ALICE LEFT ON BOARD--MUTINEERS AND PRISONERS ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE SHIP--
GALLANTRY OF THE SURGEON--FIRE BREAKS OUT--NUB SAVES ALICE ON A RAFT--
WATCH THE BURNING SHIP--VOYAGE OF ALICE AND NUB ON THE RAFT--LOOK OUT
FOR A SAIL--A TERRIFIC THUNDERSTORM--A SAIL IN SIGHT.
After the boats had left the ship, Alice remained on deck, attended by
Nub, watching their progress. Now and then Mr Lawrie came and spoke to
her, but she was so eager that she could scarcely reply to what he said.
Away dashed the two boats dancing over the waves, and were soon almost
lost to sight, though Alice saw that they had reached the spot where the
whales had been seen spouting. They had been gone some time when she
saw Tidy come from below and speak in a hurried, anxious tone to Mr
Lawrie. He then hastened away, as if not wishing to be seen by his
shipmates. Soon after the surgeon came to her, and begged that she
would go into the cabin.
"Let me help you, Missie Alice," said Nub. "Better aff dere dan on
deck."
Alice saw that something was wrong, but could not make out exactly what
it was. She went, however, as Mr Lawrie requested her; and taking up a
book endeavoured to read, but not with much success. She saw Mr Lawrie
come in and put a brace of pistols in his belt. Nub and Tidy, with
three or four of the other men, did the same. This, of course, made her
very anxious. Several times she asked Nub if the boats were in sight,
but always got the same answer: "No signs of boats yet, Missie Alice."
Poor girl, she felt very forlorn with both her father and Walter away.
Nub came in and placed the tea-things on the table, and she made tea.
At last Mr Lawrie came in, apparently in a great hurry, and somewhat
agitated. Of course she asked him if the boats were in sight.
"I hope they soon will be," he answered.
"Is there anything the matter?" she asked.
"I hope it will not be of much consequence," he replied evasively; and
without saying more, quickly went again on deck.
It was now getting quite dark. Nub lighted the cabin-lamp.
"You had better take a book and read, Miss Alice, and dat pass your time
till de captain return." Alice found it almost impossible to keep her
eyes on the page. Presently she heard some loud shouts and cries, and
the stamping of feet, and pistol-shots.
That there was fighting going forward on deck she felt sure, but she
dared not go up to ascertain. The noise increased--there was more
firing--then Nub rushed into the cabin.
"Oh, what has happened?" she asked.
"I come to take care of you, Miss Alice," he answered. "De prisoners
and de bad men who mutiny before try to take de ship from de surgeon and
us, and dey are now fighting; and Mr Lawrie told me to come to take
care of you."
"Oh, thank you, Nub. How I wish my father was on board, to help poor
Mr Lawrie. What will he do?"
"He fight like brave Scotchman," answered Nub; "and he soon make de
mutineers ask pardon. Don't be afraid, Miss Alice; de captain soon
come, and all go right."
Nub, however, was more sanguine than the state of the case warranted.
Mr Lawrie, aided by the true men, had managed to drive the mutineers
forward; but they were too numerous to allow him to hope for victory,
unless the loyal part of the crew away in the boats should speedily
return. For a short time all was again quiet; but the mutineers were
merely gathering to make another rush aft. Several who had before been
faithful joined them; and now again began to utter the most savage
cries, this time shouting out, "Overboard with all who oppose us! Down
with the officers! Death to our enemies!" They were already on the
point of dashing aft to execute their threats; when thick smoke was seen
ascending from the fore-hatchway, a bright flame shooting up directly
afterwards in the midst of it.
"Fire! fire! fire!" shouted both parties of the crew.
"My lads, we must try and put it out, if we don't want to be burned
alive," exclaimed the surgeon, addressing those about him. Then turning
to the mutineers, he shouted out, "You men who are about to attack us,--
if you have any sense left in you, I entreat you for your own sakes to
assist in extinguishing the fire."
"Ay, ay, sir," cried the boatswain; and then addressing his own party,
he exclaimed, "There's sense in what the doctor says. Let's put the
fire out first, and settle our differences afterwards."
