LORD SAINT MAUR NARRATES HIS ADVENTURES--CARRIED OFF BY THE DUTCHMAN--
ILL-TREATED--DRUNKEN SKIPPER AND MATES--RIP VAN WINKLE AND SNARLEYOW--
SHIP STRIKE, ON A REEF--CREW DESERT HER--SAINT MAUR, RIP, AND SNARLEY
GET INTO THE LONG-BOAT--SHIP GOES DOWN--REMAIN UNDER THE LEE OF THE REEF
ALL NIGHT--MAKE SAIL IN THE MORNING--NO WATER--VIRGINIA ISLAND REACHED--
BOAT CAPSIZED ON THE BAR--SAINT MAUR AND RIP SAVED BY SNARLEY--THEIR
LIFE ON THE ISLAND--WATER FOUND--GOAT'S FLESH--THE EMPRESS SEEN
APPROACHING THE ISLAND--PREPARATIONS FOR CROSSING THE BAR--AWFUL
SUSPENSE--SHIP STEAMS ON--STRIKES WITH A CRASH ON THE BAR--MORE STORES
LANDED--THE JOLLIES ALARMED BY A JET OF STEAM--SAILS SEEN IN THE
DISTANCE.
"By-the-by, I never told you how I came to be playing Robinson Crusoe
and his man Friday on yonder barren rock," observed Saint Maur, as he
and his uncle paced together the deck of the _Empress_.
"You remember the night I was hooked off the yacht by a stranger which
ran us down, and, as I thought, sent you to the bottom. I leave you to
judge in what a state of fear and anxiety I was left. From the way the
fellows talked when I got on board, I discovered that they were
Dutchmen. I rushed aft to the skipper and entreated him to heave to and
lower his boats to try and pick up any of you who might be floating, but
he either did not understand me or would not. When I ran to the helm,
intending to put it down, that he might the better comprehend my
meaning, he and his mates held me back. I pitched into one fellow and
knocked him over, and was about to treat the other in the same way, when
the skipper with his big fist hit me a blow on the head which brought me
to the deck.
"When I came to my senses it was broad daylight, and I knew that long
before that time, if the yacht had gone down, you must all of you have
lost your lives. I believe the Dutchman intended to apologise for
having treated me in so unceremonious a fashion, but, as I could not
understand a word he said, I am not sure. He behaved, however,
afterwards, far better than I should have expected from the way our
acquaintance had commenced. I was never a very good hand at picking up
languages, so that it was some time before I could make myself even
imperfectly understood by any one on board. Strange to say, not a man
among them spoke a word of English. I wanted the skipper to put into
some port, but he replied that, `Out of his course he would not go for
me or any man.' I then begged him, chiefly by signs, that should we
fall in with a homeward-bound ship, to put me on board of her. He
nodded his head and let me understand that, providing it was during calm
weather, he should have no objection, and advised me meanwhile to
console myself with his schiedam, of which he had a plentiful supply.
Both he and his mates indulged in it pretty largely, I found. I
expected that he would touch at the Cape, but to my disgust he ran to
the south'ard, in order to fall in with the westerly trades, and I found
that he intended to touch nowhere until he reached Batavia.
"This was anything but consolatory, besides which I had no one to talk
to, and not a book on board I could read. I tried hard to make out the
few Dutch books he had on board, and used to ask him or the mates, or
indeed any of the men I found at hand, to pronounce the words, when I
tried to discover their meaning. I believe, had the voyage lasted
longer, I should have learned to speak and read Dutch fluently; but, as
the skipper was drunk half his time, and the mates the other two
quarters, I could not get much out of them. The only fellow who really
was of use was young Rip Van Winkle. He took a liking to me, as I did
to him, from the first, and I often saved him from many a cuff and kick
which he was wont to receive from the crew. He was, I confess, a sort
of `dirty Dick' on board, and so he would have continued had I not
taught him to clean himself; and now he is as fond of washing as any
one, except when the weather is cold, then he rather objects to it, and
falls back into his bad habits. My only companion besides Rip was a
large dog--no great beauty--whom I called Snarleyow, from being unable
to pronounce his Dutch name, and he took to it, as he did to me,
immediately, and always came when so called. I treated him as a friend,
whereas, from the skipper downwards, he was accustomed to receive more
kicks than ha'pence, except from poor Rip, and consequently had no great
affection for his masters.
"Besides my anxiety about you, and my disappointment at not being able
to take advantage of the new position into which, through Counsellor
McMahon, I was placed--not that that weighed very much with me--I could
not help feeling anxious about the way in which the ship was navigated.
Being unable to understand the Dutch books, I could not myself work out
the reckonings, though frequently I took an observation, to keep my hand
in.
