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diff --git a/21474.txt b/21474.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c501d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/21474.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11915 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Peter the Whaler, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Peter the Whaler + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: Henry Austin + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21474] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER THE WHALER *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Peter the Whaler, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +Peter's father is a country vicar in Ireland, and Peter is a naughty +teenager, who has got in with friends who encourage poaching, at that +time a most serious offence. His father confiscates the gun, but one +night Peter recovers the gun and has another coaching expedition, during +which he is caught by the gamekeepers. The magistrate releases him to +his father, who travels with him to Liverpool. For fifteen pounds +Captain Swales of the BLACK SWAN agrees to take him and to teach him the +rudiments of seamanship on a return voyage to Canada. It turned out she +was an ill-managed emigrant ship, and the emigrants were very badly +treated. Captain Swales and his officers are as nasty as they come. +There is a fire on board, and the people are rescued by the MARY, +Captain Dean, who is a very different kind of man than the despicable +Captain Swales. At Quebec Peter joins the FOAM, Captain Hawk. There +then follows a series of events, some good, and some bad, but all +well-written. + +It must be remembered that Peter the Whaler was probably the first +seafaring book by Kingston, although he had written several books during +the previous twenty years or so, The book was very well received by the +public, and Kingston took up writing adventure novels for teenagers as a +permanent occupation, until his death about thirty years later. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +PETER THE WHALER, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +"Peter," said my father, with a stern look, though the tone of his voice +had more of sorrow in it than anger, "this conduct, if you persist in +it, will bring ruin on you, and grief and shame on my head and to your +mother's heart. Look there, boy, and answer me: Are not those +presumptive evidences of your guilt? Where did they come from?" He +pointed, as he spoke, to several head of game, pheasants, partridges, +and hares, which lay on the ground, while I stood before him leaning on +my gun, my eyes not daring to meet his, which I knew were fixed on me. +My two dogs crouched at my feet, looking as if they also were culprits +and fully comprehended the tenor of his words. + +My father was a clergyman, the vicar of a large parish in the south of +Ireland, where the events I am now narrating took place. He was a tall +man, with silvery locks and well-formed features. I think his hair was +prematurely grey. The expression of his countenance was grave, and +betokened firmness and decision, though his general character was mild +in the extreme. He was a kind parent, in some respects too kind; and he +was very indulgent towards the faults and errors of those not +immediately connected with him. He was on good terms with the Roman +Catholics of the neighbourhood, of which faith were the large majority +of the population, and even with the priests; so that our family had few +enemies, and were never in any way molested by the peasantry. + +That, however, we had some foes, I shall have occasion presently to +show. But I must return to the scene I was describing. I may be +pardoned for first giving a slight sketch of myself. I hope that I may +escape being accused of vanity, as I shall not dwell on my personal +appearance. I believe that I inherited some of my parents' good looks; +but the hardships I have endured have eradicated all traces of them. I +was well grown for my age (I was barely fifteen), but, dressed in my +loose shooting-costume, my countenance ruddy with fresh air and +exercise, I looked much older. + +"What do you suppose would be the lot of a poor man's son, if he were to +be discovered acting as you are constantly doing in spite of my warnings +and commands?" continued my father, his voice growing more serious and +his look more grave. "I tell you, boy, that the consequences may and +will be lamentable; and do not believe, that because you are the son of +a gentleman, you can escape the punishment due to the guilty. + +"You are a poacher. You deserve the name; and on some occasion, when +engaged in that lawless occupation, you will probably encounter the +gamekeepers of the persons on whose estates you are trespassing, and +whose property you are robbing. Now hear me out. They, as in duty +bound, will attempt to capture you. You and your companions may resist; +your weapons may be discharged, and life may be sacrificed. If you +escape the fate of a murderer, you may be transported to distant lands, +away from friends, home, and country, to work for long years; perhaps in +chains among the outcasts of our race, fed on the coarsest food, subject +to the tyranny of brutalised overseers, often themselves convicts; your +ears forced to listen to the foulest language, your eyes to witness the +grossest debauchery, till you yourself become as bad as those with whom +you are compelled to herd; so that, when the time of your punishment is +expired, you will be unfit for freedom; and if you venture to return +home, you will find yourself, wherever you appear, branded with +dishonour, and pointed at as the convict. + +"Think, Peter, of the grief and anguish it would cause your poor mother +and me, to see you suffer so dreadful a disgrace--to feel that you +merited it. Think of the shame it would bring on the name of our +family. People would point at your sisters, and say, `Their brother is +a convict!' they would shake their heads as I appeared in the pulpit, +and whisper, `The vicar whose son was transported!' But more than all +(for men's censure matters not if we are guiltless), think how God will +judge you, who have had opportunities of knowing better, who have been +repeatedly warned that you are doing wrong, who are well aware that you +are doing wrong: think how He will judge and condemn you. + +"Human laws, of necessity, are framed only to punish all alike, the rich +and educated man as well as the poor and ignorant; but God, who sees +what is in the heart of man, and his means of knowing right from wrong, +will more severely punish those who sin, as you do, with their eyes +open. I am unwilling to employ threats; I would rather appeal to your +better feelings, my boy; but I must, in the first place, take away your +means of following your favourite pursuit; and should you persist in +leading your present wild and idle life, I must adopt such measures as +will effectually prevent you. Give me your gun." + +I listened to all that was said in dogged silence. I could not refuse +to give up my dearly-beloved weapon; but I did so with a very bad grace; +and I am sorry to say that my father's words had at that time little or +no effect on my heart. I say at the time, for afterwards, when it was +too late, I thought of them over and over again, and deeply repented of +my wilful obstinacy and folly. + +Alas! from how much suffering and grief I should have been saved had I +attended to the precepts and warnings of my kind parent--how much of +bitter self-reproach. And I must warn my young friends, that although +the adventures I went through may be found very interesting to read +about, they would discover the reality to be very full of pain and +wretchedness were they subjected to it; and yet I may tell them that the +physical suffering I endured was as nothing when compared to the anguish +of mind I felt, when, left for hours and days to my own bitter thoughts, +I remembered that through my own perverseness I had brought it all upon +myself. + +Often have I envied the light hearts of my fellow-sufferers, whose +consciences did not blame them. Let me urge you, then, in your course +through life, on all occasions to act rightly, and to take counsel and +advice from those on whose judgment you should rely; and then not only +in the next world will you have your reward, but, in this, through the +severest trials and bodily suffering you will enjoy a peace of mind and +a happiness of which no man can deprive you. + +My parents had four sons and five daughters. My eldest brother was +studying for the bar in Dublin; and, as the family fortune was limited, +we were somewhat cramped to afford him the requisite means for his +education. I was consequently kept at home, picking up, when I felt +disposed, any crumbs of knowledge which came in my way, but seldom going +out of my way to find them; nor had I, unfortunately, any plan fixed on +for my future career. + +My mother, was constantly employed with my sisters, and my father with +his clerical duties or his literary pursuits; so that I was forgotten, +and allowed to look after myself. I am unable to account for the +neglect to which I was subjected, but such was the case; and +consequently I ran wild, and contrived, to become acquainted with some +scampish youths in the neighbourhood, in every way my inferiors except +in age; and they gave me lessons which I was, I own, too willing to +learn, in all that was bad. + +Sporting was my greatest amusement; and, for my age, I was perhaps one +of the best shots in all the country round. While I confined myself to +my father's glebe, and to the grounds of two or three friends who had +given me leave to shoot, he did not object to my indulging my +propensity; but, not content with so narrow a sphere of action, I used +frequently, in company of some of the youths I speak of, to wander over +property where I not only had no right to kill game, but where I had +positively been forbidden to trespass, and where I even knew people were +on the look-out to detect me. + +I had just returned from one of these lawless expeditions, when I was +encountered by my father, laden with game, and the scene I have +described took place. As I before said (and I repeat it with shame), I +felt the loss of my gun more than I cared for the lecture, or the grief +my conduct caused my father. I can scarcely now account for the +obstinacy and hardness of heart which made me shut my ears to all +remonstrances. I have since then grown wiser, and I hope better; and I +feel that I ought at once to have asked my father's forgiveness, and to +have cheerfully set to work on some occupation of which he approved. +With me, as it will be with every one, idleness was the mother of all +mischief. + +For two days I sulked, and would speak to no one. On the third I set +off to take a walk by myself, across the bogs, and over the hills in the +far distance. I had got into a better spirit from the fresh air and +exercise; and I truly believe that I was beginning to see my error, and +was resolving to do my best to make amends for it, and to give up my bad +habits, when who should I encounter but Pat Doolan, one of the wildest +of my wild acquaintances! + +Before a word of salutation had passed, he asked me why I had not got my +gun with me; and after a weak and vain endeavour to avoid answering the +question, I confessed all that had occurred. He sneered at my fears and +my fathers' warnings, and laughed away all my half-formed good +resolutions,--telling me that I might just as well go and borrow one of +my sister's petticoats at once, for to that I should come at last if I +was going to give up all manly pursuits. Unhappy, indeed, it was for me +that I listened to the voice of the tempter, instead of keeping my good +resolutions safely locked up in my own breast, and instantly hurrying +away from him, as I ought to have done. Or perhaps I might have +answered him, "No; I must not, and will not, listen to you. I know that +what I have resolved to do is right, and that which you want to persuade +me to do is wicked--an instigation of the evil one; so go away and leave +me." And if he persisted in remaining near me, I should have set off +and run from him as hard as I could go. This is the only way to treat +temptation in whatever form it appears. Fly from it as you would from +the slippery edge of a precipice. + +Instead of acting thus, I sat down on the heather by his side, and, +looking foolish and humbled, I began plucking off the crisp flowers and +leaves, and throwing them to the winds. He asked me if I knew where the +gun was locked up. When I told him that it was not locked up at all, +but merely placed on the mantelpiece in my father's dressing-room, he +laughed at me for fool because I had not before re-possessed myself of +it. Fool I was, in truth; but it was to yield to the bad advice my +false and false-hearted friend tendered. I own that I at first was +rather shocked at what he said; but still I sat and listened, and made +only weak objections, so that he very speedily overcame all my scruples; +and I undertook to get back my gun at all cost, and to join him on the +following morning on a shooting expedition on the property of a +nobleman, some part of which was seen from the hill where we had posted +ourselves. + +Doolan could make himself very entertaining by narrating a variety of +wild adventures in which he or his companions had been engaged, or, I +may say, in some of which he pretended to have been engaged; for I since +have had reason to believe that he drew considerably more on his +imagination than on truth for the subjects of his tales, for the purpose +of raising himself in my estimation, thereby hoping to gain a greater +influence over me. + +I have often since met such characters, who are very boastful and bold +in the company of lads younger than themselves, or of persons whom they +think will believe them, but cautious and silent in the presence of +those whom they have sufficient discernment to perceive at once take +them at their true value. Observe one of those fellows the instant an +educated gentleman appears in the circle of which he is the +attraction,--how his eye will quail and his voice sink, and he will +endeavour to sneak away before his true character is exposed. I need +scarcely advise my readers not to be misled by such pretenders. + +The property on which we had resolved to poach was owned by Lord +Fetherston. We knew that he maintained but few keepers, and that those +were not very vigilant. He also, we believed, was away from the +country, so that we had no fears of being detected. + +I said that my father had few enemies. For some reason or other, +however, Lord Fetherston was one. I did not know why; and this fact +Doolan, who was well aware of it, took care to bring forward in +justification of the attack we purposed to make on his property. I +should have known that it was no justification whatever; but when people +want reasons for committing a bad act, they are obliged to make very bad +ones serve their purpose. + +Pat Doolan was my senior by three years. He was the son of a man who +was nominally a small farmer, but in reality a smuggler, and the owner +of an illicit distillery; indeed I do not know what other lawless +avocations he carried on. + +Very inferior, therefore, as he was in position in life, though Pat +Doolan was well supplied with money, he considered it of consequence to +be intimate with me, and to gain an ascendency over my mind, which he +might turn to account some time or other. He kept me sitting on the +heather, and listening to his good stories, and laughing at them, for +upwards of two hours, till he felt sure that my good resolutions would +not come back. During this time he produced some bread and meat and +whisky, of which latter he made me drink no small quantity, and he then +accompanied me towards my home, in sight of which he left me, with a +promise to meet him on the same spot at daybreak on the following +morning. + +Even that very evening, as I sat with a book in my hand pretending to +read, in the same room the family occupied, and listened to the cheerful +voices of my light-hearted innocent sisters, I began to repent of my +engagement to Doolan; but the fear of his laughing at me, and talking +again about my sisters' petticoats, made me resolve to adhere to it. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +That night was far from a happy one, for I knew all the time that I was +doing what was very wrong. I waited till I thought that my father and +all the household were asleep; and then, with the sensations I should +think a thief experiences when about to commit a robbery, I crept along +the dark passage towards his dressing-room. I trembled very much, for I +was afraid that something would awake him, and that he would discover +what I was about. I was aware that he would learn what I had done, the +first thing in the morning; but then I should be far off, enjoying my +sport, and I thought not of the consequences. I felt my way along the +passage, for it was quite dark. I heard a noise--I trembled more and +more--I expected every instant to be discovered, and I should have +retreated to my room, but that the thought of Pat Doolan's laughter and +sneers urged me on. I held my breath while I stopped to listen. There +was again a dead silence, and I once more advanced. Presently something +brushed against me. I was almost driven to cry out through terror, +though I believe it was only the cat, whom I had disturbed from her +slumbers on a rug at the door of the room occupied by my sisters. I +was, I may say, constitutionally brave, almost to fool-hardiness, and +yet on this occasion I felt the veriest coward in existence. Again I +went on--the door of the dressing-room was ajar--I was afraid to push it +lest it should creak on its hinges--I slowly moved it a little, and +crept in. The moonlight was streaming through an opening in the upper +part of the shutter on the coveted weapon. I grasped it eagerly, and +slinging the shot-belt and powder-horn, which was by it, over my +shoulder, I silently beat my retreat. + +Now that I had won my prize, I felt much bolder, and without accident I +reached my room. Sleep I could not; so, carefully closing the door, I +spent the remainder of the night in cleaning my gun and getting ready +for my excursion. I got out of the house without being perceived, and, +closing the door behind me, even before the time agreed on I reached the +spot where I was to meet Doolan. A hoar frost lay on the grass, the air +was pure and bracing, my gun was in my hand, and plenty of powder and +shot in my belt; and this, with the exercise and excitement, enabled me +to cast away all regrets for my conduct, and all fear for the result. + +I anxiously watched for my companion as I walked up and down the road to +keep myself warm, till at last I began to fancy that some accident must +have happened to prevent his coming. It never occurred to me that he +could play me false. I had not learned to be suspicious of any one. At +last I saw him trudging across a field towards me, and whistling as he +came. + +I could not have whistled if I had tried; but then, bad as he was, he +was not, like me, disobeying a kind parent. When I remember the sort of +person Doolan was (for his appearance was coarse and vulgar in the +extreme), I wonder he could have gained such an influence over me. I +believe that it was the boastful way in which he talked made me fancy +him so important. I was very innocent and confiding, in spite of the +bad company into which I had fallen; and I used to believe all the +accounts he gave me of his own adventures, and those of his own +particular friends. I have, fortunately, seldom met a man who could +tell a falsehood with such a bold, unblushing front. I had a great +horror of a falsehood, notwithstanding my numerous faults; I despised it +as a mean, cowardly way of getting out of a difficulty, or of gaining +some supposed advantage. I did not believe that a person older than +myself could possibly be guilty of telling one. I fancied that only +very little miserable children, or mean contemptible people, told +stories; and I therefore could not fancy that such a person as Doolan +would even condescend to say what was not true. I honestly say that I +always adhered to the truth myself; and to this circumstance I ascribe +my not having irretrievably sunk into the grade of society to which my +too frequent companions belonged. I have mentioned Doolan, whose faults +I would rather have forgotten; but I naturally wish to excuse myself as +much as I can, and to account for the influence he had gained over me-- +an influence he never would have obtained had I known him to be what I +now know he was. + +It would indeed be happy for the young if they always could learn the +true characters of their companions; and it is in this point that the +advice of their older friends is so valuable. They, by their experience +of others, are generally able to judge pretty correctly of persons, and +often discern very dangerous qualities which young people cannot +perceive. Therefore I say to my young friends, Avoid the acquaintance +of those against whom your relations, or those who take an interest in +your welfare, warn you, although you may think them, in your blindness, +very fine fellows, or even perfect heroes. I wish that I, Peter--your +friend, if you will so let me call myself--had thus followed the +oft-repeated warnings of my kind father, and kept clear of Pat Doolan. + +Doolan's loud cheer, as we met, raised my spirits still more, and away +we trudged gaily enough towards the scene of our intended sport. He +laughed and talked incessantly without giving me a moment for thought, +so that when we reached the ground I was ready for anything. A hare +crossed my path. It belonged, I knew, to Lord Fetherston. I fired, +knocked it over, and bagged it; and while Doolan was applauding me, a +pheasant was put up, and in like manner transferred to my game-bag. +Never before had we enjoyed such capital sport, till, weary with our +exercise, we sat down to partake of the provisions, not forgetting a +whisky bottle which my companion had brought with him. While we were +eating, he amused me with an account of an intended run of smuggled +goods which was to be made on the coast two nights thence; and without +much difficulty I agreed to join the party who were to assist in landing +the things, and in carrying them up the country to the places where they +were to be concealed. + +On these occasions, conflicts between the coastguard officers and the +smugglers often take place, and lives are frequently lost. This I well +knew, though perhaps I did not think about it. I was pleased with the +idea of the danger, and flattered by having so much confidence placed in +me. I thought it was a very manly thing to assist the smugglers, while +Doolan all the time wished to implicate me, to be able, should we be +discovered, to shield himself by means of me. After breakfast we +resumed our sport. Our game-bags were full and very heavy, and even we +were content. My companion at last proposed to return home. "Home," I +remarked unconsciously. "How can I return home? How can I face my +father after having thus disobeyed him?" I thought. This feeling had +not before occurred to me. I already repented what I had done. "I +can't go home now," said I to Doolan aloud. + +"Why not?" said he; "you've a mighty fine faste to place before your +dad; and, faith, if he's a sinsible man, he'll ax no questions how you +came by it." Such were my companion's notions of morality; and in this +instance he spoke what he thought was the truth, for he had been taught +no better, and he knew that thus his own father would have acted. + +"It won't do; I cannot look my father in the face, and must go to your +house now; and I will creep home at night, when there's no one to see +me." + +"Well, Pater, you must do as you like," he said, laughing; "you're +mighty welcome to come to our house and to stay there as long as you +plase; at the same time that I see no reason at all, at all, why your +dad shouldn't be glad to see such an illigant stock of game for his +dinner." + +"I know my father better than you do, Pat," said I, for the first time +in my life asserting a little determination with him. "Home I will not +go this day." + +So it was settled; and we were bending our steps in the direction of +Doolan's house, through Lord Fetherston's property, when another +pheasant got up before me. My gun was loaded, and I could not resist +the temptation to fire. The bird fell, and I was running forward to +pick it up, when three persons appeared suddenly from a path through a +copse close to me. Doolan, who was a little in advance, ran off as fast +as his legs could carry him, throwing away his game-bag in his fright, +and leaving me to take care of myself as I best could. Two of the +strangers, whom I guessed to be keepers by their dress--indeed one I +knew by sight--rushed forward and seized me roughly by the collar. + +"What are you doing here, you young scamp?" exclaimed one of them. +"Killing our lord's game, and caught in the act," he added, picking up +the still fluttering bird. "Come along, and we'll see what he has to +say to you." + +The other immediately made chase after my companion; but Doolan ran very +fast, and was in good wind, which the keeper was not, so that the former +soon distanced him. The keeper gave up the chase, calculating that, +having caught one of us, he should be able to lay hands on the other +whenever he chose. + +On his return, with many a cuff he dragged me along towards the third +person I spoke of, and whom I at once recognised as Lord Fetherston +himself. He did not remember me; but the keepers did, I suspect, from +the first. + +"What is your name, youngster?" said his lordship in a severe tone. + +I told him, with the shame I felt strongly depicted on my countenance. + +"I am sorry to hear it," he replied. "And that of your companion?" + +"Pat Doolan, my lord." I said this with no vindictive feeling, or with +any idea of excusing myself; but I was asked a question, and without +considering what might be the result I answered it. + +"A pretty companion for the son of the vicar of ---. Take away his gun, +O'Rourke," he said to the keeper, "and the game: to that he has no +right. And now, young gentleman, I shall see your father on this matter +shortly. If he chooses to let his son commit depredations on my +property, he must take the consequences." + +"I came out without my father's knowledge, and he is in no way to +blame," I answered quickly; for I could not bear to have any reflection +cast on my father through my fault. + +Lord Fetherston looked at me attentively, and I think I heard him +muttering something like, "He is a brave lad, and must be rescued from +such companionship;" but I am not quite certain. + +"Well, sir, you at all events must not escape punishment," he replied +aloud. "For the present, I leave you in the custody of my keepers. You +see the condition to which you have reduced yourself." + +He then gave some orders to one of the keepers, which I did not hear; +and without further noticing me he walked on, while they led me away +towards Fetherston Abbey, his lordship's residence. I need scarcely say +that my feelings were very wretched, and full of shame; and yet perhaps +I would rather it should thus have happened, than that I should have +been compelled to go back to my father. It was perhaps somewhat of a +consolation to feel that I was being justly punished, and yet not by my +father's hand. I don't know that I thought this at the time, but I know +that I did afterwards. And then, when days had passed, and many other +events had occurred, I felt very grateful that Providence had thus +disposed of me, and had preserved me from a fate which in all human +probability would have been mine had I this time escaped with impunity. + +Lord Fetherston was a magistrate, and consequently in the Abbey there +was a strong room, in which, on occasion, prisoners were locked up +before they were carried off to jail. Into this room I was led, and +with a heavy heart I heard the key turned in the lock, and found myself +alone. If I had wished to escape I could not; and there were no books, +or other means of amusement, so that I was left to my own reflections. +A servant, who would not answer any questions, brought me in some +dinner, which I could scarcely taste; and at night a small bed, +ready-made, was brought in, and I was again left to myself. Two days +thus passed away: my obstinate spirit was completely broken, and I must +say that I truly had repented of all my folly and idleness. On the +third day the door opened, and my father appeared. He looked very sad, +but not angry. He took a chair and sat down, while I stood before him. +For more than a minute he could not speak. + +"Peter," he at length said, "I do not come to reproach you: the grief I +and your mother feel, and what you will have to endure henceforth, will +be, I trust, sufficient punishment. We must part with you, my son; we +have no choice. You must go to foreign lands, and there retrieve your +name, and, I trust, improve and strengthen your character. You have +placed yourself and me in Lord Fetherston's power. He insists on it, +that you shall forthwith be sent to sea; and on that condition he +promises to overlook all that has occurred. He did not even speak +harshly of you; and I am fain to believe that what he has decided is for +the best. At my earnest solicitation, he consented that you should take +only a short voyage first to North America, provided that you sail +without delay. Accordingly, I have agreed to set off to-morrow with you +for Liverpool, whence many ships sail for that part of the world, and I +dare say that I shall find some captain to take charge of you. Do you +consent to abide by this arrangement?" + +"I think Lord Fetherston is right," I replied. "The life of a sailor, +if what I know of it is correct (little in truth did I know of it), will +just suit me; and though I regret to go as I am going, and grieve to +wound my mother's heart, yet I consider that I am very leniently dealt +with, and will gladly accept the conditions." So it was settled, and my +father led me out of my prison. Lord Fetherston met us as we left the +mansion. + +"My son gratefully accepts your conditions, my lord," said my father, +colouring. His pride, I fear, was humbled to the dust (alas! through +me) when he said so. "I shall fulfil to the letter your lordship's +commands." + +"I am glad to hear it, Mr Lefroy; depend on it, you act wisely," said +Lord Fetherston. "And I trust that we part without malice, young man," +addressing me. "You have my well-wishes, I can assure you." He held +out his hand, and I shook it, I believe gratefully, though I said +nothing; and without another word I jumped into the car which had +brought my father, and we drove home. + +There was much grief and sorrow when we got there, and many a tear in +the eyes of my mother and my sweet, ever kind, sisters as they packed up +my little kit; but not a word of reproach. Thus passed the last day for +many a long year that I spent at home. + +Let me tell those who wish to quit their homes to go roaming round the +world in search of what they know not, that though they chance to bring +back shiploads of riches, they will find no jewels comparable in price +to a another's fond love, a father's protecting affection, the sweet +forbearing regard of tender sisters, a brother's hearty interest, or the +calm tranquillity of the family roof. + +I write for the large and happy majority of my readers: some few are +less fortunate, and they in truth deserve the sympathy of the rest. +Cherish, I say, while you can, the affections of your home; and depend +on it, when far away, the recollection alone will be like a refreshing +spot in the weary desert through which your path in life may lead you; +for be assured that there is no place like home. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +I remember very little of my journey to Dublin, except that it was +performed on the top of the mail. My father went outside also, which +was not his usual custom; but he did not like to expose me to the +inclemency of the weather while he was comfortably ensconced within +(another proof of his love), and he could not spare money to pay for my +fare inside. + +We saw my eldest brother for an instant, just for me to wish him +good-bye, and the same afternoon we went on board a steamer bound for +Liverpool. + +She was very different to the superb vessels which now run twice a day +from one place to the other, making the two capitals, for all intents +and purposes, not so far off as London and Winchester were not a hundred +years ago. She was in every respect inferior; but I thought her, as she +was indeed, a very wonderful vessel. I was never tired of examining her +machinery, and in wandering through every part of her. + +I had never before been on board a steamer; and as I was naturally of an +inquiring disposition, I had numberless questions to ask to learn how it +was the steam made the engines work, and the engine made the large +paddle-wheels go round. This occupation prevented me from thinking of +what had occurred, and kept me in good spirits. + +Arrived at Liverpool, we went to an inn, and my father immediately set +out with me to inquire among the ship-brokers what ships were sailing +for British North America. + +"You shall go to an English colony, Peter," said my father. "Wherever +you wander, my son, remember you are a Briton, and cease not to love +your native land." + +Liverpool was then, I thought, a very fine city. I was particularly +struck by the fine public buildings; the broad streets, full of +richly-stocked shops; and more than all, by the docks, crowded with +shipping. Since then, several of the streets have been widened, the +docks have been increased, and many fine buildings have been added; and +as the wealth of Liverpool continues to increase, many more will be +added, till it vies with some of the proudest cities in the world. Such +is the result of commerce, when guided by a wise and liberal policy. + +Had my father known more of the world, I am inclined to think that he +would have waited till he could procure an introduction to some +respectable ship-owner, who would have selected a good honest captain +with whom to place me. Instead of so doing, he walked into several +offices by chance, over which he saw written "Shipping Agent and +Broker." Some had no ships going to the British North American ports, +others did not know of any captains who would take charge of a raw +youngster like me. One said if I liked to go to the coast of Africa he +could accommodate me, but that he could not say that I might not have to +spend two or three months up some of the rivers, waiting for a return +cargo of ivory and gold dust. Another said he could secure me a trip to +China if I would pay a premium; and three others offered me cruises to +the West Indies and North America. The fact was, that the navigation of +the mighty river Saint Lawrence was scarcely open, and consequently few +ships were ready to sail for Quebec. At last a broker into whose office +we entered, informed us that he was agent for one of the first emigrant +ships which would sail that year; that her captain was a very superior +man, a great friend of his; and that he doubted not for a small premium +he would take charge of me. Mr John Cruden, our new friend, insurance +broker and general shipping agent, was a very polite man, and extremely +soft-spoken; but he was of an extremely inquisitive disposition, I +thought, for he asked my father numberless questions about himself and +me, to all of which he returned the short monosyllable "H'm," which did +not inform us whether he was satisfied or not. I found all the time +that he was merely trying to discover what amount of premium my father +was likely to be able to pay, that he might ask accordingly. + +The office, in which we stood, was very small for the large amount of +business Mr Cruden informed us he transacted in it, and very dark; and +so dirty, that I thought it could never have been cleaned out since he +commenced his avocations there. There were sea-chests, and cases, and +small casks of all sorts piled up in all the odd corners. There were +also coils of rope, and bottles, and rusty iron implements, the form of +which I could not discern, and bundles of old clothes and canvas bags, +and compass-boxes in and about the cases, and hanging from the ceiling; +while a tarry, fishy, strong shippy odour pervaded the room. I was +particularly struck with the model of a ship fully rigged on a shelf +over the mantelpiece; but she also was as much covered with dust as the +ship in which the ancient mariner went to sea would have been, after he +had shot the albatross, could any dust have reached her. I observed all +these things while our new friend was talking to my father. + +"You will doubtless like to make the acquaintance of Captain Elihu +Swales, Mr Lefroy," said Mr Cruden. "I expect him here every instant, +and I shall then have the pleasure of introducing him to you, and we can +arrange matters forthwith. You will find him, sir, a very amiable, +excellent man--indeed you will, sir--a very proper guardian for a young +man." + +Whether this description was correct or not I had then no means of +judging. The subject of this eulogium appeared while it was being +uttered; indeed I suspect he heard a portion of it, for, suddenly +turning my head after growing weary of looking at the dusty ship, I saw +a man, whom I instinctively suspected to be the captain, standing +outside the little paddock in which we were enclosed, called by Mr +Cruden his counting-house, with a very peculiar smile on his +countenance. Had I not turned, I think he would have burst forth +outright into laughter. I must remark that my father's back was towards +him, and that Mr Cruden, unless he was very near-sighted, could +scarcely have helped seeing when he came in. + +"Ah, there is at last my excellent friend," observed the agent when he +perceived that I had discovered the captain. "Mr Lefroy, allow me to +introduce Captain Swales to you. Captain Swales, this gentleman has a +son whom he wishes to send to sea. You will take charge of the lad. +You will be a second father to him. I can depend on you. Say the word, +and all parties will come to terms." + +"Day, sir," said Captain Swales, making as if he would take off his hat, +which he did not. He was a very respectable man, as far as dress went; +that is to say, he was clothed in a suit of black cloth, with a black +silk handkerchief--nothing very remarkable, certainly: most masters and +mates of merchantmen wear such on shore. His figure was short and +square, there was nothing rounded about him; his features were all +angular; and though there was a good deal of him, it was all bone and +sinew. His countenance was brown, with a deep tinge of red superadded; +and as for his features, they were so battered and seamed with winds and +weather, that it was difficult to discern their expression. I remember, +however, that the first glance I caught of his eye, as it looked +inquiringly towards Mr Cruden, I did not like, even though at the time +he was smiling. + +"You wish to send your son to sea, sir," he continued to my father. "As +Mr Cruden says, I'll look after him as if he was my own boy, sir. I'll +keep him from mischief, sir. Lads always gets into mischief if they +can; but with me, sir, they can't--I don't let 'em. I look after them, +sir; and when they knows my eye is on them, they behaves themselves. +That's my principle, sir; and now you know me." + +He said this in an off-hand, bluff, hearty way, which made my father +fully believe that he had fallen in with a prize--indeed, that he was +supremely fortunate in having secured so kind a protector for me. It +was finally arranged that he was to pay Captain Elihu Swales the sum of +fifteen pounds; in consideration of which, in addition to any service I +could be of, I was to mess at his table, and to learn what I could of a +seaman's duty, till the ship returned to Liverpool. + +The _Black Swan_, the name of Captain Elihu Swales' ship, would not be +ready for sea for some days, he informed my father; and till she was so, +as he was compelled to return home immediately, Mr Cruden kindly +undertook to board and lodge me at the rate of twelve shillings a week. +I was to go on board the _Black Swan_ every day, to see if I was wanted; +and I was to return to Mr Cruden's in the afternoon, or when I was not +wanted. My father considered this a very admirable arrangement, and was +perfectly confident that he had done the best circumstances would allow, +and that he had left me in safe and honourable hands. + +On our way to our inn, we met one of the brokers to whom we had spoken +in the morning. He asked if we had found what we wanted. "Oh yes," +replied my father, "an excellent man, Captain Swales, a friend of Mr +Cruden's--very superior--very superior indeed." The broker, I thought, +looked odd at this, and was at first apparently going to speak; but on +second thoughts he seemed to consider that it was no business of his, +and he passed on with a cold "Oh, really--good-day, sir." It was +afterwards only, perhaps, that his manner struck me; at the time I +supposed that it was usual to him. + +We spent most of the afternoon in purchasing a sea-chest and an outfit +for me, according to a list furnished by Mr Cruden, to whose office my +traps were transferred forthwith. We did not go down to see the _Black +Swan_, because Captain Swales said she was a long way off, and was not +fit to receive visitors, but that she would be in a few days. He then +remarked that she was one of the finest and fastest craft out of +Liverpool. "Nothing could beat the _Black Swan_ when she had a mind to +put her best foot foremost." I was wondering whether ships really had +feet. I afterwards found that this was a figurative way of expressing +that she sailed fast. These observations were made when we returned +with my chest to Mr Cruden's, where we again met my future captain; and +when the sum agreed on for my voyage was paid into the hands of the +first-named person, my father's heart was softened towards me; and after +he had exhausted all the good advice he could think of, and had given me +several useful books, and many little articles of his own property, he +made me a present of six pounds as pocket-money, and to purchase +anything I might wish to bring back from America. He took his watch out +of his fob, and would have given me that also, but I persuaded him to +keep it, assuring him that I did not require it, and that I should +certainly break it, or lose it overboard, as would have been the case +probably the first time I went aloft. The next morning my poor father +returned by the steamer to Dublin. He felt very much, I am sure, at +parting from me, more than he would have done under other circumstances, +though by a considerable effort he mastered himself so as not publicly +to betray his emotions. He was gone; and I was left alone in the big +world to look after myself, with little more experience of its ways than +a child. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +When my father was gone, I went back to Mr Cruden's office and asked +him to tell me where I could find his house, at which I understood I was +to lodge. + +He looked up from the book in which he was writing, with an air of +surprise, and replied, "You are mistaken, my lad, if you suppose that I +am about to introduce into the bosom of my family one of whom I know +nothing. Your father is a very respectable man, I dare say, and you may +be a very estimable youth, for what I know; but it is generally a +different sort who are sent to sea as you are being sent; and therefore +it is just possible you may be a wild young scamp, whose face his +friends may never wish to behold again--hark you." + +I blushed as he said this, and looked confused; for my conscience told +me that he spoke the truth. + +"Ah! I guessed I was right," he continued. "Now, to answer your +question. While you remain on shore, which won't be for long, you may +swing your hammock in the loft over this office; and for cooking, you +won't require much of that. This will break you in by degrees for the +life you've to lead, and will do you good, my lad. So I hope you will +be grateful." + +From the determined manner he had about him, I supposed that all was +right; and had it been otherwise, my spirits at that time were too low +to allow me to remonstrate. I asked him next if I could not go on board +the _Black Swan_, to make myself useful. + +He gave a peculiar smile, the meaning of which I did not comprehend at +the time, as he replied, "By all means. You will probably find Captain +Swales on board--at all events his first mate; and you may offer your +valuable services to them. When they have done with you, you may come +back here. By keeping along the quays to the right, you cannot miss the +ship if you ask for her." + +I had scarcely fancied that there were so many ships in the world as I +saw crowded together in the Liverpool docks, as I passed through them +for the first time in my life. It gave me a great notion of the wealth +and commerce of the place. "And these will all be gone in a few weeks," +I thought, "scattered far and wide to all parts of the world, and their +places will be filled by others now on their homeward voyage, which will +have again to make way for a totally fresh set." I inquired for the +_Black Swan_ of the seamen and porters loitering about the quays, but I +did not get very satisfactory answers. Some told me that she was drunk +last night, and had not got up yet. Others said she had sailed +yesterday, for they had seen her dropping down with the tide. The +boatmen invariably wanted me to take a boat to look for her, as the only +chance I had of finding her; but I saw that they were trying to impose +on me, and passed on. At last, when I had got very near to the west end +of the docks, I asked a man whom I saw standing in a meditative mood, +with his hands in his pockets, if he would tell me where the _Black +Swan_ was to be found. + +"Why, I calculate, if you look right before your nose, young one, you'll +see her as big as life," he answered, pointing to a large ship lying +along the quay, on board which a number of men were employed about the +rigging; while others, with a peculiar song, were hoisting in the cargo. +I found that the first were riggers, and that the others were dock +porters, and that neither belonged to the ship; the regular crew, with +the exception of two mates and the cook, not being engaged till just +before the ship was ready for sea. + +I must notice here the very bad system which has long prevailed with +regard to British merchant seamen. The moment a ship arrives in +harbour, the crew are paid their wages and discharged. On this they are +immediately set upon by Jews and harpies of every description. I do +them no wrong when I say that they are the very worst of the human race: +the fiercest savages have some virtues--these wretches have none. + +The poor seamen are cajoled by them with every artful device; nor do the +miscreants cease till they have plundered them of all their hard-earned +gold. Not content with this, these crimps--for such is the name by +which these persons are known--encourage the seamen to get into their +debt, chiefly for liquor; and they then go to the masters of merchantmen +looking out for crews, and make any arrangements they please. Part of +the seamen's wages are paid in advance, and this goes into the pockets +of the crimps. I have known men put on board in a state of brutal +intoxication, without knowing who were their officers, or where they +were going to. Thus the men were kept in a state of absolute slavery, +without self-respect or a chance of improvement. + +I speak of the system as it was till lately. I trust that a better +state of affairs is now being introduced; at the same time, as there is +a tendency in most things to let abuses creep in, I must entreat you, my +young friends, in your several capacities when you grow up, not to +forget the interests of our brave seamen. On those seamen depend +greatly the prosperity, the glory, the very existence of England; and, +whether as legislators or as private gentlemen, I tell you it is your +duty to inquire into their condition, and to endeavour to improve it by +every means in your power. + +But to return to the _Black Swan_, and the man who had pointed her out +to me. There was something I remarked very peculiar about the said man, +so I will speak of him first. He wore a straw hat with a very broad +brim, a nankeen jacket, though the weather was still cold, Flushing +trousers, which did not near reach to his ankles, and a waistcoat of +fur--of beaver, I believe, or of wild cat. He had a very long face, and +lantern jaws. His nose was in proportion, and it curled down in a way +which gave it a most facetious expression; while a very bright small +pair of eyes had also a sort of constant laugh in them, though the rest +of his features looked as if they could never smile. His complexion had +a very leathery look, and his figure was tall and lanky in the extreme. +I could not have said whether he was an old or a young man by his +appearance. + +"Well, there's the ship," he observed, seeing that I was looking at him +instead of going on board. "_Do_ you know me now?" with an emphasis on +the _do_. "That's kind now to acknowledge an old friend. We was raised +together, I guess; only you wasn't weaned till last summer, when the +grass was dried up." + +I saw that he was laughing at me; but as I felt that I had been rude in +staring at him, I said I begged his pardon, but that he made a mistake +in supposing we were acquainted, unless he had visited the south of +Ireland, seeing that I had never been out of that part of the country +before. This seemed to amuse him mightily, for he gave way to a quiet +and very peculiar laugh, which I heard as I passed on towards the ship. + +There was a plank placed from the quay to the deck of the ship, and by +means of it I stepped on board the _Black Swan_. No one took any notice +of me, so that I had time to look about me. She was a ship of some +eight hundred tons burthen, though she was advertised as of twelve +hundred. She had a raised poop aft, which I may describe as an +additional house above the deck, the doors of which opened on the deck. +There was a similar raised place forward, called the topgallant +forecastle. Under the latter the seamen and mate lived, while the +captain and passengers inhabited the poop. The space between decks was +open fore and aft, and fitted up with standing bed-places. This was for +the abode of the poorer class of emigrants. The hold, the remaining +portion of the ship below the main deck, was filled with cargo and +provisions. + +All this I discovered afterwards, for at first everything appeared to my +sight an inextricable mass of confusion and disorder. After watching +for some time, I observed a man whom I concluded was the first mate, by +the way he ordered the other people about and the air of authority which +he assumed; so at last I mustered courage to go up to him. + +"Please, sir," said I in an unusually humble tone, "are you the first +mate of the ship?" + +"Well, if I am, and what then?" was his not very courteous answer. + +"Why, it's settled that I'm to go in this ship to learn to be a sailor, +so I've come on board at once to make myself useful," I replied. + +He eyed me curiously from head to foot as if I was some strange animal, +and then burst into a loud laugh. "You learn to be a sailor?--you make +yourself useful?--you chaw-bacon. Why, the hay-seed is still sticking +in your hair, and the dust ain't off your shoes yet. What can you do +now?" he asked. + +I confessed that I knew nothing about a ship, except the machinery of a +steamer, which I had examined in my passage across from Dublin; but that +I would learn as fast as I could. + +"And so you are a young gentleman, are you?" he continued, without +attending to my observations. "Sent to sea to learn manners! Well, +we'll soon knock your gentility out of you, let me tell you. +Howsomdever, we don't want no help here, so be off on shore again; and +when you meet John Smith, just ask him to take you a walk through the +town, and not to bring you back to make yourself useful till the ship's +ready for sea, d'ye hear, or you'll wish you'd stayed away, that's all." + +I must say that even at that time I thought such a man was not fit to be +placed in command of others, and yet I am sorry to say that I met many +others no better fitted to act as officers. I did not answer him; and +though I did not understand what he meant about John Smith, I +comprehended enough of his observations to judge that it would be more +advantageous for me to keep out of his way; so I walked along the plank +again to the quay. There was the man I have described, standing as +complacently as ever. As smoking is not allowed in the docks, for fear +of fire, he was chewing. + +"And so, young 'un, you've done your business on board; and what are you +going to do next?" he asked, as he saw me sauntering along. I felt that +there was a kind tone in his voice, so I told him that I had nothing to +do, as the mate of the _Black Swan_ did not require my services. + +One question led on to another, and he very soon wormed my whole history +out of me. "And your name is Peter Lefroy, is it? Then mine's Silas +Flint, at your service. And now, as neither of us has anything to do, +we'll go and help each other; so come along." Saying this, he led the +way out of the dock. + +I wondered who Mr Silas Flint could be, and yet I had no mistrust in +him. From his manner, and the tone of his voice, I thought he was +honest, and meant me no harm; and my heart, I must own, yearned for +companionship. He did not leave me long in doubt; for after I had told +him everything I had to tell about my previous life, he began to be +equally communicative about himself. "You see, Peter, I've secured my +passage in the _Black Swan_, so we shall be fellow-voyagers; and as I've +taken a sort of liking to you, I hope we shall be friends. I come from +'Merica, over there, though I don't belong to the parts she's going to; +but you see I've got some business at Quebec, and so I'm going there +first." I cannot pretend to give his peculiar and quaint phraseology. + +I soon learned that he was raised, as he called it, in the Western +States of America; that he had spent much of his life as a hunter and +trapper, though he was a man of some little substance; that having +accidentally seen an advertisement in the paper, stating that if the +heirs of the late Josiah Flint, of Barnet, in the county of +Hertfordshire, England, would apply to Messrs. Grub and Gull, Fleece +Court, Chancery Lane, London, they would hear of something to their +advantage, he, believing himself to be a descendant of the said Josiah, +had come over to hear the welcome news. He remarked, with his peculiar +smile, that he had _heard_ a great deal which might be very advantageous +to him, and which might or might not be true, but that he had got +nothing--that he had established his undoubted claim to be one of the +heirs of the said Josiah, but that he had fifty cousins, who had turned +up in all directions, and whom he would never otherwise have had the +happiness of knowing. The gain in this case did not seem great, as they +none of them showed any cousinly affection, but did their best to prove +that he was an impostor. Thus all the share of his grandfather's +property went in law expenses; and he was going back to the land of his +father's adoption considerably poorer than he came, and in no loving +humour with England and his English cousins. + +Such is the brief outline Silas Flint gave me of his history, as we +strolled together through the streets of Liverpool. If, however, I +continue describing all the characters I met, and all the strange things +I saw, I shall never get on with my history. Silas made a confession +which much pleased me: it was, that although he had lived many years in +the world, he still felt that he had much to learn, and was constantly +doing things he wished to undo: the last was paying his money for his +passage, before he had made any inquiries about the ship. He hinted +that Mr Cruden was not as honest as he might be; that he suspected +Captain Swales was no better; and that the way the poor emigrants who +had come to Liverpool from all parts to go by the ship were treated, was +most shameful. + +He told me that, in the first place, they were attracted there by +advertisements long before the ship was ready for sea, partly that the +ship-brokers might make certain of having the ship filled, and not a +little for the benefit of the inns and lodging-house keepers. As soon +as they arrived--most of them absurdly ignorant of what was to be done, +and of the necessaries required for the voyage--they were pounced upon +by a set of harpies, who misled them in every possible way, and fleeced +them without mercy. There existed--and, I am sorry to say, exist to the +present day--a regular gang of these wretches, by profession +lodging-house keepers, ship-chandlers, outfitters, and provision +merchants. So notorious have they become, that they now go by the name +of the Forty Thieves, for to that number amount the worthy fraternity. + +Silas Flint took me round to a number of our intended fellow-voyagers; +and we found them loud in their complaints of the treatment they had +received, though, when he had discovered them, he had been able to +preserve them from much further expense by describing the character of +the country to which they were going, and the things they would most +require. Among them were a great many of my countrymen. They were +generally the most forlorn and heartbroken, though they had indeed +little to leave behind; but then the slightest incident would make them +forget their grief, and clap their hands with shouts of laughter. + +The sorrow of the English was less loud; but it took much more, I +observed, to make them smile. They were better dressed, and seemed to +have made more provision for the voyage. They had also been +proportionably more fleeced by the Forty Thieves. When so many of our +poor countrymen are leaving our shores annually to lands where they can +procure work and food, we should have a far better supervision and a +more organised system of emigration than now exists. And again I say to +my young countrymen, when you grow up, make it your business to inquire +into the subject; inquire with your own eyes, remember; do not trust to +what is told you; and if you do not find such a system established, +strive with heart and hand, and weary not till you have established it; +at all events, correct the abuses which too probably by that time will +have sprung up. You will all have the power of aiding that or any other +good work. If you are not in influential positions, if you have not +wealth at command, you at least have tongues to speak with, pens to +write with; so talk about it in private, speak in public, write on the +subject, and, depend on it, you will ultimately gain your object. + +It was very late in the day when I returned to the office. Mr Cruden +was about to go away. He told me, that as I had chosen to be absent at +the dinner hour, I must be content with what I could get; and he pointed +to some musty bread and cheese, and a glass of sour, turbid-looking ale +which stood on the desk. I was, however, too hungry to refuse it; so I +ate it as soon as he was gone. An old porter had charge of the +premises, and he now beckoned me to follow him to a sort of loft or +lumber-room over the office, where he had slung a hammock, which he told +me I might sleep in, or I might, if I liked, sleep on the bare boards +outside. "The hammock's more comfortable than it looks, young 'un, so +I'd advise you to try it," he remarked; and I found his remark true. As +I was very tired, I was glad to turn in early and forget my sorrows in +sleep. The next day I fared no better than the first, and all the time +I boarded with Mr Cruden the only variation in my food from bread and +cheese was hard biscuits and very doubtful-looking pork and beef. When +I told Silas Flint of the treatment I had received, he shrugged his +shoulders. + +"Can you mend it?" he asked. + +I told him that I could complain. + +"To whom?" he said. "You have no one to complain to--no friend in the +place. Now let me advise you to do as I do. When you can't cure a +thing, grin and bear it; but if you see your way out of a fix, then go +tooth and nail at it, and don't let anything stop you till you're clear. +That's my maxim, youngster; but there's no use kicking against the +pricks--it wears out one's shoes, and hurts the feet into the bargain. +Now, soon after I took my passage in this here _Black Swan_, I guessed I +had made a mistake; but what would have been the use of my going to law +about it? I knowed better. I should only have sent my last dollar to +look after the many which have gone to prove I was first cousin to a set +of people, who would all rather have heard my father was drowned years +ago than have set eyes on me. I tell you, Peter, you must grin and bear +it, as you'll have to do many things as you get through life." + +I found that my friend practised what he preached; for so completely +were his finances exhausted by his law expenses, that he had to husband +all his resources to enable him to return home. In board and lodging he +was worse off than I was; and, as he said, he was accustomed to camp out +at night, to save the expense of a bed. He used to amuse himself in the +day by walking about to look out for a snug place to sleep in at night, +either in the city or its neighbourhood, and he seldom occupied the same +spot two nights running. He assured me, and I believed him, that it was +far pleasanter than sleeping in the close atmosphere of a crowded room; +and it reminded him faintly of his beloved prairies, on which he had +spent the greater part of his life. The chief portion of every day, for +a week before the ship was reported ready for sailing, I passed with my +new-found friend; and, as may be supposed, I did not again offer my +valuable services to the mate of the _Black Swan_, nor was any inquiry +made after me by her worthy captain. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +At last I was informed by Mr Cruden that I might transfer my chest and +myself on board the _Black Swan_. Accordingly, the old porter wheeled +the former down to the docks, while I walked by its side. I gave the +old porter a shilling for his trouble: his eye brightened, and he +blessed me, and muttered something about wishing that I had fallen into +better hands; but he was afraid, apparently, of saying more, and casting +another glance at me, I suspect of commiseration, he tottered off to his +daily avocations. My chest, which was a very small one, was stowed away +by one of the seamen under a bunk in the forecastle. I thought that I +was to have a cabin under the poop, and to mess with the captain; but +when I made inquiries, no one could give any information, and the +captain was nowhere to be seen. Everything on board appeared in the +wildest confusion; and I must own that I got most unaccountably in +everybody's way, and accordingly got kicked out of it without the +slightest ceremony. + +Silas had not arrived, so I could not go to him for information. I +therefore climbed up out of the way, to the boat, placed amidships, on +the top of the booms. Soon afterwards the emigrants' bag and baggage +began to arrive. I was amused by observing the odd and mixed collection +of things the poor people brought with them, some of the more bulky +articles of which were not admitted on board. The Jew harpies were on +the quays ready to snap them up, giving little or nothing in return. I +thought that it was a great pity that there were no means to enable +these poor people to obtain better information before they left home, to +have saved them the expense of dragging so much useless lumber about +with them. I pitied them, not because they were going to another land +where they could get food and employment, but for their helpless +ignorance, and the want of any one fit to lead or direct them, as also +for the treatment they were receiving at the hands of the countrymen +they were leaving for ever. + +Many of them resented bitterly the impositions practised on them; and I +saw some of them, with significant gestures, take off their shoes and +shake the dust over the ship's side as they stepped on board, while they +gave vent to their feelings in oaths not lowly muttered. Henceforth, +instead of friends and supporters, they were to be foes to England and +the English--aliens of the country which should have cherished and +protected them, but did not. Such things were--such things are: when +will they cease to be? What a strange mixture of people there were, +from all parts of the United Kingdom--aged men and women; young brides +and their husbands; mothers with tribes of children, some with their +infants still unweaned--talking many different dialects, weeping, +laughing, shrieking, and shouting! At last they got their berths +allotted to them, and they began to stow away their provisions and +baggage between decks. Some kept going backwards and forwards from the +ship to the shore, and no notice being given, many of them were left +behind when the ship hauled out of dock, and had to come on board in +boats, at a considerable expense, after being well frightened at the +thoughts that we had sailed without them. + +We lay out in the stream for another whole day, with the Blue Peter +flying, to show that we were ready for sea, and to summon any passengers +who might yet remain on shore. Silas Flint was one of the last to come +on board, before we left the dock. He appeared following a porter, who +wheeled down his chest, containing all his property. He did not even +give me a look of recognition as he passed me; but he at once plunged +below with his chest, and he studiously avoided coming near me. This I +thought odd and unkind, nor could I comprehend the cause of this +behaviour. + +I was sitting very disconsolate by myself among the emigrants, and +wondering when the captain would come on board, and when I should begin +to learn to be a seaman, when I felt the no pleasing sensation of a +rope's end laid smartly across my shoulders. I turned quickly round to +resent the indignity, when I encountered the stern glance of the first +mate, Mr Stovin, fixed on me, while the "colt" in his hand showed that +he was the aggressor. "And so you are the youngster who wanted to make +himself useful, are you?" he exclaimed in a sneering voice. + +"I am," I replied; "and I'll thank you in future not to take such +liberties with my back." + +He burst into a loud laugh. "O my young cock-a-hoop, you show fight, do +you?" he exclaimed. "Well, we'll see what you are made of before long." + +"I'm ready to do my duty when you show me the way," I answered in as +calm a voice as I could command; and I believe this reply, and the +having kept my temper, gave him a more favourable opinion of me than he +was before inclined to form, and somewhat softened his savage nature. + +"A willing hand will have no want of masters," he observed. "And mind, +what I tell you to do you'll do as well as you can, and we shan't fall +foul of each other." + +I will now describe the _Black Swan_. She measured nearly eight hundred +tons, was ship-rigged, and had been built many years. She carried +eighteen hands forward, with two cooks and a steward, besides the +captain, four mates, and a doctor. + +There were about four hundred and forty steerage passengers, who, I may +explain, are the poorer classes; and I think there were ten cabin +passengers, who berthed in the cabin and messed with the captain. The +steerage passengers brought their own provisions, but the captain was +obliged to provide them with water and biscuit, just to keep life in +them; indeed, without it many of them would have died. It was, I felt, +like severing the last link which bound us to our native shores, when +the pilot left us at the mouth of the Mersey, and with a fair wind we +stood down the Irish Channel. + +I cannot say that before I quitted home I had any very definite idea of +the life of a sailor; but I had some notion that his chief occupation +was sitting with his messmates round a can of grog, and singing songs +about his sweetheart: the reality I found was very different. + +The first time I had any practical experience of this was when, the +pilot having left us, and the wind having veered round to the +north-east, the captain ordered the ship to be kept away before it. His +eye happened to fall upon me for the first time, dressed in my sea +toggery, and seated, with my hands in my pockets, on the booms. + +"Hillo, Jim--what's-your-name--we'll have none of your idling ways here +if you belong to this ship, as I've a notion you do," he exclaimed. +"Aloft there with you, then, and help furl the mizzen topsail. Be smart +about it, or I'll freshen your way with a rope's end, and we'll see if +you give me an answer." + +By this last observation, I guessed that the mate had told him of the +answer I had given him, and I felt that the wisest thing I could do was +to obey him without making any reply. What, however, he meant by +"furling the mizzen topsail" I had not the slightest notion; but as I +saw that he pointed to the mizzen-mast, and that several lads and men +were ascending the mizzen rigging, I followed them. I was a good +climber, so I had no fear of going aloft; and while I was in the top, +luckily one of my new messmates, who was already lying out on the yard, +exclaimed, "Hillo, Peter, lend us a hand here, my lad." On hearing +this, I immediately threw myself on the yard, and following his +directions I made a very fair furl of it. I got no praise certainly for +this, but I escaped blame; and I saw by the way the other mizzen-top men +treated me, that they considered me a smart lad, and no flincher. + +From that moment I was never idle. I followed a piece of advice honest +Dick Derrick gave me on this occasion: "Never let go with one hand till +you've got a good gripe with the other; and if you cannot hold on with +your hands, make use of your teeth and legs; and mind, clutch fast till +you've picked out a soft spot to fall on." Dick Derrick taught me to +hand, furl, and steer, to knot and splice, to make sinnet and spun-yarn, +and the various other parts of a seaman's business. I was ambitious to +learn; and I found the work, when taught by him, both easy and pleasant. + +I was placed in the second mate's watch, and had to keep my watch +regularly. In this I was fortunate. William Bell was his name. He was +a quiet, gentlemanly young man, who always kept his temper, however +roughly spoken to by the captain. It was through no want of spirit that +he did not reply to the abuse thrown at him, as I afterwards discovered, +but because it was the wisest and most dignified course to pursue. As I +said before, I expected to mess in the cabin, and to be a sort of +midshipman; but when I went up to the captain and told him so, he +laughed at me, and asked me if I would show him any written agreement on +the subject, for that he knew nothing at all about it. All he could say +was, that I was entered as a ship's boy; that as such I must be berthed +and messed, and do duty. If I did not like it, he would see what Mr +Stovin had to say to me. I saw that there was no help for me; so, +following Silas Flint's advice, I determined to grin and bear it. + +We sighted Cape Clear, the south-westernmost point of Ireland. I longed +to be able to swim on shore and return home. I did not the less wish to +see the world, but I did not much like the company with whom I was +likely to see it; Mr Stovin and his rope's-ending were not agreeable +companions. From Cape Clear we took a fresh departure. A ship is said +to take her departure from a point, the distance and the bearing of the +point being ascertained when her course is marked off from the spot +where she then is. At four p.m. Cape Clear bore five miles north-east +of us, or rather we were five miles south-west of the Cape. This spot +was marked on the chart; and the distance run, and the course by +compass, were each day afterwards pricked off in like manner on the +charts. The distance run is measured by the log, which is hove every +two hours. + +The log is a small triangular piece of wood, secured to the end of a +long line, on which divisions are marked, bearing the same proportion to +a mile which a half-minute bears to an hour. One man holds a +half-minute glass in his hand--another a reel on which the line is +rolled--a third, the mate, takes the log and heaves it overboard, +drawing off the line with his left hand. Thus, as the log remains +stationary in the water, according to the number of divisions or knots +run off while the sand in the glass is running, will be shown the number +of miles the ship is going in the hour. Instead of miles, the word +knots is used, evidently from the knots marked on the line. + +The mode I have thus briefly described of finding the ship's course is +called "dead reckoning." This, of course, is liable to errors, as +careless steering, the compasses being out of order, or a current, may +carry her far from her supposed position; at the same time, when the sky +is obscured, it is the only mode of finding the way across the ocean. +It can be correctly ascertained by observation of the sun, moon, and +stars, taken with a sextant and a chronometer; but I shall be led to +give an epitome of the science of navigation if I attempt to explain the +mode of using them. + +In shallow waters, where the bottom has been accurately surveyed, a +clever pilot will find his way with the lead. At the end of the lead a +cavity is made, which is filled with grease; and according to the sort +of mud, sand, or shells which adhere to it, he tells his position. +This, and many other parts of navigation, Mr Bell, during our night +watches, took great pains to explain to me; but it was not till I had +been some time at sea that I comprehended them clearly. + +Mr Bell never spoke to me in the day-time; for if the captain saw him, +he was certain to send me to perform some kind of drudgery or other. I +was set to do all the dirty work in the ship, to black down the rigging, +to grease the masts, etcetera, etcetera; indeed, my hands were always in +the tar-bucket; but it served the useful purpose of teaching me a +seaman's duty, and of accustoming me to work. The captain and first +mate's abusive language, however, I could not stand; and my feelings +resented it even more than the blows they were continually dealing me. + +I have said little about the emigrants. If my lot was bad, theirs was +much worse. They were looked upon by the officers as so many sheep or +pigs, and treated with no more consideration. Crowded together below, +allowed to accumulate filth and dirt of every description, their diet +bad and scanty, and never encouraged to take the air on deck, disease +soon broke out and spread among them. Old and young, married and single +of both sexes, were mingled indiscriminately together; and the scenes I +witnessed when I was obliged to go below turned me sick with disgust, as +they made my heart bleed with sorrow. + +The surgeon had little more knowledge of his profession than I had, and +had not the slightest notion of what ought to be done to stop the +ravages of disease. He physicked indiscriminately, or bled or starved +his patients, without paying the slightest regard to their ailments. +When they died they were thrown overboard, with scant ceremony; but the +men had the greatest difficulty in tearing the bodies of the Irish from +their friends, or of children from their wretched parents; and it was +heart-rending to listen to the shrieks and howls of grief as this was +attempted to be done. + +However, I do not wish to dwell on these scenes, or to discourage +emigration. I fully believe that by thoroughly cleansing the ship, and +by serving out good provisions, disease might then have been arrested. +The object is to prevent the occurrence of such disorders for the +future, by the introduction of a well-organised system. In spite of all +obstacles, emigration will go forward; but it depends on every one of +us, whether it will prove a curse or a blessing to those who go forth, +whether the emigrants are to be in future friends or deadly foes to the +country they quit. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +For ten days we had fine weather and light winds; but a southerly gale +sprang up, and drove us to the northward, and I then found out what it +was to be at sea. Of course I had to do duty, as before, aloft; and +following Derrick's advice was of service, or one night, while furling +top-sails, and when the ship was pitching tremendously, I should +certainly have been killed. On a sudden I found myself jerked right off +the yard; but I fortunately had hold of the gasket, which I was passing +through the mizzen top-sail, and by it hauled myself up again and +finished the work. After the gale had lasted a week, the wind came +round from the northward, and bitter cold it was. We then stood on +rather farther to the north than the usual track, I believe. + +It was night, and blowing fresh. The sky was overcast, and there was no +moon, so that darkness was on the face of the deep--not total darkness, +it must be understood, for that is seldom known at sea. I was in the +middle watch, from midnight to four o'clock, and had been on deck about +half-an-hour when the look-out forward sang out, "Ship ahead-- +starboard--hard a star-board!" + +These words made the second mate, who had the watch, jump into the +weather rigging. "A ship!" he exclaimed. "An iceberg it is rather, +and--All hands wear ship," he shouted in a tone which showed there was +not a moment to lose. + +The watch sprang to the braces and bowlines, while the rest of the crew +tumbled up from below, and the captain and other officers rushed out of +their cabins: the helm was kept up, and the yards swung round, and the +ships head turned towards the direction whence we had come. The captain +glanced his eye round, and then ordered the courses to be brailed up, +and the main top-sail to be backed, so as to lay the ship to. I soon +discovered the cause of these manoeuvres; for before the ship had quite +wore round, I perceived close to us a towering mass with a refulgent +appearance, which the look-out man had taken for the white sails of a +ship, but which proved in reality to be a vast iceberg; and attached to +it and extending a considerable distance to leeward, was a field or very +extensive floe of ice, against which the ship would have run had it not +been discovered in time, and would in all probability instantly have +gone down with every one on board. + +In consequence of the extreme darkness it was dangerous to sail either +way, for it was impossible to say what other floes or smaller cakes of +ice might be in the neighbourhood, and we might probably be on them +before they could be seen. We therefore remained hove to. As it was, I +could not see the floe till it was pointed out to me by Derrick. + +I was on deck, with my eyes trying to pierce the darkness to leeward, +and fancying that I saw another iceberg rising close to the ship, and +that I heard strange shrieks and cries, when I felt a hand placed on my +shoulder: "Well, lad, what do you think of it?" said a voice which I +recognised as that of Silas Flint. + +"I would rather be in a latitude where icebergs do not exist," I +replied. "But how is it, old friend, you seemed to have forgotten me +altogether since we sailed?" I added. + +"It is because I am your friend, lad, that I do not pretend to be one," +he answered in a low tone. "I guessed from the first the sort of chap +you've got for a skipper, and that you'd very likely want my aid; so I +kept aloof; the better to be able to afford it without being suspected, +d'ye see? You lead but a dog's life on board here, Peter, I am afraid." + +"It is bad enough, I own," I answered; "but I don't forget your advice +to `grin and bear what can't be cured'; and Mr Bell and some of my +messmates seem inclined to be good-natured." + +"Maybe; but you, the son of a gentleman, and, for what I see, a +gentleman yourself, should be better treated," he observed. "If I was +you, I wouldn't stand it a day longer than I could help." + +"I would not if I could help it; but I cannot quit the ship," I +answered. + +"But you may when you get to Quebec," he remarked. "I wouldn't go back +in her on any account, for many a reason. There's ill luck attends her, +trust to that." What the ill luck was, my friend did not say, nor how +he had discovered it. + +Flint spent the night on deck, and during it he talked a good deal about +America, and the independent wild life he led in the backwoods and +prairies. The conversation made a considerable impression on my mind, +and I afterwards was constantly asking myself why I should go back in +the _Black Swan_. + +When daylight broke the next morning, the dangerous position in which +the ship was placed was seen. On every side of us appeared large floes +of ice, with several icebergs floating like mountains on a plain among +them; while the only opening through which we could escape was a narrow +passage to the north-east, through which we must have come. What made +our position the more perilous was, that the vast masses of ice were +approaching nearer and nearer to each other, so that we had not a moment +to lose if we would effect our escape. + +As the light increased, we saw, at the distance of three miles to the +westward, another ship in a far worse predicament than we were, inasmuch +as she was completely surrounded by ice, though she still floated in a +sort of basin. The wind held to the northward, so that we could stand +clear out of the passage should it remain open long enough. She by this +time had discovered her own perilous condition, as we perceived that she +had hoisted a signal of distress, and we heard the guns she was firing +to call our attention to her; but regard to our own safety compelled us +to disregard them till we had ourselves got clear of the ice. + +It was very dreadful to watch the stranger, and to feel that we could +render her no assistance. All hands were at the braces, ready to trim +the sails should the wind head us; for in that case we should have to +beat out of the channel, which was every instant growing narrower and +narrower. The captain stood at the weather gangway, conning the ship. +When he saw the ice closing in on us, he ordered every stitch of canvas +the ship could carry to be set on her, in hopes of carrying her out +before this could occur. It was a chance whether or not we should be +nipped. However, I was not so much occupied with our own danger as not +to keep an eye on the stranger, and to feel a deep interest in her fate. + +I was in the mizzen-top, and as I possessed a spy-glass, I could see +clearly all that occurred. The water on which she floated was nearly +smooth, though covered with foam, caused by the masses of ice as they +approached each other. I looked; she had but a few fathoms of water on +either side of her. As yet she floated unharmed. The peril was great; +but the direction of the ice might change, and she might yet be free. +Still on it came with terrific force; and I fancied that I could hear +the edges grinding and crushing together. + +The ice closed on the ill-fated ship. She was probably as totally +unprepared to resist its pressure as we were. At first I thought that +it lifted her bodily up; but it was not so, I suspect. She was too deep +in the water for that. Her sides were crushed in--her stout timbers +were rent into a thousand fragments--her tall masts tottered and fell, +though still attached to the hull. For an instant I concluded that the +ice must have separated, or perhaps the edges broke with the force of +the concussion; for, as I gazed, the wrecked mass of hull and spars and +canvas seemed drawn suddenly downwards with irresistible force, and a +few fragments, which had been hurled by the force of the concussion to a +distance, were all that remained of the hapless vessel. Not a soul of +her crew could have had time to escape to the ice. + +I looked anxiously: not a speck could be seen stirring near the spot. +Such, thought I, may be the fate of the four hundred and forty human +beings on board this ship ere many minutes are over. + +I believe that I was the only person on board who witnessed the +catastrophe. Most of the emigrants were below, and the few who were on +deck were with the crew watching our own progress. + +Still narrower grew the passage. Some of the parts we had passed +through were already closed. The wind, fortunately, held fair; and +though it contributed to drive the ice faster in on us, it yet favoured +our escape. The ship flew through the water at a great rate, heeling +over to her ports; but though at times it seemed as if the masts would +go over the sides, still the captain held on. A minute's delay might +prove our destruction. + +Every one held his breath as the width of the passage decreased, though +we had but a short distance more to make good before we should be free. + +I must confess that all the time I did not myself feel any sense of +fear. I thought it was a danger more to be apprehended for others than +for myself. At length a shout from the deck reached my ears, and +looking round, I saw that we were on the outside of the floe. We were +just in time, for, the instant after, the ice met, and the passage +through which we had come was completely closed up. The order was now +given to keep the helm up and to square away the yards; and with a +flowing sheet we ran down the edge of the ice for upwards of three miles +before we were clear of it. + +Only then did people begin to inquire what had become of the ship we had +lately seen. I gave my account, but few expressed any great +commiseration for the fate of those who were lost. Our captain had had +enough of ice, so he steered a course to get as fast as possible into +more southern latitudes. This I may consider the first adventure I met +with in my nautical career. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +I was every day improving my knowledge of seamanship, though my +schooling was, it may be supposed, of the roughest kind. + +The feelings Captain Elihu Swales exhibited towards me did not grow more +tender; but hitherto I had kept my temper, and had flown to obey his +orders without answering his abuse. At last, however, one day when the +ship was caught in a heavy squall, we were somewhat slow in reefing the +mizzen topsail; and as we descended on deck he laid a rope's end across +the shoulders of several of us. I could not stand this; for I and +another of the topmen, generally the smartest, had hurt our hands, and +ought not properly to have gone aloft at all. "How dare you strike me, +Captain Swales?" I exclaimed. "I paid you a sum for my passage, as +also to learn seamanship, and not to be treated as a slave." + +It was the first time I had replied to him. Perhaps speaking increased +the anger I felt, perhaps it was that I saw his eye quail before mine; +but, be that as it may, a handspike lay near, and almost unconsciously I +grasped it, and made as if I would strike him in return. + +"A mutiny!" he exclaimed, with an oath. + +"A mutiny!--knock down the rascally mutineer." + +"A mutiny!" repeated Mr Stovin, the first mate; and suiting the action +to the word, he dealt me a blow on the head with his fist, which sent me +sprawling on the deck. + +Several of the crew, as well as the emigrants, who had seen what had +occurred, cried out "Shame, shame!" but they were afraid of interfering, +so that my enemies had it all their own way. + +I was forthwith dragged forward by Stovin and two or three of the men, +who made up to him, and lashed down to the foot of the bowsprit, where I +was most exposed to the spray which flew over the ship, and could be +watched from every part. "You'll cool your temper and your heels there, +my lad, till I let you go," whispered my old enemy in a tone of voice +which showed the vindictive triumph he felt. + +For the whole of that day I was kept there, watched by one of the mate's +creatures, so that no one with friendly feelings could come near me. +Some mouldy biscuits and a piece of hard junk were brought to me long +after the dinner hour, and when I was almost too sick with hunger to +eat. When night drew on, I asked my guard if I was to be released. +"Maybe not till the end of the voyage," was the satisfactory answer. +"They hangs mutineers." + +Though I did not for a moment suppose such would be my fate, I yet +bitterly repented having, by giving way to my temper, allowed my enemies +to get an advantage over me. The wind fell, and there was less sea; but +still the night was a very dreary one to me, and, besides other physical +discomforts, I was half-starved. There has been seldom, however, a time +when some ray of comfort has not shone from above, or some human +sympathy has not been shown for my sufferings. It had just gone two +bells in the first watch, when I saw a figure creeping cautiously upon +the forecastle to where I was sitting. "Hush!" he whispered; and I knew +by the voice it was Silas Flint. "You've friends who'll help you when +the time comes. I've been watching an opportunity to bring you +something more fit to eat than the horseflesh and beans I hear you've +had. Eat it while you can." Saying this, he put into my hand some +potted meat and fine biscuits, which I found very refreshing. I must +observe that my hands were only so far at liberty that I could get them +to my mouth, but I could not move them to cast off my lashings. + +The brutality to which I was subject is only a specimen of what seamen +are exposed to from ignorant and rude shipmasters. In my time I have +seen much of such conduct; and though I have known many very excellent +and superior men commanding merchantmen, I have met as many totally +unfit for the post. This state of things will continue till higher +qualifications are required from them--till they are better educated-- +till their social position is raised--till they have more power placed +in their hands; also till the condition of the seamen under them is +improved, and till both parties may feel that their interests are cared +for and protected. I do not mean to say that I thought thus at the +time. I felt only very angry, and a strong desire to be in my berth. + +After I had eaten the food I became very drowsy, and should have gone to +sleep had I not continually been roused up by the showers of spray which +came flying over me, as the ship, close hauled, ploughed her way through +the waves. The nights were long in reality, and I thought daylight +would never come. It was just at the end of the middle watch, and, in +spite of the wet and my uncomfortable position, I had dropped off +asleep, when I was aroused by loud shrieks and cries, and a rush of +people on deck. The awful words, "Fire! fire! fire!" resounded through +the ship. Several, in the first paroxysm of alarm, leaped overboard; +and, no one regarding them or attempting to rescue them, they were +drowned. I was a witness of their fate, but could make no one attend to +me. The watch below and the officers were instantly on deck; but for +some time nothing was done, and the ship continued her course in +darkness over the deep. + +"Silence, fore and aft!" shouted the captain, who believed that it was a +false alarm. "Those who spread this report deserve to be hove +overboard. I'll take care to make inquiries about it--in the morning. +What frightens you all so?" + +"Fire! fire! fire!" was the answer of others rushing up from below. + +For some minutes the shrieks and cries and confusion prevented me from +hearing anything more; nor could the exertions of the officers serve to +maintain order. At last the captain, who had been incredulous, or +pretended to be so, became convinced that there was some cause for the +alarm, and on going round the lower deck a strong smell of fire was +perceived, and smoke was found to be issuing from the fore-hatchway over +the hold. No flames were seen, so it was evident that the fire was +among the cargo in the lower hold. The hatchway was accordingly opened, +and immediately dense volumes of smoke arose, and almost stifled me +where I remained lashed. + +When it was discovered that the fire was forward, the ship was hove to, +thus, under the idea that as fire works to windward, to prevent its +being driven so rapidly aft as it would otherwise have been. Buckets +were now cried for; and the crew, and all the emigrants whose fears had +not mastered their senses, were engaged in filling them with water and +in heaving it down below. A pump was also rigged and manned, which, +with a hose attached to it, played down the hatchway. + +After some time this appeared to have effect; and Mr Bell, who, quiet +as he generally seemed, was now the soul of everything, volunteered to +go down in order to discover the exact position of the fire. Securing a +rope round his body, while some of the crew on whom he could depend held +on, he boldly threw himself into the midst of the smoke. Not a quarter +of a minute had passed before he sang out to be hauled up again. When +he reappeared he was insensible, and it was some time before he +recovered. They brought him up to the forecastle close to me, and the +first words I heard which he uttered were: "She's all on fire below, and +I doubt if water will put it out." + +This was very dreadful; and I began to consider whether I was fated to +be roasted and then drowned, when I saw my friend Silas Flint creeping +cautiously up to me. "Hillo, Peter, my lad, you seem to take it coolly +enough; but you shan't, if I can help it, be roasted like a lark on a +spit, so I've come to give you a chance for your life. I did not come +before, not because I had forgotten you, but because I knew that wicked +captain of ours was watching me, and would have prevented me from +setting you at liberty if he could: however, he's enough else, I guess, +to think of just now." + +"Thank you, Flint--thank you for your kindness," I answered as he was +cutting the lanyards which confined me. "Do you think there is any +danger, though?" + +"The ship may burn till she's too hot to hold us," he replied +laconically; "and then it is not easy to say where five hundred people +are to find standing-room. There is danger, Peter; but a stout heart +may face and overcome it." + +"What do you propose to do?" I asked. + +"Get into a boat if I can, or else build a raft and float on that. I'll +not go down as long as I can find something to keep me up." + +Flint's calmness gave me courage; and after that, notwithstanding the +dreadful scenes I witnessed, I did not feel any fear. As soon as I was +at liberty, I set to work with Flint to make myself useful; and though I +was close to Captain Swales while we were working the pump, he did not +observe me. An event of the sort I am describing shows people in their +true colours. While some of the passengers threw off their jackets and +set to with a will, several had cast themselves on the deck, weeping and +groaning among the women; and Flint and one of the mates had actually to +go and kick them up before they would attempt to perform their duty. + +It is difficult to describe the horrors of that night, or rather +morning, before the day broke--the ship rolling and pitching on before a +heavy sea (whither she went no one considered, provided she was kept +before the wind)--the suffocating smoke which rose from the depths of +the hold--the cries of despair heard on every side--the scenes of +cowardly fear and intense selfishness which were exhibited. Still we +floated; but I expected every instant to see the ship plunge +head-foremost down into the depths of the ocean; for I thought the fire +must soon burn a hole through her planks. I was not aware how long fire +takes to burn downwards. One of the greatest cowards of the crew, and a +big bully he was, happened to be at the helm when the fire was first +reported; and as soon as the captain and mates went forward to attend to +rigging the pumps, his fears overcame him, and he dastardly deserted his +post. + +Fortunately, one of the crew was aft, and went to the helm and kept it +up, or the ship would have broached to, and, before she could have been +put on her course, the sea would have swept over our decks, and the +destruction of all would have been expedited. At the same time a number +of the passengers made a rush at the larboard-quarter boat, and, while +some got into her, others lowered her down, intending to follow. Going +fast, as the ship was, through the water, of course she was immediately +swamped, and every soul in her perished. Three or four of those who +were about to follow, so great was their eagerness, before they +understood what had occurred, leaped where they expected to find her, +and met the fate of the rest. + +This was reported to the captain, who at once set a guard over the other +boats. Indeed, as yet, there was no necessity for any one to quit the +ship. The boatswain, however, who had charge of the boats, followed by +the fellow who had quitted the wheel, the cook, and one or two others, +soon afterwards collecting some provisions, sails, compasses, tools, and +other things they thought necessary, deliberately lowered her, and +getting into her, veered her astern, where they remained, careless of +what became of the rest of us. Such was the state of things when the +sun shone forth on the ocean world. + +The decks, covered with women and children, and even many men lying +prostrate, looked as if just swept by the shots of an enemy. Such +countenances, too, of terror, agony, and despair as were exhibited, it +is difficult to describe. Many had fainted, and some had actually died +through fear, and lay quiet enough. Others rushed about the decks like +madmen, impeding the exertions of the officers and crew, and crying out +that the ship should be steered to the nearest land, and insisting on +being set on shore immediately. Had the captain been a man of firmness +and moral courage, to whom his officers and crew had been accustomed to +look up, much of the disorder would have been prevented, and perhaps the +lives of all might have been saved; but they knew him to be a bully and +a coward, and the first impulse of each was to think of his own +individual safety, as they knew he would do of his. Thus not one +quarter of the necessary exertions were made to save the ship; indeed +Mr Bell and his watch were the only part of the crew who really did any +good. + +Most of the cabin passengers, and some of the second and steerage +passengers of the English, at once came forward and offered their +services to work the pumps and to hand down the water-buckets. The +poorer Irish, on the other hand, would do nothing to help themselves, +but sat shrieking and bewailing their cruel fate till they could shriek +and cry no longer. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +It is my belief that, if proper measures had been taken the moment the +fire was discovered, it might have been extinguished, and if not, its +progress might have been retarded. The ship had a large quantity of +coals among her cargo, and there is no doubt it originated in it by +spontaneous combustion. Some said it had been smouldering away ever +since we left Liverpool. What would have been our sensations had we +known that we had a volcano on board? When some of the passengers saw +that the object of our exertions was to fill the hold with water, they +began to cry out that the quickest way would be to start the water-tanks +on deck. The captain, on hearing this, immediately exclaimed that if +they did so they would repent it, for without water they could not live, +and that this was the only fresh water at which they would shortly be +able to get. On learning their mad design, he should instantly have +placed some of the crew on whom he could depend, with arms in their +hands, to guard the tanks, and with orders to cut down any one who +should attempt to touch the bungs. Instead, he contented himself with +pointing out the folly of the proceeding. + +His words were not heeded; and without any attempt to prevent them, +several of the madmen started the water from the tanks. "Hurrah!" they +shouted as they performed this feat. "The fire will now be put out, and +we shall be saved." The hidden fire laughed at their puny efforts, and +the wreaths of smoke came forth as dense as ever. + +A consultation among the officers was now held; and it was their opinion +that we were in as good a position as could be for being fallen in with +by ships crossing the Atlantic, and that therefore we should continue as +we were--hove to. We all watched with deep anxiety the progressive +increase of the smouldering furnace below us. Fortunately the flames +did not begin to burst forth. + +Dreadful as the day was, it passed more rapidly than I could have +expected. There was nothing to mark the time; there were no regular +meals, no bells struck, no watches set. The captain, on seeing the want +of effect produced by the water thrown on the cargo, abandoned all hopes +of saving the ship, and thought only how he might best secure his own +safety. The stern-boat was, as I have said, towing astern. I now saw +him go aft, and with the aid of some of the people, to whom he had +spoken privately, he lowered down the starboard-quarter boat, having +first put into her compasses, provisions, and water. The first mate +meantime baled out the other quarter boat, and in like manner +provisioned and stored her. Three hands being placed in each, they were +veered astern. The captain and mate knew that these men would not +desert them, because without their assistance they would be unable to +find their way to any port. + +I took my spell at the pumps, and on several occasions the captain +passed me and gave me a scowl, by which I knew that he recognised me, +and probably contemplated leaving me behind in the burning ship; at +least so I thought at the time, and resolved to frustrate his kind +intentions. The captain next gave orders to the crew to hoist out the +long-boat, as the sea had gone down sufficiently to enable this to be +done without risk. The long-boat is stowed on the booms amidships, and +it requires tackles to the yard-arms, and considerable exertion, to +launch her. It was the first time I had ever observed Captain Swales +and Mr Stovin really energetic in their exertions when they were +getting this done; and I very soon found that they had a reason for it, +as they intended to take possession of her for themselves, and those +they most favoured. She at length was launched and dropped astern; and, +being hauled up under the cabin windows, the ladies and other cabin +passengers were lowered into her. She was likewise provisioned; and +compasses, charts, sails, and oars were placed in her. + +I thought that the captain, as a precautionary measure, wished to place +the passengers in comparative safety; but what was my surprise, to see +him lower himself into the boat, and drop her astern, virtually +abandoning all command of the ship! This vile example was followed by +Mr Stovin, who took possession of one of the quarter boats. The +greater part of the crew, and all the steerage and second-class +passengers, still remained in the burning ship, of which Mr Bell now +took the command. When the people saw the captain deserting them, they +rushed aft, some with piteous cries, exclaiming, "O captain dear, save +us! save us!" Others cursed him as a traitor for leaving them to their +fate; and I believe, had they known what he was about to do, they would +have torn him in pieces before they would have let him go. [See Note +1.] He shouted to them in return, that he was not going to desert them, +but that his presence was required in the boat. I have always held that +the captain should be the last man to quit the deck of his ship; and +every true seaman thinks the same, and would scorn to do otherwise. + +"A pretty job, this is," observed Dick Derrick, who was working away at +the pumps close to me. "We were nearly squeezed to death by the ice a +few days ago, and now it seems we are to be roasted with fire. Are you +prepared for death, Peter?" + +I replied that I would rather live. + +"Then the sooner we begin to knock some sort of rafts together, to float +a few of these poor people, the better," he observed. "I'll just hint +the same to Mr Bell." + +I saw him go up to Mr Bell, and, touching his hat, speak earnestly to +him. + +"You are right, Derrick," remarked the second mate as he passed me. "We +must keep the passengers working at the pumps though, to the last, while +the crew build the rafts." + +As soon as the plan was conceived, all hands set to work to collect +spars, and to knock away the fittings of the lower deck, the bulkheads, +and the bulwarks. We thus very soon formed three small rafts, each +capable of supporting thirty or forty people in calm weather--a very +small portion of the poor wretches on board. + +Mr Bell urged the crew to continue their exertions, and not to launch +the rafts till the last moment. "We do not know where the rafts may +drive to; and as we are now in the usual track of ships bound to +America, our signal of distress may be seen, and we may be saved without +more risk," he observed, addressing several who seemed about to launch +one of the rafts. His words, however, had not much effect; for a few +minutes afterwards their fears overpowered their better judgment, and +one of the rafts was launched overboard. It was with some difficulty +that it could be kept alongside. They fitted it with a mast and sail, +and a few casks of provisions, but no water was to be found, except in a +small keg. + +While some of the people who intended to embark on it were looking for +more, a fresh puff of smoke forced its way up near the mainmast; and +this so frightened the emigrants, that a general rush was made to get on +the raft. About thirty were already on it, and so alarmed were they +lest the number crowding on it might capsize it, that, ill-provisioned +as they were, they cut it adrift. What became of them I know not; for +the night coming on, they were soon lost sight of, and we never saw them +again. That night was far more dreadful than the first; for, though the +terror of the people was not so loud, their despair was more pitiable. +The remainder of the crew still worked, spell and spell, at the pumps, +but the fire gained upon us. At length some of the steerage passengers +broke into the cabins, which they rifled of everything on which they +could lay their hands, and unfortunately discovered several cases of +brandy and wine. + +Now began the most horrible orgies imaginable. Men, women, and even +children, became speedily intoxicated, and entirely forgetful of their +fears and awful position. They were, in fact, like the fiercest +savages, and, like them, danced and shouted and sang, till some of them +fell down in fits on the deck. In the cabins they found several +muskets, and, taking it into their heads that the crew had been the +cause of the disaster, they set upon Mr Bell and those of us who +remained, and, had we not struggled desperately, would have thrown us +overboard. They could, fortunately, find no powder and shot, or they +would certainly have killed some of the people in the boats. We +retreated before them forward and then, aided by Flint, and some of the +more reputable English who had kept sober, we made a rush at them and +wrenched their arms from their grasp. So infuriated had they become, +that while some of us worked at the pumps and rafts, the rest had to +stand guard and keep them at bay. Fortunately the wind fell, and the +sea went down with the sun, or it would have been still worse for us. + +In one respect the calm was bad, as no ship was likely to come to our +rescue. One might have passed within a very short distance of us, and +would not have discovered us, as we had no guns on board, nor any +blue-lights or rockets, to make signals. We had four old rusty muskets, +it is true, but there was scarcely powder enough found to fire them a +dozen times. For the best part of the night we were employed in +defending our lives from the attacks of the drunken emigrants. After +being defeated they would return to the cabin to search for more liquor; +and, not finding any, they would again make a rush upon us, declaring +that we knew where it was hid, and that they would have it. I must do +the crew justice to say, that, with few exceptions, they all kept +sober,--and those under Mr Bell behaved very well. The second mate's +conduct was above all praise; for, though repeatedly invited by those in +the larboard-quarter boat to come off and to take command of her, he +refused to quit the ship. + +At length, when the maddening effects of the spirits had worn off, the +emigrants sank down exhausted on the deck, and, had the fire then +reached where they lay, they would have been burnt, unconscious of their +fate. We were now left to consider what was next to be done. Gradually +the fire continued creeping aft, as we could tell by the increasing heat +of the lower deck; and I can scarcely describe the feelings I +experienced as, putting my hand down on the planks, I found them growing +hotter and hotter. The hatches over the hold were, however, wisely kept +closed, to prevent the flames from bursting forth. The ship was already +so full of water, that it would have exposed us to the danger of +drowning if we had pumped more into her. A second day dawned on the +same scene. + +We anxiously scanned the horizon in the hopes that a ship might appear +to rescue us, but not a sail was in sight to relieve our anxiety. As +the people woke up from their slumbers, the general cry was for water; +but no water was to be procured. They had uselessly squandered what +might have preserved them. "Water! water!" was repeated by parched +mouths, which were fated never to taste that fluid again. Some stood +aft, and shouted to the captain, who sat comfortably in the boat astern, +and made gestures at him for water. Some, in their madness, broke open +the surgeon's dispensary, and rifled it of its contents, swallowing the +drugs indiscriminately. The effects on them were various, according to +the nature of the drugs. Some, overcome with opium, fell down speedily +in a state of stupor; others were paralysed, and others died in dreadful +agonies. + +Burning thirst drove some mad, and several leaped overboard in their +delirium. Many died where they lay, on the deck; women and several poor +children quickly sunk for want of water. No sooner had the breath +departed from the body, than we were obliged to throw them overboard, as +the corpses lay in our way as we hurried about the decks. I forgot to +mention that there was a Romish priest on board, Father Slattery by +name. He was a coarse, uneducated man, but the influence he exercised +over the poor people was very great; and I must do him the justice to +say, that in this instance he exercised it for a good purpose, in +endeavouring to calm the fears of his followers, and in affording them +the offices of their religion. From the moment the danger became +apparent, he went among them confessing them and absolving them from +their sins, and giving them such other consolation as he had to offer; +but this did not seem to have any great effect, for the moment he left +them, they began to howl and shriek as loud as ever. As to attempting +to help themselves, that seemed far from their thoughts. Few of them +could be induced to work at the pumps, or to assist in building the +rafts. Yet, miserable as was their condition, the love of life appeared +stronger in them than in the English. + +When the captain dropped astern in the long-boat, there was a general +rush to follow him; and I remember seeing two girls lower themselves +down by ropes over the taffrail, where they hung, their feet in the +water, entreating to be taken in. "Oh, captain, dear, sure you won't +let us be drowned now!" they exclaimed in piteous accents. For some +time those in the long-boat were deaf to their entreaties, and I thought +the girls would have lost their hold and have been drowned, for they had +no strength left to haul themselves on board again. Feeling that their +destruction was inevitable if they were not rescued, I slipped a running +bowline knot over the rope to which one of them was hanging, and then +gliding down, I passed it over her shoulders. I was up on deck again in +a moment, and hauled her up, though I must own she did not like my +interference. The other girl let go her hold, and would have been +drowned, had she not been caught as she floated past the boat, when she +was taken in. + +But I could scarcely have believed that human nature could become so +depraved, as an instance I witnessed with my own eyes convinced me it +might be. I saw two Irishmen, who had their wives and families on +board, slip over the ship's side, and drop down towards the boat, with +ropes in their hands. Little as they deserved it, they were not +prevented from climbing on board; and there they remained, in spite of +the bitter cries of those they had so basely deserted. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. I regret to say that the whole account of the burning ship is +perfectly true. Incredible as it may seem, the fire continued +smouldering for nearly a week before the flames burst forth. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +The unhappy people were more quiet the second day than during the first; +for they were worn out with fatigue, terror, and hunger. Our ensign, +reversed, was flying, as a signal of distress, but to little purpose; +for there was no one who could see it to help us. Two more rafts were +constructed; and the carpenters set to work to raise the gunwales of the +boats, and they also nailed canvas round their sides, so as to be able +to cover them completely in. + +Those in the boats appeared very uncomfortable; and certainly they were +much worse off than we were, if it had not been for the uncertainty when +the fire might break forth from beneath our feet. Every instant I +expected that to take place; and I certainly felt it difficult to say by +what means I should make my escape. + +A few jars of fresh water were found in the cabin; and, among other +provisions, a cask of flour, with which the cook instantly set to work +to make bread, and the whole of the day he was engaged in making and in +baking it in the caboose. This very seasonable supply of wholesome food +kept many on board from dying. + +Mr Bell took off, in the dingy, a fair proportion to the boats. The +people in them begged him to remain, telling him that the ship might +suddenly go down, and that he would be lost; but he replied that he +would not desert her and the people, and he instantly returned. + +The day passed away without a sail appearing in sight; and darkness, +with its attendant horrors, again drew on. Dreadful, indeed, was that +night; but it was very different to the last. There was then excitement +and activity. Now there was a calmness--at times almost a total +silence; but it would speedily be broken by the groans of the dying, and +the wails of those who mourned for them. + +All attempts to stop the progress of the fire were abandoned as useless. +The officers and crew who remained faithful to their trust, took such +rest watch and watch, as the state of the case would allow; but we were +wet through, and our bed was the hard deck. + +Somewhere towards the morning, as I was still asleep, I felt my shoulder +touched, and the voice of Flint whispered in my ear, "Peter, my lad, +rouse up, and come with us. The ship won't much longer give us any +footing; and it's as well to leave her when we can." + +"What do you mean, Flint?" I asked, in the same low tone. "You would +not have me quit my shipmates?" + +"What I mean is, that some thirty of us--some of the crew and some +emigrants--have resolved to trust ourselves to a raft, rather than to +these burning planks; and that, if we wait till daylight, so many will +be attempting to get on it, that we shall be all lost together. I don't +ask you to desert your shipmates, Peter; but self-preservation, you +know, is the first law of nature." + +I considered a moment before I spoke. "I am grateful to you, Flint, for +your kindness; but I cannot desert Mr Bell," I replied. "I don't blame +you, remember, for going; but I am differently situated. I am in the +second mate's watch--under his command, as it were; and while he sticks +to the ship, so must I." + +While I was speaking, I saw a party of people cautiously engaged in +launching the raft. After no slight exertions, they succeeded in +getting into the water, though the noise they made disturbed a number of +the emigrants. + +"I understand your motive, my lad, and I suppose you are right," replied +Flint. "I wish you could come with us; and I am half inclined to stay +by you--that I am." + +"I should be very unhappy if you were the sufferer in consequence of so +doing," I answered; "so pray go, if you think the raft affords the +greatest safety." + +"No, lad, I care little for my own safety; but I promised these people +to go with them, and to act as their captain. I did so, thinking you +would be certain to go too." + +I again assured him that nothing would induce me to desert Mr Bell. +So, expressing his sorrow, he shook me warmly by the hand, and slid down +the side of the ship on to the raft. I assisted in casting it off, +before the rest of the emigrants, who were awake, discovered what they +were about, or else they would senselessly, as before, have attempted to +get on it, to the almost certain destruction of them all. Flint and his +companions hurriedly shoved off, and then hoisted their sail. I watched +the raft as long as it could be seen, standing directly before the wind +to the northward; and I remember at the time my heart misgave me, and I +feared that I should never again see my kind but eccentric friend. If a +sea should get up, I thought they in all probability would be drowned. +I felt very grateful, also, that I had decided to remain. However, I +was too weary to think much about any subject, and I was very shortly +again fast asleep on the deck. + +As suffering and misery will, after a time, come to an end, and it would +be well if we could always remember this when we ourselves are in that +condition, so did this night of dark horror, and another morning dawned +on the burning wreck. Clouds, streaked with bright red edges, were +gathering on the eastern horizon, as I went aloft to look out for a +sail, though with little expectation of seeing one. I had just reached +the main-topgallant-mast head, and was sweeping my eyes round the +horizon, when I saw, just under the brightest part of the glow caused by +the rising sun, a dark spot, which I thought must be the topsail of some +square-rigged craft. I looked again; I felt that I could not be +mistaken. I shouted out the joyful intelligence-- + +"Sail ho!--ho!--over the larboard quarter." + +Instantly the second mate, followed by several others, who had strength +remaining, ran aloft to ascertain the fact. They also all clearly saw +the ship. The people in the boats understood what we were pointing at, +and a feeble shout, indicative of their joy, rose from all hands. The +question now was, which way she was steering. If to the westward, we +had a good chance of being seen by her; but if not, she might pass us by +unheeded. This uncertainty was, perhaps, still more painful to endure +than our previous hopelessness. + +While we were watching the stranger, the clouds gathered thicker in the +sky, and the sea began perceptibly to get up, though as yet there was no +increase of wind. "I don't altogether like the look of things," +observed Derrick to me. "The sea getting up before the wind comes is a +pretty sure sign of a heavy gale; and if it does come on to blow, Lord +help us, my boy!" + +"Amen," said a deep voice near us, which startled me. It seemed not +like that of a mortal; it was, however, that of Father Slattery, who was +at that instant passing us. "And so, my son, you think there is more +danger than before?" he asked. + +"If it comes on to blow, and keeps blowing with a heavy sea, I say it +will be no easy matter to carry women and children from one ship to +another, even if that sail yonder should come any way nigh us; that's +what I say, your honour," answered Derrick. + +"I understand you, my son," said the priest; "we'll be in a worse +position with regard to affairs temporal than we are at present." + +"Yes, your honour; it looks brewing up for a regular tempest, as you +say, and no mistake," observed Derrick. + +Even while they were talking, we heard the wind whistle in the rigging, +and the ship began to surge heavily through the rising waves. + +The people in the boats at this were evidently alarmed, and one of the +gigs hauled alongside, several persons in her preferring to trust +themselves to the burning ship rather than to her. I must remark that a +feeling almost of security had come over many of us, and that for my +part I could not help fancying that it was nothing unusual to live on +board a ship full of fire. Of course I knew that some time or other the +flames must burst forth; but I looked upon this event as likely to +happen only in some remote period, with which I had little to do. Our +sufferings were greatest from want of water, and on that account we were +most anxious for the coming of the stranger. Mr Bell, Derrick, and I +were again aloft looking out for the ship. The captain hauled up under +the stern, and hailed to know which way we made her out to be still +standing. "Right down for us, sir," answered the mate. "She's a +barque, and seems to be coming up with a strong breeze." + +It is difficult to describe how anxiously we watched for her. On she +came for perhaps half-an-hour, though to us it seemed much longer, when +suddenly we saw her, to our dismay, haul her wind and stand away to the +north-east. I felt almost as if I should fall from aloft, as our hopes +of being rescued were thus cruelly blasted. Few of the emigrants +understood the change, but the seamen did, and gave way to their +feelings in abuse of the stranger, who could not probably have seen our +signal of distress. With heavy hearts we descended to the smoking deck. + +The wretched emigrants, on discovering the state of the case, gave fresh +vent to their despair; some, who had hitherto held up more manfully than +the rest, lay down without hope, and others actually yielded up their +spirits to the hands of death. Meantime the sea increased, clouds +covered the sky, and it came on to blow harder and harder. I had +returned aloft, when, to my delight, I saw the stranger again bear away +and stand for us. I shouted out the joyful information, and once more +the drooping spirits of my companions in misfortune were aroused. The +sound of a gun was heard booming along the waters. It was a sign from +her that she saw our signal of distress. Now she crowded all the sail +she could venture to carry in the increasing breeze. Her captain was +evidently a humane man anxious to relieve his fellow-creatures, though +he could scarcely have guessed at our frightful condition. There was no +mistake now, and on she came, and proved to be a large barque, as Mr +Bell had supposed. + +"We have a good chance of escaping a roasting this time," I observed to +Derrick, as we watched the stranger. + +"But not quite of drowning, lad," he answered. "Before one quarter of +the people about us can placed on her deck, the gale will be upon us, +and then as I said before, how are we the better for her being near us? +Howsomdever, we'll do our best, lad; and if the old ship goes down, mind +you look out for a plank to stick to, and don't let any one gripe hold +of your legs." + +I promised to do my best; but I confess I did not like the prospect he +held out. + +The barque approached and hove to. A shout of joy escaped from the lips +of most of those on board, who had still strength to utter it. On this, +immediately Captain Swales cast off his boat, his example being followed +by the others; and without attempting to take any of the people out of +the ship, he pulled on board the stranger. There was little time to +lose; for scarcely had they got alongside than down came the gale upon +us. + +In the condition our ship was, the only course was to run before the +wind; so we once again kept away. The stranger soon followed; and as +she carried more sail than we could, we saw she would soon pass us. +Hope once more deserted us; for it was possible that the master, finding +that there were so many of us on board, might think himself justified, +for the safety of his own people, to leave us to our fate. I confess +that on this I regretted that I had not gone off with Silas Flint on the +raft; but then I remembered that I had done my duty in sticking to my +ship to the last. It seemed dreadful, indeed, to be thus left to +perish. However, just as the stranger was about to pass us, a man in +the rigging held up a board on which was written the cheering words, "We +will keep near you, and take you off when the weather moderates." + +Suppose, I thought, the weather does not moderate till the flames burst +forth, at any moment they may break through the deck! + +I am afraid of wearying my readers with an account of our sufferings. + +Our greatest want was water. We fancied that, if we could have had a +few drops to cool our lips, we could have borne anything else. Some +drank salt water, against the warning of the mate, and in consequence +increased their sufferings. + +Worn out with fatigue, the crew every hour grew weaker, so that there +was scarcely a man left with strength to steer, much more to go aloft. +Night came on to increase our difficulties. The stranger proved to be +the _Mary_, bound from Bristol also to Quebec. She at first kept a +short distance ahead, showing a light over her stern by which we might +steer. + +I ought to have said that the captain had taken the sextant, +chronometer, and charts with him, and that in their mad outbreak the +emigrants had destroyed the binnacle and the compasses in it, so that we +had the _Mary's_ light alone to depend on. Mr Bell had divided those +who remained of the crew, and some of the emigrants willing to exert +themselves, into two watches. + +I was to keep the middle watch. I lay down on the deck aft to sleep on +one of the only few dry or clean spots I could find. I was roused up at +midnight, and just as I had got on my feet, I heard a voice sing out, +"Where's the _Mary's_ light?" I ran forward. It was nowhere to be +seen. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +Fortunately a star had appeared in a break of the clouds, and by that we +continued steering the same course as before. Once more we were alone +on the world of waters, and in a worse condition than ever; for we had +now no boats, and the sea was too high to permit us to hope for safety +on a raft. Weary and sad were the hours till dawn returned. Often did +I wish that I had followed my father's counsels, and could have remained +at home. With aching eyes, as the pale light of the dull grey morning +appeared, we looked out ahead for the _Mary_. Not a sail was to be seen +from the deck. The lead-coloured ocean, heaving with foam-topped waves, +was around us bounded by the horizon. On flew our burning ship before +the gale, and we would have set more sail to try and overtake the +_Mary_, but we had not strength for it. We steered as near as we could +the same course as before. + +The ship plunged heavily; and as she tore her way through the waves, she +rolled her yardarms almost into the water, so that it was difficult to +keep the deck without holding on. Nearly at every roll the sea came +washing over the deck, and sweeping everything away into the scuppers. +One might have supposed that the water would have put out the fire, but +it had no effect on it; and it was evident that the coals in the hold +were ignited, and that they would go on burning till the ship was under +the waves. I had sunk into a sort of stupor, when I heard Mr Bell from +aloft hail the deck. I looked up and tried to comprehend what he was +saying. It was the joyful intelligence that the _Mary_ was ahead, lying +to for us; but I was too much worn out to care much about the matter. +We again came up with her; but though the wind had somewhat fallen, the +sea was too high to allow a boat to carry us off the wreck. + +We acquitted the kind master of the _Mary_ of any intention of deserting +us. The officer of the watch had fancied that he saw us following, and +had not, consequently, shortened sail. Oh that day of horrors, and the +still more dreadful night which followed! The fire was gaining on us: +every part of the deck was hot, and thick choking smoke issued from +numberless crevices. With dismay, too, we saw the boats on which our +safety so much depended dragged to pieces, as they towed astern of the +_Mary_, as they could not be hoisted on board, and their wrecks were cut +adrift. Even the crew, who, more inured to hardships, kept up their +spirits the best, could but arouse themselves to take a short trick at +the helm. What would we have given, I repeat, for a drop of water! A +thousand guineas would willingly have been exchanged for it. The value +of riches, and all else for which men toil and toil on while health and +strength remain, were becoming as nothing in our sight. One thing alone +called any of us to exertion. It was when some wretch, happier, +perhaps, than we were, breathed his last, and the shrieks and wails of +his relations or friends summoned us to commit his body to the +ocean-grave, yawning to receive us all, the living as well as the dead. +I must pass over that night. It was far more full of horrors than the +last, except that the _Mary_, our only ark of safety, was still in +sight. + +Another dawn came. The gale began to lull. I was near Derrick. I +asked him if he thought we had a chance of escape. He lifted his weary +head above the bulwarks. "I scarce know, lad," he replied. "The wind +may be falling, or it may be gathering strength for a harder blow. It +matters little, I guess, to most of us." And he again sunk down wearily +on the deck. How anxiously we listened to the wind in the rigging! +Again it breezed up. A loud clap was heard. I thought one of the masts +had gone by the board; but it was the fore-topsail blown to ribbons. +What next might follow we could not tell. The very masts began to +shake; and it was evident that the fire had begun to burn their heels. +Their working loosened the deck, and allowed more vent for the escape of +smoke. There was again a lull. The foam no longer flew from the +white-crested waves; gradually they subsided in height. The motion of +the ship was less violent, though she still rolled heavily, as if unable +to steady herself. + +We at length began to hope that the final effort of the gale was made. +The day wore on--more persons died--the smoke grew thicker, and was seen +streaming forth from the cabin windows. Towards evening there was a +decided change for the better in the weather, and we saw the people in +the _Mary_ making preparations to lower a boat, and to heave the ship +to. Another difficulty arose: to enable the boat to come on board, we +must likewise stop the way of our ship, but we had not strength to heave +her to. + +We were too far gone to feel even satisfaction as we saw a boat pulling +from the _Mary_ towards us. We put down the helm as she came near us, +and the ship rounded to. The fresh crew scrambled on board, and, +backing our main-topsail, our ship remained steady, a short distance to +leeward of the _Mary_. A few of the emigrants were lowered into the +boat; some of the crew remained to take care of us, and the remainder +returned on board in safety. This experiment having been successful, +another boat was lowered, and more of our people taken off. They +brought us also a keg of water; and so eager were we for it, that we +could scarcely refrain from snatching it from each other, and spilling +the contents. It occupied a long time to transfer the emigrants from +one ship to the other. They were so utterly unable to help themselves, +that they had to be lowered like bales of goods into the boats, and even +the seamen were scarcely more active. + +It was thus dark before all the emigrants were rescued; and, what was +worse, the wind again got up, as did the sea, and prevented any +communication between the ships. In one respect during that night the +condition of those who remained was improved; for we had water to quench +our burning thirst, and food to quell our hunger; besides which, a +boat's crew of seamen belonging to the _Mary_ gallantly remained by us +and navigated the ship, so that we were able to take a sounder rest than +we had enjoyed for many days past. Still the flames did not burst +forth, and another night and day we continued in that floating furnace. +Towards the evening the wind suddenly dropped; and, while the remaining +emigrants were being taken off the wreck, it fell a dead calm. + +The last man to leave the deck of the _Black Swan_ was Mr Bell. He +made me and Derrick go down the ship's side just before him. I trust +that we felt grateful to Heaven for our deliverance. Scarcely had we +left the deck of the _Black Swan_ than the flames burst forth from her +hold. They first appeared streaming out of the cabin windows, curling +upwards round the taffrail. By this time it was quite dark; and the +bright light from the burning wreck cast a ruddy glow on the sails and +hull of the _Mary_, and topped the far surrounding waves with a bright +tinge of the same hue. Soon the whole poop was on fire, and the +triumphant flames began to climb up the mizzen-mast. As the ship lay +head to wind, their progress was slow forward, nor did they ascend very +rapidly; consequently the mizzen-mast fell before the main-mast was on +fire. That shortly, however, followed with a loud crash before they +even reached the main-topgallant-yard. Next down came the fore-mast, +and the whole hull was a mass of flame. I felt sick at heart as I saw +the noble ship thus for ever lost to the use of man. The fire was still +raging when, overcome with fatigue and sickness, I sunk on the deck. As +the _Mary_ sailed away from her, she was seen like a beacon blazing +fiercely in mid-ocean. Long those on deck gazed till the speck of +bright light was on a sudden lost to view, and the glow in the sky +overhead disappeared. It was when her charred fragments sunk beneath +the wave. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +We were kindly welcomed and cared for on board the _Mary_, though we +subjected her passengers and crew to much inconvenience, and to no +little risk of starving, should her voyage be prolonged. + +There were ladies who attended with gentle care to the women and +children, and aided also in nursing the men. Many of the passengers and +crew gave up their berths to the sick; but the greater number of our +people were compelled to remain on deck, sheltered, however, by every +means the kindness of our hosts could devise. There was one fair, +blue-eyed girl--can I ever forget her? What a pure, light-hearted young +creature she was! I felt at once that I could place the same confidence +in her that I could in my own sisters, and that she was a being superior +both to me and to any of those by whom I had been lately surrounded. +Her name was Mary Dean. She was the daughter of the master of the +_Mary_, and the ship was named after her. Mr Bell told the master of +my behaviour, which he was pleased to praise, and of my refusing to quit +the ship till he did; and Mary heard the tale. The mate also told him +that I was the son of a gentleman, and how I had been treated by Captain +Swales. + +Captain Dean was a very different character to Captain Swales, with +whose conduct he was so thoroughly disgusted, that he refused to hold +any further communication with him than business actually required. I +had held out till I was in safety, and a severe attack of illness then +came on. Captain Dean had me removed to a berth in his own cabin, and +Mary became my nurse. Where there is sickness and misery, there will +the ministering hand of gentle woman be found. Mary Dean watched over +me as the ship which bore us steered her course for the mouth of the +Saint Lawrence. To her gentle care, under Providence, I owed my life. +Several of the emigrants died after they came on board the _Mary_, and +such would probably have been my fate under less watchful treatment. + +I was in a low fever and unconscious. How long I remained so, I +scarcely know. I awoke one afternoon, and found Mary Dean sitting by my +side working with her needle. I fancied that I was dead, and that she +was an angel watching over me. Although I discovered that the first +part of the notion was a hallucination, I was every day more convinced +of the truth of the second. When I got rather better, she used to read +to me interesting and instructive works; and every morning she read some +portion of the Bible, and explained it to me in a manner which made me +comprehend it better than I had ever done before. + +Ten days thus passed rapidly away before I was able to go on deck. +Captain Dean was very kind to me, and often came and spoke to me, and +gave me much useful instruction in seamanship, and also in navigation. +I then thought Mary Dean very beautiful, and I now know that she was so. +She was a child, it must be remembered, or little more than one; but +though very small, she was very graceful. She was beautifully fair, +with blue, truthful eyes, in which it was impossible guile could ever +find a dwelling-place. I have no doubt that my readers will picture her +to themselves as she sat in the cabin with a book on her lap, gravely +conning its contents, or skipped along the deck, a being of light and +life, the fair spirit of the summer sea. Such was Mary Dean as I first +saw her. Every one loved her. Her father's heart was wrapped up in +her. His crew would, to a man, have died rather than that harm should +have happened to her. On sailed the ship. There was much sickness, for +all hands were put on the smallest allowance of water and provisions it +was possible to subsist on; and we, unfortunately, fell in with no other +ship able to furnish us with a supply. + +At length the welcome sound was heard of "Land ahead!" It was Cape +Breton, at the entrance of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Rounding the +cape, we stood towards the mouth of the river Saint Lawrence, that vast +stream, fed by those inland seas the lakes of Upper Canada, and +innumerable rivers and streams. On the north side of the gulf is the +large island of Newfoundland, celebrated for its cod fisheries. A +glance at the map will show our course far better than any description +of mine. I could scarcely believe that we were actually in the river +when we had already proceeded a hundred miles up it, so distant were the +opposite shores, and, till told of it, I fancied that we were still in +the open sea. I was much struck with the grand spectacle which Quebec +and its environs presented, as, the ship emerging from the narrow +channel of the river formed by the island of Orleans, the city first met +my view. It is at this point that the Saint Lawrence, taking a sudden +turn, expands, so as to assume the appearance of a broad lake. + +The sun had just risen, and all nature looked fresh and green, rejoicing +in the genial warmth of a Canadian spring. On the left was the town, +the bright tin steeples and housetops of which, crowning the summit of +Cape Diamond, glittered in the rays of the glorious luminary. Ships of +all rigs and sizes lay close under the cliffs, and from their diminutive +appearance I calculated the great height of the promontory. About eight +miles off, on the right, I could see the falls of Montmorency, +descending in a sheet of milk-white foam over a lofty precipitous bank +into the stream, which, winding through a plain interspersed with +villages and studded with vegetation, finds its way into the Saint +Lawrence. Quebec is divided into two distinct parts. + +The lower town, occupies a narrow strip of land between the precipitous +heights of Cape Diamond and the river. It is connected with the upper +town by means of a steep street, built in a ravine, which is commanded +by the guns of a strongly fortified gateway. + +The lower town is principally inhabited by merchants; and so much +straitened are they for room, that many of their houses are built upon +wharfs, and other artificial ground. The streets of Quebec are very +narrow, and there is a general appearance of antiquity, not often to be +met with in an American town. The suburbs are situated on the shores of +the Saint Charles, without the fortifications. But I afterwards found +that the most magnificent prospect was from the summit of the Citadel on +Cape Diamond, whence one may look over the celebrated Plains of Abraham, +on which the gallant Wolfe gained the victory which gave Canada to +England, and where, fighting nobly, he fell in the hour of triumph. But +my object is rather to describe a few of the events of my early days +than the scenes I visited. It was a happy moment when we at length +dropped our anchor, and water was brought off to quench the thirst from +which all had more or less suffered. As soon as the necessary forms +were gone through, the emigrants went on shore, and, with few +exceptions, I saw them no more. + +I was the only person on board who regretted that the voyage was over. +I wished to see the country, and the Indians, and the vast lakes and +boundless prairies; but far rather would I have remained with Mary and +her father--at least I thought so, as the time for quitting them, +probably for ever, arrived. I regretted much leaving Captain Dean, for +he had been very kind to me; indeed, he had treated me almost like a +son, and I felt grateful to him. It was evening. The ship was to haul +in the next morning alongside the quay to discharge her cargo. The +captain was on shore and all the emigrants. Except the anchor-watch on +deck, the crew were below. Mary and I were the only persons on the +quarter-deck. + +"Mary," I said, as I took her hand--the words almost choked me while I +spoke--"to-morrow I must leave you to look out for a berth on board some +homeward-bound ship. You have been very, very kind to me, Mary; and I +am grateful, I am indeed, to you and to your father." + +"But I do not see why you should leave us, Peter," answered Mary, +looking gravely up with a somewhat surprised air. "Has not my father +told you that he thinks of asking you to remain with him? And then, +some day, when you know more of seamanship, you will become his mate. +Think of that, Peter, how pleasant it will be! So you must not think of +leaving us." + +"I have no wish to go, I can assure you, except that I am expected at +home," I replied. "But if I stay, what office are you to hold on board, +Mary?" I could not help asking. + +"Oh, I suppose that I shall be another of the mates," she replied, +laughing. "Do you know, Peter, that if I have you to study with, I +think that I shall make a very good sailor in a short time. I can put +the ship about now in a very good style, let me tell you." + +"That's more than I can do, I am afraid," I observed. "But then I can +go aloft, and hand and reef; so there I beat you." + +"I should not be a bit afraid of going aloft, if I was dressed like you, +and papa would let me," she answered naively. "I often envy the men as +I see them lying out on the yards or at the mast-head when the ship is +rolling and pitching; and I fancy that next to the sensations of a bird +on the wing, theirs must be the most enjoyable." + +"You are a true sailor's daughter, Mary," I answered, with more +enthusiasm than I had ever before felt. "But I don't think your father +would quite like to see you aloft; and, let me tell you, when there's +much sea on, and it's blowing hard, it's much more difficult to keep +there than it looks." + +Thus we talked on, and touched on other topics; but they chiefly had +references to ourselves. Nearly the last words Mary uttered were, "Then +you will sail with father, if he asks you, Peter?" + +I promised, and afterwards added, "For the sake of sailing with him, +Mary, my dear young sister, if you are on board, I would give up +kindred, home, and country. I would sail with you round and round the +world, and never wish again to see the shore, except you were there." +She was satisfied at having gained her point. We were very young, and +little knew the dangerous sea on which we were proposing to sail. I +called her sister, for I felt as if she were indeed my sister. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +The next morning the _Mary_ commenced discharging her cargo. Captain +Dean then told me that he hoped I would sail with him, but that, as the +ship required a thorough repair, it would be some weeks before she could +be at sea again, and that in the meantime he would advise me to employ +myself usefully; and he recommended me to take a trip in a trader to +Halifax or Saint John's, for the sake of gaining information regarding +the navigation of those seas. + +"A person who wishes to be a thorough sailor (and if a man is not a +thorough sailor he has no business to be an officer)," he observed, +"will seek every opportunity of making himself well acquainted with the +navigation of every sea he visits, the appearance of the coasts, the set +of the currents, the rise and fall of the tides, the prevailing winds, +and the weather to be expected at different seasons. He will go afloat +in every sort of craft, and be constantly considering how he would act +under all possible circumstances. He should never weary of making +inquiries of other seamen how they have acted, and the result of what +they have done. As navigation was not brought to the perfection it has +now attained under many centuries, so no man will become a perfect +seaman unless he diligently gathers together the information possessed +by all whom he meets, at the same time weighing well their opinions, and +adopting them after duly comparing them with others." + +I have always remembered Captain Dean's advice, and I advise all young +sailors to follow it; indeed, it strikes me that it is applicable to +most relations in life. + +I looked about for a vessel, but could not find one. Meantime, by the +captain's kindness, I remained on board, though he and Mary went to live +in lodgings on shore, as, of course, in the state the ship was in, she +could have no comfort even in her own cabin. About three or four days +after our arrival, I saw a ship ascend the river and come to an anchor +not far from where we were lying. Prompted by curiosity, I was looking +at her through a telescope, when I observed a group of people on the +deck who were gazing apparently with the curiosity of strangers at the +shore. A little apart from them stood a form I thought I recognised. I +pointed my glass steadily at him. I felt certain that I could not be +mistaken. It was Silas Flint. Then all on the raft, instead of +perishing, as it was supposed they would, might have been saved, as he +had escaped. I was truly glad, and, borrowing the dinghy from the mate, +I pulled on board the newly-arrived ship. + +Silas--for I was right in my conjectures--was looking over the side as I +climbed up it. He almost wrung my hand off as he took it in his grasp. +"I am glad to see ye, I am, Peter!" he exclaimed. "Why, lad, I thought +you had gone to the bottom with all who remained on board." + +I told him that we had in like manner fancied that all on the raft had +perished; and I was glad to find that, with the exception of two, all +had been picked up by the ship on board of which they then were. He +then asked me what my plans were, and I told him what Captain Dean +advised. He next inquired if I had seen Captain Swales. I replied that +I had met him twice in the streets of Quebec, and that he had eyed me +with no very friendly glance. + +"Then depend on it, Peter, he means you some mischief," he observed. +"If he gets another ship here, which is likely enough he will, he will +want hands; and if he can lay hold of you, he will claim you as put +under his charge by your father; and I don't know how you are to get +off." + +"By keeping out of his way, I should think," I replied. + +"That's just what I was going to advise you to do, Peter," observed +Silas. "And I'll tell you what, lad, instead of your kicking your heels +doing nothing in this place, you and I will start off up the country +with our guns as soon as I have done my business here, which won't take +long, and we'll see if we can't pick up a few skins which will be worth +something." + +This proposition, as may be supposed, was much to my taste; but I did +not much like the thoughts of leaving Captain Dean and Mary, though I +did not tell him so. He, however, very soon discovered what was running +in my mind, and set himself to work to overcome the wish I had to remain +with them. I had found so few friends of late, that I had learned to +value them properly. But Silas Flint wanted a companion, and, liking +me, was resolved that I should accompany him. We went on shore +together; and before the day was over, he had so worked up my +imagination by his descriptions of the sport and scenery of the +backwoods, that I became most eager to set off. + +I next day told Captain Dean; and as I assured him that it was my +father's wish that I should see something of the country, he did not +oppose the plan, provided I should return in time to sail with him. +This I promised to do; and I then went below to tell Mary, who was in +the cabin packing up some things to take on shore. To my surprise, she +burst into tears when I gave her the information; and this very nearly +made me abandon my project. When, however, I told her of my promise to +return, she was comforted; and I added, that I would bring her back +plenty of skins to make her tippets and muffs for the winter, to last +her for years. + +Three days after his arrival at Quebec, Flint was ready to set out. I +had preserved intact the money my kind father had given me, and with it +I purchased, at Flint's suggestion, a rifle, and powder, and a +shot-belt, a tinder-box, a pipe, some tobacco, a tin cup, and a few +other small articles. "Now you've laid in your stock in trade, my lad," +he observed, as he announced my outfit to be complete. "With a quick +eye and a steady hand you've the means, by my help, of making your +fortune; so the sooner we camp out and begin the better." + +I told him I was ready, and asked him where we were to go. + +"Oh, never you mind that, lad," he replied. "It's a long way from here; +but a man, with his eyes open, can always find his way there and back. +All you've to do is to follow the setting sun going, and to look out for +him rising when coming back." + +"Then I suppose you mean to go to the westward?" I observed. + +"Ay, lad, to the far west," he answered; but I confess that at the time +I had no idea how far off that "far west" was. + +We set off the next morning by a steamer to Montreal, and on from +thence, past Kingston, to Toronto on Lake Ontario, in Upper Canada. +Flint lent me money to pay my way. He said that I should soon be able +to reimburse him. I need not say how delighted I was with the fine +scenery and the superb inland seas on which I floated. I could scarcely +persuade myself that I was not on the ocean, till I tasted the water +alongside. Flint told me with a chuckle, that once upon a time the +English Government sent some ships of war in frame out to the lakes, and +also a supply of water-tanks, forgetting that they would have a very +ample one outside. A little forethought would have saved the ridicule +they gained for this mistake, and the expense to which they put the +country. As my intention is to describe my adventures afloat rather +than those on shore, I shall be very brief with my account of the life +we led in the backwoods. + +From Toronto we crossed the country to Goodrich, a town on the shores of +Lake Huron. Here we took a passage in a sailing vessel, trading to the +factories on the northern shore of the lake, and at the nearest we +landed and prepared for our expedition. Flint observed, that as we were +short of funds, we must proceed on an economical principle. He +therefore purchased only a small though strong pony, to carry our +provisions and the skins of the animals we might kill, while we were to +proceed humbly on foot. + +We were now in a land teeming with every description of game; and I was +able to prove to Flint that I was not a worse shot than I had sometimes +boasted to him of being. The weather was generally fine, so that a bark +hut afforded us ample shelter at night, and our rifles gave us as much +food as we could require. Our greatest enemies were mosquitoes and +other flies, and it was only by smearing our faces over with fat that we +could free ourselves from their attacks. + +We constantly encountered the Indian inhabitants of that territory; but +they were invariably friendly, and willing to trade with us. Silas +understood their language a little, so that with the aid of signs we +could carry on sufficient conversation for our purpose. Six weeks thus +passed rapidly away, and I calculated that it would be time for me to +return to Quebec; so I told Silas I must wish him good-bye. He seemed +very much vexed at this; for I believe that he both liked my society, +and found me very useful to him. He had, indeed, formed the intention +of keeping me by him, and converting me into a regular trapper and +hunter; but, fond as I was of sport, for this I had no fancy, and I +therefore persisted in my purpose of returning. Seeing that he could +not prevail on me to remain, he accompanied me back to the fort, where +he made over to me my fair share of the skins. + +After the delay of a week, I found a vessel returning to the lower +lakes, and in her I set sail for Quebec. My readers must excuse me for +being thus brief in my description of my doings on shore; but it must be +remembered that I am writing an account of my sea adventures, and I must +defer the former to another opportunity. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +At length I reached Quebec, and hurried to the quay, where I had left +the _Mary_. She was not there. I hastened to the dockyard where she +was to be repaired; I made inquiries for her of everybody I met. "What, +the _Mary_, Captain Dean?" replied a shipwright to whom I spoke; "why, +she sailed three weeks ago and better, for the West Indies, or some of +them ports to the southward--she's pretty well there by this time." + +I felt that he was speaking the truth, and my heart sunk within me; but +to make sure, I ran on to the house at which Captain Dean and Mary had +lodged. The woman, who was a French Canadian, received me very kindly, +and seemed to enter into my feelings when she corroborated the account I +had heard. She did not know exactly where the ship had gone; but she +said that my friends were very sorry when I did not come back at the +time appointed. At last Monsieur the captain grew angry, and said he +was afraid I was an idle fellow, and preferred the vagabond life of a +hunter to the hardier though nobler work of a seaman; but "_ma pauvre +petite_," as she called Mary, took my part, and said she was certain +some accident had happened to me, or I should have been back when I +promised. "Sweet Mary, I knew that she would defend me," I muttered; +"and yet how little do I deserve her confidence!" + +"Ah, she is indeed a sweet child," observed Madame Durand, divining my +thoughts; "she cried very much indeed when the ship had to sail away +without you, and nothing would comfort the poor dear." + +This information, though very flattering to me, added to my regret. I +was now obliged to consider what I should next do. After the free wild +life I had been leading, the idea of returning to Ireland was odious to +me. I can scarcely now account for my conduct in this respect, but I +had but once written home on my arrival at Quebec; and during my long +excursions to the backwoods, I never had time. I was now ashamed to +write--I seldom ever thought of those at home. I had sunk, I felt, from +their grade, whenever I recollected them. My whole attention had been +for so long occupied with the present, that the past was, as it were, a +blank, or as a story which I had read in some book, and had almost +forgotten. I therefore hardly for a moment thought of going back, if I +did so at all; but I was anxious to fall in again with Captain Dean. I +fancied the pleasures of a sea life more than those of a hunter, but I +was not yet altogether tired of the backwoods. I had still a hankering +to trap a few more beavers, and to shoot some more raccoons and deer. + +On making further inquiries of the ship-broker, I discovered that there +was a possibility of Captain Dean's going to New Orleans, and I at once +formed the idea of finding my way, by land and river, to that city. I +knew a little more of the geography of the country than I did on my +arrival, but the immense distance no way daunted me. I wanted to visit +the States, and I was certain that my gun would always afford me the +means of proceeding by any public conveyance, when I required it. I had +a good sum remaining from the sale of the peltries I had saved; and with +this in my pockets I once more started for the lakes of Upper Canada, +purposing from thence to work my way through the western States down the +Mississippi to New Orleans. + +An American vessel, which I found at Goodrich, conveyed me, through Lake +Huron, to a fort at the southern extremity of Lake Michigan, called, if +I recollect rightly, Fort Dearborn. The voyage was long and tiresome. +The feeling that one is in a fresh-water lake, and at the same time +being out of sight of land for days together, is very curious. It gives +one a more perfect notion than anything else can of the vastness of the +country in which such inland seas exist. I must be excused from giving +any minute account of my adventures at this period, as I made no notes, +and I do not recur to them with much satisfaction. In fact, I was weary +of the solitary life of a hunter and trapper, and longed once more to be +among people with whom I could have some thoughts and feelings in +common. + +Till I got into the settled districts, I shot and trapped as before. My +rifle always supplied me with abundance of food; and, whenever I reached +a trading-post, I was able to exchange my peltries for a fresh store of +powder and shot. When passing through the more inhabited districts, I +was invariably hospitably received by the settlers, whatever was the +nation to which they before belonged. Travelling through a large +portion of the State of Indiana, I entered that of Illinois, and at +length I embarked with a party of hunters in a canoe on the river of the +same name, which runs through its centre. With these people I proceeded +to Saint Louis, a city situated on the spot where the mighty streams of +the Mississippi and Missouri join their waters. + +Saint Louis was founded by the French, and is still very French in its +general aspect. I here easily disposed of my remaining skins for a good +sum of money, which I secured in a band round my waist. I remained here +only two days, for I was anxious to proceed to the south; and, finding a +steamer starting down the Mississippi, I went on board, and for about +eight dollars engaged a passage on deck to New Orleans. The passage +occupied ten days. By my usual way of proceeding, on foot, I should +have been as many months, with a constant probability of dying of fever +on the way. + +I must make a remark for the benefit of Englishmen who may contemplate +settling in the United States. They expect to find land cheap, no +taxes, and few laws to hamper their will. In this they will not be +disappointed; but there will be a considerable expense incurred in +reaching those settlements where land is cheap. They will probably be a +very great distance from a market for their produce; and, though they +have no taxes and few laws, neither will they have the advantages which +taxes and laws afford. They will be far removed from the ordinances of +their Church, and the opportunities of education; there will neither be +the where to buy nor to sell. In fact, they must be deprived of many of +the advantages of civilisation; added to which, many parts of the +western States are unhealthy in the greatest degree, of which the +wretched, sallow, ague-stricken beings inhabiting them afforded +melancholy proof; and these people, I found, were once stout, healthy +peasants in England, and would have continued healthy, and gained what +they hoped for besides, had they emigrated to Canada or to any other +British colony, or even had they possessed more knowledge of the +territory of the United States. I do not say that many British +emigrants who give up their country, and become aliens in the States, do +not succeed, and thus the accounts they send home encourage others to go +out; but I do say that thousands of others die miserably of sickness and +disappointment, without a friendly hand to help or cheer them, or any +one to afford them the consolations of religion, and of their fate we +never hear a word. + +People talk a great deal of the advantages of liberty and equality, and +the freedom of a wild life; but let me assure them that the liberty of +having one's eye gouged out, the equality which every ruffian claims, +and the freedom which allows a man to die without any one to assist him, +are practically far from desirable; and yet such are the false phantoms +by which many are allured to a land of strangers, away from the home of +their countrymen and friends. However, I am not writing a lecture on +colonisation. I will finish the subject, by urging my readers to study +it, and to become the advocates of British colonisation. + +New Orleans is justly called the wet grave of the white man, for yearly +pestilence sweeps off thousands of its inhabitants; and as water is +found but two feet below the surface, it fills each last receptacle of +the dead as soon as dug. Yet pestilential as is the clime, the scenery +is very beautiful. The stream, which is here a mile broad, rolls its +immense volume of water with calm dignity, in a bed above two hundred +feet deep, past this great commercial mart of the south. The banks on +either side are covered with sugar plantations, from the midst of which +rise numberless airy mansions of the wealthy owners, surrounded with +orange, banana, lime, and fig trees, with numberless other productions +of the tropics; while behind them can be seen the sugar-houses and the +cabins of the negroes, to remind one of the curse which hangs over the +land. + +The city itself stands in the form of a half-moon on the banks of this +mighty stream, and before it are moored craft of every description-- +backwood boats, keel boats, steamers and ships, brigs and schooners, +from every part of the world. I may remark that directly behind the +city is an impenetrable swamp, into which all the filth from the houses +is led, for the ground is lower than the surface of the Mississippi; and +then we cannot be surprised that plague and fever prevail to a terrific +extent. + +As soon as I landed I set to work to try and discover the _Mary_, if she +was there, or to gain tidings of her should she have sailed, as, from +the length of time I had occupied in my journey, I was afraid might be +the case. I walked along the quays, examining every ship in the river, +and, after a long search, I was convinced that the _Mary_ was not there. +I next had recourse to the ship-brokers and ship-chandlers, but from +none of them could I gain any information. I then began to make +inquiries of the people I found lounging about the quays smoking, and +otherwise killing the time. At last I saw a man who stood lounging +against a post, with a cigar in his mouth and his arms folded, and who, +by the glance he cast at me, seemed to court inquiry. + +He was, I remember well, a sallow-faced, gaunt fellow, with large +expressive eyes and black hair, which hung down from under his Panama +hat in ringlets, while a pair of gold rings adorned his ears. He had on +a nankeen jacket and large white trousers, with a rich silk sash round +his waist, in which was ostentatiously stuck a dagger, or rather a +Spanish knife, with a handsome silver hilt. I took him for a Spaniard +by his appearance; but when I accosted him in English, he replied in the +same language, with scarcely a foreign accent, "And so you are looking +for the _Mary_, Captain Dean, are you? Very curious," he observed: "I +left her three weeks ago at the Havanah waiting for a cargo; and she +won't be off again for another three weeks or more." + +"Then I may reach her in time!" I ejaculated. + +"Do you belong to her?" he continued. "You have not much the look of a +seaman." + +He was right; for I was still dressed in my mocassins and hunting +costume, with my rifle in my hand, and my other worldly property slung +about me, so I must have cut rather a curious figure. + +I replied that I was to have belonged to her, and explained how it had +happened that she had sailed without me. By degrees I told him more of +my history; and finally, without my intending it, he drew the whole of +it from me. + +"You are a likely lad," he observed, with an approving nod. "The fact +is, I sail to-morrow for the Havanah, in the schooner you see out +yonder; and if you like to ship on board, you may, that's all." He +pointed, as he spoke, to a large square-topsail schooner which lay out +in the stream, at a single anchor. + +She will not take long to get under weigh, I thought, as I looked at +her. Eager as I was to reach the Havannah, I jumped at his offer. "I +have not been accustomed to a craft like yours," I replied, "but I will +do my duty on board her, to the best of my power." + +"That's all we require; and perhaps, if you find your friend gone, you +will like us well enough to remain with us," he observed, with a laugh. +"We are constantly on the wing, so you will have no time to get weary of +any place where we touch, as is the case in those big ships, which lie +in harbour for months together. If you want to become a seaman, go to +sea in a small craft, say I." + +I told him that I did wish to become a seaman; but I did not say that it +was for the sake of sailing with Captain Dean, nor did I mention his +daughter. Indeed, I had kept her name altogether out of my narrative. + +The arrangement being concluded, he advised me to go and get a sea-rig, +remarking that my present costume was not exactly suited for going aloft +in. There were several outfitting shops, such as are to be found in all +seaports, and towards one of them of the most inviting appearance I bent +my steps. Before going, however, I inquired of my new friend his name, +and that of the schooner. + +"The English and Americans call me John Hawk, and my craft the _Foam_," +he answered. "Captain John Hawk, remember. The name is not amiss; so +you may use it, for want of a better." + +"Are you neither an Englishman nor an American?" I asked. + +"No, youngster, I belong to no nation," he replied; and I observed a +deep frown on his brow as he spoke. "Neither Spain, France, Portugal, +England, nor even this free and enlightened country, owns me. Are you +afraid of sailing with me, in consequence of my telling you this? If +you are, you may be off your bargain." + +"No," I answered, "no; I merely asked for curiosity, and I hope you +won't consider me impertinent." + +"Not if you don't insist on an answer," he replied. "And now go and get +your outfit." + +As I walked along, I meditated on his odd expressions; but I had no +misgivings on the subject. I did not like the first shop I reached, so +I went on to another, with the master of which I was more pleased. I +there, at a fair price, very soon got the things I wanted, and, going +into a back room, rigged myself out in them; while my hunting costume I +did up in a bundle, to carry with me, for I was unwilling to part from +so old and tried a friend. + +As I was paying for the things, the whole of which cost somewhere about +fifteen dollars, a stout, good-looking, elderly man came into the shop. +I at once recognised him as the master of an American brig on board of +which I had been in the Liverpool docks. I felt as if he was an old +friend, and could not help speaking to him. He was very good-natured, +though he did not remember me, which was not surprising. I asked him if +he had met the _Mary_. + +"I left her at the Havanah, for which place I sail to-morrow," he +answered. + +"So does Captain Hawk, of the _Foam_," I observed. "I have just shipped +on board her." + +"Youngster," he said, looking grave, "you do not know the character of +that vessel, I am sure, or you would not willingly set foot on her deck. +She is a noted slaver, if not something worse; and as you put +confidence in me, I will return the compliment, and would strongly +advise you to have nothing to do with her." + +"But I have engaged to sail with Captain Hawk, and he seems a +fair-spoken man," I urged. + +"If you choose to trust to his fair speeches more than to my blunt +warnings, I cannot help it," he answered. "I have done my best to open +your eyes for you to his true character. If you persist in following +your own counsel, you will soon have to open them yourself very wide, +when it is too late." + +I liked the tone of the master's voice, as well as the expression of his +countenance; and I therefore felt inclined to believe him. At the same +time I did not like to be moved, as it were, from my purpose by every +breath of wind. + +"I promised to sail with Captain Hawk, or whatever may be his name; and +though I cannot doubt but that you have good reason for what you say, +sir, yet I don't like to desert him, without some proof that he is the +character you describe him," I replied. + +"Did he tell you what trade he was in?" asked the captain. + +"No, sir," I replied; "he said nothing about it." + +"Then be guided by me, youngster, and don't ship with him," he said, +speaking most earnestly. "You may make every inquiry about my brig--the +_Susannah_, Captain Samuel Searle. You will find all is clear and +above-board with me. I want hands, I own, and I should be glad to have +you, but that does not influence me in what I say." + +The shopkeeper corroborated all Captain Searle had told me, and added so +many other stories of the character of Captain Hawk and his schooner, +that I felt truly glad there was yet time to escape from him. Bad as he +might be, there was something in his manner which made me wish not to +desert him altogether, without offering him some excuse for my conduct. +I accordingly, leaving my bundle in the shop, went back to the quay, +where I found him lounging as before. He at first did not know me in my +change of dress when I accosted him. + +"You are a likely lad for a sailor," he remarked, as he ran his eye over +me approvingly. + +"I am glad you think so," I answered; and I then told him I had met the +master of a vessel whom I had known in Liverpool, and that I wished to +sail with him. + +"And he has been telling you that I am a slaver, I suppose, or something +worse, eh?" he exclaimed in a sneering tone, and with an angry flash of +the eye I did not like. I looked conscious, I suppose; for he +continued, "And you believed him, and were afraid to sail with so +desperate a character, eh? Well, lad, go your own ways, I don't want to +lead you. But I know of whom you speak, for I saw him go into the shop +where you have been, and tell him _to look out for himself that's all_." +Saying this, he turned on his heel, and I went back to the shop. + +I told Captain Searle what Captain Hawk had said. + +"That does not matter," he answered. "He cannot do me more harm than he +already seeks to do; so I do not fear him." + +I was now pretty well convinced of the honesty of Captain Searle; but to +assure myself still further, I called on two or three ship-brokers, who +all assured me that his ship was a regular trader, and gave a favourable +report of him. When I inquired about Captain Hawk, they screwed up +their mouths, or made some other sign expressive of disapprobation, but +were evidently unwilling to say anything about him. In the evening I +went on board the _Susannah_; and I must say that I was very glad to +find myself once more afloat. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +The _Susannah_ was a fine brig, of about three hundred tons burden. She +had a raised poop, but no topgallant forecastle; so the crew were +berthed in the fore-peak, in the very nose, as it were, of the vessel. +I had engaged to serve as a boy before the mast. Indeed, perfectly +unknown as I was, with slight pretensions to a knowledge of seamanship, +I could not hope to obtain any other berth. + +The crew were composed of about equal numbers of Americans--that is, +subjects of the United States--and of Englishmen, with two blacks and a +mulatto, a Spaniard, and a Portuguese. The first officer, Mr Dobree, +was a great dandy, and evidently considered himself much too good for +his post; while the second mate, Mr Jones, was a rough-and-ready +seaman, thoroughly up to his work. + +I was welcomed by my new shipmates in the fore-peak with many rough but +no unkind jokes; and as I had many stories to tell of my adventures in +the backwoods, before we turned in for the night I had made myself quite +at home with them. + +At daybreak on the next morning all hands were roused out to weigh +anchor. The second mate's rough voice had scarcely done sounding in my +ear before I was on deck, and with the rest was running round between +the capstan-bars. "Loose the topsails," next sung out the captain. I +sprung aloft to aid in executing the order. Though a young seaman may +not have knowledge, he may at all events exhibit activity in obeying +orders, and thus gain his superior's approbation. The anchor was +quickly run up to the bows, the topsails were sheeted home, and, with a +light breeze from the northward, we stood towards the mouth of the +Mississippi. + +As we passed close to the spot where, on the previous day, the _Foam_ +lay at anchor, I looked for her. She was nowhere to be seen. She must +have got under weigh and put to sea at night. "She's gone, Peter, you +observe," remarked Captain Searle, as some piece of duty called me near +him. "I'm glad you are not on board her; and I hope neither you nor I +may ever fall in with her again." + +From New Orleans to Belize, at the mouth of the Mississippi, is about +one hundred miles; and this distance, with the aid of the current and a +favourable breeze, we accomplished by dusk, when we prepared once more +to breast old ocean's waves. These last hundred miles of the father of +rivers were very uninteresting, the banks being low, swampy, and dismal +in the extreme, pregnant with ague and fevers. Although I rejoiced to +be on the free ocean, I yet could scarcely help feeling regret at +leaving, probably for ever, the noble stream on whose bosom I had so +long floated; on whose swelling and forest-shaded banks I had travelled +so far; whom I had seen in its infancy--if an infant it may ever be +considered--in its proud manhood, and now at the termination of its +mighty course. + +These thoughts quickly vanished, however, as I felt the lively vessel +lift to the swelling wave, and smelt the salt pure breeze from off the +sea. Though the sea-breeze was very reviving after the hot pestilential +air of New Orleans, yet as it came directly in our teeth, our captain +wished it from some other quarter. We were enabled, however, to work +off the shore; and as during the night the land-breeze came pretty +strong, by day-break the next morning we were fairly at sea. + +Before the sun had got up, the wind had gone down, and it soon became +what seamen call a flat calm. The sea, as the hot rays of the sun shone +on it, was, as it were, like molten lead; the sails flapped lazily +against the mast; the brig's sides, as she every now and then gave an +unwilling roll, threw off with a loud splash the bright drops of water +which they lapped up from the imperceptibly heaving bosom of the deep. +The hot sun struck down on our heads with terrific force, while the +pitch bubbled up out of the seams of the deck; and Bill Tasker, the wit +of the crew, declared he could hear it squeak into the bargain. An +awning was spread over the deck in some way to shelter us, or we should +have been roasted alive. Bill, to prove the excess of the heat, fried a +slice of salt junk on a piece of tin, and, peppering it well, declared +it was delicious. The only person who seemed not only not to suffer +from the heat, but to enjoy it, was the black cook; and he, while not +employed in his culinary operations, spent the best part of the day +basking on the bowsprit-end. + +The crew were engaged in their usual occupations of knotting yarns, +making sinnet, etcetera, while the aforesaid Bill Tasker was instructing +me--for whom he had taken an especial fancy--in the mysteries of +knotting and splicing; but we all of us, in spite of ourselves, went +about our work in a listless, careless way, nor had the officers even +sufficient energy to make us more lively. Certainly it was hot. There +had been no sail in sight that I know of all the day, when, as I by +chance happened to cast my eyes over the bulwarks, they fell on the +topsails of a schooner, just rising above the line of the horizon. + +"A sail on the starboard bow!" I sung out to the man who was nominally +keeping a look-out forward. He reported the same to the first mate. + +"Where away is she?" I heard the captain inquire, as he came directly +afterwards on deck. + +"To the southward, sir; she seems to be creeping up towards us with a +breeze of some sort or other," answered Mr Dobree. "Here, lad," he +continued, beckoning to me, "go aloft, and see what you can make of her. +Your eyes are as sharp as any on board, if I mistake not, and a little +running will do you no harm." + +I was soon at the mast-head, and in two minutes returned, and reported +her to be a large topsail schooner, heading north-north-east with the +wind about south-east. + +"I can't help thinking, sir, from her look, that this is the same craft +that was lying off New Orleans two days ago," I added, touching my hat +to the captain. I don't remember exactly what made me suppose this, but +such I know was my idea at the time. + +"What, your friend Captain Hawk's craft, the _Foam_, you mean, I +suppose?" he observed. "But how can that be? She was bound to the +Havanah, and this vessel is standing away from it." + +"I can't say positively, sir; but if you would take the glass and have a +look at her, I don't think you would say she is very unlike her, at all +events," I replied. + +"It's very extraordinary if such is the case," said the captain, looking +rather more as if he thought I might be right than before. + +"Give me the glass, and I'll judge for myself, though it's impossible to +say for a certainty what she may be at this distance." Saying this he +took the telescope, and in spite of the heat went aloft. + +When he came down again, I observed that he looked graver than usual. +He instantly gave orders to furl the awning, and to be ready to make +sail as soon as the breeze should reach us. "The youngster is right, +Mr Dobree," he said, turning to the mate, and probably not aware that I +overheard him. + +"It's that piccarooning craft the _Foam_; and Mr Hawk, as he calls +himself, is after some of his old tricks. I had my suspicions of him +when I saw him off New Orleans; but I did not think he would venture to +attack us." + +"He's bold enough to attack any one, sir," said the mate; "but we +flatter ourselves that we shall be able to give a very good account of +him, if he begins to play off any of his tricks on us." + +"We'll do our best, Mr Dobree," said the captain; "for if we do not, we +shall have but a Flemish account to render of our cargo, let alone our +lives." + +I do not know if I before stated that the _Susannah_ carried four guns-- +two long and two carronades; and as we had a supply of small arms and +cutlasses, we were tolerably able to defend ourselves. + +The captain walked the deck for some time in silence, during which +period the stranger had perceptibly approached to us. He then again +went aloft, and scrutinised her attentively. On coming down he stopped +at the break of the poop, and, waving his hand, let us know that he +wished to address us. "My lads," he began, "I don't altogether like the +look of that fellow out yonder, who has been taking so much pains to get +up to us. He may be honest, but I tell you I don't think so; and if he +attempts to molest us, I'm sure you'll one and all do your duty in +defending the brig and the property on board her entrusted to you. I +need not tell you that pirates generally trust to the saying, that dead +men tell no tales; and that, if that fellow is one, and gets the better +of us, our lives won't be worth much to any of us." + +"Don't fear for us, sir; we're ready for him whatever he may be," sung +out the whole crew with one voice. + +The stranger brought along the breeze with him, but as yet our sails had +not felt a particle of its influence. At length, when he was little +more than a mile off, a few cat's-paws were seen playing on the water; +they came, and vanished again as rapidly, and the sea was as smooth as +before. In time they came oftener and with more power; and at length +our topsails and topgallant-sails were seen slowly to bulge out as the +steadier breeze filled them. + +The wind came, as I have said, from the south-east, which was directly +in our teeth in our proper course to the Havanah. The stranger had thus +the weather-gauge of us; and a glance at the map will show that we were +completely embayed, as, had we stood to the eastward, we should have run +on the Florida coast, while on the other tack we must have run right +down to meet him. We might possibly reach some port; but the +probabilities were that he would overtake us before we could do so, and +the appearance of fear would encourage him to follow us. We had +therefore only the choice of running back to Belize, or fighting our way +onward. Captain Searle decided on the latter alternative; and, bracing +the yards sharply up on the starboard tack, we stood to the eastward, +intending, whatever course the stranger pursued, to go about again at +the proper time. + +The schooner, on seeing this, also closely hugged the wind and stood +after us. There could now be no longer any doubt about his intentions. +We, however, showed the stars and stripes of the United States, but he +hoisted no ensign in return. It was soon very evident that he sailed +faster than we did, and he was then rapidly coming within range of our +guns. Our captain ordered us, however, on no account to fire unless we +were struck, as he was unwilling to sacrifice the lives of any one +unnecessarily, even of our enemies. + +Every stitch of canvas the brig could carry was cracked on her: all +would not do. The stranger walked up to us hand over hand. Seeing that +there was not the slightest chance of escaping by flight, Captain Searle +ordered the foresail and topgallant-sails to be clewed up, and, under +our topsails and fore-and-aft sails, resolved to wait the coming up of +the enemy, if such the stranger might prove. + +On came the schooner, without firing or showing any unfriendly +disposition. As she drew near, I felt more and more convinced that she +must be the _Foam_. She had a peculiarly long cutwater and a very +straight sheer, which, as she came up to the windward of us, and +presented nearly her broadside, was discernible. As she heeled over to +the now freshening breeze, I fancied that I could even discern, through +the glass, Captain Hawk walking the quarter-deck. When she got about a +quarter of a mile to windward of us, she hove to and lowered a boat, +into which several people jumped and pulled towards us. At the same +time up went the Spanish ensign at her peak. + +Captain Searle looked puzzled. "I cannot make it out, Dobree," he +observed. "I still doubt if that fellow is honest, and am half inclined +to make sail again, and while he bears down to pick up his boat, we may +get to windward of him." + +"If he isn't honest he'll not trouble himself about his boat, but will +try to run alongside us, and let her come up when she can," answered the +mate. "There is no trusting to what such craft as that fellow may do." + +"Oh, we'll take care he does not play off any tricks upon us," said the +captain; and we waited the approach of the boat. + +As she drew near, she was seen to contain eight men. Four were pulling, +one sat in the bows, and the other three in the stern-sheets. If they +were armed, it could not be discovered. When they got within hail, the +captain asked them what they wanted. + +They pointed to their mouths, and one answered in Spanish, "Aqua, aqua, +por amor de Dios." + +"They want water, sir, they say," observed the first mate, who prided +himself on his knowledge of Spanish. + +"That's the reason, then, that they were in such a hurry to speak to +us," said the captain. "But still, does it not strike you as odd that a +vessel should be in want of water in these seas?" + +"Her water-butts might have leaked out; and some of these Spanish +gentry, sir, are very careless about taking enough water to sea," +replied the mate, who was biassed by the pleasure he anticipated of +being able to sport his Spanish. + +"Get a water-cask up on deck, and we'll have it ready to give these +fellows, whatever they may be," said our humane captain. "Have some +pannikins ready to serve it out to them. Thirst is a dreadful thing, +and one would not keep a fellow-creature in that state a moment longer +than one could help." + +I do not know what the second mate thought of the strangers, but I +remember several of the crew saying that they did not like their looks; +and I saw him place a cutlass close to the gun nearest the starboard +gangway, while he kept eyeing them in no very affectionate manner. +Notwithstanding the heat of the weather, the men in the stern-sheets +wore cloaks. On observing this, Bill Tasker said he supposed it was to +hide the shabby jackets they wore under them. The other men were +dressed in blue shirts, and their sleeves rolled up to the shoulder, +with the red sash usually worn by Spaniards round their waist, in which +was stuck the deadly _cuchillo_, or cut-and-thrust knife, in a sheath, +carried by most Lusitanian and Iberian seamen and their descendants of +the New World. + +They pulled up at once alongside, and before any one attempted to stop +them they had hooked on, the man in the bows climbing up on deck, +followed by his companions in cloaks, and two of the seamen. The other +two remained in the boat, pointing at their mouths, as a sign that they +wanted water. + +Seamen, from the sufferings and dangers to which they are exposed, are +proverbially kind to those in distress. Our men, therefore, seemed to +vie with each other who should first hold the pannikins of water to the +mouths of the strangers, while a tub, with the fluid, was also lowered +into the boat alongside. They eagerly rushed at the water, and drank up +all that was offered them; but I could not help remarking that they did +not look like men suffering from thirst. However, a most extraordinary +effect was produced on two of them, for they fell down on the deck, and +rolled about as if in intense agony. This drew the attention of all +hands on them; and as we had no surgeon on board, the captain began to +ransack his medical knowledge to find remedies for them. + +While he was turning over the pages of his medical guide to find some +similar case of illness and its remedy described, the schooner was +edging down towards us. As she approached, I observed only a few men on +board; and they, as the people in the boat had done, were pointing at +their mouths, as if they were suffering from want of water. The boat +was on the lee side. + +I think I said that there were some sails, and two or three cloaks, +apparently thrown by chance at the bottom of the boat. While all hands +were engaged in attending to the strangers, and for some minutes no one +had looked towards the schooner, on a sudden I heard a loud grating +sound--there was the wild triumphant cry of a hundred fierce voices. +The seemingly exhausted men leaped to their feet; the helmsman and our +captain lay prostrate by blows dealt by our treacherous foes; the second +mate and several of the men were knocked down; and before any of us had +time to attempt even any defence of the brig, a set of desperadoes, of +all colours and nations, were swarming down on her decks from the +rigging of the schooner, while others, who had been concealed in the +boat, sprang on board on the lee side. Never was a surprise more +complete, or treachery more vile. In an instant we were helplessly in +the power of as lawless a band of pirates as ever infested those seas. +The captain and mates were first pinioned; the men were sharing the same +treatment. I was at the time forward, when, on looking aft, who should +I see but Captain Hawk himself walking the deck of the brig as if he +were her rightful commander! He took off his hat with mock courtesy to +poor Captain Searle, as he passed him. "Ah, my dear sir, the fortune of +war makes you my prisoner to-day," he said, in a sneering tone. +"Another day, if my people do not insist on your walking the plank, you +may hope, perhaps, to have the satisfaction of beholding me dangling at +a yardarm. By the bye, I owe you this turn, for you shipped on board +your craft a lad who had engaged to sail with me; and I must have him +forthwith back again, with a few other articles of your cargo which I +happen to require." As he said this, his eye fell on me, and he +beckoned me towards him. I saw that there was no use hanging back, so I +boldly advanced. "You are a pretty fellow, to desert your colours," he +continued, laughing. "You deserve to be treated as a deserter. +However, I will have compassion on your youth, if you will swear to be +faithful to me in future." + +"I never joined your vessel, so I am not a deserter. I cannot swear to +serve a man of whose character I know nothing, except that he has taken +forcible possession of a peaceable trader." I said this without +hesitation or the least sign of fear. The truth is, I felt too +desperate to allow myself to consider what I said or did. + +"You are a brave young bantam," he answered laughingly. "And though all +the rest may hang or walk the plank, we will save you to afford us +sport; so set your mind at rest on that point." + +"Thank you for my life, for I have no wish to lose it, I can assure +you," I replied; "but don't suppose I am going to spend it in your +service. I shall do my best to get away from you as soon as possible." + +"Then we must tie you by a lanyard to the leg," he answered, without at +all appearing angry. "Here, Mark Anthony,"--he beckoned to a tall, +ill-looking black who had been busy in securing the rest of the +crew,--"take charge of this youngster, and render an account of him to +me by and by, without a hair of his head injured, mind you." + +"Yes, sare," said the Roman general, who I afterwards found was a +runaway slave from Kentucky. "I'll not singe his whiskers even. Come +here, massa;" and seizing me by the shoulder, he dragged me forward away +from the rest of the people. "What's your name?" asked my black keeper, +as he made me sit down on the bits of the bowsprit. + +"Peter, at your service, Mr Mark Anthony," said I in as fearless a +voice as I could command; for having once taken a line of conduct which +seemed to answer well, I determined to persevere in it. + +"Den, Massa Peter, you sit dere quiet," he said with a grin. "I no +break your skull, because Captain Hawk break mine if I do. I no let +anybody else hurt you for same reason." + +From his look and voice I certainly did not flatter myself that he +refrained from throwing me overboard from any love he bore me; but, on +the contrary, that he would have been much more gratefully employed in +making me walk the plank, or in tricing me up to the foreyard. + +Meantime the pirates were busily employed in ransacking the vessel, and +in transferring everything of value to them which they could find from +her to their own schooner. The captain and mates were threatened with +instant death if they did not deliver up all the money they had on +board; and even the crew were compelled to hand over to our captors the +small sums they possessed. To make them do this, they were knocked +about and beaten unmercifully. And even those who possessed watches and +rings were deprived of them, as well as of any clothes which appeared +worth taking. + +I had often read the history of pirates and of their bold exploits, till +I almost fancied that I should like to become one, or, at all events, +that I should like to encounter them. But I can assure my friends that +the reality was very different to the fiction; and as the hideous black +was standing over me, ready every moment to knock out my brains, and my +companions were suffering all sorts of ill-treatment, I most heartily +wished that such gentry as pirates had not been allowed to exist. + +Though I tried to look as indifferent as possible, the black would have +observed me trembling, had he not been watching to see what his friends +were about, no doubt eager to obtain his share of the plunder. The work +the pirates were engaged in went on for some time, till even they had +tolerably satiated their eagerness for booty; and then I fully expected +to see them either heave my shipmates overboard as food for the sharks +alongside, or hang them at the yardarms, and then set the ship on fire, +as Mark Anthony insinuated, for my satisfaction, that they would do. +Instead of this, to my surprise Captain Hawk went up to Captain Searle, +and said, "I sent a message by that youngster there to you to look out +for yourself, and I never threaten in vain. He goes with me. I want a +good navigator; and as your second mate seems a likely sort of person, I +shall take him also. The rest of you may go free; but remember, that if +any of you attempt to betray me, or to appear as witnesses against me, +you will dearly pay for it." + +Our poor captain, who was almost ruined and heart-broken by the pillage +of his ship, said nothing, but bowed his head on his breast, looking as +if he would as soon have been killed outright. The unfortunate mate, +Abraham Jones, seemed horrified at hearing what his fate was to be; but +he knew enough about the pirates to be aware that it would have been +worse than useless to attempt to escape accompanying them. He, however, +took the precaution of calling on the crew of the _Susannah_ to bear +witness that he was compelled through bodily fear and by force to join +the pirates; and he made the best show of resistance that under the +circumstances he could venture to do. + +From what I saw of him, I do not think that he had so great an objection +to joining them as some men might have had. Indeed, I confess that I +was very wrong in doing so; and I feel that a person ought rather to +sacrifice his life than consent to commit a crime, even though driven to +it with a dagger at his throat. However, both Jones and I fancied that +the only chance of saving our own lives, and those of our shipmates, was +by our going on board the schooner. + +"Remember, Captain Searle, if we get into any misfortune through you, +these two will be the first to suffer, and then again I say, look out +for yourself," exclaimed the chief pirate, as he quitted the deck of the +_Susannah_. + +His people then hove her guns overboard, and removed the small arms on +board their own craft, to which the mate and I were also transferred. +They also cut the standing and running rigging, which would effectually +prevent her from making sail for a long time to come. + +The first mate was next released, and was ordered to stand on the poop, +on pain of being shot down if he attempted to move while the schooner +was near. Her boat was then hoisted in, she was cast off from the brig, +and with a cheer of triumph from her crew, she stood away from the +_Susannah_. + +The first mate wisely did as he was ordered; and it was not till we had +got to such a distance that there was little fear of his being hit, that +I saw him jump down to release his companions. It was with a sense of +misery and degradation I have never before experienced, that I watched +till we lost sight of the unfortunate _Susannah_. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +A week passed away on board the _Foam_. Whereabouts we were I had no +means of telling; for the captain kept me in his cabin, and would not +allow me to go on deck without first asking his leave, nor would he +permit me to communicate with Mr Jones. He treated me very kindly, and +even gave me books with which to amuse myself; but I was very far from +happy. I felt that the schooner might some day be captured by a ship of +war, and that I might probably be hung as a pirate before I had an +opportunity of establishing my innocence. I also did not like to be a +prisoner, even though I was kindly treated; and I thought that most +probably, when Hawk found I would not join in any piratical acts, and I +had resolved that nothing should compel me to do so, his behaviour would +change, and that if I escaped with my life, I should no longer be +treated as before. + +Abraham Jones had, I am sorry to say, as far as I was able to judge from +appearances, taken readily enough to the office imposed on him, and on +two occasions when I went on deck, I saw him doing duty as the officer +of the watch. My opinion of him was, that he would not have sought to +become a pirate, but that, having no nice sense of right and wrong-- +finding himself thrust, as it were, into the life--he did not think it +worth making any exertion to escape from it. + +Whether we went to the Havanah or not I did not know. We certainly were +once at anchor, and three times we either chased vessels or were chased +by a superior force, from the eager tone in which the captain ordered +sail to be made. Once we fired several shots, and were fired at in +return; and I suspect it must have been at some vessel on our beam +chasing us, and that some of her rigging or her masts must have been cut +away, from the loud cheers the pirates gave, perhaps they sunk the +enemy. + +An hour afterwards, Hawk came down into the cabin, looking as cool and +unconcerned as if nothing had happened. I tried to gain some +information from him, but he would answer none of my questions. He only +gave a ghastly smile when I asked if the vessel at which he had fired +had sunk; and he then took up a book, in which he soon seemed to be +deeply absorbed. After some time the book dropped from his hand, and he +sat for half-an-hour in a state of abstraction, unconscious of where he +was, or who was present. + +He was roused by the black, Mark Anthony, putting his head in at the +door and saying, "A sail on the lee bow." + +He sprang on deck in a moment, all life and activity. Instantly all +sail the schooner could carry was packed on her, and we were bowling +along with a fine breeze in chase of the stranger. This I could only +surmise, however, by the way the vessel heeled over to the breeze, for I +was still kept in the cabin. + +Presently Hawk came down again. "Peter," he observed, "you have +disappointed me. I thought you would not be content to lead the idle +life you do; I fancied you would like the excitement of the chase and +the fight better than sitting alone in the cabin all day, like a young +girl." + +"I am not content, Captain Hawk," I replied; "but a prisoner has no +choice." + +"No one is allowed freedom on board here, unless he has taken the oaths +of allegiance to the captain and our laws," he answered, looking +steadfastly at me. + +"Nothing could induce me to take one or the other," I exclaimed; "so I +suppose I shall remain a prisoner till you release me, or I die." + +He seemed to take my answer very calmly; and this encouraged me to +proceed and to make an effort to obtain my freedom. + +"Captain Hawk," I said, "you have been very kind to me; and though I +should have been willing to sail with you before I knew the character of +your vessel, I am now most anxious to be put on shore; and if you will +liberate me, I will swear most solemnly not to betray you, or any of +those who sail with you." + +"We do not trust to the oaths of those who do not join us," he answered. +"For your own sake, I must make you take part in the next capture we +attempt, or else my people will begin to suspect that you are a mere +coward, and even I shall be unable to protect you." + +"I am no coward, Captain Hawk, and that I will prove any time that I +have an opportunity; but I do not choose to commit murder or robbery," I +answered, in the same bold tone in which I usually spoke. + +"You use harsh terms, youngster, to one who could any moment order you +to be hove to the sharks," exclaimed the pirate. "However, I do not +quarrel with you for speaking your mind. I once thought as you do, but +custom has altered my ideas." + +"Then why do you wish me to do what you know I must consider wrong?" I +asked. + +"Because I have a liking for you, and want a lad of spirit and education +to be my companion," he replied. "The old hands I cannot trust--they +are as likely to turn against me as to serve me--while you, I know, will +be faithful for awhile, till you get hardened like the rest, and then--" + +"And then," interrupting him, I said, "what would you do with me? Give +me as food for the sharks, I suppose?" + +"No, lad; I should let you live to fight your own way in the world, with +a charge to keep out of my path," he replied. "But that is not what I +wanted to talk to you about. You must come on deck and join in +capturing the vessel we are in chase of, for we think she is likely to +prove a prize of value." + +I am sorry to say that so heartily tired was I of remaining shut up in +the cabin, that I was glad of being allowed, on any terms, to see what +was going forward on deck. + +On this, I suspect, the pirate had calculated. He well knew the force +of the French proverb, "It is but the first step to crime which is +difficult." He wished me to take that first step, being assured that I +should then be his. + +I thought when I went on deck that nothing would tempt me to take any +part in the acts of the pirates, even as far as in assisting to navigate +the vessel; but there is something so exciting in the chase of a vessel, +that it is difficult not to wish to come up with her. At first I stood +merely looking on; but the breeze freshened and rather headed us, and +Hawk issued an order to flatten in the fore-and-aft sails, and to brace +up the yards. I flew instinctively to the sheets, and found myself +pulling and hauling with the rest. + +The captain made no remark, nor did he appear even to notice what I had +done. The wind was about south, and the chase was to the eastward of +us, standing on a bowline she was a brig of some size, and at the first +glance I thought she was a man-of-war; but Hawk pronounced her to be a +Spaniard, and homeward bound from Cuba. On hearing this, of course I +knew that we must be somewhere to the eastward of that place, and this +was the first intimation I had had of our whereabouts. + +The chase had not observed us, or if he had, seemed not to be at all +suspicious of our character; for he was standing on under easy sail, as +if in no way in a hurry to escape from us. + +Hawk, who was usually so calm and almost apathetic, walked the deck full +of energy and excitement. Every order he gave was uttered in a sharp, +quick tone, which demanded instant obedience. Every one partook of the +same spirit; and there appeared to be as much discipline and regularity +as on board a man-of-war. Even the most lawless vagabonds find this +necessary for the attainment of their ends and their own preservation. + +We rapidly came up with the chase, and were within about three miles of +her, when she began, it seemed, to suspect that all was not right, for +sail after sail was set on her till she could carry no more, while she +edged away a little from her course, so as to allow every one of them to +draw properly. This threw us soon completely to windward, for we held +on the same course as before, and she appeared at first to be recovering +her lost ground. In a short time we also kept away with the wind almost +abeam, a point on which the _Foam_ sailed her best. + +"Huzza, my lads!" exclaimed Hawk; "in a short time the chase will be +ours, and, if I mistake not, plenty of gold doubloons into the bargain, +if you can but make our craft walk along faster." + +"Huzza!" shouted the English and American part of the crew, in which the +people of other nations joined in their peculiar cries. + +The brig once more hauled her wind, and this brought us soon nearer +again to her. + +Hawk thought it was because the captain saw indications of a shift of +wind, and hoped to be placed well to windward. He was scrutinising her +narrowly through a telescope. "She does not show any guns," he +remarked; "but it is no reason that she has not got them. Get all ready +for action, in case she should prove a Tartar." + +I scarcely knew what I was about; but I confess that I not only assisted +to hand up the powder and shot, but to load and run out the guns. + +Neither of us made any further variation in our course; but the chase +was, it appeared, a very slow sailer, for we so rapidly came up with +her, that five hours after she was seen she was within range of our +guns. She did not fire, nor did we; for supposing her to be unarmed, +Hawk was anxious to capture her without in any way injuring her hull or +cargo. We sailed on, therefore, as if we were engaged in a friendly +race; and no one, by looking at us, could have supposed that we were +deadly enemies. + +We were getting very near to the chase, and with our telescopes could +almost distinguish the faces of those on board, when I observed Abraham +Jones, the new second mate of the _Foam_, hurry aft to the captain with +a face pale as a ghost. Hawk laughed and shook his head incredulously. +Jones seemed from his manner to be insisting that he was right, for I +did not hear what he said. Still we stood on till the chase was within +the distance of half the range of our guns. I was again aft. "Hoist +our bunting to make him show his colours," I heard Hawk say; "and give +him a shot from our bow-chaser to hurry him." + +Directly afterwards a broad red flag, without any device, was run up at +our peak, and with a spout of smoke a shot went flying over the water, +and with a crash which made the splinters fly it struck the dark sides +of the brig. The effect was instantaneous, and such as was little +expected by the pirates. + +A flag was run up to the gaff of the brig; but instead of the Spanish +ensign, the stars and stripes of the United States were displayed; and +the ports being opened as if by magic, eight guns were run out, and +luffing up, she let fly her broadside right into our bows. The shot +tore up our decks, and knocked away part of our starboard bulwarks, +killing two of the people, and wounding three more, but without injuring +our rigging. Then I saw what sort of men I was mingling with. I cannot +describe the fierce rage which took possession of them, the oaths and +execrations to which they gave vent. The bodies of the two men who were +killed, while yet warm, were thrown overboard directly they were found +to be dead, and the wounded were dragged below, and left without a +surgeon or anyone to attend on them. Instead of the timid Spanish +merchantman we expected to get alongside, we found that this vessel was +no other than a United States man-of-war sent to look out for the +_Foam_--in fact, that we had caught a Tartar. Hawk, to do him justice, +stood undaunted, his energies rising with the occasion, keeping away a +little, so as to get our broadside to bear, we fired in return, and the +guns being planted high, some of the running rigging was cut away, and +her fore-topmast was struck, and must have been badly wounded, for some +hands instantly were seen going aloft to fish it. + +"About ship, my lads--down with the helm; and while she's in stays, give +Uncle Sam our larboard broadside." + +The sails of the schooner were well full; she quickly came round, and +before the brig could follow our example, we sent the shot from our +whole broadside flying among her rigging. A loud shout of exultation +from our pirate crew showed their satisfaction at the damage they had +done; for several spars and sails, with blocks and ropes, were seen +coming down by the run on deck. + +"Now, my lads, let's up stick and away," cried Hawk. "They thought, +doubtless, that they were sure of us; but we'll show them that the +_Foam_ is not to be caught so easily." + +All hands who could be spared from the guns, and I among the rest, flew +to their stations to trim sails; the yards were braced sharp up, and +with her head to the south-west, the _Foam_ stood away on a bowline from +her powerful antagonist. We were not to escape, however, with impunity; +for as soon as the brig's crew had somewhat recovered from the confusion +into which the damage done by our shot had thrown them, such guns as +could be brought to bear were fired at us with no bad aim. One struck +our taffrail, and another killed a man on the forecastle; but our +rigging escaped. Twice the brig missed stays in attempting to come +about, from so much of her head-sail having been cut away; and this, as +she all the time was sailing one way and we the other, contributed much +to increase our distance. The breeze also favoured us further by +freshening, making it more difficult to the enemy to repair damages, +while, as we were unhurt, it sent us along all the more rapidly. The +Americans are not the people to take the treatment we had given them +with calmness, especially as we were so much the smaller, and had less +force. At last, at a third trial, the brig came about, while she +continued without cessation firing at us. Not much damage was done, +though our sails had daylight made through them several times by her +shot, and another man was killed; but this casualty the pirates seemed +to make light of--it was the fortune of war, and might happen every +instant to any of us. The bodies, with scant examination, except to +discover whether there was money in their pockets, or rings in their +ears or on their fingers, were thrown overboard without a prayer or a +sigh. As the shot came whistling over us, they laughed when they saw me +bobbing down my head in the hope of avoiding them. I had no fancy, I +own, to be shot by people with whom I had not the slightest enmity, nor +whom I in any way wished to injure. + +We soon found that the brig-of-war, instead of being a slow sailer, was +remarkably fast, and that, while we were in chase of her, she must, by +towing a sail overboard, or by some other manoeuvre, have deadened her +way, on purpose to allow us to come up with her. We had now, therefore, +to put the schooner's best leg foremost to get away from her, even +before she had got all her gear aloft again. To try and do her further +damage, a gun was got over the taffrail, and a constant fire was kept up +from it as fast as it could be loaded. + +I was standing in the waist with the black, Mark Anthony, near me. +"Well, Massa Peter, if de brig catch we, we all be hung; how you like +dat?" he asked, with a broad grin, which made him look far from +pleasing. + +"I should be sorry to see any of those who have treated me with kindness +hung, or otherwise injured," I replied. + +"See! Ha, ha! but how you like feel being hung, Massa Peter?" he said, +again grinning more horribly than before. + +"Why, I have no fear of that sort, Mr Mark, I can assure you," I +replied; though I confess the disagreeable idea did come across me, that +I might possibly not be able to prove that I was not a pirate should we +be captured. "I have had nothing to do with any of the acts committed +by the crew of this vessel." + +"Ho, ho, ho!" he exclaimed, "den you no pull and haul, and help work de +guns which fire at de sip of war? me swear me saw you myself. Ho, ho, +ho!" + +The black's laughter sounded almost demoniacal in my ears. He spoke the +truth, too: I had indeed helped to work the guns; and on the strength of +it, like a tempter to evil, he was endeavouring to persuade me, in his +rough way, to join the pirates. I did not think it prudent to show him +that I clearly saw his aim; but I resolved still to remain firm. + +The evening was now drawing on, and fortunately the breeze did not drop. +I confess that I was just as anxious to escape from our pursuer as any +pirate on board; scarcely more so, perhaps, than the new mate, who had +guessed the character of the brig, and had no fancy for having his +career cut short so soon. + +The brig did not fire at us, as to do so she would have had to yaw and +thus lose ground, while we continued to ply her with our long gun. Her +fore-topsail could not be set while the mast was being fished. An +attempt was now made to hoist it; but the breeze at that instant +strengthening, away went the mast, rigging and sail together. A loud +cheer arose from our decks: a parting shot was given her from our gun, +and in two hours darkness hid her from our sight. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +I dreamed all night that I was in the hands of the Americans, with a +rope round my neck and about to be run up at the yardarm. I felt the +practical inconvenience of associating with bad company. As soon as I +awoke I went on deck, for Hawk no longer placed any restriction on my +movements. I fully expected to see the brig-of-war in chase of us. I +own I felt somewhat relieved when, on looking round, not a sail of any +description was to be seen, and the schooner was still bowling along +with a brisk breeze on a westerly course. + +Towards evening we sighted land, towards which our course was altered. +We ran on, and by marks, which I could not distinguish, steered between +coral banks, till on a sudden I found that we were entering a lagoon, +with trees towering on either side high above our top mast heads. The +wind dropped completely as we got within the passage, and the boats were +sent ahead to tow. Hawk ordered me into one of them, and I saw no +reason to disobey; indeed, I felt that it would be very foolish not to +do my best to please him in matters unconnected with piracy. + +The sky was clear overhead, and the stars shone down and were reflected, +as in a mirror, on the otherwise ink-black water of the lagoon. As we +pulled ahead, we appeared to be passing through a narrow canal, with +lofty impenetrable walls on either side, while in the centre rose before +our eyes the phantom-like outline of the schooner, her topmast heads and +rigging alone being seen against the sky above the dark shadows of the +trees. The splash of our oars was the only sound which broke the dead +silence which reigned in this sequestered spot; while the only light, +except from the glittering stars above us, was from the phosphorescent +flashes as the blades entered the water, and the golden drops again fell +into their parent element. On looking on that gloomy surface, it seemed +as improbable that anything so bright should come from it as that sparks +of real fire should be emitted from the hard flint-stone. Mat Hagan, an +Irishman, who pulled the bow oar in my boat, declared that our oars were +throwing up to the sky again the reflection of the stars, which had no +business to be there at all. + +We pulled on for about half-an-hour, and then a sort of bay or bight +appearing on one side, we brought the vessel into it, and moored her +stem and stern fast to the trees. There she lay so completely +concealed, that any one passing up the canal could not by any +possibility have seen her, even in broad daylight. + +Here we lay for several days, repairing damages and refitting the ship. +Where we were I could not learn from any one on board; but I suspected +that we were in one of the numberless keys among the Bahama or Lucaya +Islands; and I had afterward reason to know that I was right. + +Some of the booty taken by the pirates was landed, as, on account of the +marks on the bales and other signs, it was likely to lead to their +detection should they attempt to dispose of it in its present form. +Some of the things were hid away; the others, after undergoing various +operations, were re-shipped with such perfectly different marks, that it +would have been impossible to detect them. Cunning and trickery seemed +to be now the means taken by the pirates to carry on their operations, +instead of the bold, daring way in which, as I had read, their +predecessors formerly plundered the honest trader. + +Hawk ordered me to lend a hand in refitting the schooner, so I made +myself as useful as my knowledge would allow. I had begun, to entertain +a hope of escaping when the pirates were off their guard and fancied +that I had become reconciled to my lot. It was against my nature to be +in any way treacherous, and I most certainly would not have injured +Hawk, on account of the kindness with which he had treated me; but, at +the same time, I did not feel that I was acting wrongly in concealing +from him my wish to regain the liberty of which he had deprived me. + +One morning, while the yards were still on deck and the sails unbent, +notice was given from our look-out at the mouth of the lagoon that a +sail was in sight, about two miles in the offing. + +"What is she?" asked Hawk of the messenger. + +"A barque, deeply laden, captain," replied the man, who was an old +pirate. "To my mind she looks as if she would not make a bad prize, if +we could get hold of her; and, as the wind is dropping, and it will be +some time before the sea-breeze sets in, I think there will not be much +difficulty in doing that." + +The captain was pleased at his follower's suggestion; indeed, he would +have risked the loss of his authority had he refused to attend to it. +The men were ordered to knock off work, and to get the boats ready, +while, those who were away in the interior of the little island were +recalled to lend their assistance. Every one was instantly all life and +animation: with the prospect of making a prize, even the most sluggish +were aroused. + +There were three boats, which were soon launched, and oars, arms, and +provisions were placed in them. To my surprise, Hawk gave the command +of them to Abraham Jones, he himself remaining to take charge of the +schooner. From what I heard, I found that the pirates expected no +difficulty or danger in making the capture. + +I, of course, hoped that I should have nothing to do in the matter. +What was my horror, then, when Hawk ordered me into the boats, and my +old enemy--for I cannot call him my friend--Mark Anthony, was told to +keep me company! I do not know whether this was Hawk's wish, or the +desire of the men, who did not like to trust me till I had been guilty +of some piratical act. At first I hesitated about obeying; but I soon +saw, by the angry looks which were cast at me, that I was doing so at +the peril of my life; and at the same instant it struck me, that if I +went, I might by some means or other obtain my liberty. + +The boats were one long-boat, which pulled eight oars, and carried in +all sixteen men, and two large swift-rowing gigs. Jones took command of +the long-boat, and I was in one of the gigs. In silence we left the +vessel on our nefarious errand--in silence we pulled down the canal with +steady and slow strokes, for while the wind held there was no hurry. +When we got close to the mouth of the harbour, the boat I was in was +sent out to reconnoitre. + +The stranger was apparently beating up along shore, towards which her +head was now pointed, those who directed her movements little aware of +the danger which threatened them. After waiting a short time, during +which she had drawn nearer to us, her sails began to flap against the +masts, and the ripple which had been playing on the water disappeared +altogether. With the last breath of wind she was put about, and +attempted to stand off shore; but she was very soon left in what is +called the "doldrums," namely, without steerage-way. + +I had been watching her attentively. I thought from the first I knew +her; and I now felt certain that she was no other than the ship of which +I was in search, the _Mary_. With bitter grief I came to this +conclusion; for I could not but fear that my friends were on board her, +and that Captain Dean and his sweet child would be thrown into the hands +of the pirates. What, too, would they think of me? Would they believe +me innocent when they saw me in such company? A thought came cross my +mind at that instant; I would pretend not to recognise them. At all +risks, I would make the pirates suppose that I joined willingly in this +expedition, and perhaps I might be the means of preserving their lives, +at all events, if not their property. Perhaps, I thought, my steps +might have been led providentially through the various adventures in +which I had engaged for this very purpose. The very idea made my heart +beat quick with a sensation almost of joy. I did not see how it was to +be accomplished; but I felt assured that the Power which had hitherto +guided me would point out the way. + +When the officer of the boat I was in saw the barque becalmed, he gave +the signal to our consort, and without further delay we three pulled out +together towards her. + +For some time no one on board appeared to have observed us. At last +some one saw us, and two or three glasses were directed towards us; but +we did not seem to have created any alarm or even suspicion among them. +Thus we were enabled to approach without any preparation having been +made to prevent our getting on board. When it was too late, probably +from the eagerness with which they saw us dash alongside, they suspected +that all was not right, and a few of the hands ran to the arm-chest, +while others attempted to slue round one of the two guns the barque +carried, and to point it down at the boats. Before they could do so, we +were scrambling up her sides. + +"Oh, oh, Massa Peter, you hurry enough now to turn pirate, when you tink +someting to be got!" shouted Mark Anthony, as he saw my eagerness to be +one of the first on deck. + +The cutter boarded on one side, the two gigs on the other--one at the +fore-rigging, the other at the mizzen-chains; so that the crew had to +separate into three divisions to oppose us. The crew thus weakened, the +people from the long-boat gained easily a footing on deck. They drove +the crew aft, who were now attacked in the rear by the party from one of +the gigs. I was in the foremost gig, and we had no one to oppose us. +The only defence made was by the master, his mates, and two of the crew, +who had secured cutlasses. They stood together on the larboard side of +the poop, and boldly refused to yield up the ship, till they knew the +authority of those attacking her. + +I saw at a glance that my fears were well founded. There stood my kind +friend, Captain Dean, and, in the centre of the group, his sweet little +daughter, Mary. Oh, how I wished to have the strength of a hundred men, +to drive all the pirates into their boats, and to release my friends! + +No sooner had I appeared above the bulwarks than Mary saw me. She +uttered a cry of surprise, for she recognised me at once. It attracted +her father's attention. His cutlass was struck from his grasp by Jones, +the two mates were knocked down, and all further resistance was at an +end. + +This easy victory prevented the pirates from being as bloodthirsty as +they might otherwise have proved; but, as a precautionary measure, Jones +ordered both the officers and crew to be bound to the masts and rigging +while the ship was being searched. + +I had rushed aft, in the hopes of being of some assistance to Captain +Dean should he have required it--how, I scarcely knew. I thought I +would have interposed my body, should a sword have been raised to strike +him: When I saw him no longer making any defence and uninjured, I +stopped, and was endeavouring to turn away to consider what I should do; +but Mary's eye had followed me, and, as she saw me approaching, she +uttered my name in his ear. On losing his sword, he had thrown himself +on one of the hen-coops placed against the bulwarks, where he lay, +clasping his child in his arms; and even the pirates seemed to respect +him, for no one molested him. + +Most of the pirates were engaged in dragging the prisoners to the masts +to bind them. Jones had gone into the cabin. I saw that no one was +observing me. I hurried past my old friends. "Hush," I whispered, in a +voice they could just hear; "I am honest still. Do not recognise me--I +will save you if I can!" + +"I knew he was true and good," said Mary, kissing her father, and trying +to turn her eyes from me. + +What courage did her words give me! That sweet child's trusting +friendship was a reward for all I had suffered. I resolved to abstain +still from the evil courses to which my companions were endeavouring to +lead me. I gave a glance over the stern, as if I had been looking to +see what had become of the gig which had boarded at that end of the +ship, and I again passed my friends without noticing them. I guessed +that Mark Anthony would have been watching me, and I was right. + +"What, you like pirating, Massa Peter! You run about like little dog, +quite frisky--not know what to do," he remarked, with a grin. He was +fond of giving things their proper names. Jones would have been +horrified at being called a pirate; and even Hawk did not like the term, +though in his bitter moments he used it. + +"I have no help for it," I answered, with, I hope, excusable duplicity. +"The fact is, Mark, I had formed a wrong opinion of you gentlemen; and +in future I hope to make as bold a robber as the best of you." + +"Berry good, berry good, my boy!" said the black, grasping my fist with +his huge rough hand. "Me tell Captain Hawk, Massa Peter now take oath." +I had not thought of that dreadful ceremony when I boasted of being +ready to turn pirate; and, as I had a true idea of the sacredness of an +oath, I knew that I must be betrayed if I was asked to take it, by +refusing, as I must, to do so. + +Jones now came out of the cabin, and went up to the captain. "Captain +Dean," he said, "for such, I find, is your name, you must order your +people into the boats, to tow this vessel close in shore, where you must +anchor, to discharge some of your cargo." + +"I have no longer command of this vessel," replied the captain; "if the +people choose to obey you, I have no power to prevent them." + +"We have the means of making them do what we please, though," exclaimed +Abraham Jones. "Here, you, get your boats into the water, and tow us +ahead." He pointed to several of the Mary's crew, who were released, +and compelled by the pirates to do as he ordered. The pirates' +long-boat also went ahead, to assist in towing; while four men were +stationed at the bows with muskets in their hands, to fire on the boats +should they attempt to escape. The rest who remained, I zealously +assisting them, cleaved and brailed up the sails. When ordered by +Jones, I, without hesitation, seized a musket and pointed it at the +boats. + +Captain Dean, still holding Mary in his arms, sat aft, without moving. +He seemed completely stunned with the blow which had fallen on him, for +the cruel robbery would prove his ruin. + +It was an arduous operation, towing the vessel in; for a current set +along shore, it seemed, and drifted her to the southward of the entrance +to the lagoon. I have before described the heat of a tropical sun; and +very hot work indeed was this towing. But more particularly +disagreeable was it for the crew of the barque, who could not tell but, +at the end of it, their lives might be sacrificed by their captors; +while the pirates, on the contrary, had the satisfaction of having a +rich booty in store. At last, after five hours' incessant labour, we +got, as near as the depth of water would allow, to the mouth of the +harbour, and the anchor was dropped to the bottom. + +Overcome by the heat, the pirates now came out of the boats, and, +rushing below, brought a spirit cask on deck, which they forthwith +broached. I trembled for the consequences. Jones did all he could to +prevent their becoming intoxicated; but they only laughed and jeered at +him, and asked who made him an officer over them. + +I ought to have said that, as soon as the barque had anchored, those of +her crew who were in their boats were turned adrift without oars or +masts or sails, or anything to guide them, and allowed to float wherever +the current might carry them. As it happened, there was but little +current there, and consequently they remained but a short distance off, +afraid to attempt either to regain the ship or to reach the shore. + +Louder and louder grew the mirth of the pirates, and wilder their looks +and gestures, as the powerful liquor they were swallowing took effect on +their brains. I saw Mary cling closer to her father in fear and +trembling, all the time watching me with furtive glances, lest she +should be observed by her captors. I kept my musket in my hand, +pretending to be watching the boats; and as they were now astern, I came +aft for that purpose. What might have been the result of the prolonged +orgies of the pirates it is impossible to say; but just as two or three +had begun to stagger on their feet, and, with their knives in their +hands, to cast their bloodshot eyes round as if looking for some victim +for their insane fury, a small boat shot out of the harbour and rapidly +approached the ship. + +In a few minutes Captain Hawk stood on the deck of the prize, just in +time to prevent one of his men from killing the first mate of the +vessel, who remained all the time bound to the mast. He then turned +fiercely on Jones, and reprimanded him for not having restrained the +people more effectually. With a blow of his fist he knocked down the +three most drunken of his followers, and the rest appeared instantly +sobered. Without a murmur they threw the remainder of the spirits +over-board, and under his directions commenced hoisting out such part of +the cargo as he considered most valuable. + +Captain Dean was not molested; nor was any notice taken of the boats +which were drifting in shore, and would, I hoped, reach it, and thus +enable the crews to find means by which to return to the ship, and +perhaps to escape. On a sudden it seemed to strike some of the pirates +that there was no use working while there were people they could compel +to work for them; and to my sorrow two armed boats were instantly sent +off to tow back the two which were drifting away. Resistance was vain, +so the poor fellows were compelled to work in hoisting the cargo out of +their own ship, and afterwards in pulling up the lagoon to the schooner. +When I saw that the pirates allowed the strangers to see their place of +concealment, I trembled for the fate of the latter, and feared greatly +that the result would be their destruction, to prevent their discovering +it to others. + +The boats were all away, and six of the pirates, with Captain Hawk and +myself, were the only persons besides the prisoners who remained on +board. Hawk had observed my apparent zeal, I suspect, for he said to +me, "I am glad to see that you are overcoming your foolish scruples, +Peter; and to show the confidence I place in you, I will give you charge +of the old master and his daughter. Take care they do not communicate +with any of the other prisoners or assist, to release them." + +My heart leaped within me at the chance thus offered of assisting my +friends; at the same time I considered whether I ought to betray the +confidence placed in me. + +"I'll keep an eye on them, sir," I answered evasively, and at the same +time I took my post opposite to them, with my musket in my hand. I +observed that Mary turned her head away from me, lest Hawk should +observe the satisfaction she felt at this arrangement. Hawk afterwards, +with all his followers, went below to make a more minute examination of +the nature of the cargo. + +As soon as they had disappeared, I ran up to Mary and her father. I +knelt down; I kissed their hands, and with tears in my eyes assured them +that I had been long looking for them, and was guiltless of willingly +joining the pirates. "I will risk my life to liberate you," I added. +"Be constantly on the watch for whatever may occur. Perhaps to-night +something may favour our projects; perhaps it may be weeks before I find +the means of aiding you." + +"I knew you would, I knew you would," exclaimed Mary. "Father, Peter +will help us to escape." Captain Dean, by a strong effort, roused +himself from the state of stupor into which he was near falling. He +took my hand and grasped it tightly. + +"Peter," he said, "I will trust you, though appearances are solely +against you. For the sake of humanity--for this sweet child's sake--I +pray that you will not deceive us." + +I again assured him that I was true, and that, when I had time, I would +explain how it all had happened; and then, fearful of being seen, I +retired to my post to act sentinel as before. + +On Hawk's returning on deck, he ordered Captain Dean and Mary into the +cabin below, and told them that they must remain there till he had +determined what should be done with the ship. My poor friend obeyed +without a murmur, and, taking Mary by the hand, conducted her to his +state-room, into which he entered and closed the door. I heard him say, +while I was still close to it, "Kneel, my child, kneel, and pray to God +to protect us." + +The boats had made only two trips to the shore before it was dark, and +still very much of the property the pirates wished to appropriate +remained on board. When they returned for the last time, there were +various discussions as to what should be done with the vessel. Some +were for landing everything of value, and then burning her; others +proposed scuttling her, with her people on board; a few suggested that +they might be allowed to escape in their boats, as there was little +probability of their ever reaching land; while the most humane voted for +allowing the ship to depart when they had taken all they required out of +her. + +Most of the pirates returned to the schooner for the night, leaving the +prisoners, with the third mate and a small guard, including me, in +charge of them. Just before he left the vessel, Hawk called me aside. + +"I leave you on board of the prize, Peter," he said, "because, though +you are young and untried, yet you have more of humanity about you than +the rest of my followers, and I can place more confidence in you. I +must, however, have you take the oath of our band, to the effect that +you will not desert the ship, betray a comrade, or separate from the +rest till our compact is dissolved by mutual agreement." + +I thought, as seriously and as rapidly as I could, whether such an oath +would not only preclude my own escape, but prevent me from assisting my +friends. "It must effectually bind me to the pirates, and probably +cause my death; but if I refuse to take it, I shall lose all chance of +aiding Captain Dean and Mary, so for their sakes I will do as I am +asked." I told Hawk I would no longer refuse to take the oath he +proposed. + +"Then swear," he said, repeating it, while a number of the pirates +gathered round. + +"I swear," I said, in a voice which must, I thought, betray my emotion. +The pirates cheered and welcomed me as a brother among them. At that +instant a peal of thunder echoed along the rocks of the shore, and vivid +lightning darted from the sky. + +I presumptuously thought at the time that the anger of Heaven was thus +shown for the crime I had committed. I trembled violently; and had it +not been dark, my confusion would have been discovered. The pirates +were, however, in a hurry to depart, and, stepping into their boats, +which were again deeply laden, they pulled up the harbour, leaving me +and my companions in charge of the ship and twice as many prisoners as +we ourselves numbered. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +I did not go to sleep, it may be supposed, but walked the deck, +considering what I should do. I had never spoken much with the third +mate, who was now commanding officer; and I felt less inclination than +ever to enter into conversation with him, so I only went near him when I +was obliged to do so, to report that all was right. + +He was a surly ruffian, in no way superior to the rest of the people, +except that, from having been at sea all his life, he was a tolerable +seaman. It was with some difficulty that I gained permission from him +to carry some food and water to the prisoners, or I believe he would +have allowed them to starve. I dared not tell them that I was a friend, +lest some might incautiously betray me. Wherever I went, also, Mark +Anthony followed, and narrowly watched my proceedings. I observed him, +though I pretended not to do so, and was trying to devise some means of +lulling the suspicions he evidently still entertained of me. + +The mate's name was John Pinto, a Portuguese by birth, though he said he +was an American, and he spoke English well. I knew that he was addicted +to liquor, when he could indulge in it without fear of the consequences. +I had found several bottles of fine old Jamaica rum in the cabin, so I +brought one up on deck, with a monkey full of cool water, and saying +that I was very thirsty after the day's work, and must have a glass, +asked him if he would have one also. He consented, and I poured him out +a stiff tumblerful, the strength of which was concealed by the coolness +of the water. + +"Very good indeed," he growled out. "Peter, you understand these +things; give me another." I did so, and made it even stronger than the +first. He liked it accordingly even better, and took several others in +quick succession. I was not afraid of his growing furious, for, from +the nature of the man, I knew that he would only become stupid, and +finally would fall asleep. With much satisfaction I saw this effect +take place. + +"Now I am commanding officer," I thought, "and I will see what is next +to be done." Just as I had thought this, and had stood up to look +around me, I felt the hot breeze coming off the land. An idea struck +me, if I could but liberate the prisoners, they might run the vessel far +away to sea before the morning, and out of the reach of the pirates. + +How to accomplish this was the next thought. Go with them I could not, +on account of my oath, and I was also bound to the rest. There was a +sentry placed before Captain Dean's cabin. I determined to make him +tipsy also, I had recourse to the old rum, and with the same effect it +had on the mate. Two men walked the deck near the main hatchway, the +other four were forward. The prisoners were in the hold, and my great +difficulty was to get to them. + +I went on deck to watch the two men. They were sitting down, and I had +hopes were asleep. Mark Anthony, whom I most feared, was forward. The +night had become very dark, so I went close to them without being +perceived, and I could distinguish by the tones of their voices that all +four were talking together. On this I crept back to the cabin. The +sentry was snoring in complete insensibility, so I dragged him on one +side, and tapped softly at the door of the state-cabin. + +"It is Peter," I whispered. "Open the door, I have something to say." +Mary knew my voice, and opened it before I had done speaking, for I had +unlocked it from the outside. + +"Captain Dean," I said, in a hurried tone, "the wind is off the shore; +two of your guards are unconscious from drink; and if I can but make the +rest so, or you can manage to overpower them, you may regain possession +of your vessel. I can neither assist you further, nor can I accompany +you, for at all risks I must return to the schooner." + +"Oh no, no," exclaimed Mary, "you must go with us; we cannot leave you +behind with those dreadful men." + +"I have taken an oath, Mary, and I must remain," I replied. "But have +no fears for me. I shall, I trust, finally escape from the toils which +surround me, and we may meet again." For some time I continued in the +same strain, and finally succeeded in winning her over to my view of the +case. I had less difficulty in persuading her father that there was no +other chance of escape; and I urged on him the duty he owed to his +owners as well as to his child, if not to himself. + +With several bottles of old rum I returned on deck, and with one in my +hand I sat myself down near the two men guarding the hatchway. + +"The mate finds this stuff very good," said I; "will you take a glass?" +They did not say no, but pronounced it excellent. + +"The rest should not be kept out of their share," I remarked; "I'll take +them some." To this they would not agree; and wishing to keep it all to +themselves, drank it down much faster than they would otherwise have +done. I took the empty bottle away, and put a full one in its place, +much to their surprise, for they did not suspect my trick. Favouring my +design, the others heard them praising the rum, and asked them what they +were about. I instantly ran forward with two bottles. + +"They have got some spirits which they think very good, and I have +brought you some bottles. There are several more stowed away somewhere +on deck, and if I can find them I will bring them to you." + +"Bear a hand and bring them to us, but do not let Pinto see you, or he +will be laying an embargo on them," said one of the men in a low voice, +thinking the mate might hear him. + +In a short time all the pirates, including even Mark Anthony, were lying +about the decks in a state of helpless intoxication. + +With my knees trembling with agitation, I hurried aft, and told Captain +Dean what had occurred. Leaving Mary in the cabin, he accompanied me on +deck, and we instantly set to work to get the hatches off. We +succeeded, and, going below, found the mates and crew, most of them +overcome with fatigue, fast asleep. It was the work of a minute to +rouse them up, to explain what had happened, and to cut loose the +lanyards with which they were secured. + +I told them that they must make a simultaneous rush on deck; that they +must bind me with the rest of the pirates; that they must put us into a +boat with a couple of small sculls, just to enable us to reach the +shore; and that they must then cut their cable, and get to sea as fast +as possible. + +"I do not see what should prevent us from carrying all hands off +prisoners," said the first mate. The idea that they might do so had not +occurred to me. I wished most cordially that they would, but my oath +made it incumbent on me to return if I had the power. + +"We must do as this young man requires," said Captain Dean. "We will +abide by his decision." + +"Then I must beg that you will without delay put me and my companions +into a boat, and be off yourselves," I answered, with a sinking heart. + +I crept first on deck, and lay down among the men forward. Presently +the crew rushed on deck, and in a few minutes the previous order of +things was completely reversed, and the pirates were bound and floating +helplessly in a boat by themselves. The black, who was near me, was the +only one who was aroused, and he saw me being bound like himself. He +would have cried out, but a gag thrust into his mouth effectually +prevented him. + +With mingled feelings of pain and joy I saw, through the gloom, the +sails of the _Mary_ drop from their yards, and her cable being cut, she +glided away into the obscurity of the distance. I uttered a prayer for +the safety of those on board. I had no fears for myself; but I confess +I wished that, notwithstanding my protestations, Captain Dean had +forcibly detained me, though I, of course, was compelled to insist on +being treated like the rest of the pirates, and he, not knowing my real +wish, thought he was bound to do as I desired. Mary was all the time +below, or her keen perception would have saved me, as she would have +insisted on keeping me, in spite of myself. I repeated the oath I had +taken over and over again, and I did not find that it in any way +prevented me from liberating the prize. That any one would dream of +doing such a thing had, I suppose, never occurred to its framers. + +It was broad daylight before any of the people came to their senses. +The black had been all the time, in a degree, awake, though his +intellects were not very bright; he, however, had been too tightly bound +hand and foot to move, while his mouth was too securely gagged to allow +him to cry out. I arose with pretended difficulty; I saw his keen eye +glaring on me. I looked over the gunwale: the _Mary_ was nowhere to be +seen. She had then escaped, and I returned thanks to Heaven for her +safety. + +The boat had been driven by the wind some way out to sea, and it +occurred to me that there was a great probability of our being starved +before we could regain the shore, should we not be seen by the +schooner's crew. This idea gave way to the picture which presented +itself of the rage and disappointment of the pirates when they found +that their prize had escaped. + +"They will wreak their vengeance on us all, perhaps--on my head +especially, if it is suspected that I had a hand in liberating the +prisoners. How can I avoid being suspected? The mate will recollect +that I brought the rum to him; so will the others. They will compare +notes, and I shall be accused of having plotted with the crew of the +_Mary_. It will be asserted that I intended to accompany them, and to +claim a reward--perhaps to bring a ship of war to the spot--and that +they had played me false in placing me in the boat. It will not be +supposed that I might have escaped, but would not break my oath. My +condition is indeed perilous." + +I was right in that respect. Never, perhaps, had I been in such +imminent danger; but I forgot at the time that there is a higher Power +ever watchful over men, and that it will assuredly protect those who act +rightly. + +Oh, let me urge my young friends, in their course through life, always +to do what they know is right, fearless of consequences: let no +consideration whatever induce them to act otherwise. They may not-- +probably do not--see the way by which they are to be preserved, but God, +in His good time, will show it to them; or if they are exposed in +consequence to suffering, will not fail, beyond all measure, to reward +them. + +I must explain that I do not feel quite certain that I was right in +taking the oath. Even now that years have passed since that time, I am +undecided as to that point; and therefore I trust that I may be pardoned +if I was wrong in doing so, when I had no time for reflection. + +When the black saw me move, he made various strange noises, to call my +attention to his condition. I showed him that my hands were bound, but +I contrived to crawl towards him; and though his hands were behind his +back, he contrived so far to loosen the cords which bound mine (they +were, in truth, but slightly secured, and I could have released them +without aid), that I got them perfectly free. The first thing I did was +to take the gag from his mouth; and oh, what a torrent of abuse flowed +instantly out of it! He did not, however, suspect me, as I thought he +would. We next released the rest, but they were still too overcome with +the liquor to comprehend what had happened. + +The wind was still off the shore, and the boat continued drifting out to +sea, her speed increased by a current which set to the southward. The +black recognised the mouth of the lagoon, which he knew well, but I +could not make it out. The two sculls were found, and, bestowing many +maledictions on his companions for not being able to drink with +impunity, he made me take one of them, and attempt to pull towards the +shore. + +With the prospects I had in view, I had no particular wish to exert +myself, and I saw that, even if I did so to the utmost, we could make no +way against the breeze and the current setting in an opposite direction. + +The sun rose, and struck down with burning fury on our heads; and I +knew, when the wind fell, it would be hotter still. At length I began +to feel the pangs of hunger, and, to my satisfaction, I found that some +considerate friend had put a few biscuits and a keg of water into the +boat. With this I refreshed myself, and so did the black; and I began +to hope that he was grateful to me for releasing him from the gag, and +that he would bear witness to having seen me bound like the rest. + +When we found that we could make no way with the paddles, we gave it up, +and set to work to try and revive our companions. We unlashed their +arms and legs, and by degrees they came to themselves. They were very +much surprised at what had happened, and could not account for it. + +"Well, no use talking here," observed Mark Anthony, whose wits being +brighter than theirs, was for active measures. "If we no get on shore, +we all die togeder." + +I suggested that we might manufacture some more paddles out of the +bottom-boards; and that by bending our handkerchiefs and jackets +together we might form a sail, which, when the sea-breeze set in, might +enable us to reach some part of the coast. No one having any better +advice to offer, mine was adopted: two more pairs of paddles were +formed; but though they enabled us to make some little headway, it was +very slowly. + +My companions now grew weary; and the looked-for breeze not arriving, +they began to lose their tempers, as people are apt to do, even without +so much reason, after a debauch. + +"It was all your fault, youngster," suddenly exclaimed the mate, turning +to me; "you brought me the stuff which capsized me." + +"And he brought it to us," said one of the men who had been guarding the +main-hatchway. + +"And to us also," cried those who had been forward. + +"Den," exclaimed the black, giving a most diabolical grin from ear to +ear, which made my blood run cold, "he done it on purpose: dere was +someting in it, no doubt." + +Oh, now my heart sunk within me; for their suspicions once being set on +the right scent, I feared they would discover the truth. However, I put +a bold face on the matter, and answered, "I found the spirit--I tasted +it, and thought it very good, so I brought it to you. I am in as bad a +condition as any of you; so I gained nothing by treachery, if I was +guilty of it." + +"Ah, but you hoped to do so!" exclaimed the mate. "It wasn't your wish +to remain with us, but you could not help yourself." Thus the +discussion went on, till they arrived very nearly at the truth. I said +nothing, but listened, expecting every moment to be my last. Some +proposed throwing me overboard at once; but the black suggested that the +captain would be angry at such a proceeding, and that it would be far +better to carry me in alive, and to torment me before they put me to +death. + +I told them that they had no proof of my guilt, and that I denied the +accusation of having put anything into the liquor, and that I was +certain that Captain Hawk would acquit me. + +They were still threatening me, when the black, who was standing up, on +looking towards the mouth of the harbour, espied two boats pulling out +towards us. Our comrades must have seen us with their glasses from the +shore, and were coming to our assistance. They could not possibly be +more than four miles off. Scarcely had the rest time to discover the +specks they seemed on the water, when I observed a sail just rounding +the west side of the island, and standing, with a fresh breeze, directly +for us. It was not long before she was discovered by the rest. + +She was a large brig, and, from the squareness of her yards, she looked +like a man-of-war. Down she came rapidly on us, as yet unperceived by +the people in the boats, as a point of high land, covered with trees, +hid her completely from them. The black jumped up, and watched her, +with lips apart and staring eyeballs, for some time. + +"De brig we fought de oder day!" he exclaimed. "If he see we, den we +all hang." And he sunk down at the bottom of the boat, intimating to +the rest to follow his example. + +I scarcely knew whether to wish that the American brig-of-war--for such +I felt convinced she was--should discover us, or whether we might get +into the harbour unperceived. + +In the latter case, the probabilities were that the pirates would put me +to death. In the former, I ran a great risk of being hung because I was +a pirate; or the boat might drift out to sea, and a lingering death +would be our portion. Neither alternative afforded a pleasant subject +of contemplation. + +The boats from the shore were all this time approaching us. At last +they saw the topgallant-mast's heads of the brig over the point; but I +suppose they fancied they were those of the _Mary_, for they continued +their course. In a short time, however, they perceived their mistake; +but the brig had got clear of the land, and they were full in view of +any sharp eyes stationed on her tops. They directly pulled back, and we +lost sight of them almost immediately. + +The brig came on, and at first, after rounding the point, stood on a +course which would have carried her inside of us, but, on discovering +the boat, she again stood towards us. The fright of all hands in the +boat was excessive, and the bold blustering pirates proved themselves +cowards indeed. The African was the bravest, for the death he expected +had few terrors for him. He even had presence of mind sufficient to +suggest that we should invent a plausible tale of having been cast +adrift by the rest of the crew of a ship who had run off with her: All +eagerly grasped at the idea; but before the tale was thoroughly +concocted, the brig was alongside of us, and we were very +unceremoniously hauled on board. + +We were immediately taken before the captain and his officers in full +uniform, who stood round him on the quarter-deck. + +"What brought you out here?" he demanded of the mate, who from his dress +seemed to be the officer. Pinto told the tale which had just been +invented. + +"And what are those boats doing inshore of us?" was the next question. + +"I know nothing of the boats," was Pinto's answer; but the appearance +and dogged manner of my companions had raised suspicions in the minds of +the American officers which were not easily allayed. + +Meantime the brig had hauled her wind, and was standing inshore with the +lead going, in the direction the boats had taken. Officers with sharp +eyes were also stationed at each fore-yardarm to look out for coral +reefs. The _Foam's_ boats reached the entrance to the lagoon just as +the brig dropped her anchor, it being considered dangerous to approach +nearer the shore. + +The brig, I found, was the _Neptune_, Captain Faith. She was a +remarkably fine vessel, carrying nineteen guns, and had been sent out +expressly to look for the _Foam_. Captain Faith and his officers were +burning to revenge the insult offered them shortly before by the +schooner. It appeared that they had, by some means, notice of her +whereabouts, and when they saw the retreating boats, they had little +doubt of the true state of the case. + +We were all kept separate from each other, and were questioned one by +one. What the others said I do not exactly know, but I have reason to +believe that not one of them told the same story, I was the last +interrogated. "And what have you got to say for yourself?" asked the +lieutenant. + +"That I was last night put into this boat with the rest, with my hands +bound behind my back," I replied. + +"And you believe that the people who so treated you have run off with +the ship to turn pirates?" + +"I do not believe it," I answered. "I knew the captain, who was a kind +friend of mine, and the ship was his own. If you ever meet Captain Dean +of the _Mary_, he will corroborate what I say." + +"This is a new version of the story," replied the lieutenant. + +"It is the true one; of that you may be assured," I replied. "I would +willingly tell you more, but I cannot, so there is no use questioning +me." + +"We shall soon see that," he observed. "Those who will not speak when +they can, must be made to speak." + +I was silent; for if I said more, I was afraid of running the risk of +breaking my oath, by betraying Hawk and his followers. + +The attention of all on board was now taken up by the manning of the +boats, which were, I found, to be sent up forthwith, on an expedition in +search of the pirates. Oh, how I longed to warn the brave men I saw +with such joyful alacrity getting ready, of the great risk they were +about to run! The schooner, I knew, had ten guns on board, and the +pirates would be able so to place her as to offer a stout resistance, if +not to defeat the man-of-war's boats completely. + +Four of the brig's boats were sent away, to which was added the one in +which I had been taken; so that there was a pretty strong flotilla +engaged in the expedition. Remembering, however, the extreme narrowness +of the passage, I felt that if the pirates landed, and simply fired down +upon their assailants, they might pick every one of them off, without +the slightest risk to themselves. I was very much afraid of being +compelled to accompany the boats--not that I feared the danger, but I +thought that Hawk would fancy that I did so willingly; and though he +might be defeated and killed, I did not like the idea of his dying with +the impression on his mind that I had betrayed him; or, on the contrary, +if the boats were destroyed, of course I could expect no mercy at his +hands. With aching eyes I saw them enter the mouth of the lagoon; and +perhaps no one on board felt a greater interest in their proceedings +than I did. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +I was allowed to remain on deck, under charge of a sentry, but was in no +other way treated as a prisoner. Half-an-hour elapsed, during which the +boats were probably looking for the pirate vessel, without a shot being +heard. It was a time of the most intense anxiety. At length, as if to +make amends for the previous silence, the roar of big guns and musketry +was heard reverberating in quick succession among the rocks. One +fancied that one could distinguish as each boat came up to the contest, +and the schooner fired at her in return. The wreaths of smoke could be +perceived in the atmosphere, rising above the trees. Once there was a +cessation; and it appeared that the boats were driven back. One thing +was certain, the pirates had not attempted to stop them at the narrow +passage, as they might have done; or, if they had, they had successfully +passed it. + +Five minutes elapsed--they seemed an hour. Then again the hubbub +recommenced, with greater fury than before. So excited did many of the +men, and even the officers, become, that I almost thought they would +leap into the water, and try to swim to shore, to join in the combat. I +fancied that I could even hear the cries and shrieks of the combatants-- +that I could see the whole scene before me, through the trees; the boats +at the mouth of the bight, firing away at the schooner, their officers +cheering the men on; the pirates, stripped to the waist, working the +guns of the schooner, some on board, and others on either point on +shore, with small-armed men scattered in every direction around. The +prolonged fight made me feel very doubtful of the result of the contest. +There was a pause, and then a loud, fearful explosion, and the masts +and spars and fragments of the pirate schooner could be seen rising in +the air. She had blown up; but still it might be questioned who were +the victors. + +There was another interval of the most intense anxiety. In vain we +waited for the reappearance of the boats, till the _Neptune's_ people +began to fear that their brave shipmates had been all destroyed. There +was only one small boat, the dinghy, remaining on board. The master, +the only gun-room officer left besides the surgeon and purser, +volunteered to go in and look for them. I was on the very point of +offering to accompany him as pilot, when I remembered that I was +supposed to know nothing of the place. The commander gave an unwilling +consent, for he did not like to risk more of his people. He was just +shoving off, when first one boat was seen to emerge from among the +trees, then another, and lastly four appeared--thus one only was +missing. They pulled slowly on board, and were seen to be heavily +laden. + +With a shout of joy and hearty congratulation, they were received +alongside; but the entire satisfaction at the success of the expedition +was somewhat mitigated when it was found that several of their numbers +were missing. They had brought off ten prisoners, most of whom were +wounded. Some of the packages which had been taken from the _Mary_ were +also brought on board. Neither Hawk nor Abraham Jones were among the +prisoners: I therefore concluded that they were killed or had escaped. +The prisoners, to my horror, at once recognised me and the rest of their +comrades, addressing us familiarly by our names, and thus completely +identified us with themselves. I suppose they did this from a feeling +of revenge, from fancying that we had been the cause of their disaster. +The captain, on this, ordered us all to be secured and treated as +prisoners alike, till he had time to investigate the matter fully. + +I heard an account of the expedition from one of the seamen who had been +engaged in it, as he described it to a messmate. It appeared that the +pirates had at once gone on board the schooner, which they had placed, +just as I supposed they would, directly across the entrance of the +bight. Here Hawk fought her most bravely, once compelling the boats to +retreat. + +On a second attempt to board, she was discovered to be on fire, +notwithstanding which Hawk had remained in the vessel till the last +moment, when, leaping into the boats, he and some of his crew escaped to +the shore. Many of them, who could not, were blown up. Fortunately, +one boat's crew only of the Americans had got on board by the stern. +Several of these poor fellows were lost; but, wonderful to relate, +others, by leaping over the taffrail at the moment they felt it lifting +under their feet, were saved and picked up by their friends. It was +considered useless to pursue the fugitives. The prisoners taken were +those picked up in the water, and a few found wounded on shore. +Securing them, and attending to the wounded of both parties, as well as +collecting some of the booty, had caused the delay. The guns, also, +planted by the pirates at the two points of land on either side of the +bight, were spiked and thrown into the water, and all arms found about +were carried off. + +Such was the end of the _Foam_; and such will, in every ease, probably +be the concluding scene of piratical craft and their crews now-a-days. +They certainly deserve no better; and although their captains, to rise +to that unenviable post, must possess some of those fiercer qualities +which people are apt to admire, I have no fancy for making them +interesting characters, or heroes of romance. + +On hearing that there was a considerable amount of booty on shore, the +captain despatched fresh hands to bring it off. I longed to caution +them that Hawk, if he was alive, was a man very likely to play them a +trick, but I had no opportunity of doing so till they had gone. The +boats were sent away, and I was afterwards had up for examination. I +then, as the schooner was destroyed, no longer felt myself bound by my +oath to keep silence; I therefore gave a rapid sketch of my adventures +as the best way of accounting for being found in such bad company. The +captain laughed at my statements, which, he said, were altogether +incredible, and assured me that he fully believed that I deserved +hanging as much as the rest. + +I assured him that I had not deceived him, and requested him to confront +the negro, Mark Anthony, with me, and that he would corroborate all my +assertions. Had I known more of the worst part of human nature, I might +not have made this request. When the black was brought up, he gave a +malicious grin at me, and, putting his hand on his heart, assured the +captain and officers that, as he spoke the truth, I was the most wicked, +vicious youngster on board the schooner, to which he knew that it was +useless to deny that he belonged--that he was perfectly innocent of any +piratical act, having been carried off to act as cook--that he had at +first taken an interest in me, and had done his best to reform me, but +in vain, and that lately he had given my case up as hopeless. + +"What do you mean by lately?" I asked. + +"Just de last six months or so," he answered, with the greatest +effrontery. + +"I beg, gentlemen, that his answer may be noted; for I hope to be able +to prove that I have not been on board the schooner as many weeks," I +said, with a calm voice, which had, I think, some effect on my hearers. + +There was such a mass of false swearing and contradictory evidence taken +during the examination, that the naval officers were compelled to +reserve any judgment on the case till they should arrive in port, when +it might be handed over to the lawyers to sift to the bottom. Greatly +to my satisfaction, the boats returned laden with further goods taken +from the _Mary_; but it required two more trips before they could all be +brought off. The task was at last accomplished, without any of the +pirates having made their appearance, and sail was then made to the +northward. + +I found that our destination was Charleston, to which port the brig +belonged, and where my trial and that of the other prisoners would take +place. Had it been New Orleans, I thought I might have been able to +prove that I had gone to sea in the _Susannah_, and Captain Searle might +be found, who would give a favourable account of me. While I was +thinking of this, I suddenly began to reflect that perhaps Captain +Searle might turn upon me as the African had done, though for a +different reason. He would be able to prove that I was at New Orleans, +certainly, but then the _Foam_ was there at the same time. She had +watched, attacked, and robbed him, and taken out of his vessel me and +another person, who, without any unwillingness, had turned pirate, so +that I had perhaps all along been in league with the freebooters, and my +pretended ignorance of Hawk and his craft might have been all sham. I +might indeed be considered, as the negro declared I was, worse than all +the rest. + +As I reflected on these things, I remembered that my destiny was in the +hands of a higher Power; that I had acted rightly according to the best +of my belief; and that He would direct all things for my future good. +This feeling gave me strength to endure the present and confidence in +the future. I have thus invariably found it in all the affairs of life. +When I have conscientiously done my duty, though inconveniences and +annoyances may have apparently happened in consequence, the end has +always been fortunate when I have been able to arrive at the result. +The consequence of many of our acts, we must remember, is yet in the +eternal future, unfathomed by mortal ken. To that time we must look +forward for the reward of any of our acts which may be considered by our +beneficent Father worthy of reward; and also to that time (we must not +conceal from ourselves) for punishment for our misdeeds, unless our +Saviour mercifully intercede for us. + +Our voyage to Charleston was very rapid. I certainly was in no hurry to +have it over, when I had so disagreeable a prospect before me as a +trial, and not impossibly an execution. I was treated with less +harshness than the rest of the prisoners--perhaps on account of my +youth--perhaps because some believed me innocent. I fain hoped on the +latter account. + +At length we arrived. I will not stop to describe Charleston. It is a +fine, flourishing city, with a dock-yard, where many of the ships of the +American navy are built. I saw little of it, for soon after the +_Neptune_ had dropped her anchor I was conveyed with the other prisoners +on shore to jail. + +The Americans are as fond, fortunately, of the go-ahead system in law as +they are in everything else. In the settlements founded by Spain and +Portugal, we might have been kept six months without being brought into +court; here, before as many days were over, our trial commenced. The +fate of those taken in the schooner was easily settled. Several +robberies were proved against them; and she was sworn to as the same +vessel which had fired into the brig off the coast of Cuba, and had +there carried the pirate flag, besides having also killed and wounded +several officers and men in the United States navy. + +The trial of the people in the boat next came on. The others swore that +we belonged to the schooner and the negro, in the bitterness of his +feelings against me, had acknowledged the same. I told my history as my +best defence. + +"Ask him if he can swear he no fire de big guns--he no pull and haul-- +when we fight de brig," exclaimed the malignant black, perfectly +indifferent to his own fate. I held my peace. + +"Prisoner at the bar, can you swear that you did not aid and abet those +engaged in making unlawful war against the United States brig +_Neptune_?" + +"I cannot swear to that, because, in a fatal fit of forgetfulness, +seeing every one excited around me, I might have pulled and hauled at +the ropes of the schooner." + +"An acknowledgment of his guilt?" exclaimed the counsel for the +Government; and I, with all the rest, was adjudged to be hung at the end +of the week at the yardarm of the brig which had captured us. Never was +a nest of more atrocious pirates broken up, said the public papers, +commenting on the trial, and never were men adjudged to meet a more +deserved doom. + +Now the reader will almost be prepared to know how I was saved. I must +own that I never expected to be hung. I felt that I was innocent, and I +trusted that some means would be offered for my escape. + +Just as I was being led out of court, there was a cry of "Witnesses! +witnesses for the trial of the pirates!" Looking up, I saw several +seafaring men entering the court, and among them two persons whose +appearance at that juncture made my heart leap into my mouth with joy +and gratitude, and proved that the finger of God had directed their +coming. Need I say that they were Captain Dean and Mary, and that the +other people were the crew of the barque, released from the power of the +pirates by my means? + +Their story created a great sensation in court; and Captain Dean was +ready to swear, from his knowledge of me, that I had no willing +participation in any of the acts of the pirates. My story was now +believed; but I had acknowledged having worked the guns in the action +with the brig, and I had, by the evidence of all present, willingly, and +of my own accord, rejoined the pirates, though every opportunity had +been offered me of escaping. + +I urged my oath in extenuation of my conduct, and that I was bound to +return. This was not held in law to be any excuse. I had no business +to take an oath of that nature, it was asserted by the counsel for the +Government. The sentence of death against me was, however, rescinded, +on account of the many extenuating circumstances brought forward in my +favour; but still I could not be set at liberty. + +The sentence of the people who had been found with me in the boat was +afterwards commuted to imprisonment for fourteen years; and I was +offered a conditional pardon, provided I would volunteer to serve for +two years on board a ship of war just then about to sail, and short of +hands. + +I was sorry to be again thus separated from Captain Dean and Mary; but +as I had no dread of the service, I, without much hesitation, accepted +the offer. "I will do my duty and retrieve my character," I thought; +"and as, I trust, there is no chance of a war with England, I see no +reason to prevent me." + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +The next day I found myself transferred on board the United States +corvette _Pocahuntas_, of twenty guns, and one hundred and fifty men, +including officers, marines, and petty officers. I found that she was +bound to the North Seas; to look after the interests of the United +States fisheries. She was strongly built and strengthened, so as to +contend with the bad weather she might expect to meet, and the loose ice +she was also likely to encounter. I shall describe her more +particularly by and by. + +The day after I had become one of the crew, while I was below, I was +informed that a person was alongside inquiring for me. I looked over +the side, and there I saw, as I expected, Captain Dean and Mary. They +came on deck, and Mary was very nearly throwing her arms about my neck +and kissing me, while her father took both my hands and held them in +his. + +"I owe everything to you, Peter," he said, and the tears stood in his +eyes--"my life and property, and more, the safety of this dear child; +and I do feel most cruelly not being able to make you any return. In +England the sovereign would have given you a free pardon to a certainty; +here, in such a case as yours, we have no one to appeal to. I have +introduced myself to your captain, and, as he seems a kind man, I trust +he will interest himself in you. I beg to offer you an outfit, which I +have brought on board; and I fear that there is little else I can do for +you. When you come back I shall be on the look-out for you, and then +you must fulfil your promise of sailing with me. Make yourself a +thorough seaman in the meantime, and I think I can promise you very soon +the command of a ship." + +Mary joined in, and entreated me first to take care of myself, and then +to come back to Charleston to rejoin them. + +"You know, Peter, I shall be nearly grown up by that time," she said, in +her sweet, innocent, and lively manner, though she was half crying at +the time. "Then, you know, if you become first mate, I shall be able to +act as father's second mate; so we shall have quite a family party on +board the dear old ship." + +Thus we talked on, joking often through our sorrows, till it was time +for my friends to go on shore. With heavy hearts we parted. Had we +been able to see the future, haw much heavier would they have been! I +found in the chest which they had brought me numberless little things, +which all told of sweet Mary's care and forethought. I had just time to +write a few hasty lines to my family, but the letter never reached home. +While I was in prison, and my fate uncertain, I dared not write. + +The next morning, at break of day, the boatswain's whistle roused me +from my slumbers, and his gruff voice was heard bawling out, "All hands +up anchor," followed with another pipe of "Man the capstan." + +To a person accustomed to the merchant service, where, from the few +hands which can be employed, the duty must be carried on slowly and +cautiously, the work on board a man-of-war appears as if done almost by +magic. The rapidity and certainty of action is gained only by great +arrangement, method, and practice. Every man on board has his proper +post and particular duties; and all are accustomed to listen for and +obey the signal of command, be it the human voice, the boatswain's pipe, +a peculiar flag, or the report of a great gun or musket. The crew are +separated into two divisions, with their respective officers: these +divisions are called watches--the starboard and larboard--because one +does duty, or watches, while the other rests below. + +On important occasions, when greater strength is required, or it is +necessary to shorten sail in a hurry, or danger is apprehended, both +watches, or all hands, are called. Thus, getting under weigh, or going +into harbour, or at divisions and quarters, all hands are at their +proper posts at the same time. Each top has its proper crew, who are +known as fore-top men, main-top men, and mizzen-top men, whose duty is +to tend the sails above them. On deck there are the sheet-anchor men +stationed on the forecastle, whose duty is to tend the head-sails, +anchors, etcetera, and consequently the most trustworthy veterans are +selected for the office. In what is called the waist, or the centre of +the ship, the landsmen and least skilful of the crew are placed. They +have to pull and haul with the marines, and to clean the decks, and to +do various ignoble duties below. From the part of the ship where they +are stationed, they are called waisters. The after-guards are stationed +on the quarter-deck, and have to tend the spanker and other after-sails, +and to haul the main brace. + +The officers are divided into commissioned officers, namely, the captain +and the lieutenants, the master, surgeon, and purser; the warrant +officers, who are boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, and the midshipmen; +and, lastly, the petty officers, who have their rating given them on +board ship by the captain or first lieutenant, and may be equally +disrated by them. + +There are slight variations in the British and United States navies; but +the latter has adhered very closely to the customs of the former; and +however republican our well-beloved cousins may be on shore, afloat they +wisely carry out the principles of an absolute monarchy in the most +perfect manner. + +There are certain general duties in which all hands are engaged, and in +which each has a number. Thus a man has one number at mess, another at +quarters, and another at divisions. Discipline is everything on board a +man-of-war. Without it such a mass of people could not possibly be +moved together, and all would be confusion and constant disaster. There +must be a head to command, either worn by the captain or first +lieutenant. If the latter is a good seaman, all may go well in spite of +the incapacity of his superior; but a clever captain will never submit +to have a stupid first, so that it is seldom that the office of first +lieutenant is held by other than a good seaman. It would take up too +much space were I to attempt to describe all the grades and offices on +board a man-of-war. It will suffice when I state that every man has his +proper place, and that one follows the other in rank, down to the lowest +rated officer. I was rated as an able seaman, which I considered a high +honour, considering the little knowledge I felt myself to possess, and +was placed in the after-guard. I had to take my trick at the helm, +which I was also glad of, as it enabled me to perfect myself in +steering. + +The commander, Captain Gierstien, was a man who had seen much of the +world, and was, I have reason to believe, a very good seaman; so was Mr +Stunt, the first lieutenant, who was a disciplinarian of the most rigid +school; and certainly the ship was in very good order as a man-of-war. +But there was a sad want of any of the milder influences which govern +human beings. Kind words and considerate treatment were not to be +found. This I soon discovered; and it seemed as if a leaden weight were +attached to my heart. Strict regulations, the cat, and fear did +everything. How the second lieutenant, Mr Dunning, contrived to gain +his rank I do not know, for he was nothing at all of a practical seaman +but then he spouted poetry, and wrote verses in praise of freedom; and +this talent, I conclude, had gained him his appointment, though, by the +bye, the verses appeared to be very bad. + +There were several of my own messmates with whom I became intimate. +Though rough in manner, they were kind of heart; and I will say of two +or three of them, that all their sentiments were such as no gentleman +need have been ashamed of possessing. I found them both agreeable and +instructive companions; and I was glad to enjoy their friendship, the +more from the very want of kindly feelings which prevailed generally +throughout the ship. Andrew Thompson was my greatest chum. He was a +true-hearted seaman, every inch of him. He had been all his life at +sea, and had had his eyes open, as the saying is, all the time. He used +to take great delight in describing the countries he had visited, and +the ports and harbours in which he had brought up, as also in giving me +instruction in all branches of seamanship. + +My other friend was called Terence O'Connor, an Irishman, as his name +betokens, with all the good qualities generally ascribed to the natives +of that country. He liked me, as being a countryman, in the first +place; and secondly, because I liked him. He was still young, and had +nothing of the Mentor about him, like Thompson. He was brave, and true +as steel. I should not say that he was a first-rate seaman; but he was +active and energetic, and he knew how to obey--indeed, he was a capital +hand to have as a mate. + +There was also an English lad I liked much, Tom Stokes by name. He was +not very bright, and he used to be sadly bullied by the crew; but as I +was strong, could and did protect him, and his gratitude won my regard. +He had been tolerably well educated; and being fond of reading, with a +retentive memory, he possessed a good deal of information. Left an +orphan, without a friend in the world, he had come to sea; and quitting +his ship at Charleston, he had entered on board the Pocahuntas. I +mention these three of my shipmates for reasons which will hereafter be +seen. I had several other friends, whom I liked more perhaps than Tom +Stokes, and as much as O'Connor, but I need not describe them. + +We had fine weather on first putting to sea, and had thus time to let +everything shake into its place before a gale came on. It was early in +the year, but for some reason or other we were ordered to get northward +as fast as we could. For the first week we had calms, and then the wind +came ahead, so that our progress was very slow. Instead of running +through the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, we were to keep on the eastern coast +of Newfoundland, and to approach the northern shore of Labrador. + +"You'll want your Flushing jacket and trousers, not forgetting worsted +socks and gloves, my boy, when you get there," said Thompson, who gave +me this information. "You've never felt anything like the cold, nor +seen anything like the fogs, to be found in those parts." + +He told me that few Europeans had settled on the coast of Labrador; but +that some Moravian missionaries were stationed at four or five spots, +for the purpose of converting the Esquimaux to Christianity. "Those +must be Christians, indeed, to my mind, who will go and live in such a +climate, for the sake of teaching their religion to the ignorant +heathen, who would not otherwise have a chance of having the truths of +the gospel preached to them," he observed; and I agreed with him. "I've +been told," he continued, "that during the winter the thermometer often +falls 30 degrees below the freezing point; and though the houses of the +missionaries are heated by stoves, the windows and walls are covered all +the time with ice, and the bed-clothes freeze to the walls. Rum is +frozen in the air as rapidly as water, and rectified spirits soon become +thick like oil. From December to June the sea is so completely frozen +over that no open water is to be seen. Once some of the missionaries +ventured, in February, to visit some Esquimaux forty miles distant, and +although wrapped in furs, they were nearly destroyed. Their eyelids +froze together, so that they were continually obliged to pull them +asunder, and, by constantly rubbing, prevent their closing; while one of +them had his hands frozen and swollen up like bladders. During their +short summer, however, the heat is excessive; and mosquitoes, in swarms, +infest the air." + +"I hope we shall not have long to remain in those regions," I remarked. + +"I hope not," said Thompson; "but who can tell? Ships, when they get +into the ice, cannot always get out again, and some have been frozen up +for several years together; yet, by proper precautions, few of the +people on board have died, and at length have returned to their friends +and country." + +"It must be very dreary work, Andrew, having nothing but the ice and +snow to look at for such a length of time together," I remarked. + +"I'll tell you what, Peter, when you have lived as long as I have, you +will discover, I hope, that it is not what one sees on the outside, so +much as what is in the inside of a man, which makes him happy and +contented, or the contrary," said Andrew. "Now I have met several men, +who have passed two winters running in those regions, when the sun was +not to be seen for months together, and ice and snow was all around +them; but the captain and officers being kind, and doing everything to +amuse them and to take care of their health, they assured me they never +enjoyed themselves more in their lives." + +"I would rather not try it in our present ship." + +"Nor would I, Peter," said Andrew; and the subject dropped. + +"What an odd name they have given to our ship!" I remarked one day, +when Tom Stokes was near; "I cannot think where it comes from." + +"Oh, I can tell you, Peter," said Tom, sitting down close to me. "I +read some time ago a history of North America, and I remember meeting +with the name of Pocahuntas. You must know that she was an Indian +princess, that is to say, she was the daughter of a powerful chief +inhabiting that part of the country which is now the State of Virginia. +A small body of English, had settled there, with a governor, a handsome +young man, placed over them. They were cultivating the ground and +building houses in fancied security, when the Indians attacked them, +killed some, and carried off others, among whom was the governor, as +prisoners. It was the custom of the Indians to torture their prisoners +in the most dreadful way before killing them. Such was to be the lot of +the governor; but, fortunately for him, he was seen by Pocahuntas, who +instantly fell in love with him, and interceded for his life with her +father. The prayer was granted, on condition that he would become her +husband. He was too glad to accept his life on such terms; for the +young lady was very beautiful, and he would thereby form an alliance +with a very powerful tribe, and secure his countrymen from further +molestation. He became much attached to his beautiful and faithful +bride; and, having succeeded in converting her to Christianity, he +married her according to the rites of the Church. From this union +sprung some of the most respectable and wealthy families of the State." + +I thanked Tom for his story, and agreed that the Princess Pocahuntas +ought to be held in reverence by all true Virginians. Our conversation +was interrupted by the cry of "All hands, shorten sail!" We sprung on +deck. A heavy gale had come on, and the ship was heeling over to her +scuppers under it. I was aloft in an instant, helping to reef the +mizzen-topsail; the topgallant-sails and courses had been clewed up. + +The wind was about north-west, and blew very cold. The leaden waves +rose sullenly on every side, topped with hissing foam, and every instant +they leaped higher and higher, as if lashing themselves into fury. The +twilight of evening was just giving way to the gloom of night. I never +remember a more dismal-looking close to a day. + +We had managed to close-reef the mizzen-topsail; but the main-topsail, +which was more difficult to manage, was still bulging out above the +yard, the hands on which it threatened every instant to strike off, as +the ship, with desperate force, kept plunging her bows into the opposing +seas. + +"Come, bear a hand with that main-topsail there," exclaimed Mr Stunt +through his speaking-trumpet, "or--" + +What he was going to say I know not, for at that instant there arose the +fearful cry of "A man overboard!--a man overboard!" + +It sounded like the knell of a fellow-being. Captain Gierstien was on +deck. I was near him. + +"If I lower a boat I shall lose some other brave fellows," he exclaimed +aloud, though he was speaking to himself. + +"We'll gladly risk our lives to save him, sir," cried two or three who +were near him; "it's O'Connor--it's Terry O'Connor!" + +"So would I," escaped from my lips. I had at all events intended to +have volunteered to go in the boat. + +"Down with the helm! Back the main-topsail!" exclaimed the captain in +the same breath. "Stand by to lower a boat; but hold fast. Can any of +you see or hear him?" The ship was hove to, and all hands stood peering +into the loom and trying to catch a sound of a voice. O'Connor was a +first-rate swimmer, and he was not a man to yield to death without a +struggle--that we knew. + +It must be understood that, though several sentences were spoken, not +thirty seconds had elapsed after he had struck the water before the +order to heave the ship to was given. She was also going but slowly +through the water, though, from the way she was tumbling about, a +landsman might have supposed she was moving at a great rate. + +"Does any one see him?" asked the captain. Alas in that dark night even +the sharpest eyes on board could not discern so small an object as a +man's head floating amid those troubled waters. + +"Does any one see him?" There was a dead silence. The hopelessness of +the case struck a chill through all our hearts. Two minutes--three-- +passed away. We continued from all parts of the ship peering into the +darkness--some to windward, others to leeward, and others a stern. Now +I thought I saw something, but it was the dark top of a wave under the +glistening foam. Five minutes had elapsed since the accident. Long +before this the ship must have left him far astern, and he must have +sunk beneath those heavy waves. Such was the feeling gaining possession +of many. + +Again the captain made the final inquiry, "Does any one yet see him?" +An ominous silence gave the sad response. "Then it is hopeless waiting +longer. Fill the main-topsail. Up with the helm." + +Scarcely had the captain uttered these words in a loud voice, than a +hand in the main-top hailed the deck with the words, "I hear a voice +from down to leeward, sir." + +I had heard it also, I was certain. It was O'Connor's manly voice. It +was not a shriek, the death-wail of a struggling wretch, but a bold, +nervous hail. + +"Hold fast then with the main-topsail braces," cried the captain. There +was no need of that order, by the bye. "Keep the helm down. Stand by +to lower the starboard quarter boat." It was the lee one. + +"Volunteers, away!" Several sprung to the falls. I was among the +first; so was Tom Derrick, an active young topman. He leaped into the +bow as the boat was being lowered; I into the stern to unhook the after +falls; the rest of the volunteer crew followed. The boat was lifting +and pitching with fearful violence alongside, to the great risk of being +swamped. Poor Derrick stood up to clear the falls, I believe, or to +fend off the bow of the boat from the ship's side. I saw his figure in +an erect position for an instant--the boat's bow pitched into the sea-- +the next instant he was gone. In vain the man close to him tried to +grasp him--he went down like a shot; not a cry was heard, not a sign of +him was again seen. + +There was no time to be lost, if we would save O'Connor. Every moment +the fury of the gale was increasing. Our oars were out, and over the +foaming sea we pulled in the direction whence the voice had come. The +ship rose towering astern of us, her dark masts lifting and falling +against the leaden sky. By her we guided our course. We thought we +must have reached the spot where O'Connor should have been. + +"Be alive, shipmates," said a voice close to us. "In bow oar, and lend +us a hand." It was O'Connor's voice. He was swimming with perfect +composure close to us on the top of a wave, and striking out toward the +bows, so as to avoid the stern. He was with some little difficulty +hauled on board, for he had not a stitch of clothing on with which we +could catch hold of him. + +"Thank ye, shipmates all," he exclaimed, as he sprung into the +stern-sheets. "But lend us a jacket, some one, will ye? for it's bitter +cold out of the water, and I've left all mine, do ye see, for Daddy +Neptune, when he wants a new rig-out." + +A seaman will joke in the midst of a furious engagement, or at other +moments of the greatest peril; and I believe Terence was truly grateful +to the merciful Providence who had so wonderfully preserved him. We +threw our jackets over him, to shelter him as well as we could, and +pulled back as fast as we were able to the ship. There was a short time +for talking and hearing how it had happened, as may be supposed. We had +great difficulty in getting on board again, and it required extreme +caution to prevent the boat being swamped alongside. At last we reached +the deck, and the boat was hoisted in. + +"Why, you haven't got him," said the captain, seeing the same number +come back as had gone away in the boat. + +"Yes, sir," we answered; "but poor Derrick has gone;" and we explained +how our other shipmate had been lost. So there was a sigh and a tear +for poor Derrick; and a cheer and congratulations for O'Connor's +preservation. + +Our captain ordered O'Connor at once to his hammock, observing that his +nervous system must have received a great shock, and that he need not do +duty for some days, while the surgeon was directed to see to him. +O'Connor very gladly turned in; and the surgeon feeling his pulse, +prescribed a stiff glass of grog, a style of medicine of which sailors +most approve. After he was made comfortable, I went and sat by him, and +congratulated him heartily on his preservation. + +"Why, you see, Peter, there's an old saying about a man not being able +to drown who is born to finish his career in another way, in which a +rope plays a prominent part; but I hope that's not true in my case. You +must know, indeed, that when I first struck the water, as I was hove off +the yard, I thought I should escape. When I came to the top again, +after I had sunk some way down, thinks I to myself, there's no use +trying to swim with all this hamper of clothing about me; so the first +thing I did was to cast it all adrift, and to kick off my shoes. I had +some difficulty in getting out of my jacket, but I succeeded by treading +the water with my feet the while. Remember, Peter, always have your +sea-going clothes made loose, so as to be able to throw them off in a +moment. You never know when you may require to be rid of them. When I +was free of my clothes, I thought there would be no use striking out and +wearying myself, to try and regain the ship, because I saw that all I +could do would not bring me up alongside her again; so I threw myself on +my back, with my arms folded on my breast, and lay as quiet as a turtle +basking in the sun of Ascension. You know singing out in the water +tires a man almost as much as struggling with his arms and legs, so I +kept my voice also for when it was wanted. There was no use, you see, +singing out at that time, because I knew that there would be a noise on +board, and people asking who had gone, and where was. I heard a cry of +`A man overboard!' just as I came to the surface. I could see the ship +all the time, and I was glad to find she did not leave me. I don't mean +to say, Peter, but what my feelings were very awful, for I knew the +difficulty and danger of lowering a boat; but I did not think my +shipmates would ever desert me, without trying to pick me up. There I +lay, then, tossing on the seas, and looking at the ship. I hoped I +should be observed, for I heard the captain ask, `Does any one see him?' +I being to leeward of the ship, his voice reached me; but I did not +expect to make any one hear on board. How long the time appeared! At +last I heard the order given to fill the main-topsail. `Now or never,' +I thought; and just as I rose on the summit of a wave, I leaped as high +as I could, and sung out at the very top of my voice. Never did I shout +louder, for it mattered nothing if I burst my lungs, if I was not heard. +How thankful I felt when I heard the order given to lower a boat! My +advice to you, Peter, is, `Always keep your presence of mind, and, while +life remains, never despair.'" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +The _Pocahuntas_ continued on her course to the northward, with variable +weather. I believe we had got a considerable way to the eastward of +where we should have been; but of that I have no certain knowledge, as a +foremast man has no means of ascertaining the ship's position, except +when she makes the land, unless the officers choose to tell him. At +last a fine westerly breeze sprung up, and we went gaily along. + +Now, however incredible what I am going to relate may appear especially +as happening to O'Connor, yet it is, I can assure my readers, perfectly +true. Terence had been sent on the fore-topgallant-yard--what to do I +do not recollect, for I was aft at the time--when by some means or other +he lost his hold and fell over the yard. Another man, who was on the +yard and saw him fall, ejaculated, "Poor Terence, this time it's all +over with him!" + +Falling from that height on the deck, his brains would inevitably have +been dashed out of his head; but, as he fell, the hitherto sluggish wind +filled the foresail, on the bulge of which, at the very instant his body +striking, it was thrown with considerable force forward right into the +sea. As before, Terence preserved his consciousness, or, at all events, +recovered it as he struck the water. He struck out bravely alongside +the ship. + +"Heave us a rope, shipmates," he sung out. I ran to the side, and was +just in time to throw him a rope as he dropped past. He caught hold of +it, and hand over hand he hauled himself on board into the +mizzen-chains. From thence jumping into the waist, he shook himself +dry, like a Newfoundland dog, and went forward again to his duty, as if +nothing had happened. + +"Peter," he observed afterwards to me, when we were together, "if I +never had any religion before, I think I should have some now. You see, +when I felt myself going, I thought it was all up with me, and never was +so surprised in my life as when I found myself in the water. Tell me, +Peter, do you think it was God who made the foresail belly out at the +moment it did?" + +"I think it was by His will it so happened," I answered. "I don't think +chance did it." + +"But do you think He would take the trouble to look after such a poor +fellow as I am?" he asked. + +"A sparrow, we are told by the Bible, falls not to the ground that He +knows not of," observed Andrew Thompson, who had sat himself down near +us. "Then don't you think, messmate, He would look after a human being, +with a soul to be saved?" + +"I feel that He preserved my life; but I don't understand it," replied +Terence. + +"No, messmate, none of us can understand His mysteries. We see the +earth and the sky and sea--the sun and moon rise and set--we feel the +wind blow, and the snow and the rain fall. But we cannot comprehend how +all this is ordered, though we must acknowledge that it is for our good; +and we feel that the power of the Ruler of all is so much greater than +we can understand, that it is hope less to attempt it. But I say, +messmate, that is no reason why we should not believe that all these +things are; but, on the contrary, that God, who creates and cares for +the smallest birds, watches over us also." + +We both acknowledged the truth of Andrew's creed; and let me assure my +young friends that a blessed comfort it was to us afterwards, when +dangers, such as few have surmounted, surrounded us. + +We continued standing to the northward; and, as far as we could learn, +we were considerably to the eastward of Newfoundland. The change of +temperature made us glad of warm clothing; but as yet there was no cold +to be complained of. We might have guessed that we were approaching the +arctic regions, by the character of the numberless sea-fowl which at +times surrounded us. We were now, I believe, in latitude 54 degrees or +55 degrees; but I am uncertain, from the reasons I before stated. + +Our officers had their guns on deck, and amused themselves by shooting +as many of the birds which came in their way as they could; but my +messmates called them by the various names of shearwaters, boatswains, +kittiwakes, dovekies, Mollymokes or Mollies, gulls, buntings, and many +others, whose names I forget. Those the officers did not want were +given to the crew, who were in no ways particular as to the nature of +the fresh meat they could procure. The shearwaters especially we found +very good, particularly when made into pies. For the purpose of +enabling us to make crust, a greater quantity of flour than usual was +served out. At first our pies had a very oily and fishy taste; but +Andrew showed us that this fishy flavour is confined to the fat, the +whole of which is under the skin, and chiefly near the thighs. By +carefully skinning the birds, they tasted like ordinary land-fowl; and +before the officers found out the secret, we had a capital pie every day +for dinner. + +Our most constant companions were the Mollies; for which bird the North +Sea men have as great an affection and veneration as sailors round the +Cape of Good Hope have for Mother Carey's chickens or the superb +albatross: They have an idea that the spirits of the brave old Greenland +skippers, the successors of the fierce sea-kings, have, when quitting +their mortal frames, entered these fleet denizens of the air, still +desirous to wander over the scenes of their former exploits. They are +very strong and graceful on the wing and though they scarcely seem to +move their gracefully-rounded pinions, they can fly in the teeth almost +of the fiercest gale--now swooping into the dark troughs of the sea--now +skimming over the white foaming crests. They seldom, except during calm +and moderate weather, alight on the water, being ever constant on the +wing; and they will fly so close to the ship, that I have fancied I +could catch them with my hand. + +One calm evening, as I was stationed on the poop, one of these birds, +with noiseless wing, came flying so close to me that he almost brushed +my nose; but before I could lift my hand to catch him, he was gone. +Several times some of the pretty little snow-buntings attempted to +alight on our rigging; but, like thistle-downs, before they could reach +it, they were blown to leeward, and, exhausted and weary, were soon +overwhelmed by the waves. + +We had fishing-lines on board; and one day, the wind being light, we +were told we might try them, when, to our no small satisfaction, we +caught some excellent cod and halibut. We were, in fact, passing over a +fishing-bank. + +The weather now altered for the worse. Sleet, fog, and rain succeeded +each other with unvarying rapidity, with an addition generally of a +strong gale, coming from the north round to the north-west. For two +days it was impossible to lay our course, so we remained hove to, hoping +for an abatement of the storm. + +I am now coming to one of the most perilous incidents of my life. I +think I said that Thompson, O'Connor, Stokes, and I were in the same +watch, though we were stationed in different parts of the ship. It had +been blowing very hard from the northward during the day; but towards +the evening it moderated a little, and the ship was carrying her three +whole topsails close-hauled, and looking up to the north-east. No moon +or stars were visible, for heavy masses of clouds covered the sky, and +seemed to descend till they filled, as it were, the whole space between +sky and ocean. + +There were look-outs stationed forward, though, as we were supposed to +be in the open sea, no danger of any sort was apprehended. Other ships +might, by possibility, be crossing our course, but that was not likely; +and if, by any wonderful chance, we came near each other, we should +probably see and be seen in time to prevent a collision. The larboard +watch, to which I belonged, and of which Mr Dunning, the second +lieutenant, was officer, had the first watch, namely, from eight o'clock +till midnight. At four bells, or ten o'clock, it came to my turn to +take my trick at the helm. The weather had become bitterly cold; so I, +with the rest, had donned all the warm clothing we could command. I had +on a flannel shirt and drawers, with worsted hose and comforter, and +over all a thick Flushing jacket and trousers; a Welsh wig, under a +south-wester, covered my head, and a thick pair of lined boots my feet, +while my hands were encased in woollen mittens--so that I little cared +for the inclemency of the weather, provided I had not to face it. This +I had to do while at the helm; and I remembered Andrew's account of the +Moravian missionaries having their eyelids frozen together, and thought +mine would suffer in the same manner. + +To say that the night was very dark would not give an idea of the inky +obscurity in which we appeared to be sailing. One could scarcely see +one's hand with one's arm held out at full length; and as for discerning +anything ahead, that appeared impossible. I say appeared, because there +is much difference having something to look at and nothing. In the +latter case you fancy, because you see nothing, that nothing could be +seen if it were there. I heard Mr Dunning, as he passed me, +apostrophising the night as dark as Erebus. + +The quarter-master, who was conning the ship, was continually +exclaiming, "No higher," as I kept her luffing up into the wind, unable +to see the shaking of her canvas, which rose dark and towering above me, +till it seemed to be lost in the clouds. Indeed, as we sailed on, we +seemed literally to be sweeping the sky with our mast-heads. Thus we +ploughed our way, ignorant of what was ahead, through the boiling seas +during the whole time I had the wheel. + +I had just been relieved, and was finding my way forward, knocking my +hands against my sides to warm them, when there was a loud cry from the +look-out men of "A ship ahead, standing right for us under all sail." + +"Under all sail--impossible, in a night like this!" exclaimed the +officer of the watch, rousing himself from a reverie. + +"Luff all you can luff, and we may weather her," cried the voice from +forward, in a tone which showed the emergency of the case; but the +lieutenant had seen what he thought was a sail, and exclaimed, "Keep her +away--hard up with the helm--hard up." The commands of the officer were +obeyed; the spokes of the wheel were turned a-weather; the ship, falling +off, felt the full force of the gale, and flew with redoubled speed +through the water. + +Andrew Thompson, who was standing next to me, had been peering into the +gloom ahead. "A sail!" he exclaimed: "that's no sail, but an iceberg--I +see its light. We might have weathered it; but now we are on it--and +Heaven have mercy on our souls!" + +As he spoke, a loud, fearful crash was heard--the stout ship shook and +trembled in every timber. I was thrown, as were all near me, to the +deck with stunning force. Shrieks and cries arose from every part of +the ship; and the watch below, in their consternation, came hurrying up +on deck, many without their clothes, others with them in their hands. +All was dismay and confusion; while the terrific noise of the wind, and +the sea dashing over the ship, and the ship striking against the iceberg +(for an iceberg it was in truth against which we had struck), added to +the cries of the people, the groans of the ship, and the creaking and +crashing of the masts, almost drowned the voices of the officers, who +were rushing here and there as they came from their cabins, in a vain +endeavour to restore order. Many of the people in their fright sprung +overboard, and were instantly swallowed up by the waves. The ship rose +and fell with tremendous force as the sea lifted her, and the loud +crashing forward showed that her strong bows had been stove in. The +fore-mast went by the board, the heel probably lifted right out of its +step. Then a terrific cry arose that the ship was sinking, and that all +was lost. + +The sergeant of marines, a rigid disciplinarian, had at the first alarm +collected his men, and by the command of the captain brought them, with +their arms in their hands, on the quarter-deck, ready to enforce his +orders. No sooner was the cry raised that all was lost, than many +rushed forward, with the intention of getting on the iceberg. + +"Let no man quit the ship," shouted the captain through his +speaking-trumpet. "Beat to quarters, marines; fire on any who attempt +to leave the deck." + +Andrew Thompson, O'Connor, and Stokes were close to me, just abreast of +the fore-mast. Andrew looked round when he heard the bows of the ship +being stove in. "My lads," he exclaimed to us three, "the ship won't be +many minutes more above water; so if you'd have a chance for your lives, +follow me." + +This he said just as the captain had ordered the marines to fire on any +who should quit the ship. We did not stop to see whether they would +obey or not, but, jumping on the forecastle, ran along the bowsprit and +down by the dolphin-striker--a spar which hangs perpendicularly under +the bowsprit--from whence we dropped down one by one on to a part of the +iceberg which the waves did not reach. The ice was very rough, and we +were thus enabled to scramble up perfectly clear of the sea. + +Several others attempted to follow our example; and the marines, even at +that awful moment, obedient to their orders, commenced firing on them. +By the flashes of their muskets, as well as from three or four guns, +which the gunner and his crew had time to discharge, the whole dreadful +scene was disclosed for an instant, never to be erased from my memory: +The ship, with her bow run high upon the berg; her tall masts, with +their yards and sails going by the board; the dark ocean and the +white-crested seas dashing over her stern, amid which stood a mass of +human beings, in all the attitudes of agonised despair and dismay, +except those few drilled to obedience, who knew not the danger. Then, +again, above our heads, rising to the clouds, the white shining iceberg, +which at every flash seemed to glow with flames of fire--the bright +light reflected from pinnacle to pinnacle, and far into the caverned +recesses of its stupendous sides. + +Can I ever forget the dreadful despairing shriek which rent the skies, +as the bow lifting high in the air, it seemed, the stern sank down, even +at the instant the marines fired their last volley: it was a volley over +their own graves! Slowly the proud ship glided from the icy rock, on +which she had been wrecked, down into the far depths of the ocean. Soon +all were engulfed beneath the greedy waves. No helping hand could we +offer to any of our shipmates. The taller masts and spars followed, +dragged down by the sinking hull; and in another instant, as we gazed +where our ship had just been, a black obscurity was alone before us. I +say we, for I saw that others were near me; but who they were I could +not at the time tell. I called out, and Andrew's voice answered, "Is +that you, Peter? I am glad you've escaped, lad. Who is there besides?" + +"I'm here, Andrew, thanks to Providence and your advice," cried Terence. + +"And so am I; but I don't think I can hold on much longer," exclaimed +poor Tom Stokes, who had fallen on his side and hurt himself. Terence +and I, who were near him, on this grasped hold of him, and dragged him +up to the broad ledge on which we were seated, from the rough points of +ice--to which he had been clinging. We then all huddled together as +close as we could, to keep ourselves warm. + +"Perhaps there may be some one else saved," observed Andrew; so we +shouted at the top of our voices, "Shipmates, ahoy! are any of you +there?" We listened. The only answering sound was the lashing of the +waves against the base of the iceberg; and we were convinced that, out +of that gallant crew, who lately trod the deck of the beautiful ship +which was now, fathoms down beneath our feet, we four were the only +beings left alive. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +I can scarcely picture the horrors of that night. I would fain, indeed, +forget them, but that is impossible. We had preserved our lives for the +present moment; but what could we expect beyond, but starvation in its +worst form? We had also read and heard enough of icebergs to know that, +as they are driven to the southern latitudes, their bases, immersed in +water much above the freezing-point, rapidly melt, and huge fragments +being dislodged, they are suddenly reversed, creating a tumult as if a +huge mountain were plunged into the ocean. + +"If we have to stay here long, we shall be frozen to death," said poor +Stokes, his teeth chattering with cold and fear. He was the only one of +us who had got wet. "Trust in Providence, lad," said Andrew solemnly. +"He has wonderfully preserved us thus far. He will not desert us, +unless it be His good pleasure that we should die; and then we must: +meet our fate like reasoning men, thanking Him for His especial mercy +that He has given us time to repent of our sins, and has not hurried us, +as He has our shipmates, into eternity without a moment's warning." + +"Should I never have another opportunity, I thank you now, Andrew, for +making me think of such things in the way you have done," exclaimed +Terence, from the fulness of his heart. "Had it not been for you, +shipmate, I should not have seen the finger of God in the various ways +in which He has been pleased to preserve me, and I should have died the +ungrateful, unthinking wretch I had hitherto lived." + +"I have been but an humble instrument in His hand, Terence," answered +Andrew, in his usual calm, humble tone. "You see, I should be very +wrong, and very wicked indeed, if, knowing what is right, I did not take +every opportunity, when there was no fear of discrediting religion, to +teach my shipmates." + +"You spoke to me at a proper time, Andrew; and your words had, I hope, a +right effect," I observed. + +"And to me also," said Tom; "and I thank you." + +"Well, shipmates, bad as we are off, and worse as we may be, I don't +feel unhappy when I hear you say those words; that I can tell you," +exclaimed Andrew. "It's a joyful thing for a man, when he has seen the +sun rise for the last time, to feel that there is a chance of some few +things being scored in his favour in the world to which he's bound. But +mind you, I don't say it's what I would pride myself on, for I know that +the most one can do may count as nothing; but still it's pleasant, and +nothing can make it otherwise." + +Strange as it may seem, thus we talked on. Indeed, what other subject +could we talk on but religion? for every moment we felt that we might be +in the presence of our Maker. As Andrew warned us, the shock the +iceberg had received by the ship striking against it might have detached +what are called calves, great lumps from the bottom, and, should the +gale increase, it might capsize in an instant. + +We had many hours to wait for daylight. We were so well clothed, from +its having been our watch on deck, that we did not feel the cold +particularly; but poor Tom continued to suffer. Fortunately Andrew +discovered in his pocket his pipe with some tobacco, and a flint and +steel. He lighted the pipe, and let Tom have a smoke, which revived and +warmed him, and we then all took a few whiffs round. This little luxury +seemed to do us much good. We sheltered Tom as much as we could from +the wind with our bodies; and we wrung out his wet jacket, and chafed +his hands and feet till the circulation was restored. The night, +however, seemed interminable. To favour us still further, the wind +fell, and shifted further to the south, which made it much warmer. The +sea also went down, for it did not seem to lash with such fury as before +our floating resting-place. + +"What chance have we of escaping?" I asked of Andrew, after a +lengthened silence. + +"There may be some of the wreck cast up on the berg, and with it we may +make a raft, and reach the coast of Newfoundland or Labrador; or the +berg itself may be driven ashore, but that I do not think at all likely; +or we may be seen by some ship and taken off. I know of no other +possible chance of escape." + +"Then I trust we may be seen by some ship," I ejaculated. "There must +be many whalers in these parts." + +"They keep farther to the eastward, generally," replied Andrew. "They +are also not fond of icebergs, and try to avoid them." + +I own that, seeing him so calm and collected, I fancied he must have +some hopes of deliverance, by means of which we were ignorant; so I +asked him whether he thought we should find any food to support us. + +"I have often heard of people finding means of subsistence when in as +bad a condition as we are," he replied. "Providence has decreed that +man should require food to support life; and therefore the air and the +sea, as well as the earth, afford him food. Even in the cold regions of +the north there is an abundance; and the very food which we could +scarcely manage to digest in the south is there wholesome and palatable. +In the plains of Asia, for instance, where the earth affords the +greatest produce, the people care to eat little besides fruit and corn; +while in the land of the Esquimaux, where neither fruit nor corn can +grow, they thrive on whale's blubber, the flesh of bears and wild-fowl." + +"Perhaps we may catch some wild-fowl in the morning," I observed. + +"Perhaps we may; but I think we should hear them if there were any +perched about the berg, and I have been listening for some time for them +without hearing a sound." + +By this remark of Andrew's I knew that he had been considering how we +should support life, though he was prepared for the worst; and also, +probably, how we had best act under all the circumstances which might +occur. I might have sailed with Andrew for a long time, in calm +weather, without discovering the real heroic qualities which, under his +rough exterior, he possessed. + +Morning at last dawned; and what a change from the previous day! Then, +all had been storm and gloom; now, all around was calm, beautiful, and +bright. Before the sun rose, the whole eastern sky was glowing with an +orange tinge; while every fleecy cloud around was tinted with gold and +red, orange, or pink, and every conceivable intermediate hue; while the +clear portions of the sky itself were of the purest and most ethereal +blue--the whole sea glowing with the same varied and beautiful colours. +But still more beautiful and wonderful seemed the vast mountain of ice +on which we floated, as in every fantastic form it appeared, towering +above us. The pinnacles and turrets of the summit were tinted with the +glowing hues of the east; while, lower down, the columns and arches +which supported them seemed formed of the purest alabaster of almost a +cerulean tint; and a round us, on either side, appeared vast caverns and +grottoes, carved, one might almost suppose, by the hands of fairies, for +their summer abode, out of Parian marble, their entrances fringed with +dropping icicles, glittering brilliantly. + +It is not to be wondered at, if we did not admire the enchanting +spectacle as much as it deserved, for we could not forget that we were +floating on an iceberg, in the middle of the North Sea; but still the +scene made an impression on my mind which I shall not forget. We had +struck on the lowest and least precipitous side of the iceberg, there +being a wide flat space some distance above the water, with one ledge +rising above the other, for some way up,--so that we had ample room to +walk about; nor was the ice so slippery as to cause us much fear of +tumbling into the water. I had heard a rippling noise during the night, +and could not conceive whence it came; but now, on looking around, I +perceived that it was caused by a small cascade, which, from the ice at +the top continually melting, came trickling down the side. + +"We shall have fresh water, at all events, in abundance," I observed to +Andrew, who had awoke from a sleep into which he, with our other +companions, had fallen. + +"Yes, Peter; and from what I see not far off, if I mistake not, we shall +have food also," he added, pointing to a dark object which lay on a +ledge below us, a little way to the left. + +"If looks like an animal of some sort," I exclaimed. "But I am afraid +it will be off before we can catch it. Shall we run down and secure +it?" + +"I have no fear on that score," he replied; "it is a seal, and from the +way it is lying, it is, I suspect, dead. Indeed, a live animal would +not have got on the ice so early in the morning. They are now feeding, +and love to come out of the water to bask at noon in the sun. We will +wake up Terence and Tom, and get them to help to drag it up out of the +reach of the sea. It will probably not be very palatable, though it +will doubtless serve to keep us alive. But before we commence the work +of the day, let us return thanks to Heaven for having preserved us +through the great perils of the past night." + +We roused up our companions; and I believe did most sincerely offer up +our thanksgiving for the mercy which had been shown us in saving us out +of so many from destruction. We then, with care to avoid falling into +the sea, descended to where the body of the seal had been thrown. The +animal was dead, but it was quite fresh, and had probably been cast up +that very night; at all events, it could not have been there long. + +"I doubted not that God would send us food. This did not happen by +chance," said Andrew. We found that we could not drag the entire body +of the seal up to the higher ledge, so we cut thin slices out of it, +hoping by drying them in the sun to preserve them longer. We first +skinned it carefully, as Andrew showed us that by stretching out the +skin it would afford us some little shelter at night. Having collected +a supply of food to last us for many days, we dragged the remainder of +the carcase out of the reach of the waves, and carried the meat to the +upper ledge. + +"Now, my lads," said Andrew, who took the lead in everything, we +willingly obeying him, "it is very right to secure some food for +ourselves in the first place; but as we shall none of us have a fancy +for spending the rest of our days here, we'll look out to see if there's +a ship in the offing, and if so, to make some signal to attract her +notice." + +We all agreed; and before attempting to eat some of the seal, for which, +indeed, we had little fancy, we set to work to climb to one of the +highest pinnacles of the berg. We found it impossible to reach the +highest, but we got some way up; and not a sail was to be seen as far as +the eye could reach on the part of the horizon visible to us. Our climb +had shown us, however, a considerable portion of the lower part of the +berg, and we observed several things lying about, evidently cast there +by the waves. We immediately descended to secure them. + +There was a hen-coop with some chickens in it, and though they were +drowned, they were very acceptable; there were two boarding-pikes, a +boat-sail, and several spars and bits of rope, which had been lying in +the boats or on the booms. These were all treasures, and, collecting +them, we carried them up to our ledge. There were also fragments of +wood and chips washed from the cook's galley, and bits of quarter-boat +which had gone to pieces with the first sea. These latter we dried in +the sun, and afterwards kindled with them a small fire, over which we +cooked two of our fowls, and dried the seal's flesh for future use. We +without difficulty ate the fowls, but had not yet got up an appetite for +seal-flesh. + +"We might be worse off, there's no doubt about it," observed Terence; +"and it strikes me, Andrew, that what with the hen-coop and the spars, +we might build a sort of a raft which would keep us afloat a short time, +should the berg take to making a somerset?" + +"I was thinking of the same thing," was Andrew's reply. "They will form +but a small raft; but if the berg drives anywhere near shore, it will, +at least, enable us to reach it. The sooner we set about making it the +better. It will keep us off the cold ice in the meantime, and by +rigging the boat's sails on the pikes, we shall be sheltered from the +wind; and, my lads, let me tell you, we might be much worse off, so let +us be thankful." + +This conversation took place while we were making our breakfast. +Instead of tea, we knocked off, with the boarding-pikes, lumps of ice, +which we ate, and found perfectly fresh. This, Andrew explained, arose +either from the iceberg having been formed of the accumulation of the +snow of many winters on the coast of Greenland, and thus having been +always fresh; or if formed out of salt water, from the ice, when +freezing, having ejected the saline particles. He told us that water, +when freezing, has the property of purifying itself, and of squeezing +out, as it were, all extraneous or coarse matter. + +Our not over-luxurious repast being finished, Andrew proposed our +attempting again to ascend the berg to plant a signal-post and flag to +attract the notice of any passing ship. Terence was for spreading out +the boat's sail; but Andrew reminded him that on the white iceberg that +would not be readily seen, and advised our fastening our coloured +handkerchiefs together instead. + +"We must first, however, get to the top of the berg," said Terence; +"and, to my mind, these boarding-pikes will serve us a good turn." + +No sooner thought of than tried. With the boarding-pikes we chopped +steps out of the side, where it was too precipitous to surmount without +such aid; and by fixing the pikes below us, we shoved ourselves up with +them. In this manner, after considerable labour, we reached a high +pinnacle of the berg. It was not broad enough for us to stand on +without fear of falling off, so we sat astride on it while we chopped a +hole deep enough to fix one of the spars in, which we had hauled up for +the purpose. At the top we secured four red cotton handkerchiefs, +which, as they blew out, might be seen at a considerable distance. We +beat the ice tightly round the heel of the spar, and it appeared to +stand firmly and well. + +"Now, on whatever side of the berg a ship approaches, it will be seen +that some human beings are on it," observed Andrew, as we prepared to +descend, having first carefully surveyed the horizon on every side. + +At this juncture we had a loss, which caused us great dismay, and, we +thought, would prove a very serious inconvenience. After lighting the +fire, Andrew had put the flint and steel into his jacket pocket, along +with his handkerchief, on drawing out which they were jerked out also, +and before we could catch them, they had fallen over the steep side of +the berg. Away they bounded, from ledge to ledge, till they fell into +the sea. Had they lodged in any crevice, one of us might probably have +attempted to recover them, and should very likely have fallen into the +sea in so doing; so, as Andrew observed, all was for the best. It was +fortunate, we observed, that we had dried some of our seal's flesh, or +we should have had to eat it quite raw. + +We now descended, and commenced at once to form our raft. We had few +materials, and our only tools were the knives and the heads of the +boarding-pikes. We first made a framework of the spars; and then, +knocking the hen-coop to pieces, we nailed the planks on to the top, +securing the whole fabric more firmly with ropes. When completed, as we +looked at it, we agreed that it was a very small ark to support four +people on the stormy ocean. + +"I don't think it will have to float me, shipmates," said poor Tom, who +had not recovered his hurt. "I feel as if I could not weather out +another night like the last." + +"On you'll do well enough, lad," answered Andrew, in a kind voice. +"Your clothes will be dry, you'll have a dry plank to lie on, and a roof +over your head. You'll do yet, trust to me." These encouraging words +had an immediate effect on Tom's spirits, and we heard no more of his +complaints. + +We had observed, as we sat on the top of the berg, several articles +floating round the base, and some lodged in crevices which we had not +before discovered. Our raft being completed as far as our materials +would go, I volunteered to try and get hold of some of the things. To +do this with safety, I begged my shipmates to hold one end of a line, +which we had formed out of the various pieces collected, while the other +I secured round my body. By keeping the line always tight, I was able +to lean over the edge and pick up several things in the water. The +first was a bucket, in sound condition. This was valuable, as it would +contain fresh water, and prevent the necessity of our chewing the cold +ice, which chilled us extremely. Then I found some more spars, and the +fragments of one of the boats, which must have been stove in and got +adrift before the ship went down. These enabled us to increase our raft +to a size which afforded us hope that it might support us in our +necessity. + +When I was tired, Terence followed my example, and also added to our +store of valuables. As he was hunting about, almost out of sight, among +the rougher parts of the berg, we heard him sing out, "A prize! a +prize!" and, standing up, he held aloft an iron pot with the cover on. +The cover had been jammed tightly down, so that it had floated like a +buoy. + +"There is something in it, though," he observed, shaking it; and, on +getting off the cover, we discovered a piece of beef ready for cooking. +It had evidently floated out of the cook's galley. + +"I quite forgot, though, that we had no means of lighting a fire; so, +after all, it won't be of any use," sighed Terence, after we had all +four collected again on our raft. + +"Don't be so sure of that," said Andrew. "I have seen a fire kindled by +means which few people would think of, but I am not quite certain that I +can manage it; however, I'll try. It's worth the experiment; for if we +can light a fire, we may make some soup, which will do us all good." + +Saying this, he climbed some way up the berg, where he knocked off a +pure piece of ice from one of its sparkling pinnacles. We all sat +round, wondering what he was going to do. With the boarding-pike he +carefully chopped the lump, till he had made it into a thick circular +cake; then he pared away the edges, and afterwards commenced operations +with his knife, scraping away, till he had formed both sides into a +perfect convex shape. Lastly, he took it between his mittens, and +rubbed it round and round till he turned it out with a fine polish. + +"There," he said, "there is a fine burning-glass for you." + +"A burning-glass!" I answered, laughing. "A piece of ice shaped like a +burning-glass; but you will never get anything like fire out of that, I +should think!" + +"I should think not," said Terence, but not in the same positive way +that I had spoken; for he had, justly, a great respect for everything +Andrew did. + +"Give me your hand here, then," said Andrew to me. I took off my mitten +and gave it him willingly. He looked at the sun, which was shining +brightly, and held the ice between it and my hand. I saw a little +bright spot appear on my hand; but I thought nothing of that, till, +feeling an acute sensation of burning, I snatched my hand away in a +hurry, to the amusement of my companions. + +"I thought it would answer," exclaimed Andrew triumphantly. "I saw the +master of a whaler I was once on board make several like this, and play +the same trick to his people I played you; and he afterwards explained +that any perfectly transparent substance in a convex shape--that is, +bulging out like this--will collect the rays of the sun, and form a +burning-glass. But now, while the sun is out, and before our +burning-glass melts, let us light a fire and boil our soup." + +The chips we had collected very rapidly dried; so we soon had a fire +kindled by this unexpected means. The soup refreshed us wonderfully; +but we were very sparing of it, by Andrew's advice; for we could not +tell how long we might have to remain without means of obtaining more +food. + +Thus passed away our first day on the iceberg, without a sail appearing +in the horizon to afford us a hope of rescue. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +That night, overcome by fatigue, strange as it may seem, we all slept +soundly. The sun again rose, and discovered us still floating in safety +on our unstable resting-place. The day passed much as the former one +had done. + +We had been actively employed during the greater part of it, and +therefore, in spite of our extraordinary position and the deep anxiety +we felt for our future fate, we were all able to sleep, if not very +soundly, at least for some hours, when the third night closed in upon +us. I need not say that Andrew offered up our prayers aloud for +deliverance to the Great Being who had hitherto so mercifully preserved +us. + +I dreamed, it seemed to me, all night long. Sometimes I was at home +with my father and mother and sweet sisters, and they were all laughing +and talking, while we stood at the window of the dining-hall and looked +out at the beautiful and familiar prospect before it. Someone was +describing to them some adventures very similar to mine; but I felt that +I could have nothing to do with them, for I was still, I knew, on an +iceberg in the Northern Ocean, likely any moment to be overwhelmed +beneath it. Then I thought a ship appeared, and Captain Dean was at the +helm, and that sweet Mary, dressed in white, and looking like a seraph, +stood on the forecastle waving to me to come off to them. I, of course, +could not move, for my feet were jammed into a hole in the ice, and I +struggled in vain to drag them out. On a sudden a storm arose, and Mary +shrieked; and even her father turned pale, as the ship rose on the tops +of the angry billows, and rolled over and over, bow foremost, till she +was lost to my sight in the distance. I cried out with terror, and my +own voice awoke me, when I found that my feet were projecting beyond the +shelter of the sail, and were bitterly cold. + +I got up to warm them by stamping them up and down, and the noise awoke +my companions. They naturally told me to lie down and be quiet; but the +night was so fine and calm, that I said I would go a little way from +them not to disturb them, and would walk up and down for an hour or so. +I had no fancy for any more of those dreadful dreams, and I felt that +the exercise would do me good. As I looked out on the tranquil, +dark-shining sea, in which the glittering stars floating, so it seemed, +in the blue ether above me were reflected as in a mirror, all sorts of +strange fancies came into my head. I remembered all I had read or heard +of mermen and mermaids, of ocean monsters and sea-spirits, and I could +scarcely persuade myself that I did not see some gliding before me. +Certainly I could hear them: now there was a distant roar, now a loud +snorting noise near me; there were voices wandering through the air, and +strains of sweet music seemed to come up from the deep. I was almost +positive I could hear music: sweet and faint and soft as a seraph's +sigh, it came down to my ear on the gentle wind. I would on no account +have missed listening to that enchanting melody. + +For a long time I continued gazing on the sea without feeling any +inclination to sleep, when I fancied that I saw the dark sails of a ship +about a mile off, and directly to windward of us. I peered into the +darkness to assure myself, for I did not like causelessly to arouse my +companions. How eagerly I looked may be supposed. If there was a ship +where I supposed, the music I had heard must have come from her. At +last I was almost confident that there was a ship; but as I had my +doubts, I went back to Andrew and touched his arm. + +"Andrew," I said, trembling all over in my eagerness, "I do not wish to +raise false hopes, but look out there and tell me what you see." + +"See, lad!--why, a sail; there's no doubt of it," he exclaimed +hurriedly. "A barque-rigged vessel standing on a bowline to the +north-west. She's a whaler, I suspect; but how to make the keenest ears +on board hear us, is a puzzle." + +We called Terence and Tom, who instantly sprung to their feet and joined +us in looking out for the stranger. + +"Could not we make a fire as a signal?" I asked, "that would attract +her." + +"You forget that our flint and steel went overboard, and the ice without +the sun won't light a fire," he answered; "but we will see what our +voices can do. Now, my lads, let's hail together." + +On that, standing up, throwing out our chests, and putting our hands to +our mouths, we gave a shout which none but strong lungs could have +uttered. It must have been carried a good mile to windward over the +calm sea, but no responding cry came down to our anxious ears. + +"There is no use wearing out our lungs with hallooing," said Terence. +"They wouldn't hear us, up to windward there, even if they were much +nearer. We must have patience, shipmates!--it's no use." + +"God's will be done," ejaculated Andrew. "He may yet think fit to send +us help." + +The tone Andrew gave to our minds prevented us from despairing or +sinking into despondency. I do not mean to say that we did not, at +first, feel the most bitter disappointment as the ship receded into the +darkness which surrounded us, but this feeling did not endure. We, as +our wise companion advised us, "trusted in God that He would save us;" +and we all along felt that He would do so. + +We earnestly watched the ship as long as she was visible, and long +after, though we scarcely expected her to tack, or to repass near. At +length we returned to our raft, and endeavoured to forget our +disappointment in sleep. We lay down, under our sealskin and sail, and +after an hour's trial, I once more closed my eyes. How long I had slept +I do not know, when I was again awoke by a loud noise and a violent +movement of the iceberg. + +Andrew suddenly started up, exclaiming, "The time has come! Hold on to +the raft, my lads; hold on." + +He meantime seized a boarding-pike, ready to steady the raft. His +impression was that the iceberg was in the act of rolling over, and that +now was the time our raft would be of service, if it could survive the +waves caused by the submersion of the snow-formed mountain on which we +rested. + +We waited in awful suspense, believing that our last moment had indeed +arrived. It is difficult to calculate time on such occasions. +Gradually the rocking movement of the berg ceased, and we found that the +ledge on which we were posted had sloped rather more towards the water +than before, so that it was necessary to continue holding on by the +boarding-pike to prevent its gliding off. + +"What has happened?" I exclaimed, as I first again drew breath freely. +"I thought it was all over with us." + +"So did I, lad, at first, before I had time to think. I now suspect the +cause of the commotion; and it is a mercy that the consequences have not +been more terrible. When the circumstance which has just taken place +happens, the whalers say that an iceberg has calved--that is, a huge +lump of ice has broken away from the base of the berg, and has floated +up to the top of the water. The noise we heard was when it struck +against other parts, and first came to the surface. The loss of a large +mass, of course, makes the berg lop-sided; and should another lump break +away, it may go right over. Should we survive till the morning, we +shall probably see the calf floating near us. I have known large ships +overwhelmed by bergs falling on them. You know that it is the custom to +moor ships to the lee side of a berg, to prevent their drifting to +leeward with a contrary wind. A friend of mine, who gave me the +account, belonged to a whaler, the _Thomas_, of Hull, Captain Taylor, +fishing in Davis's Straits. Well, one day they lay moored to an +iceberg, with a long scope of warp out, and thought themselves quite +secure. On a sudden, without any notice, as they were sitting at +dinner, a tremendous noise was heard and a blow was felt, just as if the +ship had struck on a rock. Up went the bow in the air, till the keel +showed above water, and the taffrail was almost under it. All thought +the ship must go down; but still she floated, not much the worse for the +blow. It was found, what all the old whale-men knew well enough, that a +calf had broken away from the bottom of the berg, but fortunately had +struck the keel fairly, without injuring the ship's bottom. Sometimes a +calf falls from the top of a berg; but I hope one will not come down on +our heads, for if it does, it will settle us outright." + +Andrew said this quite calmly, though he felt that what he was +describing might any moment happen. He afterwards reminded us that +pieces were more likely to fall from the summit in the day-time, when +the sun was shining on it, than at night, and that therefore we should +not let the thought oppress us. + +It may be supposed that we did not sleep, nor attempt to sleep, any more +that night. As there was no moon, we had not any means of ascertaining +how the time passed; but we calculated that it was about two o'clock in +the morning when the last occurrence I have described took place. The +air had been very light when I first looked out; now it was a perfect +calm, so that not even a ripple was heard against the side of the berg. +We were therefore not uncomfortable, as far as our feelings went, could +we have divested ourselves of the recollection of the peril to which we +were momentarily exposed. + +Oh how long that night seemed! I fancied, that it would never have an +end: each minute seemed prolonged to an hour--each hour to a winter's +night. Sometimes we talked, and listened to Andrew's description of the +events which had occurred to him when he before visited the Polar Sea. +At other times we were all silent together; but Andrew took care this +should not last long; and never did man so exert himself to keep up the +spirits of his companions. He was actuated by a true Christian spirit; +and nothing else would have enabled him, I am confident, to forget +himself and watch over us in the way he did. + +There had been a spell of silence, when Terence exclaimed, "What say +you, Andrew, if we were to launch our raft, and try to reach the coast +of Newfoundland while the calm lasts? It might be done, might it not?" + +"I think not," was Andrew's reply. "While we remain on the iceberg, we +have a chance of being seen; but, on a raft, a ship may pass close to us +and not heed us, while, if a gale should come on, the raft would not +live an instant. Even should we near the coast, which I do not think +likely, we should probably be knocked to pieces on the rocks; so I say +stay to the last extremity. If the iceberg won't hold us, then take to +the raft." + +Of course we determined to follow Andrew's advice; indeed, we all looked +up to him as our guide and captain. With no little thankfulness did we +welcome the first streaks of dawn on the eastern horizon. Again we +knelt down and offered our prayers to Heaven. We had scarcely risen to +our feet when a shout of joy escaped from our lips; for there, in the +grey misty dawn, with her canvas hanging against her masts, lay +motionless on the calm water a ship--the same, doubtless, which we +fancied had passed far away from us in the night. Was that calm sent by +Providence to effect, our salvation? The result will prove it, or when +His now inscrutable ways are made manifest. How our hearts beat with +hope and fear! My first impulse was to scream out to her. I checked +myself, and asked Andrew what he would advise. He did not answer for +some time. + +Eagerly we watched the stranger. She was a barque--a whaler, no doubt. +"Will she see us?" we asked one another. "Will she near the iceberg +again, or will she sail off in an opposite direction?" + +Those who have been placed in a similar position to the one in which we +were, can alone truly comprehend to the full the intensity of our +feelings. We could scarcely breathe--we could scarcely speak. All our +thoughts were concentrated in that one point; our very being seemed +wrapped up, as it were, in it. The night had passed slowly away; but +still more slow did the light of day seem to creep over the world. + +I said we were for some time silent. At last Andrew answered my +question by saying, "The first thing we must do, shipmates, is to climb +up to the top of the berg, and spread out our red handkerchiefs; so as +to show a broad face to those on board yonder vessel. As soon as the +sun is high enough, we'll try and light a fire, and the smoke may be +seen by them; but if not, then we must trust ourselves to the raft, and +try to paddle up to her. Perhaps we may reach her before a breeze +springs up; but perhaps not. Yet I don't think it will get up till +noon." + +"But why not get on the raft at once?" I urged; for I had more +confidence in it than he had. + +"Because if we do, we may not be able to return to the iceberg, which we +should wish to do if we miss the ship," he answered. "But on that point +I will agree to what you all wish. What do you say, Tom?--you are the +youngest, and should speak first." + +"I say, then, let us try the raft," said Tom, who fancied even that he +could swim to the ship. + +"And so do I," I added. + +"And I," exclaimed Terence, eagerly. "We'll drive her up to the ship in +no time." + +"Then, shipmates, the sooner we are off the better," we all cried out +together. + +Terence and I climbed up to the top of the berg, and spread out our +handkerchiefs between two upright spars, and we thought they could not +fail of being seen. Andrew and Tom, meantime, were filling the iron pot +with water, collecting some of our seal flesh, and otherwise getting our +raft ready. Securing one end of our rope to a point of ice, we eased +the raft carefully down into the sea. To our satisfaction it floated +well alongside, but it required great caution not to upset it as we +stepped upon it. We at once saw that Andrew had good reason for not +wishing to trust to it; for no sooner were we on it, than, calm as the +sea was, the water washed completely over it, and, had we not placed two +planks across it to sit on, we should have been wet through directly. +We each of us held a small piece of the boat's planking in our hands to +serve as paddles. + +"Away we go, my lads," exclaimed Terence, as he gave a strong shove +against the iceberg with a boarding-pike; and with a cheer, which, +perilous as was our adventure, we could not repress, we began vigorously +to ply our paddles. It was a matter of life and death, we saw. If we +missed the ship, our chance of returning to the iceberg was small +indeed. Our progress was very slow. We might have made a mile an +hour--perhaps not so much--and we had three miles to go at least. Still +we did not flag in our exertions. We each of us chewed a piece of +seal's flesh to stay our hunger, though we had no inclination or power +to swallow anything. We scarcely spoke a word all the time, but every +now and then we turned a glance back, to judge how far we had got from +our late abode. + +One mile was passed, and we were not seen. Indeed, so small a speck as +we were on the ocean, we could not expect to be observed till the sun +had risen. Our great anxiety was respecting the wind--still the sea +continued calm as a mirror. On we went--our eyes were on the ship's +sails. Alas! a light cat's-paw skimmed across the ocean--the +topgallant-sails of the barque blew out; but before they had any +influence in impelling her through the water, they again drooped as +before. Another cat's-paw came stronger than the first, and rippled the +whole surrounding surface. + +Oh with what agony we saw the topsails bulge out, and the barque's head +turn from us! We simultaneously shouted, or rather shrieked out in our +eagerness. It was of no avail. We strove to drive the raft on faster +than before. What could our utmost efforts accomplish in overtaking a +ship, her sails filled even with the light air then blowing? No longer +were cat's-paws playing on the surface of the sea, but a well-defined +ripple, almost small waves, were covering every part of it; and, as we +worked our way among them, they washed around our feet. Every sail on +board the barque began to draw; she had got steerage way, and was +standing from us. We were not seen; and hope, which had hitherto +sustained us, fled. Our hearts sunk, and scarcely could we longer ply +our useless paddles. + +"Andrew, what say you to this?" asked Terence at length. + +"Persevere to the last, like men," replied Andrew. "We may have to +return to the iceberg; but even then we must not lose courage, or our +trust in Providence." + +Just then the sun rose from his watery bed with glorious refulgence in +an unclouded sky. I looked back, to judge how far we had got from the +iceberg. Truly if it had appeared beautiful when we were on it, doubly +so it did appear now, glittering in the beams of the sun; some parts of +alabaster whiteness, and the rest tinged with hues of gold and pink and +most transparent blue. It was an object well calculated to attract the +eyes of a stranger. + +A cry from my companions made me turn my head. The barque's sails were +shivering, as she luffed up to the wind. Directly after a boat was seen +to be lowered, and quickly being manned, it pulled towards us. Then +indeed our hearts rose to our bosoms, and we shouted with joy. Poor +Tom, from the great revulsion of feeling, was nearly fainting and +falling off the raft, had we not supported him. Still we paddled on, +and the boat seemed to fly towards us. She was quite close to us, when, +in our joy we waved our paddles above our heads, and gave way to another +shout. + +"Hillo, who have we here?" exclaimed a voice from the boat. "What, +mates, we didn't see you!" + +Such was the case; they had seen our signal, but had overlooked us. The +surgeon of the ship, never having before seen an iceberg, was gazing at +it with his glass, and was the first to remark our handkerchiefs; and +not being able to make out what they were, he had directed to them the +captain's attention. He was in the boat, and assisted to help us off +our raft. + +Once on board and safe, the strength which had hitherto supported us, +gave way, and we sunk down to the bottom of the boat, overpowered with +various emotions. I trust and believe that we were all of us grateful +to Heaven for our wonderful preservation. + +The boat towed our raft alongside, as it was too valuable for firewood +to be lost. We were hoisted on board, unable to help ourselves, and +were received by the master, officers, and crew with the greatest +kindness and attention. The surgeon ordered us at once to be put into +warm hammocks, while some warm liquid was poured down our throats, which +soon restored us. However, no one questioned us about our adventures +till we were more completely recovered. + +Two events occurred which ought to have increased, if they did not, our +sense of gratitude for our preservation. Scarcely had our feet touched +the deck of the barque than a strong breeze sprang up, which sent her at +the rate of some seven knots an hour through the water, far away from +the iceberg. Before, however, she had run out of sight of that floating +island, its glittering summits were seen to lean forward, and, with a +sound which could be heard at that distance, to fall prostrate in the +water, while the waves created by its submersion reached so far as +perceptibly to lift the ship as they passed. Thus was I, with my +companions, preserved from the most awful and perilous position in which +I was ever placed. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +The vessel on board which we so happily found ourselves was called _The +Shetland Maid_,--her master, Captain John Rendall. She measured three +hundred and fifty tons, was barque-rigged, and perfectly fitted as a +whaler, being also strengthened by every means which science could +devise, to enable her to resist the pressure of the ice to which such +vessels must inevitably be exposed in their progress through the arctic +seas. She had forty-two souls on board, including officers, being some +few short of her complement, as two fell sick in Orkney before leaving, +and two were unhappily lost overboard in a furious gale she encountered +soon after sailing. + +Andrew, Terence, and I remained two days below under the doctor's care, +and by the third had completely recovered our usual strength. Tom +Stokes, who had suffered most, and was not naturally so strong, took a +week before he came round. + +As soon as we appeared on deck, the captain called us aft, and desired +to know our adventures. Andrew was the spokesman, and the captain +expressed himself much pleased with our messmate's mode of narrating +them. + +"Well, my men," he said, "I have lost some of my crew, and I suppose +you'll have no objection to entering regularly for the voyage in their +place. You'll share with the other able seamen eighteenpence for each +tun of oil, you know, besides monthly wages." + +We told him that we should be glad to enter, and would sign articles +when he pleased; and that we would answer for Tom Stokes, that he would +do the same. + +Behold me at last, then, as I have styled myself, PETER THE WHALER. We +were now standing to the northward, and rapidly approaching the ice. +Before, however, I proceed with an account of my adventures, I will +describe the ship, her officers and crew, and the peculiar arrangements +made to fit her for the service in which she was employed. + +Captain Rendall was a well-educated, intelligent, brave, and, I feel +sure, a truly religious man. I may say, without more than justice, that +he was the father of his crew. His father had been in the same service +before him for many years; and he had the advantage of his experience, +to which he added the knowledge he himself had gained. I do not give +him as a specimen of the masters of all whalers, for I fear there are +few like him, though they must of necessity be intelligent and superior +men. There were three mates. The chief mate, Mr Todd, was also chief +harpooner or specksioneer. Then there were the other harpooners, +boat-steerers, line-managers, and coopers, beside foremast-men, +landsmen, and apprentices. + +It is not the custom to pay simply monthly wages; but, as an inducement +to all hands to exert themselves in their several capacities in +capturing fish, they receive a gratuity for every size fish caught +during the voyage, or a certain sum for every tun of oil which the cargo +produces. The master gets scarcely any pay if he has no success in his +voyage; but for every whale killed he gets three guineas, from ten to +twenty shillings for each tun of oil, and a thirtieth to a twentieth on +the value of the cargo; so that he may make as much as five hundred +pounds by a single voyage. The chief mate may get nearly a hundred, and +the seamen twenty-five pounds each. Many of the ships belong to Hull +and other northern ports of England and Scotland; but it is usual to +touch at the Orkneys or Shetland, to complete the complement of the crew +with the hardy islanders who inhabit them. + +A whaler, in order to withstand the shock of the ice, is strengthened +inside, both at the stem and stern, by stout timbers placed in various +directions, and fastened securely together; while on the outside she is +in parts covered with a double, and even a treble planking, besides +other thick pieces, which serve to ward off the blows from the parts +most likely to receive them. How little all the strengthening which the +art and ingenuity of man can devise is of avail against the mighty power +of the ice, I shall have hereafter to describe. The masts of a whaler +are lower than in a common merchantman, and her sails are smaller, and +cut in a different shape, the courses or lower sails decreasing towards +the foot, so as to be worked with slight strength. Sometimes this is of +importance, as, when all the boats are away together in chase of whales, +three or four men alone remain on board to take care of the ship. + +A whale-ship, therefore, though she has great care and expense bestowed +on her, has not, in port, the graceful and elegant appearance possessed +by some other ships, bound to more genial climes. The crew do not sleep +in hammocks, as on board men-of-war, but in berths or standing +bed-places, erected on the half-deck forward. It is a dark retreat, and +not scented with sweet odours, especially after a ship has begun to take +in her cargo; but the weary seaman cares little where he lays his head, +provided it is in a dry and warm place. + +We next come to the boats--a very important part of the outfit. The bow +and stern of a whale-boat are both sharp, rise considerably, and are +nearly alike. It has great beam, or breadth, to prevent its being +dragged, when towed by a whale, completely under the water. The keel is +convex in the centre, to enable it to be turned more easily; and for the +same reason it is steered by an oar instead of a rudder. The oar can +also turn a boat when she is at rest, and can scull her in calm weather +up to a whale without noise. A large-size boat is pulled by five oars, +and one to steer, and a small one by four oars; the first being from +twenty-six to twenty-eight feet long, and the last from twenty-three to +twenty-four. A large one is five feet five inches in breadth; and a +small one five feet three inches. + +The rowers include the harpooner and the line-manager. They are +carvel-built--that is, the planks are placed as in a ship. Boats in +general are clinker-built--that is, the planks overlap each other; but +as they are difficult to repair, the other simpler method is employed. +A ship generally carries seven boats--two or more large, and the rest +small. They are suspended by cranes, or davits, in a row outside the +rigging, on either side of the ship, and another astern, so that they +can be directly lowered into the water. A smart crew will man and lower +a boat in the space of a minute, and be away in chase of a whale. + +When we got on board, the boats' crews were busily employed in getting +their respective boats and gear ready for action. Each boat had a +harpooner, who pulled the bow oar, a steersman, next to him in rank, who +steered, and a line-manager, who pulled the after or stroke oar; and +besides them were two or three seamen who pulled the other oars. + +The first operation, after cleansing the boats, was to get the lines +spliced and coiled away; and when it is remembered that each whale may +be worth from five hundred to eight hundred pounds, and that, if the +lines are in any way damaged, the fish may be lost, it will be +acknowledged that they have good reason to be careful. Each line is +about one hundred and twenty fathoms long; so that when the six lines, +with which each boat is supplied, are spliced together, the united +length is seven hundred and twenty fathoms, or four thousand three +hundred and twenty feet. + +A few fathoms of the line is left uncovered, with an eye at the end, in +order to connect the lines of another boat to it; for sometimes, when a +whale swims far, or dives deep, the lines of several boats are joined +together. The rest of the line is neatly and carefully coiled away in +the stern of the boat. + +To the upper end of the line is spliced the "fore-ganger" of a "spanned +harpoon," thus connecting the harpoon with all the lines in the boat. A +"fore-ganger" is a piece of rope a few fathoms long, made of white or +untanned hemp, so as to be more flexible and easily extended when the +harpoon is projected from the hand. + +As the crew of each boat accomplished the work of coiling away their +lines, they gave three hearty cheers, to which we all responded; so we +had as much cheering as at a sailing match. + +I must try to describe a harpoon, for the benefit of those who have +never seen one. It is the whaler's especial weapon--the important +instrument of his success. It consists of a "socket," "shank," and +"mouth." The shank, which is made of the most pliable iron, is about +two feet long; the socket is about six inches long, and swells from the +shank to nearly two inches in diameter; and the mouth is of a barbed +shape, each barb or wither being eight inches long and six broad, with a +smaller barb reversed in the inside. The object of the barb, of course, +is to prevent the harpoon being drawn out of the whale after it has been +fixed. + +The hand harpoon is projected by aid of a stock or handle of wood, seven +feet in length, fixed in the socket. After the whale is struck, this +handle falls out; but it is not lost, as it is secured to the line by a +loop. The line, it must be remembered, is fastened to the iron part of +the harpoon. + +Harpoon-guns are now frequently used for projecting harpoons. The +harpoon for this purpose is made with two shanks, side by side, one of +which goes into the bore of the gun; to the other on the outside the +line is attached. + +On every harpoon is stamped the name of the ship, so that it is at once +easy to ascertain, from the weapon in the whale, by whom it was struck. +Lances are also used, with long handles and sharp heads, to assist in +killing the whale. + +Each boat is furnished with two harpoons, eight lances, and some spare +oars; a flag, with its staff, to serve as a signal; a "mik," as a rest +for the harpoon, when ready for instant service; an axe, ready for +cutting the line when necessary; a "pigging," a small bucket for baling +out the boat; two boat-hooks, and many other things which I need +scarcely name. + +A most important contrivance belonging to a whaler is the crow's-nest, +which I may describe as a sentry-box at the mast-head. It is, perhaps, +more like a deep tub, formed of laths and canvas, with a seat in it, and +a movable screen, which traverses on an iron rod, so that it can +instantly be brought round on the weather side. In the bottom is a +trap-door, by which it is entered. Here the master takes up his post, +to pilot his ship among the ice; and here, also, a look-out is kept, +when whales are expected to appear in the distance. + +Just consider how necessary it is to have a good shelter, when +frequently the temperature of the air is from 10 degrees to 20 degrees +below the freezing-point. + +I must not forget to mention the means taken for preserving the cargo of +blubber. This is done in casks, in which the blubber is placed after it +has been cut up into very small portions. The casks are stowed in the +hold, and some are placed between decks; and when there has been unusual +success, so that there are not casks enough, the blubber is stowed away +in bulk among them. + +The mode of fishing, and the remainder of the operations, will be +described in the course of my narrative. + +In three more days we were all ready. The harpoon-guns were cleaned, +oiled, and fastened, with their swivels, on the "billet-heads," in the +bows of the boats. Each harpooner got a supply of gunpowder and +percussion-caps; and all other requisites were put into the boats. + +The crow's-nest had been got up to the main-topgallant mast-head; and in +the afternoon we were ready, and eager to attack the first whale which +should appear. In the evening the harpooners were invited down into the +cabin, to receive their instructions for the season; and afterwards the +steward served out a glass of grog to all hands, to drink "a good voyage +and a full ship." + +I had fully expected to see whales in such numbers, that we should have +nothing to do but to chase and capture them; but in this I was +disappointed, for not a whale did we meet; indeed, with the heavy sea +then running, had we got hold of one, we could not have secured it. It +was, I ought to say, towards the end of April, and we were in hourly +expectation of being among the ice, through which, at that time of the +year, it was expected a passage would easily be found to the northward. + +We had seen several icebergs, which like their companion on which the +corvette was wrecked, had early broken away from the main body, as also +washing pieces and several large floes; but we had yet to learn what a +field of ice was like. + +It was night, and blowing very hard from the south-west. It was my +watch on deck, and Mr Todd, the first mate, was officer of the watch. +We were standing on a bowline under our topsails, a sharp look-out being +kept ahead for danger. O'Connor and I were together, leaning against +the bulwarks and talking. "Well, Terence," I said, "I would rather find +myself homeward bound, after all that has occurred, than be obliged to +be running into a sea in which we shall all the time be obliged to be +cruising among ice." + +"Oh, I don't consider much of that," he answered. "It's only a summer +cruise, you know; and when we get back, we shall have our pockets +stuffed with gold, and be able to talk of all the wonders we have seen." + +"I hope we may get back. I have no fancy to spend a winter on the ice," +I said. + +"There are pleasanter places to live in, no doubt, Peter; but people +have lived not only one year, but several years running in those +regions, and have not been the worse for it," replied Terence. + +Just then we were startled by the loud cry of "Breakers ahead!" Mr +Todd in a moment saw what was to be done. "Wear ship!" he exclaimed. +"Up with the helm. Gaff-topsail-sheets let fly. Drop the peak. Square +away the after-yards." + +While these and other orders were given and executed, in order to take +the pressure of the wind off the after part of the ship, and to make her +head turn from it, I glanced in the direction towards which we were +running. A pale light seemed to be playing over it; and I could +distinguish, amid the foaming breakers, huge masses of ice dashing about +and heaving one upon another, any one of which, I thought, would be +sufficient to stave in the sides of the ship, if not to overwhelm her +completely. + +At the same time a loud, crashing, grinding noise was heard, sufficient +to strike terror into the stoutest hearts. But it must be remembered +that we were all so busily engaged in flying here and there in the +performance of our duty, that we had no time for fear. This is a great +secret to enable men to go through dangers unappalled. Had we been +compelled to stand inactive, our feelings might have been very +different. + +The ship wore slowly round; but still she seemed approaching the +threatening mass. She plunged more violently than before amid the +raging sea, and in another moment I felt certain we must be among the +upheaving masses. Just then her head seemed to turn from them; but a +sea struck her on the quarter and came rolling on board; a tremendous +blow was felt forward, another followed. Cries arose from some of the +men that all was lost, and I expected to find the ship instantly dashed +to pieces. + +Our good captain rushed on deck. He cast one glance aloft, and another +at the ice. "She's clear, my lads," he shouted. The ship came round, +and in another instant we were on the eastern or lee side of the floe, +and gliding smoothly on in calm water through a broad passage, leading +amid the main body of the polar ice. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +Our ship made good progress, considering the impediments in her way, +towards the fishing grounds in the north, to which she was bound. +Sometimes we had a clear sea; at other times we were sailing among +patches of ice and icebergs, or through lanes penetrating into packs of +many miles in extent, and from which it seemed impossible we should ever +again be extricated. Our captain, or one of his mates, was always at +this time in the crow's-nest, directing the course of the ship amid the +dangers which surrounded her. + +I shall not soon forget the first day of May, which I spent in the icy +sea. It was as unlike May-day at home as any day could well be as far +as the temperature went, though we were sailing through a sea tolerably +free from ice. + +"All play to-day and no work, my boy, for we are going to have a visit +from a king and queen," said an old whaler, David McGee by name, as he +gave me a slap on the shoulder which would have warmed up my blood not a +little, if anything could in that biting weather. + +"He must be King Frost, then," I answered, laughing; "for we have plenty +of his subjects around us already." + +"No; I mean a regular-built king," said old McGee, winking at some of +his chums standing around, who had made many a voyage before. "He +boards every ship as comes into these parts, to ask them for tribute; +and then he makes them free of the country, and welcome to come back as +often as they like." + +"Thank him for nothing for that same," I answered, determined not to be +quizzed by them. "But don't suppose, David, I'm so jolly green as to +believe what you're telling me; no offence to you, though." + +"You'll see, youngster, that what I say is true; so look out for him," +was old McGee's answer, as he turned on his heel. + +I had observed that for a few days past the old hands were busy about +some work, which they kept concealed from the youngsters, or the green +hands, to which class I belonged. Everything went on as usual till +eight bells had been struck at noon, when an immense garland, formed of +ribbons of all colours, bits of calico, bunting, and artificial flowers, +or what were intended for them, was run up at the mizzen-peak. On the +top of the garland was the model of a ship, full-rigged, with sails set +and colours flying. Scarcely had it gone aloft, when I was startled by +a loud bellowing sound, which seemed to come from a piece of ice +floating ahead of the ship. + +"What's that?" I asked of old David, who persevered in keeping close to +me all the morning. "Is that a walrus blowing?" I thought it might be, +for I could not make it out. + +"A walrus! no, I should think not," he answered, in an indignant tone. +"My lad, that's King Neptune's trumpeter, come to give notice that the +old boy's coming aboard us directly. I've heard him scores of times; so +I'm not likely to be wrong." + +The answer I gave my shipmate was not very polite. One never likes to +be quizzed; and I, of course, thought he was quizzing me. + +"You'll see, lad," he answered, giving me no gentle tap on the head, in +return for my remark. "I'm not one to impose on a bright green youth +like you." + +Again the bellow was heard. "That's not a bit like the sound of a +trumpet," I remarked. + +"Not like your shore-going trumpets, maybe," said old David, with a +grin. "But don't you know, youngster, the water gets into these +trumpets, and makes them sound different?" + +A third bellow was followed by a loud hail, in a gruff, voice, "What +ship is that, ahoy?" + +Old David ran forward, and answered, "_The Shetland Maid_, Captain +Rendall, of Hull." + +"Heave to, while I come aboard, then; for you've got some green hands +among you, I'm pretty sure, by the way your gaff-topsail stands." + +"Ay, ay, your majesty. Down with your helm--back the main-topsail," +sung out old David, with as much authority as if he was captain of the +ship. + +His orders were not obeyed; for before they were so, the gruff voice +sung out, "Hold fast!" and a very curious group made their appearance +over the bows, and stepped down on deck. + +I was not left long in doubt as to whether or not there was anything +supernatural about them. "There," exclaimed David, pointing with great +satisfaction at them, "that big one, with the thing on his head which +looks for all the world like a tin kettle, is King Neptune, and the +thing is his helmet. T'other, with the crown and the necklace of spikes +under her chin, is Mrs Neptune, his lawful wife; and the little chap +with the big razor and shaving-dish is his wally-de-sham and trumpeter +extraordinary. He's plenty more people belonging to him, but they +haven't come on board this time." + +Neptune's costume was certainly not what my father's school-books had +taught me to expect his majesty to wear, and I had always supposed his +wife to be Amphitrite; but I concluded that in those cold regions he +found it convenient to alter his dress, while it might be expected the +seamen should make some slight mistake about names. + +Neptune himself had very large whiskers, and a red nightcap showed under +his helmet. In one hand he held a speaking-trumpet, in the other a +trident surmounted by a red herring. A piece of canvas, covered with +bits of coloured cloth, made him a superb cloak, and a flag wound round +his waist served him as a scarf. A huge pair of sea-boots encased his +feet, and a pair of sealskin trousers the upper part of his legs. Mrs +Neptune, to show her feminine nature, had a frill round her face, a +canvas petticoat, and what looked very like a pair of Flushing trousers +round her neck, with the legs brought in front to serve as a tippet. +The valet had on a paper cocked-hat, a long pig-tail, and a pair of +spectacles on a nose of unusual proportions. I had read descriptions of +Tritons, the supposed attendants on Neptune, and I must say his valet +was very unlike one. I might have been prejudiced, for I had no reason +to feel any warm affection for him. + +"Come here, youngster, and make your bow to King Neptune," exclaimed +David, seizing me; and, with number of other green hands, I was dragged +forward and obliged to bob my head several times to the deck before his +marine majesty. + +"Take 'em below. I'll speak to 'em when I wants 'em," said the king in +his gruff voice. And forthwith we were hauled off together, and shut +down in the cable tier. + +One by one we were picked out, just as the ogre Fi-fo-fum in the +story-book picked out his prisoners to eat them. There was a +considerable noise of shouting and laughing and thumping on the decks, +all of which I understood when it came to my turn. + +After three others had disappeared, I was dragged out of our dark prison +and brought into the presence of Neptune, who was seated on a throne +composed of a coil of ropes, with his court, a very motley assemblage, +arranged round him. In front of him his valet sat on a bucket with two +assistants on either side, who, the moment I appeared, jumped up and +pinioned my arms, and made me sit down on another bucket in front of +their chief. + +"Now, young 'un, you haven't got a beard, but you may have one some day +or other, so it's as well to begin to shave in time," exclaimed Neptune, +nodding his head significantly to his valet. + +The valet on this jumping up, seized my head between his knees, and +began, in spite of my struggles, covering my face with tar. If I +attempted to cry out, the tar-brush was instantly shoved into my mouth, +to the great amusement of all hands. When he had done what he called +lathering my face, he began to scrape it unmercifully with his notched +iron hoop; and if I struggled, he would saw it backwards and forwards +over my face. + +When this process had continued for some time, Neptune offered me a box +of infallible ointment, to cure all the diseases of life. It was a lump +of grease; and his valet, seizing it, rubbed my face all over with it. +He then scrubbed me with a handful of oakum, which effectually took off +the tar. Being now pronounced shaved and clean, to my great horror Mrs +Neptune cried out in a voice so gruff, that one might have supposed she +had attempted to swallow the best-bower anchor, and that it had stuck in +her throat, "Now my pretty Master Green, let me give you a buss, to +welcome you to the Polar Seas. Don't be coy now, and run off." + +This I was attempting to do, and with good reason, for Mrs Neptune's +cap-frill was stuck so full of iron spikes, that I should have had a +good chance of having my eyes put out if she had succeeded in her +intentions; so off I set, running round the deck, to the great amusement +of the crew, with Mrs Neptune after me. Luckily for me she tripped up, +and I was declared duly initiated as a North Sea whaler. The rest of my +young shipmates had to undergo the same process; and as it was now my +turn to look on and laugh, I thought it very good fun, and heartily +joined in the shouts to which the rest gave way. + +If any one got angry, he was soon made to cut so ridiculous a figure, +and to feel his perfect helplessness, that he was compelled, for his own +sake, to get back his good-humour again without delay. We had an +additional allowance of grog served out, and what with dancing and +singing, the fun was kept up till long after dark. + +I need scarcely say that the representative of his marine majesty was no +less a person than the red-whiskered cooper's mate, that his spouse was +our boatswain, and the valet his mate. I had often heard of a similar +ceremony being practised on crossing the line, but I had no idea that it +was general on board all whale ships. + +The fourth day of the month was a memorable one for me and the other +green hands on board. The wind was from the westward, and we were +sailing along to the eastward of a piece of ice, about two miles +distant, the water as smooth as in a harbour. Daylight had just broke, +but the watch below were still in their berths. The sky was cloudy, +though the lower atmosphere was clear; and Andrew, who was walking the +deck with me, observed it was first-rate weather for fishing, if fish +would but show themselves. + +Not ten minutes after this, the first mate, who had gone aloft into the +crow's-nest to take a look-out round, eagerly shouted, "A fish! a fish! +See, she spouts!" and down on deck he hurried with all despatch. + +The words were scarcely out of his mouth before the crews of two boats +had jumped into them, and were lowering them down, with their harpoons, +lances, and everything else ready, not forgetting some provisions, for +it was impossible to say how long they might be away. The chief mate +jumped into one, and the second harpooner into the other, in which my +friend Andrew went as line-manager. + +Away they pulled. I looked over the side, and saw the whale a mile off, +floating, thoughtless of danger, on the surface of the ocean, and +spouting out a fountain of water high into the air. I fancied that I +could even hear the deep "roust" she made as she respired the air, +without which she cannot exist any more than animals of the land or air. +Every one on deck follows the boats with eager eyes. The boat makes a +circuit, so as to approach the monster in the rear; for if he sees them, +he will be off far down into the ocean, and may not rise for a long +distance away. With rapid strokes they pull on, but as noiselessly as +possible. The headmost boat is within ten fathoms of the fish--I am +sure it will be ours. The harpooner stands up in the bows with harpoon +in hand. Suddenly, with tail in air, down dives the monster; and the +faces of all around me assume an expression of black disappointment. It +must be remembered that, as all on board benefit by every fish which is +caught, all are interested in the capture of one. + +"It's a loose fall, after all," said old David, who was near me. "I +thought so. I shouldn't be surprised if we went home with a clean ship +after all." + +However, the boats did not return. Mr Todd was not a man to lose a +chance. Far too experienced ever to take his eye off a fish while it is +in sight, he marks the way she headed, and is off after her to the +eastward. With his strong arm he bends to the oar, and urges his men to +put forth all their strength, till the boat seems truly to fly over the +water. On they steadily pull, neither turning to the right hand nor to +the left for nearly half-an-hour. Were it not for the ice, their toil +would be useless; but the boat-steerer looks out, and points eagerly +ahead. + +On they pull. Then on a sudden appears the mighty monster. She has +risen to the surface to breathe, a "fair start" from the boat. The +harpooner stands up, with his unerring weapon in his hand: when was it +ever known to miss its aim? The new-fangled gun he disdains. A few +strong and steady strokes, and the boat is close to the whale. The +harpoon is launched from his hank, and sinks deep into the oily flesh. + +The boat is enveloped in a cloud of spray--the whole sea around is one +mass of foam. Has the monster struck her, and hurled her gallant crew +to destruction? No; drawn rapidly along, her broad bow ploughing up the +sea, the boat is seen to emerge from the mist with a jack flying as a +signal that she is fast, while the mighty fish is diving far below it, +in a vain effort to escape. + +Now arose from the mouth of every seaman on deck the joyful cry of "A +fall, a fall!" at the same time that every one jumped and stamped on +deck, to arouse the sleepers below to hasten to the assistance of their +comrades. We all then rushed to the boat-falls. + +Never, apparently, were a set of men in such a desperate hurry. Had the +ship been sinking, or even about to blow up, we could scarcely have made +more haste. + +The falls were let go, and the boats in the water, as the watch below +rushed on deck. Many of the people were dressed only in their drawers, +stockings, and shirts, while the rest of their clothes were in their +hands, fastened together by a lanyard; but without stopping to put them +on, they tumbled into the boats, and seized their oars ready to shove +off. Among them, pale with terror, appeared poor Tom Stokes and another +youngster in their shirts. They hurried distractedly from boat to boat. +At each they were saluted by, "We don't want you here, lads. Off with +you--this isn't your boat." + +I belonged to the after or smallest boat, which was most quickly manned, +and most easily shoved off; so that I was already at a distance when he +ran aft and saw me going. "O Peter, Peter!" he exclaimed in a tone to +excite our commiseration, though I am sorry to say it only caused loud +shouts of laughter, "you who have gone through so many dangers with me, +to desert me at last in a sinking ship!" + +Poor fellow, aroused out of a deep sleep by the unusual sounds, he not +unnaturally thought the ship was going down. I heard the gruff voice of +the cooper's mate scolding him; but what he said I don't know. The +scolding must have brought him and the other back to their senses; and +they of course went below to get their clothes, and to return to assist +in working the ship. On such occasions, when all the boats are away, +the ship is frequently left with only the master, one or two seamen, and +the rest landsmen on board. + +The moment the fast-boat displayed her jack, up went the jack on board +the ship at the mizzen-peak, to show that assistance was coming. Away +pulled the five boats as fast as we could lay back to our oars. The +whale had dived to an immense depth, and the second boat had fastened +her line to that of the first, and had consequently now become the +fast-boat; but her progress was not so rapid but that we had every +prospect of overtaking her. To retard the progress of the whale, and to +weary it as much as possible, the line had been passed round the +"bollard," a piece of timber near the stern of the boat. We knew that +the first boat wanted more line by seeing an oar elevated, and then a +second, when the second boat pulled rapidly up to her. The language of +signs for such work is very necessary, and every whaler comprehends +them. + +We now came up and arranged ourselves on either side of the fast-boat, a +little ahead, and at some distance, so as to be ready to pull in +directly the whale should reappear at the surface. Away we all went, +every nerve strained to the utmost, excitement and eagerness on every +countenance, the water bubbling and hissing round the bows of the boats, +as we clove our way onward. + +"Hurra, boys! see, she rises!" was the general shout. Up came the +whale, more suddenly than we expected. A general dash was made at her +by all the boats. "'Stern for your lives; 'stern of all!" cried some of +the more experienced harpooners. "See, she's in a flurry." + +First the monster flapped the water violently with its fins; then its +tail was elevated aloft, lashing the ocean around into a mass of foam. +This was not its death-flurry; for, gaining strength before any more +harpoons or lances could be struck into it, away it went again, heading +towards the ice. Its course was now clearly discerned by a small +whirling eddy, which showed that it was at no great distance under the +surface, while in its wake was seen a thin line of oil and blood, which +had exuded from its wound. + +Wearied, however, by its exertions and its former deep dive, it was +again obliged to come to the surface to breathe. Again the eager boats +dashed in, almost running on its back, and from every side it was plied +with lances, while another harpoon was driven deeply into it, to make it +doubly secure. Our boat was the most incautious, for we were right over +the tail of the whale. The chief harpooner warned us--"Back, my lads; +back of all," he shouted out, his own boat pulling away. "Now she's in +her death-flurry truly." + +The words were not out of his mouth when I saw our harpooner leap from +the boat, and swim as fast as he could towards one of the others. I was +thinking of following his example, knowing he had good reasons for it, +for I had seen the fins of the animal flap furiously, and which had +warned him, when a violent blow, which I fancied must have not only +dashed the boat to pieces, but have broken every bone in our bodies, was +struck on the keel of the boat. + +Up flew the boat in the air, some six or eight feet at least, with the +remaining crew in her. Then down we came, one flying on one side, one +on the other, but none of us hurt even, all spluttering and striking out +together; while the boat came down keel uppermost, not much the worse +either. Fortunately we all got clear of the furious blows the monster +continued dealing with its tail. + +"Never saw a whale in such a flurry," said old David, into whose boat I +was taken. For upwards of two minutes the flurry continued, we all the +while looking on, and no one daring to approach it; at the same time a +spout of blood and mucus and oil ascended into the air from its +blow-holes, and sprinkled us all over. + +"Hurra, my lads, she spouts blood!" we shouted out to each other, though +we all saw and felt it plain enough. There was a last lash of that +tail, now faint and scarce rising above the water, but which, a few +minutes ago, would have sent every boat round it flying into splinters. +Then all was quiet. The mighty mass, now almost inanimate, turned +slowly round upon its side, and then it floated belly up and dead. + +Our triumph was complete. Loud shouts rent the air. "Hurra, my lads, +hurra! we've killed our first fish well," shouted the excited chief +mate, who had likewise had the honour of being the first to strike the +first fish. "She's above eleven feet if she's an inch," (speaking of +the length of the longest lamina of whalebone); "she'll prove a good +prize, that she will." He was right. I believe that one fish filled +forty-seven butts with blubber--enough, in days of yore, I have heard, +to have repaid the whole expense of the voyage. + +Our ship was some way to leeward; and as the wind was light, she could +not work up to us, so we had to tow the prize down to her. Our first +operation was to free it from the lines. This was done by first lashing +the tail, by means of holes cut through it, to the bows of a boat, and +then two boats swept round it, each with the end of a line, the centre +of which was allowed to sink under the fish. As the lines hung down +perpendicularly, they were thus brought up and cut as close as possible +down to the harpoons, which were left sticking in the back of the fish. +Meantime the men of the other boats were engaged in lashing the fins +together across the belly of the whale. This being done, we all formed +in line, towing the fish by the tail; and never have I heard or given a +more joyous shout than ours, as we pulled cheerily away, at the rate of +a mile an hour, towards the ship with our first fish. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +A cookery-book, in the possession of my good mother, advises one to +catch one's hare before cooking it. On the same principle I deferred +describing how a whale is disposed of till I had seen one caught; for I +have heard that it is possible for a ship to return clean, or without +having caught a single whale; and this might possibly, I feared, be our +case. Every one on board, from the captain downwards, was now in good +spirits. + +We had got a fish; but it was necessary to secure it carefully +alongside, lest it might sink even there, and be lost after all our +trouble--such misfortunes having occurred to careless fishers. The +first thing we did was to secure at the stern of the ship, on the +larboard side, a tackle, which is called a nose tackle, from its being +fastened to the nose or head of the fish. A tail tackle was secured to +the tail of the fish, and this was brought on board at the fore-chains. +Thus the head of the fish was towards the stern of the ship, and the +tail towards the bows, the body being extended as much as possible. The +right side fin, which was next the ship (it being remembered that the +whale was on its back), was then lashed upwards towards the gunwale. + +To "cant" or "kent," in nautical phraseology, is to turn over or on one +side. The tackle, therefore, composed of many turns of ropes and +blocks, which turns the whale over as the blubber is cut off, is called +the "kent purchase" or tackle. One part was fastened to the neck of the +whale, or rather the part of the body next the head--for a whale, even +in courtesy, cannot be said to have a neck--and the other was tied to +the head of the main-mast, the fall being passed round the windlass. +The neck, or rather the part which would be the neck if it had one, is +called the "kent." + +From the size of the whale, it was impossible to lift it more than +one-fifth part out of the water; and this was only done after heaving +away at the windlass. Till this operation was performed, not one of us +had rested from our labours. + +"Knock off, my lads, and turn-to to breakfast," sung out the master in a +cheerful tone. The order was obeyed with right good-will; and perhaps +never did a more hungry crew of fishermen sit down to a more jovial +meal. Breakfast was soon over, and, strengthened and refreshed, we +prepared to turn-to at our task. + +On going on deck again, I found that our booty had attracted round us +many birds and fish of all descriptions, ready to prey on what we should +leave. There were fulmars in thousands, eager to pounce down upon the +morsels which they knew would be their share. They were of a dirty grey +colour, with white breasts and strong crooked bills, formed to tear +flesh easily, and able to give a very severe bite. Then there were +numbers of the arctic gull, who may be considered the pirate of the icy +regions, as he robs most other birds, not only of their prey, but of +their eggs and young. The sea-swallow, or great tern, however, like an +armed ship of size, bravely defends himself, and often beats off his +antagonist; while the burgomaster a large and powerful bird, may be +looked upon as a ship of war, before whom even the sea-swallow flies +away, or is compelled to deliver up his prize. There were a few also of +the ivory gull, a beautiful bird of immaculate whiteness. They are so +timid that they dare not rest on the whale, but fly down, and while +fluttering over it, tear off small bits, and are off again before the +dreaded burgomaster can come near them. + +But now to our prize. First, the harpooners secured to their feet what +we called spurs, that is, spikes of iron, to prevent them from slipping +off the back of the whale, on which they now descended. I and three +other youngsters were meantime ordered to get into two of the boats, +into which were thrown the blubber-knives and spades, bone-knives, and +other instruments used in the operation in which they were about to +engage. + +Our duty was to keep alongside the whale, to hand them what they +required, and to pick any one up who should by chance fall into the +water. The specksioneer, or chief harpooner, took post in the centre of +the rest to direct them. The fat is, as it were, a casing on the +outside of the whale, so that it can easily be got at. With their +blubber-knives the men then cut it into oblong pieces, just as a fish is +cut across at table; and with their spades they lifted it from the flesh +and bones, performing the same work on a larger scale that the +fish-knife does. To the end thus first lifted a strap and tackle is +fastened, called the "speck-tackle," by which those on deck haul it up. +This operation is called "flensing." + +As the huge mass is turned round and round by the kent-tackle, the +harpooners continue cutting off the slips, till the whole coat of fat is +removed. The fins and tail are also cut off; and, lastly, the +whale-bone is cut out of the mouth. The whale-bone is placed in two +rows in the mouth, and is used instead of teeth, to masticate the food, +and to catch the minute animals floating in the water on which it feeds. +Each side of bone consists of upwards of three hundred laminae, the +interior edges of which are covered with a fringe of hair. Ten or +twelve feet is the average size. In young whales, called "suckers," it +is only a few inches long. When it is above six feet, the whale is said +to be of _size_, a term I have before used. + +The tongue of the whale is very large; it has a beard, and a very narrow +throat. While I was handing a blubber-spade to old David, as I looked +over the side of the boat, I saw a pair of bright green eyes glancing up +at me with such a knowing, wicked look, that I drew back with a shudder, +thinking it was some uncommon monster of the deep, who was watching for +an opportunity to carry one of us off. + +"What is it now, youngster? Have you bit your nose?" asked David, +laughing. + +"No," I replied breathlessly. "Look there--what is that?" I pointed +out the eyes, which were still glaring up at me. + +"That--why that, my green lad, is only a blind shark. Have not you ever +seen one of them before?" + +"Only a shark!" I exclaimed with horror, remembering all I had heard +about sharks. "Won't he eat one?" + +"No, not he; but just run a boat-hook into him, and try and drive him +away, for he's drawing five shillings' worth of oil out of the fish +every mouthful he takes, the glutton," said David. + +I did as I was desired; but though the point ran right into his body, he +only shifted his post a little, and made a fresh attack directly under +the stern of the boat. I again wounded him; but he was either so +engaged with gorging himself, or so insensible to pain, that he +continued with his nose against the side of the whale, eating away as +before. + +I afterwards learned that this Greenland shark is not really blind, +though the sailors think so because it shows no fear at the sight of +man. The pupil of the eye is emerald green; the rest of it is blue, +with a white worm-shaped substance on the outside. This one was upwards +of ten feet in length, and in form like a dog-fish. It is a great foe +to the whale, biting and annoying him even when alive; and by means of +its peculiarly-shaped mouth and teeth it can scoop out of its body +pieces as large as a man's head. + +But the most persevering visitors during the operation of flensing were +the sailors' little friends the Mollies. The moment the fish was struck +they had begun to assemble, and they were now pecking and tearing away +at the flesh with the greatest impudence, even among the men's long +knives. One at last got between David's legs, which so tried his +patience, that he took it up and flung it from him with a hearty shake, +abusing it for running the risk of being hurt; just as a cab-driver does +a child for getting into the road, without the slightest idea of +injuring it. But the Molly would not take the hint, and with the +greatest coolness returned to its repast, thinking, probably, that it +had as much right to its share as we had to ours. + +The Mollies do not evince an amiable disposition towards each other; and +as the "krang" (such is the name given to the refuse parts of the whale) +is cut off, they were to be seen sitting on the water by thousands +tearing at the floating pieces, and when one morsel seemed more tempting +than another, driving their weaker brethren away from it, and fighting +over it as if the sea was not covered with other bits equally good. All +the time the noise they made "poultering" down in the water, and +quacking or cackling--I do not know which to call it--was most +deafening. + +My good friend Andrew pointed them out to me. He never lost an +opportunity of giving me a useful lesson. "There," he said, "that's the +way of the world. We are never content with what we have got, but must +fight to gain something else. Now take my advice, Peter. Do your duty +as a man; and when you light upon a piece of krang, stick to it, and be +thankful that you've found it." I have never since been in a noisy, +quarrelsome crowd, that I did not think of the Mollies and the krang. + +I must not forget the green-eyed monster which had so startled me. The +surgeon had got a hook ready, covered by a piece of blubber; and letting +it fall quietly over the stern before its nose, the bait was instantly +gorged. To hook a fish of ten feet long, and to get him on board, are +two different things; and our good _medico_ was very nearly drawn +overboard in a vain attempt to do the latter without assistance, which, +just then, all hands on board were too much engaged to afford. The line +was very strong, or the shark would have broken it, as now, finding +himself hooked, he had sense enough to struggle violently in order to +get free. + +I must confess that, when I came on deck after the krang had been cast +adrift, I was not sorry to see my friend in that condition. After some +trouble we got the bight of a rope over his head, and another round his +tail, and hoisted him on deck. If a cat has nine lives, a Greenland +shark may be said to have ninety. We cut him on the head and tail with +hatchets, and knocked out any brains he might have possessed, and still +he would not die. At last the surgeon cut him up, and hours after each +individual piece seemed to have life remaining in it. + +Sometimes when the tackles are removed the carcase of the whale sinks, +and the fish at the bottom are alone the better for it; but at other +times, as in this case, it floats, and not only the birds and sharks, +but the bears find a hearty meal off it. This krang floated away; and +afterwards, as I shall have presently to relate, was the source of much +amusement. I ought to have said, that while the harpooners were +flensing the whale, another division of the crew were employed in +receiving it on deck, in pieces of half a ton each, while others cut it +into portable pieces of about a foot square; and a third set passed it +down a hole in the main hatches to between decks, where it was received +by two men, styled kings, who stowed it away in a receptacle called the +"flense gut." Here it remained till there was time for "making off." + +Having now got our prize on board, the owners being probably 500 pounds +richer, should we reach home in safety, than they were a few hours +before, we set to work to make off the blubber, that is, to stow it away +in the casks in the hold. For this purpose we ran out some miles from +the ice, in smooth water, and hove to, with just sufficient sail set to +steady the ship. While the skee-man--the officer who has charge of the +hold--the cooper, and a few others, were breaking out the hold, that is, +getting at the ground or lowest tier of casks, we on deck were arranging +the speck-trough, and other apparatus required for preparing the +blubber. + +The speck-trough is an oblong box, with a lid, about twelve feet in +length. The lid, when thrown back, forms a chopping-table; and it is +covered with bits of whale's tail from end to end, which, being elastic, +though hard, prevents the knives being blunted. In the middle of the +trough is a square hole, which is placed over the hatchway; and to the +hole is attached a hose or pipe of canvas, leading into the hold, and +movable, so as to be placed over the bungs of each cask. A pair of +nippers embrace it, so as to stop the blubber from running down when no +cask is under. + +The krang is the refuse, as I have said, and the men who separate the +oily part from it are called "krangers." The "kings" throw the blubber +in rough out of the "flense gut" to the "krangers" on deck; from them it +is passed to the harpooners, who are the skinners. After the skin has +been sliced off, it is placed on the chopping-block, before which stand +in a row the boat-steerers, who with their long knives cut it up into +oblong pieces not larger than four inches in diameter, and then push it +into the speck-trough. + +The line-managers are stationed in the hold, and guide the tube or lull +to the casks they desire to fill. Finally, when no more can fall in, +piece after piece is jambed in by a pricker, and the cask is bunged up. +Sometimes not only are all the casks on board filled, but the blubber is +stowed away in bulk in the hold, and even between decks; but this good +fortune does not often occur. + +It will be seen by any one who has read an account, that the process of +preparing the cargo by the whalers in the southern seas is very +different. Andrew Thompson had once been in a South Sea whaler, and he +told me he never wished to go in another; for a wilder, more mutinous +set of fellows it was never his ill-luck, before or since, to meet. +This was, of course, owing partly to the captain, who was a rough, +uncultivated savage, and totally unfit to gain any moral restraint over +his men. + +"I'll tell you what it is, Peter," said Andrew, as I sat by him in the +forecastle that evening, listening to his yarns, "till the masters are +properly educated, and know how to behave like officers and gentlemen, +the men will be mutinous and ill-conducted. When I say like gentlemen, +I don't mean that they should eat with silver forks off china, drink +claret, and use white pocket-handkerchiefs. Those things don't make the +gentleman afloat more than on shore. But what I like to see, is a man +who treats his crew with proper gentleness, who looks after their +interest in this world and the next, and tries to improve them to the +best of his power--who acts, indeed, as a true Christian will act--that +man is, I say, a gentleman. I say, put him where you will, ask him to +do what you will, he will look and act like a gentleman. Who would dare +to say that our good captain is not one? He looks like one, and acts +like one, at all times and occasions; and if we had many more like him +in the merchant service generally, we should soon have an improvement in +the condition of our seamen. + +"But I have got adrift from what I was going to tell you about the South +Sea whalers. You see, the whales in those seas are generally +sperm-whales, with blunt bottle-noses, altogether unlike the fish about +here. There is not much difference in the way of killing them, except +that one has not to go among the ice for them, in the way we have here, +as they are met with in `schools' in the open sea. What we call +`making-off' is there called `trying-out.' + +"You see, on account of the hot climates they have to come through to +return home, and partly from the value of the blubber, they have to boil +it to get out the oil; and for this object they have to build large +stoves or fire-places with brick on deck, between the fore-mast and main +hatchway; and above them are three or four large pots. The blubber is +then, you see, minced up, and pitched into the pots with long forks. +Just fancy what a curious scene there must be while the trying-out is +going on at night--the red glare of the fires, and the thick lurid smoke +ascending in dense columns round the masts! Any one, not knowing what +was going forward, would think, to a certainty, the ship was on fire; +and then the stench of the boiling oil, hissing and bubbling in the +pots--the suffocating feel of the smoke--the fierce-looking, greasy, +unwashed men--I say, those who have been in a South Sea whaler will +never wish to go again." + +I told him that I had no wish, after his description, ever to belong to +one, though I liked the life, as far as I had seen of it, where I was. + +"I have not a word to say against it, mate," replied Andrew. "But wait +a bit till we come to boring and cutting through the ice, in case we are +beset, and then you'll say that there is something like hard work to be +done." + +It took us two hours to kill our first whale, and four to flense it. We +afterwards performed the last operation in less time, when all hands +were more expert. + +The next morning we again stood in towards the ice, to see if there was +any opening through which we might force the ship, but none appeared. +What was curious, we hit the spot to which the krang of the fish we had +killed the day before had floated. We saw something moving on the ice, +as we approached, besides the clouds of wild-fowl which hovered over it, +and on the sea around. + +We pointed it out to the second mate. He took his glass, and, putting +it to his eye, exclaimed, "There's a big white bear has just been +breakfasting, and has hauled up some of the krang on the ice, to serve +him for dinner; but we'll try what we can do to spoil his sport." + +In accordance with this resolution, he went to the captain and asked +leave to take a boat to try and bring back Bruin, dead or alive. + +"You may bring him back dead, but alive you'll never get him into that +boat, depend on it," answered Captain Rendall, laughing. "However, take +care he is not too much for you; for those bears are cunning fellows, +remember; and I should advise you to take a couple of muskets, and some +tough lances." + +"Never fear, sir," answered the mate, preparing to lower a boat. "I +don't think a boat's crew need, any day, be afraid of a single bear." + +Volunteers being asked for, Terence and I, old David and Stokes, and +three others, jumped into the boat, and pulled off towards where the +bear was seated quietly licking his paws after his meal. The mate had a +great idea of noosing him; and for this purpose he and David were each +armed with a coil of rope, with a bight to throw over his head, like a +lasso, while Terence and I were to take charge of the guns. The mate +first made us put him on the ice some few hundred yards on one side of +the bear, and then we pulled round to the same distance on the other. +Each had a lance besides his lasso, and the mate had a pistol in his +belt. + +In case of extreme necessity, Terence and I were to fire, and then to +land and come to their rescue. As soon as the two had landed, they +began to move away from the edge, hoping thereby to cut Bruin off should +he attempt to escape. He had, however, no inclination to leave his +dinner; though, perhaps, had he not already eaten to repletion, he would +not have sat so quiet while we approached. + +We meantime pulled close up to the krang, among all the ducks and gulls. +This Bruin did not mind, but sat still, looking quietly on. Of course +I could then easily have shot him; but that was not the mate's object. +All he did was to growl and show his teeth, as if he longed to have us +all within his paws. This made us bolder and less cautious, so we got +close up to him. + +"We are still too far for me to heave the bight over his shoulders," +cried Terence. "Just see if you can't get hold of his dinner with the +boat-hook, and that will bring him nearer." + +I luckily held my gun in my left hand, while with my right, as I sprang +on the ice, I attempted to catch hold of the whale's flesh with the +boat-hook. This was too much for the equanimity even of Bruin, and with +a loud growl he sprang towards the boat, happily thinking me too +insignificant for punishment. I immediately ran off towards the mate; +while so great was the impetus which the bear had gained, that he went +head-foremost into the water, just catching the gunwale of the boat as +the men in her tried to shove off to avoid him. + +Terence seized his musket, but it missed fire; and before either of the +others could get their lances ready, Bruin had actually scrambled on +board. No one can be surprised at their fright, nor that, as the bear +came in on one side, they should jump out on the other. They were all +good swimmers, so they struck out for the ice, on to which the mate and +I hauled them, while Bruin floated away in our boat. + +We thought he would have jumped out again, and attacked us: but he +seemed perfectly content with his victory, and inclined for a cruise, as +he sat, with the greatest composure, examining the different articles in +the boat. How long he might have sat there I do not know, had not the +mate ordered me to try my skill as a shot. It was a long time since I +had had a gun in my hand, and my ambition was roused. I took a steady +aim at poor Bruin's eye, and he sunk down in the bottom of the boat. + +The whole occurrence had been seen from the ship by our captain, who +despatched a boat to our assistance. We stood meantime, looking very +foolish, on the ice; and those who had been in the water shivering not a +little with the cold. After the boat had taken us on board, we pulled +towards ours, with the bear in it. We half-expected to see him jump up, +and, seizing the oars, pull away from us. Terence declared that he knew +a man who said that such a thing had once happened, and that the bear, +after a chase of many miles, got clean off with the boat; and that next +year, about the same latitude, he was seen cruising about by himself, +fishing for seals. + +However, we got cautiously up to our boat; and there lay Bruin, +breathing out his last. By the time we got alongside, he was quite +dead. We all, especially the mate, got well laughed at for having had +our boat captured by a bear. + +"And so, Mr Derrick," said the captain, "a boat's crew can possibly be +beaten by a bear, I see." + +"They can, sir," answered the mate; "I own it; but if you'll remember, +you said I should never get that bear into the boat, alive or dead, and +I've done both." + +"Not that," replied the captain. "He got himself in, and he got you +out; so I don't see that you've fulfilled your promise." + +However, Bruin was hoisted on board, and the mate secured his skin, +which was what he wanted. Of course the adventure caused much joking +afterwards, and the boat was ever afterwards called "the bear's boat." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +For several days, during which we captured another whale, we were +cruising about, in the hopes of finding a passage through the ice. We +were now joined by a squadron of six other ships, all bent on the same +object that we were, to find our way across Baffin's Bay to a spot +called Pond's Bay, which has been found, of late years, to be frequented +by a large number of whales. + +I have before forgot to mention the great length of the days; indeed, +for some time past there had scarcely been any night. Now, for the +first time in my life, I saw the sun set and rise at midnight. It was +my first watch; and, as eight bells were struck, the sun, floating +majestically on the horizon, began again its upward course through the +sky. On the other side the whole sky was tinged with a rich pink glow, +while the sky above was of a deep clear blue. I could scarcely tear +myself from the spectacle, till old David laughed heartily at me for +remaining on deck when it was my watch below. Now was the time to push +onward, if we could once penetrate the ice. We had worked our way to +the east, in the hopes of there finding a passage. + +"Land on the starboard bow!" shouted the second mate from the +crow's-nest. Still on we sailed, till we saw it clearly from the deck. +Lofty black rocks were peeping out from amid snow-capped heights, and +eternal glaciers glittering in the sunbeams. In the foreground were +icebergs tinged with many varied hues. Deep valleys appeared running up +far inland; and above all, in the distance, were a succession of +towering mountain ranges, reaching to the sky. Still on we sailed. + +"Well, lad, how long do you think it would take you to pull on shore +now?" asked old David. + +"Better than half-an-hour, in a whale-boat, with a good crew," I +answered, thinking the distance was about four or five miles. + +The old whaler chuckled, in the way he always did when he had got, what +he called, the weather-gauge of me. + +"Now I tell you it would take you three good hours, with the best crew +that ever laid hand on oar, and the fastest boat, too, to get from this +ship to that shore." + +"Come now, David, you are passing your jokes off on a greenhorn," I +replied. "Why, if the water was not cold, I don't think I should find +much difficulty in swimming there, when we got a little closer in." + +This answer produced a fresh succession of chuckles. Still on we +sailed; and I confess that at the end of an hour we appeared no nearer +than before. + +"Well, what do you think of it now?" asked old David. + +"Why, that there must be a strong current against us, setting off +shore," I answered, wishing to show my knowledge. + +He replied that there was no current, and that I was wrong. Another +half-hour passed, and still we did not seem to have gained ground. + +"What do you think of our being off Cape Flyaway, youngster?" asked +David, pretending to be alarmed. "Did you never hear speak of that? +The longer you sail after it the farther off it goes, till it takes you +right round the world. If that's it, and I don't say it isn't, it will +be long enough before we get back to old England again." Having thus +delivered himself, he walked away, to avoid being questioned. + +Tom Stokes, who was near me, and, as I have said, was very fond of +reading, heard his remark. + +"Do you know, Peter, I am not certain that what David says is altogether +wrong," he remarked, in a mysterious manner. "I have just been reading +in a book an account of a voyage made many centuries ago by a Danish +captain to these seas. His name was Rink, but I forget the name of the +ship. His crew consisted of eighty stout brave fellows; but when they +got up here, some of the bravest were frightened with the wonders they +beheld--the monsters of the deep, the fogs, the snows, and the mountains +of ice--and at last they saw at no great distance a high picturesque +land on which they wished to land, but though they sailed rapidly on, or +appeared to sail, they got no nearer to it. This increased the alarm +they already felt. One-half of the crew were of opinion that the land +itself moved away from them; the others that there were some powerful +loadstone rocks somewhere astern, which kept the ship back. At last +Captain Rink finding a northerly breeze spring up, and being somewhat +short of provisions, put up the helm and ran home, every one on board +giving a different account of the wonders they had seen, but all +agreeing that it was a region of ice-demons and snow-spirits, and that +they would never, if they could help it, venture there again." + +For some hours we continued much of Captain Rink's opinion, till at last +I had an opportunity of asking Andrew what he thought about the matter. +He then told me that, on account of the clearness of the atmosphere, and +the brightness of the snow-covered hills or icy plains, they appear to a +person unaccustomed to look on them to be very much nearer than they +really are. He assured me that it would be a long time before I should +be able to judge of distances; and that he had known a person mistake a +few stunted shrubs appearing above the snow a few yards off for a forest +in the distance, while land many miles off appeared, as it had to me, +close at hand. + +It was evening, or I should rather say near midnight, when we really got +close in, when we found that the valleys were magnificent fiords, or +gulfs running far inland, and that the rocks and icebergs were of vast +height. As we sailed along the coast, nothing could be more beautiful +than the different effects of light and shade--the summits of the +distant inland ranges shining in the sunlight like masses of gold, and +the icebergs in the foreground tinged with the most beautiful and +dazzling colours. + +Beautiful as was the scene, I had no idea that any civilised beings +dwelt in such a region of eternal snows. What was my surprise, then, to +find the ship brought to an anchor off a small town called Leifly, +belonging to the Danes! They have several small colonies along the +coast, at each of which are stationed missionaries engaged in the pious +work of converting the Esquimaux to Christianity. + +I thought that where we lay at anchor was directly under the overhanging +cliffs; but I found, from the time the boat took reaching the shore, +that we were several miles off. Several Esquimaux canoes came off to +the ship to barter with us. One man sits in each boat, which is so long +and narrow, that one is surprised it should be able to encounter the +slightest sea. The whole is decked over, except a round opening, in +which they seat themselves. + +All these people were Christians; and in each canoe was a strip of paper +stuck in a thong under the deck, on which were written, in Danish, +passages from the Scriptures. They were comfortably dressed in sealskin +coats, trousers, and boots, with a sealskin helmet. Their heads were +large, with a narrow, retreating forehead; strong, coarse black hair, +flat nose, full lips, almost beardless chin, and full lustrous black +eyes--not beauties, certainly, but the expression was very amiable, and +so was their conduct. + +We had to lower a boat to assist them on deck when they came alongside, +for otherwise they would not have been able to get out of their crank +barks without capsizing. The way they manage is as follows:--Two canoes +bring up alongside each other, the man in the outer one passing his +paddle through a thong which stretches across the deck of the inner one, +which it thus steadies till the owner can get out. The inner canoe is +then hauled out of the way, and another pulls up on the outside. The +last canoe is held by the gunwale till the occupant steps out. They all +appeared ready to render each other this assistance. The canoe is +called a "kajack." + +The kajacks being hauled on deck, we began our barter. We had to give +old clothes, red and yellow cotton handkerchiefs, biscuits, coffee, +earthenware bowls, needles, and many other little things; for which they +exchanged sealskins, sealskin trousers, caps, slippers, gloves, and +tobacco-bags. These articles were very neatly sewed with sinew thread. +Our negotiations being completed in the most amicable manner, they took +their departure much in the way in which they had arrived. + +I afterwards went ashore in the boat, and saw their huts, which were +better, I am ashamed to say, than many I had seen in Ireland. Many of +them were nearly built of the bones of the whale, which had an odd +appearance. There were heaps of filth in front, and troops of +ill-favoured dogs were prowling about them. + +I saw some of their women, the elder ones being the most hideous-looking +of the human race I ever beheld. They wore their hair gathered in a +large knot at the top of the head; but in other respects they were +dressed exactly like the men, in sealskin garments. Whatever business +took us there was soon completed; and once more, in company with several +other ships, we commenced our struggle with the ice-monsters of the +deep. Our course was still northerly, as what is called the "middle +ice" fills up the centre of the bay in impenetrable masses; and it is +only by working round it to the north, where it has drifted away from +the coast, that a passage to the west side can be effected. + +Soon after sailing, we were frozen into a sheet of bay ice for some +days. It was slight, and in many places could scarcely bear the weight +of a man. Indeed, there were in every direction pools of water, which +for some reason or other did not freeze. Our captain had been for some +time in the crow's-nest, looking out for a sign of the breaking up of +the ice, when he observed several whales rising in the pools. He +instantly ordered the smaller boats to be lowered, and worked through +and over the ice to the pools, with harpooners ready to strike any whale +which might rise in them. Meantime he armed himself with a harpoon, and +ordered others to follow with lances, each with ice-shoes on his feet. + +The first man carried the end of a line, and the rest laid hold of it at +intervals; so that, should any fall in, they might be able to draw +themselves out again. We had not long to wait before a whale was +struck, and out flew the line from the boat. So thin was the ice, that +we could see the monster through it, as he swam along close under it. +Away he went; but, losing breath, he knocked a hole in the ice with his +head, to get some fresh air. We followed, but at first he was too quick +for us, and had dived again before we came up with him. + +We had to look out to avoid the place he had broken as we made chase +after him. Our captain took the lead without a rope, going at a great +rate in his snow-shoes. He saw the whale close under him, and had just +got his harpoon ready to strike through the ice, when up came the fish +under the very spot where he stood, and we saw him skip off in a +tremendous hurry, or he to a certainty would have gone in, and perhaps +have been drawn down when the whale started off again. + +Instead of this, he boldly went to the very edge of the ice, and while +the whale was blowing, he darted his harpoon deep into his neck. The +whale continued his course, but so much slower than before, that we got +up to him, and striking our lances through the ice whenever he touched +it, we soon despatched him. As he had no means of breathing under the +ice, he died quietly, and was dragged up by the line of the first +harpoon which struck him; and, by breaking the ice so as to let the line +pass, he was hauled up to the ship. + +Scarcely was the first secured than a second one was struck, and away we +went after him, hallooing, shouting, and laughing. The first man was a +little fellow, though, I believe, he cracked the ice. At all events, we +had not gone a hundred yards when in fell three men, one after the +other; but they did not mind, and by means of the rope they were soon +out again, and in chase of our prey. + +Poor Stokes got in twice, and I once, to the great amusement of the +rest; however, very few escaped without a wetting, so that the laugh was +not entirely against us. We succeeded in killing the fish, and I do not +know whether it was not as exciting as chasing him in the water; at all +events there was more fun and novelty, and that is what a sailor likes. + +A fair breeze at length sprung up, which, bringing warmer weather, and +enabling us to spread our canvas with effect, we cut away the ice round +the ship, and then she, with her strong bows, forced a passage through +it. While the wind lasted, with every yard of canvas alow and aloft the +ship could carry, we pressed our onward way--sometimes among floes, +threatening every instant to close in and nip us; at other times with +drift and brash-ice surrounding us; and at others amid open ice, with +here and there floating icebergs appearing near us. + +To one of these we had to moor, on account of a shift of wind, which +blew strong in our teeth; and at first, when I turned into my berth, I +did not sleep as securely as usual, from remembering Andrew's account of +one toppling over and crushing a ship beneath it. However, I need +scarcely say that that feeling very soon wore off. The objects gained +by mooring to an iceberg are several. In the first place, from so large +a proportion of the mass being below the water, the wind has little +effect on it, and therefore the ship loses no ground; then it shields +her from the drift-ice as it passes by, and she has also smooth water +under its lee. Casting off from the iceberg, as did our consorts from +those to which they had been moored, when the wind again became +favourable, we continued our course. + +We were now approaching the most dangerous part of our voyage, the +passage across Melville Bay, which may be considered the north-eastern +corner of Baffin's Bay. Ships may be sailing among open ice, when, a +south-westerly wind springing up, it may suddenly be pressed down upon +them with irresistible force, and they may be nipped or totally +destroyed. + +All this I learned from old David, who was once here when upwards of +twelve ships were lost in sight of each other, though the crews escaped +by leaping on the ice. + +"Remember, youngster, such may be our fate one of these days; and we +shall be fortunate if we have another ship at hand to take us on board," +he remarked. + +I never knew whether he uttered this not over-consolatory observation +for my benefit, to remind me how, at any moment, the lives of us all +might be brought to an end, or to amuse himself by watching its effect +on me. + +For a week we threaded our way among the open floes, when a solid field +seemed to stop our further progress. This had been seen hours before, +from the unbroken ice-blink playing over it. Our captain was in the +crow's-nest, looking out for a lane through which the ship might pass +till clear water was gained. After waiting, and sailing along the edge +of the field for some time, some clear water was discovered at the +distance of three or four miles, and to it our captain determined that +we should cut our way. The ice-saws were accordingly ordered, to be got +ready, with a party to work them, on the ice. I was one of them; and, +while we cut the canal, the ship was warped up, ready to enter the space +we formed. + +The ice-saw is a very long iron saw, and has a weight attached to the +lower end. A triangle of spars is formed, with a block in the centre, +through which a rope, attached to the upper part of the saw, is rove. +The slack end of the rope is held by a party of men. When they run away +from the triangle, the saw rises, and when they slack the rope, the +weight draws it down, as the sawyer in a sawpit would do. As the saw +performs its work, the triangles are moved from the edge of the ice. As +the pieces were cut, they were towed away, and shoved along to the mouth +of the canal. + +All the time we were at work, some of the men with good voices led a +song, in the chorus of which we all joined; and I must say we worked +away with a will. It was harder work when we had to haul out the bits +of ice, the ship being towed into the canal. With a cheerful shout we +completed our canal, and got the ships into a natural lane; and the rest +following close upon our track, we worked our way along for many miles, +by what is called tracking. + +This operation is very similar to the way a canal-boat is dragged along +a canal through the green fields of England, only that men have, in the +case I am describing, to do the work of horses. A tow-rope was made +fast to the fore-mast, and about a third of each ship's company were +ordered to drag their respective ship ahead. Away we went, as usual, +with song and laughter, tramping along the ice for miles together, and +towing our homes, like snails, after us. + +For several days we continued the same work; and afterwards, when we got +out of the lanes, and the ice was found broken, or so irregular that it +was impossible to walk over it, we had to carry out ice-claws, or what +may be called ice-kedges, to warp the ship ahead. The ice-claws +grappled hold of the ice, and the warp being then carried round the +capstan, or windlass, we hove in on it, just as if we were heaving up an +anchor, only that this work continued for hour after hour, and days and +nights in succession, without intermission. + +Ten days passed away much in the manner I have described. We then got +into comparatively clear water for a few hours, during which time the +other ships joined us. As there was no wind, we had to tow the ship +ahead in the boats, so that there was no cessation of our labours. + +"Well," I exclaimed to old David, "I suppose after all this we shall +soon get into an open sea again." + +"Don't be too sure of that, or of anything else, lad," he answered. "We +have not yet got into the thick of it, let me tell you." + +I found that his words were too true. The boats had been hoisted in, +for a breeze had sprung up, and we were progressing favourably, when we +came to some large floes. The openings between them were wide, and +without hesitation we proceeded through them. On a sudden these vast +masses were seen in motion, slowly moving round and round, without any +apparent cause. The captain hailed from the crow's-nest, ordering the +ice-saws to be got ready, and the ship to be steered towards one of the +largest floes close on the larboard bow. The sails were clewed up, and +the ice-claws being carried out, the ship was hauled close up to it; and +while the captain and carpenters were measuring out a dock, a party, of +which I was one, set to work with the saws. + +There was no time to be lost. A moment too late, and our stout ship +might be cracked like a walnut, and we might all be cast homeless on the +bleak expanse of ice to perish miserably. The floes were approaching +rapidly, grinding and crushing against one another, now overlapping each +other; or, like wild horses fighting desperately, rearing up against +each other, and with terrific roar breaking into huge fragments. + +"Bear a hand, my lads; bear a hand, that's good fellows. We'll not be +nipped this time if we can help it," sung out the officers in a cheering +tone to encourage us, though the anxious looks they cast towards the +approaching masses showed that their confidence was more assumed than +real. + +Whatever we thought, we worked and sung away as if we were engaged in +one of the ordinary occupations of life, and that, though we were in a +hurry, there was no danger to be apprehended. The dock was cut +long-wise into the ice the length of the ship, which was to be hauled in +stern first. As there was every appearance of a heavy pressure, the ice +at the inner part of the dock was cut into diamond-shaped pieces, so +that, when the approaching floe should press on the bows, the vessel +might sustain the pressure with greater ease, by either driving the +pieces on to the ice, or rising over them. + +The crews of all the other ships were engaged in the same way, but, as +may be supposed, we had little time to attend to them. Our captain was +engaged in superintending our operations; but I saw him cast many an +anxious glance towards our advancing foes. + +For an instant, he ran to the side of the ship and hailed the deck. +"Mr Todd," he said, "it will be as well to get some casks of +provisions, the men's clothes, and a few spare sails for tents, and +such-like things, you know, ready on deck, in case the nip should come +before we can get into dock." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered the mate, not a bit disconcerted; and with the +few hands remaining on board he set about obeying our commander's +somewhat ominous directions. + +I ought to have said that the rudder had at the first been unshipped and +slung across the stern, as it stands to reason that when pressed against +by the ice it should be the first thing injured. Still we worked away. +We had begun to saw the loose pieces at the head of the dock. + +"Hurra, my lads! knock off, and bear a hand to haul her in," shouted out +the captain; "no time to be lost." + +With a right good will we laid hold of the warps, and towing and fending +off the ship's bows from the outer edge of the ice, we got her safely +into the dock. We then set to work to cut up the pieces. We completed +our labours not a moment too soon; for before we had got on board again, +the tumult, which had been long raging in the distance, came with +increased fury around us, and we had reason to be grateful to Heaven +that we were placed in a situation of comparative safety. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +We were safe--so the old hands said; but it required some time before +one could fully persuade one's self of the fact. Not only were the +neighbouring floes in motion, but even the one in which we were fixed. +Rushing together with irresistible force, they were crushing and +grinding in every direction, with a noise far more terrific than that of +thunder. + +The ship meantime, notwithstanding all our precautions, was driven back +before the force opposed to her; and had it not been for the loose +pieces under her stern, she might have been nipped in the most dangerous +manner. One might fancy that the floes were pitted to try their +strength against each other, though it would have been difficult to +decide which was the victor. + +I had read descriptions of earthquakes, and the commotion reminded me of +them. Those who have crossed a large frozen pond or lake will remember +the peculiar noise which even stout ice makes when trod on for the first +time. Fancy this noise increased a thousand-fold, thundering under +one's feet, and then booming away till the sound is lost in the almost +interminable distance! Then the field began to tremble, and slowly +rise, and then to rend and rift with a sullen roar, and mighty blocks +were hove up, one upon another, till a rampart, bristling with huge +fragments, was formed close around the ship, threatening her with +destruction. + +It seemed like the work of magic; for where lately there was a wide +expanse of ice, intersected with lanes of clear water, there was now a +country, as it were, covered with hills and rocks, rising in every +fantastic shape, and valleys full of stones scattered in every +direction. + +In several places large misshapen masses had been forced up in a +perpendicular position, while others had been balanced on their summits +so evenly, that the slightest touch was sufficient to send them +thundering down on either side. + +Our own safety being provided for, we had time to look after our +consorts. Most of them had managed, as we had done, to get into docks; +but one, which had taken a more southerly course, appeared to heel over +on one side, and to be in a most perilous condition. + +The weather, which during the commotion had been very thick, now for an +instant clearing in the direction where she lay, the first mate ascended +with his glass to the crow's-nest, and on coming on deck he reported +that the _Arctic Swan_ seemed a complete wreck, and that the boats and +the men's chests were scattered about round her, as if thrown on the ice +in a great hurry. + +"I fear it's a very bad case, sir; and if you'll give me leave, I'll +take a party and see what help we can afford them," said Mr Todd to the +captain. + +Seamen are always anxious to render assistance to those in peril; and +Captain Rendall having given his permission, plenty of volunteers were +found ready for the somewhat hazardous expedition. I was one of them. +The risk was, that during our absence the ice might begin to take off; +and that we should be separated from the ship, and be left among the +heaving and tumbling masses of ice. Of this probably the captain had +not much fear, or he would not have allowed us to go. + +To assist our return, and also to enable us to rescue any of the crew of +the wreck who might be injured, the stern boat was lowered that we might +track her up to them. Mr Todd, three other men, and I, formed the +party. Away we went towards the ship, dragging our boat with no little +difficulty among the hummocks and masses, with some risk of the blocks +toppling down on our heads and crushing us. + +As we drew nearer the _Arctic Swan_, an exclamation from the mate made +us look up at her. "There they go," he cried; "I feared so--she'll +never see old England again." + +One mast fell while he was speaking, and the others followed directly +after; and one fancied one could hear the crushing in of the ship's +sides even at that distance. That, however, was not the case, for the +ice had taken but a short time to perform its work of destruction. + +When at length we got up to the ship, a scene of ruin presented itself, +which, before I saw what ice was, I could scarcely have believed could +have been wrought so speedily. Stout as were her timbers, the ice had +crushed them at the bows and stern completely in, and grinding them to +powder, the floes had actually met through her. Part of her keel and +lower works had sunk, but the rest had been forced upwards, and lay a +mass of wreck on the summit of the hummocks which had been formed under +it. + +The stern, by the concussion, incredible as it may seem, had been +carried full fifty yards from the rest of the wreck. Two boats only had +been saved, the rest had been crushed by the ice before they could be +lowered and carried free. A few casks of provisions had been got up on +deck beforehand, in case of such an accident happening, and they, with +the two boats, were upon the ice. + +The crew had escaped with the greatest difficulty--some having gone +below to get their bags being nearly caught in the nip and crushed to +death. At first their faculties were paralysed with the disaster; for +the thick weather prevented them from seeing that any help was near, and +they feared that they should have to attempt to escape in the two boats, +which, even without provisions, would not have held them all. + +British seamen are not addicted to giving way to despair, and their +officers soon succeeded in rousing them, and in inducing them to set to +work to take measures for their safety. Having stowed away the most +portable and nutritious of their provisions in the boats, they began to +make a strong raft, to carry those whom the boats could not contain, +purposing afterwards, should the ice not break up before, to build a +barge out of the fragments of the wreck. + +They were so busily employed that they did not see our approach, and a +loud shout we gave was the first intimation they had of it. They all +started up to see who was so unexpectedly coming to their relief; and +then responded to our cheer with a hearty good-will. They at once began +lightening the boats, so as to be able to drag them over the ice to our +ship; and some of the provisions we took into ours, as well as their +clothes. + +The master gave a last glance at the wreck of the ship with which he had +been entrusted, and with a heavy heart, I doubt not, turned away from +her for ever. After taking some food, in the shape of salt pork and +biscuit, which we much needed, we commenced our return to the ship. +Delay, we all felt, was dangerous; for, should the commotion of the ice +recommence before we could regain the ship, we ran a great chance of +destruction. + +At length, however, after four hours' toil, we accomplished our journey +in safety, and the shipwrecked crew were welcomed on board the _Shetland +Maid_. Some persons might say that, after all, they had little to +congratulate themselves on, for that the same accident which had +happened to them might occur to-morrow to us. Though we were, of +course, aware of this, I must say that I do not believe the idea ever +troubled any one of us; and we all fully expected to return home in the +autumn, notwithstanding the destruction which was, we saw, the lot of so +many. + +That night in the forecastle there was as much fun and laughter as if we +had all come off some pleasant excursion, and our light-hearted guests +seemed entirely to have forgotten their losses. + +"Well, mates, it is to be hoped none of the other ships has met with the +same ill-luck that yours has," said old David. "It will be a wonder if +they have not. I mind the time, for it's not long ago, that nineteen +fine ships were lost altogether, about here. It was a bad year for the +underwriters, and for the owners too, let me tell you. I was on board +the _Rattler_, a fine new ship, when, in company with many others, we +were beset, not far from Cape York, by the ice driven in by a strong +south-wester. + +"Our best chance was to form a line under the lee of the heaviest floe +we could pick out; and there, stem and stern touching each other, we +waited for what was to come. The gale increased, and forced the floes +one over the other, till the heaviest in sight came driving down upon +us. The first ship it lifted completely on to the ice; the next was +nearly stove in, and many of her timbers were broken; and then, getting +more in earnest, it regularly dashed to pieces the four next it got foul +of, sending them flying over the ice in every direction. + +"We were glad enough to escape with our lives, which we had hard work to +do; and then some hundreds of us were turned adrift, not knowing what to +do with ourselves. We thought ourselves badly off, but we were many +times better than the people of another ship near us. They had made +fast to an iceberg, when it toppled right over, and crushed them and the +ship to atoms. We were not alone; for not far from us another fleet was +destroyed, and altogether we mustered nearly a thousand strong-- +Englishmen, Frenchmen, and Danes. We built huts, and put up tents; and +as we had saved plenty of provisions, and had liquor in abundance, we +had a very jolly time of it. + +"The Frenchmen had music, you may be sure; so we had dancing and singing +to our hearts' content, and were quite sorry when the wind shifted, and, +the ice breaking up, we had to separate on board the few ships which +escaped wreck." + +"I remember that time well," said Alec Garrock, a Shetlander, belonging +to our ship. "It was a mercy no lives were lost, either escaping from +the ships, or afterwards, when we were living on the ice, and travelling +from one station to the other. It seems wonderful to me that I'm alive +here, to talk about what once happened to me. The boat I was in had +killed a whale in good style; and when we had lashed the fins together, +and made it fast to the stern of the boat, we saw that a number of +whales were blowing not far off--I ought to say we were close under an +iceberg. We, of course, were eager to be among them; and as, you must +know, the stern-boat had just before been sent to us with one hand in +her with another line, we wanted him to stay by the dead fish. He said +he would not--if we liked to go, so would he; but stay there by himself; +while sport was going on, he would not. + +"At last we resolved to leave the small boat empty, and to take him in +ours. To this he agreed. So, making the whale fast to his boat, and +securing the boat to the berg, away we pulled, as fast as we could lay +our backs to the oars, after a fish we saw blowing near us. Now what I +tell you is true, mates. Not thirty fathoms had we pulled, when over +toppled the iceberg right down on the boat, and we were nearly swamped +with the sea it made. When we pulled back to look for the whale, +neither it nor the boat was to be seen. You may fancy what would have +become of us if we had been there!" + +"There are none of us, to my belief; but have often, if we would but +acknowledge it, been mercifully preserved by Providence," observed my +friend Andrew. + +"I won't speak of what has happened to myself; and Terence, and Peter +here. No one will doubt, I hope, but that it was the finger of God +directed you to take us off the iceberg; but every day some less +remarkable case occurs. A block falls from aloft on the deck, where a +moment before we were standing; a musket-ball passes close to one's ear; +a topmast is carried away just as we have come off the yard; and fifty +other things occur of like nature, and we never think of being grateful +for our preservation. Talking of escapes, I once saw a man carried +overboard by a line round his ankle as a fish was diving. We all gave +him up for lost; but he had a sharp knife in the right-hand pocket of +his jacket, and he kept his thoughts about him so well, that before he +had got many fathoms down, he managed to stoop and cut the line below +his foot, then striking with all his might, he rose to the surface." + +"Did you ever hear tell of the Dutchman who had a ride on the back of a +whale?" asked David. "He had just struck his harpoon into a fish, when, +lifting up her tail, she drove the boat into shatters. He fell on his +back, and got hold of his harpoon, his foot at the same time being +entangled in the line. Away swam the fish on the top of the water, +fortunately for him never thinking of diving. He stood upright all the +time, holding on by his right hand, while his left tried in vain to find +his knife to cut himself clear. Another boat followed, for the chance +of rescuing him; but there appeared but little hope of his being saved, +unless he could free himself. Just as the fish was going down, the +harpoon shook out, and, jumping off its back, to which he gave a hearty +kick, he struck out for the boat, and was picked up when he could swim +no more. He is the only man I ever heard of who really has ridden on a +whale's back, though there's many a tale told by those who have, which +is not true." + +"I've been on the back of a live whale more than once," said Garrock. +"I mean when we've been fishing among bay ice, and the fish have come up +through the holes to breathe. But I was going to say how last season we +had a chase after a fish, which gave us more trouble than I ever saw +before. It led us a chase for the best part of the day, after it had +been struck. It dragged one boat, with twenty lines fast, right under a +floe, and then broke away; and when we killed it at last, it had taken +out thirty lines, which, as you know, is close upon six miles of line." + +Thus yarn after yarn was spun. I do not attempt to give the peculiar +phraseology of the speakers; but their stories, which I believe to be +perfectly true, may prove interesting. For a whole week we were beset, +and some of the green hands began to fancy that we should be blocked up +for the winter; but the old ones knew better. + +Every day the surface of the ice, where the nip had taken place, was +examined with anxious eyes, in the hopes that some sign of its taking +off or breaking up might be given. At length the pressure became less, +the sound under the ice shrill and sharp, instead of the sullen roar +which had before been heard; the fragments which had been cast above +others began to glide down and disappear in the chasms which were +opening around, and water was seen in a long thin line extending to the +northward. + +A lane was formed, with a wall of fragments on either side; the lane +widened, the fragments rushed into the water, and the captain, from the +crow's-nest, ordered the ship to be towed out of dock. The order was +cheering to our hearts; and as we had plenty of hands, it was soon +executed. All sail was made, and away we flew through the passage, in a +hurry to take advantage of it, lest it should again close upon us. We +succeeded in getting clear, and soon after were joined by our consorts, +which had escaped the nip. + +We made the land again to the northward of Cape York, and, when close +in, were completely becalmed. The boats of each ship were ordered ahead +to tow; and thus we slowly progressed along one of the most picturesque +scenes it has ever been my fortune to witness in the arctic regions. +The water was of glassy smoothness, the sky of brightest blue, and the +atmosphere of perfect transparency; while around floated numberless +icebergs of the most beautiful forms, and of dazzling hues, while all +around was glancing and glittering beneath a bright and glowing sun. + +One berg, I remember, was of enormous size. On the north side it was +perpendicular, as if just severed from another; but, as we rounded it on +the west, ledge above ledge appeared, each fringed with icicles reaching +to the one below, thus forming lines of graceful columns, with a gallery +within, appearing as if tinged with emerald-green. The summit was +peaked and turreted, and broken into many fantastic forms. On the +eastern side a clear arch was seen; and several small cascades fell from +ledge to ledge with a trickling sound, and into the water with a gentle +splash, which could distinctly be heard as we passed. + +It must be remembered that in every direction arose bergs of equal +beauty; while in the background were lofty hills covered with snow, +tinted of a pinkish hue, and above them, of dazzling whiteness, ranges +of eternal glaciers, towering to the sky. I could scarcely have +believed that a scene of such enchanting beauty could have existed in +the arctic regions, and was inclined to fancy, as I pulled at the oar, +that they were rocks of Parian marble and alabaster, and that the +galleries and caverns they contained were the abodes of fairies and the +guardian spirits of those realms. But avast! what has Peter the Whaler +to do with such poetical ideas? + +On we worked our way northward. In clear weather, when a good look-out +was to be had from the crow's-nest, we were able to make our way among +the streams of ice; but in thick weather, when our course could not be +marked out, we were sadly delayed. + +At last, after keeping a westerly course for a few hours, we broke +through all intervening barriers, and once more felt our gallant ship +lifting to the buoyant wave of the open sea, or rather what is called +the "north water." + +The ice, by the warm weather, the currents, and the northerly winds, +being driven out of Lancaster Sound and the head of Baffin's Bay to the +southward, leaves this part, for most of the summer, free from +impediments. In five days after leaving the eastern land, having passed +the north of Lancaster Sound, we came off the famous fishing-station of +Pond's Bay. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +The whole coast, in most places, was lined with a sheet of ice some ten +or fifteen miles wide, to the edge of which, in perfectly smooth water, +our ship, with many others at various distances, was made fast. + +Fancy a day, warm to our feelings as one at the same time of year in +England, and an atmosphere of a brilliancy rarely or never seen at home, +not a breath of air stirring the glassy surface of the shining ocean; +while on the land side lofty mountains stretched away on either side, +with the opening of the bay in the centre, the rocks of numberless +tints, from the many-coloured lichens growing on them, rising as it were +out of a bed of snow still filling the valleys even in midsummer; while +mid-way, along the dark frowning crags which formed the coast, hung a +wavy line of semi-transparent mist, now tinged with a crimson hue, from +the almost horizontal rays of the sun, verging towards midnight. + +These objects also, it must be understood, appeared so close at hand, +that I could scarcely persuade myself that an easy run across the level +ice would not carry me up to them; and yet all the while they were +upwards of a dozen miles off. + +Most of the watch were "on the bran," that is, were in the boats +stationed along the edge of the ice, on the look-out for whales. A few +hands only, besides myself, were on deck, taking our fisherman's walk, +with our fingers in our pockets, and the watch below were sound asleep +in their berths, when Captain Rendall, as was his custom, went aloft +before turning in, to take a look-out for fish from his crow's-nest. We +watched him eagerly. In a few minutes he hailed the deck, with the +joyful news that at about ten miles off there was a whole run of whales, +spouting away as fast as they could blow. + +On the instant, instead of the silence and tranquillity which had before +prevailed, all was now noise, excitement, and hurry. The sleepers +tumbled up from below; the harpooners got ready their gear and received +their orders from the master; the boats on the bran came alongside, to +have their kegs replenished with water, and their tubs with bread, beef, +and pork; while the more eager mates ran aloft, to assure themselves of +the best direction to take. + +In a few minutes five boats were pulling out towards the run, as if the +lives of a ship's company depended on our exertions. "Hurra, my lads, +hurra! give way," shouted our boat-steerers; and give way we did indeed. + +Frequently, as we pulled on, we heard the loud blasts of the narwhals, +or sea-unicorns, as they came towards the bay in shoals; and each time I +fancied we must be close upon a whale, and that the sport was about to +begin, so loud a sound did they make. + +The sea-unicorn is, when full grown, from thirteen to sixteen feet long, +and has a long spiral horn or tusk growing rather on one side of its +upper jaw, of from eight to ten feet in length. The eyes are very +small, the blow-hole is directly over them, and the head is small, +blunt, and round, and the mouth cannot be opened wide. The colour, when +young, is grey, with darker spots on it, and when full grown, of a +yellowish-white. It is a very inoffensive animal. It is said to use +its horn for the purpose of breaking through the ice to breathe, and +neither to destroy its prey nor to defend itself. It swims very fast; +when struck, dives rapidly, but soon returns to the surface, and is +easily killed. We passed several shoals of them on our pull, before we +got up to the run, near a small floe. + +"There she blows!" exclaimed our boat-steerer, almost in a whisper, so +great was his eagerness and fear of disturbing the fish, as a large fish +appeared close to us. We had a fine burst; the harpooner was on his +feet, and, his weapon glancing from his hand, struck the monster. + +Instead, however, of diving, up he rose, clear almost from the water, +his head first, seeming, as his immense bulk appeared against the sky, +like some giant of the deep. We thought he was going to leap on to the +floe; but, suddenly plunging his head beneath the water, his tremendous +tail was lifted above us. I thought all was over. One blow from it +would have annihilated us, and dashed our boat into a thousand +fragments; but the fish, instead, dived directly down under the floe, +his tail only splashing the water over us, and we were safe. + +Then arose the exciting shout of "A fall, a fall!" Other boats came +hurrying to our aid; but, alas, the line on a sudden slackened, and, +with a blank face, the harpooner began to haul it in. + +The fish had shaken himself clear of the harpoon, and escaped. Mighty +must have been the force used, for the massive iron shaft was twisted +and turned as a thin piece of wire might have been bent by a turn of the +hand. + +But, hurra! there are plenty more fish near; and with a will, little +disconcerted, we gave way after them. One was seen at some distance +from a floe, in which there was a crack. Now it is known that a whale +generally rises close to the nearest floe; and if there is a crack in +it, that part is selected instead of the outer edge. We got up to it +before the fish appeared; our oars were out of the water; our harpooner +standing up and watching eagerly every sign of the approach of our +expected prey, guiding by signs the boat-steerer, who, with his oar, was +silently impelling on the boat by sculling. + +"Gently, boys--there's her eddy--two strokes more--now avast pulling!" + +I could just see the head, and the large black mass of the monster's +back, rising slowly from the water as he spoke, forming a strong +contrast to the clear blue and white of the ice, and pure glittering +sea. Then was heard the peculiar snorting blast, as she sent up in the +air two watery jets; but in an instant we were upon her. + +"Harden up, my lads!" shouted the harpooner; and a lusty stroke sent us +almost on to the monster's back; then flew forth his unerring harpoon. +For a few moments, but for a few only, the whale seemed prepared to die +without a struggle: a convulsive quiver passed through its frame; then, +lifting up its flukes, it dived down, like its predecessor, beneath the +floe. The iron had sunk in, and, raising our Blue Jack, with a loud +shout we proclaimed a fall. Out flew the line with tremendous rapidity. +Now the harpooner, sitting on his thwart, attempted to check the fish +by turning the line round the bollard; but so quickly did it pass +through his hands, shielded by mitts, that, almost in spite of the water +thrown on it, smoke ascended from the burning wood, while the bows of +the boat were drawn through the underwash to the solid floe beyond. + +At times we thought the boat's bow would have been drawn under the floe; +again the line-manager let the line run out, and she rose once more, to +be drawn down directly it was checked. But it was all-important to tire +the fish, or otherwise all our line might be taken out before any +assistance could come. Should this be the case, we might, after all, +lose the fish. First one oar was elevated, to show our need of aid; +then a second, a third, and a fourth, as the line drew near what is +called the "bitter end." + +"Hold on, Darby, hold on!" we shouted in our eagerness; for we feared we +might have to cut, or that the boat might be drawn under. Our shipmates +tugged away at their oars with all their might; the boats from every +direction dashing through the water to the point where they thought the +fish might rise. Our line at the very edge began to slacken--a sign +that she had ceased diving. She appeared about a quarter of a mile off +or more, at the edge of the floe. + +The quick-sighted eye of the first mate was on her almost before she had +reached the surface; and before she could again seek safety in the +ocean's depths, another harpoon was plunged into her. We instantly +began hauling in our lines; but before long she was off again, swimming +away some depth below the surface, at a great rate, while we and the +other boat were towed after her. Again the strain slackened, and she +rose once more; but this time her foes were close to her. Another +harpoon was struck, but it was needless. Without mercy lances were +thrust into her on every side, till the shouts which reached our ears, +as we slowly approached, hauling in our lines, proclaimed that our +victory was complete. The fish was now secured, as I have before +described, and made fast to a floe, while all but one boat made chase +after another fish which blew temptingly near. + +I ought to have said that, after securing the whale, all hands turned to +with a right good-will to attack the bread and meat we had with us; for +though whale-hunting beats hollow any other style of hunting, whether of +deer, elephants, or tigers, yet it cannot by any manner of means be +carried on without sustenance to the frame. + +Away we went, then, the boat of the first mate leading. He, too, was +successful in striking the fish. Three times she dived; but each time +one or other of her enemies were upon her with harpoon and lances, while +her eddying wake was dyed with blood, and a thick pellicle of oil, which +attracted crowds of persevering Mollies to feast on it, marked her +course. + +She at last rose close to a floe, when we all rushed in upon her. The +cry of "Stern all!" was given. Her death-flurry had come on. High up +in the air she sent a stream of blood and oil, which fell thick upon us +in showers of spray, and on a hummock which was near; and the edges of +the ice were dyed of a crimson tint. + +The weariness which began to oppress even the strongest, told us that we +had had work enough, and that a second night was approaching. With +shouts of satisfaction, we now began the task of towing our prizes to +the ship. It was slow and wearying work; but every fish we took brought +us nearer home, so we set cheerfully about it. + +When we at length reached the ship, we found that we had been full +thirty-six hours away, nearly all the time in active exertion; and yet, +from the excitement of the work, neither did we feel unusually weary, +nor were we aware of the time which had passed. + +I must remind my readers that this could only happen in a latitude and +at a period where there is little or no difference between night and +day. Our fishing was most successful, partly owing to our good fortune +in meeting with the fish, but owing also much to the sagacity of our +captain and his officers. + +Similar scenes were occurring every day; but though they were all nearly +as exciting, and the interest of the sport was never decreased, but +rather grew on us, yet, if I were to attempt to describe each chase, and +how each fish was killed, my readers would weary with the account. + +For the greater part of a month we remained in the bay; and now the fish +becoming scarce, and the summer drawing to a conclusion, with a fair +breeze we made sail to the southward. + +I spoke of our having passed Lancaster Sound, a short way to the south +of which Pond's Bay is situated. I did not mention at the time the +interest with which I regarded that vast inlet--the mouth, one cannot +help fancying, to the unknown sea which bounds the northern shores of +the American continent. I certainly think more of it now, while I am +writing, than I did then, because I have since become aware of the many +gallant exploits which have been there performed, and the bold attempts +which have been made to pierce through it to the seas beyond. + +I need scarcely remind my readers that up that passage the veteran +arctic explorer, Sir John Franklin, and his brave companions, are +supposed to have proceeded. Under his command, the _Erebus_ and +_Terror_ sailed from the Thames on the 26th May, 1845, to proceed up +Davis's Straits, then into Lancaster Sound, and from thence, without +stopping, to examine the coast, to push westward as fast as they could +towards Behring's Straits. + +Captain Crozier had command of the _Terror_; and the expedition was +accompanied by the transport _Bonetto Junior_, commanded by Lieutenant +Griffith, and laden with provisions, clothing, etcetera, to be put on +board the ships in Davis's Straits. Both vessels were fitted with +steam-engines and screw-propellers; but they did not go ahead with them +more than three knots an hour. Lieutenant Griffith reports "that he +left them with every species of provisions for three entire years, +independently of five bullocks; they had also stores for the same time, +and fuel in abundance." + +The expedition was last seen by the _Prince of Wales_ whaler, on the +26th July, in latitude 74 degrees 48 minutes north, longitude 66 degrees +13 minutes west, moored to an iceberg, and waiting for an opening in the +great body of ice, which I described as filling the middle of Baffin's +Bay, in order to reach the entrance of Lancaster Sound. All hands were +well and in high spirits, and determined to succeed, if success were +possible; but since that day they have never been heard of. + +Year after year have those gallant men in vain been looked for, but not +without hope of their return, nor without attempts made to discover and +rescue them. + +When the year 1848 arrived, and no tidings had been received of the lost +voyagers, it was determined to send out three expeditions to look for +them. One under Captain Kellett, who commanded the _Herald_ and Captain +Moore, who commanded the _Plover_; proceeded to Behring's Straits, and +after continuing along the American coast as far as they could go, they +were to despatch some whale-boats, to meet a second expedition under Sir +John Richardson and Dr Rae, who were to descend the Mackenzie River, +and there to examine the coast; while Sir James Ross, commanding the +_Enterprise_, and Captain Bird, the _Investigator_, were to proceed at +once to Lancaster Sound, and there to examine the coast as they +proceeded. + +After leaving deposits of food and directions in several places, these +expeditions returned, without having discovered any traces of our +missing countrymen. + +Notwithstanding the ill-success of the first set of expeditions, others +were without delay determined on. Captain Collinson was appointed to +command the _Enterprise_, having under him Commander McClure in the +_Investigator_; and on the 20th of January, 1850, they sailed from +Plymouth for Behring's Straits, where they were to be joined by the +_Plover_. They were to endeavour to reach Melville Island. + +In the meantime, Dr Rae, who had remained in America, was ordered to +continue his search along the northern coast; while the Government of +the United States prepared an expedition for the same purpose. The +British Government likewise fitted out four ships, under the command of +Captain Austin, in the _Resolute_; the _Assistance_, Captain Ommanney; +the _Pioneer_; Lieutenant Osborn; and the _Free Trader_--the two latter +screw-propeller steam-vessels. + +Two private expeditions have also started. The _Lady Franklin_ is +commanded by Mr Penny, a veteran whaling captain, who has with him a +fine brig as a tender, called the _Sophia_. Captain Penny was to be +guided by circumstances, in following the course he judged expedient. +Besides this, the veteran explorer, Sir John Ross, has taken command of +another private expedition. He is on board the _Felix_, a large +schooner, and has the _Mary_, a tender of twelve tons, with him. They +also are to proceed to Barrow Straits, and to examine various headlands +on their way. The _Mary_ is to be left at Banks' Land, as a vessel of +retreat, and the _Felix_ will proceed for another year as far as she can +to the westward, examining the coast on the way. + +These last expeditions have been fitted out in consequence of the +energetic and persevering efforts of Lady Franklin, and the niece of Sir +John Franklin, Miss Sophia Cracroft; and those who have seen them, month +after month, indefatigably labouring in that, to them, holy cause, +hoping almost at times against hope, yet still undaunted, persevering +unweariedly, must feel and heartily pray that they may have their reward +in the happy return of the long-missing ones. + +I was unable to refrain from giving this brief sketch of a subject in +which every man worthy of the name of Briton must feel the deepest and +warmest interest; and I now resume the thread of my more humble +narrative. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +The return of darkness during the night gave us notice that we were +advancing towards the south, and that the short arctic summer was +drawing to a close. We could no longer continue our course, hour after +hour without intermission, as before, the officers relieving each other +in the crow's-nest, and one watch following the other through one +long-protracted day. + +It was impossible with any safety to proceed through that icy sea when +darkness came on, and therefore each night we were obliged to make the +ship fast to a floe till the return of daylight. But those nights were +sometimes such as are not to be found in another realm. The bright moon +floated in an atmosphere the most clear and brilliant that can be +conceived, while the silvery masses of ice lay sparkling beneath it, as +they floated on the calm and majestic ocean. + +Then the sun at setting bathed the sea, the sky, the rugged mountains, +the pinnacles of the icebergs, and the lower floes with colours and +tints more beautiful and varied than the imagination can picture, far +more than words can describe. But I should not dwell on such scenes, +except that I wish to observe that God distributes His bounties +throughout the globe with an equal hand; and that, barren and +inhospitable as is that land, no less than in southern realms are His +power and goodness displayed. + +For about four days we had proceeded south, our course interrupted +whenever we met with a whale; and if she was killed, we made fast to a +floe till we had flensed and made off. Some of the smaller whalers had +got full ships, and, with joyous shouts and light hearts on board, they +passed us on their way home; and others, unwilling to wait, returned not +full, so that we were nearly the last ship. + +The weather continued beautifully fine, though now growing cold and +chilly. We also had nearly a full ship, and were congratulating +ourselves on soon being able to follow those which had preceded us; but, +till we were quite full, we could not think of doing so while the ice +continued open, and there was a chance of a fish. Consequently we were +all on the look-out, and more eager than ever to secure our prey. + +One afternoon, while we were under weigh, the cheering sound of "A fish, +a fish! see, she blows!" from the crow's-nest, roused us all to +activity. Two boats were immediately equipped and sent in chase. I was +in one of them. While we were yet close to the ship, another whale was +espied to the southward, at a very great distance. The prospect of +getting two fish at a fall was more than could be resisted; and, while +we were killing our fish, the master made sail to come up with the +other. We were successful; and, with less difficulty than usual, killed +the whale at the edge of a floe connected with the land, towards which +it had gone for shelter. The whale was killed, and made fast to the +floe, waiting for the return of the ship. + +While we were all engaged in the chase and capture, no one had noticed +the change in the weather. From a fresh breeze, sufficiently to the +eastward to enable the ship to stand back towards us, it had fallen a +flat calm: the sea lay stretched out before us like a dark shining +glass, while an ominous stillness reigned through the air. + +Andrew, who was line-manager in the boat to which I belonged, was the +first to observe it, as we were assembled on the floe busily engaged in +hauling in the lines. He said nothing; but I saw him look up, and, +after glancing around for some moments, put his hand over his brow, and +gaze earnestly forth in the direction the ship had gone. The anxious +expression his countenance instantly assumed alarmed me; and, though he +at once resumed his task of coiling away the lines, I saw that all was +not right. I then cast my eyes seaward, to see whereabouts the ship +was. I need scarcely say that I felt a very natural alarm, when I +discovered that she was almost hull down. + +Andrew again looked up. The anxious expression on his face had in no +way diminished; but he was not a man to alarm or unnerve his companions +by any unnecessary exclamation. + +"Bear a hand, lads," he at length said. "The sooner we get in our +lines, and tow the fish alongside, the better." + +"I was thinking the same," said old David. "And I say the sooner the +ship stands back to pick us up, the better for us. We couldn't get the +fish alongside till long after dark, if she comes no nearer to us; and +how she's to do that, without a breeze springs up, I don't know." + +These few remarks scarcely interrupted the task in hand. When it was +accomplished, however, and we had time to look round us, we all began to +consider more about the difficulty of our position. I must explain that +there were two boats, with a crew of five men each, so that we were ten +in all. We had with us a few provisions and a cooking apparatus, with +our pea-jackets to put on while waiting after our heating exercise. + +The harpooners and the elder men now began to consult what was best to +be done. David gave it as his opinion that the other boats had been led +a long chase after a fish, and that the ship had followed thus far to +the southward to pick them up, with the intention of returning +immediately to us, when the calm so unexpectedly came on. + +"There's no doubt about what has happened, mates; but I want to know +what those who have had experience in these seas think is about to +happen," said Andrew. "There's something in the look of the sky and +sea, and the feel of the air, which makes me think a change is about to +take place. I therefore ask whether we shall stay by the fish, or leave +her secured to the floe, and get aboard as fast as we can." + +In answer to this proposal, which was certainly wise, and perfectly +justifiable, several opinions were given. Some were for getting on +board without delay, others were for towing the fish towards the ship, +and several were for remaining by till the ship should return, though +the majority were for going back in the boats alone. + +A more mighty Power than ours decided what was to be done; for, while we +were still speaking, a sudden gust of wind came blowing along the edge +of the ice from the northward, and throwing up the sea in so +extraordinary a manner, that, had the boats been exposed to it, they +could scarcely have lived. Then the wind as suddenly fell, and again +all was calm as before. + +"Now's your time, lads; we must get on board as quick as we can," +shouted old David. While, accordingly, we were with additional care +securing the whale to the floe, the sky, which was already overclouded, +began to send down dense showers of snow, which so obscured the +atmosphere, that the sharpest eye amongst us could no longer distinguish +the ship. To attempt to get on board under these circumstances, would +be more dangerous than remaining where we were; so, putting on our +Flushing jackets, we got into the boats, and drew a sail over our +shoulders, to shelter ourselves as much as possible from the storm. + +The snow, which had begun to fall in flakes, now changed to a powder, so +dense that it appeared as if night had already come on. + +"It's very dark, Andrew," I remarked; "what can be going to happen?" + +"Why, I'll tell you, Peter," answered David, who heard my question. +"There's going to be a harder gale of wind than we've had since you came +on board; and if the old ship don't stand up to her canvas, and fetch us +before night, there are few who would wish to change places with us, +that's all." + +I did not by any means like this announcement, for I felt that this time +old David was not joking with me. However, our only course was to +remain where we were. If the gale did come on, we were safer on the ice +than on the sea; and if it passed off, the ship would not fail to come +and take us on board. + +In the meantime, we were continually putting our heads from under our +shelter, to cast anxious glances towards where we supposed the ship to +be, and in every other direction, to discover if there was any opening +in the thick cloud of snow which dropped around us. I say dropped, for +I never before saw snow fall so perpendicularly, and in such minute +powdery particles. The peculiar and oppressive gloominess which filled +the air, made one feel that something unusual was approaching, otherwise +I could scarcely fancy that in so perfect a calm any danger could be at +hand. + +For two hours we sat cramped up in the boat, and, in spite of our warm +clothing, suffering not a little from the cold, which was greater than +for some time past we had experienced. Suddenly the snow ceased, and +with eager haste, Andrew, David, and some others jumped out of the boat +and climbed to the top of the nearest hummock, from whence they could +get a wider look-out than on the flat ice. + +With feelings which it were vain to attempt to describe, we looked for +the ship, and could nowhere see her. To the southward there was a thick +mist, caused by the snow falling in that direction, and in this she was +probably shrouded. + +On looking to the north, we perceived in the horizon a bright luminous +appearance, something like the ice-blink, but brighter, and which seemed +to increase in height. David looked at it for an instant, and then +shouted out, "Bear a hand, my lads, and haul up the boats--the gale is +upon us!" + +Suiting the action to the word, he rushed down from the hummock, +accompanied by the rest of us, and we commenced hauling one of the boats +up on the ice. While all hands were engaged at this work, and before it +was completely accomplished, down came the gale upon us with terrific +violence, almost lifting us off our legs, and hurling us into the now +foaming and hissing sea. The snow, which lay thick on the ice, was +lifted up and blown in clouds over us; the ocean, which before lay so +tranquil, was now lashed into fury. + +"Haul away, my lads, and run the boat up," shouted Andrew, his voice +scarcely heard amid the tumult. We had taken out most of the things +from the other boat, and, having secured the first, were about to haul +her up, when a heavy sea, striking the ice, broke off a piece to which +she was secured, and carried her and the harpooner belonging to her, who +was standing near her, far beyond our reach. To have attempted to +launch the boat to go to his rescue would have been madness. One loud, +hopeless shriek was heard, and he sunk for ever. + +We had little time to mourn for our poor messmate--our own condition +occupied all our thoughts. At the same moment that the boat was carried +away, the sea broke the whale from the lashings which secured her to the +ice, and, without our having any power to preserve our prize, it was +driven down along the edge of the floe, from which it gradually floated +away. + +"What's to be done now?" I asked, with several others, in a voice of +despair. + +"Trust in God," answered Andrew in a solemn voice. "Peter, remember we +have been in a worse position before, and He saved us. He may, if He +wills it, save us again." + +"But how are we ever to get back to the ship, with only one boat to +carry us?" asked some one. + +"Captain Rendall is not a man likely to desert his people," observed +David. "The ship will come back and take us off, when the gale is +over--no fear of that, mates." + +Notwithstanding the tone of confidence with which he spoke, I suspected +that he did not feel quite as much at his ease as he pretended to be. +Our position was indeed, I felt, most critical, though I did not express +my fears. The gale might continue for days, and our ship, if she +escaped shipwreck, which too probably would be her lot, would be at all +events driven so far to the south, that she would find it utterly +impossible to return. The ice, even, on which we stood, might any +instant break up from the force of the waves; and if we could not +retreat farther back in time, our destruction would be almost certain. +We had a boat; but even in smooth water she could scarcely do more than +contain us all, and in such a sea as was likely to be running for some +time she could not live ten minutes. We could have no hope, therefore, +of regaining the ship in her; and should we be compelled, therefore, to +quit the ice, she could afford us no refuge. + +We had a small quantity of provisions,--enough, with economy, to sustain +life for two or three days, though not more than was intended to supply +a couple of good meals, should we have been kept away from the ship a +sufficient time to require them. We had some boats' sails, a cooking +apparatus, two harpoons, spears, and two fowling-pieces, brought by the +harpooners to kill a few dovekies for our messes. Several things, with +a set of lines and harpoons, had been lost in the other boat. + +For some time after the fatal catastrophe I have described, we stood +looking out seaward, undecided what steps to take. The wrenching +asunder of some huge masses of the ice, which the sea drove up close to +the boat, and the violent heaving to which the whole body was subjected, +showed us that we must rouse ourselves to further exertion. We had no +need of consultation to judge that we must without delay get farther +away from the sea; and, having laden our boat with all our stores, we +began to work her along the ice towards the shore, which lay bleak and +frowning some ten miles or so from us. + +Our progress was slow; for the ice, though thick, was much rotted from +the heat of the whole summer, and in some places it was very rough, +while shallow pools of water constantly appeared in our path, and +compelled us to make a circuit round them. When we had accomplished +nearly two miles, it was proposed that we should wait there to see if +any change took place in the weather. There was no longer a motion in +the ice, and Andrew and David gave it as their opinion that there was +consequently no danger of its breaking up so far from the edge, and that +we might remain there in safety. Night was now fast approaching; and +the gale, instead of abating, blew with greater fury than at first. + +The exertion had somewhat warmed us; but the moment we stopped, the cold +wind whistled through our clothing, and showed us that we must prepare +some shelter for the night, if we would avoid being frozen to death. + +Another point we also discovered was, that we required some one to take +the lead, and to act as chief officer among us. The remaining harpooner +would, by right, have taken command; but, though expert in the use of +his weapon, he was not a man by character or knowledge well fitted to +command the respect of the rest of us. This we all felt, as he probably +did also, as he raised no objection when David proposed that we should +elect an officer whom we should be bound to obey, till we could regain +our ship, should we ever be so fortunate so to do. + +Three were first proposed, but Andrew Thompson was finally selected; +for, though he was known not to have so much practical experience as +several of the others, his firmness, sagacity, and high moral character +were acknowledged by all. + +"And now, my lads," he said, when he had modestly accepted the office, +"the first thing we must do is to build a snow-wall, to shelter us from +the wind; and as soon as the wind moderates, we'll have up a flagstaff +on the top of the highest hummock, to show our friends where to look for +us." + +According to this advice, we set to work to collect the snow, which did +not lay more than three inches thick on the ice. We first made it into +cakes, about four times the size of an ordinary brick, and then piled +them up in a semicircular form, the convex side being turned to the +wind. Over the top we spread a boat's sail, which was kept down by +lumps of snow being placed on the top of it. The canvas was also +allowed to hang over a couple of lances lashed together in front, so +that we had a very tolerable shelter. The snow was scraped away from +the interior; and such spars and planks as we could get out of the boat +were spread at the bottom, with a sail over them, to form our bed. + +These arrangements were accomplished as the long twilight turned into +total darkness. We lay down, and prepared to pass the dreary hours till +the sun rose again as best we could. I thought of the time I had spent +on the iceberg, and, remembering Andrew's words, I did not despair. I +slept, as did my companions, many of them with the careless indifference +to danger which has become the characteristic of most British seamen. + +I was awoke by the excessive cold, though we kept as close together +within our shelter as we could, for the sake of the warmth. My +companions were still asleep, and I was afraid if I moved of arousing +them. The storm still raged furiously without, and I could not again +compose myself to sleep for the noise it made. + +I lay awake, listening to its whistling sound as it blew over the ice, +when I fancied that I heard a low grumbling noise, like a person with a +gruff voice talking to himself. At last this idea grew so strong on me, +that I crept quietly to the curtain in front of our hut, and, lifting up +a corner, looked out. The stars were shining forth from the sky, and +there was a thin crescent moon, by the light of which I saw a white +monster leaning over the gunwale of our boat, examining, it appeared to +me, the things in her. I was not long in recognising the visitor to be +a large, white, shaggy polar bear. He first took up one thing, and, +smelling it and turning it over on every side, replaced it. When, +however, he came to a piece of beef, or anything eatable, he without +ceremony appropriated it, and was thus rapidly consuming our slender +store of provisions. "This will never do," I thought to myself. "If +this goes on, we shall be to a certainty starved." + +We had fortunately brought the two guns into the hut, that they might +run no risk of getting damp. They were both loaded; and, drawing back, +I got hold of one, hoping to shoot the bear before he was disturbed. If +I aroused my companions first, they to a certainty would make some +noise, which would probably frighten away our visitor, and we should +lose both the bear and the provisions. + +When I again put my head from under the sail, he was still at work. I +was on my knees, and had got the gun to my shoulder, when he saw me. He +was fortunately on the other side of the boat; for no sooner did his eye +fall on me, than he began slowly to walk along the side, holding on by +the gunwale, evidently intending to get close to me. "My best chance is +to hit him in the eyes," I thought, "and blind him. If he once gets +hold of me, he'll give me a squeeze I shall not like." + +Before he had moved many steps I fired full in his face. The report of +the gun, and the loud growl of rage and pain uttered by the brute, +instantly awakened my companions. They started to their feet, but had +some difficulty to understand what had happened. The bear, on being +wounded, nearly fell headlong into the boat; but, recovering himself, he +endeavoured to find his way round to the spot where he had seen me. + +"A bear, a bear!" I sung out. "Get your lances ready and run him +through." Most fortunately I had hit the monster so directly in the +eyes, that he could not see his way, and this prevented him from rushing +directly on me; for though I might have leaped out of his way round the +back of the hut, he would in all probability have seized upon one of my +half-awake companions. + +This momentary delay gave time to Andrew to spring to his feet, and to +draw out a lance from under the sail. He appeared at the entrance of +the hut, just as the bear, slightly recovering himself, was rushing +forward, with his mouth open and covered with foam, and a stream, which +I could see even in that light, trickling down his face. His paws were +stretched out, and in another instant he would have had me in his deadly +clutch, when Andrew dashed at him with his spear. The bear seized the +handle, and endeavoured to wrench it from his assailant; but the iron +had entered his breast, and, in his attempt to rush on, it pierced him +to the heart. + +The rest of the party were by this time awake, and, armed with whatever +they could first seize, and seeing what had happened, they all set up a +shout of triumph, every one of us forgetting entirely for the moment the +very precarious position in which we were placed. + +We had several reasons to be satisfied with having killed the bear. In +the first place, had he put his snout into our hut while we were all +asleep, he might have killed some of us; secondly, we had saved most of +our provisions by our discovering him; and what he had taken was amply +repaid by the sustenance his flesh would afford us, and the use to which +we might turn his skin, for bedding or clothing, should we have to +remain any time on the ice. + +"Our friend there has given us a lesson to keep a better look-out in +future," remarked Andrew. "If it had not been for Peter, he might have +carried off every bit of our food; so we must take it by turns to keep +watch. I'll stand the first." + +"And I the second, willingly," I exclaimed. "I've no inclination to +sleep, and if I did, I should be fancying all the time that the bear had +me in his grasp." + +So it was arranged each man should take an hour at a time, as near as +could be guessed, and thus all would have plenty of rest, and be fit for +work in the daytime. + +Before the rest turned in again, we drew the carcase of the bear close +up to the hut, so that, if any of his fellows should come near him, they +might to a certainty be seen, and shot without difficulty. + +Extraordinary as it may seem, the rest of the people were very soon +asleep again. Andrew and I were the only two awake. The gun which had +been fired was reloaded, and, having placed the two close at hand, we +sat down just inside the curtain, leaving only a small aperture on +either side of it, through which to look out. We also placed a couple +of lances within our reach, that, should any more bears visit us, as we +hoped they might, we might have a better chance of killing them; for +their flesh, though rank, is not unwholesome, and, at all events, it +would enable us to support life as long as it lasted, independently of +the value of their skins. + +After we had made our preparations, Andrew advised me to lie down and to +try to sleep; but I told him that I was too much excited, and that it +was impossible, and that, if he would allow me, I would much rather sit +up and watch with him; or, if he liked, I would watch while he slept, +and would call him if anything occurred. + +"Neither can I sleep, Peter," he answered: "You and the rest have chosen +me to guide you, and I doubly feel the responsibility of my office; for +I need not tell you that I think our position very bad. From the first +time I saw you, I found that you were well educated, and I since have +had reason to place confidence in you. Now, Peter, I am afraid that, +when we are surrounded with far greater difficulties than we have yet +met with, some of these poor fellows will lose heart, and sink under +them, unless their spirits are kept up, and a good example is set them. +I therefore rely upon you to assist me, by showing that, young as you +are, you do not shrink from danger, and that you place a firm reliance +on the power of God to deliver us, notwithstanding all the appearance to +the contrary." + +I told Andrew that I thanked him for the confidence he placed in me, and +that I hoped I should not disappoint his expectations. + +"I know you will not, Peter; but I tell you that our courage will be +severely tried," he answered. + +"Why, don't you think the ship will be able to take us off?" I asked. + +"I do not think she will, Peter," he replied. "Before the gale is over, +she will have been driven very far to the south; and it will take her so +many days to beat back, if the wind should continue foul, that Captain +Rendall will consider we must have perished, and that the attempt would +be useless, and that he should not be justified in thus risking the +safety of his ship." + +"What hope, then, have we?" I asked. + +"My greatest hope is, that we may be seen by some other ship passing +after the gale has moderated," he answered. "If that fails to us, we +must endeavour to pass the winter on shore. Others have done so before +now; and I do not see why we should not manage to live as well as the +ignorant natives who inhabit this country." + +"If we had powder, and shot, and fuel, and timber to build a house with, +I should say we might do it," I answered; "but as we have none of these +things, I am afraid we shall be frozen to death as soon as the cold sets +in." + +"The natives live, and we must try to find out how they contrive to do +it," was the tenor of his answer. + +Miserable as the night was, and slow as the hours seemed to drag along, +they at last passed away. We had no further visits from the bears, nor +were we otherwise disturbed. When daylight came, there was nothing in +the prospect to cheer our hearts. On one side there was a sheet of ice +covered with snow, with high rocky cliffs beyond; and, on the other, the +wide expanse of ocean, still tossing and foaming with the fierce storm +which raged over it. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +Our companions slept on, and, while they happily were able to forget the +hardships and dangers which were in store for them, we could not find it +in our hearts to awake them. At last, one after the other, they awoke. +As they did so, they went and looked out at the dreary prospect I have +described, and then returning, sat themselves down in gloomy silence in +the hut. + +On seeing the discontent, not to say despair, which their countenances +exhibited, I remembered the conversation I had with Andrew in the night, +and determined at once to try and follow his advice; so I went and sat +down with the rest. + +"Well, mates, things don't look very pleasant, I'll allow, but they +might be worse, you know," I remarked. + +"I don't see how that can be," answered one of the most surly of the +party. "Here are we left by our ship, without food or a house, at the +beginning of the winter; and it's cold enough, I've heard, in these +parts, to freeze up every drop of blood in the veins in ten minutes." + +"Andrew and Terence, and Tom and I, were once much worse off, when we +were left on the iceberg," I observed. "As for food, too, we've got a +good lump there, which came to our door of its own accord. We've every +chance of taking plenty more; and I've heard say the country is full of +game of all sorts. Then, as for a house, we must try and build one, if +no ship comes to take us off. Mind, I don't say that none will come; +only if we are left here, we need not fancy that we are going to die in +consequence." + +"Faith, Peter's the boy for brightening a fellow's heart up," exclaimed +Terence, rousing himself from the despondency which he, with the rest, +had begun to feel. "Why, mates, perhaps after all we may have as merry +a winter of it as if we got home, though they do say the nights are +rather long at that time." + +Terence's remark did more good than mine. There was something +inspiriting in the tone of his voice; and in a few minutes all hands +were ready to perform their best,--at all events, to do what Andrew +considered for the public good. He first ordered us to have breakfast, +for we had been in no humour to take any supper the night before. We +accordingly brought in our provisions, and were about to commence on +them, when I suggested that we should preserve them for times of greater +necessity, and begin, instead, upon the bear. + +"But how are we to cook him?" asked some one. "We can't eat him raw, +and we've got no oil for the kitchen." + +The kitchen was the cooking apparatus I have spoken of. It was simply +an oil lamp with several wicks, and a couple of saucepans, a kettle, and +frying-pan to fit over it. The crude oil drawn from the last fish we +had killed served for it. + +"As to that, lads, he'll supply the oil to cook himself with," remarked +Andrew. "Let us skin him and cut him up at once, and then he'll be all +ready to pack if we want to travel from this place." + +We soon cut up the bear, very clumsily I will allow, for there was no +butcher among us; and collecting the fattest parts to serve as fuel for +our lamp, we soon had some bear-steaks frying away under our noses. We +took a very little of our biscuit in addition, but Andrew advised us to +economise it to the utmost. + +The skin was taken off as neatly as we could manage the work, and then, +having scraped the inside clean, we hung it up in front of our hut to +dry. We spent the whole day anxiously looking out for some sign of the +gale abating, for we knew that every hour of its continuance would send +our ship farther and farther away from us; but in the evening it blew as +hard as it had done at the first. + +The wind was too high, and cut us too keenly, to allow us to go from +under shelter of our hut in search of seals; but we were not entirely +idle. In the first place we drew the boat up to it, and secured our +remaining provisions. We also cut up the flesh of the bear into long +strips, that they might more easily dry in the air; besides this, we +heightened the walls of our habitation, and sloped them inward, so as to +enable the sail to cover the hut more completely. + +The greater number of the men, however, showed little inclination to +work, preferring to pass the day sitting crowded together in the hut in +a sort of dreamy forgetfulness of the present, without speaking or +moving. I own that few positions could be much more disheartening than +ours; but I saw the necessity of keeping the intellects awake, ready for +active exertion, if we would save our lives. + +We cooked some of our bear-steaks for supper, and boiled up a little +cocoa; so that for food we might have been worse off. We found also +that the lamp, small as it was, diffused a warmth throughout the hut, +which enabled us to pass the night much more agreeably than we had the +previous one. + +The bears seemed to have been aware of the fate of their brother, for +none came near us. Another morning dawned; and though the gale still +blew strong, it had somewhat abated; but yet it was still necessary to +keep under shelter. + +"As soon as the wind drops we must go sealing," remarked Andrew. "If we +could get a good number of seals, or unies, or walrus, we might keep our +lamp burning all night and day through the winter. Their flesh is not +bad to eat; and then, you know, we can make boots, and caps, and jackets +of their skins. We must look out to get them before the cold sets in." + +"Then you think we shall have to winter here?" I asked. + +"If the gale had taken off yesterday, I should have expected our ship +back; but now I do not think she will attempt it," he answered +positively. We were standing outside the hut, some way from the rest. +"However, two ships were left in Pond's Bay when we came away, and they +may see us as they pass, or we may pull off to them if the sea goes +down. Peter, we should be thankful that things are no worse. Cold and +inhospitable as is this country, we have the means of existing in it, if +we have sense to employ them. Even now the wind has dropped and the sea +has gone down. It will be as well to get our signal-post up, in case +either of the ships should pass." + +I agreed with him; and calling Terence to accompany us, we told the rest +that we were going to the edge of the ice to see how things were, and to +set up a signal. + +Our flagstaff consisted of a spar, with a lance handle as a topmast, and +the flag was the jack used in the boat to show that a fish was fast. We +took also some line, to serve as shrouds for the staff. We three set +off, then, not without some difficulty in advancing; for the wind was +still so strong, that we were almost taken off our legs. + +The distance, however, was not so great as we expected, for the sea had +broken off the edge of the ice for full half a mile. Some of the pieces +had been washed away, and others had been hurled far up on the surface, +so as to form a high and rugged wall. We had taken the precaution of +bringing two hatchets with us; and having selected the highest hummock +near the sea, we chopped the summit of it perfectly level. We then cut +out blocks of ice, and piled them up, till we had built a pyramid some +ten feet high. We left places on which we could stand, to enable us to +do this. We then planted our staff in the centre, and secured the +shrouds to some large blocks of ice we had dragged up for the purpose. + +We thus formed a very conspicuous mark, but we felt that it was too +probable the ship might not pass near enough to see it. For some +minutes we contemplated our work, and then prepared to return to our +companions. Just then Terence happened to turn his eyes to the +north-east. He stopped and looked eagerly out. "A sail, a sail!" he +exclaimed; "she's coming down right before the wind." + +"It's the only way she could come, mate," said Andrew, not in the least +way excited by the announcement. "But are you sure you see a sail? +Don't you think it may be the wing of a seafowl?" + +"'Tis too steady for that," answered Terence. "If we get to the top of +the flagstaff hummock, in another minute or so we shall know to a +certainty." In spite of the cutting cold wind to which we were exposed, +we stood for several minutes eagerly watching the white spot which +Terence asserted was a sail. + +I asked if it might not be an iceberg; but Andrew said an iceberg never +travelled fast before the wind, because, although a great deal of it was +exposed above the water, there was a much larger proportion below, on +which, of course, the wind had no influence; and he wound up his +observation by pronouncing the spot to be the topsail of a ship. + +"Huzza, then, mates, we shall get off this time," shouted Terence, who +had no wish to winter in the arctic regions. + +"We must not be too sure of that," answered Andrew. "Let me ask you, +even if we are sure, how are we to get off with the sea there breaking +on this sheet of ice? We must not let our hopes blind us to the truth." + +"You are always croaking, Andrew," said Terence in a vexed tone. He +was, like many another man, without much hope, and who, the smaller it +grows, is the more inclined to be angry with the person whose +plain-speaking tends still further to decrease it. + +On came the ship, scudding at a great rate before the gale, right down +along the edge of the floe. She seemed, as well as we could then judge, +to be about three miles off. We were obliged to descend, and to run +about to keep ourselves warm; but every instant one of us was climbing +to the top of the hummock to watch the progress of the stranger. She +was drawing near when some of our companions discovered her; and we now +saw them come hurrying along over the ice towards us, forgetting +everything in the expectation of being able to escape from our perilous +situation. + +By the time they reached us she was just abreast of us, running under +her fore-topsail at headlong speed before the wind. How anxiously we +watched her, expecting her every instant to heave to; but she glided +onward, unconscious of the agony and despair she was creating in our +hearts. We waved our hats; we pointed to our signal staff; we leaped up +on the hummock; we even, in the extravagance of our eagerness, shouted +out at the top of our voices, as if sounds so faint could reach her. +But all we could do was vain. On she passed in her course, as if we +were not in existence. + +"Fire our guns," said Andrew; "they might possibly be heard." But in +their hurry our companions had left the guns at the hut. + +All hope of making ourselves seen or heard was now abandoned; the ship +flew by, and soon her hull sank below the horizon. Some of the men, on +this, gave way to impious exclamations of discontent, but Andrew checked +them. "It is God's will that we remain here, mates," he said. "How do +we know but that it is for our benefit that we are left where we are? +That ship, which we are now so anxious to be on board, may before the +night be crushed beneath an iceberg, or perhaps dashed to pieces on the +rocks in sight of home, while we may yet be destined to see again our +country and our families. Believe me, mates, all is for the best; and +though we don't see the way we are to escape, it may now be ready for +us." + +The tone of religious confidence in which Andrew spoke, contributed much +to revive the spirits of our companions. The gale was also rapidly +decreasing, and hopes were therefore expressed that, should the last +ship appear, the boat might be able to reach her, even though she might +be too far off to see our signal. However, day drew on, and no ship +appeared. The returning darkness warned us that we must get back to our +hut without delay, or not only might we not be able to find it, but it +might be visited by our friends the bears, and our remaining provisions +might be destroyed. We accordingly hurried back, and were only just in +time to prevent the latter catastrophe; for, as we got to the hut, we +observed three large objects moving over the snow towards the land. +They were no doubt bears, who, when they saw us running up, had been +frightened away from the food, to which their keen scent had attracted +them. I rushed into the hut for a gun, intending to make chase after +them; but Andrew told me to desist, as I should not have the slightest +chance of killing one, and that they might possibly turn upon me and +destroy me. + +The third night we spent in our hut was much colder than the former +ones, though there was less wind. One of us by turns kept watch, as +before. I was asleep, and it was Terence's watch, when I was awakened +by a loud noise like thunder, and a shout from him which made all the +party start on their feet. The noise continued. It too much reminded +us of that we had heard when the ice, in which we had been beset in our +passage through Baffin's Bay, had begun to break up. + +"What's the matter now?" exclaimed several voices. + +"The floe must be separating, and we are perhaps going to be drifted +away from the shore," remarked old David, "But never mind, mates, we +can't be much worse off than we were, and a short cruise won't do us any +harm." + +"How can we tell that the floe will not break up into small pieces, or +perhaps drift out and join the middle ice?" I inquired. I thought such +a thing might possibly occur, and I wished to secure our retreat on +shore. + +"There is little doubt that the floe is separating," said Andrew. "But +at all events we can do nothing while it remains dark. As soon as +daylight appears, we must decide, without loss of time, what is to be +done." + +The noise continued for a considerable time, then all was silent; and I +suppose that the piece we were on had already begun to drift away from +the main body of ice. I fancied, even, that I could feel a peculiar +undulating movement, as if it was acted on by the waves. As soon as +morning dawned we eagerly looked out. At first there appeared to be no +change; but, as the light increased, we found that between us and the +main ice there was a wide passage of nearly a quarter of a mile. + +The floe we were on was about a mile across in the narrowest part, and +two or three miles long. It seemed, while we watched the land, to be +advancing towards the northward and eastward. Our flagstaff was on the +same piece, and was not disturbed. But another object met our sight +which engaged all our attention. It was a sail to the southward. With +what deep anxiety we watched her, I need scarcely say. + +"Which way is she heading?" was the general cry. + +"To the southward," exclaimed old David. "She'll not come near us, +depend on that, mates; so we need not look after her. She must have +slipped by in the night or in the grey of the morning, or we should have +seen her." + +"But don't you think she may be the _Shetland Maid_ come to look for +us?" I asked. "Who is certain that she is standing away from us? for I +am not." + +One or two sided with me; but the others were of opinion that the +stranger was standing from us. + +Meantime the floe drifted out to sea. There was no immediate danger, +and we might have remained as secure as we were before, provided it did +not come in contact with any other floe, which, had it done, it would +probably have broken into fragments, and we should have forthwith +perished. All hands were too busy watching the ship to think much on +this subject. We watched, but we watched in vain. + +If she was our own ship, Captain Rendall must have fancied that he had +come as far north as he had left us; and seeing the ice broken and +changed, and floes drifting about, he must have thought we had perished. +At all events, after an hour's earnest watching, the most sanguine were +compelled to acknowledge that the top-sails were gradually again sinking +in the horizon; and before long they were out of sight, and all hope of +escaping that year was at an end. + +By this time we had been, as it were, somewhat broken in to expect +disappointments, so no one expressed his feelings so strongly as on the +former occasion. We were also obliged to think of means for securing +our present safety. Two things were to be considered. If we remained +on the floe, should it break up we must be destroyed; besides this, we +could procure no food nor fuel. + +After Andrew had heard all of us express our opinions, he resolved to +quit the floe and retreat to the main ice. "We'll stay on the edge of +it for one day, or two if you wish it, and we'll keep a bright look-out +for a ship; but it's my opinion that the last has passed, and that we +had better make up our minds to winter on shore. The sooner we begin +our preparations the better chance we have of weathering out the time." + +This plan being agreed to, two hands were sent to unstep the flagstaff +and bring it forward, while the rest of us dismantled our hut, and +dragged the boat to the edge of the floe nearest the shore. It was time +that we should be off, for the channel had already widened to half a +mile. Though the water was perfectly smooth, the boat, with all our +party and our stores, had as much in her as she could conveniently +carry. + +A quarter of an hour served to carry us across, when we again hauled our +boat up; and choosing the highest hummock in the neighbourhood, we again +erected our flagstaff. Before, however, we began to build a hut, we +examined the condition of the ice round us, to ascertain whether there +was a probability of another floe breaking away with us. On finding it, +according to the opinion of the old hands, perfectly secure, we put up a +tent in the same manner as the last, though of rather a larger size. +This done, we cooked and ate the first food we had tasted that day, for +we had been too busy all the morning to think of eating. + +Andrew then urged us to make diligent search for any of the oil-giving +fish which we could catch. Accordingly, armed with our harpoons and +lances, we set out, leaving one hand to guard the boat and to keep a +look-out for a passing sail. + +We first kept along the edge of the ice; but meeting with no success, we +turned towards the land to look for any pools which might exist in the +ice. After looking about for some time, we came to one nearly the +eighth of a mile across. In it were a shoal of narwhals or +sea-unicorns, every now and then rising above the water to breathe, and +then diving down again in search of prey. Could we have brought the +boat so far, we should have had no difficulty in killing them, but now +it depended how near they would rise to the edge. It was tantalising to +watch them and not to be able to get hold of any. + +We divided into three parties, for we had as many harpoons; and at last +one rose within reach of David's weapon. He launched it forth, and +struck the fish in the neck. Down it dived rapidly; but it soon had to +return to the surface, when we hauled it towards the edge and despatched +it quickly with our lances, after which we hauled it upon the ice. In +the same manner another was afterwards killed. These were indeed +prizes; for, though not so valuable as the seals, their flesh and oil +were most welcome. + +We found that they were too heavy to drag over the ice whole, so we cut +off the blubber and some meat, and left the kral for the benefit of the +bears. The horns would, under other circumstances, have been valuable; +but we could not afford to burden ourselves with more than what was +absolutely necessary. + +We at last got back to the hut with our prize; and the hand who was left +to watch reported that no sail had appeared. We had now an abundance of +oil, so that we were able to dress the flesh of the bear in it, as also +to keep up a light in the hut all night long. The next day, if the +_Shetland Maid_ did not return, and if no other ship appeared, we were +to form our plan for future operations. All that day the look-out +hummock was occupied by one of our party with his eye anxiously looking +seaward; but hour after hour passed away, and no sail appeared. + +What a sinking at the heart, what a blank, desolate feeling came over +us, as our last hope vanished! Hitherto we had been buoyed up with the +expectation of relief; now the most sanguine felt that the last whaler +had departed for the season. + +It was my turn to look out just before it grew dark. The floe on which +we had floated for so long had now drifted a considerable distance off, +and had broken into three almost circular pieces. As I watched, it was +met by several other floes of equal magnitude, which were revolving, +some in one direction, some in another, without any apparent cause. +Then began a most furious contest between them,--hurled together, they +overlapped and crushed on each other, till in the course of a few +minutes they had broken into a thousand fragments. I was indeed +thankful that we had not remained on the floe in the hopes of being seen +by a ship. + +Darkness coming on, and it being impossible any longer to distinguish +objects at a distance, I returned to the hut. I found my companions +sitting round our kitchen in the hut, and discussing plans for the +future. Some were still anxious to get on to the southward in the boat, +in the hopes of overtaking some whaler which might have stopped to fish; +but Andrew strongly urged them at once to abandon all hopes of escaping +that year, and at once, while they had health and strength, and the +weather remained moderate, to make preparations for the winter. He +showed the extreme improbability of our overtaking ships which must have +been driven very far to the south by the gale, as also the danger of +being swamped should the slightest sea get up; while, should we not +succeed in our attempt, we should be worn out, and, incapable of +providing for the future, must inevitably be destroyed. + +I voted with Andrew, and also spoke in favour of his plan, showing, from +what I had read and heard, that, notwithstanding the cold, with good +management we might preserve our lives and our health throughout an +arctic winter. At last this plan was agreed to by all, and we lay down +once more to sleep away the time till daylight. + +We were up by dawn; and, having laden our boat with all our stores, we +commenced our toilsome journey. Our purpose was to make the land, and +then to travel along over the ice till we should arrive at some valley, +or at the mouth of a river, where we might hope to find some clear water +and opportunities of catching fish. + +Though the land appeared quite near, it was late in the day before we +reached it. What, then, was our disappointment to find not even a beach +on which to build our hut for the night! The high black cliff came +completely down to the sea, and was fringed by masses of ice piled up +against it, so that we could not even reach it without difficulty and +danger. Our only course, therefore, was to continue along under it, +till we should meet with the opening of which we were in search. + +I ought to have said that we had protected the keel and bilge of our +boat by securing some spars along them, so that she was able to pass +over the ice without damage; but the labour of dragging her was very +great, and some even proposed leaving her behind rather than have the +trouble of conveying her, till Andrew reminded them that on her might +depend our only means of procuring food, and of ultimately escaping next +year. + +We performed a distance of nearly three miles along the shore, under the +same lofty unbroken cliffs; and then Andrew called a halt, and we made +our usual preparations for passing the night. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +For three days we travelled on; and, supposing that we advanced ten +miles a day, for thirty miles not a break of any description appeared in +the overhanging cliffs on our right. The men had begun to grumble; and +those who had wished to proceed in the boat by water, asserted that, if +their advice had been followed, we should have made greater progress +with less fatigue. + +Andrew told them in answer that if they would but keep up their spirits, +and persevere for one day longer, we should in all probability come to +some opening where we might get on shore, and near which, if the sea was +smooth, we might launch the boat and try to get some more fish. This +encouraged them; and the following morning, with renewed spirits, we +continued on our way. + +As the day drew on, there appeared but little chance of Andrew's promise +being fulfilled, for, far as the eye could reach, was the same unbroken +line of cliff. It was drawing towards sunset, when I caught sight of +what appeared to me a ship thrown on her beam-ends, close under the +cliff. The rest laughed at me, and telling me I must be deceived, asked +me how a ship could get there. + +I answered I was certain that I was not mistaken, and pointed out to +them the object I had seen. It appeared to me, when I first saw it, as +in a sort of shallow cavern under the cliff; but before we could make +any progress towards it, the shades of evening completely obscured it, +and long before we could reach it we were obliged to encamp. + +We talked a good deal about it as we sat round our lamp in our usual ice +cottage; and I dreamed all night that a strange ship had appeared, and +that we were to go on board in the morning. + +When the morning did really come, I eagerly looked out for the first +rays of light falling on the object I had seen. It was now more clear +than ever. I first pointed it out to Andrew. + +"Well, if that is not a real ship, those are very extraordinary marks at +the foot of the cliff," he observed. "Peter, I believe you are right. +It is a ship, and it may prove the means of our preservation." + +Without waiting for any meal, although Andrew insisted on the boat being +dragged with us, we advanced towards the supposed ship. David certainly +did not believe she was one. "If that's a ship," he remarked. "I don't +see how the natives would have spared her. They would have been +swarming about her like bees, and would have pulled her all to pieces +long before this." + +"I still say she's a ship, and that we shall see before long," I +answered. + +It is extraordinary how the imagination helps out the vision in a case +of this sort. I believed that there was a ship, so I saw her; another +man did not believe that there was a ship there, so could not perceive +her. + +We travelled on for three hours before all doubts were set at rest by +the appearance of a large ship, thrown, as I said, on her beam-ends, but +with her masts and rigging still standing. An overhanging cliff +projected to the south of her, and within it was the cavern in which she +lay, so that she could only be seen from the point from which we had +advanced towards her. + +This providential circumstance instantly raised our spirits, and we +could not help giving a loud shout of joy, as we hurried on to get on +board her. Even should we find no provisions, we could not fail of +obtaining numberless things which would prove of the greatest value to +us. + +As we got near her, her condition at once told that she had been lost +amongst the ice; and probably thrown up on to a floe by another striking +her, she had drifted afterwards into her present position. For some +minutes we stood round her, examining her with a feeling approaching to +awe. She looked so shattered and weather-worn, and of a build so +unusual, that I fancied she might have been there frozen up for +centuries. + +At last Terence climbed up her sides, followed by all of us. Her decks +were uninjured, and were thickly covered with snow, which had +contributed, I suppose, to preserve them. Her masts and lower rigging +were standing, though the topmasts had gone over the side. David +pronounced her to be a Dutch whaler; and such, I believe, she was. Her +hatches were on, and even the companion-hatch was drawn over, which made +us think that the crew had remained on board till she was driven into +her present position, and had afterwards quitted her with the intention +of returning. + +This opinion was confirmed when we went below. We found the cabin in +good order and the furniture uninjured, for the water had not reached +it. On going into the hold we discovered an abundant supply of +provisions in casks; but all her tubs were empty, which showed us that +she had been wrecked on her outward voyage, before having taken a fish. +Her boats also were gone, which showed the way in which her crew had +escaped from her. When I first went below, I half expected to find all +her people frozen to death, as I had heard of such dreadful occurrences +having taken place. + +Several books and papers were found in the cabin, but as none of us +could read Dutch, we were unable to learn anything from them; but Andrew +and David were of opinion that she had been there five years at least, +perhaps longer. + +Having taken a cursory glance throughout the ship, our appetites +reminded us that we had eaten nothing that morning, so we set to work to +examine the condition of the stores on board. The meat in the casks was +perfectly good, and so even was the biscuit and flour, which had been +preserved, I conclude, by the cold from the weevils and the rats. The +only animals which had visited the ship were the bears. They had not +failed to scent out the good things she contained, but not having been +clever enough to lift the hatches off, they had, fortunately for us, +been unable to appropriate them. + +We were not long in knocking the head out of a cask and in collecting +materials to form an abundant meal, which we had not enjoyed for so many +days. The cook's caboose was still uninjured on deck, and his pots and +kettles were hung up inside it, with a store of coals and wood ready +chopped up. We accordingly lighted a fire, and two of the men, who +professed to be the best cooks, prepared our breakfast. + +In the cabin we found in jars and canisters a profuse store of tea, +coffee, cocoa, sugar, and several sorts of preserved fruits and +sweetmeats; indeed there was an ample supply of everything we could +require. The cabin was, of course, very much on one side, and moreover +very chilly; but, for the pleasure of sitting at a table, we carried our +meal down there to eat it. + +Andrew took care not to let the opportunity pass by of reminding us that +our heartfelt gratitude was due to the Great Being who had so mercifully +guided our steps to this spot, where, without trouble or risk, we might +provide ourselves with the necessaries of life. + +After breakfast I saw some of the men hunting busily about the ship; and +from their look of dismay, when, getting hold of a brandy cask, they +found the contents had run out, I guessed that their object was to enjoy +themselves for a short time by drinking, and I am afraid that many of +our party would not have refrained from doing so to excess. + +I told Andrew, who was still in the cabin examining the lockers what I +had remarked. + +"Never mind," he answered. "All the glass bottles containing spirits or +liquid of any sort have also burst with the cold, so that there is no +fear of any of them getting drunk. There are a few stone bottles with +hollands, and as they were only partly filled they seem to have +something left in them; so I will hide them away in case they should +ever be required." + +We had just concealed them in a locker in the captain's state-room, as +his sleeping cabin is called when some of the rest returned, grumbling +very much at having found nothing to drink. Andrew reproved them mildly +for their discontent, when we had been thus led so mercifully to the +means of preserving our lives. + +"If you had discovered any liquor you might have made merry at first," +he observed; "then you would have become worse than the brutes, without +sense; and lastly, you would have been left without strength or energy +to bear the difficulties we shall have to encounter. Let me tell you, +lads, the liquor you are so fond of only gives you false strength just +for a short time after you have drunk it, and then leaves you much +weaker than at first. To my mind, people in this climate are very much +better without spirits; and in any other climate for that matter. There +are times, when a person is almost frozen or overcome with weakness, +when they may be of use; but in most cases we are better without them." +Andrew's reasoning had some effect on his hearers, particularly when +they found themselves forced to follow his advice whether they would or +not. + +We now all assembled together in the cabin to decide on what we should +do. Some were for remaining on board, and making ourselves as +comfortable as we could; but Andrew at once pointed out the madness of +such a proceeding. He argued that even in summer the position under the +cliff was excessively cold; that the ship was in no way fitted to serve +as a habitation during the winter, when there were days no person could +be exposed for ten minutes together to the air without suffering; and +that, although there was an abundant supply of salt provisions, unless +we could procure some fresh meat, our health would materially suffer. + +"My advice, mates, is," he continued, "that we travel along the coast as +we first intended, till we arrive at the sort of place we were in search +of when we fell in with this wreck. When we have found it, we will at +once build a warm house, and then set to at hunting and fishing till the +animals desert the country, and the sea is frozen over, and the long +winter nights set in. We will, however, first build some sledges, such +as the natives use, and we will carry on them all the things we require +from the ship to our station. If any one has a better plan to offer, +let him propose it." + +"I think Andrew's plan is the one to follow, and I propose we set about +it without delay!" I exclaimed. + +"And so do I," said Terence. + +"And I don't see that it's a bad one," observed David. + +"And I think it a good one," said Tom Stokes. + +The rest offered no opposition; indeed they did not know what else to +propose. I must observe that now when we had nothing to do with +whaling, in which the others had more experience, Andrew fully showed +his superiority and fitness to command, so that we all readily obeyed +him whenever he thought fit to issue any orders. However, as he felt +that he only held his authority on sufferance, he judged it best, as in +the present instance, to consult all hands before the formation of any +fresh plan for proceeding. + +The whole day was spent on board in examining the ship, and in forming +our plans, and in making some of the preliminary arrangements. The +first of them was to build a couple of sledges, which Andrew showed us +how to do, very similar to those used by the Esquimaux. We also packed +up some tea, cocoa, and sugar, as also some meat and bread to serve us +for present use, till we could bring up the remainder to our winter +station. + +Among other valuable articles were some carpenter's tools and two +fowling-pieces, some canisters of powder, with a supply of shot, thus +giving us the means of killing any game we might meet with. It was, as +I said, very cold; but as there was a stove in the cabin, we lighted it, +and soon got the cabin comfortably warm. Probably, had we been left to +our own devices, we should have all gone to sleep without keeping any +watch; but Andrew ordered one of us to keep watch by turns throughout +the night, both to supply the stove with fuel and to guard against fire. +Had it not been for this precaution, we might have slept away some of +the valuable hours of daylight. + +As soon as we had breakfasted, Andrew gave the signal for us to start. +Some wanted to leave the boat till we had found the spot we were in +search of; but he insisted on its being brought along, showing that we +must have her at our station, both to enable us to catch fish and to +assist us in escaping on the following summer; and that, as she was +laden and prepared for the journey, it would be wise to bring her at +once. + +We could only drag one sledge with us, and on that were placed a few +additional stores. Having closed the hatches, we once more left the +ship. We travelled on the whole of that day and the greater part of the +next, without meeting with a fit place to fix on for our winter station. +Some of the grumblers declared that we never should find it, and that +we had much better go back to the ship. + +The prospect was certainly very discouraging, and even Andrew was +beginning to think that there was no help for it but to return, when, on +reaching a high black rocky point, we saw a bay spreading far back and +surrounded by hills of only moderate height, from which the snow had +melted, leaving exposed a variety of grasses and lichens which clothed +their sides. I shouted with joy on seeing this to us cheering prospect. +To people under different circumstances, the view might have appeared +bleak and gloomy enough. + +On getting round the point, we landed on firm ground for the first time +since leaving our ship; and, strange as it may seem, I felt as if half +our difficulties and dangers were over. On climbing up the nearest +hill, we saw that a stream, or rather river, ran into the centre of the +bay, and that from its mouth to the sea there was a clear channel. +Nothing could have been more in accordance with our wishes. We might +here be able to supply ourselves with fish, and from the appearance of +the country, there would probably be an abundance of game. + +We continued along the ice till we saw, a little above the beach, a +level spot on the side of the hill, well sheltered from the north. +Andrew pointed it out. "There, my lads, is the place where we must +build our house, and we must make up our minds to live in it for the +next ten months or so at least," he observed. "We will therefore make +it as comfortable as we can, for we shall not be able to shift our +quarters when once the frost sets in, let me tell you." + +We proceeded up to the place he indicated, and under it we hauled up our +boat on the beach. On a further examination of the spot, we resolved to +establish ourselves there, and immediately set to work to erect a +habitation which might serve us till our winter-house was ready. For +this purpose we collected some large stones which had been washed down +from the neighbouring cliffs, and rolled them up the hill. With these +as a foundation, with the addition of earth and small stones and turf, +we in the course of a couple of hours had raised a wall very much in +form like those we had been accustomed to form of snow. Our sail served +as a roof; and in an excursion made by some of the party a short +distance among the hills, a quantity of a low shrubby plant was +discovered, admirably suited for a mattress till we could get bedding +from the ship. + +Andrew assured us that we had every reason to be thankful that our +position was so good; and so I think we had, for it most certainly might +have been very much worse. But those who stay at home at ease by their +warm firesides would not consider a residence in a hut on the side of a +bleak hill, throughout a winter within the Arctic Circle, as a position +much to be envied. Everything, we must remember, is by comparison; and +I again repeat, we had good reason to be grateful. + +The first thing the next morning, off we all started with the sledge, to +commence the work of bringing the things from the wreck. The distance +was twelve miles, so that we could at the utmost only take one trip in +the day. We were all in good spirits, for we had slept soundly and had +enjoyed a good meal; but before long, some of the men began to grumble +at the distance. + +"I don't see why we couldn't have chosen some place nearer the wreck to +build our house," said one. + +"It's a pity the ship weren't driven ashore nearer the bay," cried +another. + +"Now, for my part, I'd rather let the things remain where they are, than +have to bring them all this way," exclaimed the worst grumbler of the +party. + +"Or, as I said before, we'd better by half take up our quarters on +board," put in one of those who had advocated that measure at first. + +"Now, let me tell you that you are an ungrateful set of fellows to talk +as you do," exclaimed Andrew, who had listened to all that was said. +"You saw yourselves that there was not a spot of ground nearer than the +place we have chosen fit to winter in; and as to complaining that the +ship is no nearer the bay, why, if she had been driven into any other +spot than the exact one where she is, she would have been seen by the +Esquimaux, and plundered of everything she contains. You'll soon find +the want of everything we can get from the wreck; and if any one chooses +to winter aboard her, we'll leave him plenty to eat, but if he isn't +frozen to death we shall have him back with us before very long, that I +know." + +Most of the party sided with Andrew on this as on other occasions, and +the grumblers were silenced. As we were perfectly unencumbered, we +advanced at a rapid rate, and in about three hours we got up to the +ship. We scrambled up the sides by the chain-plates, and were all soon +on deck. + +"Hillo, who left the companion-hatch open?" exclaimed Terence, who was +the first who got aft. No one recollected who could have been guilty of +the neglect. "No matter, there's no chance of any one having been here +while we were away," cried Terence, as he jumped down the +companion-ladder. + +He had not got down many steps before he sprung up again in a great +hurry, with a face of terror, his head shoving back the next man who was +following him, and sending him sprawling on deck, while a loud angry +growl was heard issuing from the cabin. + +"Och, murder!" he exclaimed. "There's Davy Jones aboard, as sure as my +name's Terence O'Connor." + +"Shut to the hatch there!" shouted David to some of us who were standing +abaft the companion. We drew it over just in time to prevent a white +head and a pair of sharp claws covered with shaggy hair from protruding +out of the hatchway. At the same moment David, who had a lance in his +hand, thrust it down, and again a fierce snarling growl was heard. + +"Why, mates, we seem to have caught a bear," observed Andrew, who had +come aft to see what had happened. + +"We may have caught a dozen, for what I know," answered David. "And +provided they haven't eaten up the flour, and sugar, and beef we left +here, the more there are the better." + +While he was speaking he was pronging away with his spear down the +companion-hatch, and the growling grew louder and fiercer. + +The bear was now severely wounded and enraged to the utmost; for in +spite of the enemies he might have guessed were ready to receive him, he +tried to force his way up. "Hand a gun here, and we'll see if we can't +settle him," cried David; but the guns had been left leaning against a +block of ice outside the ship, and before we could recover them the bear +had made another attempt to get out of the trap. Evading the points of +the lance, he had seized the handle in his teeth, and then climbing up +the ladder, he forced the top of the hatch off with his head, and seemed +about to take the deck from us. Andrew, however, had got another lance, +and just as his terrific claws were close to David's shoulder, he gave +him a severe wound in the neck. At the same moment I ran up with a gun, +and firing into his mouth, he fell dead across the hatchway. + +That he was not alone we were convinced by the appearance of another +shaggy monster, who now shoved his head up to see what his companion was +about. As he showed his head from under the dead body and opened his +mouth to growl, David plunged his lance into it with such force that he +fell mortally wounded down the ladder, carrying the weapon with him. We +had some work to drag the dead bear out of the way, he was so heavy a +fellow. + +"Are there any more of them?" cried Terence, who, discovering that they +were mortal foes, had completely recovered from his fright. He spoke as +he was peering into the cabin, and about to spring down the ladder. +"Och, yes, here comes another." + +And sure enough a third bear appeared at the doorway, with a look which +seemed to ask what we wanted there. As he was too sagacious to come +within reach of our spears, and our remaining gun was loaded only with +small shot, we scarcely knew how to despatch him. It would have been +very dangerous to descend the ladder, for one pat of his paw was +sufficient to tear any man's arm off; so we had to enrage him by shaking +our lances in his face, and then pretending to run away to induce him to +follow us. + +At last we succeeded almost too well; for with a speed of which I did +not think a bear capable, he clambered up the ladder, and was making for +the side of the ship with the sensible intention of escaping, when we +closed in upon him and caused him to stand at bay. He looked at us +savagely, singling out one of us to attack, and then rushed upon David; +but the old whaler's lance was ready, and the bear received a mortal +thrust in his breast. Notwithstanding this, he rushed forward grinning +savagely; but David sprung out of his way, and another lance pierced him +to the heart. + +We had thus secured some very valuable prizes, and we even hoped there +might be more of them below, provided they had not eaten up the stores +on which we counted. Not one liked to be the first to go down till we +had ascertained whether the cabin had any more occupants. At last none +appearing. Terence with cautious steps descended the ladder, ready to +spring up again should another bear show his face. Stepping over the +carcase of the bear, which lay at the foot of the ladder he looked in. +Presently he shouted to us to follow, and we all quickly descended,-- +anxious to see what damage the bears had committed. + +Fortunately all our stores had been returned to the lockers, and they +had broken open only one, and had got hold of a jar of brown sugar and +another of flour, which, in their clumsy endeavours to eat, they had +sprinkled about the cabin. We calculated from this that they had not +been there long; for if they had, they would have routed out everything +eatable they possibly could get on board. + +As it was, our carelessness had been productive of more good than harm, +for the skins of the beasts would make us some warm clothing, while +their flesh would afford us food for a long time, if we could get no +other fresh meat. + +Our first care was now to construct a number of hand sledges, for the +conveyance of our stores to our winter quarters. The small ones were +made so that one person could drag them over the smooth parts of the +ice; and on having to pass any rough portions, two or three persons +might tackle together, passing one sledge after the other. + +To carry the woodwork for our house, we were obliged to form a large +sledge, which would require nearly all the party to drag it forward. +Taking care to close all the hatches, we loaded our sledges with +provisions, blankets, and some additional clothing, and set forward on +our return to the bay. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +We travelled briskly along over the ice, our encounter with the bears +affording us abundant matter for amusement. I forgot to say, that not +having time to flay them, we had shoved them down the main hatchway, to +wait till the next day. Now and then one or other of the sledges, not +carefully constructed, would come to pieces, and we had to wait while it +was being repaired; otherwise we got on very well, and, I suspect, +faster than if we had not had them to drag after us. At length our +journey was almost accomplished, and in a few minutes we expected to +arrive at what we already had begun to call our home,--it was, indeed, +the only home we were likely to have for a long time to come. + +We had rounded the rocky point, and were dragging our sledges towards +our hut, when what was our surprise to see a group of human beings, +clothed from head to foot in skins, standing round it, examining it +apparently with much curiosity! On seeing us they drew up in a line, +and advanced slowly towards us down the hill. They numbered twice as +many as we did; and as they had arms in their hands, Andrew ordered us +to stop, to see what they would do. + +"Show them that we wish to be friends, lads, and place your lances and +the guns on the ground," said Andrew. + +We did as he directed, and instantly the Esquimaux, for such we saw they +were, threw aside their spears and knives, and cried out, "_Tima, +Tima_!" and advanced with outstretched arms towards us. + +We uttered the same words and advanced also. We soon saw by the +expression of their countenances that they were amicably disposed +towards us; and from their manner of behaving, we suspected that we were +not the first Europeans they had met. + +They all appeared comfortably clothed. The men wore deerskin jackets +with hoods to them, to be drawn over the head; their trousers were +generally of sealskin, made to reach below the knee, and their boots +were of the same substance, with the hair inside. Some of them had +shoes over their boots, and an under-jacket of deer-skin. The dress of +the women was very similar, except that their jackets had long flaps +behind, reaching almost to the ground, and were pointed in front. There +were several children, who kept in the background, and they were all +dressed exactly like the older ones; and funny little beings they were, +reminding one forcibly of hedge-hogs, or rather of little bears and +dancing dogs. + +They advanced slowly in a line as we walked forward; but when we had got +near enough to see each other's faces they stopped. Whatever sign we +made they instantly imitated; and there was a merry, good-natured +expression in their countenances, which gave us great confidence in the +friendliness of their disposition. Seeing this, we walked forward and +put out our hands; they did the same; and presently there was as warm a +shaking of hands between us, as if we were the oldest friends each other +had in the world. + +This ceremony being over, they accompanied us to the hut, which we +examined with some little anxiety, to see if they had taken anything +away; but nothing was disturbed. The few things, also, which had been +left in the boat had not been touched. + +"You are honest fellows, that you are," exclaimed Terence, shaking them +all round again by the hand, at which they seemed mightily pleased. We +talked away at them, and they talked to us for some time, making all +sorts of signs and gestures; but at the end of it all we were not much +the wiser, for neither of us could understand a word each other said. + +However, we did not want them clustering round us while we were +unpacking our sledges, and we were in a hurry to stow our things away +before night; so Terence undertook to draw them off. He managed it by +taking one by the hand, and making him sit down at a little distance and +seating himself beside him; then, making a sign to the first to sit +quiet, he led another to the spot, and so on till they all were seated. +They then remained very quiet, looking on with an expression of the +greatest surprise at the various things we produced. It was almost +sunset when they got up, and again shaking hands, took their departure +over the hills. By this we supposed that their habitations were at no +great distance. + +The next morning we were up by daybreak to return to the ship; and as we +did not think it wise to leave our property without a guard, Terence and +Tom were selected to remain, with two of the guns, to shoot any game +which might appear, or to defend themselves if necessary. The ship had +not been visited; and having laden our large sledge with some wood from +the wreck for building the house, and two small ones with provisions, we +set forward on our return. + +Terence reported that the Esquimaux had again visited the hut, and had +invited him and Tom, by signs, to accompany them over the hills; but +that, on his shaking his head and sitting still, they had understood +that he could not leave his post, and they went away. + +As soon as we had taken some food, Andrew urged us to set about building +our winter house without delay, lest the severe frosts should come on +before it was finished. The plan he proposed, and which was adopted, +was to divide it into two compartments, one for a store-house, the other +for our dwelling and cooking room. The latter was fifteen feet square +and eight feet high, with a sloping roof, and a hole, with a trap in the +top, to let out the air and to serve for a chimney. All this would +require a great deal of wood, besides the turf and stones with which we +also proposed to build it. We had no means of forming windows; but, as +we had heard it was always night during the winter, we thought we should +not want them. + +The next morning we were off again for the wood, as well as some bears' +flesh and some of the other provisions. Terence, who managed so well +with the natives, remained as before, and he reported that they had +come, and seemed much surprised with the work we had performed; that +they had examined the tracks of the sledges and the additional stores, +and then, after a great deal of talking, had returned from whence they +came. + +The following morning we were disturbed by a loud noise of dogs barking +and men shouting; and on looking out of our tents, we saw our Esquimaux +friends looming through the twilight, each of them accompanied by a +troop of seven dogs harnessed to a sledge formed of the jaw-bone of a +whale and sealskins. They came close up to us, talking very rapidly, +and pointing in the direction in which the ship lay. + +When we prepared to start on our daily expedition, they showed their +evident intention of accompanying us. David and some of the other men +did not like this, and were afraid that if they saw the ship they might +appropriate everything on board; but Andrew assured us that he was +certain they had no such intention, and that their purpose was to assist +us, otherwise, as they might easily have tracked us along the ice, they +would have set off by themselves. + +The Esquimaux laughed very much when they saw us trudging along with our +clumsy heavy sledges; and calling their dogs to stop with a _Wo Wo-hoa_, +just as a carter does in England, they beckoned each of us to get on to +a sledge behind each of them, and placing our sledges on theirs, away we +drove. Off went the dogs at full gallop, they guiding them with their +whips and their voices along the smoother portions of the ice. It was +amusing and very exhilarating to feel one's self whirled along at so +rapid a rate, after being so long accustomed to the slow movements of +our own weary feet, and our spirits and courage rose accordingly. + +Their sledges were between eight and ten feet long, and about two wide. +The runners of some were of the jaw-bones of a whale, and of others of +several bones lashed together. To prevent the wearing out of the +runner, it is coated with fresh-water ice, composed of snow and ice, +rubbed and pressed over it till it is quite smooth and hard. + +The dogs are harnessed with thongs of sealskin, passed over the neck and +fore-legs, and leading along the back. Great care is taken to select a +good leader, who goes ahead with a longer trace than the rest, and in +the darkest night, by keeping his nose to the ground, can always find +out the right track. The driver uses a whip with a lash many feet in +length, but he guides his team more by words than blows; and it is +amusing, when the leader hears his own name called, to see him looking +round for his master's orders. + +As we drove along, I bethought me I should like to learn the name of my +companion; so I pointed to myself, and pronounced my own name several +times, "Peter, Peter, yes, I Peter;" and then I touched him, and nodded +for him to speak. + +He quickly understood me, and uttered the word Ickmallick; and when I +repeated it, he seemed much pleased. After this, whenever I touched +anything, he always mentioned the name, and so did I; and in that way in +the course of our drive we had both of us learned something of each +other's language. + +When they arrived at the ship, they appeared very much astonished; and +we could only account for their not having seen her, by supposing that +they had come from inland, or from the south, and that their fishing +excursions never took them in this direction. Their astonishment was +much increased when they clambered on board and descended into the +cabin; and they seemed almost afraid to touch the numberless strange +things they saw. A looking-glass was hanging up; and by chance one +catching sight of his face in it, he was riveted to the spot; then he +began to move slowly and to make grimaces, which he continued to do, +increasing the rapidity of his movements, till he broke into shouts and +shrieks of laughter, till most of his companions assembling around him, +they became convulsed in the same extraordinary manner. + +As we had no time to lose, we covered up the glass, which quieted them; +after which we led them into the hold, when no sooner did they see the +dead bears than they rushed up to them, and began examining them +minutely to see how they had been killed. After this they treated us +with much greater respect even than before, evidently admiring the +prowess which had enabled us to overcome so many of the few enemies with +whom they have to contend. We immediately set to work to remove the +lining of the ship, the bulkheads, and such other woodwork as we thought +would prove useful to us in building our house. The Esquimaux gave us +to understand by signs that they would carry it for us; and as we threw +it over the side of the ship, they packed it on the sledges, each sledge +carrying six or seven hundredweight. They seemed to fancy that the ship +was ours, and that we had come in her; and of course we did not wish +them to think otherwise. + +Among the things in the cabin, we had discovered a number of knives, +hatchets, cotton handkerchiefs, and other articles, which had evidently +been brought for the purpose of trading; and some of them we now +produced, and signified that we would bestow them on them, as rewards +for carrying our property. The way we did this was to load one of our +own sledges,--one of our men dragged it on some little way, and then +Andrew, pointing towards the bay, went up to him and gave him a knife or +a handkerchief. As a hatchet was three times as valuable, he dragged +the sledge three times before he received it. My friend Ickmallick's +black eyes sparkled when he saw this, and his countenance was wreathed +with smiles for two reasons--first, for the pleasure of comprehending +what he meant, and also at the thoughts of receiving so large a reward +for his labour. + +We were so pleased with the honest countenances and manner of these +people, that we had no fears about entrusting the wood and other heavy +things to them. If we had known how scarce and valuable wood is to +them, we might have hesitated more before we did so. + +Among our other labours, we skinned the bears; and, reserving the more +delicate portions of the meat, we gave the rest to them. To our +surprise, they immediately began to eat large lumps of it raw, though we +had lighted the caboose fire to cook our own breakfast, and offered to +cook for them. + +Some they divided among their dogs; and, as soon as masters and beasts +had devoured their meal, they set off together towards the bay, leaving +us still busy on board. When they were gone, we were not quite +satisfied that we had done wisely in giving them the things. They +might, knowing them to be ours, carry them off; or they might have +misunderstood our signs, and fancy that we had given them to them. +However, the thing was done, and we must abide by the consequences. + +We calculated, at the rate they travelled, that they would easily make +two journeys in the day; so we employed ourselves in getting loads ready +for them on their return. We were not disappointed. In little more +than two hours they made their appearance; and so well had they +understood us, that those to whom we had promised knives or +handkerchiefs for carrying one load held out their hands for them, while +those who were to make three for the hatchets signified that they had +performed part of their contract. + +We now entrusted some of them with the bears' flesh and skins, and with +some casks of salted meat; and we also piled up, outside the ship, a +load of wood for each of them, to see if they would come and take it. +As soon as they were off, we followed with the more valuable stores; +but, as we trudged slowly along, we envied their more rapid means of +conveyance, and agreed that we would get them to carry us as well as our +stores on the following day. + +We had got about two-thirds of the way, when they appeared before us +with a fresh relay of dogs. They had come out expressly to meet us; +and, putting us and our loads on their sledges, away we trotted quickly +towards the hut. We were much delighted when Terence informed us that +everything had been safely delivered into his hands. + +The next morning we set to work in earnest about our house, and, as we +all worked, we progressed much to our satisfaction. During the day the +Esquimaux arrived with the loads of wood we had left prepared. They did +not show any intention of visiting the ship when we were not there to +deliver the things to them; indeed, after watching us at work for a +little time, they all went away. + +I have not space to describe our proceedings minutely. We first got our +storehouse completed, and all our things stowed away in it; and then we +built our dwelling-house, and surrounded it with clods of turf, fancying +that we had constructed a very comfortable edifice. The Esquimaux paid +us daily visits, and carried us to the ship to bring away whatever we +required. We were always careful to shut down the hatches before +leaving, to keep out the bears; and this they seemed to consider some +religious ceremony, for they never attempted to visit the ship during +our absence. + +I never met with people, in any part of the world, who possessed a more +peaceable friendly disposition--such perfect honesty and constant +good-humour, with a very fair amount of intelligence. Their courage and +perseverance are expended in overcoming the beasts which form their +subsistence, and there are few opportunities of developing their +intellectual qualities; but in many respects they are, in my opinion, +far more civilised than a large proportion of their brethren in the +south, who claim to be the most enlightened nations in the world. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +We had been all so busy in building our house, and in bringing our +stores from the ship and in stowing them away, that none of us had +wandered a quarter of a mile from our location. The Esquimaux seemed +perfectly to understand what we were about; and when they saw that our +work was completed, they came with their sledges and made signs to us +that they wished us to come and pay them a visit at their abodes. + +By Andrew's advice, five of us were to go first, and the remainder were +to go on our return. Terence and I and David, and two other men, +signified our willingness to accompany our new friends. I stepped into +Ickmallick's sledge, and the rest were accommodated in those of the +others; and the dogs being told to get up and step out, off we set at a +good rate along a valley in which the snow already laid pretty thickly. +As there were no fields, or hedges and ditches, we were able to follow +the most convenient track, though certainly not the shortest, for we +twisted and turned among the hills for the sake of getting a level road +so as to treble our distance, as we found afterwards that we could reach +the spot to which we were bound almost as speedily on foot. + +The Esquimaux location was on the shore of a little bay, opening on a +deep fiord to the south. It was a sheltered and romantic spot; and in +some respects, we at first thought, superior to the one we had chosen. +As we turned round a point of rock we came in sight of a number of tents +of some size, arranged along the shore at regular distances from each +other. As we appeared, their inhabitants rushed out to meet us--men, +women, and children--while the dogs, no insignificant part of the +establishment, hurried up the hill to get out of our way, not liking our +appearance, or perhaps their masters' whips, which were used with no +sparing hand. + +We drove up to the tents in fine style, and were welcomed in the most +cordial manner. These tents were supported by a pole of whalebone, +about fourteen feet long, placed perpendicularly in the ground, with +four or five feet projecting above the roof. The sides and roof were +formed of the skins of seals sewed neatly together. The tents were +about seventeen feet long, and at the entrance about seven feet wide, +increasing towards the farther end, where the bed-places were situated, +where they are about nine feet in width. The beds were formed of a +shrubby plant strewed over about a third of the tent, and kept separate +by pieces of bone laid across from side to side. The doors opened +towards the south-west. They also were formed of a bone framework, with +the skins stretched on them, and were made to overlap each other. The +entrance to the tents was much the lowest part. The skins were pegged +down to the ground with curved bits of bone, also parts of the whale; +indeed, everything about the tents may be said to have been made of skin +and bone, as in truth were all the articles we saw in the possession of +our friends. + +It was worthy of remark how well these people adapted their mode of +living to the circumstances of the country, and how ingeniously they +made use of the very few objects they had the means of obtaining. I +thought to myself, suppose a civilised man, or indeed a whole army of +civilised men, were to be placed in this region, not having been +accustomed to whaling and sealing, as my companions were, every one of +them would perish within a few hours, or days at the utmost; and these +people, who are called savages, have contrived to supply themselves with +all the conveniences and necessaries of life. We felt that had we not +discovered the wreck, and afterwards fallen in with them, we might have +fared very ill indeed. + +When we got off the sledges, our new friends invited us to enter their +tents. I went into Ickmallick's, where he introduced me to his wife and +children. She was young, and had a pleasant amiable expression of +countenance, which made me feel quite at home. She was employed in +cooking the family meal. Her fireplace was composed of a few stones in +the corner of the tent, with a lamp of oil and moss in the centre; and +over it was suspended a small stone vessel of an oblong shape, and +larger at the top than the bottom, containing a mess of sea-horse flesh, +with a quantity of thick gravy. The dinner was just ready; so all of us +sitting round in a circle, with the dish in the centre, we set to. I +had become in no ways particular, or I might not have relished my meal, +for there was rather more blood and dirt in the mixture than might have +been wished for; but some of the ribs were very palatable, though I +should have preferred some bread and salt and potatoes with them. + +I considered my appetite good; but Mr and Mrs Ickmallick and their +interesting family distanced me far, and in a few minutes each of them +had eaten more than would have served me for the whole day. + +The dish out of which we were eating was made of whalebone, one piece +being bent for the sides, and another flat piece being used for the +bottom, and sewn so neatly together that it was perfectly water-tight. +The knives they used were made of the tusk of the walrus, cut or ground +sufficiently thin for the purpose, and retaining the original curve of +the tusk. + +In the tent I observed a number of the weapons they use in the chase. +The spears or darts employed in killing seals and other sea animals are +something like harpoons, consisting of two parts, a spear and a staff. + +The latter is of wood when it can be obtained, and is from three and a +half to five feet in length; and the former is of bone, ground to a +blunt point. The lines attached to the spears are cut out of sealskin, +well stretched and dried, and then coiled up like a rope. To serve as a +float, a large bladder is used. + +Most of the ladies had their faces tattooed, and some their hands; and I +certainly did not think it improved their beauty, though I suppose they +did. The children were fat and rosy, and really interesting-looking, +and so were some of the younger girls; but my gratitude for their +hospitality prevents me saying anything about the elder ladies. Their +jet-black glossy hair hung down carelessly over their shoulders, and was +not tied up like that of the people we had seen on the Greenland coast. +They carried the younger children on their backs, in little sacks or +hoods, just as the gipsies do in England. + +The women were under five feet in height, and few of the men surpassed +five feet four, five, or six inches. The complexion of the young women +was very clear, and by no means dark; their eyes were bright and +piercing, and their teeth of pearly whiteness, though their lips were +thicker and their noses flatter than people in England consider +requisite for beauty. + +From the quantity of clothes they wore, both men and women appeared a +much larger people than they really were, especially the children, who +looked like little balls of skins. + +When we came out of the tents we found the air very cold; and to warm +himself, Terence began to jump about and to snap his fingers, singing at +the same time. This seemed particularly to strike the fancy of our +hosts; and in a little time men, women, and children had joined us in a +reel, and we were all dancing and singing away furiously, till we could +scarcely move for fatigue. + +It made us all very merry, and improved the intimate terms on which we +were with our friends. As the sun was sinking low, we made signs that +we wished to return home; but they signified that they could not part so +soon from us, and that we must pass the night at their huts. As we felt +perfect confidence in them, and were willing to see more of their habits +and customs, we determined to remain. We had some more singing and +dancing, and they were highly delighted at seeing Terence and another +man dance an Irish jig, they carefully noting every movement that was +made. + +As soon as it was over, two of them got up, and amid shouts of laughter +performed a very good imitation of the dance. When the dance was over, +we were invited into the tents to partake of some more of their savoury +messes, they probably thinking that as we had eaten so little, according +to their notions, the first time, we must be hungry again. They pressed +us much to eat more; and Ickmallick selected what he considered the +tit-bits, and watching his opportunity, endeavoured to pop them into my +mouth, not at all to my satisfaction, though I endeavoured to conceal +the annoyance I felt lest I should hurt their feelings, for I saw it was +done with the kindest intentions. + +The meal was scarcely over when notice was given that a herd of +sea-horses, or walruses, or morse, as they are sometimes called, had +come into the fiord, and were at no great distance from the bay. The +opportunity of catching some of these animals, so valuable to the +Esquimaux, was not to be lost, so, seizing their spears and lines, they +hurried down to the beach. + +Here their canoes were placed bottom upwards on two upright piles of +stones, about four feet from the ground. This is done to allow the air +to pass under them, and to prevent them from rotting. They are about +seventeen feet long and rather more than two feet wide, decked over, +except a hole in the centre in which the rower sits, and round this +there is a high ledge to prevent, the sea washing in. Two feet of the +bows float out of the water. The timbers or ribs, which are five or six +inches apart, and the stem and stern, are of whalebone; and they are +covered with the skins of the seal or walrus sewed neatly together. +When driftwood can be found, they employ it. The paddle is double, and +made of fir, the edges of the blade being covered with hard bone to +secure them from wearing. + +With the greatest caution the Esquimaux lifted their canoes into the +water, to prevent them rubbing against the rocks, and they then helped +each other in, we assisting the last man. I observed that each of them +took a few handfuls of sand with him in the canoe. As we stood on the +beach, we could see the walruses blowing like whales as they came up the +fiord, and our friends eagerly paddling out towards them. The canoes +went along as fast as a quick-rowing gig. + +The walrus may be said to be something like a bullock and a whale, and +it grows to the size of an ox. It has two canine teeth twenty inches +long, curving inward from the upper jaw; their use is to defend itself +against the bear when Bruin attacks it, and to lift itself up on the +ice. The head is short, small, and flattened in front. The flattened +part of the face is set with strong bristles. The nostrils are on the +upper part of the snout, through which it blows like a whale. The +fore-paws are a kind of webbed hand; they are above two feet long, and +may be stretched out to the width of fifteen to eighteen inches. The +hind feet, which form a sort of tail-fin, extend straight backward. +They are not united, but are detached from each other. The termination +of each toe is marked by a small nail. The skin of the animal is about +an inch thick, and is covered with a short yellowish-brown coloured +hair. The inside of the paws in old animals is very roughened, from +having to climb over the ice and rocks. Beneath the skin is a layer of +fat, the thickness varying in different seasons. + +The canoes were soon among the herd, and several of the animals were +immediately struck. Instead, however, of darting away, each of the +wounded animals made at the canoes, and their occupants had to pull hard +to keep out of their reach. When the other walruses saw this, they also +swam towards the canoes to the assistance of their companions, and a +regular contest commenced between man and beast. + +The men, by the clever twists and turns they gave their canoes, managed +to keep out of their way, the wounded animals all the time growing +weaker and weaker; and whenever any of those untouched approached so +near as to endanger the canoes, they threw a handful of sand so +dexterously in their eyes, that the enraged animals were blinded and +confused, and immediately swam off. + +I regretted that we had not our firearms with us, as we might very soon +have killed a large number without difficulty, provided the report did +not frighten them away. + +It was quite dark by the time the canoes returned to the beach, each +towing in triumph the dead body of a walrus. On hearing of their +success, the people who remained on shore set up shouts of joy, and +hastened down to carry off the blubber and the more delicate morsels for +their next day's meal. The greater portion of the flesh was stowed away +in holes in the bank, lined with a coating of snow, and thickly covered +over with large stones, so that no animal could get at them. They have +no fear in this climate of their food being destroyed by vermin or small +insects. + +We thought our friends had done eating for the day, but the temptation +of some fresh blubber was too great to be resisted, and to our +astonishment they again set their pot on to boil, and ate till they +could eat no more. + +Terence and the rest of my party fared in the same way, in their +respective tents, which I did. Ickmallick, when he had done eating, +made a sign to me to occupy a corner of the family couch; and the whole +family were soon snoring away and making a no very harmonious concert, +when a dozen or more dogs sneaked in and took up their quarters at our +feet. + +The lamp was left burning all the night. It is a shallow +crescent-shaped vessel of potstone, or what is called soapstone from its +soapy feel. The wick is composed of dry moss, rubbed between the hands +till it is quite inflammable. It is disposed along the edge of the +lamp, on the straight side, and a greater or smaller quantity lighted, +according to the heat required or the fuel that can be afforded. + +I was much pleased by observing the clever way in which the lamp is made +to supply itself with oil, by suspending a long thin slice of whale, +seal, or sea-horse blubber near the flame, the warmth of which causes +the oil to drip into the vessel, until the whole is extracted. + +The wick is trimmed by a piece of asbestos stone, and a quantity of moss +is kept ready to supply the wick. + +Immediately over the lamp is fixed a framework of bone, from which the +pots are suspended; as also a large hoop of bone, having a net stretched +tightly within it. Into this net are put any wet things which require +drying, and it is usually filled with boots, shoes, and mittens. The +lamp kept up a pleasant heat in the tent during the night, and without +it we should have suffered much from the cold, as it was freezing hard +outside. + +The first thing my hostess did in the morning was to set on the +cooking-pot. The toilet was made as rapidly as that of a family of +bears, for all they did was to get up and shake themselves. Before they +went out, however, they pulled on some shoes over their boots to keep +their feet dry, for it had been snowing hard in the night. I was very +little inclined to partake of the breakfast, though I did my best to eat +a little to please them. + +We now explained to our friends that we wished to return; and they +showed their willingness to comply with our wish by catching their dogs +and harnessing them to their sledges. + +In every part of the world the dog is the faithful companion and servant +of man, but especially so in these icy regions. I do not know how the +Esquimaux could exist without dogs. Not only do they drag heavy weights +for long distances at a great rate, but they by their excellent scent +assist their masters in finding the seal-holes; and they will attack the +bear and every other animal with great courage, except the wolf, of +which they seem to have an instinctive dread. + +In appearance and colour they much resemble the wolf; but the latter +when running always carries his head down, and his tail between his +legs, as if ashamed of himself, while they always hold their heads up, +and their tails curled handsomely over their backs. + +In the winter they are covered with hair three or four inches long and a +thick under-coat of coarse wool, so that they can withstand the severest +cold, if protected from the wind by a snow wall or a rock. + +Their masters treat them very roughly; and, when food is scarce, they +leave them to pick up any garbage they can find. They often beat them +unmercifully; but in spite of ill-usage the dogs are much attached to +them, and, on their return from a journey, show as much pleasure, by +jumping up and trying to lick their faces, as any well-bred hounds in +England. If they show a disposition to stray, a fore-leg is tied up to +the neck, so that they tumble down when they attempt to run. + +The females are tended by the women, and treated with great care, and +the puppies are often fed with meat and water at the same time as the +children. Consequently, when grown up, they always follow women more +willingly than men; and when they are drawing a heavy load, a woman will +entice them on by pretending to eat a piece of meat, and by throwing her +mitten before them on the snow, when, mistaking it for food, they hurry +forward to pick it up. + +We afterwards purchased a number, which we found very useful for +hunting, as also for drawing a sledge; though we never managed them as +well as the Esquimaux did. + +A drive of a couple of hours carried us back to our house, where we +found our companions well, and ready to accompany our new friends on a +visit to their tents. We employed ourselves during their absence in +thickening the walls of our house, and in getting our boat ready for +hunting seals, in order to lay in a good supply of oil for winter use. + +We had no time to lose, for every day the weather was getting colder and +colder, and the days shorter, and we might expect the winter speedily to +set in. + +All this time, it must be remembered, there was no want of ice and +icebergs on the sea, and snow on the ground; but still, when the sun +shone, the air was pleasantly warm to our feelings, long accustomed to +constant exposure to sharp winds, which would have chilled the blood of +most of our countrymen accustomed to live at home at ease. + +We found our house at night colder than we expected; and we resolved to +catch as many animals as we could with warm skins, to make ourselves +clothing. + +The next morning, while the rest of us were engaged about the house, Tom +Stokes, who had gone some way along the beach to watch for any seals +which might appear, came running back, declaring that he had seen a +fierce-looking wild man grinning at him over a hummock of ice, and that +he must be one of the mermen he had read about, but which he did not +before believe to exist. He said that when he first saw him, he was in +the water; that he came out on the ice, and put up his fist, and made +faces at him, and that, though he hove a stone at him, he did not seem +to care. + +"I'll see what this merman is," I observed, taking up a gun loaded with +a bullet, and following Tom to the spot. + +There, sure enough, was an ugly black-looking monster; but instead of a +merman, it was a walrus. I got round so as to have a fair shot at its +side, and knocked it over sprawling on the ice. It had not strength +left to crawl off the ice, and Tom and I going up to it, despatched it +with our spears. We summoned the rest, and dragged it home on our big +sledge in triumph. We never ceased afterwards to joke Tom about his +ugly merman. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +We fancied that we had got everything comfortable for the winter, which +now, about the middle of October, began to set in with severe +earnestness, with heavy falls of snow and strong northerly winds. Our +house, on which we had so much prided ourselves, did not keep out the +cold blast as we expected; and though we covered ourselves up with +blankets, and sails, and skins, and kept up a constant fire in the +little stove we had brought from the cabin of the wreck, we were almost +perished with cold. + +It was after a very severe night, and we were consulting what we should +do to keep warm, that we saw the sledges of our Esquimaux friends come +dashing along down the valley towards us. We were anxious to return the +hospitality they had shown us so we asked them into the house and +stirred up our fire, threw some more wood on it, and put on a pot of +lobscouse to regale them. + +They could scarcely restrain their feelings of dismay when they saw this +waste of wood, to them so precious a thing, and by signs they entreated +us to desist; reminding us that they had cooked their meat in a very +different way. However, as the pot began to boil, there was no +necessity for putting more wood on. + +They then tried to show us, by significant gestures, that they thought +we should be frozen to death in our house when the cold increased. To +do this, they shivered very much, then shut their eyes, and stretched +out their limbs till they were rigid, and looking round at the walls, +shook their heads, as much as to say, "This will never do." Then they +smiled, and explained that they could soon show us how to manage. + +Having selected a level spot near our house, they beat the snow on it +down till it was quite hard, and then marked out a circle about twelve +feet in diameter. They then, from under a bank where the snow had +drifted thickly and was very hard, cut out a number of slabs like large +bricks, about two feet long and six inches thick. These they placed +edgeways on the spot marked out, leaving a space to the south-west for +the door. A second tier was laid on this, but the pieces were made to +incline a little inwards. The top of this was squared off with a knife +by one of them who stood in the middle, while the others from without +supplied him with bricks. + +When the wall had been raised to the height of five feet, it leaned so +much that we thought it would certainly fall in; but still our friends +worked on till they could no longer reach the top. The man within then +cut a hole in the south-west side, where the door was intended to be, +and through this the slabs were now passed. They worked on till the +sides met in a well-constructed dome; and then one climbing up to the +top, dropped into the centre the last block or keystone. + +The rest of the party were all this time busily employed with their +snow-shovels in throwing up the snow around the building, and in +carefully filling any crevices which might have been left. + +While we stood looking on with amazement at the rapidity and neatness +with which the work was executed, the builder let himself out as a mole +does out of his mole-hill. He cut away the door till he had formed a +gothic arch, about three feet high, and two and a half wide at the +bottom. From this door in the same way two passages were constructed +about twelve feet long, the floor of them being considerably lower than +the floor of the hut, so that one had to creep up through them into the +hut. + +We were wondering how they were to see through the thick snow, when from +one of the sledges a large slab of fresh-water ice was produced; and the +builder cutting a round hole in one side of the roof, it was let into it +to form a window. + +After the window was cut, the builder remained inside for a short time, +and then invited us to enter. He had collected the snow on one side to +form the beds for a family. Round the remaining portion seats were +formed, and a place for holding the cooking-lamp. + +Indeed the house thus rapidly formed was perfect in every respect. The +light which came through the ice was like that transmitted through +ground glass, very soft and pleasant, and tinted with the most delicate +hues of green and blue. A domed room of the most shining alabaster +could not be more beautiful. We found that our friends intended to take +up their abode near us; for as soon as they had finished one hut, they +began upon others, making signs to us that the first they intended for +our occupation. + +We would rather, perhaps, for some reasons, that they had selected a +spot at a greater distance; but they were so honest and good-natured, +that we had little cause to complain. Andrew suggested that though we +might not use the hut they had built, we might take a lesson from them, +and cover in our house with snow of the same thickness as their walls, +procuring from them slabs of ice for the windows. + +No sooner was this proposed than we set about the work, at which, when +our indefatigable friends observed it, they were so pleased that several +of them came to assist us in forming the bricks of snow; and in a short +time a thick wall was run up, which made a very sensible difference in +the temperature of our room. The next day we covered in the roof, +leaving only a very small opening for the chimney. We also built a deep +portico before the door, with a second door to it, which prevented the +wind from whistling in as it had before done. + +Besides this, we built a courtyard to our house, with the walls eight +feet high, to protect us from the wind; and at last we began to flatter +ourselves that we might be tolerably comfortable, though we had to own +that, notwithstanding all the means we had at our command, the Esquimaux +were better able to make themselves so. + +Our fire, from the constant care it required and the difficulty of +procuring fuel, gave us most trouble; so remembering the lamp we had +seen in the tents, we resolved to adopt a similar plan. + +We had been so busily engaged in improving our own house, that we had +not remarked the progress made by our friends in the construction of +their habitations. They now invited us to enter them again, when we +found all the families established comfortably in them. + +After creeping through the two low passages, each with its arched +doorway, we came to a small circular apartment, of which the roof was a +perfect dome. From this, three doorways, also arched and of larger +dimensions than the outer ones, led into as many inhabited apartments, +one on each side, and the other facing us as we entered. + +The scene presented by the interior was very interesting. The women +were seated on the beds at the sides of the huts, each having her little +fireplace or lamp, with all her domestic utensils about her. The +children crept behind their mothers, and the dogs, except the female +ones, which were indulged with a part of the beds, slunk out past us in +dismay. + +The roof and sides of the inner rooms were lined with sealskin, neatly +sewed together and exactly fitting the dome, which gave the whole a very +comfortable nest-like appearance. On examination we found that the beds +were arranged, first by covering the snow with a quantity of small +stones, over which were laid tent-poles, blades of whalebone, and other +similar-shaped things; above these a number of little pieces of network, +made of thin slips of whalebone; and lastly, a quantity of leaves and +twigs. Above all was spread a thick coating of skins, which could not +now by any chance touch the snow, and a very comfortable couch was the +result. + +The lamps were the same as those used in the tents, and were quite +sufficient to afford ample warmth to the apartments. Indeed, had the +heat been greater, it would have caused the snow to melt, to the great +inconvenience of the inhabitants. + +I have already described some of their domestic utensils--their pots +hollowed out of stone, with handles of sinew to place over the fire; +their dishes and plates of whalebone; and their baskets of various +sizes, made of skins; their knives of the tusks of the walrus; their +drinking-cups of the horns of the musk-ox; and their spoons are of the +same material. They also make marrow spoons out of long, narrow, +hollowed pieces of bone, and every housewife has several of them tied +together and attached to her needle-case. + +Every person carries a little leathern case, containing moss well dried +and rubbed between the hands, and also the white floss of the seed of +the ground-willow, to serve as tinder. The sparks are struck from two +lumps of iron pyrites; and as soon as the tinder has caught, it is +gently blown till the fire has spread an inch around, when the pointed +end of a piece of oiled wick being applied, it soon bursts into a flame, +the whole process occupying a couple of minutes. + +While speaking of their domestic habits, I may remark that in summer +they live on the flesh of the musk-ox, the reindeer, the whale, the +walrus, the seal, and the salmon, besides birds and hares, and any other +animals they can catch; but in the winter they seldom can procure +anything but the walrus and small seal, so that they suffer often from +hunger. Then I am sorry to say they are very improvident, and eat to +repletion when they have a good supply, seldom thinking of saving for +the future. + +This is their great fault. I should say that they are a most amiable, +industrious, and peaceful people, whose minds are well prepared to +receive the truths of Christianity, though at present they appear to +have little or no notions whatever of any sort of religion, and none of +a Supreme Being. + +The children, from their pleasing manners, took our fancy very much. +They never cry for trifling accidents, and seldom even for severe hurts. +They are as fond of play as other children; and while an English child +draws a cart, an Esquimaux has a sledge of whalebone, and instead of a +baby-house it builds a miniature snow-hut, and begs a lighted wick from +its mother's lamp to illuminate the little dwelling. + +Their parents make for them as dolls, little figures of men and women +habited in the true Esquimaux costume, as well as a variety of other +toys, many of them having reference to their future occupations in +life,--such as canoes, spears, and bows and arrows. + +Grown people as well as children use the drum or tambourine in their +games. They are fond of notching the edges of two bits of whalebone, +and whirling them round their heads to make a humming sound, just as +English boys do; and they also make toys like wind-mills, with arms to +turn round with the wind. + +From an early age boys are taught habits of industry; and when not more +than eight years old, their fathers take them on their seal-catching +expeditions, where they learn how to support themselves during their +future life. They are frequently entrusted, even at that early age, to +bring home a sledge and dogs several miles over the ice; and at the age +of eleven boys are to be seen in water-tight boots and mocassins, with +spears in their hands and coils of line on their backs, accompanying the +men on their fishing excursions. + +The village had been established a few days when my friend Ickmallick +proposed that I should accompany him in an expedition in search of game +inland. The Esquimaux had not yet seen us use our guns; but, from +having discovered that we had killed the bears and the walrus by some +means unknown to them, they were impressed with an idea that we were +able to kill any animals without difficulty. + +Andrew having no objection to my going, I supplied myself with a store +of provisions to last me several days, with a skin and a couple of +blankets, a cooking-pot and cup; and with my gun in my hand, I took my +seat on my friend's sledge. Besides the six dogs which drew it, we were +accompanied by two brace of hunting dogs, those in the team being also +equally serviceable for running down game. Ickmallick had some walrus +flesh and blubber for himself and the dogs, and a dish for our lamp. He +was armed with a bow and arrows, a spear, and a knife. + +I had become possessed of a dog of the name of Tupua, a very fine +animal, who had grown very much attached to me, in consequence of my +feeding him regularly and treating him kindly. He now followed the +sledge with the rest of the pack. Ickmallick cracked his whip, and off +we went over the hard frozen snow at a rapid rate. Where we were going +to I could not tell, except that our course was about west and +south-west. + +The first day we saw no game of any description. We travelled, I +suppose, about thirty miles; for though sometimes we went along over the +hard snow very fast, at others we had to go over very rough ground, and +to climb hills. Had I not seen the snow-hut built before, I should have +hesitated about accompanying my friend, on account of not knowing how we +were to pass the nights. I was, however, not surprised to see him set +to work behind a sheltered bank, and in the course of half-an-hour, with +my assistance, run up as comfortable a hut as under the circumstances of +the case we could desire, with a lamp burning within, and a luxurious +bed ready, while another hut, close to it, was run up for the dogs. The +dogs being fed, and our pot having produced us a savoury mess, of which +my companion ate by far the larger portion, we went to bed and slept +soundly till the morning. + +We had started about two hours when the sharp eyes of my friend +discovered the traces of two musk-oxen on the steep side of a hill. +Immediately jumping off the sledge, he unyoked the dogs, and commenced +building a hut over it, which might also serve us at night. He then let +slip his dogs, who went off at full speed and were soon out of sight, as +the nature of the ground did not allow a very extensive view. I let go +mine also. But being unaccustomed to walking in the snow, I could not +keep up with Ickmallick; so he slackened his pace, refusing to leave me +behind, though I urged him to do so, lest we should lose our expected +prey. He assured me, however, that the dogs would take very good care +of their own business. We went on, therefore, laboriously enough for +two hours, over a very rugged country, and through deep snow, when, +finding that the footsteps of the dogs no longer followed that of the +oxen, he concluded that they had got up with the animals, and were +probably holding one or both at bay. + +We soon found, on turning a hill, that this was the fact; when the sight +of a fine ox at bay before the three dogs cured my fatigue in an +instant, and we went off ourselves at full speed to the rescue. + +Ickmallick, however, kept the lead, and was in the act of discharging +his second arrow when I came up. We saw that it had struck on a rib, +since it fell out without even diverting the attention of the animal +from the dogs, which continued barking and dodging round it, seizing it +by the heels whenever they had an opportunity or when it turned to +escape, and then retreating as it faced them. + +In the meantime it was trembling with rage, and labouring to reach its +active assailants, but, experienced as they were in this service, unable +to touch them. It was easy to see that my companion's weapons were of +little value in this warfare, or at least that victory would not have +been gained under many hours, as he continued to shoot without apparent +effect, finding his opportunities for an aim with much difficulty, and +losing much time afterwards in recovering his arrows. + +I therefore thought it was time to show what I could do with my +mysterious weapon, and putting in a ball, I fired at the animal at about +fifteen yards from it. The ball took effect, and it fell; but rising +again, it made a sudden dart at us, very nearly catching me as I sprang +aside. Fortunately there was a rock rising out of the ground close to +us. Behind this we dodged, when the ox, rushing at it with all its +force, struck its head with tremendous violence against it. + +The animal fell down, stunned for a moment, with a crash which made the +hard ground echo to the sound. On this Ickmallick leaped forward and +attempted to stab it with a knife; but it was instantly up again, and he +was obliged to run for shelter behind the dogs, which came forward to +renew the attack. Bleeding profusely as the animal was, its long hair +down its sides being matted with blood, yet its rage and strength seemed +undiminished, as it continued rushing forward and butting with the same +ferocity as before. + +In the meantime I had reloaded my gun behind the rock, and was advancing +to take another shot, when the animal darted towards me, to the great +alarm of my friend, who thought I should be killed. He called to me to +return to my shelter, but I had time, I felt, for a cool aim. I fired, +and the animal fell not five yards from me. The sight of his fallen +enemy made my companion scream and dance with joy, and on his coming up +it was dead. + +On examining it, we discovered that the last ball had passed through the +heart. From the habits of the Esquimaux, I expected that my friend +would have lost no time in extracting a dinner out of the ox; but I +found that I had done him injustice, and that his prudence was more +powerful than his stomach. + +He was satisfied with mixing some of the warm blood with snow, thus +dissolving as much as he required to quench his thirst; and he then +immediately proceeded to skin the animal, knowing very well, what I +might have recollected, that the operation would shortly become +impossible in consequence of the severity of the cold, which would soon +freeze the whole into an impracticable mass. + +For the same reason he divided the carcase into four parts, that we +might be better able to lift it. As we were unable to carry off our +prize, we built a snow-hut over it, setting up marks that we might know +the spot again. We however took away a small portion for a meal, which +on reaching our abode we cooked, and found excellent. + +We were up by daylight to go in search of the other ox, the traces of +which we had seen. We searched for it for two hours, when we discovered +it grazing on the top of a hill free from snow. There was only one path +by which it could escape. That we occupied; and as we advanced rapidly +towards it, our shouts and the loud barking of the dogs alarmed it. + +First it seemed as if it would rush at us, but its heart failed it and +it turned and fled. There was a precipice before it; but it either did +not see it, or fancied that it could leap to the bottom in safety. We +observed it disappear, and I thought it was lost, and on reaching the +edge of the cliff it was nowhere to be seen. My friend, however, +beckoned me to accompany him, and winding down the hill, we found the +animal at the bottom of the precipice, killed by the fall. + +It was cut up in the same way as the first, and a snow-hut was built +over it. + +We employed the next day in bringing up the flesh and skins of the oxen +to our hut; and fortunate it was that we did so, for it snowed so hard +that I do not think we should otherwise have been able to find the spot +where we had left them. We were out looking for more oxen, when, being +on some high ground, I saw some dark objects to the north, advancing +over the snow in a line which would bring them to the foot of the hill +where we were. + +I pointed them out to Ickmallick, but his keen eye had perceived them. +They were a herd of deer migrating to the south. They travelled on at a +rapid rate, not stopping to graze, nor turning to the right hand nor to +the left. My companion pulled me by the sleeve, and urged me down the +hill, where he beckoned me to take up my post behind a snow wall, which +he with the greatest rapidity threw up. + +We had scarcely knelt down when the herd appeared in sight, dashing +onward. I waited till I could get a good shot, and fired at a fine +buck. I hit him, but he continued his course with his companions. We +thought he was lost to us, but he very soon dropped behind the rest. On +this Ickmallick let slip the dogs, which he had held all the time in +leashes. They were very soon at the stag's heels, and brought him to +bay. He was a fine object as he stood conspicuous on the white sheet of +snow, now tinged with the blood which flowed from his side, his antlers +still raised in defiance at the dogs barking round him, and yet scarcely +daring to attack him. Though deserted by his companions, he fought +nobly; but he was already exhausted by loss of blood, and could no +longer ward off the attacks of the dogs at his throat. + +At last he sank, and we were just in time to prevent him from being torn +to pieces by the ravenous dogs. A stroke from Ickmallick's knife put an +end to his torture, and gladly would I have avoided the reproachful +glance of his eye as the weapon struck him. This unexpected good +fortune made my companion resolve to return home; and he seemed to +regret that he had not brought another sledge to carry back our game. + +The deer was prepared as had been the oxen, and going back to the hut +for a sledge, we conveyed it there before night. + +Ickmallick, to my astonishment, made a dish of the vegetable contents of +the intestines, which he seemed to consider very excellent, though I +could not prevail upon myself to taste it. + +The next morning we started on our journey homeward. I could not +recognise the face of the country, it was so covered with snow; and +still less could I have found my way against the heavy snow which was +driving in our faces. + +It was slow work, for we had in several places partly to unload the +sledge and to go forward, then to return for the remainder of our +property. It was, however, satisfactory to feel that we were +independent of inns and innkeepers, and that we had ample means of +making ourselves comfortable at night. As usual, when it began to grow +dark we built our hut, lighted our fire, cooked our supper, made our +beds, and were very soon fast asleep. + +I awoke at the usual hour, feeling rather oppressed with the heat. I +then aroused my companion, whose slumbers were heavy after the five or +six pounds of solid flesh he had devoured, and inquired what was the +cause of this. He pointed to the door of the hut, which I found was +completely blocked up with snow. He laughed to show me that there was +nothing to fear, and began making preparations for breakfast. + +On further examination of the state of things, I found that we were +snowed in, but to what depth I could not say, further than that, as six +to seven feet frequently fell in the course of a night, I supposed, as +was the case, that we might be buried beneath that depth of snow. This +seemed to make no difference to Ickmallick, for he ate away as heartily +as usual, and then packed up our goods in preparation for departure. + +Having accomplished this task, he began cutting away the snow, so as to +form a passage just large enough to admit his body. When this was done, +we crept through it into the cold bleak air, and it took us a +considerable time before we could enlarge the cavity sufficiently to get +out the sledge and dogs with our goods. The heat, with the wear and +tear of the journey, had somewhat damaged the runners of the sledge, and +we had to melt some snow and to rub it hard over them before the +conveyance was fit to proceed. The day closed in before we reached +home, but Ickmallick knew the road too well, as did his dogs, to make it +necessary to stop. + +I fancied that I recognised the cliffs of the coast in the distance, +when suddenly just before us I saw some pale lights, like those from +gigantic glow-worms, rising out of the ground. The dogs came to a +standstill; and voices of welcome rising from the interior, showed me +that we had arrived at the village, now covered to the roofs of the huts +by snow. The lights I saw were emitted through the ice windows in them. +I walked on to our own house, where I found all my companions well; and +before long Ickmallick brought in half the deer and a quarter of one of +the oxen, which he seemed to consider my share of the produce of the +chase. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +We thought that we had known what cold was when the winter first began; +but when a strong northerly wind commenced, having passed over either a +frozen sea or sheet of snow, then we really felt how hard it could +freeze. Even the Esquimaux kept within their snow-huts, and we could +not venture beyond the shelter of our snow-wall, without instantly +having our faces frost-bitten. + +It was not till the last day of November that we entirely lost sight of +the sun, and the long arctic night commenced. But the night of that +region cannot be compared to the dark, gloomy nights of more southern +climes. Overhead the sky was generally beautifully clear, and the moon +and stars shining on the snow gave a light scarcely less bright than +that of day. + +About noon, also, there was always a twilight, and in clear weather a +beautiful arch of bright red light was seen over the southern horizon. +Besides this, the aurora borealis frequently lighted up the sky with its +brilliant hues, like some magnificent firework on a grand scale. I +watched a very beautiful aurora one night in the south-west, which +extended its glowing radiance as far as the zenith. + +Fancy a bright arch suddenly bursting forth in the dark-blue sky, +sending up streamers of many hues--orange, crimson, and purple--while +bright coruscations were emitted from it, completely obscuring the stars +in the neighbourhood! Two bright nebulae afterwards appeared beneath +it: and about two o'clock it broke up into fragments, the coruscations +becoming more frequent and irregular till it vanished entirely. + +Even during the coldest weather, provided there was no wind, we could +enjoy ourselves in the open air; but the slightest wind made us feel a +smarting sensation all over the face, with a considerable pain in the +forehead. We could not touch our guns in the open air without our +mittens; and when by accident one of us put his hand to anything iron, +it felt as if it was red-hot, and took off the flesh exactly in the same +manner. + +We were very comfortable in our house, but we had to make some +alterations. We found it better to stop up the chimney of our stove, +and to use the same sort of lamp as the natives, which we were able to +do, as we were well supplied with seals and walrus. The Esquimaux used +to hunt the walrus throughout the winter, and would frequently venture +out to sea on floating masses of ice to attack them, trusting to the +wind to bring them back again with their prize. + +When a walrus is struck near the edge of a floe, the hunter fastens the +line of his harpoon round his body and places his feet firmly against a +hummock of ice, in which position he can withstand the very heavy strain +of the struggling animal. + +Seals are taken in a less dangerous way, but one which requires very +great perseverance. As seals require to breathe, they have to make +holes in the ice for this purpose, and the Esquimaux watch for them as +they are thus employed. Immediately that a man discovers by listening +that a seal is working beneath the ice, he builds a snow-wall about four +feet in height to shelter him from the wind, and seating himself under +the lee of it, deposits his spear-lines and other implements upon +several little forked sticks inserted into the snow, to prevent the +slightest noise being made in moving them when wanted. He also ties his +own knees together with a thong, to prevent any rustling of his clothes. + +To ascertain if the seal is still at work, he pierces through the ice +with a slender rod of bone with a knob at the end of it. If this is +moved, he knows that the animal is at work; if it remains quiet, he +knows that he has deserted the spot. + +When the hole is nearly completed, the hunter lifts his spear with its +line attached; and as soon as the blowing of the seal is distinctly +heard, and the ice consequently very thin, he drives it into him with +the force of both arms, and then cuts away the remaining crust of ice to +enable him to repeat the wounds and to get him out. A man will thus +watch for hours together, with a temperature of 30 degrees below zero. + +We were able to kill a good many with our guns at a distance as they lay +on the ice, when no one could have approached near them. Our sporting, +on the whole, was tolerably successful, for we killed a quantity of +ptarmigan, grouse, and other birds, besides several white hares. We +also killed several foxes and a quantity of wolves which came prowling +round our house, and would, I doubt not, have carried off any of our +dogs or provisions they could have got at. + +Thus the winter passed away without any adventures particularly worth +recording. The sun was below the horizon for about six weeks; and +though only for a short period at a time, we gladly once more welcomed +the sight of his beams. + +Our Esquimaux friends continued on very good terms with us; and with our +assistance they were always well supplied with food. Andrew took great +precautions about our health, and advised us to take daily some of the +pickles and preserved fruits we had discovered, to assist in keeping off +the scurvy,--as also a daily supply of fresh meat, whether of fish or +flesh; and we very soon got over any objection we might have had to +seal's blubber dressed in Esquimaux fashion. + +During calm weather we paid numerous visits to the ship, to bring away +things we might require; and we were able to afford our friends what was +to them an almost inexhaustible supply of wood. Without the aid of our +saws and hatchets they could not cut away the stout timbers and planks; +and as we had removed the bulkheads and lining of the ship, with the +remaining spars, their honesty was not as much tempted as it otherwise +might have been. + +Our time did not hang on our hands nearly as heavily as might be +supposed. We in the first place employed ourselves in manufacturing the +skins of the animals we killed into garments of all sorts,--mittens, +hoots, jackets, and caps,--so that we were all of us clothed from head +to foot very much in the fashion of the Esquimaux. + +We took some trouble to trim our jackets and caps with fur of different +colours as they do, and the effect produced was very good. We also made +models of sledges and canoes, and of all the articles used by our +friends, which seemed to please them very much, though I confess they +were not more neatly made than theirs, in spite of our superior tools. + +When tired of work we used to sit round our lamp at night, and narrate +our past adventures, or invent stories, some of which were very +ingenious and amusing, and were well worth writing down; indeed, I +regret that my space will not allow me to give some which I remember +very well, for I took pains to impress them on my memory, thinking them +worth preserving. If my young friends express any wish to hear them, I +shall be very glad at some future time to write them down for their +amusement. + +But the subject which naturally occupied our chief attention was the +means we should take to regain our native land. We could not hope that +any whalers would visit the coast till August at the soonest, and even +then it was not certain that they would come at all. David, who was our +authority on such matters, said that he had known some years when the +ships could not pass the middle ice through Baffin's Bay to Pond's Bay; +and that, consequently, we might have to pass another year in that +place, unless we could escape through our own exertions. + +On this the idea was started of building a vessel, and attempting to +reach Newfoundland in her, or to try and fall in with some whaler at the +entrance of Davis' Straits. + +I cannot say that I very much approved of this plan. I had great +confidence in Andrew's discretion, and I knew both him and David to be +experienced seamen, but neither of them knew anything about navigation-- +indeed David could neither read nor write; and though we might possibly +be able to find our way through the ice, when once we got clear we might +lose it, and be wrecked on a worse coast than the one we were desirous +of quitting. How also could such a vessel as we had the means of +building be expected to withstand the slightest pressure of the ice? +and, from the experience we had had, I did not think it likely we should +be able to get to the south without encountering some of those fearful +contests in which we had seen other vessels destroyed. + +However, day after day we talked about it; and at least it served to +beguile the time, though nothing definite was determined on. We had +unfortunately no books, for those we found in the ship we could not +read. I had, however, a small note-book in my pocket, and with my +pencil, which I used very carefully, I kept a sort of journal across the +leaves of the foreign books, thus turning them to some account. + +Had it not been for Andrew, I am afraid that few of us would have shown +any attention to our religious duties; but he by degrees drew the minds +even of the most thoughtless to the subject of religion, till all +acknowledged its importance and beauty. He explained to us, to the best +of his power, the truths of Christianity, of which most of us had before +a very slight and imperfect knowledge. He also proposed that we should +unitedly offer up our prayers to Heaven every morning and evening; and +from that time we never failed in that important duty. + +As I think over the prayers used by that good man, although the words +and sentences might have been somewhat unpolished, I feel that the +sentiments could not have been surpassed by the most highly educated +clergyman--for this reason, that they came from an enlightened mind with +an earnest spirit. No words, indeed, could be more appropriate to our +condition than those he used. + +Early in February the sun again made his appearance, and the day, +including twilight, might be said to last from eight o'clock to four, so +that we had not a very much shorter day than people in London. The +weather, however, was colder than ever, and we were less able to be +exposed to the air for any length of time than during the dark months. + +About the middle of March there were slight signs of a thaw, the snow +being glazed over in the evening, as if the sun had had some effect on +it. We also felt a sensible improvement in the temperature, and were +soon able not only to wash our clothes, but to dry them in the open air, +an operation which rather astonished our Esquimaux friends. + +Early in May there was a perceptible twilight at midnight, so that we +felt the summer had once more begun. + +A little later, ptarmigan, grouse, and other birds made their +appearance, and the Esquimaux reported that they had seen the tracks of +deer and musk-oxen. Still, far out to sea there was the same dreary +flat expanse of ice, covered with a sheet of snow. + +I ought to have mentioned that for the sake of being nearer the edge of +the ice, where seals could be caught, some of our friends had built for +themselves snow-huts on the ice. For this purpose they completely swept +away the snow, leaving a flooring of clear ice, which was of the richest +and most splendid blue that nature affords. I thought to myself, with +these simple materials what a magnificent palace might be built, far +surpassing any other style of edifice! + +The increasing warmth of the weather now enabling us to work out of +doors for several hours together, it was once more seriously proposed +that we should begin to build a boat, or, as some insisted on calling +her, a vessel, to carry us home. I asked Andrew what he thought on the +subject, for he had not expressed any very strong opinion either one way +or the other. He replied that he thought there could be no harm in +trying to build a small vessel; that we had an abundance of materials +and tools, with provisions; and that if we could contrive to make her +seaworthy, we might manage to reach one of the places to the south +constantly visited by whalers; but if not, we must be content to wait +till some ship might pass in the autumn. + +He owned that he, for one, should not be inclined to venture out of +sight of land; and that, provided we took a good supply of provisions +with us, our firearms and powder, our harpoons and lances, after the +experience we had had, we could not come to much harm, even if we were +compelled to weather out another winter in the arctic regions. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +Having determined to build a vessel, we set to work with great energy; +and we hoped by ingenuity and perseverance to make amends for our want +of skill and knowledge. + +Our first task was to break up the wreck, and to convey it piecemeal to +the bay; and in this work we were ably assisted by the Esquimaux, who +understood that whatever portion we did not require was to be their +perquisite. They also shrewdly suspected that we should leave them, if +we went away, many of the other treasures we had in our possession. I +believe, however, that they really had formed a sincere regard for us, +and were sorry to find that we were about to depart; at the same time +that they consoled themselves, as more civilised people are apt to do +under similar circumstances, with the reflection that we should leave +something behind us. + +We first had to carry to our store the remainder of the salted +provisions; which, had they been left a single night on board after the +hatches were removed, the bears would inevitably have got hold of. We +then carried off such part of the deck as we required, with some of the +timbers and planks. + +As we could not get at the keel, we were obliged to content ourselves +with the mainmast, to serve as a keel for our new vessel. We laid her +down close to the beach just above high-water mark, with a +carriage-sledge under her, so as to be able to launch her over the ice. +Our intention was to make her a vessel of about sixteen to twenty tons, +which was as large as our materials would allow, and to rig her as a +schooner for the same reason, and because she would thus be more easily +handled. + +After much discussion as to the ways and means, we laid down the keel +and set up the stem and stern. We next commenced on the ribs, which +puzzled us much more to shape them, so as to make the sides of the form +we wished, and one side to correspond with the other. However, there is +an old saying, that "Where there's a will there's a way;" and though not +always true, it was so in our case, though we expended six times as much +labour and time as we should have done had there been a good carpenter +among us to superintend our work. We were unwearied in our labours; we +worked all day, and a great part of the night too, for we all felt that +on getting it done in time depended our escape from those icy regions +that year. + +I have described our imprisonment as passed more pleasantly than we +could have expected; but yet none of us desired to spend another winter +in the same way, and most of us had some friends or relations whom we +wished again to see, and to relieve from the anxiety they must be +feeling on our account. + +We should have worked on Sundays, but Andrew Thompson urged us to +desist. Some of the men answered that we were working in a good cause, +as we should the sooner be able to return home. + +"It is the Lord's day, and He says we shall not work on it," answered +Andrew. "Therefore it is wrong to work on it; and depend upon it He +never intends us to do wrong that good may come of it. We are building +a vessel, which we think may be the means of saving us; but He may have +arranged differently, and after all our labour it might prove our +destruction." + +Terence, Tom, and I at once said we would follow Andrew's advice; and +one or two of the others added that they were not going to work for us +if we chose to be idle, so the Sabbath became a day of rest. The +Esquimaux wondered when they observed this, and inquired why every +seventh day we desisted from work, though so anxious to get our ship +built. + +Andrew then explained to them that we were commanded to do so by the God +we worshipped, and that if we disobeyed His laws He would be angry with +us, and that we could not expect to prosper. + +Our knowledge of their language was unfortunately far too imperfect to +enable us to impart any of the great tenets of Christianity to them; but +I do believe that this reply, and the exhibition of obedience to the +commands of a Being whom none of us saw, yet willingly obeyed, opened +their minds, more than any sermon could have done, to receive those +truths whenever they may be offered to them. + +Many a time in their snow tents will those untutored savages, during the +long night of winter, talk of the God of the Kabbinae (the Europeans), +and worship Him unknowingly in His works. They are people of inquiring +minds, very capable of receiving instruction; and from their habits and +dispositions, I feel assured that were the great light of the gospel +placed before them, they would gladly receive its truths, and be brought +into Christ's flock of true believers. + +Should there be no other result from the gallant attempts making to +discover a north-west passage round the continent of America, than that +by those means people have become acquainted with the condition of vast +tribes hitherto little known, and thereby it has been put into the +hearts of some of Christ's true soldiers to carry His gospel among them, +glorious indeed it will be. + +Who can say that the finger of God has not directed our brave countrymen +to those regions for that very purpose, although they themselves are +ignorant of the influence which impels them; and that, it having been +shown how easily the rigours of an arctic winter may be withstood, ere +long missionaries may be on their way to reside among the northern, as +Christian men have for long resided among the southern, tribes of +Esquimaux for the same holy purpose? + +We got on very briskly with our vessel. She was not very sightly, +certainly, but we thought she would be strong, which was of more +importance. After much discussion we determined to give her a round +stern, as more likely to withstand a blow from the ice. Her floors were +very flat, which was very much owing to the shape of the timbers, which +we could not alter; but this was not a fault, as she would better have +borne being thrown on the ice. + +When we came to planking her, we found great difficulty in making the +planks fit the ribs, as any one conversant with shipbuilding may +suppose; and we had to fill up under the planks in many places, to +secure them to the timbers. We resolved that she should be very strong; +so we almost filled her with beams, and double-planked her over after +having caulked the first planking. + +We had less difficulty in laying down the deck; but for the size of the +vessel it was very thick and not very even. Provided, however, it was +water-tight, we cared nothing for other defects. + +We built up some strong high bulwarks, not forgetting to leave ports of +good size to let the water run off should a sea break on board us. We +got two spars from the lower yards of the ship which served for masts, +and set them up with shrouds, though, as most of the rigging of the ship +was rotten, we had some difficulty in finding a sufficient quantity. + +We rigged her with a fore and aft mainsail and fore-sail, and a square +topsail and a fore staysail and jib, the bowsprit steeping up very much, +so that when she pitched there might be less chance of its being carried +away. + +It is not an easy job to cut out a sail well, though there appears to be +no difficulty in it; and I must own that ours did not look very well +when we first set them, but by alterations, and making several patches, +we got them to stand fairly at last. + +We were prudent and made two suits, besides keeping a supply of canvas +among our stores. + +Our yards and gaffs were somewhat heavy, as we had no proper-sized spars +to make them from. We found a good supply of rope on board the ship, +from which we fitted our running rigging. At last we had a vessel of +some twenty to five-and-twenty tons, in all appearance ready for sea. + +The last and not the least important task was to select the stores and +provisions we should require, and to make the casks to hold the water +tight. Had we had carpenter or blacksmith among us, much of our labour +might have been spared; but it must be remembered that we had only a few +tools, to the use of which none of us were accustomed, and that nearly +every nail we employed we had to draw from the planks and to straighten. + +By the end of August our task was accomplished, and it was with no +little satisfaction that we walked round and round our vessel to survey +our work. + +The next thing to be done was to move her over the ice to the centre of +the bay, where about two miles off there was open water. When once we +could get the cradle on which she rested on the ice, we thought our task +would be easy; but to set it going was the difficulty. We tried every +means we could think of, but the heavy mass would not move. + +An ordinary-built vessel of fifteen tons could not have weighed a third +of what ours did. At last we bethought ourselves of cutting away the +ground under the cradle, and of placing slips of ice for it to run on. +With infinite trouble and no little risk we succeeded in doing this. We +gave a shout of joy as we saw our craft moving towards the ice. She +glided slowly at first, but her speed increased. She dashed on; and +before she reached the ice, while yet on the beach, the cradle gave way, +and with a loud crash she fell over on her side. We were in despair, +and some gave vent to their feelings in expressions of bitter complaint. + +We might shore her up, and afterwards cut a channel for her through the +ice, if she had escaped injury; but it would be a work of time, and the +season for proceeding to the south might be lost. + +Most of the Esquimaux had gone away to catch salmon, and on hunting +expeditions, but a few remained; and though they expressed great regret +at our misfortune, they seemed glad that we had less chance of leaving +them. + +Andrew was the only one among us who was calm. "Come, my lads," he +said, "there's no use looking at what's happened without trying to set +matters to rights again. If we stand here all day without putting our +hand to the work, we shall not get the craft on an even keel." + +His taunting words aroused us to exertion; and it was proposed to get +the vessel up by driving wedges of ice under her bilge, and since the +cradle could be of no further use, to build a way for her to the water, +or to where the ice might be thin enough to allow us to break it, so as +to form a channel for her to float through. + +We laboured away very hard; but our want of scientific knowledge made us +despair of accomplishing the task. The first day we did nothing--the +next we set to work again, but performed little of the proposed work. + +"It's of no use, I see," grumbled David. "We may as well make up our +minds to spend the rest of our days here." + +While he was speaking, and all hands were standing doing nothing, I +happened to turn my eyes to the northward, and there I saw what appeared +to me a high land, covered with towers, and houses, and church-steeples, +with trees and rocks on either side. Under the land, however, appeared +a thin line of water, and dividing it a broad gap, as it were the mouth +of some wide river or fiord; but what most attracted my attention was an +inverted ship, which appeared above it under all sail. + +I at once guessed that this extraordinary appearance was caused by +refraction; but the figure of the ship puzzled me. It was so perfect in +every respect, that I was convinced that it could not be an ocular +illusion, and that there must be some real ship, and that this was her +reflection in the clouds. I pointed her out to my companions; and when +they saw that all the objects were continually changing and that she +remained the same, they were of the same opinion. We therefore resolved +to watch, and to get the boat ready to shove off to her should a ship +appear; at the same time the great uncertainty of what might really be +the case prevented us from feeling any exuberance of joy. It was +already late in the day, but none of us could sleep, so eager were we to +keep a look-out for the strange ship. + +Hour after hour passed away, and still no vessel appeared to relieve our +anxiety. Some of the men at length grew weary of watching, and threw +themselves on their beds to sleep. + +"It was, after all, to my mind but a fancy," exclaimed Terence, entering +the hut with a discontented air. "The figure we saw in the sky was very +like a ship, I own; but still I'd bet anything it was no ship at all." + +Andrew and I still held that it was a ship. + +"Come, mates," said David, who had been looking out as eagerly as any of +us; "I've sailed these seas man and boy, thirty years and more, and so +I've a right to have my say. Now I've often seen just such a sight as +we saw yester-even; sometimes we fell in with the ship we saw up in the +clouds like, and other times we looked for her and she never appeared, +so we supposed that it must have been an iceberg in the figure of a ship +which we had seen. Therefore what I say is, that what we saw may be a +ship. But if she was a ship, then she ought to have been off here by +this time; but if it was an iceberg, then there's no use troubling our +heads about it." + +David having thus authoritatively delivered his opinion, walked into the +hut and threw himself on his bed, thereby proving that he considered the +appearance we had seen merely the reflection of an iceberg. + +I, however, still held to my first opinion, that a real ship alone could +have created a figure so perfect in the clouds. Then it must be +remembered that I had seen it first, and that the appearance may have +somewhat altered before the attention of the rest was called to it. I, +however, was so far biassed by David's opinions, that I went and threw +myself on my bed. I slept, but it was very lightly; and all the time I +fancied that ships were gliding before me, and that their crews were +beckoning me to come on board. + +At last, so strong was the impression on my mind, than I got up and went +to our look-out place on the top of the nearest hill. Great, alas! was +my disappointment, when the same dreary expanse of ice and water met my +eye, without a sail anywhere to be seen. + +One thing struck me, that the whole surface of the sea was as calm and +unruffled as the intervening ice, and that no breath of air was stirring +in the heavens. The sun rose as I watched, gilding the pinnacles of the +icebergs, which still remained fixed in the bay, casting a silvery hue +over the masses of snow yet unmelted on the hills, and making stronger +than ever the contrast between the pure white of the snow-covered ice, +and the deep blue of the tranquil ocean. + +"At all events," I thought, "no ship can approach us from any quarter +unless a breeze should spring up, and till then I may rest in peace." +So I again turned in, and slept as soundly as I had ever done in my +life. + +I was aroused by my companions, who summoned me to come and assist them +in launching our vessel. We all set to work again with a will, and +after infinite labour we got her once more shored up; but to drive her +towards the element on which we intended her to float, was another +affair. + +At last we thought that we had succeeded. If we could but move her a +few more feet she would be on the ice. Once more she glided on; but on +reaching the ice the impetus she acquired was so great that the shores +gave way, and with greater force than before she fell over on her side, +and in spite of the stout timbers and thick planking, from the +imperfection of our workmanship she was fairly bilged. + +We were most of us differently affected. Some gave way to despair, and +uttered imprecations on their ill-luck, as they called it--others +actually wept with grief--while Andrew looked on with calm composure. + +"Mates," he said, turning to those who were loudest in their impious +expressions of discontent, "I have always said that everything happens +for the best; and in this case, depend upon it, we shall find it so. +From the damage our vessel has suffered from the slight shock she +received, it is clear she could not for a moment have withstood a common +nip; and let me ask you, is it not better to remain here even for +another year till a ship takes us off, than to be thrown on a sudden on +a floe, with only our whale-boat to preserve us, and perhaps without +time to save our clothes or provisions? Let us, rather than be +discontented, believe that God, in this as in everything else, has +ordered all for our good." + +The calm confident tone in which Andrew spoke had a great effect on his +hearers, and not another word of complaint was uttered. While we were +at work, we had not noticed that a breeze had sprung up. One by one we +were retiring to our hut, when on looking seaward I observed that the +whole surface of the ocean was broken into crisp waves; and glancing my +eyes to the northward, there I beheld what no seaman could doubt for a +moment were the topgallant-sails of a large ship. + +I rushed into the hut where my companions were sitting, most of them +with their heads sunk between their knees, brooding on our misfortune, +except Andrew, who stood with his arms folded, meditating on our future +plans, and asking assistance whence alone assistance could be given. + +"A sail! a sail!" I exclaimed. My voice aroused them from their +lethargy. They looked at my countenance, and seeing that I was in +earnest, like madmen they rushed from the hut. Every eye was turned +towards the point I indicated. There, sure enough, was the sail I had +seen; and without waiting to secure any provisions, we hurried down +towards the boat, but Andrew called us back. + +"We should not go empty-handed, mates, among our new friends, nor quit +those who have treated us so hospitably without a word of farewell," he +exclaimed. "There is yet time enough to do what we should do, and to +pull out into the offing before the ship is off here." + +Ashamed by his mild reproof, we went to the tents of our Esquimaux +friends, who still remained near us; and explaining that a ship, by +which we hoped to return to our country, was in sight, we bade them +understand that if we did not return, all the property we left behind +was to be theirs. We saw tears falling from their eyes as they wrung +our hands when we stepped into the boat, which they assisted us to +launch over the ice. + +We had loaded her with as large a supply of provisions as she could +carry, and with our guns and the little ammunition which remained. Once +in the boat, we gave way with a will, and pulled boldly out to sea, with +our jack at the end of a spar of three times the usual length. + +On came the stranger. O how our hearts beat as we saw her hull rising +out of the water! + +On we pulled, so as to place ourselves directly in her course, that +there might not be a possibility of her missing us. Various were the +conjectures as to what nation she belonged; for it was soon seen she was +not English by the cut of her sails, and as she drew nearer, by her +build. Some said Danish, others Dutch, and others French. + +The last proved right; for, as we got within hailing distance, once more +the voices of civilised men struck our ears. We could not understand +the question put to us; but when we sung out that we were Englishmen, +who had lost our ship, a voice in our own tongue told us to come on +board. With joyful hearts we pulled alongside, and found ourselves on +board the _Saint Jean_, whaler, belonging to the port of Bordeaux. + +The cargo of our boat, as Andrew had supposed, was not unwelcome, and +secured us a warmer reception than we perhaps might otherwise have +experienced. The _Saint Jean_ was nearly full, and was one of the few +ships which had that year succeeded in reaching Pond's Bay; so the +second mate, who spoke English, informed us. Most of them, afraid of +the early setting in of the winter, had already gone to the south, and +must have passed out of sight of land. Thus, had we not seen the ship, +we should probably have had to pass another winter in the arctic +regions. + +I will not stop to describe our voyage to the south. It was in some +respects favourable for the greater part of the distance; but the crew +were in a sickly state, and our services were therefore of much value. + +The captain and first mate both fell ill; and I have reason to suspect +that our reckoning was not kept with proper accuracy. Six weeks had +passed since we had got on board, when a heavy gale sprung up from the +north-west. As the night drew on it increased in fury, though, as we +had got everything snug on board, we hoped to weather it out. + +It was the opinion of the mates, for the master was too ill to attend to +his duty, that we were well to the southward and west, and that we might +keep away for our port. Instead, therefore, of laying to, we ran on +before it. The weather was very thick, and we could scarcely see a +hundred yards ahead. + +Day was just breaking, and we Englishmen were all on deck together, from +being placed in the same watch under the second mate, when Terence, who +was forward, sung out with a startling voice-- + +"Land right ahead, land on the starboard bow!" + +The Frenchmen understood the cry--all hands sprang on deck. The mate +ordered the helm to be put a-port and the yards to be braced up, in the +hopes of being able to beat off. It was too late; we were completely +embayed. Land appeared broad on either bow. + +To have beaten off with less sail than we carried would have been +hopeless; but still there was more than the ship could carry. The masts +went by the board. Fortunately the mizzen-mast went first, followed by +the main-mast, or the ship would have broached to, and every soul of us +would have been swept from her decks. Andrew sprang aft and put the +helm up again, calling on me to assist him; while the rest ran forward, +to look out for a clear beach to run the ship on, for by this time we +saw that we were too near to attempt to anchor with any chance of saving +the ship. + +In moments of sudden peril the French are apt to lose command over +themselves; at all events, such was the case in the present instance. +And yet these men had gone through all the dangers of an arctic voyage; +but then they were dangers for which they were looking out. Even now +they were brave--that is to say, I do not think they turned paler than +any of us; but they ran here and there, not knowing what to do nor +comprehending the orders of their officers, while we were cool and did +our best to save ourselves. + +We kept the helm a-starboard, and steered to a spot where there appeared +to be less surf; but it was a fearful choice of evils. In two or three +minutes the ship struck; it must have been on a rock, for she trembled +throughout, and the foremast went by the board. All hands had run aft, +knowing what must occur. Again she lifted and flew forwards several +yards, but it was to strike with more violence; and the following sea, +before most of us could secure our hold, came rushing furiously on +board, and sweeping everything before it. + +I found myself lifted off my feet, and whirled round among the foaming +billows. I knew nothing more till I felt my arm grasped at by some one; +and when I returned to consciousness I was on the beach uninjured, with +Andrew leaning over me. + +I asked for our companions; he shook his head sorrowfully. Three of +them were missing--poor Tom and two others. Nearly all the Frenchmen +were lost. We two, Terence, David, and the two others, and six +Frenchmen, were the only ones who had escaped. Before the ship struck +we had instinctively thrown off our shoes and the greater part of our +clothing, so that we had nothing on but our shirts and trousers; and as +none of the bodies of our unfortunate shipmates nor any clothes were +washed on shore, we had no means of supplying ourselves. + +We suspected that we had been cast away on the west coast of Ireland; +and we found, on inquiry of some people who flocked down to the shore, +that we were not wrong. I am sorry to say, that so eager were they in +hunting for whatever might come on shore, that they seemed little +disposed to afford us any assistance. The Frenchmen were anxious at +once to proceed to Dublin, where they might get relief from their +consul; and Andrew and the rest wished to go there also, to cross over +to England or Scotland, and Terence because he belonged to that city. + +I, however, was eager to return home direct. The yearning to see my +parents and brothers and sisters again was stronger than I could repress +I felt sure, also, that Captain Dean and Mary, to whom I had given my +father's address, would have communicated with him, and that I should +receive some news of them. + +With sincere regret I parted from that excellent man, Andrew Thompson, +and with not much less from Terence and the rest; but the two first +promised to write to me as soon as they got to their homes. + +I set off alone, and a stranger, without shoes, hat, or jacket, to beg +my way across Ireland. Some disbelieved the tale I told of my +disasters, and turned me from their doors; but others gave me bread and +meat, and the poorest never refused me a potato and a drink of milk, for +their eyes, accustomed to real misery, could discern that I spoke the +truth. + +At length, just after dark, I reached the well-known gate of my father's +grounds. I walked through, and with knees knocking together from +over-excited feelings I approached the house. I looked up at the +windows--not a light was to be seen, nor a sound heard. My heart sunk +within me; I feared something must have happened--what, I dared not ask +myself. I sat down on the steps, fearful of inquiring. + +At length I gained courage to ring the door-bell. It was answered by a +loud barking of dogs from within, but no sound of a human voice. Again +I rang, and after waiting some time, in my impatience I began to knock +fiercely with my fists. I stopped, for I heard a window opening, and a +voice inquiring from above what I wanted. It was old Molly Finn, the +housekeeper. I recognised her in a moment. I told her who I was, and +entreated her to tell me where my family were gone. + +"Och, ye idle spalpeen, get along with ye, with your lying tales about +being Master Peter, who has been dead these two long years or more," she +exclaimed, in a voice of anger. "Get along with ye, I say, or I'll let +the dogs out on ye." + +"If you mean to let Juno and Pluto slip, you are welcome," I answered, +my anger beginning to rise. "They'll at least know me, and that's more +than you seem inclined to do, Molly." + +"Just come nearer here, and let me ax ye a few questions, whoever ye +are," she said, in a softer tone. + +"Tell me first, Molly, where are my father and mother, and brothers and +sisters--are they all alive and well?" I exclaimed. + +"Well, then, there's no harm in telling ye thus much; they are all well, +and gone to Dublin for Miss Fanny's marriage there to a fine gentleman +who's worthy of her. And now, what have ye got to say?" + +"Thank Heaven!" I exclaimed, and burst into tears, and sobbed till my +heart was like to break. It was the giving way to affections long long +pent up, like the icy ocean in winter; within my bosom. + +"Och, it must be Master Peter, whether dead or alive!" exclaimed the old +woman, disappearing from the window. + +I had some notion that bars and bolts were being withdrawn, and in +another instant a lantern was flashed in my face. It was instantly +thrown down, and I found myself hugged in the dear old creature's arms, +and several of my old four-footed favourites leaping up and licking my +face, she coming in for some share of the said licking, and thinking it +was me all the time returning her kisses. + +Tim, the stable-helper, the only other person left on the premises, was +now roused up from his early slumbers, and added his congratulations to +Molly's. We went inside the house and shut the door, and I rushed round +to every room before I could sit down to eat. As may be supposed, there +was no great supply of delicacies in the house; but there were potatoes +and buttermilk, and bacon and eggs, and what wanted I more? + +Molly had actually cooked my supper, and talked of making my bed, before +she discovered how badly I was clothed. As for the bed, I begged she +would not trouble herself, as I assured her I should have the greatest +difficulty in sleeping in one, and I at last persuaded her to let me +have a mattress and a blanket on the floor. I did however, contrive to +sleep, and awoke to find old Molly sitting by my side. + +"Och, the dear boy, there's no doubt of ye now, Master Peter!" she +exclaimed. "Ye talked of them all in your sleep, and looked just like +yourself, ye did; and I'll stand bail that no one but ye could have done +that same." + +I got a piece of soap from Molly, and going to a tank there was in the +yard under the pump, by Tim's aid I soon made myself cleaner than I had +been for a long time; but we had a sad puzzle about the clothes, for my +father and brother had left none. Tim had only those he wore on his +back and a coarse suit; and money, I found, was scarce with Molly. + +After hunting about in every direction, she routed out from an old chest +some, with which she came to me in great triumph, saying they were my +own; and so I found they were, but they were some I had thrown aside as +being far too small before I went to sea. At last I bethought me, that +as no money was to be had without much inconveniencing Molly, I would +continue my journey as I had begun it; and I would present myself to my +family as I was, in the character of a seaman who had known the lost +Peter, and had brought some tidings of him, thus breaking gradually to +my parents the fact that I was still in existence. + +I proposed, however, disguising myself somewhat to prevent their +recognising me. Molly liked my plan; so filling a bag with food, and +borrowing ten shillings from her to help me on my way with greater speed +than I could otherwise have made, I immediately started on the road to +Dublin. Travelling sometimes on a car, sometimes in a waggon, where I +contrived to get some sound sleep, and oftentimes on foot, in three days +I reached the capital of Ireland. + +Beggars in rags excite no remark in any part of Ireland; so, scantily +clothed and careworn as I was, I passed through the streets unobserved. +I was on my way to the house my family had taken, when I observed, +walking leisurely along, a person whose figure and gait I felt certain I +knew. My heart beat with eagerness. For some time I could not catch a +glimpse of his face; so I ran on, and passing him, turned back to meet +him. I was not mistaken--it was my kind friend Captain Dean. + +My heart beating violently, I walked up to him, and said, calmly enough, +"I have sailed with you, Captain Dean; but I don't suppose you remember +me, sir." + +"No, indeed I do not; though I am not apt to forget those who have been +any time with me," he replied, looking at me very hard. + +"It's a long time, sir; but perhaps you may remember a lad of the name +of Peter Lefroy, to whom you were very kind," I said, my voice faltering +as I spoke, for I was longing to inquire after Mary. + +"I remember him well, poor lad. He was lost with a whole ship's company +in the North Sea, upwards of a year ago. But what do you know of him?" +he asked. + +"Why, sir, I know that he was wonderfully preserved, and now stands +before you, Captain Dean," I exclaimed, no longer able to contain +myself. "And tell me, sir, oh tell me--Mary, where is Mary, sir?" I +blurted out, feeling that I could not speak again till I heard of her. + +"Peter--Peter Lefroy, my good lad!" he ejaculated, seizing my hand and +gazing earnestly in my face. "It is you yourself I ought to have known +you at once; and Mary--she would know you--she is well, and with your +own sisters, for she is to be one of Miss Fanny's bridesmaids. But come +along, this will be a day of rejoicing." + +Captain Dean, on our way to the house where my family was living, to +which he was bound when I stopped him, told me that he had some time +back communicated with my father; and that a month ago, having made a +voyage to Liverpool, where he was obliged to have his ship repaired, he +had come over to Dublin with Mary to show her something of Ireland. He +had accidentally met my father, and introducing himself to him, all my +family had shown him and Mary the greatest kindness; and he added that +my sisters had formed a warm friendship for her. + +My heart beat when I heard this; but I did not trust myself to say +anything. "And now, Peter," said Captain Dean, as we reached the door, +"I will go in and break the joyful news to all hands." + +What a tumult was in my heart, as for ten minutes I walked up and down +before the house, waiting to be summoned! At length Captain Dean opened +the door, and beckoning to me, pulled me in. "They all suspect the +truth," he observed. "But I would not tell them till I had got you all +ready to show; so now I'll go back and tell them I have brought a lad +who will let them know all about the long-lost Peter." + +They heard him speak, and guessing what was the case, they came flying +down the stairs; and before I had got through the half, I was once more +in the loving arms of my truest and best friends. Even my mother did +not faint, though she sobbed aloud for very joy that her truant son had +returned. + +One sweet little girl hung back from the eager crowd. I espied her, and +breaking through them, she received a not less affectionate greeting +than had my sisters. + +With my subsequent life I need not trouble my readers. + +"Well, Peter," said my father, after I had been washed and clothed, and +had put on once more the appearance of a gentleman, "you have come back, +my lad, poorer than you went away, I fear." He made this remark with +the kind intention of filling a purse my sisters and Mary had given me. + +"No, father," I answered, "I have come back infinitely richer. I have +learned to fear God, to worship Him in His works, and to trust to His +infinite mercy. I have also learned to know myself, and to take advice +and counsel from my superiors in wisdom and goodness." + +"Then," said my father, "I am indeed content; and I trust others may +take a needful lesson from the adventures of PETER THE WHALER." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Peter the Whaler, by W.H.G. 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