All hands turned to and tried to save the ship; but the fire had already
made so much progress below that there appeared little probability of
their succeeding. The buckets were collected and filled; the hatches
torn off; and the boatswain, heading a party of the boldest, went below,
while the others passed the buckets to them. Mr Lawrie and the other
officers exerted themselves to the utmost, he setting a good example by
his courage and activity. Dense volumes of smoke, however, continued to
ascend both from the fore and main hatchway; while flames which had at
first only flickered up occasionally now burst forth through the
fore-hatchway, circling round the foremast and catching the rigging and
sails.
Nub, in the meantime, who would have willingly worked with the rest,
considered it his duty to remain with Alice, every now and then putting
his head out of the companion-hatch to see how matters were proceeding.
At last he came back, his countenance exhibiting anxiety rather than
terror. "De ship will be burned; no doubt about dat, Missie Alice," he
said; "and de sooner we get away de better. You help me, and we make
raft on which we float till de captain comes back to take us. Don't be
afraid, Missie Alice; no harm will come to you, for God will take care
of us better dan we can take care of ourselves. Still, we do what we
can."
"I will do whatever you advise, Nub," answered Alice, endeavouring to
overcome her alarm. She did what every truly wise person under such
circumstances would do--she commended herself and her companion to the
care of God. She then took Nub's hand, who led her up the
companion-ladder to the poop. Having obtained an axe, he immediately
began to cut loose the hen-coops, spars, and gratings, and the lighter
part of the woodwork of that part of the ship. Securing them to ropes,
he forthwith lowered them over the side. Fortunately at this time the
wind had fallen completely, so that the ship was making no way through
the water. Placing Alice in one of the ports, from which she could leap
if necessary into his arms, he descended, and began lashing together the
spars and gratings and pieces of woodwork which he had thrown overboard.
He could only do this in a very rough manner, as he knew that from the
rapid progress the fire was making there was no time to be lost. He
would have called the surgeon and Tidy to his assistance, but he was
afraid if he did so that the rest of the crew would take possession of
the raft he had commenced. His great object was to save Alice, leaving
the others to do the best they could for themselves. He had put
materials together sufficient to bear his and her weight. While he was
working, it occurred to him that it would be necessary to get some
provisions; and securing the raft, he sprang on deck by means of some
ropes he had hung overboard for the purpose, and rushing into the cabin,
he got hold of a small box of biscuit, a bottle of wine, and an earthen
jar full of water. With these prizes he again descended to the raft.
On his way he observed that the surgeon and the rest of the people were
still labouring in vain endeavours to put out the fire, and he could not
help shouting to Mr Lawrie, "You had better build a raft, sir; no use
trying to put out the fire."
Whether or not Mr Lawrie heard him he could not tell. As he was
getting over the quarter, he caught sight of a boat's sail, which he
threw on the raft. Having deposited his provisions in a hen-coop in
which a couple of fowls still remained, he sprang up again to assist
Alice down, as he had a feeling that she would be safer on the raft than
on board the ship. He had secured a boat-hook for the purpose of
catching hold of the articles he threw overboard, and was stretching out
his arm to reach a piece of timber which had floated away, while Alice
was holding on to a rope close to him, when a thundering sound echoed in
their ears.
"O Nub, what is that?" cried Alice in a terrified tone, gazing at the
fearful scene before her.
"Ship blow up, I s'pose," answered Nub, working away energetically.
"Hold on, Missie Alice; no harm come to you,--we shove off directly."
An explosion had, indeed, taken place in the fore-part of the ship,
scattering destruction around, blowing up the deck, and sending all on
that part into the water, killing some and fearfully mangling others.
The fire now burst forth with increased fury, enveloping in flames the
whole of the fore-part of the ship. Nub, fearing that another explosion
of still more terrific character would occur should the fire reach the
chief magazine, which it would do, he thought, before long, shoved off
with his young charge, so precious in his sight, to put as great a
distance as possible between her and the danger he apprehended. He had
already fastened together several pieces of wood, which he had not time
to secure as perfectly as he desired; and on his way he picked up many
more such fragments, as well as some casks which had been on deck, and
were sent overboard by the explosion. Without loss of time he began
lashing them together, soon forming a raft which he considered would be
able to withstand a tolerable amount of knocking about should the sea
get up.