"I once only had a chance of communicating with England. We sighted a
British ship, and as by that time I had picked up enough Dutch to use
the signal-book, I hoisted the signals `British officer on board; heave
to for him.' I thought when the skipper saw the other ship heave to
that he would do the same, but it was blowing hard, and he obstinately
refused to lift tack or sheet or lower a boat, and you can just fancy
how I felt when I saw the homeward-bound vessel standing away from us.
From the temperature of the weather I now suspected that we had got a
very long way to the south, when it came on to blow hard. The Dutchman
shortened sail, as he generally did when there was any wind, and
continued the course on which he was steering. The old ship, though a
tub, was a good sea boat, and I had no reason to fear danger, provided
she did not run her stem into an iceberg or strike any rocks or reefs.
Blow high, blow low, the skipper walked the deck with his hands in his
pockets and a huge meerschaum in his mouth, looking as composed as
usual?
"One night I was about turning in, when I felt the ship strike. Of
course I sprang on deck, where I was followed by the skipper and the
first mate, the second mate having the watch. The crew were singing out
that we were lost.
"`Do not be afraid, boys!' cried the skipper, calling for a light for
his pipe, and thrusting his hands into his pockets. `She'll drive over
it. Another hand to the helm. Keep all standing!'
"I knew, by the thickness of his voice, that he was half seas over, for
he never exhibited his state in any other way, except when he sank down
under the table. Still, I hoped from his composure that he knew where
we were, and that we should scrape clear of the sand-bank over which the
sea was breaking with fearful force. Several seas, indeed, nearly
pooped us; but we surged forward, touching occasionally in a way which
threatened to split the ship into fragments; but she held together
wonderfully. The men, however, had not the same hope that I had; for I
saw them gathering on either side, near the boats, taking the falls in
their hands, ready to lower them with or without orders.
"Rip came up to me. `What's going to happen, mynheer?' he asked.
"`The ship will probably go to the bottom or get knocked to pieces; but
we may perhaps escape the danger, and so at last reach Batavia,' I
answered. `Whatever happens, stick by me, Rip, and you can lend me a
hand whenever I want it, and I may perhaps save you.'
"Scarcely, however, had I spoken than the ship struck with far greater
force than before, the fore and main masts going by the board, but
falling clear of the deck. Still she went on; but the carpenter sounded
the well, and found that the water was rushing in at a rate which
precluded all possibility of keeping the ship afloat. She had gone over
the edge of the reef, which rose on the starboard bow, high above the
water, and broke the force of the sea. Springing aft, I put down the
helm, which the man had deserted, and she rounded to under the lee of
the rocks.
"The crew instantly began lowering the boats. The skipper and his first
mate tumbled into one, and they with several of the men shoved off;
while the second mate took possession of the other, with the rest of the
crew, leaving Rip and me still on deck. So overcrowded were they, that
I saw they were both likely to go down; and I determined to take my
chance in the ship, which I thought, having a light cargo on board,
might possibly float long enough to enable us to build a raft. The two
boats quickly disappeared in the darkness, without provisions or water,
which the men in their hurry forgot to take, while the skipper and his
first mate were too drunk to think of it. I bethought me of examining
the boat amidships, which I feared might have been crushed by the
falling mast; but fortunately it had escaped. I told Rip to cut the
lashings clear, reminding him that our lives depended on it--to see that
not a rope remained attached to the vessel's deck. I jumped in,
followed by Rip and Snarley, who had been left on board with us, and
whose instinct showed him that the boat was likely to prove the only ark
of safety. The oars, as well as the masts and sails, were stowed in
her, with a couple of hen-coops, our last surviving pig, and a variety
of other articles. Rip was about to heave the pig overboard, when I
stopped him, and told him to hunt about for the plug-hole, which he had
just time to stop with a bung, when I saw the water rushing over the
deck. The ship did not go down immediately; and I suspect that, had all
hands remained on board, we might have kept her afloat until daylight,
at all events.
"We got out the oars to shove the boat clear the instant the water
rushed over the deck. I do not think I ever experienced a more anxious
moment in my life. At last a sea came sweeping along, round the reef,
and lifted us clear, right above the bulwarks, and free of the masts and
spars still hanging over the side. We pulled away for our lives, and
just saw the masts dragged down as the ship went to the bottom. The
mizzenmast remained the last above water. We pulled under the lee of
the reef; but, having no anchor, we were compelled to hold her in her
position by paddling all night. When morning broke, no land was in
sight; but as the wind was from the westward, I judged that our safest
plan was to steer to the northward, when we might either fall in with
some ship, or make Java, or the western coast of Australia, should we
not sight any island on the way. We had a small cask of water in the
boat, and three empty casks, put there to be out of the way. My hope
was that we should be able to fill these with rain water before we got
into a more northern latitude, where we were likely to meet with a ship.
