FINE WEATHER--LIGHTS ON THE OCEAN--FLYING-FISH COME ON BOARD--
TROPIC-BIRDS--A SHARK CAUGHT--SOUTHERN CONSTELLATIONS--A CALM--FEVER
BREAKS OUT--DEATHS AMONG THE EMIGRANTS--MR PAGET'S ACTIVITY--THE DICEYS
ASSIST THE SICK--SIGNS OF A COMING BREEZE--A GALE COMES ON--
JACK-O'-LANTERN--JOB MAWSON'S ALARM--REEFS SHAKEN OUT--A MAN OVERBOARD--
CHARLES AND WINDY GO OFF IN BOAT--BOAT LOST SIGHT OF--SEARCH IN VAIN FOR
THE BOAT--EMILY AND MAY'S GRIEF.
Little did Charles Dicey and his sisters think of the fearful dangers to
which their brother Willy was exposed. The "Crusader" sailed on over
the smooth sea, with her white canvas spread out, towering to the sky,
studding-sails on either side reaching to the very surface of the water.
An awning had been spread over the after-part of the ship, and beneath
it the cabin passengers assembled, sheltered from the hot rays of the
sun. Neither Charles nor Mr Paget were ever idle, and their example
generally induced many of their companions to work also. Mrs Clagget,
if she did nothing else, always contrived to keep her tongue going.
Emily and May were usually well employed. Their attention, however, was
frequently called to the various objects which appeared around them.
They enjoyed watching the flights of flying-fish which darted with the
speed of arrows out of the water, hovered like birds in the air for a
few seconds, scarcely touching the foam-crested seas, and then sunk
quickly again beneath the surface. "How beautiful and blue are the
reflections on their glittering wings, how transparent their tiny
bodies, how light their movements!" observed Emily; "they look like
ocean elves, as they float through the air. What a happy life they must
lead--now in the pure ocean, now getting an uninterrupted sight of the
glorious sun and the clear sky above them."
"They would have a very different tale to tell, Miss Dicey, if they
could speak to you," observed Mr Paget. "Could your eyes pierce
through the surface, you would see some savage bonitos or dolphins
pursuing the hapless fish who visit the air, not for amusement, but in
the hopes of escaping from their persecutors."
Just then a large covey was seen to rise abeam close to the ship. They
flew high into the air, and in an instant the deck was covered with
their floundering bodies; their wings, dried by the heat of the sun, no
longer spread out, they looked like ordinary fish.
"Catch them, catch them," cried Mrs Clagget; "they will make a
delightful dish for dinner."
"Poor creatures--how unromantic you are," said Emily.
"I am practical, my dear. I pride myself on being practical," answered
Mrs Clagget. "I prefer eating them myself to allowing the dolphins to
have them for their supper." Jumbo, the cook's mate, seemed to be of
Mrs Clagget's opinion, for in an instant he was among the poor fish,
tumbling them into his bucket as fast as he could pick them up.
"That's a wise lad," observed the loquacious lady. "If any of you
happened to be in a boat far away from land without provisions, you
would be very glad to have a dish of those fish fly on board."
"But we happen to have plenty of provisions, and are not in want of the
poor fish," said Charles. "However, if they were thrown overboard
again, I suspect that they would have very little reason to thank us, as
the bonitos would speedily swallow them up."
"Get them while you can, Mr Charles," said Mrs Clagget, nodding her
head. "Some day, perhaps, you would be very thankful if you could only
catch a single one, and be ready to eat it raw." Mrs Clagget's tongue
was apt to run on so fast that she now and then said things, among the
many she uttered, which came true, in which instances she never failed
to boast of her prophetic powers. Shortly afterwards, a number of those
beautiful inhabitants of tropical seas, the little Portuguese
men-of-war, were seen floating round the ship on the crest of the waves,
their out-spread fans sparkling and glistening with the transparent
brightness of crystal; as the wind blew them gently through the sea,
their wings reflected all the colours of the rainbow. As Emily and May
were admiring them, they saw the terrible dismay the ship created among
them, as she passed through their midst. As the ship sailed on, the
sea-gulls of the northern ocean were succeeded by the high towering
tropic-birds, several of which were seen; appearing at first like mere
specks in the blue sky, where, with the wonderful balloon apparatus with
which they are furnished, they floated calmly at their ease, then
suddenly descending like bolts from the skies, they pounced down upon
the nether world, to seize some hapless fish swimming unconscious of
danger near the surface of the ocean. Beautiful creatures they
appeared, with two long streamer-like feathers floating behind their
wide-spreading wings. Now and then a sword-fish of a bright hue shot
with gold darted by, and huge sharks might be seen turning up their evil
eyes with longing glances toward the ship. Bill Windy did not fail to
point them out to the boys who were sky-larking in the rigging, and to
bid them take care not to fall overboard to become a prey of the
monsters. One of the savage creatures continued to follow the ship so
pertinaciously that the mate vowed he would punish him for his audacity.
