Our stay at Payta was shorter than we had expected. The "Lady Alice,"
with the assistance of the English commander of the corvette, obtained
more speedily than would otherwise have been the case all the repairs
she required, and Captain Bland secured several good hands from among
the crew of a merchantman wrecked further down the coast. Captain Hake
gave the larboard watch of our ship leave on shore to make amends for
their disappointment at Tumbez, but they did no credit to our country,
for after quarrelling with the natives, during which one of them was
stabbed, they were brought off in the last stage of brutal intoxication,
from which it took them several days to recover.
I paid frequent visits to the "Lady Alice," which lay close alongside
us. Captain Hake did not object to my doing that, but when Captain
Bland again asked him for the loan of me (as he put it) my captain
assumed the glummest of glum looks, and replied, "I thought that I had
settled that matter before. The lad came out in this ship, and he goes
home in her, if I have my will."
Though disappointed when Captain Bland told me this I had much reason to
be thankful that I was able to enjoy, even at intervals, the civilising
influences of female society. How different my lot to that of many poor
lads away for four long years from any one who takes the slightest
interest in their moral welfare, or attempts to raise their minds above
the grovelling existence of their brutal associates. I should be
ungrateful if I did not mention, in addition to other advantages, the
benefit I derived from the society of Medley, who was truly a friend to
be prized.
It was a great consolation to me to find that the two ships were to
cruise in company, though I might possibly not be able for many weeks
together to visit the "Lady Alice." On leaving Payta we steered
westward for the usual cruising ground. We had each at the end of ten
days taken a couple of whales, when one Sunday morning a number appeared
in different directions. The "Eagle's" boats were quickly in chase, but
those of the "Lady Alice" remained hanging from the davits.
"What can the old man be about?" I heard the captain remark to the
first mate as they were about to shove off. "It cannot be that he
doesn't see the whales. The owners will be down upon him if he doesn't
look after their interests better."
He said something to the same effect as he passed under our consort's
stern.
"I keep the ten commandments, Captain Hake," answered Captain Bland.
"The Master who gave them is the greatest of the two, and He will look
after the owners' interests."
By night on that occasion our boats had brought two whales alongside,
but the crews were so weary from having been away all day under a
scorching sun that they were unable to commence cutting in till next
morning. At that time the boats of the "Lady Alice" were away, and in
less than an hour had brought one whale alongside; shortly afterwards
another was secured, so that as it turned out both ships commenced
trying out at the same time, and the "Lady Alice" had the whole of the
oil stowed away by Saturday night. The same sort of thing occurred more
than once after this. Captain Bland adhered to his rule, and by the end
of the week had stowed as many barrels of oil in his hold as we had.
At length whales becoming scarce, the two captains agreed to proceed
westward across the Pacific to the Japan whaling ground. We called off
various islands on our way, chiefly to obtain fresh provisions and
water. At length we reached the neighbourhood of the Kingsmill group,
off which we found so many whales that we remained for several months,
during which time we captured a large number. As there is no safe
anchorage the ships had to stand off and on while the boats went on
shore to obtain water and provisions, but we had to be very careful in
our dealings with the natives, who were thorough savages and treacherous
in the extreme.
The weather now gave signs of changing, but as every day a whale was
seen the captains were tempted to remain on. I had of late frequently
gone away in the boats, generally with Medley, who had become a good
harpooner. For two days not a whale had been seen, and we were on the
point of proceeding further west when about noon a whole school
appeared, and scattering sported far and wide over the surface of the
deep. All the boats from both ships were lowered, and I went in one
with Medley, who was intent on attacking a large whale which we saw to
the eastward, in which direction the land lay from us. Just as we had
got within a dozen fathoms of the monster up went its flukes and it
sounded, leaving us looking very blank at the spot where it had gone
down. It might be forty minutes or more before it would come up again.
