APPEARING ON DECK, ARCHY IS SEVERELY REPRIMANDED BY THE CAPTAIN, A
STRICT, YET A KIND AND RELIGIOUS MAN--HIS FIRST SUNDAY AT SEA--AMONG THE
ICEBERGS AND ICE--CAPTURE OF A WHALE.
Archy Hughson felt very weak and very wretched. The ship had for some
hours been tumbling fearfully about, so it seemed to him, now pitching
into the seas, which struck her stout bows with heavy blows, now rolling
from side to side. He knew that a strong gale was blowing, and he could
not help dreading that the casks might break loose, and come down upon
him. He longed to escape from his prison, and began to think that Max
must have forgotten him altogether. At length he again fell asleep. He
was awakened by three heavy knocks above his head, Max's promised
signal. He waited the time agreed on, and then began to crawl out, and
grope his way upwards. At last he saw daylight above him, and
scrambling along, he reached the foot of a ladder. Climbing up with
uncomfortable feelings at his heart as to the reception he might meet
with, he gained the upper deck.
The first person he encountered was an old man with weather-beaten
features, but a kind expression of countenance, Andrew Scollay by name,
a boat-steerer, who was at that moment about to descend.
"Why, lad, where do you come from?" asked old Andrew, putting his hand
on the boy's shoulder.
"I wanted to come to sea; so I hid myself away," answered Archy. "I
hope I have not done wrong."
"You have not done right, boy, or you would not have needed to hide
yourself away," said Andrew, scanning his features. "I think I have
seen you before. What is your name?"
Archy told him.
"What, widow Hughson's son? Oh, boy, boy, you have acted a cruel part
towards your poor mother. Anyhow, I would we had found you out two days
ago. However, come along with me to the captain--you'll hear what he
has to say."
Andrew led Archy aft, where Captain Irvine was standing, and explained
in a few words what he knew of him. Captain Irvine, looking sternly at
him, inquired how he had managed to conceal himself so long on board?
On that point Archy gave a truthful reply.
"How did you know you could find a place where you could hide yourself?"
asked the captain.
"I have often before been on board whalers, and knew how the casks were
stowed," answered Archy, hoping that he should avoid further questions
which might implicate Max Inkster.
"You are deserving of severe punishment for coming on board without my
leave," said the captain. "I must consider how I shall treat you. If
we fall in with a homeward-bound ship, I shall put you on board. If
not, see how you behave yourself. Had your mother asked me to take you
I would have done so, and you would have come in for a share of profits;
but you have done more wrong to her than you have to me; and though I
might flog you, as you deserve, I shall let your own conscience punish
you. I hope you have got one, which will make you mourn for your fault.
Now go for'ard. You must not eat the bread of idleness, and Mr
Scollay will put you to some work or other. I must speak to you again
about this, and let me see, as you have chosen to come on board, that
you do your best to learn your duty."
Archy's conscience was not aroused. He went forward, well pleased at
having, as he thought, got off so cheaply; yet he did not feel at his
ease. He looked, indeed, very pale and sick, and miserable. Old
Andrew's kind heart was touched, as he remarked his woe-begone
appearance. He took him below, and got the steward to give him some
food. He then sent him to wash himself.
"I must see about rigging you out," he said. "The clothes you have on
are not fit for the work you will have to do."
Archy felt grateful to old Andrew, and thanked him warmly.
"Don't speak about that, boy," remarked Andrew. "It's not that you
deserve what I may do for you; but you are poor, and helpless, and
wretched, and that's just the state man was in when Christ came down
from heaven to help him; and so I have a notion that it becomes His
disciples, who desire to be like Him, to assist the helpless and
miserable."
The crew generally did not treat Archy as kindly as old Andrew had done.
