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diff --git a/24666.txt b/24666.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6ffaab4 --- /dev/null +++ b/24666.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9174 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader, 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: The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader + And what befell their Passengers and Crews. + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Release Date: February 22, 2008 [EBook #24666] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VOYAGES OF THE RANGER *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ +The Ranger is a naval vessel, employed largely as a troopship, carrying +men to India and other areas in which the British strove to keep the +peace, the Pax Britannica, while the Crusader is being used as an +emigrant ship, carrying people looking for a new life in New Zealand. +It appears that many emigrants were a pretty useless lot, whom no life +anywhere would have suited, and this comes out very clearly towards the +end of the book. That was far being the universal rule, and this book +shows the pluck and courage under adversity of the better class of +emigrant. + +Both vessels run into difficult situations, and the story is about how +the passengers and crews managed to pull through them. The Crusader +fares worst, being a total loss not very far from New Zealand. The +survivors work hard to feed themselves and at the same time to build a +vessel, the New Crusader, in which they can get themselves to New +Zealand. Even on this final leg of the story they run into a problem +with hostile natives. At this point the Ranger appears and effects a +rescue, so that the better class of emigrants have survived, while the +worse class, who had joined with some of the seamen to stage a mutiny, +nearly all die. + +A very good read, or of course you can make yourself an audiobook of it. +There are the usual Kingston swimming episodes, but always so +beautifully described. + +________________________________________________________________________ +THE VOYAGES OF THE RANGER AND CRUSADER, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE FAMILY PARTY. + +"Harry, my boy; another slice of beef?" said Major Shafto, addressing +his fine young sailor-son, a passed midshipman, lately come home from +sea. + +"No, thank you, since I could not, if I took it, pay due respect to the +mince-pies and plum-pudding; but Willy here can manage another slice, I +daresay. He has a notion, that he will have to feed for the future on +`salt junk' and `hard tack.'" + +Willy Dicey was going to sea, and had just been appointed to Harry +Shafto's ship, the "Ranger." + +Among the large party of family friends collected at Major Shafto's +house on that Christmas Day not many years ago, was Lieutenant Dicey, a +friend and neighbour of the Major's, who had served with him in the same +regiment for many years. The Lieutenant had lost a leg, and, unable to +purchase his company, had retired from the army. His eldest son, +Charles, and two of his daughters, Emily and May, had arranged to go out +and settle in New Zealand; and they expected shortly to sail. The +Lieutenant would gladly have gone with them, but he had a delicate wife +and several other children, and thought it wiser, therefore, to remain +at home. The party was a happy and cheerful one. The fire burned +brightly, showing that there was a hard frost outside. The lamp shed a +brilliant light over the well-covered table, and the Major did his best +to entertain his guests. The first course was removed, and then came a +wonderful plum-pudding, and such dishes of mince-pies! And then the +brandy was brought and poured over them, and set on fire; and Harry +Shafto and Willy Dicey tried if they could not eat them while still +blazing, and, of course, burned their mouths, eliciting shouts of +laughter; and the whole party soon thought no more of the future, and +were happy in the present. How Mrs Clagget's tongue did wag! She was +a tall, old lady, going out to a nephew in New Zealand; and, as she was +to be the companion of the young Diceys on the voyage, she had been +asked to join the Christmas party. + +Dinner was just over when voices were heard in the hall singing a +Christmas carol, and all the guests went out to listen to the words +which told of the glorious event which had, upwards of eighteen hundred +years before, occurred in the distant East, and yet was of as much +importance to all the human race, and will be to the end of time, as +then. Ringers came next, and lastly mummers played their parts, +according to an ancient custom, which some might consider "more honoured +in the breach than in the observance." After this there was blind-man's +buff, in which all the maid-servants as well as the children joined, and +Mrs Clagget's own maid and the Diceys' Susan, who had come with the +children. Well was that Christmas Day remembered by most of the party. + +Soon after this the Diceys began to make active preparations for their +intended voyage. Charles went up to London and engaged a passage for +himself and sisters, and for Mrs Clagget, on board the "Crusader." He +came back, describing her as a very fine vessel, and he seemed well +pleased with her commander, Captain Westerway. + +As the time for parting approached, the young people began to feel that +it would prove a greater trial than they had expected. While talking of +their future life in the colony, and anticipating the various novel +scenes and the new existence they were to enjoy, they had scarcely +considered the wrench to their feelings which they would have to endure. +Mr and Mrs Dicey had felt this, probably, from the first; and +therefore, when the trial came, they were better prepared for it. Willy +was the first to be got ready to start with his friend, Harry Shafto. +We will, therefore, follow their fortunes before we accompany our other +friends on their voyage. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE "RANGER" SAILS. + +HARRY AND WILLY LEAVE HOME--JOURNEY TO PORTSMOUTH--THE "BLUE POSTS"-- +MIDSHIPMEN'S TRICKS--ON BOARD THE "RANGER"--THE SOLDIER-OFFICERS--THE +SERGEANT'S WIFE--MRS MORLEY AND HER FAMILY--MRS RUMBELOW NURSES +WILLY--CAPE OF GOOD HOPE--SENT TO LAND TROOPS--THE "RANGER" IN DANGER-- +DRIVING TOWARDS SHORE--THE LAST ANCHOR HOLDS--SAIL MADE--MRS RUMBELOW'S +SERMON--TROOPS CARRIED ON. + +One bright morning at the end of January, the Portsmouth coach drove up +to Major Shafto's door. The Diceys were breakfasting at the house, for +Harry Shafto's leave was up, and he was to take Willy with him on board +the "Ranger," then lying in Portsmouth harbour. Farewells were said, +fond embraces exchanged, for Harry, though a tall young man, was not +ashamed to kiss his mother again and again, and his dear young sisters; +nor did Willy mind the tears which trickled unbidden from his eyes. His +heart was very full; though he had so longed to go to sea, now that he +was actually going, he felt that he should be ready, if required, to +give up all his bright hopes, and stay at home. + +In spite of the cold, the whole family came out and stood at the door +while the two young sailors mounted to the top of the coach. "All +right," shouted the guard, as the last article of luggage was handed up. +The coachman gave a gentle lash to his horses, and the lads, standing +up, turned round to give a last fond look at all those they loved so +well. + +This, it must be understood, was some time before Charles Dicey and his +sisters started on their more important expedition. The young sailors +expected to be home again in little more than a year, or perhaps even in +less time, for the "Ranger" was a Government troop-ship, with the usual +officers and crew, however, of a sloop-of-war. Harry Shafto would have +preferred being in a dashing frigate, but, at the same time, he was glad +to serve under so worthy a captain as Commander Newcombe. + +Harry and his young companion, on their arrival at Portsmouth, went to +the "Blue Posts,"--not an aristocratic hotel, certainly, but one +resorted to in those days by the junior officers of the service. Willy +felt very proud of his new uniform, and could not help handling his dirk +as he sat by Harry Shafto's side in the coffee-room. Several midshipmen +and masters' assistants came in. Two or three who took their seats at +the same table asked Willy to what ship he belonged. "To the `Ranger'," +he answered proudly; "and a very fine ship she is." + +"Oh, ay, a lobster carrier," observed a young midshipman, in a squeaky +voice. "I have heard of old Newcombe. He is the savage fellow who tars +and feathers his midshipmen if they get the ship in irons, or cannot box +the compass when he tells them to do it." + +"I have been told, on the contrary, that he is a very kind man," +answered Willy; "and as to getting the ship in irons or boxing the +compass, I do not think he would allow either the one thing or the +other." + +"What! do you mean to call my word in question, youngster?" exclaimed +the midshipman. "Do you know who I am?" + +"Tell him you think he has eaten a good deal of the stuff they feed +geese on," whispered Harry. + +Willy did as he was advised. The midshipman on this got very angry, +especially when all his companions laughed at him, and advised him to +let the "young chip" alone, as there was evidently an "old block" at his +elbow, who was not likely to stand nonsense. At last the midshipman, +who said that his name was Peter Patch, acknowledged that he himself had +just been appointed to the "Ranger," and that he believed old Newcombe +to be a very good sort of a fellow, considering what officers generally +are. + +Next morning, after breakfast, Harry and his young companion went on +board their ship, and Harry reported himself and Willy to the +first-lieutenant, Mr Tobin. Captain Newcombe was on board; and when +Harry, accompanied by Willy, went up and spoke to him on the +quarterdeck, he received them very kindly. + +Willy, by Harry's advice, set to work at once to learn his duty. Peter +Patch, though fond of practical jokes, was very good-natured, and +assisted him as far as he could, telling him the names of the ropes, and +showing him how to knot and splice, and the principle of sailing and +steering a ship. Willy, who was a sharp little fellow, quickly took in +all the instruction given him. + +The midshipmen's berth was somewhat confined, as, indeed, were those of +the other officers, as a large portion of the space below was given up +for the use of the troops. The poop cabins were devoted to the +accommodation of the military officers and their families. There was +also a space occupied by the hospital, and another portion by the women +who accompanied the regiment, certain non-commissioned officers and +privates being allowed to have their wives and children with them. + +At length the ship was ready, and the soldiers were seen approaching her +from Gosport. As they came up the side, they formed on deck, and each +man had his allotted berth shown him; so that, although there were two +hundred men, with a proportionate number of non-commissioned officers +and their wives and families, there was perfect order and regularity +observed. The "Ranger" had the honour of conveying Colonel Morley, who +commanded the regiment, and there was a Mrs and two Miss Morleys. Then +there was Captain Power, Captain Gosling, and Captain Twopenny; and +Lieutenants Dawson, Hickman, and Ward; with Ensigns Holt and Gonne. +There was a surgeon, David Davis, who hailed from Wales; and a +paymaster, who was the stoutest man on board. There were several +sergeants, but only one, Serjeant Rumbelow, whose name it is necessary +to record. He was accompanied by his wife, who was a person well +capable of keeping order, not only among the soldiers' wives, but among +the soldiers themselves. She was a woman of powerful frame and voice, +tall and gaunt, and of a dauntless spirit. The regiment had not been on +board many hours before Willy saw her go up to two young soldiers who +were quarrelling. Seizing them, she knocked their heads together. +"There, lads," she exclaimed; "make it up this moment, or the next time +I catch you at that work I'll knock them a precious deal harder." + +Willy Dicey looked with a good deal of awe at Mrs Morley and her +daughters, who appeared to be very great people. They quickly made +themselves at home in their cabins, and had their work-boxes out, and a +number of things arranged, as if they had been living there for weeks. +Captain Newcombe made some remark on the subject. Mrs Morley replied, +laughing, "You need not be surprised, for this will be the tenth voyage +I have made, and you may suppose, therefore, that I am pretty well +accustomed to roughing it. This ship is like a royal yacht compared to +some vessels I have sailed in. My husband was not always a colonel, and +subalterns and their wives have to put up with rough quarters +sometimes." + +Harry Shafto was glad to find that most of the officers were gentlemanly +men, and there appeared every prospect of their having a pleasant +voyage. + +As soon as the troops were on board, the ship went out to Spithead, and +having taken in her powder and a few more stores, with a fair wind she +stood down Channel. + +The "Ranger" had to undergo not a little tumbling about in the Bay of +Biscay, no unusual occurrence in that part of the ocean: it contributed +to shake people and things into their places; and by the time she got +into the latitude of Madeira, both military and naval officers, and the +ladies on board, were pretty well acquainted. Colonel Morley found out +that he had served with Major Shafto, and was very happy to make the +acquaintance of his son; and Mrs Twopenny, for Captain Twopenny was +married, was acquainted with the Diceys, and took Willy Dicey under her +especial patronage. Mrs Rumbelow found out, somehow or other, that she +had been nurse in his mother's family, and, of course, Willy became a +great pet of hers. Willy fell ill, and Mrs Rumbelow begged that she +might nurse him, a favour very readily granted: indeed, had it not been +for her watchful care, the doctor declared that little Dicey would have +slipped through his fingers. + +We need not accompany the "Ranger" in her course. With mostly +favourable winds, she had a quick run to the Cape of Good Hope, and, +without any accident, came to an anchor off Cape Town. Those who had +not been there before looked with interest on the novel scene which +presented itself from the anchorage. Willy Dicey, soon after his +arrival, wrote a long letter home, from which one extract must be +given:-- + +"Before us rose the perpendicular sides of Table Mountain, while on +either hand we saw the crags of the Lion's Head and Devil's Peak, the +former overhung by a large cloud, known as the Table-cloth. As it +reached the edge, it seemed to fall down for a short distance, and then +to disperse, melting away in the clear air. The town still preserves +the characteristics given to it by its founders, many of the houses +retaining a Dutch look, a considerable number of the inhabitants, +indeed, having also the appearance of veritable Hollanders. The town is +laid out regularly, most of the streets crossing each other at right +angles, with rows of oak, poplar, and pine-trees lining the sides of the +principal ones. Many of the houses have vine and rose-trees trailed +over them; while the shutters and doors, and the woodwork generally, are +painted of various colours, which give them a somewhat quaint but neat +and picturesque appearance." + +Harry twice got a run on shore, but his duties confined him on board for +the rest of the time the ship remained. She was on the point of sailing +when news was received of a serious outbreak of the Kaffirs. A small +body of troops on the frontier had been almost overwhelmed, and +compelled to entrench themselves till relief could be sent to them. The +Commander-in-chief accordingly ordered the "Ranger" to proceed +immediately to the nearest point where it was supposed troops could be +disembarked. It is known as Waterloo Bay. She arrived off the bay in +the evening; but Captain Newcombe, not deeming it prudent to run into an +unknown place during the night, stood away from the land, intending to +return at daylight. In a short time, however, it fell calm. The lead +was hove. It was evident that a current and swell combined were +drifting the ship fast towards the shore, on which the surf was breaking +heavily. On this the captain ordered an anchor to be let go, which +happily brought her up. Though there was scarcely a breath of air, +every now and then heavy rollers came slowly in, lifting the ship +gently, and then, passing on, broke with a terrific roar on the rocky +coast. The passengers were on deck. The young military officers +chatted and laughed as usual, and endeavoured to make themselves +agreeable to the ladies. Colonel Morley, however, looked grave. He +clearly understood the dangerous position in which they were placed. +Willy Dicey asked Harry what he thought about the matter. + +"We must do our duty, and pray that the anchor may hold," answered +Harry. + +"But if that gives way?" said Willy. + +"We must let go another, and then another." + +"But if they fail us, and no breeze springs up?" said Willy. + +"Then you and I must not expect to be admirals," answered Harry. + +"What do you mean?" asked the young midshipman. + +"That a short time will show whether any one on board this ship is +likely to be alive to-morrow," said Shafto. + +"You don't mean to say that, Harry?" remarked Willy, feeling that the +time had come when he must summon up all the courage he possessed, and +of the amount he had as yet no experience. "You don't seem afraid." + +"There's a great deal of difference between knowing a danger and fearing +to face it," said Harry. "Not a seaman on board does not know it as +well as I do, though they do not show what they think. Look at the +captain--he is as cool and collected as if we were at anchor in a snug +harbour; yet he is fully aware of the power of these rollers, and the +nature of the ground which holds the anchor. There is the order to +range another cable." + +Harry and Willy parted to attend to their respective duties. Night came +on, but neither Commander Newcombe nor any of his officers went below. +They were anxiously looking out for a breeze which might enable the ship +to stand off from the dangerous coast. The night was passing by, and +still the anchor held; at length, in the morning watch, some time before +daylight, a breeze sprang up from the eastward, and the order was given +to get under weigh. As the men went stamping round the capstan, a loud +crash was heard. + +"The messenger has given way, sir," cried Mr Tobin, the +first-lieutenant. Out ran the cable to the clench, carrying away the +stoppers, and passing through both compressors. At length the messenger +was again shackled, and the anchor hove up, when it was found that both +flukes had been carried away. + +Not, however, for some hours did the ship succeed in reaching Waterloo +Bay, where she brought up, about a mile and a-half from the +landing-place. A signal was made:--"Can troops land?" which was +answered from the shore, "Not until the weather moderates," the wind +having by this time increased to a stiff breeze. A spring was now got +on the cable, in case of its being necessary to slip; for it was very +evident, if so heavy a surf set on shore in comparatively fine weather, +that, should it come on to blow from the southward, the position of the +ship would be still more critical. + +As the day drew on, the breeze freshened, but the rollers at the same +time increased, and broke heavily half-a-cable's length to the westward +of the ship, foaming and roaring as they met the resistance of the +rockbound shore. The position of the "Ranger" was more dangerous than +ever. The crew were at their stations; the soldiers were on deck, +divided into parties under their officers, ready to assist in any work +they might be directed to perform. Topgallant masts and royal masts +were got up, and everything was prepared for making sail. The order was +now given for shortening in the cable. As it was got on board, it was +found that it had swept over a sharp rock about fifty fathoms from the +anchor, and it seemed a miracle that it had not been cut through. + +"Avast heaving," cried the captain. "Loose sails." In an instant the +crew were aloft. + +At that moment, as the topsails were filling, the second-lieutenant +cried out from forward, "The cable has parted." + +"Let go the second bower," cried the captain. The ship was drifting +towards the rocks. Willy held his breath. What Harry had said might +soon be realised. Mrs Morley and her daughters were on deck. They +stood together watching the shore. Their cheeks were paler than usual, +but they showed no sign of alarm, talking calmly and earnestly together. +As Willy Dicey observed them, he wondered whether they could be aware +of the danger they were in. To be sure, they might be lowered into the +boat before the ship struck, but then the Colonel was not likely to quit +his men, and they could not be indifferent to his safety. Still the +ship drifted. + +"Let go the sheet-anchor," was the next order. All were looking out +anxiously to ascertain whether she was driving nearer the treacherous +surf. Many a breast drew a relieved breath. The last anchor had +brought her up. Sails were now furled and royal yards sent down. + +Near the "Ranger" an English barque was at anchor. Her master came on +board, and volunteered to assist in making a hawser fast to his vessel, +for the purpose of casting the ship the right way. "You will find, +Captain Newcombe, that the rollers will soon be increasing, and, knowing +the place as I do, I have great doubts whether the anchors will hold," +he observed; "I wish you were well out of this." As he spoke, he cast +an anxious glance astern, where the surf was breaking with terrific +violence. The offer was gladly accepted. The two cutters were +accordingly lowered to take hawsers to the barque. On the sheet-anchor +being weighed, it came up without resistance. Both flukes had been +carried away. The only hope of safety depended on the remaining anchor +and cable holding till sail could be made. In vain the boats attempted +to carry the hawsers to the barque. A strong current sent them to +leeward, and they were accordingly ordered again on board. Happily, at +this moment the wind veered a point to the east. There is no necessity +to tell the men to be sharp. The order to make sail is given. The crew +swarm aloft; the soldiers, under proper guidance, are stationed at the +halliards, and the tacks and sheets. The cable is slipped, +single-reefed topsails, courses, topgallant sails, jibs, and driver set. +Few among even the brave seamen who do not hold their breath and offer +up a silent prayer that the ship may cast the right way. Hurra! round +she comes. The sails fill. She moves through the water. The boats +with the hawser get alongside and are hoisted up, and the old "Ranger" +stands out towards the open sea. Is there a soul on board so dull and +ungrateful as not to return fervent thanks to a gracious superintending +God for deliverance from the imminent danger in which they have been +placed? + +As the ship drew off the land, the rollers were seen coming in with +increased strength and size, and it was very evident that, had she not +got under weigh at the time she did, she would have been dashed to +pieces in the course, probably, of another short hour, and few of the +soldiers and crew would have escaped. [Note 1.] + +"I tell you what, boys," said Mrs Rumbelow, "you will have to go +through a good many dangers in the course of your lives may be, but +never will you have a narrower escape than this. I was just now +thinking where we all should be to-morrow, and wishing I could be +certain that we should all meet together in heaven. Not that I think +any one of us have a right to go there for any good we have ever done; +only I wish you boys to recollect, when you are rapping out oaths and +talking as you should not talk, that at any moment you may be called +away out of this world; and just let me ask you if you think that you +are fit to enter the only place a wise person would wish to live in for +ever and ever?" + +Mrs Rumbelow was not very lucid, it may be, in her theology, but she +was very earnest, and the regiment benefited more than some might be +ready to allow by her sayings and doings too. Things might have been +much worse had it not been for her. + +It being found impossible to land the troops, the "Ranger" returned to +Simon's Bay, where she was detained some time longer in replacing the +anchors and cables she had lost. Captain Newcombe was exonerated for +not carrying out his directions, seeing it was impossible to do so. A +little army of regulars and volunteers was despatched from another +station for the relief of the hard-pressed garrison, and arrived just as +their last cartridge and last biscuit had been expended. Other troops +also coming out from England, the "Ranger" proceeded towards her +previous destination. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. In 1846 H.M.S. "Apollo" was placed under exactly the +circumstances described. It was in this locality, also, that the +"Birkenhead" troop-ship was lost. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE "CRUSADER" LEAVES FOR NEW ZEALAND. + +THE YOUNG EMIGRANTS--GOING ON BOARD EMIGRANT SHIP--THE "CRUSADER" +DESCRIBED--VOYAGE TO PLYMOUTH--THE CABIN PASSENGERS--A MYSTERIOUS +PASSENGER--LAST SIGHT OF ENGLAND--MR PAGET'S GOOD EXAMPLE--EMPLOYMENT +FOR EMIGRANTS--VISIT FROM NEPTUNE--MAWSON IN THE TRITON'S HANDS. + +Charles Dicey and his sisters were busily employed from morning till +night, after Willy left home, in preparing for their intended voyage, +and for their future life in New Zealand. Charles was a very fair +carpenter. He had also learned how to shoe a horse and to milk a cow. +The latter accomplishment his sisters also possessed. They also knew +how to make butter, and to bake bread, and pies, and tarts. They could +manufacture all sorts of preserves, and could cook in a variety of ways; +while, since they were young girls, they had made all their own dresses; +indeed, they possessed numerous valuable qualifications for their +intended life in a colony. Charles was a fair judge of horse-flesh, and +not a bad one of cattle and sheep. He also possessed steadiness and +perseverance, and those who knew him best foretold that he would make a +successful settler. + +The time fixed for the sailing of the "Crusader" was drawing on. The +"Ranger," it must be remembered, had sailed a short time before. This +fact should not be forgotten. + +The day before the emigrant ship was to sail, the old Lieutenant +accompanied his children up to London, and had the honour of escorting +Mrs Clagget at the same time. Though the "Crusader" was to touch at +Plymouth, they wisely went on board at the port from which she first +sailed, that they might have time to get their cabins in order, and the +luggage carefully stowed away. + +"Bless you, my children," said Lieutenant Dicey, as he kissed his young +daughters, and held Charles' hand, gazing earnestly into his +countenance. "I entrust these dear girls to you, and I know that you +will act a brother's part, and protect them to the utmost. But there +are dangers to be encountered, and we must pray to One in heaven, who +has the power, if He sees fit, to guard you from them." + +The "Crusader" was a fine ship, of about a thousand tons, with a +poop-deck, beneath which were the cabins for the first-class passengers. +Below their cabins were those for the second-class passengers, while +the between-decks was devoted to the use of the steerage passengers. +Thus there were three ranks of people on board; indeed, including the +officers and crow, the good ship presented a little world of itself. +Old Captain Westerway was the sovereign--a mild despot, however; but if +he was mild, his first mate, Mr William Windy, or Bill Windy, as he was +generally called, was very much the contrary, and he took care to bring +those who trespassed on the captain's mildness very quickly under +subjection. The "Crusader" was towed down the Thames, and when clear of +the river, the Channel pilot, who was to take her to Plymouth, came on +board. We shall know more of her passengers as she proceeds on her +voyage. + +She had a pleasant passage round to Plymouth, with just sufficient sea +on for a few hours to shake people into their places, and to make them +value the quiet of Plymouth harbour. The wise ones, after the tumbling +about they had received, took the opportunity of securing all the loose +articles in their cabins, so that they might be prepared for the next +gale they were destined to encounter. + +At Plymouth a good many steerage and a few more cabin passengers came on +board the "Crusader." Captain Westerway informed those who had come +round from London that he expected to remain in that magnificent harbour +three days at all events, and perhaps longer, before finally bidding +farewell to Old England. + +The Misses Dicey had a cabin to themselves, their brother had a small +one near theirs, and Mrs Clagget had one on the opposite side of the +saloon; but they could hear her tongue going from morning till night; +and very often, at the latter period, addressing her next-door neighbour +whenever she guessed that she was not asleep. There were two young men, +Tom Loftus and Jack Ivyleaf by name, going out as settlers. With the +former, who was gentlemanly and pleasing, Charles Dicey soon became +intimate. A card, with the name of Mr Henry Paget, had been nailed to +the door of one of the cabins hitherto unoccupied. "I wonder what he is +like," said Emily to her sister May. "His name sounds well, but of +course that is no guide. Captain Westerway says an agent took his +passage, and that he knows nothing about him." At length a +slightly-built gentleman, prepossessing in his appearance, if not +handsome, came up the side, and presented a card with Mr Henry Paget on +it. The steward immediately showed him into his cabin, where for a +short time he was engaged in arranging several cases and other articles. +He then going on deck, took a few solitary turns, apparently admiring +the scenery. Returning below, he produced a book from his greatcoat +pocket and began reading, proceedings duly remarked and commented on by +his fellow-passengers. "Who can he be?" + +"What is taking him out to New Zealand?" were questions asked over and +over again, without eliciting any satisfactory reply. + +In the second cabin there was a Mr and Mrs Bolton, very estimable +people apparently, from the way they took care of their children. There +was an oldish man, James Joel, and a young farmer, Luke Gravel. The +last person who came on board told the mate, Bill Windy, as he stepped +up the side, that his name was Job Mawson. He had paid his +passage-money, and handed his ticket. Windy, who was a pretty good +judge of character, eyed him narrowly. The waterman who had put him on +board, as soon as the last article of his property was hoisted up, +pulled off to the opposite side of the Sound from which the emigrants +had come, and thus no information could be obtained from him. There was +an unpleasant expression on the man's countenance. His glance was +furtive, and he always seemed to be expecting some one to touch him on +the shoulder, and say, "You are wanted;" so Charles remarked to his +sisters. + +It would be impossible to describe all the people. There were three +other young ladies in the first cabin, and the steerage passengers were +generally respectable persons, whose object in emigrating was to find +sufficient scope for their industry. Some were farm labourers and +farming people, others mechanics, and a few shopkeepers, who had been +unsuccessful in England, but who hoped to do better in the colony. + +At length the captain with his papers, and the agent, came on board, all +visitors took their departure, the anchor was hove up, and the +"Crusader" with a fair wind sailed out of the Sound. The next day she +took her departure from the Land's End, the last point of Old England +many of those on board were destined to see. Mr Mawson now quickly +recovered his spirits, and began to give himself the airs of a fine +gentleman. "Circumstances compel me to take a second-class cabin," he +observed to Mr Paget, to whom he at first devoted his especial +attention; "but you may suppose that, to a person of my birth and +education, such is greatly repugnant to my feelings. However, this is +one of the trials of life, sir, we must submit to with a good grace. +Circumstances are circumstances, Mr Paget, and I am sure my young +friend, Mr Dicey (I think, sir, that is your name?) will agree with +me," he added, turning to Charles. + +"We make our own circumstances, sir, however," answered Mr Paget, "by +wise and prudent, or by foolish conduct, or by honest or dishonest +dealings with our fellow-men. The upright man is not degraded by loss +of fortune, and I have no doubt many persons of education go out in +second-class cabins on board emigrant ships." + +"Of course they do, sir, of course," exclaimed Mr Mawson; but either +the tone or the words of Mr Paget did not please him, for he +immediately afterwards walked away to another part of the ship. + +Mr Paget had not been long on board before he visited the +between-decks, and spoke to the fathers and mothers of the families on +board. "It would be a pity that your children should be idle during the +voyage," he said; "and as perhaps some of them may be unable to read or +write, I shall be happy to give them instruction." In a short time he +had a school established on board, and in a day or two afterwards he +collected a Bible-class for the elder people; and then every morning he +went below, and read the Bible to them, and offered up a prayer, and +explained to them what he read. + +"I thought, from his cut, he was one of those missionary fellows," +observed Mr Mawson to Charles Dicey with a sneer. + +"I am very glad we have got such a person on board," answered Charles, +firmly. "If he will let me, I shall be very thankful to help him." + +Mr Paget gladly accepted Charles Dicey's assistance, and the Miss +Diceys offered to teach the girls, and they also undertook a +sewing-class for the young women, many of whom scarcely knew how to use +their needles properly. And then Tom Loftus, who was very ingenious, +set to work to give employment to the young men. He got them to cut out +models of all sorts, and showed them how to make brushes and other +useful articles. Then he induced some of the sailors to teach them to +knot and splice, and, indeed, to do all sorts of things. + +"I am much obliged to you, gentlemen," said Captain Westerway. "The +last time I took out emigrants, they were almost in a state of mutiny. +They had nothing to do on board, and idleness breeds mischief; and idle +enough they were. Now, all these people seem as happy and contented as +possible, and as far as I can judge, they are much the same class as the +others." + +There was a black fiddler on board, who went by the name of Jumbo; and +while he played the sailors danced, greatly to the amusement of the +passengers. Jack Ivyleaf, who was up to all sorts of fun, used to join +them, and soon learned to dance the hornpipe as well as the best dancer +on board. + +"I wonder, Mr Ivyleaf, you can so demean yourself," exclaimed Mrs +Clagget, when he came on the poop after his performance. "You, a +gentleman, going and dancing among the sailors, and exhibiting yourself +to the steerage passengers!" + +"Why, Mrs Clagget, that is the very thing I did it for," answered Jack, +laughing. "I went on purpose to amuse them. I cannot teach them, like +our friends Dicey and Loftus, and so I do what I can. I rather +contemplate giving them some recitations, and I am going to sing some +songs; and I am not at all certain that I will not act a play for their +amusement." + +"Oh, you are incorrigible!" exclaimed Mrs Clagget; not that she really +minded what Jack proposed to do, but she must say something. + +The fine weather continued. Jack recited and sang songs to the people +one evening, and the next he appeared in costume as a conjurer, and +performed a number of wonderful tricks; and the third day he got an +interesting book, and read out to them a story in a voice that might be +heard right across the deck, so that he had a large number of auditors. +At length it struck him that he might have a young men's class; and +before the day was over all the young men on board had begged to belong +to it, so that he not only had plenty of pupils, but he got them on at a +rapid rate. Thus the "Crusader" sailed onwards. The weather was +getting hotter and hotter, and Jack Ivyleaf and several of his pupils +were found to be especially busily employed in the forepart of the ship, +with the assistance of the boatswain and some of the men; but what they +were about no one could discover. At length Captain Westerway announced +that the "Crusader" had reached the line. The sails were set, but there +was so little wind that they hung against the masts, every now and then +slowly bulging out, soon again to hang down in a discontented mood. The +carpenter's chips could be seen floating alongside sometimes for +half-an-hour together, and the pitch in the seams of the deck bubbled +and hissed, and the passengers, as they walked about, found their shoes +sticking to it. Suddenly a loud noise was heard ahead. "Ship ahoy! +What ship is that?" + +"The `Crusader,' Captain Westerway," answered the master. + +"Ay, ay, Captain Westerway, you are an old friend of mine, and I am sure +you will welcome me on board," sang out some one, apparently from +beneath the bows. + +"Who are you?" asked the captain. + +"Daddy Neptune, to be sure," answered the voice. "Don't you know that? +Your ship is just over my parlour windows, and shutting out the light, +so that my wife and children can scarcely see to eat their porridge." + +"I beg your pardon, but that is not my fault, as your Majesty well +knows," answered Captain Westerway. "However, you are welcome on +board." As he spoke, some strange figures were seen coming over the +bows, one with a crown on his head, a trident in his hand, and a huge +nose and brownish beard, which flowed over his breast. He was evidently +Daddy Neptune himself. His companions were in sea-green dresses, with +conch shells in their hands, and among them were half-a-dozen +strange-looking fish, who came walloping about the deck as if they +supposed themselves still to be swimming in the water. + +"Well, Captain Westerway, as you are an old friend, I will grant any +favour you like to ask; so just out with it, and don't stand on +ceremony," said Neptune, in a familiar, easy way. + +The captain replied, "As my passengers here are leaving their native +shore, and are about to settle in a strange country, I must beg that, +after you have mustered all hands, your Majesty will allow them to pass +without the ceremonies which those who cross the line for the first time +have usually to go through." + +The passengers were accordingly called up on deck, when most of them, in +acknowledgment of his courtesy, presented Daddy Neptune with a fee, +which he forthwith handed to an odd-looking monster whom he took care to +introduce as his treasurer. Mr Job Mawson, however, kept out of the +way, evidently determined to pay nothing. Neptune, who had been eyeing +him for some time, now turned to his attendants. Four of them +immediately sprang forward, when Mr Mawson, suspecting their +intentions, took to flight. Round and round the deck he ran, pursued by +the tritons, to escape from whom he sprang below; but in his fright he +went down forward, so that he could not reach his own cabin, and he was +soon hunted up again and chased as before, till at length, exhausted, +and nearly frightened out of his wits, he was caught beneath the poop. + +"Let him alone," exclaimed Neptune; "he is beneath our notice, after +all." + +Instead of the rough amusements often carried on on board ships crossing +the line, a drama was acted by Neptune and his attendants, he being +shortly afterwards joined by his wife and children, who had by this +time, he observed, finished their breakfasts, and had come to pay their +respects to their old friend, Captain Westerway. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +A SEAMAN'S SUPERSTITION. + +"RANGER" TAKES A SOUTHERLY COURSE--ALBATROSSES APPEAR ASTERN--HOLT +PREPARES HIS RIFLE--MISS MORLEY PLEADS FOR THE BIRDS--HOLT KILLS AN +ALBATROSS--A SUPERSTITION OF SEAMEN--THE FATE OF THE ANCIENT MARINER-- +MRS RUMBELOW'S OPINIONS ON THE SUBJECT--SERJEANT RUMBELOW--MUSIC HEARD +OVER THE OCEAN--A SHIP PASSED AT NIGHT--A HAIL FROM THE "RANGER"-- +BLOWING HARD--MRS RUMBELOW COMFORTS THE SICK--THE COLONEL CAUTIONS THE +COMMANDER--LOOK-OUT FOR ICEBERGS--THE COLONEL'S WIFE AND DAUGHTERS--THE +COLONEL'S PRACTICAL RELIGION--A CALM. + +The lofty height of Table Mountain sank lower and lower in the blue +ocean as the "Ranger" stood towards the south. + +"I propose taking the short circle on our voyage eastward," said +Commander Newcombe to Colonel Morley. "We may experience somewhat cold +weather; but, at this time of the year we may hope to escape heavy +gales, and it is important, with so many men on board, to make a quick +passage. If, too, our water should run scarce, we may obtain a supply +from the icebergs, with which it is not impossible we may fall in now +and then." + +"I hope we may not run foul of one," observed Colonel Morley. + +"No fear of that, colonel, if we have our eyelids open, and our wits +about us," answered the commander of the "Ranger." + +The sea was calm, the wind light, and the "Ranger" glided proudly over +the smooth sea. The ladies and most of the other passengers were on +deck. Two or three of the lieutenants and ensigns brought up their +rifles and proposed shooting at the albatrosses, which, with expanded +wings, floated around the ship, now rising high in the air, now darting +down on the scrapings of the mess tins which had been thrown overboard. +Ensign Holt had just loaded his rifle. + +"I think I can hit that fellow," he exclaimed, pointing at a magnificent +bird which, at the instant, came swooping down near the stern. + +"Oh! do not be so cruel," exclaimed Miss Morley, who observed him. "I +could not suppose that anybody with right feeling would wish to deprive +so beautiful a creature of its joyous existence. How delightful it must +be to fly at freedom through the clear blue air, and remain thus, for +days and weeks together, away from the heat and dust of the shore." + +The ensign reddened, and lowered his weapon from his shoulder, and the +albatross swept off to a distance, far out of range of his rifle. + +"I was only thinking of the good practice they would give us," he +observed; "but your interference, Miss Morley, has saved the bird's +life." + +"That is to say, Holt, it prevented you from firing," observed +Lieutenant Dawson; "it does not follow that the bird would have been the +sufferer." + +Lieutenant Hickman and Ensign Gonne laughed heartily, for Holt was not +celebrated for his shooting. The magnificent birds continued as before, +hovering about the ship, not aware of the evil intentions harboured +against them by the young officers. + +Ensign Holt was nettled, and, notwithstanding Miss Morley's remark, was +longing for an opportunity of exhibiting his skill. She soon afterwards +went below, when he again prepared, as he said, to bring down an +albatross. He and his brother officers, however, fired several shots +without producing any effect. A rifle ball at length striking one of +the birds, the white feathers were seen flying from its breast; upwards +it soared, making several wide circuits, then once more darted towards +the surface of the water, apparently not in any way the sufferer. + +While the young officers were thus engaged, Commander Newcombe appeared +on the poop. "I do not wish to interfere with the amusements of my +passengers," he observed; "but we sailors are apt to be superstitious, +and we hold to the idea, if one of those magnificent birds is wantonly +killed by any one on board a ship, she is sure to meet with some +misfortune." + +"Why, captain, I do not see that there can be any more harm in killing +an albatross than shooting a pheasant," answered Ensign Holt, who was +somewhat vexed at being thus a second time interfered with. + +"The pheasant, sir, might serve for dinner," observed the commander, +"but I do not fancy you would wish to eat an albatross, even should you +happen to shoot one, and we could lower a boat and pick it up. I +confess I do not like to see the creatures wantonly injured. You may +break a leg or wing of one of them, and leave it to suffer and die out +in the ocean here; but your rifle balls can scarcely penetrate the +bird's thick coat of feathers, unless you get a fair shot at close +range, so as to kill it outright." + +The young ensign, who did not at all like to be thus thwarted by the +commander, had been watching a bird which, bolder than its companions, +had more than once swooped close up to the taffrail. Determined to +prove that he was not the bad shot it was supposed, he had kept his +rifle capped and ready; he lifted it as the commander spoke, and fired. +The albatross rose for an instant, and then, with expanded wings, fell +heavily into the water, where it was seen struggling in a vain effort to +rise. + +"You have done for him, old fellow, at all events," cried Lieutenant +Dawson. + +"Well, Holt, you have retrieved your character," remarked the other +ensign. + +"I wish that Mr Holt would have listened to my advice," said the +commander, turning away annoyed. The young officers were too much +engaged watching the poor bird to observe this. In another instant the +struggles of the wounded albatross ceased, and immediately several of +its companions pounced down upon it, and, ere the ship had run it out of +sight, the body was almost torn in pieces. + +"Why, it appears that your pets are somewhat ferocious creatures," +observed Lieutenant Dawson, pointing out what had occurred to Commander +Newcombe, who had again returned aft. + +"That is their nature, gentlemen," he replied; "I have an idea, too, +that it was implanted in them for a beneficent purpose. Better that the +creature should be put out of its pain at once than linger on in agony. +If we come to look into the matter, we shall find that every living +creature is imbued with certain habits and propensities for a good +purpose. I do not hold that anything happens by chance, or that the +albatross is unworthy of being treated with humanity, because it acts in +what you call a savage way. You will pardon me for being thus +plain-spoken, gentlemen; and now Mr Holt has shown his skill by +shooting one of those poor birds, I will ask you to favour me by not +attempting to kill any more." + +Though not over well pleased at the interference of the commander, the +young officers, feeling that his rebuke was just, discharged their +rifles in the air, and did not again produce them during the voyage. + +Willy Dicey and Peter Patch had been on the poop when these remarks had +been made. "I say, Dicey, do you suppose that the commander really +believes harm will come to the ship because Ensign Holt killed the +albatross?" asked Peter, as they took a turn together on the port side +of the quarterdeck. + +"I should think not," answered Willy. "I do not see what the one thing +has to do with the other." + +"The sailors say, however, that it is very unlucky to kill an +albatross," observed Peter. "They fancy that the souls of people who +die at sea fly about in the bodies of albatrosses, I suppose, or +something of that sort--I am not quite certain; and for my part I wish +that Ensign Holt had been less free with his rifle. I have always +thought him a donkey, and donkeys do a good deal of mischief sometimes." + +"I will ask Harry Shafto what he thinks about it," said Willy. "I have +read a poem about a man who shot an albatross, and all the people died +on board, and the ship went floating about till the masts and sails +rotted, and he alone remained alive." + +"I suppose he lived on the ship's stores then," observed Peter. "He +would have had plenty to eat, as there was no one to share the grub with +him; but I should not like to have been in his skin. Did he ever get to +shore, or how did people come to know it?" + +"I think the old hulk reached the land after a good many years," said +Willy; "but I am not quite certain about that." + +"He must have had a terrible life of it, all alone by himself," said +Peter. "I should like to hear more of the story; but, I say, Dicey, are +you certain that it is true?" + +"No, I rather think it is a poet's fancy, for the story is written in +verse," answered Willy. + +"Well! that's some comfort," observed Peter; "because, you see, if the +same thing was to happen to us, we should all have to die, and Ensign +Holt would be the only person left on board the `Ranger.'" + +Harry Shafto soon afterwards coming on deck, the two midshipmen appealed +to him for his opinion. Harry laughed heartily. + +"I think, however, that those soldier-officers might as well have let +the poor birds alone," he observed. "It is a cruel thing to shoot them, +but I do not think any further harm will come of it." + +Still, neither Peter nor Willy were quite satisfied. "I'll ask Mrs +Rumbelow what she thinks about it," said Willy. "She will soon get the +opinion of the seamen, and I should not quite like to ask them myself." + +As soon as their watch was over, the two midshipmen went below, where +they found Mrs Rumbelow seated on a chest, busily employed in darning +her husband's stockings, or in some other feminine occupation, as was +her wont: Mrs Rumbelow's fingers were never idle. + +"Glad to see you, young gentlemen," she said, looking up from her work. +"Well, Mr Dicey, you don't look like the same person you were before we +reached the Cape; by the time you get home again they won't know you." + +"If all goes well with us, perhaps not," said Willy; "but Ensign Holt +has gone and killed an albatross, and perhaps, as you know, that is a +very dreadful thing to do. They say that evil is sure, in consequence, +to come to the ship." + +Mrs Rumbelow looked at the faces of her two young visitors. "Do you +think seriously that God rules the world in that fashion?" she asked, in +a somewhat scornful tone. "Because a foolish young gentleman happens to +kill a bird, will He who counts the hairs of our heads allow a number of +His creatures, who have nothing to do with the matter, to suffer in +consequence. Do not let such nonsense enter your heads, my dears." + +"We wanted you, Mrs Rumbelow, to inquire of the seamen what they think +about the matter," said Willy. + +"I will do no such thing, and that's my answer," replied the sergeant's +wife; "harm may come to the ship, but it won't be because of that, or +anything of the sort." + +Just then Sergeant Rumbelow himself came up: in appearance he was very +unlike his wife. Whereas she was tall and thin, he was comparatively +short and broad; indeed, though of the regulation height, his width made +him appear shorter than he really was; while his countenance, though +burnt and tanned by southern suns and exposure to all sorts of weather, +was fat and rubicund. He held his sides and laughed so heartily at the +account his wife gave him of the questions which had been put to her, +that Willy and Peter wished they had not mentioned the subject. + +The wind was light and the ship made but little way for several days. +Shafto, though only a mate, did duty as a lieutenant. Willy was in his +watch; it was the middle watch. Willy enjoyed such opportunities of +talking with his friend. The sea was perfectly smooth, there was only +wind sufficient just to fill the sails, and the ship was making scarcely +three knots through the water. Every now and then a splash was heard; +some monster of the deep rose to the surface, and leaping forth, plunged +back again into its native element. Strange sounds seemed to come from +the far distance. A thick fog arose and shrouded the ship, so that +nothing could be seen beyond the bowsprit. + +"Keep a bright look-out there, forward," sang out Shafto every now and +then, in a clear ringing voice, which kept the watch forward on the +alert. + +"Hark!" said Willy; "I fancy I heard singing." + +"You heard the creaking yards against the masts, perhaps," said Shafto. + +"No, I am certain it is singing," exclaimed Willy; "listen!" + +Harry and his companion stopped in their walk; even Harry could not help +confessing that he heard sweet sounds coming over the water. "Some +emigrant ship, perhaps, bound out to Auckland," he observed; "the +passengers are enjoying themselves on deck, unwilling to retire to their +close cabins. Sounds travel a long distance over the calm waters. She +is on our beam, I suspect; but we must take care not to run into each +other, in case she should be more on the bow than I suppose." He hailed +the forecastle to learn if the look-out could see anything. "Nothing in +sight," was the answer. "Keep a bright look-out, then," he shouted. +"Ay, ay, sir," came from for'ard. + +Soon after this the fog lifted. Far away on the starboard hand the dim +outline of a tall ship appeared standing across their course. "She will +pass under our stern if she keeps as she is now steering," observed +Harry; "the voices we heard must have come from her." + +The stranger approached, appearing like some vast phantom floating over +the ocean, with her canvas spread on either hand to catch the light +wind. "A sail on the starboard beam," shouted the look-out, as he +discovered her. It appeared as if she would pass within easy hail, +when, just as Harry Shafto had told Willy to get a speaking-trumpet, she +appeared to melt into a thin mist. + +"What has become of her?" exclaimed Willy, feeling somewhat awe-struck. + +"She has run into a bank of fog which we had not perceived," said +Shafto; "I will hail her;" and taking the speaking-trumpet, he shouted +out, "What ship is that?" No answer came. Again he shouted, "This is +Her Majesty's ship `Ranger.'" All was silent. "Surely I cannot have +been deceived," he remarked; "my hail would have been answered if it had +been heard." Willy declared that he heard shouts and laughter, but +Harry told him that was nonsense, and that undoubtedly the stranger was +much further off than he had supposed her to be. + +Before the watch was out, Harry had to turn the hands up to shorten +sail; a strong breeze was blowing, increasing every instant in violence. +Before morning the "Ranger" was ploughing her way through the ocean +under close-reefed topsails, now rising to the summit of a sea, now +plunged into the trough below. It was Willy's first introduction to +anything like a gale of wind. + +"Well, Mr Dicey, you have at last got a sight of what the sea can be," +said Roger Bolland, the boatswain, with whom Willy was a favourite. + +"I have got a feeling, too, of what it can do," answered Willy, who was +far from comfortable. + +"Don't you go and give in, though, like the soldiers below," said the +boatswain; "there are half of them on their backs already, and the gay +young ensigns, who were boasting only the other day of what capital +sailors they were, are as bad as the men." + +Though the whole battalion had been sick, Mrs Rumbelow was not going to +knock under. She was as lively and active as ever, going about to the +ladies' cabins to assist them into their berths, and secure various +articles which were left to tumble about at the mercy of the sea. If +the truth must be known, she did not confine her attentions to them +alone, but looked in as she passed on the young ensigns, offering +consolation to one, handing another a little cold brandy and water, and +doing her best to take comfort to all. + +At length, after the ship had been tumbled about for nearly ten days, +the gale began to abate, the soldiers recovered their legs, though +looking somewhat pale and woebegone, and the cabin passengers once more +appeared on deck. The weather, however, had by this time become very +cold; there was no sitting down, as before, with work or book in hand, +to while away the time; the ladies took to thick cloaks, and the +military officers in their greatcoats walked the deck with rapid steps, +as a matter of duty, for the sake of exercise. Gradually, too, the sea +went down, and the "Ranger" glided forward on her course under her usual +canvas. + +Colonel Morley more than once asked the commander whether they had not +by this time got into the latitude where icebergs were to be found. "We +keep a sharp look-out for them, colonel, as I promised you," answered +the commander. "They are not objects we are likely to run upon while +the weather remains clear, and as long as we have a good breeze there is +no fear. They are, I confess, awkward customers to fall in with in a +thick foe during a calm." + +"You may think I am over-anxious, captain," observed the colonel, "but +we cannot be too cautious with so many lives committed to our charge; +and when I tell you that I was sole survivor of the whole wing of a +regiment on board a ship lost by the over-confidence of her commander +when I was an ensign, you will not be surprised at my mentioning the +subject." + +"You are right, colonel, you are right," said Commander Newcombe. "I +pray that no such accident will happen to us; but danger must be run, +though we who are knocking about at sea all our lives are apt to forget +the fact till it comes upon us somewhat suddenly." + +Willy Dicey did not find keeping watch at night now quite so pleasant as +in warmer latitudes; still, with his pea-coat buttoned well up to his +chin, and his cap drawn tightly down over his head, he kept his post +bravely on the forecastle, where he now had the honour of being +stationed. "He is the most trustworthy midshipman on board," said Mr +Tobin, the first-lieutenant. "I can always depend on him for keeping +his eyes open, whereas Peter Patch is apt to shut his, and make-believe +he is wide awake all the time." This praise greatly encouraged Willy. +He determined to do his best and deserve it. Blow high or blow low, he +was at his station, never minding the salt sprays which dashed into his +eyes, and at times nearly froze there, when the wind blew cold and +strong. + +The "Ranger" continued her course, making good way, the wind being +generally favourable. + +The only grumblers among the passengers were three or four of the young +lieutenants and ensigns, who, having finished all their novels, and not +being addicted to reading works of a more useful description, found the +time hang heavily on their hands. They ought to have followed the +example of the Miss Morleys and their mother, who were never idle. Very +little has hitherto been said about them. They were both very nice +girls, without a particle of affectation or nonsense, though they had +lived in barracks for some portion of their lives. Fanny, the eldest, +was fair, with blue eyes, somewhat _retrousse_ nose, and good figure, +and if not decidedly pretty, the expression of her countenance was so +pleasing that no one found fault with any of her features. Emma was +dark, not quite so tall as her sister, but decidedly handsomer, with +hazel eyes and beautifully formed nose and mouth. As yet, perhaps, they +had had no opportunity of giving decided proof of any higher qualities +they may have possessed, but they were both right-minded, religious +girls. Some of the officers pronounced them far too strict, others +considered them haughty, and one or two even ventured to pronounce them +prudish, because they showed no taste for the frivolous amusements in +which the ordinary run of young ladies indulge; not that they objected +to dance, or to join in a pleasant pic-nic; indeed, the few who did find +fault with them complained only of the way in which they did those +things. Ensign Holt, who was not a favourite, whispered that he thought +them very deep, and that time would show whether they were a bit better +than other people. Neither Fanny nor Emma would have cared much for the +opinion of Ensign Holt, even had they been aware of it. He might +possibly have been prejudiced, from the fact that Mrs Morley, though +very kind and motherly to all the young officers, had found it necessary +to encourage him less than the rest. Ensign Holt, and indeed most of +his brother officers, had no conception of the principles which guided +the Misses Morley or their parents. They looked upon their colonel as +not a bad old fellow, though rather slow; but somehow or other he +managed to keep his regiment in very good order, and all the men loved +him, and looked up to him as to a father. It was his custom to read the +Bible every day in his cabin to his wife and daughters; and as there was +no chaplain on board, he acted the part of one for the benefit of his +men. His sermons were delivered in a fine clear voice, and were +certainly not too long for the patience of his hearers; but Ensign Holt +insisted that they were too strict: he did not like that sort of +theology. Lieutenants Dawson and Hickman were inclined to echo Holt's +opinion. Whatever the captains thought, they had the good taste to keep +it to themselves. Indeed, Power, the senior captain in the regiment, +was suspected of having a leaning toward the colonel's sentiments. No +one, however, could say that he was slow or soft: he was known to have +done several gallant acts, and was a first-rate officer, a keen +sportsman, and proficient in all athletic exercises. It was whispered +that Power was the only man likely to succeed with either the Miss +Morleys, though, as far as was observed, he paid them no particular +attention; indeed, he was not looked upon as a marrying man. He was the +only unmarried captain on board. Captain Gosling had left his wife at +home; and Mrs Twopenny was in delicate health, and generally kept her +cabin. She has not before been mentioned. There were no other ladies +on board, but there were several soldiers' wives, with their children, +though, altogether, there were fewer women than are generally found in a +troop-ship. + +A calm unusual for these latitudes had prevailed for several days. Now +and then a light wind would come from the northward, just filling the +sails, but again dying away; now the ship glided slowly over the smooth +water; now she remained so stationary that the chips of wood swept +overboard from the carpenter's bench floated for hours together +alongside. + +Peter Patch asked Willy whether he did not think that the fate which +befell the ship of the Ancient Mariner was likely to be theirs. + +"I hope not," said Willy; "particularly if the icebergs, which they say +are not far off, should get round us, we should find it terribly cold." + +"But we should not die of thirst, as the crew of that unfortunate ship +did," observed Peter; "that's one comfort." + +"Very cold comfort, though," said Willy, who now and then ventured on a +joke, if only Peter and some other youngster were within hearing. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +"ICEBERG AHEAD!" + +A GALE SPRINGS UP--A DARK NIGHT--SOUND OF BREAKERS--SHIP RUNNING ON AN +ICEBERG--THE "RANGER" SCRAPES ALONG THE BERG--PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE-- +ENSIGN HOLT'S ALARM--THE CARPENTER REPORTS A LEAK--THE CHAIN-PUMPS +RIGGED--THE "RANGER" ON HER BEAM-ENDS--THE MASTS CUT AWAY--RUNNING +BEFORE THE GALE--ALL HANDS AT THE PUMPS--THE WEATHER MODERATES--PREPARE +TO RIG JURY-MASTS. + +Once more a strong breeze had sprung up from the westward, and the ship +was making good way through the water. + +Though it was the summer time in the southern hemisphere, the weather +was very variable; now, when the wind came from the antarctic pole, +bitterly cold; or drawing round and blowing from the north, after it had +passed over the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, it was soft and balmy. + +It was Harry Shafto's morning watch; he had just relieved the +second-lieutenant. Willy was for'ard. It was blowing somewhat fresh, +and the ship had a reef in her topsails and her courses set. The night +was very dark. Willy having just been aroused from a midshipman's sound +sleep, was rubbing his eyes to get them clear. Now he peered out ahead +into the darkness, now he rubbed them again, and shut and opened them, +to satisfy himself that they were in good order. He could not +distinguish who was on the forecastle, but he knew by the voice that one +of the best men in the ship, Paul Lizard, was by his side. + +"I have seen many a dark night, Mr Dicey, but this pretty well beats +them all," observed Paul. "It's not one I should like to be caught in +on a lee-shore or a strange coast; though out here, in the open sea, +there is nothing to fear, as the highway is a pretty wide one, and we +are not likely to fall in with any other craft crossing our course." + +"Very true," answered Willy; "but there is one thing I have been told to +do, and that is to keep a bright look-out, though it may be difficult +enough to see an object; even should one be ahead." + +"On course, sir," said Paul, "what is our duty must be done, though it +would be a hard matter to see the `David Dunn' of Dover, even if our +jibboom were over her taffrail." + +"What ship is that?" asked Willy. "I never heard of her." + +"The biggest ship that ever was or ever will be, sir," answered Paul, +who was fond of a joke. "When she went about going up Channel once, her +spanker pretty nigh swept away one of the towers of Calais, while her +jibboom run right into Dover Castle." + +"She must have been a big ship, then," said Willy. + +The voice of the officer of the watch hailing the forecastle put a stop +to Paul's wit. "Ay, ay, sir," he answered, in his usual stentorian +voice; then he added, "It seems to be growing darker than ever." So +Willy thought, but still he tried his best with his sharp young eyes to +penetrate the gloom. + +"I wish it would clear," observed Willy. "It is dark." + +"It couldn't well be darker, sir," said Paul; "to my mind it would be +wise to shorten sail, or heave the ship to. The captain knows best, +though." + +"It is getting very cold, though," said Dicey. "I can feel the +difference since the last five minutes." + +"I can't say I feel it," said Paul; "but hark, sir; I fancy I heard the +sound of breakers." + +Willy listened, bending forward in his eagerness. "Yes," he thought he +heard a sound, and it seemed to be almost ahead, but yet it seemed to +come from a long way off. + +"It is only fancy after all," observed Paul. The other men for'ard +could hear nothing. + +A few minutes passed. "What is that?" exclaimed Willy, with startling +energy. "There seems to be a great white wall rising up before us." + +"Iceberg ahead!" shouted Paul, and he never hallooed louder in his life, +"a little on the starboard bow." + +"Starboard the helm," cried Harry from the quarterdeck. "Man the +starboard braces. Brace the yards sharp up; call the captain; all hands +on deck to save ship." Such were the orders he issued in rapid +succession. In an instant the boatswain's whistle and the hoarse +bawling of his mates was heard along the lower decks, and the ship, +lately so silent and deserted, teemed with life. The crew came tumbling +up from below, some with their clothes in their hands; the soldiers +quickly followed, hurrying from their berths. Commander Newcombe and +the other officers were on deck a few instants after the order to summon +them had been given. He now took command, issuing his orders with the +calmness of a man well inured to danger. Another voice was heard; it +was that of Colonel Morley. "Soldiers, keep to your quarters," he +shouted out. The men, who had been rushing on deck, without a murmur +obeyed the command. + +The danger was indeed imminent. Sheer out of the ocean rose a huge +white mountain, directly against which the ship appeared to be running +headlong; but, answering her helm, she came up to the wind, though not +in sufficient time altogether to avoid the danger. As Willy looked up, +he expected to see the yards strike the sides of the iceberg, for such +it was. A grating sound was heard: now it seemed as if the ship would +be thrown bodily on to the icy mass; still she moved forward; now she +heeled over to the wind, the yards again almost touching the frozen +cliffs. An active leaper might have sprung on to the berg, could +footing have been found. Every moment the crew expected to find their +ship held fast by some jutting point, and speedily dashed to pieces; the +bravest held their breath, and had there been light, the countenances of +those who were wont to laugh at danger might have been seen blanched +with terror. + +Again and again the ship struck, as she scraped by the berg. It seemed +wonderful, indeed, to those ignorant of the cause, that she should +continue to move forward, and be driven ever and anon actually away from +the ice. This was caused by the undertow, which prevented her from +being thrown bodily on to the berg. Not a word was spoken, not an order +issued, for all that could be done had been done. All were aware, +however, that, even should she scrape clear of the berg, the blows her +sides were receiving might at any moment rip them open, and send her +helplessly to the bottom of the cold ocean. + +The voyager on such an occasion may well exclaim, "Vain is the help of +man!" + +Harry, with the second-lieutenant, had gone for'ard among the men +stationed on the forecastle, all eagerly looking out in the hopes of +seeing the extreme end of the berg. Suddenly the white wall seemed to +terminate, the ship glided freely forward, rising to the sea, which came +rolling in from the north-west. + +"Sound the well, Mr Chisel," said the commander to the carpenter. All +on deck stood anxiously waiting his report. + +The berg appeared on the quarter, gradually becoming less and less +distinct, till what seemed like a thin white mist alone was seen, which +soon melted away altogether in the thick darkness. Still all well knew +that other bergs might be in the neighbourhood, and a similar danger +might have to be encountered. + +The officers paced the deck, looking out anxiously, and those who, while +the danger lasted, had not felt the cold, hurried below to finish +dressing as best they could, or buttoned up their flushing coats, and +wrapped comforters round their necks. + +Colonel Morley returned to the cabin to tell his wife and daughters that +the danger had passed. He found them pale and anxious, but neither +trembling nor fainting. The two girls were seated on each side of their +mother, holding her hands. They had been fully aware of the danger in +which the ship had been placed, and they had together been offering up +their prayers for their own safety and for that of all on board. + +Peter Patch, finding himself near Willy, whispered that he should like +to go and see how Ensign Holt had behaved himself. He would have found +the ensign seated on the deck of his cabin with his bed-clothes pulled +over his head, much too alarmed to think, or to utter any sounds but +"Oh! oh! oh! what is going to happen? Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, I wish +I had not come!" + +The other officers had collected in the main cabin, where Captain Power +had taken his seat at the head of the table, giving encouragement to +those around him, while their well-disciplined men, according to orders, +kept to their quarters, the sergeants moving among them to see that no +one went on deck. Mrs Rumbelow had taken the poor women under her +charge, and did her best to comfort them. + +"I told you so," she exclaimed, when the ship was found to be moving +easily forward, and those fearful grating sounds had ceased. "Just +trust in God, and all will come right. Never cry out that all is lost +while there is life, and even at the last moment hope that a way of +deliverance may be found." + +The wind had increased, the courses had been taken off the ship, and she +stood out under her topsails. It might have been supposed that nothing +particular had occurred. All hands were at their stations, however, +both watches being kept on deck; indeed, no one, even the most careless, +felt inclined to go below. + +The commander was walking the poop, awaiting the report of the +carpenter; he had taken one or two turns, when a figure approached him. + +"I don't like the state of things," said a voice which he recognised as +that of Mr Chisel. "The ship is making water very rapidly; it's coming +in in several places, though the worst leaks are for'ard." + +"We must do our best to stop them, however," answered the commander. +"And, Mr Chisel, do not let more than necessary know this." The +first-lieutenant and master instantly hurried below to assist the +carpenter in discovering the leaks. That they were high up seemed +certain, and thus some hope existed that they might be reached. In time +the chief injuries were discovered, and every effort was made to stop +the leaks, old sails and blankets being used for the purpose. The pumps +were immediately manned by the soldiers, who were told off to work them. +Their clanking sound echoed along the decks, while, at the same time, +the loud gush of the clear water rushing through the scuppers gave +fearful proof of the large amount which must be rushing in. How eagerly +all on board longed for daylight. The wind, however, was rising, and +the ship heeled over on the side which had received the injury; she was +accordingly put on the other tack, although it would take her out of her +proper course. + +All on board felt it to be a solemn time. The only sounds heard were +those of the clanking pumps, and the gush of water as it was forced up +from below. The wind was every instant increasing. The topsails were +closely reefed, and the "Ranger" went plunging on into the fast-rising +seas. + +At length the cold light of early morn broke on the countenances of the +crew; many looked pale and haggard. The past hours had been trying +ones, and the soldiers, some in their shirts and trousers only, were +labouring away manfully at the pumps; the crew at their stations, ready +to obey the commands which any sudden emergency might demand. At length +the carpenter reported that he had so far conquered the leaks that the +ship might safely be put again on the port tack. + +"Helm a-lee!" was heard. "Shift tacks and sheets! Mainsail haul! of +all haul!" shouted Commander Newcombe; but at that instant, before the +words were well out of his mouth, while the yards were in the act of +being swung round, a terrific blast laid the ship over, a heavy sea +striking her at the same time. For an instant it seemed as if she would +never rise again. Shrieks were heart! rising from the foaming waters +under her lee; several poor fellows were seen struggling amid them. No +help could be given; no boat would have lived in that sea, had there +been time to lower one, before they had sunk for ever. Their fate might +soon be that of all on board. + +The commander, after a moment's consultation with the first-lieutenant +and master, had summoned the carpenter, who appeared directly afterwards +with his crew and several picked men with axes in their hands. They +stood round the mizen-mast. "Cut," he cried. The mizen shrouds were +severed, a few splinters were seen to fly from the mast, and over it +fell into the seething sea. Still the ship did not rise. They sprang +to the mainmast. "That, too, must go," said the commander, and issued +the order to cut. In another instant the tall mast fell into the sea. +For a moment it seemed doubtful whether that would have any effect. +Suddenly the ship rose with a violent motion to an even keel, carrying +away, as she did so, her fore-topmast. The helm was put up. Onwards +she flew before the still-increasing gale. The seas rolled savagely up +with foaming crests, as if trying to overwhelm her. To attempt to heave +her to without any after-sail would now be hopeless. + +Willy Dicey, who had gone aft, heard the commander remark to the +first-lieutenant, that he hoped the gale would not last long, as +otherwise they might be driven in among the ice, which would be found in +heavy packs to the south-east. "With a moderate breeze we might reach +New Zealand in ten days or a fortnight," he observed. "I trust we can +keep the old ship afloat till then." + +"Chisel thinks the injuries very severe, though," said the +first-lieutenant; "still, with the aid of the soldiers, we can keep the +pumps going without difficulty, and we may be thankful that we have them +on board." + +All day long the "Ranger" ran on, the wind and sea rather increasing +than in any way lessening. Night once more approached, but no sign +appeared of the gale abating. The soldiers relieved each other bravely +at the pumps. Had it not been for them, the seamen well knew that the +ship must have gone down; for though they might have worked them well, +their strength must in time have given in. Mrs Rumbelow continued her +kind ministrations to the women and children below; she had a word, too, +for the seamen and soldiers, who were allowed half-a-watch at a time to +take some rest. "You see, laddies," she observed, "how you can all help +each other. If the ship is to be kept afloat, and our lives saved, it +will be by all working together with a will; you soldiers, by labouring +at the pumps, and the sailors by taking care of the ship. If all do +their duty there's he fear, boys. I only wish people could learn the +same in the everyday concerns of life--the world would get on much more +happily than it does." + +While the sea continued rolling and the ship tumbling about, there were +no hopes of getting up jury-masts. That night was even more trying than +the previous one. It was not quite so dark, for now and then the clouds +cleared away, and the bright stars shone forth; but still it was +impossible to say whether some big iceberg might not be ahead, or +whether the ship might not be driven into the midst of a field of ice, +which would be scarcely less dangerous. All night long she ran on +before the gale. It would be hopeless to attempt bringing her on a wind +while the storm continued, and yet she was running into unknown dangers. +Before, when she almost ran into the iceberg, she had had her masts +standing, and was under easy steering canvas; now, with her after-masts +gone, should an iceberg rise in her course, it would be scarcely +possible for her to escape it. + +Not a single officer of the ship, and but few of the men, went below +that night. The military officers took their turn at the pumps to +relieve their men; for, although so many were ready for the duty, so +great was the exertion required, that they could continue at it but a +few minutes together. As soon as one man was knocked up, another sprang +into his place. + +Another day dawned. It is easy to imagine how anxiously the night had +been spent by all on board, especially by the poor ladies and soldiers' +wives. Happy were those who knew the power and effect of prayer. +Wonderfully had they been supported. Those who knew not how to pray had +been seated with hands clasped, or lying down with their heads covered +up, endeavouring to shut out all thought of the future. Mrs Morley and +her daughters had remained in their cabin, calm, though not unmoved, +visited every now and then by the colonel; yet he could afford them but +little consolation with regard to the safety of the ship. All he could +say was that the men were doing their duty, and that they must hope for +the best. + +Ensign Holt had been missed by his brother officers, and roused up, not +very gently, and had been compelled to take his turn at the pumps. He +ought to have been very much obliged to them, as those are best off who +are actively engaged in times of danger, though he grumbled +considerably, declaring that it was not in the articles of war, and that +he did not see why he should be made to work at the pumps like the +common men. + +As the day advanced, though the weather remained thick and lowering, the +wind began to abate; yet the sea ran still very high, and the ship +laboured greatly. The seamen were making preparations, however, to set +up jury-masts, the carpenter and his crew were busy in lashing the spars +together for the purpose, and the boatswain and his party in preparing +the rigging; but while the ship continued pitching and rolling as she +was then doing, it would be impossible to set up the masts. "I often +wished to encounter a gale of wind," observed Peter Patch to Willy; +"but, to confess the honest truth, now I know what it is, especially in +these cold regions, I would rather have been excused." + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +MORE ICE. + +HOPES OF ESCAPE--HARRY'S ADVICE TO WILLY--AMONG ICEBERGS--WONDERFUL +APPEARANCE OF ICE ISLANDS--GETTING UP JURY-MASTS--DRIFTING TOWARDS AN +ICEBERG--THE ICEBERGS MOVING--THE SHIP STRIKES A BERG--CONSTERNATION OF +PASSENGERS--THE SOLDIERS AT THE PUMPS--SHIP DRIVEN STERN-ON TO A BERG-- +FEARFUL DAMAGE RECEIVED--A SLANT OF WIND TAKES HER OFF--THE LEAKS +INCREASING--STORES HOVE OVERBOARD--JURY-MASTS CARRIED AWAY--ATTEMPTS TO +STOP THE LEAKS--MATTERS BECOME WORSE--AN ANXIOUS NIGHT--THE WATER GAINS +ON THE LEAKS. + +The "Ranger" had been running on for another night. Though the wind had +fallen, there was too much sea to attempt rigging jury-masts, or heaving +her to. The weather had been tolerably clear, and a bright look-out +being kept, it was hoped that, should icebergs appear ahead, they might +be seen in sufficient time to steer clear of them. During the whole +time the commander had not gone below; indeed none of the officers had +turned in, and a few only of the men had taken short snatches of sleep. +Not for a moment had the clanging pumps ceased to work. At frequent +intervals the carpenter had sounded the well, and reported that they +were greatly gaining on the leaks. + +"I hope, Willy, you will still be able to write home a long yarn of our +adventures," said Harry Shafto, as they stood together on the deck. +"The sea has gone down considerably during the last two hours, and if we +can pump the ship clear we may yet stop the leaks, get jury-masts up, +and reach New Zealand not long after the time we were due." + +"I hope so," said Willy, who was feeling somewhat worn-out, and whose +spirits for a midshipman were getting unusually low. "I cannot help +thinking of the poor fellows who were washed overboard, and thankful I +ought to be that I was not among them. I was holding on when one of the +men who was making his way for'ard was carried off by the sea. I know I +wish that it was daylight." + +"It will soon come," said Harry, "and we shall get the ship to rights; +and with regard to those poor fellows, I would not tell you not to think +about them, but that their fate should teach us always to be ready. If +we are so, we shall never fear to face danger." + +"By the by, Willy, I wish to report your conduct to the commander. I +find that it was your sharp eyes that first discovered the iceberg from +which we so providentially escaped." + +"Thank you," said Willy; "but I was only just doing my duty in keeping a +bright look-out." + +"Exactly," said Harry; "that's the utmost we can do, and all that is +expected of any man; just go on, Willy, doing that, and you'll do well. +But see, there is a light streak in the horizon; the clouds are clearing +away. Though the ocean looks black enough at present, it will soon be +sparkling with brightness." + +The two friends made their way along the deck to the forecastle, where +they found the officers who were stationed there eagerly looking out. +One declared that he saw land ahead. "If it is, daylight will soon show +it," observed another. While the discussion was going on, the sea +seemed on a sudden to go down, and the ship glided on in comparatively +smooth water. + +"It may or may not be land ahead," exclaimed the master; "but I tell you +what--we are under the lee of a large field of ice, and it is a mercy we +did not run on it in the dark. See, there! What do you think of that?" + +Stretching far round in the eastern horizon, appeared a white line, +clearly marked on the dark ocean. All hands were now called and set to +work to get up jury-masts. Every one worked with a will, from the +smallest boy on board. No time was to be lost. The soldiers were +summoned on deck to lend a hand in pulling and hauling. Gradually the +light increased, and, as it did so, the work went on more rapidly. +Willy had but little time to look about him, but he could not help every +now and then glancing towards the east, which was now illuminated by a +rich, ruddy glow, extending far and wide, gradually melting into a +yellow tint, that again vanished in the dark-blue sky overhead. +Presently the sun itself rose out of the ocean, at first like a fiery +arch, till, springing rapidly upwards, the whole circle appeared in +view. Just then he turned his eyes to the right. He could not refrain +from uttering an exclamation of astonishment; for there appeared, not a +mile away to the westward, what seemed like a vast island of alabaster, +covered with countless edifices--towers and columns, and embattled +walls, glowing with numberless brilliant and varied hues. Colonel +Morley, who had just then come on deck, observed it also, and pointing +it out to the commander, hastened below to summon his wife and daughters +to witness the beautiful spectacle. Commander Newcombe's countenance +did not show that he was as pleased with the sight as the colonel had +apparently been. Casting an anxious glance round, he summoned the +first-lieutenant to his side, who seemed to be holding earnest +conversation with him. Willy, who had gone aft on some duty, heard the +latter remark, "We are embayed, sir, there is no doubt about it. All we +can hope for is a breeze from the southward to get out again." Willy +heard no more. + +"Oh, how beautiful! oh, how magnificent!" exclaimed the Miss Morleys, as +they reached the deck; "it is worth making a voyage to witness such a +scene as that!" + +Willy could now observe what he had only before partially seen. The +whole ocean to the west was of a deep-purple hue, from out of which rose +several superb icebergs; some could not have been less than a third of a +mile in length, and from two to three hundred feet in height. The sides +of one appeared perfectly smooth, as if carefully chiselled all over. +In one of the nearest were seen bold projecting bluffs, with deep +caverns beyond, into which the sea forced its way, rushing out again +with a loud sound. On the summits of others appeared the towers and +pinnacles, the ruined arches and buttressed walls, which had at first +caught Willy's sight. It seemed, indeed, as if a large city of +alabaster had once stood there, reduced to ruins by a convulsion of +nature. Here appeared huge piles of buildings grouped together, with +long lanes and streets winding irregularly through them, with what had +been the citadel rising in their midst. As the sun rose, the whole mass +became bathed in a red light. No words, however, can convey a full idea +of the beauty and grandeur of the spectacle. + +"I was thinking for a moment that I should like to get out my +drawing-book and colour-box," said Emma Morley to her sister; "but I am +sure it would be impossible to do anything like justice to such a +scene." + +"Those who have not witnessed it would believe that you had taken a +painter's licence," answered her sister; "and yet I believe that you +might produce a very fair idea of the scene. Let me go and get your +drawing things." + +Mrs Morley was afraid her daughters might suffer from the cold if they +remained much longer on deck. Cloaks were, however, brought, and what +her parents considered a masterly sketch was quickly produced by their +young daughter. Little did they think at the time of the dangerous +position in which the ship was still placed. + +While the drawing was going on, numerous sea-birds were seen to be +passing in and out of the caverns, now plunging down into the ocean to +seek their breakfasts, now rising again and pitching upon the icy points +and pinnacles as if they were their accustomed home. + +"Don't you think we have drawn nearer to that magnificent iceberg?" said +Fanny to her sister. + +"Yes, I am almost sure we have," was the answer. "Papa, what do you +think?" + +"It is possible, but perhaps the changing light may have deceived us; it +is difficult to calculate distances in this atmosphere." + +As may be supposed, they had been several times interrupted by the crew, +who now and then came by leading aft the stays of the mast now at length +set up. Scarcely any of the men cast more than a momentary glance at +the icebergs, but this glance showed that they looked on them with no +favourable eyes. All the time, too, it must be remembered, the pumps +were kept clanking away as before. No human beings ever worked harder +than the crew of the "Ranger;" they well knew, indeed, that they were +labouring for their lives. Hour after hour passed by--there was no +knocking off even for breakfast; it would be time enough to take their +food when the sails were spread, and the ship was standing away from the +beautiful but fearfully dangerous icebergs. + +By the time the sun had risen high in the sky the water around had +become of a dark-green hue, and now not only icebergs and the distant +fields of ice were seen, but vast masses of drift ice were observed +floating about. Already two or three yards had been got across, and the +sails were being bent. + +Willy found himself close to his friend Harry. "Shafto, you look +unusually grave," he observed; "you seem pretty well knocked up." + +"We all of us have reason to be grave," answered Harry; "there is +evidently a strong in-draught towards that big berg, and unless we can +get the sails bent and a breeze to take us off, no human power can save +us from driving against it, and then we shall be worse off than we were +when we struck the berg the other night." + +"But don't you think we shall get the sails bent in time?" asked Willy. + +"We may get the sails bent, but the wind to fill them may not come; we +must depend on Heaven's mercy for that." + +Harry Shafto would not generally have spoken so despondingly, but he was +well-nigh worn-out; and yet he probably did not see matters in a worse +light than most of the other officers. + +The passengers had been sometime before summoned below to breakfast, and +only the crew and soldiers engaged in active duty remained on deck. +They were all working away as hard as ever. + +The foremast, which had stood, had been well stayed, and a fresh +fore-topmast had also been got up. The captain and officers were +watching anxiously for a breeze. It came at length from the southward. +Sail was made, the ship was put before the wind, and it seemed that she +was now about to move out of her dangerous position. "Let the people go +below and get their breakfasts, Mr Tobin," said the commander to the +first-lieutenant; "they are well-nigh knocked up, and may still have +heavy work before them." The boatswain's whistle was soon heard piping +to the welcome meal, and the men gladly hurried below, though with less +of the elasticity which they exhibited generally on such occasions. + +The lofty icebergs were still dangerously near on the port side. Shafto +and Willy, who had snatched a hurried meal in the midshipmen's berth, +were quickly again on deck, as were indeed many of the officers and men, +those who had remained on duty going below. The ship made but slow way. +In the far distance could still be seen a field of ice, which had +hitherto sheltered them from the tumbling sea, which came in from the +north-east; several large pieces were also floating about, and it +required much watchful care to avoid them. But the chief danger +evidently lay from the icebergs to the west; they, too, it appeared, +were slowly moving and slightly changing their relative positions. The +most northern of a line of bergs was much the largest, its summit +towering far above the ship's masts. The anxious glances which the +commander and first-lieutenant occasionally cast towards it showed that +they wished they were farther off. Still, as Willy looked over the +side, and saw the calm waters and the clear space ahead, he could not +fancy but that the ship would soon be out in the open sea. "I shall be +quite sorry to lose sight of these beautiful icebergs," he observed to +Shafto; "it may be a long time before we again shall see anything like +them." + +"And I shall be very thankful to bid farewell to them for ever," +answered Harry. "Just fancy what it would be to have the ship driven in +under one of them. Should there be any sea at the time she would +speedily be ground to pieces, or, as sometimes happens, the whole mass +might come tumbling over and crush her, without a prospect of a human +being on board escaping." + +"Very dreadful!" said Willy; "and I am thankful there is no chance, of +that. In another ten minutes we shall be well clear of them." + +"I hope so," said Harry; but still he looked grave. + +They had just then reached the forecastle, where the master was +standing. + +Though the ship was moving on parallel to the side of the berg, the +in-draught was evidently carrying her nearer and nearer it. The master +had gone on to the end of the bowsprit, where he stood holding on by the +stay, and looking anxiously ahead; still it seemed as if no danger need +be apprehended. + +"What can the master be looking out for?" asked Peter Patch, who had +just then come up to Willy; "we are all right enough at last." + +The words were scarcely out of the young midshipman's mouth when a loud +crash was heard. The ship trembled from stem to stern, and it appeared +as if the masts were going by the board. Orders were instantly given to +brace round the yards, so as to box the ship off. In so doing she made +a stern-board, and drove rapidly in towards the berg. The sound of the +first shock had brought all hands on deck. For a moment discipline was +well-nigh lost: the soldiers, women, and children came rushing up from +below, the poor women frantically shrieking and clinging to their +husbands; even some of the seamen, who understood the danger, evidently +thought that all hope was gone. The passengers, too, came hurrying up +out of their cabins, with dismay on their countenances. Their alarm was +still further increased when, in another instant, the stern of the ship +struck with tremendous force against the mass of ice concealed below the +surface; it seemed indeed as if the stern was completely stove in. At +this juncture the voice of Colonel Morley was heard ordering the +soldiers below. "Take your wives with you, and remain till you receive +fresh orders; they will be safer there than on deck," he exclaimed. + +"To your stations, men," shouted Commander Newcombe. "We are not going +to lose the ship yet." + +The officers hurrying among the men soon brought them back to a sense of +their duty. It was found, however, that the damage the ship had +received was very severe. The rudder had been torn from its position; +the starboard tiller rope had been carried away, and the neck of the +rudder was wrenched off so as to render it unserviceable. Believing +tackles were at once applied to the tiller, in hopes that the rudder +might be made to work; but after several attempts it was found to be +utterly useless. In vain were the yards braced round. Without the use +of the rudder the ship could not be got sufficiently off to give her +head-way. Slowly she continued to drive towards the monstrous berg, +which threatened, should she strike it, to overwhelm her in an instant. + +"A slight shift of wind would take her off," observed the +first-lieutenant to the commander. + +"I pray that it may come, then," was the answer. + +Again and again the ship struck, evidently on each occasion receiving +fearful damage. The soldiers who had been stationed at the pumps had +knocked off, forgetting their duty in their alarm, when the ship first +struck. The officers now went among them, and urged them to return; +Colonel Morley had himself, however, to go before his orders were +obeyed. The carpenter, who had been sent to sound the well, reported +two feet in the hold. "We may keep that under," observed the commander, +"if the men do their duty." + +Mrs Rumbelow was not idle all this time. She had been from the first +tending to the other women; but when she found that the men were +inclined not to obey orders, she was in their midst in an instant. +"What, my lads!" she exclaimed; "is this like you, to let the ship sink +with your wives and children, and the good colonel, and his lady and +daughters, and not do your best to keep her afloat? Shame on you! I +would not have believed it if it had been told me!" In another moment +the pumps were heard clanking away, and sending out the water as rapidly +as before. + +The ship was moving at a fearfully rapid rate towards the side of the +vast iceberg. The crew, after the first alarm had subsided, exerted +themselves manfully, and arrangements were being made for the dreaded +encounter. Spars were got out and secured to the sides and quarters, +but still some hope remained that the wind might catch her headsails, +and pay her off in time to avoid it. Every instant, however, that hope +lessened, and on she drove, stern foremost, till the summit of the berg +appeared almost overhead. Close at hand was seen, between two bluffs, a +vast cavern, into which it seemed more than probable that the ship would +drive, and if so, her escape would be impossible. + +Such moments try the stoutest hearts. Many countenances became pale, +and some eyes were turned away from the danger; but the commander and +officers faced it boldly, while the crew remained steadily at their +stations. Willy Dicey fully understood the terrific danger in which +they were placed. He looked at the blue sky, at the sun shining +brightly, at the waters dancing gaily, and he thought of the loved ones +at home, and of the little prospect which existed of their ever hearing +of him again. But, boy though he was, even his young heart did not +quail; he was at the post of duty, he knew that; and he knew that there +was One all-powerful watching over him, who would carry him safely +through the danger, if He thought fit. + +Nearer and nearer the "Ranger" drew to the iceberg--the bravest held +their breath as they saw that she must inevitably strike. Then came a +fearful crash. So perpendicular was the side of the berg that the stern +davits drove right against it. The stern boat was crushed in, a portion +of the taffrail and the upper part of the spar-deck bulwarks wrenched +off. It seemed as if the whole stern of the ship was about to be +carried away. Her larboard quarter next came in contact with the ice, +but the severity of the shock saved her; for after the damage which has +been described was received, she again bounded off with a cant to +starboard. The jib was instantly run up, and it and the other headsails +catching the wind, away she glided from the berg. Those who had their +eyes turned aft, however, could not refrain from uttering a cry of +horror, for at that instant the berg, shaken by the concussion, +threatened to fall over and crush them. From its summit down came +rushing an avalanche of ice and snow, a portion of the mass even +striking the poop. Still the ship glided on; the after-sails were +trimmed, and again she was clear of another threatened danger. Yet, +with the rudder gone, her stern crushed in, with numberless rents in her +side, and two of her masts carried away, the "Ranger" was indeed in a +perilous condition. + +The first thing to be done was to get the rudder repaired. The breeze +had increased, and rendered the operation difficult. The weather, too, +had far from a satisfactory appearance. Whatever Commander Newcombe +thought of the prospect of ultimately saving the ship, he was not the +man to relax in his efforts till the last. It was no easy matter to +steer the ship while the rudder was being repaired; the only means of +doing so was by keeping the yards swinging to and fro, in order to +direct the ship's head towards the opening between the bergs. + +Mrs Rumbelow insisted on lending a hand in pulling and hauling. "Why, +boys," she exclaimed, "I can do it as well as any of you, and I don't +see why a woman should be idle because she is a woman." She well knew +that by acting thus she should assist in keeping up the men's spirits. + +At length the rudder was shipped, but even then it could be only worked +by relieving tackles, which required a number of hands for the purpose. + +The carpenter had been so busy with the rudder that he had not for some +time sounded the well. He now did so. + +"Are we keeping the leaks under, Mr Chisel?" asked the commander, when +he came to make his report. + +"No, sir, I am sorry to say we are not," he answered. "There are three +feet of water in the hold, and I fear, from the damages the ship has +received, that no power can keep her afloat much longer. If we cannot +repair them, you know, sir, that it won't be for want of our doing our +best." + +"I am very sure of that, Mr Chisel, and hope that we may still overcome +the leaks, if the sea continues tolerably smooth," observed the +commander. "But we must not let the pumps be idle." He said this in a +cheerful tone, that those who overheard the carpenter's report might not +lose heart. + +The ship was now standing out clear of the ice, and being thus more +exposed than before to the sea, which rolled in from the northward, +began to labour heavily. In a short time the carpenter again reported +that the water had gained another foot on the pumps in spite of the +incessant way they had been kept going. The commander now summoned the +superior officers round him, though what was said was not generally +known. The first-lieutenant instantly collecting a party of men, led +them between-decks, where, aided by some of the soldiers, they at once +set to work to heave overboard such heavy stores and provisions as could +be got at. Everything that had been received at the Cape was thrown +overboard. The purser was in despair. "Remember, Tobin," he observed, +"we have got all these mouths to feed. We may as well drown at first as +starve." + +"You are right, purser," answered the first-lieutenant. "We will get up +what provisions we can, and place them on the upper deck. They will +soon be destroyed if they remain where they are." + +At length the ship got clear of the ice, and now the crew were piped +below to snatch a hasty meal, those only required to work the rudder and +the pump gangs remaining on duty. Matters did not change much till the +sun went down in a bank of dark clouds, its rays casting a ruddy glow +across the western sky. As darkness came on, the wind increased, the +waters becoming covered with crests of foam, which danced and hissed +around the ship. No one could be ignorant of their dangerous position; +but in spite of it, most of the weary seamen and soldiers not actually +on duty turned into their berths to sleep. The officers did so +likewise, though they were aware that it might perhaps be the last sleep +they should ever enjoy. Two persons, however, did not for a moment +retire to their berths, the commander of the ship and the colonel of the +regiment. Both felt that the lives of the people under them had been +committed to their charge. The commander remained on deck to take +advantage of any change for the better which might occur, or to guard +against any fresh accident; and the colonel, that he might go among his +men labouring at the pumps, and encourage them to persevere in their +duty. The hammocks had been piped down as usual, and most of the men +turned into them all standing. Willy Dicey had done the same, though, +weary as he was, he could not for some time go to sleep--an unusual +event in a midshipman's career. He was thinking of home and the loved +ones there, and those voyaging like himself; and when he did sleep, he +continued dreaming of, that same home, and of his brother and sisters, +now probably far distant from it. He fancied in his troubled dreams +that he saw their ship tempest-tossed. Now her masts and yards were +shattered. Onward she drove towards a rocky shore. He was there +himself; he stretched out his arms, imploring them to keep at a +distance. Still on came the ship; her destruction seemed inevitable. +Wildly he waved his arms--he shrieked loudly. A dreadful crash was +heard--the ship was split into a thousand fragments. He awoke. That +loud crash rang in his ears; he sprang from his hammock, and rushed on +deck. One of the jury-masts had gone. + +Morning was breaking, the faint grey light exhibiting the destruction +which had taken place, and the wild leaden-coloured sea, which rose in +foaming billows around, now leaping here, now there, threatening +destruction to the ship. At the same moment the boatswain's whistle +sounded shrilly, calling all hands on deck. While one party was +endeavouring to secure the jury-mast which had been carried away, +another was employed in fothering a sail: this, filled with oakum, was +lowered over the bows and drawn under the keel, where it was hoped the +water rushing in would suck it into the leaks, and thus contribute to +stop them. It seemed, however, to have but little effect. + +"We must try another sail," said the commander. The sail was prepared, +and, like the first, with great difficulty dragged under the ship's +bottom. The seamen employed in the work were drenched to the skin by +the heavy seas which frequently broke over the hapless ship; still they +persevered, no one flinching from the work. Harry Shafto attracted the +notice of the commander by his activity. Willy Dicey imitated him to +the best of his power. Although not so strong as a man, by his +intelligence and comprehension of what was to be done he was able to +direct others, and thus rendered good service. + +"I say, Dicey," exclaimed Peter Patch, who was standing near him, "do +you think really the ship will go down? I feel awfully queer. I wish +that I'd followed your advice about some things long ago. I should like +to say my prayers, but I don't know how to begin, and there isn't time +for it now." + +"That's it," answered Willy. "Had you said them morning and night, and +not have been afraid of our messmates laughing at you, you would have +known how to say them even while you are hard at work. I don't think +God would be well pleased if we all were to knock off, and go down on +our knees to pray and ask Him for help while we were neglecting to help +ourselves." + +"I must work now, at all events," said Peter. + +"Of course you must," answered Willy, "or praying would be mockery; but +you can pray out of your heart while you are pulling and hauling, or +while you are running along the deck with a message." + +"I daresay you are right, Dicey," sighed Peter; "but it's very terrible. +I had no thought, when we left England, that we should get into such a +scrape as this. For what I see, we may all be drowned, or be driven on +those fearful icebergs, and be frozen to death before many days are +over." + +"Very true, Peter. I have been thinking the same; but it is our duty to +struggle to the end--first to try and save the ship, and then our own +lives." + +Matters did not mend as the day advanced. Again and again the carpenter +sounded the well, and reported that the water had rather increased than +diminished. The after-part of the deck was now scuttled, so that more +provisions and stores could be got up and hove overboard. The pumps +continued to be worked as energetically as at first, but still the water +gained on them, till it reached the orlop-deck. + +The fearful condition of the ship could no longer be concealed from the +people. Even the most sanguine began to lose heart. Many cast wistful +glances at the boats. Notwithstanding this, the commander kept them +labouring at the pumps, still hoping against hope that the wind and sea +might go down, and that the ship might be kept afloat. At length, +however, some of the crew showed signs of giving in. Willy saw several +of them steal off to hide themselves away, but he instantly followed and +drove them up again; they grumbled, but obeyed. + +"What's the use of working when we shall have to go to the bottom in a +few hours?" exclaimed one. + +"I only wish we had a chance of getting to the spirit room," cried +another. "A short life and a merry one for me." + +"You should be ashamed of yourselves," cried the young midshipman. "Are +you men with souls, and do you wish to die like dogs?" The seamen, +astonished at a mere boy thus addressing them, felt ashamed, and +returned to their duty. Others, however, soon afterwards were seen +behaving in the same manner. Willy, falling in with Mr Bolland, +reported what he had observed. + +"We will soon put a stop to that," observed the boatswain, seizing a +rope's end. He was not long in hunting out the fellows. + +The water continuing to rise, the poor women and children were now +collected on the poop cabins. + +There they sat, crouching down on the deck, holding their children in +their arms, and hiding their pallid faces. Mrs Rumbelow was the only +one who remained calm. She might have been a little more excited than +usual, as she went among them, trying to cheer them up. "Do not be +downhearted, my dear women," she exclaimed. "There is a God in heaven, +remember, who takes care of us. He may make the storm to cease, and +keep the old ship afloat notwithstanding all the leaks she has got in +her bottom. Do you think the men of our regiment are not going to do +their duty, and work away at the pumps as long as the pumps will work? +If they do not, we will go and handle them ourselves, and put them to +shame. Hurrah, lasses! you think better of your young husbands than to +suppose that, and we old ones have tried ours, and know that they will +not shirk their duty." Still, though Mrs Rumbelow spoke thus +cheerfully, she had a heavy weight at her heart. She had been too often +at sea not to know the danger the ship was in, and she observed no signs +of the weather improving. + +The night was again drawing on; Commander Newcombe had done his utmost. +The ship was kept under easy sail, to relieve her as much as possible. +He would get another sail fothered, which might help to keep out the +water a few hours longer. "Should that fail," he observed to Mr Tobin, +"we must get the boats ready, and endeavour to save the lives of as many +as they can hold." + +"Too true, sir," was the answer. "I see no other prospect for us." + +"We must trust in God, Mr Tobin; He is our only hope," observed the +commander with a sigh. + +Darkness came down once more upon the hapless ship as she lay rolling +and pitching heavily in that cold antarctic sea. The pumps kept +clanking away the whole night; the gush of water was heard even amid the +roar of the waves, as it rushed from her sides. The men crouched down +in groups at their stations in different parts of the ship, many a stout +heart knowing full well that at any moment the fearful cry might be +heard, "She is sinking! she is sinking!" + +The colonel was in his cabin with his wife and daughters. Captain Power +sat at the table reading, or endeavouring to read, and every now and +then addressing a few remarks to the officers around him. They were +mostly behaving as English gentlemen generally do behave under such +circumstances, with calm courage, ready to perform any duty which might +be required of them. The only person who did not show his face was the +unhappy Ensign Holt, who kept himself shut up in his cabin for most of +the time. Now and then he appeared, with a pale face, to inquire +whether the leaks were being got under; and on being told that they were +still gaining on the pumps, he rushed back again, with a look of dismay +on his countenance. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +THE "CRUSADER" IN THE TROPICS. + +FINE WEATHER--LIGHTS ON THE OCEAN--FLYING-FISH COME ON BOARD-- +TROPIC-BIRDS--A SHARK CAUGHT--SOUTHERN CONSTELLATIONS--A CALM--FEVER +BREAKS OUT--DEATHS AMONG THE EMIGRANTS--MR PAGET'S ACTIVITY--THE DICEYS +ASSIST THE SICK--SIGNS OF A COMING BREEZE--A GALE COMES ON-- +JACK-O'-LANTERN--JOB MAWSON'S ALARM--REEFS SHAKEN OUT--A MAN OVERBOARD-- +CHARLES AND WINDY GO OFF IN BOAT--BOAT LOST SIGHT OF--SEARCH IN VAIN FOR +THE BOAT--EMILY AND MAY'S GRIEF. + +Little did Charles Dicey and his sisters think of the fearful dangers to +which their brother Willy was exposed. The "Crusader" sailed on over +the smooth sea, with her white canvas spread out, towering to the sky, +studding-sails on either side reaching to the very surface of the water. + +An awning had been spread over the after-part of the ship, and beneath +it the cabin passengers assembled, sheltered from the hot rays of the +sun. Neither Charles nor Mr Paget were ever idle, and their example +generally induced many of their companions to work also. Mrs Clagget, +if she did nothing else, always contrived to keep her tongue going. +Emily and May were usually well employed. Their attention, however, was +frequently called to the various objects which appeared around them. +They enjoyed watching the flights of flying-fish which darted with the +speed of arrows out of the water, hovered like birds in the air for a +few seconds, scarcely touching the foam-crested seas, and then sunk +quickly again beneath the surface. "How beautiful and blue are the +reflections on their glittering wings, how transparent their tiny +bodies, how light their movements!" observed Emily; "they look like +ocean elves, as they float through the air. What a happy life they must +lead--now in the pure ocean, now getting an uninterrupted sight of the +glorious sun and the clear sky above them." + +"They would have a very different tale to tell, Miss Dicey, if they +could speak to you," observed Mr Paget. "Could your eyes pierce +through the surface, you would see some savage bonitos or dolphins +pursuing the hapless fish who visit the air, not for amusement, but in +the hopes of escaping from their persecutors." + +Just then a large covey was seen to rise abeam close to the ship. They +flew high into the air, and in an instant the deck was covered with +their floundering bodies; their wings, dried by the heat of the sun, no +longer spread out, they looked like ordinary fish. + +"Catch them, catch them," cried Mrs Clagget; "they will make a +delightful dish for dinner." + +"Poor creatures--how unromantic you are," said Emily. + +"I am practical, my dear. I pride myself on being practical," answered +Mrs Clagget. "I prefer eating them myself to allowing the dolphins to +have them for their supper." Jumbo, the cook's mate, seemed to be of +Mrs Clagget's opinion, for in an instant he was among the poor fish, +tumbling them into his bucket as fast as he could pick them up. + +"That's a wise lad," observed the loquacious lady. "If any of you +happened to be in a boat far away from land without provisions, you +would be very glad to have a dish of those fish fly on board." + +"But we happen to have plenty of provisions, and are not in want of the +poor fish," said Charles. "However, if they were thrown overboard +again, I suspect that they would have very little reason to thank us, as +the bonitos would speedily swallow them up." + +"Get them while you can, Mr Charles," said Mrs Clagget, nodding her +head. "Some day, perhaps, you would be very thankful if you could only +catch a single one, and be ready to eat it raw." Mrs Clagget's tongue +was apt to run on so fast that she now and then said things, among the +many she uttered, which came true, in which instances she never failed +to boast of her prophetic powers. Shortly afterwards, a number of those +beautiful inhabitants of tropical seas, the little Portuguese +men-of-war, were seen floating round the ship on the crest of the waves, +their out-spread fans sparkling and glistening with the transparent +brightness of crystal; as the wind blew them gently through the sea, +their wings reflected all the colours of the rainbow. As Emily and May +were admiring them, they saw the terrible dismay the ship created among +them, as she passed through their midst. As the ship sailed on, the +sea-gulls of the northern ocean were succeeded by the high towering +tropic-birds, several of which were seen; appearing at first like mere +specks in the blue sky, where, with the wonderful balloon apparatus with +which they are furnished, they floated calmly at their ease, then +suddenly descending like bolts from the skies, they pounced down upon +the nether world, to seize some hapless fish swimming unconscious of +danger near the surface of the ocean. Beautiful creatures they +appeared, with two long streamer-like feathers floating behind their +wide-spreading wings. Now and then a sword-fish of a bright hue shot +with gold darted by, and huge sharks might be seen turning up their evil +eyes with longing glances toward the ship. Bill Windy did not fail to +point them out to the boys who were sky-larking in the rigging, and to +bid them take care not to fall overboard to become a prey of the +monsters. One of the savage creatures continued to follow the ship so +pertinaciously that the mate vowed he would punish him for his audacity. + +"Either the brute will be catching some of us, or we must catch him," he +observed, as he prepared a harpoon and line. Descending by the +dolphin-striker, he stood on the bob-stay, watching with keen eye and +lifted arm for the shark, which now dropped astern, now swam lazily +alongside. Bill ordered one of the men to get out to the jibboom end +with a piece of pork, and heave it as far ahead as he could fling. No +sooner did the creature see the tempting bait than he darted forward, +and turning round to seize it exposed the white under side of his body +to a blow from Bill's harpoon, driven home with right good will. The +men on deck who held the line hauled away on the slack, while others +stood by with bowlines in their hands ready to slip them over the +shark's head and tail. + +"Haul away," cried the mate, who was on deck in a moment; and the savage +creature, in spite of its convulsive struggles, was hoisted up, and lay +a helpless captive on the forecastle. Here it continued to plunge and +strike out with its tail, keeping the seamen at a respectful distance. +Now and then one would rush in with a handspike and endeavour to give it +a blow, which might have settled it; but so rapid were its movements +that it was necessary to be wary, as one stroke of that tail would have +been sufficient to break a man's leg. The shark was at length killed +and cut up. In spite of its cannibal propensities, many of the +emigrants gladly accepted portions, and even the seamen did not refuse +to eat a slice of their hated foe. + +While the day presented much to occupy the attention, the night also +afforded many objects of interest. The constellations of the northern +hemisphere were now sinking one by one in the ocean; the Great Bear +disappeared, followed by the Polar Star, and in their stead, towards the +south, rose the Southern Cross, each night appearing higher and higher +in the firmament. Charles and his sisters gazed at the beautiful +constellation with deep interest. Beneath its glittering light they +expected to pass the greatest portion of their future life; and it +seemed to welcome them to the new world to which they were bound. +Charles confessed that, interesting as it was, it scarcely equalled in +beauty several of the northern constellations on which he had been +accustomed to gaze. Now, too, the Magellanic clouds appeared in the +heavens, composed probably of countless millions of worlds, so far away +that the human mind can scarcely calculate their distance from this tiny +world of ours. At night, also, Charles, with his sisters at his side, +often watched the track of the ship on the ocean, which appeared like a +broad road dotted with brilliant and innumerable stars; while on either +side the waves were lighted up by thousands of electric sparks, +appearing here and there; now lost altogether, now dispersed, as the +waves rose and fell. Sometimes, when the wind freshened, and a huge sea +broke against the bows with a tremendous crash, the spray appeared all +alight, rising in the air to fall on deck like drops of fire. + +"Who would not wish to come to sea to witness such a spectacle as this?" +exclaimed Emily, with enthusiasm, as the whole ocean appeared glowing +with flashes of brilliant light. The remark was made not to Mrs +Clagget, but to Mr Paget, who stood by her side. + +"You would scarcely suppose that this glorious illumination of the ocean +is caused by countless numbers of minute living creatures," he observed. +"As the telescope reveals to us some of the wonders of the heavens, so +the microscope enables to inspect many of the smallest of created +beings." + +"What, Mr Paget, is every spark of light we see a living creature?" +asked May. + +"Yes, indeed," was the answer. "And probably we see at a time not a +thousandth part of the number of those which are floating around." + +The ship all this time had been standing over towards the coast of South +America, then to steer parallel with it, till, feeling the influence of +the trade winds, she was to keep eastward towards her destination. +Hitherto good progress had been made, and a rapid passage was expected; +but near the Tropic of Capricorn the wind fell, till a dead calm rested +on the ocean; gradually every ripple was (as Mrs Clagget expressed it) +smoothed out of the