Great was the surprise of the original crew of the Swan, when boat
load after boat load of fresh hands arrived. They themselves had
been quietly told that the voyage was likely to be one of unusual
length, and that none save those willing and ready to stay away, as
long as might be required, were to sail in the Swan on her present
venture. There was, therefore, a general idea current among them
that Master Hawkshaw had some adventure quite out of the ordinary
in his mind; and the news that some heavy guns had arrived from
London for her, had confirmed their opinion as to the voyage.
"Let us have no loud talk, tonight," Reuben Hawkshaw ordered. "When
we get our sails spread tomorrow, and are well out of port, you can
talk to your hearts' content; but the night is still, and I want
not that attention of any on shore should be called to the ship.
There has been more foolish talk than enough about her already; so
turn in to rest, lads, without ado. The boatswain will serve you
each out a pottle of cider, such as you never drank on board ship
before, I warrant me, and which is a sample of what you will have,
all the voyage. When you have tossed that off, let each lie down as
he can find space. We will divide into watches, and settle as to
each man's place, tomorrow.
"Pengarvan, set four hands aside to go on shore, with the boat, an
hour before daybreak. Tell them off to sleep where you can lay
hands upon them, easily. Keep the boat alongside, and make off to
the wharf as noiselessly as you can; but I shall be on deck, then,
and will give you further orders."
The second mate only replied, "Ay, ay, Captain Hawkshaw," for he
was a man of but few words.
Reuben Hawkshaw was not fond of Cornishmen, but he made an
exception in the case of Pengarvan--indeed, although their borders
joined, there was little liking among Cornish and Devon men for
each other.
"They are black, ill-conditioned dogs," Reuben Hawkshaw would say;
"good sailors, I own; none better; but glum and surly in their
ways, and with nothing joyous in their natures. It seems to me that
working in the darkness--in those holes of theirs, underground--has
infected the spirits of the whole county; as it might well do,
seeing that, as everyone knows, there are little people who guard
the treasures of the mines; and who, if they cannot do bodily hurt
to those who delve for metals, can yet infect their spirits with a
black melancholy, and do them other grievous harm.
"So when Pengarvan came to me as a boy, on the quay here, and asked
me to take him with me to sea, I did not much like doing so; for I
saw at once, by his speech, that he was Cornish; but I did not like
to turn him away, for he said that he was willing, and accustomed
to the sea. So I gave him a trial, and he has turned out a
first-rate sailor. He is chary of speech, and not given to jest or
laughter; but he is always quick, and willing to obey orders;
taking whatever comes in good part, and bearing himself just the
same, in storm, as in sunshine.
"I know naught of his history. The Swan has been his home since he
first came on board, twelve years ago. As long as she is afloat, he
never leaves her. When she is laid down for repairs, he takes the
nearest lodging on hand, and abides there till she is afloat again.
I believe that he comes from Fowey, and guess that he got into some
trouble or other, and had to run for it. But that's nothing to me.
I want no better man; and know that, whatever comes, I can rely
upon Pengarvan to stand by me, and the ship, to the last."
If the men were astonished at the thirty new hands who came on
board on the previous evening, they were still more astonished when
as many more embarked in the morning. The newcomers were ordered to
keep in the forecastle, and in the quarters under it, until the
Swan was well away from land.
"There will be a good many eyes turned on the ship, as soon as we
are seen to be shaking out our canvas," Reuben said; "and there is
no need to set their tongues wagging, by showing more men on deck
than we usually carry."
The captain and Diggory Beggs talked late on into the night. They
went over all the ground again; and Reuben brought out the map of
the islands, and showed where he intended to touch.
"I think not to do much trading there," he said. "There is gold in
Hispaniola and Cuba; but the captain I got the chart from said
there was no very great store there, and that the natives had but
little of it when the Spaniards first arrived; seeing that it took
trouble and labor to obtain, and they are by nature altogether
averse to hard work, and moreover place but little value on the
gold. But there were rumors among them that, farther west, there
was a land where gold was in great plenty; and where there was a
powerful people, dressed in gay attire, and wearing great bracelets
and necklaces of gold.
