diff options
Diffstat (limited to '21745.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 21745.txt | 1027 |
1 files changed, 1027 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/21745.txt b/21745.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2331dfc --- /dev/null +++ b/21745.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1027 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of a Ship, by R.M. Ballantyne + +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: The Life of a Ship + +Author: R.M. Ballantyne + +Release Date: June 7, 2007 [EBook #21745] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF A SHIP *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Life of a Ship from the Launch to the Wreck, by R.M. Ballantyne. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +A story for pre-teens, in which a small boy, Davy, is taken to a +shipyard to watch the building of a new sailing-vessel, the "Fair +Nancy". Eventually Davy is allowed to sail on board of her as a +boy-seaman. He is sea-sick at first, but soon recovers and learns how +to climb the rigging to help with the sails. They encounter a +hurricane, which knocks the ship over, and they lose the ship's boats. +A raft is made, but only a few people can get away on it, including the +captain's wife. The ship drifts helpless until she is wrecked on a +hostile shore. There is only one chance for the men, and that would be +if someone could swim ashore with a rope and fasten it, so that each +member of the crew can be brought ashore with a travelling block and +harness. This works, and no lives are lost. They walk out of the +wilderness till they come to a village, from which they make their way +to Quebec, and thence back to England. + +I find it rather a depressing story, but the intention of the book, +presumably, is to interest young people in a life at sea. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +THE LIFE OF A SHIP FROM THE LAUNCH TO THE WRECK, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE LIFE OF A SHIP FROM THE LAUNCH TO THE WRECK. + +SONG OF THE SAILOR BOY. + + Oh! I love the great blue ocean, + I love the whistling breeze, + When the gallant ship sweeps lightly + Across the surging seas. + I watched my first ship building; + I saw her timbers rise, + Until her masts were towering + Up in the bright blue skies. + + I heard the cheers ascending, + I saw her kiss the foam, + When first her hull went plunging + Into her ocean home. + Her flags were gaily streaming, + And her sails were full and round, + When the shout from shore came ringing, + "Hurrah! for the Outward-bound!" + + But, alas! ere long a tempest + Came down with awful roar + And dashed our ship in pieces + Upon a foreign shore. + But He who holds the waters + In His almighty hand, + Brought all the sailors safely + Back to their native land. + +Davy was a fisher boy; and Davy was a very active little boy; and Davy +wanted to go to sea. His father was a fisherman, his grandfather had +been a fisherman, and his great-grandfather had been a fisherman: so we +need not wonder much that little Davy took to the salt water like a +fish. When he was very little he used to wade in it, and catch crabs in +it, and gather shells on the shore, or build castles on the sands. +Sometimes, too, he fell into the water neck and heels, and ran home to +his mother, who used to whip him and set him to dry before the fire; +but, as he grew older, he went with his father in the boat to fish, and +from that time forward he began to wish to go to sea in one of the large +ships that were constantly sailing away from the harbour near his +father's cottage. + +One day Davy sat on a rock beside the sea, leaning on his father's +boathook, and gazing with longing eyes out upon the clear calm ocean, on +which several ships and boats were floating idly, for there was not a +breath of wind to fill their sails. + +"Oh, how I wish my father would let me go to sea!" said Davy, with a +deep sigh. "I wonder if I shall ever sail away beyond that line yonder, +far, far away, where the sky seems to sink into the sea!" The line that +he spoke of was the horizon. + +Davy heaved another sigh, and smiled; for, just at that moment, his eyes +fell on a small crab that stood before him with its claws up as if it +were listening to what he said. + +"Oh, crab, crab," cried the little boy, "you're a happy beast!" + +At that moment he moved the boathook, and the crab ran away in such a +desperate hurry that Davy opened his eyes wide and said, "Humph! maybe +ye're not a happy beast after all!" While he sat