Nub was not destitute of humanity, but though he heard the cries of his
shipmates as they struggled in the water, he continued labouring away at
the raft without attempting to go to the rescue.
"Oh, poor men! cannot we help them?" exclaimed Alice.
"Dey take care of demselves, Missie Alice," answered Nub. "My business
is to sabe you."
"Oh, don't think of me," exclaimed Alice. "I cannot bear the thoughts
of their perishing if it is possible to save them."
"It not possible, den," answered Nub; "unless I run de risk ob losing
you." And he worked away as before.
The flames had now burst forth from all sides of the ship, affording him
sufficient light for the purpose. Having preserved a stout spar to
serve as a mast, he fixed it firmly at one end of the raft, staying it
up with the remainder of the rope, with the exception of a piece which
he kept for halyards. The sail was already attached to a light yard, so
that he had only to secure it to his halyards and hoist it up. This he
did, bringing the sheet aft, where he placed himself, with an oar to
serve as a rudder.
His great object was to get to a sufficient distance from the ship, to
avoid the danger of another explosion. By this time the cries from the
drowning men had ceased; and had he thought it safe to venture back to
the ship, it would probably have been too late to save them. What had
become of the rest of his shipmates he could not tell. He fancied,
indeed, that he heard the sound of voices; but if so, they must have
been on the other side of the ship, and were thus shut out from view.
A light breeze having now got up, the raft made tolerable way, and soon
got to some distance from the ship; but still fearing that the fragments
might reach them and injure Alice, Nub stood on. Now and then he cast a
look at the ship. It appeared to him that the flames were not making
such rapid progress as at first. "After de fire burn out, we go back,
Missie Alice; but still I tink we safer here dan on board de ship," he
observed. "S'pose we near and de ship go down, den de oder men get on
de raft and sink her."
Nub, indeed, knew that there were two dangers to be apprehended. Should
the ship blow up, he and Alice might be injured by the fragments, which
would probably be sent to a great distance from her; while, should she
go down, the raft might be drawn into the vortex: and sink with her. He
could not tell at what distance they would be free from either of these
two dangers; and this made him stand on much further than was in reality
necessary.
On and on he went. It seemed foolish to him to stop short of a spot of
positive safety. The fierce flames were blazing up from every part of
the ship, making her appear much nearer than she really was. The wind
was increasing, driving the raft rapidly before it; and as the sea got
up and rolled under the raft, Nub saw that the only means of preserving
it from being swamped was to continue on his course.
On and on he sailed. The sea rose higher and higher, and the clouds
gathered thickly in the sky. His great fear was that the seas would
break aboard and sweep Alice off. To prevent so fearful a catastrophe,
he begged her to let him fasten her to a hen-coop, which he lashed
tightly down in the centre of the raft. "Don't be afraid, Missie Alice;
don't be afraid," he kept continually saying.
"I am not afraid for myself," answered Alice; "but I am thinking how
miserable poor papa and Walter will be when they get back to the ship
and find that I am gone. They will not know that you are taking care of
me, and that we are safe on a raft. And then, if Mr Lawrie and Dan
Tidy should escape, they will not be able to say where we are gone, as
they did not see us get away. For their sakes, I wish that we could go
back."
"Dat we can't do, Missie Alice; for, if I try eber so hard, I not pull
against such a gale as dis," answered Nub.
Alice was silent; she saw that Nub's reason was a true one. Though she
had assured him that she was not frightened, she felt very anxious and
alarmed about her own fate and his.
The thunder rolled, the lightning flashed, and the seas tumbled the raft
so fearfully about, that had it not been put strongly together it would
speedily have been broken into fragments, and she and her companion left
without any support on which to preserve their lives. The burning ship
appeared further and further off, and even should the storm cease it
would be almost impossible to get back to her. At length there came a
loud roar which sounded above the noise of the thunder. The flames
seemed to rise higher than before in the sky; and even at that distance
the masts, spars, and rigging could be discerned, broken into fragments,
and hanging, as it were, above the fire. Then after a few minutes all
became dark!