The reef off which we lay ran half a mile from north to south above the
water; how much further below it I could only judge by the line of white
foam which extended as far as the eye could reach. As this was a place
no ship was likely to approach, the sooner we got out of its latitude
the better. The wind having moderated, we accordingly made sail and
stood to the eastward.
"We had been three days in the boat, our small cask of water gradually
diminishing, while not a drop of rain had fallen to fill our casks, when
we sighted this small island. Hoping that it might afford us some
shelter, and at all events that we might obtain water, we steered
towards it. As we approached we saw the harbour opening out before us.
Though I thought that there would be some risk in crossing the bar, yet
I determined to make the attempt. Anything was better than dying of
thirst. The water appearing to be smoother in the centre, I stood under
all sail the boat could carry towards it, for it was still blowing
fresh. The bar was reached; and I expected the next instant to be in
smooth water, when an abominable roller came tumbling in, swamped our
boat, and turned her over, washing Rip away. I clambered up on the
bottom, when I saw Snarley, who had just come to the surface. The dog,
having looked about him, made towards a point inside the harbour, and,
exerting his strength, hauled Rip up. I, meantime, was tossing about on
the bar, expecting every moment to be washed off, when I saw Snarley
returning. Knowing that I should have his help, I sprang off and swam
towards him. I twisted the fingers of my left hand in his long, shaggy
hair, and he towed me through the surf safely to the shore, where I
found Rip already recovered waiting for me. He threw his arms around my
neck and burst into tears, exclaiming in Dutch--`I thought you had gone,
mynheer, and that I was left alone; but now you are come we shall manage
to live.'
"He then bestowed his caresses on Snarley for having saved me. The sun
being bright and warm, we soon dried our clothes; but how we were to
exist was the next question, when we had eaten up our pig, who was
doomed quickly to die to satisfy our hunger. I had no fancy for raw
pork, although my companions were not so particular. Suddenly I
bethought me that before the wreck I put a tin box of matches in my
pocket to light my pipe. I felt for it. It was there; and although the
water had got in, I hoped that the sun would restore their efficiency.
I laid them out carefully on the rock, and sat down to watch them,
turning them over and over, while Rip set off to obtain fuel. Pieces of
driftwood strewed the shore; and some, during high tide, having been
thrown up to a distance from the water, were perfectly dry. Rip
discovered also plenty of moss and branches of the low shrubs which grew
in the hollows and level parts of the island. He had soon a sufficient
supply for a good fire. I looked anxiously at the matches. I was
afraid to strike one of them until I was certain that it was thoroughly
dry, as I should otherwise have knocked off the end. I selected one
from the middle of the box, which appeared never to have been wetted,
and getting into a sheltered place, I drew it along the side of the box.
To my great delight it ignited immediately; and leaving Rip to blow up
the fire, I replaced the other matches in the box, which I stowed
carefully away in my pocket. We had our knives, for I had got a large
one on board for cutting up tobacco. We both turned our eyes on poor
piggy, who was grubbing about near us, trying to find roots. In a
moment Rip sprang upon him, and before he could give two grunts and a
squeak he was turned into pork.
"We did not stop to singe him, but quickly had some steaks toasting
before the fire, while Snarley looked wistfully on, giving a hungry
sniff every now and then at piggy's carcase. It was somewhat lean, as
he had been on short commons in the boat.
"`Good dog, you deserve some food,' said Rip, giving Snarley certain
portions which I for one had no inclination to eat.
"While we were at our meal we saw a cask wash on shore. The pork had
excited our thirst, and Rip ran down, hoping to find water in it; but it
was empty. We looked about, trusting that the cask which had some still
remaining in it might be sent to us, but it was nowhere to be seen.
"`Patience,' I observed; `we may have a shower before long, and fill our
cask, so bring it up where it will be safe.' The boat, I should have
said, had been tumbling about on the bar. At length it was driven
inside the harbour. Rip offered to swim off and tow her in. I
hesitated for fear of sharks, but he declared that in that latitude they
were not likely to be found. I begged him to wait until she got nearer,
which she soon did, and then stripping off his clothes, he boldly
plunged in.
"`You remain on shore, mynheer,' he said; `you will better be able to
help me than if you come now. Should I get tired, I can always rest on
the bottom of the boat.'