We determined to wait, and as we had had a sharp pull we refreshed
ourselves by munching some biscuits and drinking a part of the contents
of our water breaker. The whale remained down a much longer time than
we had expected, and when it came up appeared far away to the eastward,
or much closer to the shore. Again we bent to our oars, eager to get
fast before it should once more sound. It was as much as we should do
to reach it in time; if we were too late we should scarcely have another
chance before dark. Already the sun was hidden by a dark bank of clouds
rising above the horizon, and the wind was blowing strong from the
westward, but pulling directly before it we did not feel its force,
though it was evident that the sea was gradually getting up. I could
see both the ships at some distance apart, but none of the boats were
visible to us sitting down. I ought to have told Medley, who, having
his eye on the whale ahead, did not remark the change in the weather.
"If we kill the whale we shall be able to lie made fast under its lee,
even should it come on to blow, till the `Eagle' can come and pick us
up," I thought. The whale, after remaining so long under water, took a
proportionate time to spout on the surface. We were close to it.
Medley, making a sign to the bow oarsman to take his place, stepped
forward and stood up harpoon in hand. We ceased pulling--the next
instant a loud thud showed us that the weapon had struck deep into the
monster's side. He followed up the blow by plunging in three lances,
and was about to hurl a fourth when he shouted out "Back off all!" while
he allowed the line to run rapidly out of the tub over the bollard. We
backed our oars with all our might, knowing that our lives might depend
on our getting clear of the monster before it commenced the fearful
struggles it was probably about to make. Instead of sounding, however,
or lashing the water with its flukes, it darted off along the surface at
a rapid rate towards the land. Already a considerable portion of the
line had run out when Medley secured it round the bollard, and away we
flew, towed by the whale, at a furious rate through the water. The
second line was secured to the end of the first, in case the whale
should suddenly sound; but this it seemed to have no intention of doing.
On and on we were dragged farther and farther from the ships, but we
had no thoughts of cutting loose from the whale after all our exertions,
and we hoped that, in its endeavours to escape, it would wear out its
strength, and thus become an easy prey. Medley stood ready all the time
to slacken out more line should its speed become so great as to run the
risk of its dragging the bows under water, while the man next him sat
with axe in hand prepared to cut it in case there was a probability of
the boat being swamped. Nearer and nearer we approached the land, till
we could distinctly see the surf rising up in a wall of foam, and
breaking over the coral reef surrounding it. We expected every moment
that the whale would turn to avoid the danger ahead, and that we should
be able to haul in the slack of the rope, and get sufficiently close to
give it another wound. That it was losing blood, and consequently its
strength, we knew by the red tinge of the water in its wake; still it
held on. I glanced towards the shore--I could see a gap in the line of
surf, beyond which the land rose to a greater height than anywhere near.
It formed, I concluded, the entrance to a bay or lagoon, but seemed so
narrow that even a boat would run the danger of being swamped by the
surging waters on either side. Galled or terror-stricken as the whale
evidently was, I could scarcely suppose that it would run itself on
shore, yet from the course it was taking it seemed possible that such it
was about to do. Suddenly, however, the roar of the surf growing louder
and louder, it appeared to perceive its danger, and leaping almost out
of the water it turned away to the northward, giving the boat so violent
a jerk that she was nearly capsized. Escaping that danger, we were
exposed to another, for the sea, now brought on our beam, continually
broke over the side, employing two hands in baling, while often it
appeared as if she would be turned completely over. At length the
monster began to lessen its speed, and we were hauling in the line to
get up to it, when suddenly raising its flukes down it went, dragging
out the line again at a rate which made the bollard smoke, but the sea
breaking over the bows prevented it from catching fire. The first line
was soon drawn out--the second went on, and that, too, speedily ran
towards the end. It was vain to attempt stopping it. The whale was
now, we knew, swimming under water, and heading away from the shore. It
must ere long come up again--but could we hold on till then? Already
the seas broke fearfully over the bows. In spite of the efforts of the
men baling, the boat was half full of water. Medley seized the axe; the
bitter end of the last line was reached. A dark sea came rolling on.
