[Illustration: Cover art]
[Frontispiece: DIRECTLY THE BOAT STRUCK THE BEACH ALL HANDS JUMPED
ASHORE. (See page 80.)]
A BOY'S ADVENTURES
ROUND THE WORLD
BY
JOHN ANDREW HIGGINSON
AUTHOR OF
'FOUR YEARS ABAFT THE GALLEY' 'TWO CHUMMY SHELLBACKS'
ETC. ETC.
LONDON
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
4 BOUVERIE STREET AND 65 ST PAUL'S CHURCHYARD
IN
AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE
OF
MY DEAR FATHER
THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED
BY THE AUTHOR
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
His First Choice
Chapter II
Drawing Southward
Chapter III
Within the Tropics
Chapter IV
Under the Southern Cross
CHAPTER V
Down in the 'Rolling Forties'
CHAPTER VI
Some New Experiences
CHAPTER VII
The Dangers of Torres Strait
CHAPTER VIII
In the Java Sea
CHAPTER IX
Toward Singapore
CHAPTER X
In a Pirate's Stronghold
CHAPTER XI
Through the China Sea
CHAPTER XII
On the Coast of China
CHAPTER XIII
From Hong Kong to San Francisco
CHAPTER XIV
The Yellow Peril
CHAPTER XV
The 'Alert's' Last Berth
CHAPTER XVI
'All Hands on Deck!'
CHAPTER XVII
A Fortunate Escape
CHAPTER XVIII
Racing Homeward
A BOY'S ADVENTURES ROUND THE WORLD
CHAPTER I
HIS FIRST CHOICE
Jack Clewlin was born at Trafalgar Place, a substantial residence
commanding an excellent view of the seaport town of Stonewell, and
its spacious, island-studded harbour.
During his earlier years the boy saw little of his father, who was
almost constantly at sea in charge of a ship, and to his mother he
owed that sound Christian training, and those God-fearing principles,
which subsequently became so deeply impressed on his mind and
character.
'You will not always have me with you, Jack,' she would frequently
say. 'Therefore, my dear son, I want to give you the best advice
that boy or man can receive. Fear God. Lead a simple and a pure
life. Be strong to resist those worldly temptations which beset all
those who strive to follow in the footsteps of the blessed Saviour.
To command others you must first command _yourself_. By prayer alone
can such a victory be obtained, yet rest assured that His ear is ever
open to the cry of those needing guidance and support.' In close
companionship mother and son continued to live happily at Stonewell.
When Jack had reached his eighth year Captain Clewlin retired from
active life, and settled down quietly at Trafalgar Place. Some two
years later the boy lost his mother, but on his mind her winsome
features were indelibly impressed, and in his heart the seeds of her
wisdom and excellent teaching had taken deep root.
At sixteen years of age Jack had developed into a strong and well
set-up youngster, keenly alive to the enjoyments of outdoor existence.
About that time he was offered a junior clerkship under the Stonewell
Harbour Board, but he felt no inclination for such a life.
'I should like to be a sailor, dad,' he said. Captain Clewlin
uttered a short, satisfied laugh.
'It's bred in the bone,' he exclaimed. 'Well, I would not put you to
anything unsuitable, my son. At the same time you must clearly
understand that the life at first will be rough and arduous. I will
give you a month to consider the matter.'
'Thank you, dad,' Jack replied; 'I'm not afraid of roughing it.
There is no other calling I should like half so well.'
The captain expressed much satisfaction at the choice which his son
had made, and, as the latter remained of the same opinion, the
preliminary steps toward his sea apprenticeship were taken.
A few weeks later, on a certain beautiful morning in the month of
February, a fine clipper ship, in tow of a tug, entered the harbour,
and dropped her anchor nearly opposite the town.
She was named the 'Silver Crown,' was 'flying light' in ballast trim,
two streaks of her muntz-metal sheathing being above the water line.
She had come round from Liverpool to embark several hundreds of
emigrants awaiting conveyance to Queensland, Australia.
She was of nearly eighteen hundred tons measurement, and presented a
sufficiently striking appearance, since like a castle she towered
above all other ships in port.
The fore, the main, and the mizen masts were lofty and squarely
rigged, each of them carried double topsail yards, with single
topgallant and royal yards above them.
The 'house' flag of the firm to which she belonged fluttered from the
main royal masthead, British colours floated from the spanker
gaff-end, and much brasswork shone about the stern.
