BOARDING THE WRECK.
“There seems to be but one man on board the wreck,” said Wainwright,
when the Tritonia had passed out of hailing distance.
“And he says there are two women on board,” added Marline. “It seems to
me that I have heard that man’s voice before.”
“He speaks plain English, at any rate,” continued the captain. “Have
you any idea what has become of the Josephine, Mr. Marline?”
“It was easy enough to lose her in such a night as the last. She may
have carried sail while we were laying to, or we may have carried sail
while she was doing so. She may have been within a few miles of us when
we changed our course to the nor’ard.”
“But, if she had been anywhere near us, she would have heard the guns
on this steamer,” suggested Wainwright.
“I think we shall have a change of weather soon, and we shall find out
where she is.”
“The barometer is rising; and I am confident, if the Josephine’s people
heard those guns, she will follow them up, and we shall see her in the
course of the forenoon.”
“No doubt of it,” replied Marline. “The fog is lifting now.”
“The steamer seems to be in no danger of sinking,” added Wainwright, as
he brought his glass to bear upon her. “Her stern is well down in the
water, but her bow is clear up in the air.”
“She won’t go down unless the weather gets worse. It is moderating very
rapidly.”
“What can we do with the steamer after we get on board of her?” asked
the captain, who had been considering this question since the wreck was
first discovered.
“I don’t know that we can do any thing but save the passengers,”
replied Marline.
“But the vessel seems to be in good condition; and it may be possible
to take her into port.”
“It may be; but I think we have not force enough to handle her, if the
crew have deserted her.”
“If we save her, won’t she belong to us?” inquired Wainwright, who had
been a seaman on the Josephine when she picked up a Dutch vessel in the
North Sea, in a sinking condition.
“No; but the judges of the Marine Court, or whatever they call it over
here, decide what part of the value of the vessel shall be given to
those that save her.”
“It is a case of salvage, then. I didn’t know but the vessel, if she
had been wholly abandoned, might go to those who picked her up.”
“I am no sea-lawyer, and I don’t know much about it; but my notion
is, that if the owners claim her, they take her by paying the salvage
decreed by the court. I am sorry Mr. Pelham is not here to settle all
the questions that may come up concerning this steamer.”
“I think we shall be able to settle them somehow or other,” replied
Wainwright confidently. “It would be a big thing for the Tritonia to
send that vessel into port.”
“So it would; but it will be a bigger thing to save the passengers on
board of her. Though we see but one man on board of her, there may be a
dozen or twenty,” added Marline.
“What are they about, if there are any others in her?”
“That’s more than I know; but men lose their heads in times of trouble.
The crew may have broken into the rum-barrels, and got drunk. A crew is
very likely to do such a thing after the discipline of the vessel is
lost.”
“Do you suppose that is the case?”
“I don’t suppose any thing about it: I have known just such things to
happen,” answered Marline, who evidently did not care to continue the
conversation, for he did not wish to commit himself to any thing.
The sea was still too heavy, when the port-watch came on duty at eight
o’clock, to allow any recitation to be conducted in the steerage.
Professor Primback, with his supreme contempt for all things nautical,
was unable to keep on his legs, and was therefore incompetent to
sustain the dignity of his position. He knew that the students would
laugh if a smart sea should upset him, or cause him to reel, during his
demonstration at the blackboard; and he was unwilling to tempt them.
For this reason it was usually vacation time in very stormy weather.
The seamen not on duty were reclining in their berths, or wedged into
various corners where they could save themselves from being pitched
about by the savage plunging of the vessel. Every movable thing had
been secured by the stewards, for neither tables nor stools would stay
upon their legs.
Professor Primback was very nervous and uneasy in the absence of the
vice-principal; for he did not place any great confidence in the
good judgment and discretion of the young officers of the vessel.
He perversely refused to inform himself in regard to seamanship and
maritime custom and law; and he was no better than a child outside
of the duties of an instructor. He remained in his berth till after
nine o’clock in the morning, because he would not trust himself to the
uneasy deck. But he was not satisfied with the action of the young
commander, even after the latter had consulted with Mr. Marline.