Nothing could save us from being swamped, it seemed. The axe descended,
a loud thud was heard, the line was severed. "Back off all!" cried
Medley, taking the bow oar to steer by. We pulled for our lives; the
sea broke under the bows. Scarcely till now were we conscious that,
after all our toils, the whale was lost. We had not, as we had hoped,
its huge body to hang on to, to protect us from the fury of the
fast-rising seas. Darkness had now come on; we looked out in vain for
either of the ships. The "Eagle," on finding that we did not return,
would burn blue lights to direct us to her. The "Lady Alice" would do
the same should any of her boats be absent. We pulled on against the
still rising seas. How long our boat would float amid them was
doubtful. "There's alight, boys!" cried Medley at length; but it was
away to the northward, and far off, for it only just appeared above the
horizon. To reach it we must bring the sea abeam and run a fearful risk
of being rolled over or swamped. Still the attempt must be made, unless
we were prepared to remain toiling at the oars all night, or to run the
risk of trying to reach the shore. We continued to pull on, keeping the
boat's head to the sea, when, looking round, I observed a glimmering
bluish light suddenly spring up on the starboard bow. That it was at an
immense distance I knew, as I could not distinguish the body from which
the rays of light proceeded. Medley saw it also. "She is hull down,
and it would take us till morning to reach her, even if we could do it
then," he said in a tone which showed how serious he thought our
condition. Still we could more easily reach the vessel from which the
distant light proceeded than the one on our beam.
Our situation was sufficient to alarm the stoutest hearts, and we were
all young and comparatively inexperienced. The dark sky seemed to have
come down close above our heads; the foam-covered seas came rolling on,
every instant increasing in size, while astern was the dreadful reef,
over which the furious breakers were dashing with a terrific roar. I
had given up my oar to another man, and was seated near Medley, when I
saw a small bright speck in the sky just above the horizon.
"What is that? Can it come from a ship?" I asked, pointing it out to
him. He was silent. Gradually the spot of light expanded into an arch.
"It is the eye of an hurricane," he said at length. "We shall have it
break upon us presently, and if we fail to reach the land, Jack, we
shall not live to see another sunrise."
Calmly telling the men to be prepared for the worst, but not to despair,
he put the boat round, and we pulled in for the land. I told him of the
opening I had seen. He had observed it also, but was doubtful whether
we should discover it in the darkness. Still, unless we could do so,
our destruction seemed certain. Earnestly I prayed for deliverance; so
did Medley, I know. With fearful rapidity, borne onward by the sea, we
approached the raging breakers. For some time in vain we looked along
the line of foam for the opening we had seen. The howling tempest
astern forbade us attempting to pull off the shore; but should we gain
it, if it was inhabited, what sort of treatment were we to expect from
the savages? Several boats' crews had, it was said, lost their lives
among this group. I was straining my eyes ahead when I made out against
the sky the outline of the high land I had before remarked. Beyond it
the clouds appeared to be brighter than in any other part of the
heavens. The instant afterwards the pale moon burst forth, and though
but for a brief space, it was long enough to enable her to serve as a
beacon to us. Directly below her we saw the looked-for opening.
"Give way, lads, we may yet save our lives," cried Medley.
The men did give way, but so narrow appeared the opening that it seemed
impossible we should get through without being swamped by the breakers
rising high up on either side, rendered visible and more terrific by the
vivid flashes of lightning darting from the clouds, which were followed
by crashing peals of thunder, sounding above even the roaring of the
angry waters. Onwards we were carried, the foam leaping high above our
heads on the summit of a hissing sea, and then down we shot like an
arrow, guided by Medley's oar, on to the comparatively calm surface of a
deep bay. A few strokes more we glided up it, and were in smooth water,
the moon not hiding her face till we were in safety. We made out before
us a sandy beach, towards which we steered, and, leaping out, drew up
our boat to free her of water.