"When Snarley saw him set off, he also plunged in. On reaching the boat
Rip put a rope in the dog's mouth, and taking another himself, they
began to tow the boat towards the beach. It was hard work, though the
wind was partly in their favour, but at the same time it was sending the
boat towards the foot of the cliffs opposite the entrance, against which
the surf broke heavily, and would soon have knocked her to pieces. When
Rip got tired, he climbed up, as he intended, on the bottom of the boat,
and after resting a few seconds, again took to towing, Snarley all the
time swimming bravely on. I never saw an animal exhibit so much
sagacity.
"At length the boat was brought near enough to enable Rip to wade, when
I going to his assistance, we dragged her up until she grounded. A
slight examination showed us that without tools we should never be able
to repair her, for the whole of one side was crushed in and the other
was greatly damaged. We accordingly determined to break her up and
build a hut with the fragments to shelter us. By this time, however,
our thirst became almost unbearable.
"`Perhaps water may be found in the hollows of some of the rocks,'
observed Rip.
"Snarley was apparently suffering as much as we were, and when he saw us
moving away from the landing-place he ran on ahead.
"`He'll find water, if there's any to be found,' said Rip; and I had the
same hope. We climbed up the rocks, and after some exertion we reached
the top of the island, when Snarley dashed forward, and to our great joy
we saw him with his head in a hollow, evidently enjoying a draught of
water. We ran on, nearly toppling on our noses in our eagerness as we
made our way over the rough ground. We soon were following Snarley's
example, for a pure pool of water was at our feet, while there were two
others close at hand, each about a dozen yards in circumference.
Although they were apparently filled with rain water, and not from a
spring, there was a sufficient quantity to supply all our wants. Even
could it be possible to exhaust them, they would be refilled by fresh
showers.
"Having quenched our thirst we stood up to look around us, when we
caught sight of several animals at no great distance off stopping to
gaze at us. They were goats, and some had kids by their sides. Here
was food enough to last us for years to come, though we might have a
difficulty in catching them ourselves. We felt that Snarley would
render us valuable aid in the matter, and that we need have no fear of
starving. Refreshed, we set off to take a further survey of the island.
"As we passed along the cliffs overlooking the harbour, we caught sight
in a little bay of three boats, hauled up on the beach, with a couple of
huts, but no human being was to be seen. We shouted; our voices,
however, might possibly not reach the spot. It was evident, at all
events, that the island had at some time or other been inhabited, but at
that distance we could not judge of the condition of the boats or the
huts, so that it might have been years before. As we wished to be
housed before night, we now returned to the landing-place, discovering
on our way, among the grass, some leaves which tasted like spinach. I
felt sure that they would serve as vegetable diet, which it was
important to obtain. The mast, yards, and sails were still attached to
the boat. Though we had not strength enough to drag her up entire, we
got hold of them and put up a small tent, which served to shelter us for
the night. We were thankful even for this protection, for after sunset
the atmosphere became very chilly. We were in pretty good spirits, and
thankful to Heaven that we had found the means of sustaining life. I
thought it probable, too, that before long a vessel would appear and
take us off. Snarley, who had dried himself by running about, crawled
into our tent and assisted to keep us warm, while for the first part of
the night we kept a large fire blazing at our feet. We did not keep
watch, for our island did not certainly contain any savage inhabitants
or wild beasts, so that we slept soundly with a sense of perfect
security.
"Next morning, after breakfasting on pork and sorrel leaves, which we
ate raw, for want of means of boiling them, we set off to examine the
boats and huts. It was a long walk round to where the huts were; as we
expected, we found them empty. The boats were in tolerable condition;
and though they had not, we judged, been used for several months, were
still serviceable. Without tools, however, we could not repair even one
of them sufficiently to enable us to continue our voyage. While
examining the huts, we discovered an iron pot, which was likely to prove
of the greatest value to us. Rip immediately set to work to scrape it
clean. On our way back we filled it with water. The rest of the day
was spent in pulling to pieces the wreck of the boat, and carrying them
up to the spot we had selected for our habitation, which we preferred to
those we had discovered near the boats.
"As soon as we had finished our pork, which lasted us for ten days or
more, we set off in search of a kid, which we felt sure Snarley would
help us to catch. We were not disappointed, though its poor mother
fought bravely in its defence. As she stopped until we got up, we
captured her also, and soon managed to tame her sufficiently to afford
us milk. We spent our time in improving our habitation, in hunting a
goat when we wanted one, and in collecting sorrel, which enabled us to
make some tolerable broth. Salt we got in abundance from the crevices
of the rocks, and manufactured spoons out of drift-wood, and wooden
platters and cups. We also brought materials from the other huts to
improve our own. I think you'll say, when you see it, that it is a very
respectable abode for a couple of bachelors. I own that very often I
longed for a loaf of soft tack and a glass of something stronger than
water. I managed to keep myself and Rip constantly employed.