thus, a stout +fisherman came up and asked him what he was thinking about. On being +told, he said, "Will you come with me, boy, to the building-yard, and +I'll show you a ship on the `stocks.' I'm goin' as one of her crew when +she's ready for sea, and perhaps by that time your father will let you +go too." You may be sure that Davy did not refuse such a good offer; so +the man and the boy went hand in hand to the yard where ships were +built. Davy had never been there before, and great was his surprise +when he saw a huge thing standing on dry land, with great pieces of wood +of all shapes sticking round it, like the skeleton of a whale; but +greater still was his surprise when the fisherman said, "There, lad, +that's the ship." + +"Well," exclaimed Davy, opening his large eyes to their widest, "it +don't look like one just now!" + +The fisherman laughed. "That's true, lad; but come--I'll explain;" and +taking Davy by the hand, he led him nearer to the "skeleton" of the +ship, and began to explain the names and uses of the different parts. + +"You see that long thick timber," he said, "that runs from this end, +which is the `stern,' to that end, which is the `bow'--well, that is the +`keel.' This post or beam that rises out of it here is the +`stern-post,' and that one that rises up at the far end yonder is the +`stem' or `cutwater.' These are the principal timbers of the vessel, +and upon their strength the safety of a ship chiefly depends. The +sticks that you see branching out from the keel like deers' horns are +called `ribs;' they are very strong, and the timbers that fasten them +together at the top are called `beams.' Of course these pieces of wood +are some of them far larger than any trees that you have ever seen; but +if you examine them you will find that each timber and rib is made up of +two or three separate pieces of wood, fastened very strongly together. +When all the beams are fixed they will begin to nail the planks on to +the ribs; iron bolts are used for this purpose, but by far the greater +number of the nails are made of wood. After this is done the seams +between the planks will be filled with oakum and the whole ship covered +over with pitch and tar, just in the same way as your father does to his +boat when she lets in water. Then the bottom of the ship will be +entirely covered with sheets of copper, to prevent the wood worms from +destroying it. These little rascals would eat through a ship's bottom +and very soon sink it, but for the copper. Next, the deck is laid down, +and the ship will be ready for `launching.' A ship's masts and rigging +are always put in after she is launched. Now, lad, what d'ye think of +it?" said the fisherman as he walked home again with Davy. "The ship's +to be a `three-master' full-rigged, and is to go by the name o' the +_Fair Nancy_." + +As he said this he smiled, patted the little boy on the head and left +him. But Davy replied not a word to his friend's remarks. His curly +head was stuffed quite full with the keel, timbers, ribs, beams, +stern-post, planks, and cutwater of the _Fair Nancy_; he could not +speak, he found it difficult even to think, so he thrust his hands deep +into his pockets, sat down on the shank of an anchor, and stared out to +sea. In half an hour he heaved a very deep sigh indeed, and said, "Oh! +dear me, I wonder if I shall ever go to sea in the _Fair Nancy_!" + +Time flew on, and little Davy fished with his father, and worked for his +mother, and paid many a visit to the building-yard, to watch the +progress of the ship--his ship, as he called it. He begged very hard, +too, to be allowed to go in her when she should be ready for sea. At +first neither father nor mother would hear of it, but at last they began +to think that Davy would make a very good sailor, for certainly he was +an active obedient boy; so, although they did not say Yes, they were not +nearly so determined as they used to be in saying No. + +The day of the launch was a great day at the seaport where Davy lived. +The launch of a large ship is always a very interesting and wonderful +sight indeed; so that thousands and thousands of people flock from all +directions to see it. Whichever way Davy looked he saw crowds of +people, some on foot, some on horses, some on donkeys, and some in +carriages, all streaming towards the one great point--the ship-builder's +yard. It seemed quite like a holiday or a fair, and was such a bright, +warm, sunny day that people's hearts felt far lighter than usual. Davy +saw all this at a glance the moment he left home; and, throwing his red +nightcap