They attacked him, as soon as he got among them, with all sorts of
questions, laughing and jeering at his folly. No one laughed at him
more than Max Inkster. Archy felt inclined to retort, but he remembered
his promise to Max, and gave him no sign of recognition, he was treated
as one of the ship's boys, and was put to do all sorts of drudgery and
dirty work. Often and often he wished that he had remained at home, to
look after his mother's farm, and help Maggie in attending to her.
Several days passed by--Archy was beginning to find himself at home
among the crew--Max at length spoke to him as if to a stranger.
"We must make a sailor of you, boy, as you have chosen to come to sea,"
he said, when the order had just been given to reef topsails. "Lay out
on the yard with me, and I'll show you what to do."
Archy had several times been aloft, but had never assisted in reefing.
He now followed Max up the rigging. There was a heavy sea running, and
the ship was pitching violently.
"Now, don't be afraid--come out on the yard," said Max. "There--lean
over, and catch hold of those reef points. Cling tight though, with
your knees and elbows, or you will pitch down on deck, and have your
brains dashed out."
Archy did as he was bid. He felt very nervous, though, and was thankful
when he was safe off the yard. It was coming on to blow harder and
harder, and the canvas was still further reduced. Max did not again
invite him to go aloft--none but practised seamen could have ventured on
the yards. At length, all the canvas was taken off the ship, except a
close-reefed main-topsail, when the helm was put down, and she was
hove-to. The wind whistled shrilly through the bare poles and rigging.
It was blowing a perfect hurricane. All around appeared mountains of
heaving water, each succeeding sea threatening to swallow up the
labouring ship. Archy was surprised at the calmness of the officers and
crew, when he expected every moment that one of those tremendous seas
would come on board, and send the ship to the bottom. He wished that he
could pray, as his mother had taught him to do, but he dared not; yet he
trembled at the thought of what would happen.
Night came on--the gale seemed to increase. He, with all except the
watch on deck, had gone below.
"What, lad, art afraid?" asked Max, who observed his pale countenance.
"You thought a life at sea was all sunshine and calm."
"I have found out what it is, and I wish that I had not been fool enough
to come," answered Archy, with some bitterness.
Max laughed. "Many a lad thinks like you," he said. "They get
accustomed to it, and so must you, though the training is not pleasant,
I'll allow."
While Max was speaking, a tremendous blow was felt, as if the ship had
struck a rock, and then came a sound of rending and crashing timbers,
while the water rushed down the hatchway.
"The ship's on her beam ends," cried several voices, and all hands
sprang on deck. Archy followed. A scene of wreck and destruction met
his sight. The sea had swept over the ship, carrying away the
staunchions, bulwarks, and rails, the binnacle, and the chief portion of
the wheel. A fearful shriek reached his ears, and he caught sight for
an instant of a man clinging to the binnacle. No help could be afforded
him--the poor fellow knew that too well; still he clung to life; but in
a few seconds a sea washed over him and he disappeared.
The captain was on deck, calmly issuing his orders,--the crew flew to
obey them, while Archy clung to the main-mast, expecting every moment to
be his last. Things were at length put to rights; spare spars were
lashed to the remaining staunchions--life lines were stretched along the
deck, fore and aft. The names of the crew were then called over--two
did not answer, another, it was found, had unseen been carried to his
dread account.
The next day was the Sabbath. The gale had moderated, and the ship was
again put on her course. On that day the captain invariably invited all
not on duty to assemble for service in his cabin; Max and a few others
generally made excuses for not attending. The captain took this
occasion to speak of the uncertainty of human life.