"While rummaging about in the huts during one of our early visits, he
discovered in a corner a bag containing a palm and sail needle, and
nearly a dozen fishing-hooks and other articles. The hooks were likely
to prove of great value. We immediately twisted some fishing-lines, and
taking a piece of goat's flesh as bait, we scrambled out to the end of a
rock, below which the water was deep, to try our luck. That day we
caught ten fine fish. We had an additional cause to be thankful, for
our health required a change of diet. We no longer had the slightest
apprehension of starving. Still after a few months of this sort of
life, I began to wish to get away. We rigged the flag-staff you saw,
and hoisted the Dutch flag, one we had found in the locker of the boat.
"Day after day I looked out for a sail, but none appeared, and I began
to think that I was doomed to spend the remainder of my life on this
desert spot. At last our clothes wore out. To replace them I prepared
some goat-skins, and we rigged ourselves out in the strange costume in
which Green discovered me. I had often when a boy fancied that it would
be very pleasant to live on an island by myself, or with one companion;
but faith! I found the reality very different, and I would gladly have
given up my title and estates to escape. `It is an ill wind that blows
no one good.' I can assure you that my heart leaped into my mouth when
I saw the _Empress_ approaching, not dreaming at the time of the
dangerous condition to which she had been reduced. I own, however, that
I shall be very glad to see her safe inside the harbour."
After some hours, the gale having moderated, the _Empress_ again stood
back to the mouth of the harbour, and came to an anchor as close in as
Adair thought it safe to go. A boat now came off, with a sufficient
supply of coal to enable her to cross the bar. Adair began to fear that
it would be impossible to wait for the spring tide, as the leaks had
again begun to gain on the pumps in spite of the efforts of the crew to
keep the water under. The larger the quantity of water which got into
the ship, the lower she would be, and the less able to cross. As the
surf had considerably gone down, the boats were again employed from
morning until night in landing stores. But every time they returned
loaded over the bar, they ran a considerable risk of being swamped.
Adair was seated in his cabin, the day's work being over, with his
nephew, when the carpenter desired to speak with him.
"The men have been doing their best, and I have done my best; but it is
my opinion and my duty to express it: the ship won't swim four and
twenty hours longer," said Mr Gimlet. "All hands are ready to work on
at the pumps and with the buckets until we drop, but the water is
rushing in faster than we can pump it out, and should it come on to blow
again, no human power can keep the ship afloat."
Adair was not offended at the freedom with which the warrant officer
spoke.
"You and all the hands have done your very best, Mr Gimlet," he
answered. "We must manage to keep the ship from going down to-night,
and to-morrow morning, at the top of high tide, we will attempt to take
her over the bar. It is a question whether we shall succeed, and I am
very loth to lose her, but the risk must be run."
"No doubt about that, sir," answered the carpenter. "If she once
strikes on that bar, she'll never get off again, except piecemeal; but
that's better than going to the bottom."
Although, besides the marines, a good many men had been landed, a
sufficient number remained to work the pumps, watch and watch, and Adair
and Desmond set an example by labouring with them, as they had before
done. That night was as trying a one, to the captain at all events, as
any yet passed. To-morrow must decide the fate of the ship, whether she
would be cast a helpless wreck on the reef or be carried into smooth
water and beached on a spot where it might be possible to repair her.
Besides, her upper works were strong and sound, but below she was too
evidently of a very different character, like many another fine-looking
craft. Morning came at length. Adair urged Saint Maur to go on shore.
"I don't hide from myself that crossing the bar will be an undertaking
of considerable danger--some, if not all of us, may be lost," said the
captain. "I want you to return home to assume your title and property,
and to enjoy your life for many years, and to benefit the peasantry on
your estate by doing all the good you can. I am getting on in life, and
at the best cannot expect to enjoy many more."
Nothing, however, that the captain could say would induce the young lord
to quit the ship.
"I know the bar as well as any one. There exists a channel, though a
narrow one, through which I think I can take her," he answered.
Adair at last consented; preparations were made for crossing the
dangerous spot. Adair ordered the men to take breakfast, and then all
went to their stations. The whole of the crew were on deck except the
engineers, who of course had to remain below attending to the engines.
There was no time to be lost, for already the water in the hold had
risen higher than it had ever done before. Steam was got up. The
engineer reported that all was ready below. Two of the best hands were
sent to the wheel. The crew stood some forward, some aft, where most of
the officers were stationed. Desmond took his post by the side of the
captain, whence he could direct the helmsmen. All on board felt it to
be an awful time. Some said that the ship, the moment she touched the
ground, would go to pieces, and that the sea breaking over her would
wash all hands from her decks. Desmond, however, assured the captain
that he had no such fear; even should the ship not cross the bar, she
would run far enough over it to escape the full force of the breakers,
besides which, at present they were very moderate, and were not likely
to injure her materially.
