To the south of Lima, in the Bay of Pisco, are found three small
islands, or rather barren rocks. Not a tree grows on them--not a blade
of grass. The feathered race for ages past, probably since the last
flood rolled over the face of the globe, have made them their abode.
Strange as it may seem, they are of more intrinsic value than the
richest mines of Potosi; yet their produce is all on the surface, and to
be obtained but with little labour. They are the three Chincha Islands,
and their produce is guano. It is the result of the droppings of birds,
which in that dry and rainless region has preserved all its fertilising
qualities, and has been stored up, by the decree of a beneficent
Providence, to restore strength and vigour to the far-off lands of the
Old World. We sighted them one morning, and running in, brought up in
their neighbourhood. There were sixty ships, mostly English, anchored
near them, for the purpose of loading with guano; and sometimes there
are upwards of a hundred. A boat was lowered, and the captain, Jerry,
the doctor, and I, went in her. We had to climb up to the top of one of
the islands by a ladder; the cliffs are so steep, and being composed of
felspar and quartz, so broken away by the action of the sea, that it is
the only method of reaching the summit. The island was covered with
thick layers of guano, and one cutting, about a hundred yards from the
cliff, was sixty feet deep, or rather high, for the cutting is made into
it from the side, just as a slice is cut out of a cheese. A
steam-engine is employed in digging it out, and filling a set of cars,
which run on a tramway to the edge of the cliff under which the vessels
lie to load. Two hundred convicts were engaged in shovelling down the
guano, and a number of stout negroes are employed in the hold to
distribute it as it comes down through a canvas shoot. They have to
wear iron masks, as the fresh guano is stronger than volatile salts, and
more penetrating than coal-dust.
The bird which produces the guano is a sort of tern, with red bill and
legs. It has a long whisker-like feather curling out under the ear on
each side. The top of the head and the tips of the wings and tail are
black. The body, which is about ten inches long, is of a dark-slate
colour. Large flocks of gulls, divers, and pelicans, likewise visit the
islands. It is calculated that, on one island alone, there were
2,000,000 tons of guano; and although from 200,000 to 300,000 tons are
annually imported into England, it will take some time to exhaust the
supply. Guano is a corruption of the Quichua word _huaim_. The Quichua
is the language of the Incas. Under the enlightened government of the
Incas the value of guano was well-known, and severe laws were enacted
against any one disturbing the birds during the breeding season.
Pulling away to another island, we found a number of Chinese employed in
digging out the guano. We were not surprised at seeing them look very
miserable and unhappy, for the oppressive odour arising from the
fresh-dug guano was intolerable, to us even for a short time. We were
told that many of them in their wretchedness commit suicide, flying,
through their ignorance, from present evils to those they know not of,
instead of endeavouring manfully to support their lot, if inevitable, or
to seek proper means to escape from it if they have the power--not that
I thought this at the time, by-the-by. I only remarked to Jerry that
they were very great fools for their pains. A little way up the bay, on
the mainland, is the sea-port of Pisco, a neat Spanish-built place. In
the neighbourhood are numerous remains, which prove how populous must
have been the country under the sway of the Incas.
Sailing north, we entered the Bay of Callao, the port of Lima. Before
us lay Callao, with rich green plains on either side, covered with white
farms and willow-trees, with the high cliffs of Morro Solar to the
south, and below it the bathing-place of Cherillos. Six or eight miles
inland appeared the white towers of Lima, surrounded by orange-groves;
while above them, far into the blue sky, rose peak beyond peak of the
ever-glorious snow-capped Andes. Such is the scene which, for many ages
past, has been looked on; but a change--a great and important one--is
taking place in the land; and what was our surprise, when we went on
shore, to see English omnibuses and broughams--and more than that, the
terminus of a railway, the carriages of which ran rattling on to Lima.
"Funny," cried Jerry, when we found ourselves, with the captain and the
doctor, in one of the aforesaid carriages, "to think that we are all
away on the other side of that great big straggling continent of
America, and yet to feel, as we look about this box, as if we were only
skurrying off from London to Liverpool."
