diff options
Diffstat (limited to '21475.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 21475.txt | 11879 |
1 files changed, 11879 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/21475.txt b/21475.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..33ed7f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/21475.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11879 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Peter Trawl, 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 Trawl + The Adventures of a Whaler + +Author: W. H. G. Kingston + +Illustrator: James Durden + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21475] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER TRAWL *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Peter Trawl, the Adventures of a Whaler, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +Peter is a young teenager in a family that suffers a series of +disastrous events. Family money is lost due to the failure of a bank, +not at all uncommon in those days, probably about 1830. They lived in +Portsmouth, where the father was a wherryman, ferrying people out to the +ships. The father meets with an accident, having ferried a passenger to +his ship at anchor outside the harbour, is caught up by freak weather, +which broke up his boat and drowned him. The mother does what she can, +taking commodities out to the ships for the benefit of the sailors, but +trade was bad at that time, and she became ill, and dies as well. Thus +the family were left without any support, until a Mr Gray, a Quaker, +comes on the scene, and takes them under his wing. He is also a +shipowner, and he gives Peter a chance on one of his ships. However, +there are various mishaps with this ship, and Peter and his friend Jim +arrive in Shetland, an archipelago in the far north of Britain, where +Peter discovers that he has relatives. He takes a lift in a ship back +to Portsmouth, as the ship was due to call in at Plymouth, but due to +fair weather passes it by. + +The ship is a whaler, and needs to get into the Pacific Ocean, but has a +lot of trouble trying to round the Horn. Eventually they succeed. But +Peter now has a new ambition, to find his long-lost brother Jack who had +gone to sea years before, and never been heard of. By chance he hears +that Jack may be alive. In due course they find Jack, and come home +again with him to Portsmouth, where Mr Gray has kindly looked after the +female members of Peter's family, including his sister Mary. + +Of course there are a lot of coincidences in this story, but that's part +of the fun. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +PETER TRAWL, THE ADVENTURES OF A WHALER, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +MY EARLY DAYS AT HOME. + +Brother Jack, a seaman's bag over his shoulders, trudged sturdily ahead; +father followed, carrying the oars, spars, sails, and other gear of the +wherry, while as I toddled alongside him I held on with one hand to the +skirt of his pea-jacket, and griped the boat-hook which had been given +to my charge with the other. + +From the front of the well-known inn, the "Keppel's Head," the portrait +of the brave old admiral, which I always looked at with awe and +admiration, thinking what a great man he must have been, gazed sternly +down on us as we made our way along the Common Hard of Portsea towards +the water's edge. + +Father and Jack hauled in the wherry, and having deposited their burdens +in her, set to work to mop her out and to put her to rights, while I +stood, still grasping the boat-hook, which I held upright with the point +in the ground, watching their proceedings, till father, lifting me up in +his arms, placed me in the stern-sheets. + +"Sit there, Peter, and mind you don't topple overboard, my son," he +said, in the kind tone in which he always spoke to me and Jack. + +I was too small to be of much use, indeed father had hitherto only taken +me with him when he was merely going across to Gosport and back or +plying about the harbour. + +It was a more eventful day to Jack than to me. When I saw mother +packing his bag, I had a sort of idea that he was going to sea, and when +the next morning she threw her arms round his neck and burst into tears, +and Jack began to cry too, I understood that he would be away for a long +time. + +Jack had been of great use to father, who grieved as much as mother to +part with him, but, as he said, he wouldn't, if he could help it, bring +him up as a long-shore lubber, and a few voyages would be the making of +him. + +"He can't get none of the right sort of eddication on shore," observed +father. "He'll learn on board a man-of-war what duty and discipline +mean, and to my mind till a lad knows that he isn't worth his salt." + +The _Lapwing_ brig-of-war, fitted out at Sheerness, had brought up at +Spithead, and her commander, Captain Rogers, with whom father had long +served, meeting him on shore, and hearing that he had a son old enough +to go to sea, offered to take Jack and look after him. + +When Commander Rogers was a midshipman, he fell overboard, and would +have been drowned had not father jumped in and saved him. He was very +grateful, but had not till now had an opportunity of practically showing +his gratitude. Father, therefore, gladly accepted his offer, being sure +that he would do his best for Jack; and as Blue Peter was flying from +the masthead of the brig, there was no time to be lost in taking him on +board. + +At the time I was too young, as I was saying, to understand these +matters, but I learnt about them afterwards. All I then knew was that +brother Jack was going for a sailor aboard of a man-of-war. + +Father and Jack were just shoving off, when two persons who had come out +of the "Keppel's Head" were seen hurrying down the Hard with cases and +packages in their hands and under their arms. One, as his dress and +appearance showed, was a seafaring man; the other wore long toggery, as +sailors call the costume of landsmen. + +"If you are going out to Spithead, my man, we'll go with you," shouted +the first. + +"Ay, ay, sir! I'll be glad enough to take you," answered father, happy +to get a fare, instead of making nothing by the trip. + +"We'll give you five shillings apiece," said the officer, for such he +seemed to be. + +"Thank you, sir; that will do. What ship shall I put you aboard?" asked +father. + +"The _Intrepid_, South Sea whaler--she's lying to the eastward of the +men-of-war. We shall see her when we get abreast of Southsea Castle," +answered the officer. + +"Step aboard, then, sir," said father. "The tide will soon have done +making out of the harbour, and there's no time to lose." + +The strangers took their seats in the stern-sheets, and father and Jack, +shoving off, pulled out into the stream. + +The officer took the yoke-lines, and by the way he handled them, showed +that he knew what he was about. Careful steering is always required +where tides run strong and vessels are assembled; but especially was it +at that time, when, peace having been just proclaimed, Portsmouth +Harbour was crowded with men-of-war lately returned from foreign +stations, and with transports and victuallers come in to be discharged; +while all the way up towards Porchester Castle lay, now dismantled in +vast numbers, those stout old ships with names renowned which had borne +the victorious flag of England in many a fierce engagement. Dockyard +lighters, man-of-war boats, wherries crowded with passengers, and other +craft of various descriptions, were sailing or pulling about in all +directions, so that the stranger had to keep his eyes about him to avoid +being run down by, or running into, some other boat or vessel. + +"We'll step the mast, and make sail while we're in smooth water, sir," +said father. "There's a lop of a sea outside, when it wouldn't be +pleasant to this gentleman if we were to wait till then," and he gave a +look at the landsman, who even now did not seem altogether comfortable. + +"The doctor hasn't been used to the sea, but he'll soon get accustomed +to it. No fear of that, Cockle, eh?" said the officer, who was, he +afterwards told father, second mate of the _Intrepid_. + +"I hope I shall, Mr Griffiths, but I confess I don't much like the +thought of going through those foaming waves out there in such a +cockleshell of a boat as this," answered the doctor. "No offence to +you, my friend," he added, turning to father. + +"Ha! Ha! Ha! That's just what the boat is at present," said the mate, +laughing. "Do you twig, doctor? Do you twig? She carries you and your +fortunes, and if she takes us safe alongside the _Intrepid_--and I see +no reason why she shouldn't--we shall be obliged to her and her owner +here. What's your name, my man?" + +"Jack Trawl, sir; at your service," answered father. "Many's the time +I've been out to Spithead in this here wherry when it's been blowing +great guns and small arms, and she's ridden over the seas like a duck. +The gentleman needn't be afraid." + +The doctor, who did not seem to like the mate's joking, or father's +remark about being afraid, sat silent for some time. + +"I'll take the helm, sir, if you please," said father, who had stepped +the mast and hauled aft the sheets. "My wherry likes me to have hold of +her, and maybe she mightn't behave as well as she should if a stranger +was steering." + +"I understand," answered Mr Griffiths, laughing. "You are wise not to +trust any one but yourself. I'll yield to you in handling this style of +boat under sail, though I may have been more at sea than you have." + +"I doubt that, sir, as I went afloat not long after you were born, if +not before, and for well-nigh thirty years seldom set foot on shore," +answered father. "All that time I served His Majesty--God bless him-- +and if there was to come another war I'd be ready to serve him again, as +my boy Jack there is just going to do." + +"A fine lad he seems, but he'd better by half have joined the merchant +service than submitted to the tyranny of a man-of-war," said the mate. + +"There are just two opinions, sir, as to that," answered father, dryly. +"Haul down the tack, Jack, and get a pull of the foresheet," he sang +out. + +There was a fresh breeze from the south-east blowing almost up the +harbour, but by keeping over on the Portsmouth side, aided by the tide, +we stood clear out of it. The wherry soon began to pitch into the seas, +which came rolling in round Southsea Castle in a way which made the +doctor look very blue. The mate tried to cheer him up, but he evidently +didn't like it, especially when the spray came flying over the bows, and +quickly wet him and most of us well-nigh through to the skin. Every now +and then more than the mere spray came aboard us, and the doctor became +more and more uncomfortable. + +Father now called Jack aft to bale out the water, and he set to work +heaving it overboard as fast as it came in. I laughed, and did not feel +a bit afraid, because when I looked up at father's face I saw that there +was nothing to be afraid about. At length the mate seemed to think that +we were carrying on too long. + +"Doctor Cockle is not accustomed to this sort of thing," he observed. +"Hadn't we better take in a reef or two?" + +"Not if you wish to get aboard your ship, sir, before night," answered +father. "I know my boat, and I know what she'll do. Trust me, sir, and +in less than half-an-hour you'll be safe alongside the _Intrepid_." + +The mate seemed satisfied, and began talking to me, amused at the way I +sat bobbing, as the spray came aboard, under an old pea-jacket which +father had thrown over my shoulders, and grinning when I found that I +had escaped the shower by which the others got well sprinkled. + +"I'll not forget you, my little fellow," he said, laughing. "You'll +make a prime seaman one of these days. Will you remember my name?" + +"Yes, sir, I think I shall, and your face too," I answered. + +"You are a sharp chap, I see," he observed, in the same tone as before. + +"Do you intend to make a sailor of him?" he asked, turning to father. + +"Not if I can find a better calling for the boy, sir," answered father. +"I've heard say, and believe it, that man proposes and God disposes. It +mayn't be in my power to choose for him." + +"Ay, ay, you're right there, my friend," said the mate. "If he had been +as old as his brother I would have given him a berth aboard the +_Intrepid_." + +It may seem curious that, young as I was, I should have remembered these +remarks, but so it was, and I had reason long afterwards to do so. + +Even sooner than father had said we had hooked on to the whaler, a +barque of about three hundred tons, her black hull rising high out of +the water, and with three boats, sharp at both ends, hoisted up to +davits in a line on each side. The good-natured mate having paid the +fare and given me a bright shilling in addition, helped the doctor, who +wasn't very well able to help himself, up on deck, and we then, shoving +off, stood for the man-of-war brig. + +Jack almost broke down as we approached her. Not that he was unwilling +to go away, but that he was very sorry to part from father and me, and I +know that we were very sorry to part with him. + +"Jack, my son," said father, and his voice wasn't as firm as usual, "we +may never meet again on this side the grave. You may be taken or I may +be taken. What I want to say to you is this, and they may be well-nigh +the last words you will ever hear me speak. Ever remember that God's +eye is upon you, and so live that you may be prepared at any moment to +die. I can't say more than that, my boy. Bless you. God bless you." + +"I will, father, I will," answered Jack, and he passed the back of his +hand across his eyes. + +We were soon up to the brig. He gave me a hug and a kiss, and then, +having made fast the end of the rope hove to us, he griped father's +hand, and sprang up the side of the brig. His bag was hoisted up after +him by an old shipmate of father's, who sang out, "All right, Trawl, +I'll look after your boy!" + +We had at once to shove off, for the brig was rolling considerably, and +there was a risk of the wherry being swamped alongside. As we stood +away I looked astern. Jack had climbed into the fore-rigging and was +waving to us. We soon lost sight of him. When, if ever, should we see +him again? + +Having the wind and tide with us, we quickly ran back into the harbour. +For reasons which will appear by-and-by I ought to say a few words +respecting my family, though I don't flatter myself the world in general +will be much concerned about the matter. Some people are said to be +born with silver spoons in their mouths; if that means, as I suppose it +does, that from their earliest days they enjoy all the luxuries of life, +then I may say that when I first saw the light I must have had a very +rough wooden one between my toothless gums. However, as I've often +since thought, it isn't so much what a man is born to which signifies, +as what he becomes by his honesty, steadiness, perseverance, and above +all by his earnest desire to do right in the sight of God. + +My father, Jack Trawl (as he spelt his name, or, rather, as others spelt +it for him, he being no great hand with a pen), was an old +man-of-war's-man. I well remember hearing him say that his father, who +had been mate of a merchantman, and had been lost at sea when he himself +was a boy, was a Shetlander; and in an old Testament which had belonged +to his mother, and which he had treasured as the only relic of either of +his parents, I found the name written Troil. The ink was very faint, +but I made out the words clearly, "Margaret Troil, given to her by her +husband Angus." This confirmed me in the idea I had formed, that both +my father's parents had come from the far off island of Shetland. + +My father being a sober, steady man, having saved more of his pay and +prize-money than had most of his shipmates, when he left the service +bought a wherry, hired and furnished a house, and married my mother, +Polly Treherne, the daughter of a bumboat-woman who plied her trade in +Portsmouth Harbour. + +I have no cause to be ashamed of my grandmother, for every one who knew +her said, and I am sure of it, that she was as worthy a woman in her +line of life as ever lived. She gave good measure and charged honest +prices, whether she was dealing in soft tack, fruit, vegetables, cheese, +herrings, or any of the other miscellaneous articles with which she +supplied the seamen of His Majesty's ships; and her daughter Polly, who +assisted her, was acknowledged by all to be as good and kind-hearted as +she was pretty. No wonder, then, that she won the heart of my brave +father when she visited the ship in which he had just come home, or +that, knowing his worth, although she had many suitors, she consented to +marry him. + +For some time all went well, but what happened is a proof that honest, +industrious persons may be overtaken by misfortunes as well as other +people. Father had no intention that his wife should follow her +mother's calling, as he could make enough to keep the pot boiling; but +after they had been married a few years, and several children had been +born, all of whom died in their infancy, except my eldest brother Jack, +and me and Mary, the two youngest, bad times came. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +HOW A TRUE FRIEND WAS GAINED. + +Just before we two entered this world of troubles, the bank in which my +father had deposited his savings broke, and all were lost. The sails of +his wherry were worn out, and he had been about to buy a new suit, which +he now couldn't do; the wherry herself was getting crazy, and required +repairs, and he himself met with an accident which laid him up for +several weeks. Grandmother also, who had lost nearly her all by the +failure of the bank, though she had hitherto been hale and hearty, now +began to talk of feeling the approach of old age. + +One evening, while father was laid up, she looked in on us. "Polly, my +girl, there's no use trying to beat up in the teeth of a gale with a +five-knot current against one," she exclaimed, as, dropping down into +out big arm-chair and undoing her bonnet-strings and the red +handkerchief she wore round her neck, she threw her bonnet over the back +of her head. "I'm dead beat with to-day's work, and shall be worse +to-morrow. Now, my dear, what I've got to say is this, I want you to +help me. You know the trade as well as I do. It will be a good thing +for you as well as for me; for look you, my dear, if anything should +happen to your Jack, it will help you to keep the wolf from the door." + +This last argument, with her desire to help the good old lady, made +mother say that if father was agreeable she would do as grandmother +wished. She forthwith went upstairs, where father was lying in bed, +scarcely able to move for the pain his hurt caused him. They talked the +matter over, and he, knowing that something must be done for the support +of the family, gave, though unwillingly, his consent. Thus it happened +that my mother again took to bum-boating. + +Trade, however, wasn't like what it used to be in the war time, I heard +grandmother say. Then seamen would have their pockets filled with +five-pound notes and golden guineas, which they were eager to spend; now +they rarely had more than a few shillings or a handful of coppers +jingling in them. Still there was an honest livelihood to be made, and +grandmother and mother contrived to make it. Poor grandmother, however, +before long fell ill, as she said she should, and then all the work fell +on mother. Father got better, and was able sometimes to go out with the +wherry, but grandmother got worse and worse, and mother had to attend on +her till she died. + +When she and father were away from home, Mary and I were left to the +care of our brother Jack. He did his best to look after us, but not +being skilled as a nursemaid, while he was tending Mary, who, being a +girl--she was my twin sister, I should have said--required most of his +care, he could not always manage to prevent me from getting into +trouble. Fortunately nothing very serious happened. + +Dear, kind Jack! I was very fond of him, and generally obeyed him +willingly. It would not be true to say that I always did so. He was +very fond of Mary and me too, of that I am sure, and he used to show his +fondness by spending for our benefit any coppers he picked up by running +on errands or doing odd jobs for neighbours. As his purchases were +usually brandy-balls, rock, and other sweets, it was perhaps fortunate +for us that he had not many to spend. By diligently pursuing her trade, +mother, in course of time, saved money enough to enable father to get +the wherry repaired, and to buy a new suit of sails, and when he got +plenty of employment he bade mother stay at home and look after Mary and +me, while Jack went with him. As, however, it would not have been +prudent to give up her business altogether, she hired a girl, Nancy +Fidget, to take her place, as Jack had done, when she was from home. + +I don't remember that anything of importance happened after +grandmother's death till Jack went to sea. We missed him very much, and +Mary was always asking after him, wondering when he would come back. +Still, if I had gone away, she would, I think, have fretted still more. +Perhaps it was because we were twins that we were so fond of each other. +We were, however, not much alike. She was a fair, blue-eyed little +maiden, with flaxen hair and a rosy blush on her cheeks, and I was a +broad-shouldered, strongly-built chap, the hue on my cheeks and the +colour of my hair soon becoming deepened by my being constantly out of +doors, while my eyes were, I fancy, of a far darker tint than my +sister's. + +After Jack went mother seemed to concentrate all her affections on us +two. I don't think, however, that any woman could have a warmer or +larger heart than hers, although many may have a wider scope for the +exercise of their feelings. She never turned a beggar away from her +door without some relief even in the worst of times, and when any of the +neighbours were in distress, she always did her best to help them. +Often when she had been out bum-boating for the best part of the day, +and had been attending to household matters for the remainder, she would +sit up the whole night with a sick acquaintance who was too poor to hire +a nurse, and had only thanks to give her, and perhaps of that not very +liberally. + +I have said that my mother had as warm and generous a heart as ever beat +in woman's bosom. I repeat it. I might give numerous instances to +prove the truth of my assertion, and to show that I have reason to be +proud of being her son, whatever the world may think about the matter. +One will suffice. It had an important effect on my destinies, although +at the time no one would have supposed that such would be the case. One +evening, as my mother was returning home off the water after dark, she +found a female fallen down close to our door, in what seemed to be a +fit. Some of the neighbours had seen the poor creature, but had let her +lie there, and gone indoors, and several persons passing showed by their +remarks what they thought of her character; but mother, not stopping to +consider who she was or what she was, lifting her up in her strong arms, +carried her into the house, and placed her on the bed which used to be +Jack's. + +Mother now saw by the light of the candle that the unhappy being she had +taken charge of was still young, and once had been pretty, but the life +she had led had marred her beauty and brought her to her present sad +state. After mother had undressed her and given her food and a cordial +in which she had great confidence, the girl slightly revived, but it +became more evident than before that she was fearfully ill. She sobbed +and groaned, and sometimes shrieked out in a way terrible to hear, but +would give no account of herself. At length, mother, mistrusting her +own skill, sent Nancy and me off to call Dr Rolt, the nearest medical +man we knew of. He came at once, and shaking his head as soon as he saw +the stranger, he advised that she should be removed forthwith to the +hospital. + +"Not to-night, doctor, surely," said mother. "It might be the death of +her, poor young creature!" + +"She may rapidly grow worse, and it may be still more dangerous to move +her afterwards," remarked Dr Rolt. + +"Then, please God, I'll keep charge of her till she recovers, or He +thinks fit to take her," said mother, in her determined way. + +"She will never recover, I fear," said the doctor; "but I will do the +best for her I can." + +Telling mother how to act, and promising to send some medicine, he went +away. When father, who had been across to Ryde in the wherry, came +home, he approved of what mother had done. + +"Why, you see, Jack, what I think is this," I heard her say; "I've no +right to point a finger at her, for if I hadn't had a good mother to +show me right and wrong, I might have been just as she is." + +The next morning the doctor came again. He looked grave when he left +the stranger's room. "You are still resolved to let this poor outcast +remain in your house, Mrs Trawl?" he asked. + +"Yes, sir, my good man thinks as I do, that we ought," answered mother, +positively. + +Dr Rolt returned in the afternoon, accompanied by a gentleman wearing a +broad-brimmed hat and a straight-cut broadcloth coat of sombre hue. He +smiled pleasantly at mother as he took the seat she offered him without +doffing his hat, and beckoning to Mary and me, put his hands on our +heads, while he looked into our faces and smiled as he had done to +mother. + +"I have brought Mr Silas Gray, a member of the Society of Friends, +knowing that I should have your leave, Mrs Trawl, as he desires to see +the poor girl you have taken care of," said Dr Rolt. + +"Verily, sister, thou hast acted the part of the Good Samaritan towards +the hapless one of whom friend Rolt has told me, and I would endeavour +to minister to her spiritual necessities, the which I fear are great +indeed; also with thy leave I will help thee in supplying such creature +comforts as she may need," said Mr Gray. + +"Thank you kindly, sir," answered mother. "I couldn't say much on the +matter of religion, except to tell her that God cares for her as well as +He does for the richest lady in the land, and will pardon her sins if +she will but turn to Him through Christ; and as to food, kickshaws fit +for sick folk are not much in my way, still I'll--" + +"Thou knowest the very gist of the matter, sister," observed Mr Gray, +interrupting her; "but time is precious. I'll go in with friend Rolt +and speak to the wandering child." Saying this, Mr Gray accompanied +the doctor into the stranger's room. + +He, after this, came again and again--never empty-handed--oftener indeed +than the doctor, whose skill failed, as he feared it would, to arrest +the poor girl's malady, while Mr Gray's ministrations were successful +in giving her the happy assurance that "though her sins were as scarlet, +she had become white as snow," so he assured mother. + +"Praise the Lord," was her reply. + +So the young stranger died--her name, her history, unknown. Mr Gray +paid the expenses of her funeral, and frequently after that came to see +us, to inquire, as he said, how we were getting on. + +We had not heard from brother Jack since he went aboard the _Lapwing_. +Mother thought that he might have got some one to write for him, though +he was no great hand with a pen himself. All we knew was that the brig +had gone out to the East Indies, which being a long way off would have +accounted for our not often getting letters from him; but just one +father hoped he would have contrived to send after he had been a year +away; now nearly three years had passed since then. Had the _Lapwing_ +been fitted out at Portsmouth, we should have got news of him from +others, but as none of her crew hailed from our town, there was no one +to whom we could go to ask about him. Father had taken lately to talk +much about Jack, and sometimes regretted that he had let him go away. + +"You acted for the best, and so don't be blaming yourself," observed +mother, trying to console him. "There's One aloft looking after him +better than we can, and He'll bring our boy back to us if He thinks +fit." + +Mary and I little knew all the trials father and mother had to go +through. Mother's trade was bad, and father was often out all day +without bringing a shilling home. Younger men with more gaily-painted +boats--he would not acknowledge that they were better--got fares when he +could not manage to pick up one. Sometimes also he was laid up with the +rheumatics, and was unable to go afloat. One day, while thus suffering, +mother fetched Dr Rolt to see him. Father begged the doctor to get him +well as soon as he could, seeing that he wanted to be out in the wherry +to gain his livelihood. + +"All in good time, my man," answered the doctor. "You'll be about again +in a few days, never fear. By-the-bye, I saw our friend Mr Gray +lately, Mrs Trawl, and he was inquiring for you. He would have come to +see your husband had he known that he was ill, but he went away to +London yesterday, and may, I fear, be absent for some time. Many will +miss him should he be long away." + +Sooner than father expected he was about again. I had gone down with +father and mother to the Hard, mother to board a ship which had just +come in, and father to look out for a fare, while Mary remained at home +with Nancy. It was blowing pretty fresh, and there was a good deal of +sea running outside, though in the harbour the water was not rough +enough to prevent mother from going off. While she was waiting for old +Tom Swatridge, who had been with grandmother and her for years to bring +along her baskets of vegetables from the market, a gentleman came +hurrying down the Hard, and seeing father getting the wherry ready, +said: + +"I want you to put me aboard my ship, my man. She's lying out at +Spithead; we must be off at once." + +"It's blowing uncommon fresh, sir," said father. "I don't know how +you'll like it when we get outside; still there's not a wherry in the +harbour that will take you aboard drier than mine, though there's some +risk, sir, you'll understand." + +"Will a couple of guineas tempt you?" asked the stranger, thinking that +father was doubting about the payment he was to receive. + +"I'll take you, sir," answered father. "Step aboard." + +I was already in the boat, thinking that I was to go, and was much +disappointed when father said, "I am not going to take you, Peter, for +your mother wants you to help her; but just run up and tell Ned Dore I +want him. He's standing by the sentry-box." + +As I always did as father bade me, I ran up and called Ned, who at once +came rolling along down the Hard, glad of a job. When he heard what he +was wanted for he stepped aboard. + +"I hope to be back in a couple of hours, or three at furthest, Polly," +father sang out to mother, as he shoved off the wherry. "Good-bye, +lass, and see that Peter makes himself useful." + +Mother waved her hand. + +"Though two guineas are not to be picked up every day, I would as lief +he had stayed in the harbour this blowing weather," she said to herself +more than to me, as on seeing old Tom coming we stepped into her boat. + +When father first went to sea, Tom Swatridge had been his shipmate, and +had done him many a kind turn which he had never forgotten. Old Tom had +lost a leg at Trafalgar, of which battle he was fond of talking. He +might have borne up for Greenwich, but he preferred his liberty, though +he had to work for his daily bread, and, I am obliged to say, for his +daily quantum of rum, which always kept his pockets empty. He had +plenty of intelligence, but he could neither read nor write, and that, +with his love of grog, had prevented him from getting on in life as well +as his many good qualities would otherwise have enabled him to do. He +was a tall gaunt man, with iron-grey hair, and a countenance wrinkled, +battered, and bronzed by wind and weather. + +When he first came ashore he was almost as sober a man as father, and +having plenty of prize-money he managed to purchase a small dwelling for +himself, which I shall have by-and-by to describe. Old Tom taking the +oars, we pulled aboard the _Dartmouth_, forty-two gun frigate, just come +in from the Mediterranean. Several of the men had been shipmates with +father, and all those belonging to Portsmouth knew mother. They were +very glad to see her, and she had to answer questions of all sorts about +their friends on shore. It is the business of a bumboat-woman to know +everything going forward, what ships are likely to be commissioned, the +characters of the captains and officers, when they are to sail, and +where they are going to. Among so many friends mother drove a brisker +trade than usual, and when the men heard that I was Jack Trawl's son +they gave me many a bright shilling and sixpence, and kind pats on the +head with their broad palms. "He's a chip of the old block, no doubt +about that, missus," cried one. "He'll make a smart young topman one of +these days," said another. Several gave her commissions to execute, and +many sent messages to friends on shore. Altogether, when she left the +frigate she was in better spirits than she had been for a long time. + +Scarcely had we shoved off, however, when down came the rain in +torrents, well-nigh wetting us through. + +"It's blowing plaguey hard, missus," observed old Tom, as he tugged away +at the oars, I helping him while mother steered. "I hope as how we +shall find your good man safe ashore when we gets in." + +On reaching the Hard the wherry was not to be seen. After old Tom had +made fast the boat, wet as she was mother waited and waited in the hopes +that father would come in. Old Tom remained also. He seemed more than +usually anxious. We all stood with our hands shielding our eyes as we +looked down the harbour to try and make out the wherry, but the driving +rain greatly limited our view. + +"Hast seen anything of Jack Trawl's wherry?" asked old Tom over and over +again of the men in the different boats, as they came in under their +mizens and foresails. The same answer was returned by all. + +"Maybe he got a fare at Spithead for Gosport and will be coming across +soon, or he's gone ashore at the Point with some one's luggage," +observed old Tom, trying to keep up mother's spirits; but that was a +hard matter to do, for the wind blew stronger and stronger. A few +vessels could be seen, under close-reefed canvas, running up the harbour +for shelter, but we could nowhere perceive a single boat under sail. +Still old Tom continued to suggest all sorts of reasons why father had +not come back. Perhaps he had been detained on board the ship at +Spithead to which he took the gentleman, and seeing the heavy weather +coming on would remain till it moderated. Mother clung to this notion +when hour after hour went by and she had given up all expectation of +seeing father that evening. Still she could not tear herself from the +Hard. Suddenly she remembered me. + +"You must be getting wet, Peter," she said. "Run home, my child, and +tell Nancy to give you your tea and then to get supper ready. Father +and I will be coming soon, I hope." + +I lingered, unwilling to leave her. + +"Won't you come yourself, mother?" I asked. + +"I'll wait a bit longer," she answered. "Go, Peter, go; do as I bid +you." + +"You'd better go home with Peter, missus," said old Tom. "You'll be +getting the rheumatics, I'm afraid. I'll stay and look out for your +good man." + +I had never seen mother look as she did then, when she turned her face +for a moment to reply to the old man. She was as pale as death; her +voice sounded hoarse and hollow. + +"I can't go just yet, Tom," she said. + +I did not hear more, as, according to her bidding, I set off to run +home. I found Mary and Nancy wondering what had kept mother so long. + +"Can anything have happened to father?" exclaimed Mary, when I told her +that mother was waiting for him. + +"He has been a long time coming back from Spithead, and it's blowing +fearfully hard," I answered. + +I saw Nancy clasp her hands and look upwards with an expression of alarm +on her countenance which frightened me. Her father and brother had been +lost some years before, crossing in a wherry from Ryde, and her widowed +mother had found it a hard matter to keep herself and her children out +of the workhouse. She said nothing, however, to Mary and me, but I +heard her sighing and whispering to herself, "What will poor missus do? +What will poor missus do?" She gave Mary and me our suppers, and then +persuaded us to go to bed. I was glad to do so to get off my wet +clothes, which she hung up to dry, but I could not go to sleep for +thinking what had happened to father. + +At length mother came in alone. She sat down on a chair without +speaking, and her hands dropped by her side. I could watch her as I +looked out from the small closet in which my bunk was placed. Even +since I had left her her countenance had become fearfully pale and +haggard. She shivered all over several times, but did not move from her +seat. + +"Won't you get those wet duds of yours off, missus, and have some hot +tea and supper?" asked Nancy, who had been preparing it. + +Mother made no reply. + +"Don't take on so, missus," said Nancy, coming up to her and putting her +hand affectionately on her shoulder. + +"Bless me, you're as wet as muck. I've put Peter and Mary to bed, and +you must just go too, or you'll be having the rheumatics and I don't +know what. Do go, missus, now do go." + +In vain Nancy pleaded, and was still endeavouring to persuade mother to +take off her wet garments, when I at last fell asleep. When I awoke in +the morning I saw Nancy alone bustling about the room. I soon jumped +into my clothes. My first question was for father. + +"He's not yet come back, Peter," she answered. "But maybe he will +before long, for the wind has fallen, and if he put into Ryde he'd have +waited till now to come across." + +"Where's mother?" I next asked, not seeing her. + +"Hush, Peter, don't speak loud," she said in a low tone. "She's been in +a sad taking all night, but she's quiet now, and we mustn't waken her." + +On hearing this I crept about as silent as a mouse till Mary got up, and +then we sat looking at each other without speaking a word, wondering +what was going to happen, while Nancy lit the fire and got breakfast +ready. At last we heard mother call to Nancy to come to her, not +knowing that Mary and I were on foot. + +"I must get up and go and look after my good man," she cried out, in a +voice strangely unlike her own. "Just help me, Nancy, will you? What +can have come over me? I feel very curious." + +She tried to rise, but could not, and after making several attempts, +sank back on her bed with a groan. Mary and I now ran into her room. + +"What's the matter, mother dear?" asked Mary, in a tone of alarm. + +She gazed at us strangely, and groaned again. + +"Missus is, I fear, taken very bad," said Nancy. "I must run for a +doctor, or she'll be getting worse. I'm sure I don't know what to do; I +wish I did. Oh dear! Oh dear!" + +"Let me go," I said, eagerly. "I know where he lives and you stay and +take care of mother. I can run faster than you can in and out among the +people in the streets." + +Nancy agreed, and I set off. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +A SAD CHAPTER IN MY LIFE. + +As I ran for the doctor I felt that I was engaged in a matter of life +and death, for I had never seen mother ill before. In my anxiety for +her I almost forgot all about father. On I rushed, dodging in and out +among the workmen going to their daily toil--there were not many other +persons out at that early hour. Two or three times I heard the cry of +"Stop thief!" uttered by some small urchins for mischiefs sake, and once +an old watchman, who had overslept himself in his box, suddenly starting +out attempted to seize hold of me, fancying that he was about to capture +a burglar, but I slipped away, leaving him sprawling in the dust and +attempting to spring his rattle, and I ran on at redoubled speed, soon +getting out of his sight round a corner. At last I reached Dr Rolt's +house and rang the surgery bell as hard as I could pull. It was some +time before the door was opened by a sleepy maid-servant, who had +evidently just hurried on her clothes. + +"Mother wants the doctor very badly," I exclaimed. "Ask him, please, to +come at once." + +"The doctor can't come. He's away from home, in London," answered the +girl. "You'd better run on to Dr Hunt's. Maybe he'll attend on your +mother." + +I asked where Dr Hunt lived. She told me. His house was some way off, +but I found it at last. Again I had to wait for the door to be opened, +when, greatly to my disappointment, the maid told me that Dr Hunt had +been out all night and might not be at home for an hour or more. + +"Oh dear! Oh dear! Who then can I get to see poor mother?" I cried +out, bursting into tears. + +"There's Mr Jones, the apothecary, at the end of the next street. +He'll go to your mother, no doubt," said the maid. "Don't cry, my boy. +Run on now; the first turning to the left. You'll see the red and green +globes in his window." + +Without stopping to hear more, off I set again. Mr Jones was in his +dispensary, giving directions to his assistant. I told him my errand. + +"I'll go presently," he answered. "What's the number?" + +Our house had no number, and I could not manage to explain its position +clearly enough for his comprehension. + +"Then I'll stay, sir, and show you the way," I said. + +"Wait a bit, and I'll be ready," he replied. + +He kept me waiting, however, a cruel long time, it seemed to me. At +last he appeared with his silver-mounted cane in hand, and bade me go +on. + +"Stop! Stop, boy. I can't move at that rate," he cried out, before we +had got far. He was a short stout man, with a bald head and grey hair. +I had to restrain my eagerness, and walked slower till we reached our +house. Nancy was looking out at the door for me, wondering I had not +returned. + +"How is mother?" I asked. + +"Very bad, Peter; very bad indeed, I'm afeard," she answered, almost +ready to cry. Then seeing Mr Jones stop with me, she continued, "Come +in, doctor, come in. You'll try and cure missus, won't you?" + +"I'll certainly do my best when I know what is the matter with her," +answered Mr Jones, as he followed Nancy into the house. + +Mary was with mother. I stole in after the doctor, anxious to hear what +he would say about her. He made no remark in her presence, however, but +when he came out of the room he observed in a low voice to Nancy, "You +must keep her quiet. Let there be nothing done to agitate her, tell her +husband when he comes in. I'll send some medicine, and pay her another +visit in the afternoon." + +"But it's about her husband that she's grieving, sir," said Nancy. "He +went away to Spithead yesterday morning and has never come back." + +"Ah, that's bad," replied Mr Jones. "However, perhaps he will appear +before long. If he doesn't, it can't be helped. You must give her the +medicines, at all events. I'll write the directions clearly for you." + +Poor Nancy had to confess that she could not read. The doctor then +tried to impress upon her how and when she was to give the physic. + +"You'll remember, and there can be no mistake," he added, as he hurried +off. + +I fancied that everything now depended on the arrival of the +apothecary's stuff, and kept running to the door looking out for the boy +who was to bring it. He seemed very long coming. I had gone +half-a-dozen times when I caught sight, as I turned my eyes the other +way thinking he might have passed by, of Tom Swatridge stumping slowly +up the street. He stopped when he saw me, and beckoned. He looked very +downcast. I observed that he had a straw hat in his hand, and I knew +that it was father's. + +"How is mother?" he asked, when I got up to him. + +"Very bad," I answered, looking at the hat, but afraid to ask questions. + +"The news I bring will make her worse, I'm afeard," he said, in a husky +voice, as he took my hand. "Peter, you had as good a father as ever +lived, but you haven't got one now. A cutter just come in picked up +this hat off Saint Helen's, and afterwards an oar and a sprit which both +belonged to the wherry. I went out the first thing this morning to the +ship your father was to put the gentleman aboard. He had got alongside +all right, for I saw the gentleman himself, and he told me that he had +watched the wherry after she shoved off till he lost sight of her in a +heavy squall of rain. When it cleared off she was nowhere to be seen. +So, Peter, my poor boy, there's no hope, I'm afeard, and we shall never +see my old messmate or Ned Dore again." + +"Oh, Tom! Tom! You don't mean to say that father's gone!" I cried +out. + +"I'd sooner have lost another leg than have to say it," answered the old +man. "But it must be said notwithstanding, and now how are we to tell +mother?" + +I could not answer, but kept repeating to myself, "Gone! Gone! Father +gone!" as Tom led me on to the house. We met the boy with the physic at +the door. + +"Let Nancy give her the stuff first," said the old man, thoughtfully; +"maybe it will give her strength, and help her to bear the bad news." + +Nancy took in the bottles, while Tom and I remained outside. After some +time she came out and told Tom that mother wanted to see him. He went +in, shaking all over so much that I thought he would have fallen. I +followed, when, seeing Mary, I threw my arms round her neck and burst +into tears. She guessed what had happened even before I told her. We +sat down, holding each other's hands and crying together, while Tom went +in to see mother. What he said I do not know, though I am sure he tried +to break the news to her as gently as he could. When she saw the hat, +which he still held in his hand, she knew that father was lost. She did +not go off into fits, as Tom afterwards told me he thought she would, +but remained terribly calm, and just bade him describe to her all that +he knew. + +"I mustn't give in," she said at length, "I have the children to look +after, for if I was to go what would become of them?" + +"While I'm able to work they shan't want, missus," answered Tom, firmly. + +"I know what you'd wish to do, Tom; but there's one thing won't let you: +that thing is liquor," said mother. + +"Then I'll never touch another drop as long as I live, missus!" +exclaimed Tom. "May God help me!" + +"He will help you, Tom, if you ask Him," said mother; "and I hope that, +whether I live or die, you'll keep to that resolution." + +I believe that conversation with Tom did mother much good; it took her +off from thinking of father. She was still, however, very ill, and had +to keep her bed. The doctor came again and again; generally twice a +day. He of course had to be paid, and a good deal too. There was +nothing coming in, and poor mother became more and more anxious to get +out and attend to her business. The doctor warned her that she would go +at great risk--indeed, that she was not fit to leave her bed. "She had +no money left to pay for food and rent and the doctor's bill," she +answered, and go she must. Though she had no money, she had, however, +ample credit to stock her bumboat. + +Very unwillingly Nancy assisted her to, dress. Out she would go, taking +me with her to lay in a stock of the articles she required. People +remarked on her changed looks, and some did not even know her. She +acknowledged that she was very tired when we got home, but declared that +she should be the better for going on the water. + +The next morning old Tom had his boat ready. "I do wish, missus, that +you'd stayed at home a few days longer," he remarked, looking at her. +"Howsomedever, as you've come, I hopes you'll just take what I say +kindly, and not be from home longer than you can help. There's dirty +weather coming up from the south-west." + +Tom was right. We had two ships to visit. Before we got alongside the +second down came the rain. But mother would go on, and consequently got +wet through. Tom was very unhappy, but she said that she had done a +good trade, and that no harm would come of it. Unhappily she was +mistaken; that night she was taken very ill--worse than before. I +fetched the doctor; he shook his head and said he wouldn't answer for +what might happen. Faithful Nancy was half distracted. Poor mother got +worse and worse. At last one day she beckoned with her pale hand to +Mary and me to come to her bedside. + +"I know that I am going to be taken from you, my dears," she said, in a +low voice, for she could not speak loud. "I want you to promise me to +be true to each other, to do your duty in God's sight, and always to ask +Him to help you." + +"I do, mother--I do promise," said Mary, the tears dropping from her +eyes. + +She could scarcely speak for sobbing. + +"I promise, too, mother, that I do!" I exclaimed, in a firmer voice; +and I sincerely intended to fulfil my promise. + +Mother was holding our hands in hers. She said much more to us, anxious +to give us all the advice in her power. Nancy came in with her +medicine, after which she rallied, and bade us go to bed. + +I was awakened early in the morning by hearing Nancy cry out, "Run for +the doctor, Peter! Run for the doctor! Missus is taken worse." + +I slipped into my clothes, and was off like a shot, without asking a +question, or even looking into mother's room. + +I rang the night-bell, for no one was up. At last the servant opened +the door, and said she would call her master. + +Mr Jones soon appeared. He had been paid regularly, and when he saw me +he was the more ready to come. Eager as I was to get back, I did not +like to run ahead of him; and, to do him justice, he exerted himself to +walk as fast as his breath would allow him. + +He asked me several questions; then I told him that mother had been +again out bum-boating. + +"Bad--very bad. I told her not to go. A relapse is a serious matter," +he remarked, panting and puffing between his sentences. "However, we +must try what can be done." + +Mary met us at the door. + +"Mother has been breathing very hard since you went, Peter," she said, +"but she is quite quiet now." + +The doctor's face looked very serious when he heard this. He hurried +into the room. + +"I thought so," I heard him remark to Nancy. "I could have done nothing +if you had sent for me hours ago. The woman is dead." + +"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! What shall I do?" cried Nancy, sobbing bitterly. + +"The sooner you let any friends the children may have know what has +happened the better, and then send for the undertaker," answered Mr +Jones. "The boy is sharp--he'll run your errands. I can do no more +than certify the cause of death." + +He hurried away without bestowing a look at Mary and me, as we stood +holding each other's hands, unable as yet to realise the fact that we +were orphans. He had so many poor patients that he could not afford, I +suppose, to exercise his compassionate feelings. Even when Nancy +afterwards took us in to see mother's body, I would scarcely believe +that she herself had been taken from us. + +I will not stop to speak of Mary's and my grief. + +At last Nancy, her eyes red with crying, sat down, with her hands +pressed against her head, to consider what was to be done. + +"Why, I ought to have sent for him at once!" she suddenly exclaimed. +"Peter, run and find Tom Swatridge, and tell him that poor missus has +gone." + +I needed no second bidding, and, thankful to have something to do, I +started away. + +On reaching the Hard, where I expected to find old Tom, I heard from +some of the watermen that he had gone off with a fare to Gosport, so I +had to wait for his return. Many of the men standing about asked me +after mother, and seemed very sorry to hear of her death. I saw them +talking earnestly together while I waited for Tom. Others joined them, +and then went away, so that the news soon spread about our part of the +town. I had to wait a long time, till old Tom came back with several +persons in his boat. He pocketed their fares, touching his hat to each +before he took any notice of me. + +"What cheer, Peter? How's the missus?" he asked, stepping on shore and +dropping the kedge to make fast his boat. "I feared she wouldn't be up +to bum-boating to-day." + +"Mother's dead," I answered. + +"Dead! The missus dead!" he exclaimed, clapping his hand to his brow, +and looking fixedly at me. "The Lord have mercy on us!" + +"Nancy wants you, Tom," I said. + +"I'm coming, Peter, I'm coming. I said I'd be a father to you and Mary, +and I will, please God," he replied, recovering himself. + +He took my hand, and stumped away towards our house. + +"Dick Porter, look after my boat, will ye, till I comes back?" he said +to one of the men on the Hard as we hurried by. + +"Ay, ay," was the cheerful answer--for Dick knew where old Tom was +going. + +Not a word did the old man speak all the way. When we got to the house, +what was my astonishment to find a number of people in the sitting-room, +one of whom, with note-book in hand, was making an inventory of the +furniture! Mary was sitting in a corner crying, and Nancy was looking +as if she had a mind to try and turn them all out. As soon as Mary saw +me she jumped up and took my hand. + +"What's all this about?" exclaimed old Tom, in an indignant tone. "You +might have stopped, whatever right you may have here, till the dead +woman was carried to her grave, I'm thinking." + +"And others had carried off the goods," answered the man with the +note-book. "We are only acting according to law. Mrs Trawl has run +into debt on all sides, and when the goods are sold there won't be five +shillings in the pound to pay them, that I can see, so her children must +take the consequences. There's the workhouse for them." + +"The work'us, do ye say? Mrs Trawl's children sent to the work'us!" +exclaimed old Tom, and he rapped out an expression which I need not +repeat. "Not while this here hand can pull an oar and I've a shiner in +my pocket. If you've got the law on your side, do as the law lets you. +But all I can say is, that it's got no bowels of compassion in it, to +allow the orphans to be turned out of house and home, and the breath +scarce out of their mother's body. Nancy, do you pack up the children's +clothes, and any school-books or play-things you can find, and then come +along to my house. The law can't touch them, I suppose." + +"What is that drunken old Swatridge talking about?" said one of the +broker's men. + +Tom heard him. + +"Such I may have been, but I'll be no longer `drunken old Swatridge' +while I have these children to look after," he exclaimed; and giving one +hand to Mary and the other to me, he led us out of the house. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +A FEARFUL CATASTROPHE. + +Leaving Nancy, who could well hold her own, to battle with the broker's +men, Tom, holding Mary by the hand, and I walked on till we came to his +house, which I knew well, having often been there to call him. It +consisted of two small rooms--a parlour, and little inner bedchamber, +and was better furnished than might have been expected; yet old Tom had +at one time made a good deal of money, and had expended a portion of it +in fitting up his dwelling. Had he always been sober he would now have +been comfortably off. + +"Stay here, my dears, while I go out for a bit," he said, bidding us sit +down on an old sea-chest on one side of the fireplace. "I haven't got +much to amuse you, but here's the little craft I cut out for you, Peter, +and you can go on rigging her as I've been doing. No matter if you +don't do it all ship-shape. And here, Mary, is the stuff for the sails; +I've shaped them, you see, and if you will hem them you'll help us +finely to get the craft ready for sea." + +Mary gladly undertook the task allotted to her, and even smiled as Tom +handed out a huge housewife full of needles and thread and buttons, and +odds and ends of all sorts. + +"My thimble won't suit your finger, I've a notion, my little maid," he +observed; "but I dare say you've got one of your own in your pocket. +Feel for it, will you?" + +Mary produced a thimble, six of which would have fitted into Tom's. + +"Ay, I thought so," he said, and seeing us both busily employed, he +hurried out of the house. He soon, however, returned, bringing a couple +of plum buns for Mary, and some bread and cheese for me, with a small +jug of milk. "There, my dears, that'll stay your hunger till Nancy +comes to cook some supper for you, and to put things to rights," he +said, as he placed them before us. "Good-bye. I'll be back again as +soon as I can," and off he went once more. + +Mary and I, having eaten the provisions he brought in, worked away +diligently, thankful to have some employment to occupy our attention. +But she stopped every now and then, when her eyes were too full of tears +to allow her to see her needle, and sobbed as if her dear heart would +break. Then on she went again, sewing as fast as she could, anxious to +please old Tom by showing him how much she had done. At length Nancy +arrived with a big bundle on her back. "I've brought away all I could," +she said, as she deposited her load on the floor. "I'd a hard job to +get them, and shouldn't at all, if Tom Swatridge and two other men +hadn't come in and said they'd be answerable if everything wasn't all +square. He and they were ordering all about the funeral, and I've got +two women to stay with the missus till she's put all comfortable into +her coffin. Alack! Alack! That I should have to talk about her +coffin!" Nancy's feelings overcame her. On recovering, she, without +loss of time, began to busy herself with household duties--lighted the +fire, put the kettle on to boil, and made up old Tom's bed with some +fresh sheets which she had brought. "You and I are to sleep here, +Mary," she said, "and Peter is to have a shakedown in the sitting-room." + +"And where is Tom going to put up himself?" I asked. + +"That's what he didn't say but I fancy he's going to stay at night with +an old chum who has a room near here. He said his place isn't big +enough for us all, and so he'd made up his mind to turn out." + +Such I found to be the case. Nothing would persuade our friend to sleep +in his own house, for fear of crowding us. He and several other +watermen, old shipmates, and friends of father's, had agreed to defray +the expenses of mother's funeral, for otherwise she would have been +carried to a pauper's grave. Her furniture and all the property she had +possessed were not sufficient to pay her debts contracted during her +illness, in spite of all her exertions. We, too, had not Tom taken +charge of us, should have been sent to the workhouse, and Nancy would +have been turned out into the world to seek her fortune, for her mother +was dead, and she had no other relatives. She did talk of trying to get +into service, which meant becoming a drudge in a small tradesman's +family, that she might help us with her wages; but she could not bring +herself to leave Mary; and Tom, indeed, said she must stay to look after +her. As father had had no funeral, his old friends wished to show all +the respect in their power to his widow, and a score or more attended, +some carrying the coffin, and others walking two and two behind, with +bits of black crepe round their hats and arms, while Mary and I, and +Nancy and Tom, followed as chief mourners all the way to Kingston +Cemetery. Nancy, with the help of a friend, a poor seamstress, had +managed to make a black frock for Mary and a dress for herself, out of +mother's gown, I suspect. They were not very scientifically cut, but +she had sat up all night stitching at them, which showed her affection +and her desire to do what she considered proper. + +Some weeks had passed since mother's death, and we were getting +accustomed to our mode of life. Tom sent Mary to a school near at hand +every morning, and she used to impart the knowledge she obtained to me +in the evening, including sometimes even sewing. + +During the time Mary was at school Nancy went out charing, or tending +the neighbours' children, or doing any other odd jobs of which she was +capable, thus gaining enough to support herself, for she declared that +she could not be beholden to the old man for her daily food. I always +went out with Tom in his boat, and I was now big enough to make myself +very useful. He used to make me take the helm when we were sailing, and +by patiently explaining how the wind acted on the canvas, and showing me +the reason of every manoeuvre, soon taught me to manage a boat as well +as any man could do, so that when the wind was light I could go out by +myself without the slightest fear. + +"You'll do, Peter; you'll do," said the old man, approvingly, when one +day I had taken the boat out to Spithead alongside a vessel and back, he +sitting on a thwart with his arms folded, and not touching a rope, +though he occasionally peered under the foot of the foresail to see that +I was steering right, and used the boat-hook when we were going +alongside the vessel, and shoving off, which I should have had to do if +he had been steering. "You'll now be able to gain your living, boy, and +support Mary till she's old enough to go out to service, if I'm taken +from you, and that's what I've been aiming at." + +Often when going along the Hard a friend would ask him to step into one +of the many publics facing it to take a glass of spirits or beer. "No +thank ye, mate," he would reply; "if I get the taste of one I shall be +wanting another, and I shouldn't be happy if I didn't treat you in +return, and I've got something else to do with my money instead of +spending it on liquor." + +I never saw him angry except when hard pressed by an ill-judging friend +to step into a public-house. + +"Would you like to see Jack Trawl's son in a ragged shirt, without shoes +to his feet, and his daughter a beggar-girl, or something worse? Then +don't be asking me, mate, to take a drop of the poisonous stuff. I know +what I used to be, and I know what I should be again if I was to listen +to you!" he exclaimed. "Stand out of my way, now! Stand out of my way! +Come along, Peter," and, grasping my hand with a grip which made my +fingers crack, he stumped along the Hard as fast as he could move his +timber toe. + +It was a pleasure on getting home to find Mary looking bright and +cheerful, with her work or books before her, and Nancy busy preparing +supper. The old man and I always took our dinner with us--generally a +loaf of bread, with a piece of cheese or bacon or fried fish, and +sometimes Irish stew in a basin, done up in a cloth, and a stone bottle +of water. I remember saying that I was born with a wooden spoon in my +mouth, but when I come to reflect what excellent parents I had, and what +true friends I found in Tom Swatridge and Nancy, I may say that, after +all, it must have been of silver, though perhaps not quite so polished +as those found in the mouths of some infants. + +Another change in my life was about to occur. We had taken off a +gentleman from Gosport. From his way of speaking, we found that he was +a foreigner, and he told us that he wanted to be put on board a foreign +ship lying at Spithead. + +"Is dere any danger?" he asked, looking out across the Channel, and +thinking what a long distance he had to go. + +"Not a bit, sir," answered Tom, for the water was as smooth as a +mill-pond. There was a light air from the southward, and there was not +a cloud in the sky. "We might cross the Channel to France for that +matter, with weather like this." + +"Oh no, no! I only want to get to dat sheep out dere!" cried the +foreigner, fancying that we might carry him across against his will. + +"Certainly, mounseer; we'll put you aboard in a jiffy as soon as we gets +a breeze to help us along," said Tom. + +We pulled round Blockhouse Point, along shore, till we came off Fort +Monkton, when opening Stokes Bay, the wind hauling a little to the +westward, we made sail and stood for Spithead. A number of vessels were +brought up there, and at the Mother-bank, off Ryde, among them a few +men-of-war, but mostly merchantmen, outward bound, or lately come in +waiting for orders. It was difficult as yet to distinguish the craft +the foreigner wanted to be put aboard. + +"It won't matter if we have to dodge about a little to find her, +mounseer, for one thing's certain: we couldn't have a finer day for a +sail," observed old Tom, as we glided smoothly over the blue water, +shining brightly in the rays of the unclouded sun. + +He gave me the helm while he looked out for the foreign ship. + +"That's her, I've a notion," he said at length, pointing to a +deep-waisted craft with a raised poop and forecastle, and with much +greater beam than our own wall-sided merchantmen. "Keep her away a bit, +Peter. Steady! That will do." + +The tide was running to the westward, so that we were some time getting +up to the ship. + +"You'll be aboard presently, if that is your ship, as I suppose, +mounseer," said Tom. + +"Yes, yes; dat is my sheep," answered the foreigner, fumbling in his +pockets, I fancied, for his purse. + +He uttered an exclamation of annoyance. "Ma monie gone! Some villain +take it, no doubte. You come aboard de sheep, and I vill give it you, +my friend," he said. "One half guinea is de charge, eh? I have also +letter to write; you take it and I vill give two shillings more." + +"All right, mounseer, I will wait your pleasure, and promise to post +your letter," answered Tom. + +As there were several boats alongside, he told me to keep under weigh +till he should hail me to come for him, and as he was as active as any +man, in spite of his wooden leg, taking the foreigner by the hand, he +helped him up on deck. I then hauled the tacks aboard and stood off to +a little distance. I waited and waited, watching the ship, and +wondering why Tom was so long on board. + +The wind at last began to drop, and afraid of being carried to leeward, +I was on the point of running up alongside when I heard a fearful +roaring thundering sound. A cloud of black smoke rose above the ship, +followed by lurid names, which burst out at all her ports; her tall +masts were shot into the air, her deck was cast upwards, her sides were +rent asunder; and shattered fragments of planks, and of timbers and +spars, and blocks, and all sorts of articles from the hold, came flying +round me. I instinctively steered away from the danger, and though huge +pieces of burning wreck fell hissing into the water on either side, and +far beyond where I was, none of any size touched the wherry. For a +minute or more I was so confounded by the awful occurrence that I did +not think of my old friend. I scarcely knew where I was or what I was +doing. The moment I recovered my presence of mind I put the boat about, +getting out an oar to help her along, and stood back towards the burning +wreck, which appeared for a moment like a vast pyramid of flame rising +above the surface, and then suddenly disappeared as the waters closed +over the shattered hull. + +I stood up, eagerly gazing towards the spot to ascertain if any human +beings had survived the dreadful catastrophe, though it seemed to me +impossible that a single person could have escaped. One boat alone was +afloat with some people in her, but they were sitting on the thwarts or +lying at the bottom, not attempting to exert themselves, all more or +less injured. The other boats had been dragged down, as the ship sank. +All about were shattered spars and pieces of the deck, and some way off +the masts with the yards still fast to them. Here and there was a body +floating with the head or a limb torn off. One man was swimming, and I +saw another in the distance clinging to a spar, but the former before I +could get up to him sank without a cry, and I then steered for the man +on the spar, hoping against hope that he might be old Tom. I shouted to +him that he might know help was coming, but he did not answer. Meantime +boats from the various ships lying around were approaching. I plied my +oar with all my might, fearing that the man I have spoken of might let +go his hold and be lost like the other before I could reach him. The +nearer I got the more I feared that he was not Tom. His face was +blackened, his clothes burnt and torn. Then I saw that he had two legs, +and knew for certain that he was not my old friend. Still, of course, I +continued on till I got up to the spar, when I tried to help the poor +man into my boat, for he was too much hurt to get on board by himself. +But my strength was insufficient for the purpose, and I was afraid of +letting go lest he should sink and be lost. There was no small risk +also of my being dragged overboard. Still, I did my best, but could get +him no higher than the gunwale. + +"Well done, youngster! Hold fast, and we'll help you," I heard a voice +sing out, and presently a man-of-war's boat dashing up, two of her crew +springing into the wherry quickly hauled the man on board. + +"We must take him to our ship, lads, to let the surgeon attend to him," +said the officer, a master's mate in charge of the man-of-war's boat. + +The man was accordingly lifted into her. It appeared to me, from his +sad condition, that the surgeon would be unable to do him any good. + +"What, did you come out here all by yourself, youngster?" asked the +officer. + +"No, sir, I came out with old Tom Swatridge, who went on board the ship +which blew up," I answered. + +"Then I fear he must have been blown up with her, my lad," said the +officer. + +"I hope not, sir, I hope not," I cried out, my heart ready to break as I +began to realise that such might be the case. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A FRIEND LOST AND A FRIEND GAINED. + +It seemed but a moment since the ship blew up. I could not believe that +old Tom had perished. + +"Some people have been picked up out there, sir, I think," observed the +coxswain to the officer, pointing as he spoke to several boats +surrounding the one I had before remarked with the injured men in her. +"Maybe the old man the lad speaks of is among them." + +"Make the wherry fast astern, and we'll pull on and ascertain," said the +officer. + +"If he is not found, or if found is badly hurt, I'll get leave for a +couple of hands to help you back with your boat to Portsmouth." + +"I can take her back easily enough by myself if the wind holds as it +does now; thank you all the same, sir," I answered. + +I felt, indeed, that if my faithful friend really was lost, which I +could scarcely yet believe, I would rather be alone; and I had no fear +about managing the wherry single-handed. + +As may be supposed, my anxiety became intense as we approached the boat. +"Is old Tom Swatridge saved?" I shouted out. + +No answer came. + +"Tom! Tell me, Tom, if you are there!" I again shouted. + +"Step aboard the boat and see if your friend is among the injured men," +said the good-natured officer, assisting me to get alongside. + +I eagerly scanned the blackened faces of the men sitting up, all of whom +had been more or less scorched or burnt. A surgeon who had come off +from one of the ships was attending to them. They were strangers to me. +Two others lay dead in the bottom of the boat, but neither of them was +old Tom. He was gone, of that I could no longer have a doubt. + +With a sad heart I returned to the wherry. The other boats had not +succeeded in saving any of the hapless crew. The ship had been loaded +with arms and gunpowder, bound for South America, I heard some one say. + +"Cheer up, my lad!" said the officer; "you must come aboard the +_Lapwing_, and we'll then send you into Portsmouth, as we must have this +poor fellow looked to by our surgeon before he is taken to the +hospital." + +The name of the _Lapwing_ aroused me; she was the brig in which my +brother Jack had gone to sea. For a moment I forgot my heavy loss with +the thoughts that I might presently see dear Jack again. But it was +only for a moment. As I sat steering the wherry towed by the +man-of-war's boat my eyes filled with tears. What sad news I had to +give to Jack! What would become of Mary and Nancy? For myself I did +not care, as I knew that I could obtain employment at home, or could go +to sea; but then I could not hope for a long time to come to make enough +to support them. My chief feeling, however, was grief at the loss of my +true-hearted old friend. + +Soon after we got alongside the brig of war the master's mate told me to +come up on deck, while one of the men took charge of the wherry. He at +once led me aft to the commander, who questioned me as to how I came to +be in the wherry by myself. I described to him all that had happened. + +"You acted a brave part in trying to save the man from the ship which +blew up. Indeed, had you not held on to him he would have been lost," +he observed. "I must see that you are rewarded. What is your name?" + +"Peter Trawl, sir," I answered, and, eager to see Jack, for whom I had +been looking out since I got out of the boat, thinking that we should +know each other, I added, "I have a brother, sir, who went to sea aboard +this brig, and we have been looking out for him ever so long to come +home. Please, sir, can I go and find him?" + +The commander's countenance assumed a look of concern. "Poor fellow! I +wish that he was on board for his sake and yours, my lad," he answered. +"I cannot say positively that he is dead, but I have too much reason to +believe that he is. While we were cruising among the islands of the +East Indian Archipelago he formed one of a boat's crew which was, while +at a distance from the ship, attacked by a large body of Malay pirates. +When we got up we found only on man, mortally wounded, in the bottom of +the boat, who before he died said that, to the best of his belief, the +officer in charge and the rest of the men had been killed, as he had +seen several dragged on board the proas, and then hacked to pieces and +hove overboard. + +"We chased and sank some of the pirate fleet, and made every possible +search for the missing men, in case any of them should have escaped on +shore, to which they were close at the time of the attack, but no traces +of them could be discovered. I left an account of the occurrence with +the vessel which relieved me on the station, and should any of the poor +fellows have been found I should have been informed of it. It was my +intention, as soon as I was paid off the _Lapwing_, to come down to +Portsmouth to break the news to his father. Say this from me, and that +I yet hope to see him shortly." + +Commander Rogers seemed very sorry when I told him that father and +mother were both dead. He asked me where I lived. I told him, as well +as I could describe the house, forgetting that, too probably, Mary and I +and Nancy would not be long allowed to remain there. + +"When I commission another ship, would you like to go with me, my lad?" +he asked. + +"Very much, sir," I answered. "But I have a sister, and I couldn't go +away with no one to take care of her; so I must not think of it now Tom +Swatridge has gone. All the same, I thank you kindly, sir." + +"Well, well, my lad; we will see what can be done," he said, and just +then a midshipman came up to report that the boat was ready to carry the +rescued man, with the surgeon, to the shore. + +I found that the master's mate, Mr Harvey, and one of the men were +going in my boat, and of course I did not like to say that I could get +into the harbour very well without them. I touched my hat to the +commander, who gave me a kind nod--it would not have done for him, I +suppose, to shake hands with a poor boy on his quarter-deck even if he +had been so disposed--and then I hurried down the side. + +I made sail, and took the helm just as if I had been by myself, Mr +Harvey sitting by my side, while the seaman had merely to rig out the +mainsail with the boat-hook, as we were directly before the wind. + +"You are in luck, youngster," observed Mr Harvey; "though you have lost +one friend you've gained another, for our commander always means what he +says, and, depend on it, he'll not lose sight of you." + +He seemed a very free-and-easy gentleman, and made me tell him all about +myself, and how we had lost father and mother, and how Tom Swatridge had +taken charge of Mary and me. His cheerful way of talking made me dwell +less on my grief than I should have done had I sailed into the harbour +all alone. + +"I should like to go and see your little sister and the faithful Nancy," +he said, "but I must return to the brig as soon as that poor man has +been carried to the hospital, and I have several things to do on shore. +Land me at the Point, you can find your way to the Hard by yourself, +I've no doubt." + +"The boat would find her way alone, sir, she's so accustomed to it," I +answered. + +We ran in among a number of wherries with people embarking from the +Point or landing at it. The Point, it should be understood by those who +do not know Portsmouth, is a hard shingly beach on the east side, at the +mouth of the harbour, and there was at that time close to it an old +round stone tower, from which an iron chain formerly extended across to +Blockhouse Fort, on the Gosport side, to prevent vessels from coming in +without leave. + +"Here, my lad, is my fare," said Mr Harvey, slipping half a guinea into +my hand as he stepped on shore, followed by the seaman; "it will help to +keep Nancy's pot boiling till you can look about you and find friends. +They will appear, depend on it." + +Before I could thank him he was away among the motley crowd of persons +thronging the Point. I was thankful that no one asked me for old Tom, +and, shoving out from among the other boats, I quickly ran on to the +Hard. + +When I landed the trial came. A waterman had gained an inkling of what +had occurred from one of the crew of the _Lapwings_ boat, and I was soon +surrounded by people asking questions of how it happened. + +"I can't tell you more," I answered, at length breaking from them. +"Tom's gone, and brother Jack's gone, and I must go and look after poor +Mary." + +It was late by the time I reached home. Nancy had got supper ready on +the table, and Mary had placed old Tom's chair for him in a snug corner +by the fire. They saw that something was the matter, for I couldn't +speak for a minute or more, not knowing how to break the news to them. +At last I said, with a choking voice, pointing to the chair, "He'll +never sit there more!" + +Dear me, I thought Mary's and Nancy's hearts would break outright when +they understood what had happened. It was evident how much they loved +the rough old man--I loved him too, but in a different way, I suppose, +for I could not ease my heart by crying; indeed I was thinking about +what Mary and Nancy would do, and of brother Jack's loss. I did not +like to tell Mary of that at first, but it had to come out, and, strange +as it may seem, it made her think for the time less about what was to us +by far the greater loss. Supper remained long untasted, but at last I +felt that I must eat, and so I fell to, and after a time Nancy followed +my example and made Mary take something. + +Nancy then began to talk of what we must do to gain our living, and we +sat up till late at night discussing our plans. There was the wherry, +and I must get a mate, and I should do very well; then we had the house, +for we never dreamed that we should not go on living in it, as we were +sure Tom would have wished us to do. Nancy was very sanguine as to how +she could manage. Her plain, pock-marked face beamed as she spoke of +getting three times as much work as before. Short and awkward as was +her figure, Nancy had an heroic soul. Mary must continue to attend +school, and in time would be able to do something to help also. + +We talked on till we almost fell asleep on our seats. The next morning +we were up betimes. Nancy got out some black stuff we had worn for +mother, a piece of which she fastened round my arm to show respect to +old Tom's memory, and after breakfast I hurried out to try and find a +mate, that I might lose no time in doing what I could with the wherry. +I had thought of Jim Pulley, a stout strong lad, a year or two older +than myself, who, though not very bright, was steady and honest, and I +knew that I could trust him; his strength would supply my want of it for +certain work we had to do. Jim was the first person I met on the Hard. +I made my offer to him; he at once accepted it. + +"To tell the truth, Peter, I was a-coming to say, that if thou hadst not +got any one to go in the place of Tom Swatridge, I would help thee till +thou art suited for nothing, or if thou wilt find me in bread and cheese +I'll be thankful." + +In a few minutes after this Jim and I were plying for hire in the +harbour, and we had not long to wait before we got a fare. The first +day we did very well, and I gave Jim a quarter of what we took, with +which he was perfectly content. + +"I wouldn't ask for more, Peter," he said, "for thou hast three mouths +to feed, and I have only one." + +The next few days we were equally successful; indeed I went home every +evening in good spirits as to my prospects. I made enough for all +expenses, and could lay by something for the repairs of the wherry. + +Though Jim and I were mere boys, while the weather was fine people took +our boat as willingly as they did those of grown men. Sometimes we got +parties to go off to the _Victory_, at others across to the Victualling +Yard, and occasionally up the harbour to Porchester Castle. + +We worked early and late, and Jim or I was always on the look-out for a +fare. + +When I got home at night I had generally a good account to give of the +day's proceedings. Now and then I asked Jim in to take a cup of tea, +and many a hearty laugh we had at what the ladies and gentlemen we had +taken out had said and done. Seeing that we were but boys they fancied +that they could talk before us in a way they wouldn't have thought of +doing if we had been grown men. + +It must not be supposed that we were able to save much, but still I put +by something every week for the repairs of the boat I had got enough to +give her a fresh coat of paint, which she much wanted, and we agreed +that we would haul her up on Saturday afternoon for the purpose, so that +she would be ready for Monday. + +We carried out our intentions, though it took every shilling I had put +by, and we lost more than one fare by so doing. But the wherry looked +so fresh and gay, that we hoped to make up for it the next week. Jim +went to chapel on the Sunday with Mary and Nancy and me, and spent most +of the day with us. He was so quiet and unassuming that we all liked +him much. As we had put plenty of dryers in the paint, and the sun was +hot on Sunday, by Monday forenoon we were able to ply as usual. We had +taken a fare across to Gosport, when a person, whom we supposed to be a +gentleman from his gay waistcoat and chains, and his top-boots, and hat +stuck on one side, came down to the beach and told us to take him over +to Portsea. We soon guessed by the way he talked that, in spite of his +fine clothes, he was not a gentleman. + +"I say, you fellow, do you happen to know whereabouts an old chap, one +Tom Swatridge, lives?" he asked of Jim. + +"He doesn't live anywhere; he's dead," answered Jim. + +"Dead! Dead, do you say?" he exclaimed. "Who's got his property?" + +"He had no property that I knows on," answered Jim; "except, maybe--" + +"Oh yes, he had; and if the old fellow had lived he would have been the +possessor of a good round sum; but, as I am his nephew, that will be +mine, and everything else he left behind him, the lawyer, Master +Six-and-eightpence, as I call him, tells me." + +All this time I had not liked to say anything, but the last remark made +me feel very uncomfortable. The speaker presently took a letter out of +his pocket, and, reading it, said, "Ah! I see Mr Gull is the man I've +got to go to. Can you show me where Mr Gull, the attorney, lives?" he +asked of Jim; "he'll settle up this matter." + +Jim made no answer, for we were getting near the shore, and had to keep +out of the way of two craft coming up the harbour. We soon ran up to +the Hard, when the man, stepping out, offered Jim a sixpence. + +"A shilling's the fare, sir," said Jim, keeping back his hand. + +"No, no, you young rascal! I know better; but I'll give you another +sixpence if you will show me the way to Mr Gull's." + +"You may find it by yourself," answered Jim, indignantly, as he picked +up the sixpence thrown to him by our fare, who walked off. + +"Half a loaf is better than no bread, Peter, so it's as well not to lose +the sixpence," said Jim, laughing. "But no gentleman would have offered +less than a shilling. I wonder whether he really is old Tom's nephew?" + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +TURNED OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME. + +We had just landed the gaily-dressed individual who had announced +himself the nephew of old Tom Swatridge. Thinking that he might +possibly be the person he said he was, and not knowing what tricks he +might play, I was intending to row home, when a gentleman, with two +young ladies and a boy, who I knew by their dress to be Quakers, came +down, wishing to take a row round the harbour, and afterwards to visit +the Victualling Yard. + +After we had pulled off some way, I asked if they would like to go +aboard the _Victory_. + +"No, thank thee, young friend, we take no pleasure in visiting scenes, +afloat or on shore, where the blood of our fellow-creatures has been +shed," answered the gentleman. + +As he spoke I thought by his look and the tone of his voice that he must +be Mr Silas Gray, who had come to our house when the poor girl mother +took in was dying, but I did not like to ask him. The young people +called him father. At last he began to ask Jim and me questions, and +how, young as we were, we came to have a boat by ourselves. + +"I suppose thy father is ill on shore?" he said. + +Then I told him how he was lost at Spithead, and mother had died, and +old Tom had been blown up, and I had taken his wherry, seeing there was +no one else to own her; and how Mary and Nancy and I lived on in his +house. + +"And art thou and this other lad brothers?" he inquired. + +"No, sir; but Jim Pulley and I feel very much as if we were," I +answered. "My name is Peter Trawl." + +"And was thy mother a bumboat-woman, a true, honest soul, one of the +excellent of the earth?" he asked. + +"Ay, ay, sir! That was my mother," I said, my heart beating with +pleasure to hear her so spoken of. + +Then he told me that he was Mr Silas Gray, and asked if I remembered +the visits he used to pay to our house. Of course I did. The young +ladies and his son joined in the conversation, and very pleasant it was +to hear them talk. + +We were out the whole afternoon, and it was quite late when we got back +to Portsea. Mr Gray said that he was going away the next morning with +his family to London, but that when he returned he would pay Mary a +visit, and hoped before the summer was over to take some more trips in +my wherry. He paid us liberally, and he and the young people gave us +kind smiles and nods as they stepped on shore. + +While we were out I had not thought much about the fare we had brought +across from Gosport in the morning, but now, recollecting what he had +said, I hurried home, anxious to hear if he had found out the house. I +had not to ask, for directly I appeared Nancy told me that while Mary +was at school an impudent fellow had walked in and asked if old Tom +Swatridge had once lived there, and when she said "Yes," had taken a +note of everything, and then sat down and lighted his pipe, and told her +to run out and bring him a jug of ale. + +"`A likely thing, indeed!' I answered him," said Nancy; "`what! When I +come back to find whatever is worth taking carried off, or maybe the +door locked and I unable to get in!' The fellow laughed when I said +this--a nasty sort of a laugh it was--and said, `Ay! Just so.' I +didn't know exactly what he meant, but presently he sang out, `What! +Are you not gone yet, gal?' `No, and I shan't,' I answered; `and when +Peter and Jim come in you'll pretty quickly find who has to go.' On +this he thundered out, trying to frighten me, `Do you know that I am old +Tom Swatridge's nephew and heir-at-law,' [I think that's what he called +himself], `and that this house and everything in it is mine, and the +wherry, and any money the old chap left behind him? I'll soon prove +that you and your brother are swindlers, and you'll be sent off to +prison, let me tell you.' He took me for Mary, do you see, Peter; and I +was not going to undeceive him? I felt somewhat nonplussed when he said +this, but without answering I walked to the window, working with my +needle as I was doing when he came in, and looked out as if I was +expecting you and Jim to be coming. I would give him no food, nor even +a drink of water; so at last he grew tired, and, saying I should see him +again soon, swinging his cane and whistling, he walked away." + +"What do you think, Peter? Can he really be old Tom's nephew?" asked +Mary, when Nancy ceased speaking. + +"One thing is certain, that if he proves himself to be so we shall be +bound to turn out of this house, and to give up the wherry," I answered. + +"Oh, Peter! What shall we do, then?" exclaimed Mary. + +"The best we can, my sister," I said. "Perhaps the man may not be able +to prove that he is what he calls himself. I have heard of impostors +playing all sorts of tricks. We'll hope for the best. And now, Nancy, +let us have some supper." + +Though I tried to keep up the spirits of Mary and Nancy, I felt very +anxious, and could scarcely sleep for thinking on the subject. Whatever +might happen for myself I did not care, but I was greatly troubled about +what Mary and Nancy would do. I naturally thought of Commander Rogers, +from whom all this time I had heard nothing, though he had promised to +come and see after Mary and me. Mr Gray had said that he was going +away again, so that I could not obtain advice from him. "I have God to +trust to, that's a comfort," I thought, and I soon dropped off to sleep. + +The next morning I remained at home to a later hour than usual. Just as +I was going out a man came to the door, who said he was sent by Lawyer +Gull, and put a paper into my hand, which he told me was a something I +could not exactly make out, to quit the house within twenty-four hours. +"His client, the owner of the property, wishes not to act harshly, so +refrains from taking stronger measures at present," said the clerk, who, +having performed his task, went away. I stopped a few minutes to talk +with Mary and Nancy. Mary said quietly that if we must go we must, and +that we had better look out for cheap lodgings at once. Nancy was very +indignant, and declared that we had no business to turn out for such a +scamp as that. Old Tom had never spoken of having a nephew; she did not +believe the fellow was his nephew, and certainly, if he was, Tom would +not have left his property to him. She advised me, however, to go out +and try to get advice from some one who knew more about the law than she +did. I accordingly set off for the Hard, where I was sure to find +several friends among the watermen. I had not got far when I met Jim +Pulley, looking very disconsolate. + +"What is the matter, Jim," I asked. + +"We've lost the wherry!" he exclaimed, nearly blubbering. "Two big +fellows came down, and, asking what boat she was, told me to step +ashore: and when I said I wouldn't for them, or for any one but you, +they took me, crop and heels, and trundled me out of her." + +"That is only what I feared," I said. "I was coming down to find some +one to advise us what to do." + +"Then you couldn't ask any better man than Bob Fox, he's been in prison +half a score of times for smuggling and such like, so he must know a +mighty deal about law," he answered. + +We soon found Bob Fox, who was considered an oracle on the Hard, and a +number of men gathered round while he expressed his opinion. + +"Why, you see, mates, it's just this," he said, extending one of his +hands to enforce his remarks; "you must either give in or go to prison +when they brings anything agen you, and that, maybe, is the cheapest in +the end; or, as there's always a lawyer on t'other side, you must set +another lawyer on to fight him, and that's what I'd advise to be done in +this here case. Now I knows a chap, one Lawyer Chalk, who's as sharp as +a needle, and if any man can help young Peter and his sister to keep +what is their own he'll do it. I'm ready to come down with some shiners +to pay him, for, you see, these lawyer folk don't argify for nothing, +and I'm sure some on you who loves justice will help Jack and Polly +Trawl's children; so round goes the hat." + +Suiting the action to the word, Bob, taking off his tarpaulin, threw a +handful of silver into it, and his example being followed by a number of +other men, he grasped me by the hand, and set off forthwith to consult +Lawyer Chalk. + +We quickly reached his office. Mr Chalk, a quiet-looking little man, +with easy familiar manners, which won the confidence of his illiterate +constituents, knowing Bob Fox well, received us graciously. His eyes +glittered as he heard the money chink in Bob's pocket. + +"It's all as clear as a pikestaff," he observed, when he heard what I +had got to say. "They must prove first that this fellow who has turned +up is Tom Swatridge's nephew; then that he is his heir-at-law, and +finally that the house and boat belonged to the deceased. Now +possession is nine-tenths of the law; you've got them, and you must hold +them till the law turns you out." + +"I couldn't, sir, if another has a better right to them than I have," I +answered. "I lived on in the house and used the wherry because I was +sure that old Tom would have wished me to do so, but then I didn't know +that he had any relation to claim them." + +"And you don't know that he has any relation now," said Mr Chalk; "that +has to be proved, my lad. The law requires proof; that's the beauty of +the law. The man may swear till he's black in the face that he is the +deceased's nephew, but if he has no proof he'll not gain his cause." + +Bob Fox was highly delighted with our visit to the lawyer. + +"I told you so, lad; I told you so!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands; +"t'other chap will find he has met his match. Bless you! Old Chalk's +as keen as a razor." + +As I could not use the wherry, I went home feeling in much better +spirits than before about our prospects. I was able even to cheer up +Mary and Nancy. I told them that, by Lawyer Chalk's advice, we were not +to quit the house, and that he would manage everything. No one appeared +during the day. The next morning we had breakfast as usual, and as the +time went by I was beginning to hope that we should be unmolested, when +two rough-looking men came to the door, and, though Nancy sprang up to +bar them out, in they walked. One of them then thrust a paper out to +her, but she drew back her hand as if it had been a hot iron. The man +again attempted to make her take it. "One of you must have it," he +growled out. + +"No, no! I couldn't make head or tail of it if I did," answered Nancy, +still drawing back. + +"Let me have it," I said, wishing to know what the men really came for. + +"The sum total is, that you and the rest of you are to move away from +this, and if you don't go sharp we're to turn you out!" exclaimed the +bailiff, losing patience at the time I took to read the document. "It's +an order of ejectment, you'll understand." + +"Don't you mind what it is, Peter!" exclaimed Nancy; "Mr Chalk said we +was to stay here, and stay we will for all the scraps of paper in the +world!" And Nancy, seating herself in a chair, folded her arms, and +cast defiant looks at the officers of the law. + +They were, however, up to the emergency. Before either she or I were +aware of what they were about to do, they had secured her arms to the +back of the chair, and then, lifting it and her up, carried her out of +the house and deposited her in the street, in spite of the incautious +attempt I made to effect a rescue. The moment I got outside the house +one of the bailiffs, turning round, seized me in a vice-like grasp, and +the other then entering, led out Mary, who saw that resistance was +hopeless. He next walked back, took the key from the door, and, having +locked it, released Nancy and re-entered the house with the chair. +Before Nancy could follow him he had shut himself in, while his +companion, letting me go with a shove which sent me staggering across +the street, walked off, I concluded to tell the lawyer who sent him and +his mate that they had got possession of the house. + +Nancy was standing, with her fists clenched, too much astonished at the +way she had been treated to speak. Mary was in tears, trembling all +over. + +"Oh, Peter, what are we to do?" she asked. + +"I'll go to Lawyer Chalk and hear what he says," I answered. "If the +house and boat ought to be ours, he'll get them back; if not, I can't +say just now what we must do. Meantime do you and Nancy go to Widow +Simmons's, and wait there. She was always a friend of mother's, and +will be glad to help you." + +Mary agreed, but Nancy, who at length found her tongue, declared that +she wasn't going to lose sight of the house, and that she would stay +where she was and watch and tell the folks who passed how we had been +treated. As nothing I could say would induce her to move, I accompanied +Mary to the widow's, where I left her, and hastened on to Mr Chalk's. +The lawyer made a long face when I told him how we had been treated. + +"I told you that `possession is nine-tenths of the law,' my lad, and now +they are in and you are out," he answered. "It's a bad job--but we'll +see what can be done. We must obtain at all events your clothes, and +any other private property you may possess. Now go, my lad, and call +upon me in a week or two; I shall see Bob Fox in the meantime." + +Soon after leaving the lawyer's I met Jim Pulley. Having seen Nancy, he +was fuming with indignation at our having been turned out of our home, +and proposed trying to break into the house to regain possession, but I +had sense enough to know that we must abide by the law, whichever way +that decided I found Nancy still keeping watch before the door, and +vehemently appealing to all who would stop to listen to her. It was +with some difficulty that I at length persuaded her to go with me to +Mrs Simmons's. The kind widow was willing to give us shelter, and as +Mary had fortunately my savings in her pocket, we had sufficient to pay +for our food for some days. The next morning Mary went as usual to +school; Nancy left the house, saying that she was going to look for +work, and I set out, hoping to find employment in a wherry with one of +the men who knew me. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +HELP COMES WHEN LEAST EXPECTED. + +I found it more difficult to obtain employment with wages sufficient to +support Mary and me, not to speak of Nancy, than I had expected. Jim +and I tried to hire a boat, but we could not obtain one to suit us for +any sum we could hope to pay. Ours, for so we still called her, had +been carried off, and locked up in a shed at Portsmouth. He and I +picked up a sixpence or a shilling now and then, but some days we got +nothing. There was a great risk of our becoming what my father had so +strongly objected to "long-shore loafers." I would not desert Jim, who +had served me so faithfully, and so we tried, as far as we could, to +work together. Sometimes he talked of going off to sea, but as I could +not leave Mary his heart failed him at the thought of going without me. +At the time appointed I called on Lawyer Chalk. + +"Sorry to say we are beaten, my lad," were the words with which he +greeted me. "I fought hard, but there's no doubt that Mr Gull's client +is the nephew of Tom Swatridge, who died intestate, consequently his +nephew is his heir. Had the old man wisely come to me I would have +drawn up a will for him, securing his property to you or any one he +might have desired. I am very sorry for you, but law is law, and it +can't be helped. I hope that you will find employment somewhere soon. +Good-day to you." And he waved me out of his office. + +In consequence of his failure in my cause, Lawyer Chalk sank +considerably in the estimation of Bob Fox and his friends, who declared +that the next time they wanted legal advice they would try what Lawyer +Gull could do for them. I should have said that a day or two before he +had sent a clerk armed with due authority to accompany Nancy and Mary, +who brought away our clothing and all the articles which we had +purchased with our own money. Curiously enough, I did not again set +eyes on Mr Eben Swatridge, who was, I understood, the son of a younger +brother of old Tom, who had gone into business in London and made money. +Some property having been left to the two brothers, or to the survivor +of either, Eben had been compelled to make inquiries respecting his long +unrecognised uncle, and had thus been induced to pay the visit to +Portsea which had produced such disastrous results to Mary and me. + +The house and furniture and wherry were sold, and directly afterwards he +disappeared from Portsmouth. Perhaps he thought it wise to keep out of +the way of Bob Fox and the other sturdy old salts who supported me. Not +that one of them would have laid a finger on him, and Mary and I agreed +that, far from having any ill-feeling, we should have been ready, for +his uncle's sake, to have been friends if he had explained to us at the +first who he was and his just rights in a quiet way. We had now a hard +struggle to make the two ends meet. Mrs Simmons fell ill, and Mary, +who could no longer go to school, had to attend on her, and I had to +find food and, as it turned out, to pay her rent, she being no longer +able to work for her own support. I did not grumble at this, for I was +grateful to her for her kindness to us; but though we stinted ourselves +to the utmost, we often had not a sixpence in the house to buy fit +nourishment for the poor old lady. Nancy was ready to slave from +morning to night, but was often unsuccessful in obtaining work, so that +she made scarcely enough to support herself; she might have got a +situation, but she would not leave Mary. Whenever honest Jim Pulley +could save a shilling he brought it, as he said, for the widow, though I +knew that besides his wish to help her he was much influenced by his +regard for us. I often thought when the winter came what he and I +should do then. I did not say anything to Mary about the future, but +tried to keep up her spirits, for I saw that her cheek was becoming +pale, and she was growing thinner and thinner every day. At last one +morning, when I had got up just at daylight, and having taken a crust of +bread and a drink of water for breakfast, was about to go out in search +of work, Nancy came into the room, and said-- + +"I don't know what has come over Mary, but she has been talking and +talking ever so strangely all night, and her cheek is as hot as a live +cinder." + +I hurried into the little back room Mary and Nancy occupied next to the +widow's. A glance told me that my dear little sister was in a high +fever. My heart was ready to burst, for she did not know me Mrs +Simmons was too ill to get up and say what she thought of its nature. + +"I must run for the doctor, Nancy," I exclaimed; "there's not a moment +to lose;" and snatching up my hat I rushed out of the house, assured +that Nancy would do her best in the meantime. + +I had caught sight of Dr Rolt passing along the street on the previous +day, so I knew that he was at home, and I felt more inclined to go to +him than to Mr Jones. I ran as I had not run for a long time, and no +one ventured to stop me now. The doctor was on foot, early as was the +hour. He remembered mother and Mary and me the moment I mentioned my +name. + +"I'll come to see your little sister directly," he said. + +I waited for him, fearing that he might not find the house. He was soon +ready, and, considering his age, I was surprised how well he kept up +with me. I eagerly ushered him into the house. He had not been long +with Mary before he sent me off to the chemist to get some medicine, for +which I had fortunately enough in my pocket to pay. When I came back he +gave it to her himself, and said that he would send some more in the +evening; but he would not tell me what he thought of her. + +I will not dwell on this unhappy time. The doctor came twice every day +and sometimes oftener, but Mary seemed to be getting no better. I had +to go out to get work, but all I could make was not sufficient for our +expenses, and I had to run into debt, besides which the widow's rent was +due, and she could not pay it. + +One day Jim brought me a few shillings, which he said the watermen had +given him, but times were bad with most of them, and they could do but +little. This enabled me to get some things absolutely necessary for +Mary and food for the rest of us. The landlord called two or three +times for rent, and at last said that he must put in a distress if it +was not paid. The thought of what the consequence of this would be to +Mary made me tremble with fear. Ill as she and Mrs Simmons were, their +beds might, notwithstanding, be taken from beneath them. The widow +might be carried off to the workhouse, and we should be turned into the +street I begged hard for delay, and promised that I would do all I could +to raise the money. The landlord replied that he would give us two days +more, but would not listen to anything further I had to say. The doctor +had just before called, so that I could not then tell him of our +difficulty. He had not yet given me any assurance that he thought Mary +would recover. Nancy could not leave the house, as she was required +every moment to attend on her and Mrs Simmons. I was not likely to +find Dr Rolt till the evening, so I determined to consult Jim and Bob +Fox. I soon met Jim; he was ready to cry when I told him. He scratched +his head and rubbed his brow, in vain trying to suggest something. + +"Bob can't help us either," he said, at length. "He's got into trouble. +Went away three days ago over to France in a smuggling lugger, the +_Smiling Lass_, and she was catched last night with tubs aboard, so he's +sure to want all the money he can get to pay Lawyer Chalk to keep him +out of prison, if that's to be done, but I'm afeared even old Chalk will +be nonplussed this time." + +"I wonder whether Lawyer Chalk would lend me the money," I said. + +"Might as well expect to get a hen's egg out of a block of granite," +answered Jim. + +On inquiry I found that all my friends from whom I had the slightest +hope of assistance were away over at Ryde, Cowes, or Southampton. + +"I tell you, Peter, as I knowed how much you wanted money, I'd a great +mind to go aboard the _Smiling Lass_ t'other day, when Bob axed me. +It's a good job I didn't, isn't it?" + +"I am very glad you didn't, not only because you would have been taken, +but because you would have broken the law," I answered. "Father always +set his face against smuggling." + +"Yes, maybe he did," said Jim, who did not see that smuggling was wrong +as clearly as I did. "But now what's to be done?" + +"We'll go down to the Hard, and try to pick up a job," I answered. "A +few pence will be better than nothing." + +We each got a job in different boats. The one I was in took some +passengers over to Ryde, and thence some others to Spithead and back, so +that it was late when I got home with a shilling and a few pence in my +pocket. Mary was no better. The doctor had been, and Nancy had told +him of the landlord's threats, but he had made no remark. + +"I'll tell you what I'll do, Nancy," I said; "I'll offer the landlord +this shilling when he comes to-morrow to show that I am in earnest, and +perhaps he will let us off for another day or two." + +"Better hear what the doctor thinks when he comes in the morning. I +don't think that he'll allow Mary and Widow Simmons to have their beds +taken from under them. Cheer up, Peter! Cheer up!" + +I did cheer up a little when Jim came in and brought another shilling, +his day's earnings, declaring that he'd had a good dinner, and had still +some coppers in his pocket to pay for the next day's breakfast. He, +however, could not resist eating some bread and cheese which Nancy +pressed on him before he went away. + +I could scarcely close my eyes for thinking of what the morrow might +bring forth. About midnight Nancy came in and told me that Mary was +sleeping more calmly than she had done since she was taken ill. Hoping +that this was a good sign my mind became less disquieted, and I fell +asleep. The next morning the usual hour for the doctor's coming passed +and he did not appear. We waited and waited, anxious to know whether +Mary really was better. At last there came a knocking at the door, and +in walked the landlord, with a couple of men at his heels. + +"Have you the rent ready, good people?" he asked, in a gruff tone. + +"No, sir; but I have two shillings, and I promise to pay as much as I +can every day till you've got what you demand," I said, as fast as I +could speak. + +The men laughed as I said this. + +"Two shillings! That won't go no way, my lad," cried the landlord. +"Let me see, why this old pot and kettle and the cups and plates, and +table and chairs, and everything in this room won't sell for more than +half my demands, so we must have the bedsteads and bedding and a chest +of drawers or so; and as the old woman in there won't ever be able to +pay me more rent, she and all of you must turn out with what remains! +So now, Crouch and Scroggins, do your duty." + +The moment he had entered the house Nancy, passing behind me, had locked +Mary's and Mrs Simmons's doors, and having put the keys in her pocket, +had slipped into the scullery or little back kitchen, where we often +cooked in summer. One of the men was in the act of placing one chair +upon another, and his companion was approaching Mary's room, when +suddenly Nancy rushed out of the back kitchen with a red-hot poker in +her hand, and placing herself before it, exclaimed-- + +"Step an inch nearer if ye dare, ye cowards! Out on ye, Mr Grimes, to +come and disturb a fever-sick girl and an old dying woman for the sake +of a few filthy shillings! Peter here has offered you some, and has +promised to pay you more when he can get them, and I promise too; and +now let me see if one of you dare to lay a finger on any of Missus +Simmons's things! Get out of this house! Get out of this house, I +say!" + +And she began flourishing her poker and advancing towards the intruders +in a way which made them beat a rapid retreat towards the door, Mr +Grimes scrambling off the first, and shouting out-- + +"Assault and battery! I'll make you pay for this, you young vixen!" + +"I don't mind your salt and butter, nor what you call me either," cried +Nancy; and she was just slamming the door behind them, when two persons +appeared as if about to enter, one of whom exclaimed, in a voice which I +recognised as that of Dr Rolt-- + +"Why, my good girl, what is all this about?" + +"They said that they was a-going to take Mary's and the widow's beds and +all the things away, sir, and I wouldn't let them," she answered, +panting and still grasping the hot poker. + +"Verily, daughter, thou hast taken a very effectual way of preventing +them," said the other person, who I now saw to my great joy was Mr +Silas Gray. He and the doctor at once entered the house. + +"Now listen to me, damsel," he continued. "Thou hast been prompted by +affectionate zeal to defend thy friends, I doubt not, but nevertheless +thou hast acted illegally, and the consequences to thyself may be +serious; however, I will say no more on the subject at present. Put +back thy weapon into the fireplace and attend on friend Rolt, who +desires to see his patients." + +I saw Mr Gray and the doctor exchange smiles as Nancy, producing the +keys from her pocket, unlocked the doors. He now, observing me, said-- + +"Tell me, my lad, how all this happened. I thought that thou wast doing +well with thy wherry." + +So while the doctor was seeing Mary and Mrs Simmons, I gave him an +exact account of all that had happened since the day he and his family +were out with Jim and me on the water. I had just finished, when the +doctor came into the room. + +"I can give you a favourable account of your young sister, my lad," said +Dr Rolt. "Her patience and obedience, aided by Nancy's care, have been +much in her favour, and she will, I trust, shortly recover. As soon as +she has gained sufficient strength our friend Mr Gray wishes her to be +removed to his house, and Nancy can remain here to look after the poor +widow, whose days on earth are numbered." + +"Oh, thank you, gentlemen; thank you!" I exclaimed, my heart swelling +so that I could scarcely utter the words. + +"And what about yourself, my son?" asked Mr Gray. + +"Oh, Jim and I will try to rub on together, and I'll try to pay the +widow's rent as I promised, if you'll speak a word, sir, to Mr Grimes +and get him not to press for payment," I answered. + +"Set thy mind at rest on that point. I will satisfy the demands of the +widow's landlord," said Mr Gray; and he then added, "Come to my house +to-morrow, and I will meantime consider what can be done to put you in +the way of gaining your daily bread. I desire to show thee that I am +pleased with thy conduct, but it were small kindness were I to enable +thee to live in idleness." + +Again thanking Mr Gray from the bottom of my heart, I said, "What I +want, sir, is work. Help me to get that, and it will be all I ask." + +Before going away Mr Gray saw Mary for a short time, and paid a long +visit to poor Mrs Simmons, which she said did her heart good. + +I had never felt so happy in my life, and could not resist going out to +tell Jim Pulley. + +"Ask him to set thee up with a wherry and we'll go out together again as +we used to do. That will be fine, and we'll be as merry as two +crickets!" he exclaimed. + +"I think I ought to leave it with him," I answered. "A wherry costs a +lot of money, and he has already been very generous, though I should +like him to do as you propose, and I promise you, Jim, whatever he +proposes, to stick by you." + +"That's all I care for," answered my friend. + +He accompanied me to the door, but would not come in for fear of +disturbing Mary. + +The next day I went to see Mr Gray, who lived in a pretty house some +way out of Portsmouth. He and his daughters received me very kindly. +He had, he said, been considering what he could do for me. He would +obtain a wherry for me, but he considered that the life of a waterman +was not suited to a lad like me, and he then said that he was a +shipowner, and was about to despatch a brig in a few days to the coast +of Norway for timber, and that, if I pleased, he would send me on board +her as an apprentice. Also, as he considered that I was already a +seaman, he would give me a trifle of pay. Remembering what my father +used to say about not wishing Jack "to become a long-shore lubber," I at +once replied that I would thankfully have accepted his offer, but that I +could not desert Jim Pulley, who would well-nigh break his heart, if I +were to go away without him. + +"Nor need thee do that, my son," he answered. "I will provide a berth +also for thy friend on board the _Good Intent_, and he and thou need not +be parted. I approve of thy constancy to him and of his faithfulness to +thee. A long-shore life, such as thou wouldst lead if thou wast owner +of a wherry, would be dangerous if not demoralising, albeit thou might +live comfortably enough." + +"But, sir, what will my sister do without me when she recovers and +leaves you, and where will Nancy go when the widow dies?" + +"I will be chargeable for both of them. Set thy mind at rest on that +point. Should I be called away--and no man knows how long he has to +live--I will direct my daughters to watch over them. Thou and thy +friend Jim can, in the meantime, follow thy vocation of watermen, so +that thou mayest eat the fruit of thy labours, which is sweeter far to +brave hearts like thine than food, bestowed in charity." + +I did my best to thank Mr Gray as I ought, and hastened back to tell +Mary and Nancy and Jim. + +"I'd have gone with thee, Peter, even if it had been to Botany Bay, or +any of them outlandish parts," exclaimed Jim, when I told him what Mr +Gray had promised. "I am glad; yes, I am glad!" + +We both tried at once to get employment, and did very well that +afternoon and on the two following days. + +When I got home on the evening of the last I found that a message had +been left by Mr Gray when he visited the widow and Mary, directing Jim +and me to go the next morning at nine o'clock on board the _Good +Intent_, which had just come into the Commercial Dock. I hastened off +to tell Jim at once. As may be supposed, we were up betimes, and as we +got to the dock before the hour appointed we were able to examine the +_Good Intent_ at our leisure. She was a fair enough looking craft, but +as she was deep in the water, having only just begun to discharge a +cargo of coals brought from the north, and had a dingy appearance, from +the black dust flying about, we could not judge of her properly. + +As the bells of Saint Thomas's Church began to strike nine we stepped on +board, and directly afterwards Mr Gray, followed by a short, broad, +oldish man, who had not a bit the look of a skipper, though such I +guessed he was, came out of the cabin. + +"Right! Punctuality saves precious hours," said Mr Gray, with an +approving nod. "These are the lads I desire to commit to thy care, +Captain Finlay. Instruct them in their duties, so that they may become +able seamen, and they will repay thy teaching." + +"I'll act justly by the laddies, Mr Gray, but there's an auld saying +that `ye canna make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.' If they dinna +keep their wits awake, or if they ha' na wits to keep awake, all the +teaching in the world will na make them sailors." + +"They are fair sailors already, and thou wilt find them handy enough, I +hope," observed Mr Gray. + +After putting a few questions, Captain Finlay told us to come aboard the +next day but one with our bags, by which time the cargo would be +discharged. We set off home greatly pleased, though puzzled to know how +we should obtain a decent kit. With Nancy's help, I might be pretty +well off, but poor Jim had scarcely a rag to his back besides the +clothes he stood in. In the evening, however, a note came from Mr Gray +with an order on an outfitter to give us each a complete kit suited to a +cold climate. We were not slow to avail ourselves of it. The next day +Dr Rolt considered Mary sufficiently well to be removed, and Mr Gray +sent a closed carriage to convey her to his house. The doctor told me +to be ready to accompany her, and kindly came himself. It was the first +time I had ever been in a coach, and the rolling and pitching made me +feel very queer. The young ladies received us as if we had been one of +themselves, and Mary was carried up into a pretty, neat room, with white +dimity curtains to the bed, and the fresh air blowing in at the open +window. + +"I'll leave her to you, now, Miss Hannah," said the doctor. "This is +all she requires, with your watchful care." + +After I had had a short talk with Mary alone I took my leave, and Miss +Hannah told me to be sure to come back and see them before the _Good +Intent_ sailed. It was not likely I should forget to do that. + +Jim and I now went to live on board the brig. We had plenty of work, +cleaning out the hold and getting rid of the coal-dust, and then we +scrubbed the deck, and blacked down the rigging, and painted the +bulwarks and masts, till the change in the appearance of the dingy +collier was like that of a scullery-maid when she puts on her Sunday +best. We did not mind the hard work, though it was a good deal harder +than any we had been accustomed to, but the master and the rest of the +crew set us a good example. There was little grumbling, and what +surprised me, no swearing, such as I had been accustomed to hear on the +Hard. Captain Finlay would not allow it, and the mate supported him in +checking any wrong expressions which some of the men had been in the +habit of uttering. + +I got leave to run up and see Mary and to bid Nancy and Mrs Simmons +good-bye. Miss Hannah and her sisters seemed to be making a great deal +of Mary. It was evident they liked her much, and I was not surprised at +that. The widow I never expected to see again. Nancy would scarcely +let me go. + +"Oh, Peter, Peter! What should us do if anything was to happen to ye +out on the cruel sea!" she cried, as she held my hand and rubbed her +eyes with her apron. + +The next day the _Good Intent_ went out of harbour, and I began in +earnest the seafaring life I was destined to lead. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +MY FIRST VOYAGE. + +Wind south-south-west. The North Foreland had been rounded; the +countless craft, of all sizes and rigs, generally to be found off the +mouth of the Thames, had been cleared, and the _Good Intent_, with +studding-sails alow and aloft, was standing across the German Ocean. + +Jim and I soon found our sea-legs, and were as well able to go aloft to +reef topsails as the older hands. We were already well up to the +ordinary duties of seamen, and could take our place at the helm with any +of them. + +"Mr Gray was not mistaken about thee, laddie," said the captain to me +one day as I came aft to the wheel. "Go on as thou hast begun; obey +God, and thou wilt prosper." + +I was much pleased with this praise, for the old man was not given to +throwing words away. While I steered he stood by telling me not only +what to do then, but how to act under various circumstances. At other +times he made me come into the cabin and gave me lessons in navigation +to fit me to become a mate and master. Jim, being unable to read, and +showing no aptitude for learning, had not the same advantages. We both +of us lived forward with the men, some of whom were a little jealous of +the favour I received, and not only played me tricks, ordered me to do +all sorts of disagreeable jobs, and gave me a taste of the rope's-end on +the sly, but tried hard to set Jim against me. They soon, however, +found out that they were not likely to succeed, for though Jim did not +mind how they treated him, he was always ready to stick up for me. + +The forecastle of the _Good Intent_ was thus not a paradise to either of +us. The greater number of the men were, however, well-disposed, and it +was only when they were on deck that the others dared to behave as I +have described, while, as we would not complain, the mate knew nothing +of what was going forward below. I remember thinking to myself, "If +these sort of things can be done on board a ship, with a +well-disciplined crew and a good captain and mate, how hard must be the +lot of the unhappy boys serving in a craft where the captain, officers, +and men are alike brutal!" Jim was always ready to oblige, and I did my +best to win over my enemies by trying to show that I did not mind how +they treated me, and I soon succeeded. + +We were, I should have said, bound out to Bergen, on the coast of +Norway, for a cargo of hides, tallow, salt fish, and spars, which we +were to carry to London. The weather had hitherto been fine, a great +advantage to Jim and me, as we had time to learn our duties and to get +accustomed to going aloft before our nerves and muscles were put to any +severe test. + +But though the sea was smooth, the breeze, which had at first carried us +briskly along, shifted to the northward, so that we made but slow +progress. Now we stood on one tack, now on the other, the wind each +time heading us. At last the grumblers began to declare that we should +never make our port. + +"The old craft has got a run of ill-luck, there's something worse +a-going to happen," said Sam Norris, one of my chief persecutors, as +during his watch below he sat with his arms folded on his chest in the +fore-peak. "I seed a black cat come aboard the night afore we left the +docks, and no one knows that she ever went ashore again." + +Some of the men looked uncomfortable at Sam's statement, but others +laughed. + +"What harm could the black cat do, if she did come aboard?" I inquired. +"Probably she came to look for rats, and having killed all she could +find, slipped ashore again unseen by any one." + +"I didn't say a she-cat. It looked like a big tom-cat; but who knows +that it was really a cat at all?" said Sam. + +"If it wasn't a tom-cat, what was it?" asked Bob Stout, a chum of Sam's. + +"Just what neither you nor I would like to meet if we had to go down +into the hold alone," said Sam, in a mysterious tone. + +Just then the watch below was summoned on deck to shorten sail. Not a +bit too soon either, and we were quickly swarming aloft and out on the +yards. + +To reef sails in smooth water is easy enough, but when the ship is +pitching into the fast-rising seas and heeling over to the gale, with +the wind whistling through the rigging, blocks rattling, ropes lashing +about, the hard canvas trying to escape from one's grip, and blatters of +rain and sleet and hail in one's face, it is no pleasant matter. We had +taken two reefs in the topsails, and even then the brig had as much +canvas on her as she could stand up to, and we had all come down on +deck, with the exception of Jim, who had been on the foreyard, when the +mate, seeing a rope foul, ordered him to clear it. Jim performed his +duty, but instead of coming down as he ought to have done, remained +seated on the foreyard, holding on by the lift to get accustomed to the +violent motion, in which he seemed to take a pleasure. The mate, not +observing this, came aft to speak to the captain, who shortly +afterwards, finding that the brig was falling off from the wind, which +had before been baffling, having shifted ahead, ordered her to be put +about. + +"Down with the helm," cried the captain. + +I saw the men hauling at the braces, when, looking up, I caught sight of +Jim at the yardarm. I shrieked out with terror, expecting that the next +instant, as the yardarm swung round, he would be dashed to pieces on the +deck, or hove off into the raging sea. The kind-hearted mate, +recollecting him, came rushing forward, also believing that his +destruction was certain, unless he could be caught as he fell. My heart +beat, and my eyes were fixed on my friend as if they would start out of +my head I wildly stretched out my hands, yet I felt that I could do +nothing to save him, when he made a desperate spring, and catching hold +of the backstay, came gliding down by it on deck as if nothing +particular had happened, scarcely conscious, indeed, of the fearful +danger he had escaped. The mate rated him in stronger language than he +generally used for his carelessness, winding up by asking: + +"Where do you think you would have been, boy, if you hadn't have jumped +when you did or had missed your aim?" + +"Praise God for His great mercy to thee, laddie, and may thou never +forget it all the days of thy life," said the old captain, who had +beckoned Jim aft to speak to him. + +Jim, touching his hat, answered, "Ay, ay, sir!" but he was, perhaps, +less aware of the danger he had been in than any one on board. + +The gale increased; several heavy seas struck the old brig, making her +quiver from stem to stern, and at last one heavier than the rest +breaking on board, carried the starboard bulwarks forward clean away. +Some of the men were below; Jim and I and others were aft, and the rest, +though half-drowned, managed to secure themselves. To avoid the risk of +another sea striking her in the same fashion, the brig was hove-to under +a close-reefed fore-topsail. As we had plenty of sea room, and the brig +was tight as a bottle, so the mate affirmed, there was no danger; still, +I for one heartily wished that the weather would moderate. I had gone +aft, being sent by the cook to obtain the ingredients of a plum-pudding +for the cabin dinner. Not thinking of danger, on my return I ran along +on the lee side of the deck, but before I reached the caboose I saw a +mountain sea rolling up with a terrific roar, and I heard a voice from +aft shout, "Hold on for your lives!" Letting go the basin and dish I +had in my hands, I grasped frantically at the nearest object I could +meet with. It was a handspike sticking in the windlass, but it proved a +treacherous holdfast, for, to my horror, out it came at the instant that +the foaming sea broke on board, and away I was carried amid the whirl of +waters right out through the shattered bulwarks. All hope of escape +abandoned me. In that dreadful moment it seemed that every incident in +my life came back to my memory; but Mary was the chief object of my +thoughts. I knew that I was being carried off into the hungry ocean, +and, as I supposed, there was no human aid at hand to save me, when the +brig gave a violent lee lurch, and before I was borne away from her side +I felt myself seized by the collar of my jacket, and dragged by a +powerful arm, breathless and stunned with the roar of waters in my ears, +into the galley. + +The cook, who had retreated within it when the sea struck the brig, had +caught sight of me, and at the risk of his life had darted out, as a cat +springs on her prey, and saved me. I quickly recovered my senses, but +was not prepared for the torrent of abuse which my preserver, Bob +Fritters, poured out on me for having come along on the lee instead of +the weather side of the deck. + +Two or three of the watch who had been aft and fancied that I had been +carried overboard, when they found that I was safe, instead of +expressing any satisfaction, joined the cook in rating me for my folly. +Feeling as I suppose a half-drowned rat might do, I was glad to make my +escape below, where, with the assistance of Jim, I shifted into dry +clothes, while he hurried on deck to obtain a fresh supply of materials +for the captain's pudding. Shortly after this the gale abated, and the +brig was again put on her course. + +I had been sent aloft one morning soon after daybreak to loose the +fore-royal, when I saw right ahead a range of blue mountains, rising +above the mist which still hung over the ocean. I knew that it must be +the coast of Norway, for which we were bound. + +"Land! Land!" I shouted, pointing in the direction I saw the +mountains, which I guessed were not visible from the deck. + +The mate soon came aloft to judge for himself. "You are right, Peter," +he said. "We have made a good landfall, for if I mistake not we are +just abreast of the entrance to the Bay of Jeltefiord, at the farther +end of which stands Bergen, the town we are bound for." + +The mate was right. The breeze freshening we stood on, and in the +course of the morning we ran between lofty and rugged rocks for several +miles, through the narrow Straits of Carmesundt into the bay--or fiord +rather--till we came to an anchor off the picturesque old town of +Bergen. It was a thriving, bustling place; the inhabitants, people from +all the northern nations of Europe, mostly engaged in mercantile +pursuits. + +We soon discharged our cargo and began taking on board a very +miscellaneous one, including a considerable quantity of spars to form +the masts and yards of small vessels. The day seemed to me wonderfully +long, indeed there was scarcely any night. Of course, we had plenty of +hard work, as we were engaged for a large part of the twenty-four hours +in hoisting in cargo. I should have thought all hands would have been +too tired to think of carrying on any tricks, but it seemed that two or +three of them had conceived a spite against Jim because he would not +turn against me. + +One of our best men, Ned Andrews, who did duty as second mate, had +brought for his own use a small cask of sugar, as only molasses and +pea-coffee were served out forward. One morning, as I was employed aft +under the captain's directions, Andrews came up and complained that on +opening his cask he found it stuffed full of dirty clouts and the sugar +gone. I never saw the captain so indignant. + +"A thief on board my brig!" he exclaimed; "verily, I'll make an example +of him, whoever he is." + +Calling the mate, he ordered him forthwith to examine all the men's +chests, supposing that the thief must have stowed the sugar in his own. + +"Go, Peter, and help him," he added, "for I am sure that thou, my son, +art not the guilty one." + +I followed the mate into the fore-peak. Having first demanded the keys +from the owners of those which were locked, he examined chest after +chest, making me hold up the lids while he turned out the contents or +plunged his hands to the bottom. No sugar was found in any of them. He +then came to my chest, which I knew was not locked, and the idea came +into my head that the stolen property would be there. I showed some +anxiety, I suspect, as I lifted up the lid. The mate put in his hands +with a careless air, as if he had no idea of the sort. Greatly to my +relief he found nothing. There was but one chest to be examined. It +was Jim's. + +Scarcely had I opened it when the mate, throwing off a jacket spread +over the top, uttered an exclamation of surprise. There exposed to view +was a large wooden bowl, procured the day before by the steward for +washing up glasses and cups, and supposed to have fallen overboard, cram +full of sugar. + +"Bring it along aft," cried the mate. "I did not think that of Pulley." + +"And I don't think it now, sir," I answered, in a confident tone, as I +obeyed his order. + +"What's this? Where was it found?" inquired the captain, as we reached +the quarter-deck. + +The mate told him. + +"I'll swear Jim never put it there, sir; not he!" I exclaimed. + +"Swear not at all, my son, albeit thou mayest be right," said the +captain. "Send James Pulley aft." + +Jim quickly came. + +"Hast thou, James Pulley, been guilty of stealing thy shipmate's sugar?" +asked the captain. + +"No, sir, please you, I never took it, and never put it where they say +it was found," answered Jim, boldly. + +"Appearances are sadly against thee, James Pulley," observed the +captain, with more sorrow than anger in his tone. "This matter must be +investigated." + +"I am sure that Jim speaks the truth, sir," I exclaimed, unable to +contain myself. "Somebody else stole the sugar and put it in his +chest." + +The crew had gathered aft, and two or three looked thunder-clouds at me +as I spoke. + +"Thine assertion needs proof," observed the captain. "Was thy cask of +sugar open, Andrews?" + +"No, sir, tightly headed up," answered Andrews. + +"Then it must have been forced open by some iron instrument," said the +captain. "Bring it aft here." + +The empty keg was brought. + +"I thought so," remarked the captain. "An axe was used to prise it +open. Did any one see an axe in the hands of James Pulley?" + +There was no reply for some time. At last, Ben Grimes, one of the men +who had always been most hostile to Jim and me, said, "I thinks I seed +Jim Pulley going along the deck with what looked mighty like the handle +of an axe sticking out from under his jacket." + +"The evidence is much against thee, James Pulley," said the captain. "I +must, as in duty bound, report this affair to Mr Gray on our return, +and it will, of course, prevent him from bestowing any further favours +on you." + +"I didn't do it. I'd sooner have had my right hand cut off than have +done it," cried Jim. "Let me go ashore, sir, and I'll try to gain my +daily bread as I best can. I can't bear to stay aboard here to be +called a thief; though Peter Trawl knows I didn't take the sugar; he'd +never believe that of me; and the mate doesn't, and Andrews himself +doesn't." + +"I am sorry for thee, lad. Thou must prove thine innocence," said the +captain, turning away. + +Poor Jim was very unhappy. Though both he and I were convinced that one +of the men for spite had put the sugar in his chest, we could not fix on +the guilty person. I did my best to comfort him. He talked of running +from the ship, but I persuaded him not to think more of doing so foolish +a thing. + +"Stay, and your innocence will appear in due time," I said. + +As we went about the deck we heard Grimes and others whispering, "Birds +of a feather flock together." + +They bullied Jim and me worse than ever, and took every occasion to call +him a young thief, and other bad names besides. They saw how it vexed +him, and that made them abuse him worse than before. The day after this +we sailed. Poor Jim declared that if he could not clear himself he +would never show his face in Portsmouth. I was sure that Andrews and +the other good men did not believe him to be guilty, but they could not +prove his innocence; and, as he said, the others would take care to +blabber about him, and, worst of all, Mr Gray would think him a thief. + +An easterly breeze carried us clear of the harbour, but the wind then +shifted to the southward, and then to the south-west, being very light, +so that after three days we had not lost sight of the coast of Norway. +There seemed every probability of our having a long passage. Some of +the men said it was all owing to the black cat, and Grimes declared that +we must expect ill-luck with such a psalm-singing Methodist old skipper +as we had. Even Andrews prognosticated evil, but his idea was that it +would be brought about by an old woman he had seen on shore, said by +everyone to be a powerful witch. As, however, according to Andrews, she +had the power of raising storms, and we had only to complain of calms +and baffling winds, I could not see that she had had any influence over +us. + +At last we got so far to the westward that we lost sight of the coast of +Norway, but had not made good a mile to the southward--we had rather +indeed drifted to the northward. Meantime, the captain hearing from the +mate how the men were grumbling, called all hands aft. + +"Lads, I want ye to listen to me," he said. "Some of ye fancy that we +are having these calms and baffling winds on one account, and some on +another, but this I know, that He who rules the seas does not allow any +other beings to interfere with His plans. Ye have heard, maybe, +however, of the prophet Jonah. Once upon a time, Jonah, when ordered by +God to go to a certain place and perform a certain duty, disobeyed his +Master, and trying to escape from Him took passage on board a ship, +fancying that he could get out of God's sight. Did he succeed? No! +God had His eye on Jonah, and caused a hurricane which well-nigh sent +the ship to the bottom. Not till Jonah was hove overboard did the +tempest cease. Now, lads, just understand there are some aboard this +brig who are disobeying Him and offending Him just as much as Jonah did, +and it's not for me to say that He does not allow these calms, so +unusual in this latitude, to prevail in consequence. That's all I've +got to say, lads, but ye'll just think over it; and now go forward." + +Whether or not the men did think over it, or exactly understood what the +old man meant, I cannot say, but the next morning the carpenter came aft +to the captain and said that he had had a dream which made him remember +that the evening before Andrews's sugar was found to have been stolen, +Ben Grimes had borrowed an axe from him, on examining which afterwards +he discovered that a small piece had been broken off on one side, and +that Grimes acknowledged he had done it by striking a nail in a piece of +wood he was chopping up. On hearing this the captain again summoned all +hands aft, and ordered Andrews to bring his sugar cask. There in the +head was found a piece of iron which exactly fitted the notch in the axe +which the carpenter produced. + +"Now, lads, say who stole Andrews's sugar and concealed it in Pulley's +chest?" asked the skipper. + +"Grimes! Grimes! No doubt about it!" shouted all the men, with the +exception of the individual mentioned and one other. + +"You are right, lads, and Pulley is innocent," said the skipper. + +"As the babe unborn," answered the men, and they all, except Grimes and +his chum, following my example, gave Jim a hearty shake of the hand. + +I thought that he would have blubbered outright with pleasure. Though I +was sure that Jim had never touched the sugar, I was thankful that the +captain and the rest were convinced of his innocence. + +Before noon that day a dark bank of clouds was seen coming up from the +southward. In a short time several black masses broke away from the +main body, and came careering across the sky. + +"Away aloft and shorten sail," cried the skipper. "Be smart, lads!" + +We hurried up the rigging, for there was no time to be lost. + +"Two reefs in the fore-topsail! Furl the main-topsail! Let fly +topgallant sheets!" + +These orders came in quick succession. The captain, aided by the mate, +was meantime lowering the mainsail. He at first, I believe, intended to +heave the brig to, but, before the canvas was reduced the gale struck +her--over she heeled--the topgallant sails, with their masts, were +carried away just as Jim and I were about mounting the rigging, he the +fore and I the main, to furl them; the mainsail, only half lowered, +flying out, nearly knocked the mate overboard. I had got down on the +weather side of the main-topsail yard to assist the hands on it, when +the straining canvas broke loose from our grasp, and at the same instant +the topgallant rigging, striking the two men on the lee yardarm, hurled +them off into the foaming ocean. + +To lower a boat was impossible; we had not strength sufficient as it was +to clear away the topgallant masts, and to hand the topsails. A grating +and some spars were hove to them by the mate, who then, axe in hand, +sprang aloft to assist us. None too soon, for we could do nothing but +cling on to the yard till the topgallant rigging was cleared away. The +men on the foreyard were more successful, and I saw Jim gallantly using +his knife in a fashion which at length cleared away the wreck and +enabled them to secure the sail. The mate succeeded also in his object, +and we were expecting them to assist us in attempting to furl the +main-topsail, when the captain, seeing that we were not likely to +succeed, calling us down, ordered the helm to be put up and the yards +squared away, and off we ran before the fast-increasing gale, leaving, +we feared, our two shipmates, the carpenter and Grimes, to perish +miserably. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +I EXPERIENCE THE PERILS OF THE SEA. + +The _Good Intent_ ran on before the increasing gale. The fast-rising +seas came rolling up astern, threatening every instant to poop her, for, +having a full cargo, she was much deeper in the water than when we +sailed from Portsmouth. We quickly lost sight of the grating and spars +thrown to our hapless shipmates, and they themselves had before then +disappeared. + +The first thing now to be done was to get the main-topsail stowed, for, +flying wildly in the wind, it seemed as if about to carry away the +main-topmast. The mate, Andrews, and two other men were on the point of +going aloft to try and haul it in, in spite of the danger they ran in so +doing, when a report like that of thunder was heard, and the sail, split +into ribbons, was torn from the bolt-ropes. The fragments, after +streaming out wildly in the wind, lashed themselves round and round the +yard, thus saving us the hazardous task of attempting to furl the sail. + +The brig flew on, now plunging into the roaring and foaming seas, now +rolling from side to side so that it was difficult to keep our feet. +The fore-staysail and jib had been stowed in time, and the flying jib +had been blown away, so that the fore-topsail was the only sail set. + +Thus hour after hour passed. Had we been running in the opposite +direction we should have been making good progress, but we were now +going farther and farther from our destination, to be driven into even +worse weather, and perhaps to have to make our way south round the Irish +coast. To avoid this, the captain was anxious to heave the brig to, and +I saw him and the mate consulting how it could be done. It was a +dangerous operation, they both knew, for should she not quickly come up +to the wind, a sea might strike her on the broadside and sweep over her +deck, or throw her on her beam-ends. + +"If we get a lull it must be done," said the captain. + +"Ay, ay, sir!" answered the mate; and he ordered the men to stand ready +to brace round the fore-topsail-yard as the brig came up to the wind. + +Still we watched in vain for the wished-for lull. In spite of the +roaring seas I felt wonderfully sleepy, and could scarcely keep my eyes +open as I held on to a stanchion at the after-part of the deck. Jim was +much in the same condition, for we had both been on foot since the +morning watch had been called, and we had had no food all day. + +The kind captain, observing the state we were in, instead of abusing us, +as some skippers would have done, ordered us to go below to find +something to eat and to lie down till we were wanted. We were making +our way forward when he shouted out-- + +"Go into the cabin, laddies. There is some bread and cheese in the +pantry, and ye'll be ready at hand when I call ye." + +We quickly slipped below, and he again closed the companion-hatch which +he had opened to let us descend. The other hatches had been battened +down, for at any moment a sea might break on board, and if they had not +been secured, might fill the vessel. + +Not a ray of light came below, but Jim and I, groping about, found the +bread and cheese we were in search of and soon satisfied our hunger. We +then, thankful to get some rest, lay down on the deck of the cabin-- +which landsmen would call the floor--for we should have considered it +presumptuous to stretch ourselves in one of the berths or even on the +locker; and in spite of the rolling and pitching of the brig we were +quickly fast asleep. + +I seldom dreamed in those days, but, though tired as I was, my slumbers +were troubled. Now I fancied that the brig was sinking, but that, +somehow or other, I came to the surface, and was striking out amid the +raging billows for the land; then I thought that I was again on board, +and that the brig, after rushing rapidly on, struck upon a huge reef of +black rocks, when, in an instant, her timbers split asunder, and we were +all hurled into the seething waters. Suddenly I was awoke by the +thundering, crashing sound of a tremendous blow on the side of the +vessel, and I found myself hove right across the cabin, clutching fast +hold of Jim, who shouted out, "Hillo, Peter, what is the matter? Are we +all going to be drowned?" + +Before I could answer him there came from above us--indeed, it had begun +while he was speaking--a deafening mingling of terrific noises, of +rending planks, of falling spars, the rush and swirl and roar of waters, +amid which could be heard the faint cries of human voices. + +The brig had been thrown on her beam-ends; of that there could be no +doubt, for when we attempted to get on our feet we found the deck of the +cabin almost perpendicular. + +"Do you think the brig will go down?" shouted Jim. + +The hubbub was so great that it was impossible to hear each other unless +we spoke at the very top of our voices. + +"We must, at all events, get on deck as soon as we can, and do our best +to save ourselves," I answered. + +Though I said this, I had very little hope of escaping, as I thought +that the vessel might at any moment founder. Even to get on deck was no +easy matter, for everything in the cabin was upside down--boxes and +bales, and casks and articles of all sorts, thrown out of the lockers, +mixed with the furniture which had broken adrift, were knocking about, +while all the time we were in complete darkness. The dead-lights had +fortunately been closed at the commencement of the gale, and the +companion-hatch remained secure, so that, as yet, no water came below. + +Getting on our feet we were endeavouring to grope our way to the +companion-ladder when we heard two loud crashes in quick succession, and +directly afterwards, the brig righting with a violent jerk, we were +thrown half across the cabin, bruised and almost stunned, among the +numberless things knocking violently about. After a time, on recovering +our senses, we picked ourselves up and made another attempt to get on +deck. I now began to hope that the brig would not go down as soon as I +had expected, but still I knew that she was in a fearfully perilous +condition. I was sure from the crashing sounds we had heard that both +her masts were gone: that very probably also she had sprung a leak, +while we were far to the northward of the usual track of vessels. + +At last we found our way to the cabin door, but groped about in vain for +the companion-ladder, till Jim suggested that it had been unshipped when +the vessel went over. After some time we found it, but had great +difficulty, in consequence of the way the brig was rolling, to get it +replaced. As soon as it was so I mounted and shouted as loud as I could +to some one to come and lift off the hatch. + +No voice replied. Again and again I shouted, fancying that the people +might have gone forward for some reason or other and had forgotten us. + +"What can have happened?" cried Jim, in a tone of alarm. + +I dared not answer him, for I feared the worst. + +Feeling about, I discovered an axe slung just inside the +companion-hatch, on which I began hammering away with all my might--but +still no one came. + +"Jim, I'm afraid they must all be gone," I cried out at last. + +"Gone!" he exclaimed. "What, the old captain, and mate, and Andrews, +and the rest?" + +"I am afraid so," I answered. + +Again I shouted and knocked. Still no one came. + +"We must break open the hatch," I said, and I attempted to force up the +top with the axe, but did not succeed. + +"Let me try," cried Jim; "my arm is stronger than yours." + +I got down the ladder and gave him the axe. He took my place and began +working away at the part where the hatch was placed. I could hear him +giving stroke after stroke, but could see nothing, for the hatch fitted +so closely that not a gleam of light came through it. + +Presently I heard him sing out, "I've done it," and I knew by the rush +of cold damp air which came down below that he had got off the hatch. + +Still all was dark, but looking up I could distinguish the cloudy sky. +Not till then did I know that it was night. We had gone to sleep in +broad daylight, and I had no idea of the number of hours which had +passed by since then. I sprang up the companion-ladder after Jim, who +had stepped out on deck. + +The spectacle which met my eyes was appalling. The masts were gone, +carried away a few feet from the deck--only the stumps were standing-- +everything had been swept clear away, the caboose, the boats, the +bulwark; the brig was a complete wreck; the dark foam-topped seas were +rising up high above the deck, threatening to engulf her. + +The masts were still alongside hanging on by the rigging, their butt +ends every now and then striking against her with so terrific a force +that I feared they must before long drive a hole through the planking. +As far as I could make out through the thick gloom, some spars which had +apparently fallen before the masts gave way lay about the deck, kept +from being washed away by the rigging attached to them having become +entangled in the stanchions and the remaining portions of the shattered +bulwarks. + +Not one of our shipmates could we see. Again we shouted, in the faint +hope that some of them might be lying concealed forward. No one +answered. + +"Maybe that they have gone down into the fore-peak," said Jim; "I'll go +and knock on the hatch. They can't hear our shouts from where we are." + +I tried to persuade Jim not to make the attempt till daylight, for a sea +might break on board and wash him away. + +"But do you see, Peter, we must try and get help to cut away the lower +rigging, which keeps the masts battering against the sides?" he +answered. + +"Then I'll go with you," I said. "We'll share the same fate, whatever +that may be." + +"No, no, Peter! You stay by the companion-hatch; see, there are plenty +of spars for me to catch hold of, and I'll take good care not to get +washed away," answered Jim, beginning his journey forward. + +Notwithstanding what he said, I was following him when I fancied that I +heard a faint groan. I stopped to listen. It might be only the sound +produced by the rubbing of two spars together or the working of the +timbers. Again I heard the groan. I was now sure that it was uttered +by one of our shipmates. It came from a part of the deck covered by a +mass of broken spars and sails and rigging. Though I could not see as +far, I knew that Jim had reached the fore-hatchway by hearing him +shouting and knocking with the back of the axe. + +"Are any of them there?" I cried out. + +"No! Not one, I'm afeared," he answered. + +"Then come and help me to see if there is any person under these spars +here," I said. + +Of course we had to bawl out to each other at the top of our voices on +account of the clashing of the seas, the groaning and creaking of the +timbers and bulk-heads, and the thundering of the masts against the +sides. + +Jim soon joined me. We had to be very cautious how we moved about, for +besides the risk there was at any moment of a sea sweeping across the +deck, we might on account of the darkness have stepped overboard. We +lost no time in crawling to the spot whence I heard the groans +proceeding. + +On feeling about we soon discovered a man, his body pressed down on the +deck by a heavy spar, and partly concealed by the canvas. + +"Who are you?" cried Jim. "Speak to us,--do." + +A groan was the only answer. + +"Do you try and lift the spar, Jim, and I'll drag him out," I said. + +Jim tried to do as I told him, but though he exerted all his strength he +could not succeed in raising the spar. + +"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! The poor fellow will die if we cannot get him +free soon," I exclaimed, in despair. + +"This will do it," cried Jim, who had been searching about, and now came +with the broken end of a topgallant-yard to serve as a handspike. By +its means he prised up the spar, while I as gently as I could dragged +out the man by the shoulders. No sooner did I feel his jacket than I +was almost sure that he was no other than our good old skipper. He was +breathing heavily, and had apparently been rendered unconscious by a +blow on the head. I at length got him out from under the spar. + +"We must carry him below before another sea breaks on board," I said. +"Come, help me, Jim." + +Together we lifted the old man, and staggering along the slippery deck, +reached the companion-hatch in safety. To get him down without injury +was more difficult. I going first and taking his legs, and Jim holding +him by the shoulders, we succeeded at last. While Jim supported him at +the bottom of the ladder, I hunted about till I found a tinder-box and +matches and lighted the cabin lamp. It showed us, as I had supposed, +that the person I had rescued was our captain. He was pale as death, +and bleeding from a wound in the head. The light also exhibited the +utter confusion into which the cabin had been thrown. I managed, +however, to clear a way to the state cabin, to which we carried the +captain, and then getting off his wet clothes placed him between the +blankets in his berth. Fortunately, there was a cask of water in the +pantry, which enabled us to wash and bind up his head, so as to staunch +the blood flowing from it. The operation was performed but roughly, as +all the time the sound of the masts thundering like battering-rams +against the side of the vessel warned us that, we must try to cut them +adrift without delay. I feared that already they had done some serious +damage. Even before we left the captain he seemed to have somewhat +recovered his consciousness, for I heard him mutter, "Be smart, lads. +Tell mate--cut away wreck." + +Of course we did not let him know that besides himself we alone of all +the crew were left alive. In the cabin I found another axe, and Jim and +I, going on deck, began the difficult and dangerous task we had +undertaken. + +The lower rigging, on what had been the weather side, had entirely given +way, so that we had only to cut that on the opposite side, but in +leaning over to reach the shrouds at the chains we ran a fearful risk of +being carried off by the sea as the vessel rolled from side to side. + +We first tried to clear the mainmast. We had cut two of the shrouds, +when a sea, having driven the butt end against the side with fearful +force, lifted it just as the brig rolled over, and it came sweeping +along the deck, nearly taking Jim and me off our legs. With the +greatest difficulty we escaped. + +"It shan't do that again," cried Jim; and dashing forward with axe +uplifted he cut the last shroud, and the mast was carried away by the +next sea. + +We had still to get rid of the foremast and bowsprit, which were doing +as much damage as the mainmast had done, by every now and then ramming +away at the bows with a force sufficient, it seemed, to knock a hole +through them at any moment. I felt anxious to return to the cabin to +attend to our old captain, but the safety of the vessel required us not +to delay a moment longer than could be helped in cutting away the +remaining masts and bowsprit. + +I observed soon after the mainmast had gone that the wind had fallen, +and that there was somewhat less sea running, and in a short time the +light began to increase. I do not think that otherwise we should have +accomplished our task. Jim sprang forward with his axe, taking always +the post of danger, and hacking away at rope after rope as he could +manage to reach them. + +I followed his example. Often we had to hold on for our lives as the +seas washed over us. At length the work was accomplished. We gave a +shout of satisfaction as, the last rope severed, we saw the mass of +wreck drop clear of the brig. But our work was not done. There we were +in the midst of the North Sea, without masts or canvas or boats, our +bulwarks gone, the brig sorely battered, and only our two selves and our +poor old captain to navigate her. To preserve his life our constant +attention was required. + +"We'll go below and see how the old man gets on," I said. "There's +nothing more for us to do on deck that I can see at present." + +"Not so sure of that, Peter," answered Jim. "You go and look after the +skipper, and I'll just see how matters are forward and down in the +hold." + +As I felt sure that the captain ought not to be left longer alone, I +hurried into the cabin. He was conscious, but still scarcely able to +speak. I told him that we had cleared away the wreck of the masts, and +that the weather was moderating. + +"Thank God!" he murmured. Then, getting some more water, I again +dressed his wounded head, and afterwards proposed lighting the cabin +fire and trying to make him some broth. + +"Water! I only want water," he said, in the same low voice as before. + +I procured some in a mug. He drank it, and then said, "Get up +jury-masts and steer west," not understanding as yet, I suppose, that +the crew were lost. + +"Ay, ay, sir," I answered, being unwilling to undeceive him, though I +wondered how Jim and I could alone obey his orders; yet, if we were ever +to reach a port, jury-masts must be got up. + +As I could do nothing more just then for the captain, I was going on +deck, when I met Jim at the companion-hatch, his face wearing an +expression of the greatest alarm. + +"Things are very bad, Peter," he exclaimed. "The water is coming in +through a big hole in the bows like a mill-sluice, and I'm much afeared +that before long the old craft will carry us and the captain to the +bottom." + +"Not if we keep our wits awake, Jim," I answered. "We must try to stop +the hole. Come along." + +Hurrying forward, we dived down into the fore-peak. We could now +venture to leave the hatch off, so as to give light below. Sure enough +the water was coming in terribly fast, but not quite so fast as Jim +described, though already the men's chests and other articles were +afloat. + +The largest hole was, I saw, in the very centre of a bunk, so that we +could easily get at it. Dragging out all the blankets from the other +bunks, I rammed them into the hole. + +"Hand me a board or the top of a chest--knock it off quick!" I sang +out. + +Jim, leaping on a chest, wrenched off the lid and gave it me. + +"Now that handspike." + +There was one close to him. By pressing the board against the blankets, +and jamming the handspike down between it and the outer corner of the +bunk, the gush of water was stopped. + +"Here's another hole still more forward, I can see the water bubbling +in," cried Jim, holding a lantern, which he had lit that he might look +round, to the place. + +We stopped it as we had the first. + +"It will be a mercy if there are no other holes in the side under the +cargo," he said. "We'll try the well." + +We returned on deck, and Jim sounded the well. + +"Six feet of water or more," he said, in a mournful tone, as he examined +the rod. + +"Then we must rig the pumps and try to clear her!" I exclaimed. "It +will be a hard job, but it may be done, and we must not think of letting +the old craft sink under our feet." + +We set to work, and pumped and pumped away, the water coming up in a +clear stream, till our backs and arms ached, and we felt every moment +ready to drop, but we cheered each other on, resolved not to give in as +long as we could stand on our legs. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +ALONE ON THE OCEAN. + +"Are we gaining on the leaks, think you, Jim?" I at length gasped out, +for I felt that if our efforts were producing some effect we should be +encouraged to continue them, but that if not it would be wise before we +were thoroughly exhausted to try and build a raft on which we might have +a chance of saving our lives. + +My companion made no reply, but giving a look of doubt, still pumped on, +the perspiration streaming down his face and neck showing the desperate +exertions he was making. I was much in the same condition, though, like +Jim, I had on only my shirt and trousers. I was the first to give in, +and, utterly unable to move my arms, I sank down on the deck. Jim, +still not uttering a word, doggedly worked on, bringing up a stream of +water which flowed out through the scuppers. + +It seemed wonderful that he could go on, but after some time he also +stopped, and staggered to where he had left the rod. + +"I'll try," he said. + +I gazed at him with intense anxiety. + +"Three inches less. We're gaining on the leaks!" he exclaimed. + +I sprang to my feet and seized the brake. Jim struck out with his arms +"to take the turns out of the muscles," as he said, while he sat for a +minute on the deck, and again went at it. + +All this time the wind was falling and the sea going down. As we +laboured at the pumps we looked out anxiously for the appearance of a +vessel which might afford us assistance, but not a sail appeared above +the horizon. We must depend on our own exertions for preserving our +lives. Though a calm would enable us the better to free the brig of +water and to get up jury-masts, it would lessen our chance of obtaining +help. Yet while the brig was rolling and tumbling about we could do +nothing but pump, and pump we did till our strength failed us, and we +both sank down on the deck. + +My eyes closed, and I felt that I was dropping off to sleep. How long I +thus lay I could not tell, when I heard Jim sing out-- + +"Hurrah! We've gained six inches on the leak," and clank, clank, clank, +went his pump. + +I cannot say that I sprang up, but I got, somehow or other, on my feet, +and, seizing the brake, laboured away more like a person in his sleep +than one awake. + +I saw the water flowing freely, so I knew that I was not pumping +uselessly. Presently I heard Jim cry out-- + +"Hillo! Look there!" + +Turning my eyes aft, I saw the captain holding on by the +companion-hatch, and gazing in utter astonishment along the deck. His +head bound up in a white cloth, a blanket over his shoulders, his face +pale as death, he looked more like a ghost than a living man. + +"Where are they, lads?" he exclaimed at length, in a hollow voice. + +"All gone overboard, sir," answered Jim, thinking he ought to speak. + +The old man, on hearing this, fell flat on the deck. + +We ran and lifted him up. At first I thought he was dead, but he soon +opened his eyes and whispered-- + +"It was a passing weakness, and I'll be better soon. Trust in God, +laddies; go on pumping, and He'll save your lives," he said. + +"We'll take you below first, sir. You'll be better in your berth than +here," I answered. + +"No, no! I'll stay on deck; the fresh air will do me good," he said; +but scarcely had he uttered the words than he fell back senseless. + +"We must get him below, or he'll die here," I said; so Jim and I carried +him down as before, and got him into his bed. + +"He wants looking after," said Jim; "so, Peter, do you tend him, and +I'll go back to the pumps." + +Thinking that he wanted food more than anything else, I lighted the +cabin fire, and collecting some materials from the pantry for broth in a +saucepan, put it on to boil. + +Though I had been actively engaged, I felt able once more to work the +pumps. Jim said that he was certain the water in the hold was +decreasing, while, as the brig was steadier, less was coming in. This +increased our hopes of keeping her afloat, but we should want rest and +sleep, and when we knocked off the water might once more gain on us. + +We did not forget, however, what the captain had said. When I could +pump no longer I ran below, freshly dressed the old man's head, and gave +him some broth, which was by this time ready. It evidently did him +good. Then, taking a basin of it myself, I ran up on deck with another +for Jim. + +"That puts life into one," he said, as, seated on the deck with his legs +stretched out, he swallowed it nearly scalding hot. A draught of water +which he told me to bring, however, cooled his throat, and he again set +to, I following his example. + +By this time the day was far advanced, and even Jim confessed that he +must soon give in, while I could scarcely stand. + +The wind had continued to go down, but the sea still rolled the vessel +about too much to enable us to get up jury-masts, even if we had had +strength to move, before dark. + +"It's no use trying to hold out longer, I must get a snooze," sighed +Jim. + +He looked as if he were half asleep already. + +"We had better go and lie down in the cabin, so that we may be ready to +help the captain," I answered; "but I'll tell you what, we'll take a +look into the fore-peak first, to see how the leaks are going on there." + +"Oh, they are all right," said Jim. "We shouldn't have lessened the +water so much if anything had given way." + +Still I persisted in going forward, and Jim followed me. Just then the +vessel gave a pitch, which nearly sent me head first down the +fore-hatchway. As we got below I heard the sound of a rush of water. +The handspike which secured the chief leak had worked out of its place, +and the blankets and boards were forced inwards. It required all our +remaining strength to put them back. Had we been asleep aft the brig +would have filled in a few minutes. Jim wanted to remain forward, but I +persuaded him to come aft, being sure that he would sleep too soundly to +hear the water coming in should the leaks break out afresh, and might be +drowned before he awoke. Having done all we could to secure the +handspikes, we crawled rather than walked to the cabin. + +We were thankful to find that the captain was asleep, so, without loss +of time, Jim crept into one of the side berths, and I lay down on the +after locker. In half a minute I had forgotten what had happened and +where I was. As the old captain and we two lads lay fast asleep on +board the demasted brig out there in the wild North Sea, a kind +Providence watched over us. We might have been run down, or, the leaks +breaking out afresh, the vessel might have foundered before we awoke. + +A voice which I supposed to be that of the captain aroused me. The sun +was shining down through the cabin sky-light. The vessel was floating +motionless. Not a sound did I hear except Jim's snoring. I tried to +jump up, but found my limbs terribly stiff, every joint aching. I made +my way, however, to the old man's berth. + +"How are you, Captain Finlay?" I asked. + +He did not reply. I stepped nearer. His eyes were closed. I thought +he was dead; yet I heard his voice, I was certain of that. I stood +looking at him, afraid to ascertain if what I feared was the case. A +feeling of awe crept over me. I did not like to call out to Jim, yet I +wanted him to come to me. At last I staggered over to the berth in +which Jim was sleeping. "Jim! Jim!" I said, "I am afraid the captain +is taken very bad." + +Jim did not awake, so I shook him several times till he sat up, still +half asleep and rubbing his eyes. + +"What's the matter?" he asked. "Oh--ay, I know. We'll turn to at the +pumps, Peter." + +I repeated what I had said. He was on his feet in a moment. He moved +at first with as much difficulty as I had done. "Come along," I said, +and together we went over to the state cabin. We looked at the old man +without speaking. After some time Jim mustered courage to touch his +hand. To my great relief the captain opened his eyes. + +"Praise God, who has preserved us during the night, my lads!" were the +first words he spoke, and while we stood by his side he offered up a +short prayer. + +He then told us to go on deck and learn the state of the weather. + +We hurried up. The sun was shining brightly; the sea was smooth as +glass, unbroken by a single ripple. Jim did not forget the leak; he +sounded the well. + +"We must turn to at the pumps, Peter," he exclaimed. "She's made a good +deal of water during the night, and it will take us not a few hours to +get it out of her, but we'll not give in." + +"I should think not, indeed," I answered. "But I'll go down and hear +what the captain wants us to do." + +Before I had got half way down the companion-ladder I heard the clank of +the pump. Jim had lost no time in setting to work. + +I hastened to the state-room. I was startled by the changed appearance +of the captain's countenance during the short time I had been on deck. +His eyes were turned towards me with a fixed look. I spoke, but he did +not answer; I leant over him, no breath proceeded from his lips; I +touched his brow, then I knew that the good old man was dead. Presently +I closed his eyes, and with a sad heart returned on deck. + +"He's gone, Jim," I cried. + +"Gone! The captain gone! Then I am sorry," answered Jim, as he stopped +pumping for a moment, though he still held the brake in his hands. +"Then, Peter, you and I must just do our best to take the brig into port +by ourselves." + +"I was thinking the same, Jim," I said. "He told us to get up +jury-masts and steer west, and that's just what we must do if the wind +will let us." + +The death of our good captain made us feel very sad, for we had learned +to look upon him as our true friend. It caused us also to become more +anxious even than before about ourselves. With his assistance we had +had little doubt, should the weather remain fine, of reaching a port, +but as we were neither of us accustomed to the use of charts, and did +not know how to take an observation, we could not tell to what port we +should steer our course. + +We had both, however, dauntless spirits, and had been accustomed from +our childhood to trust to our own resources. Our grand idea was to +steer west, if we could manage to get sail on the brig, but before this +could be attempted we must pump her free of water. + +There was no time to mourn for our old captain, so without delay we +turned to at the pumps. My arms and legs and every part of my body felt +very stiff. Jim saw that I should not be able to continue long at it. + +"Peter, do you go below and look out for some spars to serve as +jury-masts," he said; "I'll meantime keep on. We shall soon get the +water under; it's only a wonder more hasn't come in." + +Jim and I never thought who was captain; if I told him to do a thing he +did it, or if he gave an order I did not stop to consider whether or not +he had the right to command. We worked together as if we had but one +will. + +It was "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull both together." + +There were plenty of spars below, and I soon selected some which I +thought would serve for the masts and yards we required. I had to call +Jim to help me get them up on deck. + +"There'll be no use for these till we can find some canvas to spread on +them," I observed. + +"Nor till we get a breeze to fill the sails," said Jim. "However, we'll +get them set while the calm lasts, and no doubt you'll find as many as +we can carry in the sail-room." + +This was right aft, down a small hatchway. While Jim went again to his +pump, I hunted about and hauled out two topgallantsails and royals, a +fore-staysail, a second jib, and a main-trysail. If we could set all +these we should do well, supposing we got a fair breeze. It would be no +easy job, however, I knew, to get up the masts. We had one advantage. +The proper masts had been carried away some six or seven feet from the +deck, so that we might lash the spars to them. Before setting to work I +again went below to hunt for rope. I got more than I expected from +different parts of the vessel, and we had also saved some of the +rigging, which had been entangled in the bulwarks. + +"We shall want every scrap of rope we can find!" cried Jim, panting and +still pumping away. + +"I'll take a spell with you," I said. "Then we'll turn to and rig the +ship." + +I pumped till I could pump no longer, and then, after a short rest, we +commenced in earnest. We first lashed a short spar, with a tackle +secured to its head, to the stump of the foremast, and then, having +fitted two shrouds on a side, with a forestay and backstays, and blocks +for the halliards, to the spar we had chosen for a foremast, we swayed +it up my means of the short spar and tackle. We could not possibly in +any other way have accomplished our object. We next lashed the spar to +the stump of the mast. No time was lost in setting up the standing +rigging. Our foremast being thus fixed, we surveyed it with infinite +satisfaction, and then turned to and fitted the brig with a mainmast in +the same fashion. This we made somewhat stronger, as we intended it to +carry a mainsail should we have to haul on a wind. Our work, as may be +supposed, was not especially neat--indeed, we had to knot most of the +shrouds, as it was necessary to keep all the longer lengths of rope for +halliards, and we had none to spare. + +I cannot stop to explain how we accomplished all this; we could not have +done it without employing tackles, which we brought to the windlass, and +thus gained twenty times as much power as we by ourselves possessed. + +We were now pretty well tired and hungry, for, except some bread and +cheese and a jug of cold water, we had taken nothing all day. + +It was with a feeling of awe that we went down into the cabin where the +old captain lay. Jim, however, closed the door of the state-room, so +that we could not see him. We then lighted the fire and cooked some +dinner--or rather supper, for evening was drawing on. Anxious to be +again at work, we hurried over the meal. + +"I say, Peter, don't you think we ought to bury the skipper?" asked Jim, +after a long silence. + +"Not for some days to come," I answered; "I hope that we may get into +port first, so as to lay him in a grave on shore." + +"I don't think it will make much odds to him; and, to say the truth, now +he's dead, I'd rather he were out of the ship," said Jim; "they say it's +unlucky to have a dead man on board." + +I had some difficulty in persuading Jim of the folly of such a notion, +but we finally agreed that we would try to carry the captain's body to +land. + +Before bending sails we took a look down forward to see the condition of +the leaks. The handspikes were in their places, and, except a slight +moisture round the holes, we could not discover that any water was +getting in. Still there was a great deal too much in the brig for +safety, so we took another spell at the pumps before going on with the +rigging. + +Darkness found us hard at work. We were too tired and sleepy to attempt +keeping a look-out, but I bethought me of hoisting a lantern at each +masthead, which would save us from being run down should a breeze spring +up during the night Jim thought the idea capital, and promised to get up +and trim the lamps. + +Fortunately, the nights were short, so that there was not much necessity +for that. Our chief wish now was that the calm would continue for a few +hours during the next day, that we might get the brig to rights. + +"One spell more at the pumps!" cried Jim. + +We seized the brakes, worked till we could work no longer, then went +below, ate some food from the pantry, and lying down in the two larboard +berths in the cabin, were fast asleep in a few seconds. + +People talk of sleeping like tops. A hard-worked ship-boy will beat any +top in the world at sleeping soundly. + +For a second night the brig lay becalmed. I doubt that if even a fierce +gale had sprung up it would have awakened us. The sun was shining when +I opened my eyes. It might have been shining for hours for what I could +tell. + +I roused up Jim, and we sprang on deck, vexed at having, as we supposed, +lost so much precious time. By the height of the sun above the horizon, +however, we judged that it was not so late as we had at first fancied. +The clock in the cabin had been unshipped when the brig went over, and +the captain's watch had stopped, so that we had otherwise no means of +knowing how the hours passed by. It was still perfectly calm. We +looked round in all directions. Not a sail was in sight. + +"We must get ready for the breeze, Jim, when it does spring up," I said. +"It will come before many hours are over, I've a notion." + +I had observed some light clouds just under the sun. + +"May be; but we must take a spell at the pumps first," he answered--his +first thought was always of them. + +We turned to as before, till our arms ached, and then we ran down and +got some breakfast. We knew the value of time, but we couldn't get on +without eating, any more than other people. + +On returning to the deck we lowered the lanterns, which had long since +gone out, finished bending the sails, fitting braces, tacks, sheets, and +bowlines, and were then ready to hoist away. We at once set all the +sails we had ready, to see how they stood. To our satisfaction, they +appeared to greater advantage than we had expected. + +"They'll do!" cried Jim, as we surveyed them; "only let us get a breeze +from the right quarter, and we'll soon make the land." + +Fortunately, the rudder had been uninjured when the brig went over, and +the wheel was in order. I stood at the helm, longing for the time when +I should see the brig moving through the water. I may say, once for +all, that at very frequent intervals Jim and I went to the pumps, but he +stood longer at the work than I did. There was urgent necessity for our +doing so, as, notwithstanding all our exertions, we had but slightly +diminished the water in the hold. + +When not thus occupied we did various things that were necessary about +the brig; among others we got life-lines round the shattered bulwarks, +so that should a heavy sea get up, we might run less risk of being +washed overboard. We also went to the store-room, and brought to the +cabin various descriptions of provisions, that we might have them at +hand when wanted. We knew that when once we got a wind we should have +no time to do anything besides navigating the vessel. + +I had gone below to get dinner ready, the only hot meal we took in the +day, leaving Jim pumping, when I heard him sing out down the +companion-hatchway-- + +"Here it comes, and a rattling breeze, too." + +I sprang on deck and went to the helm, while Jim stood ready to trim +sails. Looking astern I could see a line of white foam sweeping along +towards us over the surface of the ocean. Before it was up to us the +sails bulged out, the brig gathered way, and presently she was gliding +at the rate of three or four knots through the water. + +Jim and I shouted with exultation--we forgot the past--we thought not of +the future. We believed that we were about to reap the fruit of our +labours. + +For several hours we ran on with the wind right aft, steering due west. +I steered for most of the time, but Jim occasionally relieved me. So +eager were we that we forgot all about eating, till he cried out-- + +"I must have some food, Peter, or I shall drop." + +I was running below to get it, feeling just as hungry as he did, when +the wind hauled more to the southward. We took a pull at the starboard +braces, and I then hurried below to bring up what we wanted. Just as I +was cutting some meat which had been boiling till the fire went out, I +heard a crash. I sprang up on deck. The brig was again dismasted, and +Jim was struggling in the waves astern. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +DANGERS MULTIPLY. + +For a moment I could not believe my senses. I fell like a person in a +dreadful dream. What, Jim gone! The brig again dismasted, and I left +alone on board her with the body of our dead captain! I was recalled to +myself by hearing a faint shout, and looking over the stern I saw my old +friend struggling amidst the waves some distance off. + +My first impulse was to leap into the sea and swim to his rescue, but +then the thought happily came to me that if I did we should be unable to +regain the vessel; so, instead, crying out, "Keep up, Jim--keep up, I'll +help you!" I did what was far more likely to prove effectual--I unrove +the peak-halliards, cutting them clear with my knife, and fastened one +end to the wooden grating over the cabin sky-light. This I threw +overboard, and as I feared that the halliards would not prove long +enough, I bent on another rope to them. The grating appeared to be +dropping astern very fast; and yet Jim, who was swimming strongly, +seemed to be nearing it very slowly, by which I knew that the brig must +still, urged on by the impetus she had before received, be moving +through the water. Securing the line, I therefore put down the helm, +and completely stopped her way. All was done faster than I have +described it. + +Springing back to the taffrail, with straining eyes I watched Jim, for +more I could not do to help him, except to give an occasional shout to +cheer him up. The dreadful thought came that there might be sharks +about, or that his strength might fail him before he could reach the +grating. I did more than cheer, though--I prayed to God with all my +soul that Jim might be saved. Often he seemed scarcely to be moving +through the water--now he threw himself on his back to rest--then he +once more struck bravely out, replying as he did so to my cheer. At +length he got near the grating. My heart gave a bound of joy as I saw +him seize it, when he gradually drew himself up and lay flat on its +surface, the best way for making it afford him support. + +With a shout to Jim to hold on, I began to haul in the raft till I +brought it under the quarter. + +"Wait a minute, Jim, while I get a tackle ready to haul you on board," I +cried out. + +This did not take me the time I said, and forming a bowline I lowered it +to him. He seemed so exhausted that I was afraid lest in trying to pass +it over his shoulders he might slide off the grating; and I was about to +go down to assist him, when, seeing the rope, he slipped his arms +through it and exclaimed, "Haul away, Peter." + +I was not long in obeying him, it may be supposed, and I almost cried +with joy as I had him at length safe on deck. I knew that the first +thing now to be done was to get off his wet clothes, and to give him a +restorative, but I had a hard job to carry him below, as he could not +help himself. + +"Never mind, Peter," he said, faintly; "I shall soon be all to rights +again." But I was not going to leave him in the cold air on deck, so +going first, I let him slip gradually down the companion-ladder, and +then stripping off his clothes, in a short time had him snug between the +blankets. I then quickly relighted the fire and warmed up the broth I +had before cooked, while I hung up Jim's clothes to dry. + +The hot broth seemed greatly to restore him, but as he was pretty well +worn out before he had gone overboard, it is no wonder that as soon as +the basin was emptied he fell fast asleep. I had not stopped to ask him +how the accident had occurred, but I suspected, as I afterwards found +was the case, that as the masts fell a rope had somehow or other caught +his legs and whisked him overboard. He was, however, never very clear +how it happened. + +Having performed my duties below, and taken some food, which I greatly +needed, I went on deck. It was still blowing fresh, but there was not +much sea on, and the brig lay like a log on the water. To my great +relief I found that none of the spars or sails had been lost, all of +them having fallen inboard, so I set to work to secure them as well as I +could, knowing that till Jim was strong enough to help me I could do +nothing towards getting up the masts again. + +I did not for a moment contemplate giving up the struggle. I next went +down into the fore-peak to see if our arrangements for keeping out the +water were secure. Nothing had moved. Still, as I knew that the water +must be coming in and might gain upon us dangerously, I took a spell at +pumping. This pretty well exhausted all my remaining strength, yet +before turning in to get some rest there was another thing to be done. +We might be in the track of some vessel or other, and should the night +prove dark might be run down and sent to the bottom while we were +asleep. I therefore trimmed the lamp in one of the lanterns, and with +great labour having lashed a spar to the stump of the foremast, hoisted +the lantern to the top of it. This done I could do no more, and +crawling into my cabin was soon fast asleep in my berth. + +I slept tranquilly, knowing that He who had hitherto preserved us was +watching over us still. I was awakened by the clanking sound of the +pump. It was broad daylight; Jim was not in his berth, and on springing +on deck there I saw him in his shirt and trowsers hard at work, forcing +up the water at a great rate. + +"I'm all to rights, Peter," he said, in a cheerful tone, "and as I +guessed that you had been up long after I went to sleep, I thought as +how I would take a spell at the pump before rousing you up." + +Thanking him for his thoughtfulness, I seized the other brake and pumped +till my arms ached. + +"Now, Peter, we must see about getting up the masts again," he said, +when he saw me knock off. + +"You want some breakfast first, and so do I," I answered. "We'll then +set to work with a will." + +We took some food, which rested and refreshed us, and then commenced the +task we had undertaken. + +The wind had again fallen. What there was of it was fair, and the sea +was almost as smooth as a mill-pond. Had it been rough we could +scarcely have attempted the work. We had first to unreeve all the +ropes, and unbend all the sails. We then selected two much stouter +spars than before for fresh masts, got the standing rigging over their +heads, and by means of tackles got them set up to the stumps of the fore +and main masts, next securing them much more effectually we hoped than +the former jury-masts had been, with light spars of different lengths +lashed round them, and additional backstays. + +We made such good progress that by night we were almost ready to hoist +the sails, having all the time rested only for a few minutes to obtain +some food and then going on again. + +Nature, however, at last gave way, and if we stopped for a moment we +went fast asleep with a rope or marlinespike in our hands. + +"It's no use trying to keep awake, Jim," I said. + +He, in a sleepy voice, agreed, and having again hoisted the lantern we +went below to get the rest we so much needed. + +The next morning I heard as before the pump going. It was still dark, +but Jim had awoke, and this was always his first thought. I joined him, +and we laboured on till there was light enough to enable us to bend +sails. The wind being fair we soon had them hoisted, and I went to the +helm, Jim pulling and hauling to trim them as required. + +It must be understood that everything was done in a rough-and-ready +fashion, but it was the best we could do. + +Once more the brig glided on towards the west at the rate, as we +supposed, of three or four knots an hour. Jim, having done all that was +required, took my place at the helm while I went below to get some food +for breakfast. As I was unwilling to be off the deck a moment longer +than was necessary, without stopping to light the fire I brought up a +supply of provisions and water to last us for some time, as also some +cloaks and blankets. We agreed that we must content ourselves with cold +water, and ham, and cheese, and bread, and be thankful, remembering how +many poor fellows had been much worse off than we were. + +We ate a hearty meal, I feeding Jim while he steered. He did not appear +to have suffered from his long swim, except that he complained of being +very sleepy. I therefore advised him to lie down on the coats and +blankets I had brought on deck to get some rest, while I took his place +at the helm, promising to call him should the breeze freshen and it +become necessary to shorten sail. He agreed and I steered on, now +looking at the compass, now at the canvas, and now all around on the +chance of a vessel appearing from which we might learn our position. I +own that I should have been very unwilling for any one to have come on +board to take the brig into harbour, for we both thought how proud we +should feel if we could carry her in ourselves without help. Still, for +the sake of the owners we could not, we had agreed, refuse assistance +should it be offered us. At last my eyes began to close, and it was +with the greatest difficulty that I could keep them open, or prevent +myself from sinking down on the deck. I was, therefore, very thankful +when I saw Jim begin to move. I uttered his name. He was on his feet +in an instant. + +"I'll take a spell at the pump first," he said, rubbing his eyes and +looking round, especially ahead; "then I'll come to the helm." + +Talking to him aroused me a little, and I was able to hold on till he +relieved me. I was almost asleep before I sank down on the blanket, +only just hearing him say, "We must keep a bright look-out ahead, for we +ought soon to be making the land." + +That sleep did me a great deal of good. We agreed that we would both +take as much as we could during the day, that we might be more +wide-awake at night. I had observed that there was something on Jim's +mind, and while we were at supper, soon after sunset, I asked him what +it was. + +"Why, you see, as I said afore, I wish that our old skipper was, somehow +or other, out of the ship. Now if you are willing, Peter, I'll sew him +up all comfortable like in an old sail, with a pig of iron at the feet; +and as you are a better scholar than I am, you can say the prayers over +him while we lower him overboard, and to my mind he'll be just as well +off as he would be ashore." + +I reminded Jim that he had before consented to our keeping the body as +long as we could, but knowing that his superstitious ideas induced him +to make the proposal, and that he was really uncomfortable, I agreed to +bury our skipper at the end of three days if we did not by that time +sight the land. + +The night and another day went by, the wind still holding fair. I +pointed out to Jim how thankful we should be for this, as I was certain +that in the latitude where we were there was seldom so long a +continuance of fine weather. He, however, was far from easy in his +mind. He was sure, he said, that we ought to have seen the land before +this, and was continually, when not working the pump, going forward to +look out for it. + +"I knows that England is an island, as the song says, `Our right little, +tight little island;' and don't you think that somehow we may have +passed to the nor'ard of it, and be going away into the Atlantic?" + +"I hope not," I answered; "for if so we shall not get into port till we +have run right across it; but I am sure the captain never intended us to +do that when he told us to steer west; I think rather that we have not +been going as fast as we supposed. I'll heave the log and try, though +it will be a difficult job to do so." + +I got out the reel and glass. The latter I gave to Jim to hold with one +hand, while he steered with the other. The handle of the reel I managed +to put into a hole in the shattered bulwarks, so that it could run round +easily. I then took the log-ship in my right hand and hove it. + +"Turn!" I cried. + +"Turn!" said Jim. + +The line ran slowly out. + +"Stop!" cried Jim. + +I examined the line. + +Two knots and a half was all it showed. Jim thought we were going four. +I was thus certain that we had run a much shorter distance than he +supposed, but he was not convinced that I was right. + +Day and night, between the intervals of pumping, he went forward to look +out. Another day went by. It was again night Jim had been a long time +pumping when he said that he would go forward and look out till it was +his turn to take the helm. I advised him rather to lie down, as I was +sure that he must be tired, but he would not, and away he went into the +darkness towards the bows. + +I every now and then hailed him and he answered. I had not hailed for +some time when I felt the breeze freshen. The main-topsail and mainsail +bulged out, straining at the sheets, and the masts began to complain. + +"Jim! Jim!" I shouted, "shorten sail, be smart about it." + +But Jim did not answer. I dared not leave the helm lest the brig should +broach to and our masts again be carried overboard. + +Once more I shouted, "Jim! Jim!" Still he did not come, and the +dreadful idea arose in my mind that he had fallen overboard. + +At last I could withstand the desire no longer of rushing forward to +ascertain what had become of him. What mattered it, if he were lost, +what else might happen? I made a dash forward, keeping my eye on the +stars. I had got as far as the mainmast when I saw that the brig's head +was moving round, so I sprang back to right the helm. + +Again and again I shrieked out my companion's name at the top of my +voice, springing forward, but had only got a little farther than before +when I had to return. + +The wind continued to get up. The masts would go, I saw, if sail were +not shortened. I let go the main-topsail, and throat and +peak-halliards. The sails flapped loudly in the wind, but as the brig +now kept more steadily before it, I thought that I should be able to +reach the forecastle, though I had very little hope of finding Jim. + +I was still shouting his name, when what was my joy to hear him cry out, +"Hillo! What's the matter?" and I saw his head rise from just before +the windlass. I never in my life felt more inclined to abuse him for +the fright he had given me, thankful as I was that no harm had happened +to him. I did not even tell him how much I had been alarmed, but merely +cried out, "Come, be smart, Jim, we must stow the canvas." We were +beginning to do so, when the wind fell, and instead we again hoisted the +fore-topsail. Jim owned that while he fancied he was looking out his +legs gave way and that he had sunk down on the deck. + +"Take care that the same doesn't happen when you are steering, or worse +consequences may follow," I remarked. + +He now let me take my nap, and when I awoke he said that we had had a +famous run; but towards noon the wind dropped, and it became towards +evening a stark calm. This lasted all night and far into the next day. + +"Peter, do you know if there's a prayer-book aboard?" asked Jim. + +The question surprised me. I was nearly certain that there was not. + +"Well then, you can say some prayers without one," he continued. "For, +Peter, there's no use talking longer about it; we must bury the +skipper." + +Reluctantly I agreed. Jim got a piece of canvas, a sail-maker's needle, +and some twine, with a pig of iron ballast which had been used in one of +the boats. As there was no sign of a breeze, with these he went below, +and for the first time since his death opened the captain's state-room. +We brought the corpse into the main cabin, and placing it on the canvas, +without loss of time Jim began sewing it up. The old man's kind face +had scarcely changed. We took one respectful last look at it, and then +Jim, drawing the canvas over it, shut it out from sight. + +We had now to get the body on deck, but without a tackle this we could +not have done. At last we managed to haul it up the companion-ladder. +When Jim went below for more canvas and twine to fasten on the pig of +iron to the feet, we had been longer about our task than we had +supposed. Looking astern, I saw that the sky was darkened by heavy +masses of clouds, while a line of foam came hissing over the surface of +the deep towards us. + +"Quick! Quick! Jim," I shouted; "shorten sail, or the masts will be +over the side!" + +I ran as I spoke to the halliards; he followed; we had to be smart about +it, and even thus the gale was on us before we could get the canvas +stowed. That was not to be done in a hurry. First one sail got loose, +then another, and we had to hurry to secure them. The sea rose with +unusual suddenness, and the brig was soon tossing about in a way which +made us fear that another leak would be sprung, or the old ones break +out. We managed at length to set the fore-topsail, closely reefed, and +I going to the helm, we ran before the gale. + +If Jim was before anxious about our being near the land, he was more so +now. His eyes were nearly always turned ahead, but I began to think +more about the leaks. I asked him what he thought. + +"We'll try the well," he answered. + +No sooner had he examined the rod than he exclaimed-- + +"We must turn to at the pumps, Peter, if we don't want to go to the +bottom." + +We no longer thought of burying the captain, or doing anything but +keeping the brig afloat. The night began; Jim worked away as hard as +his failing strength would allow. I shouted to him to let me take a +spell. + +"No, no; you keep at the helm, Peter," he answered; "I'll work till I +drop." + +He only stopped now and then to take a look-out ahead. + +The gale seemed to be increasing; the brig pitched and rolled more and +more. Suddenly there came a loud clap. The foresail had given way. +Jim ran forward, and lowered it on deck. + +As I could no longer be of use at the helm, I ran to his help, and we +tried to set it again, but all our efforts were in vain. Every moment, +too, the seas now raging round the vessel threatened to break on board. + +"Peter, the water is coming in as fast as we get it out, and if we don't +keep pumping it will gain upon us," said Jim. + +For fear of being carried away, we made ourselves fast to some +stanchions near the pumps, so that we could reach the brakes, and worked +away till we were both ready to drop. Now and then we had to stop to +draw breath and regain our strength. The hard battered brig pitched and +rolled and tumbled, the seas dancing up wildly on every side of her. +Again we had stopped, when Jim exclaimed, "Hark! I hear the breakers." + +I listened. The dreaded sound reached my ears. The brig was driving +rapidly towards them. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +PORT REACHED IN AN UNEXPECTED MANNER. + +The sound of the breakers grew louder and louder. Every instant we +expected to find the brig sent crashing on the rocks, and to have the +furious seas breaking over us. + +"There's no use pumping any longer, Peter," said Jim. "We must cling to +whatever we can get hold of, and hope for the chance of being hove up on +the beach, if there is one." + +"A poor chance that," I could not help answering. "Perhaps the brig may +be driven in between some rocks, and will hold together till the +morning; if not we must be prepared to die." + +And I spoke to him as I think my mother would have spoken to me. +Clinging to the shattered bulwarks, we waited for the dreadful event +with all the resignation we could muster. Still the crash did not come, +though the vessel appeared to be tossed about even more violently than +before. + +"Peter, the breakers don't sound so loud as they did just now," +exclaimed Jim, after some time. + +"Let's look at the compass," I said, casting off the rope round my +waist. + +"I'll go too," cried Jim, doing the same. "What happens to you shall +happen to both." + +Together we made our way to the binnacle, in which the lamp was still +burning. As we eagerly examined the compass we found that the wind had +shifted to the south-west, and if there was land, as we supposed, to the +westward, was blowing partly off shore. We must have drifted past a +headland, on which we had heard the seas breaking. Had the foresail +stood we should have run on it, and we had cause, therefore, to be +thankful that it had given way. Now, however, as it was important to +keep off the land, we attempted to secure the clew and tack, and hauling +together succeeded in again hoisting it. I then ran to the helm, and +found that I could steer east by north or thereabouts. Though the brig +moved very slowly, still I believed that we were getting away from the +dreaded shore. We ran on for some time, when once more the wind shifted +to the eastward of south, and blew with greater fury than before. + +"It's drawing more and more to the east," said Jim, looking at the +compass. + +We hauled down the foresail, as it would only, we believed, drive us the +faster to destruction. The brig tumbled and rolled and pitched about in +a way that made it difficult for us to keep our feet, and every now and +then the seas, washing over the deck, would have swept us off had we not +again lashed ourselves to the stanchions near the pumps. These we +worked as vigorously as our failing strength would allow. We had +resolved not to give in while the brig remained afloat. How we longed +for daylight, that we might see where we were, and judge how we could +best try to save ourselves! + +That we were again driving towards the terrible rocks we knew too well, +and several times Jim stopped pumping to listen for the sound of the +breakers. At length he exclaimed, "I hear them, Peter! In less than +ten minutes the brig will be in pieces! Good-bye, if the sea gets us; +but we'll have a fight for it; so the moment she strikes we'll cast +ourselves off from the stanchions." + +We were shaking hands while he spoke. I was not quite certain that I +did hear the breakers, the noises on board the tumbling vessel making it +difficult to distinguish sounds. Shortly after this there came a lull, +but we thought it only the prelude to another squall. + +The wind fell more and more. + +"I see day breaking!" cried Jim, looking eastward. + +Faint yellow and red streaks were visible in that direction under the +dark mass of clouds. The light increased, and to the westward, fringed +by a line of rugged black rocks, a green island gradually rose before +our sight. There were grassy slopes, and cliffs, and high, steep, +round-topped hills, with clear streams running between them, forming +lakelets near the beach, glittering in the rays of the rising sun, now +bursting through the dissolving clouds. Far as our eyes could reach not +a tree was visible, nor could we discover a single cottage or other +habitation of man. As the light increased we found that we were about +half a mile away from the entrance of a narrow gulf, which extended +apparently far inland. Not a boat floated on the surface of the gulf, +not a sail was to be seen along the coast. + +"I'm greatly afeared that yonder is a dissolute island," (meaning a +desolate island), "and if no help comes to us from the shore we may be +blown out to sea, and be worse off than before," said Jim. + +The wind had fallen to an almost perfect calm, but what there was blew +out of the gulf, so that we could not hope to take the vessel up it, +while the breakers still burst in sheets of foam on the rocks, and we +lay tossed up and down by the glassy rolling seas. We were utterly +helpless. + +While we were at breakfast a thought occurred to me. + +"I'll tell you what we'll do, Jim," I said; "we'll build a raft, put the +poor old captain on it, take him ashore, and bury him. If we can find +no people or houses we'll go off again. The brig won't drift far away +in the meantime. If the wind will let us we'll run into the gulf, or if +it shifts to the northward we'll steer along shore to the south and look +out for another harbour. From what the captain said we may be sure +there is one not far off where we shall find people to help us." + +Jim jumped at my proposal. + +"That's it, Peter; when once the dead man is out of the brig things will +go better with us," he answered. + +I did not stop to argue the point, but turned to at once with him to +form the proposed raft. We had plenty of spars below, so that our +undertaking was not so difficult as it would have been had we not had a +good supply. We first cut them into lengths with a saw we found below, +and having placed them side by side, lashed others across on the top of +them. + +Eager as we were to finish our task, we had more than once to stop and +rest, for we were both very weak, and I felt a sensation of weariness I +had not ever before experienced. In fact, we were thoroughly knocked up +from the hard work we had gone through, and the little time we had had +for rest. + +Having completed the raft and formed some paddles, we launched it +overboard and secured it alongside. + +"Now, Jim," I said, "we must take some provisions, in case there are no +people on the island, as we may have a longer pull back than we may +like, and we have to bring up the captain and put him on the raft." + +We quickly collected some provisions, and I took the empty water-jar +from the pantry. + +"What's that for?" asked Jim. "There's water enough on shore, surely." + +"Yes, but if we have a long pull back to the brig we shall be thankful +for water," I answered. + +While thus employed we heard a voice coming from no great distance hail, +"Ship ahoy!" + +My heart leapt within me at the sound, and running to the side we saw a +boat with five men in her pulling towards us. An oldish man of portly +figure, who looked like a sea captain, was steering. + +"Are ye the only people aboard?" he sang out as he saw us. + +"The only live ones, sir," answered Jim. + +There was no time to exchange more words before the boat was alongside, +and the old gentleman and his men stepped on board. He gave a look of +surprise as he saw the captain's body, and he then, turning to us, +appeared more surprised still. + +"Why, my laddies, what has happened? How did this craft come here?" he +asked, in a kind tone. + +I briefly told him how the masts had been carried away and the people +washed overboard, and how the captain had been struck down and +afterwards had died, and how we had kept him to bury him decently on +shore, adding-- + +"He told us to steer west, sir, and so we did, but we don't know what +country we've come to." + +"Why, surely, to Shetland, laddies," he answered. "But if ye had kept a +little farther to the north ye would have passed our islands and run +into the Atlantic, and it's weel for ye that ye didna do that. And now +my men and I will take your craft up the voe and anchor her in safety. +We might carry her to Lerwick, but the weather is unsettled, and she's +na weel fitted to encounter another gale, no discredit to ye, laddies." + +Our new friend evidently compassionated our forlorn condition; indeed, +now that the necessity for exerting ourselves was over, we both sank +down utterly exhausted on the deck. + +The Shetlanders would have carried us below, but we begged to remain +where we were, that we might see what was going forward. They therefore +left us, and having placed the captain's body on the main hatch, covered +by a flag, they proceeded to pull our raft to pieces and to hoist the +spars composing it on board. This done, the four men jumped into the +boat, and going ahead began to tow the brig, while the old gentleman +went to the helm to steer. + +Before long, however, a breeze from the eastward springing up, the boat +returned alongside, the men hoisted the canvas, and we stood in towards +the voe, as the gulf, we found, was called. I could just distinguish +the high green hills, with here and there grey cliffs and rocks jutting +out from these on either side, as we sailed up the voe, but my eyes grew +dimmer and dimmer till the brig's anchor was dropped, and I was just +aware that we were being placed in the boat to be carried on shore. + +When I came to myself I found that I was in a comfortable bed with +curtains round it, the sun shining brightly through the open window of +the room, which looked neater and prettier than any I had ever slept in. + +Hearing a footstep, I peered through the curtains, and saw a lady and a +little girl come in, carrying in their hands some things which they +placed on the table. + +"I think the poor boy is awake, auntie," whispered the little girl. "I +heard him move." + +"Perhaps he was only moving in his sleep, but I will see," answered the +lady, and she approached the bed. + +I was looking all the time at the little girl, who seemed to me like an +angel or a fairy, or some being altogether brighter than I had ever seen +before--even than my sister Mary. + +"Yes, marm, I am awake, thank you," I said, as she opened the curtains, +"and please, I want to get up and go aboard the brig to look after her +and to see that our old captain is buried." + +"He was buried by the minister the day you came, and the brig is taken +very good care of," she answered. "My father, Mr Angus Troil, has +written to the owners to inform them of what has happened to her and of +your brave conduct. He hopes soon to hear from them." + +"Thank you, marm," I again said, puzzled to know what the lady meant +about hearing soon from Mr Gray, for I had supposed that Shetland was a +long way from England. My first thought, however, had been about Jim. + +"Please, marm, where is the other boy, my shipmate?" I asked. + +"He was very ill only for three or four days, and is now well enough to +go down to the brig with my father," she replied. "But I must not let +you talk too much. You were to have some food, the doctor said, when +you came to yourself. Here, Maggie, bring the broth and toast." + +Thereon the little girl brought the tray to the bedside and gazed +compassionately at me, while the lady put the food into my mouth, for I +was too weak to do so myself. + +It now dawned on me from what the lady said that I must have been in a +state of unconsciousness for many days, and such I found was the case. +I recollected nothing that had passed since I was placed in the boat. I +could not speak much, but when I had finished the basin of broth I +said-- + +"I am very thankful to you and your little daughter, marm, for all you +have done for me." + +"You deserve to be taken care of, my boy," she answered; "but this +little girl is not my daughter. Her father was my brother. He was lost +at sea while captain of a ship, and her mother has since died, so that +she is very precious to us." + +I looked at little Maggie with even more interest than before, and I +said-- + +"My father was also drowned, and so was my grandfather, and I believe +his father before him, for I come of a seafaring family." + +"That has been likewise the fate of many of the Troils," said the lady; +"but I must not let you talk more now. Before long my father and your +young shipmate will be returning, and they will be glad to hear from +your own lips how you feel. In the meantime try to go to sleep again. +The doctor says that the more you sleep the sooner you will regain your +strength. Saying this, the lady, followed by the little girl, left the +room." + +I thought over what she had said to me, and kept repeating to myself, +"Margaret Troil! Margaret Troil! I know that name, I am sure!" but I +did not think long before I forgot where I was and what had happened. + +I saw Maggie's sweet face peeping in at me when I woke, but as soon as +she saw that my eyes were open she ran off, and shortly afterwards Mr +Troil and Jim came into the room. The old gentleman spoke very kindly; +told me that I must consider myself at home, and that though he hoped I +should soon get well, I must be in no hurry to go away. He then went +out, saying to Jim, "I can let you stay only five minutes with your +friend. When the time is up I must call you." + +Jim could at first scarcely speak for joy at seeing me so much better. +He then told me how highly Mr Troil spoke of me and him for the way we +had kept the brig afloat, and brought her to the coast of Shetland. + +"I told him as how it wasn't us who did it," continued Jim, "but that +God sent the wind as blew us here; and he says to me, `To be sure, that +was the case in one way, but then that God rewarded your efforts, and +thus you deserve great credit for what you did.' He promises to see +that we are rewarded, and to do all he can for us himself. I told him +as how you were really captain, and that I couldn't have done anything +by myself, except pump, and that I had done with a will, seeing I am +bigger and stronger than you." + +I was inclined to smile at Jim's modesty, though I felt very grateful to +him for speaking so well of me, and was about to ask him what Mr Troil +said in return, when our host called him out of the room. I was thus +left to myself, except when the lady, who Jim had told me was Miss +Troil, the old gentleman's daughter, or little Maggie looked in to see +if I wanted anything. Two days after this I was able to dress and sit +out in front of the house, enjoying the sun and air, looking down on the +voe in which lay our brig, with a small sloop and several fishing +vessels and boats. On that side, looking to the south, there was a view +of the voe and the opposite bank, but on all the others the house, a +square stone building, was protected by a high wall close to it, built +to keep off the biting cold winds and snow of winter. Jim was out with +Mr Troil, and as Miss Troil was engaged, Maggie came and sat by me with +a book, and read and talked to me for a long time, getting me to tell +her all about myself and our perilous voyage, till her aunt summoned her +to attend to some household affairs. When I returned to my room I found +that my chest had been brought on shore and placed there. Miss Troil +came in and took out the things, which, having become damp and mildewy, +she wished to dry. While doing so she came upon my old Testament, +which, chancing to open, she examined the inside of the cover with +intense curiosity. + +"Why, Peter, how did you come by this?" she asked. + +The family had got by this time to call me Peter. + +I told her that it had belonged to my father's mother, and then for the +first time since I came to Shetland I recollected that the name in it +was spelt in the same way as that of my host. + +"I must ask my father about this!" she exclaimed. "He had an uncle +called Angus, after whom he was named, and who married a Margaret +Halcro. There are none of the family remaining in Shetland, though at +one time they were numerous. Peter, I should not be surprised if it +turns out that you are a kinsman of ours. Should you like to be so?" + +"Indeed I should!" I answered; "I feel as if I were one already, from +the kind way you have treated me, even before you thought I might be a +relative." + +When Mr Trail came in he listened attentively to what his daughter told +him, and, having examined the handwriting in the Testament, asked me the +ages of my father and grandmother, and all other particulars I could +tell him. + +"I have no doubt about your being a near relative of ours, Peter, and I +rejoice to find you one, my dear boy," he said; "though why my aunt +Margaret Troil did not come back to her husband's relatives after her +husband's death I cannot tell." + +"Perhaps she had not the means to make the journey, or my father had +gone away to sea, and she was afraid that he might be unable to find her +on his return if she left her home; or, now I think of it, I remember my +father saying that she died soon after my grandfather was lost, when he +himself was a little chap." + +"Well, all is ordered for the best, though we don't see how," said Mr +Troil. "And now you have come you must stay with us and turn back into +a Shetlander. What do you say to my proposal?" + +"Oh, do stay with us, Cousin Peter!" exclaimed Maggie, taking my hand +and looking up in my face. + +"Indeed, I should like very much to do so," I answered, "but there is my +sister Mary, and I cannot desert her, even though I know that she is +well off with Mr Gray." + +"Then Peter must go and fetch her!" exclaimed Maggie. "Oh, I should so +like to have her here! I would love her as a sister." + +"A bright idea of yours, Maggie," said Mr Troil. "What do you say to +it, Peter? I will furnish you with ample funds, and you can be back +here in a month, as I feel very sure that your friend Mr Gray will +willingly allow Mary to come." + +I need not say that I gladly accepted my generous relative's proposal, +and it was arranged that as soon as I had quite recovered my strength I +should go south in the first vessel sailing from Lerwick, accompanied by +Jim, who wanted to see his friends, and hoped to be able to work his +passage both ways, so that he might not be separated from me. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +A DISASTROUS VOYAGE. + +I was soon myself again, and ready for the proposed voyage southward. +Accordingly, Mr Troil having received directions from Mr Gray to send +the _Good Intent_ to Lerwick to be refitted, Tom and I, bidding +farewell, as we hoped, only for a short season to Miss Troil and Maggie, +went on board the brig to assist in carrying her there, intending to +proceed by the first vessel sailing after our arrival. Mr Troil sent +us a pilot and a good crew to navigate the vessel, and accompanied her +himself in his sloop, that he might assist us if necessary. + +The wind was fair and the sea smooth, and thus without accident we +arrived in that fine harbour called Brassa Sound, on the shore of which +Lerwick, the capital of the islands, stands. We there found a vessel +shortly to sail for Newcastle. Having taken in a cargo of coals, she +was thence to proceed to Portsmouth. This so exactly suited our object +that Mr Troil at once engaged a passage on board her for Jim and me. + +After Portsmouth the town appeared small, but the inhabitants have large +warm hearts, and were very kind to Jim and me. As he remarked, it is +better to have large hearts and live in a small place than small cold +hearts and to live in a large place. They seemed never to tire of +asking us questions about our voyage in the _Good Intent_, and how we +two boys alone managed to rig jury-masts and to keep her afloat. + +"By just knowing how to do our work and sticking to it," answered Jim, +to one of our friends. + +If we had remained much longer at Lerwick we should have begun to fancy +ourselves much more important persons than we really were; but the brig +_Nancy_, Captain Gowan, was ready for sea, and wishing farewell to my +kind relative, Mr Troil, who set sail in his ship to return home, we +went on board. We soon afterwards got under way with a fair breeze, and +before night had left Sumburgh Head, the lofty point which forms the +southern end of the Shetland Islands, far astern. + +The _Nancy_ was a very different sort of craft from the _Good Intent_. +She was an old ill-found vessel, patched up in an imperfect manner, and +scarcely seaworthy. Jim and I agreed that if she were to meet with the +bad weather we encountered in our old ship she would go to the bottom or +drive ashore. + +We discovered also before long that Captain Gowan was a very different +person from our former captain. He had conducted himself pretty well on +shore, so that people spoke of him as a very decent man, but when once +at sea he threw off all restraint, abused the crew, quarrelled with the +mate, and neglected us, who had been placed under his charge. + +Jim, who had to work his passage, slept in the fore-peak, but I was +berthed aft. I, however, did as much duty as anyone. Jim told me that +the men were a rough lot, and that he had never heard worse language in +his life. They tried to bully him, but as he was strong enough to hold +his own, and never lost his temper, they gave up the attempt. Captain +Gowan growled when I came in to dinner the first day, which I knew that +I had a right to do, and he asked if every ship-boy was to be turned +into a young gentleman because he happened to have saved his life while +others lost theirs? + +I did not answer him, for I saw an empty bottle on the locker, and +another by his side with very little liquor remaining in it. After this +I kept out of his way, and got my meals from the cook as best I could. + +Jim and I agreed that if the _Nancy_ had not been going direct to +Portsmouth, we should do well to leave her at Newcastle, and try to make +our way south on board some other vessel. Although we went, I believe, +much out of our proper course, we at last entered the Tyne. Soon after +we brought up, several curiously-shaped boats, called kreels, came +alongside, containing eight tubs, each holding a chaldron; these tubs +being hoisted on board, their bottoms were opened and the coals fell +into the hold. + +The kreels, which were oval in shape, were propelled by a long oar or +pole on each side, worked by a man who walked along the gunwale from the +bow to the stern, pressing the upper end with his shoulder while the +lower touched the ground. Another man stood in the stern with a similar +long oar to steer. + +The crews were fine hardy fellows, known as kreelmen. I was astonished +to hear them call each other bullies, till I found that the term +signified "brothers." So bully Saunders meant brother Saunders. + +Jim and I had had the sense to put on our working clothes, which was +fortunate, as before long, with the coal-dust flying about, we were as +black as negroes, but as everything and all on board were coloured with +the same brush, we did not mind that. + +With the help of the kreelmen the _Nancy_ was soon loaded, and we again +sailed for the southward. Matters did not improve. The captain, having +abstained from liquor while on shore, recompensed himself by taking a +double allowance, and became proportionably morose and ill-tempered, +never speaking civilly to me, and often passing a whole day without +exchanging a word with his poor mate; and when he did open his mouth it +was to abuse. The brig, though tolerably tight when light, now that she +had a full cargo, as soon as a sea got up began to leak considerably, so +that each watch had to pump for an hour to keep the water under. Jim +and I took our turns without being ordered, but though accustomed to the +exercise, it was hard work. When we cried "Spell ho!" for others to +take our places, the captain shouted, "You began to pump for your own +pleasure, now you shall go on for mine, you young rascals!" The men, +however, though they at first laughed, having more humanity than the +skipper, soon relieved us. + +This was the third day after we sailed, when the wind shifting to the +south-west, and then to the south, we stood away to the eastward in +order to double the North Foreland. After some time it came on to blow +harder than ever, but the brig was made snug in time, though the leaks +increased, and all hands in a watch were kept, spell and spell, at the +pumps. The captain behaved just as before, drinking all day long, +though he did not appear to lose his senses altogether. The mate, +however, looked very anxious as the vessel pitched into the seas each +time more violently than before. I asked him if he thought she would +keep afloat. + +"That's more than I can promise you, my boy," he answered. "If the wind +falls, and the sea goes down, we may perhaps manage to keep the leaks +under; but if I were the captain I would run for Harwich or the Thames +sooner than attempt to thrash the vessel round the Foreland." + +"Why don't you propose that to him, and if he does not agree, just steer +as you think best?" I said. "I suspect that he would not find out in +what direction we were standing." + +"Wouldn't he, though! Why, Peter, I tell you he would swear there was a +mutiny, and knock me overboard," answered the poor mate in a tone of +alarm. + +He was evidently completely cowed by the captain, and dared not oppose +him. The night was just coming on; the seas kept breaking over the +bows, washing the deck fore and aft, and the clank of the pumps was +heard without cessation. The captain sat in his cabin, either drinking +or sleeping, except when occasionally he clambered on deck, took a look +around while holding on to the companion-hatch, and then, apparently +thinking that all was going on well, went below again. When I could +pump no longer I turned in, thinking it very probable that I should +never see another sunrise. By continually pumping, the brig was kept +afloat during the night; but when I came on deck in the morning, the +mate, who looked as if he would drop from fatigue, told me that the +leaks were gaining on us. We were now far out, I knew, in the German +Ocean, and if the brig should go down, there was too much sea running to +give us a chance of saving ourselves. + +Some time after daylight the captain came on deck, and he had not been +there long when there was a lull. "Hands about ship!" he shouted. + +The watch below tumbled up, and the brig was got round. + +"Will you take charge, sir?" humbly asked the mate. "I have been on +deck all night, and can scarcely stand." + +The captain raved at him for a lazy hound. "I haven't turned in, +either," he said, though he had been asleep in his chair for several +hours. "I want my breakfast; when I've had that I'll relieve you." + +The mate made no reply, and as soon as the captain went below he hurried +forward to bid the cook make haste with the cabin breakfast. It was a +difficult matter, however, to keep the galley fire alight, or the pots +on it in their places. The weather seemed to be improving, but the men +were well-nigh worn out with pumping. When the captain at last came on +deck, in spite of their grumbling, he kept them labouring away as hard +as ever, and ordered Jim and me to take our turn with the rest. This we +did willingly, as we knew that unless all exerted themselves the brig +must founder. + +As noon approached, the captain brought up his quadrant, and sent below +to summon the mate to take observations though the clouds hung so +densely over the sky that there was but little chance of doing this. + +"Might as well try to shoot the sun at midnight as now, with the clouds +as dark as pitch," growled the mate. "What was the use of calling me up +for such fool's work?" + +"What's that you say?" shouted the captain. "Do you call me a fool?" + +"Yes, I do, if you expect to take an observation with such a sky as we +have got overhead," answered the mate. + +"Then take that!" screamed the captain, throwing the quadrant he held in +his hand at the mate's head, not, for the moment, probably, recollecting +what it was. + +It struck the mate on the temple, who, falling, let his own quadrant go, +and both were broken to pieces. + +"Here's a pretty business," cried one of the men, "I wonder now what +will become of us!" + +Good reason we had to wonder. The mate, picking himself up, flew at the +captain, and a fearful struggle ensued. Both were too excited to know +what they were about, and the captain, who was the stronger of the two, +would have hove the mate overboard had not the crew rushed aft and +separated them. + +The mate then went below, and the captain rolled about the deck, +stamping and shouting that he would be revenged on him. At last he also +went down into the cabin. + +Fearing that he would at once put his fearful threats into execution and +attack the mate, I followed, intending to call the crew to my assistance +should it be necessary. I saw him, however, take another pull at the +rum bottle, and then, growling and muttering, turn into his bed. I +waited till I supposed that he was asleep, and then I went to the mate's +berth. + +"There is no one in charge of the deck, sir," I said. "And if it was to +blow harder, as it seems likely to do, I don't know what will happen." + +"Nor do I either, Peter, with such a drunken skipper as ours," he +answered. "What are the men about?" + +"They have knocked off from the pumps, and if you don't come on deck and +order them to turn to again they'll let the brig go down without making +any further effort to save her," I answered. + +My remarks had some effect, for though the mate had himself been +drinking, or he would not have spoken as he did to the captain, he yet +had some sense left in his head. He at last got up and came on deck. +All the hands, except the man at the helm, were crouching down under the +weather-bulwarks to avoid the showers of spray flying in dense masses +over us. The sea had increased, and though we had not much sail set, +the brig was heeling over to the furious blasts which every now and then +struck her; if she righted it was only to bend lower still before the +next. + +"Do you want to lose your lives or keep them, lads?" shouted the mate, +after sounding the well. "Well then, I can tell you that if you don't +turn to at once and work hard, and very hard, too, the brig will be at +the bottom before the morning." + +Still the men did not move. Jim was holding on near me. + +"Come, let you and me try what we can do," I said; "we have pumped to +good purpose before now." + +Jim needed no second asking. Seizing the brakes, we began, and pumped +away with all our might, making the water rush across the deck in a full +stream. Before long one man got up and joined, then another, and +another. When we got tired and cried, "Spell ho!" the rest took our +places. + +"I see you want to save your lives, lads," cried the mate, who +occasionally took a spell himself. "But you must keep at it, or it will +be of no use." + +All that day we stood on, the crew pumping without intermission. + +"If the wind moderates we'll set more sail," said the mate; "but the +brig has as much on her as she can bear. We must be soon looking out +for land, though. You, Peter, have a sharp pair of eyes--go aloft, and +try if you can see it." + +Though the vessel was heeling over terribly at the time, I was about to +obey, when Jim said, "No, you stay on deck; let me go, Peter." + +To this I would not agree. + +"Then I'll go with you," said Jim. + +So we both crawled up the weather-rigging together. Jim said he thought +that he saw land on the starboard bow, but I did not get a glimpse of +it, and felt sure that he was mistaken; at all events there was no land +visible ahead. We remained aloft till darkness came on, and there was +no use remaining longer. + +We made our reports to the mate. He said that Jim was right, and that +we had probably passed the South Foreland. + +This was, however, I suspected, only to encourage the men to keep at the +pumps. All night long, spell and spell, we laboured away. When the +morning broke no land was in sight. By this time we were all pretty +well knocked up, and most of the men declared that they could pump no +longer. + +The mate now tried to make them keep on, reminding them that if they did +not they would lose their lives. Some answered that they would take +their chance, but Jim and I and others kept at our duty. Even we, +however, began to feel that the struggle would be useless unless we +should soon make the land, for the mate could not deny that the water +was gaining on us. + +The wind, however, began to moderate, and the sun bursting forth from +between the clouds cheered us up a little. + +At last the captain came on deck. After looking about him for some time +he told me to go below and get his quadrant. He was apparently sober, +and seemed to have forgotten what had happened. + +"Have you a second one, sir?" I asked. + +"No; bring the one I always use," he answered. + +"You hove it at the mate yesterday, sir," I said. "And he fell and +broke his." + +"What lies are you telling, youngster?" he exclaimed, uttering a fearful +oath. Then he shouted to the mate, who had gone forward to be out of +his way. + +"Did I heave my quadrant at you?" + +"Yes, you did," answered the mate. "You made me break mine, too, and if +we lose our lives you'll have them on your head." + +The captain made no reply. I think that the occurrence must have +flashed on his mind. He looked at the compass, took two or three turns +on deck, and then ordered more sail to be set, directly afterwards +changing the ship's course to north-west. I therefore supposed that we +were steering for the Downs, or perhaps for Saint Helens. The men, +though very tired, went on pumping far more willingly than before. + +A bright look-out was kept for land, but no land appeared. For some +hours the brig made fair progress, but as the evening drew on the wind +again got up. The captain had gone below. He could not resist taking a +pull at the rum bottle. We were carrying topsails and topgallantsails. + +A sudden squall laid the brig over. The captain sprang on deck and +shouted-- + +"All hands shorten sail! You, Peter and Jim, up aloft with you and hand +the main-topgallant-sail." + +The blast had passed over and the brig had righted. Jim and I ran aloft +to obey the order. + +The rest of the people were still on deck except one man, who had gone +up the fore-rigging, about to let fly the sheets and brail up; but, +nearly worn out with labouring at the pumps, they must have very slowly +obeyed the orders they received, for almost before a sheet was let go, +another furious squall struck the brig. Over, over she heeled. + +Jim and I slid down into the main-top. + +"Hold on, whatever happens," cried Jim. + +The warning was given not a moment too soon. There was a fearful +cracking sound, the mast quivered, it was almost right over the water, +and just as the brig was on her beam-ends it gave way, tearing out the +chain-plates on the weather side, and Jim and I were hurled with it into +the raging sea. + +I expected every moment that we should be washed off as the mast was +towed along, and so we must have been had not the lee shrouds given way. + +To regain the brig was impossible; the next instant the mast was clear +and the brig drove on. Before she had got a cable's length from us the +foremast also went by the board. + +We could see no one on it as it was towed along. A minute or more +passed. + +The mast to which we clung rose to the top of a sea, we saw the brig +plunge into another. Again we looked, for one instant we saw her stern, +and the next she was gone. + +We were too far off to hear a cry. The foremast must have been drawn +down with her. The boats were securely lashed. Nothing that we could +see remained floating. We knew that our late shipmates had perished. + +Our own condition was fearful in the extreme. At any moment we might be +washed from our hold! Now our head were under water! Now we rose to +the top of a sea and looked down into a deep gulf below us. + +"Hold on; hold on, Peter," cried Jim, who was clinging on the mast close +to me. "Don't give up. Here, I've cut a piece of rope for you. Lash +yourself on with it. I'll get a piece for myself presently." + +I wanted him to secure himself first, but he insisted that I should take +the rope, and I lashed myself with it. He soon afterwards secured +himself in the same way. We might thus prolong our lives; but should we +be able to hold out till a passing vessel might pick us up? I asked +myself. + +We were far away from land, and hours, perhaps days, might go by before +the mast was seen, and only our dead bodies would be found. We had no +food, no fresh water; night was coming on. I did not tell my thoughts +to Jim, nor did he say what was passing in his mind; but we tried to +cheer each other up. For an instant the clouds broke asunder in the +west, and the sun, just as he sank below the horizon, bursting forth, +shed a bright glow over the foaming ocean. + +"He'll not be long down," cried Jim, "and he'll warm us on t'other side +when he rises." + +Jim's remark did me good. We had cause to hope for the best. The +squall which had carried away the brig's masts was the last of the gale. +The wind rapidly fell, and the sea went down, so that in a short time +we could keep ourselves almost entirely out of the water. The mast +became more quiet. Had we not lashed ourselves to it when we fell +asleep as we both did now and then, we might have dropped off. We +talked as much as we could, both to keep up our spirits and to prevent +ourselves from dozing. Thus the night passed. It seemed long enough, +but not so long as I expected. I must have closed my eyes when I heard +Jim shout, "A sail! A sail!" and opening them I saw a large ship under +all sail about a couple of miles away, standing on a course which we +hoped would bring her near us. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +JIM AND I CARRIED OFF AGAINST OUR WILL. + +"Shall we be seen, Jim, think you?" I asked, after we had gazed at the +ship some minutes without speaking. + +"Ain't quite certain," answered Jim, in a sad voice; "if I thought so, I +could sing for joy, that I could, but the ship's a long way off, and +maybe she'll haul closer to the wind and pass us by." + +"Oh, Jim! Let us pray that she'll not do that," I exclaimed. "She's +standing, as far as I can make out, directly towards us, and why should +we fancy that we are to be deserted? Cheer up, Jim! Cheer up!" + +"That's what I'm trying to do," said Jim. "Still we must not make too +certain. If she doesn't pick us up another vessel may. We are in the +track of ships going up and down Channel, and that's one comfort." + +Jim did not say this all at once, for he stopped sometimes to take a +look at the stranger, and every now and then a sea washed up and made us +close our mouths. Still the seas were every instant growing less and +less, and we at last unlashed ourselves that we might move about a +little and stretch our limbs. + +We were on the top, it must be remembered, so that we did not run the +same risk of falling off as we should have done if we had had only the +mast to support us. + +With straining eyes we watched the ship. Still she held the same course +on which she had been steering when we first saw her, and which was +bringing her nearer and nearer to us. + +"Hurrah, Jim! We shall soon be seen, depend on that," I exclaimed, at +last, "and perhaps before to-night we shall be safe on shore. Who can +say that we shan't be landed at Portsmouth itself?" + +"I wish I could say I was as sure as you are, Peter," observed Jim, in a +doleful voice. "If she had seen us it would have been all right; she +would pick us up, but she may alter her course. Even now the wind is +shifting, and she may have to keep away." + +I could not contradict this; still I kept on hoping that we should ere +long be seen. I had a white handkerchief in my pocket, although it was +rolled into a ball by the wet. I pulled it out, and waved it above my +head as high as I could reach. Even now we might have attracted the +attention of those on board the stranger, although we could distinguish +no signal made to us in return. + +"She's a thumping big ship, whatever she is," I remarked. + +"She's high out of the water, and that makes her look bigger," observed +Jim. "I have seen some like her brought up at Spithead, and to my mind +she's a South Sea whaler, outward bound. That's the reason she looks so +high. Yes, I am right, for I can make out her boats hoisted up at the +davits." + +"I think you are right," I said; "but even if she is an outward bound +ship, she'll put us on board another vessel homeward-bound, or land us +on some part of the coast, the back of the Isle of Wight, or Portland." + +"First let us get on board her before we talk of where we shall be +landed," said Jim. "It seems to me as if she was going about. The head +sails are shaking." + +"No, no! the man at the wheel was not minding his helm," I answered. +"I'll wave again." + +"They won't see that little bit of a rag," cried Jim, "I'll try what I +can do. Here, Peter, just take hold of my jacket," he continued, as he +stripped it off, and then loosening his waistband he pulled his shirt +over his head, and began to wave it frantically. I waved my +handkerchief, and then in our eagerness we shouted out at the top of our +voices, as if the faint sounds could be carried as far as the ship. + +Presently our hearts sank, for there was no doubt that the ship was +keeping away. Still, should anyone on board be using a spy-glass, and +turn it towards us, we should, we hoped, be observed. We waved and +shouted even more vehemently than before, but even I was almost in +despair. + +"She's going to pass us after all," cried Jim, "and there's not another +sail in sight." + +Just as he spoke there came a puff of smoke with a bright flash, from +the ship's bows, followed by a sharp report. + +"We are seen! We are seen!" shouted Jim. "That's a signal to us. +Hurrah! Hurrah!" + +The ship now came rapidly on, and we had no longer any doubt about being +rescued. This very circumstance caused a reaction in our feelings, and, +strange as it may seem, we both burst into tears. We recovered +ourselves, however, very soon, and continued waving, still having an +idea that the ship might sail away from us, but on and on she came. +Presently her courses were brailed up, and she hove-to about three +cables' lengths from our mast. Almost at the same instant one of her +boats was lowered, and came pulling towards us as fast as the men could +bend their backs to the oars. In a few minutes kindly hands were +stretched out to help us into the boat. + +"Are you the only two?" asked the mate, who was steering. + +"Yes, sir; all the rest are gone," I answered. + +"Well, we'll hear all about it when we get you on board, lads, for you +both seem as if you wanted looking after," he said. + +The boat leaving the mast, returned rapidly towards the ship. + +While most of the crew scrambled up the sides, the tackles were hooked +on, and we were hoisted up in the boat, from whence we were speedily +handed down on deck. I could not have stood if I had not been +supported, and Jim was much in the same condition. + +We were soon surrounded by strange faces, some looking compassionately +upon us, others with indifference, as if it was a matter of very little +consequence that two boys should have been saved from perishing. + +Meantime the yards were swung round and the ship stood on her course. + +"We must have the lads below at once," said one of the persons standing +round. "They have been many hours wet through and exposed on the mast, +and even now, if we don't look out, they may slip through our fingers." + +"Very true, Doctor Cockle," said another, who was, I saw by his dress, +an officer. "One of them may be put into my cabin, where you can look +after him better than for'ard." + +"And the other can go into mine," said the doctor, the person who had +first spoken. + +No one had asked us any questions; probably they saw by our condition +that we should have been unable to answer them, for both Jim and I were +fast verging towards unconsciousness. + +We were at once carried below, when I was put into the mate's cabin, +where my clothes were stripped off by the doctor's orders, and, being +rubbed dry, I was placed between the blankets. The doctor, who had been +looking after Jim, soon came and gave me something out of a glass, which +seemed to warm me up wonderfully. But even then I could not have spoken +if my life had depended upon it. + +"Get some warm broth as quickly as you can," I heard the doctor say to +someone, he in the meantime rubbing my feet and hands and chest. It +seemed as if scarcely more than two or three minutes had passed when a +basin of hot broth was brought me, which I drank without difficulty, and +it did me more good than the stuff in the glass. + +"You may go to sleep now, my lad," said the doctor, in a kind tone; +"you'll do well. You shall tell us by-and-by how you and your companion +came to be on the mast." + +I obeyed the doctor's orders, and scarcely had the door been closed than +I was fast asleep. I was awakened by the doctor coming in, accompanied +by a boy who brought some more soup and some bread, and which, being +very hungry, I thankfully swallowed. + +"You can eat something more substantial now," said the doctor, and he +told the boy to bring in some fowl and more bread from the +breakfast-table. + +By this I guessed that I must have had a long spell of sleep, and that a +whole day and a night had passed since we were taken on board. I +eagerly ate all that was given me. + +"You may get up now, my boy, and dress, and we will find another berth +for you; we must not keep Mr Griffiths out of his bed," said the +doctor. + +"I would not do that on any account, sir," I said; "I feel quite strong, +and am accustomed to live forward." + +I soon dressed, and was glad to see that Jim also was up. There were +two apprentices on board, who lived on the half-deck, and the doctor +said that the first mate promised to have some berths knocked up for us +with them. + +"How did you come to be on board the vessel which went down?" asked the +doctor, when I accompanied him on deck. + +From the kind way he spoke I was encouraged to give him a full account +of myself and Jim, so I told him that he and I belonged to Portsmouth, +and had gone in the _Good Intent_ to Bergen; and how she had lost her +masts, and the crew had been washed overboard. How the captain had +died, and we had done our best to keep the brig afloat, and had been +driven in close to Shetland, and that I had found a relative there, and +was coming south in the _Nancy_ to fetch my sister. He then asked me +about my father, and I told him that he had been lost at Spithead, and +that mother had died, and old Tom had taken care of Mary and me, and +how, after he had been blown up in the ship at Spithead, Jim and I had +managed to gain our bread and support Mary and Nancy till a claimant +appeared for old Tom's property, and our boat had been taken from us, +and we had been turned out of the house, and should have been in a bad +way if the good Quaker, Mr Gray, had not come to our assistance. + +The doctor listened attentively, and he then asked me what sort of man +my father was, and whether I had a brother in the navy. + +I described my father, and then said that Jack had gone away on board +the _Lapwing_ brig of war, but that he was supposed to have been cut off +by savages in one of her boats when in the Indian seas. At all events, +that we had never since heard of him. + +"That's very strange," he observed; "I think, Peter Trawl, that we have +met before, when you were a very little chap. Do you remember your +father taking off the doctor and the mate of a ship lying at Spithead, +when you and your brother Jack were in the boat, and he was to be put on +board the brig?" + +"Yes, sir," I said, looking up at his face: "I recollect it perfectly, +as it was the last time I saw Jack, though I little thought then that I +should never see him again." + +"I was the doctor, and the first mate of this ship was my companion. +When I first heard your name, as it is a peculiar one, I all of a sudden +recollected that it was that of the boatman who took Mr Griffiths and +me off on the occasion I speak of. We are now brothers-in-law, and have +ever since gone to sea together--that is to say, when we have gone to +sea, for both of us have taken long spells on shore. If it hadn't been +for that, Mr Griffiths would have been a captain years ago." + +"I am very glad to meet you and him again, sir," I said; "and now I look +at you I fancy I recollect your countenance, as I did your voice. You +were not as well accustomed to the sea then as you are now." + +"No," he answered, laughing. "That was my first voyage. I sometimes +wish that I had lived comfortably on shore, and made it my last, but I +got accustomed to a roving life, and having no regular business or tie, +when circumstances compelled Mr Griffiths--who married my sister--to +come to sea again, I agreed to accompany him." + +I felt sure from the kind way in which Doctor Cockle spoke that he would +wish to serve me. + +I asked him if the ship was going to put into Saint Helens, or if not, +would he get the captain to land Jim and me at Portland? + +"We are some way to the westward of Portland, already," he answered. +"It is possible that he may land you at Plymouth or Falmouth, or if not +put you on board some pilot or fishing boat, or any vessel we may fall +in with coming up Channel." + +"Surely, sir, he would not carry us away from home? I would give +anything to be on shore, where my young sister is expecting me, and it +would break her heart to fancy I was lost, which she would do if I did +not appear," I said. + +"As Mr Griffiths and I only joined the ship at Hull, ten days ago, we +are not very intimate with the captain: but I hope he would not refuse +your request." + +The doubtful way in which he spoke made me feel very unhappy. Still, I +hoped that when I told the captain the strong reasons I had for wishing +to be put on shore as soon as possible, he would not refuse. + +The doctor left me to attend to one of the men who was sick forward, and +I joined Jim, who had also come on deck. I had a long talk with him +about the matter. He fancied we were only then just abreast of the +Downs, and that the captain would put in willingly enough for the sake +of getting rid of us. It was a great disappointment to find that we +were so far down Channel, and that we should thus, at all events, have a +long journey back to Portsmouth. Still we neither of us doubted for a +moment that we should be put on shore somewhere to the westward, as I +saw by a look I had at the compass that we were standing for the land. + +While we were talking, the captain, whom we had not yet seen, came on +deck. He was a fine, tall, sailor-like looking man, with a handsome +countenance and large eyes, which seemed to take in everything at a +glance--a person of whom the roughest crew would stand in awe. + +His bright eyes fell on Jim and me; he beckoned us to come up, and, +looking at me, bade me give him the particulars of the loss of the brig, +about which Mr Griffiths and the doctor had told him. + +I gave him the account as he desired, and then thought that I might +venture to ask him to put Jim and me on shore, for that, as may be +supposed, was the thing uppermost in my mind. + +"We will see about that, my lads," he answered. "If the wind holds as +it now does it won't cause us any delay, but I can make no promises. +Boys at your age ought to wish to see the world, and we can find +employment for you on board. You are sharp fellows, I can see, or you +would not have saved your lives. One of the apprentices isn't worth his +salt, and the other will slip his cable before long, I suspect. His +friends insisted on my taking him, fancying that the voyage would +restore him to health." + +The captain spoke in so free-and-easy a way that the awe with which I +was at first inclined to regard him vanished. + +The wind, I should have said, had shifted to the westward of south. We +were standing about north-west, a course which would carry us over to +the English coast before long. We were obliged to be content with the +sort of promise that the captain had made, and I hoped that when the +doctor and Mr Griffiths spoke to him, that he would not refuse to put +us on shore. + +Though Jim and I were well enough to walk about the deck, we were too +weak to venture aloft, or we should have been at the masthead looking +out for land. We went forward, however, keeping our eyes over the +starboard bow, where we expected every instant to see it. + +Several of the men spoke to us good-naturedly, and were as eager as the +officers had been to hear what had happened to us. While we were +standing there looking out, a lad came up and said, "So I hear you +fellows are to be our messmates. What are your names?" + +I told him. + +"Mine's Ned Horner," he said, "and I hope we shall be friends, for I +can't make anything of the fellow who messes with me, George Esdale. +There's no fun in him, and he won't talk or do anything when it's his +watch below but read and sing psalms." + +"I shall be glad to be friends with you," I answered, "but I don't +suppose it will be for long, as I expect we shall leave the ship +to-night or to-morrow morning." + +"That may or may not be," he remarked, with a laugh. "Have you been +long at sea?" + +I told him that I had been brought up to it from my boyhood. + +"Well, you have the advantage of me, for this is my first voyage; and +Esdale didn't know the stem from the stern when he first came on board. +Now come along to the half-deck; he and I are going to dinner; I suppose +you'll join us?" + +Jim and I were beginning to feel hungry, and willingly accepted Horner's +invitation. + +The savoury whiffs which came out of the caboose as we passed made me +feel more eager than ever for something to eat. + +Horner took us down to the half-deck, where we found Esdale, of whom he +had spoken, seated on a chest reading. He was a pale, sickly-looking +youth, taller a good deal than Jim. + +He put down his book and held out his hand to shake ours. + +"It's your turn to go for the dinner," he said to Horner, "and it must +be ready by this time, but I'll go if you wish it." + +"Well, you may go," said Horner; "I want to do the honours to these +fellows. Take care that you don't capsize with the things as you come +along the deck." + +Then, without another word, Esdale got up, and putting his book into the +chest, went forward. + +"I make him do just what I like," said Horner, in a contemptuous tone. +"Take care that you don't treat him in the same way, for if he has too +many masters he may be inclined to kick." + +Before long Esdale returned with a bowl of pea-soup, and a plate at the +top of it containing some potatoes, and a piece of fat boiled pork. + +"Now fall to, youngsters," said Horner, in a patronising tone. "I am +sorry not to be able to offer you better fare." + +While he was speaking he got out of a locker four plates and two metal +spoons and two wooden ones. + +We did ample justice to the dinner, as we had been accustomed to nothing +better while we were on board the _Nancy_. After the meal was finished +we returned on deck, though Esdale did not offer to accompany us, as he +spent his watch below, as Horner had said, in reading, writing, or +singing in a low voice to himself. + +We passed the afternoon looking out for the land. At length, when night +came on, in spite of my anxiety to see the coast, and the long sleep I +had had, I felt scarcely able to keep my eyes open. Still, I should +probably have remained on deck after dark had not the doctor come to us +and said, "I have spoken to the captain, lads, and he promises to put +you on shore to-morrow morning; so now go and turn in, for you require +sleep." + +We went to the half-deck, where we found that the carpenter had knocked +up some rough bunks, in which some mattresses and blankets had been +placed. We were both glad enough to turn in. I observed that Esdale, +before he did so, knelt down and said his prayers. It was Horner's +watch on deck, so that he was not present. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +THE VOYAGE OF THE "INTREPID" BEGUN. + +I slept right through the night, and was surprised to find when I opened +my eyes that it was daylight. Jim and I at once turned out and went on +deck. + +There was the land, broad on the starboard bow, still at some distance. +When I looked aloft I saw that the yards were square, and studding-sails +on either side. A strong north-easterly wind was blowing, and we were +running down Channel. + +The captain, the first mate, and the doctor were on deck. Jim and I +gazed eagerly at the land. + +I went up to the doctor. + +"Whereabouts are we, sir?" I asked. + +"We are off the Start, my lad." + +"Off the Start!" I exclaimed. "Oh, sir, won't the captain put into +Plymouth to land us as he promised? Do speak to him, sir." + +"These lads are very anxious to be landed, Captain Hawkins," he said. +"It is of the greatest importance to young Trawl here, and it would not +much delay us." + +The mate spoke in the same way, and entreated the captain even in +stronger language than Dr Cockle had used. + +"No, no," he answered. "Very likely they do wish to be put on shore, +but we cannot lose a moment of this fine breeze. The trip won't do them +any harm, and they'll thank me for it by-and-by." + +Jim, when he heard this, was too angry on my account to speak, but I +lifted up my hands and implored the captain to have pity on my young +sister, if not on me. + +"Very fine, my lad," he answered, with a laugh; "but you are not quite +of so much importance as you suppose. It might delay us not only for a +few hours, but for days, perhaps, and, doctor, I cannot listen to you. +We've got a favourable breeze, and I intend to make the best use of it." + +Once more I implored and entreated that the captain would not carry us +away from home. All was of no use; he would not listen either to the +doctor or the mate, or us. At length, growing angry, he said he would +not hear another word on the subject, and Jim and I, by the doctor's +advice, went for'ard to be out of his way. There we stood, watching +with straining eyes the shore, past which we were running, and at length +the Land's End came in sight. + +"Cheer up, my lads," said our kind friend, who came for'ard to us. "The +wind may change, and we may be driven back, or we may be able to put you +on board some homeward-bound ship. Cheer up! Cheer up!" + +The land, as I stood gazing at it, rapidly sank below the horizon. I +strained my eyes--the last faint line had disappeared. I could have +cried, but my grief was too bitter for tears. Not that I cared for +being carried away on my own account, but I thought of the sorrow my +kind relatives in Shetland would feel--Mr Trail and his daughter, and +dear little Maggie, and more than all how Mary would feel as she waited +day after day for the arrival of the brig which was never to appear, and +then, when all hope was gone, how she would mourn for us, and Nancy also +would, I knew, share her feelings. + +If I could have sent but a line to my sister to tell her I was safe, +though I might be long absent, it would not have so much mattered. Mr +Gray would take very good care of her, and she would have written to Mr +Troil to explain what had happened; but as it was I could scarcely bear +it. + +"The doctor told us to cheer up, and that's what I say to you, Peter," +cried Jim, trying to console me. "Maybe we shall fall in with a +homeward-bound ship after all, though I don't think there's much chance +of our seeing the shores of old England again for a long time to come if +we don't, as it looks as if the wind would hold in its present quarter +till we are well out in the Atlantic." + +Jim was right. With yards squared and every stitch of canvas the ship +could carry, we bowled along at a rate which soon left our native land +far astern. + +I had been too long at sea, and knew the duties of a sailor too well, to +feel for myself so much as many fellows of my age under similar +circumstances would have done. Jim also tried to rouse me up, so +instead of moping I determined to exert myself. I still had the hope to +support me that before long we might fall in with a homeward-bound ship, +and I concluded that the captain would, without hesitation, put Jim and +me on board her. + +The day after we took our departure from the Land's End he saw us both +together on deck. + +"What are those youngsters idling there for?" he exclaimed, turning to +Mr Griffiths. "Put them in a watch at once, and let me see that they +do their duty. If they don't, let them look out for squalls!" + +"Ay, ay, sir!" answered the mate, who, though of a very independent +spirit, always spoke respectfully to the captain. + +He considerately placed us both in the same watch, knowing that we +should like it, as we should be able to talk at night when we were on +deck and had no especial duty to perform. + +We had no reason to complain of the way the men treated us, rough as +some of them were. The doctor and Mr Griffiths always behaved kindly, +but the captain took no further notice of us, except when he ordered Jim +or me to do something. To my surprise, I found that the ship was the +_Intrepid_--the very one my father and I had put Mr Griffiths and the +doctor on board so many years before. She was then quite a new ship, +and, being strongly-built, she was as sound as ever. I have spoken of +her as a ship, but she was barque-rigged, as almost all whalers are, +barques being more easily handled than ship-rigged craft. The +_Intrepid_ was upwards of three hundred tons burden, with a crew of +thirty hands all told, and stored, I found, for a cruise of two years or +more. She carried six whale-boats, and materials for building others +should any of them be lost. There were three mates, a carpenter and +cooper and their mates; an armourer, a steward, and cook; four +boat-steerers, four able seamen, six ordinary seamen, the doctor, two +apprentices, Jim, and me. + +I had never before been on board a whaler, and as I listened to the long +yarns of the men describing their hairbreadth escapes and the exciting +chases after the monsters of the deep, I felt, had I not had such cogent +reasons for returning home, that I would very gladly have gone out to +the South Seas to witness with my own eyes the scenes the men spoke of. +Still I longed as much as ever to get back to England. + +Jim and I made it out pretty well with the two apprentices. Horner was +inclined to look down upon Jim for his want of education. Esdale +treated us both alike with gentleness and consideration, and offered to +teach Jim to read and write if he wished to learn. It had never +occurred to me to try and do so. Indeed, although we had been so much +together, I had not had many opportunities. + +The second night we were on board I was awakened by feeling some hairy +creature nestling by my side. I sung out, not a little frightened. + +"What's up?" cried Horner, who had just come below to rouse Jim and me +out to keep our watch. + +"A great big brute of some sort has come into my bunk; I wonder it +hasn't bitten me," I answered. + +"Why, I've got another here!" exclaimed Jim, who just then awoke. "What +in the world is it?" + +Horner laughed loudly. + +"Why, they're our ferrets," he answered. "Didn't you see them before?" + +"No, and I never wish to see them again," answered Jim, as he flung the +creature down on the deck. + +Horner then told us that the captain had taken a couple on board at Hull +to kill the rats, and that although a hutch had been made for them the +creatures always managed to get out at night for the sake of obtaining a +warm berth, and that if we put them into their hutch they would be sure +to find their way back again into his or Esdale's bunks before they had +been many minutes asleep. + +The truth was the ferrets were more afraid of the rats than the rats +were of them. We bore the annoyance for three nights more, and then, by +the unanimous consent of our mess, we got Horner to carry them down into +the hold, from which they never ascended, and we concluded that they +either got drowned in the bilge water or were eaten up by the rats. + +We had not been long at sea before a heavy gale sprang up, but as the +wind was from the westward we were able to lay our course. + +To Jim and me it mattered very little, although the waves were much +higher than I had seen them in the North Sea, but poor Esdale suffered +very much, and Horner's conceit was taken down a good many pegs. Jim +and I did our best to look after them, and to try to get them to eat +something, but they could only swallow liquids. + +"Oh, let me alone! Let me alone!" cried Horner. + +The doctor came to see Esdale frequently, and advised that he should be +taken to a spare berth in the cabin, but the captain would not allow it. + +"All lads get sick when they first come to sea if there's a gale of +wind, and he'll come round again by-and-by," he remarked in his usual +off-hand way. + +This was not told to Esdale, who said, indeed, that he preferred +remaining where he was. + +As the weather was tolerably warm, I believe that he was as well off on +the half-deck as he would have been in the cabin. + +At last the gale came to an end--or rather we ran out of it. Esdale got +somewhat better again, but I observed that he had changed greatly in +appearance since we came on board. + +I had now to abandon all hopes of the ship putting back, but there was +still a possibility of getting on board a homeward-bound vessel. + +Two days after the gale had ceased, while I was below, I heard the cry +of "Sail, ho!" from the man at the masthead. + +I hurried on deck. We had the wind abeam, and so had she--a soldier's +wind as it is called. We should meet the approaching vessel before long +and pass each other, with not a cable's length between us. + +I watched her eagerly. We drew closer and closer to each other. When +we got nearly abreast I went up to the first mate and asked him what she +was. + +"She's from the Brazils, bound for Liverpool," he answered. + +Just then I saw the captain come on deck. Forgetting what he was I +rushed up to him. + +"Oh, Captain Hawkins, will you put Jim and me on board her?" I +exclaimed. "You don't know how much I want to get home; it won't delay +you ten minutes to put us on board." + +"Ten minutes of this fine breeze lost for the sake of a boy like you," +he answered, with a scornful laugh. "I expended more than ten in +heaving to to pick you up, and that was as much as you are worth. Go +forward, you young monkey, and give me no more of your impudence." + +Undaunted by his heartless answer, I again and again implored that he +would put me on board the Liverpool ship, but he stood looking +contemptuously at me without uttering a word, till Jim, seeing that I +was making no way, coming up, hat in hand, exclaimed-- + +"If you'll put Peter here on board yonder ship, sir, that he may go home +to his young sister and friends, I'll stay here and work for you, and be +your slave for as many years as you may want me. Do, sir--do let poor +Peter go!" + +"Off with you for'ard," thundered the captain, with a fierce oath. "How +dare you speak to me? Away, both of you! Somebody has been putting you +up to this, I know." And he glanced angrily at Dr Cockle and the mate. + +"If you mean me, Captain Hawkins, I know that the lad has very good +reasons for wishing to return home, but I did not advise him or Jim +Pulley to speak to you. I certainly wish that you would put Peter Trawl +on board that homeward-bound ship." + +"You may wish what you like, but I am not going to allow what I choose +to do to be found fault with by you or any other man on board this +ship!" cried the captain, turning on his heel. "So look out for +yourself," he added, glancing half over his shoulder. + +The ordinary salutes were exchanged, and the two vessels stood on their +course. + +My heart felt as if it would burst with indignation and sorrow. Had the +wind been light, I might, perhaps, have been able to put a letter on +board, even although the captain would not have let me go. + +Esdale tried to comfort me, and advised me to have one written ready to +send should another opportunity occur. + +The first land we made soon after this was Madeira. Except the coast of +Norway, I had seen no foreign country, and as we passed it within a +quarter of a mile, it struck me as very beautiful and fertile. + +The wind being light we tarred down the rigging, and a few days +afterwards, when we were about eight hundred miles from the land, one +morning, on coming on deck, I noticed that the shrouds and every +freshly-tarred rope looked as red as if they had been just painted. I +asked the doctor, who allowed me to speak to him in a familiar way, what +had caused this, and he told me that it was the red sand blown off the +coast of Africa, and that it was a common occurrence in these latitudes. + +We passed in sight of the Cape de Verde islands, one of which, called +Fogo, seemed of a prodigious height. The first place we touched at was +the island of Brava, into which the captain put to obtain fresh +provisions. + +"Now is my time," I thought. "If I can go on shore here, I shall be +able to get back by the next homeward-bound vessel which calls at the +place." + +Jim proposed that we should smuggle ourselves on board some shore-boat, +but to this I would not agree. + +"We will go with the captain's leave," I answered, "and he surely will +not refuse it now that he has no excuse for doing so." + +I therefore went up to him as soon as he came on deck. + +"Captain Hawkins," I said, in as firm a voice as I could command, "again +I ask you will you allow Jim Pulley and me to leave your ship and wait +on shore until we can get a passage home?" + +"Peter Trawl, if that's your name, I shall do no such thing," he +answered. "If I find you attempting to go on shore I shall put you in +irons." + +I knew from previous experience that there was no use in expostulating. +When I told the doctor, he could scarcely conceal his indignation. + +"I feel inclined to help you, my lad, at every risk," he said, "but we +must be cautious. Wait until the evening, and then we will see what can +be done." + +I thanked him heartily, and promised to follow his advice. Jim was +ready for anything. + +The doctor said he would go on shore and then send off a boat which +would wait under the starboard bow, and that we must manage to slip into +her as soon as it was dark. + +The captain in the meantime had landed, but returned very shortly with +four tall negroes, whom he had engaged to pull the 'midship oars in the +whale-boats. They are, I should say, first-rate oarsmen, and have a +gentle disposition, ready to obey, and are happy under all +circumstances. Besides the negroes, two boats loaded with fresh +provisions came alongside. + +These were soon hoisted on board, when the captain ordered a gun to be +fired and Blue Peter to be hoisted, a signal to all those on shore to +return immediately. + +Dr Cockle and the third mate, with the cooper, whom the captain thought +he could trust, had landed. + +Presently the captain ordered another and then another gun to be fired +to hasten them, and then to my bitter disappointment he directed Mr +Griffiths to loosen sails and heave up the anchor. + +According to Esdale's advice I had begun a letter to Mary, but had not +had time to finish it. Hoping that I should not be missed by the +captain, I ran below to add a few lines and then to close it, under the +belief that I should be able to send it off by a shore-boat. I had to +get out Esdale's ink-bottle and pen, which he had before lent me; the +pen would not write, so I had to search for his penknife, and to try and +mend it as well as I could, but having little experience in the art, +this took me some time. I at last got the letter closed with a wafer, +and directed to the care of Mr Gray, when I sprang with it on deck. +Just then the eye of the captain fell on me. + +"Come aft here, youngster," he shouted. "Where have you been away from +your duty?" + +I had the letter in my hand. + +"I wanted to get this ready to send on shore, sir," I answered, holding +it up. + +"No excuse for leaving your station. Take that!" he cried, as he gave +me a blow on the side of the head with his half-clenched fist, which +brought me to the deck, and nearly stunned me. When I recovered myself +the first person I saw was Dr Cockle, who, looking at me +compassionately, said, "Come below, Peter, and I'll try to put your head +to rights, for you seem to be much hurt. How did it happen?" + +"I can't tell you now, sir, for I much want to send this letter off by a +shore-boat," I answered. + +As I spoke I observed that the crew were hoisting away and sheeting home +the sails. I ran to the side and jumped on to the main chains. The +only remaining boat was just shoving off. I shouted to the people in +her to come and take my letter; but they did not understand me, or did +not care to remain alongside, as the ship was rapidly gathering way; +another stroke of their oars and they were at a distance from the ship. +I waved and shouted to them to come back, but they did not heed me, and +just then I heard the captain calling to me in an angry tone to attend +to my duty. I was obliged to obey, expecting another cuff harder than +the last; but when he saw me begin to pull and haul with the rest he +said no more. Perhaps he observed the blood streaming from my head. +The sails were now sheeted home, the yards trimmed, and the _Intrepid_ +stood away from the land. + +Another opportunity of making my escape was lost. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +WE CROSS THE LINE AND ATTEMPT TO ROUND CAPE HORN. + +Jim was always saying, "Cheer up, Peter, cheer up!" but it was a very +hard matter to be cheery when I thought of the cruel way in which I had +been treated, and the sorrow my sister must be feeling at my supposed +loss. I tried, as advised, to keep up my spirits, and did my best to +obey the orders I received. + +Jim observed that it was all the same to him. His friends would not +grieve much over his loss, and, as far as he was concerned, he would as +soon be chasing whales in the Pacific as working a wherry in Portsmouth +Harbour. + +As we approached the line I found that the men were making preparations +for going through the ceremony which was performed on board most vessels +in those days. One of the boat-steerers, Sam Ringold, who stood six +feet four in his shoes, and was proportionably broad, was chosen to act +the part of Neptune, and the cooper's mate, who was as wide as he was +high, that of his wife. The armourer took the part of the barber, and +the carpenter's mate, who was lank and tall, the doctor. + +Three of the ordinary seamen, the smallest fellows on board, were their +attendants. All the chests were searched for the required dresses, and +some curtains belonging to the cabin found their way forward to form a +petticoat for Mrs Neptune. Some gold paper and pasteboard were +manufactured into crowns, and some fishes' tails were ingeniously formed +for the attendants. I discovered the preparations going forward, but +was charged not to let Horner, or Esdale, or Jim know anything about +them. I was more favoured than the rest of my messmates by the men, who +seemed to have taken a liking to me; whether it was because they had +heard how I had assisted to save the _Good Intent_, or thought that I +was ill-treated by the captain, I do not know, but so it was. No one +ever abused me, or gave me the taste of a rope's-end. + +We had been sailing on with light winds when one morning, after the +decks had been washed down and the other duties of the ship performed, +having run on for a short distance, we lay almost becalmed with the sea +as smooth as a mill-pond. The captain and his mates were seen to be +taking an observation, and soon afterwards it became known that we were +just crossing the line. + +"I've often heard about it, but I can't say I see any line," said Jim. + +"Nor can I!" cried Horner, who was looking out eagerly. + +Presently a gruff voice was heard, hailing from forward. + +"What ship is that, shutting out the light from my palace window?" + +"The _Intrepid_" answered Captain Hawkins, who with the mates and doctor +were standing aft. + +"Then go ahead, will you, or I'll indict you for a nuisance," cried the +voice, the remark producing a general laugh. + +"I can't think of standing on until I have had the pleasure of a visit +from Daddy Neptune," said the captain. + +"Ay, ay! Glad to hear that. Then I'll come aboard in a jiffy with my +royal missus and some of our precious young family; and maybe, captain, +you'll have something to give them, for they're very fond of any hot +potions which may come in their way." + +"Be smart about it, then, Daddy, for I see a breeze springing up, and I +may have to run you out of sight before you and your precious family +have had time to take a sip apiece," cried the captain, who seemed to be +in far better humour than usual. + +All this time Jim and Horner were standing with me abaft the main +hatchway, with their eyes staring and their mouths agape, wondering what +was going to happen. + +Presently, over the bows, appeared the strangest group I had ever set +eyes on. + +First there came Daddy Neptune with a glittering crown, a beard of oakum +reaching to his middle, a girdle of rope yarn round his waist, a cloak +covered with strange devices, and a huge trident in his hand. + +His wife wore a crown like that of her husband, with ringlets of the +same material as his beard, a huge sash of some gaily-coloured stuff, +and a cloak formed out of a blanket. The barber had in his hand a pot +containing lather, a big bowl tucked under one arm, with a razor a yard +long and a shaving brush of huge size under the other; while the +children or attendant imps--for it was hard to say what they were-- +waddled about in green clothing, looking like sea monsters, behind them. + +"Well, I have heard of strange things, but these chaps are stranger than +ever I saw," cried Jim. "Where do they come from?" + +"From the bottom of the sea, I suppose," said Horner, who evidently did +not admire their looks as they advanced aft. + +The captain, after a little palavering, ordered the steward to bring up +some grog and serve it out to them. Then retiring a short way forward, +Neptune commanded all who had not before visited his dominions to come +and pay their respects to him. + +We all did so, not feeling very comfortable as to what was to follow, +when his attendants got hold of Jim and me. Horner tried to escape, but +was quickly captured and brought back. + +No one interfered with Esdale, who had, I found, crossed Neptune's hand +with a crown-piece; which, of course, none of us were able to do. A +huge tub of water had been placed in front of his majesty. The barber +now came forward and insisted on shaving all those who were for the +first time crossing the line. Three of the ordinary seamen were novices +like us. + +The barber first lathered our chins with some abominable mixture from +his pot, and then, scraping it off with his razor, finally ducked our +heads into the tub. Horner, when undergoing the operation, had the +brush several times thrust into his mouth, and his whole face and head +daubed over. When he opened his mouth to expostulate, in again went the +brush. As he kicked and screamed and spluttered, he was treated worse +and worse. + +Jim, taking a lesson from me, kept his mouth shut. I was let off even +more easily than he was. Once Horner got loose, but instead of wisely +remaining on deck and holding his tongue, he ran up the rigging and +began abusing Daddy Neptune and his gang, whereupon he was again +captured and compelled to undergo the same operation as before. + +Blacky the cook next brought out his fiddle, and Neptune and his party-- +indeed, the whole crew--began dancing round and round, singing and +shouting every now and then as an interlude, catching hold of the "green +hands" and pitching them into the tub, chase being always made after +those who attempted to escape. + +The grog circulated so rapidly among the crew that they would all soon +have been intoxicated had not the captain, in a thundering voice, +ordered them to knock off and bring their tomfoolery to an end. + +They obeyed. Neptune and his followers dived below, and presently +returned like stout seamen as they were. + +The order was given to brace the yards sharp up, and, with an easterly +wind, we stood on our course. + +The next land we made was a solitary islet. Near it stood a remarkable +rock called the "Ninepin," detached from the land. The doctor told me +that it is eighteen hundred feet in height. It had the appearance of a +monument standing out of the ocean. There are no inhabitants on the +island, nor any good landing-place, but fresh water is to be obtained +there, as well as pigs and vegetables. + +We soon after this began to fall in with stormy weather. We found our +ship, which had remarkably sharp ends, very wet, and as we were now +approaching the land of storms in the dead of winter, with the days +scarcely more than seven hours long, the greatest caution was deemed +necessary. The royal masts were sent down and replaced by stump +topgallant masts. The flying jib-boom was sent in and the studding-sail +booms were also sent down. All the boats except one were got in, the +hatches were battened down, and everything was done to make the ship +light aloft. + +We were nearly off the River Plate when there were indications of an +approaching gale. The hitherto blue sky was overcast, and the scud flew +rapidly along, as if impelled by a hurricane. + +"You youngsters will have to look out for yourselves before long," said +Tom Ringold, the boat-steerer, who had acted the part of Neptune. "We +shall be having old Harry Cane aboard here, and he's a precious deal +more difficult to tackle than Daddy Neptune, who paid us a visit on the +line." + +"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I wonder what we shall do?" cried Horner, who did +not exactly understand what was going to happen. + +"Why, hold on to the weather-rigging, if you haven't to be pulling and +hauling, and duck your head if you see a sea coming," answered Jim, who +understood the joke about Harry Cane. + +In a short time the captain ordered the topsails to be reefed and the +mainsail to be stowed and all the lighter sails handed. Jim and I were +sent aloft to the fore-topgallant sailyard to furl the sail. We were +laying out when, to my horror, I saw Jim disappear. I nearly fell from +the yard myself, from thinking that he would be dashed to pieces, and +that I should lose my staunchest friend. + +"Jim! Jim! Oh, save him! Save him!" I shouted out, not knowing what +I was saying, or considering how useless it was to shout. + +"Here I am all right, Peter," cried Jim, and his voice seemed to come +not far from me. + +What was my joy to discover that he had been caught in the belly of the +sail, and there he lay as if he had been in a hammock, the reef tackle +having been hauled out just at the time he fell. He quickly scrambled +on to the yard again, resuming his duty as if nothing particular had +occurred. We having finished our work came down. Scarcely was this +done when the gale struck us, taking us right aback. The cabin +dead-lights not being properly secured, the cabin was nearly filled with +water. The carpenter and his mates hurried aft to close them, and we +youngsters were sent below to help him, and put things to rights. + +When this was done down came the rain in such torrents that it seemed as +if it would swamp the ship, while as she fell off into the trough of the +sea, she began to roll in a way which threatened every instant to shake +the masts out of her. It seemed wonderful that they stood. Had the +rigging not been well set up they must have gone. The only accident I +have to mention was that one of our remaining pigs was killed, but this +did not grieve the crew, for as we had no salt on board, and the meat +would not keep, the portion not required for the cabin was served out to +us. + +Another, and what might have proved a far more serious matter, occurred. +Tom Ringold was steering, when a sea striking the rudder with +tremendous force knocked him over the wheel, carrying away several of +the brass spokes as it flew round, and sent him against the bulwarks. +For a moment everyone thought he was killed, but he picked himself up, +and although he could not use his arm for two or three days, at the end +of that time he was able to do his duty as well as ever. + +That storm soon came to an end, but the old hands told us that we might +look out for others, and so the captain seemed to think, for although he +was anxious to get round Cape Horn we were always under snug canvas at +night, and during the day a bright look-out was kept, lest one of those +sudden squalls called Pamperos might come off the land and whip the +masts out of the ship, or lay her on her beam-ends, as frequently +happens when the hands are not ready to shorten sail. We, however, got +to the southward of the Falkland Islands without accident. + +My poor friend and messmate Esdale severely felt the cold which we now +began to experience. He came on deck to attend to his duty, but a +hacking cough and increasing weakness made him very unfit for it. The +doctor at last insisted on his remaining below, although Esdale declared +that he would rather be on deck and try to do his best. + +"But I insist on your remaining in your bunk until we round Cape Horn +and reach a warmer latitude," said Dr Cockle. "I will see the captain, +and tell him plainly that he will be answerable for your death, should +he insist on your doing duty any longer." + +Esdale still pleaded, but the doctor was peremptory. + +"It is his only chance," he said to me; "I cannot promise that he will +live. He will, however, certainly die if he is exposed to this biting +wind and constant rain. I intend to tell the captain, but you, Trawl, +go and stay with him whenever you can; it will cheer him up, poor +fellow, to have someone to talk to, and that dull Horner cannot speak +two words of sense." + +Before the doctor had time to do as he proposed, Captain Hawkins, +missing Esdale from the deck, ordered me to tell him to come up. + +This I determined not to do, for it was blowing hard at the time from +the south-west and the wind would have chilled him through in a minute. +I, however, went below, and after remaining a little time, I returned, +and said-- + +"Esdale is very ill, sir, and is not fit to come on deck." + +"How do you know that, youngster?" asked the captain, in an angry tone. + +"Dr Cockle has seen him and says so," I answered boldly. + +"Tell him to come up, or I'll send a couple of hands to bring him neck +and crop," thundered the captain. + +I was as determined as before not to tell Esdale, knowing that he would +come if sent for. + +"Go below and bring up that lazy young rascal," shouted the captain to +Tom Ringold and another man standing near him. + +I immediately dived below to persuade Tom to let Esdale remain in his +bunk. + +"It will be his death if he is exposed to this weather," I said. + +"I am not the fellow to kill a shipmate if I can help it," answered Tom. +"Tell him to stay and I'll take the consequences." + +When Tom returned on deck, the captain enquired in a fierce voice why he +had not carried out his orders. + +"Because he is too ill to be moved, Captain Hawkins," answered Tom, +promptly. + +The captain, uttering an oath, and taking a coil of rope in his hand, +was just about to go below when Doctor Cockle came on deck, and +guessing, from the few words he heard, what was the captain's intention, +came up to him and said-- + +"It would kill the lad to bring him up, and as he is my patient, I have +told him to stay below." + +"Am I to be thwarted and insulted on board my own ship?" cried the +captain. "Whether he is ill or well, up he comes." + +And going down to the half-deck, he asked Esdale why he had not obeyed +his orders. + +Esdale, of course, had not received them, and said so, beginning at the +same time to dress. Before, however, he could finish putting on his +clothes the captain seized him by the arm and dragged him up. Scarcely, +however, had he reached the deck when the poor fellow fainted right +away. Tom, on seeing this, lifted him in his arms and carried him down +again. + +"I warn you, Captain Hawkins, that you will cause the death of the lad +if you compel him to be on deck in this weather," said the doctor +firmly, as he turned to follow Tom and Esdale. + +The captain, making no remark, walked aft, and did not again interfere. + +Whether that sudden exposure to the cold had any serious effect I do not +know, but Esdale after this got worse and worse. Whenever I could I +went and sat by his side, when he used to talk to me of the happy land +for which he was bound. He did not seem even to wish to live, and yet +he was as cheerful as anyone on board. The doctor and first mate used +also to come and talk to him, and he spoke to them as he did to me, and +urged them to put their trust where he was putting his. I believe that +his exhortations had a beneficial influence on them, as they had on me. +When I said how I hoped that he would get better after we were round the +Cape, he answered-- + +"I shall never see the Horn, Peter; I am as sure of that as I can be of +anything." + +Two days after this land was sighted on the starboard bow. It proved to +be Staten Island; but scarcely were we to the south of it when we +encountered a furious gale blowing from the westward. + +For two days; by keeping close hauled, the captain endeavoured to gain +ground to the westward, resolved, as he declared, "to thrash the ship +round the Cape." On the third day, however, while I was on deck, a +tremendous sea came rolling up. + +"Look out! Hold on for your lives, lads!" shouted the first mate. + +Every one clung to whatever was nearest to him. One poor fellow was to +leeward. There was no avoiding the sea, which, like a mountain topped +with foam, struck the bows. The ship plunged into it, and for a few +seconds I thought would never rise again. On swept the roaring torrent, +deluging the deck; and had not the hatches been battened down, would +have half filled her. + +A loud, crashing sound followed, and when the water had passed over us +nearly all the lee bulwarks were gone, and with them our shipmate who +had been standing a minute before as full of life as any of us. He was +not again seen, and must have gone down at once. + +The captain was compelled at last to heave the ship to, and there we +lay, now rising to the top of a sea, now sinking into the trough, with +walls of water, half as high as the main-top, round us. The seas in the +German Ocean and Bay of Biscay were nothing to be compared to those we +encountered off the Horn, though, perhaps, equally dangerous. + +As soon as I went below, I hurried to the side of Esdale. He asked what +had happened. I told him. + +"Some one was carried overboard?" he inquired. + +"Yes," I said. "Poor Jack Norris," wondering how he knew it. + +"And I shall soon follow him," he replied. + +His words proved true. That very night, as I came off my watch and was +about to turn in, I heard my messmate utter my name in a low voice. I +went to him. + +"I'm going," he whispered. "Good-bye, Peter; you'll remember what I +have said to you?" + +I promised him I would, and told him I must run and call the doctor. + +"No, stay," he said. "He can do me no good. Tell him I thank him for +his kindness. Good-bye, Peter." + +The next instant his hand relaxed its hold of mine, and stooping down +over him I found he had ceased to breathe. + +So died one of the most amiable and excellent young men I have ever met. +The next morning he was sewn up in canvas, with a shot at his feet, and +brought on deck. The captain stood aft watching the proceedings. +Whether he felt he had hastened Esdale's death I know not; but his +countenance was stern and gloomy as night. The boldest seaman on board +would not have dared just then to speak to him. Hail and sleet were +driving in our faces; a furious gale threatening to carry our only sail +out of the bolt-ropes was blowing; the mountain seas raged round us; +there was scarce time for a prayer, none for form or ceremony. A +foaming billow came thundering against the bows; over the deck it swept. +We clung for our lives to ropes, stanchions, and ring-bolts. When it +had passed we found that it had borne our young shipmate to his ocean +grave. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +ROUNDING CAPE HORN. + +For well-nigh six weeks we were endeavouring to get round Cape Horn, +when the weather moderated, making way to the westward, but again being +driven back often over more ground than we had gained. + +The captain was constantly on deck, exhibiting on all occasions his +splendid seamanship. He was ever on the look-out to take advantage of +the least change of wind which would enable us to lay our course. Day +and night were alike to him; he seemed indifferent to the piercing wind +and tremendous storms of sleet and hail we encountered. Twice we +sighted Cape Horn, but each time, before many hours had passed, were +again to the eastward of it. The captain thought he could endure +anything, and certainly did not expose others more than he did himself. +We saw numerous sea birds--albatrosses, Cape pigeons, stormy-petrels (or +Mother Carey's chickens, as they are called), and many more. The +albatross appeared to me a truly noble bird when on the wing; no matter +how rough the weather or how heavy the sea, he sat on the water +perfectly at ease, seeming to defy the very elements. + +One of the mates having got a strong line with a large hook at the end +of it, a piece of meat as bait, and a cork to float it, let it drop +astern. In an instant a huge albatross pounced down on the tempting +bait, and was hooked. It required two men, however, to draw him on +board over the taffrail. Even when brought on deck he attacked everyone +who came near him. The doctor advised us to stand clear of his wings +and beak, but Horner thoughtlessly held out his hat, when the bird, +seizing hold of it, bit the crown clean out in a moment. Not until he +had had several blows on the head with a handspike did he drop dead. He +measured seventeen feet from tip to tip of the wings. The feathers +under his wings and breast were as white as snow, and as they glanced in +the sunlight, shone like silver. + +In contrast with the albatross was the stormy-petrel, a black bird +scarcely larger than a sparrow, and, of course, web-footed. Vast +numbers flew about the ship, but they were more difficult to catch than +the albatrosses. + +Again we sighted Cape Horn, standing out solitary and grand into the +Southern Ocean. The wind had moderated and become more in our favour, +although the vast billows rolled on like moving mountains of water. Now +the ship forced her way to the summit of one, the next instant to glide +down rapidly into the vale below, performing the same course again and +again. + +At length even the billows subsided, and we began to look forward to +having fine weather. About noon one day the look-out from the masthead +shouted-- + +"There she spouts! There she spouts!" + +A school of whales was in sight. + +"Lower two boats," cried the captain. + +No sooner was the order given than their crews, hurrying aft, jumped +into them, and very few minutes were sufficient to place all their gear +in readiness and to lower them into the water. + +The captain himself went in one as harpooner, the second mate in the +other. I should have liked to go, but I knew that it was useless to ask +leave of the captain. + +Away the boats pulled at a rapid rate to windward, the direction in +which the whales had been seen, and that we might keep as near them as +possible the ship was hauled close up. They were soon not discernible +from the deck, and on they went increasing their distance till even the +look-out from the masthead could no longer distinguish them. Still the +first mate had carefully noted the direction they had taken, and seemed +to have no doubt about picking them up. The weather, however, which had +been fine all day, now gave signs of changing, and in a short time the +wind began to blow in strong gusts, creating a nasty sea, but still it +was not worse than whale-boats have often to encounter. + +Whether or not they had succeeded in striking a fish we could not tell, +for the days were very short, and evening drew on. + +Fresh look-outs were sent to each of the mastheads, and we waited with +anxiety for their reports. They soon hailed that they could see neither +of the boats. At length, the darkness increasing, they were called +down, and lanterns were got ready to show the position of the ship. + +"Shouldn't be surprised if we were to lose our skipper and the boats' +crews," said Horner to me. "I've heard that such accidents have +happened before now." + +"I hope not," I answered, "for although our captain is a severe man, it +would be dreadful to have him and the other poor fellows lost out in +this stormy ocean, with no land for hundreds of miles where they could +find food and shelter, even were they to reach it." + +While we were speaking a heavy squall struck the ship, and the remaining +hands were ordered aloft to take two reefs in the topsails. Jim and I +were on the fore-yardarm. We had just finished our task, when Jim +declared that he saw a light away to windward. + +On coming on deck we told Mr Griffiths. He at once ordered a gun to be +fired as a signal. A blue light was then burnt, the glare of which, as +it fell on our figures, gave us all so ghastly an appearance that +Horner, who had never seen one before, cried out, "What has come over +you fellows? Is anything dreadful going to happen?" + +As the firework died out we looked in the direction Jim had seen the +light, and in a little time we caught sight of it from the deck. The +men on this gave a hearty cheer to show their satisfaction. Now the +light disappeared, now it came in sight again, as the boat rose on the +summit of a sea. + +The ship was hove-to. Presently a faint hail was heard. We answered it +with a shout from our united voices. At length one boat could be +distinguished. Where was the other? + +The captain's voice assured us that he was in the first. He was soon on +deck, and the boat was hoisted up. He looked pale and haggard, and much +annoyed at not having killed a whale. The other boat he said was not +far off. + +We kept hove-to for her, fearing that if she did not soon appear she +might be swamped before she could be hoisted in, for as the wind and sea +were now rapidly rising every moment was of importance. At length she +came alongside, but it was with the greatest difficulty that the men got +out of her. They looked thoroughly worn out with their long pull. We +had scarcely made sail again and were standing on our course when the +gale came down on us, more furiously than before, blowing right in our +teeth. It was now evident that had a whale been killed we should have +been compelled to abandon it. + +In spite of his fatigue the captain remained on deck, swearing fearfully +at his ill-luck. Those who had been away with the boats were allowed to +turn in, but the rest of us were kept on deck, for at any moment all our +strength might be required. + +Suddenly, while I was aft, the captain uttered a loud cry, or shriek it +seemed to me. + +"What's the matter, sir?" asked the mate. + +"I cannot see!" groaned the captain. "Where am I? What has happened?" + +The mate went to him and took his arm. "It may be but for a moment," he +said. + +There had been no lightning; nothing, as far as we could discover, to +produce blindness. Still the captain refused to leave the deck, +declaring that it would pass over. The doctor, who had turned in, was +called up, and came to him. + +The increasing gale compelled the mate to attend to the duties of the +ship. The doctor summoned me to assist in leading the captain below. I +took his arm; he was trembling like an aspen. We led him to his berth, +and assisted him to undress. + +"Shall I be better in the morning, think you, doctor?" he asked, in an +agitated tone. + +"I cannot say, Captain Hawkins. I believe that this blindness has come +on in consequence of your having overtaxed your physical powers. In +course of time, with rest and a warmer climate, I trust that you will +recover your sight." + +"Oh that it may be so!" cried the captain, as he laid his head on the +pillow. + +We had a heavier gale that night than we had before encountered. The +seas again and again washed over the deck. It seemed wonderful that +more of the men did not knock up. + +The first mate looked thin and haggard, and so did most of the other +officers and men. The bulwarks on both sides had been carried away, two +of the boats had been injured, and the ship had suffered various other +damages. + +Still we kept at it; the wind shifted; Cape Horn was actually weathered, +and at length a joyous cheer burst from the throats of the crew as the +ship's head was directed to the north-west. It was some days, however, +before we felt any sensible change of climate, but after that it grew +warmer and warmer, for we were now fairly in the Pacific. + +The captain was disappointed in his expectations of recovering his +sight. He came daily on deck and stood turning his head round in every +direction, and I observed a painful expression on his countenance. + +"I'll tell you what, Peter, I've a notion how the captain came to lose +his sight," said Horner to me in a confidential tone. "It's a +punishment to him for the way he treated Esdale, and you, and Jim." + +"We have no right to think that," I answered; "even if he had treated me +ten times worse than he has done, I should not wish him to suffer what +must be to a man of his nature so terrible a misfortune." + +"Well, then, I suppose I must keep my opinion to myself," answered +Horner. + +In a few days we reached the island of Juan Fernandez, and hove-to off +it that the boats might go in close to the shore to catch some fish. +Mr Griffiths gave Jim and me leave to go in one of them. We were +provided with hooks and lines. The water was so clear that we could see +the fish take the bait, which they did so ravenously, that in a short +time we had as many rock cod and other fish as we required. We +afterwards landed and brought off a quantity of wild mint, which grows +in profusion over the island. We made it into tea, which we enjoyed +very much after drinking pea-coffee so long. + +While we were collecting the mint we saw a number of goats bounding +among the rocks, some standing still and looking down on us. They were +descendants of those which inhabited the island in the days of Alexander +Selkirk, who was taken off by Dampier during his last voyage to the +Pacific. + +At first we thought that there were no inhabitants, but just as we were +shoving off we heard a shout, and a white man and negro were seen +rushing down towards us, shouting and gesticulating furiously. + +They were both dressed in skins, with high fur caps, and had long sticks +in their hands to help themselves as they ran. + +"Why, I do believe that must be Robinson Crusoe and his man Friday," +cried Horner, at which all hands laughed. + +"He got home long ago, or he never could have written his history, +stupid," said the mate, "but whoever they are we'll wait for them." + +Still Horner had not got his first idea out of his head. He had not +read much, but he had read Robinson Crusoe, and believed in it as a +veracious history. + +The strangers soon reached the boat. + +"Now, I say, ain't you Robinson Crusoe?" cried Horner, as the white man +got up to the boat. + +"No, my name is Miles Soper, and I know nothing of the chap you speak +of," answered the stranger. + +"I say, mister," he continued, turning to the mate, "will you take us +poor fellows off? We were cast ashore some six months ago or more, and +are the only people out of our ship, which went down off there, who +saved their lives, as far as I can tell. Sam Cole here and I came +ashore on a bit of a raft, and we have had a hard time of it since +then." + +"Why, as to that, my man, if you're willing to enter and serve aboard +our ship, I daresay the captain will take you, but he doesn't want +idlers." + +"Beggars can't be choosers," answered Miles Soper. "If you are willing +to take us we shall be glad to go, and both Sam and I are able seamen." + +"Well, jump in, my lads," said the mate; "but haven't you anything at +the place where you have lived so long to bring away?" + +"No, we've nothing but the clothes we stand up in, except it may be a +few wooden bowls and such like things," answered the stranger, who +looked hard at the mate as he spoke, probably suspecting that we might +pull off, and that he and his chum might be left behind. Both the men +seemed in tolerably good condition. They told us that they had had +abundance of goat's flesh and vegetables, as well as fruit, but that +they had got tired of the life, and had had a quarrel with four mongrel +Spaniards, who lived on another part of the island, whom they thought +might some day try to murder them. + +They both asked to take an oar, and, by the way they pulled, they showed +that they were likely to be useful hands. When we got on board the +_Intrepid_, Mr Griffiths spoke very kindly to them, and as they at once +said that they would be glad to enter, their names were put down as +belonging to the crew. + +I took a liking from the first to Miles Soper, though he was perfectly +uneducated, and could neither read nor write. Sam also seemed an honest +merry fellow. He and the other Africans soon became friends. + +The crew had been employed on the passage, whenever the weather +permitted, in preparing what is called the "cutting-in gear," which +consists of the various tackles and ropes for securing the whales +alongside when caught and taking off the blubber. Then there was the +gear of the various boats, and it would astonish anyone to see the +enormous number of articles stowed away in a whale-boat when she starts +after a whale. + +Everything was now got ready, as we were in expectation every day of +falling in with whales, and the men were on the look-out from the +mastheads from dawn until dark, in the hopes of seeing them. I longed +to see a whale caught, for as yet the voyage had been profitless, and +every one was out of spirits. The captain, who still remained perfectly +blind, notwithstanding the assurances of Dr Cockle that he would +recover, was so especially. He seemed like a heartbroken man; his +countenance gloomy, as if troubled with melancholy thoughts, and his +whole manner and appearance were changed. It was sad to see him come on +deck and stand, sometimes for an hour together, turning his face round, +as if he were picturing to himself the sparkling ocean, the blue sky +overhead, and the busy scene which the deck of his ship presented. + +I observed that Mr Griffiths never gave an order if he could help it +while the blind captain was on deck. The health of the latter, however, +by degrees improved, the colour returned to his cheeks, and his voice, +when he spoke, again had the ring in it which I had from the first +remarked. + +Day after day, however, we sailed on without seeing a whale. At length +one day, soon after noon, the first mate having just taken an +observation, and the captain being in his cabin, we were cheered by the +cry from the masthead of-- + +"There she spouts! There she spouts!" + +The loud tramping of the men on deck roused those below, who quickly +sprang up, eager to engage in the expected chase. + +Among the first who appeared was the captain, who ran up the +companion-ladder with as much agility as he had ever displayed. + +"Where away--where away?" he asked. + +The men pointed to windward, and to our surprise the captain turned his +eyes in the same direction. + +"Lower three boats," he shouted. "I'll go in one of them." + +Presently I saw a low, bush-like spout of white mist rise from the +surface of the sea, not two miles off. + +"There she spouts! There she spouts!" shouted the captain, showing that +he saw too. + +With wonderful rapidity, as everything was prepared, the boats were +lowered. The doctor had come on deck. + +"Where are you going, Captain Hawkins?" he asked, in an astonished tone. + +"In chase of those whales out there," answered the captain; "for, +doctor, I can see them as well as you do." + +Of this there could be no doubt. Several at that instant appeared at +various distances. + +The excitement of the moment had given the required stimulus to the +captain's nerves, and he was restored to sight. + +I remembered the fruitless chase off Cape Horn, when the captain and +those with him so nearly lost their lives, but this promised to be +successful. The captain's boat took the lead. His aim was to get up to +one of the monsters of the deep just as it returned to the surface for +breathing, as it would be some time before it could go down again, and +before that interval many a harpoon and lance might be plunged into its +body. + +The captain soon took the lead; the men pulled as if their lives +depended on it. Before they were half a mile away a whale rose just +ahead of the captain's boat. Springing into the bows, he stood, harpoon +in hand, ready to strike. + +Presently he was close up to the monster; the weapon flew from his +grasp, followed by three lances hurled in rapid succession. The whale, +feeling the pain, darted off. Another boat came up, and a second +harpoon was made fast, while several more lances were plunged into its +side. + +Presently its enormous flukes rose in the air. + +"He has sounded! He has sounded!" cried those on board. + +The whale had dived, and the lines coiled away in the tubs ran rapidly +out. The monster, however, had not finished its breathing, and soon +after a second line had been secured to the first it came again to the +surface. The boats pulled rapidly towards it, and the harpooners plied +it with their lances. Presently we saw them pull away as if for their +lives. The whale rose nearly out of the water, and began turning round +and lashing the surface with its flukes, each blow being sufficient to +destroy any boat and her crew within its reach. + +"The monster is in its flurry," I heard the doctor say. "It is ours to +a certainty." + +He was right. After lashing the water into a mass of blood-tinged foam, +it lay perfectly still. + +Those on board raised a shout as they saw a little flag fixed on the +body. + +The boats now made chase after another whale, which gave them more +trouble than the first; but they attacked it bravely, now pulling up and +hurling harpoons and lances into it, and now pulling away to avoid being +attacked in return. + +Presently we saw one boat again dash forward, almost the next instant +its fragments rose in the air, and the crew were scattered far and wide +around. Which boat it was we could not tell. Some fancied it was the +captain's, others that it was the second mate's. + +"He regained his sight to-day," said an old Orkneyman. "It's a question +whether it wasn't that he might have a last look on his fellow-creatures +and the mighty sea." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +OUR FIRST WHALES CAUGHT--I HEAR NEWS OF JACK. + +The moment the accident was perceived Mr Griffiths ordered the only +remaining boat away, and jumped into her, for the carpenter had not yet +finished the two building to replace those lost off Cape Horn. I asked +to go. + +"No! You stay on board and help to work the ship up to us," he +answered. + +I accordingly went to the helm, as I steered better than most of those +remaining on board, while the doctor and steward lent a hand to the rest +in pulling and hauling, as we had continually to go about; but the wind +was light, and it was not very hard work. I kept an eye constantly +towards the boats, and soon saw a whift planted on the back of the last +whale attacked, which showed that it was dead. + +Our anxiety was relieved when, instead of returning, they made chase +after another whale. It proved that although the boat had been +destroyed, the men had escaped with their lives. + +"I do believe we shan't have the skipper aboard again," observed Horner. + +"I hope so," I said. + +"Ahem!" was his answer, as he walked away. + +At length, shortening sail, we ran up alongside the first whale that had +been killed. The men descended to its back with ropes round their +waists to hook on the tackles to its head and flukes. We had then to +wait until the boats towed the other whale up to the opposite side. We +eagerly watched their proceedings. + +The third whale was attacked. After sounding twice and carrying out, +apparently, three, if not four lines, we saw it suddenly come to the +surface and leap completely out of the water. This is called breaching. +It then began rolling round and round, endeavouring in its agony to get +rid of the weapon sticking in it. The boats for some time kept at a +distance. Then once more they approached, again to pull off as the +whale commenced lashing the water with its huge flukes. + +"It's in its flurry," observed the doctor, who was looking through his +telescope, which he handed to me. + +At last we saw the three boats approaching, towing the whale by the +nose. The wind having fallen, and having a whale alongside, we were +unable to near them to save them their long pull. On they came, towing +the monster at the rate of a mile and a half an hour. It was thus +upwards of that period of time before they got alongside. + +The first man handed up was Miles Soper--or Robinson Crusoe, as we +called him--whose leg had been broken by the second whale attack. He +had willingly endured the suffering, lying at the bottom of the boat, +rather than give up the chase. No one else had been injured, though all +had run a great risk of being drowned; but a whaler's crew know that +such may be their fate at any moment. The doctor at once took the man +under his charge. No time was lost in hooking on the other whale, and +commencing the operation of "cutting-in." This I may briefly describe +as taking off the blubber with large spades, the handles of which are +twenty feet long. The whale is turned round and round by means of +tackles brought to the windlass, the blanket-piece, or blubber covering, +being thus gradually stripped off till it reaches the tail, which is +hove on board with the last piece. The blubber is lowered down the main +hatchway and cut up into small pieces, called "horse pieces." These are +afterwards piled up on deck to be minced into thin slices for boiling in +the pots. The operation of "cutting-in" is a very dangerous one when +there is any sea on to make the ship roll. The first and second mates +stand on stages lowered over the side, cutting the blubber from the +whale as the crew heave it round with the windlass. The four +boat-steerers are on the gang-ways attending to the guys and tackles, +the captain superintending the whole process, while the carpenter grinds +the spades. + +All round the sea swarms with sharks attracted by the oil and blubber. +When not otherwise employed, Tom and I and Horner attacked them with the +spades and killed great numbers. We worked away until night, but did +not finish even then, as it takes twelve hours to strip the blubber off +a large whale. We commenced again at daylight, and it was dark before +we began to cut into the second whale. We had still a third to operate +on, but as each was worth nearly a thousand pounds, no one complained. + +Fortunately the weather remained fine, and we got the blubber of the +third whale on board by the end of the next day. We had also boiled the +spermaceti oil out of the head, with small buckets at the ends of long +poles. This is the most valuable production of the whale, and is used +for making candles. + +For night work the ship's company was divided into two watches, from six +to one, and from one to six. The instant the last piece of blubber was +on board, the carcasses were cast loose to be devoured by fish and fowl. + +We began the operation of trying-out, as boiling the blubber is called, +by first putting some wood under the try-pots. As soon as the blubber +was boiled, the scraps which rose to the surface were skimmed off with a +large ladle, and after being thrown into a pot with holes in the bottom +to drain off the oil remaining in them, were used as fuel for boiling +the remainder of the blubber. + +The appearance our decks presented, with huge fires blazing away under +our pots, and the men with the ladles skimming off the scraps, or baling +out the oil into the coolers, was strange and weird in the extreme. Had +I been suddenly introduced among them, I should not have recognised them +as my shipmates, begrimed as they were with smoke and oil. I was, +however, much in the same condition. Dr Cockle had become accustomed +to it, but I cannot fancy that it was very pleasant to him. + +The doctor told me that he should be glad, whenever I could, if I would +go below and talk to poor Miles Soper. + +I willingly did so. He was suffering occasionally great pain, but in +the intervals it cheered him to have some one to speak to. I found that +he was even more ready to talk than listen, and I accordingly got him to +tell me about himself. He happened to ask my name. I told him. + +"Peter Trawl!" he exclaimed. "Trawl! That's curious. I remember a +chap of your name aboard the _Lapwing_ brig-of-war." + +I at once was deeply interested. + +"He must have been my brother Jack," I exclaimed. "Do tell me what has +become of him, for I heard he was lost out in the Indian seas." + +"That's just where he and I were nearly lost. We were coming home when +a boat was sent away, and we, with six more men and an officer, went in +her, to visit an island on some business or other, I forget what, and I +didn't know it's name. + +"There are wild sorts of chaps out in those parts, who go pirating in +their proas, as they call them. While we were just shoving off, a dozen +or more of these proas came round us. We knew if the pirates got hold +of us we should all be knocked on the head, so we began blazing away to +keep them at a distance. We kept on at it till we hadn't a charge left +for our muskets. Two of our men were killed, and our officer badly +wounded. The pirates then came nearer and fired their gingalls into us. +Just then one of their proas caught fire, and sent up such clouds of +smoke that for some time, as we were near her, we could not be seen. + +"`Now, lads,' said the officer, `those among you who are not wounded try +and swim to shore. It's your only chance. The rest of us must die like +men.' + +"Our oars, you see, were shattered, and by this time all hands except +Jack and me were more or less hurt. We followed our brave officer's +advice, and leaping overboard reached the beach before we were seen by +the pirates. Some gingalls were fired at us, but we got away among the +bushes, and ran as hard as our legs could carry us in shore. We did not +know where we were going, or what sort of people we should meet. +Whether the pirates landed or not we did not stop to learn, but as we +ran for three or four hours there was not much chance of being +overtaken. + +"We saw at last a river before us, and as it was too broad to cross, and +we were afraid, should we attempt to swim over, that we might be picked +off by one of those big scaly beasts they call crocodiles, we kept down +along the bank, as we knew that it must lead us to the opposite side of +the island to where we had landed. + +"`Cheer up,' said Jack to me. `Maybe our ship will come round there and +take us off. Our fellows are sure to be searching round the coast on +the chance of finding us.' + +"`I hope you're right, Jack,' said I, `for it will be a bad job for us +if we can't get away, as how we are to find food is more than I can +tell, and it's very clear we can't live without it.' + +"There were plenty of trees growing on the bank, though not so thickly +but that we could manage to make our way between them. + +"Says Jack to me, `If those cut-throat fellows come after us, we must +climb up one of these and hide ourselves among the branches.' + +"`I don't think they will take the trouble to follow us so far,' I +answered. `But it's a good idea of yours, and it will give us a chance +of saving our lives.' + +"We of course could not run as fast as we had been going in the open +country. Sometimes we came across fallen trees, over which we had to +climb, and at others we had to go round thick bushes which we could not +get through. Still, what stopped us would stop our enemies. On and on +we went, till just as we got out of a wood we saw before us a village of +curious-looking houses, built on stout piles, many of them right in the +water. + +"`Hadn't we better go back?' I said to Jack; `the people who live there +may be the same sort of cut-throats as those we have got away from. +They'll be for knocking us on the head when they see us.' + +"Jack agreed with me that it would be better to stay in the wood till it +was dark, and we might then make our way clear of the village down to +the sea. We were just going back, when a woman came out on a sort of +verandah in front of the house nearest to us, and we knew by the way she +was looking that we were seen. Then she turned round and called to +another woman, who also came out. + +"`Come,' said Jack, `we had better go on boldly and ask those +dark-skinned ladies to give us their protection. They are sure to do +that if we look humble enough, and show them that we want to be friends, +for to my mind women are alike all the world over.' + +"So we moved on, kissing our hands, and then holding them up clasped +before us. The women did not run away, or seem a bit frightened; and as +we got nearer one of them came down the ladder and held out both her +hands, which we took and put on our heads. She then beckoned us up the +steps, and made signs to us to sit down on mats inside the house. As we +were both very hungry by this time, we pointed to our mouths to show +that we wanted something to eat and drink. The younger girl went to +another part of the house and brought back some fish and yams, and a +bowl with some liquor in it. There was not much to be said for the +taste, but we were too thirsty after our long run to be particular. We +tried to make the women understand that there were enemies coming after +us, and that we wanted to hide away, so when we had finished our meal +they beckoned us to come into another room, and, placing some mats on +the ground, they told us that we might sleep there safely--at least, +that's what we made out. + +"Night came on, and Jack and I, agreeing that we had got into good +quarters, went to sleep. There was no bell striking, and no bo'sun's +mate to rouse us up, and so we slept on till it was broad daylight. We +got up and looked out from the verandah, or platform, which went round +the house, when we saw three men talking together. As soon as they +caught sight of us they came towards the house, and one of them mounted +the ladder. He looked at us with surprise, and seemed to be asking who +we were. We told him as well as we could by signs that we had come +across from the other side of the island, and wanted to get off to our +ship, which would soon be round to take us aboard. This did not seem to +satisfy him. Presently in came the women, and they had a talk about the +matter, but what they said we could not make out. The first man then +called the other two, and after more palavering they began to look +savage, and gave us to understand that we were to be their slaves, and +work for them. + +"`Well,' says Jack to me, `all we've got to do is to grin and bear it. +Maybe, as we are near the sea, we shall have a chance of making our +escape.' + +"This was one comfort; so we nodded, as much as to say we were ready to +do what they bid us, for, you see, we were in their power and couldn't +help ourselves. After we had gone into the house and sat down, waiting +to see what would next happen, the women--bless them for their +kindness!--brought us some more food for breakfast, and a capital one we +made. Bad as was our lot, yet it was better than being knocked on the +head or having our throats cut. A number of people now came out of +their houses, and there was great rejoicing among them to think that +they had got two white men as slaves. We found that we had plenty of +work to do to cut wood and fetch water, and to hoe in their fields, +which were some way from the village, or to go out fishing with them. + +"This we liked better than anything else. If it had not been for the +women our lot would have been worse, for they took care to give us food +every day, which I don't think the men would have troubled themselves +about doing, for they were regular savages. + +"Day after day went by; we were getting accustomed to our life, and as +yet had had no chance of escaping. A precious sharp look-out was at all +times kept over us, and I don't think even the women would have wished +us to go, for we had to do a good deal of the work which would have +otherwise fallen to their lot. Though we were, as I was saying, used to +the life we led, we both wanted to get away. + +"I've an old father down in Dorsetshire, and there's a bright young girl +who lives with him whom I would give something to see again; and Jack +sighed to go home, as he said, to see his father and mother, and a young +brother and sister. He used to talk much to me about you all, and it +seemed to me as if I knew you long before we ever met. + +"We found that we were much farther from the sea than we had at first +supposed, for although we went a good way down the river we never +reached its mouth. + +"The people in the village didn't lead quiet lives, for they were always +on the watch, fearing that they might be attacked by enemies. At night +they made fast their boats under their houses, and had their goods all +ready for a start into the woods, while they had men on the look-out +night and day to give notice should any strange vessels come up the +river. + +"Jack and I agreed that if any enemies should come in the night we might +have a good chance of escaping, but from what we had seen of the fellows +who had attacked our boat we had no wish to fall into the hands of such +characters. We thought that we might manage to slip into a boat and +pull up the river and hide ourselves until the pirates had gone away. + +"You must know that we did not wish any ill to our masters, for though +we were their slaves we had taken a liking to them, as they did not +ill-treat us, and gave us a good deal of time to ourselves. + +"Weeks and months went by. We began to think that no enemy would come, +and that we must try to get off by some other means than that we had +first thought of. At last we saw the men sharpening their long knives +and polishing their spears, and new painting their shields. + +"`Depend upon it there's something in the wind,' said Jack to me. `They +are going on a war expedition.' + +"`No doubt about the matter,' I said, `and they'll want us to go with +them.' + +"`Then we must take care not to go,' said Jack. `I for one won't be for +killing men, women, and children, as these fellows are likely to do. We +must pretend to be sick, or that we do not understand what they want of +us, and get off somehow or other.' + +"Whether or not it was talking about being sick I don't know, but the +very next night I was struck down with fever. Our masters saw that I +was not shamming. The women also stood our friends, and declared that I +was not fit to get up and work, while Jack was allowed to stay at home +and nurse me. I was very bad, and I believe he thought that I should +die. + +"If he had been my own mother's son he couldn't have looked after me +better than he did; night and day he was always by my side, ready to +give me what I wanted. One day I heard a loud shouting and singing, and +Jack, who had gone out, came back and said that the men had all started +with their spears and shields. They had wanted to make him go, but the +women said he must stop behind, though he had a hard matter to escape +from the men. I was already getting better, and this news made me feel +better still. + +"`It will be a bad return to run off with one of their boats,' said +Jack, `but there seems no help for it, and it may be our only chance, +for the men will be back again in a day or two.' + +"That very night, while Jack and I were sitting up talking, we heard +shrieks and cries in the distance; and presently, looking out, Jack said +he saw the houses lower down the river burning. + +"Then depend upon it the pirates have taken the place, I said. + +"`No doubt about it,' exclaimed Jack, `and now is our chance. If we +could defend the poor women and children we would, but we cannot do +that. They'll know where to fly to, and so, I hope, escape.' + +"Suddenly I felt my strength come back, and I was able to follow Jack +down the ladder, at the bottom of which the boat was kept moored. To +cut the painter by which she was made fast didn't take us a moment, and +springing into her we paddled across the stream. As we looked down the +river we could see all the houses in a blaze, and here and there people +running off into the woods, while we made out half a score or more of +the dark proas stealing up along the shore." + +Just as Miles Soper had got thus far in his history I was summoned on +deck, and eager as I was to hear how he and Jack had fared, I was +obliged to attend to my duty. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +MILES SOPER'S NARRATIVE CONCLUDED. + +"I've heard news of my brother Jack!" I exclaimed, as I met Jim +directly after I sprang on deck. + +"What! Is he alive?" asked Jim. + +"Miles Soper, who was his shipmate, thinks so," I answered. "At all +events, he wasn't killed when we thought he was." + +"Then, Peter, we'll find him if we search the world round!" cried Jim, +giving me a warm grip of the hand. "I am glad; that I am!" + +It takes a whole day to "try out"--that is, to boil down the blubber of +each whale. I found that the cooper and his mate had just finished +filling up the casks from the coolers, and I was wanted, with others, to +assist in rolling them aft. + +Here they were chocked and lashed and left to cool for several days +before they were in a condition to be stowed away in the hold. In the +meantime we had to get up all the empty casks on deck so that we might +lay the ground-tier with the full casks. As the casks were piled up, +one upon another, the ship was in consequence almost topheavy, and I saw +the captain and Mr Griffiths frequently casting glances round the +horizon, to watch for an indication of any change in the weather, for +should a sudden squall strike the ship she might, while in this +condition, be sent over in an instant. Every possible exertion was +therefore made to get the task accomplished, and all hands were +employed. Anxious as I was to hear what had become of my brother, I +consequently had no opportunity for a long time of listening to a +continuance of Miles Soper's narrative. I should have said that though +the oil casks were stowed away empty and filled by means of the hose +from the deck, the greatest care was required in bedding them, as they +might have to remain three years or more in the hold. The blubber from +the three whales was at length tryed out and secured in the casks, and +the decks being washed down, the ship once more resumed her ordinary +appearance, we meantime continuing our course northward. The first +moment I was at liberty I went down to see Miles Soper. He said that he +felt much better, though still unable to do duty. + +"And what about Jack?" I asked; "you and he were just pulling away +across the river at night to escape from the Dyack pirates." + +"Yes; I have been thinking much about it since I told you. I would not +have to go through that time again for a good deal if I could help it. +We could hear the shrieks and cries of the old men, women, and children +as the cruel pirates caught them and cut off their heads, and we could +see the flames burst out from the houses all along the banks of the +river. We were afraid that the light would be thrown upon our boat, so +that we dare not venture down the river, but pulled up along the +southern bank close under the bushes. We thought that we were safe, at +all events, till daylight, when we caught sight of two boats coming out +from among the pirate fleet and steering up stream. I gave up all for +lost, as I knew that they would whip our heads off in a moment should +they come up with us. + +"`Don't give in!' cried Jack; `perhaps it isn't us that they're after.' + +"We ceased pulling lest the light should fall on our oar-blades, for we +should have had no chance if they had made chase. + +"`Let's paddle in under these bushes,' whispered Jack; `they're very +thick, and we can lie hid here, while maybe they'll pass us.' + +"We did as he proposed. As the boughs overhung the water and almost +touched it with their ends, we hoped that the pirates would not discover +us. We could just look out across the river, and saw the boats still +coming towards us. We both lay down in the bottom of our boat and +remained as quiet as mice, scarcely daring to look up above the gunwale +for fear of being seen. We could hear the voices of the pirates and the +splash of their oars as they drew nearer. If they had before seen us +they might have observed the spot where we had disappeared, and I +expected every moment to have my head whipped off my shoulders. Just +putting my eyes above the gunwale, I saw the two boats, broadside on, +pulling along. They hadn't found us out. On and on they went, right up +the stream. They must have thought that we were still ahead. We, of +course, didn't dare to move, hoping that they would give up the chase +and go back again. + +"`We must not be too sure that they won't look for us when they do come +back,' said Jack. `Howsomdever, there's no use crying out till we're +caught. I'll tell you what; the best thing we can do is to get on shore +and make our way inland; then, though they may find the boat, they won't +catch us.' I agreed; so, shoving the boat farther in till we reached +the bank, we sprang on shore, and having secured her by the painter, set +off directly away from the river. As it was very dark, we had to grope +our way amongst the trees and bushes, though the glare in the sky from +the burning houses enabled us to steer a right course. We half expected +that a snake or a wild beast might pounce down upon us, and we had no +arms to defend ourselves. But anything was better than to be caught by +the pirates. At last, when our clothes were torn nearly off our backs, +we reached some open ground, and set off running till we got to a wood +on the opposite side. `Now,' says Jack, `we won't go farther, but hide +here till the morning; then maybe, if we can climb to the top of a tree, +we shall be able to catch sight of the river and find out what the +pirates are doing.' I thought his idea a good one, so we sat down on +the ground and waited. We could hear no sounds, so we concluded that +all the poor people had been killed. We hoped, however, that the +warriors might come back and beat the pirates off. Not that we wished +to fall into the power of our old masters again, for they would have +kept us prisoners if they didn't lake it into their heads to kill us. + +"At last the light returned, and seeing a tall tree near: Jack and I +climbed up to the top. Jack went first. `Hurrah!' he shouted; `there +go the pirates down the river, pulling away with all their oars out!' +Sure enough I saw them also. `But I say, Jack, perhaps the warriors +have come back and put them to flight; if so, we must take care not to +be caught by them.' I said, `I can see where the village stood, but I +don't see any people moving about.' `It's a long way, to be sure, so we +must be careful,' answered Jack. We soon got down the tree and returned +to our boat. The pirates hadn't discovered her, so we got on board, and +cautiously shoved out to the edge of the bushes, stopping just inside +them. We then took a look-out, but could discover no one moving on the +opposite shore, so we pulled across to the village. It was a fearful +sight we saw there. Bodies of old men, women, and children were +scattered about, but the heads were gone. + +"We were in a hurry, you may be sure, to get away, but, says Jack, `It +won't do to put to sea without food or water.' So we hunted about, and +found in the bushes several baskets which the poor people had been +trying to carry off with food of all sorts, and some calabashes, which +we quickly filled at the spring where we were accustomed to get water. +We hurried with them back to the boat, and once more shoved off. We +then paddled away down the river. The current was running out, so that +we made good way, and were soon out of sight of the burnt village. Our +craft was not very well suited for a voyage, but anything was better +than stopping to be killed on shore. We pulled on until nearly noon +before we came in sight of the mouth of the river. There was no bar, +and the sea was smooth, so we resolved to pull out at once, in the hope +of being picked up by some passing vessel. We were still not certain +even now that our masters would not make chase after us, so we didn't +stop a moment, except just to look round, but pulled right away to sea. +Just as we got outside we caught sight of the pirate fleet under sail, +standing to the nor'ard. We therefore pulled south, not that there was +much chance of their coming back, but we thought that if we went in +their wake we should not fall in with any merchant vessel, for at any +rate if they should have met one they would to a certainty have robbed +and scuttled her. + +"We supposed that there were other islands away to the westward, but +then they might be inhabited by the same cut-throat sort of fellows as +those from whom we had escaped, and we didn't want to fall into their +hands. Our chief hope was to be picked up by some passing vessel or +other, perhaps by our own ship, but Jack said he thought she would not +have remained at the station, and would have long ago given up searching +for us. It was hot work paddling away all day, and we would have given +much for a sail, but the boat was not fitted for one, and she was not +fitted either for a heavy sea--not that there was much chance of that +getting up at such time of the year. We had plenty of food and water, +so we kept up our spirits. Where we were going to neither of us could +tell; all we knew was that we were our own masters. We were queer +characters to look at, with our clothes all torn to shreds, our hair +long, and our faces as brown as berries. No one would have taken us for +Englishmen, but we had English tongues and English hearts, and we made +up our minds to stick at it and not be downcast. We wanted to get away +as far as we could from the shore, for fear any of the natives might +come after us--not that there was much chance of that. We paddled and +paddled till our arms ached, and we were well-nigh roasted with the hot +sun. We were thankful when night came on, and we were able to rest and +take some food. + +"We had agreed to keep watch and watch, but it was of no use trying to +keep awake, so we both lay down in the bottom of the boat and went fast +asleep. When we awoke it was broad daylight, and presently up came the +sun and beat down on our heads as hot as the day before. There we were +floating on the sea with the water calm as a mill-pond, and not a sail +in sight. There was no chance either of a vessel coming near us while +the calm continued. We took our breakfasts, however, and talked of what +we should do. Far away to the east we could see the blue outline of the +island we had left, but what part to steer for we could not make up our +minds. There was only one thing we determined--come what might, not to +go back and be made slaves of. It seemed useless to be paddling away +and yet not to know where we were going to; but we still hoped that we +might fall in with some merchant vessel, it mattered not of what +country, though we wished she might be English, and so we might find our +way home. + +"`Come, let's be moving,' said Jack, at last. `I've heard say that +there are Dutch and Spanish settlements out in these parts, and maybe we +shall fall in with one of them, and both the mynheers and dons are good +sort of people, and will treat us kindly.' + +"So we took to our paddles and made our way to the westward. All day we +paddled on, but no land appeared in sight, and now and then we stopped +to take some food and a drink of water, but it was tiring work. We were +thankful when night came at last. We didn't sleep so long, and were at +our paddles before daybreak, for we knew by the stars how to steer. + +"Next day we did just the same, and the next after that. + +"`I say, Miles,' said Jack, `we must soon manage to come to land or we +shall be starving. We have not got food nor water for more than one day +longer, and without them we shall not be able to hold out.' + +"That was very true; still neither of us thought of giving in. A light +breeze from the eastward had sprung up, so that we made good way, but +there was no land to be seen ahead. We didn't talk much, for we had +said all we could say about our prospects, and they were bad enough. +But they became worse when we had drunk up all the water and eaten every +bit of food we had in the boat. I had heard of people going three or +four days without eating, but the want of water was the worst. We would +have given a heap of gold if we had had it for a cupful. The wind now +shifted to the southward, and blew much stronger than before, knocking +up a sea which threatened every moment to swamp our boat, which was not +fitted for rough water. We now began to think that it was all up with +us, and that all we could do was just to keep the boat's head to the +seas to prevent her from capsizing. + +"At last Jack sang out, `A sail! A sail to the southward!' + +"There she was, coming up before the wind. A strange-looking, +outlandish craft she seemed as she drew nearer. + +"`I wonder whether she's one of those Dyack or Malay pirates,' I said. +`If so, we may as well let the boat turn over.' + +"`No, no; let us trust God, and hope for the best,' said Jack. `Cheer +up, Miles! She's sent for our relief.' + +"I was not so sure of that, for it was easy to see from her outlandish +rig that she was one of the craft of those seas. Presently, as she got +near us, she lowered her sails and came close up. Ropes were hove to +us, and hands were stretched out over the side to haul us on board, for +we had scarcely strength enough left to help ourselves. They tried to +secure the boat, but she drifted off and was swamped. We just saw that +the people were Chinamen, pig-eyed, with turned-up noses and yellow +skins. We both fainted away. They brought us some water, and in a +short time we got better. They then carried us into a small cabin aft +out of the hot sun. Presently they brought us some food--rice, and some +stuff minced with it. We were not particular, for we were desperately +hungry. + +"We now found that the people who had picked us up were honest traders +bound northward with a cargo of sea-slugs, birds'-nests, and other +things from these seas. We tried to talk to them, but could not manage +it, as none of them understood English, and we couldn't speak their +lingo. But as soon as we got stronger we made ourselves useful, pulling +and hauling, and doing whatever came to hand. Where we were going to we +could not make out, but we hoped that it was to some place at which the +English ships touched, and that we might get home some day. As Jack +said, we had reason to be thankful that we had been picked up, for the +weather came on very bad, and our boat could not have lived through it. +The Chinamen kept a bright look-out, and seemed terribly afraid of the +pirates. We tried to make them understand that we had seen the fleet +sail to nor'ard a short time before, and we ourselves didn't like the +thoughts of falling in with them. We told them also that we would fight +to the death sooner than yield. They understood us, and seemed to think +that we were very fine fellows. We had been sailing on for three or +four days, and we began to hope that we were free of the pirates, when +just as we passed a headland we caught sight of a number of craft coming +out from under it. On seeing them the Chinamen looked very much +frightened, hoisted all sail, and brought their arms on deck. We +watched the strangers, who, it was very clear, were making chase after +us. We should have a hard fight for it, even if we should manage to get +off. Presently, however, we saw their sails flapping against their +masts as they came under the headland, whilst we still had a breeze and +went away dancing merrily over the water. I never felt so pleased in my +life, and the Chinamen seemed highly delighted, chattering and jabbering +away like so many monkeys. It was pleasant to see the pirates' sails +sink below the horizon, and pleasanter still to lose sight of them +altogether. + +"We ran on day after day. The breeze held fair and we by degrees got +accustomed to our new friends, and could make ourselves understood in a +fashion. We sometimes were sailing between islands, and sometimes on +the open sea. Whereabouts we were we had no idea, though we supposed +that we were approaching the Chinamen's country. + +"We had been a fortnight or more on board when dark clouds rose up from +the south-west, and it came on to blow very hard. The sails were +lowered and we ran before the gale. I saw by the looks of the crew that +they didn't like it, nor did we, for it seemed as if at any moment the +clumsy craft might be capsized. We, however, pumped and baled, and +tried to keep her clear of water. It all seemed, however, of no use, +for the seas washed into her and she was leaking terribly. + +"We had been driven a long way out of our course. We did our best to +cheer up our shipmates, and set them the example by working harder than +any of them. + +"At last the gale ceased, and we once more made sail, but, do all we +could, the water gained on us and the crew began to heave the cargo +overboard to keep the junk afloat. The boats had been washed away, and +we knew that if she went down we should all be drowned. Jack and I +talked of what we could do to save our lives, but we agreed that we +should have to share the fate of the rest. It seemed to us that the +craft would not swim another night, when we made out a sail to the +westward. + +"The Chinamen by this time were so knocked up that they were scarcely +able to exert themselves. Jack and I sprang here and there, now +pumping, now baling, now trying to make our companions do the same. It +seemed to us that they would let the craft go down in sight of help. +The stranger we judged by the cut of her sails to be a whaler. The junk +was settling lower and lower in the water. Jack found a flag, an +odd-looking piece of stuff it was. He ran it up half-mast high as a +signal of distress. The stranger came on slowly, for the wind was +light. It seemed even now that she would not be in time to save us. At +last she got near enough to see our condition, and hove-to. Four boats +were lowered, which came pulling towards us. + +"By this time the water was almost up to the lower deck. Jack and I +stood ready to spring on board the first boat which came up. The brave +crew came on, and were in time to haul the greater number of the +Chinamen on board before the junk sunk beneath their feet. Several went +down in her, too much knocked up to exert themselves. With us and those +saved, the boats returned on board. We found that we had been picked up +by the _Helen_, whaler. She had been cruising off the coast of Japan, +and was going to Macao for fresh provisions. As she was short of hands +Jack and I at once entered on board her. Having landed the unfortunate +Chinamen and taken in the stores we wanted, we stood away into the +Pacific. We found ourselves among a somewhat rough lot, but we were +better off than we had been as slaves, though Jack and I agreed that we +would much rather serve on board a man-o'-war. We had been cruising for +some time, and had caught and stowed away about a dozen whales or more, +when one night there was a cry of `Breakers ahead!' + +"The captain, who was on deck in a moment, gave the order to put up the +helm and veer ship, but before she could be got round she struck +heavily. We sounded round her and found the water deep on the starboard +side. But all our efforts proving useless, the order was given to lower +the boats. We had five fit for service, and they were got safely into +the water. Jack went in one of them, I in another. We were ordered to +keep off at a safe distance from the ship till daylight. When morning +broke we found that the ship was a complete wreck, and that there was no +chance of saving her. The captain then ordered the boats to come +alongside one at a time and embark the rest of the crew, with such +provisions as could be collected. We now saw land away to the nor'ard, +and, having left the ship, pulled towards it. Our great want was water, +and to obtain it the captain divided us into two parties to look into +any bays we might discover and try and find a spring. I was in the +second mate's boat. We were just pulling into a bay, when a dozen +canoes full of black savages, with bows and spears, darted out and made +chase after us, so we pulled away out to sea. What had become of the +other boats we could not tell. Your brother Jack had gone in the +captain's, and that was the last I saw of him." + +"Do you think they could have escaped from the savages?" I asked, +anxiously. + +"I have no reason to suppose they didn't, just as we managed to escape," +answered Miles, "but we didn't catch sight of them again. We had sails +in our boat, and plenty of provisions, and the mate told us he intended +to steer for the Sandwich Islands, the nearest civilised place he knew +of, but that it was a long way off, and we should be a long time about +it. He might have been right, but we were still many days' sail from it +when we ran short of provisions and drank up all our water. I believe +that we should have died if we hadn't fallen in with another whaler, +which picked us up. I entered on board her, as did some of the men, but +the mate and others preferred landing at Honolulu. I served on board +her for some time. We had gone southward, having got a full ship, when +we struck on a coral reef. Though we did all we could to keep her +afloat, she went down with all hands, except the black and me, and we +managed to get ashore on Robinson Crusoe's Island, from which you took +us off." + +"But can't you give me any idea as to what has become of Jack?" I again +asked. + +"Not more than I have told you," answered Miles; "but my idea is that +some if not all the boats got off, though in what direction they steered +I've no notion." + +I was prevented from talking more on the subject just then by being +summoned on deck, and when I told Jim he repeated what he had before +said-- + +"We'll find him, Peter. We'll find him." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +A MUTINY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. + +I told Dr Cockle all I had heard about my brother Jack from Miles +Soper. He seemed greatly interested, and said that he sincerely hoped +we might find Jack or hear of him, though he confessed that it was very +much like looking for a needle in a bundle of hay. Jim and I talked of +little else. We neither of us any longer thought of going home, but I +got a letter ready to send, by the first ship bound for England, to my +sister Mary, and another to Mr Troil, telling them that I had got +tidings of Jack, and much as I wished to get back, should stay out in +those seas till I found him. + +My great wish now was to fall in with other whalers, that I might make +inquiries about my brother. The captain--though, I suppose, Dr Cockle +and Mr Griffiths told him what I had heard--seemed to take no interest +in the matter, nor did he show me any more attention than before. + +We had left Juan Fernandez more than a month, when a cry came from the +masthead of "Land ho!" It proved to be Chatham Island, one of the +Galapagos, a group of volcanic islands almost under the line, some +hundred miles away from the coast of Peru. We brought up in a fine bay, +but the shore as far as we could see looked black and barren. There +were, however, thick, low bushes of a peculiar kind, covering the ground +at some distance from the beach. As Dr Cockle was going on shore with +one of the mates and a party of the men, he to botanise and they to +obtain fresh provisions, I went up to the captain and asked leave to +accompany him. + +"I understand you have made up your mind not to run away," he observed, +in his usual sarcastic tone. + +"Yes, sir," I answered; "I'm content to remain on board your ship, +though I know that I would until lately have done anything to get back +to England." + +"Take care you don't change your mind," he said, in the same tone as +before. "If the doctor will be answerable for you, you can go." + +I told the doctor what the captain said. + +"I know that I can trust you. Peter, and I'll tell the captain that +I'll undertake to bring you back," he answered. + +I was glad to find that Jim was to form one of the party. Horner also +got leave to go. Though he and I were on good terms, I can't say I +looked upon him as a friend, but I was well pleased that he should have +a run on shore, as I hoped that it would put him in good humour, for of +late he had become one of the most constant grumblers on board. I even +now recollect the pleasure I felt on thus once more treading the firm +ground, as, except for the short time I had landed on Juan Fernandez, I +hadn't set foot on shore since I left Shetland. The rest of the seamen +seemed greatly to enjoy their freedom. + +As soon as we had secured the boat we all set off together, running over +the rough black ground, startling a number of strange-looking creatures +like lizards, some of which slid off into the water, others hid +themselves in holes and crevices of the rocks. + +Jim and I, however, went back to join the doctor, as we knew that he +would want us to carry anything he might chance to pick up. The mate, +after the men had had a good run, called them to him, and we proceeded +more leisurely. The shrubs we had seen we found to be prickly pears. +We had gone some distance when we caught sight of some enormous +creatures like tortoises. The doctor called them terrapins. They had +been feeding on the prickly pears, and were now leisurely making their +way towards the hills which rose in the distance. We were all suffering +from thirst, and the sun beat down on our heads with a great heat. We +had in vain been looking for water. + +"I'd give anything for a mugful!" cried Jim. + +"So would I," "And I!" echoed several more of the men. + +"You needn't have long to wait if you can catch those creatures," said +the doctor. "They'll yield as much cool water as we want." + +We all set off running after the terrapins, which, as they didn't move +fast, we soon overtook. As we got close to them they drew their heads +into their shells, and remained quiet. + +Horner had become unusually lively, and on seeing the creatures stop +jumped on the back of one of them, when immediately on it went carrying +him along with it. At first he thought it very good fun, and began +snapping his fingers and pretending to dance, but whilst he was looking +round at us the terrapin carried him against a prickly pear-bush, and +over he went sprawling on the ground, to the great amusement of the men. + +"Oh, save me! Save me!" he shouted out, scarcely knowing what had +happened, and believing that the creatures were going to turn upon him +and run their bills into his body. + +Jim and I helped him up, and found that he was bleeding from a cut hand +and a wound inflicted in his side by the point of one of the leaves. +The doctor, however, on arriving at the spot, examined his hurts and +comforted him by the assurance that there was not much the matter, and +that if he didn't think about it he could go on as well as the rest of +us. + +We soon again overtook the terrapins, when the men who were armed with +spears ran them in under the creatures' necks and quickly killed them. +We turned them over, and under the doctor's directions, found, as he +said we should, plenty of perfectly cool water in their insides. It was +fresh as if just out of the spring. Leaving the terrapins to carry back +with us on our return, we pushed on in the hope of falling in with some +more. We were not disappointed. We in a short time killed four, as +many as we could manage to carry on board the boat, and sufficient to +give us fresh meat for several days. I was in hopes of meeting with +inhabitants, as I wanted, wherever I went, to make inquiries for Jack, +not knowing where I might find him. As Miles had come to the east, I +thought he might have found his way in the same direction. None of the +islands are, however, inhabited, and only one of them, Charles Island, +has a spring of water, though people might otherwise exist in them for +years. We saw a vast number of birds, which were very tame, but not a +single four-legged creature besides the terrapins and lizards. We had +to make several trips to carry the meat to the boat. As we shoved off +we saw the sea literally swarming with fish, and the next morning the +captain sent in two boats, which, in a short time, caught as many as we +could eat. + +In the evening we sailed and cruised in the neighbourhood of the +islands, during which time we added the oil of four whales to our cargo. +We also met several other whalers, from all of whom I made inquiries +for Jack, but none of the people I spoke to had even heard of the wreck +of the _Helen_, and could give me no information. At length the crew +began to grumble at being kept so long at sea, and we sailed for Tumbez, +on the mainland, where we took in wood and water. + +When this task was accomplished the captain gave leave to half of the +crew to go ashore, and to remain away three days. On their return the +other half had liberty granted them for the same time. + +I accompanied the doctor. We went up the river some distance, and then +landing walked to a town surrounded by sand, far from having a pleasant +look. With the assistance of the doctor, I made inquiries for Jack, +thinking that if he belonged to a whaler he might have visited the +place; but I could gain no intelligence of him. The night before we +sailed it was my middle watch, and when it was over I tumbled into my +bunk. + +I had been asleep for some time when I was awakened by hearing Horner's +voice, exclaiming, "You are here, then? Rouse up and come on deck. The +captain is in a great taking. He has found that a boat is missing and +some of the hands, and he declares that you have gone with them." + +Slipping into my clothes, I hurried on deck. It was just daylight; the +captain was standing aft, looking in a fearful rage, while the second +mate was forward, shouting to the men to come up and show themselves. + +"Do you want me, sir?" I asked. + +"So you and Jim Pulley have not taken yourselves off?" he exclaimed. + +"No, sir; we never thought of doing so, and I gave you my word that I +wouldn't desert." + +He made no reply, but ordered Mr Griffiths to call over the names of +the men. Four were found missing. + +"Take a boat and six men, well armed, and see you bring the rascals +back, alive or dead!" he exclaimed, turning to the mate. + +In a couple of minutes the boat was in the water and the men were ready, +and Mr Griffiths pulled away. + +He was absent for some hours. At last we saw his boat coming back, but +without the runaways. On reaching the deck Mr Griffiths reported that +he had gone up the river and examined the coast on either side of it, +but could find no traces of the boat or men. + +As soon as Captain Hawkins had abandoned all hopes of recovering the +runaways he ordered Mr Griffiths to go again on shore to try and pick +up some fresh hands in their place, and I was sent to look after the +boat. On either side of the river as we pulled up it we saw numbers of +alligators sunning themselves on the sandy banks. As we got near them +they plunged into the water, and at first I thought they were about to +attack the boat. + +As we got higher up, the river narrowed and the trees bent over our +heads. In the branches we could see numbers of monkeys leaping from +bough to bough and chattering at us. At last, after going six miles, we +reached a landing-place, near which was an orange-grove coming close +down to the water. Mr Griffiths, taking two men with him, ordered the +rest of us to remain in the boat, and on no account to quit her. +Scarcely, however, was he out of sight than the men declared that they +must have some oranges. When I reminded them of the orders I had +received they laughed at me, and one of them, springing ashore, ran off +to the grove. He soon again appeared, with a handkerchief in his hands +full of oranges, and sucking one as he came along. He was followed by +an old gentleman, whom I at once guessed to be the owner of the +orange-grove, and who came on till he reached the boat. He then stopped +and said something in his native language, which none of us understood. +When he found this he made signs to us that we had no business to take +his oranges without leave. I tried to explain by pointing to the men's +mouths that they were very thirsty, and that I couldn't prevent the +sailor from taking the fruit. Whether it was from my manner or looks I +can't say, but the old gentleman appeared to be pleased, and going back +to an orange-tree picked off a quantity of the fruit, which he brought +to me in his own handkerchief, patting me on the back at the same time, +as if he was satisfied with my explanations. + +While sucking away at the oranges the men were kept quiet. All the time +the monkeys chattered away at us from the neighbouring trees, and an +ugly alligator would now and then poke his snout out of the water to +have a look at us, but the shouts we raised made him swim off. At last +Mr Griffiths appeared with four fresh hands, each man carrying a bundle +containing all his worldly possessions. As soon as they stepped into +the boat we shoved off, and gave way down the river. I was surprised to +find all the men talk in a way far superior to that of common sailors, +and soon found that they had deserted from American whalers, and had +been, before they came to sea, in good positions, which they had lost by +misconduct. The moment we got on board, though it was now late in the +evening, the captain ordered the anchor to be hove up, and as the wind +was off shore, we stood out to sea. + +We proceeded at once to our old cruising ground in the neighbourhood of +the Galapagos. While we were on our way the new hands seemed perfectly +contented, having little or nothing to do. I, of course, inquired of +them if they had heard of anyone who had escaped from the _Helen_, but +they could give me no information. To my surprise, I found that, though +they had entered in different names, three of them were brothers, and +the fourth an old friend. One of the brothers appeared to be a quiet, +well-disposed man. As far as I could make out, he had come to sea to +look after the others, and to try and keep them out of mischief, though +he didn't appear to have been very successful, as time after time they +had got into all sorts of scrapes, and it was a wonder that they had +escaped with their lives. On reaching the old ground we fell in with a +number of whales, and had very hard work, for scarcely had we stowed +away the oil of one than we were in chase of another. The new hands +grumbled, and so did some of the others. Of course they couldn't +complain of our success in catching whales, that brought them the work +to do. The mates knew of their grumbling, but took no notice of it. At +last, one morning, when I came on deck, I found a letter lying on the +companion-hatch, addressed to Captain Hawkins. I, of course, took it to +him. + +"Who sent this?" he asked, in an angry tone. + +I told him where I had found it, and that I knew nothing more about the +matter. + +Tearing it open, as he read it a frown gathered on his brow. "The +mutinous rascals! I'll not yield to them," he exclaimed. "Say nothing +about this till I come on deck," he said to me. "Send Mr Griffiths +here." + +When the mate came the captain read the letter to him. They then armed +themselves and went on deck, when the second mate was ordered to muster +all hands aft. + +"Who wrote this letter?" asked the captain, in a firm tone. + +No one answered, and there was silence for some time, until the captain +repeated the question. + +"It was Muggins," at last said one of the men. + +Muggins was one of the last hands shipped, and though a man of some +education, he always seemed to me utterly worthless. He was a friend of +the three brothers, who went by the names of Washington, Crampton, and +Clifford. + +"But in this precious letter I have the names of all the crew," +exclaimed the captain. + +Several of the men on this protested that they knew nothing about the +letter, and had not put their names to any paper. + +"Well, then, let those who have agreed to it walk over to the port side, +and those who wish to stick to their duty and remain in the ship go to +the starboard side." + +Eight only walked over, including those I have mentioned. + +On this Miles Soper, stepping aft and touching his hat, said, "I never +like to peach on shipmates, but, as an honest man, I can't hold my +tongue. On two different nights I saw Muggins get up and change the +meat and throw dirt in among the bread. One night he carried up some of +the best pieces and hove them overboard. + +"It's clear to me that he did it to make the rest of us discontented +with our victuals. I had made up my mind to speak about it, but I +couldn't catch him at it again, though I'm certain he played the same +trick more than once afterwards." + +"I believe you, Soper," said the captain, and at a signal from him the +mates rushed forward and seized Muggins, whom they dragged aft, none of +the others interfering. The captain then produced a pair of handcuffs +which he had got ready, and fixed them on the wrists of the man. He +then called to Horner, Jim, and me to assist the mates, and together we +carried the man down below and shut him up in the cabin store-room, the +captain meantime remaining by himself on deck. When we returned we +found that the crew hadn't moved. + +"Now, lads!" he said; "you who have made up your minds to remain in the +ship return to your duty." + +On this the men on the starboard side went forward, but the remaining +seven mutineers stood where they were with their arms folded. I was in +hopes that, as they were no longer under the influence of Muggins, they +would yield, but they would make no promises. At length, tired of +standing where they were, they moved lazily along forward. Dr Cockle +told me that the captain intended to put into the Marquesas, where he +could get rid of the men and obtain others. + +I found the next day that we were steering in that direction. After +this not one of them would do any work, though they were allowed to +remain at liberty. I fully expected that they would try to rescue their +companion, but the captain and mates kept an eye on them, as did Jim and +I. + +It was tantalising to us to see whales every day and yet not to go in +chase of them, but the captain wouldn't send any boats away with the +good men in them for fear of what the others might do in their absence. + +At length we reached Witahoo, one of the Marquesas, and brought up in a +beautifully sheltered bay. Had there been any English authorities in +the place the men would have been imprisoned, but as it was all the +captain could do was to release Muggins from his handcuffs, and to send +him and the other men ashore. The second mate went in one boat, and I +had command of the other. The mutineers were ordered to get into them, +and we pulled for the beach. Though they had only their clothes and a +few articles put up in bundles, they stepped on shore with as jaunty an +air as if they were going among friends, and having walked a little +distance they turned round and jeered and laughed at us. + +"I pity you poor fellows who have to toil away on board that filthy +whaler," cried Muggins. "It's a shame that you haven't spirit enough to +lead the happy easy lives we are going to enjoy." + +Before we shoved off several natives came down to the beach, with whom +the mutineers shook hands, as if they were old friends. Presently a +huge fellow appeared, who, judging from the way the rest treated him, we +supposed to be a chief. Though the others were of a gigantic size and +magnificent proportions, he was taller than any of them. Every part of +his body that we could see was tattooed over a deep blue colour, from +the crown of his head to his feet. His head was shaven, and every hair, +even to the eyelashes, was plucked out. + +He introduced himself to the mate, who was standing up in the boat, as +Utatee, the chief of the island. He spoke a little English, and from +him we made out that a missionary resided a short distance off up the +bay. In a short time a number of other people came down, with several +women and children. Nearly all the latter appeared to me to be very +handsome, their good looks not being spoilt by tattooing. I have never +seen so many fine-looking people together in any part of the world. The +chief told us that we should be welcome to as much wood and water as we +required, and offered to supply us with fresh provisions at a cheap +rate. + +Next day the missionary came on board, and warned us to beware of the +people. He had made but little progress with them, owing very much to +the misconduct of the runaway sailors who lived on shore and set them a +bad example. Still he had some converts, and he hoped, in time, to make +more. I told him about my brother Jack, and how anxious I was to find +him. I got Miles Soper to describe him minutely, and the missionary +kindly promised to make inquiries for him. + +The captain returned with him on shore to look for men, and came back in +the evening with eight he had picked up. One of them was a runaway +sailor, who had been living on the island several years (such being +termed a beachcomber), a Portuguese, and six Kanakas, as the natives are +called. + +Meantime the blacks and the Sandwich Islanders, with a few of the white +men, were employed in bringing off the fresh provisions we required. As +Dr Cockle wished to visit a part of the bay a little distance off, he +borrowed one of the boats manned with two natives, Jim Horner, and me. +We visited two or three spots, where the doctor collected some plants +and some shells from the shore. We were about to return when he +proposed that we should look into a little bay a short distance farther +on. The natives seemed disinclined to go there, and as far as we could +make out advised us to return to the shore, saying that there were bad +people in that neighbourhood. + +The doctor, however, who supposed that they only wished to save +themselves from the longer pull, persisted in going on. As we got up +towards the head of the bay we saw several natives, who ran off as we +approached, and hid themselves behind the trees. + +"We must be cautious, for perhaps our men here didn't warn us without +reason," observed the doctor as we pulled slowly in. Directly after he +exclaimed, "There are two men lying on the beach. Who can they be? We +must, at all events, go in and ascertain." + +He had brought his fowling-piece, and we had besides two muskets. He +told Jim and me to stand up, with the muskets in our hands, for he +didn't like to trust Horner, while he stepped on shore. Just as the +boat reached the beach, and Jim, who was in the bows, was about to jump +out, he exclaimed, "Why I do believe those two fellows are Muggins and +Jones." + +The doctor leaped on shore, looking carefully round to ascertain that no +natives were near. A cry of horror escaped him. The two men were dead, +with their skulls fractured, the brains lying about. + +Their "free and happy" life on shore had come speedily to an end. Why +they had been killed it was difficult to say. The doctor, stooping +down, felt the bodies. + +"They are perfectly cold, and must have been dead some time," he +observed. "They probably had a quarrel with some of the natives, and +were trying to escape to the beach to cry for help, when they were +overtaken." + +As we could do nothing we returned to the ship, thankful that we had +escaped the treachery of the natives, though, as the doctor observed, +the men who had suffered had evidently brought it all upon themselves. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +A CRUISE ACROSS THE PACIFIC AND THE ADVENTURES I MET WITH. + +On reaching the ship we found that the captain, the English missionary, +and the big old chief, Utatee, had arrived on board just before us. The +doctor at once told them what had occurred. + +"The fellows probably brought their fate upon themselves," said the +captain. "They must have provoked the savages and got killed in +consequence." + +"I'm afraid that such was the case," observed the missionary; "but I +will ask the chief to inquire into the matter." + +Utatee said he would do so, but if the white men were guilty he could +not undertake to punish their murderers. + +While we were talking some of the crew cried out, "A shark! A shark!" +and sure enough there was a huge creature swimming up close under the +counter, with his fin just above the water, his wicked eye glancing up +at the ship. The chief said something to one of the natives who had +come aboard with him, a fine athletic fellow, who, like the chief, +appeared to be fully dressed in a tightly-fitting dark blue silk dress, +but who, in reality, had only a loincloth round his waist, fastened by a +girdle, in which were stuck a couple of knives, the rest of his body +being perfectly tattooed from head to foot. + +The man looked at the shark, and waiting until it had gone a little +ahead, overboard he went, and swam rapidly up after it. Presently he +dived, and we saw the shark floundering in the water. I thought that he +had turned to seize the man, and that the blood which tinged the waves +was issuing from his body; but no, it was the shark which was wounded. +The man rose, and again plunged his knife into the monster's side. He +did the same several times, and then towing it up by the tail to the +ship, made signs for the bight of a rope to be hove to him. He passed +it over the shark's head, and another rope being secured near the tail, +the monster was hoisted up, while the native, with wonderful agility, +climbed on deck, apparently not in the slightest degree exhausted by his +exertions. + +Immediately after this we saw a prodigious commotion near the entrance +of the bay, while a loud sound like that of stones knocked together +reached our ears. We soon made out a number of people, men, women, and +children, who had come off from the extreme point forming one side of +the entrance of the bay, and were swimming across it, shouting and +striking together a couple of big stones, which they held in their +hands. Having formed in a line across the bay, they turned and swam up +it, and we saw that they were driving before them a shoal of porpoises. +On they kept in perfect order, till the porpoises were driven right +ashore at the head of the bay. Here a number of other natives met them. +Together they attacked the creatures, which they quickly killed. The +missionary told us that their object was to extract the teeth, through +which they make holes for the purpose of forming necklaces. + +"You'll not forget, sir, I hope, to look out for my brother Jack," I +said, as the missionary was going. + +"You may trust me for that, my young friend," he answered, kindly; "but +I shall not be long on these islands, I fear, as the French are coming +to take possession of them, and they'll allow no Protestant missionaries +to live here." + +The captain had no wish to remain for the purpose of inquiring into the +death of the two seamen, as they didn't belong to his ship, and we +therefore sailed at daybreak the next morning for Dominica, the largest +island of the group, where we understood that we could obtain a larger +supply of pork than we had obtained at Witahoo. + +We quickly came off that island, but could discover only one bay into +which we could safely enter. + +As soon as we brought up, two of the boats were sent ashore under charge +of Mr Griffiths, he going in one, and I, with Jim and Horner, in +another. + +As we got near the beach we saw that a heavy surf was breaking on it. +Mr Griffiths, however, thought that we could land safely, and waiting +till the wave had burst, we dashed on. + +Though we shipped a good deal of water, the boats got in safely. The +natives being accustomed to supply whalers, guessing what we wanted, had +come down with a number of hogs to sell. The price for one was a bottle +of powder, and five could be purchased for an old musket. + +We had brought a number of these articles for barter. Mr Griffiths +ordered me to stand by the boats while he carried on the trade. + +As was my custom, I looked about in the hopes of seeing some English +sailor of whom I might make inquiries about my brother Jack. + +When we had purchased as many pigs as the boats would carry, we prepared +to shove off. + +The natives made signs to us that we had better be careful, but we +didn't understand them, and the pigs being put on board, we shoved off. + +"I'll lead," said Mr Griffiths. "When you see me safe outside you can +follow," and away he went. + +He got through one breaker, but what was my horror to see the next catch +the boat and roll her completely over! We knew that the place abounded +with ground-sharks, and we expected to see either him or some of the +other men carried off by the savage creatures. + +He was not a bad swimmer, but, at the same time, was unaccustomed to +make his way through a heavy surf. + +The rest of the men clung to the boat, but he attempted to gain the +shore by himself. I was about to tumble the pigs out of my boat, and to +go off in her to his assistance, when three of the natives darted out +through the foaming seas towards where he was struggling. Every instant +I expected he would disappear, but they quickly reached him, and +supporting him in their arms, brought him back safe to the beach, where +the rest of the men arrived, without hurt, on the bottom of the boat. + +"We must not be defeated, lads," cried out Mr Griffiths, as soon as he +had recovered. "We shall have better fortune next time." + +The boat was baled out and put to rights, and the pigs, which had swum +ashore, being again put in her, away we pulled, but just as she had got +to the middle of the roller she broached to and over she went. + +This time I, not without reason, feared that some of my shipmates would +be lost, as I saw the boat tossing helplessly in the breakers, but +presently she came driving, with all hands and the pigs, at a rapid rate +towards the beach, where the natives received them, looking as if +nothing unusual had occurred. + +Still undaunted, Mr Griffiths determined once more to make the attempt, +and the next time succeeded. I waited until the largest roller, which I +had carefully noted, had passed, and my men giving way, we got through, +although the boat was nearly half full of water. + +We carried the pigs on board, but after this, at the suggestion of one +of the natives, we anchored the boats a short distance from the shore by +letting him dive down and make fast a cable to the coral at the bottom. + +The natives then swam off to us with the pigs and the cocoanuts which we +bought of them, without making any additional charge for their trouble; +indeed, to them it seemed a matter of course. We could obtain no yams, +but we got instead some enormous plantains, which served us instead of +potatoes. As we could bring off but a few pigs at a time it was rather +a long business, and we had then to skin and salt them down. + +The wind changing, and the surf no longer breaking at the end of the +bay, we were able to land without difficulty. I had one day accompanied +the doctor, who took only three other men to pull the boat. As he +wished to botanise and obtain some shells and other productions of the +island, the men went with him to carry what could be got, while I +remained by the boat to prevent the natives from stealing the lead and +gear belonging to her. + +Before long two or three old women came down to the beach and began +talking to me by signs, for words were of no use. Then others joined +them. They took hold of my hands and seemed to be admiring my +complexion and examining my clothes. As far as I could make out they +wanted me to accompany them to their village. When I refused, for of +course I was not going to neglect my duty and leave the boat, they grew +angry, and at last several of them seized me by the arms and were +attempting to drag me off. I struggled violently, and shouted out at +the top of my voice, but they didn't seem to mind that. + +As they were very strong I was completely in their power, and I fully +believed that I should be carried off, when I caught sight of a man +running towards the boat. He proved to be one of our crew who had been +sent back by the doctor for something he had left. When he saw what was +taking place, holding his musket in his hand, he rushed towards the old +women, who let me go and scampered off. + +"It's lucky for you, Peter, that they didn't succeed in getting you +away," he said. "They would have tattooed you all over and turned you +into a nigger and made you marry one of their girls. I'll stay by you, +for the chances are they may come back and try again to make you a +prisoner. The doctor must manage to do without his spud." + +When Dr Cockle returned, though at first he began to scold the man, +when he heard why he remained he told him he was right. At all events, +had the natives carried me off it might have caused a deal of trouble to +recover me. + +Sailing from the Marquesas we gradually worked our way westward towards +the Society Islands, catching a few whales, till we arrived at Totillah, +one of the Samoa group. + +The scenery was magnificent, while everywhere the country was covered +with beautiful trees, among them the pandanus palm, the tree-fern, the +banyan, the bread-fruit tree, wild nutmeg, and superb bamboos. The +natives also were very well-behaved and quiet, and were always inclined +to treat us hospitably. Indeed, we might have travelled without the +slightest risk from one end of the island to the other. The good +behaviour of the inhabitants was the result of their having become +Christians owing to the indefatigable exertions of missionaries. It was +here that John Williams, the great apostle to the Pacific heathen, spent +several years. Not far off from where we lay at anchor was Leoni Bay, +the scene of the massacre of the French navigator Perouse and his +companions. While we were here two of the men we had obtained ran off. +Two others were shipped in their stead. One of them, who called himself +John Brown, as he stepped on deck seemed to me a remarkably fine fellow. +He had belonged to a whaler which had been wrecked some time before, +and he had remained behind while the rest of the crew went on to Sydney. +I immediately asked him the question which I put to everybody. "Do you +know anything of a young fellow named Jack Trawl?" + +"It seems to me that I have heard of the name," he laid, "but when or +where I can't say. When did you last get news of him?" + +"He was wrecked in the _Helen_, and was last seen in one of her boats +when the crews were making their escape from the savages," I answered. + +"Then perhaps I may help you a little," he said. "Some time ago we fell +in with a whaler, and we were talking to her crew. At last, as we were +going to shove off, one of the men said that he had been on board the +_Helen_, and he knew for certain two of her boats had got safely to +Timor, but what became of the others he couldn't tell." + +I naturally asked which of the boats had reached Timor, and whether the +captain's was one of them, but he could not say, and I was obliged to +rest satisfied with this information. It gave me fresh hopes that Jack +was alive. + +I have not described the bay in which we lay. It was very deep and +narrow, and might rather have been called a gulf. Just as we got under +way the wind came right in, and we had either to anchor again or work +out. The captain decided to do the latter. Two boats were sent ahead +to tow the ship round, the rest of the crew were at their stations. Not +a word was spoken, for we all saw that we had no easy task to perform. +As we went about, first on one tack then on the other, we each time +gained but little ground. + +At last, as we were just again going about, a puff of wind drove her +right ashore on a coral reef. In vain the men in the two boats +endeavoured to pull her round. The captain and both the mates gave her +up for lost, and the crew seemed to think the same, but Brown, who was +looking round everywhere, called me, and we hauled away at the fore +brace. The fore-topsail filled with a flaw of wind which came off the +shore, and away the ship went, the wind favouring us till we were clear +out of the bay. It was one of the narrowest escapes from shipwreck I +ever had. + +The next land we made was "Boscawen" and "Keppel" Islands, the former +being a high peak, the latter a low, level island. We here landed to +obtain provisions, among which we got some of the finest yams I ever +saw. The natives were good-looking, friendly people. + +We continued on to the north-west, and made the "Duke of Clarence" +Island, which has no land within four hundred miles of it. The captain +said that he had touched there years before, but that it was +uninhabited. As we were nearing it, however, a number of natives came +off in large canoes loaded with cocoanuts and fruits, so that they or +their fathers must have made a long voyage to reach it in their +frail-looking vessels. + +Thence we proceeded to the Kingsmill group, of which Byron's Island is +the largest. The men, who were heathens, were quite naked, but the +women wore small aprons of seaweed. They didn't tattoo themselves, but +many of them had their skins rough and hanging in flakes, which gave +them a most repulsive appearance. This was in consequence of their +spending much of their time in the water. + +They were savage not only in their appearance but in their customs, for +we heard that to prevent overcrowding, as they cannot provide sufficient +food for a large population, they kill their infant children. + +Such were the people of all these islands, however handsome in +appearance, before the missionaries went among them. Many of them had +terrible wounds, produced in their battles with each other, either by +their spears or clubs, which are covered with sharks' teeth. + +We didn't see the land till we were within about ten miles of it, as it +is very low, being of coral formation. Its only vegetable production is +the cocoanut tree, which is of the greatest value to the natives. They +build their huts of the trunks and roof them with the leaves. Their +canoes are composed of numerous pieces of the wood sewn together with +cocoanut fibre. The form of these canoes, which are from eighteen to +twenty feet long, is curious; the shape is that of a whale-boat cut in +two lengthways; one side is round, and the other perfectly flat, and +they are kept upright by having an outrigger to windward which extends +about ten feet from the hull. The sail is triangular and made of +matting, and in fine weather they can beat to windward with the fastest +ship. + +We here spent several months, occasionally touching at Byron's Island +for fresh cocoanuts and water. We had caught nineteen whales, when +towards the evening of one day a twentieth was seen at a considerable +distance. + +"We must have that fellow," said the captain. + +The boats were lowered; he went in one, Mr Griffiths in another, and +Mr Harvey, the second mate, in a third. Another whale appeared much +nearer, but in a somewhat different direction. While Mr Griffiths +pulled for the first, the captain and the second mate made for the +second. Both were to windward. We had a light breeze, and at once +began to beat up after them. + +Just before sundown we found that the captain and the second mate had +made fast. It took some time before the whale was killed, and we could +scarcely perceive the whift planted on its back before darkness came on. +We had, in the meantime, lost sight of Mr Griffiths's boat, but we +hoped that he would be equally successful. We made tack after tack till +we got up to the whale, which two boats were towing towards us. We +burned a blue light to show the first mate our position, but looked in +vain for an answering signal. At last the captain, being anxious at his +non-appearance, and fearing that some accident must have happened, +ordered the second mate to hang on to the whale while he beat the ship +up in the direction Mr Griffiths's boat had taken. The hours went by +and the wind increased and the sea got up. + +"Never mind," said the captain; "Harvey will hang on under the lee of +the whale even if it does come on to blow harder, and he'll be safe +enough." + +At last, at about half-an-hour to midnight, we made out a faint light +dead to windward. It took us some time to get up to it, for, though we +were sure it must come from the mate's boat, it didn't approach us. + +As we got near we could distinguish the people hanging to the bottom of +the boat, one of them sitting astride of her and holding up a lantern. +We immediately hove-to, and lowered a boat to take them on board. It +then appeared that the boat had been stove in by a whale, when the mate +and his men clung on to her, the whale fortunately not molesting them. + +The boat's lantern is always headed up tight in a keg, together with a +tinder-box and candles, and having providentially secured the keg, they +managed to open it, get out the lantern, and strike a light. We might +otherwise have passed them in the dark, and they would all probably have +perished, as we should have run back to pick up Mr Harvey's boat and +the whale we had killed. We now did so at once, and a hard night's work +we had of it, as we had to secure the whale alongside, and get ready for +cutting-in as soon as it was day. + +Soon after this, while I was aloft, I saw Jim, who had just been +relieved at the wheel, go to the side, and, throwing off his clothes, +jump overboard. It was what we often did, always taking care to leave a +rope overboard to get up by, to get rid of the soot and grease, besides +which, as we were close under the line, the weather was very hot, and a +bath refreshing. + +Jim swam some way ahead of the ship, when the cook, to play him a trick, +hauled up his rope, which I didn't perceive, as I was looking at Jim. +Just then I caught sight of the fin of a shark at no great distance off. +I shouted to Jim to come back, and he, knowing that I should not give a +false alarm, struck out lustily for the ship. Mr Griffiths, who was on +deck, seeing his danger, at once hove him another rope, and shouted at +the top of his voice to keep the shark off. Still the monster came +nearer and nearer. I saw Jim, to my great relief, get up to the side, +but as he took hold of the rope, from its being covered with grease, it +slipped through his fingers. The mate shouted to the other men on deck +to come and assist him in hauling Jim up. I slid down on deck as fast +as I could. On came the shark. Jim was still in the water, and I +expected to see my old friend caught. + +With all our strength we hauled at the rope, but still Jim couldn't hold +on by it, and I feared that it would slip through his fingers +altogether, when, as it turned out, there was a knot at the end. This +enabled him to hold on, and we hauled him up, more dead than alive from +fright, just as the shark, showing the white of its belly, shoved its +snout out of the water and made a snap at his feet, not six inches from +them. + +Jim was saved, and I never in my life felt more inclined to cry for joy +than when I saw him out of danger. While the shark was still alongside +looking for its prey, one of the Marquesas islanders who came on deck, +taking a knife in his hand, leapt right down, feet first, on the +monster's back, which so scared it that away it went like a flash of +lightning. + +I have mentioned these circumstances just as they occurred to show the +sort of life led by the crew of a whaler. I have more interesting +events to narrate in the following chapters. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +A TYPHOON, AND HOW WE GOT THROUGH IT. + +The crew of a whaler had need to exercise much patience. Sometimes they +watch for weeks and weeks together, but watch in vain, for fish. At +others so many are caught that they have not a moment to rest between +the time that one is tryed out and another is brought alongside. + +We had at first been very successful, but a week or more having passed +without a whale being seen, Captain Hawkins ordered a course to be +steered for the Japan whaling ground. The very first day that we +arrived in the latitude of these islands, which were, however, far out +of sight, we caught two whales. + +We had tryed out the first and had the other alongside when another +whaler made her appearance. As she got within half a mile of us it feel +calm. Soon afterwards a boat was lowered from her, which came pulling +towards us. When she came alongside a fine, hale-looking old man +stepped on board and introduced himself as Captain Barnett, of the +_Eleanor_. He spoke in a hearty, cheery tone, which contrasted greatly +with the rough and unpleasant way in which Captain Hawkins generally +expressed himself. + +Captain Barnett dined on board, and then invited Captain Hawkins and Dr +Cockle to come and sup with him, I managed to address the old gentleman, +and told him about Jack. + +"Should I ever fall in with your brother I'll say that I met you, and +that you were inquiring for him," he answered, kindly. + +When the two captains came on deck they took a look round the horizon. + +"You must excuse me from accompanying you," said Captain Hawkins, "for I +tell you what, I don't like the look of the weather. There's something +brewing somewhere I'd advise you to get on board as soon as you can." + +The ocean had hitherto been perfectly calm, but there now came from the +north-east a slowly-heaving swell, which every minute increased, and the +whole atmosphere in a short time assumed a sombre, melancholy +appearance, while a peculiar light tinged the two ships and sea around, +owing to the sun's rays passing through clouds of a dull yellowish-red +colour. Before this, numbers of birds had been flying about the ship, +but they now winged their way to distant lands. As soon as our visitor +had pulled away, our captain ordered the hands aloft to shorten sail, +although at the time there was not a breath of wind. + +Everything was taken in with the exception of a main-topsail and storm +trysail. + +As the swell increased, the ship began to roll in a most frightful +manner, her chain-plates striking the water every time she heeled over, +while the water as it rose beat against the stern with a force so +violent that we were almost thrown off our legs. + +We had to cast adrift the last whale caught before the whole blubber was +cut in, as it was impossible, without the greatest risk, to keep it +alongside. + +I asked Brown, who was the most intelligent seaman on board, what he +thought was going to happen. + +"We shall have a typhoon--a precious hard one too, I suspect," he +answered. + +All night long the swell went on increasing, when suddenly the wind +sprang up and broke the hitherto calm swells into foaming seas, which +furiously dashed round the ship though they did us no damage. + +Just as daylight came on the wind again dropped; but though the wind had +fallen, the sea, instead of going down, raged more fiercely than ever, +making the ship roll so violently that we feared that at any moment the +masts might be carried away. Yet all this time there was scarcely a +breath of wind. This state of things continued till about three +o'clock, when suddenly, as Brown had foretold, the gale again broke upon +us, and continued to blow with increasing violence until about two +o'clock on the following morning, when a more furious blast than ever +struck the ship. + +"Hold on for your lives!" shouted Mr Griffiths, who was on deck. + +The captain, followed by Dr Cockle, hurried from below. There was +little need to give the warning; we all clung to the weather-bulwarks. +Over went the ship right on her beam-ends, and away flew the storm +trysail, while every article not securely lashed was carried away. +Fearful indeed was the uproar. The wind howled savagely, the sea dashed +with thundering roars against the sides of the ship, the masts groaned, +the bulk-heads creaked, the ropes and blocks clashed together and +rattled in a way I had never before heard. Indeed, I believed that our +last moments had come, for it seemed impossible unless the masts went +that the ship would right. Jim and I and Horner crouched down close to +each other, sheltering ourselves as we could under the bulwarks. Not +far off were Miles Soper, Sam Coal, and Brown. + +"Is there any chance for us?" asked Horner, his teeth chattering and his +voice showing his terror. + +"Chance!" answered Brown; "the chance that many a stout ship has braved +as bad a hurricane, and yet come out of it not much the worse." + +We looked out for the _Eleanor_, but she was nowhere to be seen. Some +of the men declared that she must have gone down. + +"We're afloat and why shouldn't she be?" said Brown, who was ready to +cheer every one up. + +Some of the hands stole below, and I believe if they could have got into +the spirit-room they would have made themselves drunk in order to forget +their fears. Most of us, however, preferred remaining on deck and +watching what would happen. + +Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, +and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but +little mended. As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge +battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each +plank shake though none gave way. Now she plunged her head into an +immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while +the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us. + +Daylight came, but it brought no cessation of the hurricane. The hours +went by; not one of us thought of breakfast. Indeed, it was impossible +to cook anything. We watched the masts quivering as the ship plunged +into the seas, and we expected every moment to see them go by the board. +The carpenter and the first mate had got their axes ready to cut them +away, should such occur. At length a tremendous sea came roaring +towards our weather bow. The ship struggled as if to avoid it, but she +pitched headlong into the deep hollow just before her, and a monstrous +sea, lifting its head half way up to the foretop, came right down on our +deck, sweeping up to the main hatchway. Horner and several of the men +shrieked out with terror, believing that their last moments were come. +I scarcely supposed that the ship would recover herself, but suddenly +she came up with a jerk, the bowsprit carried away, and the next moment +it came right across our forecastle. + +"Rouse up, lads, and secure the foremast," shouted the captain. + +Led by the mates, with Brown, Ringold, Soper, Jim, and me, the crew +rushed forward to secure the fore-topmast stay. We then got the +bowsprit inboard. After this the ship began to ride more easily, though +the hurricane continued until near sunset, when it began to abate. The +watch below turned in, eager to get some rest. I never slept more +soundly in my life. Next morning the sun rose from a cloudless sky. A +gentle breeze was blowing. The sea had already gone down, and in a few +hours sparkling wavelets alone played over the surface of the deep. + +Two days afterwards we brought up under the lee of South Island to +repair damages. After this we again sailed to resume our search for +whales. + +I was forward, when I saw a dark object floating some distance on the +weather bow. On my reporting it to the captain, he ordered a boat to be +lowered to ascertain what it was. Mr Griffiths went in her with the +doctor, Jim and I forming part of the crew. As we got near we saw that +it was a creature of some sort, but it made no effort to avoid us, and +seemed to be fast asleep. With his harpoon Mr Griffiths went forward. +As we got closer it seemed to be an enormous turtle; the doctor said of +the "trunk" species. + +We paddled as noiselessly as we could for fear of waking it, and on +getting close Mr Griffiths plunged his harpoon deep into its body +through its shell. The creature in a moment was lively enough, and, +after swimming away a short distance, turned and made a snap at the +rope, which it nearly bit in two. We were up to it again, however, and +two or three plunges of a lance quickly finished it. We then secured a +rope to it and towed it to the ship. By means of the windlass it was +hoisted on board. When lying on deck it was found to measure seventeen +feet in length, to be seven feet wide, and four feet six inches in +depth. All on board declared that they had never seen a creature of +that species of the same size. We boiled it down as we would the +blubber of a whale, and it yielded nearly a barrelful. Fish in these +seas are very numerous. Sometimes from the masthead I could see the +whole ocean alive with them. + +Before leaving for the Sandwich Islands, for which we were next bound, +we had a day's fishing, and in a few hours caught as many as we wanted. +I here also saw numbers of the paper nautilus floating on the calm +surface of the water. I managed, with a small net at the end of a long +pole, to catch several for my friend the doctor. + +I'll not describe our voyage back to Honolulu, the capital of the +Society Islands. There were two or three merchantmen and about forty +whalers at anchor. The entrance to the harbour is surrounded by coral +reefs, and is very intricate. The chief pilot came out in his +whale-boat, manned by natives, and as he passed each ship he hailed to +have a boat sent him to assist in towing us in. In a short time we had +nearly fifty whale-boats, twenty-five on each bow, in two long lines. +It was one of the prettiest sights I ever witnessed, towing on the big +ship at the rate of about three knots an hour between the coral reefs, +making what would otherwise have been a difficult business perfectly +easy. Here we exchanged the fish we had salted down for fifty barrels +of potatoes and twenty of onions. Among the ships was the _Eleanor_, +from which we had parted off Japan. As the old captain had greatly +taken Dr Cockle's fancy, he wished to pay him a visit, and invited me +to accompany him. On getting on board the mate said that he was below, +and considering all things, doing wonderfully well. + +"What do you mean?" asked Dr Cockle. + +"Why, sir, I'll tell you," answered the mate. "If I ever saw a +wonderful thing done, our captain did it. While the typhoon which +caught you as well as us was at its height our rudder broke adrift, and +on getting it on board to repair, it came right down on his leg, +crushing it fearfully. We all thought he must have died, for you see +our doctor had left the ship some time before, and there was no one who +knew what was to be done. So our skipper sat down on the deck and +ordered the carpenter to bring him the surgical instruments. Our +carpenter is a wonderfully clever fellow, and between them they managed +to saw off the leg below the knee, to take up the arteries and stop the +bleeding. [See Note 1.] We then got the old man, who is sixty years of +age, into bed. Would you believe it? In a few weeks after the accident +he had a turning-lathe brought to the side of his bed, and if he didn't +turn out a first-rate wooden leg for himself." + +On going below the doctor found the old captain doing wonderfully well +and not requiring any further aid. Before we left he was stumping about +on deck as hearty and cheery as ever. Indeed, through his courage and +coolness he had undoubtedly saved his own life. + +The old captain probably is dead, but Mr Rosden, the mate, who is the +son of an old Downs pilot, will confirm the account I have given. + +The captain was constantly on shore, and Mr Griffiths kindly let me +take one of the boats, with Jim, and Soper, and Coal as a crew, and we +visited every ship in the harbour, that I might make inquiries for Jack. +As we pulled about, though disappointed at one ship, we half hoped to +find him on board another. My heart grew sick as I approached the last. + +"Do you think he's aboard her, Miles?" I asked. + +"If he isn't don't lose heart," was the answer. + +"No, no, don't lose heart, Peter," echoed Jim. "He'll turn up some time +or other. It mayn't be to-day or it mayn't be to-morrow, but if he's +alive--and there's no reason why he should have lost his life--he'll be +somewhere no doubt, and you'll be led to him, that's my opinion." + +We got on board the ship. She was an American whaler, the _William and +Eliza_. We found the crew in a great state of commotion, and they would +scarcely listen to what I had to say. Their commander, Captain Rogers, +who seemed to be a great favourite with them, had been wrongly accused +of infringing the revenue laws, and had been imprisoned in a mud fort +which guarded the landing-place, and they were determined to rescue him. + +Most of their boats were away visiting the other ships to obtain +recruits, and they declared that if he was not let out that evening they +would liberate him before morning. + +I, of course, could not join them, but Soper and Coal were very eager to +lend a hand. I persuaded them, however, to come back with me to our +ship after I had made all the inquiries I could for Jack without +success. + +Miles and Coal brought the news, and what was to be done on board, and +several of our men declared that they would join, as much for the sake +of the spree as influenced by a regard for Captain Rogers. + +As evening drew in, a number of boats put off from all the American +ships, and from several of the English, for the imprisoned skipper was +much liked, not only by his own men, but by the captains and mates of +nearly all the whaling ships. He was a great friend, too, I found, of +Captain Hawkins. When the captain came on board again, he gave any of +us leave to go that chose. I don't say we were right, but when I found +the second mate about to lead a party of our men, Jim and I offered to +go with them, and away we pulled for the _William and Eliza_. + +We found her surrounded by boats, carrying well-nigh two hundred men, +the whole being under the command of an American captain. + +We waited till nearly midnight, when the order was given to shove off. +We could not tell whether the authorities on shore knew anything of what +was about to take place. + +We carried a number of scaling ladders, with stout ropes and hooks. The +first who got up with the ladders were to fix on the hooks, so that the +others might swarm up, and we might all mount the walls together. + +We had no firearms, only axes, blubber-spades, and spears. We pulled +in, forming a long line abreast, as silently as possible. On reaching +the shore, two hands were left in each boat, and the rest of us rushed +up to the fort to fix the ladders. + +It took but a few seconds before we were all at the top, and down we +leaped into the fort. + +Nearly the whole of the garrison were asleep. When they found the place +full of men some of them ran away and hid themselves, and others dashed +out at the gate. We soon found the room in which Captain Rogers was +shut up. The door was broken open and he was set free. Not wishing to +have a disturbance with the natives, we hurried back with him the way we +came, and before long were on board again. The captain made us a +speech, and thanked us for setting him free, and we returned to our +respective ships. I don't know that any notice was taken of the affair +by the authorities, but of course Captain Rogers was unable to go on +shore again while he remained in the harbour. + +Having repaired our ship and taken on board several fresh hands, who +wished to return home to England, we sailed again for the Marquesas, in +order to land the natives whom we had taken from those islands. + +The passage lasted five weeks, during which time we didn't see a single +ship. We proceeded at once to Resolution Bay. On entering we found a +French man-of-war, which immediately sent a boat on board us. + +The officer in command informed the captain that the islands now +belonged to France, and that we must not land anything in the shape of +firearms or ammunition. + +While he was still on board a boat pulled off from the shore, bringing a +dozen soldiers, who, without asking leave, came up the side. + +"Why do these men come on board my ship?" asked the captain. + +"To see that you comply with the orders you receive," answered the +officer, who spoke very good English. + +"I have no intention of breaking the laws you impose," exclaimed the +captain, who was not the man to stand that sort of thing, "but I'll not +submit to have foreign soldiers placed on board my ship." + +The French officer shrugged his shoulders, and said that he was but +carrying out the orders of his superiors. + +On this the captain ordered his boat to be lowered, and pulled away on +board the French man-of-war. He there threatened to throw the ship on +the hands of the French if the soldiers were not immediately withdrawn. + +After a little time the captain returned, accompanied by a French +lieutenant, who brought an order for the soldiers to return on shore. +Our stay here was rendered very unpleasant by the French. As soon as we +got our fresh provisions on board we sailed again for the westward, +proceeding as before among the coral reefs, which lie to the north of +the Society Islands. The navigation is exceedingly dangerous, as many +of them are so low that they cannot be seen till the ship is close to +them, and we had to keep a very sharp look-out as we sailed on. The +most dangerous of all those we sighted was the Sidney group, which +consist of bare sandbanks, without the least vegetation, and are nearly +level with the surface of the sea. We landed on some of them to obtain +birds' eggs and fish, which are very plentiful, but they are +uninhabited, as there is no fresh water. + +Still sailing west we touched at the Kingsmills, passing also several +other islands, till we came off Strong's Island. Here is a magnificent +harbour, surrounded by coral reefs, but the mouth is so narrow that we +could not have attempted to enter had not the boats of three vessels +lying there come out to assist in towing us in. On bringing up, a +number of natives came off, who talked capital English, and seemed very +intelligent fellows. We found that the chief of the island was named +King George. + +In a short time another canoe came off with a fine-looking fellow on +board, who seemed as eager to trade and obtain anything he could as the +rest of the natives. + +At last Captain Hawkins, turning to him, said, rather roughly, "You and +the other chaps must be off now." + +"You know who I am?" asked the native. "I King George, chief of all +these islands." + +"I beg your majesty's pardon, but you don't look much like a king," said +the captain, laughing. + +The chief, however, didn't appear to be angry, and shook hands with the +captain and officers, and stepping into the canoe paddled away for the +shore. + +"We must take care these fellows don't play us any trick," observed the +captain to Mr Griffiths. "We'll give them a salute to show them that +we're wide-awake." + +We carried four nine-pounders, which we forthwith fired. It was the +first time we had to use them during the voyage. It was hoped that this +would awe the natives, and that we should not be molested during the +night. The sound of the last gun had scarcely died away, when a Captain +Rounds, commanding one of the whalers, whose boats had assisted to tow +us in, came on board. After he had shaken hands and the usual +civilities had passed, he said-- + +"You are wise to show that you are wide-awake, and when you hear the +account I have to give you of the fearful work which took place here not +long ago, you will judge whether it will be prudent to put yourself or +any of your people in the power of the natives." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. This account is true in every respect. My friend, Mr Henry +Foster, Trinity pilot, vouches for it. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +A FEARFUL NARRATIVE--DOINGS AT STRONG'S ISLAND. + +As it was very hot below, the captain had ordered chairs and a small +table to be brought on deck, and he, with Captain Rounds, Dr Cockle, +and Mr Griffiths, took their seats, while Mr Harvey, Horner, and I +stood within earshot to hear the account our visitor had promised to +give. + +"I came in here about two months ago for the first time this voyage to +obtain provisions and water," began Captain Rounds, "and as none of us +understood the language of the people, I shipped a couple of natives who +spoke English very fairly to act as interpreters. Besides having been +to sea on board other whalers, they were, I thought, likely to prove +useful hands. Everything went on in a satisfactory way while I lay +here. The natives who came on board behaved themselves well, and King +George, their chief, seemed a very decent sort of fellow, and was as +honest in his dealings as I could expect. I had made it a rule when I +came out to these parts never to trust many of my people ashore at a +time among the heathen natives without having some of the principal +natives on board as hostages, or so well-behaved and friendly did these +appear that I should otherwise not have hesitated to let half my crew +land at a time, feeling confident that they would be well treated. Thus +it was that I every evening at sundown fired off my guns, and kept a +strict watch during the night. I did this, not from any fear of being +attacked, but that I considered it prudent to keep to the rule I had +laid down, and to maintain discipline on board. You'll see that I was +fortunate in doing so. I parted on good terms with King George and his +people without having any reason to alter the favourable opinion I had +formed of them, taking the two native interpreters with me. From the +way I treated them they became very friendly and much attached to me. +We had been at sea for some time, and had caught three or four whales, +each of which cost us, perhaps, more than the usual trouble to take. +The two natives, who go by the names of Jackey and Tubbs, seemed very +much struck by the exertions we had to make to secure the whales, and +one day they came to me and said that they could put me up to the means +of filling the ship with perfect ease if I would follow their advice. I +asked them what they meant. They then told me that a ship lay sunk in +their harbour loaded with casks of oil, and that they knew the exact +spot where she went down. I then learnt from them the following +particulars. + +"You, Hawkins, well knew Barber, who commanded the _Harriet_, of London, +as you sailed together as mates with old Captain Newton in the +_Felicity_. I met Barber when I first came out to the Pacific, and was +wondering that I had never since heard of him or the _Harriet_. The +natives now told me that about a year ago she had put into this harbour, +there being no other vessels here at the time. You remember what a +good-natured, yet somewhat careless fellow he was. The natives came in +numbers on board his ship, and appeared to be on the most friendly terms +with him and his crew. They at length, one day, invited his men to go +ashore, and he consequently allowed the greater number of them to land. +This sort of thing continued while he lay in the harbour. King George +and most of his though they came down to visit the ship when she first +arrived, were, at that time, living in another part of the island, and +the people just here did pretty much as they liked. + +"Barber, with a boat's crew, only remained on board, when, on going on +deck in the morning, he caught sight of three of his men running down +towards the beach as fast as they could go, with a posse of natives +after them. Presently they were overtaken. First one was struck down +by the club of a savage, and directly afterwards the other two shared +the same fate. The natives, on reaching the shore, jumped into their +canoes, a whole fleet of which came paddling off towards the ship. The +crew, on seeing this, I suspect, took fright, thinking that they should +all be murdered, as their mates on shore had been. Captain Barber +himself would, I am certain, have stopped to defend his ship, but +probably fearing that it would be of no use to make the attempt while +his crew were so faint-hearted, he ordered the boat to be lowered with +such provisions and water as could be hastily thrown into her. They had +scarcely left the side of the ship before the savages were up to her. +They pursued the boat for some distance, but at length gave up the +chase, eager to get back and secure their prize. They then set to work +to plunder the vessel of everything they considered of value. They +stripped her of her sails and rigging, and all the iron-work they could +get at, managing even to carry away her topmasts, jib-boom, and yards. +Having done this, they towed the vessel higher up the harbour and +scuttled her. + +"When King George, who had known Captain Barber and some of his people-- +for he had been down at the harbour when the ship first arrived--heard +of the massacre he was very indignant, and Jackey and Tubbs told me that +he killed no less than thirty of those who had taken part in it with his +own hand. Whether this was actually the case or not I could not make +out; but, after cross-questioning the two natives, I came to the +conclusion that he himself had no hand in the massacre, and was entirely +ignorant of it till afterwards. What has become of poor Barber and his +boat's crew I am anxious to ascertain; but he would have had a fearfully +long passage to make to any other island, and I'm afraid that he and his +companions must have perished from hunger and thirst before they could +have reached any friendly shore. + +"Having fallen in shortly after I heard this with the _Lydia_ and +_Pearl_, I communicated the intelligence to them, and we determined to +put in here to ascertain the truth of the story. + +"Now you have come we shall be sufficiently strong-handed both to defend +ourselves from the natives, and to recover the _Harriet's_ cargo if we +cannot raise her." + +Captain Hawkins at once entered into Captain Rounds' views, and they +agreed the next morning with their brother captains to set to work. +Captain Rounds, who was a very ingenious man, had a diving-bell +constructed out of a cask, with pipes to lead the air into it. + +Proceeding with the boats, we found the ship sunk in six fathoms of +water at a spot Jackey and Tubbs pointed out. They willingly agreed to +descend in the diving-bell, and Brown and another man also went down in +it. It was then found that the ship had been set on fire, but she had +sunk before the flames had reached the cargo. It was calculated that +there were one thousand six hundred barrels of oil in her. + +Her figure-head and other articles were got up, thus clearly identifying +her as the unfortunate _Harriet_. + +The captains proposed raising her, and dividing the oil between them; +but after a great deal of consultation it was considered that they had +better give up the plan, as it would have occupied a long time, and +caused a difficulty on their arrival at home as to whether they had a +right to possess themselves of it. Thus the results of many a hard +month's labour were lost. + +King George watched our proceedings with much interest, generally +hovering about the boats in his canoe while we were at work. Perhaps he +thought from the first that we should not succeed, though I think we +should have done so had it been desirable to make the attempt. As soon +as the undertaking was abandoned, the other vessels, which had only come +in for water and provisions, sailed, and we were left alone in the +harbour. The king, who did not appear to be at all offended by the way +Captain Hawkins had treated him on his first visit, at once came on +board, and appeared to be excessively friendly. He spoke English +remarkably well, having learned it on board a whaler in his youth, and +kept it up by frequently talking to runaway sailors who had remained at +the island. He invited the captain to go ashore and visit him in his +palace, the name we gave to the great hut in which he lived. + +"With great pleasure, king," answered the captain: "but fair play's a +jewel, you know. If I go to visit you, your brother here will remain on +board to keep my mates company till I return." + +The captain told Mr Griffiths to keep a strict watch on the king's +brother, and not to allow him to leave the cabin lest he might slip +overboard and swim on shore. + +We called the young savage Charlie, though that was not his real name. +Charlie, who spoke a little English, seemed perfectly content; and when +the king and the captain went on shore, descended to the cabin without +the slightest hesitation. As the stern-windows, through which Charlie +might have squeezed himself if he had had a mind, were left open for the +sake of the air, Mr Griffiths told me to remain in the cabin whenever +he was on deck. At night he was locked up in the state-room. I don't +know that the captain was very well pleased at having the savage +sleeping in his bed. + +Next morning the captain came back, saying that he had been hospitably +treated. In the afternoon, as Charlie wished to return, and as the +doctor and several men were on shore, the captain sent me, with Miles +Soper and Brown, to bring the king off, that he might take his brother's +place. + +We pulled up a long narrow creek for several miles, till we arrived at +the royal residence, which was a large hut with a framework of poles and +roofed over with matting. Near it were other huts, and a number of +natives were employed in different ways, some pounding kava between two +large stones, when the root, thus thoroughly bruised, was thrown into +water. This is a much pleasanter way of preparing the beverage than by +employing the women to chew it, as is done in Samoa. + +The king was away when we arrived, and we had thus plenty of time to +walk about the village and look around us. Some natives were engaged in +cooking fish and yams. This was done by putting them into a hole on the +top of some hot stones and leaves, and then covering them up with more +hot stones, leaves, and earth at the top of all. We soon had an +opportunity of tasting them, and I can answer for their being most +delicious. + +As the king didn't appear we walked some little distance into the +country, for we knew that we were perfectly safe while the king's +brother remained as a hostage. Going into a hut we found a young woman +about to light a fire. I watched the process. She first took half of +the log that had been split in two and laid it down with the split side +upwards; then taking a small piece of hard wood about a foot long and +pointed at one end, she sat down astride of the log and commenced +rubbing the sharp point of the stick up and down the grain of the large +piece, thus making a groove, and shoving the shavings which she worked +out to the farther end, till at length they ignited, when immediately +catching up some dry leaves which lay handy, and blowing gently, she +soon obtained a blaze. I tried the experiment under her directions and +succeeded very well. Though simple and easy as is this method of +obtaining fire, I have never seen it tried in any other place. + +On our return to the village we found the king, who invited us to feast +on the fish and yams which I had seen cooking. We were now joined by +the captain and Dr Cockle, with the second mate and several men, and I +was directed to go back with the king, who had to take his brother's +place on board. + +His majesty preferred going alone in his own canoe. I sat in the bows +with a long pole to keep the bow off the rocks as we went down the +creek, and he placed himself astern with a paddle in his hand. He +giving the canoe a shove from the bank, away we went. I was highly +amused at the thought of carrying off the king as a prisoner. He, +however, seemed to take it as a matter of course, and chatted and +laughed as we glided along. Presently he asked-- + +"You young Englishman ever been here before? I think I know your face." + +"When was it your majesty fancied that you saw me?" I inquired. + +"Let me see," he said, holding his paddle in the air for a moment; "were +you ever aboard the ship that my rascally people sent to the bottom out +there?" and he pointed to where the _Harriet_ lay. + +"No," I answered, a dreadful thought coming into my mind. "Was the +person you fancy I am killed with the rest of the crew?" + +"I think not. If I think so, I no ask you," he answered. "I see him +with the captain when he visit the shore, and each time I go on board +the ship. When I come down to the harbour I took great fancy to him, +and asked captain to let him stay with me, but he and captain say no. +He want to go home to see father and mother, brother and sister. When I +found the men killed I remembered him, but no find him 'mong them. Dat +all I know, but me think that he was with captain when they got away in +the boat." + +At first, on hearing what the king said, I was almost in despair, for I +was very sure that he was speaking of my brother Jack, as I thought that +by this time I should have grown very like him, as I often heard my +mother say that I was so when I was at the age at which he went to sea. +How he had got on board the _Harriet_ I could not tell, any more than I +could what had become of her boat. Still there was a possibility of his +having escaped. I had no wish to return on shore with "Prince Charlie" +after I had handed the king over to the care of Mr Griffiths, as I +wanted to talk about the matter to Jim. As may be supposed, we did talk +about it for many an hour. I was now eager to be out of the harbour, in +the hopes that we might visit some other islands at which Jack might be +found. Jim was as sanguine as ever that he would be found. When I told +Mr Griffiths he looked very grave. + +"It is possible, my lad," he said, "and nothing would give me greater +pleasure than to find him at last; but you know what is likely to have +been the fate of the poor fellows in a boat, with a scanty supply of +provisions and a long voyage to the nearest land. Just look at the +chart. We are away from all civilised countries, with the wildest +savages on each side of us." + +Next day, when the captain and the rest of the party came on board, and +as soon as our royal visitor had taken his departure, I was very glad to +hear the order given to get under way. The breeze being fair we stood +out of the harbour. + +We were soon at our old work again. My patience was sorely tried. If I +had not been actively engaged I don't know what I should have done. + +My idea was that the captain would at once sail in search of the missing +boat, but he had no idea of the sort in his head. He either was +convinced that she was lost, or considered that it was his business to +fill up his ship as soon as possible, and not to waste time in looking +for those who might never be found. + +We had caught several whales, when the time came for returning to the +Japan fishing ground, as it's called, some distance off the east coast +of those islands. My hope of finding Jack decreased, but didn't die +away altogether. + +Jim kept me up. "We don't know in what direction the boat went," he +observed. "She may have steered to the northward, and we are as likely +to fall in with him the way we're going as anywhere else." + +I often consulted the chart. To the northward of Strong's Island I saw +the Caroline group, consisting of a vast number of coral islands, and +north-west of them, again, the Ladrone Islands, the principal of which, +Guam, is inhabited by Spaniards. Knowing this, Captain Barber may have +attempted to reach it, and one day, to my satisfaction, I heard from the +doctor that Captain Hawkins intended to call there before returning +home. + +We were now leaving those islands I have mentioned to the southward. We +were very successful on the Japan ground, and nearly completed our +cargo, at least the lower hold was full. + +At length, one calm day, a large whale was seen spouting at some +distance from the ship. Four boats were lowered. The captain, the two +mates, and Brown went in them, Miles Soper going as the chief mate's +boat-steerer. His boat was the first up, and in a short time Soper put +two irons into the whale, which almost instantly turned over on its +back, threw its lower jaw open, and nipped her clean in two. + +Wonderful to relate, the men all got clear, and Mr Griffiths, standing +up on half of the boat, plunged his lance right down the whale's throat, +and then jumped off and swam with the other men to the next boat coming +up. The captain's boat now fastened to the whale, which, turning as +before on its back, treated her in the way it had the first. When we +who were on board saw this, we began to lower the spare boats as fast as +we could. While we were thus employed, the doctor, who was looking on, +exclaimed-- + +"There's a third boat caught!" + +And we saw that the second mate's boat, which had got up, had been +nipped by the whale. Brown's boat, the fourth, now pulled gallantly up, +watching every movement of the monster, if necessary to get out of its +way; but the wound it had received had already weakened it, and though +it made at his boat he escaped, and succeeded in plunging several +harpoons and lances into its body. + +Meanwhile the crews of the other boats which had been destroyed had been +hanging on to them, and though the sea was swarming with sharks it was a +remarkable fact that not one of the men was lost. Sharks rarely bite +people when a whale is bleeding, but keep following the track of the +blood. Brown took some of the men on board, and we in the spare boats, +leaving only the doctor and two hands to take care of the ship, pulled +quickly up and rescued the remainder. + +We soon had the whale alongside; it was the largest we had caught-- +nearly a hundred feet in length; but we got very little oil out of it, +for, having been fastened to previously, there was a huge swelling on +its back as big as a tun butt, which was, no doubt, the cause of the +blubber being so thin. We had still some spare space, and the crew were +eager to catch the additional whales required to complete our cargo, +that we might at length direct our course homeward. Although I should +have before been the most eager of any to return to England, yet now, +with the idea that had taken hold of me that Jack was somewhere in the +neighbourhood, I was anxious to remain until I had found him. Jim +shared my feelings, but I didn't suppose anybody else did. + +We remained a week or more, however, after killing the last huge whale +which had cost us so much trouble, without seeing another, when the +captain determined to steer for the Ladrone Islands. As we had now been +some months without obtaining fresh provisions, we first directed our +course for the Bonins, some degrees to the eastward of the coast of +Japan. We understood that there were wild pigs, if not goats and sheep, +on them. At all events, that fish could be caught in abundance off the +shore. In a few days we sighted them, and ran under the lee of one of +the group called South Island. Here the ship was hove-to, and a boat +lowered, in which Mr Griffiths, the doctor, Horner, Jim and I, Brown +and Miles Soper and Coal, with two other men, went. We took with us +besides fishing-lines the whaling gear and a couple of muskets, three or +four casks to fill with water, and provisions for the day, for we didn't +intend to get back to the ship till evening. + +Mr Griffiths, who had been there before, took the boat inside a high +reef of rocks, where he had, he said, caught a number of fish. + +Our first object was to obtain bait. Miles Soper and Coal undertook to +swim on shore with baskets and catch some crabs, for which the fish in +these seas seem to have a special fondness. We pulled in as close as we +could to land them, and in a short time they filled their baskets, and +shouted to us to return and take them off. We now dropped our kedge +anchor just inside the surf, in between two and three fathoms of water, +which was so clear that we could see the fish as they swam about, darted +at the bait, and swallowed the hooks. + +We quickly hauled in a number of magnificent fish. We were so eager at +the sport that we didn't consider how rapidly the time passed, while the +doctor was more occupied with admiring the variously-coloured coral, the +richly-tinted seaweeds, and the curiously-shaped fish of all the hues of +the rainbow, swimming in and out among the trees of their marine +gardens. + +At last Mr Griffiths, pulling out his watch, exclaimed, "Hulloa! How +time has gone by! Get up the anchor, lads. We ought to be off." + +The order was more easily given than obeyed. We hauled and hauled, but +the anchor had got foul of the coral, and we ran a risk of losing it. +Soper offered to go down and clear it, but just then a huge shark showed +his ugly throat alongside, and Mr Griffiths would not let him go. At +last, just as it was dark, Brown managed to get the anchor up. + +When we pulled outside the reef we found that the weather had changed. +It was blowing very hard, though, sheltered as we had been, we had not +discovered this. We looked eagerly out for the ship, but she was +nowhere to be seen. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +OUR LIFE ON AN UNINHABITED ISLAND. + +We were still in smooth water, but the sea was breaking in the offing, +the white caps rising against the dark sky. Mr Griffiths thought that +the ship might have stood to the eastward and be concealed by the point +of land which ran out in that direction. We eagerly gave way and pulled +off from the shore. Several times he stood up to look about him. At +length he cried out-- + +"There she is! There she is! She's burning a blue light." + +We all looked in the direction he pointed, which was almost abeam, and +there we saw a light, appearing, however, just above the horizon. He at +once steered the boat towards it, but as we pulled on the seas increased +and frequently broke aboard us; the wind was rising rapidly, and in a +short time blew a heavy gale. In vain we again looked out for the +light; none could be seen, and there was a great risk, should we +continue to pull on, of the boat being swamped. + +The doctor and Mr Griffiths talked together earnestly; the latter then +said-- + +"Lads, there's no help for it, we must try and get on shore for the +night, and in the morning, if the wind goes down, the captain will stand +in to look for us." + +We all knew the danger we were in, for in pulling round the boat might +be caught on her broadside and turned over; but it had to be done, and +we trusted to Mr Griffiths' steering. We gave way as he told us, +though for a moment I thought all was over as a sea struck the boat +abeam and half swamped her. + +We got round, however, and while Horner and I baled her out, the men +pulled in towards the shore. It was now very dark. All we could see +ahead was an irregular line of black, but whether rocks or hills rising +near the beach we could not tell. As we neared the shore Mr Griffiths +stood up looking out for a landing-place, but no opening could he +discover in the rocks, against which the surf was now breaking +furiously; should we get within its power the boat, we knew, would be +dashed to pieces in a moment. The wind went on increasing till it blew +almost a hurricane. At last Dr Cockle exclaimed-- + +"There is an opening. We passed it this morning. I remember it by the +clump of trees on the top of a rounded hill, and I can now make them out +against the sky." + +Mr Griffiths hesitated. Should the doctor be wrong in another minute +we should be hurled to destruction against the rugged rocks. Just then +the moon rising on the other side of the island broke through the clouds +and showed us clearly the outline of the trees and the hill. + +The mate hesitated no longer, but telling us to give way steered in for +the opening. The surf broke wildly on either side of us, flying up +above our heads; the seas came rearing on astern, threatening to engulf +us. We all gave way steadily together. Now the boat rose on the top of +a foaming sea, and then down she glided into comparatively smooth water +inside the reef, and we were safe. + +Pulling on, we saw ahead a small bay with the trees coming down to the +water's edge. Their tops were waving wildly, but we felt but little +wind where we were, and we were able to run the boat's head on to the +beach and land without difficulty. We at once drew her up and looked +out for a sheltered spot under some rocks to camp. Here we got a fire +lighted, as there were plenty of broken branches and leaves lying about, +and soon had some of the fish we had caught cooking before it. + +Outside the tempest was howling furiously, and we had reason to be +thankful that we had gained the shore, as no boat could have lived in +the sea which was by this time running. + +After supper was over, and we had dried our clothes, wet through and +through by the spray, we lay down to sleep under the rock. Mr +Griffiths assured us that there were no wild beasts or natives to molest +us in the island, though we were not altogether free from danger, as the +trees which grew on the top of the rock above our heads might be blown +down, or the upper part of the rock itself might give way and crush us. + +That we might have some chance in being awakened so as to enable us to +attempt to escape, as also to prevent the fire going out, Mr Griffiths +arranged that one of the party should keep watch. The doctor offered to +keep the first watch. Mr Griffiths and the rest of the men then stowed +themselves away close under the cliff. I, feeling no inclination to +sleep, joined the doctor, who was sitting by the fire on one of the +water-casks, every now and then throwing on a few sticks and making it +blaze up cheerfully. I asked him if the ship were likely to return soon +to take us off. + +"Not till the hurricane is over," he said; "the captain will not like to +come near the coast for fear of being driven on it." + +"Then you think, sir, that we shall remain here long enough to explore +the island?" I said. + +"Why do you wish to explore the island?" he asked. + +"Because I have a notion that my brother Jack is upon it," I replied. +"They say there are pigs here, and there are, no doubt, plenty of birds, +and he would be able to live as well as Miles Soper and Coal did on Juan +Fernandez." + +"But it's a hundred to one--I may say a thousand to one--that the boat +was driven here; besides which, so many whalers pass by this island that +he would have been seen and taken off even if he had come here. You +only raise up such ideas to disappoint yourself. Don't think about it; +lie down and go to sleep." + +Notwithstanding what the doctor had said, I could not get the idea out +of my head, and longed for morning, that I might set off and make a tour +round the island with Jim, who, I knew, would be ready to come with me, +as would Miles Soper and some of the others. + +Notwithstanding the howling of the wind above our heads, and the wild +roar of the breakers on the rocky coast, contrary to my expectation I +fell fast asleep, and didn't wake till the mate roused up all hands at +daylight. The storm was raging as wildly as ever. Furious torrents of +rain had come down, but the watch had managed to keep in the fire, and +we all gathered round it to cook some more fish and dry our damp +clothes. We were in good spirits, for we knew that the gale would blow +itself out in a short time, and we expected that the ship would then +come and take us off. + +As soon as I proposed to Jim to explore the island, he at once agreed to +accompany me. The doctor and Miles Soper also said that they would go. +The latter carried one of the muskets, which the mate said we might +take, and the rest of us armed ourselves with long pointed sticks. The +mate thought we might as well go armed, for though the island had +hitherto been uninhabited, it was possible that some savages might have +been driven as far north in their double canoes, and might attack us if +they found we were unable to defend ourselves. + +We took some cooked fish for provisions, and we hoped to find water as +we proceeded. We had first to make our way through a thick forest, of +what the doctor called tamana-trees--some of them being of gigantic +size. It was often so dark beneath their thick boughs that we could +with difficulty see our way; but we went on, guided by the doctor's +pocket-compass, in a straight line, until we at length got out of the +forest into more open country. He proposed going on till we reached a +hill which we saw some way off, and there to light a fire, that the +smoke might attract the attention of any one living on the island. He +carried out his plan, and collecting sticks as we neared the spot, +having brought tinder and matches, we quickly had a fire blazing. We +looked in vain, however, all round the island for an answering signal. + +"Perhaps, if there is any one, he is down by the shore, and has no means +of striking a light," said the doctor; "or maybe he is still sheltering +himself from the storm." + +As this seemed very likely, leaving the fire burning, we made our way +down to the beach on the farther side of the island. + +The view from the hill on the north side showed us only rugged and +broken ground, and we therefore proceeded along the shore as close as we +could get towards the southern end. We saw plenty of birds, which would +have afforded us food if we had had time to stop and shoot them. It was +somewhat rough work, especially in the more exposed places against the +wind. At last we got back to the part we had started from, just as +night was falling. From every height we kept a look-out for the ship, +but she did not appear. + +"You're convinced now, Peter, that your brother is not on this island," +said the doctor. "I should have rejoiced if we had found him, but I did +not think it at all likely that he is here. However, that is no reason +why he should not be somewhere else." + +We had found water on our way, and the mate had discovered a spring not +far from our camp. The hurricane, which had abated somewhat during the +day, came on again as night approached, and we were thankful to obtain +the shelter of our rock. The wind blew more furiously than ever, the +lightning flashed and ran along the ground--now and again crashes were +heard as some tall tree was struck and rent in two, while the rain at +times came down in torrents, and nearly put out the fire. We, however, +got shelter from the overhanging rock. We had just done supper, when +Mr Griffiths observed-- + +"I'm afraid something may happen to our boat. The breakers sound so +loud that they perhaps are dashing over the reef, and the sea may sweep +up and carry her off." + +We hurried down to where we had left the boat. A bright flash of +lightning revealed her to us, with the seething water rushing up under +her keel. Dashing forward, we seized her just as a second wave was +lifting her, and in a few seconds would have carried her off. We +dragged her up the beach till we had placed her, as we hoped, out of the +reach of the water. + +While we were thus employed we heard a loud crash coming from the +direction of our camp. On returning, we discovered our fire nearly out, +but it blazed sufficiently to show us a mass of earth and rock, and two +tall trees, which had fallen on the very spot where a few minutes before +we had all been collected. + +We were thankful for our preservation, though we had lost the only +shelter we knew of. The mate suggested that we should go back to the +boat, turn her over, and creep under her for shelter. As no trees were +near where she lay, we hoped that we might thus rest in perfect safety. +Having taken the things out of her, we did as he proposed, and one by +one crept in, and stretched ourselves upon the damp ground. After the +exertions I had made during the day I felt very sleepy, and though I +remained awake for some time thinking of Jack, my eyes at length closed. + +I was awakened by hearing three distinct loud raps on the bottom of the +boat. I fancied that I must be dreaming, but I found that Jim and +Horner, who were sleeping next to me, were awake, and had heard the +sounds. + +"What are you lads making that noise for?" asked Mr Griffiths. + +I told him of the raps which had awakened me. + +"I thought it was one of you that made them," he said. + +"I heard them also," remarked the doctor, from his end of the boat. + +The rest of the men were asleep; all of us were inside, and the sound +certainly came from the outside. On this I crawled out from under the +boat, half expecting to see some one standing there, but neither human +being nor animal was visible. The rain had ceased, but the night was +very dark, and there was time for a person after the knocks had been +given to retreat into the woods. Still, I didn't think that it could +have been Jack. I returned to the boat, supposing that whoever had +knocked would knock again. The expectation of this kept me awake, and I +determined that I would try to spring out and catch the person, whoever +he was. I waited, however, in vain, and in less than two hours saw the +daylight coming in under the gunwale. + +The surf was still breaking with a loud roar on the rocks, but the wind +had ceased to howl through the trees, and I hoped that the hurricane was +nearly over. The noise I made in getting out from under the boat +awakened those sleeping near me, and the rest of the party were soon on +foot. + +The first thing we did was to go back to our camp and see the effect of +the landslip. The spot where we had been sitting was covered with a +large mass of earth, rocks, and trees. We found a hollow in the rock +near the spot, which appeared safe, and here we determined to light a +fire and cook some more of our fish. While most of the people were thus +employed, Mr Griffiths, the doctor, and I climbed to the highest rock +in the neighbourhood, that we might take a look-out for the ship. The +sun was just rising, and cast a ruddy glow over the still heaving ocean +covered with foam-crested seas, which, rolling in towards the shore, +broke into masses of spray as they reached the surrounding reefs. In +vain we looked round for the ship; not the slightest speck of white +appeared above the horizon. + +"Can anything have happened to her?" said the doctor, in an anxious +tone. + +"She has weathered out many a worse gale than we have just had," +observed the mate. "My only fear is that in attempting to make the land +she may have been driven on one of the hidden reefs which abound +everywhere hereabouts." + +"And if so, what are we to do?" inquired the doctor. + +"We must try to reach the nearest islands inhabited by civilised people. +We have casks sufficient to hold water for the voyage." + +"I still hope she will come," said the doctor; "but we must not lose +heart whatever happens." + +Taking another look round, we returned to the camp, where we found a +blazing fire and the fish cooked. We remained all that day and the +next, unable to get out and catch any more fish. By this time our stock +was completely exhausted--indeed, for the last day it had been scarcely +eatable. While two of the men remained on shore to collect salt from +the rocks, the rest of us went off, and with the crab-bait soon caught a +large quantity of fish. In two days we got as many as we could well +carry. Some of these were salted, others were smoked over the fire. We +didn't fail, as may be supposed, to pay frequent visits to our look-out +place on the rock. Day after day went by and no sail appeared. + +"She's not coming back," said Mr Griffiths, at length; "something must +have happened to her; and I put it to you whether we remain here or try +to reach either Japan or the Ladrones. Though Guam, which is the chief +island of the Ladrones, is much farther off than Japan, we are likely to +receive better treatment from the Spaniards than we are from the +Japanese, who may either send us off again or put us to death. The +passage there is also likely to prove more boisterous than to Guam." + +The mate, having concluded his remarks, put the matter to the vote. Two +of the men said they would rather remain on the island. No one proposed +going to Japan, and the doctor and Miles Soper wished to steer for Guam. +The rest of us voted with them. The mate considered that the sooner we +were off the better. He said that the island was not a bad residence, +but that when the winter came on we should have rains and storms, and +might be unable to catch any fish or find other means of supporting +life. We therefore at once set to work to prepare for the voyage. We +first put off and caught a supply of fish, which we cured as before. We +might have killed some birds, but we were unwilling to expend our small +stock of powder, which we might require to defend ourselves against any +natives who might prove hostile. + +Led by the doctor, Brown, Jim, and I started to explore the +neighbourhood, to collect scurvy grass or roots of any sort which might +serve as vegetables. The natural productions of the country appeared to +be very limited, but we dug up some roots which the doctor pronounced +wholesome. + +We were about returning in despair of obtaining what we wanted, when we +came, near the shore on the other side of the bay, on a small open space +overgrown with what at first looked like weeds, but I saw the doctor's +eye brighten as he espied them. Hurrying on he pulled away eagerly at +the seeming weeds. + +"Here are onions," he cried, "of more value to us than gold; and see, +here are potatoes, and these are cabbages, though somewhat overgrown, +but there are leaves enough to supply us for a month." + +We set to work to dig up the onions and potatoes with our pointed +sticks, and to pull away at the cabbage leaves. + +"Some beneficent person must have planted a garden here not long ago," +said the doctor, as we were labouring with might and main. "These +vegetables may be the means of preserving our lives, for without them we +should have run a great risk of suffering from scurvy." + +We each of us loaded ourselves with as many of the roots as we could +carry, and staggered back with them to camp. We were received with a +loud shout by our companions, who knew the value of what we had brought. + +We quickly had some of the potatoes roasting in the ashes, on which, +with some onions and fish, we made a more hearty meal than we had taken +since we landed. We had fortunately an iron pot, in which we were able +to boil a quantity of the potatoes, and afterwards the greens and some +of the roots, which, being well-seasoned with salt, the doctor hoped +would keep for some time. + +All our preparations being made, one morning, having breakfasted at +daylight, the doctor and I went up to the top of the rock to take a last +look-out for the ship. On coming down we saw the boat in the water +loaded, when, all hands getting aboard, we shoved off and stood out +through the reef with a fair breeze from the north-west and a smooth +sea. The wind would have been directly against us had we been bound for +Japan, so we were glad that we had decided to sail to the southward. + +Our boat was somewhat deeply laden with provisions and water, but our +cargo would be rapidly lightened, and Mr Griffiths told us we must be +prepared to heave some of it overboard should bad weather come on. We +were all in health and good spirits, our chief anxiety being about the +fate of the ship. + +I must pass rapidly over the first part of our voyage. We had the +boat's compass to steer by, but having no quadrant to take an +observation or log-line to mark accurately the distance run, we could +only guess at the rate we made. Mr Griffiths, however, was a good +navigator, and was pretty certain that he was correct. We had, we +fancied, plenty of food, but from the first he put us all on an +allowance of water. + +While the sea remained smooth he also made us change our places +constantly, and by the doctor's advice he ordered one at a time to stand +up and move his arms and legs about to prevent them from becoming stiff. +He also encouraged us to spin yarns and sing songs; indeed, he did +everything in his power to keep us in good spirits. + +After the first day of our landing we had not touched any of the +biscuits we had brought with us. These we now husbanded with great care +in case our other provisions should run short or spoil, which the doctor +feared might be the case. We were much indebted to him for the +precautions taken, as Mr Griffiths carried out all his suggestions. + +We had a whole week of fine weather, and we could favourably compare our +lot with that of many poor fellows who had to voyage in open boats in +the Pacific, exposed to storms, and often with a scant allowance of food +and water. The wind was generally from the northward, and when it fell +calm we took to our oars. Mr Griffiths told us that we had a distance +of between seven and eight hundred miles to run, as far as he could +calculate, and that if the fine weather continued we might hope to reach +Guam in ten days or a fortnight. + +We had got on so well that we began to fancy that we should have no +difficulties to encounter. We were, of course, constantly on the +look-out for vessels. At length we sighted a sail, but she was standing +away from us. We steered after her for some distance, but before +nightfall her topgallant sails sank beneath the horizon, and we again +kept on our course. + +"I wonder whether that craft out there is the _Intrepid_," said Jim to +me. + +"Little chance of that," I remarked. "If she escaped shipwreck, or has +not been severely damaged, she would have come to look for us long +before we left the island." + +"Perhaps the skipper fancied that we were lost, and didn't think it +worth while to come and look for us," said Jim. + +Four days after this, according to Mr Griffiths's calculations, we were +in the latitude of Guam, but to the eastward of the island. Brown, +however, was of opinion that we had run farther to the south, and that +if we stood east we should see it on our port bow. We accordingly +hauled up on the port tack. Scarcely had we done so when the weather, +which had lately looked threatening, completely changed. A strong wind +began to blow from the north-west; it rapidly increased, and the sea got +up and began to break over the bows in a way which threatened to swamp +the boat. Three hands baled away together, but even thus we could +scarcely keep the boat free of water. + +"We must form a raft to serve as a breakwater," said Mr Griffiths. + +We lashed three oars together, the sail was lowered, the boat rounded +to, and the raft, with a stout rope to it, was hove overboard, the rope +being secured to the bows. At the same time the steering-oar was peaked +and fixed into the after-thwart, with the flat of the blade facing the +bows. This served as a sail, and kept the boat's head to the sea. + +Thus, with the seas roaring and hissing round us, driving at the rate of +two miles an hour to the southward and west, we prepared to pass the +night, all of us feeling that we might never see another sun rise. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +A PERILOUS VOYAGE IN THE WHALE-BOAT. + +The night was very dark, the sea rose fearfully high. Now the water +broke over the starboard, now over the port bow, nearly swamping the +boat, and all hands were employed in baling it out. We worked for our +lives, for should another sea come before the boat was clear she might +be swamped. Some of the men cried out that we should not live through +the night. + +Mr Griffiths and the doctor cheered them up, but if it hadn't been for +the raft ahead, which broke the seas, I believe that we must have gone +down. I had heard of boats being saved by hanging on under the lee of a +dead whale, but I had not supposed that a few oars lashed together would +have served as an effectual breakwater. + +The peaked oar played a most important part by keeping the boat's head +to the wind, and at a sufficient distance from the raft. She must +otherwise have broached to, and it must have been driven against her and +stove in the side. + +As soon as the boat was clear of water, Brown sang out, "Now let's have +a stave, lads," and he began to sing, but few were able to join in with +him. + +Jim and I tried, knowing Brown's object, but we had scarcely got through +a verse when another sea came roaring on board, nearly carrying over the +men in the bows, and washing away some of our provisions. We all had +immediately to turn to again and bale out the boat. No one thought of +singing after this, for directly we were free of one sea another broke +aboard us. It was a mercy that they didn't come together. + +"We must pray to God, lads," cried Mr Griffiths. "He who rules the +seas and winds, if we ask Him, can save us if He thinks fit. Don't +cease baling. He likes people to work and pray, but not to fall down on +their knees while there's work to be done and leave it undone." + +He and the doctor set the example by baling away as hard as any of us. +We had the boat's regular balers, our iron pot, and a couple of small +buckets; the rest of us used our hats and caps. Still, do all we could, +it was a difficult matter to keep the boat free from water. We were wet +through, as was everything in the boat, and we were afraid that our +provisions would be spoilt, except perhaps the onions and potatoes. + +Hour after hour went slowly by, for we had no time for talking to make +it appear shorter. Still the night did come to an end at last, but +there were no signs of the gale abating. As soon as the sun rose we +looked out eagerly on all sides for land. Nothing broke the uniform +line of the horizon except the foam-topped seas, which rose up +tumultuously between us and it. We were driving all this time, it must +be remembered, to the southward at the rate, the mate said, of two knots +an hour, so that if we had been near Guam when the gale came on we were +being driven farther and farther from it, and it would be a hard matter +to regain the island. + +We had taken nothing during the night, and we now all cried out for +food. The store of salt fish we had remaining was scarcely eatable, for +the salt had been washed out of it, and it was becoming bad. What we +had smoked was a little better, but that also was almost spoilt, yet +such as it was we were glad to have a portion with an onion apiece, and +a small mug half full of water. The mate would give us no more. + +"What I do is for the good of all of us, lads," he said. "I can't tell +when we may make the land, or what provisions we may find when we get +there." + +Horner sang out, "We had some biscuit. What has become of that? Why +don't you let us have a piece for our breakfasts?" + +"Because the biscuits will keep longer than anything else, and are all +we may have to depend upon," answered the doctor, who had got them under +him in the stern-sheets, and had been trying from the first to keep them +as free from water as possible. + +We had till now fancied that we had an abundance of food, but some had +been washed overboard and some had been completely spoilt, so we found +to our dismay that we had a very small quantity remaining. Horner now +began to complain bitterly of hunger and thirst, declaring that if he +didn't get some food he must die. + +Jim and I endeavoured to cheer him up. It was not a matter to joke +about; indeed I was myself feeling the pangs of hunger and getting +weaker and less able to work, though I did my best. Jim kept up better +than I did. We had not much time to be thinking, however, for we were +compelled to be constantly baling the greater part of the day. + +Towards evening the sun broke through the western clouds, sending his +rays athwart the troubled ocean, and tinging the seas with a ruddy hue, +while his heat dried our wet clothes. + +Soon afterwards the wind began to drop, but the seas still ran so high +that the mate thought it prudent to hang on some time longer to our +raft. However, they no longer broke on board as they had been doing, +and we had better hopes than on the previous night that we should see +another sun rise. We had been awake so long that none of us were able +to keep our eyes open, and I suspect that at times every person in the +boat was fast asleep. I know for my part that I must have dozed through +the greater part of the night, for I was awakened by hearing the mate's +voice saying-- + +"Now, lads, we will get the raft on board and make sail." + +I jumped up to lend a hand. We got the oars out and put the boat before +the seas while we set up the mast and hoisted the sail. + +The wind was still in the same quarter, blowing directly from where we +supposed Guam to be, and as there were no hopes of making it the mate +determined to run for some island to the southward, where, though it +might be uninhabited, we should probably find cocoanuts and water, and +might catch some fish. + +As none of the islands are very close together we ran a great risk of +passing between them without seeing land, but then again he argued that +we might be days or weeks beating up to Guam, and as he could not tell +its exact position, we might even pass it after all, while by keeping to +the south we might have a better prospect of having fine weather, and +finding food on any shore at which we might touch. On the other hand +again there was the risk of falling among savages, for the natives of +these latitudes were known to be fierce, treacherous, and inhospitable +to strangers. + +We might, however, possibly meet with some ship, as we should cross the +course pursued by Spanish vessels sailing from America to the +Philippines. Should we pass through the Caroline group we should have +another long channel to sail over, and must then reach the coast of New +Guinea. If driven thus far south our prospect of escape was small +indeed; though we might obtain food, the people were supposed to be +extremely savage and cruel. + +The doctor, to cheer us, said that he had some doubts about that, for +although such was the character of the natives of some parts, there were +others who might treat us kindly should we fall among them, provided we +behaved well and showed that we wished to be friendly. + +As we sailed on the sea gradually went down, and at length we were +running with a light breeze over the smooth ocean. Though at first the +warm sun was pleasant it soon became very hot, and while it dried our +clothes increased our thirst. + +At the same time the heat destroyed the remaining portion of our fish, +which became so bad that we were obliged to throw it overboard. We had +now only a few raw potatoes and onions, and the little store of biscuits +which the doctor had so wisely husbanded. + +The mate told us that we must make up our minds to live on very short +allowance, and be content with a quarter of a biscuit, an onion, and a +small piece of raw potato. To make the latter more wholesome he cut +them and hung them up to dry in the sun. Our food was served out about +noon, and each day we sat eagerly waiting for the hour. Horner would +turn his eyes up and watch the sun till he fancied that it had gained +its greatest altitude, and then cry out to the mate-- + +"It must be twelve o'clock, now, sir. Won't Dr Cockle look at his +watch and see?" + +The doctor was the only person who kept his watch wound up. The mate +had collected all the provisions and placed them in the stern-sheets, +and he didn't think fit to tell us how rapidly they were going. The +quantity he served out was scarcely sufficient to keep body and soul +together, but he acted for the best; there was no doubt about that. We +were all becoming rapidly weaker, and longing for some substantial fare. +Horner at last cried out that if he didn't get it he must die. Two or +three of the other men said much the same thing. As I looked at their +faces I felt afraid that they spoke the truth. Our limbs were swollen, +and we felt so stiff that we were scarcely able to move. + +"Trust in God, lads," said the mate, to try and cheer us up. + +We were no longer inclined to spin yarns or sing songs, and only now and +then exchanged a few words with each other. Not long after this, as I +was gazing over the side, I saw a movement in the water, and presently a +score of flying-fish rose from the sea, their wings glittering in the +sunlight, and about a dozen pitched into the boat. Oh, how eagerly we +all stooped down to seize them! Just then, as I was looking out, +expecting some more to come, I saw several dolphins, which had no doubt +been pursuing the flying-fish, and now came close up to the boat, +looking out for them. + +Notwithstanding our hunger the doctor advised that we should split the +fish and hang them up in the sun to dry. We were, however, too hungry +to do this, but the mate insisted that all should be handed to him. He +then served out to each of us half a fish, which we eagerly devoured. +This meal, scanty as it was, somewhat restored our strength. + +"I told you to trust in God, lads," said the mate. "See He has sent us +these fish, and He'll send us more, never fear." + +Before long I saw, a hundred yards off, another flight of flying-fish +rise from the sea, and come darting through the air like masses of +silver, when, to our joy, a number struck the sail and dropped into the +bottom of the boat. The mate immediately served out the remainder of +those which had at first been sent to us. This made the men cheer up +more than ever, as we expected that, now we had got into the tropics, we +should have an ample supply every day. + +We saw large quantities of dolphins, bonitos, and albicores, which +pursue the flying-fish, and induce them to seek for safety in flight; +but none of the larger fish came near enough to enable us to catch them, +though Brown, harpoon in hand, stood up as long as he could keep his +feet, in the expectation of striking one. It was very tantalising to +see them sporting round us, and yet not to be able to get one on board. +We had, however, a sufficient number of flying-fish to give us a good +meal each for that and the next day. The mate proposed drying some in +the sun and reserving them in case no more should come aboard, but +nearly all hands cried out that we were certain to have some more sent +us, and begged so hard to have the fish while they were good that the +mate yielded to their wishes. + +During the night we steered south-east, with the wind on our port +quarter. It was in that direction Mr Griffiths said he knew the +islands lay thickest. We had a regular watch set, and a bright look-out +kept ahead, for we could not tell when we might come upon reefs, and the +boat might be knocked to pieces on some uninhabited spot where neither +food nor water was to be procured. The next day was passed much as the +previous one had been, but no flying-fish came on board, though we saw +them glittering in the air in the distance. It was drawing towards +evening when I saw a black triangular fin, which I knew to be that of a +shark, coming up astern. + +"What are you looking at?" asked the doctor. + +I told him. Presently we caught sight of the monster's cruel eyes and +back a couple of fathoms from the boat. I saw by their looks that the +men did not like its appearance. + +"We hab him," cried Sam Coal. "We eat him if he no eat us." + +Brown, on hearing this remark, stood up, with his harpoon in hand, but +the savage brute seemed to know its danger, and kept just beyond his +reach, eyeing us, we thought, as if he expected to make a feast of the +whole party. + +The men made their remarks on the shark, for having had sufficient food +they had somewhat recovered their spirits. Still I wished that the +shark would take its departure, but it kept on swimming alongside the +boat, and as the breeze freshened it made faster way to keep up with us. +Brown at last proposed shooting it, for our powder, being in a metal +flask, had kept dry, but Mr Griffiths objected to any being expended +for the purpose. It was a hundred to one that the shark would be +killed, he said, and every charge might be of value. Still, as no +flying-fish had been caught, the men cried out that they must have the +shark, and Mr Griffiths at length allowed Brown, who was a good shot, +to try and hit it in a vital part. Just, however, as he stood up with +the musket in his hands the shark dived and disappeared. + +"Ah, ha, Jack Shark know what you going to do. Him know eberyting," +said Sam Coal. + +Shortly after this the sun sank amid a bank of black clouds, and +darkness came down on the world of waters, the weather again looking +very threatening. I was awakened by a splash of water in my face. On +sitting up, though a heavy sea was running, I found that the boat was +still keeping on her course. The sail had been reefed, but it was as +much as we could carry. Again and again the sea broke on board. The +sleepers were all aroused, and we had to bale as fast as we could. + +Presently the mate said, "We must heave her to, lads. Get the raft +rigged." + +We soon had this done, but as we were rounding to a heavy sea came +rolling up, and breaking on board, nearly carried Sam Coal over the +side. The raft was hove into the water, and we lay head to wind as +before, with the oar apeak. This did not prevent the seas from +occasionally breaking on board, though they came with less violence than +they would otherwise have done; but the boat was severely strained and +shattered as they beat against her, and she now began to leak in a way +which gave us just cause for alarm. + +We spent the night baling as hard as we could, all striving to save our +lives; but we hoped almost against hope that we should succeed. + +At last some of the men, as before, began to despair, saying that it was +as well to die now as a few hours later, and that it would be better to +give in and let the boat sink, but seeing the mate and doctor calm and +composed as ever, I tried to imitate their example. + +"God wants us to labour on, lads," cried Mr Griffiths. "He'll help us +if we do. Gales in these latitudes never last long. Perhaps to-morrow +we shall have a fine day and catch some more flying-fish, or maybe we +are not far off from an island and we shall be able to stretch our legs +and find plenty of cocoanuts, and perhaps yams and pigs. We shall soon +have a fire alight and something cooking before it, and then won't we +eat, boys!" + +This sort of talk had a good effect upon the men, and they no longer had +any thought of giving in. Still, the night went by very slowly. +Sleeping, even if we had had time, with the water washing into the boat, +was next to impossible. + +Daylight came back at last, and as the sun rose the clouds dispersed, +the wind rapidly dropped, and the sea went down. In a short time the +mate ordered the raft to be got on board, and we ran on as before. We +were very nearly starving, for we had had nothing to eat since we had +devoured the raw flying-fish on the previous day. + +"The doctor's got some biscuit," said one of the men, and they at once +all cried out, begging that they might have it. The mate, however, +would only give us a quarter of a biscuit each, with a little water. It +just served to stay the gnawings of hunger, but as the day grew on we +wanted food as much as ever, and our spirits again sank. + +For the first time I began to think that I should not survive, even if +the mate and Dr Cockle did. Though they had eaten no more than any of +us, they endured their sufferings better. By this time we were a +scarecrow crew, our hair long, our faces wan, our bodies shrunk, and our +skin tanned to a yellow by the hot sun. At last the men entreated that +they might have the remainder of the biscuit, declaring that they were +ready to die after they had had one good meal if we could not catch any +more flying-fish. + +"No, lads," said Mr Griffiths; "I know what is best for you. Your +lives are committed to my charge, and I'll not yield to your wishes. +See, while you have been talking the water has been coming into the +boat. Turn to and bale away." + +They obeyed, though with scowling countenances. The mate had both the +guns in the stern-sheets, and he and the doctor looked as if they were +prepared to resist violence. The men knew also that Jim and I would +have sided with the officers. The wind had dropped, and with a gentle +breeze we were gliding on, when suddenly, not ten yards off, a number of +flying-fish rose out of the water and came towards the boat. Some +struck the sail, and others we beat back with our hands. + +"I told you not to despair, lads," said Mr Griffiths. "Thank God for +what He has sent us!" + +I believe we all did so most heartily. The mate allowed all the fish we +had caught to be eaten. I heard the doctor ask him why he did so, as we +might catch no more till the next day. + +"I'll tell you presently," he answered. + +We had finished our meal, with just a small piece of biscuit apiece and +a quarter of a pint of water, when the mate stood up, and, shading his +eyes, gazed ahead. + +"I would not say so before, lads, for fear of disappointing you, but I +now tell you that we're in sight of land. It is not very large, and may +not be inhabited; it may have no cocoanuts or other vegetables on it, +but it will give us room to stretch our legs, and we may be able to +catch as many fish as we want off it." + +"Thank God!" burst from the lips of most of the crew, and I and some +others knelt down to return thanks to Him who had thus far preserved us, +while we prayed that we might be brought in time to a place of safety. + +We all now wanted to stand up and see the land. The mate told us to sit +quiet, but he allowed each one of us at a time to rise to our feet and +take a look ahead. A blue irregular line could just be distinguished +above the horizon, clear and defined. That it was land none of us had +any doubt. A fair breeze carried us along at the rate of four or five +knots an hour. In less than a couple of hours we might hope to be on +shore, but the sun was sinking, and it would be dark, unless the breeze +freshened, before we could reach it. + +In a short time the wind fell, on which our hopes of landing before +night were disappointed. We got out the oars, however, and pulled on. + +"We must be careful, lads," said the mate, after we had rowed some +distance. + +"Most of these islands are surrounded by coral reefs, and we may run +upon one of them in the dark and knock the boat to pieces. We must +heave-to, shortly, and wait for daylight." + +Some of the men grumbled at this, and asserted that the noise of the +surf upon the reefs would give us sufficient notice when we were +approaching them, but the mate was firm. + +"I will not risk the safety of the boat for the sake of getting on shore +a few hours earlier," he said. + +We all, however, had the satisfaction of taking another look at the land +and assuring ourselves that it was land before darkness came on. Mr +Griffiths then ordered us to lay in our oars, and except two who were to +keep watch and bale out the water which leaked into the boat, to lie +down and go to sleep. + +I don't think many of us did sleep. We were all thinking too much about +getting on shore in the morning to care for rest. We forgot that before +that time another gale might spring up and drive us off the land, or +dash the boat a hopeless wreck upon the coral reef. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +MORE STARTLING ADVENTURES. + +The night passed by, and as dawn at length broke, the mate rousing up +all hands, we hoisted the sail, and again stood towards the land. The +sea was smooth, and the wind light and fair. + +As we glided on, the mate told Brown to stand up in the bows and keep a +look-out for reefs. As we approached the land we could see trees on the +shore and some on the hill, so that we had no doubt that we should find +fresh water. It was a question, however, whether or not it was +inhabited, and, if so, whether the natives would prove friendly or +hostile. The mate told the doctor that he believed it was one of the +most north-western of the Caroline group, the natives of which are +generally more friendly to strangers than the inhabitants of the islands +farther south; still, they are perfect savages, and it would be +dangerous to trust them. We could, however, see no smoke or other signs +of the country being inhabited. + +We had not gone far, when Brown sang out, "Starboard! Hard a-starboard! +A reef ahead!" + +On this the mate, luffing up, ordered us to lower the sail. It was done +in an instant, and not a moment too soon, for we saw close abeam a coral +reef not two feet under the surface. + +"We may be thankful that we didn't stand on during the night," said Mr +Griffiths to the doctor. + +We now got out the oars and pulled cautiously on. We soon found +ourselves in a channel, with coral reefs on either side, all of them +just below the surface; and as the passage twisted and turned in all +directions, it required the greatest possible caution to thread our way +through it. + +We might well be thankful not only that we did not stand on during the +night, but that we had not driven farther south during the gale while we +rode to the raft. Nothing could have preserved the boat from being +dashed to pieces. At length we got clear of the encircling reef, and +found ourselves in a broad expanse of perfectly smooth water. The rocks +rising directly out of it formed the shore. We had to pull along them +some distance to find a convenient landing-place. At last a beautiful +bay opened out, with a sandy beach, the ground rising gradually from it, +covered with cocoanut-trees. + +On seeing it, led by Brown, we uttered a cheer, and giving way with a +will ran the boat's keel on the beach. He jumped out first, and we all +followed, without thinking of savages, and only very grateful to find +ourselves once more on firm ground. Led by the mate and the doctor, we +fell on our knees, and I believe with grateful hearts returned thanks to +God for our safety. + +We were hurrying up to the trees with our eyes fixed on the cocoanuts +which hung temptingly from them, when the mate called to us to be +cautious, for though we had seen no natives, there might be some in the +neighbourhood, who might come suddenly down and attack us while we were +engaged in obtaining the cocoanuts. + +He and the doctor then proceeded with their muskets in their hands a +little way in advance, while under Brown's directions we prepared to get +down the nuts. Miles Soper, Sam Coal, and Jim were the best climbers, +but without assistance, weak as we all were, they found that they could +not swarm up the trees. We therefore got some ropes from the boat, and +Soper soon twisted one of them into a grummet, or hoop, round the tree, +with sufficient space for his body inside it; then shoving the opposite +side of the grummet above him, and holding on with his knees, he worked +his way up the smooth trunk. Coal did the same on another tree, but +Jim, after making the attempt, had to give up. + +"I never tried that sort of thing before, and can't manage it," he said, +coming down and ready to cry for weakness. + +"Look out there!" shouted Sam Coal, who was the first to reach the top +of his tree; and he threw down a cocoanut, and then another, and +another, but they all broke as they touched the ground. + +"I say, that'll never do!" cried Brown, as he picked up one of them, +while Horner and I got hold of the other two. "You must hang them round +your neck somehow. We want the juice, which is the best part." + +Coal, on this, fastened three or four together in a handkerchief; Soper +had in the meantime done the same, and they descended with four +cocoanuts apiece. Horner and I had run with those we had picked up to +Mr Griffiths and the doctor, munching a portion as we went, while Brown +divided his among the other men, who were as eager to eat them as we +were. So we found were the mate and the doctor. They tasted delicious +to us, so long accustomed to salt or raw fish; but still more refreshing +was the milk, which we got on tearing off the outer rind by cutting +holes in the eyes with our knives. The cocoanuts, indeed, served us as +meat and drink. + +All this time the doctor and mate had seen no signs of inhabitants, and +as we were all far too weak to think of exploring the country, we sat +down in the shade of the cocoanut-trees to rest. We talked a little to +each other for a short time, and first one dropped off to sleep, then +another. Mr Griffiths himself didn't long keep his eyes open, though I +fancy I heard him tell Brown that we must set a watch, lest any natives +should come suddenly down upon us. The mate and the doctor had both +been awake during the whole of the last night in the boat--no wonder +that they went to sleep. + +At last I opened my eyes, and sitting up, looked about me, trying to +recollect where I was, and what had happened. This I soon did. My +companions lay scattered around me on the ground. In front was the sea, +and the two sides of the bay were formed by moderately high cliffs. +Behind us was a grove of cocoanut-trees, extending along the shore to +the cliffs, and beyond them I could see a hill, which formed the farther +end of the valley, opening out on the bay. Every one was asleep, and I +was thankful that while in that condition we had not been discovered by +savages, who might have been tempted to massacre the whole of us. I was +glad that I at all events was now awake. I didn't, however, like to +arouse my companions, so I got up noiselessly, and to stretch my legs +walked through the palm-grove. On my way I found a cocoanut fallen to +the ground, and as I felt hungry, having taken off the rind, I sucked +the milk, and then breaking the shell, ate as much of the fruit as I +felt inclined to take. This restored my strength, and I went on till I +got beyond the trees, which extended to no great distance up the valley. +Farther on the ground was tolerably open, with here and there a few +trees and bushes growing by the side of a stream which ran through the +valley, and formed a small lake, without any outlet that I could +discover. + +A number of birds, some of which I took to be pigeons, were flying +about, but I saw no four-legged creatures of any sort. The birds were +so tame that they came flying about me, and perched on the boughs +without showing any signs of fear. + +"This is a beautiful spot," I thought to myself. "How thankful I am +that we reached it! We shall have plenty of food, and if there are no +natives we can remain as long as we like till we are all strong again, +and Mr Griffiths determines to pursue the voyage." + +I was stopping, looking about, when I saw something move on the top of +the hill at the farther end of the valley. The object stopped, and then +I made out distinctly against the sky the figure of a man. He was too +far off to enable me to make out how he was dressed, or whether he was a +native or a white man. He stopped for some time, as if he was looking +down into the valley, and I fancied that he might have seen me, for I +was in an open spot, away from any trees or shrubs. At last I beckoned +to him, to show that my companions and I wished to be friends with the +natives. + +He took no notice of my signals, but stood looking down into the valley +as before. + +At first I thought of going towards him, but then it struck me that +others might appear, and that I might be taken prisoner, or perhaps +killed, and that I ought to go back and tell Mr Griffiths what I had +seen. I found him and the doctor awake. + +"I'm sorry to hear that," said the former. "I had hoped that there were +no natives on the island. If the person you saw had been a white man he +would have come down to us immediately. I suspect that he must be a +native. We must look out for a visit from others, and keep a more +careful watch than heretofore." + +He and the doctor agreed to return with me, and if the person was still +where I had seen him, to try and open up a friendly communication with +him and any others who might appear. + +Rousing up Brown and the rest of the people, and telling them where we +were going, we set off. On our getting to the spot where I had been +when I saw the man, he had disappeared. We, however, went on past a +little lake, and along the bank of a stream, looking out very carefully +on either side lest the natives might come down from the cliffs and cut +us off. No one appeared; and as it was getting late, Mr Griffiths +thought it wise to return. + +It was almost dark by the time we reached the palm-grove. We found that +Soper and Coal had in the meantime collected some more cocoanuts; and +that Brown, with the rest of the men, had obtained some large clams and +other shell-fish from the rocks. They were now lighting a fire to cook +them, while Jim had brought a kettle of water from the lake. We had +thus materials for a hearty meal, of which we all partook with good +appetites. We had been unable to do anything to the boat during the +day, but Mr Griffiths remarked that our first care must be to put her +to rights, that we might go out fishing in her, and afterwards make a +voyage to some place where we might find a vessel to take us home. The +mate said that we might either sail northward again to Guam, or westward +to the Pellew Islands, the inhabitants of which were said to be +friendly, and thence on to the Philippines. Various opinions were +expressed, but nothing was decided. + +We had now to prepare for the night. Notwithstanding the sleep we had +had during the day, we all felt that a longer rest was necessary to +restore our strength. Mr Griffiths, however, insisted that a watch +should be kept, as now that we had discovered the island to be +inhabited, it would be folly to allow ourselves to be caught unawares at +night. Though the weather was warm, as we had had no time to put up a +shelter of any sort, the fire was found pleasant; we therefore agreed +not to let it go out during the night. It was settled that the doctor +should keep the first watch, Mr Griffiths the middle, and I was to have +the third with Jim. Brown kept it with the doctor, and Soper with the +mate. Our arrangements being made, we lay down to pass the night. + +It appeared to me that I had been asleep only a few minutes, when Mr +Griffiths called me up, and Jim and I, taking the muskets, began our +watch. The mate told me that the doctor's and his watches had passed +quietly away, and they had not heard any sounds to indicate that any +natives were near. As we were not obliged to keep close to the fire, +and as there was a bright moon in the sky to enable us to see our way, I +proposed to Jim that we should go through the grove, where, should any +natives approach in the morning, we should discover them sooner on that +side than we should by remaining at the camp. He agreed, and without +difficulty we made our way through the trees, which stood apart, with +little or no undergrowth. The scene which presented itself to us as we +got out of the grove was very beautiful. The silver moon and the +surrounding trees were reflected in the calm waters of the lake, while +the outline of the hills on either side appeared sharp and distinct +against the sky. Finding a clear piece of ground not far from the shore +of the lake, Jim and I walked up and down, keeping a look-out now to one +side, now to the other, as also up the valley. + +We had taken several turns, when Jim exclaimed, "Hillo! Look there!" + +Gazing up in the direction to which he pointed, I saw distinctly against +the sky the figure of a man. How he was dressed it was impossible to +say; still, he had on clothes of some sort. + +"He's not a native savage, at all events," said Jim. "We'll hail him, +and if he's an Englishman he'll answer." + +We shouted at the top of our voices, but no reply came, and the figure +disappeared. + +"That's strange," said Jim; "I thought he would have come down and had a +talk with us, whoever he is. Can't we try and find him?" + +"We mustn't both leave our post," I answered; "but if you stop here I'll +try and get up to where he was standing, and unless he has run away he +can't be far off." + +Jim didn't like my going, but I persuaded him to stop, and hurried +across the valley. When I got to the foot of the cliff I could find no +way up it, and, after searching about, had to abandon the attempt. + +I returned to where I had left Jim, and we resumed our walk, thinking +that perhaps the figure would again appear. + +"Perhaps if he sees us he won't show himself," said Jim. "Wouldn't it +be better to go and stay under the trees? And then perhaps he'll come +back." + +We did as Jim proposed, keeping our eyes in the direction of the cliff, +but we looked in vain for the reappearance of the stranger. + +"He guesses that we are watching for him," said Jim. "Perhaps if we +were to shout again he would come back. If he's a white man he'll +understand us, and know that we are friends." + +"There can be no harm in shouting," I answered, "though he may be a +native and there may be others with him; they would have come down +before this and attacked us, had they had a mind to do so." + +We accordingly went from under the trees, and standing in the open +ground, I shouted out-- + +"Hillo, stranger, we're friends, and want to have a talk with you. We +have just come here for a day or two, and intend to be off again on our +voyage." + +Jim then said much the same sort of thing, and as his voice was even +louder than mine, we made sure that the stranger must have heard us. He +didn't, however, show himself, though we sometimes shouted together, +sometimes singly. At last we heard voices in the cocoanut grove. + +"I hope that no enemies have got down between us and the sea," I said. +"We had no business to come so far away from the camp." + +We stood with our muskets ready, watching the wood. In a short time our +anxiety was relieved by the appearance of the doctor and Mr Griffiths. + +"Why, lads, what made you shout out in that fashion?" asked the mate. +"We fancied you wanted help." + +We told him of the man we had seen on the cliffs. + +"It's very extraordinary," said the doctor; "I don't think he can be a +native, or he would not have shown himself in that way. He must be some +white man who has been left by himself on the island, and has lost his +wits, as often happens under such circumstances. He's been accustomed +to see savages visit the island, and has kept out of their way to save +himself from being killed or made a slave of. He had not the sense to +distinguish between us and them." + +"I believe you are right," said Mr Griffiths. "We must take means to +get hold of him, both for his own sake and ours. He'll soon come round, +supposing he's an Englishman, when he finds himself among countrymen, +and he'll be able to show us where to get provisions if the island +produces any. He can't have lived always on cocoanuts and shell-fish." + +By this time the dawn began to appear, and after waiting a little longer +we all returned to camp, and roused up the men to prepare for breakfast. +Miles Soper and Sam Coal again climbed the trees to get some cocoanuts. +Some of the men went down to the shore to collect shell-fish. Others +made up the fire, while the mate and the doctor examined the boat to +ascertain the damage she had received, and to see how she could best be +repaired. + +"We have a few nails, and we must try to find some substance which will +answer the purpose of pitch," observed the mate. "Doctor, I dare say +you'll help us. We will strengthen her with additional planks, and get +a strake put on above her gunwale. It will be a work of toil to cut the +planks, but it must be done, and she will then be fit to go anywhere." + +At breakfast the mate told the men of his intentions. They all agreed +to do their best to carry them out. + +We had first, however, to search for provisions. Not knowing whether +there might be savages on the island, even supposing that the man we had +seen was not one, the mate did not like to leave the boat unprotected. +He therefore ordered Brown and one of the men to remain by her while the +rest of us proceeded together to explore the island. + +The mate would not allow us to separate until we had ascertained whether +or not there were inhabitants besides the man we had seen on the island. + +One musket was left with Brown, the mate carried the other, and we set +off, keeping up the stream I have before described towards the end of +the valley. We looked out on either side for the stranger, but he +didn't appear. Some of the men declared that we had not really seen any +one, and that we had mistaken a small tree or shrub for a man; but Jim +and I were positive, and the doctor, at all events, believed us. + +On reaching the top of the hill, we looked down into a large hollow, +with water at the bottom, dark rocks forming its sides, grown over with +creepers, huge ferns, and various other plants. The doctor said that it +was the crater of a long extinct volcano, and that the whole island was +volcanic. There were many other hills out of which smoke was rising. +The doctor said that this was an active volcano; indeed, the country in +that direction presented a very different aspect from the part where we +had landed. It was black and barren, with only here and there a few +green spots. We therefore turned to the east, the direction which +promised us a better chance of finding roots or fruits, or vegetable +productions of some sort. + +The strange thing was, that though the island appeared fertile, not a +single habitation or hut could we discover. The doctor supposed that +this was on account of the occasional outbreak of the volcano, and that +the people from the neighbouring islands were afraid to take up their +residence on it. + +We now descended the hill, and went along another valley, of course +looking out all the time for the stranger. + +We were passing a small grove near a hollow in the side of a hill, which +was partly concealed by trees, when we heard a cock crow just as an +English cock would do. At once that sound made my thoughts, as it did +those of the others, probably, rush back to our far-distant homes. + +"If there's a cock, there must be hens and a hen-roost hereabouts," +observed Miles Soper, hurrying in the direction whence the sounds +proceeded. + +We followed; there, sure enough, sheltered by the hill, and under the +shade of the trees, was not only a hen-house of good size, but a hut +scarcely bigger than it was neatly built and thatched with palm-leaves. + +"It must be the residence of the stranger. He himself can't be far +off," said the doctor. + +The hut was just large enough to hold one man. It had a door formed of +thin poles lashed together with sennit. At the farther end was a +bedstead covered with rough matting, and in the centre a small table, +with a three-legged stool. + +No one had any longer any doubt that we had seen a man, or that this +must be his abode, and that he must be a white man, but whether English +or not was doubtful. Miles Soper examined the matting, and as he was +looking about he found a knife on a shelf close to the bed. Taking it +up, he examined it with a curious eye, opening and shutting it, and +turning it round and round. + +"Well, that's queer, but I think I've seen this knife before," he said. +"If the owner is the man I guess he is I am glad." + +"Who do you suppose he is?" I inquired, eagerly. + +"Well, Peter, that's what I don't want to say just yet. I must make +sure first," he answered. + +"Can he be my brother Jack?" I exclaimed, my breath coming and going +fast in my anxiety. + +"Well then, Peter, I'll tell you. Jack knew how to make matting just +like this, because he learnt the way on board the _Harriet_, and so did +I. He had a knife which, if this isn't it, is the fellow to it, so you +see that I have some reason to think that the man who built this hut, +and lives in it, is he. But then again, you know, I may be mistaken. + +"Why, if he is Jack, he should run away from us puzzles me. If he +couldn't see our faces he must have known by our dress that we were +English or American, and that there was no reason for him to hide +himself. There are many men who know how to make this sort of matting, +and there are many knives just like this, and that's the reason why I +can't tell you whether he's Jack or not. But if Mr Griffiths will let +me I'll go on alone and look for him, and when he sees who I am he'll +come fast enough to me, and you may depend on it, Peter, if it's he I'll +bring him back with a lighter heart than I've had for many a day." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +THE LOST ONE FOUND AT LAST. + +I wanted to accompany Soper in his search for the stranger. + +"No, no, Peter," he answered; "if he is Jack he'll know me; but he won't +know you; and if he's grown queer by living all alone on an island, as +has happened to some poor fellows, he'll get out of our way if he sees +two together." + +The doctor assented to the wisdom of this, and advised me to be +contented and remain by while Soper set off himself. The rest of the +party were meanwhile examining the hen-roost. + +The fowls were mostly of the English breed, which made us suppose that +they had been landed from some English vessel. We were confirmed in +this belief by discovering an old hen-coop, in which they had probably +been washed ashore. There were other pieces of wreckage scattered +about, but the hut itself was composed entirely of the products of the +island. + +At last the doctor proposed that we should proceed onwards, as the +stranger, whoever he was, would not be likely to come back if he saw us +near his hut. I, however, believed that it must be Jack, and, +notwithstanding the doubts that Soper had expressed, begged that I might +be allowed to remain behind that I might the sooner meet him. Mr +Griffiths gave me leave to stay if I wished it. I thought that Soper +was more likely to bring him back to the hut than to follow the rest of +the party. + +As soon as they had gone I closed the door and sat down on the +three-legged stool. I should have been glad if I had had a book to read +to employ my thoughts, but the hut contained only some cocoanuts cut in +two for holding water, some long skewers, which had apparently been used +for roasting birds, a small nut fixed in a stand to serve as an egg-cup, +and a little wooden spoon. There were also shells, some clams, and +others of different shapes. Two or three of these would serve as cups +and plates. I could judge from this what had been the food of the +solitary inhabitant of the hut. This didn't look as if he were out of +his mind. + +The time appeared to go by very slowly. I remembered my disappointment +at South's Island when I heard the mysterious knocks on the bottom of +the boat, and I began to fear that after all the stranger might not +prove to be Jack. + +I was now sorry that I had not accompanied the rest of the party--at all +events the time would not have appeared so long if I had been walking +and looking out for Jack. At length I determined to get up and to go +out and try and find my companions--perhaps Soper and the stranger were +all this time with them, though I knew they would come back and look for +me. I rose and went to the window, which had a view right down the +valley, probably that the inmate might watch anybody coming in that +direction. + +I couldn't see any object moving, and I turned towards the door, +intending to go out, when the sound of voices reached my ears. I +listened. One of the speakers was Miles Soper, the other spoke so +indistinctly that I could not make out what he said. + +I opened the door and saw two persons coming through the grove. One +was, as I expected, Soper; the other a strange-looking being with long +hair, his skin tanned of a deep brown, his dress composed of an old +jacket and trousers, patched or rather covered over with leaves, while +his feet and head were destitute of covering. + +I stood gazing at him for a few seconds, unable to trace in his +countenance any of the features of my brother Jack, which I fancied I +recollected. + +"What, don't you know one another?" exclaimed Soper. "This is Jack +Trawl and no other--the only Jack Trawl I ever knew. Come, Jack, rouse +up, that's your brother Peter Trawl. Give him your fist, man. He's +been talking about you, and looking for you everywhere we've been." + +The stranger stopped and gazed eagerly in my face. + +"What, are you my little brother Peter?" he exclaimed. "How are Mary, +and father, and mother, and Nancy?" + +I knew from this that he was Jack, and springing forward, took both his +hands, and looked earnestly in his face. + +"Yes, I am Peter, and I know you are Jack. Mary was well when I left +home long ago, though you wouldn't know her now, and Nancy is with her." + +I didn't like at first to tell Jack that father and mother were dead, +but it had to come out at last, and it seemed for a time to do away with +the happiness he and I felt at meeting; for he was happy, though he +looked so strange and talked so curiously. He couldn't get out his +words at first, but we sat down, he on the bed, I on the stool, and +Miles Soper on the table, Miles drawing him out better than I could, and +he telling us how he had come upon the island. + +He had been on board the _Harriet_, as I had believed, from what King +George had told me, and had escaped from her with Captain Barber in the +boat. They had had a long voyage, and suffered dreadfully, missing +Guam, for which they had steered, just as we had done, and been driven +south. The other men died, one and then another, till at last only +Captain Barber and he had been left. + +The captain was in a dying state when the boat was driven on the reef, +and Jack could not tell how he had managed to reach the shore. He found +himself at last in the very bay where we had landed. He had just +strength enough to crawl up to the palm-grove, where he found some +cocoanuts on the ground, and managing to eat one of them he regained his +strength. + +He looked about for the old captain, but could nowhere find him, and +supposed that he was drowned when the boat went to pieces. He didn't +want to die, he said, so he got some shell-fish and cocoanuts, and now +and then caught some birds, which were very tame. He had learnt how to +get a light from King George's people on "Strong's" Island, and after a +few days he managed to make a fire and cooked the shell-fish. He found +some roots, but was afraid to eat them for fear they might be poisonous. + +It was very melancholy work living thus alone, and some times for days +together he scarcely knew what he was about. At last, however, came a +furious storm, and as he went down to the beach he saw a ship driving +towards the island. He knew that there were reefs all around it, so he +feared that she would be knocked to pieces and bring no help to him. + +His fears proved true; the ship struck at a distance from where he was. +He made his way down to the nearest point to where she was, hoping that +some of the crew might reach the shore alive, but the only thing of any +size which had come ashore was a hen-coop and some fowls lashed to some +gratings and some spars. His idea was that the people had been trying +to make a raft, but that the ship had gone to pieces before they could +finish it, and the raft had been driven on shore by itself. He secured +the hen-coop and fowls, most of which were alive, and carried them up to +where he had built a hut for himself. Shortly afterwards, seeing three +canoes full of wild-looking natives coming near the shore, he collected +all his fowls and carried them away right up to the spot where he had +built his present hut. He there lay concealed, as he was afraid of +falling into the hands of the natives after the way in which he had seen +his shipmates murdered at "Strong's" Island, as he thought the savages +would treat him in the same way. This idea seemed to have upset his +mind. He was nearly starved, for he would not kill any of his fowls +because they were the only living beings that seemed to care for him. + +At last he ventured out from his hiding-place, and, creeping cautiously +on, saw the savages sailing away in their canoes. They had nearly +stripped the trees of cocoanuts, and found his hut and pulled it to +pieces. Why they had gone so suddenly he could not tell, but on looking +towards the burning mountain it was spurting out fire and smoke, and he +concluded that they had gone away from being frightened at it. His mind +was now more at rest. He employed himself in building his hut and the +hen-roosts, where his fowls might be safe from hawks or such-like birds, +or any animals which might be in the island. He had seen wild cats at +some of those he had touched at, and knew that if they found out his +fowl they would soon put an end to them. He had plenty to do to find +food for his poultry. He got shell-fish and berries, roots and +cocoanuts, and watched what they seemed to like best. They soon became +so tame that they would come and sit on his shoulders and knees and run +about between his feet. What seemed to have upset him was another visit +from the savages some months afterwards, when he was nearly caught. +Though they pursued him they didn't discover his hen-roost or hut, but +after that he was always fancying they would come and kill him. When he +saw our boat he thought we must be some savages, and yet he said he +couldn't help coming down to have a look at us, though it was so long +since he had heard a word of English spoken he didn't understand what +was said. Fortunately, Miles Soper had passed close to the place where +he was hiding. At length, when he heard his own name shouted in a voice +which he recollected, he came out, and at once knew his old messmate. +He could not at first understand that I had grown into a big fellow, and +had come to look for him, though he told Miles Soper that he should know +me at once if I were like what I had been when he went to sea. When +Miles told him that Mr Griffiths and Dr Cockle were with me--the +gentlemen father had put on board their ship at the time he had joined +the _Lapwing_--he seemed to have no doubt on the matter, and by degrees, +with Miles speaking soothingly to him, the balance of his mind seemed +gradually to be restored. He still found, however, a great difficulty +in speaking; he had been so long without uttering a word except when he +talked to his poultry. He was almost all to rights when Mr Griffiths +and the doctor and the other men came back. They seemed very much +pleased at seeing Jack, and all shook him warmly by the hand. The +doctor and Mr Griffiths told him that they remembered him well when he +was a young lad, first going to sea, little thinking that from that day +to this he should be knocking about the world far away from home. He +looked very shy and reserved, and seemed inclined to keep close to Miles +Soper and me, but in other respects he was as much in his senses as any +of us. The doctor had found several roots and fruits, which he said +were wholesome, and would serve us as food, and Jack offered to catch as +many birds as we wanted, begging that we wouldn't touch his poultry. +The doctor promised that they should not be molested while we remained +on the island, but said to me-- + +"You must persuade your brother to let us have them for sea-stock when +we go away; they will afford us sufficient provisions to enable us to +reach the `Pellew' Islands or Manilla, with the help of the birds and +fish we may salt." + +When Mr Griffiths was about to go away, Jack asked that Miles Soper and +I might stay to keep him company, promising to go down to the boat the +next morning. To this Mr Griffiths agreed, and Soper and I remained +behind with Jack. When they had gone Jack said-- + +"I haven't food for all the party, but I can give you a good supper," +and he showed us his store-room at the back of the hut, in which he had +several cocoanuts, some birds dried in the sun, and a dozen eggs. + +He showed us a sort of trap he used for catching the birds without +frightening the rest. He quickly got a fire from a split log in the way +I have before described, and with the help of some fresh water and the +milk of the cocoanuts we had a very good meal. He had a supply of mats +like those on his bed, and with these he rigged us up a place for +sleeping in when it was time to lie down. + +I felt happier than I had been for a long time. My hope of finding +Brother Jack was realised, and now my great wish was to return home with +him to Mary. I forgot for the moment that we were on a remote island, +and that we had only a small boat to carry us to civilised lands. + +When we got up the next morning Jack seemed more refreshed and better +able to talk than on the previous evening. As soon as we had had +breakfast, which was very much like supper, we set off to join the rest +of the party at the bay. We found them all busily employed, some in +caulking the boat, others in splitting a tree to form planks. + +We fortunately had a couple of axes with us, which were of great +service, and while Soper and I lent a hand Jack went down to collect +shell-fish, which he did much more rapidly than we could, being well +accustomed to it. + +The weather was so fine that we required only a very slight hut, which +we formed partly of the boat's sails and partly of the boughs and stems +of small trees. + +Jack showed us a way up to the top of the cliff, and here Mr Griffiths +erected a flagstaff with a whift, which we had in the boat, increased in +size by a couple of handkerchiefs. This was large enough to attract the +attention of any vessel passing near the island, but Mr Griffiths said +that he believed, owing to the surrounding reefs, none would +intentionally approach. + +We were all anxious to get the boat finished as soon as possible and +commence our voyage. We had many reasons for being in a hurry, though +we might have lived very well on the island for months together, but the +burning mountain might again burst forth and overwhelm us, and the +savages might return in large numbers and either kill us or make us +prisoners, for as we had only two muskets and a scanty supply of +ammunition, we could scarcely hope to beat them off should they prove +hostile. Mr Griffiths and the doctor talked the matter over. + +"One thing is certain," observed the mate, "the sooner we're away while +the fine weather lasts the better, but at the same time it won't do to +start until we have fitted the boat thoroughly for sea. We have a long +trip before us, and if we're caught in a gale we shall have reason to +regret it if we don't take the trouble to fit our boat in the best way +we can." + +It took a long time, first with our axes to split up the planks, and +then to smooth them with our knives. We had next to shape out +additional timbers to strengthen the boat, as to which also to fix the +planks to. We likewise decked over the fore and aft parts, both to keep +out the sea and to prevent our provisions from getting wet. The doctor +searched everywhere for some sort of resin which might serve to caulk +our boat. + +He at last found some which he thought might answer, but as we had only +a small iron pot to boil it in, we had to go without our soup or our hot +water till the pot was again thoroughly cleaned out. It answered the +purpose, however, better than we had expected, and with mosses and dried +grass we made up a substance which served instead of oakum. Jack worked +as hard as any of us, and was very useful in catching a number of birds, +which he salted and dried in the sun. + +At length one day, when nearly all our preparations were concluded, the +mate said, "And now, Jack Trawl, we must get you to bring your +poultry-yard down. We shall not have room for all the fowl, in the boat +but I think we can cut down and repair the old hen-coop to hold a good +many, and we must kill and salt the rest." + +"What I kill my fowl--my old companions!" said Jack. "What! Cannot we +let them live? They'll soon find food for themselves; they do that +pretty well already, and I couldn't bear to see their necks wrung." + +"I wish we were able to do without them," said the mate; "but our lives +are of more value than those of the fowl. I can enter into your +feelings, and we will not ask you to kill any nor to eat them afterwards +unless you change your mind. Look you here, Jack; if the savages came +to the island they'd kill the fowl fast enough, and perhaps our lives +may depend on our having them." + +The doctor then said something to the same effect, and at last Jack was +talked over to allow some of his fowl to be killed at once, and dried +and salted like the other birds. + +We brought the hen-coop down to the beach, and by dint of hard work cut +it away so as to hold two dozen fowl closely packed. At night, when the +birds had gone to roost, Miles, Coal, Jack, and I went up and took the +others while roosting. What a cackling and screeching the poor +creatures made on finding themselves hauled off their perches and having +their legs tied! The noise they made might have been heard over half +the island. + +We brought them down and stowed them away in the hen-coop. Jack, +accompanied by Jim, had before collected a good supply of seeds, which +might serve them as food with the help of the cocoanuts and scraps of +fish which we might leave. Mr Griffiths and the doctor had arranged to +start the next morning. All hands had agreed to do as they proposed, +which was to be up at daylight, and as soon as we had breakfasted launch +the boat and go on board. + +We lay down, as we hoped, for the last time in our hut. As the island +was known to be uninhabited it was no longer thought necessary to keep a +watch. All of us slept like tops, recollecting that we should not for +many days get another thorough night's rest. + +I was the first to wake, and, calling up Jim, he and I agreed to go to +the lake and fill our pot with water to boil for breakfast, knowing that +the rest would light the fire as soon as they were aroused ready for it. +There was just a single streak in the eastern sky, which showed us that +it would soon be daylight, and we knew our way so well through the grove +that we didn't think it worth while stopping till then. We carried the +pot on a stick between us, and as we had to pass among the trees, of +course we could not do so as fast as if it had been daylight. It took +us some little time before we could reach the place where we could dip +the pot in and get the water pure. We filled it, and set off again on +our way back. We had just reached the grove of cocoanut-trees. I +happened to look up at the hill where I had seen Jack the morning after +our arrival, when I saw against the sky the forms of well-nigh a dozen +savages. + +I rubbed my eyes for a moment, as I at first thought it might be fancy, +and then whispered to Jim to look in the same direction and then tell me +what he saw. + +"Savages," he answered, "no doubt about that." + +"Then we must rouse up the rest and be prepared for them," I said. + +We ran on among the trees, to which we were close, hoping that we hadn't +been seen. Still I thought that the savages must know that we were on +the island. We didn't like to abandon our pot, though we spilled some +of the water as we hurried along. Our friends were still fast asleep. + +"Mr Griffiths! Dr Cockle! The savages have landed and are on the +hill out there," Jim and I cried out. + +They started to their feet in a moment, and Jack and the rest of the men +jumped up on hearing our voices. The mate seemed satisfied that what we +said was true. + +"Then, lads," he said, "we will launch the boat at once; we must at all +events avoid a fight, and we can't tell how they'll behave if we +remain." + +Jack was about the most eager to get the boat in the water, and Horner +looked not a little frightened. We soon had her afloat, and then as +quickly as we could, running backwards and forwards, put the cargo on +board. + +The doctor and mate were still on shore, seeing that nothing had been +left behind, when loud shrieks reached our ears, and a score or more of +tattooed savages, flourishing their war clubs, burst out of the grove +and rushed towards us. + +"Quick, doctor," cried the mate. "Get on board, and I'll follow you." + +He stood, as he spoke, with his musket in his hand pointed towards the +savages, and then slowly retreated, while Dr Cockle sprang on board. +We had our oars ready to shove off as soon as the mate was safe. + +"Come on, Mr Griffiths, come on," cried several others. + +The savages were scarcely a dozen yards from us as the mate threw +himself over the bows, and we quickly shoved the boat into deep water, +while the savages stood yelling and heaving stones at us from the beach. + +Just, however, as we got the boat's head to sea we saw, coming round a +point to the eastward, four or five large canoes. It seemed impossible +that we could escape them. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND AND THE EVENTS WHICH FOLLOWED. + +"Give way, lads! Give way!" shouted Mr Griffiths; "if the worst comes +we must fight for it, and try to save our lives, but I want, if we can, +to avoid fighting." The men bent to their oars; the wind was ahead, so +that it was useless to hoist the sail. The savages on shore howled and +shrieked as they saw us getting off, and hurled stones at us. The big +double canoes came round the point, two more appearing astern. They +were close on a wind, and rapidly skimming the water. + +"There's an outlet from the bay to the westward, I marked it yesterday, +we will make for it," said Mr Griffiths. + +The canoes were to the eastward, but it seemed very doubtful whether we +could reach the outlet the mate spoke of before they would be up with +us. We pulled for our lives, for there could be no doubt, from the +behaviour of the savages on shore,--how those in the canoes would be +inclined to treat us. While the mate steered, the doctor and I got the +muskets ready; the rest of the crew were rowing, Horner helping the +stroke oar. On the canoes came, nearer and nearer. We observed the sea +breaking over the reef, but there was a clear channel between it and the +shore. The savages had left the beach and were rushing towards the +point which they knew we must pass; probably, as we supposed, to enjoy +the satisfaction of seeing us overtaken and massacred. As the mate +altered our course to steer for the channel, we found the wind on our +starboard bow; should it shift a point or two more, it would come right +ahead, and even the canoes, though they sail closer to the wind than any +ordinary craft, would be unable to get through it; but they were already +within one hundred fathoms of us, and coming on rapidly. I counted +seven of them. One took the lead of the rest, and was coming up hand +over hand with us. We could see the warriors on the raised deck dancing +and leaping and flourishing their clubs, and hear them shouting and +shrieking like their companions on shore. I looked anxiously at the +channel. Soper was pulling bow oar. The mate told Horner to take it, +and directed Soper to keep a look-out for reefs ahead. The leading +canoe was now within fifty fathoms astern. + +"Give them a shot, doctor," said the mate; "but fire over their heads. +It will show them that we are armed, but I don't want to kill any one." + +"Ay, ay!" answered the doctor; and shouting to the savages to make them +understand what he was about to do, he fired. The first shot seemed to +have no effect. Still the big canoe came on. We were as far from the +passage as we were from them. Our men were straining every nerve, and +could make the boat go no faster. The doctor waited till I had reloaded +the first musket. He again fired, still aiming high, as the mate told +him to do. The next instant down came the yard and sail of the canoe. +The bullet must have cut the slings right in two. + +"It was a chance shot, and a fortunate one," said the doctor, as he saw +its effect. The canoe still glided on, but the next, unable to alter +her course, ran right into her, and the others, also coming up, were +thrown into confusion. Our men cheered as they saw what had happened. +The channel was reached before our pursuers could get clear of each +other. Then on they came again. Before, however, they had come far, +the wind shifted a point and then blew right ahead. First one lowered +her sail, and then another and another, while we pulled through the +channel, Soper keeping a bright look-out for sunken rocks. I caught +sight of the savages on shore rushing along the beach, but we had passed +the point before they had gained it, and there they stood shrieking, +shouting, and gesticulating at us. We pulled away in the wind's eye, +knowing that we should thus have a better chance of keeping ahead of our +pursuers. They had not yet, however, given up the chase. We saw them +at length coming through the channel urged on by their paddles. They +could thus move but slowly. Once outside, however, they might again +hoist their sails, and, by standing first on one tack and then on the +other, come up with us. + +As we got away from the island we found the wind blowing steadily from +the southward, while in shore it still came from the westward. This +gave us a great advantage. + +"We'll hoist the sail, lads," said Mr Griffiths, "and see if a +whale-boat can beat a double canoe." + +The men, who were streaming from every pore, gladly obeyed. The mast +was set up in an instant, the sail hoisted, and "_Young Hopeful_," as +the doctor called our boat, glided rapidly over the dancing waters. + +We had made good way before we saw the sails of the canoes once more +hoisted, standing, as far as we could make out, for the north-west. + +Now we had got the wind, it would take them a long time to come up with +us. The wind was too fresh to allow the oars to be of any use. We +trusted, however, to the good providence of God to carry us clear. All +that we would do was to sit quiet and hope that the wind would continue +steady. We could see the canoes in the north-east hull down, and we +hoped that we might keep ahead till night should hide us from their +sight. The mate said he was sure that they would not then attempt to +follow us farther. + +"But, I say, is any one hungry?" exclaimed Horner. "We've had no +breakfast, you'll remember." + +We had all been too excited to think of eating, but the mention of food +excited our appetites, and the mate told the doctor to serve out +provisions. + +The occupation of eating assisted to pass the time, and to raise our +spirits. The mate told us that he and the doctor had determined to +steer for the Pellew Islands, the inhabitants of which, though +uncivilised, were supposed to be of a mild disposition, and likely to +treat us kindly. Even had we intended to steer for Guam, the canoes in +that direction would have prevented us doing so. + +From the Pellew Islands we should have a long voyage round to Manilla. +When once there we should be sure of finding European vessels on board +of which we should be able to obtain a passage to some English +settlement. Every now and then, while we were eating, I took a look at +the canoes, but the sight of them didn't spoil my appetite, nor that of +the rest of us, as far as I could judge. + +"They are getting no nearer," I observed. + +"Wait till they come about," said Horner; "they'll then be up with us +fast enough, and this may be the last meal we shall ever eat." + +"Haul in the slack of that, you young croaker!" cried the mate, in an +angry tone. "You would like to make the others as much afraid as you +are yourself." + +Horner could not say he was not afraid, for he looked it. The breeze +freshened, and the boat made good way in spite of being heavily laden, +standing up well to all the sail we could set. For another hour or more +we could see the canoes. + +At last the mate, standing up, took a look at them and then cried-- + +"Hurrah! They have gone about, and are steering for the land." + +Just as the sun set they disappeared, and we had no longer any fear of +being followed. The mate now set a regular watch;--the rest of us lay +down as we best could along the thwarts, or at the bottom of the boat, +with some of Jack's matting for pillows. We were rather crowded, to be +sure, but we were thankful to have escaped our enemies, and hoped, in +spite of its length, that we should have a prosperous voyage. + +Day after day we sailed on. Mr Griffiths maintained good discipline +among us. Everything was done with as much regularity as if we were +aboard ship. He got us to spin yarns and sing songs. I thus heard more +of Jack's adventures than I ever since have been able to get out of him. +He corroborated all that Miles Soper had told me, and added much more. +Sam Coal told us how he had once been a slave in the Southern States of +America, and made his escape, and being followed, was nearly caught, and +how a kind Quaker sheltered him, at the risk of his own life, and got +him away on board a ship, where he found that he had not changed much +for the better in some respects; but then, as he said-- + +"Dis nigger feel dat he was a free man, and dat make up for all de +rest." + +The wind was fair and the sea calm. Our chief fear was that we might +run short of water, so Mr Griffiths thought it wise to put us upon an +allowance at once. Several times flying-fish fell aboard, which we +didn't despise, although we had to eat them raw, or rather dried in the +sun. If we had had fuel we might have managed to make a fire and cook +them, but in our hurry to get off we had come away without any spare +wood. + +"Never mind, lads," said the mate; "we'll get some at the Pellew +Islands, and after that we'll have a hot meal every other day at least." + +Brown was always on the look-out with his harpoon, ready to strike any +large fish which might come near us, but they seemed to know what we +were about, and kept at a respectful distance. Now and then a shark +would come up and have a look at us, and the men would call him all +manner of names. One day, as we were running along at the rate of about +five knots an hour, we saw a black fin coming up astern; it sheered off +under the counter and then floated up abreast of us, just coming near +enough to show us its wicked eye. It kept too far off, however, for +Brown to strike it, or it might have paid dearly for its curiosity. At +last, cocking its eye, it gave a turn of its tail, and off it went like +a shot, followed by our roars of laughter. + +"Tend on it, Jack Shark find dat we not going to make dinner for him dis +day!" cried Sam Coal, "so he tink better go look out sumber else." + +Such were the trifling incidents which afforded us amusement and +assisted to keep up our spirits. It was trying work, thus to sit all +day and day after day in an open boat with nothing to do, and unable to +move about freely. We were very thankful, however, to be favoured by +such fine weather. + +At last Mr Griffiths stood up in the stern-sheets, and, after shading +his eyes for some time--for the sun had already passed the zenith, said +quietly, "Lads, we have made a good landfall. I'm much mistaken if we +have not the Pellew Islands in sight. I make out a dozen or more blue +hillocks rising above the horizon. Sit quiet, however, for you won't +see them just yet. We shall have to heave-to to-night outside the reef +which surrounds them, but I hope we shall get ashore in the morning." + +This news cheered us up, for we were beginning to get somewhat downcast, +and some of us thought that we must have passed the islands altogether, +and might make no other land till we reached the Philippines. We ran on +till dark, by which time we could make out one large island and a number +of smaller ones, some to the northward and some to the southward, with a +reef marked by a line of white foam surrounding them. As it would be +dangerous to attempt looking for a passage through the reef except in +daylight, we hove-to, and the watch below lay down--or "turned in," as +we used to call it--rejoicing in the hope of setting our feet on dry +ground the next morning, and getting a plentiful supply of provisions. +I had to keep the middle watch with Jim. I took good care not to let my +eyes close, for we were at no great distance from the reef, and I knew +the danger of being drifted on it. Now I looked to windward to make +sure that no vessel was approaching to run us down, now at the reef to +find out whether we were drifting nearer it than was safe. After a long +silence Jim spoke to me. + +"There's something on my mind, Peter," he said. "I'm afraid that now +you have found your brother Jack you'll not be caring for me as you used +to do, for the whole of the last day you have not opened your lips to +me, while you have been talking away to him." + +"Don't let such an idea rest on your mind, Jim," I answered. "I very +naturally talked to Jack, for of course I wanted to hear everything he +had been about since he first went to sea, and it's only lately I have +been able to get him to say much. I don't think that anything will make +me forget your affection for me. Though Jack is my brother, you've been +more than a brother, and as brothers we shall remain till the end of +life." + +In this way I did my best to satisfy Jim's mind. It hadn't before +occurred to me that there was any spice of jealousy in him, and I +determined in future to do my best to prevent him having any such +feeling. We talked on just as we used to do after that. + +The wind was light, and except a slight swell coming from the eastward, +the sea was perfectly smooth. If it hadn't been for the talking I +should have found it a hard matter to keep my eyes open. After I lay +down, I had been for some time asleep, as I fancied, when I heard the +mate cry-- + +"Out oars, lads! Pull for your lives!" + +I jumped up in a moment. + +The strong current into which the boat had got was carrying her along at +the rate of five knots an hour towards the reef, over which the sea was +breaking and rising up in a wall of white foam. + +There was now not a breath of wind, but a much greater swell was coming +in than before. + +We all bent to our oars, and had good reason to be thankful that we had +got them to help us, for a sailing vessel would very quickly have been +dashed to pieces on the reef, and every soul aboard lost. + +The mate headed the boat off from the shore in a diagonal course, so +that we hoped soon to get out of the current. Still, notwithstanding +all our efforts, we appeared to be drawing nearer and nearer the reef as +the current swept us along, and I began to think that, notwithstanding +all we had gone through, we were doomed to be lost at last. The mate, +however, cheered us up. + +Daylight soon broke. As the sun rose the wind increased, and presently, +a fresh breeze springing up, he hauled aft the sheet, and with the help +of the oars the boat moved quickly along till we got out of the current. + +We were now able to venture close enough to the reef to look out for a +safe opening. At last we found one a little to the southward of the +largest island, and hauling up, we steered for it. + +The sea broke on either side of the passage, which was large enough for +a good-sized vessel to venture through. We stood on, keeping a look-out +for dangers ahead. + +We were soon inside, where the water was perfectly smooth. Seeing a +snug little harbour, we ran for it. As we approached, we saw a number +of natives coming down, darkish-skinned fellows, though not so black as +those of the Caroline Islands all of them without a stitch of clothing +on except a loin cloth; but they were pleasant-looking, and we saw no +weapons among them. + +The mate, however, kept the muskets concealed in the stern-sheets, ready +for use in case they were only acting treacherously, and should suddenly +rush down upon us with clubs and spears. Still, as we got nearer, and +waved our hands, they showed no inclination to attack us, and made every +sign to let us understand that they wished to be friends. + +We therefore lowered the sail, and pulled the boat gently towards the +beach. On this they came down, and when we jumped out, helped us to +haul her up. There was one man who seemed to be the chief. He came up +and shook hands with Mr Griffiths, the doctor, and me, and then ordered +six of his people to stay by the boat, as we supposed to guard her. He +made no objection when the mate and the doctor went back to get the +muskets, but seemed to think it very natural that they should wish to be +armed amongst so many strangers. + +The other people were in the meantime making friends with the rest of +our party. The chief now invited us up to his house. It was built of +trunks of small trees and bamboo canes, and thatched with palm-leaves, +much in the same style as the huts of other South Sea islanders, though +of a fair size. It was also very clean, and the floors were covered +with mats. He begged us to sit down near him, while he squatted on a +mat at one end of the room. + +As we could only talk by signs we didn't say much. Presently a number +of girls appeared, bringing clay dishes, with fish and fowl and +vegetables. As soon as they were placed on the ground, he told us to +fall to, and a very good meal we enjoyed, after the uncooked food we had +lived on so long. + +The mate made signs that we had come from the eastward, and were bound +west for the Philippines, of which he seemed to have heard. + +After dinner he took us down to the shore, and showed us some fine large +canoes, with the stems and sterns well carved. They were used for going +about between the islands, but I don't think they could have done much +in a heavy sea. Some were large enough to hold thirty or forty men. He +then had a look at our boat, and seemed to wonder that we had come so +far in her. + +The mate explained to him that, though she was shorter, she had much +higher sides, and was much lighter built than his canoes. From the way +he behaved we had no doubts as to his friendly intentions, or any +anxiety about the men who were attended to by other natives. + +In the evening he gave us another feast, and then took us to a clean new +hut, which by his signs we understood we were to occupy. From the way +he behaved we agreed that, though he looked liked a native savage, he +was as civilised a gentleman as we could wish to meet. The rest of our +party were billeted in huts close to us, and from the sounds of laughter +which came from them we guessed that they and their hosts were mightily +amused with each other. The chief, after making signs to us to lie down +and go to sleep, took his leave, and we were left alone. + +"I hope our fellows will behave well, and not get into any quarrel with +the natives," observed the doctor. + +"I don't think there's any chance of that, though it would be a serious +matter if they did," answered Mr Griffiths. + +"If you'll give me leave, sir, I'll go and speak to them," I said. "I'm +sure Jim and my brother Jack will behave properly, and so I should think +would Brown." + +"It doesn't do always to trust men," said the mate. "Just tell them to +be careful. I would rather that we had been all together, but it won't +do to show that we're suspicious of the natives." + +I accordingly got up, and, directed by the sounds I heard, went to the +other huts. I found Jack and Jim in one of them, with a number of +natives sitting round them, examining their dresses and trying to +imitate their way of speaking. + +I advised them to let their friends know that they were sleepy, and +wanted to lie down. As soon as they did this, the natives got up in the +politest way possible, and spread mats for them at one side of the room. +In the next hut I found Miles Soper and Sam Coal. I said to them what +I had said before to Jack and Jim, and I then went on to another hut, +the natives in each behaving in precisely the same manner. + +When I told the mate, he was perfectly satisfied, and said that we must +trust the natives. We were not mistaken. Early the next morning a +plentiful meal was brought us, and during our stay on the island we were +treated with the greatest kindness by these mild and courteous people. +The doctor said that they were Malays, though very unlike many of their +brethren scattered about the Indian seas. + +Having recovered completely from the effects of being cramped up so long +in the boat, and the unwholesome food we had lived on, we were anxious +to prosecute our voyage. + +The chief looked very sorrowful when the mate told him we must be going, +and that we should be thankful to him for provisions and water for the +voyage. When he told his people, they brought us down fowl and +vegetables enough to fill the boat. We showed them our hen-coop, in +which we could keep a number of the fowl alive, but that we wanted food +for them. Off they ran, and quickly came back with a good supply. + +By this time we could understand each other wonderfully well, helping +out what we said by signs. The chief gave us all a grand feast the last +night of our stay, and the next morning, having shaken hands with all +round, we went aboard, and once more put to sea. The natives at the +same time came off in their canoes, and accompanied us some way outside +the reef; then, with shouts and waving of hands, they wished us +good-bye. + +We had a long passage before us, but we were in good health and spirits, +and we hoped to perform it in safety. We had to keep a sharp look-out +at night, for, as the mate told us, there were some small islands +between the Pellew and the Philippines, and that, he not being certain +of their exact position, we might run upon them. + +For a whole week we had fine weather, though, as the wind was light, we +didn't make much way. At the end of that time clouds began to gather in +the horizon, and soon covered the whole sky, while the wind shifted to +the north-west, and in a short time was blowing a heavy gale. The sea +got up, and the water every now and then, notwithstanding our high +sides, broke aboard, and we had to take to baling. Night came on, and +matters grew worse. + +We all had confidence in Mr Griffiths's skill; and as he had, by his +good seamanship, preserved our lives before, we hoped that we should +again escape. At length he determined to try his former plan, and, +heaving the boat to, we cast out a raft, formed by the oars, and rode to +it. The gale, however, increased, and seemed likely to turn into a +regular typhoon. + +There was no sleep for any of us that night; all hands had to keep +baling, while a heavier sea than we had yet encountered broke aboard and +carried away a large portion of our provisions, besides drowning all the +fowl in the hen-coop. Most of us, I suspect, began to think that we +should never see another sunrise. It seemed a wonder, indeed, that the +boat escaped being knocked to pieces. Had it continued long, we must +have gone down. Towards morning, however, the wind moderated, and +before noon we were able to haul the raft aboard and once more make +sail. But there we were on the wide ocean, with but scanty provisions +and a sorely battered boat. + +The weather still looked unsettled, and we feared that we should have +another bad night of it. The greater part of the day had gone by, when +Brown, who was at the helm while the mate was taking some rest, suddenly +exclaimed-- + +"A sail! A sail! She's standing this way." + +We all looked out to the northward, and there made out a large vessel +steering directly for us. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +ON BOARD OUR OLD SHIP--HER VOYAGE THROUGH EASTERN SEAS. + +The doctor awoke Mr Griffiths to tell him the good news. He at once +hove the boat to. We sat eagerly watching the stranger. She could not +possibly at present see us, and might alter her course before she came +near enough to do so. Her topsails rose above the horizon, then in a +short time her courses were seen, and then her hull itself as she came +on swiftly before the breeze. I saw Mr Griffiths several times rub his +eyes, then he stood up and looked fixedly at her. + +"Brown," he said, "did you ever see that ship before?" + +"Well, I was thinking that the same sail-maker cut her topsails that cut +the _Intrepid's_; but there's no wonder in that," answered Brown. + +"What do you say to that white patch in the head of her foresail?" asked +the mate. "It looks to me like one we put in when we were last at the +Sandwich Islands. To be sure it's where the sail is likely to get worn, +and another vessel may have had one put in like it, still, the +_Intrepid's_ foresail had just such a patch as that." + +"What! Do you mean to say that she's the _Intrepid_?" exclaimed the +doctor, interrupting him. + +"I mean to say that she's very like her, if she's not her," answered the +mate. + +We all of us now looked with even greater eagerness than before at the +approaching vessel. + +"Let draw the foresail," cried the mate. + +We stood on so that we might be in the best possible position for +running alongside the whaler, for such she was, as soon as she hove-to. + +"We're seen!--we're seen!" shouted several of our crew. + +We waved our hats, and shouted. + +"She is the _Intrepid_!" cried Mr Griffiths. + +Presently she came to the wind, and we, lowering our sail and getting +out our oars, were soon alongside her. There stood Captain Hawkins-- +there the second mate, with many other faces we knew. I never saw +people look so astonished as we sprang up the side, while our boat was +hooked on and hoisted on board. + +"Why, Griffiths!--Cockle! Where have you come from?" exclaimed Captain +Hawkins. "I had given you up for lost long ago." + +They gave a brief account of our adventures, but there was not much time +for talking, for we had not been aboard five minutes before all hands +were employed in shortening sail, and the gale came down upon us with +even greater strength than on the previous night. Had we been exposed +to it in our open boat there would have been little chance of our +escape. We had thus much reason to be thankful to Heaven that we had +got aboard in time. + +There being plenty of sea room, the _Intrepid_ was hove-to. Even as it +was, the sea broke aboard and carried away one of her boats and did +other damage. She had been nearly wrecked on the reef during the gale +when we were on the island; and Captain Hawkins, believing that we had +been lost, stood for Guam, where he had been detained for want of proper +workmen and fresh hands. Had it not been for this she would long before +have been on her homeward voyage. + +For some time I felt very strange on board, often when half asleep +fancying myself still in the boat, and the air below seemed close and +oppressive. + +The mate declared that he had caught cold from sleeping in a bed after +not having been in one for so many months. + +The doctor suggested that his bed might have been damp. However, the +gale being over, the sun came out brightly, and he soon got rid of his +chill. + +The captain took no more notice of me than he did before, and did not +even speak to Jack. His idea was to keep us at a proper distance, I +suppose. He had heard, I have no doubt, of our adventures from Dr +Cockle or the mate. It mattered very little to us, though I was afraid +that he might take it into his head to turn Jack out of the ship at some +place or other, on the plea that he did not belong to her. + +I advised my brother, therefore, to keep out of his sight as much as +possible, especially when in harbour. Jim and I agreed that if he was +sent ashore we would go also, wherever it might be. + +"So will I," said Miles Soper, who had heard us talking about the +matter. + +"And I no stop eider, and den he lose four good hands. He no like dat," +said Sam Coal. + +Brown, hearing from Jim of my apprehensions, said he would go likewise +if the captain attempted to play any tricks of that sort. + +Three days after the gale we hove-to off three small islands surrounded +by a reef. Brown, Miles Soper, two Africans and the New Zealander, the +second mate and I, were sent on shore to catch turtle. We hauled the +boat up and waited till the evening, at which time the creatures land to +lay their eggs. + +Darkness approached, and we concealed ourselves behind some rocks, and +watched for their coming. Presently one landed, and crawled slowly up +the beach. Sam declared that she was as big as the boat. She was +certainly an enormous creature. Then another and another came ashore, +and commenced scraping away in the sand to make holes for their eggs. +We waited till some thirty or forty had come ashore. + +"Now is your time," cried the mate; and rushing out, grasping the +handspikes with which we were armed, we got between them and the sea, +and turned them over on their backs, where they lay kicking their legs, +unable to move. We had brought ropes to assist us in dragging them down +to the water and hauling them on board. We had turned a dozen or more, +when I said to Jim. + +"We mustn't let that big one go we first saw land." + +She and the other turtles still on their feet, had taken the alarm, and +were scuttling down the beach. We made her out and attempted to turn +her, but that was more than we could do. + +"She'll be off," cried Jim. + +We hove the bight of a rope over her head. + +"Hold on, Peter!" he cried; and he and I attempted to haul the turtle +back, all the time shouting for help, for she was getting closer and +closer to the water. At last in she got, dragging us after her. We +could not stop her before, and there was very little chance of our doing +so now. + +"Let her go, Jim," I cried out. + +"We shall lose the rope," he answered, still holding on. + +We were already up to our middles in the water. + +"It's of no use. Let go! Let go!" I cried out, "or we shall be +dragged away to sea!" + +Supposing that he would do as I told him, I let go at the same moment, +when what was my dismay to see Jim dragged away out of his depth. + +I swam off to him, still shouting loudly. Presently Soper and Sam Coal +came up, and seeing what was happening, dashed into the water. Our +united strength, however, could not stop the turtle, and Sam, who had a +sharp knife in his pocket, drawing it, cut the rope, and we got Jim back +to shore. + +The mate rated Jim for losing the rope, though Brown and the rest +declared that he had behaved very pluckily, and that if help had come in +time we should have saved the turtle. As it was we had turned more than +we could carry off. + +Having been ordered not to attempt to regain the ship during the night, +we turned the boat up and slept under it, while a couple of hands +remained outside to watch the turtles and see that they did not manage +to get on their feet again and escape. + +In the morning we loaded the boat, and pulled back with our prizes. + +The mate said nothing about the lost rope, as he knew the notion Brown +and the rest had formed of Jim's courage. + +We sighted after this several small islands, and then made the coast of +New Guinea. + +The captain, seeing a good place for landing, sent a boat ashore with +the doctor and most of us who had been engaged in catching turtle. + +It seemed a beautiful country, with magnificent trees, and birds flying +about in numbers among them. + +"This is a perfect paradise," said the doctor, as we approached the +beach. + +Just then a number of natives came rushing out from the forest, +brandishing clubs and spears. They were the ugliest set of people I +ever saw, their bodies nearly naked and their heads covered with hair +frizzled out like huge mops. They had also bows at their backs, but +they did not point their arrows at us. + +The doctor and mate agreed that it would be folly to land amongst them, +so we lay on our oars while the mate held up bottles and bits of iron +hoops, beads and knives, and a few old clothes, to show them that we +wished to trade. After a considerable time they seemed to understand +what we wanted, and some of them going away returned with numbers of +stuffed birds of a delicate yellow with long tails. We made signs that +only those who wanted to trade must come near us. At last several came +wading into the water bringing their birds. They set a high price on +them, and we only bought a dozen or so. As the rest of the people +behaved in as threatening a manner as before, as soon as the trading was +over we pulled off, not wishing to risk an encounter with them. + +The doctor said that the birds were birds of paradise, and that they +were such as the ladies of England wore in their hats. The curious +thing was that none of the birds had feet. + +"Of course not," said the second mate, when I pointed this out to him; +"they say that the birds come down from the skies and live in the air, +and as they never perch, they don't want feet. That's why they're +called birds of paradise." + +The doctor laughed. "That's a very old notion," he remarked, "but it's +a wrong one notwithstanding, and has long since been exploded. They +have legs and claws like other birds, though the natives cut them off +and dry the birds as these have been over a hot fire. It's the only way +they have of preserving them." + +The captain said we were very right not to land, as the natives might +have been tempted to cut us off for the sake of possessing themselves of +the articles in our boat. + +As we sailed along the coast the country seemed to be thickly populated, +and the boat was frequently sent to try and land, but we always met with +the same inhospitable reception. The moment we drew near the shore the +black-skinned natives would rush down, apparently to prevent our +landing. + +This was a great disappointment, for the captain was anxious to obtain +fresh provisions, as several of the men, from having lived a long time +on salt meat, were suffering from scurvy. Curiously enough, we, who had +been in the boat, were free from it. At one place, however, we traded +with the natives, and bought several more of the stuffed paradise birds, +and a number of live lories, which we kept in cages, and beautiful +little creatures they were. Our hope was to carry them safely home, +but, either from improper food or change of climate, they all shortly +died. + +Rounding New Guinea, and passing the island of Mysole, we came to a +small island called Gely, at the south-east end of Gillolo, lying +exactly under the equator. It contains a magnificent and secure +harbour, in which we brought up. There being an abundance of good +water, and trees from which spars can be cut, it is an excellent place +for repairing damages. The second mate said that those suffering from +scurvy would, now have an opportunity of being cured. + +The plan he proposed was to bury them up to their necks in the sand, and +to leave them there for some hours. The doctor was unwilling to try the +experiment, though he did not deny that it might be effectual. Two of +our men suffering from the complaint were, however, perfectly willing to +submit to the remedy, and, our boats having to go on shore to fill the +water-casks, we carried them with us. Holes were dug, and the poor +fellows, being stripped naked, were covered up side by side in the warm +sand, leaving only their heads above the surface, so that they could not +possibly extricate themselves. The captain, I should have said, +approved of the plan, having before seen it tried with success; but the +doctor, declaring that he would have nothing to do with the matter, went +with Jack and another man in an opposite direction. Horner and I had +charge of the watering party. The stream from which we filled our casks +was at some distance from the place where the men were buried. I +undertook to see to the casks being filled if Horner would remain by the +men. We had just finished our work and were rolling the casks down to +the boat when Horner came rushing up, with his eyes staring and his hair +almost on end. + +"What's the matter? What has happened?" I asked, thinking he had gone +out of his mind. + +"I can't bear it!" he exclaimed. "It's too dreadful. I couldn't help +it." + +"What is dreadful? What could you not help?" I inquired. + +"The brutes of crocodiles. Poor fellows," he stammered out. "There +won't be a bit of them left presently!" and he pointed to where we had +buried our poor shipmates, and where he ought to have been watching. + +The men and I set off running to the spot. A dreadful sight met our +eyes. The body of one man lay half eaten on the sand. A huge crocodile +was dragging off the other. He had dragged it under the water before we +could reach the spot. We could do nothing but shout at the crocodiles. +Horner confessed that he had gone to a distance for a short time, during +which the brutes had landed and killed the two men. We returned very +sad to the boat. As for Horner, it was a long time before he could get +over the horror he felt for his neglect of duty. Several canoes filled +with natives came into the harbour from Gillolo, bringing potatoes and +other vegetables. One of them brought a number of clam-shells of +various sizes. One which we hoisted on board weighed four +hundred-weight, and we afterwards saw on shore one which must have +weighed a quarter of a ton. The natives use them as tubs; I saw a woman +bathing a child in one. The meat of the creature when fried is very +palatable. I also obtained some beautiful specimens of coral, which I +wanted to carry home to Mary and my Shetland relations. I bought also +two gallons of nutmegs for an old file, and a large number of shells for +some old clothes. The harbour swarmed with sharks, which prevented us +from bathing. We here cut some splendid spars for the use of the ship. +I may mention that the inner harbour, from its perfect security, has +obtained the name of "Abraham's Bosom." Were it not for the sharks and +crocodiles the place would be perfect. + +All the crew having recovered from scurvy, and the ship being refitted, +we once more put to sea. The weather was delightful, and we sailed on +over the calm ocean with a light breeze. + +We had to keep a constant look-out for rocks and reefs. + +I can assert, though it is often denied, that when passing under the lee +of the Spice Islands, the scent which came off from the shore was +perfectly delicious. Whether this arises from the flowers of the cloves +and nutmegs, or from the nature of the soil, I cannot determine. + +Though we generally had a light breeze, we were sometimes completely +becalmed, on which occasions, when near shore, we ran the risk of being +driven on the rocks by the currents, and more than once we had all the +boats towing ahead to keep her off them till the breeze should spring +up. We continued our course, passing to the eastward of Ceram and +Banda, and steering for Timor, to the north-west of Australia. We had +other dangers besides calms and currents. We had just left the Serwatty +Islands astern when the wind dropped, and we lay becalmed. + +Though there was little chance of catching whales, we always kept a +look-out for them from the masthead, as we could stow one or two more +away. We were most of us on deck whistling for a breeze, when the +look-out aloft shouted that he saw three craft stealing up from behind +the island to the eastward. The second mate went up to have a look at +them through his glass, and when he returned on deck he reported that +they were three large proas, pulling, he should say, twenty oars or +more, and full of men, and that he had no doubt they were pirates. +Those seas, we knew, were infested with such gentry--generally Malays, +the most bloodthirsty and cruel of their race. Many a merchant vessel +has been captured by them and sunk, all hands being killed. + +"Whatever they are, we must be prepared for them!" cried Captain +Hawkins. "I'll trust to you, lads, to fight to the last; and I tell you +that if they once get alongside us we shall find it a difficult job to +keep them off. We will have the arms on deck, Mr Griffiths, for if we +don't get a breeze, as they pull fast, they'll soon be up to us." + +All the muskets were at once brought up and arranged in order; our two +guns were loaded, and the armourer and carpenter set to work to sharpen +the blubber-spades, harpoons, and spears. We had thus no lack of +weapons; our high bulwarks also gave us an advantage; but the pirates, +we knew, would probably out-number us by ten to one. + +However, we did not lose heart; Captain Hawkins looked cool and +determined, and the mates imitated his example. I didn't think about +myself, but the fear came over me that, after all, Jack might be killed, +and that I should not have the happiness of taking him home. + +As the pirates approached, we made all necessary preparations for +defending ourselves. Muskets and ammunition were served out to the men +most accustomed to firearms; the others had the blubber-spades and +spears put into their hands. The two mates took charge of the guns, +which were loaded to their muzzles, and matches were got ready for +firing them. The doctor provided himself with a couple of muskets and a +sword. The captain told him he must not run the risk of being wounded, +as he might be required to bind up the hurts of the rest of us. He +laughed, and said that the first thing to be done was to drive back our +enemies should they attempt to board the ship. + +The pirates came closer and closer. The captain looked anxiously round +the horizon, for though, like a brave man, he was prepared to defend his +ship to the last, he had no wish for a fight. As I looked over the +sides I saw some cats-paws playing along the surface of the water. The +pirates by this time were not a quarter of a mile astern. Presently the +lighter canvas, which had hung down against the masts, bulged out, and +then the topsails filled. + +"All hands trim sails!" shouted the captain. + +The breeze came from the eastward; the yards were squared, and the +_Intrepid_ began to move through the water. She glided on but slowly; +the pirates were still gaining on us. The wind, however, freshened. + +As we watched our pursuers, first one raised a mast and a long taper +yard, then another, and they were soon under all sail standing after us. +The breeze increased; we gave a cheer, hoping soon to get well ahead of +them. Still on they came, and it seemed very doubtful whether we should +succeed. I believe that some of the crew would rather have had a fight +than have escaped without it. + +The pirates, by keeping their oars moving, still gained on us. To look +at the captain, one might have supposed that it was a matter of +indifference to him whether they came alongside or not, but our cargo +was too valuable to risk the chance of being lost. We had soon +studding-sails rigged below and aloft. Again the wind dropped, and the +pirates were now almost within musket shot. + +"We will slew round one of our guns, and run it through the after port, +Griffiths," said the captain. "A shot or two will teach the rascals +what to expect should they come up to us." + +Just, however, as we had got the gun run out the wind again freshened. +The _Intrepid_, deep in the water though she was, showed that she had +not lost her power of sailing. Though the pirates were straining every +nerve, we once more drew ahead of them. The more the breeze increased +the faster we left them astern, and by the time the sun had set we had +got fully four miles ahead, but still by going aloft we could see them +following, evidently hoping that we should be again becalmed, and that +they might get up with us. During the night we continued our course for +Timor. At the usual hour the watch below turned in, though the captain +remained on deck, and a sharp look-out was kept astern. However, as +long as the breeze continued we had no fear of being overtaken. + +It was my morning watch. As soon as it was daylight I went aloft, and +saw the proas the same distance off that they had been at nightfall. I +told Mr Griffiths when I came below. + +"The rascals still expect to catch us," he said, "but we must hope that +they'll be disappointed. However, we're prepared for them." + +For some hours the breeze continued steady. Soon after noon it again +fell, and our pursuers crept closer to us. It was somewhat exciting, +and kept us all alive, though it did not spoil our appetites. The whole +of the day they were in sight, but when the wind freshened up again in +the evening we once more distanced them. The night passed as the former +had done. We could not tell when we went below what moment we might be +roused up to fight for our lives. I for one did not sleep the worse for +that. + +The breeze was pretty steady during the middle watch, and I was not on +deck again till it was broad daylight. The second mate, who had been +aloft, reported that the pirates were still in sight, but farther off +than they were the day before, and the breeze now freshening, their +hulls sank beneath the horizon, and we fully expected to see no more of +them. We sighted Timor about three weeks after leaving Gely, and in the +evening brought up in a small bay, with a town on its shore, called +Cushbab. Our object was to obtain vegetables and buffalo meat. + +The natives are Malays, and talk Portuguese. Nearly all those we met on +shore carried creeses, or long, sharp knives, in their belt, which they +use on the slightest provocation. Every boy we saw had a cock under his +arm. The people seemed to spend all their time in cock-fighting. They +are very fond of the birds, which are of enormous size; considerably +larger than any English cocks. Being unable to obtain any buffaloes +here, we got under way, and anchored in another bay some way to the +west, where we obtained twelve animals. + +At first they were very wild when we got them on board, but in a few +hours became tame, and would eat out of our hands. They were destined, +however, for the butcher's knife. Some of the meat we ate fresh, but +the larger quantity was salted down for sea stores. The unsalted meat +kept for a very short time, and we had to throw a large piece overboard. +The instant it reached the water up came two tiger sharks, which fought +for it, seizing each other in the most ferocious manner possible, and +struggling together, although there was enough for both of them. + +After leaving Timor we steered along the south-east coast of Java, and +then shaped a course across the Indian Ocean for the Cape of Good Hope. +The wind was fair, the sea smooth, and I never remember enjoying a +longer period of fine weather. In consequence of the light winds our +passage was lengthened more than we had expected, and we were running +short of provisions of all sorts. There were still two casks of bread +left, each containing about four hundred-weight. + +"Never mind," observed the second mate, "we shall have enough to take us +to the Cape." + +At length the first was finished, and we went below to get up the +second. It was marked bread clearly enough, but when the carpenter +knocked in the head, what was our dismay to find it full of new sails, +it having been wrongly branded! The captain at once ordered a search to +be made in the store-room for other provisions. The buffalo meat we had +salted had long been exhausted, part of it having turned bad; and +besides one cask of pork, which proved to be almost rancid, a couple of +pounds of flour with a few other trifling articles, not a particle of +food remained in the ship. Starvation stared us in the face. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +THE VOYAGE HOME, AND HOW IT ENDED. + +On hearing of the alarming scarcity of food on board, the captain called +the crew aft. + +"Lads," he said, "I don't want to hide anything from you. Should the +wind shift to the westward, it may be a month or more before we reach +the Cape, so if you wish to save your lives, you must at once be put on +a short allowance of food and water. A quarter of a pint of water, two +ounces of pork, and half an ounce of flour is all I can allow for each +man, and the officers and I will share alike with you." + +Not a word was said in reply, and the men went forward with gloomy +looks. To make the flour go farther we mixed whale oil with it, and, +though nauseous in the extreme, it served to keep body and soul +together. + +At first the crew bore it pretty well, but they soon took to grumbling, +saying that it was owing to the captain's want of forethought in not +laying in more provisions that we were reduced to this state. + +Hitherto the wind had been fair, but any day it might change, and then, +they asked, what would become of us? Most of them would have broken +into open mutiny had not they known that the mates and doctor, Jack and +I, Jim, and probably Brown and Soper, would have sided with the captain, +though we felt that they were not altogether wrong in their accusation. + +I heard the doctor tell Mr Griffiths that he was afraid the scurvy +would again appear if we were kept long on our present food. Day after +day we glided on across the smooth ocean with a cloudless sky, our food +and water gradually decreasing. + +We now often looked at each other, wondering what would be the end. At +last, one night, when it was my middle watch on deck, Jim came aft to +me. + +"I'm afraid the men won't stand it any longer," he said. "They vow that +if the captain don't serve out more food and water they'll take it. I +know that it will be death to all of us if they do, or I would not tell +on them. You let Mr Griffiths know; maybe he'll bring them to a right +mind. They don't care for Jack or me, and Brown, Soper, and Sam seemed +inclined to side with the rest. Jack says whatever you do he'll do." + +"Thank you, Jim," I answered. "You try to show them what folly they'll +commit if they attempt to do as they propose. They won't succeed, for +the captain is a determined man, and there'll be bloodshed if they keep +to their purpose." + +Jim went forward, and I took a turn on deck to consider what was best to +be done. It was the second mate's watch, and it had only just struck +two bells. I did not wish to say anything to him. I waited for a +little, and then asked the second mate to let me go below for a minute, +for I could not quit the deck without his leave. + +"You may go and turn in if you like," he said. "There's no chance of +your being wanted on a night like this." + +"Thank you, sir," I answered, and at once ran down to Mr Griffiths's +cabin. + +He awoke when I touched his shoulder, and I told him in a low voice what +I had heard. + +"You have acted sensibly, Peter," he answered. "I'll be on deck in a +moment. When the men see that we are prepared for them they'll change +their minds." + +I again went on deck, and he soon appeared, with a brace of pistols in +his belt, followed by the captain and the doctor, with muskets in their +hands. + +At that moment up sprang from the fore-hatchway the greater part of the +crew, evidently intending to make their way to the after store-room, +where the provisions and water were kept. + +"What are you about to do, lads?" shouted the captain. "Go below, every +one of you, except the watch on deck, and don't attempt to try this +trick again." + +His tall figure holding a musket ready to fire cowed them in an instant, +and they obeyed without uttering a word. The captain said that he +should remain on deck, and told Mr Griffiths and the doctor that he +would call them if they were wanted. + +Some time afterwards, going forward, I found Jim, who told me that they +had all turned in. + +The night passed away without any disturbance. As soon as it was +daylight the captain ordered me to go aloft and take a look round. I +obeyed, though I felt so weak that I could scarcely climb the rigging. +I glanced round the horizon, but no vessel could I see. A mist still +hung over the water. + +I was just about to come down when the sun rose, and at the same moment +I made out over our quarter, away to the southward, a white sail, on +which his rays were cast, standing on the same course that we were. + +"Sail ho!" I shouted in a joyful tone, and pointed out in the direction +in which I saw her. + +The captain, immediately I came down, ordered me to rouse up all hands, +and every sail the ship could carry being set, we edged down to the +stranger, making a signal that we desired to speak her. She was an +English barque, also bound for the Cape. + +As we got close together, a boat being lowered, Mr Griffiths and I went +on board and stated our wants. Her captain at once agreed to supply us +with everything he could spare, and we soon had our boat loaded with a +cask of bread, another of beef, and several other articles, and in +addition a nautical almanack, for we had run out our last one within a +week before this. We had a second trip to make, with casks to fill with +water. As may be supposed, we had quenched our own thirst on our first +visit. When we again got back we found the cook and two hands assisting +him busily employed in preparing breakfast, and a right hearty one we +had. + +We kept our charitable friends in sight till we reached the Cape, by +which time we had expended all the provisions with which they had +furnished us. + +In a few days, from the abundance of fresh meat and vegetables which we +obtained from the shore, our health and strength returned, and I for one +was eager once more to put to sea, that Jack and I might the sooner +reach home. We had got so far on our way that it seemed to me as if we +were almost there. We were, however, detained for several days +refitting and provisioning the ship. + +Once more, however, the men showed their mutinous disposition, for when +they were ordered to heave up the anchor they refused to man the +windlass, on the plea that they had had no liberty on shore. Though +this was the case, there having been work for all hands on board, there +was no real excuse for their conduct, as they were amply supplied with +provisions, and had not been really over-worked. + +"We shall see, my fine fellows," exclaimed the captain, on seeing them +doggedly standing with their arms folded in a group forward. + +At once ordering his boat, which was pulled by Jack and Jim, Miles Soper +and Brown, he went on shore. He soon returned, with the deputy captain +of the port, who, stepping on board, called the men aft, and inquired +what they had to complain of. As they were all silent, Captain +McL--- made them a speech, pointing out to them that they were fortunate +in being aboard a well-found and well-provisioned ship. + +"And, my lads," he continued, "you need not have any fear of falling +sick, for the captain has an ample supply for you of anti-scorbutics." + +As none of the mutineers had a notion what this long word meant, they +were taken completely aback; and after staring at him and then at each +other, first one and then another went forward to the windlass, and we +soon had the ship under way. + +Whenever during the voyage any of us talked about the matter, we always +called Captain McL--- "Old Anti-Scorbutic." I felt happier than I had +been for a long time when the ship's head was directed northward, and as +we had a fresh breeze the men declared that their friends at home had +got hold of the tow-rope, and that we should soon be there. + +On running down to Saint Helena we were followed for several days by +some black whales of immense length. Sometimes they were so close to +the ship's side that we might have lanced them from the deck. The +fourth day after we saw them the second mate and Horner took it into +their heads wantonly to fire musket-shots at them. At last one of the +poor creatures was hit, when it dived, the others following its example, +and we saw them no more. The only object of interest we met with +crossing the north-east trades was the passage through the Gulf Stream, +or Sargasso Sea, as it is sometimes called. It was curious to find +ourselves surrounded by thick masses of seaweed as far as the eye could +reach on every side, so that no clear water could be seen for miles +away. I can compare it to nothing else than to sailing through a +farmyard covered with deep straw. + +The first land we made was Fyal. Thence we ran across to Pico, where we +obtained provisions and water. If we had got nothing else it would have +been well, but the crew managed to smuggle on board a quantity of new +rum, the effects of which were soon visible. + +Leaving Pico, we shaped a course for old England. The wind was now +freshening, and all sail was made, as the captain was in a hurry to get +the voyage over. In the evening, when the watch was called, not a man +came on deck, every one of them being drunk, while most of the men in +the other watch, who had managed to slip down every now and then, were +in no better condition. The captain, who had been ailing, was in bed. +Mr Griffiths, the doctor and I, Jim and Brown, were the only sober +ones. The second mate evidently did not know what he was about. Mr +Griffiths advised him to turn in. I was very sorry to see my brother +Jack nearly as bad as the rest, though he afterwards told me that, +having been so long without spirits, they had had an unexpected effect +upon him. We sober ones had to remain all night on deck, running off +when a puff of wind struck the sails. It was a mercy that it didn't +come on to blow hard, for we could never have managed to shorten sail in +time to save the spars. Indeed, very probably the masts would have +gone. Brown, Jim, and I took it by turns to steer till morning broke, +by which time some of the rest of the crew began to show signs of life. +As we got into northern latitudes a strong north-easterly breeze made +the weather feel bitterly cold to us, who had been for so long a time +accustomed to a southern climate. + +During all that period I had not worn shoes. For the sake of warmth I +now wanted to put on a pair, but my feet had so increased in size that I +could not find any large enough in the slop-locker. + +At last the wind shifted to the south-west, and we ran before it up +Channel. + +The first object we made was the Owers light-vessel, about ninety miles +from the Downs. Having made a signal for a pilot, one boarded us out of +a cutter off Dungeness. How eagerly all of us plied the old fellow for +news, though as he was a man of few words it was with difficulty that +the captain or mates could pump much out of him. We remained but a few +hours in the Downs to obtain provisions, of which we were again short, +and thence proceeded to the Thames, where we dropped our anchor for the +last time before going into dock to unload. + +Jim and I, although we had been kept on board against our will and had +never signed articles, found that we could claim wages. Though I had no +reason to like Captain Hawkins, yet I felt that I ought to wish him +good-bye. + +To my surprise, he seemed very friendly, and said that if I ever wished +to go to sea again he should be very glad to have me with him, as well +as my brother and Jim. Poor man! He had made his last voyage, for I +heard of his death shortly afterwards. I was very sorry to part from +Mr Griffiths and Dr Cockle. They invited me to come and see them, +both of them saying that they never intended again to go afloat, though +I heard that Mr Griffiths got the command of a fine ship shortly +afterwards; so I supposed that like many others similarly situated he +was induced to change his mind and tempt once more the dangers of the +ocean. + +"We will meet again, Peter," said Miles Soper; "and I hope that if you +and Jack go to sea, we shall all be aboard the same ship." + +Brown said the same thing, but from that day to this I have never been +able to learn what became of him. Such is often the case in a sea life. +For years people are living on the most intimate terms, and separate +never to meet again in this life. + +After remaining a week in London for payment of our wages, Jim and I +each received five-and-twenty pounds, Jack also obtaining nearly half +that amount. Our first care before we set off for Portsmouth, to which +we were eager to return, was, our clothes being worn out, to supply +ourselves with decent suits of blue cloth and other necessaries. + +At daylight the morning after we were free, carrying our bundles and the +various treasures we had collected, a pretty load altogether, we went to +the place from which the coach started for Portsmouth, and finding three +seats on the top, off we set with light hearts, thinking of the friends +we should meet on our arriving there. Jack confessed that he had +forgotten the appearance of most of them, though he longed to see Mary +and to give her the curiosities he had brought. We had a couple of +parrots, three other beautifully coloured birds, a big basket of shells, +and a whole bundle of bows, and arrows, and darts, and a lot of other +things. + +Rattling down the Portsmouth High Street, we at last dismounted and set +off for Mr Gray's house, where I fully expected I should still find +Mary living. As we walked along, the boys gathered round us to look at +our birds, and some asked where we had come from with so many curious +things. + +"From round the world," answered Jim, "since we were last at home," +which was not a very definite answer. + +In vain we looked, about expecting to see some old acquaintances, but +all the faces we set eyes on were strange. No wonder, considering how +long we had been away, while certainly no one would have recognised us. +It was not quite an easy matter to find our way to Mr Gray's house, and +we had to stop every now and then while Jim and I consulted which +turning to take, for we were ashamed to ask any one. At last, just as +we got near it, we saw an old gentleman in a Quaker's dress coming along +the road. He just glanced at us, as other people had done; when I, +looking hard at him, felt sure he must be Mr Gray. I nudged Jim's +shoulder. + +"Yes, it's he, I'm sure," whispered Jim. + +So I went up to him, and pulling off my hat said-- + +"Beg pardon, sir; may I be so bold as to ask if you are Mr Gray?" + +"Gray is my name, young man," he answered, looking somewhat surprised, +"Who art thou?" + +"Peter Trawl, sir; and this Jim Pulley, and here is my brother Jack." + +If the kind Quaker had ever been addicted to uttering exclamations of +surprise he would have done so on this occasion, I suspect, judging from +the expression of astonishment which came over his countenance. + +"Peter Trawl! James Pulley! Why, it was reported that those two lads +were lost in the North Sea years ago," he said. + +"We are the lads, sir, notwithstanding," I answered; and I briefly +narrated to him how we had been picked up by the _Intrepid_ and carried +off to the Pacific, and how I had there found my brother Jack. + +"Verily, this is good news, and will cheer the heart of thy young +sister, who has never ceased to believe that thou wouldst turn up again +some day or other," he said. + +"Is Mary well, sir? Is she still with you?" I inquired, eagerly. + +"Yes, Peter, thy sister is as one of my family. Though greatly pressed +by her newly-found relatives in Shetland to go there and reside with +them, she has always replied that she was sure thou wast alive, and that +thou wouldst come back to Portsmouth to look for her and that it would +grieve thee much not to find her." + +"How kind and thoughtful!" I exclaimed. "Do let me go on, sir, at once +to see my young sister." + +"Stay, lad, stay," he answered. "The surprise might be too great for +her. I will go back to my house and tell her that thou hast returned +home safe. Thou art so changed that she would not know thee, and +therefore thou and thy companions may follow close behind." + +We saw Mr Gray go to his door and knock. It was opened by a +woman-servant, who I was sure, when I caught sight of her countenance, +was Nancy herself. She saw me at the same moment, and directly Mr Gray +had entered, came out on the doorstep, and regarded me intently. + +"Yes, I'm sure it is!" she exclaimed. "Peter, Peter, aren't you Peter, +now? I have not forgotten thy face, though thee be grown into a young +man!" and she stretched out her arms, quite regardless of the +passers-by, ready to give me such another embrace as she had bestowed on +me when I went away. I could not restrain myself any longer, but, +giving the things I was carrying to Jack, sprang up the steps. + +"Here he is, Miss Mary, here he is!" cried Nancy, and I saw close behind +her a tall, fair girl. + +Nancy, however, had time to give me a kiss and a hug before I could +disengage myself, and the next moment my sweet sister Mary had her arms +round my neck, and, half crying, half laughing, was exclaiming-- + +"I knew you would come, I knew you would, Peter; I was sure you were not +lost!" + +My brother Jack and Jim were, meantime, staying outside, not liking to +come in till they were summoned. Nancy did not recognise them, and +thought that they were two shipmates who had accompanied me to carry my +things. + +At last, when I told Mary that I had not only come myself, but had +brought back our brother Jack, she was eager to see him, though she was +so young when he went away that she had no recollection of his +countenance, and scarcely knew him from Jim. + +Mary had let me into the parlour. I now went and beckoned them in. +Nancy, when she knew who they were, welcomed them warmly, but did not +bestow so affectionate a greeting on them as she had done on me. Jim +stood outside the door while I brought Jack in. Though Mary kissed him, +and told him how glad she was to see him, it was easy to see that she at +first felt almost as if he were a stranger. + +Mr Gray left us to ourselves for some time, and then all the family +came in and welcomed us kindly, insisting that Jack should remain with +me in the parlour, while Nancy took care of Jim in the kitchen, where he +was much more it his ease than he would have been with strangers. Jack, +indeed, looked, as he afterwards confessed to me he felt, like a fish +out of water in the presence of so many young ladies. + +Though I had twice written to Mary, and had directed my letters +properly, neither had reached her; yet for all these fears she had not +lost hope of seeing me. + +After supper, Jack and I were going away, but Mr Gray insisted that we +should remain, as he had had beds arranged for us in the house. + +"I must not let you lads be exposed to the dangers and temptations of +the town," he said in a kind tone. "You must stay here till you go to +sea again." + +Mary at once wrote to Mr Troil to tell him of my return, and of my +having brought my brother Jack back with me. + +While waiting for an answer, one day Jack and Jim and I were walking +down the High Street, when we saw a large placard stating that the +_Thisbe_ frigate, commissioned by Captain Rogers, was in want of hands. + +"I shouldn't wonder but what he was my old skipper," observed Jack. +"And you fine young fellows couldn't do better than join her," exclaimed +a petty officer, who was standing near, clapping Jack on the back. + +"Why I think I know your face," he added. + +"Maybe. I'm Jack Trawl. I'm not ashamed of my name," said my brother. + +"Jack Trawl!" exclaimed the man-of-war's man; "then you belong to the +_Lapwing_. We all thought you were lost with the rest of the boat's +crew." + +"No, I wasn't; Miles Soper and I escaped. Now I look at you, ain't you +Bill Bolton?" + +"The same," was the answer. "Tell us how it all happened." + +Jack in a few words told his old shipmate what is already known to the +reader. While he was speaking, who should come up but Miles Soper +himself, come down to Portsmouth to look out for a berth, accompanied by +Sam Coal. The long and the short of it was that they all three agreed +to enter aboard the _Thisbe_, and did their best to persuade Jim to +follow their example. + +I had no notion of doing so myself, for I knew that it would break +Mary's heart to part with me again so soon, and I feared, indeed, that +she would not like Jack's going. Still, taking all things into +consideration, he could not do better I thought--for having been so long +at sea, he felt, as he said, like a fish out of water among so many fine +folks. + +Jim made no reply, but drawing me aside, said-- + +"Peter, I can't bear the thoughts of leaving you, and yet I know you +wouldn't like to ship before the mast again; but if I stay ashore what +am I to do? I've no fancy to spending my days in a wherry, and haven't +got one if I had. I've taken a liking to Jack, and you've many friends, +and can do without me, so if you don't say no I'll ship with the rest." + +I need not repeat what I said to Jim. I was sure that it was the best +thing he could do, and advised him accordingly. + +"I'm with you, mates," he said, in a husky tone, going back to the rest, +and away they all went together, while I returned to Mr Gray's. + +"I wish the lads had shipped on board a peaceable merchantman," he +observed when I told him, "but I can't pretend to dictate to them. I am +glad thou hast been better directed, Peter." + +Jack and Jim came to see us before the ship went out of harbour. Jack +said he knew that he must work for his living, and that he would rather +serve aboard a man-o'-war than do anything else. + +"I'll look after him as I used to do you, Peter," said Jim. "And I hope +some day we'll come back with our pockets full of gold, and maybe bear +up for wherever you've dropped your anchor." + +A few days after this a letter came from Mr Troil, inviting Mary, Jack, +and me to Shetland. Mary was very unwilling to leave her kind friends, +but Mr Gray said that it would be to our advantage, and advised Mary +and me to go. + +He was right, for when we arrived Mr Troil received us as relatives. +Mary became like a second daughter to him. I assisted in managing his +property, and in the course of a few years Maggie, to whom he left +everything he possessed, became my wife, while Mary married the owner of +a neighbouring estate. + +Some few years after a small coaster came into the Voe. I went down to +see what she had on board. A sailor-looking man, with a wooden leg, and +a woman, stepped ashore. + +"That's him--that's him!" I heard them exclaim, and in a moment I was +shaking hands with Jim and Nancy, who had become his wife. He had got +his discharge, and had come, he said, to settle near me. I several +times heard from my brother Jack, who, after serving as bo'sun on board +a line-of-battle ship, retired from the service with a pension, and +joined our family circle in Shetland, where he married, and declared +that he was too happy ever to go to sea again. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Peter Trawl, by W. H. G. Kingston + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER TRAWL *** + +***** This file should be named 21475.txt or 21475.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/4/7/21475/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |