THE MASTER OF THE FOX--BARGAIN FOR A PASSAGE--TRADING WITH THE NATIVES--
FAREWELL TO FRIENDS--THE SKIPPER'S RASCALLY TRICK--THE FOX WITH THE
MIDSHIPMEN ON BOARD AT SEA--BAD FARE--FISHING--A SHARK CAPTURED, AND THE
SKIPPER KNOCKED OVER--SHORT OF WATER--THE FOX STRUCK BY A SQUALL--
CAPSIZED--THE MIDSHIPMEN HOLD ON TO THE SIDE OF THE BRIG--IN A DESPERATE
CONDITION--A SAIL--TAKEN OFF BY A BOAT FROM THE EMPRESS--FOX FOUNDERS--
WELCOMED ON BOARD--SYDNEY REACHED--A PLEASANT VISIT ON SHORE--BOUND FOR
NEW ZEALAND.
While the midshipmen were standing on the shore of the harbour a boat
put off from the brig, and came towards them. She was pulled by four
hands, two of whom were blacks and two Malays. A stout white man, in a
broad-brimmed straw hat, evidently the skipper, sat in the stern sheets.
On landing, the latter, looking hard at them, and surveying their
travel-stained, tattered uniforms, inquired--
"Where in the world do you come from?"
"From the other side of New Guinea," answered Tom. He briefly narrated
their adventures. "We want to get on to Sydney, where we expect to find
our ship. Can you take us there?" he added.
"That depends on circumstances," answered the skipper. "Can you pay for
your passage?"
"We can work it, at all events, and I have no doubt that our captain
will pay any sum we agree to," said Tom.
Tom did not like either the manner or appearance of the skipper. Of
course he did not express his opinion, either by words or looks.
"Are you bound for Sydney?" inquired Tom; "for, if so, we may come to
terms."
"As to that, I should not mind putting in there, provided you will pay
the expenses. I was thinking of going further south, but I have not
quite made up my mind," was the answer. "The _Fox_ is a fine craft, and
you will not have another chance of getting to Sydney, or to any other
English port for many months to come. Few British traders touch here."
"I see several Chinese junks and Malay proas. We may have a chance of
getting to Banda, or to some Dutch port, or Singapore," said Tom,
determined not to be done, if he could help it, by the master of the
_Fox_.
"You will wish yourself on board the _Fox_ if you sail in one of those
craft, I can tell you," said the skipper. "Come, you had better close
with me, and I'll undertake to land you at Sydney. What do you say now
to 30 pounds a head, and payment for such provisions and liquors as you
consume? It will be a mighty deal better than sweltering on here in
this hot place, with a chance of being knocked on the head, or being
brought down by fever."
Tom thought the charge exorbitant, as probably no small sum would be
added for provisions. He drew Desmond and Billy aside to consult with
them. They were of opinion that the captain would certainly be
unwilling to pay so large an amount. They soon returned to where the
master of the _Fox_ was standing watching them.
"May I ask your name?" said Tom.
"Yes; it's Stubbins; I've no reason to be ashamed of it."
"Well, Captain Stubbins, we will pay you twenty pounds a-head for
ourselves, and fifteen for each of our men, besides a pound a day for
provisions."
"You are sharp young gentlemen, I've an opinion," said the skipper. "If
you don't like my terms you will stay here until you wish you had
accepted them. I shall not be away for a fortnight or more, for I only
came in yesterday, and have to get rid of my cargo and take a fresh one
on board."
Accompanied by Captain Stubbins they returned to the hut of the chief,
who was, they found, the principal trader in the place. He and the
skipper appeared to be well acquainted, and arrangements for trading
were soon concluded. The _Fox_ had brought a cargo of very
miscellaneous articles, consisting of gorgeously coloured calicoes of
patterns such as to attract the savage taste--firearms, powder and shot,
axes, knives, other articles of ironware, and no small amount of
execrable rum and other spirits. The skipper invited the natives on
board, and took good care to ply them with liquor before he commenced
trading. The chief and his people had stores collected for the purpose,
consisting of birds of paradise, and monkey skins, pearls, various kinds
of wood and bark and gums, drugs and spices, besides cocoa-nuts, and
other fruit and vegetables.
They showed themselves keen traders; and it was evident that, should
they meet with a certain sale and obtain fair prices, they would be
ready to collect a large amount of valuable produce, such as there can
be no doubt their country furnishes.