I entered into his feelings, and the voyage round Cape Horn, and our
different adventures, seemed like a dream, till we looked out and saw
the giant Cordilleras, and then we were soon reminded where we were. We
met a Peruvian gentleman on the railway, who told us much about the
country. Among other things, while the Marquis of Villa Garcia was
viceroy of Peru in 1746, on the 28th of October, during a warm but
perfectly calm evening, while the inhabitants of Callao and Lima were
not dreaming of evil, on a sudden, without a moment's warning, the earth
shook with tremendous violence. Every house in Callao fell level with
the ground, crushing their hapless inmates. Many of those in Lima were
likewise overthrown; and as the affrighted survivors looked seaward, a
vast wave like a gigantic wall came roaring on towards the devoted
place. In an instant every living soul in Callao, with the exception of
one man who clung to a piece of timber, was overwhelmed by the raging
waters. Not a vestige of the town remained. On went the wave, carrying
with it a Spanish frigate, the _Saint Fernim_, and other vessels,
leaving them high and dry far inland. Lima narrowly escaped complete
destruction, and it was long before the inhabitants recovered from the
panic into which the catastrophe had thrown them. For years after the
destruction of the Inca rule, unhappy Peru groaned under the
misgovernment and tyranny of the Spaniards, and rapidly and surely the
aboriginal inhabitants decreased in numbers. Several revolts occurred,
but were crushed with barbarous severity. At length the colonists of
Spain conceived the hope of throwing off the yoke of the mother country.
Although frequently defeated, the people of Chili were, by the aid of
Lord Cochrane, at last successful. General San Martin, who had become
the president, entered Lima on the 19th of July 1821, the viceroy La
Cerna being cut off from any support from Spain by the Chilian fleet
having retreated to Cuzco, where he took up his head-quarters.
Ultimately he was completely defeated, and his whole army was destroyed.
On the 20th the independence of Peru was proclaimed, and though the
republic was long subject to intestine commotions, from what we could
learn and see it now appears to be making very satisfactory progress.
We next wished to get up to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Incas,
situated high up among the Andes; but we had no time to accomplish the
journey. We heard, however, of a very interesting place twenty-five
miles to the south of Lima, on the coast. It was the city and temple of
Pachacamac, "the creator of the world," supposed to have been built in
times long anterior to those of the Incas. We had two days to spare
before the ship was to sail, and the captain said we might visit the
place. The doctor, Jerry, and I, with a guide, a half Indian, set out,
accordingly, at an early hour on horseback. We were accompanied by
Silva, who, from speaking Spanish perfectly, went as our interpreter.
He was still ill, and weak from his wounds and his exposure on the
wreck, but he begged so hard that he might go on shore, that the doctor
could not refuse him. He had won the regard of all by his respectful
and unobtrusive manners, and had managed completely to obliterate the
suspicions which the captain at first entertained of him. The doctor
told us during the ride more than I knew before about the country. The
early inhabitants were worshippers of Pachacamac, and when the Incas
introduced the religion of the Sun, instead of destroying the faith they
found existing, with an enlightened policy they allowed the temples of
both to exist side by side. Passing close to the lofty cliffs of the
Morro Solar, we rode through a large sugar estate, and then across a
sandy desert, with several lakes in it stocked with water-fowl, and soon
afterwards, from the top of a gentle ascent, we saw before us the hill
on which stands the remains of the once celebrated temple. The mighty
fane stood at the top of the hill, with terraces encircling it, and
surrounding the base was the town. Beyond were seen the blue waters of
the Pacific rolling on the sandy shore. We could not help feeling sad
and awe-struck as we rode into the deserted city. The walls were there,
although many were battered down, but the roofs of all had disappeared.
Passing through the town, we climbed up a height 400 feet above the sea,
where the remains of the great temple were standing. The walls
surrounding the centre space are about twenty feet high, and we
discovered even some of the vermilion paint with which they were adorned
still adhering to them. Below this wall were a succession of three
broad terraces. The interior shrine was entirely destroyed by Hernando
Pizarro, when he was sent by his brother, at the suggestion of the Inca
Atahuallpa, to collect the treasures which it was supposed to contain.
The priests had got notice of his purpose, and flying, had concealed the
greater portion of their wealth. Disappointed in his expectations,
Pizarro having stripped the shrine of all its gold and ornaments,
levelled it with the ground. The interiors of the larger portion of the
houses were full of sand.