into the air, he gave one long loud hurrah! and ran away as +fast as his heavy fishing-boots would let him. + +The ship was very different now from what it had been when he first saw +it. There were four little masts put up in it, on which were hoisted +gay and gaudy flags. Her "hull," or body, was now coppered and neatly +painted, while all the rubbish of the building-yard was cleared away, so +that everything looked neat and clean. The stocks, or framework on +which she had been built, sloped towards the water, so that when the +props were knocked away from the ship, she would slide by her own weight +into the sea. Ships are always built on sloping stocks near to the +water's edge; for you can fancy how difficult it would be to drag such a +great thing into the water by main force. In order to make her slip +more easily, the "ways," down which she slides, are covered with grease. + +Very soon the crowds of people stood in silence, expecting the great +event of the day; and, as the moment drew nigh, the band, which had been +playing all morning, suddenly stopped. Davy became very anxious, +because he was so little that he could not see in the crowd; but, +observing a post near at hand, he struggled towards it and climbed to +the top of it. Here he saw famously. The workmen had begun to knock +away the props; there was just one remaining. At this moment a lady +stepped forward with a bottle of wine in her hand to christen the ship. +This she did by breaking the bottle against the cutwater; just at that +instant she began to move. Another second and the _Fair Nancy_ rushed +down the incline, plunged heavily into the water like some awful +sea-monster, and floated out upon her ocean home amid the deafening +cheers of the people, especially of little Davy, who sat on the top of +the post waving his red cap and shouting with delight. + +After the launch Davy and all the people returned home, and the _Fair +Nancy_ was towed to the "shear-hulk" to have her masts put in. The +shear-hulk is a large ship in which is placed machinery for lifting +masts into other ships. Every one who has looked at the thick masts of +a large vessel, must see at a glance that they could never be put there +by any number of men. Machinery is used to do it, and the shear-hulk +contains that machinery; so that when a ship has to get her masts put up +she is dragged alongside of this vessel. In the meantime Davy renewed +his prayer to his father to let him go to sea, and at last the old man +consented. His mother cried a good deal at first, and hoped that Davy +would not think of it; but his father said that it would do him good, +and if he became tired of it after the first voyage he could give it up. +Davy was overjoyed at this, and went immediately to his friend the +fisherman, Ben Block, who was very much delighted too, and took him to a +shop to buy clothes and a sea-chest for the voyage. + +"You see, lad," said Ben, "the ship is bound for Quebec with a mixed +cargo, and is to come back loaded with timber; and as the season is +coming on, you'll need to get ready quick." + +"That I shall," replied Davy, as they entered a shop. "Ho! shopman, +give me a straw hat, and a blue jacket, and a pair o' duck trousers, +and--" + +"Stop! stop!" cried Ben, "you're sailing too fast. Take in a reef, my +lad." Ben meant by this that he was to proceed a little slower. +"You'll want a `sou'-wester,'" (an oilskin hat), "and a `dread-nought,'" +(a thick, heavy coat), "and things o' that sort." + +After Davy had bought all he wanted, and ordered a sea-chest, he went +home to his mother, who was very sad at the thought of parting with him. +When the day of departure came she gave him a great deal of good +advice, which Davy promised, with tears in his eyes, to remember. Then +she gave him a little Bible and a kiss, and sent him away. His father +took him to the beach, where the ship's boat was waiting for him; and, +as the old man took off his cap, and raising his eyes to heaven, prayed +for a blessing on his little son, Davy, with watery eyes, looked around +at the big ships floating on the water, and, for the first time, wished +that he was not going to sea. + +In a few minutes he was on board the "outward-bound" ship. This is what +we say of ships when they are going out to sea; when they return from a +voyage we say that they are "homeward-bound." The _Fair Nancy_ was a +noble ship, and as she hoisted her snow-white sails to a strong wind, (a +stiff breeze, as Ben Block called it), she looked like a white cloud. +The cloud seemed to grow smaller and smaller as Davy's father