THE CRUISE OF THE SWALLOW.
“Now, fellows, what shall we do?” asked Captain Rich, as soon as the
lights on the tug had disappeared around the head of the island. “It
is my intention,” he added, by way of apology, fearful that some of
his crew might think he did not know what course he ought to pursue,
“to consult my officers every time we are in trouble. I think a
captain always ought to do that. So, let’s hear from you.”
“I propose that we hold over toward the mainland,” said Johnny.
“We’re safe from pursuit now until morning; but we want to keep as
far away from that tug as possible.”
As Captain Rich raised no objections to this proposition, the third
mate brought the sloop about, and headed her away from the island.
The breeze was freshening, and, when the swallow felt its full force,
she began to fly over the waves like a duck. The runaways were
delighted with the exhibition of speed she made, and some of the
reckless ones wished that the schooner would again come in sight, so
that they might show her how badly they could beat her.
While Tom had been carrying out his plans, and arranging matters for
the cruise, it had never occurred to him to decide where they would
go, should their attempt at escape prove successful. In fact, none of
the deserters had ever broached this subject, believing, no doubt,
that it was of secondary importance, and could be easily settled at
any time. But now this question was brought up by the third mate,
who, after calling a boy to take his place at the wheel, asked the
captain to give out the course.
“That’s something I can’t do,” replied Rich, “until you tell me where
you want to go.”
“Let’s visit New Bedford,” said one of the “landlubbers,” as the
deserters crowded around their officers; “it’s not far out of our
way, and some of us want to go there to look at the whale ships.”
“No, no!” shouted several of the boys.
“I object to visiting any city or town,” said Johnny, “for there’s
danger in it. It isn’t often that a crowd of fellows are seen
cruising about in a vessel like this, and some one might ask
unpleasant questions.”
As the debate progressed, and votes were taken on the places
proposed, it became evident that none of the boys had neglected
to give some thought to this important question. One suggested
that it would be a good opportunity to visit the fishing banks off
Newfoundland; another thought it would be a cheap way of getting to
New York; while a third, who had never seen a sheet of water larger
than Newport Bay, was in favor of camping on some island close to the
village. Each boy brought forward a host of arguments to convince
the rest of the deserters that his plan for their amusement was the
best; but it was finally discovered that those who wanted to visit
Nantucket were in the majority; and, after a strong opposition from
some of the timid “landlubbers,” who did not want to trust themselves
very far from shore in so small a vessel, this point was settled.
“Now, captain, what’s the course?” asked Johnny, again.
“We don’t need any course yet,” replied Rich. “As long as the land
is in plain view, we’ll use that for our compass. We will follow the
shores of Newport Bay until we get into Buzzard’s Bay, and then we’ll
steer exactly south.”
“But, perhaps, that won’t take us where we want to go!” said the
third mate.
“I’d like to know what’s the reason!” exclaimed Captain Rich.
“Haven’t you learned enough about geography to know that Nantucket is
south of Massachusetts? Now, Newcombe, set the watch.”
So saying, the captain turned on his heel and walked down into the
cabin, leaving his third mate standing silent and thoughtful.
“I expected this,” said he, unconsciously giving utterance to the
thoughts that passed through his mind.
“Expected what?” asked one of the crew, who happened to overhear the
remark.
“O, nothing!” replied Johnny, quickly.
“Now, see here, Harding,” said the boy, whose confidence in the
captain had been considerably shaken by the latter’s conduct during
the pursuit, “if you don’t believe that Rich is all right, you ought
to say so before we get much farther from shore.”
“Who said he wasn’t all right?” asked Johnny. “He has made three or
four voyages across the Atlantic, and he ought to know what he is
about.”
