KINDLY TREATED ON BOARD THE AMERICAN WHALER--LOOKING OUT FOR WHALES--A
WHALE KILLED--CUTTING IN AND TRYING OUT--THE MASTER GOES OFF IN CHASE--
THE SECOND MATE LOST OVERBOARD--SANDWICH ISLANDER ENDEAVOURS TO SAVE
HIM--THE BOATS DISAPPEAR--NO APPEARANCE OF THE MASTER AND FIRST MATE--A
GALE--THE BOATSWAIN ASSUMES COMMAND AND PLAYS THE TYRANT--WILL NOT
SEARCH FOR THE CAPTAIN--HIDES THE NAUTICAL INSTRUMENTS--THE BOATSWAIN
DASHES TOM'S QUADRANT TO THE DECK--NIGHT--THE MIDSHIPMEN TURN IN--THE
SHIP STRIKES--BOATSWAIN AND CREW PUT OFF--LEAVE TOM AND HIS COMPANIONS
ON THE WRECK--WEATHER MODERATES--LAND SEEN--THEY BUILD A RAFT--VOYAGE TO
THE SHORE--SEE A SAVAGE ON IT--TURNS OUT TO BE PAT CASEY--NIGHT ON
SHORE.
When Tom Rogers at length awoke, he found the captain, Doctor Locock
(the surgeon), and the first mate seated at dinner.
"Well, young gentlemen, do you find yourselves well enough to join us?"
asked the former.
"Yes, sir," said Tom, slipping into his clothes, which he found
perfectly dried by his side. He aroused his companions, and they were
all three soon seated at table, where plates had been laid for them.
They were thankful to hear from the doctor that Tim, though still in his
hammock, was in a fair way of recovery, and would be on deck in a day or
two.
They now gave a fuller account of their adventures than they had done on
the previous night. The possible loss of the _Dragon_ was discussed,
and from the captain and mate's observations the midshipmen's hopes were
somewhat raised that she might have escaped shipwreck. Their opinion
was that, as her machinery was damaged, she would have run to Hong-kong,
the nearest place at which it could be repaired; and that it would take
several weeks before she could get back to the Bonins to look for them.
That their captain would return they felt sure, unless he was convinced
that they were lost.
"At all events, as we are about to fish off there, we will take a look
round the neighbouring islands on the chance of discovering the wreck,
and rescuing any of her people who may have escaped," said the master.
"If we fail in that, we may fall in with a British man-of-war, and you
shall be put on board. If not, we will land you at Yokohama or
Kagoshima, from whence you can without difficulty get to Hong-kong."
Tom, as spokesman, thanked the captain for his kindness, adding, "I feel
sure that the British consul at any place at which you may land us will
reimburse you for the expense to which you may be put on our account."
"We won't talk about that, my young friend," answered the American
captain. "We will set off the loss of your boat against that; and I am
only too happy to have saved your lives, and to have rendered any
service in my power to British officers in distress, for I tell you it
is my belief that you would all have starved before you got to Guam, or
any other island at which you could have landed in the Ladrones."
"I guess that they don't value midshipmen at a long figure in your
service," observed the mate, as if he doubted that the _Dragon_ would
return to look for them.
"That depends on the sort of midshipmen they happen to be," answered
Tom, putting on a modest air. "We flatter ourselves that we are not
likely to be neglected. Now, if we happened to have all been like Billy
Blueblazes there, who, from the quantity of beef he consumes, is
undoubtedly a heavy cost to her Majesty, our captain might have
considered it his duty to leave us to find our own grub for the future,
and thus save our beloved country a heavy expense."
"I see," said the mate with a wink, discovering that Tom was not a
person out of whom he could take much change. "And pray may I ask if
that young gentleman's name is really Billy Blueblazes? It's a curious
sounding one, at all events."
"It's the name by which he is known among us, at all events," answered
Tom. "The captain may in his supreme wisdom call him Mr William
Blewitt, or when he is gazetted, on obtaining his lieutenancy, he may
possibly be designated by the last-mentioned appellation; but Billy
Blueblazes he will be called by his messmates while he remains afloat."
The midshipmen went for a short time on deck, where they found Jerry and
Pat, who seemed well pleased at the way they had been treated by the
crew, who, though rough enough in appearance, were far less so than the
seamen of many merchant vessels.
"They have, howsumever, already tried to persuade Pat and me to join
them, as they have lost two or three men since they came out; but you
know, Mr Rogers, that an old man-of-war's man is not likely to desert
his flag, and least of all to join a greasy, stinking whaler," said
Jerry in a whisper, not wishing to be overheard.
Tom and Gerald paid Tim a visit, and found him almost himself again.
"If it had not been for you, Mr Desmond, I should have lost the number
of my mess--that I know; and though I cannot make a fine speech about
it, you know that an Irishman's heart can be grateful. If you ever come
to Barry Shingle, there is an old mother I've got; and a couple of
sisters, who will be showing you what they think of the matter. I have
been thinking, as I lay here, what a sorrowing there would have been if
you had not held on to me after I got that crack on the skull."
On returning to the deck, Tom and Desmond found Billy Blueblazes fast
asleep on the companion hatch; and as they could scarcely keep their own
eyes open, they followed the captain's advice and turned in, where they
quickly forgot what had happened and where they were. They awoke up for
a short time to take supper, and very soon went off to sleep again.
Indeed, even Tom felt that he required sound rest for two or three
nights, to set him up after the hardships he had gone through.
The voyage of the _Columbia_ had hitherto been fortunate; she had,
however, lost two of her boats stove in, and three hands drowned. She
was already half full, and Captain Sibley hoped in the course of a few
more months to be able to return home. The midshipmen were politely and
kindly treated, and agreed that they ought to be thankful at finding
themselves so well off. They were anxious, before leaving the ship, to
see a whale captured, and to witness the operation of cutting out and
trying in, which the doctor described to them.
Hitherto it had been almost calm since they came on board. The ship had
but slightly changed her position; still a look-out was kept for whales,
as at any moment one might appear. The midshipmen were asleep, when one
morning, just at daybreak, they were aroused by the sound of feet
hurrying overhead, and springing on deck, they saw the crew busily
engaged in lowering two of the boats.