"Either the brute will be catching some of us, or we must catch him," he
observed, as he prepared a harpoon and line. Descending by the
dolphin-striker, he stood on the bob-stay, watching with keen eye and
lifted arm for the shark, which now dropped astern, now swam lazily
alongside. Bill ordered one of the men to get out to the jibboom end
with a piece of pork, and heave it as far ahead as he could fling. No
sooner did the creature see the tempting bait than he darted forward,
and turning round to seize it exposed the white under side of his body
to a blow from Bill's harpoon, driven home with right good will. The
men on deck who held the line hauled away on the slack, while others
stood by with bowlines in their hands ready to slip them over the
shark's head and tail.
"Haul away," cried the mate, who was on deck in a moment; and the savage
creature, in spite of its convulsive struggles, was hoisted up, and lay
a helpless captive on the forecastle. Here it continued to plunge and
strike out with its tail, keeping the seamen at a respectful distance.
Now and then one would rush in with a handspike and endeavour to give it
a blow, which might have settled it; but so rapid were its movements
that it was necessary to be wary, as one stroke of that tail would have
been sufficient to break a man's leg. The shark was at length killed
and cut up. In spite of its cannibal propensities, many of the
emigrants gladly accepted portions, and even the seamen did not refuse
to eat a slice of their hated foe.
While the day presented much to occupy the attention, the night also
afforded many objects of interest. The constellations of the northern
hemisphere were now sinking one by one in the ocean; the Great Bear
disappeared, followed by the Polar Star, and in their stead, towards the
south, rose the Southern Cross, each night appearing higher and higher
in the firmament. Charles and his sisters gazed at the beautiful
constellation with deep interest. Beneath its glittering light they
expected to pass the greatest portion of their future life; and it
seemed to welcome them to the new world to which they were bound.
Charles confessed that, interesting as it was, it scarcely equalled in
beauty several of the northern constellations on which he had been
accustomed to gaze. Now, too, the Magellanic clouds appeared in the
heavens, composed probably of countless millions of worlds, so far away
that the human mind can scarcely calculate their distance from this tiny
world of ours. At night, also, Charles, with his sisters at his side,
often watched the track of the ship on the ocean, which appeared like a
broad road dotted with brilliant and innumerable stars; while on either
side the waves were lighted up by thousands of electric sparks,
appearing here and there; now lost altogether, now dispersed, as the
waves rose and fell. Sometimes, when the wind freshened, and a huge sea
broke against the bows with a tremendous crash, the spray appeared all
alight, rising in the air to fall on deck like drops of fire.
"Who would not wish to come to sea to witness such a spectacle as this?"
exclaimed Emily, with enthusiasm, as the whole ocean appeared glowing
with flashes of brilliant light. The remark was made not to Mrs
Clagget, but to Mr Paget, who stood by her side.
"You would scarcely suppose that this glorious illumination of the ocean
is caused by countless numbers of minute living creatures," he observed.
"As the telescope reveals to us some of the wonders of the heavens, so
the microscope enables to inspect many of the smallest of created
beings."
"What, Mr Paget, is every spark of light we see a living creature?"
asked May.
"Yes, indeed," was the answer. "And probably we see at a time not a
thousandth part of the number of those which are floating around."
The ship all this time had been standing over towards the coast of South
America, then to steer parallel with it, till, feeling the influence of
the trade winds, she was to keep eastward towards her destination.
