VOICES IN THE NIGHT
OCTOBER 14.--At last we are free from the sea of vegetation, the
boisterous gale has moderated into a steady breeze, the sun is shining
brightly, the weather is warm and genial, and thus, two reefs in her
top-sails, briskly and merrily sails the Chancellor.
Under conditions so favorable, we have been able to take the ship's
bearings: our latitude, we find, is 21 deg. 33' N., our longitude, 50
deg. 17' W.
Incomprehensible altogether is the conduct of Captain Huntly. Here we
are, already more than ten degrees south of the point from which we
started, and yet still we are persistently following a southeasterly
course! I cannot bring myself to the conclusion that the man is mad. I
have had various conversations with him: he has always spoken
rationally and sensibly. He shows no tokens of insanity. Perhaps his
case is one of those in which insanity is partial, and where the mania
is of a character which extends only to the matters connected with his
profession. Yet it is unaccountable.
I can get nothing out of Curtis; he listens coldly whenever I allude to
the subject, and only repeats what he has said before, that nothing
short of an overt act of madness on the part of the captain could
induce him to supersede the captain's authority, and that the imminent
peril of the ship could alone justify him in taking so decided a
measure.
Last evening I went to my cabin about eight o'clock, and after an
hour's reading by the light of my cabin-lamp, I retired to my berth and
was soon asleep. Some hours later I was aroused by an unaccustomed
noise on deck. There were heavy footsteps hurrying to and fro, and the
voices of the men were loud and eager, as if the crew were agitated by
some strange disturbance. My first impression was, that some tacking
had been ordered which rendered it needful to fathom the yards; but the
vessel continuing to lie to starboard convinced me that this was not
the origin of the commotion. I was curious to know the truth, and made
all haste I could to go on deck; but before I was ready, the noise had
ceased. I heard Captain Huntly return to his cabin, and accordingly I
retired again to my own berth. Whatever may have been the meaning of
the maneuver, I cannot tell; it did not seem to result in any
improvement in the ship's pace; still it must be owned there was not
much wind to speed us along.
At six o'clock this morning I mounted the poop and made as keen a
scrutiny as I could of everything on board. Everything appeared as
usual. The Chancellor was running on the larboard tack, and carried
low-sails, top-sails, and gallant-sails. Well braced she was; and under
a fresh, but not uneasy breeze, was making no less than eleven knots an
hour.
Shortly afterward M. Letourneur and Andre came on deck. The young man
enjoyed the early morning air, laden with its briny fragrance, and I
assisted him to mount the poop. In answer to my inquiry as to whether
they had been disturbed by any bustle in the night, Andre replied that
he did not wake at all, and had heard nothing.
"I am glad, my boy," said the father, "that you have slept so soundly.
I heard the noise of which Mr. Kazallon speaks. It must have been about
three o'clock this morning, and it seemed to me as though they were
shouting. I thought I heard them say; 'Here, quick, look to the
hatches!' but as nobody was called up, I presumed that nothing serious
was the matter."
As he spoke I cast my eye at the panel-slides, which fore and aft of
the main-mast open into the hold. They seemed to be all close as usual,
but I now observed for the first time that they were covered with heavy
tarpauling. Wondering in my own mind what could be the reason for these
extra precautions I did not say anything to M. Letourneur, but
determined to wait until the mate should come on watch, when he would
doubtless give me, I thought, an explanation of the mystery.
The sun rose gloriously, with every promise of a fine dry day. The
waning moon was yet above the western horizon, for as it still wants
three days to her last quarter she does not set until 10:57 A. M. On
consulting my almanac, I find that there will be a new moon on the
24th, and that on that day, little as it may affect us here in
mid-ocean, the phenomenon of the high syzygian tides will take place on
the shores of every continent and island.
At the breakfast hour M. Letourneur and Andre went below for a cup of
tea, and I remained on the poop alone. As I expected, Curtis appeared,
that he might relieve Lieutenant Walter of the watch. I advanced to
meet him, but before he even wished me good morning, I saw him cast a
quick and searching glance upon the deck, and then, with a slightly
contracted brow, proceed to examine the state of the weather and the
trim of the sails.
"Where is Captain Huntly?" he said to Walter.
"I have seen nothing of him," answered the lieutenant; "is there
anything fresh up?"
"Nothing whatever," was the curt reply.
They then conversed for a few moments in an undertone, and I could see
that Walter by his gesture gave a negative answer to some question
which the mate had asked him. "Send me the boatswain, Walter," said
Curtis aloud as the lieutenant moved away.
The boatswain immediately appeared, and another conversation was
carried on in whispers. The man repeatedly shook his head as he replied
to Curtis's inquiries, and then, in obedience to orders, called the men
who were on watch, and made them plentifully water the tarpauling that
covered the great hatchway.
Curious to fathom the mystery I went up to Curtis and began to talk
with him upon ordinary topics, hoping that he would himself introduce
the subject that was uppermost in my mind; finding, however, that he
did not allude to it, I asked him point blank:
"What was the matter in the night, Curtis?"
He looked at me steadily, but made no reply.
"What was it?" I repeated. "M. Letourneur and myself were both of us
disturbed by a very unusual commotion overhead."
"Oh, a mere nothing," he said at length; "the man at the helm had made
a false move, and we had to pipe hands to brace the ship a bit; but it
was soon all put to rights. It was nothing, nothing at all."
I said no more; but I can not resist the impression that Robert Curtis
has not acted with me in his usual straight-forward manner.