"There! and there again!" shouted the look-out, meaning that a whale,
which he had some time before seen, had come to the surface was
spouting. Tom immediately sprang into the rigging, and on looking out,
he saw a whale spouting about a mile to windward. In less than a minute
after the people had come on deck half dressed, the boats started away
with six men in each, including the headsman and boat's steerer. The
captain went as headsman in one, and the first mate in the other. The
water bubbled and hissed under the bows of the boats, as the eager crews
urged them forward.
"I wish I had gone in one," cried Tom.
"So do I," said Desmond; "but I doubt whether we should have found
ourselves of much use, and as the captain would have considered us in
the way, we should have had very little chance. However, we can see the
fun, and if we get a breeze we may beat the ship up to the whale."
The boats made good way, but before they got near enough to fire their
harpoons into the monster, it sank beneath the surface.
"The whale has disappeared! How provoking!" cried Desmond.
"Don't suppose that. Depend upon it, the captain has not given up the
chase yet. The whale must soon come to the surface again to breathe,"
said Tom.
He was right. The whale rose at no great distance from where it had
gone down, and somewhat nearer the ship. The boats were quickly up to
it, and before it had done spouting, two harpoons, with a deadly force,
were shot into its side. The boats backed off speedily to return to
strike into it a number of lances. The whale, feeling a sudden pain,
lifted up its flukes and disappeared. The line was quickly run out, and
before long the creature again came to the surface and attempted to swim
away from its foes; but it had not gone far, before it began furiously
to lash the water with its flukes, beating it into a mass of foam and
blood. The boats kept clear, their crews well knowing that one blow of
that mighty tail would dash their boats to splinters. It was the last
effort of the monster, which soon rolled over on its side perfectly
dead. A cheer from the boats' crews, which was heard over the water,
announced their success, when, securing tow-ropes to the whale, they
dragged it alongside without loss of time, and the operation of cutting
out was commenced.
Two of the crew descended with sharp spades, when they cut off the head
of the whale, which was at once secured under the counter. A large hook
being then fastened in a hole cut in the blubber at the head end of the
animal, the operator commenced cutting off a strip about three feet
broad, in a spiral direction, and a tackle having been fixed to the
hook, this was drawn up on board, the body of the whale turning round
and round. As the blubber was thus hoisted up, it was cut into pieces,
known, as blanket pieces, and thrown into huge cauldrons arranged along
the deck. As soon as the carcase was stripped of this, its outer
coating, it was allowed to float away, and the spermaceti oil in the
head astern was dipped out with small buckets at the end of poles, until
the whole was extracted. This oil, the most valuable part of the whale,
was then boiled separately, and stowed in casks. Now commenced the
operation of trying out. Fires were lighted under the huge try-pots,
the crisp membranous parts of the blanket, after the oil had been
extracted, serving as fuel. The blubber was boiled until the oil rose
to the surface, when it was skimmed off and placed in casks. In
daylight the men thus employed looked grim enough, but at night, as they
worked away, stripped to their waists, the fire casting a glare over
their smoke-begrimed figures, they seemed more like a group of demons
engaged in some diabolical work, than human beings. The midshipmen
could scarcely recognise those with whom they had been talking
familiarly the day before.
The whale, which was a large one, gave, the captain told them, eighty
barrels of oil. It took the crew upwards of two days to try out and
stow away that quantity.
"I should have to be precious hard up before I turned whaler," observed
Billy Blueblazes. "It is hot work at night, but it must be terrible in
a calm, with the blazing sun beating down on the poor fellows' heads."
Several days passed away after this before another whale was seen. A
breeze, however, having sprung up, the ship stood to the northward.
There was some sea on and the weather looked changeable, when one
afternoon, as Tom and Gerald were enjoying a read at some of the
captain's books in the cabin, Billy rushed in, exclaiming--
"Here's a school of whales close to us. Come up and have a look at
them, or perhaps they will be off."
Sure enough, when the midshipmen came on deck, they saw half a dozen or
more whales spouting together, which, as the captain told them, were
young bull whales. The crew were standing ready to lower the boats as
soon as they should get the captain's order. The weather appeared to
clear a little, and eager to obtain one or more of the frolicsome
monsters, he determined, in spite of the threatening aspect of the
weather, to go off in chase. He, as before, went in one boat, and the
first mate in the other. The boats were, however, apparently seen by
the whales, which immediately separated and went off in different
directions. One, however, after making several turns, came directly
towards the captain's boat.
"'Faith! I wish we were with him," exclaimed Desmond. "He is sure to
have that one."
The captain, making a sign to his men not to move their oars, waited
silently for the young bull, which came close up without discovering its
foe. When at length it did so, it swerved on one side, at that moment
receiving the deadly weapon just behind its hump. No sooner did the
whale feel the pain than, apparently terror-stricken, it seemed unable
to move; but as the captain was again about to fire, suddenly recovering
itself, it darted off like an arrow, spinning the boat so quickly round
that she was nearly upset.
Away went the whale dead to windward, towing the boat at a rate of
nearly fifteen miles an hour, right against a head sea which, as she
ploughed through it, was formed in a high bank of surf on either side,
while she was almost concealed by the showers of spray flying over her.
The second mate, who was at some distance, seeing the whale coming,
pulled up in time to shoot his weapon into its side, when both boats,
being fast, were towed almost as rapidly as had been the captain's. In
vain the boats attempted to haul up closer, so as to strike their lances
more deeply into the animal.
Tom and Gerald, borrowing spy-glasses, ran aloft to watch the
proceedings, but at so great a speed had the whale gone that, in a short
time, neither it nor the beats could be seen by the naked eye. From the
mast-head the midshipmen could just observe three objects like specks
upon the ocean, and at length they entirely disappeared beyond the
horizon. The wind had now freshened.
"We must go and lend a hand," said Tom, "as I suppose the second mate
will beat the ship up to the boats."
They accordingly descended; but before they were half-way down, the
fearful cry reached their ears of "A man overboard!" On looking astern
they saw him struggling in the waves. Who he was they could not tell.
Hastening to the deck, they found the helm put down, the hands raising
tacks and sheets to bring the ship about. In the mean time some oars
and a hen-coop had been hove into the sea, but the man, whoever he was,
seemed to have very little notion of swimming, as his efforts to reach
them were unavailing. Tom's first impulse was to leap overboard.
Gerald, holding him back, exclaimed, "You could not save the poor
fellow; he would carry you down, if you attempted to get near him."