Having wandered about through this melancholy relic of the past with old
Surley at our heels, who in no way seemed to enter into our enthusiasm,
we turned to retrace our steps to where we had left our horses. We had
observed some figures at a distance among the ruins, but they seemed to
take no notice of us. Suddenly they disappeared. We found our guide
standing by our horses where we had left him. He seemed rather
agitated, but we could not make out what had happened, as we did not
understand a word of his language. When we mounted, he inquired of us
by signs whether we had got pistols. We showed him that we had not, or
arms of any sort. He did not treat us as we afterwards thought he might
have done had he not been an honest man, and say, "Oh, if that is the
case, I will rob you myself." He shook his head and showed us his own
long knife, and signified that very likely we should have to use it for
our defence. Such was the interpretation, at all events, that we put on
his various signs. Silva, who had been a little behind, now came up.
"The poor man has seen some blacks who bear a bad character, it appears,
and he is afraid they will attack us," he observed. "However, show a
bold front, and we shall easily drive them off if they do." As there
was no avoiding the danger, whatever it was, we made up our minds to
meet it as well as we could.
"It has something to do with those fellows we saw among the ruins," said
Jerry. "Only I think they would have robbed us then, had they intended
to do so."
"Perhaps we are mistaken altogether, or, what is as probable, our guide
has unnecessarily frightened himself, and tried to frighten us,"
observed the doctor.
"We shall see, doctor," said I. "I hope you are right." Just then we
reached a small hut, such as is inhabited by Indians. Jerry declared
that he must have a draught of milk, as we saw some cows feeding near,
and before the guide could stop him, he had knocked at the door.
Instead of the kindly face of an Indian appearing at his summons, out
rushed a big, savage-looking negro, and by his angry gestures seemed to
inquire what we wanted.
"A calabash of milk, friend Sambo," answered Jerry, in no ways daunted.
While, however, he was speaking, two other blacks appeared at the door,
while three or four more, flourishing long knives, came running toward
us from a neighbouring wood.
"Put spurs to your horses, boys, and let us get away from this!" cried
the doctor. As we were attempting to follow his advice, one of the
blacks seized Jerry's rein, and though I struck the fellow a heavy blow
with my stick, he would not let go his hold. The consequence of the
blow was nearly fatal to me, for the fellow with his other hand struck
at me with a long glittering knife, and had not I pulled back my horse
by an involuntary movement, he would have plunged it into my side--as it
was, he cut my trousers and drew blood from my leg. Seeing things come
to this pass, the doctor and Silva, who proved himself a brave fellow,
began to lay about them, one with his stick and the other with a heavy
Spanish riding whip; while old Surley, who, after growling fiercely, saw
that the time for action had now arrived, began to bite away at the
negroes' thin calves and long heels, greatly to their annoyance. Each
man, as he found himself bit, turned round and endeavoured to stab the
dog, and very much afraid I was that they would succeed; but so actively
did he jump about from side to side, now bounding here, now there, that
not one of the numberless blows which were struck reached him, while his
furious barking and repeated bites served most materially to distract
the attention of our assailants. Still they were fully eight armed
savages to five people with sticks and a whip, and a dog; and as Jerry
and I were only boys, and old Surley had only his teeth to fight with,
it must be acknowledged that we were very unequally matched. Feeling
this, we should certainly have felt it no disgrace to run away if we
could; but the black held on so tightly to Jerry's rein that we could
not escape. At last the negro I speak of, finding that he had missed me
and could not hit the dog, lifted up his long knife and made a desperate
lounge with it at Jerry. I saw what he was about to do, and crying out
to Surley, my stick instinctively came down with all its force on the
ruffian's arm, while the dog sprung up and caught him by the throat. He
let go at that moment the rein.
"Now on, boys, on!" sung out the doctor, who saw what had occurred; and
bringing our sticks down on our horses' backs, we dashed past the
infuriated negroes, on whose heads Silva bestowed many a terrific whack
with his stout stick, as they attempted to catch his rein. We were
followed closely by the guide and our valiant ally, old Surley, at whom
several blows were aimed, but he escaped them all, and at full gallop we
pushed over the sandy plain, pursued by our black assailants. Happily
they had no fire-arms, or we should have fared ill. When we had got
beyond their reach we pulled up and congratulated ourselves on our
escape, while old Surley came in for his due share of praise and thanks.
He wagged his tail and opened his mouth, as if he were about to speak
and say, "I only did my duty, masters; you feed me well, and treat me
kindly, and I love you, and am ready to fight for you, and do you any
other service in my power, as I hope to prove whenever I have the
opportunity."
