
"That is well," commented Ned, walking to the lee rail to note the speed
of the ship through the water, and also to judge more accurately her
distance from the swirling masses of white water which marked the
position of the reef.
She was nearing the rocks fast and was already within a cable's-length
of them; and the men forward were beginning to cast anxious glances aft,
fearing that Ned was cutting his distance too fine.
But Ned knew perfectly well what he was about; with the utmost calmness
he gave the word "Stations!" and then, as the men sprang to obey the
order, he glanced aloft at the canvas. Williams was performing his
share of the work with the skill of a most accomplished helmsman, and
all the canvas was clean full.
Now came the ticklish part of the business. If Ned's judgment failed
him here the ship was as good as lost. He took one more glance at the
breakers and then gave the word:
"Ready about!" followed immediately by the customary "Helm is a-lee!" at
the same moment signing to Williams to put the helm down.
The wheel, under the influence of a single vigorous impulse from
Williams' sinewy arm, went whirling round until it was hard over, when
he caught and grasped the spokes and held it there. The ship swept
gracefully up into the wind with her white canvas fluttering so
violently as to make the stout craft tremble to her keel; and, shaving
the reef so closely that a vigorous jump would have launched a man from
her rail into the breakers alongside, she forged ahead and finally paid
off on the opposite tack.
So far, so good. The ship was, however, still in the comparatively
spacious lagoon inside the reef. The crucial test of Ned's ability
would come when she passed into the narrow tortuous channel leading
through the reef to the open sea. But that one trial had sufficed to
demonstrate to Ned that the ship, even under the comparatively small
amount of canvas then set, was under perfect command; and he was,
moreover, just at that moment in that peculiar state of exhilaration
both of mind and body when no task seems impossible. It was not likely,
therefore, that, with Sibylla's bright eyes regarding him with an eager
curiosity--which to him seemed not wholly devoid of interest--he should
shrink from any ordeal, however difficult.
But there was a peculiarly trying spot to be passed just at the inner
extremity of the channel, and the ship would probably reach it on her
next board. It behoved Ned, therefore, to dismiss from his mind all
thoughts not strictly appertaining to the business in hand; and, like
the sensible, practical fellow he was, he did so. Standing on a hen-
coop, with one hand lightly grasping the mizen-topmast backstay, he
sought and soon found the spot, which he carefully watched until he
considered that the ship had run far enough to reach it on the next
tack. He then gave the word "Ready about!" and immediately tacked the
ship. The exceeding awkwardness of the passage consisted in the fact
that, at the particular point referred to, the channel through the reef
for a length of about sixteen hundred feet was only about three hundred
feet wide, whilst its direction was dead in the wind's eye as it then
blew. Hence it was quite impossible to work the ship through this
narrow "gut" in the ordinary way. Two small coves of unbroken--and
therefore deep--water had been discovered on the north side of this
narrow passage during the preliminary exploration; but they trended in
the wrong direction and were so very narrow that Williams, on seeing
them, at once declared them useless for all practical purposes. Ned,
however, thought differently, and it was indeed upon the existence of
these two indentations that he based his hope of success in an effort
that, under other circumstances, it would have been sheer madness to
attempt.
The ship tacked with the same admirable precision as before, and on
gathering way was found to be looking well up for the entrance to the
narrow channel. The distance to be traversed was no great matter, and
Ned consequently kept all hands at their stations; but the anxious looks
which they cast, first at him and next at the formidable barrier of
rocks to leeward, showed plainly enough how completely puzzled they were
as to the manner in which Ned was to deal with the difficulty which
faced him. In less than five minutes from the moment of tacking the
ship reached the opening, and as she glided across the narrow channel
Ned signed to Williams to put the helm gradually down. The result was
that the ship shot easily up into the wind; and the moment that all her
canvas was a-shiver Ned ordered the helm amidships. This manoeuvre
caused the ship to shoot for a considerable distance along the channel
right in the wind's eye; and before she entirely lost her way she had,
as Ned had calculated she would, forged past the opening giving access
to the first cove or indentation in the reef. The square canvas was now
thrown flat aback and the ship soon gathered stern-way, when, by a
judicious and skilful manipulation of the helm and braces, a stern-board
was made and the vessel backed into the indentation and to its farthest
extremity, a distance of about two cables'-lengths. The yards were then
braced round and the canvas filled on the starboard tack, when, the ship
gathering headway, she went booming down the indentation again and
rushed once more into the narrow channel; when, having by this manoeuvre
acquired sufficient "way" or momentum, the same tactics were a second
time resorted to in order to get her past the second indentation, upon
emerging from which she entered a wider reach of the channel where there
was room to work her in the ordinary way. Thenceforward there was no
further difficulty, except that in one rather awkward spot a sunken rock
was encountered, which Ned, being duly apprised of its position by
Rogers, avoided by the masterly execution of a half-board. A quarter of
an hour later saw the _Flying Cloud_ gliding out of the last reach of
the channel to windward of everything, and five minutes afterwards
Williams resigned the wheel to the man who had gone aft to relieve him,
and resumed command of the ship; saying to Ned as he dismissed him:
"You have done exceedingly well, young gentleman; and I thank you not
only for myself but also for all hands. It was, no doubt, your
foresight and the caution you gave us last night that saved the ship
from wreck on yonder reef; and you have this morning got us out of a
difficulty which a slight increase of wind would have made a most
serious one. We are very greatly indebted to you; and if ever you
should require a favour at my hands remind me of this morning, and if it
is possible to grant that favour with safety to ourselves it shall be
granted. And now, tell me what you think of yon island as a dwelling-
place for Captain Blyth?"