After he had carefully considered the situation without being able
to reach any conclusion, he decided to go on deck,--if he could get
there,--and examine for himself into the condition of affairs. He got
out of his berth with no little difficulty, and by sundry darts and
plunges reached the companion-way. While he had the baluster under
his hand he did very well, and succeeded in reaching the quarter-deck
without any disaster.
Seeing Capt. Wainwright on the weather side, he waited a moment till
the vessel was on an even keel, and then started for him. If he had
known any thing about the motions of a ship, or had understood the
meaning of the order given, “Ready about,” as he appeared at the
companion-way, he would not have undertaken the feat of crossing the
deck at that particular moment.
“Hard down the helm!” shouted Scott, the second lieutenant, who was
then in charge of the deck.
The Tritonia threw her head up into the wind as the hands at the wheel
obeyed the order. As she fell off she met a tremendous wave, which
broke over the top-gallant forecastle, and, as the bow of the vessel
rose upon the sea, sent tons of water rolling along the lee side of the
deck. The officers and seamen, as taught to do by experience, seized
the life-lines, and held on for a moment till the water had poured out
through the scuppers. But Mr. Primback was either too ignorant or too
dignified to depend upon any support but his legs, and was knocked from
his feet, and carried over to leeward. Mr. Marline and some others
had warned him in season of his danger; but unfortunately they used
sea-slang in doing so, and the professor did not comprehend the warning.
The boatswain sprang to his assistance, and picked him up. He conducted
him to one of the life-lines, where he was content to hold on. The
foresail and the mainsail went over, and as soon as they filled the
motion of the schooner was easier.
“What do you mean, sir?” demanded the professor angrily, as Scott
passed by him in the discharge of his duty.
“I don’t mean any thing, sir,” replied the joker demurely, and was
about to continue on his way to the waist.
“Stop, sir! What do you mean by playing a trick upon me when I come on
deck?” foamed the worthy instructor.
“I beg your pardon, sir, if I have done any thing wrong,” added Scott,
shrugging his shoulders like a Frenchman. “I did not mean to do any
thing out of the way.”
“You tipped the ship so as to throw me down,” added the irate professor.
“I didn’t tip the ship, sir.”
“You gave the order to have it done, as soon as you saw me come on
deck.”
“The captain ordered me to tack ship, and I gave the order to the watch
on deck, sir. I only did what the captain told me to do.”
“This isn’t the first time you have played such a trick upon me,”
continued Mr. Primback, who honestly believed that Scott was the author
of his misfortune.
The professor considered that any person who was capable of making a
joke would not scruple to do a wicked deed; and for this reason Scott
was not a favorite with the professor.
“I never played a trick upon you in my life, sir,” pleaded the second
lieutenant, with his cheerful smile.
“Don’t contradict me, Scott!” said Mr. Primback, waxing more indignant
as he saw the smile. “I will report you for discipline to the
vice-principal as soon as he returns.”
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Primback,” interposed the captain, “but I do
not think Mr. Scott was to blame.”
“I did not ask your opinion, Wainwright: I hold _Mr._ Scott responsible
for his own acts,” snapped the professor.
“He only obeyed the order I gave him to tack ship, and it was not his
fault that she made a lee lurch.”
“You will use none of that gibberish to me! And I will tolerate no
interference when I speak to a student.”
“I only desired to explain, sir,” added the captain, with the utmost
deference and respect.
“Then do it in English.”
“When the vessel turned so that the wind did not press upon the sails,
the heavy waves caused her to roll and pitch violently,” continued the
captain.
“And Scott turned the vessel just as he saw me come on deck.”
“I gave him the order to turn her.”
“He could have waited a moment till I had reached a secure position.
He has been guilty of disrespect to the senior professor of the
vessel.--Scott, you will go down into the cabin, and settle this case
with me,” continued Mr. Primback, who was certainly more irritable than
usual.
Wainwright was confounded by this order. It was plain that the
professor had forgotten the regulation of the principal, which ought
to have governed him in the present emergency. In the absence of the
vice-principal, he had no control whatever over the captain in regard
to the management of the vessel. He was taking the course pursued
by another professor in the squadron, who had been sent home for
interfering with the discipline of the ship.
“Mr. Scott is the officer of the deck, sir,” said the captain, greatly
embarrassed by the situation.