It was very late when we got back to Lima, to the house of a merchant
who had asked us to stay with him. He told us that the blacks who
attacked us were, he had no doubt, emancipated slaves, who had always
borne a very bad character. Had they been properly educated, and
prepared for freedom, they might have turned out well; but those
wretches are a melancholy example of what will be found to be the case
in other countries where slavery still exists, should the slaves
suddenly be made free, or should they rise and win their freedom for
themselves. Unless they are carefully trained--taught to depend on
their own exertions, and instructed in the pure truths of Christianity--
they will, when freed, sink into a state of sloth and wretchedness; or
if they rise to obtain their own freedom, they will, very certainly, be
guilty of the most dreadful murders and every kind of atrocity in
carrying out their designs. I often have since thought of what our
friend said, and have prayed that the people of the United States will
make due preparation for enlightening those held so long in bondage. On
the nature of that preparation it defends (I have often heard Captain
Frankland say) whether their dear-bought liberty shall give joy and
gladness, or poverty and misery.
The next morning, before returning to Callao, we rode out to visit the
ruins of an Inca town, situated on a hill forming one side of a fertile
and well-irrigated valley. The walls of the houses were built of
unburnt brick and mud, carefully constructed at right angles to each
other, and very thick--indeed, they put us in mind of some of the
pictures we had seen of Egyptian architecture. We were surprised to
hear of the great number of Indians who still exist in the country.
Under the present government they live happy and contented lives among
the lovely valleys of their ancestors. Their huts are generally built
of stone and covered with red tiles, creepers being trained to trail
over the walls, over which often a huge pumpkin is seen to hang, while a
prickly cactus stands as a sentinel at the doorway. The dress of the
men is a serge coat of an emerald green colour, without a collar, and
with a short skirt; loose black breeches, open at the knee, after the
Spanish fashion; and a long red waistcoat with large pockets. Pieces of
llamas' hide fastened round the feet serve them for shoes, while their
legs are stockingless. On their heads they wear broad-brimmed hats or
caps, adorned with gold-lace or ribbons of gay colours. The women wear
the same hat as the men, with a mantle over the shoulder secured in
front by a silver pin; a red bodice, and a blue petticoat reaching a
little below the knee. Altogether they present a very picturesque
appearance. We made another very interesting excursion in a canal up a
river--or a stream rather, for it was very narrow--but what we were most
struck with was the richness of the vegetation, the bark, reeds, and
trees, and shrubs of all sorts which grew close to the water. What was
remarkable were the palm-trees, which shot up above the other trees--
themselves of no inconsiderable growth. We were sorry not to be able to
spend a longer time on the river. It put us very much in mind of the
scenery of the Amazon. We saw enough of the country to make us long to
see more of it, but were obliged to hurry back to the railway-station to
get to Callao, once more to embark on board the _Triton_.
It was night by the time we reached the harbour, the sea calm as glass;
and it struck me that there was something peculiarly solemn as we looked
out on that dark, silent expanse of water, after gazing as we had done
for some days on the lofty snow-capped Cordilleras, and the laughing
green valleys round Lima. Dark as was the water, no sooner were the
oars dipped in it than it appeared as if they were ladling up some
red-hot fluid metal; and as the boat which was sent to take us off
pulled toward us from the ship, she left a long line of fire in her
wake. Even when we scooped up the water in our hands and threw it into
the air, it appeared like sparkles of fire, so long did it retain its
brilliancy. The slightest movement in the water caused a flash of
light. Jerry and I agreed that we had never seen anything more
beautiful. The doctor told us that this phosphorescence or luminosity
of the ocean is caused by a minute animal, scarcely perceptible to the
naked eye, though sufficient to tinge the water of a brown or reddish
colour. Other marine substances are, however, luminous. While we were
waiting to step into the boat, the bay having returned to its original
darkness, on a sudden it appeared as if it had become a vast caldron of
molten lead. The waters tumbled and rolled about in sheets of flame.
"It is indeed a beautiful sight," exclaimed the doctor; "never saw such
a display of luminosity."
"Grand, grand!" cried Jerry. "A thing to talk about--ah! what is that?"
We were all silent. There was a low, rumbling, awful noise, neither
like distant thunder nor the report of cannon--nor, indeed, anything
else I ever heard; the earth seemed to sink under our feet, and then as
if it were being crushed together--rocks, and earth, and sand, all in
one lump by some mighty force. It was very dreadful. Our knees
positively trembled under us, at least I felt mine doing so. The boat
rose and fell several times. I remembered the way in which old Callao
had been destroyed, and I began to fear that a similar catastrophe was
about to occur. For a time there was a perfect rest, no movement of
earth, or water, or air--not the less awful on that account though.