"But I could tow the hen-coop up to him," said Tom.
"Stay where you are, young gentleman," said the doctor. "See! there is
a man gone to his assistance;" and they then caught sight of a Sandwich
Islander in the water. He had slipped quietly overboard and was making
his way towards the drowning man. Just then the sun dipped beneath the
horizon, looking angry and red, while the sky threatened a stormy night.
Only one small boat remained, which was lowered immediately; the ship
was brought to, and Tom, with Desmond, Jerry, and two of the crew,
jumped into her; but by this time they had lost sight both of the
drowning man and the Sandwich Islander. The sea, which was every moment
getting up, broke over the bows of the boat as they pulled towards the
spot where the men were last seen.
"Who is the poor fellow?" asked Tom of one of the crew.
"Our second mate. He has been queer for some time, and I don't expect
we shall find him."
This was painful intelligence. Tom felt it his duty to persevere. At
length they heard a cry. It came from the Sandwich Islander. They
could not see him, but they caught sight of a hen-coop, which assisted
them in directing their course. Just then Tom, who had taken the bow
oar, standing up to look out, saw two heads. "We shall be in time, even
now. Pull away!" he sang out.
The mate had apparently got hold of an oar.
"I see him," shouted Tom to the Sandwich Islander. "Wait another
minute, and we will take you on board;" and he pointed towards the mate.
They were not twelve fathoms from him, when a loud shriek escaped him,
and, letting go the oar, he threw up his arms and sank from sight. They
pulled round, still hoping that he might re-appear, but it was in vain.
The Sandwich Islander came swimming rapidly up to them, and without
waiting for assistance threw himself over the bows.
"A shark got him," he said; "and would have had me in another minute."
It was not without some danger of being swamped that the boat regained
the ship's side. Until the return of the captain and first mate the
ship was under the command of Mr Betts, the boatswain, who appeared to
be a rough hand; although Tom concluded that he was a good seaman, who
would act for the best, and endeavour to get up to the boats and take
the officers on board. Tom at once offered his and his companions'
services to work the ship. Indeed, she was so short-handed that without
their assistance she could with difficulty even be put about.
"I suppose those who are eating the owner's bread should work for the
owner," was the gruff answer, as if he declined the offer for himself.
This, however, mattered very little to Tom. As the wind increased he
felt more and more anxious for the fate of the absent ones. In order
not to miss them, it was necessary to make short boards, so that all
hands were kept constantly at work, putting the ship about every quarter
of an hour, while lanterns were hung over the weather side to show her
whereabouts should the boats have got clear of the whale. The gale
became stronger and stronger. The canvas was taken in, until the ship
was under closely reefed topsails. The sea got up more and more,
frequently breaking over her bows, so that it seemed too probable that
the boats, before they could reach her, would be swamped. Already it
would be a difficult matter for them to get alongside. Tom, having
discovered that there were some blue lights on board, burnt one every
now and then, hoping that they might be seen and encourage the crews of
the wave-tossed boats. The surgeon told him that he still had some
hopes that they might escape, as boats had often done in a heavy sea, by
hanging on under the lee of a dead whale, which served as a breakwater.
"In that case we must take care not to go too far, or we may get to
windward of them, and they might not venture to leave the shelter which
the whale affords them," observed Tom. On this he proposed to the
boatswain to "heave to."
"We are not up to them yet," was the answer. "I was at sea before you
were born, young gentleman. Leave me to judge what is best to be done."
Tom made no reply. "We have got a queer character to deal with," he
observed to Desmond. "However, we must try to manage him, although it
will be a serious matter to us, as well as all on board, if we do not
recover the poor captain and mate."
No one turned in; indeed, all hands were required to put the ship about,
and all night long she was kept on tack and tack without any answering
signal. The doctor continued to fire at intervals one of the
six-pounder guns on deck, but no signal was heard in return. When
morning broke, the boatswain at length consented to heave to. Neither
of the boats had been seen, and those on board began to despair. The
gale showed no signs of abatement, while the sea had continued to
increase. High-tossing waves, crested with foam, rose up around, while
the sky was obscured by dense masses of dark clouds.
"Will your whaleboats live in a sea like this?" asked Tom of the
boatswain, who in his character as commanding officer was standing aft.
"I guess they could, young man, if they are handled as we know how to
handle them," was the answer.
"Then we may still hope to find the captain and mate," observed Desmond.
"If that whale did not smash up one of the boats with her flukes. If he
did, twelve people would prove a heavy cargo in a sea like this, and she
is likely enough to have been swamped."
"I am afraid that some such accident must have occurred," observed Tom.
"I guess you may not be far wrong," was the unsatisfactory remark.
On going into the cabin for breakfast they found Doctor Locock resting
his head on his hands, with his elbows on the table.
"Poor Captain Sibley! He and those with him are gone, I fear. I would
have given all I possess to save him. A kinder-hearted man never
commanded a ship. His poor wife and children! And the second mate
gone! Only that rough diamond in charge, without men enough to handle
the ship. It will prove a very serious matter to us, I fear, young
gentlemen, even should we ride out the present gale and bad weather
continue."
"With our party of six we shall have no difficulty in managing the
ship," observed Tom. "My eldest messmate and I are thorough navigators;
and though we cannot assist in following up the object of the voyage, we
shall be able to take her into a port where she can obtain another
master, with more officers and men. I should propose steering for
Hong-kong, where we are certain to fall in with American merchantmen,
and probably a man-of-war; but, before we leave this neighbourhood, I
should wish to make a thorough search for the missing boats.
Notwithstanding what the boatswain says, I am not satisfied that they
are lost."
"Do you think it possible that they can have escaped?" asked the
surgeon, looking up.
"I think it possible, though I dare not say it is probable," answered
Tom. "They may have killed the whale and hung on under the lee of its
body, or they may have run before the wind and succeeded in reaching one
of the small islands to the eastward. The weather has been so thick
that they might easily have passed us without discovering our signals."
These remarks of Tom's greatly cheered the poor surgeon, who grieved for
the loss of his friend the captain, and he was also naturally very
anxious about his own fate.
"With any other man than Betts I should have less fear; but I know him
to be an obstinate, self-opinionated, unprincipled fellow, and very
ignorant at the same time," he observed. "If he were utterly ignorant
of navigation there would be less danger; but he knows something about
it, and has an idea that he is a first-rate navigator, and fully capable
of taking charge of the ship."