"Dere goes de ship to de bottom," exclaimed Nub; "I hope no one on board
her. De people had time to get away on a raft if dey got deir senses
about dem."
"Indeed, I hope that Mr Lawrie, and honest Dan Tidy and the others,
managed to escape," cried Alice. "But oh, Nub, do you think papa and
Walter can have been on board?"
"No, I tink not, Missie Alice," answered Nub. "Dey too wise to stay
when de ship was burning like dat. Dey knew well enough dat she would
go up in de air when de fire reach de magazine, which has just happened.
Dey eider not get back, or put off again in time."
"But they will think that we were blown up, should they not have visited
the ship first," said Alice; "and that will break their hearts."
"I hope not, Missie Alice. Dey know dat I had got to take care of you,
and dat I got head on my shoulders, and would not do so foolish a ting
as to stay on board and be blown up if I could get away. Don't be
unhappy, derefore, about dat."
"I will try not," said Alice, "though it is very, very terrible."
"No doubt about dat, Missie Alice," answered Nub; "but tings might be
worse, and if de raft hold together in dis sea it will swim through any
we are likely to have. Already de wind down, and it grow calmer.
Suppose now we had been close to de ship when she blow up, we much worse
off dan we are now. Suppose de people had made me work to put out de
fire, den I had not built a raft, and we blown up,--dat much worse dan
we are now; or suppose de sea had washed over de raft and carried us
away, den also we much worse off dan we are now; or suppose I had not
got de biscuits and de water, den we starve, and much worse off dan we
are now: so you see, Missie Alice, we bery fortunate, and hab no right
to complain."
"Oh no, I am not complaining," exclaimed Alice; "I feel that we have
been very mercifully preserved, and I trust that we shall be saved,
though I cannot say how that is to be."
"No more can I, Missie Alice, 'cept the captain find us, or one of de
oder boats; and den we have a long way to go before we reach land, I
s'pose; but dere are many islands in dese seas, and perhaps we get to
one of dem where we find cocoanuts, yams, bananas, and plenty of oder
tings to eat; and den perhaps de captain build ship, and we get back
some day to Old England."
By such like remarks honest Nub tried to amuse the mind of the young
girl, and draw her thoughts from the fearful dangers which he saw
clearly enough surrounded them. He knew perfectly well how difficult it
would be for the boats to find them in that wide sea, low down as they
were on the surface of the ocean. Though they might float many days,
their provisions must come to an end, while their supply of water was
fearfully limited, and would soon be exhausted. He resolved to touch
but the smallest drop himself, that he might have more for her.
Nub was unwilling to increase his distance from the place where the ship
had gone down, as the further he went away the less chance there was of
the boats coming up with them. Still there was too much sea, he
considered, to make it safe to lower the sail; for though the raft
floated lightly over the waves, should its progress be stopped he feared
that they would break on board. The wind, which had subsided for some
time, again increased, and the danger he had apprehended became greater.
He had stepped the mast in a hurried, and therefore imperfect manner,
while he had not stayed it up as he could have wished. As it was very
necessary to remain at the helm, he could do nothing to strengthen it.
All he could say was, "Hold on, good mast! hold on!" as he saw it
straining and bending before the breeze. In what direction he was going
he could not tell. Land had been seen the day before, and he might be
running towards it; but then, again, the attempt to get on shore might
be more dangerous than to remain on the raft. He also knew well that
the inhabitants of the islands in that part of the world were generally
savage cannibals, who would murder Alice and him without the slightest
compunction; or if their lives were spared, that they would probably be
reduced to the most abject slavery. Though he could not keep these
thoughts from entering his own mind, he did his best to cheer up the
little girl by assuming a confidence which he himself did not feel.
The sky still looked wild and threatening, the wind blew stronger than
ever. Suddenly there came a sharp report and a cracking sound, and in
an instant the mast was broken off, the shrouds torn away, and, with the
sail, carried overboard. Nub sprang forward to secure it, but it was
too late; the raft, with the impetus it had received, drove on, and the
sail was irretrievably lost. Happily at the same instant the wind
suddenly dropped, and though the seas dashed the raft alarmingly about,
none washed over it.