Hitherto good progress had been made, and a rapid passage was expected;
but near the Tropic of Capricorn the wind fell, till a dead calm rested
on the ocean; gradually every ripple was (as Mrs Clagget expressed it)
smoothed out of the water. The sails hung idly down against the masts,
chips of wood thrown overboard floated alongside, the sun struck down
with terrific force, the whole sea shining like a sheet of burnished
gold. The passengers could no longer bear the heat below; and when they
came on deck, and sought whatever shade could be found, they gained but
little by the change. Though the sky, after a time, became overcast,
and a light steamy mist pervaded the atmosphere, the heat, rather than
moderating, increased. Few on board could resist complaining. Night
brought no relief. People who had appeared active enough before sat
listless about the decks. Books, if open, were unread. The seamen even
exhibited the same listlessness as the rest of those on board. Emily
and May did their best to keep up their spirits, but their efforts were
unavailing. Captain Westerway and Bill Windy were among the few who
appeared unaffected. Mr Paget, also exerting himself to the utmost,
went about his usual occupations, and endeavoured to revive the spirits
of his companions. It was evident, however, that unless a breeze should
spring up some evil consequences would too probably ensue. Day after
day the ship floated on the glassy sea, no sail in sight, the only
object ever visible beyond her deck being some wandering tropic bird,
which might be seen hovering on high, watching with keen sight for its
prey.
The surgeon appeared one morning with a grave face, to make his report
to the captain. Several of the steerage passengers were on the sick
list. As the day wore on, others were added to them: some, he feared,
were cases of malignant fever. They were removed to a part of the ship
screened off to serve as an hospital. Nothing else could be done except
to fumigate the "between-decks," that operation rather adding to the
heat than otherwise. The cabin passengers at length became alarmed.
"Oh, dear, what shall we do if there is fever?" exclaimed Mrs Clagget
to her young companions. "We must take care that no one ever comes near
us."
No one was more alarmed than Mr Job Mawson; for, in spite of the heat,
he shut himself up in his cabin, and was afraid of coming in contact
even with the steward, lest he should have passed near any of the sick
emigrants. Mr Paget, on the contrary, was more active than ever; he,
without hesitation, spent many hours of each day visiting those stricken
down by disease, and endeavouring to rouse the spirits of those who had
hitherto escaped. Charles Dicey, in spite of Mrs Clagget's warnings,
accompanied him, and gave every assistance in his power to the surgeon.
Day after day others were added to the numbers already suffering from
fever. One poor woman, the mother of a family, sank beneath it, and it
was a sad spectacle to all on deck as the body, secured in canvas, and
heavily weighted, was committed to the deep. The voice of Captain
Westerway, generally so firm, trembled as he read the funeral service.
Another and another followed. At last the good captain entreated Mr
Paget to perform the painful duty for him. How every one longed for a
breeze to carry the fever-stricken ship out of that inhospitable region!
It was supposed that the disease must have been brought on board, and
had only now developed itself, as the poor woman who had just died had
been ill when she left England.
Emily and May had at first listened to Mrs Clagget's advice, but when
so many women and children became ill, they could no longer refrain from
assisting in nursing them. Fearlessly they sat by the side of the sick,
reading to the elder ones, and trying to soothe and comfort the younger
children. Several children of the first poor woman who had died
followed their mother to her watery grave.
Charles at first tried to persuade his sisters that they were not called
upon to risk their health.
"Then why do you risk yours, brother?" asked Emily. "Your life, surely,
is as precious as ours. You would get on very well without us, but we
should be forlorn creatures indeed if left alone. I am sure we are but
doing our duty, and there is One above who will protect us."
"But I am more hardy than you are," argued Charles. "I can go aloft,
too, and get any germs of fever which I might have contracted blown
away."
"There is no wind to blow them away," said Emily, "and we are not more
likely to catch the fever than you are. Let us do our duty, and leave
the rest to God."
Still, though Charles was not thoroughly convinced, his sisters gained
their object. That very day they visited the hospital, nursed the poor
children, gave them their medicine and food, and rendered all the
assistance they could to the sick mothers. Charles used to look
anxiously at them every morning as they appeared at breakfast, fearful
of hearing them complain of illness; but the bloom of health still
glowed on their cheeks, and though grave, and sometimes sad when another
victim had been added to those already taken off by the disease, they
retained their spirits and courage.