Our first act was to kneel down and return thanks to our Heavenly
Father, who had so mercifully preserved us, and most of our rough crew,
though at first they hesitated, followed our example. We then looked
out for a place which would afford us shelter during the night from the
raging storm. Near the beach was a grove of palm-trees, but the wind,
howling amid their stems, bent and twisted them about so furiously that
we had reason to dread, should we lie down under them, that some, being
uprooted, might fall and crush us. Keeping outside the trees, we made
our way towards the high ground, one side of which we found consisted of
a coral cliff, and we had not searched long before we discovered a cave
large enough to afford shelter to all our party. The floor was of sand,
and having no fear of venomous creatures or savage beasts, the men threw
themselves down to obtain the rest they all so much required. We had
brought from the boat the biscuits and the small stock of water we
possessed, but none of them were inclined to eat, though they drank up
more than half the quantity of the precious liquid remaining in the
breaker. Medley and I, who were, as were the rest, wet to the skin,
walked up and down under shelter of the rock trying to dry our clothes.
"If we had but a fire it would be a great comfort," I observed.
Pepper, one of our Kroomen, hearing what I said, exclaimed, "Massa, me
got light, nebber fear!" Groping about, he soon found two pieces of dry
wood, and fashioning them with his knife, he began to rub one against
the other in a way which at length produced a bright spark. I had a
handful of leaves ready, and we had quickly a capital fire blazing up
just inside the cave. How grateful we felt for its genial warmth!
What if, while we were congratulating ourselves on being safe on shore,
any misfortune should happen to those in whom we were so deeply
interested? I felt that I would thankfully be on board the "Lady Alice"
to share the fate of my friends, or to aid, as far as human strength
could go, in averting the danger to which they might be exposed. I
knew, however, that my wishes were of no avail. I knelt down with
Medley, and prayed with all earnestness that they might be protected; we
then stretched ourselves on the sand near our men.
"Jack, it did not occur to me before that this island may be inhabited;
if so, that our fire may attract the natives," said Medley, just as I
was dropping off to sleep. "It ought to be put out, or we must keep
watch. They might murder us before we could attempt to defend
ourselves."
I agreed with him, but confessed that I could no longer keep my eyes
open.
"I'll keep the first watch, and then I'll call up Pepper and Salt, and
the latter shall call you. The others cannot be depended on," he said,
though I could scarcely comprehend the meaning of his words.
It was nearly daylight when Salt at last awoke me. He would not have
done so then, honest fellow, had not he been ordered. I asked him if he
had heard or seen any natives.
"No, Massa Jack, me tink none here; but better get to de boat and catch
some fish for breakfast, and den if any savage come we ready to start,"
he answered.
I thought his advice good, and desired him, as soon as it was light, to
go down to the boat and get the lines ready, so that we might shove off
as soon as the other men awoke. I, in the meantime, directly the dawn
broke, made my way to the summit of the hill, that I might survey the
island, and, if possible, ascertain the position of the ships. I had
fortunately brought a small but powerful telescope given me by Captain
Bland. The fury of the hurricane was over, but the breakers still beat
with violence against the barrier reef, and made it impossible for us to
put to sea. In a short time the glorious sun, rising above the horizon
amid the fast dispersing clouds, shed a bright light over sea and land,
and enabled me to obtain a far-extending view.
The island on which we had taken refuge was much smaller than I had
supposed, owing to the reef which extended along it; but across a narrow
passage was another of much greater extent and away to the north and
north-west were several others, besides numerous reefs marked by the
white masses of foam flying over them. Several tiny wreaths of smoke
which rose up amid the groves on the nearest island showed me that that,
at all events, was inhabited, as, probably, were most of the others. As
the mist of morning cleared away I could distinguish in the distance the
huts of the natives, though, owing probably to the barren nature of the
soil at the end nearest our island, none were built there. Again and
again I swept the horizon in search of the ships; nowhere could I
discern them. In what direction could they have been driven? I at last
observed beyond a line of reefs what I took to be a group of cocoa-nut
trees rising out of a low islet faintly traced against the blue sky like
gossamer webs. Yes, there were trees, but among them, after keeping my
glass steady for a minute or more, I made out the masts and yards of a
ship. That she was either the "Eagle" or the "Lady Alice" I felt
certain, but how she had escaped the reefs and been driven in where I
saw her I could not conjecture. As her masts appeared upright I trusted
that she was not on shore; but whether such were the case or not, she
might find it difficult to escape from her position should the savage
inhabitants of the neighbouring shores try to make her their prey, as
they had succeeded in doing other vessels under similar circumstances.