Captain Stubbins, having obtained all the produce which had been
collected by the natives, urged them to obtain a supply from other
villages in the interior; and parties set off in various directions with
the goods they had brought to make purchases. Thus the midshipmen were
detained a month instead of a fortnight; and, as Captain Stubbins would
not abate his demands, they were finally compelled to accept them.
Immediately they had agreed to his terms, the skipper's manner changed.
He appeared to be anxious to accommodate them in every way in his power.
He persuaded them to come and live on board, as they would be more
comfortable than in the hut of the chief, and he would be ready, should
the wind come fair, to put to sea at any moment, without having to wait
for them. The midshipmen agreed to his proposal, carrying with them
several monkeys, and cages full of birds, which the hospitable chief had
given them. In return for all his kindness they presented him with
their own rifles, while they gave to Nick and Pipes two seamen's
muskets, and such other articles as they could spare, promising to send
the honest fellows more should an opportunity occur of forwarding the
things from Sydney, as a reward for their fidelity. The two Papuans and
their chief were highly delighted and grateful for the gifts, which they
looked upon as an ample return for the services they had rendered.
The brig looked like a menagerie, with the number of creatures which the
captain and crew were taking, mostly monkeys and birds, such as were not
to be found in Australia.
The natives now returned with a considerable amount of produce, which
the skipper received on board, promising to send the goods in payment on
shore. In the mean time he presented, with apparent generosity, some
kegs of spirits to the chief and his people.
The midshipmen, Casey, and Peter had turned in for the night, which was
very dark, with the wind off shore. They heard the skipper go on deck,
but were soon asleep again. Not long after this they were awakened by
the sound of the windlass.
"Why they must be weighing anchor!" exclaimed Tom.
He and Desmond dressed, and went on deck. The brig was already under
way, standing out of the harbour.
"Why, Captain Stubbins, you've forgotten to send the goods on shore, in
return for the produce which came off yesterday!"
"Bless my heart! so I have!" answered the skipper, with a hoarse laugh.
"I'll pay the people the next time I come here; but they are too drunk
by this time to know whether I have paid or not; and, knowing that you
were in a hurry to get to Sydney, as the wind was fair, I could not
resist the temptation of putting to sea."
Tom made no reply, but he had a very strong suspicion that the skipper
had intended to cheat the poor natives, and such, indeed, he found to be
the case.
When morning dawned, the _Fox_ was far beyond the possibility of pursuit
by the natives, even had the chiefs been in a condition to follow her,
which in all probability they were not, owing to the cunningly bestowed
kegs of liquor. The breeze continued, and the _Fox_ made good way. The
skipper and his mate were constantly on the look-out to avoid the rocks
and shoals which so thickly dot the entrance to Torres Straits. The
brig then stood to the eastward, so as to run well clear of the coral
reefs which fringe the north-eastern portion of Australia. Tom and his
companions were thankful at length to find themselves, after all the
dangers and toils they had gone through, on their way to a place where
they could hope to meet with their ship; at the same time, there was
little comfort to boast of on board. Their berths were narrow recesses
on either side of the little cabin, which was close in the extreme, and
swarmed, moreover, with cockroaches and other creeping things, scorpions
and centipedes, which had come on board with the cargo and occasionally
made their appearance.
"I don't care for the beasts, hungry as they are, but it is not pleasant
to know that one may be stung at any moment by them," said Desmond, as
he brought his knife down on one which had fallen on the breakfast
table.
As long as their fresh provisions lasted, they fared pretty well, but
when these were exhausted, they were reduced to very short commons, and,
as Desmond observed, "very bad of its sort." Salt junk, which had made,
perhaps, more than one voyage round the world, and mouldy biscuit,
constituted the chief ingredients of their meals. The midshipmen
complained, but the skipper replied that he gave them the best he had.
Billy especially declared that he should die of inanition. "Salt junk
never agreed with me at the best of times, and this is more like old
horse than beef," he groaned, as he turned about a piece of
black-looking stuff at the end of his fork.
The men were quite as ill off--they could not be worse; but when they
found their officers faring as badly as they were, they could not
complain. The old brig sailed like a tub even in a breeze, and at last
the wind dropped and they lay becalmed day after day with the sun
striking down on their heads. They had found it hot enough very
frequently in travelling through the country; it was here sometimes even
hotter. On their journey they had had at all events abundance of food,
refreshing fruits, and clear water, while now they had only tepid,
thick, brackish liquid to drink. When they made faces as they poured it
out at meal time, the skipper remarked with a grin--
"You're better off than if we had none, and if we are many weeks longer
on the voyage maybe we shall be in that condition."