The anchor was now hove up, the fore-topsail only was set to assist in
steering her, and she was headed in towards the mouth of the harbour.
Onwards she seemed to fly towards it. Many even of the stoutest held
their breath. The boats were all waiting inside the harbour's mouth, to
render assistance should it be necessary. To a stranger on the shore
watching the approaching ship, she appeared as trim and stout a
man-of-war as need be. Nothing on deck gave indication of her rotten
condition below. Pat Casey and Peter were standing together.
"Shall we get in an' put the ould boat to rights, or shall we stick on
the bar an' see her knocked to pieces?" asked Pat of his companion.
"Me tink, Massa Pat, dat if de ship stick on de rocks him go to pieces,
and dat it better for him to do dat dan you and all hands get drowned,
'cause we den get 'shore while him break up." Similar remarks were
exchanged amongst the men generally.
"Silence, fore and aft!" sang out the captain, as the harbour's mouth
was approached. All on board turned their eyes towards the white line
of foam which stretched across it. Desmond pointed out to the helmsmen
the exact spot for which they were to steer. He had not to give another
order; no one spoke. The smooth water could be seen inside. Would the
ship ever float on it?
Full steam was put on. Forward she glided like an arrow towards its
mark. Already the outer barrier was reached where the water broke,
hissing and foaming on either side. Onward she plunged; then there came
a crash, her masts quivered, and all knew that the noble ship was
devoted to destruction. A roller came sweeping on astern. It lifted
her. Again she moved forward, but it was only to strike with greater
force than before. Once more she floated on the buoyant water, but it
was again to descend with a crash which was heard and felt from stem to
stern, telling that the rocks had gone through her bottom. There she
remained firmly fixed, her engines continuing to work until the rapidly
rising water rushing in, put out the fires. The engineer, having
thoughtfully turned off the steam to prevent the boilers from exploding,
his duty done, appeared on deck to announce to the captain that the
engines had stopped.
"I see that they have," said Adair, smiling, even at the moment so sad
to a captain who had just seen his ship wrecked. The vessel was
evidently immovable, and even had the rollers come in with sufficient
force to lift her, she must have sunk immediately in deep water. Crash
succeeded crash, as the rocks burst through her planks, but not a cheek
blanched, not an eye quailed, not a cry was heard, not a man deserted
his station.
The rollers continued to tumble in, breaking close under her stem, but
failed to wash over her. Adair stood earnestly watching for what would
next take place. At last he was satisfied that the lives committed to
his charge were safe.
"My lads," he exclaimed, "our brave ship will never float again on the
ocean; but you still form her crew, and whether on board or on shore, I
am sure that you will exhibit the same good discipline you have hitherto
maintained. We will now turn to again and get all we can out of her.
We may be discovered and taken off in a few weeks, or we may have to
remain months here. As we must be prepared for the latter alternative,
we must husband our provisions and stores. I hear that the harbour is
full of fish, and that there are goats on the island, and, what is of
more consequence, that water is to be found, so that we need have no
fear of starving. The rest all depends upon yourselves. We may be a
very happy ship's company if we make the best of everything, or we may
become the contrary if we grumble and are discontented. I don't expect
that of you, and I'm sure we shall all work with a will and look at
things on the bright side."
The crew gave three hearty cheers, and Adair directing the first
lieutenant to summon the boats alongside, all hands turned to in loading
them with the numberless articles which still remained on board. The
most valuable things had already been got out. By the doctor's advice
four main-deck tanks were landed, with the smith's forge and other
apparatus pertaining to his trade, that the engineers might manufacture
a machine for turning salt water into fresh. The sails and ropes were
also sent on shore, and indeed every article likely to prove of service
which the ship contained. The captain and Desmond, with several of the
principal officers, still remained on board, a careful watch being kept
at night to give them due notice should a change of weather threaten and
make it advisable for them to quit the ship.
Fortunately the weather continued fine and the wind mostly blew off the
land, so that the boats were able to ply backwards and forwards all day
long. One of the assistant-surgeons, who had only lately come to sea,
declared that he should not have believed it possible that the ship
could have contained the multitudinous articles he saw landed; he had no
idea where they could all have been stowed away. In that latitude the
winter was likely to prove severe, and as it was approaching, it was
important not only to land stores and provisions, but to house the party
comfortably.
For the latter purpose, Adair went on shore for the first time and laid
down the plan of their town. It formed one long street, with blocks on
either side, while a cross road ran at right angles with the main one.