water. The sails hung idly down against the masts, +chips of wood thrown overboard floated alongside, the sun struck down +with terrific force, the whole sea shining like a sheet of burnished +gold. The passengers could no longer bear the heat below; and when they +came on deck, and sought whatever shade could be found, they gained but +little by the change. Though the sky, after a time, became overcast, +and a light steamy mist pervaded the atmosphere, the heat, rather than +moderating, increased. Few on board could resist complaining. Night +brought no relief. People who had appeared active enough before sat +listless about the decks. Books, if open, were unread. The seamen even +exhibited the same listlessness as the rest of those on board. Emily +and May did their best to keep up their spirits, but their efforts were +unavailing. Captain Westerway and Bill Windy were among the few who +appeared unaffected. Mr Paget, also exerting himself to the utmost, +went about his usual occupations, and endeavoured to revive the spirits +of his companions. It was evident, however, that unless a breeze should +spring up some evil consequences would too probably ensue. Day after +day the ship floated on the glassy sea, no sail in sight, the only +object ever visible beyond her deck being some wandering tropic bird, +which might be seen hovering on high, watching with keen sight for its +prey. + +The surgeon appeared one morning with a grave face, to make his report +to the captain. Several of the steerage passengers were on the sick +list. As the day wore on, others were added to them: some, he feared, +were cases of malignant fever. They were removed to a part of the ship +screened off to serve as an hospital. Nothing else could be done except +to fumigate the "between-decks," that operation rather adding to the +heat than otherwise. The cabin passengers at length became alarmed. + +"Oh, dear, what shall we do if there is fever?" exclaimed Mrs Clagget +to her young companions. "We must take care that no one ever comes near +us." + +No one was more alarmed than Mr Job Mawson; for, in spite of the heat, +he shut himself up in his cabin, and was afraid of coming in contact +even with the steward, lest he should have passed near any of the sick +emigrants. Mr Paget, on the contrary, was more active than ever; he, +without hesitation, spent many hours of each day visiting those stricken +down by disease, and endeavouring to rouse the spirits of those who had +hitherto escaped. Charles Dicey, in spite of Mrs Clagget's warnings, +accompanied him, and gave every assistance in his power to the surgeon. +Day after day others were added to the numbers already suffering from +fever. One poor woman, the mother of a family, sank beneath it, and it +was a sad spectacle to all on deck as the body, secured in canvas, and +heavily weighted, was committed to the deep. The voice of Captain +Westerway, generally so firm, trembled as he read the funeral service. +Another and another followed. At last the good captain entreated Mr +Paget to perform the painful duty for him. How every one longed for a +breeze to carry the fever-stricken ship out of that inhospitable region! +It was supposed that the disease must have been brought on board, and +had only now developed itself, as the poor woman who had just died had +been ill when she left England. + +Emily and May had at first listened to Mrs Clagget's advice, but when +so many women and children became ill, they could no longer refrain from +assisting in nursing them. Fearlessly they sat by the side of the sick, +reading to the elder ones, and trying to soothe and comfort the younger +children. Several children of the first poor woman who had died +followed their mother to her watery grave. + +Charles at first tried to persuade his sisters that they were not called +upon to risk their health. + +"Then why do you risk yours, brother?" asked Emily. "Your life, surely, +is as precious as ours. You would get on very well without us, but we +should be forlorn creatures indeed if left alone. I am sure we are but +doing our duty, and there is One above who will protect us." + +"But I am more hardy than you are," argued Charles. "I can go aloft, +too, and get any germs of fever which I might have contracted blown +away." + +"There is no wind to blow them away," said Emily, "and we are not more +likely to catch the fever than you are. Let us do our duty, and leave +the rest to God." + +Still, though Charles was not thoroughly convinced, his sisters gained +their object. That very day they visited the hospital, nursed the poor +children, gave them their medicine and food, and rendered all the +assistance they could to the sick mothers. Charles used to look +anxiously at them every morning as they appeared at breakfast, fearful +of hearing them complain of illness; but the bloom of health still +glowed on their cheeks, and though grave, and sometimes sad when another +victim had been added to those already taken off by the disease, they +retained their spirits and courage. + +"Really, Dicey, you are a brave fellow," said Jack Ivyleaf one day, +while Charles was taking his usual walk on deck for exercise. "I cannot +bring myself to go among those sick people as you do. It's all very +well to go forward and amuse them when they are in health, and inclined +to be jolly; but to go and sit in the hot, sweltering atmosphere +between-decks is quite another thing." + +"Possibly, Mr Ivyleaf, you do not reflect that those poor sick people +have immortal souls like ourselves," observed Mr Paget, who had that +instant joined them. "If we profess to be Christians we should look +upon them as brothers in distress, and do our utmost for their souls as +well as their bodies." + +"Ah, no, to be sure," said Jack, keeping his mouth agape, and gazing at +Mr Paget. "I should have thought that sort of work might be left to +the parson and doctor." + +"But as we have no parson on board, and the doctor is overworked, does +it not strike you that the poor people have a right to our assistance?" +asked Mr Paget. + +"Right! I don't see that they can have any right!" said Jack; "though +it's very kind in you and Dicey to attend to them." Jack Ivyleaf looked +as if he was afraid that his companions wished to enlist him in the +service he dreaded, and was evidently trying to make his escape from +them. + +The captain and first officer were on deck. The latter had been casting +an eager look for some time to the north-west. + +"We shall have it soon, sir," he observed, pointing with his hand. + +"Turn the hands up, Mr Windy, and trim sails," said the captain in a +cheerful voice. "See there, gentlemen, those clouds yonder are the +pleasantest sight I have seen for many days." A low bank of clouds +could be observed resting on the horizon. It grew higher and higher +every instant, while a dark line could be seen extending across the +ocean in the same direction. The sea, however, continued as calm as +before; around the ship not a ripple could be seen on its surface. The +crew, hurrying from below, went to their stations, all eyes being turned +in the direction of the approaching clouds. Presently cats'-paws began +to play over the mirror-like expanse, and then to disappear; the sails +slowly bulged out, and speedily again hung down as listlessly as before +against the masts. The dark line grew brighter and brighter; presently +the loftier sails swelled out, and the ship began to glide smoothly over +the ocean. The joyful news was communicated below, and all who were not +in their beds came up on deck. The ship, at length feeling the power of +the helm, was put before the wind. The dark line now increased +gradually in width, and seemed covered with sparkling foam; a rushing +noise was heard; in another instant almost the aspect of the whole ocean +was changed; the sails bulged out steadily; waves, at first but small, +danced up astern, and on either side their crests hissing and foaming, +while the spray in broad sheets flew off from their summits. Now the +stout ship dashed forward, every instant increasing her speed, as if +eager to make up for the time lost. On she went, faster and faster, +rising to the seas, and plunging into them as they rolled around her. +The lighter sails were taken in. A strong gale was blowing--it was +increasing too. The clouds now rapidly gathered in dense masses across +the sky; the seamen were busy in all directions securing the boats, the +spars, and other articles hitherto left about the deck. + +"We shall have a heavy gale, gentlemen, before long," observed the +captain, in answer to Mr Paget's and Charles' inquiries respecting the +weather. "It's what I have been wishing for, as nothing else is likely +to clear us of this terrible fever." Before night his predictions were +verified, and the ship, under close-reefed topsails, was running on at +the rate of twelve knots or more an hour. + +Emily and May found it far more difficult to attend to their charges +than during the calm; but they still persevered; and though it was very +hot between-decks, yet the sick people felt sensibly the change which +had occurred in the atmosphere. + +For several days the "Crusader" ran on before the gale; sometimes, +indeed, the wind blew so hard, and the ship rolled and tossed and +tumbled about so much, that many wished the calm back again. One night +the thunder roared and rattled overhead with crashing peals; bright +lightning darted from the skies. All hands were on deck, for it was +impossible to say what might next occur. The masts strained and +cracked, and it seemed every instant that the canvas would be blown out +of the boltropes. The dark seas came rolling up astern, their crests +hissing and foaming, threatening to break over the poop. Several of the +gentlemen passengers were collected on deck. Suddenly a voice was +heard, exclaiming in a tone of terror, "What is that? Oh mercy, mercy!" +They looked aloft; at the end of the yardarm was a mass of bluish light +like a small globe. Charles saw Job Mawson standing not far off; his +knees were knocking together, his arms outstretched. Presently the +light began to move, and suddenly it appeared at the mainmast head; +there it remained stationary for some time. + +"What is it?" exclaimed Job Mawson. "Oh, captain, do make it go away!" + +"It is nothing very terrible," answered Bill Windy, who overheard him. +"We might easily box up that fellow, if it were worth while to go aloft +and catch him." + +"Let no one make the attempt," said the captain. "I must not have you, +Mr Windy, or the men, risk your lives to catch a jack-o'-lantern. I +hope it's a sign that the gale is breaking, and that we shall have +moderate weather again before long." + +Job Mawson did not appear as satisfied with this explanation of the +captain's as the rest of the passengers; he continued watching the light +with a terror-stricken glance, as if he expected something dreadful was +about to happen. At length, now travelling to one mast-head, now to the +other, and back again to the yardarm, it finally disappeared. The wind, +however, continued blowing for some time as hard as ever. When morning +broke, it had somewhat moderated, and as the day wore on, a strong +breeze only was blowing. The sea, notwithstanding this, continued as +high as ever, and consequently the ship rolled and tumbled about fully +as much as before. The captain, who had been on deck all the night and +a great part of the forenoon, at length retired to his berth. + +Bill Windy had the watch, Charles was standing near him. + +"What do you think of the weather now?" he asked. + +"Can't say that I think it settled yet," answered Bill. "There's a +stormy look away there to the nor'ard, but the captain ordered me to +shake the reefs out of the topsails if it grows no worse; though, to my +mind, we shall have to take them in again before nightfall." + +Bill took a turn on deck, then ordered the hands aloft to shake out the +reefs. The topsails were sheeted home; the ship felt the fresh impulse +given to her, and went bounding on over the tossing ocean. The mate +walked the deck keeping a watchful eye to windward. + +"I don't know what to make of it, Mr Dicey," he observed to Charles. +"It is always well to take a reef in in good time, and better +seamanship, too, to my mind, than to wait till the squall is down upon +one. Still, we have lost so much time in that calm that it won't do to +be shortening sail before it is necessary. The surgeon, too, wishes the +captain, unless the sickness abates, to put into the Cape, that the +people may be landed and the ship fumigated." + +"I am thankful to hear that," said Charles; "a few days on shore may, I +hope, restore all to health." + +Although no deaths had occurred for several days, a considerable number +of the people still remained on the sick list, many of the cases being +very severe. Even to people in health, the steerage of an emigrant ship +is not a desirable place, especially in a hot climate; and now the poor +sufferers were not only confined below with closed hatches, but the ship +was tumbling and rolling fearfully about, the masts were groaning, the +bulk-heads creaking, the stamping of feet was heard overhead, the waves +were constantly dashing against the sides, while now and then came the +heavy blow of a sea, as it fell on board and deluged the decks. + +Bill Windy and Charles had continued their walk for some time, when the +mate, looking to windward, exclaimed, "It's high time to shorten sail, +or we shall have the masts whipped out of the ship. Boy, call the +captain! Hands aloft--two reefs in the topsails." The crew were +running up the rigging, when Captain Westerway made his appearance. The +men quickly laid out on the yards, and were busily employed in gathering +up the sails. An active young topman, whom Charles had seen just before +laughing and joking with his shipmates, was on the lee-yardarm; while, +with earing in hand, he was passing the point through the cringle, the +ship gave a heavy lurch, he lost his hold, and was jerked off the yard. +For an instant he was seen hanging on to the earing; but it would have +required superhuman strength to maintain his hold with the ship pitching +and rolling as she was doing; in another moment he fell headlong into +the foaming sea. Scarcely had he touched the water when Bill Windy ran +to the falls of the lifeboat on the starboard side, crying out for +volunteers. Charles followed him. The most active men were aloft; but +several gathered at the falls. The captain took the helm, relieving the +man at the wheel, who hurried to assist the mate. Bill, with three +hands, was already in the boat. Charles leaped in also. + +"You had better not, Mr Dicey," exclaimed Bill. "Get up the side +again, and let another hand come. You don't know the danger you are +running." + +"Not more than you," answered Charles. + +"It's my duty, sir," said Bill, "and not yours; do be advised by me." + +Charles, however, was eager to go to the assistance of the young seaman. +There were in all six stout hands in the boat. The lifebuoy had been +let go. Some time passed before the seaman saw it; at last he made +towards it, but his strength seemed insufficient to buffet with that +rough sea. The attention of most on board was for the moment engaged +rather with the boat endeavouring to carry help to the drowning man than +to the man himself. The greater number of the crew, too, were occupied +in handing the sails. This task had to be accomplished before the ship +could be brought to. That was itself a manoeuvre of no small danger, +yet the sea was not sufficiently high, nor the wind too strong, to make +it altogether impracticable. The boat at length got clear off, and +pulled away in the direction the man had last been seen, Mr Paget and +other passengers pointing with their hands to guide them. Charles +seized an oar--there were only four in the boat; the mate took the helm. +They had not pulled far when one of the oars broke. This was seen from +the ship. Mr Paget observed that the boat had rapidly dropped a long +way to leeward. While he was watching her, a huge wave rose up between +her and the ship. He looked anxiously, expecting to see her on the +crest of the sea. She was nowhere visible. It was some time before +another hand came aft to the helm to relieve the captain. The second +and third mates were forward. Not a seaman had been able to keep his +eye upon the boat. Mr Paget, however, felt sure he knew where she +could be found. The captain was now able to look about for her. Mr +Paget told him his fears. + +"I am afraid you are right, sir," he said, after he had continued for +some time looking out all around. + +"The boat has been swamped. I have no doubt about it." Mr Paget's +heart sank within him at these words; he had formed a sincere regard for +Charles Dicey; he felt still more for the poor girls who were thus +deprived of their brother. + +"I hoped better things of that boat," observed the captain; "but a very +heavy sea is running even for her. Poor fellows, I would to heaven this +had not happened. Still she may have escaped." + +He hailed the men aloft, and desired them to look out. No one could see +the boat; and neither the lifebuoy nor the young sailor, who, it was +supposed, had got hold of it, were anywhere to be seen. The captain +continued looking out for some time, ordering those aloft also to keep a +bright look-out. At length he gave the order to brace round the yards, +and the ship once more gathered way. "We must not give them up yet; so +I will wear ship, and run over the ground we have passed." + +While this manoeuvre was being carried out the Miss Diceys and several +other ladies, followed by Mrs Clagget, appeared on deck. + +"What is the matter, captain?" exclaimed the latter. "They tell me that +a man has fallen overboard, and that a boat has gone to look for him. +How could you let a boat go away while the sea is tumbling about in this +terrible fashion; and, pray, who has gone in her? Ah, Mr Paget, I am +glad to see you have not risked your life. But where is Charles Dicey? +Just like him, to do such a madcap trick. My dear girls, your brother +jumped into the boat to pick up a silly man who tumbled overboard, and +they cannot find him or any of those who went with him." + +"Our brother!" exclaimed Emily and May in a tone of alarm. "Where is +the boat? Oh! do tell us, Captain Westerway; we do not see her." + +"We are somewhat anxious about the boat, I confess, Miss Dicey," said +Mr Paget, approaching Emily and May; "but still we may hope to find +her. In this mountainous sea she might be easily concealed between the +waves, though at no great distance." + +In vain, however, every one on board kept looking out for the missing +boat. The ship was standing back exactly over the spot where she had +been lowered. The only sign of her was a broken oar, which tossed up +and down--for a moment was seen, and then disappeared. Mrs Clagget +continued to abuse Charles for his foolhardiness, as she called it. + +"Poor young man, I wish he had not gone," said the good captain; "but it +was a brave deed. I ought not to have allowed the boat to be lowered; +but I could not bear to let one of my fellows perish without an attempt +to save him; and I thought that lifeboat could be trusted." + +"Very wrong in all concerned," exclaimed Mrs Clagget. "But surely, +captain, you don't think poor Charles is really lost, and your worthy +mate too. I had a great respect for that honest man." + +"Indeed, madam, I fear such is the case," said the captain with a sigh; +"and I trust you will do your best to console those dear young ladies. +It will break their hearts, I am afraid, for it is easy to see what +affection they have for their brother." + +Emily and May were, as may be supposed, almost stricken down by grief +when they were told, though as cautiously as possible by Mr Paget, of +what had occurred. Not till night had arrived, and all hopes had been +abandoned, could they be induced to leave the deck. They stood with +their hands clasped together, looking out over the tossing sea as though +they expected the boat which contained him they loved so much would +appear again in sight. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +THE "RANGER'S" BOATS ARE SENT AWAY. + +THE PUMPS DISABLED--THE WOMEN PLACED IN BOATS--YOUNGER OFFICERS AND BOYS +SENT AWAY--THE CAPTAIN AND COLONEL REMAIN--THE CAPTAIN'S LETTER--CHILD +SAVED BY YOUNG BROKE--SHIP DRIVING ON LAUNCH--ESCAPE OF LAUNCH--VOYAGE +IN BOATS COMMENCED--LAST SIGHT OF "RANGER"--MRS RUMBELOW ENCOURAGES HER +COMPANIONS--BOATS RUNNING BEFORE THE GALE--MRS MORLEY'S GRIEF--A CABIN +FORMED FOR THE WOMEN--A SEA BREAKS ON BOARD--SEARCH FOR PROVISIONS-- +FIRST NIGHT IN THE BOAT--HARRY SHAFTO AT THE HELM--THE WEATHER +MODERATES--IMPOSSIBILITY OF RETURNING TO THE SHIP--SCARCITY OF WATER-- +THE DOCTOR MANUFACTURES A STILL--VARIOUS PROVISIONS DISCOVERED. + +Dreary as was the night, it was happily of no long duration. Daylight +again appeared; but the scene was as forlorn and threatening as that of +the previous morning. + +While the first-lieutenant and Harry Shafto, and some of the other +officers, were engaged in examining the boats and clearing them of +lumber, the purser was busily employed in collecting provisions, and +separating those of various description, so that each boat might be +supplied with a sufficiency, in due proportion. + +"The boats will not carry a quarter of our number," observed Harry to +the first-lieutenant. + +"No, Shafto," was the answer. "We know that. The captain has decided +who is to go in each of them. Then we who remain must form rafts, and +do the best we can to save our lives." + +"Should the ship sink beneath us!" observed Harry. "I fear, in this +cold and stormy sea, that a raft would be of no real service, though it +might prolong our existence for a few hours." + +"We, however, must do our best to preserve the lives of the poor people +committed to our charge," said Mr Tobin. + +"We certainly must do that, if possible," said Harry; "and it seems to +me that the sea has gone down a little since daybreak; I have been +watching it anxiously." + +"I agree with you, Shafto," replied Mr Tobin. "The wind has lessened +considerably within the last half-hour, and though we may not be able to +keep the old ship afloat, there is a better prospect of the boats +escaping." + +Some time was occupied in getting the boats ready; oars, masts, and +sails were put into each; tackles were rove for hoisting them out; but +Commander Newcombe was unwilling to give the order to lower them while +there seemed a prospect of the ship floating and the sea going down. + +The crew were now piped to breakfast, as if nothing particular was +occurring. The spirits of all on board were somewhat raised by +observing the evident improvement in the weather. The carpenter +reported that the water was gaining less rapidly on the pumps, but still +it was gaining. Another sail, however, was got up from below, fothered +like the last, and passed with ropes under the ship's bottom. It +produced a more satisfactory result than the former ones; still, after +another hour had passed, the water continued coming in faster than it +could be pumped out. The commander and Colonel Morley were seen +earnestly consulting together. They were joined by the +first-lieutenant. + +"The winch of the starboard pump has broken, and the pump is disabled, +sir," he said, in as calm a tone as he could assume. + +"That settles the question," said the commander. "Colonel, we must do +our duty. I see no prospect of keeping the ship afloat much longer. If +we delay, she may go down with all on board, and the chance of saving +some will be lost." + +"I agree with you, captain," said the colonel. + +"We need not let the people know this, though," observed Commander +Newcombe. "Those who go in the boats may be allowed to suppose that the +ship will be kept afloat better without them. Mr Tobin, hoist out the +boats at once. The women and children must be divided among them. I +have settled who is to go in each. Colonel, you will accompany your +wife and daughters." + +"I have a higher duty, sir, though I thank you for the offer. I remain +with my men," answered Colonel Morley in a firm tone. + +"And I remain with you and the ship, sir," said Mr Tobin; "and I +believe you will find that most of the other officers desire to do the +same." + +"I will direct the junior officers of my regiment to draw lots who is to +go," said Colonel Morley. + +Some little time was occupied in making these and similar arrangements. +The three officers then separated, to perform the duties they had +undertaken. While the naval officers were superintending the lowering +of the boats, an undertaking of great difficulty and risk, Colonel +Morley entered the cabin, and having summoned the officers around him, +he informed them of the determination which had been arrived at. He +spoke in a low, calm voice, so that he might not be overheard by his +wife and daughters, or the other ladies. The captains at once declined +drawing lots. + +"Twopenny is the only married man among us," said Captain Power; "he +must accompany his wife." + +The lieutenants, when they heard that the colonel intended to remain, at +once decided to stay by him and their men. The ensigns, with the +exception of poor Holt, who was still in his cabin, were inclined to +decide as their superior officers had already done. + +"No, my lads," said the colonel, "you are young, and may have many years +of life before you. I must insist on your obeying my commands." + +The lots were quickly drawn, and Ensign Holt was declared to have the +option of going. He had been watching the proceeding with staring eyes +and a look of intense anxiety and dread, fully believing, apparently, +that he should be among those to remain. The excitement was too much +for his nerves. As his name was pronounced, he sank down on the deck +without uttering a word. Captain Power kindly raised him up. An almost +idiotic expression had come over the young officer's countenance, and he +scarcely seemed aware of what was occurring. + +"Come, Holt, bestir yourself," said the captain. "Pack up anything you +may especially wish to take with you. The boats will soon be shoving +off." + +The poor young ensign looked wildly about him for a moment, and then +hurrying into his cabin, began to pack up a huge portmanteau, tumbling +all sorts of articles into it. He was thus engaged when he heard his +name called, and, leaving it behind him, rushed on deck. The colonel +meantime addressed the officers. + +"Gentlemen, we have still our duty to perform," he said. "Desperate as +appears our condition, I do not despair; and, at all events, I am +confident that none of you will flinch from what requires to be done. +Every one will take his turn at the pumps as long as the ship remains +above water; and now I will muster the men. Let the roll be beat." + +The roll of the drum was directly afterwards heard echoing along the +decks, and all the men not employed at the pumps fell in. The married +men, with the drummers, were ordered to prepare to go in the boats. The +crews of each were then mustered aft, and sentries stationed to prevent +any others from entering them. + +Now came the most trying moment of all. While the commander was +standing on the break of the poop, and issuing his final orders, Harry +Shafto, followed by Willy Dicey, came up to him. + +"I hope, sir, you will allow me to remain on board," he said; "and +though Dicey wishes to prefer the same request, I trust you will refuse +it in his case." + +"I certainly shall do so," answered the commander, "as I also shall +refuse yours. I have decided that you are to take command of the +launch. I know you to be an excellent boat sailor, and I can +confidently entrust her to your care." + +"I thank you heartily, sir," said Harry. "I would most willingly remain +with you; but I know my duty." + +"Then go into the boat, and be ready to receive the ladies and women who +will be sent into her, and take young Dicey with you." He stopped for a +moment, then drawing a letter from his breast pocket, he added, "Here, +take this despatch also, and preserve it, if possible. It is addressed +to the Lords of the Admiralty. I have said what it was my duty to say +with regard to the conduct of the officers and ship's company, and the +admirable behaviour of the troops. I have recommended also to the +consideration of their Lordships my poor old mother and only surviving +sister. I trust my country will look after them, as they depend on me +for their support; and if I die, it will be in the performance of my +duty. I have no other claim than that. I tell you the contents, that +you may be able to repeat them to their Lordships should you reach +England and the letter be lost." + +The commander now called over the names of the officers he had selected +to take charge of the boats and of the men who were to form their crews, +and they were ordered into them; and to each was allotted the supply of +provisions and stores which had been prepared. The cooper had been +engaged in filling the few casks which could be found with water out of +some of the butts on deck. These were divided among the boats. A +compass was placed in each, and a chart, as also a quadrant and other +nautical instruments for the launch and each of the cutters; lanterns, +candles, and several other stores were not forgotten. + +"Fowling-pieces will be of use," observed Captain Power. "Here is mine, +Twopenny;" "and mine", "and mine," added the other officers, bringing +them up from their cabins. "Don't forget the powder and shot." A +supply in tin cases was soon provided. + +While the seamen were performing their various duties, the soldiers +stood, drawn up along the deck, with their officers, as if on parade. +Not a man moved from his post, but all watched the proceedings going +forward as if no unusual occurrence was taking place. The sea had by +this time so much gone down that the operation of lowering the women and +children into the boats was less hazardous than otherwise would have +been the case. Mrs Morley and her two daughters were the first to +appear on deck. The colonel led them to the gangway, where the +boatswain and several of the most active seamen were standing ready to +lower them down, under the direction of the first-lieutenant. Whether +or not they expected that Colonel Morley would accompany them, it was +difficult to say. The only words heard, as Mrs Morley seemed to +hesitate for a moment as she was about to be lowered down, were, "We are +all under orders. Duty must be our first consideration." + +Poor Mrs Twopenny shrieked out for her husband. "He will follow you +presently," said the first-lieutenant, hoping to pacify her. "Now, Mrs +Rumbelow, you are to go in this boat," he exclaimed. The sergeant's +wife hesitated, casting a glance towards her husband. + +"We want you to go and look after the ladies," said the colonel. "Come, +Mrs Rumbelow, you have never acted contrary to orders, and you will not +do so now, I am sure." + +Without a word she stepped to the gangway, and with very little +assistance reached the boat. A young drummer, with five or six poor +women, some having children, were also lowered down. + +"Come, Davis, I promised the colonel that you and your medicine chest +should go in the launch," said the commander. "I hope you will be able +to give a good account of your charges. Come! come! I must be obeyed," +he added with a melancholy smile, observing that the surgeon seemed to +hesitate. "We can do without your services on board." + +Eight hands had been ordered into the boat to serve as her crew, and +Willy was very glad to see Paul Lizard among them. The boatswain had +been ordered to take charge of the first cutter. Peter Patch went with +him, and poor Ensign Holt was lowered into the same boat, looking more +helpless and woebegone than any of the women. + +The people, however, had not been placed in the boats without +considerable difficulty and danger. As soon as the launch had received +her complement, she was dropped astern. Here she hung on while the +other boats were being loaded, and as those in her watched this +proceeding, they dreaded every instant to see them swamped alongside. +Some of the people attempted, in their eagerness, to jump in. Several +were seen to fall into the water; others were with difficulty caught, +and saved from breaking their limbs. The sea, too, which, while the +launch was alongside, was comparatively calm, had since then rapidly +become more and more agitated, and heavy rollers were seen coming over +the ocean towards the ship. As the people were getting into the second +cutter, the sea struck her, violently dashing her against the ship's +side; while some were attempting to fend her off, she was swamped and +upset, the unhappy people in her being cast struggling into the foaming +waters. Two seamen only managed to regain the ship. + +"Out oars," cried Harry Shafto; and the crew of the launch attempted to +pull up, and save some of their drowning shipmates. Before, however, +they could get up even to the ship's quarter, nearly all had +disappeared, several poor women and children being speedily overwhelmed. + +"See! see!" cried Mrs Rumbelow, "there is a little chap striking out +towards us; and I do believe he has a baby in his arms. I know him; he +is young Broke, a famous swimmer. Oh, Mr Shafto, do save them if you +can." + +Harry required no urging, nor did the crew. In another instant the +young drummer boy was alongside; and the doctor, stooping down, lifted +up the baby; but it seemed as if life was extinct. Young Broke was +speedily hauled on board. All for the moment seemed to forget their own +danger in their anxiety for the young infant; watching anxiously for the +report of the doctor, who was seen for a short time gently pressing its +stomach and breathing at the time into its mouth. "It lives," he said, +"and will, I trust, recover." The little creature had no lack of +nurses, for even at that moment of trial all were eager to take it. +Young Broke, though nearly exhausted when taken on board, soon +recovered; he could not tell what had become of the mother, but he had +some idea that she was still on board, having entrusted her child to one +of the men before she herself was lowered down. + +Harry again dropped the launch astern, in obedience to the orders he had +received. The sea coming ahead of the ship, she began to pitch +violently; the other boats, to avoid the accident which had happened to +the second cutter, kept well clear of her. The commander was standing +on the poop, and Colonel Morley by his side. + +"Is my husband not coming?" asked Mrs Morley, now appearing for the +first time aware that she was to be separated from him. + +"The colonel will act as duty prompts him," said Harry. + +"Yes, yes; I know he will," said Mrs Morley, gazing towards the ship. +"And he considers it is his duty to remain on board," she gasped out as +she hid her face in her hands, sobs bursting from her bosom. + +Harry, still hoping that, as the weather had been moderating, the ship +might be kept afloat, determined to hold on to the last. As he looked +ahead, however, he saw the heavy rollers continuing to come in from the +north-west, while the sky in that direction looked dark and threatening. + +Colonel Morley was observed every now and then to cast an anxious gaze +at the boat which contained his wife and daughters. How must he have +felt at allowing them to go away without him! It must have been a sore +trial to his manly heart at all events. The commander was evidently +issuing orders to those who remained with him. + +"Oh, Mr Shafto, do they not fear that the ship will sink?" exclaimed +Miss Morley. "Surely they will not remain on board." + +"They are, I have no doubt, engaged in building rafts," said Harry. +"The people will thus have a chance of saving their lives, for the boats +could not take all on board." + +"But my father, my dear father," exclaimed Miss Morley. + +"He will, if possible, remain and try to help those on the rafts," +answered Harry. He could say no more, for he was well aware that till +every effort had been made to save his men, Colonel Morley would not +desert them. + +Harry's anxiety increased greatly when he saw the threatening aspect of +the weather. The ship had been brought as close to the wind as +possible, in order to allow the boats with less risk to lie alongside. +A heavy sea now struck her bows; driving her astern, and threatening to +bring her down upon the launch. Not a moment was to be lost, Harry saw, +or the destruction of the boat and all on board would be inevitable. +With a heavy heart he gave the order to cut the warp to which she hung. +"Out oars, and pull her head round," he added. The mast had been +stepped. "Hoist the fore-staysail," he exclaimed, and the boat's head +began paying round. Another heavy foam-topped sea came rolling up with +a dark black cloud overhead; he held his breath, for he dreaded lest it +should break on board. The men tugged at their oars. They, too, saw +the danger. The ladies could not refrain from uttering a cry of dismay. +Even Mrs Rumbelow kept her lips firmly set as she eyed the foaming +mass. Paul Lizard had the fore-halyards in his hand. Up went the +foresail, and as it filled with the gale the boat's head rapidly came +round. Away she flew before the wind; the threatening sea roared and +hissed under her stern, but failed to overtake her. On she flew, now +rising, now falling, amid the tumbling seas. Harry had need to exercise +all his seamanship to save her from being overwhelmed; as it was, the +seas broke frequently close to her quarters, sending into her heavy +masses of foaming water. To attempt to heave to and remain by the ship, +as Harry had proposed, would have been madness. Already she had been +left far astern. Willy had watched her anxiously. Now she seemed to +rise amid the dark waters, now to sink deep down; and more than once +Willy thought the "Ranger" had gone for ever. He could scarcely refrain +from uttering an expression of horror. There were other eyes besides +his in the boat, who were looking towards the ship. Poor Mrs Morley +and her two daughters sat with their hands clasped together, not a word +escaping their lips; but though they were silent, their hearts were +lifted up in prayer, and they seemed to have forgotten the hardships in +store for them, and their own danger, while thinking of that to which +Colonel Morley was exposed. + +Another boat under sail was seen standing in the wake of the launch, +supposed to be the first cutter. What had become of the other boats +could not be discovered. Very probably, they too had gone down, +overwhelmed by the heavy sea from which the larger boats had so narrowly +escaped. The dark cloud now burst over the spot where the devoted ship +lay, rising and falling amid the dark heaving seas, a dense shower of +sleet and rain, like a thick veil, completely shrouding her. Willy +strained his sharp eyes, but in vain; the "Ranger" was not to be seen, +and he could only just distinguish the white sail of the cutter +struggling after them through the tumbling seas. + +On, on they flew; a sense of their own danger seemed to have absorbed +the thoughts of most on board. Scarcely an observation was made +regarding the fate of their companions; even the little baby which had +been so wonderfully preserved was for the time neglected, the woman who +held it appearing scarcely aware that she had the child in her arms. + +"Come, come, Sarah, what are you about?" exclaimed Mrs Rumbelow, "are +you going to let that baby drop into the bottom of the boat, and be +drowned. You had better give it to me, poor little dear." Thus +aroused, the woman once more bestowed her attention on the little +stranger. Mrs Morley, overcome by her feelings, had at length given +way, and lay in an almost fainting state in her daughter's arms. Her +condition had not escaped Mrs Rumbelow's observation. The sergeant's +wife leaned forward towards her. She was sitting at no great distance. +"Come, rouse up, Mrs Morley, marm," she exclaimed, taking the poor +lady's hands, and chafing them with her own somewhat hard palms. "It is +God's will, dear lady, that we are here. He'll take care of those we +left on board. I, too, would lief have remained with my good-man; but +he ordered me to come, and I have always obeyed orders since I entered +the army, as I call it, and that's a good score of years ago. When we +have done our duty, to my mind, we should be content; and feel sure that +all will go right. I don't say what we call right, but what God knows +to be right and best; that's it, marm." + +Poor Mrs Morley opened her eyes. "Thank you," she faintly said. "You +speak kindly. I know all is for the best." + +Mrs Twopenny and the other married women in the boat, having their +husbands with them, were more inclined to think about themselves than +those they had left in the hapless ship. The crew were not idle, for +they had plenty to do in bailing the boat and tending the sails. Harry +saw the necessity, in order to prevent the boat from being swamped, of +carrying as much sail as she could bear; and even then, as he cast his +eye astern, he dreaded lest any of the foaming seas which came rolling +up might break on board. Could he have kept her head to the seas she +might have been safer, but the danger of heaving her to was so great +that he dared not attempt it; and, under present circumstances, he +judged it more prudent to run before the gale. All he could hope, +therefore, was that the wind might moderate again as rapidly as it had +risen. His next care was to make some arrangement for the accommodation +of the poor women. He called Dr Davis aft, and consulted him about the +matter. It was agreed that an awning should be rigged in the centre +part of the boat, over an oar a little higher than the gunwale, so as to +leave room for the crew to pass on either side; and though this would +afford them but a very narrow space, still they would be sheltered from +the cold and rain and spray. Fortunately, a spare sail had been thrown +into the boat, which would serve for this purpose; there were also +several planks and small spars which had not been thrown out of her when +she was lowered; and these spread out would serve as a flooring to keep +them out of the wet. Among other things was a roll of blankets and +several cloaks. These, spread out, would serve for beds. The crew +gladly gave up all claim they might have on them for the sake of the +poor women. + +Several hours passed; and though the wind and sea had slightly gone +down, no other change had occurred. + +"Now, marm," said Mrs Rumbelow, as soon as the awning was prepared; "we +must take possession of our house. It is not a very grand one, but +we're thankful to those who built it for us." + +"Oh, my husband! my husband!" was the only answer poor Mrs Morley could +make. + +"I have a husband, too, marm," said Mrs Rumbelow. "The sergeant and I, +though old folks, love each other as much as any young folks can do. We +have long known that any day, with the chances of war, we might be +separated, and by many another chance too, though. I have followed him +pretty well round the world, to look after him, and now the time has +come which we well knew might come, though I cannot say that I feel it +the less on that account. It's hard to bear, Mrs Morley, that it is; +but if it's God's will that we are not to see our husbands again, we +must submit, marm. Still, you know, marm, it may not be His will to +take them from us. He can preserve them if He thinks fit; and if so, we +shall meet them again. That's what keeps me up." + +"You are right, Mrs Rumbelow," whispered Mrs Morley, as the sergeant's +wife knelt by her side within the little tent. "Does any one think that +the ship is still afloat?" + +"That's more than any one can say, marm. Ships have floated when all on +board supposed that they were going down. That must be our hope, marm; +and now, Mrs Morley, and you, dear young ladies, take my advice, and +try and go to sleep and forget all about it, or you'll wear yourselves +out. It's the men's business to look after the boat and us. We must +trust to them, and still more to One in heaven, who will take care of us +all." + +These remarks were made by Mrs Rumbelow as she was endeavouring to +place the young ladies and their mother in the most comfortable position +she could select in the narrow space allotted to them. + +In the meantime, the boat ran on as before amid the raging seas; several +had broken partially on board, and four hands were kept continually +bailing, to get rid of the water which thus got into her. + +"There is another spare sail for'ard," observed Willy Dicey to Harry. +"Don't you think we can manage to nail it on round the stern and +quarters? I saw some tools put into the boat, and one of the +carpenter's mates is with us." + +"Your advice is good, and we will follow it," answered Harry: and Willy +made his way for'ard to look for the sail. It was soon found; and the +carpenter's mate, with the assistance of Paul Lizard and Willy, who +prided himself on his skill as a carpenter, quickly sawed out several +stanchions. These were at once screwed on so as to raise the gunwale +nearly two feet all round the after-part of the boat. Scarcely had the +canvas been securely fixed when a heavier sea than ordinary came rolling +up, hissing and roaring as if about to overwhelm her. Many gazed at it +with dismay. It struck the stern; no small amount of water broke over +the counter. The heavier mass, however, was prevented from coming in; +and the boat flew on with greater speed, as if to escape from the danger +which threatened her. + +"Willy, your forethought has saved our lives, I fully believe," observed +Harry, as he, with others, began baling away with might and main. + +Mrs Rumbelow, who at that instant made her appearance from the cabin, +followed their example, having seized a saucepan at her feet. Another +and another sea followed. + +"Bale away, my lads! bale away!" cried Mrs Rumbelow. "We will try if +we cannot send the water out as fast as it comes in." + +Her courage inspired the men, who now and then stopped, believing that +all their efforts to preserve their lives would prove useless. The boat +was quickly again clear of water, and several minutes passed without a +sea having struck her. Harry began to hope that once more the gale was +abating. He now, remembering that the people might be suffering from +want of food, ordered provisions to be served out. + +The doctor had spoken but little, except occasionally to offer a word of +consolation to some of the poor women. He now, however, undertook to +superintend the distribution of the provisions. Some time was occupied +in searching for them, as it was necessary to select such as did not +require cooking. A keg of butter was first found, with a cask of +biscuits, but the latter had suffered already from the salt water. As, +however, they could be most easily got at, they were served round, and +constituted the chief portion of the first meal taken on board. A few +bottles of rum were next routed out from a case amid a number of things +hastily thrown in. A small measure full was served out to each person, +and injurious as spirits may prove when taken habitually, this small +dose served to restore the well-nigh exhausted strength of the men. + +Willy was hunting about in hopes of finding something more suitable for +poor Mrs Morley and the other ladies. He was delighted to discover +some cold fowls, a ham, and a couple of loaves of bread, which the +purser had thoughtfully placed in a basket for the very object for which +they were now so much-desired. + +"Here, Mrs Rumbelow," he said, handing his prize into the cabin. "You +must get your charges to eat some of these things." + +"Bless you! that I will, Mr Dicey," said the good woman, perfectly +ready herself to sup off her biscuit and salt butter. She began at once +to persuade the young ladies to eat a portion of the delicacies which +she had received. She was at length successful. "And now, marm," she +added, "just a thimbleful of rum; it will do you good, I'm sure. I am +not in favour of ladies taking to ardent spirits, but, just now, we may +be thankful for some to cheer our hearts and keep out the cold." + +Night was now coming on, and though the weather had slightly improved, +Harry could not but feel that the danger of scudding on in the darkness +was greater than in the day-time. As yet he had been unable to alter +his course, and steer more to the northward. The boat was still in the +latitude where icebergs might be encountered, and at night they might +not be seen in time to be avoided, "We must commit ourselves to God's +keeping, and do our best," Harry thought to himself. "Surely I ought to +ask those with me to join in a prayer for our protection. My friends," +he said aloud, "we know not what may happen this night; and I trust all +will join in asking God to look after us, and in returning thanks to Him +in having preserved us thus far." + +"That they will, sir!" exclaimed Mrs Rumbelow; "and I am sure, too, +that all will pray heartily that those we left on board the ship may be +preserved likewise." + +Harry invited Captain Twopenny to act the part of chaplain; but as both +he and Dr Davis declined, he felt that he ought to do so himself. +Engaged, however, in the arduous task of steering, he could not +sufficiently collect his thoughts for the purpose. While still doubting +what to do, Mrs Morley appeared from beneath her tent, and in a firm, +clear voice offered up a prayer to Him who rules the stormy ocean for +their own safety, as also for that of those in the other boat and on +board the ship. All joined heartily; and as the noble lady was seen +lifting up her eyes towards heaven, with her hands clasped, no one could +doubt that she was indeed speaking to Him who hears and answers prayer. + +"Now, friends, I am sure that there are many here who can join in a hymn +to our merciful Father and Friend," exclaimed Mrs Rumbelow. "The young +ladies will lead you, for I have often heard them singing on a Sunday +evening, and it has done my heart good to listen." + +The Miss Morleys, who had risen with their mother and the other women, +without requiring a second invitation gave utterance, with their sweet +voices, to that beautiful hymn, which ends-- + + "O God, our help in ages past, + Our hope for years to come, + Be Thou our guard while troubles last, + And our eternal home." + +Amen was echoed by all. + +Their hearts were cheered, their fears calmed, as, amid that dark and +raging ocean, those sounds of prayer and praise ascended to Heaven. + +Mrs Rumbelow now insisted that those whom she considered under her +especial charge should return to their cabin, though she had no little +difficulty in stowing them away. The baby had, notwithstanding the cold +and wetting it had endured, completely recovered, and still received the +attention it required from the young woman who had taken it in charge. + +During the day, the other boat's sail had been continually watched with +great anxiety. Frequently it could with difficulty be seen amid the +foaming seas; now, as the sun went down, though Willy and Paul Lizard +strained their eyes to the utmost, they could no longer distinguish it. +Still Harry, in the hopes that their small consort was yet afloat, +ordered a lantern to be hoisted to their after-mast, that she might be +able to follow them during the night. Happily, the night would not last +long. A short time after the sun went down the clouds began to clear +away. The beautiful Southern Cross shone brilliantly forth; other +bright stars appeared, and cheered the voyagers with their calm light. +The boat was now kept perfectly free of water, and all, with the +exception of the look-out forward, and two or three seamen required to +tend the sails, coiled themselves away to sleep. Harry, though growing +very weary, would not resign his post at the helm, and Willy Dicey +insisted on sitting near him. + +"You know, Shafto, I may never have such an opportunity of learning how +to steer a boat in such a sea as this," he observed. + +"I hope you never may, Willy," said Harry; "but we may thank God, more +than my skill, for having been preserved hitherto. We have many a long +league to go over before we can reach even the Auckland Islands; and I +pray that the weather may continue fine till we get there." + +In spite, however, of Willy's resolution he often dropped asleep, though +he roused himself up on such occasions, and again spoke to Shafto. +Harry himself at times felt that, had he not been standing up, he should +have fallen asleep too; and he promised Willy that, should the sea go +down, he would in the morning let Paul Lizard relieve him at the helm. +How anxiously he longed for daylight, hoping at noon to take an +observation and ascertain their exact position. As the sun rose, its +bright rays shining on the eyes of several of the sleepers, roused them +up. Some at first looked bewildered, as if they had forgotten what had +occurred. When they found that the sea had gone down, and the wind +decreased to a moderate breeze, a gleam of satisfaction, such as had not +before been seen, appeared on their countenances. Harry was at length +about to summon Paul Lizard to relieve him at the helm, when Mrs Morley +and her daughters came out of their cabin. Their countenances were sad +and anxious. The boat was now moving rapidly under all sail over the +comparatively smooth ocean. Harry had, as soon as he was able, altered +the course to the north-east. Mrs Morley looked around, and then at +the compass. + +"Oh, Mr Shafto!" she exclaimed, "are you not steering back to the ship? +Surely you would not willingly desert those on board!" + +It was a trying question to Harry. "I would undoubtedly return, had I +the power," he answered; "but my orders were to carry the boat to the +nearest land we can make, where food and shelter can be found. Were I +to attempt to return, I should disobey those orders. It might take us +also three or four days to beat back to the spot where we left the ship, +and we might fail to find her after all." + +Mrs Morley hid her face in her hands. It seemed as if her last hope +had gone. + +"Oh, why was I separated from him?" she exclaimed, her feelings +overcoming for the moment her better judgment. + +"For the sake of your daughters, marm, do cheer up," said Mrs Rumbelow, +who at once came to Harry's assistance. "Though you yourself, marm, +would go through any fresh dangers to join the colonel, just think how +ill able these young ladies are to bear them," she said, in a gentle, +soothing tone. + +At first Mrs Morley seemed scarcely to understand what was said, but in +a short time she recovered herself, her daughters doing their utmost to +console her; and Mrs Rumbelow at length persuaded her to return to the +shelter of the awning. + +Before lying down to take the rest he so much needed, Harry ordered the +provisions to be served out. On searching for the water-casks, only +three were found. The carpenter's mate giving a knock with his hammer +on one of them, it was empty. It had been carelessly put together, and +all the contents had leaked out. The other two small casks would last +so large a party but for a short time. Many days might pass before they +could hope to reach the Auckland Islands, the nearest land Harry +expected to make, and even with the smallest possible allowance of water +sufficient to sustain life, the supply in the casks would not last half +the time. This discovery was indeed a sore trial to the young +commander; still he knew too well the importance of keeping up the +spirits of the party to express his fears aloud. As the sea had now +gone sufficiently down to allow the crew to move about without +difficulty, he directed Dr Davis and Willy to overhaul the provisions, +and ascertain the quantity they had got; and weary as he was, he would +not lie down till this was done. Their report was far less satisfactory +than he had hoped for. A good supply of biscuits and flour had been put +on board; but, unhappily, both had been so completely wetted by the salt +water that the greater part of the flour was a mere mass of dough, and +the biscuits, though at present eatable, would evidently not last many +days. A small hen-coop full of fowls had been placed in the bows; but, +with the exception of two, the poor creatures had been drowned. There +were two casks of salt pork; but, as the doctor whispered to Willy, +without plenty of water and pease pudding to eat it with, salt pork +would prove dangerous food. Four hams were also found, and six Dutch +cheeses, with two kegs of butter. + +"Here is a case!" exclaimed Willy. "I wonder what it contains." + +It was opened, and within were found a dozen pots of jam. + +"Ah, this is more to the purpose," cried the doctor. + +"We must keep them, though, for the poor women and children," observed +Willy. + +"You are right, Dicey," was the answer. "But we have not yet finished +our search." + +There was another case. It only contained pickles. "I am afraid they +will help us but little to keep body and soul together," observed Willy. + +"We might have found better food, though they have their value," +remarked the doctor. "If we can kill some birds, or a seal, or catch a +few fish, they will be very useful." + +A large black sack was found, it was full of charcoal. + +"This is poor food," said Willy with a sigh. + +"Yes, but what is that iron thing in the bows there?" asked the doctor. +It was hauled out, and found to be a small cooking stove. "Ah, this is +indeed a valuable prize," he added. "We may now cook our provisions and +boil our kettle." + +"The poor women will be better for some tea, at all events," observed +Willy. "That is to say, if we have any tea-leaves to make it with, and +to be sure we have but a small supply of water for the purpose." + +"We must see about that," said the doctor. "We will try to manufacture +a still to turn salt water into fresh." + +"But the charcoal will go but a little way for that purpose," remarked +his young companion. + +"Nil desperandum," answered the doctor. "We will try what can be done." + +"Here's a case which looks like a tea-chest," remarked one of the men +who was helping them. "It is somewhat wet though." The case was +opened, and found to contain a large supply of tea; and though the outer +part was spoilt, the interior was perfectly dry. A tin of coffee +berries was discovered. + +"We have no mill to grind them in, I fear," said Willy. + +"Ah! but I have my pestle and mortar," observed the doctor, laughing. +"We must make that serve the purpose." + +"Here is a jar of brown sugar, and in this basket what were once two +loaves of white sugar," said Willy; "but, alas, they have sadly +diminished in size, and will have a very salt taste." + +"We must not be over-particular," answered the doctor. "We will try and +save what remains." + +It was evident that, notwithstanding the forethought of the purser, many +of the articles which he had intended to put into the boat had been left +on board the ship. + +"Perhaps the cutter, though, has got a part of our share," observed +Willy. "When she comes up with us we shall get what we require." + +"Water is what we most want, Dicey, and from what I know of human +beings, I am afraid those on board her will not be willing to share that +with us," observed the doctor gravely. "Thirst is the most trying of +all the pains the human frame is compelled to endure; but we must not +talk about it--we will do our best to keep these poor women and children +from suffering. I have been accustomed to see men go through trials of +all sorts, but I cannot stand having the others crying out for help, and +not be able to afford it them. When a man has got a bullet in him, or +requires his leg off, or anything of that sort, it is what I am used to. +I know that I must exert my skill to the best of my power, leaving the +rest to God; so I think no more about the matter. However, Dicey, go +aft and make your report to Shafto. I, in the meantime, will calculate +what quantity of provisions we may venture to serve out each day, so as +to make our supply last till we can hope to reach land." + +Willy went aft, and made his report in a low voice. Harry opened his +eyes, and tried to listen, but he was already so overcome with fatigue +that he could scarcely understand what was said, and directly Willy had +ceased speaking, he was fast asleep again. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE "RANGER'S" BOATS. + +A CALM--THE CUTTER SEEN ASTERN--PEOPLE CRY OUT FOR WATER--HARRY TAKES AN +OBSERVATION--THE LAUNCH PUT TO RIGHTS--SQUIDS LEAP ON BOARD--A HAIL FROM +THE CUTTER--HOLT'S SAD CONDITION--PETER BEGS TO JOIN WILLY--LIZARD KILLS +A WHALE--BLUBBER USED AS FUEL--WILD-FOWL SHOT--MRS RUMBELOW VISITS THE +CUTTER--CUTTER'S CREW TRY TO DETAIN MRS RUMBELOW--THE CREWS TAKE TO THE +OARS--MRS RUMBELOW ASSISTS IN ROWING. + +When the young commander of the "Ranger's" launch awoke, he found her +floating on a glassy sea. Not a breath of wind filled her sails, though +every now and then a long, low undulation rose beneath her keel, and +went rolling away to the southward. The sun was striking down with +undimmed splendour upon the world of waters. Harry's head had been +sheltered from its burning rays by a shawl which Mrs Rumbelow had +thoughtfully thrown over him. He felt that heavy weight at his heart +which those oppressed with care or sorrow are apt to experience. In a +few minutes, however, after uttering a secret prayer to Heaven for +strength, he was able to cast it off, and arousing himself, sat up to +consider what he had to do. Most of the people, under the +superintendence of the doctor, were employed in drying the tea and +biscuits, and other articles wetted by the salt water. On lines +stretched from the masts were hung up numberless articles of clothing +and bedding. The women were seated in the bottom of the boat; one was +nursing the baby, who appeared still flourishing. Very few were idle. +Mrs Morley and her daughters were setting them a good example, and Mrs +Rumbelow was making her way among them, the most active of the party +with hand and tongue. The doctor was busy for'ard over the stove, +where, with the assistance of the armourer's and carpenter's mates, he +was engaged on some iron work which absorbed his whole attention. +Harry's first impulse was to look out for the other boat. At first he +could not distinguish her, but by the aid of a glass he made out her +sail just rising above the horizon to the eastward; yet it was so +indistinct that, had not Willy and Paul Lizard declared they could make +it out, he might have supposed himself to be mistaken. He did not +forget to speak a few words to his female passengers. + +"Oh, Mr Shafto, cannot you give us more water?" exclaimed Mrs +Twopenny. "We have only had that little tin caseful a-piece the whole +of this morning, and the doctor says we must be contented with it." + +"We are under the doctor's orders on that point," answered Harry, afraid +that others might join in the complaint made by the poor lady. "Captain +Twopenny will, I am sure, agree with me in the importance of following +his advice." + +The captain, however, had no little difficulty in tranquillising the +invalid lady. She had been accustomed all her life to be petted, and to +have what she asked for, and was little prepared to endure the trials +she would now be called upon to go through. + +"It must be near noon," said Willy, remembering that an observation had +to be taken. Harry pulled out his watch--there was but little time to +lose. The quadrant was got ready. Harry felt somewhat weak, as he +stood up with it at his eye, while Willy, with note-book in hand, marked +down the degrees as he read them off. After a satisfactory observation +was taken, the result showed that they were somewhat farther to the +north than the latitude where they had left the ship, while he +calculated that, since then, they had run upwards of a hundred miles. +Still their distance to the nearest known land was very considerable. +Water, Harry feared, would be their chief want. His mind on that point +was, however, somewhat relieved when Willy, coming aft, told him that +the doctor hoped to manufacture a still for producing fresh water from +that of the sea. + +"He forgets the amount of fuel he will require for the purpose," +remarked Harry. + +"He told me not to be unhappy about that," answered Willy. "Perhaps he +expects to catch a whale." + +Harry smiled faintly at the notion. + +"But we may catch some smaller creatures, though," exclaimed Willy. "I +have just found a harpoon, and Paul Lizard has often told me that he is +a first-rate harpooner, and has struck many a porpoise and dolphin in +his time." + +"Please, sir, if we can see one of those creatures, I have little fear +but what we may manage him," observed Paul, who was standing steering +close to them. + +Harry's hopes revived on hearing this; not that he would have allowed +anybody to suppose that he entertained any fears about the ultimate +safety of those confided to his charge. + +The day was employed in putting the boat to rights, re-stowing carefully +everything of value, and heaving overboard several useless and heavy +articles. The carpenters' first care was to tighten the hoops round the +water-casks, and it was hoped that, if water could be procured, the +leaky cask would now hold it. The empty cases were now broken-up for +firewood, to assist the doctor in his operations; and when they heard +what he was about, the spirits of most of the party revived. Poor Mrs +Morley and her daughters, however, could not forget the brave colonel +left to perish with his men; and Mrs Rumbelow, though she did her best +to cheer others, every now and then uttered a sigh she could not +suppress, as she looked in the direction where the ship had been left. +The day was drawing to a close. + +"Hurra!" shouted Willy, "the cutter is nearing us. I have been watching +her for some time--they have got out their oars--that shows they have +some strength left." + +Still the other boat was at a considerable distance when night closed +in. There was no change in the weather. The sky was clear and the +stars shone out brilliantly; the watch was set, and all hands not on +duty lay down to sleep, sheltering themselves as best they could under +the thwarts, among the packages, or covering themselves up with cloaks, +or pieces of sail-cloth or matting. Willy took the first watch. He +felt not a little proud, as he sat in the stern-sheets, at being the +only officer on duty. Strange sounds came across the ocean. He was +sure that some were made by whales, as they rose to breathe at the +surface. Now and then a splash was heard as some huge monster leaped +out of the water. Suddenly a large flabby mass was dashed against his +face, and at the same time several other dark objects sprang into the +boat. + +"Hilloa!" cried the doctor, towards whom one of them had directed its +course. "Who gave me that slap in the face? Ah, I see," he added, +sitting up and lifting the flabby mass in his hand. "A +_cephalopoda-sepia octopus_, commonly called a squid. The fellow nearly +poked out my eye with his beak. What, Willy, were you assaulted too?" + +Willy, who had been almost knocked over by the blow from the creature, +was just recovering himself. + +"It nearly drilled a hole in my nose," said Willy, laughing. + +"Well, never mind," exclaimed the doctor. "I wish only a few more would +come on board. They are ugly beasts; but, fried in butter, will serve +us for breakfast, and prove a better dish than salt pork. How many are +there of them?" + +"Five or six, I think," said Willy. + +"Well, hand them to me, and I'll put a stop to their crawling +propensities. They would frighten the ladies if they were to make their +way into the cabin." + +The doctor had got out his knife, and was engaged in scientifically +depriving the creatures of life. This done, they were stowed away in +the stern-sheets. + +"A covey of flying-fish would have been more acceptable," observed the +doctor, as he again composed himself to rest; "but they are not to be +found in these latitudes." + +Two or three people, awakened by the doctor's voice, inquired what was +the matter. + +"Only a few squids come on board to be cooked for breakfast," answered +Willy. Those who had spoken, satisfied with the reply, were quickly +again asleep. + +Silence once more reigned on board, broken only by the snores of the +sleepers, though the blowing of whales or other cetacea could be heard +every now and then, now in the distance, now somewhat nearer; and Willy +hoped that in the morning they might be successful in catching some of +the smaller ones, and obtain a supply of oil. Some time thus passed +away; the first watch was nearly over, when he was startled by hearing a +loud hail astern. Unwilling to awaken the ladies, he refrained from +replying. He could just then distinguish the splash of oars; and +straining his eyes through the darkness, he at last made out a boat +approaching. He had no doubt she was the cutter, and he hoped to +receive good tidings of those on board. As she drew near, he heard +every now and then a strange wild shout, and several persons speaking. +At length the boat came close up under the stern of the launch. + +"Is that the cutter of His Majesty's ship `Ranger?'" asked Willy. + +"Ay, ay," answered a voice, which he knew to be that of Roger Bollard, +the boatswain. + +"Why, Mr Bollard, what is the matter?" he inquired. + +"One of our people has lost his wits, and if you have the doctor aboard, +we wish he could see what he can do for him." + +"Who is he?" asked Willy. + +"Mr Holt, sir." + +The doctor had started up on hearing Willy speaking. Roger Bollard +repeated what he had before said. "Clap a strait-waistcoat on him, and +keep his head cool," cried the doctor, sitting up. "I'll see him in the +morning; I cannot do him much good now." + +"But he may be overboard before then, sir," answered Bollard. "It's a +hard job to keep him quiet now, and he is getting worse and worse. He +swears that he will swim back to the ship, as he has left all his traps +aboard, and abuses us for not going to get them." + +"Lash him to a thwart, then," said the doctor. "Still, if you will come +alongside, I'll see what I can do for him." + +"Do! What can a wretched saw-bones like you do? I say that I am an +officer in His Majesty's service, and I decline being treated like a +common lunatic," exclaimed the poor young man. + +"He has got some sense left, at all events," observed the doctor. "He +never had much in his brains, however." + +The cutter coming alongside, the doctor stepped on board. "Don't desert +us, Dr Davis," said several of those on board the launch. While Dr +Davis was talking to the unfortunate young officer, and trying to calm +him, Willy asked the boatswain how those with him had fared. + +"It's a mercy we were not swamped, so we ought not to complain in regard +to other matters," answered Mr Bollard. "We have, however, but a +scanty supply of water, and that poor young gentleman and several others +have been crying out for more than I could venture to give them. Our +provisions, too, are nearly all wet--the flour and biscuit especially." + +"That's bad news," remarked Willy. "We must hope soon to get a fresh +supply of water, and to do without the biscuits and flour." + +After a time the doctor came back to the launch; he appeared to have +quieted the young ensign, though he left directions with his companions +to watch him narrowly, observing that he could not answer for his not +suddenly taking it into his head to leap overboard. + +"Hilloa!" cried a voice, after the doctor had returned. "Is that you, +Dicey? I was fast asleep till this moment. I am so glad." + +It was Peter Patch who spoke. "I wish Shafto would let me come into +your boat; we should have much better fun together." + +"I should be very glad to have you," said Willy, "but I am sure Shafto +will not allow it. You were ordered into the cutter, and there I would +advise you to make up your mind to remain." + +Peter seemed rather annoyed at this rebuff; but still he knew very well +that Willy was right. Bollard remarked that he was afraid all the other +boats had gone down. He had looked around for them as he was making +sail to follow the launch. One, which was at no great distance, was +evidently deeply laden, the seas threatening every instant to break over +her. Soon afterwards she suddenly disappeared, and he had seen her no +more. The people in the cutter seemed to have suffered more than those +in the launch, having been completely wetted by the seas which broke on +board; only by constantly bailing had she been kept afloat. + +In the morning, when Shafto awoke, he was surprised to find the cutter +so close at hand. It showed how soundly he had slept that he had not +heard a word of the conversation which had gone on forward. The two +boats now floated close together, the ocean being as calm as on the +previous day. It need not be repeated that every morning and evening +prayers were offered up, and two or more chapters read from the Bible. + +The doctor did not forget to cook the squids, and produced a dish which +was pronounced excellent, with plenty of pepper and salt, by several of +the party; though others, not pressed by hunger, declined eating such +hideous-looking creatures. They had the satisfaction of supplying their +friends in the other boat with a warm meal, no stove having been found +in her. There were, however, several iron pots, and out of these the +armourer undertook to manufacture a stove, should more fuel be obtained. +Several monsters of the deep had been seen rising at no great distance +from the boat. Paul Lizard, therefore, as soon as breakfast was over, +placed himself in the bows, and stood ready, harpoon in hand, in the +hopes of striking one; while the doctor, the tea-kettle being removed +from the stove, went on with his still. Numerous birds were also flying +about in the distance; the rifles were got ready in the hopes of +shooting some of them. + +Mrs Morley appeared much concerned on hearing of Ensign Holt's illness, +though he was no favourite of hers or her daughters'. The day wore on, +the doctor working at his still, and the rest of those on board +employing themselves in a variety of ways. Paul Lizard had stood for +some hours, harpoon in hand, hoping that a porpoise or dolphin might +rise near the boat. The creatures were seen in numbers at a distance, +but it seemed as though they were aware of the visitors to their realms, +and purposely kept away from them. Still Paul persevered, his keen eye +looking as if it could pierce down to the bottom of the ocean. Now he +let his weapon rest at his feet, now he raised it again, ready to +strike. At length it was seen flying from his hand with tremendous +force. + +"Get a running bowline ready," he shouted out--"one for the head, and +another for the tail. Be sharp, lads! We must make the creature fast, +or it will get away from us." The line was flying out as he spoke. +"It's a big fish, at all events," he exclaimed; "we must take care it +doesn't get away." As the rope approached the end, he secured it round +the bits, and away went the boat, towed by the monster. + +"Hilloa," shouted Bollard, "I wish we had been fast to you, to see the +sport. Out oars, lads!" + +The crew of the cutter obeyed the order, and pulled away after the +launch. Now Paul began to haul in on the line. Suddenly it slackened. + +"It will drown itself if it doesn't come up to breathe," he shouted. +"We shall soon have it lads!" + +Captain Twopenny had got his rifle ready; the line was hauled rapidly +in. Presently a huge black mass rose alongside. + +"Give it a shot in the head, sir," cried Paul, "and the creature will be +ours." + +The seamen had got the ropes ready, and now dexterously slipped a +running bowline over the head and another over the tail. The creature, +which appeared to be a small sort of whale, was evidently much +exhausted; a rifle-shot sent through its head contributed yet further to +weaken it; but even as it was, its struggles so violently shook the boat +that Harry was afraid he should be compelled to order it to be cut +loose. After, however, giving two or three violent lashes with its +tail, which sent the water flying over the boat, it remained perfectly +quiet. + +"This is a prize!" cried the doctor exultingly. "If we can secure the +blubber we shall be no longer in want of fuel." + +Axes and knives were soon out, and the thick mass which surrounded the +creature was quickly cut off. A considerable quantity of the flesh was +also secured, the fore part of the boat being soon well loaded with it, +many of the articles which had before been stowed there having been +brought aft to keep her in trim. By the time this operation was +finished the other boat came up; and Harry, finding that he could now +depend on obtaining enough water for all on board on short allowance, +ordered one of his casks to be given to their friends in the cutter. +Instead of charcoal, which was kept in store for the future, a fire was +now made up of blubber, which burned with a hot flame, and the still was +found to work remarkably well, though fresh water could be obtained from +it only at a very slow rate. The chief cause of suffering which had +been dreaded was, however, removed. Several wild-fowl were shot during +the day, giving to each person a small quantity of fresh provisions, +which were so much needed. The drowned fowls had also been boiled. +Though somewhat tough and flavourless, they were not to be despised; +altogether, there seemed but little fear of any suffering from want of +food. Harry Shafto, however, knew better than any one on board that +their voyage might still be a long one; and he advised the doctor to be +very careful in serving out the provisions. He gave the same counsel +also to the boatswain, the people in his boat being disposed to eat as +much as they fancied, without thought of the future. Mrs Rumbelow, on +hearing this, offered to go into the boat, and lecture them on the +subject. + +"They will listen to me, Mr Shafto," she observed, "more perhaps than +to others in authority over them--the soldiers will, at all events. +They are accustomed to me, and so are the women. As to the sailors, +I'll try to make them ashamed of themselves, if they hold out." + +Harry was very glad to obtain the assistance of the brave woman. She +soon talked the unruly crew of the cutter into obedience. Even poor +Ensign Holt quailed under her eye, when she rated him for his behaviour; +she would not leave him until he had promised to behave himself for the +future, as she observed. She whispered, however, to the boatswain to +keep an eye on him during the day, and at night to have him lashed +securely to a thwart. + +"You never can tell what these demented people will do," she observed to +the boatswain. "I just tell you to do what the doctor advises you, +remember; and now I must go back to my party in the launch." + +The cutter's people, once having got her, were in no way disposed to let +her go, and declared that if she did not stop by fair means, she must by +foul. However, she laughed at their threats, and ordering two of the +seamen to get out their oars, desired the boatswain to steer alongside. +She was obeyed; but as she was stepping from one boat to the other, +several of those in the cutter jumped up as if to detain her, while her +friends in the launch held out their hands to assist her on board. For +a moment it seemed as if there was to be a regular skirmish. + +"I shall know how to trust you again," she exclaimed, in her cheery +tone, much amused at the incident. "I am grateful to you for the +compliment; but a woman likes to have her own way, and I intend to have +mine as long as I can get it." + +Notwithstanding the wetting and cold to which every one had been +exposed, few on board either of the boats complained of illness. The +doctor, therefore, had but two or three patients, who did not occupy +much of his time, the rest of the day being employed in attending to his +still. From its very moderate dimensions, however, notwithstanding the +heat created by the burning blubber, it produced but a very small +quantity of fresh water; yet that was sufficient to quench the thirst of +all in the two boats. His great wish was to produce enough to make tea +for the poor women, at all events. + +"But you must tell Lizard to look out for another whale or porpoise, or +some other cetacea, or we shall run short of fuel, and that is a +calamity we must avoid, if possible," he observed to Willy. + +Paul, on receiving the message, again took his harpoon in hand to strike +any fish which might rise sufficiently near. The calm continuing, and +the men being sufficiently refreshed, Shafto, after consulting with +Bollard, resolved to row on till nightfall in the direction of the land +they hoped to reach. The order was given, "Out oars," and the boats +began to glide smoothly over the calm surface. When the men began to +grow tired, Mrs Rumbelow was ever ready to cheer them up. "Pull away, +boys! pull away!" she cried out. "We are not badly off as it is, but we +shall be better still on dry land. We shall find the breeze, may be, a +few miles ahead, and that will spin us along without the necessity of +making your arms ache." Sometimes she would sit down, and grasping an +oar, assist one of the younger seamen; she showed, indeed, that she +could pull as good an oar as any one on board, and thus no one ventured +to exhibit any signs of weariness. Thus the day wore on till supper +time arrived, and a substantial meal, cooked under the superintendence +of the doctor, was served out to all hands, the cutter coming alongside +for her share. + +"Little fear of their parting intentionally with us, since we are the +dispensers of the good things of life," observed the doctor. "I am +afraid, however, that we shall have to be put on short allowance unless +we get along faster than we have lately been doing." The last remark +was made in a whisper to Willy. As most of the soldiers could row, the +men on board were divided into watches, so that they might relieve each +other at the oars, and thus the two boats continued their course during +the night. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +WATER! WATER! + +FEARFUL WANT OF WATER--FUEL NEARLY EXHAUSTED--AURORA AUSTRALIS SEEN-- +ICEBERG IN SIGHT--APPROACH IT TO OBTAIN WATER--SEALS DISCOVERED ON +ICEBERG--SEALS ATTACKED--SEVERAL SEALS KILLED--A PARTY GET ON THE +ICEBERG--FRESH WATER OBTAINED--ICEBERG BEGINS TO MOVE--FLIGHT FOR LIFE-- +LAUNCH NEARLY OVERWHELMED--THE CUTTER NOT TO BE SEEN--LAUNCH PROCEEDS ON +HER COURSE--MORE BIRDS KILLED--DANGER FROM WHALES--PROVISIONS BECOMING +SCARCE--LAND SEEN FAR OFF--SUFFERINGS FROM THIRST--A DARK NIGHT--THE +LAUNCH APPROACHES A ROCK--PARTY LAND ON THE ROCK--BIRD COLONY ATTACKED-- +SEALS DISCOVERED--THE DOCTOR SLIPS DOWN THE ROCK--THE SEALS ESCAPE--NO +WATER TO BE FOUND--FUEL OBTAINED FROM A WRECK--LYING IN WAIT FOR THE +SEALS--A SAIL SEEN IN THE DISTANCE--THE CUTTER ARRIVES--STARVING STATE +OF CUTTER'S CREW--HOW THEY ESCAPED FROM THE BERG--PETER'S GENEROUS +CONDUCT--THE PARTY ENCAMP ON THE ROCK--A NIGHT SCENE ON ROCK--HARRY'S +MEDITATIONS. + +Two days had passed away. Every drop of water, with the exception of a +small quantity the doctor could produce from his still, was exhausted; a +gill alone could be distributed to each person during the +four-and-twenty hours and sometimes even that quantity could but with +difficulty be procured. The salt provisions also, on which they had to +exist, made every one thirsty, and the bright sun shining down on their +heads increased their desire for water. Thirst--thirst--many now for +the first time learned the real significance of that word. From both +boats voices in plaintive accents were crying out for water. Oh! how +many would gladly have given everything they possessed for a draught of +the pure liquid; yet, although the still was kept going night and day, +no more water beyond the small measure could be produced, and the doctor +knew that his fuel was getting to an end. A portion of the charcoal in +the bag still remained, but that was kept for cooking purposes. There +were, likewise, a few fragments of broken-up cases and other pieces of +wood, which might for a short time feed the stove; but they would +speedily be exhausted. "What will then become of us all?" thought the +doctor. "Heaven in mercy protect us!" + +Harry Shafto was at the helm. The two boats were gliding over the +mirror-like ocean, which reflected on its surface the bright stars +overhead. Willy was by his side, declaring that, though it was his +watch below, he could not go to sleep. "What strange light is that?" +exclaimed Willy suddenly. From a bank of dark clouds in the northern +horizon a bright ray darted upwards towards the zenith, expanding like a +fan, and illuminating the whole ocean. Scarcely had he spoken when it +died away, and darkness once more reigned over the world of waters. +Before a minute, however, had elapsed, a magnificent arch, from which +darted forth rays of varied colours, appeared. By degrees the light +grew more and more intense, till the whole sky was spread over with a +sheet of brightness; but not for a moment did it remain at rest--the +most brilliant red, purple, orange, and yellow tints streamed upwards in +innumerable radiations, with every possible variety of hues which a +combination of these colours could produce. Now the rays seemed to +close, now they opened again, like a vast variously-tinted umbrella, +till the bright dome of heaven was all a-blaze. Now and then the stars +could be seen beyond the mass of light; now they altogether paled, and +were concealed by the marvellous glare. + +"This is indeed beautiful," exclaimed Willy. "I should so like to call +the Miss Morleys; they would be sorry to miss it." + +"Thank you," said Harry, "I wish you would, and do so softly, so as not +to alarm them." + +"Miss Morley," said Willy, going to the side of their cabin, "there is a +splendid display of the Aurora Australis, and Shafto thinks you would +like to see it." + +One of the young ladies was apparently awake; she called her sister, +and, wrapped in their cloaks, they stood for some time gazing at the +wonderful spectacle. Mere words indeed cannot describe it, nor can the +painter's pencil. It continued for nearly half-an-hour, varying during +the time in its form. Now the arch grew still more brilliant, then it +suddenly melted away, dropping downwards in a sheet of flame; now it +arose once more, and the same brilliant and varied hues again appeared. +As Willy was looking out eastward, his eye was attracted by a vast mass +of brilliant light, now assuming one colour, now another, yet the form +remained the same. He called Harry's attention to it. + +"It is an iceberg," exclaimed Harry, "and directly in our course. Had +it not been lighted up by the Aurora, we might have been close upon it +without its being observed." He carefully took its bearings by the +compass, while the Aurora continued. Even the men at the oars could not +help uttering exclamations of astonishment while the glorious spectacle +was exhibited before them. At length it died away; but the Miss Morleys +continued to watch for some time longer, expecting it to reappear; they +were at last persuaded to return to their cabin, for though the +atmosphere was warm enough when the sun was shining, it was very cold at +night. + +Harry altered his course so as to pass to the northward of the iceberg, +hailing the boatswain to follow him. The boats made but slight +progress; and when daylight broke, they were close abreast of the huge +berg. The doctor was on his feet in a moment, with unusual animation on +his countenance. "We must get some of that berg," he said. "Heaven has +sent it to our aid. Hurra, boys! We shall now have as much water as we +can pour down our throats." + +How welcome were those words to the seamen, as they awoke from their +sleep with parched mouths and cracked lips; for notwithstanding the +exertion they had gone through, they had taken even less water than the +women and children. Those who had been tugging at the oars during the +last hours of the night had been relieved, and the boats were eagerly +pulled towards the berg. As they approached, several dark objects were +seen on a low ledge projecting from one side of it. "They are seals," +cried the doctor. "We must have them! They will serve us for food and +fuel to melt the ice. Our casks must be filled with water, and we must +take on board as many lumps of ice as the boats can carry. But steady, +boys! If we make the slightest noise, we shall frighten the seals and +lose them." + +"I think I could shoot one of the fellows," observed Captain Twopenny. + +"And I another," said Harry. "I suppose Bollard sees the seals." He +hailed the boatswain, and together the two boats eagerly approached the +ice. Just then some more seals were seen at a little distance, and in +order to double the chance of killing some, Harry directed the cutter to +steer for the last which had appeared. Paul Lizard got his harpoon +ready, in the hope of striking one should they take to the water. Those +in the boats almost held their breath as they glided onwards, for fear +of frightening the wary creatures. They appeared, however, never to +have been alarmed by man, for every now and then one lifted up its head, +and gazed at the advancing boats, as if they were some huge sea animals, +without showing any signs of alarm. + +"You take the big fellow on the right hand," whispered Captain Twopenny +to Harry. "I'll take another I have marked farther to the left. +Doctor, you pick out one in the centre." + +The boats drew nearer and nearer; the seals began to show that they +suspected their visitors. No one moved in the boat, for fear of +frightening the creatures. Again the animals began to move. + +"They will be into the water if we don't take care," whispered the +doctor. A few more strokes of the oars were given, and the seals +nearest the edge began to move towards it. Captain Twopenny fired; the +doctor followed his example, aiming at an animal some way from the edge; +Harry, less accustomed than his companions to the use of a rifle, was +afraid that he had missed his game. The boat now darted on, Paul Lizard +standing with harpoon poised ready to strike. The seals, frightened at +the noise, came rushing over the ice, and splashing into the water; +fierce-looking fellows they were, too, with their huge tusks, long +manes, and big beards. Instead of taking to flight, they came roaring +angrily round the boat, apparently with the intention of attacking her. +The women screamed as they saw the savage-looking animals surrounding +them. "Load again quickly," cried Harry, "and drive these creatures +off." One big fellow, the leader of the herd probably, came swimming up +with grinning teeth, as if intent on mischief. He looked fully capable +of ripping a plank out of the boat; and such seemed his purpose. Paul's +harpoon flew from his hand, burying itself in the monster's head. The +seal swam off, dragging out the line. Paul called two of the men to his +assistance, and while they were hauling away at the animal, who was +fast, the other men were engaged with their oars in keeping the rest of +the infuriated herd at bay. Two seals lay on the ice dead, brought down +by the captain and doctor. Three more were shot, but scarcely had the +bullets entered their brains than down they sank, and were lost to +sight. The remainder of the herd, having sufficient sagacity to know +that the fate of their companions might be theirs, suddenly diving, with +loud splashes disappeared. They rose again at some distance, blowing +loudly, and looking as if they were about to make a fresh attack on the +boat. After, however, they had continued for some time swimming rapidly +to and fro, uttering their fierce cries, they seemed to have arrived at +the conclusion that "discretion is the better part of valour," and away +they went till they were lost to sight in the distance. In the +meantime, Paul Lizard had succeeded in hauling the seal he had struck up +to the boat, when a few blows killed it. As rapidly as possible it was +cut up, the best part of the blubber being taken on board, and stowed +away in the bows. The doctor was eager to secure the other two seals +which had been killed, and by pulling a little way round, a smooth +landing-place was found. The boat rowed cautiously in, when the doctor, +with Willy Dicey, Lizard, and two other men, leaped on to the berg. The +two seals which lay there were soon cut up, under the doctor's +directions. "And now, Willy," he said, "as we have an abundance of +fuel, we must get as much ice on board as the boats can carry. See!" he +added, chopping off a lump with his hatchet; "it is perfectly sweet and +free from salt. Just tell Shafto to send two more hands here; we shall +soon have enough to quench the thirst of all the party." Willy ran to +the boat, and quickly returned with two men, bringing axes and a large +basket to transport the ice. They were working away on the side of the +berg, and had already sent a good supply on board, when they felt it +move in a strange manner. + +"Why, it seems as if an earthquake were taking place," said Willy. + +At that moment they heard Shafto shouting loudly to them. + +"Not a moment to be lost," cried the doctor. "On, boys, for your lives! +Here, take my hand, Dicey, I'll not leave you behind." + +The huge ice-mountain became more and more agitated as they moved on. +They reached the bows of the boat, and tumbled headlong in; and, at the +same moment Paul Lizard, who had seized a boathook, shoved her off; the +men got out their oars, and pulled her head round. + +"Now give way, lads, for your lives," cried Shafto. + +The water around them became violently agitated, and the huge ice-rock +swayed to and fro. Shafto cast an anxious look behind him. Its tall +summit seemed to be bending over. Where was the other boat? No one +could tell. There was little time for thinking of their friends; their +own probable fate absorbed all their attention. The men bent to their +oars, looking up with horror in their eyes towards the mass which seemed +about to come down and crush them. The ice on which they had lately +stood disappeared. Large masses of frozen snow came hurtling down, +falling with loud splashes into the water on either side of them. One +such mass would have been sufficient to send their boat to the bottom; +but only a few small fragments fell on board, and no one was hurt. Then +came a cry of terror from many a usually stout heart. The summit of the +ice-mountain bent over more and more. What chance had they of escaping +from beneath it? Down, down it came with a terrific splash into the +hitherto calm sea, throwing up the foaming waters, which dashed over +them in dense showers, while the wave raised by the fall of the berg, as +it rolled after the boat, seemed as if it were about to break on board +and swamp her. The crew needed no urging to put forth all their +strength. The boat's stern rose high as it passed under her, and then +on she glided, away from the danger. They were saved! Narrow, indeed, +was their escape. + +"But where is the cutter?" exclaimed Willy, looking around. She was not +to be seen. + +The weather, which had hitherto been so calm, had been changing rapidly +while they were engaged in killing the seals. A thick mist had rapidly +swept over the ocean, and shut out even the huge mass of the overturned +iceberg, which still floated upon the water. They shouted loudly, +hoping that those in the cutter, if she was still above water, might +hear them; but no answer came. + +"God's ways are mysterious," observed Mr Morley. "He has thought fit +to preserve us while our poor companions have perhaps been allowed to +perish. To Him our thanks are due." + +The doctor and Captain Twopenny fired their rifles several times, but +still there was no reply, and Harry reluctantly continued his course. A +light breeze had sprung up, the sails filled, and the "Ranger's" launch +glided rapidly over the water. The doctor at once lighted the stove, +and having melted the ice, filled all the water-casks. How eagerly did +those who had for so many days tasted barely sufficient water to moisten +their throats drink down large draughts of the pure liquid. A plentiful +repast of seal cutlets and steaks was served out, and a small quantity +of spirits to those who wished for them. All, however, felt very sad at +the loss of their companions. "Poor Peter Patch!" sighed Willy; "I +little thought, when he was joking with me this morning, that I should +never see him again." + +For several days the boat ran on, the breeze having freshened +considerably. The charts showed some rocks in their course. Harry kept +a bright look-out for them. He was anxious to make them, if possible, +at the same time that he dreaded running on them during the dark hours +of night. Once more the wind fell, and by this time their water was +again getting low. All the ice had been melted, and a good deal of the +seal blubber burnt up. What remained was becoming far from pleasant, +but the doctor insisted that it was too valuable to throw overboard. +Numerous birds were seen at different times, and several came near +enough for the captain and doctor to get a shot at them. Several +petrels and Cape pigeons were killed; but it was necessary to haul down +the sails in order to pick them up. Though Harry did not like the +delay, they were too valuable an addition to their larder to be lost. +It was wonderful all this time how Mrs Morley and her daughters bore up +under the trials to which they were exposed. Poor Mrs Twopenny was the +only invalid, she constantly requiring the doctor's attention. Thus day +after day passed away, Paul Lizard in vain trying to catch a porpoise or +dolphin, or some other fish. Their dark backs were frequently seen as +they swam by at a tantalising distance, and sometimes a whole shoal +would appear, by the curious way in which they rose and sank as they +darted forward near the surface, making it seem as if they were +performing somersaults in the water. Willy could scarcely believe that +they only rose to breathe, and that their backs but slightly moved out +of the horizontal position, their peculiar shape giving them the +appearance of diving. Whales, too, frequently appeared close at hand, +sending forth from their blow-holes a column of foam-like breath--the +spray which they forced up falling round in graceful jets. The doctor +explained that the white spout which appeared was the warm breath of the +animal, and not, as the sailors often suppose, a mass of foam forced +from its nostrils. The whales were, however, too formidable antagonists +to attack, even had one come near enough to allow Paul Lizard to send +his harpoon into its back. + +"No, no," he observed; "I know what I am about. We should get but +little change out of one of those creatures if we interfered with it. +Much more likely to have the boat capsized or sent by its flukes to the +bottom." + +The doctor had now again recourse to his still to obtain a supply of +water. One of the casks was always left full, in case of emergency, +should bad weather come on, and it be impossible to keep the stove +alight. Again they were on a short allowance of food; the wet flour had +become perfectly mouldy, and the biscuits were in very little better +condition. Starving people only could have eaten them. + +One evening, as the sun was setting, a blue hillock appeared rising out +of the eastern horizon. At first it was so faint that few on board +believed it to be land. Harry hoped that it might prove one of the +rocky islets of which he was in search. All he could tell from the +chart was its existence. Nothing was said about its size or height. He +stood towards it, but the wind was light, and little progress was made. +The last pieces of seal blubber had been expended, and but one small +cask of water remained. There was charcoal only sufficient to cook +breakfast for the next day. Every one was suffering more or less from +thirst. + +"Cheer up, friends," cried Mrs Rumbelow, whose throat, though she did +not say so, was as if a hot iron had been thrust down it. "Yonder is +the land, and we there may hope to find water and provisions of some +sort." + +The night was very dark, and anxious as Harry was to get on shore, he +was afraid of running on some unknown reef, or passing the rock, should +he continue his course. He therefore hove the boat to, and, as many +sailors have had to do, longed for daylight. Willy, that night dreamed +of home more than he had done before, and of the loved ones there. +Sometimes, too, thoughts of his late shipmates came into his head, and +they appeared to perform a fantastic drama before him. "Harry," he +exclaimed, starting up, "what has happened? You don't know what +dreadful things I have been thinking about." + +Harry tried to calm his agitation, but it was no easy matter to do so. +The hardships and anxiety he was going through told on the young boy's +nerves, well-strung as they were; as also on those of many others +aboard. Poor Mrs Morley struggled bravely; her daughters, feeling +their situation not the less keenly, exerted themselves to the utmost to +console her. The launch was still a considerable distance from the +rocky island when daylight appeared. Harry, now once more easing off +the sheets, stood towards it, proposing to go round, and stand in on the +other side, knowing that on the weather side landing would be difficult. +As they approached, several parts of the rock were seen covered with +white patches, and on drawing nearer, these patches appeared to be +moving. + +"Why, I believe, those are birds!" exclaimed Willy. "See, there are +hundreds of them. They appear to me to be arranged in rows one above +another on the higher ledges of the rock." + +"They are penguins, I have no doubt," exclaimed the doctor. "Though +they themselves are not very palatable food, their eggs, if any remain +unhatched, will afford us some substantial meals. We shall not starve +if we can get at them." + +The sun was very hot, and there was a great demand for water; but the +doctor would only serve out half-a-gill to each person. He knew full +well that in a short time the last drops would be reached, and that then +their suffering, hitherto but moderate, would be greatly increased. The +wind fell, and once more the oars were got out. As the rock was +approached, it was evident that too much surf was breaking on it to +allow of landing on that side. The boat was therefore rowed round it; +and after coasting along the shore for a short distance, a small +sheltered cove was found, into which they gladly ran. For the first +time for many a day the wanderers at length stepped on firm ground. The +ladies were first assisted to land, but they could with difficulty walk, +after being cramped up for so long a time. + +"I am afraid the island will afford but short rambles," observed Harry; +"but we need fear no savages or wild animals." + +"The first thing to look out for, boys, is water," exclaimed the doctor; +"though, by the appearance of these rocks, it may be a hard matter to +find." + +While the females of the party preferred remaining near the little cove, +the rest rambled away in search of the much-desired fluid. The doctor +had taken his rifle, and Willy, by his direction, carried an axe in his +belt, and a spar sharpened at the end. + +"You observe, Dicey," said the doctor, "if we come upon any soft place, +we shall, by driving this spar into it, more readily ascertain whether +water is below." + +They had not gone far, however, before they saw how slight was the +probability of discovering water. There might be some trifling rivulet +formed by the melting snow, but hitherto not a trace of moisture had +been seen on the hard dry rock. They were climbing the rocks when, +having passed a deep fissure, they saw before them a vast array of +strange-looking birds perched on the crags above their heads. + +"Come, Willy," cried the doctor, "we must have some of these fellows at +once." + +Directly they were seen, the birds set up a loud concert of squeaking, +squalling, and gabbling. The doctor shouted to Willy to come on, but so +overpowering were the cries that he could not hear what was said. Each +bird appeared to be endeavouring to out-squall and out-gabble its +neighbour. Undaunted by the noise, the doctor climbed on, and was soon +in the midst of the feathered colony. Willy followed close at his +heels, when the birds fearlessly commenced attacking them, snapping at +their legs, seizing hold of their trousers, and showing their anger in +every possible way. + +"I say, Dicey, we must put a stop to this," cried the doctor, beginning +to jump about as the birds dug their beaks into his calves. Willy, for +the same reason, was skipping here and there, in a vain endeavour to +avoid them. "Give me your axe, and defend yourself as you best can with +your stick," cried the doctor; and saying this, he laid about him with +the weapon, and a number of hapless penguins were soon brought to the +ground. In a short time, upwards of a hundred were killed; the +remainder still continuing gabbling and squalling as loud as ever. In +some places there were old birds with their young, in others nests on +which the hens were still sitting. In some of the nests, which were +formed of dry seaweed, or frequently only placed without a lining in the +hollow of a rock, was one egg, in others two. The eggs varied in size, +some being as large as those of a goose, others not larger than a hen's +egg, with a slight tinge of green. The nests were about two feet apart, +and generally one old bird was found sitting on the nest, the young ones +endeavouring in vain to nestle themselves under her wings. They were +very like goslings, covered with a dark thick down. The parent birds +were about twenty inches in height, with a white breast, and nearly +black back; the rest of the body being of a dark, dun colour, with the +exception of the head, which was adorned on each side with four or five +yellow feathers, three or four inches long, forming graceful plumes. +Thus the birds, when seen standing erect in rows, had very much the +appearance of a company of soldiers. + +"These will be a welcome prize to our poor friends," exclaimed the +doctor; "so load yourself, Dicey, with as many eggs and birds as you can +carry, and we will send the men up for the remainder." Saying this, the +doctor, tying the legs of a number of birds together with his +handkerchief, fastened them round his neck, and then filled his hat full +of eggs. Willy did the same. + +"They will take us for a couple of feathered bipeds of some new +species," said the doctor, laughing. In truth, except their heads, +nothing was to be seen of the doctor and Willy but masses of feathers. +Now and then some of the birds, who had only been stunned, began +fluttering about, and sticking their beaks into the bodies of their +captors, who, climbing down the steep rocks, were but ill able to defend +themselves. In spite of this, they succeeded in reaching the cove in +safety, where their appearance, as they expected, created no little +astonishment. Mrs Rumbelow, with some of her companions, quickly +relieved them of their burdens, and instantly began plucking out the +feathers of the birds, while the doctor and Willy again hastened off to +continue their rambles. After making their way over the hill, they +came, as they neared the beach, upon a large family of seals basking on +a small strip of sand in a little cove below them. The doctor was +delighted at the sight. "Now, Willy," he exclaimed, "we must have some +more of these phocae." The doctor in his eagerness was hurrying on, +rifle in hand, when his foot slipped, and he went sliding down a steep +rock. The rifle exploded, the bullet passing very near Willy's head. +Willy cried out, dreading that the doctor would be killed. Still he +continued his downward course, Willy making his way by a more circuitous +path as rapidly as he could towards him. At length the doctor reached +the bottom of the cliff, where he lay without moving. Willy hurried +towards him, expecting to find every bone in his body broken. Happily, +the sand was soft where he had fallen. + +"Help me up, Dicey," he said, in a faint voice. "Where is my rifle; we +must do battle with the seals notwithstanding." + +Willy soon assisted his friend to get on his feet; but when they looked +round for the seals, not one was to be seen; the sound of the rifle and +the doctor's and Willy's voices had put the whole family to flight. The +worthy doctor, after shaking himself, discovered, to his infinite +satisfaction, that no bones were broken, and in a short time was able to +scramble up the rocks again, to continue his search for water. Their +worst anticipations were realised; not a spot was found which gave the +slightest indication of there being water below it. The rock had been +searched throughout, and all hands returned to the cove with the same +report. They came, however, laden with as many penguins as they could +carry, and all the eggs that could be collected. There was now no fear +of suffering from starvation. The great difficulty was how to cook +their abundant supply of provisions. No other seals had been seen; and +it was feared that those on the little beach, frightened away by the +doctor, would not return. + +"If so, the sooner we get away from this barren spot the better," +observed Harry. "If the fine weather continues, as I hope it may, we +can expect to reach the Auckland Islands in three or four days." + +"I think we should not give up all hopes of catching a seal or two," +observed the doctor. "As they have been only once disturbed, the herd +we saw are pretty certain to come back before long; and if we can +conceal ourselves and watch for them, we may shoot or knock some on the +head before they can again escape." + +This proposal was agreed to, and Harry resolved to wait a few hours +longer, in the hopes of success. One of the men also stated that he had +seen some pieces of timber apparently, thrown up into a shallow cavern +at the north end of the rock, and a man with him had in vain tried to +get down to them; but he thought, with the aid of ropes, they might be +reached. + +"Then let us get hold of them at once," said the doctor; "they will +serve as fuel, and fuel can procure us water--no time to be lost." + +Two lengths of rope, and three blocks to form a tackle, were therefore +procured from the boat; and Harry, taking a party of men with him, under +the guidance of the seaman proceeded to the spot. From a projecting +point they could look into the cavern, where was seen a considerable +amount of broken planking and timbers, the remains, apparently, of a +large boat or small vessel One of the seamen volunteered to be lowered +down to the spot. The tackle was secured to the rock overhead, and in a +short time, to the doctor's great satisfaction, a considerable amount of +planking was hoisted up. He at once eagerly shouldered as much as he +could carry, and two of the men who could be spared followed him to the +cove. His still was landed, and a blazing fire being raised beneath it, +he was soon able to offer a small quantity of the precious fluid to his +thirsty companions. All had had enough to moisten their parched +throats, when the remainder of the party arrived with a fresh supply of +fuel. + +"Poor fellows, little did they think, when their vessel was cast away, +what a blessing her ribs and skin would prove to us," soliloquised the +doctor, as he added fresh fuel to his fire. A shot was just then heard. +It was fired by Willy Dicey, who had remained on the summit of the +rock; he was pointing westward, and waving his cap. + +"The boat! the boat!" he cried out; and the top of the rock was soon +crowded with most of the seamen, eagerly looking out in the direction +towards which he pointed. There, just rising above the blue water, was +seen a tiny white spot, some declaring that it was only the wing of a +sea-bird; but when Harry arrived with his spy-glass, he at once +pronounced it to be the sail of the cutter. So anxious were they all in +watching it that most of them forgot the seals. Captain Twopenny, +however, reminded by the doctor, had made his way, accompanied by Paul +Lizard and one of the soldiers, towards the sandy beach. Here they +concealed themselves among the rocks on either side of it, while Harry +and Willy, with the rest of the party, were watching the approach of the +boat on the top of the rock. First one dark head, and then another, was +seen rising above the surface of the water, and presently the herd of +seals made their way towards the beach. The creatures, after cautiously +looking about them, began crawling up. The first which arrived lay down +at no great distance from the edge; but soon others climbing up, giving +them no very gentle shoves, they crawled on still further, and then +again lay down, the next treating the last comers in the same way; till +at length a herd of full fifty seals had landed, the inner ones being at +a considerable distance from the water. The seamen on the top of the +rock were eager to rush down and attack them. + +"They will be off as before, and we shall lose them," said Willy, in a +low voice. Just then a shot was heard, then another and another, and +presently Paul Lizard was seen scrambling along the beach, and followed +by the captain and a soldier, and a regular onslaught on the seals was +commenced. The seamen could restrain themselves no longer, and down +they rushed pell-mell to assist their friends; the only weapons, +however, which they possessed were some pieces of the wreck. The seals +were rushing towards the water, tumbling over each other in their hurry +to escape; a few old bulls, however, the patriarchs of the herd, were +ferociously attacking their assailants. The captain was tumbled over, +the soldier had nearly broken his rifle in defending himself against the +assaults of a fierce bull, while Paul was laying about him right and +left with his club, when the rest of the party arrived to their rescue. +Two seals had been shot, and Paul's club had brought down four more; the +rest, charging all who opposed them, made their way to the water. The +captain, though somewhat bruised, and having his clothes torn by the +teeth of the seal which had attacked him, was not otherwise the worse +for the encounter. The six seals which remained as trophies of the +battle were well worth all the injuries which had been received. The +seamen's knives were quickly at work, and the flesh and blubber were cut +off and carried away in triumph to be laid at the doctor's feet. He was +delighted when he saw the spoils brought to him. + +"No fear now, my friends, of dying of thirst or hunger," he exclaimed. +"If we can keep our pot boiling, we shall do well." + +By this time the cutter had drawn near the rock, and Harry and Willy +once more mounted its summit to watch her. They could see with the +telescope the faces of those in her looking up with astonishment at +them. Harry waved to them to go round to the other side of the rock; +and as soon as they understood his signals, the boat was hauled on a +wind, so as to weather the north point. They all seemed very pale and +miserable. + +"There are some people lying at the bottom of the boat," observed Willy. +"I fear they have been suffering greatly." + +The two friends hurried down to the cove, and in a short time the cutter +was seen coming round and standing in for it. The sail was lowered, and +the oars got out; but from the languid way in which they moved, it was +evident that those who were rowing had but little strength. As she +approached several people were seen pointing to their mouths. + +"I thought so," observed the doctor. "We have fortunately saved some +water, though there is scarcely more than sufficient to wet their lips." + +"Oh, give them all we have," exclaimed Mrs Morley, who overheard the +remark. + +"Oh yes, do! do!" exclaimed several of her female companions. + +The doctor, who had been perseveringly attending to his still, hurried +to the cove as the boat came in with a jug and a little tin canister, +which served as a measure. The pale cheeks and cracked lips of those on +board the cutter showed how much they had suffered. + +"The women first, if you please, sir," said Mr Bollard, as the doctor +stepped on board. How thankfully they and the poor children received +the few drops of water offered to each of them. One person only looked +at him with an angry glance. "Why don't you bring me champagne?" +exclaimed poor Ensign Holt. "That's fit tipple for a gentleman." It +was evident, poor fellow, that he was as mad as ever. He did not, +however, refuse the water poured into his mouth, declaring as he drank +it that it was hock of the first quality. Not till all the others had +been served would the brave boatswain accept the water for himself. The +doctor then hurried back to get a fresh supply. + +"We are truly glad to see you, Bollard," said Harry, "for we believed +that you had been overwhelmed by the iceberg." + +"So we should have been, sir," was the answer, "but the moment we saw +the top of the berg beginning to move we shoved off, and pulled away to +the westward. We were not a moment too soon, however; for a mass of ice +rose right up out of the water, directly astern of us. Had we been a +moment later, it would have lifted the boat fifty feet in the air, and, +for what I know, sent us all flying over the top to the other side of +it." + +Willy, who had hurried down to the cutter, looked anxiously for Peter +Patch. He was in the stern-sheets, his cheeks as pale as death, and his +eyes closed. A few drops of water poured down his throat revived him. +"Thank you, Dicey," he whispered, opening his eyes. "I thought it was +all up with me." + +"You will be soon to rights, Mr Patch," said Bollard, looking kindly at +him. "He would not touch a drop of water himself," he added, turning to +the doctor, "but gave his share to those two little children crying out +for it." + +"And you gave yours to their mothers," said Peter, "so you need not talk +of what I did." + +"The youngster has got a heart after all, in spite of his nonsense," +muttered the doctor; and Peter was a favourite of his ever afterwards. + +It was indeed providential that the launch had arrived at the rock some +time before the other boat, and that the firewood and seals had been +procured, or probably many of the poor women and children on board her +would have perished, however the stronger men might have endured their +sufferings. + +The doctor hurried back to his still, which he believed no one could +superintend so well as himself. It required, indeed, the greatest +attention, and three hands were constantly employed in filling up the +boiler and supplying the condenser with cold water. Though Harry was +anxious to continue the voyage, the doctor begged that they might remain +on the rock during the night, that he might the better keep his still at +work, and, at the same time, as there was fuel sufficient for their +fires, that a good supply of seal-flesh might be cooked. The tent was +accordingly carried on shore and considerably enlarged, to afford +accommodation for the ladies and other women, while some of the men +slept on shore, thus giving ample space for the remainder to stretch +their legs on board the boats. The scene looked wild and strange in the +extreme to Harry, as he retired a short distance from the camp to enjoy +a few moments of solitude, and seek for that strength he so much needed, +with the heavy responsibility thrown upon his young shoulders. + +By the side of the small cove on which floated the two boats was the +white tent, and at a little distance their camp-fires blazed up +brightly; while high above rose the dark, rugged peaks of the +weather-worn rock on which, ever and anon, a ruddy glare was cast by the +flames at their base, while beyond stretched out into interminable space +the dark, heaving ocean. Across that ocean he was now to go, and guide +the course of the two boats towards an inhospitable land, yet the +nearest where water and fuel could be found. It could not, however, +prove a permanent resting-place, as the winter, he had heard, was severe +in the extreme, and provisions for so many mouths it might be impossible +to find. Yet could he venture farther on in these open boats? New +Zealand lay beyond; but a large portion of that country was but little +known; they might reach a part inhabited by savages, who might treat +them as foes instead of rendering them assistance. If so, might it not +be safer to stand across from the Aucklands to the distant shores of +Australia? Even should the weather favour them, could they carry water +and provisions sufficient for so large a party? Could any of their +number be left behind? Who, indeed, would consent to stay? + +These questions, and many more, crowded on the young officer's mind as +he thus sat beneath the rugged cliffs of that wild sea-worn rock. He +resolved, at all events, to steer for the Auckland Islands, which had +been discovered in 1806 by Captain Bristow, commander of the "Ocean," +South Sea whaler, and called after Lord Auckland; but with the exception +that they contained some good harbours, Harry knew very little more than +that fact about them. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS. + +THE BOATS LEAVE THE ROCK--STEER FOR THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS--SCARCITY OF +FRESH WATER--MRS RUMBELOW PUTS THE MEN TO SHAME--CLOUDS GATHER IN THE +SKY--PREPARATIONS FOR CATCHING RAIN-WATER--RAIN COMES AT LAST--LAND IN +SIGHT--THREATENINGS OF A STORM--THE AUCKLANDS APPROACHED--OFF A +HARBOUR--RISK OF RUNNING IN--THE STORM BURSTS--THE BOATS STAND TOWARDS +THE HARBOUR--DANGEROUS PASSAGE--ANXIETY FOR THE CUTTER--BOATS RUN UP THE +HARBOUR--A LANDING-PLACE FOUND--SAFE ON SHORE. + +The whole of the next day was passed on the island. Among its various +productions, scanty though they seemed at first, was a supply of salt, +found in the hollows of the rocks. This, in addition to the salt +produced by the still, gave the party enough to preserve a considerable +number of the birds they had killed, as well as some seals' flesh. +Under Mrs Rumbelow's direction, the former were plucked and split open; +and while some were salted, others were hung up in the smoke of the +fires to dry. Every one during the day was so busily employed that it +seemed to pass rapidly away. Though Harry, afraid of a change of +weather, had intended putting to sea in the evening, he consented, at +the entreaties of most of the party, to remain till the following +morning. Being the first on foot, at early dawn the following morning +he called up Willy, and the little camp was soon astir. While Mrs +Rumbelow and her willing assistants were busily cooking the last meal +they could hope to enjoy on shore for many days, the men were engaged in +stowing the boats with their fresh provisions, and as large a supply of +fuel as they could carry. Prayer was offered up, Mrs Morley reading a +chapter in the Bible, and then the whole party embarked. The short stay +on the rock had greatly revived them, and even poor Ensign Holt seemed +much more tranquil and contented. + +"It won't do to trust him, though," said Peter Patch to Willy, as they +were embarking. "I have to keep my eye on him, and I am afraid, even +now, he will play some trick." + +The little baby, in spite of the cold to which it had been exposed, +seemed to flourish, still affording a great amount of interest to its +nurses as at first, young Broke occasionally begging that he might have +it in his arms; and it was pleasant to see the tender care he took of +the little girl. She was called Bessy, and was supposed to be the child +of a Sergeant Leslie, whose wife had accompanied him; but as there were +two or three babies of the same age on board, there appeared to be some +doubt about the matter. Young Broke evidently considered himself the +rightful guardian of little Bessy, and would have again risked his young +life, if necessary, for the sake of preserving hers. + +The sea continued smooth and the wind fair, and the boats ran swiftly +across the ocean. Twice a-day the cutter came up alongside for her +supply of water. It was a small quantity, little more than sufficient +to moisten the throats of the voyagers after each meal; still they were +thankful to obtain even that. Frequently, as they saw the clouds +gathering in the sky, they longed for rain, that they might obtain a +larger amount of the necessary fluid. Though the rain might wet them to +the skin, and chill their bodies, they could endure anything, they +thought, for the sake of more water. + +Willy often dreamed he was on shore, wandering near sparkling cascades +and clear running streams, but that somehow or other he could never +reach the water to obtain a draught. Probably the dreams of others of +the parties were of a similar character. + +Day after day passed by; the wind was very light, and the voyage +promised to be longer than Harry had anticipated. The doctor looked +anxiously at his stock of fuel. "I am afraid our boiler won't hold out +much longer," he observed to Willy. "Ask Shafto when he hopes to sight +these Auckland Islands he talks of. We have not passed them, I hope." + +"No fear of that," answered Willy. "Shafto says that we are still +nearly two hundred miles from them." + +"Two hundred miles!" murmured the doctor. "That is a long distance, +should the wind come foul; but we must keep the pot boiling,--there's no +doubt about that." The following day, the doctor told Shafto that he +thought it would be prudent to reduce the allowance of water. "We can +exist with very little, and though that may be painful, it is far better +than going without it altogether," he remarked. + +Several of the people murmured when they received their reduced +allowance; even some of the women declared they must have as much as +they had been accustomed to; and two or three of the seamen and +soldiers, who had hitherto behaved well, exclaimed that they would not +be deprived of their rights. Harry's anxieties were greatly increased. +Mrs Rumbelow, however, came to the rescue. + +"What is that you say, men?" she exclaimed. "Are you not able to go +through what these poor ladies--who have been accustomed to gentle +nurture all their lives--endure without complaining? You should be +ashamed of yourselves. I'll soon show the next man I hear talking in +that way that I have not been in the regiment for thirty years without +learning my duty; so look out. But I think better of you, boys. If I +was to ask you now, you would, I am sure, be ready to give up half your +allowance to any of the poor women who might require it more than you +do!" + +Not another word was said. Little Broke, it was observed, as soon as he +got his allowance of water, always crept near little Bessy, and poured a +few drops down her throat before he would take any to quench his own +burning thirst. The seal blubber was at length expended, and but a +small quantity of wood remained to keep the stove alive. The anxiety of +all naturally increased as the prospect of obtaining more lessened. +Some, indeed, were beginning to despair. + +Before long, however, dark clouds were seen gathering in the sky, +hanging low down above their heads, the breeze freshened, the air felt +heavy and damp. + +"What do you think of the weather?" asked Harry of the boatswain, the +cutter being within hailing distance. + +"We shall have the rain, sir, and I am getting a sail ready to catch it. +I'd advise you to do the same," was the answer. + +The canvas which formed the ladies' cabin was immediately stretched out +between the masts, and triced up at the corners; the women held out +their shawls, and every arrangement was made to catch the hoped-for +shower; while the casks and cans, and all the articles capable of +holding water, were got ready. + +"There it is! there it is!" cried several voices, as the rain was seen +descending some hundred fathoms from the boat in a thick shower; but it +was to leeward of them. Then it suddenly stopped. Soon another heavy +fall of rain came down at a considerable distance astern. How +tantalising it was to the thirsty throats of those who watched it! Now +another shower appeared ahead, but not a drop descended where the boats +lay. + +"Oh, Mr Shafto, is the rain not coming near us?" inquired several of +the poor women, as they turned their flushed faces towards him, and +hugged their children closer to their bosoms. He could not bring +himself to say that he thought so, as he observed their cracked lips, +their lustreless eyes, and anxious looks. + +"We must hope for the best," he replied. "See the showers are falling +all around us, and we may hope that one will visit us ere long." + +The men proposed getting out their oars, and pulling in the direction +the next shower might appear. + +"We might be too late to reach it, and miss another by so doing," he +answered. "Ten minutes of one of those showers will be sufficient to +supply all our wants." + +Still the rain continued falling, and the thirsty voyagers fancied they +could hear the splash in the water, so near did one or two showers come +to them. Now the heavy clouds seemed to be rolling away, but others +came up in their stead. + +"There's a drop! I felt it on my face," cried Willy. "Another, and +another. It rains! it rains!" In an instant all in the boats were +lifting up their faces to the sky, the poor little children opening wide +their mouths to catch a few drops of the refreshing liquid. There was +no mistake about it now. Down came the welcome rain in thick heavy +drops. The sails were hauled down, for fear of passing through the +shower. Not a drop, if they could help it, would have been lost. As +the water fell it was drained off into the casks and buckets; the women +rung out their shawls; every bit of rag that could be wetted was eagerly +sucked. Still the rain continuing to fall, every can, and even the +smallest cup that could be found, was filled. They had learned the true +value of water. Scarcely had all their measures been filled when the +rain ceased, the clouds rolled away. The sun shining forth assisted to +dry their saturated garments. A brisk breeze soon after sprang up, and +the boats danced gaily over the now laughing water. The hearts of the +voyagers were inclined to laugh too, many lifting them up to heaven to +express their gratitude for the relief afforded them. There was now +water enough, they hoped, to last them till they could reach the +wished-for land. Notwithstanding this, the doctor kept his precious +still going, when the stove was not required for cooking, carefully +husbanding the small remains of fuel. + +A strong northerly breeze was blowing, the boats continuing their course +to the eastward, the launch leading. All night long they had stood on, +the dark foam-topped seas rising up around them. Harry feared that he +should be compelled to heave to should the wind increase. He had been +at the helm during the middle and morning watch. Willy was on the +look-out forward. + +"Land! land!" he shouted. Daylight had just broke. "There are cliffs +ahead, with high lands rising beyond them," he added. Paul Lizard was +awake in a moment, looking out with him. + +"You are right, Mr Dicey." + +"Do you see a high point to the south'ard?" asked Harry. + +"Yes, sir," answered Paul. "And it seems to me that there's an opening +in the cliffs." + +"That must be the west entrance to the southern harbour of the Auckland +Islands," said Harry. "I little expected to make such a run. +Providence has guided us, not my navigation." + +Every one in the launch was soon eagerly looking out towards the land. +The cheering intelligence was announced to those in the cutter. They, +however, had also seen the land, but were not so well informed about it +as was Shafto. The boats now stood on, steering for the narrow passage +between the cliffs. Harry looked anxiously ahead. It seemed to him +that the line of breakers ran directly across the passage. If so, to +attempt to enter would be hazardous in the extreme, although, in +consequence of the wind leading directly in, the risk might be lessened; +yet every instant the gale was increasing, and it was important to get +without delay under shelter. He knew that there was a wide western +entrance; but the wind might be blowing out of it, and a long time must +pass before it could be reached. He hove to, therefore, till the cutter +could come up, that he might consult with the boatswain. + +"It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other," answered Bollard; "the +boats have shown what they can do, and I am ready to chance running in." + +Harry could not conceal from himself the risk he was about to run; yet +it might be greater should he continue at sea during the gale which was +brewing. Giving, therefore, the helm to Lizard, he swarmed up the +foremast, that he might the better examine the appearance of the +entrance. It was sufficiently threatening to have deterred him under +other circumstances from making the attempt to enter; yet as there +appeared a narrow space of dark water, a break in the line of foam, he +resolved to stand on. On either side rose perpendicular cliffs; that on +the north four or five hundred feet high, but that on the south +considerably lower. The two boats stood on, the cutter keeping about a +hundred fathoms astern of the launch. Harry placed Paul Lizard at the +helm, he himself going forward, holding on by the foremast. The oars +were got out, to be in readiness should any flaw come off the shore, and +all hands not required to pull them, or tend the sheets, were ready with +buckets to bail out the water should a sea come on board. Mrs Rumbelow +had taken possession of the largest she could find, ever ready to set +her companions a good example. She perhaps, as well as any one, knew +the risk that must be run. + +"Now, my dear ladies, and you soldiers' wives, don't be screaming out if +a little drop of water cornea aboard; we'll soon send it back again; and +in ten minutes or so we shall be safe at anchor. Just think how God has +taken care of us heretofore, and He is not going to desert us now," she +exclaimed, looking round on those to whom she spoke. + +The gale was rapidly increasing; dark clouds were gathering overhead, +from which ever and anon flashes of bright lightning darted forth, with +crashing peals of thunder. The leaden-coloured waves danced up wildly +on either side. The boats dashed on. The roaring of the breakers could +be heard, as they leaped up madly against the frowning rocks. Harry +kept his eye fixed on the spot of clear water ahead. On either hand of +it rose up the white foaming wall of hissing waters, amid which the +stoutest boats would have been in an instant overwhelmed. There was no +possibility of turning back now; they must stand on, or their +destruction would be inevitable. Harry, holding on to the mast with one +hand, kept the other pointed in the direction Lizard was to steer. Many +of those on board shut their eyes as they drew near the roaring +breakers. The tide was running out strong. Such a wind as was then +blowing would alone have enabled the boats to stem it. Tall basaltic +cliffs rose up on either hand, while the foaming rollers, as they came +in, appeared ready to engulf the two boats. Now the launch rose to the +summit of a high sea, now downward she glided, the breakers hissing and +foaming so close to her that it seemed impossible she could pass through +the narrow opening between them in safety. Now a heavy mass of water +came tumbling on board on the starboard side; now another fell over her +on the other hand. + +"Bail away, boys, bail away," cried Mr Rumbelow; and all who had +buckets or cans exerted themselves to the utmost, down to young Broke, +the water being hove out again as fast almost as it had come on board. +The launch flew on. Harry breathed more freely. She was already within +the breakers; but the waters still kept leaping and tumbling about in a +way which showed the rapid current running against them. Should they be +becalmed under the cliffs, they might find it impossible to stem it. +Willy had been standing near Lizard; he now looked back anxiously for +the cutter. Where was she? His heart sank. Had she been engulfed? A +huge roller came roaring up astern. Presently she appeared on its +summit, darting forward with the speed of an arrow; now she descended, +gliding on towards the passage the launch had just passed through. +Willy could not help feeling intense anxiety about her. It seemed +impossible that so small a boat could pass through so fierce a tumult of +water in safety; yet in another instant she was gliding on through the +passage, and, shooting forward, was almost up to the launch. + +The crews of the two boats cheered each other as they thus found +themselves in comparative safety, the sound of their voices echoing from +cliff to cliff. + +"Let us, my friends, return thanks to Heaven, which has so mercifully +preserved us," said Mrs Morley, who had during the time sat with her +two daughters gazing at the scene, apparently fearless and calm. They +had been so living that they were prepared without flinching to +encounter any danger which might meet them. + +The wind blowing directly up the harbour, they ran on, no place +appearing on either side where they could land. A small island was +passed a mile from the entrance, but its shores were rugged, and +afforded no resting-place. On they advanced; point after point was +passed, still no sheltering bay had been seen where they could securely +anchor. At length Harry perceived on the port bow a wide opening. It +was the entrance, he hoped, to an inner harbour, where shelter might be +found. He shouted to the boatswain that he would stand in. + +"Cheer up! There's a harbour at last," cried Mrs Rumbelow, as she +surveyed the entrance. The men kept the halyards in their hands, ready +to lower the sails at a moment's notice; the oars were got out, prepared +for any emergency. The boats glided on. Instead of the tumbling, +hissing waters through which they had lately passed, all was calm and +smooth. On the right was a high bluff, with a reef running out from it. +On the left the land was more level, but everywhere covered with low, +stunted trees; while the shores on either hand were fringed with black, +rugged rocks, and ahead rose ranges of hills, some bare and bleak, +towering to the sky, the nearest clothed thickly with brushwood. The +harbour they had entered proved to be of considerable size, extending +far up into the interior of the island. As they sailed on, numbers of +seals appeared--some swimming round them, others resting on the rocks +and gazing at the intruders to their domains with wondering eyes, +evidently unaccustomed to the sight of human beings. + +At length, after proceeding several miles up the harbour, which branched +off in several directions, Harry observed a small bay on the right which +promised to afford shelter to the boats. The sails were lowered, and he +steered for it. A ledge running out on one side formed a natural +landing-place. The launch pulled in, and the men jumped on shore. The +cutter came close up astern, and the crews, rejoicing in having reached +a harbour in safety, gave vent to their satisfaction in hearty cheers. +The whole party were soon on shore. Beyond the rocks on which they +landed was a broad plot of grass land, sloping gradually upwards, +bordered by a mass of underwood and stunted trees. In the distance rose +several hills, some of considerable height; while opposite the bay the +harbour had the appearance of a large lake, dotted here and there with +wooded islands, and encircled by a belt of hilly country, covered with +trees. On the opposite side of the outer harbour which they first +entered Harry told them was Adams' or South Island; while, eastward, a +broad estuary stretched away towards the ocean, forming the entrance to +Carnley Harbour. Close to where they landed a beautiful stream of clear +water came rushing down from the heights, making its way into the bay. +The moment it was seen most of the party rushed towards it, and in an +instant were kneeling down by its side, taking it up with cups and cans, +which the more provident had brought with them. Willy immediately ran +back to the boat to secure a can and a small cup, with which, having +filled, he hastened back to where Mrs Morley and her daughters, with +poor Mrs Twopenny, were seated on the rocks. He saw that they, at all +events, were not unmindful of God's protecting care, which had carried +them through so many dangers, and that they were, with grateful hearts, +offering their thanks to Him to whom their preservation was due. As +they ceased, Willy approached them. The two young ladies were certainly +not suffering less than others; but they would not touch the water till +their mother and their invalid companion had quenched their thirst. +When they had done so, Willy could no longer resist placing the jug to +his own lips. + +"What, my boy," said Mrs Morley, "had you not first drunk of the water +yourself?" + +"No, how could I," said Willy, "when I knew how much you wanted it?" + +Willy was amply rewarded with the smile the young ladies bestowed on +him. + +"That is indeed true chivalry," observed Emma Morley to her sister. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +THE "CRUSADER" IS DISABLED. + +FEVER STILL ON BOARD--PLANS FOR THE FUTURE--EMILY AND MAY ATTEND THE +SICK--MRS CLAGGET'S SUSPICIONS--SCENE ON DECK OF EMIGRANT SHIP--LAND IN +SIGHT--ARRIVAL AT CAPE TOWN--"CRUSADER" AGAIN READY FOR SEA--"CRUSADER" +MEETS ANOTHER SHIP--CHARLES AND BILL WINDY ON BOARD--THE LOST ONE +RECOVERED--CHARLES NARRATES HIS ADVENTURES--SEAMAN OVERBOARD RECOVERED-- +ATTEMPTS TO FOLLOW THE SHIP--SHIP LOST SIGHT OF--WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER +IN BOAT--WINDY KEEPS UP THE MEN'S SPIRITS--THEY STEER FOR TRINIDADA-- +LONG VOYAGE IN PROSPECT--SUFFERINGS FROM HUNGER AND THIRST--PICKED UP BY +HOMEWARD BOUND SHIP--GET ON BOARD SHIP BOUND FOR THE CAPE--END OF +CHARLIE'S NARRATIVE--"CRUSADER" STANDS TO THE SOUTH--A GALE COMES ON-- +TREMENDOUS SEAS--SAIL BLOWN FROM BOLTROPES--MRS CLAGGET'S TONGUE IN THE +STORM--MRS CLAGGET BEGS THE CAPTAIN TO CHANGE HIS COURSE--SHIP THROWN +ON HER BEAM-ENDS--THE MASTS CUT AWAY--THE "CRUSADER" SPRINGS A LEAK. + +The "Crusader" having sailed sufficiently far south to obtain the +assistance of the prevailing westerly winds, once more, with +studding-sails on either side, glided rapidly over the ocean towards the +southern end of Africa. + +Besides the sickness which still prevailed, she had run short of water, +in consequence of her long detention in the calms of the Tropics; and +this made it doubly necessary for her to touch at the Cape, in order to +obtain a fresh supply before she continued her course across the +Southern Ocean. + +Proudly as she sailed on, how different were the spirits of those on +board to what they had been at the commencement of the voyage. Jack +Ivyleaf no longer spouted or sang his comic songs. The poor steerage +passengers mourned for their lost friends. The seamen talked over the +good qualities of Bill Windy, the late mate, who was a general favourite +with them. The captain sincerely grieved for him, and felt his loss +acutely. But Emma and May Dicey, perhaps more than any one else, had +cause to mourn for their brother. Mr Paget endeavoured, with the most +delicate attention, to comfort them; and even Mrs Clagget's manner +softened when she attempted to soothe the grief of the poor girls. +Still her tongue would keep wagging, and they would frequently have been +glad had she kept silence. + +"You see, my dear Emily, you and May have been deprived of your brother, +and I know what it is to lose a person one loves. When poor dear Mr +Clagget was taken from me, I thought my heart would break; but it +didn't, you see, and I got over my grief in time. Now, according to my +idea, it is wise to make the best of everything; and what I propose is, +when we reach New Zealand, that we should set up house together. You +cannot live alone, that's very certain, and I have no wish to reside by +myself. It is but natural, and right and proper, that an old friend of +your family, as I am, should remain with you, and afford you that +protection which you so much require." + +Notwithstanding Mrs Clagget's kind intentions, neither Emily nor May +had any wish to have the sound of her tongue always in their ears. They +talked over her proposal, but agreed that they would rather do anything +than be compelled to accept it. Mr Paget did not offer any advice on +the subject, considering that there would be time enough to discuss the +matter when they were nearer New Zealand. He probably thought that they +would, when there, find some more desirable friend than the talkative +lady appeared to be. What was passing in his own mind, indeed, he did +not reveal. There were still so many sick on board that the young +ladies' services were almost as much required in attending to them as at +first. In this occupation they found their best solace. After two or +three days, they had aroused themselves to attend to their self-imposed +duties. They were now never idle, although tears unbidden often came +into their eyes when they thought of their young brother, cut off so +suddenly in his youth and strength. They endeavoured, on such +occasions, to turn their minds to the duties they had in hand, and, to +the casual observer, they appeared very soon to have recovered from +their loss. + +"I have an idea," said Mrs Clagget to the lady who occupied the next +cabin to hers, "that it won't be long after we arrive in New Zealand +before my friend Emily replaces poor dear Charles. I should have given +those two girls credit for having more feeling; but ah, my dear Mrs +Jones, there's wonderful elasticity in the spirits of youth. I am sure +such was my case, when I was a girl--down one moment, up the next; +weeping and sighing, laughing and dancing, within a few minutes. I was +still in my youth when I was deprived of my dear Mr Clagget, and, as I +was telling them the other day, I thought my heart would break; but I +bore my loss with wonderful equanimity." + +"Yes; but then you are a wonderful woman," observed Mrs Jones, who had +long since become weary of her neighbour's loquacity, and did not +observe that the Miss Diceys showed any want of feeling at the loss they +had suffered. + +Although at first unwilling to encounter their fellow-passengers, the +two poor girls, feeling the importance of taking the fresh air, used to +come on deck at night, where they would stand, their hands clasped +together, watching the beautiful constellations, and gazing over the +dark ocean which they believed to be their beloved brother's grave. The +other passengers, respecting their grief, kept aloof from them, and +allowed them the part of the deck they chose to themselves. The old +captain and Mr Paget were the only people who spoke to them on such +occasions, and then only to advise them to retire to their cabins, when +the late hour made it desirable. Sometimes, notwithstanding this, Emily +lingered, and Mr Paget, finding that he was not intruding on her +sorrows, stood by her side, offering such subjects of consolation as he +thought likely to produce a good impression upon her mind. Emily felt +very grateful to him, and was thankful that she and her sister had a +friend on whose calm judgment and sympathy they could so thoroughly +rely. + +The "Crusader" sailed on towards the east before a steady breeze. Often +for days together not a sheet nor tack was started; the crew had seldom +to go aloft, except to serve some of the rigging, or to keep the usual +lookout. + +Although the sickness on board did not increase, the captain still +considered it necessary to put into Simon's Bay for water. One fine +calm morning, the passengers were scattered about in groups on deck, the +women belonging to the steerage attending to various domestic concerns, +the mothers dressing and nursing their children, the girls working or +pretending to work with their needles. Three or four of the men were +helping the cooks, some were mending their shoes, others were tailoring, +a few of both sexes were reading, a greater number arguing some knotty +point, or smoking their pipes, and several were sitting listlessly with +their hands between their knees, already wishing that the voyage was +over, and that they were once more engaged in the occupations to which +they had been accustomed. The crew were all busy in their various +duties about the ship. The captain was not a person to allow his men to +be idle. The carpenter was at his bench, scattering white shavings +around him; several were at work with heaps of oakum, spinning yarns. +The sailmakers, with canvas spread before them, were plying their +needles; others were making mats, or splicing or knotting ropes. The +painters, with their pots and brushes, were giving touches to the +bulwarks and other parts where the paint had been rubbed off; and every +particle of brass was getting a fresh polish from the ship's boys, who +whistled as they worked. The cabin passengers were collected under the +awning on the poop. In one part, Mr and Mrs Bolton, with their +children around them, were holding school; the younger ladies were +reading or working. Mr James Joel was laying down the law on some +agricultural subject to the young farmer, Luke Gravel. Tom Loftus and +Jack Ivyleaf were smoking their cigars, and arranging some plan of +proceeding which Jack had proposed as certain of success. Mrs Clagget, +though with work in her hands, had forgot all about it in her eagerness +to employ her tongue on her reluctant hearer, poor Mrs Jones. Emily +and May were reading together a book which Mr Paget had lent them. He +had wisely judged that the best way to restore their spirits was to draw +them off from themselves. He was standing near them, doing nothing, an +unusual occurrence for him. Now and then he glanced over the page, and +made some remark, and though perhaps he was not aware of it, he +continued watching Emily's countenance as she read. + +"I thought so before, and now I am sure," whispered Mrs Clagget to her +companion. "Well, it's the best thing that could happen." + +"But is he going to settle in New Zealand?" asked Mrs Jones. "He is a +mere traveller I fancy, or perhaps he has a wife already." + +"I think too highly of him to suppose that," said Mrs Clagget; "though, +to be sure, I do wish he would talk more about himself. I like a person +to be communicative; those reticent people always puzzle me." + +Such was the state of affairs on board the "Crusader" when a voice was +heard from aloft shouting the welcome cry of "Land ho! Land on the port +bow!" In an instant every one was on the alert, looking out in the +direction indicated; but though it could be seen from the mast-head, a +considerable time passed before it was visible from the deck. + +The captain ordered the seamen to the starboard braces, and in an +instant, the deck, before so quiet, was full of bustle and life. The +ship was hauled up to the north, and at length the bold outline of the +Cape of Good Hope came into view. Before evening the "Crusader" +anchored in Simon's Bay. + +The captain at once went on shore, and returned with the satisfactory +intelligence that the passengers would be allowed to land on the +following morning, though they would be kept in quarantine till all fear +of infection had passed away. This would detain the ship for some time; +but it was hoped that the residence on shore, with the advantages of an +abundant supply of fresh vegetables, would restore the sick to health. +Mrs Clagget was very indignant on finding that she would not be allowed +to visit the town, nor to travel into the country. She had, however, to +submit to regulations which were for the good of all. All the +passengers were indeed compelled to land, as it was considered necessary +thoroughly to fumigate every part of the "Crusader," an operation which +could not be carried on while they remained on board. When released +from quarantine, the Miss Diceys met with much sympathy from the +inhabitants of Cape Town, who had heard of the loss of the boat. Mr +Paget was received with great attention by the principal people in the +place. + +"I am sure he must be somebody," observed Mrs Clagget, when she heard +of it. "I have always remarked a peculiarly aristocratic air about +him." However, as Mr Paget himself did not speak of any of his +acquaintances, the good lady began to doubt whether the report was true. + +At length the "Crusader" was declared to be again ready for sea, the +steerage passengers were removed on board, and the following day the +rest again occupied their cabins. Captain Westerway had wished to +obtain another first mate in the place of Bill Windy, but he had been +unsuccessful. The second mate was a young man, and though a fair +sailor, was not as trustworthy a navigator as the captain desired; thus, +consequently, throwing more labour and responsibility on him. Once more +the sails were loosed, the anchor hove up, and the "Crusader" stood out +of Simon's Bay, the captain hoping to get a good offing before +nightfall. Sail after sail was loosed; and close-hauled, with the wind +to the westward, she glided swiftly over the blue sea. While the +passengers were on deck watching the receding shores, a shout was heard +that another ship was approaching under all sail, right ahead. Their +attention was turned towards the stranger. She was an object to be +admired, as, the sun glancing on her wide spread of canvas, she heeled +gracefully over to the breeze. The two ships rapidly neared each other, +the "Crusader" keeping to windward. Closer and closer they drew; it +seemed, indeed, as if they were about to run into each other. The +stranger, however, slightly deviated from the course on which she had +been steering, and then keeping as before, showed that she intended to +pass as near as possible to leeward of the "Crusader." The passengers +of the latter ship hurried to the side nearest her, and a number of +people were seen on board, some holding on to the shrouds, others +leaning over the bulwarks. + +"Why, as I'm a live man, there's our mate, Bill Windy," exclaimed one of +the "Crusader's" seamen, "and there's Dick Hansom, and Tom Bowline, I do +believe! Yes, it's Tom himself!" + +Emily and May heard these exclamations, and, eagerly gazing with beating +hearts, they saw their brother Charles in the main rigging. They looked +and looked again, scarcely trusting their eyes; but there could be no +mistake. He waved his hand; he had seen them, and Bill Windy discovered +them also. + +"Heave to," cried the mate, "and we will come aboard you." + +The two ships glided by each other. The helm of the stranger was put +down, and with her headsails backed against the masts, she lay, hove to. +Captain Westerway imitated the manoeuvre, and the "Crusader" likewise +became almost stationary. Scarcely even now crediting what they had +seen, and feeling as if they were in a dream, the two sisters watched +the stranger. A boat was lowered. Several people jumped into her, and +she rapidly approached. In a few minutes their dear brother Charles, +for whom they had so long grieved as lost, was in their arms. May hung +about his neck, and kissed him again and again. Bill Windy and the rest +of the boat's crew received the hearty greetings of their shipmates. +The good captain, with a tear in his eye, warmly shook his mate by the +hand. "I would rather see you here alive and well, my dear fellow, than +be told I had a fortune of a hundred thousand pounds left me, and need +no longer knock about the salt ocean. I had given you up as gone for +ever, Bill." + +"I knew that you would do your best to look for us, captain," answered +the mate, "and that it was no fault of yours that you didn't pick us up. +We had a narrow squeak for it; but we had saved poor Tom, and that +cheered us during the dangerous time we had to go through." + +"And how did it all happen, how did it all happen, Mr Charles?" +exclaimed Mrs Clagget, as soon as she thought he and his sisters had +kissed and welcomed him sufficiently, as she called it. "We're dying to +know how it happened, for we never expected to see you again." + +"I hope soon to tell you my story," answered Charles, "but I must shake +hands first with the friends who are wishing to speak to me." + +Mr Paget was among the foremost to welcome Charles, the rest of the +passengers following, and expressing their pleasure at seeing him again. + +"Now, Charles, you must know that I am very angry with you for jumping +into that boat," exclaimed Mrs Clagget. "The only way you can make +your peace with me is to tell me your story at once. I can't let you go +and describe all to your sisters and other people, and allow me to have +it second-hand." + +Charles laughed. "I must not disappoint you, then, Mrs Clagget," he +said. "But were I to give you more than the outline of my adventures, I +should have to spin you too long a yarn; so you must excuse me if I +somewhat curtail my story. Soon after we shoved off from the ship, we +saw the lifebuoy, and Tom Bowline, the man who had fallen overboard, +clinging to it, and driving away to leeward. We followed, and not +without difficulty got him at last on board. We then attempted to +secure the buoy, and while so doing, a heavy sea broke over us, and +nearly swamped the boat. She had, we found, so slight a hold of the +water that she drifted away even faster than the lifebuoy. One of the +oars had been broken, and another was carried away while we were trying +to haul in the lifebuoy. We thus in vain attempted to pull back to the +ship, and found ourselves every instant increasing our distance from +her. Sometimes, as we sank into the trough of the sea, she was hidden +from our sight, and we knew, consequently, that we could not be seen +from her deck; besides this, from the colour of the boat, when we were +on the crest of the sea, we were well aware that she could scarcely be +distinguished from the foaming water around. At length we saw the yards +swung round, and then we knew that we must have been given up for lost. +To reach her was impossible. You may fancy, my dear sisters, how +acutely I felt for you, knowing the grief my supposed loss must cause +you. That, indeed, was the hardest thing to bear. Our hopes revived +when we saw the ship wear round, and stand back again nearly across the +spot where Tom had fallen overboard; but she kept too far to windward. +Though we could not row with any effect, we determined to try and sail. +Happily, Jack Ivyleaf and Tom Loftus had in the morning been reclining +at their ease in the boat to smoke their cigars, and, to make themselves +comfortable, had thrown in some rugs and blankets. With these we +devised some sails, the broken oar was fitted as a bowsprit, and two +other oars were stepped as masts. Some of the emigrants had, +fortunately for us, also left a child's mattress in the boat. This, +split open, formed a jib and fore-staysail We had a coil of rope, with +which we fitted the stays and sheets. Our sails answered better than we +expected; but we found that we could not lie sufficiently close to the +wind to get up to the ship. Our disappointment was great when we saw +her again standing on her course. Night was approaching, and we were by +this time some five miles away; still, while the light lasted, we could +clearly trace the rise and fall of her bowsprit with the swell of the +sea. Bill Windy, however, did his best to keep up our spirits. `Never +fear, lads,' he exclaimed, `we are slipping along at a good rate through +the water, and we shall not be so very far astern of the old ship after +all; perhaps at daylight, when the sea goes down, as it is doing fast, +she will catch sight of us, and we shall be aboard again for breakfast.' +The word `breakfast' made us think of food, for we were feeling +somewhat hungry; but not a particle could be found in the boat. The +mate now divided us into two watches; he was in the one, I in the other. +While one of us steered, another kept a look-out, and the rest slept. +I confess that I felt from the first that the chance of catching the +ship was but small; still I hoped that we might do so, and hope kept up +my spirits during that long night. Sleep I could not for thinking of +you both, and what would become of you should I be lost. I knew we were +a long, long way from any land, without a drop of water or a particle of +food. We could scarcely, therefore, expect to survive till we should +reach even the nearest point. While I sat alongside the mate, talking +of the possibility of overtaking the ship, I asked him whether he really +thought we could do so. + +"`That depends whether during the night she carries much sail or not. +The captain believes that the boat was swamped. To tell you the truth, +Mr Dicey, I don't think we shall overhaul her, however, we must not +give way to despair. If the worst comes to the worst, we must try and +make a little island which lies midway between the coast of South +America and Africa, called Trinidada. It is a barren spot, but I have +heard that water is to be procured there, and it is said that a few +runaway seamen, with negro wives, manage to pick up a livelihood on it. +If so, we shall not want for food, as where they exist we can manage to +support ourselves till a ship passes within hail.' By the mate's +calculation, the island he spoke of was about a hundred and twenty miles +away to leeward. It was, however, but a small dot in the ocean to hit +to a certainty; still he thought we should not fail to pass within sight +of it. `However,' he concluded, `mind, I don't think that it is +impossible we may, after all, be in sight of the ship at daylight.' The +boat was making fine weather of it, and slipping at the rate of five or +six knots an hour through the water, so that, had we possessed something +to eat and drink, we should have had less cause for anxiety. +Notwithstanding this, the men kept up their spirits wonderfully, and as +they were roused up one after the other to take their watch, each man +had a joke on his lips. The thing they chiefly seemed to sigh for was a +pipe of tobacco. Tom had had some in his pocket, he declared, when he +went overboard, but it must have slipped out, and he mourned its loss +more than that of his hat. + +"When morning broke, you may be sure we eagerly looked out for the ship, +but she was nowhere to be seen. `Then, lads,' exclaimed the mate, in a +cheerful voice, `what we have now to do is to steer for the island I +have been telling Mr Dicey about. No fear as to getting there, and we +may live like Robinson Crusoe, the lords of all we survey, till some +craft comes by to take us off, and then we can go or not as we have a +mind to do.' `Hurra for Trinidada,' shouted the men, inquiring of the +mate what sort of a place it was. As the wind was right aft, we rigged +the square-sail with the boathook as a yard, and though the sea was +still running pretty heavily, we calculated that we were making a good +six knots an hour. The mate advised the men to take a reef in their +belts when they felt hungry. `Ay, ay, sir,' answered Tom, laughing, +`it's the best way to keep hunger out, when there happens to be no +plum-dough to stow aboard.' `I wonder who will have ours,' exclaimed +another of the men. `I'll lay anything Dick Handspike does his best to +get my share.' Thus the men joked and laughed as if we were not in the +middle of the Atlantic, with a fearful probability of being starved to +death. Bill Windy assured us that we should make the island by noon the +following day, whispering to me, however, that he had hopes of reaching +it by dawn, and we all made up our minds for another supperless night at +sea. I had little notion before what were the actual sensations of +thirst and hunger. I could not help thinking of your remark, Mrs +Clagget, to me a short time ago, and wished that a covey of flying-fish +would come on board. Some of the men had begun to scrape the broken +pieces of the oar, and chew the wood to stop the gnawing of hunger. +Another night, we all felt, would be very trying. The day wore on, and +though we had kept a bright look-out on either side, no sail had been +sighted. Believing that if I could get to sleep, I might better endure +the pangs of hunger, I at length threw myself down in the bottom of the +boat, and had been dozing away, though still conscious of where I was, +when I heard a shout of `Sail, ahoy!' We were all sitting up in a +moment, and saw, on the port bow, the topgallant sails of a ship rising +above the horizon. She was standing to the northward. We bore away and +rapidly neared her. As we approached, she altered her course still more +for us. We were seen, and had now every hopes of getting on board. At +length she hove to, and we were quickly alongside. She was an American +whaler, homeward bound. The captain received us with the greatest +kindness; our boat was hoisted up; and while Windy and I were +entertained in the cabin, the men were hospitably treated by the crew +forward. Although we were no longer in danger of starving, I could not +help still thinking of the grief you, my sisters, were suffering on my +account, and wishing that some aerial telegraph existed among the +wonders of nature by which I could send you a message to assure you of +my safety. Months might pass before I could find a ship to rejoin you +in New Zealand. When the captain heard of my anxiety, he promised to +keep a bright look-out for any ship bound for the Cape or the Australian +colonies, on board which he might put us. The mate and I spent most of +each day relieving each other at the mast-head, not willing to trust to +the eyes of others. + +"Near a week had passed away, when Bill Windy, who was aloft, hailed the +deck. A ship was in sight, steering southward. We stood for her, with +a signal flying. She hove to. We did the same. She was bound out for +the Cape. Wishing good-bye to the kind master, who would not receive +even the boat which we offered him as payment for his hospitality, we +went on board the other ship. We were as kindly received as before. We +met with no accident, though we had a somewhat slow passage, till, to +our joy, we recognised the `Crusader' coming out of Simon's Bay. Thus, +Mrs Clagget, ends our adventures. I only wish you had heard them from +my friend Windy, as he would have given them in a more graphic manner." + +"Oh, I intend to get them out of him before long," said Mrs Clagget. +"There are a number of things I want to ask him about, and remember, Mr +Charles, that you never go and do so foolish a thing again. You don't +know how angry I have been with you." + +"I am much obliged to you, Mrs Clagget, and promise to remember your +advice," said Charles, laughing, as he descended with his sisters to +their cabin, where they might talk of their dear home and the loved ones +there. Charles greatly relieved their minds when he told them that he +had written home, and that he hoped his letter would reach England as +soon as that which conveyed the intelligence of his supposed loss. They +had thought of remaining at the Cape, but Mrs Clagget and Captain +Westerway had urged them to continue their voyage in the "Crusader." +Perhaps Mr Paget might have said something about the matter. At all +events, they had determined to go on to New Zealand, thence to return +home, should they find it desirable. Having recovered their brother, +they had now no longer any doubts about the future, but believed--and +surely that was but natural--that all would go smoothly and happily. + +The ship stood to the south, till she again met with the steady westerly +wind, which had already carried her so many hundred miles on her voyage. +A change, however, again came over the ocean. Dark clouds were seen +hurrying across the sky; the sea, hitherto rolling in regular billows, +now began to foam, and hiss, and dance wildly about, the wind carrying +the spray in thick sheets from their curling summits over the deck. +Sail after sail was taken off the ship, till the topsails, closely +reefed, alone remained set, the gale howling and whistling in the +rigging. The waves continued to increase in height, and huge mountains +of water rose up on either side, whilst others came rolling astern, as +if about to break over the poop and sweep the decks of the stout ship. +The emigrants were desired to keep below, the hatches were battened +down, everything that could be washed away was secured. Lines were also +stretched along the deck, by the aid of which the seamen could make +their way from one end to the other. Four of the best hands, secured by +ropes, were at the helm, where they stood struggling and clinging to it +every now and then, in spite of all their efforts one or other being +thrown on either side from the violent jerks it made. The wind +increased every instant, low heavily laden clouds bounded the horizon, +circumscribed to a couple of miles. Sometimes the ship sank so low in +the trough of the sea that the curling summits of the waves appeared to +reach above her mast-heads; now she climbed a watery height, to remain +but for a moment, before she rushed down again on her impetuous course. +In vain the captain and his mates shouted to the men, their voices were +drowned by the loud uproar of the waves, the howling and whistling of +the wind in the rigging, the creaking of the bulk-heads, the flapping of +the canvas, the complaining of the masts and spars. A fierce hurricane +was blowing, such as Captain Westerway said he had never before +encountered in those seas. Charles and Mr Paget frequently made their +way on deck to witness the grand spectacle which the ocean presented. A +close-reefed fore-topsail, and a storm-staysail were the only sails set; +but even with these the masts bent as if they would go by the board, and +every moment it seemed likely that the canvas would be carried out of +the boltropes. Looking astern, they saw the huge waves following them, +now one came rolling up, its foaming crest towering over the taffrail, +while ahead appeared another, the summit of which could just be seen +above the fore-topmast-crosstrees. In an instant, the ship, escaping +from the watery mountain astern, rose to the crest of that before her, +and thus she careered onwards, again sinking so low down, that, +sheltered by the surrounding seas, the wind could not be felt on deck, +though still heard whistling aloft. Directly afterwards it came with a +force against which it seemed scarcely possible to withstand. +Frequently as the ship rolled, the ends of her yards flicked off the +crest of the waves which rose up on either side. For several days the +ship ran on, the gale in no way moderating. Emily and May longed to go +on deck, to witness, with their brother and Mr Paget, the wild tumult +of waters. They wisely entreated them not to make the attempt. + +"No, no, young ladies," said Captain Westerway, "you had better stay +where you are. We are doing our best as seamen, but we cannot tell from +one moment to another what may happen. A mast may go, and one of those +waves following astern might break on board, and sweep the decks, and +you will be carried away like feathers without the possibility of saving +you." + +This reply made them very anxious whenever Charles and Mr Paget went on +deck. One day they both had gone up as usual, promising to hold fast +and not run any risk of the danger the Captain had pictured. Just as +the ship had reached the crest of a sea a clap was heard like the sound +of thunder. The fore-topsail had split. In an instant the larger +portion was blown into ribbons, which, streaming out, flapped and +twisted and curled themselves round the yard. + +"Fore-topmen, aloft!" cried the captain, and, led by Bill Windy, several +men mounted the rigging with axes in their belts. As the fragments of +the sail beat wildly about, the men ran a fearful risk of being caught +by them and hurled into the foaming sea. Bravely they faced the danger, +and, cutting away the remainder of the sail, off it flew like a gigantic +kite ahead of the ship. Now came the task of bending another sail. +Notwithstanding the difficulty, this was accomplished, the ship happily +escaping being pooped during the interval. + +Several more days passed by and still the gale gave no sign of abating. +How different was the aspect of the cabin now to what it had been during +fine weather. The stern lights were closely shut in, the sky-light +battened down and covered over, to prevent any sea which might come on +board breaking through. A solitary lamp swung, both night and day, to +and fro, casting a pale, flickering light around. Most of the +passengers kept in their cabins, seldom venturing out, even at the +breakfast and dinner hour, at which time the table was partially covered +with dishes, firmly secured by puddings and fiddles, as the captain told +them the lines and sandbags fastened to it are called. Even Mrs +Clagget's tongue was more silent than usual; sometimes, however, it +could be heard amid the creaking of the bulk-heads, as she endeavoured +to make Mr Jones listen to her complaints; but, though the notes of her +voice were distinguishable, that much-enduring lady could but seldom +catch the meaning of her words. "Terrible!" then the ship rolled and +the bulk-heads creaked. "Deceitful!" and a blow on the quarter from the +sea prevented the remainder of the sentence being heard. "Ought to have +come another way,"--the increasing uproar drowned even her voice. +"Complain to authorities," showed that Mrs Clagget entertained strong +doubts of the captain's seamanship. Now and then, when he made his +appearance in the cabin, though he was but seldom off the deck, she +attacked him vigorously. He, however, only smiled at her complaints, +and assured her that, had he the management of the weather, he would +have arranged smooth seas and steady breezes for her sake, and for that +of the other fair ladies on board. "But you see, madam," he observed, +"though the wind blows pretty strong, it is carrying us at a good rate +on our course. In a few days we shall be at no great distance from the +southern end of New Zealand; and, once under the lee of the land, we +shall have, I hope, smooth water and a fair breeze to carry us into +port." + +The gale, however, continued longer than the captain expected; but he +hoped soon to make the land which he had spoken of. This news raised +the spirits of all, and many who, during the continuance of the +hurricane, had shut themselves up in their cabins, now once more +appeared on deck. + +"Do you really tell me that the sea has greatly gone down?" said Emily, +as she watched the still mountainous billows amid which the ship +laboured. + +"Oh, they are mere mole-hills to what they have been," answered Bill +Windy, who was standing by. "The stout ship makes nothing of them. +See, we have our three topsails set again, and shall soon be shaking out +the topgallant sails and letting fall the courses." The mate, however, +was wrong in his prognostications. During the middle watch, while the +second mate had charge of the deck, the wind suddenly chopped round. +The ship heeled to the fearful blast. In an instant her lee-yardarms +were dipping in the foaming seas. Before he had time to issue any +orders the main topgallant mast was carried away, dragging the +fore-topmast, and with it the jibboom. Still the ship did not rise--she +was on her beam-ends. Captain Westerway and Bill Windy were on deck in +an instant. The watch below came hurrying up without being summoned. +Every one knew what had occurred. + +"Cut away the mizen-mast, Windy," cried the captain. + +The mate, with a gleaming axe in his hand, stood ready to obey the +order. The shrouds were cut. + +"Cut," cried the captain, and a few strokes sent the tall mast into the +sea. The desired effect was not produced. The helm was put up, but the +ship refused to obey it. The mate sprang to the mainmast. That, too, +must go, or the ship might never rise from her dangerous position; but +it was a fearful alternative; for, deprived of her masts, she might be +driven at the mercy of the wind and waves, and cast helpless on some +rocky shore of that bleak region, towards which, should the gale +continue, she might be driven. + +"Cut," again cried the captain. The mainmast fell into the seething +water, the seamen hurrying with axes to sever the ropes which kept it +still attached to the ship. With a sudden jerk the ship in another +instant rose to an even keel; but so violent was the motion that the +foremast, deprived of its accustomed support, went by the board, and the +"Crusader" lay a helpless wreck on the wild waste of waters. + +It is needless to describe the dismay and anxiety of those below, though +only partly aware of the dangerous position to which the ship was +reduced. Now, answering her helm, she flew before the gale. While the +captain was issuing orders to clear the wreck, the carpenter appeared +with a face of dismay. He had been sounding the well. + +"Three feet of water in the hold, sir," he said. "It will be a hard +job, with all the pumps going, to keep the leaks under." + +Mr Paget heard the announcement. "I will get the emigrants to work +them," he said, "and the cabin passengers will, I feel confident, set +the example." + +"Rig the pumps at once, then, Mr Gimlett," said the captain. "When the +gale moderates we will get up jury-masts, and do our best to save the +ship. Tell the poor people not to be downhearted, Mr Paget, but to put +their trust in Him who has carried us thus far on our voyage in safety." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +AN INVASION OF SEALS. + +STORES LANDED--PARTY SENT TO KILL SEALS--A TENT RIGGED--WOODCUTTERS SET +TO WORK--TIGER-SEALS--A MOB OF SEALS ATTACKED--PETER CHASED BY +TIGER-SEAL--WILLY RESCUES PETER FROM THE SEAL--HARRY MEDITATES ON HIS +RESPONSIBILITIES--THE ENCAMPMENT AT NIGHT--A STORM THREATENS--RAIN COMES +THROUGH THE HUTS--INVADED BY SEALS--SEALS DRIVEN OFF--A HURRICANE--BOATS +IN DANGER--THE CUTTER HAULED UP--THE LAUNCH WRECKED--THE HUTS BLOWN +DOWN. + +As soon as the thirst of the long sea-tossed party was assuaged, Harry +called the officers and men round him. + +"We have an abundance of work before us," he said. "We have but a +scanty stock of provisions remaining, and must obtain more without +delay. We have wood to cut for fuel, and we must get up the best +shelter we can manage for the women and children before nightfall. +First, however, we must land our remaining stores, and secure them under +cover. For these purposes we will form three parties." + +Dr Davis volunteered at once to go in search of seals; several, it +will be remembered, having been observed poking their snouts out of the +water as they came up the harbour. He had hopes also of finding more on +the islands or rocks within its circuit. Captain Twopenny offered to +accompany him, and Willy and Peter Patch begged that they might go also. +Harry told them that they might take the cutter as soon as she was +unloaded, with four of the men to pull. The boatswain and a large party +took charge of the unloading of the boats and putting up the huts, while +the remainder, armed with all the axes which could be mustered, were +directed to cut down wood for fuel. + +"And, please sir, what are we to do?" asked Mrs Rumbelow; "there are +other hands here willing to work." + +"I think the best thing you can do is to look after the children," +answered Harry. + +"Oh, sir, the ladies can do that; and they will pardon me for saying so. +I and several other women can manage to bring in the wood as the men +cut it, or to carry up the stores from the water. No one among us +wishes to be idle." + +"I am not going to work," said poor Mr Holt, who was seated by himself +on a rock. "I was brought here against my will, and do not intend to be +made a slave of." + +"Poor fellow," observed Harry, "he is not yet recovered from his attack, +Well, Mrs Rumbelow, I will accept your services; but what we have to do +must be done quickly, as night will shortly be upon us." + +The wooding party under Paul Lizard, as soon as they had collected all +the axes and large knives to be found, went off to the wood at a short +distance from the landing-place. The cutter was quickly unloaded. The +doctor, in the meantime, had been surveying the island across the +harbour with a spy-glass. "I see several dark objects moving up the +bank," he observed. "I have no doubt they are seals; and, if so, we may +hope to obtain an ample supply of fresh meat. We shall find clubs of +more use than our guns," he added; "make haste, and get some ready." As +soon as the clubs were cut from some small trees growing near the beach, +the doctor, fearing that the seals might return to the water before they +could get up to them, hurried his companions into the boat, which pulled +away across the harbour. The launch had been hauled alongside the +rocks, and as soon as she was unloaded, Harry and the boatswain set to +work to erect a tent. The mast served as the ridge pole, and the spars +and oars formed supports over these, while the sails of the two boats +were spread and secured to the ground by stones placed along the lower +edges. Besides this, the canvas was made fast with lashings and ropes +to the poles. A tent of tolerable dimensions was thus formed, +sufficiently large to protect all the women and children. + +"Should rain come on, there is something it wants," observed Mrs +Rumbelow, who had been very active in bringing up the things from the +boats. "We must spread a flooring of some sort. It will not do for +Mrs Morley and the young ladies to lie on the bare ground." Saying +this, and summoning the other women, she hurried off to the wood. In a +short time she and her attendants returned with loads of spruce +fir-tops. These were spread over the ground at one end of the tent. +The cutter's foresail had been triced up, and served as a partition. +"There, marm," she said, addressing Mrs Morley; "we have fitted up a +room for you, and the two young ladies, and Mrs Twopenny, where you may +be tolerably private; I wish it were a better one. You have not been +accustomed to this sort of rough life; but I and most of the other women +have seen something of it before, and can manage very well in the rest +of the tent. I only hope the children won't disturb you at night." + +Mrs Morley warmly thanked her. + +"Bless you, marm," answered Mrs Rumbelow, "we have only done our duty. +We could never do too much for our poor colonel's lady; so pray, marm, +don't talk of thanks." + +Mrs Morley and the other ladies gladly took possession of that portion +of the tent prepared for them, feeling truly thankful that they could +rest without the dread of awaking and finding the dark seas tossing and +foaming around them. As soon as the tent was set up, the boatswain and +most of the other men joined the party in the wood, to collect the +boughs and the thickest bushes they could find. With these they erected +a number of wigwams, within which all the men might lie down and find +shelter. Mrs Rumbelow would not yet let her attendants rest, but back +again they went to the wood, and returned laden with as much fuel as +they could carry. A large fire soon blazed up. + +"I wish we had some seal-flesh ready for cooking," observed the +boatswain to her as she began busily to employ herself in roasting the +last of the penguins, and the few remaining eggs which had been brought +from the rock. "This sort of work makes one hungry." + +"If the doctor and the rest have any luck, we shall soon have as much as +you and all hands can stow away," she answered. "We'll keep the fire +blazing for them." + +The cutter had meantime made her way across the harbour towards the +island. As she drew near it, the doctor and his party distinguished +several large animals, apparently asleep, high on the beach. + +"Why, I do believe they are lions!" exclaimed Peter Patch, as a huge +monster, one of the nearest, lifted up its head and stared at the +intruders with its large eyes. The creature's mouth was of a prodigious +size, furnished with teeth, four of which were of great length. It had +long bristles on its lips, and from the neck and shoulders stood up a +thick mane of coarse hair. As they continued to advance, it lifted up +its head just as a dog would do, opening wide its mouth as if ready to +attack them with its enormous teeth. + +"I say, Dicey, surely the doctor is not going in to fight these savage +creatures," whispered Peter. "Why they will tear us to pieces and +gobble us up in five minutes." + +"They look fierce enough," said Willy. "But they are only seals, and as +they have not got legs, I suppose we can easily manage to keep out of +their way." Captain Twopenny proposed shooting the sea-lion; but the +doctor warned him not to fire, lest he might alarm the remainder, who +might take to the water before they could land. He directed Willy, +therefore, to steer the boat further round, so that they might get on +shore at a little distance from the seals, and then, by creeping on them +unawares, kill as many as they might require. + +They soon landed, and the captain and doctor led the way, club in hand, +followed by Willy, Peter, and three of the men, one having been left in +charge of the boat. Willy shortly afterwards missed Peter, who had +evidently no fancy for attacking the lions, as he still believed them to +be. After making their way through the bush for a short distance, the +rest of the party came upon an open space in which were at least a +hundred seals, apparently fast asleep, divided into three bands, which +the sailors called mobs, quite separate from each other. They were of +all sizes; some were huge bulls, others cows; and among them were a +number of young calves. The doctor told off two men to attack each mob. +Willy thought that it must be dangerous work to fight such formidable +creatures; still he was not inclined to flinch from it. The doctor +directed them to knock over the young ones, and not to mind the others, +unless the creatures should stand at bay, or attack them. "If they do, +we must give them a hard rap on the nose, which, depend upon it, will +settle them at once," he observed. + +Having placed their guns against a tree, they grasped their clubs at a +sign from the doctor, who set them the example, and rushed in among the +seals. The animals waking up, stared at the intruders with +astonishment, while the doctor and his companions, wielding their clubs, +struck right and left at their heads. A single blow was sufficient to +kill the young ones, and in a few seconds more than a dozen were knocked +over. The larger animals, seized with alarm, instead of turning to +attack their assailants, scuttled off, moving themselves with their fins +at a rapid rate towards the water. Three, however, of the large seals +were killed, besides the smaller ones. + +"Well done, my lads," cried the doctor, delighted. "We shall have +provisions enough to last all hands for several days. No fear of +starvation now, I hope. Dicey, do you and two of the men bring the boat +round to take the seals on board. Dick Sharp and Tom Wall, go with Mr +Dicey." + +"Ay, ay, sir," said the men named. + +Willy hastened off to obey the order, carrying his gun with him. He had +not gone far when a cry was heard. "Help! help! help! a savage brute is +at me." It was Peter Patch who was crying out. Willy and his +companions hurried on, and in another instant they caught sight of Peter +Patch scrambling up a tree, while a huge tiger-seal, as the sailors +called the creature, on account of the colour of its fur, was charging +at him with open mouth. Peter had barely time to draw himself up out of +the monster's way. The seal, seeing Willy and the other men +approaching, now came dashing on towards them, and they had to leap +actively out of its way to avoid its sharp tusks. So savage did it look +that they had no wish to approach its open jaws; indeed, with such +rapidity did it run and twist about in the thick bush, that they had +considerable difficulty in escaping from it. + +"Take care," cried Peter; "he nearly killed me just now. If he catches +you, you'll repent it." + +At that moment the seal either heard Peter's voice or caught sight of +him, and again dashed up towards the tree. This enabled Willy and his +companions to get into a more open part of the bush. Peter shrieked +out, "Oh! oh! shoot him, shoot him, or he will be clambering up after +me." + +Willy could not help laughing at his messmate's fright, not believing +that the creature could possibly climb the tree. He was now able to +stop and take aim. He fired, and though the bullet went through the +seal's head, it seemed in no way incommoded, but, finding that it could +not reach Peter, turned round and made again towards its other foes. +Willy, who had begun to load, had to scramble as best he could through +the scrub, to escape the charge of the enraged creature. The seamen, +observing the dangerous position in which he was placed, hurried forward +with their clubs uplifted. The animal turned towards Tom Wall, and +seizing his club, wrenched it out of his hand, biting it almost through. +Dick Sharp, however, at the same moment let fall his weapon on its nose +with such force that the creature staggered and sank to the ground, thus +allowing Tom to get back his club. Before, however, either of them +could repeat the blow, the seal, recovering, again dashed at Tom, who +had to leap out of its way, narrowly escaping an ugly gripe on the leg. +Willy had again loaded, but was afraid to fire lest he might hit either +of the seamen. The seal now stopped, seeming doubtful at which of his +assailants he should next rush. When they stopped the creature stopped +also; and directly they moved, either to one side or the other, it +charged as fearlessly as at first. At length Willy got another shot. +Again the ball entered the creature's head, but without producing any +apparent effect. Several times the brave old sea-lion charged, now on +one side, now on the other, till it again got into the open space. It +was now apparently beginning to feel the effects of the bullets, for, +raising itself up on its fore-flippers, it remained several seconds +glaring at its foes. + +"Come on, Tom," cried Dick Sharp. "We are not going to be beaten by a +seal, I hope, though he does look more like an African lion than any +creature I have ever before set eyes on." + +Peter, ashamed of his fright, now came down from the tree, and picking +up his club, which he had dropped, he with the rest advanced towards the +doomed seal. A well-aimed blow by Dick brought it again to the ground, +and in another instant it was deprived of life. As it was too far from +the boat to attempt to get it on board, they left it, and quickly pulled +round to the spot where the other slaughtered animals lay. In a short +time the boat was fully loaded. Just as they were shoving off, several +wild-fowl were seen. + +"We ought to try and get some," said Willy, "for though this seal's +flesh will do for us and the men, the poor ladies require more delicate +food." + +Captain Twopenny and the doctor at once crept up towards the birds, and +soon killed a dozen; for they, being evidently in happy ignorance of the +effect of fire-arms, were not frightened at the report of the guns. +Willy also succeeded in bringing down three with his gun. It was quite +dark, as the boat, with her welcome supply of provisions, crossed the +harbour, the light from the camp-fire serving as a beacon by which Willy +could steer his course. + +The weather had been somewhat threatening, the wind freshened up, and +deeply laden as was the boat, they were afraid that she might be swamped +before they could reach the shore. At length, however, they got safely +to land, and found the party still busy in putting up huts. Mrs +Rumbelow was was among the first to welcome them. As soon as she saw +the wild-fowl, she begged for a couple, and began picking them on her +way back to the fire. The seals and the remainder of the birds were +quickly landed, and an ample supply of their flesh was soon either +boiling over the fire or roasting before it. Mrs Rumbelow prepared +with the birds a more delicate meal for the ladies than the seal-flesh +could afford. Willy had the satisfaction of taking it to them, with the +last plateful of biscuit crumbs which remained. One of the compass +lamps had been hung up to give light to the tent within which the four +ladies were seated. + +"The doctor says that he hopes to-morrow to find some roots which may +serve instead of bread," observed Willy; "and he begs, Mrs Morley, that +you will accept the last apology for wheaten bread we are likely to have +for some time." + +"Pray, thank the doctor, and we hope that you will share it with us, Mr +Dicey," said Mrs Morley. + +"No, no, marm!" answered Willy, laughing at the bare thought of such a +thing. "Mr Shafto has determined that the officers and men shall share +alike, and we have all agreed to abide by his wishes." + +The arrangement for the night had scarcely yet been completed, but the +people were so hungry that Harry Shafto allowed them to knock off work, +that they might cook the seal-flesh which had just arrived. Three fires +had been lit, round which eager faces were collected, some toasting +pieces of seal-flesh on the ends of sticks, others more scientifically +roasting them on spits, while Mrs Rumbelow was cooking more of the +wild-fowl reserved for the women. Close to these fires were the huts +just erected, of various shapes, some like Indian wigwams, others with +circular roofs, others of a more square form, as the fancy of the +architects had dictated; while beyond them was the more pretentious tent +composed of the boats' sails. + +In front, the two boats floated in the bay, with a dark outline of the +shore and hills of the other side of the harbour, while behind the camp +rose tree-covered heights, some towering up towards the sky, out of +which numberless stars were now shining forth. Harry had walked a +little way from the camp, where he stood, considering what was next to +be done. He felt the full responsibility of the position in which he +was placed. + +"We may still," he thought, "reach New Zealand in the boats; but the +risk of the passage across the stormy sea which intervenes is very +great. We may be unable to make the English settlements in the northern +island, and it is uncertain what reception we may meet with from the +natives on any other part of the coast. It may be wiser to remain where +we are; but, then, with regard to the matter of provisions? Do the +seals frequent the harbour at all times of the year? If not, we shall +have only the birds, and any wild animals which may exist, to live on. +Perhaps even wild-fowl may not be found at all seasons, and then are +there any other animals besides seals? I think I have heard that hogs +and goats have been landed; but they may have been destroyed by the +severity of the climate, or the want of proper food." + +Such and many more thoughts passed through the young officer's mind. +His meditations were interrupted by the shrill whistling of the wind in +the trees. Dark clouds gathering to the northward had begun to course +rapidly across the sky, soon obscuring the stars overhead, warning him +that he must hasten back to the camp, and urge the men to hurry on with +the huts, which might afford them some shelter from the coming storm. +He found them seated round the fires, discussing the seals' flesh. Most +of them had been too hungry to wait till it was thoroughly cooked, and +even the officers had been unable to refrain from beginning supper till +he joined them. He, however, took but a hurried meal, and then went in +search of the boatswain, who was seated at one of the fires. + +"We have put up some huts for you and the other gentlemen, just in front +of the ladies' tent," said Mr Bollard. "The men refused to build their +own till they had made them pretty comfortable as things go. They will +soon, however, have theirs ready, as we have plenty of boughs cut down +for the purpose." + +Harry thanked the boatswain, and told him to hurry the men on with the +work. + +All hands were soon again busy, and in a short time the huts were +finished, those of the men extending on either side of the little group +intended for the officers. The three fires, with fresh fuel added to +them, burned up brightly in a row between them and the beach. + +Scarcely were the arrangements for the night completed, when the rain +began to fall in torrents. The women hastened to their tent, which kept +it out pretty well, but the leafy bowers, it was soon found, formed but +a very imperfect protection. The men, however, wearied with their day's +exertion, were glad to get within, and coiling themselves up on the +rough boughs which served as couches, most of them were soon fast +asleep. Harry had Willy and Peter Patch as his companions; Captain +Twopenny and the Doctor took charge of poor Holt. Willy could not help +telling Harry of Peter's adventure with the seal, and they had a hearty +laugh at the fright he had been in. + +"And so would you," exclaimed Peter. "How could I tell that the beast +was not going to swallow me up; he had a mouth big enough, at all +events." + +It was some time before the inmates of the midshipmen's berth (as they +called their hut) could get to sleep. Though the leafy wall around them +sheltered them from the wind, yet the rain penetrated in all directions; +and they had to turn their collars up, and sit as close together as +possible in the centre of the hut to avoid being wetted through. For +some time they had sufficient light from the blazing fires to see, and +were able to stop up some of the gaps in the roof; but by degrees the +torrents of water which came down from the higher ground put them out, +and they were left in almost total darkness. It was hopeless, while the +rain continued, to relight them. Overcome by fatigue, Willy and Peter +dropped off asleep, while Harry, though kept awake some time longer by +the thoughts which occupied his mind, at length followed their example. +As no human beings nor wild beasts inhabited the island, Harry had not +thought it necessary to place a watch. He had been asleep for some +time, when he heard Peter, who was nearest the opening of the hut, +shrieking out loudly, "A lion! a lion! Oh! oh! the brute, he will eat +me up!" + +Harry naturally thought that his messmate was dreaming. "What is the +matter, Peter?" he cried out. "Wake up. There is nothing to hurt you." + +"I am awake, and there is a huge beast shoving his snout right against +me." + +Harry now sat up, and there, sure enough, he saw by the dim light the +large head of an animal at the entrance of the hut. At the same instant +cries and shouts burst forth from the inmates of the other huts, and the +camp, till then so quiet, was in a complete uproar. Willy, awoke by the +noise, jumped up. "Why, it is a huge seal," he exclaimed. Fortunately +he had brought his club into the hut, and telling Peter to stand aside, +he dealt the animal a heavy blow on the nose. The poor seal, not +expecting such a reception, began to back out, when another blow laid it +lifeless. The midshipmen, on going outside their hut, saw the whole +ground covered by huge black forms moving in all directions, while the +seamen, armed with clubs or whatever they could pick up, were running +about, striking right and left at the astonished creatures. The seals +apparently had landed at one of their usual places of resort, not at all +expecting to find it occupied by human beings. In their fright several +charged right into the middle of the camp, and two of the huts were in a +moment levelled to the ground. They paid dearly for their mistake, for +the seamen, some frightened and others angry at being roused from their +slumbers, killed ten or twelve of them before they made their escape. +Some were seen moving at a rapid rate inland, bellowing loudly, while +others crawled quickly down into the water. Harry, fearing that the +ladies would be alarmed, hastened to their tent to assure them that +there was no danger. + +Once more, the seals having taken their departure, order and quiet was +restored to the camp. In case they might return, a watch, however, was +placed, that due notice might be given of the approach of the intruders. +Sailors have happily a knack of going to sleep at times when other men +would be kept awake, and in a few minutes all hands, with the exception +of the watch, were again wrapped in slumber. Harry had hoped to get a +good night's rest, to be enabled the better to go through the duties of +the next day. He had been asleep some time, when he was once more +aroused by hearing Paul Lizard's voice. + +"It's coming on to blow very hard, sir; and from the way the sea is +breaking into the bay, I am afraid the boats, if we don't look after +them, will be knocked to pieces." + +"Call Mr Bollard, and we will see about it," said Harry, springing to +his feet. + +It was indeed blowing a regular hurricane, and it did credit to the +builders of the huts that they should have withstood its force. The +waves, crested with foam, came rolling in from across the harbour, +breaking with great violence against the rocks. The seamen, aroused +from their sleep, hurried out of their huts, encountering as they did so +thick showers of spray, which, driven by the wind, broke over them. The +first thing to be done was to haul up the cutter, which, dashed about by +the foaming seas, ran the risk at any moment of being knocked to pieces +on the rocks. So violently, however, did the waves break on the shore, +that the seamen could not without much difficulty get hold of her. + +"Now, my lads," cried Bollard, "we will make a dash at the boat. A +strong pull, and a pull altogether, and we will have her in safety." + +Inspired by his and Harry's example, the men succeeded in getting hold +of the boat, and as the next sea lifted her, they hauled her up on a +level part of the rock. The launch meantime was tossing about at her +anchor; the foam-topped seas now breaking on board her, now lifting her +up as if they would send her bodily on shore. The sailors watched her +anxiously; for should no vessel appear to take them off the island, she +would afford them the only means of escaping. The hurricane was +apparently not yet at its height. The wind howled and whistled louder +and louder through the woods, the sea, breaking in white masses along +the shore, every instant roared more fiercely; first one hut, and then +another was overthrown, and their materials scattered over the ground; +but the men were too anxious watching the boat to care about the matter. +Another and another foaming sea came rolling onwards. It was evident +that they would either swamp the boat or drive her from her anchor. + +"The cable has parted," cried several voices. The boat rose to the top +of a sea, and then came hurrying on towards the shore. All felt that +there was but little hope of saving her. Notwithstanding this, they ran +to the point towards which she was driving. Before they could reach it, +she was thrown with tremendous violence against the rocks, rebounding a +short distance, to be driven back again with greater force than before. +The crashing of her planks and timbers could be heard as she was driven +again and again against the pointed rocks. Those who endeavoured to +reach her ran a great risk of being crushed or swept off by the receding +sea. Harry, fearing for their lives, ordered them to desist, having a +faint hope that she might be thrown high up on the rocks before her +total destruction had been accomplished. He hoped in vain, for she +continued beating with increasing violence against the rocks, till every +timber and plank on one side were stove in, and in a few minutes, being +driven again and again on the rocks, scarcely two of her planks remained +hanging together, the fragments strewing the beach in all directions. +With a heavy heart at the serious accident that had occurred, Harry +returned to his hut, which, having been built more strongly than the +rest, had hitherto escaped destruction. The ladies' tent had also +withstood the gale; but how long it would continue to do so it was +difficult to say. The seamen, in no way disconcerted by the disaster, +were laughing and cutting jokes with each other as they endeavoured to +rebuild their huts in the dark; but scarcely had they tried to fix the +boughs in a proper position than another gust would again scatter the +whole structure far and wide. The sea, too, was making its way higher +and higher up the beach, sending deluges of spray over the spot where +the huts had stood, and reaching occasionally up to the tent. As may be +supposed, no one in the camp got more sleep that night. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +FORAGING. + +CONSEQUENCE OF LOSS OF LAUNCH--MRS MORLEY'S RESIGNATION--PREPARE TO +WINTER ON THE ISLAND--HOUSE-BUILDING COMMENCED--THE LADIES' COTTAGE +COMPLETED--MORE HUTS ERECTED--BIRDS SEEK SHELTER IN THE COTTAGE--THE +YOUNG LADIES' AVIARY--INDUSTRY OF THE SETTLERS--ANXIETY ABOUT +PROVISIONS--FISH CAUGHT--FISH-HOOKS MANUFACTURED--SEA-LIONS ATTACKED-- +LIZARD CHARGED BY SEA-LION--ESCAPE OF TIPPO SAHIB--COW-SEALS' MILK-- +YOUNG BROKE TAKES MILK TO LADIES--THE DOCTOR'S EXPEDITION INLAND-- +SEAL-TRACKS UP MOUNTAIN--RIPE FRUIT FOUND--WILLY AND PETER CHASED BY A +SEAL--A CAVERN DISCOVERED--FIGHT WITH THE SEAL--BREAKFAST ON THE +MOUNTAIN--DIFFICULT TRAVELLING--ENVELOPED IN A THICK MIST--ENCAMP FOR +THE NIGHT--WILLY SEES A DOG--PROCEED ON JOURNEY--TRACES OF HOGS +DISCOVERED--A SHIP CLOSE IN-SHORE--THE PARTY HURRY FORWARD--THE SHIP HAS +GONE--THEIR SIGNAL NOT NOTICED--RETURN ALONG THE BEACH--A HUT IN THE +DISTANCE--A DEAD SAILOR DISCOVERED--PROCEED OVER THE HILLS--WILLY FINDS +NEST OF PARROTS--RETURN TO VILLAGE--DIGGING FOR ROOTS--WILLY'S +GALLANTRY. + +When daylight broke, the whole harbour appeared covered with +white-crested waves, dancing and leaping wildly, while the beach was +covered with the fragments of the launch. + +Harry felt very unwilling to communicate the disaster to Mrs Morley. +It must be done, however. As soon as she appeared, he told her of what +had occurred. + +"God's will be done," she answered. "Any suffering we may be called on +to go through seems light compared with that others have had to endure. +I have sought for strength from on high, and it will not be denied me." + +The rain had now ceased. In spite of the gale, fires were lighted; and +Mrs Rumbelow, with the aid of several of the men, set to work to get +breakfast ready. They had still some tea and coffee remaining, as they +had been enabled to use but little of it during the voyage; their only +other food, however, was the wild-fowl and seals' flesh. Of the latter +they had certainly an abundant supply, but would willingly have +exchanged some of it for the coarsest sea biscuit. + +As soon as breakfast was over, Harry held a council of war with the +doctor, Captain Twopenny, and Mr Bollard. All hope of getting away, if +no vessel appeared, was now cut off. They might have to remain many +months--it was impossible to say how long. Winter would soon be upon +them; and as shelter from the cold and wet was indispensable, the first +thing was to build warm substantial huts, the next was to provide food. +The doctor was of opinion that they could not depend on the seals +remaining in the harbour, while he feared that the health of all would +suffer unless some variety of food could be obtained. He advised, in +the first place, that the seals' flesh should be salted and dried, so as +to have a store in reserve should the animals disappear. He volunteered +also to set off, when the weather moderated, on an exploring expedition, +to ascertain the natural productions of the country. + +"We may find roots and fruits of some sort which may answer the purpose +of bread and vegetables, and we may discover the hogs and goats you +speak of, Dicey; and perhaps some other creatures," he observed. "In my +opinion, when people use their intellects, and exert themselves, there +are few parts of the world so utterly unproductive that they must of +necessity starve,--as we should certainly if we were to sit down in this +little nook with our hands before us." + +"Very right, sir," observed the boatswain. "I have a notion that we +should also keep a look-out along the coast for any vessel which may be +passing. If we remain up here, any number might go by and not discover +us. As soon as the weather moderates, I'll therefore, with Mr Shafto's +leave, take the boat down the harbour, and search for some point where +we may establish a look-out place, and set up a flagstaff with which we +can signalise any ship coming in sight." + +Harry at once agreed to Bollard's proposal, and Captain Twopenny +volunteered to accompany the doctor on his proposed exploring +expedition. + +In the meantime, as the weather continued too bad to move to any +distance, it was arranged that all hands should turn to at +house-building. The spot selected for the little village was on the +driest piece of ground to be found at the foot of the hill; and it was +agreed that the first house put up should be for Mrs Morley and her +daughters, with another for Captain and Mrs Twopenny close to it. The +best axe-men at once commenced felling trees. They were not long or +thick enough, however, to form log-huts after the American fashion. It +was settled, therefore, that they should be put in upright, close +together, and the interstices filled with clay, while the outside walls, +as well as the roofs, were to be thatched with the long grass which grew +in abundance at the foot of the hills. + +While the men were hewing down the trees, Mrs Rumbelow, with four of +the most active women, set to work to cut the grass for thatching. It +was no slight task, as it was evident that a large quantity would be +required. By the end of the first day, they had, however, formed a +stack of considerable size. In the meantime, Willy and Peter, with +young Broke and the other boys, collected all the fragments of the boat +which had been washed on shore. With some of the planks they proposed +forming a floor for Mrs Morley's cottage. The most perfect were kept +for repairing the cutter, and Willy suggested that others might serve +for manufacturing casks in which the seals' flesh could be pickled. + +"But where are we to get the salt from, now that the doctor's still is +not at work?" asked Peter. + +"We shall find plenty of it among the rocks if we get some sunshine," +said Willy; "and if not, we must dig some salt pans. I heard him say +that if we could obtain plenty of salt, there would be no fear of our +starving." + +Where people labour with a will, under good management, work proceeds +rapidly. Before the evening the timber for the first two cottages was +shaped, and trees for several others were cut down; while grass enough +had been stacked for thatching them. + +The ladies were not idle. Fanny and Emma Morley insisted on carrying +the bundles of grass, and even poor Mrs Twopenny tried to exert +herself, but certainly did very little real work. When Mrs Morley was +seen accompanying her daughters, Mrs Rumbelow came up to her. "Please, +marm, I beg your pardon, but that must not be. What is play to us is +killing work for you. Let an old woman advise you, and don't go and +knock yourself up. Mr Shafto commands here, and I am sure he will say +I am right." It was not, however, without difficulty that the poor lady +could be induced to return to the tent. + +The first two cottages were completed. They had fire-places composed of +stone and clay at the further ends, the wall being of sufficient +thickness to prevent the woodwork outside from burning; while the +chimneys were formed of wood coated inside with clay. The roofs were +made double; the lowest set of rafters were first covered with grass, +and a layer of clay placed over them: above this was a thickly-thatched +pointed roof, so that the snow and wet could not rest on it. Harry and +Willy, with the assistance of the doctor, put up a porch in the front of +Mrs Morley's house, which gave it a picturesque look. As there was no +planking to spare, the doors and window-shutters were formed of rough +frames and bars across, with grass thickly interwoven between them. +These served to keep out the wind and cold, and, as Willy said, looked +excessively rural. The bedplaces, fixed against the walls, were raised +some feet from the floor, and formed much after the fashion of the +doors. In the centre was a table constructed out of the planking of the +launch, with seats on either side. Bound the beds, with a sailor's +forethought, Harry had stretched some broad pieces of canvas, assisting +to keep off any draughts which might make their way in blowing weather +into the cottage. Captain Twopenny's abode, though smaller than Mrs +Morley's, was constructed in the same manner. He and Harry, with all +the men of the party, had been up by daybreak to complete them. As soon +as breakfast was over, they invited the ladies to take possession of +their new cottages. Mrs Morley and her daughters expressed themselves +delighted with theirs. + +"You have indeed, Mr Shafto, laboured hard to secure our comfort," she +said, "and we feel most grateful. I little expected so soon to have +such excellent shelter." + +"What a fearful place to have to live in during the winter," said Mrs +Twopenny, as she surveyed the abode to which her husband introduced her. +"Why didn't you build it of brick." + +"Simply, my dear, because no bricks can be had," answered the captain, +not looking very well pleased; "and this you will, I hope, find warm and +comfortable. We might have been very much worse off, believe me." + +Mrs Morley and her daughters at once set to work to arrange, with the +scanty means at their disposal, the interior of their cottage, assisted +by Mrs Rumbelow. Meantime, all hands were engaged in putting up the +other huts. One of larger dimensions was in a short time finished for +the women, into which they at once moved; Harry and the officers taking +possession of the tent; while two other huts, one for the men, and +another for themselves, were being erected. + +The sun at length shone forth brightly on the little settlement: the +woods were alive with song-birds, numbers of which came fearlessly +flying up as if to ascertain what the strangers had been about. Their +notes were very sweet, though their plumage was somewhat sombre. They +seemed especially anxious to make the acquaintance of Fanny and Emma +Morley, who were standing at the porch of their cottage watching them, +and surprised at the bold way in which they approached. First one came +hopping up, and then another, and when the young ladies stooped down and +offered them some small bits of meat, the birds without hesitation took +the food out of their hands. + +"How cruel it would be to kill any of our little confident visitors!" +said Emma. "We must beg Mr Shafto to allow no gun to be fired near our +village, lest it should frighten them away." + +"I am afraid that if there is a scarcity of food it will be very +difficult to persuade the people not to do so," observed Fanny. + +"But with so many seals and other large birds in the neighbourhood, I +trust we may never be reduced to such an extremity," answered her +sister. + +While they were speaking, a large flock of birds came flying rapidly +towards them. Some darted through the open window, others made their +way over their heads through the door into the cottage, and others flew +round them, evidently in great terror. On looking out, they observed +the cause of the birds' alarm. Hovering in the air was a large hawk, +about to pounce down upon the little songsters. They called to Captain +Twopenny, who was approaching his cottage. He ran in for his gun, and +in another instant the savage pirate fell to the ground. Instead of +flying away at the report, the little birds seemed to comprehend the +service which had been rendered them, and kept flying round and round +the cottages, or settling on the roofs, as if perfectly satisfied that +no harm was intended them. Harry, who soon afterwards appeared, +promised to warn the people against injuring the little birds; and after +this they made themselves perfectly at home among their visitors, flying +fearlessly in and out of the cottages, no one attempting to interfere +with them. They were, indeed, frequently seen settling on the hands of +the children, who soon learned to make pets of the confiding little +creatures. On several occasions after this large flocks pursued by +hawks came for shelter among their friends, when the birds of prey +seldom escaped the captain's gun. Among their feathered friends was a +pretty little green bird, which sung very sweetly; another was exactly +like the English blackbird; and a third, with a red breast, came hopping +up with the familiarity of the winter visitor of old England, the dear +little Robin. One of the latter perched with perfect confidence on +Emma's hand, and seemed in no way disposed to fly away. After looking +up pertly in her face, it hopped off to the trellis work of the porch, +where it perched, apparently determined to take up its abode beneath +their sheltering roof. In a short time several others followed its +example; indeed, the porch looked like an aviary, except that the birds, +instead of being confined within wire bars, could fly in and out as they +pleased, and go off to the woods in search of the food they found most +suitable to their tastes. + +The young ladies, however, did not give all their time to their pets, +for they were anxious to set an example of industry to the rest of the +women. They had found some long grass, which they set to work to plait. +They began by making some hats for the children; and these succeeding +well, they manufactured others for the women as well as for themselves. +Even Mrs Twopenny, seeing them employed, tried to make herself useful, +and succeeded beyond the expectations of her companions. As soon as the +huts were supplied with bedplaces, and tables, and seats, two or three +of the men employed themselves in making wooden bowls and cups and +plates, though, as they had no turning-lathe, the articles were somewhat +rough in appearance. However, as the supply of crockery which had been +brought in the boats was but small, they were very acceptable. Others +were engaged in making casks for preserving the seals' flesh. Mrs +Rumbelow had also carefully collected all the feathers from the +wild-fowls which had been killed. With these she made several warm +quilts, the first of which she presented to the ladies, telling them +that she hoped still to have enough feathers to supply all the women and +children. + +Another important object, which Harry especially desired to succeed in, +was the manufacture of the seal-skins into leather. He was anxious to +have these to serve as bed-coverings for the men as soon as possible; he +foresaw, too, that their shoes and clothing would soon wear out, and +that the seal-leather would be the only material with which to supply +their places. On making inquiries among the men whether any of them +knew how to dress the skins, Dick Sharp said that he had been +apprenticed to a currier, and thought, if he could obtain some suitable +bark, he should be able to dress the skins, and make them fit for any +purpose which might be required. + +"Very well," said Harry; "we must appoint you to that duty; and, doctor, +it must be your charge to look out for bark with tanning properties." + +His chief anxiety, however, was to provide food for the party. The boat +had been sent over every day for seals, but they were already becoming +wary, and fewer were killed than at first. Some mussels had been found +on the rocks, but they were only to be obtained at low water, and in no +large quantities. The doctor and Captain Twopenny had also gone out +every day with their guns in search of wild-fowl; but they were +compelled to be very economical of their powder, of which they had only +a limited supply. Before long that must come to an end. What then was +to be done? Should the seals go away altogether, unless they could +entrap the birds by some means or other, they would run a fearful risk +of starvation. + +While Harry was considering this important matter, Paul Lizard appeared +with a good-sized cod which he held up triumphantly as he came towards +the village. "I have brought this for Mrs Morley and the other ladies, +sir," he said; "and if I had some proper hooks I could get as many as +would serve all hands. I often used to catch fish when I was a boy; and +so I thought I would just knock out a couple of hooks from crooked +nails, and see, what could be done. I took young Broke down with me; +and before long we got plenty of bites, but not one could we hook, till +at last I caught this fellow." + +"There will be no difficulty in getting the hooks," said Harry. "We +will set the armourer's mate to work to try what he can do for you." +The bellows had fortunately been kept in good order, the stove serving +as a forge, and a block of stone as an anvil. In the course of an hour, +under Paul's superintendence, a hook was produced which satisfied him +thoroughly. This served as a model for others. Some long sticks were +cut for rods, while the mussels made excellent bait. Taking two other +men with him, Paul hastened back to the part of the shore where he had +caught the cod. In the course of a couple of hours the party returned, +laden with as many fish as they could carry. The supply was indeed most +welcome, and they were received with warm congratulations from Mrs +Rumbelow, who forthwith set the women to work to clean and cook as many +as were required. The poor children especially were in want of a change +of food. Though they had apparently suffered but little from exposure +in the boat, several were now ill, and demanded the doctor's constant +attention. Little Bessy was among the invalids; and hoping that she +might benefit by being removed from the other children, the Miss Morleys +offered to take charge of her. From that day she became the inmate of +their cottage, and was a constant source of interest. + +Paul and young Broke, with Tom Wall and another man, were now regularly +constituted the fishermen of the settlement. Next morning, at daylight, +they set out, hoping to get some fresh fish for breakfast. They made +their way further down the harbour than they had before gone, intending +to go out to the end of some rocks which formed one side of a small bay. +Peter and Tom Wall had carried clubs with them, on the chance of +falling in with seals. On climbing over the rocks above the bay, they +caught sight of a mob of sea-lions, apparently fast asleep. +Approaching, they were quickly in the midst of the animals, and had +killed three cows and their calves before the rest discovered them. +Most of the animals, on awaking and seeing their foes, scuttled off in +their usual fashion into the water. One old bull, however, a large and +savage-looking creature, indignant at having his family thus destroyed, +charged at Paul, who was unable to turn and defend himself. Supposing +that he could run faster than the sea-lion, he scampered off inland, not +a bit alarmed, but shouting and laughing at the idea of having to run +away from a seal. The other men followed, trying to attract the +attention of the savage beast, who appeared to have singled out Paul as +the object of its vengeance. Paul ran on as fast as his legs could +move; but the old seal kept way with him as long as he remained on the +level ground. Matters were becoming serious, and he saw that, should +the creature catch him, he might suffer severely. Fortunately, a high +and rugged rock appeared before him; he made towards it, and succeeded +in scrambling up its side just as the seal reached his heels. The +animal was not to be stopped, and made a great effort to follow, but a +sailor in climbing was not to be overtaken by a seal; and just as Paul +reached the top, the disappointed brute tumbled over on its back. Tom +Wall, with his companion, who had just come up, was on the point of +striking the seal when Paul cried out, "Let the old fellow alone; he +deserves to live for the pluck he has shown, and we have more meat +already than we want." The bull, on recovering himself, instead of +attacking his other foes, made off round the rock, and took refuge in a +wood a little beyond it, where they could hear him bellowing loudly in +his rage and disappointment. + +"I have heard tell of an old fellow in India, one Tippo Sahib, and to my +mind that's a good name for that old chap," said Paul. "If we ever come +across him again I shall know him by his ugly phiz." + +While they remained in the neighbourhood Paul, however, could not help +looking round every now and then, expecting to see Tippo Sahib charging +out of the wood towards him. + +On returning to the shore, they found young Broke by the side of the +cows. "Look here," he exclaimed, "the creatures have got first-rate +milk. If I had a bowl now, I might carry some for little Bessy. I +should not be surprised but what it would set her all to rights." + +"Well, then, boy, you run back and get the women to give you a couple of +cans, and tell four or five of the men to come along and take the seals' +flesh to the village, while we three remain here fishing." + +Young Broke ran off in high glee; and as the Miss Morleys came out of +their cottage in the morning, he appeared with a bowl of fresh milk in +his hands. + +"Where have you got that, my boy?" asked Fanny. + +"Please, miss, we killed some cows this morning, and I have brought it +for little Bessy," answered the boy. + +"Some cows!" exclaimed Mrs Twopenny, who had just joined her friends. +"I had no idea there were any on the island. And could the men have +been so foolish as to kill them?" + +"They are not real cows, please, marm," answered young Broke, "but those +fish sort of creatures. The doctor has tasted the milk, and he says it +is much better than goats' milk, and will do the little girl a great +deal of good. There's more than she can want, and I hope that you +ladies will take the rest. I must be off again, because I have to bring +some fish for Mrs Rumbelow to cook for your breakfast." + +Without waiting to receive the thanks of the ladies, the lad hurried +away. + +Mrs Rumbelow boiled some of the seals' milk, of which there was a good +supply, with sugar, in order to preserve it. So beneficial was its +effect on the children, with the assistance of the fish, that the doctor +was now able to commence his proposed exploring expedition. He and +Captain Twopenny, carrying their guns, set out at daybreak the next +morning, accompanied by Willy and Peter, with axes in their belts, and +Tom Wall and Dick Sharp, the two latter taking their clubs to do battle +with any seals they might encounter. The doctor had also a wooden spade +with a sharp point which he had manufactured, and carried like a sword +by a belt round his waist. Willy had a similar implement, which he had +made after the doctor's model. + +"If I mistake not, Dicey, we shall find our tools of as much value as +our guns," observed the doctor. "By their means we may discover the +treasures hidden beneath the soil, and which we can at all times obtain; +whereas the birds may fly away, and the beasts, if any exist besides +seals, may not always be found." + +The explorers soon began to climb the steep sides of a mountain which +rose beyond the harbour. "Why, surely this country must be inhabited," +exclaimed Willy, as they got into a pathway which led up the mountain. + +"It is very evident that such is the case, but we have already made +acquaintance with the inhabitants," said the doctor. "This is a +seals'-track; and, see, there are others leading up from the water. The +creatures are fond of travelling inland, though I should not have +supposed they would have made their way up the mountains." + +They followed the track for a considerable distance, and still it +continued, till they calculated that they were at least four miles from +the shore. They were struck by the evergreen appearance of the trees +and the herbage generally. Some of the trees were in blossom. + +"Here, here," cried Willy. "Look at these red berries. They seem quite +ripe, and I saw several birds perched on the tree eating them." + +The doctor hastened up, and nibbled one of the berries in a cautious +manner, to ascertain its nature. + +"Ah, yes, a subacid flavour; they are wholesome, I should think. Peter, +just eat a handful, and we will judge whether or not they are +poisonous." + +"But suppose they prove the latter?" asked Peter. + +"Why, then you will have the honour of suffering for the benefit of +science," answered the doctor, laughing. "But you need not be alarmed; +I will set you an example." + +The doctor tasted another berry. Peter then ate nearly a handful, +acknowledging that, though the flavour was pleasant, they were very +acid. + +"We will mark the spot," said the doctor, "and on our way back carry a +load down to Mrs Rumbelow to preserve." + +"But where is the sugar to come from, doctor?" asked Willy; "we have but +a small stock remaining." + +"Perhaps we may find some on our journey," said the doctor. "Numerous +roots possess saccharine qualities, and from the flavour of one I dug up +just now I have hopes that we may manufacture sugar from it. At all +events, it will form a valuable addition to our daily fare. What do you +think of this?" The doctor produced a good-sized root, which resembled, +on being cut open, something between a potato and a turnip, but of +rather a drier character than either. "This will serve us for bread, if +we cannot find anything better;" and the doctor tasted it two or three +times. + +"Yes, there is an abundance of saccharine in it," he observed, "and I +have little doubt also that we can manufacture beer from it, which will +suit the tastes of the men better than cold water, and serve instead of +tea for all of us when our store runs short. If we find nothing else +during our expedition, we should be well satisfied. But remember that, +however insignificant a plant may look, we should examine it thoroughly +to ascertain its character." + +"I have seen plenty of those leaves at no great distance from the +village," said Peter Patch; "but I had no idea that there were roots +under them." + +"Ah! so much the better; we shall have a supply of food at our doors, +and when we return you shall go out and dig them up, Peter," said the +doctor, who perhaps, rather doubted the correctness of the midshipman's +assertion. + +Willy and Peter in their eagerness frequently went ahead of the rest of +the party. The latter was a little in advance of his companion, when he +uttered a loud cry. "Oh! there is another of those horrid brutes." At +that instant a fierce bellow was heard, and a huge tiger bull-seal +started up and gazed fiercely at the midshipmen. They grasped their +axes to attack the seal; but the animal, rushing forward, warned them +that "discretion was the best part of valour." With such short weapons +they could not hope to strike it without the risk of being seized by its +formidable tusks. + +"Run, Dicey, run," cried Peter; and Willy, brave as he was, felt that it +was prudent to follow Peter's example. The seal came after them at full +speed, bellowing loudly. His voice and their shouts brought the seamen +to their assistance; but the animal, seeing fresh foes in front, turned +aside, and before the men could reach it, dashed at a rapid rate through +the bush. + +The doctor and captain now joined the chase, and away they all went, the +seal bellowing and the men shouting and laughing. The doctor, who was +not so active as the rest of the party, was soon distanced. The captain +in vain attempted to get a shot at the animal's head; he knew that a +wound in any other part of the body would produce no effect. On went +the seal, down the side of the mountain, following a well-marked track. +"Where he goes we can follow," cried Willy; "come on, come on." The +seal soon showed that he could not only run for a short distance faster +than they could, but that he could keep at the same speed for a longer +time. + +"This beats coursing," cried Peter Patch. "The creature will give us as +good a chase as a hare. If we had but some dogs it would be fine fun. +We must have run a couple of miles already." + +"We may have to run a couple more before we catch him," said Willy, "and +it won't do to give it up." + +They were approaching the shore, or, rather, the head of a gulf which +ran up from it. Should the seal reach the water he would be lost. The +party doubled their speed, when the animal, then about fifty yards +ahead, suddenly disappeared. Willy and Peter could with difficulty +stop, and save themselves from falling into a deep narrow gully with +perpendicular sides which appeared before them. They leaned over the +edge. It was thirty or forty feet deep, a stream of water running at +the bottom. Had they gone over, they would probably have broken their +necks. + +"He will escape by the end of the gully," cried Willy. "Sharp and Wall, +run round to the beach and try and stop him." + +The men did as they were directed; while Willy and Peter scrambled down +with the assistance of some bushes which grew in the sides to the bottom +of the gully. On making their way towards the sea, they found that the +gully was arched over, and they now entered a spacious cavern, down the +centre of which the stream made its way. It was separated into two +parts by the stream; each part was about fifty feet long and fully +twenty wide, while the roof appeared to be nearly thirty feet above +their heads. A flood of light came through a round hole in the centre +of the roof, and enabled them to survey the cavern. The walls and +ground were perfectly dry, and they agreed that it would not be a bad +place to live in, provided the wind did not set through it. As they +were proceeding on, they heard the captain's voice shouting to them, he +wondering where they had got to. Looking up, they caught sight of his +head appearing through the hole. + +"Here we are, all right," said Willy. + +"Why, boys, how could you get down there?" + +Willy told him. + +"What has become of the seal?" asked the captain. + +"I suppose he is somewhere not far off, if he hasn't reached the sea," +answered Peter. "Yes, sure enough, and there he comes." + +The seal at that moment appeared, rushing back, having encountered the +men at the outlet. + +"Run, Dicey, run," cried Peter, "or he'll be upon us." + +The midshipmen were caught in a trap. It was more easy to climb down +the side of the gully than to get up again. The monster came rushing +towards them with open mouth. Willy this time determined not to fly, +but, flourishing his axe, stood on the defensive. The consequences +might have been serious had not the captain, getting sight of the animal +at that moment, fired. The bullet struck it on the head, and though it +did not stop its course altogether, Willy was enabled to spring out of +its way, and Tom and Dick, coming up, despatched it with their clubs. +As no seals had been killed for several days, the meat was very +acceptable. + +"We may have some seal-steaks for dinner, at all events," said Peter, as +the men prepared to cut up the animal. + +Having performed their task, they were directed to carry the remainder +of the seal's flesh to the village, while the captain and midshipmen, +with a good supply of steaks, made their way up the side of the +mountain. Following the seal-track, they at length found the doctor, +who was sitting down, waiting their return. + +"See, our island produces one species of ferae which I did not expect to +find," he exclaimed, holding up an animal by the legs. + +"Why, it's a cat," cried Willy. + +"Exactly so," said the doctor. "Our feathered friends will be much +obliged to me for killing it. Should these creatures increase and +multiply, they will in time nearly depopulate the island of its most +attractive inhabitants." + +The explorers now proceeded onwards for some way over very rough and +uneven ground. As they were anxious to obtain a view of the whole +island, they climbed to the highest point in sight, which the doctor +calculated was about a thousand feet above the sea. Hence they could +look around in all directions. On every side appeared rocky and barren +heights, thrown up into all possible variety of shapes, while beyond was +the ocean, now blue and calm, and shining in the rays of the bright sun. +The cold, however, was considerable, and all the places usually +rendered soft by springs were frozen hard. This enabled them to proceed +over spots they could not otherwise have crossed. + +The scene was full of wild and rugged grandeur. Here and there +perpendicular precipices and chasms, several hundred feet in depth, were +visible, while the summit of the central mountain was crowned by a ridge +of rock, which, from its appearance at a distance, they called the +Giant's Coffin. + +As the atmosphere was remarkably clear, the whole group could be seen, +extending for about thirty-five miles in length from north to south, and +fifteen miles at the broadest part from east to west. Several deep +indentations forming harbours were observed, while a number of reefs, +over which, even on that calm day, the surf broke violently, extended +from the shore to a distance of ten miles. In the far north an island +of some size could be seen, while several smaller islands appeared close +to the rocky coast. The shores everywhere appeared clothed with scrub +and stunted timber, but on some of the hills the trees were of +respectable height and size. + +"See," cried Willy, pointing to the north-east. "Is that smoke? Can it +be a burning mountain?" + +All the party looked, and though their eyes were not so keen as Willy's, +they also distinguished a thick wreath of smoke ascending in the clear +air. Though it was at a considerable distance off, yet, eager to +ascertain its cause, they determined to make their way towards it. +After descending the mountain for some time, hunger compelled them to +stop, as they had eaten nothing since daybreak. A fire was soon +lighted, and their seal-steaks were soon spitted on sticks before it; +while the doctor, after scraping several of the roots which he had just +discovered, put them into the hot ashes. On being raked out, they were +found to be tolerably well done, though somewhat hard and dry; but to +people who had eaten neither bread nor vegetables for many weeks they +were very welcome. + +"We shall find a better way of cooking them by-and-by," observed the +doctor. "We will try how they answer scraped or pounded; and though +they may not be very palatable, they will assist materially in keeping +us in health. Well, Peter, do you feel any uncomfortable sensations." + +"I hope not," answered the midshipman, surprised at the question. + +"We may then venture to make our desert on the berries," said the +doctor, laughing. "We are much obliged to you for having proved them +not to be poisonous, but I had my doubts, I confess." + +"What a shame!" cried Peter. "Suppose I had died, what would you have +said?" + +"Oh, there was no fear of that," answered the doctor. "In case of +accidents I brought some antidotes in my pocket, and should soon have +got you round again." + +"The next time, please make your experiments on Dicey," cried Peter. +"It is not fair that I should be the only one to run the risk of being +poisoned. Suppose your antidotes had failed?" + +"The doctor fixed on you, Peter, as the least likely to be missed of the +party," said Willy. "You know you have never done anything for the +common good." Peter had, in truth, generally preferred wandering about +the harbour, and scrambling over the rocks, to working. + +"But I found the roots, and could have got any quantity," he exclaimed. + +"Yes, but you dug none up, and told no one of them," rejoined Willy. + +"Well, you shall see that I can be of as much use as you are, Master +Dicey," exclaimed Peter, bristling up. + +"Come, boys, no quarrelling," cried the doctor. "It's time we were +moving." + +Refreshed by their frugal repast, the explorers proceeded on their way. +They found the road far more difficult than they had expected, and soon +came to the edge of a steep precipice, down which it was impossible to +get; and they had, therefore, to scramble a mile or more before they +found a practicable path into the valley. They went along it for a +considerable distance, hoping to be able to climb up the cliff; but the +sides were perfectly perpendicular, and at last they determined to turn +back and make their way by the shore. Just then Willy, who had run on +ahead, shouted out, "I see a break in the cliff, and very possibly we +may get up by it." His advice was followed, and assisting each other, +they succeeded at length in reaching the higher ground. Another high +and steep hill appeared before them; but they, hoping to find the ground +beyond more easy for travelling over, commenced the ascent. It was, +however, steep and difficult, and in some places they came to +perpendicular precipices, down which a fall would have proved fatal to +any one who had happened to slip. + +They had got about halfway down the mountain when a thick mist was seen +sweeping over the sea from the southward. It came on so rapidly that +before they could decide what path to follow they were entirely +enveloped in it. They could now only venture to move with the greatest +caution; any moment they might arrive at the edge of some frightful +precipice similar to those they had before passed. Anxious, however, to +escape the cold and damp to which they were exposed on the mountain +side, they descended by the only practicable route they could find. The +mist every instant grew thicker, and the short day was drawing to a +close. In what direction they were going they could not with any +certainty tell. At last the captain declared that he would proceed no +further. The doctor agreed with him. Just then they saw before them +the edge of the forest, which reached up the mountain side to a +considerable distance from the shore. They agreed that it would be wise +to camp here for the night; and while Willy and Peter cut down some +boughs to form a hut, and wood for fuel, the doctor and the captain +endeavoured to shoot a few birds for supper. They could hear them +singing in the woods in great numbers, but the mist shrouded them from +their view till they were close upon them. The birds were, however, so +tame that they succeeded in killing a few; and these, with some of the +roots which the doctor dug up close at hand, gave them a sufficient +meal. + +As night came on, they made up their fire and crept into their leafy +bower for shelter. + +"I suppose, doctor, we ought, to keep watch," said Willy. "We may have +a big tiger-seal poking his nose in among us, or there may be other wild +beasts, though we have not seen them." + +The doctor agreed to the wisdom of this, and when supper was over they +drew lots as to who should keep the first watch. It fell upon Willy. +After they had sat up some time, the rest of the party went to sleep. +Willy had some difficulty in performing his duty, but by running out +every now and then