"So far, the Spaniards have not found this land; though they have
sailed down the coast a long way to the south, and northward as far
as the point that Master Cabot reached, when he sailed down from
Newfoundland; but due west they have never sailed far, and have
found the sea ever stretching away in front of them; so that it is
clear that either the great mainland is split in two at this point,
or there is a vast bay. This I shall try to discover, and if we
find these people of whom the Indians speak, we may well return
loaded down with gold.
"My advice to you, Cousin Diggory, is that you and your partners
should continue to keep silent as to this voyage of ours. If we
come not back, and after a time there is a talk here that we have
gone to the Indies, the news may be carried to London; and you may
be questioned, and may be blamed mightily for undertaking such an
adventure, without the king's permission; and all sorts of harm may
fall upon you. Success would, in my mind, altogether excuse you;
and you will be able to offer so great a present to the king that
he will be mighty contented. But if you fail, it will be otherwise.
Therefore my advice is, till the Swan is anchored in the port say
nothing about her. It were best, from the moment we sail, to write
off all that has been spent upon her as money lost, just the same
as if you knew for certain that she had gone down as soon as she
was out of sight of land.
"Folks will ask you what has become of her, and you will truly say
that you have had no news; and when months pass on, and she comes
not, you will shake your head, and say that you begin to fear that
evil has befallen her. She may have gone down in a storm, or been
cast on some rocky coast and all perished, or been captured by
pirates.
"If the friends of the sailors make a stir, and go to the
magistrates, you have but to show the copy of the letter of
instructions which we drew up the other day, laying it down that I
was to make for the African Straits, and to put into no Portuguese
or Spanish port by the way; that I was then to shape my course for
the island of Malta, and to take in fresh stores of food and water
there; then that I was to pass round the southernmost point of
Greece, and sail upwards to Constantinople, and there to dispose of
such portion of my cargo as I could sell at good profit, buying
goods suited for our market with the monies I received; and if my
hold was full I was then to return straight to England; but if I
had still some of my cargo unsold, I could trade as best seemed to
me among the Eastern Islands, and with the ports of Asia.
"There would be your instructions to show, and as it is notorious
to all that you provisioned the ship in the best manner possible,
and laid in greater stores than ordinary of all things necessary
for the voyage, none can hold you to blame, in any way, if the
chances of the seas have proved too masterful for us, and the Swan
returns no more.
"Should we carry out our enterprise to the fullest, and gain great
store of gold, I shall, if it is possible, come not directly home, but
to some port--maybe in Ireland, maybe in the Low Countries--whence we
can send word to you. Upon hearing of our coming there, I should
advise you and your fellow adventurers to journey straight to London,
to gain audience with one of the ministers, and tell him you have a
matter of great importance to communicate to the king himself; and
that you should then lay before his majesty an account of what you
have done, and pray him to pardon your boldness, which was due to
your desire for the honor of the country as much as to wish for profit,
and beg him to accept such share of the gold as you may think fit. I
shall, of course, when I write let you know about what weight of the
metal I have on board. In that way, when the ship comes into port all
will be smooth sailing for you; whereas if I come unannounced, there
is no saying what share of your profits his majesty may think fit to
take."
"I think the plan is a very good one, indeed, Reuben; and I will
follow it to the letter. When think you may I begin to expect to
hear news of you?"
"It is difficult to say, seeing that we know neither the distance
we may have to sail, nor the difficulties we may have to meet with,
nor the winds and currents of those regions. I should say fifteen
months at the earliest; and if double that time passes, without
your hearing aught, then I should say you may give up all hope of
ever seeing us again."
"I am disposed even now, Reuben, to regret that I ever embarked in
this venture--not, as you surely know, from any fear of losing the
money that I have put into it, but from the risk that will be run
by you and the lad Roger, who are both very dear to me."
"Whatever comes, you must not blame yourself in that matter,
Diggory. You have only yielded to my solicitations, and if we go to
our death it is our choosing, and none of thine."