Tom suggested that as soon as a breeze sprang up, they should steer for
Brisbane, or one of the northern Australian ports, but the skipper would
not listen to any such proposal. He preferred keeping the open sea,
free of the reefs which existed nearer in with the land. Tom observed
that they were already much further to the eastward than was necessary,
but Captain Stubbins, though he was evidently no great navigator,
declared that he knew his way as well as any naval officer, and refused
to lend Tom his quadrant to make an observation.
Billy looked very melancholy, and declared that should the voyage
continue much longer he should give up the ghost.
"If we could catch some fish we should do better," said Tom. "Suppose
you ask the skipper if he has got any hooks and lines."
"I doubt whether the old fellow will take the trouble to look them out
if he has," observed Desmond.
Billy applied as was proposed, and greatly to his delight the mats
produced a shark hook and several others of smaller size, with a supply
of lines. In a few minutes all hands were busy with lines overboard
with bits of pork and beef for bait. Several curious fish were hauled
up, but the native crew pronounced them poisonous, and declared that
those who ate them would die. This was tantalising.
While they were engaged in the sport, Toby--Desmond's favourite monkey,
whom he had taught all sorts of tricks--hopped on the bulwarks to see
what they were about.
"Take care what you are doing, Master Toby," sang out Desmond, springing
forward to catch the monkey, who was in dangerous proximity to the shark
hook line. Toby, expecting to be caught, made a spring, but having no
rope to take hold of, lost his balance, and over he went into the water.
Desmond, who was fond of the little animal, threw a line, calling to him
to catch hold of it, but the monkey, finding itself in the water, was
too much alarmed to obey his directions.
"I'll go after him," cried Desmond, and was on the point of leaping
overboard, when Toby uttered a cry of agony, a black snout was seen to
rise for an instant, the white of a shark's belly glanced in the water,
and Toby disappeared beneath the surface.
"The horrid brute!" exclaimed Desmond; "we will pay him off for this if
we can."
The fishermen persevered, and Desmond caught a good-looking fish and Tom
another.
"I've got one!" cried Billy, pulling away. "Here, Desmond, come and
help me haul it in--he must be a big fellow."
They hauled away at the line, which suddenly came up very rapidly, when
a shark's nose appeared above the water; it was but for a moment, and
the next Billy and Desmond were sprawling on the deck with the hook
bitten off some way above the shank.
"Bad luck to the beast! It's the same which ate up poor Toby," cried
Desmond, as he picked himself up.
"I only hope he will not run away with any more of our hooks," said Tom.
"It will be as well to haul them in before he gets hold of them."
Directly afterwards the line with the shark hook attached was seen to be
pulled violently.
"Hurrah! the voracious brute has got hold of the hook intended for him,"
cried Tom. "Let's haul him in before he breaks clear."
All hands ran to the line. Casey made a bowline round the line, ready
to slip over the shark's head as soon as it should appear above water.
Could it once be got round its body, its capture would be certain.
Peter, in the mean time, got another ready to slip over its tail. The
mate and some of the Malays came to the assistance of the midshipmen.
Keeping a steady pull on the line, they soon brought the head of the big
shark to the surface. It had bolted the hook, and was biting away at
the chain secured to the shank.
"He'll be through it if we don't make haste!" cried Tom. "Quick, quick,
Casey! slip the bowline round him!"
The seaman managed dexterously to do this, and the rest of the crew,
hauling away, at length got its body out of the water. It was a huge
creature, ten feet long. It struggled desperately, beating the water
into foam alongside, so that it was some time before Peter could get a
rope round its tail. That done it was a close prisoner.
"Keep all the lines taut, or he'll be wriggling through them and carry
off the hook and line!" cried Tom. At last it was got up flush with the
bulwarks, when down it came, knocking over poor Billy and two of the
native crew. Had not Tom and Desmond rushed forward and hauled Billy
out of the way, he would have been beaten into a mummy by the furious
lashing of the creature's tail. For several moments it had possession
of the deck, until at length Casey and Peter, having got hold of an axe
apiece, rushed up and each dealt him a blow across the tail, springing
back the next instant out of its way. Again and again they had to
repeat their blows. It was some time before the struggles of the
monster ceased.