But Captain Rich did not “know what he was about,” and the third mate
was very well aware of the fact. Rich had been sent to sea because
he could not be controlled at home, and, during his voyages, he had
conducted himself exactly as Tom had behaved on his cruise on the
Savannah. Being a lazy, good-for-nothing boy, he had allowed his
opportunities to slip by him unimproved; and, when he was appointed
captain of the Swallow, he knew but very little more about seamanship
and navigation than he did when he first began his career as a
sailor. Johnny knew this, and he was confident that, before long,
there would be trouble on board the Swallow. Even the “landlubbers”
would soon discover that Rich could not be depended upon, and then
there would be a change of commanders. He, however, had “stood up”
for the captain because he did not wish to be the first one to find
fault.
In the meantime, Tom had gone below to execute the order Captain Rich
had given him. He found pens and paper in the captain’s desk; and,
after writing down the names of all the boys on board, he divided
them into two watches, being careful to have in each watch an equal
number of boys who had “been to sea.” His own name, with that of
Johnny Harding, Tom put down with the port watch, and those of Rich
and Miller with the starboard watch. Then, after showing the “watch
bill” to the captain, who expressed himself satisfied with what
had been done, he went on deck to read it to the crew. He lighted
the lamp in the binnacle, and, calling the boys around him, read
their names, after which he ordered the starboard watch to remain
on deck, and the port to “go below and turn in until six o’clock in
the morning.” Captain Rich came on deck a few moments afterward, a
boy belonging to the starboard watch was sent to the wheel, and Tom
and Johnny went below. They found the cabin crowded with boys in
their watch. Every one of the bunks was filled with as many of the
deserters as could get into it, and the others were stretched out on
the floor of the cabin, with their uniform coats under their heads to
serve as pillows. Tom was not very well pleased with this state of
affairs, for he thought that, being the second in authority on board
the vessel, he ought to be allowed a bunk to himself.
“O, now, see here, fellows,” whined the first mate, “where am I to
sleep?”
“Look around and hunt up a place,” replied a voice from one of the
bunks. “There’s plenty of room.”
“O, I can’t see any!” replied Tom. “I am the first mate of this
vessel, and I want one of those bunks.”
“Rather a rough chance there, Newcombe,” said one of the boys on the
floor.
Tom began to think so too. The discipline of the ship had not yet
been established, and none of the crew seemed disposed to treat the
first mate with the respect his high position demanded, for not one
of them made him the offer of a bunk.
His only chance was to find a sleeping place on the floor, for he
knew that an attempt, on his part, to compel any of the crew to give
up one of the beds would be met with stubborn resistance. While Tom,
after divesting himself of his coat, was trying to find a place to
lie down, the third mate was causing a good deal of grumbling among
the boys on the floor, by moving about and searching every nook and
corner of the cabin. He was not satisfied with the course the captain
had given out, and he wanted to find a chart of the coast. He knew
that the island of Nantucket was “exactly south” of some parts of
Massachusetts, but he did not believe that it lay in that direction
from Buzzard’s Bay. He was as well posted in geography as any boy on
board. He knew a great deal more about it than captain Rich, but he
had never claimed to be a navigator. He was seaman enough to handle
the sloop in all kinds of weather, but he could not take her where
the crew might decide to go, and, more than that, he did not believe
that the skipper was any better off in this respect than he was. By
following the captain’s course, he believed that they would leave
Nantucket away to the eastward, and it was to satisfy himself on
this point that he wanted a chart. But, if there was one on board,
he could not find it; and, finally becoming weary of the search, the
third mate lay down among his companions, and slept as soundly as he
would have done had he entertained no fears of the captain’s ability
to take the sloop to her destination. The runaways all slept soundly
until six o’clock, when they were aroused by the second mate. Some of
them yielded prompt obedience to the call, while others refused to
move until Miller descended the ladder and shook them roughly by the
shoulder. Tom and Johnny were the first ones on deck. They found that
the Swallow had left Newport far behind them, and was bounding along
through Buzzard’s Bay before a fine breeze. The headlands at the
entrance of the harbor were in plain view, and beyond them, was the
ocean--its water flashing and sparkling in the sunlight like diamonds.
“What’s the course, captain?” asked Tom, who was now to take charge
of the deck.