"We must take our observations and keep our reckoning carefully, and we
may then be able to correct his errors," said Tom.
As he spoke, a gruff voice was heard to exclaim, "What's that you say?"
and the boatswain, who had been standing at the door of the cabin,
walked in, casting furious glances at the doctor and the three
midshipmen.
"So you think I know nothing about navigation, do you?" exclaimed the
man. "I'll soon show you what I know, and as this cabin is mine, unless
you can keep civil tongues in your heads, out you shall go and find
berths forward."
Tom, remembering that a soft answer turneth away wrath, replied, "We
have no wish to dispute your authority, Mr Betts, and shall be glad to
give you all the assistance in our power. If the captain were here, and
both the mates had been lost, he would have wished us to take
observations and help him navigate the ship."
"The captain was one man, and I am another. He might have liked what
won't suit my fancy. So now, as I'm captain, I'll beg you to keep your
hands in your pockets until you receive my orders to take them out. You
understand me?" Desmond, who was not so much inclined to keep his
temper as Tom, was firing up at the boatswain's impudence, when Tom put
his hand on his mouth, and turning to the boatswain, said, "Very well,
Mr Betts; we understand each other. But without boats, even if my
people were able to help, you could not attempt to catch any more
whales, and you have not even a sufficient number of men to take the
ship home, so that you must put into a port to get fresh hands. If you
take my advice you will, as soon as the gale is over, shape a course for
Hong-kong, but before we leave this part of the ocean I would strongly
urge you to make a diligent search in all directions for the boats."
"We might as well look for a needle in a bundle of hay. The boats are
swamped, I'm sure of that, and don't intend to lose time by hunting for
what we shall never find," answered the boatswain, as he took the
captain's seat at the table.
Tom had considerable difficulty in restraining Desmond from saying
anything which might irritate the man. Billy ate his breakfast in
silence, stowing away an ample supply of provender to be ready for all
emergencies. The doctor made no remark, fearful lest anything he might
say should irritate the boatswain, whom he knew was capable of any act
of tyranny.
As soon as the meal was over, Tom and Desmond went on deck.
"I wouldn't give way to that fellow," exclaimed the latter. "He'll be
wanting us to take the ship round Cape Horn to Boston, and then get the
credit of bringing her home himself. The best thing we can do is to
clap him in irons and take command ourselves. The doctor would side
with us, and so would two or three of the ship's company, if not all of
them; for, depend upon it, they must be aware that he is no navigator,
and would not wish to trust the craft to him."
Tom, who was averse to this proceeding, replied, "It might turn out very
well if we were first to fall in with a British man-of-war; but suppose
we met an American, we might be accused of running away with the ship.
Rest assured that the boatswain and some of the men would be ready to
swear to anything which would suit their own purposes."
"I would risk that," said Desmond. "The doctor's word would be taken
before that of the boatswain, and any American officer would at once see
that our statement was the true one."
"Suppose we were to fail in our attempt to seize the boatswain, he would
murder us all, or at all events clap us in irons, and accuse us of
mutiny and an attempt to seize the ship."
"Arrah! now, what's come over you, Tom?" exclaimed Desmond. "You'll not
persuade me that you're afraid of carrying out my plan."
"No," answered Tom, smiling. "I only want to look at both sides of the
case, as Archie Gordon would have done if he were with us. I fully
agree with you, that if the fellow refuses to go to Hong-kong we must
compel him by some means or other; but, it would be wrong in us to seize
the ship unless we are assured of the incapacity of the boatswain, by
which her safety and the lives of all on board would be imperilled. In
that case we should be justified in acting as you propose."
"And isn't he incompetent?" exclaimed Desmond. "The doctor says so. If
he had been a good navigator he would not have been serving as
boatswain."
"If he will agree to go to Hong-kong or Sydney, or even to the Sandwich
Islands, and let us assist him in navigating the ship, well and good, as
we can leave her at any of those places, and he can obtain a fresh
crew."
Tom's remarks satisfied Desmond that they ought to wait and see how the
boatswain would act. A look-out was kept in every direction for the
boats, but hours went by and still they did not appear. As the day drew
on the wind began to abate, and the sea proportionately to go down. The
boatswain had turned into the captain's berth and gone to sleep, and no
one felt inclined to awaken him. Tom, Desmond, or Billy were constantly
going to the mast-head to look out for the missing boats, still hoping
that they might appear. Desmond had gone into the cabin, where he heard
the boatswain snoring loudly.
He returned on deck.
"Now would be our time to seize the fellow," he said to Tom. "The
doctor has a brace of pistols and a fowling-piece. I found another
brace in the first mate's berth. I will speak to Jerry, and he can
easily let Tim and Pat know what we are doing. Peter, I am certain,
would side with us by the way he looked when he saw the boatswain take
the captain's seat. The rest of the men would be very easily won over;
and if not, after we have clapped the boatswain in irons, we must make
them prisoners. We can easily tackle the watch on deck, and then master
those below as they come up."
"Your plan is a good one, and I dare say would succeed, but I hope we
shall not have to carry it out," said Tom. "We have had no proof that
the boatswain will not act reasonably, and I again repeat that I do not
consider we should be justified in taking the ship from him until he has
shown by his conduct that he is likely to endanger our lives, and the
rest of those on board."
The midshipmen had the after part of the deck to themselves, while the
ship was hove to. Only two of the crew could be seen; one of them was
the boatswain's mats, who, with the carpenter, were the only men
remaining on board capable of taking charge of a watch.
Tom and Desmond were now wishing that the boatswain would come up, in
order that they might learn in what direction they were to steer. They
were both indeed getting so sleepy that they could scarcely keep their
eyes open, and much longed to lie down, even for a couple of hours. At
last the boatswain made his appearance.
"May I ask, Mr Betts, what you intend doing?" said Tom, in as polite a
tone as he could command.
"What's that to you?" asked the boatswain, gruffly. "You are only
passengers, and will have to go where the ship goes."
"I had no intention of dictating to you," replied Tom; "but because we
are passengers, we naturally wish to learn when we are likely to get on
shore."
"That must depend upon circumstances," said the boatswain, evasively.
"I am in command of this ship, and intend to keep it, unless the captain
and mate should come on board."