"I shouldn't like to be in the way of that fellow's jaws," exclaimed
Billy, as he examined the shark's head.
Just then the creature gave a heave, and Billy sprang back, knocking
over Peter, who, in his turn, tumbling against the skipper, brought him
sprawling to the deck. Captain Stubbins, getting up, furiously attacked
poor Peter, as if he had tumbled against him intentionally, and, seizing
a rope, began to belabour him severely. This excited Tom's and
Desmond's indignation.
"You've no business to treat the poor fellow in that way," exclaimed
Tom; "and I'll not allow it!"
"Who are you?" said the skipper. "This is mutiny, and I'll clap you and
your companions in irons as soon as look at you."
"We are Queen's officers, and cannot allow a man under our charge to be
treated as you have this poor fellow," answered Tom, in a determined
tone.
The skipper, muttering a furious oath, without another word retired to
his cabin, and presently re-appeared with a pistol in his hand, and
another sticking out of his pocket.
Tom fixed his eye calmly upon him. "We do not fear your threats,
Captain Stubbins," he said. "If you were to kill one of us, you would
be guilty of murder, and would be hung to a certainty. Let me advise
you, then, to take those pistols back to your cabin. We have no wish to
insult you or to dispute your authority. Our messmate, who was the
cause of the black's falling against you, is ready to apologise: I hope
that will satisfy you."
"Really, Captain Stubbins, I am very sorry for what has happened,"
exclaimed Billy; "and I am sure the shark would be if he could speak,
for he, after all, was the cause of your misfortune. Had he not given
so unexpected a plunge, I should not have tumbled down nor knocked over
Peter, and Peter would not have knocked over you. I promise you it
shall not occur again, for I'll keep clear of him until we have a few
delicately browned slices placed on the table. I never ate shark, but
I'll undertake that it shall be better than the salt beef we have on
board."
By the time Billy had finished his apology the skipper's anger had
somewhat cooled down, but he still walked the deck with a pistol in his
hand, and Tom and Desmond kept an eye upon him lest he should all of a
sudden take it into his head to fire at one of them. At last, greatly
to their satisfaction, he went below, and replaced the pistols in his
berth.
Several other fish were caught after this, so that the midshipmen were
not reduced to eat the shark. On cutting it open, poor Toby was
discovered within, and served as a _bonne bouche_ to the crew, the
midshipmen contenting themselves with the fish.
As long as the calm lasted, and fish could be obtained, the passengers
and crew of the _Fox_ did not fare ill; but as the midshipmen were
anxious to get over a disagreeable passage and rejoin their ship, they
would gladly have gone on short commons and made a quick passage. The
water every day became worse and diminished in quantity, and they had
serious apprehensions of what might be the result.
"If we could manage to construct such a still as our friend the American
doctor formed on the sand-bank, we might obtain fresh water," observed
Tom.
"I'm sure I don't know exactly how it was done," answered Desmond, "but
I remember the principle, and feel pretty sure that I could manage it if
any one on board understands blacksmith's work. Steam we can produce
fast enough from the largest tea-kettle on board; the chief difficulty
will be the condenser."
When, however, Tom mentioned his idea to Captain Stubbins, the skipper
laughed at him, and declared that he could not do it if he tried, as
there was no blacksmith on board. A breeze springing up made it less
necessary for Tom to try his experiment, and the skipper asserted that
the water would hold out until they could get into Sydney. He was,
however, all this time keeping much further to the eastward than was
necessary. Tom and Desmond agreed that he was not aware how far off he
was from land, though he would find out his mistake when he came to haul
to the westward.
"Well, I do wish this voyage was over," exclaimed poor Billy, on whom
the hard fare was beginning to tell, though he had wonderfully withstood
the long journey across the country. "I shall be losing the number of
my mess if this horrid brig doesn't make better way than she has
hitherto been doing."
There seemed every probability of the voyage being prolonged. Now the
wind was contrary, now it again fell calm; and even with a fair wind the
tub of a brig seldom made more than five or six knots an hour. The heat
of the cabin was such that the midshipmen never remained below longer
than they could help, and much of the night was spent on deck. The
skipper, on the contrary, seemed seasoned to any amount of heat, and was
constantly below.