KEY REFERENCE TO THE SAILS OF A SHIP
1 Flying jib
2 Outer jib
3 Inner jib
4 Fore topmast staysail
5 Foresail, or forecourse
6 Lower fore topsail
7 Upper "
8 Lower fore topgallant-sail
9 Upper "
10 Fore royal
11 Mainsail, or maincourse
12 Lower main topsail
13 Upper "
14 Lower main topgallant-sail
15 Upper "
16 Main royal
17 Main skysail
18 Cross-jack (brailed up)
19 Lower mizen topsail
20 Upper "
21 Mizen topgallant-sail
22 Mizen royal
23 Spanker, or driver
24 Main topmast staysail
25 Main topgallant staysail
26 Main royal staysail
27 Mizen topmast staysail
28 Mizen topgallant staysail
29 Fore topmast studding-sail, weather
30 Fore topmast studding-sail, lee
31 Fore topgallant studding-sail, weather
32 Fore topgallant studding-sail, lee
33 Main topmast studding-sail, lee
34 Main topgallant studding-sail, lee
35 Jib, inner, outer, and flying sheets
36 Fore sheet
37 Fore tack
38 Main sheet
39 Main tack
40 Main topmast staysail sheet
41 Mizen topmast staysail sheet
42 Spanker brails
43 Spanker sheet
44 Leech lines
45 Bunt lines
46 Gaskets
47 Reef-points
[Illustration: A SHIP UNDER FULL SAIL.]
In short, the 'Silver Crown' was one of the fastest and most famous
sailing clipper ships afloat.
This was the vessel in which Jack Clewlin was about to begin a long
and honourable career on the sea, to experience some dangers,
adventures, and privations, and no boy ever felt prouder as he
listened to the many expressions of admiration passed on her by
competent experts ashore.
Her commander, Captain Robert Thorne, was a finely proportioned,
pleasant-looking man of middle age, heavily bearded, and of thorough
sailor-like appearance, always anxious for the comfort and the safety
of those placed in his charge, and prompt and decisive in action.
His first and second officers were also highly experienced and
capable men. William Sennit, the first mate, was a tall and
powerful-looking man of thirty years, sun-tanned and weather-beaten
features denoting constant exposure to the heat and the storms of
every portion of the world; while a slight nasal accent, with dark
brown hair that fell almost to his shoulders, indicated an American
nationality. His clear, ringing voice was always distinct in the
midst of any gale.
Stephen Statten, the second mate, was a native of Devonshire, and of
medium height, but the breadth of shoulders was particularly
striking, and his muscular limbs denoted great strength.
He was about twenty-five years of age, keen-eyed, alert, and of a
kindly disposition, and with Jack Clewlin he became as friendly as
discipline permitted.
In addition to these the 'Silver Crown' carried a surgeon, a purser
and his assistant, one carpenter, a sailmaker, a boatswain and his
two mates, four quarter-masters for steering, with several cooks and
stewards, while thirty able-bodied and ordinary seamen occupied a
comfortable topgallant forecastle.
The saloon was already filled with first cabin passengers, and the
forward deck-house, or second cabin, was also occupied by ladies and
gentlemen, but one room there had been allotted to the use of four
apprentices, all of whom were 'first voyagers.'
Accompanied by his father, Jack presently joined his ship, and they
were received by the chief mate at the gangway.
'This lad is my son, sir,' Captain Clewlin explained. 'He is bent on
making a voyage with you, and in due course may, perhaps, become a
good sailor.'
'I hope so, sir,' the officer replied. 'If he obeys orders we shall
get on together all right.'
'There is little fear of his not doing so,' the captain said. 'He's
had a good education, and careful home training by one of the best
and truest women that ever breathed.'
By that time Jack's clothes chest and bed gear had been placed in the
deck-house, and as father and son stood together in the room the
former earnestly addressed the boy--
'Jack,' he said, and pressed the lad's hand, 'you are now on the eve
of your real life. I took to it before your age, and know what
difficulties and temptations surround the life of those who "go down
to the sea in ships." Three truths I would earnestly impress on your
mind. Never forget to read your Bible, no matter what sneers, or
even rough usage, may be brought to bear by those who do not love
God, and would endeavour to lead you from that straight and narrow
course which your dear mother trod, but from which it is so easy to
stray. You promise, Jack?'
'Yes, dad,' Jack replied; 'I shall always do so, no matter what may
happen.'
'Good boy!' the captain exclaimed. 'Remember God has said that "them
that honour Me I will honour," and that assurance is as true as every
other contained in the Bible. And there are two things I want you to
avoid. Shun all intoxicating liquors, and do not smoke before you
have reached the years of manhood. I am most anxious that you should
remember these matters. I hope you will return home as pure and good
a lad as I leave you now; but, in case I should not live to see you
again, I shall die believing that you have kept your word.'
Tears filled the boy's eyes, and flinging his arms about the neck of
his father, he kissed him, and again vowed to stand by the promises
he had made.
With a close embrace father and son parted.