to throw a log on the fire he managed to keep his +eyes open. As he did so on one occasion, he saw an animal scamper by +him. "It looked very like a wolf," he said to himself. He got the +doctor's gun to have a shot at it, should it again appear. There was no +use, he thought, in waking up his companions. In a short time +afterwards he heard a loud bark. He listened. The bark was repeated. +"Why, it's a dog. I wonder if there are people in the neighbourhood," +he said to himself. "If there are, they will find us out; but they are +not likely to be otherwise than friendly. However, when I call the +captain I'll tell him to keep a sharp lookout." When at length his +watch was over, he roused up Captain Twopenny and told him what had +occurred. + +"Perhaps there may be natives on the island, after all," observed the +captain. "Depend upon it, I will not be taken by surprise." + +Willy, who was longing to go to sleep, lay down, and before another +minute had passed was far away in the land of dreams. He was awoke by +Peter Patch, who had had the last watch. Daylight was already breaking; +the dogs had been heard barking during the night, and Peter said he had +seen two or three creatures, which seemed from their movements to be +like cats, stealing by; but each time, before he could get a shot, they +had disappeared. Nothing else had occurred. + +As the sun rose the mist cleared off; and as soon as they had +breakfasted the doctor proposed that they should once more climb the +mountain, in order to ascertain what direction to take. They had not +gone far when some footmarks were observed on the soft ground over which +they were crossing. The doctor examined them. "Hogs," he exclaimed. +"We shall have pork for dinner soon, I hope. They, at all events, are +always in season, and will not take their departure like the seals and +wild-fowl. We shall not starve here if like wise men we exert our wits. +Cats and dogs may serve us at a pinch; I prefer bacon. Captain, I +daresay you will manage to shoot a porker before long." + +This discovery put the whole party in spirits, the doctor was so +positive about the matter. Willy had gone on as usual some way ahead, +when, looking out in the direction the smoke had been seen, he caught +sight of a large vessel hove to close to the shore. He could scarcely +believe his eyes. He rubbed them again and again. There was no doubt +about it. He waved to his companions, who made their way up to the rock +on which he was standing. He pointed in the direction of the vessel. + +"She is a long way off from this," observed the doctor, after looking at +her for some moments. "We must get down to the beach as fast as we +can." + +"What has brought her in here, I wonder?" said Captain Twopenny. + +"Probably the smoke we saw yesterday may have something to do with the +matter," observed the doctor. "At all events, there is no time to be +lost." + +He gazed as he spoke over the intervening country. There were deep +valleys to be passed, and steep hills, with rugged rocks and precipices, +to be scaled. Having taken the bearings of the vessel, they set out. +They first had to descend the mountain side. They soon came to a soft +boggy ground, and were obliged to make a wide circuit to avoid it. Not +without considerable difficulty did they at length reach the bottom of +the valley. A stream was to be crossed; they waded through it, +regardless of the cold. Now they came to a precipice. Considerable +time was spent before they could find a way to the top. Then they were +involved in a labyrinth of huge rugged rocks. The sun shining brightly +enabled them to keep a tolerably correct course, otherwise it would have +been difficult to determine in what direction they were going. On and +on they went. The hope of obtaining relief for themselves and their +friends kept up their spirits; but Peter Patch at length cried out that +he could go no further. They had brought some baked roots and cooked +wild-fowl with them. A stream which came trickling down the side of the +hill afforded a refreshing draught of water. They would not stop to +light a fire, but, taking a hurried meal, again pushed on. The doctor +himself confessed that he was beginning to get knocked up; still they +thought that they must soon reach a height from which they could make a +signal to the ship. For the last hour or more, however, they had been +unable to get sight of her. + +"Had she been at anchor, I should have had more hopes of doing so," said +the doctor; "but still we must not despair." + +"That's the hill," cried Willy; "I know it by its shape. If we can get +to the top of it we shall reach the shore in a short time." + +The rest of the party thought Willy was right, and thus encouraged, made +their way with renewed ardour. The summit of the hill was free of +trees. They gained it at length. Willy was the first to reach the top. +A cry escaped him. "She is gone! she is gone!" he exclaimed. He waved +his cap frantically; he shouted as if his voice could reach across the +intervening ocean. The rest soon joined him. A ship under all sail was +standing away with a fresh breeze from the land, from which she was +already some three miles distant. + +"The smoke of a fire might still attract the attention of those on +board," said the doctor. Willy and Peter ran down the hill, and began +hewing away at the driest bushes they could find. A fire was soon +lighted. More bushes were brought; a thick column of smoke ascended in +the air. How eagerly they gazed at the receding ship. Still she stood +on. No attention was paid to their signal. + +"They either do not see it, or think that it is the result of accident," +observed the doctor. + +More bushes were thrown on the fire, and then they hurried down the +hill. + +"Perhaps she may be a sealer, and landed some of the crew to catch seals +from the shore. If so, she may return," remarked the captain. + +"She does not look like one," said Willy. + +The bottom of the hill was reached. They made their way along the +beach. In a sheltered spot a hut was seen. It was rudely constructed +from the wreck of a vessel. Outside there were the ashes of a fire +still smouldering; within were several bedplaces covered with leaves. +Other signs showed that it had been lately occupied. Whoever the people +were, they had just been taken off by the ship,--probably part of the +crew of some vessel wrecked on the shore. They looked about in the +neighbourhood, and discovered six or seven mounds which had the +appearance of graves. + +"Well, my friends, I am very glad that the poor fellows, whoever they +were, got away; and for ourselves, we are not worse off than we should +have been had we not discovered them," observed the philosophical +doctor. "Don't let us be cast down. If one vessel comes, so may +another; and next time we may be more fortunate. And now I advise that +without loss of time we make the best of our way back to the +settlement." + +As the shore appeared for some distance tolerably free of rocks, they +agreed to keep along it till compelled by the rising tide to take their +way over higher ground. Still, as they walked along they could not help +every now and then turning round to watch the receding ship. Gradually +her hull disappeared, her courses sank beneath the horizon, the topsails +followed, and then Willy alone could discern a small dark speck, which +soon faded from view. He heaved a sigh. "I should like to have sent +home news, at all events, that I was safe, and perhaps Charles and the +girls may by this time have reached New Zealand. They will be very +sorry when they hear that the ship has been lost, and of course they +will think that I was lost in her." Willy seldom allowed himself to +give way to thoughts like these. + +The doctor was very anxious to get back that night; so, although pretty +well knocked up himself, he urged his companions to proceed as fast as +they were able. For several miles they continued along the beach, +occasionally having to climb over high ledges of rocks which jutted out +into the water, or to go round bays or small inlets. Still, after the +experience they had had of the interior of the island, they considered +that this road was less fatiguing than the way they had come. Seeing a +succession of rocks running out into the ocean, they were at length +about to strike across the country, when a small hut was discovered at +the head of a little bay just below them. + +"Why, perhaps, after all, there are human beings besides ourselves on +the island," exclaimed Willy. + +"If such is the case, we will make their acquaintance," observed the +doctor, and they descended into the bay. They hurried towards the hut. +On reaching the entrance, even the doctor started back. Part of the +roof had been blown off, allowing the light to strike down into the +interior. On a rude bed, raised a couple of feet from the ground, lay +the body of a man. He was fully clothed, but the eyeless skull and +parchment-like cheeks showed that he had been long dead. He was dressed +as a seaman. A sou'-wester was on his head, and a woollen muffler round +his neck, while a blue serge vest and a dark jacket and trousers clothed +his body. Several pairs of woollen socks and stockings were on his +feet, one of which was tied up with rags, as if it had received some +injury. His legs were crossed, and the arms and fingers stretched out +straight on either side. Had it not been for the light which struck +down on the head, the body lay in so natural a position that the man +might have been supposed to be asleep. Close by was a small heap of +limpet and mussel shells, and within his reach were two bottles--one was +empty, but the other was full of water. Another object attracted their +attention. It was a piece of slate, on which were scratched several +zigzag marks, which had apparently been formed by the hand of the dying +man, who had probably in his last moments attempted to write his name +and give some account of his sad history. + +The doctor, after examining the body for some minutes, observed, "He has +died of hunger, poor fellow. Probably he belonged to the crew of some +hapless vessel wrecked near this, the survivors of whom were taken off +by the ship we saw this morning. Poor fellow, we must come back and +bury him another day, but we must delay no longer." + +The sad spectacle they had just witnessed made the explorers turn their +thoughts from themselves. + +They pushed on as fast as they could go, but were often nearly dropping +with fatigue. Marshes had to be passed, and frequently they were +plunging across boggy ground, running the risk every instant of sticking +or sinking beneath it; several streams were forded, and rugged heights +climbed similar to those they had traversed on the previous day. + +Just before sunset they stopped to dig a quantity of roots, which the +doctor was anxious to carry with him, while Captain Twopenny shot +several birds. While Willy was hunting about, he heard a low clattering +sound. Searching more narrowly, he found in a small bush a large nest +with five young birds. "Here, here," he cried to Peter, who ran up. +"Why, I do believe they are parrots. They are nearly fledged. How +delighted the Miss Morleys will be to have them." + +"But how can we carry them?" said Peter. + +"See, I will tie them up in my handkerchief, and sling them round my +neck," said Willy, securing the nest as he proposed. The young parrots +were, as may be supposed, a constant care to him for the rest of the +journey. Peter every now and then looked into the handkerchief as it +hung at his back, declaring that the birds were getting on very well, +only opening their mouths as if they wanted to be fed. They seemed to +like the berries which had been found, and meeting with another bush, +Peter collected a supply to feed them with. + +At length it grew so dark that they could with difficulty see their way. +They were about to encamp, when Willy caught sight of the lights in the +village, far below them. Just then they got into a seal-track, along +which they proceeded. + +"Look out, Peter, lest we should find a lion in the path," said Willy. +He had scarcely spoken when a bellow was heard close to them. It was +repeated in all directions. + +"I don't quite like it," exclaimed Peter. "Can those horrible noises +really be made only by seals?" + +"No doubt about that," said the doctor. "They are not likely to attack +us, and the best thing we can do is to push on." + +To those not aware of the cause, the loud bellows which resounded +through the woods would have indeed seemed terrific. Once or twice one +of the monsters was seen scrambling among the bushes, but was soon out +of sight, and none appeared to be combatively disposed. + +At length the lower ground was reached, and in a short time they were +welcomed by their friends at the village. + +Harry Shafto was especially thankful when he received the report of the +doctor; and it was arranged that the next morning, as soon as some more +spades could be manufactured, a party should set out to dig roots, while +Captain Twopenny volunteered to lead another in search of hogs. + +"At all events, I trust we need have no fear of dying of starvation," +Harry remarked in a tone which showed the relief he felt. "Had it not +been for you, doctor, however, I confess we should have been badly off." + +Willy awoke at early dawn to feed his parrots, which were chattering +away at his ear. As soon as breakfast was over, he took them up to the +Miss Morleys. "I have brought an addition to your menagerie," he said, +exhibiting his prizes; "but as they are nearly fledged, you must find +some means of preventing them from flying away." + +"Oh, I hope we may tame them sufficiently to make them wish to stay with +us," said Emma. "What pretty little lively creatures. We are so much +obliged to you, Mr Dicey." + +"Perhaps Mrs Twopenny would like to have one," said Fanny. "And do you +not wish to retain one yourself?" + +"I am afraid that I should not have time to attend to it," said Willy. +"But I will take one to Mrs Twopenny; and if you will bring up one for +me, I should like to carry it home with me for my sisters." Mrs +Morley, who heard the remark, smiled faintly. She was thinking, +perhaps, of the little probability there was of their ever returning to +the shores of England. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +A SHIP! + +THE ISLAND FLAG--EXPEDITION TO ESTABLISH A LOOK-OUT PLACE--CUTTER +PROCEEDS DOWN THE HARBOUR--PIERCE ATTACK OF SEALS--TIPPO SAHIB PUT TO +FLIGHT--FLAGSTAFF SET UP--LOOKOUT HUT ERECTED--NIGHT IN THE HUT--THE +BOATSWAIN'S YARNS--HARRY PUTS OFF TO RETURN--BLOWING HARD--BOAT IN +DANGER--RETURN TO LOOKOUT POINT--THE STORM RAGES--PETER WRAPS HIMSELF IN +THE FLAG--ANXIETY ABOUT THE BOAT--HUT ON FIRE--ATTEMPTS TO SAVE HUT-- +PASS NIGHT BY THE FIRE--A SHIP SEEN. + +The cutter had been thoroughly repaired, and Harry resolved at once to +go down the harbour and fix on a look-out place whence a signal could be +made to any ship approaching the southern end of the island. A +flagstaff had been constructed out of the spars of the launch, and some +of the straightest trees which could be found. The boatswain had rigged +it completely, so that it was ready at once to set up. Willy and Peter +laughed heartily when they saw the flag which had been formed. It +consisted of two boats' ensigns, increased in size by a petticoat and +part of a seaman's shirt. + +"If its materials can be distinguished, it will tell pretty plainly the +character of our party," remarked Harry. + +Harry took the boatswain, with Peter and Willy and four other seamen, +one of whom was Paul Lizard, and another Tom Wall. As the excursion +might prove a long one, and as in that uncertain climate they might be +detained by bad weather, they carried provisions for a couple of days, +hoping, should they be kept out longer, to be able to kill some seals or +wild-fowl for their support. The rest of the party were to search for +roots and berries, from the latter of which Mrs Rumbelow announced that +she could make an excellent preserve, could sugar be manufactured. The +doctor promised to exert his scientific knowledge to the best of his +power for the public good. + +The wind being light, Harry and his party had to keep close in-shore, to +avoid the tide which was still running up the harbour. Just as they got +off the bay, where Paul and Tom had the adventure with the old sea-lion, +several seals were seen swimming about, apparently fishing, darting +rapidly to and fro in various directions in chase of their prey. +Presently there was a great commotion in the water ahead, and two huge +animals appeared struggling together. "Why, they are fighting," cried +Willy. "What tremendous digs they give into each other's necks with +their sharp tusks." + +One was a tiger and the other a black seal. Now they separated, now +they dashed at each other, just like savage dogs, not uttering the +slightest sound all the time. Now they sank below the surface, now rose +again, tearing away at each other as before. + +"I shouldn't be surprised that one of them was the big fellow you called +Tippo Sahib, who attacked you the other day, Paul," said Willy. + +"May be, sir," answered Lizard. "But see, there's another on the rocks. +That's master Tippo, I suspect. He looks as if he was watching for us, +and I shouldn't be surprised if he was to give chase." + +Willy laughed at the notion; but directly afterwards the old lion +plunged into the water, and his snout was seen within a few seconds +rising close to the oars. Harry ordered the men to pull on, as he did +not wish to expend any shot on the animal. Tippo, however, seizing the +blade of Paul's oar, held it so tightly that he nearly hauled it out of +his hands. Not till he had received several blows on the nose from the +other oars would he let go. + +"Why, he has nearly bitten my oar in two," cried Paul. + +"Better that than your leg," observed Willy. + +"That's Tippo; I have no doubt about him," cried Paul. "He means +mischief." + +The sea-lion, however, was kept at bay by the oars, while the boatswain +stood up in the stern with a club, ready to give him a blow should he +come nearer. After swimming round the boat for some time, he seemed to +consider that he could gain nothing by a battle with the four-legged +strange creature, as he doubtless considered the boat, and so leisurely +swam back to the rocks he had left, up which he scrambled, and sat +watching the cutter as she continued her course along the shore. + +A breeze at last sprang up, and sail being set she ran down to the mouth +of the harbour. On the northern shore, near the eastern entrance, was a +point rising for a hundred feet or more above the water. Here the party +landed, and Harry and the boatswain agreed that it was the best station +on which their flagstaff could be planted. From its summit they could +look over the whole of the southern island; while the flag would be +visible far out at sea, beyond the western entrance of the harbour. The +flagstaff was accordingly landed, and as all hands were required to set +it up, and the boat could not be left alone, she was hauled up on the +beach. But as they had only wooden spades to work with, some time was +occupied in digging the hole in which to plant the flagstaff. It was at +length got up, and stayed by four shrouds. The flag was hoisted and +flew out to the breeze. + +"That will show that some one is not far off," observed Mr Bollard. +"But should a vessel send her boat on shore, the people may not know +where to find us." + +"I have been thinking of that," said Harry, "and will leave a bottle +with a paper in it directing them to the settlement." + +"But if another gale was to spring up, and there is every chance of +that, the flag might be blown to pieces, or the flagstaff itself carried +away," observed the boatswain. "If you think fit, therefore, Mr +Shafto, I'll remain here with one or two of the men; and, depend on it, +we will keep a bright look-out for passing vessels, so that we need only +hoist our flag should one come near enough to see it." + +"We can ill spare you at the camp, Bollard," said Harry; "and if you +remain here you will require shelter and food. This hill is a bleak +place, and if we could not get to you with a supply of provisions, you +would run the risk of starving." + +"As to shelter, we have our axes, and we might easily put up a hut; and +for the matter of food, if we are hard-pressed, we can make our way +overland to the settlement; it cannot be much more than five or six +miles." + +As the boatswain was so anxious to remain, Harry at last consented to +his proposal. + +"We must put you up a hut, however, before we return to the settlement," +he observed; "and after we have had dinner we will set to work about +it." + +There was a wood at some little distance; and, as soon as the meal was +over, all hands repaired there to cut timber for the proposed hut. They +worked away very hard, Harry and the midshipmen labouring as well as the +rest. As soon as several trees were felled, Harry, leaving Bollard and +two of the men to cut more, with the rest of the party carried them up +the hill. They had then to dig the foundation of the hut. While this +was doing, Willy and Peter collected a supply of grass from the +hillside. + +So busily were they all employed that evening arrived before they +thought the day was half spent. Dark clouds had been gathering, and the +wind increasing, and they had the prospect of a stormy night. The hut, +however, was roofed in, and they were able to take shelter from the +torrents of rain which now came down. Fuel having been collected, they +lighted a fire in the front of the hut, but the wind blew the flames +about so furiously that there was a risk of the walls, and a still +greater one of the roof, catching fire. No one, therefore, ventured to +go to sleep; indeed, there was not room for all the party to stretch +their legs. + +The first hours of the night were passed, as they sat close together to +keep themselves warm, watching the bending flagstaff, and listening to +the howling of the wind and the roar of the surf as it broke on the +rocky shore. Harry did his best to keep the party amused, and got Paul +Lizard, who could sing a good song, to strike up a merry stave; and +Paul, once set going, was generally loath to stop. His full manly voice +trolled forth many a ditty, sounding above the whistling of the storm +and the roar of the waves. Then adventures and stories were told, and +yarn after yarn was spun, most of which were no novelties to the +hearers. The boatswain, who seldom condescended to tell his adventures +except to the other warrant officers, narrated several wonderful ones he +had gone through; and Willy and Peter could not help being surprised, +after encountering so many dangers and hardships, he should be still +living to narrate them. He had been left alone on an iceberg in the +Polar seas, when the boat in which he was chasing a whale and all the +other hands had been lost. He had been stranded on the coast of Africa, +and made captive by the natives; when escaping, he had been nearly torn +to pieces by a lion, only managing to scramble up a tree just as the +monster's claws were within a few inches of his heels. He had got on +board a slaver, which had gone down while being chased by a man-of-war, +and had been picked up again just as a shark was about to seize his +legs. A ship he had been on board had blown up, when only he and a +dozen more had escaped. On another occasion his ship had caught fire, +and the crew had to take to their boats. Three times besides he had +been wrecked. "And yet, you see, mates," he wound up by saying, "here I +am, alive and well, and fit for duty; and if you ask me if I think we +are to get out of this place, I tell you. To be sure I do. We are not +half as badly off as I have been a score of times." Encouraged by their +officer, the men kept up a brisk conversation till daylight dawned. + +The weather appeared to have somewhat moderated, and Harry hoped, as +soon as breakfast was over, to be able to launch the boat and return to +the settlement. As the party were descending the hill, however, a seal +was heard bellowing in the wood. As it was important to secure the +supply of meat the animal might afford, they set out in chase. The cry +of the creature guided them towards her; but as they advanced, it became +evident that she was going away from them. They therefore increased +their speed, hoping before long to come up with her. + +"May be she has lost her calf; and if so, we must keep a look-out," +observed Paul Lizard. "She will prove mighty savage." + +"She is not likely to show fight against half-a-dozen men," said the +boatswain. "Come along, lads, we have lost a great deal of time +already." At last the bellowing grew louder, and the seal was seen +looking about her, wondering perhaps at the unusual sounds which struck +her ear. + +The boatswain was the first to emerge from the cover of the wood. The +creature lifted up its monstrous head, and opening wide its jaws, made a +dash at the intruder. So formidable did she appear that the sturdy +boatswain, though he would have faced a human foe without trembling, +turned tail and ran for his life. The seal followed, but just then, +Paul Lizard coming in sight, she bolted at him, moving over the ground +with her flipper-like feet at a rapid rate. Paul, having learned a +lesson from experience, dodged behind a tree, and when the seal nearly +reached him, sprang on one side, giving her a blow with his club on the +nose. It was not sufficiently well dealt, however, to bring her to the +ground; and, again catching sight of the boatswain, she once more rushed +at him. Imitating Paul's manoeuvre, he managed to escape her charge. +She, however, had fixed her eyes on him, and continued the pursuit, the +rest of the party following. Before they could get up with the animal, +the boatswain had run a considerable distance in an opposite direction +from the flagstaff. Matters were growing serious; for he had well-nigh +lost his breath, and the seal was so close to him that he could not +venture to turn round and strike at her. Willy and Peter could not help +laughing, thinking the matter very good fun, a notion the boatswain in +no way shared with them. At last Paul and Tom Wall so distracted her +attention that she stopped short, allowing the boatswain to bring up and +face about. The three then dashed at her with their clubs, and quickly +ended her life. + +"Well, mates, we have deserved our dinners, at all events," exclaimed +Paul, as he commenced cutting up the seal. "Mr Bollard will have +gained an appetite for his." + +"I had rather have gained it in a more dignified way," observed the +boatswain, wiping the perspiration from his brow. "I had no notion one +of these brutes would show so much fight." + +"You should have had Tippo Sahib at your heels, sir," said Paul. "He +showed us yesterday that he was ready enough to fight, and he is twice +as savage on shore." + +Some time was occupied in cutting up and packing the seal's flesh, and +then, each man carrying a load, they turned their steps towards the +Flagstaff-hill. It was past noon before they got back, but Harry still +hoped to be able to reach the settlement at nightfall. The fire had to +be relighted, and as soon as some of the seal had been cooked and eaten, +they hastened down to launch the boat. It took some time to do so; but +at length she was got afloat; and, leaving the boatswain and two of the +men at the look-out station, Harry and the rest made sail. Though the +weather appeared threatening, he was unwilling to abandon his intention. +The wind was contrary, and he had to stand out some way from land to +fetch the mouth of the inner harbour. He had just gone about when the +wind shifted, and a furious blast from the north-west blew directly in +his teeth, making the boat heel over, and nearly capsizing her. The +sails were lowered just in time to prevent such a catastrophe, but it +soon became evident that it would be a difficult matter to reach the +harbour's mouth. The sails, however, being closely reefed, Harry +determined to try what could be done. The boat looked up bravely for +some time to the gale, but the wind increasing still more, he saw that +the attempt was hopeless. The open ocean lay broad on his beam, foaming +and raging, and there was now the danger of his being blown out to sea. +The only spot where he could hope to land without losing the boat was +the little bay he had just before left. Keeping as close to the wind as +he could, he therefore stood towards the shore. Even with the reduced +canvas she carried, and all hands sitting up to windward, the boat +heeled over fearfully. Harry was at the helm, looking out anxiously +through the spray, which beat up in showers over the bows, for the point +which formed the northern side of the little bay into which he wished to +run. Sometimes the boat's head fell off, and he was afraid that he +should be unable to reach it. + +"I don't like the look of things," whispered Peter to Willy; "what if we +don't reach the bay?" + +"We may perhaps lose the boat," answered Willy, "but I trust that we may +be able to scramble on shore somewhere or other." + +At length they got near enough to distinguish Bollard and his +companions, who had come down to the beach to assist them. A fiercer +blast than before struck the boat's sail; down she heeled, till the +hissing water ran over her gunwale. For a moment Harry feared she would +not recover herself. As he put down the helm she once more rose, and in +another minute was under the lee of the point; and he steered in towards +the only spot of sandy beach which the bay afforded. The sails were +hauled down, and all hands stood ready to leap out as she touched the +shore. Aided by the next sea which came rolling in, she was run high +upon the beach. + +"This is indeed unfortunate," said Harry to the boatswain. "It is too +late to get back to-night, and I am afraid our friends at the settlement +will become anxious about us." + +"But they will see it is blowing hard, sir, and that will fully account +for the boat not being able to get up the harbour," answered the +boatswain. + +Perhaps Harry was thinking that the fierce gale then blowing would only +increase the anxiety which some, at all events, of the inhabitants of +the settlement would feel on his account. + +By the time they reached the hut the day was well advanced. There was +still a short time of daylight, however, and the men employed it in +cutting a further supply of fuel, that they might keep up a good fire +during the night. A stream had been found at the bottom of the hill, +from which they replenished their water-casks. Their supper, as on the +previous evening, consisted of roast seal and a few roots cooked in the +ashes, washed down with tea boiled in an iron bowl which had served as a +baler for the boat. The night as it advanced became even more +tempestuous than the preceding one. A few bough-tops served to keep +them off the damp ground, and on these as many as could find room lay +down to sleep, while the rest sat up keeping watch over the fire. Peter +Patch finding the flag, which had been hauled down at sunset, wrapped +himself up in it--a fortunate circumstance, as it afterwards proved, +although the midshipman's object was of a purely self-interested nature. +No songs were sung that evening, and though a few yarns were spun, they +were often wonderfully long-drawn, the drowsy listeners scarcely +comprehending the drawling words which struck on their ears. The night +passed slowly by. They were thankful that the boat had been drawn up on +the beach, and placed, as they hoped, in safety, out of the reach of the +sea. + +The gale increased, thunder roared, and lightning flashed, and the whole +harbour, as far as the eye could reach, was lashed into fury. + +"I don't like the look of things, Mr Shafto," observed the boatswain to +Harry, who had just sat up to make room for others. "If the sea was to +reach the boat it would soon knock her into splinters. I cannot stand +it any longer. With your leave, sir, I'll go and see if she is all +safe." + +Saying this, Bollard started up, Paul Lizard following him. In a short +time they were heard shouting, and all the party hurried down to join +them, Peter Patch, very unwilling to be roused, bringing up the rear, +wrapped, to keep himself warm, in the flag which he had appropriated. +They were not a moment too soon. The foaming water had already reached +the stern of the boat, and was every now and then lifting her up and +letting her fall again on the sandy beach. In a few minutes more she +would have been carried away or knocked to pieces. By great exertion +they managed to haul her up out of the reach of the surf, though every +now and then the water washed up almost round her in a sheet of foam. +As it was high tide, they had hopes she would remain safe during the +night. Still, although drenched to the skin, they were unwilling to +leave her when so much depended on her preservation. Again and again +they tried to drag her further up. They were still standing round her, +when Willy, looking towards the hill, exclaimed, "Why, surely our fire +is blazing up brighter than before." + +"Our fire!" cried Harry. "I am afraid that the hut is in flames! On, +lads, we can do no more for the boat, and we may still manage to save +the hut." + +The whole party rushed up the hill; but already, as they drew near the +top, they saw, to their dismay, that not only the walls, but the roof +itself had caught fire. Fanned by the wind, the flames rapidly spread +round the building which had cost them so much labour to erect; and so +fiercely did the dry grass with which it was covered burn that they +could not approach it. Not without difficulty, indeed, did they save +the shrouds of the flagstaff, towards which the wind drove the flames. + +"And all our grub is inside," cried Paul Lizard. "I'll try and save +that, even though I get scorched a bit." + +Paul was rushing forward. "Avast," cried Harry, seizing him by the arm. +"My gun and powder flask is within, and any moment the powder may +explode." + +Scarcely had he spoken when a loud report was heard, and the shattered +flask flew out, just passing between them, and in all probability would +have struck Paul on his legs had he gone a few paces further. In a few +moments the gun itself went off, but fortunately being in an upright +position the shot with which it was loaded flew over their heads. + +"The danger is over now, at all events," said Paul. "And though our +breakfast must be pretty well cooked, we must save some of that." +Saying this, he rushed up to the hut with a long stick which he had +picked up, and began raking away at the ashes. Tom and another man +joined him, and succeeded in scraping out a portion of the seal-flesh +and some roots, though, as he observed, holding them up, "somewhat +over-roasted." + +"You have forgotten the axes, lads," cried the boatswain. "Try and get +them out, or we shall have a hard matter to put up another hut." After +making several efforts, the heads of the axes were raked out, though the +handles had been so burnt and charred as to be useless. + +"Never mind that," observed the boatswain. "We may manage to replace +them." + +The walls of the hut, from being of some thickness, continued to burn +for a long time. + +"Well, lads," said Harry, "as we cannot save the huts, we must now make +up a rousing fire with the remains of the wood, and try and warm +ourselves. The rain has fortunately ceased, and we shall get dry in +time, I hope." + +The seamen, caring apparently little for the accident, began to pile up +the wood they had cut on the remains of their fire, which they scraped +to a sufficient distance from the burning hut to enable them to sit +round it, laughing and joking as they did so. + +"Shouldn't be surprised but what our bonfire had been seen from the +village," said Paul Lizard. "They will be thinking that a burning +mountain has burst forth. Come, lads, pile on more logs. It's precious +cold still, in spite of the fire." + +Fortunately, more wood had been cut for the hut than was required, and +this, in addition to the fuel they had collected, enabled them to keep a +fire burning till daylight. As may be supposed, no one ventured to go +to sleep; indeed, all hands underwent a regular roasting process, +sitting now with their backs to the fire, now with one side, now with +another, and then facing it, till their wet clothes were tolerably well +dried. By the boatswain's advice they then stripped off their inner +garments, which they dried and then put them on again, thoroughly +warmed. The latter part of the night was employed in fashioning some +fresh handles for the axes out of the toughest pieces of wood they could +find, so that they might be ready by daylight to go to work. + +"There, my axe is as good as ever," cried Paul Lizard, as he secured the +handle he had just finished. + +"And so is mine," said Tom Wall. "We will soon have the hut up again, +and make it a little bigger the next time." + +"That's the spirit I like, lads," observed the boatswain. "Never strike +your flag while the ship swims. That's the motto for English seamen; +and I hope, lads, you will always stick to it. Now, Paul, just; give us +a stave; we have not heard your sweet voice all the night. Just see if +you cannot shout as loud as the gale." Paul thereon, nothing loath, +struck up, "Cease, rude Boreas, blustering railer." Paul's example was +followed by others, and daylight broke on them even before they expected +its appearance. + +Willy was the first to spring to his feet, saying that he would take a +run down the hill and up again to warm himself. Peter Patch followed +him. They had got a little distance from the bright glare of the fire, +when Willy turned his eyes seaward. + +"Why, Peter," he exclaimed, after gazing earnestly for a few seconds, +"there is a sail, and not far off the mouth of the harbour." + +"A sail! a sail!" shouted the midshipmen together. All the party sprang +to their feet, and every eye was turned in the direction Willy pointed +to. + +"She is trying to beat in; no doubt about it," exclaimed the boatswain. +"She is a large ship, under jury-masts, but will find it a hard job, +though." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +ENSIGN HOLT MAKES HIMSELF USEFUL. + +PROCEEDINGS AT THE VILLAGE--VARIOUS EMPLOYMENTS--SCHOOL ESTABLISHED-- +ENSIGN HOLT RECOVERS HIS SENSES--MRS MORLEY READS THE BIBLE--THE +DOCTOR'S EXCURSION INLAND--THE DEAD SEAMAN BURIED--ENSIGN HOLT MAKES +HIMSELF USEFUL--ANXIETY ABOUT HARRY AND HIS PARTY--FANNY'S MEDITATIONS-- +HOLT LEADS EXPEDITION TO LOOK FOR HARRY. + +The party at the village were busily employed. The doctor had set the +armourer and cooper to work, to make, under his superintendence, an +apparatus for manufacturing sugar and beer. The women, directed by the +ever-active Mrs Rumbelow, were scraping the roots which had been +collected for that purpose, while the tanner was trying various ways of +preparing the seals'-skins. Two or three of the men were endeavouring, +with fair success, to make shoes from some they had roughly cured, to +replace those of several of the party which were nearly worn-out. + +Captain Twopenny and his party returned from his hunting expedition with +three hogs. Though they had seen traces of many more, the animals were +so active and the country so difficult that they had been unable to kill +them. Still it was satisfactory to know that the island possessed means +of giving them support besides that which the waters afforded. He had +also shot as many birds as the men could carry. + +The doctor, ever fertile in resources, had had a stone hut constructed +in which both birds and fish could be smoke-dried after the fashion +practised in England and elsewhere. + +The children had now plenty of work in plucking the birds ready for +curing, and afterwards in sorting the feathers for beds and coverlids. + +From the first Mrs Morley and her daughters had visited the women's hut +every evening to read the Scriptures and to comfort them in their +sorrow. The poor women, most of whom had left their husbands on board +the "Ranger," well knew how truly Mrs Morley could sympathise with +them, and listened to her exhortations and advice. Some who had before +been very indifferent to matters of religion now looked forward with +satisfaction each day to the time when they were to receive a visit from +her and the young ladies. She and her daughters held school with all +the children at their cottage. It was carried on under difficulties, +for they had only one book, but that was the Bible. The young ladies +devised, however, various means for teaching the little ones. Some thin +flat stones served as slates, and young Broke cut out several sets of +letters from wood, which were greatly valued. On Sunday the whole party +assembled in the men's hut, where Harry had conducted a service, and +every evening also he had borrowed Mrs Morley's Bible, and read a +chapter to the men. During his absence she now did the same. This +system tended greatly to keep the people contented and orderly. They +saw that those of superior education among them were resigned to the +trials they were called on to endure, and were trusting to the support +and protection of that great and merciful God whose message of love to +man they every day heard read, and who would send them relief in His +good time. + +Young as Harry Shafto was, by his firmness and decision he had +maintained a strict discipline among the little band, and even the few +who might have been disposed to be mutinous never ventured to dispute +his authority. Even now that he was absent, they implicitly obeyed the +doctor, whom he had left in command. + +Poor Ensign Holt has not been mentioned for some time. He had gradually +been improving in health and spirits. + +"Come, Holt," said Dr Davis to him one morning. "It is time that you +should rouse yourself. We are all exerting ourselves to the utmost for +the common good, and I wonder you are not ashamed to sit in the hut +doing nothing. Surely it is more degrading to eat the bread of idleness +than to labour like the rest of us. Take a spade in hand, and come and +dig for roots; or, if you like it better, try to catch, some fish. At +least endeavour to gain your daily bread." + +"If I do anything, I'll work as hard as the rest of you," said the +ensign, with more intelligence in his countenance than had long been +there. "What are you going to be about, doctor?" + +"To dig for roots. That I suspect was among the first occupations of +primeval man, and requires no great exertion of the mind," answered the +doctor. "Here is a spade. Come along." + +Without another word the young officer followed his kind friend, and +having been shown the leaf beneath which the root was to be found, set +to work and dug away diligently till he had collected as many as he +could carry. The doctor sent him back to the village with them, and +told him to return without delay. All day long he worked away, and +seemed very proud of the pile of roots he had dug up. That evening, by +the doctor's invitation, he attended the meeting in the men's hut, and +listened with great attention while Mrs Morley read the Bible. She +afterwards spoke a few kind words to him, expressing her pleasure at +seeing him so much improved in health. He burst into tears. + +"I have been a good-for-nothing foolish fellow," he said at length. +"But oh, Mrs Morley, if you would but take me in hand, I think there +might be a chance of my improvement." + +"If you seek for strength and guidance whence alone it can come, you may +be very certain there will be an improvement, dear Mr Holt," said Mrs +Morley, kindly. "The trials you have gone through, and may yet have to +endure, will then prove a blessing to you. I will gladly give you +counsel and advice, but more I cannot do. Let me remind you only of +God's promise, `that if you seek you will find; if you knock, it shall +be opened unto you.'" + +From that day forward a great change was perceptible in the young +ensign. He laboured as hard as any one; and whenever he could borrow +Mrs Morley's Bible, he would sit up for hours together at night reading +it diligently. + +This had occurred some days before Harry went on his expedition to the +harbour. The doctor reminded Captain Twopenny of their intention of +burying the body of the unfortunate seaman they had found on the beach. +He invited Ensign Holt to accompany him, taking also two men, with +spades, who also carried their clubs in case they should fall in with +seals. He had his gun, and proposed that Holt should take one also. +"No," answered the ensign. "I am but a poor shot, and should only throw +away powder. I will carry your game. I am not of use for much else." +Formerly, how indignant he would have been had such an idea been +suggested to him. + +They started at daybreak, hoping to get back at night, and to find +Shafto and his companions had returned. + +The journey was a very fatiguing one. Though the captain knew the way +tolerably well, it was noon before they reached the little bay where the +dead seaman lay. The ensign seemed greatly struck when he saw it. +"Poor fellow," he said, contemplating the body. "I thought my fate a +very hard one, and yet how infinitely worse was that poor fellow's, cast +on this inhospitable shore, perhaps deserted by his companions, and left +to die in all the agonies of starvation, without a human voice to soothe +his last hours." + +"It won't do to give way to such thoughts as those, Holt," observed the +captain, who had no sympathy with the ensign's present state. "Come, +lads, we will bury the poor fellow, as we promised, and when we get +back, I daresay Mrs Morley will speak about the subject. We have no +time to lose, or we shall run the risk of being benighted on the +mountain side." + +A shallow grave was dug in the soft earth at the foot of the cliff, and +the melancholy remnant of humanity was lifted into it. + +"Poor fellow," said one of the seamen. "You or I, Bill, may come to +this one of these days, though, as Mrs Morley says, it matters little +if we are prepared." + +"Come, lads," cried the captain from the top of the cliff, "be quick +now. We must make the best of our way homewards." + +The party were tolerably successful in obtaining provisions during the +excursion. The captain killed a hog and a number of birds, and the men, +after a short combat, knocked a seal on the head whom they found +wandering in the woods. The ensign shouldered the hog--fortunately for +him, not a very heavy one--the men having cut up the seal, divided the +pieces between them, and the captain carried the birds; and thus heavily +laden they reached the village soon after nightfall. Before this the +rain had begun to fall in dense showers, and a strong gale was blowing. + +They found their friends in considerable anxiety about Harry Shafto and +his party, who had not returned. The next day was Sunday, and he had +promised to be back without fail. A fire was kept burning on the beach, +by the doctor's directions, during the night, to guide his boat into the +bay. Emma and Fanny, who had persuaded their mother to go to bed, sat +up watching anxiously for his return. Frequently they went to the door, +hoping to hear the voices of him and his companions; but the only sound +which reached their ears was the howling of the wind through the +neighbouring trees, and the roar of the surf upon the rocky shore. They +had a good excuse for sitting up, little Bessy being somewhat ill and +restless. + +"I trust no accident has happened to Mr Shafto," said Emma, when, after +waiting several hours, Harry did not appear. "His life is of great +consequence to us all." + +"It is indeed," sighed Fanny. "Oh, no, no, it would be too dreadful to +think of. But what can have delayed him?" + +"The boat may have struck on the rocks, and have been injured," observed +Emma; "or, as the wind blows down the harbour, that may have delayed +him." + +"But the wind was blowing up the harbour all day," said Fanny. "I hope +Dr Davis will send an expedition along the shore to search for them. +They took, I am afraid, but a small amount of provisions, and may be +suffering from hunger." + +"I daresay they will, after all, appear early to-morrow," observed Emma. +"They can row up, if they are unable to sail." + +Fanny was less hopeful than her sister. She could not help +acknowledging to herself that she felt a deep interest in the brave +young officer, under whose guidance, and in consequence of whose +judgment and courage, the lives of the whole party had--humanly +speaking--been preserved. Though Harry had treated her, and her mother +and sister, with the most gentle and thoughtful attention, he had not by +word or look showed that he felt especial regard for her. But this, she +was sure that, under the circumstances in which they were placed, he +would be very careful to avoid doing, "Yet why should I allow such +thoughts to enter my mind," she said to herself. "Perhaps it may be our +lot never to leave this place, and how selfish in me to think thus when +my poor mother is weighed down with such a burden of grief, which it +should be my sole thought how best to alleviate!" + +The morning came. The gale was blowing with even greater violence than +during the night. Still there were no signs of the boat. The seamen +told the doctor that this was no wonder, as she would be unable to get +up while the wind held in its present quarter. Still, several of them +went down along the shore to a considerable distance, but came back +without having seen any signs of the missing party, two of them who went +beyond the rest declaring that they could not get any further, as Tippo +Sahib had chased them, and that they had had to run for their lives. + +The usual Sunday service was conducted in the men's hut, and all seemed +especially serious and attentive. As soon as it was over, Ensign Holt, +as he accompanied the doctor to their hut, said, "I hope all is well +with Shafto; but still the ladies seem very anxious about him; and if +you will let me, doctor, I will start off, and try to find our friends. +I daresay, one or two of the men will be ready to accompany me, and we +will take as large a supply of provisions as we can carry. They may, at +all events, be hard up for food, wherever they are." + +"A good idea of yours, Holt," answered the doctor, "though, as probably +they would have been able to kill a seal or two, I have no apprehension +on that score. My idea is that the boat has met in with an accident +somewhere round the coast. The danger is that you may miss them, as +they will probably take the shortest route across the country. We will +talk the matter over. It is late for starting to-day; but if they do +not appear to-night, or early to-morrow morning, I should say that you +ought to set off." + +Had Fanny Morley been consulted she might possibly have advised the +ensign to set off immediately. She was very grateful to him when she +heard of his proposal; and she and Emma assisted Mrs Rumbelow in +arranging some knapsacks and baskets, in which he and his companions +might carry provisions for the party. + +The day passed by--the morning came--the boat did not appear--and the +ensign, with two men and young Broke, who begged to accompany them, +prepared to set out on their expedition. + +Few would have recognised the helpless creature who landed on the island +a short time before in the active young man, with a bright and +intelligent eye, who was to lead the party. He felt that he had work +before him, and that he could be of use to his fellow-creatures. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE WRECK OF THE CRUSADER. + +WATCHING SHIP FROM FLAGSTAFF-HILL--SHIP APPROACHES HARBOUR--PRONOUNCED +TO BE AN EMIGRANT SHIP--LAUNCHING BOAT TO ASSIST SHIP--SHIP ENTERS THE +SOUND--THE EMIGRANT SHIP IN DANGER--CUTTER PUTS OFF--THE SHIP ANCHORS +NEAR REEF--BOAT GETS ALONGSIDE--MRS CLAGGET'S TONGUE HEARD--PASSENGERS +LOWERED INTO BOAT--DANGEROUS PASSAGE TO THE SHORE--THE "CRUSADER" DRIVEN +ON THE REEF--WATCHING WRECK FROM THE BEACH--HARRY RETURNS TO THE WRECK-- +BILL WINDY'S BRAVE EXPLOIT--COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHED WITH SHORE--SEA +BREAKING OVER SHIP--CAPTAIN WESTERWAY THE LAST TO LEAVE--ENCAMPMENT ON +THE SHORE--GOOD HOPE FOR THE FUTURE--ARRIVAL OF ENSIGN HOLT--MUTINY +AMONG THE CREW--MAWSON RINGLEADER OF MUTINEERS--RESOLVE TO BUILD A +VESSEL. + +We left Harry Shafto and his companions on the brow of the hill, +watching with intense eagerness the ship they had just discovered as she +endeavoured to beat up towards the mouth of the harbour. + +"They must have seen our hut blazing during the night, and it probably +served them as a beacon," remarked Harry. "What we considered our +misfortune was to their advantage." + +"Ay, ay, Mr Shafto, it's an ill wind that blows no one good," observed +the boatswain. "I only wish she had the wind freer. It will be no easy +matter for that big ship, rigged as she is, to beat up this harbour, and +when she is inside it is hard to say where she can bring up; for, with +the wind shifting and veering about, there is no safe anchorage that I +could find for her." + +"She would not attempt to come in here unless she was in distress," +remarked Harry. "And if, as is probable, there are passengers on board, +they may be landed here with less danger than on the open coast, even +should she get on shore." + +"I should not like to insure her against doing that," said the +boatswain. "Heaven help her and the poor people on board. If the +captain knows the place, he would rather have kept out at sea than tried +to come in here. See, she is about again, and is standing to the +south'ard. Perhaps, after all, he thinks he had better not make the +attempt." + +"We must run up the flag. It will help them to find the mouth of the +inner harbour, at all events," said Harry. "Come, Patch, you must give +up your cloak; you can do without it now." + +The curiously-contrived flag was quickly hoisted and flew out to the +breeze. + +The party stood in silence watching the ship for some time. They were +too anxious about her to make many remarks. The gale continued blowing +as hard as ever. Suddenly it shifted to the southwest, the ship fell +off a few points, and then she was seen slowly to come about, and once +more she headed up towards the harbour. + +"He has made up his mind to come in. No doubt about that," observed the +boatswain. + +"It is time, Mr Shafto, for us to launch the boat, to go off to her, +and we may then be ready. The captain thinks if he is once inside he +will be all safe, but to my mind he will be greatly mistaken." + +"I'll follow your advice, Mr Bollard," said Harry. "We will do our +best, lads, to help the people if the ship gets on shore. I know that I +can depend on you." + +"Ay, ay, sir, and never fear," answered the men, as they followed the +young officer down the the hill. They kept the ship in sight all the +way, and could still see her clearly from the beach. + +On she stood, and the wind holding, she was able to steer directly for +the harbour. Under ordinary circumstances she would have appeared +secure of entering a haven of safety; but with the wind constantly +shifting, the rocky shore on either side, and deep water close up to it, +there would still be great danger, even should she succeed in making the +entrance. + +The boat was reached, but now came the difficulty of launching her; for +the wind having shifted to the south, the sea raised across the broad +estuary drove directly into the bay. Could they once get her safely +through the surf, however, they might obtain shelter under the western +point, where a reef running out formed a natural breakwater. They ran +her down the beach, but when near the water both Harry and the boatswain +hesitated about attempting to launch her. Should they not succeed in +getting her quickly through the surf, one of the heavy seas which were +breaking on the shore might roll her over and knock her to pieces, as +well as endanger all their lives. Still, if they waited till any +accident happened to the ship, they might be too late to render +assistance to those on board. + +As the stranger stood in, the English flag was seen flying at her peak, +and from her appearance the boatswain pronounced her to be a +merchantman, probably an Australian emigrant ship, and that if so she +would probably have numerous passengers on board. + +"She has evidently been fearfully knocked about," said Harry, who was +looking at her through his spy-glass. "And I can only see one +quarter-boat. Come, lads, we must try to launch the cutter. Dicey and +Patch, do you jump in and stand by with the oars. When I give the word, +we will run her down without stopping, and back out as the sea falls +off." + +Harry waited till a heavy sea broke on the shore, then all hands uniting +their strength, in another instant the boat was afloat. They leaped in, +the oars were out in a moment, and before the next sea broke, the boat +had been urged fifty fathoms from the beach. Only one small patch of +water was visible where she could remain in safety, close inside the +reef. They pulled towards it, the seas, as they rolled in, threatening +to capsize her. It was reached, and by keeping the boat's head towards +the outer rocks they were able to lie in comparative safety, and watch +the progress of the ship. + +"If the wind holds she will get in, and may be come to anchor under the +south island," observed Bollard. + +"It would be safer for her, then, to run up the inner harbour; for +should the wind afterwards shift, she would be placed in a dangerous +position," said Harry. + +"No doubt about that, sir," observed Bollard. "The chances are that she +will leave her ribs on the rocks." + +"If so, we must do our best to save the people," said Harry. "The sea +breaks heavily along the shore, and they will be placed in great +danger." + +The ship meantime was standing boldly on, keeping close to the southern +shore, for the purpose evidently of being well to windward. She had +already reached the entrance of the sound, and now she was in +comparatively smooth water, though the fierce gale made her heel over, +threatening every instant to carry away her masts. It must have been an +anxious time to those on board. Away to leeward the waves were dashing +fiercely on the rockbound coast, and well they must have known, should +any accident happen, that no power could save them from driving against +it, when few could have hoped to escape with life. + +The party in the boat continued anxiously to watch the ship. Harry was +considering how he could best render her assistance. It was a long way +by land to the mouth of the sound, and should she drive on shore in that +direction, all on board might be lost before he and his party could +reach the spot. Still the masts held, and the captain evidently dared +not shorten sail, as only by carrying on could he hope to keep to +windward. + +"He is a brave seaman, whoever he may be," observed Bollard. "Hold on, +good sticks, hold on, and you may still bring the stout ship into port!" +he added, apostrophising the masts. + +"They see our flagstaff, and will probably steer for it," said Harry. +"Or perhaps they are aware of the existence of the inner harbour, and +purpose running up to an anchorage." + +The ship had now got within two miles of where the boat lay; and, +sheltered somewhat by the land, she stood up more bravely than before to +her canvas. The captain evidently did not like the look of the shore on +his port side, as no preparations were made for coming to an anchor. + +"She will do it now," cried Bollard, "if the wind holds for another +quarter of an hour. See, she is keeping away. They have made out the +entrance of the inner harbour. We might pull outside the reef, Mr +Shafto, and get on board, to pilot her in. If they see us coming, they +will have ropes ready for us." + +"It would be no easy matter to reach her, and we shall risk our lives +and the loss of the boat, if we make the attempt till she is in smoother +water," said Harry. "However, we may pull round to the harbour, and +lead her in; they will be looking out for a boat, and will be sure to +see us. Now, lads, give way. Dicey and Patch, you must keep the +bailers going, for we shall ship some seas, and must be prepared. We +will first get to windward, and step the mast, and then run merrily up." + +The ship was now standing almost across the sound, making directly for +the mouth of the inner harbour. As she drew nearer, the gush of water +from her sides, evidently forced out by pumps at work, showed her +distressed condition, and the reason which had induced her commander to +seek a haven instead of keeping the open sea. The boat had just got +from under the shelter of the reef, when the wind again shifted several +points to the westward, and blew with greater violence