One night, after a supper of hard, cold, salt beef, which they could
only eat by cutting it into the thinnest of slices--mouldy biscuit, rum
and muddy water--they went on deck, where they found Casey and Peter,
who had been taking a meal of the same description. Excepting the
watch, the rest of the crew were below.
"Any chance of our getting in, sir?" asked Casey of Tom. "It is pretty
well time we should be there, for I've been trying to learn what
quantity of water we have got on board. As far as I can make out, we've
not got a gallon at the most, and that won't keep our tongues moist for
more than a couple of days."
"I doubt whether the master himself is aware of this," said Tom, "for he
takes the matter very easy, and he ought to have put all hands on an
allowance before this. He must do so, or we shall be dying of thirst
before we drop anchor in Sydney harbour."
The brig was at this time under all sail, but the wind was light, and
she was making little way. Suddenly her sails gave a loud flap against
the mast.
"We are going to have another calm, I fear," said Desmond.
"I'm not quite so sure of that," said Casey. "I've been watching the
sky, and it seems to me as if a thick gloom was spreading over it. I've
observed a dark bank rising rapidly to the southward and eastward.
Look, sir, you cannot see a star in that quarter. If I was the mate,
I'd shorten sail at once."
Tom and Desmond took a survey of the horizon in the quarter to which
Casey was pointing. The bank was rising rapidly; it looked, indeed, as
if a dark curtain was being drawn over the sky.
"I'll point it out to the mate," said Tom.
On going aft, Tom found the mate seated close to the taffrail. Instead
of keeping a look-out, he was fast asleep. Tom roused him up, and
pointed out the appearance of the sky.
"I don't think it's anything," he observed, rubbing his eyes.
"It is, though," cried Tom. "Listen to that roar."
At that moment a dull rushing sound was heard, and a long streak of
white was seen extending from east to south-west across the ocean.
"Turn the hands up! shorten sail!" cried Tom.
The mate repeated the order. The midshipmen sprang to the main-topsail
halyards, Casey and Peter to the fore-topsail; but almost before a rope
could be let go, a fierce blast struck the brig. In vain the mate tried
to put the helm up. Over she heeled more and more, until the yardarms
touched the water. Tom and Desmond seized hold of Billy, who had just
before dropped off to sleep, and scrambled up to the weather bulwarks.
Casey and Peter had been doing the same. Another instant and the brig
was on her beam ends, with the water rising up to the combings of the
hatchway.
Believing that the brig was going over, the midshipmen and their
companions got on to the outside of the bulwarks, holding on to the
main-chains. As the lee side of the sails was already under water,
there was no probability that the brig would rise again. Every moment,
indeed, it seemed as if she must go down. Their position was truly a
fearful one.
The mate and the man at the helm had apparently slipped off into the
water, as they were nowhere visible. Of the two men forward, one only
succeeded in gaining the bulwarks, the other had probably shared the
fate of the mate. The condition of those below was terrible. Unable to
gain the deck, they were probably drowned in their berths. Although the
main hatchway was closed, the fore and companion hatches were open.
The wind howled over the doomed brig; the sea was getting up. The
midshipmen believed that she must quickly founder and their fate be
sealed.
"We have gone through many a danger together," said Tom, to Desmond;
"but I believe our time has come at last. I wish my brother Jack could
have known our fate. He will be very sorry for us, and so will those at
home."
"It cannot be helped," said Desmond. "I should have liked to live
longer, and we are better off than the poor fellows drowning in their
berths."
"What! Do you think the brig is going down?" cried Billy. "Dear me,
how dreadful; can't we get something to float upon?"
"As the water is rushing into her fearfully fast, I don't see what
chance there is of her floating," answered Tom. "However, we will not
give up all hope while she remains above water. Perhaps, when the
squall is passed over, we may manage to scramble out along the masts and
cut away the topgallant yards, and get hold of some of the gratings or
spare spars to form a raft."
"We must be quick about it, then," observed Desmond; "for the old craft
may go down at any moment."
"While the wind is blowing as it is now, there is no use making the
attempt," said Tom. "She does not appear to me to have sunk lower than
she did when she first went over. She has a light cargo, and will float
longer than a vessel heavily laden."