"Should the Swan come back without you, Reuben--as may possibly be,
for if there be any danger you are sure to expose yourself in the
front of it--Roger shall be as a son to me; and shall either in
time have a ship to command, and a share in her, as thou hast; and
he shall come in our business, when he has had enough of adventure
at sea, and is willing to settle down on land."
Reuben wrung his cousin's hand silently, and then said:
"Let us take one more glass of strong water, Diggory, and then get
a few hours' sleep before morning. It is past midnight now, and I
must be up by four; for at that hour the boat must go off for the
first batch of our new hands."
Day broke, just as the last batch of men were brought on board. As
soon as these had gone below the whistle was sounded, the old crew
came up on deck, and the preparations for making sail commenced.
The anchor was hove short, the lashings of the sails were loosened,
the flags run up to the mast heads, the last casks and bales
lowered into the hold, the hatches put on, and the decks washed
down.
Before these preparations were all complete, a little group was
seen, standing at the end of the wharf.
"There is your good wife, Diggory, and the girls. She has kept her
word to be up, betimes, to see the last of us."
At last all was ready, and Diggory shook hands with Reuben, and
turned to Roger, when the captain said:
"The lad can go in charge of the boat that takes you ashore,
Diggory, and just say another word of parting to them there."
In five minutes, Roger stood on the wharf.
"I cannot wait, Cousin Mercy," he said, "for all is ready for
hoisting the anchor; but my father said I might just come ashore,
for one more goodbye."
"May God protect you, Roger," Mistress Mercy said, as she folded
him in a motherly embrace. "We shall all pray for you, daily and
nightly, until you return. Goodbye, Roger! Don't imperil your life
needlessly, but be prudent and careful."
"For your sake, Dorothy," he whispered, as he kissed her.
"Yes, for my sake, Roger," she said softly.
Agnes hung round his neck, crying loudly, and her mother had to
unclasp the child's fingers.
"God bless you all," said Roger hoarsely, and then ran down the
steps, and leaped into the stern of the boat.
When he gained the deck of the Swan, the boat was hoisted in, and
the men began to heave round the windlass. As soon as the anchor
was up, the sails were sheeted home; and the Swan, yielding to the
light breeze off the land, began to make her way through the water.
Roger, from the poop, waved his cap in reply to the signals of
farewell from shore; and then, running down into the waist, busied
himself with the work of the ship, until they were too far away
from the land for the figures there to be any longer visible.
The rest of the crew now came on deck, and all were mustered in
watches. Reuben Hawkshaw, standing on the edge of the poop, then
said a few words to them.
"Men," he said, "I dare say there is some wonderment among you, in
finding yourselves so strong a crew, and at seeing the Swan so well
provided with guns, and with all other necessaries. You will learn,
in good time, all about it; but at present it is best, for many
reasons, that you should know nothing about the matter. We may be
overhauled by a king's ship; we may meet with foul weather, and
have to put back into port; and a loose tongue might do us grievous
damage. It is enough for you to know that where the ship is going
you are going; that she is stored with provisions of such quality
as was never put on board a trader before; that everything will be
done for your comfort. As to myself, I am content to know that I
have a crew of eighty-five stout Devonshire lads under me, and that
we can give an account of ourselves, whosoever may meet us. Those
who have sailed with me before know that I do my best for my men,
that there will be no harsh words or violence on board this ship,
save they are well merited. Discipline, order, and obedience I will
have, and that strictly. Above all, I will have no grumbling. A
grumbling crew is a useless crew, and a sick crew; while a cheerful
crew can meet, with confidence, whatever befalls them; but I think
not that I have any grumblers on board, since every man has been
carefully chosen. A merry heart goes all the way, as the saying has
it, and I want this crew to be a happy one.
"So far as the order of the ship permits it, you shall have every
indulgence. At first you will find yourselves pressed for space,
but you will soon eat and drink room for yourselves. The stores to
be first used are all down in the fore hold, and I reckon that, in
three weeks or a month, that will be cleared; and there will then
be room for all to lie in shelter, when we are in harbor; and the
present accommodation is sufficient for the watch below, providing
all sleep quietly, and have good conscience.