and mother +watched it from the shore; then it became like a little white spot on +the faraway sea; then it passed over the line where the water meets the +sky, and they saw it no more! + +After Davy had cried a great deal, and wished very often that he had not +been so determined to leave home, he dried his eyes and began to take +great interest in the curious things he saw around him. What surprised +him most of all was, that although he actually was at sea, he could not +see the sea at all! This was because the sides of the ship, which are +called "bulwarks," were so high that they quite prevented the little boy +from seeing overboard. Davy soon found an opening in the bulwarks, +however, which his friend Ben called the "gang-way," through which he +could see the water and the ships and boats that were sailing there. +And when he mounted the high part of the deck in front of the ship, +which is called the "forecastle," or when he went upon the high deck at +the stern of the ship, which is called the "poop," then he could see all +round. And what a wonderful and new sight it was to Davy! His cottage +was gone! The beach, and the pier where the nets used to hang, were +gone. The trees and fields were all gone, and there was nothing but +sea, sea, sea, all round, so that the _Fair Nancy_ seemed the only solid +thing in the whole wide world! But poor Davy did not look or wonder +long at this, for the breeze freshened, and the waves rose, and the ship +plunged, and Davy felt very queer about the stomach! There is a man in +every ship called the "steward," and everybody loves that man, because +he goes about from morning till night trying to do people good and to +make them happy. He looks after breakfasts, dinners, teas, and suppers. +He answers every one who calls, and gets for everybody anything that +they want. He is never ill, never in a hurry, never in a bad temper; in +fact, he is a very charming man. + +Now, when the steward saw Davy with a pale face, and red eyes, and +awfully seasick, he went up to him with a smile, and said, "Sick, my +lad? you'll soon get used to it. Always sick when you first go to sea. +Come below and I'll give you summat to do you good, and tumble you into +your hammock." By going below the good steward meant going below the +deck into the cabin. A ship is just like a large house, divided into a +number of rooms--some of which are sitting rooms, some store and +provision rooms, some kitchens and pantries, closets and cupboards; and +there are two or three flats in some ships, so that you can go up or +down stairs at your pleasure. When Davy went down the ladder or stair, +which is called the "companion," and followed the steward through many +rooms full of all kinds of things that seemed to be all in confusion, +and saw the sailors sitting, and smoking, and laughing, and talking on +chests and tables, he almost believed that he was in a house on shore; +but then he remembered that houses on shore don't dance about and roll, +first on one side and then on the other, and plunge forwards and then +backwards; so he sighed and put his hands to his breast, which felt very +uncomfortable. + +"Here's your hammock," said the steward; "all the sailors sleep in these +things, and this one is yours." So saying, he lifted Davy from the +ground and tossed him into bed. The "hammock" is a long piece of canvas +drawn in round an iron ring at each end. To this ring a number of cords +are attached, and the hammock is slung by them to the beams of the ship. +In the bed thus formed the blankets are put; and a very snug bed it is, +as it swings about with the ship. Davy soon fell asleep, but he was +quickly wakened again by the horrible noises on deck. Ropes were thrown +about, men's feet were stamping, pieces of wood were falling, doors were +banging, masts were creaking, the wind was howling; in short, Davy +thought it must be a terrible storm and that they should all be lost. +But the steward said to him, in passing, "It's only a stiff breeze, +youngster;" so he turned round and went to sleep again. For two days +and two nights did Davy lie there--very sick! On the morning of the +third day he awoke much refreshed, and felt strongly inclined to eat his +blankets! As he lay wondering how he was to get down out of his hammock +without breaking his neck, he heard his friend Ben Block conversing with +a man in another hammock who had never been to sea before and was very, +very sick. + +"Oh! dear me," sighed the sick man, "where are we now?" + +"Don't know," answered Ben; "we've been drove pretty far out of our +course to the