The midshipmen, however, could not talk much, for it was a difficult
matter to make each other hear, what with the sound of the wind, and the
sea dashing against the hull of the brig, while showers of spray fell
over them. They could distinguish the figures of Casey and Peter, with
another man holding on to the fore-rigging, but as yet they had been
unable to exchange words with them, and were afraid to let go their
hold, lest they should be washed off by the sea. The gale continued to
blow furiously, and for two hours a perfect hurricane raged. It
suddenly ceased, and the sea--though not so rapidly--began to go down.
On this their hopes revived. Tom was anxious to ascertain Casey's
opinion, and made his way to the fore-rigging.
"I'd stick to the hull, sir," answered Pat. "The brig has floated so
long; she may float longer, and we had better wait until daylight before
we attempt to make a raft. We may chance to slip off into the sea, or
one of those savage sharks may be watching a chance to get hold of us."
Tom followed Casey's advice, and without much difficulty regained his
former position. Never had a night appeared so long to any of the
party. Notwithstanding their position, however, Billy was constantly
dropping off to sleep, and Tom and Desmond had to hold him on, or he
would to a certainty have fallen into the water. As the morning
approached, the sea became perfectly calm. They would have been
thankful for the breeze, which might bring some vessel to their succour.
What hope could they have of surviving many hours on the bottom of the
brig? The sun rose. Almost exhausted, the midshipmen could with
difficulty hold on. As they turned their weary eyes in all directions,
not an object was in sight.
"No land to be seen?" asked poor Billy.
"That may be a couple of hundred miles away, I fear," answered Tom.
"Any vessel coming to our help?" again inquired Billy, who, stretched on
the rigging, could not lift his head.
"Without a breath of air, there is no chance of that," said Desmond;
"but cheer up, Billy, perhaps a steamer will be coming this way."
"There are not many likely to be cruising in this direction," observed
Tom. "However, as I have said all along, we will hope for the best."
"Oh! I'm so hungry; so thirsty," moaned the younger midshipman. "Can't
you get me something to eat?"
"If we were to go into the cabin, we should find nothing," said Desmond.
"The last cask of water was on the starboard side, with the hung out,
and must be full of salt water by this time."
The midshipmen again relapsed into silence.
The sun rose higher and higher, its beams striking down with fury on
their heads; even Tom, who was the strongest, felt that they could not
hold out much longer. Hour after hour went by; still, if they were not
to perish, something must be done. He asked Casey and the other men
whether they had by chance any fish-hooks in their pockets? They
searched, but in vain, and as to going below to look for them, they all
declared that it would be impossible. The brig, however, continued to
float; that was something, but Tom could not help acknowledging that
they would be unable to hold out another night. Even he, as he felt the
pangs of hunger and his mouth parched with thirst, began to despair.
Desmond and Billy were already far gone. He gazed at the countenances
of his two messmates. "They'll never see another sun rise, and shall
I?" Tom began seriously to consider how best to prepare himself for his
inevitable fate.
Just then Casey sang out, "A breeze! a breeze! I felt it on my cheek, a
moment ago!" He endeavoured to wet his finger with his parched tongue,
but could hardly do so. He held up his hand. "It's from the southward,
and if we can manage to build a raft, we may yet reach the land, or get
into the line of vessels running between Sydney and the northern ports."
These exclamations aroused Tom; even Desmond looked up.
"A breeze! Yes, indeed, there is, and a sail too. She is standing
towards us!" He pointed to the southward. A patch of white canvas, on
which the sun was shining brightly, appeared on the blue ocean. Casey,
at at the same time, caught sight of it.
"Hurrah! hurrah! we are saved; she cannot fail to see us."
The cheer was taken up by his companions in misfortune. Even Billy
lifted up his head.
"Is it true, Rogers, that you see a sail?" he asked.
"As true as that we are here, but we must not make too sure of being
discovered," replied Tom.
"Sure, they would not be after passing us, if they once get sight of the
wreck," said Desmond.
"That's just what they may not happen to do," answered Tom, who had
become much less sanguine than formerly, and, hungry and worn out, was
inclined to look on the dark side of things.
The breeze increased, the stranger drew nearer and nearer. Tom and
Desmond were both of opinion that she was a man-of-war. Casey thought
the same. The question was, however, whether she would pass them by.
She was steering due west, and an object so low in the water as the hull
of the brig now was, might not be visible. On she came, until she was
about south-east of them, and as yet it was evident that those on board
had not seen the wreck, though she herself was easily made out to be a
large man-of-war steamer. Proudly she was gliding on, when her yards
were braced up and she stood towards the brig.