"We are perfectly ready to obey you, and to assist you in carrying the
ship, either to Hong-kong, or Honolulu in the Sandwich Islands, or
Sydney, where you may obtain fresh hands to take her home, and all I ask
is that you will tell me for which of these ports you intend to steer."
"I have not made up my mind upon the matter," answered the boatswain.
"Perhaps you expect that we may still find the captain and boats crews;
and if we were to work to windward during the night, and run back
to-morrow over the same course, we may fall in with them, should they
have kept afloat during the gale," said Tom suggestively, for he was
afraid of saying that this was the course he would advise.
"Wait until you see what I do," said the boatswain. "As you may be
wanted on deck, I advise you to turn in and get some sleep; the ship is
hove to now, and for what I can tell, hove to she will remain for some
hours longer."
Tom and Desmond agreed that they had better follow the boatswain's
advice, and accordingly they went below. They found Billy Blueblazes
snoring away, not troubling himself about what was likely to happen.
Throwing themselves on their beds, they were both in another minute fast
asleep. They expected to have been called to keep watch; but no one
arousing them, fatigued as they were, they slept on until daylight. Tom
was the first to awaken; he roused up Desmond and Billy, and all three
went on deck together, where they found that the wind had again
freshened up from the old quarter, and that the ship was standing close
hauled to the eastward. The carpenter had charge of the deck, but they
could get nothing out of him. The doctor soon afterwards came up. Tom
inquired whether he knew the boatswain's intentions?
"He has not thought fit to enlighten me, but I conclude from the course
he is steering that he intends visiting the Sandwich Islands," was the
answer.
"I wish that he had thought fit to steer in the opposite direction,"
observed Tom. "However, we may perhaps find one of our ships there, and
should then have no reason to complain."
"I hope that you will keep to your intention of taking an observation
every day, and ascertaining our position," said the doctor, in a low
voice, so that he might not be overheard.
"You may depend upon that," answered Tom.
"I conclude that you can tell whereabouts we now are?" said the doctor.
"Not unless I can learn at what hour sail was made and we began to stand
on our present course," was the reply.
When Tom inquired of the carpenter, he received an evasive answer, and
on going forward to learn from Jerry, Tim, or Pat, they all said that
they had gone below at night, and had not been roused up. Some of the
crew replied that it was in the first watch, others that it was in the
middle watch.
"At all events, I hope to ascertain our latitude if the weather clears,
and perhaps we may get an observation in the afternoon, or a lunar at
night," said Tom. "But a good look-out must be kept ahead, for I know
that there are numerous small islands and reefs, one of which may bring
us up if we are not careful."
The doctor assisted the midshipmen to search for a sextant and nautical
almanack, but, to their surprise, neither were to be found. "The
chronometer was," the doctor said, "he knew, in the captain's cabin;"
and they at last began to suspect that the boatswain had managed to get
hold of the mate's as well as the captain's sextant and charts, and had
shut them up in the cabin he had appropriated. What his object was in
so doing it was difficult to say, unless he thought that he should keep
the midshipmen more in his power by preventing them from knowing
whereabouts they were.
Just before breakfast the boatswain came out of his cabin, carefully
locking the door behind him. After remaining on deck some time, he
returned and took his seat without uttering a word either to the surgeon
or to the midshipmen, although he swore away at Peter for not being
quick enough in bringing him what he asked for. Tom took no notice of
this, but after waiting some time, said in his usual polite way--
"I should be much obliged to you, Mr Betts, if you can supply me with a
sextant, and the use of the chronometer, as I should like to ascertain
our position."
"Then you won't be obliged to me, for I don't intend to let you have
them," answered the boatswain. "I can take care of this ship, and I
won't have any one interfering with me."
"I do not wish to interfere," said Tom. "I only desire to take an
observation for my own satisfaction."
"Then you won't have the satisfaction," said the boatswain. Desmond bit
his lip, and Tom expected to hear him every moment say something, which
would be sure to enrage the boatswain.
"At all events, if I can get a look at a chart, I shall be able to
calculate where we are although that may not prevent this obstinate
fellow from running the ship on a reef, and it will be a mercy if that
is not her fate," thought Tom.
"I believe the man has gone out of his mind," said Desmond, when he
found himself alone with his two messmates. "It is a pity we did not
put him in irons at first, and we might now have been on our way to
Hong-kong."
"We did what was right," observed Tom, "and whatever happens that will
be a satisfaction."
They hunted about for a chart, but the boatswain had locked that up
also, and refused to allow Tom to look at it. The wind continued
tolerably steady during the day, though the weather looked unsettled,
and the sea appeared again to be getting up. As the ship was kept under
her topsails and spanker, with two reefs down, no fresh sail was made,
and the boatswain did not order the midshipmen to perform any duty. The
doctor seemed to feel the loss of the captain very much. He had until
that morning entertained a hope of finding him, but this he now
abandoned, and having no confidence in the boatswain's skill as a
navigator, he seemed to have made up his mind that the ship would be
cast away, and that all on board would be lost. He had hitherto
appeared to be of a cheerful disposition, but he now sat all day moodily
in his cabin, with a book before him, although his eye scarcely glanced
at its pages. Tom and Gerald tried to induce him to come on deck, but
he shook his head, declaring that he did not feel able to walk. Billy
endeavoured to amuse him by telling him one of his funny stories, but
not a smile came over the poor doctor's face. At dinner the midshipmen
had all the conversation to themselves. The boatswain did not address
even a word to them. This did not, however, disconcert them in the
least, and they continued talking away as if there was no such person
present, so that he was well pleased to get up and go on deck.
The same weather continued for a couple of days. The boatswain kept a
watch on the midshipmen to prevent them taking an observation. Billy,
however, found a quadrant in the second mate's cabin, and watching his
opportunity when Mr Betts was below, brought it up on deck to Tom and
Gerald. They had fortunately carefully compared their watches with the
chronometer, and the doctor had concealed a nautical almanack.
"Arrah!" exclaimed Desmond; "we shall be able to make something of an
observation, although not as correct as we should wish."
Tom took the quadrant and was looking through it, when he suddenly felt
it dashed from his hand, and falling on deck it was broken. Turning
round he saw Mr Betts, who had stolen up behind him.