One block formed the barracks of the marines, another a hospital. The
captain's own house was at the top of the street, and opposite to it one
for the lieutenants, another for the rest of the ward-room officers, and
a third on their side of the way for the midshipmen. Then came rows of
huts, eight on each side, for the seamen. Another was put up for the
petty officers, the stokers had one for themselves, and the officers'
servants one. At the top of the street, so that it could be seen from
the very bottom, was the officers' mess tent, with flags flying over it,
and a very tasty-looking affair it was. The walls were partly composed
of stone, partly of turf, roofed over with canvas. The roof of Captain
Adair's house was also lined with canvas, as were the walls, and divided
by partitions.
Some of the midshipmen expressed their regret that there were no ladies
among them.
"The ladies are very much obliged to you," observed Charley Roy, who had
joined the _Empress_, and was now senior mate on board. "I suspect that
they would rather remain comfortably on shore. Perhaps you'd like a
grand piano, a ball-room, and a croquet lawn?"
One building there was called the grand hotel, and it was frequented by
all ranks, from the warrant officers and sergeant of marines down to the
stokers and ship's boys. Liquor in very small quantities and well
watered could be obtained there, as could tea and coffee, and various
beverages, such as ginger beer, which the doctor continued to
manufacture with certain ingredients in his possession, and which was
highly appreciated in hot weather. The sergeant of marines was a
temperance man, and persuaded half his own corps and fully a third of
the blue-jackets to sign the pledge, which, as they had not the means of
breaking, was very faithfully kept. Thus not a man ever got drunk, and
many who found that they could get on as well without liquor as they
could with it, became very steady, sober men. The officers did their
best not only to keep the men employed, but to amuse them in a variety
of ways. No grumbling was heard from any ranks. One fellow only showed
signs of insubordination. He had long been known on board as "Grumpy
Dick." No sooner had he set his foot on shore than he asserted that he
was a free man, and would no longer work.
"Very well, my fine fellow," said the captain. "If all hands side with
you, the officers and I shall have to do what you ought to do to keep
you all and ourselves alive. But if not, you shall as surely taste the
cat as our stout ship lies there on the rocks. Sleep upon it, and let
me know what you think about it to-morrow morning."
Grumpy Dick, who was as obstinate as a pig going to market, was in the
same mood the next morning, on which the captain ordered him to be
triced up and to receive a dozen at the hands of the boatswain's mate.
This example had a very good effect; and if any other men were inclined
to follow it, they thought better of the matter, and from that time
forward all worked away as well as if they had been on board. They had
plenty to do in building their houses. When the men were not otherwise
employed, they were engaged in pulling down the materials of the old
huts, and bringing them round to strengthen the new. They were fond of
boasting of the size of the town, and Pat Casey averred that it was
quite large enough to send a member to Parliament, offering to be their
first representative on Liberal principles.
Then water had to be brought to supply the town from the ponds Desmond
and Rip had discovered at the top of the hill. It was a work mainly
accomplished by means of piping of various descriptions. Some was of
lead, another part was of canvas, and another portion was of wood in the
form of a trough. It could be turned off at the top as was required.
The apparatus for turning salt water into fresh also supplied them with
such water as they required; but, on account of the fuel it consumed, it
was only used when in dry weather there was a risk of the ponds becoming
empty.
As soon as the town was finished, Adair had a flag-staff erected and
fully rigged, in a way which Desmond, with only one assistant, had been
unable to accomplish. A couple of men and a midshipman were stationed
there with spy-glasses, to watch the horizon, and to hoist a flag
directly a ship was seen, a hut having been built for their
accommodation. A small six-pounder, used on board for signalising, was
also hauled up to be fired in case of a stranger coming near enough for
it to be heard. A pile of wood was also collected in order that a
beacon fire should be kindled at night, and rockets and blue-lights were
kept ready for letting off should a ship appear in the offing.
A hag of fish-hooks and lines had been found on board, and a party every
day were told off to fish, and who never failed to return with an
abundant supply.
"Our friend `Blueblazes' would have been perfectly happy here," said
Desmond, laughing, as he and the captain sat at the wardroom mess table,
at which they daily dined. They had had some especial fine fish for
dinner that day--indeed, they were never at that time on short commons.
Of articles of luxury, as well as of meat and biscuit, which must,
should they be kept there many months, ultimately come to an end, a
small allowance only was of course served out. To keep up good feeling,
dinner-parties were given by one mess to another. The first lieutenant
invited the warrant officers and the engineers, who ranked with them, on
one occasion, and the midshipmen invited them on another. Some of the
seamen occasionally dined with the marines, and _vice versa_. Then they
had games; though there was no ground for cricket, quoits could be
played, and of course there was a fiddler on board, and hornpipes were
danced. On Sunday no work was done after the first week or two, and the
chaplain had service regularly twice in the day, and occasionally also
on other days in the week when they became settled on the island.