“I don’t care if he is: he will obey my order, or I will suspend him
from duty,” replied Mr. Primback stoutly.
“You will excuse me, sir, if I call your attention to the regulation
bearing upon this case,” continued the captain.
“Is my order to be obeyed, or not?” demanded the professor.
“I hope you will revoke the order till you have looked at the
regulations, sir.”
“This is insolence, Wainwright. I am the acting vice-principal of this
vessel in the absence of Mr. Pelham. I stand in his place; and he is
authorized to suspend an officer for cause.”
“If you will be kind enough to read the regulations, I think you will
see that you are mistaken,” added the captain in a low tone.
“I am not mistaken,” persisted the professor.
“We shall have to tack again in a moment, Mr. Primback; and the vessel
will roll and pitch as badly as before.”
“I think you had better go below, sir,” said Mr. Marline, coming up to
the professor at this moment, hoping to make an end of the disagreeable
controversy. “The sea is very heavy, and she may roll herself full of
water up to the rail.”
“Mr. Marline, you will see that Scott obeys my order,” replied Mr.
Primback, creeping along the life-line towards the companion-way.
The boatswain made no reply, but took the arm of the “philosopher,”
as he insisted upon calling all the professors, and helped him down
the steps. He deposited him on a sofa where he could preserve his
equilibrium. The learned gentleman was very glad to be in a safe
position again; but he could not forget the fancied injury to which he
had been subjected.
“I ordered Scott to come into the cabin, and settle his case with me,
Mr. Marline. He hasn’t come yet,” said the professor, wiping the salt
spray from his face.
“I beg your honor’s pardon, but you are all wrong in this matter,”
replied Marline bluntly, for he saw that nothing but plain speech would
answer his purpose.
At the same time he took from his pocket a copy of the regulations
which had been printed on board of the Young America, and slowly
unfolded the document.
“How can I be all wrong, when, in the absence of the vice-principal, I
am in his place, and my authority is supreme?” asked the professor in
great astonishment.
“Your honor is no sailor.”
“I thank the stars that I am not.”
“The regulations say that you cannot interfere with the management of
the vessel, or with the officers and seamen in the discharge of their
duty. If the vice-principal is not on board, the professors can’t
meddle with the navigation of the ship. That’s the law; and all we have
to do is to obey it.”
Mr. Primback took the regulations, adjusted his glasses, and proceeded
to read the articles relating to his own duties. The boatswain was
right; but the professor was unwilling to admit the fact.
“Am I placed at the mercy of these boys?” demanded Mr. Primback, as he
removed his glasses, and looked at the boatswain.
“So far as handling the vessel is concerned, I don’t see that you have
any thing to do with them.”
“They are my scholars, but they may insult me if they choose.”
“But they don’t choose to do any thing of the kind. It was no more
Scott’s fault that you were rolled into the scuppers, than it was mine;
and I’m sure I had nothing to do with it,” added Marline.
“I don’t believe it: the fellow laughed in my face when I spoke to
him. If he comes into the cabin, as I directed him to do, and makes
a suitable apology for his conduct, I will pass over his offence as
lightly as possible.”
“Scott obeyed orders, and he couldn’t help himself.”
“He did not want to help himself,” persisted Mr. Primback. “I will
resign my position before I will submit to such treatment.”
Just then the Tritonia tacked, and the vessel gave a tremendous lurch,
as if to illustrate the argument of the boatswain. The professor was
hurled from his seat, and Marline helped him up.
“You don’t think that I did that, do you, Mr. Primback?” asked the old
salt.
“Of course you did not. Have you any control over these boys, Mr.
Marline?” inquired the professor in a tone of contempt.
“None at all in the absence of the vice-principal,” answered the
boatswain.
“Then they may take us anywhere, and do what they please with us, if I
understand the situation.”
“I suppose so, sir.”
“Then I never comprehended my position before,” added the professor,
with increasing disgust.
“The trouble, if there is any, is all on account of the absence of the
vice-principal, who is authority in all matters.”
“I had trouble enough with these boys before he came on board. I
supposed in his absence that I took his place.”
“But your honor is no sailor; and you couldn’t handle the vessel if you
tried.”
“I have no desire to handle the vessel; but, if these boys can insult
me with impunity, it is time for me to know it.”