Alice, hearing the noise, and seeing Nub's agitation, became frightened.
"Oh, what has, happened?" she exclaimed, for the first time giving way
to tears. Nub did his utmost to quiet her alarm by assuring her that
they were in no greater danger than before, and begged her to hold fast
to the hen-coop, lest any of the seas which were tumbling about around
them should break on the raft and sweep her overboard. Nub did his best
with the long oar he had fixed as a rudder in the after part of the raft
to keep it before the wind, so that it still drove on, though at much
less speed than when the sail was set. Happily, soon after the last
violent blast, the gale began sensibly to abate and the sea to go down,
and when at length the long wished-for morning came it was almost calm.
As soon as it was light enough Nub looked anxiously around in the hopes
of seeing some of the boats approaching from the direction of the ship;
but no object was visible on the wild waste of waters, the raft
appearing to float in the midst of a vast circle bounded by the concave
sky, without a break on either side.
Alice felt very tired and sleepy, for she had not closed her eyes all
the night; and Nub himself began to get excessively hungry. This
reminded him of the provisions he had stowed away in the hen-coop, and
he bethought him that Alice would also want some breakfast. He could
now venture to leave the helm; and going to the hen-coop, he got out
some biscuits and the wine and water.
"Here, Missie Alice," he said; "will you take some breakfast? It will
do you good and raise your spirits. When people hungry dey always
melancholy."
"But I am not melancholy, Nub, though I cannot say that I am merry; and
I am not especially hungry, but if you think I ought to eat I will do
so."
"Yes, yes; you will get ill if you don't eat," said Nub, offering the
biscuits, and pouring out a little wine and water into a cup, which he
had slipped into his pocket as he left the cabin.
Alice thanked him, and was going to eat. "Stop!" she murmured. "I have
not said my prayers this morning, and I was going to begin breakfast
without saying grace."
"Oh, Missie Alice, you are an angel," exclaimed Nub.
"I forgot all about saying my prayers, and I am sure an angel would not
have done that," she answered. "Oh, how ungrateful I was; but it is not
too late." Before she would touch anything, she knelt down and offered
up her short morning prayer, adding a petition that she and Nub, and all
others she loved or was interested in, might be preserved from the
dangers which surrounded them. Rising from her knees, she then
reverently said grace, and ate some of the biscuit with a better
appetite than she had supposed she possessed. Nub took a very small
portion, and merely wetted his lips with the wine and water to quench
the thirst he was already beginning to feel. He gave Alice, indeed, but
a small allowance, wishing to make it last as long as possible, as he
knew that they might have to remain on the raft for a long time. Again
and again he looked round to see if anyone was coming to their rescue;
but no object being in sight, he sank down, intending to watch over
Alice, who, overcome with weariness, at length fell asleep. Though he
himself wished to keep awake, before long his eyelids closed, the slow
up and down movement of the raft having the effect of making both the
occupants sleep soundly.
The solitary raft lay on the waste of waters. Hour after hour passed
by, and still the little girl and faithful black slept on, watched over
by One who ever cares for the helpless and distressed who trust in Him.
Hungry sharks might have jumped up and seized them in their maws; huge
whales might have struck the raft with their snouts, and upset it as
they rose above the water; or birds of prey might have pounced down and
struck them with their sharp beaks;--but from all such dangers they were
preserved, while a veil of clouds covered the sky and sheltered them
from the burning rays of the hot sun of that latitude.
At length Nub started up. He had been dreaming that Alice had fallen
overboard, and that he had plunged in after her to save her from a
hungry shark. For a few moments, so confused were his senses, he could
not tell what had happened; then finding himself on the raft, and Alice
sleeping close to him, he recollected all about it. His first impulse
was to stand up and look round, in the hope of seeing the boats; but, as
before, not an object was in sight.