"Is it all over?" at length exclaimed Jerry, who was the first to break
the silence.
"I hope so," answered the doctor; "but let us get into the boat, and
pull on board; we shall be safer there than on shore, at all events."
We followed his advice. As the boat clove her way through the water she
seemed to be gliding over a surface of gold, overlaid by some dark sand
which was parted as she went by. When we got on board, we found that
our shipmates had felt the shock, the vibration of which must have come
up as they supposed by the chain cable. For a long time we walked the
deck, expecting another shock, but the night passed off quietly, and
when morning returned there was nothing to indicate that an earthquake
had taken place. I ought to have said that the present town of Callao
was built at a little distance from the site of the old town destroyed
by the earthquake, and on a higher and more commanding position.
Once more we were at sea. One of the most interesting places we called
at, on account of its position and associations, was Panama. For many a
year it slept on neglected and almost forgotten. Now it has been
completely aroused from its lethargy, to find itself in the middle of
the highway to California, and the chief resting-place of gold-diggers.
It is bounded by the sea on three sides, and surrounded by a wall with
ditch and bastions on the land side. In the centre is the _plaza_, into
which converge several streets of old-fashioned, sedate-looking Spanish
houses, with broad verandas and heavy folding-shutters. Now a change
has rudely come over them. Above the door of one appeared, in huge
characters--"American Hotel"; while a board announced that "Good
Lodging, Brandy Smashes, Sice, and Egg-nog," were to be obtained within.
There are several other hotels with conspicuous signs, all denoting
that they have been established by citizens of the United States, while
there exist several restaurants, cafes, and newspaper and billiard-rooms
besides. A steamer had arrived only a few days before at Aspinwall, on
the east side, and the town was consequently full of passengers who had
come across by the railway. Nowhere, perhaps, are the past and the
present brought into greater contrast. We visited the ruins of several
churches and other buildings with massive walls, which probably never
were finished,--all attesting the departed importance of the place. Now
palm-trees grow in their lonely courts; tropical climbing plants throw
their festoons in rich luxuriance over their elaborate architecture, and
banana-trees have taken root in the clefts of the crumbling walls.
Panama, however, is not the identical city whence Pizarro sailed for the
conquest of the kingdom of the Incas. That city stood six miles down
the coast; and after it was sacked and utterly destroyed by Morgan, who
murdered every soul then within it, none returned to take up their
habitation there, and it still remains as he left it, a heap of ruins,
now overgrown by rank vegetation.
We were fortunate in finding the directions Captain Frankland expected
to guide his future course, and I got letters from home. How greedily I
devoured them! Every word I read over and over again, and I kissed them
more than once, when I knew Jerry was not looking at me. I do not give
a longer account of the place, because I was engaged most of the time I
was there in writing home. I judged from the delight I felt in getting
letters, that mine would afford a somewhat similar pleasure; so I found
they did, and I advise those of my readers who have to go away from home
to remember this, and never to lose an opportunity of writing. We were
bound for San Francisco, the giant mushroom city of the wondrous
gold-bearing regions of California. I had always fancied that the
Pacific was, as its name betokens, a wide expanse of island-sprinkled
water, seldom or never ruffled by a storm. At length I had practical
proof of my mistake. We had made a good offing from the coast, to give
a wide berth to that narrow strip of land which runs from north to
south, and is known as Lower California. I saw the captain looking
constantly at the barometer; Jerry and I looked also, for we guessed
that something was the matter. The quicksilver sank lower and lower in
the tube, showing that the superincumbent atmosphere had become lighter,
or more rarified, and that a current of air would soon come in from some
direction or other and fill it up.
"What's going to happen?" I asked of Jerry, seeing that the glass, or
rather the fluid in it, fell more and more.
"Why, we are going to have such a gale as we don't often meet with, I
suspect," he answered. Just as he spoke, his father's voice was heard
on dock. We immediately hurried there as fast as we could fly. At the
time there was but little wind, then it became perfectly calm, with only
a long heavy swell from the southward. The calm was of short duration.