"Really, Dicey, you are a brave fellow," said Jack Ivyleaf one day,
while Charles was taking his usual walk on deck for exercise. "I cannot
bring myself to go among those sick people as you do. It's all very
well to go forward and amuse them when they are in health, and inclined
to be jolly; but to go and sit in the hot, sweltering atmosphere
between-decks is quite another thing."
"Possibly, Mr Ivyleaf, you do not reflect that those poor sick people
have immortal souls like ourselves," observed Mr Paget, who had that
instant joined them. "If we profess to be Christians we should look
upon them as brothers in distress, and do our utmost for their souls as
well as their bodies."
"Ah, no, to be sure," said Jack, keeping his mouth agape, and gazing at
Mr Paget. "I should have thought that sort of work might be left to
the parson and doctor."
"But as we have no parson on board, and the doctor is overworked, does
it not strike you that the poor people have a right to our assistance?"
asked Mr Paget.
"Right! I don't see that they can have any right!" said Jack; "though
it's very kind in you and Dicey to attend to them." Jack Ivyleaf looked
as if he was afraid that his companions wished to enlist him in the
service he dreaded, and was evidently trying to make his escape from
them.
The captain and first officer were on deck. The latter had been casting
an eager look for some time to the north-west.
"We shall have it soon, sir," he observed, pointing with his hand.
"Turn the hands up, Mr Windy, and trim sails," said the captain in a
cheerful voice. "See there, gentlemen, those clouds yonder are the
pleasantest sight I have seen for many days." A low bank of clouds
could be observed resting on the horizon. It grew higher and higher
every instant, while a dark line could be seen extending across the
ocean in the same direction. The sea, however, continued as calm as
before; around the ship not a ripple could be seen on its surface. The
crew, hurrying from below, went to their stations, all eyes being turned
in the direction of the approaching clouds. Presently cats'-paws began
to play over the mirror-like expanse, and then to disappear; the sails
slowly bulged out, and speedily again hung down as listlessly as before
against the masts. The dark line grew brighter and brighter; presently
the loftier sails swelled out, and the ship began to glide smoothly over
the ocean. The joyful news was communicated below, and all who were not
in their beds came up on deck. The ship, at length feeling the power of
the helm, was put before the wind. The dark line now increased
gradually in width, and seemed covered with sparkling foam; a rushing
noise was heard; in another instant almost the aspect of the whole ocean
was changed; the sails bulged out steadily; waves, at first but small,
danced up astern, and on either side their crests hissing and foaming,
while the spray in broad sheets flew off from their summits. Now the
stout ship dashed forward, every instant increasing her speed, as if
eager to make up for the time lost. On she went, faster and faster,
rising to the seas, and plunging into them as they rolled around her.
The lighter sails were taken in. A strong gale was blowing--it was
increasing too. The clouds now rapidly gathered in dense masses across
the sky; the seamen were busy in all directions securing the boats, the
spars, and other articles hitherto left about the deck.
"We shall have a heavy gale, gentlemen, before long," observed the
captain, in answer to Mr Paget's and Charles' inquiries respecting the
weather. "It's what I have been wishing for, as nothing else is likely
to clear us of this terrible fever." Before night his predictions were
verified, and the ship, under close-reefed topsails, was running on at
the rate of twelve knots or more an hour.
Emily and May found it far more difficult to attend to their charges
than during the calm; but they still persevered; and though it was very
hot between-decks, yet the sick people felt sensibly the change which
had occurred in the atmosphere.
For several days the "Crusader" ran on before the gale; sometimes,
indeed, the wind blew so hard, and the ship rolled and tossed and
tumbled about so much, that many wished the calm back again. One night
the thunder roared and rattled overhead with crashing peals; bright
lightning darted from the skies. All hands were on deck, for it was
impossible to say what might next occur. The masts strained and
cracked, and it seemed every instant that the canvas would be blown out
of the boltropes. The dark seas came rolling up astern, their crests
hissing and foaming, threatening to break over the poop. Several of the
gentlemen passengers were collected on deck. Suddenly a voice was
heard, exclaiming in a tone of terror, "What is that? Oh mercy, mercy!"
They looked aloft; at the end of the yardarm was a mass of bluish light
like a small globe. Charles saw Job Mawson standing not far off; his
knees were knocking together, his arms outstretched. Presently the
light began to move, and suddenly it appeared at the mainmast head;
there it remained stationary for some time.