"Well, well, I s'pose de boats come in good time," he said to himself,
sitting down again with a sigh. "We must wait patiently. If any land
was in sight I would row to it, for though de raft might move very
slowly, we should get dere at last; but now, though I pull on all day, I
get nowhere. Better wait till God sends some one to help us. Perhaps
when de breeze gets up again another whaler come dis way and take us on
board." Nub looked at Alice. She was sleeping calmly; and knowing that
the more she slept the better, he would not awake her. He himself felt
very hungry, but he did not like to eat except she was sharing the meal.
He could not, however, refrain from nibbling a piece of biscuit, to try
and stop the gnawings of hunger. Several times he stood up and gazed
anxiously around; sitting down, however, on each occasion with a sigh,
and saying to himself, as before, "No sail, no boat. Well, well, help
come in good time."
At length Alice awoke, and seemed even more surprised than Nub had been
to find herself on the raft. He at once got out the biscuits, and
begged her to eat several, and to take a little wine and water.
"But you are not eating any yourself, Nub," she said.
"I have had some; but I take a little more to keep you company," he
answered, not telling her that he had before merely nibbled a small
piece. In the same way he merely wetted his lips with the liquid,
though he would gladly have taken a cupful.
Another night was coming on. Just before the sun sank beneath the
horizon, Nub took a last look round. Alice glanced up in his face.
"Can you see anything?" she asked in an anxious tone.
"No, noting, Missie Alice. Perhaps to-morrow de boats come," he
answered. "We not despair; we got food and water, and we tank God for
dem."
"I will say my evening prayer," said Alice, kneeling down with her arms
on the hen-coop. Nub reverently placed himself on his knees by her
side, and repeated the words she used.
"I will now sing a hymn," she said, reseating herself on the hen-coop.
From that solitary spot on the desert ocean arose to heaven a sweet hymn
of praise, Nub, who, like many negroes, could sing well, joining with
his voice.
Darkness came down over the deep, shrouding the raft with its sable
canopy. Alice, having slept so much during the day, could not for some
time close her eyes; so Nub did his best to amuse her. She talked to
him not only of the past but of the future, and of the hope of
deliverance. Nub calculated that their stock of provisions would last,
if he could manage to exist without eating more than he had hitherto
done, at least for four or five days; this would give Alice enough to
keep up her strength. But should help not come at the end of that time
he must, he knew, die of hunger; and though she might live a few days
longer, what could she do all alone on the raft? This thought made him
very sad, but he tried to put it from him.
At last Alice fell asleep, and the sea remaining calm, he thought it
best to follow her example, that he might endure his hunger and obtain
the refreshment which sleep would give him.
Another day broke. It was spent almost as the previous one had been.
No sail hove in sight, and the raft floated calmly as at first. He had
thought the loss of the sail a great misfortune, but for the last two
days it would have been of no use except to afford some shelter to
Alice; and perhaps, like other things which people at first look on as
misfortunes, the loss might prove ultimately advantageous.
With Nub's assistance Alice could move about a little on the raft, to
prevent her limbs from becoming benumbed. Frequently she begged him to
let her stand upon the hen-coop, that she might look around to watch for
any sail which might heave in sight; each time, however, only meeting
with disappointment. The arching sky and circling expanse of water
were, as before, alone visible.
Towards evening Nub became more anxious. He did not like the look of
the weather. Dark clouds were gathering overhead, and the sea rose and
fell in ominous undulations, which he fancied betokened a storm. Still
he could do nothing. He felt his own helplessness; and this God often
designs should be the case, that men may place their entire dependence
on Him who alone can afford help in time of need.
Nub did not speak of his fears to Alice, who at length fell asleep while
he sat watching by her side, ready to hold her fast should the sea get
up as he expected it would do. He was mistaken, however, in his
anticipations of evil; for though the threatening appearance of the
weather did not go off, the ocean remained as calm as before.
Another day came round. Nub was constantly on his feet looking about
for the expected sail, as there was a light breeze, which might have
brought one towards them. Hour after hour passed by and no sail
appeared.
"Will a ship neber come?" frequently ejaculated Nub. He was losing
patience, and it was but natural. "The biscuits and water will soon be
all gone, and den what shall we do?" he thought to himself; but he did
not say that aloud, lest Alice might be alarmed.