"All hands shorten sail!" sung out the captain. The crew sprung aloft;
so did Jerry and I. We never shirked our duty, and Captain Frankland
knew that if he let us do so, whatever the excuse, we should never
become true seamen. It was hard work to hold on to the yard, much more
to get in the stiff canvas. I have heard of people having their teeth
blown down their throats by a gale; I thought mine would have gone, and
then I should have gone too, for I literally had to hold on by them to
steady myself on the yard. Jerry was not far from me. We tugged and
hauled away, and at last got the canvas rolled up as we best could; but
I must own that it was far from well done. The gale was still
increasing in strength, and we were not sorry to find ourselves safe on
deck again--so, I think, was the captain to see us. Perhaps, however,
he had got so accustomed to the risks his son was constantly running,
that he did not think about it. Scarcely had we come down from aloft,
and were looking about to see what was going to happen, than we saw away
to the south-east, far as the eye could reach, a tumbling mass of
foaming waters rushing on at a furious rate towards us.
Meantime the storm stay-sails had been set, and the helm being put down,
the ship was hove-to with her head to the eastward. As the seas came
with the swell, they were regular, and though the ship plunged
violently, now rising to the summit of a wave, now sinking down into the
trough, there was no fear of any of them breaking on board provided our
masts stood. Such was the state of things when night came on. The wind
howled, and whistled, and shrieked; the sea roared and hissed; the
timbers and the masts groaned; the bulkheads creaked; and everything and
everybody which was not secured very tightly, tumbled and rolled about
in a most uncontrollable manner. For my part, I confess that I more
than once wished I were safe on shore again. As to turning in, not one
of us thought of doing that. Still the glass was falling, and still the
gale was increasing. With regard to eating, also, all we could do was
to nibble a biscuit; for, as Jerry observed, had we attempted to put
anything into our mouths with a fork, the chances were that we should
have sent fork and all down our throats, or dug the prongs into our eyes
or noses, or done some other mischief. Every now and then Jerry and I
started up on deck to see how things were going on, not that we could be
of any use there. Just as we had agreed to go below again, a blast, as
if a fresh hand had beep added to the bellows, came down upon us; there
was a terrific report, the ship heeled over on her side as if she were
going down, and away flew the stay-sails out of the bolt-ropes, followed
by nearly all the canvas, which, ill furled in our hurry, broke loose
from the gaskets, and, fluttering away with loud flaps, was soon reduced
to ribbons, knotted and twisted in every conceivable way. As the ship
fell off into the trough of the sea when her sails rent, a foaming
billow came roaring up, and striking her, made a clean breach over us.
There were shouts and cries fore and aft. Jerry and I held on for our
lives. Happily the stanchions we held to did not give way. Half
terrified, and not knowing what was next to happen, we tried to pierce
the gloom which surrounded us. Jerry's chief anxiety was for his
father; so was mine, and for Cousin Silas likewise, and, indeed, for our
kind friend the doctor. I had time also, strange as it may seem, to
think about old Surley, and to hope that he had not been washed
overboard, for unwisely he had followed us on deck. Very soon we were
satisfied that the captain was safe, for we heard him issuing orders in
a clear voice which sounded high above the gale. Directly afterwards
Cousin Silas passed us on his way forward, to get the fore-stay-sail on
the ship, to bring her head round.
"If that does not do, what will happen?" I asked of Jerry.
"We shall have to cut away the mizzen-mast and the main-mast too," he
answered. "Pleasant, won't it be?" I hoped that we should not be
driven to this alternative. As soon as the captain had given the
necessary orders for the safety of the ship, we heard him telling Ben
Yool to go and look for us.
"They be safe enough, sir," was the answer. "I see'd them after the
squall."
"Ay, ay, father, we are all right here," sung out Jerry. How high and
shrill his voice sounded amid the roar of the tempest! By this time the
sail was hoisted, the helm was put up--the ship's head rose and fell,
and rose again. At length the canvas felt the force of the wind.
"Hurrah! hurrah!" was shouted fore and aft. Slowly round came her
head--the helm was righted. The fore-staysail was quickly hauled down
again, or the next squall would have taken it out of the bolt-ropes, and
away we flew under bare poles--now plunging headlong into the deep
valleys before us, our stern lifted high up above the seas--now climbing
the opposite side of the watery hill, the wave following us as it came
up, vast and indistinct in the gloom of night, looking as if it must
overwhelm us.
"But what has become of old Surley?" I asked of Jerry, when we had time
to draw our breath a little more freely. "Can the dear old fellow be
washed overboard?"
"I hope not; perhaps he didn't like the look of things on deck, and
skulked down below again," answered Jerry. "Let us go and look for
him."