"What is it?" exclaimed Job Mawson. "Oh, captain, do make it go away!"
"It is nothing very terrible," answered Bill Windy, who overheard him.
"We might easily box up that fellow, if it were worth while to go aloft
and catch him."
"Let no one make the attempt," said the captain. "I must not have you,
Mr Windy, or the men, risk your lives to catch a jack-o'-lantern. I
hope it's a sign that the gale is breaking, and that we shall have
moderate weather again before long."
Job Mawson did not appear as satisfied with this explanation of the
captain's as the rest of the passengers; he continued watching the light
with a terror-stricken glance, as if he expected something dreadful was
about to happen. At length, now travelling to one mast-head, now to the
other, and back again to the yardarm, it finally disappeared. The wind,
however, continued blowing for some time as hard as ever. When morning
broke, it had somewhat moderated, and as the day wore on, a strong
breeze only was blowing. The sea, notwithstanding this, continued as
high as ever, and consequently the ship rolled and tumbled about fully
as much as before. The captain, who had been on deck all the night and
a great part of the forenoon, at length retired to his berth.
Bill Windy had the watch, Charles was standing near him.
"What do you think of the weather now?" he asked.
"Can't say that I think it settled yet," answered Bill. "There's a
stormy look away there to the nor'ard, but the captain ordered me to
shake the reefs out of the topsails if it grows no worse; though, to my
mind, we shall have to take them in again before nightfall."
Bill took a turn on deck, then ordered the hands aloft to shake out the
reefs. The topsails were sheeted home; the ship felt the fresh impulse
given to her, and went bounding on over the tossing ocean. The mate
walked the deck keeping a watchful eye to windward.
"I don't know what to make of it, Mr Dicey," he observed to Charles.
"It is always well to take a reef in in good time, and better
seamanship, too, to my mind, than to wait till the squall is down upon
one. Still, we have lost so much time in that calm that it won't do to
be shortening sail before it is necessary. The surgeon, too, wishes the
captain, unless the sickness abates, to put into the Cape, that the
people may be landed and the ship fumigated."
"I am thankful to hear that," said Charles; "a few days on shore may, I
hope, restore all to health."
Although no deaths had occurred for several days, a considerable number
of the people still remained on the sick list, many of the cases being
very severe. Even to people in health, the steerage of an emigrant ship
is not a desirable place, especially in a hot climate; and now the poor
sufferers were not only confined below with closed hatches, but the ship
was tumbling and rolling fearfully about, the masts were groaning, the
bulk-heads creaking, the stamping of feet was heard overhead, the waves
were constantly dashing against the sides, while now and then came the
heavy blow of a sea, as it fell on board and deluged the decks.
Bill Windy and Charles had continued their walk for some time, when the
mate, looking to windward, exclaimed, "It's high time to shorten sail,
or we shall have the masts whipped out of the ship. Boy, call the
captain! Hands aloft--two reefs in the topsails." The crew were
running up the rigging, when Captain Westerway made his appearance. The
men quickly laid out on the yards, and were busily employed in gathering
up the sails. An active young topman, whom Charles had seen just before
laughing and joking with his shipmates, was on the lee-yardarm; while,
with earing in hand, he was passing the point through the cringle, the
ship gave a heavy lurch, he lost his hold, and was jerked off the yard.
For an instant he was seen hanging on to the earing; but it would have
required superhuman strength to maintain his hold with the ship pitching
and rolling as she was doing; in another moment he fell headlong into
the foaming sea. Scarcely had he touched the water when Bill Windy ran
to the falls of the lifeboat on the starboard side, crying out for
volunteers. Charles followed him. The most active men were aloft; but
several gathered at the falls. The captain took the helm, relieving the
man at the wheel, who hurried to assist the mate. Bill, with three
hands, was already in the boat. Charles leaped in also.
"You had better not, Mr Dicey," exclaimed Bill. "Get up the side
again, and let another hand come. You don't know the danger you are
running."
"Not more than you," answered Charles.
"It's my duty, sir," said Bill, "and not yours; do be advised by me."
Charles, however, was eager to go to the assistance of the young seaman.