"The fate of our shipmates may be that of any one of us, my lads," he
observed. "I do not ask how they were prepared to meet their God, but
how are you prepared? Even if you are living pure and blameless lives,
have you made peace with Tim according to the only way He has offered to
reconcile you to Himself? Have you a living faith in the atoning blood
of Jesus shed for you? He wishes you to be reconciled to Him, and He
has offered to you the easiest and simplest way, the only way by which
you can be so. Remember, `now is the accepted time,' `now is the day of
salvation.' It is God tells you this. If you put off that day it may
be too late--for He says nothing about to-morrow. Some of you may say
that you lead hard lives, have little enjoyment, and much suffering, and
that that must satisfy God and give you a right to heaven. God does not
tell you that; but He says, `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved. He that believeth not is condemned.' Oh lads, if you
knew of the love of Jesus for you, and how He longs for you all to be
saved, you could not stand aloof from Him as you do, and try to keep Him
out of your thoughts, and do nothing to please or serve Him. I speak to
young and old, for He loves the youngest boy on board here as well as
the oldest, and His blood, which cleanseth from all sin, will wash away
the sins of the greatest criminal as completely as it will cleanse the
most harmless youngster, though he, too, needs to be washed as much as
the other." Such was the substance of Captain Irvine's discourse on the
Sunday after the storm. Archy had attended, and the words were
continually haunting him. Max, as usual, had kept away.
"I wonder you can stand that sort of thing," he said to Archy, when he
next met him. "I have no fancy for those discourses of the skipper; but
if you want to curry favour with him, by all means go, just as old
Andrew and Dr Sinclair, and some others do. They have prayers with him
every morning in his cabin. You will not turn psalm-singer, I hope,
lad."
"I don't suppose I shall," answered Archy. "But still I should not like
to be washed overboard, as Bill and Ned were the other night."
"As to that, you must run your chance as others do," answered Max. "I
don't let such things trouble me."
Archy could not help letting them trouble him, though.
The next day the whole crew were busily employed in getting the whale
boats ready and the gear fitted. There were seven boats in all--three
slung to the davits on each side, and one over the stern, with a
harpooner to each. The whale lines were spliced and coiled away in the
stern of the boats; the harpoons were spanned, that is, fastened to the
ends of the lines, and various articles were stowed away in the boats,
so that they were all ready to be lowered, and to shove off at a
moment's notice, should a whale appear. The crow's-nest was also got up
to the main topgallant mast-head. It is like a tall cask with a seat in
it, where the officer can take his station and look out far and wide
over the ocean to watch for the spouting of the monsters of the deep.
Next morning, when Archy went on deck, he saw at no great distance from
the ship a vast white towering mass, glittering like alabaster in the
rays of the sun. At the lower part were projecting points and curious
arches, and a deep cavern, with numberless columns and long icicles
hanging from the roof, while the summit was crowned with pinnacles and
towers of every possible shape. From the higher points, as the ice
melted under the rays of the hot sun, came down two or three tiny
cascades of bright water, leaping from ledge to ledge till they fell
with a splash into the calm ocean.
Archy had often heard of icebergs, but he had formed little conception
of what they really were. He stood gazing at it for some minutes, lost
in wonder.
"Well, boy, what do you think of it?" asked Andrew Scollay, who was
passing at the time.
"It's very wonderful," said Archy.
"All God's works are wonderful," observed old Andrew. "You will see
thousands of such bergs as this where we are going, all formed by God's
will, just as He forms everything else in the world; and yet if all the
kings of the earth and their people were to try and build up one like
them, they could not succeed. Now, Archy, I put it to you, whether it
is not wise to try and be friends with such a God--to know that you are
under His care and protection, instead of disobeying Him and daring His
power? The time may come before long when you will feel how helpless
you are to take care of yourself, boy. I have seen stout ships crushed
in a moment between masses of ice, as if they had been made of paper,
and once I saw one of those large bergs come down and overwhelm a
passing ship, not a soul on board escaping. Ay, and I have known
numbers of poor fellows, when their ships have gone done, wandering over
the ice till they have been frozen or starved to death. I don't tell
you these things to frighten you, but that you may learn to put your
trust in God. The person who truly trusts Him is never frightened. It
is a blessed thing to know that He cares for us."
Archy was unable to make any reply; but the old man's words were not
forgotten.
The next day many more icebergs were seen, and as the ship passed near
some of them, Archy could not help dreading that they might topple over
and carry her and all on board to the bottom.