This was no easy work, in the way the ship was pitching and tumbling
about, and not without considerable risk; but on that point we did not
very much trouble our heads. Old Surley was always ready to fight for
us; and had we thought about the matter, we should have been ready to go
through any amount of danger for his sake. Letting go our hold,
therefore, away we crawled, grasping at anything we could reach, to
prevent ourselves from being rolled away to leeward. At last we reached
the forecastle, where the men had all huddled together, but old Surley
was not there. This made us very anxious about him. No one had seen
him. We began to fear that, as he had not hands to hold on by, he must
have been washed overboard when the heavy sea struck the ship which had
laid her on her beam ends.
"You'd better not be scuttling about the decks, young gentlemen," said
Ben Yool. "Another of those big seas may come, and then if you are
caught by it you may be carried away further off than you'll like."
"Thank you, Ben," we answered. "We'll take care of ourselves; but we
must first find old Surley, whatever happen." Saying this, we began to
work our way aft again, peering and putting our hands into every place
where we thought he could be stowed away. As we were passing along
close to the booms on the starboard side, under the long boat, I thought
amidst the howling of the tempest that I heard a low whine. I told
Jerry. We together hunted about the spot till our hands touched a hairy
coat. It was that of old Surley. Of that we were certain, by hearing
him again whine. He could not move. Poor fellow, he had been jammed in
among the booms. We judged that there would be great difficulty in
releasing him, but after feeling about in all directions round him, we
determined to make the attempt. I took his head and Jerry took his
tail, and, watching our opportunity as the spars separated by the
movement of the ship, we lifted him out of the trap in which he had been
caught. He licked my face and hands, and then turned round and did the
same to Jerry; indeed, he took every means to evince his gratitude. We
were very happy to find that none of his bones had been broken, and
together we all three scrambled back in the best way we could to the
cabin. Old Surley seemed to be very hungry after his imprisonment, so I
made another excursion on deck to the cook's larder, and got him a piece
of meat, with which I returned to the cabin. We should have been glad
of something of the sort ourselves, but as we could not attempt to cook
anything, and the meat I had brought was raw, we gave the whole of it to
our four-footed friend. We all sat down on the deck of the cabin,
holding on by the legs of the table--that is to say, Jerry and I held
on, and Surley lay between us. The doctor was in his berth. After, as
he said, he had sufficiently enjoyed the scene on deck, he had wisely
turned in, feeling that he could be of no use anywhere else. Never
before had I spent so uncomfortable a night on board. We were very wet,
and cold, and hungry, and not at all certain that the ship would not go
down, and carry us and all hands with her.
"It's not so bad, though, as the time we spent on the bottom of the boat
among the Falkland Islands," observed Jerry.
"But that only lasted a short time," I remarked. "For what we know, it
may blow as hard as it does now for a week to come. What shall we do
then?"
"Grin and bear it. That's the only thing to be done that I know of,"
answered Jerry.
All that night we sat up as I have described, now and then dozing off
for a short time, but then waking up again as the ship gave a more
tremendous plunge than before. At last the captain came and lay down on
the sofa, and seeing that we were all safe, went to sleep; but he was
soon on deck again, and remained there till daylight. All that day the
gale blew as hard, if not harder than ever, and we went rolling and
pitching away before it. All the people were sent below except the
hands at the wheel, and they secured themselves there, lest they should
be washed away by the seas which threatened every moment to break aboard
us. As to looking out, all we could see were the foaming mountains of
water rising up in broken masses around us, and the sheets of spray
which never-ceasingly flew over us. Night came on again, and matters
had not mended. The glass was still lower than ever. Jerry and I had
managed to shift our clothes, so that we were more comfortable than on
the former night, and old Surley had had a lesson not to venture on deck
again. His coat was thus dry, and we all lay down together to pass the
night. Having scarcely closed our eyes the night before, we soon went
to sleep. Never have I slept more soundly. Suddenly I woke up. The
ship was plunging as heavily as before, and the wind was howling and the
sea roaring as loudly as ever. Still only half awake, I found my way up
the companion-ladder. I looked out. No one was to be seen on deck--the
dark mountain seas and the confused mass of rigging could alone be
perceived. I cast my eyes aloft? What was that I saw? High up in the
air, at the main-topmast-head, there was perched a ball of fire. I was
so astonished, and, I may say, alarmed, that I could not speak. What
could the phenomenon portend? It stayed there for some time, then all
of a sudden it glided down, and went out to the main-top-sail yard-arm--
a bright, glowing, flaming ball. It will be setting the ship on fire!