nor'ard, I guess. It's a dead calm." + +"A dead what?" said the sick man faintly. + +"Why, a dead calm," replied Ben. "When there's no wind it's a calm, and +when there's no motion at all, either in the air or in the water, except +the swell o' the sea, it's a dead calm. D'ye understand?" + +"Is it fine weather, Ben?" cried Davy cheerfully. + +"Yes, lad, it is," replied the sailor. + +On hearing this Davy sprang, or, as the sailors call it, tumbled out of +bed. He tried to get out of it; but not being used to hammocks, he was +awkward and fell plump on the floor! However, he was not hurt; and +throwing on his jacket, he ran up on deck. + +Well might Davy's heart leap and his voice shout at the beautiful sight +that met his gaze when he reached the forecastle. The sea was like one +wide beautiful mirror, in which all the clouds were clearly reflected. +The sun shone brightly and glittered on the swell on which the ship +rolled slowly; and the only sound that could be heard was the gentle +flapping of the loose sails, now and then, against the masts. + +"Have you had breakfast, youngster?" inquired the captain of the ship, +laying his hand on Davy's head. + +"No, sir, not yet," answered the boy. + +"Run below, then, and get it, and after you've done come to me. We must +put you to work now, lad, and make a sailor of you." + +The steward soon gave Davy as much food as he could eat; then he sprang +up the companion ladder, and, running to the poop where the captain was, +touched his cap, saying-- + +"I'm ready, sir." + +"Very good, my lad," said the captain, sitting down on the skylight, or +window on the deck, which gives light to the cabin below. "Do you see +that little thing on top of the mainmast like a button?" + +"Do you mean the truck?" said Davy. + +"Oh, you know its name, do you? well, do you think you could climb up to +it?" + +"I'll try," cried Davy, springing towards the mast. + +"Stay!" shouted the captain; "not so fast, boy. You'd tumble down and +break your neck if you tried to climb to the truck the first time you +ever went up the mast. But you may go to the `maintop.' That's where +you see the lower mast joined to the top mast. Climb up by those rope +ladders--the `shrouds,' we call them." Away went Davy, and was soon +halfway up the shrouds; but he went too fast, and had to stop for +breath. Then he came to the mass of woodwork and ropes at the head of +the lower mast. Here he had great difficulty in getting on; but, being +a fearless boy, he soon succeeded. The captain then called to him to go +out to the end of the "yardarm." + +Yards are the huge cross beams fastened to the masts to which the sails +are fixed. The "main-yard" is the largest. The mainsail is attached to +it. + +Davy soon crept out nearly to the end, but when he got there the yard +became so small and the ropes upon it were so few and slack, that the +poor boy's courage began to fail. He looked down at the water, which +seemed to be terribly far below him. At that moment the ship made a +lurch or plunge, Davy lost his hold, and with a loud cry fell headlong +from the yard into the sea. In a moment Ben Block, who had been +watching him, jumped overboard; a boat was lowered, and in less than ten +minutes Ben was picked up with Davy clinging to him. + +Not long after this they drew near the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and were +beginning to think of the end of their voyage. But one night while Davy +lay sound asleep in his warm hammock, he was startled by a cry on deck, +which was followed by a loud order for "all hands" to tumble up and +shorten sail. The sailors are usually called "hands" at sea. In a +moment Davy was on deck, with only his trousers and shirt on. But he +could not see anything, the night was so dark, and he could scarcely +hear anything except the howling of the wind. + +"Take in all sail!" roared the captain. The men rushed to obey, and +Davy was so well accustomed to the work that he too climbed to his usual +place on the main topsail yard and began to haul in the sail. He could +barely see the man next to him, and it was with difficulty he kept his +hold of the yard, while the ship tossed and plunged in the waves. When +nearly all sail was taken in the ship went easier, and the men assembled +on the deck to await further orders. The gale increased, and suddenly +the small bit of the fore-topsail that was hoisted burst into shreds +with a clap like thunder, and carried away the fore-topmast with all its +yards and rigging, part of the bowsprit, and the top of the mainmast. +"Clear away the wreck!" shouted