"Thank Heaven, there is no longer any doubt about it!" cried Tom.
"Rouse up, Billy, rouse up, my boy! We are all right! Here comes the
steamer to our assistance, and more than that, I'm very sure that she is
the _Empress_, or a craft so like her that it would be difficult to
distinguish one from the other."
Poor Billy could only raise his head and smile faintly, as he
ejaculated, "Thank Heaven, too!"
Tom was undoubtedly right. In a few minutes more the _Empress_ was
almost within hail, a boat was lowered, and with rapid strokes came
pulling towards them. Mr Norman, from whom they had last parted on the
coast of Papua, was in her, but he evidently did not recognise them,
supposing them to be part of the brig's crew.
"Slide down, and we will catch you," he cried out, as the boat pulled
close to the keel of the brig, the rigging preventing her approaching
the deck side.
"Billy shall go first," said Tom, and making a rope fast round their
messmate, he and Desmond lowered him down.
"Handsomely, handsomely!" cried the lieutenant, "or that boy's skin will
be torn off his back. Why! who have we here?" exclaimed Mr Norman in
astonishment, looking at Billy's haggard countenance and recognising him
rather by his faded and tattered uniform than by his features.
"Don't you know me, sir?" asked Billy, in a faint voice. He could say
no more.
"Bless my heart, is it you? and are those Rogers and Desmond?"
"Here we are, to answer for ourselves," said Tom, who, with Desmond, had
managed with the aid of the rope to get down close to the boat, into
which they were helped by the men, although in their weak state, so
overcome were they by the exertion they had made, that they could hardly
stand. They were handed into the stern sheets, and the boat then moving
on took off the other three men in the same fashion. Scarcely were they
dear of the brig than she righted, and as she did so began rapidly to
settle down.
The midshipmen and their companions were received with hearty
congratulations on board the _Empress_, by no one more so than by her
captain, who was truly thankful to get back his younger brother, about
whose fate he had long been intensely anxious. The _Orion_, which had
been astern, now came up, and Adair was informed that his nephew was
safe, although apparently in a precarious condition.
It was several days before the midshipmen could give an account of their
adventures. When once they were able to use their tongues, they had
very little rest, for every one was eager to know what they had done and
seen, and it must be acknowledged that sometimes they were inclined to
indulge their hearers with travellers' tales.
By the time they reached Sydney they were well enough to come on deck
and have a look at the magnificent scenery of that superb harbour.
Of their stay there, although full of interest to themselves, but a
brief account alone can be given. They were received in the kindest way
by the inhabitants, and spent some weeks at the house of an old friend
of the Rogers' family.
Their friends, Mr and Mrs Calvert, had several daughters, who
contributed not a little to make their stay agreeable. On their first
arrival the young gentlemen were compelled to keep their rooms, as it
was considered that they had not sufficiently recovered to bear the
excitement of society. They were not allowed to starve, however. A
handsome repast had been sent up to them, and they were pledging each
other in glasses of light Australian wine, which they found very
refreshing, when the two captains entered the room.
"I congratulate you," said Jack, as he handed two official-looking
letters, the one to Tom and the other to Desmond, respectively addressed
Lieutenant Thomas Rogers and Lieutenant Gerald Desmond.
The envelopes contained their commissions.
"Those papers, I suspect, will do more to set you up than anything
else," said Jack.
"Indeed they will, although they have been long enough in coming,"
answered Tom.
"Faith! I could get up and dance a jig forthwith," exclaimed Desmond.
"You'd better not, in case the ladies should arrive to congratulate
you," observed his uncle.
"Is there no letter for me? I wonder when I shall get promoted!" asked
Billy from his corner of the room.
"All in good time," answered Jack. "Perhaps you will have an
opportunity before long of doing something to distinguish yourself."
Next morning the two lieutenants and Billy were able to come downstairs.
Their promotion had had a wonderful effect on Tom and Desmond, who
talked and joked at a great rate with their fair hostesses. As might be
supposed, the young lieutenants lost their hearts, and even Billy
Blueblazes, though still a midshipman, became more sentimental than he
was ever before known to have been, the most juvenile of the ladies
being the object of his adoration. A copy of verses, which he had begun
to compose in her praise, though as yet he had not got very far in them,
afforded a subject of amusement to his messmates.
Their visit on shore was, however, brought abruptly to an end, in
consequence of the two ships being ordered off to New Zealand.