What was even now going forward on board her, who could tell? Again I
looked round in vain for the other ship, and then hastened down to join
Medley. I found him setting off with the other men for the boat, he
supposing that I had gone with Salt to look after her. He could not
even conjecture which of the ships I had seen, but he agreed with me
that we must put off to try and get on board her the moment we could
venture out to sea. He would have gone back with me to the hill, but
the men were crying out for food, and insisting on endeavouring to catch
some fish. None of the trees near us bore cocoa-nuts, nor had any water
been found, probably the reason that the island was uninhabited.
Medley served only a small portion of biscuit to each man, and warned
them all to be very careful of the water, as we might be unable to
obtain more till we reached the ship. Judging by the surf which still
beat furiously on the reef there was small prospect of our doing that
till the next day at soonest. Salt had got the lines and hooks ready,
and some shell-fish for bait, so we at once pulled out as near the
entrance of the lagoon as we could venture. We had not had our lines
down long before we began to get bites, and in a short time we had
hauled in as many fish as would give us an ample supply of food for the
day, we returned to the shore to cook and eat our prey. We again
lighted a fire at the mouth of our cave, hoping that the smoke would not
be seen by the savages, but to prevent being surprised Medley sent
Pepper to the other side of the island to give us due warning should he
see any of them coming over.
After breakfast the rest of the men lay down to sleep, while Medley and
I went to the top of the hill to ascertain by the state of the sea when
there was a probability of our getting off, and to watch for the
appearance of the other ship. We looked for her in vain. The ocean,
however, was rapidly losing the quickness of its motion, though the huge
waves were still slowly and lazily tumbling against each other as they
rolled on till they reached the reef, where, with a roar of thunder,
they broke into masses of foam. The chief object of interest, the
distant ship, remained motionless as before, her canvas closely furled.
Had a sail been loosed we should have seen it fluttering in the breeze.
"In a few hours at most we shall be able to pass through yonder
channel," observed Medley, pointing to the entrance of the lagoon.
"Look, the sea scarcely even now breaks across it. If necessary, I
would not hesitate to take out a boat in spite of the risk I might run;
but we will not make the attempt for the present."
I agreed with him that it would be folly to do so, and we returned to
the cave. We sat down in the shade. The heat was great, and neither of
us having had much rest, we both fell as sound asleep as were our men
stretched at their lengths a short distance from us. Hours may have
passed. I was aroused by Pepper shouting, "De savage come! de savage
come! Quick, quick! rouse up, boys, get to de boat."
Salt was the first to start to his feet on hearing his companion's
voice, and by kicks and pulls to awaken the rest. I grasped Medley by
the arm and helped him up. The men in a panic were hurrying off, when
he reminded them of the breaker of water and the remainder of the fish
which had fortunately been cooked. They took the breaker and fish up
between them, and set off, while we waited for Pepper. He had seen a
large body of savages, flourishing their formidable spears and
gesticulating wildly, come down to the shore and begin to swim across
the channel, evidently, as he supposed, having discovered that strangers
were on the island, though how they had done so it was difficult to
guess, unless they had seen Medley and me on the top of the hill. That
they had hostile intentions was pretty evident by the account Pepper
gave us. Had we possessed fire-arms we might have defended our selves,
but as it was we could secure our safety alone by flight.
