CURTIS RESOLVES TO ABANDON THE SHIP
DECEMBER 4.--The first attempt at mutiny being thus happily suppressed,
it is to be hoped that Curtis will succeed as well in future. An
insubordinate crew would render us powerless indeed.
Throughout the night the pumps were kept, without respite, steadily at
work, but without producing the least sensible benefit. The ship became
so water-logged and heavy that she hardly rose at all to the waves,
which consequently often washed over the deck and contributed their
part toward aggravating our case. Our situation was rapidly becoming as
terrible as it had been when the fire was raging in the midst of us;
and the prospect of being swallowed by the devouring billows was no
less formidable than that of perishing in the flames.
Curtis kept the men up to the mark, and, willing or unwilling, they had
no alternative but to work on as best they might; but in spite of all
their efforts, the water perpetually rose, till, at length, the men in
the hold who were passing the buckets found themselves immersed up to
their waists, and were obliged to come on deck.
This morning, after a somewhat protracted consultation with Walter and
the boatswain, Curtis resolved to abandon the ship. The only remaining
boat was far too small to hold us all, and it would therefore be
necessary to construct a raft that should carry those who could not
find room in her. Dowlas, the carpenter, Mr. Falsten, and ten sailors
were told off to put the raft in hand, the rest of the crew being
ordered to continue their work assiduously at the pumps, until the time
came and everything was ready for embarkation.
Hatchet or saw in hand, the carpenter and his assistants made a
beginning without delay, by cutting and trimming the spare yards and
extra spars to a proper length. These were then lowered into the
sea--which was propitiously calm--so as to favor the operation (which
otherwise would have been very difficult) of lashing them together into
a firm framework, about forty feet long and twenty-five feet wide, upon
which the platform was to be supported.
I kept my own place steadily at the pumps, and Andre Letourneur worked
at my side. I often noticed his father glance at him sorrowfully, as
though he wondered what would become of him if he had to struggle with
waves to which even the strongest man could hardly fail to succumb. But
come what may, his father will never forsake him, and I myself shall
not be wanting in rendering him whatever assistance I can.
Mrs. Kear, who had been for some time in a state of drowsy
unconsciousness, was not informed of the immediate danger; but when
Miss Herbey, looking somewhat pale with fatigue, paid one of her flying
visits to the deck, I warned her to take every precaution for herself,
and to be ready for any emergency.
"Thank you, doctor, I am always ready," she cheerfully replied, and
returned to her duties below. I saw Andre follow the young girl with
his eyes, and a look of melancholy interest passed over his countenance.
Toward eight o'clock in the evening the framework for the raft was
almost complete, and the men were lowering empty barrels, which had
first been securely bunged, and were lashing them to the woodwork to
insure its floating.
Two hours later and suddenly there arose the startling cry, "We are
sinking! we are sinking!"
Up to the poop rushed Mr. Kear, followed immediately by Falsten and
Miss Herbey, who were bearing the inanimate form of Mrs. Kear. Curtis
ran to his cabin, instantly returning with a chart, a sextant, and a
compass in his hand.
The scene that followed will ever be engraven in my memory; the cries
of distress, the general confusion, the frantic rush of the sailors
toward the raft that was not yet ready to support them, can never be
forgotten. The whole period of my life seemed to be concentrated into
that terrible moment when the planks bent below my feet and the ocean
yawned beneath me.
Some of the sailors had taken their delusive refuge in the shrouds, and
I was preparing to follow them when a hand was laid upon my shoulder..
Turning round I beheld M. Letourneur, with tears in his eyes, pointing
toward his son. "Yes, my friend," I said, pressing his hand, "we will
save him, if possible."
But Curtis had already caught hold of the young man, and was hurrying
him to the main-mast shrouds, when the Chancellor, which had been
scudding along rapidly with the wind, stopped suddenly, with a violent
shock, and began to settle. The sea rose over my ankles, and almost
instinctively I clutched at the nearest rope. All at once, when it
seemed all over, the ship ceased to sink, and hung motionless in
mid-ocean.