“I don’t know,” replied Rich. “I haven’t looked at the compass for
two hours. I don’t need a course as long as the land is in sight. I
know that we are in Buzzard’s Bay, and that if this breeze holds out,
we will be in deep water in an hour. When you pass that cape,” he
continued, pointing to the nearest headland, “hold her exactly south.”
“All the starboard watch below!” shouted Miller.
The boys belonging to this watch made a rush for the cabin, and the
second mate was on the point of following them, when Tom inquired:
“How about breakfast, Miller? I’m hungry.”
“Well, then, go into the hold and help yourself,” was the answer.
“That’s the way we did. We couldn’t find any one in our watch willing
to act as cook, so we made our breakfast on crackers, codfish, and
cheese; and, fellows,” continued the second mate, “do you know that
we forgot to take on a supply of water?”
“Is there none on board?” asked Johnny.
“Only about half a barrel, and that won’t last eighteen thirsty
fellows long. The captain says we’ll take on a supply when we reach
Nantucket.”
“Have you seen any thing more of the Philistines?” inquired Tom.
“No. They probably think we are concealed among the islands in
Newport Bay; and, as soon as they discover their mistake, they’ll be
after us again.”
Miller then went down into the cabin, and Tom followed the third
mate to the hold. One of the barrels of crackers had been broken
open, and, judging by the quantity that was gone out of it, the boys
in the starboard watch must have been very hungry. Johnny had not
calculated on such ravenous appetites when he made his estimate of
the provisions that would be required for the voyage, and it was
evident to him that the supply would soon be exhausted.
The port watch grumbled a good deal over their breakfast, for they
were not accustomed to such plain fare. The codfish made them
thirsty, and the water was hardly fit to drink. But, nevertheless,
they made a hearty meal, and returned to the deck in the best of
spirits, unanimously voting the expedition a decided success, and
declaring that it was much pleasanter than remaining at the academy
under arrest, even though they had nothing but codfish and crackers
to eat.
It was no wonder that the boys felt cheerful. It was a beautiful
morning; there was breeze enough stirring to send the Swallow
along at a lively pace, the motion was exhilarating, and even the
“landlubbers” forgot their fears, and really enjoyed the sail. Tom,
especially, was in his element. He walked up and down the deck, with
his hands in his pockets, now and then looking up at the sails, to
see that the boy at the wheel kept them full; and, more to show his
authority than any thing else, he finally set two of the watch at
work cleaning lamps, others he sent into the hold to sweep up the
crumbs that had been scattered about, and the rest he ordered to wash
down the deck. Some of the boys grumbled at this but the majority,
including Johnny Harding, lent prompt and willing obedience to all
his commands; and, in a short time, the sloop’s deck presented a
scene of neatness and order that would have surprised her lawful
captain, could he have seen her at that moment. Of course, such a
state of affairs had its effect upon Tom. Every thing was going on
smoothly, and gradually his old idea, of one day becoming a trader,
took possession of his mind, and, just then, the first mate thought
it was the “very business he had always wanted to go into.” He never
had cared a cent about becoming a farmer, or a general in the regular
army, for he had always known that he was “cut out” for a trader; and
he resolved that, as soon as the cruise was ended, and he could get
out of the military academy, he would go to work at something, and
earn money enough to buy a sloop like the Swallow.
After the crew had performed the work assigned them, they assembled
on deck; and now, for the first time, some of them began to believe
that the voyage, if it should be a long one, would prove to be rather
tiresome. They were too far from shore to see what was going on
there, and, although some of them were, for a time, interested in the
novelty of their situation, they soon grew tired of having nothing
to do, and, stretching themselves out on deck, they prepared to make
up for the sleep they had lost the night before, leaving their two
officers and the boy at the wheel to take care of the vessel. During
Tom’s watch, nothing occurred to relieve the monotony of the voyage.
About ten o’clock, the Swallow passed the headlands at the entrance
of Buzzard’s Bay, and the first mate, in obedience to the captain’s
command, ordered the boy at the wheel to “hold her exactly south.”