the captain. Some of the men ran for +axes, and began to cut the ropes that fastened the broken masts to the +ship, for there was a danger of the ship striking against them and +knocking a hole in her side while she plunged. Still the gale +increased, and the mizzen topmast went overboard. The "mizzen" is the +mast nearest to the stern. It is the smallest of the three. The +lightning now began to flash, and the thunder to roar, while the crew of +the _Fair Nancy_ stood on her deck clinging to the bulwarks, lest they +should be washed overboard! Little Davy looked at the man next him, and +saw that it was Ben Block. "Oh, Ben!" said he, "what an awful night it +is! Do you think we shall be lost?" + +Ben shook his head. "I don't know, lad; but the Lord can save us, if it +be His will. Pray to Him, boy." + +"My poor mother!" murmured Davy, as the tears rose to his eyes, while he +prayed to God in his heart that he might be spared to see her again. At +that moment there came a wave so big and black that Davy thought the sea +was going to turn upside down. It came on like a great dark mountain, +high above the ship. "Hold on for your lives!" cried some of the men, +as the wave fell with a fearful crash and turned the ship over on her +side--or on her "beam-ends," as sailors call it. They were in awful +danger now, as the sea began to pour down into the cabins, and the masts +and sails being in the water the ship could not "right," or become +straight again. "Cut away the masts!" roared the captain. The deck was +now standing up like a wall, so that the men could not walk on it, but +they managed with great difficulty to reach the mizzenmast, which a few +strokes of the axe sent overboard. Still the ship lay on her beam-ends. +"Cut away the mainmast!" cried the captain. The order was obeyed, and +with a loud report, like a cannon shot, it went overboard too. +Immediately after the fall of the mainmast there came another wave, from +which they never expected to rise again. It dashed down on the stern +and drove in the cabin windows; but the worst of it was, that it swept +away all the boats belonging to the ship. They had been securely +fastened to the deck; but this wave carried them all away, so that now, +if the ship sank, their only chance of escape was gone. The same wave +snapped the foremast across near the deck. This was fortunate, because +it enabled the ship to "right" herself, and once more the men were able +to stand on the deck. The storm continued to rage still, however, and +some of the men were sent to work the pumps, for there was a great deal +of water in the ship now; so much, indeed, that she could hardly float. +Another party were ordered to fit up a small mast, which they tied to +the stump of the foremast. This new one was called a "jury-mast;" and +as they could not sail without a mast of some kind or other, they were +very glad when they saw it up and a sail hoisted on it. During the +night, however, another heavy wave broke this mast away also; so they +were again left to toss like a log on the stormy waters. + +All this time the men were working hard at the pumps, but, although they +worked for many hours without stopping, the water continued to increase +in the hold, and they saw that the ship had sprung "a leak;" that is to +say, some of the planks had started, or the seams had opened, and the +water was pouring into it so fast that it was evident she would soon +sink. This was very awful indeed. Some of the men began to cry to God +for mercy, others tore their hair and ran about like madmen, while some +sat down and silently prepared to die! + +The morning light came at last. But what a sad sight it rose upon. The +once noble ship now lay a wreck upon the water, with the masts and sails +gone and her shattered hull ready to sink. The captain, who seemed to +have lost all hope when the jury-mast broke, was standing on the poop, +looking anxiously round the horizon in hopes of seeing a sail--but in +vain. Davy stood beside him, and looking up in his face, said, "Please, +sir, could we not make a raft?" + +"Right, boy, right," replied the captain; "you're the best `man' amongst +us. We're no better than girls to be giving way to despair in this way. +Hallo! lads, rouse up there; get all the spare yards and spars you can, +and make a raft. Look sharp now!" + +The captain said this in such a quick, commanding tone that all the +sailors jumped to obey him, and in five minutes they were busily at work +on the raft. First, they collected all the broken yards and bits of +masts that were still floating alongside, dragging