than before. The +crew tugged bravely at their oars; but all their efforts could scarcely +send the boat ahead in the teeth of the gale. The ship, heeling over, +made her way across the sound. The mouth of the harbour was almost +reached, when with redoubled violence the wind struck her. Down she +heeled, and all her masts in one instant falling over her side, she lay +a helpless wreck upon the water, driving rapidly towards the reef. So +close was she already that Harry could see the people running along her +decks. An anchor was let go, but even when the whole cable had run out, +so great was the depth of water that it did not hold. Another anchor +followed. Still the ship drove onwards. + +Harry, forgetting his previous caution, urged his men to pull out, in +the hopes of getting alongside before she struck, and saving, if +possible, some of the females who might be on board. There was but +little time to do so, however, for she was already within three cables' +lengths of the rocks. + +"She holds! she holds!" cried Willy. The last anchor had brought her +up. "Whatever becomes of the ship, lads, the people may be saved." + +It was now seen that the only boat had been stove in when the masts were +carried away. + +"The lives of those on board may depend on our exertions, lads," cried +Harry, when he discovered this. The crew thus encouraged and incited, +used every effort to reach the sorely battered vessel. Several persons +were seen collected on the poop, eagerly watching their approach. It +was too probable that the anchor would not long hold, and when, driven +on the reef, her destruction would be inevitable. + +At length the boat succeeded in getting under the ship's quarter. "Let +no one attempt to get into the boat till the women are cared for," cried +some one from the poop in a stern voice, as the boat lay tossing up and +down. + +A chair slung by ropes was lowered with a female in it, who shrieked out +as she descended, "Hold on tight, hold on tight, good sailors! hold on, +I pray you, hold on tight! Don't let me drop into the water. I was +ready to sacrifice myself for the good of the rest by coming first; hold +on, hold on!" + +Her tongue had been heard even before the chair was over the side, and +continuing till she was unlashed and handed over to the boatswain into +the stern of the boat, where she continued uttering exclamations without +intermission. "Oh, do take care of the girls, they are under my charge. +Let them come next; I must not be separated from them." + +"Why," exclaimed Willy, as he caught sight of the lady's features, "are +you not Mrs Clagget, and are my sisters and Charles with you?" + +"Yes, to be sure they are, and there comes Emily. And is it possible +that you are Willy Dicey, and can I believe my senses?" was the answer. + +Willy did not stop to reply, but sprang to the bow of the boat to assist +his sister, who was just then being lowered down. May followed her. +Harry recognised them. "Is Charles with you?" he asked, as he carried +May aft. + +"Oh, yes. Can he come with us?" + +"Not till the other women are safe," he answered. "I am sure he would +not." + +There was no time to exchange further words, for more women and children +were being lowered down. Poor Mrs Bolton, when she had got all her +children with her, cried out for her husband, but the necessary rule was +adhered to. + +"He will come next trip, when you are all landed," said Harry. + +Though anxious to take off as many as the boat could carry, Harry, +afraid of overloading her, at length resolved to take no more. + +The passage to the shore, though short, was full of danger. The oars +were got out, the rope which held her to the ship cast off, and now came +the fierce struggle with the seas. The crew had to exert their utmost +strength to clear the end of the reef. Those who watched her from the +deck must have trembled for their safety. Often it seemed as if she +must be driven into the surf, which broke in sheets of foam over the +rocks; but the strong arms of the crew and their tough oars did not fail +them. The point of the reef was doubled, and the boat now glided into +comparatively smooth water within it. Instead of attempting to run on +the beach, Harry steered her towards some rocks which formed the inner +part of the reef. Even here the landing was far from easy. While some +of the men kept the boat from being dashed against the rocks, Harry, +with the boatswain and the rest, leaped into the water. + +"Come, marm," said Mr Bollard to Mrs Clagget. "You were the first in +the boat, and you should be the first out, and do just cling on to my +back, and I will soon place you on dry ground." + +"Oh, you will let me into the water, I know you will," answered Mrs +Clagget. + +"No, no, marm, don't be afraid," said Bollard, seizing her hands, and +lifting her up on his shoulders as he would have carried his hammock. +"You must set the rest of the ladies an example." + +Mrs Clagget's tongue did not cease; but the boatswain, regardless of +what she said, ran with her over the rocks, and putting her down, +quickly returned to the boat. Harry in the meantime having landed May, +the boatswain next took up Emily, and bore her to the shore, while Willy +and Peter scrambled over the rocks, each with a child on his shoulders. +One after the other, the whole of the passengers were thus landed. + +The midshipmen were then about to jump into the boat. "No, Dicey, do +you and Patch remain on shore, and take care of the women," said Harry. +"If we are lost, there will be no one to send for help to the +settlement. You understand me? I can trust to your judgment. +Good-bye." Saying this, Harry ordered the crew to shove off, and once +more pulled away to the ship. + +Harry had frequently cast an anxious glance towards her. She appeared +already to have got nearer the reef; and his fear was, knowing the depth +of the water on the outside and her already leaky condition, that, +should she strike, she might go down before the rest of the people could +be landed. + +The boat had got to the outer end of the reef, when so heavy a squall +met her that the crew, though exerting all their strength, in vain +attempted to pull against it. The ship felt its force; nearer and +nearer she drew to the reef, pitching her bows into the seas as they +rolled along nearly the whole length of the broad estuary. At last she +rose to a heavier sea than ordinary. The cable parted, and the hapless +"Crusader" drove stern-on to the rocks. She struck heavily, the falling +sea driving her broadside on to them. To rescue any of those on board +from the outside of the reef was now an operation of too much danger to +be attempted, and Harry, by the boatswain's advice, steered back, hoping +to establish a communication with the ship across the reef. + +Emily and May Dicey stood on the beach, watching with fearful +apprehension the ship as she lay with her broadside against the reef, +the sea wildly breaking over her. "Oh! they will be lost, they will be +lost," cried May. + +Emily clasped her hands. "Willy, can nothing be done for them?" she +exclaimed. + +"I hope so," said Willy. "If man can help them, Harry Shafto and +Bollard will do it." + +Most of the poor women were uttering cries and lamentations in their +terror for the safety of their husbands left on board. There were still +also a number of poor women and children. Willy felt more anxious for +them even than for the men. + +The boat was seen coming back. "Oh, they have given it up. There is no +hope for them! Dear, dear Charles! he will be lost. I wish we had +stayed with him," cried May. + +"I am very sure Harry Shafto has not given it up," said Willy. "He +knows that the only way to get the people out of the ship is on this +side. We shall soon see what he is about to do." + +The part of the reef where the ship had struck was under water, and some +distance from the point of rocks which ran out from the shore. Had she +gone to pieces and no boat been at hand, although so close to the land, +the greater number, if not all, might have perished, for the surf as it +receded would have carried them off, and even the strongest swimmer +would have found it difficult to make way against it. + +Harry and his brave crew were now seen to approach as near the ship as +they could venture without the risk of being carried on the rocks. +Several persons were standing on the ship's starboard bow, which was now +nearest the shore. One of them held a coil of light rope in his hands; +he hove it, but it fell short. Again and again he made the attempt. At +length a person standing near was observed to fasten it round his waist, +when, holding on by another rope, he lowered himself down. He waited +till the receding sea had gone past him, and then, as another rolled up, +he leaped on its crest, and was borne onwards, striking out boldly +towards the beach. On he struggled. Again the receding sea bore him +backwards towards the reef. He redoubled his exertions. Harry ordered +the cutter to "back in," anxious to assist the brave fellow. The rocks +appeared fearfully close. He stretched out his hand to grasp the +swimmer's arm. "Give way, lads, give way," he shouted; and the +boatswain coming to his assistance, they hauled the man in, and secured +the rope which was fastened to his waist. They now pulled away across +the little bay formed by the reef and the shore, towards a high rock +which jutted out from the beach. + +"I thought Bill Windy would do it," exclaimed the man who had been +rescued; and without shaking the water from his clothes, he began +hauling in on the line which he had brought with him. At the other end +was a hawser which the boat now towed towards the rock. Leaping on to +it, the boatswain and Lizard made fast the hawser. A communication was +thus established between the vessel and the shore. + +Emily and May, with the rest of the party on the beach, had been +watching these proceedings with intense eagerness. The boat again +pulled back towards the wreck. The brave mate was seen to cling to the +hawser, and work his way back. Several times the surf covered him, but +he held on tight, and, emerging from the water, clambered up the bows of +the ship. The hawser was tautened up, while the boat hung on to it, +ready to receive the next comers. The mate was soon again seen making +his way along the hawser, carrying another line and a block. He reached +the boat in safety, when the block was secured, just above the boat. A +cradle, which had meantime been prepared, was slung on the hawser; but +eager as those on board were to reach a place of safety, they appeared +to hesitate about trusting themselves to it. + +"Why are they losing so much precious time?" cried Emily. "How +fearfully the sea is breaking over the ship; any moment she may be +dashed to pieces, or fall off the rocks into the deep water. Oh, see! +see! there is a man making the attempt with two children. It is Mr +Paget." That gentleman, finding others hesitated, had taken two infants +from their mothers' arms, and had seated himself in the cradle, to set +an example to the rest of the people on board. Holding on with one +hand, and steadying the cradle with the other, though the surf as it +rose washed over him more than once, he reached the boat with his +charges. + +"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Emily. "He is safe! he is safe! And there is +Charles; he is following the brave example." + +Several other persons succeeded in gaining the boat. Tom Loftus, Jack +Ivyleaf, and Mr Bolton, the father of the large family already on +shore, were among them. Each brought either a couple of children or one +of the women with him--the latter being afraid of trusting themselves +alone. The boat was already full, and as yet no casualty had occurred; +but the danger was every instant increasing. The tide was rising, the +sea striking with fearful violence against the side of the ship, making +every timber in her quiver. It need not be told how heartily those who +now reached the shore were welcomed by the party already on the beach-- +how his wife and children clung round Mr Bolton; how Emily and May +pressed Charles' hand; and how, in voluble language, Mrs Clagget +expressed her satisfaction at seeing her fellow-passengers out of the +terrible wreck. + +Harry, without stopping a moment after the last person had landed, again +pulled across the bay. Already several of the sailors were seen making +their way along the hawser independent of the cradle. As the boat +approached, they then dropped one by one into her. Bill Windy rated +them for not remaining on board. + +"You should have stopped to get up provisions, you rascals," he +exclaimed. "How are all these people to be fed?" + +"Little hope of getting provisions or anything else," answered one of +the men, "when the chances are that the ship will be knocked to pieces, +or go down before the day is many minutes older." + +"Greater need for you to have stopped and helped to get them into the +boat," said Windy. "But, bear a hand, and assist these people off the +cradle." + +The same operation as before was repeated, till the boat was once more +full, all the remaining women and children being got into her. + +A rush was now seen to take place towards the forecastle, and a heavy +sea struck the after-part of the ship, carrying away a large portion of +the stern upper works. What would next happen it was not difficult to +foretell. Several unfortunate people who had remained there were hurled +into the surf. In vain they struggled--no assistance could be given +them--and, one by one, they were carried away. Had anything been +necessary to make the nigh worn-out crew of the boat increase their +exertions, this would have done so. Happily, the hawser still remained +secure. Harry shouted to the master, who unflinchingly was standing on +the forecastle directing the landing of the people, to put himself into +the cradle. "No, no," he answered. "Not while a man remains on board +will I quit the ship." At length, contrary to the expectations of many, +nearly all the surviving passengers and crew were got safely into the +boat. Besides the captain, only one trembling wretch remained. He +clung frantically to the bulwarks, afraid of quitting his hold, and +trusting himself to the cradle. + +"Come, Mr Mawson," exclaimed Captain Westerway, "I am hauling the +cradle back for the last time, and if you do not go, before many minutes +you will be carried off by the sea, and no power on earth can help you." + +The wretched man looked up with pale cheeks and staring eyes. "I dare +not, I dare not," he answered. "But will you not save me, Captain +Westerway?" + +"Save you! I want you to save yourself!" said the captain, taking him +by the shoulder. "Come, get in there, and hold tight;" and the captain +lifted the trembling wretch, and forced him into the cradle. He +shrieked out with alarm as he felt himself moving, clinging convulsively +to the hawser; but the men in the boat, more for the captain's sake than +his, hauled away, and quickly had him out; and the cradle was travelling +back for their brave commander. As he was placing himself in it he felt +the ship tremble violently. The sea which struck her washed over him. +Those in the boat thought he was gone, but to their joy they saw him +still holding on to the hawser. They hauled away with all their +strength, for a few seconds' delay might have caused his destruction. A +loud cheer burst from their throats as he reached the boat, and at that +moment the upper part of the ship, to which the hawser was made fast, +parted, and was speedily washed away. + +The old captain sighed as he watched the ship breaking up. "I would +gladly have been among the poor fellows lost; and yet, no. I am wrong +to say that. It is my duty to look after those who are saved." + +The survivors of the passengers and crew of the ill-fated "Crusader" +were now collected on the beach. Though saved from a watery grave, how +fearful would have been their condition had Harry and his companions not +been there to assist them! As it was, starvation stared them in the +face. How could all be fed with the scanty supply of provisions which +he possessed. Bill Windy proposed going back to the wreck; but now that +the communication with her had been cut off, it was impossible to get on +board without the greatest danger. Evening, too, was approaching, and +shelter must be found for the women and children. Harry despatched some +of his men for the axes to cut wood for fuel and building huts, while he +and others hauled up the boat, and by turning her partly over under the +cliff, provided shelter for the whole of the women and children; while a +large fire made in front enabled the shipwrecked party to dry their +drenched garments. Willy and Peter hastened off to the spring to obtain +water. The poor children were crying out for food. Such as Harry had +he divided among them and their mothers, but nearly the whole party were +already suffering from hunger. + +At the settlement all might be fed and sheltered, but many hours must +elapse before they could reach it. He knew, too, that in the dark it +would be almost hopeless to make the attempt. He resolved, however, to +start the next morning with a party of the men, who might return with +provisions; but in the meantime he feared that many would suffer +greatly. He held a consultation with Captain Westerway, Mr Paget, and +Charles as to what was best to be done. + +"Should the weather moderate in the morning, or the wind shift, I still +have hopes that we may get some provisions from the ship," answered the +captain. "If not, the men, at all events, can hold out a few hours; and +as there seems to be an abundance of wood in the island, we may form +litters, and carry the women and children who are unable to walk. We +have hitherto been so mercifully preserved that I do not fear for the +future. Had it not been for the light you showed on shore, Mr Shafto, +we should none of us at this time have been alive. The men were nearly +worn-out at the pumps, and I had no hopes of keeping the ship afloat +many hours longer, when, as we were standing to the eastward, we caught +sight of the light on shore, and I at once knew that it must be on a +part of the Auckland Islands." + +"Our hut did not catch fire by chance, then," said Harry. "We were +mourning its loss, little thinking of the advantage it would be to +others. You would probably not have seen the ordinary fire we had kept +burning." + +While they were talking a shout was heard, and Willy and Peter Patch +were seen hurrying up, followed by Ensign Holt with a couple of men and +young Broke, each carrying a heavy load of seals' flesh on his +shoulders. + +"Here is food for you all, good people," shouted the midshipmen. "No +fear of starving now, for Holt says they left a couple more big fellows +which they knocked on the head not a mile away." + +Harry warmly welcomed him. The ensign's astonishment was, as may be +supposed, very great at seeing so large a party. He at once volunteered +to go back to the spot where he and his companions had killed the seals, +with any of the people who would accompany him, to obtain a further +supply of their flesh. + +Meantime, Harry and Captain Westerway set all hands to work. While some +were cooking the seals' flesh, others brought in fuel, and poles, and +boughs to build huts. A tent was formed of the boats' sails which Harry +begged the Miss Diceys, Mrs Clagget, and the other ladies to occupy. +Some, however, of the merchant seamen grumbled on being ordered to work +by the young naval officer, asserting that as they were now on shore, +and their ship stranded, they were free men, and would do what they +liked. + +"As you please," said Harry. "But no work, no pay. You will have, at +all events, to forage for yourself." + +The mutineers, who had sat down at some distance from the rest of the +party, at length appeared to repent of their resolution, and one of them +came up, humbly begging for some meat, and fuel to keep up a fire. +Harry, not sorry to be relieved of their society, granted them their +request. They were joined by some of the younger emigrants, and Charles +observed that Job Mawson stole off and sat himself down among them. + +Ensign Holt and his party returned at dark with an ample supply of food, +and by this time all the huts for which they had materials were erected, +and the shipwrecked people, thankful that their lives had been spared, +prepared to pass their first night on shore, no one knowing how many +more they might have to spend on the island before they could make their +escape. + +The storm continued blowing, but the rain held off. Harry and his men +went about renewing the fires, so as to keep the poor women and children +as warm as possible. The chief annoyance arose from the noise made by +the mutineers. They had been seen wandering about, and appeared to have +hauled something on shore. Not long afterwards they began to sing, and +shout, and shriek out in the wildest fashion. At last the sounds died +away, and their fire alone, smouldering in the distance, showed where +they were. + +Captain Westerway took but little rest; he seemed dreadfully cast down +at the loss of his ship, in spite of the consolation which Charles, Mr +Paget, and Harry tried to give him. + +"I had thought, when I came in here, to get the leaks stopped, and +continue the voyage to New Zealand," he said, sighing deeply. + +"We do not know what can be done yet," said Harry. "At all events, we +may build a new vessel out of the old one; and though she cannot carry +all the people, she may give notice of our condition, and a larger one +may be sent from New Zealand to our relief. So you see, Captain +Westerway, your loss is our gain; for had you not come in, months or +years might have passed before we could have made our escape, and the +anxiety of our friends have been relieved." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +SHIPBUILDING. + +PREPARATIONS FOR MOVING TO VILLAGE--LITTERS FORMED FOR LADIES--HOLT +LEADS THE PARTY--WILLY AND PETER CARRY MAY--THE JOURNEY COMMENCED-- +STORES AND BOAT RECOVERED FROM WRECK--MUTINEERS DISAPPEAR--KEEL OF +"YOUNG CRUSADER" LAID. + +The morning was too tempestuous to allow the boat to make the passage to +the settlement. Harry, therefore, set all the men to work to construct +litters on which the ladies and the weaker women and children might be +carried, Ensign Holt having undertaken to show the way, which he +declared practicable, though in places somewhat rough and marshy. + +The women meantime were busily employed in preparing breakfast. Paul +Lizard had, fortunately, some hooks and lines in his pocket, and he set +the boys to work to catch fish. + +The mutineers did not appear; but Willy and Peter were sent to see what +had become of them, and they reported that they were lying asleep round +the ashes of their fire, with a spirit cask near them, a small portion +of the liquor only remaining in it. Harry felt that it was important +for him to return to the settlement, in order to make preparations for +the support of so many people, or he would gladly have remained with +Captain Westerway, to assist him in getting stores from the wreck, and +seeing what could be done to build another vessel, as had been proposed. +He left, however, Bollard and Lizard with him; while he, taking young +Broke as his guide, and four of the emigrants, set off towards the +settlement, it being arranged that Ensign Holt, aided by Mr Paget, +Charles, and the other gentlemen, should conduct the main body. + +Captain Westerway undertook, should he be able to obtain the provisions, +to send them up in the cutter, under charge of Mr Bollard, One of the +ship's boats, though stove in so as then to be useless, remained on +deck; and the captain hoped, should she not be washed away, to repair +her sufficiently to be of use in visiting the wreck. + +Some time passed before the young ensign's party were ready to start, +and had been supplied with food. Several of the women had found +biscuits in their pockets, which afforded support to the younger +children. The young ladies had begged to be allowed to walk, but were +assured that their shoes were unfit for the rough ground which they +would have to traverse. Willy and Peter, with two other boys, insisted +on carrying May, while Emily's litter was borne by her elder brother, +Mr Paget, Tom Loftus, and Jack Ivyleaf. Mrs Clagget declined taking +her seat on the litter prepared for her. "No, no; you men will be +letting me down in the middle of a bog," she exclaimed. "If some one +would lend me a pair of boots, I would show you that I could trudge as +well as any body." As may be supposed, no boots were to be procured; +but Jack Ivyleaf, ever fertile in resources, undertook to fit the old +lady with a pair of seal-skin moccasins, which would protect her feet +from the rocks. + +The party formed a long line, not unlike a caravan prepared to cross the +desert. They were in tolerable spirits, but the more thoughtful ones +could not help feeling anxious about the means of supplying so many +mouths with food. + +As soon as they had started, Captain Westerway launched the boat, to be +ready to visit the wreck directly the weather moderated sufficiently. +Meantime, while some of the people were collecting the pieces of timber +and planking which were washed on shore, others were engaged in cutting +wood for building the huts they required to shelter them from the cold +and rain at night. + +Towards evening the sea had gone down sufficiently to enable the captain +and his first mate, with Mr Bollard, to get alongside the ship. A +short inspection soon convinced them that she was a hopeless wreck. + +"It cannot be helped, Windy," said Captain Westerway, with a sigh. "We +must now try to make the best of what remains of her." + +"Cheer up, captain," answered the mate; "though the old `Crusader' will +carry us no longer over the ocean, we will have a `Young Crusader' built +before long, and she will do good service if, by her means, we can get +away to some Christian land. We might have been much worse off than we +are, and, to my mind, we have no cause to grumble. Here's our boat +still safe, and, with some tinkering, she may be made to swim and serve +us well. We will tow her on shore; but first we will see what +provisions we can come at to carry with us." + +Bill and his companions at once set to work. A cask of beef, another of +pork, and three of flour were found, besides several articles--among the +most valuable was the carpenter's tool chest, and a quantity of iron. +These were at once lowered into the boat. A number of sails were also +got up, and thus laden they returned in her to the shore. + +Another trip only could be made that night, when more hands were taken +off to assist in the work. + +The various articles brought from the wreck greatly raised the spirits +of the party. The sails, stretched on poles they had cut, made +comfortable tents, and they had now food in abundance. + +"I wish those mutinous chaps had not been such fools," observed Windy. +"I wonder what has become of them." + +On inquiries being made, it was found that the mutineers, headed by Job +Mawson, had been seen making their way across the country in the +direction of the settlement. + +"I hope they will not have gone to annoy the people there," observed the +boatswain. "The men are often away hunting or fishing, and only the +ladies and a few other women and children are left at the huts." + +"They are not likely to get there before Mr Shafto, at all events," +said the captain. "We need not trouble ourselves about them." + +Still Bill Windy was not quite comfortable in his mind. Three or four +of the crew were great scoundrels, and several of the emigrants were +ruffianly fellows, ready to engage in any sort of mischief. + +The captain and his mates, with Mr Bollard, sat up for several hours +arranging the plan of the vessel, which they proposed commencing as soon +as the timber could be got from the wreck. By daybreak they commenced +repairing the boat, and she being put to rights, they were able to +proceed more rapidly in getting the stores and provisions on shore. A +raft was also formed to facilitate the operation. + +So hard did they work--the weather still continuing favourable--that +before many days had passed the keel of the "Young Crusader" was laid, +the old ship disappearing by the efforts of those who a short time +before were so anxious for her preservation. + +Nothing had been seen of the mutineers. "They must take the +consequences of their foolishness," observed Bill Windy, "and, the +chances are, will have to spend the best part of their days on this +island." + +Meantime, Captain Westerway had not forgotten the party at the +settlement, and sent up Mr Bollard in the cutter, laden with some of +the provisions which had been saved. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THE CUTTER IS CARRIED OFF. + +JOURNEY OF EMIGRANTS TO VILLAGE--ROUGH TRAVELLING--PURSUED BY +MUTINEERS--TIPPO COMES TO THE RESCUE--WELCOME AT THE VILLAGE--ARRIVAL OF +PROVISIONS--ARRANGEMENTS FOR VICTUALLING THE SETTLEMENT--MUTINEERS SEEN +WATCHING VILLAGE--THE CUTTER CARRIED OFF--THE "YOUNG CRUSADER" +COMPLETED--MRS MORLEY RESOLVES TO REMAIN--MRS RUMBELOW STAYS WITH HER +CHARGES--PREPARATIONS FOR EMBARKING--THE "YOUNG CRUSADER" AT THE +SETTLEMENT. + +Ensign Holt and the party of emigrants he was leading made very good +progress on their journey towards the settlement. The only grumbler was +Mrs Clagget, as she trudged on with a long stick in her hand, sometimes +by the side of the Diceys, and at others addressing her remarks to Mrs +Jones. However, as it was so evident that she talked for the sake of +keeping her tongue in motion, no one minded her. She regained her good +humour when, soon after mid-day, the party halting for dinner, fires +were lighted, and steaks frizzling before them. They had had woods to +cut through, boggy ground to cross, and rugged stony hills to climb. +She, however, got along as well as any one, and her example encouraged +the other women who had to travel on foot. Their spirits were revived +when their young leader told them that they were within a mile of the +settlement. + +The last of the party were climbing the ledge of rocks which formed one +side of the sandy bay when, on looking back, they saw several men +following. + +"Why, I do believe they are those fellows who would not work yesterday," +observed one of the emigrants. "And there is that ill-conditioned chap, +Job Mawson, among them. I cannot help thinking they mean mischief." + +The mutineers, for such they evidently were, on seeing the party, +hurried on; but as they got halfway across the sandy shore of the bay, a +huge seal suddenly darted out of the wood, and seeing the men running, +made chase. He soon overtook the nearest, whom he knocked over, giving +him a fierce bite, and then rushed at the next, whom he treated in the +same way. Willy and Peter, who had stopped on the top of the ridge to +rest, hearing the cries, looked round. + +"Why," exclaimed Willy, "that is our old friend Tippo Sahib, and he is +giving those fellows their deserts." + +Tippo Sahib sure enough it was. The mutineers, who had never seen such +a creature before, seized with a panic, ran off in all directions, two +or three overtaking the party of emigrants. + +"No, no, we don't want you fellows," cried the men. "You be off now, or +you will be sorry for it." + +Two of the mutineers humbly petitioned to be allowed to keep with the +party, when Willy at length told them that they might do so if they +would behave better in future. The rest by this time were nowhere to be +seen, having run into the wood to escape, as they hoped, from the +strange beast which had attacked them. + +As the travellers neared the settlement, Mrs Morley, with her daughters +and Mrs Twopenny, came out to welcome them. The former invited Emily +and May to their cottage, while Mrs Clagget, introducing herself to +Mrs Twopenny, told her she should be happy to take up her abode with +her. + +Harry having reached the settlement some time before, preparations were +already being made for the reception of the party. The men willingly +turned out to give up their huts to the women and children. Fires were +lighted, and several of the people were busy, under the direction of +Mrs Rumbelow, cooking food, while the men were employed in bringing in +wood for forming fresh huts. Harry started off a fresh party to assist +those already engaged in the work. The gentlemen laboured as hard as +any of the men, and in a short time a row of huts, constructed after the +fashion of those already built, rose near them. + +Harry's chief anxiety was, however, to provide food for so many mouths, +as he saw the store which had been made for the former party rapidly +diminishing. Some of the emigrants grumbled, too, at not having a +greater variety. Seal-soup and fried roots served for breakfast, and +boiled or roasted seal, with baked roots and water, for dinner, while +the same fare was served at supper. Sometimes fish varied the material +for their meals; but neither they nor mussels were to be obtained when +the weather was stormy, and the sea broke with violence on the rocks. + +Several days passed away, when a sail was seen coming up the harbour. +She was recognised as the cutter. Nearly all the inhabitants of the +little settlement ran down to welcome her. She had on board several +casks and kegs brought by the boatswain from the wreck. They were +eagerly rolled up to the huts, when they were found to contain flour and +beef, raisins and suet. "Hurrah! we shall have English beef and +plum-pudding now," exclaimed numerous voices. The doctor, however, who +acted as store-keeper, ordered them at once to be placed in safe +keeping, to be served out as required. He soon afterwards held a +consultation with Mrs Rumbelow. Under his directions, an oven was +constructed, while he set to work in his laboratory to manufacture some +yeast, or risings, as Mrs Rumbelow called the composition; and the next +morning a supply of hot rolls was distributed among the women and +children. How delicious they appeared to those who had for many a long +day not tasted a morsel of bread! + +Bollard brought word that considerable progress had already been made in +building the "Young Crusader," and Captain Westerway requested that he +might be supplied with such provisions as the island afforded, in order +to husband those which had been saved from the wreck, as they would be +required as stores for the vessel. Among other things, he brought +several cases of gunpowder, and the sportsmen were therefore able to +range the island with their guns in search of game. + +Parties went out daily to dig for roots. Traps were constructed for +catching birds; at low water, mussels were sought for on the rocks; and +more hooks being made, the number of fishermen was greatly increased. +The days, however, were short, and the weather frequently so very bad +that they had literally to make hay while the sun shone. As provisions +could be obtained they were sent by sea to the shipbuilders, and when +the wind blew too strong to allow the boat to make the passage, they +were sent overland. + +Harry's cares, in providing food and maintaining order among so mixed an +assemblage, were greatly lightened by the assistance offered him by Mrs +Morley and Mr Paget, as well as by Charles, Tom Loftus, and Jack +Ivyleaf, who also did their best to instruct and amuse the people, old +and young, when their hours of labour were over. The school was kept +with less difficulty than before, as several books had been saved from +the "Crusader." Harry's great care was to keep all employed; indeed, he +foresaw that it would be necessary for every one to exert himself to the +utmost to obtain a sufficient supply of food for the support of their +lives during the winter. Happily, the weather was not nearly so cold or +stormy as he had expected to find it; and though occasionally it froze +hard, the frost seldom lasted long, while the snow which fell quickly +disappeared again from the lower ground. + +Nothing was seen for some time of the mutineers. It was supposed that +they were living a savage life by themselves in the woods, unwilling to +submit to the discipline to which they would have been subjected in the +settlement. One day, however, when Captain Twopenny and several of the +other gentlemen were starting on a shooting expedition, they caught +sight of a man in the neighbouring wood, whence he had apparently been +watching the settlement. As soon as he found that he was discovered he +ran off, and disappeared before they were able to overtake him. This +circumstance gave Harry some little anxiety, though, as it was known +that the only arms the men possessed were their knives and an axe or +two, they were not likely to prove formidable enemies. The +probabilities were that the man only intended to steal into the village, +and carry off any provisions on which he could lay his hands. + +Two or three days passed away; the cutter had just returned, after +taking supplies to the shipbuilders, and had been hauled up for safety +on the beach. Early in the morning the boatswain and several men went +down, intending to go off in her in search of seals. She was not to be +seen. They went up and down the shore, but not a trace of her could +they discover. It was too evident that she had been carried away by the +mutineers. This was confirmed on the following day, when the +"Crusader's" boat, which had been repaired, arrived with the information +that she had been seen passing down the sound early in the morning; but +whether those in her intended to attempt a passage to New Zealand, or +only to land on another part of the Aucklands, it was difficult to say. +As, however, they could have had but a scanty supply of provisions, and +little means of carrying water, it was most likely that they intended to +land on the northern part of the island. + +Although the loss of the cutter was a very serious matter, still Harry +felt that it was satisfactory to be relieved of the presence of such +lawless characters. Captain Westerway sent word that he would either +leave his own boat or build another of sufficient size to go in search +of seals, the chief purpose for which she was required. + +At length the satisfactory intelligence arrived that the "Young +Crusader" was ready for sea. It was now necessary to determine who +should go in her, as she was unable to carry more than a sixth of the +number. When Harry asked Mrs Morley what she wished to do, she +replied, "My daughters and I are determined to remain, and watch over +those who are entrusted to our care. When the schooner reaches New +Zealand, a vessel will probably be sent to our assistance; until then we +feel confident that He who has hitherto preserved us will keep us in +safety. And what do you intend doing, Mr Shafto?" + +"My duty is clear. I will remain, for the same reason, Mrs Morley," he +answered. "And Dr Davis desires also to stay with us; indeed, few, I +believe, of the `Ranger's' people wish to quit the island. I will, +however, send young Dicey, with his brother and sisters, and he will +apply to the senior officer on the station, who will probably send a +man-of-war, or some other vessel, as soon as one can be despatched." +The question was put to the various members of the community, "Whether +or not they would desire to remain." + +"Remain! to be sure I will," exclaimed Mrs Rumbelow, when she was +asked. "While the wife or child of one of the men of our regiment stops +here, it's my duty to stay and look after them. And especially if the +colonel's lady stays, do you think I would desert her, Mr Shafto? Her +husband was like a father to the regiment, and I would as soon desert my +own mother as her." + +The Diceys, however, and Mr Paget, as well as Tom Loftus and Jack +Ivyleaf, resolved to sail in the "Young Crusader." Though Captain +Westerway warned them that the voyage might prove boisterous, and not +without danger, still Charles was anxious to reach the colony, that he +might begin the life of a settler, and write home to relieve the anxiety +of his family. The greater number of the emigrants, however, begged to +remain, unwilling again to encounter the dangers of the sea, especially +when they compared the size of the "Young Crusader" with that of the +large ship which had brought them to the island. She had come up to the +settlement in order to land such stores as could be spared, and to take +others, as well as her intended passengers, on board. As Harry surveyed +her, he was well pleased with her appearance. She was a stout little +schooner of about 30 tons, and he felt satisfied to entrust his friends +on board her, especially under the guidance of such experienced seamen +as Captain Westerway and Bill Windy. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +CONCLUSION. + +THE "YOUNG CRUSADER" SAILS--VOYAGE ALONG THE COAST--A STORM--SCHOONER +PUTS INTO HARBOUR--FATE OF THE MUTINEERS--THE "YOUNG CRUSADER" PROCEEDS +ON HER VOYAGE--STORMY PASSAGE--NEW ZEALAND SIGHTED--ENTERS A BEAUTIFUL +HARBOUR--HOSTILE APPEARANCE OF NATIVES--MR PAGET ADVISES FLIGHT--THE +SCHOONER MAKES SAIL--ESCAPING FROM THE HARBOUR--PURSUED BY CANOES-- +MAN-OF-WAR APPEARS--THE CANOES GIVE UP CHASE--ON BOARD THE "RANGER"-- +GOOD NEWS FOR THE SETTLEMENT--HOW THE "RANGER" WAS SAVED--RETURN TO THE +AUCKLANDS--ALL SAFE ON BOARD "RANGER"--HARRY OBTAINS HIS REWARD--OUR +FRIENDS SETTLE IN NEW ZEALAND--CONCLUSION. + +The whole of the little community, men, women, and children, collected +on the shore of the bay to witness the "Young Crusader" take her +departure. Loud cheers burst from their throats as the anchor was +tripped, the sails set, and with a fine westerly breeze she glided down +the harbour. + +Emily and May, with Mrs Clagget, stood at the stern, waving their +handkerchiefs, the Miss Morleys returning the salute with tears in their +eyes, for they could not help thinking of the dangers to which their +friends would be exposed on board the little vessel. + +"Good-bye, kind friends, good-bye," cried Mrs Clagget. "We will send +you relief; don't be afraid. It won't be our fault if your condition is +not made known." She continued, at the top of her voice, uttering these +and similar expressions long after it could possibly have been heard by +those on shore. + +Flagstaff-hill was rounded, and they could look into the small harbour +where the schooner had been built. On its shores stood the huts they +had occupied, with the reef before them, on which a small remnant of the +wreck was still visible. They soon reached the mouth of the sound, the +wind enabling them to haul up and stand to the northward, parallel with +the coast. They had, however, to keep some distance from it, to avoid +the reef which ran out from the shore. + +The little schooner had nearly reached the north end of the island when +the fickle wind changed, and a heavy gale right ahead sprang up. Though +the "Young Crusader" behaved well, the captain was unwilling to expose +her, with so many people on board, to its fury; and the mouth of a +harbour being clearly made out, he determined to run in and take shelter +till the wind had abated. After running up some way, the schooner came +to an anchor in a small cove, where the captain hoped she might lie in +perfect security. Darkness came on soon afterwards, the sails were +furled, and all was made snug. + +Though disappointed at being delayed on their passage, those on board, +as they heard the wind howling above their heads, and the sea roaring in +the distance, were thankful that they were safe from the fury of the +tempest. + +The usual watch was set, and most of the passengers retired to their +narrow berths. The ladies had a small cabin aft, in which Mrs Clagget +declared that there was scarcely room to allow her to move her tongue, +an observation which brought a smile on the countenances of her +companions. + +Willy was walking the deck with Bill Windy, with whom he had become very +friendly, when he caught sight of a dark object moving towards the +vessel. "There is a boat," he exclaimed; "where can she come from?" + +"She is the cutter, depend on it, which those scoundrels ran away with," +answered Windy. "They may mean mischief. Call the captain and the +watch below; it's as well to be prepared for them." + +Captain Westerway and all hands were quickly on deck. The boat +approached cautiously, as if those in her were doubtful whether or not +they were perceived. At length she came alongside. The schooner's crew +stood ready for an attack, and it was then seen that she contained but +three people. + +"Who are you, and what do you want?" asked Bill Windy. + +"Oh, take us on board and give us some food," answered a voice. "We are +dying of hunger." + +"Make fast the boat and lend them a hand," said Captain Westerway, and +the three men were helped up the schooner's side. + +They were found to be two of the emigrants and one of the seamen who had +mutinied. They appeared thoroughly humbled and wretched. As soon as +they had taken a little food, they gave an account of their sufferings. + +They stated that they were themselves the only survivors of the party-- +two having fallen down precipices, one having been killed by a seal +which he incautiously approached, another having been drowned when +scrambling out on the rocks in search of mussels, and the rest having +died of starvation. Job Mawson, they declared, had been their +ringleader. They had last seen him lying in a sinking state in the +woods. + +Although the vessel had already as many on board as could be +accommodated, the captain humanely received them, and the next morning +the cutter was sent on shore to be hauled up on the beach, as she was +too large either to tow or to be taken on board. + +The patience of the passengers was greatly tried; but at length, after a +detention of three days, the weather moderating, the "Young Crusader" +again put to sea. Still she was doomed to experience contrary winds. + +Provisions were running short, and all hands, with the exception of the +ladies, were put on short allowance. Day after day they beat backwards +and forwards, the captain being anxious, if possible, to make the +entrance of Cook's Straits, should he be unable to reach the more +northern settlement of Auckland. At that time the natives of many parts +of New Zealand were in open hostility with the settlers, and he was +therefore unwilling to run the risk of landing on any other part of the +coast. + +The stormy weather still continued, but at length a slant of wind from +the westward enabled the schooner to lay her course. Water and +provisions were running fearfully short, and her passengers and crew +were already beginning to feel the effects of their scanty fare. Many +anxious eyes kept a lookout for land. The thick weather had prevented +an observation from being taken for three days. Willy had the morning +watch with Bill Windy. As the day broke, and the sun, rapidly rising +above the horizon, shed its beams across the foaming sea, they lighted +up the snowy summits of a range of mountains. "Land! land!" he shouted. + +"You are right, Mr Dicey; but I am afraid it's a long way from +Auckland," observed Bill Windy. + +The deck was soon crowded with eager spectators. As the sun rose +higher, and the little vessel sailed onwards, the intermediate lower +shore could clearly be perceived. The vessel stood on till the mouth of +a harbour of sufficient size to admit the schooner appeared ahead. Sail +was shortened, that she might approach it cautiously, and a bright +look-out kept ahead for sunken reefs. Captain Westerway was in hopes +that, by going in, even though no settlers might be there, he would be +enabled to obtain a supply of water, as well as wild-fowl or other +birds, to support the people till some more hospitable place could be +reached. The schooner, under easy sail, sounding as she went, entered +the little harbour, and after making several tacks, brought up at no +great distance from the shore. It was a lovely spot, and the eyes of +all were gladdened by a sparkling stream which ran down the hillside. +The boat was lowered, the empty casks were put into her, and Charles +Dicey, with two other gentlemen, carrying their fowling-pieces, went on +shore. + +How delicious was their first ample draught of water! A cask being +filled, they sent back the boat with it to the ship while they filled +the others. This done, they proceeded over the hills in search of game. +They had not gone far before they perceived, in a little cove that was +not seen from the deck of the vessel, several large canoes drawn up on +the beach. + +"There must be natives in the neighbourhood, and we may probably obtain +provisions from them," observed Charles. "Their village cannot be far +off." + +"What is that curious-looking stockade on the top of the hill?" asked +Jack Ivyleaf. + +"A native pah or fort," said Mr Paget. "We must approach it +cautiously, for we cannot depend on the friendliness of the inhabitants. +See, there are several men gathering close outside. They have arms in +their hands. Their numbers are increasing. Take my advice, and let us +make the best of our way to the boat. They may attack us before we can +explain that we have no hostile intentions." + +As he spoke, the natives were seen running down the hill towards the +canoes. Charles urging the party to follow Mr Paget's advice, they +hastened to the place where they had landed. The boat had returned and +taken on board several of the water-casks. + +"Never mind the remainder," cried Mr Paget. "The water will be dearly +purchased if we wait to allow these savages to overtake us. Shove off, +shove off!" + +Captain Westerway was on deck, surprised to see the boat coming back. +Willy was standing near him. They observed Mr Paget making signs to +them. "He is telling us to get under way, sir," he observed. + +"So I believe he is," exclaimed the captain. "Mr Windy, turn the hands +up and make sail." + +The people, who were below, jumped on deck, wondering what was the +matter. The boat was quickly alongside; those in her leaped on board, +and she was hoisted in. + +"Shall we weigh the anchor?" asked Windy. + +"Not if we wish to escape from the savages' canoes," said Mr Paget. +"Captain Westerway, these people are not to be trifled with." + +"We will slip the cable, then," said the captain. "It is better to lose +that than be cut off, as several vessels have been, by these people." + +The headsails quickly filled, the wind blew out of the harbour; the +after-sails were set, and the "Young Crusader" glided rapidly towards +the ocean. As she got into the middle of the harbour, the cove in which +the canoes lay opened out, and a large number of savages were seen in +the act of launching them. They were soon afloat, and, filled with men, +made chase after the schooner. Of their hostile intentions there could +now be no longer any doubt. On they came, paddling at a rapid rate over +the smooth surface of the water. All the sail the schooner could carry +was set; but still it was too evident that the canoes, unless the wind +freshened greatly, would overtake her. The few fire-arms on board the +schooner would avail but little against the vastly superior numbers of +the savages. The wind increased; still the canoes were gaining ground. +Had the captain waited to weigh the anchor, the "Young Crusader" would +to a certainty have been captured; even now there appeared little +probability of her escaping. + +"The savages are gaining on us fearfully," observed Willy to his +brother. "We shall have to fight for it; at all events, we may kill a +few of the savages before we are taken." + +"That would be but a small satisfaction," observed Charles. "I little +expected such a termination to our adventures." + +The breeze continued to freshen. Notwithstanding this, the schooner did +not gain on the canoes. + +"Captain Westerway," cried Willy, suddenly, "there is a sail to the +northward." + +"Yes, and she is standing this way," said the captain. "We will haul up +for her. Starboard the helm, Windy. Get a pull at the fore and +mainsheets." + +The savages had probably not seen the stranger, or perhaps they wanted +to overtake the schooner, before she could get within signalling +distance. The ship was a large one, and under all sail. With the +freshening breeze she came on rapidly. A shot was now fired from the +leading canoe, another and another followed. The ladies who were on +deck were hurried below. Loftus and Ivyleaf were about to discharge +their fowling-pieces in return. "Don't fire, my friends," said Mr +Paget. "It will be useless. Let us rather trust to the protection of +Heaven. When the savages discover that yonder ship is a man-of-war, as +I have no doubt they soon will, they will give up the pursuit." + +In another minute his words proved true. The canoes were seen to stop, +then to sweep round, and to paddle back again at full speed towards the +land. + +Willy intently watched the ship as she approached. He rubbed his eyes +again and again. "What is the matter?" asked Charles, seeing him almost +gasping for breath. + +"Why, Charles," he exclaimed, "she is the `Ranger.' Yes, I am as sure +of it almost as I am of my own existence." + +In a short time the "Young Crusader" was hove to, and the boat, with +Willy and Peter Patch in her, was pulling towards the ship, which, it +being seen that the schooner wished to speak her, was also brought to +the wind. The two midshipmen quickly scrambled up the side. On the +quarterdeck stood Commander Newcombe, with Mr Tobin, the +first-lieutenant, and several of the other officers. + +"Come on board," said Willy and Peter, going aft, and touching their +hats. + +"What! are you the midshipmen I thought lost, with so many other poor +people?" exclaimed the captain, starting back with astonishment, and +then holding out his hands towards them. "Yes, I am surely not +mistaken; and have the rest, too, escaped?" + +"Yes, sir; Mrs and the Miss Morleys, Harry Shafto, Mrs Rumbelow, and +the boatswain are all safe, though they would be very glad if you would +run down to the Auckland Islands, where we left them a fortnight ago, +and take them away. They are very hard up for food, I am afraid, and it +is not the pleasantest of countries to live in." + +Willy and his companions received the warmest congratulations from all +the officers; and the news soon ran round the ship that those whom they +supposed had long been numbered with the dead were still alive and well. + +"It will do the sergeant's heart good when he hears that that first-rate +wife of his is all right and well," observed the quarter-master, who was +one of the first to catch the news. + +Willy and Peter felt great satisfaction on hearing that Colonel Morley, +with his regiment, was at New Zealand, and though grieving at the +supposed loss of his wife and daughters, had been greatly supported in +his affliction, and enabled to perform his duty like a true soldier. + +"But how, sir, did the `Ranger' escape?" asked Willy. "We thought we +saw her go down." + +"She was well-nigh doing so, my lad," answered Commander Newcombe; "but +by the courage and perseverance of the men, through God's mercy, she was +kept afloat till we could get an additional sail under her bottom, when, +as we steered to the northward, we fell in with a ship which towed us to +the Mauritius. There the ship being repaired, we were sent on to New +Zealand to land the troops. So confident were all on board that the +boats had gone down, it was at first deemed hopeless to look for you. +At length, however, from the representations of Colonel Morley, I was +despatched to visit the islands at which you might possibly have +touched, on the merest chance of gaining some tidings of your fate." + +As soon as the commander heard of the requirements of the schooner, he +sent a supply of provisions and water on board. The "Young Crusader" +then steered for Auckland, near which Colonel Morley was stationed, to +convey to him the glad tidings of the safety of his wife and daughters, +while the "Ranger" proceeded to the Auckland Islands. She quickly +arrived at Charnley Sound, and brought up in the deep bay near its +entrance, on the north side. Hence, with Willy Dicey as pilot, her +boats were sent up to the inner harbour. As they approached, Willy's +heart beat high at the thought of the joyful intelligence he was +bringing. The first person he met was Harry Shafto who, on seeing the +boats approach, had hurried down to the bay. Harry recognised several +well-known faces of his old shipmates. A few words served to tell how +the "Ranger" had escaped. The two friends hurried to communicate the +intelligence to Mrs Morley and her daughters. On their way they met +Mrs Rumbelow, who had seen the arrival of the boats. She, too, had +recognised the faces of their crews. Willy took her hand, and shook it +warmly. + +"Happy news, Mrs Rumbelow," he exclaimed; "the sergeant is alive and +well. I heard of him on board; and I hope in a few days you will see +him in New Zealand." + +"You are a good angel, Mr Dicey, to bring me such tidings," she +exclaimed, putting her arms round his neck, and bursting into tears. +"My good brave husband! I'll never forget who it was that told me I +should meet him again down here on earth, for I felt sure we should be +joined up aloft there." And the strong-minded energetic woman, who had +held out so bravely, never allowing a tear or complaint to escape, +sobbed for very joy. + +They found Mrs Morley, with Fanny and Emma, just leaving their cottage. +"God has indeed been merciful to me," were the only words Mrs Morley +could utter. Fanny unconsciously gave Harry Shafto her hand. "How my +dear father will thank you for all the care you have taken of us," she +said. "We can never sufficiently show our gratitude." Harry kept the +hand thus offered him. What Harry said in return it is not necessary to +repeat. + +As there was but little property to carry away, in a few minutes every +individual was ready to embark. Harry Shafto was the last person to +leave the shore. The boats, laden with passengers, pulled down the +harbour. The sea was smooth, and without accident they, before +nightfall, got alongside the "Ranger." + +A bright moon enabled them to put to sea that night, and, the weather +continuing unusually fine, within a week they landed in New Zealand. + +Harry Shafto gained his well-earned promotion, and in two years became a +commander and the husband of Fanny Morley. + +A remittance sent out by Mr Nicholas Steady, when he heard of the loss +which the Diceys had suffered from the wreck of the "Crusader," enabled +Charles to commence his career as an emigrant. His nearest neighbour +was Mr Paget, who, it surprised few to hear, became the husband of his +sister Emily. Sergeant Rumbelow got his discharge, and he and his wife +settled near them; while Mrs Clagget, who took up her abode with her +relatives in the town, paid them frequent visits, and never failed to +tell all the news of the place, which she detailed with her accustomed +volubility. Charles won the heart of Emma Morley, and, when his sister +May married Tom Loftus, she became the mistress of his house. Dr Davis +settled in their neighbourhood, and was a very constant visitor at the +houses of his old friends, not only in cases of sickness, which were +rare, but on all festive and other interesting occasions. + +Little Bessy, left an orphan, was adopted by Sergeant and Mrs Rumbelow, +and, growing up a good, steady girl, married young Broke, who, become a +warrant officer, found his way at length to New Zealand, where he +ultimately settled. + +Willy Dicey is now a post-captain, and Harry Shafto, though still young, +an admiral. Ensign Holt sold out of the army, and forming a partnership +with Peter Patch, who had got tired of a seafaring life, they became +successful settlers at no great distance from their former friends. + +The old "Ranger" has long since been laid up in ordinary, and the "Young +Crusader," under the command of Bill Windy, to whom Captain Westerway +presented her, traded for many years between the settlements and +Australia, till she had gained a comfortable fortune for her owner, who +at length settled on shore near the friends his courage and kind heart +had gained for him. + +The former passengers of the two ships often met at the gatherings of +the settlements; and a new generation, which sprang up in their midst, +delighted to hear them recount the adventures they met with during their +voyages in the "Ranger" and "Crusader." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader, by +W.H.G. Kingston + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VOYAGES OF THE RANGER *** + +***** This file should be named 24666.txt or 24666.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/6/24666/ + +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. 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