"And now, to work. While you get everything tidy and in good
shipshape, the cooks will get to work at the coppers; and I can
promise you a good breakfast, washed down by sound cider, such as
you had last night."
The men gave a cheer, and were soon at work, under the direction of
their officers. It mattered little to them where they were going,
or what was before them. They had guessed that it was no ordinary
voyage they were going to undertake; but the thought that, wherever
it was, they were to be well kept and well cared for, satisfied
them mightily; and if fighting were to come into their way, so much
the better. With such a crew, they could well take their part
against any enemy they were likely to meet.
In the poop of the Swan there was a small saloon, extending across
the stern, and two cabins on either side of the passage leading to
it. These were occupied by the captain, the two mates, and Roger;
and they took their meals together in the saloon. In a cabin
underneath this, the three petty officers and twenty of the sailors
lived together, the main body of the crew occupying the raised
forecastle and the cabin underneath it. The galley was forward,
built up against the forecastle, and thus sheltered from heavy seas
which might sweep the waist of the vessel. Four small cannon were
mounted on the poop, two on the forecastle, the six larger guns
were in the waist--three on either side.
The breeze freshened as the Swan drew out from under the shelter of
the land, and by midday the shore had faded from the sight. The
crew had by this time settled down in their places, and sat in
groups on deck, some overhauling the contents of their sea bags,
looking over their clothes, and setting to, with needle and thread,
to make such repairs as were needed. Some of the new hands were
leaning over the side, wishing heartily that they were on shore
again. Those who had made voyages were talking to their companions
about the various ports at which they might touch, and the sights
they would behold.
All, save those suffering from the effects of the sea, were in high
good temper. As much fresh beef as was like to keep good till eaten
had been brought on board. The wind set in, the next morning,
freshly from the northeast; and with all sail set, the Swan ran
gaily before it.
"Would that this wind would blow, without a break, for another
month," Reuben Hawkshaw said, as he sat at dinner with the two
mates and Roger.
Standing and Pengarvan looked up quickly; but the latter, without a
question, again betook himself to feeding. Standing, however, laid
down his jackknife in astonishment.
"A month, Captain Hawkshaw? I should have thought four or five days
of this would give us ample westing, and that after that a westerly
breeze, somewhat from the north, would suit us best."
"Ay, ay, you would think so, Standing; but then you see, you know
not to within a good many points where our journey tendeth. Wait
till I have finished my dinner, for man cannot talk and eat
together, with comfort. Then, when my boy has removed the
trenchers, I will tell you, over an extra mug of cider, what all
this is about."
The meal lasted for some time longer, for Reuben Hawkshaw was a
good trencherman, and one not given to hurrying himself, unless
there was need; and neither of the other men were far behind their
chief, in the matter of the stowage of victuals. But at last the
meal was done, and the trenchers were carried off. The earthenware
mugs were again filled with cider, and then Reuben Hawkshaw--sitting
at one end of the table, with Roger facing him, and the mates one
on either hand--threw himself back in his settle, which he used in
right of captaincy, while the others contented themselves with stools,
and began.
"I had not thought, comrades, to broach this matter until we were
down in the latitude of the African Straits; but seeing that the
wind has taken us in charge, I see no reason for longer keeping
silent. You, who have both sailed with me for years, must have
known right well that this was no ordinary voyage--the number of
men I have taken on board, the care I have had as to the stores,
and the great number of water casks, must have told you that. You
have asked no questions, and I did not expect that you would."
"Why should we?" James Standing growled. "It mattered naught to us
where we went, as we knew we should hear, in good time."
Pengarvan said nothing, but he nodded, to show that he agreed with
the first mate.
"Well, men, our intent is this: I see not why the Spaniards should
have all the good things to themselves, and I purpose to go
a-trading with the natives, down in these new islands of theirs."