We found the men hurriedly launching the boat. In their dread of the
savages I am not sure that they would have waited for us had we been
delayed. The boat was quickly in the water, and we all leaped on board.
Medley took the steering oar, and the men gave way. As I looked ahead
I could see the green billows rolling in towards the opening, and still
breaking with fearful force against the barrier reef on either side, but
in the centre I observed a clear glass-like swell, over which I hoped we
might find a safe passage. Medley seemed not quite certain about the
matter, and told the men to lay on their oars till he could perceive a
favourable opportunity for dashing out. Just then a fearful yell
sounded in our ears, and looking astern I saw the beach covered by a
band of savages flourishing their spears and gesticulating to us to
return and be killed. Some of the more active were springing along the
rocks so as to get near enough to hurl their weapons at us.
The crew, without waiting for Medley's orders, bent to their oars, and
though several spears fell into the water at no great distance off, we
were soon beyond their reach. Without waiting to ascertain what the
savages were about we steered for the centre of the passage. A sea like
a mass of liquid malachite came rolling in--we mounted to its summit,
and then descending into the trough, were soon rising on another watery
height. The crew pulled lustily, and in a few minutes we were well
outside the breakers, and able to turn the boat's head to the northward.
It had become a perfect calm, so that we had a long pull before us. At
this the men grumbled, as they had expected to hoist the sail. Medley,
however, reminded them that had there been wind the ship would probably
have got under weigh, and we should have missed her. We pulled on along
the coast of the larger island, but whether or not we were perceived by
the people on shore we could not tell. The men at last complaining of
fatigue, declared that they must stop and take some food and water. To
this Medley could not object, eager as he and I were to get up to the
ship.
While the men were eating the remainder of the fish and biscuit, we kept
two of the oars going, and had just passed a point forming one side of a
bay when, looking towards the shore, we saw a fleet of large canoes,
thirty or more, ranged along the shore, the people apparently hurrying
on board. On examining them through my glass I perceived that they were
all armed, and it at once occurred to me that they were starting on an
expedition to attack the ship. Medley was of the same opinion.
"You see the savages in those boats," he exclaimed; "let us see what you
can do. If they catch us we shall be in their try-pots before many
hours have gone by, but if we can get on board the ship we can at all
events have a fight for our lives."
The men needing no further incentive to exertion, cramming their food
into their mouths, threw out their oars and away we flew over the now
calm surface of the ocean. As I looked over the starboard quarter I saw
that several of the canoes had shoved off from the beach and were coming
after us. Had there been a breeze we should have had no chance of
escaping them. In a short time the whole fleet was after us. The
savages probably reckoned on our not knowing the shortest passages
through the reefs, but Medley and I kept a bright look-out, I making a
good use of my telescope. Now we had the coral rocks rising close to
us. Several times I could see the bottom as we dashed on. Occasionally
we had to turn either to the east or west, but still we were rapidly
nearing the ship. My chief fear was that other canoes might be waiting
further to the north and dash out upon us.
While standing up I brought my glass to bear on the ship. How thankful
I felt when I became certain that she was the "Lady Alice." She had at
all events escaped any accident from the hurricane, and I had no doubt
that we should beat off the savages should they venture to attack her.
Looking astern I saw to my satisfaction that we were greatly distancing
the canoes, so that we should have time after getting on board to make
preparations for their reception. At length we were discovered by our
friends on board, for we saw several persons waving signals of welcome
to us from the forecastle. Greatly to my relief also I saw that the
ship was at anchor at some distance from the shore, while beyond her to
the north-west the sea appeared free from reefs. Captain Bland shook my
hand heartily.
"We had given you up for lost," he said; "we heard that you were away
from your ship when the hurricane came on, and that there was no chance
of your getting on board her."
"How could you hear that?" I asked, much surprised.
"From the second mate and his crew, whom we took on board. Very glad I
was to have them, as they were of the greatest assistance during the
gale, though I fear Captain Hake must have been hard put to it without
them."
