"Never fear," said Dick; "he knows what he is about. See, it's `stern
all.'"
The boat backed out of the way; the monster's tail rose for an instant
and disappeared.
"He has sounded," cried Dick.
Away ran the line. An oar was held up in the boat.
"That means that the line has run out," said Dick.
The nearest boat dashed up, and a fresh line was bent on. That soon
came to an end, and another, and yet another was joined to it.
"He has eight hundred fathoms out by this time," shouted Dick, "and if
he does not come up soon, he will be lost. But no, it's `haul in the
slack;' he is rising; they are coiling away the line in the tubs."
Directly afterwards the blunt nose of the animal rose from the sea, and
a spout was projected high into the air. Mr Falconer's boat was being
hauled rapidly towards it. A long lance with which he was armed was
quickly buried in the side of the huge creature, going deep down into a
vital part. The other boats gathered round it, from each a lance was
darted forth, the whale rolling over and over in his agony, and coiling
the rope round him, when suddenly, with open jaws, he darted at one of
the boats, and then attacked another. Kitty shrieked out with fear, for
it was Mr Falconer's boat which was overtaken, and was seen, shattered
to fragments, flying into the air, while the other was capsized; and now
the whale went so swiftly along the surface, that it seemed he must
after all escape. Two of the boats were not yet fastened, and, without
stopping to help the men in the water, away they dashed in chase of the
whale. Impeded by the shattered boat he was dragging after him, and by
several drogues fastened to the lines, he was soon overtaken, when
another harpoon and several more lances were darted into his body.
Still unconquered, away the animal again went, and up rose his tail: he
was attempting to sound, but this his increasing weakness prevented him
from doing. Then he stopped, and his vast frame began to writhe and
twist about in every possible way, beating the surrounding sea into
foam, and dyeing it with his blood. The boats backed out of his way.
The captain had sent another boat to the assistance of the men in the
water, when it was seen that the one upset was righted, and that the
people belonging to the shattered boat had been taken on board her. She
soon joined those which were fast to the whale, and when the monster at
length lay motionless on the water, assisted them in towing it up to the
ship.
Kitty could scarcely conceal her joy when she saw Mr Falconer steering
one of the boats. I shouted with satisfaction.
The whale was soon alongside, and the operation of cutting off the
blubber, hoisting it on board, and boiling it down in huge caldrons
placed on tripods, commenced.
As night came on, the fires lighted under the pots shed a bright glare
across the deck on the rigging and on the men at work. I thought them
wild and savage-looking enough before, but they now appeared more like
beings of the lower world than men of flesh and blood.
"I have no fancy for this sort of work," observed Dick, who was a
thorough man-of-war's man. "The decks won't be fit to tread on for
another week."
However, we had the decks dirtied in the same way many a time for
several weeks after that, being very successful in catching whales.
At last the fighting part of the crew, who were not accustomed to
whaling, began to grumble, and wished to return to the coast, to carry
on the privateering, or, as Dick called it, the pirating work, which
they looked upon as the chief object of the voyage.
Lieutenant Pyke was especially urgent about the matter, and proposed
that a descent should be made on some of the towns, which he and his
brave troops, he asserted, could capture without difficulty.
On reaching the coast, we brought up in a small bay with a town on its
shore.
We had not been long at anchor, when in the evening a boat came off,
manned by natives, with three Spaniards in her. The captain received
them very politely, and introduced them to his wife and Kitty. They
seemed highly pleased, and said they had come to trade, taking the
_Dolphin_ to be a smuggler, many English vessels visiting the coast for
the purpose of landing goods free of the high duties imposed on them by
the Spanish Government. As many pieces of cloth and cotton as could be
found were shown to them as samples. The captain told them that if they
would return on board with their dollars, the goods should be ready for
them.
Mr Falconer, when he heard of the shameful trick which it was proposed
to play the unfortunate Spaniards, was very indignant, and I believe
would have warned them if he could. The captain, hearing what he had
said, backed by Lieutenant Pyke and one of the other officers, declared
that he would shoot him through the head if he did any such thing.
During the night, two boats came off with our former visitors and four
others, all bringing a large supply of dollars. On going down below,
great was their dismay on finding that they were prisoners, and that,
when released, they would have to leave their money behind them and go
without the goods.
In the morning, another boat appeared with two more merchants, who were
treated in the same way. Altogether, ten thousand dollars were thus
stolen from the Spaniards.
"They are breaking the laws of their country," observed Dick to me, "and
they deserve punishment. For my part, I don't like this way of doing
things; but if Mr Pyke is as good as his word, and was to land with his
marines and attack the town, it would be more ship-shape and
honourable."
I mention the circumstance to show the abomination of the privateering
system, but people generally did not see it in the same light in those
days.
A suspicious sail appearing in the offing, the Spaniards were allowed to
go on shore, though Lieutenant Pyke declared that if he had his way they
should all have been made to pay a heavy ransom first. The anchor was
hove up, and we stood out to sea. We were becalmed during the day,
while still at a distance from the stranger. As evening approached, a
breeze springing up, she neared us, with a black flag flying from her
peak. From the cut of her sail and the appearance of her hull, she was
an English vessel, fully as large, if not larger, than the _Dolphin_;
but there could be no doubt of her character--she was a pirate. The
drum beat to quarters, and preparations were made to give her a warm
reception. Mrs Podgers and Kitty were sent down into the cockpit,
where they might be out of harm's way. It was by this time nearly dark,
but still the stranger could be seen gliding towards us through the
thickening gloom. Dick took me up and carried me to them, in spite of
my entreaties to be allowed to see the fun.
"It will be no fun, Charley, if yonder scoundrels do as they intend, and
try to take the ship," he remarked. "At all events, there will be some
desperate fighting, and a shot may carry your head off, my boy--so below
you must go, whether you like it or not."
Kitty took my hand and drew me towards her as soon as I appeared,
thankful that I was not to be exposed to danger.
"I should think the little brat might be made useful, sitting on an
ammunition tub," exclaimed Mrs Podgers. "Why should he be more petted
than the other boys?"
"No, no!" cried Kitty, holding me fast. "He is younger than they are,
and it would be cruel to let him run the risk of being hurt."
We waited for some time, no one speaking; for Mrs Podgers was too much
frightened, and Kitty too anxious, to do so. At length there came the
dull sound of a gun fired from the other vessel, followed by louder,
clearer reports of several discharged by the _Dolphin_. The enemy
replied with a still greater number, and several broadsides were soon
afterwards rapidly exchanged between the combatants. The firing now
ceased. We waited almost breathless to hear it begin again.