An exclamation of surprise broke from James Standing, but Pengarvan
only nodded again.
"But this is not all," Reuben went on. "So far, the Spaniards have
not gained much store of gold from these islands; but I have
learned that, among the natives, there is talk of a rich nation
lying somewhere farther to the west, where gold and riches of all
sorts abound. So far the Spaniards have not found it, having their
hands pretty well full. They have sailed down the land to the south
and, as you know, Master Cabot sailed from the north, down almost
to the latitude of these islands; but due west no man has sailed
yet, or if he has, has never returned to tell of it."
"Well, Captain Reuben," James Standing said, "as I said before, it
makes no difference to me where we go. If the Spaniards catch us
there, they will cut our throats to a surety, if they can; but if
you are ready to take your chance of that, I have nothing against
it. I feel as if I am taken aback a bit, just now, as it comes new
to me--my own fancy being that you intended to trade with the
Turkish ports and islands, and had taken a strong crew on board to
beat off any pirates that they might meet."
"And you, Pengarvan?"
"It is as I expected, Captain. I thought that you did not bring the
Spaniard on board at Cadiz, and sit plying him with wine, and
talking to him by the hour, for nothing. So when I saw what was
being done on board the Swan, it came to me that you intended to
try a venture in the Spanish main."
"Here is a map which I got from the Spaniard," Reuben said, laying
it out upon the table. "Here, you see, all the great islands are
marked in their places, with their ports and the Spanish
settlements. There are besides these, the Spaniard said, numbers of
small ones not marked on the chart. In these large islands, Cuba
and Hispaniola, the Spaniards have made themselves masters of the
people, and reduced them to slavery; and there would be no touching
at these with either safety or profit. The small ones have been
only occasionally visited, and with these we may do trade.
"Here is the line of the mainland, to the south of the islands. You
see it runs along as far as the easternmost of them, and then turns
away to the south; while from the north the mainland comes down
well nigh to Cuba. One reason, the Spaniard said, why they have not
sailed west to find out this land of gold, is that there is a great
current, which runs in between the islands and the southern land,
and sweeps out again with great force between the Bahamas and this
northern land; and that they fear being swept away by it, and
getting driven into whirlpools; and moreover they say that there
are great storms to be encountered, in the waters to the west.
"Now the fact that there is a current into, and another current out
of, this western sea, seems to show that there is no exit to the
west; and that the water that comes in at the south finds itself in
a great bay, and so is forced to pass out to the north. How great
this bay may be I know not, but surely it cannot be too great to
search. At any rate it is clear to me that, somewhere to the west,
these two great lands that we see to the north and south join. Now
that men who have, with much toil and risk, made a discovery of a
new land should claim it, for their king, seems to me fair and
right; but not that they should claim sole traffic, with lands of
whose very existence they know nothing; and therefore, although it
is true that the pope has given these western islands to Spain, I
see not how he can give to them land not, as yet, discovered.
"If there is, as the natives in the islands say, a land lying
somewhere to the west, where gold is abundant, I see no reason why,
if we are first there, we should not gather great stores. The bales
and boxes, that were brought round from London, contain a great
quantity of all the things that are, as the Spaniard told me, most
prized by the natives. Glass beads of all sorts and kinds, vessels
of brass, iron hatchets and arrowheads, hawk bells, mirrors, and
trinkets. The venture is, I admit, a perilous one; but if we
succeed, every man on board will have a share in the profit."
Reuben then explained the arrangements he had made, with the
owners, for the division of such treasure as they might bring home.
"That is a fair proposal," the first mate said; "and I doubt not
that all on board will gladly fall in with it. If we succeed, we
shall set every tongue in England wagging; and there will be plenty
of others, I warrant, who will be ready to follow our example."
"I had intended," Reuben went on, "to sail as far as the straits;
then to head for the island of Madeira and, when within sight of
it, to head away west-sou'-west. But if we carry this wind with us,
we will make straight for the islands, and thereby shall escape the
risk of being seen by vessels coming and going, as they all follow
a track south of Madeira. We can make a good fight with any
Spaniard that falls foul of us, and are as likely to take him as he
is to capture us; but I would fain keep clear of them, if I can,
since we go to trade and not to fight.