At noon, the port watch made another meal on codfish and crackers,
after which the captain and second mate were called up to take charge
of the deck. At one o’clock, they passed the Elizabeth Islands, and
then Johnny, who had remained on deck, thought it high time to speak.
“Captain,” said he, “how long do you intend to hold this course?”
“Until we reach Nantucket!” answered Rich, in a tone of voice which
implied that he thought his third mate very inquisitive.
“Well, if that is the case,” continued Johnny, “you had better put
the crew on half-rations. The voyage will be a long one, and our
provisions won’t hold out.”
“I’d like to know what’s the reason!” exclaimed Captain Rich,
angrily. “Now, Harding, if you know so much about navigation, perhaps
you will be kind enough to tell me where we will bring up.”
“According to my way of thinking,” replied Johnny, his good nature
not in the least ruffled by the other’s sneering tones, “if you hold
this course long enough, you will find yourself somewhere in the West
Indies; and, after you lose sight of that shore there,” pointing to
one of the islands they had just passed, “you won’t see land again
until you get there, either.”
“That’s just all you know about it. But you needn’t talk to me, for,
as long as I am master of this vessel, I intend to do as I please.”
“All right,” replied the third mate, as he turned to go below; “if
the others can stand it, I know I can.”
This conversation had been carried on in a low tone, and none of
the crew had overheard it. No doubt this was fortunate for Rich,
for, had any of the deserters been aware that they were sailing
as straight out to sea as they could go, the captain might have
discovered that he could not “do as he pleased,” even though he was
the commander of the vessel. During the whole of that afternoon,
Rich kept a sharp lookout for the shores of Nantucket, but the only
land to be seen was the island they had passed soon after dinner,
and which was gradually sinking below the horizon, as the sloop left
it farther and farther behind. When the port watch was called that
night, the island was shut out from their view by a dense fog, and a
hasty glance at the binnacle showed the third mate that the captain
had not changed his course.
“Now, see here, fellows!” exclaimed one of the watch, “where’s the
land?”
“There’s the captain,” answered Johnny. “Ask him.”
“Land isn’t far off,” said Rich, who had overheard the question.
“We’ll reach it long before daylight.”
If the captain expected that this assurance would silence the fears
of his crew, if they had any, he was mistaken; for, no sooner had
he disappeared below, than the port watch gathered in a group on
the forecastle, where they held a consultation. Johnny saw what was
going on, but he kept aloof from them, determined to carry out the
resolution he had made at the beginning of the voyage, that he would
not be the first one to complain. Tom, as usual, paced the deck
in deep mental abstraction, and he did not notice what was taking
place on the forecastle. Contrary to the third mate’s expectations,
however, no demonstration was made, for, after a few moment’s
whispering among themselves, the watch, with the exception of two
lookouts, stretched themselves on deck. Johnny, and the rest of the
watch, turned in at midnight, and, when they came on deck again in
the morning, there was no land in sight--nothing but the clear blue
sky above them, and the ocean beneath. The third mate looked at
the captain as if to say, “What do you think of it now?” But Rich,
although he well knew what was passing in Johnny’s mind, walked down
into the cabin without making any reply. He could not help seeing
that he had made a mistake in his calculations, but he was determined
that he would not acknowledge it, for that would be equivalent to
confessing that he did not understand his business. After kicking
off his boots, and divesting himself of his coat, Captain Rich lay
down on the floor, for, as usual, the bunks were all occupied by the
“foremast hands,” and, in a few moments, was fast asleep. He slept
soundly for two hours, in spite of an animated discussion that was
carried on over his head, and then he was awakened by one of the port
watch, who informed him that he was wanted on deck.
“Is it twelve o’clock already?” he drowsily asked.
“No, but we want to see you on deck at once!”
Rich easily divined, by the boy’s excited manner, that something
unusual was going on. Rising from the floor, he picked up his coat
and boots, and slowly ascended to the deck.