That afternoon the windlass was manned, and across the harbour
floated the sea chanty:
'Sing ho, for a gay and gallant bark,
A brisk and a lively breeze,
A bully crew, and skipper, too,
To carry us over the seas.
To carry us over the seas, brave boys,
Where dancing dolphins play,
And whales and sharks are up to larks,
Ten thousand miles away.'
With a merry rattle of the pawls the heavy chain cable came in over
the barrel of the windlass, and with his young shipmates Jack Clewlin
hauled at the tackle which kept the iron links taut, and prevented
them from slipping forward through the 'hawse-pipe.'
'Anchor's away, sir!' the mate sang out.
With fastened hawser the attending tug swung the ship toward the
harbour entrance.
Several local steamers, filled with the friends of the emigrants,
accompanied the vessel for some distance, and amidst much cheering,
and the waving of handkerchiefs, the 'Silver Crown' passed out
between the forts protecting the harbour.
'Hands aloft and loose canvas,' the captain sang out. Men ran up the
rigging like monkeys. The lower topsails were sheeted home, the
others were speedily mastheaded, and with all plain sail set the
beautiful clipper began her long voyage of 20,000 miles across the
ocean.
The tug-boat and the accompanying vessels returned to port. The last
notes of 'Auld Lang Syne' were lost on the breeze, while careening
gracefully the splendid vessel speedily sank all trace of the land
under the horizon astern.
The afternoon was beautifully fine, and the sea almost smooth. The
slight movements of the ship, however; presently sent most of the
passengers below; but, thanks to his many boating expeditions about
Stonewell harbour, Jack felt no inconvenience, and kept to the deck
and his duties as closely as his more seasoned messmates, who, on
their passage from Liverpool, had got rid of their sea-sickness.
Indeed, so many things required looking after and securing in their
places, that none of the hands had one moment's leisure, and all the
boys found plenty of work to occupy their attention. Mr. Sennit, the
chief mate, had most of the men engaged on the topgallant forecastle
securing the anchors, and lashing the cables on deck until the ship
had reached blue water.
Shortly before supper all hands mustered about the main capstan, and
from them each officer alternately selected a man until the whole had
been equally divided into the port and the starboard watches.
Jack was, of course, also chosen, and found himself under the orders
of Mr. Statten, the second mate, with Charley Wilton, a lad of his
own age, as companion.
Of the other two boys who belonged to the port or chief mate's watch,
he saw but little, since while he kept the deck they were 'below,'
but the elder of them, George Archer, was a bright, cheery-mannered
lad of sixteen, while his companion, Edward Sorter, was
rough-looking, ill-tempered, and worse-mannered, and he was mostly
left to his own reflections.
With that youth Jack experienced his first difficulty in keeping
faith with his father.
As night closed in Jack prepared to 'turn out for duty at eight
bells.' Shortly before that time he determined to read a few words
from the Bible, and on his knees ask the protection of God during the
hours of darkness.
While he read, Sorter entered the room. 'Hullo!' he cried, 'what
sort of yarn are you reading?'
'It is the Bible,' Jack replied.
'The _what!_ you Psalm-singing booby, we don't want that kind of
thing here! Put it away at once!'
Jack went on reading until the book was suddenly snatched from his
hand, and thrown to the end of the room.
In an instant the insulted lad was on his feet, his eyes flashing,
and his fists clenched ready to strike out in defence of the volume
which his beloved and dead mother had so treasured.
'See here, Sorter,' he said, 'I don't want to fight with you. I mean
to read my Bible in spite of whatever you may think or do; but if
ever you attempt to check me again I think I know how to defend
myself.'
As Jack attempted to recover his property, the bully, evidently bent
on injuring the book, dashed toward it, and at the same time dealt
his opponent a sharp blow.
To his astonishment, however, he received another of such weight as
knocked him into a lower bunk. Then, seizing his treasure, Jack
rapidly locked it within his clothes chest, and stood on the
defensive. But although eyeing him threateningly, Sorter did not
resume the contest, and presently he sneaked away.
'God gave me the strength to do that,' Jack mused; 'and while I live
I'll fight His enemies.'
At eight bells, eight o'clock, he and Wilton went aft to 'keep the
bells going,' since time at sea is reckoned in that manner. A brisk
breeze off the starboard beam sent the clipper along in good style,
while for several miles on every hand a vast expanse of
night-darkened sea stretched to the horizon where sky and water
seemed to meet.
The silence was intense, and to the boy it seemed as though God was
indeed very close to him, and that He was listening to the prayers of
those who had intrusted their lives to His fatherly care.
Beside the wheel the helmsman stood erect, the lookout forward paced
to and fro, most of the emigrants seemed to be abed, and Mr. Statten,
the second mate, peered through his glasses at some imaginary object
far aweather.