by the ropes that +fastened them to the sides of the ship. These they arranged side by +side, and tied them firmly together with ropes. Then they collected all +the spare timbers that were in the ship, and putting these above the +others, fastened them with ropes too. After that they tore off some of +the planks from the decks and bulwarks, with which they made a kind of +floor to the raft. All this, although it takes a short time to tell, +took a long, long time to do; for it was hard work moving such heavy +timbers, and the poor men were very tired, having been up in the storm +all night. Besides this, although the wind had ceased, the waves were +still high and would not let them work quietly. However, they finished +it at last, and after it was done, they put a number of barrels of +biscuit and some casks of water and wine on board. Then they put a few +blankets and a compass--that useful little machine that points always to +the north, and shows the sailor which way to go, so that he sails in the +dark night as surely as in the broad day. + +"Now," said the captain, "I think that there is a chance of escape yet. +Get on board, lads, as fast as you can. I fear the ship won't float +long." All the men now hastened on board. The captain's wife, who was +the only female in the ship, was the first to step on the raft, and it +soon began to be crowded. When about half of the sailors had left the +ship the captain suddenly cried out, "Ho! Ben Block, we've forgot a +mast and sail. Run below with a couple of hands and fetch one as fast +as you can." Just at that moment the ship gave a heavy plunge, the +ropes broke, and the raft floated slowly away, leaving the men who were +yet in the ship in a state of despair. One or two of them jumped into +the sea and tried to swim to the raft; but the first man who did so was +nearly drowned, and the others got back to the ship with great +difficulty. It was a terrible sight to witness the misery of the poor +captain, as he beheld his wife, standing with her arms stretched out +towards him, and the raft drifting slowly away, until at length it +appeared like a small black spot far off upon the sea. + +"Oh, my poor wife!" he cried, "I shall never see you more." + +The tears were rolling down Ben Block's weatherbeaten face as he went up +to the captain and took him by the hand. + +"Never fear, sir," said he; "the Almighty can save her." + +"Thank you, Ben, for saying that," replied the captain; "but the ship +won't float long. My wife may indeed be saved, but we are sure to be +lost." + +"I don't know that," cried Ben, trying to look cheerful. "When you sent +me down below, sir, to look for a mast and sail, I observed that the +water in the hold had ceased rising. If we can only keep her afloat a +little longer, we may manage to make another raft." The captain smiled +sadly and shook his head, and Davy, who had been standing beside him all +the time, felt his heart sink again. + +To add to the horror of the scene, night came on, and the water was so +high in the cabin that the captain and men who had been left in the +wreck had to try to sleep on the wet decks the best way they could. +Next morning the wind was still blowing pretty hard, and they now saw +that they were drawing near to a wild shore, where there seemed to be +many large rocks in the water near the beach. The crew of the _Fair +Nancy_ looked anxiously towards the land, hoping to see people there who +might help them when the ship struck on the rocks; but they saw no one. +In about an hour afterwards the ship struck, and the shock was so great +that Davy's heart seemed to leap into his throat. The shore was lined +with great dark cliffs and precipices, at the foot of which the waves +roared furiously. While the men stood looking helplessly at the land +another wave lifted the ship, carried her forward a long way, and dashed +her down on the rocks, where she stuck fast, with a sharp rock quite +through her hull, and the water foaming round her. What made their +situation more dreadful was, that a great deal of snow had fallen during +the night. It covered the decks of the ship, and made the land look +cold and dreary. + +"We must swim for it now," said the captain, as he looked sorrowfully at +the boiling surf and immense waves which swept over the rocks, and +bursting like thunder on the cliffs, were flung back upon the ship in +spray. + +"No one can swim in such a surf as that," said one of the sailors +gloomily. + +"Surf" is the name given to the white foam which is formed by the waves +when they dash upon the shore. It is very