I interrupted my old friend by telling him of the approach of the
canoes. He was not a man to disregard a warning. The boarding nettings
were at once triced up, the small arms got from below, and the guns
loaded. I inquired anxiously for Mary and her mother, who were not on
deck.
"They suffered much during the hurricane, but are now on foot, and will
be glad to see you," answered the captain.
I sprang below. I should have startled my friends not a little had not
the steward told them that I had come on board, for they had heard of
the supposed loss of our boat, though Mary told me with a smile, while a
tear was in her eye, that as her dear father had been preserved, so she
had not despaired of again seeing me. I felt very happy, for I was sure
that we should beat off the savages. On my return on deck I found that
they had not yet appeared. It was now getting dark. This made us
suspect that they had intended to attempt surprising the ship at night,
and very probably they would have succeeded had we not providentially
seen them and thus been the means of putting our friends on their guard.
Captain Bland, always anxious to avoid bloodshed, ordered the guns to
be fired at intervals, both to show the savages that we were on the
alert and to attract the attention of the "Eagle" should she be in the
neighbourhood. Though prepared we could not avoid being anxious, for if
the natives were resolved on our destruction we should have a severe
struggle before we could drive them off.
It had now become so dark that it would be difficult to see the canoes
till they were close to us. All hands, therefore, remained on deck with
our weapons in our hands to be ready at a moment's notice, but the hours
went by, the savages had thought better of it we hoped, and dawn at
length appeared. We looked out for the canoes, but they were nowhere to
be seen, nor was the "Eagle." The calm continued, and as we had our two
boats besides those of the "Lady Alice," Captain Bland resolved to tow
her out to sea so as to get a good offing before another night. The
anchor was hove up, and with six boats ahead we made good progress. We
had got a couple of miles away from the anchorage, and were nearly free
of the reefs when the look-out at the masthead shouted that he saw the
canoes coming towards us.
"Keep to your oars, lads," cried Captain Bland; "we shall have a breeze
presently, and shall then easily tackle them."
On came the canoes. It seemed too likely that they would reach us
before the wished-for breeze had sprung up. The crews of the boats gave
way lustily. I had remained on board. As I looked astern I fancied
that I could almost hear the shrieks and shouts of the savages as they
approached. Suddenly I saw the dog-waves blowing out. I, with the rest
on board, sprang aloft to loose sails, the boats were called alongside,
and by the time they were hoisted up we were gliding rapidly through the
water. Though several of the canoes, hoisting their sails, got near us,
a few shot, which carried away the masts of two or three, made them give
up the pursuit, and in a few hours we had run the island out of sight.
We cruised in the neighbourhood of the group for two weeks or more in
search of the "Eagle," but at last despairing of falling in with her
continued on for the Japan whaling ground. Here being very successful,
we got a full ship, and, to the joy of all on board, steered homewards
by way of the Indian seas, calling, however, at several interesting
places to obtain fresh provisions and water.
The white cliffs of old England were seen at length, and home was
reached. Captain Bland, having made a successful voyage, declared that
he would never more tempt the ocean or expose his wife and daughter to
dangers such as those from which they had been so mercifully preserved.
The "Eagle" had not arrived, and nothing was heard of her for several
years, when a report reached me that she had sought shelter in one of
the harbours of the group, when part of the crew being on shore were set
upon and massacred, while those on board were overpowered and killed.
The ship then having been plundered was sunk with her cargo of oil, and
was thus found by another whaler the following year through information
given by one of the natives.
Thus ended the voyages of the two whalers, of which I have given of
necessity but a hurried sketch. I left the whaling service, and sooner
than I might have expected, obtained the command of a fine trader to
China and the Eastern seas, having the happiness of being accompanied by
my dear Mary, who had become my wife. My excellent friend Medley was
equally successful, and both of us having retired from the sea, have
settled near each other, and often spin to attentive young listeners the
preceding yarn, and many others descriptive of our nautical career,
though our boys and girls unanimously give the preference to the voyages
of the Two Whalers.