"I should think it would serve fairly well," said Ned, inwardly
rejoicing at the prospect of the skipper being put on shore within such
comparatively easy reach of the other party. "The island is large
enough to support a hundred people, for that matter. It is as much out
of the way as any other place we are likely to fall in with; and I have
no doubt but that round on the lee side of it we shall meet with smooth
water and a beach upon which to effect a landing."
"So I think," returned Williams. "At all events," he continued, "we
will run round to leeward and have a look at the place. And in the
meantime you may as well go and tell the skipper and young Manners to
hold themselves in readiness to leave the ship--if the place looks
promising I shall land them _both_ here. And when you have spoken to
them you may look out a few things--as well as all their own
belongings--which will help to make them comfortable. We have no ill-
feeling toward either of them, and it will be a satisfaction to remember
that we left them with the means of taking care of themselves."
"All right," said Ned; "I will do so." And he hurried away upon his
errand, which he was anxious to fully accomplish whilst Williams'
extraordinary fit of good-nature still remained upon him.
Captain Blyth and young Manners were, it will be remembered, confined in
the forward deck-house; and thither Ned at once made his way. The
sliding-door was closed, and secured by a hasp and staple which had been
put on since Ned had last visited the place. Withdrawing the pin and
folding back the hasp, the lad slid the door open and entered--to start
back horrified at the sight which met his gaze. The two prisoners were
there, with their feet in irons, the skipper being seated on one side of
the small table which occupied the centre of the berth, and Manners on
the other side. It was not their condition, however, nor the fact that
they were in irons, which startled Ned; they were clean and comfortable-
looking enough, both in person and in dress, to show that they had been
fairly well looked after; it was the dreadfully haggard and worn look of
the skipper. The poor fellow looked twenty years older than when Ned
had seen him last; he was wasted almost to the condition of a skeleton.
The skin of his forehead and the outer corners of his eye-sockets was
furrowed and wrinkled and crow's-footed like that of an old man of
eighty; and his hair was thickly streaked with grey.
As Ned entered, both prisoners rose to their feet, and Captain Blyth,
stretching out his hand in welcome, exclaimed with emotion:
"At last--at last! I _knew_ you would be true to me, Ned, my dear lad--
I said so, over and over again; did I not, Manners? And now you are
come with good tidings; I can see it in your face. What is it boy! Out
with it. I have been terribly shaken by this villainous mutiny, but my
nerves are yet strong enough to bear the shock of good news, so out with
it; do not keep us in suspense, dear lad."
It was pitiful to Ned to listen to the yearning tones of anxious
entreaty in which the poor fellow uttered those last words, and to feel
that he had not a single scrap of comfort to offer; but his task was
before him. He had to execute it, and he determined to do it as gently
as possible, and to put matters in the most hopeful light he could on
the spur of the moment.
"Yes," began Ned, "I _have_ come with what I hope will prove to be good
tidings, though, perhaps, they may not strike you as such at the outset;
and I deeply regret to say that they are certainly not such as you seem
to have been looking for. The ship is still in the hands of the
mutineers, notwithstanding all the plotting and scheming of Mr Gaunt,
Doctor Henderson, and myself; Williams and the rest of the people have
been too watchful for us to take them by surprise, and we were not
strong enough to attempt force with them. And now--the passengers, all
but Miss Stanhope, being landed, as I suppose you know--I fear that the
poor _Flying Cloud_ will have to remain in the rascals' hands; at all
events until we get into more frequented waters, when you may depend
upon it I shall make desperate efforts, and leave no feasible plan
untried to secure the capture of the ship. But, in the meantime, I have
been instructed by Williams to inform you that you are to hold
yourselves in readiness to be landed on the island yonder, which you may
see through the starboard window. This, I hope, will be good news to
you both, for you will at least be _free_--free not only from your
present confinement, but also free to act; free to devise and to carry
out means for your escape from the island, and your speedy restoration
to civilisation. I am instructed to say that all your personal effects
will be rendered up to you; and I have orders to get together a few
things to make you comfortable. So now, if you will name what things
you would most desire to have, I will jot down a list of them, and do
all I possibly can to ensure your getting them."
"So--so; that is how the land lies, is it?" remarked the skipper
thoughtfully, when Ned had brought his story to a close. "And, pray,
what are they going to do with _you_, young gentleman, if I may presume
to ask?"