There were in all six stout hands in the boat. The lifebuoy had been
let go. Some time passed before the seaman saw it; at last he made
towards it, but his strength seemed insufficient to buffet with that
rough sea. The attention of most on board was for the moment engaged
rather with the boat endeavouring to carry help to the drowning man than
to the man himself. The greater number of the crew, too, were occupied
in handing the sails. This task had to be accomplished before the ship
could be brought to. That was itself a manoeuvre of no small danger,
yet the sea was not sufficiently high, nor the wind too strong, to make
it altogether impracticable. The boat at length got clear off, and
pulled away in the direction the man had last been seen, Mr Paget and
other passengers pointing with their hands to guide them. Charles
seized an oar--there were only four in the boat; the mate took the helm.
They had not pulled far when one of the oars broke. This was seen from
the ship. Mr Paget observed that the boat had rapidly dropped a long
way to leeward. While he was watching her, a huge wave rose up between
her and the ship. He looked anxiously, expecting to see her on the
crest of the sea. She was nowhere visible. It was some time before
another hand came aft to the helm to relieve the captain. The second
and third mates were forward. Not a seaman had been able to keep his
eye upon the boat. Mr Paget, however, felt sure he knew where she
could be found. The captain was now able to look about for her. Mr
Paget told him his fears.
"I am afraid you are right, sir," he said, after he had continued for
some time looking out all around.
"The boat has been swamped. I have no doubt about it." Mr Paget's
heart sank within him at these words; he had formed a sincere regard for
Charles Dicey; he felt still more for the poor girls who were thus
deprived of their brother.
"I hoped better things of that boat," observed the captain; "but a very
heavy sea is running even for her. Poor fellows, I would to heaven this
had not happened. Still she may have escaped."
He hailed the men aloft, and desired them to look out. No one could see
the boat; and neither the lifebuoy nor the young sailor, who, it was
supposed, had got hold of it, were anywhere to be seen. The captain
continued looking out for some time, ordering those aloft also to keep a
bright look-out. At length he gave the order to brace round the yards,
and the ship once more gathered way. "We must not give them up yet; so
I will wear ship, and run over the ground we have passed."
While this manoeuvre was being carried out the Miss Diceys and several
other ladies, followed by Mrs Clagget, appeared on deck.
"What is the matter, captain?" exclaimed the latter. "They tell me that
a man has fallen overboard, and that a boat has gone to look for him.
How could you let a boat go away while the sea is tumbling about in this
terrible fashion; and, pray, who has gone in her? Ah, Mr Paget, I am
glad to see you have not risked your life. But where is Charles Dicey?
Just like him, to do such a madcap trick. My dear girls, your brother
jumped into the boat to pick up a silly man who tumbled overboard, and
they cannot find him or any of those who went with him."
"Our brother!" exclaimed Emily and May in a tone of alarm. "Where is
the boat? Oh! do tell us, Captain Westerway; we do not see her."
"We are somewhat anxious about the boat, I confess, Miss Dicey," said
Mr Paget, approaching Emily and May; "but still we may hope to find
her. In this mountainous sea she might be easily concealed between the
waves, though at no great distance."
In vain, however, every one on board kept looking out for the missing
boat. The ship was standing back exactly over the spot where she had
been lowered. The only sign of her was a broken oar, which tossed up
and down--for a moment was seen, and then disappeared. Mrs Clagget
continued to abuse Charles for his foolhardiness, as she called it.
"Poor young man, I wish he had not gone," said the good captain; "but it
was a brave deed. I ought not to have allowed the boat to be lowered;
but I could not bear to let one of my fellows perish without an attempt
to save him; and I thought that lifeboat could be trusted."
"Very wrong in all concerned," exclaimed Mrs Clagget. "But surely,
captain, you don't think poor Charles is really lost, and your worthy
mate too. I had a great respect for that honest man."
"Indeed, madam, I fear such is the case," said the captain with a sigh;
"and I trust you will do your best to console those dear young ladies.
It will break their hearts, I am afraid, for it is easy to see what
affection they have for their brother."
Emily and May were, as may be supposed, almost stricken down by grief
when they were told, though as cautiously as possible by Mr Paget, of
what had occurred. Not till night had arrived, and all hopes had been
abandoned, could they be induced to leave the deck. They stood with
their hands clasped together, looking out over the tossing sea as though
they expected the boat which contained him they loved so much would
appear again in sight.