"So you fancy I cannot navigate the ship, do you; and must needs try and
take an observation yourself? Do you and your mates try that prank
again, and I'll land you all on the first island we sight, where you may
follow your own pleasure, if the savages don't knock you on the head and
eat you; and if some one doesn't take you off, which is not very likely,
there you will remain to the end of your days."
Gerald was beginning to answer this rude address, when Tom stopped him.
"We do not wish to have a dispute with you, Mr Betts, though we have a
perfect right to take an observation, or to do anything else which does
not interfere with the discipline of the ship," said Tom, as he turned
away, feeling that it was better to avoid any dispute with the
boatswain.
Tom accordingly signing to his companions, they all left the deck,
allowing the boatswain to pace up and down by himself.
Towards evening he sent the steward to them, and told them that he
expected all three to keep the middle watch.
"Your men will have the first watch," he said, "and I would advise you
to be on deck directly you are called."
As there was no reason to object to this they agreed to do as the
boatswain wished. They accordingly turned in for the first part of the
night. They had been asleep some time when a fearful crash was heard.
They, all three being awake, quickly slipped into their clothes.
"I knew it would be so," exclaimed the doctor, whom they met in the
cabin; "we shall none of us see another sunrise."
"I hope things won't be so bad as that," said Tom; "the ship seems to be
moving forward; perhaps she has merely touched a coral reef and has
scraped clear. We will go on deck and ascertain how matters stand."
The cries and shouts which reached the cabin showed that something
serious had happened. Scarcely had Tom and his companions gained the
deck, than again the ship struck with greater force than before, every
timber quivering from stem to stern. The foremast went by the board,
carrying with it the main-topmast, when a sea striking the ship swept
over her. The wild shrieks for help which followed showed that some of
the crew had been borne away.
"Can you see land?" asked Desmond of Tom.
"No; we are on a coral reef, and our chances of escape are very small."
Just then they heard the boatswain shouting out to the crew to lower a
boat, the only one remaining.
"Don't let us go in her," said Tom; "if the ship holds together, we
shall be better off where we are: when daylight comes we can form a
raft, and if there is any land near we may get there on it."
Both Desmond and Billy agreed to do as Tom proposed.
Just then Jerry came up. "I'll stick by you, whatever you intend
doing," he answered, when Tom told him what he proposed.
In the mean time, the boatswain, with the survivors of the crew, had
lowered the boat, and were throwing various things into her. Jerry made
out Tim and Pat among the people about to go off.
"Where are you going to?" he shouted. "Mr Rogers says he'll stick by
the wreck, and you'll not be deserting him, I hope?"
"That I'll not. Tim Nolan is not the man to desert his officer,"
answered Tim, as he made his way to the after part of the ship, where
Jerry was. Pat either did not hear Jerry, or determined to go off in
the boat if he could. The doctor and Peter, who had come on deck,
seemed undecided. It was evident from the dislike Peter had for the
boatswain that he was unwilling to accompany him. The boatswain, with
six other men, who alone remained of the crew, disappeared over the side
into the boat. The doctor, seized by a sudden impulse, rushed to the
side of the ship, shouting--
"Take me with you! take me with you!" but the oars had been got out, the
boat shoved off, and was already tossing among the broken water on the
lee of the ship, several fathoms off.
"You are safer on the wreck than in that boat," said Tom, as the doctor
came back.
"Dat you are, Massa Locock," said Peter. "See dare where de boat go."
Through the gloom the boat could just be distinguished, surrounded by
leaping masses of foaming water. The party on board watched her with
anxious eyes, until she disappeared in the darkness.
"Hark!" cried Peter. "Me tink I hear a shriek; dat come from de boat;
depen' upon it we no see her 'gan."
As, however, she must have been by this time a long way to leeward, Tom
thought it impossible that any human voice could have come up against
the wind still blowing as it did. Tom and Desmond, with the rest of the
party, discussed the probability as to where they were. They must have
passed over a sunken reef, on which the ship had first struck, and had
then run right on to another part of the reef, somewhat higher, where
she had become fixed. This was probably on the inner or lee side.
Though the sea broke over the fore part of the ship, the after part was
tolerably dry, and hopes were entertained that she would hold together
for some hours, and, should the wind go down, perhaps for days, which
would enable them to provide for their safety. After the doctor had
sufficiently recovered to take part in the discussion, he suggested that
perhaps she might be got off.
"You wouldn't say that, sir, if you had been forward when she struck,"
answered Jerry. "She is entirely stove in, and must have twelve or
fourteen feet of water in her by this time. It will be a hard job
before long to get any provisions."
"Then the sooner we set about it the better," said Tom, "if we can
manage to find our way in the dark."
"De lamp in de cabin is still 'light--me get him," said Peter, who soon
returned, carefully shading the lamp, when he, Jerry, and Tim made their
way below, hoping to reach the fore hold, where the bulk of the
provisions were stowed. They were, however, very soon convinced that it
would be utterly impossible to get up anything until the tide had
fallen, as the sea was rushing in at the bows, and completely flooding
the hold.
"Then we must try what we can do at daylight, for at present it would be
useless to attempt getting anything up. We will see, however, what is
to be found in the afterpart of the ship."
Peter recollected that there were some eases of biscuits and other
articles, which it was necessary to keep dry. His report encouraged Tom
to hope that they should not starve.
"Now, my lads, the first thing we have to do is to collect all the spars
and loose plank we can get hold of, to form a raft. We are likely to
find land either on one side or the other, perhaps not far off, though
we are unable to see it now, and we must manage to reach it and carry
provisions for our support, as we are not likely to find much more than
cocoa-nuts and fish. One satisfactory thing is that the people
hereabouts are not cannibals, and are generally disposed to be friendly
to white men, so that if the island we may reach is inhabited we are not
likely to be ill-treated."
Tom by these remarks and by keeping up his own spirits, prevented his
companions from losing theirs. Even the doctor began to hope that they
might escape. All hands now set to work to collect materials for the
raft as far as could be done in the dark, and to drag them up to the
weather side of the quarter-deck, where there was not much risk of their
being carried away. Altogether they managed to secure a number of spars
and pieces of the bulwarks and a good supply of rope of various sizes.
The cabin bulk-heads with other portions of the vessel which could
easily be torn away would give them wood enough to make a raft of
sufficient size to carry the whole party as well as provisions. By
lashing underneath two rows of casks, it would be sufficiently buoyant.