In a short time the ship made the ice. As far as the eye could reach,
the whole ocean was covered with broken sheets of ice,--some several
miles in extent, others of smaller size, which the seamen called
floes,--huge icebergs towering up among them. The ship sailed along the
edge of a large floe for some distance, till an opening appearing, her
head was pointed towards it. She entered and sailed onwards for a
considerable distance, the water being as smooth as in the most
sheltered harbour. The captain, or an officer, was continually
stationed in the crow's-nest to look out for the widest openings. Into
these she forced her way, now and then being impeded by pieces of ice,
against which her bow was driven to turn them aside. At length, after
running through a narrow passage, her further progress was stopped by a
sheet of ice through which she could not force her way, while beyond the
water appeared perfectly open. The sails were furled; the ice-saws got
out, and the crew commenced sawing out large blocks, so as to form a
passage towards the open water. The work was very laborious; for, in
addition to the operation of sawing, each block had to be towed out into
the wider channel. At length a canal was formed, and the ship glided
through it. Once more the sails were set and she steered to the
northward. Again, however, she had to encounter similar obstructions.
Still the captain pushed on, eager to get to a part of the bay where
whales were plentiful. Generally there was a breeze, and she made good
progress through the open water, but sometimes she lay becalmed, with
her sails hanging against the masts. All the time a sharp look out was
kept for whales, but hitherto, although a few had been seen, the wary
monsters had escaped the harpoons of their pursuers.
At that season, in those northern regions, when the sun but just sinks
below the horizon ere it rises again, night and day are much alike.
Archy, with the watch below, had turned in. He was awakened by a loud
stamping on the deck, and the cry of "a fall, a fall." The men rushed
up on deck, carrying their clothes with them, and dressing as they went.
Instantly running to the boats, they began to lower them. In the
distance was a boat with a flag flying, a signal that a whale had been
struck, and was fast. The boats shoved off, and away they went at a
rapid rate to the assistance of their friends. The monster soon
appeared on the surface. The boats pulled towards it, and numberless
lances were darted at its body. Again it sounded, to reappear shortly
still closer to the ship. Once more the boats dashed on--the water
around the animal was dyed red with blood, mixed with oil, which issued
from its wounds and blow-holes. The boats again drew near, and more
lances were hurled at it. Suddenly the creature reared its tail high in
the air, whirling it round with a loud noise, which reached the ship.
At the same moment the nearest boat was thrown upwards several feet,
while the crew were sent flying on every side into the water, the boat
itself being reduced to a mass of wreck. Their companions went forward
to rescue the drowning men, who were seen to be hauled into the boats;
but whether any had perished could not be discovered by those who, with
Archy, were eagerly watching what was taking place, from the deck of the
ship. Directly afterwards the whale rolled over on its side, and
remained perfectly quiet. The flag was lowered, and the men, standing
up in the boats, gave three loud huzzas, which were echoed by those on
board. Two holes being made in the tail of the whale, ropes were passed
through them, which being made fast to the boats, they towed their prize
in triumph to the ship. The animal now being secured alongside, the
process of flensing or cutting off the blubber commenced. Tackles were
rigged with hooks, which were fixed in the blubber. This was cut by
means of spades, and the tackle being worked by a windlass, as the
blubber was cut off in long strips, it was hoisted on board. Here it
was cut into pieces, and stowed in casks in the hold. Thus, as the
whale was turned round and round, the blubber was stripped off, till the
whole coat was removed. The whalebone, of which the gills are formed,
being then extracted, the carcase was cast adrift, when it was seen to
be surrounded by vast numbers of fish and wild sea-birds, coming from
all directions to banquet on the remaining flesh. The operation, which
lasted five hours, being concluded, the crew were piped to supper.
"There, Archy, you have seen our first whale killed," observed Max. "I
hope we shall have many more before long, and soon be back home again;
and if you are tired of the life, you can go on shore and look after
your mother's farm."