"Now I think you had best give a hint of the matter in hand to our
old crew, all of whom we can depend upon; as indeed, I hope we can
upon all, though as yet their mettle has not been tried. Take them
aside singly, and open the matter to them. In a few days I shall
tell the rest; but the matter will go more fairly, and easily, if
we have a proportion of them ready to throw up their caps, and
shout."
"Aye, aye, Captain Reuben. One bellwether will carry a whole flock
after it, but I fear not that any will want to hold back. It is
just the adventure that will suit a brave man's spirit--plenty to
see, plenty to do, the chance of a fight, and the chance of a
fortune. I should like to know what one could want, better than
that. Besides, all are in high feather at the quality of the food,
which they say the like of was never known on shipboard before; and
that goes a long way. It is the fasting man who kicks. The full one
is content, however matters go."
Pengarvan had not again opened his lips. He nodded occasionally,
and that was all his captain expected of him; but the fact that he
had guessed the destination of the ship, added to the esteem which
Reuben Hawkshaw had for his second mate.
Three days later Reuben Hawkshaw called the crew together, and
informed them of their destination. He possessed the rough
eloquence best suited for the class he was addressing, and carried
his hearers with him. He spoke as if the idea, that any of them
could shrink from undertaking such an adventure, had not entered
his mind; but assumed that they were the most fortunate of men, in
having such a chance offered to them.
"You do not yet know," he said, "how great a piece of good fortune
has befallen you, by being chosen to sail with me on this voyage.
Had the news been as much as whispered, in Plymouth, I could have
gathered a thousand volunteers in an hour. You all know how careful
have been the preparations for the voyage, how strongly we are
manned, how well we are armed, what stores of excellent provisions
and what casks of good cider and ale are in the hold.
"Now I am going to tell you what all this is for. We are going,
lads, to get gold; and if we succeed, as I doubt not we shall, each
man on his return will, in addition to his wages, have a share in
the spoil--such a share as will, I hope, make him comfortable for
life."
A loud cheer broke from the men, as they pressed forward eagerly to
listen.
"I have learned, lads," he said, "from a Spaniard who has been out
there, of a land abounding with gold, lying to the west of the
Spanish Islands. As yet, none of them have ventured thither; and I
mean that we shall be the first to reap the harvest. Why should
these Spaniards keep every good thing to themselves? We are as good
sailors as they are, and better; as good men, and better.
Therefore, I say, we will have a share of the prizes.
"We shall touch on our way at some of the islands, for wood and
water and fruit and vegetables. There are plenty of them where we
can find these, without meeting with a Spaniard. If we do meet with
one, and he tries to interfere with us, so much the worse for him.
"Then, when we have taken in what we want, we will sail west; and
if we find this land, as I doubt not we shall, we will return home
with such treasures as were never brought before into an English
port.
"You must make up your minds, lads, that it is not to be all plain
sailing, and that we may have hardships and trials to meet with;
but no true sailor shrinks from these. It is a grand adventure,
lads--an adventure that nobles and princes would be glad to share
in. There is honor and glory in it, as well as booty. We shall be
the first Englishmen who ever sailed those seas, or dared to
dispute the right of the Spaniards to keep all the treasures of the
west in their hands; and in time to come your children's children
will be proud to say, 'My grandsire was one of those who sailed in
the Swan.'"
When the captain ceased speaking, there was a shout of enthusiasm
from his hearers; not one of whom but considered himself to be one
of the most fortunate of men, in being chosen as one of the crew of
the Swan. This was an adventure, indeed. It was no mere trading
voyage, but a grand expedition. There were new lands to be seen,
there was the satisfaction of outwitting the Spaniards, there were
glory and honor and gold to be obtained.
As for hardships and danger, they recked little of them. These
always formed part of their lot; and with so well found a ship, and
so good a crew, they felt confident of being able to face anything
that might befall them.