The conversation, which did not promise to end in any happy result, was
interrupted by the appearance of third master Lingall, who politely
touched his hat, and stood waiting to deliver his message.
“What do you want?” demanded Mr. Primback.
“The captain desires to see Mr. Marline on deck,” said Lingall.
“Tell the captain that Mr. Marline is engaged with me,” interposed the
professor testily.
“I will report to the captain myself,” added Marline, who was in a
better frame of mind than the “philosopher.”
“Wait till I have done with you.”
“I beg your honor’s pardon, but I always obey the captain,” replied the
boatswain; and touching his hat, and scraping his right foot across the
floor, he hastened on deck.
“Stop!” called Mr. Primback. “I have something more to say to you.”
“I will see your honor as soon as I can,” added the boatswain; and he
ran up the steps.
Mr. Marline could see that the professor was very unreasonable,
considering there was a steamer in distress depending upon the Tritonia
for assistance. He touched his hat to the captain, and waited for
further orders.
“What do you think of the sea now, Mr. Marline?” asked Wainwright.
“It has improved a good deal during the last hour.”
“Do you think it is prudent to get out a boat?”
“I think it is as good weather as we are likely to have for some time,”
replied Marline, looking at the sky and the sea.
“Then we will board the steamer.”
The captain gave the order to call all hands; and, as soon as the
ship’s company had mustered, the vessel was heaved to. The second
cutter was cleared away, and her crew piped into her. O’Hara was
detailed to take charge of her; and Mr. Rimmer, the carpenter, was
directed to go in the boat, not only to render any assistance that
might be required in boarding the steamer, but to examine into her
condition.
The cutter was lowered into the water, with the crew in her, under the
direction of Mr. Marline. It was no easy task to accomplish this work
in the heavy sea. The boat rose and fell on the angry waves; but it was
so well managed that very little water was taken in. Under the lee of
the drifting steamer the water was comparatively smooth. The man who
had hailed the Tritonia threw a line to the cutter, which Mr. Marline
secured to the fore-thwart.
“Are we to lower the ladies into the cutter?” asked O’Hara, when the
boat was fast to the steamer.
“I can’t say what’s to be done till we have boarded her,” replied the
boatswain.
“Then I’ll do that same at once,” added the fourth lieutenant; and,
suiting the action to the word, he ran up the line like a cat.
“Well, good gracious! this is one of the academy squadron!” said the
man on board of the steamer, as O’Hara leaped down from the rail. “I
thought so the minute I laid eyes on her; but, seeing her out here all
alone, I gave up the idea at once.”
“Mr. Frisbone!” exclaimed the lieutenant, as he recognized the
gentleman who had presented the American Prince to the principal of the
academy squadron.
“Well, you boys are smart sailors; and you are an honor to your
country,” added Mr. Frisbone.
“I thought you had given up going in any steamers, after your
experience in the American Prince.”
“We went to Liverpool to meet my wife’s sister, who came over here for
her health. The doctors said Malaga was the place for her to spend the
winter; and we started for Spain. When I got into France, I found the
Germans had got almost over to the seashore; and we took this steamer
at Havre for Cadiz. Last night she was run into by another vessel, and
had a hole knocked in her bow. We were the only passengers on board;
and the crew jumped on board of the other vessel as soon as they found
she had a hole in her.”
“But didn’t they try to save you and your wife?” asked O’Hara
indignantly.
“Yes, they did; but my wife and her sister were both sick in their
berths; and, when I got them out, the crew had deserted her, and the
other vessel was out of sight in the fog. The fact was, they were so
flurried they didn’t know what they were about.”
“We will take them on board of the Tritonia.”
“I don’t believe we could ever get them into that boat,” added Mr.
Frisbone, as he glanced at the cutter, which was almost swamped in
every sea that swept by her.
“The steamer don’t seem to be in any present danger of going down,”
said O’Hara.
“She won’t sink this time; and, if her crew had only stuck by her, they
might have saved her.”
“She is not very heavily loaded.”
“She has some machinery or something of that sort in her; and it must
have shifted so as to bring that hole out of the water. If I had some
help I could right her.”
O’Hara asked Mr. Rimmer to come on board.