I thought that I would go and rouse up some one to tell what I had seen,
in case there was any danger to be apprehended. Still I could not tear
myself away from my post. I shouted out to Jerry, but he did not hear
me. I was just returning below when I found Cousin Silas at my
shoulder.
"So, Harry, you want to find out when the gale will have done blowing,"
said he.
"Yes, I do indeed; but look there!" I exclaimed, pointing to the ball
of fire.
"Ah, there's old Jack o' lantern!" he answered composedly. "Not a bad
sign either. A gale seldom lasts long after he has come. Look at him,
he is rather playful to-night." He was indeed. Sometimes the light
would ascend and then descend the masts, then run along the yards, and
waiting a little at each yard-arm, would be back again and slip down one
of the stays to the fore-mast, and mount up in a second to the
fore-topmast head. Sometimes, when the ship rolled very much, the
mast-head would leave it floating in the air, but as she rolled back
again it would quickly re-attach itself. More than once it got divided
into several parts, as it flew about the rigging, but was very speedily
re-united again. Cousin Silas laughed when I told him that I thought it
might do us some injury.
"Oh no; Jack is a very harmless fellow," he answered. "More than once,
when it has not been blowing as hard as it does now, before I was out of
my apprenticeship, I and others have chased Jack about the rigging, and
caught him too. When near, he seems to have a very dull, pale light. I
and another fellow determined to have him. At last I clutched him. I
felt that I had got something clammy, as it were, which stung my skin
like a handful of thin jelly-fish. I brought him down on deck, and
clapped him into a box. In the morning I could feel that there was
something in the box, but all the light was gone, and the box hadn't
been opened long before the thing, whatever it was, was gone too."
Had anybody but Cousin Silas given me this account, I should scarcely
have believed him; and even in this case I had some little difficulty in
not supposing that he must, in some way or other, have been deceived.
Jack, however, did not bring us the fine weather we wished for.
Daylight returned, and we were little better off than before. We
nibbled some biscuit, as Jerry said, to keep our spirits up, and then
had a look at the glass. It had risen two degrees. Still the sea ran
very high. Jerry and I went at last on deck, followed by Surley. The
captain and officers were there, for they had resolved to try and bring
the ship to; as she was running a long way out of her course. This,
after a time, was done, when the wind lulled, under a close-reefed
fore-topsail. We rode after this much more pleasantly, and then the sea
began to go down, and once more we could move about the deck without
danger of being washed overboard.
"All hands make sail!" was at length the cheering cry, just as the sun
had set, as the poets say, in his ocean bed. We sprang aloft--Jerry and
I racing who should be first up on the yard-arm. Surley looked as if he
would like to follow. Jerry beat me. The ship was still rolling
heavily in the swell after the gale. He was springing out towards the
yard-arm, laughing gaily at his success, when the ship gave a roll, and
away he was sent clear of the bulwarks and into the sea. To glide down
by a back-stay and to jump overboard after him was the work of a moment.
I scarcely knew what I was doing. I fancied that I just heard the cry
of "A man overboard;" but I was not certain. I knew that I was for my
size a good swimmer, and I wanted to save my friend. He could swim, but
not much. He threw up his arms; I saw him, and struck out towards him.
I had a companion, I found, hastening also to his rescue. It was old
Surley. He swam faster than I did, seeming to know the importance of
haste. We were not without means of support, for as Jerry fell the
life-buoy had been let go. It was such as are carried by men-of-war,
and could support several people. I sung out to Jerry. He heard my
voice, but he only answered faintly. He had got his mouth full of
water, and had been stunned and confused by his fall. He was beating
the water wildly, forgetting apparently that he could swim.
"Help! help!" he sung out; "I'm sinking! I'm sinking!" I did my utmost
to reach him, but was still some way off. Surley dashed towards him,
and seized him by the collar, holding his head above water. I saw that
the best thing I could do was to tow the life-buoy up to him. It was
not far off. Surley seemed to divine my intention, and swam towards it.
At last I got it up to Jerry. He had just strength enough left to
catch hold of it. Old Surley put his paws in the beckets to support
himself, and then we all three were hanging on to the life-buoy, while
the ship, as it seemed to us, was running far away, already almost
concealed by the thick clouds of spray with which we were surrounded.