They speedily broke up into excited groups, eagerly discussing the
news they had heard. The new hands plied the older ones with
questions, as to the general strength of the Spanish ships, the
number of men they carried, and their armament. The guns were
examined with fresh attention and admiration, and men looked along
the sights as if already, in fancy, engaging in an encounter with
the Dons. A horn of strong ale was served out to each, by the
captain's orders, to celebrate the occasion; and the men drank
success to the enterprise, shaking each other by the hand, and each
vowing to do his share, bravely.
The wind continued favorable until they had passed Madeira, which
was seen like a cloud on the port side. Three days later the breeze
dropped, and there was a stark calm, in which the Swan lay
motionless on the sea for well nigh a fortnight. The captain,
knowing well that idleness is, of all things, the most harmful to a
crew, set them to work to get up the cases of arms, and polish
their swords and pikes until they shone. Then the crew were
exercised with boarding pike and cutlass. Singlesticks and staffs,
which the captain had provided for such an occasion, were brought
up; and men were matched against each other with these--small
prizes being given to those who showed themselves the most
proficient.
Squads were told off to the great guns, and instructed how these
should best be worked by the gunner, so that each man should do his
share without hurry or confusion. He would fain have practiced them
at a mark, but this the captain would not have as, with the air so
still, the guns would be heard at a long distance, and might even
bring up some Spanish or Portuguese vessel, to inquire into the
cause of the firing--for they were now far below the line which the
ships of other nations were forbidden to cross. Nor was there great
need for practice, for to each gun was appointed, as captain, one
of the old hands accustomed to the work, who could be trusted to
send the ball straight when the time should come.
With these and other exercises, and with such sports as the sailors
could devise, the time of the calm was got through well enough.
They had now been over a month at sea; but, thanks to the honest
food and sound cider, the men's health in no way suffered, and all
were as well and hearty as upon the day when they set sail.
When the wind came, it came with sudden fury; but Reuben Hawkshaw had
heard of the sudden gales that ships sailing west had to encounter,
and took precautions as soon as it began to rise--furling up all the
great sails; passing lifelines along the sides, to which the men could
cling, if the waves washed boisterously over her; and clearing the
decks and closing up all hatchways and openings. So, though for a week
she tossed and labored in the gale, she was none the worse when it
ceased; and indeed, the seas she encountered were by no means so heavy
as those with which she had battled, on her voyage home from Spain.
While the gale lasted, Reuben Hawkshaw took every precaution to
enable him to keep his reckoning, heaving the log every half hour,
and noting constantly each change in the direction of the wind; so
that, when all was over, he could tell within fifty miles the spot
where the gale left her--for in those days the instruments of
navigation were in their infancy, and sailors relied chiefly on the
compass, and dead reckoning, to bring them safe to port, however
long their voyage might be. Reuben Hawkshaw knew of no other plan,
but as far as these went he was an excellent navigator, and was
seldom many miles out in making a landfall.
As soon as the gale abated, sail was again made on the ship, and
she proceeded on her course. In another three weeks, the mates were
seen frequently to ascend into the tops, and the news spread among
the crew that the Spanish islands lay not far ahead. The justness
of the captain's reckoning was soon proved; for at daybreak, one
morning, land was perceived directly ahead; though still lying,
like a patch of low cloud, on the horizon.
A cheer broke from those on deck, as soon as the mate proclaimed
that to a certainty it was land they saw, and the watch below came
pouring up. Another cheer saluted the captain as he came out from
his cabin--a tribute to his seamanship, in thus bringing them
straight across the ocean, on a path that no Englishman had ever
before sailed.
He, with the two mates, at once ascended to the fore top. From here,
as the morning brightened, two other points of land could be seen,
far away on either hand.
"We are evidently approaching small islands. This is just what we
hoped. My fear was that we might strike Hispaniola, or Porto Rico.
When we get nearer land we will lower our topsails, so as not to be
so easily made out from the land. Now we will go below, and try and
mark off our place on the chart."