"I am sure that the boats, or a ship, will find us to-morrow," said
Alice.
"Why do you tink dat?" asked Nub.
"Because our biscuits are coming to an end," said Alice calmly; "and,
Nub, I see that you eat very few of them, and you are growing weak and
thin. You ought to take twice as many as I do, as you are twice as big;
and yet I am sure that you eat much fewer."
"How you know dat, Missie Alice?" asked Nub.
"Because the last time you served them out I counted the number you
took; and while you gave me four, you only ate two yourself."
"Well, you bery cunning girl," said Nub, trying to laugh. "But den
remember you are growing, and want food more dan I do. I have only to
eat enough to keep body and soul togeder; and you have not been
accustomed to hardships as I have since I can remember; so you see dat
it's right I should give you more dan I take myself."
Alice did not quite understand Nub's reasoning, but she felt very
hungry, and was thankful to obtain the food.
"Now, Missie Alice, I am not going to eat any more of de biscuits," said
Nub. "De next food I take will be one of de fowls."
"But how can you light a fire to cook them?" asked Alice.
"I eat dem raw! Much better eat dem dan die."
Poor Alice shuddered. Nub knew that it was high time to kill one of the
fowls, for though their troughs were full of food when he lowered the
coop on to the raft, it had long since been exhausted. Alice turned her
head aside when Nub put one of the fowls out of its misery, and eagerly
drank up the blood to quench the burning thirst from which he was
suffering. He did not offer her any, as he knew that while any wine and
water remained she would not touch it. He felt in better spirits, and
much stronger, after this meal.
He also imbibed some of the hope which inspired Alice, that they might
be relieved before long. Still, when the sun went down again, and the
night once more began, his spirits drooped. He could no longer keep
awake as he had done on the previous night, and as soon as she had
closed her eyes his head began to nod, and he fell asleep. He slept
soundly, for the raft moved quietly about. Nothing occurred for several
hours to disturb him. At length he was startled by a loud peal of
thunder. He looked up. The sky was overcast; a vivid flash of
lightning darted from the clouds, followed by another terrific peal,
which awoke Alice.
"Oh! what is the matter?" she exclaimed.
"A thunderstorm," he answered. "But de sea calm, and de lightning not
hurt us." It required firm faith, however, to believe that such would
not be the case.
At times the whole heavens were lighted with vivid flashes, while the
thunder roared and crashed on every side. This continued for some time.
Nub stood up and looked around him, Alice saw him gazing intently to
windward; she rose and took his hand.
"What is it you see?" she asked.
"It may be only de white top of a wave," he answered.
There was a cessation of the lightning in that part of the heavens for a
minute or more, but Nub kept looking steadily in the same direction.
Presently another vivid flash darted across the sky, lighting up a wide
portion of the ocean.
"Dere! dere now! I see it again!" exclaimed Nub. "Yes, Missie Alice,
yes, dat is a sail; I am sure of it. Dere it gone again; but you will
see it soon, if you look with all your eyes." Alice did look with might
and main, waiting for another flash. Presently the heavens were lighted
up more brilliantly than before, the glare falling fully on a white
sail, which seemed at no great distance off. Once more all was dark;
but Alice and Nub continued to gaze in the direction where they had seen
the sail, in the expectation that it would reappear. They waited in
vain. They raised their voices together, and shouted, in the hope of
being heard by those on board. Nub's voice, however, was weak and
hollow; Alice's was almost as loud, and far shriller.
"Dey cannot hear us," said Nub at length. "Dey too far off." Still he
stood and gazed, and again and again shouted out. His fear was that the
boat, (for such, he conjectured, was the object he had seen, and which
appeared to be running before the wind), might pass in the darkness
either on one side or the other, and that he and his beloved charge
might be left to perish on the waste of waters. He waited for some
time.
"Dey must be bit nearer now," he said at length. "We try to make dem
hear." He and Alice again lifted up their voices, and shouted till they
could shout no more.
"Hark!" cried Nub, "I tink I hear a voice."