difficult, sometimes quite +impossible, to swim in the surf of the sea, and many poor sailors have +been hurled on the rocks by it and dashed in pieces while attempting to +swim from their wrecked vessels to the land. + +Every time a wave came it lifted the _Fair Nancy_, and, as it passed, +let her fall heavily on the sharp rocks, so that she began to break up. +Still the men were afraid to venture into the sea, and they clung to the +bulwarks, quite uncertain what to do. At last Ben Block turned to the +captain and said-- + +"I'm a good swimmer, captain, and I think I could swim to the shore well +enough perhaps; but there are some o' the men who can't swim, and poor +Davy, there, could never do it; so I'll just throw a rope round my +shoulders and make for the shore. If I land I'll fix the rope to the +cliffs, and you'll all be able to get ashore easy enough. If I should +be drowned,--it'll only be a little sooner, that's all, and it's well +worth risking my life to save my shipmates." + +"You're a brave fellow, Ben," said the captain. "Go and do it if you +can." + +Ben Block went down below and soon returned with a stout rope. On the +end of this he made a loop, which he passed round his shoulders, and +then, raising his eyes to heaven with an imploring look, he leapt into +the sea. At first he swam vigorously, and the sailors looked on in +anxious hope. But a large wave came. It fell,--and Ben Block +disappeared, while a cry of fear rose from the deck of the ship. In a +few seconds, however, they saw him rise again and struggle manfully with +the raging billows. The next wave that came lifted Ben up and threw him +on the beach, to which he clung with all his power; but as the wave +retired it swept him back into the sea, for he could not hold on to the +loose sand. He now rolled over and over quite exhausted, and the +sailors thought he was dead. But a man's life is dear to him, and he +does not soon cease to struggle. Another wave approached. It lifted +Ben up and threw him again on the beach. This time he made a desperate +effort to hold on, and, fortunately, he observed a large rock close to +where he lay. With a sudden spring he caught hold of it and held on +till the wave went back; then he ran forward a few steps and caught hold +of another rock a little higher up, so that when the next wave broke +over him it had not power to draw him back. Another run--and he was +safe! + +The men gave a loud cheer when they saw him land. After he had rested a +little, Ben fastened the end of the rope to a mass of rock. The sailors +hauled it tight and fixed the other end in the ship; and then, one by +one, they slowly crept along the rope and reached the shore in safety. +Here they all fell on their knees and thanked God for their deliverance. + +But now they found that the land was not inhabited, and they walked +along that dreary coast for several days, almost starved to death with +hunger and cold, for they had only a few biscuits among them, and their +clothes were never dry. Little Davy was the best walker among them, and +helped to keep up their spirits greatly by his cheerful conversation as +they toiled along. At last they arrived at a little village, where the +people were exceedingly kind to them; gave them food and dry clothes, +and, after they became stronger, sent them to the great city of Quebec. +Here they were kindly treated, and finding a ship bound for England, +they all returned home. + +You may imagine the delight of the poor captain when he arrived and +found his wife safe and sound. She and all the people on the raft had +been picked up by a homeward-bound vessel the day after they lost sight +of their ship, and were brought safe back to England. And you may fancy +the joy of little Davy's parents when their son opened the cottage door +one day and rushed into his mother's arms. + +Davy never went to sea again, but continued for many years after to help +his poor father to fish. And the _Fair Nancy_--that beautiful ship, +which Davy had watched so long, which he had seen launched, and which +had sailed so gallantly from her native shores, with her snowy sails +glancing in the sun like the white wings of a seagull--alas! alas! she +lay a total wreck now, on the rocky shores of a foreign land. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of a Ship, by R.M. Ballantyne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF A SHIP *** + +***** This file should be named 21745.txt or 21745.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/7/4/21745/ + +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. |