Adair and Desmond had been walking a short distance from the town one
afternoon, just after the men's dinner hour, when, as they came in sight
of the marines' barracks, which were, as has been described, at a short
distance from the high street, they heard a slight explosion, while a
jet of white vapour ascended above the roof of the huts, and at the same
instant the "jollies" were seen rushing out, shouting in English,
Scotch, Irish, Yorkshire, and South country dialects, tumbling over each
other, some sprawling on the ground, many without caps or jackets, some
making their way to the town, others down to the harbour, others
scrambling away up to the hill.
"What's the matter, my man?" asked Adair, as soon as he got one of them,
who happened to be an Irishman, to stop.
"Arrah! your honour, captain dear, we're blown up entirely. Sure there
must be a big fire or an engine of some sort under the barracks, and we
would have been roasted or boiled, if it had been at night an' we had
all been in our beds."
The column of steam, for Adair saw that it was not smoke, continued to
ascend.
"There must be some volcanic agency at work," observed Desmond; "and I
am not surprised at the fellows being frightened when it burst out
suddenly in their midst."
"We'll examine it, at all events," said Adair. "If there's a vent-hole,
I don't suppose we need apprehend any danger."
"Don't go near it, cap'n, it may go off again," exclaimed the Irishman,
as he saw Adair and Desmond making their way into the huts.
Several of the men, who recognised their captain, shouted to their
companions to stop, and the greater number came back, forming a circle
round the spot, ashamed probably of their sudden flight. On examining
the place, Adair found that directly under where the men's table had
stood, a jet of steam had burst forth and upset it, when it must have
fallen with no small force against the men seated on one side. Two poor
fellows were still under the table. At first Adair feared that they
were killed, but they appeared only to be stunned or frightened into
unconsciousness, and in no way injured, for the table had saved them
from being scalded.
The orifice was nearly a foot in diameter, and was apparently
increasing, as fresh columns of steam, issuing from it, ascended high
into the air, having blown off the canvas roof of the hut. The captain
and Desmond summoned the men within hail, ordering them to carry their
injured comrades to the hospital, where the surgeons, who had come up on
hearing the noise, examined them.
The whole population had by this time turned out, and various were the
surmises as to what might occur. One thing was certain, that the island
was volcanic. What might ultimately happen it was impossible to say.
The "croakers" feared that it was but the commencement of disasters, and
that at any moment the town might be blown into the air, or the whole
island itself, for what they could tell. Adair and his officers
endeavoured to quiet their alarm.
The "jollies," having recovered from their fright, were ready to pull
down their barracks and rebuild them at a short distance only from the
vent-hole, the surgeon assuring them that they would be better off than
their shipmates in the winter season, by having warm ground under their
feet. As all hands turned to, the huts were shifted to another spot, a
little above their former site, and before evening the work was
completed.
Two days afterwards, however, a rocking motion was felt, accompanied by
a low, rumbling sound, and immediately afterwards two fresh jets of
steam burst forth. Day after day the rumblings were heard, and those
who wandered to a distance from the town brought word that they had
seen, not only jets of steam, but of smoke and fire, while certain
rocks, which they had remarked rising above the water, had disappeared,
and others, in different places, had come to the surface. Although
Adair did not believe that any violent convulsion would take place, he
naturally became more anxious than before to escape from the rock. Any
spot in the neighbourhood of an active volcano is no pleasant place to
live in. Still more disagreeable did the officers and ship's company of
the hapless _Empress_ feel it to find themselves on the side of a
mountain which might at any moment be overturned or sink into the ocean,
without the possibility of making their escape. As, however, Adair saw
no prospect of averting the evil, should it overtake them, he
endeavoured to keep up his own spirits and those of his people by
persuading himself and them that such an event as they feared was highly
improbable.
After a time the men got accustomed to the appearance of jets of steam,
and the "jollies" even made use of them by putting their pots on them to
boil their fish. At length the public mind became perfectly
tranquillised, and things went on much as before. Still the captain
could not help feeling it more than possible that a fresh outbreak might
occur, and he found that the surgeon and first lieutenant were of the
same opinion.
A sharp look-out had of course been kept for any passing sail. The
royals of two ships had been seen, but the signal-gun was probably not
heard; nor could the flag have been sighted. The time spent on the rock
was, meanwhile, not altogether uneventful.
Week after week, however, passed by, and many by that time were
perfectly reconciled to their lot; but others, especially the officers,
began to grow weary of the life they were leading, and longed to get
away. Trips also were taken to the ship every day, as long as anything
remained on board to get out of her.