They were thus employed until daylight, when Tom, who had sprung up to
the poop to look out, exclaimed--"A ship in sight! a ship in sight!
she's only just hull down."
His shout brought the rest of the party up around him, and all were
eagerly looking out in the direction be pointed. As daylight increased,
Tim began to rub his eyes--
"Arrah now, ill-luck to it; but my ship has just turned into a white
rock," he cried out. "Shure but it's a mighty disappointment."
The expectation of speedy deliverance was thus suddenly destroyed; but
the shipwrecked party continued looking round on every side, in the hope
of discovering land. The light yet further increasing, Tom's
countenance brightened as he observed what looked like the masts of a
ship rising, far off, out of the water.
"Why, I believe those are three cocoa-nut trees," he cried out
cheerfully. "I see several others away to the eastward."
"If there are cocoa-nut trees, there must be land too, for they don't
grow out of the sea," said Billy, "and I hope we may be able to get
there."
"You need not doubt about our doing that," said Tom.
This announcement raised every one's spirits. The weather had much
moderated. The sea between the reef on which the ship lay and the land
was tolerably smooth.
The forlorn party began to cheer up. All now began to feel hungry.
"I'll tell you what it is: if we don't get something to eat soon, I for
one shall die of inanition," exclaimed Billy. "I can't stand starving
at the best of times, and I am suffering dreadfully."
"We will see what can be done, Billy," said Tom, and as if it was a
matter of course, he told Peter to get breakfast ready.
"Yes, massa officer, me soon do dat same," answered the black, grinning
and looking towards where the caboose had lately stood. "Me try what
can do in de cabin," he added, diving below.
Though the caboose had been washed away Peter managed to light a fire in
the cabin stove and to cook a tolerable breakfast, of which all
thankfully partook.
"'Faith! we're not so badly off after all," observed Gerald. "If the
boatswain and the poor fellows with him had stuck to the ship, they
might all have been alive now and have reached land without difficulty."
Immediately after breakfast they began to put the raft together, which
Tom determined to form of an oblong shape like a catamaran, so that it
might, should the wind be fair, be sailed or propelled by paddles
towards the shore. As the distance was considerable, it was important
to make it as strong as possible, to stand any amount of sea they were
likely to meet with before they reached the shore. It took upwards of
an hour to form the frame-work and deck it. They then, having cut away
the bulwarks, launched it overboard with capstan bars. The water under
the lee of the wreck was tolerably smooth, so that the raft remained
alongside without injury. They had next to lash the casks below it.
This was a more difficult operation, as it was necessary to secure them
firmly in their proper positions, a row on each side, head to head.
When it was completed, the platform floated well out of the water.
Three oars only could be found on board, so that they had to form
paddles by nailing boards on to the ends of short spars. The next work
was to rig the masts. Tom and Desmond agreed to have two masts with a
bowsprit, so that they might be able to sail with the wind abeam. The
masts were firmly fixed by means of blocks nailed to the deck, and they
were set up with stays. By noon the raft was completed. The midshipmen
surveyed her with considerable satisfaction.
"I for one should not mind sailing in her anywhere, provided she was
well provisioned," said Billy Blueblazes. "I don't see why we should
not try to fetch the Ladrones, if we don't find ourselves very
comfortable where we are going."
"I would strongly advise you not to make the attempt, young gentlemen,"
said the doctor, with a groan, he not being as well satisfied with the
appearance of the raft as his younger companions.
"We shall see how she will behave when she has her cargo on board, and
we get under way," said Tom.
"Don't you think we had better have some dinner before we shove off?"
asked Billy; "it won't do to be going away without our grub, as it may
be some time before we reach the shore."
Billy's proposal was agreed to, although Tom strongly recommended that
there should be no unnecessary delay. While Peter was preparing dinner,
all the stores which could be collected were placed on the raft and
lashed securely down amidships. The principal provisions found aft were
biscuits, tins of potted meats, a few preserves, coffee, tea, sugar, and
five well-cured hams.
"We are pretty well off as it is," said Desmond; "but don't let us go
without firearms."
The doctor had a fowling-piece, and muskets and pistols enough were
found to arm each of the rest of the party. With a good supply of
ammunition they would thus, should they meet with hostile savages, be
able to keep them at bay.
They had already secured provisions sufficient to last them for several
weeks. As it was important, however, to obtain some of a more
substantial character, Jerry and Tim volunteered to dive down into the
fore hold to try and get up some casks of beef. This, after some labour
and no little risk of drowning themselves, they succeeded in doing, and
two casks of beef were hoisted on deck. They fortunately came upon two
casks, one of flour the other of rice, which, although damaged by the
water, might be dried on shore in the sun, and rendered eatable. These
accordingly were added to their provisions. Two cases of wine and a
small keg of spirits were also put on board. Peter added to these some
cooking utensils, with cups, plates, knives, and forks. At length, Tom
declared that the raft would carry no more. It was high time indeed to
set off, as it might take them until dark to reach the land in sight.
"Let me advise you, gentlemen, to carry some clothing and blankets; they
will not weigh much, and we may want them," observed the doctor.
His advice was followed.
"We must get on board and shove off," cried Tom, at last.
His messmates and the men obeyed him, being fully as eager as he was.
The doctor was below; he presently appeared with his medicine chest and
instrument case, which were handed down.
"Why, we are going off without a chart or nautical instrument!"
exclaimed Tom, reminded of his negligence by seeing the doctor's cases.
He and Desmond returned on board and found the chart, sextant, and
chronometer, which the boatswain had fortunately not carried off.
"The raft is as fully laden as she should be," observed Tom to Desmond;
"we should arrange what things to heave overboard, if it comes on to
blow and she cannot carry them all."
"The doctor's physic, cases, and instruments, I should say," answered
Desmond; "however, I hope we shall not have to do that. The weather
looks promising. As the wind is fair, we may soon reach the land."
These remarks were made on deck. The two midshipmen now sprang on board
the raft. Tom gave the order to cast off, and all hands getting out the
oars and paddles, the raft began to move away from the wreck. The
foresail was now set, then the mainsail with the jib, Tom steering with
a long oar, the raft glided rapidly and smoothly over the water. Their
voyage was thus far well commenced, but Tom and Desmond could not help
recollecting their late adventure in the boat, and how narrowly they had
escaped perishing from hunger, although they had been so well supplied
with provisions when they started. While Tom steered, Billy remained
aft to tend the main-sheet, and Desmond, with Jerry, stood forward to
keep a look-out for any reefs which might not have sufficient water on
them to allow the raft to pass over. No dangers, however, as yet
appeared ahead. They were apparently in the centre of a large circular
reef, of which the island they hoped to gain formed a portion. They
expected to find a beach on which they might run the raft, and land
their cargo without difficulty. They were, however, too far off as yet
to ascertain its character. Of its existence they could only tell by
seeing the cocoa-nut trees growing on it. It was evidently very low.
Of its extent they were unable to form an opinion.
"My fear is that we shall find no water on it, and in that case we must
search for another," observed the doctor.
"You forget the milk in the cocoa-nuts," said Desmond, laughing.
"We should very soon exhaust that," answered the doctor, in a gloomy
tone.
"But we don't know yet that we shall not find water," answered Desmond;
"I can already make out the land extending a couple of miles north and
south, and if it was not higher than we at first supposed, we should not
see it even yet."
"If any volcanic agency has been at work, we may then hope to find
water," observed the doctor, brightening a little; "but I confess that I
cannot see the land."
The doctor, however, was near-sighted. The question next arose whether
there were any inhabitants, and if so, whether they were likely to prove
friendly.
"I should say that if white kidnappers from your colonies have visited
them, they are likely to be anything but friendly, and we shall probably
have to fight for our lives," said the doctor.
"But, my dear sir, we don't know whether there are any inhabitants,"
said Desmond. "Let us look at the bright side of things we have escaped
with our lives, and have abundance of provisions. Why should we make
ourselves more unhappy than is necessary?"
The wind occasionally dropped, when the oars and paddles were put in
motion, and the raft continued its course steadily towards the land.
Even when the wind blew the freshest she moved but slowly, so that for a
long time it appeared as if she would not reach the shore before dark.
As they looked astern, however, they found that they had sunk the wreck
almost out of sight. The doctor fancied she must have gone down, as he
could not distinguish her. The wind, however, again freshened, and
Jerry asserted that the raft was going at the rate of three knots an
hour.
At length the land was clearly seen in some places, at the further side
of the island especially, rising to a considerable height in ridges and
hillocks.
"No fear now, doctor, about not finding water," observed Desmond.
"Volcanic agency must have been at work to throw up those hills, and I
begin to see low trees or shrubs. It may turn out to be after all a
fertile spot, though not a very picturesque one, I grant."
"If it affords us rest to our feet, and vegetable productions to keep
scurvy at a distance, with an ample supply of water, we shall have
reason to be thankful," said the doctor, whose spirits rose as he was
persuaded that his worst anticipations would not be fulfilled.
The sun was now getting low, and it would be dark before they could
reach the shore. Desmond and Jerry both declared that they could see no
sign of breakers, and just before the sun dipped beneath the horizon his
rays shone on a white sandy beach, which promised to afford them an easy
landing-place. On one point, however, the doctor's mind was not
satisfied. "What if the island is inhabited by savages? And if it
supplies food and water, it is very likely to be the case," he observed.
"We must try and make friends with them, or, if they will not be
friends, keep them at a distance; depend upon it they will be civil
enough when they see our firearms," answered Desmond.
"Inhabited? I'm sure it is," exclaimed Jerry, suddenly. "Look there!
there's a fellow dancing away on the top of that hillock. He sees us;
the chances are a score or two more black fellows like him are hidden
away, who will be down upon us as we step on shore."
Desmond at the same time saw the savage, and told Tom.
"Well, there is but one as yet," said Tom; "perhaps, however, it may be
prudent to load a couple of the muskets, though one will be sufficient,
depend upon it, to keep them at bay."
As the raft approached the shore, the gestures of the savage appeared to
become more and more frantic, but the gloom of evening soon rendered his
form indistinct, although he could still be seen against the sky. The
breeze having once more almost died away, the paddles were again got
out. The raft neared the shore. There was, they saw, a little surf,
but not sufficient to endanger the raft and cargo. In a few minutes
more the beach would be reached. The savage had disappeared, but a
voice was heard, evidently shouting to them.
"Bedad! but the savage is Pat Casey!" exclaimed Tim, who recognised his
countryman's voice, and, as the raft touched the beach, Pat rushed
forward, and grasped the hands of Jerry and Tim, who sprang overboard to
assist in securing it. The rest of the party quickly followed, as it
was important to lighten the raft as soon as possible.
"Where are the other men?" asked the doctor. "We thought you were all
lost soon after you left the wreck."
"Sure, so they all were entirely but myself," answered Pat; "and how I
came on shore is more than I can tell, except that I'm after supposing I
held on to the bottom of the boat, and this morning I found myself high
and dry on the beach. I'm mighty glad to see you all, and you are
welcome to the island."
"Are there any savages?" asked the doctor.
"Barring myself, no, your honour," answered Pat, with a laugh. "They
would have been down upon me before now if there had been any, but not a
soul have I set eyes on since I came ashore."
However, there was no time for talking, as it was important at once to
land the cargo. The whole party, aided by Pat, immediately set about
performing this task. Everything was got on shore without damage. The
raft itself was then secured by the strongest ropes they possessed to
the trunk of a cocoa-nut tree, which fortunately grew near. Pat had
collected wood for a fire, though he had forgotten that he did not
possess the means of igniting it. But some matches having been
fortunately brought among other things, a bright blaze was soon
produced. By its light, at the doctor's suggestion, a tent was formed
with the sails of the raft and some spare canvas, large enough to afford
shelter to the whole party.
Peter and Pat had been, in the mean time, busily engaged in preparing
supper, to which all hands were ready to do justice.
"Dare, gentl'm," exclaimed Peter, as he placed some slices of fried ham
before the doctor and midshipmen; "you no get better dan dis in de bes'
hotel in Boston. Per'aps you tink de cook is worth glass ob grog?"
Tom took the hint, and divided a couple of bottles of wine among the
party, which assisted to put them in good spirits. They sat round the
fire, yarns were told and songs were sung, but their heads soon began to
nod, and they were glad to seek the shelter of the tent. As the island
was uninhabited, Tom did not consider it necessary to set a watch;
indeed, had any one of the party made the attempt, the probabilities
were that he would have been unable to keep his eyes open.